Laura Kaye's Blog, page 65

#WestofWant Scavenger Hunt Final Excerpt! Enter Today!

Welcome to the Final Day of the West of Want Scavenger Hunt!!We're celebrating the forthcoming release of my newest book West of Want, the second book in my fantasy romance series, Hearts of the Anemoi, with the WEST OF WANT SCAVENGER HUNT! Enter to win an eReader just by playing along!
The Hunt:The Scavenger Hunt ran from July 8th and ends tomorrow, July 14th, 2012.
Six fantastic book bloggers have participated in the hunt all this week, and today it ends here!! At each blog stop there is a special exclusive excerpt from WEST OF WANT with a hidden word highlighted in bold & red. Readers can collect each of these hidden words and unscramble them to unlock a secret WEST OF WANT phrase. Once you’ve collected all of the hidden words and unscrambled the secret phrase, fill out the RaffleCopter with the secret phrase to enter!
The Schedule: Follow along at these blogs to collect all of the secrets words! OH, and please follow each of these blogs when you visit - they came up with the idea of this great event on my behalf, and I'm so so grateful! These links go directly to the Hunt posts:
July 8th - Excerpt 1: Reading Between theWines July 9th - Excerpt 2: Cocktails and Books July 10th -Excerpt 3: RhiReadingJuly 11th -Excerpt 4:  GraveTellsJuly 12th -Excerpt 5: Riverina RomanticsJuly 13th -Excerpt 6: Laura Kaye

The Prizes:Grand Prize: (1 Winner) A Kindle Touch or Nook Simple Touch (Valued at $99.00, winner’s choice) and eBook of West of Want by Laura Kaye2nd Prize:(2 Winners) Signed print copy of West of Want by Laura Kaye and a West of WantSwag Pack3rd Prize:(3 Winners) eBook of West of Want by Laura Kaye

The Fine Print:Must be 18 years of age or older to enterGrand Prize is open to wherever Amazon Kindle/Barnes & Noble Nook is available2nd and 3rd prize winners are open InternationallyNo purchase necessaryNo substitutions, refunds or cash value will be givenOne entry per person, per householdVoid where prohibited by lawAll entries will be verifiedWinners are drawn randomly through RaffleCopterWinners will have 48 hours to respond with winning notification email before a new winner is selectedGiveaway will close at 11:59pm July 14th, 2012
Excerpt #6: “I’ll go now. I’m sorry for the trouble I caused.” Without waiting to be rejected or for her to respond, Zeph crossed the room and entered the hall. Shattered glass from the picture frame glinted in the morning light. Yet another thing he was responsible for ruining. Zeph frowned and flicked his hand, a preternatural wind sweeping the shards into a pile in the corner. He jogged down the hardwood stairs. Each step placed more distance between them and made his insides feel as though they were being torn asunder. So? What was new?
“Wait!”
Footsteps followed behind him. Zeph bit out a curse, wanting to disappear on the spot, blink into his elemental form, but he’d really rather do that without a witness. He crossed the living room, grasped the doorknob, and stopped as a hand settled on his shoulder.
“Please, wait.”
Zeph’s whole body went rigid. An intoxicating mix of their energies flowed into him where they touched. If he tried, he would be able to sense her from anywhere with the signature of his essence still flowing through her system. This elemental connection made it damn difficult not to turn to her, pull her into his arms. Instead, he heaved a deep breath and commanded his feet to remain planted where they were. Her hand fell away. Zeph nearly groaned from the loss of her warmth, her touch, her energy.
“Please. I don’t understand.”
He shook his head. “It is not for you to understand,” he managed.
“Why not? What does that even mean?”
He debated, fought the urge to face her. But her voice already tugged at him to share himself, and he felt certain he’d never hold out against the mix of her voice and eyes. “Just what I said.” He twisted the knob and pulled.
She grabbed his shirt. “Don’t go, please? Just…can you just wait a minute?”
Her plea, her aura, their connection—it all let her sneak through his defenses, or what there were of them anyway, and that pissed him off.
He whirled on her and stepped right into her space. “What do you want from me?”
Staring up at him, her lip trembled, but she didn’t back down or move away. “Answers.”
Pre-Order at Amazon | Barnes & Noble
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thanks so much for reading and for playing along! And, would you please consider spreading the word? 

Now, did you have a favorite line from the excerpt?
Laura

Q&A with Ann Mayburn and Her Cover Model John Quinlan!

[image error] [image error] Welcome Guest AuthorAnn Mayburnand Cover ModelJohn Quinlan!


I have a double treat today you guys are going to LOVE! I have awesome erotic romance author Ann Mayburn AND her hot, hot, hot cover model John Quinlan! So, go get a drink and find a comfortable chair, because you're going to want to get settled down to read this one!
So, ladies first! Welcome, Ann!  Please share a little about yourself, your genres, any other pen names you use.
I’m a 36 yo mom of three boys under seven, a daydreamer and a huge fan of strong women who endure the worst life has to offer and still come through with their dignity and sense of humor intact.
I decided to start writing in June of '10 after the pre-mature birth of my third son. He was born at 31 weeks, nine weeks early, and it was a very rough delivery. I lost a great deal of blood and had some touch-and-go moments. While I was recovering from my c-section, without my baby, I had a lot of time to think. In my morphine-pump-induced state, I considered all the things that I'd done and what I still wanted to do.

