Today I'd like to welcome author Natasha Blackthorne to the blog. Natasha is currently celebrating her new release Grey's Lady. So please give a warm welcome to Natasha.
Philadelphia was holding its collective breath. President Madison had signed the Embargo Act and set America on ninety-day countdown to war with Great Britain. This is springtime in the year 1812 and Grey Sexton, a merchant prince from New York, has come to Philadelphia to gather investors for his privateering voyages. Because of the depredations of both the French and the British, especially with the upcoming war and current embargo, privateering, and shared risk of investors, became even more attractive. Besides, it was the patriotic thing to do.
All business, Grey lives his life free from emotional attachments and drama. He is in total control of his personal world and likes it that way.
But he's about to be broad-sided by a force he cannot control.
To her family, Beth is a respectable young unmarried woman who works hard to help her older half-brother, Charlie and her half-sister, Ruth run their shop. But her family would never dream that she has a secret life as a temptress who seduces wealthy, powerful men for the thrill of it. In this era, women from the Lower Sort sometimes gave sexual favors to gentlemen from the Better Sort in exchange for monetary gains. A sort of freelance prostitution when they needed to make extra money. Even "nice" women might find themselves in the position of temporary mistress when their financial situation called for it. But they would do what they had to do and keep it secret and protect their good name.
But for Beth it's not about money. She wants to prove to herself that even though she's poor and lacks social position, she can attract and enchant powerful, dynamic gentlemen. There are deep, painful reasons why she's driven to do this and that's something the sequel to Grey's Lady, White Lace and Promises goes into deeper detail. And yes, it's risky behavior, if she were caught there would be terrible consequences. This is a time of duels and fighting over matters of honor. A man like her brother, who is poor but proud, would have little else but his honor and being protective of his family to feel good about. Beth knows this but the excitement and challenge of the hunt is something she uses to cover over a deeper need that she cannot admit to herself. She loves her family and does not want to shame them. So she tricks herself into believing if she follows certain rules--only meet a gentleman once and always leave them burning for more--she won't get caught.
Yet Grey's appeal is too strong. Beth can't help herself. She breaks her own rule and meets with him a second time. But can the deep sexual intimacy they share work a miracle and lead to the opening of their hearts?
Flouting the moral standards of Jeffersonian America, temptress Beth McConnell lets no man touch her heart. Her motto is love them once and leave them burning.
But when she boldly seduces Grey Sexton, a self-controlled merchant prince from New York, she finds herself too fascinated by his ice-over-fire nature to stay away. His possessive determination to own her, body and soul, threatens to expose her secret erotic life to public shame.
But Beth will only surrender her love to a man she can trust. And Grey's materialistic approach to relationships leavers her little reason to believe he can ever give her what she truly needs .
For these two cynical yet lonely people, can deep sexual intimacy work a miracle and lead to the opening of their hearts
**Excerpt**
Impulse seized her and she caught hold of his lapels. "Kiss me."
He leaned closer. Heavens, anyone could come along and catch them. Oh the risk...But her breath quickened and her nipples stiffened, straining against her stays. She closed her eyes, tilted her head up. Waited.
And waited.
"How many men since me?" He laid his large hand at the base of her throat and a thrill went through her. "Look me in the eye."
He lids fluttered open and his gaze pieced into her with such intensity she gasped. "It has only been two weeks."
"Answer me, Beth. "
Another thrill trembled through her. Fear of anticipation? She couldn't say. "None."
Still holding her throat, he studied her for several long moments. She set her jaw, refusing to waver under his scrutiny.
He bent and his mouth pressed hers, hard and hasty. Passion spiralled, took her soaring to the stars. Lassitude weakened her and wetness seeped between her legs. He lifted his head. She tightened her hands on his lapels, trying to pull him back. He resisted, his eyes trained on her like a stag with a doe.
Kiss me. Just kiss me, you arrogant jackanapes.
"Now, go." He released her, set her veil back in place and left her there.
She gaped at his departing back, watching how he moved, so tall and proud. Over-proud. Did he have any idea what a rarefied class he found himself in? She didn't go around asking just any man to kiss her. She had very high standards and she shared herself with only a select few. She was bestowing quite on honor on him and yet he reacted as if she were the one who ought to be grateful. And to add insult to injury, he hadn't even kissed her. Not truly.
About the author:
I have always been a daydreamer who told myself stories of love and romance set in other times and places for my own pleasure. Eventually my story worlds became so real, they demanded to be brought out of my imagination and onto the page. It gives me great joy to finally share them with you. I hope you enjoy my story world.
I am married to my own hero and we share our life with a very quirky calico cat. I hold a BA in History and I especially enjoy studying social history and biography and this is where most of my story ideas come from. I like to know my characters from the bones outward, the air they breathe, the food they eat, the thoughts and social movements and morals that were influencing them in their times.
I also enjoy reading psychology and sociology and literature. I enjoy music from many different genres.
I write emotions, evocative, Erotic Historical Romance from the Georgian and Regency Eras, set in both England and America. Whether they are bold or shy, my heroines' strong desires and deep emotions drive the plot--and drive their heroes to the point of no return.
You can usually find me hard at work researching and writing my next story.
http://natashablackthorne.blogspot.com
Twitter: @Nblackthorne
**Giveaway**
Thanks Natasha for sharing. This book definitely looks like something I would love to read. Everyone, Natasha will be giving away a $15 Amazon.com gift card to one randomly drawn commenter during her book tour. So make sure to check out all of Natasha's tour stops to greater you chances of winning.
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*Giveaway open until September 09
