1. Introduction

October Contest Winner

Congratulations to opheliahamlet_99@yahoo.com, the winner of last month's contest.

November Contest

This month Siren Bella Andre is giving away a TAKE ME TO TUSCANY gift basket!

2. Siren News

NOTHING PERSONAL

5 Angels
"NOTHING PERSONAL is a solid contemporary romance that will win you over at any age. Elisa Adams aptly displays the fears an older woman has about entering into a serious relationship with a younger man. The story captures the evolution of Leo and Carla's friendship and the realization that the lust is actually love."
--Reviewed by Amanda for Fallen Angel Reviews
http://www.fallenangelreviews.com/October2005/Amanda-NothingPersonal.htm

"I thoroughly enjoyed NOTHING PERSONAL. Leo is the kind of hero that we all love to read about. Even though he's younger than Carla, he's mature and knows what he wants, or rather who, and once he sees his chance he's ready to take it. Carla is a heroine with whom I can easily relate. She's starting to get older, finding grey hairs and feeling self-conscious about herself. So she doesn't understand why this gorgeous younger man is so stuck on her, and she sure doesn't trust his feelings. Plus she's afraid to risk her heart for a guy who may not stick around when the age difference really starts to show. I thought that Ms. Adams did a stellar job of handling what would be real life thoughts and feelings, especially on the woman's side, regarding the older woman/younger man issue. I've read other books by Ms. Adams, but I have to say that Nothing Personal is easily one of her best."
-- Reviewed by Melissa for Joyfully Reviewed
http://www.joyfullyreviewed.com/reviews/NothingPersonal.html

NIGHT CREATURES

5 Stars
"NIGHT CREATURES By Elisa Adams has melded passion and tight tension into the perfect short story. I was quite pleasantly surprised at just how much this tiny powerhouse had to offer in the way of mouth-watering sex and creepy scenes that make you want to scramble to see what happens next. This tale of secrets held and love rediscovered was a true joy to read and I await more creative ventures from the mind of this talented author. Definitely a must have for any lover of the paranormals. Thank you Ms. Adams!"
-- Reviewed by Joyce for eCataromance http://www.ecataromance.com/reviews?type=&id=537

GRAVE SILENCE

5 Hearts
" The author has managed to create an aura of supense and foreboding throughout the novel. No person in Longford is what they seem, and they all have connections to each other and the long ago murder that Caitlin isn't privy to. She is strongly attracted to Kyle, but his secrets and her previous experience with another police officer have left her wary. She is also having flashbacks to her own past. I couldn't put this one down. I had to know who killed Isabelle, who kidnapped Shawna, and who Caitlin really was. I figured out early on the relationships between Shawna, Josh, and Kyle, but the other mysteries in the novel really kept me on the edge of my seat until the end of the story."
-- Reviewed by Maura Frankman for The Romance Studio http://theromancestudio.com/reviews/reviews/gravesilenceadams.htm


Bella Andre
http://www.bellaandre.com

TAKE ME
An erotic romance that sweeps from San Francisco to the rolling hills of Tuscany,
that will be coming from Pocket Trade Books on November 15th…

From Amazon.com: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Hot plus sized woman who's fragile from being ignored and dismissed by the man of her dreams. CHECK. Sexy playboy about to get a reality check and his comeuppance. CHECK. Tons of chemistry, a believable romance (!), and steamy sex. CHECK. Sick of reading about perfect size zero fashionistas who live in NY and really have nothing more to worry about than which pair of $700 shoes to wear tonight? Me, too. This is not one of those books. I couldn't put it down, and I can't wait for next one.

Tammie Ard, Fresh Fiction: TAKE ME is wildly sexy and has an awesome storyline. It's uplifting to plus-size girls proving that those of us with a tummy can get the hunky guy and find love. A story I would highly recommend to everyone.

Kris Alice, A Romance Review: You like it hot? Get yourself a copy of Bella Andre's Take Me. Her writing is hotter and sexier than ever. With fun dialogues, a breathtaking European setting and sympathetic characters, it's easy to be seduced by this story. Take Me is most of all hot, sexy, lush, hungry and sweaty. Lily and Travis burn up the pages, but there is a story to go with all the wonderful sex, and it's a good one.

