Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in tonya01's LiveJournal:

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Thursday, May 12th, 2005
1:33 pm	We're Moving I've found a new place to host my blog so I'm moving. I'm not happy with the limitations here and the new place allows me many more options. I was getting frustrated because I couldn't share pictures and other things with you but now I'll be able to! So come join me at http://tonyaramagos.blogspot.com/ I've already started posting there and will be anouncing some goodies really soon! (Comment on this)
Wednesday, May 11th, 2005
12:16 pm	Another 4 Star Review! Wow! The 4 star reviews are flowing in for VOICES AND LIES. Just got this one and had to share:-) Heavy Metal Seduction: Voices and Lies Tonya Ramagos Contemporary erotic romance Available from Extasy Books 2005 Alicia absolutely loves the band, Facade. But it's the lead singer, Derek Kadin, who catches her attention the most. His voice is beautiful, and he's sexier than Vin Diesel. She even loves the little bit of personality he shows on his band's message board. But he's out of her reach. And her current problems are more important than her fantasies. She's become what her mother wants, dressing and acting like something she's not. She even has the boyfriend her mother adores. William Templeton is a businessman at heart, set to take her father's place when he retires. He says he loves her, but he can't since he doesn't know her. He gives her a ring that is wrong for her, makes love with restraint and control, and wants her to move out of the homey cottage she loves into a big, gaudy house. He doesn't even wait for her to say yes to his question of marriage before he slips the ring on her finger. So when William leaves on business, she decides to take the time to figure out how to tell him she can't marry him, and how to be what she wants, rather than what her mother wants. But a problem intervenes. Her sister, Star, needs her to take her place at the expensive, somewhat exclusive Bed & Breakfast she owns. Alicia agrees, never expecting Derek Kadin to show up under an assumed name. When he does, she doesn't let him know she knows he's Derek Kadin instead of Derek Smith, and he doesn't tell her he's a metal singer, but they hit it off immediately. Heavy Metal Seduction: Voices and Lies naturally used a fairly common fantasy amongst women: to meet that incredibly sexy musician and have him make love to you, romance you, fall in love with you. Surprisingly, it was handled better than I expected, with more realism than the average romance with that plot. I liked Alicia for the most part, but had a problem with the way she handled the situation with William. It made her human but, while I briefly sympathized with her, I felt it was all her fault for displaying herself has something else and going along with assumptions about what she liked, rather than William's fault. Of course, the use of slight deception by both Alicia and Derek made for a rather interesting aspect on their trust issues, and I found the conclusion realistic for the story. I liked the approach to the romance in this story. Yes, attraction and sex played a large part for both characters initially, but Derek and Alicia both found themselves feeling emotions other than lust the more time they spent together, time that didn't involve sex. But since I've mentioned sex, I must say it was an enjoyable part of the book. Not the average sex I read in erotic romances, it had a carnality all its own. Overall, Voices and Lies made a very enjoyable erotic romance, with characters I liked reading about. Overall rating: 4 Hearts Sensuality rating: Explicit Reviewer: Tara Black (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Thursday, May 5th, 2005
1:45 pm	Contest End I know several of you are wondering about the April contest so we'll start there. The winner of the copy of FIGHTING FOR A DREAM is Debbie C. Congrats Debbie! I posted a comment to you under the "Prologue post" so please check here if you haven't yet. For those of you who didn't win, I'll be doing another contest soon so don't go away. I haven't decided what it will be yet but I'll post as soon as I do. Not a lot has gone on this week to tell you about. VOICES AND LIES is advertised and reviewed in Romantic Times BookClub Magazine so check it out the next time you're in a book store. And thank you Mel for alerting me that the magazine was out. *G* Oh, I did get another review for FIGHTING FOR A DREAM a couple of days ago. I'll share that with you now and catch up with you again later:-) **** 4 Angels from Fallen Angel Reviews! Jordan Diaz has worked very hard to become a firefighter. Her father will no longer be able to prevent Jordan from achieving her dream. Bryce Tracy, fire chief, is willing to give Jordan the chance to prove her abilities. Bryce and Jordan have a very complicated relationship. Jordan’s father had always been disappointed that he did not have a son; that was until Bryce came into their lives. Bryce was the son her father wanted. Working together, forces Jordan to see the man that Bryce has become. Becoming lovers, Jordan is even more confused about her new feelings for Bryce. Bryce Tracy has always cared for Jordan with brotherly affection. But he is not her brother, and seeing her as the beautiful woman she is makes Bryce look at Jordan in a new way. Bryce decides to give Jordan the opportunity to achieve her dream of becoming a firefighter. Falling in love with Jordan is not something Bryce intends to do. Jordan’s reluctance to his love hurts Bryce and he intends to overcome any obstacle. Jordan is the woman for him, now he only needs to convince her that his love is real. Fighting For A Dream is pleasing story of a woman struggling to achieve a lifelong goal –to become a firefighter. This is book two in the Stockland Fire Department Series. Book one is Mr. Right in Turnouts. Jordan and Bryce must each conquer inner demons to have the love that each so desperately wants. Ms. Ramagos has used dialogue and interaction between the characters to create an unforgettable tale that will touch your heart. Reviewed by: Tewanda (5 Comments |Comment on this)
Monday, May 2nd, 2005
5:43 pm	Prologue Time As promised, I have the prologue from DREAMS ON FIRE for you below. Please keep in mind that this is from a work in progress and though I have been over it, I have yet to go through it with a heavy editing hand. So if there are any mistakes please over look them. I would love to hear your HONEST comments on this. If you don't like it, tell me so and why. I you do like it I of course want to know that too:-) And maybe what it is you like about it. One quick word about the April contest, I have to get with my PR person to see who the winner is. I leave all of that up to her. I'll find out tomorrow and let you know. Now, here's the prologue. It's nearly as long as a chapter but hopefully it will hold your attention as it's designed to do:-) ~~~~~ PROLOGUE Captain Dean Wolcott was dreaming. He knew he had to be when he stepped out his front door to find the beauty in the driveway. And no, the beauty wasn’t his motorcycle…though the fire engine red Harley FLSTFI Fat Boy with its twin cam engine was the current love of his life. But it was the long legged, long haired, completely naked blond leaning against it that had him stopping in his tracks. Sweet Jesus, he had died and gone to Heaven. Well, almost. He took a moment to study her. Her sunshine hair that fell over one shoulder barely covering one breast, the contrast of that hair against her tanned skin—completely naked, all over tanned skin. Her breasts weren’t large by any means but they were full, perfectly rounded and oh so enticing. His palms burned to cup those breasts, his thumbs aching to graze over their taut dark brown peaks. He fisted his hands, his gaze sliding down her flat stomach, over the patch of blond curls that was barely visible between her legs—oh yeah she was a natural blond—and continued down. Her legs were toned, perfectly shaped and seemed to go on for miles. His mouth watered at the thought of tasting them, skimming his tongue from her ankle up the long length of one leg until he licked himself home to that wonderfully enticing pussy. She would have no problem wrapping those legs around his waist as he slid... No. Stop it. He was not going to get lost in those thoughts again. Not this time. This wasn’t the first time this woman, this vision, had visited him in his dreams and each time he allowed the scenario play out before he had a chance to figure out who she was. Her face. He couldn’t see her face. Everything else about her, every enticing, arousing inch was clearly visible except for her face. It was shadowed. Even in the bright sunlight of the day, he couldn’t make out a single feature of her face. And that’s how he knew he hadn’t died and gone to Heaven. If he were in Heaven he would be able to see her, all of her. He would know who this woman was who invaded his dreams night after night. She raised a hand, crooked a finger at him and he was propelled toward her. This was where the dream always ended. He would wake up now with her memory etched in his mind, still oblivious to her identity. But he didn’t. Instead, the dream continued. Thank you Jesus! The scene changed as if someone had clicked the channel button on a remote control and he was back inside his house with her in his bed. He was naked now too and on top of her. He could feel her skin against his, soft and warm with the slight hint of perspiration. He could feel her hands on his shoulders, gripping hard, her long nails digging into his back. He could feel those legs wrapped tightly around his waist as he slowly begin to ease the tip of his penis toward the sopping wet opening of her pussy. And he still didn’t know who she was. A loud crack of thunder rattled the walls. What the hell? It hadn’t been raining when they had been in his driveway. An ear-piercing shrill cut through the sexually charged atmosphere and Dean’s eyes popped open. He sighed. He