AUGUST ALFRESCO - Illuminations

Welcome to the AUGUST ALFRESCO!

Here are the details of the promotion:

• Visit the smutalfresco.co.uk site every day of the competition and open that days envelope

• Leave a comment on the days blog to get an entry into the August Alfresco Prize Draw.

• One Entry Per Person Per Blog each day. You can get 31 entries in total to the Draw.

Terms & Conditions

• August Alfresco runs from
  1st Aug - 31st Aug.
• The Winner will be drawn at Midnight GMT on the 2nd Sept 2013.
• The competition is open to everyone over the age of 18.
• The prize is non-transferable, non refundable and cannot be exchanged for any cash/prize alternatives.

Excerpt from ILLUMINATIONS by Maggie Nash

Genre: Victorian/Menage/Voyeur/BDSM light

BLURB:

When you dip your finger in the fire – you get burned!

When Darius and his friend Jamie find Gemma, a young scullery maid, peeking through a shaded window at a ménage scene with one of their guests, they have just the right punishment for her.
Gemma finds she is unable to tear her eyes from the scandalous scene in front of her. Why didn’t she run from this act of depravity? And why did watching it make her body feel heat in places she’d never felt heat before?

Before the hot summer evening is over Gemma finds herself at the mercy of not one, but two very handsome young men who not only want to teach her a lesson, but as she soon finds out – she is the lesson, and this time she is the one with an audience.

Reader Advisory: This book contains hot scenes featuring voyeurism and m/f/m sex that some readers may find illuminating.

Darius led Gemma to the place in the garden he had prepared earlier. A high hedge enclosed this section, creating a private but open space. A large oak tree stood in the centre of the clearing, shading it from the summer sun.

She was skittish and he feared that she might not go through with it. He needed to work quickly and led her to the tree.

She hesitated. “What are you going to do?”

He smiled at her, stroking her face to soothe away the lines of worry around her mouth. “I am going to bring you great pleasure.”

She turned her head side to side. “But where are the others?”

“I felt it would be better to ease you into this. To earn your trust one step at a time.”

He directed her to stand with her back against the tree. “You are beginning to trust me, aren’t you?”

Her eyes widened and she nodded, so he placed a scarf over her eyes and tied it at the back of her head.

“You are very quiet, little one. Do you wish to continue?”

She hesitated, taking in a deep breath before speaking. “Yes, I think so.”

“You think so? Or you are sure?”

Her voice became firmer, more confident as the freedom of the blindfold took over.

“Yes, I am sure.”

He let out a breath, relieved she was still willing, for his body was ready to explode. He wanted her. No other woman would suffice. “Then we shall begin. Relax and enjoy. I know that I will.”

“Thank you, Darius.”

He laughed.  “It will be my pleasure.”

He removed her apron first, reaching behind her to untie the bow before tossing it on the grass. “I need you to keep very still while we get ready, and try not to speak unless you wish me to stop. Is that understood?”

She nodded.

“Excellent.”

He took his time removing her gown. As each tiny button was unfastened, more of her pale skin was revealed. When he reached her waist he pulled the rest of the gown to her ankles and lifted her feet one by one to remove it completely.

Seeing Jamie at the edge of the clearing, Darius beckoned his friend, who started to remove Gemma’s underskirt.

She shivered and goose pimples appeared all over her skin.

Darius moved closer and brushed her lips with his own. “Are you well, little one?”

She sighed into his lips and nodded.

“You are doing very well. I am very pleased,” he said just before kissing her again. She smiled against his lips and his heart jumped. Stepping back, he waited while Jamie lifted her chemise, forcing her arms over her head to release it. Before her arms could drop, he wrapped a silk rope around each wrist, tying her arms around the tree. Her soft sigh was the only indication that she was affected by this sudden move. 

While Jamie took off her drawers, Darius stood back to admire her lush body.

“You are a work of art, my dear Gemma.”

“She certainly is,” Jamie said.

