Christmas with the SubClub gals!

The girls at THE SUBCLUB are running a super HOLIDAY BUNDLE contest, and I'm helping them celebrate by donating a prize of my two Christmas themed titles 'tied' in a festive bundle, THE GIFT and FIRE AND ICE.

So zip on over there, and find out how to enter. It's a simple question, promise, and there are lots of great prizes on odder as well as my humble offering. :)

http://thesubclubbooks.com/?p=17689

 

THE GIFT is out now!

My Christmas novel THE GIFT is out now! Complete with festive red bow and golden lettering on the cover [see piccie below for more detail].

THE GIFT isn't entirely a new title. It's a re-imagining of an earlier book of mine, KISS IT BETTER, transferring a generic sort of Spring/Summer setting to the more seasonal one of December and the run up to Christmas. Although this was an idea suggested to me by my editor, I do think it works perfectly, as The Gift has a strong 'fairytale' type romance vibe to it, with shades of Sleeping Beauty, almost, along with reunited lovers, and a tough and slightly cranky Prince Charming, who's been through the mill of pain and injury, and almost literally come out on the other side as an entirely different man.

There's also an entirely new and rather sexy epilogue, which includes not only a love scene for hero and heroine Jay and Sandy, but a 'sighting' of Lizzie and John from my ACCIDENTAL TRILOGY. The books are all set in the same 'world' as a few of my other titles, including Entertaining Mr Stone, Suite Seventeen, and In Too Deep.

[Look at that blingy lettering, eh!]

Blurb for THE GIFT

Pleasure with a perfect stranger...

Jay Bentley is a man with issues. Haunted by physical and psychological demons, he seeks solace and sexual oblivion in the pursuit of an exquisite erotic daydream from his youth, and the reality of a woman who has illuminated his inner fantasies since a brief meeting years ago.

Sandy Jackson has always known that a certain magic is 'missing' from her life. She's feisty and philosophical, but her dreams are filled with heated images of a handsome Prince Charming she once encountered, a man who will kiss everything better and gift her with glorious, dangerous pleasure.

But the past is an illusion, and the present fraught with conflict and uneasy compromise… can two passionate lovers reconcile their differences and slake their burning sensual hunger for each other in a wild and daring liaison?

Excerpt here:

http://www.portiadacosta.com/thegift.html


Available from:

Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Kindle UK and Kindle US
 
Also from Barnes and Noble, W H Smith, Nook UK, Kobo, All Romance Ebooks, Waterstones Books and Waterstones Ebooks

And while we're on a Christmas theme... here's another of my titles set during the Festive Season...

Cally and Innes, the boss she secretly adores, are marooned in a freezing flat over Christmas, with broken central heating... and a dose of the forty eight hour flu for Innes. What else is a girl to do but administer her body heat as a therapy to make him feel better?

More info and a sexy excerpt here:

http://www.portiadacosta.com/fireandice2.html

STOP PRESS! HAWT EXCERPT ALERT!

What, a second blog post in a day?

Anyway, I'm just alerting you all to an *exclusive* and very hot excerpt of THE ACCIDENTAL BRIDE that's available for your delectation over at my buddy Limecello's blog!

http://www.tartsweet.com/2013/11/26/teaser-tueday-exclusive-excerpt-the-accidental-bride-by-portia-da-costa/

Cover reveal... sort of...

Okay, so it's not *really* a cover reveal. ;)

I've been freshening up some of the covers of my self published titles, adding a little colour. I think those stark, dramatic black and white type covers look great on physical printed books, but I feel that the covers for digital titles need to be a bit 'brighter' somehow. So... I've given Hettie some nice coral coloured lipstick and warmed her skintone with a touch of light honeyed tan.

You can discover a little bit about her complicated love story and her relationship with Starr, her hunky personal assistant, here:

http://www.portiadacosta.com/lessons2.html

My author spotlight at Cara Sutra's fabulous blog!

I'm excited to announce that the celebrated erotic blogger CARA SUTRA had kindly featured me today in an author spotlight post!

http://carasutra.co.uk/2013/11/erotic-author-spotlight-series-portia-da-costa/

There you'll find a bio of me, an excerpt of THE ACCIDENTAL BRIDE and IN SEBASTIAN'S HANDS and collection of covers etc that look pretty spiffing all gathered together!

THE ACCIDENTAL BRIDE is out in the UK!

From Call Girl to Mistress to…

Previously, in THE ACCIDENTAL CALL GIRL and THE ACCIDENTAL MISTRESS

When Lizzie Aitchison first met John Smith in the Lawns Bar of the Waverley Grange Hotel he mistakenly thought she was an escort in search of a client. The chemistry between them was dynamite from the outset, and Lizzie couldn’t resist the allure of John’s fallen angel face and the way his lean body looked in a sharp business suit. In a daring leap, she decided to play along with his misapprehension, and become ‘Bettie’, the high class call girl, if only for one night.

