Showing posts with label Lena Austin. Show all posts

Monday, June 24, 2013

DRB1stChp Changeling Spotlight (23 June)

DRB1stChp hosted Changeling Press new release spotlight. Full first chapters online. Check them out:

** Leopard Territory (Big Cate Mates 3) by Cynthia Sax
(Erotic Shifter Romance, MF)
http://drb1stchp.com/2013/06/leopard-territory-by-cynthia-sax/

** Molten Mayhem (Molten 3) by Kira Stone
(Erotic SciFi/Futuristic Romance, MM)
http://drb1stchp.com/2013/06/molten-mayhem-by-kira-stone/

** Her Sexy Side by Ayla Ruse
(Erotic Paranormal Romance, MF)
http://drb1stchp.com/2013/06/her-sexy-side-by-ayla-ruse/

** Room to Love (Collection) by Lena Austin
(Erotic Contemporary Cougar Romance, MMF)
http://drb1stchp.com/2012/10/room-to-play-by-lena-austin/

--
Zenobia Renquist
Discover Different and Unique Romance
http://about.me/zenobiarenquist
Caveat Emptor Series :: Three couples caught in a war have only one solution -- peace. Si vis pacem, para bellum. :: http://zenobiarenquist.com/bookshelf/caveat-emptor-series

Thursday, June 20, 2013

New Releases: 20 June 2013

Leopard Territory (Big Cat Mates) by Cynthia Sax $3.49 Coming Soon

Genre(s): Paranormal, Erotic Romance
Theme(s): Shapeshifters

Jeanine must choose between the life she's always wanted, and the leopard shifter she desires.

http://changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=2065

Molten Mayhem by Kira Stone $4.49 Coming Soon

Genre(s): Science Fiction, Erotic Romance
Theme(s): Gay

Trapped in an escape pod with his mate's future dependent on him, Dolan must ask for help. At a cost...

http://changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=2061

Her Sexy Side by Ayla Ruse $3.99 Coming Soon

Genre(s): Paranormal, Erotic Romance
Theme(s): Magic

Kiera loves her new eroticism, but would her desire exist without his art?

http://changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=2058

Room To Love (Collection) by Lena Austin $5.49 Coming Soon

Genre(s): Guilty Pleasures (Contemporary), Erotic Romance
Theme(s): Ménage, Bisexual and More, Cougar

Is there room in Andre's heart for more than just Claudia? Dante will have to convince them both.

http://changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=2082

Now Available at http://ChangelingPress.com

Buy Direct and Save!

June Discount Code: SummerSizzler2013 -- 10% off any order

Margaret Riley
Publisher
http://ChangelingPress.com
http://changelingpress.blogspot.com
http://RazorsEdgePress.com
Romance with Fiction Burns...

Friday, May 24, 2013

Flash Fiction RoundUp 24 May 2013

17 May 2013 Theme

This week's theme is courtesy of Cynthia Sax.

You're lost in a maze and you're not alone. Whom are you with and what do you do?

Lena Austin
MINOTAUR
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ChangelingPress/message/164888

Sharon Maria Bidwell
ENTANGLEMENT
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ChangelingPress/message/164898

Rayven Renshaw
CHASE
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ChangelingPress/message/164905

Stop by the Changeling Press Bar & Grille to indulge in some steamy quickies. Each week is a new theme. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ChangelingPress/

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Tasty Tuesday-- Cake Mix Oatmeal Cookies

Cake Mix Oatmeal Cookies

1 (18.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix

2 cups quick-cooking oats, uncooked

1 cup sugar

1 cup vegetable oil

2 large eggs

1 cup chopped pecans

1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Combine first 3 ingredients in a large bowl. Combine oil and eggs; add to dry ingredients, stirring well. Stir in pecans and vanilla.

Drop dough by rounded teaspoons 2 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheets.

Bake at 350F for 12 minutes or until lightly browned. Wait 10 minutes to cool slightly. Remove to plate or cookie tin to cool completely. Yield varies, but around 5 dozen.

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Tasty Tuesday -- Cheese Pennies

Surprise guests can be a joy...and a pain. What to serve guests that make it seem as if you were psychic enough --or brilliant enough-- to know they were coming? This freezer special delights are more savory than stale cookies from a bag.

Cheese Pennies
1 stick (1/2 cup) butter, softened
¾ lb Old Cheddar, grated
1 large egg yolk
1 cup all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon hot mustard powder
¼ teaspoon salt
In a food processor, combine the butter and egg yolk until smooth and creamy. Add the grated cheese and blend well; cheese does not have to be completely incorporated into mixture.
Stir the salt, mustard and flour together until evenly blended.
Add the dry mix to the food processor in one go, clean the sides of the bowl and pulse just until the dough comes together to form a ball. Dough will be very soft; try not to over process or handle too much, as the delicacy of the penny will be compromised.
Ready two sheets of parchment paper. Divide the dough in half, placing each piece on a parchment. Working with one half, gently nudge the dough into a log about an inch to an inch and a half thick, using the parchment paper.
Wrap the log in the parchment and then in plastic wrap: refrigerate for a minimum of 4 hours. The logs can be kept up to one week in the fridge or three months in the freezer!

