Loving You Easy (Loving on the Edge #9) by Roni Loren-Review

LOVING YOU EASY (Loving on the Edge #9) by Roni Loren-Review, Book Tour & Giveaway

 

LOVING YOU EASY
Loving on the Edge #9
by Roni Loren
Release Date: September 6, 2016
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic, romance, BDSM

 

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Google Play / itunes /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 6, 2016

Cora has an amazing sex life. She’s beautiful, daring, and the most popular submissive in Hayven. Too bad none of it’s real…

IT specialist Cora Benning has figured out the key to her formerly disastrous love life—make it virtual. In the online world of Hayven, she’s free of her geek girl image and can indulge her most private fantasies with a sexy, mysterious master without anyone in her life discovering her secrets. Until her information is hacked and she finds herself working to fix the breach under two very powerful men—one who seems all too familiar…

Best friends and business partners Ren Muroya and Hayes Fox were once revered dominants. Then Hayes was wrongfully sent to prison and everything changed. Ren wants to get back to who they were. Hayes can’t risk it. But when they discover the new IT specialist is their online fascination, and that she’s never felt a dominant’s touch, the temptation to turn virtual into reality becomes all too great

•••••••

REVIEW: LOVING YOU EASY is the ninth full length installment in Roni Loren’s contemporary, adult LOVING ON THE EDGE erotic, BDSM, romance series. This is IT specialist Coraline Benning, and business partners Ren Muroya and Hayes Fox’s story line. LOVING YOU EASY can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty.

NOTE: Loving You Easy contains MM, MF, MFM scenes of graphic sexual imagery and language including ménage, anal and oral sex, as well as some spanking and light bondage play.

Told from several third person points of view LOVING YOU EASY focuses on the search for an internet stalker. Cora Benning likes to play in the online sexual, fantasy world known as Hayven, and soon discovers that her personal information has been hacked, and someone has targeted Cora in the real world. As an IT hacker, our heroine soon ferrets out some information about the person responsible, and heads over to FoxRen media to confront the owners about a possible breach to their gaming system. What Cora soon discovers is that Ren Muroya and Hayes Fox are two sexual dominants who take a special interest in Cora’s plight, an interest that will extend to a relationship both at work and at play. Ren will offer Cora a job at FoxRen media, and take their partnership up to the next level. What ensues is the building relationship between Cora, Ren and Hayes, and the search for a person who has targeted our trio in a dark game of betrayal and revenge.

The relationship between Cora, Ren and Hayes is highly sexual. Both Ren and Hayes are sexual dominants but Hayes has pulled back from the lifestyle following a prison sentence for a crime he did not commit. Fearful of other people’s reactions to the accusations, Hayes continues to pull away from his best friend Ren, not realizing that Ren and Cora, are the two people he needs the most. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic, graphic and provocative. The dominance and submissive elements are mostly vanilla and light. The character building reveals a little bit about the backgrounds, the history and events leading to present day circumstances.

The world building focuses on a friendship that turns to love when Ren reveals that he has loved his best friend for most of his life. Cora’s introduction into the world of dominance and submission is imaginative and intoxicating but playful and calm. Cora soon discovers that her online kinky side traverses easily into the real world.

LOVING YOU EASY is a passionate story line focusing on a relationship that is both playful and energetic, healing and dynamic. The premise is intriguing and decadent; the characters are spirited and energetic; the romance is encouraging and seductive. Roni Loren easily invites the reader into her impassioned world of Loving on the Edge.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

excerpt

 

 

She shifted backward, bumping into her car. “Please don’t do that.”
He brows dipped. “Don’t what?”
“Try to make me feel better. Give me a boost or whatever. Because, seriously, I don’t need your pity.”
He laughed. This sharp bark of a thing that echoed through the empty parking lot. “Pity? Are you kidding?”
Her teeth clamped together, anger rising. “You—”
But he moved so fast it made the rest snag in her throat. Both of his hands landed on the car behind her, caging her in and bringing his face close to hers. “Ready for completely and wholeheartedly inappropriate?”
He wasn’t touching her anywhere but he may as well have pressed his entire body against her for the way her blood went hot. She couldn’t speak. Couldn’t move. All she could see were those dark eyes and inhale the scent of him, spicy food and man.
“I reeled myself in tonight. I asked you to dinner for selfish reasons. But once we were there and got to talking, I had a crisis of conscience. You’re working with me. You’ve been through hell this week. You didn’t need me complicating that. I forced myself to play by the rules. I made myself be good.” He leaned close to her ear, his breath coasting along her neck. “But don’t think for one second that I didn’t want to talk you into my bed tonight, that I didn’t want to show you that side of myself you saw in the hallway, and that I haven’t been thinking exactly how good it would feel to have you beneath me.”
All ability to breathe ceased inside her, her body going still as stone and melty as lava.
“So you can accuse me of a lot of things, Cora. Crossing lines. Being selfish. Acting inappropriately. Because I’m doing all of those things right now. But one thing you can’t accuse me of is pity.” He pushed off the car, freeing her from the invisible hold, and took a step back. “I’ll see you on Monday. And if you decide not to show up anymore because of this, I’ll make sure you’re paid through the next two weeks.”
He turned and strode toward his car, leaving her standing there trembling and breathing hard and… way too turned on.
She wet her lips, a surge of bravery welling in her. “You never told me your breaking-the-law story.”
The words rang through the distance between them, and she thought he might keep walking, but he stopped and turned around. “We’ll need to schedule a seven-course meal to get through all of that.”
“That long of a list, huh?”
His mouth kicked up at the corner. All bad boy and charm. “Yep, you game?”
She swallowed past the dryness in her throat, knowing what he was asking was about way more than a dinner. She was so damn far off the reservation. “I might be…”
His gaze heated, slid over her with open appreciation. “It’s a date, then. Goodnight, hallway girl.”

 

 

About The Author

Roni LorenRoni wrote her first romance novel at age fifteen when she discovered writing about boys was way easier than actually talking to them. Since then, her flirting skills haven’t improved, but she likes to think her storytelling ability has. Though she’ll forever be a New Orleans girl at heart, she now lives in Dallas with her husband and son.

If she’s not working on her latest sexy story, you can find her reading, watching reality television, or indulging in her unhealthy addiction to rockstars, er, rock concerts. Yeah, that’s it. She is the National Bestselling Author of The Loving on the Edge series from Berkley Heat.

Site: www.roniloren.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RoniLoren
Twitter: https://twitter.com/roniloren
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4877863.Roni_Loren

 

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There are TWO (2) ways to WIN !!

