Laura Kaye's Blog, page 54

P.J. O'Dwyer on New Novel #Defiant & Domestic Abuse

Welcome Guest AuthorP.J. O'Dwyerto the blog!

See below for her giveaway!

Welcome back to the blog, P.J.! Can you tell us a bit about your new romantic suspense novel, Defiant?
I’d love to.
First, I’d like to thank you, Laura, for inviting me to spend time with you today! For those of you that may not know, I write romantic suspense and strive in each book to educate as well as entertain my readers.
My debut novel Relentless, released last April, tackled the controversial subject of horse slaughter. In my newest book, Defiant, the second book in the Fallon Sisters Trilogy, I confront the issue of domestic violence.
As we all know, domestic violence and abuse can happen to anyone. It does not discriminate between women and men, rich or poor, young or old, or ethnicity. This is an important topic.
And it is for the victims who suffer unimaginable physical and emotional trauma at the hands of a loved one and those who dedicate their lives to offering shelter, education, and the promise of a new life, I dedicate Defiant.
I hope you enjoy this sneak peek of Defiant.
And remember, a portion of all sales of Relentless and Defiant, will be donated to horse rescue in an effort to support their mission of rescue, rehabilitation, and education.

When love turns deadly, the beloved play dead.

Western Maryland farm girl Kate Fallon wanted more than horse pastures. Now a trial lawyer in the affluent Annapolis law arena and married to multi-millionaire Jack Reynolds, also the U. S. Attorney of Maryland, she’s got it all—at least everyone thinks so.

Behind closed doors, Jack is as cruel as he is intelligent, as controlling as he is handsome. When his tirades turn physical, Kate must fight for her life. But her efforts to leave him will take her down a rabbit hole to secrets she doesn’t fully understand, and that Jack will kill to suppress.

Two years later, Kate’s keeping secrets of her own. Living as Charlie Robertson, a take-no-crap general contractor, she’s secure most days knowing her nightmare is right where she left him—two thousand miles due east under FBI scrutiny. Wielding a nail gun instead of a briefcase suits her, as does the small mining town of Creede, Colorado. With its scenic views and open spaces, life is simple and so are her rules: Lock all doors, check for signs she’s been followed, and don’t get involved romantically ever again.

Unfortunately, retired Navy SEAL and tourist Nick Foster didn’t get the memo. Mysterious, sexy, and powerfully attracted to Charlie, Nick typically likes things easy. Only “easy” isn’t in Charlie’s vocabulary, and neither is trust. Worst part is, she’s right not to trust him, and yet he can’t help falling for her. But love won’t save either one of them if she discovers his true identity or doesn’t give him what he came for. His boss won’t tolerate failure.

