This is for Rachel

I have been bitch slapped for not blogging. Sheesh. I'm writing! Do you KNOW how long it's been since I've been able to sit and get out more than 200 hundred words that didn't suck? It's my birthday. Leave me alone. Hmph.

For anyone who isn't Rachel [:)], I am getting close to finishing Ultimatum. It has finally come to me. Derek and Paige were not cooperating in the least! Now they've decided to place nice and things are coming together.

Today is my birthday. It's also my son's. He's 4. Yesterday was my daughter's. She's 8. Ack. My kids are now 9,8,6, and 4. And I want another one. Stupid, stupid me. We painted pottery with the kid's friends for their party and my hubby and I did some...um, experimenting, if you know what I mean, last night while we were all alone in the house. Thank you grandma and grandpa!

Thanks for being patient with me everyone. It's been a rough last several months on the writing front, with too many other things happening. I think I'm finally back in the groove. Now, if I can just get Rachel off my back about this blogging thing...

Annmarie

New cover goodness :)

My new short story due out June 3rd :) You like?
Here's a peek:

Between a Ridge and a Hard Place
(c) Annmarie McKenna 2008

Blurb:

Is it love? Or sabotage?

After a year of being ignored as a woman by her boss, Morgan steps up her game—and strips down. What better way than a miniskirt to capture her hardheaded boss’s attention? The butt floss she can do without, but hey, if the ploy works…and it does, with spectacular results. Now if only she can keep him interested permanently.

Ridge can’t believe it when the woman he’s quietly lusted after for a year shows up dressed…or rather, undressed…to drop any man to his knees. Instead of worrying about winning a bid after losing the last two under strange circumstances, he whisks her to his place to demolish any notion she might have of changing her mind.

Then it becomes clear why his company is losing bids—there’s a mole planted in their midst. Ridge suddenly has to question Morgan’s sudden transformation from faithful P.A. to office vixen.

Is she the woman he’s been waiting for? Or a corporate saboteur sent to take him down?

Warning: Contains several graphic love scenes. You know, on the bed, on the couch…whichever is closest at the time.

Spring Break Cruise

So we just got back from our Spring Break cruise and let me tell ya, my kids hate each other and their parents, LOL. Yikes. They have this sort of Love/Hate relationship if you know what I mean. And living in a room the size of a walk in closet on a boat--not so good. We spent more time telling our kids to behave than we did seeing the sights! But anyway, we did have a great time. Royal Caribbean's got a great kids program and I'm surprised it wasn't utilized as much as I thought. There were a ton of kids on our ship yet I only saw maybe ten or so from each age group at any time our kids were there. Hey, the hubby and I used the night time to wind down from a day of pulling our hair out. Guess everyone else's kids are just perfect? Here's a few pics from the trip...

The girls at CocoCay, Bahamas.

Adventure Ocean kids performing a pirate show :) I have the little guy in brown right up front and the girl in the pink halter top next to him.

Me and my oldest and youngest dd's holding the alligator :)

Sweeet

Check it out! I got a sweet surprise in the mail today :) My awards from All Romance Ebooks "The Best of 2007". I won twice. Once for Best Book of 2007 with Checkmate and once for Best Author. The were ten winners in each category that included Best Reader, Author, Books, Publisher (which Samhain won for). Congrats to all the winners!

Time to TRI again

Yes, that's right, I'm going to TRI again :) Yeah, yeah, I know last time wasn't so successful but surely that kind of thing can't happen twice, right? Right? Gulp. So this was me last time...

