Tour: Assumed Identity by Lila Munro (Guest Post)

Today I would like to welcome author Lila Munro back to Reading Between the Wines with her new book, Assumed Identity. 

Thanks so much for having me by today! I’m most appreciative of the opportunity. I’ll just get right to it. One of the most frequently asked questions of me in interviews is what is this “realmantica” you speak of? Well, to be quite honest, I made the word up and it’s my own unique blend of romance and realism with an erotica twist in most cases. Seem complicated? Not really…

I wrote a piece early this morning about how I have the complete support of my husband, family, and friends in this little writing venture of mine and I can remember quite clearly when I decided to start writing again that I wanted to do it differently. You see, I loathe having to fit inside some pre-conceived slot and adhere to a “formula.” And to be honest, I grew tired of reading things that fit those pigeon holes long ago. It sent me on a journey of not only figuring out my style but looking for something that would stir me when I read it as well.

Now, yes, I realize that books are supposed to be fantasies and we are supposed to be carried away on a wave of surrealism and feel good while we’re floating along. Romance is not supposed to hurt. Just like love isn’t? But it does sometimes doesn’t it? In fact, sometimes it hurts so much you think you might die from it and sometimes wish you would.

So, I figured, yeah, it’s supposed to be fantasy, but who wants a fantasy that they could never have a snow ball’s chance in hell of ever living themselves? Gasp! Yes. J That’s where the real part came in. I wanted every day, common, normal people to believe in something. That yes, life sucks, but we can overcome it. Our heroine did. Right?

I live in a military community where I’ve learned that life is too short not to dream and reach out and grab the brass ring. So, that’s what my heroes and heroines do. They are real people, with real problems to face, that come up with real solutions and they grab that ring and hang on for dear life against all odds.  I’ve written war widows, POW’s, about PTSD, drug addicts, and people that have been abused. And they found true love. They picked themselves up and dusted themselves off and moved on. And they had some pretty awesome sex in the process. They give us inspiration and hope. And they feel all the emotions, not just happiness. Sometimes their love hurts. Hurts so much they wish they could die, but they don’t. They push on and show us how to win.

And that is what realmantica is.

~*~

Lila Munro currently resides on the coast of North Carolina with her husband and their two four-legged kids. She’s a military wife with an empty nest and takes much of her inspiration for her heroes from the marines she’s lived around for the past fifteen years. Coining the term realmantica, she strives to produce quality romance in a realistic setting. Her genre of choice is contemporary romance that spans everything from the sensual to BDSM and ménage. When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading everything she can get her hands on, trips to the museum and aquarium, taking field research trips, and soaking up the sun on the nearby beaches. Her works include The Executive Officer’s Wife, Bound By Trust, Destiny’s Fire, Salvation, Three for Keeps, the Force Recon series, the Slower Lower series, and the Identity series. She’s a member in good standing of RWA and Passionate Ink. Currently she’s working on sequels to several series to be released throughout 2012. And has a brand new line scheduled for winter 2012-13. Ms. Munro also works as the VP of Business Affairs for Rebel Ink Press. She loves to hear from her readers and can be contacted via her website http://realmanticmoments.blogspot.com  or through Facebook at  http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000962603050 You can also contact her via email at lilasromance@gmail.com For more information about Rebel Ink Press please visit their website at www.rebelinkpress.com

Innocent childhood games of dress-up and pretend…

Julie Stevens is as straight as they come. Or so she tries to convince herself. But it isn’t easy believing that little white lie when she has the two most sexually eccentric best friends on the planet. One is a bi-sexual Domme who believes if it looks fun, try it. The other is a gay man in the role of slave to his very sexy Master whom Julie often wishes wasn’t gay. Dante’s commanding presence makes her want to do things that set her on fire with need and embarrassment. Given her boring vanilla life, how exactly does she fit into their world? Would they like to have a shinier third wheel?

Are a completely different animal for grownups…

After one wild evening and a bit too much liquid encouragement, Julie discovers a side of herself she’s always tried to ignore. The realization she’s a sub not only scares her, it excites her and she yearns for more. But the process of finding the right man to teach her becomes a real issue, until Mason comes along. He’s everything Julie imagines a Dom should be. Armed with her masque and Renaissance costume, Julie is thrown for a loop when the handsome Master draws more willingness out of her than she ever thought possible. Is it possible she’s more than a submissive? And will the assumptions he’s made about her identity end up tearing them apart?

EXCERPT:

“Are you wet, angel?” Mason asked, running one hand down the middle of her back. Her intake of breath told him she was and that she didn’t want to admit it. “Answer me. Now.”

“Yes,” she whispered over a whimper.

Covering her body with his, Mason leaned over her and gently took her by her hair. “Tell me what you need, angel.”

Silence. Sniffling. Muffled moans.

“Julie. Tell. Me. What. You. Need.”

“Sex.” Her voice was barely audible.

“No. That’s what you think I want. I know what I want. You’re to free your mind of thoughts concerning what you think I want.” Mason pushed back up and began moving one hand over her back in a soothing pattern. “Tell me what you need.”

“I need…I…Don’t make me…”

“Say it.”

“I need to come,” she whined.

“Good girl,” he praised. “Now tell me what you want.”

“I don’t understand…”

“Yes, you do. Tell me,” he growled.

“I want you to make me come,” she gushed, arching her back into his constant touch.

“I’m going to do just that, angel,” he spoke harshly, leaning back over her and taking a handful of hair, raising her head enough he could nip her earlobe. “Tell me you understand.”

“I understand.”

“When’s the last time you had an orgasm?” She started to answer and he cut her off. “With a man?”

“I can’t remember.”

“Shame on them,” Mason told her.

He stood and while keeping one hand on her lower back letting her know he was still present, he unbuttoned his jeans then unzipped them slowly, adding to her agony by being forced to listen to the click of each tine popping open. Scooting his pants down his legs along with his boxers, he stepped out of them and when his hand left her so he could sheath himself, Julie grunted in frustration.

“Get on your back on the bed,” he said as he finished rolling the condom down. She needed the visual contact even if she couldn’t see anything but shadows and reflections.

She hesitated, looked behind her as if trying to determine if he was baiting her or not, then turned and backed across the mattress before lying down with her legs spread and her arms at her sides, her eyes tightly squeezed shut. So clinical, as if she expected to be used as a vessel. Who the hell had she been with before and what the hell had they done to her to make her think sex was about lying like a dead fish while the man got what he wanted? Then he remembered what she’d been like at the party, after he’d caught her in the chase.

She was carefree and happy, not at all a dead fish beneath him. As he’d lain on her in the garden, she was vital and eager. Mason believed she’d have done anything he asked of her she was so pliable…She’d been Hayden. Not Julie. She’d not just been dressed for the party. She was literally hiding behind her masque.

A bit of anger and sorrow wound around Mason’s state of arousal and squeezed him as he realized she had to assume an identity to feel. Then he was almost ashamed at the bit of happiness that crept in at the realization that she was not only fresh and new to his world but actually, she was like putty in his hands. She was ready to be molded into the person she was perfectly capable of being. He could be the one to show Julie how good it really could be, not just physically, but emotionally as well. For tonight though, she needed a safe haven, a place where she could turn her fears into dancing.

Purchase any of Lila's works at All Romance eBooks!