Author: Raleigh Damson
I had Friday’s post all set, but critters got into one of the major transmitters, and we have a power outage.
#truestory
This Friday brought a weather change, that prompted a migraine the size of Venus and … words got down but it’s like slogging through mud.
Let’s go old school for a moment here and do Follow Friday because when I saw the new covers from M Kay Noir, they stopped my scroll.
I know what I’m going to be reading this weekend! Check them out!
The Bandit Brothers Series is coming to an end, and I am sure, very, very sure, that this is the last cover refresh these books get.
I mean, never say never, but I am very, very sure,
The plan is to get the paperbacks up to current covers by the summer!
Here’s a teaser from Flame For Two
Her hands immediately went to Logan’s waistband, and her trembling fingers unzipped his jeans. “I can’t wait to see how you suck him,” Xander said, his hand over her shoulder. Her skin grew heated from his words.
“I can’t wait to feel your hot mouth on my cock, kitten,” Logan said, his hands on her cheeks, brushing her arms. Harper glided her hand around his long, thick cock, the skin soft, and her fingers barely able to circle it.
“What are you waiting for angel?” Xander asked, from behind her.
Harper needed no more encouragement. His cock slid right into her mouth. His male musk assaulted her, making her moan low in her throat. Logan played with her hair as she licked and sucked, drawing his length into her mouth as much as she could.
“Take all of him, angel. See how he likes that? You look so beautiful sucking his cock,” Xander said, his hand on her back. God, this made her feel so desirable, somehow. Logan’s fingers danced along her throat, under her jaw.
“That’s it, kitten. Your hot mouth feels like heaven.” Logan’s low tone made her whimper.
“Don’t forget his balls, angel. Reach out and fondle them, give them a lick after you’re done dragging that pretty tongue of yours from his tip to his root.” Xander’s instructions urged her on as if she was a matchstick he had lit. She was wet and needy again, longing for cock to fill her, as she licked and lapped Logan’s full heavy testicles. Her mouth covered the tip of his glistening penis and Logan threw his head back.
“See how his muscles bunch for you as you lick? He wants you. He’s restraining himself.” Xander’s warm hand on the small of her back kept her grounded to him as she floated away, a heady mix of longing, desire and power coursing through her. She hummed around his cock, trying to take him deeper and deeper, so deep he bumped the back of her throat.
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If you need me, I’m huddled over my keyboard like some Dickens character. I’d volunteer that I’m wrapped in two blankets, but that sounds dramatic and unbelievable if you’re in a place where it’s actually Spring.
Spring has not sprung here, and the wind is coming through the walls of this old house. Honestly, at this point, my only goal is to move to a warmer climate—I’m not even joking.
But words have to get down. I’m wrapping up the Shared World book, and you know how I said that I was nervous about Five Days to Be Mine? Ha! That’s nothing to how I feel about this book. I don’t want to let the other authors that I’m in the Shared World down, and I’m so excited to read these stories!
When I signed on to be a part of this collaboration, Mercy hadn’t even been created yet. Part of what brought on the new pen name was realizing that the Shared World book was going to be in KU, and I wanted to respect my mostly Wide readership. So, I thought a new pen name would solve that issue.
Except? Mercy is more branded than I thought. When you pick up a Mercy book, it’s going to be low-angst, characters that are older, low stakes, and tender Doms.
In Sold to Her Enemy, the FMC is 29 – which is okay. Holly in Five Days of Christmas Spice is 29, but the MC is angry at her; it’s an enemy to lovers, and it’s a little more gritty than the other Mercy books. The last 30% the MC is showing the FMC his softer side. He’s forgiven her for what was a miscommunication – it’s resolved fairly quickly so I don’t think it’s the full angst of a miscommunication trope but okay, it is but there had to be some kind of misunderstanding. And there is a 3rd act break-up with lots of groveling.
Ugh. I thought of creating another pen name and putting Sold to Her Enemy under that moniker, but I have both Mercy and Raleigh readers who have pre-ordered this book (thank you), and, um, as long as I keep trying to make it clear to readers that this book is different from the other Mercy books? You know, when I started this indie author thing my mantra was, “I’m doing all of this very badly and that’s okay” and almost three years later, I feel exactly the same way.
Here’s a teaser for Sold to Her Enemy. These characters have been so dynamic and fun to write and this world is a completely different than one I’ve written in before. It’s my first book in an American setting 🙂
“No, not on the seat. Kneel on the floorboards.”
She does, shuffling against the passenger seat. I climb in, unzipping my fly as I do, taking down my pants.
I slip into the backseat.
“Put your mouth on my dick. But do not suck me or use your tongue. I better not feel teeth. You are nothing more than a cockwarmer.”
When you’re sold to your enemy… can you become their lover?
MCKENNA
My fall from the elite wasn’t my fault – it was orchestrated by one man.
I’m determined not to let his actions affect my future. I need to get back to my dreams and create a better life for my mother and me…the kind of life we’re used to living.
The auction at Club Lust is the perfect opportunity. I’ll do anything for money, even if it means sharing my body with a perfect stranger.
When I’m sold to my enemy, I have to give him what he demands: my submission.
I may once have had feelings for Adrian McIntyre, but we’re not kids anymore, and no matter how he sends my pulse racing, I won’t forget he’s the one who destroyed the life I had.
ADRIAN
McKenna Moran always thought she was too good for me, never giving me a chance.
When I saw that she was in the auction at Club Lust, I knew I had to win her. Taking my revenge on her body is going to be so sweet.
