Snowbound Love Blog Hop

January 9, 2013January 9, 2013Tmonique Stephens

I love trapping a couple in a situation they can’t retreat from. In my debut novel, Eternity, I’ve trapped my couple, Roman and Stella, in a cabin in the woods. They can’t leave because they’re hiding from a serial killer. In the secluded cabin, they admit they love each other and together they defeat an enemy sent from the Egyptian Gods.

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Leave a comment for a change to win a $15.00 Amazon Gift Card.

Now for a snow melting excerpt of Eternity:

Roman hovered over Stella as she came back to earth. Waiting for entry, he rubbed his swollen tip against her opening. The coldness in his soul begged for her warmth, her slippery heat surrounding him, but most of all his soul begged for her trust. To trust him not to hurt her. Trust him with her body, her heart and soul.

Stella opened her eyes. “Roman.” She smiled dreamily and then immediately stiffened.

“Sweetheart, I’m not going to hurt you. Relax.” But all of her muscle tensed, waiting for an attack. Her small hands pushed against him.

He couldn’t do this; take what she wasn’t ready to give. Defeated, he laid his head on her shoulder. His hope disintegrating.

“He hurt me,” she whispered against his neck.

Roman buried his pain and kissed her collarbone, her neck and jaw, her eyes, the tip of her nose and finally her lips. No passion, no lust, just two shattered souls clinging to each other. She clung to him, giving as much comfort as she received. Carefully, he slid his hand between them. “Where did he hurt you, Stella?” he touched her core and rubbed with little flicks of his fingers. “Was it here?”

She nodded. Her hips surged against his palm. Tears cleared and stormy gray eyes danced passionately. He stroked her again. She moaned and held his gaze while her hips undulated.

“Am I hurting you?” He slipped in a finger and stirred and ground his palm against her clit.

“Roman.” She gasped and brought her lips to his.

“Am I hurting you?” he repeated the question.

“No . . . no . . .” She shook her head back and forth as her body reawakened for him.

“Tell me how you feel.” He breathed in her ear before he took the lobe between his teeth.

“Oh God, it’s exquisite.” Her eyelids fluttered.

“Look at me.” Urgently, he positioned himself at her opening, waiting for permission to enter. “Am I the man who hurt you?”

“No.”

“Am I the man that tried to kill you?”

“No, Roman, no. You’re not him.” Her voice quivered with need.

“Take me.” Ready and waiting for her touch, he took her hand and guided her to him. He died a little when her cool fingers wrapped around him. She stroked—up, down, around—and led him to her wet center.

Again, her body braced for pain.

He captured her face and entered her slowly. He worked himself inside her wetness, losing his mind in excruciating increments as her legs fell open and her hips tilted to receive more. “Siete bello. Ti amo. Lascilo all’interno del vostro corpo stretto.” In Italian, he spoke words of love as he slowly lost his mind.

“Yes.” Her voice strained as waves rippled from her core, tightening and releasing her slick walls around him.

He settled inside her and begged for the strength not to come. Then he set the rhythm and watched ecstasy spread throughout her body. Her legs wrapped his waist and he lengthened his strokes, diving deeper into her heat, his control slipping. She writhed beneath him. His hands grabbed her hips. Her nails raked his chest and she moaned his name.

Wild and frantic, Stella pulled his head down to hers. Weight braced on his elbows, Roman held her face as he moved harder into her. Never would he forget this moment when she completely gave herself to pleasure. Head thrown back, hair streaming, her body thrashed while her tightness seized him. “Who’s loving you, giving you pleasure? . . . I am.”

Passionate cries sang in his ear as he thrust deep inside her. He wrapped his arms around her and released. Centuries of loneliness and searching fell away and the coldness at his center vanished. Panting, still hard inside her, he watched her come back to earth and waited for that moment of recognition. She was going to remember everything now. And all would be right.

Eternity available on AMAZON and BARNES & NOBLE

Hot Hunks On Hump Day

January 9, 2013January 8, 2013Tmonique Stephens

I just like looking at him. He’s like a present at Christmas, all new and shiny and wet. With those intense eyes, shadow of a beard, dewy body . . whew. I’d love to help him dry off!

Happy Hump Day!

Naughty New Years Blog Hop

January 2, 2013January 2, 2013Tmonique Stephens

Hello 2013.

