Thanks so much for having me today, Phoenix!
Hubs and I are so excited about The Best Man, which has already been given a five star
review. This is the first release for the new indie imprint my husband and I are launching, B&B Publishing. Be sure to scroll to the bottom and leave a comment to enter for our giveaway!
The Best Man
B&B Publishing, June, 2013: e-book
ISBN 978-0-9894693-0-2, ASIN B00D2YEZXE
Erotic Romance Novel, 56,000 words
Cover by Dawné Dominique
Heat Rating Four Flames: Explicit sex: M/F; ménage: M/F/M; multiple partners; sex toys; anal sex; light bondage.
BUY LINK: http://www.amazon.com/The-Best-Man-ebook/dp/B00D2YEZXE/
Passionate, hard working and every inch a business woman, Chicago realtor Kitty Paige likes her sex raw and edgy, and sees no reason to limit herself to just one man. Never married and not quite forty, the striking blonde has successfully raised her daughter, Susan, and is already pushing her new-found freedom to the limits.
Wealthy commodities middle-man and race horse owner Jared Jacobs is father of the best man at Susan’s wedding. He is smitten by the vision in yellow who exudes sex as she escorts her daughter down the aisle. Also single, the handsome mustached California ranch owner with mischievous eyes views his sex life as a series of splendid love affairs, and sets out to make Kitty next on the list.
Together and apart, their chemistry is explosive, and their sparkling repartee and steamy sex catch both partners by surprise. Jared is first to recognize he’s fallen in love. When Kitty panics, can Jared finesse his every move and reel her in?
SETTING AN EROTIC ROMANCE
Have you ever thought about how the geographical setting influences the story in erotic romance? This is certainly true in our new indie release, The Best Man, available now at Amazon.com. I thought it might be fun to share some of the story behind the setting.
Hubs and I, who co-author Erotic Romance for Two, Three or More under our pen name, Adriana Kraft, are longtime horse racing fans and have owned race horses in the past. Ours were what you’d call low-end horses, who ran at minor tracks and might have competed in a stakes race or two, but never anything near Triple Crown quality, several echelons above us. Those high levels are for the very wealthy – most often, people who’ve earned their wealth through something other than horse racing, and own horses for the sheer joy of it.
Enter our hero, Jared Jacobs. We placed him outside San Diego, California, for a reason. We’ve spent two weeks in a Ramona-area time share a couple different winters. One of those years, we took the beautiful drive east, up into the foothills, and sampled the historical community of Julian. There is a very famous and large horse ranch tucked away just off the highway that leads to Julian.
We filed that memory away (and wished we could have toured the farm), and when we needed just the right hero for Kitty Paige, it suddenly was the solution. We’ve given it to Jared, who earns his wealth in commodities, but loves his horses. Our choice of setting drove his avocation – which, it turns out, provides the perfect cover for him to re-connect with Kitty, after their disastrous first encounter.
Chicago for Kitty’s home? Less of a stretch, and probably more predictable. It’s where hubs and I met, married, and spent the first several years of our married life. We know and love Chicago from the inside, visit there when we can, and often set stories there or close by.
Kitty’s definitely a kick-ass heroine, so she needed an occupation that would go with her personality, one where her talents, her looks and her hard-nosed determination would shine. The solution? She’s both a high-end real estate agent and a contractor who builds and restores high-end homes. As with horse racing, these are occupations we’ve been close to, at a much lower end than Kitty’s, of course. A while back we briefly joined forces with our son, a general contractor, in an investment business to buy, rehab and sell houses. Our venture didn’t last long—there were too many sharks swimming in the water, and we weren’t willing to play by shark rules. Writing erotic romance is phenomenally more satisfying and less of a challenge to our moral principles. But we learned enough to be able to anchor Kitty’s occupation in reality—and, it turns out, she’s not afraid to be a shark, when she needs to.
EXCERPT
Here’s a little taste of Kitty and Jared’s first encounter:
“May I have this dance, Ms. Paige?”