EXCERPT:Nick tensed his jaw. “You seem to care for Ben.”
“Absolutely. If he hadn’t given me that chance, I never would have realized my full potential. I love Ben.”
She was in love with Ben Sterling—a hard slap in the face. Nick’s fingers tightened on his beer.
She peered into his eyes, her pretty face folding into a pout. “Why so quiet?”
“Nothing. So you and Ben are a hot item?” His tone was sharp—angry.
Charlie sputtered with laughter, beer spritzing Nick. He jumped out of his chair, his own beer spilling in the process.
“Oh, Nick, I’m so sorry. Here, let me dry you off.” She stood and reached over with a napkin and dabbed his face. Losing her balance, she listed.
Within seconds, Nick found his ass resting on the wooden planks of the front porch with Charlie in his lap, laughing hysterically. He laughed with her. Holding her tight to his chest, he looked down into her eyes. “You’re cut off.” He glanced at their bodies, in particular his ass resting on the hard decking. “This is funny to you?” He tried to keep a straight face.
Charlie wiped the back of her hand across her mouth, still holding on to her bottle of Corona. “No. You, you’re what’s so funny. Ben and I are not an item. What I said is true. I do love him, but not in the way you’re thinking. He’s given me a beautiful home, allowed me to fulfill my dreams of becoming a builder. I needed a job.” She sobered slightly.
“Then why was he kissing you the other night at the club?” he whispered, like it was a secret.
Charlie cocked her head and laughed again. “Oh, you saw that. Where were you? I don’t remember seeing you inside the club.”
“Well, I was there.”
“Oh my, do your eyes always bore down on a woman when you’re jealous?”
“I’m not jealous.” He dumped her on the floor, stood up, and walked away.
Still laughing, Charlie rose and followed him. Grabbing him by the arm, she turned him toward her. “Yes you are,” she said and searched his eyes. “I may be a little tipsy, but I know jealousy when I see it. For your information, that was Ben’s doing, not mine. In the three years since I’ve known the man, he’s been more like an older brother. We tell each other what to do or where to get off. But he’s decided there’s more. He’s a great kisser, I won’t deny it.”
She smiled and took a swig of her beer. “But that’s as far as it goes, for me, anyway,” she said with a sigh as she fell into him.
Nick wrapped his arms around her and pulled her snug against him. He peered down into her face, flushed from alcohol. She was right—she was tipsy, but completely aware of what she was doing. He slid his hand up her back and pulled at the band holding her hair neatly against her neck. Her hair cascaded past her shoulders. He ran his hands through the waves of auburn highlighted by the moonlight. Grabbing tightly to a mass of flowing hair, he pulled her head back, exposing the delicate curve of her neck. Moaning, he nestled his head into the crook where her neck and shoulder merged, fluttering wet, warm kisses as he made his way up her throat until he came to her lips, slightly parted. He touched his mouth to hers, tentative at first. Her lips were soft and driving him slowly insane. The taste, a combination of beer and her damn cherry ChapStick, had him deepen the kiss.
She urgently returned the favor, suckling and nipping his bottom lip, sending shudders through his body.
Reaching back, he fumbled for the doorknob. Grasping the handle he swung it wide. Finding himself stumbling backward, he steadied himself against the wall inside the cabin. He drew a deep breath when she raked her fingernails up his shirt.
“Charlie,” he whispered in an attempt to free his lips. “Slow down, sweetheart. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Nick,” she whimpered against his parted lips. “Don’t stop.”
ABOUT RELENTLESS, FALLON SISTERS TRILOGY BOOK 1

“A galloping good read. [Relentless] will keep you breathless right to the end.”—Jenny Edwards, Founder and Director, Hope for Horses
Headstrong horse rescue director Bren Ryan has been a red-headed streak of trouble for more than one man in Clear Spring. She’s grown up needling local “kill buyer” Wes Connelly, and since the sheriff ruled her husband’s sudden death an accident, Bren’s been investigating things herself. She’s certain Tom was murdered, and she’s hell-bent on cornering his killer the only way she knows how—by tempting him to do it again. And she’s the bait.
Rafe Langston came to Maryland looking for land and a fresh start. Or so he says. The sexy cowboy isn’t generous with details, but Bren couldn’t care less—until he buys half her farm at auction and moves into her childhood home. Suddenly, the last man she should befriend becomes her only ally in solving her husband’s murder.
Soon their cozy stakeouts sizzle with unexpected desire neither one can ignore, threatening his mysterious plans and her promise to never fall in love again—especially with a handsome stranger whose secrets could shatter what family she has left.
“Everything a book should have and more: intrigue, love, deception, mystery, unexpected twists, and an underlying truth of the horrors faced by horses.”—Shelley Sawhook, President, American Horse Defense Fund
“Relentless will take readers on a rollercoaster ride and keep you guessing on several fronts. Highly recommended and a fantastic read!”—Monica Solomon, The Romance Readers Connection, 4 ½ Stars
P. J. O’Dwyer is an award-winning author of romantic suspense and an active member of Romance Writers of America. When asked where she gets her story ideas, she laughs ruefully and says, “It helps being married to a cop.” She lives in Maryland with her family. Visit her website at www.pjodwyer.comor www.blacksirenbooks.com.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn | Buy on Amazon

Giveaway!
One commenter who leaves their email address will win their choice of either an autographed hardcover or an “Authorgraphed” Kindle edition of Defiant (if the winner is international, the prize will be an ebook). What to comment? Did you have a favorite line from the excerpt? Or a question for P.J.? Contest ends midnight EST on February 25. Good luck!