Giveaway #1

The Reading Cafe and Roni’s publisher are offering a paper copy of LOVING YOU EASY to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

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9. Giveaway runs from Sept 7-11, 2016

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Break Me Down (Loving on the Edge 8.5) by Roni Loren-Review, Book tour & Giveaway

BREAK ME DOWN (Loving on the Edge 8.5) by Roni Loren-Review, Book Tour and Giveaway

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Break Me Down
Loving on the Edge 8.5
by Roni Loren
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotica, BDSM, romance
Release Date: October 27, 2015

Break Me Down

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / BAM

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 27, 2015

Samantha Dunbar needs to forget Gibson Andrews. When he trained her to be a domme, she experienced just how hot things could get with the sexy executive. She was ready to hand him everything—including her heart. But Gibson backed away, declaring them incompatible. He’s a dominant, and Sam’s no submissive.

But after an attack shakes Sam to her core, Gibson tracks her down at her family’s rundown farmhouse and makes her an offer. He’ll stay the week and be hers in every way—a helping hand for the renovation and a willing lover in her bed. He swore he’d never give up control to anyone again, but he hasn’t been able to touch another woman since Sam. Maybe a week alone with her will cure him of his relentless craving.

But one taste only makes them want more, and Sam and Gibson are drawn in deeper than ever. The man who won’t give in has just met the girl who won’t give up…

•••••••••••

REVIEW: BREAK ME DOWN follows the D/s relationship between Domme Samantha Dunbar, and her reluctant submissive Gibson Andrews. Gibson is a dominant at the local BDSM Club-The Ranch- but his fantasies find our hero in a position of submission especially as it pertains to Samantha Dunbar-a Domme whose need to dominate and control is beyond anything Gibson has experienced. What ensues is the break down of a man’s control, and a woman’s emotional and psychological need to dominate.

BREAK ME DOWN is a tale of erotica; of sexual, emotional and physical domination by a woman over a man with some dubious consent, and a rape fantasy with the female in the position of the aggressor. Gibson is a man with a past darkened by a controlling father; and Samantha is a woman whose past is mired in betrayal and abuse. Both our of leading characters act out their sexual aggression and fantasies both in and out of the bedroom but for all intents and purpose I felt a line was crossed when the fantasies and sexual domination became more about the power over someone else. Rape is about power, control and anger, and in this, our heroine was acting out against her own perpetrators who, years earlier, took away Samantha’s choices and control. The sado-masochist theme is strong throughout the storyline. There is also a questionable scene where the ‘safe word’ was ignored, and emotional threats against our hero, once again, stepped over the proverbial line.

I have enjoyed Roni Loren’s LOVING ON THE EDGE erotic romance series but BREAK ME DOWN was an uncomfortable read for me with so many questions of consent and coercion. The use of ‘force’ is questioned by the characters, and although the Domme, in the end, refuses to ‘force’ her submissive, the fear and anxiety about the potential situation is a part of the storyline-none the less.

BREAK ME DOWN is a sexually graphic storyline with contents that me be unsuitable for some readers. Gibson Andrews is a submissive who thrives on the pain inflicted by the woman that he loves; Samantha Dunbar is a Domme who must be in control and hold the power at all times but in the end, Sam knows when enough is enough.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley.

Reviewed by Sandy

Excerpt

The floors creaked as he made his way back to the front of the house. He examined the dining room with critical eyes. It looked like one small patch of floor was left. Sam had been close to done when he’d interrupted last night. Yet another valid reason for her to be mad at him.

He squatted down and picked up the sanding machine. It’d been a while since he’d tackled any home improvement projects. His position as head of PR at Vandergriff kept him too busy. But when he’d first bought his house, it had been in pretty rough shape. He’d taken on weekend projects to get it how he wanted it. He’d learned a lot and messed up more. A handyman, he was not. But he understood the satisfaction Sam probably got from doing this herself. It could be cathartic.

“I don’t suggest you turn that on unless you know what to do with it,” Sam said from behind him.

He turned around, finding her at the bottom of the stairs, raven hair damp and twisted into a messy bun atop her head. Face scrubbed clean. She looked so young standing there. He was used to seeing her with her dark eyeliner and hair done in some quirky way. But this version of her was just as breath-stealing. He held up the sander. “Don’t turn it on unless I know what to do with it. There’s a dirty joke in there.”

She smirked, some of that trademark attitude back, despite the lingering ghosts in her eyes. “So do you? Know what to do?”

“With a woman or home improvement equipment?”

“I already know you know what to do with a woman.”

He tilted his head. Flirty Sam. Yes. Yes, he liked this. “I’m not quite as skilled with machinery, but I can hold my own. Why? Gonna put me to work to earn my keep?”

She walked forward, her beat-up Vans silent on the floors. “Hmm, now there’s an idea.”

The tone of her voice had slipped into a dangerous place, one he recognized. One his body recognized. “I don’t mind helping.”

She tucked her hands in the back pockets of her jeans, her vintage No Doubt T-shirt stretching thin across her breasts as she considered him. “Is that right?”

He lost his focus for a moment just looking at her. Her shirt read Just A Girl, but that was far from the truth. She was so much more. A fucking mystery wrapped up in smarts and sex appeal and kink. He’d only gotten to touch her once, but he hadn’t forgotten how those pert breasts had felt in his palms, how her body had responded to his touch, how it had seemed like the goddamned sun had come out when he’d made her come. His blood rushed south at the memory, and he had to shift his stance to tamp down the reaction. How big of an asshole would he be, getting hard and horny the morning after Sam had been attacked? He cleared his throat. “Yeah, I can help with whatever you need.”

Her smile was quick, not too big, but enough to punch him in the gut. “Those are mighty vague terms, Gib. You should know how dangerous that is in negotiations. I could make you strip naked and clean the bathroom grout with a toothbrush while I sip iced tea and watch.”

He set down the sander and ran a hand over the back of his hair. She’d meant it as a joke. He tried to smile but managed only a tight grimace. Any image where he got on his knees for her pushed that forbidden button inside him. “Right.”

The silver ring in her eyebrow twitched up as if she knew exactly what he’d been thinking. “Nah, never mind. I know how you can help. Leave.”

About The author

Roni LorenRoni wrote her first romance novel at age fifteen when she discovered writing about boys was way easier than actually talking to them. Since then, her flirting skills haven’t improved, but she likes to think her storytelling ability has. Though she’ll forever be a New Orleans girl at heart, she now lives in Dallas with her husband and son.

