It's a woman's prerogative to change her mind - A Taste of Loving Discipline

It's a woman's prerogative to change her mind. We females are so good at it. Some of us arrive at a decision (shoes, men, chocolate, clothes, which spanking implement to use … the list is endless) sure as sure can be that it's the right one. Then in mere seconds, or the next day, or week, or month, we change our minds. Fickle? Yes, and so what!

So why do we change our minds a lot? Could it be a defense mechanism we implement intuitively when our inner self thinks we might get emotionally hurt or get our hearts broken by some conniving louse with the ultimate goal of getting his hand inside our knickers? Maybe. Or maybe it's just the time of the month and hormones rampaging around.

And then there's the times we blow hot and cold, flip flopping around with abandon, giving the impression that we're not interested, when in fact we are but just don't want that certain someone to know it. Or maybe we ARE interested but don't want to admit it.

In my latest release, A Taste of Loving Discipline, June detests the handsome lawyer Alexander Stewart. He's her father's godson, so has been in her life for as long as she can remember – and she doesn't like him one bit. He goads her … irritates her. The two of them are constantly at war, sparring with each other. But eventually, she begins to change her mind about her feelings for him ...


**********
“Hello, June.” He smiled at her through a pair of vibrantly blue eyes, taking in her dishevelled appearance at a glance. Her golden hair was secured on the top of her head in a plastic clip, with escaped strands framing her face. She was wearing a snug fitting denim skirt and a paint-splattered blue smock over a black sweater. On her feet were a pair of canvas shoes, both daubed with blobs of paint. “You have a paint smudge on your nose.”

“Oh. It's you.” She bristled and reached up to rub the smudge away but only succeeded in making it wider, much to the undisguised amusement of the visitor. The insufferable man had the gall to grin at her. One brow arched in that infuriating way he had. It didn't matter that she thought of herself as a confident, poised, 24-year-old woman - he somehow made her feel like a gauche teenager on the defensive.

“Obviously. It's damned cold out here on the doorstep. Are you going to invite me in?”

“No. I'm busy.” She gave him one of her best glares and then stood aside as he barged past her and stepped into the hallway. He was already making himself at home by removing his jacket and hanging it on the coat stand at the bottom of the stairs. She fumed inwardly. What an irritating pig of a man.

The irritating pig of a man flashed a gleaming smile. “How's your dad?”


**********
And then one day, she crosses the line, and pushes him just that little bit too far. She calls him a very rude name!

**********
“What?! Stubborn? Petulant child? How dare you speak to me like that – you … you fat bastard!”

He did that thing with his right eyebrow again. It arched quizzically. “I'm neither fat nor am I a bastard. June Jackson, you are one bad mannered, jealous little madam. It's about time you started acting like an adult. You've been deliberately rude to me for years, and I've had enough.” He took a step closer – so close she could feel the warmth from his breath – and then he smiled seductively as he asked, “Do you recall I promised you a spanking last time you gave me a mouthful of sassy remarks?”

**********

Hot new spanking romance book - A Taste of Loving Discipline

Greetings. Delighted to announce that A Taste of Loving Discipline is now available. I'll be posting a few extracts from it later.

Coming soon - A Taste of Loving Discipline

Well, it's taken a while to write, and at over 53,000 words it's fairly hefty, but I'm glad to announce that A Taste of Loving Discipline is now finished and is on schedule for publication next weekend.

Here is the opener. I hope it whets the appetite.

**********
June put down her brush and stared at the painting. “Hmmn, not bad, June. Not bad at all.” She took a few steps back and critically appraised her work. It looked even better from a distance. Pleased with her efforts, she absentmindedly reached up to secure an escaped tendril of long golden hair from her face, daubing a streak of indigo on her nose in the process. She smiled. The painting was almost complete and needed just a touch more colour on the dramatic skyline. She picked up her brush, ignoring the loud intrusive ring of the doorbell, and began to mix paint on her pallete.

The ringing persisted. With an exasperated sigh she put down her brush and made her way downstairs. Some moron must be standing with their finger on the bell. The top portion of the front door was bevelled glass and through it she could see the outline of someone's head and shoulders. If it was yet another salesman cold calling, he would soon be sent on his way for interrupting her work. She flung open the door, green eyes blazing.

“Hello, June.” He smiled at her through a pair of vibrantly blue eyes, taking in her dishevelled appearance at a glance. Her golden hair was secured on the top of her head in a plastic clip, with escaped strands framing her face. She was wearing a snug fitting denim skirt and a paint-splattered blue smock over a black sweater. On her feet were a pair of canvas shoes, both daubed with blobs of paint. “You have a paint smudge on your nose.”

