Taste of Cyn

Sinful Rewards Excerpt

By Cynthia Sax on June 8, 2014

I’m visiting Lia Davis’ online home today, sharing a family friendly excerpt from Sinful Rewards 1 (woot! the countdown is on!).

http://www.authorliadavis.com/2014/06/08/spotlight-sunday-sinful-rewards-1-by-cynthia-sax/

Here’s a snippet…

“Don’t let the tame excerpt fool you, Sinful Rewards is a hot, hot, HOT love triangle between Bee, a financially struggling new grad, Nicolas, a handsome billionaire with a dark secret, and Hawke, a tattooed bad boy biker. I love this story and I hope you will also!”

Sinful Rewards 1

Belinda “Bee” Carter is a good girl; at least, that’s what she tells herself. And a good girl deserves a nice guy—just like the gorgeous and moody billionaire Nicolas Rainer. He is everything she wants in a man.

Or so she thinks, until she takes a look through her telescope and sees a naked, tattooed man on the balcony across the courtyard. Hawke is mysterious, the bad boy she knows will bring only heartbreak. He has been watching her, and that makes him all the more enticing.

But when a mysterious and anonymous text message dares her to do something bad, she must decide if she is really the good girl she has always claimed to be, or if she’s willing to risk everything for her secret fantasy of being watched.

Is her mystery man the reclusive billionaire with a wild side or the darkly dangerous bad boy?

Buy Links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sinful-Rewards-1-Cynthia-Sax-ebook/dp/B00I7V89H0

Barnes And Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sinful-rewards-1-cynthia-sax/1119055390

Google: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Cynthia_Sax_Sinful_Rewards_1?id=g08ZAwAAQBAJ

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/sinful-rewards-1/id814148703?mt=11

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The Pantster’s Guide To Writing A Series

By Cynthia Sax on June 6, 2014

I’m a pantser, a writer who writes by the seat of her pants. Before starting a story, I usually know my characters, (maybe) have a glimpse at a first scene, know it will be an erotic romance, and that’s it. Yes, I can feel my plotter buddies twitching. It is chaos, I tell you, chaos! But I can’t write any other way.

I also write series, three or more stories set in the same world with characters who know each other. Sometimes there’s an overreaching story arc (defeating the big baddie or finding a man for Camille – grins). Sometimes it is a sexy brother type of series (there are three friends and I want them all to find love).

How do I write series when I don’t even know what the next scene in a story is?

It is similar to how I write a single story. With a single story, I know the ending. The two (or more) characters will find lasting love and be together. I don’t know how they’ll get there but I know that’s where the story is heading.

With a series, I have additional goals or destinations for my first (or second or third story). Yes, the two (or more) characters will be together but, in the case of the sexy brother series, at least one of the other characters will also be introduced.

In He Watches Me/He Touches Me/He Claims Me, Anna and Blaine end up together and are gloriously happy (well, as happy as our rather serious billionaire can be) but Camille, the heroine of Breaking All The Rules, is also introduced.

A story in a series with an overreaching story arc will have a third goal. At the end of the story, the two (or more) characters will be together, the main character in the next story will be introduced, AND there will be progression in the bigger mission.

How much progression?

It depends on how many stories I wish to have in the series. In the Warlord four story series, I knew I wanted all three brothers to find love. This meant at least a three part series. I also eventually wanted one of the Warlord brothers to face Tolui (the brother was supposed to kill him in the third story but Tolui refused to die). I chopped up this big end goal into smaller goals, progressively escalating the conflict and the stakes.

And this escalation is important. We’ve all read a toe curling first book in a series and wondered “How will the writer top THIS?” That’s what readers expect. If you blow up the Death Star in the first installment, you should do something even bigger or more shocking (like, say, announce that the big baddie the hero is trying to kill is dear ol’ dad) in the second installment. The conflict in the third story will be even BIGGER.

