Talking Dark Flight and Heroines In Peril with Liza O’Connor
I’m talking about Dark Flight and heroines requiring a rescue on the always awesome Liza O’Connor’s blog today.
https://multiuniversesoflizao.blogspot.ca/2017/06/dark-flight-heroine-requiring-rescueby.html
Here’s a snippet…
“Romance writers are often told to create strong heroines, heroines who could rescue themselves. Mary and Rhea are definitely heroines like that. But even the strongest of beings require help from time to time.
In Rhea’s case, she’s injured. She’s alone on a strange planet, not knowing the customs or the geography. Humanoid Alliance baddies are after her. She has to find and protect her sister, the one being in the universe she cares about, and she’s running out of time.
Accepting help wouldn’t make her weak. It would make her smart.”
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Dark Flight
His mission. His challenge. His forever.
Orol, the Refuge’s second-in-command, has been given what he believes is a simple mission—escort two human females to the settlement. The winged warrior arrives at the meeting site to find one of the females missing and the other aiming a gun at his head. To rescue the first, he must capture the second. Once he has Rhea in his talons, however, he realizes he never wants to let her go.
Her enemy. Her captor. Her everything.
Rhea doesn’t trust anyone. She certainly doesn’t follow commands issued by a gorgeous flying male with glittering eyes, a beautiful face, and a seductive touch. Orol is dominant, edged with darkness, and determined to find her sister. Rhea will do anything to prevent that, even if it means playing sensual games of submission with her powerful enemy, seducing him into forgetting everything except her.
Dark Flight is a STAND-ALONE SciFi Romance set in a gritty, dark world.
You Can Pre-order Now:
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Flight-Refuge-Book-2-ebook/dp/B07124941B/
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dark-Flight-Refuge-Book-2-ebook/dp/B07124941B/
Apple/iBooks/iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/dark-flight/id1242494643
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dark-flight-cynthia-sax/1126484675
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/dark-flight-3
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/727350
Topics: Guest Post | Comments Off on Talking Dark Flight and Heroines In Peril with Liza O’Connor
Dark Flight Available For Pre-orders
Dark Flight, my July release, is available for pre-order at booksellers.
Dark Flight
His mission. His challenge. His forever.
Orol, the Refuge’s second-in-command, has been given what he believes is a simple mission—escort two human females to the settlement. The winged warrior arrives at the meeting site to find one of the females missing and the other aiming a gun at his head. To rescue the first, he must capture the second. Once he has Rhea in his talons, however, he realizes he never wants to let her go.
Her enemy. Her captor. Her everything.
Rhea doesn’t trust anyone. She certainly doesn’t follow commands issued by a gorgeous flying male with glittering eyes, a beautiful face, and a seductive touch. Orol is dominant, edged with darkness, and determined to find her sister. Rhea will do anything to prevent that, even if it means playing sensual games of submission with her powerful enemy, seducing him into forgetting everything except her.
Dark Flight is a STAND-ALONE SciFi Romance set in a gritty, dark world.
You Can Pre-order Now:
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Flight-Refuge-Book-2-ebook/dp/B07124941B/
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dark-Flight-Refuge-Book-2-ebook/dp/B07124941B/
Apple/iBooks/iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/dark-flight/id1242494643
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dark-flight-cynthia-sax/1126484675
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/dark-flight-3
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/727350
Topics: Coming Soon | Comments Off on Dark Flight Available For Pre-orders
Interview With Regine Abel
I sat down (virtually) with Regine Abel for a short interview. Today is the release day for Regine Abel’s Anton’s Grace, a Dark SciFi Romance!
Cynthia Sax: Where did you get the idea for Anton’s Grace?
Regine Abel: Anton’s Grace is part of my Dark Tales series. All the books are inspired by a fairy tale, folktale or in this instance, a fable: The Ant and the Grasshopper by Jean de la Fontaine (or Aesop). In the fable, the Grasshopper spends the whole summer singing while the Ant slaves away preparing for winter. When the cold comes and the Grasshopper finds no food, she begs the Ant for some scraps. Depending on which version of the story you read, the Ant either tells her off or shows mercy. In my story, it takes on a darker twist where Grace begs Anton for help not realizing he has a serious vendetta against her.
