STRONGMAN is in print!!! Hallelujah!!! Can you believe it? I cannot tell you how delighted I am. Perhaps you can guess, hmm? *chuckle*

To celebrate, I’m giving away a signed copy. Yep, anyone who subscribes to my newsletter before midnight Sunday 25th April goes in the draw to win. Existing subscribers already have an easy contest to try, so if you subscribe quick, you’ll have two chances.

   Sign up!      Sign up!       Sign up!

Just so you know, I started the year with a completely revamped monthly newsletter. The format is all new and nifty, no more clunky old Yahoo!

Every month in your inbox - giveaways, exclusive sneak peeks at new work, contests and prizes. Not to mention the occasional vignette with characters you know, and hopefully, love.

And because I love you, there are free gifts on joining, among them the complete Epilogue to Strongman - only available to newsletter subscribers.

Read an Excerpt | Read the Reviews
Read the free Epilogue

Ebook: Ellora’s Cave
Print: Ellora’s Cave | Australian Bookstores

Here’s a taste to celebrate. I still think this is one of the best kisses I’ve ever written. I know I enjoyed it anyway.

About the Book:

A hard-bitten mercenary who’s had a gutful of mud and blood and death, Fortitude McLaren joins the Ten Nations Fair as a roustabout.
Tough, cold and competent, he’s shocked and angered by his hunger for Griff, a circus acrobat. Brought up in the bigoted society of the Straight Church, Fort regards manlove with casual contempt. Not for him. Never for him.
Athletic, cocky and single-minded about he wants, Griff sets about getting it. Fort fights with everything in him, but Griff affects him like no one else. It’s not just his strong, supple body. Fort is irresistibly drawn by the openhearted friendship the other man offers so freely.
Fort may have found a friend, but the cruel memories of his childhood are the greatest enemy of all. When a job for Jan the Aetherii puts Griff in danger, Fort discovers what’s really at risk - everything he is and everything he’s ever believed in. To save Griff’s life and preserve his own sanity, Fort must not only fight the battle in his soul, he must win it.

Excerpt:

Griff wiped his mouth with the damp cloth Fort handed him, careful not to get grease on his costume. Sourly, Fort reflected it had obviously been designed to showcase and flaunt the body, with a standing collar to frame the tumbler’s lively face, the smooth, strong muscles of his shoulders and arms exposed by the singlet-style top. Golden-brown hair curled rakishly over his brow, tumbled over the collar. It needed cutting. A light mat of hair furred his chest, golden down dusted his forearms, glinting in the lamplight.

The tights were so positively, gloriously indecent, Fort had to keep dragging his gaze back to Griff’s knowing eyes. He could swear the other man was laughing at him, completely unabashed by the outline of a more-than-adequate cock stretching the knit fabric, clamped against his flat belly by the material.

“So the deep-fish pie was all right?” inquired Griff politely. “I wasn’t sure, but Ember loves me, so I begged for noodle cakes as well.”

Fort frowned from where he sat on the edge of the bed, the shaving lather drying on his face. He’d bolted the food, made them a cup of hot roberry, keen to finish the job and get rid of Griff’s confusing presence. He tightened his grip on the razor. “She loves you?”

“Sure.” Griff grinned. “All women love me. It’s part of my peculiar charm.” He blew on his roberry.

“Peculiar is right,” grunted Fort, grimacing as he scraped. “Who’s Ember?”

“The glass-blower. Makes all sorts of baubles. And she can cook.” Griff sighed and ran a hand through his hair. Immediately, it tumbled back over his forehead. “She’s a lovely woman, but so sad. And she won’t tell me why.”

“Some people actually have dignity, reserve.” Fort pulled the skin of his cheek taut. “You wouldn’t understand that.” The razor whispered over it, leaving a chill in its wake.

“Mmm. But everyone needs someone to love.” Griff drained his cup.

Fort laid down the razor. “To fuck, you mean.”

“That too.” Griff examined his features so boldly, a wave of heat rolled through Fort’s belly, washing over his aching cock, his balls lifting in automatic response. The tumbler said, “You missed a bit.”

“No I didn’t.”

“Here, hold these. I’ll get it.” Griff thrust the shaving brush into Fort’s left hand and the soap dish into his right. “Lean back a bit.”

“Griff — oompf!” The tumbler clambered onto the bed and knelt across him, Fort’s thighs between his knees. He pushed Fort’s chest with the heel of his hand, and to his own bemusement, Fort felt his shoulders hit the wall behind him.

