Sinful Rewards-Naughty Challenges, Luxurious Rewards

By Cynthia Sax on July 5, 2014

I’m at Delilah Devlin’s online home, talking about Sinful Rewards and surprise presents.

http://www.delilahdevlin.com/blog/2014/07/03/cynthia-sax-sinful-rewards-naughty-challenges-luxurious-rewards/

Here is a snippet…

In each installment of Sinful Rewards (each installment is priced at a crazy low 99 cents, less than a convenience store chocolate bar and just as yummy), Bee receives one sexy hot challenge with the possibility of one delicious reward. She doesn’t know what this reward is until AFTER she completes the challenge. This means she has to weigh the difficulty (or, in her case, the naughtiness) of the reward against what she could possibly earn.

I love this idea (and secretly Bee does also). It is the wrapped birthday gift scenario. When the gift is wrapped, it could be ANYTHING. It could be an all expense paid trip to Paris, designer shoes, a lifetime supply of Nutella, a 500 page book of puns, anything.


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Sinful Rewards 1

Cynthia Sax

Belinda “Bee” Carter is a good girl; at least, that’s what she tells herself. And a good girl deserves a nice guy—just like the gorgeous and moody billionaire Nicolas Rainer. He is everything she wants in a man.

Or so she thinks, until she takes a look through her telescope and sees a naked, tattooed man on the balcony across the courtyard. Hawke is mysterious, the bad boy she knows will bring only heartbreak. He has been watching her, and that makes him all the more enticing.

But when a mysterious and anonymous text message dares her to do something bad, she must decide if she is really the good girl she has always claimed to be, or if she’s willing to risk everything for her secret fantasy of being watched.

Is her mystery man the reclusive billionaire with a wild side or the darkly dangerous bad boy?

Buy Links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sinful-Rewards-1-Cynthia-Sax-ebook/dp/B00I7V89H0

ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-sinfulrewards1-1560586-237.html

Barnes And Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sinful-rewards-1-cynthia-sax/1119055390

Google: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Cynthia_Sax_Sinful_Rewards_1?id=g08ZAwAAQBAJ

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/sinful-rewards-1/id814148703?mt=11

Topics: Guest Post | Comments Off on Sinful Rewards-Naughty Challenges, Luxurious Rewards

Fireworks In Chicago

By Cynthia Sax on July 4, 2014

Since today is July 4th, a celebration in the US, and Tuesday was Canada Day, I thought I’d share some of my fireworks photos from one of my July 4ths spent in Chicago.

(You can click on the photos to enlarge them.)

We stood near Buckingham Fountain, yes, the same fountain featured in Married With Children. There were SO many people.

Unfortunately, there were also lights and bit of rain.

The dear wonderful hubby and I had a wonderful time though. As my grandma used to say “I’m not made of sugar. I won’t melt.” And I didn’t (grins).

Bee, Nicolas and Hawke from Sinful Rewards will, of course, be spending July 4th in Chicago. Hawke will be watching the fireworks from his balcony. Our bad boy doesn’t intend to wear clothes. Nicolas will be sitting in his tiny park, a phone pressed against one ear. Bee and her best friend Cyndi will be taking turns using the new telescope Cyndi purchased. Cyndi has stocked up on jellybeans from her family’s plant. Bee will make some snacks.


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Sinful Rewards 1

Cynthia Sax

Belinda “Bee” Carter is a good girl; at least, that’s what she tells herself. And a good girl deserves a nice guy—just like the gorgeous and moody billionaire Nicolas Rainer. He is everything she wants in a man.

Or so she thinks, until she takes a look through her telescope and sees a naked, tattooed man on the balcony across the courtyard. Hawke is mysterious, the bad boy she knows will bring only heartbreak. He has been watching her, and that makes him all the more enticing.

But when a mysterious and anonymous text message dares her to do something bad, she must decide if she is really the good girl she has always claimed to be, or if she’s willing to risk everything for her secret fantasy of being watched.

Is her mystery man the reclusive billionaire with a wild side or the darkly dangerous bad boy?

