Romance as a Lifestyle

Many people believe romance is only something that can happen between two people. They cannot recognize it as a lifestyle choice. That a life lived in romance is a deliberate act. It isn’t something that just happens to you or always arrives as a gift someone bestows upon you.

Romance is an artform. Ask any artist. Ask any musician. The art or music they create can be powerful and very romantic simply because it is filled with beauty and is a romantic expression.

Romance begins with the individual. You can choose to create it in everything you do or you can trudge through life longing for it to find you. To have a romantic lifestyle requires understanding what romance is and moving beyond pre-conceived limitations which confine romance to being available only to couples.

Romance vibrates in all living things. Romance is beauty. Romance is a feeling. Romance is ambiance.

So how can you create a romantic lifestyle? One place to start is your clothes. Choose clothes that you feel reflect the romantic person inside you. It can manifest as an attitude conveyed by how you wear your clothes. How you carry yourself. Romance has style and requires an awakening of the magic inside. Become conscious of all the nuances in your surroundings. Colors, textures, aromas, and sounds.

If your career requires you don a business suit, then you can add a bit of a romantic look to it with a pin, a lapel flower or a scarf. The way you wear your hair. You can look professional and still have flair. Don’t be afraid to flex your romantic style muscles a bit.

Let that romantic feeling flourish in everything you do. Romance is something that captures the imagination and lingers. It teases and haunts us.

We can enjoy the sensual beauty of flowers or a candlelit room whether we are with our lover or alone. Romance is not exclusive to being a couple – a common misconception perpetuated by industries catering to couples and compounded by those who simply don’t understand how to create romance in their daily lives. Romance can enhance a sexual love relationship, but the flourish of romance is for everyone to enjoy. No one owns romance.

Anyone can have it. That is the beauty of romance. It is universal. You can soak it up wherever you are. It’s magical. It lives in everyone’s soul.

Don’t believe it? Try adding some romance to the simplest of things you do every day. It’s not what you do but how you do it. The special touches in the smallest of details can create romantic ambiance. Test it out.

The difference between someone who has a romance-filled lifestyle to someone who doesn’t is as contrasting as night and day. An example would be how a non-romantic lifestyle person dines compared to how a romantic lifestyle person dines.

Take the test. Go grill a steak for your dinner, bake a potato, and fix a salad.

How will you go about doing this? Will you just toss a steak on the grill, throw some salad mix in a bowl and slather sour cream on your potato, and then sit down in your kitchen to chomp down on it?

Or will you set the table with fresh flowers in a vase, season the steak with a special spice mixture, turn on some music while you slice fresh vegetables to go in your salad, and pour yourself a glass of wine to sip while you prepare your meal? If you answered the latter, then you are practicing a romantic lifestyle.

And the perfection of this form of living, if you want to invite a friend to join you, all the better. You don’t have to be lovers in order to share a romantic dinner or evening. It can be romantic to each of you for different reasons simply because it is a magical moment. That is the beauty of romance. It isn't exclusive to lovers. Romance loves everyone!

When Ahhhhh turns to Euuuuwwweeee!

Okay, there you are, Saturday night, alone with your man. It's a moonlit night. The floating pool lights cast a magical glow to the water. Stars twinkle overhead. The air is warm, but not as warm as the water, so you sink in, floating in that glowing warmth.

Your man swims over. Pulls you up against him. Oh yeah, that feels good. His hands move along your back. Nice. He walks you around the pool, your bodies touching, the water rippling around you.

You're caught up in the moment. Too caught up at first to notice. Why do you feel something on your shoulder if both his hands are otherwise occupied. Gulp! You turn your head to look.

A shriek cuts through the night. There's a freaking frog the size of Alabama on your freaking shoulder!

Euuuwwweeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!

Honey man to the rescue. Captures the beast and tosses it into a potted plant beside the pool then swims back over to you.

Too late. The mood is gone. Damn frogs. So much for moonlight swims. Where's the tequila?

Don’t send the wrong message!

Just as there are meanings behind the color of roses you send, there are also meanings behind the quantity you send.

As in all things related to romance, it's the little details that make it spectacular and to be remembered. So don't forget the little touches whenever sending roses because even the vase you select can add or subtract to the overall effect.

Ask about the card and if you have a choice of style. Take extra time to write your sentiments on the card. If a ribbon is to be used, see if you can select which one is used. Afterall, it's your bouquet, so make it extra special.To help you decide on the number of roses to send, here’s a brief guideline of the traditional messages they carry to your lover.