“Oh. It's you.” She bristled and reached up to rub the smudge away but only succeeded in making it wider, much to the undisguised amusement of the visitor. The insufferable man had the gall to grin at her. One brow arched in that infuriating way he had. It didn't matter that she thought of herself as a confident, poised, 24-year-old woman - he somehow made her feel like a gauche teenager on the defensive.

“Obviously. It's damned cold out here on the doorstep. Are you going to invite me in?”

“No. I'm busy.” She gave him one of her best glares and then stood aside as he barged past her and stepped into the hallway. He was already making himself at home by removing his jacket and hanging it on the coat stand at the bottom of the stairs. She fumed inwardly. What an irritating pig of a man.

The irritating pig of a man flashed a gleaming smile. “How's your dad?”

“He wasn't very good yesterday, but isn't too bad today. He's taking a nap. You probably woke him by ringing the doorbell,” she said accusingly.

“Oh well, he did ask me to call round at 2pm.”

“He's expecting you? He never mentioned it. What does he want to see you for?”

“Yes he's expecting me. I'll go up shall I?” the visitor said, making his way upstairs without bothering to wait for a response and deftly sidestepping her other question. He climbed the stairs effortlessly, two at a time and once he was at the top glanced round to see her following him, a cross expression clouding her face. “I've had a two and a half hour drive. A cup of tea would be lovely,” he said with a smile. “Milk. No sugar. If you please.”

June scowled at him and flounced back downstairs to the kitchen where she spent the next few minutes banging cups about and slamming the cutlery drawer so hard it almost flew off the hinges.

What was it about Alexander Stewart that she detested so much? He was one hellishly handsome guy, even she had to grudgingly admit that, with those intense blue eyes contrasting with dark brows and hair. Well defined bone structure and a chiselled jaw added to his visual appeal, along with a wide, sensual mouth. At 6ft 2 he stood tall and broad-shouldered in his expensively elegant suit, and he exuded charm and confidence. A lot of women would be bowled over by all that smouldering sex appeal. She thought he probably had a long queue of women clamouring for his attention, but he sure as hell wouldn't have June Jackson in his line up.

“He can go and boil his head,” she muttered as she took the teapot out of the cupboard and filled the kettle with water.

June Jackson had many admirable qualities. She was hard working and loyal, honest and reliable; she could be charming and witty, kind, considerate and compassionate - and since graduating three years ago with a degree in Fine Art from York University, had selflessly devoted her time to caring for her father who was battling Parkinson's Disease.

Then there were a few other qualities that were not quite so admirable. She could be impetuous, short tempered and obstinate, and she wasn't quite the selfless being she imagined herself to be. Because since Dad had formed a relationship with Gloria, June had become increasingly jealous of the woman whom she regarded as trying to usurp her own place in the household and in her father's affections. Dad had wanted Gloria to move in with them but June had dug her heels in. So for now, a temporary truce reigned. Gloria came round every evening and the three of them had dinner together, then June, conscious of 'three's a crowd' would take herself off out with friends or retreat upstairs to her 'studio' to paint or read – anything other than intrude on what remained of dad and Gloria's evening.

June was also as stubborn as a mule and would not be bullied into doing anything she didn't want to do. And that included marrying Alexander Stewart. It was her father's idea. He had made no secret about it and over the past few years had tirelessly remarked how they were remarkably well suited to each other and would make a perfect match. June had stamped about in outrage and refused to be part of a 'barbaric arranged marriage', telling her father in no uncertain terms to mind his own bloody business. She had no plans to marry, and if she should ever change her mind, she would marry someone of her choice. And that someone would most definitely NOT be Mr smart ass Alexander Stewart.

“Damn the man,” she muttered as she sneakily added a spoon of sugar into his tea. “There – drink that you smug devil,” she said as she stirred the liquid.

“Is that for me?”

“Oh!” June whirled round to find him right behind her, regarding her with that thoughtful and appraising look of his. “I didn't hear you come back downstairs. You sneaked up on me!”

“Did I?” he said smoothly. “Tsk tsk, you know I don't take sugar. I'd better pour that one down the sink.” He did so, then deposited three cups and saucers on a tray along with the teapot and a small jug of milk. “Your dad would like some biscuits. He says they are in the -”

“I happen to live here. I know where they are,” she growled, and reached up into the cupboard to retrieve the tin.

