Today’s theme makes me think of the movie, Something’s Gotta Give, with Jack Nicholson and Diane Keeton. Remember that part where he says, “Erica, you are a woman to love.” And when she gets home she thinks back on his words and says to herself, “What does that even mean?”

Today it means that our hero has just gotten a good first glimpse at our leading lady. Enjoy a snippet from the upcoming release of Niah’s Pride, a Pryde Ranch novella. Visit the other Snippet Saturday Authors via the links at the bottom of the post. Enjoy and tally-ho! Oh, and below you’ll also find the video trailer for Something’s Gotta Give. I don’t usually do ‘chick flicks’ but this one is a KEEPER!

Niah’s Pride by TJ Michaels
Copyright 2013, All Rights Reserved
Coming June 4th

Lou sat on the steps that led up to the huge wrap-around porch of the main house on Pryde Ranch and waited. It was a beautiful structure, more of a mansion-sized rustic lodge than a house. He’d left enough clues as to his whereabouts that he was sure it wouldn’t be long now before Neesia, or someone, showed up. Of course she’d want to know what he was doing here, and how the hell he’d gotten onto the estate without passing through any of the heavily monitored gates.

Of course he couldn’t tell her he’d hacked the estate’s security network remotely, found the connect keys for all the hubs and routers, broke into one of the system password files and reset the cycle time on the motion sensors on a far-off fence. With that done, he’d walked right through the temporarily unprotected entrance in a rarely used corner of the vast property.

While scouting the place he’d often wondered why Neesia and her sister, Kotara, needed such tight security. The vast acreage the estate sat on should have been enough of a deterrent for any bad guy, yet he’d had to squeeze through a tight web of electronic controls. It hadn’t been easy.

She was going to kill him. The thought brought a grin. God, he couldn’t wait.

The land in the immediate vicinity was cleared of anything that could hide an intruder, so if he could see from here out to the rolling hills, then he could also be seen.

And here they come. There was no sound other than the whip of wind through the trees, but he knew he was being closed in on like so much fresh meat. No surprise. In fact, it’s exactly what he would have done if he were in her shoes.

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When a woman gets the first glimpse of her guy, sometimes she’s taken aback and sometimes she’s just…not. Then again, maybe she’s both? You know, something about him strikes her, but she doesn’t necessarily WANT it to.

Meet Jovon Dawson-Li, Seeker for the Vampire Council of Ethics…and she’s just met her match twice over. After you see what Jovon is up to, visit all the other Snippet Saturday authors via the links at the bottom of the post.

Unedited Excerpt from
Seeker’s Solace, Vampire Council of Ethics Book Four
by TJ Michaels
Copyright 2013, All Rights Reserved
Coming September 2013 from Samhain Publishing

A voice caught her attention. It was a prime making his way around the room. He was a marvelous block of a man with a wild and strange energy about him. Even in her wiped-out, tired-to-the-bone state her brain still managed to pick him out of the bristling crowd.

The ropey muscle of his forearm was revealed by a three-quarter-sleeved silk mock turtleneck. Jovon’s gaze was pinned on that arm, watching the long, scarred fingers extend. She wondered what he did for a living that caused him to get scars like that, considering it was highly unusual for their kind to sustain any kind of lasting injury unless it was quite serious.

And look at that skin, she thought. Pale as fresh milk, yet it still held a warmth that made her want to dip her cookie in it.

Girlfriend, that’s just nasty. What’s wrong with you?
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This week’s Snippet Saturday theme is a bit deceptive. At first glance I thought, “Awwww, this is going to be a mushy post!” But after taking a closer look, the theme is actually *wait for it…* MAKING OUT!

But the challenge is finding a make-out scene that stops short of HAWT sex. Hmmmm… I’ve got an idea! How about a scene where the hero is making out with the heroine, but it’s all in her head. Literally.

Enjoy this Snippet of Hatsept Heat, Vampire Council of Ethics Book Three, then visit the other Snippet Saturday authors via the links at the bottom of the post. Happy Weekend!

Hatsept Heat, V.C.O.E. Book 3

Samhain | iTunes | Sony

When he dipped his head, she instinctively eased away, then wished her sense of propriety had stayed home.

“What’s wrong?” Kenoe whispered.

“We’re in public,” Shinju hissed through clenched teeth.

