Wednesday, October 10, 2012

*Giveaway & Author Interview* Hear Me by Skye Warren


Title: HEAR ME
Author: Skye Warren
Length: 32,000-word novella
Genre/Heat Level: Dark erotica
ISBN: 9780988363205

Blurb:
She doesn’t remember her past, only her training. She can’t talk, not that a good slave should speak out of turn. None of that matters when she wakes up in the warm, rustic room. Her new master is distant but kind. There’s only one problem: he doesn’t want her.
Longing for the shackles of safety, she pulls from the last dregs of her will to prove her worth as a slave. It seems to be working. He responds first to her body and next to her submission. The secrets of his past haunt the cabin, fraying the tightening bond between Master and slave, but it is her own memories that may finally unravel it.

This book contains a bonus short story Escape, set in the same dark erotica world.

WARNING:
This book contains explicit scenes of sex, including dubious consent and captivity situations. The BDSM does not conform to literary conventions, making it sometimes more realistic, and other times not. This is a work of fiction not appropriate for anyone uncomfortable with these situations or anyone under the age of eighteen.

Book Trailer:
http://youtu.be/HsAdyjitG3E

Ladies and Gents, I am very tickled to have this very talented author in the Lair today!!!!
Please stick around because there is a giveaway at the end...
And a very sweet giveaway for following her tour!
Please put together a warm welcome to the lovely... 

Skye Warren!!!

Why don't you tell us a little about yourself.... Something that we cannot Google about you, lol!
I am one of the quietest people you’ll ever meet, so it’s ironic that I’m a writer. Or maybe not, since I express myself through the written word. I’ve always been busy with the stories in my head, even before I started writing them down. I’m also extremely conflict avoidant, despite the fact that I write very dark and highly controversial books. But I can’t really help what moves me or what turns me on… and I’m so grateful when readers respond to what I write.
Since you are a new to me author, I am hoping to bring you to the light of others! So share away!

Tell us a little about your book?
Hear Me is a dark, psychological and erotic tale of a woman who escapes from slavery and finds refuge in a stranger. Here’s the blurb:
She doesn’t remember her past, only her training. She can’t talk, not that a good slave should speak out of turn. None of that matters when she wakes up in the warm, rustic room. Her new master is distant but kind. There’s only one problem: he doesn’t want her.

Longing for the shackles of safety, she pulls from the last dregs of her will to prove her worth as a slave. It seems to be working. He responds first to her body and next to her submission. The secrets of his past haunt the cabin, fraying the tightening bond between Master and slave, but it is her own memories that may finally unravel it.

How much emotion does it take from you to write?
Quite a bit. To write a character’s fears and hopes in an authentic voice, you have to be able to feel them. I walk away from a good writing session very drained.

What is your favorite part of the book?
I think endings are always really special. I try to include a twist in my dark erotica books, and Hear Me is no exception. But maybe my favorite part is earlier… they’re sitting at the kitchen table about to eat. The heroine, all she knows is slavery. The hero is a natural Dom, but he knows she needs time to heal. So he’s pushing her away, but she feels very awkward, uncertain. Finally he says okay, come here, and he begins to feed her. They fall into the quintessential picture of a caring master and his devoted slave… he can’t help himself J

You can only pick 3 words for your main characters..what would they be?
Heroine: Loyal, Pure, Hopeful
Hero: Wounded, Commanding, Kind


Which was the easiest character to write and the hardest ~ and why??
Hear Me is written entirely from the heroine’s POV, which makes her the hardest and easiest to write because I have to nail every not only her actions and words, but every motivation and thought and insecurity behind them. But that is one of the most gratifying things about writing, especially dark erotica—the psychological aspect.

How many books are you shooting for in this series??
This is the third book in the series, but they all stand alone. What links them thus far has mostly been the “world” they live in, the types of things that happen and a few shared events.
The next book I have planned is a culmination, though, of a character who has been the villain in the first two books. He has garnered a lot of hate (deservedly) through his actions and I’m really excited to write his story. I’m not going to say that’s the end of the series for certain, but he would be a hard hero to top.


What are you currently working on?
Early next year I am going to come out with a couple of sequels to my short erotic romance story, Beauty Touched the Beast. I’ve been getting requests for that since I first put it out. It’s actually my most requested story, and I finally got the inspiration to continue their story.

Do you have anything due to release soon?
I have an M/M novelette that is coming out in a couple of weeks, called Leashed. The next thing after that will be the Beauty sequels.

What's one thing that you enjoy about writing?
Getting to work on different projects. Every story is new and fresh.

What was your first impression of your cover?
As soon as I saw the photograph of the woman, I knew I would use it in a cover. This was before I even had the concept for Hear Me, but when I thought of it, it fit perfectly. She is so pretty, so lost.

What do you prefer ebooks or paperbacks?
Ebooks, definitely. I am a Kindle junkie. It’s really convenient for me to take it anywhere and to download new books on a whim, both of which I do frequently. Plus, for the type of dark and erotic stories I like to read, it’s nice to keep it private. I’m not ashamed of what I read, but it’s not anyone else’s business.

