Free Reads Week!

It's FREE READS WEEK!!! (<-----click download="" for="" free="" p="" page="" reads="" right="" the="" there="">
This is your opportunity to get THREE new short stories EVERY DAY from Inkspell Publishing.

My short, Burnt Embers, will be out this Friday, May 24th.

Visit with Cressie and Beckett and see what they've been up to out there in the wilderness. It's a spicy little read that will hold you over until Melted Tears comes out in August.

It's even listed on Goodreads; you can add it to you TBR list so you don't forget!

Here's the entire release schedule. Happy reading!

Mar 20, 2012:

Cordially Invited by Sasha Summers 

After Faerie by Stephanie Keyes 

The Diva Who Loved Too Much by Shirley Kennedy

Mar 21, 2012: 

Fates Voyage by Rebecca Hart  

A Taste of Forbidden by Kristy Centeno 

First Shift by Kacey Vanderkarr

Mar 22, 2012: 

Dirty Laundry by Stephanie Lawton 

Cycle 13: Approaching Skye by Jill Kaelin 

How Many Ways by Cecilia Robert

Mar 23, 2012: 

Breech by Aubrie Dionne 

You are Invited by Sasha Summers 

Beyond the Mirror by Majanka Verstraete

Mar 24, 2012: 

Burnt Embers by Annabelle Blume 

Two Years at a Time by Naya Nikki 

The First Time by T. Michelle Nelson

Review: Need by Stephanie Lawton

Isaac Laroche is cursed. All he wants to do is hide out and feel sorry for himself. Never mind that he got caught sleeping with his seventeen-year-old piano student, or that he abandoned her when the truth was exposed.

Isaac’s feisty high school sweetheart has different plans. Heather Swann has returned to their hometown of Mobile, Alabama, to regroup after breaking up with her troll of a fiancé. She’s restless and looking for a diversion, but she bites off more than she can chew when she sets her sights on rehabilitating Isaac with her unorthodox sexual, mental, and physical plans.

The two quickly reconnect, but their happiness is threatened by family secrets, old vendettas and the death of a beloved father-figure.

Can Heather handle Isaac’s baggage, or will her own come back to haunt them both?

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Let me begin by saying that I kinda thought Isaac could just go ahead and DIAF when Want, the NA companion to Need, ended.  Yet, when I finished Need, I was a fan through and through. 

"But Annabelle, you hate asshole guys masquerading as heroes," you say. I know, I really do, but the author didn't cop out and didn't ask the reader to forgive Isaac for his sins based on hotness alone. Lawton masterfully transforms Isaac Laroche from a childish, self-serving coward into a man who takes responsibility for his actions and stands on his own two feet. With the help of Heather and some of her rather, ahem, unconventional methods, Isaac realizes what he thought he wanted wasn't at all what he needed. 

Lawton handles this character growth with such a deft hand that you don't even realize it's happening until you reach a point where you say, "Damn, this guy has finally figured his shit out." That, my friends, is something rarely seen genre fiction today – especially romance. Even more, this story has a true happy ending, not just throwing the characters together against all odds for the sake of the perfunctory HEA. For me, the emotionally healthy ending is the only true HEA, and Lawton does not disappoint.

I think I actually jumped around my room in joy during certain parts of Need. I find so very few authors who craft with real story arc and character growth. Plus, she uses five-alarm-fire sex scenes to achieve this in realistic and emotionally beneficial ways for her characters. 

Some entry–level BDSM fun, the uncovering of even more social politics and secret lives than you would imagine, and lots of emotional upheaval make for a fantastic debut in the world of erotic romance. 

Grab a copy at any of these retailers

• Inkspell Publishing (paperback and digital)
• Barnes and Noble (paperback and Nook)
• Amazon (paperback and Kindle)
• All Romance eBooks (digital)
• The Book Depository (paperback)
• Kobo (digital)

The Watcher by Lisa Voisin - Review and Giveaway

Millennia ago, he fell from heaven for her. 

Can he face her without falling again?

Fascinated with ancient civilizations, seventeen-year-old Mia Crawford dreams of becoming an archaeologist. She also dreams of wings—soft and silent like snow—and somebody trying to steal them.