...and FYI, this was the least scary picture. You should have seen the day of. Yikes. It's hard to revisit these, LOL. Anyway, in four weeks I'm going to try again. This time with my sister. This happened on the bike portion and no, I didn't hit by a car and yes, I was wearing a helmet. There wasn't a scratch on it! The scariest portion this time around for me is the swim. It's in open water in a bay with God only knows what swimming around me or trying to eat me. I asked about sharks and my sister's friend laughed and said, "There aren't any sharks! The alligators eat them all." He so did not help my confidence. So, here I am, 4 weeks out from a .6 mile swim, 28 mile bike, and a 6.5 mile run. Not to mention the 13 hour drive with 9 yr old in tow, just to get to the race. Wish me luck :)

Decandent by Shayla Black

Decadent is just what the title says it is. DECADENT. Delicious. Yummy. Satisfying. Absolutely gratifying. This menage is hot. If you read Wicked Ties, you've already met Deke and loved him. Now it's his turn and he and his cousin Luc, a chef, turn up the heat on Kimber, who comes to Deke begging him to teach her how to please two men. Little did she know along the way she'd want more than the lessons, she'd want it all...and not with the man she'd intended the lessons to be for. Deke is a man driven by past demons and issues of his own. He doesn't want anything to do with the virginal Kimber. Then someone wants her dead and Deke will do anything to protect her. Including learning to love the one thing he thinks he doesn't want.

I had a hard time putting this book down. It has everything in I love in a book. Heat, suspense, and romance. You've got to try this one--it definitely gets a thumbs up.

Publisher: Berkley Trade/Berkley Heat
ISBN: 0-425-21721-3
ISBN 13: 978-0425217214
Release Date: October 2, 2007
Genre: Contemporary Erotic/Menage á Trios
Order at AmazonOrder at Barnes & Noble

Blurb:
Two men are better than one…
How can a virgin seeking happily-ever-after with a hot pop star who has a penchant for threesomes win her fantasy man? Kimber Edgington desperately needs a plan to convince Jesse McCall, who’s been her friend and secret crush since they spent a summer together as teenagers, that they are meant for each other. But all the tabloid stories about his sexual escapades make her feel oh-so inadequate.

Determined to prove she’s woman enough for Jesse, Kimber turns to bodyguard Deke Trenton for sexual education. Bold and brash, Deke warns Kimber that playing with him is playing with fire. But he can’t bear to imagine the innocent beauty in someone else’s arms. So Deke and his super-sexy friend, Luc, take Kimber under their wings and dangerously close to the edge of ecstasy. Though she’s saved herself for Jesse, Kimber soon learns, he’s not the man adept at stoking her aching, endless need. That’s Deke, and he can’t resist when Kimber begs for more–and more…

Excerpt:

This excerpt contains both explicit language and sexual content intended for adult audiences and readers should be 18 years or older to continue reading.
Deke hovered just outside the kitchen, jaw clenched.
Damn, he’d know that sweet, little-girl voice anywhere. High-pitched, lilting, usually delivered with a hint of mischief. Kimber Edgington. She made his dick itch for action. Always had. Every day he’d worked for the Colonel, he’d seen her. Just the sound of her voice had been enough to send a mad rush of blood straight to his cock. One glance from those sweet hazel eyes made him as ready as a jackhammer.
Adjusting himself, Deke grimaced. Damn it, she still had that power.
At least she wasn’t seventeen anymore, tempting a man who was old enough to know better and nearly too horny to care.
Five years ago, he’d quit working for her father before he’d done something stupid. Something he was sure he’d regret every bit as much as she would.
But why the fuck was she here in his house now? Hell, only one way to find out…
She gasped as he stepped into the kitchen. Deke leaned against a counter to hide his raging hard on. By Luc’s amused smile, he knew he wasn’t fooling his cousin.
But it was Kimber’s face he focused on. More mature lines. Fuller lips The freckles had faded. She wore a hint of make up. The air of innocence remained, still begging corruption.
Deke would bet every last medal he’d ever earned that she was a virgin.
Crazy. The girl had to be twenty-two, twenty-three. In his gut, though, Deke knew he was right. Shit! He had to get her the fuck out of here. Fast. In his book, head-spinning desire and virginity were a bad combination.
“Kimber.” His voice sounded like ground-up gravel. He resisted the urge to wince.
“Deke.”
His name fell from her glossy, rosy lips. The sound only made him harder. Hell! Then she bit her cushy lower lip, and all he could think about was watching his dick slide over that lip, then deep inside the wet silk of her mouth while she looked up at him with those innocent eyes.
If he didn’t stop thinking like this, he was going to have to go into the bathroom and jack off before he could have a decent conversation with the girl so he could send her on her way.
“Hi,” she breathed into the awkward silence.
“It’s been a while.”
She nodded. It was jerky, nervous. He hadn’t heard much of Luc’s conversation with Kimber, just enough to know his cousin had some whacked-out imagining that he’d been keeping the doll-faced beauty to himself. And that Kimber thought she had an urgent reason to be here.
Since they only had one acquaintance in common, this had to be about the Colonel.
“Is everything all right with your dad?”
“He–he’s fine. Thanks.” She pasted on a smile. “He says some psycho, ex-convict he helped bring in for a client is threatening him, but that’s nothing new.”
In their line of work? “No, it’s not.”
Finally, his erection abated enough to cross the room and plant himself at the fussy Italian table. A smile still tugged at the corner of his cousin’s mouth, and Deke sent him a warning glare.
“I heard you tell Luc you had something urgent to talk to me about. It’s not about the Colonel?”
“No. It’s…” Kimber lashes swept toward her cheeks as she looked down, bit her lip once more.
Damn it, her unconsciously coquettish expressions were making him hard again.
Her gaze bounced back up again, and he saw fortitude there. Interesting…
“It’s personal.”
Personal? Deke had no idea what to say. She’d come to him for something personal? He’d done his best to be an ass to her when he’d worked for her father. Not too difficult when he’d been knotted up by sexual frustration on a daily basis.
A moment passed in silence. A pause. Then…
Luc rose and approached Kimber. “I’ll give you kids a few minutes alone. I have to make a phone call, anyway. There’s more raspberry tea in the fridge. Don’t let Mr. Glower scare you off.” He grabbed her hand and kissed it. “And don’t leave without saying goodbye.”
Deke watched the exchange, and realized after Luc strolled out of the room that he was grinding his teeth. Bastard. Kimber was everything his cousin pursued with single-minded vigor: the promise of sweetness, white lace, and innocent sighs. The fact she had a healthy hint of red in her hair was just a bonus.
Not this woman. Not this time. If Kimber was off limits to him, Luc wasn’t getting a piece of her ass, either.
The muted slam of a door down the hall let Deke know his cousin was safely ensconced in his office. He turned his attention back to Kimber.
“Go ahead. I’m listening.”
She drew in a shaky sigh, then raised her chin, seeming to take her nerves in hand. A moment later, she sent him a direct stare. “I came to ask you for a favor. I realize this is odd but… would you teach me about sex, the way you like it?”

Finding Strength

You likey? Here's the cover for the combined books of Two Sighted and Strength of Three which are going to print. It's not due out until next June but hey...

Swim, Bike, Run

No, not me this time :) Today two of my kids raced in a trYathlon at a local YMCA and had a blast. They were so excited and both did an excellent job. They were in the youngest age group so their distances were a 50 yd swim, 1.4 mile bike, and 1/2 mile run. It was a lot of fun and everyone recieved a medal, certificate, t-shirt, water bottle, and door prize. Thankfully they both had a great time and now have asked to do another one. The left picture is my younger daughter just off the bike an onto the run and the right is my oldest daughter (#873) just out of the swim and getting ready to get on her bike. It was an overcast day and not hot since we've been getting some rain the last two days, but despite the squishy mud puddles, it was a nice day and I congratulate the Y for putting on such a nicely run event.

The Perfect Gift

I know, it's too early for Christmas! But hey, this particular anthology from Samhain Publishing releases in PRINT at the end of September!! Heck, it's already available for pre-order at Amazon.com. or you can wait until December and download each book individually in e-format :) Sooo, on that note, I thought I'd introduce you to Look What Santa Brought. Some of you may already know who the hero is. Scottie.

Blurb:
Look What Santa Brought by Annmarie McKenna (c) 2007


He is looking for the love of his life, she is looking for a little refuge.

Scott Wyatt knows what he wants for Christmas and it comes in a beautiful voiced, make his heart race, more than tempting package. If only he could see her.

