* Jacquelyn Frank: Author Override | UTC Reviews
* Skye Warren: Author Override
* Narrator Lorelei King: Interview
* Stephanie Tyler: Interview
* Carolyn Crane: Author Override | UTC Review
* J.T. Geissinger: Interview | UTC Review
* Men and Women of the Military Giveaway Hop
* Keri Arthur: Interview | UTC Reviews

Tuesday 31 July 2012

Author Override: Laurie London


Author Override is the place where authors take the reins and take you on a journey into their world. Some may allow you into their private writing dens. Others may take you along with them on research trips or interviews. Whatever the case may be, sit back, relax and enjoy the ride because here you’ll get an in-depth look into an author’s musings.



Damaged Heroes…and Heroines
By Laurie London

One of my favorite romance tropes is the damaged hero, the guy who, through the love of one special woman, learns to overcome something horrible in his past and becomes a better version of himself. Unlike everyone else, only the heroine can see the real man underneath, not just the mask he’s created to protect himself. Given the wild popularity of Fifty Shades, I’m not alone in my love of this trope!

But what if the one with a horrible past is not just the hero, but the heroine too? Can he save her as well?

In Seduced By Blood, the fourth book in the Sweetblood series, Santiago, the Guardian’s region commander, is bold, brash and quick tempered. A pain in the ass kind of boss who expects everyone to jump when he gives them an order, he demands nothing less than excellence from those around him but is fiercely loyal to them as well. Never, ever has he let a woman in emotionally. He’s a love ‘em and leave ‘em kind of guy.

He has a reason for this mask he’s built around himself, and it stems from a dark family legacy that he’s determined will end with him.

Roxy fell in love with a bad boy once and it almost destroyed her life. In fact, she’s still dealing with the fallout. As a result, she avoids men like that with a passion, opting instead for a few casual relationships with the brilliant professor-types who work with her at Tracker Academy.

Safe. Vanilla. Uncomplicated. But is she really happy?

Excerpt from SEDUCED BY BLOOD
By Laurie London

“Hola” Santiago said as he approached. “Roxanne, I presume?”

She straightened her spine at the sound of his voice and turned to face him. And for just a moment, he forgot entirely why he was here.

Since joining the Agency over a century ago, he’d been stationed in various parts of the world that most people only experienced by reading books and magazines, seeing pictures online or news clips on television. And he’d witnessed many astounding things. Tattooed pleasure workers in Thailand, secret Incan mating rituals, French courtesans well versed in the sexual arts. In short, he’d seen a lot, experienced a lot. There wasn’t much that could take his breath away.

Until now.

“And you must be Santiago.”

God, he even liked the sound of her voice.

She picked at a twig nestled in her dark blond hair, which fell past her shoulders in messy, tangled curls, but she wasn’t having much luck.

“Here, let me get that.” Without thinking, he reached over and had to use two hands to keep from pulling her hair too much. “There, got it.”

It was only after he was done that he realized how intimate an action it had been. He stepped away and folded his arms over his chest as he studied her.

Despite the frigid night air, she wore a cream-colored tank top with a surf shop logo that sported a few blood stains, dark brown yoga pants—the kind that felt different depending on whether you ran your hand up or down the fabric, and slip-on, once-turquoise tennis shoes that were now covered in mud. The juxtaposition between feminine perfection and scrappy street fighter was so utterly arresting that the world fell away for one brief moment.

Although none of her individual features stood out on their own—straight nose, golden eyes framed by dark lashes, and lips that were neither thin nor generous—when they were put together, she was striking. Her face was oval, her skin smooth and unblemished except for a smudge on one cheek. He had the sudden urge to brush his fingertips against her skin to see if it was dirt or blood. She wasn’t old, but the confidence reflected in her eyes indicated that her Time of Change, when a vampire youthling’s blood cravings began, was decades behind her.

“So what do we have here?” he asked, glancing at the charred remains. His tone was purposely sharp and businesslike as he attempted to shake off his lingering reaction to her. He didn’t like losing control of his thoughts like this.

She fingered her necklace. “Turned out I was able to handle the situation on my own.”

“And the human witnesses?”

“They’ll need to be dealt with. I didn’t have the energy to wipe their minds, only to insert a sleep suggestion.”

