Guest Tori St. Claire with a Giveaway!

My Favorite Part of Writing the Black Opals

I lead a boring life.  No surprise really; most authors suffer from Hermit-Syndrome.  A few travel for research, a few meet uber-exciting people.  Nope!  Not me!  It’s just me, the two kids, and a bunch of chickens out here.

So for me, the Black Opal series is the perfect break from the monotony of being a farm-owned, egg-collecting, pig-training mom of two active boys.

 I get to go to fancy places

            Most of the Opal stories are set, or originate, in more-or-less exotic places.  Want to glimpse Russia?  Colombia? Colorado?  Even the Mid-East?  Oh, and there’s always Vegas and London too.  That’s at least six places in less than a year—and on an author’s salary to boot!

I get to safely experience danger

            There’s a reason I have hens—when it comes to thrills, I’m pretty much a chicken.  But in the last thirty-six months, I’ve participated in car chases, gun battles, disarmed bombs, stripped, and even cozied up with a hit man or two.

Ah…the Romance  

            Farm life might have its own excitement, but let me tell you, the rooster’s the only one cooking up action around here.  In a short while I’ve cavorted with (one, two, three, four…ahem!) sinfully sexy covert agents.  Whoo boy.  They know how to really…um, treat… a girl.

Those are pretty much the top three enticements for me.  Beyond that though, there are friendships, laughter, shopping on occasion, and even strange family relations that can catch the unsuspecting off guard.  You never quite know what you’ll find in a Black Opal book.  But I can guarantee there will be danger, excitement, exotic places and uber-hot men.  If that sounds like it’s up your alley, give it a try!

And if you’d like to win a free digital copy, let me know below what draws you to covert agents, or secret operatives.

~Tori

www.toristclaire.com

EXPLOSIVE

Erotic Romantic Suspense

The Black Opals Series

A man on the hunt...

Jayce Honeycutt never imagined returning to his hometown for a wedding would find him confronting the woman he intended to marry.  Nor did he anticipate the passion they once knew would burn as hot and bright as ever.  Only now Alyssa’s involved with Jayce’s former best friend, and Jayce can’t bring himself to interfere.  When he learns Alyssa may be in danger, however, everything changes.  As the threats against her life escalate, Jayce will stop at nothing to unveil the secrets she’s hiding.  Even if it means risking his heart all over again.

A woman on the run…

Ten years ago, a brutal attack forced Alyssa Martin into a world of solitary darkness.  She threw herself into her career, but now her work has led her back into the nightmare of her past and thrust her into a deadly game. When her roommate employs Jayce for her protection, memories compound.  She’s never forgotten their shared desire, and her body still craves his masterful touch.  Yet Jayce is determined to break down her protective walls, and confiding in him is more frightening than the shadows stalking her.  But someone else is determined to control her.  To survive, Alyssa must trust in Jayce and bare herself completely.

Available in both print and digital formats:

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Explosive-Black-Opals-Tori-Claire-ebook/dp/B00F9IJBP8

Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/explosive-tori-st-claire/1116922858?ean=2940148404811

About Tori:

National Bestselling author Tori St. Claire grew up writing. Hobby quickly turned into passion, and when she discovered the world of romance as a teen, poems and short stories gave way to full length novels with sexy heroes and heroines waiting to be swept off their feet. She wrote her first romance novel at seventeen.

While that manuscript gathered dust-bunnies beneath the bed, she went on to establish herself as a contemporary, and paranormal author under the pen name, Claire Ashgrove and writes historical romance as Sophia Garrett. Her writing, however, skirted a fine line between hot and steamy, and motivated by authors she admired, she pushed her boundaries and made the leap into erotica, using the darker side of human nature and on-the-edge suspense to drive grittier, sexier, stories.

Her erotic romantic suspense novels are searingly sensual experiences that unite passion with true emotion, and the all-consuming tie that binds -- love.

Website: www.toristclaire.com

Twitter:  @ClaireAshgrove

Facebook Pages:

https://www.facebook.com/ToriStClaire

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorClaireAshgrove

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSophiaGarrett

Guest Author Interview: Claire Ashgrove

Alexis: Hi Claire. Welcome to Happily Ever After Thoughts.  Thank you so much for coming.  I know that many of your books feature horses. Do you have a special affinity for these great beasts?

Claire:   I don’t know that I’d call it special, but yes, horses are near and dear to me.  I’ve been raising sporthorses for several years – Arabians, Oldenburgs and Thoroughbreds – and riding twice as long.  Horses are part and parcel to what I am, and most especially the Arabian breed.

Alexis:  Wow, I guess you do have an affinity for horses.  Speaking of horses,  you have a new romance being released this month. Can you tell us about Waiting For Yes?

Claire:  Waiting For Yes, is a story about courage, trust, and dreams.  It’s set in the very small town of Ransom, Kansas, in the middle of a blizzard.  Gabrielle has invested in her dream horse, the stallion that will found her breeding program, but the sellers never disclosed Bahadur Mamoon isn’t quite… right.  Through the help of Jake, an over-the-road driver who becomes snowed in with her, they’re both confronted with not only Mamoon’s difficulties but their dreams – Gabrielle’s quest for success and Jake’s quest to forget his past.  Passion ups the ante, forcing them to either break or bend.

