Guest Post: Elizabeth Morgan

Stepping Stones possibly falls under being a strange name for a book let alone a romance book. And perhaps it is even stranger since there aren’t actually any stepping stones in the story.

Have you ever heard the expression, “just take one step at a time?” You probably have since such sayings like, “take each day as it comes,” falls alongside it.

These sayings are our way of telling ourselves or others that we have to take things slowly, we have to take our time, and we can’t rush decision or choices. Every day we are taking steps in our life path. Some days we may take a couple of steps back, but it’s all about progression; about moving forward.

Have I confused you? I apologize if I have, but I shall start at the beginning.

The idea for Stepping Stones came in a dream. Now, I have had many dreams and been shown scenes etc which I have immediately written down when I have woken up, because I thought they would make interesting stories.  But this particular dream was the first and only one I have had to date where I was basically given the story on a silver platter. Not that I am trying to say writing this story was easy, because it wasn’t and for a couple of reasons, but I saw everything.

In this dream I was in Maggie’s shoes. I remember pulling up in a taxi outside this church situated on a cliff top. The bride ran straight up to me and said that her maid-of-honour couldn’t make it and she wanted me to take her place. I was reluctant, but she talked me round.

I remember walking down the aisle and being gobsmacked that my ex was the Vicar marrying this couple. I stood through the service with my eyes fixed on the wall not daring to look at him, and then when I finally could get out of their I ran . . . right into the last person I wanted to see; my foster brother. I was angry with him, but I missed him.

The next scene I was in the garden with my mother and father who told me – and this is where there were some actual stepping stones – and my foster brother to go and argue it out, and each time we told the truth, or made a point, we could take a step forward. The aim being that by the time we met in the middle we had to be fine and make up.

Now, it’s a bit of a strange dream, and sure it lacks in detail, but that was the seed for Stepping Stones, and I woke up knowing that I had to write the story. It took me two years to do so, but I finally finished it and submitted it. Now, the book was originally published at the end of 2012, but then the publisher shut down a year later and the rights for the story were reverted back to me. So, I cleaned it up and submitted it to Bono Books (Decadent Publishing) and they contracted it.

I feel that this new edition is tons better than the original, and I absolutely love the book cover and can't wait to share this new and improved version with you all.

But it still isn’t obvious why I called the book Stepping Stones, is it?

Only a few of those elements found their way in to the book. I added and padded the rest out, but I didn’t add the actual scene with the stones. Why? Well, it probably would have worked if Maggie’s father was a psychiatrist and had crazy exercises for getting people to communicate, but that’s not her father, or how he is.

But even though no stones are visible or present, the point of them, and the saying still apply to this story, because Stepping Stones is about Maggie retracing her steps. It’s about her finding her way back home, back to happiness, and having to take the necessary steps to fix the damage she caused six years prior.

She has to take one step at a time to figure out what she truly wants, where she wants to be, and who she wants to be with.

And that is why the book has been titled Stepping Stones.

~ * ~

Stepping Stones
(Sweet Contemporary Romance)

By Elizabeth Morgan

Blurb:

There's nothing like a wedding to bring the family together....

If not for her baby sister’s impending marriage, Margaret West would never return home. But after six long years, she finds herself a maid of honor who must answer to the people she left behind.

If her parents’ interrogation doesn’t drive her to drink, facing her foster brother, Adrian, just might. To make matters worse, her ex-fiancé is the vicar who will conduct her sister’s ceremony.

Everyone demands to know why she ran off. But the more time she spends at home, the more Margaret realizes even she doesn’t know the real reason.


Buy Links:
Bono Books/Decadent Publishing | AmazonUS |AmazonUK 

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Excerpt:

“When is Aidy getting here?” Jessica grabbed the large bowl of scrambled eggs and brought it closer to her plate.

“I think his flight is due in at three.” My mother placed a dish of bacon on the table and took a seat beside me. “He will be in time for the wedding rehearsal; don’t worry.”

 My stomach clenched. “Wedding rehearsal?” I coughed, trying to clear the chunk of toast lodged in my throat. “What wedding rehearsal?”

“Today at four. We’re running through the service.” Jess scooped egg onto her plate. “I told you.”

Nervous laughter bubbled in my throat and try as I may, I couldn’t stop shaking my head. “No.” I patted my chest. “No, you never mentioned a rehearsal.”

“Oh.” She placed the bowl back in the middle of the table. “I could have sworn I did.”

“Nope, you didn’t. Believe me, I would have remembered otherwise.” I grabbed my mug and knocked the coffee back before finishing my piece of toast. 