Very clever, he thought, noticing for the first time the weariness in her eyes. “What about the other Darkblood? You said there were two.”

“I took care of them both. Here—” she toed her sneaker against the pile of ash at her feet, “—and over there about twelve to fifteen feet beyond that downed tree.”

“I don’t understand. You said on the phone you didn’t have any weapons.”

“I didn’t.”

“Then how—?”

“I used theirs,” she said matter-of-factly, as if disarming two Darkbloods who were probably high on Sweet was something a teacher dealt with every day.

It still didn’t make sense. His confusion must’ve been apparent because she continued. “I pretended I was trying to get away from the sweetblood human, that I was concerned I might kill him, and needed their help.”

“So they knew you were a fellow vampire.”

“Yes, but they had no idea I knew they were Darkbloods. As soon as they didn’t consider me a threat and dropped their guard, it was a simple matter to strip their weapons and use them to my advantage.”

This woman performed under pressure as well as any Guardian he’d worked with, and yet she was just a teacher at Tracker Academy. What happened to the adage, ‘those who can’t do, teach’?

*****
You can find Laurie online at:
www.laurielondonbooks.com
www.facebook.com/laurielondonauthor
www.twitter.com/laurieblondon
and my newest obsession, Pinterest. www.pinterest.com/laurielondon

SIGNED COPY OF SEDUCED BY BLOOD 
+ TRADING CARDS
Deep within the forests of the Pacific Northwest, the battle for supremacy rages on between two vampire coalitions: Guardian enforcers sworn to protect humanity, and Darkbloods, rogues who kill like their ancient ancestors... Hot-blooded and hard-edged, Tristan Santiago has an uncanny ability to see beneath the surface-a power that serves him well as the Guardians' region commander. But when a deadly plot against his fellow vampires is uncovered, he must turn to the one woman he can't read: the beautiful yet mysterious Roxanne Reynolds, whose sensual presence soothes his tormented memories. Roxy had put love before duty once before, with devastating results. But to root out a dangerous traitor in their midst, she must put her faith in Santiago, the one man skilled enough to break through her defenses. Posing as lovers, Santiago and Roxy work side by side-and discover a powerful craving that threatens to consume them both..

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ARC Review: Blade Song by J.C. Daniels

Blade Song
by J.C. Daniels
Kit Colbana #1

Half human assassin and investigator Kit Colbana knows she is in for a world of trouble when she finds a powerful cat shifter, Damon, offering her a job from the crazy cat Alpha. But she needs the money and he takes advantage of her soft spot when he shows her the picture of the runaway kid he is looking for. But as Kit investigates, she realizes this is bigger then just one runaway teenager...

When I started reading Blade Song, it immediately reminded me of the Kate Daniels series (one of my favourites!) from the loner heroine with a tough chick attitude but a soft heart and the cocky arrogant cat shifter who becomes a love interest. I doubt I will be the only person who makes this comparisons but don't worry, it wasn't a carbon copy with just the names changed so don't let that put you off giving this book a try, it is well worth it.

Like any good UF, it had an exciting new world; it wasn't anything completely original we have vampires, shifters and witches populating the earth; pretty standard fare, but despite that, the world was rich and we were given enough detail to keep it interesting without bogging you down in too much information.

In this new world full of supernatural races that are strong, fast and full of magic Kit isn't as strong or fast, she is a bit of an underdog, but what she does have is intelligence, resourcefulness and a very shiny sharp silver sword. All these things and a dash of sarcasm and a bucketful of bravery is why I liked her so much and a big part of why I loved the book. I also need to mention Damon, I admit I didn't like him at first, but he grows on you as Kit's feelings start to change and although he doesn't have Curran's magnetism, I still went all starry eyed for him by the end, I really think J C Daniel's should introduce naked Tuesdays for him in the next book.

The only problem I really had was that it took a while to start up, but it was a first book in the series so I can understand that, and I found the more I read, the more I loved it, and conversely I think the relationship between Damon and Kit happened way to fast. Although they still have their issues, it suddenly felt warp speed from them hating each other for the first 80% of the book to...other things in the last 20%.

But really all I can say about this book is....WOW! I loved it. I wasn't sure what I was expecting, but what I got was the start of an Urban Fantasy series that I can't wait to sink my teeth into and after finishing Blade Song I am impatiently waiting the next book! 