If she’s not working on her latest sexy story, you can find her reading, watching reality television, or indulging in her unhealthy addiction to rockstars, er, rock concerts. Yeah, that’s it. She is the National Bestselling Author of The Loving on the Edge series from Berkley Heat.

 

Places to find Roni Loren:
Site: www.roniloren.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RoniLoren
Twitter: https://twitter.com/roniloren
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4877863.Roni_Loren

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Call On Me (Loving on the Edge #8) by Roni Loren-Review and Book Tour

CALL ON ME (Loving on the Edge # 8) by Roni Loren-Review and Book Tour

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Call on Me
Loving on the Edge #8
by Roni Loren
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic romance
Release Date: July 7, 2015

 

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / The Book Depository /iTunes / Google Play

About the book: Release Date July 7, 2015

Oakley Easton wants two things: to be a good mom to her daughter and to ditch her less than ideal night job. Hooking up with bad boy drummer Pike Ryland? Not on the agenda. She needs a promotion. Not sex, tattoos and rock ’n’ roll.

Pike isn’t about to let Ms. Prim and Proper shut him down so easily, especially when he stumbles upon Oakley’s sexy night job. She’s only playing a role on those late night calls with strangers, but when he gets her on the line, all bets are off. He won’t stop until that sultry voice is calling his name for real.

But as they move from anonymous fantasies in the dark to the flesh-on-hot-flesh reality of the bedroom, the risk of falling in love becomes all too high. And the safe, quiet world that Oakley’s worked so hard to create is about to be exposed to the one person who could ruin it all.

•••••••••••

REVIEW: CALL ON ME is the eighth full length installment in Roni Loren’s adult, contemporary Loving on the Edge erotic romance series. This is rock star drummer Pike Ryland, and single mother Oakley Easton’s storyline. CALL ON ME can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Several of the previous storyline characters play secondary and supporting roles throughout the novel. Most of Roni’s LOVING ON THE EDGE storylines are connected through the BDSM club called The Ranch-members, former members, friends and family.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Oakley and Pike) CALL ON ME focuses on the building relationship between Oakley and Pike, and Pike’s volunteer services at a community centre for families in need. Oakley is the part time receptionist and music teacher for the children and young adults, and Pike is caught between the allure of Oakley’s voice and the beautiful woman behind the mask. As Pike begins to pursue Oakley for something more, Oakley’s secret is about to be revealed-to make ends meet, Oakley works as a phone sex operator to pay the bills and keep food on the table. As a single mom of an eleven year old emotionally disabled daughter, Oakley is in no position to get involved with a rock star whose reputation as a man-whore is widely known. To protect her heart, Oakley agrees to a one-night stand, but the heart wants more than Oakley is willing to give.

Pike is a drummer who is tired of the rock and roll lifestyle and is unaware that he is looking to settle down, but a family is something he has never considered because of his abusive childhood growing up. Something about Oakley calls to Pike, and in this, Pike continues to pursue Oakley in the hopes of something more permanent. While working with the children at the family centre, Pike will begin to work his way to Oakley’s heart. Pike is a swoon-worthy hero who doesn’t play head games with the woman who calls to his heart –but—sex games are another entire matter !!

The relationship between Pike and Oakley is slow to build as Oakley continues to erect walls and boundaries, but Pike is determined to break through at all costs. The $ex scenes are erotic, provocative and a little bit kinky-Pike is a member at the BDSM club The Ranch and he is hoping to bring Oakley over to his side. Throughout most of the storyline the BDSM content is mild-there is a little bit of spanking and toy play. The BDSM play becomes more aggressive towards the finals chapters of the book but there are no hardcore scenarios or questionable scenes.

The numerous secondary and supporting characters include several of the previous storyline couples, as well as Oakley’s boss at the family centre Tessa McAllen (Need You Tonight #6), and Hunter Riley and Devon Crowe (Yours All Along 7.5)-Devon is Oakley’s brother whom we met in the previous novella (June 2015). We are introduced to Gibson Andrews whose storyline will be told next in BREAK ME DOWN (Oct 2015). I like that Roni seamlessly blends many of the characters from other books in her Loving on the Edge series into each of her storyline premises allowing for cohesion and updates about her beloved characters.

CALL ON ME is a captivating, erotic and emotional storyline about two people trying to find their place in the world. The premise is imaginative and intriguing; the characters intimate, moving and fascinating; the romance intense and heartbreaking. Roni Loren will captivate your imagination, and pull you into an enjoyable storyline that promises a wonderful happily ever after.

Copy supplied by the publisher.

Reviewed by Sandy

_______________

HOUSE CALL (Loving on the Edge Short Story) by Roni Loren

HOUSE CALL is a Loving on the Edge short story that can be found at the back of CALL ON ME by Roni Loren. The premise focuses on surgeon and widower Dr. Theodore Montgomery, and Dominatrix Mistress M. aka Maggie.

Maggie is more or less retired from Domme duties at the BDSM club ‘The Ranch’, but a late night visit from Dr. Montgomery finds Maggie falling into the role of Theo’s lover and domme when Theo is tasked with having to drive Maggie home following a minor accident that left Maggie without the use of her car. Seven years earlier Theo lost his wife to an horrific accident, and the grief and guilt can only be assuaged through submissive measures. When Theo is unable to save a young woman on New Year’s Eve, his need to be dominated finds him returning to The Ranch in search of Mistress M- the only Domme who is able to silence the demons in his head and his heart. What ensues is the potential for a happily ever after for two people who have danced around one another for years.

HOUSE CALL is a short story that covers less than 24 hours in the life of Theo and Maggie. Their attraction and need for one another is palpable; the $ex scenes sensual and loving; their HEA a definite possibility. Roni Loren adds a little bit of spice into our lives with HOUSE CALL and the building love between Maggie and Theo.

 excerpt

 