When a horrible creature appears out of thin air and attacks her, she knows Michael Fontaine is involved, though he claims to know nothing about it. Secretive and aloof, Michael evokes feelings in Mia that she doesn’t understand. Images of another time and place haunt her. She recognizes them—but not from any textbook.

In search of the truth, Mia discovers a past life of forbidden love, jealousy and revenge that tore an angel from Heaven and sent her to an early grave. Now that her soul has returned, does she have a chance at loving that angel again? Or will an age-old nemesis destroy them both?

Ancient history is only the beginning.

Find it: Goodreads | Amazon |Amazon.CA |B&N | Indie Bound | Inkspell | Kobo | Chapters / Indigo

I know I'm late to the party (let's be honest, that's nothing new) but I LOVE the angel themes that have taken ahold of the young adult genre. If you love them too, The Watcher is one you won't want to miss! A perfect balance of paranormal occurences and public high school dramatics, The Watcher is a story I think every young adult book lover will devour with abandon.

As a fan of previous YA phenoms like Twilight and The Hunger Games, I can confidently say this book will be a delight to anyone who enjoyed those series. Actually, I have high hopes that this will be the first in another great YA series.

Mia is relatable and beautifully "teenaged", not at all pretentious yet still mature. Michael has all of the aloof appeal of the hot guy in high school with a wisdom beyond his years. Mia's friends are also extremely well written and make up a great supporting cast.

The most intriguing part of reading The Watcher was Voisin's ability to make me fall for the "Bad Boy". Damiel captivated me in the same way he does many of the girls at their high school. If you want to know why, then read it for yourself. I'll just say Voisin has a special talent when it comes to bringing bad boys to life.

My only warning is that the later half of the book deals with slightly adult themes, so I don't recommend this book for the younger YA reader (maybe not under 14).

************************GIVEAWAY********************************

Lisa Voisin and Inkspell Publishing are giving away print (US/Canada/UK) and ebook (INT) copies of The Watcher  as well as this lovely angel wing necklace.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


A Canadian-born author, Lisa Voisin spent her childhood daydreaming and making up stories, but it was her love of reading and writing in her teens that drew her to Young Adult fiction. 

A self-proclaimed coffee lover, Lisa can usually be found writing in a local café. When she's not writing, you'll find her meditating or hiking in the mountains to counteract the side effects of drinking too much caffeine!

Though she’s lived in several cities across Canada, she currently lives in Vancouver, B.C. with her fiancé and their two cats. 

Find her: Twitter | Facebook | Website | Blog

The Beauty is in the Details

I have one of those fancy DSLR cameras but I'm no photographer. Ask me to take a wide angle shot of  my kid's birthday party and it won't look any different than if I'd used a Polaroid camera (if you aren't old enough to remember Polaroid pictures then get off my blog...and my lawn).

Granted I know very little about how the damn thing works, or any photography basics, for that matter. And since I bought it second hand I only have the Spanish version of the owners manual. I don't speak Spanish. Additionally, I'm far too lazy to look up the manual online, so I fumble around to the best of my abilities, which are sorely lacking and will never produce an amazing picture of my 4 year old blowing out her birthday candles.

What I am reasonably decent at is zoomed in photographs of the small details. Why, you ask, can I capture the tiniest mushrooms growing under a fallen log in the Olympic National Forest and make you feel like they were the most incredible part of the forest (they weren't)? Because I see how to frame the mushrooms in the picture, how to highlight their color, and how to give them presence.

Because I'm a writer. Details are what I DO. 

I could tell a story like this: A woman had lunch on the patio of a restaurant and a good looking man walked by. 

Or like this:  The faint scent of cologne trailed behind him as he passed her table. Winding silken strands of hair around her fingers, she commited the masculine build of his shoulders to her memory. Cool wind caressed Violet's cheek as she continued to watch him, allowing the rest of her lunch to remain untouched. Hot pink embarrassment blossomed across her face as the waiter cleared his throat from the other side of the table. 

Which story would you rather read? That's what I thought. 

The beauty of any story is in the details, my friends. There is no story to tell without them. When reading a book, you're going to lose interest pretty quickly if you can't imagine where the characters are, what they look like, or how they feel. 

But remember, there is a FINE LINE between beautiful description and Purple Prose. If you find yourself going into long-winded soliloquies about the color of the grass, you're in need of a dose of humility. Don't be so in love with seeing your own words on paper that you write just to hear yourself sound eloquent (which, in my opinion, is the crux of the Purple Prose phenomenon). 