Tara Patrick needs a man to make her ex see the light. But when the gorgeous brother of her best friend offers himself for the job, she has to say no. How could she possibly use the blind man who makes her heart flutter and not get hurt in the process?

Staring at the opportunity of a business lifetime, Tara finds herself living as close to Scott as one can live without sharing a bed. Tara’s ex isn’t happy and he sets out to prove he won’t lose her. But when darkness falls, which man has the advantage, because Scott isn’t willing to let Tara go either.

Excerpt:
“Craaap.”

The hushed, indignant tones of Scott Wyatt’s quarry reached his ears and he wondered what she’d done. Stubbed her toe? Spilled her usual caramel latte? He smiled and sat back, relaxing into the rigid, corduroy-covered foam blocks someone decided would pass as a chair, and waited for her to join him at their little group’s usual table. He’d have to look into getting new chairs, despite his sister’s protestations that these fit the décor of his coffee shop.

He pressed a button on his watch. “Ten twenty-two,” a nasally, female voice told him. Tara Patrick was late this morning, by just over twenty minutes. She’d never been late before. A frisson of anxiety skittered across his nerves, overriding the hard-on her voice always seemed to ignite.

“Come on, come on,” she mumbled.

He nearly groaned. Her choice of words and his heightened state of libido didn’t mesh. Scott imagined her teeth grinding together with her agitation.

A muffled cartoon ring-tone grew louder as it was drawn out of whatever hidey-hole it resided in. He’d heard it before. The song Tara had programmed onto her cell phone mirrored her normal personality. Fun and carefree. Lots of laughter.

Papers shuffled, cloth moved over cloth, a joint popped.

“Ouch. Son of a booger. Unh. Hello?” she said, her voice getting closer to him, the hello much stronger than her previous whispered mutterings.

Scott pursed his lips, hiding his grin and welcoming back the rush of blood to his groin where his cock hardened further. Sounded like Tara was having a rough day. In the two months he’d known her, he’d never noticed her usual happy-go-lucky self having a bad day.

Maybe he’d talk to Brianna and find out what was bothering the woman of his dreams. His sister and Tyler, her husband in heart if not on paper, would be here any minute.

Scott envied Brianna. She’d been lucky enough to find not just one man, but two. Tyler and Cole both loved and cherished her. Their relationship might seem strange to people who didn’t know them, but the trio was what worked for them and their two children.

Scott was waiting for that one special woman in a million he could share that same sort of bond with. He more than wanted it, he needed it. Felt it was the one thing missing in his life. And somehow he had a feeling Tara might be the one, despite the fact he knew she’d been dating another man. He ground his teeth together thinking about her with someone else.

To Bean Or Not To Bean, the coffee shop Scott owned, was their regular Tuesday/Thursday meeting place. Brianna, Tyler or Cole, and Tara met him here usually without fail at ten o’clock. It had quickly become a habit and they’d all gotten to be a close group.

Scott was ready to get closer.

He squirmed in his seat and tried to adjust himself. Any harder and his dick would be imprinted with the buttons of his fly.

“What the hell? I asked you to leave three days ago.”

Scott tried to tune out her worried side of the conversation, which he easily picked out over the din of the entire cafe. Her voice attached itself to his ears like a magnet. Because of his blindness, his hearing had always been strong in his good ear. Especially having to compensate for the bad one. Now, thanks to revolutionary surgery he’d had to repair the damaged ear, his hearing was even more superior.

The door opened behind and to his left with a whoosh of cold, frosty air, tinkling the tiny overhead bell and swirling the robust aroma of freshly brewed coffee, peppermint and boughs of pine throughout the café. The espresso machine whirred, foaming up a fresh batch of frothy milk for the next customer’s order. A muted version of “Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas” floated around the room. Somewhere to his right, fingers clacked incessantly across a laptop keyboard as if the owner’s life depended on it. Cattycorner from him, loose change hit the floor followed by a “goddamn it”.

“He’s baaack,” a whiny, high-pitched voice sung out.

