Saturday, March 24, 2012

Friday, March 23, 2012

Tour Stop Intuition by Jayne Fordham

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Turn Your Bedroom into a Love Nest with Sexy Feng Shui

Has your love life lost its luster? Maybe your boring bedroom is to blame. You can revamp your room into a romantic retreat by using the ancient art of feng shui (pronounced fung shway).

You are probably wondering how moving your furniture around can improve your sex life, right? Feng shui is so much more than how furniture is arranged. It is cooperation between person and place. Feng Shui uses the connectedness of all things. The building blocks of feng shui are the yin-yang (female-male) balance and chi (energy), and that’s what sex is about - female, male and energy.

With feng shui, romance begins in the yin (feminine) vibration of your room. Yang (male) energy should be kept to a minimum in the bedroom. Excite the chi (life-force/energy) in the room by creating a romantic and passionate atmosphere.

Feng shui is all about enhancing the environment around you to create a positive flow of energy. By taking into account colors, compass directions, natural elements and proper placement of furniture and other items in a room, feng shui techniques can alter what occurs in the rest of your life. There are some simple things you can do to incorporate feng shui into your bedroom and enhance the flow of sexual energy to invigorate a stagnant love life. One simple suggestion by feng shui expert Ellen Whitehurst is to hang 2 intertwining 27 inch red cords on the inside your bedroom on the doorknob to bind love energies to you.

You can start out by creating a love shrine in the right hand corner of the bedroom (from the entrance). This area should be dedicated to symbols that remind you of romance and passion. These symbols will activate the energy of love. You could use erotic art, a sculpture of two lovers, a heart shaped object, two hearts intertwined, crystal prisms or a mobile. Place items there that would be meaningful to both partners in the relationship.

The next thing you should do is arrange your bed. In feng shui the location of the bed is a very big deal. You should be able to see the door from the bed but not be directly in front of it. Your head should not be towards the door. The headboard should be firmly against a wall not a window. There should be nothing under your bed so chi can flow freely around it. You should not be able to view your bathroom from your bed. If you bed is on the same wall as a door this can cause disagreements between a couple.

Another simple thing to do is add some visual stimulation to the room. There is no place more perfect for sensual art than in the bedroom. Nothing is more suggestive than piece of attractive erotic art hung over the bed. Erotic paintings and sculptures can be put throughout the bedroom to supercharge sexual energy.

Here are some more simple dos and don’ts that can help turn your bedroom into a romantic and erotic retreat.

Do: Feng shui expert Nancilee Wydra suggests starting seduction at the door with a sensual scent. A spicy scent like cinnamon apple is sexy and uplifting. My personal favorite is a custom blend of apple cinnamon and vanilla.

Don’t: According to feng shui guidelines, clutter is the biggest no-no, no matter what room you are in. Clutter blocks the flow of chi and does not allow positive energy to flow freely. Get rid of everything that reminds you of old lovers; photos, letters, gifts, even sheets and mattresses. Your bed should belong to you and your current lover alone. It should be a shrine and testament of your love for each other. Also make sure everything in your room is neat and in good working order. Broken doors and windows, peeling paint, drawers that don’t open – all these cause negative energy to loom in the room. Make sure your door opens all the way and that the lock works.

Do: Arrange everything in pairs to symbolize a union- two candles, two paintings, or two sculptures. If you are in a relationship have photos of you and your lover around the room. If you are married a wedding photo of just the two of you would be perfect. Other great photos would be of the two of you on vacation or any photo of the two of you that depicts your happiness as a couple.

Don’t: Do not have just one of something. One item is lonely; two represents the happy union of a couple. Avoid anything that represents loneliness. Make sure to have two night stands, and display photos and paintings in pairs, two vases, etc. Also avoid having photos of children, friends and family in the bedroom. The bedroom should be a romantic retreat for a couple, it is a private space. Keep everyone else out of the room.

Do: Invoke the passionate fire element by using candles, oil lamps or a roaring fire if you are lucky enough to have a fireplace in your bedroom.

Don’t: Do not have water elements in the bedroom, it is prohibited. Get rid of fountains, fish tanks and anything depicting water scenes. That means you need to keep photos, paintings and anything associated with water out of the room. Water clashes with the fire element, the element of passion that should take precedence in the bedroom. Water in the bedroom can lead to financial loss and loss in your relationship.

Do: Have furniture and objects in your room with soft feminine curves. Avoid pointy male objects. Think of round pillows, hearts, and an oval ottoman - anything with natural curves instead of harsh lines.

