My Review of Reviewers and Myself

Review2I keep promising myself (a losing battle) I will stop reading my reviews. Most are good (if not excellent) for Stuck in Between, but if I take to heart what reviewers say, I would live in a constant state of ambiguity.

I am stunned when a reviewer chooses my book, with a cover of a naked woman sandwich between two mostly naked men, and then is aghast that within the storyline there is ménage à trois. Someone even said it made her blush. Why, oh why are you reading erotica in the first place? Carefully put the book down and move over to the romance section.

If I sound like I’m ranting, I am, and mostly at myself for reading the reviews in the first place.

If you know me, then you know my favorite part of being an author is connecting with my readers so this isn’t a slam against them. I love you! It is me trying to sort through all the differing opinions. “Is it that way for everyone?” I ask myself, but then I know it’s not so for my husband’s novel, Geared to the Present. I haven’t read one disunited view.

I’m never going to write cookie cutter erotica or romance. It’s not my style. I want people to say, “I’ve never read another story like it.” And luckily, most people do say that. Also, I refused to make every character perfect and likeable. Not only is that not real life but it’s not interesting either—at least not to me. I like my characters to be intriguing and flaw with a past that still needs to be sorted through.

If you think I’m going on about nothing, I’d like to present a few examples and I will paraphrase:

  1. You use too many terms to say cock. Stick to one. VS Your word choices for cock are redundant. Find more words.
  2. Your sex scenes were smoking hot and each one was completely different (most reviewers, thankfully, agree with this one) VS Sex scenes were redundant and I expected them to be hotter.
  3. Someone actually had the gall to say Red shouldn’t have suggested the arrangement he did. THAT’S the story. Feel free to write your own.
  4. Many, if not most, couldn’t put the book down, even those that thought the story was “just okay”.

I promise to get off my high horse in a minute but I have to say this and get it all out of my system: If you can’t put a book down, read it in one day (350 pages), and plan to read more in the series, it is not a 3, 2 or 1 star book. It’s not. I’m sorry and you can’t convince me otherwise.

Okay, girl, take a breath and be done with this. Stepping down. I think you can all see why it would be much healthier for me to stop reading my reviews, and how it’s really like a bad addiction. As my friend Tami said, “It’s like that crash where you know you should look away but watch anyway.

I just need to get next to the fact that my stories provoke strong emotions from my readers.

I’ve come to realize that sometimes, not often but sometimes, I don’t feel appreciated for the hard work I do. I’m working on writing my stories and letting the chips fall where they may.

Just like my characters, I’m a work in process. I’ll get there eventually.

Warm hugs,

Blakely

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AMAZON

Review of Brie Learns the Art of Submission: Submissive Training Center (Brie Series) by Red Phoenix

brieWARNING: You are about to embark on a very dichotomous review, but I promise to explain myself along the way.

Brie works in a smoke shop and one day a very striking, mysterious man comes in and they experience an immediate connection. He leaves his card for her, which is for a submissive school he owns. Brie enters the program and the sexathon begins. Continue reading

Nobody’s Perfect

imagesI love my family so much and would never trade them for the world, but I HATE watching TV or movies when both my daughter and husband are in the room. They are huge talkers and love to gab through the most important and/or intense scenes. This drives me crazy. The other option we have come up with is pausing while they have their philosophical conversation, but that too kills it for me. Like when reading a book, I like to lose myself in the story and the constant starting and stopping makes it very hard for me to do so. Forget it if it’s a show they really don’t like, then the conversation floodgates are open.

In the scheme of things in creating a life together and a loving family, the above matters very little. I bring this up because NOBODY is perfect. I’m certainly not. Continue reading

Stuck in Between RELEASE BLITZ Day Three

Click on the banner to follow the blitz and read the first THREE chapters of Stuck In Between by Blakely Bennett!

 

Title: Stuck In Between Continue reading

Stuck in Between RELEASE BLITZ Day Two

CLICK on the banner to follow the blitz and read the first THREE chapters of Stuck In Between by Blakely Bennett!

 

Title: Stuck In Between
Author: Blakely Bennett
Genre: Erotic Romance
Release Date: March 24, 2014
Cover Designer: Yocla Designs

Stuck in Between RELEASE BLITZ Day One

Click on the banner to follow the blitz and read the first THREE chapters of Stuck In Between by Blakely Bennett!

 

Title: Stuck In Between
Author: Blakely Bennett
Genre: Erotic Romance
Release Date: March 24, 2014
Cover Designer: Yocla Designs

Release Day for Stuck in Between

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Stuck in Between is now available in the US in eBook and paperback.

In other countries (paperback should be available in all the countries listed soon):

Canada: eBook
UK: eBook & Paperback
France: eBook & Paperback
Italy: eBook & Paperback
Spain: eBook
Germany: eBook & Paperback
Japan: eBook 
Brazil: eBook
Mexico: eBook
Australia: eBook

Please let me know what you think of the story. I love hearing from my readers.

