Thursday, January 16, 2014

Afton Locke is Back Again!

Welcome back, Afton Locke! Oh man, look at that cover. Be sure to read all about her new release, including the spicy excerpt and the contest. -DD

Stripper With Spice



Thank you for hosting me today. I’m excited to talk about the spice GARLIC, and my latest release, Stripper With Spice, a contemporary erotic romance.  

Guardian Garlic

Everyone has heard of garlic. It’s been around since ancient times as both a food and a medicine and has antiseptic properties. In addition to warding off infections, it can repel vampires. Very handy if you’re in Transylvania. I recently read the vampire classic. The doctor prescribed a necklace of vampire “flowers” to keep the vampires away. The strong smell alone will keep people at a distance too.

When I studied in France, the dorm required we put our room keys in a key room when we exited the building. Each room number had its own cubbyhole sort of like an old-fashioned hotel. One of the nuns had a desk in there and watched over the keys. She never said much, but she didn’t have to tell us she consumed large quantities of garlic. The smell of her and the entire room told us. It was so strong we practically had to hold our noses before venturing in there. Maybe it was a deterrent for leaving the building. “Ail!” we used to mutter, the French word for garlic.

Men have their own form of garlic. When they’re closed off and don’t want a woman to get too close, they raise walls. Maybe they don’t talk about themselves or don’t call when they should, or they might hit the road the minute things get too deep. I’ve dated a few of these. At first, things seem promising, but as time passes, it’s clear things are hopeless. There was a guy in college like that. We were friends at first. Then he launched a slow, potent seduction that made me develop feelings for him. I even met his family, but beyond the fun, I realized there was no emotion or feeling on his end. Just a blank wall. He eventually admitted he’d been deeply involved with a girl who had hurt him very badly. It was clear he wasn’t going to risk it again, so I left him with his garlicky self.

In my story, Janice is the one with walls. She’s had a very tough time financially, and she’s in no mood to get loved and left. Because Carlos is a younger man, she assumes the worst. Trusting is not easy for her, so Carlos coaxes her into it, one sexy moment at a time. How much garlic can a man handle before he gives up on love?


Publisher:  Ellora's Cave Publishing
Release Date:  10 January 2014
eBook ISBN #:  978-14199-49050
Stay tuned for reviews and more: http://www.aftonlocke.com/spice.html

Watch the Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/cYIzIyett4Y

Blurb
Getting back on her feet after unemployment, Janice treats herself to an erotic-romance convention. After winning a two-hour fantasy date with Carlos Aguilar, a young stripper, she decides to have a one-time fantasy fling.

When Carlos entices her back to the bedroom—and a few public places—for more sizzling sex, he unleashes her passions, including a secret desire to be a chef. Janice learns there’s more to this heartthrob than a hot body, but job security comes first.

To convince her he’s more than a fantasy, Carlos teaches her trust with his body. But when that trust is finally tested to the limit, she’ll be torn between clinging to safety and taking a chance on a whole new life.

Excerpt (explicit)
Stripper With Spice - Copyright © AFTON LOCKE, 2014 - All Rights Reserved, Ellora's Cave Publishing, Inc.

I chose you.

He looks and sounds so serious and honest, how can I not be completely convinced? His words echo inside my head as he grips both sides of my face and lowers his mouth to mine in slow motion. The thrill bubbles return to my bloodstream as if the elevator cable has just snapped, dropping us to the basement.

Unlike last night’s, this kiss is slow and full of promise. He samples my mouth as if we have all the time in the world. A flash of mint-flavored tongue pierces my soul, tearing a moan from my throat. With one hand still on the button, I raise my other to his shoulder. Feeling the bare, hot skin there fuels my desire, pushing me dangerously close to the edge of self-control.

“Do you want this as much as I do, Janice?”

God, yes. I need more…all of you.

I reply by sliding my hand across the tiger-striped fabric over his back. The warm satin, with muscles moving under it, is just as sexy as bare skin. His hips dance against mine—rubbing, thrusting and teasing. My fingers move to the worn waistband of his jeans at his side, wanting to pull them off. My body throbs, needing him as I’ve never needed anything before.