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“It’s just that, well, we don’t touch or neck in public. It’s a cultural thing.” She felt the features of her face morph into something between mortified and hungry. Must be because she really wanted to let her tongue take the same path across his mouth his had only seconds ago. God, she could have kicked herself for falling back on old behavior.

While her African-American grandmother encouraged Shinju to live her life as she chose, her grandma on her father’s side had always frowned on Shinju’s independent nature. The woman insisted on teaching her and her cousins proper public etiquette. Unfortunately those childhood lessons, which included a huge dose of “good girls don’t”, seemed to stick just now.

“And if we were visiting your relatives in the States, would there be any issues with PDA?” he asked, sweeping her back into the crowd. The bodies were thick on this particular patch of dance floor.

“PDA? You mean public displays of affection? Of course not. But it’s just not done here.” Which was one of the reasons Shinju always looked forward to her yearly summer trips to visit her stateside cousins. Once her feet hit the city streets of Atlanta, all bets were off. She didn’t sleep around, but she certainly did her share of ass shaking in the clubs, along with the occasional kiss or two from whatever beau her cousins set her up with for the duration of the trip. As a result she’d gathered quite a few pen pals over the years.

In fact she was due to meet up with her kin in a couple of weeks. Strangely enough, the expected thrill of a bit of freedom from the strictures of Japanese life didn’t appeal. It meant leaving Kenoe behind.

“So it’s a Japanese thing?” he asked, leaning in close. God, he smelled good. Like musk, hot sex and dangerous man.

“Duh.” She sniffed, batting playfully at the hands trying to pinch her ass.

“Fine, as long as it’s not an ‘I-really-don’t-want-to-be-seen-with-Kenoe’ thing.”

“Oh don’t get your boxers in a twist. It’s nothing personal.”

“We’ll see. Later.”

“Oh yeah? What’s going to happen later?”

“Well, my beautiful Shinju, I love that you’re a lady when on the street.” He lightly ran a single finger down her cheek, leaving a path in the sweat. It sent a shiver clear to her baby toes. “But I want a freak in my bed.”

“And who says I’ll end up in your bed?”
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I don’t think this week’s theme needs any intro at all, do you **heh**? Meet Delaine and Justin from “On The Prowl”. This book was originally published as my debut novel, “Primed to Pounce” and received 4 STARS **woooot!** from Romantic Times Book Reviews.

In this Snippet, Delaine is pretty sure she caught Justin messing around with her best friend. But looks can be deceiving. And since Delaine is running, Justin does what any good alpha does…he chases her.

Delaine Jeris is on a mission. As top investigator for the Aegis Group, she must use her unique gifts-including her own personal mountain lion spirit guide-to catch a mad scientist with kinky delusions.

Justin Cooley was not part of the plan.

Justin has his own job to do, but falling for the beautiful woman sneaking around the Astin Pharmaceutical and Biotech facility wasn’t in his brief. How can he trust his instincts, trust her, when he knows that more than his mission could be compromised if he’s wrong?

Delaine has had her heart broken before. When all their secrets are revealed, she’ll have to decide whether she’s truly found her mate…or allowed herself to fall straight into enemy hands.

Review: “Move over, Secret Agent Man, Michaels’ heroine, Delaine, is a spy queen. Her moves on the sheets and off make this a page-turner.” -Romantic Times BOOKReviews

Kindle | Nook | Smashwords | iTunes

*Stop running, Suta. Embrace our mate. He comes.*

‘Yeah, whatever.’ Delaine’s words were flat and uncaring, and in truth, she hadn’t really been listening to what Sapa was saying to her along the bond.

The sleek mountain cat rolled her eyes and stalked away to a quiet corner of Delaine’s mind. Before she retreated, Delaine felt her frustration. Well, guess she could forget about meditating now. All she could think about was Justin. Justin’s lips. Justin’s hands on her body. Justin treating her like the queen he proclaimed her to be. Cooking for her. Taking her on road trips.

Justin sleeping with her best friend. Rather, a chick that was supposed to be her friend.
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This week’s theme is “They call it the blues.” And now that song by Elton John is stuck in my head — “And I guess that’s why they call it the blues. Time on my hands could be time spent with you. Laughing like children, living like lovers, rolling like thunder under the covers. And I guess that’s why they call it the blues.”

