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Guest Post: Author Joey W. Hill + Giveaway
Filed in Giveaways , Guest Post , Joey W. Hill Posted on May 3, 2010 @ 6:00 am
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We are very happy to have have Joey W. Hill, Author of the Vampire Queen series and many more, here today with an interesting guestpost.
Joey also offers a wonderful giveaway at the end of the post so be sure to stay tuned.
And don’t forget to give Joey a warm welcome.
Enjoy!
Writing A Menage – Digging Deeper
by Joey W. Hill
It’s lovely to be here at Book Lovers, Inc – always so much going on, and populated with people who love to read, my favorite kind of crowd. As some of you may know, I write paranormal and contemporary erotic romance, much of it with a BDSM flair. I write four series. My Nature of Desire and Knights of the Board Room series focus on Dominants and submissives in our present day world. The Vampire Queen series focuses on the vampire-servant relationship. And my Daughters of Arianne series, which is sensual romance but not BDSM, jumps off from the Little Mermaid legend – as an example, the first book in the three-book series follows a mermaid heroine as she seeks to overcome her cursed past and embrace love with a powerful angel.
I’ve had “not for the fainthearted” at the top of so many of my reviews that I’m thinking of having it tattooed across my forehead (lol). But the truth is, I like writing deeply character-driven stories, and let’s face it–clawing your way down to the bottom of another person’s soul is messy and intense. And sexual expression is one of the most primal avenues by which we do that. The book that releases this week, Vampire Mistress, gave me the challenge of doing that not just for two people, but three.
I’ll admit, more than once during the writing of this book I thought about bashing my head into my desk and having myself committed, the only acceptable excuse for missing a book deadline. Well, that and death. Your own, not a family member’s (grin). Why did the book drive me so crazy? Let me present it anecdotally. I have three wonderful dogs. Many days they overwhelm me because they are like having three rambunctious children running around during my writing day. Not too long ago, we fostered a young female dog, about sixty pounds and also highly energetic. Suddenly I discovered that, as trying as managing three dogs can be, adding a fourth made three seem SO much simpler (lol). Same experience in writing a ménage story. As challenging as it can be to get to the bottom of two people’s emotions and motivations and bring them together in a happily-ever-after, doing it with three tempts an author to send a carrier pigeon to her muse with a bright red “WTF?” scroll tied on the skinny leg.
But I’m so glad I took the plunge. If I hadn’t, I wouldn’t have had the pleasure of seeing three fascinating characters evolve from individuals struggling to overcome their personal demons to three people bound by blood, unconditional love and fierce loyalty. And what a threesome they are! Here’s an excerpt that features at least Anwyn and Gideon, and I already gave you the book blurb link above. However, I can’t resist talking about them a little bit from a more informal point of view. After all, since it’s taking two books to tell their story, they’ve been part of my life for the better part of a year!
Gideon is my central figure. A hardcore vampire hunter who is truly lost. His brother became a vampire last year, and helping him with that changed Gideon’s viewpoint of the vampire world. But he is one of the most successful vampire hunters in the world, and the things he’s seen and done won’t leave him be. He tries to seek a moment of peace here and there under the hands of professional Mistresses, but none of them are quite right for him…until he meets Anwyn. She sees this scarred, dangerous man’s pain and isolation, and it calls to something inside of her Mistress’s soul. She has a connection to vampires Gideon doesn’t know about – she’s the lover of one of the most powerful vampires he’s ever met – Daegan Rei, and Daegan has his own interests in Gideon.
Gideon is the pivotal character in this book, the one that drew me in. Though like most women, I have a soft spot for bad boys, I’ve never really written one. I have strong alpha males, of course, many with emotional baggage, but not really “bad boys.” Gideon is all attitude. Just as an example – two lines from the book –
“You’ve been very ugly to my ladies, Gideon,” Anwyn said. “Been rude and surly as well. I expect better of you.”
“Better lower your expectations,” he advised. “This is as good as it gets.”
