Weekend Showcase: Raina James

Raina James in the Spotlight:

My dad's career as a pilot in the Canadian military took us across the country while I was growing up, eventually landing me in a small town near Ottawa, the capital of Canada. A love of words and writing spurred me to pursue a career in journalism. So, that's what I've been doing for close to 20 years in my day job – night job, actually, since being a senior editor at a daily newspaper means I don't work a traditional 9-to-5 job.

As an author, I write in a wide variety of genres, from contemporary and science fiction to fantasy (urban and traditional) and paranormal. The thread that binds them all together, though, is romance. I just love a happy ending, even if the hero and heroine have to leap through fire to get there.

When I'm not writing, I'm generally riding herd on my four kids, two girls and two boys.

Places to find Raina:

Website

Twitter: @RainaJames

Facebook: Raina James

YouTube: RainaJamesRomance channel


Autumn reviewed The Family Jewel. Read her review here.

The Family Jewel by Raina James
Publisher: Siren-Bookstrand, Inc.
Genre: Erotic, Sci-fi


Summary: On Kalaria, native-born women are a rarity, and Kalaria's Council of Elders is ever-vigilant that only the best and the strongest clans qualify for a precious Jewel.

Jerran, Loran, Mikah and Kai -- leader, healer, trader and warrior -- have worked long and hard to win a Jewel, despite Jerran's "taint" of off-world heritage. Beautiful and seductive, trained from girlhood to be all things to her mates, Shantay is everything half-brothers Jerran and Kai and lovers Mikah and Loran desired.

But jealousy and greed are universal. Because of the machinations of a vindictive courtesan, Shantay is ripped away from her mates by a slaver eager to cash in on the value of a rare and priceless Kalari Jewel, rumored to be the ultimate sex slave.

Her men will follow her into space itself to reclaim The Family Jewel.

"Chuckling to myself, I was considering all the euphemisms for a man's, ahem, family jewels when I started thinking about a heroine called a Family Jewel, and imagining a world where women are rare treasures. She would have a "he-rem" of men and be the perfect mate each man -- or, in the case of Loran and Mikah, each couple -- needs." ~ Raina ~

Excerpt:

Jerran and his clan brothers watched through the intricately worked lattice as the woman entered the bathing chamber. Her back to them, she crossed the room to the sunken pool of steaming water with a gently swinging stride. She wore a simple white robe, secured at her slender waist with a braided cord of blue silk. The white seemed brilliant against the golden honey of her skin. Thick black hair spilled in loose waves from a topknot on the crown of her head, revealing the curve of a delicate jaw and slender neck. She unfastened the robe and turned to place it on a bench that held a number of plush folded towels. Jerran swallowed as he saw her face for the first time. He didn't know what his clan brothers--Loran, Mikah and Kai, who was also his half-brother by blood--felt, but possessiveness and pride seized him. She was a beauty.

In truth, her attractiveness hadn't really been in doubt. Kalari women were renowned for their beauty, after all. But this woman, Shantay, would be the Jewel of Black Moon Clan. That made her beauty unmatched in his eyes.

Jerran clenched his hands at his sides in an effort to quell his rising excitement, glad of the relative privacy offered by the small, dimly lit viewing chamber. His cock was hard as polished starstone in his trousers.

Shantay, her body dainty except for the round fullness of her breasts and feminine curve of her hips, tucked a few loose tendrils of hair into the jewelled band that secured it. Unhurried, she walked to the pool and started down the steps. Ankles, calves, knees, thighs--the water enveloped that golden skin until her hips were submerged. She began to scoop handfuls of hot water over her arms and shoulders, smoothing the glistening drops of liquid over breasts tipped with copper-pink crests.

Twisting slightly, she shifted a tray of bath stuffs along the edge of the pool. She scooped a handful of soft soap from one jar and began to lather her upper body with exquisite slowness. Streamers of white foamy bubbles slid over her shoulders and down her arms. Another handful of soap added to the tantalizing trail that wound its way over and between her breasts. Slender fingers plucked at hardening nipples that peaked rosily through the bubbles. Not once did she turn away from the lattice that concealed the four men.

A suspicion began to form in his mind.

When the elders offered Jerran and his clan brothers a chance to see their Jewel before the joining ceremony, he had accepted for them all with alacrity. It hadn't occurred to him they'd be granted such an intimate preview, though. At first, the thought of spying on an unsuspecting young woman in such a private moment had been a bit off-putting, if exciting. He didn't want to dishonor their Jewel, even if she never learned of this hidden visitation.

However, something in Shantay's sensual bath made him think she wasn't as unaware as he'd feared.

She was displaying herself for them.

As if in confirmation of his conclusion, Shantay rinsed the suds away with more handfuls of water, her motions languid, seductive. Taking a couple of steps out of the pool, she balanced one small foot on the top step and began to lather the exposed leg from hip to heel. When she ran soap-covered fingers through the dark curls between her thighs, Kai exhaled on a soft curse. Jerran shot the younger man a silencing look. If they were all to pretend that Shantay bathed alone, so be it.

Their Jewel took her time with the rest of her bath, then towelled off with equal care before donning her discarded robe and leaving the bathing chamber. For long moments, no one said anything.

Kai finally broke the silence. "Brother, when you asked me to leave my mother's house to start a clan with you, I never doubted you would make Black Moon a great family. But this Jewel, my brother." He grinned and clapped Jerran on the shoulder. "I have a feeling she will be your greatest accomplishment."

Loran, usually the quickest with a smile, turned away from his thoughtful contemplation of the now-empty bathing chamber. "You know, Kai, I think you're right. There's something about Shantay that tells me she is the piece we didn't know we were missing. Mikah?"

Jerran watched this quietest of his three clan brothers closely. Loran's lover and Black Moon's master trader, Mikah had said the right things when informed the Elders had granted them a Jewel. Yet, despite his quick mind and glib tongue when it came to making the most advantageous bargain for the clan, Mikah was a self-contained man wary of change. It would take a far less perceptive leader than Jerran to realize he had reservations about the biggest change of their lives. Jerran knew those reservations wouldn't stop Mikah from accepting Shantay for the boon she was to their clan. His estimation was proven when Mikah dipped his head in a single nod and said simply, "She is truly a Jewel of Kalari womanhood."

"True," Jerran said. "But that is't the most important thing about her."

"No?" Kai asked.

"No." He walked to the hidden room's door and pulled it open. "The most important thing is that tonight, Shantay will belong completely to Black Moon. She will be all ours."


Thank you, Raina, for stopping by today and sitting in the Dark Diva Spotlight!

Melissa