Don’t: Do not have too many objects in your bedroom that give off male energy. Get rid of “work” objects, objects that produce yang (male) energy like televisions, computers, exercise equipment, etc. If you have to keep a TV or computer in your room keep those in a cabinet that has doors you can close at night.

Do: Enhance the passionate energy in your room with objects and paintings in shades of red, pink and garnet. Feng shui principles suggest placing a red object on the woman’s nightstand to increase eroticism in the female partner, and for the male partner a piece of copper should be placed on his night stand. Copper represents the male essence and enhances male eroticism. You could use a tiny jar of copper scraps or any object made of copper. To preserve sexual receptivity in both partners place a ruby or garnet on each nightstand. These stones are very powerful in attracting the opposite sex.


Don’t: Blues and greens are a big no-no in the bedroom. While cool colors represent calm and relaxation to some people, feng shui guidelines suggest that you stay away from cool colors like blues, whites, grays, and black. White walls are especially bad. The Chinese associate the color white with death; talk about a major mood killer!


Do: Incorporate natural materials in your room such as fur, leather and wool. For your bedding you should use natural cotton or silk. Avoid synthetics like polyester. Also try to keep the room gender neutral. Flowery prints, lacey curtains, stuffed animals everywhere- they are not romantic, they are too frilly. Rich comfortable fabrics, warm colors and neutral designs are best for a libido lifting room.

Don’t: Do not keep plants in the room. Remove all plants and flowers, whether living, dead or artificial- they need to go. Plants can overpower the yin energy in the room and if they are dead, they give off dead energy.
By incorporating the elements of feng shui into your bedroom you not only alter the way your room looks, but you can also alter the experiences you have there. By following the principles of feng shui you can change the energy that flows around you and stimulate sensual and sexual arousal in both yourself and your partner.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Spotlight on Bandit Creek Books: Skin Deep by Shanna Gekko

Bewitching Book Tours schedules promotion and review requests for Bandit Creek Books

You can see a complete list of Bandit Creek Books here: http://banditcreekbooks.com/books/

If you would like to schedule an interview with one of the authors or receive a pdf of one of the books for review please contact me at RoxanneRhoads@bewitchingbooktours.com 


Please include your blog name and url, the title of the book you would like to review, and/or name of the author you would like to interview and a couple of suggested dates you have available.

This week's spotlighted title is Skin Deep by Shanna Gekko



Skin Deep

By Shanna Gekko

Book Blurb

Kai knows trouble has found him when a fiery pint-sized female shows up at his door, bringing news of gruesome animal sacrifices in the woods around Bandit Creek. She also brings a teasing scent that draws his attention and sends every protective instinct screaming for him to protect his mate.

Hazel is determined to stop the monster she’s been following for miles and she won’t let anything distract her from her mission. She teams up with Kai, but vows to keep a firm “no-touch” policy where the handsome Native is concerned. Her resolve doesn’t last long as the two are drawn together like lodestones, their every touch igniting a passion neither has faced before.

Only, the trail of ritual sacrifices points to a greater threat than either first realized. They are about to face Kai’s enemy ancestor, a yee naaldlooshii—skinwalker—who will stop at nothing to destroy everything around him.

Author Bio:


Shanna Gekko currently juggles writing with herding kids and pets, and a full-time job, among other commitments, and she truly doesn’t know how she does it. While she will read practically anything, her writing has strayed to the fantastic since she was in Grade 7. You can read some of her musings at www.talesfromtheashes.blogspot.com



