Andra Lake's Blog

Feel like making trouble today? So does Alexis.
Here's a quick excerpt from Taunting the Lion...

***
I didn’t know what I was doing. I was crazy. It was like taunting a lion.
I was wearing short sleeping shorts and a tank top, one of his favorite sleep outfits. Ian tossed his bag to the side and let his eyes rake me from head to toe, one dark eyebrow arching.
“What’s that you’ve got there?”
I flipped the paddle around in my hands a few times. “What do you think?”
“I think you’re supposed to be on the other end of that.”
I stuck my tongue out at him. “Well I was getting ready for bed when I remembered a little conversation we had during midterms. You know, just before you carried me off into the forest, when you said you’d love to see how me playing boss would play out?”
He smirked. “I was being patronizing. I know how it would turn out—like a disaster.”
“Don’t be so sure.” I took a few steps forward, swaying my hips as I did so. It wasn’t that hard to act bossy. I had an inner bitch.
“You do know I could rip that out of your hands at any moment.”
“But then you would be going back on your promise. That would make you a bad boyfriend.” I stuck out my bottom lip. “I’d also think you’re a hypocrite that can dish it but can’t take it.”
“Is that so?”
“Mm hmm.” Then I said perhaps the most manipulative thing I’d ever said in my life: “Besides, it would be good for me to be on the other end for a change. You know, after the Halloween party and everything. Could be cathartic.”
He took a deep, steadying breath.  “So you want me to just let you paddle me?”
I nodded.

“Says the girl that likes to fight.”
I smiled sweetly. “I’ve got some rope too. That way I can even the scales and you can feel like you didn’t have a choice. Except, of course, to let me tie you up in the first place.”
He rolled his eyes. “I’ll just get it over with. I doubt you can hit that hard anyway.”
“Challenge accepted.”

Exposed to You (overexposed books 1-4) will be available for FREE on Amazon July 24, 2015!!!

Exposed to You contains the following novellas:
His Indecent Proposal
His Dark Secret
His Dangerous Game
His Wicked Promise

Hi all, the Ian Crawford series was temporarily delisted but will be available again this week. Sorry for the inconvenience!

xoxo Andra

Taking Two can be found on Amazon at the following link
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MHDTMR0

The Ian Crawford spin-off will be released today or tomorrow (depending on the site)!

Taking Two follows Ian's best friend, Zachary Damore, and overlaps with Taunting the Lion. It also includes scenes with Ian!








Zachary Damore is tall, dark and handsome and has never been roped in by a woman in his life. He has, however, played with ropes. After helping his best friend Ian Crawford get with Alexis at a spanking party, he’s rattled to discover that he has a thing for her too. It’s even starting to become a bit of a problem. Then two strange girls show up on his doorstep. Blonde bombshell Robyn is his usual type, but it’s the rude brunette Sophie who catches his eye and reminds him of Alexis. Heeding Ian’s advice, he decides to pursue a relationship for the first time. The only problem is Robyn wants Sophie too, and to get the girl, he might have to get the girlfriend. Not that he’s complaining.
Robyn and Sophie have been best friends since grade school. Robyn was always the hot one, and Sophie was always the cute one. But to Robyn, Sophie has always just been unattainable. When she reveals to Sophie that she’s bi, she’s relieved yet disappointed to discover that the news changes nothing between them. So when Zach shows an interest in Sophie, Robyn jumps at the chance to make a deal he can’t refuse. What she doesn’t foresee is Zach being a Dom.
Everyone thinks Sophie is innocent. Blunt bordering on rude, but innocent. Maybe it’s her looks or the way she dresses or her strict upbringing. Maybe that’s why she’s had a string of bad boyfriends who have all tried to squash her spirit. Though she’s not surprised to discover Robyn is bi, she’s not quite ready to look inside herself. That is, until Zach. Compared to him and Robyn, Sophie is naive—but she isn’t as innocent as they think.

It appears that Amazon has hidden My Sinful Discovery (overexposed 6) from search results because the cover is too adult. Really?! It's underwear, people.
The book can be found on my author page but I thought I'd post the link here as well.

This is kind of heavy, and it's the end of the week so I'm not going to get too deep into my thoughts on the matter suffice to say that I often wonder whether my feminist mother would be upset to hear I write erotic romance... and even accuse me of setting women back. My stories often involve dominant males, but I wouldn't say any of the female characters are punching bags. They know what they want in the bedroom and, like all women, have no reason to feel ashamed.

I'm tired of women being made to analyze and worry about what they want/do while men can just do what they want. If a guy likes porn, it's normal. Meanwhile women are tearing the front covers off Fifty Shades of Grey.

So I loved this article. And this line in particular:

"No matter the kink, contract or calamity, romance heroes serve to make their heroines happy. A vast majority of romance heroines aren't waiting for the patriarchy to save them - they're quite happy to punch patriarchy in the face when it gets in their way."

Sooooo I took a bit of a hiatus there due to some family stuff, but I'm still around! I promise. Catching up on emails too. The Ian Crawford spinoff has turned out to be longer than anticipated, but I'm really liking where it's headed...

I've also been playing around with the idea of continuing Dallon and Amy's story after My Shadowy Lover. If you'd be interested in reading what happens next, let me know!

Just so you know how busy I am, I finally got to cleaning my kitchen this morning and two plates were literally glued together. I haven't lived like this since college.

I always listen to music when I write. Certain songs help me get into a certain mood and help pull me back into a story after a long break. They become part of the story.
Here is a list of some of the songs I listened to while writing the Overexposed series.
All I Need - Matchbox TwentyThe Killing Type - Amanda PalmerOrigins - TennisEyes on Fire - Blue FoundationLook What You've Done - JetI'm Not Talking - AC NewmanHe Doesn't Know Why - Fleet FoxesAddict - Fiona AppleBulldozer - Cold War KidsFemme Fatal - Velvet UndergroundSweet Talk, Sweet Talk - The New PornographersFuneral - Band of HorsesLying in the Hands of God - Dave Matthews Band

Apparently I can't seem to stay away from you all ;). This last month has been full of cuddles, sleepless nights, funny moments while my husband and I navigate this new parenting thing...and more TV than I've ever watched in my life. But I've missed writing. So here I am with my babe strapped to my chest (handsfree!) and working on my Ian Crawford spin-off.

Playboy Zach realizes he's changing when he develops a thing for his best friend's girlfriend. Lex is his usual type, but she's feisty too - an irresistible combination. When he comes across a woman that reminds him of Lex, Zach's envy of Ian leads him to pursue a relationship for the first time. The only problem is that her girlfriend is more than a little protective and to get the girl, he might have to get the girlfriend.