Cynthia Sax: That is so cool! Where is Anton’s Grace set?
Regine Abel: The story takes place on the Venus Hive pleasure barge. It’s a space station devoted entirely to entertainment in all its forms. Imagine Las Vegas in space, with fine dining, casinos, gladiator rings, cabaret, strippers, fetish clubs and everything else in-between. You can walk past masters with their leashed human pets while on your way to the museum or a tribal dance recital. Anton owns Venus Hive. He makes the law. He is the law. And Grace just gave herself over to his every whim for six months. By getting her to sign an indentured sex slave contract, Anton now has the right to do whatever he pleases to her short of killing her. Question is, does he want her pain? Her pleasure? Both?
Cynthia Sax: That DOES sound dark and delicious. What makes Grace and Anton right for each other?
Regine Abel: Both are desperate to belong, to be accepted. Grace never got over her parents abandoning her to an orphanage where she was abused. She grows into a woman plagued with a Dependent Personality Disorder. Anton was persecuted for being a half-breed. He devoted his life trying to make himself worthy of his bigoted people, despite knowing it was a lost cause. For these reasons, they do things against their conscience in the hope of earning the approval of others who only end up using them. Through hardship, they come to realize happiness lies within their own hands. They are exactly what the other needs but only if they are true to themselves and follow their own hearts, not other people’s expectations or demands.
Cynthia Sax: Beautiful. What do you love about writing in Dark SciFi Romance?
Regine Abel: The beauty of sci-fi romance is the absence of boundaries. I’m not constrained by the rules of modern day world. Sure, I can’t go too wild and crazy or I’ll spend more time explaining the world than actually telling a story, but it allows me to push the limits in a way contemporary prevents. I love creating new societies and cultures. Anton’s Grace is a perfect example where everything that drives him and pushes him to make some pretty bad decisions are due to the crazy society he grew up in. I also love being able to tie in real world problems to my alien societies and present them in a new light or with a different twist.
Cynthia Sax: This sounds fascinating. Thank you for joining us today, Regine Abel!
*****************************************************************************
Grace is in trouble. Her agent and ex-boyfriend, Marcus, has fled, leaving her stranded on the Venus Hive pleasure barge. His creditors want compensation and with Marcus nowhere to be found, they’ve decided Grace will do nicely. Desperate for help, she turns to Anton Myers, the wealthy and ruthless owner of the Hive Network. He agrees to help her. The terms: anything he wants for six months.
Anton has waited a long time for this moment. Grace may not remember him, but he hasn’t forgotten her. Signing herself over to his every command will not keep her safe. A Braxian never forgets a slight to his honor. And Grace will pay… with interests.
Anton’s Grace is a twisted tale of unlikely second chances that will leave you squirming in your seat. Can you stomach the darkness?
Buy Now:
On Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071HDF8ZP/
On Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B071HDF8ZP/
On Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B071HDF8ZP/
On Amazon (All): http://smarturl.it/AG_Amazon
Topics: Author Interviews | 1 Comment »
Interview With Regine Abel
I sat down (virtually) with Regine Abel for a short interview. Regine Abel’s most recent release is Escaping Fate, a MFM Sci-Fi Paranormal Romance!
Cynthia Sax: What makes Lhor and Khel so freakin’ sexy?
Regine Abel: The only way for an unmated male to slow down the Taint plaguing him is through physical exertion. Xelixians therefore train on average four times a day, giving them insanely hot bodies. But the best part? Their fangs. No, they aren’t vampires. Their fangs are mainly used as weapons to paralyze or poison their prey. However, in the right dose, their venom acts as a recreational drug that brings a woman’s climax to a whole other level. On the other hand, Amalia’s Veredian markings darken when she’s aroused, making them erogenous. Wandering fingers or a teasing tongue brushing over them will make her writhe and squirm. But beware. When she enters her season, woe onto anyone who stands between Amalia and her mate.
