Saturday Standard—Busted in Bubbles: Rayne McKinnon's digital daily recording

I've taken a long hiatus from posting the Saturday Standard. It's time to revisit this fun little blog idea.

What is the Saturday Standard?

A fun little sneak peek behind the scenes, featuring character interviews or another type of glimpse into their lives, or six or seven questions about the setting, plot or character traits, or a collage of inspirational pictures I used while writing the manuscript. Basically, anything that strikes my fancy.

This week, I'm sharing an excerpt from Rayne McKinnon's daily digital recording. Rayne is the hero of Busted in Bubbles and he's almost achieved everything he planned, with one more client to sign. He's got a reason to be a little excited…

Let's listen in…

Set up a meeting with Jorn Pestle and plan to sell strong to win his business. The man does his homework so he knows I'll back up anything I promise. The timing couldn't be better to gain his corporate accounts. Triple S will be on site at the conference, which means Emsley Bourne will be in attendance. If all goes according to plan—and let's face it, when doesn't it?—I'll be able to have a conversation with her about more than coffee and security products.

The only iffy part is Emsley herself. She's such a wild card. But… if my gut is right, she'll get on board, especially if she pulls her usual stunt of short sheeting my bed. She'll have a challenge this time because I'm in a cabin instead of a standard room. Something tells me her unique skillset will see her through. I can't wait to find out.

End daily recap, Rayne McKinnon

Check out Rayne and Emsley's interaction after she uses her stealthy talent in Busted in Bubbles.

Is there anything better than a bath time romp with a hot man? Emsley Bourne wants to find out.

Available on Amazon

Rayne McKinnon sells a lucrative security-consulting job and it's time to move on to his next objective: adding a partner. He wants Emsley Bourne, personally and professionally, and puts a plan in motion to achieve his goal. She only has to follow through with her usual tradition.

Emsley lives for the next thrill, in business and life. She's got a unique skill set and uses it to gain access to Rayne's cabin to follow through on her standard short-sheeting escapade. Imagine her surprise when she discovers Rayne soaking in a tub full of bubbles. Busted, she can either flee the scene—or join Rayne for some bath time fun.

Smokin' Hot—Hot and Swoon-Worthy: Creative Ink (A Black Unicorn Comic Adventure)

Welcome to the Hot for Friday blog hop!

Readers: Enjoy posts from authors with fun weekly tasks or a cool question.

Authors: Get in on the fun and join here.

After a forced hiatus where I descended into deadline hell, I finally get to rejoin my fellow authors with a new Hot for Friday blog post. YAY!

This week we're tasked with posting a piece of dialog where our hero gets to take center stage and deliver a swoon-worthy line to the heroine. I can't wait to read some smooth moves from our heroes.

For my feature, I'm posting one of my favorite bits from my current release, Creative Ink, Episode One in the Black Unicorn Comic Adventure series.

For a little background, here are the series and book taglines:

Black Unicorn Comics—collective genius or creative madness—follow the adventures of Brian, Lucy and their friends and decide.

Brian and Lucy are on the verge of mainstream success—watch it happen in Creative Ink.

And the swoon-worthy dialog…(from Lucy's point of view)

Brian's mouth thinned. "You did not just say that." He grasped her arm, turning her to face him.

Lucy grimaced. "Yeah, I did." She couldn't quite believe it herself.

Brian shook his head. "Come now. You know Chelle made me mental long before Reg caught her eye. Two months into the relationship gave me more than enough reason to cut and run."

Chagrined, Lucy acknowledged the truth of his words. "Yeah, I know. And I'm sorry for the bitch comment."

Brian tugged her forward, moving his hand down to cup her ass. "You know what else?" He pressed their hips together, letting her feel the hard ridge of his cock under his jeans. "You're the only woman who has ever kept me in a constant state of arousal."

~*~

Lucy has a very playful and positive reaction to Brian's declaration. :D

Available on Amazon

~*~

Series Blurb: Black Unicorn Comics is on the cusp of huge indie success. Brian Wells and Lucy Sanderson are the driving force behind the accomplishment. Friendly rivals and romantic partners, they push each other to do great work. Surrounded by a close knit group of co-workers, the ups and downs play out on a daily basis.