didn’t need to take a moment to figure out what was going on. He knew what had happened. He had been pulled from his nearly Heavenly dream with his mysterious blond by the harsh sound of the station’s alarm tones. It was going to be a long night. Dean sat up, struggling to push his blond vision out of his mind as he swung his legs over the edge of his cot and waited for the no-nonsense voice of the dispatcher. Around him, several of the men mumbled and cursed as they jumped into their turnout gear and prepared to roll. They complained but Dean knew in truth they loved it every time the tones went off. There was nothing like a good raging fire to get the blood and adrenaline pumping through the veins. Nothing, that was, except an incredibly sexy mysterious blond, he amended. For a man, that adrenaline often settled in his groin and it was a good thing too because his dream had left him with a very visible hard-on. Still, if anyone noticed they would simply think it was from the thrill and anticipation of the call and not from the fact that he had been only seconds from a serious wet dream. Across town, nestled in the central communications office located at the Sheriff’s Department, Julia Bradley was tonight’s dispatcher on duty. She was a young, petite slip of a thing but one would never guess by the authoritative, deep timbre of her radio voice. “Engine 1, Ladder 12 and Rescue 4. We have a report of a structure fire at 3211 Cumberland Road. Unknown occupancy. Time out, 2430.” That announcement kicked the guys into higher gear eliciting whoops from a couple of men and even a Hoo-yah from the ex Navy SEAL. Dean quickly slipped into his boots—the only part of his uniform of black pants or jeans and navy blue shirt with the department’s logo on the pocket and across the back that he had bothered to remove before laying down to try to catch a few hours of shut eye—and snatched his handheld radio off the table between the cots. Dean followed the crew down the steps to the bays even as Zack Houston’s, B shift’s radio operator, voice came over the speakers to confirm the location of the fire for the men responding. “I’m taking the IC truck,” Dean called to the crew, bolting around them and through the open bay doors to the Incident Command SUV parked out front. Rain poured in sheets from clouds so dark they nearly blended in with the dark night sky and he was instantly soaked. He snatched his handheld off his belt and slid into the driver’s seat. Keying up the radio, he said, “900 in route with Incident Command 2,” as he started the SUV and peeled out of the parking lot. The engineers—more commonly known as drivers—of the engine and ladder companies and the rescue followed his announcement as they also called in route. Visibility sucked even with the windshield wipers on full blast and the momentary brightness from streaks of lightening that shot through the sky. Dean clenched the wheel as he strained to see the road in front of him. Cumberland Road was less than three miles from the station but weather like this was going to slow their response time. “And make putting out this fire a real bitch,” he grumbled to himself. Though fires were generally put out with water, and rain was in fact water, fighting a fire in the pouring rain only made the job a thousand times more difficult. It slowed their response time, made everything as slick as frozen ice and as slippery as a mudslide. No doubt it was the weather, the lightening most likely, that had caused this fire to begin with. A small crowd of people huddled under umbrellas for protection had gathered in the yards across from and next to the house numbered 3211—the Abbott house, Dean realized suddenly but he had no time to think about that now—no doubt to see the fire department in action. Dean pulled the SUV to a stop in the street just past the house and hopped out, radio in hand. From his vantage point at the left front corner of the house he couldn’t see anything wrong. It was a woman in the yard next door frantically waving and pointing that drew his attention to the right side of the house. Sure enough, they had a fire on their hands. Dean keyed up his radio. “IC 2 on scene, smoke visible but no flame,” he reported to his crew. “Engine 1, 10-4 that. We’re right behind you Cap. Where do you want us?” Dean turned, shaking his head, a smile playing at the corner of his lips. The bright red and clear rotating lights of the engine were already visible, the siren screaming louder as the truck sped toward him. He should have known. Not even a little rain was going to slow down Ryan Magee, the Engine Company’s engineer and former Navy SEAL. “Roll to the house Engine 1,” Dean said into his radio. “Ladder 12, take hydrant duty then proceed.” “Ladder 12, 10-4.” The four men crew of Engine 1 was hopping out before the truck even came to a full stop. Dean made a mental note to reprimand the men for that one later. They all knew better. Safety was always an issue on any scene but right now they had a job to do. “Anyone inside?” Lieutenant Trip Barrett’s usual lazy Texas drawl was clipped and accent free in the face of action. He grabbed a pike pole—a long metal pole with an arrowhead and hook on one end used to break through the tough material of roofs and walls—and other tools from the truck before sprinting across the yard with Jason Graham to the front door of the house. The firefighters waited just outside the door for Bailey Lamont—B shift’s latest probie and female firefighter—who had stayed behind to help Ryan pull and connect the engine’s hose before joining them. Dean felt a quick twinge of what might have been fear or apprehension maybe as Lamont hightailed it across the yard to meet up with the guys before entering the house. She was fresh meat from the Fire Academy, on the job for only a week. In that week, she had responded to several calls, all of them minor, none being a real test of her capabilities. Tonight’s call, on the other hand, held the potential to put her newly learned knowledge through the ringer. She had to be put to the test at some point and knowing that Barrett was leading her crew gave Dean the ability to push his concerns aside. Lieutenant Trip Barrett was one of the best. Lamont was certainly safe in his hands. “It should be vacant but proceed with caution until we know for sure.” Dean was fairly certain the house was indeed vacant. It wasn’t what one could consider a “summer” home for the Abbott family. They spent a weekend or even a couple of weeks here and there throughout the year in the house but had taken up permanent residence somewhere in Florida a few years ago. Unfortunately, the family always failed to inform the fire department when in town or even when they were leaving town so he had no way to be sure of the house’s vacancy tonight. “Ladder 12, charge the line,” Ryan Magee said into his radio before turning to Dean. “You know who owns this house Cap.?” “The Abbott’s,” Dean confirmed, half paying attention to the action starting up at the house, half lost in his own thoughts. Veronica Abbott. God, he hadn’t thought of that girl in years. Not true. She had popped in his mind more times than he could count over the years. He simply hadn’t allowed her to stay there. And girl? No doubt she was a woman now. How long had it been? Over a decade since he had last seen her. Wow! Dean knew it hadn’t been that long since Veronica had visited her hometown of Silver Springs. He had heard through the grape vine that she had popped in for a weekend only a few months ago. But her world and his didn’t cross paths. They never had really. Though they had both been born and raised in Silver Springs, Mississippi, she was four years his junior and the paths they had traveled growing up had been millions of miles apart. It was the classic girl meets boy from the wrong side of the tracks. Veronica Abbott had lived the rich life, pampered, well-to-do and reared for a life spent with an equally well-to-do man in every way short of being sent to finishing school. Dean, on the other hand, had come from the poor side of town, his parents divorced and left to run wild and fend for himself. Still, none of those differences had prevented Dean from wanting her. The years since he had last seen her hadn’t erased her from his memory either. He could still picture her the way she had looked at eighteen. He had been twenty-two then and headed for the Fire Academy. He had stopped by the department store for a few supplies on his way out of town and there she had been. He had actually been shocked to find her at a normal affordable department store rather than one of the high priced chains that catered to the rich. Dean had watched her, taking great pains to be discreet, allowing himself a moment to memorize her from head to toe. She had been wearing some sort of dress—designer no doubt—that reached clean to her ankles and did nothing to emphasize the trim, shapely figure he had known she possessed underneath. Her long sunshine blond hair had been stylishly pulled into some sort of twist, leaving her neck exposed—a neck that he had fantasized about touching, kissing, tasting, nibbling on more than one occasion following that day. She had caught him looking at her once, her electric blue eyes sending bolts of desire straight to his groin. Few females had ever made his dick rock hard with a simple look but she had done it. Then, she had flashed him a shy smile and quickly turning away. It was that smile, so innocent and timid yet sweet and alluring, that had kept her image implanted in his mind all these years. “Looks like lightening is our culprit this time Cap.” Dean’s attention snapped back to the present. Damn, he had really zoned out there for a minute. Now was certainly not the time to get lost in lustful memories. His men were risking their lives and here he was traveling through a freaking time warp! The Ladder Company had joined them, three of the crew already on the right side of the house where Dean had seen the smoke pouring from the attic vents under the eaves. He could see one of his men on