Playing 20 Questions with Tara Andrews

EM: Welcome to My World, Tara. Thank you so much for stopping by to play twenty questions with me. :-)

Before we begin, could you tell us a little about yourself?

TA: Thank you for having me here today!

I live in New York with my husband and two children, ages nine and six. In addition to writing, I spend my days managing an office, though I would love to be able to write full time - it’s what I love. I’m an avid reader, advanced-level procrastinator, and hater of spiders. Not sure why I threw in that last bit, but it’s true. LOL.

EM: Are you ready to play 20 questions? *rubs hands together*

Which do you find harder to write?

1. First person POV or Third?

I find first person POV much harder. There are those authors who are brilliant at this POV and I even started out writing in first person (very horrible fan fiction as a teenager), but I have not mastered it at all. It seems to all come out pretty passive. However, I do use first person when I am stuck. I’ll open a new document and start writing in first person strictly to try and work out the problem, and then I go back my working document.

2. As a male or female?

Male. I’m always trying to figure them out in real life, now in my own fiction, too!

3. Beginning, middle or end of the story?

I find the middle the hardest to write. Beginnings always come very easy to me, it’s usually what pops into my mind first. Since I write romance I kind of always know how it will end, with a happily ever after. :) The middle, to me, needs to be as interesting as the beginning and end, and it’s the longest part of the book. That’s the hard part.

4. Fight scenes or sex scenes?

I’d have to say fight scenes, simply because I haven’t written any. LOL.

5. Synopsis or blurb?

Blurb.  Condensing a story down to a few intriguing paragraphs is pretty hard!

As a writer, do you prefer:

6. Writing in the morning, afternoon or evening?

I do a lot of my writing in the morning before the kids get up.  It’s the most peaceful time of the day, just me, my laptop, and a cup of coffee. :)  Only problem, I’m late to work…a lot.

7. Writing with music, or in peace?

As much as I find inspiration in music, I can’t write with it on. I spend all of my driving time listening to songs and thinking of my plot, specific scenes, and characters. Unfortunately, I believe because of this, I’ve inadvertently trained myself to brainstorm and can’t seem to concentrate on writing when it’s on. However, I can’t write in complete silence either.  I’ve tried going to a library to get some peace, but it drove me crazy. Apparently I need to have something on in the background, whether the Food Network, the kids playing in another room, or even Spongebob, I need a little noise.

8. Planning, or Improvising?

A few months ago I would have said improvising, but for the story I am working on now I had to sit down and work out an outline (for lack of a better word). It’s a little unconventional, not your typical outline, but it is helping me see my story from beginning to end.

9. Juggling a few projects, or concentrating on one at a time?

I used to juggle projects and actually loved being able to do that because I usually multi-task in almost anything else I do. The problem, though, I wasn’t finishing anything. Starting too many along the way and ending up neglecting the earlier stories for the fresher ideas. So now I am concentrating on one at a time.

10. Sticking to one genre, or exploring many?

I’ve dabbled in paranormal and even regency, but have only been published so far in contemporary. I wouldn’t eliminate the possibility of branching out maybe in the future. :)

As a reader, do you prefer:

11. Story being told from female view or male?

I like reading multiple, third person point of view, however I usually find myself waiting for the POV shift back to the male. Not sure why. LOL.

12. Good guys or bad boys?

My World Guest Interview: Tara Quan

EM: Welcome to My World, Tara. Thank you so much for stopping by to play twenty questions with me :- )

Before we begin, could you tell us a little about yourself?

TQ: I’m a romance addict who likes to write bite-sized stories with ample helpings of (occasionally kinky) sex. At the time this post goes live, I’ll likely be twiddling my thumbs in a hotel while waiting for our flight to Rome (where all my worldly possessions should have theoretically arrived).

EM: Are you ready to play 20 questions? *rubs hands together*

TQ: Bring it on!

Which do you find harder to write?

1. First person POV or Third?

I’ve never published anything in 1^st, if that’s any indication…

2. As a male or female?

Male. I constantly show portions of dialogue to my husband and ask: “Would a guy say this?” My most recent direct reference to Lembas (the Elvin bread in Lord of the Rings) caused him to roll on the floor with laughter.