“We're in a bit of a snit today aren't we, Miss Prickly? You could do with a few lessons in good manners.” His eyes narrowed as he looked at her.

There was something in that look that made June go weak at the knees. For a moment she found herself unable to speak as she rapidly tried to process the way she felt. A wave of something hit her full on … of what? Sexual attraction? Yes, maybe, she acknowledged reluctantly. But there was something more. And whatever that something was, she couldn't discern it; nor did she welcome it. And yet …

She pulled herself together. “I am neither 'in a snit' or prickly and I'm perfectly polite to people I happen to like.” There, that's told him. She flashed a gleeful smile.

He wasn't in the least phased by her cutting remark. “We'll continue this conversation some other time,” he said enigmatically. “Now come upstairs, your father wants to talk to you.”

“He can talk to me any time,” she objected.

“He wants to talk to both of us.”

“Why?”

“Because I'm his godson. Because I'm a close friend who cares about him. And because I'm also his solicitor. Now take that stubborn look off your face and stop acting like a petulant child.”

“What?! Stubborn? Petulant child? How dare you speak to me like that – you … you fat bastard!”

He did that thing with his right eyebrow again. It arched quizzically. “I'm neither fat nor am I a bastard. June Jackson, you are one bad mannered, jealous little madam. It's about time you started acting like an adult. You've been deliberately rude to me for years, and I've had enough.” He took a step closer – so close she could feel the warmth from his breath – and then he smiled seductively as he asked, “Do you recall I promised you a spanking last time you gave me a mouthful of sassy remarks?”



**********
Here we go - a nice sexy cover. Don't you just love chocolate?! (I do!)

Fun in the Dungeon - Teaser Fragment - From Innocence to Experience

There is so much fun to be had in a private dungeon crammed with BDSM equipment. With that in mind, here's a little extract to share from From Innocence to Experience. Bella is curious and very eager to learn all that James King reveals to her ....


**********"Here we have a suspension beam and an electrical winch - the winch operates the spreader device. See?" He indicated the wrist and ankle cuffs. "As the winch is operated, the lucky person in the cuffs is stretched out in a vertical x shape. It's controlled from a remote switch with variable speed settings to control the movement of the winch.” He led her further along. "This little baby is a suspension bondage bag made from leather."

"How does it work?" Bella peered at it, curious.

"As the winch pulls the straps firmly around the victim, she - or he - is kept in place until completely suspended. These little straps make it very easy to tease and tantalize in so many ways." He pushed against the bag. "See, it can be spun around and will swing back and forth. And because the occupant is standing, the suspension device allows for long term bondage and a degree of comfort. Next up is a bondage chair and a bondage bed. I think you might like those.” He flashed her a wolfish smile. “There's also a couple of bondage crosses. I'll show you.” He led her over to the first one positioned against a wall. “Here we go. Effective, strong and simple to use. The sub is made nice and secure with the help of these anchor points for securing ankle and wrist, and there are thigh cuffs at appropriate points of the cross. ”

Bella ran her fingers over the frame. “How long did it take you to amass all this lot?”

“Years, and I keep adding to the collection, replacing certain items and buying in new stuff.”

“What's that?” Bella asked, pointing to a steel contraption.

“A full body cage. I have two of them – they're really popular. There's a kennel too.”

Bella shook her head and laughed. “This is quite an eye opener, James. It's a real perverts paradise.”

“It sure is. Let me show you the stocks - perfect for anyone who enjoys being restrained whilst receiving corporal punishment and other attentions.”


**********

Available for Kindle from Amazon and in a variety of formats from LSF Publications:

Flying High - Spanking romance ebook

Greetings. Thumbs up to Leigh Smith who has a new romance ebook out. Do check out Flying High. If like me you're a sucker for a man in uniform, there's an airline pilot in this story ....

For further details and buy links, please follow this link to LSF Publications and Amazon.

In the Dungeon - Teaser Fragment - From Innocence to Experience

Here's another extract to share from From Innocence to Experience. James King lives in a huge house - with his own private BDSM dungeon in the basement. Bella gets her first glimpse of what is down there, and a whole new world is opened up to her ...


**********James flicked on the lights as they entered a massive room. A golden glow flooded the space. “The lights will be dimmed for the main event, but you can see clearly now how everything is laid out. This is the main communal play area. To the left is a cloakroom and changing room, plus showers and toilets. Over there on the raised dais is a small bar where guests can get hot and cold drinks; you'll see there's quite a lot of seating up there too, and we'll put the buffet on the long table by the back wall. Most of the people attending know each other and welcome the chance to socialise as well as play. Those doors off to the right lead to two private rooms. One of them is kitted out as a schoolroom, complete with blackboard and desks. The other doesn't get much use but is useful for anyone who prefers playing privately.”