the ground, another at the top of the ladder and one on the roof. “I’ve got a 3 x 3 section here where it struck,” David Karston, obviously the man on the roof, continued over the radio. “I’m going to cut through.” “We’re empty here. Nobody’s home,” Barrett reported from inside the house. “We’re searching for the attic entrance now.” “How’s your visibility in there?” Dean asked through his own radio. “Smokey but not too thick,” Barrett answered. “Ventilation hole is cut,” Karston informed. “And we have flames gentlemen. They’re smoldering in the insulation. Looks small enough. We can handle this thing with the booster line.” “Dean.” He turned at the sound of his name and came nearly face to face with Lacy Fergus. She was standing in the middle of the street, close enough to be heard over the noises of the trucks and pumps but a far enough distance to be safe and not get in the way. This was another woman he hadn’t spoken to in years. She was also the woman who had been with Veronica at the department store that day over a decade ago. Lacy and Veronica had been best friends, nearly inseparable from the time they were both in diapers. Like Veronica, Lacy was from one of the well-to-do families of Silver Springs but unlike her best friend she didn’t send Dean’s hormones shooting through the roof. Not that she was ugly. No, she was defiantly a very pretty woman in a business exec, completely serious, high society sort of way. She was tall—taller even in the heels she was wearing at 0115 in the morning. Did she ever take them off? She had a great pair of legs too. Dean had always been a legs man and he had to admit that hers were first rate. She was dressed in a no frills business suit, her ebony hair piled in a bun high at the back of her head. Dean turned his attention back to Ryan who had already pulled the booster line from the truck, charged it and passed it on to Kyle Shannon, the firefighter on the ground. The guys had this one under control. He took several steps closer to Lacy. “Is it bad?” She didn’t look at him. Instead her gaze was glued to the house where Karston had begun putting out the fire through the hole he had made in the roof. “Depends on how you look at it. Most people see fire as a bad thing no matter how big it is.” She looked at him then, tilted her head and frowned. He had to stifle laugh. He liked getting looks like that from women like her. It was a look that clearly said, “My time is too valuable to spend it toying around with you so give me the straight answer I’m looking for so I can go about my business.” “I can’t tell you much at this point. It looks like lightening struck the roof. So far, the fire seems to be contained in one spot in the attic. My guys are putting that out now.” “But it should be repairable?” “As far as I can tell at the moment, yes.” Dean hated predicting things like this. Fire was completely unpredictable. True, his men seemed to have it under control right now and he was sure it wouldn’t be long before they would have the fire out completely and they would be headed back to the station. But there was always the chance that something else could happen. They had no way of knowing what, if anything, that attic held. If there were anything inside it that was highly flammable and the fire reached it before his men could put it out they would be playing in a whole different ball game. “Are you still in contact with the Abbott’s? Can you notify them about the fire?” Lacy nodded, her attention once again on the house. “I’ll call Veronica. I was going to call her in the morning anyway. She’s planning to move back into the house for a while. There shouldn’t be any reason why she can’t once the repairs are done, right?” Dean’s mind latched onto her words. Veronica. Moving. House. Holly God. Veronica Abbott was coming back to Silver Springs. To live! Surprise rendered him speechless. She had been gone by the time he had returned from the Fire Academy. She had left to attend college, met someone while she was away, got married soon after and moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Dean hadn’t had to ask, hadn’t had to look for her when he returned. All he’d had to do was listen. The local grapevine was always full of gossip when it came to the rich. Without uttering a word, he had learned the man she had married was a cop. A cop! That had been a hard one to swallow. Her parents had actually allowed her to marry a cop. He had always pictured her getting married to some suit in a some high powered executive job who did nothing more than sit behind a desk and push a pencil all day. But then he had learned that he guy she had married was in fact the son of Robert McDonald II, owner of McDonald Technologies and filthy rich. Instead of following in his old man’s footsteps, Robert McDonald III had apparently decided to follow his own dreams and become a cop. It had been a bad career move considering Dean had heard the man had been gunned down in the line of duty two years ago. Yes, Veronica Abbott McDonald was now a widow. And she was moving back to Silver Springs. “Captain? There shouldn’t be any reason why Veronica can’t move into the house once the repairs are done, right?” Lacy repeated her question, her irritation with him sounding more and more with each word. “Right,” Dean forced himself to answer her. Then he forced himself to ignore the hope that had begun to build inside him at the news of Veronica’s impending return. Who was he kidding? So what if she was coming back to Silver Springs? That didn’t mean she would give him the time of day anymore than she had when they were growing up. No doubt she was still the same person she had been as a girl. So what if she had married a cop? He had been a rich cop. The key word there was “rich”. Despite McDonald’s career choice, he had still been from her world—her rich world. Though Dean was no longer the wild and careless soul he had been growing up, he was still as far from the world of the rich as a man could get. Dreaming of starting something with a woman like Veronica Abbott would only lead to disappointment and pain. Except, he had spent years dreaming of exactly that. The blond beauty from his dream leapt to mind and finally he knew. His mind had aged her to the twenty-nine year old she was now instead of the girl of eighteen he had last seen but there was no longer any doubt who she was. The blond leaning against the motorcycle in his driveway in his dreams was Veronica Abbott. And Dean was in trouble. (6 Comments |Comment on this)
Saturday, April 30th, 2005
11:44 am	Update It's been a few days since I check in. Again! I thought about posting everyday. Does that count? LOL I hit a snag earlier in the week in writing DREAMS OF FIRE. It just wasn't working out to my satisfaction. So I spent a day re-writing a couple of scenes which I now love. However, the re-writes did set me back on my word count goal. I still may be able to pull it off in the time frame I had planned but if I don't I'm not all that upset. I would rather put out a really good book that I'm completely happy with rather than one that is so-so just meet a contest deadline. I have a little less than a month before the deadline so we'll see how it goes. Maybe next week I'll post the prologue for you. See what you think of it. Anyway, this is a pretty dead Saturday so I think I'll use the time wisely and try to write a bit. See ya next week! (3 Comments |Comment on this)
Tuesday, April 26th, 2005
8:55 am	Another Review The reviews seem to be coming in all at once suddenly. This time I've got a review for one of my YA novels titled FROM RICHES TO THE ZOO. I'll share it with you below. I'll be spending the day working on DREAMS ON FIRE. The next scene which was stumping me a bit came to me last night while I was at the night job. I hate it when that happens cause then I want to rush home and write and I can't! But it's still fresh in my mind now so I need to get it down before I lose it. Here's the review and I'll see you tomorrow. Miranda Hobson enjoys a perfect, rich, happy life, with the encouraging affect of her parents, her best friend Stacey and her boyfriend Brock. But suddendly a series of horrible events turns her life over: her parents perish in an aircraft crash; her aunt and uncle plan to make her live with themselves, far away, in their zoo near Greendale; and Brock announce his decision to break off their relationship. Miranda tries to change her uncles' mind, even plans to escape from home, but in vain. Her life is falling down and she is incapable to control anything. In her uncles' house she finds herself without her usual comforts, near to the animals she dislikes, unable to make friends with anyone. Luckily, she at last meets Eliza, a likeable and humorous girls much similar to Stacey; and above all she falls in love with Eliza's brother, Court, the guy more beautiful she has ever seen. She senses that Court could be the man of her life, but apparently he considers her a snob and makes fun of her inadequacy and embarrassment... " From Riches to the Zoo" is a young adult novel by Tonya Ramagos, author also of adult romances and mysteries (under the pen name Calley Moore). It's a fascinating story, written with a delicate touch. And -- may I say this? -- written also with undeniable affect for the protagonist and the characters around her. The story flows with apparent easyness, especially with a cup of hot chocolate nearby. I said "apparent" easyness. Because anyone, who tried to write a story, knows perfectly well how much editing, writing and re-writing are necessary to obtain a flowing narration as the one found in "From Riches to the Zoo". The book by Tonya Ramagos is a warmly recommended reading. Not only for teenagers, that will find feelings and interests of their age, but also for grown-ups, above all those that likes a bit of romanticism in their life. Reviewed by Caribooks http://caribooks.altervista.org (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Sunday, April 24th, 2005