The chill of the razor iced across his neck. “Lift your chin and don’t move.”

His stomach knotting with apprehension and arousal, Fort did as he was bid. Controlling his problem absorbed his entire attention. So did the heat of the tumbler’s body, his clean scent, of soap and flesh and muscle. Nothing like a woman’s soft feminine smell.

A woman. Desperate for balance, for normalcy, he lassoed a random thought. “Can Katahaya really wrap her ankles around her ears?”

“Don’t know.” Humming under his breath, Griff drew the razor over Fort’s chin, one strong hand cradling his jaw, holding him still. “But she sure wrapped them around mine. Don’t move, I said!”

“You’ve had her? But I thought—”

“I only fuck men?”

This time, the flush felt like a fever. Fort knew he reddened, clear to see without the protection of the whiskers. He made an indeterminate noise in his throat.

“Then you’d be wrong,” said Griff calmly, but a drop of sweat coursed slowly down the side of his neck. “Usually, I prefer women. I’m making an exception for you.” Carefully, he ran the razor under Fort’s chin.

Fort could scarcely believe his ears. Or his reaction. The surge of his blood was so violent, it made him light-headed, stupid. When the other man drew back, running a considering thumb over freshly shaved skin, he said, “Gods, Griff, you’ve got balls.”

As soon as the words were out, he could have taken the razor and sliced his tongue off at the root. “I mean…ah, hell. Get off!” He heaved with his hips, but all that accomplished was to press his hungry cock against the tumbler’s hip.

Griff froze, exhaling in a gusty rush. “Not yet,” he said absently. He plucked the towel from around Fort’s neck and wiped away the last of the foam, taking his time, grinning when Fort swore at him. “There.”

He leaned back a little, his right hand braced on Fort’s shoulder, still holding the razor. “You look…” A slow flush crept over his golden cheek and his sloe eyes narrowed. “Uh, lots better. That’s how you look. Your eyes have gone all dark and smoky.” His hands clenched, closing over muscle and bone. “Fuck, I can’t do this slow anymore.” He sucked in a deep breath. “Remember the razor.”

Griff’s lips came down on his, surprisingly soft and hot. Gods, so hot!

The shock stiffened every muscle in Fort’s body. Especially one. In panic, he tried to jerk his head away, but Griff murmured, “Nu-uh,” into his mouth and something cold pressed under his ear. Shit, the razor! He froze and Griff chuckled.

When he opened his mouth to curse, Griff slipped his tongue inside, humming with delight. Hot chills raced up and down Fort’s spine and then Griff curled his tongue around his and the world went away, lost in some sort of soft red explosion of lust. His fingers relaxed and the soap dish bounced to the floor. The shaving brush followed with a wet splat. Dimly, he heard a clatter as Griff tossed the razor aside, but he was completely preoccupied with the amazing sensations careering through his body. He’d never been kissed like this before, with such strength and ruthless expertise. Griff seemed to read his mind, knowing exactly when to push and when to pull, when to lick, when to suck.

Strong fingers speared into his hair, gripping the back of Fort’s skull, tilting his head for better access. Griff pressed hard into his body, chest to chest, his cock mashed into Fort’s stomach. He shifted his hips, enough that his stiff length rubbed all along Fort’s. The coarse fabric of Fort’s working trews rasped over the sensitive head of his cock, Griff’s shaft throbbing against his, right through two layers of clothing. The other man did it again.

Ruler God!

White-hot instinct obliterated conscious thought. Rearing up, Fort wrapped one arm around Griff’s waist, the other around his shoulders. He took them down to the mattress, rolling so the other man was pinned beneath him, taking advantage of his weight and size. Bracketing Griff’s head between his forearms, he nipped at his lips, ran his tongue over the tumbler’s crooked tooth, growling deep in his throat.

Griff growled back and one hand clamped on Fort’s buttock, the fingers digging in hard.

The sound of it, so deep, so masculine, hit Fort like a shower of cold water. Fuck, fuck! What the hell was he doing?

He wrenched himself away. Panting, they stared at each other.

Fort’s head felt curiously empty, wiped clean of coherent thought. Finally, he said, “You’re shaking.” He’d get up in a minute, of course he would, but Griff had spread his thighs to accommodate his hips and he wasn’t particularly uncomfortable. Not physically, anyway.