Tracy Farnsworth, Round Table Reviews: Packed with sizzle, but also contains a good balance of emotional pull. I found myself saddened when the journey ended. I would like to see if Lily's sister and Luke end up together. Maybe Luke's story will follow!

Patricia Green, Romance Reviews Today: A story with a woman who isn't model perfect is a refreshing change in TAKE ME...Ms. Andre captures the beauty of Italy in such a way that it will leave one wishing to experience the warmth of the Tuscan sun...These characters have a great deal of depth and are not idealized. Readers will enjoy TAKE ME, a delightfully engaging tale of erotic contemporary romance.


Katherine Kingston
http://www.katherinekingston.com

BRONZEQUEST

4 Stars
"BronzeQuest is a compelling read beacuase of how John is affected during his journey. His quest becomes a two-pronged journey -- the pleasure he's accustomed to is now mixed with pain. This goes a long way to identifying the type of man John reaaly is on the inside. This powerful factor, which is multi-layered, makes the story a fantastic read"
-- Reviewed by Leigh Rowling for Romantic Times


Titania Ladley
http://www.titanialadleyromance.com

CARNAL GAMES

5 Unicorns!
"This is the most decadent, emotional and exquisite book I've read in a long time. It's not predictable and it will lead you down a very curvy path. Each character has a depth that just keeps growing as the book moves on. This is definitely a read right now, kind of book. I applaud Titania for writing a book that with explode your senses with pleasure, pain, sorrow and joy."
-- Anita for Enchanted In Romance

ENCHANTED ROGUES
anthology including Titania Ladley's You've Got Irish Male!:

"Enchanted Rogues brings together three hot stars of Ellora's Cave... Ireland is full of legends, myths and fables of fairies, pixies and dozens of others. All of them come alive in this well-written anthology... You'll be craving a four-leaf clover and a pint of ale in no time. But unlike the ale, Enchanted Rogues won't add any calories to your diet and you'll be three times as satisfied."
-- Marissa for Novelspot s

3. Presenting our featured November Siren, Bella Andre, who has some big news in her interview.

Interviewed by Treva Harte

Reading, Food & Inventive Fun
By Titania Ladley
http://www.titanialadleyromance.com
   
Stoke the coals and get the fire roaring, because you're in for a real sexy smorgasbord romp this month! Erotic romance author Bella Andre has contributed an entire seven-course meal for you. Okay, so let's ease into it and start with something as simple and meaty as a tomato. Paired cleverly with a pleasure toy in a public place, you've got the epitome of what this column should be all about: Inventive fun! And Bella doesn't stop there. Throw in a splash of tequila and a dash of salt, along with the promise of some scrumptious fudge for dessert, and you've got yourself a meal you can't resist. So here're two yummy Bella Andre snippets for you, and a recipe from her Ellora's Cave story CANDY STORE in the Passionate Hearts Anthology. In addition, there's a tempting hint of what to expect in TAKE ME, her Pocket Books novel just released this month. Ahhh, so go ahead. Dig in.

AUTHORS IN ECSTASY
Excerpt ©copyright by Bella Andre
In the PASSION AND ECSTASY Anthology


Charlie speared a crisp slice of tomato and held it out for her across the table. "Taste this," he said, and she noted he was holding the fork with his left hand, so she shook her head.

"No thank you," she said as formally as she could under the circumstances.

He took his right hand out of his pocket and put it on the table. "Look, both hands are free now." He held out the tomato slice again. "I want to watch your teeth and lips take in this plump, juicy tomato," he urged her and this time she acquiesced.

But as she began to open her mouth to slide the sweet fruit off of his fork, the buzzing on her clit began in earnest. This time, she was too close to the edge to fight off the explosion.

A low sound came from her throat, and she clenched the edge of the table so tightly the skin on her knuckles turned white.

"Let it go," Charlie implored her softly across the table.

