Guest Author & Giveaway: Karen Erickson

Ah, the office romance. I'll confess, it is one of my favorite romance tropes. The sexy boss in suit and tie, telling his assistant what to do, all the while hiding his secret desires for her. I seriously can't get enough of that particular story line!

Maybe it's because my husband and I met at work? He wasn't my boss, though. In fact, we started out as just friends. And then when we started seeing each other, we kept it a secret. We didn't want anyone we worked with to know. What if it didn't work out (that was his fear)? I must admit, the secrecy was fun. Made everything much more illicit--and sorta naughty. Oh, how times have changed. Now we're just old married folks with a couple of kids...

But I digress. I wanted to tell you about Worth the Scandal, the first book in my new Worth It series at Samhain. Not only does Worth the Scandal have that boss/assistant trope I love so much, but there are a few other familiar tropes in the book as well. Not that I want to reveal them (I need to leave a few surprises!) but I will say I was feeling kinda old school while I wrote it.

Typical powerful, alpha male boss. Sweet little assistant who comes from a hard luck background. Glamour and wealth and jet setting around Europe, all of this and more is what makes up Worth the Scandal. I adored creating this world (and I'm still deeply immersed in it as I'm currently working on the third book of the series, Worth the Challenge.) and I hope readers adore it too.

Strictly business? Try telling that to her heart…



Worth It, Book 1


Alexander Worth, President and CEO of Worth Luxury Goods, is a man never to be crossed. His unwavering sense of responsibility to the family business requires him to always be in complete and utter control. Until it comes to Tessa Crawford.

She’s quietly professional, shy, voluptuous…and she works for him. Which means she is the one woman he must never touch, no matter how hard his gut twists with need for her.

After rising above her disadvantaged childhood, Tessa knows the last thing she should do is risk throwing it all away by falling into bed with her sexy boss. But on an extended European business trip, all self-imposed barriers burn away in the heat of their sizzling chemistry.

Once back home, though, whispers of corporate espionage turn into full-blown scandal—and Tessa finds out the hard way where Alex’s loyalties lie. Determined to soldier on, she picks herself up and carries on with a secret, yet welcomed burden. Never guessing that Alex will make a reappearance in her life, ready to show her once and for all that family does, indeed, come first.

Worth the Scandal is available at: Amazon | B&N | iBookstore | Samhain

Contest: I'm giving away a digital copy of Worth the Scandal PLUS a $10 gift card to Amazon or B&N (winner's choice!) to one lucky winner. Also this will run for the day and I will announce the winner in the comment section. Just answer this question in the comments, make sure you leave a contact email too:

Have you ever had a crush on your boss or a fellow employee?

Give us the all the scandalous details! I've had a few crushes, I'll admit it. One in particular that caused me to lose ten pounds. I lost my appetite whenever I was near him -- and we were together a lot! What a great diet that was. *winks*

ATH: THE SMUTKETEERS: KAREN ERICKSON

Just a gentle reminder of the RULES AND REGS.
I have a special place in my heart for all The Smutketeers. I have never met a group so willing to speak with readers and to help other authors. I truly love hanging out on their blog. And, so when I was planning this, I thought, why not give them a whole day! So, today is Smutketeer DAY! And since they did me so good the other day, I hope y'all give them a big OLD HARMLESS WELCOME. And, make sure to join their Yahoo Group.

First up is Karen Erickson with her book Indulgent Pleasures! She is giving away an AMAZON GC today.

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INDULGENT PLEASURES


What’s your fantasy?
Stephanie Shaw’s ready to experience a fantasy or two all for the sake of her job. Research for the magazine she works for could result in her own column and she wants it. Bad.
Almost as bad as the gorgeous man she runs into–literally. Justin Hawkins is sinfully hot and ready to indulge in her every whim. A few stolen hours in the backseat of a car turns into the most passionate sexual encounter of her life.
But Stephanie’s keeping a secret. When she finds out Justin is a former pro baseball player, no way can she tell him about her job. The media-shy Justin hates being in the public eye and Stephanie’s documenting their sexual encounters for the entire city to read–anonymously.
A betrayal of trust hurts them both and sends them reeling. And also renders them apart. Stephanie’s devastated, Justin’s angry. Can this relationship be fixed?

Excerpt

“Oh, I’ll still have you Stephanie.” His voice lowered, smoothing over her nerve endings.

Easing her fears and making her melt. “I’ll have you any way I want you.”

“Promises, promises,” she murmured, a little smile tickling the corner of her lips. Relief

flooded her at the familiar teasing, the sexual promise that hung between them.

“So tell me, what are you wearing right now?”

She glanced down at herself. “You want the truth or what you really want to hear?”

He chuckled. “I want the truth.”

“Boring old sweats and a tank top.”

“Color?”

“The sweats are blue, the tank top red.”

“Of course.”

“Of course what?”

“You always wear red. It’s your signature color.”

Stephanie liked the fact that he noticed. Not every man she’d dated had paid attention.

How they could’ve missed it, she didn’t know. “It is my favorite color.”

“I figured.”

“What’s your favorite color?”

“Whatever you’re wearing.”

“Flattery will get you everywhere.” She laughed.

“Mmm, so I’ve heard. Tell me what you would’ve said you were wearing.”

“Oh, I would’ve said nothing at all.” She smiled and wandered back into her bedroom,

plopping down in the middle of her unmade bed.

A strangled choke sounded over the phone. “I like that version better than the truth.”

“No surprise there. So what are you wearing?”

“You want the truth or what you really want to hear?” Justin threw her words back at her.

“The truth.”

“My underwear. I’m about ready to go to bed.”

“What color?”

“Pervert.” He chuckled again. “Black boxer briefs.”

All the air seemed to leave her at the image of Justin sitting in his bed, nothing but a pair

of black boxer briefs covering his magnificent body.

“I wish I was there with you,” she admitted in a small voice.

“I do too, babe.” He sounded gruff and more than a little aroused.

“If I were there I would tear off your underwear and have my way with you.”

“What would you do?”

~~~~

Oh la la! I would like to know, lol. So, tell Karen, what do you like? Big, bulging muscles or a lean, mean, sexy machine? She is giving away a 10 Dollar AMAZON GC to one lucky winner!