Gemma gasped and lost her balance, falling against the ties.

As Jamie held her arm and helped her regain her footing, Darius cupped her face with both hands. “Take a deep breath, little one. This is what you wanted, is it not?”

She did as he told her and breathed out slowly, reacting to his soothing words.

“Well done. You are now ready to begin.”

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All terms and conditions are available at smutalfresco.co.uk and the winners will be announced on the 1st September at the website

Life Bytes with Maggie Nash

Hi folks...I've been interviewed over at Keziah Hill's blog today in her Life Bytes series. Drop by and see what I have to say!  There's a smoking hot excerpt too!  Click the link to get there :-)
http://www.keziahhill.com/2012/06/life-bytes-with-maggie-nash/

Why do I love BDSM romance?

You know 10 years ago I would never ever have dreamed of writing about BDSM, let alone writing BDSM stories. Not knowing anything about it other than what I'd heard in whispers over the years, I thought (and I'm sure a lot of people still do) that it was all about being beaten up and tortured. I couldn't even imagine a time when a person would want to be put through what I saw as an unnecessary and painful ordeal. I thought these people must have some type of psychiatric disorder and they desperately needed help.

At the same time as I was thinking these bad things about a philosophy and a lifestyle I knew next to nothing about, I was finding myself fantasizing about all sorts of situations that made me feel very confused and conflicted. On the one hand I condemned BDSM through misunderstanding and misinterpretation, and on the other I found myself drawn to movies and stories where the heroine was completely at the mercy of another person. And not necessarily a hero either.

As an impressionable adolescent I watched as Robert Redford held a gun to Katherine Ross while insisting she take her clothes off. I got so hot that I still dream about that scene.  Worse, I remember watching a movie about a serial killer where he tied his victims to a bed and touched them all over while watching on fully clothed, and I wished it was me. Of course my fantasy turned him into a handsome lover who eventually let me go, but at the time I thought I was quite disturbed!  Heck, it's amazing that my strict Catholic upbringing didn't send me to the loony bin even thinking about it. Okay, maybe I still think I was disturbed!

Later, when I discovered fumbling sex with my boyfriend and we made out in alleys and on the beach, the thought of being seen by others turned me on at the same time as it horrified me! I watched the movie EMMANUELLE which gave me years of scenes to fantasize about but I thought I was being really really naughty! Boy did that make me feel weird, but I never really made the connection to BDSM. Not until years later.

I was already reading and writing erotic romance when I bought a book to support a fellow new author and read it in one sitting. The book was NO ONE BUT MADISON by Doreen Orsini. I had no idea it was BDSM until I read it. I couldn't put it down, and to this day I revisit it over and over again. In fact I have probably read it more than 20 times since it first came out in 2006. Thank you Doreen for starting me on my journey of discovery!

It all began to make sense. All those pent up feelings and fantasies were not just me. Others had them too. Others even lived their life by them. How exciting! What a relief!

I spent the next few years reading as many BDSM romance books as I could, finding wonderful authors such as Joey Hill, J W McKenna, Delilah Devlin and more recently my fan girl crush is on Cherise Sinclair. But I still had no idea what attracted me to this genre and this lifestyle.

In the middle of this I decided that if I was going to fantasize, I needed to write it all down, but before that I had better do my research. I spent months looming on BDSM sites, reading non-fiction books on the subject, speaking to practicing subs (since quite frankly, I'd decided that was more me!) before I started my first book on it.

THE MASTERS PRIZE was the result, and even though I don't think I got it completely right, I did manage to get a lot of my pent up feelings out and down on the paper. I finally found a way to express what I had been feeling all of my life. It was incredibly freeing for me and I hope others have been able to see that in the book. Of course it isn't a real depiction of BDSM as I do not live the lifestyle, but I have spent a lot of time living in the headspace of a sub, and researching it all was so much fun :-) I know a few who read it loved it, so that's the main thing!