3. Beginning, middle, or end of the story?

Beginning. Chapter 1 is the most painful part. Once I get over the initial hump, the words tend to flow.

4. Fight scenes or smex scenes?

Fight. Smex comes … umm … naturally.

5. Synopsis or blurb?

Words cannot describe how much I hate synopses.

As a writer, do you prefer:

6. Writing in the morning, afternoon or evening?

My most productive period seems to be between 9AM and 1PM.

7. Writing with music, or in peace?

In peace. I can live with chirping birds, but that’s about it.

8. Planning, or Improvising?

Planning. I pre-cast characters and create Scrivener/Storyist outlines. Since I recently wrote three 1-Night Stand stories in a row (all connected to each other), I even created a template.

9. Juggling a few projects, or concentrating on one at a time?

One at a time. Whenever I succumb to the impulse to pursue a side project, I end up trunking one of the two manuscripts.

10. Sticking to one genre, or exploring many?

Since I’m a staunch believer in happily ever afters, I only write romance. However, I’ve written three contemporary romances, two sci-fi romances, a fantasy romance, and three paranormal romances.

As a reader, do you prefer:

11. Story being told from female view or male?

I prefer a mixture of both.

12. Good guys or bad boys?

Bad boys (perhaps because my real life hero is such a goody-two-shoes).

13. Feisty females or fragile damsels?

While I tend to write heroines who save the day (or the hero, as the case may be), I enjoy reading both types. As long as the damsel isn’t too-stupid-to-live, I can find a way to root for her.

14. Stand alone stories or series?

I’m one of those crazy people who re-reads the entire Psy-Changeling series whenever Nalini Singh is about to release the next installment…

15. Quick reads or long stories?

It only now occurs to me that I write quick reads but read longer stories. No idea why.

16. Romance as a side dish or the main course?

Main course (but I’ll make exceptions for space operas and high fantasy).

17. Erotica or soft romance or something in-between?

I like reading sexy stories, but it needs to have romantic elements. I usually don’t differentiate between erotic romance and mainstream—the plot and characters matter more than the level of explicitness.

18. More action or humor?

Humor. I expect to giggle at least a couple of times over the course of a book.

Just for fun:

19. Vampires or Angels?

Oh dear… As a staunch Guild Hunter fangirl, I don’t think I can pick between Dmitri and Raphael.

20. Werewolves or Demons?

Werewolves (Kresley Cole’s Lycae, to be specific)

What are you currently working on?

I just contracted three paranormal romances (all part of Decadent’s 1-Night Stand series), and I should be starting the edits for those later this year. I’m also in the process of revising a Christmas-themed romantic suspense that’s been refusing to cooperate ever since I finished the first draft in January.

Do you have a current release?

I might…. Here’s the thing—since the move made Internet access a bit uncertain, I decided to pre-schedule all my stops for my upcoming release, Operation Owl. To the best of my knowledge (every aspect of the book is done), it should be available some time in July 2014. In either event, I’m giving away a $25 gift card to celebrate its completion.

You can find out how to enter on my website: http://www.TaraQuan.com/Owl OR Here’s the Rafflecopter widget:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And now, a word from my sponsor…

My World Guest Interview: Zee Monodee

EM: Welcome to My World, Zee. It is lovely to have you here today :-)

Firstly, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Of course! Hello, ye all! Pleasure to be here today!

Okay, so about me.... Early thirties, desperate housewife, crazy wife & parent, shoeholic, shopaholic, bookholic (*secret* I hoard ebooks....) Despite a degree in communications science and media management, I somehow abhor the corporate world so prefer to work from home in my PJs and slippers to pen more romance books. J

1. How long have you been writing for?

Close to a decade now *gasp* I hadn’t realized it’s been this long.... Writing has just always been a part of me so when I started actively putting words to paper and later on, to screen, it just felt like a natural extension of the storytelling that had been happening in my mind all along.

