Enchanted Times Giveaway Hop with Jessica Lauryn

Hello Everyone and Welcome to my stop on the hop!!  Today I have Jessica Lauryn here with and we are talking about her new book:  

Thanks so much for having me back, Nikki!  I’d like to share a bit about my take on one of my absolute favorite ways to spend my time…reading! 

As an author, reading is not a lost art for me.  In fact, doing it inspires my writing in a major way.  Reading takes you to faraway places and times.  You meet characters whom you can identify with, and also some who may in some way be larger than life.  It is those characters who often inspire me to look for unusual traits in the people around me.  And that is when new characters are born.    

Because I am a die-hard romantic, I am almost always reading romance.  But I prefer to read more than 1 book at a time, often, 3.  Why do I enjoy doing this?  Simply said, because jumping into 3 different fantasy worlds at a time is more fun than just 1.  Like many other readers I’m sure, reading is my form of escape.  I find it easier to make that escape when I’m reading multiple stories at once.  After an hour of reading chapters in each of 3 books, I’m freer, I’m more relaxed, and my imagination has been opened up to any and all new possibilities.

When selecting what I’m going to read, I usually pick titles belonging to three different subgenres.  Not everyone likes to read multiple subgenres, but I’ve found that most romance readers usually have room in their hearts and imaginations for two, or more.  On occasion, I’ve accidentally picked up something belonging to a subgenre I didn’t intend to read and I found I loved it anyway.  Back to why I read different subgenres at the same time.  I like having the feeling that 3 different worlds create.  It’s freer, it’s fun, and I personally find it much more imaginative! 

It may seem a bit much at first, reading 3 stories at once.  But it really is as easy to do as watching 3 different TV shows.  As I’m writing this, I am currently reading one historical romance, one paranormal and one contemporary.  You may think it’s crazy to read so many titles at once/maybe you’re already doing it.  All I can say is if you haven’t already tried it, go for it!  Worst thing that can happen is you put the other 2 titles away for a while, while you read them one at a time.  The best?  You just might have your greatest reading experience ever!

My love of reading (and enjoying multiple plots at a time) inspires my love of both series writing and Romantic Suspense.  In a series, you get to experience what the central characters do for years following their debut story, and you get to see how the other characters in the series touch one another’s lives, something you don’t get as much of with a single book read.  I’m not saying I don’t enjoy non-series books.  I enjoy them too, but there’s something special about a series.  Must be the fact that they can go on for thousands of pages—something I just love, because you can really see the story develop over time.

I think one of the reasons I love the Romantic Suspense genre is because there’s literally two stories going on at once—the suspenseful one, and the romance.  This is just great for a reader like me, because there is almost never a dull moment.  My debut series, The Pinnacles of Power Series, centers around a diamond smuggling operation called Project Gemstone.  It’s packed with villains, danger and suspense and yet, unlike many of the Romantic Suspense novels I’ve read, it focuses heavily on the romance and romantic development between the characters.  I affectionately refer to what I write as ‘Suspenseful Romance,’ because that’s what I feel it is.  As a reader, romance is what I crave the most, therefore, it’s the central element I look for in a good read and what I always try to put into my own stories.

Aside from it offering the advantage of stirring the imagination, Romantic Suspense offers the opportunity for the suspense to fuel the romance, and vice versa.  For example, in my latest release, Dangerous Proposition, heroine Julia Dyson is on a quest to save her missing father, along with hero and suspected-villain, Colin Westwood.  During the book’s climax, Julia and Colin, who have been fighting their attraction and feelings for some time, become kidnapped and believe they won’t make it to see the next morning.  I’ll try not to spoil the book too much, but this scene provided me with an excellent opportunity to see what these two characters would do with their attraction when fueled by extreme fear.  In fact, it was a big part of my original inspiration for writing this story, to arrive at a scene like this, where suspense fuels romance in the ultimate way.

It doesn’t matter what sort of novels you like to read, so long as you’re reading them!  Reading provides the ultimate escape.  It will inspire you and, if you enjoy romance as much as I do, it may even inspire the romantic scenarios in your own life.  Happy reading, and remember—3 is always better than one!  

BLURB for Dangerous Proposition:

In the course of one disastrous evening, diamond smuggling kingpin Colin Westwood learns that his best recruit is missing in action, and that the man has been keeping a secret for years—he has a twenty six year old daughter. Determined to protect his identity, Colin vows to find the young woman, and keep her silent at any cost. Intrigued to learn that she is actually the attractive woman he kissed, he makes Julia an offer. Come to New York City with him to search for her missing father…as his mistress.

When Julia Dyson learns her father has been abducted, she believes his hidden profession may be to blame.  But when she discovers a man’s name in her Dad's caller history, a man suspected of shady business activity and also her teenage crush, she decides to take matters into her own hands.  She confronts her father's presumed abductor, resulting in an unforgettable kiss, and his offer of a dangerous proposition indeed.

Though becoming Colin’s mistress could very well be her undoing, Julia must choose—give in to her desires, or protect her already-broken heart…

EXCERPT:

Feeling as though he were on the brink of an explosion, Colin said, “Did that guy—I mean—Dylan Rossler didn’t…you and he didn’t—”

“Of course not! Holy crap, Westwood. What kind of girl do you think I am?”

“One who clearly has a death wish,” Colin muttered under his breath.

“Me?” Julia exclaimed. “I went over there to save your ass. Not the other way around.”

“Which you were obviously doing a phenomenal job with while you were locked inside that bedroom.”

Her chin squared. “You may have been the one to kick the door down, but I would have gotten out of that room with or without your help.”