Make it beautiful, make it simple, and make it vibrant. Your writing will improve seven fold when you find that balance. 

Sex Toys and Erotic Romance: A match made in heaven

Hi friends, today I've got a guest post for you from Adam & Eve that says everything  I think and more about the pairing of erotic romance and sex toys.  Since my alter ego isn't covering these topics anymore, we're going to have a great time with them here instead. Read and enjoy, I bet you'll find some fun tips! 


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Reading erotic novels is a great way to relax and pass the time, but did you know they also help put you in touch with your sexuality, open you up to new role playing ideas, fetishes, dirty talk and even new toys? It's true! Erotic novels can change your sex life entirely if you use them to their full potential.  While erotic novels can do a lot, I want to focus on how romance novels can open you up to different sex toys.

You can frequently find some of your favorite characters using certain toys with their sexy counterparts, whether it be sex props like rope and blindfolds or even vibrators or anal toys.  Are you currently incorporating sex toys into your bedroom play? No? You definitely should. Using sex toys with yourself or with your partner is a really great way to change things up in the bedroom and a great way to get to know yourself better.  Use a little inspiration from your book and surprise your partner this weekend. Don't know what to get? Don't worry I've got you covered whether you want to use them with your partner or even with yourself.

If you're experimenting with partner, consider getting a few of these toys:

Cock Ring:
A cock ring is a little addition that can make a big difference. A cock ring is worn around shaft and when turned on, can vibrator both you and your partner to orgasm. They are typically made of stretchy silicone and have a vibrating bullet that sits on the top side of the penis. Cock rings are also great for making erections harder and can help the wearer last longer. A cock ring is a great way to introduce sex toys without involving a major toy.

Bondage Kit:
Does your favorite erotic romance involve a little BDSM? If so, recreate some of the scenes with your very own bondage kit. You can pick up separate pieces like a blindfold, hand cuffs, under the bed restraints and a whip or you can buy a prepackaged bondage kit that will most likely contain all of these items along with a few other items. You can find some great beginner's kits and full on extensive kits at Adam and Eve. Find one that matches your needs.

Sex Furniture:
Sex furniture is a piece of furniture designed specifically to have sex on. It have certain curves or edges that help bend you or your partner's body in different postions that wouldn't usually be comfortable on a bed.  These positions are generally designed to allow the woman to achieve direct g-spot stimulation.  A piece of sex furniture can inspire you to be a little more creative and push you to try new things.

Need a toy for a little selfish loving? Check out a few of these tempting toys-- all of which are great for solo and partner play.

Vibrator:
A vibrator is the easiest go to toy, which is probably why it's the best selling sex toy on the market today. Vibrators can come with or without a clitoral stimulator, but I personally recommend getting a vibrator with one that way you have options. Thanks to Sex and the City, the Rabbit vibrator has been the most popular model for the past 14 years.

G Spot Vibrator:
Very similar to the vibrator, a g spot vibrator will help you achieve those ever elusive g spot orgasms. Designed specifically target your g spot, the g spot vibrator is the toy for a woman who knows what she wants. You can also find these with or without clitoral stimulator and just like above, I recommend you get one that has one. These are also a great toy to get if you have never achieved a g spot orgasm or want to learn how to squirt.

Glass Dildo:
A giass dildo is a great option for anyone who likes pleasure and beauty.  Glass dildos are a great choice among the dildo toy family because they are not only beautifully hand blown, but also non-porous, meaning they hold lube well. Glass is also sensitive to temperature, so you can heat up or cool down a toy depending on what you're into.  

Already got your own box of fun? What toy do you whip out when you're getting into a good book?

On how our attempts to be "sex positive" have perpetuated rape culture

**WARNING: COULD BE A TRIGGER AND LOTS OF SWEARING**


I write about sex in various ways and in various areanas. Sometimes gratuitously and sometimes all fluffy and romantic-like. I'm "sex positive". I don't think we should be secretive about it and I don't think we should be ostriches about it. Sex is healthy, sex is wonderful, and sex is fun.