Is there a genre you would like to write but are a little apprehensive to try?
One of the stories I have planned is basically steampunk. This is not a genre I’ve written before or even consider myself exceptionally well read in. However, it’s the only genre that can accomplish what this story requires… it’s not just the freedom to make up technologies, but there are psychological restrictions we place on contemporary characters that don’t always hold true in paranormal.

Okay.... personal time!!!! Oh yeah, I go there... Hahah...

If you thought you were safe... Nah... Forgot it... Not a chance! We will start off slow and easy, I promise!

What is on your night stand/dresser? A glass of water and a picture my son drew me (he makes lots so they end up all over)

What are you listening to you right now? I’ve been on a little bit of a retro kick. Boyz II Men, anyone?

What are you reading right now? I just finished Annabel Joseph’s Molly’s Lips. The whole Mephisto series is great.

What is your favorite season? Holiday? Summer. Christmas. Oh, irony.

And what has been your best b-day present ever?? Hmm, I think my husband got me my first iPhone for a birthday. I’m not huge on talking to people (see quietness, above) but it allowed me to spend more time reading, and thank goodness for that!

Hard and Quick Time! Don't think... Just answer! Okay, before we go this route, I will get us a refill on our drinks... I will be right back...

You know you do... Quickie time... Think fast....

Are you a quickie kind girl? Yes. (Ouch, haha.)
Dark or Milk Chocolate? (Dark)
Whipped or Melted? (Whipped)
Straight up or with a twist - sex? Straight up.
What's ur fave drink - in a glass or on him? In a glass.
Spank or Flogger? Spanking (Nothing beats a bare hand.)
Junk or Health Food? Junk.
Ties or Chains? Ties.
Leather or Lace? Leather.
Soft or Hard... Bed, where was your mind? Ooh, now I’m confused. Okay, soft bed.
Control or Be Controlled? Be Controlled ;-)
Hot Wax or Whip Cream? Hot wax.
Vampire or Werewolf? Vampire.
Twitter and/or Facebook? Twitter.
Pinterest or not? Not yet.


Author Bio:

Skye Warren writes unapologetic erotica, where pain and sex and love collide. She has been called "a true mistress of dark and twisted erotica" and her dark erotica series has reached the bestseller lists at Amazon and been a Night Owl Reviews Top Pick.

Author Links:
Website: http://skyewarren.com/
Twitter: www.twitter.com/skye_warren
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/skyewarren

Buy Links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Hear-Me-Dark-Erotica-ebook/dp/B009BUR5QM
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hear-me-skye-warren/1112922458?ean=2940015690354
All Romance: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-hearme-943870-144.html

Excerpt (strong sexual content)

Her training wasn’t about how to stand or to suck, not really. She had become an expert at reading expressions, at decoding body language. He was a formidable cipher, but she only needed time.

Meanwhile, she knew well enough what those heavy lids and flattened lips meant. She saw the tinge of red on his cheeks. All of that would have told her, even if she hadn’t seen the bulge in his wet jeans. He wanted to take her and this time, it wasn’t in his sleep. It wasn’t in some awkward moment, born of pity—no. He had initiated this. He had brought her to this magical place. No dream.

He seemed to like her forwardness, like a release valve to the curious guilt he had about her status, so she tentatively reached up to sweep a wet lock of hair from his forehead. He remained still for her touch, his expression one of approving forbearance. But when she went to stroke down his neck, he caught her wrist.

“I’m going to ask you something, and I want you to say no if you don’t want it too. I’m afraid you can’t. If I were better—stronger—I wouldn’t even make you choose, but I…” He sighed. The moisture in the air beaded on his eyelashes. “It’s been so long. I’ve waited so long.”

He pulled her in deeper, until the water climbed her thighs and lapped at her cunt. They followed the wall of the cave until it opened up onto a small beach that was completely enclosed by cool stone and reflective water. Barely enough place for both of them, but she knew that was the point. Here even the white noise of the water was reduced, and all she could hear was her breath and his.

“I never imagined a submissive as perfect as you,” he said lowly, but the words were as commanding as she’d ever heard him. “I keep thinking you’re not real, that I’ll wake up and find myself alone again. But this isn’t real, is it? You aren’t really like this. They made you this way.”

Don’t make me think about it. Just want me.

“Jesus Christ,” he said. “When you look at me, so damn trusting. It’s not right. I know that, but I can’t stop. Will you let me, subby? Can I hurt you?”


****Giveaway****

Skye Warren is giving away a $100 Amazon gift card and four $25 Barnes & Noble gift cards on this tour. In addition, you can win a copy of Hear Me at this stop. Enter to win by leaving a comment below. What do you enjoy about reading dark erotic books?