Skin Deep Excerpt
By Shanna Gekko
There was nothing Kai liked better than his morning run to work on all fours. His breath shot out in puffs of white as he loped through the snow and undergrowth, tongue lolling sideways out his mouth in a comical grin. Too soon he neared the town, trotting down alleyways until he slipped into the doggie door in the back of his vet clinic. Shaking the cold out of his fur, and the wolf off of his skin, he went to check on his two animal patients that were overnighting at the clinic.
Ten minutes later, he was out the door again, but in his human skin. Shivering a bit without his fur, he hurried across the street to Ma’s Kitchen, its large windows glowing their welcome against the winter pre-dawn.
“Your usual?” A smiling Marie asked as the door jingled with his entrance.
“You bet! Could you add a few sausages to that? I think I need the extra fuel to keep warm today. Bloody cold out there,” Kai flashed a smile and grabbed a mint by the till. Marie hurried off to do just that, her cute little butt sashaying over to the food window and coffee machine. He might be part animal but he was all male and extra sausages or not, a sight like that could keep him warm at night.
Lucy herself headed over to ring up his order. Instead he caught up her hand and looked deep into her twinkling eyes.
“You’re glowing beautifully today, Lucy! So when are you going to leave that husband of yours and bless me by becoming mine?”
She snorted as usual, pink staining her cheeks and truly turning her radiant, then snatched her hand back out of his to pat the curly silver wisps that had already escaped the coiled bun on her head. “Oh stop, Kai. I think I liked you better when you were quiet.” She traded a loaded paper bag and coffee for cash and waved him away. “Now go be a good boy and feed Jack. George put a couple extra sausages in there for him as well.”
“You break my heart, but I won’t give up.” He glanced behind her and gave a bold smile and little wink to Marie, causing her to redden prettily.
“Your heart can stand a little breaking, now get out of here. You’re distracting my staff.” She tossed her towel back over her shoulder and grabbed a pot of coffee to go top up the customers sitting on the ripped red leather stools at the counter.
Juggling the coffees and breakfasts, Kai braced himself for the cold as he pushed open the door. The wind moaned into Ma’s Kitchen, the sound raising the hairs on his neck. Shaking his head to rid the unease, he went off on his search for Jack.
****
There were very few places that Jack liked to pass out at in the winter. During the warmer weather, almost anywhere was fair game, but in the winter, only a couple spots would provide a little extra warmth and shelter. Kai went close to these areas and literally sniffed him out. Jack had a very unique scent that was mixed in with the odor of the Jack Daniels he normally pickled himself with. Kai was surprised when he actually found him by the church. It was one place that Jack seemed to avoid.
The grizzled man was crouched by a vent that had warm air blowing from it, the area around it devoid of snow. Sitting down beside Jack, he handed over one of the still steaming coffees, took his own breakfast out of the bag and gave the rest to Jack.
“How are you doing today, Grandfather?” Respecting your elders had been drilled into Kai from an early age, especially due to his Native heritage. There may not have been a family connection, but Jack had always been known as Grandfather to him and his kin.
Jack wrapped his gnarled hands around the hot coffee as if gripping a lifeline and grunted. “Same as ever, pup. Different days, different weathers.”
“Not such a pup anymore.” Kai ate a sausage in one bite.
“Maybe not, wolf. But when you get to my age everyone is a pup.” Jack reached into the bag to fish out a sandwich. “Different age, same people. Only the winds truly change. It’s windy today.” Kai was used to the ramblings and actually found comfort in them. “What have the winds told you today, Grandfather?”
The wind chose that moment to howl through the bell tower above, the sound grating on Kai’s sensitive eardrums. Looking up at the dawn colored clouds, red glowing on black, he couldn’t help but remember the old weather saying, “Red in the morning, a shepherd’s warning…”He shook his head. Pretty soon he was going to start finding omens in tea leaves. Jack finished his sandwich first before looking him straight in the eyes. The earth seemed to drop out from under him and the only thing that he could see on a field of white were Jack’s black eyes boring through him to his very soul. The wind howled around them, but even so Kai could hear Jack’s whisper as loud as if it was yelled. “Things are blowing into town.”
Dazed, Kai had to shake his head a few times to ground himself. Jack was focused on finishing up the sausages like nothing had happened. “What the hell is that supposed to mean? What kind of things?” Jack just shrugged, took a gulp of coffee and belched. So that’s how he was going to be.
“Fine. Stay warm, Grandfather and if you need a place to sleep you are welcome to my extra bed.” He hurried towards his clinic not bothering to look back at the old man. Somehow he always survived and even though he rambled strangely, Jack was always right.