Candace closed her eyes and let the waves of intense pleasure suck her into the abyss once again. Little whimpers escaped from her mouth, no matter how hard she tried to hold them back. She was dimly aware of Charlie's intent gaze as he watched her come.

Just as her orgasm had rocked all the way through her, turning her completely inside-out, their waiter approached their table with a concerned look on his face.

"Is everything all right here?"

Charlie let off the controls and looked expectantly at her, waiting for her answer. She smiled tremulously at the waiter. "Yes. Thank you. Everything's fine," hoping he would just get the hell away from the table and leave them alone.

Instead the waiter said, much to her ongoing chagrin, "I was afraid that something was wrong with your salad. The look on your face while you were eating was-"

Their young waiter seemed stuck on searching for just the right word to describe the public agony of her sexual release, so she jumped in and said,
"It's just that the tomato was so incredibly good." She hoped her performance was a believable one.

Buy links for AUTHORS IN ECSTASY by Bella Andre in the Passion and Ecstasy anthology:

E-book: http://www.ellorascave.com/AuthorsBooks.asp?AuthorCode=BA
Trade paperback: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1843607417/qid=1106785722/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/104-9491537-7279144?v=glance&s=books


* * * * * * * *

CANDY STORE [This novel is set in the world of chocolate and fudge!]
Excerpt ©copyright by Bella Andre
In the PASSIONATE HEARTS Anthology


"I take it you've never had tequila before?" he said, his words mixing with his laughter.

Callie shook her head, not trusting herself to say anything more to this awful, albeit incredible, specimen of a man. When he laughed his eyes lit up and she though they sparkled like the ocean, which was a ridiculous thought given that the closest she'd ever come to seeing a green-blue ocean was during a documentary about Jacques Cousteau on television.

But before she could walk away-scratch that, run away-to her car and leave to go hide in her kitchen behind her store, he leaned down so that she could feel his warm breath across her cheek and said, "Won't you let me show you how?"

His softly spoken words made shivers run all the way from the tips of Callie's breasts, which were now hard points of desire, past the vee of her legs, which was suddenly hot and aching, all the way down to the tips of her toes, which were fairly curling in her high heels. Every cell in her body was quivering in anticipation of whatever it was that Tobey wanted to show her.

"God, yes," she said in an exhale, wanting him to show her far more than how to drink the bitter beverage. Right now, as far as she was concerned, he could show her anything he wanted. Preferably naked, of course.

He slid the two glasses together and picked up a slice of lime. "First, you hold the lime between your teeth, with the flesh facing me."

Obediently, Callie opened up her mouth and let Tobey slide the small green fruit between her lips. His thumb brushed lightly over her bottom lip as he did so, and even though she knew he was touching her on purpose to tease her with his power, to show her that he already controlled her body with his own, she didn't care.

"Now tilt your neck to the side," he said as he brushed her blonde curls away from her neck. With hot, sure fingers, he lightly pushed aside the neckline of her long sleeve jersey dress to bare a small patch of skin between her neck and her collarbone.

Callie was about to burst with wanting him. All he had done was touch her mouth and the tender skin on her neck and she was about to explode into a million pieces. She was shivering, but not with cold. It was a sunny day in the first week of January in frigid upstate New York, but Callie was burning up as if it was August in Barbados.

"Good. Very good," he said in a low voice, the tips of his fingers still upon her neck. "I'm going to sprinkle a little salt onto your beautiful skin," he whispered, shaking out several grains of salt onto her and Callie gasped, painfully, powerfully aware of the throbbing between her legs. "And then," he said, in so low of a voice she could barely hear him, "it's time for the tequila."

In one smooth motion, he leaned down and sucked at the skin on her shoulder, taking the salt into his mouth. Callie groaned with pleasure as his mouth seared her with its potent heat, and then he pulled his heat away from her and downed the bitter liquid in the shot glass. Callie was so mesmerized by his every move, his every breath, she was so under his spell, that she had forgotten all about the lime between her teeth, so it was in slow motion that he leaned towards her, closer and closer, until they were finally eye to eye. With a tenderness that she could hardly believe he possessed, he placed his mouth over hers, slowly tasted her lips with his tongue, tasting every curve and the corners between her upper and bottom lips, taking his time to brand her once again before he sucked the juice from the lime.