Buy Links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sinful-Rewards-1-Cynthia-Sax-ebook/dp/B00I7V89H0

Barnes And Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sinful-rewards-1-cynthia-sax/1119055390

Google: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Cynthia_Sax_Sinful_Rewards_1?id=g08ZAwAAQBAJ

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/sinful-rewards-1/id814148703?mt=11

Topics: Guest Post | Comments Off on Fireworks In Chicago

The Freedom Hop – Sinful Rewards

By Cynthia Sax on July 3, 2014

I’m participating in The Freedom Hop today, hosted by http://romancebeckons.blogspot.ca/p/blog-hops-events.html#.U5j2mXZZTsk

Hawke, one of the heroes in Sinful Rewards, is a former Marine. Some readers have asked me why I call him a former Marine and not a Marine or an ex-Marine.

Former Marine does sound awkward but it is the correct term. There are no ex-Marines. Once a Marine, always a Marine. If Hawke had been on active duty, I would have described him as a Marine. Because he’s no longer on active duty, he’s called a former Marine.

There are plenty of people in Romanceland writing about Marine heroes on active duty. I found it more fascinating to explore what Marines and other military men might do with their specialized skills once they returned home.

Hawke, having been trained in intelligence, works security, protecting the wealthy. All of the people in the Organization, the mysterious company he’s affiliated with, are former military personnel. These every day heroes are continuing to do what they did in the military. They’re safeguarding others.

Have you served or do you have loved ones who have served? One commenter will win her or his choice of any eBook from my backlist (excluding collections).


Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/

Sinful Rewards 1

Cynthia Sax

Belinda “Bee” Carter is a good girl; at least, that’s what she tells herself. And a good girl deserves a nice guy—just like the gorgeous and moody billionaire Nicolas Rainer. He is everything she wants in a man.

Or so she thinks, until she takes a look through her telescope and sees a naked, tattooed man on the balcony across the courtyard. Hawke is mysterious, the bad boy she knows will bring only heartbreak. He has been watching her, and that makes him all the more enticing.

But when a mysterious and anonymous text message dares her to do something bad, she must decide if she is really the good girl she has always claimed to be, or if she’s willing to risk everything for her secret fantasy of being watched.

Is her mystery man the reclusive billionaire with a wild side or the darkly dangerous bad boy?

Buy Links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sinful-Rewards-1-Cynthia-Sax-ebook/dp/B00I7V89H0

Barnes And Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sinful-rewards-1-cynthia-sax/1119055390

Google: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Cynthia_Sax_Sinful_Rewards_1?id=g08ZAwAAQBAJ

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/sinful-rewards-1/id814148703?mt=11

Here are a list of writers also participating in The Freedom Hop!

Topics: Guest Post | 12 Comments »

Can A Bike Be Pretty?

By Cynthia Sax on June 26, 2014

(Click on the photos to enlarge them)

Many biker heroes in Romanceland tend to ride a bike that looks like this black bike I spotted at a show.

Often this bike is a Harley. It’s normally new and rarely modified.

This isn’t the type of bike Hawke, the hero in Sinful Rewards, rides. He’s a one of a kind guy and he rides a one of a kind bike. He’s also big and tough and he doesn’t have to prove his manliness by riding a black bike.

He can ride a pretty bike, as Bee, our heroine, describes Hawke’s chopper in this scene.

***

I stand on the sidewalk and watch as the limo is sucked into the constant stream of traffic. Does he realize I’m gone? I scowl.

“Do you want me to have him killed?” a man rumbles.

I squeak, startled, and I pivot on my high heels. A man in a black leather jacket and faded blue jeans sits on the shiniest, prettiest motorcycle I’ve ever seen. Silver talons grab the metal axles. Finely drawn birds decorate the blue gas tank.

***

Can a bike be described as pretty?

I wouldn’t recommend calling a bike pretty to the rider’s weathered face (grins). But yes, bikes can be pretty, especially choppers. According to Wikipedia, a “chopper is a type of motorcycle that is either modified from an original motorcycle design (“chopped”) or built from scratch to have a unique hand-crafted appearance.”

