Constance by Franny Moyle

Constance: The Tragic and Scandalous Life of Mrs Oscar Wilde by Franny Moyle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Not sure what to think about this one. It's difficult to judge the quality of the writing etc because appreciation of the book is so intimately wound up in one's impression of the subject of the book, Constance Wilde and by association, Oscar.

I found it a compelling read, but it just made me realise how alien the life of these middle/upper class Victorians is to me. I feel sorry for Constance, for a lot of the things that happened to her, and the disaster Oscar inflicted on her... but she's also an infuriating character herself some of the time. She has good qualities, and some not so good ones, like anybody, and of course she's very much a product of her times and her class.

Leaves me wondering how her later life would have turned out if Bosie Douglas had been run over by a horse and cart, and Oscar had been, well, just a little bit less Oscar.

But we'll never know...

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The Science of Sherlock Holmes

The Science of Sherlock Holmes: From Baskerville Hall to the Valley of Fear, the Real Forensics Behind the Great Detective's Greatest Cases by E.J. Wagner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A fascinating and informative read. Shines a light on the forensic background to the Sherlock Holmes stories, with examples from real cases that may have influenced Conan Doyle, and the insights and misapprehensions of investigators at the time. I some ways, the police and scientists of the late Victorian/Edwardian era naturally drew the same correct conclusions that their contemporary counterparts would... but in other cases they were blundering in the dark without benefit of modern technology and discoveries.

Very enjoyable and readable, frequently enhanced by the author's dry wit.

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Ooh la la it's... INTIMATE EXPOSURE

Wahey, here's the sexy cover for INTIMATE EXPOSURE, my first release with Carina Press! Super hawt, eh?

INTIMATE EXPOSURE is a BDSM novella about a Vicki, an executive gal with a hidden desire to explore naughty spanking games, and Red, a roguish freelance photographer, who drives her crazy with his wicked teasing ways... and at the same time promises to bring to life all her luscious forbidden dreams.

You can read more about INTIMATE EXPOSURE here and also read a chunky excerpt, in which Vicki and Red have one of their many little contretemps, and he first discovers her kinky secret interests.

An excellent read

Close to Holmes: A look at the connections between historical London, Sherlock Holmes and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle by Alistair Duncan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a wonderful book. A fascinating look at the London haunts of both Sherlock Holmes and his creator Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The wealth of information makes me want to read the Holmes canon all over again, now I know more about the locales referenced.

Essential for Holmes fans and also extremely useful for authors writing about London in late Victorian/Edwardian era.

ANOTHER CHANCE - available at Amazon Kindle

Wahey, my latest Spice Brief is now available at Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk so you can now enjoy this naughty BDSM tale on your Kindle... maybe perhaps your new Kindle Fire when you get it? ;)

ANOTHER CHANCE is the sequel to my first ever Brief, CHANCE OF A LIFETIME, and Rose and the Marquis appear again as supporting characters -- although now lucky Rose has won her man and become his Marchioness. The titled twosome are still as daring as ever though, and inadvertently put on a sexy show for Maud and William, the protagonists in ANOTHER CHANCE.

Here's the blurb:

The Chance of a Lifetime… Again.

It’s been a long time since Maud Piper has had a lover, particularly one who can give her what she really wants: the masterful hand of a strong, powerful man. The sting of pain that turns into pleasure.

Only Maud’s late fiancé had been able to satisfy her. Not even watching her employers at Blaystock Manor, the Marquis and Marchioness, in their own rough love play brings her the release she longs for—until she is caught in the act by William Graves, the estate’s ruggedly handsome steward. Can he give Maud another chance to experience the pleasure she craves?

Here's a sexy excerpt

And here are the Amazon links:

Amazon.co.uk

Amazon.com

A wonderful review!

I'm absolutely thrilled today by a wonderful review I've received for IN TOO DEEP. The reviewer is Vanessa Wu, whose blog is Intense Sensations. Strangely for someone who writes for a living, I'm almost at a loss for words to say how happy I am to read Vanessa's opinion on the book and on my writing. It's times like these that make all the fretting and struggling and hair-tearing involved in 'getting it right' worthwhile. :)

In Too Deep review at Intense Sensations

Vanessa was also kind enough to award me a Versatile Blogger award recently too. I must admit that my blogging has been a bit sparse lately, but I intend to do much better in future. When I've fulfilled some important writing commitments in the next few months, I'm going to try much harder to be a better blogger.

As I'm pressed for time at the moment, I won't be able to make a list of 15 blogs I recommend as Versatile Blogs, but there's a small selection of blogs and sites I visit and read in the right hand side navigation bar. I hope to add more soon.

More good stuff from Saskia!

My buddy Saskia Walker is putting out some great titles at the moment! Here's another goodie. A reissue of her wonderful early erotic novel ALONG FOR THE RIDE at a special price and with a lush new cover.

Here's the blurb:



Soon after her arrival in London, Georgina Montgomery finds herself modeling privately for one of her art college tutors, the Austrian artist Calvin Rolf. They become lovers and when Cal introduces her to his Fleet Street photographer sidekick, Jason Sutherland, a steamy ménage à trois affair follows. Georgie discovers that being involved with two gorgeous men is a heady intoxicant, and she quickly casts all her inhibitions aside. She’s in her element, but their idyll of sexual adventuring in London is interrupted because a paparazzi scandal threatens to erupt around them.

