As fate would have it, her hated kidnapper left her carrying his child, and that is a condition even she cannot wish away. Adora’s enduring hope for romance fades until a blue-eyed, self-possessed foreigner walks back into her life and reawakens feelings promising the erotic delights of which she’s always dreamed.
Vallmer Berringen, the handsome and devout prince of a country allied with conquered Sebboy, has come to Uttor for two reasons: to secure the treaty that will give his country a much needed alliance, and to fulfill his father’s orders to use the occasion to find a suitable bride. Captivated by Adora’s intelligence and courage, Vallmer is torn by the fact she is both pregnant and pagan. Her infamous reputation taints Adora, a woman that a man of his position and faith should never be tempted to woo.
Can he reconcile his vision for his country with his passion for a woman whose spirit sets his blood on fire—but for whom kingdoms have gone to war?
Hero and Heroine
Did she really expect him to answer so personal a question? Apparently she did, because she was giving him the most provocative smile, one that said she knew she’d put him on the spot. His answer, however, would be too revealing.
She laughed again, but the sound was warm, embracing. “You know, sex doesn’t have to be impolite. It’s a little undignified, but—”
“Which is why it is private.”
“Yes,” she agreed, and cocked her head, reassessing him. “Yes, it is.”
“Why are we talking about this?”
“You tell me.”
Now that would be dangerous. He was talking to her about sex because she made him think of it. Because Adora looked and sounded and smelled like a woman who might enjoy being with a man. Lorant had called her a slut, but Vallmer had never been fool enough to believe it. He had known all along Lorant could not abide being rejected by a woman who found him wanting. Vallmer liked that about Adora, that she was fearless about her opinions. He met too many women who were so completely deferential to men their thoughts could not be trusted.
“I talk to you this way because I feel I can talk with you about anything, anything at all. And because I feel this way, you can steer me into talking about anything you wish.”
Her smile beckoned him to thoughts he would do better to avoid. “Are you calling me artful, Prince Vallmer?”
“I am calling you fascinating.”
Did she really expect him to answer so personal a question? Apparently she did, because she was giving him the most provocative smile, one that said she knew she’d put him on the spot. His answer, however, would be too revealing.
She laughed again, but the sound was warm, embracing. “You know, sex doesn’t have to be impolite. It’s a little undignified, but—”
“Which is why it is private.”
“Yes,” she agreed, and cocked her head, reassessing him. “Yes, it is.”
“Why are we talking about this?”
“You tell me.”
Now that would be dangerous. He was talking to her about sex because she made him think of it. Because Adora looked and sounded and smelled like a woman who might enjoy being with a man. Lorant had called her a slut, but Vallmer had never been fool enough to believe it. He had known all along Lorant could not abide being rejected by a woman who found him wanting. Vallmer liked that about Adora, that she was fearless about her opinions. He met too many women who were so completely deferential to men their thoughts could not be trusted.
“I talk to you this way because I feel I can talk with you about anything, anything at all. And because I feel this way, you can steer me into talking about anything you wish.”
Her smile beckoned him to thoughts he would do better to avoid. “Are you calling me artful, Prince Vallmer?”
“I am calling you fascinating.”
Win a $30 Amazon or B&N gift card!
Thanks for sharing with us the excerpt!
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteWhat inspired you to pursue a career in writing. Thanks for the giveaway. I hope that I win. Bernie W BWallace1980(at)hotmail(d0t)com
ReplyDeleteHi Joseph, so nice of you to stop by. I started writing very young and what inspired me was the hope my stories might someday thrill or move readers the way the novels of my favorite writers moved me. If I could only do that! What an amazing power. :) I'm not sure I've achieved those heights, but I keep trying. Thanks for asking about that. Made me think.
DeleteTHanks so much for hosting me!
ReplyDeleteWhat are your top three favorite books and why?
ReplyDeleteHi Mai. I have so many favorites, but if evil aliens said I could save only three, I would take The Lord of the Rings trilogy (can't read just one!), Night Woman, by Nancy Price, and Watership Down, by Richard Adams. I would, of course, do all in my power to persuade the aliens to let me keep more.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the chance to win :)
ReplyDeleteLoved the excerpt!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the excerpt.
ReplyDeleteJennifer Rote
I am excited to read this book. On my TBR list. Is it B&N's? I go every Sunday afternoon.
ReplyDeletesounds intense
ReplyDeleteI liked the excerpt, thank you.
ReplyDeleteAwesome excerpt, loved it
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance
HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE
Sounds good. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteWhen writing do you prefer to type or old school pen and paper?
ReplyDeleteHi Heather! Though I've gotten comfy with writing using a keyboard, I actually prefer pen and paper. I write on legal pads, circle passages and draw arrows to rearrange them, and also draw illustrations at the tops, bottoms or margins to work out room diagrams, castle fortifications, army movement, or even some sex scenes (blush). I have yet to figure out how to draw on my computer.
DeleteI loved the excerpt! I'm looking forward to reading this one.. thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteAnother strong heroine... Can't get enough of them! :D
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the above excerpt from Adorded. I added it to my TBR list. Thx so much!
ReplyDeleteWhat is your inspiration to write books?