She startled and stiffened, instantly yanked out of her less than PG thoughts. “What?”
He leaned back in his chair, vague confusion on his face. “I asked if wanted to keep working in that back room? We could rehearse at the studio once they’re close to being ready to record. But until then, it’s probably more trouble than it’s worth to cart everyone over there. It’s not that big of a place.”
“Rehearse in the back room?” she repeated, running the words back in her head to make sense of them. “Oh, right, yes, that’s fine. I’m sorry. I thought you said something else.”
She eyed the small bellini she’d ordered with her meal. Maybe that had been a bad idea. She was hearing things now.
Screw in the bathroom? How the hell had she gotten that out of what he’d said? Of course, now all she could think of was him doing just that—taking her by the elbow and leading her to that dark alcove at the back of the restaurant, pushing her up against that wall with the faded Italian flag on it and putting his hands all over her. She licked her top lip, tasting the sweet remnants of her drink. Pull it together, woman.
Apparently, once her libido had been brave enough to peep its head out, it had decided it was Groundhog Day and needed to run around, declaring spring was coming early. She hated to break the news, but nothing and no one was coming anytime soon.
“What did you think I said?” Pike took a long sip from his drink, his snake charmer eyes never leaving hers.
She followed suit, hoping the fruity drink would cool off more than her throat. “Doesn’t matter.”
His lips twitched. “You’re all red.”
“I think it’s the bellini. I don’t drink very often.”
“No way.” His expression turned smug. “You thought I said something dirty, didn’t you?”
“Huh?” She smoothed her napkin in her lap, trying to loosen the tightness in her voice. “No. Why would I think that? You’ve been very professional since we got here—which I appreciate by the way.”
His gaze slid lazily down her body, like butter melting over toast, and goddamn it all to hell, she could feel her nipples go hard and obvious beneath her bra. No wonder he’d figured it out. Her body was waving all kinds of flags in his face. Hey! Over here! Horny girl, booth eight!
“I am capable of being professional, you know,” he said, but his tone was all sex and sin. “I’m also more than happy to turn that off when the occasion calls for it. So why don’t you tell me what you thought you heard and why it’s gotten you all flushed and nervous?”
“I’m not nervous.”
He grinned.
Dammit. She schooled her face into a stoic expression. “The music is too loud in here. I thought you propositioned me to defile the restroom.”
Hie eyebrow ring twitched. “Now you’re just trying to turn me on with those big, stiff words of yours.”
All she heard was big and stiff at first, but she managed to rein in her temporary insanity. “We’re so not going to do this.”
“Well, probably not here, you’re right. I saw those bathrooms. But—“
“No, I mean, any of this. Flirting. Teasing. Whatever this is.”
He leaned onto his forearms, looking all too pleased that he’d gotten a confession out of her. “You got a guy?”
“No,” she said before she could get wise and fib.
“Then why can’t we do this?”
“Because I’m not interested.”
“Liar.”
She huffed. “Are you always this cocky?”
“No, it’s dialed down right now. I can get way worse.”
She stirred her drink. “Not. Possible.”
His lips spread into a menacing smile. “Challenge accepted.”

 

 

About The Author Black and Blue

Roni LorenRoni wrote her first romance novel at age fifteen when she discovered writing about boys was way easier than actually talking to them. Since then, her flirting skills haven’t improved, but she likes to think her storytelling ability has. Though she’ll forever be a New Orleans girl at heart, she now lives in Dallas with her husband and son.

If she’s not working on her latest sexy story, you can find her reading, watching reality television, or indulging in her unhealthy addiction to rockstars, er, rock concerts. Yeah, that’s it. She is the National Bestselling Author of The Loving on the Edge series from Berkley Heat.

 

Places to find Roni Loren:
Site: www.roniloren.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RoniLoren
Twitter: https://twitter.com/roniloren
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4877863.Roni_Loren

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Yours All Along (Loving on the Edge 6.5) by Roni Loren-Review and Book Tour

YOURS ALL ALONG (Loving on the Edge # 6.5) by Roni Loren-Review and Book Tour

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Yours All Along
Loving on the Edge 6.5
by Roni Loren
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic, M/M romance
Release Date: June 16, 2015

Yours all along

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / iTunes / Google Play

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 16, 2015

Four years after an accident tore their friendship apart, Hunter and Devon are living separate lives. Hunter is now the all-America hero—a congressman’s son and a pro pitcher in Houston preparing to marry his beauty-queen girlfriend. Devon is in Dallas running a new restaurant.

But when Hunter unexpectedly shows up in Devon’s bar, Devon can’t turn him away. Damn it if the man isn’t still gorgeous. But engaged? Hell no. All he’s doing for Devon is bringing back memories of their college-roommate days, and the night their relationship went too far. Turns out Hunter has never forgotten it either.

Now Devon can’t help but be drawn in all over again by the only guy who’s ever gotten close enough to break his heart. Maybe one more night together would be enough for both of them to finally move on. Or maybe one night will change everything…

•••••••••••

REVIEW: YOURS ALL ALONG is the latest novella in Roni Loren’s adult, contemporary Loving on the Edge erotic romance series. This is restaurateur Devon Crowe, and MLB baseball pitcher Hunter Riley-a friend to lovers, M/M romance storyline that can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Devon and Hunter) YOURS ALL ALONG looks at the history –college years to present day- between Devon and Hunter, and what transpired to end their tight knit friendship. Fraternity brothers whose lives couldn’t have been more different, Devon and Hunter had one another’s back but Devon’s gay lifestyle was not conducive to Hunter’s family plans.

Throughout the storyline we watch as a friendship leads to love, and a sexual relationship between roommates uncovers a need and want in Hunter Riley. But Hunter’s politically connected family had other plans, and following an accident that found Hunter in critical condition, Hunter was ripped from Devon’s life when Hunter’s father suspected the truth about his son’s roommate’s sexual behavior.

YOUR ALL ALONG is a story of a building romance and love connection between best friends and eventual lovers. It is a M/M storyline with some graphic sexual imagery and a hope for a happily ever after. Roni Loren pulls the reader into an uplifting, impassioned and sometimes heartbreaking story about two people whose friendship and love for one another were destroyed through discrimination, bigotry and homophobic ideals.

Reviewed by Sandy

Copy supplied by Author’s Pal through Netgalley

Excerpt beige

 