Yet, somehow, this whole sexual revolution and goal of taking the taboo out of sex has only made women MORE vulnerable. We swung too far in the other direction. Women got the message that it was not their job not to be prim and proper anymore but to be a walking sexual fantasy and men somehow missed the memo that acknowledging women-as-sexual-beings does NOT mean that's ALL we are. 

WE CAN'T WIN.

How is it that men feel burdened by the fact that they could be accused of rape? Cry me a fucking river.  Try living your every day in a culture that tells you if you're raped it's because YOU didn't protect yourself.

Women live on edge constantly. Is it safe to be in the stairwell at work with the guy from accounting? It's your third date with this new guy; will he be expecting sex and if so, how far will he go to meet that expectation? Can you even allow him to pick you up and drive you home or should you take your own car? Does your guy friend from physics class really want to walk you home after lab to make sure your safe or is he the one that's dangerous? Don't go places alone. Don't wear short skirts. Don't flirt too much. Don't. Don't. Don't.

We grow up being taught all of the ways to not get raped. And with this education comes the underlying message that it's the victims fault. So deeply ingrained is that message that you have women blaming other women for the very violence they fear.

It's her fault. She deserved it. She was asking for it. She should have fought harder. She should have known better.

And BY THE WAY, how is a passed out unconscious woman sexually arousing? What are we teaching our boys that makes them react in arousal? How are they not repulsed by the very idea of violating someone? What's more frightening is that goddamnit it's the woman's fault. Wouldn't it be awesome if women could go to parties, wear flattering clothes, and oh, I dunno, WALK DOWN THE STREET without worrying about being violated?

Where is the education for men on how not to rape? We are still teaching our men that when a woman says "no" she's being coy. That if a woman is sexually aroused she "wants it"  (thanks Fifty Shades of Grey for perpetuating that one). That if a woman is unsure, that's a man's cue to TALK HER INTO IT. And if she's ever ever ever had sex before, she definitely wants it from you, because if she wants one cock, she wants them all, right? (Please note my sarcasm).

And what's worse is the very industry I work in perpetuates these fallacies in the majority of the books published. Women are still revered as virgins and shamed when they're not. They can only have sex with ONE man, regardless of how many women he has sex with. And so on and so forth. Who writes the books? Predominantly women. And that right there is proof of how brainwashed we really are by rape culture.

I grew up around adolescents who were prime examples of this. I went to high school somewhere that was frighteningly like Stubenville without the awesome football team. Small town, upper middle class, and fiercely protective of their popular kids. Rape culture was prominent. I feel like I lived through a bad Lifetime movie. But I survived, as many of us do. Then again surviving is not living.

I'm tired of it, my friends. I'm tired of bearing the weight of men refusing to take responsibility for their actions and refusing to elevate to a higher emotional state (one that consists of more empathy and less self serving bullshit). I'm tired of living in fear. I'm tired of worrying how I will protect my daughters. I'm tired of being angry and I'm tired of being a woman.

And so the tide changes...

If you're a fan of my Bombshell Mommy blog, you may have noticed recently we've turned more toward whole-life health. Although the days of YouTube videos of sex toys are behind Bombshell, she's still alive and kicking. I hope that some of you are finding my discussions of relationships, taking care of yourself and your body, and the challenges of being a mom interesting and informative.

Now, that being said, don't get confused, I'll still be as dirty as ever as Annabelle! Melted Tears will bring you all of the decadent love scenes you are looking for as well as action and adventure. I'm keeping up my momentum, dragging you through the torture of heated love affairs that were never meant to be and the dangerous longing of unrequited love. If you haven't read Endless Burn, the free short here on the blog, what are you waiting for? Lydia and Josh are just a click away. And keep your eye out for Free Reads coming from Inkspell Publishing, as I'm hoping to share a little Cressie and Beckett goodness with you all there!

On another note, I'm tantalizingly close to 100 likes  ( I seriously need about 5 likes) on the Annabelle Blume Facebook page. So, here's the deal, my friends. If you "share" a post from my Annabelle Blume page or just share my page in general on your Facebook timeline, you'll be entered** to win a Frozen Heart prize pack which includes a signed print copy of Frozen Heart, 4 signed bookmarks, and 2 fridge magnets. If you already have the book, share my page anyway and if you win I'll customize the prize pack just for you! Let's get this momentum going and make the release of Melted Tears put Frozen Heart's release to shame!



**Random.org will be used to choose the winner. No favoritism here.