Please use the Rafflecopter Form to fill out for your chance to win a copy of Hear Me:

a Rafflecopter giveaway


And remember... Always keep it Dirty, Smutty & Hussy! Photobucket

Monday, October 8, 2012

*Giveaway & Author Interview* The Russian Seduction by Nikki Navarre *LitConnect*



The Russian Seduction
by Nikki Navarre

Genre: Romantic Suspense
Series: Foreign Affairs, #1
Tone: Dramatic, action
Heat Level: Hot
Publisher: Affluent Press
Publishing Date: October 1, 2012
Word Count: 258 pages
Format: Digital and Print


Back Cover Blurb:

State secrets have never been this sexy.

Victor Kostenko was the golden boy of the Russian Navy, a submarine captain with a maverick image, until he lost his command for an act of treason he didn’t commit. Arrogant, aggressive, and super-smart, the
captain pairs his daunting reputation with an appetite for adventure. And he’s never met a rule he won’t break. Now it’s rumored he’ll do anything to get back in his government’s good graces.

Political Counselor Alexis Castle is one of the highest-ranked diplomats at the U.S. Embassy, a rising star who yearns to live up to her father’s legacy as a legendary ambassador. Brilliant and driven, she’s always
played by the rules. She’ll torpedo her career for sure if she falls for one of the world’s most dangerous men – a bad-boy Russian sub captain who breaks every rule in the book.

When a hard-line Russian leader invades a country the U.S. promised to protect, war can only be avoided
by a risky undercover liaison between one man who has everything to gain…and a woman who has everything to lose.

Purchase Links:
Amazon.com Print: http://amzn.to/Pt9ldP
All Romance eBooks Digital: http://bit.ly/S0vP3Y







Ladies and gents, please put a warm welcome to Ms. Navarre!!!!


Since you are a new to me author, I am hoping to bring you to the light of others! So let’s share!

Why don't you tell us a little about yourself.... Something that we cannot Google about you, lol!

I’m a former diplomat who lived in Russia for five years, where I specialized in weapons of mass destruction issues.  For a while, I traveled with an armed bodyguard who was a Russian ex-military officer—one of the many adventures that inspired The Russian Seduction.  I’m one of very few Americans ever to visit the “hermit kingdom” of North Korea.  And I was once alone in a hotel room with the then-President of the United States for exactly one minute—in a purely platonic capacity.  These days, I consult for government clients on arms control issues.

Tell us a little about your book?

Set in the edgy cosmopolitan world of modern-day Moscow, The Russian Seduction is smart, sexy romantic suspense with lots of glamour and international intrigue.  State secrets have never been this sexy!

Victor Kostenko was the golden boy of the Russian Navy, a submarine captain with a maverick image—until he lost his command for an act of treason he didn’t commit.  Now it’s rumored he’ll do anything to get back in his government’s good graces.

Rising-star American diplomat Alexis Castle always plays by the rules.  She’ll torpedo her career for sure if she falls for a bad-boy Russian who breaks every rule in the book.  

When a hard-line Russian leader invades a country the U.S. has promised to protect, war can only be avoided by one man who has everything to gain…and a woman who has everything to lose.

How much emotion does it take from you to write?

I wrote The Russian Seduction on a pure adrenaline rush.  Since I normally write Tudor and medieval romance under another name for a major press, this Foreign Affairs series has been a bracing departure for me—and tons of fun to write!

What is your favorite part of the book?

To discover the dangerous truth behind the submarine accident that cost Victor his command, he and Alexis end up hurtling through the night on an express train bound for St. Petersburg…in a ritzy first-class cabin.  Each of them suspects the other of being an intelligence agent with a hidden agenda.  Given the risk that Victor is under orders to compromise her—not to mention the virtual certainty that they’re under surveillance—the sizzling chemistry between them is an itch Alexis can’t afford to scratch.  But Victor is an alpha male who’s very accustomed to getting his way.  Writing that sex scene steamed up the windows, both in the train and my library! 

When hired killers board the train, Alexis and Victor are forced to flee on foot through the Siberian tundra, with the killers in hot pursuit.  Those were some of the most exciting scenes for me to write.

You can only pick 3 words for your main characters..what would they be? *to describe your main characters*

Renegade captain Victor Kostenko is aggressive, sexy and super-smart.  Does that count as four words?

Political Counselor Alexis Castle is brilliant, driven and sophisticated.

Which was the easiest character to write and the hardest ~ and why??

Victor was like a gift from God.  I woke up one morning with the clearest visual of this guy standing over my bed. Golden hair like melted butter, glacial blue eyes, a hard jaw glittering with gold-dust stubble, and broad shoulders encased in the black jacket and epaulets of a Russian submarine captain.  I just knew him, inside and out, and felt like I always had.  I didn’t even do a character sketch for him, which is the only time I’ve written a book without one.

The hardest character to write was Geoffrey Chase, Alexis’s ex-husband and her new boss at the American Embassy in Moscow.  He’s obsessed with Alexis sexually and threatened by her professionally, and he just wasn’t fun to write!

How many books are you shooting for in this series??

I’m under contract to River Valley Publishing for the first two books in the Foreign Affairs series.  The sequel is The Russian Temptation, which features an American chemical weapons expert and the elegant Russian hit man who’s hired to kill her.  As long as I’m having fun with the series and readers are enjoying the books, I’ll probably keep going. J

What are you currently working on?