“But first . . .” Phil said, wincing a bit. “I have one more customer who requested to see the manager.”
“Ah, fuck.” One more complaint tonight and Devon might lose it. “Where?”
Phil pointed to a booth near the front window. “Big guy in the baseball cap. He’s nearly polished off a bottle of cabernet, so be warned.”
Great. Only thing worse than an unhappy customer was a ranting, drunk one.
Devon swallowed another sip of his own drink, then headed toward the corner booth. The guy’s back was to him, and he seemed to be staring out the window at the cars passing by on the downtown street. The flatbread he’d ordered was sitting mostly untouched in the center of the table.
Damn, Bryce couldn’t have managed to screw up a simple pizza, could he? Devon squeezed between two empty tables and straightened his suit jacket before stepping around to face the man, an apology poised on his lips. “Sir, how can I help—?”
But the question died in the air as the man looked up from beneath the bill of his ball cap. Dark, soulful eyes stared back at Devon from a face he knew better than his own. Any cogent response melted right out of his ears. “Jesus Christ.”
Hunter looked Devon up and down, his brows knitting in that way that indicated alcohol-blurred thoughts. “Wow, you look . . . important.”
Devon couldn’t help taking his own eyeful. Shaggy black hair peeking out from beneath the cap, tight T-shirt spread over shoulders and pecs honed for top athletic performance—a body Devon had ogled way too many times when he and Hunter had shared a room in the frat house.
“And you look . . .” Fucking amazing. Perfect. Even better than on TV. “Drunk. What the hell are you doing here, Hunt?”
His grin was lazy, lopsided. “I’m on vacation.” He raised a finger to his mouth. “Shh, don’t tell anyone. Top secret.”
Devon braced his hands on the table and sank onto the bench seat on the other side of the booth, not sure his legs were going to continue to hold him up. “Vacation?”
Hunter lifted his glass. “You know I haven’t had alcohol in four years.”
Four years. Which was exactly how long it’d been since Devon had last seen him. He tried to take a breath, but the room seemed to have less air in it than a moment before. He ran through the reasons why Hunter could possibly be here right now. Drinking. In his bar.
The guy had become the poster child of clean living after college. And over the last few years, the sports media had nearly canonized him for the turnaround. The congressman’s son. The stellar pitcher. The all-American guy with the beauty queen girlfriend.
Not that Devon had been paying attention. Or recording every game he pitched.
God, he was pathetic.
He cleared his throat, trying to come up with something to say. “Why are you drinking now?”
Hunter pointed at him, his finger wavering. “Good question.”
He followed up with a sage nod like he’d explained everything.
Fuck. The guy was hammered. The waitress probably hadn’t blinked at letting Hunter order a few glasses. He was big and broad—a guy who looked able to handle his liquor. But Hunter’s tolerance had always been low, and if he’d been sober for four years, that would only have made it worse. Devon grabbed the stem of Hunter’s half-empty glass, moved it to the side, and then replaced the spot in front of him with the flatbread. “You need to eat something, big man.”
The old nickname rolled off of Dev’s tongue before he caught it, and Hunter stiffened. Sober awareness flickered in his dark eyes, as if the words had snapped him temporarily from the wine haze. He shook his head. “Need to go.”
He shifted as if to stand, but Devon jumped up and put a firm hand on Hunter’s shoulder, pushing him back down. Their gazes locked for a moment, Devon looming over Hunter, the position dragging him back to memories he didn’t want to access right now, fantasies he’d conjured since. He shook them off and cleared his throat. “No way. You’re not going anywhere.”

 


Guest Post beige

Favorite Experiences or…Worst experiences

Top 5 Favorite Experiences as a Writer

1. Seeing my book on the shelf of a bookstore – Even eight books in, this never ever gets old. Every time I walk through my Barnes and Noble and see one of my books sitting there, I get an inner squee. It never feels real. Maybe that’s because I grew up a reader, and bookstores and libraries have always been hallowed places for me. Now I’m on those shelves. Surreal.

2. Breaking through writer’s block – Some people say writer’s block doesn’t exist, it’s just fear or a sign that you’ve taken a wrong turn. My response—well if it’s fear or a wrong turn, it’s still a thing, which means it exists. And it definitely exists for me. I hit a block at least once in every book. The wrong turn this is usually the answer, but finding exactly what and where that wrong turn is can drive me up the wall (or into the fetal position.) Now I’ve learned to accept a block as part of my process. Doesn’t make it easier, but I at least know that I always get through them eventually. And that moment when the light bulb goes on—that’s the best.

3. When a reader goes fangirl/boy at an event/signing – This first few times this happened to me, I looked over my shoulder because I figured someone was getting that giddy look on their face because there was an important author behind me, lol. I still have the instinct to check behind me, but I can say that nothing is more flattering and thrilling than someone being excited about my books. It makes my day every damn time.

4. Having a story idea knock me over the head – You can’t really force story ideas. Well, at least I can’t. I’ve tried. So there is something so wonderful about that moment where an idea hits me. It’s usually when I’m not thinking about writing at all. Showers. Washing dishes. Going on vacation. Watching TV. The idea for YOURS ALL ALONG happened when I was watching last season of Big Brother (The Zankie bromance for those who watched it.) That’s one of the best parts of being a writer. Getting that idea that lights you up.

5. Giving characters happy endings – I write romance for a reason. I put my characters through hell, but there’s nothing more satisfying then giving them their happily ever after at the end. When I finish a book and write those last lines, I always have the biggest, goofiest smile on my face (and not just because I finally finished the damn book, lol.) Life can be grim. I get to write the happy. Best job ever.

About The Author beige

Roni LorenRoni wrote her first romance novel at age fifteen when she discovered writing about boys was way easier than actually talking to them. Since then, her flirting skills haven’t improved, but she likes to think her storytelling ability has. Though she’ll forever be a New Orleans girl at heart, she now lives in Dallas with her husband and son.

If she’s not working on her latest sexy story, you can find her reading, watching reality television, or indulging in her unhealthy addiction to rockstars, er, rock concerts. Yeah, that’s it. She is the National Bestselling Author of The Loving on the Edge series from Berkley Heat.

 

Places to find Roni Loren:
Site: www.roniloren.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RoniLoren
Twitter: https://twitter.com/roniloren
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4877863.Roni_Loren

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Nothing Between Us (Loving on the Edge #6) by Roni Loren-Review and Giveaway

NOTHING BETWEEN US ( Loving on the Edge #6) by Roni Loren-Review and Giveaway

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Nothing Between Us
Loving on the Edge #6
by Roni Loren
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic, BDSM
Release Date: January 6, 2015

Nothing Between Us

Amazon.com / Barnes and Noble / KOBO / The Book Depository

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 6, 2015

Unlike the heroine of her popular thriller series, Georgia Delaune can’t afford to take risks or push sexual boundaries—unless you count spying through her neighbor’s bedroom window, and never missing a single move he makes.

Colby Wilkes is more than willing to put on a show for the alluring woman next door. But his dominant side aches to show her the pleasures of submission up close. As a counselor, Colby is sensitive to Georgia’s fears. As a Dom at The Ranch, a private BDSM retreat, he’s the perfect teacher to unleash her passion.

But just as Georgia lowers her emotional barriers, an unexpected complication arrives: a bad boy musician from Colby’s past who adds fuel to her heated imagination. Now, the lonely author has two gorgeous men eager to fulfill every fantasy she’s ever written—and one she’s never dared to dream…

••••••••••••••••••

REVIEW: NOTHING BETWEEN US is the latest full length installment in Roni Loren’s contemporary, adult Loving on the Edge erotic, romance series. This is Dominant Colby Wilkes, author Georgia Delaune and musician Adam Keats’s storyline- a BDSM love triangle where one woman will learn to let go with the two men in her life. NOTHING BETWEEN US can be read as a stand alone although there is some reference to previous storyline characters and the opening scene is taken from an earlier story.

