Juniper Bell

Cupid's Choice Blog Hop

2012-02-09T19:00:00.000-08:00

WARNING: This letter includes graphic adult content of theBDSM variety.

Dearest L – By the time you read this, I’ll be gone. It’sthe way we both wanted it, anonymous, intense, two beings colliding in an emptyapartment, no rules, no boundaries, no lights, no names. Even the heat had beenturned off, which is why I tied your wrists to the radiator and fucked youuntil my cock was raw, until you’d come more times than I could count, untilyou’d screamed all your words and had nothing left but hoarse whispers -- please…again…stop…ohGod.

We weren’t big on words, were we? This letter alreadycontains more words than we exchanged last night. A bigger variety of words, atany rate. I recall telling you to take off your clothes. I know I told you tokneel and suck my cock. The excitement I saw in your eyes, the hitch in yourbreath, the eager peaking of your nipples – these spoke to me more than anywords could have. Even when I first saw you in the café around the corner, onelong leg crossed over the other, your short dress riding up on your silkythighs, I didn’t want to talk. I wanted to have you, consume you, possess you.Words were irrelevant.

So why am I writing to you now? Why am I not following ouragreement and disappearing into the night, taking only your panties to rememberthe encounter branded forever in my mind, in my flesh? I can picture youreading this now. Even though you’re probably still in that apartment, aloneexcept for the echoes of our lovemaking, you’re probably tilting your legs together– exactly the way I told you not to.

Open your legs. Now.

I know you, you see. You can’t experience a night like thatwithout coming to know your lover on a level beyond the ordinary. I know yourinstinct is to hide your beautiful cunt. I know you long for someone to freeyou, to open you up, break you down, until your true ravenous nature shinesthrough. There’s a word for how you fuck: insatiable. The more I restrainedyou, the more you wanted it. When I took you into the kitchen, bent you over thecounter, and worked my hand into your tight, hot cunt, two fingers pressedagainst your clit, I thought you’d have a stroke from pure pleasure. I camelike a rocket too -- all over myself. When you slid off the counter, all dampand flushed, sank to your knees and cleaned my cock off with your tongue, Ithought you were too good to be real.

Of course I returned the favor. I put you up on that kitchenstep stool, one leg on the ground, the other bent to the side, the better toenjoy the sight of your weeping, red velvet pussy. First I made you touchyourself, while I stroked my rod. Then I ate you out, your sweet, swollen lipsdripping under the lash of my tongue. I loved feeling them burn with need forme. Loved hearing your little whimpers. Loved telling you to pull at your ownproud nipples. I watched those dark points swell deliciously, then watched youhide them behind your hands. Couldn’t believe you would hide yourself from me,from anyone. That’s why I made you reach up to that light fixture and grab on,why I took my time with your nipples, giving each one it’s turn in my mouth,arousing it until it went hard and stubborn against my tongue. God, you werebeautiful, especially when you threatened to knee me if I didn’t let you come.

I let you come, of course. I’m sure you remember. If you putyour hands between your legs right now, I bet you’re wet all over again, justreading about it. Do it. Put your hands between your legs. Strokeyourself.

You’re my dark, unforgettable goddess. And that’s why I’mbreaking the rules and writing this letter.

One night isn’t enough. Can’t possibly be enough. If youfeel the same, meet me at the café again tonight. Maybe we can exchange onepiece of information about ourselves. I’ll start. You know that emptyapartment? After the first of the month, it won’t be empty. It will be mine.And I’m intending to add furniture. Very interesting furniture. Of course, we'll always have the radiator.

So, my dearest Goddess known only as L -- consider this aValentine. I want you. I crave you. I’ll never get enough of you. I’ll countthe minutes until tonight.

And one more thing. Don’t come until I tell you.

Yours,

Hello, Valentine's Blog Hoppers! I've got an extra contest going on this weekend. This letter is from a man named Z to a woman named L. Give me an L name and a Z name in the comments, and I'll put you in the running for your choice of book from my backlist or an ARC of Beautiful Obsession, my next release, as soon as it's available.

Have a wonderful Valentine's Day! Enjoy the rest of the fabulous Cupid's Choice Blog Hop. Here's the link to get back on the tour bus!

Love,

Juniper

Cupid's Choice Blog Hop -- Coming soon!

2012-01-30T13:32:00.000-08:00

Another fabulous blog hop coming up ... if you click on the graphic, you can sign up for an email reminder! I'll be contributing a story and giving away a prize. I'm not sure what yet. Any ideas? I'm open to suggestion!

GO DEEP is a Recommended Read

2012-01-14T12:24:00.000-08:00

Happy 2012, groovy people! The year is off to a snowy start here in Alaska. At least I've been building up my shoveling muscles. But this wonderful review from Blackraven's Reviews makes up for all that zero degree hard labor. Lace, the reviewer, gave GO DEEP five ravens and a Recommended Read rating!! I'm very thrilled, as you can imagine. Here are a few little snippets and a link to the entire review.

Go Deep by Juniper Bell is sweet and hotter than a cat on a hot tin roof! ... In Go Deep, the words are fluid, the plot is intense, yet intriguing, and the characters are well-developed. When I read the last page of Go Deep, I knew that I had been touched and teased by the best.*g* Thank you Juniper Bell for being such a hot addition to the writing world. I so like the way you sizzle.

No, thank you, Lace! If you haven't checked out Go Deep yet, here's the buy link at Ellora's Cave, and the link at Amazon.

Happy New Year!

Holiday Wishes

2011-12-23T18:42:00.000-08:00

Wishing you all a romantic Christmas and an erotic New Year.

May the coming year bring all your sweetest dreams to life.

Love, Juniper

Stuff Your Stockings Blog Tour

2011-12-16T00:30:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you, but I'm definitely getting into the Christmas spirit these days.

Hunky Santa always helps, of course.

Especially if his reindeer look anything like this.

Somehow, pictures like these put me in a giving state of mind. Christmas, to me, is all about gratitude. For instance, I'm grateful for hot men (can't you tell?), my family, my wonderful sweetie whom I love so much, the opportunity to write stories and especially to you READERS!!

So as part of the Stuff Your Stockings Blog Tour, I'm offering a prize to two winners: the first is a $25 gift certificate to winner's choice of Amazon/Ellora's Cave/Samhain; the second is the winner's choice of any two books from my backlist. All you have to do is leave me a comment telling me what you're grateful for this Christmas.

Easy peasy! Not only that, but if you click on the Stuff Your Stockings graphic below, you'll be linked back to an amazing list of authors who are giving away all kinds of gifts this weekend.

So enjoy, stuff your stockings, enjoy the holiday season, and hug your loved ones.

Peace and love,

Juniper

Jingle Bell Hop -- On the Second Day of Christmas

2011-12-08T22:26:00.000-08:00

On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me ....

Two Turtledoves, No Money Back

Jingle bells jangled as the door of Fluff burst open in a flutter of tinsel. Carrie jumped around inalarm, nearly trapping her hand inside an African Gray’s cage. A tall hunk of aman dressed in an expensive gray winter coat was blasting his way toward her,an ornate birdcage brandished in one leather-gloved hand.

“I want to return these birds. I expect my money back. Withinterest.” He plopped the cage down on the counter. Carrie peered at the pairof perfectly harmless-looking Streptopelia turtur, otherwise knownas European Turtle Doves, perched inside. They cocked their heads at her andcooed.

“What’s wrong with them?” Puzzled, she looked back at theirate customer, only to find her breath snatched away by the impact of hisjade-green eyes and late-in-the-day stubble.

“They’re worse than a horror movie, that’s what. You’ll belucky if I don’t charge you for all the damage they’ve done.”

“These are turtledoves, not cobras. Turtledoves hide out andcoo all day. That’s why they’re a symbol of devoted love, though as anornithologist I never really bought into that romantic crap.”

The man, if possible, grew even more enraged. “Well mygirlfriend did buy into that romantic crap. Turtledoves for Christmas, that’sall I’ve been hearing about for weeks. So I finally gave in and bought her theevil beasts.”

“Birds aren’t beasts. Beasts implies a mammal, whereas birdsare descended from dinosaurs, which, come to think of it, could be calledbeasts, since it’s not exactly a scientific term...” She frowned, puzzling it over.

“Who are you?” Heslapped one hand on the counter and leaned in. She caught of whiff of freshsnow and noticed a stray snowflake on one black eyebrow. Lord, he was agood-looking man.

“I’m an avian veterinarian. I’m here to help the new RosyBourque Parakeets settle in.”

“A bird vet? Perfect. Maybe you can explain why thesedemented birdbrains tried to peck out my girlfriend’s eyes. She had to lockherself in the bathroom.”

“That’s ridiculous. Why would they do that?”

“You tell me. After they scared the life out of her, theyknocked over the candles I’d lit and set the tablecloth on fire. While I wasrunning for the fire extinguisher, they flapped around the room, squawking up astorm, and managed to spill a bottle of champagne. At least it put the fireout. But that was a five-hundred dollar bottle of Veuve Cliquot.”

“Special occasion?” Carrie gingerly opened the door of thebirdcage. True, turtledoves tended to be unpredictable in captivity, but she’dnever heard of one pecking at someone’s eyes.

“Marriage proposal.”

“Oh.” A quick shaft of disappointment surprised her. Shemurmured to the turtledoves, who gave a peaceful trrr trrr in response.

“Yeah. I bet you can guess her answer.”

“I’m sure if she loves you and you love her, her answer wasyes.”

“Well, it wasn’t. She thought I was trying to kill her.” Allthe ire left his voice, leaving only a weary sadness.

“I’m very sorry. But clearly that’s absurd. Turtledovesaren’t anyone’s murder weapon of choice.”

The birds looked alert and bright-eyed, perfectly healthy.One of the doves stepped onto her forefinger, wrapping his claws around it forbalance. She brought it out of the cage, murmuring soothingly the whole time.

“What are you doing?” The man stepped back in alarm.

“I’m showing you there’s absolutely nothing wrong with thesebirds.”

“Are you kidding? I should have wrung their necks on thespot. I don’t know why I didn’t get my shotgun out.”

Now it was Carrie’s turn to glare. “Probably because youdidn’t want to ruin your fancy bachelor pad.”

“Excuse me?”

“These birds are perfectly fine. Maybe your girlfriend’s theone with the problem.”

“Oh really? What problem would that be?”

Carrie had had it with this arrogant, anti-bird bozo, nowmatter how sexy he was. “I don’t know. Maybe her problem is you. Did you everthink it just wasn’t meant to be?”

Jacob couldn’t believe his ears. This petite little scrap ofa woman, with her big blue eyes and cinnamon hair fluffed around her head, wastaking the turtledoves’ side over his? Of course she might have a point aboutLiz. He’d been so relieved when she turned him down, he’d decided not tothrottle the birds or hand them over to animal control. But still. They’dwreaked havoc in his house, which was nota bachelor pad, no matter what the snippy bird vet thought.

“Are you saying these doves know what’s best for me and mylove life?” He used the low, menacing tone of voice he employed with thecriminals he interrogated on the witness stand.

“Maybe they do. They are symbols of romantic love, afterall. Aren’t you, little sweetie-kins?” She cooed at the dove in a revoltingly endearing way. The bird respondedby rubbing his feathered neck against her wrist. He experienced a suddenlonging to do the same. Despite her lousy attitude toward customer service, shehad a serene, grounded air that he found incredibly appealing.

“Here,” she said suddenly. “Why don’t you two get to knoweach other a little better? You probably didn’t get properly acquainted.European Turtle Dove, meet…”

“Jacob Harper.” He shifted uncomfortably. Had he justintroduced himself to a bird?

“James, meet European Turtle Dove. He’s a member of the bird family Columbidae. He likes woodland walks,rooting around for seeds, and falling in love. Turtledoves are monogamous andmate for life. Your turn.”

“Um…” Though he felt ridiculous, those wide blue eyeswouldn’t let him off the hook.

“I like walks in the woods too, but I’d go for a steakinstead of the seeds. And I’d like nothing more than to fall in love.”

“You weren’t in love with your girlfriend?”

Ouch. She sure knew how to stick the knife in the wound.“The hell if I know. She had everything I thought I wanted. Beautiful, smart,good family connections.”

“Wow, can’t imagine what went wrong.”

Her sarcastic tone made him laugh ruefully. “Okay, so I’mnot as good at romance as I am in the courtroom. That’s why I got theturtledoves. Figured they’d do the job for me.”

“Mr. Harper, they’re just birds. Maybe that was asking toomuch.”

“Call me Jacob.” As if she’d ever have occasion to call himanything again.

“Okay. I’m Carrie.”

“Carrie.” For a moment they stared at each other. Theturtledove cooed peacefully as she stroked its back in an absent-minded manner.He reached out a finger to touch the bird. He’d never even taken the turtledovesout of the cage until the disastrous proposal. Its delicate brownish-grayfeathers were deliciously soft. A patch of pastel pink adorned its breast. Itwas exquisitely beautiful, though Liz had been disappointed that the dovesweren’t white.

He accidentally touched Carrie’s hand and felt a current ofelectricity travel up his arm. He snatched away his finger. “Sorry.”

“It’s okay.” Her eyes widened. Had she felt it too? Curious,compelled, he reached out to stroke her feather-soft hair. Again, thatremarkable spark ignited his blood. Her pupils dilated. He leaned toward her,needing to explore this mysterious connection. Their lips met.

Magic. Pure, raw magic. She tasted like the outdoors, likepine trees and marshmallows and campfires in the snow. She tasted like apromise of everything good and sweet and real. Right then and there, he made uphis mind not to let her out of his life, if he could help it.

When they finally pulled apart, she put a hand over hermouth, looking flushed and adorably rattled. “I’ll tell you what, Jacob Harper.I’ll give you your money back. But you should keep the birds.”

“You’re giving them to me?”

“Yes. This species can be a wonderful choice for the rightperson. They’re a bit wild but worth the extra attention. I recommend aten-foot high aviary and an occasional treat of mealworms.”

He caught the purple-ringed eye of the dove. Was that awink? “You’ll have to help me get everything just right. For their sake. Andmine.”

She blushed even more deeply. “Fine. I’ll be happy to helpyou.”

Eyes a-blaze, heart a-glow, he pulled her into another deep,soul-searing kiss.

The turtledove lifted off her finger and perched on the topof the cage. The other bird hopped to the door and flew up to join its partner.They cooed and rubbed their necks together. In the back of Jacob's mind, hewondered what all that trrr trrr-ingmeant. Not that it really mattered. All that mattered was how he intended towin Carrie’s heart forever.

On top of the cage, a deep, wordless discussion was takingplace. “Typical humans. Trrr trrr.Don’t they listen to the actual song? Who do they think the line “my true lovegave to me” refers to? Just anyone you’re hot for?”

“Would you relax, my love? Trrr trrr. At least shegot it right. She gave her true love two turtledoves, even if she didn’trealize it. True love always wins out.”

“I guess all’s well that ends well. I just wish it didn’ttake so much work.”

“Oh, you. As if you didn’t enjoy that champagne.”

“Trrr trrr. Youknow me so well, my sweet.”

“Stop that! Not in front of the humans.”

“Oh please. They’ve forgotten we exist. Look at them. By thetime they’re done with that kiss, it’ll be the Third Day of Christmas.”

“Well, I think it’s romantic. I guess I’m a sucker for truelove.”

“We’re turtledoves, what do you expect? Now let’s show thesehumans a thing or two about necking.”

“Trrr trrr TRRR.”

The End

Thank you so much for joining the Jingle Bell Hop. Click here to start at the beginning or to get back on the "tour bus."

You probably already know about all the prizes offered as part of the hop. Well, here's one more. My next release is called BEAUTIFUL OBSESSION from Ellora's Cave. I just got the cover yesterday, so here's the world premiere! If you leave me a comment, I'll put you in the running for an ARC of this super-hot menage as soon as it's available.

May true love surround you with peace and joy this holiday season.

Love, Juniper

Countdown to the Jingle Bell Hop!

2011-12-07T16:51:00.001-08:00

This blog hop is going to be SO FUN! We're doing a Twelve Days of Christmas theme, and I signed up for the Second Day of Christmas, the two turtledoves. If you click on the banner above you can sign up to receive a reminder about the hop once it's underway. As always, there will be amazing prizes, including a KINDLE FIRE! I hope you'll join us as we kick off the holiday season with eye candy, sexy stories, and fun prizes.

Contract News

2011-11-22T15:33:00.001-08:00

Signed and sealed ... well, signed anyway ... my next release will be BEAUTIFUL OBSESSION from Ellora's Cave. Release date TBA, cover soon to come, blurb still to be written, but I can tell you this much: it's about a graduate student who becomes obsessed with three mysterious, inseparable students. It's a menage, it's experimental, and it's one of the hottest things I've ever written.

I can't wait!

Ripped Roaring Halloween Hop

2011-10-27T20:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween! Welcome to Juniper's House. Last Halloween I promised my blog hop winner she'd be a character in a story. So here's Cathy MacDonald in...

WEREWOLVES DO IT WILD

“I won’t be a stupid ghost! I won’t, I won’t!”

Cathy MacDonald gave up with one final eye roll offrustration. Of course her obstinate son Dylan would turn down the easiestcostume, the one she’d already made in the five minutes between work and Trickor Treating.

“Fine, then. Pick something else. But make it quick. Kidsare already hitting the streets.”

Dylan uncurled himself from his facedown sprawl on his bed.“I’ll be a…” His glance zeroed in on his favorite stuffed animal, the one he’dslept with every night since the age of two. “Panther. A black one.”

“I do believe they’re all black, except for that goofy pink one,”Cathy murmured, mentally calculating the time it would take to stuff a blackstocking with newspaper to make a tail. At least he hadn’t chosen somethingreally complicated, like Picachu or Angry Birds Rio. “Get your black jeans andblack sweater. Whiskers, ears…piece of cake.”

She wanted to say, “Good choice,” but was afraid that mightmake him change his mind. He’d been so difficult lately, not her normalsweet-natured boy at all.

“Thanks, Mom.” He smiled, a brief flash of his old self.

Minutes later, completed tail in hand, she hurried into thekitchen. Dylan, all in black, had the refrigerator open and was glugging milkstraight from the carton. “Dylan! You know better than that!”