****
It was a slow Friday morning. In between a cat with a weight problem and a set of vaccinations for a husky, his brother Dan Hunter, the local Forest Ranger, came in for a visit.
“Hey, bird brain! Don’t see you in town very often. What brings you into my territory?” Kai enveloped his older brother in a man hug.
“Are you sure you’re not a bear instead of a wolf?” Dan gasped and shoved him away with a large grin.
“Dunno. Never tried to be a bear before. That’s Peter’s specialty. Wolves are faster anyways.” He went to the kitchen beside his office to brew a cup of the tea Dan preferred. “Are you freezing your wings off out there today?”
Dan followed him, both of their large bodies almost filling the small space. Dan was a little leaner than him, and Kai had longer hair, but other than that the family resemblance was striking. He handed a steaming mug to his brother who took a sip immediately, not bothering to wait till it cooled. “It might be freezing out there, but what I’ve seen in the forest the past couple of days chills me right down to the bone.”
Kai stopped tidying the kitchen and gave his undivided attention, gesturing for Dan to continue.
“I’ve been finding animal corpses out in the backwoods. Now that’s nothing new, but it’s the fact that they have been skinned and drained of blood that has my blood going cold. Added to that, the stink of evil permeates the corpses so no sane animal would ever go near it.” He shuddered then gulped down the rest of his tea as if trying to scorch the memories away.
“Maybe this is the thing blowing into town,” Kai mumbled.
Dan looked at him sharply, his golden eyes glowing against his chestnut skin. “What’s that?”
Kai shrugged. “Just a Jackism. He said that things were blowing into town. Of course he didn’t clarify what types of things were coming. You know how he is.”
“Yeah, I also know he’s usually right, in some weird way or another.” Dan leaned against the counter, his eagle feather earing swaying
He shrugged again, fiddling with the wolf amulet around his neck. “What kind of animals have you found? How many?” Poor things, he thought. Nothing deserved that.
“So far an ermine, a coyote, and a couple of wolves. Only predators, no prey animals. Always moving up in size.” He paused to pin Kai with his hawk eyes again. “You be careful out there, wolf. I don’t want to come across your skinned body. I don’t know how I’d tell mom.”
“Thanks for the warning. I’ll make sure to keep my ears pricked and my nose up. Any area in particular I should watch for?”
“Seems to be south of the mines. Hasn’t been close to your cabin yet, but you may want to keep a special eye on your rescues out there. They’d be sitting ducks.” Dan started layering up again in preparation for the cold of outside.
“I can’t be out there all day. I have other animals here that need my attention. Any chance you can do a fly by, at least once a day?” Thankfully, he only had two wild animals being rehabilitated right now, a surly bobcat and a cougar he’d nicknamed Lady, but he would still worry. They’d be sitting ducks in those cages.
“I already checked on them before I drove into town.” Kai looked at his brother, confused. “This is a business call, Kai. I have to let Sheriff Morgan know about what’s happening in Bandit Creek’s backyard and I can’t exactly fly into the Sheriff’s office. I think the guy would have a damn heart attack and I don’t want to kill a good sheriff.”
“Point. I’ll give you a shout when I get home and let you know if I saw anything on the way.” Kai tapped his temple indicating it would be a mental shout out. Better than a cell phone or radio, at least he would always be in touch with his family, though it was harder the further apart they were.
“Sounds good. Stay safe.” With that, Dan was sending a blast of cold air into the clinic as he hurried to his jeep.
****
Kai’s mood during his run home was subdued. Any signs he might have missed due to his enthusiasm for his morning run were starkly obvious now. The forest was quieter than normal for a winter evening, as if all the animals were hunkering down in preparation for a big storm. Whenever the winds shifted, the bitter scent from the north-east made his nose curl, forcing a sneeze.
Hackles standing straight out and feeling skittish to the bone, he was never so glad to get home where he knew he was safe. He darted in through his dog door, shivering for a moment as he tried to calm his animal side. Finally he shook off the wolf and headed to the kitchen to gulp down a glass of water and few pieces of jerky before heading out back to check on his animals.
He wasn’t two steps down the porch when the wind shifted to gust from the cages. A waft of nuts and sunlight teased his nose, making him want to sigh in pleasure, if it wasn’t so foreign for this time of year. He rounded the corner to the small wild animal shelter surprised to see a figure occupying a stump by the cages. She hugged her knees into her chest, emerald eyes glaring at him through the whipping strands of chestnut hair around her creamy skin. The scathing look felt like a punch to his gut. This was the angriest, and most beautiful, female he had ever seen.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Writing Sex Scenes Guest Blog and Giveaway with Sibelle Stone