Brian's ex works in the office and his best friend owns the press. Lucy's brother lives next door and has the major hots for the ex-girlfriend. A competitor wants to buy the company and convention season is just around the corner.

Brian and Lucy act as the calm in the crazy storm of creativity and keep their relationship burning hot—usually in spite of the antics going on around them. They follow where the muse leads and it's worked out successfully so far.

Book Blurb: Lucy and Brian—creative rivals and romantic partners—are pushing the boundaries of their work and stepping into the realm of indie success. They're challenged with keeping their relationship strong and hot when leading their friends up the ladder.

~*~

Thank you for stopping by.

Please feel free to drop by my website

And don't forget to enjoy the other Hot for Friday posts!

Get Hooked: Reel in a Great Book—Creative Ink (A Black Unicorn Comic Adventure) #MFRWAuthors #MFRWHooks

Welcome to Book Hooks, the weekly smorgasbord sampler hosted by the MFRW Authors Blog.

Readers: get hooked and reel in some great books. Authors are sharing short excerpts from their work. Please enjoy and consider picking up the full book by clicking on the buy link.

I'm revisiting one of my first releases, Creative Ink, a Black Unicorn Comics Adventure and a sexy little short story designed to be a hot, quick read. I'll be posting a series of pivotal scenes over the next couple of weeks. Please enjoy!

No, the Black Unicorn Comic series isn't a comic book or graphic novel. Yet. But it is something of a different concept. The series is set around the adventures of the main couple and their co-workers for an indie comic book company and the stories are somewhat short with no more than four to six 'acts'. The idea came from one of my writing groups where we were challenged to come up with the idea for a TV show, cast the characters, and write a short story to create the visual. The overwhelming and positive feedback for Creative Ink convinced me to start the series.

Series Tagline: Black Unicorn Comics—collective genius or creative madness—follow the adventures of Brian, Lucy and their friends and decide.

Book Tagline: Brian and Lucy are on the verge of mainstream success—watch it happen in Creative Ink.

~*~

Brian shuddered and tried to focus on her words. "Wait. End of the day?" He gazed at her retreating back, eyes sliding down to linger on the curve of her ass.

Lucy called back. "You heard me."

He leaned back in his chair, letting his gaze drink in Lucy's long legs in the cut-off shorts she favored for work. "Yeah, yeah. But I get to keep them, right?"

Lucy didn't respond. Didn't have to. Her middle finger pretty much said it all.

Brian's lips curved. He'd talk her around to letting him keep Harry's renderings. Would be an absolute waste to bin them.

He settled back, marveling at his good fortune. Living and working with the woman he loved made moving half-way around the world worthwhile. And yeah, a very brief and unsatisfying detour with someone else almost sent him scurrying back across the pond right after he arrived, but Lucy made sure he stuck around.

Bloody marvelous of her.

She kept him on his toes—never a dull moment—and he wouldn't change it for anything in the world. He grinned. Lucy hacked his password at least once a week, so she always had the inside scoop on Xavier. Brian purposefully made it easy, knowing it gave her a thrill to catch him off guard. He never knew when she'd strike, only that she would.

And she never pulled punches, giving him a frank and honest critique. The fact she loved his new twist made him even more confident about the direction he wanted to take the storyline. He couldn't wait to run his new ideas by her and see what she thought.

But first… he needed to deal with Harry's illicit artwork… or the only thing he'd be running would be an ad for a new flat mate. Finishing off his coffee, he rose and headed for the old dark room Harry called an office.

The light over the door cast a red glow so he knocked before he opened the door. "Harry, mate, we need to talk…"

Available on Amazon

~*~

Series Blurb: Black Unicorn Comics is on the cusp of huge indie success. Brian Wells and Lucy Sanderson are the driving force behind the accomplishment. Friendly rivals and romantic partners, they push each other to do great work. Surrounded by a close knit group of co-workers, the ups and downs play out on a daily basis.