“That’s because you’re going to kill me. But I’ll die reasonably happy.”

Strangely, Fort had to fight the desire to laugh, though the fact there was no air left in the wagon made it easier. “Only reasonably?”

“One lousy kiss isn’t worth dying for.”

Fort blinked, stung. “It wasn’t lousy!”

“We can do better.” Griff smiled like a hungry fellwolf and ran his hand into the open neck of Fort’s shirt, the pads of his fingers brushing a nipple. Fort could have sworn the tingle coursed all the way from his chest down to his toes, with a significant detour to the groin area. Under him, Griff murmured, “Care to try again?” sworn the tingle coursed all the way from his chest down to his toes, with a significant detour to the groin area. Under him, Griff murmured, “Care to try again?”

Read the first chapter | Read the Reviews
Read the free Epilogue

Ebook: Ellora’s Cave
Print: Ellora’s Cave | Australian Bookstores

The winner of the matched set - Unlaced AND Laced with Desire - is - 

Beth C. !!! 

Come on down, Beth! Actually, email me at deniserossetti @ gmail.com (no spaces) with your snail mail to claim your prize. I’ll hold it for seven days and then redraw.

I had the best time, talking with you all. *smile* What I thought was fascinating is how important beautiful lingerie is to a woman’s confidence. So many of you mentioned it. I have visions of women all over the world, striding into job interviews with their power undies on under their ‘business’ outfits and blowing the interviewers away. Doncha love it? Heh heh

While I have your attention, I should point out that I have giveaways and contests every month on my newsletter. In fact - you guessed it - I’m giving away another matched set of anthologies, but you have to be a subscriber… Here’s all the information~

Welcome to the Laced with Desire cross-blog. 

This is our second ‘corset’ anthology together and we had such a blast with the Unlaced cross-blog, we decided to do it again.

This time, Jaci Burton, Jasmine Haynes, Joey W. Hill and I are talking about clothes - what they do (and don’t do!) for us. Yes, fashion disasters, unwise addictions, sex-kitten outfits - all is revealed. There are even a couple of pictures. Woot! (Possibly.)

Four authors, four blogs - four chances for free books. And it’s easy, just leave a comment. (Photographic evidence not required. heh heh) What’s not to love? Winners announced 9am EST (USA) Wednesday 3rd February.

Visit each of the blogs in turn to check out the giveaways from each author.I’m giving away a set - Unlaced AND Laced with Desire. If you happen to own them both already, I’m sure we can find something else.

I’ve put an easy link for you under each of our responses to the questions about clothes.

Here are the four questions  - 

1. What’s your most appalling shopping weakness, especially when it comes to clothes? Go to Jaci Burton’s blog. Giveaway - an advance review copy of her March release, Bound, Branded and Brazen.

2. What’s your most comfortable outfit and what do you enjoy doing most to relax? Go

to Jasmine Haynes’ blog. Giveaway - autographed copy of Yours for the Night.

 3. What’s your most sexy/naughty-feeling outfit? Go to Joey W. Hill’s blog. Giveaway - a signed copy of Laced with Desire.

4. What’s the outfit that gives you the most confidence? Read on! Giveaway - the set, Unlaced AND Laced with Desire.

Jaci Burton:

I have this sleeveless black dress that I adore. I can dress it up or down, wear a shirt under it if it’s cold outside or put a sweater over it. It’s multifunctional, looks great on me, I can wear heels or boots or flats with it, punk it up or class it up and it still looks great. Everyone should have a basic black dress they can do so many things with. It’ll make you feel great about yourself.

Visit Jaci’s blog for the shopping disasters and Jaci’s giveaway!

Excerpt from Jaci’s story, No Strings Attached.

Jasmine Haynes:

For confidence, I like a suit, feminine lines with a short tailored, form-fitting jacket and a skirt, either calf-length or well above the knee, never knee-length.  Under the suit, of course, very feminine lacy bra and barely there thong panties.  Thigh high stockings top it off.  Professional, feminine, and naughty all rolled into one.

Visit Jasmine’s blog for comfy clothes and Jasmine’s giveaway!

Excerpt from Jasmine’s story, La Petit Mort.