Thanks for reading! Now leave P.J. some comment love!
Laura

Welcome Guest Author Sandra Dailey! #TwicetheTrouble

Welcome Guest AuthorSandra Daileyto the Blog!
Welcome, Sandra!  Please share a little about yourself, your genres, any other pen names you use.
I write from my front porch in North Florida. My husband is my technical consultant. My sister is my critique partner. My mother does the pre-edits. My daughter and two of my granddaughters help me promote. It’s a family affair.
I released my first book, The Chief’s Proposal, last August and my third book is nearly finished. I write contemporary romance, but I’d like to try a few other sub-genres soon.
Great! Tell us a little about your latest or upcoming release.
Twice the Troubleis about two people who were separated thirteen years earlier. Although they’ve taken different paths in life, they’ve never gotten over their love for each other or the pain of the betrayal that tore them apart. Now they’ve found each other again.
Oh, I love reunion stories! Which character is your favorite and why?
I became very attached to the heroine’s son, Jerrod. He’s going into that age between boy and man. It was almost as though I was watching him grow-up.
As the author, what surprised you about this story?
The struggle between my hero, Alex, and Jerrod came as a surprise. You realize quickly that Jerrod needs a man in his life for guidance and to help relieve the pressure of being man-of-the-house. Alex is the man for the job, but it’s not easy. 
Will there be any sequels or other books in the same series?
I’m thinking of doing a story for each of the kids after they’re a little older.
What was the hardest thing for you about writing this story?
My husband is a farmer. It’s the way our kids were raised. My editor didn’t seem to understand how tough farm kids have to be, how hard they work every day. It’s not a lifestyle for sissies. As an example: my granddaughter helped dress-out her first hog a few months ago. She’s eleven.I did have to compromise on some things to get the story published.
What are you working on right now?
It’s what I call a ‘Sabrina’ story. You may not remember the movie. It’s a love triangle between a woman and two brothers. Unlike the movie, this story goes deeper into the demons that haunt the brothers and the different way each of them deal with their past. Also, the heroine comes from a life of privilege instead of the men.
Interesting! What happened to the first book you ever wrote?
‘Common Enemy’ is still waiting to see the light of day. After writing it, I realized how little I knew about writing and decided to go back to school. I’m not sure if it will be my fourth or fifth book. There’s another one I started that I’d also like to finish.
What do you find easiest and hardest to write?
Conflict is the easiest part for me. All that passion exploding from my characters. The hardest is the dreaded synopsis.
Have you incorporated actual events or people from your own life into your books?
The Chief’s Proposalis a marriage of convenience story. That’s how my own marriage started, but we made our pact face-to-face rather than over the internet.
We started our marriage with children, like in Twice the Trouble. Our children were much younger, though.
Is there a theme or message that runs through your work?
I’ve never thought about it, but I guess the common message would be that relationships require constant care, respect and trust.
That’s a good one! What would your readers be surprised to learn about you?
Although my marriage started as a temporary agreement, I’ve now been married longer than anyone in my family other than my grandparents. We just celebrated our 32nd anniversary. My parents and siblings haven’t made it half that far.
Congratulations! Which romance book or series do you wish you had written?
The Lords of the Underworld series by Gena Showalter. There’s nothing warm and fuzzy about those demon possessed heroes, and yet she makes you fall in love with them.
Of all the characters you’ve ever written, who is your favorite and why?
The hero of my WIP, Common Enemy. He walked away from his past because of facial scars from an attack. Eventually, he has to face his handsome twin brother. It’s very emotional for them both.
Okay, now, just for fun:
Milk chocolate or dark chocolate? Dark
Salty or sweet? Salty
Bed or kitchen table? Kitchen table
Beach or mountains? Beach
Give or receive? Give

Lacey Carlyle has worked for years to create the perfect blend of home, business and family. Now she risks losing everything when the land she farms is bought by the man who abandoned her thirteen years ago.