1. One Dozen - The traditional number of roses sent for any occasion
   


2. Two Dozen Conveys the message - I’m yours. It also means, I think about you every hour, 24 hours a day.
   


3. Several Dozen - Dozens and dozens of things I love about you or dozens and dozens of ways I love you.
   


4. Long stemmed - Means the person receiving the roses is in the sender’s heart forever.
   


5. Single long stem - Is good to send as a thank you or a simple I love you.
   


6. Six roses - I miss you.
   


7. Seven roses - I'm crazy about you.
   


8. 50 roses - Eternal unconditional love.
   


9. Miniature roses - Sweetheart. Says it all.
   


10. Roses and chocolate - You guessed it, the most romantic expression of love.

A single rose can touch the heart just as profoundly as a dozen roses when given with the right words. And if you have the thorns removed, it symoblizes how deeply you care.

Fall Romance

Fall is a great time to be romantic! Nature does her best to create many moments you and your lover can share.

1. Take a walk through rustling leaves.


2. Enjoy a mountain drive and enjoy the burst of fall foliage colors.


3. Visit a pumpkin farm and pick out a couple of pumpkins. Paint funny faces on them. You never know what will happen when two lovers get creative. (wink)


4. Picnic in a park with a nice blanket and great finger foods. Don't forget the wine and glasses!


5. For those in New England states, take a tour of a maple farm and see how that yummy syrup is made. Buy your favorite flavor and then spend the next morning with breakfast pancakes in bed.


6. Another popular entertainment in the fall is farmers turning the remains of their corn crop into mazes. This can be a lot of fun and a great first date idea as well as a way to spend some outdoor fun with your lover. If you can time it, choose a night visit when there's a full moon.


7. Apple orchards make another great place for a fun time. Many times these farms have restaurants with outside tables. You can buy all kinds of apple-related items, including pies and cider. Buy a bushel of apples or pick your own. A wonderful way to spend the day.


8. It's not to early to be thinking about Halloween. Why not take your lover on a costume shopping spree. You don't have to buy anything. Just be a kid for the day. Then when it's time to dress up, create your own costumes.


9. Take a lazy boat ride and enjoy the reflection of the fall colors along the glassy water.


10. Go on a photographic journey. Spend the day taking photos of each other and manage to get one photo of the two of you together. Print them out and place in a photo album. Now your memory of a perfect day has its own book.

Just another manic Monday

Well color me a dull vixen because it's Monday evening and I don't have a darn thing to say. My only excuse is that it's MONDAY people!! The day AFTER I've had two days to sleep late, stay up late, spend the day in either boxer shorts and tank top or a swim suit, skip the gym and pretend the house is going to clean itself.

Monday is a hard slap in the face. A ringing alarm at 4:30 am. WTF?? It's hours till dawn. It'll take two pots of coffee to get my engine started. I'll have to brave the bathroom mirror and the Monday face. Monday always is a bad hair day, a day when a zit appears, when the luggage under your eyes looks like the family size jumbo deluxe and your favorite shorts came out of the dryer refusing to conform to your form.

It's the day you make notes to yourself - and promises. You'll add another mile to your run. You WILL remember to moisturize EVERY night. You'll throw away that bag of chocolate and eat carrot sticks. You'll lighten up on the sugar in your coffee. You won't use the F word today. You'll do another set of crunchies even if it makes you puke. You'll remember to buy a birthday card that should have gone in the mail last week. You'll clean off that thing you call a desk - you know, that area that looks like a bomb went off on it. You'll answer the phone without growling hello. You won't use the F word today. (Yeah, I know I said that already, but on Monday it takes two reminders).

And then you find yourself at the end of the day trying to think of something witty to write. Well, news flash. There's no zip in my do-da. I know lost at least half the zip in mile three of the run, right after my sports bra blew a strap. WTF? Nothing like being lopsided. Such a nice look. The other half vanished when I went for that extra set of crunchies and decided that women don't need abs.

So, bottom line, this vixen is a dud today. Maybe Tuesday will be better. Maybe I'll go to bed at 8pm. Maybe I'll remember to moisturize. Or maybe I'll take honey-man's suggestion (he just strolled by) and pretend it's Friday, go for a naughty swim, stay up late and whine long and loud when that Tuesday alarm rings. Hey, a gal's gotta go what a gal's gotta do to rezip her do da.