Cynthia Sax: Ohhh… VERY sexy. What do you find especially exciting about Escaping Fate?
Regine Abel: Escaping Fate has a lot of flirting, sexual tension and steamy scenes. But that’s not what the book is about. There is a strong story with tons of action, suspense, and unexpected twists and turns. Amalia and her boys each have a unique personality that create some interesting situations from pretty funny to insanely intense. They’re all strong in their own way, often mischievous and badass when needed. I’m in love with those characters. If only I could meet them in real life and hang out!
Cynthia Sax: Where did you get the idea for Escaping Fate?
Regine Abel: I’m a junky for any romance with the Mars Needs Women trope. There was no question in my mind I would write something in the genre, but what? I’m a huge fan of Nalini Singh’s Psy-Changelings series, Tracy St. John’s Clans of Kalquor and M.K. Eidem’s Tornians. The idea of a species where individuals could each have a unique psychic ability excited me. I loved the world building in the Clan’s series with all the political intrigues and how the Kalquorians revisited what constituted a family unit to delay the slow extinction of their species. Grim inspired me with the social impact of their own crisis due to the scarcity of women; how it reshaped their society, redefined a woman’s role, a man’s worth, and the importance of social status. Escaping Fate was an attempt to combine these concepts in a fresh new way.
Cynthia Sax: I LOVE that trope also. Yum! Is Escaping Fate part of a series and will you be writing more stories in this series?
Regine Abel: Yes, this is a series, although each book is intended to work as standalone. I’m currently halfway through writing the second book. There is an overarching story which should incentivize people to read the novels in order. Most main characters from the previous books will reappear in the sequels. However, each book explores the romance of a different Veredian female. While Escaping Fate is MFM, the rest of the series will be MF only. That said, I do plan two spin-off series set in the same universe, one of which is shaping up to be MFM. My new book, Anton’s Grace, part of my Dark Tales series, is actually set in this world though it takes place on the other side of the galaxy. I’m curious to see how many readers will catch the Easter egg there.
Cynthia Sax: My readers usually catch the Easter Eggs. (grins) Thank you for joining us today, Regine Abel!
Regine Abel’s Website: https://www.facebook.com/regine.abel.author/
*****************************************************************************
Born and raised on a slaver’s ship, Amalia plans to escape before she’s forced to participate in her master’s psi breeding program. She finds refuge on a foreign planet where she meets the cousins Lhor and Khel. Together, they fight against those hunting her down, while attempting to rescue the other victims of her master’s blood and sex slave ring.
Between her master’s dogged pursuit, deadly rivalries, assassins and corrupted nobles, can the cousins keep Amalia safe or will their respective feelings for her tear them apart?
This MFM novel is a constant toe-curling, action-packed thriller, and the first book in the Veredian Chronicles series. It is standalone with no cliffhanger.
Buy Now:
On Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XPPB5BW/
On Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06XPPB5BW/
On Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B06XPPB5BW/
On Amazon (All): http://smarturl.it/EscapingFate_Amazon
Topics: Author Interviews | Comments Off on Interview With Regine Abel
February 14th SciFi Romance Releases
Hers To Command is sharing its release day with Ditter Kellen’s Braum and Michele Mills’ Joyzal’s Prize so we thought it would be fun to create a graphic with our yummy covers!
Braum from Ditter Kellen
Amazon US – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N5QPPNN/
Nook – http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/braum-ditter-kellen/1125532012
Kobo – https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/braum
iBooks- https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/braum/id1196449864
Joyzal’s Prize from Michele Mills
Amazon US – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06WP4BD5N
Hers To Command from Cynthia Sax
Amazon US – https://www.amazon.com/Hers-Command-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook/dp/B01N0I7X49/
Nook – http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hers-to-command-cynthia-sax/1125247346
Kobo – https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/hers-to-command-6
iBooks – https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/hers-to-command/id1179869260
Topics: New Releases | Comments Off on February 14th SciFi Romance Releases
Cover Reveal For Dark Thoughts
Woot! I have a cover for Dark Thoughts, my March SciFi Romance release.