Before the new year started, I sat down and reassessed my writing goals. I don’t think my writing habits are all that bad, but improvement never hurts. I have three books slated for self-publication in the coming year: Everlasting, the sequel to Eternity, an untitled novella based on Eternity and Everlasting, and Once A Wife, contemporary woman’s fiction novel. I work a full-time job and really need to start working out. When I factor in marketing and promotion, socializing so that I’m not a complete hermit and keeping up with my favorite TV shows, where does that leave time for writing, oh, and sleeping.

I have to be realistic. I can’t do everything perfectly. All I can do is try. Working out in the mornings, writing from 4 pm to 8 pm. and finding time for everything else.

If I can stick to this, 2013 will be a great writing year.

What are your goals for 2013?

Now for a Naughty excerpt of Eternity.

Stella opened her eyes. “Roman.” She smiled dreamily and then immediately stiffened.

“Sweetheart, I’m not going to hurt you. Relax.” But all of her muscle tensed, waiting for an attack. Her small hands pushed against him.

He couldn’t do this; take what she wasn’t ready to give. Defeated, he laid his head on her shoulder. His hope disintegrating.

“He hurt me,” she whispered against his neck.

She nodded. Her hips surged against his palm. Tears cleared and stormy gray eyes danced passionately. He stroked her again. She moaned and held his gaze while her hips undulated.

“Am I hurting you?” He slipped in a finger and stirred and ground his palm against her clit.

“Roman.” She gasped and brought her lips to his.

“Am I hurting you?” he repeated the question.

“No . . . no . . .” She shook her head back and forth as her body reawakened for him.

“Tell me how you feel.” He breathed in her ear before he took the lobe between his teeth.

“Oh God, it’s exquisite.” Her eyelids fluttered.

“Look at me.” Urgently, he positioned himself at her opening, waiting for permission to enter. “Am I the man that hurt you?”

“No.”

“Am I the man that tried to kill you?”

“No, Roman, no. You’re not him.” Her voice quivered with need.

Again, her body braced for pain.

“Yes.” Her voice strained as waves rippled from her core, tightening and releasing her slick walls around him.

Click here to find more great author on the Naughty New Years Blog Hop

Blurb

Cursed for 2000 years, Roman Nicolis has tracked his lovers’ soul through each reincarnation only to lose her horribly every time. Reclaiming their love is his only salvation. He’s been her friend, her father, her neighbor, but never again her lover . . . until now.

A late night walk home throws Stella Walker into the path of a killer. The last thing she remembers are the deep blue eyes of the man trying to kill her—and the first things she sees after a seven day coma are the same blue eyes in the handsome face of the man hired to protect her. Is he truly the owner of a security firm assigned to protect her or the man who wants to finish her off? Is it fears she feels when Roman touches her or the memory of something sweeter? She will have to push past her fears and reclaim a love that has lasted two millennia.

Past secrets haunt them. An angry demon stalks them.

Roman will do anything to recover what they had. Though Stella’s ruined childhood has made her close her heart and body to any man, he must get past the walls around her to gain her love and trust, for it will take their union to defeat an unexpected enemy sent from the Egyptian Gods. A man Romans respects, and Stella trusts.

TWO HEARTS.ONE SOUL. FOR ALL ETERNITY.

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Eternity-ebook/dp/B00943FVG2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1352056068&sr=8-1&keywords=tmonique+stephens

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/eternity-tmonique-stephens/1112725622?ean=2940015097443

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Goodbye 2012, Hello 2013

December 30, 2012December 30, 2012Tmonique Stephens

Happy

New

Year!!!!

I can’t wait for 2013! Not that 2012 was so horrible, but I have a premonition that the approaching New Year will be a great writing year.

By the end of 2011, I was completely disenchanted with finding an agent or a publisher. Many authors were—and are—gaining readers and making a living by taking the reins of their careers into their own hands. I took the time to study the pros and cons of self-publishing. After an internal debate, I decided on self-publishing. However, soon after my decision an Epublisher, who was interested in publishing my manuscript, contacted me. In early 2012, I signed my first publishing contract for my debut novel, Eternity. I had achieved the goal I had worked toward for at least the last five years. Now what?