Hope you've got plenty of zip:) Happy Monday!

Boldly Going...

Where I have never gone before. Namely, to futuristic romance. Up until now, most of my stories have been firmly grounded in the here and now. My heroines have been bank tellers and accountants and writers. My heroes have been counselors and musicians and business owners. In my September 24th release, Lia's Warrior, a Sapphire Jewel novella from Ellora's Cave, my characters don't even live on this planet. They live in a world where couples must be blessed by the sacred Sapphire Moon before they have sex - or suffer the tragic consequences.

See, that's one thing I discovered about venturing away from contemporary romance - I don't have to stick with the rules of planet Earth. I can come up with scenarios that force situations which wouldn't work in small town USA or a European city or anywhere else on Earth. And that's kinda cool.

My heroine isn't something as common as a school teacher. She's the Guardian of the Sapphire Moon, a crystal globe with a sacred sapphire embedded in the center. Lia must personally witness couples mating after they receive the Moon’s blessing. But she can never enjoy the pleasures of the flesh herself. And when her true love, Roark, returns from the war on a distant planet, he's told it's forbidden to mate with the Guardian! But, of course, the Warrior doesn't take no for an answer.

This was a fun story to write. There's forbidden love. A little voyeurism. A strong, sexy hero. A lot of hot sex. And a story that couldn't take place in the town down the road.

So do you have a favorite sub-genre? Do you like contemporary romances, where you feel as if the love story could happen to you today? Do you like futuristics, where the possibilities are endless? Or paranormals, where the characters might not even be human? Or historicals, where societal restraints can be a great source of conflict? Or, like me, do you love them all? I hope you do, because I plan to be boldly going wherever the stories takes me.

And sharing them with you.

Natasha
Romance with more...sizzle
Website
Blog
MySpace

Bring The Fun Back

Bring the Fun Back
By N.J. Walters

Sex is emotional and serious and earth shattering and…fun!

That’s right. Fun!

It doesn’t always have to be a momentous and important moment in the bedroom. It can be lighthearted and playful. People can bond over shared laughter just as well as they can over a deep, thoughtful experience.

That applies in books just as it does in life. I explored that theme in my latest Ellora’s Cave release, Lily Blossoms. Lily is a divorced woman whose son is now in college. She’s a conservative woman who owns and operates a local flower shop, Lily’s Blossoms. But she has a secret. She’s also writes erotic romance under a pseudonym. Problem is, Lily rarely dates and hasn’t had all that much experience with men.

Enter Carson Granger, a man who’s lusted after Lily for the past five years. When he stumbles onto her secret, he seizes the opportunity to get closer to her. Lily has a list of erotic fantasies she wants to research including sex in public, roses, whipped cream and a striptease. Carson has a few ideas of his own and he’s determined to be the man she experiences each and every item with.

As Lily explores her sexuality, with the help and encouragement of Carson, she begins to blossom as a woman. She soon learns that even shopping for lingerie can be a highly erotic exercise if shared with the right person. She tosses aside her sexual inhibitions and indulges in phone sex. Lily even plans to surprise Carson with a striptease that neither of them will ever forget.

But Lily has more than sexual hang-ups to overcome. She has to get past the fact that Carson is much younger than she is. Like most women, Lily has insecurities that may end up costing her what she’s always wanted. It’s a choice she’ll have to make.

You don’t have to go as far as Lily does in the book, but there are ways to spice up your sex life. Take little steps. Leave your honey notes where he’ll find them during the day. Maybe you might allow yourself to be blindfolded in the bedroom. Your sense of touch and smell and hearing will be heightened and the experience will be exciting for both of you.

Remember, laughter is sexy. Sex isn’t always perfect like it is in the movies and most books. After all, we’re only human. Allow yourself the opportunity to explore and be willing to laugh if it doesn’t work out quite the way you planned. You’ll be glad you did.

Emotional~Sensual~Satisfying Reads!
http://www.njwalters.com/
http://www.njwalters.blogspot.com/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/awakeningdesires/ (newsletter group)
Lily Blossoms—Ellora’s Cave—Now Available
Jackson’s Jewel—Ellora’s Cave—Now Available
A Legal Affair—Samhain Publishing—Now Available
By The Book—Coming November 25th!

Finding Romance - 10 Easy Ways

No Time For Romance? 10 Quick Ways to Create Romance in Your Life.