If Callie had known that a lime could be so potent, so blatantly sexual, she would have planted a row of fruit trees in her garden long ago. She would have become a master of lemon tarts and key lime pies. Tobey removed the lime from her mouth with his teeth. Dazed, she watched him pluck it from his mouth and put it in the empty shot glass. Loud clapping for the band playing at the reception brought Callie back to reality.

But before she had time to fall all the way back to earth, Tobey leaned down and whispered in her ear the two words that were to be her downfall.

"Your turn."

Buy link for CANDY STORE by Bella Andre in the Passionate Hearts Anthology:

E-book: http://www.ellorascave.com/AuthorsBooks.asp?AuthorCode=BA


* * * * * * * *

In Bella Andre's just-released TAKE ME from Pocket Books, there's a wonderful chocolate gelato scene....

Buy links:

Trade Paperback from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1416509577/104-9491537-7279144?%5Fencoding=UTF8&s=books&v=glance

E-book from Pocket Books: http://www.simonsays.com/content/book.cfm?sid=33&pid=512640&app=buy_now

Oh, and you don't want to miss this! Please visit http://www.BellaAndre.com to view the one-minute video trailer for TAKE ME!

* * * * * * * *
Here's a bubbly-hot fudge recipe for you from Bella Andre's CANDY STORE:

Callie's Cocoa Fudge

2/3 cup powdered cocoa
3 cups sugar
1/8 tsp. salt
1-1/2 cups whole milk
4-1/2 T. butter (real butter, not margarine or 'spread')
1 tsp. vanilla

Note: This recipe needs two people to take turns stirring and watching the fudge while boiling and beating. Clothing optional-it's going to get really hot in here, and not just because of the cooking fudge!-but be extra careful during boiling.

Step One: Dip your finger into the cocoa powder and let your partner lick it off slowly. Next, combine cocoa, sugar, and salt in a large pot (3 qt.). Add milk gradually, mixing thoroughly.

Step Two: While your partner nips and kisses your neck, bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly (or at least when you remember to between kisses). Turn heat to medium, continue to boil, stirring often, until it reaches 236 degrees F (soft ball stage)-about 45 to 60 minutes of exquisite foreplay. Every few minutes, change places with your partner and kiss his or her neck, while letting your hands roam freely. (The person nearest to the stove should wear a sexy apron to protect against splattering.)

Step Three: Carefully remove pan from heat, add butter and vanilla, stir. Cool fudge to 110 degrees F (about 20 minutes, giving you time to kiss a little lower than the neck).

Step Four: Take turns beating (the fudge, not each other!) energetically by hand until fudge thickens and loses some of its gloss-about 10 minutes. (The person not beating the fudge should find something else creative to do with their hands.) Quickly spread fudge in a greased 8"x8"x2" glass dish. Cool before cutting. To test if fudge is cool, put a dab on the inside of your partner's thigh and slowly lick it off, savoring every last bit.


"TAKE ME is wonderfully sexy-a big, fun fantasy with an equally big heart." ~ Emma Holly

"TAKE ME is emotionally charged and deliciously erotic. A must-read." ~ Jaid Black

Now available from Pocket Trade!

http://www.BellaAndre.com

5. Enticing Excerpts

   
Elisa Adams
http://www.elisaadams.com

Excerpt from Tarnished
available now from Ellora's Cave


"Well, what are you waiting for?" Becca turned and sauntered across the room, her delectable ass swaying with every step. "Already you can't keep up? We haven't even started yet."

Wil let out a soft growl, rolled his head from side to side and clenched his fists. "I'll keep up, woman. Don't ever doubt that."

"Awfully sure of yourself," she said before she disappeared down the hall to the left, one last glance over her shoulder beckoning him to follow.

He took off after her practically at a run, the beast inside him clamoring to get out of its cage. He'd let it out soon enough. She'd take it, and he had a feeling she'd love every second.