So back to the topic. Why do I love BDSM romance?

Remember these are my own opinions, and many of you may disagree with me and that's okay. This is all about what I feel personally.

It took me a long time to sort out why I was attracted to this fantasy, but I think I have a handle on it now.

There four parts to my answer:

1. It's about letting go without losing yourself. The characters in BDSM are courageous enough to let go of their lives, their fears, anxieties, and yes, even their orgasms and place themselves in the hands of another. What an incredible gift to give another human being! And how freeing for an individual to be able to do it, allowing another to make decisions on what your body will have or not have.

2. It's about trust. There is no way you can give over of yourself to another if you don't trust them to allow you to be the one with the ultimate control. You gift them with yourself, but know that they can't do it without your consent and willingness. Being in a relationship where you trust another person to be responsible for what happens to you is, as I said, an amazing gift, and without trust it's not going to happen. How wonderful to be able to trust someone this much!

3. It's about heightening sensations. Being unable to control what happens to you makes you hyper aware of every inch of your body. It's an amazing feeling and very addictive :-) We've all heard that old adage "There's a fine line between pleasure and pain". Being taken to another plane with sensations given in a loving way can only heighten the pleasure and take it to even greater heights. (great song too!).

4. It's about being sane (knowing what you're doing at all times), safe (using caution and safety in all that is done) and consensual (knowing that both sides agree at all times and that it's okay to change your mind and stop).

As you can see, most of my reasons for loving BDSM romance involve the dynamics of the exchange of power. The deep emotions, the great sex and the amazing sensations are the results of this and can't exist without them. Plus I guess I'm just a tad kinky :-)

So give me a sassy sub who willingly gives control over to a loving Dom and I'm happy. If he gives her amazing experiences by pushing her limits, and pushing mine as the reader, all the better!

And before you ask - yes, I have tried a lot of what I researched :-) Not telling which bits though :-) My plan is one day to be brave enough to visit a club or even to a BDSM retreat for a weekend escape...so one day you never know! All in the name of research of course!

These days I have plenty of authors I enjoy reading who write BDSM the way I like it. As I mentioned, I love Cherise Sinclair, plus there's also Nichelle Gregory, Desiree Holt, Ann Jacobs, Katherine Kingston, Mackenzie McKade, Sindra Von Yissel, Qwillia Rain, Reese Gabriel, Lisabet Sarai, Lily Harlem -  and the list goes on. Some of these lovely authors live the life, some of them, like me -  fantasize and research....but boy do I enjoy reading them as I am sure they love writing them.  Reading these books is like joining a secret women's business society!

My guilty pleasure. *Bliss*

My second BDSM book is available now. It's called ILLUMINATIONS.  It's set in Victorian England and is related to a full length novel I am writing. Victorian England as a setting puts an entirely new spin on it for me but the emotions are the same.

So for a chance to win a copy of ILLUMINATIONS, tell me why YOU like BDSM romance? What good BDSM books have you read lately? Or just say hi!  Don't forget to leave your email address in your comment so I can contact you if you win.

I'll choose the winner randomly from all the comments and you have until Wednesday night (Aussie time) to post.




Don't forget to come back on Thursday because I have Aussie BDSM/Steampunk author Cari Silverwood dropping by with a peak at her latest release!

The BIG BLISSE KISS - Illuminations

Welcome to the BIG BLISSE KISS!

It's a special SUNDAY SNOG today in celebration of Valentine's Day!  Thanks to the wonderful Victoria Blisse for coming up with this wonderful concept :-)

For one lucky person who leaves a comment there's also a special prize!  I'm giving away a $20 Amazon gift voucher!  Good luck everyone!

And after you've read my snog - head on over to the Blisse Kiss website to catch up on all the other hot snogs, plus there are LOADS of prizes at the other author's sites too!




My special Sunday Snog today is from my Erotic Victorian Historical story - ILLUMINATIONS!