ReplyDeleteMy readers are my inspiration to write. I love creating characters and situations and telling stories about love that surmounts opposition or problems, and also about how people can find and hold on to love despite terrible odds. Part of that is because that kind of love is what I have found. :) So I love to write stories that say "the world can be really rough, but there are people in it who are worth everything". Thanks for stopping in, Kimberly!
Deletesounds like a great book! Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleterounder9834 @yahoo.com
Oh this story sounds good and I especially love the names Adora and Vallmer. Are any of the people in this story (their personalities) based on people in real life? I could see Vallmer being rebellious and following his heart despite what everyone tells him. Adora seems to be mentally and emotionally strong to endure what she did when she was abducted by the sebboyan prince.
ReplyDeleteIt's a rare character who is not based at least in part on real life. Some people in a position to know have noted that Gaspar, Adora's brother, might have a few things in common with my husband (who is not an emperor). Vallmer owes a lot to a family story about one of my great-great-great grandfathers, but only that sliver; the rest of him is pure fabrication, though I did borrow his looks from a certain hot actor. ;) Thanks for the interesting question, Angela!
Deletewonderful exert thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteGreat post. Thanks for the chance.
ReplyDeleteLoved the excerpt! Thank you.
ReplyDeletesounds intriguing
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great read. Loved the excerpt.
ReplyDeleteWhat influenced your choice of location or to create this world?
ReplyDeleteHi Meredith! Confession time: I love dabbling with the what-if factor. Creating my own world, though with similarities to our own, allows me to play with interesting conflicts. Uttor has many gods, and the country it conquers follows the Nine Prophets of one god. I love geographical changes. Sebboy's cold climate is influenced by my childhood in Colorado and adulthood in snowy Wisconsin. Uttor's mild climate is drawn from travel to Italy. Seacoasts are scenic and economically important, so I threw one in. :)
DeleteA brave choice to create a heroine in her situation. Not the typical heroine. Kudos for taking on that challenge!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sue. People aren't always in complete charge of their own bodies or personal situations. Adora got dealt a bad hand, but she doesn't let it stand in the way of wanting something other people think she shouldn't. ;)
DeleteThanks for the giveaway. What inspired you to become an writer? Thanks for the giveaway. I hope that I win. Bernie W BWallace1980(at)hotmail(d0t)com
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the excerpt!
ReplyDeleteThank you for introducing me to another new to me author! I love finding new authors & their books! Thanks for the awesome giveaway too! Have a safe & Happy New Year!
ReplyDeletethanks for sharing and happy new year
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance
ReplyDeleteHAPPY NEW YEAR
GOOD LUCK EVERYONE
I like the strong characters in this book, especially Adora. She's been through so much and still remains a force to be reckoned with.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading the excerpt. This book sounds like quite an interesting read. I have added this book to my TBR list and look forward to checking it out.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year and thanks for the amazing excerpt and giveaway!
ReplyDeleteInteresting excerpt. Where do you get inspiration for your story plots? Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteThe cover and excerpt are really nice.
ReplyDeleteI really liked the excerpt and cover!! Thanks for sharing this with us!
ReplyDeleteSounds amazing! Thank you for sharing. Can't wait to read.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for this great giveaway!!! ;)
ReplyDeleteI love the cover.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I've known women whose love could destroy a small country.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the chance at the giveaway! :)
ReplyDeleteExcerpt is intriguing! I love the cover too :)
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a good book. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds interesting - thanks for the chance!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the giveaway! :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance to win! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat giveaway!
ReplyDeleteTali, I really loved reading your bio. That seems to say a lot about what kind of writer you are. You seem charming!
ReplyDeleteNice Excerpt! I hope to read this book.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway!
v_theberge@hotmail.com
This looks so juicy! i'd love to read it!
ReplyDeleteWow...this presses all my buttons and I had to buy all 3 books in this series. I'm now going to bed to read them. I may not be up for a couple of days. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm....books!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I got introduced to your work courtesy of this blog.
ReplyDeleteTerrific giveaway! :)
ReplyDeleteSuch an intriguing cover! :)
ReplyDeleteDefinitely on my to-read list! :)
ReplyDeleteHello! Thank you for sharing your work!
ReplyDeleteHow often do you write? Is it every day or do you sometimes take a break for a few days?
In answer to an above comment: "I have yet to figure out how to draw on my computer."
You can draw on your computer using tablets. I'm not meaning tablet computers (though you could give that a try), but what's commonly known as a "drawing tablet" or "graphics tablet". You essentially draw on it and it comes up on the computer screen. They can go as low as $50 here in Australia, though I don't know how expensive they might be overseas. If you find a good one, they're often worth saving up for. :)
Another way to draw on your computer could be to use a cheap or free drawing software such as The Gimp or Inkscape. It's different than drawing with a pen in your hand, but it's something you can soon get used to. One thing I do for my own work is that I sketch with Microsoft Paint and then upgrade the work in something like Gimp.
sounds very interesting!! thanks so much for sharing
ReplyDeleteThank you for the chance at the giveaway! Great piece. :)
ReplyDeleteAdored sounds like a mix of heartbreak and romance that's intriguing. I'd like to read it.
ReplyDeleteI have this on my TBR winter list.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to read this!! :)
ReplyDelete