When ready to serve, preheat the oven to 350 F.
Line a baking tray with parchment paper. Remove logs from the refrigerator or freezer and unwrap. Slice into ¼ inch pieces and arrange on lined baking tray. No need to worry about crowding as the pennies don’t expand much. The longer time is for frozen pennies.
Bake until golden, about 10-13 minutes. Makes about 100 pennies.
Serve slightly warm.

Tuesday, May 07, 2013

Tasty Tuesday-- Bourbon Dogs

Bourbon Dogs

Bourbon Dogs are a cinch to make and the guys will love them. Just dissolve the sugar in a saucepan with the bourbon and then bake the Lit'l Smokies^® in the oven for an hour. They'll be hot n' tasty by kickoff!

Lit’l Smokies^®

See Substitutes

Prep Time: 5
Cook Time: 60
Makes: 9 appetizer servings (about 5 Lit’l Smokies each)

Recipe Details

Ingredients

1 pkg. Hillshire Farm® Lit’l Smokies®
2 cups ketchup
¾ cup bourbon
½ cup packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon grated onion

Directions:

Preheat oven to 300°F. Open package of Lit’l Smokies and drain off any liquid; set aside. Combine remaining ingredients in medium saucepan; heat, stirring occasionally over medium heat until sugar is dissolved.

Stir in Lit’l Smokies; pour mixture into small casserole dish. Bake for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. If mixture becomes too thick, thin with additional bourbon or water.

Friday, May 03, 2013

Flash Fiction RoundUp 03 May

26 April 2013 Theme

This week's theme is courtesy of Bad Barb.

A long limo ride with nothing to do. Or is there?

Friday, April 12, 2013

Flash Fiction RoundUp 12 April 2013

5 April 2013 Theme

This week's theme is courtesy of Vicki Burklund & FB.

(Inspired by pic on FB) The Grim Reaper and an alien have both showed up in your bedroom. One of them is in the wrong place. Which one and what happens when they figure it out?

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Tasty Tuesday Easter Hot Cross Buns

Raisins or currants are characteristic to Hot Cross Buns, which set me to wondering about the history of raisins. Since I create recipes for Sun-Maid, I checked with them. Their historical fact checking has found evidence of grape leaves in fossilized remains from roughly 12 million years ago, and earliest recorded mention of dried fruits on Mesopotamian tablets from 1700 BC. At that time dried fruits were used in breads and on spiced honey cakes for royalty. So compared to the first dried fruits, hot cross buns in the 12^th century are a relative new-comer!
For today’s baker, this Hot Cross Bun recipe is made with a dough you can let rise overnight in the refrigerator, then shape and bake in the morning. Or make ahead, freeze, and set out a couple hours before serving to come to room temperature for Good Friday and Easter gatherings.
Print This Recipe
Hot Cross Buns
Makes 24

1/2	cup warm water (110-115°F)
2	pkgs. (1/4 ounce) active dry yeast
3/4	cup milk
1/2	cup butter
1/2	cup granulated sugar
1/2	teaspoon salt
1	egg
4	cups all-purpose flour, or 2 cups each all-purpose and whole wheat
1	teaspoon cinnamon
1/4	cup teaspoon nutmeg
1	cup Sun-Maid raisins
1	egg yolk
Glaze
1	cup powdered sugar
1	tablespoon milk
1/2	teaspoon vanilla

Stir warm water and yeast in a large mixing bowl or stand mixer bowl.
Heat milk and butter in a saucepan or microwave until 120°F, or very warm but not hot to the touch. Butter does not need to completely melt. Stir in sugar and salt.
Add milk mixture, egg, 2 cups flour, cinnamon and nutmeg to yeast. Beat until smooth.
Gradually mix in remaining flour. Stir in raisins. Dough will be soft and slightly sticky.
Cover and let rise in draft-free place for one hour until about doubled in bulk. Or, cover and refrigerate several hours or up to overnight.
Punch down dough and divide into 24 equal pieces. Roll into balls and place on greased or parchment lined baking sheet.
Mix egg yolk with 2 teaspoons water; brush on tops of dough balls. Let rise 30 minutes.
Bake in preheated 375°F oven for 25-30 minutes until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.
Stir glaze ingredients to make a smooth frosting like consistency. Scoop into a zip-top plastic sandwich bag and snip one corner. Squeeze in a cross over cooled rolls.
Recipe from Sun-Maid Growers. Photo by Kelly Burgoyne.
- See more at: http://getcookingsimply.com/one-a-penny-two-a-penny-hot-cross-buns/#sthash.RvwB6ZnO.dpuf