One of the prettiest choppers I’ve ever seen is the Sirens Of TI bike customized by Metropolitan Choppers. It is a work of art. Every inch of this bike is lovingly crafted. It is as designer as the purses Bee loves.

The Azure, crafted by Orange County Choppers, has details like shell-shaped mirrors and one-of-a-kind etchings.

Then there’s the fish bike. (grins). This crazy bike designed for Bass Pro Shops combines a guy’s two loves—bikes and fishing. It isn’t my style but that’s the point. It can only belong to its owner.

Do you think bikes can be pretty?


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Sinful Rewards 1

Cynthia Sax

Belinda “Bee” Carter is a good girl; at least, that’s what she tells herself. And a good girl deserves a nice guy—just like the gorgeous and moody billionaire Nicolas Rainer. He is everything she wants in a man.

Or so she thinks, until she takes a look through her telescope and sees a naked, tattooed man on the balcony across the courtyard. Hawke is mysterious, the bad boy she knows will bring only heartbreak. He has been watching her, and that makes him all the more enticing.

But when a mysterious and anonymous text message dares her to do something bad, she must decide if she is really the good girl she has always claimed to be, or if she’s willing to risk everything for her secret fantasy of being watched.

Is her mystery man the reclusive billionaire with a wild side or the darkly dangerous bad boy?

Buy Links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sinful-Rewards-1-Cynthia-Sax-ebook/dp/B00I7V89H0

Barnes And Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sinful-rewards-1-cynthia-sax/1119055390

Google: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Cynthia_Sax_Sinful_Rewards_1?id=g08ZAwAAQBAJ

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/sinful-rewards-1/id814148703?mt=11

Topics: Guest Post | Comments Off on Can A Bike Be Pretty?

Interviewed By Blakely Bennett

By Cynthia Sax on June 21, 2014

I’m being interviewed on Blakely Bennett’s online home!

http://www.blakelybennett.com/blakelys-friday-interview-with-cynthia-sax/

I did this interview in February.

Here is a snippet…

What advice do you have for writer’s just starting out?

The usual advice about reading until your eyeballs explode and writing every day is GOLD. I’d also encourage writers to write balls to the wall, all out, putting everything—your heart, your soul—into your writing. If you don’t cry when you read your writing, your readers likely won’t cry either. If you aren’t adding something different to Romanceland, why would readers buy your stories?


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Flashes Of Me Cynthia Sax

Henley, the head of cyber security at Blaine Technologies, is a man no one crosses. He watches employees constantly using his network of cameras and enforces his rules by any means possible. Rumors of his violent past, his scarred hands and huge size have resulted in him being feared by everyone… almost everyone.

Katalina, the new intern, worries about the revelation of her most painful secret much more than she fears her sexy boss’s wrath. She sees the loneliness in his dark eyes, feels the gentleness in his marred fingers, tastes the need in his kisses, and she knows he watches her. His silly rules about not stripping for the cameras and no sex at the office are destined to be broken.

Kat likes to be watched. Henley can’t look away. Will this beauty be able to tame her beastly boss?

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Flashes-Me-Novella-Cynthia-Sax-ebook/dp/B00F2I2GXO

ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-flashesofme-1411711-149.html

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/flashes-of-me-cynthia-sax/1117322925

Topics: Guest Post | Comments Off on Interviewed By Blakely Bennett

Summer Lovin’ Blog Hop

By Cynthia Sax on June 20, 2014

I’m participating in www.hopswithheart.blogspot.com ‘s Summer Lovin’ Blog Hop. There are some great grand prizes and I’ll be giving away a copy of any one eBook from my backlist (excluding collections) to one lucky commenter.

Since the theme is summer, I thought I’d offer a summery snippet from Sinful Rewards 1 (available for pre-orders at a crazy low 99 cents US).

***

I push my way through the front door, step into the daylight, and all of my irritation vanishes, melting under the bright, hot sun. It’s yet another beautiful summer day. I tilt my face upward. The sky is clear and blue, the perfect weather explaining why the tattooed hunk stands naked on his balcony. It tempts me to shed a few layers of clothing.