In anticipation of the next book in the Vampire Council of Ethics series, let’s go back in time just a little bit to a heart-breaking scene from Serati’s Flame, V.C.O.E. Book Two. Yep, Tameth Serati definitely has the blues and she has a good reason to. It’s called…men! Enjoy this snippet and then visit the other fabulous authors via the links at the bottom of the post. Happy Weekend!

Order at: Samhain Publishing | Kindle | Nook | Sony| iTunes

Alaan walked out the backdoor and stopped so quickly Tameth ran into the wall of his back. She tried to look around him but he was simply too tall. She couldn’t see a damned thing. Nudging him in the middle of his back and poking him in the ribs had no effect. Finally she stepped close, planted her foot in the back of his knee and pushed.

Alaan stumbled a few inches, just enough for Tameth to push her way around him and get through the doorway. Her katana cleared its sheath and whistled to a stop in midair. Her thoughts pushed against his and echoed his disbelief.

In unison, they silently gasped. “Oh God, this is not happening.”

Pale as a sheet, as if someone had drained every ounce of blood out of his body, her man stood and looked out towards what appeared to be contained chaos.

Two SUVs were parked on the gravel, engines still running. A score of people ran around the courtyard, all with some weapon or another drawn and at the ready. Randall was yelling into a hand-held radio.

Collins stepped up to Alaan, anxiety rolling off of him in waves.
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Today’s theme is actually ‘JOBS’ but rather than a specific occupation, this topic makes me think of Mabel King’s rendition of “Don’t Nobody Bring Me No Bad News” from The Wiz. The songs starts out, “When I wake up in the afternoon, as it pleases me to do, don’t nobody bring me no bad news!”

Now wouldn’t that be the dream job? Get up when you want and demand that all be well in the world–both your world and everybody else’s? Totally works for me! Well, our character, a talented geek and deadly bounty hunter, wishes she could demand that all be uber-cool in her world. For the most part, she gets exactly what she wants…just not today.

Enjoy the excerpt then visit all of the wonderful Snippet Saturday authors via the links at the bottom of the post. Happy Weekend!

Unedited Excerpt from
Niah’s Pryde: A Pryde Ranch Shifter story
by TJ Michaels
Copyright 2013 – All rights reserved
Coming May 2013

Blurb: Niah Pryde is no shrinking violet. Not only is she one of the best hunters for S.W.A.T.—the Shifter and Were Armed Tactics agency—but Niah can network a microwave tower to a satellite surveillance system with her eyes closed and one well-manicured hand tied behind her back. So…why would she rather hide in the network hub closet than face her mate?

Ryland Lee Lewis is as down-home as they come, from his country drawl to his love of Sweet Tea. It only took one assignment with Niah Pryde to know she was the one for him. He’s sure she feels it too but the woman is running faster than a bull out of the chute. What’s a guy to do when his mate won’t see reason? And what kind of sparks will fly if she dares give him a chance?

Rolling at top speed along one of the private graveled roads in Niah’s favorite Jeep, she and Broglio covered the five miles to Lou’s camp in short order. A one-man tent and agency-issued gear were bundled up and hidden in the brush in the exact spot he’d said they were.

Tossing the stuff into the backseat, Broglio huffed, “Honestly, Miss Niah, if that damn lion shifter…no offence…”

“None taken.”

“…breached our security, who else could manage to get this close to our family?”

Niah shook her head and kept her mouth shut. After all, Broglio was only saying what she was thinking. At first she’d been simply unbelieving that Lou had tracked her down, but now she was both pissed off and impressed at how he’d waltzed onto her family’s property and sat his naked ass—correction, perfect-for-bouncing-quarters-off naked ass—down on her front porch as if he did this every day.

Back at the house, she found her sisters preparing for dinner in Neesia’s pride and joy—an oversized professional, stainless steel-everything football stadium-sized kitchen.

She dropped Lou’s stuff on the floor near the ginormous gourmet block and rounded on her sisters.

“I’m responsible for network security, you guys. How the hell did he get in here? How did he do it?”