Life can be hectic. We spend our days rushing from one destination to another. We have lists to remind us what needs to be accomplished within a set time-frame. Responsibilities dictate what we do and where we go. Is it any wonder that by the end of the day we just don’t have energy left to create romance in our lives?

How could we possibly create romance amid such chaos? Well, it’s easy and doesn’t require expending more energy than you have leftover. And the best part is - you don’t need someone else to give you romance. You can give it to yourself with these ten easy ways to infuse romance into your everyday life.

1. Place fresh flowers on your desk. Grab a bouquet at the grocery store and spice it up with a nice vase. Add some baby’s breath. Now you have a wonderful splash of beauty to gaze upon all day. If space is limited, use three carnations or a single flower in a vase. It’s cheap and one of the easiest ways to add a touch of romance to your work days or at home.
   
2. Splurge and buy a small box of your favorite decadent chocolates and nibble on them slowly, enjoying their richness and taste.
   
3. Add beauty to your environment with texture and color. Cover a pillow in colorful rich silk. Buy a soft throw and drape over the back of a chair. A tapestry-covered footstool will add a feeling of old world charm. A potted plant by the staircase.
   
4. Light scented candles while watching TV. Put scented potpourri into an elegant bowl and place on the coffee table. Burn incense.
   
5. Take a picture of a gorgeous sunset or ocean scene. Buy some photo paper, print it off and then frame it. Hang it in the bathroom or your office or den.
   
6. Take a candle-lit bubble bath and listen to romantic music while you soak.
   
7. Buy a set of outrageously romantic bath towels and hang them in your bathroom.
   
8. Create ambiance with your meals. Why not add wine to your dinner? Move the location outside. Break out the linens, fine china and silverware. Add some candles and soft romantic music. Now, enjoy your very special meal.
   
9. Pamper yourself with a favorite perfume or a sexy pair of shoes. Buy that ring or pair of earrings you have been admiring.
   
10. Read a good romance novel and let your imagination escape into a world of fantasy.

So the next time you are in the grocery store grab that bottle of wine, a bouquet of flowers, some scented candles, and create a little romance in your life.

Night Owl Romance Showcases Ciana Stone

Night Owl Romance has also reviewed quite a few of Ciana Stone's books. Once a reviewer gets a taste of her stuff she goes wild.... yes even to the begging of please let me have the next one.

Many a time one reviewer will get a review copy, while other reviewers will purchase the book. In that case we sometimes get in two and sometimes three reviews for the same books. LOL - luckily our review database is ready for that occasion. Ciana is one of those authors that this has happened to - In a good way. Chase 'n' Ana has been reviewed by three reviewers, Riding Ranger twice, Molding Clay twice and Wyatt's Chance also by two reviewers. So, Lets showcase a couple of reviews.


Wyatt's Chance by Ciana Stone

Score: 5/5 - Reviewer Top Pick from Melinda


He calls to her one night in a voice desperate for help. That is all Chance needs to go to him even though he doesn’t want to see her. Years apart never made her forget about him. As a young child, a teenager he has always been her dream man. He is the one guy who can make her feel thing that no one gave her and that is love. She knows that she has always been different but never knew why until she met him. Growing up with him was something she would never forget. Yet because of her father he separated them and made her forget the one thing that Wyatt hates her for. There are things that she does not remember, places and people that she needs to remember. Like Wyatt, Chance needs him most of all for her memories to come to life. Can they get their second chance at love?

Wyatt Nashoba is a man possessed with demons and haunted memories. He has seen a beast kill merciless, and he knows who this beast is. He has known for years how he kills and knows no one can stop it. The thing is that he is the beast and not sure who will be killed next. He has no memory of what happens just knows that each time he wakes up someone is bloodily murdered. The last time this happened was with his army friends. Now that Chance is near him all the time he is afraid of what he will do to her. Wyatt knows that he will never harm her but the beast in him wants to control his whole life and those around him. He is evil and Wyatt is good but who will win in the end….The beast or Wyatt?

Chance and Wyatt are two characters that come from different sides of the tracks. You have a rich girl and an Indian who has to work hard to make his life worthy. He never expected though that someone as beautiful as Chance will love him. Though Wyatt and the beast are the same person the personalities in them are very different. I applaud Ciana for this whole story. I mean there were times when sometimes the beast was just so horrific and then Wyatt was like reading two different people. This is so unlike what I have read so far but I still loved it for the ending. Awesome job once again.