Hot Cross Buns remind me of the nursery rhyme, but besides the song which is from English literature, there are more traditions wrapped around these raisin-spice buns than the stripes on top. Typically served during lent and especially on Good Friday, the origin is a mix of Christian and Pagan traditions. Aztecs and Incas considered the buns a sacred food of the gods; to other ancient cultures the cross represented four quarters of the moon; others believed the cross held supernatural healing powers. Christians interpreted the ‘cross’ of icing as the cross of Jesus, and in the 12^th century it’s said an Anglican monk placed the sign of the cross on buns to honor Good Friday, which at that time was known as “Day of the Cross”. There’s even the tradition of some faithfuls that Hot Cross Buns were the only food one could eat on Good Friday. Raisins or currants are characteristic to Hot Cross Buns, which set me to wondering about the history of raisins. Since I create recipes for Sun-Maid, I checked with them. Their historical fact checking has found evidence of grape leaves in fossilized remains from roughly 12 million years ago, and earliest recorded mention of dried fruits on Mesopotamian tablets from 1700 BC. At that time dried fruits were used in breads and on spiced honey cakes for royalty. So compared to the first dried fruits, hot cross buns in the 12^th century are a relative new-comer!
For today’s baker, this Hot Cross Bun recipe is made with a dough you can let rise overnight in the refrigerator, then shape and bake in the morning. Or make ahead, freeze, and set out a couple hours before serving to come to room temperature for Good Friday and Easter gatherings.
Print This Recipe
Hot Cross Buns
Makes 24

1/2	cup warm water (110-115°F)
2	pkgs. (1/4 ounce) active dry yeast
3/4	cup milk
1/2	cup butter
1/2	cup granulated sugar
1/2	teaspoon salt
1	egg
4	cups all-purpose flour, or 2 cups each all-purpose and whole wheat
1	teaspoon cinnamon
1/4	cup teaspoon nutmeg
1	cup Sun-Maid raisins
1	egg yolk
Glaze
1	cup powdered sugar
1	tablespoon milk
1/2	teaspoon vanilla

One-a-Penny Two-a-Penny Hot Cross Buns

By Rosie's Kitchen | Published: April 16, 2011

1/2	cup warm water (110-115°F)
2	pkgs. (1/4 ounce) active dry yeast
3/4	cup milk
1/2	cup butter
1/2	cup granulated sugar
1/2	teaspoon salt
1	egg
4	cups all-purpose flour, or 2 cups each all-purpose and whole wheat
1	teaspoon cinnamon
1/4	cup teaspoon nutmeg
1	cup Sun-Maid raisins
1	egg yolk
Glaze
1	cup powdered sugar
1	tablespoon milk
1/2	teaspoon vanilla

- See more at: http://getcookingsimply.com/one-a-penny-two-a-penny-hot-cross-buns/#sthash.RvwB6ZnO.dpuf

One-a-Penny Two-a-Penny Hot Cross Buns

By Rosie's Kitchen | Published: April 16, 2011

1/2	cup warm water (110-115°F)
2	pkgs. (1/4 ounce) active dry yeast
3/4	cup milk
1/2	cup butter
1/2	cup granulated sugar
1/2	teaspoon salt
1	egg
4	cups all-purpose flour, or 2 cups each all-purpose and whole wheat
1	teaspoon cinnamon
1/4	cup teaspoon nutmeg
1	cup Sun-Maid raisins
1	egg yolk
Glaze
1	cup powdered sugar
1	tablespoon milk
1/2	teaspoon vanilla

- See more at: http://getcookingsimply.com/one-a-penny-two-a-penny-hot-cross-buns/#sthash.RvwB6ZnO.dpuf

One-a-Penny Two-a-Penny Hot Cross Buns

By Rosie's Kitchen | Published: April 16, 2011

1/2	cup warm water (110-115°F)
2	pkgs. (1/4 ounce) active dry yeast
3/4	cup milk
1/2	cup butter
1/2	cup granulated sugar
1/2	teaspoon salt
1	egg
4	cups all-purpose flour, or 2 cups each all-purpose and whole wheat
1	teaspoon cinnamon
1/4	cup teaspoon nutmeg
1	cup Sun-Maid raisins
1	egg yolk
Glaze
1	cup powdered sugar
1	tablespoon milk
1/2	teaspoon vanilla

- See more at: http://getcookingsimply.com/one-a-penny-two-a-penny-hot-cross-buns/#sthash.RvwB6ZnO.dpuf

Tuesday, March 05, 2013

Lena's Spicy Cheese Soup

*Lena sneaks into the Bar and Grille*
Shh!! Don't tell M I'm here. I decided to reveal my secret recipe for Spicy Cheese Soup. It's cheap, easy, delicious, and --more importantly to a busy cook-- a "shelf special." That means most or all the ingredients can be waiting on the pantry shelf or freezer.

Makes 6-8 servings. I personally recommend doubling if you serve more than two hearty appetites.

Prep time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

1 lb processed cheese, cubed. (Yeah, that means Velveeta.)
1 lb ground beef, cooked and drained
1 can (8.75 oz) whole kernel corn, undrained
1 can (15 oz) kidney beans, undrained
1 small jar (4 oz) diced jalapeno (optional, but I never leave it out)
1 can (14 oz) stewed tomatoes, undrained
1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes with green chiles, undrained
1 envelope taco seasoning

Throw it all in the slow cooker. Cover and cook on Low at least 4 hours, then you may turn it to Warm. Great served with corn chips.