(Hers To Command, the next cyborg story, will be releasing in February. That cover will be revealed soon.)
Dark Thoughts is Kralj’s story. He is the scarred mind reading modified humanoid male in Chasing Mayhem. You don’t have to read Chasing Mayhem to enjoy his story.
Dark Thoughts will the first of 4 stories in a spin off series from the cyborg series.
The entire series is…
Dark Thoughts (Kralj’s story)
Dark Sky (that will be Orol’s story – he’s the winged male in Chasing Mayhem)
Dark Strength (yes, the huge green gatekeeper will receive his own story)
and
Dark Fire (the silver Dracheon warrior from Chasing Mayhem will get his own story)
Subscribe To My Release Day Newsletter: http://tasteofcyn.com/2014/05/28/newsletter/
Wild. Free. Hers.
Mayhem has spent his lengthy lifespan obeying the Humanoid Alliance’s rules. Finally free from their cruel control, the cyborg warrior plans to cause chaos. He infiltrates a remote settlement, provokes the savage locals until they want him dead, and allows himself to be captured by the sexiest little Retriever he has ever laid his mechanically-enhanced eyes on.
Imee’s sole mission in life is to keep her family alive. To do this, she must hunt rebels, returning them to the Humanoid Alliance’s evil clutches where they will be executed. She doesn’t allow herself to feel anything for her targets…until she meets a tall, muscular cyborg with wild hair and even wilder eyes.
With his sure hands, laughing lips and erotic holds, Mayhem makes Imee’s body sizzle and her resistance melt. Their love is doomed. She must deliver the warrior to his death or she’ll place her family’s safety at risk. But she can’t resist him.
Imee soon discovers that Mayhem, life, and love are never predictable.
Chasing Mayhem is Book 6 in the Cyborg Sizzle series and is a STANDALONE story.
It is also a BBW Cyborg SciFi Romance.
Buy Now:
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Chasing-Mayhem-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook/dp/B01IRPO9WY#nav-subnav
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Chasing-Mayhem-Cyborg-Sizzle-Book-ebook/dp/B01IRPO9WY/
Apple/iBooks/iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/chasing-mayhem/id1136333685
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-chasingmayhem-2077430-340.html
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/chasing-mayhem-cynthia-sax/1124139998
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/chasing-mayhem
Topics: Cover Reveal | Comments Off on Cover Reveal For Dark Thoughts
Interview With Jenn Nixon
I sat down (virtually) with Jenn Nixon for a short interview. Her latest release is MIND: The Reckoning, a SciFi Romance!
Cynthia Sax: Where did you get the idea for MIND: The Reckoning?
Jenn Nixon: My brother and I were born three years and three weeks apart. We have a very strange, but close relationship. Sometimes, we actually think of the same ideas at the same time, even when we’re not together. We’ve called each other at the same time to talk about the SAME THING! We often finish each other’s thoughts too. So, I always wondered what it would be like if we were twins or psychic. Then, I wondered what we’d be like if we were half alien twins and the MIND series was born.
Cynthia Sax: What a cool bond to have with your brother! Where is MIND: The Reckoning set ?
Jenn Nixon: The MIND Series starts off in 2034, near future. This gave me the ability to add in some technology and world building, but still include many places around the country and world that people are familiar with already. I also tend to use pop culture references when my characters talk and I didn’t want someone mentioning a comic book or movie hero when they are living in 3025 or some far off time where that reference wouldn’t make sense.
Cynthia Sax: Is MIND: The Reckoning part of a series and will you be writing more stories in this series?
Jenn Nixon: Yes, Book 3 MIND: The Reckoning release this October and I’ve already finished #4 for a March 2017 release date. I’ve been brainstorming #5 and it’s already too big for just one book so some of the plot will spill over into #6!
Cynthia Sax: (grins) That sounds like my cyborg series. I think of more and more stories to tell. What advice would you give new writers?
