Wild Kingdom

Wild Kingdom was reissued at the end of November 2007. It is a erotic fantasy romance and is set in the same universe as my first book Savage Surrender. Actually this book continues on the story of the hero and heroine of Savage Surrender, Tarn and Rianna although I can assure you that you can read this without having read the first book (Author's note Savage Surrender is now out of print and there are currently no plans for Virgin to reissue it but that may well change in the future)
Wild Kingdom:- Salacious excesses abound as war rages in the mythical kingdom of Kabra. Prince Tarn is struggling to drive out the invading army while his betrothed - the beautiful Rianna- has fled the fighting with the mysterious Baroness Crissana.
But the baroness is a fearsome and depraved woman and once they are out of the danger zone she presents Rianna as a plaything to her warlord half-brother Ragnor. In order to rescue his sweetheart, Prince Tarn needs to join forces with his old enemy, Sarin, whose capacity for perverse delights knows no bounds.

Enjoy the book
Deanna

CATCHING UP!!!

I didn't realise I'd left it so long since my last post. Life has been so chaotic lately. Trying to strain my memory and remember what happened at the end of last year.

October
My OH and I got fed up with the most depressingly wet summer on record and took a cheap flight to Spain. As it was the end of the season we decided on a fairly large resort - Salou - on the Costa Blanca. Well it is somewhere in that vicinity. Geography has never been my forte. Flight went well and we picked up a car at the airport and drove to Salou. The drive was fine but the problem was that we'd not been to Salou in years and what had once been a tiny place had expanded into this massive sprawling resort. Consequently we had to drive round for hours and hours to find our hotel. In fact I got to the point of thinking that we'd be spending the night in the car. Frantic note to myself at this point - buy a TomTom asap.

Eventually we found the hotel and got settled in. It wasn't expensive but the rooms were fine, the food good and the sun was shining when we woke up next morning. One thing about Spain however I don't like is the beds - has anyone else notice it is like sleeping on a slab of rock? As I have a bad back this makes life difficult for me and I walk around for about half an hour after I wake up looking rather like Quasimodo (minus the hump) as I'm not able to straighten up properly.

I planned 7 days of relaxing by the pool, reading all the books I've been wanted to read and listening to my MP3 but as OH pointed out we had hired a car so we had to use it. Consequently I had to indulge him and visit a number of places. First stop a monastery high up in the mountains whose name escapes me but it has been turned into a tourist attraction. The name probably got erased from my mind while I was staring down in terror at the steep drop as we traversed winding mountain roads. You'd never guess I have a fear of heights! Then on to Sitges, which was lovely but it started raining and we had to take refuge in a beautiful restaurant and consume copious quantities of delicious chocolate cake.

The day before we left we decided to go to the huge theme park at Salou - Porta Ventura- which is owned by Universal Studios. Having been to a number of such parks in the States owned by Disney and Universal I was really looking forward to it. Problem is the Spanish don't run anything that efficiently and instead of superb organisation we were greet by a chaotic milling crow of excited Spaniards and tourists trying to get into the park. Once inside we did expect at least a few of the signs to be in English - no such luck. Why have signs in English over when 50% of the visitors are British tourists - that is just way too easy.

Okay so my Spanish is good enough to order meals and drinks, perhaps ever ask directions but my vocabulary doesn't include words associated with theme parks such as 'this ride isn't suitable for those of a nervous disposition.' 'Inside this innocent looking exterior is a scary ride in total darkness where anyone with neck or back problems is going to end up crippled for life!! Granted the Spanish aren't overly, if at all concerned with political correctness but I did feel I was taking my life in my hands every time we walked onto a ride. The Polynesian show however was a welcome relaxation, allowing me to gird my loins and ready myself for the next unexpected ride. End result I returned home unharmed but vowing never to visit a Spanish Theme park again!!!
Deanna


November

My only trip this month was a visit to London to the special Children In Need performance of Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.