From the beginning, Anwyn suspects that Gideon needs both a Master and Mistress to keep him in line. She knew him far better than I did at first. When I started planning this story, I fully intended Gideon to have a delicate yet strong-willed heroine (not a Domme) who needed his protection when she’s attacked by vampires. The book would be how he dealt with her becoming a fledgling vampire, despite his own vampire hunting background. She’d lean on his help, and it would be through her gentle nature and vulnerability to a brutal vampire world that she’d help him find love and his soft side again. Snort – no, I’m not kidding, that’s where I thought the story was going.
Though Anwyn is forcibly turned and desperately needs Gideon’s help (as well as Daegan’s) to get through an unstable transition, she’s far from delicate. In fact, the meshing of her Mistress nature with a vampire’s makes managing her aggression one of her most difficult challenges. But ultimately, it’s Gideon’s soul that most needs saving in this book. And it takes not only Anwyn, but Daegan as well, to help a violent, damaged man find a way to embrace life again. In turn, his presence in their lives helps them resolve things they’ve never been able to overcome in their five-year relationship
So in short, it’s not just the POV chaos or the choreographing of arms and legs that makes writing a ménage such a hard journey. It’s taking the maze of three people’s emotions, figuring out how to connect those mazes so they can find one another’s hearts, and then tangling their destinies together permanently in an unforgettable way. No problem – want fries with that? Chuckle. That’s probably why it also became clear that their story would be told over two books. Vampire Mistress releases this week, and Vampire Trinity just a handful of months later, in early September. Hope you’ll enjoy their story.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GIVEAWAY
Now, if you’d like to win a copy of Vampire Mistress (or another of my titles, if you already have it or simply have a different preference from my backlist), tell me about ménage stories you’ve enjoyed in the past, and how they differ from the ones you DIDN’T like. (That way I can find out if I’ve done well or screwed up – lol).
Any other relevant comment is acceptable as well, if you’ve never read a ménage. I’d be happy to be one of your firsts!
All comments left here between now and when I announce the winner on May 9 will be eligible for the drawing.
I’ll post the winner in this comments section as well as contacting them directly. Good luck!
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I think the only BDSM menage book I've read is Secret Ties by Opal Carew. It was very well written and I enjoyed the story, but I don't read this genre all the time. I prefer to have a little paranormal mixed in with it. These two books sound very interesting.
seriousreader at live dot com
Aw, don't beat yourself up about book deadlines. Remember what Douglas Adams said? "I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by."
I haven't read erotica in over a decade, but I'm going to pick it up again now, starting with your Vampire Queen Series 🙂
I read a hot menage scene in Coming Undone by Lauren Dane. It was extremely hot! I also read this one book that had twin brothers teaming up and it left me thinking that these brothers were a little too close. It's almost like they couldn't do the deed unless they teamed up. LOL!
Linda, I'm glad to offer you menage AND paranormal with these two. I tend to vary my reading genre as well – if I jump around among genres I enjoy, it expands my reading list quite a bit and keeps things fresh. Though all of my reading tends to have a strong romance/love story subplot (smile).
Xuxana, given the quirky, fun nature of his books, you can just hear him saying something like that. Of course, I don't quite have his clout. If I was routinely late, my publisher's response would likely be: "See that next contract for you? It's 'whooshing' on by!" (lol) But thanks for the grin. Hope you enjoy my vampires!
Bells, I think there was a Criminal Minds episode like that – they were doing something far worse than showing a girl a good time, though (grin).
Years ago, I read a book that opened with a pair of Cajun brothers seducing a girl lost in the swamp. That was early on in erotic romance, before it was okay for the heroine to have a multiple sex partner scene and still end up in love with one hero. Therefore, they were interrupted before they could both have her. Gosh darn it! (big grin).
Lauren's such a talented lady. Glad you were enjoying one of her books. I need to try some Opal Carew. Thanks for the recommendation, Linda!
Good morning all, and thanks for coming out to the BLI today! I'll be checking in throughout the day, so if you have any questions as well as comments, I'll be happy to answer them.
I've only got 2 favorie manages and it's 'Colter's Woman' by Maya Banks and Shayla Black's 'Decadent'.