2. Did you always know that you wanted to be a writer?

Yes. Writing was my dream – you know, the one that you aspire to ‘if you could do anything’ or if you won the lottery and were able to quit the day job. I didn’t win the lottery per se (though that’s debatable when you read the next few words...yep, I’m a lucky git!); I did, however, win an awesome man who had no issues with me quitting my corporate job to bring up our son while leaving him with the sole breadwinner status (yes, I am a ‘kept’ woman, LOL). My husband was also the first one I told about my dream to write, and even more amazing on his part, he told me, “Why wait for ‘one day’? One day is right now; it’s what you make every moment to be.” I needed no further prompt, and haven’t looked back ever since.

3. What is your favourite genre to read? To write? And why?

Fave to read – definitely chick lit! Remember in my description above, I said shoeholic and shopaholic; where else but in chick lit can you fulfil those addictions all while vicariously living in a big city and meeting gorgeous men and nodding right along to all the woman/girl issues the heroine might be facing? So that’s my escape – I read to get into another world and the best ticket for me is chick lit.

Fave to write – well, I can’t write funny to save my life, so it’s definitely not chick lit! But I grew up on drama and over-the-topness (Indian origin, aka Bollywood background!), so I love writing about that kind of drama and situations, too. So I’d say contemporary romance with a big slice of cultural life thrown in. This is ‘my’ world, and I love sharing it with others.

4. Who is your favourite author? Fave book? And why?

I can give you 3 names for fave authors – sorry, but I cannot whittle it down to less. They are Sophie Kinsella (queen of chick lit!), Martina Cole (queen of darkish, at times violent, issues and ‘shades of grey’ characters that you root for even if they happen to be crime lords!), & Kristan Higgins (queen of small town romance and intense characterization – read her Blue Heron series and you’ll know what I mean!).

Any of these authors’ books can land on my fave list – I really cannot choose *sobs into hands – this is soooo hard!* J

5. How do you get your ideas?

LOL – I have absolutely no clue! They just seem to pop up out of the blue. Sometimes, it’s a character – like in my current WIP. Leah, the heroine, just appeared in my head looking like Gossip Girl’s Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester) and in her head rang this one line: “You’re a fraud.” Why would she think that? And this got me digging into who she is and what could/would be her story.

But I tend to believe my ideas come a lot from people watching and then ‘grasping’ the human psyche and how it functions. Talk shows are a huge well of inspiration to find out how people act and react and I’m always shelving every detail away – my subconscious might reckon I have use for it one day and just push it forward.

Okay, that sounds like utter malarkey, innit? LOL. To be really honest, I have no idea where story ideas come from. They just seem to find me, is all.

6. In your opinion what is the hardest part of the writing process?

In the past, I have said ‘the sagging middle’, but I want to change this answer now.

The hardest part is putting fingers to keyboard and just writing. It is so easy to procrastinate, then tell yourself you’ll never be as good as the last work you contracted, that you won’t get the same kind of inspiration as when you wrote your last story.... These are the hardest demons to fight, to ignore, just so you get started with new writing.

7. In your opinion what is the best part of the writing process?

When you hit that roll where everything is falling into place AND your characters are surprising you – in a good way! – with what they are deciding to do that sometimes might be eons away from what you’d planned for them. I love that rush, that high. J

8. Are you a planner or a panster?

A mix of both. I never start a story without knowing where I’m going, so there is plotting involved. But the road to get there can take many turns, and in that, I am a pantster. In short, I have a destination but I don’t exactly know how to get there; it’s a journey to get from A to B.

9. Do you prefer to concentrate on one story, or juggle a few?

Actual writing – one story, though that’s not always possible (like, my Eternelles series, co-written with my bestie, releases all year round, so we’re always writing one book in the lineup. But that doesn’t mean I don’t have other stories to write for my other series, deadlines to meet, etc.)

But at any point in time, I will be juggling 2-3-4 story ideas in my head, watching to see how each should unfold or how each wants to unfold. (ahem, no wonder I’m a basket case otherwise...)

11. Out of all the characters you have created, who is your favourite and why?

Easy – it will be Diya Hemant, the heroine from Light My World. When I wrote her, we were of the same age, and though I’d already been married and a mum/stepmum back then, I could easily imagine what life would’ve been like if I’d been single and still searching for my Prince Charming (all while my mother and aunties tried to shack me up with the first eligible prospect they’d hear about!).

