Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Online Book Tour & Giveaway - A Bridge to Treachery by Larry Crane



Welcome to my stop on Larry Crane's Online Book Tour for A Bridge to Treachery.  Please be sure to leave a comment or question below to let Larry know you were here.  You can fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter his giveaway.  All of the stops on his tour are listed below.


~~~~~~~~~~~~
I Know What I Like in Fiction.  So, Leave Me Alone by Larry Crane 

Imagine my surprise when my publisher confidently labeled my novel a thriller. It certainly has action and suspense, but it is also a love story. I had some preconceptions of what a thriller is—a hard boiled detective or other operative of some kind engages his enemies in a shoot ‘em up potboiler—otherwise known as pulp fiction. My book was no thriller. My title was Quality Guy, an ironic label applied to protagonist Lou Christopher by his arrogant female employer in my nuanced... blah blah blah.  Lou Christopher is anything but hard boiled. A http://amzn.to/RmJQNlshoot‘em up?  Me? But this was long before I had any understanding at all of the publishing industry.

“Look, we like it but you’re going to have to lose the title”, they said.
“Got any suggestions?” I asked.
“You’re the writer,”
“Give me some hints,” I said.

I learned that a book needs to be genre-ized.  How else do you expect a potential buyer of your book to even settle into the right aisle in the store, let alone zoom-in on your book. There are over 350,000 books published every year. The name you come up with serves to slide your tome neatly into a clear category. Never mind some fuzzy phrase that somewhere in that fuzzy brain of yours encapsulates all of the story you’ve told. You’re going to have to declare yourself. You need to home in on the principal thrust of the book. Frankly, your book needs hard edged, hard hitting words.

“It’s a business.”
“I know it’s a business,” I said.
“So...”
“How about Once a Soldier, then?”
“That’s hard hitting? they asked.

Fast forward a year and a half.  The press release for my book A Bridge to Treachery reads in part: “This suspense-laden gnashing of guns, ammo, terrorism and deceit is now available in print and as an e-book through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other leading online retailers and book stores nationwide.“ Sounds a little shoot ‘em up. No?  Later, my publisher compares “Treachery” to First Blood, by David Morrell,  Perhaps, you know of the Sylvester Stallone movie named Rambo. It’s the same story.

But here are words from an Amazon review by Andrew Gifford  of First Blood: “The Rambo in the book isn't Stallone. And I love the little nuance that puts the sheriff a little bit in the grey area in terms of who's the villain and who isn't. We get some personality there, and a character we can identify with... And that changes the whole dynamic as the sheriff and Rambo go head to head and ultimately escalate a minor encounter into a calamity. This is First Blood as you can picture it from the movie, but the movie tore out the heart of the story, I think.”

So, here we are at the central premise of this post: The exigencies of the book business demand that the author and publisher of a book attend to the primary purpose of printing it: sales. If it weren’t for that premise no books would find the light of day. But that is not an excuse for readers to paint all books of a genre with the same brush.  Genre-izing is just a sales tool, albeit a necessary one.  Be open to the possibilities in all genres. You might be pleasantly surprised.

Are you open to the possibilities in all genres?


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


A Bridge to Treachery
by Larry Crane

Brighton Publishing, LLC
299 Pages

ISBN: 978-1-936587-35-3


BUY NOW LINK:





BLURB:

Former Colonel Lou Christopher is an ex-Army Ranger retired from the military and contentedly working as a New York investment broker. After being assigned a number of lucrative accounts and becoming accustomed to living the good life, he discovers there is a pay back. His former military skills are requested under a threat of losing everything he has.



Handed a group of misfits to assemble into a military strike team, he is coerced into leading the team on a mission of domestic terrorism. At the center of a bridge outside of Manhattan, his strike team is caught in the act and unexpectedly becomes engaged in a deadly firefight. It's then that he learns the mission was a political maneuver from the highest levels of the U.S. Government-and ultimately realizes he has been betrayed by his superiors. Learning his team was considered nothing more than collateral damage and intended to be killed and left as scapegoats, he uses his unique military expertise and engages in a fight for his life.