Brian's ex works in the office and his best friend owns the press. Lucy's brother lives next door and has the major hots for the ex-girlfriend. A competitor wants to buy the company and convention season is just around the corner.

Brian and Lucy act as the calm in the crazy storm of creativity and keep their relationship burning hot—usually in spite of the antics going on around them. They follow where the muse leads and it's worked out successfully so far.

Book Blurb: Lucy and Brian—creative rivals and romantic partners—are pushing the boundaries of their work and stepping into the realm of indie success. They're challenged with keeping their relationship strong and hot when leading their friends up the ladder.

~*~

~*~

Please stop by my website

Reel in more great books! Visit the other participating authors.

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Get Hooked: Reel in a Great Book—Busted in Bubbles #MFRWAuthors #MFRWHooks

Welcome to Book Hooks, the weekly smorgasbord sampler hosted by the MFRW Authors Blog.

Readers: get hooked and reel in some great books. Authors are sharing short excerpts from their work. Please enjoy and consider picking up the full book by clicking on the buy link.

I'm revisiting one of my first releases, Busted in Bubbles, a sexy little short story designed to be a hot, quick read. I'll be posting a series of pivotal scenes over the next couple of weeks. Please enjoy!

Today's post features Rayne, my hero.

Book Tagline: Is there anything better than a bath time romp with a hot man? Emsley Bourne wants to find out.

~*~

The tradeshow paid off! Right on schedule.

Rayne McKinnon shook hands with Jorn Pestle, sealing the most lucrative security-consulting job he'd ever landed. "I'll have preliminary recommendations to you by Tuesday."

Pestle smiled. "Now, Rayne, there's no rush. And with the amount I just agreed to pay, you should be able to kick back and skate for at least a week. Don't you ever take any downtime?"

Rayne chuckled. "Staying on my toes is the entire reason I sold you on my services."

Jorn nodded. "True, true. But at least take the night and do something fun."

Rayne agreed. He had a plan to celebrate already in place. Nothing Jorn would probably find enjoyable, but Rayne didn't particularly care. If tradition held firm, he had the potential to do something way more than fun.

Heading out of the main lodge's executive lounge, he dropped by the concierge to place a quick order for room service, to be delivered in about an hour. He needed to make a few strategic stops before he made his way to the private cabin tucked back in a dense copse of tall pines.

Wandering around the vendor area, he spied the booth he'd been seeking. He'd been too busy meeting with potential clients to get into the sales room before now. Making a quick perusal, he didn't see the person he wanted, but oh, he heard her. Her loud peal of laughter preceded her when she exited from the private transaction space curtained off from the rest of the booth. The enthusiastic handshake with her buyer indicated she'd made a big sale.

Available on Amazon

More e-retailers coming soon!

~*~

Book Blurb: Rayne McKinnon sells a lucrative security-consulting job and it's time to move on to his next objective: adding a partner. He wants Emsley Bourne, personally and professionally, and puts a plan in motion to achieve his goal. She only has to follow through with her usual tradition.

Emsley lives for the next thrill, in business and life. She's got a unique skill set and uses it to gain access to Rayne's cabin to follow through on her standard short-sheeting escapade. Imagine her surprise when she discovers Rayne soaking in a tub full of bubbles. Busted, she can either flee the scene—or join Rayne for some bath time fun.

~*~

~*~

Please stop by my website

Reel in more great books! Visit the other participating authors.

Celebrate Your Freedom to Live, Love, & Read—Freedom Hop

Let freedom ring!

Welcome to the Freedom Hop, a great sampling of authors sharing short excerpts from their work. Please enjoy and consider picking up the full book by clicking on the buy link.

~*~

How wonderful is it to have the independence to choose how we live our lives, who we love, and what we read?

I'm lucky enough to have always had the choice and I've used my liberty to do what I love… write about hot romances between men and women, edit for authors who write about all kinds of love—from best friends who become lovers to same sex couples and relationships that include multiple partners, and read all of the above with voracious abandon.

When writing as Skylin O'Thomas, I tend to focus on contemporary romance, sometimes filled with those little relationship moments, but I also love to add a little adventure. There's something fun about weaving in tension with suspense or a perilous situation. It's also a joy to create adventure by adding a good bit of humor.