7:16 pm	Busy, Busy, Busy Once again, I unintentionally ducked out for a few days. The Mudvayne concert was great! I had loads of fun and it's been nearly a year since I've attented a concert so it was great stress relief too. Thursday and Friday seemed to disappear on me before they really began. Saturday was spent doing the shopping thing and then on to the night job for a few hours before I went out partying with the girls. That was loads of fun too. Today was spent catching up on all the e-mails from the last few days, playing with my son and recooping from the week. Even through it all, I've still managed to stay on my word count goal for DREAMS ON FIRE--and by the way, I don't think that title is going to stick but it will do for now. Umm...Oh, I got 2 more new reviews to share. The first is for FIGHTING FOR A DREAM and the second is a snippet from a review for VOICES AND LIES that will run in the June issue of Romantic Times Magazine. Fighting For A Dream Tonya Ramagos Contemporary romance Available from Write Words, Inc. ISBN: 1-59431-138-2 August 2004 Bryce Tracy has been in love with Jordan Diaz for as long as he can remember. Although Bryce considers Jordan's parents his surrogate parents, Bryce hasn't felt brotherly feelings for Jordan in a long time. As the new chief of the fire department, Bryce works with Jordan on a daily basis and knows that he can't continue to keep his feelings to himself, yet when Jordan threatens to join the neighboring town's department, Bryce knows he has to act fast even at the risk of upsetting community board members and Jordan's very irate father. Now that her father is no longer the fire chief, Jordan is determined to gain a position as a volunteer fire fighter. She may not bet he son her father has always longed for, but she has always had the Diaz burning desire to fight fires. When Bryce allows her become part of the team, she never expects for her father to disown her, or to find Bryce possessively protective of her. Can she show the men in her life that she is just as capable as being a firefighter as any other qualified man? This is a sweet romantic story. Bryce is madly in love with Jordan and his dedication and perception to her needs is heartwarming. I liked how he was able to reason with Jordan, to be her friend and her lover and support her as a firefighter. The interesting element was Jordan's own obliviousness about Bryce's feelings. She's always considered him competition for her father's affection and when Bryce proves that he puts her first, Jordan finds out what it means to be accepted totally for herself. I liked the chemistry between the two, it's rare that characters are true friends in romance stories before they pursue a love interest. While the love scenes were pretty light for my tastes, those who enjoy a good story will find Fighting for a Dream a pleasurable read. Overall rating: 4 Hearts Sensuality rating: Very sensual VOICES AND LIES Erotic Romance (Contemporary, E-book) Tonya Ramagos www.extasybooks.com Four Stars Alicia Addison¹s fantasies turn into reality when heavy metal musician Derek Kadin walks through the door of her B&B. A devoted fan, Alicia instantly recognizes her sexy guest‹even though he registers as ³Mr. Smith.² She doesn¹t reveal that she knows his true identity, because she fears he¹ll flee if his cover is blown. However, when he takes her to his bed, Alicia realizes hiding the truth may cost her the man of her dreams. Although Ramagos delivers plenty of hot sex, she lets this couple get to know one another before they hit the sheets. Great chemistry and sizzling sexual tension make this story both sweetly romantic and deliciously erotic. Susan Mitchell/RT Magazine Tomorrow is another dentist appointment. This time just a consultation to see what will have to be done to fix me. LOL Did I tell you my teeth were in really bad shape? I wasn't kidding. (sigh) And, of course, I'll have my word count to hit before heading to the night job at 6pm. I'll try to stop in and post but if I don't make it I'll be back on Tuesday. (8 Comments |Comment on this)
Wednesday, April 20th, 2005
9:25 am	A Great Review Sorry I didn't pop in for a post yesterday but I have a good excuse. I got 2,300 words written in DREAMS ON FIRE! Yahoo!!! That's almost double what I had to do to reach my by May 22nd. I also got a great review for PLAYING WITH FIRE last night from Romance Reviews Today. It's posted below. I'm off to get a bit of writting done now before my day goes crazy on me. I'm going to Orlando tonight to a Mudvayne concert and have loads of stuff to do before I leave. If you're not sure who Mudvayne is, check out the metal gallery on my site. There are some pics there from the last show I went to. Now, here's the review: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PLAYING WITH FIRE -- Tonya Ramagos Stockland Fire Department, Book 3 of 3 Ebooks on the Net - www.ebooksonthe.net ISBN: 1-59431-149-8 March 2005 Contemporary Romance Stockland, Tennessee ~ Present Day Lydia Caney hopes her new job as Stockland’s Fire Marshal means a new beginning for her, her son Neal, and her sister Annette. Neal got into some trouble back home, so Lydia is hopeful that he will behave better in Stockland. When Deputy Sheriff Bernard shows some interest in Annette, Lydia hopes that Annette will let down her guard enough to let him in her life. After being paralyzed in the accident that killed their parents, Annette has not let any man close. Lydia soon finds that she can’t worry too much about Annette’s love life, since she is having to deal with her nemesis, Caleb Wilkes. Caleb wants her job, but it doesn’t take long for Lydia to discover he wants her also. Lydia is, in turn, amused, infuriated, and aroused by Caleb’s attitude. She’s just not sure she can live with a chauvinist, no matter how sexy he is. Caleb Wilkes is livid that the city council hired a woman to be Fire Marshal. He thinks that women are good for one thing...staying at home and raising children. Caleb is even more upset to be attracted to Lydia Caney. He plans to make things difficult for her, but those plans soon go awry. He grudgingly accepts that she knows what she is doing after she discovers a link connecting the small brush fires that have been occurring around town to each other. Unfortunately, by the time he is ready to apologize to Lydia for his attitude, Lydia wants nothing to do with Caleb. He would be glad to spend the rest of his life with her if he can only dig himself out of the hole his mouth got him into. Tonya Ramagos has a definite winner with PLAYING WITH FIRE. Caleb Wilkes, whom readers might remember from the first two stories of the Stockland Fire Department trilogy, is his usual chauvinistic self, but he has met his match in Lydia Caney. Lydia is self-sufficient, smart, sexy, and every bit as good at her job as Caleb is at his. Lydia learned how to deal with men like Caleb when she divorced Neal’s father, so she can’t understand why Caleb gets under her skin. She’s attracted to Caleb, but she doesn’t want to expose Neal to a temporary situation. Caleb knows his outlook is wrong, but he has had the attitude that a woman’s place is at home drilled into him since childhood. Readers soon learn why he feels the way he does, and can’t help but feel for him. However, when Caleb and Lydia get their act together, sparks threaten to melt the computer screen. There is a secondary romance between Annette and Bernard as a bonus for readers. Annette is a tad touchy about the fact she is in a wheelchair, but Bernard knocks her defenses down. PLAYING WITH FIRE will make readers want a firefighter of their very own, and is very highly recommended by this reviewer. Angela Camp Romance Reviews Today (13 Comments |Comment on this)
Monday, April 18th, 2005
10:04 am	Monday Again What's up everyone? I had a pretty uneventfull weekend. Saturday was spent shopping. Sunday was pretty preductive though because I spent the day writing. I'm still working on LIGHT MY FIRE but I'm slowing it down a bit for a little while. I found out that Ellora's Cave is holding a contest and the prize is a contract. The downfall is that the deadline for entry is May 22. Not too long from now for writing a book. I can do it. I've written books in a month. The time will just be tight. However, I know there is no way I can complete LIGHT MY FIRE in time so I've picked up another work in progress that I had pushed aside and decided to finish it first. The tentative title for it is DREAMS ON FIRE. Sounds like a pattern is forming here but it isn't. The two books aren't related though they both have really HOT firefighters in them. Anywho, I'm hoping I can finish DREAMS ON FIRE before the deadline because I would really like to get published with Ellora since they are the top e-book publisher of Romantica right now. Not that I'm not happy with eXtasy. I love eXtasy but it wouldn't hurt to have books in both places. And if I don't win the contest I can always send the book to eXtasy so it won't be a waste of time. My goal for DREAMS ON FIRE is between 50 and 55,000 words (catagory size novel) and I'm currently at 11,122. If I can do at least 1,500 a day I can reach the goal by the deadline. Wish me luck! Tonya (7 Comments |Comment on this)
Friday, April 15th, 2005