Diya has a lot of me in her – basically, I was somewhat writing myself in her part, and that was immense fun. She and ‘clicked’ on a level I have never reached with any other character, and Diya has got to be the sunniest, most positive, brightest, and most fun characters I have imagined (lol, she’s me, but the ‘better’ version!).

12. If you could meet any fictional character, who would you meet and why?

Any one of Martina Cole’s heroines, though I’d have a penchant for Maura Ryan, her heroine from Dangerous Lady (Maura Ryan #1). Maura, at 17, has her world shattered when she is forced to abort her baby and ends up being told she’ll never conceive again. Losing her will to live, she however channels all her rage into becoming one of the most notorious crime bosses of the London East End gangland that she rules with her brother, Michael. But through it all, Maura still remains a broken woman at the heart of her, and she yearns for the love of the one man she cannot have, who is a cop.

Maura Ryan epitomised strength of character and heart and spirit. She’s tough and ruthless, but you also see this fragile side of her throughout, and you cannot help but want to protect her.... She is fascinating, really, and she fascinates me!

Are you working on anything at the moment?

Yes – the story I mentioned above, with the heroine named Leah. The title is Breaking Free, and it’s an intense romance between this girl from the wrong side of the tracks who somehow made it big into society, and her meeting with an uptight viscount who lives only for propriety.

And there’s also the next book in the Daimsbury Chronicles series – it’s the story of Luke Morelli, the underwear supermodel who’s also the brother of Liam (hero of the first book, Bad Luck with Besties). Luke’s story is titled Her Name Is Trouble, and this calamity who sends his life topsy turvy is Texas transplant Missy Taylor.

Do you have any current release?

Yes, I do! It’s Light My World, book 2 of my Island Girls Trilogy!

Blurb:

It is a truth universally acknowledged that to find a prince, a girl has to kiss a few frogs along the way. But what happens when a modern-day princess comes across…an ogre?

So what if a girl has to kiss a few frogs to find her prince?

Tired of her Indian-origin mother’s relentless matchmaking, Diya Hemant is determined to find her Prince Charming on her terms. Armed with a definitive list of requirements, she is sure she’ll know her man when she meets him…

But looking and finding are two different things, especially on the tiny island of Mauritius…

When her path crosses surly British widower Trent Garrison’s, it’s hate at first sight. And though fate keeps pitting her against him, she’s certain he can’t be turned into a frog let alone a prince.

Can this modern-day princess overcome her own expectations and see beyond the ogre to the man beneath?

Purchase link:

Decadent Publishing http://www.decadentpublishing.com/product_info.php?products_id=929&osCsid=8l5kll18n74unhu3c4vhi41577

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Light-My-World-Island-Girls-ebook/dp/B00JH2HUQE/ref=la_B008H07PVM_1_9?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1396846679&sr=1-9

Amazon UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/Light-My-World-Island-Girls-ebook/dp/B00JH2HUQE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1396847137&sr=8-1&keywords=light+my+world+zee+monodee

Barnes & Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/light-my-world-zee-monodee/1119125864?ean=2940149544790

AllRomance Ebooks https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-lightmyworld-1472190-177.html

Any upcoming releases?

May 13, 2014 sees the release of one of my previously-pubbed novels, the sweet romance Calling Home which is set in Surrey, England. The heroine, Margo, is an uptight and rational forensic pathologist who lands herself custody of an 11-year-old girl. Clueless about relationships let alone young girls, Margo is at a loss. But she need not despair...as the sexy young doctor next door seems more than willing to help!

The story has been extended and intensively revised from its previous edition, and I look forward to seeing it come out again.

Where can readers find you on the internet?

At my blog/site http://zeemonodee.blogspot.com , plus I’m just an email away zeemonodee@hotmail.com

And also on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Goodreads – just search for Zee Monodee on there!

Any advice you would like to give aspiring writers?

Believe in yourself! Even if you end up writing utter crap, well, YOU would’ve written it! We all start by writing crap, and it’s only practise that makes us better. So write, write, write, and forget about everything else. 

EM: Thank you so much for joining me!

