Tuesday, December 27, 2016

The Surrender Trilogy on sale & a glimpse into 2017 (The Gift, cover reveal)

On sale for 99cts only on Amazon.com!

Get the complete Surrender Trilogy for < $3!



 


 



The Christmas sequel, Surrender & Joy, is permanently 99cts, and all titles can be borrowed via Kindle Unlimited at all times.

 
http://smarturl.it/surrenderjoy (Surrender & Joy)




In these challenging times, I wish you a safe transition into the New Year. Keep imagining the world as it should be.

And before we see each other in 2017, here's a little glimpse at what's coming publishing-wise.

This Valentine's Day, I'll bring you The Gift.

It's Chloe's birthday. She's successful and single, and content with her life the way it is. When her friends give her a relaxing spa weekend in a luxury hotel, she thinks nothing of going alone--after working hard for a long time, she has earned it. Chloe doesn't know that the weekend includes some time with Lacey, or that what she has to offer to her, would be so hard to resist.

Lacey knows how to keep her emotional distance from a client. Reluctant Chloe turns out to be a challenge in many ways, and soon both of them face difficult decisions. Can they really go back to the way things were before--do they want to? Or can life go into a different, unexpected direction altogether?




Thursday, November 24, 2016

Christmas with Penny & Carter: Surrender & Joy

If you loved the Surrender Trilogy, this short story is for you. Christmas in the Elliot/Forbes home, 99cts only or free for Kindle Unlimited:

smarturl.it/surrenderjoy  Enjoy. <3



     
You have yet to discover Penny and Carter's journey? This is where you start:



 


 


Monday, October 31, 2016

Halloween Freebie!

A Second Chance, #2 in the A Perfect Dream series, has everything you need on Halloween - a haunted house, and lots of candy...but this party is for adults only! smarturl.it/jmazad      

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

COVER REVEAL: Surrender & Joy

This December, be seduced into the world of Penny and Carter once more...

With a short & sexy Christmas-themed story.

Monday, September 26, 2016

Character Interview: Carter Forbes, Surrender Trilogy

I recently came across Marcel Proust's character questions. Carter Forbes of the Surrender Trilogy answered some of them for me:



Proust’s Questionnaire:

1.                    What is your idea of perfect happiness?

It’s a work in progress, but…my life, right now.

2.                    What is your greatest fear?

To lose the ones I love. I came close a few times.

3.                    Which living person do you most admire?

Penelope—because she puts up with me every day.

4.                    What is your greatest extravagance?

Knowing about the world as it is, and being able to shut it out completely every once in a while.

5.                    What is your current state of mind?

Calm. Happy. Alert. I am constantly juggling these three these days. I need to be focused to do my job, but unexpected, sometimes unwanted surprises happen, and I have to be ready for them. Happy…for a long time I didn’t even know how that felt, but it’s definitely a big part now.

6.                    What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

Modesty—especially in a woman. Those who ask for it usually have ulterior motives.

7.                    On what occasion do you lie?

When it’s necessary—to help progress along, to save lives.

8.                    What is the quality you most like in a man?

Authentic confidence, the knowledge that treating women as their equals doesn’t take anything away from them.

9.                    What is the quality you most like in a woman?

Authentic confidence, when she doesn’t take s**t from anyone…Sorry about that. The confidence to know what she wants, and not being afraid to ask for it.

10.                What or who is the greatest love of your life?

Penelope Elliot, in case you couldn’t tell.

11.                When and where were you happiest?

Right now, with the life I have. There’s so much work left to do, but I’ve been lucky and privileged to be able to do what I do, and have Penelope by my side.
 
 
12.                Which talent would you most like to have?

Be better at golf. I’m terrible at it, and sadly, it’s a sport I have to participate in once in a while (Charity events. I’d rather just give them the money!)

 

13.                If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

Being more open to sharing. I try, but I am used to taking care of things, and people looking to me for answers. I have a hard time being vulnerable. That makes me even luckier to have a partner who understands me.

14.                What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Changing the lives of many women to the better—and whatever it is I did to make Penelope love me.

15.                Where would you most like to live?

Fortunately, I have the option to live wherever I want to, at least temporarily, because I still have to take care of the company…but if things slowed down at some point, we might move to New York City or the Caribbean.

16.                What is your most treasured possession?

This can’t be a person, right? It might surprise you, but I can’t come up with anything materialistic. The houses, the cars, it’s nice if you can have it. None of it matters as much as having Penelope’s trust, and she gave it to me at a time when she had little reason to do so.