Bella barely heard him. She was too busy gazing at the equipment. Some of it she recognised but there were other contraptions too and she had no idea what they were. The walls were painted deep red and black, and there were lights set into little alcoves.

“This is amazing. And it's such a huge space! What are all these things dangling on chains from the ceiling?”

“That's a sit sling and it can be raised or lowered depending on the activity required. Here we have a
suspension beam and an electrical winch - the winch operates the spreader device. See?" He indicated the wrist and ankle cuffs. "As the winch is operated, the lucky person in the cuffs is stretched out in a vertical x shape. It's controlled from a remote switch with variable speed settings to control the movement of the winch.” He led her further along. "This little baby is a suspension bondage bag made from leather."

"How does it work?" Bella peered at it, curious.
**********

Available for Kindle from Amazon and in a variety of formats from LSF Publications:

The Liebster Award

I've been nominated for the Liebster Award by the wonderfully creative Etta Stark. Check out her blog post here:

The Liebster Award is passed around the blogging community in order to promote great blogs and find out a bit more about the bloggers who make them.

Ok, so here are the questions that Etta set for me to answer:

1. Do you make New Years Resolutions? How did this year's go?
Hmmm - New Year's resolutions - you make 'em - you break 'em! I once vowed not to eat chocolate for a whole year. That resolution lasted a week. I haven't bothered making any since! However, I do feel that New Year is a good time to look forward with purpose.

2. What is your earliest memory?
I remember being pushed in a pram down a country lane, where there were huge swathes of moon pennies growing wild. By moon pennies I mean ox-eye daisies - lovely tall flowers with white petals and large yellow centres.

3. Would you ever have plastic surgery? What would you have done?
I don't think so - unless I were disfigured in an accident. I actually think that a face with laughter lines and a few wrinkles looks attractive ... but ask me again in 20 years time about the wrinkles and see if I've changed my mind :D

4. What's your most recent earworm?
I had to look that word up! Right. Got it - a catchy tune. And the answer is ... Barbie Girl. I hate it but it haunts me!

5. Do you have any superstitions that you have to follow?
Only one, and that is I have to hold my breath if I walk under a ladder. There is a very sound reason for this. Many years ago I defied superstition and walked under a ladder ... and got blobs of green paint splashed on my hair. The odds of it happening again are remote but if I must go walking under ladders, my psyche is placated if I hold my breath whilst doing so!

6. What would you eat at your last meal?
Fish and chips. Sod the calories.

7. Did you write as a child? What sort of things did you write?
Yes, I was always reading and writing. I used to make up the most fantastical improbable stories about going to the moon with a mouse. I'd climb inside a rocket which was cunningly disguised as a red post box. Imagination is a wonderful thing!

8. Who is your hero?
The underdogs. The many unsung heroes who live life selflessly and leave happiness in their wake. And the character Aragorn in Lord of the Rings. (I admit to being influenced by the fact that I find Viggo Mortenson as sexy as hell.)

9. Do you have any recurring dreams?
No. Though that's not strictly true as I have had the same dream 3 times over a period of 35 years. It's a very weird and disjointed dream and I don't understand it at all.


10. If I were a visitor to your home town for a day, what would your recommend I see and do?
If you were into walking in the countryside I'd tell you to bring your walking boots and off we'd go to explore Derbyshire. You'd see hills and dales, stunning scenery, an ancient castle, a few caves, and end up in the pub.

11. Describe your perfect holiday.
I can say what it wouldn't be - laying on a beach towel every day for 2 weeks getting fried by the sun holds no appeal for me. (I have red hair - the nasty sun turns me into a mobile tomato). I'd love to explore Bhutan one day and visit Tiger's Eye monastery. Check out the link - isn't that fabulous? Trouble is, I'm not sure I'd manage the climb! I'd need one of those whizzy two-wheel scooter thingies.

**********
Right, thanks for the questions Etta. And now onto the next bit – 11 Amazing Facts about me ... including some not quite so amazing.


1. When I was 8 I had two pet mice called Tom and Monty. I kept them in the outhouse in a deluxe mouse cage with all mod cons. They were my pride and joy, and then one day when I went in, the bars of the cage had been prized apart and all that was left of my dear friends were a couple of bits of ears and tail ends. Oh the horror! I later saw the neighbour's bastard cat sitting on the garden wall licking it's lips (Do cats have lips??!) and I just KNOW it was him! Tom and Monty - you were the best!