 Alex Benson has never understood why Lacey walked away from him. Now, he holds the deed to her farm and intends to make her pay. The only problem – two kids weren’t part of the plan.

 Jenna and Jarrod may not see eye-to-eye but they are both determined to find happiness for their mom and keep their home safe.

 Can Lacey and Alex put their pasts behind them and embrace a future together?

Excerpt:
Alex cringed when Lacey slammed the door of his treasured BMW and strode to the next island in the lot. She stopped beside an older than dirt Ford pickup with more primer than paint and rust holes along the bottom the size of baseballs.
Alex rushed to catch up to her. “You can’t be serious,” He looked the truck over.
“Hey, this happens to be an antique.” Lacey seemed truly offended. “It just needs a little fixing up. I admit it’s not pretty, but what do you expect from a farm truck?”
“I expect you to be able to make it home without having to add three quarts of oil.”
“Seriously, Alex, I’ll be fine. I’ve been driving this thing forever.”
“You, and how many others before you?” Alex pulled a business card from his breast pocket. “Call me when you get home. Just so I know that Old Rusty got you there safely.”
Lacey snatched the card from his fingers. “Whatever, I really need to get on the road. Granddad is going to be furious that I’m so late.” She turned and opened the creaky driver’s door.
“What, no kiss good-bye?”
“Now you’re the one who’s not serious.”
Alex spun her around and trapped her against the side of the truck bed. Impulsively, he took her mouth in a deep, bone-melting kiss. He didn’t know why he did it, but he realized that he’d wanted to, since the moment he saw her standing in his office. It was still a natural, prima instinct to press his body to hers and find a way inside. As much as he hated her, his body still craved her. From the desperate little whine she emitted as she leaned close, he suspected Lacey’s body might still remember his as well.
His hands roamed down her narrow back and pressed her closer. Her smell, her taste, her warmth…were even better than he remembered. He tried to relieve the throbbing tension in his groin by rubbing against her soft belly.
The feel of his hard length must have brought Lacey to her senses. She pulled away touching her fingers to her lips and looking stunned. “We can’t do this. I’m not ready for this.”
He’d been foolish to go so far, but Alex was an expert at covering his thoughts and feelings. He grinned and winked before he walked away. “Gotcha.”
Where can we find you on the web?
Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads| Amazon Author Page
Buy Twice the Trouble
Thanks for reading everyone! Please leave Sandra some comment love! Did you have a favorite line from the excerpt? Or a question to ask!
Laura

Blood. Fangs. Orgasm. #InTheServiceoftheKing #SundayExcerpt

Click Here for the Cupid's Playground Blog Hop!

Happy Sunday everyone! Since February marks the one-year publication anniversary of IN THE SERVICE OF THE KING, the first in my Vampire Warrior Kings series, I thought I'd share an excerpt from this book today! I've always called the consummation scene in this book my most erotic non-sex scene. Here's a taste of why...

Shayla was utterly unprepared for the ecstasy of drinking directly from him. On the first full pull of his blood, she came so hard she went blind for the full duration of her orgasm. Brilliant light filled her entire visual field as every nerve and muscle in her body seized and jerked. Her juices trickled from her and slicked up her thighs.

 Kael's tight embrace supported her and he cried out a victorious roar that echoed through the hall.

 Her entire physiology seemed to explode and remake itself as his blood completed the alterations she now knew the mating mark had begun. Almost instantly, she felt lighter, healthier, stronger, invincible.

