Lisa Carlisle on the Something New, Something Naughty Blog Hop

Welcome! I’m one of the authors participating in the Something New, Something Naughty blog hop. Be sure to read all the way through to hear about the great prizes in this hop. My something new and something naughty revolves around books–surprise, surprise. I’m shopping around for new books to read, new authors to try. Sexy and memorable vampires, shapeshifters, gargoyles, and even humans–throw them my way!

In December, I sent off two books to my editor–sexy romances with shapeshifters, vampires, or bounty hunters. Much fun, but man was I beat after writing a novel in one month for Nanowrimo and revising it the next month. In the meantime, I’ve dusted off military romances I began several years ago and never finished. In 2013, I need to finish these stories and they may even become their own series. Woah, how’s that for a resolution! I didn’t even plan to do that until now. Thank you, blog hop, for making me commit!

I’m also pleased to announce that Ellora’s Cave just published my second novel with them on December 28th, called Fiery Nights! I LOVED writing this book–loved writing about the developing relationship between Tristan and Maya. I hope you check it out and enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Fiery Nights

Fiery Nights by Lisa CarlisleHe may own a Goth nightclub, but Tristan Stone avoids peopleβ€”the darkness that surrounds them drains him. When he sees Maya for the first time, alone on the dance floor, a light surrounds her. He must discover who she is and what gives her power. He wants her, must have her.

Maya sees a man with haunting eyes watching her from the back of the club. She feels their connection, but thinks it’s merely physical attraction. Their passion ignites, overpowering them, and they must work together to understand their connection. The heat of their passion could send their world up in flames.

Excerpt

Maya

I hadn’t been back since the fire.

Whoever had bought the club had kept the black brick exterior with the painted black windows, ensconcing the club in mystery. Passersby down this hidden alley might think it an abandoned warehouse, unless they got close enough to look up into the recessed doorway to see it flanked by two watchful gargoyle statues.

I felt a moment of hesitation before I walked down the alley. When I used to come with Nike, I never felt threatened. We’d come after long shifts at the firehouse to unwind and dance off some steam. I’d practically bounce down the alleyway so I could get inside sooner.

But now, on my own, the creepiness of the alleyway set in. I wrapped my long black leather trench coat tightly around my body to shield my fishnet-covered legs as if protecting myself. It could be dangerous walking alone through warehouse alleys near the waterfront.

No wonder Vamps was hidden back here. You wouldn’t want an underground club on the main drag, would you?

My Mary Jane heels clicked loudly on the cement. The further I walked, the closer the clicks were.

Easy, Maya, I chastised myself. You’re going to break into a trot in a second.

Finally I made it to the front entrance and pulled on the heavy wooden doors with steel bars intersecting in the middle and was rewarded by a familiar figure.

β€œByron, you’re still here!” I said to the extra-large bouncer who had an extra-large heart.

β€œMaya, where have ya been?” He threw his enormous arms wide and I rushed in, aware that I was grabbing him tighter than warranted, probably due to relief after my misgivings walking here alone.

β€œWhoa, girl, you must have really missed me,” he said before he let me go.

β€œOf course I did. It’s been forever. How have you been?”

β€œBeen survivin’. Taking odd jobs here and there while they rebuilt this place. You saw the damage from the explosion.”

β€œYes, I remember.” It wasn’t something I could forget any time soon.

β€œWhy you here alone tonight?” he asked. β€œWhere’s your partner in crime?”

β€œNike? I haven’t seen her since the fire.”

β€œAre you kidding me? It’s been whatβ€”a year?”After I nodded, he asked, β€œWhat happened with her then? One of the bartenders told me how she saw her go upstairs with the former owner that night. What do you thinkβ€”they hooked up?”

I didn’t know how much to tell about Nike and Michel, even though I was still hurt that I hadn’t seen heard from her in months. Sure, she sent postcards from time to time, but it wasn’t the same. We were like thisβ€”if you could see me, you’d know I was wrapping my index and middle fingers together. I know Byron was concerned about her, but I also didn’t want to perpetuate any rumors.