This is one of those recipes that begs for embellishment. Extra cheese is always appreciated when sprinkled on top before serving.Crumbled cooked bacon or cooked bulk pork sausage works, too. If you like it in chili, it probably works. Don't be afraid to mix it up. Try some of the other flavors of diced tomatoes. Switch out the kidney beans for black beans. Try Mexicorn instead of the plain corn.

Now, go play with your food. Mama Lena says it's okay.

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Tasty Tuesday- Sour Milk Coffee Cake

Sour Milk Coffee Cake
Serves 9

Hold on, don't panic. You don't have to wait until your milk is sour. In fact, this recipe is great when you sour just a little bit of milk or use buttermilk or sour cream. Yes, it's versatile like that.

Here's how to sour milk to use in place of expensive buttermilk. For each cup of milk you need, place just 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar in a glass measuring cup. Add enough milk to make one cup. Let stand 5 minutes.

1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup shortening or butter (this is great with butter-flavored Crisco sticks!)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2/3 cup sour milk or buttermilk OR 1/2 cup dairy sour cream
1 beaten egg
1/4 cup chopped nuts, optional

Preheat oven to 350F. Spray 8x8x2 baking dish with cooking spray. Combine flour, brown sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Cut in the shortening/butter until crumbly. Set aside 1/4 cup of the crumbly mixture for the topping.

To the remaining crumbly mixture, add baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Mix well. Add the sour milk/buttermilk/sour cream. Add the egg. Mix well.

Spread batter in the prepared pan. Stir together the reserved crumbly mix and nuts. Sprinkle on top of the batter. Bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Serve warm.

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Tasty Tuesday -- Creamy Noodle Kugel

Creamy Noodle Kugel
8 servings

Need a fast-fix coffee cake or snack cake? This does the trick and the secret ingredient is...ramen noodles! No, I'm not kidding. Those packs you get 10/$1.00 on the sale rack can be your best culinary friend.

3 packages (3 oz ea) ramen noodles, any flavor
3/4 cup cottage cheese
3/4 cup sour cream
2 eggs
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup golden raisins (optional) or substitute an equal amount of any of the dried fruits you find like Craisins
2 tablespoons packed brown sugar

Start a large pot of water to boil. Discard the flavor packets from the noodles. Preheat oven to 350F. Spray a 9" square baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.

When the water in the pot is boiling, break up and add the noodles. Boil for 2 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water.

In a large bowl, whisk together the cottage cheese, sour cream, eggs and sugar. Add noodles, and raisins. Toss to coat. Pour into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkled with brown sugar.

Bake at 350F for 35 to 40 minutes or until center is set. Serve warm or at room temperature. Yes, it's great with Cool Whip or ice cream, but it also makes a great little treat for a brown bag lunch.

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Tasty Tuesday Slow Cooker Tapioca Pudding

Slow Cooker Tapioca Pudding

Now, Mama Lena isn't advocating chowing down on this every day, but once in awhile when you know you'll need a bit of a treat, this comes in handy. I make a half-recipe, just to keep from making a total pig of myself.

Makes 8 servings (about 1/2 cup each)

4 cups milk
2/3 cup white sugar
1/2 cup small pearl tapioca
2 eggs, lightly beaten

Stir together all ingredients in the small slow cooker. Cover, cook on Low 6 hours or Medium (if you have that setting) for 3 hours, stirring occasionally. Serve warm if desired, or cool in the refrigerator for several hours.

Calories 191
Carbs 30.3
Sodium 66 mg
Cholesterol 65 mg

Tuesday, February 05, 2013

Tasty Tuesday- Slow Cooker Jambalaya

Another Heat up Winter recipe from Lena is Slow Cooker Jambalaya!

I made a few changes to this recipe, I admit. First off, I used cut up cooked chicken from my stash of leftovers instead of the expensive boneless skinless chicken breasts.

I did manage to find andouille sausage in Walmart, but it wouldn't hurt my feelings if I had to substitute another kind. This is a Cajun recipe, and they're famous for making do with what they have.

My chicken broth was homemade, and you don't get much more "reduced sodium" than that. (That's what I do with all those leftover bits like the pointy wing tips, necks no one wants, and the occasional "sale meat" that is a bargain only if you stew it to death. Grin)

Also, here's a little trick to gladden the heart of any cook-- You can make your rice in the slow cooker too! Just use the "converted" rice (I use Uncle Ben's) and it cooks up just fine. (This is why I have two crock pots, and I'm thinking about getting another.) I'll make the jambalaya in the big pot, and the rice in the smaller one. Or, use baked brown rice or quinoa! I love quinoa. It cooks up just like rice, but it's much healthier.

Tuesday, January 08, 2013

Tasty Tuesday-- Imbolg Glogg

Hi! I don't drink much anymore, but this was what I served every February for one of my slightly infamous "Beach Party" events in February, back when the kids went to bed early enough to allow for a bit of mayhem. (wink, wink) By February, we were all heartily sick of cold weather, so a bit of spicy food, some Jimmy Buffet music, and the furnace cranked up to "tropical" did a great deal toward lifting the spirits. Guests were encouraged to drag out their beach wear, lounge on beach towels, and misbehave.