Romance authors face one of the most challenging obstacles a writer can face. We often include scenes in our books that show the consummation of a relationship. We write about sex. Sometimes graphically, sometimes with a great deal of innuendo. It depends on the author the type of book and the story.

But what we really do is describe something that you can pretty much bet most of our readers have done. And they probably consider themselves at least fairly good at it, if not an expert. So, how do you craft a love scene so that it’s fresh, new and interesting?

Who Are These People and Why Should I care?

• Establish your characters first, put them together for a reason, (a good reason) and then let them have at it.

• Sex scenes should still be advancing the story. Consider why you have this scene at this point in the story.

• Consider why you are putting this in? Is it because you think by a certain page the relationship should be consummated? Or, does this advance the relationship to the next level?

• Is there chemistry between the characters? If they’ve been fighting for fifty pages and then suddenly fall into bed with each other, the reader is going to wonder why.

Slap and Tickle


• Sexual Tension is fun, seduce the reader with a series of encounters and build anticipation for the love scene. We enjoy banter, because it builds a relationship with talking. Talking to each other when you are falling in love is a good thing. That’s how we learn if this person is truly a mate we want to commit to long-term.

• Tease the reader. Set up situations that bring the couple together, and not always under stress. Even in an intense book, the characters need to stop and take a deep breath once in a while.

• Focus on Emotion and making the reader care about the characters. Keep asking yourself – What is the character feeling? How do I show this?

• Give hints – nudity, bath scenes, lingerie. Create sexy situations, and it doesn’t have to be a nude scene. One of the sexiest women ever, Elizabeth Taylor, did more with a slip than most women could with pasties and a garter belt.

Using Tools (From Your Writer’s Toolbox – What did you think I was talking about?)

• Where? Use your setting whenever possible. In Beneath A Silver Moon, I found a way to put my couple in the haymow on the ranch. It’s private, it’s filled with lovely, soft hay. Well, use your imagination!

• How?

Avoid clichéd phrases and euphemisms (and “Oh God!” is one of those).

Don’t use Part A fits into Slot B because the reader knows where those parts go.

Medical terms are boring, but be historically correct. Find out what people called their parts and use the names.

Know your audience and their expectations. A “hot” really is different from a “steamy”. “Red hot and steamy” - well - you get the idea.

It’s not a football game and we don’t need an announcer

• Sex is funny, use humor to provide comic relief. Imagine if aliens dropped in to see a human couple... coupling. They’d probably fall on the floor laughing.

• You can leave some things to the imagination or be explicit – it’s up to you.

• Vocabulary – use words that incite the imagination and are provocative

• Dialogue enhances a love scene and can show emotion. Pillow talk is fun.

Whose Bed-Head Are We In?

• Single or Multiple (POV)? It’s your choice but be consistent. Or you can alternate POV of hero and heroine. What does he really think of her?

• What are we learning about this character?

• Who has the most to lose? That’s often our POV character.

Expectations


• Know the boundaries of the genre you are writing.

• Know what the Editor/Publisher likes.

• Be aware of what YOU are comfortable writing

Writing these scenes can be challenging but a good love scene can also emotionally engage your reader.


Whistle Down the Wind


Book One The Mystic Moon Series - Featuring the Glyndwr sisters

Elemental witches!

Genre: Historical romance with paranormal elements
Publisher: Moon Valley Publishing
ISBN: 978-0-9839103-2-9
Page count: 360

Blurb:

Escaping from the persecution of the European witch hunts, a beautiful witch with the power to control the wind joins forces with a handsome Cavalier on a mission to save the King of England and the colony of Virginia.

Catlin Glyndwr is a tenth generation Mistress of Elements -- a hereditary witch who can call upon her elemental spirits for assistance in casting spells.

Accused of witchcraft in seventeenth century England, she faces the hangman. Even though she took a vow never to hurt anyone with her magic, if her true powers are revealed, she’ll be executed.

Sir Griffin Reynolds is on his way to the colony of Virginia, on a secret mission to locate Puritan rebels intent upon seizing the throne of King Charles II. When his best friend becomes deathly ill while interrogating a beautiful Welsh maiden accused of using magic to attack a local official – Griffin is forced to strike a bargain with her in order to save his friend’s life.

When Catlin and Griffin travel together on a voyage to the American colonies, they try to resist the pull of erotic sensuality that flares between them. It is a temptation they both soon crave. But danger lurks aboard ship and evil haunts Catlin. She must learn how her destiny is linked with that of the man who has vowed to protect her.

In a dangerous and unexplored world, where superstition exists along side the new discoveries of science, powerful elemental spirits are capable of assisting the magical adepts. But there is always danger in harnessing magic and a price to pay when one calls to the spirit world for help.

While Griffin tries to deny his attraction to Catlin, she works her own special magic on his heart and he discovers he cannot resist falling under her sensual spell.

Together, Catlin and Griffin learn that a journey of the heart requires courage, trust and the ability to believe in the astonishing gift of love.

Tagline: A beautiful witch discovers there’s more then one way to be wicked!

Short Blurb:

Whistle Down the Wind
By Sibelle Stone

Escaping from the persecution of the European witch hunts, a powerful witch with the ability to control the wind joins forces with a handsome Cavalier on a mission to save the King of England and the colony of Virginia while a dangerous stranger hunts them both. Book One: Mystic Moon Series.

Author Bio


Sibelle Stone is the pseudonym for award winning historical romance author Deborah Schneider. Sibelle writes sexy steampunk and paranormal stories, filled with magic, mad scientists, dirigibles, automatons, and creatures that would scare the panties off Deborah. In her spare time Sibelle enjoys dressing up in Victorian ensembles, modding play guns into something that looks a bit more sinister and wearing hats.

