Tanya at Joyfully Reviewed has recommended Tort & Retort and says (in part):

Bravo Ms. Anderson! Finally someone who writes a story about all of us faithful readers and reviewers, and she hits it right on the nose. For those of us who have careers in a male dominated profession we do constantly face the reactions to our reading choices that Gayle faces. Tort and Retort takes a humorous look at this world and genre and in a lighthearted way tackles some of the most common perceptions. If you like stories about hot men, enjoy reading ebooks and like a little romance and/or erotica in your stories then you have to get Tort and Retort. It is with NO hesitation that I Joyfully Recommend Tort and Retort for an April read.

You can read the entire review on the Joyfully Reviewed website!

Thank you, Tanya!

Matilda at Coffee Time Romance says (in part): Tort & Retort is a quick and entertaining read. As a reviewer, I found this story quite humorous. It takes reviewing to another level showing a different side of the process. Gayle and Tyler as a couple are a breath of fresh air. If you need a short break from your busy world, then take a bit of time to enjoy this book. It will make your day brighter.

You can read the full review on Coffee Time Romance’s web site.

What great birthday presents! Thank you Matilda.

Cheryl at Fallen Angel Reviews says (in part): The way the characters interacted with each other was great in the way their relationship was easy going and believable. I thought this book was really refreshing in the fact that Maura Anderson took one of the twenty-first century crazes of blogging and incorporated it well into this book. It was also fun to read the book reviews Gayle and her friends did. This is my first time reading anything by this author but it won’t be my last.

You can read the entire review on the Fallen Angel Reviews Website!

Thank you so much, Cheryl. I’m glad you enjoyed it!

Today is my birthday and I’ll be flitting about, avoiding any resemblance to real work!

(Archives are on the website, if you want to read the offerings of past weeks)

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Mating Rite
(c) 2008 by Maura Anderson, all rights reserved

Aislynn knelt before the low stone altar, the surface smooth and polished from generations of use. Her ritual tools were laid out upon it, familiar and ready for her use. The rising full moon glinted off the steel and bone of her athame. The hematite eyes of the raven head hilt seemed alive in the night.

She looked beyond the altar and saw the circle of standing stones around her. The familiarity of their regal presence helped calm the butterflies flitting through her stomach.

A cool breeze flowed over her in waves and teased her bare skin with its chill caress. Her nipples hardened to stiff nubs at the kiss of the night’s breath. Her long hair hung loose and the wind gently ruffled its length and the raven feathers woven into it.

Aislynn waited eagerly. Her circle already cast, she bowed her head and focused on the energy of the Goddess rising within her. It gathered in her abdomen then pulsed through her body until all of her seemed to throb in rhythm to the Goddess’ own heart.

The heat built within her and even her clit now throbbed in anticipation of Cian’s attentions and the ritual’s climax.

Her heart leapt at the sound of feet crunching on the gravel pathway around the standing stones. The sound moved around the perimeter of the circle until she heard it directly behind her. She lifted her head and smiled.

“Beloved, I have come.” Cian’s smoky bass sent jangles of electricity up her spine.

She gracefully rose to her feet, her athame held lightly in her hand. “How have you come?”

“In perfect love and perfect trust.” His response was clear and sure. Just the sound of his rich, deep voice with its sexy accent made her grow damp with need.

Aislynn turned and stepped toward the muscular figure at the entrance to the standing stones, awash in the moonlight and shadows. Her hair caressed her back and ass, the raven feathers a sharper note within the silky curtain. Her arousal grew more urgent by the moment until she felt her own cream run down her thighs.

She took a few steps closer still, admiring her mate. She could just see the faint tracery of the myriad of scars on his heavily muscled body. The band across his bicep came into focus as the vibrant pattern of intricately knotted thistles.

His long dark hair hung loose about his wide shoulders and small stag antlers jutted from his forehead, held in place by a gleaming metal band. He smiled and his rugged, strong face softened with a glint of humor.

His eyes appeared to glow with lust and need, an impressive erection jutting before him. This evidence of his need and desire for her made her breath catch in her throat. I do that to him. He wants me the same way I want him.

He chuckled slightly.

She realized she had been gaping at his cock and raised her athame to cut a passage through her circle’s energy to allow him entry.

He stepped through the passageway and she closed the circle again behind him.

He reached out and grabbed her waist in his huge hands. His impatience showed in the way he quickly pulled her body up against his own.

His cock bumped up against her belly and seemed to sear her with it’s heat. The drops of pre-cum dripping from the tip let it slide across her skin until it was nestled between their bodies.

Cian groaned and moved his hips to rub his cock against her again. He moaned again and his eyes closed briefly.

Aislynn reached up with her left arm and drew his head down to meet his lips with her own. Her hunger and passion made her aggressive. She captured his lips with her own and challenged him to yield and allow her in.

Her tongue darted along the seam of his lips until they opened and she could tease his tongue with her own. She slowly withdrew her own tongue, tempting and coaxing him to follow her.

He ran his tongue along the sensitive inner skin of her lips and caught her whimper in his mouth. He eased back gradually until he was only feathering small kisses on her lips and face.

“The ritual, ciat. We must complete the Mating Rite before I can have you.” Cian’s voice was almost a growl. “Goddess but I want to throw you on the ground right now.”