My “innocent twin,” historical romance author Laura Navarre, has a historical paranormal romance trilogy under contract to Harlequin/Carina.  We’re deeply enmeshed in writing those at the moment!

Do you have anything due to release soon?

My next release is a Laura book. Magick by Moonrise is a dark Tudor romance with elements of Arthurian legend and a fallen angel hero.  It’s the first book in the Magick trilogy, scheduled for quick release starting in March 2013.

What's one thing that you enjoy about writing?

I love escaping into an exotic, exciting world where true love leads to happily-ever-after.

What do you prefer ebooks or paperbacks?

I’m a completely omnivorous reader!  I’m a globetrotter and love the portability of my Kindle.  But there’s nothing like the sensual pleasure of a crisp new paperback, gleaming jewel-bright on my bookshelf.

Is there a genre you would like to write but are a little apprehensive to try?

One of my former editors has been urging me to try my hand at straight historical fiction, a la Philippa Gregory.  I wonder if I’m good enough to do it.  Possibly after the Magick trilogy and the Foreign Affairs books, I’ll give that a try.  I do have a fascinating, famous historical woman in mind I’d love to write about. 


Okay.... personal time!!!! Oh yeah, I go there... Hahah...

If you thought you were safe... Nah... Forgot it... Not a chance! We will start off slow and easy, I promise!

What is on your night stand/dresser?

Um, have I mentioned that whole nomadic wanderer thing?  Right now we’re in the middle of moving onto an island in Puget Sound.  My hubby is residing in a sleeping bag on the floor in an empty house, and I’m in a guest house at one of the nuclear sites, doing work for one of my government clients.  The book on my nightstand is The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Spies and Espionage, which is research for my Twitter party on Famous Spies in History (with prizes! Oct. 3, noon Eastern, #NikkiNavarre)

What are you listening to right now?
The diligent hum of the guest house refrigerator.  I can’t write in anything except profound silence.

What are you reading right now?
An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon—research for one of my historicals featuring a Scottish heroine.

What is your favorite season? Holiday?
Summer.  And Halloween. J

And what has been your best b-day present ever??
I’m happy if I’m in the U.S. with my hubby instead of alone in Azerbaijan (as I was last year) on the big day.

Dark or Milk Chocolate?
Milk chocolate.  No contest.

What's ur fave drink?
Vodka martini made with a Russian vodka called Russkiy Standard, straight up and filthy.

Junk or Health Food?
Healthy please.

Vampire or Werewolf?
Neither.  Fallen angel girl here.

Twitter and/or Facebook?
Both!  I’m at www.Facebook.com/NikkiNavarreAuthor and @Nikki_Navarre on Twitter.

Pinterest or not?
Not a photo kind of person, so not.




Author Bio:
DOSSIER FOR NIKKI NAVARRE
DECLASSIFIED
Subject: Nikki Navarre
Assignment: Double Agent
Cover: Diplomat. Playgirl. Author of The Russian Seduction.
Nikki Navarre is the sinister twin of unsuspecting historical romance author Laura Navarre. In her other life, Nikki is a diplomat who’s lived in Russia and works on weapons of mass destruction issues. In the line of duty, she’s been trapped in an elevator in a nuclear power plant and has stalked the corridors of facilities churning out nerve agent and other apocalyptic weapons. In this capacity, she meets many of the world’s most dangerous men. Inspired by the perilous realities of her real life, Nikki writes romantic suspense set in glamorous international locales and laced with political intrigue. Her literary credentials are suspiciously similar to those of her innocent twin. A member of Romance Writers of America’s Published Author Network (PAN), winner of the 2012 Pacific Northwest Writers Association award for romance and a 2009 Golden Heart finalist, she has won the Emily Award for Excellence, the First Coast Romance Writers Beacon Award, the Georgia Romance Writers Maggie Award, the Golden Pen, Hearts through History’s
Romance through the Ages, and other awards. Nikki holds an M.F.A. in Writing Popular Fiction from the University of Southern Maine, an M.A. in National Security Policy from The George Washington University, and other alarming credentials. Based in Seattle with her screenwriter accomplice and two Siberian cats, she divides her time between her writing career and other adventures for U.S. government clients. Her notorious adventures in the world of diplomacy will get her in trouble one of these days. The Russian Seduction (October 2012) may be the last mistake she ever makes.

Nikki’s Coordinates:
http://www.lauranavarre.com/book/nikki-navarre-books
http://www.facebook.com/NikkiNavarreAuthor
http://www.twitter.com/Nikki_Navarre

                   ***Giveaway Details***

One randomly drawn commenter from each tour stop will win one digital copy of THE RUSSIAN SEDUCTION. (The winner will need to have an All Romance ebooks account to have the book ‘gifted’ to them in an epub format.) The giveaway is open internationally as long as the winner can accept a digital format via All Romance eBooks.