Author Bio: Deborah Schneider

A lifelong love of American history led Deborah Schneider from teaching high school to writing novels. Her first book, Beneath A Silver Moon won the Molly award for “Most Unsinkable Heroine” from the Heart of Denver chapter of RWA and was later a finalist in the New Historical Voice Contest in 2000. Her most recent release Promise Me won the 2011 EPIC Award for Best Western Romance. Her first steampunk story, No Ordinary Love was published in fall 2011. Deborah is employed by the busiest and best library system in the U.S. She’s received the “Open Book Award” from Pacific Northwest Writers and was named “Librarian of the Year” by Romance Writers of America in 2009.




Sibelle is giving away a copy of Beneath a Silver Moon -winner’s choice of format -either a free Ebook or a print copy- and a One $10 Starbucks Gift Card open to US Shipping- To enter fill out the Rafflecopter

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Sexual Aromatherapy – How to Use Scent as an Aphrodisiac

Scent is the silent language of sexuality. We are affected by the scents around us, by the scents of others and especially by the scent of our lover. By adorning yourself with certain scents or adding the right scents to your bedroom and home you can create a sensual and romantic atmosphere your lover is sure to respond to.

Our sense of smell is tied directly to the part of the brain that is linked to memory and emotion. Research studies have proven that different scents can actually produce different emotions and reactions; they can make us feel a certain way. Odors have been shown to penetrate the human subconscious causing reactions such as changes in blood pressure, respiration and pulse rate.

Once a smell is remembered it is rarely forgotten. A scent can stir basic emotions and feelings. Memories can be recalled instantly just from the whiff of a familiar scent. A smell like your mother’s perfume or your dad’s aftershave can transport you back in time to your childhood. Our sense of smell is over ten thousand times more sensitive than our sense of taste. A healthy young person can distinguish and recognize over thousands of different odors.

Aromatherapy has been used for over 5000 years from Ancient Egypt to Modern Europe in the 1920’s and 1930’s where French chemist, Rene-Maurice Gattefosse coined the term aromatherapy.

Aromatherapy has often been used in sexual practices and rituals throughout many cultures and time periods. Perfumes and sweet smelling herbs have played important roles in religion and sex magic. Many plants are known for their amorous properties and their scents have been used around the world. The “alchemy of scent” has charmed and lured both men and women, it has been used to attract lovers, heal a relationship; it has been used in the art of seduction and mentioned in the Kama Sutra. Cleopatra was known to have used a special blend of rose, cardamom, and cinnamon to seduce Marc Anthony. Basil was used by young Italian women to charm and bewitch potential lovers, ancient Arabic manuals giving advice on sexual matters refer to Black Pepper for its erotic qualities, Ginger was used by the Romans for its sexual enhancement properties, an Italian princess used Neroli to fragrance her gloves and bathing water, and Tantric disciples smeared Sandalwood on their bodies while celebrating sexual ecstasy.

Aromatherapy is a part of creating perfumes. The arcane science of perfume has also been used for thousands of years and is based on laws of “vibration” and “psycho-sensory” responses observed over long periods of time. A truly “magical” formula will work on both the conscious and subconscious mind to illicit a predetermined response. There are many scents and scent blends that will cause sexual responses. The modern perfume industry is still trying to create the perfect aphrodisiac by using blends of scent. Perfumes are designed to attract, allure, and cause arousal. It is all erotic aromatherapy.

By using sexual aromatherapy and anointing yourself with certain oils you can become irresistible to your lover. You can create a sensual ambience in your bedroom and throughout your home by using the aromatic essences. Essential oils can be used to increase sensual and sexual energies.

The essential oils and scents I am going to describe have been chosen for their known aphrodisiacal properties. These essential oils can be used in diffusers, burners, candles, incense, scent rings, scented potpourri, perfumes and colognes, added to bath water or added to massage oils to create a sexually enticing atmosphere in your bedroom and throughout your entire home. These scents can be used alone or in special blends to create the type of sexual atmosphere and sexual response you want.

Two of my personal favorite scents are vanilla and cinnamon. Vanilla is a very soothing scent, is known for its healing and calming properties and has been used in many “love” perfumes and potions throughout history. Cinnamon is universally known as an aphrodisiac. In a study of male response to fragrances, the most seductive of all the fragrances was a spicy cinnamon roll. It caused more blood flow to the penis than any other scent. I guess that explains why my husband always seems to have an erection, I have cinnamon scented candles and potpourri everywhere, not to mention cinnamon scented lotions and body sprays. All this time I thought it was me that made him so horny when it was really the cinnamon. The erotic runners up in the “scentuality” study were pumpkin pie, lavender and doughnuts. Funny, I’ve never thought of pumpkin pie or doughnuts as sexy.