I won’t strip. Not in public. Standing naked on your own balcony is allowable. Streaking in a common area will result in eviction or jail time, and neither of these interests me.

I follow the winding sidewalk, strolling toward the park. Birds chirp happily as they flutter from branch to branch, safe and free, semiconcealed in the thick hedges. I unclip the passcard from the waistband of my skirt and wave it in front of the fence’s sensor. The locks buzz, releasing. I swing the heavy wrought iron gate open and slip into the park.

The lawn is lush, watered every morning. The hedges block the view of the surrounding buildings and dampen the sound. Bright pink perennials line the patio stones, the blooms bowing in the morning breeze. The flowers will be gone next month, unlike the giant maple tree dominating the center of the park. It will remain, tall and steadfast, its trunk too thick for me to wrap my arms around.

I sigh, contented. This park is a serene sliver of green in a big, noisy city. I understand why Nicolas spends every morning here.

Few of the residents have the same appreciation for nature. The space is devoid of human life. I hurry toward the bench. This doesn’t mean someone hasn’t entered the park and then left, taking the phone.

I spot the edge of the metal case and exhale a breath I didn’t know I was holding.

It’s still there.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

***


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Sinful Rewards 1

Cynthia Sax

Belinda “Bee” Carter is a good girl; at least, that’s what she tells herself. And a good girl deserves a nice guy—just like the gorgeous and moody billionaire Nicolas Rainer. He is everything she wants in a man.

Or so she thinks, until she takes a look through her telescope and sees a naked, tattooed man on the balcony across the courtyard. Hawke is mysterious, the bad boy she knows will bring only heartbreak. He has been watching her, and that makes him all the more enticing.

But when a mysterious and anonymous text message dares her to do something bad, she must decide if she is really the good girl she has always claimed to be, or if she’s willing to risk everything for her secret fantasy of being watched.

Is her mystery man the reclusive billionaire with a wild side or the darkly dangerous bad boy?

Buy Links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sinful-Rewards-1-Cynthia-Sax-ebook/dp/B00I7V89H0

Barnes And Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sinful-rewards-1-cynthia-sax/1119055390

Google: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Cynthia_Sax_Sinful_Rewards_1?id=g08ZAwAAQBAJ

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/sinful-rewards-1/id814148703?mt=11

Topics: Guest Post | 17 Comments »

Shopping With Bee From Sinful Rewards

By Cynthia Sax on June 18, 2014

Bee, the heroine of Sinful Rewards, is a fashionista without a budget. I thought it would be fun to virtually stroll with her as she walks down the Magnificent Mile.

***

The building where I work is located two blocks north, and these two blocks are home to the most esteemed retailers in Chicago. I look around me, and a fierce joy fills my soul. This is where I feel the happiest, among the exclusive shops and gorgeous fashions on the Magnificent Mile, the city’s style Mecca.

I walk with a bounce in my step and a genuine smile on my face, my heart light. Employees sweep in front of their stores, arrange objects in the windows, take inventory in the back of the spaces. I wish everyone I meet a boisterous good morning, my small-town roots showing.


My brisk pace slows as I pass Cartier. A diamond necklace sparkles in the lit window, the elaborate design fit for a queen. I touch my collar, imagining how I’d look draped in jewels. Everyone would know I was important, that I belonged. I’d walk into these stores and be waited on, pandered to.

I wander farther along the famed street, lusting after the items in the window displays, dreaming of a life I can’t afford. The scarves are so sheer, so delicate, the designs resemble images seen through a luxurious waterfall. The suits are exquisite, the buttons a work of art. The shoes are divine, too beautiful to touch the ground.


None of these treasures compare to the Salvatore Ferragamo purse. I stop in front of the window, the highlight of my morning walk. Trends will come and go. This purse, with its handcrafted red leather, dual top handles, and zippers made of real gold, will remain timeless, elegant, classic.