β€œWord spreads quickly around here, doesn’t it?” I chose to avoid the juicy part of the question and answered, β€œLast I heard she was traveling around Europe.” I left out the part that she was with Michel.

We were interrupted by a couple who opened the door. He was wearing a red velvet smoking jacket a la Gomez Addams, but didn’t pull off the look completely with his dirty-blond hair. While they showed their IDs to Byron and paid the cover charge, I looked at her outfit to see if she was sporting a Morticia-like dress. To my surprise, she was wearing a cowgirl outfitβ€”hat, tassels, boots and a very short khaki shirt. Not a usual costume for a goth club, but she pulled it off.

Β Note to self: see if you can pull off a sexy cowgirl outfit.

After they passed through the next set of doors, Byron asked, β€œSo you’re solo tonight?”

β€œHopefully not all night,” I lifted an eyebrow. β€œHow’s the eye candy in there?”

β€œYou know, the usual. Lots of weirdos.”

β€œJust my type.”

β€œWho you kiddin’? I’ve never seen you leave with anyone besides your girl Nike.”

β€œByron. I haven’t been out in months. I went on some crappy dates this past year and realized I’m happier just being on my own. So all I’ve done lately is work. Which means the only males I’ve encountered are coworkers and they smell pretty rank after a twenty-four-hour shift. Since Halloween is on a Saturday this year, and Halloween was always the best night of the year here, I decided to climb out of my self-imposed isolation and make an appearance.”

β€œWell then, get in there and be a naughty girl.” Byron smacked me playfully on the ass to push me on. Then he said, β€œWait.” He took my hands and extended them out to the side.

β€œLet me get a good look at you. See what outfit you’re sporting tonight. Are you wearing a costume under there?”

I cocked my head as I took my hands back to open my leather trench coat shawl, which could fit in just perfectly at a gothic club or a Renaissance fair, but not too many other places. Tonight I was wearing a sexy little pirate wench costume, with a laced-up corset top and short leather miniskirt. β€œDoes this warrant your approval?”

He put his hand on his chin as he sized me up. β€œNot bad. I’ve seen you in worse. Still trying to forget the blue velvet gown, black combat boots debacle.”

β€œThat was hot,” I protested.

He raised an eyebrow before his gaze moved up to my hair. β€œAnd you’ve gone back to black hair, I see?”

β€œTechnically blue-black. There’s only so much color I can get away with at work, being a professional and all.” I winked. Lately, I’d been alternating between blue-black and a magenta tint, which was about as much as I could manage without the chief giving me the look. If I was feeling spunky and wanted to sport a hot pink or blue, I had to wear a wig. Could you imagine a firefighter with pink hair coming to your aid to deal with your distress call? I didn’t think so.

β€œAll right, you get my seal of approval. And you know that’s not so easy, princess. Go on in.”

I kissed him on the cheek and walked down the dark tunnel lit by candelabras attached to the stone walls. A new sign adorned the door leading to the main club area. Dante’s quote was carved into the wood: Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter Here.

β€œBut Maya,” he called after me. β€œLeave some of the pretty boys for me.”

β€œObviously,” I said, rolling my eyes. β€œSo not my style.”

Β * * * * *

Much of Vamps looked the same, yet much of it had changed. Gargoyles still guarded from their perches around the club. The three smaller dance platforms were replaced by one larger stage. They now had live bands perform up there as indicated by posters adorning the walls. Or when the stage was free as it was now, it was covered with uninhibited dancers who wanted to be watched.

I was worried that the vibe of the club wouldn’t survive the transition. Some clubs try too hard and end up seeming phony. Vamps always had its own style. Some called it goth for the prevalence of goth-inspired dress and music. But they played other music as well.

Others called it a fetish club for the freaky revealing outfits many chose to wear. Black duct tape pasted over nipples has been seen more than once. And the sexy futuristic outfits with hulking boots were a common choice. But to me a fetish club alluded to kinky sex out in the open, which wasn’t the case here. I’d never caught anyone doing itβ€”but I have seen some couples get pretty close on the dance floor or in a corner.