As the strike team is decimated, he and a female teammate elude the opposition forces to survive and escape, turning the tables on his superiors. Using his distinctive set of military skills, he now becomes the hunter and vows to extract his revenge and bring them all down. 


Excerpt:


Lou did a double take and said: “Are you crazy or just completely friggin’ nuts?”

“You don’t have to be so sarcastic,” Sydney said.

“Here on the rocks? With you?”

“Excuse me. It was just an impulse. Ill-timed, it seems.”

“Timing has nothing to do with it.”

“Thanks.”

“You’re feeling doomed.”

“And that was my last wish? Fuck you. I just go with my impulses.”

“I’m capable of a lot: lying, walking out, frittering away the most important things—but there’s a
limit, even for me.

“And I’m where you draw the line.”

“You said it.”

“You’re not all that much yourself.”

“Should have been flattered, huh?”

“You said that.” Lou stood, walked away briefly, and then came back. “It’s the principle.”

“A lot you know.”

“Let’s just drop it. I’m simply saying....”

“I’m a slut.”

“I’m saying we’re miles apart when it comes to this.”

“If I’m a slut, you’re a hypocrite, and I’d rather be me.”

“Fine.”

“You probably had the impulse too, but you’re too tight-assed to put it to words.”

“Now who’s flattering herself?”

“It’s not a crime to say what’s on your mind. I believe in that! I’d rather be authentic than
anything else.”

“Good for you.”

“Good for me.”




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





Author Bio: 

Transplanted to Maine mid-westerner Larry Crane brings an Illinois sensibility to his writing. Larry graduated from West Point and served in the Army before starting a business career on Wall Street. His writing includes articles for outdoor magazines, plays, short fiction, and his most recent thriller novel, A Bridge to Treachery. In his spare time, Crane is a hobbyist videographer for his local Public Access Television Station and is a volunteer at his local historical society. Larry and wife Jan live in splendid isolation on the coast of Maine.



ONLINE LINKS:


Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/mainelarrycrane
Webpage: http://www.mainelarrycrane.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MaineLarryCrane
Wattpad: http://wattpad.com/LarryCrane
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/capenewagen?ref=tn_tnmn
Google+ https://plus.google.com/102138020542253759325
Blog http://mainelarrycrane.blogspot.com/
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/settings/?trk=hb_acc
IAN: http://www.independentauthornetwork.com/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3974958.Larry_Crane


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

My Review: 

A Bridge to Treachery by Larry Crane is a well paced thriller about a career army man attempting to adjust to life as a civilian.  With well developed characters, good dialogue and just enough action to keep the pace moving,Mr. Crane's story grabbed my attention from the first page and never let go.  While Mr. Crane didn't have to do too much world building, the story is set in a contemporary setting, we get the hero's flashbacks of his previous military career.  It was also nice having a hero who was over 30 years of age with real world experience.

Lou Christopher is having a tough time adjusting to life outside of the army.  A career army man, Lou had never really planned for what he would do post retirement.  He also hadn't planned on being forced out of the army by the time he was fifty.  Determined to land a job which could lead to financial stability for his family, he finds himself working as an investment broker with little to no sales experience.  

When Louis is given a choice account, which he didn't get on his own and which leads to large commissions, he's suspicious but is more than happy to accept the money.  Mr. Crane did an excellent job developing Lou's character, he's likable, fairly intelligent and cares for his family.  He's faithful to his country, the army and his wife, though he did cheat on her once - which she knew.  Like everyone else, he wants to be able to have a comfortable life and feel as if he's successful, something he's been struggling with since he was forced out of the army before he wanted to leave.

Maggie Christopher, Lou's wife, has been in love with her husband from the moment she first saw him.  A "military brat" she knew what life in the military was like and embraced it for most of her life.  Faithful to her husband, except for a short period of time when he was stationed overseas, she's used to living a modest life.  Happy for her husband and his new success, Maggie wants to take things slowly when it comes to the new money in their life.  She never envisioned having to save her husband's life due to a someone else's treachery.