ZM: Pleasure was all mine, darling!!! xoxo

~ * ~

Title: Light My World

Series: Book #2 in the Island Girls Trilogy

Author: Zee Monodee

Line: Ubuntu (geared to African Romance)

Publisher: Decadent Publishing, LLC

Release date: April 8, 2014

Genre: Romantic Comedy/ Interracial Multicultural Romance/ Interracial Romance/ Bollywood/ Humour/ New Adult

Length: 262 pages

Heat Level: Sensual/ 2 flames

Blurb:

It is a truth universally acknowledged that to find a prince, a girl has to kiss a few frogs along the way. But what happens when a modern-day princess comes across…an ogre?

So what if a girl has to kiss a few frogs to find her prince?

Tired of her Indian-origin mother’s relentless matchmaking, Diya Hemant is determined to find her Prince Charming on her terms. Armed with a definitive list of requirements, she is sure she’ll know her man when she meets him…

But looking and finding are two different things, especially on the tiny island of Mauritius…

When her path crosses surly British widower Trent Garrison’s, it’s hate at first sight. And though fate keeps pitting her against him, she’s certain he can’t be turned into a frog let alone a prince.

Can this modern-day princess overcome her own expectations and see beyond the ogre to the man beneath?

Buy Links:

Decadent Publishing http://www.decadentpublishing.com/product_info.php?products_id=929&osCsid=8l5kll18n74unhu3c4vhi41577

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Light-My-World-Island-Girls-ebook/dp/B00JH2HUQE/ref=la_B008H07PVM_1_9?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1396846679&sr=1-9

Amazon UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/Light-My-World-Island-Girls-ebook/dp/B00JH2HUQE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1396847137&sr=8-1&keywords=light+my+world+zee+monodee

Barnes & Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/light-my-world-zee-monodee/1119125864?ean=2940149544790

AllRomance Ebooks https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-lightmyworld-1472190-177.html

Trailer:

~ * ~ 

Excerpt:

He heard more than felt the car hit the back of the SUV, which had halted in a screech of tyres. The smell of burnt rubber filled his nostrils when the calm came back. He expected the airbag to blow from the wheel, but none released.

Better and better. The car wasn’t only tiny, it didn’t even have an airbag.

A wave of concern washed over him. He wasn’t hurt. At least, he didn’t feel any pain. But what about the other driver?

However, as he stepped out of the car, the worry drained away as another, stronger emotion settled in. Anger.

What sort of inconsiderate driver stopped like that in the middle of a main road?

The bloke should be tagged as a public danger. To top it all, he was going to be late to see his children.

Bloody hell!

My World Guest Author: Ella Jade

The Weekend Proposition

Thanks so much for having me today. I’m thrilled to share my newest release, The Weekend Proposition, with all of you. Please check out the giveaway at the bottom of the post.

What would you do?

Coda is down on her luck. Her mother is ill and they’re struggling to pay the bills. They’re one non-rent payment away from eviction.  How will they survive?

Spencer is in need of a weekend date to get his family and ex-girl friend off his back. His bachelorhood isn’t up for compromise. He needs a plan.

When Coda is thrown into his path, he sees away for both of them to benefit from his proposition. He needs to work fast and convince her that a weekend with him is exactly what she needs. Good thing he’s a great negotiator.

“I’m guessing you’re not here for the grilled cheese. What brings you to Brooklyn?”

“I’ve never had grilled cheese before but maybe I’ll try it, Dakota.” Obviously he had checked her file to use her given name.

“Everyone calls me Coda, Mr. Cannon.”

“Why don’t you call me Spencer?”

“Okay, Spencer, what can I do for you?”

“A ‘to the point’ kind of girl. I like that.” The right side of his lips rose slightly, creating a sexy, crooked smile. “I’m a businessman and I need something.”

From me?

“I think you may benefit from my offer.” He continued to stare directly into her eyes causing her to cower from the influence she found there. She’d never backed away from a guy before but there was something different about him.

“What makes you think that? You don’t know anything about me.”

“I overheard your conversation with your mother last night.” He stopped for a second, but before she could open her mouth to protest, he continued. “You were in my private kitchen. I did try to make my presence known but you didn’t hear me.”