“Well, it’s no big deal.” Edward took the bowl of eggs and helped himself. “Just a quick run-through.”

“Will everyone be there?” Forcing a smile on my face, I looked up at them both, hoping like hell my question would pass as innocent and genuine curiosity.

“Anyone who is involved in the wedding itself will be.”

Great. So that meant Jessica, Edward, the parents, and the bridesmaids, plus me. That left Adrian and…. “Will Vicar Taylor, be there?”

Oh God, did my voice just go higher? 

“Yes, Margaret, William will be there. He is the one who is marrying Jessie and Edward, so he needs to be there.” My father skewered some bacon and tomatoes onto his fork.

Grimacing, I reached out and grabbed another piece of toast. “Just a question, Pa.” A stupid one, but a question nevertheless….

“It is normal for people to have wedding rehearsals, Margaret. Just because you—”
Jess picked up the coffeepot. “Does anyone want more coffee?” 

I straightened, my focus fixed on Pa. “I’m aware of that.”

“Maggie?”

My father’s shoulders went rigid. He lifted his head and our gazes locked. I didn’t miss the way the muscle in the side of his neck ticked. Arguing with my father in front of Jessica and Edward was not an option, so I looked away.

“Please.” I held out my mug and Jess poured the dark liquid.

I could kick myself. A wedding rehearsal hadn’t even crossed my mind. Having to stand at the altar before William on the actual wedding day would be hard enough, but having to do it twice…my stomach churned.

“So, will Adrian come straight to the church?” Edward cut the awkward silence.

“Yes. He will get a taxi to the church, and then we will bring him and his luggage back here.” My mother held her mug out to Jess.

“Adrian is staying here? Tonight?” I added sugar to my coffee. “Won’t it be crowded? I thought—”

“No more crowded than it was in your childhood.” My father took a bite out of his toast.

More and more good news. Of course he would be staying here; it was his family home after all. I guess, it was stupid of me to hope that he would go to a B&B, but my parents wouldn’t have allowed it even if he did suggest it. I hadn’t seen him in six years, hadn’t spoken to him. And yet, in a couple of hours I would be locked in the same house as him.

~ * ~

Author Bio:

Elizabeth Morgan is a multi-published author of urban fantasy, paranormal, erotic horror, f/f, and contemporary; all with a degree of romance, a dose of action and a hit of sarcasm, sizzle or blood, but you can be sure that no matter what the genre, Elizabeth always manages to give a unique and often humorous spin to her stories.

Like her tagline says; A pick ‘n’ mix genre author. “I’m not greedy. I just like variety.”

And that she does, author of erotic ménage horror, Creak, paranormal erotic horror and UK, US & Australian Amazon best seller (Gay/Lesbian, Fiction, Lesbian), On the Rocks, and erotic romance, US, UK and Spanish Amazon bestseller (Erotica Short Story) Truth or Dare? She also has her hand in self-publishing.

Razel Dazzle, her modern adult retelling of the fairytale Rapunzel, was her first taste of publishing her own stories, and now she has the hang of it, it will definitely not be her last. Look out for more information on her upcoming releases at her website: www.e-morgan.com

Away from the computer, Elizabeth can be found in the garden trying hard not to kill her plants, dancing around her little cottage with the radio on while she cleans, watching movies or good television programmes – Dr Who? Atlantis? The Musketeers? Heck, yes! – Or curled up with her two cats reading a book.

Where to find Elizabeth Online:
Website: www.e-morgan.com
Blog: www.xxxxmyworldxxxx.blogspot.com
Twitter: @EMorgan2010
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/ElizabethMorgan
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.morgan.944
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/elizabethm2012/boards/
Blog: (Shared with Dianna Hardy): http://notjustastiffupperlip.blogspot.co.uk/

~ * ~

Thank you for having me over today and thank you to all of you for stopping by. If you would be interested in winning a copy of my new release, Stepping Stones or maybe a swag pack, then please do leave an entry on the rafflecopter. J

Rafflecopter:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sale Alert! Delicious Delay - Tara Quan

Thank you for letting me share my multicultural contemporary romance, Delicious Delay. The book is currently on sale for a limited time. You can grab it for only 99c from Amazon, B&N, AllRomance, and Decadent.

After my own not-so-delicious delay in the Middle East, I set out to write something funny, sexy, and set entirely in an airport lounge. It’s a quick summer read meant to make your mouth water (from the food...) and your toes curl. I hope I’ve piqued your interest enough to give one of the links below a click. ~Tara Quan

Delicious Delay

Stranded in a Middle Eastern airport, Michelle Day finds herself the object of interest for an abrasive, but all-too-sexy stranger—a stranger who tempts her with the forbidden in a land where indecency could get her killed. But how does one say no to such a deliciously, relentless pursuit?