I move closer to the glass, my yearning to own the limited-edition purse painfully intense. It’s clearly a heritage piece, designed to be passed from mother to daughter, and when it first appeared in the store ten days ago, I fell instantly and hopelessly in love.

I’m destined to have my heart broken. The price of the purse is more than the annual rent on my mom’s one-bedroom apartment. My fingertips hover near the window. I can’t spend that much money on myself, not now, maybe not ever.

It tortures me that some woman in Chicago can. That soon, perhaps tomorrow, I’ll pass the window and the purse will be gone, sold, never to be seen again. I sigh, my breath fogging up the window.

As though mocking me, the phone in my scuffed knockoff purse starts to hum. I could trade the phone for the Salvatore Ferragamo purse. Some media outlet would pay that much. No one would know.

***


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Sinful Rewards 1

Cynthia Sax

Belinda “Bee” Carter is a good girl; at least, that’s what she tells herself. And a good girl deserves a nice guy—just like the gorgeous and moody billionaire Nicolas Rainer. He is everything she wants in a man.

Or so she thinks, until she takes a look through her telescope and sees a naked, tattooed man on the balcony across the courtyard. Hawke is mysterious, the bad boy she knows will bring only heartbreak. He has been watching her, and that makes him all the more enticing.

But when a mysterious and anonymous text message dares her to do something bad, she must decide if she is really the good girl she has always claimed to be, or if she’s willing to risk everything for her secret fantasy of being watched.

Is her mystery man the reclusive billionaire with a wild side or the darkly dangerous bad boy?

Buy Links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sinful-Rewards-1-Cynthia-Sax-ebook/dp/B00I7V89H0

Barnes And Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sinful-rewards-1-cynthia-sax/1119055390

Google: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Cynthia_Sax_Sinful_Rewards_1?id=g08ZAwAAQBAJ

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/sinful-rewards-1/id814148703?mt=11

Topics: Guest Post | Comments Off on Shopping With Bee From Sinful Rewards

27 Dresses

By Cynthia Sax on June 17, 2014

Recently, I rewatched 27 Dresses starring Katherine Heigl as Jane and James Marsden as Kevin. The reason I find this movie interesting is the exact same reason it doesn’t work for me as a romance (or romantic comedy).

Everyone portrayed in this movie lies. Jane lies to all of her friends and family, pretending she isn’t in love with her boss. Tess, her sister, lies to Jane’s boss, making him believe she’s his dream woman. Kevin lies to Jane, trying to get his story. None of the characters are true to themselves or to others. They pretend to be people they’re not.

Liars make interesting characters. Will they be found out? What will happen when they are outed? Will the revelation force the characters to change, to become better people? There’s a lot of room for delicious tension and for growth.

Liars make terrible spouses however. Jane falls in love with the man Kevin pretends to be. She values the traits his feigned persona has, not the traits he truly has. The man she kissed, slept with, cared for didn’t exist. Their entire relationship was built on nothing.

And how could she possibly trust anything that comes out of his mouth? He lied to get what he wanted. She had no clue that he’s selling her a load of bull. When he lies in the future (and I suspect he will – why wouldn’t he? Lying in the past is how he got what he desired.), she’ll, once again, be clueless.

This is why the romance part doesn’t work. There’s no indication (except the word of a liar) that Kevin truly has changed. Jane can’t keep him honest. She has no ability to read him.

I’ve had liars as heroines or heroes. Bee from Sinful Rewards isn’t completely honest. But their love interests always call them on their bullsh*t. Both Nicolas and Hawke are skilled at separating truth from lies. Bee might lie but she knows she’s not fooling either of them.

A relationship CAN be built on lies if both parties know they’re lies.


Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/

Sinful Rewards 1

Cynthia Sax

Belinda “Bee” Carter is a good girl; at least, that’s what she tells herself. And a good girl deserves a nice guy—just like the gorgeous and moody billionaire Nicolas Rainer. He is everything she wants in a man.