My latest release, Busted in Bubbles, is a short, sexy romp with witty banter and a man who's not afraid to own a tub of bubbles. If anyone is an X-Files fan, the idea behind the story came from an episode where Assistant Director Walter Skinner had no qualms admitting to soaking in a big bubble bath.

My hero, Rayne, sets the scene with loads of the sudsy froth—and champagne—then waits for Emsley to arrive. Needless to say, he convinces her to join him for some bath time fun.

The book was so much fun to write and I'm giving a digital copy away for this blog hop. Please leave a comment for your entry and tell me how you celebrate your freedom to live, love and read.

~*~

Book Tagline: Is there anything better than a bath time romp with a hot man? Emsley Bourne wants to find out.

~*~

With a smug smile, she crossed the living area and started up the spiral staircase to the loft. About five steps up, she froze, carefully listening and hearing water sloshing in the bathroom. Shit. Rayne must've skipped the fancy-pants dinner. Okay, could she still pull off her traditional short sheeting of his bed and still leave him none the wiser?

She pondered, considering her skill level against the chance he might discover her presence. Should she risk it?

Yeah. She loved a good challenge.

She started up the next step and stopped again. Wait… bath? What the hell? Curiosity ate its way through her intention of getting in and out. Rayne couldn't possibly be soaking in a tub. Hell. Yeah, he could… and he might have company. The thought bothered her… even if it shouldn't. She might find the combination of looks and brains a heady mixture, but it didn't give her any claim to his affections.

She hesitated. Indecision warred in her brain. She had zero desire to become a voyeur if Rayne had brought someone along for this trip and they'd decided to get kinky in the tub. She weighed her options. The possibility of finding him with some woman wrapped around him would be like a kick in the teeth, but… 

Screw it. She made her way back down the steps, tip-toeing to the bathroom door.

She had to know if the do-it-all security expert liked to soak in a tub. Peeking around the corner, she bit her cheek to keep from laughing out loud. Sure as shit, Rayne McKinnon sat up to his shoulders in frothy bubbles. An open bottle of bubbly, nestled in a bucket of ice, sat beside the tub, a glass filled with the golden liquid held in one of Rayne's hands, dangling outside. His head rested on the rolled edge of the tub, eyes closed, his fingers lazily tilting the glass back and forth.

Available on Amazon

Leave a comment to be entered to win a digital copy!

Let me know what freedoms you enjoy and please include an email address.

(Drawing to occur on July 7, 2014)

~*~

Blurb: Rayne McKinnon sells a lucrative security-consulting job and it's time to move on to his next objective: adding a partner. He wants Emsley Bourne, personally and professionally, and puts a plan in motion to achieve his goal. She only has to follow through with her usual tradition.

Emsley lives for the next thrill, in business and life. She's got a unique skill set and uses it to gain access to Rayne's cabin to follow through on her standard short-sheeting escapade. Imagine her surprise when she discovers Rayne soaking in a tub full of bubbles. Busted, she can either flee the scene—or join Rayne for some bath time fun.

~*~

~*~

Please stop by my website

 Celebrate with more fireworks! Visit the other participating authors.

Banner Thursday—Busted in Bubbles Banner

Today, I'm featuring the banner for my recently released humorous, sexy romp, Busted in Bubbles, published by my personal imprint, Starry Sky Press.

For this banner, which I use as a rotating ad on my blog and website, I hoped to convey something a little playful and fun since the book is focused on what happens when Emsley discovers Rayne in a tub full of bubbles. The red background with a few bubbles seemed to fit the bill.

Take a look…

The book is available on Amazon with other e-retailers coming soon.

Next week: The Busted in Bubbles cover

Tagline: Is there anything better than a bath time romp with a hot man? Emsley Bourne wants to find out.

Blurb: Rayne McKinnon sells a lucrative security-consulting job and it's time to move on to his next objective: adding a partner. He wants Emsley Bourne, personally and professionally, and puts a plan in motion to achieve his goal. She only has to follow through with her usual tradition.