5:33 pm	Friday Once Again Hi everyone! Just checking in before I head out for the night job. I completed chapter 1 of LIGHT MY FIRE today. YIPEE! And that was about it. LOL Since I have no other news to report today, how about another excerpt? I'm reaching back a bit. This one is from my first romance THE DEVINE BABYSITTER published at http://www.wings-press.com/Genres/rom_contemp.htm It isn't erotica but a sizzling contemporary. Hope you enjoy. ~~~ “I can’t believe you agreed to this. What were you thinking!" Dominique scolded herself through clenched teeth. The apartment was a wreck. Of course, keeping a spotless home was not one of her fortes. She hated cleaning! Stealing a glance at the large red numbers on the microwave clock, she saw it was nearing one o’clock and she was still walking around in her sleep clothes--a pair of tight spandex shorts and an oversized solid black T-shirt--and her unwanted visitor would be gracing her with his presence in less than an hour! Bolting up from the table, she walked briskly to the stereo in the living room and slid in her favorite 80’s heavy metal compact disk. The blaring sound of screeching guitars and fast beating drums blasted through the once tranquil air of the apartment. Heavy metal music--the best trigger around for a much needed energy rush. It worked, too. Within seconds, she could feel the adrenaline pumping through her veins, willing her to get moving. Bouncing back to the kitchen table, swaying her hips to the beat of the music, she sang, "Don’t need nothin’ but a g-o-o-d time. How can I re-si-st?" Spinning on her heels, she cleared the table of all the clutter and placed her dishes that remained from breakfast and lunch in the sink. She was so lost in the music that she didn’t hear her son enter the room. "Mommy." Kalvin tugged on her shirt tail. "I wanna watch a movie. Can I watch a movie?" Dominique looked down. Instantly, she smiled. All it took was one look at her five year old son and her heart filled with a sense of love and happiness powerful enough to fight off any nasty demon that showed his ugly face. Life with the boy’s father may not have been a bed of roses, but the end result--her handsome little boy--made it all worth everything she had gone through. Still smiling, she bent her knees to make eye contact with her son. "Can we wait a few minutes on the movie?" she asked with a tilt of her head. She ran the palm of her hand over his soft, unruly, dark hair. "Mommy needs you to help her right now. Will you do that? We need to clean up the house. There’s someone coming over and we don’t want them to walk into a nasty apartment, do we?" "Oh, no, ma’am." Kalvin shook his head vigorously, his eyes wide and serious. "But who’s coming over, Mommy?" "His name is Joshua. Joshua Divine." She felt an unexpected ripple in the pit of her stomach as his name rolled from her lips. He may be a nerd. She was certain he was. What other kind of man applied for a babysitting job? But, nerd or not, he had a beautiful name, and that was important. A first name like Joshua symbolized responsibility, professionalism. As for Divine, well, unfortunately she seriously doubted there was a chance of the man in question living up to that name. "Is Joshua your new boyfriend, Mommy?" "Heavens, no! And you will call him Mr. Divine, Kalvin, not Joshua. We have to remember our manners," Dominique corrected kindly. She stood upright and returned to her chores. "He wants to be your new babysitter," she explained, cleaning off the scattered items on the counter top. "My babysitter! Cool!" Kalvin jumped up and down in excitement. "I was hoping you wouldn’t decide to hire that old lady or that creepy teenager." He faked a shiver. Uh oh. Dominique bit her bottom lip. "I need you to pick up all your toys and take them to your room," she instructed, turning from the sink. "Then you can put in one of your movies." In a flash, Kalvin was gone. Dominique stood at the sink, shaking her head and laughing to herself. Enthusiasm was definitely a trait Kalvin did not lack. A great thing to have at times. Although this was one of those times when she wished he didn’t possess so much of it. She was afraid there was a disagreement approaching. This Joshua guy was not going to get the job. He wasn’t suited for taking care of a five year old. She was sure of it. But her subconscious would never let her rest if she didn’t at least talk to the man. Her fears subsided a bit when she thought of how smart little Kalvin was. Even at his young age, he was a great judge of character. Surely he would realize that Joshua wasn’t the man for the job, too, probably the instant he saw the man. Then there would be no need for concern over Kalvin being disappointed when she told him she was hiring Elva Noble instead. Forty-five minutes later, Dominique walked out of her bedroom wearing a pair of tight fitting jeans and a low-cut navy blue pull-over blouse. The apartment was clean--as clean as it got, at least--and Kalvin had entertained himself in front of the television with The Lion King. Humming softly to a song from Kalvin’s movie, she made a detour into the bathroom in the hall for a quick check. Just as she turned to leave the room, a loud, thundering knock at the door announced her visitor had arrived. "Geez! Knock my door down, why don’t you?" she mumbled under her breath as she made her way down the hallway to the living room. She glanced at her watch. Fifteen minutes early for a babysitting interview! She hadn’t even met the guy and already he was getting stranger by the minute. Punctuality was desired--even expected. Being so early for what most considered to be a piddly job was downright silly. "He’s here! He’s here!" Kalvin jumped up from his position on the floor in front of the television, the expression on his face so bright it could have replaced the sun. Dominique stopped and, with a fixed glare, addressed her son. "Calm down," she whispered a bit more forcefully then she had intended, with a lift of her eyebrows. "You let Mommy do the talking for a while and then you can talk to him. Okay?" Kalvin’s eyes lowered to his dirty tennis shoes. "Yes, ma’am," he agreed in a not so happy tone. This brought a frown to Dominique’s face. She hated hearing that disappointed sound in her son’s voice. She had heard it so many times in the little one’s life, usually as a result of something his father had done or, better yet, something he hadn’t done, and detested being the one to bring it out again. "I’m sorry, sweetheart," she said softly, reaching out to ruffle his hair. "You can talk to him, too." The smile returned to Kalvin’s face as Dominique proceeded to the door. She eased it open, and felt her knees beginning to buckle from what could only be described as sheer surprise. If she hadn’t been holding onto the doorknob, she would have crumpled to the floor. The scent of men’s cologne sent her insides into a meltdown. There was no geeky, coke-bottle-glasses wearing, pocket protector bearing nerd eager to greet her on the opposite side of the door. Instead, the yellow glow of the day’s bright sun illuminated a long, lean body. A charming, heart-stopping smile graced the face of what had to be one of the most handsome men that had ever walked the face of the earth! No doubt about it, if she had opened a Webster’s dictionary right then, she was sure she would have found a picture of this man right next to the word "incredible." *** Dominique’s breath caught in her throat. There was no way the man before her was the man she had spoken with on the phone. He could be described as nothing less than a hot-bed of perfection! Butterflies fluttered wildly in the pit of her stomach as her gaze dropped to his black loafers, slowly crept up the wrinkle-free legs of his black slacks to his teal green button-down shirt that failed to conceal the many ripples of muscles in his chest. Finally, she found herself gazing into his eyes--the brightest, most stunning green eyes she had ever seen. No doubt about it, she could get lost in those eyes forever. It took all the strength she could muster to prevent the moan that ached deep in her throat from escaping. This was the man who insisted on being interviewed to be Kalvin’s babysitter, she realized in amazement. Her hormones threatened to go haywire. No way! He’s drop-dead gorgeous! Mentally, she made a list of all the negative things she had thought about Joshua Divine, then began checking them off one by one as she silently apologized for each. The breath-taking smile that spread across Joshua’s lips faded a bit. Planted in his spot outside the apartment door, Joshua’s thoughts were almost one in the same. What the woman looked like had never crossed his mind. Not until she opened the door, that was. An unmistakable sexual sensation had swept through his body the minute he saw her, startling him to the core. His gaze slid down her in a leisurely appraisal from head to toe. Standing only an inch or two shorter than he, with a slender curvy figure that would drive any man wild, long dark hair, and captivating dark blue eyes--she was nothing short of a walking heart attack! Realizing they were sizing each other up like two dogs in heat, Joshua was the first to splash some water on the fire. "I’m Joshua Divine." Taking on a serious persona, he extended his hand for her to shake. "That you are," Dominique murmured. Joshua’s slight smile bloomed into a full grin. Amusement kindled in his eyes. Oh gosh, did I say that out loud? Dominique gasped in horror. She could feel the heat rising to redden her face. "I’m Dominique Gabor. No kin to Za Za," she said quickly, shaking his hand. Her frail attempt at a joke failed to hide her embarrassment. His grasp was tight yet gentle. The physical contact sent her body on a roller coaster ride of sexual emotions. "Please, come in." She was surprised at how even and in control her voice sounded when nothing else about her seemed to feel that way. Dominique stepped aside to allow Joshua room to enter. Damn, his backside looked just as good as the front, she thought, as her attention landed on his tight fitting slacks again. She quickly averted her gaze. He’s here for the job, Dominique. Not for a date. Quit gawking over the poor man. Until next time, Tonya (12 Comments |Comment on this)
Thursday, April 14th, 2005