17.                What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?

Being hateful and willfully ignorant. It means no amount of education and information will change that person’s mind…and that’s as low as you can get in my opinion. Worse, to be the other person in an interaction with such an individual, because it’s them who experience the pain.

18.                What is your favorite occupation?

I love what I’m doing now. I’m good at being the boss.

19.                What is your most marked characteristic?

I might be a bitch, but I’m the bitch who gets the job done. At least, that’s what people say about me.

20.                What do you most value in your friends?

Loyalty and honesty. Without that, what is a friendship worth?

21.                What is your greatest regret?

That I couldn’t be there when Penelope’s mission was underway. Looking back, I still don’t see an alternative, but I should have been there every step of the way.

22.                What is your motto?

Never quit.

Amelia Carter Forbes
 
The Surrender Trilogy:
 
 
 
 

Saturday, July 30, 2016

FREE one day only!

FREE: I'm celebrating one year since the release of Surrender Your Heart. Celebrate with me by downloading your free copy from Amazon on July 31st:

smarturl.it/SurrenderYourHeart




 
Thank you for all the incredible feedback and conversations during that year! And if you're new to the story, this one and the two other in the trilogy are always free for Kindle Unlimited.

ENJOY. <3

Monday, May 16, 2016

Welcome to the Hop for Awareness, Visibility and Equality May 17-24!

http://hopforvisibilityawarenessandequality.blogspot.ca/

Please visit the official site above, and leave a comment here to enter the giveaway (below). Thank you!

Visibility is one of the most effective weapons we have to battle stereotypes and fear. It’s no coincidence that hate groups call for boycotts of TV shows that represent LGBT characters, or businesses that accept us for who we are.

The more visible we are, the more we can show the world that we are not as small a group as they might imagine, and we’re far more diverse than aforementioned hate groups want them to think.

So, whenever there’s a door into the mainstream opening, it’s a good idea to walk through it. Run even, before it slams closed in your face. The more of us find a place at the table, the better, and we have a lot to add.

I write erotic romance. That certainly doesn’t mean we are all about sex—after all, no one would assume that every straight woman was a fan of the Fifty Shades, right? Visibility counters assumptions.

This is why this hop is so important, and I’m glad to see it’s now open to straight allies as well. All of us approaching the world with common sense and kindness do have a shared goal, against fear, stereotypes and assumptions, for the truth.
 
For the hop, I'd offer an ebook as prize. The winner (chosen from all who comment on this post) can choose from all my titles - you can find them here: www.amazon.com/ravenjspencer
 
 
 
 

 

Thursday, May 5, 2016

In other news: Truth or Dare has a new cover - and is FREE until Monday!

Truth or Dare: I hope you download & enjoy this erotic vacation story. Reviews would be very much appreciated - they don't have to be long! :)  smarturl.it/truthordare      

Tessa isn’t happy her boyfriend talked her into a vacation in the Caribbean. Things take a turn to the better when they meet another couple and are invited to their luxury retreat. A drunken dare, however, makes it clear to the women that they are both taken for granted. To complicate matters further, Tessa and Lane, who has never been attracted to another woman before, develop feelings for each other that go far beyond lust and curiosity, but do they stand a chance once the sun-filled days on the beach are over?


Sunday, May 1, 2016

The Surrender Trilogy: Controversial, captivating, now complete.

Read an excerpt from the final book of the trilogy:
 