John was captivated too. Shaken out of a state of gathering ennui, he experienced an unstoppable urge to possess this beautiful young woman whose combination of a distinctive vintage style, and a bold yet strangely vulnerable personality was the ultimate call to his senses.

They embarked on an intense, kinky affair, initially for just the duration of John’s stay in the area on business, but the two quickly became a couple, both realising they wanted more than a temporary relationship. But each had issues to overcome, and a troubled history. John’s need to control and Lizzie’s feisty independence were a volatile mix, both in the bedroom and out of it, stirred to flash-point by John’s insistence that they live together.

But when a dark shadow from John’s past falls over their happiness, Lizzie realises that she has a dangerous rival...

***

THE ACCIDENTAL BRIDE is out today in the UK, bringing to a conclusion the complicated kinky love story of Lizzie, the accidental call girl, and her handsome, dominant, demanding but emotionally humane multi-millionaire lover, John Smith. They've had their ups and downs over the course of the first two books, but the biggest hurdles to their happily ever after loom large in THE ACCIDENTAL BRIDE... primarily in the form of John's first great love, the fickle, aristocratic Clara. John loves Lizzie with all his heart now, but that doesn't stop Clara barging her way back into his life... to create mayhem.

Check out an excerpt from THE ACCIDENTAL BRIDE here:

http://www.portiadacosta.com/accidentalbride.html

Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com

Kindle UK and Kindle US

Also available from other outlets, and in bookshops in the UK.

New Black Lace cover reveal

Two of my classic Black Lace titles are being republished next year and these are the dramatic, sexy new covers they've been given! Aren't they great?

You can find out more about the books here:

http://www.portiadacosta.com/entertaining.html

http://www.portiadacosta.com/devilinside.html

ENTERTAINING MR STONE should hit the shelves in April 2014 and THE DEVIL INSIDE follows in June 2014

Latest release - OBJECT OF DESIRE!

Here's my latest release - a long short story about neighbours to lovers, called OBJECT OF DESIRE.

Sylvia is totally in lust with her gorgeous neighbour Dr Nathaniel Gowen, a distinguished military historian who just happens to be a hunk with a killer body. She's been watching him exercise out in the communal garden for weeks, but somehow just can't make the leap from saying hello to the handsome academic to inviting him into her flat, her bed... and her life. Instinct tells her he's a good guy as well as desperately desirable.

OBJECT OF DESIRE was previously published by Total-e-Bound, and while the text remains substantially the same, I think we can all agree on the fact that this new cover is stunning!!! What a body, eh? Clearly Doctor Gowen applies him just as vigorously to his fitness regime as he does to his scholarly pursuits.

Anyway, he's the official blurb:

See him, want him... love him?

Doctor Nathaniel Gowen is a hunk, and when he puts his godlike body through a series of graceful Tai Chi moves outside in their communal garden, Sylvia Bradford can't help but desire him. He's everything she's ever wanted in a man.

There's just one problem though. She's never spoken to him beyond saying "hello" and she's having difficulty coming up with an opening gambit.

But while Sylvia's busy working out how to make the first move, and get to know the gorgeous academic, Doctor Gowen himself comes knocking at her door. Does he really want to borrow a cup of sugar… or is it something quite different, and a lot hotter, that he's after?

You can find an excerpt of OBJECT OF DESIRE here:

http://www.portiadacosta.com/objectofdesire.html

It's available to buy from Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com with other outlets to follow very soon.

UPDATE - now available from All Romance Ebooks too

New cover for FIRE AND ICE!

Here the brand new cover for FIRE AND ICE! Don't you think it's steamy? Look at that clinch and the way they're so into each other!

FIRE AND ICE is very much a winter/Christmas story, inspired by the time himself replaced our central heating system and we were shivering in the cold for about a week. Of course he chose December to do the job. LOL

Anyway, here's the blurb for the story:

Sharing their body heat...

Super efficient P.A. Cally Hobbes is head over heels in love with her handsome boss, the urbane and delicious Innes McKenzie. Day after day, beneath her cool, businesslike exterior, she's simmering hot for him, and she knows he's not entirely immune to her either, despite their perfect, above board working relationship.

Icy weather, a broken central heating system, and a dose of 24 hour flu suddenly change everything. With Innes alone and laid low in his frozen flat, Cally's golden chance to get close finally arrives. Innes is freezing, and she's burning for his touch, so what else can a girl do but climb into her boss's bed to warm up his chilly limbs with a dose of body heat?