Told from several alternating third person points of view NOTHING BETWEEN US focuses on three people: Dom Colby Wilkes-a part time high school counselor, and trainer at the local BDSM club The Ranch; Georgia Delaune-an author and shut in whose life has been put on hold by a stalker whose need to control forces Georgia into hiding to protect her life; and musician Adam Keats-a twenty three year old man and former student of Colby’s who finds himself the target of an ex girlfriend and her drug dealer, h*ll bent on revenge. Our trio will quickly become friends that will turn into something more when need and desire are fueled by proximity and trust.

Roni Loren continues her BDSM theme throughout the storyline but never crosses over into hard core territory. The partners are always aware, always willing and always honest when it comes to what they want and how far they will go. Each of the storyline players is facing a personal crisis-a past that refuses to let go- that could tip the balance of power and need, but in the end it is the support and love of one another where the emotional dynamics will come into play.

The sexual imagery is visually graphic with scenes of M/F, M/M and M/F/M. There are moments of domination and submission, followed by commitment and love. All three go into the relationship looking for something different but in the end it is love, trust and understanding that heightens the bonds of their ties and connection to one another.

The writing style is simple and easy to understand. There are no complicated or confusing scenarios; Georgia and Adam are both willing to risk their own happiness for the sake of the other but it is Colby, as the Dominant, who is not willing to risk either one. He understands that everyone needs time to accept the world and everything it has to offer, but he is not above helping to push his lovers in the right direction.

Roni Loren’s stories of domination and submission are intimate, provocative and emotional. There are moments of controversy, passionate declarations and dramatic reminders that not everything is right with the world but in the end there is hope for the future when love is the dominant factor between consenting adults and honorable friends.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley.

Reviewed by Sandy

Giveaway Gold and Black

Roni’s publisher is offering a paper copy of NOTHING BETWEEN US to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

1. If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comment.

3. Please LIKE us on FACEBOOK and click GET NOTIFICATIONS

4. Please LIKE us on Twitter for an additional entry.

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7. Follow Roni Loren on Facebook.

8. Giveaway is open to USA only

9. Giveaway runs from January 6-10, 2015

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Not Until You by Roni Loren-Review and Blog Tour

Not Until You by Roni Loren-Review and Blog Tour

Not Until You Banner

Not Until You
Loving On The Edge
by Roni Loren
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic, romance, BDSM
Release Date: November 4, 2014

Not Until You

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO / The Book Depository

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 4, 2014

Cela knows how to be good. She’s had a lifetime of practice. But on the night of her college graduation, she decides she’s earned one wild night before she has to move back home to her overprotective family. So when the hot neighbor she’s been quietly fantasizing about for a year suggests a game of Never Have I Ever, she’s ready. But what starts out as a simple game takes an unexpected turn. Because Ian Foster doesn’t play games he can’t win.

Foster knows his desires aren’t for the faint of heart, especially not for someone as sweet and innocent as his pretty neighbor. But when Cela shows up at his door with an invitation that surprises him, he can’t resist indulging. Cela has no idea what she’s in for. The secret dark side of this man’s need will both intrigue and terrify her. But Cela has a secret of her own—and a new game to see just how far they’re both willing to go, and how much they’re willing to risk by crossing every boundary of desire.

••••••••••••••••••••••

REVIEW: NOT UNTIL YOU is the latest full length storyline in Roni Loren’s LOVING ON THE EDGE contemporary, adult erotic romance series. Originally released as an eight part serial storyline NOT UNTIL YOU focuses on Master Ian Foster and reluctant submissive twenty three year old Marcela (Cela) Medina. Although this is the latest book in the series, it can be read as a stand alone without too much difficulty. Some of the previous storyline characters make cameo appearances. Any important information to the current storyline is imparted where necessary. NOTE: There are some M/F/M scenes as well as implied M/M/M/F situations.

Told from alternating points of view including Cela and third person, NOT UNTIL YOU follows recent graduate of veterinary medicine Cela Medina. On the night of her graduation, good girl Cela wrote a list of ‘to dos’ including seducing and having sex with her two sexy and older neighbors- rock star Pike, and CEO and business owner Ian Foster. What Cela never expected was to fall in love with a man whose need for control reaches beyond the obvious. Cela is an innocent and Foster’s needs may be too much to handle.

The relationship between our trio begins as a one night stand and graduation celebration where Cela will succeed with most of her ‘to do’ list but Cela’s attraction to Foster goes beyond friends with benefits. Both Foster and Pike are men with dark pasts, rooted in abuse, neglect, loss and betrayal, and in this their lifestyles reflect the need for control. It is Foster’s need to control and protect Cela that forces the man to push Cela away. Something from his past controls his present and Cela is a reminder of everything that went wrong.

NOT UNTIL YOU is a storyline that is very familiar to fans of the billionaire Dom and the virginal submissive scenarios. We follow as Foster pulls Cela into his world of leather, bondage and his need to dominate both inside and outside of the bedroom. Cela is a young woman whose sexual experience is limited but Foster will show her what it is they both need and want. The sex scenes are intimate, passionate and exploratory. There are no hard core BDSM scenes although Foster’s anger does fuel one particular scenario of S&M.

The secondary characters include Cela’s family (and brother Andre Medina whose story was told in MELT INTO YOU) as well as friends and Foster’s inner circle in the BDSM scene. The world building brings the reader behind the scenes of an exclusive BDSM club known as The Ranch as well as getting up close and personal with Foster’s dark past and his all consuming need to protect.