As the Really Useful Group and the BBC production of the TV show Any Dream Will Do was focusing on fundraising for Children in Need, the star of Joseph Lee Mead was opening the Children in Need appeal and then dashing back to the Adelphi on the Strand for the evening performance. As the early evening traffic is heavy in London he he was doing the journey on a taxi bike - something I'd not heard of before. We were just walking down Maiden Lane towards the theater when we saw a motorbike drawing up a the stage door and off it climbed Lee, looking very cheerful and rather dishy. After asking us if we were coming to the show he dashed into the theatre.


As usual the show was brilliant and the cast seemed even more enthusiastic than usual. Lee got a standing ovation after he sang Close Every Door and there were more standing ovations at the end of the performance. After a short speech from the leading man about the appeal, and the appearance of the winning school choir from Any Dream Will Do, the cast threw themselves just as enthusiastically into the Meggamix as they tossed Pudsey bears into the audience. All in all a good night in the company of wonderful friends.

I'm a fan of Lee of course and can thoroughly recommends this show to everyone it is brilliant, and he is the best Joseph ever by far so, so much better than Donny Osmond or Jason Donovan.

If you haven't seen it book now while you have the chance.

Deanna

WHICH DREAM WILL DO?

For my friends..

She saw him every morning walking along the beach and her eyes had been drawn to him immediately, but that wasn’t surprising as he was a very good-looking guy. Yet it wasn’t just that, there was something else, something that drew her to him which she couldn’t explain.

Each day he wore the same clothes; a par of battered blue jeans, that were just a shade too loose to show off his enticing butt to perfection, and a succession of faded black ‘T’ shirts, some with logos on the front, others plain.

As the days passed they began to exchange faint smiles or awkward waves which at last gave her the chance to feast her eyes on his handsome face for a moment, without appearing too rude and staring at him, which she wanted to do all the time. She couldn’t quite decide what colour his eyes were. She guessed that they were blue or green and they were surrounded by luxuriant black, spiky lashes. He had a straight nose and very kissable mouth; his features merging into an expressive face that looked either cheerfully happy or sad and rather soulful, yet each time the sheer sight of him took her breath away.

His hair was curly, silky strands of it hung attractively over his forehead, curled over his ears and brushed against the neckline of his ‘T’ shirt. It was so dark it appeared black even in the brightest sunlight. The style suited him making him look at times like an innocent angel sent down to earth to tempt womankind into great wickedness.

She had come to the beach, early as usual, just to enjoy the brief smile or wave that she got from him every morning. Yet today it appeared she was destined to be disappointed there was no sign of the gorgeous one walking along this stretch of the shoreline. She stood alone, staring at the sea, barely aware of the raucous sounds of the seagulls or the noise of the waves crashing against the shore, let alone the feel of the sun beating down on her head and shoulders. She was too disappointed to think of anything other that that he wasn’t coming today.

Something made her turn her head and her heart leapt excitedly in her chest as she spotted him walking towards her. Today he wasn’t wearing a faded ‘T’ shirt his chest was bare and all he had on were the battered blue jeans.

Goodness, he was perfection itself. His upper arms were muscular, his pecs well developed and below that delicious chest, a flat belly and lean hips. His skin, once so pale, had been kissed by the sun over the last few days and had turned an attractive pale gold, which made him look even more amazing. He wore a brown leather belt to keep up his jeans, and the clasp sat there enticingly, just below his belly button, leading her eyes down to where she felt they should not stray. The heat of the sudden desire that filled her body, turned her cheeks pink, and her knees began to feel uncommonly weak as he walked towards her.

This time, however, he didn’t smile awkwardly and walk on past, he stopped only a foot away from her and his lips curved into a warm sexy grin. “I feared I’d missed you.”

“You what?” She was too overcome by his close proximity to think properly.

“I see you here every morning.” He said in a soft melodic voice that she found instantly appealing. “I thought for moment that you weren’t coming today. You are usually further up the beach by now.”

“Am I?” Her brain still refused to function and she thought she must be sounding very stupid. She took a deep breath. “I was standing here looking at the sea for a moment.”

“I was hoping to see you.” He stepped even closer and she could see now that his eyes were a delicious mixture of blue and green. “I was hoping...” He cautiously reached out and tentatively brushed his hand against hers. It felt as if she had been hit by a bold of lightening as the brief frisson of desire she’d been experiencing surged into life so powerfully that she was overcome for a moment as every nerve ending in her body was set alight. “…hoping that you might consider having dinner with me this evening?”

