Malia Mallory Presents Five Tips for the Perfect Romantic Gesture #FridayFive

Romantic gestures are things you do to show your partner that you are thinking about him/her and also a way to show affection. The great thing is that a little goes a long way toward keeping that special connection alive. Thoughtful gestures can even stoke the fire into flames.

1. Touch. It’s easy sometimes to let distance come between us. Make a special effort to hold hands while walking. Give a kiss – a real kiss, not just a peck on the cheek, when saying hello or goodbye. Wake up a few minutes early and engage in a nice morning snuggle.

2. Communicate. Tell your partner how you feel and not just in intimate moments. Write down a heartfelt sentiment. Slip it into a place where it is sure to be found. This can be a post-it on the bathroom mirror or a card in a briefcase. How about sending an intimate text or leaving a suggestive voicemail?

3. Do Something Special. A special or unexpected action can be lovely. You know your significant other’s preferences. Make a special trip to the bakery for that well-loved pie. Cook a favorite meal. Indulge in an activity that your partner enjoys, but maybe you don’t. Do a little pampering by giving a massage.

4. Surprise. There’s nothing like the element of surprise to create a spark. Plan a romantic weekend getaway. Present your partner with a thoughtful gift like a cd of a favorite artist or tickets to a show. Have a picnic.

5. Celebrate. Don’t wait for a holiday or a big promotion. Celebrate today. Make plans to meet for lunch during the week. Break out that special bottle of wine. Make a reservation at a nice restaurant.

I think the theme of these tips is not to settle into a rut. Be mindful. Be considerate. Let your partner know how much you appreciate having him or her in your life in small ways every day.

What’s your favorite romantic gesture?

Five Tips for Creating a Romantic Staycation

You’d like to get away for a long weekend – away from the job, the kids and the stress. You’d also like to spend some quality time with your honey, but, if you’re like me, perhaps there’s no one to watch the little one or money is in short supply.

So what can you do?

The concept of a staycation has been with us for a few years. Forego the plane tickets and hotel rooms and save some money. Bypass the time and hassle of traveling and help your local economy. These are great concepts, but I want to offer a particular staycation idea. These suggestions are designed to foster quality time with your significant other – giving you the opportunity to reconnect. We know what that leads to right?

1.  Commit to no work – really. No emails, no cell phone, no texts, no checking in with the office. It’s possible that you have the kind of job where this just isn’t possible, but for most of us, putting away the phone and turning off the computer are a choice. Turn on the answering machine and don’t tell people you are vacationing at home.

2. Create Ambience. It might sound cheesy, but candles and music really do work. They relax you and set a mood. You might also consider some very comfy lounging pajamas…no reason not to be comfortable right?

3.  Do Activities Together. Read a book to one another. It could be some favorite poetry or even something naughty. Snuggle up on the couch and have a movie marathon. Break out the cards and games. Ever try strip cribbage? If you need to get the blood moving, take a walk around the neighborhood or hike in a nearby park. Break out the bicycles. Take a swim. If the pool is yours, try skinning dipping!

4. Pamper Each Other. This is the time for back massages and foot rubs. Maybe try jumping in the tub or shower together. Make a special effort to make some of the foods your significant other enjoys. Remember – little gestures go a long way.

5. Have a Night on the Town. At some point during your staycation, have a date night out. This might be dinner at a favorite restaurant followed by a show or maybe some dancing and a late night coffee at a bistro. What are the activities you used to enjoy together? Sitting in the back of the movie theatre? Parking in the car over a picturesque view? This is the night to tap into what brought you together.

What activities reconnect you with your partner?

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Want to see more of my work? My published books can be previewed via the following links!

The Insatiable Reads Book Tour – Where is Malia Mallory?

Hi all! More information on the Insatiable Reads Book Tour! I have a full schedule this month. I’m hoping you’ll check out some of my appearances below.

March 11 – Reading Between the Lines

March 12 – Belle’s Book Bag

March 15 – One Handed Writers

March 15 to 18 – Lucky In Love Blog Hop

March 17 to 24 – Big Cocks and Shamrocks Giveaway Hop

March 18 – Deep in the Heart of Romance

March 19 – Louisa Bacio

March 20 to 23 – Rights of Spring Blog Hop

March 20 – Liv Rancourt

March 25 – Morticia Knight

March 26 – Book Whore

March 29 – One Handed Writers

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I’m currently on virtual tour with 15 other awesome romance authors as part of the Insatiable Reads Book Tour. From March 4-31st, readers will be invited to enter for a chance to win a Kindle Paperwhite, free books, and other fun goodies. Readers will also be able to participate in author chats, get insights into writing and publishing romance, and collect story swag.

To enter giveaways and meet the other writers, follow us at:
Website:
http://www.insatiablereads.com/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/insatiable.books
Twitter: www.twitter.com/insatiablereads/
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Pinterest:

Find a New Favorite Romance and Fall in Love All Over Again at the Give@way H0p

Welcome to the Fall In Love All Over Again Giveaway Hop!

