Book Tour: Victoria Vane Author Interview with Giveaway

Can you tell us about Treacherous Temptations in your own words?
The story of Treacherous Temptations is, in a sense, my homage to the popular novels written in the 18th century, in which virtue vs. vice, and the seduction of an innocent were popular themes.
Treacherous Temptations shares a number plot devices with Les Liaisons Dangereuses (1782), a French epistolary novel by Choderlos de Laclos, that has been adapted several times over the centuries to stage and screen. The best known is the 1988 film, Dangerous Liaisons, starring John Malkovich, Glenn Close, and Michelle Pfeiffer.

For those unfamiliar with this story, it is very dark with a plot steeped in seduction, revenge, and intrigue. Without going into plot spoiling details, the main characters the Marquise de Meurteil and the Vicomte de Valmont enter a conspiracy to seduce and ruin two innocent women as Meurteil desires revenge for a perceived slight. Valmont is successful in conquests but unexpectedly loses his heart in the process. Hadley experiences the same struggle in his seduction of Mary.

What inspired you to write your first book?
One day at 44 years old I woke up with a story in my head - a tale of passion, retribution, and horseracing that simply wouldn’t go away. So I wrote it. It took fourteen months during which time I did extensive research on virtually every aspect of horseracing and Georgian England. When I completed The Highest Stakes, I was fortunate to find a publisher who loved my story.
It was released in April 2010 by Sourcebooks and I haven't looked back! I've now written three full length novels (the first two as Emery Lee) and six novellas as Victoria Vane, and have many more projects in development.

What is your favorite theme/genre to write?
Anything historical, although I am now writing my first contemporary romance – something I never thought I would even attempt.

What book are you reading now? Or What was the last book you read?
I am currently reading several books simultaneously as an RWA Rita judge, but I am not allowed to name them. The last three books I read and loved were the contemporary romance, About Last Night by Ruthie Knox, an erotic historical romance, A Lady's Pleasure by Robin Schone, and a great romantic historical set in 18th century Africa, The Wild Heart by Gina Rossi.

Are there any new authors whose books have gotten your attention?
Yes, the one I just named by Gina Rossi. It kept me captivated.

Do you have anything that you would like to say to your readers.
Yes. You can always expect something unexpected from me!

FEBRUARY QUESTION OF THE MONTH
Since it is my birthday this month, I would like to know if you have any birthday traditions?
Our family has a favorite birthday restaurant. Although it's almost two hours away in Atlanta, we love Maggianos- fabulous Italian food and desserts to die for. The last time we went we took a picture of the slab of chocolate cake because it was almost as big as my head! This is some amazingly good cake! Here's a Youtube video you must check out:

Maggiano's Chocolate Zuccotto Cake:

ABOUT VICTORIA VANE 

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.

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

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Review: The Billionaire Bad Boys Club by Emma Holly

Title: The Billionaire Bad Boys Club

Author:  Emma Holly

Source: Bought/Nookbook

Self-made billionaires Zane and Trey have been a club of two since they were eighteen. They’ve done everything together: play football, fall in love, even get smacked around by their dads. The only thing they haven’t tried is seducing the same woman. Rebecca learned early on not to trust anyone. She raised her brothers by herself—with no adult being the wiser. Her knack for cooking kept a roof over the twins’ heads. Now she’s damned if it won’t pay their way through Harvard as well. Add in running Trey’s latest restaurant, and her plate is way too full for romance. That’s an attitude the bad boys intend to change. Zane and Trey have set their sights on the sexy chef. When their hearts enter the equation and they both fall for her, this committed twosome faces their hardest test of all! Adult-content rating: This book contains content considered unsuitable for young readers 17 and under, and which may be offensive to some readers of all ages.

My Review

 Emma Holly did a great job on the creation of the "Bad Boys Club".  The owners were amazing each with their own difficulties to get past.  No man should be without flaws though sometimes I think Channing Tatum is.  Trey grew up being taught that sex was not something good Christian people did, while Zane has a problem letting people see the him that loves his partner in the business.

Then there is Rebecca, the girl who gave up he won life to raise he younger brothers at sixteen.  This is something that shocked me, though you do see things like this on Lifetime Movie Network where teenagers raise their younger siblings while avoiding the law that would put them in foster care.  I loved Rebecca, she is very head strong, and I like these female characters that have worked hard for everything they have got and do not want a man to come in an ruin it all.  Though Rebecca is very attracted to Trey to begin with because she wants to work at his new restaurant she does not want to get involved with him, harder than it looks for her and for him.  But Zane on the other hand who is a "silent" partner is a lot easier to get involved with but harder to trust.