Glogg
Tradition: Before sipping this potent Swedish punch, toast everyone's good
health.

1 750ml bottle dry red wine
1/2 c raisins
1/2 c gin, vodka, or aquavit
1/3 c sugar
Peel from 1 orange
8 inches stick cinnamon, broken
6 whole cloves
2 cardamon pods, opened
1/4 c blanched whole almonds
In a large saucepan, stir together wine, raisins, gin, and sugar. For the spice
bag, cut a double thickness of cheesecloth into an 8-inch square. Place orange
peel, cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom in the center of the cheesecloth. Bring up
the corners of the cheesecloth and tie them with a clean string. Add to the
saucepan with wine mixture. Heat the mixture to simmering, and simmer 10
minutes. Do not allow to boil. Remove and discard the spice bag.

Add the almonds at the last minute before serving this dish warm. Makes 8 (1/2
cup) servings.

Hint from Lena-- Warm up your mugs, wine glasses, or punch mugs first with warm
water. Keep them warm by placing them on a heating pad and cover with a towel
until you need them. This ensures your delicate holiday service won't shatter.

I personally sprinkle a couple of almonds in each mug, then dip the glogg into
the mug. That way every guest gets a bit of the nuts.

You may also heat and serve this in the crock pot. Much more convenient. Just
remove the spice bag and stir in the almonds before serving.

Drink up, then turn up the heat with a good Changeling book. (One of mine, maybe?)
Lena Austin

Friday, December 09, 2011

Protect and Serve: Don't Need a Hero by Lena Austin

Protect and Serve: Don't Need a Hero
by Lena Austin

Cover art: Bryan Keller
ISBN: 978-1-60521-749-9
Genre(s): Futuristic, Paranormal, Humor & Satire
Theme(s): Shapeshifters, Men and Women in Uniform
Series: Protect and Serve
Length: Novella
Page Count: 61
http://changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1727

Blurb:
When cat shifter Petra (aka Pete) becomes the victim of "friendly fire" during the apprehension of a bank robber, panther shifter cop Apollo Jones feels obligated to make sure she's okay. Pete's positive she doesn't need another hero in her life, and Apollo's out to prove her wrong.

Excerpt:
Name: Lt. Apollo Jones

Timestamp: 1934

Incident Date: August 17, 2027

Incident time logged as 0837

I finished my boiled eggs and tucked my lunch bag under the seat. It was my turn to drive, and I didn’t want the straps tangling in my feet if I had to get out in a hurry. “Jeff, if you don’t quit eating like that, you’re gonna be in the fat boy program on the force.”

Jeff Petoskey patted his slightly rounded belly and grinned sheepishly. “Ya think, Jonesy? Married life is making me soft.” He polished his new wedding band. He’d just come back from his honeymoon, and his uniform still fit a bit more snugly than usual. I’d given him the usual razzing about married life making him slow and fat that morning already, but he’s a good cop. He’d be back in shape in a day or two.

The Motorola radio squawked. Bank robbery in progress at the Bank and Trust just up the road from where we sat. Jeff and I glanced at each other. Something in my heart and mind said this was going to be ugly. Call it instinct. I didn’t have another word for it, and I still don’t.

Jeff slapped his collar mike. “546, we’re on it.” He threw the remains of his lunch into the bag and burped. “Let’s roll!”

I flipped on the lights and siren and hit the accelerator. Lunch break was over, and the old parking lot we’d been using as a stop was emptier than the dreams of the former owners.

I wove easily in and out of what little traffic still used the city streets. Out there in suburbia, it wasn’t so bad, but the inner city was quite literally turning into an urban jungle full of predators, who were slowly expanding out into the outer limits. Pretty soon, even our relatively quiet precinct would suffer the same fate and become abandoned by the law.

I personally think we should just wall in the inner city and hit it with a bomb. Any of the few remaining good citizens still living there would either have to take warning and flee or suffer the consequences. Either that, or it’s going to take superheroes, and I stopped believing in that kind of bullshit when I stopped reading comic books.

We drove into chaos. The radio went nuts trying to keep up with the calls, but the main points were clear. A lone robber, dressed in medieval armor, of all things, had managed to get out of the bank and was on the move.

A man in a businessman’s jumpsuit flagged us down from the left. He waved frantically toward a fast food joint. “Some sonovabitch in chain mail shot my car! He went that way!”

“Fuck me running!” Jeff called it in that the perp had been spotted heading into the Mickey-D’s on Beach and Kernan. Shit, on a Saturday morning, the place was likely packed with people stocking up on their carbs before heading to the beach.

I just cursed and hit the gas, ran over the curb, knocked down some old sago palms decorating the median between the businesses, and arrived first.

The place was crazy. People burst out of the doors in front of us, screaming and heading for the protection of their own vehicles or anywhere else they could. Most of them made it out of the parking lot at lightning speed.