Jenn Nixon: Read, read, read, and write, write, write. Join writer’s groups online and/or in person. Learn the rules of the craft, Showing Vs Telling, POV, Plotting, Crutch Words, etc. Pay attention to what editors and agents say to you if you get rejected. Is your plot lacking? Do you head hop? Is the pacing too slow? Are you telling us more than showing us?
Take honest, critical feed back to heart. Unless it’s a trolling reader who always leaves bad reviews, listen to what the readers say to you. For example, in my Tiva Boon books, a few readers said my plot was lacking and for the most part, they were right. Tiva is a character driven book and looking back on it now, there are many places I can go back and tighten the narrative to make the plotting better. 🙂
Cynthia Sax: What do you love about writing in SciFi Romance?
Jenn Nixon: Science Fiction has been the biggest love of my live (other than my dog). It started early with reruns of 60s shows like Batman and Star Trek TOS. I didn’t read much SciFi as a teen, I loved Mystery and Suspense books like Nancy Drew and Mary Higgins Clark, but I still watched SciFi Movies and TV shows all the time.
My first few books were Romantic Suspense. I felt I had read enough, learned enough, and loved Mystery Suspense so much, that it was the genre I should write in. While I do love my Romantic Suspense books, I think adding SciFi into the mix elevated my writing to a whole new level. I’m able to take all the cool things I love about the future and SciFi and add it into a Mystery or Suspense story for a new take on the genre.
Thank you so much for having me!
Jenn
Cynthia Sax: Thank you, Jenn Nixon, for joining us today!
Visit Jenn Nixon’s Website: https://www.jennnixon.com
*****************************************************************************
Baldwin Bates has only wanted one thing since joining MIND, to take care of his friends and keep them all safe. While the Meta-Alien Investigation and Neutralization Department is busy monitoring an emergence of human psychic and alien activity, Bates takes his first solo assignment searching for a woman who claims to see the future, only to botch it up and let her get away.
After helping to destroy an alien device called the Transcender, Lexa Quinn wakes from a two-week coma a very different person than she was before. While her abilities grow stronger, her feelings for Bates begin to interfere with the MIND team’s mission, putting everyone at risk. Secrets from her past threaten the present and future, forcing Lexa to decide who she is and where she belongs.
When a powerful, ancient enemy lays claim to the Earth and brings his judgment upon the population, Bates, Lexa, and the entire MIND team must do whatever it takes to save the human race before the reckoning is complete.
Buy Now:
On Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Jenn-Nixon/e/B002BLNBBQ
Topics: Author Interviews | 1 Comment »
Interview With Zara Zenia
I sat down (virtually) with Zara Zenia for a short interview. Her latest release is Benzen: Warriors of Orba, a SciFi Romance!
Cynthia Sax: How does Benzen: Warriors of Orba start?
Zara Zenia: The Orbas are on their spaceship, fleeing their planet from the takeover by Palzu, another one of the Orbas. They end up crash landing on Earth and everything is new to them. I wanted to start it this way, so we get to see each of the Orbas who fled, and show what they know or don’t know about Earth, and to possibly have them come back in a future book!
Cynthia Sax: Where is Benzen: Warriors of Orba set?
Zara Zenia: It is set in Virginia, in the US, on Earth. It is in a smaller city, and the Orbas don’t know anything about customs or even foods on Earth. It is literally all foreign to them. It is exciting as you can see what another life form sees, thinks, feels, and knows compared to humans. It adds a sexy factor to the story, as it is as if Allison, the human on Earth, gets to do things with Benzen that he has never experienced before.
Cynthia Sax: Is Benzen: Warriors of Orba part of a series and will you be writing more stories in this series?
Zara Zenia: Yes this is a series, and I will certainly be writing more, possibly with the other Orbas as the lead characters!
Cynthia Sax: What advice would you give new writers?
Zara Zenia: To just start writing, get words on the page, and then publish! Just sitting and thinking about writing won’t help!
Cynthia Sax: Thank you, Zara Zenia, for joining us today!