Alexis: Sounds intriguing. Where did you get the idea for this story?

Claire: Hm.  Tough question.  Mamoon is a Straight Egyptian Arabian stallion, and that part was relatively easy as I wanted to write about my own Straight Egyptian stallion’s heritage.  I’d have to say this is one of those books that just came together – a piece here, a part there – all driven from the questions, “What would happen if…” The core of it is founded on my own experiences in the world of showing and breeding.

Alexis: And what about the heroine and hero? What are your favorite character traits of Gabrielle and Jake?

Claire:  Jake is vulnerable in ways that tear at my heart.  Although he’s strong and determined, (and he’s super hot!), his fears are really what make him human to me.  Gabrielle – well she just won’t give up when the odds are against her.  She doesn’t know how to quit.  Even when everything says she should.

Alexis: That’s a combination for romance. What kind of research did you have to do for this novel?

Claire:  Just a tiny bit actually.  I have a friend who drives for a living and I needed a little help with how big rigs worked and layering the technical aspects that led to Jake’s being forced into staying with Gabrielle.  The rest of it was pretty much from my own experiences as a horsewoman and one who’s dealt with the nightmare of a massive snowstorm with livestock.

Alexis:  That does sound like a nightmare! Now, this is not your first romance novel. Can you tell us a little about your other Romances?

Claire: I sure can!  I have five steamy (and I do mean steamy) contemporary novels available presently:

            Seduction’s Stakes – a super hot competition between two elite racehorses owner who both have their sights set on the Triple Crown… as well as each other.

            All I Want For Christmas… Is Big Blue Eyes – high school sweethearts are forced back into each others arms when an architect returns home for Christmas and can’t let go of the blue-eyed woman he left behind.

            Timeless Valentine – a companion novel to All I Want For Christmas, where childhood enemies discover Valentine’s Day can be full of delightful surprises.

            A Christmas To Believe In – the third in a trilogy co-written by authors Dyann Love Barr and Alicia Dean about three bothers returning home for Christmas.  This is another horse novel, involving a Thoroughbred breeder who returns to Kansas City to discover his tom-boy “sister” has become all woman.

Alexis: Wow, I guess you do have other books we can start reading. Do you have any other romance novels in the works that we can look forward to?

Claire:  I’m so glad you asked!!  Yes, I have two series launching in 2012.  The first is a hot paranormal series about the Immortal Knights Templar, coming out through Tor.  The second is an erotic romantic suspense series coming through Berkley – I can’t say more about that at this time, but details will be posted in my newsletter when I can.  (If you want to sign up, there’s a link on my website:  www.claireashgrove.com)

In addition to those I anticipate two Contemporary novellas through The Wild Rose Press and, all things going as planned, two paranormal shorts through The Wild Rose Press as well.  Watch my website or newsletter for more on those too!

Alexis: You are one busy writer and we all know that writing is lonely, hard, committed work. What would say is your favorite part of being a Romance Novelist?

Claire:  Telling the stories in my head.  That sounds silly, and very general, but that is my favorite part.  Putting all those people and adventures into words and sharing them. 

Alexis: Thank you so much for visiting Happily Ever After Thoughts. We like talking about romance novels here and learning about the wonderful authors who write them J

Claire:  Thank you so much for having me!  It was wonderful listening to you speak at the NOLA Stars conference, and chatting with you both here and there.  I hope I can come back to your little home on the net in the future! 

Alexis: Readers who would like a chance to win a signed copy of Waiting For Yes, be sure to leave a comment. We will pick the winner Wednesday morning!

And check out this great excerpt from Waiting For Yes

In slow motion, he leaned forward.

One thick palm framed the side of her face. His eyes searched hers, emotion flickering behind their sky blue depths. Sorrow, regret, and affection stared back at her as his thumb caressed her cheek. “Be safe, Gabrielle,” he whispered.

She closed her eyes against a storm of sorrow. Instinct filtered through her hope, and in the half-second of time that passed before his other hand came up to join the first, she knew. This wasn’t a temporary goodbye. Jake intended on driving away forever. A sob bubbled in the back of her throat, threatening to strangle her.

Before it tore free, Jake’s mouth settled against hers. He nudged her lips apart, inviting himself inside. Softly, slowly, he explored. Roused her awareness until the reality of his departure gave way to striking tenderness. She responded to the familiar feeling he awakened, her body tightening with an anxious surge of energy.

He held her in place, seemingly content to kiss her until time stood still. In the quiet, she caught the hard fall of his breath. Beneath her fingertips, his heart hammered fierce. His mouth took on a more demanding quality as he slid one hand into her hair and curled his fingers against her scalp.

A sound of pleasure vibrated in his throat, and Jake drew the kiss to a lingering close. He touched his forehead to hers, then sucked in a deep breath. “Win for me, sugar.”

Before she could gather her senses and respond, the passenger’s door slammed shut. Panic flooded her. He couldn’t walk away. That kiss alone said things she’d longed to hear. He cared for her. She loved him. He couldn’t just turn his back on all that.

Jamming her hand against the handle, she shoved open the door and jumped out. “Jake!”

Alexis: Be sure to leave a comment if you would like a chance to win this book :-)