An overnight recovery quickly leads to a very different kind of therapy... making all Cally's dreams of passion flame into life. Sex with her beloved Innes is everything she's fantasized about, and more. Much, much more.

But will their mutual desire and tender feelings survive a return to office propriety? Working together as P.A. and boss again, can Cally and Innes share the lasting glow of love? 

You can find more information, buying links, and a super hot excerpt here:

http://www.portiadacosta.com/fireandice2.html

Available from: Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk plus other outlets.

Enjoy and stay warm! :)

New cover for NAUGHTY THOUGHTS!

How do you like this brand new cover for my super hot, super quick read, NAUGHTY THOUGHTS? Doesn't she just look like she's having a really, really naughty thought right now? :)

Here's the blurb for this sexy short story:

Dare Vickie reveal her secret fantasies?

Vickie and Terrence have a delicious sex life, even though neither one knows quite what's going on in the other's head when they're making passionate love. But one night, in the heat of the moment, Vickie confesses her dark, dangerous fantasies about being punished and dominated... and discovers a brand new, thrilling side to her beloved Terrence. He's a powerful dominant who likes to play spanking games, and it turns out that the Master of Vickie's dreams and the familiar lover who's already in her bed are one and the same man.

You can check out a mini teaser excerpt of NAUGHTY THOUGHTS here:

http://www.portiadacosta.com/naughtythoughts2.html

I've been nominated

Or should I say THE ACCIDENTAL CALL GIRL has been nominated. I'm up for Erotic Book of the month, for October, over at LONG AND SHORT REVIEWS. Call Girl received a glowing five star review from Gardenia there, and she also gave a 4.5 to THE ACCIDENTAL MISTRESS, which is pretty good going, eh?

The voting for the award is here:

http://www.longandshortreviews.com/uncategorized/october-erotic-book-of-the-month-poll/

 So, needless to say, I would be immensely and incredibly grateful if you could slide on over there and cast your vote for me, on the strength of Gardenia's glowing write-up of John and Lizzie's first steamy outing. :)

Look at these two beauties!

Here are the covers for my two latest books from Black Lace, out within a month of each other. Aren't they gorgeous?

THE ACCIDENTAL BRIDE is the concluding installment of the Accidental Trilogy, and the clue is in the title as to the direction of Lizzie and John's relationship takes in the story. Yes, they're heading towards marriage, but there are plenty of bumps and pitfalls along the way for them, especially in the form of a powerful figure from John's emotional past, who could scupper all their plans completely...

THE GIFT is my winter/Christmas reimagining of my 2009 title Kiss It Better, complete with a new erotic/romantic epilogue that spicily rounds off the story of Sandy and Jay's complicated relationship, with it's sexy secrets and poignant echoes from the past...

More details, with excerpts, here:

The Accidental Bride [UK release - 21st November]

The Gift [UK release - 5th December]

Doctor Sleep - my mini review

Doctor Sleep by Stephen King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thoroughly enjoyed this!

Danny Torrance is a wonderful character grown up, with many of his father's qualities, both good and bad. But despite his ups and downs, he's a much stronger and more likeable man than Jack. I like the references to The Shining, but Doctor Sleep could standalone, if you hadn't read the first book. I wouldn't say this is the very greatest of King, but it's a good one, fairly high up there. A very satisfying read. The baddies are particularly creepy, and yet in places, you almost feel sympathy for them. Not much, but because Stephen King is so good a writer, it's there.

And there's one master touch, right at the end, that brought a tear to my eye. A character that I thought had almost been forgotten about, but who's used beautifully to show the tremendous growth and evolution of Dan Torrance throughout the story.

Doctor Sleep has put me back on a Stephen King reading binge, the kind I used to go on donkey's years ago. I've just bought three more of his for my Kindle! :)

View all my reviews

 

A Doubly Auspicious Day!

Just sweeping in for a quick blog post to mark a doubly auspicious day!

The first happening is the publication day of THE ACCIDENTAL MISTRESS, the second novel in my 'Accidental' trilogy about bold, impulsive Lizzie Aitchison and John Smith, the gorgeous multi-millionaire she first met when he mistook her for a high class escort in THE ACCIDENTAL CALL GIRL.

MISTRESS is about John and Lizzie trying to negotiate a proper relationship, rather than just what seemed like a lovely, but temporary fling, in CALL GIRL. It's a very sexy story, naturally, but it's all about the two of them working out other issues too, and balancing two lives that are very, very different.