I’m a fan of circular story telling so often when crafting the final story in a series, I give a nod to the first story. Maybe I’ll mirror a scene or refer back to the first story. I also like to bring back or mention the previous couples (or more), giving readers some updates on them. This usually isn’t planned though. It is part of the pantsing magic.

Do you have some tips on writing series? What do you like about reading stories in a series?

Nathan Lawford, Blaine Technologies’ chief financial officer, is known as the Iceman. He conducts his personal and business affairs without emotion, never allowing himself to become involved with anyone. When Nate sees something or someone he wants, he negotiates, paying a simple, set monetary price.

Now he wants Camille, the company’s green-haired intern.

Camille Joplin Trent never expected to be paid to pleasure the man of her dreams. She can’t quite figure out why this is a bad thing. Nate is intelligent, handsome, sophisticated, everything she’s ever wanted in a lover and never thought she could have. Their contract is for a month, thirty lust-filled days of making every sexual fantasy they’ve ever had come true. At the end of this month, the rules state their relationship will end.

Of course, Camille has never been good at following rules.

Buy Now At Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Breaking-All-Rules-Erotic-Novella-ebook/dp/B00F2I2GXY

Buy Now At Barnes And Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/breaking-all-the-rules-cynthia-sax/1117501082

Buy Now At ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-breakingalltherules-1453084-149.html

Topics: Writing Tips | Comments Off on The Pantster’s Guide To Writing A Series

Men In Black 3 Make Up Artist

By Cynthia Sax on June 5, 2014

Since the tryst series (Tattooed Tryst, Alien Tryst and the to-be-released Tryst Denied) is a nod to the Men In Black movies, I thought I’d share some photos that I took a couple of years ago. (You can click on the photos to enlarge them)

These show the Men In Black 3 special effects make up team transforming an actor into an alien.

This transformation took many hours and multiple artists.

But the results were stunning, very alien-like. (grins)

While investigating some mysterious disappearances, Kane uncovers two secrets that change his world. He’s not entirely human. He’s also dangerously close to death. His alien grandfather has broken a sacred rule, putting his entire bloodline, including Kane, at risk of termination.

Eshe, a sexy blonde scientist with lush lips and a hot body, is Kane’s only hope to save his family. He’ll do anything to keep her safe, including fighting alien warriors, crossing vast galaxies and giving his woman the pleasure she craves again and again, using every inch of his fit physique.

In this world, passion is power and love is necessary for survival.

Buy Now At: http://www.ellorascave.com/alien-tryst.html

Buy Now At: http://www.amazon.com/Alien-Tryst-Cynthia-Sax-ebook/dp/B00K5QX8DA

Buy Now At: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-alientryst-1508009-343.html

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Writing Ménages Versus Writing Love Triangles

By Cynthia Sax on June 4, 2014

Sinful Rewards, my 12 novella serial from Avon Impulse (the first story releasing in July), is a love triangle, NOT a ménage. The two possible heroes do NOT have sex with each other. They do not sleep in the same bed with the heroine. They are extremely possessive men and they do not share anything or anyone.

I’ve written both ménages and love triangles. They are very different kinds of stories.

How are they different?

A ménage is about having both men (or women or androids or whatever ménage structure I’m writing – grins). These stories normally revolve around acceptance and tolerance, needing all three (or more) beings to complete a relationship unit. Each being in the relationship is different yet they typically have the same values, the same view of their future. They have the same vision of a happy ending and when combined, they’re stronger, better, happier, more able to achieve this destiny.

A love triangle, in contrast, is about choice, about making a life-changing decision (or collection of decisions). This decision leads the heroine (in this case, Bee) down one of two paths. These paths don’t intersect. They go in different directions, never meeting.

There’s no shared view of the future in a love triangle. If Nicolas is happy in this future, Hawke will be unhappy. If Hawke is happy, Nicolas will be unhappy. When the men are together, they’re less than, not more. They’re diminished by each other’s company. One of them is always compromising, always unhappy.