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

ARC Review: The Lady is a Vamp by Lynsay Sands

The Lady is a Vamp
by Lynsay Sands
(Argeneau Vampires # 17)

There is one thing I've come to expect when picking up one of the Argeneau books, that is a cute story with a little bit of mystery and an entertaining light read. This was exactly that. Somewhere in the middle of this series I felt as if it had lost some of its charm but I really liked the last book and now this one was also another great one! Right back on track!

Paul Jones is a human who works for Argeneau Enterprises. He is privileged to the information of what they are due to the nature of his job in research. But he flies under the radar. That is until his daughter is sick and with no hope of recovery. He makes the risky decision of kidnapping an Argeneau and make her change his daughter.

When choosing, of course he chooses the one woman who had appealed to him for years. He used to watch her from afar, he knew so much about her. Subconsciously he chose her because of his attraction.

Jeanne Louise Argeneau has a lot on her plate. Finding her life mate, him being human, being kidnapped by him, having to turn his daughter, running away from her family who wants to free her from the evil kidnapper.

I always enjoy the stories in this series where the lifemates that are human often times are older, because of course after the change they go back to their mid twenties. The connection between Jean Louise and Paul was slow and steady, and every so often we got glimpses of the attraction that had been there before on Paul's side.

Of course there's a twist closer to the end and I was about to get mad when I didn't see a solution (or volunteer) but things worked out perfectly, even better than I was hoping for.

Paul's daughter is also very sweet and a great addition to their dynamics. Not a lot of the Argeneau family members in this one, only towards the end.

I'm looking forward to see what's next in this series! 

*ARC provided by publisher
Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

ARC Review: Shadow Rising by Kendra Leigh Castle

Shadow Rising
by Kendra Leigh Castle
(Dark Dynasties # 3)

I fell in love with Ms. Castle and her Dark Dynasties from the very beginning. I gave 5 Stars to Dark Awakening (book 1) and 5 STARS for Midnight Reckoning (book 2) and now another 5 Stars for Shadow Rising. Ms. Castle has been consistent with giving the right amount of romance, hot scenes, action and a very elaborate plot.

Damien Tremaine also stayed true to his character from book one, two and up to his very own story. This cat-shifter remains one of the best Shade for the House of Shadows, still very dangerous, mysterious, and definitely sexy. I love a hero with a grief-stricken past that made him a cold-hearted man. And finally to see him up close and personal is just a treat.

Her name is “Ariane not kitten” though being a Grigori Vampire, she IS as innocent as a kitten. But Ariane is a straight shooter, she does not mess around and she knows exactly what she wants. As innocent as she is, I love her, she stands up to what she believes in and can hold her own fairly well. She had her mind set on finding her mentor Sam and that is exactly what she is going to do. If it means to join forces with a shade so be it.

Opposites attract is the cliché but damn, isn’t that just the truth? The balance between Damien and Ariane was amazing; the cold hearted shade and the innocent vamp. It was fun to see them banter and Damien said the funniest things to annoy Ariane. And her rebuttal was just as hilarious. They complimented each other and it was amazing to see them finally find someone after all the years of solitude. Their relationship is a perfect match.

To those who already follow the series, a few things to keep in mind; the battle between the Dynasties continues but at a quiet state. Don’t be fooled as plans are brewing right under our noses. The seat for the Empusae is threatened and a few of the dynasties are still on building and rebuilding. The Shadow has Risen and is here to stay. Several things were unfolded in this book and I’m curious to see what Ms. Castle has in store for us as far as where the dynasties stand.

Also, I am most curious about Vlad dracul of the Dracul Dynasty, he has totally captured my heart. I would love to know more of him. From what I see he is a good ally to most of the dynasties but I’m sure you don’t want to be on his bad side. And I bet he would me a great hero to swoon over.

***Mark my words, if and when Ms. Castle decides to write about him, IT WILL BE EPIC***

*ARC provided by publisher
Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

ARC Review: Night Forbidden by Joss Ware

Night Forbidden
by Joss Ware
(Envy Chronicles # 5)

OK so Joss Ware has changed my mind. I've never picked up a apocalyptic book but I have to say that she made me like this genre. I tend to think of I am Legend when thinking of apocalyptic stories. So this is my first book in the Envy Chronicles that I have read, but after reading this book I'm continuing on to book one.  