Please join us on Facebook for the release event where you can play games and win prizes.

Enter the rafflecopter giveaway to win tons of books, Amazon gift cards, and swag.

Warm hugs,

Blakely

Please feel free to friend me on Facebook.
Find me Twitter & Pinterest.

 

Blakely’s Friday Interview with Meredith Wild

Please give a warm welcome to Meredith Wild, author of Hardpressed.

venusTell us a bit about yourself and what you’re currently working on or promoting.
I’m currently promoting the sequel in my Hacker Series, Hardpressed, and I’m working on a new novel, On My Knees, which will be the first in the Bridge Family trilogy that will highlight the stories of three siblings in a seemingly perfect family and their romantic adventures.

What genre is your book? Do you write in other genres as well?
Right now I’m exclusively working in the erotic romance genre. I do plan to venture out of it at some point. I’m not sure when though, because I am having an awful lot of fun writing angsty smut at the moment. Continue reading

Oh, the Anticipation!

bianca-van-der-weft_anticipationStuck in Between is in the hands of reviewers and my street team, and I’m on the edge of my seat waiting for the verdict. The anticipation is like after going on a great first date and waiting for him/her to call. It’s really not a horrible place to be, more like a mix of titillation and abject fear. LOL!

I’m fighting with myself over giving into the excitement because of the worry over the fall. I’m standing on the edge of the cliff, not knowing if I will fly or crash. There is something rather exhilarating about that. Continue reading

Cover Reveal for Stuck In Between

I am so thrilled to share the newest cover for Stuck In Between. Make sure to scroll down for a new excerpt from the story.

stuckinbetweenprintunflattened (1)

Title: Stuck In Between
Author: Blakely Bennett
Genre: Erotic Romance
Release Date: March 24, 2014
Cover Designer: Yocla Designs

Jacqs is a twenty-eight year old woman caught up in an on again, off again relationship with Bond, who is her best friend and the one who causes her the most heartache. She succumbs, yet again, to his powerful charisma, but vows not make it into more than it is, a great night of sex.

Bond, too sexy for his own good, wants Jacqs for himself as he “dates” his way through the female population of South Florida. He selfishly doesn’t see the conflict of interest.

Red, Bond’s best friend, has watched Bond take Jacqs for granted for way too long and soon stakes his own claim on her.

Will Red and Jacqs budding relationship pull apart their tight-knit group of friends and will Jacqs survive being Stuck In Between.