2. When I was a kid I used to love reading stories about Narnia, and would go scurrying round the house looking for secret entrances. To my surprise and delight I discovered a little door in one of the attic rooms (I lived in a large Victorian semi detached house). The door led to the eaves and was partly hidden by an old trunk (sadly it contained no treasures, just a pile of old tatty moth-eaten curtains) and was around 2 feet high with an aperture just big enough to crawl into. Myself and my friend went exploring. We took a torch and a picnic (cheese sandwiches and apples) and sat there on planks of wood in that cobweb infested gloomy place and thought it was wonderful ... until my friend put her foot through the floor and damaged the bedroom ceiling below. Ah happy days.

3. My first taste of unrequited love was when I was 13 or 14 and fell head over heels for a boy called Clarence (yes, honestly, that was his name). He worked in a wet fish shop and smelled rather strongly of ... fish. But I wasn't deterred. Any opportunity I got, I'd go and blow all my spending money on bits of haddock. I went off him big time when I discovered he already had a girlfriend. Bitch!!

4. I used to work in a research establishment with lots of whacky old boffins, one of whom would get up at dawn and go fishing, cook his catch, wrap it in foil and put it on the radiators at work until he was ready to eat it. He stunk the place out. Hey - this is another fishy tale. I do hope I haven't got some sort of deep rooted fish complex! Help!

5. When I was camping with the girl guides it rained solidly for 3 days and it was miserable, then the sun came out and a bus load of boy scouts arrived and camped at the opposite end of our field. Myself and a friend got into frightful trouble because we were caught paddling with two boy scouts wearing only our vests and knickers. (Let me just clarify that we girl guides were the ones wearing vests and knickers.)

6. I have a thing for the bad guys in movies and my favourite bad guy is Alan Rickman.

7. When I was around 19 or 20 I went out drinking with a girl friend and we went back to her house and she told my I could stay the night. She pointed to a bedroom containing a double bed and I gratefully got in - and woke up the following morning next to her Grandma! I suppose it could have been worse - it might have been her Grandad!

8. I once presented a paper to 100 people and was very pleased to see that I had their attention, as they were leaning forward smiling at me. I later discovered I had some spinach from lunch stuck in my front teeth. Oh what humiliation! Cringe. Cringe.

9. Before I left home I lived with my mother, who used to have this guy come round every few weeks delivering bags of potatoes. Not surprisingly we called him .... the potato man! He asked mom out on a date and when she politely declined - he asked me! Now I find that quite an insult!

10. I once went to a barbecue party and put a big sausage on the grill. It later exploded and flew threw the air, burning the nose of a guy I'd had my eye on for some time but was too scared to approach. That sausage brought us together! Hey - it's a change from fish ...

11. Many years ago I got stuck in a lavatory and had to wait until someone smashed the door open to let me out.


**********
There we are. Hope you have been suitably entertained. And now I would like to nominate the following people for the Liebster Award:
Trent Evans
Blossom and Thorn
[Um, I thought I'd better check with the rest of them first. Watch this space!]

And here are the questions for my nominees:

1. What was your worst ever job?

2. What is your favourite way to relax?

3. What is the proudest moment of your life ?

4. What is the craziest, maddest, zaniest thing you have ever done?

5, What is your favourite film, and why?

6. What is your favourite line from a movie and why?

7. What inspires you as a writer?

8. What would be your ideal night out?

9. What is the most embarrassing thing you have ever experienced?

10. When you were young, what did you want to be when you grew up?

11. Would you eat a plate of witchetty grubs if someone offered you a million pounds?!

Rules
The rules of the Liebster Award are:

1.    Thank the person who nominated you, and post a link to their blog on your blog.

2.    Display the award on your blog — by including it in your post and/or displaying it using a “widget” or a “gadget”. (Note that the best way to do this is to save the image to your own computer and then upload it to your blog post.)

3.    Answer 11 questions about yourself, which will be provided to you by the person who nominated you.

4.    Provide 11 random facts about yourself.

5.    Nominate 5 – 11 blogs that you feel deserve the award, who have less than 1000 followers. (Note that you can always ask the blog owner this since not all blogs display a widget that lets the readers know this information!)

6.    Create a new list of questions for the blogger to answer.

7.    List these rules in your post. Once you have written and published it, you then have to:

8.    Inform the people/blogs that you nominated that they have been nominated for the Liebster award and provide a link for them to your post so that they can learn about it (they might not have ever heard of it!)