I'd had A LOT of fun in my life, and marrying my husband and having my children was a joy that I can never fully explain. One thing I'd wanted to do was write a book. I've always been a heavy reader, my husband used to moan at my monthly bills from the bookstore, and I have an over-active imagination. The trouble was focusing my ADD 'Oh look a squirrel, oh look a penny' self to sit down and write.
Basically, I stopped making excuses about why I couldn't do it, and sat down and DID it. I found that once I started, I couldn't stop. My muse went into overdrive and I have more ideas than I have hours in the day. I’ve been so fortunate to find myself surrounded by supportive publishers and fantastically helpful authors. The romance community has to be one of the most loving, gracious communities out there.
[image error] What a wonderfully inspiring story, Ann! Good for you! So, tell us a little about your latest or upcoming release.
Captive Fantasy is the second book in my Tales of the IWSS series. It is a short and steamy story about Mary and her husband, Sean, and what happens when Mary finally tells Sean her most secret sexual fantasy. The Institute for Women’s Sexual Satisfaction is doing the biggest research study on women’s sexual arousal in the history of psychology and they need healthy, sexually active volunteers to participate. They need to monitor a woman’s brainwaves as she is becoming aroused in order to develop the world’s first pill that will help women become sexually turned on. Kinda like a Viagra for women.
In order to get the best results, they need the research participants to be as sexually aroused as possible, hence the secret fantasy. The IWSS will do their best to create these fantasies for their participants, including building elaborate sets, having volunteers from the IWSS participate in said fantasies, and providing every prop, toy, and costume needed to fulfill that woman’s expectations. In this case, Mary wants Sean to pretend to be an escaped convict, tie her up, and force her to do all kinds of deliciously naughty things to her.
[image error] Oh, me, that sounds freaking delicious! What a premise! Please tell me there will be more in this series!
Yes! I plan on releasing a new story in my Tales of the IWSS series once a month-ish. The next book in the series, Eye Candy, takes a little different path than the previous two. Eye Candy is about an established gay couple agreeing to be the ‘eye candy’ for a woman’s who has always had the fantasy about watching two guys together.
OMG, I’m hooked! Seriously! What are you working on right now?
Well, I’m working on edits right now for the second book in my ‘For the Love of Evil’ series, Princess of Lust and the next book in my IWSS series and a super secret book and plotting out the next book in my The Kyrimian Cycle series and trying to spend some time with my family and keep my house from deteriorating into something that belongs on the ‘Hoarders’ show. Oh, and I’m getting ready to go to New Orleans in August for the Author’s After Dark conference.
LOL! That sounds about like me! *winks* What happened to the first book you ever wrote?
After much revisions, learning, and great critique partners it got published. ;) The first book I wrote was Blessed and I have to say that a year later I still love this story.
Good for you! What do you find easiest and hardest to write?
For me the easiest to write is action and the hardest is emotions.
[image error] I find I always have to go back in and layer in the emotions! Is there a theme or message that runs through your work?
Yes! I’m all about women taking charge of their sexuality without feeling guilty or embarrassed. While this theme is more predominant in some stories than others, I’m all about women being honest with themselves and finding their inner strength in order to achieve true happiness.
I love that! Which romance book or series (or other genre, if you don’t write romance) do you wish you had written?
Hmmm, I wish I had written ‘The Black Jewels Trilogy’ by Ann Bishop. Not really romancy, but man can that woman craft a story.
[image error] Cool! Of all the characters you’ve ever written, who is your favorite and why?
That’s like asking me to pick my favorite kid.-lol- I love them all equally and for different reasons. ;) That said, I do enjoy writing my sassier heroines, it’s fun to be snarky.                                      Okay, now, just for fun:                               Milk chocolate or dark chocolate? Dark
Salty or sweet? Sweet
Bed or kitchen table? Bed
Beach or mountains? Beach, I live in the mountains. ;)
Give or receive? Give for sure.
[image error] Thanks Ann! Okay, John's turn now! John, how did you get into doing romance cover modeling?

I have been doing modeling for years, when I was younger it was mostly fitness and gym shoots and then I gradually expanded into more fashion-related projects. Over the years people would tell me I had the look for romance cover modeling and I never really took it seriously.  It was only in recent time that I said to myself give it a shot and see what happens. If nothing else it would show my versatility as a model to work in a wide variety of genres and not just one.
[image error] That’s really cool! So, what's your reaction to seeing yourself on the cover of romance novels, knowing that readers will attach your face and body to the character inside?
I am honored to be on any romance cover. Not many people can say they graced the cover of books. I have so much respect for all the talented romance authors and writers out there like you that when I see myself on there I am truly humbled. There are countless numbers of male models out there that are trying to land your cover and you chose me, you believed in John Quinlan, and for that I will always be grateful. The character inside the book is just that, the character inside. I feel that as the reader gets into the story and sees me as the character in the book I have done my job completely as the writer got everything out of John Quinlan and I was able to ideally enhance the story. 
[image error] Aw, you are a total sweetie! What an awesome attitude! What was your background before doing cover model shots and how does it relate to this new pursuit?
I was involved with bodybuilding and some power lifting when I was younger and I really began during that time to live a healthy lifestyle. I started to refine my diet and over time develop my physique the way I wanted it to look. Throughout the years I have always done fitness modeling but once I really got serious with everything, that is when I knew this could be a career for me. I think it all was a nice foundation to making the transition into erotic romance cover modeling. Having all the knowledge of a good diet and exercise regimen makes it that much easier to keep in top physical condition for a demanding career in the modeling world.
[image error] I bet it really is demanding! So interesting! If you could tell romance reader’s one thing about being a romance cover novel, what would it be?
I would say when everything comes together it is an amazing piece of work, like a puzzle. All the work is worth it when I see a published book with me on the cover as it is an accomplishment few can ever say they did. It is an honor I will never take for granted.
It was a pleasure today being interviewed by you Laura; maybe I will have the honor of being on one of your covers in the future. God Bless You always.
That would be great! And…*swoon*…!