Rules::::
You have to leave a comment and your email address. No email - No entry!!!

That's it... No hoops, nothing hard...

But those two things are a must!!!!

Contest ends on October 13th and the winner will be announced in this post on the 14th. I will send the winner information to LitConnect for them to contact you!! Good luck to all!!!!


Tour Stops:
Additional tour stops can be found at:
http://events.litconnect.com/the-russian-seduction-by-nikki-navarre
The more stops readers comment on, the greater their chance of winning.
Virtual



And remember... Always keep it Dirty, Smutty & Hussy! Photobucket

Friday, October 5, 2012

*Giveaway* Claiming Magiquie by Tina Donahue *Goddess*


 Claiming Magique
by Tina Donahue

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

A man at the center of power. A woman who won’t be ruled. They call her Magique.

Sought out by the District’s elite, she’s no ordinary call girl, deciding who will pleasure her for the evening. Her preference is for several men at once. Games of bondage and submission heighten her arousal and desire to have a strong male take her.

Hunter is only looking for a good time, not a woman who unleashes a hunger so deep it changes his world. He won’t stop until Magique is his alone, a prisoner of his lust, powerless against his growing need for her body and heart.

With this man, resistance isn’t allowed. For this woman, he’ll create a world of sensual delight and yearning like none she’s ever known.

Reader Advisory: Magique’s sensual journey includes some brief ménage and BDSM elements.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter One Excerpt

On the other end of the room was a wet bar. And Magique.

Hunt stepped closer, unable to help himself.

Her back was to them. She made no move to turn around despite David’s nervous throat clearing.

Her hair was glossy and black with blue highlights, worn so long the ends dangled over her ass. From his vantage point, Hunt could see her right leg. She wore strappy gold heels, three inches high. He estimated her to be about five-seven or eight without them. Her dress, a simple sheath, was of an amazing gold material, slightly shiny and so snug she might as well have sprayed the damn thing on.

It wasn’t gauzy lingerie, but it did reveal her every curve.

Adrenaline pumped through Hunt, making it difficult for him to stand still. His mouth went dry.

Her figure leaned more toward a Victoria’s Secret model than the waiflike look of high couture. The dress’s left strap had fallen down, making her seem more accessible, oddly vulnerable. Light glanced off her bare shoulder and arm as she moved, lifting a glass, tipping a bottle. Her skin was an ivory shade, looking delicate and seductive as hell.

He pulled at his tie’s knot, needing to loosen it so he could breathe more easily. The air, so fresh a moment before, seemed suffocating now. His fingers ached. He’d been making fists. To control himself? Damn right.

He longed to cross the room and turn her around so she’d notice him, her expression saying she not only approved, she wanted him more than the others, her actions affirming her reckless desire.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Tina Donahue is an award-winning, bestselling novelist in erotic, paranormal, contemporary and historical romance for Samhain Publishing, Ellora’s Cave, and Kensington. Booklist, Publisher’s Weekly, Romantic Times and numerous online sites have praised her work. Three of her erotic romances (Adored, Lush Velvet Nights, and Deep, Dark, Delicious) were named finalists in the 2011 EPIC competition. The French review site, Blue Moon reviews, chose her erotic romance Sensual Stranger as their Book of the Year 2010 (erotic category). The Golden Nib Award at Miz Love Loves Books was created specifically for Lush Velvet Nights, and two of her titles (The Yearning and Deep, Dark, Delicious) received an Award of Merit in the RWA Holt Medallion competition (2011 and 2012). Take Me Away and Adored both won second place in the NEC RWA contest (different years). Tina is featured in the 2012 Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market. She was the editor of an award–winning Midwestern newspaper and worked in Story Direction for a Hollywood production company.

Email: tina@tinadonahue.com
Website/blog: www.tinadonahue.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/tinadonahue
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000458023097
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/authortina/my-books/


***Giveaway Time***


Tina will be awarding the winner's choice of a backlist eBook to one randomly drawn commenter at every stop.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

I encourage you to follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:  http://www.goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2012/08/virtual-blurb-blitz-tour-claiming.html


 


And remember... Always keep it Dirty, Smutty & Hussy! Photobucket

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

*Blog Tour & Blurz Blitz* Private Pirouette by Lila Munro *Goddness*






Private Pirouette
by Lila Munro

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

Piper McGee can smell a set up a mile away. She can smell a Marine even further. Born to a dual-enlisted couple who divorced before she was old enough to remember a single family holiday together and proceeded to redefine the very definition of family through several marriages and even more step-siblings, Piper has made it her life’s promise to herself to never become involved with one of the few and the proud. They’re among the most irresponsible people she knows, leaving destruction in their wake and broken hearts paving the way to their next duty station. And in her opinion, Alec Douglas is just another example, until he pries her heart open along with other parts of her, making her question everything she's ever let herself believe about honor, courage, and commitment.