Dylan raised his head quickly, giving her a shock. Thepupils of his normally green eyes were so dilated they looked black.

“I didn’t mean to frighten you, honey.”

“That’s okay.” He put the carton back in the fridge. “Sorry,Mom.” But he didn’t look sorry. He looked annoyed.

“Turn around, I’ll pin this to your butt. Then I’ll draw yousome whiskers with my eye pencil.”

“I don’t need whiskers. I’m not five.”

“Eight year old panthers don’t have whiskers?”

“Okay, whatever. But what are you going to be, Mom?”

She drew whiskers on herself. “A panther’s mom, of course.”

They joined the kids and parents roamingthe neighborhood amid gusts of wind and swirling autumn leaves. At the firsthouse, the woman who answered the door smiled down at Dylan.

“What are you, young man?”

Dylan made his hands into claws and roared. Cathy steppedback and put a hand to her throat. She’d never heard a sound quite like thatcome out of her son’s mouth.

“He’s a panther,” she said, when she could. “And I’m apanther’s mom.”

“I see.” Shakily, the woman tossed him a granola bar. Dylancaught it in the wink of an eye, gave it a scornful glance, and turned away.

“Dylan!”

“Thank you.” He snarled over his shoulder.

As the evening went on, and the streetlights made spookyshadows from the motley parade of costumes, Cathy became more and more shockedby her son’s behavior. He snatched the offered treats and buried them in hisplastic pumpkin. He shoved other Trick or Treaters out of the way with a harshhiss. He ignored her completely, pacing ahead of her or off to the side.

By the time they reached Mr. Gideon’s house, she was nearlyin tears. Ben Gideon was Dylan’s third grade teacher and, truth to tell, Cathyhad a secret crush on him, the first since Dylan's father had left them. Dark, virile, magnetic – his sexappeal wasted on a bunch of eight-year olds. He was thoughtful too; the onlyteacher she’d been able to approach with her concerns about Dylan, and the onlyone able to control him.

But why had he chosen to dress as a werewolf? She shudderedas his deep, dark eyes smiled at her from behind glued-on fur. He wore aMedieval-looking leather gherkin over bulging muscles and lots of fake blackchest hair. At least, she assumed it was fake. If not, he sure was…manly. Shehad to admit he wore it well, with a sort of Hugh Jackman flair.

“Happy Halloween,” he growled. “Having a beastlynight?”

“Yes,” Cathy said, nearly bursting into tears, until sherealized he was referring to Dylan’s costume. “I…I think he’s taking hiscostume a little too literally.”

Ben Gideon’s sharp gaze focused on Dylan, now standing a fewfeet behind Cathy. Standing? More like skulking.

“Dylan,” said Gideon sharply. “Can you hear me?”

“Of course he can hearyou. Whether he chooses to listen, that’s another issue.”

But Gideon ignored her. He brushed past her. Her noseprickled at the unexpected, gamey scent of wild thing. He loomed over Dylan,who crouched on the ground.

On all fours.

“Dylan. Get up,” she pleaded, mortified.

Dylan’s whole body quivered. In the light of the open door,his shadow blackened the concrete driveway. Wow. Distracted for a moment, shecongratulated herself on her handiwork. Her son’s shadow looked exactly like acat, the way the tail swished back and forth, the way his hindquarterstwitched, as if he was getting ready to pounce…

And then he was leaping through the air toward Mr. Gideon’sthroat, claws extended, mouth open on a long yowl.

Claws? She hadn’t given him claws. Everything went black andshe crumpled to the ground.

***

When she woke up, she was inside Ben Gideon’s house, on hiscouch, and his worried dark eyes were staring into hers. “Are you all right?”

“That depends.” If everything was a weird dream, then sure.Otherwise…She glanced around the room. In the corner, a young, sleek, blackpanther lapped milk from a bowl. “No. No. No.”

“I’m afraid so, Cathy.”

“What? Afraid so what?” Someone needed to spell this out, because…whatthe fuck?

“I’ve been noticing the signs but didn’t know how to tellyou. Dylan’s a…well, you can see for yourself.”

“No, I can’t.” She squeezed her eyes shut to make it true.

“I know this is hard. And strange. But you’ll get used toit. Your son’s a shifter. A were-cat. There are worse things to be, Cathy. He’ll haveamazing powers, when he learns to control them. I can vouch for that."

She inched her eyes open and let his dark glance steady her.God, he was sexy. But what a time to notice that.

“And you know this because…what, you’re a werewolf?” Shelaughed to take the edge off the absurdity of it, all the while knowing thetruth.

“You know what they say,” he said, with a devastating hint of a smile. “Werewolves do it wild.”

She stared at him. The panther finished his milk, sat on hishind legs and licked his chops. With one paw, he swiped a drop of milk off hiswhiskers. Dylan had never been that tidy. Then he trotted over to the couch,jumped up and curled in the nook between Cathy’s hip and the couch cushion. Contentedpurrs filled the air.

“My sweet boy,” whispered Cathy, touching him gently on hisglossy head. The purrs doubled in volume. She smiled. The boy Dylan rarely lether cuddle him anymore.

“Now that he’s shifted for the first time, his behavior willimprove, I promise. If you let me, I’ll help you both through this phase. Teachyou what you need to know.”

He lifted her chin in his lightly furred hand. Intense heatradiated off his body, along with a dizzying, primal sexuality.

“It would be my honor and pleasure,” he added in a husky whisper. "I can't get you out of my mind." Thepromise in his eyes brought all her latent lust for this man boiling to thesurface. She leaned in and their lips met. Wildfire cruised through her veins.

Whatever Ben Gideon was, she wanted him. Whatever Dylan was, she’d take care of him. She was a panther's mom, after all. Why not a werewolf's mate?

"Do werewolves really do it wild?"

"Only one way to find out."

Thanks for reading! To return to the Blog Hop, click on the banner or here. Feel free to explore the rest of my blog while you're here. And because I love comments, if you leave me one I'll put you in the running to star in a story for next Halloween.

Have a Beastly Halloween!

A New Life for The Extremist

2011-10-04T14:00:00.000-07:00

I just realized I haven't mentioned my re-release of The Extremist here yet! I got busy with the release of Go Deep and kept putting it off ...

So here it is. The Extremist was my first erotic romance novella and one of my favorites because it's about a woman coming out of her shell--a great way to begin my career as a writer of steam. ;-) Liquid Silver Books published it, for which I will always be grateful. Now I have the rights back, so I decided to put it up on Amazon and Smashwords. Dar Albert created this gorgeous, sexy new cover, Kinsey W. Holley helped me with some editing and formatting, and voila! It also has a new, lower price -- one I think is more suited to a novella. It will also eventually be available on Kobo, Nook, Sony E-reader, etcetera.

Here's the blurb and the Kindle buy link if you'd like to check it out.

CLICK TO BUY

BLURB

Sex on the beach…just what the doctor ordered.

Lovely, shy Annie Swenson has a few phobias. Okay, more thana few. Crowds, heights, sun, public exposure. When her therapist urges her to take a vacation, she picks aremote island in the Bahamas – the perfect solo hideaway.

So much for plans. Who knew she’d be the only single woman at the resort? Whoknew her nemesis from college would be staying there? Who knew she’d be desperate enough to introduce the gorgeousman behind her in the buffet line as her boyfriend?

The sexy stranger goes along with her charade…for a price.Before she knows it, she’s playing his erotic, boundary-pushing games andloving it. How far will she go? How many of her inhibitions will she shatter?And who is this mysterious man known as “The Extremist”? After a vacation likethis, Annie’s life will never be the same.

Reader Advisory: This novella contains explicit sex, lightbondage, exhibitionism, a supremely hot Aussie, and, of course, sex on thebeach.

Peace and Love,

Juniper

Rhian Cahill's All of You

2011-09-26T10:10:00.000-07:00

One of the best things about attending RT last year was getting to meet so many wonderful readers and authors. For instance, the awesome RHIAN CAHILL. She's an Aussie, and you know how fun they are. Anyway, she has a new release out today, and she happens to be traveling here in the States so a bunch of people are helping her get the word out about ALL OF YOU.

CLICK TO BUY

Only You series

Claire Jones never dreamed the fantasies she’d been having about the young guy next door would ever become reality but after a push from her best friend and one encounter involving dirty laundry she’s getting more reality than one woman should be allowed. But with reality comes emotion and Claire finds herself falling deeper and deeper under Ryan’s spell.

Ryan Doherty wants in Claire’s pants but he soon discovers hot sex isn’t all he’s after. She makes him happy in a way nothing and no one else ever has and if he has to use their amazing chemistry to stay in her life he will. Because having more of Claire isn’t an option. It’s the only choice.

Can Ryan and Claire bridge the age gap to find the love of a life time or will what others think destroy the best thing either of them has ever found?

EXCERPT

Frazzled, hot, and sticky she was ready for a whole bottle of wine when she finally approached her drive at little less than top speed. Too distracted by her own annoyance, Claire didn’t notice the man standing in the parking lot until she nearly ran him over. Cursing a blue streak any sailor worth his salt would envy, she slammed on the brakes, threw the car into park, and flung her door open.

“Are you fucking crazy!” she screamed as she launched from the vehicle. “I could have run you dow—” The air left her lungs and her words caught in her throat. The glistening flesh of a god-like, bare male chest numbed her mind and turned her body into a quivering vessel of need.

Ryan.

God the man is to die for, Claire would have had to be dead not to notice. Even dead I’d notice him. She tried to swallow over the lump of harsh words in her throat.

“Evening, Claire, bad day at the office?”

Ryan’s smirk should have been irritating. Instead it did funny things to her belly, stirred and warmed it like soup in a saucepan. She licked her lips, swallowed again, and finally dragged a few words from the depths of lust-induced stupidity. “Drive home.”

Jeez, could I be anymore lame? The man probably thought she was an idiot. Hell, she acted like a dumb schoolgirl every time he was around, so who could blame him if he did?

“Ah, yes. I heard there was a bad accident on the highway earlier. They said traffic would be screwed for hours.”

His gaze dropped to where her blouse sat snug across her breasts, the material raising and lowering with every labored breath. Her nipples strained beneath her bra. The look in his eyes one of hunger—desire. Could Jane be right about him?The thought sent shockwaves of heat bursting out from the breasts he hadn’t stopped staring at. Her pulse quickened, her breath turned short—choppy. Her clit ached, and Claire squeezed her thighs together to ease the throb.

Ryan’s nostrils flared, and his gaze came back to meet hers. The heat and lust swirling in the green orbs delivered another burst of heat to her body. Claire shivered. Goose bumps sprang up all over her skin and moisture filled her panties. God, if he could do that with a look what could he do with a touch? Sparks of gold ignited in his eyes, and Claire wondered why she’d never noticed those flecks of light before. Had she ever allowed herself to look that close?

No. She’d kept contact with Ryan to a minimum. Usually because she found it hard to string a sentence together with the way he had her body exploding to life whenever he got close. Oh, who was she kidding? Just thinking about him sent her nerve endings into a frenzied bunch of sex-craving knots. Claire closed her eyes and took a deep breath in an attempt to calm herself. Big mistake.

The scent of hot, sweaty male filled her nose and lungs. Her body went from mild arousal to fever pitch in a nanosecond. The smell of a hardworking man had always turned Claire on, but coming from Ryan it tweaked her senses on a whole new level. Her pussy throbbed and turned slick, her breasts swelled and grew heavy, her nipples rasped against the cotton bra she wore. Her eyes popped open wide, and without permission her torso leaned closer to what tantalized her.

A cool breeze ruffled the hems of her skirt and blouse, drifting beneath the material to flow over heated skin. Her clit burned with want, and Claire knew she could climax with minimal effort. Hell, she was so close it would take no more than a brush of his hand or lips to set her off.

Shit. She had to get away.

Without a word she spun on her heels and dove back into her car. Slamming the door, she put the car in gear and shot into her parking spot. In one move she switched the engine off and grabbed her handbag. After jumping from her seat, she shut the door with her hip and strode across the asphalt. Aiming her keys over her shoulder, she activated the door locks and alarm.

“Gotta go. Can’t stop,” she called out as she made a dash for the front of her townhouse . . . safety.

It took longer than she liked to fumble her way inside and close the door behind her. Slumping against the cool timber, Claire let her head fall back with a thunk and stared at the ceiling in her foyer. She shuddered. She’d just made a complete fool of herself, and even if she’d been remotely contemplating doing as Jane had suggested and what her body screamed for, she’d probably just managed to ruin any hope she may have had at succeeding.

CLICK TO BUY

Congrats, Rhiann, it sounds great! Happy travels and happy release day!

Juniper

First Review for GO DEEP

2011-09-19T10:10:00.000-07:00

Big sigh of relief -- the first review of Go Deep is in, and it's a great one! 5 hearts from Sizzling Hot Book Reviews. I love that blog, so it's even more exciting. Here's the link, and a few choice snippets.

"I was sucked into Go Deep very quickly. Gavin and Beth are unique characters and I loved the depth and emotion that Juniper Bell was able to give them in a short amount of space."

"Go Deep is a touching and revealing story that left me missing Gavin and Beth as I finished it."

Thank you, Stacey and Sizzling Hot Books, for such a lovely, thoughtful review.

Juniper

GO DEEP is out today!

2011-09-07T11:17:00.000-07:00

I love release days ... it's kind of like an extra birthday. Today is the release of GO DEEP from Ellora's Cave. It's the second in a series set during the winter festival Wild Nights in Wild, Alaska. Here's the blurb and another excerpt, a hot one this time. Enjoy!

Click to Buy

Go Deep

Juniper Bell

A standalone sequel to Go Wild.

Beth is the shy, dreamy type. No one guesses at the wild sexual thoughts she hides behind that quiet façade. She doesn’t even share her secret longings with her husband.

Gavin loves his wife, but he’s tired of living in a marriage in which neither he nor Beth reveal their true desires. When Gavin sees Beth’s response to an erotic bondage photo in her framing shop, he jumps at the opportunity to break through her barriers.

He accepts an invitation to a showcase match for the amateur hockey team he coaches during Wild Nights, the infamous winter festival during which “anything goes, nothing counts.” But he’s opened a sensual Pandora’s box—Beth has some surprises of her own. When she meets Eagle, a free-spirited Wild resident, she knows he’s the perfect man to help enact her erotic fantasies. And once they go deep, there’s no going back.

ADULT EXCERPT

When Gavin stepped naked into the room, the world hadchanged.

Beth sat on the bed with a man. A stranger. He had longblack hair and straight black eyebrows. He was dark-skinned, with some NativeAlaska blood, perhaps. His eyes met Gavin’s. He’s a wild thing, thoughtGavin. Free. A creature of the wilderness.

Gavin remembered that he was naked. The hell if he’d try tohide himself in his own cabin. Hockey players weren’t exactly shy. He was veryused to being bare-ass in front of other men. His eyes traveled back to Beth’s,looking for guidance. She blinked twice, looking anxious. The tip of her tonguemade a quick pass across her lips.

“In the photograph,” she whispered, “there were two men.”

Two men. He looked at the intruder again. The man returnedhis gaze steadily.

“My name’s Eagle,” he said in a deep voice. “Your wife askedme to come.”

“I met him at the ice pond. He…I asked him to help.”

Gavin’s heart skipped a beat at the plaintive tone in hervoice. His poor girl must be terrified of his reaction. But she’d done what hewanted. She’d summoned the courage to bare her fantasy like this.

Eagle spoke. “I told her I’d have to meet you first.” Alittle zing of heat traveled between the two of them.

“Well—” Gavin had to clear his throat. “What do you…”

“I’m into it.” The quick answer made Gavin’s cock jump. “Ifyou are.”

Gavin looked at Beth, her face flushed, tilted away fromhim. “I want to make her happy. But this is new to me. To us.”

“Yeah, I get that. I’m a little nervous too.” Eagle’s drytone made all three of them relax. “How about we start with the photograph.Your wife told me about it. You’ve seen it.”

Obviously not all of it. But he nodded.

“Figured we could go from there. Nothing’s going to happenthat you, me and Beth aren’t okay about.”

Gavin felt his nervousness ease. He wouldn’t just be aspectator. He had some control over what was to come.

“It sounded hot, that photo. Two men, one woman. She’snaked, but they aren’t.” Eagle brought his hand to the neckline of Beth’scatsuit.

Gavin took in a deep breath. Beth’s eyes were cast down,toward the floor. He had the urge to take her into his arms, squirrel her awayunder the covers. But that’s not what she wanted right now. “Unzip her,” hesaid.

* * * * *

The relief made Beth so dizzy she barely noticed when Eagleunzipped her catsuit. A whoosh of air on her nipples sent a shaft of excitementthrough her insides. This was actually happening. A strange man was actuallyundressing her, just as she’d dreamed ever since she’d seen that photo. Andmaybe before…

Her eyelids drooped and she let her head fall back. Shewanted to be handled like a baby, like a toy. She’d done her part—she’d broughtthe three of them together and showed them what she wanted. Now she wanted toput herself in their hands. Two men using her, pleasuring her. Eagle spread thetwo sides of her catsuit apart, exposing her torso to Gavin’s scalding gaze.

“In the photo,” said Eagle. “One man is fondling her, theother man is watching.”

Beth moaned. Hearing him speak it aloud was unbearablyarousing. Eagle touched her nipple, lightly, but that was enough to make herentire body jump like a fish.

“You’re making me hot,” muttered Eagle. He spread his palmacross her chest, between her breasts, so her two nipples peaked on either sideof his hand. The heavy warmth of his hand, just above her heart, gave her amelting sensation. Eagle shifted her so she sat between his legs, leaning herback against his hard chest. She breathed in his scent, like fresh forest air.So different from Gavin’s.

Raising her eyes to her husband’s, she felt another wave ofrelief that he was still here, that he hadn’t run off or called it quits. Theopposite, in fact. She knew that look on his face. It meant he wanted her,desperately. His cock reared between his legs in proud arousal. He lookedmagnificent, like a naked warrior. She knew that Eagle admired the sight asmuch as she did when his cock hardened behind her.

Two stiff cocks. The thought made her head spin.

She shifted restlessly, needing more.

Eagle plucked at her nipples. The rough friction sent shock wavesstraight to her sex. She arched and twisted against the white vinyl of thecatsuit still hugging her hips.