Find John on the web here: Romance Novel Stock Cover Photo Gallery Facebook | Twitter | Website 1 | Website 2 | Website 3 | Website 4

Find out more about Ann's Captive Fantasy here!
Excerpt:
[image error] Mary carefully placed the letter onto the small bronze and glass table in her foyer. Next, she put the Chinese takeout she’d stopped to get on the way home from work onto the table, almost spilling it onto the floor when she placed it too close to the edge. She took a deep breath and tried to calm her racing heart. In a slow, unhurried manner, she removed her light fall jacket with shaking hands.
Despite her nonchalant actions, her gaze kept darting back to the piece of paper with the Institute for Women’s Sexual Satisfaction logo at the top. She carefully hung her jacket in the closet and then removed the sensible black heels she wore to teach science at the local high school. When her stocking clad feet hit the cool tile, she did what she’d wanted to do since the moment she’d opened the mail, jumping up and down while clapping with delight.
A quick glance at the old grandfather clock in the living room just off the foyer showed she had maybe ten minutes until her husband, Sean, came home from work. The joy swiftly gave way to a gut tightening apprehension. If she was going to do this, she would need his help and she wasn’t at all sure he’d be on board for what she had in mind.
[image error] She thought about changing into some lingerie and grabbing a beer to soften him up, but they’d no doubt fall into bed together. And if he accepted her wicked proposal, they couldn’t have sex until Thanksgiving break in two weeks. Well, they probably could, but she wanted him in the right frame of mind for her naughty sexual fantasy. The IWSS director had emphasized how important it was she indulge in her ultimate sexual fantasy in order to get the best readings. This particular fantasy was one she’d been having for about as long as she could remember. While her husband fit the physical description of her fantasy man to a tee, she didn’t know if he could ever do the things she craved to her.
Nerves had her peeking through the frosted glass of the front door, waiting for a glimpse of his truck pulling into the driveway in the late evening dusk. If fate was on her side, the traffic would be light coming from the university, and he’d be home soon. The longer it took him, the more worked up she would get. What if he said no? What if his feelings got hurt? What if he called her a pervert and then phoned her mom? Okay, that last part was probably an exaggeration, but she’d never shared this fantasy with any of her lovers, let alone her husband.
A bright wash of headlights swept over their lawn as Sean’s truck pulled into their drive. Her heartbeat faster, and a light sweat broke out on her palms. She stepped away from the door and moved into the living room, checking her makeup in the massive mirror over the fireplace and smoothing strands of her dark hair back with a shaking hand. Her reflection showed her a woman who looked like she might be on the verge of coming down with the flu, so she closed her eyes and blew out a deep breath.
She had nothing to worry about; this was Sean. Her Sean. The man who’d captured her heart back in college. The man she’d married on what had to be the best day of her life. He did everything he could to make her life a wonderful place. She needed to convince him that by indulging her fantasy, he wouldn’t be hurting her…much.
The front door opened with a small whoosh of air, and Sean entered the foyer. The battered leather jacket he loved hugged tight his broad shoulders and powerful arms. He removed the black knit hat covering his shaved head and tossed it onto the foyer table. It landed next to the Chinese on top of her letter. A bag full of football gear from practice still hung over his shoulder, but he looked for her before doing anything else. When he spotted her in the living room, his rough, handsome face lit up with a smile.
“Hey, baby, how was school?”
“Good.” Before she could have any second thoughts, she blurted out her request. “Hey, Sean, would you pretend to be a dangerous escaped prisoner, kidnap me, and force me to do wicked things to you?”
The mesh bag full of football helmets hit the floor with a thud as Sean stared at her with a look of disbelief. “What? You want me to what?”

So, I know you are going to have comments for this one! LOL So, ask Ann or John a question or tell us a favorite line from the excerpt! Come on now, don't be shy!


Thanks for reading!
Laura

#SixSunday 64 - Ella meets Zeph + #WestofWant Scavenger Hunt!

Happy Sunday everyone! My contemporary fantasy romance West of Want releases in just TWO DAYS! So I'm offering my first six sentences from my new book. Here we go...

A man sat in the dark corner of Ella’s room.
At her alarm, he flew to his feet, shoulders hunched, fists clenched, as if braced for battle. His gaze cut to her and the scream died in her throat. From where he stood in the shadows, his eyes glowed, she could swear they did. The odd blue light swept over her body, stole her very breath. Her flight instinct roared to life, but his presence paralyzed her.

Buy at Amazon | Barnes & Noble My new release blog tour starts on the 10th, but today you can win some huge prizes in the WEST OF WANT SCAVENGER HUNT sponsored by 5 of my blogger friends! Check it out! And be sure to visit the Other Sixers' Posts and follow the #sixsunday hashtag on Twitter!

Thanks for reading and hopefully commenting, too!
Laura

Find #WestofWant in the Wild & #WinBookstoreGiftCards!

