Sounds a little weird, doesn’t it? A blog that’s cross, but nope, I’m not mad. The exact reverse, actually. To celebrate the release of LACED WITH DESIRE, our second anthology together, Jaci Burton, Jasmine Haynes, Joey W. Hill and I are running what’s essentially a blog tour. Starts Monday 1st February (USA time).

You get FOUR CHANCES TO WIN! One on each blog. (Click on the images for excerpts!)

Visit each of the blogs in turn to chat about a first and check out the giveaways from each author. Since the stories in the anthology are once again connected by a corset theme (the previous anthology was Unlaced), we decided to answer four “clothing related” questions.

We’ll let you know what’s -

1) our most sexy/naughty feeling outfit,

2) our most comfortable outfit,

3) our most appalling shopping weakness and

4) the outfit that gives us the most confidence.

We’ll each take a question and post the four answers to it on each of our blogs. If you visit our blogs and answer the question as well, or leave a comment, you’ll be eligible for the giveaway on the blog - and yes, we’ll each be having a giveaway, so comment at each one and you’ll have four chances to win! You can start with all the questions and links right and work your way around.I’ll put all the links for you under each story.

I’m giving away the two anthologies - Unlaced and Laced with Desire as a set. Woot!

Get ready to talk about clothes! What’s not to love?

You know how people quip that they’d forget their heads if they weren’t screwed on? I say that a lot. Because it’s true. I’ve always been a trifle absent-minded, but OMG - is it getting worse, or what?

Last year, My Beloved and I hid the spare car keys before we left for the USA and Canada. We can both recall the stepladder was involved, but can we remember where those damn keys are? Nope, of course not. We still haven’t found them.

A couple of days ago, I hid all my rings - that’s right, all of them, the ones I wear every day because I’m too scared to leave them at home for a burglar to find. But it’s been hot here, and very humid. Some days it’s too uncomfortable to wear rings, especially if I’m going for a healthful (hah!) walk or to the gym. So, this particular day, I decided to pop them somewhere out of sight. I remember thinking to myself that it wasn’t the most original hiding place, but at least I wasn’t making it too easy for a would-be thief.

The weekend went by. Come Monday, I reached for my rings and they weren’t in the usual place. WTF? Oh yes, I’d hidden them somewhere in the bedroom. No problem.

Do you think I could remember where?

And guess what? I was too scared to search, in case I couldn’t find them.  How sad and twisted is that?

Thankfully, when I came to do the laundry, there they were - shining up at me from the bottom of the dirty clothes hamper.  I still have absolutely no recollection of putting them there. None. I’m losing my marbles due to galloping senility, I swear.

Please tell me you’ve done something similar. I’m scared. *sigh*

Does reading romance improve your romantic life?  Does reading erotic romance improve your sex life? 

Interesting questions, hmm?  Even more interesting, I often receive mail from readers who tell me that their partners thank me too. Isn’t that lovely? Always makes me grin.

Ellora’s Cave’s is having an official 10th birthday and as part of the celebrations, they’re asking readers pick the winner from the two finalists in the video category of the How Has Ellora’s Cave Improved Your Sex Life contest. Check out the two very different but totally wonderful videos - HERE! They’re up for a month to give everyone plenty of time to vote. Tell all your friends to vote too!

You can talk about it here too, of course! (But not TMI, all right? I’m a delicate flower.) Did you have a stand-out favourite video? Why?

 It’s newsletter time, which means…

Rackety Kate and the Pirates

Chapter 26

Devious Plans

The knock came again. Kate glared at the door as if she could eviscerate the idiot on the other side. “For crying out loud, come in!” But all she could produce was a strained whisper, as if she’d been sobbing in her sleep. Which was ridiculous. Really.

Footsteps moved away, a voice murmuring something to the receptionist.

With a muttered oath, she sprang to her feet, knocked her hip on the corner of the desk and cursed even louder. Rubbing the sore spot, she wrenched the door open. At the far end of the corridor, the receptionist was reaching forward to take a pile of documents from a man with long blond hair, confined in a neat pony tail. He wore an elegantly tailored suit in a charcoal gray. Shazelle’s upturned face was a study in feminine appreciation.

Peter had had hair like that.

Ruthlessly, Kate slammed the lid down before the thought could take on a life of its own. She made a mental note to do a background check on the Rossetti woman. There had to be some dirt somewhere. Everyone had a dirty little secret.

“No problem,” Shazelle was saying, heavily mascaraed eyelashes fluttering like centipedes on speed. “I’ll see she gets them.”

The man murmured something in response that made the girl flush with pleasure. Straightening, he turned toward the foyer and the elevators, his lean body moving with compact grace. Fine, very fine, thought Kate, enjoying the scenery. Of course, Armani did tend to have that effect. The elevator swished open, the man entered, pressed the button and about-faced.

Holy shit.

Designer spectacles that magnified glorious sea-blue eyes, a straight nose, sexy mouth.

“Peter.” She thought she’d shouted, but the word got strangled in her throat.

He gave her a quick appreciative glance up and down, all male. But after a second, his grin stalled, a crease appearing between his brows. The doors of the elevator slid closed on his puzzled face.

“No, no!” She pounded at the `up’ button, almost sobbing with frustration. “Come back, come back!”

***

Want more? You can read all of Kate and see more pirates on the Rackety Kate page. Want even more than that? Join my newsletter - see below.