Also Online At: http://www.nightowlromance.com/nightowlromance/reviews/Review.asp?ReviewId=829



_______****************_______


Molding Clay (Book 2 in the Hot in the Saddle series) by Ciana Stone


Score: 4/5 from Susan

Ciana Stone has penned another great story with a mouth-watering cowboy and an independent witch that will touch your heart with their spellbinding romance.

Clay, our cowboy, comes to Rusty’s ranch to help her save it at the request of his family. What he gets is a beautiful woman with magical powers and a love hot enough to brand his soul.

Rusty is just trying to hold on to her family ranch and now must deal with vengeful people who want her and the ranch. With Clay’s love and support they set out to catch the people responsible for her troubles. Their fiery passion will scorch your senses and leave you breathless.

I loved Clay and Rusty’s magical journey of love and look forward to reading about the next brother who gets touched by a woman’s special magic. If you love sexy cowboys and red-hot magical love then Molding Clay is a must read book.

Also Online At: http://www.nightowlromance.com/nightowlromance/reviews/Review.asp?ReviewId=341

Night Owl Romance Showcases Sally Painter

Night Owl Romance has reviewed several of Sally Painter's books. Our most recent review was done by Susan :) - One of our long-time and very dedicated reviewers. Here is what Susan had to say about Reunited (Book 1 in the Gargoyles Seduced series) by Sally Painter.


Reunited (Book 1 in the Gargoyles Seduced series) by Sally Painter
Score: 4.5 / 5 Hearts - Reviewer Top Pick from Susan at Night Owl Romance.


Review Online also at: http://www.nightowlromance.com/nightowlromance/reviews/Review.asp?ReviewId=2334


Reunited takes you on a seductive journey with a struggling race of Gargoyles battling demons, a deadly virus and rogues among them, while keeping their duty to protect the humans. All hope for the Gargoyles depend on the discovery of the Reconciler and the healing she can provide that will save their race. Garrett Dermonté is determined to find her, protect her and convince her of the destiny that awaits her. Jen Ormand never wants to return to the delusional state she was in while growing up with the ability to see demons and after years of rehabilitation in a psych hospital, she is convinced it was all a figment of her imagination. When the death of her parents forces her to return home, she struggles with keeping the dark memories away. Garrett swoops into her life, carries her off, and tells her she is the Reconciler and that all the delusions from her childhood were real, which makes her question her sanity once again. Garrett's job is to protect her but he finds resisting their burning attraction is more challenging, all the while knowing he could be dooming his people. Can he resist her? Will she accept her calling, battle the demons and save the gallant race of Gargoyles, or continue questioning her sanity?

Sally Painter brings her Gargoyle legend to life with an extraordinary ability to enrapture the reader in a complex world with sinful delight and a battle of good and evil. The emotionally charged story sizzles with taboo and temptations to leave you breathless in wonder with what will become of Garrett, his people, and Jen--the one woman who holds the power to heal all the Gargoyles. Garrett and Jen provide tantalizing moments of romance even while their future is uncertain. The secondary characters will have you buzzing for more stories in this series as you are left intrigued with their dilemmas and the possibilities of where their stories could go. Reunited is a great story with characters you want to see again as they are imprinted within the heart of the reader while leaving you in anticipation for the next story in the Gargoyle series. It is an entertaining read and one I would recommend. Enjoy!

Night Owl Romance Visit's The Romance Vixens

Hi Ci and Sally. Thanks for having us on.

To begin with let us tell everyone a little about Night Owl Romance aka NOR. We review books from all genres of romance - from the tame to the extreme. We have a staff of around 35 reviewers who all volunteer their time to reading books and letting readers know their thoughts. We do around 200 reviews each month. Sometimes more, sometimes less. It all depends on that wonderful thing called free time.

We also bring readers the opportunity to search for reviews based on 6 different criteria. You can search by author, publisher, genre, score, reviewer and date range.

You can do a review search at: http://www.nightowlromance.com/nightowlromance/reviews/reviewsearch.asp

We also have an excerpts database where you can find excerpts based on author, genre and publisher. That's at: http://www.nightowlromance.com/nightowlromance/reviews/excerptssearch.asp

We have specialty pages dedicated to Romance and Erotic Romance

Romance: http://www.nightowlromance.com/nightowlromance/indextwo.asp

Erotic Romance: http://www.nightowlromance.com/nightowlromance/er/erindex.asp

Each of these sections is a great place to find new books that pertain to romance. You can also find lots of author interviews and our author website directory. We have a very cool author webside directory. It lists out the authors with their website addressses and all of the books we have reviewed for that author. It's all in one place at: http://www.nightowlromance.com/nightowlromance/authorwebsites/

The last big section - We have a wonderful romance and erotic romance book video section at:

http://mybookflick.com/nightowlromance/bookflicks/bfindex.asp This is where you can go to watch mini movies of books. It just like watching a movie trailer, but it's for a book. We call this our Book Flick section.

