Blog | Jennifer Bene

Santa has something special for Christmas!

Dec 25, 2016 | Random | 0 Comments

In lieu of my normal Ask Me Anything, Santa has something special for us for Christmas, and let’s just say I’ve definitely made the naughty list this year and there’s no way he’s going to be giving me presents. Fortunately, I don’t think he’s noticed my penchant for punishment quite yet (he does have so many boys and girls to keep track of) and so I’d appreciate it if no one would tell him when he bends me over his desk and takes off that belt?

It would be appreciated.

Enjoy, lovelies, and have a Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah! We’ll be back in the swing of things next week!

via GIPHY

It’s Christmas Eve and something is definitely stirring at Black Light! #SatSpanks

Dec 24, 2016 | Bloghop | 6 Comments

I’ve got another sneak peek of my upcoming book ‘Black Light: Exposed’. It’s the 2nd book in the Black Light series, and the first one by Livia Grant, ‘Black Light: Rocked’, is out right now so you can dive into this kinky underground BDSM club without having to wait until January! ‘Black Light: Exposed’ follows Madeline “Maddie” O’Neill, an aspiring reporter, who stumbles onto the story of a lifetime when she discovers the Black Light BDSM club hiding beneath popular Washington, DC hotspot Runway. Thomas Hathaway, Congressman, who is there to play “rescues” her from security by buying her a guest pass before they kick her out. Let’s just say this BDSM romance has some fireworks in it, and Maddie will have some tough choices to make between her dreams and her heart.

In this scene, Maddie and Thomas have walked into Black Light and she’s trying to recover from seeing all kinds of delightfully dirty things happening across the main area of the club. But before anything is happening, Thomas has a few questions about how she found her way to this place that’s supposed to be a secret.

—

“So, whose guest were you supposed to be tonight, Madeline? I’m very glad you agreed to come in with me, but I’m not looking to step on anyone’s toes if you already have -”

“I’m not meeting anyone.” Maddie shook her head and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I mean, I was invited, but we didn’t have plans or anything.”

“Who invited you, Madeline?” There was a definite edge to his voice now, one that made her feel like she was the one being interviewed when it needed to be the other way around.

Summoning a wicked grin she leaned back, resting her arms on the sides of the chair, trying to display casual confidence as best she could. “I’m not really sure I should name names, Thomas.”

He leaned back as well. “Ah, I see. Well, that’s probably a good idea considering that talking about this place is sort of against the rules unless you’re bringing a play partner.”

“Security is important.”

“It is. May I ask if it was a man or a woman that invited you?”

“You may, but I don’t have to answer.” The flirtation was finally back in her voice, and she bit her lip as he smiled slowly.

“What if I wanted to spank that bit of information out of you?” Those eyes were on hers, and she tried to stifle the sudden intake of breath.

Be calm. Be confident. Act like you belong.

“You could try, Thomas.”

“Feisty girl.” Chuckling, he broke their gaze to let his eyes wander the room. The sounds of sex were coming from somewhere, the slap of skin and moans and groans, combined with a chorus of leather cracking, the clatter of chains, and the buzz of conversation – all overlaid atop that low thrumming music that seemed to call to all the basest needs of humanity. “So, before we get started we can have one drink to relax and get to know each other a bit. What would you like?”

Before we get started… right.

Maddie shifted in her seat, turning to look back at the incredibly well-stocked bar. “One drink?”

“Just one, you need to be clear headed and so do I.”

“Of course.” She smiled and blew out a breath, going for an old favorite. “I’d love a cape cod, it’s vodka and cranberry and -”

“Lime. I know the drink.” Thomas pushed up from his seat. “Just a moment, I’ll be right back. Why don’t you think of some of your favorite kinks so we can discuss them when I return?”

“Sure.” Maddie said it confidently, but internally she was a ball of knots and anxiety. Kinks? What the fuck was she supposed to say to him? Looking around she wished she had her phone so she could quickly google some BDSM terms, because relying on what she’d heard in movies and read in a few books was probably not going to get her very far – and it may not even be accurate.

Shit.

—

I’m so excited to be working on this book so I can get it all out to you in time! I’m diving back in, but I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, and wish you all the best time with friends and family.

Thankful Thursday

Dec 22, 2016 | Thankful Thursday | 0 Comments

Oh, lovelies, it’s Thankful Thursday and just a few days before Christmas and Hannukah! If you’re anything like me you’ve been running around like crazy trying to do your normal to-do list (like work, writing, etc) and every other thing you may need to do for the holiday season. I was up until after midnight trying to get some word count in on Black Light: Exposed because that deadline is looming like a nightmare just beyond the beautiful, sparkling Christmas lights! Yikes! That’s why I think this particular hottie channels something we all need, a nice nap. Anyone else want to imagine just curling up with him for a few minutes (or hours)? I know I do! Tell me what you’ve been up to! <3

Dec 21, 2016 | Writing | 0 Comments

That’s who you really like. The people you can think out loud in front of.