You can find out more information about THE ACCIDENTAL MISTRESS and read an excerpt HERE.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

The other exciting thing going on at the moment is the arrival of yet another cat at Casa Da Costa!

This is Prince a cat we've adopted all the way from France! Himself went down to the Loire Valley, on a motor cycling holiday, to stay with some friends, and while he was there, he struck up a relationship with a stray cat who'd... well... just been abandoned by his owners. One day Prince had a home, and someone to feed him etc, then next, they upped sticks and went, leaving him behind to forage for himself. I find this unbelievable, but some people are like that. Prince had been on his own since April, eating lizards and whatever else he could catch, but once himself started feeding him and paying him attention, he instantly became friendly and appreciative. Cat and man formed a bond, and himself knew he couldn't just up sticks and leave Prince!

Of course himself couldn't bring him back there and then, not only because of being on the motorbike, but because of animal import formalities, but he's just been back in the car, a month later, and has brought Prince home to live here with us. He's currently confined to the living room, with Mork, Mindy and Felix shut out of that room, so we can effect a gradual and diplomatic introduction when Prince has had time to recover from the journey. He's already settled well, has been eating lots, and has shown instant affection to me. He's a real sweetie!

Semi Hibernation

I'm sorry that this blog isn't amounting to much these days. Deadlines, health issues, you name it, mean that I don't have much time for blogging and have to focus on writing or micro blogging on Twitter or Facebook.

So, for the moment, I'm putting the blog into semi hibernation, and leaving you with a cute pic of our latest cat, FELIX. He's a former housemate of Mork and Mindy, but not related. When we took them, we believed Felix was going to be properly cared for... but it turned out he was neglected, so we took him too, and reunited him with Mork and Mindy. They're not great friends, but have a workable relationship, and Felix seems enormously contented to have found a proper home at last.

As I say, even though I'm not blogging here, I'm reasonably active on Twitter and Facebook, so follow me there! :)

http://twitter.com/PortiaDaCosta

http://www.facebook.com/portiadacosta

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Portia-Da-Costa-Author/17924191491

Diamonds in the Rough... out everywhere!

Well, sort of everywhere... 

Even though friends report seeing DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH in UK shops like W H Smith, the print version seems tricky to get hold of online thus far, although the Mills and Boon web site has copies available. There are tons of places to get a digital version though.

Anyway... DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH is here, and it's the second full length novel in my Victorian set Ladies' Sewing Circle series, and pretty much my big self indulgent Sherlock Holmes fantasy. The handsome hero Wilson Ruffington is a 'consulting scientist' rather than a consulting detective, but he shares many of Sherlock Holmes' eccentricities, although with one significant exception. Whereas The Great Detective was canonically portrayed as asexual, Wilson is very sexual indeed! Especially when it comes to his dealings with his distant cousin Adela, who he can't seem to keep his elegant scientific hands off. 

Feisty, independent Adela Ruffington is similarly drawn to Wilson. She finds him physically irresistible, even though otherwise, there's nothing but antipathy between them. Wilson can be self absorbed and thoughtless, his mind full of his science, and that means he doesn't always employ much in the way of tact and delicacy, even though his heart is very much in the right place. 

These two fiery and pugnacious lovers have a lot of issues to contend with. Due to a complicated will, Wilson inherits all of Adela's grandfather's enormous wealth, leaving her, and her mother and her sisters as good as penniless... and that's not all of it. Wilson is also the lover who took her virginity, back when they were both young and infatuated with each other, and adding injury to insult, he then he caused her to break her nose, when she fled from him after an almighty argument!

So, many obstacles stand between these two. It almost seems impossible for them ever to get along as friends, never mind as sweethearts... and yet, somehow, they're drawn together again, to face their own demons, and as a team, a couple, and even as husband and wife, they join forces to banish the problems of other people that they both care about.

For a flavour of their relationship, read an excerpt here:

http://www.portiadacosta.com/diamonds.html

And if that whets your appetite, you can purchase Diamonds in the Rough from one of these outlets:

DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH - links

Digital Kindle US Kindle UK Nook UK Kobo Diesel Ebooks All Romance Ebooks Harlequin

Print Amazon.co.uk Amazon.com W H Smith Harlequin Waterstones

Digital and Print Barnes and Noble Mills and Boon

Here it is on the shelves of W H Smith, piccie courtesy of my author buddy Saskia Walker!

For one day only!!!!!

OFFER EXPIRED NOW...

IN THE FLESH is Mills and Boon's Bank Holiday Special today! Only 99p!

It's always hot, but grab it while it's cheap! :)

Click the graphic for all the buying stuff... 

Gorgeous!