4:35 pm	Back Again! Well, I made it. Dentist appointment is over and so is my pocketbook. LOL Could someone please kick me in the butt for not taking better care of my teeth? I believe my dentist and I are about to become best friends. At least for the next several months. Of couse, that's what I get for waiting nearly 10 years between appointments! Stupid, stupid, stupid! Especially when I know I have a hereditary history of bad teeth. Oh well, live and learn...eventually. LOL Enough of the poor me's. Now for the good news. I heard back from eXtasy Books about Sports Beats last night. They love it! So, book 3 of the Heavy Metal Seduction series is now in que for publication. Yippee! I haven't gotten any writing done since Tuesday, I spent the day today catching up on e-mails and postings--oh, and by the way, I've posted to many of the comments here so if you've left one for me I probably replied to you--but I'm off tonight since it's Thursday and plan to do some writing in a bit. WOW! Wouldn't my editor love that paragraph above? It's all one sentence, incorrectly formatted and jumping in subject. LOL Now you see how my mind works most of the time. That's probably why it takes my editor a month to edit my books too. eek! God, what would we do without editors? Okay, I'm off for now. See ya tomorrow. Tonya (9 Comments |Comment on this)
Tuesday, April 12th, 2005
10:05 am	A Huge Apology Hi everyone! Why the huge apology? Becuase I ducked out on you for a few days. I had to dedicate Friday to the household chore of grocery shopping, paying bills and the likes. This happens every 2 weeks on payday but I will try harder to stop in and post from now on. Saturday and Sunday were tied up with family as my weekends usually are but I did manage to write a bit on Sunday. Yesterday, I wrote. And wrote, and wrote... So much so that I was nearly late for the night job becuase I lost track of time. But that's a good thing! Right? And just so you know ahead of time, I have one of those dreaded dentist appointments tomorrow and will be away most of the day. I'll try to post but if not I will be back on Thursday. I'm headed back to writing now. But before I do, here's another excerpt for you. This one is from PLAYING WITH FIRE. The last of the the Stockland Firefighters trilogy that tells Caleb Wilkes' story. ~~~~ Caleb Wilkes was in a good mood and for the life of him he couldn’t figure out why. He had awaken bright and earlier on this glorious Saturday morning after a night of hard drinking and hot sex with his current on-again off-again lover and whistled himself right out of bed. No hang over, no nausea, no regrets. He was wide-awake, insatiably happy for no reason he could put his finger on, and fully ready for anything the day held in store. Dressed in boots, jeans, a navy blue T-shirt with the Stockland Fire Department logo over the top left pocket and the accompanying navy Fire Department hat, he drove through the streets of town toward the fire station. His hands beat rhythmically on the steering wheel in time with the country music blaring from the truck stereo speakers. He had nearly an hour to kill before drill would begin at the station but he had been in too good of spirit to waste that hour at home alone. He could swing in Mimmie’s Diner and kill time there but the thought didn’t appeal to him. Neither did stopping by the auto parts store for the items he needed to complete the work on a customer’s car in his mechanic shop or piddling around the station until the other firefighters arrived and drill began. So how was he going to waste forty-five minutes on a Saturday morning? As if a sign from the powers that be, he had his answer seconds later when his eyes landed on a tight, shapely rear end toping a pair of incredibly long slender tanned legs. His foot hit the break so hard he nearly gave himself whiplash. Thank goodness there were no cars behind him. He would have surely caused an accident! The owner of his current distraction was leaning into the trunk of a… “Sweet Jesus,” he said with an airy whistle as he surveyed the car. It was a 1967 Shelby Mustang GT500. Brittany blue and, from what he could tell, in mint condition if one over looked the flat tire it was currently sporting on the rear passenger side. His palms began to sweat. Adrenaline surged through his veins as he pulled his truck to the side of the road and shut off the engine. Alerted to his presence, the owner of the beautiful car—and the legs, can’t forget the legs—straightened from the trunk and turned slightly to peer over her shoulder. Hel-lo. As if the sight of the classic car alone hadn’t given him a big enough hard-on! “Hi.” The word was simple but spoken in such a way that Caleb’s heart jumped into his throat. “Flat tire?” he asked dumbly as he strolled toward her. She turned more completely from the car and looked at him over the rim of her sunglasses. She had sleek blond hair. Long, he suspected, when released from the ponytail holder that presently had it bound. A quick mental picture of him reaching to pull the band from her hair, the sunshine strands falling flawlessly to cover her shoulders, flashed through his mind. Her eyes were almost an electric shade of blue and he couldn’t help but wonder what they would look like in the dim light of a bedroom. Or in the back seat of this Shelby Mustang. “Apparently,” she said with a slight breathy laugh. “I must have run over something.” “This is some car,” he said, admiration spewing from his voice as he drug his eyes from her to the equally breathtaking automobile. “’67 Shelby Mustang. V-8 engine,” he said as more of a statement than a question. He seriously doubted this striking blond knew anything more about the car than how to insert the key into the ignition and drive. “Four-twenty-eight C.I.D. V-8 engine,” she confirmed and Caleb had to keep his jaw from dropping to the ground at his feet. “Two four-barrel carbs, four-speed transmission, zero to sixty in four point eight seconds. It’s been completely restored to factory specs.” He stared at her knowing his eyes were huge with the surprise he was unable to hide. “I’m impressed.” “You figured I knew nothing more about it than how to make it go.” The smile that unfolded across her luscious pink lips was sly, almost mocking. “It’s a likely assumption and one that I’m used to,” she said with a shrug. Instead of admitting how wrong he had obviously been—something he didn’t care to do often—he simply said, “I’m Caleb Wilkes,” and stuck out his hand. “Lydia Caney.” She nodded slightly as she slid her hand in his. The electricity he had seen in her eyes shot into his palm. It consumed him, overwhelmed him, and nearly left him speechless. And when she pulled her hand from his the absence of her touch was immediately missed. He watched as she turned from him back to the car and leaned into the trunk again, this time coming out with a lug wrench and small jack in hand. “Mom, I found the donut shop,” a child’s voice proclaimed as a young boy stepped into view around the passenger side of the car. “Good. We’ll go over there as soon as I get this tire changed.” “Can I go now and wait for you? It’s just right down there.” The boy pointed to a building several yards away. She craned her head around the open trunk lid to see down the street. “I would rather you wait for me Neal. It won’t take but a few minutes to change this tire.” “Come on Mom,” the young boy pleaded. “I can go pick out the donuts and when you get there all you’ll have to do is pay for them.” “Neal, I…” Lydia paused, her shoulders rising and falling in a deep breath. Let him go, Caleb urged silently. Mother’s weren’t usually his style but mother or not he wanted a few minutes alone with this woman. “Oh, alright. Stay on the sidewalk,” she instructed firmly. Yes! Caleb mentally blew on the back of his knuckles and polished an imaginary gold metal on his T-shirt. Somebody keep score. I’m on a roll today. “Go straight there and don’t leave. I’ll be there in about ten minutes.” Without another word, the boy bolted for the donut shop. “He should be fine, shouldn’t he?” she asked, focusing her attention on Caleb. “What?” Caleb shook his head, quickly regaining his wits. “Yeah, he’ll be fine. You aren’t planning to change that tire yourself?” he asked in utter disbelief. “Why not?” She shrugged again as she moved around the back of the car to the flattened tire of the passenger side. “You weren’t going to call your husband or boyfriend or something?” She glared at him then, suspicion flashing across her Cinderella-like features. But he thought he detected a smile behind the skeptical curve of her lips. She had seen his question for the fishing expedition it was. He was attracted, it was showing and he needed to know if there was a man standing in his way. “I’m not married, Mr. Wilkes,” she said in a smooth, almost sultry voice. “Nor do I have a boyfriend.” Halleluiah! The day just kept getting better. “It’s Caleb. Please.” He smiled at her in a way that usually made nearly any woman in town weak in the knees—any woman but not this one, of course. Shit! Am I losing my touch? Instead of falling at his feet or begging him to take her to bed, she simply smiled back and returned her attention to the task at hand. “This won’t be the first time I’ve changed a flat tire and I doubt it will be the last.” “Hold on, I have a better jack in the truck.” Without waiting for a response, he dashed to his truck and returned seconds later with a large black and yellow jack in hand. He moved passed her to the side of the car and kneeled to slide the jack into position. While a part of him wanted to stand back and watch as this tall, blond beauty attempted to change a flat tire, the gentleman in him wouldn’t allow him to be so cruel. “Really, I can do this myself,” Lydia objected as the backside of the car began slowly lifting from the ground. “Nonsense.” He brushed her objections aside. “I’m a mechanic. I own an automotive shop here in town. I’ll have this done in a jiffy.” Until next time, Tonya (8 Comments |Comment on this)
Thursday, April 7th, 2005