Confronted at work by two men in trench coats, Lou finds himself being blackmailed into helping "stage" a fake terrorist attack.  If he doesn't cooperate, he'll lose the special account he's been given and he'll lose his position.  Reluctantly agreeing to go along with the plan, Lou and his "team" find themselves double crossed and expendable.  As the body count begins to pile up, Lou and only one member of his team make it away.  Now Lou will have to use all of his experience to make it back home in one piece.  

Will Lou discover who is behind the double cross, which lead to his team being killed?  Will he be able to make it out of the situation he finds himself in and back to Maggie's side? The story takes several twists and turns which leads to a surprising revelation and a good ending.  
You'll have to read A Bridge to Treachery to discover who's behind the "fake" terrorist attack, I certainly didn't see that twist coming.  

My Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars 




FTC Disclosure: I was provided a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Bridge to Treachery Online Book Tour Stops:

11/5 Maureen's Book Haven Interview
11/8 M-N's Amazing Book Reviews Promo & Giveaway
11/9 The Bunny's Review Review, Guest Post, & Giveaway
11/14 Chris Redding Author Guest Post
11/15 Blooding Book Reviews Review
11/16 The Avid Reader Guest Post & Giveaway
11/16 Hooks and Book Review, Guest Post, & Giveaway
11/19 The Cover by Brittany Interview & Giveaway
11/20 My Cozie Corner Review & Giveaway
11/22 My Reading Obsession Guest Post
11/23 Kindle Fever Review
11/26 TBR Review
11/27 Beauty in Ruins Review
11/28 Reviews By Molly Guest Post & Giveaway
11/29 Harlie's Books Review

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Virtual Book Tour - Edge of Oblivion by J.T. Geissinger



Welcome to my stop on J.T. Geissinger's Edge of Oblivion Virtual Book Tour.  Please be sure to leave a comment or question below for J.T. to let her know you were here.  You can fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter her giveaway.


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


CHARACTER INTERVIEW – MORGAN MONTGOMERY


An Ikati shape-shifter able to turn to vapor or panther and also having the very powerful gift of suggestion, Morgan’s rebellious nature has gotten her into trouble on more than one occasion. Today we chat about food, vacations and shoes.


Q: What would most embarrass you?

A: (Laughing) I’m way more easily pissed off than embarrassed, so I don’t know. Maybe if I had to sing in public. The thought of doing Karaoke makes me queasy.

Q: What five words best describe you?

A: Passionate. Tough. Hot-tempered. Complicated. Flawed.

Q: What do you loathe?

A: (Her face darkens at this question.) Rules. All kinds of rules. For me, a rule is always made to be broken.

Q: What do you love?

A: (Smiling now.) Well…I’m fond of a certain assassin named Alexander. Apart from him, I love moonlight and summer storms and shoes. God, I love shoes. Shoes are my kryptonite; I will literally become weak-kneed at the sight of a pair of Louboutin’s.

Q: What’s your favorite food?

A: Since moving to Kadavu…abalone. Xander and I devour them raw right after harvesting them from the volcanic rocks in the shallow water of the bay. Sweeter and more tender than oysters, they’re divine. My second favorite food is caviar, but I haven’t had that in a while! There’s only one main grocery store on this island!

Q: If you could vacation anywhere in the world, where would it be?

A: Here! Kadavu is the fourth-largest island in the Fiji island chain, and it’s got to be the single most beautiful place on earth. Crystal waters, pristine rain forest, untouched beaches…I hope I’ll never have to leave this place.

Q: Driving or flying?


A: I’m a creature of the earth, darling. Driving, for sure. (Smirks.) Running is even better, especially in panther form.


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

Edge of Oblivion
Night Prowler Novels, Book Two
J.T. Geissinger

Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Montlake Romance

ISBN: 1612184197
ASIN: B007SX0246

Number of pages: 384
Word Count: 98,000


Book Description:
Morgan Montgomery is waiting to die. Branded a traitor by her tribe, the Ikati shape-shifter has no hope for mercy—until Jenna, the Ikati’s newly crowned queen and Morgan’s former ally, offers one last chance for redemption. Morgan must infiltrate the Rome headquarters of the Expurgari, the Ikati’s ancient enemy, to destroy them once and for all. The beautiful renegade has just a fortnight to complete her mission or forfeit her life. Because she does not travel alone…

Xander Luna is a trained assassin and the Ikati’s most feared enforcer, famed for his swift brutality and stony heart. Fiercely loyal, he is prepared to hate the traitor under his watch—until they come face to face. For Morgan Montgomery arouses something unexpected inside of him, something that threatens everything he believes in and the fate of the tribe itself: a love as powerful and passionate as it is forbidden.