Lou chose that moment to poke his head through the entrance that led into the space from the hallway.
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Every story needs a hero that makes us wish we could escape to his world for a little while, whether it’s to lay on a beach and stare at his hotness or just gawk at how thoroughly he takes care of his woman. I personally love alpha males who appreciate how awesome their relationship is even when things aren’t going all that great. Well, to whet your whistle here’s a bit of a look into the heroes (yes, ladies, it’s a menage) who are giving our heroine a run for her money.

Enjoy this Snippet from Seeker’s Solace, Vampire Council of Ethics Book 4 coming from Samhain Publishing. Read ‘em and weep *evil grin*. Afterward visit the other Snippet Saturday authors via the links at the bottom of the post. Tally ho!

Unedited Excerpt from
Seeker’s Solace (a menage-a-trois)
Vampire Council of Ethics Book 4
by TJ Michaels
Copyright 2013 – All Rights ReservedShale, who sat at a small table eating some kind of pastry with strawberries and a creamy looking filling in it, looked up and said, “I brought some extra shots for sun and silver allergies and some blood suppressant, but it’s formulated specially for me. If there’s something we need in that arena, I can call ahead to the Clan Li medical facility and see if they can put some of the generic stuff aside for us.”

Slade was perfectly still but his mind tilted a hard left. Only Dr. Carin and those she designated could request special prescription fulfillment, and that was an exclusive list. And Shale was on it? He’d had no idea that Shale rolled like that. Interesting.

“No,” said Slade. “These boys are experienced enough to know the cost of half-assing.” Sometimes Seekers got complacent. It was a good way to end up severely burned or dead, so let them stew for a bit. Later he would ask Shale to cover their shortcomings in private. “You two hurry up and get out of here. I need to talk to the Ambassador.”

They grabbed a few more snacks, packed up quickly and left still squabbling like two old hens. Everything was normal with the exception of the current tilt-o-whirl going on in his head.

Never one to beat around the bush, Slade simply asked what he wanted to know. “So are you and Jovon together?”

Shale stopped mid-chew, raised a brow at Slade and put his fork down. “Are we what?” Wiping his mouth on a crisp linen napkin, he then set it back in his lap and waited.

But in spite of his appearance, Shale was far from quiet. No, his mind was a cacophony of noise, almost like the faint whoosh of wind during the building of a storm.

“Look, I’ll just be frank. I’m drawn to her. I have no idea why given I’ve just met her. I like her. But I’m no poacher. In the end any choice made is hers, but I felt I should speak to you as well.”

And there he was—Shale, live and in surround sound.

In. Slade’s. Fucking. Head.

Instinct said to throw his shields up. Block him. Now. Only one problem—Slade’s shields were already up.

“Interesting,” Shale whispered. The words were like silk against Slade’s skin. Weird. “I can feel you,” Shale said. “Almost taste you as clearly as the strawberries in this pastry.”
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Please enjoy the first chapters of Silk Road!
The Silk Road. In ancient times it was a well-established trade route that began in China. But to Larien, it is the veiled entrance to the underworld where no human belongs.
Jayla Protegenu is as typical as they come. She owns a chain of gyms in the San Francisco Bay Area, enjoys popcorn-and-movie night with her two best friends and writes for her local paper. But that’s where ‘typical’ ends. As a child she learned to summon her guardian angels to keep at bay the things that prowled the night. An ability she’s kept secret all her life…until a Fallen angel answers her call.

Larien is not seeking redemption. He’s looking for the artifact that only Jayla can call power from. The woman has no idea of the extent of her abilities and he’s not about to teach her. However he is man enough to admit that this human has touched him, soul deep. And now that she is his to protect, his to love, when she’s taken Larien will search to the ends of the Earth to find her, from San Francisco all the way to…the Silk Road.

For a Fallen that has nothing but time, it is suddenly against him. And now he has to be the good guy? Damn.

 

Happy March, everyone! This week’s theme is about the ladies who carry our stories. They’re funny, smart, beautiful, kick-ass, yet flawed like everyone else. Our heroines can handle their men yet still be a total goddess-bitch in the feminine department.

So here’s a bit of sass without being crass from one of my favorite heroines, Neesia and Niah Pryde, African lion shifters from Spirit of the Pryde (an Erotic Dreams Reader’s Choice award winning novella). Spirit of the Pryde is Neesia’s book. Niah’s book, Niah’s Pride is coming in May 2013. Can’t wait!