Roni Loren’s LOVING ON THE EDGE series continues to explore the BDSM lifestyle intertwining romance, love and a happily ever after. All of her characters are wholly aware of the situation and no one is ever forced into something they do not want to do. There are emotional moments of realization; heartbreak and letting go, but in the end, it is love, that has the ultimate control of the other’s heart and soul.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

excerpt

 

 

NOT UNTIL YOU
By Roni Loren
CHAPTER 1“Andre, this isn’t a good time. Can I call you back?”
I did my best not to let my cell phone slip from between my ear and shoulder. Just don’t drop the tequila. I adjusted the enormous bottle my friend, Bailey, had given me as a graduation present from my right hand to beneath my left arm and tried to dig my keys out of my purse so I could open the main door to my apartment building.
“I’m so sorry I wasn’t able to make it, Cela,” my older brother said, his guilt obviously trumping my request to call him later. “I got caught at an investigation site this morning. I thought I’d be able to get there in time, but we had a witness wanting to talk and….”
I cursed silently as my keys hit the pavement. I crouched down, doing my best not to flash my underwear to anyone who may be passing by. “Really, it’s fine. They called my name. I walked across the stage and got a piece of paper and a sash for being summa cum laude. Papá yelled my name like he was at a baseball game instead of a ceremony. Mamá cried. We all went to lunch at Rosario’s and then the two of them headed back to the airport. Not that interesting.”
My brother’s heavy sigh said everything. I almost felt guilty that he felt so guilty. “Before you move back home next month, we’re getting together to celebrate. My baby sister, the doctor. I’m so proud I could burst.”
I smiled. I did like the sound of that. Dr. Marcela Medina, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. Seven years of exams and studying and clinics, but it was finally done. Now it was time to leave Dallas and head back home to Verde Pass and take up the slack in my dad’s practice.
That last part had my smile faltering a bit. I hooked my key ring with my finger and wobbled back to a stand. “That’s sounds great. But I really have to get going. I have my hands full and need to get through the door.”
“Cela, you know better than to carry too much. Parking lots at night are one of the most dangerous places for women. Are you holding your mace?” he asked, his voice going into that bossy cop tone I was all too familiar with.
“It’s in my hand,” I lied, trying to remember where I’d stowed the last little canister he’d given me—probably in my junk drawer. “But I don’t have a free hand to pull the door open.”
“All right,” he said, placated. “Congratulations again. I love you.”
“Love you, too.”
The phone call ended but I didn’t have a way to take the phone off my ear, so I just shuffled forward in a sideways hunch, trying to juggle everything I was holding to get my key into the door. After two attempts, I got the lock turned and pressed my back against the glass door to push my way into the lobby.
As soon as I’d cleared the entrance and turned toward the stairs, male voices sounded behind me. Of course someone would show up right after I didn’t need help anymore. I peeked back to see who it was, Andre’s danger warnings still echoing in my head, but found something more distracting than criminals—my neighbors, Foster and Pike.
Foster stepped through the main door first and glanced my way. As usual, everything went melty inside me, his smile like a zap of heat to my system. Ridiculous. “Need some help, neighbor?”
I straightened, but forgot about my phone in the process. My brand new I-
Phone went sliding off my shoulder.
“Crap!” I lurched forward, trying to save it from its imminent demise, and accidentally dropped my plastic bag of Chinese takeout on the way.
“Whoa, there.” Pike, Foster’s roommate, was at my side in a second. His hand caught my elbow, saving me from losing the ginormous bottle of liquor along with my balance. But my phone clattered to the ground, the harsh sound mixing with the splat of my noodles hitting tile.
I winced, anticipating a broken screen. “Dammit.”
Foster bent down, his tie brushing the ground as he swept my phone off the floor. He peered at the screen, dark brows lowering over pale eyes, then he turned the phone toward me—the happy puppy screensaver staring back at me in tact. “All is well. Luckily, these things are built to take a licking.”
My brain got snagged on the work lick, and the back of my neck went hot. My lips parted, but words failed me. Great, imitate a gaping goldfish–that’s cute.
Pike cleared his throat, easing the tequila from my arms, and then crouched down near the open bag at my feet. He grabbed a noodle from the spilled box of Chinese food, tipped his head back and dropped it into his mouth, his eyes watching mine. “The lo mein’s a loss, though.”
I swallowed hard, his gaze even more bad boy than the tattoos peeking out from his open collar. His pierced tongue snaked around the noodle. Look away. I forced my face upward, but then ended up focusing on Foster again. Say something. God, I was standing there like an idiot. This was why I always avoided these two like they were contagious. They made me go stupid.
Foster held out my phone, and I managed to take it, the slight brush of his fingers against mine hitting the reset button in my brain. I managed a feeble, “Thank you.”
Foster glanced at the mess on the floor. “I’m really sorry I said anything. I didn’t mean to distract you from your intricate juggling act.”
I shook my head. “No, it’s my fault. I shouldn’t have been trying to carry everything at once. It’s been a long day, and I was hoping to save myself a second trip up the stairs.”
“The joys of a walk-up.” Pike grabbed a few napkins and started cleaning up the noodles at my feet like it was his mess to worry about.
“Oh, you don’t have to do that.” I lowered down to my knees. “I’ll take care of it.”
He grinned over at me, the mirror opposite of his roommate. Ian Foster was all suits and dark looks—a man who preferred to be called by his surname. Whereas, Pike didn’t seem to even have a last name. He was a drummer in some popular local band—jeans, a sex-on-the-mind-smile, and spiked, bleached hair his usual uniform. Not that I had studied either of them. Or listened to their escapades through the wall I shared with them. Not at all.
Keep telling yourself that, Cela.
Despite my protest, Pike helped me finish picking up the mess. “So what’s the big ass bottle of tequila for? No one could’ve had that bad of a day.”
I glanced over at the bottle I’d set on the floor, debating whether I could be trusted to have normal conversation with these two without sounding like I had a speech impediment. “I, uh, graduated today. It was a gift.”
“Oh, right on.”
“Congratulations, Cela,” Foster said. Just the sound of him saying my name in that smooth, dark voice had my stomach clenching. He was all southern refinement, but I didn’t miss the glimmer of a drawl underneath it all.
Ay dios mio. My body clamored to attention like an eager Labrador ready to be petted. Down, girl. These guys were way above my pay grade. I wasn’t dumb or delusional. I’d seen/spied on/secretly hated the women who’d passed through their apartment door—women who looked like they’d earned their doctorates in the art of seduction.
I hadn’t even reached the kindergarten level in that particular department.
“Thank you.”
“You were going to vet school at Dallas U, right?” Foster had tucked his hands in the pockets of his slacks, and though the question was casual, I had the distinct impression he was tense beneath that suit jacket.
Pike handed me a napkin for my hands and stood to toss the food into a nearby trash can.
I wiped off my hands and pushed myself to my feet, trying to do it as gracefully as possible in my restrictive skirt. “Yes, how’d you know that?”
“The scrubs you wear have the school insignia on them,” Foster said, as if it was totally normal that he’d looked at me that closely.
“Observant.” Especially considering I usually only managed a head-down, mumbled hey-how-are-ya exchange when we passed each other in the hallway. Secretly listening to one of your hot neighbors having sex had a way of making eye contact a bit uncomfortable the next day—particularly if said eavesdropper had used the soundtrack to fuel her own interlude with her battery-operated boyfriend.
Not that I had. Several times. Whatever.
Pike sidled up next to Foster—a motley pair if there ever was one. “So, doc, now that you’ve got no dinner and clearly too much liquor on your hands, why don’t you join us? We already have pizza on the way, and we can play a drinking game with the tequila. Do college kids still play Never Have I Ever? I was always good at that one.”
Kid? Is that what they saw me as? Neither of them could be that much older than I was. Though in terms of life experience, I had no doubt they trumped me a few times over.
“Oh, no, that’s okay.” The refusal was automatic, long practiced. How many times had I turned down such offers—from guys, from friends? My parents had been so strict when I was younger that I almost didn’t know how to say yes even after living on my own the last few years. Studies first. Fun later. Yet, there never seemed to be any time for fun after the first one was finished.
“You sure? I don’t want you going to bed with no dinner because of us,” Foster said, frown lines marring that perfect mouth of his.
Going to bed and us was about all I heard. My father’s stern voice whispered in my ear. You don’t know these men. You’ll be all alone in their apartment. Medina women have more respect for themselves than that.
“Really, I’m fine. I had a big lunch,” I said, my smile brief, plastic. “But thanks.”
“Oh, come on,” Pike said, his tone cajoling. “We’ve been neighbors for what, two years? We should at least get to know a little about each other.”
Get to know each other? I knew that Foster was loud when he came—even if he was alone. Knew that Pike liked to laugh during sex. Knew the two men shared women. And the other sounds I’d heard over the last two years…the smacks, the commands, the erotic screams. My face went as hot as if I’d stuck my head in an oven.
“Y’all just want me for my tequila,” I said, attempting to deflect my derailing thoughts.
The corner of Pike’s mouth lifted. “Of course that’s not all we want you for.”
“Uh…” Oh, hell. Pictures flashed across my brain. Dirty, delicious pictures. I almost dropped my phone again. I had no idea what to do with my hands, my expression.
Foster put a hand on Pike’s shoulder. “The lady said no. I think we should let her go celebrate her graduation however she wants.”
“All right.” Pike’s face turned hang dog, but he handed me the tequila bottle. “If you change your mind, we’ve got big plans. Supreme pizza and a Star-Wars-themed porn marathon. The Empire Sucks C—”
Foster smacked the back of Pike’s head, and Pike ducked and laughed.
“Kidding. I mean, a Jane Austen marathon,” Pike corrected, his green-gold eyes solemn. “Pride and Pu—”
Foster was behind Pike, his hand clamping over his friend’s mouth in a flash. “I seriously can’t take him out. He’s like an untrained puppy. Maybe you can lend me a shock collar or something.”
Pike waggled his eyebrows, all playful wickedness.
I laughed, putting my hand to my too hot forehead, and turning toward the stairs. “Yeah, so, I’m going to go now.”
“Cela,” Foster said as I put my foot onto the first step.
I glanced back. “Yeah?”
His ice melt eyes flicked downward, his gaze alighting along the length of me before tracing their way upward again in a slow, unashamed perusal. “Promise you won’t go to bed hungry.”
I wet my lips, my skin suddenly feeling too tight to accommodate the blood pumping beneath it, and nodded.
But it was a lie.
I always went to bed hungry.
And it had nothing to do with a spilled dinner.