This is why it’s not possible to include even one ménage scene in Sinful Rewards. Bee can’t have Nicolas AND Hawke. In SciFi terms, they don’t exist in the same universe.

This doesn’t mean we can’t fantasize about a Nicolas-Bee-Hawke sandwich. (grins) Goodness knows I have!

Sinful Rewards 1

Belinda “Bee” Carter is a good girl; at least, that’s what she tells herself. And a good girl deserves a nice guy—just like the gorgeous and moody billionaire Nicolas Rainer. He is everything she wants in a man.

Or so she thinks, until she takes a look through her telescope and sees a naked, tattooed man on the balcony across the courtyard. Hawke is mysterious, the bad boy she knows will bring only heartbreak. He has been watching her, and that makes him all the more enticing.

But when a mysterious and anonymous text message dares her to do something bad, she must decide if she is really the good girl she has always claimed to be, or if she’s willing to risk everything for her secret fantasy of being watched.

Is her mystery man the reclusive billionaire with a wild side or the darkly dangerous bad boy?

Buy Links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sinful-Rewards-1-Cynthia-Sax-ebook/dp/B00I7V89H0

Barnes And Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sinful-rewards-1-cynthia-sax/1119055390

Topics: Coming Soon | Comments Off on Writing Ménages Versus Writing Love Triangles

Pirated Copies of Sinful Rewards 8

By Cynthia Sax on June 3, 2014

I found out today that some eBook pirates are offering downloads of Sinful Rewards 8.

Yeah, that’s a scam.

No one (other than myself) has read Sinful Rewards 8. I haven’t sent it to my editor or to a beta reader or anywhere. I don’t know what they are delivering (I suspect nothing – the download will ‘fail’) but whatever is being delivered is definitely not Sinful Rewards 8.

Folks, please be VERY careful about where you get your eBooks. Pirates aren’t offering these so-called services for free. Do you really want to risk your personal safety to save 99 cents on an eBook (an eBook which, if you request it, your libraries will safely offer to everyone for free)?

If you can’t afford my stories and don’t have access to a library, contact me. Please practice safe reading!

Sinful Rewards 1

Belinda “Bee” Carter is a good girl; at least, that’s what she tells herself. And a good girl deserves a nice guy—just like the gorgeous and moody billionaire Nicolas Rainer. He is everything she wants in a man.

Or so she thinks, until she takes a look through her telescope and sees a naked, tattooed man on the balcony across the courtyard. Hawke is mysterious, the bad boy she knows will bring only heartbreak. He has been watching her, and that makes him all the more enticing.

But when a mysterious and anonymous text message dares her to do something bad, she must decide if she is really the good girl she has always claimed to be, or if she’s willing to risk everything for her secret fantasy of being watched.

Is her mystery man the reclusive billionaire with a wild side or the darkly dangerous bad boy?

Buy Links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sinful-Rewards-1-Cynthia-Sax-ebook/dp/B00I7V89H0

Barnes And Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sinful-rewards-1-cynthia-sax/1119055390

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The Chronicles Of Riddick (Or My Love Of Vin Diesel )

By Cynthia Sax on June 3, 2014

I love beast heroes, SciFi, and villains turned hero so it should come as no surprise that The Chronicles Of Riddick, a flick combining all three of these, is one of my favorite movies.

We were first introduced to the mysterious super sexy Riddick in Pitch Black. Riddick, played by the yummy Vin Diesel, is a bad ass alien warrior with freaky eyes and a seemingly cold approach to his fellow beings.

He’s not the hero in Pitch Black. He isn’t completely bad but he certainly isn’t a good being (or even a good Furyan). I really enjoyed that The Chronicles of Riddick picks up that storyline, showing the characters years later.

There are two scenes in The Chronicles of Riddick that I absolutely adore.

The first is the scene in the prison on Crematoria. Gehenna 5, in Assassin Mine and Unleashed Menage, is a nod to Crematoria. The ‘Who’s the better killer’ game with Kyra is dang sexy (I’ll never look at tea cups the same way). When Riddick tamed the wild inmate-eating beasts, claiming “It’s an animal thing”, I needed a cold shower. Riddick is the perfect beast hero, primitive, yes, but also highly intelligent.