And to contrast them to what I don't like, though I don't mind m/m/f I do prefer when it's all about the heroine, so more m/f/m or like in Colter's Woman, there's 3 ms to 1 f LOL double standards maybe but it's a menage 'fantasy' for a reason isn't it?
I've forgotten Hamilton's Anita Blake series, I do like her menages simply because Anita loves all her men, I guess I like the 'love' component in a menage as well & that 2 (or more ;P) men can share a woman between them because they love her.
Oh and I LOVE YOUR BOOKS! My favorite is A Witch's Beauty- I cried like a baby in that one more than once!
email is: midnite dot fantasy @ gmail dot com
Congratulations on a new release Joey! I have loved all of your books and have been fortunate to have been able to review them as well for two different review sites. I have to say, my two favorites are MIRROR OF MY SOUL and A MERMAID'S RANSOM. Both books made me think and dream.
Best wishes for many more books!
HUGE fan,
Natalie S.
Camille, thank you so much for that. I love David and Mina's story. She was so prickly, and he was just all the right things for her. I admit I cried during the writing/editing of that one, too…no spoilers, but when she had to face that moment in the Dark One world where she had to turn her back on him… oh, that was tough to write. :<
The good thing about erotic romance is you can pick and choose what caters to YOUR unique fantasies. Fantasies don't care about double standards or being PC – they just know what they like (grin). There's a lot of push-pull in Gideon, Anwyn and Daegan's relationship, so there are both m/f/m and m/m/f scenes throughout both books. Of course with Daegan and Anwyn both being Dominants and the vampire blood involved, they evolve toward treating Gideon as their shared servant – but Gideon doesn't make that an easy journey, given that Gideon is Gideon – and pretty much a straight guy (grin). So some scenes it was like watching socks tumble in the dryer, not knowing where everyone was going to land.
I definitely agree with the emotional component, though. That gives the menage so much more depth. And Anita was very protective of her men, even while giving them hell (chuckle). Colter's Woman is a multiple-partner classic, so that was a good choice. Haven't had a chance to try Decadent yet, but love Shayla – she's a wonderful writer as well (you all are adding to my TBR list – wink).
Natalie, thanks so much for coming out today, and for those overwhelming compliments. You're too kind! Wow, talk about a tear jerker – Mirror of My Soul rates at the top of my list for sniffles, but it also remains one of my favorite books to revisit for inspiration if I get stuck on another story. In fact, ironically, Mermaid's Ransom was one of those. Dante was such a difficult character that it was the 3rd edit before he opened up to me, and that was only with Alexis's help. But once he did, it made it all worthwhile, as your comment proves. Thanks again for that, and all the good wishes!
I haven't actually read too many menage stories, but the few I've read I have really enjoyed, like Colters' Woman by Maya Banks.
I love your books!! Hopefully you'll get to continue to Arianne series b/c I really want to see what happens b/w Alexis' best friend and Marcellus? Forgot his name but I just remember her hysterical antics.
Jeanette, thanks, girl! I'd love to continue the mermaid series as well. Right now the vampires are getting a lot of attention, but my hope is next year Berkley will re-evaluate how the mermaids are doing and consider letting me add another book. Marcellus and Clara made a pretty strong impression in Mermaid's Ransom, and you're not the first reader who's told me they want to know what happens to them! And Clara has such a rich background – she's been a fortune teller, traveled with a circus…it's not at all surprising that she sets her sites on a brooding, cranky (but really hot) angel (grin).
Hey Ms Joey, loved the blog topic, I don't think even death is gonna keep you away from your fans . Keeping my fingers crossed that I will have this wonderful book in my greddy little hands tomorrow morning, lol. Just finished a menage this weekend by Shayla Black that I though was great. I love the like to wanting to needing to love aspect of a threesome. As long as the relationship has love and they're willing to work together to beat the odds, that makes the story so much better. =D
Hi Joey,
Great post.
I've read several menages, both m/f/m and m/m/f. Very rarely, there will be one I don't like, but that is because of the plot line and the writer's ability. Can't think of a specific on right now, probably because it was that unmemorable. A couple of authors that I have a lot of menage stories by are Bianca D'Arc and Jory Strong. Yes, both are paranormal authors.