 


 

Guest Post

Developing a Character From the Inside Out
By Roni Loren

People often ask me where I get my characters from—well, I think mostly they want to know if the guys from The Ranch are really wandering around Texas in real life, lol. (Sadly, they aren’t.) But it’s not an easy question to answer because it’s not one particular way I come upon a character. I don’t base characters on people I know or who I’ve met necessarily. But I do take characteristics of real life people and mash them up to find something new.

Like my husband always jokingly tells people that all of my heroes are based on him, lol. And in a way, there’s some truth to that because each of my heroes probably has some little thing that I picked up from my husband. Like Pike in NOT UNTIL YOU has a scene where he goes to a dog shelter. His reaction to a certain dog is so how my husband would react (he’s the guy who stops and saves animals on the side of the road.)

But in general, when I start a book, I spend the most time figuring out what makes my characters tick. I’m not a plotter, so I don’t plan out what’s going to happen in the book before writing it. Like for NOT UNTIL YOU, it started with the question—What if a woman had thin walls in her apartment and she’s been listening to her dominant neighbor and all the antics in his bedroom and has a huge crush on him? That’s all I may start with plot wise for a book—the setup.

But with characters, I need to know them pretty well before I can begin. I was a social worker before I was a writer, so I have this need to get my characters on the therapy couch first. I need to know: What happened to them in their life that makes them the way they are today? What are their wounds? What motivates them? What are they most scared of? What do they think they want? What do they really want/need even if they don’t realize it? What hang-ups skew their view of the world?

In NOT UNTIL YOU, I figured out the Cela had been very sheltered in her childhood and has an overbearing family that she’s spent her life trying to please. So that’s why someone as innocent as she is would dare to consider a wild offer from her hot neighbors. As for Foster, I won’t give his background away, but let’s just say that he had a tragedy in the past that has guided how he’s lived much of his life.

So once I knew that about those two, I was off to the races and writing. The plot stuff will show up along the way for me as long as I know the heart of the characters I’m working with.

Of course, that’s not to say that this way is every writer’s process. Our brains all work differently. But if you’re trying to write your story and keep getting feedback that people aren’t connecting with your characters, try putting them on the therapy couch and force them to talk about their childhoods and secrets. They work for you. Don’t let them get away with keeping their secrets from you. ☺

~~Roni

about The author

Roni LorenRoni wrote her first romance novel at age fifteen when she discovered writing about boys was way easier than actually talking to them. Since then, her flirting skills haven’t improved, but she likes to think her storytelling ability has. Though she’ll forever be a New Orleans girl at heart, she now lives in Dallas with her husband and son.

If she’s not working on her latest sexy story, you can find her reading, watching reality television, or indulging in her unhealthy addiction to rockstars, er, rock concerts. Yeah, that’s it. She is the National Bestselling Author of The Loving on the Edge series from Berkley Heat.

 

Places to find Roni Loren:
Site: www.roniloren.com
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/RoniLoren
Twitter:https://twitter.com/roniloren
Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4877863.Roni_Loren

 

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NOTE: The Reading Cafe is NOT responsible for the rafflecopter giveaway. If you have any questions, please contact the tour provider.

PRIZE: 1 print set of Loving on the Edge Series (Books 1-5) (if international winner is chosen, a $50 card will be substituted)

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