Sensual, thrilling, and action-packed, Edge of Oblivion will enthrall readers with nail-biting suspense and heart-pounding passion.

Excerpt: 


“Come,” barked Leander from behind the closed door. Matthew pushed it open. Not satisfied to merely enter the room with her trailing behind, he turned, grasped her by the arm, dragged her over the threshold, then released her abruptly, as if he’d been burned by touching her.
So of course she fell. Of course she did.
Caught on one of the heels of her shoes, the hem of her dress tangled beneath her feet. The delicate fabric gave way with a soft ripping noise and she pitched forward, unable to throw her arms out for balance because they were cuffed tight behind her back. She fell to her knees on the cold marble floor with a bone-crunching jolt that startled a pained gasp from her lips, but just before she fell flat on her face, something stopped her.
A pair of hands. Strong and warm at her shoulders.
She was caught and steadied, pushed gently back to her knees where she rocked, finding her balance. Then she lifted her head and looked up—
—into a pair of eyes, brilliant amber rimmed in kohl, that stared out from a sun-darkened face of such cold, savage beauty it sent a thrill of pure fear humming along every nerve. Adrenaline lashed through her body, primitive and chemical, and abruptly awoke the animal inside that bristled and hissed and screamed danger! at the top of its lungs.
He was huge—tall and thickly muscled, far larger than any of her lithe, sinewy kin—and had shoulders so wide she crouched in a pool of thrown shadows at his feet. His black hair, tipped on his wide forehead to a widow’s peak, was cropped close to his head. His clothes were black as well, simple and form-fitting, made for ease of movement. On his back was a pair of crossed swords, sheathed in leather scabbards. On his belt and boots were more weapons, gleaming wicked in the light.
But all this paled in comparison to the more imminent threat of his eerie, amber eyes.
They fixed on hers, unblinking, unfeeling, and she realized with another jolt that this man staring back at her in absolute stillness with that beautiful face and those scorching, fire-lit eyes wasn’t anything she’d ever seen before. He was alive, his body was alive, but behind that mask of perfection, there wasn’t a shred of humanity or mercy or kindness or feeling. There was nothing. He was dead.
Soul dead.
He was the most terrifying thing she’d ever seen.
“Xander,” said a voice from her right. Leander’s, she supposed, aware on a molecular level of her thundering heart, her frozen muscles, the stranger’s gaze that had dropped to the pulse beating wildly in the hollow of her neck. His nostrils flared with an inhalation, and for one wild, horrified moment, she thought he might lean down and tear out her throat with his teeth.
But he didn’t. He only lifted that piercing gaze back to hers and, in a motion of fluid, predatory grace, drew her to her feet. He released her and stepped back, never blinking, his attention never wavering, those piercing dead eyes never leaving her face.
“Xander,” Leander said again. “This is Morgan. Your flight for Rome leaves at one o’clock.”


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


About the Author:

A life-long lover of reading and a self-professed “book addict,” J.T. Geissinger didn’t realize her dream of writing a novel until a milestone birthday forced her to take stock of her goals in life. Always believing the right time to commit to putting pen to paper would magically announce itself, it took waking up one cold January morning with a shiny new zero as the second number in her age to kick start her determination.


More than a year and two unsold novels later, it was time to take stock again.

But her determination matched her initial procrastination, and she kept on writing and learning and trying to improve, trusting that if it was meant to be, it would be.

Then, during a trip to Italy in honor of their 10th wedding anniversary and the honeymoon she and her husband never took, she received an email that would change her life. It was from a literary agent, and it contained the three words every aspiring author longs to hear: “I loved it.”