"Fence took a healthy gulp of beer. That was, at least, one thing that hadn’t disappeared since the Change. Man hadn’t forgotten the important things in life."  My girls would love this. LOL

Can you imagine a world like this "And by “number,” Elliott meant room number. No one had phones anymore, or even email, and definitely not Facebook." I can do without Facebook, but emails.... really. I pray that there's books, or I'll go stir crazy.

In this book we see that the world is overpopulated by Zombies and the western part of the USA is GONE. And get this there's Merfolks (I love Merpeople sorry) 50 years into the future we meet Fence and a couple of other guys who were trapped in the Sedona cave, they’d somehow time-traveled or slept through fifty years without aging. And if you ask me that's cool. Some of the men came out of the cave with special abilities. Fence not being one of them but he still kicked major ass. 


Loved how Fence and Ana were good for each other. They were like a puzzle that fit so well together. Ana was a cool heroine and I really liked her and her ability (being able to breathe under water).  She wasn't a damsel in distress, so in my book she was also kick ass.

I'm really excited to start this series from the beginning and continuing when the next book comes out. I would recommend this book/series to anyone looking for a little twist to paranormal romance and a kick ass story.



*ARC provided by publisher
Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

UTC INSIDER: August 2012


Author of the Month: Lisa Kleypas
We think it's pretty obvious that we love Lisa Kleypas.  This month Ms. Kleypas is releasing DREAM LAKE and we've gotten to ask her some questions and managed to snag quite a few books to giveaway from her Friday Harbor series.  Stay tuned!

Author Appearances
We have a little bit of everything for you guys this month.  Other than the names you see on the cover you will also see Jessica Scott, Kendra Leigh Castle, Dee J Adams, Caitlin Kittredge and many more!

Reading on the Dark Side
We've decided to bring you a blast from the past.  The Hathaways series which is already finished.

Battle of the Covers: USA vs UK
Yes, finally the USA vs UK battle is back.  We are featuring the Friday Harbor series by Lisa Kleypas to get your opinion.

Krazy Kleypas Reading Challenge
Did you sign up for this challenge yet?  Whether this will be the first time you read a Kleypas book or if you are a long time fan, give yourself the challenge to read her books before the end of the year!  To sign up, go here.

Advertise on UTC

Remember you can advertise on UTC. We don't have any openings for August, but you'll want to get your name on the list. If you are interested in learning more about it, please send us an email at underthecoversbookblog(at)gmail(dot)com

July 2012 Monthly Wrap Up


Burning Up July
Thank you Maidens for making our second annual Burning Up July erotica event a success! UTC would like to send out a tremendous thanks to all participating authors! One last time, here's what went down in case you missed it:

Melissa Schroeder
Tori St. Claire
Lexxie Couper
Cat Johnson
Roni Loren
Jayne Rylon
Mari Carr
Eve Langlais
Jasmine Haynes
Beth Kery
Sylvia Day
E.R. Pierce
Stacey Kennedy
Beth Williamson/Emma Lang
Desiree Holt
The Authors of Whispering Cove
Cherise Sinclair
Jodi Redford
Kallypso Masters
Benjamin Russell
Shiloh Walker
Sherri Hayes
Lexi Blake
Colette Gale
Andrew Shaffer
Ivan Rusilko and Everly Drummond

Drink Guide
During Burning Up July we asked authors for drink recipes and have made an easy to download drink guide for you!  Click here to get it.

Dom's Dungeon: The Ultimate Dom
It's time again! Another year has passed and now we must pass the torch on to a new winner. This year, readers first nominated their favorite Doms and YOU decided who The Ultimate Dom is!  After a staggering 11,000+ votes.....

This year's winner of Dom's Dungeon is ...
Congratulations!!!!

RESULTS

Special thanks goes out to Shayla Black, Cherise Sinclair, Kallypso Masters, Taryn from My Secret Romance Book Reviews and Kelly from Books n Kisses for helping us with this special event! Honorable mention for the wonderful Jack Cole for making an appearance this year as well.  And of course a big thanks to all of you who have been voting!

Here's a recap of the event:
Christian Grey (EL James)

Guest Blogger 
We had the pleasure of opening up our blog to The Romance Man.  If you don't follow his blog yet, you have to.  He's hilarious!  Here's what he had to say.