The woman did not even attempt to be discreet. Or maybe she did and his overdeveloped sense of hearing just made it seem that way. Scott hung his head at the distraction.

“Who?” a second woman asked.

“Blond Adonis, six o’clock.”

“Oh Lord, he’s hot.”

Scott snorted softly and grimaced behind his mug of café mocha. Since the two female voices emanated from his twelve o’clock and nobody sat behind him, he could only presume they were referring to him.

“Just a second,” Tara’s voice intruded. “Um, hello, you do know the blond Adonis is blind, right? Waggling your fingers at him isn’t doing you a bit of good.”

Scott nearly spewed his coffee across the room. He choked down what he could and coughed out the rest.

“Shit,” he muttered, and grabbed the napkin from its nine o’clock position on the table and wiped at his now damp shirt.

“And what makes you such an expert?” the first woman’s snotty voice retorted.

“Oh, I don’t know, the fact he’s wearing sunglasses inside? Or maybe it’s the seeing eye dog sitting next to him?” Tara nearly shouted.

Scott bit his lip.

“Or maybe it’s because I’m sleeping with him, and I can assure you, the man can’t see a thing. But damn, what he can do with those hands.” Tara made this little moaning sound and Scott nearly came in his jeans.

My new baby :)

Isn't he sweet? Well, he was until the little shit starte chewing on one of my books!! He's a 9 wk old yellow lab and the kids are calling him Max.

Winner!

I have a blinding migraine fast approaching so if I don't get back to you tonight, I will in the morning. Lesley is the winner. Congrats! And thanks everyone for playing. I really want to go to the beach now. Lesley, contact me at annmarmck@yahoo.com and let me know what format you'd like.

Thanks again, everyone :)

Contest Anyone?

I'm leaving for the RWA conference tomorrow and will miss the release of my Midsummer Night's Steam for Samhain this Friday the 13th, Fantasmagorical. :( BUT, I'd love to give out and early bird copy!! This is a m/m/f menage--notice the m/m part of that menage in case any of you don't like m/m stories. Just leave me a note, telling me about your best vacation spots and I'll choose a winner at 5 CST tonight. I'm leaving at 10 am so be sure to check back to see if you won so I can send you a copy. Otherwise, it might not be so early bird :)

YIKES!

It's been two freakin' months since I wrote in here. Here is my hand for anyone who wants to slap it! It's been a busy, busy, busy, non-stop summer and blogging has been the furthest thing from my mind.

So I have a new cover... :) You can see it above because I can't seem to get it to go where I want it, LOL. It's The Strength of Three. Christina, Jon, and TJ from Two Sighted. If you've read it, then you've already me them. It's SUPPOSED to go out the end of August. Cross your fingers.

I also wrote and sold a m/m short story to Samhain for the 2008's m/m Valentine's anthology!! Look for Court Appointed in late January. We're working on cover ideas and blurbs as we speak so hopefully I'll have something soon.

Today I joined Alison Kent's challenge: Seventy Days of Sweat-The writing challenge. We have seventy days to finish a novel length book. This is perfect for me since Ultimatum is due Oct. 1 and since I haven't started it yet...

As for Ultimatum, it's been pushed back. It was supposed to come out later this year, but because things got very hectic for me, I've had to do some rescheduling. It's given me a much needed breather when I needed it most.

Fantasmagorical releases one week from today!! Woohoo! Unfortunately I will be at National next week so I won't be here to see it go live. Perhaps I'll give one away early next week.

I hope everyone's summer is going well and if you're going to National, I'll be at the signing, if my plane actually lands on time.

These are hilarious!

Thirteen Last Minute Things To Do Before RT Annmarie McKenna

I shouldn't be Thirteening today. I need to be doing a million other things, yet here I sit feeling guilty for not being able to blog at all since last week. So here's my list of 13 make-me-even-more-nervous things to do before Tuesday.