The manuscript was sold to Montlake Romance who published it six months later. Hitting the Amazon bestseller lists in both the US and the UK within weeks of publication, Shadow’s Edge was book one of the Night Prowler Novels. Book two, Edge of Oblivion published October 2nd, and book three will follow in the spring of 2013. Three additional installations in the Night Prowler series are planned for the future.






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


My Review:

Edge of Oblivion, the second book in the Night Prowler series by J.T. Geissinger, is an elegant paranormal romance with well developed characters and a well paced plot. The world building is well done and easy to understand. Creating her own version of lore, shared in this books prologue, Ms. Geissinger creates the Ikati, an ancient tribe of panther shapeshifters with their own political issues hidden amongst the world we live in today. 

At the beginning of this book, Morgan Montgomery, a young, powerful, and seductively beautiful member of the Ikati has been found guilty of treason and has been sentenced to death.  Prepared to meet her death, and do it gracefully so as not to give her enemies any additional gossip, she's surprised to be given a chance at redemption.  Not a great chance, but a chance none the less.  She never planned on getting a second chance or on falling in love with the enforcer sent to make sure she completes her tasks or dies trying.  Ms. Geissinger did an excellent job creating Morgan's character, I liked her from the very beginning and was rooting for her to somehow get a second chance.  As we get to know her, I began to understand how what she wants for her people, the Ikati, got her in trouble and yet I saw her as a noble character who really only wants the best for a society which really needs to adapt.  

Xander Luna is known as a fierce warrior and enforcer.  Known more for his execution skills, he's not surprised to be assigned to watch over Morgan and help her complete her assigned task, destroying their enemy, the Expurgari. He's quite capable of killing her if she fails or attempts to escape from his supervision, he just never planned on developing feelings for her.  Ms. Geissinger did a good job introducing us to Xander, he's powerful, somewhat ruthless and has blocked out most of his emotions at the beginning of this book.  As he gets to know Morgan more, Ms. Geissinger brings him emotionally alive and we get to witness his growth.

The scenes between Morgan and Xander are well written and have good dialogue.  They are both powerful and they both need to grow emotionally.  We watch them grow closer together and realize exactly what's at stake as the story moves along.  The secondary characters are also well written and make good contributions to the plot.  I especially liked Jenna and Leander, the Queen and Alpha of the Ikati, who for reasons of their own put Morgan and Xander together.

Will Morgan and Xander's trip to Rome reveal what they need?  Will Morgan get her chance at redemption and freedom?  You'll have to read Edge of Oblivion to find out.  While I was able to read and enjoy this book on it's own, I do plan to go back and read Shadow's Edge, the first book in the series as there were times I did feel I would have understood or gotten more out of certain sections of this book if I had read it first.  

My Rating:  4.5 out of 5 Stars 






FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review 




a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, October 29, 2012

Name Before The Masses Tour - The Devil DeVere Series by Victoria Vane


Welcome to my stop on Victoria Vane's Name Before The Masses Tour for The Devil DeVere Series

Please be sure to leave a comment or question below for Victoria as she will be awarding a copy of her first erotic historical romance, A Breach of Promise, to one randomly drawn commenter during her tour.  You can follow her tour stops here, the more often you comment, the better your odds of winning.  



Also as a special note, Victoria's publisher, Breathless Press is offering the first book of her series for FREE during this week. The link is http://www.breathlesspress.com/index.php?main_page=product_free_shipping_info&cPath=17&products_id=291

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

Victoria Vane Interview

Me: Your books are set in the Georgian historical period.  What is it about this period of time that has captured your attention and led you to set your books within this time frame?

Victoria:  To date, all of my books writing both as Emery Lee and Victoria Vane have been set in the Georgian era. One reason is that the Regency is already so inundated. The other reason is that it truly is my favorite historical period. I love the elegance of it — the art, music, architecture, and especially the clothes! I also love the Georgian's naughty, bawdy humor, particularly as portrayed on the stage.

The Georgians were truly a riotous breed who drank heavily, gamed to excess, and were not particularly encumbered by morality! Paradoxically, they lived by a rigid code of honor, proven by the record number of duels fought in this period. What great fodder for a romance novelist!