As 2013 looms, I sat down and reassessed my writing goals. Which road should I take? Should I try traditional again? The query, submit and pray route had seriously lost its appeal to me. Should I submit again to an Epublisher? While I am thankful for my big break, Epublishing wasn’t quite what I expected. That left self-publishing.

I have three books slated for self-publication in the coming year: Everlasting, the sequel to Eternity, an untitled novella based on Eternity and Everlasting, and Once A Wife, contemporary woman’s fiction novel. I’m looking forward to exploring self-publishing and the roads which it will take me. I’ve done my research. My expectations are realistic, but still extremely hopefully.

I’m also looking forward to a few writing conferences. Some will be local, within a two-hour drive, and one long distance conference. I love meeting with fellow authors, talking craft and sharing experiences. You can never learn enough and you should never stop trying. So that is my plan of conquering 2013. What’s yours?

Have a tasty Christmas!

December 24, 2012December 24, 2012Tmonique Stephens

I admit that I don’t have a baker’s thumb. I love to eat cake, not bake cake. But if I ever get up the nerve to try, carrot cake would be first on my baker’s menu.

Have a Merry Christmas everyone!


















Total Time:: 2 hr 35 min
Prep: 30 min
Inactive: 1 hr 20 min
Cook: 45 min

Yield:: 12 servings

Ingredients

Cake:

1 1/2 cups grated fresh carrots (about 2 large)
1 cup walnut pieces
1/2 cup finely chopped fresh pineapple (see Cooks Note)
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon fine salt
4 large eggs
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/4 cups vegetable oil
2 (4-ounce) jars pureed carrot baby food

Icing:

2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese (1 pound), at room temperature
12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, cubed, at room temperature
2 cups confectioners’ sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons finely grated lemon zest (about 2 lemons)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups fresh pineapple

Directions

For the cake:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter 2 (8-inch) square cake pans, line them with buttered parchment paper, and dust with flour.

Toss the carrots, walnuts and 1/2 cup pineapple with 3/4 cup of the flour in a small bowl and set aside.

Whisk the remaining 1 1/2 cups flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, baking soda, baking powder and salt together in a medium bowl.

In another large bowl beat the eggs and sugar with an electric mixer until thick and light, about 5 minutes. While continuing to beat the eggs slowly, gradually add the oil, and then the pureed carrot.

Scatter the dry ingredients over the wet and then gently fold them together to make a loose batter. Gently fold the nuts, carrots, and pineapple into the batter. Pour into the prepared pans. Bake the cakes until firm to the touch and a cake tester comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Cool cakes in pans on a rack for 25 minutes. Turn cakes out of pans and cool completely on the rack.

For the icing:

Beat cream cheese in a large bowl, with an electric mixer until smooth and fluffy. Gradually beat in the butter until smooth. Sift the sugar over the cream cheese, and beat until smooth. Add the lemon zest and vanilla extract and beat until light and fluffy. Refrigerate to set slightly for about 20 minutes.

To assemble the cake, place a cake layer on a cake stand, plate, or cake board. Spread about half of the icing over top, but leave the sides bare. Sprinkle icing with about half of the pineapple. Top with a second cake layer, and repeat with remaining icing and pineapple. Serve.

Cook’s Note: You will need about 1/2 a fresh medium pineapple, trimmed, cored, and finely chopped for the whole cake and frosting.

Six Sentence Sunday 12/23/12

December 22, 2012December 22, 2012Tmonique Stephens

The feel of her blasted through Reign’s petrified center. He hadn’t realized how much he missed this, human contact. The simple act of touching and being touched. Warmth and the softness of a woman, so long denied, now he feasted.

He buried his face in her mass of curly hair and inhaled jasmine and honey. A moan ripe with longing ripped from his throat and he fitted her lush curves more intimately to him.

I hope you enjoyed that snippet of Everlasting, the sequel to my debut novel, Eternity.

Six Sentence Sunday Dec 2, 2012

December 1, 2012December 1, 2012Tmonique Stephens

Here’s another sample from my WIP, Everlasting, the sequel to Eternity. This is their first kiss. I hope you enjoy.

Holy hell, nothing had ever tasted so delicious, felt so delightful as Reign’s firm lips slanted across Alexis’ mouth. His whiskers gently brushed her skin, heightening her senses. His scent, woodsy with a hint of musk, filled her lungs. She leaned into him, parted her lips, and licked the seam of his closed mouth. He shuddered and his lips parted. His tongue darted inside her mouth and ignited her blood.