1. Print some copies of Fantasmagorical Covers to give away.
2. Find 2 baskets. One for holding name slips for the basket giveaway, on for the actual basket.
3. Pray that the Gods are on my side and my magnets actually make it to Houston and are printed correctly :)
4. Organize clothes. I have done nothing but promo items for this trip so far.
5. Get my hair cut. That's later today.
6. Sleep. Yep, I haven't been doing that so well lately.
7. Make a list of ALL the things I do that my hubby doesn't know about, for the kids. Boy is he in for a shock.
8. Buy food for said kids so hubby doesn't have to cook.
9. Go to the Bank.
10. Find a few more items to go in the gift basket.
11. Organize between my mom and my hubby the kids schedule while he works.
12. Pack.
13. Try not to have a nervous breakdown.

Everything else, is there anything else?, is good to go. I think. I hope. Next year won't be so bad will it? At least then I won't be a virgin anymore and will have an idea of what's about to happen.

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Free Read--squeee!

I have a fun free read in All Romance Ebooks Newsletter this week. You can check it out here: http://allromanceebooks.com/newsletter46-2007-04-13.html It is a newsletter so there's a interview before the vignette :) Squee! Let me know what you all think of my first attempt at a super short freebie :)

I've been tagged

First off, I just wanted to thank Beth Williamson for tagging me this morning. It was awful sweet of you hon. Just can't thank you enough :).

Now then, I am supposed to blog about 5 Things I Obsess About. Beth, we are oddly alike which is a little scary. The problem is, I don't have five things. I am the opposite of obsessor, LOL. Seriously. I don't care if the house isn't clean, or the wash not done, or there's dishes in the sink. I'm a blue jeans/shorts and t-shirt type of girl, wear my hair in a ponytail on a regular basis and don't use make-up. Damn. What does all that say about me? Well, here are a few things I do obsess about.

1. Money--all the time. Who doesn't? Keeps me up in the middle of the night. Why?

2. Pleasing people--I have this intense fear of pissing someone off by my actions or words, intentional or not.

3. Being on time--I hate when people are late. Once in awhile, yeah, okay. There are reasons that might hold you up now and then. But on a routine basis just for the attention? Uh-uh. Doesn't fly.

4. All right I do obsess about finishing my projects on time though my editor will say I sorely suck at accomplishing that. Yet I don't like to leave my house late. I think it stems back to pleasing people. If I don't get it done, who will hate me the most? Thankfully my editor's whip is soft.

5. And last but not least I fear what most people in this country fear. Okay, maybe not an obsession, but it weighs heavily on my mind...making sure my kids grow up to see adulthood in the same way we all have and not from the inside of some bomb shelter. There, I said it. Ack. To over the top? I don't worry about the fringe being straight or the blades of grass all being equal, when I worry, it's about the big things in life, LOL.

And that's a little tidbit into my neurotic mind. Now I'm going to tag Nicole Austin

Thirteen Books I've Read A Million Times Annmarie McKenna 1. All The Queen's Men...Linda Howard 2. The Perfect Man...Linda Howard 3. Dying To Please...Linda Howard 4. Heartbreaker...Julie Garwood 5. The Secret...Julie Garwood 6. The Bride...Julie Garwood 7. Sweet Nothings...Catherine Anderson 8. Storm Warning...Dinah McCall 9. The Ugly Duckling...Iris Johansen 10. Hawk O'Toole's Hostage...Sandra Brown 11. Remember Summer...Elizabeth Lowell 12. The Guardian...Dee Henderson 13. Kiss and Tell...Cherry Adair Links to other Thursday Thirteens!1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Winner

LOL, I think I offered a contest for commenting on my new digs :) The winner is...Erin the innocent! Congrats Erin. Email me at annmarmck@yahoo.com for a GC to Samhain or a download of any of my three available books or wait until I get Two Sighted in my hot little hands :)

Thanks everyone. I love the new look ;)

Happy Hump Day!

Sweeeeet!

Check out my new digs :) I had my web designer make my blog match my web pages. Yeah. I love it! Thanks, JoAnn and Jaymi at J-J Designs. They make my life a hell of alot easier since I'm clueless.