Or so she thinks, until she takes a look through her telescope and sees a naked, tattooed man on the balcony across the courtyard. Hawke is mysterious, the bad boy she knows will bring only heartbreak. He has been watching her, and that makes him all the more enticing.

But when a mysterious and anonymous text message dares her to do something bad, she must decide if she is really the good girl she has always claimed to be, or if she’s willing to risk everything for her secret fantasy of being watched.

Is her mystery man the reclusive billionaire with a wild side or the darkly dangerous bad boy?

Buy Links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sinful-Rewards-1-Cynthia-Sax-ebook/dp/B00I7V89H0

Barnes And Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sinful-rewards-1-cynthia-sax/1119055390

Topics: Guest Post | Comments Off on 27 Dresses

Fathers (Dads) In Romance

By Cynthia Sax on June 13, 2014

Sunday is Father’s Day in North America so I thought it would be a great excuse to talk about the dads making an appearance in my stories.

If I could only recommend one of my stories to read this Father’s Day, it would be Flashes Of Me. This is a romance first and foremost but the secondary storyline is the relationship between Kat and her beloved father. (If you don’t appreciate your dad now, you will appreciate him after this story.)

Kat idealizes her father. He’s her mentor, her anchor, and she quotes his wisdom often, using his insights to guide her decisions. This exchange between Kat and the hero Henley (‘the stranger’) is telling.

***

“I left the experience section of the application blank.” I chew on the inside of my cheek. “I helped my father, but I didn’t know if that counted as experience and I didn’t want to lie.” I lied about my last name. I didn’t want to lie about anything else. “My father always tells me business deals are built on trust and trust is built on truth.”

My stranger turns his head and meets my gaze, his forehead furrowed with thought lines. “Your father always tells you that?”

I nod.

There’s a long pause in our conversation, as though he’s giving my father’s words deep consideration. “He’s right,” my mystery man finally concedes, his voice gruff.

I beam at him, liking him even more for agreeing with my father.

***

I don’t know if Kat would have trusted Henley as much as she does if he had disagreed with her father. This is how strong the connection between Kat and her father is.


In Alien Tryst, Kane’s view of relationships and what a man should be is formed by his father. In this scene, we seen how close his parents are and how his father immediately volunteers to go first, protecting both his wife and his son.

***

“If your experiment works, Kane, our son.” His mother looked at his father. “Our only child will live.” His parents hugged each other close. Kane couldn’t remember them ever spending more than a day apart.

“I’ll be your next trial,” his father volunteered.

***

Kane follows his father’s example, putting himself at risk to save Eshe, the alien woman he loves. He also assumes that wherever she goes, he’ll go (or vice versa). He doesn’t expect to be a lone wolf. For him, a relationship means being together.

Sometimes a dad doesn’t have to make an appearance to influence a character. Bee’s dad in Sinful Rewards left her mom when he found out she was pregnant. This abandonment changes their lives forever, purging them into poverty, making her mom a pariah in her small town, and affecting Bee’s view of her self-worth.

Who are your favorite dads in romance?


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Flashes Of Me Cynthia Sax

Henley, the head of cyber security at Blaine Technologies, is a man no one crosses. He watches employees constantly using his network of cameras and enforces his rules by any means possible. Rumors of his violent past, his scarred hands and huge size have resulted in him being feared by everyone… almost everyone.

Katalina, the new intern, worries about the revelation of her most painful secret much more than she fears her sexy boss’s wrath. She sees the loneliness in his dark eyes, feels the gentleness in his marred fingers, tastes the need in his kisses, and she knows he watches her. His silly rules about not stripping for the cameras and no sex at the office are destined to be broken.

Kat likes to be watched. Henley can’t look away. Will this beauty be able to tame her beastly boss?

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Flashes-Me-Novella-Cynthia-Sax-ebook/dp/B00F2I2GXO

ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-flashesofme-1411711-149.html

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/flashes-of-me-cynthia-sax/1117322925

Topics: Guest Post | Comments Off on Fathers (Dads) In Romance

Moving From LA To Chicago

By Cynthia Sax on June 11, 2014

The Blaine Technologies series (He Watches Me, He Touches Me, He Claims Me, Flashes Of Me, and Breaking All The Rules) is set in sunny LA. Anna felt this was the perfect city to hide in. Being a plain, slender brunette, she assumed she wouldn’t be noticed if she was surrounded by gorgeous (often blonde and busty) movie stars.