 
I get up and get dressed while Penelope is still asleep, and knock on Haley’s door. She greats me with a somewhat bleak expression. “I think I’ll skip the champagne this morning. Did we really have two bottles, or did anyone else drink our wine?”
“I’m afraid that was all us. Listen, Haley, I was wondering if you’d mind having dinner by yourself tonight.”
She is amused. “I kind of expected that to happen.”
“You could go see a Broadway show, have a few hours at the spa, have a nice dinner somewhere?”
“Relax, I’m not arguing. I’m a big girl, I can entertain myself for one night. I can come to Penny’s speech though?”
“Yes, of course. I’m not that terrible.”
She yawns. “You know, in fact you’re not terrible at all. I assume you have something special planned?”
“Kind of. Thank you so much.” I return to our suite where Penelope is starting to stir. For a moment, the temptation is almost overwhelming. I love waking her like that, meeting her in the space between sleep and awareness, starting the day with pleasure…as it is, my phone rings. I take the call in the living area. It’s Colette, finally, and she has something that’s close to good news.
“Tell your guys to lay low. We’re close to finding Laurier, and once we do, we’ll make sure to ask her about everyone who might have helped her. Should Penny’s name come up, you’ll be the first to know, but frankly, I doubt it.”
“Thank you. You know I appreciate this.”
“Don’t worry,” she says. “This will be over soon.”
One way or another, remains unspoken between the lines.
I make a visit to another local office where the staff seems surprised, but content to see me. The numbers have been good, great even. A little further away from home, and the news of an FBI investigation dried up fast, especially when the alleged victim of abduction is now my wife. Some of them I haven’t seen since before my wedding. Carrie and Alison, both in management, present me with reassuring numbers after congratulating me. I stay for a quick lunch, then check in with Nick and Linda to find out nothing has changed.
“You know when the FBI brings in the big guns, it’s serious. I want you guys to keep a low profile.”
Nick sounds dubious. “That could give some people time to cover up their tracks.”
“By some people you mean Penelope? Come on, don’t be stupid. She’s here with me in New York and getting ready for her presentation. She’s not covering up anything.”
“I’ll coordinate with Linda.” That’s as much of a concession as he’s willing to make. “Let me know if there’s anything new we should know, and…be careful.”
Once everything is taken care of, it’s almost time to go to the venue and be proud of my wife.
Penelope seems a bit nervous at first, but she catches herself early on. University certainly gave her experience speaking in front of groups, though I doubt they’ve been this big. Listening to her speak, I forget once again about the trouble that has followed us even here.
Traci was right about her being a good choice for the company and this department specifically. No one doubts that she has a right to be here as Penelope lays out a detailed plan as to where Forbes Inc. is supporting humanitarian organizations that put a focus on projects for women and girls. I feel pride indeed for the transformation she has gone through in only a year. I might not be above wanting to take some credit.
“We support this focus. We might still have a long way to go towards equality, but there are people around the world working hard for it, some under most difficult circumstances. The least we can do is further those efforts best we can. Thank you.”
Next to me, Haley looks astonished, and she has reason to be. It’s not just the expensive clothes. I’m sure she never saw Penelope in a context like that—to her friends and family, she was this diligent, always busy person, never time for a break. There’s so much more to her, an intelligent, sexy young woman who is not afraid of the darker side of me. I couldn’t be more grateful for whatever twist of fate brought her to me, and I knew from the start there was no way I could let her go.
Lucky for me.
“That was pretty amazing,” Haley says.
“Yes it was. I’m sorry for kicking you out tonight, but…”
“I understand. You don’t have to say another word, because that might be…TMI.”
“Got it.”
Penelope takes some time talking to guests. She looks comfortable, not at all like someone who’s doing this for the first time. All of a sudden, I can’t wait to have her all to myself. I made a reservation, but I can always push it back some, and I’m not above using privilege in this situation.
When Penelope joins us, she’s practically glowing. “That was okay, I think?”
I pull her into my arms. There might be some hate group protesting outside, but in this context, no one will say anything about a brief public display of affection. I might see it in the papers tomorrow, but I don’t care. At this point in my life, very few people can tell me what to do.
“You were great,” I whisper. “I knew you would be, so I made some preparations to celebrate in style.”
“But Haley…?”
“She has a great night ahead of her, and so do we.” I’m not making any promises for her and the girls coming back sometime soon. It’s not like I’ll be okay being apart from her for more than a day anytime in the near future. I don’t even feel sorry.
“Where are we going?”
“First, to the hotel. There’s a table with a nice view waiting for us later.”
I know that smile of hers. Most of the time it means you don’t have to work so hard to impress me. She has no idea. I have to work a lot harder on that before I’m truly comfortable.
“That’s good. My surprise will work for that.”
I almost say it out loud, maybe it’s not a good idea. The last time she got me a surprise was the day she sat in a café with a woman who is stealing from me. Those words sound crazy even when they’re in my head only.
“Okay, let’s see what you have.”


Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Just a little reminder...

 
Just a little reminder...
 
Penny and Carter's journey is almost complete.
 
The Surrender Trilogy.
 
Billionaire meets sociology student. It's complicated.
 
 
 
Pre-order today:
 
 
 
 

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Excerpt: Surrender To Me (Surrender Trilogy Book 2)

Did you enjoy Surrender Your Heart? Here's a little glimpse into Penny and Carter's life in Surrender To Me, after their fairy tale wedding. Both books are free with Kindle Unlimited (or $2.99), May 1st, 2016, Surrender Forever will complete the trilogy.