This weekend is going to be one she never forgets if I can keep from giving into the old feelings I once had for her and remind myself that this woman is my enemy no matter how good her body feels against mine.
Then again? It turned out to be a good idea.
This TeaserTuesday is from Flame For Foe and I’m dropping it quick here to run back to a pile of blankets and ignore the snow on the first day of spring because ugh. I can’t!
At this point my only goal is to move to a warmer climate.
#kidding
#notreally
How is one supposed to do anything under these conditions? But I bundled up and went out with the humans I live with and froze my face off. Before I did that, I got down 3k and feel like this book is out of the “isitdonealready” stage and onto the “it’s getting there stage.”
It smells and looks like snow out there – and I don’t like it.
Here with coffee and too little sleep. Gotta fight through the case of “Why isn’t this book done yet?” and actually get this book done.
If it’s green where you are? I’m so jealous.
Nothing.
What you do in your dailys, have at.
I took on the suggestion that I use “light BDSM” in describing Five Days to Be Mine so I made up a graphic to share in Saturday promos but…it has me kind of cringe. Because this doesn’t really describe anything, and if it was out of the book realm, I might wonder if “light” is just a way to cover up “not being safe because Domly one asked nicely.”
But from a marketing POV, I get it. It clearly indicates to readers that this isn’t a dark romance and that it’s not going to push mental edges.
Also, “Light BDSM” implies to my ear, people wanting to do it for a lark. It gives a, “Let’s try out this paddle and these fuzzy handcuffs” vibe – which is fine! Exploration is a win.
But when it comes to Mara and Evan, characters who are in their 30s and seasoned, I don’t think saying “light” describes them. Mara has had enough experience with kink to know what she wants and what her boundaries are.
Evan knows exactly the kind of submissive he’s looking for and has learned that he’s a pleasure D0m that thrives on taking care of his partner.
Part of striving to get better is finding ways to show readers what the book is about, quickly as they scroll, but authenticity is important to me, too and I don’t know. “Light” is a salad dressing choice.
As part of that getting better thing? I’ll try a whole lot of things to see where they land.
The best part about being an indie author is connecting to readers & having readers who email ASAP when you send out an incorrect link in your newsletter that makes you feel like you have to quit doing this but you somehow manage to take a breath and send out a correction link and it’s oddly kind of making you feel like the editor you mildly dream about being (in some posh setting. It’s a dream, okay? I don’t have those kind of chops. I hate conflict and I’ll avoid it, no matter what. I will not have personal confrontations, thanks).
I know! That was a run on sentence – you can do that in blogging.
It was a hard morning.
But so thankful for the readers who took the time to let me know! That’s what happens when I try to work on my phone and do too many things at once.
You know what’s also nice? When readers say REALLY nice things about your books.
I had a recent release that kind of flopped. Mercy’s first book did okay! But it’s a first book under a new pen name.
I was so nervous and still kind of am, about Five Days to Be Mine. Because this book means a lot to me. And I wanted readers to love Mara and Evan because I totally fell in love with them.
Look at this review!
This book was so good. I couldn’t put it down. I loved Evan so so much I wish there was a lot of him in the world. I loved how he took care of her, his passion with her, the way he didn’t care about her weight was wo fantastic. Story was awesome. So worth reading. Fantastic HEA. Wish it was longer. [Goodreads Review]
My book?
You wish it was longer?
My book?
I’ve thought that same thing about other books? But my book?
For a moment, I thought of writing another book featuring Mara and Evan but that’d throw me off schedule! But I really want to. Bonus scene coming soon.
Thank you for reading!
It keeps me bringing you stories and lets me keep writing through the really awful lows and the red-face moments.
The day after Five Days to Be Mine’s launch day, has me all kinds of distracted. It’s chilly here. This morning, there were very large trucks with flashing lights across the street and it kept me away from my keyboard.
And then after getting half a chapter in, a migraine hit that left me reeling. the weather change of is it spring? is it still winter? has to stop, already.
I don’t know how you’re supposed to feel after you send a book out in the world. I mean, you can feel however you want and I am so proud of this book…but what am I supposed to do again? Oh right, get back to getting words down.
I got a chapter in, realized I needed more backstory in my WIP, and drafted a new outline for those pesky ending chapters.
And it’s pie day. That’s not another distraction or anything…
It’s Release Day for the second Mercy Denton book!
And of course, I’m greeting this release day being sleep deprived due to being up with one of my cubs three times in the middle of the night, because that’s #momauthorlife and I know there are things that I have forgotten to do.
And of course, my newsletter went out at the wrong time because, #dyscalculia, and I was wondering why I had no interaction from readers…um…that might do things to an author, you know?
And of course, I lost access to Mercy’s TT during the new-phone-era and couldn’t login to post a new release!
AND OF COURSE, it’s all fine! My readers are amazing, my fellow peers are awesome, and I am so proud of this book. I hope all the books connect to readers but this one? I don’t know, it hit me differently while writing it and I can’t wait for readers to read it!
Shout out to Lizzie (@LIZZIEGREENFIELD), who made me feel like a rockstar today! If you are on TikTok, please give her a follow. Her enthusiasm about books and the indie author community is so authentic. When I was setting up Mercy’s TT, I was determined to go slowly and take my time to connect with the BokTok community. Lizzie’s page is one I first found, and I discovered new authors from her reviews.
Readers are saying nice things about Mercy’s book!