Isn't this gorgeous? It's the UK cover of Diamonds in the Rough, available now in epub from the Mills & Boon site, with print version to follow. Should be on Amazon UK in June.

The US cover is pretty fabulous too...

This US version is available on Amazon.com on 28th June!

Go to Portia's Prose for a hot excerpt!

Hot excerpt of THE ACCIDENTAL MISTRESS - click here!

Another REVEAL excerpt!

There's another hot excerpt of THE ACCIDENTAL CALL GIRL available on the Reveal Magazine site!

Check it out here:

The Accidental Call Girl - our second scorching extract!

The Accidental Call Girl... Revealed!

REVEAL magazine is currently featuring a very hot excerpt of THE ACCIDENTAL CALL GIRL in their online edition! 

It's a scene where Lizzie first realises that the gorgeous older man she's met in a bar is into BDSM, and seductive enigmatic John reveals his true, kinky colours...

Why not check it out if you've not delved into the Accidental world of John and Lizzie yet?

The Accidental Call Girl - Sexy New Fiction in Reveal

Mork and Mindy update

It's about three months now, since Mork and Mindy came to live with us... and here's a shot of Mindy asleep on my best dressing gown, on the bed, as an example of just how relaxed they are. :)

These two adorable cats have really settled in now, and we can tell that they're happy with us. They've bloomed now they live in a catcentric home, and are becoming more and more confident with every day that passes. In the last few days, they've passed another milestone, and have begun to go outside, via the cat flap and explore the area of the garden and its surroundings. They don't tend to stay out long, or go far, but I think the fact that they are free to come and go now has only added to their self assurance.

Surprisingly, Mindy is the bolder of the two. At first it seemed as if Mork, the big lad, was the most daring, but now it's become apparent that his smaller, daintier sister has got more 'bottle'. But Mork is following her lead... and sometimes he likes to assert himself by chasing her around a bit. She takes no notice though, or just chases him back if he gets too uppity. At most times they're simply devoted to each other, and to see them snuggled up and grooming each other just melts our hearts.

Cheap and Cheerful @ Amazon!

I've reduced the Amazon price on the following titles to only .99c or whatever the equivalent is in your local currency!

These are quick reads, short and hot but long on spicy sex! :)

Shy, but secretly sexy and imaginative, Mary-Anne Green fantasizes about having her bottom spanked by a stern and powerful master, the beautiful, cultured hero of her wildest dreams. She longs to feel the hand of a dominant man upon her, punishing her flesh, then caressing it to the heights of exquisite pleasure.

It seems that these wild scenarios are destined to remain solely in her imagination, until one day Mary-Anne meets her dream master online. Their chemistry is electric from the very first moment, and their fantasies and desires a perfect, sizzling match. In email after email they share everything. Dark urges, wicked wishes... painted pictures of fiery, passionate punishment.

But what happens when Mary-Anne and her Master decide to meet each other? Will the delicious, painful magic survive the transition to reality? Will their intimate bond be all they hope for, and perhaps more?

5,000 words

 Amazon.com, Amazon.ca and Amazon.co.uk

Surrender to sexual healing...

Super efficient P.A. Cally Hobbes is head over heels in love with her handsome boss, the urbane and delicious Innes McKenzie. Day after day, beneath her cool, businesslike exterior, she's simmering hot for him, and she knows he's not entirely immune to her either, despite their perfect, above board working relationship.

Icy weather, a broken central heating system, and a dose of 24 hour flu suddenly change everything. With Innes alone and laid low in his frozen flat, Cally's golden chance to get close finally arrives. Innes is freezing, and she's burning for his touch, so what else can a girl do but climb into her boss's bed to warm up his chilly limbs with a dose of body heat?

An overnight recovery quickly leads to a very different kind of therapy... making all Cally's dreams of passion flame into life. Sex with her beloved Innes is everything she's fantasized about, and more. Much, much more.

But will their mutual desire and tender feelings survive a return to office propriety? Working together as P.A. and boss again, can Cally and Innes share the lasting glow of love?

10,000 words

Amazon.com, Amazon.ca and Amazon.co.uk 

When Alice Porter finds a chest full of vintage curiosa at an antique market, she little realizes how her discovery of the forgotten treasures of an Edwardian disciplinarian will change her life. The sexy hoard includes a punishment ledger and a well used rattan cane, and the bygone items intrigue her husband Julian too. Sharing and experimenting with the writings and the wicked implement, the lovers begin a voyage of forbidden sensuality that shocks and thrills them both, revealing dark secrets from Julian's past and bringing the two of them closer together than they've ever been before.