Khalid Al Dehri takes one look at the red-headed spitfire in the business class lounge and knew he’d either been transported to heaven—or hell. Her tart response to his surliness intrigues him beyond all propriety and the longer he spends in her company, the more he can’t deny his forbidden attraction. But will she explore the sensuality between them or will society’s rules keep them apart?

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Multicultural

Buy Links: Amazon | B&N | Decadent | AllRomance | GoodReads

Excerpt:

When Michelle managed to peel her lids open, her vision settled on a pair of denim-clad thighs. She shifted onto her back so she could look up and put those limbs into perspective. Whoever they belonged to, the person better have a very good reason for waking her up.

It took a moment before her mind reconciled the man’s face with her still fuzzy memory. Once she realized the identity of the individual staring down at her, she launched straight into a sitting position. What could she have done to offend Mr. Kal-Khalid while sleeping?

She rubbed her eyes and struggled to focus. It took a moment before her mind cleared. He sure cleaned up well. Dressed in a red polo and black jeans, he had gone from striking to drop-dead gorgeous. Jet-black hair brushed his collar, and the curly tendrils softened his angular face. Though he frowned at her, she couldn’t help but feel an undercurrent of attraction.

Until now, she had believed the concept of chemistry a sham. But their few interactions proved otherwise. She may not like him, but she wanted him. She was woman enough to admit this simple truth, though acting on it was another matter altogether.

About Tara Quan

Globetrotter, lover of languages, and romance author, Tara Quan has an addiction for crafting tales with a pinch of spice and a smidgen of kink. Inspired by her travels, Tara enjoys tossing her kick-ass heroines and alpha males into exotic contemporary locales, fantasy worlds, and post-apocalyptic futures. Armed with magical powers or conventional weapons, her characters are guaranteed a suspenseful and sensual ride, as well as their own happily ever after. Learn more at www.taraquan.com

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | Goodreads | Pinterest | Amazon

Shining the Spotlight on: Tara Andrews

Jill Malone has been looking for love for all the wrong reasons. A reality check has her signing up for a no-strings attached night to simply forget about forever after. The last thing she expected was to know her blind date.

Blake Anders doesn’t need help finding a date, but he’s tempted by 1Night Stand’s reputation of arranging exactly what a person needs. And he needs more. Though doubtful, he agrees to one night and hopes to discover his perfect match. He didn’t count on Madame Eve reaching deep into his past to give him a night with the woman he never forgot.

Fearing another broken heart, Jill works to keep herself from becoming attached, but Blake goes all in to convince her that he wants their long-overdue love to be more than a one-night stand…

 Decadent Publishing | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Not convinced? Check out this excerpt:

“I think there’s been some sort of mistake,” she managed.

“But, we’re here. And I don’t think it’s a mistake.”

Of course, he’d be polite, while wondering what happened to the size zero, with extra-large breasts, he ordered. “I don’t know.” She shook her head and swore disappointment flashed across his face. “I’ll be honest; I am not comfortable.”

“And let me be honest. I’m looking forward to an evening with you.” Ooooh, smooth. Then again, she didn’t expect less, given his tabloid reputation. Still, her legs felt a little less stable.

She faced him. What really went on in his head? “You don’t find it strange that you know me?”

His killer smile set off butterflies in her belly and a warning bell in her mind. “No. In fact, it makes sense.”

“Why is that?”

“Because I used to wonder about you. A lot.”

Jill forgot to breathe. Forgot almost everything. Did he say…?

“Didn’t you ever wonder about me?”

Jill exhaled. “I’m taking the Fifth.” His smile grew. She shook her head, recognizing dangerous territory. “I’m still not sure.” Not sure she’d measured up. Not sure she’d survive with her heart intact.

“Stay for a drink.”

She wavered at his low-voiced offer. Dammit, he’d become even more handsome than she remembered.

Decadent Publishing: http://bit.ly/1abrivs

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1hOY19n

Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/1iYGeQR

About Tara:

In addition to her obsessive need to write, Tara Andrews spends her day managing the business office for a community hospital. She lives in upstate New York with her wonderful, supportive husband and two children – who make everything worthwhile. If all that doesn’t keep her busy enough, she’s also a part time student. Tara’s a procrastinator (advanced-level) who likes to spend every spare moment reading – even those moments that shouldn’t be spared.