Mind Spill
Suzanne spoke her mind this month with FIFTY SHADES BETTER.  Recommendations of books you might enjoy if you are looking for plots similar to Fifty Shades.

Blog Hops:
Thank you for making HOT JOCKS IN JULY  a success! Special thanks for Guilty Pleasures for allowing us to co-host.

Don't forget to sign up for our HOT IN HANDCUFFS giveaway hop in October. Sign ups are open now. Enter here.

And The Winners Are...

BURNING UP JULY has come to an end and so have most of our erotic romance giveaways.  Here's a list of winners!

Winner of the Melissa Schroeder Giveaway
Betty K.

Winner of the Tori St. Claire Giveaway
Carin

Winner of the Lexxie Couper Giveaway
Jess H.

Winner of the Cat Johnson Giveaway
Audra

Winner of the Roni Loren Giveaway
Laurie F.

Winner of the Jayne Rylon Giveaway
Timitra

Winner of the Mari Carr Giveaway
Tina B.
Winner of the Eve Langlais Giveaway
Gale A.

Winner of the Jasmine Haynes Giveaway
Jess H.

Winner of the Beth Kery Giveaway
Melissa

Winner of the HOT IN HANDCUFFS Giveaway
Candi C.

Winner of the E.R. Pierce Giveaway
Yadira A.

Winner of the Stacey Kennedy Giveaway
Kassandra A.

Winners of the Beth Williamson Giveaway
Andie W. (book winner)
Lisa W. (swag winner)
Nurmawati (swag winner)
Betty K. (swag winner)
Deb M. (swag winner)
Diah H. (swag winner)

Winner of the Desiree Holt Giveaway
Linda L.

Winner of the Cathryn Fox Giveaway
Yadira A.

Winner of the Cherise Sinclair Giveaway
Evita

Winner of the Jodi Redford Giveaway
Fedora C.

Winner of the Kallypso Masters Giveaway
Kerry

Winner of the Benjamin Russell Giveaway
Cathy V.


Winner of the Romance Man Giveaway
Pam R.

Winners were chosen through Rafflecopter. Emails will be sent shortly. You will have 72 hours to claim your prize (by just responding to the email you get from us).

Monday 30 July 2012

Interview and Giveaway with Ivan Rusilko and Everly Drummond

 
BURNING UP JULY is finally coming to an end, but we couldn't end this wonderful event without one more exciting author interview.  Today we have Dr. Ivan Rusilko and Everly Drummond, celebrating their release day with us!  THE WINEMAKER'S DINNER has created a lot of buzz for the past few months and it's finally available.  We are glad to be able to bring you all more information about this book and the people behind it.

HAPPY RELEASE DAY!

Thank you so much to both of you for stopping by Under the Covers and sharing with our readers about TWD.

Thank you so much for having us.

Lets start with some questions for Dr. Ivan, whom we had the pleasure of meeting earlier this year.  Do you identify more with being an author or a model?

Author 100%! Modeling was something I fell into and was able to parlay into something much greater. One doesn't have a voice in modeling, just an image...a mannequin if you will. I’ve always been able to spin one hell of a yarn so writing and telling a story is much more up my alley. Luckily I am able to combine both with The Winemakers Dinner Series! ;)

Do you worry that people won't take you seriously as an author due to you being a model?

Yes, unfortunately I do but I have been dealing with assumptions my entire life. Earlier this year at the Romantic Times Conference, people thought I was just some cover model. I loved seeing their faces when I told them, “No, I’m one of the authors!” In my first solo writing project, the TWD prequel, RSVP, I hope I was able to prove that I’ve got something to say and that I can write because I sure do enjoy the hell out of it. I had a great time working on that piece and have big plans for other outtakes so stay tuned!

What kind of doctor are you? Are you currently practicing?

Currently, I specialize in weight loss, wellness, physical enhancement and yes, sexual health at the world renowned MIAMI Institute located in the Four Seasons in Miami. Being an osteopathic physician, I have the ability to utilize traditional medicine along with the added bonus of affording my patients a more preventive approach to health through the use of exercise diet and various osteopathic manipulations. I like to boast that I work in the most enjoyable field of medicine. Making people look good, feel better and regain an essence that may have been lost over the years.