He found her in the bedroom at the end of the hall, her hip propped against the high, dark wood footboard of the huge bed. Light filtered from a single lamp on a bedside table, the shade made with red silk and a beaded fringe. The bedding matched, the walls in the room painted a rich burnt gold. Heavy, deep red velvet curtains covered the windows in place of modern blinds. He swallowed hard. It was bold, unusual, and brought to mind exotic brothels in a time long past. Sensual and inviting. She wasn't the innocent Ellie believed, and he was a fool for falling into this situation. But he wasn't backing down. It was too late for that.

"I am sure of myself. With good reason. I think the real question is whether you'll be able to keep up with me."

The look she gave him told him she didn't think that would be a problem.

She didn't know him very well.

He stepped over the threshold and stalked toward her, watching her carefully to gauge her reactions. By this point, most women would be a little nervous, a little afraid of what he might do to them. But not Becca. She didn't move. The sexy, arrogant smile never left her face. She really thought she was a match for him. That she could give as well as she could take. He hadn't met a woman yet who'd been his equal, at least not in the bedroom.

He'd met one who was close, once. A few years ago. But she belonged to someone else. A close friend. And the rule, one of the few he lived by, still applied. No married women. Though they weren't married in the legal sense, Merida was Royce's mate and he wasn't about to get in the middle of that. Not unless they invited him again-which he highly doubted would happen. It was an incredible experience. A once-in-a-lifetime one, and that was how it would be best remembered.

In some ways, Becca reminded him of Merida. Wild, curly hair, though Becca's was nearly black where Merida's was red. Curvy yet slim body, fair skin, an overabundance of attitude. Tonight would be amazing. It would be just one night, since once she found out why he was there she'd most likely never speak to him again. Ellie probably wouldn't, either, if she found out what he'd done with her sister. But stopping was no longer an option. They'd passed that point when he stepped into her bedroom. She wanted him, and he needed her that night.

Her gaze dropped to his pants. "You're still hard."

He nodded, not trusting his voice. Did she expect anything less? She'd been tormenting him relentlessly since he first spoke to her.

"With all that inane conversation you tried to make, all the ways you tried to distract yourself. I'm impressed. But I'm done with playtime now." She grasped the hem of her tank top and yanked it out of her skirt, pulling the shirt over her head and dropping it to the floor. The skirt followed, falling as soon as she unzipped it, and she stepped out of it. She stood in front of him wearing only those incredible leather boots, looking like a dark goddess ready for a night of play with one of her minions.

The visual only increased his arousal. He groaned.

"Why don't you come over here and let me take care of that for you."

She didn't have to ask him twice. He walked over to her and dragged her to him. She didn't protest his rough display, but then again he really didn't expect her to. She'd been as eager all night as he had. Maybe even more so, if that was possible. She didn't know him, shouldn't trust him, and yet she'd allowed him into her home. Into her bedroom. And soon, into her body. Why?

He let her go and crossed his arms over his chest. Before this went any further, before it passed a point where neither of them would be able to stop, he needed that answer. At the moment it was the single thing holding him back. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

"What's the matter? Afraid, Wil?"

"No, but maybe you should be."

"Why is that?" She reached her hand between them and unbuttoned his jeans.

"You don't know me."

"I'm not scared of you, if that's what you mean. I've seen a lot in my life, had to learn to take care of myself." The zipper rasped as she slid it down. "Believe me. I can defend myself against any man."

A human man maybe, but not him. He wouldn't hurt her, not in any lifetime, but she didn't know that. He gripped her wrists to keep her from touching him any further. "You should be afraid of me."

Now he was starting to sound like the villain in a bad horror movie. He closed his eyes for a brief moment and tried to shake off the feeling of surrealism that had settled over the night.

She ignored his protests and wriggled her wrists out of his grip. "The only thing I'm afraid of right now is you not being able to perform. Other than that, I think I've got it pretty much covered. Trust me on that, okay?"

She pulled the hem of his T-shirt out of his pants and pushed it up. "Come on, Wil. Help me out here."