 Joey W. Hill:

That would be this dress. I wore it at the 2009 Romantic Times for the Jungle Party. Typical of an OCD personality type with body image issues, I don’t often feel gorgeous in anything, but I loved this dress. It had sexy lines, and flowed when I walked like I was a romance heroine come out of her chrysalis. It flattered hip line, maximized my minimal cleavage (grin), and had a whimsical flirtiness to it I adored. I found some great Wal-mart White Stag jewelry to go with it for almost nothing, and my mom, who went with me to RT, took this lovely near sunset picture. She was probably trying to commemorate the one time her daughter didn’t look like a bag lady!Of course, on the flip side, sometimes when I’m wearing my most comfortable outfit (see the question on Jasmine’s blog), that’s also when I feel most confident. That’s because it’s the outfit that says “this is the real me”, and there’s always a reassurance to that…as long as I don’t end up in the wrong environment for it. I remember one conference, I brought too many “comfortable clothes”, and when I went to one of the more formal events, I felt far from confident! So matching the setting to the outfit helps. However, when I’m at home and around town, I always feel quite confident in my comfy clothes. Though I think the sexy zebra dress would work anywhere (I plan to wear it to Wal-mart one day for fun – laughter).

Visit Joey’s blog for naughty/sexy outfits and Joey’s giveaway!

Excerpt from Joey’s story, Honor Bound.

Denise Rossetti:

I don’t mind admitting it - clothes are really important to my self-confidence. Feeling over or under dressed, badly groomed or untidy disconcerts me dreadfully. I suspect it’s shallow, but there you go.If I think my day at the Evil Day Job is going to be challenging, I’ll make a point of dressing from the skin out to bolster my confidence.

Matching undies first. Beyond that, I absolutely have to feel ‘put together’. I’m not a frilly or froufrou dresser, I like well-cut classics and a close fit. So it might be belted tailored trousers and shirt, with a jacket and discreet jewelry. I combine rich bright colours with neutrals because they give my skin a lift. Anything beige, dusty or muted and I could get work as an extra on Night of the Living Dead. LOL

I always wear my charm bracelet – I have a charm for every book I’ve written – because it reminds me of who I am and what I can do if I put my mind to it. (If you were wondering why the two silver inkpot/quill charms, they’re my Passionate Plume Awards.)

Excerpt from my story, Rhio’s Dancer.

Tell us about the outfit that makes you feel a million dollars. What’s so special about it?

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?

Don’t know what a twofer is? No, not a toothache! It’s a cricketing term, though more usually cricketers talk about a “five-fer” - that is, a bowler taking five wickets in an innings.

Well, my dears, I’ve got me a TWOFER - and I’m so pleased and proud I could just burst!

You may remember STRONGMAN was a finalist in the Passionate Plume Awards for erotic romance (Futuristic/Fantasy/SciFI category). Well, it WON!!!!

Yip-yip-yipee!!

That is wonderful enough, but the most exquisite icing on the cake is that this makes TWO YEARS IN A ROW. (Sorry about the shouting, BTW. I’m a trifle - ahem - excited. *grin*) TAILSPIN won the same category last year.

Is that not cool?

 I’ll have a pair of these cute charms to put on my bracelet. 

I am writer, hear me jangle. *smile*

I’ve had a quick look at the list of Passionate Plume winners and I don’t think anyone else has got a twofer before. But then, I was very excited at the time, so I could have missed it. (Passionate Ink is a Special Interest Chapter of Romance Writers of America for erotic romance writers.)

The other reason I’m so pleased is that STRONGMAN is a male/male erotic romance and this is an “open” category. The judges must have considered not only the fantasy aspects, but the love story strong enough to win.

Don’t forget, members of my monthly newsgroup can read the free epilogue to STRONGMAN (try a taste here). You can join the newsletter here.

And I’ll be offering a free download of STRONGMAN in my next newsletter (in the next few days) to celebrate. Be there or be square. *grin*

I’ve been playing online Boggle for some months now - and guess what? I’m lousy at it. Downright terrible, useless. I keep trying, but I’ve only improved marginally. I think I’m addicted. *sigh*

If you’ve never played, the idea is to find words among the letters - forwards, backwards, diagonally, up and down - it doesn’t matter as long as you can form a word.

Here’s the site, it’s called Wordtwist. I play the 5 X 5 board. You get three minutes to type in words that must have at least four letters.

I think I’m insulted. I’m supposed to be good at words, right? HAH! I’m not. I can hardly get out of the “very low” range. The couple of times I hit “average” I went on a chocolate binge to celebrate. Part of the problem is that I’m a fumble-fingered non-typist and you only get three minutes. But I still can’t believe the high scores. *grumble* On bad days, I wonder if such super-bogglers even exist.