Me:  While your books are fictional romance, how extensive is the research you have done for the Devil DeVere series?


Victoria:  I am a true blue history geek who reads history books just for fun! Thus, everything I write has some historical basis, whether it be the setting, events that I use, or even the real characters. I strongly believe that working these real life details into my work gives it added depth and dimension. It's how I do my world building.

For example, In A WILD NIGHT'S BRIDE, the heroine Phoebe is an actress who I largely modeled after the Georgian actress Mary Robinson. Phoebe gets her big break in a production of The Belles' Stratagem, a real play written by Georgian dramatist Hannah Cowley. The brothel where she and Ned meet is King's Place, one the elite brothels owned by Charlotte Hayes. This is also real, as was the Otaheitian Feast of Venus, and the list goes on! My books are riddled with historical facts. My author blog, Victoria's Titillating Tidbits http://victoriavane.wordpress.com  is dedicated to the juicy tidbits that I find, many of which I work into my stories.


Me:  You also write under the name Emery Lee and those books are also set in the Georgian period.  Why did you feel a need for a different nom de plume?


Victoria:  Primarily due to the drastic difference in heat level. My Emery Lee novels are best described as romantic historical fiction as opposed to historical romance. To explain the difference, there is a love story integral to the plot, but history plays an equal part. These books are also PG rated, as opposed to my work as Victoria Vane which is erotic in nature, although the emphasis is on the romance. While I do write sexually explicit material, the plot and characters always come first. The sex is geared to enhance the romance and is never at the expense of a good story.

Me:  Did you always know you wanted to be a writer and do you currently write full time?

Victoria:  Although I wrote a few stories as a child and always excelled in English and literature classes, I  never imagined myself as a writer. I didn't know I had the imagination for it until I woke up at forty-four years old with my first story in my head - a tale of passion, retribution, and horse racing set in the  18th century.

I wrote THE HIGHEST STAKES in fourteen months and got a publishing contract six weeks after I finished it. I was both stunned and terrified that I would never think of another story to write. Happily, those fears were unfounded.

Me:  While growing up, what or who were your literary influences?


Victoria:  I have always loved the classics- Shakespeare (the comedies), Dickens, Alexander Dumas, the Bronte sisters, Jane Austen, etc. When I began reading romance I discovered Georgette Heyer. I believe she has been my strongest writing influence. My first editor told me I had a Heyer-esque writing voice.

Me:  If you were able to travel back or forward in time, where would you go?


Victoria: I must laugh aloud - need you even ask?  Georgian England, of course!

Me:  Aliens invade the planet and you are fleeing to the mountains. If you were only able to take a handful of books - what would they be?


Victoria:  I think a guide on surviving an alien attack would be very useful!

Me:  If your friends had to describe you in one word - what word would that be?

Victoria:  Tenacious!

Me:  If expense was not an issue, please give us your "destination vacation"?


Victoria:  An extensive tour of the entire British Isles. I have been to London once in my life, but would very much like to tour the entire country to include Scotland, Ireland and Wales and even some of the islands.


Quick get to know you questions:

Favorite Color - Red
Coffee or Tea – both Coffee in the morning and tea at night.
Print or Ebook- both but now leaning more toward e-book due to the lower price and sheer convenience.
Heels or boots- Both again. I am a horse owner and have a good collection of boots but I love platform heel. I wear what suits my mood.
Favorite movie – Last of the Mohicans.

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


The Devil DeVere Series
By
Victoria Vane



(Book #1) A WILD NIGHT'S BRIDE:  What happens when a struggling actress and a grieving widower come together in a night of unbridled debauchery orchestrated by a bored and machinating rake? With the devil in charge — there will surely be hell to pay!


My story begins with A WILD NIGHT’S BRIDE, a racy rollicking adventure that pairs Phoebe Scott, a struggling actress with Sir Edward “Ned” Chamber a grieving widower in a madcap wager when devil in disguise, Viscount Ludovic DeVere, is determined to return his best friend, Ned, to the land of the living. His meddling machinations result in a night of mind blowing passion after which “dull dog Ned” awakes to find himself in the King of England’s bed!