 And then his fangs punctured the tender spot at the base of her throat, and Kael began to feed from her as she fed from him.

Buy at B&N | Amazon
Thanks so much for reading and hopefully commenting, too!
Laura

Cupid's Playground Has Hot Heroes, Great Books & a Cover Reveal!

Welcome to the Cupid's Playground Hop, where Cupid stands at the ready to shoot your favorite book boyfriend with an arrow just for you! LOL Today I'm sharing a few of my book boyfriends, revealing a new cover, AND offering a giveaway. Read on...


My Zsadist...
1) I would like Cupid to shoot, J.R. Ward's Zsadist (Lover Awakened) just for me. Of course, Zsadist would probably rip the guy's wings off, but that's all part of the job! Of all the Brothers, I love Zsadist because his scars ran the deepest, his sense of self was the most shattered, he felt the least worthy of love, his need for redemption was the greatest and his achieving of it the most powerful. I am a completely bonded female, so beware. ;) I'm so bonded, in fact, that I have three copies of this book: 1) my read and re-read copy, 2) my signed paperback, 3) my signed hard cover from J.R. Ward's recent virtual signing (only, I have no idea exactly what the inside says because the wrapping's too pretty to remove LOL!)


My Chrys...
2) I also have to say I'm completely in love with my own most recent hero, Chrysander Notos from South of Surrender (Hearts of the Anemoi #3, releases May 28, 2013). Here's the heroine's first glimpse of Chrys - note: they've just met under, shall we say, very strange circumstances and the heroine is nearly blind. She has a disease called retinitis pigmentosa and only retains a very small percentage of her central vision in one eye:

Blond hair. Longish. Angled jaw. Muscled shoulder. Bare muscled shoulder.

 Laney gasped and cut her gaze away, half of her afraid of what else she might see if she continued to scan her gaze over him, and half of her dying to know.

 “What?”

 “You don’t have a shirt on.”

 “Uh, no.”

 “This is so crazy,” she whispered to herself. She cleared her throat. “Please tell me you’re not naked.”

 “I’m not naked.”

 Laney looked. Scanned. Jeans. She released a long breath. “Good. That’s good.”

AND I have another treat for you! The cover reveal for my newly updated cover for this book! Looky looky!
Pre-Order on Amazon | B&N [it's on sale!]


3) The third hero Cupid could nab for me is also one of my own, and he's also the feature of my GIVEAWAY! Brady Scott from One Night with a Hero (Heroes #2). Here's the heroine's first impression of Brady:

Tall. Built. Light-brown hair kissed by the sun with a hint of blond. All that lean, bare muscle. The way his running shorts had hung low enough to reveal the cut of his hips. Sex on a freaking stick.

 And a soldier to boot. Bet he looked seriously fine in his dress uniform. Panties probably dropped at the mere sight—thongs, too. Maybe even like the one she was currently wearing.

I'm giving away 3 signed paperbacks of this book for the blog hop giveaway! Just fill out the Rafflecopter and you're good to go! Contest is open to international and ends at midnight EST on February 18. Good luck! And thanks for hopping by!
Laura

Olde City, New Blood PNR Con, Here I Come!

On Friday, I'm off to sunny and warm Florida for the three-day Olde City, New Blood Paranormal Authors-Readers Convention. Here's what I'll be doing and where you'll be able to find me over the weekend:

Friday, February 8

7-9pm Author/Blogger Meet & Greet

10-11:30pm Bad Movie Tweet-Up

Saturday, February 9

9:30-10:30am Name That Vampire Game with me, Laurie London, Caridad Pineiro, Elisabeth Staab, and Tes Hilaire

2-3pm Poolside Meet & Greet - Hildie McQueen, myself and some other authors are throwing a candy party at the pool! Bring your sweet tooth and come chat us up. We'll have some goodies for you, too!