Other scents known for their aphrodisiac qualities are:

Basil has a sweet, spicy aroma. It has many associations with love, seduction and fertility. Basil awakens the senses and can arouse the basic sexual instincts. It can be used to reawaken a sexual relationship, help ease mental, emotional and physical fatigue and used in massage oils to remove weariness.
Do not use during pregnancy.

Bergamot can enhance the mood of lovers. Its lemon and floral aroma can lift a loved one’s spirit and it is able to alleviate tension and anxiety.

Black Pepper can add spice and vitality to a love life. It has warming, penetrating and strengthening properties that can rekindle the flames of passion. It emits a spicy aroma that arouses the senses and supplies stamina and strength.

Cardamom is a very magnetic essence used for sexual attraction.

Cedarwood opens emotions and helps lovers enter a spiritual dimension in their lovemaking. It can sooth fears and anxieties and draws lovers into a blissful and sensual reality.
Avoid using during pregnancy.

Clary Sage is deeply sensual with relaxing and calming properties to decrease inhibitions. It boosts libido and dissolves fears and anxieties.

Coriander is worn to attract a lover and it is also known for being able to keep a love relationship harmonious.

Frankincense has a haunting aroma. It can bring depth and meaning to a relationship, heighten awareness and enhance communication. It can stimulate the senses and comfort the mind.

Ginger is pungent and spicy. It will boost vitality and heat up the libido. Use it to inflame passion and desire.

Geranium is a scent that adds a sustaining and restoring quality to a relationship. It can help open communication in a relationship.

Jasmine is heady and exotic. It is used to capture, sustain or rekindle the affections of a loved one. It promises deep and lasting affection. It brings strength and warmth to a sexual relationship.
Avoid using during pregnancy.

Juniper is a scent that cleanses negative feelings and has stimulating properties. Use it to get rid of insecurities and form trust.
Avoid during pregnancy.

Lavender is a scent that is soothing to the heart. It relaxes and balances with its comforting aroma. Use it to heal and nurture a relationship and sooth the mind.
Avoid use during the first trimester of pregnancy.

Lime is a scent that adds cheer and laughter to romance and increases the appetite for desire and passion. Lime fills the atmosphere with joy and lightness. It eases anxiety and clears the path for communication.

Neroli Absolute is seductive. It evokes a sense of contentment and eases communication. It acts as an aphrodisiac.

Orange is a scent that brings warmth and cheerfulness to a relationship. It encourages joy and sensitivity.

Patchouli has a deep, musky and lingering aroma associated with earthy sensuality and spiritual elevation. It is very sexually provocative and decreases inhibition and encourages desire.

Rose Absolute is a scent with aphrodisiac and sexual healing properties. It is emotionally uplifting and opens the heart.
Avoid use during pregnancy.

Sandalwood has a sweet and woody aroma. It has been used in ritualistic sexual practices celebrating the divinity of sexual ecstasy. It encourages emotional openness and enhances physical sensuality. It creates spontaneous interaction and helps lovers get out of a sexual rut.

Ylang Ylang is an erotic scent that acts as a powerful aphrodisiac. It increases libido and enhances attraction between lovers. It can sooth the over anxious while boosting low energy. It opens emotions and promotes a more sensual and erotic experience during lovemaking.

These essential oils can be found in health food stores, new age shops, in catalogs and online. A little goes a long way. Only a few drops are needed when added to water or other oils. Experiment with scents to create a custom blend that can greatly enhance your sexual appetite and experience. Using scent as an aphrodisiac can be a greatly rewarding experience for both you and your lover. Do not give up if it takes awhile to find the perfect scent or combinations of scent. Once you do find the perfect blend of sexual aromatherapy scents you will have a truly ‘scentual’ experience.

Monday, March 19, 2012

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Sexy and I Know It… I Mean, If That’s Fine With You Guest Blog with LM Pruitt



When I started writing this post, I thought I had a pretty solid idea of what I’d be writing about—sex. With such a broad subject, it should have been a snap to find a topic to wax prosaic about. Maybe it’s the day, maybe it’s me, or maybe I’m just feeling first guest post jitters, but I’ve been staring at the computer screen for the greater portion of an hour. I’ve written and erased enough material for two posts. None of it feels right.

And then I turned on the television. And found Sucker Punch.

Some people—ok, a lot of people, average Joes and critics combined—thoroughly panned Zach Snyder’s first original film. One of the most common complaints was, according to these folk, Snyder’s marginalization and essentially exploitation of women. Even though Sucker Punch was billed as a fantasy-action adventure type of film, both genres in which women historically play small, side-line parts, critics viewed the dream within a dream within a sucky reality as demeaning, mainly because of the costuming, but also because of the “first level” dream.