EXCERPT:

DeVere, on the other hand, evinced no such qualms. He had already loosened his cravat and was stripping off his coat.


"As I said earlier, there is no need," Phoebe insisted. "A couple of buttons and a raised petticoat are all the business requires."


"How delightfully unromantic you are, my dear!" He chuckled. "But while most men would be charmed to comply with your simple wishes, I have quite another game in mind. One that most definitely requires you to disrobe."


"But what if I don't want to?"


"Oh but you will," he said with a smug smile.


She glared. "You are very sure of yourself!"


He studied his buffed fingernails. "I am sure of Ned. Thus, we must put on a convincing show."


Her brows came together in a deep scowl. "What do you mean? What has Ned to do with this?"


"Everything. And at any moment, I expect him to burst through that door like a raging bull."




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

(Book #2) THE VIRGIN HUNTRESS:  Desperate times call for devilish measures…Lady Vesta Chambers is accustomed to getting what she wants, but when the object of her passion has eyes for another, it’s time to take matters in hand!



In THE VIRGIN HUNTRESS, Ned’s spoiled daughter Vesta goes to London to find a husband and is smitten the moment she lays eyes on a certain officer of the Seventeenth Light Dragoons who happens to be DeVere’s younger brother Captain Hew. But when the only man she desires has eyes for her godmother, Vesta is prepared to take devilish measures to prove just how wrong he is. 


Excerpt:

"But it is so large and swollen, is it painful?


"No, just uncomfortable. Now, may we stop discussing my …" the appropriate word for feminine ears failed him.


"Phallus?" she offered. "That is what the grooms call it."


"Why are you eavesdropping on grooms?"


"I used to watch the stallions leaping the mares."


"You what!" Hew almost choked.


"Well, how else is a girl with no mother supposed to get any education? Although I doubt Mama would have told me very much. So there's really no reason to be timid, Hew. I already know all about the mating process. And to the best of my knowledge, the stallions never 'ignored it until it went away.' Please feel free to relieve yourself of it. I would even help you if you would like. I'm not the least afraid for I have seen much larger ones."



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


(Book #3)  THE DEVIL YOU KNOW :  When dealing with the devil it's easy to be burned…especially when passion ignites the flames…

Beautiful, respectable, and dutiful, Lady Diana Palmerston-Wriothesley has long resigned herself to her loveless marriage …until her husband's gambling pushes them to the brink of ruin. Viscount Ludovic, "The Devil DeVere", is a man accustomed to taking what he wants according to his whim until he encounters a woman who won't be had at any price. But will a single night of heavenly passion damn them both forever?



Excerpt:

She wanted him too. He could see it in the rapid rise of her breasts. He could smell her budding arousal and would relish bringing her to full bloom. God, how he loved this dance! She had taken the first tentative steps, yet she still fought her desire, refused to give in to it, but he would lead her now. He was a master…and a ruthless bastard.


He moved behind her, his fingers riffled gently through her hair. He closed his eyes to inhale her faint rose scent mixed with womanly musk. He dipped his head, letting his breath tickle her ear. She shivered. He whispered low and sultry. "Do you wish me to name the ways I can please you? I am delighted to comply if that excites you...although it would please me far more to demonstrate."



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

(Book #4) THE DEVIL'S MATCH: Once burned twice shy… but when old flames come together…passion reignites...


In THE DEVIL’S MATCH, we find Diana and DeVere finally reunited in a tale that mixes the exotic with the erotic with a number of surprising twists! Arriving in London as her goddaughter’s chaperon, Baroness Diana Palmerston Wriothesley wants to avoid her erstwhile lover at all costs, but when Diana’s charge disappears, she is forced to seek help from the devil’s lair. But while Ludovic is hell bent to have her back in his bed, Diana is equally determined to bring him to his knees.

Excerpt:

DeVere rose and came to her, perching himself on the arm of the settle. "My honorable and straitlaced brother could never satisfy a woman like you, Diana. He could never plumb the depths of your passion...unlock your secret desires."