5:30-6:30pm Demons, Witches & Warriors, Oh My! Panel on varying your paranormal characters with me, Hildie McQueen, Elisabeth Naughton, KC Burn, Lexi George, Erin Quinn, Erin Kellison, Jeannie Holmes

10-11:30pm Hero/Heroine Dating Game - audience judged! - Owen Winters (North of Need) and I will be there along with Delilah S. Dawson, Lucienne Diver, James R. Tuck, Jeannie Holmes, Tawdra Kandle, Caridad Pineiro, Jennifer L. Armentrout

Sunday, February 10

9:15-10:15am Author Readings with me, Jess Haines, Laurie London, Erin Kellison

12-2pm Charity Booksigning - Open to the public [I'll have North of Need, West of Want, Hearts in Darkness, and limited copies of both Heroes books available]

4:15-5:15pm What's Olde is New Again - Mythology, Fairytale and Legend in PNR Fiction panel with me, Jennifer L. Armentrout, and James R. Tuck

If you attend, please stop me and say hello! Thanks for reading!

Laura

Like Military Romance? Check out the #SealofHonor Cover Reveal!

I'm very happy to participate in the cover reveal for Tonya Burrows's debut release SEAL OF HONOR, the first book in a sexy new special ops series in which a Navy SEAL is offered the chance to command a private hostage rescue team of military and government delinquents.
Title: SEAL of HonorAuthor: Tonya BurrowsGenre: Romantic SuspenseLength: 352 pagesRelease Date: May 28, 2013Imprint: Entangled Select Purchase from Amazon Purchase from Barnes &Noble
Add to GoodReads
A Word from Tonya Burrows | Writing has always been my one true love. I wrote my first novel-length story in 8th grade and haven't stopped since. I received a B.A. in creative writing from SUNY Oswego and I'm now working on a MFA in popular fiction at Seton Hill University.

When I'm not writing, I spend my time reading, painting (badly), exploring new places, and enjoying time with my family. Give me a good horror movie over a chick flick any day. (And, let's be honest, I'll take a bad horror movie too!) I'm a geek at heart and pledge my avid TV fandom to Supernatural and Doctor Who. I'm also a big fan of The Voice. What can I say? Guilty pleasure.​​

I share my life with two dogs and a ginormous cat. We live in a small town in PA, but I suffer from a bad case of wanderlust and usually end up moving someplace new every few years. Luckily, my animals are all excellent travel buddies.
Author Website | Facebook | Series Page on Facebook | Twitter
Please leave Tonya some new cover comment love! And thanks for visiting!
Laura

Chrysander Notos is HOT! #SouthofSurrender #SixSunday

Click here for the Fools for Luv Blog Hop Giveaway Post

Welcome to the first post of the new celebration of six sentences on Sundays. Having done this post for nearly two years, I just couldn't give it up. So, this week, I'm kicking things off with six sentences from my recently finished South of Surrender, the third book in my Greek-mythology-inspired Hearts of the Anemoi series.

Chrysander secured her wrists with his hand, then brought himself atop her.

 Gods. He covered her from lips to ankles, and she was soft everywhere he was hard. And so warm.

 His hips settled into the cradle of her thighs and there, there she was on fire.

 He willed the clothing off her body, and the wet heat of her center might’ve scorched him if he didn’t find the sensation so life-giving.

Pre-Order on Amazon | B&N [it's on sale!]
Thanks so much for reading and hopefully commenting, too! To find other authors still posting excerpts on Sundays, look for the #SixSunday #8Sunday and #WeWriWa hashtags on Twitter.
Laura

Fools for Luv Bloghoppity Goodness!