I may lose some people here—but I’m calling bullshit.

We say a film is exploitive and marginalistic because of how the characters are dressed sexy? Really?

Because that’s the impression given by the various reviews and general backlash. Not that there are plot holes (which there are) or that the timeline can be confusing and the story is, for lack of a better term, fantastical (both of which are valid complaints as well). But that Snyder’s choice to put the females of the picture in revealing clothing objectified them, thus detracting from the story.

And again—I’m calling bullshit.

I may be in the minority, but I honestly didn’t think anything of the costuming, besides the fact that some of the outfits would be amazing at Halloween. I didn’t feel like the detracted from the storyline—which, by the way, is a girl trying to escape from a mental institution where she’s been wrongfully imprisoned—because, get this it’s all a dream. People wear some crazy stuff in dreams. Seriously. I’ve had dreams before where everybody was naked and it was totally normal—but I digress.

The characters went in, kicked ass in every level of the dream and at least partially in the reality the movie takes place in, and they managed to do it in heels, short skirts, bustiers, and fishnets. The only thing I think of when I see that is “Damn. I have got to take some sort of martial arts class, because that’s some cool shit.” I don’t see objectification, I don’t see exploitation, I see girls kicking ass.

It’s sad, at least to me, that society has become so politically correct that in order for a woman to be taken seriously she needs to be, for lack of a better term, unsexy. Doubt me? I can think of three Academy Award winners for Best Actress in the last ten years who earned their statute because they played unsexy, ugly roles. Put a woman in dirty clothes, make her a killer, or a woman pretending to be a man and we respect her. Put a woman in a short skirt, and, well—we all know what happens.

To sum it up, which given my intention to ramble is most likely best, looking sexy, being sexy, owning your sexuality isn’t bad. It doesn’t mean you’ve been objectified or exploited. It means you’ve taken control. Which, in case you’re wondering, is pretty damn awesome.

March 16 Tour Launch/Intro
Fang-tastic Books

March 16 review
The Autumn Review

March 17 reviews
Doctors Notes

March 17 Promo and review
SJ Clarke’s Blog

March 18 Guest Blog
Roxanne’s Realm

March 20 review
WTF Are You Reading?

March 24 Spotlight with series review
Cocktails and Books

March 26 Guest blog 
Grave Tells

March 26 Guest blog
J.D. Brown's Blog

March 27 Review

March 30 Guest blog
Louisa Bacio -- Love Knows No Bounds

April 2 Interview and Promo
JeanzBookReadNReview

April 3 Guest blog
Fictional Candy

April 4 Interview
The Speculative Salon:

April 4 Guest blog
Fiction Fascination

April 5 Guest blog
Mama Knows Books-

April 10 When I’m Not Writing Feature
Review
Tynga's Reviews 

April 10 Guest blog
Read2Review 


April 11 reviews
SupaGurl Books

April 12 Promo and review
Reader Girls

April 13 Promo and review
Beverly @ The Wormhole

Shades of Desire


By L.M. Pruitt

Blurb

All I wanted was a little peace and quiet.

Instead, I've got dead Covenant members and a steady stream of letters from the new guy in town. His beverage of choice? A 2002 Merlot, with a shot or two of powerful virgin blood.

On top of that, I'm breaking in a new police liaison, failing at playing matchmaker, and fighting nausea like it's a full time job. All I wanted was a little peace and quiet.

Instead, I've got dead Covenant members and a steady stream of letters from the new guy in town. His beverage of choice? A 2002 Merlot, with a shot or two of powerful virgin blood.

On top of that, I'm breaking in a new police liaison, failing at playing matchmaker, and fighting nausea like it's a full time job.

Did I forget to mention that I've also got enough girls living at the Crossroads to start my own boarding school?

Peace and quiet? Out the window.

--Jude Magdalyn Henries


Buy Links             Kindle    

Book 1 Shades of Grey for your Kindle, in Paperback



About the Author:


L.M. Pruitt has been reading and writing for as long as she can remember. A native of Florida with a love of New Orleans, she has the uncanny ability to find humor in most things and would probably kill a plastic plant. She is the author of the Jude Magdalyn Series as well as New Moon Rising, featuring Cari Gravier, and Taken, featuring Frankie Post. She is currently at work on the next book in the Moon Rising series, Harvest Moon Rising, due out April 2012. Ms. Pruitt makes her home in Florida with two cats--one smart, the other not so much.

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/LM-Pruitt/364776895104

Blog: http://www.lmpruitt.blogspot.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/lmpruitt