Thank you to our host Reading-Romances.com!

Today we have over 70 authors and bloggers sharing romantic stories.

All commenters on this blog will be entered for a $10 Amazon.com gift card! Don’t forget to include your email.

For a free copy of B is for Beach from The ABCs of Erotica? Sign up for my mailing list here.

Finding a New Favorite

I’m a voracious reader. As a result, I’m on a constant quest for new reading material. I primarily read romances, but I do dip into some other genres as well. Therefore, when I come across a new author to enjoy, I’m thrilled.

One such experience happened a few years ago. I came across a novel from author I didn’t know at the time. The novel was To Sir Philip, With Love by Julia Quinn. I read the book and liked it a great deal. The heroine, Eloise, was spunky. The story had humor, romance and sexiness as well. I was delighted to find it was book 5 in a series. What a find!

What authors have you discovered by chance?

Stay tuned for the blurb from my newest release – His Need, Her Desire.

Find the rest of the participants in the giveaway hop below!



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His Need, Her Desire Blurb

Tabitha Quinn didn’t come to Hawaii to be spanked. But when vacationing businessman Marcus Granger saves her from drowning, they begin an affair that moves from the beach to the bedroom and straight into an experience Tabitha’s never had before: dark-haired, blue-eyed Marcus is a dominant, and spanking is just the beginning. The sex is intense, the emotion even more so, until they both must decide if this is a holiday fling or the real thing.

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His Need, Her Desire is available for preview and purchase on the following sites.

What is Romantic? Find Out by Romancing the H0P – Kindle, GC and Swag Pack Up for Grabs

Welcome hoppers to the Romancing the Hop! Special thanks to our wonderful hostess, Carrie Ann Ryan. Check out more about Carrie Ann and her work here.

We have AMAZING prizes for our commenters!

1st Grand Prize: A Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet

2nd Grand Prize: A $130 Amazon or B&N Gift Card

3rd Grand Prize: A Large Swag Pack

All commenters on this blog will be eligible to win a $5 Amazon.com gift certificate. Please leave your email! All commenters on all the participating blogs will be eligible for the grand prizes. The more you comment, the more entries you have! Over 100 chances to win!

Keep reading after my post for a steamy excerpt from my work in progress.

Want a free copy of the whole story “B is for Beach” from The ABCs of Erotica? Sign up for my mailing list here.

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Today, we’re all blogging about one of my favorite topics – romance!

Usually when we think of romantic gestures, we think of flowers, chocolates or a bottle of wine. When we contemplate romantic activities, we might imagine a candlelit dinner or walk on the beach. However, some studies show that while love poetry might be appreciated, real romance involves doing the dishes. Just do a Google search on “men doing housework” and you’ll find a host of articles describing how men who pitch in have happier marriages, better sex lives and lower rates of divorce. This is not to say that women don’t love receiving flowers or that occasional bottle of perfume, but it does seem to indicate that what happens day in and day out is more important over the long term.

There are a number of hypotheses about why a more equitable division of housework leads to happiness in the bedroom. Could it be a sign of respect? Is it simply more fair? If the household and childcare duties are more evenly divided, does that free up time and energy for other activities? My question would be, is the relationship happier because a man does more housework or are men who do more housework more supportive partners?

Speaking for myself, I’m thrilled when my husband empties the dishwasher without being asked.

What do you find romantic?

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For your reading pleasure, here is a little snippet from my work in progress. Remember – it’s unedited so be gentle!

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Marcus reluctantly lifted her away from himself “Privacy. We need some privacy.” Marcus took her hand and led her below. He guided her into a stateroom and firmly closed the door.

Tabitha turned toward Marcus and the look on his face froze her. It was predatory, blatantly sexual. His gaze trapped her and her heart began to race. Everything that was female inside her responded to his purely masculine intent.

In a flash, he captured her in his arms and plundered her mouth. He bore her down to the carpet and his hands grappled with her clothing. He tugged her bikini top off and seized her nipple with his mouth. Tabitha bucked under the onslaught. She gloried in the strength of his need, which sparked in her an answering desire.

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Want to visit the other sites in the hop? Click here!

Want to see more of my work? My published books can be found via the following links!

Malia Mallory Invites You to the Sizzling Summer Reads Party 2012 – 400 Authors Participating

Please join me and over 400 other authors for the Sizzling Summer Reads Party 2012.

Thank you to our host The Romance Reviews.

I’m giving away a copy of Mia’s Cop Craving.

If you’d like to win, just visit this link and view the question regarding the story. The answer can be found on my web site.

If you would like to sample my work, get a free copy of “B is for Beach” from The ABCs of Erotica by signing up for my mailing list here.

Please check out my published releases below.