Welcome to the Fools for Luv Blog Hop!
I am in the middle of not ONE, not TWO, but THREE manuscript deadlines. I've almost finished with edits on South of Surrender, which releases May 28. I'm in the middle of writing the third Vampire Warrior Kings book, which will release some time this summer. AND I'm starting to write the first in my Hard Ink series, called Hard as it Gets. THUS, I'm moving right into what you can win, both here and in the grand prizes of the overall hop. Here we go:


What you can win here: An awesome signed paperback, swag, tote, and chocolate prize pack! Open to international. Just complete the Rafflecopter below.
What you can win in the grand prizes: One of 8 awesome prize packs. Go here to fill out the main Rafflecopter AND to find the list of other sites participating in the hop!

Thanks to Readaholics Anonymous and Fangs, Wands and Fairy Dust for organizing this event. And look for my event guest post on the Fools for Luv Blog on February 11. Thanks so much for hopping by! Good luck!

Laura

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Welcome Guest Author Stephanie Draven! #1920s #Erotic

Welcome Stephanie Draven to the blog today!
Welcome, Steph! Please share a little about yourself, your genres, any other pen names you use.
Thanks for having me, Laura. You’re the bee’s knees!
My name is Stephanie Draven and I write very smart books for very bad girls. Sometimes it’s historical, sometimes it’s contemporary, sometimes it’s paranormal, and sometimes it’s erotic, but everything I write takes into account the heroine’s journey as well as the hero’s!
So awesome to have you here, Steph! Okay, tell us a little about your latest or upcoming release.
IT STINGS SO SWEET is a 1920s historical erotic romance novel that is actually comprised of three separate, but intertwined stories. The first is a story about a married couple on the brink of divorce who are brought back together when they discover their inner kinks. The second is about a jaded starlet who finally meets a man who can make even a girl like her blush. The third is about a shop girl and social activist who finds herself in a torrid affair with her boss--the man she’s planning a strike against.
All three stories are set in a time when there weren’t words for the BDSM lifestyle, but people still had the same urges. It’s about people who are convinced that their sexuality will leave them isolated and alone--people who learn that accepting themselves is actually the path to love.  Ooh, they sound soooo sexy! Which character is your favorite and why?
I loved every character in this book but if I have to pick only one, it’s Leo Vanderberg, World War One Flying Ace. An American aviator who masters everything he puts his hands on whether it’s an airplane or a silent screen siren.
There is a moment in the story that Clara gets embarrassed and doesn’t want to tell Leo how many lovers she’s had. He laughs and says, “I hope your list numbers in the hundreds . . . this way, when you admit I’m the best you’ve ever had, it’ll really mean something.”
The moment those words rolled off his lips, I fell in love with him. And so did she.
Aw, he sounds AWESOME! As the author, what surprised you about this story?
I didn’t know that films in the 1920s were so racy--it was before the Hays Code, so anything was allowed. And they did everything. I actually tripped over digitized pornography from this era and was so charmed by one of the films that I started writing a story for one of the women in it. That’s how Clara Cartwright was born.
[Steph has actually shared some of these films with me. Let’s just say, 1920s porn kinda rocks! LOL] What was the hardest thing for you about writing this story?
I really pushed myself to think of sexual scenarios that were decidedly out of my comfort zone and I’m glad that I did.
Good for you! What do you find easiest and hardest to write?
Dialog is usually easy for me but in this book, I spent a lot of time learning 1920s slang. It was time-consuming but so much fun! Now I try to use at least one 1920s slang term in daily conversation. It’s the berries!
LOL! Is there a theme or message that runs through your work?
All of my books make the argument that love isn’t really bound by rules. Your relationship is what you make of it. You and the person you love get to decide what makes you happy; society doesn’t get to have a say.
I love that! What would your readers be surprised to learn about you?
I can’t work without my shoes on. Seriously. The moment the shoes come off, I’m done for the day. My mind turns to mush.
*chuckles* Which romance book or series do you wish you had written?
HEARTS IN DARKNESS by Laura Kaye, for starters. Have you read it? If not, do so now. Also, Megan Hart’s DIRTY.
OMG, you are so sweet! Okay, now, just for fun:
Milk chocolate or dark chocolate? Yes.
Salty or sweet? Yes.
Bed or kitchen table? Bed.
Beach or mountains? Beach.
Give or receive? Yes.