I’d call it more of an underground club. One that was frequented by people who didn’t stick to conventional dress and music and followed their own path, rather than worrying what other people thought. Whatever the club was, it was where I fit in.

But I wouldn’t want my fellow firefighters to see me in my sexy pirate outfit tonight.

Continuing to look around and assess the club, I thought it still had an authentic feel. The red marble bar hadn’t survived the fire, I noted. But it was still mannedβ€”or womannedβ€”by the hot bartender with pink hair and a nice rack. I looked over the drink menu posted above the draft beer.

β€œWhat’s in a Tempting Fate?” I asked her.

β€œSouthern Comfort, Amaretto, vodka, pomegranate juice, pineapple juice, grenadine,” she rolled out in a velvety voice that was as sexy as she was.

β€œSold,” I said, banging an imaginary gavel.

β€œYou won’t regret it,” she said.

After she gave me my drink, I toasted nobody in particular, well, I guess myself, thinking here’s to tempting fate. Then I watched the crowd as I tasted the drink. It was exquisite and I took another large sip. Maybe I’d pay for it tomorrow, but it was gooood.

When I heard a remix of Type O Negative’s Cinnamon Girl, I left my drink at the bar to slink my way amid the gyrating bodies. My favorite band, one of my favorite songs. Tragic that the super-hot singer died so young.

In a sea of black-clad bodies, I blended right in. It had been months since I danced, but I quickly found my rhythm and lost myself in the music, dancing with the crowd. I didn’t feel the least bit self-conscious that I was alone.

That isβ€”until I felt his eyes on me.

You know the feeling when someone is watching you and you’re suddenly aware of it? I felt that and looked up. A tall guy dressed all in blackβ€”naturallyβ€”stood alone at the right side of the bar.

Something about that gaze arrested me and I stopped dancing. Dark eyes, almost black, on a face that looked as angelic as a young Jim Morrison. The black hair was a devil-may-care length, past his chin but not quite to his shoulders. Instead of the rock star’s signature black leather pants, this guy was wearing a cape over dark clothing.

His eyes defied the angelic appearance. Dark, penetrating eyes. The eyes of someone who was troubledβ€”maybe haunted.

Why was he staring at me like that? Didn’t he know my weakness was a dark, brooding bad boy?

My lips parted as if they wanted to say something. But what did I want to say? And he couldn’t hear me anyway.

And then with a swoop of his cape, he was gone.

I stood there for a few more moments trying to process what just happened. Was some hot guy in the corner watching me? Who then took off with a flourish of his cape?

It seemed very Bela Lugosi-ishβ€”another dark, brooding bad boy. I tried to shake off my confusion as Cinnamon Girl ended.

The DJ mixed in a version of David Bowie and Trent Reznor’s I’m Afraid of Americans. It took me another moment or two to brush off the effect that dark stranger had on me. I thought to hell with that guy and then got back into my groove.

—–

To learn more or buy now, visit Ellora’s Cave or Amazon.

—-

Be sure to comment below for your chance to win a digital copy of Smoldering Nights, the first book in my Underground Encounters series with Ellora’s Cave. All comments on the blog are entered to win the Grand PrizeΒ  Giveaways:

One lucky winner will receive the grand prize of a $60 gift certificate to EdenFantasys.

visit Eden Fantasys at edenfantasys (dot) com

Two other winners will receive a $25 gift certificate to their choice of the following book sites:Β Amazon,Β All Romance eBooks,Β Barnes & Noble, orΒ Total-E-Bound.