“You are asking me out?” This was too amazing to be believable, something she’d hoped and prayed for her yet the wee cautious voice in her head, that she didn’t want to listen to, reminded her that she didn’t know him at all. Yet, all she wanted to do was drown in the depths of his blue/green eyes and throw caution to the wind forever.

“Somewhere, very public of course. After all you don’t know me at all, although I can assure you I’m entirely trustworthy.” He smiled at her again. “Will you come?”

He stepped a shade closer and as he bent his head she could feel his warm breath on her cheeks. She couldn’t bring herself to look at his face for a moment she was too overcome and she found himself facing that broad chest. Raw desire surge through her and she knew that she couldn’t saw no to this invitation, her heart told her that they’d been destined to meet this way.

“Of course I’ll come.” She lifted her eyes and smiled shyly at him. “I’ve noticed you every day.”

He gave a husky laugh. “Me too. To be honest I’ve been plucking up the courage for days to stop and talk to you. "

She went to move but caught her toe on a rock, and somehow found herself falling forwards. He caught her, his strong arms steadying her as she found herself pressed to his warm bare chest. She could feel his heart beating faster and, as she gasped her thanks, his face moved closer to hers.

“Sorry,” she heard him murmur as his lips covered hers.

Lust surged through her body, a need so strong she eagerly welcomed his tongue into her mouth. The kiss was no delicate sampling of lips teeth and tongue it was raw and powerful, earth shattering in intensity.

Dream on now….

LUSTBITES and other things

Life has been chaotic as usual and I've neglected me blog terribly. I've been waiting for my publishers to respond on my new submission called Dark Desires, which is set in the same fantasy universe as my other two books Savage Surrender and Wild Kingdom. The main characters are different but familiar characters from the other two books do appear in story. Unfortunately my editor is always mega busy and so like other writers I often have to be patient and wait for feedback.

Not content with that I'm also working on submissions for other publishers, notably in the USA where the popularity or erotic romance is growing fast.

Templar Prize is out in the UK now and but will not be released in the USA until November.

Apart from that I've been contributing to the lustbites blog on a few occasiosn. After featuring Templar Prize I did a post with two of the other writers. Firstly my good friend Portia Da Costa who writes great books - you must read them. Secondly Janine Ashbless who is the only other lustie who writes in fantasy realm.

Last but not least was my post last Wednesday on Sexy gay Men. You have to read the post to understand the title, but Torchwood was much discussed because of John Barrowman. Anyone reading this in the USA will have no idea who he is but John has guested in Dr Who as a character called Captain jack Harkness and he is also he is a great singer and has starred in a number of West End Musicals. Look out for Torchwood, James Masters (Spike from Buffy/Angel) is starring in an episode of the second series due to be shown in the UK after Christmas.

Deanna

Templars and Dreamcoats

Today I'm posting an excerpt from Templar Prize on Lust Bites www.lustbites.blogspot.com and am offering a signed copy of Templar Prize for the best post. Please feel free to visit and comment.

Also for all those Lee Mead fans out there I found a great website www.lee-mead.co.uk. There you can learn all things Lee, find great downloads and Joseph news and reviews.

I'll do my best to post links to Lust Bites and Lee Mead's site later today.

JOSEPH'S TECHNICOLOUR DREAMCOAT

I'm not really a fan of reality TV, but last year I watched and very much enjoyed the search for a girl to play Maria and star in a new production of the Sound of Music in London's West End. Therefore when a new programme Any Dream Will Do, started up in the spring of 2007, once again with Andrew Loyd Webber's involvement, I decided to watch it. Am I glad I did! This time it was to find a new Joseph to follow Donny Osmond and Jason Donovan.

I admit I don't remember much about the first episode when the initial applicants were whittled down from thousands by Andrew, along with John Barrowman and Denise Van Outen, both of whom have often starred in musicals on the West End Stage. However from the second episode one particular young man, Lee Mead, caught my eye. After performing with 19 others at Andrew's theatre, attached to his castle in Ireland, Lee made it into the final twelve. From then on the production was moved to a studio and the twelve contestants had to perform weekly before a judging panel and an audience, with the viewers voting every week for who should go through. Although when it came to the 2 with the least votes, Andrew had the opportunity to save one to go through to the next round.