How do you balance your time since you seem to do so much - writing, modeling, being a doctor, working out and keeping fit, etc.?

Very carefully. ;) All kidding aside, I enjoy every aspect of my day. Whether it is a 6 am jog on the beach, or a one hour consult over helping restore one’s vigor, or sitting on my balcony hammering out a couple chapters, I always have a smile on my face throughout the day. If you can find things that you enjoy doing, both professionally and with your hobbies, one can accomplish so much in a day it is almost comical. It’s all about creating a quality of life.

Are you currently writing anything else? Is TWD a stand-alone, or will it be a series?

There are two more books in the series, The Winemaker’s Feast. Next up is Entrées and then Desserts, so I am hard at work on those currently. I do have a few projects already lined up that I think will raise a brow or two so stay tuned! But for now TWD is my focus and it is going great.

Are you still in a relationship with the girl from the book and what does she think of the book?

Well, if there was a real Jaden out there she wouldn't be a just a girl, she would be my wife by now. Jaden is a beautiful amalgamation and imagining of all of the women I have had the privilege of calling my girlfriend at some point in my life, rolled into one character - Jaden Thorne. Hopefully someday I will find her, but until then I’m still single and my search will go on. Any suggestions as to where I might find her?

How much of the book is reality and do you feel nervous putting your personal life into print?

This is the question that makes my team, especially my publicist, the most nervous. Hahaha My publisher calls it a fictionalized romantic memoir which pretty much sums it up. All I can really say is that TWD is loosely based on my real life and real romantic experiences and the truth or fiction on the page is an authentic to the life I’ve led. Anyone who really knows me and knows where I came from might just smile a little bit bigger when they read it. I hope everyone else enjoys trying to sort fact from fiction. I mean, after all, everyone loves a little mystery, right?

As far as putting my personal life out there – I’m not gonna lie, I was a bit hesitant in the beginning. But now that the first one is finished and the second and third are in development, I can say that I find it to be very, very therapeutic. Maybe even somewhat addictive.

We'd like to ask both of you, what is your favorite part of the book?

For me personally, it’s the acknowledgment page. It explains a lot to a sharpened mind ;). ~Ivan

It really is hard to pick just one part. I have several favorites, but if I had to choose only one, it would have to be the beach scene. I love this scene, not only because it’s sexy, but it’s a series of random encounters and events that has lead up to this, where they are both beginning to discover that this new and budding romance has so many possibilities. It’s fun and playful and romantic and sexy. ~Everly

We are curious Everly, what were some of the challenges you encountered while working with Dr. Ivan?

Hmm... I think the biggest challenge was our schedules. Ivan was working midnights at the hospital and I was working on a horse farm (which I still do). We had to find time every day to chat and collaborate on the book, but through thousands of emails, we somehow managed.

And what was the best part?


The best part was, and still is, the craziness. Working with Ivan, one never knows what to expect. I’ve been given a once in a lifetime opportunity to collaborate with him on The Winemaker’s Dinner. I get to pry into the sex life of one of the hottest guys out there. Each new day working with Ivan is a new adventure.

How did you end up writing this story together?

One of my Twitter followers sent me a link to her Man Candy blog and after reading Ivan’s bio, the thought kept nagging at me that he’d make the perfect romance hero. I friended him on Facebook, but it took me a month before I actually built up the courage to talk to him about it. One day I made a flippant comment about wanting to use him as a character in one of my books. Well, low and behold, Ivan messaged me and said he’d be honored. He told me that he wanted to help write the book rather than just loan his name to it, so we started throwing ideas back and forth. I already had a basic idea of where I wanted the story to go, so we just built on that and incorporated his ideas and experiences into the story. And voila… TWD was born.

Are you curious yet?  
Recently named executive chef at one of Miami Beach’s hottest restaurants, Jaden Thorne is determined to make her culinary mark and fulfill her professional dreams. When Jaden is given highly coveted tickets to the ultra-exclusive Winemaker’s Dinner, she jumps at the opportunity to meet South Florida's wealthiest and most influential food and wine enthusiasts.

Jaden’s eyes are drawn to the VIP section even before the appetizers appear, but she soon finds herself thinking less about networking and more about the intriguingly sexy stranger eying her from across the room. After dinner, what begins as a light-hearted flirtation unexpectedly catapults into a night of explosive passion. But when morning dawns, Jaden leaves her sleeping Mr. Oh So Sexy behind, sure they’ll never see each other again.