*****************************************************************************
After escaping their home, six aliens hope to find freedom on a different planet. They end up crashing onto a strange land, a strange culture, and even stranger inhabitants.
They expected to learn some new things. However, one didn’t expect to find love.
Benzen, Voland, Draygus, Victorinth, Jarick, and Ethazol are on the run from their people, now that their once peace-loving planet has been taken over by a hostile dictator, Palzu. They end up on Earth in order to start over and meet a young woman named Allison who takes them under her wing.
When Palzu’s soldiers come after them, the group splits up and Benzen stays behind to protect Allison and begins to develop feelings for her. What will happen when he’s forced to show her what he truly is? Will she accept him or fear him?
This is a sci-fi romance novel, with NO cheating, NO cliffhangers, and guaranteed HEA!
Buy Now:
On Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JVMVYHU#nav-subnav
Topics: Author Interviews | 1 Comment »
Interview With Siren Allen
I sat down (virtually) with Siren Allen for a short interview. Siren Allen’s most recent release is Her Alien Protector, a Sci-Fi Romance!
Cynthia Sax: What makes Raynor so freakin’ sexy?
Siren Allen: Raynor is handsome. He’s got a body that looks like it was carved from stone. He’s a great warrior and his smile sends chills down his mate’s spine. But, it’s the way he cares for his female that really makes him sexy. He puts her first and will do whatever he has to, even kill, to make sure her and those she love remains safe. Oh, and he looks good with his shirt off… and his pants.
Cynthia Sax: What is your favorite line from Her Alien Protector?
Siren Allen: “Lark, you smell,” he inhaled deeply and then growled. “You smell like something I would like to taste.”
I absolutely love this line. It’s sexy. Raynor has a habit of saying extremely sexy things to his reluctant mate, Lark. His words make her blush. However, the sexier he talks to her, the more comfortable she gets around him and the more comfortable she feels in her own skin. After years of being treated as the ‘ugly sister’, she’s starting to realize that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. By just being himself, he’s helping her accept who she is. This sentence is not only sexy to Lark, it’s also refreshing and uplifting.
Cynthia Sax: Where does Her Alien Protector take place?
Siren Allen: Her Alien Protector takes place on Venus. I have always been obsessed with this planet. It happens to spin in the opposite direction of the other planets in our solar system. Though it’s not the closest planet to the sun, it’s still the hottest. I found the idea of placing a vampire on Venus intriguing. One day on Venus is about 243 Earth days, which meant my vampire would have to endure hellish conditions to be with his mate. Oh and did I mention there’s a harem filled with enhanced concubines? What happens on Venus stays on Venus.
Cynthia Sax: Is Her Alien Protector part of a series and will you be writing more stories in this series?
Siren Allen: The name of this series is, The Beasts From Beyond. You will not only get to meet Raynor, but you’ll also meet his brethren. Though book 1 takes place on Venus, the other stories will be spread out all over the galaxy. Escape pods have a habit of crash landing on unknown worlds. J
Cynthia Sax: Thank you for joining us today, Siren!
Siren Allen’s Website: https://sirenallen.com/beastsfrombeyond/
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Falling in love with a prisoner was against the rules.
So why was Lark allowing herself to get close to Raynor? He was domineering, cocky and much too handsome for his own good. Though her mind found him unbearable, her body was ready to endure anything he could deliver. However, inside of him lived a darkness unlike anything she’d ever witnessed. If the rumors were true, that darkness would consume any and everyone in its path. Lark was going to try her best to stay out of his way.
They called him The Destroyer.
Raynor Batiste was many things: a monster, a killer, one of the most feared creatures in the galaxy. He was a beast whose name sent shudders through his enemies. However, a prisoner he was not. He’d only allowed himself to be captured so he could get close to his mate, Lark Valdese.
That task was proving harder than he’d anticipated. Lark is afraid of what lives inside of him, and she should be. Yet, when her planet comes under attack, the evil lurking within him may be the only thing that can save her and her people. He’s willing to protect her planet, but his aid comes at a price, a price only Lark can pay.