“You want out of this thing, sweetheart?” Eagle asked.

She nodded manically. He took his hands from her nipples andpushed the catsuit down as far as he could reach. Gavin kneeled down in frontof her and peeled it off her legs. It was a two-man operation, with Eaglelifting her ass up while Gavin pulled the suit down. The feeling of beingstripped by two men gave her a deep, unaccountable thrill.

When her body was free of it, she wriggled deliciously,feeling like a butterfly released from a cocoon. Her body flushed with a giddysense of freedom.

For the first time in her life, she was completely naked infront of two men. And it felt good, so good.

Her skin breathed in the warm air, basked in theirappreciative gazes. Where was her shyness, her restraint? Gone with the cocoon,she supposed.

“You’re a knockout,” said Eagle in a thickened voice. The factthat he was getting so turned-on gave her an extra thrill. He cupped herbreasts in his warm hands, so dark against her pale skin. He thumbed hernipples. Heat shafted to her belly. She responded with a throaty moan thatwould have embarrassed the old Beth. She spread her legs apart and smelled herown arousal, piercing and sweet.

“I have to lick her now,” said Gavin in a voice raspy withlust.

“Do it,” Eagle urged. He scraped his thumbnails across heraroused nipples until she wanted to scream. It felt strange to have themdiscussing her like that. Strange and intoxicating.

Gavin crouched between her legs, strong hands on her innerthighs. She could tell he was restraining himself from taking her like a savagebeast. His black hair brushed against her inner thighs. Goose bumps pebbledacross her flesh. He spread open her lips and tasted her clit with delicatestabs of his tongue.

Oh God! She thrashedfrom side to side, or tried to. Eagle held her arms bound to her sides in atight embrace. Gavin took one of her buttocks in each hand, his large thumbspressing into the upper part of her thighs. His strength made her liquefy.Strong man at her pussy, strong man at her breasts. Her body theirs to tease,stroke, torment.

CLICK TO BUY

HUGS!

Juniper

Hard at Work Labor Day Blog Hop

2011-09-02T20:00:00.000-07:00

Hi, I'm Juniper Bell, erotic romance author. Welcome to my stop on the Hard at Work Labor Day Blog Hop!

You know what they say ... parenthood is the hardest job you'll ever love. Now that I'm a stepmother, I totally understand this statement. I think my husband is an amazing father. In honor of him, and all dads, here's my Labor Day tribute to all those men who are Hard at Work ... at home.

What could be sexier than a bare-chested man holding a teeny-tiny baby? Um, maybe one with a fireman's helmet? Men with babies always make me melt. Almost as much as ...

... men ironing, cooking and

cleaning the shower.

And of course, no matter how much work he does around the house, our hero is still willing to fill the gas tank ...

play handyman...

And read to the kids.

No wonder he's tired by the end of the day.

But why let him nap when you can wake him up and show him some love?

So here's to Hard at Work men at home. You have no idea how sexy you are.

I'll be celebrating Labor Day with a new release, Go Deep, which comes out on September 7 from Ellora's Cave. If you leave me a comment, I'll put you in the running for an extra prize -- an ARC of Go Deep and a $5 Amazon gift certificate!

Here's the blurb for Go Deep. Scroll down to the next post for an excerpt. Enjoy!

Beth is the shy, dreamy type. No one guesses at the wild sexual thoughts she hides behind that quiet façade. She doesn’t even share her secret longings with her husband.

GO DEEP Excerpt #1

2011-08-31T17:07:00.001-07:00

Ellora's Cave has an excerpt from Go Deep on their coming soon page, but I thought I'd post another one for some variety. Enjoy!

A standalone sequel to Go Wild.

Beth is the shy, dreamy type. No one guesses at the wild sexual thoughts she hides behind that quiet façade. She doesn’t even share her secret longings with her husband.

EXCERPT

The final touch was the mask. Once she put that on, she screwed up her courage to look at herself in the bathroom mirror. At the sight of her reflection, a surge of such fierce power rushed through her that she had to steady herself on the bathtub. The woman who stared back was an erotic work of art. She was sensual, stunning, alluring. She was someone else. Someone who didn’t jump at the sound of a quiet rapping on the door.

She was someone who sauntered to that door and opened it slowly, teasingly drawing out the moment.

Someone who didn’t recognize the man who faced her.

The man who must be Gavin scorched her body with a long, deliberate look from head to toe. Every part of her came to life under his scrutiny.

“Gavin?” Her voice sounded tinny to her own ears. “That’s you, isn’t it?”

He was dressed all in black and wore a black mask that covered the upper part of his face. He looked dangerous and very, very sexy. Her eyes drifted to his pants. Black leather. His shirt was made of softer material that clung to his muscles. He looked like a lethal cat burglar who planned to surprise some lucky lady in her bedroom and steal her jewels right after ravishing her.

She shivered at the fantasy.

“Let’s go,” Gavin said. His voice sounded lower, rougher than normal. And his tone left no room for anything other than obedience.

“Out there?” She shook her head in panic. “I don’t want anyone to see me.”

“Well, I do.” There was that tone again.

“Gavin, be reasonable. I mean, look at me.” She looked down at her chest, where darkened nipples pushed against the fabric. The sight gave her a wild pulse of excitement. She looked like someone in a movie. Or in a photograph. The photograph flashed into her mind. Her knees went weak.

“I’m looking. So will every man out there. They’ll all wish you belonged to them. But you don’t. You belong to me. Time to go.”

He opened his hand. A leather collar nestled in his palm. A collar just like the one…

She went faint. Gavin had seen the photograph. He knew all the dirty thoughts she’d had. All the air seemed to disappear from her lungs and the room blurred. Would he scorn her now? Shun her as she deserved?

“I’m going to put this on you now,” came Gavin’s stern voice, like a lifeline through her fog. “Once it’s on, you must do what I say. I wouldn’t want to have to use the leash, but I will if I have to.”

She shook her head quickly. She didn’t want a leash. Or maybe she did. Unbearable excitement pounded through her veins. He came close, his presence so overwhelmingly powerful she bowed her head to him. She smelled the spicy, rawhide scent of leather and felt his fingers on her skin. He turned her so her back was to him. Stiff, cool leather surrounded her neck. As soon as he fastened the collar, a strange feeling came over her. By marking her like this, wasn’t he assuming responsibility for her? Anything that happened after this, anything she did, would be his doing.

No one could blame her. Especially not…but she pushed the ghost away.

This was Wild Nights, and she was wearing a mask and a collar. Anything could happen and it would be all right. The sense of freedom intoxicated her.

“Who are you?” she asked him without raising her head, surprising herself with the question. Maybe she wanted the illusion to be complete.

Gavin ran his index finger along the lower edge of the collar, back to front, testing its tightness. Then he went lower, across the exposed skin between the collar and the netting. She wondered if he could feel the frantic beat of the pulse in her throat. He seemed more interested in the curve of her breast, following the plump flesh to the edge of her nipple. There, he scratched the nipple with his thumbnail.

A shivering, silvery feeling shot through her. Her tongue tingled and her whole body jerked in response.

Good God, where had that come from? She never jerked like that. She was always calm and cool, even in bed. But the person who had put on this outfit, the person who loved the feel of a collar around her neck, that person had jerked.

With his thumbnail, he drew a line along the edge of the corset to her other nipple. She held her breath, bracing herself for the thumbnail, but instead he squeezed the nipple between his thumb and forefinger. Squeezed and rolled until a sound ripped from her throat that she’d never heard before, never even imagined. A sensual, guttural, needy sound.

Still squeezing her nipple, he leaned close to her ear and said hoarsely, “I’m your master. The master of your body. Everything here is mine. And I intend to use it exactly as I please. Understand?”

Her senses whirling, she nodded.

“As your master, I demand one thing you cannot deny me.”

“Wha… What?”

He tightened his hold on her nipple, plucking it until she cried out. With his other hand he pulled her against his body. She felt his aroused shaft against her ass.

“This. Your response. You are forbidden to hold anything back. Anything. I want your cries, your moans, your screams, your curses, I want to hear it all.”

Coming September 7 from Ellora's Cave.

Go Deep Release Date and Other News

2011-08-17T14:13:00.001-07:00

Go Deep releases SEPTEMBER 7!!

Beth is the shy, dreamy type. No one guesses at the wild sexual thoughts she hides behind that quiet façade. She doesn’t even share her secret longings with her husband.

You can read an excerpt at the Ellora's Cave site here. I'm really excited about this story, I hope you enjoy it!

OTHER NEWS

In other news, Ethan Cowell from the Receptionist series will be interviewed at The Perfect Man Event!!!! Just look at the authors participating. Wow, I'm honored to be one of them!

His interview (really, I had nothing to do with it!) will be at the fabulous Day Dreaming blog on Saturday, August 20.

And there's more fun in the works. The kids are heading back to school (whew!) and that means we can head "Back to Smut"! This should be an awesome event at Sizzling Hot Book Reviews.

And last but not least ... it's a Labor Day Blog Hop! I just love watching bare-chested men hard at work.

I'll be giving away prizes at all these events. I'll also be chatting at the Whipped Cream review site at 3PM est (that's 11AM Alaska time, in case you wondered!) on Saturday, August 27. Here's the link to the Yahoo group in case you aren't already a member. Please stop by for fun, excerpts and prizes!

Love, Juniper

Go Deep Cover Art

2011-07-27T16:05:00.000-07:00

I just learned this cover has been approved for posting! This is for Go Deep, the next story in my Wild, Alaska series. It'll be out soon from Ellora's Cave, but I don't have the release date yet. Dar Albert designed the cover and I absolutely love it. Thanks, Dar!

Juniper

Summer Fun

2011-07-19T16:22:00.000-07:00

I went a little crazy and signed up for all kinds of summer contests. Yep, I'm giving away prizes all over the Internet. Here's a list -- I may have to update it soon because more fun events keep popping up!

The Romance Reviews is having a Sizzling Summer Reads party. This one is really fun -- amazing prizes and all you have to do is answer some cute (and easy) questions about the books. The Erotic party (yes, that's me) goes until July 28.

The Long and Short of It Reviews is having an enormous 4th Anniversary Bash. (Happy Anniversary, I love you guys!) They're celebrating with a scavenger hunt from July 30 to August 28, culminating in a two-day blowout party on August 27-28. I believe I'll be chatting for an hour on the 27th at 3pm EST. Prizes for this one include 2 $150 gift certificates and a Nook Color.

Next comes the Romance Junkies Summer Splash Contest. This one goes all summer, until August 31. It's so cool -- when you click on this link, you'll come to a page with three postcards on it. Each postcard contains many contests (you scroll your mouse to see the various authors and publishers.) I'm on postcard #3, and I'm giving away a $10 Sephora gift certificate. And winning is easy, I promise!

Having fun yet? There's more. On August 27-28 I'll be taking part in The Romance Studio's End of Summer Blowout party. I'm sure I'll give away prizes for that one too, but I don't know what yet. Any ideas?

I hope to see you at one or more of these events, and that you win a fun prize!

Happy Summer!

Juniper

Great New Blog for Menage Readers

2011-07-12T15:31:00.000-07:00

Do you enjoy a good, sizzling menage story? There's a new blog in town for readers readers like you (and me!) It's called When One is Not Enough, and it consists of ten bestselling authors of menage romance. I'll be blogging there once or twice a month, along with Lily Harlem, Stacey Espino, Eve Langlais, and .... well, you should check out the entire list of authors here.

I hope you'll follow it and enjoy the posts. There will be contests, giveaways, and lots of sexy fun.

p.s. I apologize, but I have no idea how to put the accent on the "e" in "menage" on Blogger. Anyone know?

So Sensitive by Anne Rainey

2011-06-28T05:21:00.001-07:00

The great Anne Rainey has a new book coming out from Kensington. Her friends are going all out on her behalf, and I'm joining in the fun. Also, Queen of the Night Reviews is holding a contest and giving away a copy of SO SENSITIVE. Here's a blurb and some links where you can find more. Enjoy!

When Fear Crosses The Line

At first, the mysterious emails are flattering. But soon, Gracie Baron can’t deny she has a stalker—and it’s clear she needs protection…

Into Pure Pleasure

P.I. Wade Harrison admits that his friend’s luscious assistant, Gracie, has been tantalizing him for months. So Wade jumps at the chance to offer her the personal protection she needs, free of charge. The only catch is, Gracie must agree to obey his orders—no questions asked.

The Answer Is Yes

Once Wade has Gracie alone, he isn’t shy about letting her know what he wants. His fantasies involve erotic toys and a very willing partner—and that’s just for starters. Gracie doesn’t know what she wants, but Wade is hot and restless—and surrendering to his desires may be exactly what she needs…

Praise for Anne Rainey’s Body Rush

“Deliciously naughty, smokin’ hot…read if you dare!” –Janice Maynard

“With red-hot sex, hot and heavy BDSM, and three alpha males to make this book almost dangerous. You will not be disappointed!” –Coffee Time Romance, 4 Cups

“Supremely sexy and beautifully emotional, Anne Rainey’s writing is intensely relevant for today’s woman.” –Lucy Monroe

Please Order this book from:
Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, BooksaMillion.com, indieBound.org, borders.com, or your favorite retailer.

Sexy Summer Solstice Blog Hop

2011-06-20T21:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the most magical day of year! Where I live in Alaska, sunset blends into sunrise this time of year and the light never dies. Summer solstice is one of our most mystical, treasured days, to be honored with bonfires and dancing. My contribution to this blog hop is a story that's been simmering in my head, waiting for the perfect moment to blossom. It's short, but may well turn into a full-length story some day. I hope you enjoy it!

If you leave a comment, you'll be entered into a special drawing for a special Summer Solstice prize of Captain's Coffee Beans roasted here in Homer, Alaska. (So you can stay up all night partying!)

MIDSUMMER MAGIC

Tansy ran across the meadow, her long legs sailing over scarlet poppies and green marsh grass. The wicker basket she carried over one arm bounced against her hip. The edge of the dark forest loomed closer with each joyful, airborne leap. Most in her village feared the forest. So had she, until she learned the truth. Now, those thick woods held all her happiness, all her reason for existing.

Especially on Summer Solstice.

The old stories told how another village, even larger than theirs, had disappeared one misty night. One day it had been there, busy and prosperous; the next morning, every single person was gone. When a band of strong men from Tansy’s village had gone to investigate, they’d been scared off by the biggest bear anyone had ever seen. The bear grew larger with each subsequent retelling, until it had assumed mythic proportions by the time Tansy first heard the story.

No one went near the site of the old village anymore. Well, no one except her.

The cool forest reached for her with spruce-scented limbs as she dashed into its shelter. She inhaled the aroma of the mossy earth – the smell of spring, of stolen moments, forbidden meetings – the smell of him. Barefoot, she darted around thick tree trunks, ducking under the branches that stretched across the trail. No one had been down this path since the snow melted. Most likely, no one had been this way since last Summer Solstice. The forest had started to reclaim the trail with its deep, silent embrace.

Fine with her. Nothing in this forest would ever hurt her. Bjorn had promised her that, and while he didn’t say much, when he spoke, he meant it. Goosebumps pebbled her arms at the thought of him, of his fathomless dark eyes, the passion in every brush of his flesh against hers.

She felt him everywhere, in the flash of a rabbit darting behind a tree, in the cool air against her bare arms, in the branches that tugged at her waist-length hair. The last time she’d seen Bjorn, he’d wrapped himself in her hair so they were pressed together, the sunlight filtering through the long golden strands. After she’d returned to the village, lonely and desolate, she’d refused to comb her hair for weeks. Until she’d realized that the tug of a hairbrush reminded her of his hands on her scalp, his lips on the delicate bone behind her ear.

There wasn’t an inch of her body that he hadn’t loved, possessed, treasured.

The path wound behind a giant boulder, then disappeared in a tangle of underbrush. It forced her to slow down and she gave an anxious sigh. Solstice was just a few minutes away. Sixteen minutes past the first hour after high noon, on the twenty-first day of June. She should know; she’d been counting down the hours since last Solstice. If she missed the exact moment of Solstice…well, she didn’t want to think about that. She’d make it. She had to. And it wasn’t far now. Just across the little stream, under the massive root of an ancient oak, into the green glade that spread like a welcome mat before a deep hidden cave. Birch trees made magical sun-spangled patterns on the soft cushion of moss that blanketed the glade.

Panting, she gazed around the empty clearing. It glowed like a green jewel. Joy and peace flooded her. She wasn’t too late. If he’d come and gone, she would have known. There would be tracks, evidence, a disturbance. Instead, it waited, perfect and pristine, as if the forest held its breath.

So did Tansy. High overhead, the golden sun slid across the sky to the balance point it would reach within moments. Here in the glade, the air hummed with strange, vibrant energy. A bee buzzed, then became muted. Tansy felt as if the atmosphere had transformed into some other element, something crystal clear that she could float through if she tried.

And then all the energy in the glade coalesced with a rush and focused on the opening of the cave. Sounds from within echoed in the shadowed dark. Tansy’s heart raced. The sun ticked closer. A figure appeared in the opening. Black and massive, it ambled into the sunshine, then reared on its hind legs. A bear, twice as huge as any normal grizzly.

Tansy’s hands went sweaty. As long as they’d been married, she never got used to her first glimpse of her husband in the spring. “Bjorn,” she whispered. The bear swung his head toward her. His brown eyes, set deep in the fur of his face, surveyed her with animal wariness. All the other bears had left these woods by now, gone to search for salmon in the rivers. But Bjorn stayed behind. Waiting. For her. For this moment.

He dropped back on four legs, then prowled toward her, his enormous head swinging back and forth. Tansy fought to stay calm. He wouldn’t hurt her. He would remember. He always did. So far.

When he reached her, she held out a trembling hand. It looked so pale compared to his fur, which was the color of spiced chocolate. He sniffed at it, his hot breath wafting across her skin. Her lips parted. His breath smelled earthy and wild. It ignited desire deep in her belly. The bear rose up on his rear legs again, threw his head back and uttered a mighty roar.

If you skinned the fur coat off a bear, you’d be left with a form not unlike that of a human. Her people considered bears to be the closest to humans of any wild creature. Tansy knew this, but still, she stepped back. Some primitive instinct urged her to flee.