What does a man do with six month’s down time and no warm body to share his bed? For Sergeant Alec Douglas, contemplating that question led him to fall prey to his two best friend’s plan to find him that very thing. They know Alec has yet to stay with any one person for more than a few dates. They also know a tragedy from his past created the problem and while that haunts him, making it nearly impossible for Alec to trust his heart to anyone, they also know he’s a sucker for a challenge. Will the enticement of a few thousand dollars riding on him breaking his own rule be just the thing to disrupt his cycle? Taking their bet might be profitable, but is winning the money they’ve dangled under Alec’s nose worth losing himself to the girl they’ve picked out for him?

In his quest to get her to say yes to his crazy proposal, he tracks her all over town only to discover the beautiful, long-legged blond isn’t the studious book worm he mistook her for. In fact, she's one of Jacksonville’s finest in the form of Orchid, exotic dancer. Her rejection only spurs him to make sure her dancing days are over and she only performs her private pirouette for him, and only him, for the rest of their lives if he has his way.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Excerpt

Marines!  Piper couldn’t wait to graduate and get the hell out of Jacksonville on the first train to anywhere.  Anywhere where men had more on their minds than a quick roll before hopping on the bird for the next trip to the sandbox, or where ever the action currently was.  Anywhere there were men that weren’t careless with what they’d been entrusted with, people’s affections and lives.  Why couldn’t she just for once get hit on by someone worthwhile?  Someone who knew the difference between an adjective and an adverb?  Someone who wanted more out of life than to fight other people’s wars?  Someone who wasn’t the type to start a family then abandon it? 

The one good thing she could say about the latest government robot to try to drag her off to bed was he was extremely good looking.  He was taller than she was, which wasn’t common, by at least four inches.  He was tanned to golden perfection, which made his brown hair look darker than it probably was, and he had the most unusual eyes she’d ever seen. They were some strange light brown straying to a golden color.  When he’d reached around her, she could plainly see he was ripped.  His forearm was a corded mesh of muscle and taut skin. The smell of sunshine, fall leaves and the whiskey he’d been drinking drifted off him. Her heart had raced and her palms got clammy.  Damn it.  If she hadn’t been reminded of his status in life by his cropped hair and the big eagle, globe, and anchor etched on his bulging bicep, she might have been tempted to actually go out with him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Lila Munro currently resides on the coast of North Carolina with her husband and their two four-legged kids. She’s a military wife with an empty nest and takes much of her inspiration for her heroes from the marines she’s lived around for the past fifteen years. Coining the term realmantica, she strives to produce quality romance in a realistic setting. Her genre of choice is contemporary romance that spans everything from the sensual to BDSM and ménage.

When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading everything she can get her hands on, trips to the museum and aquarium, taking field research trips, and soaking up the sun on the nearby beaches. Her works include The Executive Officer’s Wife, Bound By Trust, Destiny’s Fire, Salvation, Three for Keeps, the Force Recon series, the Slower Lower series, the Identity series, and most recently the Toy Box Tales in conjunction with BethAnn Buehler. She’s a member in good standing of RWA and Passionate Ink. Currently she’s working on sequels to several series to be released throughout 2012-2013. And has a brand new line scheduled for winter 2012-13.

Ms. Munro loves to hear from her readers and can be found at Realmantic Moments  Facebook, Pinterest, Goodreads, &  Twitter... You can also contact her via email at lilasromance@gmail.com and you can find all her works at: Amazon, Nook, ARe, Bookstrand

***Blog Tour Giveaway***

Lila will be awarding a $25 Amazon or BN GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

I encourage you to follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:  http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2012/08/virtual-blurb-blitz-tour-private.html


And remember... Always keep it Dirty, Smutty & Hussy! Photobucket

Monday, October 1, 2012

*Giveaway & Author Interview* Pearls: Spirits of the Belleview Biltmore by BonSue Branvik




Software developer Honor Macklin believes she’s equal business partners with her philandering ex-husband, but when family responsibilities take her to Florida, she discovers her ex may have cheated her in more ways than one. Spirits at the Belleview Biltmore hotel try to help Honor by invading her dreams to share memories from the life of Darcy Loughman, a young Victorian woman with big problems of her own. When the two worlds collide, Honor and her new lover, Josh, along with his clairvoyant four-year-old son, try to figure out how Honor can use lessons from the past to change her destiny.



The setting for this novel is the famous and currently endangered historic Belleview Biltmore Resort in Belleair, FL. The hotel was built in 1896 by one of Florida’s founding fathers, Henry B. Plant. The author is working with preservationists, hoping to find investors willing to save the wonderful, 820,000 sq. ft. hotel from demolition. For additional information, please visit: www.SpiritsOfBelleviewBiltmore.com and/or www.SaveTheBiltmore.com

Pearls” is Book One in BonSue Brandvik’s “Spirits of the Belleview Biltmore” series.


Now let's welcome the author of this wonderful book!

Since you are a new to me author, I am hoping to bring you to the light of others! So let’s share! Why don't you tell us a little about yourself.... something that we cannot Google about you, LOL!