9,800 words

Amazon.com, Amazon.ca and Amazon.co.uk

 While enjoying a lazy day at the beach, sexy holidaymakers Suzy and Gavin see a sudden glint of light flash from the headland overlooking their patch of sand, and realize that somebody's watching them through a pair of binoculars! Far from being alarmed, hedonistic Suzy finds the forbidden scrutiny deliciously exciting, and turned on by her own latent exhibitionism, she and Gavin decide to put on a titillating performance… and really give the distant voyeur something to watch!

5,700 words

Amazon.com, Amazon.ca and Amazon.co.uk

Vickie and Terrence both have sexual secrets, and neither one quite knows what's going on in the other's head when they're making love. But one day, Vickie reveals her "Naughty Thoughts", her dark and dangerous fantasies about being punished and dominated... and discovers a brand new, thrilling side to Terrence, and a powerful man who likes to play spanking games. The Dom of Vickie's dreams is the familiar lover who's already in her bed.

3,400 words

Amazon.com, Amazon.ca and Amazon.co.uk

So, as they say where I live... fill your boots now!

IN SEBASTIAN'S HANDS has a new cover!

I love designing covers for my self published work... and here's the result of my latest efforts. A brand new cover for my little collection of three linked romantic BDSM stories, IN SEBASTIAN'S HANDS. I'm really pleased with it, and even though it's not a 'in your face' sexually as the previous version, I think it's far more erotic, because of that tricky, provocative smile on handsome Sebastian's face. You just know that a man with a smile like that is going to blow your mind!

With this latest round of covers I'm doing, I'm trying to create a uniform look that harmonises with, and connects to, the kind of utterly fabulous covers I've had lately for my Black Lace novels. It's a form of branding, if you will, although I'm not sure I like that term.

But the thing is... I work just as hard on my self published titles as I do on my traditionally published ones. I push for the same high standard, and create the same kind of characters and settings and storylines. Self published Portia is just the same as traditionally published Portia, and if you like the stuff I write for Black Lace and for Harlequin, you'll like the self published stories too. Some are shorter works, but hopefully, you'll find that they're tasty snacks, while the novels are full on dinners with several courses.

You'll find a list of my self published titles here, if you want to see what's on the menu:

http://www.portiadacosta.com/selfpublished.html

And if you want to know more about Sebastian, here's the blurb:

When Megan meets Sebastian Holmwood at a fancy dress party, she little realizes how her life is going to change. Sebastian is a beautiful and unusual man with an irresistible dark mystique about him. The glint in his silver blue eyes, and the velvet rasp of his deep baritone voice make her want to do crazy things. Suddenly she finds herself longing to play perverse erotic games almost beyond her imagination. She wants Sebastian to spank her, touch her, dominate her, take her over in every way possible... and she knows that with him, the pleasure she earns will blow her mind.

Sebastian Holmwood is a dominant master who's never quite found his perfect submissive... until he meets Megan, dressed as Little Bo Peep, and carrying a crook that looks suspiciously like a punishment cane. Something about Megan's blend of naivety and mischief, and her bold willingness to follow his lead, speak to his dominant soul as a never before, and he knows he won't rest until he's spanked her and much, much more.

There's an excerpt and some background, as well as buying links here:

http://www.portiadacosta.com/sebastian.html

And if you want to plunge straight in and treat yourself, here are those links:

Available from All Romance eBooks, Smashwords, Diesel Ebooks, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, Sony, Amazon Kindle UK and Amazon Kindle US

iTunes links here

Also available in the Delicious Pain anthology - click for info

An interview... with Lucy

Slip over to Lucy Felthouse's  blog today to read an interview with me!

http://lucyfelthouse.co.uk/guest-bloggers/interview-with-portia-da-costa/

I'd love it if you left a comment or a question there, so I look like a popular gal! :)

LESSONS AND LOVERS - redux

I've just self published a new book. Well, it's an old book, really, one I had published by an epublisher nearly a decade ago... but for which I got back the publishing rights last year.

LESSONS AND LOVERS is a fairly crazy book, with a highly unlikely storyline, and not really set in the actual world as we know it. It's a sort of slightly archaic romantic erotic fantasy. Not 'fantasy' fantasy, just absurdly escapist and fun, with tons of hot explicit sex, and a complicated and super-angsty central relationship. It also has a gorgeous hero, though I say it myself. He's a cool, composed alpha who's tortured by what he thinks is unrequited love and is only able to act on his feelings by supplying rampant sexual services to his beloved.

Here's the blurb:

What happens when a perfectly civilized sexual arrangement turns into a minefield of turbulent emotion?