Have read all of your NoD series(except Jonathan's story)and love them. Have Knights of the Boardroom in my TBR pile next to the bed. Still need to get your mermaid and vampire series.
Mai wrote: I love the like to wanting to needing to love aspect of a threesome. That is a great way to describe it – and it's what makes writing a menage so challenging, because you have to do that relationship evolution three-way. But when you get it right, it's awesome. I'm hoping you guys will feel that way about my three, but I can tell you I fell in love with all three of them individually, and then as they grew together, they just became that much more appealing. Hope you get VM tomorrow!
Beth, I've heard many good things about those authors as well. I'm obviously WAY behind in my reading. Thanks for that great perspective.
As a reader, the menages I haven't liked were those where it was just sexual twister – no real emotional development and going from one bedroom scene to another. It's always wonderful when the physical and emotional are tangled with just the right balance. Denise Rossetti did an outstanding job with that in Gift of the Goddess and Tailspin, and Violet Summers in Daniel's Surrender. Those are probably three of my alltime favorites, but I'm sure I'm going to be overlooking one.
Well, two that stand out for me are Six (don't remember who wrote it, just the title) and Menage. Six just didn't do it for me because there were so many multiple partners, I couldn't keep any of them straight. I really enjoyed Menage by Emma Holly . . . I just did!! 🙂
Joey–I really liked Daniel's Surrender by Violet Summers and the Jory Strong Angelini series. Just today I finally got my hands on a new book that has been wasting away behind the counter at the bookstore for more than a week! I think it will probably be my new favorite quite quickly and I can't wait to start reading it because the author is…..you.(LOL)
I've never read a ménage story and would love to read any of yours. I do love the paranormal so I think I would enjoy one.
alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/
Rosie, I have had Menage on my TBR list forever! I have Strange Attractions on my shelf, just have to get around to reading it. Emma has a masterful way with erotica, and I had the honor of meeting her at Lori Foster's RAGT last year – a very classy lady.
Karen, I can't argue with your taste in reading (lol). Hope that new book is all that you want it to be. If not, I think you know where to find that author and give her an earful (grin).
Lisa, thanks so much for that – and there are some great recommendations in the comments today, so you should be able to pick up some wonderful reading material – maybe mine will be part of it (wink).
I need to admit that I do not think I have read any yet. Your book sounds great. Thank you for posting.
robin [at] intensewhisper [dot] com
Hi JOEY!! Your books are amazing, I can't simply call them erotic romance because there's a lot more than just sex happening, I often cry in your books and that's not because the sex is so bad lol The way that you convey the depth of the feelings of and between your characters is amazing- thank you.
And you're also lucky enough to always have beautiful covers! This new one is gorgeous but I have to admit I'm biased to the covers of the entire vampire queen series.
I've loved Gideon since we first meet him in 'Mark of the Vampire Queen' and I CANNOT WAIT to get my hands on this, whether I win one or not I will get one (or two..).
To answer the Question my favorite menage story is Emma Holly's 'Fairyville'- there was something in there for everyone that's for sure! And that all the parties respected and even loved each other was great. It had all the 'healthy adult relationship' factors in there, as well as being smoking hot of course.
My email is: jreyes27 @ bigpond dot net dot au
Hey Ms. Joey!!!!!
Guess it would be sucking up if I said one of yours!! Ha!! Love ya honey!!!!!
I have read a few menage books and so far I have not found one that I did not like… and you do not suck!!!! But I am partial.. cuz I love ya!
Please count me in for this one for sure!
And if someone reads my comment who has not read this woman's work, you simply must go get one of her books, I do not even care which series you pick up…. GO NOW!!!!!! She is that awesome!
Hugs to you!!