4:47 pm	Excerpt: Fighting For A Dream I'm running a bit late with my post today but better late than never. Right? As I promised yesterday, here's an excerpt for you. This one is from Fighting For A Dream. I thought I would give you a little taste of the book you can win if you post a comment here in the month of April. So, here you go! ~~~~~ Jordan had no idea how it happened or what came over her. One minute she was standing in front of Bryce, crying her eyes out and the next she was in his arms, kissing him with more passion than she had ever kissed any man. The instant their lips touched, her mind lost all sense of reason. And when the warmth of his tongue invaded her mouth her needy body took all control. She laced her fingers behind Bryce’s neck and deepened the kiss. He responded with a deep masculine groan, arching his lower body into her. She could feel him becoming hard behind the binding material of his jeans and found herself wanting to wiggle against that hardness. “I want you,” he whispered in a ragged breath, momentarily breaking the kiss. “I want to make love to you. Right here, right now.” Jordan could speak. The fingers of one hand floated from around his neck to rest lightly on her lips that were still tingling from the intensity of the kiss. She gazed into the eyes of a man she had resented, even despised, almost her whole life and knew that for the first time she was seeing him as the man he was, not the boy who had stolen her father from her. And in that instant she saw how incredibly handsome and enticing he was. Her body was responding to him—to his touch, to his closeness and she knew, right or wrong, she was going to give him his wish. Relinquishing all the doubts, all the sensible thinking and the fear that she would soon regret what she was about to do, she nodded in response and pulled his mouth to hers again. A soft, slow love song fluttered through the speakers of the boom box. Bryce began to move against her in time with the music. Their lips still attached, their tongues tangling sinuously, they began to dance slowly, seductively across the gymnasium floor. When the song faded to an end, so did Bryce’s resistance. The setting was wrong, the timing was wrong, but at last he had the woman he loved in his arms, ready and willing to give herself to him and he was going to take her. Slowly, he trailed shivery kisses across her cheek to her ear, down her neck to her collarbone, pushing the neckline of her body suit aside with his nose to reveal more of one slim shoulder. His arousal throbbed in anticipation as her hands skimmed down the front of his shirt. Her fingers traced his waistline as her hands moved behind him once again, this time downward to cup his buttocks. When she squeezed, he arched his hardness closer into her, his silent mind cursing the confining clothing that lay between them. But her hands didn’t stay behind him for long. In the same slow tormenting caress, her hands moved back to the front of him and began tugging his shirttail from his jeans. He retraced his path of kisses back to her awaiting lips as she unbuttoned his shirt, removed it from his body, and then tossed it to the floor. It was Jordan who broke the kiss this time, bowing her head slightly to plant wet kisses on his hard, muscular chest while her fingers danced in the sandy-blond curly hair that covered him there. When she allowed her hands to slide to the waistline of his jeans, she felt him suck in a jagged breath. She smiled against his chest, knowing she was teasing him, enjoying the response she was getting. She slid one finger beneath the waistline of his jeans and smiled again when he moaned in anticipation. His hands fluttered to her breasts, cupping them, fondling them through her bodysuit. Her nipples tightened in response as a starving need for him swept through her. “How do I get you out of this thing?” he asked breathlessly. Stepping back from him just enough to allow herself room to move, she slid her arms from the bodysuit and peeled it down to her waist. He caught her hands before she could take it any further, drawing her to him once again. Bending, he took one breast in his mouth and traced the outline of her nipple with his tongue. He sucked it to its highest peek, pulling an agonizing moan of pleasure from deep inside her. His tongue trailed from her breast down the center of her tummy as he removed the rest of her clothes. Straightening, his gorgeous lips unfurled in a smile as their gazes locked. Sliding one arm behind her waist, his fingers traveled slowly to her center to stroke the small bud of desire buried within her dark curls. When his finger entered her, she gasped and leaned back slightly, moving her lower body into him. With alternating caresses and plunges, he stroked her until her insides exploded in ecstasy. She fell limp in his arms as she allowed the pulsating feeling to overtake her soul. When she was able to regain her composure, she unbuttoned and unzipped his jeans and slid her hand inside. Catching his sex in her hand, she wrapped her fingers around him and slowly pumped his erection. “Oh God,” Bryce hissed, his head falling back. He closed his eyes and took a deep ragged breath. “Jordan, sweetheart, I can’t take much more of this.” “Sure you can,” she whispered, slightly squeezing his erection as she continued to stork him. With her free hand, she raised a finger to trace the outline of his jaw. He was so beautiful, so completely masculine. And She wanted him, had to have him. When the next moan of pleasure escaped his lips, she knew needed to feel him inside her now! As if the world were about to end any minute, she removed her hand from his pants and fumbled quickly with the button of his jeans. In seconds, he stood before her completely naked. Her eyes trailed down him in leisurely appraisal. The sight of his broad bare chest, tight washboard abs, and muscular legs—it was too much for a woman to handle. Her gaze stopped on what was between her legs and she felt her eyes grow. He was big, strong, and so obviously read for her. They were both naked now, standing in the middle of the gymnasium floor, gazing at one another with enough heat to start a forest fire. Slowly, Bryce extended an arm, catching her by the waist and gently pulling her to him. He kissed her softly then leaned back, a goofy grin painted to his lips. “You realize where we are, don’t you?” Jordan nodded. “And you don’t care that I’m about to make love to you on the cold hard floor of your school?” Jordan shook her head. Bryce shrugged. “Then if you don’t care, I don’t care.” As if he were handling a delicate rose, he slowly lowered her to the floor. He reached over, balled up his jeans into a makeshift pillow and placed it under her head. He hovered over her for a brief moment, gazing into her eyes. More tomorrow! Tonya (6 Comments |Comment on this)
Wednesday, April 6th, 2005
1:36 pm	Hump Day That can be a pretty erotic lable for a day of the week if you think of it in a different context. LOL Oh well, just a sudden thought. Anyway, so it's Wednesday and I am pleased to report that I have been hard at work on the new book(s). Actually, I've been surfing the net all day but it was in the name of research. I promise:-) I had this sudden thought to add a bit of paranormal to the story line of the new trilogy and I think from the information I've been able to find and the track my mind is taking it may work out. So, as of right now, we're looking at a Contemporary Paranormal Erotica. Hmmm...spanning 3 genres there. Ah, but that's why I love epublishing. Because we're allowed to cross genre. Okay, so the actual writing will take a while. To keep you entertained until I can began sharing snippits I think I will post a few more excerpts in the coming days. Not sure which ones or from what book so you'll have to check back to find out. Until tomorrow, Tonya (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Tuesday, April 5th, 2005
10:06 am	Just checking in:-) Hello, hello everyone! Just checking in on a sunny Tuesday morning. I don't really have anything new to report. I took Sunday off from writing and spent the day piddling around the house instead. Sunday night I settled in on the sofa and got the movie SAW on in demand. This was something way out of character for me as I rarely sit down and watch a movie from start to finish. I'm not really a TV person but once in a while... Anyway, the SAW was a pretty good movie but the best part was the end. Talk about a twist that I didn't see coming! If you like serial killer movies, it's a good one to check out. I spent yesterday getting my house to rights...reorganizing, cleaning, etc. I can't write when everything around me is in clutter. I'm not a spotless person by any means but I am very organized and like everything around me the same way. So today I'm back at the computer and ready to write. If I can keep the little one happy (I have a 4 year old son) and stop the phone from ringing, I may be able to escape to my imaginary world. I'll let you know tomorrow how it goes. Until then, Tonya (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Saturday, April 2nd, 2005
12:11 pm	Saturday Update! Hi all! Just checking in for a quick Saturday update. Well, my week off from the night job officially ends today so it's back to the Postal Service I go. I doubt I will get much writing done this weekend (I usually don't:-) however, I did get a start on the new trilogy yesterday. Can't tell you much more about it yet but I did come up with 3 tentative titles: Light My Fire Hard To Hold Dance Me To Bed These titles are subject to change but they are the working titles for now. As soon as I can tell you more you can bet I will. Okay, I guess that's it for now. Don't forget to post a comment to be entered in the drawing for a copy of Fighting For A Dream! Until next time, Tonya (5 Comments |Comment on this)
Thursday, March 31st, 2005