But will this couple make it when you add into the mix a jealous on/off girlfriend of Zane's who does not like the fact that she has believed him to be proposing and instead he is sleeping with not only Rebecca but also Trey even though they have been going out and being seen with each other?  I will admit I love my romance/erotica to have a little bit of a twist, I do not like it to only be just about the romance.  I like to see some internal struggle as well as some outside conflict and Emma Holly has brought it full force with these two.

My Rating  A+

Follow Friday #2

Parajunkee.com

Feature and Follow-a great way to *meet* new blogging buddies and gain new followers! It is hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read

Q:  What is the last book that kept you up late into the night just to finish it?

Well the book is what kept me from posting this when Parajunkee.com posted the Feature and Follow, but I am currently really into The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd.  My goal is to finish it tonight or early tomorrow, but I was up until 4am reading it this morning.

Waiting on Wednesday #2

I have loved Meg Cabot since I was in Jr/HS and I read the Princess Diaries Series.  Though I will admit I watched the movie before I read the books, this was one of those series that got be back into reading.  So her writing always just pulls me int when I see her name as the author of the book.

TITLE: Awaken (Abandon Trilogy #3)
AUTHOR: Meg Cabot
PUBLICATION DAT: May 7, 2013

Death has her in his clutches. She doesn’t want him to let go.
Seventeen-year-old Pierce Oliviera knew by accepting the love of John Hayden, she’d be forced to live forever in the one place she’s always dreaded most: the Underworld. The sacrifice seemed worth it, though, because it meant she could be with the boy she loves.
But now her happiness — and safety — are threatened, all because the Furies have discovered that John has broken one of their strictest rules: He revived a human soul.
If the balance between life and death isn’t fixed, both the Underworld and Pierce’s home back on earth will be wiped away. But there’s only one way to restore order. Someone has to die.

What are you waiting to be published?  What are you just waiting to have the money to buy or waiting for the library to get returned?

Review: The Marriage Bargain by Jennifer Probst

Title:  The Marriage Bargain
Author:  Jennifer Probst
Source:  E-book Copy won in Giveaway via author, but I also own 1 copy which you can still win until 1/24/13

A marriage in name only...
To save her family home, impulsive bookstore owner, Alexa Maria McKenzie, casts a love spell. But she never planned on conjuring up her best friend's older brother—the powerful man who once shattered her heart.
Billionaire Nicholas Ryan doesn’t believe in marriage, but in order to inherit his father’s corporation, he needs a wife and needs one fast. When he discovers his sister’s childhood friend is in dire financial straits, he offers Alexa a bold proposition.
A marriage in name only with certain rules: avoid entanglement. Keep things all business. Do not fall in love. The arrangement is only for a year so the rules shouldn’t be that hard to follow, right?
Except fate has a way of upsetting the best-laid plans…

Alexa needs the money to save her family home.
Nick needs a wife so that he can keep his uncle's company under the terms of the will.
So Maggie has the solution fro them both.

Maggie is Alexa's best friend, so when she comes to visit to find Alexa casting a love spell for the perfect man she sees the solution to both Alexa's money problem and Nick's wife needs.  The only thing these two have very different ideas of what the perfect spouse is.  Compromise becomes the thing between two of them, not that there is anything easy about this.  They are both set in their ways.  Alexa is independent and head strong, and that means doing things that will aggravate Nick.

Can these two reach the ultimate compromise and make their marriage work on more than paper, or will the lines of trust never be crossed?

I love this story and I really loved the antics of Alexa when Nick made her mad.  They made me laugh many times, bringing home all the dogs from the shelter and buying a tank full of fish to give is one fish company were just great (and something I would think about doing).  Then there is the chemistry between Nick and Alexa and it was HOT.

The list that these two have are great so I think we need to compare the two and see the differences.
Alexa's List (Go read the book for Maggies Opinions on Everything)
1.  A Mets Fan
2.  Loves Books arts and Poetry
3.  Believes in Monogamy
4.  Wants Children
5.  Knows how to Communicate with a woman
6.  Loves animals
7.  Has a Moral Code of Ethics and Believes in Honesty
8.  A Good Lover
9.  Has a Strong Sense of Family
10.  Needs $150,000 available cash

Nick's List
1.  A woman who does not love me
2.  A woman I do not desire to Sleep with
3.  A woman who does not have a big family
4.  A woman who does not have any animals
5.  A woman who does not want any children
6.  A woman who has an independent career
7.  A woman who will view the relationship as a business venture
8.  A woman who is not overly emotional or impulsive
9.  A woman I can trust

Just looking at the two separate lists you know these two together are going to be great.

So I want to say that this book needs to go on many romance lovers MUST READ list if they have not already read it.


MY RATING: A+