Robin, a potential new reader – that's always lovely news (beaming). If you decide to take a plunge with one of my books, I thank you in advance! :>
Joie, bad sex can definitely cause tears (chuckle), but I'm glad my books cause the good kind of tears. And I agree, the cover gods have been SO good to me. My favorite cover is still probably Mark of the Vampire Queen. As far as Gideon, can't tell you how happy I am that it's FINALLY May. I've been wanting to share his story with you all for so long it seems (smile). Good comments on the menage as well – respect is a good element that isn't mentioned as often, but even in hardcore BDSM erotic romance, if the Dom/me is working on breaking through the subs shields/fears, they're still respecting/nurturing the fragile soul within – though it may look a bit harsh to the outside!
Cecile, girl – I totally support sincere sucking up (grin). And thank you for that resounding endorsement. Hearing honest enthusiasm like that makes my day in twelve different ways! Glad you came out to the blog today. :>
Wolf Tales by Kate Douglas is an awesome series…I love all things sensual…another winner is R.G Alexander's Lux in Shadow, it's part of the Children of the Goddess series. I think the reason I am so drawn to these types of reads is the level of trust one has to have.
Joey, I really love your story telling and I too hope that Daughters of Adrianne will be continued. And I love your Vampire Queen series. Thanks for sharing their world with us.
Cindy
Joey, you know I would not miss you here for nothing!!!!
And you already know that I think you Rock Freaking Apples… I just had to tell these ladies here!!!
Glad I could make your day hon!!!
Kate Douglas's Wolf Tales was my first menage, and I was, er…shocked. ;-p At this point, though, I've devoured each of your Nature of Desire books, so there's not a lot that shocks me anymore. 🙂 I think my favorite menage in those was Marcus, Josh, and Lauren. The genuine affection between Josh and Marcus about did me in. However…. some of the scenes in Vampire Mistress come a good close second! *sigh* I haven't read a single book of yours that hasn't moved me to tears.
Cindy, thank you for that, and for the further recommendations. I always get a smile when I see Kate's name because she and I started together in epublishing, way back when with Dark Star Publishing, and she's been a good friend and mentor through the years. Another class act.
Cecile, you always give me such a big smile and a great feeling – hugs, and right back at you. Thanks!
Jodie, I love to write male bonding moments. My male characters don't always naturally click, but the friendship between Josh and Marcus was as natural as flowing water.
While Daegan and Gideon are somewhat more bumpy, (probably because the relationship is new, vs the long friendship between Josh and Marcus), I could feel the potential between them from their first interaction. They have so many things in common. Which of course becomes even more clear in Vampire Trinity (sitting on my hands so I don't give away spoilers!).
You made me laugh with the "shocked" comment, though. Way back when they came up with the cover for Vampire Queen's Servant, my (then) new editor was a little concerned about how "edgy" it was, and I was thinking, "really? seriously?!" Grin. Being immersed in this level of sexual intensity, an author sometimes forgets it's not always the norm in the "real" world (lol).
Thanks so much for the wonderful compliments!
I've just started reading erotic romances in the last year and initially I was somewhat shocked by the menages. I've gotten over that, but no matter how many I read, I'm not that into M/M action. I don't read straight M/M stories for that reason and only tolerate it in a M/M/F story.
Hi Joey,
I believe you are my first. It was The scene in The Mark of the Vampire Queen, with Lady Lyssa, Jacob and Gideon. That scene was smokin. I think my book automatically opens to it now. LOL
I have read the Anita Blake Series and there is just a lot of stuff going on. Last I left off I lost count of boyfriends. LOL. There were a few Menage scenes that are hot in the series. There are many orgies as well.
I've been reading menage stories for some time. Emma Holly's Menage was an early favorite and a more recent favorite is Shayla Black, Dangerous Boys and Their Toys. Other favorites authors are Lora Leigh (super hot menages!) and Maya Banks.
What makes for a great menage story is if it is a triangle. And if the guys are not bisexual they should at least have a strong affection for each other. I want all the parties involved to have an emotional connection with each other that exists outside of the bedroom so to speak.
I never read a menage story and only a few paranormal erotic romance but I would love to give this one a try!
I really liked the menage scenes with Gideon and Jacob and Lyssa, that was super stimulating. In Beloved Vampire, the idea of Jessica on the beach with Jacob and Dev was really sexy and seemed like it really could have gone that way despite her jitters. I liked the idea and potential moments with Lyssa and Danny and Jacob.