Blaine chose LA for his technology company’s headquarters because he also wished to hide. A reclusive publicity-shy billionaire living in the shadow of attention seeking flamboyant Hollywood types won’t garner much media attention. He can move around without being observed, yet still travel in his limousines and enjoy his luxurious lifestyle.

I can’t imagine setting these stories anywhere other than LA. The city is an integral part of the story. I love LA and I would happily base every story there. I couldn’t do this, however, because Chicago is as important to Sinful Rewards as LA is to the Blaine Technologies series.

First and foremost, I love Chicago. I love the city. I love its colorful past, its food (deep dish pizza – yum), its people, its unique culture. If I had to move to anywhere in the world, I would move to Chicago. It’s a vibrant, very livable city.

Chicago was a no-brainer as a setting because Sinful Rewards is a story about secrets, about how perception is not always reality, about contrasts. Many people, when they think about Chicago, picture Al Capone and the violence (or glamour) surrounding the mobster. Or they might associate the city with the Chicago White Sox 1919 World Series scandal. Or with the Great Fire. Although Chicago is a wonderful city, it struggles to overcome its dark past as do ALL of the main characters in Sinful Rewards.

These characters also have additional reasons for being drawn to Chicago.

Bee is a (low budget) fashionista so we might assume she’d live in New York, one of the world’s fashion meccas. During the story, she considers moving there. But Bee grew up in a very small town and she’s extremely cautious. Moving from this small town to New York is too big of a leap for her.

And Chicago has the fashions she adores. The Magnificent Mile is Bee’s idea of heaven, her window shopping sanctuary.

In addition to this, she understands the people, the sayings, the local references as her small town is situated less than an hour away. Fitting in is very important to Bee. Anna, from He Watches Me, wanted to disappear, to avoid other people. Bee wishes to belong. She likes to know all of the rules, to understand the jokes, to be part of the group.

Nicolas, one of our possible heroes in Sinful Rewards, chose Chicago because the city has historically been forgiving of individuals with less than saintly pasts. He’s done some bad things, things he can’t forgive himself for. If these secrets are exposed, he hopes Chicago society will continue to embrace him.

Hawke, another possible hero in Sinful Rewards, chose Chicago because of its proximity to New York (where many of the Organization’s clients live) and because of its motorcycle helmet laws… or rather, lack of laws. He’s a bit of a bad ass and hangs with a group of fellow rebel bikers. They wish to make their own decisions about their personal safety.

Sinful Rewards can only have been set in Chicago. The Blaine Technologies series could have only been set in LA. Which city would you like to see a story set in?


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Sinful Rewards 1

Cynthia Sax

Belinda “Bee” Carter is a good girl; at least, that’s what she tells herself. And a good girl deserves a nice guy—just like the gorgeous and moody billionaire Nicolas Rainer. He is everything she wants in a man.

Or so she thinks, until she takes a look through her telescope and sees a naked, tattooed man on the balcony across the courtyard. Hawke is mysterious, the bad boy she knows will bring only heartbreak. He has been watching her, and that makes him all the more enticing.

But when a mysterious and anonymous text message dares her to do something bad, she must decide if she is really the good girl she has always claimed to be, or if she’s willing to risk everything for her secret fantasy of being watched.

Is her mystery man the reclusive billionaire with a wild side or the darkly dangerous bad boy?

Buy Links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sinful-Rewards-1-Cynthia-Sax-ebook/dp/B00I7V89H0

Barnes And Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sinful-rewards-1-cynthia-sax/1119055390

Google: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Cynthia_Sax_Sinful_Rewards_1?id=g08ZAwAAQBAJ

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/sinful-rewards-1/id814148703?mt=11

Topics: Guest Post | Comments Off on Moving From LA To Chicago

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