He was magnificent, this creature. Untamed. Unpredictable.

But the sun must have crossed the magic line, because in that instant the dark fur shimmered into something more pale. The massive body shrank, seeming to collapse in on itself. Limbs reformed, skin took the place of fur, and the face morphed from animal to man.

Her man.

Bjorn stood, blinking and naked, in the glade before her. It always took him a moment to get his bearings. She surveyed him greedily, running her eager gaze over each powerful ridge of muscle, each new scar, the longer length of his dark hair – she’d brought scissors in her basket. A new haircut was one of their rituals. He looked good. Handsome and strong. It had been a good winter, a fine spring. He was still alive. That was all that really mattered.

“Tansy.” His voice sounded like a rusting hinge. He cleared his throat. “My dearest love.”

She threw herself into his arms. He caught her up as though she was made of the most precious thistledown and swung her around.

“You’re here. You came.” His voice sounded thick with disuse.

“Of course. I’ll always come.” But they both knew there was no “of course” about it. Not many women could bear having a husband they could only mate with one day of the year.

His arms felt so good around her, so solid and real. Nothing else ever felt as wonderful as being in Bjorn’s arms. He pressed kisses into her neck, sending flutters through her body.

“Did you bring clothes?” That was another of their rituals. Haircut, clothes, the choicest morsels of food, a year’s worth of pleasures packed into a basket.

“Of course. But first…” She drew back and pulled the hem of her dress over her head. Nude and flushed, she faced him. His eyes darkened. “It’s been three hundred and sixty three days, twenty-three hours and fifty-nine minutes since I last saw you as a man. I don’t want to waste a minute.”

“Nor do I.” He drew her against him, curving one hand around her cheek with aching tenderness. “I love you so. You’re more beautiful every year.”

“Make love to me, husband.”

He lowered her to the soft grass. They had just under twenty-four hours to be together like this. Try as they might, the magic never lasted past Summer Solstice.

It was never enough, and yet more than enough.

Thanks for reading, and don't forget to leave a comment for some delicious Alaska coffee! I hope you'll roam around my website while you're here. My latest release is the #1 Samhain bestseller Restraining the Receptionist. Click here for more about it. Click here to get back on the Tour Bus. There are many more great stories and amazing prizes to be won -- including gift cards, books, and a grand prize of a NOOK!! Happy Solstice!

Peace and Love,

Juniper

Excerpt Monday

2011-06-20T01:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Excerpt Monday! My name is Juniper Bell, and my latest release is Restraining the Receptionist from Samhain. Here's the blurb and an ADULT excerpt.

Every deal has a loophole.

Restraining the Receptionist

…the Receptionist, Book 2

Dana Arthur’s new job with the firm of Cowell & Dirk is going well. Translation: the occasionally kinky ménage with her two bosses, Ethan and Simon, has been several months of politically incorrect bliss.

Except the relationship feels unbalanced. While Ethan is the undisputed master, the partners’ iron-clad agreement stipulates that Simon must be present as she performs her “duties”. And she senses there’s a subtle, powerful tug-of-war developing for more than just her body.

Simon had agreed to share the firm’s fiery, sensually daring receptionist…to a point. With Simon out of town, Ethan plans a feast of erotic temptations designed to have Dana begging him to break the deal. He didn’t realize his heart would be a casualty.

Once she surrenders to his wicked demands, Dana realizes there’s no going back. It’s time for a three-way renegotiation…this time, all or nothing.

Warning: NSFW!! Do Not Try This at Your Job. Contains highly inappropriate workplace behavior including m/f/m, m/m, bondage, creative use of office space and a high-stakes trip to Atlantic City.

Enjoy the following excerpt for Restraining the Receptionist:

My unpredictable number one boss showed up in a new mood the next day. I’d never seen him light-hearted before. Now that I had an idea about his history, not a big surprise. But that’s exactly how he seemed when he breezed into the office. He wore casual clothes, blue jeans and a light blue open-collared shirt that made his eyes look like summer without the smog.

“I’ve got no pesky clients today, luv,” he told me, without pausing by my desk to check my outfit, which he usually did. “I’d like you to order us a picnic lunch.”

“Huh?”

“Picnic. You have those in America, right? Or are they banned in the great state of New York?”

“We have them, but you can’t even spread out a blanket without kicking aside a stray used needle or two.” As soon as I said it I remembered the heroin. “I…I’m sorry,” I stammered.

But my thoughtless reference didn’t make him miss a beat. “A little local color will add to the experience, I’m sure. Handle the details and we’ll go around noon.”

Did a picnic violate the terms of our deal? Ethan and I would be doing something outside of work, just the two of us, something intimate. Almost like a date. But he hadn’t suggested anything physical. It was lunch. We both had to eat, right? It seemed perfectly harmless.

Since I was working from the company petty cash fund, I called up the neighborhood yuppie café where they served giant organic sandwiches. On my budget, I would have gone for a Subway footlong. But Ethan would no doubt demand something better.

We held our picnic on a concrete bench in a sweltering park a few blocks away from the office. Dog walkers and stroller-pushers, listless from the heat, wandered by now and then, but otherwise we were alone. The humid heat pressed on us like a steam iron. My hair stuck to my cheeks as I bit into my upscale sandwich.

Ethan didn’t comment on the slabs of free-range chicken that had probably been hand-raised and read bedtime stories before being slaughtered and inserted into a sandwich. He did remove the unruly mound of bean sprouts and toss it to a nearby pigeon. The pigeon pecked at the stuff, clucked scornfully and waddled the other direction.

I couldn’t help giggling at Ethan’s wounded expression. “I wouldn’t take it personally,” I told him. “He’s a New York pigeon. He’s used to eating dog crap.”

He chuckled. “Have you lived here your whole life, Dana?”

The sheer ordinariness of the question unnerved me. “Well, except for that semester abroad in Paris, and the year I spent in Fiji with the Peace Corps. I’m joking,” I added, when he didn’t laugh.

“Oh. Well, I’m certainly familiar with your sense of humor, but I confess I don’t understand the joke. You could have done those things.”

I let out a spurt of laughter that startled the pigeon. “I had other things to do.”

“Like what?”

“Like dodge my father’s fists after a drinking binge.”

“Ah.” Ethan didn’t show sympathy or disapproval or anything else. He chewed on his stack of multi-grain goodness. “And your mother?”

“No clue. My father always said she ran away, but for all I know he has her body dismembered in a freezer somewhere.”

That earned me a sharp taste of Blue Fury.

“I’m kidding. I have a dark sense of humor. My father’s not that bad. And my stepmother would have gone for poison instead.”

A crack of laughter from Ethan. “You really are something, you know that? You fascinate me.”

I filled my mouth with sandwich so I didn’t have to answer that. I was very much afraid the fascination was mutual. We settled into a munching, digesting kind of silence. He had one ankle crossed over the opposite knee, and occasionally his bent leg would brush against mine. Every time it happened, a little jolt of awareness zinged straight to my groin. Did he know it was happening? Was he doing it deliberately?

“Your knee keeps touching me.”

“Does it?” He didn’t move away.

“That’s against the rules.”

“So sorry.” But he didn’t look sorry. He looked entirely unconcerned, even though he moved his knee away. “One of these days we must write these rules down. For instance, is all physical contact forbidden while Simon is away, or only that of a sexual nature?”

Lord, why did he have to say “sexual” with that spark in his eyes and that slant of his eyebrow? It wasn’t fair, damn it.

“Another example. I’ve been longing to tell you how delicious you look today and how the shadow of your nipples through the fabric of your blouse keeps drawing my eyes. But is verbal praise also off-limits, since I’d be unable to keep it G-rated, I’m afraid?”

“You can’t see my nipples through my blouse!” I looked down to make sure.

“Oh, yes, I can. I know what they’re doing right now. They’re just beginning to stir to life. You’re probably feeling a pleasant prickling as they become engorged. I’ve realized something about you, you know. The sound of my voice has a powerful effect on you.”

So right he was. I tried to block out his voice. Might as well try to stop the Hudson River.

“In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if I could bring you to orgasm just with my voice. I wouldn’t have to touch you at all. All I’d have to do is tell you what I wanted to do to you. I’d tell you how much I want to bend you over this bench and take you in the open air. Or how much I’d like to tie you to that birch tree over there, open your blouse and bring you to orgasm with my fist up your cunt. Sure, someone might see. For instance, those three fellows playing Frisbee over there. It’s entirely possible they’d start to notice when I tied your hands behind the tree and ripped off your blouse. Maybe they’d even come running to your rescue.”

His gravelly voice hypnotized me so I could practically picture the scene. My body melted into a shivery puddle of craving.

“And then, of course, I’d have no choice but to invite them to join us, either as witnesses or participants. They look like red-blooded, able-bodied, clean-cut gentlemen, nothing to fear. I’d have to convince them you were willing. More than willing. Eager. I’d have to show them how wet you already were, just from having your breasts exposed. You like being exposed, don’t you?”

“Stop,” I murmured. This was going into an area we’d never touched. Other men had had no place in our games so far.

As soon as I told him to stop, he did. And as soon as he did, I wanted him to start again. After all, what was the harm? He was going there in imagination only.

“Well…” I cleared my throat. “Would you let them touch my breasts?”

“I’d give them a chance, see how they behaved. Not just anyone gets to touch my Dana. Our Dana, I should say.”

I winced at the reminder of the absent Simon. But I was too caught up in Ethan’s hypothetical scenario to be bothered for long.

“Our Dana’s luscious nipples deserve nothing other than sweet tender care. Long, lingering suckles. Perhaps a man to each nipple, and one to jerk himself off as he watches. That should get you started, I’d say. You’d be making those adorable little whimpering sounds. But perhaps I’d begin to sense that you want more, that you need the grip of cold metal on your flesh.”

The image made my belly clench with need. My nipples were as hard as the bench we sat on. I thought I would suffocate if this went on much longer. I turned a pleading look on him. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a set of nipple clamps.

This was way over the line, totally against our rules, but I banished that thought from my mind. I nodded, biting my lip. I didn’t care who watched as he reached inside my blouse and fastened the silver clips to my nipples. The sweet pain of it made me sag against him and sigh. Exquisite relief flooded me. I leaned against him as if he were a boulder. When I looked down, the clips were clearly visible through my blouse. But I didn’t care. Ethan would take care of me.

Click here to buy.

Thanks for stopping by!

Peace and love,

Juniper

Weekend News Update

2011-06-17T14:16:00.000-07:00

I'm thrilled beyond belief that RESTRAINING THE RECEPTIONIST has reached the #1 spot on the Samhain bestseller list! Thank you so much to the readers who made that happen. Love you! It's still available at a reduced rate of $2.45 for a few more days right here.

In other news, GO WILD has been reviewed by Whipped Cream and received 5 cherries. Here are some choice bits from the review:

Lars is one of the most gorgeous and darling athletes I’ve ever read about...I’m surprised this novella didn’t burst into flames as I flew through the pages. Each love scene was blistering and unique...I would recommend this book to someone looking for a scintillating novella.

And here's the link to the full review.

They sent me this cute little button. GO WILD will be part of the "Best book of the week" contest this weekend, so stop by and vote if you feel so inspired!

And my third news item: my Ellora's Cave editor has contracted GO DEEP, the next story in the Wild, Alaska series. The release date has yet to be determined, but I should be able to post the cover soon.

Release Day for Restraining the Receptionist

2011-06-14T11:02:00.001-07:00

It's here! Restraining the Receptionist, the sequel to Training the Receptionist, is now available for download at the Samhain site and at Amazon for Kindle. Here are the links.

Samhain

Amazon

And here's the blurb. I hope you enjoy the next installment in the story of Dana, Ethan and Simon.

Restraining the Receptionist

Every deal has a loophole.

…the Receptionist, Book 2

Once she surrenders to his wicked demands, Dana realizes there’s no going back. It’s time for a three-way renegotiation…this time, all or nothing.

Product Warnings

NSFW!! Do Not Try This at Your Job. Contains highly inappropriate workplace behavior including m/f/m, m/m, bondage, creative use of office space and a high-stakes trip to Atlantic City.

Restraining the Receptionist at Samhain

2011-06-10T15:41:00.000-07:00

Did you know that you can pre-order Restraining the Receptionist -- or any other book that catches your eye -- at the Samhain bookstore, and save? Yes, it's a new feature, and a great one in my opinion. Here's the link. Enjoy!

First Review for Restraining the Receptionist

2011-06-01T12:18:00.001-07:00

With the release of Restraining the Receptionist less than two weeks away, I'm already getting reviews. (I'm not sure why! I don't usually get reviews before the book comes out.) I especially love this review from Whipped Cream Reviews. Here are a couple snippets and the link to the full review.

If you have read the first book in this series than you must read this latest installment of Dana’s adventures with Simon and Ethan. Restraining the Receptionist takes you on an emotional ride that never slows down. Dana must take a hard look at herself and her feelings for these two men. Will she choose to stay or will she choose to go? ...

Juniper Bell writes an emotional, sexy story full of love and trust. ... This was a wonderful story and I cannot wait to see just what Ethan and Simon have in store for Dana next.

You can read the rest here.

June 14, here we come!

Love, Juniper

New Review and Blog Hop Wrap-up

2011-04-26T13:22:00.000-07:00

I'm still recovering from the fabulous Year of the Rabbit Blog Hop. I hope you got a chance to check it out ... there were some great stories and lots of hellacious mancandy. Congratulations to my winner, PATRICIA! And thanks to everyone who voted for my story as their favorite ... I placed second, which is a thrill.

Now, on to something even more thrilling. GO WILD received a wonderful review today from Lea at Blackravens Reviews. I'm posting it here, or you can click over to the site for more.

Lea’s Review:

I will begin by saying that Juniper Bell is one of my personal favorites among the up and coming sensuous romance writers. She writes in a style that is uplifting and enjoyable with both humor and passionate sexual elements interwoven in her books, while also offering an undercurrent of a moral to the story or, at the very least, something to prick your conscience to think about a situation in a new way.

In Go Wild, Lars and Katia are deeply in love. Katia sees their relationship as perfect just as it stands but Lars wants to make their commitment permanent by getting married. Katia refuses, and Lars simply doesn’t understand why Katia doesn’t want to marry him. It takes time and effort to figure things out, but once he understands the reasons behind her hesitancy, his winning competitive spirit as an Olympic athlete comes to the fore and he decides on a plan to show Katia the error in her thinking.

While light and sexy on the surface, there is a deeper side to Go Wild that explores the ways we sometimes allow our past to determine our future; how we permit opinions and perceptions heaped on us by others throughout our lives to wound us and become part of how we define ourselves. In Katia’s case it takes some thoughtful planning on the part of her lover and his friends to help her see the light. It is a powerful message that instead of reacting in anger or dismay over a misunderstanding, with perseverance, trust, an open mind and true love there is way to heal and move on.

In this story, Wild Nights is a festival held in the town in Alaska where Katia and Lars live. It provides the perfect background for this lesson in love. Knowing that Juniper Bell lives in Alaska, I wonder whether there is a Wild Nights festival in her area. If so, I would certainly appreciate an invitation to visit.

Go Wild is sure to be enjoyed by all who appreciate a well told story with wonderful steamy sex scenes with multiple partners and an HEA ending.

Rated 5 Ravens by Lea!

As you can imagine, I'm pretty excited about this review! Thank you to Lea and Blackravens Cafe.

Peace and Love,

Juniper

Year of the Rabbit Blog Hop

2011-04-22T21:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome! I'm Juniper Bell. The Year of the Rabbit starts off with a bang at the condo of Komo Brown, the most sought-after man in Chicago. What else can you expect when a picky former archeologist, a horny movie star, and a cantankerous accountant are thrown together? Meet Komo:

Let me also introduce the famous and horny Cherie St. Clair...

and the cantankerous but loyal Tomako.

And, of course, the Rabbit.

And so our story begins...

Bloody footprints. What a way to start the weekend.

Komo drummed his fingers on the glass patio door. It offered a lovely view of the snowy courtyard along with the aforementioned set of bloody prints. Not a typical sight in downtown Chicago, but then again, few sights at the home of Chicago’s most sought-after gigolo could be called typical.

Bloody footprints. What to do?

He could call the police. Unfortunately, a certain world-famous member of the female sex, currently tied up in his bedroom, might object to a sudden invasion by law enforcement.

He could follow the footprints as far as they led. If he found himself in the vicinity of a dead body, well, being dead, it would be in no particular hurry to be discovered. If it was only wounded, the inevitable call to the authorities would be required.

His client had been waiting too long already. She didn’t deserve to be cheated out of her happy ending by the noisy arrival of paramedics.

He let out a low whistle. Instantly his cantankerous servant, who never seemed to sleep, glided to his side. Tomako kept her head bowed, her body in its usual humble stance.

“Yes, sir?”

“Get to the bottom of those, would you?” He gestured to the red marks on his courtyard tiles.

“Yes, sir.”

“If you need my help, you know where I’ll be.”

He saw the dark fans of her eyelashes quiver against her ivory cheeks. For months now, he’d been desperately lusting after her. But how could he despoil someone so tender, so vulnerable? He hadn’t even wanted to hire her, but she’d threatened to take a job as an accountant at a nearby brothel if he turned her away.

Brusquely, he waved his hand in dismissal. He’d been away from the bedroom too long. He’d left Cherie trembling on the edge of orgasm for hours now. She’d paid good money and deserved her satisfaction.

Nice work if you can get it. Though sometimes he thought his previous career as an archeologist might be preferable. As a gigolo, his pickiness tended to keep his income in check.

With a sigh, he ambled back to the bedroom. Cherie’s pornographically spectacular body lay spread-eagled on his black satin sheets. He estimated that 65% of her was in its original state. The rest had been altered for her movie-going audience. Cherie could get any man she wanted, but she couldn’t be bothered to offer an orgasm in return. So she brought her horny self to him whenever she was in town. He assumed others tended to her needs in the other major metropolitan areas.

Though blindfolded, she sensed his arrival and moaned loudly. She arched her chest, thrusting her plum-sized nipples toward him.