Dec 21, 2016 | Writing | 0 Comments

#WIP Wednesday isn’t dead & Maddie might be in over her head!

Dec 21, 2016 | Bloghop | 0 Comments

First things first, lovelies. The incredible Meredith O’Reilly has decided to take up the mantle on the #WIP Wednesday blog hop and she will be reviving it in January!! YAY!! Read more about her generosity and general fantasticness over on her blog: here.

Now, today’s snippet is another sneak peek of my upcoming book ‘Black Light: Exposed’. It’s the 2nd book in the Black Light series, and the first one by Livia Grant, ‘Black Light: Rocked’, is out right now so you can dive into this kinky underground BDSM club without having to wait until January. This scene started on my last bloghop on #SatSpanks where Maddie found her way into the secret room beneath Runway, and met the very attractive, very interesting Thomas Hathaway. He’s her knight in shining armor for choosing her as his guest and keeping security from booting her out – the only problem is that Maddie thinks she’s about to walk into a gambling den…

—

“Please remember, there is no technology allowed inside. This includes phones, wearable devices, recording devices, and anything mechanical that is not medical in nature.”

Guess they were serious about stopping cheating, which meant there had to be some major money being exchanged behind that door.

Ka-ching, ka-ching.

“Thank you.” Thomas nodded before turning that intense gaze on her again as he tucked his wallet away and pulled out his phone. “So, we’re sharing a locker since you’re my guest, but I want to make it clear that if you want to leave all you have to do is tell me. I’ll bring you back out here to get your things immediately. Alright?”

“That works for me!” She followed him over to the locker that had its door ajar, and pulled her phone out of her purse. Thomas had already laid his phone inside and was removing an Apple watch while he looked her up and down.

“We’ll talk more once we’re inside and have a seat, but I just don’t want you to feel like you owe me anything. I bought the guest pass because I want to get to know you better, and while I’d love to play with you, it’s not an obligation.”

Maddie rolled her eyes before she thought about it. “I promise, I’m fine.”

Did this guy think she’d never played poker before? Did she really look that sheltered?

Thomas laughed low as his eyes roamed slowly over her curves. “Wonderful. No more technology under that nice dress?”

“No. Why, do you want to check?” Looking up at him she knew her cheeks were burning bright from the situation, the flirtation, and the fact that her offer wasn’t an innocent one. He was hot, and it had been way too long since she’d even had a date, if he wanted to pat her down she’d let him in a heartbeat.

“Maybe in a bit.” He answered softly and then offered her his hand and she took it, the next door popping open as they approached. There was low, wordless music coming from the room beyond, with soft, warm lighting – and then Thomas pulled the door wide and Maddie realized the error she’d made.

It was most definitely, unequivocally not gambling hiding underneath Runway.

What the fuck had she just gotten herself into?

—

Ohhhhh, boy. Maddie is in a bit over her head walking into Black Light with the deliciously dominant Thomas Hathaway, but I think she might find she has a kinky side. Keep coming back for more snippets to see what she finds out beneath Runway, and how all of those elite in Washington, D.C. might just be what she needs to get her dream job as a reporter for the Post!

Teaser Tuesday! ‘Black Light: Rocked’ by Livia Grant!

Dec 20, 2016 | Teaser Tuesday | 2 Comments

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I am absolutely thrilled to get to share this book with all of you lovelies today. From USA Today Bestselling author, Livia Grant, comes the first book in the ‘Black Light’ series that I have the great fortune of writing the second book for! (Don’t miss the snippets on Wednesdays/Saturdays) ‘Black Light: Rocked’ is an intense introduction to the little world she’s created, and I can’t wait for all of you to dive in!

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Black Light: Rocked (Black Light Series Book 1)

They had unfinished business.

She went there for closure, but he deserved his revenge.

They both learned to be careful what you wish for.

When Samantha Stone hears the popular rock band Crushing Stones created by her childhood sweetheart is headlining at a new dance club nearby, she considers it fate. She’s waited seven years to get answers. Why had he deserted her without even saying good-bye?

Jonah “Cash” Carter has scanned the throngs of fans for years looking for her. Waiting. When he spots Sami in the crowd, he freezes mid-song. He’d named his band for a reason, and tonight would be the night he finally got to crush a Stone.

Too many secrets. Too much history. Can they find their way to the truth without destroying each other?

***

Teaser

If possible, he was even more devastatingly handsome than ever before. He hadn’t taken the time to shower or even change after the show. His thick hair and muscular arms glistened with sweat from the exertion of his art. It had been surreal to watch the concert on the television knowing he was performing just two stories below her.