 BLURB:

When you dip your finger in the fire – you get burned!
When Darius and his friend Jamie find Gemma, a young scullery maid, peeking through a shaded window at a ménage scene with one of their guests, they have just the right punishment for her.

Gemma finds she is unable to tear her eyes from the scandalous scene in front of her. Why didn’t she run from this act of depravity? And why did watching it make her body feel heat in places she’d never felt heat before?

Before the hot summer evening is over Gemma finds herself at the mercy of not one, but two very handsome young men who not only want to teach her a lesson, but as she soon finds out – she is the lesson, and this time she is the one with an audience.

Reader Advisory: This book contains hot scenes featuring voyeurism and m/f/m sex that some readers may find illuminating.

Click HERE to buy the book

****

Darius stood by his window swirling the brandy in his glass when a flash of movement caught his eye. By the light of the moon he could just make out a reddish glint in the curls of the woman as she hurried to hide in the centre of the hedge.

Interesting.

He continued to watch for a few minutes, but she had yet to reappear.

He smiled. There was no time like the present to start her lessons, he thought. He drained his glass and placed it on the side table near his door as he left the room.

He slipped through the kitchen and reached the garden scant minutes later. He spied a strip of white poking through the leaves of the hedge. Good, he thought.  She was still there. Upon hearing a loud, lusty cry from the other side of the hedge, he knew the reason behind her hiding place.

She really is a naughty girl, he thought. And naughty girls deserve to be taught a lesson.

He walked quietly towards the hedge just as his quarry backed out. He grabbed her upper arms to prevent her colliding into him. “Shh…” he whispered against her ear. “They will hear you.”

She struggled against him, rubbing her delectable bottom against his groin, gasping when his erection pressed against her. Good. He wanted her to know that finding her enjoying a carnal act pleasured him.

“Please let me go, sir,” she whispered.

He smiled, sensing her arousal. “Why would you want to leave, my dear?” Sliding a hand over her arm and brushing her hair aside, he exposed the white skin of her neck. “Just when it’s getting interesting.”

She shivered, turning her head to the side. “We shouldn’t be watching, sir. It’s private.”

He nuzzled her neck and placed his lips against the sensitive spot just below her ear. “That’s where you are wrong. Unless the activities are in a private room, all is open to be seen here at Maitland House.”

Gemma fidgeted, trying to turn to face him. “B-b-but why would anyone agree to th-that? “

He wrapped both his arms around her body, brushing her breasts. “Because, my dear one, this place is about fantasies. Being watched, like watching, is something people enjoy.”

“But that is wicked!”

Darius laughed softly. “Some might say so, but do you really believe that to feel pleasure, to live out your deepest fantasies…is wicked?” he said as he cupped her breasts.

Her nipples lengthened. Gemma gasped and wriggled. I…um…” She leant her body back against his, sighing as her bottom touched his groin.

“Well? I expect an answer, Gemma,” he said, tweaking her nipples and squeezing them gently.

She struggled against him and lifted her arms, covering his hands with her own and tugging at them.

But he held firm. “Answer me. Can you honestly say you would forgo pleasure just because society tells you you must?”

She shook her head back and forth. ”I don’t…I don’t really know, sir.”

His heart lifted at her response. He was correct in believing she was ready for this. “Very good. An honest answer.” He released her nipples and placed his hands on her shoulders, turning her to face him. “Do not ever deny your pleasure or your needs, little one. It leads to many problems, some you would not even dream of.”

“But what if some of those needs are not allowed. What of the new laws?”

“You speak of the Labouchere amendment? I am impressed that you are aware of the affairs of the government.”

She took a step backwards. ”Impressed, sir? Why? Because as a scullery maid I am not expected to read?”

Intrigued with her spirit, he smiled. “Quite frankly, my dear, yes. I have never before met a scullery maid who reads the newspaper.”

She looked up, her eyes flashing and her nostrils flaring. “I was not always a scullery maid sir. Before I came to Maitland House I was a lady’s maid and companion.”