I had packed a bathing suit and a bikini, assuming I’d spend some time in a hotel pool during the trip—I didn’t think I’d wear the latter lounging on a beach at the French Riviera, surrounded by rich people doing the same, sipping cocktails and generally enjoying life. It makes me feel a bit guilty to think of Emilia and her kids. At the same time, I’m glad she came onto Carter’s radar and she, we, were able to help Emilia get out. It doesn’t matter how it happened.

The thought of Haley makes me uneasy as well. She didn’t send any new text messages after I’d told her we’d talk when I’d be back.

Carter appears next to me, gorgeous and dripping. “Don’t you want to go in again? It’s fantastic.” Everything physical makes her feel better. I’m glad I’m part of that process.

“In a few maybe. Look, Carter…don’t you think I could tell Haley?”

She wraps herself in a towel and sits on the lounger next to me. “Tell her what?”

“Everything. What you did for me, and Emilia…I hate that she thinks you might have done something bad. You’re a good person. There’s a reason why I love you, and why I chose to marry you. They’re my best friends. They should know.” Apparently, even with the shade from the big parasol, I’ve had a little too much of alcohol in the sun.

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” Carter says carefully, as if expecting me to protest.

I don’t know if I will. I bring up these subjects every once in a while knowing she will rationally deconstruct any point I might have, and she’s right. Something might slip out. I still don’t know much about her rescue operations, but she must have some sort of network to pull them off. Any information getting out could endanger those operations. I sigh.

“Yeah, I’m not sure either. They have the wrong idea about you though. I don’t like it.”

“I can live with it as long as they don’t call the police…and as long as you like me.”

“I’m serious.”

“So am I.”

I shake my head, laughing despite myself. “I do like you. A lot. You should know that by now.”

“I do,” she says, taking my hand and holding it tightly. “You came back to me, even when there was no obligation. That’s the best gift anyone has ever given to me.”

There must be a grain of sand that somehow got into my eye, because all of a sudden, the world is suspiciously blurry.

I feel better when we head back to the hotel, shower and change for a light dinner in the hotel restaurant. Late at night, with Carter asleep beside me, I reflect on what my life has become. As amazing as this trip has been so far, I can’t wait to be home and back to what passes as normal for us…the odd circumstances of our first days together, the reunion, the wedding, Europe, everything happened so fast. It’s tough, near impossible, to slow down life by her side—and I will get used to it, because my place is right here, with her. Consoled by those thoughts, I snuggle close to her, and she reaches out for me even in her sleep. I love to be married.

After breakfast, we visit a casino, and I surprise both of us by winning 500 Euros.

“I have more luck in love,” Carter says with an affectionate, somewhat indulgent smile when I wave the bills at her. Silly woman, worth a three-digit number of billions, she’s not all that unlucky when it comes to gambling either.

“Let’s go burn this,” she suggests. “Would you like to go shopping?”

“Shopping? For what? I have a ton of clothes in my closet.”

“For fun.” I think I must have a deer-in-the-headlights expression on my face, as she lays a hand on my arm. “Breathe. We can just look at things, and if you want something new, you can always give some away. You’re at the source, you and Traci can look into some organizations that accept donations. As long as they’re not spending money on anti-gay BS, it’s all good.”

“Okay. Yes. I will do that once we’re home.”

When we’re home, I’ll also be back to full-time working and studying, and maybe I’ll feel a little more like I deserve any of this. Doubts remain.

“You have to pace yourself,” Carter suggests when I look at myself in the mirror in the small but exclusive boutique. “It’s just one dress. We’re not going to run out of money, so breathe, relax.”

The colorful sundress and the white hat go perfectly together. The saleslady waits anxiously at a distance, hoping for her commission, and I finally take the outfit, willing to make a bag for a donation when we’re back. Or two. Or more.

Sometimes it’s still hard to believe that all those items are actually mine to do with as I please. I’m not locked in anymore. It takes longer getting used to than I expected, like all my life before Carter is nothing but a distant dream. Grow with the challenge. I can do that, right?

She pays for the purchases without even blinking, tells the saleslady to add a pair of white and gold sandals in my size.

“You can do something for me when we’re back at the hotel,” she whispers. “Are you up for a little play?”