Gabrielle Bisset Shares “Why I Write Alpha Males”

Thanks, Malia, for having me here at your blog today.  As I was thinking of a topic for this post, I was just finishing up a discussion with a reader about Alpha males in which she’d asked me why I love them so much as an author and a reader. The answer to that question is simple:  They’re exciting men.  Alpha males control the situation, dominate the stage, and take care of business.  This is what makes them Alpha.

Growing up, I loved the James Bond movies.  My father would take me to see every one as it came out.  Now as I look back, I chuckle at the idea that I probably wasn’t old enough to watch films like that, but I wasn’t focusing on the sex at the time.  To me, those movies were terrific entertainment because James Bond was such a great character.  In the middle of the worst crisis, he seemed to always have time to charm everyone around him and have a drink—shaken, not stirred.

Bond has always been an Alpha.  Well, except for those movies in the early 90s where they wanted him to be politically correct.  Then he was just a frustrated cool guy.  Not Alpha really.

I was watching X-Men First Class the other day and although I guess I should have seen this before, I realized Magneto is an Alpha.  I was probably thrown off by the fact that he’s usually an old man I can’t help remembering as Gandolf.  I love Ian McKellen, but I’ve never looked at him the way I do most Alphas.  But in First Class, he’s a younger man played by Michael Fassbender, and he’s very much Alpha.

The Alpha male is larger than life, so to be drawn to him is no surprise.  In a variety of ways, all the heroes in my Sons of Navarus series are Alphas.  In Blood Avenged, the first book of the series, Vasilije is quintessential Alpha sexuality.  He’s a hedonist who sees the world as his playground.  As I told a reader the other day, just because he has a HEA at the end of Blood Avenged doesn’t mean he’s changed.  He’s still Alpha; now, he’s just a hedonist devoted to one woman and her pleasure. But his Alpha-ness is still there.

In the second book, Blood Betrayed, readers meet a different Alpha—Saint.  He’s different than Vasilije in that he’s deeper and earthier.  Saint feels things that Vasilije would never even consider, but he’s not an emotional creature as much as a sensual one.  And unlike his predecessor in the series, Saint is very much a male who is all about physical strength.  He exudes power.  That’s what makes him a true Alpha.

I write the kind of men I find attractive.  That’s why my heroes are Alphas.  What woman wouldn’t want a man who can fight off an attacker and then take care of business in the way only a confident, powerful man can?  It’s the stuff of erotic romance, pure and simple.

If you like Alpha male vampires, take a look at Blood Avenged and Blood Betrayed at my website at
http://www.gabriellebisset.com/the-sons-of-navarus-series.html
You can even read the entire first chapter of Blood Betrayed!

Links:

Website       Blog         Facebook       Twitter        Amazon Author Page
Like the Sons of Navarus Facebook Page

It’s the Diamond Jubilee of the Queen and We’re Celebrating by Hopping!

Welcome everyone to the Diamond Jubilee Celebration Hop! This blog hop is sponsored by Sue Grimshaw and the wonderful folks at Romance at Random.

All commenters on my blog will receive a free ebook from me! A few lucky commenters will receive a copy of a recent release as well. Don’t forget to include your email.

On the main blog hop page, there over 25 prizes to win and links to many more!

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When I stopped to think about what I might write for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Celebration, my mind focused on the diamonds. I’ve never been a huge fan of diamonds. I’m more into natural gemstones like opals and pearls. Diamonds always seemed quite expensive and just a little less interesting.

I actually don’t consider myself a jewelry person at all, despite the fact that I have a huge box filled with jewelry. I do wear jewelry daily – the exact same jewelry. I wear the same earrings for months at a time. I wear the same rings for years at a time.

For example, I wore my high school ring well past high school graduation. Now, this isn’t as bad as it sounds. It is a birthstone ring in a small setting. This ring really represented something to me. I worked for the money and paid for it myself. In addition, it was custom made – one-of-a-kind. I went to several high schools. I had the initials for each school engraved around the stone. By the time I stopped wearing it, the facets on the stone had literally worn away.

In college, the standard ring at my school was an onyx in a gold setting. Like the majority of my classmates, I purchased one and wore it for well over a decade. Eventually, I lost a significant amount of weight and neither school ring fit properly anymore. I planned to get them resized, but I’ve never done it.

Now for quite some time, I’ve been wearing the rings associated with my marriage. For my engagement ring, my husband chose a lovely gold ring with flowers and no stones. I’m not sure it is something I would’ve selected for myself. However, I really love it because he picked it out and it has grown on me. We have matching wedding bands with bamboo etched around the circumference. These we selected together. Both these rings, of course, have a great deal of meaning to me and I wear them always.

Looking back, the history of my rings is almost like a history of my life.

Do you have jewelry like that? Do you have a piece that is tied to a specific event or time in your life? Please feel free to share by leaving a comment.

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There are over 70 sites participating in the hop. Why not visit a few, meet some new authors and win some books! See the full list here.