Megan Hart did it with Temptation, I think. It was pretty sexy and interesting. It was with a woman, her husband, and his best friend. It was very sexy. Hart's characters established parameters that allowed the woman to play with both, but only penetration with her husband because they had talked about starting their family, otherwise, because it was sort of forbidden, the wife and his best friend wanted to and later did after their menage relationship and play had ended with some emotional upheaval. I really liked the book, but I wonder what their play would have been with all three through their summer without that rule…
I don't think I've read enough variety of menages to pick a favorite or to decide just yet what I do and don't like! I think those I've encountered thus far are very sexy, if only it were true that males that hot and alpha could share a woman between them without wanting to kill the other one!
Jealousy isn't addressed that often from the few I've read, although it WAS in the case of Gideon, Jacob and Lyssa which I found realistic.
Anyway, congrats on the release! can't wait to read it 🙂
and before I forget lol my email is: swtchillli (yes that's 3 L's!) @ hotmail . com
Good morning, all! You've been busy while I've been sleeping :>.
Jen, I understand that, for certain. When reading for our own enjoyment, why wouldn't we choose the type of stories we like best? Fortunately erotic romance (and romance in general) has so many subgenres from which to choose.
That said, I've gotten so I never say never on my own reading choices, because I've had stories featuring situations I didn't think I'd appreciate at all, but because of the way the characters were presented and the compelling nature of the storyline, I was drawn right in. Kudos to those authors, because I am an extremely picky reader! :> And it sounds like you may have made that leap initially with menage.
Sandy, I'm fond of that Gideon, Lyssa and Jacob scene as well (grin). And of course it's the feelings that linger in Gideon after that night which ultimately drive him to Anwyn's club in Vampire Mistress, so it was a pivotal scene for him.
I've read a few of those orgies and it blows my mind, the choreography of limbs, mouths and other appendages. At a certain point, I don't feel like an author can do justice to the relationship dynamics if too many partners are involved, but when it's just one scene in the book, offered for the pleasure of it, or to further relationship dynamics between a smaller subset of characters, that can work very well.
Sue, you said that very well. I'm picking up a theme here – it's obvious that emotional connection between all characters is one of the absolute keys to a successful menage story (and from an author's viewpoint, makes them a real labor of love to write – I salute authors who do that storyline on a regular basis!). In Holding the Cards, Josh wasn't gay, but Marcus and he had a strong connection through friendship that made it possible for them both to be involved in their tropical weekend with Lauren. They each had an emotional investment in the menage play, and that made it an even better story, I think.
Eva, thanks for that! Hope you'll be able to give the book a try.
Kecia, I've had so many comments about that scene between Jacob, Jess and Dev in Beloved Vampire. They go along the lines of "When the hell are you going to bring them back together to finish what they started?" lol Since I write free vignettes on my blog and fan forum featuring my characters (I'm actually doing one on Jess and Mason now, though not that particular scene), I have put that in as a future vignette possibility. IF it doesn't show up in a future vampire book (wink).
I love Megan's stuff. I've only had the pleasure of reading Dirty, but I have 1-2 more of hers sitting on my shelf, because she has a brilliant writing style. But like you, I would have wanted a more no holds barred scenario (chuckle).
Rochelle, thanks very much! And keep trying out those menages – the more you read, the more you'll know what you do and don't like (grin).
I think the best romances mix fantasy with reality. Jacob was deeply committed to Lyssa. However, understanding what a vampire requires of her servant, and blithely standing by and letting another man touch her, were two entirely different things. It made complete sense for him to be angry and have to deal with that with her. In truth, few menage relationships seem to actually exist because of that issue. Fortunately, we can work with it a little better in erotic romance, bringing in the reality, but making it easier to accomplish the fantasy (smile).
Hi Joey,
Congrats on your latest release, Vampire Mistress is winging its way to me as we speak.
Love all the comments so far. I am a big fan of menage storylines, especially, m/f/m. Some of my favorites are from Maya Banks, and Lora Leigh's, early Pleasure series.