A full minute of silence went by as the old friends sized each other up. The anger in his eyes hadn’t diluted so when he took a step closer, her boot stepped back out of self-preservation. The old friends danced a silent two-step; each move Sam made was choreographed to keep as much distance between them as possible.

“Since when are you afraid of me?” His voice was foreign to her.

“I’ve never met you. You’re a whole different person, Cash.”

She’d said the words to shock him, hoping he’d stop scaring the shit out of her. It didn’t work.

“I’m exactly who you made me into, Miss Stone.”

“Stop calling me that.” She wasn’t sure why it bothered her, but she somehow knew he meant it as a slur.

“Why? It’s your name, isn’t it? Or did you already get married? Daddy get you married off to a nice stiff from the country club yet?”

“Not yet. For some odd reason I’ve resisted his matchmaking efforts. Maybe that was a mistake.”

“Oh baby, I’m sure it was. I expected you to be living the high life, ruining people’s lives at a breakneck speed by now.”

Samantha felt her fear fleeing, replaced with bubbled-up anger. “What the hell is wrong with you? If anyone should be angry here, it’s me. You’re acting like I set out to ruin your life when instead, I’d think you could at least say you’re sorry if you’re not going to say thank you.”

“Thank you?! What the fuck do I have to thank you for, Samantha?” At least he’d used her first name, even if he had said it like it was a curse.

“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe the fact that you’re a Grammy-Award-winning, multimillionaire musician.”

He was closing the distance between them one step at a time, careful not to spook her and make her run, although she had nowhere to go. Her brain was screaming to put more distance between them, but her other body parts were being drawn into his magnetic field, just like the old days.

If anything his green eyes got darker. “Even if I do have success, why the hell would I thank you for that? I have what I have because I worked hard for it. I had to overcome all the bullshit obstacles thrown at me by you and your fucked up family so thank you? No. More like fuck you.”

It was worse than she ever dreamed. Not only was Jonah gone, but Cash Carter was a jerk. She decided she needed to let him know.

“You’re a real asshole, you know that, Cash?”

It wasn’t much, but she saw the small flinch at her use of his stage name. It gave her the courage to press on. “I never should have come here tonight. It was a mistake.”

“Hell yeah, it was. Why’d you come, anyway?”

The sadness of losing the last trace of her best friend threatened to weaken her to tears. She fought to stay strong. She didn’t want him to see how hurt she was.

“I was curious, I guess. I live in D.C. now and I mistakenly thought fate might have finally brought us back together when I realized you were going to be playing just a few blocks from my apartment.”

She should have shut up then. She’d already said too much, but he was moving closer and she had circled around the couch and was close to being cornered by the advancing, angry man.

The words just kept falling out of her mouth, “Maybe I came because I mistakenly missed my friend. I wanted a glimpse of what your life was like. To see what you looked like having everything you ever dreamed of.” Emotion had her choking to get the final words out.

His wicked laughter at her distress brought tears to her eyes as he spewed, “That’s funny, Sam. What would you know about my dreams?”

Her anger was deserting her, leaving her deflated. “I used to know everything.”

He was almost close enough to reach out and touch her. She was relieved when he didn’t as he spewed his next angry rant. “Used to is right. You don’t know shit anymore.”

She tried to rally her anger again. “I can see that. At least your new name suits you. What a fool I’ve been. Missing you. Wishing things had turned out different for us.”

“There never was an us. Your father and uncle saw to that.”

***

Unf. Things are about to get hot and heavy between these two and you will LOVE it! Having already read this book, I have to tell you that the entire book is full of that sexy, bad-boy rocker angst, but still accompanied by that sweet touch that Livia Grant can somehow weave into everything. She can pluck at your heartstrings even when someone is wielding a bullwhip (seriously, I teared up in a scene where someone was using a bull whip because of emotions!). I’m so excited that this book is out!

Amazon: Buy now!

The prequel to the whole series is out too, and ‘Infamous Love’ is where you meet Jaxson, Chase, and Emma who play pretty important roles in the entire Black Light series, since they start the club and interact with pretty much all the characters at one point or another. So, if you haven’t read that one, hurry and snag it too!

Amazon: Buy now!

Each book could be read as a standalone, but come on, we all know you want to binge on Livia Grant’s sexy sexy writing. ;p

Keep a look out for sneak peeks of book 2 from me… ‘Black Light: Exposed’ is coming in January!

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Want more of Livia Grant?

USA Today Bestselling Author Livia Grant lives in Chicago with her husband and two sons… one a teenager, the other a furry rescue dog named Max. She is blessed to have traveled extensively and as much as she loves to visit places around the globe, the Midwest and its changing seasons will always be home. Livia started writing when she felt like she finally had the life experience to write a riveting story that she hopes her readers won’t be able to put down. Livia’s fans appreciate her deep character driven plots, often rooted in an ensemble cast where the friendships are as important as the romance… well, almost. She writes one hell of an erotic romance.