Will Beauty give in to the Beast in order to save her world? Or will she learn that the monster inside of him is the reason her planet is being destroyed?
Buy Now:
On Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01G3S6SEY
On Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01G3S6SEY
On Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01G3S6SEY
Topics: Author Interviews | 2 Comments »
Interview With Alison Aimes
I sat down (virtually) with Alison Aimes for a short interview. Her latest release is Trapped: A SciFi Convict Romance (Book One in the Condemned Series)!
Cynthia Sax: What is one thing that excites you, as the writer, about Trapped?
Alison Aimes: I love the raw passion of the story, the heroine’s strength and determination and the hero’s courage and willingness to do whatever it takes to keep the heroine alive. I had so much fun, too, wondering ‘what if?’ with this particular scenario…. What if a woman crashed on a hostile planet? What if that planet was filled with ruthless criminals? What if her only hope for survival was one of the convicts, a hardened man with a questionable past? What would she be willing to do to save herself? What would he be prepared to take? The answers ended up being action-packed and scorching hot. Especially as all those ‘what ifs’ led to a story that begins with a transactional deal for sex in return for protection and a scenario where the hero holds more of the power and control. But exploring how that changes—how a prisoner who’s become more animalistic than man rediscovers his humanity and a woman finds her soul mate on the unlikeliest of places—was pure joy to write.
Cynthia Sax: How does Trapped start?
Alison Aimes: TRAPPED starts on the spacecraft carrying Cadet Bella West and her colleagues to Dragath25. Tensions are running high. The team of scientists and soldiers are nervous and excited about the assignment, a quick search and acquire mission on a part of the planet far from the criminal barracks. Hopes are running high that theirs will finally be the mission to discover the kind of plants that can survive on an Earth that has already lost billions to blight and famine. Until something goes wrong. And the shuttle drops. Leaving Bella and a few injured survivors stranded on a dangerous planet with no food or water, no knowledge of the terrain, and no way to defend themselves against the vicious gangs of roving convicts who control the planet.
The scene provides a sense of Bella’s strength and determination, the stakes for her in joining the mission, and the sheer impossibility of keeping her team alive without some kind of help. Help she finds in an unlikely source: one of Dragath’s own.
Cynthia Sax: Where is Trapped set?
Alison Aimes: Well, as I’ve mentioned above, my story is set on Dragath25, a harsh environment filled with violent criminals, hungry predators and endless rust-colored rock. Yeah, I know. That doesn’t sound too sexy, but it’s that ruthless environment that brings the hero and heroine together. And what’s more? There are secret caves on Dragath25, tiny oases drenched in lush, colorful plants and warm turquoise springs. Fragile places made all the more romantic in contrast to the harshness elsewhere. Want a peek inside one of those caves? Here’s what’s happening in one of those secret caves the first time the hero and heroine are together after they make their deal….
A splash sounded. Powerful ripples washed against her back like a surging tide. He was coming for her.
She whirled and discovered small bubbles on the surface of the water. An inky cloud of red and brown streamed in all directions followed by foamy white. Then a dark head broke the surface and he was standing before her, waist high in the water, a mud man no more.
Her mouth opened on a tiny o.
Without the dirt, dark, thick hair, shorn close to his scalp, was now visible. Along with olive skin, a wide forehead, low brows, firm lips, and a square jaw. Tiny droplets left his long lashes spikey while rivulets of water tracked over chiseled cheekbones down his sculpted chest and abdomen to a small trail of dark hair that snaked from his belly button to disappear into the water. Scars of various length and width tracked across miles of pure, hard muscle.
My God, mud man was a flesh and blood man—an incredibly masculine one. If she’d met him at the Academy or the barracks on Earth, she would have been unable to stop staring. He was that beautiful.
Then his hand shot out and her daze shattered.
With a hiss, she stumbled back.
One dark eyebrow rose. “Here.”
She looked down to see a small white bar in his hand.
“It’s soap.” His tone was brusque. “The drones dump trash from Earth. Use it.”
