Taste of Kiwi: Blog of Author Shelley Munro

This shot was taken at our local Botanic Gardens. Mr. Munro and I don’t get there as often these days, now that the little dog is gone, but it’s a lovely outing for a Sunday morning.

In New Zealand news, an Invercargill woman was fined $275 for disorderly behavior after she flashed her boobs at motorists and caused an accident.

Mr. Munro has just learned he might have to go to work in Wellington for two weeks early next year, and I’ll get to go with him. Wellington is at the bottom of the North Island, and it will be a nice break from Auckland. I might even get some writing done. I’m finding it hard going this month with all the other Christmas distractions. I definitely want to visit the Day in Pompeii exhibition at Te Papa museum and we’re thinking we might do a quick trip to the South Island if time permits.

In book news, I have three more Ellora’s Cave titles available in the Kindle format: Fringe Benefits, Fallen Idol and Fancy Free are now on sale. Whisk out your credit cards and grab your copies today!

If you’re a writer, how is your writing coming along with all the Christmas razzmatazz? And readers, are you managing to relax a little with some of your favourite books?

This week we’re posting scenes that portray emotion: anger, joy, sadness etc. I’ve picked a scene from my Ellora’s Cave Quickie Fringe Benefits where the heroine Marie learns that one of her flatmates is leaving and this will split up their newly formed threesome.

Fringe Benefits by Shelley Munro

“Hey, mate. Do I get a celebratory kiss too?” Kelvin’s voice drew them apart. Marie caught his sharp look, despite the humor in his tone, and flushed, her heart thudding. With shaking limbs she stepped away from Shane. Her hand still trembled when she reached for her glass of champagne.

Kelvin drew Shane into a hug of congratulation. “Give us details, man,” he said after clapping Shane over the back. He observed them both with watchful eyes.

Marie’s blush intensified. Damn, she hadn’t meant to do that, but if she’d erred so had Shane. She snuck a glance in Shane’s direction and caught him watching her. An expression of satisfaction glowed on his face.

“I’ve been promoted to regional manager of the sales team,” he said, still watching her.

Marie broke their gaze and took a hurried sip of her champagne. The bubbles tickled her nose and she sneezed.

“Bless you, sweetheart,” Kelvin said. “Regional manager, huh? Sounds good. Pay rise?”

“Yeah.” Shane grinned. “I have to relocate to Wellington but it will be worth it.”

“Wellington?” Marie felt as if someone had upended a bucket of icy water over her head. A chill swept down her spine. “You’re leaving?” she whispered. Her old fears rose up to swallow her whole. A tremble racked her body and she had to set the glass aside or risk spilling it.

“Yeah, babe,” Shane said. “And I want you to come with me.”

“What?” Anger replaced Kelvin’s normal easy tones.

“Go with you?” Marie asked, shock still kicking her in the gut. That would change everything. She, Kelvin and Shane were a team. Friends. Lovers. And today they’d made love as a threesome. It had given her hope. Shane leaving would change everything.

“Yeah,” Shane said, seemingly oblivious to the swirling undercurrents.

“But I like things the way they are.” Marie couldn’t imagine a life without both Shane and Kelvin. “I’d miss Kelvin.”

“You want Marie to move to Wellington with you?” Kelvin’s face was impassive but his voice sounded dangerous. He straightened from his lazy sprawl against the wall. Visible tension bracketed his mouth.

“It’s a good idea. I love her. She’s not like other women.”

“You didn’t think to discuss this with me first?” Kelvin drawled. Marie noticed his eyes held none of their usual humor.

“None of your business,” Shane said. “It’s between me and Marie.”

Marie sat trembling in her chair. All she could think about was change. She loved Shane and she loved Kelvin as well. No way could she choose one man over the other, which meant she couldn’t have either. Tears stung the back of her eyes. She scrambled to her feet but wasn’t fast enough to prevent the fall of tears. They ran down her face as she fled to the safety of her bedroom. The door slammed behind her and she locked it before throwing herself onto her bed. Alone, she allowed the tears to fall, sobs vibrating the length of her body.

She was vaguely aware of shouting outside, thumps and curses. Marie lifted her head, a fresh spate of tears falling when she identified the sounds as fighting. Kelvin and Shane were brawling, fighting each other when they never fought. Over her. Marie pulled the pillow over her head to block out the crashes and shouting. It was like her childhood over again. Her fault. She should have known it was wrong to feel happy, that it would blow up in her face. One of her foster mothers had told her she was bad luck, right before she’d returned her to foster care as an impossible case. It seemed the woman was right and she was destined to live alone.