“Now, now. All in good time.” He soothed her with a long stroke of his hand across her breasts, down her perfect, flat stomach, to her pink sex. He palmed her pussy, preparing for her final descent into orgasmic bliss. She writhed like an animal. This was a job, no doubt about it. Cherie left him cold, though of course he managed to fulfill his professional obligations.

Though lately, only by picturing a certain cranky servant had he managed to do the deed. Fantasies of Tomako’s slim, lithe body produced instant arousal. He ought to pay her extra for her unintentional fluffing services.

“Master?”

Tomako stood in the doorway, as if he’d conjured her with his lewd visions. And damn, hadn’t he told her not to call him master? It inspired far too many lusty impulses.

“Yes, what is it?” Then he saw the gun in her little hand. It shook slightly. Her dark eyes were wide with shock, ink blots against her bloodless face.

“I took care of the ... problem.”

“You did?” He made a gesture meant to be calming.

“One of her fans.” She waved the gun wildly at the bed.

“One of my fans was here?” Behind the blindfold, Cherie looked absurdly pleased.

“He went crazy. He had a rabbit.”

“I had a bit part in Fatal Attraction, as a child.” Cherie frowned. “Maybe the rabbit was a tribute.”

“Shut up, you! You nearly got that poor bunny killed.” A sob shook Tomako’s slender frame. “I love rabbits, they’ve always been my favorite animals. I relate to them.”

Komo didn’t like the feel of this. “Tomako, hand me the gun. Why do you have a gun, anyway?”

“It was his. He was going to kill you. I couldn’t let him.” The gun shook like a leaf in a gale.

“Of course you couldn’t. Is, um, is he okay?”

“I left him out in the snow. He’s really mad.”

Relief whooshed through Komo. At least his faithful servant hadn’t killed a man in his defense.

“The blood was fake,” she added. “He wanted to lure you outside, kill you, then have his way with what’s her name.”

“Cherie St. Clair,” said the movie star, sounding irritated. “If no one’s going to get me off, could someone get me out of here? The last thing I need is paparazzi showing up.”

“Shut up!”

Komo stopped in the middle of taking off Cherie’s blindfold. The movie star blinked, adjusting to the light and the strange scene. Komo straightened up and took a step toward Tomako. He had to get that gun from her before she did something crazy.

“Are you coming to kiss me?” God, the wistful look in her eyes.

“No, I’m coming to take the gun away so we can all relax.”

“Oh no. I’m not giving up the gun. You think I’m just a quiet little girl, don’t you? Someone no one ever notices?”

“I never even knew you existed until now,” said Cherie. Komo had to admire her cheek, still tied up but just as snippy as ever. He tossed a pillow over her sex.

Tomako ignored her and pinned her wide dark eyes on Komo. “Is that how you see me? A little nothing? A little scared rabbit?”

“No, of course not.”

“Don’t humor me. Tell me the truth.”

“You want the truth?”

She nodded bravely, but couldn’t hide her fearful wince.

“I think about you all the time. I think about your dark, satiny hair and the way you walk, like silent music. I think about what’s under that coat you wear. Take it off, now.”

A flush of color swept her face. As if transfixed, she took off her coat, transferring the gun from one hand to the other. The body underneath was just as graceful and sensual as he’d dreamed. She wore a simple white t-shirt and black cotton pants, like what a dancer would wear while running errands. He ravished her with his eyes. When he met hers again, the look in them made his heart clench. Hope against hope, exquisite vulnerability.

“Is that what you wanted to hear? That I’d rather lick your little toe than give a movie star one more multiple orgasm?”

“Hey! I will be demanding my money back, FYI.” Cherie wriggled against the silk ties at her wrists. They didn’t give, of course. He was a professional.

Komo ignored her. “That my idea of heaven would be feeding you strawberries in a hot tub, licking a stray drop of juice off your nipple, watching you tremble and sigh? That I wonder all day long what you’re doing here, why you work for me, where you came from? That I want to know everything about you, that I hope you feel something for me…”

“I do,” she said fervently. “I do, I do.”

The universe fell into sweet, singing alignment as their eyes met and clung. Neither moved. Neither breathed. Komo barely noticed that Tomako had dropped the gun. She stood awkwardly, arms dangling, as if unsure what was next.

“Oh for heaven’s sake,” snapped Cherie. “Why don’t you take your shirt off and be done with it?”

Time for her to go. Dragging his eyes away from his lovely Tomako, knowing the two of them had all the time in the world, Komo crossed to the bed to untie Cherie.

The movie star gathered her clothes but didn’t bother to put them on. Naked, she strolled to the door, tossing Tomako a mocking look as she passed.

“It is the Year of the Rabbit, after all. But that’s okay.” She twitched her hips as she made her exit. “At least someone’s getting a happy ending.”

The End.

Thank you so much for reading! Here's the link to get back on the tour bus. I hope you have a great time on the Year of the Rabbit blog hop. Tons of prizes are up for grabs, including a Nook and your choice of ebook from my backlist. My next release is June 14 from Samhain -- "Restraining the Receptionist." If you'd like to check out the blurb, just scroll down. Thanks for stopping by. Happy Easter!

Juniper Bell

Restraining the Receptionist comes out June 14!

2011-03-30T15:34:00.001-07:00

Click here for Samhain's Coming Soon page, with an excerpt. And here's the blurb:

Restraining the Receptionist

Every deal has a loophole.

…the Receptionist, Book 2

Dana Arthur’s new job with the firm of Cowell & Dirk is going well. Translation: the occasionally kinky ménage with her two bosses, Ethan and Simon, has been several months of politically incorrect bliss.

Except the relationship feels unbalanced. While Ethan is the undisputed master, the partners’ iron-clad agreement stipulates that Simon must be present as she performs her “duties”. And she senses there’s a subtle, powerful tug-of-war developing for more than just her body.

Simon had agreed to share the firm’s fiery, sensually daring receptionist…to a point. With Simon out of town, Ethan plans a feast of erotic temptations designed to have Dana begging him to break the deal. He didn’t realize his heart would be a casualty.

Once she surrenders to his wicked demands, Dana realizes there’s no going back. It’s time for a three-way renegotiation…this time, all or nothing.

Product Warnings

NSFW!! Do Not Try This at Your Job. Contains highly inappropriate workplace behavior including m/f/m, m/m, bondage, creative use of office space and a high-stakes trip to Atlantic City.

News of the Day

2011-03-24T11:08:00.001-07:00

So much news to share, where do I start?

First of all, today is the first day of the Sweet 'n Sexy Divas Easter Blog Hop. They were nice enough to let me join in on the fun. All you have to do is locate the glittery Easter Fairy icon somewhere on this page. Sorry, no hints, but I didn't make it difficult. Mark down where it is, then click on the icon and you'll be magically transported to the next stop on the blog tour.

All the instructions will be on the Sweet 'n Sexy Divas blog. So what are you playing for?

Chocolate!!!! And lots of it. So good luck to you all, and have fun checking out all the great authors' blogs and websites.

Next up, the Romantic Times Booklovers Convention in Los Angeles from April 6 - 10. Will you be there? I will! I'd love to meet you and say hi. The Nine Naughty Novelists and I have lots of fun things planned. We'll be joining the Smutketeers for a Naughty Smutty Hollywood Readers' Event on Friday, April 8 from 10 to 11. We'll be joined by a special guest cover model who is yet to be named. We hope he's a good sport, because we have big plans for him. At 11:15 we'll be at Club RT, so be sure to stop by.

I'll also be signing cover flats of Training the Receptionist and My Three Lords at the Ebook Expo on Friday from 4-6. So come on by! I'll have treats and my Romance Trading Card to hand out. And I'll be at as many parties as I can squeeze in. It should be a blast, and I hope to see you there!

Finally, I should have my cover any day now for Restraining the Receptionist. But the blurb is all official and approved, and here it is:

RESTRAINING THE RECEPTIONIST

…the Receptionist, Book 2
Every deal has a loophole.

Dana Arthur’s new job with the firm of Cowell & Dirk is going well. Translation: the occasionally kinky ménage with her two bosses, Ethan and Simon, has been several months of politically incorrect bliss.

Except the relationship feels unbalanced. While Ethan is the undisputed master, the partners’ iron-clad agreement stipulates that Simon must be present as she performs her “duties”. And she senses there’s a subtle, powerful tug-of-war developing for more than just her body.

Simon had agreed to share the firm’s fiery, sensually daring receptionist…to a point. With Simon out of town, Ethan plans a feast of erotic temptations designed to have Dana begging him to break the deal. He didn’t realize his heart would be a casualty.

Once she surrenders to his wicked demands, Dana realizes there’s no going back. It’s time for a three-way renegotiation…this time, all or nothing.

Warning: NSFW!! Do Not Try This at Your Job. Contains highly inappropriate workplace behavior including m/f/m, m/m, bondage, creative use of office space and a high-stakes trip to Atlantic City.

That's it for now! Peace and love,

Juniper

Guest: Cindy Jacks

2011-03-23T11:02:00.001-07:00

The fabulous Cindy Jacks has a new release out with Ellora's Cave -- and it's one of my favorite themes, a sexy Cougar story. Here's a delicious Hump Day sample of WAKING MAGGIE.

BLURB

Maggie’s just decided she’s been stood up when she bumps into hard-bodied guitarist Calvin—literally. Once the shock of their abrupt meeting wears off, Calvin asks Maggie out for a drink and she figures, why not? She’s all dressed up for a date…just not this one.

She enjoys his company, even if he’s only twenty-seven and she’s forty…something. And while witty conversation’s all good, they’re just as compatible in bed. One drink turns into multiple romps between the sheets. He’s old enough to know how to make love to a woman and young enough to look damn fine doing it…and doing it. He even manages to convince Maggie she’s still pretty hot herself.

Now if he would just stop serenading her with that infernal Rod Stewart song.

An Excerpt From: WAKING MAGGIE

The sound of a gently strummed guitar roused Maggie from sleep. Eyelids flickering open, she saw Calvin sitting in the tufted chair next to the bed, his acoustic guitar on his lap. A lazy smile tugged at her lips.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“Good morning, babe.” He shifted his grip on the fretboard to strike a chord and then slid his fingers back to another. “I’m serenading you…obviously.”

“Is it after ten?” Maggie sat up, stretched.

“Of course. And there’s coffee on your nightstand.”

With delight, she picked up the steaming mug and inhaled—Viennese roast, her favorite. The first sip slid down her throat, smooth as velvet.

He turned his attention to the guitar again and started singing under his breath.

She rolled her eyes. “You know I hate that song.”

Calvin chuckled, a boyish gleam in his hazel eyes. “But I’m sure Rod Stewart wrote it for you.”

“Contrary to popular belief, I am not that old.”

Continuing to strum the melody, he shook his head. “That’s not what I meant.”

As Maggie’s gaze roamed over the young man’s taut, muscular body, she noticed he was sitting there stark naked, the guitar covering some of his most admirable attributes.

Her eye grew wide. “What have I done to deserve a morning serenade with you au naturel?”

“You don’t remember?” he asked, plucking individual notes.

A gust of wind outside the bedroom window drew her attention. The great oak out back danced, shaking loose a few vermillion leaves.

“Of course I remember,” she murmured, setting down her cup and rising from the bed. Smoothing her silk nightie over her ample curves, she padded across the shag carpet and kissed his soft cheek. “Happy anniversary, baby.”

He stopped playing and set aside the guitar, revealing a red ribbon around his cock. “Are you ready for your present?”

Clapping a hand over her mouth, Maggie let out a yelp of amusement. “You’re certifiable, you know that?”

She caught a glimpse of herself in the dresser mirror. Messy blonde curls cascaded down to her shoulders and her eyes looked a little puffy from sleep. Skin not quite as fresh and tight as his—maybe the morning sun really did show her age, as the song stated. Still, not bad for a women of forty-something.

Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her onto his lap. She twined her fingers through his longish bronze hair. A hungry smirk on his face, he brushed his lips over hers. She felt his cock twitch against her thigh.

“We should unwrap you before you cut off your circulation,” she said, pulling one end of the ribbon.

CLICK TO BUY

Happy Wednesday! Soon I'll have some information about an Easter Blog Hop I'll be taking part in. Lots of great authors and prizes. More to come!

Peace and Love,

Juniper

Guest Interview: Shoshanna Evers

2011-03-19T02:00:00.000-07:00

I'm thrilled to welcome fellow Ellora's Cave author Shoshanna Evers to my blog. I bugged her with a whole bunch of questions, which she was kind enough to answer. And when I saw that she's an advice columnist as well as a writer, I got really intrigued!

What inspired you to start writing even though you’ve had a couple other fascinating careers? (Nursing and advice columnist, right?)

Thanks for having me, Juniper! Well, I’m still working as both a nurse and an advice columnist! I work every other weekend as an RN charge nurse on a 52-bed rehab unit, and I have a weekly advice column under my alter-ego’s name. That column is hopefully going into syndication soon, which is exciting.

But I’ve always loved writing fiction. I’ve been writing since I learned to read. My love of books inspires me to write.

In your role as advice columnist, what sorts of things do people ask your advice about?

Usually relationship advice or advice on how to deal with family members or friends. I also answer health questions and use that as an opportunity to teach the community about important health issues, such as taking your blood pressure medicine even though you can’t feel your pressure being high. That sort of thing.

Do you ever get ideas for your writing from advice seekers? If so, can you give an example?

Well, I get ideas for my writing from everything around me, but in general, no, I don’t get writing ideas from advice seekers J

Can you give us a thumbnail sketch of what kind of books you write?

I write erotic romance. Most of my stuff has a bit of a BDSM slant to it, but I’ve also got some manuscripts I’m working on that are more mainstream. I write what my characters tell me to write!

If you wanted to introduce a new reader to your work, which book would you point them to?

It depends on what book length they like. Ginger Snap is a short Quickie. Punishing the Art Thief is a novella, and Hollywood Spank is novel-length. They’re all light BDSM, or in other words, they’ve got a little spanking and bondage mixed in with the love story.

Is there a genre you’re afraid to tackle?

I don’t know if I’d say I’m afraid per se, but I’m a happy camper writing romance, so I plan on sticking with that. Someday I may write a non-fiction advice book based on the column, or a kid’s book so my son can read something I’ve written. But not now. Now I’m focusing my efforts.

What’s the biggest learning curve you’ve faced in your writing career?

When I look back at old manuscripts (like from ten years ago) I am able to easily spot why they didn’t sell. My POV is all over the place and every other sentence has an exclamation point. That’s one thing I’ve had to learn how to reign in.

I'm a little overfond of exclamation points myself? What kind of books do you like to read?

I read everything. If I don’t have a book in front of me at breakfast I’ll read the cereal box. I love romance, especially erotic romance, and especially BDSM erotic romance. I also love How-To books and financial planning books, I love stories of survival, and I love Stephen King. I’m a diverse reader. Oh, and I love books about how to write books, lol.

What do you think of the current state of publishing – what does the future hold for epubbed authors?

I’m just going with the flow and trying to make a living as an author, however that happens. I do have a story in a Berkley Heat (Penguin) anthology coming out December 6^th called Agony/Ecstasy, edited by Dear Author’s Jane Litte. So as much as I love epubs, I’m excited to be with a big NY pub too.

What project are you working on at the moment?

I’ve got a few up my sleeve. I’ve written a full length post-apocalyptic erotic romance and I’m testing the waters to see if an agent might want to represent that for me. I’m also writing a novella for Ellora’s Cave for a new series that’s sort of hush-hush right now J Later this year I’ve got Taste of Candy coming out with The Wild Rose Press and Chastity Belt coming out with Ellora’s Cave, and Agony/Ecstasy with Berkley.

Your blog is called "The Writer's Challenge." What is that about?

Write 1000 words a day - that's about 4 manuscript pages - every day, come hell or high water, until your novel is written. Then get an agent. Then get it published.

If you write 1000 words a day, that's 365,000 words a year. Even if you skipped over two months in days, you'd still have written 300,000 words—that's like three 100K novels. If you write one full length novel to sub to an agent, let's say it's about 80 or 90K, and then write some novellas for e-publishers, you can write about six or seven 25K+ novellas in addition to your full length book.

I have tons of info for writers and authors at my blog.

Thank you so much for stopping by today. One last thing. Can you share a favorite excerpt with us?

Absolutely! This is from my new Ellora’s Cave BDSM erotic romance, Hollywood Spank.

An Excerpt From: HOLLYWOOD SPANK © SHOSHANNA EVERS, 2011

Mark stepped quietly into his trailer and placed his script on the little desk. The sight of the slender, beautiful young woman lying on his cot caught him off guard and he swallowed a gasp of surprise. His new personal assistant.

Despite how busy they’d had him in the last couple of hours, Mark had been unable to get Andrea off his mind. He had almost flubbed a line, since his thoughts kept wandering back to his trailer and that amazing ass of hers.

And now, to find her sprawled out on his cot, looking so sweet and…inviting, he could see why she had proved to be so distracting.

His gaze lingered over her long, shapely legs, clad in tight denim jeans, then traveled up her fitted long-sleeve blouse, its deep V-neck revealing just a hint of the swell of her perfect breasts.

He could stare at Andrea like this for hours and never get bored. Mark wanted to pull those tight jeans off her gorgeous legs and ravish her right then and there. His cock thickened at the very thought of having sex with Andrea. Too bad he promised her he wasn’t there to fuck her…and too bad she agreed there would be no fucking.

Andrea crossed her arms over her chest and looked up at him.

“Uncross your arms,” he said. “I want to see your breasts.”

Andrea slowly uncrossed her arms and actually blushed as she did so, even though she was fully dressed.

“You aren’t really experienced as a submissive, are you.” It was a statement, not a question. She had lied. It was obvious now that this was all very new to her.

Andrea gasped and shook her head. “I’m sorry, Sir. I just really, really wanted this job.”

“Enough to let me actually spank you?” he asked, surprised.

“I may have lied about my BDSM experience to get the job, Sir, but I wasn’t lying about my skill as an assistant, and you saw for yourself that…what you did turned me on.”

Mark looked at her thoughtfully. “That’s true. So let me get this straight. You’re a very good assistant and you’re fully willing to explore the idea of me spanking you.”

“Yes.”

“Because it turns you on.”

Andrea blushed again. Man, that was cute. “Yes,” she said softly.