“Thank you.” It took all her courage to reach out and take the bar from his hand. “I—I’ve never used it before. The Academy only allows lasers for cleaning. The use of water was banned a long time ago.” She stopped short.
Of course, he knew that. He wasn’t from some distant galaxy. He was from Earth. He just wasn’t welcome there anymore.
His lips flat lined. “I’ve been here a while, but not as long as that.”
Was that a joke? His expression offered no clue.
“Of course.” Hands shaking, she took the soap and rubbed it against her arm. The blood stayed put. She rubbed harder.
She hadn’t expected this…this talking. Or the kindness of a bath—with soap. It was confusing.
“You need the water to make it work.” Rough hands reached out and took the soap, dunking it under the water, making that same foamy circle she’d seen before.
“Turn around.” His voice had gone husky again.
That overworked heart of hers started up double time once again. Her feet remained planted where they were.
He waited for longer than she would have expected before he spoke again, his jaw locked tight. “Anything?” It was a reminder. A reproach. A challenge.
And her last chance to change her mind.
Her eyes sunk shut. I can do this. I need to do this.
She whirled around, bracing for a grab. A strike. But the deliberate slow glide of a calloused fingertip down the bumps of her spine slammed through her with more force than any blow.
Cynthia Sax: Is Trapped part of a series and will you be writing more stories in this series?
Alison Aimes: Yes! It’s a series and I’m super excited about book two, TAKEN. I’m writing it now. It takes place in the depths of Dragath25 where it’s hot, hot, hot! The story reveals what happens to Cadet Ava Davies who vanishes without a trace in TRAPPED.
Here’s the current blurb…. All Cadet Ana Davies wanted after escaping Earth was to discover what happened to her sister and atone for the sins of her past. Now she’s captive within a labor camp deep within Dragath25’s core, a sweltering maze of caves overrun by brutal prisoners-turned-slaves. Her only hope for survival? A man from her past with his own reasons for wanting her dead.
Two years ago, ex-soldier Hunter Valdus lusted after a woman who betrayed him, landing him in a hell he and his men have been struggling to survive ever since. Now she’s landed back in his clutches. Better still, she just might be the key to his crew’s escape and his redemption. And all he has to do is keep her alive and at a distance until he can use her for his own dark purposes.
But raw, blood-pounding need is a potent force. Forgiveness and love even stronger. And even the best-laid plans can be laid to waste, especially on Dragath25.
After that, I’ve got plans—big plans—for Book 3 and 4. I can’t wait!!!
Cynthia Sax: Thank you, Alison Aimes, for joining us today!
Alison Aimes’s Website: http://www.alisonaimes.com
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Recently Awarded Top Reader Pick by Night Owl Review….
A tale of unbridled desire, stunning sacrifice, and unwavering love, Trapped is an action-packed, sexy sci-fi romance that takes you to the brink of oblivion on a prison planet where only the strong survive….
Cadet Bella West has one simple objective when she joins the scientific mission to Dragath25, the notorious penal planet housing Earth’s condemned. Earn the credits necessary to save her family from starvation. But when her shuttle crashes and the majority of her crew perish, her simple mission becomes complicated fast. Now, to stay alive she’ll have to depend on one of Dragath’s own. But such protection doesn’t come free.
Convicted of a crime he didn’t commit, 673 has become more beast than man after eight grueling years on an unforgiving, hazardous planet of dirt and rock—and even more treacherous inhabitants. He doesn’t look out for anyone but himself and he certainly never grows attached. So when the bold female offers him pleasure in return for protection, he takes the deal without hesitation. He never expects how her touch will alter him. Or the growing realization that saving her may be the key to his own salvation.
But as dangers mount and their ‘simple’ deal unravels will he prove to be her surprise savior or her ultimate downfall? Because caring for someone on Dragath25 may prove the greatest hazard of all.
The first book in the Condemned Series, Trapped has a HEA and can be read as a stand-alone.
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On Amazon: http://amzn.to/1Qex8hU
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