His voice was low and seductive, and the flickering blue fire in his eyes heated her insides. Diana fiercely tamped down the smoldering sensation that threatened to reignite feelings she'd struggled to suppress. "And what would you know of my wants and desires after four years?"

"A great deal." He gave her a slow, confident smile. "Given that I was the one to unleash them."

Diana averted her face with a bitter laugh. "Thus you presume to have an exclusive claim to me?"

"Has any other exerted one?" he asked softly. He reached out a hand and traced a long, manicured finger along her jaw. "You are still unwed, Diana. Have you taken another lover in my absence?"

"It is none of your business whether I have or not, and you are grossly impertinent to ask."

He laughed long and low. "I think I have my answer."

She glared at him, and thus they remained, silently challenging one another for an interminable beat. Then suddenly his mouth was on hers, taking, possessing, as if it was indeed, his singular privilege.

Diana leaned into him, teasing his lower lip with her tongue and sucking it eagerly into her mouth before sinking her teeth into it. Hard. Savoring the coppery taste of his blood.

"What the hell!" DeVere jerked back with a cry. He touched his lip and examined the crimson stain on his fingertip, his expression a mix of outrage and bemusement.

"You took without invitation," Diana said. "It was a warning not to do so again."






The Devil DeVere Volume 1 
Print (A Wild Night's Bride & The Virgin Huntress)

What happens when a struggling actress and a grieving widower come together in a night of unbridled debauchery orchestrated by a bored and machinating rake?

In A Wild Night's Bride, Phoebe Scott, alias Kitty Willis, is a lonely lady, down on her luck. Sir Edward Chambers is steadfast, respectable, and avowed to a life of celibacy. Devil in disguise, Viscount Ludovic DeVere, is the machinating rake hell-bent to return his best friend, Ned, to the land of the living. But with the devil in charge...there will surely be hell to pay. In The Virgin Huntress, desperate times call for devilish measures... The coddled and pampered Lady Vesta Chambers is accustomed to getting what she wants, but what's a girl to do when the man of her dreams has eyes for another? Younger brother to Viscount Ludovic "The Devil" DeVere, Hew has returned from the American war scarred, disillusioned, and looking forward to settling down with the right woman. When Hew shows interest in Vesta's godmother, Diana, Vesta vows to prove to Hew that she is no longer a little girl, but a woman with the passion of...a huntress.


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

AUTHOR INFORMATION: 


A lover of history and deeply romantic stories, Victoria combines these elements to craft romantic historical novels and novellas for a mature reading audience. Her writing influences are Georgette Heyer for fabulous witty dialogue and over the top characters, Robin Schone , Sylvia Day, and Charlotte Featherstone for beautifully crafted prose in stories with deep sensuality, and Lila DiPasqua for creative vision in melding history with eroticism. Ms. Vane also writes award nominated romantic historical fiction as Emery Lee (http://authoremerylee.com)

CONTACT:
victoria.vane@hotmail.com
Web:http://authorvictoriavane.com
Blog:http://victoriavane.wordpress.com
Twitter: @authorvictoriav

VICTORIA VANE TITLES:
A BREACH OF PROMISE,Ellora's Cave 12/23/11
A...more
A lover of history and deeply romantic stories, Victoria combines these elements to craft romantic historical novels and novellas for a mature reading audience. Her writing influences are Georgette Heyer for fabulous witty dialogue and over the top characters, Robin Schone , Sylvia Day, and Charlotte Featherstone for beautifully crafted prose in stories with deep sensuality, and Lila DiPasqua for creative vision in melding history with eroticism. Ms. Vane also writes award nominated romantic historical fiction as Emery Lee (http://authoremerylee.com)


CONTACT:

victoria.vane@hotmail.com
 Web: http://authorvictoriavane.com
Blog: http://victoriavane.wordpress.com
Twitter: @authorvictoriav

BOOK VIDEO:
Embed Code:




Please be sure to leave a comment or question below for Victoria as she will be awarding a copy of her first erotic historical romance, A Breach of Promise, to one randomly drawn commenter during her tour.  You can follow her tour stops here, the more often you comment, the better your odds of winning.