Get your cameras ready!  Many of you know West of Want is my first book to hit brick-and-mortar bookstore shelves! To celebrate the book's release and mark this hugely exciting occasion, I'm holding a super fun event where at least two participants will win a $50 gift certificate to the bookstore of their choosing just by taking a picture and sending it to me!   From now through August 24th, send me your pictures of West of Want on bookshelves at any and every store where you see it! It can just be the book on the shelf or feel free to pose with it! *grins* But you just might want to make your photo fun, because one winner will be chosen by random.org, while the other will be voted on by blog visitors as the best pic of West of Want in the Wild! In an email, please attach the picture and tell me your name (can just be first if you prefer) and name/town/state of the bookstore where you saw West of Want. I'll post the pictures on my dedicated West of Want in the Wild page and everyone who participates by August 24 will have a chance to win 1 of at least 2 (more if I get a lot of entries!) $50 bookstore gift certificates. You may submit more than one picture if from different stores! Email to laurakayeauthor at gmail dot com  Now, who will find West of Want first??? And, if you don't see it on the shelves at your local store, don't hesitate to ask a bookseller - it lets them know readers are interested in the book! Thanks for reading! Laura, who is now refreshing her email inbox waiting for pictures!!! *grins*

#WestofWant Scavenger Hunt & Prizeapalooza! + Come Ask Zeph!

You guys!!!
It's just one week until the release of WEST OF WANT and we're about to unleash so much giveaway fun you might not be able to handle it!
Here's what you have to look forward to:


#1 SCAVENGER HUNT: Click the graphic for all the details and participating sites, but here are the prizes:Grand Prize: (1 Winner) A Kindle Touch or Nook Simple Touch (Valued at $99.00) courtesy of our participating bloggers and eBook of West of Want by Laura Kaye2nd Prize: (2 Winners) Signed print copy of West of Want by Laura Kaye and a West of Want Swag Pack3rd Prize: (3 Winners) eBook of West of Want by Laura Kaye #2 ZEPHYROS Character Interview Featuring YOUR Questions! That's right! Head over to Reading Between the Wines Book Club and leave Zeph a question, any question, AND be entered to win a totally awesome custom-made West of Want Key Chain!#3 WEST OF WANT in the Wild! Event: More details will follow on this in a few days, but get your cameras ready! I want pictures of you finding West of Want on bookshelves everywhere! Send them to me to post on my special new West of Want in the Wild! blog page and be entered to win awesomesauce prizes!#4 WEST OF WANT Blog Tour:Stops and dates coming soon! Win ebooks, t-shirts, tote bags, book cover magnets, romance trading cards and other swagalicious prizes!!!
How awesome is that???
So, please go, visit, comment, participate, share, and have so much fun! And thanks for reading!!!
Laura

Celebrating Military Heroes at Coffee Time Romance!

Hey everyone! I'm celebrating military heroes and military hero romance at CoffeeTime Romance's July Book Brew! Stop on over and comment on my posts from Monday, July 2, for a chance at two prizes: 1) a PRINT copy of HER FORBIDDEN HERO and 2) and ebook copy of HER FORBIDDEN HERO!
Due to my ongoing power outage, I can't promise to list/link all my posts here as I normally would for you, but here's the main CoffeeTime Romance blog and here's the direct link to my first post, For the Love of the Military Hero. Please scroll through the July 2 posts and look for "By Laura Kaye" to identify my other posts, and therefore other ways to comment to enter to win!
Hope to see you there! Thanks for reading!
Laura

#Sixsunday 63 One night is better than none... #HerForbiddenHero

Happy Sunday everyone! July 1st means just 10 DAYS until the release of West of Want, book 2 in my Hearts in the Anemoi series. Aaah! But before I change gears, six more from my contemporary romance, Her Forbidden Hero.

As Alyssa opened the button and zipper of his jeans, Marco leaned in and kissed her softly. She wrapped her hand around his hard length and he groaned deep in his throat. Alyssa’s heart thundered and her breath caught, both at the sound of his pleasure and the incredible realization that this was really happening.
Her love for him swelled in her chest until it was hard to breathe. Of course it would hurt like hell if this were all she ever had of him, but already she knew she could never regret it. One night of her dreams coming true was better than none at all.

Richie Nuzzolese could totes play Marco!Buy at Barnes & Noble | Amazon

Please be sure to check out the Other Sixers' Posts and follow the #sixsunday hashtag on Twitter! 
Thanks so much for reading and hopefully commenting, too!
Laura 

Welcome Guest Author Sasha Summers & Medusa!

[image error] Welcome Guest AuthorSasha Summersto the blog today!