Emsley lives for the next thrill, in business and life. She's got a unique skill set and uses it to gain access to Rayne's cabin to follow through on her standard short-sheeting escapade. Imagine her surprise when she discovers Rayne soaking in a tub full of bubbles. Busted, she can either flee the scene—or join Rayne for some bath time fun.

~*~

Thanks for reading!

Please visit my website

Banner Thursday—Starry Sky Press

Today, I'm featuring the logo for my self-publishing venture, Starry Sky Press, across each of my author blogs.

Tagline: Out of the world romance.

Mission Statement: To explore extraordinary emotions between characters.

Books coming soon

Busted in Bubbles (May 2014)

Surviving the Trap (June 2014)

Bucking Convention (July 2014)

Dress for Dinner (August/September 2014)

Creative Ink (June 2014)

Boyfriend's Brother (May 2014)

A Magical Affair (May 2014)

Thanks for reading!

Please visit my website

Get Hooked: Reel in a Great Book—Busted in Bubbles #MFRWHook

Welcome to Book Hooks, the weekly smorgasbord sampler hosted by the MFRW Authors Blog.

Readers: get hooked and reel in some great books. Authors are sharing short excerpts from their work. Please enjoy and consider picking up the full book by clicking on the buy link.

Today I'll be sharing a glimpse of Busted in Bubbles, formerly published by Silver Publishing, I have the rights back and will be re-publishing in the very near future. J

Book Tagline: Is there anything better than a bath time romp with a hot man? Emsley Bourne wants to find out.

~*~

Emsley glanced in each direction before she used the master keycard to let herself into Rayne's cabin. If she'd figured the timing right, it shouldn't take longer than five minutes to short sheet his bed and another six to get the card back to the concierge desk. Poor Ron had no clue she'd borrowed his all access entry key to pull a prank. Hell, he didn't have any idea she'd lifted the damned thing at all.

With a smug smile, she crossed the living area and started up the spiral staircase to the loft. About five steps up, she froze, carefully listening and hearing water sloshing in the bathroom. Shit. Rayne must've skipped the fancy-pants dinner. Okay, could she still pull off her traditional short sheeting of his bed and still leave him none the wiser?

She pondered, considering her skill level against the chance he might discover her presence. Should she risk it?

Yeah. She loved a good challenge.

She started up the next step and stopped again. Wait… bath? What the hell? Curiosity ate its way through her intention of getting in and out. Rayne couldn't possibly be soaking in a tub. Hell. Yeah, he could… and he might have company. The thought bothered her… even if it shouldn't. She might find the combination of looks and brains a heady mixture, but it didn't give her any claim to his affections.

She hesitated. Indecision warred in her brain. She had zero desire to become a voyeur if Rayne had brought someone along for this trip and they'd decided to get kinky in the tub. She weighed her options. The possibility of finding him with some woman wrapped around him would be like a kick in the teeth, but… 

Screw it. She made her way back down the steps, tip-toeing to the bathroom door.

She had to know if the do-it-all security expert liked to soak in a tub. Peeking around the corner, she bit her cheek to keep from laughing out loud. Sure as shit, Rayne McKinnon sat up to his shoulders in frothy bubbles. An open bottle of bubbly, nestled in a bucket of ice, sat beside the tub, a glass filled with the golden liquid held in one of Rayne's hands, dangling outside. His head rested on the rolled edge of the tub, eyes closed, his fingers lazily tilting the glass back and forth.

The humor died and Emsley's face heated up. God, he looked damned good, bubbles or not. A wave of jealousy hit her… he appeared so content. The relaxed pose, the hot water, the alcohol… geez, she could go for all three. Okay, four. She could go for Rayne right now, too.

Cover Art Subject to Change

~*~

Blurb: Rayne searches for the perfect woman to complement his business and his life. Emsley Bourne fits the bill.

Emsley lives for the next thrill, whether in business or life. When she keeps running into Rayne McKinnon, she looks no further.

~*~

~*~

Please stop by my website http://www.skyewrites.com

Reel in more great books! Visit the other participating authors.