I also loved the scene when they’re escaping from Crematoria. Kyra is climbing the mountain. The sun is rising. We know she won’t make it, not without help.

Riddick claims to be uncaring yet we see his conflict. If he risks his life to save her, he’ll have to admit he cares and open himself to the possibility of being hurt. He’ll also have a weakness enemies can use against him (which, of course, they do).

It is a character defining moment and because Riddick hasn’t always done what is ‘right’, we’re not quite certain what his decision will be.

I recommend The Chronicles of Riddick to beast fans (if you love Laurann Dohner’s New Species series, this is a movie for you) and SciFi fans.

Darius, a Balazoid assassin, lives a solitary life structured by rigid rules. Nothing is more forbidden than his sexual attraction to Sabria, a sultry human female. Yet she’s all he thinks about. One kiss, one touch, one heart-stopping encounter in a darkened alleyway isn’t enough to satisfy his unnatural obsession. Breaking every rule on both of their planets, Darius captures Sabria and takes her for his breeder.

Sabria takes one look at Darius and she knows she’ll have him…multiple times, in all sorts of positions. She’ll voyage to the end of the known universes to prove she’s the only breeder he’ll ever desire, blazing his notions of how a female should behave.

Because the only force fiercer than a Balazoid assassin is a woman’s lust.

Buy Now: http://www.ellorascave.com/assassin-mine.html

Buy Now on ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-assassinmine-923928-340.html

Buy Now on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Assassin-Mine-Operation-Erotic-ebook/dp/B0091VFAQ8

Buy Now on B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/assassin-mine-cynthia-sax/1112677900

Topics: Guest Post | 2 Comments »

Introducing Nicolas From Sinful Rewards

By Cynthia Sax on June 2, 2014

This post has adult content. If you are under the age of eighteen years old or sensitive to adult language/situations, please do not read this post.

Sinful Rewards is a love triangle between Bee, a recent grad, Nicolas, a billionaire with a dark past, and Hawke, a tattooed biker and former Marine.

While we’re waiting for release day (July 15th!!! It is available for pre-order NOW! Woot!!!), I thought I’d give you a glimpse of Nicolas, one of the sexy men in Bee’s life. This excerpt is unedited (and posting it will likely give my editor a heart attack – grins) so please forgive any errors.

“But you want a reward.” Nicolas’ eyes gleam. “A new purse, perhaps?” He waves his long slender fingers at my purse. “I can give you that.” His gaze drops. “Or would you like new shoes?”

I frown down at my feet. What’s wrong with my shoes?

“Perhaps you’d prefer to have use of my limo and driver,” Nicolas continues, his voice cold and businesslike. “I’m wealthy, Miss Carter. What do you want?”

If he offered me a reward with genuine gratitude, I might allow him to buy me a new purse, but he isn’t happy about making this offer.

“Okay, I’ll tell you what I want.” I cross my arms in front of me, fed up with his bullshit. “The next time someone does something nice for you, I want you to say thank you.”

Nicolas blinks, his eyelashes obscenely thick and long. “Is that all?” His voice is edged with irony.

“No, that isn’t all.” My rage boils over, fed by guilt and disappointment and betrayal. I gave him my loyalty. He should deserve it. Damn it. “Introduce yourself when you call that someone. Ask her when it is convenient to meet with you.”

Nicolas’ eyes widen. He’s shocked I’m talking to him this way. Well, he should brace himself. I’m not done with him yet.

“Don’t make her wait on a street corner as though she’s a two-bit hooker. Pick her up at her workplace.” I glare at him, wondering how I ever found him attractive.

Nicolas smiles and the mystery is solved. The man is drop dead gorgeous. “I was kind of a jerk, wasn’t I?” he admits sheepishly.