They vibrated with incendiary Jazz. They teemed with sexual abandon. The Twenties were roaring and the women--young, open, rebellious, and willing--set the pace and pushed the limits with every man they met...

 In the aftermath of a wild, liquor-soaked party, three women from very different social classes are about to live out their forbidden desires.

 Society girl, Nora Richardson's passionate nature has always been a challenge to her ever-patient husband. Now he wants out of the marriage and she has just this one night to win him back. The catch? He wants to punish her for her bad behavior. Nora is offended by her husband's increasingly depraved demands, but as the night unfolds, she discovers her own true nature and that the line between pain and pleasure is very thin indeed.

 Meanwhile, Clara Cartwright, sultry siren of the silent screen, is introduced to a mysterious WWI Flying Ace. If Clara, darling of the scandal sheets, knows anything, it's men. And she's known plenty. But none of them push her boundaries like the aviator, who lures her into a ménage with a stranger in a darkened cinema then steals her jaded heart.

 Working class girl Sophie O'Brien has more important things on her mind than pleasures of the flesh. But when her playboy boss, the wealthy heir to the Aster family fortune, confronts her with her diary of secret sex fantasies, she could die of shame. To her surprise, he doesn't fire her; instead, he dares her to re-enact her boldest fantasies and Sophie is utterly seduced.

 One party serves as a catalyst of sexual awakening. And in an age when anything goes, three women discover that anything is possible...

Excerpt:
Leo finishes his drink in silence. He’s all angles and shadows. The camera would love him, and I don’t mind the looks of him, either. “Come home with me,” Leo finally says.
My sigh is one of regret. “I’m afraid Big Teddy and I have an understanding. He’s bankrolled my last three films . . .”
“Because he makes money off them. When Clara Cartwright stars in a motion picture, odds of a safe return are almost two-to-one. You don’t owe him more than your name in lights on the marquee.”
I’ve never let myself think about it that way before and I might be grateful to Mr. Vanderberg for pointing it out, were it not for his self-serving motive. “Even so, you’re not likely to offer me a better deal, are you?”
Leo laughs. “Why are you so determined to convince me you’re that kind of girl?”
I feel a spark of mischief heat my blood. “Maybe because I am that kind of girl.”
“So, you’re jaded,” he says, stubbing out his cigarette into a crystal ashtray.
“A true cynic.”
“You’ve done it all . . .”
I grin. “At least twice.”
“Then level with me,” he begins, leaning in close. “How do you fuck him?”
My smile dies away. “I beg your pardon—”
“Did I shock you already? What happened to the jaded girl, the true cynic who has done it all twice? You’re not getting a case of the vapors just because of a lurid question, are you?”Buy at Amazon | B&NAdd to Goodreads
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Website | Blog| Facebook| Twitter| Goodreads | Amazon Author Page
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING MY GUEST, STEPH! Everyone, leave Steph some new release comment love! Did you have a favorite line from the excerpt? Or what's your favorite things about the 1920s?
Thanks for reading!Laura

Tattoo. Piercings. Buzz cut. Must be Caden Grayson... #HeartsinDarkness #SixSunday

I've had so much fun with all of you on Six Sentence Sunday for the past two years. I can't believe it's over and the SSS site is closing down. My Facebook friends asked for six from Hearts in Darkness, so, for one last time, here we go: 

More of the puzzle that was Caden Grayson came together just then. Tattoo. Piercing. Buzz cut. He must look rough on the outside. But he was a big, sweet, considerate, sometimes vulnerable softy on the inside - and she wanted to get to know both sides a lot better.

Buy on Amazon | B&N
Have YOU gotten to know Caden Grayson yet? *grins* 

Be sure to visit the other Sixers' posts! Thanks so much for visiting and commenting today and so many other Sundays.

Laura