If you’re like me, you enjoy historical romances with frequent twists, loads of
action, bedroom scenes to die for, danger at every turn, and a hero that will
leave you breathless. In other words, the whole enchilada. Or what I like to
call a vacation from my totally boring life…which is a trip I take every day I
write.
In my make-believe worlds, I pour on passion and danger, sometimes with a twist
of deception. Why? When I read a romance, I want loads of conflict. Where’s the
fun if the couple falls in love on page five then get it on like hormone-soaked
teens for the other two or three hundred pages? Face it, conflict makes sex and
love far more interesting, as any country song can attest.
With an historical romance, a writer has tons of obstacles that can easily muck
up the course of true love. Everyone’s read stories about the lady of the estate
swooning over the stud who works in the stables. Can’t blame her for wanting him
rather than her old and gross husband. Now, imagine living in the medieval era
when men truly ruled and women were basically chattel with love the least
consideration for two people to wed. In those days, betrothals were political
alliances, often signed and sealed while the bride and groom were children. When
the woman finally came of age, she met her intended again on the day they wed.
I’d rather not think about those wedding nights. Ew.
Yet, I’m certain love did blossom during those times. That’s what I wanted to
explore with Fernando and Isabella in my erotic historical LOVING LIES, book one in my
Dangerous Desires series.
A little background: LOVING
LIES takes place in medieval Spain, specifically 1488. Not your usual
English or Scottish scenario, but hey, I’ve always been a maverick so why change
now? Isabella, my heroine, is about to be sold as a concubine for the Sultan’s
harem in Granada. Just as things seem hopeless for her, Fernando arrives. Not
only is he a virile warrior-knight (is there any other kind?), he’s also
betrothed to her sister Sancha. Not having seen Sancha since they were children,
he believes Isabella’s his betrothed.
You can see where this is heading, right?
Since Sancha is loath to marry a guy she met only once, she’s prepared to
cloister herself in the convent, if need be. Always faithful to her sister,
Isabella doesn’t tell Fernando who she really is. Could be a good move on her
part, or a bad one, or maybe both. However, her deception definitely circles to
passion.
With Fernando believing they’re betrothed and liking the woman Isabella has
become, he pulls out all stops to woo and bed her. Isabella has to dance around
their passion…for as long as she can. The first one who guesses what page that
happens on wins a prize. Okay, I’m just joking.
However, there is constant danger: Not only from Isabella’s desire for Fernando,
a man she believes will never belong to her, but from ruffians intent on robbery
or worse while she and Fernando cross the Spanish countryside to her father’s
castle.
A walk in the park it’s not, and I deliberately planned LOVING LIES that way,
putting as many obstacles as I could in Fernando and Isabella’s path. Not only
is he betrothed to another woman—worse, Isabella’s beloved sister—he’s a warrior
who’s used to storming his way through life and having the babes fall into
place. Spirited and independent Isabella wants no man to rule her, Fernando
included.
As much as we moan these days about finding the right guy and that dating sucks,
women in the late fifteenth century had it far worse than we ever will. In
researching this period, I learned more than I ever wanted to know about
betrothal ceremonies, dowries, banns, political alliances, and the other stuff
that made women’s lives hell back in the day. With all that, I had to give
Isabella and Fernando their happy-ever-after, just as soon as they overcame one
last, stunning development. That’s all I saying on the subject for now.
From Romeo and Juliet to Meredith and Derek in Grey’s Anatomy,
star-crossed lovers have always been a romantic staple. As far as Isabella and
Fernando are concerned, those who try to tear them apart had better watch out.
Tina is an Amazon and international bestselling novelist in erotic,
paranormal, contemporary and historical romance for Kensington, Samhain
Publishing, Ellora’s Cave, Siren Publishing, Booktrope, Luminosity, Decadent,
and indie. Booklist, Publisher’s Weekly, Romantic Times and
numerous online sites have praised her work. Three of her erotic novels
(Freeing the Beast, Come and Get Your Love, and Wicked Takeover)
were Readers' Choice Award winners. Another three (Adored, Lush Velvet
Nights, and Deep, Dark, Delicious) were named finalists in the
EPIC competition. Sensual Stranger, her erotic contemporary romance,
was chosen Book of the Year at the French review site Blue Moon reviews. The
Golden Nib Award at Miz Love Loves Books was created specifically for her erotic
romance Lush Velvet Nights. Two of her titles (The Yearning
and Deep, Dark, Delicious) received an Award of Merit in the RWA
Holt Medallion competition. Take Me Away and Adored both won
second place in the NEC RWA contest (different years). Tina is featured in the
Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market. Before penning romances, she worked at
a major Hollywood production company in Story Direction.
Deception knows no limits. Passion knows no bounds.
When she is
kidnapped, Senorita Isabella knows the men have been sent by her uncle in a
murderous attempt to control her family’s fortune. But when she is rescued by a
dashing and mysterious warrior, Isabella can’t imagine why a stranger would risk
his life for her—until she discovers her rescuer believes she’s someone else
Fernando de Zayas loves nothing more than the cry of battle. Defying
death is his way of life. But when he discovers his betrothed has been
kidnapped, he rushes to her aid—never suspecting that spirited beauty would
soothe his warrior heart
With her uncle’s minions close on their heels,
Isabella finds herself drawing closer to Fernando. But as the desire between
them builds, her secret could keep them apart forever…
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