“So even though I said no sex before, if all this really turns you on, are you willing to get a little sexual?” He sat on the edge of the cot next to her and held her chin in his hand, forcing her to meet his eyes.

“I just met you, Sir, and I don’t usually have sex with men I just met,” she said. “I mean, I never do. So, can we get a little sexual without actually having sex, for right now?”

Mark grinned. “Absolutely.”

“So I can stay?”

“Say, ‘Sir, may I stay?’” Mark said.

Andrea didn’t hesitate. “Sir, may I stay?”

“Yeah, you can stay. But I want you over my knee right now for lying to me.”

“Thank you, Sir. For the job, I mean,” Andrea said as she nervously draped herself over his lap.

He locked his legs around hers to keep her from escaping her punishment and raised his hand, relishing that moment right before he brought it down on her ass. “Say thank you for the spanking too.”

“Thank you, Sir.”

“My pleasure,” Mark said. “And hopefully, it will be your pleasure as well.”

Sexily *Evers* After… ShoshannaEvers.com Twitter Facebook Blog Titles at Ellora’s Cave

Romance Trading Cards

2011-03-10T17:24:00.000-08:00

Have you heard about the new Romance Trading Cards? A lot of authors are making them to hand out at RT and RWA, as well as Lori Foster's event and other romance hotspots! I'm going to be at RT in Los Angeles -- hope to see you there! -- and I chose to do this card in honor of the Training the Receptionist sequel coming out in June. I hope you like it!

And speaking of the sequel ... hot off the presses, here's the blurb.

RESTRAINING THE RECEPTIONIST

…the Receptionist, Book 2

Every deal has a loophole.

Once she surrenders to his wicked demands, Dana realizes there’s no going back. It’s time for a three-way renegotiation…this time, all or nothing.

Warning: NSFW!! Do Not Try This at Your Job. Contains highly inappropriate workplace behavior including m/f/m, m/m, bondage, creative use of office space and a high-stakes trip to Atlantic City.

The release date is June 14. I can hardly wait!

Peace and Love,

Juniper

First Reviews for Go Wild

2011-03-01T12:51:00.000-08:00

It's always a relief when you get your first reviews and they're not a disaster. Great reviews are even better, of course! The first reviews of GO WILD are coming in, so I thought I'd share a couple.

Romance Junkies gave it 4 blue ribbons and had some great things to say. Here's a sample:

"a deliciously dirty story ... Juniper Bell weaves a spell binding story that will make you shiver with delight ...While GO WILD is definitely erotic, at its core this is a love story...it was a fantastic read from start to finish!'

Night Owl Reviews calls GO WILD a "smoking hot story" and gave it 4 stars. You can click on the two links to read the complete reviews.

Big thanks to the reviewers who took the time to read GO WILD and share their thoughts. Reviewing books isn't easy -- I sure couldn't do it! But someone has to, and I truly appreciate you guys.

Peace and Love,

Juniper

Welcome Darah Lace!

2011-02-25T02:00:00.000-08:00

I'd like to welcome my fellow Ellora's Cave author Darah Lace to my blog! If you like hot cowboys (what's not to like?) and a little kink, you should definitely check out BUCKING HARD.

Here's the blurb and an excerpt:

All her life, tomboy Bradi Kincaid has wanted two things—a career as a veterinarian in her hometown Grayson, Texas…and Mason Montgomery. Problem is, he’s her best friend and according to him she’s “one of the guys”. Convinced he’ll never see her otherwise, Bradi comes up with a sure-fire plan to get over Mason—flirt a little, dance a lot and get laid.

What Mason imagines doing to Bradi is just all kinds of wrong. But the woman on the dance floor isn’t the girl he grew up with. She’s hot and sexy and turning him on. Him and every other man in the bar. She’s also had too much to drink and is unaware of the trouble she’s inviting. He does what any friend would, he steps in, then sets out to teach her a lesson.

But before the sun rises, Mason discovers Bradi has a thing or two to teach him.

This story contains spanking, biting and some “tie me up”, bucking-hard sex.

An Excerpt From: BUCKING HARD

Mason crested the hill overlooking the creek and reined in Rocky, his favored mount for riding the range. He’d heard the bawling calf a quarter mile away and figured he’d find it stuck in the mud. He hadn’t expected to find Bradi Kincaid. In fact if he’d known she’d already ridden to the rescue, he would have headed the other way.

But here she was not ten feet away, ass in the air, up to her knees in green slime and mud, her arms around the struggling calf’s neck, and she still managed to light a fire in his gut. And dammit, that was just all wrong.

They were best friends, for Christ’s sake. Practically raised in the cradle together. They’d fished and hunted side by side, ridden drag to bring up the tail end of cattle drives. And they’d gotten into more trouble than a switch could whip out of them. She was his best bud, one of the guys.

So why did his dick suddenly become a divining rod every time she was near?

She wasn’t unattractive. But Bradi was nothing like the women he preferred. She wasn’t sleek or polished or sophisticated. Her fingernails were cut close to keep the dirt out instead of long and meticulously painted to match her outfit. Her dirty blonde hair was either in a ponytail or a braid, and as far as he knew, had never been streaked, colored or cut to the latest fashion. And she might carry ChapStick in her front right pocket to ward off the blistering Texas sun, but that was the extent of her makeup.

Bradi was Bradi—natural, earthy and blessed with athletic grace that made ranch work look easy—and more often than not these days left him wondering what that lithe and flexible body would be like in bed.

“You gonna sit there all day, or are you gonna help me?”

Leaning forward to rest his forearm on the saddle horn and hopefully hide his growing erection, he tilted his head to one side and smirked at the picture she made. “I don’t know. You look like you’re doing just fine on your own.”

She blew wispy bangs out of her green eyes and gave him a withering glare over her shoulder. “Throw me a rope.”

“Where’s yours?” He looked around for her horse but the only other animal in sight was a cow waiting for Bradi to rescue her calf. “Wait, don’t tell me. You were riding Dahlia.”

That damn horse had a habit of leaving Bradi high and—his gaze wandered over her again—not so dry. Covered in muck, the front of her faded yellow T-shirt was wet and clung to her breasts. Breasts he’d known she possessed but never really noticed until two weeks ago. His gaze locked on the words peeling across the chest. Not that he cared what they said with her nipples prodding so diligently through her bra.

Mentally castrating himself, Mason sat up and reached for the coiled rope attached to his saddle. “When are you going to take that piece-of-shit horse to the glue factory?”

“Just shut up and throw me your rope.”

Ignoring her demand, Mason swung the lasso and sent it sailing over the calf’s head. He pulled the rope taut, wrapped it around the saddle horn, and directed his horse to back up. The little bull cried louder as the mud slowly relinquished its hold. As soon as the calf’s legs found firm ground, he dug in, resisting the pull of the rope.

Bradi laughed and reached for the calf just as it wrenched to one side and kicked. Twisting, she dodged a hind leg, but her feet were still stuck in the mud and she went to her knees. Another kick and brown sludge splattered her chest and neck. “Shit.”

Mason chuckled. “Yep, I imagine so.”

Shooting him another scathing glare, she struggled to stand. “You’re an ass.” Able to finally extract one leg and then the other, she trudged out of the creek toward the calf. “Give me some slack.”

He signaled his horse forward and Bradi deftly slipped the rope from the calf’s neck. The bull bolted for its mama and together they ambled up and over the high bank then disappeared. Looking back at Bradi, Mason wished he hadn’t.

She’d moved up the creek and knelt in a spot of grass to wash the mud from her hands. Tight faded denim hugged her heart-shaped ass and his hands itched to palm those mounds. She stretched to wet a bandana, causing the waistband of her jeans to dip lower, and a strip of hot-pink lace played peek-a-boo between it and her shirt.

His jeans tightened as his cock strained against his fly. He’d never thought about what kind of underwear Bradi wore—she was naked in his recent fantasies—but if he had consciously thought about it, he wouldn’t have figured her for the lace panty type. Last time he’d seen her in her panties, she’d worn white cotton with a Barbie logo. They’d been six and he’d wanted to brag about his Ninja Turtle briefs.

As she rose, he looked away to gather the rope. He stowed it behind him and turned to find her standing beside his horse with her hand out. Fuck. She wanted a ride. And god, he wanted to give her one.

“Well?” She thrust her hand higher. “Give me a hand up.”

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. He hadn’t thought this far ahead when he’d decided to stick around and help, and his brain certainly wasn’t working now. All he knew was he couldn’t have her sitting behind him, her tits rubbing his back, legs spread… Fuck. “You’re covered with mud.”

“Um, yeah. I kinda noticed that.” She stared up at him with expectant green eyes. Why hadn’t he ever noticed the flecks of gold or the ring of black that reminded him of the sun coming through shadowed forest trees? At his lack of response, her hand fell to her side. “You’re going to make me walk?”

“I don’t want that shit all over me.” Damn, he felt like an ass. He was an ass. He couldn’t let her walk. He’d just have to survive the ride home…and make sure it was a short one.

Before he could offer his hand or an apology, her eyes flashed with anger. And maybe a bit of hurt? “God, Mason, when did you turn into such a pussy?”

She spun around and the metallic whir of a zipper crawled up his thighs and into his balls. Lust rose high but panic shifted into overdrive. “What the hell are you doing?”

“Taking off my clothes so you won’t get dirty.”

Oh, hell no! There was no way— Shit. She hooked her thumbs into the waist of her jeans, starting the downward motion that revealed a hint of one cheek.

“Just get on the damn horse.” He pulled his foot from the stirrup and stuck out his hand. “But I can’t take you home.” His place was closer. “I have things to do.”

A long second passed, then the zipper made a return trip up. His dick jerked in disappointment as she latched on to his hand, shoved her boot into the stirrup and swung herself onto the horse behind him, mimicking his irritated tone. “Things to do.”

The warmth of her body seared his back as she settled into place. His gaze dropped to one side, taking in the slender thigh nestled close to his. The thought of those long legs wrapped around his waist made his balls ache. If she had any idea what she was doing to him, she’d be glad to walk home. Hell, she’d probably run.

But Bradi wasn’t wired that way. He doubted she ever thought about sex. She’d never dated in high school and she never talked about anyone in particular at A&M. The only conversation they’d had about sex was short-lived when he confided his loss of virginity to Katrina Forbes and Bradi made it clear right away the subject of sex was off-limits.

The odds of her still being a virgin at twenty-five were slim, but somehow he couldn’t imagine her having sex with anyone.

Anyone but him.

Click here for more.

Darah's website.

Best Book of 2010 Nomination

2011-02-18T17:36:00.001-08:00

Whipped Cream Reviews is a great review site for erotic romance, which is why I was incredibly honored to find out that MY THREE LORDS is nominated for the Best Book of 2010. A lot of great books are in the running. I was a little starstruck looking at the list, to be honest. Here's the link in case you feel inspired to vote for MY THREE LORDS or for any of the other books up for the award. Voting goes through February 27.

VOTE HERE

Thank you! I hope this doesn't come off as crowing, but if you can't share good news on your own blog, where can you?

Peace and Love,

Juniper

Spreading the Love - Valentine's Blog Tour

2011-02-11T20:00:00.000-08:00

I'm Juniper Bell, and welcome to my stop on the Valentine's Blog Hop. I've got a lot of love to spread around right now -- I just got married! Six weeks ago I said "I do" (figuratively speaking, since we used our own version of the vows.) What amazes me the most about marriage is that someone agreed to put up with all my quirks and flaws and neuroses on a permanent basis. And vice versa, of course. There's something incredibly moving about that, which helped inspire my interpretation of the beautiful photograph chosen for this blog hop. So, flowers are nice...

sexy lingerie is fun...
but true love trumps it all.

“What’d you say?” Olivia stared down at Randall, a silly, unstoppable grin spreading across her face.

“Don’t tell me you’re going to make me say it again.” He made laughing, puppy dog eyes at her. That same look had gotten her into this fix—out on a date with him, into bed with him, and now...

“No, don’t you dare! If you say it again I’ll have to smack you.” She hoped her smile took the sting out of her words. “We talked about this, remember?”

“You talked, but you didn’t make any sense. This makes sense.”

“What kind of sense? You could have anyone. Someone who can give you what you want. What you need. I told you from day one.”

“Trying to scare me off. Told you it wouldn’t work—from day one.”

She saw the determination in the set of his jaw. He was different, this man. She’d always known it, which was why she’d been honest with him from the start. He was different and wonderful, and he deserved better than her. But the thought of giving him up gave her an ache in the pit of her stomach.

“So…you don’t care?” She whispered.

“Course I care. About you. About the future we’re going to have. The family we’re going to have.”

Her breath caught. “But I told you—“

“I know, baby. I know. I remember every word. I had to look some of them up in a medical dictionary, but I remember. There’s a word you left out, though.”

“What?”

“Adoption.”

She bit her lip and looked down at the rose in his hand. Of course she hadn’t mentioned adoption. Most men she dated didn’t want to hear about that kind of stuff.

“There’s another word too. Love. I love you, Olivia, and that’s it. End of story. The rest is details. Nothing we can’t work out.”

Her eyes filled with tears.

“Now are you going to say yes before my knees dig holes in this floor?”

Her smile held all the “yes” he could ever want.

For a very different, much steamier marriage proposal, check out my newest release, GO WILD from Ellora's Cave. How many men does it take to convince one free spirited woman to say yes? Click here to find out.

Thanks for stopping by! Here's the link to get back on the tour bus. Have a wonderful Valentine's Day weekend!

Peace and Love,

Juniper

GO WILD is out!

2011-02-04T12:16:00.000-08:00

Tips from Wild, Alaska on how to survive a long, hard winter:

1. Throw a party

2. Make it last all weekend

3. Follow one rule – “Anything goes, nothing counts.”

4. GO WILD

Tonight, you're invited to Wild Nights 2011!

Let off a little steam, crank up the heat, and see what happens when Lars Nordegren pulls out all the stops to get Katia Pollard to say “yes.”

Go Wild

Juniper Bell

Lars loves Katia. Katia loves Lars. Lars wants to marry Katia. Can he convince his free-spirited lover that marriage will be as fun as her sexually adventurous single days?

Never before has Katia been tempted to give up her carefree ways. She’s deeply in love with Lars, but she doesn’t know if he can handle her wild side—or needs.

But Lars is a hard man to resist. The former Olympic champion won’t give up—not when he knows just how to please her.

The people of Wild, Alaska know the best way to survive winter is to let off a little steam. When Lars’ buddies hit town for Wild Nights, a notorious winter festival with one rule—“anything goes, nothing counts”—he jumps at the chance to prove he’s the perfect man for Katia.

He vows to win her over, even if it takes four rugged Alaska men and one wildly erotic night in a sauna.

Note: Features an extended ménage (M/F/M/M/M), anal play and references to bondage experimentation and sexual escapades of all types.

CLICK TO BUY.

1st Excerpt from GO WILD - Rated R

2011-01-30T20:06:00.000-08:00

An Excerpt From: GO WILD

Storm-dark eyes demanded her response. In bed, when he got that look, she knew there was nothing for it but to bend over, spread her legs, whatever it was he’d demanded. Ecstasy always followed. Lars knew how to touch her like no one else, knew what she liked, what she needed.

But he didn’t know everything.

“You’re trying to put me in a box,” she said, loud enough to surprise a magpie in the woods. It fluttered to a higher branch.

“How? Why?” He actually looked mystified.

“You’re telling me who to fuck, and how, and when, and why. I don’t want a ‘why’, Lars! I want to fuck who and when I want. For whatever reason.”

“Katia, I know you’re a wild child. I know you like sex in all sorts of different ways. That’s one of the things I love about you.” He dropped his ski poles and pulled her toward him, thrusting his thigh between her legs. An instantaneous, irresistible urge to rub herself against him took over. She pictured his thigh naked, each massive muscle perfectly defined and sleek. On its own, her groin ground into him.

His eyes lit with fierce satisfaction. “See that? You’re just as crazy about me as I am about you.” He planted his hands on her ass, then manipulated her up and down against his leg until she moaned. “You can’t run from what we have.”

She tore herself away, stumbling because of her skis. He grabbed her so she wouldn’t fall. “Stop that.”

He came after her, intent and relentless. The sexy bastard knew what he did to her. Knew how to keep her coming back for more.

“Look, Lars. This isn’t going to work.” She scrambled for the right words. “I can’t marry you. The answer is no.”

His eyes flickered, but other than that he didn’t look one bit daunted. He kept coming at her. “Why? Because of Jimmy?”

“No! Well, sort of.” She shook him off, and this time he let her ski a few yards down the path before he stopped her.

“Sort of? What the fuck does that mean?”

“It means the answer is no. I can’t marry you.” She said the words as firmly and clearly as she could. It hurt like surgery, but it had to be done.

Lars rubbed a ski glove across his forehead, leaving a streak of white. She longed to brush it off, but stopped herself short. She couldn’t do this if she touched him. Touching him made her lose her senses. “Is it Wild? Living in Alaska? The cold?”

“No, none of that,” she said, taken off guard. “I like it here. No one’s telling you what to do or pushing you around. No one’s judging you. You can do what you want.”

The look of relief on his face tore at her heart. “I thought Alaska would drive you away from me.”

She shook her head. “No, it didn’t. It isn’t. It’s not Alaska.” A glance around the still woods gave her a quick vision of snow turning blue in the deepening dusk and velvety darkness settling among the trees. The beauty of it speared her heart. Leaving Lars would mean leaving Wild. She’d have to go back to the world of cities and her aimless existence.

Setting her jaw, she planted her ski poles and shoved off.

Of course, Lars chased her. “Then what? Give me an answer I can understand.” He slid next to her and they skied side by side. He had to keep brushing branches away with his pole.

”Oh, for God’s sake. Why do you have to be so persistent?”

“Because that’s who I am. I’m a competitor and I never give up.”

“This isn’t a race!” But she found herself skiing faster nonetheless.

“No, it’s more important than a damn race. I’ve never felt about anyone the way I feel about you. I thought you loved me.”

“I do. But I don’t want to be married.”

“Because marriage is a box.”

“Exactly.” Finally, he got it. Hope fizzed through her. Maybe they could just go back to how things were.

“You don’t mind it when I’m making you come three times in one night.”

“Of course I don’t.” The power of his body gliding next to her gave her the shivers.