“How much did you hear?” She fidgeted with her hands, trying hard to break the Italian habit of using them when she talked. She had a tendency to get loud when she felt stressed. The conversation with her mother had caused her some anxiety.

“Enough to know you’re in need of financial assistance.”

“I’ll figure it out. I always do.” She didn’t like discussing her finances, or lack thereof, with a stranger. She didn’t care how rich and good-looking he was. It was none of his business.

“I have a proposition for you.”

“A proposition?” What could he possibly have to offer her?

“I have to attend my cousin’s wedding this weekend. Actually, I have to leave tomorrow afternoon. I don’t want to go alone for reasons I don’t wish to discuss right now. I need someone to accompany me. I’m offering that to you.”

“And you think I’m ‘to the point’?”

Hmm… this could get interesting.

~ * ~

Blurb:

One weekend—no strings, no expectations, and no commitments. On Sunday afternoon it all ends, or does it?

No-nonsense businessman Spencer Cannon has a dilemma. He’s headed to Connecticut for the weekend to attend his cousin’s elaborate wedding. His whole family will be there in addition to his obsessed ex-girlfriend Ava. According to Spencer’s brother, Ava has been telling her friends she’s planning a magical reunion with her favorite ex-boyfriend. Spencer’s not in the mood to deal with her, but he can’t miss the wedding. He needs a plan.

Struggling Brooklyn waitress and aspiring graphic designer Dakota Vercelli has fallen on hard times. College debts, pending eviction, and her sick mother are taking a toll on her. A chance encounter with Mr. Cannon, CEO of Cannon and Carrington Advertising, leads to a proposition that may be just the thing to solve both of their problems. Spencer’s offer—spend four days with him during the wedding festivities and keep his ex off his trail. In return, he’ll compensate her generously for her time. He needs a weekend girlfriend, and Dakota needs the cash.

It was just supposed to be a business deal, but after sharing a room, kissing under the stars, and attending a wedding, their attraction is undeniable. Will the illusion end when the weekend is over or is the proposition just the beginning?

Content Warning: contains mature language and graphic sexual content.

Beachwalk Press Buy Link

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Beachwalk Press

~ * ~

About Ella:

Ella Jade has been writing for as long as she can remember. As a child, she often had a notebook and pen with her, and now as an adult, the laptop is never far. The plots and dialogue have always played out in her head, but she never knew what to do with them. That all changed when she discovered the eBook industry. She started penning novels at a rapid pace and now she can't be stopped.

Ella resides in New Jersey with her husband and two young boys. When she's not chasing after her kids, she's busy writing, attending PTO meetings, kickboxing, and scrapbooking. She hopes you'll get lost in her words.

You can find Ella here…

http://ellajadeauthor.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ella-Jade-Author/186959391390708?ref=hl

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GIVEAWAY

Please enter the rafflecopter for your chance to win a $10 Amazon Gift Card and a coffee mug with The Weekend Proposition cover on it.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Just in case Rafflecopter decides to not work, here's the link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/NmM2YzcyYmY 

BTS Tours: Been Loving You Too Long by Seraphina Donavan

Title:  Been Loving You Too Long

Author:  Seraphina Donavan

Publisher:  Curvy Seductions Press; 1 edition (June 10, 2013)

Length:  168 pgs

Sub-Genre: Erotic, romance

BLURB: 

Ophelia Broulliard’s life has always been linked to the wealthy and powerful DuChamps family. The granddaughter of the family’s housekeeper, she’s worshipped Vincent DuChamps from afar--the ever unattainable prince in her fairy tale dreams. Little does she know that Vincent harbors his own secret feelings for her, but other darker secrets that he sees as an insurmountable obstacle to ever being the man she deserves, have prompted him to avoid her altogether.

When Thomas, the family patriarch dies, his will bears some unpleasant surprises for them both. Thomas wants nothing more than for Vincent and his siblings to be happy, and in his final act as the only father figure they’ve ever had, engineers a series of contingencies in his will that require them each to face their demons. Only too aware of what Vincent really feels for Ophelia, Thomas creates a situation that will force Vincent to confront his feelings. Unless, Vincent and Ophelia marry, Vincent and his siblings will lose everything, including the family business.