I could try to say no to her for once, but where would be the fun in that? Of course I am. I envision blindfolds and cuffs in my future, but this is not Carter’s fantasy when we’re back in the hotel.

“The last few days made me think about how we first met in person, and I kept thinking about it…So I was wondering if you were willing to wear this for me one more time.”

My jaw drops as she opens the closet door and produces a very familiar piece of clothing. “Where…did you get that?”

“I bought it from the manager. I said it was a surprise, because this was the place where we met.”

I shake my head, laughing. I don’t know what to make of this, but of course I do remember the moment lightning struck, before I knew who she was, or that she was going to leave me a $1000 tip. Or that she’d already planned to take me to a faraway place for my protection—which I didn’t learn right away. Besides all her honest motives, Carter has some sort of obsession with me, and I’m basking in it.

“You want me to wear this. Right now. You don’t expect me to go out for dinner like that?”
 
“No. I said we’d play."


Friday, February 26, 2016

COVER REVEAL: Surrender Forever & 99cts promotion for Surrender Your Heart

Here it is, the first look at the cover of #3 in the trilogy, Surrender Forever:



Penny and Carter face their biggest obstacle yet, rebuilding the trust between them once and for all--in all areas of their lives, not just between the sheets.

You can find Surrender Your Heart and Surrender To Me here: www.amazon.com/author/ravenjspencer, free for Kindle Unlimited.

Surrender Forever will be on sale May 1st.

February 26th-29th, take advantage of the 99cts promotion for Surrender Your Heart:



Saturday, February 20, 2016

All about HER: Why telling stories about women's pleasure matters


 
Writing erotica and erotic romance seems trivial at times, a naughty kind of pastime. I’ll admit that while it’s not always as easy to write as it appears to be, it is fun. Judging from my readers’ comments, the majority of them had fun too (you can’t please everyone all the time).

 

 
If you take a closer look, there is something provocative in making it all about women, their pleasure, their perspective—because out there in the real world, women’s pleasure isn’t given all that much importance. On the contrary.

 
Almost daily we read infuriating headlines, quotes from people who think women and their bodily autonomy is irrelevant—pleasure, much less. In fact, there are places in the world where small-minded men (and sadly, sometimes women) go out of their way to deny other women sexual satisfaction. By imposing ridiculous rules and standards on them. Worse, by violence.


The idea that women matter less, is sadly ingrained, and it’s not helpful when Hollywood has no trouble showing men as the subject, women as the object of pleasure.


Stories about women’s pleasure are no trivial matter. One by one, they insist on a woman’s right to know and enjoy, to own their bodies—the same rights no one has ever questioned when it comes to men.




In my stories, women’s needs come first. My characters enjoy an erotic getaway in the A Perfect Dream series, ladies only. This is where they can fulfill all their fantasies, safe from society’s scrutiny. Penny and Carter of the Surrender Trilogy explore the idea of safely giving oneself into another person’s hands, testing and respecting the boundaries.


I want to create a world where my readers can escape into a fantasy, but also dream about a world they want, where no one’s sexual orientation is questioned or dismissed, where women are equally as free as men to express and live their sexuality. No oppression or fear.
 
 
 
Is that world going to exist in my lifetime? Probably not, but I keep on hoping that someday it will. Meanwhile, let’s counter every hateful statement with a tale of pure bliss, exposing the lies that have been told to us for centuries.


Updated: Authors depend on reviews. I just discovered this blog about a new Amazon policy  regarding erotic media that will potentially hide reviews from other customers.

http://www.elisabethjoye.com/blog-1/hiddenreviews

Author Elisabeth Joye explains how it works, and you, as a reader, can make sure all your reviews will be seen and support the authors you chose to give feedback to.



Thank you for checking it out - telling stories is one thing, for them to be seen and talked about, an entirely different one.

Sunday, February 14, 2016

Happy Valentine's Day! Enjoy Surrender To Me...


It's here!! When I first started writing Surrender Your Heart, I had no idea what was going to happen. I imagined it would be somewhat controversial (after all, "controversial" seems almost unavoidable with a billionaire romance trilogy). You gave it the warmest welcome, and I am extremely grateful for that.

Now on to Surrender To Me! I wish you a sexy Valentine's Day, and hope you'd like to pick up the new book about Penny & Carter, the continuation of their love story.

The wait between 2 and 3 of the trilogy won't be too long either: Surrender Forever is scheduled for May 1st. I'll reveal the cover soon.

Enjoy!