The first time Lee walked down the steps onto the stage and started to sing I knew he was the quintessential Joseph. He had it all: a wonderful voice, great looks, a fine physique and the most amazing stage presence. Lee has the unique ability to interpret a song and make it his own. As the other judge, Zoe, a singing coach, said Lee looks like an angel and sings like an angel. Not surprisingly Lee was never in the last two and was always voted through straight away.

In my opinion, and the opinion of everyone I knew, Lee was the young man who should win the part and to our delight he did. In no time at all the new production was booked up for six months ( the length of Lee's initial contract) and he was immediately signed on for another six months. Tickets became like gold dust. But thanks to e-bay, last week I was lucky enough to sit in a prime seat in the stalls and see him perform as Joseph in Joseph and his Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat at the Adelphi Theatre in London.

From the moment he appeared, to be greeted by loud cheers, Lee captivated the audience. The production and the cast is superb. It is a bright, colourful production with great costumes and a joyous energy that is totally seductive. It is immensely entertaining and also amusing. Everyone taking part seems perfect for their role and are obviously enjoying themselves immensely. However, most of my superlatives must be for Lee himself, the best Joseph ever, he was born to play this role. His megawatt smile when he first appears shines out from the stage. It is so obvious that he is living his dream and that he is treasuring every moment.

Ladies, he is even more gorgeous in the flesh, with stunning good looks, surrounded by that tempting cluster of curly dark hair. His voice sounds even better in the theatre than it does on TV, with a strength and resonance that is captivating. He's a great actor and a consummate performer who imbibes every song he sings with so much powerful feeling and the boy moves so sexily as well! He perfectly portrays a rather arrogant young man, his father's favorite, who inspires nothing but jealousy from his many brothers. Their jealousy increases when his father presents Joseph with a wonderful coat of many colours. Eventually they set upon Joseph planning to kill him, but instead decide to sell him as a slave.

Joseph is sent off to Egypt where he becomes the slave of a rich man and works his way up in the household until the man's wife decides she wants Joseph for herself. It is at this point that Lee is stripped down to just a skimpy loincloth and ladies you'll lust after him even more. He looks great with just the right amount of well defined muscles.

He's is dragged off reluctantly(his horror here is a delight to behold) to his mistress's bed, but her husband discovers them and Joseph is cast into prison, maybe forever.

It is at this point that Lee sings Close Every Door, in the most exquisite, husky and heartrending way, with a voice resonating with intense feeling. I would wager no one has ever sung this song better. At the end, when his voice soars to a crescendo, shivers ran up my spine. Fortunately it is discovered that Joseph can interpret dreams and he is taken before the Pharaoh (A great Elvis impression here by Dean Collinson) The Pharaoh makes Joseph his second in command, in essence a Prince of Egypt. Once again Lee looks stunning in his costume and portrays a powerful prince to perfection.

A terrible famine begins but thanks to Joseph's prophetic dreams Egypt is prepared. With their family starving, Joseph's brothers come to beg the Prince of Egypt for food, not realising it is their brother Joseph. He gives them food, but plants a stolen cup in his younger brother Benjamin's bag to prevent them leaving. Eventually he reveals his true identity and is reunited with his father and his brothers admit the error of their ways.

I cannot find enough superlatives to explain how great the show is. Lee is all that those who voted for him hoped for and far far more. He most definitely has that elusive thing called star quality and I think this star is destined to soar very high. As John Barrowman said, he is destined to light up the West End stage for many years to come.

This is a show you will go to see and immediately want to return to see time and time again. I've already got two more sets of tickets booked. I can recommend it most highly, it is the best musical West End production I have ever seen.

Deanna

Thanks to RUG and Tristram Kenton for the photos.

Coming Soon

A review of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat at the Adelphi Theatre starring the gorgeous Lee Mead - winner of the TV reality show Any Dream Will Do.