Trying to look appropriately surprised, Kitty peered into dark brown eyes that sparkled. He
clearly knew she wasn’t surprised.
“Of course,” she said, rising to her feet.
She let him guide her to the small dance floor. She moved into his arms, trying not to react
to his warm smile. He was accustomed to holding a woman. He held her close comfortably,
resting a hand on the rise of her rump. “I’m afraid you have me at a disadvantage,” she said, eyeing him levelly. “You know my name, but I don’t know yours.”
“Jared Jacobs.”
“Friend of the groom, or the bride? I’m afraid since Susan moved out here, I don’t know most of her friends.”
“I’ve been a friend of Brad’s family for years. I’ve met Susan several times. You’ve done a
fine job raising your daughter, Ms. Paige.”
“Thank you. Do call me Kitty. Ms. Paige makes me sound too motherly. So do you live in Seattle?”
“Nope. I’m a fan of the sun. I work out of San Diego.”
“That should be sunny enough. You say work out of. Don’t you live there, too?”
“You’re not only a beautiful woman and a lovely dancer, you’re a good listener.”
The music stopped for more toasts by the best man.
“And you’re a bullshit artist.” She laughed at his scowl. “I’m not easily charmed—unless I
want to be. So you haven’t answered my question.”
“I’m a businessman. I have several interests,” Jared said, handing her a glass of champagne. “I’m a middle man for various overseas companies seeking buyers in this country—copper, steel, aluminum. Most anything, really.”
“So you travel a lot.”
“Maybe that’s why it feels like I work out of San Diego rather than live there. I understand
you’re a successful business woman yourself.”
She shrugged her shoulders. “That’s a matter of opinion. There’s always room for
improvement.”
“I also travel some to follow my horses.”
“Horses?”
“Race horses. Do you ever get out to Arlington Park?”
“Of course. It’s such a beautiful place.” She’d heard the catch in his voice when he mentioned the horses. She understood the awe those majestic animals could inspire. “I’ve been to the Derby a couple times.”
“Ah, so you have more than passing interests in the addictive beasts.” He gave her a broad smile, took her hand and guided her back to the dance floor.
“Doesn’t every girl dream about horses?”
“Most girls give up their childhood fantasies as reality smacks them in the faces.” He leaned
away from her as they swayed to the music. “Somehow, I don’t think you do.”
She grinned. “Maybe I should’ve, but I’m too stubborn for my own good. Someday I’m going to own a racehorse. I just haven’t gotten around to it yet.”
“Maybe you haven’t found the right partner?”
She saw his eyes teasing before she rested her head on his shoulder. “Maybe I’ve been too
busy to look.” She’d add racehorses to her to do list as soon as she got back to Chicago. She had plenty of contacts. She might not have given up on her childhood fantasy, but she’d nearly forgotten it. She smiled into Jared’s suit coat. Maybe her daughter’s wedding would rekindle a dream.
CONTEST: The Silk Scarf Contest
We don't want to give away any secrets, but the yellow scarf that's just dropped to the floor between Jared and Kitty on their cover has some very special scenes of its own in the book - and you have a chance to win it (U.S. delivery only)! One lucky reader will win a hand-finished yellow scarf made of genuine Thai Dupioni silk, just like Kitty's. All you have to do is leave us a comment about The Best Man any time all month, on our blog or on our blog tour. Please leave your email in your comment (YOUR NAME at blahdeblah DOT whatever).
Adriana Kraft is the pen name for a husband/wife team writing Erotic Romance for Two, Three or More. The award-winning pair has published over thirty erotic romance novels and novellas to outstanding reviews.
Long and Short Reviews: “scorching hot…refreshing...something to read
when you want straight up hotness.”
Romance Junkies: “filled with warmth, blazing hot sex, well-developed characters…not for the faint of heart.” Romantic pairings include straight m/f, lesbian, bisexual, ménage and polyamory, in both contemporary and paranormal settings.
Find Adriana on the web:
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