Thanks for having us on :) - Next up we will have some great reviews to showcase - Way to go Vixens!

Romance & Food

When we think of food and romance, most of us envision a glass of wine, candlelight, a scrumptious meal and a decadent chocolate dessert all back dropped by romantic music and attire. Sigh. And that is a wonderful way to blend romance and food. But there are many other ways aside from the obvious of chocolate covered strawberries and champagne.

Simple ways to tease your lover with food:

1. Arrange with the restaurant to spell out a message on your lover’s dessert plate.

2. Bake cookies and leave for him in his briefcase, lunch, gym bags, or car.

3. Buy expensive chocolates, wrap in a nice package and leave on his pillow. (Hey, guys like this touch, too.)

4. Barbecue his favorite meal and set the patio table as a surprise in place of pizza night.

5. Set a romantic evening with candlelight around the tub or hot tub, champagne and sexy chocolate body paint.

6. Slice up fruit wedges and share while watching the sunset.

7. Pack a picnic and feed your lover tasty morsels.

8. Surprise him with breakfast in bed.

9. Buy or bake a small cake and decorate with his favorite sports’ motif.

10. Serve an after dinner special blend coffee or share a new blend of tea together.

Here’s a great romantic food recipe that's very different and just right for a new romantic taste adventure!

Coconut Kisses

1 can sweetened condensed milk
2 egg yolks
1 tbs butter or margarine
1 lb grated coconut (fresh)
1 tsp vanilla extract

Mix all ingredients together. Stir over medium heat constantly, until able to see pan bottom. Then pour onto a plate and let cool. Let set for 24 hours then form into balls. You may wish to grease palms before forming balls. Roll in sugar (granulated is best, but powdered works too). Place on decorative plate and serve. Yields about 30 kisses. (Your lover might give you that many for this one!)

What you want

Baby I got it. Remember that old song by Aretha, our lady of soul. Well today I'm singing that phrase because Romance Vixens is honored, thrilled, delighted and excited to announce that we have something every woman dreams of.

What you ask? Well, what else? A dashing, sexy-as-sin, body-to-die-for man who actually IS all about the romance. Our very own Rogue, the talented Mr. Andrei Claude.

Internationally acclaimed male model, 2005's Mr. Romance and now an actor, Andrei's incredible looks and talent have been enchanting women all over the world. He arrived on the scene with impact and each year he just gets better. What you may not know is that Andrei is more than a handsome face, great body and talent. He's a true romantic, sophisticated, intelligent, fun and a little dangerous. If you list all of the elements we writers of romance want in a dashing Rogue, then you've described Andrei.

Talk about blessed with good fortune. This little vixen was doing one excited happy dance when Andrei accepted the invidation to be our Rogue.

We'll be having regular updates on Andrei and what's happening with him. Images and videos of Andrei can be found on our new website and on Andrei's site. We're inviting you to write in and ask Andrei questions. Once a month I'll post Andrei's answers and comments, and new pictures for your pleasure. The short clip below will treat you to Andrei on film.




Join me in welcoming one of the uncontested sexiest men in the world to Romance Vixens, our dreamy Rogue, Andrei Claude. He'll be checking comments and if we're lucky may even make one of his own.

Andrei, thank you. You really are an inspiration and an incredibly romantic and generous man.

Hugs to all,
Ciana

erotica vs. erotic romance

I really think the difference between erotica vs. erotic romance needs to be explained. To me, romance in the name defines the story as a love story...be it between male and female; male and male; female, male and male; werewolf, vampire and stripper or what have you. Erotica is a sex story in which sex is the goal and motivation and there need be no conflict unless they disagree on positions.

Confusion is what keeps us from being recognized as a romance genre. This is what conservative judges "see" when they read graphic language even though some national bestsellers, use it. And you should know that "pure" erotica (pardon the oxymoron) venues, like the stores with blacked-out windows, want nothing to do with us and would probably appreciate our making the difference known too.