Wealthy widow Hettie Miller misses her dead husband terribly, but is still beset by a gnawing physical desire. Lonely and confused, she turns to Starr, her late husband’s personal assistant, who discreetly supplies an after dark solution. At night, he comes to her bed and thrills her with intense, breath-taking sex, even though by day, their employer/employee relationship is scrupulously formal and hands off.

But Starr loves Hettie. He’s loved her since the first time he ever met her, but until now, he’s always managed to conceal it beneath a mask of immaculate manners and rigidly controlled reserve.

During a summer getaway at her secluded country mansion, it finally dawns on Hettie that her feelings for Starr are far more than simply carnal, and the parameters of their relationship start to change…

More info and an excerpt here:

Lessons and Lovers - info/excerpt

LESSONS AND LOVERS is available for Kindle/Kindle Apps from Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk

It's also available in Epub format from All Romance Ebooks, and I'm hoping to make it available at as many other outlets as I can in the near future. 

Join my mailing list!

Today, I'm announcing a little prize draw on my mailing list!

I'm asking a simple question, just a sort of poll really, rather than a right or wrong test... and in a week's time,  on Tuesday 26th March, I'll be randomly picking a winner from amongst the mailing list members who've responded. The prize will be a copy of THE ACCIDENTAL CALL GIRL, or an alternative title if the lucky winner has already got that one.

The question is:

Tall, dark and handsome... or gorgeous golden haired god? Which do you prefer? And if the entrants include why they prefer the type they prefer, and name a prime example, all the better!

Remember, this is a competition on the Mailing List... NOT here. I'm really trying to coax more people to join, so I can keep them up to date with my releases, and maybe offer exclusive excerpts and engage in a bit of debate on erotica and romance etc. :)

Join my Mailing List... I'd love to see you there!

ps. I'll be posting the question on the list again, perhaps a couple of times, for people who've joined up later in the week.

A Gentlewoman's Quartet - cover reveal

Isn't this pretty? The book, A GENTLEWOMAN'S QUARTET, is published by HQN as a digital only title, and will be available to buy on 15th March! 

It's an anthology of all four of my Ladies' Sewing Circle short novellas for Harlequin Spice Briefs. 

More info here.

The Accidental Call Girl - published today!

Yay, it's publication day for THE ACCIDENTAL CALL GIRL, my crazy book about a crazy girl who does the craziest thing when she meets the most beautiful man she's ever set eyes on, in a bar!

It's lust at first sight, on both sides, and the normally cautious Lizzie Aitchison knows she just has to have one glorious night with John, or forever torment herself with what might have been. John Smith, a careful, prudent man in his forties, and not given to unconsidered actions, knows he simply has to possess this stunning younger woman who looks a lot like the famous glamour model Bettie Page.

The trouble is, he thinks she's an escort... and Lizzie soon realises that. But on the spur of the moment, she decides to take a chance and play along. Even when she discovers that John enjoys kinky, daring pleasures... In fact, especially then!

THE ACCIDENTAL CALL GIRL  is the story of what happens when both faux call girl and client discover that one night together is never going to be enough for them. And deeper feelings begin to overtake their 'business' transaction...

Discover more about THE ACCIDENTAL CALL GIRL here.

And also here.

The Accidental Call Girl is published by Black Lace, and is the first part of THE ACCIDENTAL TRILOGY

Mork and Mindy - Week 3

Aren't they the most gorgeous duo you've ever seen?

Mork [R] and Mindy [L] are starting to settle in quite well now, after three weeks with us. They both have times when they hide a bit, but they spend much, much more time out and about now, and love to socialise with us. They enjoy their food, and they love to be fussed and stroked. Once they're relaxed and feeling sure of themselves, they're the most affectionate cats we've ever had, and their devotion to each other is just adorable.

Mork has a little bit of a cough at the moment, but he's very cheerful in himself and eating lots. We're seeing the vet with him, so I'm confident that'll clear up with treatment, and he'll be A1 again shortly. When that's sorted out, the next adventure for this pair is being introduced to the outdoors. They've been used to going out in the past, but we've kept them in thus far, to allow them to bond with us. The catflap will be a new phenomenon for them, as they've been used to having a window left open to get in and out... but they're both smart kitties, who are quick on the uptake, so I'm sure they'll quickly suss out the flap.

THE ACCIDENTAL CALL GIRL - new excerpt

Things are getting serious now. It's crunch time. Lizzie has accompanied John to his room... acting out the 'call girl and client' scenario they began in the bar.

But should she own up now, and risk embarrassment, awkwardness and the prospect of saying goodbye to John forever? Or should she go with her gut, her heart and her courage and continue her masquerade to its inevitable, erotic conclusion?