Welcome, Sasha!  Please share a little about yourself, your genres, any other pen names you use.
Hi Laura, thank you for having me. My pen name is Sasha Summers – it’s the only one I have. J I write contemporary romance, romantic fantasy, and sci-fi romance.
Awesome! So, tell us a little about your latest or upcoming release.
Medusa, A Love Storycame out last month. It is, I think, a lovely novel if you are a fan of Greek Mythology or historical/fantasy novels or romantic tragedies.
I think the tagline sums it up fairly well: It’s said that love can change a person. Medusa wasn’t always a monster…
Very cool! I love mythology romance! Which character is your favorite and why?
I loved Ariston. I’m not sure he was my favorite as I enjoyed them all, but he was so strong – such a wonderful hero. Both he and Medusa are. They know what’s right and stay true to duty throughout the story. You can’t help but root for them even though you know what’s going to happen. I don’t change the Medusa myth, I just offer a ‘what if’ to it.
I’m so intrigued! *grins* As the author, what surprised you about this story?
The whole story, really. I didn’t set out to write a historical myth retelling – but the story came and demanded to be written. I was really sucked into it while I wrote it. Even now, working on the next books, it’s like traveling to another time and place. A magical place.
That’s an awesome feeling! Will there be any sequels or other books in the same series?
Yes, Book 2 of the Loves of Olympus series is Hades’s story. It’s called For the Love of Hades and will release in January. I’m working on Book 3 and have two more plotted… but there are so many possibilities…
Wonderful! I love a series! What was the hardest thing for you about writing this story?
It was emotional. I cried and wanted to change things so it would end differently. One of my critique partners told me I had to change the ending. I didn’t, I couldn’t. And I don’t think she ever read the ending – LOL!
What are you working on right now?
I normally have a few projects going at one, to keep things flowing. I’m working on Apollo’s story – along the lines of Medusa’s tale – and the 3rd book in my Hollywood contemporary romance series as well. I’m also waiting on my edits for my scifi novella.
Busy author! Awesome! What happened to the first book you ever wrote?
I have it. It’s a massive thing, all typed up on a Brother Word processor that took floppy disks. It’s a historical romance – a western. And I was very young when I finished it… Probably will never see the light of day!
Fun story! What do you find easiest and hardest to write?
Hardest, sincere emotion from the male perspective. Men don’t talk the way women do. I try to write honestly. But since I’m a woman, I have no idea if I get it right or not.
Easiest – the naughty bits. J
Woot! Have you incorporated actual events or people from your own life into your books?
Not in my mythology, no. It’s a time apart, the people and everything are very much a ‘movie in my head’ that I write. However, I do ‘cast’ my characters with actors. And sometimes they’re ticks or habits will leek onto the page.
In my contemporary a little more, I guess. Some of my characters resemble people I know or actors/actresses I’m a fan of. Are they those people? No. But I use bits and pieces to make it real for me. 
Makes sense! Is there a theme or message that runs through your work?
Love requires compromise and, sometimes, sacrifice. Obviously not to the extremes that are represented in the mythology stories, though.
What would your readers be surprised to learn about you?
I don’t have lots of surprises… I’m a painter as well.
Very cool! Which romance book or series (or other genre, if you don’t write romance) do you wish you had written?
That’s an interesting question. I’m not sure. I’m a big time reader, I can’t imagine writing someone else’s book – if that makes sense? J
O f all the characters you’ve ever written, who is your favorite and why?
Here’s the thing. I get totally invested in the characters that I’m currently writing. I loved writing Poseidon and Hades and now I’m loving Apollo.
I totally get that! Okay, now, just for fun:
Milk chocolate or dark chocolate? Dark
Salty or sweet? Depends on my mood ;)
Bed or kitchen table? Bed
Beach or mountains? Beach
Give or receive? Give 

It's said love can change a person. Medusa wasn't always a monster...

Medusa is ruled by duty, to her Titan father and the Goddess Athena. She's no room for the tenderness her warrior guard, Ariston, stirs. When Olympus frees her from service, her heart leads her into the arms of the guard she loves... and curses her as the creature with serpent locks.
Ariston goes to war with a full heart... and dreadful foreboding. He learns too late of the danger Medusa faces, alone, and a Persian blade sends him into the Underworld. But death, curses, nor the wrath of the Gods will keep him from returning to her.
Poseidon will use Greece's war to get what he wants: Medusa. He does not care that she belongs to another. He does not care that she will be damned. He is a God, an Olympian, and she will be his.

Excerpt:“You asked for an audience, you have it. Now tell me, where do you belong?” Hades’ voice was deep, emotionless.            Ariston swallowed. “Athens.” He met Hades’ gaze, but the God revealed nothing to him.“Why? You died with honor and glory. Is that not what every soldier wants?”              “My wife…” His voice wavered.Hades brow lifted slightly. “Lives. You do not.”             “She is in danger.”            “Earthly danger. She is no longer your concern, Ariston.”             “The danger she faces is not earthly, but far from it…” Ariston’s voice was hoarse, his desperation mounting. He took a wavering breath before he began again. “She is everything to me. I am proud of my death, but it means nothing if she is in peril. I must know.” Ariston kneeled. “I beg you. I beg you to return me to Athens.”            Ariston waited, willing himself to be strong.            “Who is this wife?” Hades asked.            “Medusa of Athens.” He paused. “Now of Rhodes.”            Hades was silent, his dark blue eyes regarding him steadily.            “When I die—” Ariston began.            “You are dead,” Hades assured him. “When I return…die again, I would serve as guardian to Tartarus. I am a skilled warrior, a skill I might offer you.” He spoke with confidence.            “You vex me,” Hades muttered, the slightest crease appearing between his eyes. “You offer this to me for a woman?”            Ariston nodded. “She is worthy.”Hades was silent again, his eyes shifting to the blue-white flames in the massive fireplace.         “My words do not…adequately express the love I have for this woman. But I cannot leave her. She is at risk. I must return.” The words came without thought. How could he justify such emotion to a God who reviled affection or companionship? “As Olympus has my arm and sword, she has my heart – a mortal, and perhaps weak, heart.”The room was silent for too long. He would have to fight his way out…             “It is a weakness not reserved for mortals alone, Ariston of Rhodes.” Hades’ words were so soft Ariston feared they’d not been spoken. But Hades continued, strong and clear. “I will return you to your ship so that you may lead your men to victory. Too many have fallen from this war and I would see it end. When that is done, you may go to your wife.” He paused then added, “When you return to my realm, I will have your fealty.”            The God of the Underworld, Lord of Death, gave him mercy? Mayhap there was one God he might serve with honor.  Ariston vowed, “You have it.”
Thanks again for having me Laura. I’m a big fan!!!