Love a strong emotional connection, when they are stronger as a triad than apart, when its more than a one time thing, and they make it work somehow in their day to day lives,(hey its fantasy!) And when the sexual connection is off the charts sensual and erotic.
caity_mack(at)yahoo(d0t)com
Finally have my copy…can't wait to get started…Beautiful cover.
I hope that you're right Joey and Daughters of Adrianne get picked up next year. It truly is a beautiful series.
The Vampire Queen's series in one of my all time favs.
ctrim@wi.rr.com
Hey, Cathy! And well said. Yep, for me it works when the fantasy of it is so well woven we believe it can happen in real life (grin). One pitfall an author has to guard against when writing a menage is making it into an isoceles vs equilateral triangle (heavens, I hope I'm remembering geometry right – a long time ago!), where one member is really not as essential and is just thrown in for flavoring. If you're intending to do it (I had that dynamic in Holding the Cards and INTENDED it that way), it works, but I wanted VM to be a true menage. So my CPs helped tremendously to make sure that didn't happen.
Think that's why it took two books to tell their story, because they each had their own obstacles to overcome and relationship issues to resolve before they could complete their part.
Glad you have VM on your way to you and hope you like it! Cindy, same to you – thank you! I love the cover as well. Wish it wasn't quite so dark – from a promo standpoint, makes it a little hard to determine what you're seeing if you're not looking closely, but they lightened up Vampire Trinity a bit, which was good. And maybe having to look closely isn't a bad thing (grin).
Actually, I'm going to amend that because Marcus says I didn't do him justice in Holding the Cards. He WAS essential and far more than flavoring in terms of bringing Josh and Lauren together. There was just never any intention that he was going to fall in love equally with them and pursue a long term relationship as a threesome. Thomas was waiting for him in a future book, Rough Canvas (grin). These characters, they can be SO overly sensitive… ;>
The menage story that sticks in my mind is VICTORIOUS STAR by Hawke.
That is a real scorcher.
marlenebreakfield(at)yahoo(dot)com
Hi Joey,
I'm late again too…*g* as always.
The first menage' I had ever read was FORBIDDEN PLEASURE by Lora Leigh. It was well executed and tastfully written. I loved the 2 male characters and the female. They took care of her and seductively eased her into a way of life that was hidden deep within her.
So far it is my favourite in that category. But I'm positive that is about to CHANGE. :)))
Maryde
Hi Joey! *waves*
One of the hottest menages that comes to my mind s Ménage by Emma Holly. I like to read ménages with 2 men+1 woman, and I also prefer to have the men straight, so that the heroine gets the extra pleasure! 😉 I love it when the book is not just about sex but the characters have some feelings for each other, in my opinion if they care for each other or like each other it makes the sex hotter and more meaningful, not just like machines working to get off some steam.
I love it when paranormal is tossed into the equation, because somehow I imagine magical creatures to be more libearl in their sexual ways.
Vampire mistress sounds amazing, would love to read it, please enter me! (the cover looks exciting too! mm*shivers*)
stella.exlibris (at) gmail (dot) com
mbreakfield and maryde – more good recommendations. And Maryde, I hope you may be right – or at least Vampire Mistress will tie LL – that would be a huge compliment! (grin)
Stella, I've GOT to read that book. It's probably been recommended to me ten times now (chuckle). Just have to focus and get my hands on it. The focus is the hard part – I just read an interview with Elizabeth Lowell where she said that trying to get everything done in a day was like trying to fit an octopus into a tea cup – I thought that was a VERY apt way to put it! Glad you like the cover and the sound of VM, and good luck (smile).
Remember, everyone, we'll draw on Sunday once I get home from my mom's for Mother's Day, so leave any comments before Sunday so you can have a chance to win Vampire Mistress (or another book of your choosing if you have it!) Happy Mom's Day!
Thanks again to everyone for coming out to comment at my blog post, and thanks to Book Lovers Inc for letting me play here this week. The winner of the giveaway drawing is…Robin! Congrats Robin, and I've sent you a direct email so you can give me the info I need to send you your book!
It's been delightful and fun, and hope everyone who celebrates it has had a lovely Mother's Day.