My name is BonSue Brandvik - I was named by an angel who visited my mom in the hospital. Well, sort of, anyway. You see, I was born in the old days, when women were given good drugs and stayed in the hospital for several days after the birth of a child. As the fifth of six children, and the second girl, I was almost doomed to being named after my grandmother: Bertha Agnes. No kidding. Then my drugged-up mom dreamed an angel kept calling-out the name: Bonnie-Sue. The next morning, she decided to obey the angel’s suggestion. Later than night (after the drugs wore off) she heard the head nurse yelling for a candy-striper named… you guessed it… Bonnie-Sue. Although a far better name than Bertha Agnes, Bonnie-Sue was still too southern for my Leo personality, so I cut out the middle of the name and became BonSue. It suits me…unique, but a bit weird.

I grew up fast. I married and became a mom at the age of 17 and I was divorced before my 23rd birthday. I focused on being a single mom to my daughter, which included stints as a Girl Scout Leader, Room Mother and Big Sister.  I also mangled a few romantic relationships. Then, when I least expected it, I met John - the true love of my life.  We’ve been together for 28 years and will celebrate our 23rd anniversary on New Year’s Eve. I couldn’t ask for a better husband or friend.

I’ve also held a wide variety of jobs in my lifetime – from babysitter, cake decorator and door-to-door cookware saleswoman, to a cook at Taco Bell. I worked my way through college as a cocktail waitress and entertainer before taking a job as a secretary and then developing a successful career in the field of Human Resources. Several years ago, I became disillusioned with being a workaholic executive, so I resigned to become a part-time HR Consultant, a Guardian Ad Litem volunteer for children, and novelist. I draw upon my assortment of career experiences to create great characters and complex storylines. 

I hope my novels will spark the imagination of my readers, encouraging them to look beyond this world into the unknown, while at the same time, embracing some simple truths I have learned along the way: No matter what trials and tribulations this world brings to your doorstep, you are never alone unless you choose to be; No one knows for sure what comes next in the eternal journey of life; and Love really can be true and everlasting.

Tell us a little about your book?

“Pearls” is the first novel in the “Spirits of the Belleview Biltmore” series. It’s a paranormal, women’s fiction with romantic and time-travel elements. The setting is the real, haunted Belleview Biltmore Hotel, which was built by Henry and Margaret Plant in 1896.

“Pearls: Spirits of the Belleview Biltmore” – Software developer Honor Macklin believes she’s equal business partners with her philandering ex-husband, but when family responsibilities take her to Florida, she discovers her ex may have cheated her in more ways than one. Honor’s life becomes even more complicated when spirits (not to be confused with ‘ghosts’) at the Belleview Biltmore Hotel start invading her dreams to share memories from the life of Darcy Loughman, a young Victorian woman with big problems of her own. When the two worlds collide, Honor and her steamy, new lover, Josh, along with his clairvoyant four-year-old son, try to figure out if Honor can use lessons from the past to outwit her ex-husband and change her destiny.

“Pearls” book trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uvcIzpprp0
I hope my novels will encourage readers to join the ranks of preservationists, hoping to save the hotel from demolition by developers hoping to build townhomes on the property: http://www.SpiritsOfBelleviewBiltmore.com

How much emotion does it take from you to write?

If I want my readers to run an entire gambit of emotion when reading my stories, I have to go there first. I love rereading a scene I’ve written and finding that it makes me laugh or cry or melt, because I’m certain it will have the same effect on my readers.

What is your favorite part of the book?

Wow – that’s a tough question. I guess my favorite part is when Honor Macklin (the present-day heroine) finally discovers who she is and what she wants out of life. Of course, you’ll have to read the entire book to get to that part!

You can only pick 3 words for your main characters…what would they be? *to describe your main characters*

“Pearls” is really two books in one. The entire story takes place at the Belleview Biltmore Hotel, but the storyline moves back and forth between the Victorian Era and the present.

In the Victorian Era, the heroine is Darcy Loughman: Tragic, Stoic, Admirable.
The heroine of present-day half is Honor Macklin: Insecure, Smart, Loving.
One spirit, Margaret Plant, ties time periods together: Busybody, Curious, Wise.

Which was the easiest character to write and the hardest ~ and why??

Easiest – Josh, Honor’s new lover. He was likeable and has a huge family – nine brothers, all of whose names start with the letter J.  He’s also a single dad.

Hardest – Honor, because she had such a long road to travel to become the person she can become. She is pretty, intelligent and sexy, but for several years, her ex-husband has made her feel she is none of those things. She has to regain self-confidence, learn to trust, and then decide what changes she wants to make in her life.

How many books are you shooting for in this series??

Currently, I have four stories outlined for the series. In each book, someone will check into the Belleview Biltmore hotel with serious problems that will resonate with various spirits who inhabit the hotel. Only one character will appear in all four books: Margaret Plant, the wife of Henry Plant, the railroad baron who built the Belleview Biltmore Hotel. I’m currently writing the second book in the series, “Ripples”, which will involve spirits of the Prohibition Era. Future books include “Redemption” which is set in the WWII Era (when the hotel was occupied by the army) and “Nails,” which harkens back to Florida’s pioneer days, when the hotel was first being built.