That certainly explained her dignity and her eloquent speech. His interest was truly piqued. “Is that so? And for whom did you fulfil these onerous duties?”

She looked away. “No one of any consequence, sir. You should be more interested in how you keep the constabulary from closing down this household and locking you and the master away in the Old Bailey.”

The sound of more laughter accompanied by footsteps signalled the departure of the couple from the other side of the hedge.

“It seems our friends have left us,” he said as he reached up and slipped a stray curl behind her ear. “Do not worry on our account, we are quite safe within these walls. The master has many friends and clients from the government.”

She shivered when he stroked her cheek with the back of his hand. Her skin was as soft as the finest velvet.

“Th-that is very interesting, sir.”

He stepped closer, feeling her soft breath against his neck as he rested his chin on the top of her head. “Yes it is, but not as interesting as you, my dear. Now tell me more about your previous life.”

Moving her head, she tried to step away, but the hedge impeded her progress. “It’s all very boring, sir. I am sure there are others here at Maitland House who are more interesting than I.”

He leant forward, speaking softly against her ear. “I can see you are not ready to trust me yet, little one. But you will in time.”

Her shoulders rose as she shivered, despite the summer evening. “Please, sir, I should go back to my room,” she whispered. “I am needed in the kitchen in a few short hours.”

He sighed, knowing he should not hold her from her duties. “I will let you go when you agree to allow me to gain your trust.”

“I do not understand, sir.”

“If you will agree to meet with me tomorrow, I will show you more ways to feel pleasure.” He placed a finger over her lips. “Before you say no, I will assure you that nothing will happen unless you allow it to. If you ask to stop our lessons, I will honour your wishes.”

She stared at him, her face a picture of innocence. “I am not sure what you are asking, sir.”

“I want to show you what is possible. I want to teach you not to deny your feelings or that wonderful passion I see beneath your very proper appearance.” He kissed her lightly on her forehead, her skin warm and soft against his lips.

She looked away from him, her bottom lip caught between her teeth. “I shouldn’t, sir.”

He smiled.  “But you will.”

Still she refused to look at him. “You will let me go if I ask it of you?”

“You have my word as a gentleman.”

“Please, sir. May I have this night to think about it?”

He cupped her face with both hands, turning her to face him. “Look at me, Gemma.”

She slowly raised her eyes. “Please?”

His face was barely inches from her mouth. Her sweet breath mingled with his as he whispered against her lips. “You have until morning.”

She licked her bottom lip.

“Here is something to help you think about it.” His mouth covered hers.

He had expected to coax her mouth open, but nothing prepared him for the spark of electricity once their lips met. His tongue licked along the seam of her mouth and she willingly opened for him, allowing him to invade the velvet depths. She sighed as he explored her mouth, flicking in and out slowly and sending heat coursing through his veins.  He licked and tongued and suckled her mouth as she leant into his embrace. 

He struggled to withdraw, especially as his cock was as hard as a pole, but he knew the pleasure that awaited them on the morrow was worth some self-restraint now. As he eased away from the kiss, he smoothed his hands down her shoulders and gently pushed her back. Her eyes were burning with need and he almost took her again, but reluctantly held back. “Until tomorrow, little one.”

Her breathing was ragged as she stared at him for a few more seconds before walking to the house. He kept watching as she slipped back through the kitchen door, closing it softly behind her.

Only then did he allow himself to adjust his trousers. Tomorrow was going to be an interesting day indeed.

Okay, where do I buy it?  Click HERE

****
Don't forget to leave a comment to go into the draw to win a fantastic $20 gift certificate from Amazon!




And head over to the Big Blisse Kiss website to find all the other Sunday Snogs and your chance to win LOTS of prizes!

My July release cover is here!

I got this fabulous promo pack made up by the fabulous Art Director at TEB - Emmy Ellis...thanks so much!

Here is a taste...enjoy!