“You don’t mind it when I tie you up and fuck you until you scream for mercy.”

“No. I love it!”

“But it’s not just sex. Everything feels right when I’m with you. When we’re together.”

“But we are together. That’s why I came here.”

“So why not get married? That’s what comes next when people feel the way we do.”

Katia’s eyes stung from the wind in her face, or maybe the realization that he didn’t get it, after all. Up ahead she saw their house. Lars’ house. The one she couldn’t stay at anymore. She stopped, panting, and waved a ski pole at him.

“Why can’t you leave things the way they are?”

“The hell with that.” He lifted her up with one hand on the back of her jacket, like a giant cat with its prey. “You want me right now, don’t you?”

“Yes! But you don’t understand.” Those last words came out as a wail as he clicked off the bindings on her skis. They clattered against each other as they fell to the snowy ground.

“Then make me understand.” He let her feet touch the ground again, but kept his grip on her parka. With a flick of his free hand, he unzipped her snowpants. The rush of cold air made her breath catch. He plunged his gloved hand between her legs. Tears sprang to her eyes as the rough friction of the performance leather, custom made for an Olympic champion, brushed against her clit. She went from zero to wildly aroused with one flick of his finger.

“Oh god, Lars. You’re killing me,” she moaned. The underbrush rustled as some tiny alarmed creature scurried to safety.

She writhed against the leather at her crotch, but his hand kept dancing away. The warmth of it radiated through the glove. His refusal to move against her the way she craved drove her right to the edge.

And he knew it, the bastard.

GO WILD releases February 4 from Ellora's Cave. More soon!

Juniper

GO WILD Release Date

2011-01-21T14:18:00.000-08:00

I just got a big surprise from my Ellora's Cave editor (the fabulous Jillian B.) -- my newest book GO WILD is coming out on February 4! Whee!!

Here's the blurb and cover. I'm really excited about this book and am already working on the next one in the series. All the books are set in the fictional town of Wild, Alaska during a very naughty winter festival called Wild Nights. Enjoy!

Go Wild

Juniper Bell

Lars loves Katia. Katia loves Lars. Lars wants to marry Katia. Can he convince his free-spirited lover that marriage will be as fun as her sexually adventurous single days?

Never before has Katia been tempted to give up her carefree ways. She’s deeply in love with Lars, but she doesn’t know if he can handle her wild side—or needs.

But Lars is a hard man to resist. The former Olympic champion won’t give up—not when he knows just how to please her.

He vows to win her over, even if it takes four rugged Alaska men and one wildly erotic night in a sauna.

Note: Features an extended ménage (M/F/M/M/M), anal play and references to bondage experimentation and sexual escapades of all types.

Lots of News

2010-11-23T14:09:00.000-08:00

The news has been piling up lately! First of all...

I'm about to leave for Hawaii, where I will be getting married at the end of December. I don't expect to post much while I'm gone, but I'll be popping up on various blogs now and then.

And in writing news, I have TWO contracts to announce. GO WILD, a contemporary menage set in Alaska, will be coming out sometime early 2011 from Ellora's Cave. In June 2011, look for RESTRAINING THE RECEPTIONIST, the sequel to Training the Receptionist, which will be released by Samhain Publishing. I'm very excited about both of these stories and will share more details as they become available.

In the meantime, Happy Thanksgiving, Happy December, and Happy Holiday Season to all.

Love and Peace,

Juniper

Halloween Blog Tour

2010-10-29T02:00:00.000-07:00

Juniper's "Freak Me Out" Halloween Contest

I'm ashamed to admit it, but this time of year freaks me out. Especially now that I'm a writer, because Halloween is when paranormal rules, when the vampires, werewolves, witches and goblins come out to play ... and kick my contemporary/historical erotic romance ass to the curb.

I want to play too! So I've decided to write a paranormal story, but I need a little help here. The paranormal world is vast and weird. I need a little direction. PLEASE, vote in the comments on your favorite type of paranormal story--or the kind you'd like to see more of. You'll be entered in my FREAK ME OUT contest. The prize? You pick a character/creature and I'll name it after you. And I'll give you a free download of my latest Ellora's Cave release, My Three Lords. Here are some options:

1. Angels and Demons

2. Witches and Wizards

3. Vampires

4. Shapeshifters

5. Psychic powers

6. Gargoyles or Goblins

7. Fill in the blank and totally freak me out!

In the meantime, please enjoy this scrumptious hunk who's still getting ready for Halloween. He doesn't quite have his clothes off yet ... he could really use a hand, don't you think?

And...there he goes. Sigh. Thanks for your help!

Now it's time to hop back on the bus and continue the blog tour. Enjoy!

Whipped Cream "Best Book" Rating

2010-10-16T16:13:00.000-07:00

I'd like to share this wonderful review of MY THREE LORDS from Whipped Cream reviews. "Best Book" is their highest rating, so I was thrilled when I saw this. Here are a few of my favorite phrases from this review:

Ms. Bell had me gobbling up this story from the first page. It was incredibly hot and steamy.

This is a highly recommended read, for all those who enjoy when everyone wins, when the foreplay is enough to make you squirm and shake, and when the love shines through and makes you grin.

Read the entire review here.

Thank you to Jonquil at Whipped Cream for such kind words.

The Zillionaire Vampire Cowboy's Free Nook

2010-09-08T14:29:00.000-07:00

I'd like to let everyone know about a new contest and hilarious serial story in the works over at The Nine Naughty Novelists.

We invite you to stop by our blog (www.ninenaughtynovelists.blogspot.com) every Thursday starting September 9th to read our steamy western paranormal category multi-part romance mashup, The Zillionaire Vampire Cowboy’s Secret Werewolf Babies (set in beautiful, bucolic Bloodsuck, TX). I've got a couple chapters in there, but I'm not telling which ones. ;)

Every blog comment you post (one comment per chapter), and every tweet/retweet using the #bloodsuck hashtag (tweets/retweets are unlimited, check the blog for details) enters you in our contest and puts you in the running to win a free nook.

So come early, come often.

Welcome to Bloodsuck. Have some wine.

Happily Ever After Review

2010-08-25T11:04:00.000-07:00

A 5 Teacup Review for MY THREE LORDS from Happily Ever After Reviews!

"Juniper Bell has written an erotic historical that kept me glued to the pages."'

"I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Alicia’s growth and self discovery. She starts out as an unsure young wife, and discovers her hidden sexuality that she shouldn’t be ashamed of, but embrace. For a highly erotic, sensual read with a historical flare, I recommend My Three Lords."

The rest of the review can be read here. I'm celebrating with some Earl Grey tea!

Juniper

Summer Vacation Blog Tour - F.L. Bicknell

2010-08-19T05:00:00.000-07:00

The Darkness of Sable

by F.L. Bicknell

Published August 2010 from Passion in Print. Print and ebook (release date pending).

Blurb:

Struggling to deal with the disappearance of her daughter and in a creative slump, sculptress Sable Hendricks-Tade travels to Florida for rest and relaxation only to find herself thrust between divided paranormal worlds. One side wants her dead and the other will do anything to keep her in its "wicked" embrace. Determined to get answers, she searches for her missing daughter and spirals into the realm of immortals and goddesses where she quickly realizes her agent is her only anchor to reality. But can she trust him to keep her safe?

Thomas Valimar, a highly trained marshal working with a network of humans to maintain the line between the paranormal and human worlds, is assigned to protect Sable from the magic she doesn't realize she possesses. Operating undercover as her agent, his duty soon turns to passion as he falls for the beautiful artist.

Drawing Sable into their world of sex, magic, and intrigue, the dark forces will do anything keep Sable in t heir clutches so they may feed from her emotions and mysterious ability. Only through sheer determination and Thomas' love can Sable walk through other realms and not only battle the paranormal creatures that wish to destroy her live but save her daughter as well.

Excerpt:

Upon hearing Sable’s scream, Thomas’s blood ran cold. His startled gaze met the lovely woman’s next to him, and then he spun on his heel, facing the chaos at the dais.

Flash bulbs bombarded her with their brightness, and camera phones clicked repetitively. She scrambled to her hands and knees and then shielded her face with her hands.

Nearly everyone around him moved closer to the embarrassing scene. He scanned the crowd for anything unusual and found only the Paranorm posing as an officer. For an instant, Thomas thought he saw something else standing in the cop’s place, something tall with big, curling horns sprouting from its head. He blinked. Had he imagined it?

He took a step toward the dais, but the woman next to him grabbed his sleeve.

“Don’t.”

“I have to protect Sable,” Thomas whispered and shrugged her off.

“Protect her from what?” the beautiful black woman replied, her gaze stern. “There’s nothing there. Discretion is a big part of protecting your ward.”

He returned his attention to Sable, who accepted Isa’s proffered hand to help her up.

“Valimar, have you fallen for the woman?” she asked.

“Don’t be ridiculous, Yasmine,” he snarled. His heart flailed so hard he felt faint. Again, he glanced across the gala, taking in all the faces, looking for movement in shadowy corners. “What good am I as a Paranormal Marshal if I can’t protect her?”

“You forget that The Golden is with her.” She patted his arm. “Only a fool would make an attempt on Sable’s life in The Golden’s presence.”

“See that guy over there?” He inclined his head in Officer Delmont’s direction. “The one with the coal-black hair.”

“Yes.”

“What or who do you see?”

“A nice-looking man, why?”

“He’s a Paranorm, but for a moment I thought I...”

She focused jade-green eyes on Thomas.

Feeling silly, he shrugged. “Never mind. I think stress is messing with my mind.”

“Isn’t he the one assigned to help you guard Sable?”

“Yeah, but I don’t trust him.”

Yasmine snorted derisively. “Few Paranorms can be trusted, Valimar, you know that.”

“Come on.” Thomas took Yasmine’s hand and drew her toward the onlookers. “Let’s see what we can find out.”

As they shouldered through the crowd, Thomas waved to Sable, showing her he was on his way. Fear for her stomped in his heart. By the Judges power, how the hell do I protect her from something I can’t see?

He pushed past a man in a hideous green suit jacket, who wore enough cologne for twenty men. Behind him, Yasmine sniffed abruptly and then sneezed. Pausing a few feet away, Thomas witnessed unshed tears glimmering in Sable’s eyes. A lump that felt like the size of a cinder block formed in his throat. Oh, how he wanted to comfort her, to chase away her embarrassment and fear.

Drawing within earshot of the dais, Thomas heard Isa ask, “Are you all right?”

Sable bit her trembling lower lip and then nodded to Isa.

“Bless you, child.” Isa motioned, and security personnel rushed to the scene.

Thomas kept watching for stealthy movements, twinkles in his peripheral vision that denoted magic about to be used by someone, and odd nuances in a person’s eyes or form. However, nothing out of the ordinary hinted at its presence.

Officer Delmont moved closer to the scene.

If he touches Sable, I’ll beat him to death with a champagne bottle.

As if the policeman sensed Thomas’s thoughts, Officer Delmont turned toward him and smiled.

Okay, buddy. Thomas offered the cop a challenging gaze. Make one stupid move and it will be your last.

“Once you’re sure Sable is all right,” Yasmine said, her voice low, “we need to find a place to discuss some things.”

“Damn, Yasmine. This isn’t a good time. I can’t leave her here unprotected.”

“She’s with The Golden, and the Paranorm is nearby too. She’ll be fine.”

He sighed. It’s not The Golden who worries me.

Buy-it-now: http://www.passioninprint.com/future.php

Author links: http://faithbicknellbrown.com/

Join us tomorrow for an excerpt from my book on FL Bicknell's blog! http://http://faithbicknellbrown.com/blog/

Summer Vacation Blog Tour

2010-08-16T07:05:00.000-07:00

Enjoying your summer? It's about to get even better. The Summer Vacation Blog Tour starts August 18th at Cindy Jacks' blog. Come join us!

Review of My Three Lords

2010-08-09T18:58:00.000-07:00

I was so thrilled with this review, I had to post it! I'm a huge fan of Blackraven's Erotic Cafe -- I've had a great time being interviewed over there -- and now they've added reviews as well. Here's a couple snippets of Lea's review of My Three Lords. She gave it 5 Ravens and made it a Recommended Read.

"My Three Lords by Juniper Bell is a fabulous erotic novel. I enjoyed every word, every sentence. I suggest you head over to buy this book immediately. You won’t be sorry! My only caveat is that you not begin reading My Three Lords until you have set aside enough time to finish it because walking away from it is simply not an option..."

"Juniper Bell can always be counted on to deliver uplifting, exciting stories with wild and wonderful sensuality. This is a perfect read for those times you want to kick back, relax, and enjoy yourself."

The entire review can be read here: Blackraven's Erotic Cafe

Nine Naughty Novelists - The New Kid

2010-08-05T14:07:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited and honored to be the newest member of the Nine Naughty Novelists!

Nine Naughty Novelists

If you haven't seen this blog yet, you're going to love it. I've always been secretly jealous of all the fun they have over there. And now I get to join in! I'll be blogging there about twice a month, and on the 9th of every month there's a party.

Monday, August 9 will be a "Welcome Juniper" party and I'll be giving away fun prizes! (Vosges chocolate, anyone?)

And Friday, August 6, we'll be having a chat at Coffee Time Romance in their Latte Lounge, so you can get to know all the Naughty Nine. Hmm, a chance to hang out with Meg Benjamin, Kelly Jamieson, Kate Davies, Kinsey Holley, Erin Nicholas, Sydney Somers, Skylar Kade and the one and only PG Forte ... how can you go wrong? Here's the link to the Latte Lounge.

We hope to see you at one or both of these parties!

(I think I just had a theme song idea ... "Party like it's 19 Naughty 9." What do you think?)

My Three Lords - Now Available

2010-07-28T08:49:00.001-07:00

My Three Lords is now available for download from Ellora's Cave. Enjoy!

Win an ARC of My Three Lords

2010-07-19T23:58:00.000-07:00

I'm off to the RWA (Romance Writers Association) national conference soon and I'm taking these bookmarks with me. Delish, aren't they?

The RWA Beaumonde meeting -- where all the fabulous Regency romance writers get together -- happens to take place on my release date, July 28. This seemed like such a good omen that I thought I'd celebrate by doing a giveaway on that day. You could win an ARC of My Three Lords and some Alaska-made Raven's Brew coffee if you sign up for my newsletter.

The link to join is on the sidebar to your right. It's an announce-only Yahoo group, and the only announcements I make are for new releases, so I promise you will not be bombarded. Oh, and occasionally I run special contests for newsletter members only.

Thanks for reading! Have a wonderful week.

Juniper Bell

July 4th Blog Hop

2010-07-02T03:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my little corner of Independence and Freedom.

On this beautiful Independence Day weekend, what better place and time to give thanks for the freedom we have to love the people we want ...

the way we want...

with joy, freedom and satisfaction for all.

Now let's take a moment to salute the flag. ;)

Happy 4th of July to all! Here's the link to the "tour bus" in case you've just stumbled onto this post or have lost your way. There's no need to comment, although if you feel so inspired, go right ahead, I love comments! At the end of the tour you'll be delivered to a page where you can enter to win some fabulous prizes, including a choice of ebook from my backlist.

And ... if you'd like to win a copy of my next release, MY THREE LORDS, a Regency menage coming July 28 from Ellora's Cave, all you have to do is sign up for my newsletter. I'll be drawing a random winner to receive one of the very first copies. The sign-up button is on the sidebar to your right. You won't be bombarded, I promise ... I only send news about new releases. For a steamy excerpt from MY THREE LORDS, scroll down to the next post.

Peace, love, and fireworks!

Juniper Bell

My Three Lords - Official Excerpt

2010-06-29T20:36:00.000-07:00

“I make you two promises, Alicia. The first is that I shall not take your maidenhead. Only one man may do so, and that is your husband. The second is that tonight you will experience more pleasure than you’ve ever imagined, thanks to me. If the Earl were here tonight, you’d receive no gentle caresses, no stroking such as I intend to give you. Your nipples would be left untouched, save for a rough tweak or two. Whereas I intend to savor their sweetness and watch them stand to attention like pink sentinels of your desire.”

Pinned as if I were a helpless butterfly, I lost myself in the soothing cadence of his speech. I became aware of the heat and strength of his body, and an unfamiliar tingling in my belly.

“You may think you prefer the Earl, but you’d regret it deeply. Your deflowering would be painful rather than pleasurable. Harsh rather than sweet. Such an event in a young girl’s life should bring tears of joy along with the tears of pain. That is what I offer, and the Earl, cognizant of your best interests as well as his own, has allowed me to provide this service. Do you understand?”

I nodded, and when he didn’t respond, whispered, “Yes.”

“Then come. Rise now.”

The weight lifted off me and he helped me to my feet. When I stood facing him, I saw a look such as I’d never seen on his jaded face before. He looked almost tender. Slowly, gently, he traced the skin along the edge of my loosened stays. I felt a prickling in the tips of my breasts. When I looked down at myself, my nipples were just as he said, pink and standing up under the layers of undergarments. He hooked his finger in the busk between my breasts. My breath caught.

“I won’t proceed further unless I have your full consent. Despite my reputation, I am not in the habit of forcing my attentions on unwilling girls. I must know that you accept what I’m offering you, fully and completely.”

His black gaze seared into me, as if he could see all the hidden corners of my soul. And perhaps he could, because God help me, I wanted the things he’d promised, and more. I wanted to lie down on the bed and roll myself in the bedclothes, or strip off my chemise and run outside under the stars. I didn’t fully understand what was happening to me. My body felt heavy and yet light at the same time.

“I do,” I whispered. “I accept.”

His eyes glittered in the candlelight. I felt dizzy. For a moment, I was back in the barn at home, caught with a goatherd’s hand hovering over my breast. I’d looked up in alarm at the sound of soft laughter. The sight of the Marquis’ delighted, mocking smile had turned me to stone.
There had been another feeling as well, a charge in the air that had made my skin prickle.
I felt it again as his eyes deliberately consumed my body, top to toe. Under my eyelashes, I performed an inspection of my own. The Marquis was not a bad-looking man, slender of build, perhaps a head taller than myself. As always, he was dressed in the height of fashion, with an embroidered cream waistcoat and a splendid coat of dark blue superfine that fit him to perfection. He always appeared to be mocking the world around him, but over the years I had on occasion seen him perform small kindnesses that surprised me.