“If you really believe that, Julia, then you really are naïve. Do you realize what Dylan Rossler would have done if I hadn’t gotten there when I did? Allow me to clue you in, since you’re obviously not aware. Because it’s the same thing every other red-blooded bastard at that party wanted to do to you!”

“You mean”—she bit her lip—“that he—”

“Was planning on having sex with you? Of course, Julia. Of course those guys thought you were sexy, of course Dylan Rossler wanted to have sex with you! I’m not blind. I can see what’s right in front of me. Any man at that party who didn’t want you was either gay or in a drunken coma!”

Her blue eyes narrowed, and Colin bit his tongue. He hadn’t intended to say all that out loud. Hadn’t intended to say any of it, in fact. But he was glad it had happened because he was done holding back.

There was something between him and Julia. A need that ran deep and had been building since that night in his bed. Sometimes it seemed as if it had been longer, particularly at moments such as this when he wanted nothing more than to toss her onto the bed, rip off that damned cocktail dress she was wearing, and sample every last inch of her skin.

He’d wanted to keep his desires to himself, wanted to keep things simple between them. The complications they were risking were great, and God knew he hated the idea that he might be taking advantage of Julia when her father was missing. But right now, he couldn’t seem to think about those things. And after everything they’d been through tonight, he was no longer sure that holding back was going to be possible.

“Does ‘every other red-blooded bastard’ include you?” Julia asked, blinking her blue eyes furiously.

Colin took a staggered breath. Narrowing his gaze, he approached her with two hastened steps. “If you didn’t want me to behave like a red-blooded bastard, Julia,” he whispered, “then, you shouldn’t have worn this dress.”

Her eyes opened wide and he swooped in, capturing her lips with his. Tasting the sweetness of her mouth, his last bit of willpower escaped him. He kissed Julia with everything he had been holding back, running his fingertips through her hair, drawing her against him as though he could somehow claim her as his own.

As he dipped his tongue into her mouth, Julia released a squeal, one he couldn’t quite tell was in protest or desire. Wanting to believe more than anything that it was the latter, Colin drew back. He’d waited so long to have her. He needed to know that she was hungering for him as much as he was her.

“I’m going too fast,” he said, sounding much more out of breath than he had expected himself to. “If you don’t want this, or if you’re not sure—”

“I’m sure,” she said, cutting him off with a smile that melted his insides. “I want this, too, Colin. I have for a long time.”

“You mean since the night you snuck into my bed?” Recalling with vivid clarity the way her warm silhouette had felt, becoming hard at the thought of it, he said, “Because I’ve never been able to stop thinking about that night.”

Julia’s porcelain face grew crimson. A sexy grin formed on her lips. “Neither have I,” she said. “But actually, that wasn’t the first time I saw you.”

“It wasn’t?” He raised a thoughtful brow.

“No,” she said, glittering eyelids turning downward. Taking a deep breath, she said, “When I was sixteen, I worked as a maid at the Westwood Inn. When I was finishing up for the day, I used to come by the lobby. I’d see you sign for your father’s money, and…I’d watch you. Unable to take my eyes away.”

Colin’s irises widened three sizes. Desmond was right—Julia had once worked at one of his father’s hotels. But the wildcard, the very intriguing wildcard was that she’d had a crush on him at the time. A teenage crush she had apparently been carrying around a good portion of her life. Though he knew there hadn’t been much about him that would have impressed a woman in his early twenties, the fact that Julia thought there was gave him an enormous amount of satisfaction and pride.

How such an attractive woman had been so closely in his vicinity and he hadn’t noticed her was beyond him. If Julia had been half as beautiful as she was now, he would have remembered her for sure.

And then, it hit him. The young woman who’d knocked the supply cart down the lobby staircase. That was why he felt as if he’d seen her before. Julia Dyson was certainly true to form, at least in terms of the bold incidents she seemed to be responsible for causing. He remembered that day well, as he had spent most of the afternoon explaining to his father that he had witnessed the incident personally, that the wheel of the supply cart had locked, making the incident no one’s fault and the maid should not be fired.

“Some of my finer moments, I’m sure,” he said, offering a debonair smile.

Julia gave him a thorough once-over. “Oh, I don’t know. You looked pretty fine to me.”

Ignited by her suggestive words, Colin gleamed. Taking Julia’s hands in his, he pressed a kiss to her knuckles. He slipped an arm around her waist, drawing her close. “And what do you think of me now, Julia?”

She hid her eyes. Not about to let her get shy on him now, he slid his cheek against hers. He planted a kiss against her delicate earlobe, tickling it with the tip of his tongue.

Good God. She tasted like vanilla and jasmine, and he found himself wanting to sample her as though she were a piece of candied pie. Exploring her soft skin, Colin reacquainted himself with her scent, the evidence of which had been the only reminder of her presence that had been left behind on his pillowcase.

“I…I think you’re incredible,” Julia said, the words coming on a breath.

Fire ignited within him. For two agonizing months, he had wanted her. Wanted to hold her, to feel her body against his. He was going to undress and savor every inch of her perfect figure. And then he was going to explore every last one of her secret treasures—the peaks of her breasts, the crevices of her thighs.

Julia Dyson was the most infuriating woman he had ever known. She was also the most beguiling. Now that he knew she wanted him, too, there was nothing keeping him from experiencing everything she had to offer.

“Then let me know show you how incredible I can be.”

AUTHOR LINKS:

Website:  www.jessicalauryn.com

Siren BookStrand:  http://www.bookstrand.com/jessica-lauryn

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Jessica-Lauryn/e/B009YG9CD2

Barnes & Noble:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/jessica-lauryn

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/romancebyjessicalauryn

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/JessicaLauryn_#

Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5081732.Jessica_Lauryn

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