Sasha's Website | Facebook| Twitter | Goodreads| Pinterest

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING MY GUEST!  Okay, everyone, leave Sasha some new release love! Did you have a favorite line from the excerpt! Thanks for reading!

Laura

Debut Author Julia Bade talks about The Feria!

Welcome Guest AuthorJulia Badeto the Blog!
Hey guys! Please help me welcome Julia Bade to the blog today! She's celebrating her debut release - how exciting! - and is here to tell you about the inspiration behind her debut novel. Plus Giveaway! Read on...
Hello Everyone! Thank you for stopping by today to celebrate the release of The Feria! And a special thank you to an amazing author, the dazzling Laura Kaye, for a lift on the virtual highway today!
If you’re looking for an easy read with all the elements that come together for a whirlwind love story, then you’ll enjoy the tension, victory, uncertainty, vindication and of course, some very tender loving moments in The Feria!
I wanted to share some inspiration behind my book. First and foremost, my character, Soledad is named for my sweet and precious grandmother, who I miss every day. I’m not sure how she’d feel knowing I put her in a romance novel, and that she gets to participate in all that comes with romance… *snicker* but either way, I hope she’s proud…
…When I was a little girl, every summer I’d wait on pins and needles to hear the words: The feriais in town. The feria is the Mexican word for a fair, or carnival-type event. While I had no idea how to measure exactly when it would arrive, I only knew that once school was out for summer, the feria came shortly thereafter. Next to no school, it was the next best part of summer.
Our feria took place in our sister city, Juarez, Mexico. While we lived in Texas, Mexico was literally only minutes away.
Rides, vendors, foods, dancing, music, treats, and of course, the tapestry of people there made the event unforgettable.
The last year I attended was 2000, with the man who would become my husband. I was a fresh-faced 20-something with the energy that came in bounds, a brand-spankin’ new college degree, and a gorgeous man by my side. Needless to say, just like my character, Soledad, the feria holds very special meaning to me.
[image error] About this time last year, I found a photo of two much younger, much more energetic looking people, my then boyfriend and myself (now parents of 5!), one we took that very night in 2000 at the feria, and memories began to spark and plug themselves together.
I started jotting things down, and soon after, I was hit with the idea of basing my book on the 40s, and on the trimmings of love found, and love stolen, and the journey to put it all back together. I hope you enjoy the twists and turns as well as the beautiful, tender, and thrilling moments that a love affair can offer.
Here are excerpts from my three favorite scenes in the book because they are three defining moments in Soledad’s life that are integral to the journey she is on. The first is the scene where she is torn away from Xavier, her true love.  The second is the realization of what her father has planned for her future. The third is where Soledad finally embraces her impending motherhood, even in spite of the fact that she believes she is carrying her husband’s child. But boy, is there a surprise there!
Excerpt 1: “You up for a run?” Xavier asked.
“Well, I’m told that I’m pretty fast,” she said with a smirk.
“Is that a challenge? So a race, then? What if I win?”
“You won’t.”
“If you win, how will you know if it wasn’t because I let you?”
Soledad paused before answering. “Because you would never disrespect me like that.”
He realized she’d taken the words right out of his head. “That is the genuine truth. So ... I guess you’d better start running!” He pecked her on the lips and darted off.
“Cheater!” she yelled and took off after him.
They both laughed all the way. They rolled out of the path and onto the main road in front of her grandmother’s house like two out-of-control tumbleweeds blown out of the El Paso desert. They joined hands, fingers intertwining in their dance.
Xavier was still chortling, but Soledad stopped in her tracks. The black automobile she knew well was parked in front of the house, and her father stood hands on hips, his perceptive gaze measuring up the couple with his eyes.
She quickly dropped Xavier’s hand. From her side vision, she could see Xavier staring at her. She glanced at him, and his confused expression pained her.
“It’s my father,” she whispered.
“I’ll go.”
“No.” The defiance that had been building in her since the last time she’d seen her father burst out. She took Xavier by the arm and pulled him forward.
“Papá, this is Xavier.”
Xavier lifted his right hand, but Soledad’s father did not move.
“Cholita, what’s the meaning of this?” He lingered on Xavier sending daggers with his eyes, then he returned his intimidating gaze to his daughter. “Why have you been ignoring my messages to come home? Why are you disrespecting me?”
“Papá, I could ask you the same.”
“What?”
“Nothing.” She looked down.
“If there is something you need to say, then do so,” he dared.
“Nothing, Papá.” Her defiance weakened. He was still her father, the man she’d loved and honored for all her life. Even though this man was different, he was still her father.
“You best be going.” He gave Xavier one last glance. “Chole, get your things. I’ll be in the car.”
The silence was deafening. The fear of the unknown was sneering at them. She longed to reach up and kiss Xavier as though she’d never see him again. She wanted to squeeze his hand and reassure him that she’d be back soon. But their goodbye was nothing of the sort.
With one last squeeze of his hand, she channeled every remnant of faith in her, and said the words her heart knew even before she did. “I love you.”
He didn’t hesitate. It was as if they said it ordinarily. “I love you.” There was urgency in his voice.
Her father sighed heavily, disgust in his air.
She didn’t understand why they were so panicked. Was it because they’d been caught together? Was it because she was leaving to a whole other country that, although was a neighbor, banned her love from entering? No. It was because she was looking at a man who was not her father. That gentle, kind man was gone. This angry man would surely disapprove and keep her away.
Her throat was closing.
Xavier turned to go, and she died.
“Get your things!” Her father was losing his patience.
Soledad froze.
“I have no things.” She had come to her grandmother’s home straight from the feria with plans to return to her home the next day, so she hadn’t brought one thing.
“I’m not waiting any longer. You’ll go without.”
She didn’t even step inside to say goodbye to her grandmother or Suki. Her grandmother would understand. She was sure her father had already made his presence known.
Arms crossed across her chest, refusing to meet her father’s glare, she entered his car. As they drove away, she turned one last time to the gap in the trees leading to the path. 
Xavier was nowhere to be seen.
Excerpt 2: Back in her El Paso home, Soledad descended the staircase with guns blazing. She knew what was coming. Her mother had gone in and casually mentioned that the “weird man from the feria would be joining them for a business dinner with her father.” The same man who’d disrespected her.
Forced to come down for this dinner, Soledad had dressed herself in the heaviest clothes she owned, covering every possible part of her. She would have worn winter clothes if it wouldn’t have been uncomfortably obvious. This man would not violate her tonight, not in her own home, what used to be a sanctuary. She was further mortified to find that when she turned the corner into the dining room, everyone was seated and there remained one seat. Her seat. Next to Emmanuel.
She wasn’t a stupid girl. She was at the top of her class, a feat not usually reserved for females. She’d been accepted into Stanford, another achievement not typically attained by women. There was not a stupid bone in her body, except that which had led her to believe that her family loved her, that her father loved her.
In an instant, she knew the what, but she didn’t understand the why. It all began to put itself together. Her father’s eagerness to introduce them at the feria, his urgency for her to return home, so urgent that he went into Mexico to gather her himself. She was an animal being led to the slaughter. This was a business dinner all right, and she was the business.
Her father, now sitting red-faced at the edge of his dining chair, staring at her expectantly, was apparently willing to sell her off, to trade her soul for whatever his selfish ambition was. Everyone now stared uncomfortably as she stood in the doorway assessing this situation. It was as if time stood still while the white walls of the dining room began to look concave and suffocating, delusional even.
Soledad felt short of breath, her chest filled with a tightness she could not calm her way out of. She forced herself to look at her mother and felt like she was looking at a stranger. There her mother was, quietly and obediently accepting what was unfolding in the very home where she gave birth to Soledad.
Her mother slumped so low that the chair hovered enormously. She could not even return Soledad’s desperate stare. And why should she? She, too, was part of this plot. What was meant to be passed off as a casual business dinner, was actually a get-to-know-your-purchase dinner.
Excerpt 3:Her eyes fluttered open and she clenched her sheets, afraid to move, instantly bracing for the wave of nausea that diligently greeted her each day. But instead, after several minutes of anticipation, she gasped to discover that she actually felt hungry. She had not felt this way in a long time. 
Suddenly, she felt a deep hunger pang. Then it came again. Her eyes squinted in concentration as she tried to zone in, to visualize what could be happening inside of her. And then she slowly began to grasp that what she was feeling, the light flutters as soft as the tips of butterfly wings, were not hunger pangs at all. Her heart leapt. 
She distinctly felt a baby kicking! 
A strange sound now filled the air. It danced throughout the bedroom. She was trying to figure out what it was when all at once, the baby kicked again. From the deep recesses of her mind, she knew that sound. It was laughter. Her laughter. It felt so good she did it again. Release. It was raining down on her. She laughed and laughed and laughed. It’d been so long, it felt like her first time, and with each kick, it was like her baby was laughing with her. They were together, one person. In those few sweet moments, something changed. Something in the deepest part of her became free from a long and dormant prison, and it wrapped itself around her baby. 
There was nothing she would not do for this child. Her child. It no longer mattered that it was part Emmanuel. It was her baby. She thanked God for such a gift, one she felt she didn’t deserve. The world at war was falling apart outside, but inside, her baby was in the safest place it could be.