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Adriana Kraft
Adriana Kraft
Alisha Paige/Ruby Vines
Addicted to Genre Bending
Ann Cory
Ann Cory
Cassandra Carr
Hot Blogging with Heart
Cherie Noel
Great Expectations
Diane Thorne
Diane Thorne – Erotic Romance Author
Donna George Storey
Sex, Food, and Writing
Donna Michaels
Romaginative Fiction-Donna’s Dish
Elise VanCise
Gladiator’s Pen
Harlie Williams
Harlie Williams, Writer
Helena Harker
Open the Door to Your Fantasies
Jennifer
Wright

Jennifer
Wright’s Blog
Justus Roux
Where Love and Erotic Know No Boundaries
Kayelle Allen
Unstoppable Heroes
Kelli
Scott

Lip
Service
Kendall McKenna
Love and Dog Tags
Lisabet Sarai
Beyond Romance
Lisa Carlisle
Lisa Carlisle’s News
Lyndi Lamont
Lyndi’s Love Notes
M. S. Spencer
M. S. Spencer Tale Spinner
Marie
Sexton

Marie
Sexton
May Water
May Water’s Erotica
Michelle Moon
Ink Dipped Moon
Mona Karel
Mona Karel
Blog
Naomi Bellina
Naomi Bellina Adventurous Erotic Romance
Nicole Morgan
Bringing Passion To Life
Rose Anderson
Calliopes Writing Tablet
Roz Lee
Roz Lee
S. Dora
S. Dora
Sapphire Phelan
Sapphire Phelan’s Passion Corner
Stormie Kent
Stormie Kent’s Musings
Suz deMello
Fearless, Fast-paced Fiction
Synithia Williams
Synithia Williams
Victoria Pinder
Victoria Pinder Romance Author
Virginia Nelson
Virginia Nelson, Author

58 thoughts on “Lisa Carlisle on the Something New, Something Naughty Blog Hop”

  1. I LOVE your books. Thanks for particapating in the hop. Fiery Nights sound like a buy right now, so many books, so little time
    vera28546 at yahoo (dot) com

    1. Thank you, Vera! I agree. So many books I want to read, too.
      Hope you enjoy Fiery Nights. I loved, loved, loved writing it!

  2. Felicia M. Ciaudelli

    How cool – thank you so much for sharing with us – and the “soundtrack” you mentioned – Trent Reznor and David Bowie – I am REALLY in love!

    mrschopchop(at)verizon(dot)net

    1. Cool, Felicia! You’re inspiring me to add the playlists for my third and fourth books in the series, which I’ve submitted to my editor.
      Good luck!
      Lisa

  3. I’m hooked for sure. This series sounds AMAZING based on the excerpt. Thanks for the fun blog hop!
    sbereza22 at gmail.com

  4. Okay, I’m in love with Maya — what a fantastic character, I like her attitude (“Didn’t he know my weakness was a dark, brooding bad boy?: – brilliant!). Fiery Nights sounds awesome.

    1. Thanks, Lena! I love Maya, too. (And dark brooding bad boys!) She’s a tough firefighter, but so quirky. I had so much fun writing this book about Maya and Tristan. Hope you read Fiery Nights and find out how their relationship develops.
      Lisa

  5. Christine Sheets

    I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again.. I LOVE these blog hops.. I meet so many new to me authors such as yourself. This series sounds fantastic and the excerpt definitely leaves you wanting more!
    Best wishes

    Christine S
    cms72023 at gmail dot com

    1. Thanks, Christine! The first two books in my Underground Encounters series are out and the next two are in with my editor.
      Good luck!
      Lisa

  6. That sounds interesting! I’m glad making more time to read was one of my resolutions this year.

    dancingcelt at gmail dot com

  7. Def got to add that one to my TBR list!! Loved the excerpt!!
    Thanks for hopping!
    grapeapril75(AT)gmail(DOT)com

  8. I look forward to learning more about Tristan and Maya. I enjoyed finding you over at The Romance Studio these past couple of days.
    catherinelee100 at gmail dot com

  9. I look forward to learning more about Tristan and Maya. Nice meeting you at The Romance Studio these past couple of days.
    catherinelee100 at gmail dot com

  10. Greetings, Lisa!

    I want to thank you for participating in the Something New, Something Naughty hop. Great excerpt – a character I’d really like to get to know – and an amazing cover. Congratulations!

  11. Wow! Sounds awesome! I cant wait to read more! Best wishes and many blessings! Thank you for the awesome giveaway and hop! πŸ™‚
    shadowluvs2read(at)gmail(dot)com

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