In the confusion, three more police vehicles arrived, blocking off the exits. The design of the fast food joint’s landscape hemmed in all escapes with a fenced kiddy playground, streetlight poles, and a copse of large, decorative trees. The heat wasn’t so bad, but the trees still provided a barrier, if not shade. The perp was trapped.

Jeff opened his door and used the thing for a shield seconds before I jammed the car into park and did the same. Jeff barked into his collar mike, “Where is he? How hard can it be to find a guy in armor?”

“He’s in the gray Mercedes in the drive though! Window tinting makes it hard to see if he’s got hostages!” Was that Lt. Anders? Someone check his voice recording. Anyway, I thought it was Anders.

“I got a bead on him from the side!” I didn’t catch the names on the speakers. It’ll be recorded.

“I can’t see anyone in the passenger seat, nor in the back! I think they ran with the rest of the customers!”

Gunfire rang out. I’m fairly sure our dashcams and throat mikes caught the sound.

“Shit! He’s firing.” That was Cussler, I’m sure of it. He’s got a mouth like a trucker.

“Shots fired! Shots fired! Officer down!” Darcy. I think. She was Ander’s partner that day. Guess that was when Anders got his bullet.

“I see him!” Jeff fired once, but all he did was hit the windshield. The old glass spider-webbed, making it more difficult to see if anyone at all, even the perp, was in the car.

I shouted to my partner. “If you can see him, he can see you!”

Too late. A red-and-silver arm appeared out the window and fired.

Jeff cried out, and his face was covered in blood. He fell backward, out of sight. Over the sirens and gunfire, I couldn’t hear anything, but I remember I reported into my collar mike anyway. “Officer down! Repeat, officer down. 546!”

To say adrenaline raced through me was an understatement. Time slowed down, and I narrowed my focus. Two officers out of our dwindling force was bad enough. Blue took care of their own. I was pissed beyond belief. Jeff was a fucking newlywed who didn’t deserve to die.

Apparently, my fellow officers felt the same. The Mercedes became a target, then Swiss cheese. The windshield shattered, and the bank robber/cop-killer died in a barrage of hot lead.

One by one, the guns stopped firing.

In the silence that followed, I heard the worst sound in the world, and the one we all dreaded, coming from inside the Mercedes -- a child screaming for her mommy.

http://changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1727

Monday, August 01, 2011

All Wrapped Up Vol 3 by Jade Buchanan, Marteeka Karland, Lena Austin, Emma Ray Garrett

All Wrapped Up Vol. 3 (Collection)

by Lena Austin and Marteeka Karland and Emma Ray Garrett and Jade BuchananCover art: Bryan Keller

ISBN: 978-1-59596-822-7

Genre(s): Futuristic, Paranormal, Action Adventure/ Suspense, Sci-Fi, BDSM, Collections

Theme(s): Ménage, Bisexual and More, Vampires

Series: All Wrapped Up Multi-Author

Length: Collection

Page Count: 306

http://changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1644

Blurb:
Bound to Please by Jade Buchanan: Melaina Carey has a secret she's desperate to keep hidden from her nest mates. Tristan and Dougal are going to have to prove they're man -- and vampire -- enough to control her every move. (Warning: Includes blood play, rope bondage, and erotic pain.)
Caught by Marteeka Karland: Zuri Starbreeze is a bounty hunter on the trail of a cold-blooded killer. What she doesn't know is that Cade's hunting her. Zuri can resist and risk the wrath of a killer, or submit -- and risk losing herself in a den kinky bondage and wild sex. No matter her choice, she won't come out of this the same.
Bonds of Matrimony by Lena Austin: Alex has had enough of living with a hellcat who jumps at the sound of a ringing com unit. He and Millicent have become a dysfunctional pair bond. He'd give anything to have things the way they were, but if Millicent knew his true fantasies, she'd run. Wouldn't she?
Torqued by Emma Ray Garrett: Being a dominatrix gives Agent Pru Gordon access to the Nightside -- and lets her fulfill her fantasies at the same time. It's the perfect life. Until she meets vampires Gage Mills and Ro Thomas. When two of the darkest predators around meet up with the best Controller alive, things are bound to get messy... Just what the Domme ordered.
Publisher's Note: Please note that not all genres and themes apply to the entire collection.
Excerpt:
All Wrapped Up 3 (Collection)
Excerpt from Bound to Please
Jade Buchanan
All rights reserved.
Copyright ©2011 Jade Buchanan