When he pulls my finger off the close-door button, the door opens to reveal an annoyed looking family of five waiting to get on. The parents, obviously noticing Carlos’ wild vest and our heavy breathing, exchange a disgusted look.

Carlos takes my hand and leads me off the elevator. My heart races as we walk down the corridor. Luckily, the carpet absorbs the trembling in my legs so it doesn’t make a sound.

He stops at one of the doors. I fixate on the way he slides his keycard from his back pocket and inserts it into the door reader. It’s something I’ve done myself a million times without thinking, but this is different. This is foreplay.

The door responds with a little click and a flashing green light. I guess we just got the green light for wild, hot sex. My heart accelerates even more. If it goes any faster, he’ll have to call a paramedic. I can read the headline now.

Boring financial analyst dies from anticipating sex with a hot cover model.

I check my watch. Fifteen minutes have passed.

“We still have plenty of time.” He ushers me inside and closes the door behind me.

The room is completely dark because the drapes are drawn. It’s as if we’ve entered a private cave, hidden from the world. This is it, I think as Carlos flips on a dim lamp. We’re really going to do this. We’re going to have sex.

“Come in and make yourself comfortable,” he says.

I stay where I am but gaze around the room, noticing with approval how neat he is. His clothes hang in the closet and his toiletries are laid out on one corner of the sink. The smoky-brown bottle probably contains the mysterious mesquite scent. I wish he were a slob so I could tell myself it would never work between us.

It doesn’t take long for my attention to stumble across the centerpiece of the room, the large bed. Is it another stage? Is the perfectly pressed red cover the curtain? Unlike the platforms we shared for the photo shoot and lap dance, this one is completely private.

What if he doesn’t like my performance?

Coming Soon

Rock My Boat

Workaholic CEO Rhonda Simms embarks on a Caribbean cruise to create an ad campaign for a big maritime freight client. She finds it impossible to concentrate, however, when Simon Mann, a blue marlin shifter, sets his sights on her. From a private, hands-on safety briefing to a wild ride in the ocean, he rocks her ordered world.

Simon drowned years ago in a shipwreck caused by Rhonda’s client, and he’ll do anything to be a normal man again. As his mate, Rhonda is the only person who can help him.

Tired of being so responsible, Rhonda is ready to let loose with a shipboard fling. Mating with Simon could cost a lot more than her virginity, however. Will she stick to her present course or will she let this sexy alpha rock her boat?

This story will be part of the Tall, Dark & Alpha boxed set, which will release 10 March 2014.



Where readers can find me


Facebook


Newsletter - The Love Chronicle: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thelovechronicle/


Contest

This post is part of the Stripper With Spice Blog Tour
The grand prize for the tour is the winner's choice of a wall-mountable black scroll spice rack or The Spice Lover's Guide to Herbs and Spices book (U.S. shipping address only).
To be eligible, COMMENT on this post. The comment MUST relate to the spice I’m posting about in at least ONE of these ways:
 1) How you cook with it or use it in food OR
 2) How you use it as a natural remedy OR
 3) How it reminds you of a particular man or intimate encounter


The tour winner will be announced at http://www.aftonlocke.com/SpiceTour.html on January 18th.


7 comments:

Afton Locke said...

Thanks for hosting me today!

Patti P said...

I will be reading this. Garlic is one of my must have spices. I will say I love to use it fresh but if you are using it in a romantic meal it is a tricky balance. When I was younger and it would be a first date kind of thing I would never, ever order anything with garlic in it but I love the taste so much as I got older I had to get over that. LOL
That is what all of those gums, mints, little brushes and things are for. Right?

Afton Locke said...

Patti, if you both eat garlic, it doesn't matter, right?

Dalton Diaz said...

Thanks for posting with us! Garlic really is that spice that's in nearly everything, isn't it? Second only to salt and pepper.

Afton Locke said...

It's in a lot of spice. I wonder how vampires handle it?

bn100 said...

like to use garlic to make garlic bread

bn100candg at hotmail dot com

Afton Locke said...

I made some garlic bread last night!