Enjoy and then find the other fabulous Snippet Saturday authors via the links at the bottom of the post!

 

Spirit of the Pryde
by TJ Michaels
All Rights ReservedDid you hear that? Neesia stopped in her tracks and glared toward the eerie sound. That’s a fucking Werewolf!

And it sounds pissed! Niah growled as they broke into a mad dash toward the snarled screams.

Hitting their bellies at exactly the same time, their golden brown coats were camouflaged by the grass and brush. Instinctive hunters, they moved into position for a coordinated ambush.

Neesia lifted her head, got her prey in sight and prepared to take this asshole down. One good look at his ugly maw explained plenty. Devon Lane. Hell! A bounty they’d hunted and nearly caught until a freak accident saw him take a tumble off a cliff in the Appalachian Mountains. They thought he’d died in the fall. But here he was, in the flesh. Son of a bitch.

Too much attention on Pryde ranch was detrimental to their very lives. And this idiot had done plenty to shine the spotlight on them. And nobody, nobody endangered her sisters!

Whoa! What the hell was Jason doing out here? The Were landed a staggering blow, and was now moving in for the kill.

Hold, Niah! It’s Jason! Neesia spoke urgently into her sister’s head.

I see him! Niah gasped. What the hell is he doing out here?

We’ll ask him after we save his ass. Let’s go.

The sisters attacked. Neesia’s muscles bunched powerfully as she sprang into the air, massive teeth and claws bared. Flying into the rogue Were, she threw all of her heavily muscled bodyweight into the blow. Hitting him square in the chest, she sank her teeth into his throat as Niah plowed into his legs, taking him down.

Biting, tearing through the thick, tough flesh of the raging beast. Blood loss and severe injuries soon had him facedown on the ground gasping as his lifeblood ran into the dirt.

Done playing around? Niah panted with a quirky grin only a lioness could deliver.

Definitely. Let’s finish this, Neesia growled. Together they moved in on the downed Were and relieved him of his head. He shifted back to his human form just as his heart stopped beating.

Snippet Saturday authors
Leah Braemel
Caris Roane
Eliza Gayle
McKenna Jeffries
Selena Blake
Taige Crenshaw
Delilah Devlin
Felicity Heaton
HelenKay Dimon
Shiloh Walker
Lissa Matthews
Myla Jackson
Lauren Dane

For this week’s Snippet, I’ve chosen a bit from the upcoming release, Seeker’s Solace, book four in the Vampire Council of Ethics series. It’s the first menage in the series, so please enjoy!

Ladies and gentlemen…meet Jovon Dawson-Li *evil grin*

Unedited Excerpt from
Seeker’s Solace
Vampire Council of Ethics Book 4
by TJ Michaels
The Council chamber was an opulent affair without being gaudy. A place where the Elders met when they were all in town.

And here she stood in the presence of the matriarch of Clan Serati. She felt like doing a funky little fan-girl dance but managed to keep her cool demeanor. Just barely. Besides, she looked like hell and would probably be shot if she got too close to the Elder smelling the way she did. Jovon was a dusty mess having hopped off a military transport plane in Great Falls after a twenty hour ride, then right onto another flight from there to Kalispell, Montana with no prep time before walking into this meeting.

The Elders up on the dais were no surprise. She knew their faces well enough, including her own Elder of Clan Li.

A slew of assistants and Liaisons lined the walls.

Seekers stood in front of the dais listening to the discussion on what this mission was about.

The Seekers stood at ease, their bodies deceptively relaxed. There was no mistaking the menace and determination that rolled off of them. They might be vampire good guys, but they were really really good at taking down bad guys. And the only way to take down a bad guy…was to fight dirty like one. And they were all capable of carrying out whatever deeds were necessary to get what they wanted.

What determined a bad guy depended on who made the rules at the time. The Elders made the rules for the V.C.O.E. On their side equaled good guy. Against them equaled bad guy.

The thought made her shiver.

Seekers protected the entire vampire nation from law breakers. They also kept all the Clans off the radar of humans and kept those same humans from becoming rogue vampire lunch.

Another quick survey of the room and her attention landed right back on the Seekers. Only the one speaking now…wasn’t one. This man had come in through the other entrance with the Liaisons along with Jovon.

And she’d blown him off royally.
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