This e-book file contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language which some may find offensive and which is not appropriate for a young audience. Changeling Press E-Books are for sale to adults, only, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Please store your files wisely, where they cannot be accessed by under-aged readers.
"They're gonna be super pissed," Malcolm observed, shrugging off the glare she sent him.
"Well, what the hell do you expect me to do, Colly?" she called him by his nickname. "I couldn't stay there and go through a repeat of this morning. They're gonna want to know what's wrong with me."
She shook her head, sliding off the picnic table to pace in front of it. A flash of blue and red caught her eye, the swing set beckoning her. Whispered promises of another time in her life, one where she wasn't afraid. Back when she didn't know anything about the monsters in the night. Back before she became one of them.
She could hear the sounds of children, screaming and laughing, flitting through her mind. The glorious, clean smell of summer. The exhilarating rush of running around the slide, desperate to be the next one to go down its heated metal length, wincing when it burned sensitive thighs under colorful shorts.
They would fight over who got to sit on the yellow, laughing duck. His orange beak a bright splash of color, a counterpoint to Mr. Frog with his red mouth on the other end of the teeter-totter. She and Malcolm had spent years here, always the same.
She sat down in one of the swings, the strip of blue rubber conforming to her hips. Pushing off with her feet, she swung back and forth slowly. "When did it change, Colly? When did it become so faded, so rusty?" she asked, contemplatively.
Malcolm shrugged, flicking his gaze around the playground.
"The paint is peeling on the metal. The fence is five different colors from continuously having to paint over the graffiti. Was it always like this and we just didn't notice it?" she mused, kicking her feet up. Looking back at Malcolm, she saw him watching her, studying her.
"Things change, Mel." He met her eyes. "What are you gonna tell them?"
Now it was her turn to shrug.
"You have to tell them something," he said, a hint of impatience in his voice.
Cocking her head, she listened to the sounds of the night. The squeak of the chains as she pushed back and forth on the swing, the rustling of the trees, the slow inhale and exhale coming from her brother. "I can't tell them the truth."
"Why not?" he asked with a huff. Standing up, Malcolm placed both hands on his hips, glowering at her.
"Seriously? You seriously have to ask me that? Uh, maybe because I'm a fucking vampire and I can't even do the whole vamp thing normally."
"They're gonna find out one way or another. It might be better if you just tell them. I mean, c'mon! You can't be the only person to ever have this problem. It's not like it isn't treatable and --" Mel threw out her hand, startling her brother and cutting off his next words. She froze, breathing erratically. Ten seconds went by, incredibly slow.
"Well? Aren't you going to finish your sentence, Malcolm? Pray tell, what exactly could Melaina have that is treatable?" Tristan growled, his normally calm voice ragged. His accent roughened, becoming more noticeable.
They appeared out of the night, separating from the shadows that had kept them hidden from view. Tristan glided forward, followed by the dark, stalking figure of Dougal.
The two men separated, surrounding her.
Dougal slid up behind her, grabbing the metal chains of the swing in his large hands, halting her movement when she tried to get up. Tristan blocked her front, staring down at her fiercely.
Crap, it wasn't supposed to be like this. She hadn't had enough time to come up with an excuse. Stalling for time, she remained silent.
"Uh, guys..." Malcolm said, trailing off when Tristan threw him a smoldering glare.
"Leave us," Dougal snarled.
"Yeah, I'll just be going then. Right... I'll just be..." Malcolm ignored her pleading eyes. Turning swiftly, he walked out of the park, leaving her with the two vampires.
"Now, we can do this the hard way, or we can do it the easy way. But when we walk out of this park, we are going to know what is wrong with you. Is that clear?" Dougal whispered, caressing the shell of her ear with his breath.
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Thursday, June 02, 2011

Sex World 1: Assassin by Lena Austin

Sex World 1: Assassin

by Lena Austin
Cover art: Bryan Keller

ISBN: 978-1-60521-652-2

Genre(s): Futuristic

Theme(s): Gay and Lesbian

Series: Sex World

Length: Novella

http://changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1621

Blurb:

Sex engineer Paris Cordell's first assignment is to assess and eliminate -- if necessary -- the oligarch and his son if they're a threat to the empire. For Sumner, the son of the mad oligarch, Paris is more than a threat to his life. Paris will threaten Sumner's very humanity and call it into question.

Publisher's Note: A previous version of Lena Austin's Assassin was previously published with another house. The Changeling Press edition has undergone substantial revisions.

Excerpt:

Sex World 1: Assassin
Lena Austin
All rights reserved.
Copyright ©2011 Lena Austin

This e-book file contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language which some may find offensive and which is not appropriate for a young audience. Changeling Press E-Books are for sale to adults, only, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Please store your files wisely, where they cannot be accessed by under-aged readers.

Having a laser pistol shoved in his face was not how Paris wanted his first assignment as a sex engineer to begin on Aerie. After all, sex engineers of his rank were expensive contractors hired only by the wealthiest and most powerful. He'd expected something more... welcoming.
From the moment Paris had stepped into the shuttle for the short trip to the spaceport on Aerie, he had a sense of foreboding. Aerie looked like a nice enough planet from space, with a good mix of industrialized areas as well as green belts left natural, as required by Consortium planetary grants.
Nevertheless, something about the planet gave him the shivers.
Maybe it was his fellow passengers. Most were contractors like himself, of various types. He'd spotted the collar tabs of miners, construction, and administration. All of them seemed grim and unwilling to speak, even to others of their own disciplines. Oddly, there were only males on the flight, no females. The trip down was silent enough to be unnerving. It made Paris miss Nick and Kate, his escorts on the cruise ship that had brought him to Aerie, even more.
The landing went reasonably well, and they'd begun touchdown when a loud whump! rattled the shuttle. No one had been foolish enough to release their safety straps, but a few hand-held databanks went flying.
Paris caught a glimpse of fire outside his window, and so did his seatmate, an administrator. "Aw, damn. Insurgents." A stream of invective followed, peppered with the odd comment like, "I was warned. But I had to be greedy, didn't I?"