“There has always been a special feeling between us, has there not?” As he spoke, he deftly removed my stays until I stood in nothing more than my chemise. I shivered at his nearness. Not for the first time, I thought what a powerful man he was, not in physique but in presence…a powerful man inclined to darkness.

He picked up a candle and slowly walked around me, shining its light on my body. The warmth from the candle paled in comparison to the penetrating weight of his gaze. I fixed my eyes on the pretty dressing table on the far side of the room. I counted five silver-backed brushes and considered attempting to count the individual bristles to distract myself from the strange feelings stealing over me.

A gentle touch on my posterior made me start. His hand cupped my bottom and warmth flooded my being. How could such a simple touch create such an uproar within me? With a firm hand and wandering fingers, he stroked my flesh. I felt the back of my chemise inch up my legs. The feel of his fingertips roaming across the backs of my thighs was so exquisite, I closed my eyes so the pleasure would continue.

“Ah no, my dear, you are not allowed to close your eyes. I want you to fully comprehend that it is I, the dreaded Marquis de Beaumont, who is bringing you this enjoyment. Whose hands are now stroking your tender buttocks?”

Tendrils of fire seemed to spread across my bottom as he quickened his touch. “Yours,” I gasped.

“And who intends to remove this interfering chemise from your body?”

My throat became suddenly parched. If he removed my chemise, I would be naked before the most notorious rake in England. “You,” I whispered. “But, please…”

“Yes?” His fingers danced up the curve of my spine and my belly seemed to quiver in response. Cool air caressed my back as he drew up the chemise. “Ah, so lovely. I’ve waited a very long time for this moment.”

I clutched the front of it to my chest. My head was such a confusing swarm of thoughts, I didn’t know what I wanted to say. Please continue. Stop this instant. The two opposite impulses battled in my mind. “Why me?” I managed. “Why a long time?”

“Why you?” My question did not make him pause in his intrusions on my body. Every inch of exposed skin drew a caress or a pat from his relentless, curious, knowing hands. Every touch sent a cascade of shivers across my flesh. “I’m sure you don’t remember, but you first caught my eye as a girl dashing after your brothers. You ran directly into me, like a Spanish bull into a cape. I have been accustomed to find myself a figure of fright for young girls. But you seemed to have no fear of me. I plucked you off the ground and held you high. You looked back at me with those frank eyes of yours, whose color I find no words for, somewhere in the mysterious realm between gray and blue, and you said, quite simply, “You were directly in my path. You will please to put me down now.” And so I did, and watched, bemused, as you raced away to join your brothers. At that moment I knew you were an unusual girl.”

By this time he was in front of me, loosing my hands from their grip on my chemise. I looked up at him and found myself surprised by a hint of softness in his usually sharp eyes.

“This chemise,” he told me softly, “can hide nothing from me. I know your soul, ma chérie, perhaps better than you do yourself. You desire things you cannot name. You sense it in the springtime air, the moonlight over a stream, the scent of lilacs in the sunshine. The world promises you something just beyond your senses, something you cannot grasp, simply because you don’t yet know how. I will show you how, my dear."

Release Date for My Three Lords

2010-06-22T11:37:00.000-07:00

July 28!

That's when Ellora's Cave will release My Three Lords as part of their Exotika line. That's the super-sexy one. Hey, this story may be a Regency, but it's also sizzling-hot.

Hmmm...aren't you just dying to know what those three bare-chested noblemen are going to do with that girl? All will be revealed on July 28. *smile*

Juniper Bell

My Three Lords - Excerpt (unedited)

2010-05-29T13:19:00.000-07:00

My wonderful editor has given me permission to post this UNEDITED excerpt from My Three Lords. (As long as I point out that it's unedited.) So here goes.

Pinned as if I were a helpless butterfly, I lost myself in the soothing cadence of his speech. I became aware of the heat and strength of his body, and an unfamiliar tingling in my belly.

I nodded, and when he didn’t respond, whispered, “Yes.”

“Then come. Rise now.”

The weight lifted off me, and he helped me to my feet. When I stood facing him, I saw a look such as I’d never seen on his cynical face before. He looked almost tender. Slowly, gently, he traced the skin along the edge of my loosened petticoat. I felt a prickling in the tips of my breasts. When I looked down at myself, the nipples were just as he said, pink and standing up through the layers of undergarments. He hooked his finger in the lacy border between my breasts. My breath caught.

“I do,” I whispered. “I accept.”

There had been another feeling as well, a charge in the air that made my skin prickle.

I felt it again as his eyes deliberately consumed my body, top to toe. Under my eyelashes, I performed an inspection of my own. The Marquis was not a bad-looking man, slender of build, perhaps a head taller than myself. As always, he was dressed in the height of fashion, with plum-colored breeches and a splendid coat of superfine that fit him to perfection. He always appeared to be mocking the world around him, but over the years I had on occasion seen him perform small kindnesses that surprised me.

“There has always been a special feeling between us, has there not?” As he spoke, he deftly removed my petticoat and stays until I stood in nothing more than a chemise. I shivered at his nearness. Not for the first time, I thought what a powerful man he was, not in physique but in presence…a powerful man inclined to darkness.

He picked up a candle and slowly walked around me, shining its light on my body. The warmth from the candle paled in comparison to the penetrating weight of his gaze. I fixed my eyes on the pretty vanity on the far side of the room. I counted five silver brushes and considered attempting to count the individual bristles to distract myself from the strange feelings stealing over me.

Tendrils of fire seemed to spread across my bottom as he quickened his touch. “Yours,” I gasped.

“And who intends to remove this interfering chemise from your body?”

My throat became suddenly parched. If he removed my chemise, I would be naked before the most notorious rake in England. “You,” I whispered. “But, please…”

I clutched the front of it to my chest. My head was such a confusing swarm of thoughts, I didn’t know what I wanted to say. Please continue. Stop this instant. The two opposite impulses battled in my mind. “Why me?” I managed.

By this time he was in front of me, loosing my hands from their grip on my chemise. I looked up at him and found myself surprised by a hint of softness in his usually sharp eyes.

“This chemise,” he told me softly, “can hide nothing from me. I know your soul, my dear, perhaps better than you do yourself. You desire things you cannot name. You sense it in the springtime air, the moonlight over a stream, the scent of lilacs in the sunshine. The world promises you something just beyond your senses, something you cannot grasp, simply because you don’t yet know how. I will show you how, my dear."

Thanks for reading! Did I mention it's unedited? My Three Lords is coming soon from Ellora's Cave Exotika line. As soon as I know the release date, I'll share it here.

Peace and love, Juniper

Five Random Facts about Juniper Bell

2010-05-23T15:28:00.000-07:00

Five things you don't know about me ... (and might regret learning)!

This topic was suggested to me when I was scrambling around for something to blog about. I tend to avoid personal stuff, because, well, I'm not sure anyone's interested! But I can probably come up with five random odd things you probably don't know about me.

1. I sucked my thumb (sporadically) until I was thirteen years old.

2. I once dated a guy who owned one spoon and one bowl. (You'd think that would be a red flag, right?)

3. Aspirin makes my face blow up like Elephant Man.

4. I have fuschia streaks in my hair right now.

5. I'm engaged to be married on December 31 of this year.

That last one is odd only because I've waited this long to marry someone. (I won't say how long, that would be way too personal. *laughs*) I joke, but I'm actually very happy about this new adventure. I love my sweetie.

Thanks for letting me share! Anyone else care to jump in? Odd personal facts are eagerly welcomed!

Juniper

Nicole Austin's "Kenna's Cowboy"

2010-05-19T19:27:00.000-07:00

I'd like to welcome Ellora's Cave author Nicole Austin to my blog! Her 19th release, Kenna's Cowboy, is out today, and I get to share the hotness with a excerpt. This book is part of a 5 book series she's written with Ellora’s Cave authors TJ Michaels, Ciana Stone & NJ Walters.

BLURB

Cursed with unusual abilities, orphan McKenna Fulton has always been different, an outcast. But she’s been Chosen.

More accurately, she is one of the Chosen. Eight individuals—four women and four men—selected at birth to guard slices of crystal. The Heart of Fire.

The whole thing is more than a little farfetched. Kenna can handle the part of getting down and dirty with the bad dude. She’s even okay with guarding a crystal. But losing her free will and being stuck with some guy, her destined mate, uh-uh. Not happening.

Local mechanic Ryker Thomas is more than he appears and has his own set of abilities. Kenna wants nothing to do with the southern charmer. So what if he has a matching crystal and the damn things hum and vibrate whenever they’re close together. That doesn’t mean she’ll toe the line.

He can’t be the one she’s supposed to be with. Fate wouldn’t be so cruel as to send her a cowboy when what she wants is a bad boy.

EXCERPT

Note: This excerpt is intended for those readers 18 years old or older.

Excerpt:

“Kiss me, cowboy.”

Ryker had every intention of fulfilling Kenna’s request and then some. He’d wanted to get to know the strong, enigmatic woman since her first day in town. She’d managed to keep her distance but not anymore. Now that he had her all to himself, he had no intention of letting go.

His hands slid around her waist and he pulled her soft curves against his solid frame. God, she fit him just right. Built like a brick house—tall, curvy and stacked—she was perfect. Full tits cushioned his chest almost as sweetly as her soft belly nestled the length of his aching cock.

With the first brush of their lips she purred and melted into him. Her lips parted in silent invitation, testing his resolve to go slow. He traced the pouty shape of her lush pink mouth, instantly addicted to her spicy cinnamon taste. It suited her, as did the dark, tough-chick clothes she wore.

Kenna was no fragile rose to be kept sheltered and there was nothing tentative in her kiss. She met his lips head on, her fierce passion draining all the blood from his thinking head and funneling it straight to his randy dick. Her tongue shot past his lips, delving and tasting, driving his hunger higher. He followed as she retreated only to have her suck on his lower lip and snap his control.

Following the curves of her ass, he cupped the firm cheeks and gave her a quick squeeze before grasping her thighs. As he lifted, she wrapped those gorgeous legs around his waist, hooking her ankles and holding on tight. He groaned and she drank down the sound as he set her on the fender of Joey’s car, freeing his hands to explore.

Kenna devoured him, plain and simple. She sucked on his tongue and he had no trouble picturing her on her knees showing such avid attention to his cock. Her hands got in on the act, first gripping his shoulders then moving lower, flowing over his chest as if she were blind and reading his body by Braille.

“Oh shit. You’re bleeding.” She went from feeling him up to ripping at his shirt. Two strong tugs and the material gave, splitting down the middle.

Bleeding?

Ryker glanced down, trying to figure out what she was going on about. A dark red stain marred the tattered blue material. He hadn’t taken part in the fight, didn’t feel any pain, so how the hell could he be bleeding?

She grabbed the braided leather around his neck and tossed the pendant over his shoulder. “Keep that away from me.”

Why the hell did she have against his necklace? She wore a strikingly similar one. Not that it mattered when the fingers stroking every inch of his chest into a frenzy almost distracted him from the genuine concern in her big violet-colored eyes.

Jesus! He couldn’t remember the last time someone worried about him. Kenna also looked fighting mad, ready to tear apart anyone stupid enough to have caused him harm.

His heart turned over in his chest and pounded a wild rhythm against his ribs. Ryker caught her hands and brought them to his lips, kissing her knuckles with reverence. “I’m fine. It’s not my blood, darlin’.”

Kenna looked deep into his eyes for the space of several stuttered heartbeats then thrust her fingers into his hair, unseating his hat. She tugged, pulling him into a punishing kiss. They were both panting for air when they surfaced sometime later.

The loud slap of her palm connecting with his face echoed through the garage. Ryker rubbed at his stinging cheek and glared. “What the hell was that for?”

“Don’t you ever scare me like that again!”

Damn, she had a lot of spunk. And the fierce protective gleam in her eyes—what a fucking turn-on. His cock jerked against the painful constriction of his jeans in agreement. While he was dying to plunge deep inside Kenna, he wouldn’t be rushed. Not with her. This was too important to screw up. “I’ll try my best, darlin’.”

The primitive instinct to claim and mark this woman as his was nearly overpowering his desire to give her more pleasure than she’d ever known. Deep down an inner conviction assured him they had a lifetime ahead of them but it didn’t ease his driving need to fuck her senseless.

“You have too many clothes on.”

“Mmm…so do you, cowboy.” Her lascivious smile had the same effect as a mainlined shot of pure adrenaline. “How about shucking those jeans.”

His cock throbbed and his jeans sported a wet spot. Ryker wasted no time toeing off his sneakers, peeling away both his jeans and briefs in one swoop, then shrugging off the tattered remains of his shirt. He pulled a foil packet from his pants pocket and held it in his hand.

“Your turn.”

To buy Kenna's Cowboy, click here. And to find out more about Nicole and her books, click here to visit her website.

Thanks for sharing, Nicole!

My Three Lords - The Cover and Blurb

2010-05-11T18:20:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd share the (unedited) blurb for My Three Lords. Enjoy!

How is one innocent country girl to choose between a Duke, a Marquis and an Earl? Must she?

When Miss Alicia Silverwood marries the Earl of Dorchester, he whisks her off to Notre Plaisir, a country manor where erotic surprises await at the hands of three powerful lords and longtime friends.

The young Earl needs a wife and heir. The cynical Marquis de Beaumont needs a playmate. And the commanding Duke of Warrington needs a reason to live. As for the new Lady Dorchester, she’s just beginning to discover the true nature of her own sensual needs. To complicate matters, she’s falling in love.

It might take a miracle for Lady Alicia and her three lords to come to an arrangement that makes everyone happy. Or maybe all it takes is a little scandalous rule-breaking…

My Three Lords - The Cover

2010-04-28T22:21:00.000-07:00

I have no words for how gorgeous and sensual this cover is!! I'm so excited. Thanks to Dar Albert for doing such a spectacular job on it. I'll be posting the blurb shortly, but for now I'll just say that My Three Lords is a Regency menage, and this cover captures it perfectly. It will be out soon from Ellora's Cave, and as soon as I know the release date I'll post it here.

Peace and Love!

Juniper Bell

Easter Blog Hop

2010-04-01T18:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Easter Blog Hop, where we invite you to take a break from chocolate eggs and marshmallow peeps to enjoy some calorie-free eye candy. The tour started at Christa Paige's site. You should have arrived here from Monette Michaels blog. To get to the next stop ... just find the Easter Egg and click on it. No comments required ... just click through all the eggs and you'll be eligible for an amazing pile of prizes, including a download of your choice from my backlist.

Now for the eye candy. My next book is a Regency menage called "My Three Lords," coming soon from Ellora's Cave. One innocent country girl, three passionate lords ... how's a girl to choose? Or does she have to? "My Three Lords" is set in Jane Austen's time (although it's much, much naughtier!), so in honor of my three lords, I've hunted down three of my favorite Jane Austen movie heroes.

First off, Jeremy Northam. Oh, how I loved him as Mr. Knightley in Emma.

Next, the dreamy Matthew MacFadyan in Pride and Prejudice.

And again.

And we can't leave out the one and only Colin Firth. Taking a bath. Oh my.

Of course, they all have an open invitation to appear in "My Three Lords"! Thanks for stopping by. While you're here, feel free to explore my blog and check out my free reads and excerpts. Hey, you might even stumble across an Easter Egg.

Happy Easter!

Juniper Bell

New Contract

2010-03-24T16:21:00.000-07:00

I'm excited to announce that I have a new book coming out soon with Ellora's Cave! It's a hot m/f/m/m Regency called "My Three Lords." I'm still working on the blurb, but suffice it to say, the title is a good thumbnail. Who can resist a Duke, a Marquis and an Earl? Not innocent but passionate Lady Alicia Silverwood.

Cover art and release date to come. Stay tuned!

Aloha from Hawaii,

Juniper

Training the Receptionist - The Sequel?

2010-03-06T11:30:00.000-08:00

So I've had a couple readers ask me if I plan to write a follow-up to Dana, Simon and Ethan's story. The truth is, I always intended to. I always saw it as "Part One." But I wasn't sure how the book would do or if anyone would want to read more about them! Since I've now gotten actual expressions of interest in this idea, it's a no-brainer. Of course I'll write another one! I love these characters and the very interesting arrangement they've created together. And I, for one, want to know more about the enigmatic, dynamic, super-hot Ethan.

Sequel? Most definitely!

In the meantime, I was interviewed at the International Heat blog, and decided to let Dana (the "Receptionist") answer most of the questions. That's asking for trouble, right?

You can check it out here.

Have a great weekend!

Juniper

Training the Receptionist -- Big News

2010-03-03T11:05:00.000-08:00

"Training the Receptionist" has reached #1 on the MBaM bestseller list! Thank you, wonderful fans of erotic romance. You're the best readers in the world.

Training the Receptionist is available here.

Peace and Love,

Juniper

Training the Receptionist is Now Available

2010-03-02T01:00:00.000-08:00

Release Day has arrived!

“Training the Receptionist” by Juniper Bell

Genre: Erotica

Samhain Publishing ISBN: 978-1-60504-949-6  Length: Novella  Price: 3.50  Publication Date: March 2, 2010  Cover art by Scott Carpenter

It’s her naughty dream job—if they’re satisfied with her performance…

Eager to escape her miserable existence in Low-Life, Long Island, street-wise Dana Arthur jumps at an entry-level position with the consulting firm Cowell & Dirk. As her training period begins, she quickly discovers she’s required to do more than take messages and order office supplies. Her job description contains some deliciously naughty duties that give receptionist a whole new meaning.

Simon has almost given up on finding the right woman who will please his clients as well as his demanding partner and mentor, Ethan Cowell. No one measures up—until Dana. Her inner fire and fearless nature are perfect for the job. No matter what wicked punishment he devises to chastise her for her on-the-job mistakes, she accepts with a relish that leaves him wondering which one of them is really in control.

The last thing he expects to discover is that she’s a perfect sexual soul mate he can’t bear to share. But share he must—it’s part of his business agreement. Unless he makes Ethan the deal of a lifetime…

Warning: This title contains explicit sex, bondage, ménage, ingenious use of office furniture, lingerie, and the occasional sex toy. Oh, and did I mention the package delivery guy?

Click to buy.