What are you currently working on?

I’m writing the second book in the “Spirits of the Belleview Biltmore” series, titled “Ripples.” This storyline involves a woman who has been unable to cope with the traumatic loss of her young son in a car accident. She is called to Florida when her grandmother suffers a stroke and checks into the Belleview Biltmore. There, she connects with bootlegging spirits from the Prohibition Era and meets a handsome biker who tempts her to end the relationship with her estranged husband. 

Do you have anything due to release soon?

I’m hoping to release “Ripples” at the first of the year.

What's one thing that you enjoy about writing?

I absolutely love world-building. I enjoy creating alternate possibilities about what happens when you die and what choices you might have regarding how you spend your afterlife. Perhaps that’s because I’m a Leo and love making all the rules!

Since we're cover hussies....what was your first impression of your cover?

I was fortunate enough to work with a wonderful, independent graphic artist, named Cathy Castelerio. She read the synopsis of my book, then designed a cover that incorporates images of the past and the present heroines, as well as the Belleview Biltmore Hotel, where both stories take place. I couldn’t have been more pleased.

What do you prefer ebooks or paperbacks?

Paperbacks. I enjoy the convenience of reading books on my iPad, but I guess I’ll always prefer to turn ‘real’ pages. Also, I enjoy using a few special bookmarks that remind me of the girlfriends who gave them to me.

Is there a genre you would like to write but are a little apprehensive to try?

I have outlined 10 books that I want to write. Most of the storylines are in the paranormal genre, but one is a mystery, one is a sci-fi and one is a biography of my grandmother’s life. My apprehension comes more from worrying I won’t live long enough to write all the books I want to write than fear of trying other genres.

Okay.... personal time!!!! Oh yeah, I go there... Hahah...

If you thought you were safe... Nah... Forgot it... Not a chance! We will start off slow and easy, I promise!

What is on your night stand/dresser?

My iPad, iPhone, a bottle of water, a notepad/pen and a flashlight. When I wake up with an idea, I have to write it down before I forget it (without waking my hubby.)

What are you listening to you right now?

My hubby is snoring next to me (I write mostly at night.) Otherwise, just the sound of the keyboard.

What are you reading right now?

I’m one of those people who reads several books at one time. I keep paperback books in each of the bathrooms in my home, an audio book in my kitchen and several e-books on my iPad at all times. I also try to mix genres and read selections from both well-known authors and those who are just getting started in their writing careers. This is my current list:
“Raeliksen” – Renee Vincent (a Viking warrior romance)
“Best Little Stories of the Civil War” – C. Brian Kelly (real letters/journal entries from the Civil War)
“I Love This Bar” – Carolyn Brown (a cheeky cowboy romance)
“Seduced by a Werewolf” – Terry Spear (a paranormal romance)
“Concentric Circles” – Aithne Jarretta (paranormal fantasy/adventure/romance)

“Cross” – James Patterson (mystery/cat ‘n’ mouse – cops verses murderer/rapist)

What is your favorite season?

I live in Florida, so the seasons don’t change much, but I do love the fall. That’s when the heat dies down enough that flowers really begin blooming and I can plant my vegetable garden.

Holiday?

I’m a sucker for Christmas. My house is decorated with so many lights and decorations; it belongs in the movie, “Christmas Vacation!”

And what has been your best b-day present ever??

My birthday was just a few days ago (August 17th) and my only child gave me a sonogram photo. I’ll have a granddaughter at the end of January. I think that gift just moved to the top of my list.

Hard and Quick Time! Don't think... Just answer! Okay, before we go this route, I will get us a refill on our drinks... I will be right back...

You know you do... Quickie time... Think fast....

Are you a quickie kind girl?
Nope – Anything’s that’s worth doing is worth taking your time to do it right!

Dark or Milk Chocolate?
Milk

Whipped or Melted?
Melted

Straight up or with a twist - sex?
Straight-up and romantic

What's ur fave drink - in a glass or on him?
Beer in a bottle; but he can buy!

Spank or Flogger?
No pain, no pain

Junk or Health Food?
Do pumpkin seeds count as health food?

Ties or Chains?
Ties

Leather or Lace?
Lace

Soft or Hard... Bed, where was your mind?
Hard – in bed and otherwise

Control or Be Controlled?
Did I mention I was a Leo? Hate being controlled.

Hot Wax or Whip Cream?
Whip Cream

Vampire or Werewolf?
I don’t like the cold, so have to go with the wolf

Twitter and/or Facebook?
Both: Twitter – BonSueB Facebook – BonSue Brandvik Author

Pinterest or not?
Yes, but still a novice




***Giveaway Time***
We are giving away an autographed copy of Pearls...
US/Canada & International =)
Fill out the form and find out how you can win!!!
Good luck!!!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And remember... Always keep it Dirty, Smutty & Hussy! Photobucket

My Fictional Smutty Boyfriend.... =)

"Quotes"