I shook out my hair, put my shoulders back and stood as
straight as possible. I wouldn’t let Red intimidate me. When I strutted over to
him, his expression left me confused. He’d always been so cold, like a granite
statue and yet, I couldn’t read the new side to him.
“Why did you want me to come and what did you mean? Wait …
no … shit, what I really wanted to say was that I appreciate you coming to get
me.”
“Let’s go have a drink.”
“A drink?”
“Yes, you could use one.”
“Would you stop doing that?” I said, squinting up at him
through the outside house light that cascaded around him.
“Doing what? I just offered you a drink,” he said, resting
his back against his vehicle and folding his arms in front of him.
“No, you said I needed one. You’re so bossy.”
He laughed and said, “You bring it out in me. I’ll do my
best to temper the urge.”
“You have urges?”
“You don’t want to know,” he said, glaring down at me.
“Oh … I,” I stuttered, my nipples flaring at his intent. I
crossed my arms over my chest as well.
Grabbing my hand, he pulled me along with him into the
house and through the main sitting area. Dreamworld
played through the sound system. Cat gave me a questioning look as Red led me
into the kitchen. I shrugged my shoulders back to her. He opened the refrigerator,
fingered a Mike’s Lemonade and a bottle of Dos Equis, popped the caps and
swooped up my hand again in his large palm, leading me out to the back.
I loved all the palms and the large stone deck around the
Jacuzzi and pool. His two-story home sat on the intracoastal waterway, allowing
him to keep his boat right behind the house.
Two guys I didn’t recognize sat at the wrought iron table
by the pool, smoking cigarettes.
“Hey Ray, Charlie, glad you could make it,” Red said,
pausing but not releasing my hand.
“Thanks for the invite. She’s a tiny one,” one of the guys
said, tilting his head in my direction.
“She makes up for it with a big mouth,” Red said with a
smug expression.
I tried to pull my hand out of his grip, but he held on so
tight I had to use my free hand to punch him in the shoulder. I would have
preferred to punch his jaw but I figured it would hurt me more than him to hit
the sharp edge of his face.
His friends chuckled, leaving me even more incensed.
“And he makes up for his Neanderthal size with his small
personality or at least that’s what he calls it,” I said, purposefully looking
at his pants.
That made his friends fall out in hysterical laughter and
I felt rather proud of myself.
“Come on, you,” he said, dragging me back inside and up
the stairs to his bedroom.
I had never been in there before. So neat and organized,
it could have been a room in an upscale hotel except for the antique furniture
on either side of the fireplace and the art on the walls. A chair sat near the
entrance to the room, a pair of slacks over the back of it.
“What the hell is going on with you Red?” I said as I
finally managed to pull my hand away from his. “You’ve never given me much
notice over the years. How long has it been?”
“Five years.”
“I’ve been putting up with your crap for five years?
Jesus.” I took the lemonade from his hand and took several swallows.
“Take it easy, Jacqs,” he said, closing the door behind
him and leaning back against it.
“Stop telling me what to do, would you?”
“I can’t help myself,” he said with a slight smile.
“Try.” I sat on the edge of the bed, putting plenty of
distance between us.
“I didn’t much care for your joke.”
“Your friends rather liked it and you started it. Don’t
fuck with me and I won’t fuck with you back.”
“Do you have to talk like that? It’s very unattractive.”
“What the fuck … shit …um heck do you want from me?” I
drank more to boost my courage.
“I’m warning you, Jacqs.”
“Warning me? From what? What will you do?”
“Don’t push me.”
“I push your buttons without even trying.”
“I’m well aware of that.”
“Are you going to answer me?” I asked. “Because, if not,
I’ll just head home.” I stood, finished off my drink and took a step toward the
door that he blocked with his massive frame.
He crossed the distance between us, swiped the drink out
of my hand, placing both bottles on the corner of his dresser. Before I had a
chance to fight or protest he lifted me under my arms, off my feet, and placed
my back against the wall. He groaned as if it pained him and then he descended
on my mouth with his.
I tried to push him off me, but he remained hard as steel
and I finally gave over to the incredible sensations he stirred within me. I
took his large face in my little hands and that caused him to groan in
pleasure, deepening the kiss. As I wrapped my legs around his bulky frame, he
held me closer and carried me over to the antique chair by the door. He sat
down with me on his lap, and we just stared at each other for a moment.
Afraid of breaking the spell that I knew would end once
reality set in, I sat, waiting. He ran his hands up my neck, followed by his
mouth, kissing and nibbling. Chills fluttered down my spine and I moaned, “Oh,
Red.” Wetness pooled in my panties and I wanted him to take me. I wanted to
know what his cock looked like, tasted like. I didn’t care if we ever spoke
again afterwards, or if my motivations stemmed from getting back at Bond. Red
had sparked an intense need that required fulfillment and I wanted him to take
me.
Running my hands through his short cropped red hair, I
pulled his mouth back to mine and he took control. Clutching my wrists, he held
them with one hand behind my back, and bit his way down my chest. He unbuttoned
the rest of my blouse, pushing the silk down off my shoulders, exposing my
breast and hard nipples to the air.
“No bra? You’re naughtier than I imagined.”
“You’ve thought about me?”
“Incessantly. Keep your arms behind you,” he said as ran
his hands under my breasts and lowered his mouth. “I had no idea.”
“What?”
“For such a tiny woman, you have rather large nipples.”
I scrunched my face, not sure if he liked what he saw.
“No need for the funny face, I love them.” He sucked on my
right nipple and I closed my eyes in pleasure. His big hands kneaded my flesh
and pulled on my left nipple.
“Ohhhh,” I called out, arching into his caresses.
“Shhhh,” he said, “I think I heard something.”
“Don’t stop,” I pleaded.
“Stay the night.”
“That’ll go over well with Bond, for sure.”
“Did you have to mention him?”
The bubble had burst and in my embarrassment, I scurried
off his lap and buttoned up my shirt. I glanced in the mirror on the dresser
and smoothed out my hair.
He pushed into me from behind, grasping my breast over my shirt. He nipped my earlobe and said, “I’m not done with you, but I need to check on the party below.” He clutched the nape of my neck, turning my head toward him and kissing me one last time.
“I’ll see you downstairs.”

 

Blakely Bennett grew up in Southeast Florida and has been residing in the great Northwest for over eight years. She graduated from Nova Southeastern University with a degree in psychology, which accounts for her particular interest in crafting the personalities, struggles, and motivations of her characters. She is an avid reader of many genres of fiction, but especially erotica and romance. Writing has always been her bliss. She is attracted to stories of self-struggle and ultimate recovery.

Blakely is married to a wonderful, loving and supportive husband, also a writer, who helps to keep her grounded. She is a mother, a communitarian, a lover of music (always on while she is writing—thank you, Pandora), and a good friend. An advocate of love and female empowerment, she is a facilitator for a women’s group. She loves to walk and hike for exercise and finds that, since moving to Seattle, WA, she is now one of those “crazy” people who walk in the rain.

Stuck In Between (erotic romance) is her 5th novel. She is also the author of the dark erotic suspense, My Body Trilogy (My Body-His, My Body-His (Marcello) & My Body-Mine) and co-authored the contemporary romance, The Demarcation of Jack with her husband, Dana Bennett.

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