Purchase your copy of Fringe Benefit from Ellora’s Cave

To read other Snippet Saturday excerpts follow the links below:

Eliza Gayle
Moira Rogers
Sasha White
Shelley Munro
Taige Crenshaw
Vivian Arend
Lauren Dane
Jaci Burton
Juliana Stone
TJ Michaels
Lacey Savage
Victoria Janssen
Ashley Ladd
Shelli Stevens
Leah Braemel
McKenna Jeffries
Beth Kery
Michelle Pillow
Mandy Roth

I’m guest blogging at Jennifer’s Randon Musing today and talking about hot stuff. I’m also giving away a download of my recent release, Fringe Benefits. All you need to do is post a comment.

Here’s the link.

Shelley

Fringe Benefits is out today!! Readers have been asking me about this book ever since I put it up on my coming soon page. Buy your copy at Ellora’s Cave today. I need every penny or cent you want to spend because that’s the only way I’ll get another trip to the US in the near future.

I’m blogging at Access Romance All-A-Blog today. There’s a chance to win a download of either Lovers at Last or Price of Love. Come over and say hello.

JERR asked to interview me recently, and my interview appears in the 16 Nov issue of their newsletter. If you write or read erotic romance and don’t know about JERR’s newsletter you’re missing out! Here’s the link to their website. Details of how to join the newsletter are on their site.

After an anxious wait, I received a review for Tea For Two this week. The reviewer said, “This is the perfect story to curl up with on a cold winter’s night, add a glass of wine, some music, and lose yourself in the ups and downs as star crossed lovers discover their soul mates. This is such a fabulous story, and I look forward to reading more stories written by this amazing author. Kudos, Ms. Munro!”
Here’s the link to the full review.

And finally, the writing is going really well. I’ve cranked out a lot of words this week, and all going well, I should have my first draft done at the end of next week. This is the first time I’ve worked to a synopsis for ages, and it’s certainly a good way of keeping on track. I enjoy writing the first draft. I think it’s the creating and allowing my imagination to wander wherever it likes. Sometimes plotting too much freezes my brain, but this time, it’s all good, and I’ve even done a few fancy steps that aren’t in the synopsis.

How has your week gone? If you’re working on NaNo, how are you going?

A menage a trois is defined in the dictionary as a domestic establishment or household that consists of a husband, a wife and a lover. They’re hot in the erotic romance world and very popular with readers. Since Fringe Benefits, my menage a trois story is out on Friday from Ellora’s Cave, I thought I’d run through some of my favorite titles and authors in this arena. In no particular order…

1. Jory Strong – I’d be hard-pressed to choose my favorite from Jory’s titles. They’re not all menage a trois but no matter what Jory writes, the story is hot and a great read.

2. Maya Banks – also writes some good books. Sometimes the bed is even more crowded!

3. Decadent by Shayla Black

4. Lauren Dane – her upcoming title Undercover is a threesome. Also check out her Ellora’s Cave backlist. I always enjoy Lauren’s books.

5. Lora Leigh – I’m a huge Lora Leigh fan and recently enjoyed reading Wicked Pleasure.

6. Opal Carew’s Twin Fantasies.

7. Annmarie McKenna’s Blackmailed.

8. Dawn Halliday – Honeymoon Castaways

9. Samantha Kane – hot regency historicals. Pick one.

10. Lorelei James – I’ve mentioned her books before. Some of the books in her western series have menage a trois scenes. I’m saving her latest release, Rough, Raw and Ready for the weekend when I’ve completed my word count.

11. Lynn LaFleur – Michelle’s Men

12. Tielle St. Clare – Summer’s Caress Some very hot werewolves.

13. Fringe Benefits by Shelley Munro

Flatmates. Best friends. Casual lovers.

Life’s good—a friends-with-benefits deal works perfectly with her male flatmates, but Marie Wright secretly craves more. A hot threesome. Erotic pleasure. Silken touches from both Shane and Kelvin. One hot summer day the sensual tension explodes between the three. For Marie each caress is a slice of ecstasy. It’s seductive magic, and she’s bewitched. Momentary pleasure isn’t enough. She wants a future with her lovers—a permanent ménage a trois—but if she makes a wrong move, she might irreparably destroy their friendship and lose everything.

Read an excerpt here. Buy your copy from Ellora’s Cave on 14 November 2008.

Have I missed any of your favorites? Do you think a menage a trois relationship is plausible or do you think there would be too many problems to overcome?

I received the cover for my November release, Fringe Benefits today. Ellora’s Cave cover artists have designed some new Quickie covers and I have one of the new ones. What do you think?

If you’d like to read the blurb and an excerpt follow this link.

Kelly Tarltons, the aquarium in Auckland has several endangered sea turtles at the moment. They’re injured and the aquarium staff are nursing them back to health before releasing them. They were advertising about a sleepover where you stay at the aquarium overnight, have behind the scenes tours and see what fish do at night. All that voyeur-type stuff. The minute I heard this I decided I needed to go and I’m dragging Mr. Munro with me. It will be like camping, except inside, since we have to take our sleeping bags and mats as well as torches. I’ve decided I’m a big kid because I’m really excited. About 39 sleeps to go…