Hot Autumn Nights Blog Hop

November 27, 2012November 27, 2012Tmonique Stephens

Welcome To The Hot Autumn Nights Blog Hop

I’m an October baby, so I love autumn. It’s my favorite time of year. The heat of summer is over, but winter’s bitter cold hasn’t set in yet. My ideal hot autumn night would be lying on a blanket in my backyard, with a bottle of wine, a tray of chocolate strawberries, and a sexy man next to me.

Tell me what is your idea of a Hot Autumn Night and win a $20 amazon gift card.

Click here to meet more great authors!

Now for a hot excerpt of my debut novel, Eternity.

Rocking, no longer the purr of a car, but a steady, slightly nauseating rocking motion woke her. The chug and rumble, and a glimpse of water out of the car window confirmed her location. She was on a boat. A few feet away, Roman stood at the rail.

Stella opened the door and stepped into a fine mist and a slick metal deck. The strong smell of diesel filled the air. She’d traveled on the Staten Island Ferry for a job interview once. Too afraid to go up on the open deck, fear of drowning kept her in the middle of the ferry, seated near the snack bar. This rusted wreck couldn’t compare. No deck chairs, no snack bars, and no lower levels. The water lapping against the boat seemed dangerously close.

She looked around, searching for other travelers. There were none. Roman and she were the only people. She glanced up and spotted a shadow in the weather worn wheelhouse. The captain, hopefully. The boat rode a crest and groaned when it slammed back into the water. Stella clutched the car to steady herself. Level again, she carefully walked around to the front of the car.

“Where are we?” Afraid to cross the distance, Stella perched on the hood. Roman faced her. His shades were gone. In the weak light his eyes were deep, dark drowning pools.

“No one sits on the hood of a Shelby.”

“Why?” was the only thing she could think of to say.

“Because, it’s a Shelby.”

As if that answered the question. Cautiously, she came to the rail and stared out into the dark night for any landmarks. Light twinkled in the distance, but didn’t cast enough illumination to pick out any details. “Where are you taking me?”

“Somewhere safe.”

“Does that place exist?” Her lips twisted in a wry smile.

“It’s my job to make sure it does, at least for you.”

“Is that the only reason why you’re here, because it’s your job?” She shouldn’t have asked, but the words slipped out without a care for her pride.

“Why else would I be here? I’m a mercenary. I have a job to complete.” Monotone, his voice held no life, no passion.

Something in her heart broke. “Just a job?” Watery, her voice wavered.

“Just a job.” He turned his back on her.

Streaks of sunlight stabbed the sky. If she cared to see, the perfect sunrise greeted the day. She couldn’t enjoy it, not when a continent separated her and the man standing inches away. And rightly so. Too much shit had passed between them for anything meaningful to survive. Its best she let go of what she thought they had. It’s not like she didn’t have other things to worry about.

Like the serial killer chasing them.

“Did you know?” Her heart already knew the answer, but her head needed more confirmation.

“No.”

“Not a clue?’ she pressed.

His eyes snapped to hers. Pain did laps in their depths. They said what his lips refused to impart.

She touched his stubbled cheek. “I’m sorry, Roman.”

He jerked away. “Don’t pity me.”

She couldn’t deny it. Pity is exactly what she felt seeing his pain.

“Landing in ten.” The captain cupped his mouth and yelled from the wheelhouse.

Roman gave him a single wave.

“Landing where?” she asked.

“A small town upstate.” He walked over and stopped in front of her. “Fifty miles from here is a cabin on a lake. That’s where we’re going.”

“Why there?” She wanted to keep him talking.

“It’s a good place to hold up and rest.”

A simple touch stopped him before he went to the car. “I’m sorry you were betrayed.”

Though he turned away, his shoulders rose as he took a great shuddering breath. This time when she pulled him, he moved into her arms and she couldn’t help burying her face in his neck. She pushed all her questions and valid reasons aside. Q&A would come later. Right now, their joined pain needed easing.

God, his scent shot through her blood stream like nicotine to a three pack-a-day smoker who had quit puffing a week ago.

Roman bent her body to his and molded every inch to his strength. Pressed against the entire length of him, his heart thudded, echoing her loneliness and his anguish. In this moment, they were one.