Thank you all for joining me today! ~Julia

Opening in 1941, The Feria is a stunning tale of two countries, where we find Soledad, a smart, educated young Mexican-American with big plans. She and her family, however, begin facing the economic pressures inflicted by a nation readying for war. To ensure her family's survival and continued success, her father tears her away from her true love, a Feria worker named Xavier, and forces her into a marriage with a reputable banker, meant to save her family’s agricultural fortune.
Her heart forever belongs to Xavier, and the only way she has tolerated her miserable marriage is the fact that she and Xavier made a beautiful daughter together that she has secretly and successfully passed off as her husband’s for several years. But her carefully concealed secrets begin to collapse when her daughter meets and falls in love, unknowingly, with a boy who could possibly be her half-brother, Xavier’s son, and Soledad once again finds herself in the irresistible presence of her eternal love.
The challenge of putting everything back together and resisting the desire and love she has for Xavier, presents itself in a daring love story dancing on both sides of the border, intricately written around Mexican and American cultures, love, and the great uncertainty that comes with it.

Buy at Soul Mate Publishing | Amazon| B&NNo Kindle or e-reader device? No problem! Download the Kindle app onto your computer here!

Find Julia online here: Blog | Twitter | Facebook

Giveaway!
One commenter who leaves their email address will win an ebook of The Feria! Contest open through midnight EST June 30. Open to international! Winner to be chosen by random.org. Good luck!