Website:  www.taraandrews.net

Facebook: www.facebook.com/tara.andrews.author

Twitter: https://twitter.com/tara_andrews1

What You Need: Exclusive and GIVEAWAY!

I'm absolutely beyond tickled to have my dear friend/crit partner/fellow IBRU reviewer/sanity Landra Graf on the blog! In case you're not aware, her fantastic contemporary BDSM romance drops TODAY. EEEEE. 

Here's the juicy deets:

A sexual submissive, Royce wants a woman who’ll make his fantasies come true. The last thing he expects on his 1Night Stand is to be paired with Victoria, his ex-best friend. Haunted by their past, he refuses to deny his newfound attraction or his need for answers. This time, he doesn’t plan to let her go.

Victoria has loved Royce forever, but the sting of his rejection is not so easily forgotten. No longer the naïve girl he knew, she’s matured into a sexual dominant. This domme demands a chance to restart their relationship—on her terms. Knowing that one night will never be enough, she plans a seduction that will last forever.

Amazon | Decadent

About Landra:

Landra Graf consumes at least one book a day, and has always been a sucker for stories where true love conquers all. She believes in the power of the written word, and the joy such words can bring. In between spending time with her family and having book adventures, she writes romance with the goal of giving everyone, fictional or not, their own happily ever after.

Contact Details:

Website: http://riseoftheslush.blogspot.com
Email: landra.graf7@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/landra.graf?ref=tn_tnmn
Twitter: @riseoftheslush 
The floor is all yours, madame! 

Thank you so much Cate for hosting me here. I wanted to share something with readers not seen anywhere else. The best I could come up with is one of the ditched scenes from the beginning of What You Need. This was cut from my original submission. I hope you enjoy it.

The Cut Scene:

White satin sheets and feather pillows, like she’d requested, adorned the bed. The Castillo Hotel of Fayetteville embodied customer service like a Domme controlled a scene… with precision. She remembered this from her one previous stay, the ill-fated honeymoon. A thin line of goose bumps trailed up her spine at the memory. She took a couple deep breaths and looked out at the skyline illuminated by the random flash of lightning and the steady, cold, mid-February rain. The lights from the bustling small metro area cast a faint, electric, pink glow across the sky. Regardless of the outside weather, in this room she remained safe and in control. The night was her domain and she didn’t cower within it anymore. She relished the dark and a chance to embrace the Domme she’d become. 

A sudden vibration on the desk behind her and she jumped. “Damn.” 

She walked over grabbed the phone wondering if this was Madame Eve calling to tell her Royce canceled.

“Hello,” Victoria put the phone against her ear.

“Woot, woot.”

“Go Vicky. Get you some man.”

“You need to get laid.”

She laughed.  “Seriously? I could already be in the middle of whipping some guy’s ass and a bunch of repressed, half-drunk women are calling me.”

Someone coughed in the background. No doubt it was Betty, or another one of Kat’s friends, who’d be surprised to learn sexual experiences outside of standard missionary existed.

                “No,” Kat replied. “If that was the case we would’ve gone to voicemail. And I can’t speak for the other ladies, but I’m not repressed in the least.” Several loud agreements followed her statement.

                “What are ya’ll doing that you have to bother me on my special night?”

                “We’re out at Louie’s, we miss you, and wanted to wish you good luck. Maybe this one’s the one.”

More cheers sounded in the background. Victoria’s skin heated. Since meeting Kat over a year ago she’d always liked the woman’s spunk. Kat had also helped her boss Devlin, the man who’d put her back together, find a piece of himself as well. She and Devlin were the picture perfect couple. Victoria longed for something like that, a man to cherish her like Dev did for Kat.

                “Thanks for the positive energy. I appreciate it… and you and Dev; no matter what I said last week.”

                “I know you were just shocked. I hate surprises too. But I’ve heard nothing but good things about Madame Eve. The plus side is even if this guy ends up ditching you, there is free room service and a room meeting your every desire until checkout tomorrow.”

She chuckled. “That’s the only reason I agreed. Goodnight Kat.”

                “Good night.”

                She could still hear the catcalls in the background as she pressed the end call button. A couple of taps later and the phone went to silent mode. No more interruptions and yes, she fully expected to use the whirl pool in the tub by herself. Royce would likely ditch once he saw her. She’d been surprised when he even sent the email introducing himself, and he’d never once mentioned anything about the past. In fact, he didn’t seem to recall her.

As a special treat 2 lucky winners will win a $25 Gift Card to PureRomance.com and a free copy of my book. Entries will be accepted until Wednesday at midnight. Leave your email in the comments to enter!