I tell myself it’s more to do with patterns and spatial ability - not my strong point - than vocabulary. But…oh dear!

You have a try. It’s absolutely free. You can even get an account. Here’s the link to the Wordtwist site and here’s the link to the 5 X 5 board I play. Let me know how you get on, okay? WARNING: This is the biggest time-waster known to woman. Guess what I’m doing instead of my revisions?   *rolls eyes*

Strongman is a finalist in the Passionate Plume Awards for erotic romance!  Isn’t that terrific? *beaming*

Some of you may recall that Tailspin actually won the the Futuristic/Fantasy/SciFI category last year. And I was there in San Francisco to accept the award. I was one happy Aussie camper, let me tell you. Click here for the post I wrote about it. Warning: hysterical babbling and silly pics ahead. *snork*

Obviously, I’m delighted, over the moon. Yes, it means I have a chance to win the award two years in a row. Wouldn’t that be fantastic? But lordy, I’d have to be lucky. The competition is terrific. I’d love it though - and one reason is that it’s the most wonderful validation. (It certainly doesn’t seem to make any difference to my sales! *wry grin*)

“But didn’t you get all validated and everything when Tailspin won?” I hear you ask. Yep, I sure did, but this is an open contest - and Strongman, as you well know, is a male/male romance. I am soooo thrilled that the judges considered the love story and the fantasy elements good enough to final against all the other erotic romances. My opinion has always been that true love is true love, regardless of what skin suit you’re wearing. Guess the judges agree!

The other reason is more materialistic. The award itself.

It’s the most gorgeous silver pendant/charm. I  have mine on my charm bracelet - the one I wear every single day, even at work. There’s a charm on it to represent every book I’ve completed. It reminds me of where my soul finds refreshment and satisfaction.

Oh me, oh my, I’d positively lurve to have two of them! Sadly I won’t be at the RWA Conference in Washington in July to attend the award luncheon, but never mind, I have plenty of mates going.

If you’re interested in the original reaction to Strongman, there are lots of readers’ comments attached to this post. And if you’d like to read the free epilogue (in which Griff finally turns the tables on Fort), all the details of how to do it by joining my newsgroup, plus the most magnificently sensual drawing of male nudes wrestling, is in this post.

Ah, wot the hell. Here it is anyway. *sigh*

Happy dancing at Rossetti Towers…

UNLACED won a CAPA Award from the Romance Studio! For Erotic Anthology of the Year. Isn’t that great? *beams* It totally made my day. Just goes to show what happens when you team up with a group of fabulous authors like the J-girls.

And we get this pretty logo graphic thingie to show off.  I suspect that’s Psyche and Eros getting it on there. Very appropriate, I must say!

Of course, Jaci Burton and Joey W. Hill also won awards for Dare to Love and  A Mermaid’s Kiss, respectively. Mega-congrats to them.

If you click on the CAPA Award graphic, it will take you to the Romance Studio, where you can find yet more treasures to add to your TBA mountain, uh, pile. Heh heh. Ooh, I’m an evil wench. *cackle*

Win a signed copy of THE FLAME AND THE SHADOW! 

THE QUESTION:

One review referred to “the clever names of the main characters” in THE FLAME AND THE SHADOW. I thought they were pretty clever too, but then you know how I love to play with words!

Tell me what word or words EITHER of the names is derived from or related to and why it’s clever. (You can lie to satisfy my vanity, okay? *grin*)

Remember, you only need to work out the derivation of ONE of the names, not both.

TWO HINTS:

1. Cenda is a FIRE witch.

2. Grayson (Gray), Duke of Ombra is a sorcerer of SHADOWS.

WHAT TO DO:

Email me your answer. deniserossetti @ gmail.com (no spaces, of course!)

CLOSES:

Midnight, Sunday 15th February, 2009

Order from Amazon or Barnes and Noble

Read an Excerpt

The winner of a signed copy of A RED HOT NEW YEAR is ~~~

Cheryl McInnis!!

Congratulations, Cheryl! Email me (deniserossetti at gmail.com) with your snail mail address. I’ll hold the prize for seven days and then redraw.

Thanks everyone for sharing your ‘first times” in honour of our first UNLACED anthology together. I loved all your stories! Some made me laugh, others made me cry, but I spent a lot of time marvelling at how different life can be - and how wonderfully strong and sensible women are.