“No, you weren’t kind of a jerk.” I won’t let him off that easily. “You were a complete asshole.”

Nicolas stares at me. I meet his gaze squarely, not hiding any of my irritation. His lips twitch. Is he laughing at me? I narrow my eyes even more and his shoulders shake. My fists clench, the temptation to jab him in the eyeballs compounding by the second.

Nicolas throws his head back and barks with laughter, breaking our silent standoff. “He’s right.” His eyes sparkle with mirth. “You’re priceless.”

I don’t know who he is and I don’t ask. I doubt I’ll like the answer.

Now that Nicolas is no longer in such a pissy mood, his good looks improve even more, the skin around his eyes crinkling, his lips curling upward. “Let’s try this again.” He leans forward and I breathe deeply, filling my nostrils with his expensive cologne. “Hello. I’m Nicolas Rainer.” He holds out his hand.

I glide my palm against his and his fingers wrap around mine. His grip is solid and sure, an embrace a woman can rely on. This, at least, is as I expected.

“Thank you for retrieving my phone,” he murmurs. “I appreciate it.”

“I would have done that for anyone, Mr. Rainer.” I eye him warily, not trusting his sudden amiability. “Clearly,” I mutter under my breath.

His eyes glow. He heard me. “Call me Nicolas, please.” He releases my hand. “I’m…” He shifts in his seat, appearing uncomfortable. “I’m not accustomed to people doing nice things for me without wanting something in return.”

This heartbreaking confession deflates all of my anger and bolsters my battered opinion of him. “That’s the saddest thing I’ve ever heard.”

Red streaks across his cheeks. “It doesn’t excuse my actions.” Nicolas meets my gaze, holding it. “I’m sorry.” Sincerity reflects in his eyes. “If I ever act like that again, tell me.”

Sinful Rewards 1

Belinda “Bee” Carter is a good girl; at least, that’s what she tells herself. And a good girl deserves a nice guy—just like the gorgeous and moody billionaire Nicolas Rainer. He is everything she wants in a man.

Or so she thinks, until she takes a look through her telescope and sees a naked, tattooed man on the balcony across the courtyard. Hawke is mysterious, the bad boy she knows will bring only heartbreak. He has been watching her, and that makes him all the more enticing.

But when a mysterious and anonymous text message dares her to do something bad, she must decide if she is really the good girl she has always claimed to be, or if she’s willing to risk everything for her secret fantasy of being watched.

Is her mystery man the reclusive billionaire with a wild side or the darkly dangerous bad boy?

Buy Links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sinful-Rewards-1-Cynthia-Sax-ebook/dp/B00I7V89H0

Barnes And Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sinful-rewards-1-cynthia-sax/1119055390

Topics: Coming Soon | 1 Comment »

Great Review For Dragons Lords Collection

By Cynthia Sax on June 1, 2014

Kyraninse at Night Owl Erotica shares

“The stories are short, fun, and hot — perfect for unwinding, or winding up of a more entertaining nature.”

You can read the full review here

http://www.nightowlreviews.com/v5/Reviews/Kyraninse-reviews-Dragon-Lords-Collection-by-Cynthia-Sax

Princess Taja dreams of a scarred dragon lord. Weary of waiting, Lady Sabine issues a sexy ultimatum to her laughing knight. A determined Lady Trinia faces fire, wax and an active volcano to win her red dragon. Lady Guinevere frolics naked with twin warriors. When the village needs a virgin sacrifice, Rhoslyn volunteers. Lady Celestria faces her dragon lord on the battlefield.

This collection contains the previously released novellas Dragon Lord’s Mate, Dragon Lord’s Prize, Dragon Lord’s Fire, Her Dragon Lords, Dragon Lord’s Captive, and Dragon Lord’s Destiny.

Buy Now At Changeling: http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=2198

Buy Now At Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00J2GEHDY

Buy Now At ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-dragonlordscollection-1452827-146.html

Buy Now At B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dragon-lords-cynthia-sax/1118935376

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