* * * He allowed himself to be thrown bodily into a transport bed with the other contractors who'd been spared. All were high-ranking individuals of their disciplines. He heard his soft Maxim silk clothing rip as it caught on a miner's boot when he hit the bed of the truck. Another contractor, his eyes wide with shock, was thrown in, and the doors slammed shut. Outside, screams, shouts, and the occasional firing of weapons could be heard, even through the thick plating.
"Why are we here?" yelled one contractor, his eyes wide with hysteria.
Paris didn't blame him. Violence was rare in civilized society.
"Idiot! We're hostages, I think," one man shouted over the roar of the engine firing up. The miner struggled to sit upright and put his back to the wall of the vehicle to aid in balance. "I was told this happened. Our companies might put up our ransom. If not, most of us will be shipped out in the belly of free trader ships to slave worlds. They'll get their money out of our hides, one way or another." The man seemed resigned to his fate.
"Most?" Paris asked.
"Sharp, aren't you, Engineer? Yeah. A few of us will die, to prove they are serious." The mining engineer snarled a little, and his lip curled contemptuously. "Don't worry. You're a sex engineer. If your company doesn't pay, you'll fetch a high price at the auctions and be some rich out-system oligarch's toy. Not much of a change for you. A whore is a whore."
Paris couldn't get his mouth to work, he was so stunned. Such a parochial attitude had died out on most civilized planets.
A bitter laugh sounded from behind Paris. An environmental systems engineer, his hands also bound in front of him, helped Paris sit upright. "Oh, and I'm sure you are absolutely celibate, Master Miner! What? You don't like sex? Too bad. Most of us do. Just as I like the pretty baubles you dig up from the earth. I like a little entertainment in my life, you parochial sonofabitch. Keep your mouth shut."
The others laughed, some with an edge to their voices, but the humor helped. Paris smiled a little grimly. Perversely, he felt the need to defend the miner and smooth the waters. The hostages should not be at each other's throats. The situation was bad enough. "Everyone is entitled to his or her opinions."
Someone sniggered. "Yeah, well I like my procreation with fun attached. If he wants to beat off into a bottle to avoid contaminating himself with sex, he's welcome to it."
The laughter that followed was cut off sharply when the truck lurched to a sudden stop, and a huge boom deafened them all. Paris's ears rang, and he was thrown bodily into the others along with the rest of the latecomers. His green silk shirt, meant for casual travel and not hard wear, ripped half off. His pants, of a slightly sturdier fabric, ripped down one leg but left nothing exposed that would cause comment. Good thing. He wasn't wearing underclothes again.
Silence.
After all the screaming and weapons fire, the sudden quiet was eerie. Even the truck engine had stopped. The contractors helped each other into more comfortable positions, removing themselves and others off the poor fellows at the bottom of the pile.
"What's happening?" one fellow whispered.
"Nothing," Paris joked feebly. "That's the point. We've stopped moving, and I don't think this is our destination."
The back door slammed open, flooding the dark interior with light. Consortium Guards flanked one man who carried a bloody knife as if it were a part of his hand. He was silhouetted against the brightness, but Paris had to admire the blue-black color of his hair.
"Gentlefolk, would you be kind enough to step from the vehicle, please? We are your rescuers." The black haired man gave a short bow.
Though it was not an orderly exit, those closest to the doors scrambled and were removed by the guard. Paris moved when it was his turn, but the man put a hand on his arm. "Would you be Paris Cordell, the sex engineer?"
The man's bottle-green eyes shut and his body relaxed when Paris nodded. "Thank the Profit. I feared you'd died in the attack. Please come with me." He slashed Paris' wrist restraints with the knife, and then wiped the blade on a dead insurgent's uniform. Many of the Oligarchs worshiped The Profit, a perverted version of an old religion, now based solely on the maxims of business. Therefore, it was easy to assume this killer was a member of the Oligarch's staff.
Paris was hustled by the man to a waiting armored vehicle of considerable might. He might have enjoyed the view of his rescuer's stunning profile and even more impressive physique had he been less rattled. The black hair fell nearly to the man's waist, held in place by a small silver band at the nape of his neck.
The man was equally appraising of Paris's exposed body. "You'll undoubtedly want to clean up and change before meeting the oligarch. Let's get you to the palace." He turned and dismissed the man at the wheel of the vehicle with a wave of his hand. "I'll drive. Return to duty." The guard exited the car, saluted, and disappeared.
His rescuer waited only long enough for Paris to strap in before he whipped the transport around and left the scene of carnage behind. "We'll be there in a pico," he commented cheerfully. "Sorry about the insurgents. They're getting more aggressive."
Paris studied his companion's face, thinking he discerned a certain tiny spark of satisfaction in that last statement. This was a man worth getting to know...

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Sex World 1: Assassin

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