11:22 am	Sports Beats Blurb All done! I completed the editing for Sports Beats last night. The book has been finished for about 2 months so it was no longer fresh in my head and I really enjoyed reading through it yesterday. I love the way it turned out. I hope you will too. The blurb, however, took me 2 hours to write. Can you believe that? I find this is often the most difficult part of the writting process for me becuase I have to sum up an entire book into a paragraph or two. Two little paragraphs and each one took an hour to get right...and I'm still not sure I'm happy with it but I've settled for now. So, the book is now off to eXtasy and I'll keep you posted on the publication progress. For now, here's the blurb that I pulled out along with my hair. LOL When Melody Forbes butts heads with Reese Torrin at a hockey game the last thing she expects is to be pinned against a wall, breathless, hot and needy less than twelve hours later. The man is an asshole! But he’s the only one around when her life takes one unexpected devastating turn after another. She isn't looking for a relationship, can't offer a man the one thing most commitments demanded. But casual no strings, no promises sex…now that’s something she can handle. Until she realizes that a thin thread has begun to materialize between them and it’s growing thicker with each passing day. Reese Torrin has never believed in love but on look at Melody Forbes has the heavy metal drummer wondering if he could be wrong. The woman is hot! She’s beautiful, sexy, and tough. She’s also the sister of a close friend. Reese knows he should keep his hands off of her but when she literally jumps him, demanding he take her, how can he be expected to say no? And when she reaches a part of him that no woman has ever touched before, how can he be expected to walk away? Off to work on the next project. Until next time, Tonya (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Wednesday, March 30th, 2005
12:54 pm	Wednesday Update Hi all! Taking a break from editing Sports Beats to make a quick post to you. If all goes well today, I should be able to complete my edits by tomorrow at the latest and get this one off to eXtasy. I'll also get the blurb written and posted tomorrow so you will have an insight into what it's about. Then I will be diving into the new trilogy that's playing in my brain. Oh, and incase you haven't heard, if you post a comment to any of my posts in this journal in the month of April you will be entered in a random drawing for a free copy of Fighting For A Dream. So get to posting!!!! LOL Until tomorrow, Tonya (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Monday, March 28th, 2005
2:35 pm	Review and Excerpt Time I promised you an excerpt today and you will not leave disappointed. I discovered a 4 angel review for Voices and Lies last night from Fallen Angel Reviews that I would like to share with you and since we're talking Voices here I decided to pull an excerpt from that book for you. I have to admit this book is my favorite so far and I am beyond thrilled that the reviewers are liking it as much as me. So, here's the latest on what's being said followed by a sizzling excerpt for you. Enjoy! In Heavy Metal Seduction: Voices and Lies, Tonya Ramagos takes a popular romantic premise and creates her own distinct, enjoyable story. Her depiction of Alicia is flavored with humor and a personality that makes her lifelike to readers. Her desire to be a good daughter is understandable, but her remorse at losing herself and her friends in the process is something everyone can relate to. As she tries to make things right, readers will applaud her honesty with herself, while at the same time lament the web of lies she is building around herself with Derek. Ms. Ramagos’ characterization of Derek displays a raw masculinity tempered by the man behind the fame. This reader enjoyed seeing these two characters come together, while at the same time, this story had me anxiously waiting for the fallout when their house of lies crumbled around them. The author doesn’t disappoint as she concludes this tale with an ending that is sure to delight fans. Reviewed by: Amanda Complete review here http://www.fallenangelreviews.com/March2005/Amanda-VoiceLies.htm Excerpt: Alicia clenched the breakfast tray and took one last deep, calming breath before the door opened. The breath caught in her throat. Sweet Jesus! She had died and gone to heaven. The man opened the door wearing nothing but a towel, a cell phone and a smile. She nearly dropped the tray. The corners of his mouth twitched and she felt the sudden urge to strangle him. Obviously her attempts at being discreet had failed. He knew the effect he had on her and he was enjoying the hell out of turning her to a puddle of mush. He stepped aside just enough to allow her room to enter. Her elbow brushed his rock-hard abs as she stepped through the doorway and she felt the electricity from the contact through her very soul. “I have to go,” he said to his caller as he took the tray from her hands and placed it on the coffee table. Alicia tried not to stare but she couldn't take her eyes off of him. She had seen him without a shirt before in pictures, but the cameras had failed to capture the true essence of his beauty. Drops of water glistened on his broad shoulders, in the dark curly hairs that spanned his muscular chest. She could almost taste the water as she longed to lick it from his skin, to follow the trail of dark curls that led down his flat stomach and disappeared beneath the line of the towel wrapped around his waist. He was tan, and she couldn't help but wonder if the tan was complete under that towel. Under that towel… Cripes! If he moved just right that towel would come undone and put an end to her wondering. As it was, her imagination was threatening to take her on one hell of a ride. The way the towel had stretched across his mouth-watering ass when he had bent slightly to put down the tray, the way it failed to conceal the bulge of his cock in the front, made her mind reel with possibilities. He snapped the cell phone shut and greeted her with a smile that made her whole world tilt. “Good morning.” “Good morning,” she said, surprised at how steady her voice sounded when everything inside her was shaking with desire. “I didn't mean to interrupt your…soak. I could have left the tray outside the door.” “But then I wouldn't have gotten to see you.” He stepped closer, the smile fading as his eyes slowly crawled down her body and back up again. “I think the soak can wait. Unless you would like to join me.” Oh God, oh God, oh God. “Mr. Smith…” “Derek, remember?” he corrected. “I think after the kiss we shared last night, you can definitely call me by my first name.” “Derek,” she amended. “I don't think that’s such a good idea.” She stepped away, moved across the room, putting much needed distance between them. She knew what he could do to her, knew that with a mere touch he could take her to the teetering edge of insanity. Loosing her mind right now was something she couldn't afford to do. A book on the table by the sofa caught her eye and she moved toward it. It was her book, the first in the Blood Diaries series, she realized. He had no way of knowing she was the author, of course. Her picture wasn't in the book and all her work was published under her pen name, Mallory Zamir. She picked up the book, turned to find him once again standing in arms reach. “You read vampire novels?” She knew he did. Anne Rice was one of his favorite authors. She knew her books fell short in comparison to the nationally famed author’s. The Blood Diaries fell into a different category of vampire fiction. Still, she couldn't help but wonder what he thought of her book. After all, it had been she who had suggested he try the series. Anonymously, of course. She had made the suggestion in a post to him on the band’s post board. She never used either of her names there, not Mallory and certainly not Alicia. She was known simply by her screen name, Derek’s Princess. “Anne Rice, mostly, but this book was recommended to me by…” He hesitated. “A friend.” Once again, he had caught himself, knowing it would blow his cover if he said a fan had recommended the book. “Alicia, I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable. I apologize.” Something snapped. Alicia couldn't explain it, but she saw red. She tossed the book down on the table with a thud and moved in to him. “Stop apologizing to me,” she said through gritted teeth. “Apparently you find me attractive and believe me,” she allowed her gaze to trail slowly down his body, drink him in as it slid back up to meet his eyes, “the feeling is mutual.” “But?” His tone rang with amusement. “But…I don't know you and I don't have sex with men I don't know.” It was a lie, at least the first part was a lie, but it was a typical one. He extended his hand, a mischievous grin spreading across his lips. “Hi, I'm Derek.” Alicia laughed. She couldn't help it. His attempt at comedy came so unexpectedly. “Nice one,” she complimented. “Can't blame a man for trying,” he shrugged. Then he pulled her into his arms, all playfulness swept away. “Have dinner with me tonight,” he said softly, making it sound as more of an order than a request. “I can't, Derek. I have to be downstairs with the other guests.” “Then come up here after everyone goes to their rooms. We'll have a drink or two and talk. You can get to know me.” Alicia closed her eyes. He was offering her what she wanted most, a chance to get to know the man outside of Facade. She knew anything she learned about him at this stage would be a part of the carefully guarded Derek Kadin, the part he shielded from his fans, the media, most of the world. No way could she pass it up. She nodded wordlessly in agreement and though she wasn't a fan of Rod Stewart, the lyrics of Tonight’s the Night began playing in her head. http://www.extasybooks.com/eb.php3?ebookid=19964 Back to writting I go, Tonya (2 Comments |Comment on this)
12:02 am	Happy Easter! Okay, so it's 2 minutes after midnight here but it's still Easter in some states:-) Can you believe the Easter bunny didn't bring me any chocolate? I'm crushed! But I guess my waistline is happy. LOL I took the weekend off from writting so no progress to speak of. BUT, I have the next week off from my night job and absolutely nothing planned but writting. I plan to complete my project of putting the Stockland series together for submission to agents, finish my editing on Sports Beats (the 3rd book to the Heavy Metal Seduction series) and dive into the new trilogy I spoke of on Thursday. I promise to have a blurb for Sports Beats to post soon and maybe some tidbits on the new trilogy. And I think tomorrow I'll post an excerpt for you. From what book? Well, you'll have to check back tomorrow and see:-) Until then, Tonya (Comment on this)