Forced into such close proximity, denying their attraction for one another becomes impossible. But even as they grow closer, other threats to the future of DuChamps Hotels and all that Vincent holds dear threaten to destroy their burgeoning relationship. Ophelia has played it safe her whole life. Taking a risk on Vincent is a frightening prospect. Will it be worth it, or will his secrets break both their hearts?

~ * ~

EXCERPTS:

“You look tired, Vincent.”

He quirked an eyebrow, his expression sardonic.  “So I hear.”

It had slipped out, an admission that she shouldn’t have made.  Acknowledging to anyone how frequently Vincent crossed her mind or how often she studied his face was dangerous.

When he looked up at her, their gazes locked and Ophelia’s breath simply froze.  Her lungs seized and she could do nothing but stare into his coal-black eyes and pray that everything she felt for him wasn’t written all over her face.

It was only when he drew her hand up and placed it against his chest, directly over his racing heart that she realized he’d even still been holding it.  The firmness of muscle and the springy mat of chest hair beneath the cotton of his shirt was too much temptation to resist.  She caressed that muscle lightly and watched as his eyes blazed with lust.

His expression changed to something she could only describe as carnal, predatory even. He stepped closer to her, backing her against the island.

She let out a sigh, savoring the sensation of his closeness, of the heat from his body scorching her.

His mouth was only inches from her and the anticipation of waiting for the kiss that seemed so inevitable was agonizing.  “Tell me to stop,” he demanded.

“You shouldn’t,” she whispered, unable to find her voice.

“I shouldn’t stop or I shouldn’t kiss you, Ophelia?  Which is it?”

She knew the right answer, the answer she ought to give.  Instead, she sank against him, savoring the heat, the hard planes of his body against hers.  Her eyes closed softly as she raised her lips to his. 

The heat between them sparked, flared, then raged out of control.  She might have initiated that first tentative touch of their lips, but he quickly seized the reins.

His lips were firm as they settled over hers, demanding.  When his teeth scraped her bottom lip, nipping roughly and then soothing with his tongue, she couldn’t hold back the low moan.  Each gentle tug and pull as he sucked at her lips, the sensual glide of his tongue against hers as he swept it into her mouth was overwhelmingly intense.

It was as if he’d peered inside her and knew what she wanted even before he she did.  Heat suffused her, spreading throughout her body.  He tasted of bourbon and the spice that was simply him.  Sliding her hands up and over the breadth of his shoulders, she clasped her hands behind his neck, bringing them even closer.

BUY LINKS:

Amazon:http://www.amazon.com/Loving-Romance-DuChamps-Dynasty-ebook/dp/B00DBN9F9A/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=8-5&qid=1373317399

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Seraphina Donavan is a hopeless romantic with a wicked & oh-so-dirty mind! Those things, combined with her love of writing, prompted her to take the leap and transform those fantasies into written words on a page. As a curvy girl herself, Seraphina has made it a point to celebrate those women with delicious curves with her work through writing and the hot men who love them.

She currently has 11 published books & is working on many more...

Living in Central Kentucky, Seraphina spends her time rescuing stray animals, working for a non-profit agency and dreaming of becoming a best-selling author. She lives in a home that has more character than working parts and enjoys spending time with her fur babies. Feel free to contact her with any questions or thoughts on your mind.. She loves connecting with her readers & hearing from anyone!

Twitter: @MissSeraphinaD

Facebook: www.facebook.com/SeraphinaDonavan

Gmail: SeraphinaDonavan@gmail.com

www.seraphinadonavan.blogspot.com

EM: Welcome to My World, Seraphina. It is lovely to have you here today. :-)

 Firstly, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I’m a total geek and love it. I just fulfilled a lifelong dream of seeing Adrian Paul in person.  I didn’t need bail money and I don’t think I humiliated myself. That’s what I’m going with at any rate.  I’m not married. Living in Central Kentucky with more cats than any sane woman ought to have. 

1. How long have you been writing for?
 I can’t honestly remember a time when I wasn’t writing, but I didn’t pursue publication until 2011.