Jason has taken intimate photos of an old flame, Chloe Mac, now a pop star and media darling. His cousin is after the images to sell to the highest bidder, and Jason has to get to the photos in Scotland before his cousin does. Cal and Jason decide to hit the road, and Georgie comes along for the ride.

But the paparazzi hunt results in Georgie’s kidnap, and danger ups the emotional stakes for everybody involved. Georgie has to put her new found sexual power and confidence to good use, and territorial claims of the heart are about to be made.

Warnings: This title contains explicit scenes that some readers might find objectionable including m/f/m, m/m, anal play and some BDSM. 

You can find out more about this deliciously hot novel here, and enjoy a sizzling excerpt:

 http://www.saskiawalker.co.uk/alongfortheride.html

 Go on, give yourself a treat!

A free read from Saskia!

Here's a new Walk on the Wild Side Books publication from my friend and critique partner, Saskia Walker! Not only is this a fab story by a wonderful author... it's also free at a variety of ebook outlets! How great is that? 

The only place you can't get THE DEVIL YOU KNOW for nothing at the moment is Amazon, but a version suitable for easy sideloading to your Kindle is free as air everywhere else. The story is a contemporary erotic romance and it was originally published as part of THE MAMMOTH BOOK OF HOT ROMANCE. Here’s the summary:

 Leonie Carlton went to the other side of the world to avoid Mike Racine, because she loved him too much to stay. Their impetuous, fiery physical relationship was passionate and fulfilling, but Mike wasn’t the type to settle down.

After a year working on a coffee plantation in Queensland, Australia, Mike arrives on her doorstep. Despite her resolve to stay cool and distant Leonie is thrown into turmoil by her old lover from the moment he says hello. She knows she can’t afford to fall for him again. But Mike has traveled the world to win Leonie back. The question is, how far is he prepared to go to get her to hear him out?

7,000 words in length, contemporary erotic romance. Please note: this short story contains frank language and graphic m/f sexuality, including domination/submission and bondage.

You can read an excerpt here.

Available free from:
ARe
Barnes & Noble
Diesel
Smashwords

Also available from:
Kindle US
Kindle UK

Grab this gem and enjoy!

ANOTHER CHANCE - official publication day

It's the official release day for my newest Spice Brief - ANOTHER CHANCE. 

Another Chance is the sequel to my first ever Spice Brief CHANCE OF A LIFETIME, so fans of Rose and the Marquis will get the opportunity to see them again in the course of Maud and William's story. 

Official Blurb

The Chance of a Lifetime… Again.

It’s been a long time since Maud Piper has had a lover, particularly one who can give her what she really wants: the masterful hand of a strong, powerful man. The sting of pain that turns into pleasure.

Only Maud’s late fiancé had been able to satisfy her. Not even watching her employers at Blaystock Manor, the Marquis and Marchioness, in their own rough love play, brings her the release she longs for—until she is caught in the act by William Graves, the estate’s ruggedly handsome steward. Can he give Maud another chance to experience the pleasure she craves?

The highly anticipated sequel to Portia Da Costa’s Chance of a Lifetime.

Read an excerpt here

Available from:

eHarlequin [epub]
Diesel Ebooks [mobi/not UK]
Amazon.co.uk [kindle/UK only]
Mills & Boon [epub]
All Romance Ebooks [epub]
Barnes & Noble [nook]

Mammoth Book of Hot Romance

Pleased to announce that this beauty is now available in print in the USA! More info and a naughty excerpt of my contribution - FIRE AND ICE - available here:

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

If you prefer to read digital [like me!] FIRE AND ICE will be available as a single from major ebook outlets in the not too distant future.

PLAY FOR TODAY - Saskia Walker

My fantastic writing buddy SASKIA WALKER has a new release out today. It's a sexy short novella called PLAY FOR TODAY, about two talented but very naughty thespians and what they get up to on a transatlantic ocean voyage. Their delicious antics bring a new meaning to the term "method acting"!

Here's the blurb:

Acting out their parts has never been so sexy…

Two upcoming British actors—Toni and Max—choose to take the slow boat to New York so they can learn their lines along the way. In the midst of a stormy sea, Max suggests they pass the time with a bit of sexy role play. As the rough seas take most of the passengers to their cabins, Toni and Max get into character for some erotic acting of the intimate kind. Soon their mutual desire collides with the forbidden affair of their characters—an inexperienced young woman and a wily seducer—with scintillating results.


You can find out more about PLAY FOR TODAY, and read a steamy excerpt at:

http://saskiawalker.blogspot.com/2011/08/publication-day-play-for-today.html

RIP Mulder 1997 [?] - 2011

Desperately sad to report the death of Mulder, our tiny but mighty cat of approximately 15 years of age. She was the sweetest girl, with a superb personality - a real fun cat, and absolutely adorable and goodnatured.

Goodnight, sweet princess. And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.