A short laugh escaped him as he lifted his arms and let her pull it all the way off. It hit the floor across the room a few seconds later. And then her hands were on his chest, stroking, flickering across his nipples. She leaned in to nip at one with her teeth, her fingernails scraping over the other. Her pelvis ground against his, almost perfectly matched due to her height. He sucked in a sharp breath. Hell. She'd be the death of him, not her sister.

"I like this tattoo." Her fingers stroked the thick black snake winding around his upper arm. "Sexy."

"Um, thanks." He'd never thought of it that way. The snake had been an impulse a few decades ago, something he'd done on a whim. The dragon on his hip held a lot more significance. A good friend, an artist he'd known for many years, had designed the intricate scales and wings of the fire-breathing creature. When she died ten years ago, a victim of breast cancer caught too late, he'd had her drawing branded on his skin.

Becca's hand lingered on his arm for a few seconds before trailing down his stomach, back to the waistband of his jeans. This time he didn't try to stop her. She slipped her warm fingers past the waistband, into his boxers, and wrapped them around his cock.

"Very nice, Wil. Very nice."

Her fingers tightened and she stroked, up and down, a rhythm that made his blood pound in his ears. Yes, the woman knew what she was doing. She'd bring him to orgasm in no time if she wasn't careful.

He cupped her breasts, pushed them together and up until he could lean down and run his tongue across the peaked, rosy nipples. She sighed, arched her back and her grip on his cock tightened even more.

Her breasts tasted as sweet as her mouth. As sweet as he knew the blood rushing through her veins would taste. And he would taste. He'd taste her when she came, when it would be the best-when she would be too far gone to even realize what he was doing beyond bringing them both extreme pleasure.

She pulled away and stepped back. "Okay, out of the pants."

"Demanding, aren't we?"

She shrugged, winked at him. "Not too much. I just know what I want. I want to see all of you. Now."

Who was he to argue with that kind of logic? He sat on the edge of the bed and unlaced his boots, one by one, the job a lot more tedious than it should have been. Why hadn't he worn something a little easier to get out of? Once the boots hit the floor, he took off his socks and stood up again. He pushed his pants and boxers out of the way and let them drop to the floor.

"Is that better?"

"Most definitely."

She sauntered back over to him, her hips swaying in a delectable motion with every step she took. Her heels struck the wood floor with a sharp crack-crack, seemingly louder now that he stood vulnerable in front of her, each burst of sound sending him further and further into his state of arousal. His nerves snapped, his muscles so bunched he was afraid he might not be able to move. She stopped in front of him and settled her hand over his right hip bone.

"This one's cool," she said, her fingers caressing the intricate dragon he'd gotten to honor a friend. "Do you have any more?"

"No. That's it."

"Did they hurt?"

Like freakin' hell, but he wasn't about to tell her that. "No. It was over in seconds. Didn't feel a thing."

He wouldn't have felt much, had he been human at the time, but being vampire made him much more sensitive to pain. The little needle pricks had felt like thousands of bees attacking his skin.

"Cool."

Not exactly the word he would have chosen, but it was interesting that a woman found him "cool". He hadn't heard that in too long to remember.

She leaned in and ran her tongue down his chest, from his collarbone to just above his navel. "You taste good."

She licked her way back up again, stopping at his chest. Her tongue circled his nipple, around and around but never touching. Never quite close enough to where he needed that hot, wet tongue. He put a hand in her hair to guide her to where he wanted her to be. And then she reached her goal. His goal, for the moment. The next place he wanted her mouth was far more important.

Her laugh vibrated against his skin, her lips brushing, teeth nipping, tongue swirling over and over. Then she pulled back, blew a hot breath along the wet skin and raked the sensitive flesh with her fingernail and he nearly came out of his skin.

"You like that?" she asked her eyes glimmering amusement.

"Oh yeah."

"You like a little pain?"

Not a subject he wanted to get into with her. There'd been a time in his life he lived for that sort of thing, but that time had long passed. She might be the one to resurrect such urges inside him, but she might not be happy with the consequences.

"Not usually."

A corner of her mouth lifted in a half smile. "You're such a liar."

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