She didn’t want his arms around her. Naked, that’s what she desire most, to peel his shirt off and touch his perfect body. Briefly, his arms tightened as she pushed away, but he released her and stepped away. She grabbed his belt. His silly expression made her giggle as her nervous fingers fumbled with his buckle, belt, button and zipper. Laughter came to a choked halt when her hands dipped in the waistband of his briefs and she sprang his erection free. Tip glistening, her thumb ran over the wet opening and delighted in the passionate gasp her single finger evoked from him.

She fisted her hand around him and rolled her palm over the sensitive tip. His hips jerked when she gave a gentle squeeze and stroked downward. From the roll of his eyes and rhythmically pulsing of his hips, she commanded his passion.

As he commanded hers. The heat between her legs gathered. She stroked, up, around, down, and watched his face contort into painful pleasure, then pulled her hand away. He nearly snatched her hand back, but Stella met his lust-crazed eyes with her tongue licking her lips.

Slowly, she circled his tense body. The first time or the hundredth, the sight of him made her breathless. She stepped in front of him and unbuttoned her pants.

“We can’t do this.” His hand stopped the descent of her zipper.

Please teetered on the tip of her tongue.

He drew in a harsh breath. “I’m your bodyguard. Nothing more.” Still hard, he stuffed himself back into his pants and walked away.

Did you like it? Want to read more?

Eternity-Final242 — Available now on Amazon and Barnes & Noble

ROMAN NICOLIS

Cursed for 2000 years, Roman Nicolis has tracked his lovers’ soul through each reincarnation only to lose her horribly every time. Reclaiming their love is their only salvation. He’s been her friend, her father, her neighbor, but never again her lover … until now.

STELLA WALKER

A late night walk home throws Stella into the path of a killer. The last thing she remembers are the deep blue eyes of the man trying to kill her—and the first things she sees after a seven-day coma are the same blue eyes in the handsome face of the man hired to protect her. Is he truly the owner of a security firm assigned to protect her or the man who wants to finish her off? Is it fear she feels when Roman touches her or the memory of something sweeter? She will have to push past her fears and reclaim a love that has lasted two millennia.

Past secrets haunt them. An angry demon stalks them.

TWO HEARTS. ONE SOUL FOR ALL ETERNITY.

Available on Amazon

Available on Barnes & Noble

November 16, 2012November 16, 2012Tmonique Stephens

Please give a big HAPPY 40th BIRTHDAY to

Paloma Beck at Romance Beckons. There are giveaways and prizes. So stop by and give her some love.

Happy 40th Paloma

Autumn Harvest Blog Hop

November 9, 2012November 10, 2012Tmonique Stephens

NaNoWriMo-Oh No!

It’s November, autumn leaves are falling, and that means it’s. NaNoWriMo. Every writer knows what that means: 50k in 30 days.

That means, no TV, no movies, no friends, no weekends, no nights out, and limited social media. Plan quick, easy to prepare meals, activities to keep the kids and spouses—if not happy—certainly occupied. We are supposed to take these drastic measures in the hope that 1,333 words will magically pour out of our heads, race down our arm to nimble fingers poised over keyboards and laptops.

Well this writer isn’t doing it. Not this year, not next year, not ever.

My muse is a finicky bitch. She works when she wants too, where she wants too, and is easily distracted. I’m one of those writers that edits while they write. I’ve heard that’s a no-no.

‘You should write the entire manuscript and then edit’.

That sounds good and makes sense, but doesn’t works for me. Usually, I write one-third the novel then go back over the plot, the characters, and setting. I ask myself questions: Does my plot make sense? Are my characters interesting and believable? Is there enough action? Where do I go from here? And most important, do I still love this idea and can I finish this novel? If I’m dumping words on a page just for the sake of completing a word count goal, I can’t do that. It doesn’t feel right, especially at the end of thirty days when I have to edit everything and I have no idea why I’ve written something or where the story is going. I don’t want to be in that position.

For me, NaNoWriMo is an everyday occurrence. I average between five hundred and one thousand words per day. My novels average 100k, so I complete a manuscript approximately in four months. Right now, with all the other events occurring in my life, my slower, steadier pace is just right. Those writers who can write a great novel in thirty days awe me. They have my deepest respect. My pen salutes you.