New excerpt of THE ACCIDENTAL CALL GIRL

Not long to wait now... book published on 14th February! :)

Mork and Mindy - week 1

It's a week now, since Mork and Mindy arrived, and although progress is slower than we expected, they're starting to settle in a bit now, and become happy in their new home.

These two are very timid cats, who've had some disruption in their lives in the last eighteen months or so, which means it was never going to be easy for them to adapt to the biggest disruption yet, ie. to be suddenly dropped into a strange house, with unknown people, away from everything and everybody that was familiar to them. But, we're starting to turn corners now. At first, they would not come out from their hiding place beneath the settee when either of us were around... but gradually we're starting to see more of them, mostly in the hours of darkness in the evening and in the morning before it gets light. And when we do see them, and they come to us at quiet settled times, they are the most adorably affectionate pair. They love attention and fussing and both have incredibly loud purrs. They will also get on the bed at night now too, especially Mindy, who seems to have taken to me during after hours time. 

Even though I think it will be a while before they fully settle, I feel that they're going to be enormously rewarding cats and wonderful companions. Himself and I already dote on them completely.

MINDY

MORK

Sorry the pix aren't very clear, but hopefully we'll be able to capture better, much sharper images of this handsome pair when they spend more time out and about in full daylight.

We are cat people again...

I'm thrilled to present the two gorgeous new cats who've just come to live with us. They're Mork [L] and Mindy [R] and they're a brother and sister, who we've adopted from someone who can't keep them any more. 

They're very nervous, unsure of themselves and shy at the moment, as is natural. Mindy has taken refuge behind the washing machine for the time being, and Mork is staying put in the basket. But I'm sure they'll relax before long, and begin to explore their new home, and feel comfortable. I think it'll be an easier acclimatisation for them, because they're together, and each has the reassurance of their constant, known companion.

The fact that they are devoted to each other is brand new for us, as all our previous cats have come to us at different times, and have never really got beyond the stage of being 'used to' each other, and tolerating each other. To have a couple of cats who are real soul mates is a novelty, and absolutely delightful!

Look out for lots more photos as they get used to us and come out to investigate the house.

The Red Collection - out today!

Thrilled to announce my latest book from Black Lace!

THE RED COLLECTION is a jumbo anthology of my previously published shorter work. It's stuffed with my short stories that have appeared in Black Lace anthologies, two chunky paranormal novellas, BUDDIES DON'T BITE and ILL MET BY MOONLIGHT, and one or two other bits and bobs.

For a list of the goodies, a bit of info, and a teeny tiny taster, zip along to:

THE RED COLLECTION

Available from the Amazons thus far, other online outlets hopefully to follow, and also from physical bookshops and supermarkets various.

Look at this!

I've been ill the last few days, with a dreaded lurgi that's going around. But look what arrived while I was laid low!

Here are the details - Accidental Call Girl page

It's out on 14th February in the UK and 26th March in the US. 

Don't Panic!

Don't worry... it's still me, Portia Da Costa!

As it's the new year, I decided that I'd try a new look, both here and over at my web site. I've been meaning to do something for ages, because the pink and fluffy, with a Victorian background, just isn't in sync with what I'm writing any more. I do have another Victorian book coming out, but even that has a restrained black and white cover.

The new colours are to match, more or less, the livery of my Black Lace books nowadays, especially the Accidental Trilogy... though the header is my evocative blindfolded girl... Gwen, from In Too Deep.

There's still a lot to do, a lot of tidying up and improving, but I feel better for starting to make changes and starting 2013 with a sharp new style.

Ecstasy in the White Room

ECSTASY IN THE WHITE ROOM - out today!

"This is a gorgeous room. So white and tranquil and glamorous, like something from a thirties movie set.

From his pocket, Simon retrieves a white plastic rectangle. It's an invitation to a very exclusive private function, extended only to certain guests. The white card was in our welcome basket, along with the sex toys, and neither of us was quite sure whether we'd accept tonight... until now."

Suzanne and Simon check in at a luxurious hotel which provides very special services and enjoy the unique facilities of The White Room.

The best suite in the hotel, it comes complete with discreet bondage accessories and the mirror on the ceiling is a particularly provocative feature... not to mention the complimentary casket of exclusive, high end sex toys.

BDSM pleasure makes for the experience of a lifetime...

Ecstasy in the White Room is #3 in the Three Colors Sexy trilogy and published by Harlequin Spice Briefs

Available from eHarlequin, Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Barnes and Noble, Nook UK, Diesel Ebooks and All Romance Ebooks.

NB. To get the most out of ECSTASY IN THE WHITE ROOM, you'll need to read DISCIPLINE OF THE BLUE BOOK first, and then RITUAL OF THE RED CHAIR! :)