Thanks so much for reading everyone! Leave Julia some debut novel love! Tell her which excerpt you enjoyed most and why!
Laura

Welcome Jillian Stone & The Seduction of Phaeton Black

Welcome Guest AuthorJillian Stoneto the blog today!

See below for her giveaway!

Welcome, Jillian!  Please share a little about yourself, your genres, any other pen names you use.
In 2010, I won the RWA Golden Heart for An Affair with Mr. Kennedy and went from no agent or publisher to signing with Richard Curtis and being offered a three book contract by Pocket Books. That summer, I also won the erotica category of the 2010 Romance Through the Ages contest for The Seduction of Phaeton Black and was offered a three book contract by Kensington Brava. Needless to say, I have been busy writing books this past year and a half! I live in Southern California and I am currently working on a special Pocket Star e-novella for The Gentlemen of Scotland Yard series, and the third sequel to the Phaeton Black series titled The Miss Education of Doctor Exeter.
I write historical romantic suspense and historical paranormal with steampunk and erotic elements, under one name, Jillian Stone.
Wow! What a wonderful two years you’ve had! Congratulations, Jillian! Tell us a little about your latest or upcoming release.
The Seduction of Phaeton Black released in April, here’s brief blurb:

The year is 1889 and Queen Victoria, exemplum of decency and sobriety, is in her fifty-second year of reign. Occult detective Phaeton Black, on the other hand, couldn’t be less interested in clean-living. He has recently taken up residence in the basement flat of London’s most notorious brothel. A dedicated libertine with an aptitude for absinthe, he wrestles with a variety of demons both real and self-inflicted.
Unfairly linked to Scotland Yard’s failure to solve the Whitechapel murders, Phaeton is offered a second chance to redeem himself. A mysterious fiend, or vampire is stalking the Strand. After a glass and a consult with the green fairy, he agrees to take on the case. On his first surveillance, Phaeton pursues an elusive stranger and encounters several curious, horrifying beings. But the most intriguing creature of all is a Cajun beauty who captures him at knifepoint and threatens to spirit away his heart.

So intriguing! Which character is your favorite and why?
Phaeton Black, was my first serious attempt at writing what’s called a Byronic hero, which is a variant of the Romantic hero (named after the English Romantic poet Lord Byron). Phaeton is man proud, moody, cynical. He is often defiant and carries a misery in his heart. He often scorns his peers, can be vengeful and is capable of deep and strong affection.
I have to say, he was so much fun to write! Phaeton is all the things one should avoid in a man, only he’s so damn irresistible. 
He sounds awesome! As the author, what surprised you about this story?
How attached I became to both the hero and heroine. At the end of the book it took me months to get the two characters out of my head. Phaeton and America go through an emotional arc and an rather grueling adventure together. Because there is always a good deal of story in my novels, I always feel exhausted when I finish a manuscript and it’s because I’ve been on the journey with the characters!
Also, for such a dark tale, I was surprised at the amount of humor that emerged in both the story and their repartee with each other. Phaeton and America are quite a pair.
They sound great! Will there be any sequels or other books in the same series?
It takes three books for Phaeton to straighten up, lose his rougey parts and settle down. The second in the series, The Moonstone & Miss Jones releases in late September 2012.   Here’s a sneak peek:
After being shanghaied in Shanghai, Phaeton and America return home to find 1889 London plagued by strange creatures setting the stage for a terrifying alternate future for the city. People and things–well–there's no other way to explain it, but things appear to be unraveling. With help from the Nightshades, Phaeton and America venture into a strange, alternate London to extract the Moonstone and close the rabbit hole between both worlds.
Wow! What was the hardest thing for you about writing this story?
This wasn’t a difficult book to write, in fact it was a pleasure. I have come to understand that some books just seem to write themselves. The characters are in your head and fully developed––the plot turns work out perfectly. It is a wonderful thing when that happens, but I have found that even books which have more difficulties, are still wonderful experiences to write, revise and rewrite!
That is so true! What are you working on right now?
I have another series for Pocket Books called The Gentlemen of Scotland Yard. And I am currently writing an e-novella for the series. Two more full length novels are releasing this year for that series: A Dangerous Liaison with Detective Lewis releases end of August and A Private Duel with Agent Gunn, the end of November.
Love the titles! What happened to the first book you ever wrote?
It’s in the cloud (online storage). The working title is Isabella Inamorata: A four book, medieval series that is set in the south of France, which I might one day turn into a medieval fantasy series. But that’s a big maybe.
Sounds intriguing! What do you find easiest and hardest to write?
Even the easiest story is hard to write. You have to push yourself everyday. Since I’m ADD and tend to get bored easily, I try to make every chapter something to look forward to, especially when I know the writing is going to be difficult, like a very intense action scene––fun to imagine but difficult to execute well.
Is there a theme or message that runs through your work? 
The power of love.
Okay, now, just for fun:
Milk chocolate or dark chocolate? Dark
Salty or sweet? Can add a chile pepper as well? I make these Thai peanut lettuce wraps that have diced jalapeño, peanut butter and coconut in them. There is something about savory and sweet that is so delicious!
Bed or kitchen table? Sex on the table, and snacking in bed.
Beach or mountains? Guernsey Cove
Give or receive? Give and you shall receive!

Where can we find you on the web?Website Facebook  Twitter  
Purchase links:Amazon| Barnes & Noble

To enter the tour-wide giveaway, enter the Rafflecopter form. But leave Jillian some comment love, too!
Thanks so much for reading!Laura
a Rafflecopter giveaway