Please help me welcome Ava Archer Payne, author of Out of Her League to Reading with Holly! :)
Holly: Hi Ava! Would you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Ava Archer Payne: Thank you so much for inviting me to visit your blog. I’ve been writing historical romance (under a variety of pseudonyms) for over 15 years, and have been published by several mainstream New York
Holly: Do you have anything you would like to say to your readers?
Ava Archer Payne: Thank you for reading my books! I’ve been an avid reader all my life, and there’s something wonderful about getting lost in a story and connecting with characters who seem to jump off the page and come to life. I try to put that special magic in everything I write, and I hope I succeed.
Holly: What genres do you normally write in?
Ava Archer Payne: I normally write traditional historical romance, but with the advent of ebooks, I’m trying something new. I’m writing ‘hot historicals’ and loving it! These are steamy, lush reads, featuring a sexy hero, feisty heroine, zippy dialogue, and intelligent plotting. They’re truly a cross between erotic romance and historical romance, combining the best-loved elements of both!
Holly: Can you tell us a little bit about your book, Out of Her League?
Ava Archer Payne: Out of Her League is set in Victorian England, one of my favorite time periods to write about. I love playing with the exquisite manners of the day. What does our heroine do when she finds herself completely in lust with an utterly unsuitable man? That creates such lovely sexual tension.
Holly: What kind of hero is James Lancaster?
Ava Archer Payne: James was one of London
Holly: As an author and essentially the “creator” of your hero, did you find yourself attached to him in a personal way?
Ava Archer Payne: I did, indeed. James is an Alpha hero who Fate has chosen to take down a notch. I love watching him struggle as he falls head-over-heels for Katherine Riley (his nurse) and grow from a shallow charmer to a man of true substance.
Holly: If you could sum up your new release with three words, what would they be?
Ava Archer Payne: Steaming hot historical!
Holly: Can we expect more novels from you in 2012?
Ava Archer Payne: Yes. Please look for The Wedding Bed, another hot historical set in Victorian England. Due out in October / November 2012.
Holly: Are you reading anything interesting at the moment? If so, what is it?
Ava Archer Payne: I just discovered Jacquie D’Alessandro. She writes traditional historical romance—great steamy sex, witty dialogue, and a hea. Perfect for me!
Thanks so much for letting me visit your fabulous blog. Happy reading to all!
EXCERPT:
Thunder rumbled and the rain that had been threatening all morning began to pour down in earnest. Kate watched the heavy droplets strike the glass panes, softening and blurring the outside world. She tried to focus on the storm, but that proved impossible. Every fiber of her being was attuned to the overwhelming presence of man beside her. His scent, his height, the broadness of his shoulders, the rich timbre of his voice. Alone with James in the large room, she felt enveloped in a cocoon of strained intimacy, caught in a current that swept her inexorably toward him.
“Something wrong?” His voice was a low murmur in her ear.
“You need drapery,” she blurted inanely, just to have something to say to break the tension that hung between them.
“True.” He cocked his head to one side, considering the room. “I was thinking of scarlet.”
“Scarlet?” she choked out, feeling heat rush to her cheeks. “Surely that’s an odd color to suggest.”
“Is it?” He studied her with a playful smile. “But it’s such a passionate color, don’t you think? Brazen, bold, irresistible. In fact, now that I’ve considered scarlet, I can’t seem to get the color out of my mind. These past few nights, it’s all I could think of as I was falling asleep.”
She squared her shoulders and brought up her chin. Even leaning as he was on his crutches, he was still a full head taller than her. “If you’re referring to what I think you’re referring to, a gentleman wouldn’t refer to it.”
His lips quirked. “That’s a lot of referring. Are you certain I’m not simply inferring?”
“You’re interfering, certainly.”
“Must be infuriating.”
He was teasing her, and she was determined to resist him. Resist his smile. Resist the twinkle in his deep blue eyes. Resist the urge to lift her hand and push back the chestnut curl that fell so appealingly over his forehead.
“A gentleman wouldn’t mention what he saw.”
“True. A gentleman wouldn’t. Therein lies the problem. The glimpse I had of your breasts in that scarlet corset was the loveliest thing I’ve seen since my return to London
“What are you intending?”
“Damned if I know.”
“This certainly isn’t proper.”
“Damned if I care.”
To her utter astonishment, Kate wasn’t entirely certain she cared, either. She’d played the part of dutiful daughter, dutiful sister, and dutiful nurse her entire life. Now, at the age of three and twenty, she was coming to the realization that the role didn’t entirely suit her. She’d lived her life as though crammed into a pair of shoes that had been pinching and cramping her for years. Here was an opportunity to try something scandalous and new. An invitation to see what she’d been missing, if only she had the courage to reach for it.
She moistened her lips, tipped back her head, and closed her eyes.
For a fraction of a second time stood still. Kate was overwhelmed by the horrifying certainty she’d misread his intentions. Then James’s lips brushed hers. The pressure on her mouth was light and gentle, allowing her the opportunity to change her mind, to slip away if she wanted to. So, a gentleman after all. The gesture, touching as it was, was wasted.
Kate stepped closer.
Title: Out of Her League
Author: Ava Archer Payne
Publisher: AAP Hot HistoricalsLength: 40,000 words
Genres: Erotic Historical Romance
Heat Level: Sizzling
Author: Ava Archer Payne
Publisher: AAP Hot HistoricalsLength: 40,000 words
Genres: Erotic Historical Romance
Heat Level: Sizzling
AVAILABLE AT:
Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008MNQXNK
BLURB:
Captain James Lancaster, formerly one of London England Crimea . He is wounded in body and spirit, his badly injured leg leaving him unable to walk without crutches.
Nurse Katherine Riley has spent her entire life caring for others, but lately she finds herself longing for more. On a whim she indulges in a secret cache of provocative lingerie—just a little something to make her feel beautiful beneath her drab gowns, even if no one else can see it.
When James glimpses the erotic beauty hidden beneath Kate’s prim and proper façade, he introduces her to a sensual array of forbidden delights. Healing takes on an entirely new meaning. As Kate nurses James to a full recovery, their liaison opens her eyes to an enticing new world. How will she ever return to the staid life she once knew?
Q&A WITH AVA ARCHER PAYNE:
Q: What exactly is a ‘Hot Historical’?
A: A ‘Hot Historical’ is a classic historical romance—only shorter and steamier! Hot Historicals are perfect for fans of traditional romance who occasionally like to spice things up. One of my readers calls them a secret indulgence ;)
Q: Many of your novels are set in Victorian England. What attracts you to that time period?
A: I love playing with the exquisite manners of the day. What does our heroine do when she finds herself completely in lust with an utterly unsuitable man? That creates such lovely sexual tension.
Q: How long have you been writing romance?
A: I’ve been writing historical romance for 15 years under a variety of pseudonyms. I’ve been published by several mainstream houses, but with the advent of ebooks, I’m able to place my work directly in the hands of readers. What a fabulous privilege for an author!
Author Email - AvaArcherPayne@gmail.com
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/avaarcher.payne
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This book sounds really good. I have always enjoyed historicals, especially ones that are hot.
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