I once ventured into one of these stores with my paperback, promo matchbooks, and a press release for the manager. I was practically thrown out. “Our readers don’t want those books,” he said. “They want ranchy porn. Your books aren’t.” So, there you go, right from the erotica experts. Our genre isn’t pornography no matter what some people will tell you.

And just to be sure, I read one of these badly written books. A man on a motorcycle comes up beside a beautiful blonde in a convertible at a stoplight. She looks him over and cocks her head, inviting him to follow her. Of course, he follows her to her penthouse and they do it all over the sofa about half a dozen times. This is described in what would be graphic detail except the writer needed an anatomy lesson.

The only secondary character was the maid who walked in and walked out, disgusted. The woman mentioned her husband would be home at 5 o’clock so they carry on until about a quarter to five and the biker left. End of story. Would you call that guy a “hero?” I wouldn’t. Is the woman a “heroine?” Hardly. Would I rather read a story with a plot? A conflict to overcome? Some three dimensional characters? Absolutely! Give me a good erotic romance any day.

Now, since we’re talking about good erotic romances, I should absolutely recommend my newest one, Love Cuffs, releasing this Wednesday, Sept. 17th! It’s a BDSM comedy. Yes, you read that right. A BDSM comedy! I co-wrote it with Dalton Diaz. I had no problem writing the heroine’s voice or saucy attitude—but when it came to writing the Dom hero, well… I was in trouble! Dalton to the rescue!

It’s a unique set-up in that each chapter is in first person. Chapter One is Hope’s point of view and Chapter One and a half is Dorian’s. The book continues with whole and half chapters throughout where you get the benefit of both characters relating the adventure as they see it in their own words. I’m fairly sure you’ve never read anything like this before!

Love Cuffs
Ashlyn Chase
Dalton Diaz

At thirty-eight, Hope Daniels is a Jersey cop with superhuman hearing, a controlling mother, and she’s about to marry any sane woman’s last choice of a groom. Right before she walks down the aisle, she hears distant screams. Figuring someone should be rescued, she bolts from her mother’s vision of a royal wedding. But when she busts down the door of a BDSM club, she’s the one who winds up in handcuffs.

Dorian Markoff is intent on using a hypnotist to wipe the beautiful cop’s mind of his—and his club’s—existence. But the hypnotist is in Vegas so a mad romp ensues, involving lots of hot vanilla-ish sex that turns his BDSM lifestyle upside down.
Neither guesses what an adventure it will be to find the hypnotist, avoid one unintentionally snubbed Dominatrix, and explain it all to Hope’s mother. All while falling in love.

Available 9/17/08 from www.ellorascave.com
Visit us! www.ashlynchase.com and www.daltondiaz.com

If you’d like to read some excerpts or talk to Dalton and me, come to our chat at Ellora’s Cave yahoo group on 9/17 all afternoon! (Eastern time.)

And the following afternoon you can play with us at Fallen Angels Reviews yahoo chat group!

Ash

Romance is alive

Fads come and go, fashions change, society takes on new attitudes...but one thing that remains constant is our thirst for romance. Inside the heart of every woman is a yearning to be romanced, swept off her feet or wooed slowly. We read about it, think about it and dream about it.

Make no mistake, it isn't just sex we're after. We want that emotional punch, that feeling in our belly that flutters when we think of that man, the way we can't get him out of our mind and yes, even the way it can make us crazy trying to figure out how to fix our hair or what to wear for that next meeting.

And what is it we want from that special man? Why everything of course. We want to be his ruling passion, to know that we're in his heart and mind with every breath he takes. Or, as it goes in one of my favorite songs ... we want it to be All for Love.



Okay, gotta pause to fan myself. I have such a case of the hots for Sting and Bryan Adams. Either one of those fellas could be a fire in my night:) But that's a bit off topic so...

This is Ciana, wishing you a safe and happy weekend and hoping you're making time for some romance in your life. Like the song says "all for love".

Welcome to our new blog

We are thrilled to be working together on another new project. Not to say we've abandoned our previous one, but this is something Ci and I have wanted to do for some time and finally have a breathing space to focus on it.

We love to talk, especially about sex, love and romance. So that's the theme and we hope everyone will join us and share your thoughts on the current topics.

If you are an author or a review site and would like to blog with us and exchange links, please contact us and we'll set it all up.

Thank you for visiting and we look forward to seeing you every day!

Sally and Ciana