Good morning lovelies! I would like to welcome the fabulous Stephanie Draven today who is joining us with her newest, In Bed with the Opposition!
(An Author’s Confession)
by Stephanie Draven
I’ll admit it. I’m a cheater. It’s not that I don’t want to commit to my first love, but for some reason, I find myself having flings and ongoing affairs of the heart. So it’s time to come clean and talk about just how it is that I started down the road to unfaithfulness.
My first steady relationship started a few years ago with historical fiction, my first love. Historical fiction’s maturity and insight attracted me straight away. And historical fiction really valued my brainy side and never let me get away with sloppy thinking or language that was less than ladylike. I have to admit, I was more than a little turned on by the discipline. But something inside me just wasn’t satisfied.
Over time, historical fiction demanded all my attention, expecting more detailed research about the ancient world and insisting that I engage in philosophical discussions. Frankly, it was all just a little bit exhausting. I need to be appreciated for more than just my mind. After all, I’m a hot-blooded girl with a heart that wants to go pitter pat.
And that’s why I started my torrid affair with the romance genre.
It started out as a flirtation--a little novella about a modern day gorgon in love. Nothing serious. Just a one time thing. But you know how encounters with paranormal romance can be. A little dark.A little edgy.A little anonymous. I didn’t want to get caught, so I used a pen name, which only added to the thrill. Soon, I was doing a whole series of paranormal romances, each one sexier than the last!
Given the accolades and awards, I started getting a reputation around town. I probably should have been ashamed of myself, but I couldn’t stop! Historical fiction with its beheadings and drama queens can really drain my emotional reserves, but even the most dangerous romance always gives me a happy ending.
Besides, I’m convinced my extracurricular activities brought a little spice back into my love life. So what’s wrong with that? Every girl needs a reminder that she can be smart and sexy all at the same time. Paranormal romance gave me that and kept giving it to me, hard.
But it still wasn’t enough.
There is something so angsty, so emo, about paranormal romance. I started wondering why all my fictional relationships had to be so dark. Not every book has to be about the end of the world as we know it. Sometimes it’s fun to laugh a little. And that’s why I’ve started stepping out both my Respectable Historical Fiction and my Bad Boy, Paranormal Romance.
My latest fling is IN BED WITH THE OPPOSITION. This is a Contemporary Romance--a genre that really knows how to bring the laughs and turn up the heat. I told myself that this was a one-time thing, but it was such a delicious experience that I know it won’t be my last.
This enemy-to-lovers novel about two rival campaign managers who fall in love helped me to discover a whole new kind of political sex scandal. This affair explored some new and sexy territory, including some encounters in a series of very public locations around the nation’s capital. There were even a few superhero costumes. Throw in a cranky geriatric senator with a penchant for gaffes and a reporter with pornographic blackmail photos...and what could go wrong?
I laughed my way through every wacky moment of this book and sniffled a little when all the damage was done. But at the end, the book left me so satisfied that I’m now crushing hard on the contemporary romance genre.
I won’t give it up. My other genres are just going to have to accept that I’m not ready to settle down. I’m still playing the field and loving every minute of it.
What happens when a good girl decides to play dirty?Armed with a sassy haircut, a sharp wit, and a personal list of rules for all life’s exigencies, Grace Santiago is a fiercely loyal Senate staffer who has everything under control. At least until famous political pundit Ethan Castle walks back into her life. Grace hasn’t forgotten their disastrous affair in law school, but she can’t resist his bad boy charm.When Grace learns that Ethan has been hired as a political gunslinger for the other side, her loyalties—and her heart—are torn in two. Though their sexual chemistry can’t be denied, they find themselves locked in political combat. Ethan believes that all is fair in love and war, but he won’t throw the election—not even to win Grace’s heart. So what can a good girl like Grace do, but learn to play dirty?Two candidates. One election. May the best man—or woman—win!
Book/Buy Links:
Stephanie Draven is currently a denizen of Baltimore, that city of ravens and purple night skies. She lives there with her favorite nocturnal creatures–three scheming cats and a deliciously wicked husband. And when she is not busy with dark domestic rituals, she writes her books.
Stephanie has always been a storyteller. In elementary school, she channeled Scheherazade, weaving a series of stories to charm children into sitting with her each day at the lunch table. When she was a little older, Stephanie scared all the girls at her sleepovers with ghost stories.
She should have known she was born to hold an audience in her thrall, but Stephanie resisted her writerly urges and graduated from college with a B.A. in Government. Then she went to Law School, where she learned how to convincingly tell the tallest tales of all!
A longtime lover of ancient lore, Stephanie enjoys re-imagining myths for the modern age. She doesn’t believe that true love is ever simple or without struggle so her work tends to explore the sacred within the profane, the light under the loss and the virtue hidden in vice. She counts it amongst her greatest pleasures when, from her books, her readers learn something new about the world or about themselves.
Stephanie also writes historical fiction as Stephanie Dray and has a series of forthcoming novels from Berkley Books featuring Cleopatra’s daughter.
Author Links:
~*GIVEAWAY*~
Entangled Publishing is giving away away one digital copy of In Bed with the Opposition to one reader. To enter, just leave a meaningful comment or question for the author on this post and then fill out the Rafflecopter below. Additional entries are available but not required. Good luck!
Follow the tour for more chances to win!
12/3 - A Purrfect Read
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12/7 - Kindle and Me
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12/20 –You Gotta Read Reviews
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12/21 - Butterfly-O-Meter
This book sounds interesting!
ReplyDeletewould love to win & read! PICK ME!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great post and giveaway! This book sounds fantastic! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThe book sounds great and thanks for the chance to win . I added it to my TBR list.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway. I would love to read this book. It sound very good. Tore923@aol.com
ReplyDeleteI admit I'm a cheater as well... I started down the romance path in my teens with historical romance, and now I've mostly left it by the wayside to juggle contemporaries & romantic suspense. And all of this instead of those science papers I really should be reading :)
ReplyDeleteThe book sounds great!! :)
ReplyDeleteLove this and can´t wait for my chance to read, =) i´m always mixing my reads, from PNR, Erotica to YA and contemp. romance, there´s just no stopping my reading addiction! =D
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway & Happy Wednesday!
//Linda
Stephanie.....Congratulations on the release of this new book. It sounds awesome & I cannot wait to read it. Adding it to my TBRs. I enjoyed reading your post about writing outside the box & that you actually enjoyed it. Thank you for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteThat's exactly how I am with my reading! I started out completely loyal to historical romance and since then have cheated with just about every romance sub-genre I can find. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat post! This book sounds like a lot of fun :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway.
kitcat76(at)hotmail.com
How long did you write only historical fiction? Do you still write that genre? Thanks for the great post and giveaway.
ReplyDeleteLots of places to visit and see. Enjoy your tour. Hope I win.
ReplyDeletedebby236 at gmail dot com
I do like a story that is uplifting and fun.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun post. I love to read in a lot of different genres. Yes, I cheat on my first love - historical epics.
ReplyDelete