Dr. Ivan Rusilko, a handsome, young physician, boasts an extensive resume’ and a well-established position on Miami Beach’s social scene. But despite his success and glamour, he’s routinely had to suffer uninspiring dates and doomed relationships. With a romantic heart, Ivan’s not the love-‘em-and-leave-‘em type. But when he awakens to find that the girl in the red dress has done exactly that, he resolves to find her--only if it’s just to ask why she left without even a kiss goodbye.

The Winemaker’s Dinner is a fictionalized erotic memoir inspired by the romantic triumphs and tragedies of Dr. Ivan Rusilko’s real life. Weaving fact with fantasy, authors Everly Drummond and Dr. Ivan Rusilko have gifted readers with a swoon-worthy flesh and blood romantic hero and the intoxicating bouquet only a heartfelt tale of passionate love can create.
Here's an excerpt from THE WINEMAKERS DINNER: Appetizers.

Jaden was a little disappointed not to see Ivan when she stepped out of the elevators, and as she left the lobby, she saw no sign of the black beast that had picked her up last time. What did catch her eye was a hot-looking motorcycle sitting in front of her building. So sexy, and so Miami Beach.

Yep, there he was, some pretty boy straddling the monster. Dark blue denim hugged his legs, and a short-sleeved green polo shirt stretched tightly around the ridged muscles of his arms. The bike roared to life and crept along the curb, coming to rest just inches from Jaden’s feet, leaving her both startled and annoyed. Who does this asshole think he is?

Wordlessly, the asshole raised the shield hiding his face. Eyeing her inquisitively, Ivan asked, “Are you making assumptions again, young lady?”

Feeling like a complete idiot, Jaden burst out in laughter. “Really? Do you honestly think I look like a biker chick? Now you’re the one making assumptions, doctor.”

Stepping off the bike, Ivan removed his helmet, releasing hair that flowed over his shoulders. Jaden smiled, remembering the way Ivan’s hair had felt as she wrapped her hands around it, and the intoxicating scent that came off him in waves as he heated up. A shiver swept across her skin as she approached the bike.

“This is why I was hoping you hadn’t spent too much time on your hair,” Ivan said as he revealed another helmet.

“Oh, of course not,” Jaden said sarcastically. “I just threw everything together.”

“Well done. You look delicious.” Ivan pulled her close and kissed her cheek. “There’s only one thing missing,” he added, and Jaden saw the small box in his hand.

She gasped as he opened the box to show her, and then slowly turned her around. He brushed aside her hair and draped the silver necklace around her neck, securing the tiny clasp from the back. Hanging from the chain was a golden sea turtle. Jaden reached up and ran her fingers over its smooth surface.

“I’ve never been so jealous of a turtle!” Ivan smiled and kissed the silky skin at the nape of her neck.

Jaden turned to face him and inhaled deeply. Her passion for this man overpowered her, and she kissed him with fervor. “You’re too good to me. What did I do to deserve you?”

“The night has just begun, baby,” he whispered against her skin.

“Well, thank you. You have no idea how much this means to me.” Jaden had always been happy with the simple things in life, and she found the greatest joy in small, meaningful gestures. Overwhelmed by feelings, she leaned in and kissed him again. “If you’re lucky, I may just show you how grateful I am.”

“Mmmmmm…” Ivan cleared his throat and stepped back, appearing to catch his breath. “Okay! Will you be all right riding this bad boy?”

“There’s a first time for everything,” Jaden replied, also a bit breathless.

She put on the helmet Ivan handed her and slid on to the back of the Ducati. She admired its smooth lines and the way her arms naturally fit with the curves of his body and her ass with the curves of the bike. It almost seemed built for sex. She grasped him firmly around the waist, and after retrieving his sunglasses from his pocket, Ivan started the bike. Instantly vibrations danced up Jaden’s thighs, surprising her, but if she was going to be a biker chick, she needed to be one with the bike, right?

Do you want to whet your appetite?

In addition to the full length novel, two short story prequels, RSVP and No Reservations, penned independently by Dr. Ivan and Everly, are available for free download on the Omnific Publishing website.

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