Marina Maddix ~ Vegas Knights Contest!

Hi, Marina! Thank you for joining us at Day Dreaming Book Reviews. We always love to have fresh meat…  oh, I mean new-to-us authors visit us…

Dawn: Can you tell us a little about yourself and what you write?

Marina: I’m a journalist & editor by trade, so though I’ve written millions of words over my career, they’re all (mostly) based in fact. I’ve seriously enjoyed diving into fiction, specifically erotic romance. There’s such a sense of freedom in it, that you’re not just writing about someone else’s story, but one you’ve pulled out of thin air. Don’t like the way it’s going? Toss in some drama and figure out how your characters get out of it. Syd Field gave some great advice that inspires every scene I write: “Get your character up a tree, throw rocks at him, get him down.” If I find myself getting bored with a scene, I know my readers will be bored. That’s when I start chucking rocks!

Dawn: Do you have any strange habits or writing rituals you do?

Marina: Not that I can think of. My husband might have a different answer. Actually, he’d probably say the ‘strange habit’ is not paying enough attention to him while I’m writing!

Dawn: Describe your writing to us in 5 words and explain.

Marina: Romance that makes mothers blush. I started out writing Knight Fall, the erotic romance short that inspired Vegas Knights*, as straight erotica but dang if romance didn’t get twisted up in there. I now know that I’m a romantic at heart. I really enjoy writing romance, and all the drama that goes along with it. But books that close the bedroom door on the reader frustrate me, so I spice it up with very explicit sex scenes. I haven’t tried my hand at writing kinks such as BDSM and so on because they don’t appeal to me on a personal level (not that I’m against them in any way). I believe readers are savvy enough to pick up on that immediately. I write about what I find sexy and just hope readers connect with it.

* I would like to point out that while I think readers would enjoy starting with Knight Fall (just 99 cents), it’s not necessary. Vegas Knights is a stand-alone novel.

                                                          Vegas Knights 

DESCRIPTION:

After a passionate public encounter with a mysterious and very sexy biker, big girl Kelly Saunders finds herself on the ride of her life. Her 'Knight on shining armor' -- Rick Knight, billionaire heir to a motorcycle legacy -- whisks her away from her soul-sucking corporate job to Las Vegas, where she finds the road to love is treacherous.

As urgent business matters demand more and more of Rick's attention, Kelly is left to wonder about the future of their relationship. A ruthless betrayal throws her life into turmoil, and a devastating discovery threatens to pull them apart. Is their love just so much Vegas glitter or is it strong enough to survive beyond the dazzling lights of Sin City?

Dawn: Give me your best pick up line from Rick your current hero in Vegas Knights.

Marina: Kelly met Rick before Vegas Knights started, so that’s when he (literally) picked her up at a gas station. Here’s the scene from Knight Fall:

"Thank you so much for bringing this [gas cap] to me. I would have been well and truly screwed."

He was silent but she could sense his body tensing, smell his musk. Her blood was thrumming in her ears. "You still could be, you know," he said.

"Could be what?"

Kelly looked up into his sea foam green eyes and was momentarily lost in them, like a sailor in a storm. Her breathing quickened as he eased closer to her, backing her into the side of the car. His gaze stayed locked on her. Planting one hand on either side of her, he leaned in, not touching her but she fairly burned with the heat of his body.

He dipped his head until his lips nestled in the hair covering her ear. "Screwed," he growled. "You could still be well and truly screwed."

Dawn: I think words hold power. What's your favorite word? Favorite curse word? Least favorite word? 

Marina:Favorite: Sheisse (German for ‘shit’)

Curse: Fuck

Least: Fuck

Dawn: Tell us about your book Twitter style (140 characters or less)

Marina:Big girl Kelly finds the road to love with billionaire biker Rick is covered in potholes!

 

Dawn: These are some of the Tags (bbw, biker romance, billionaire, curves, curvy heroine, erotic romance, plus size) that are on your book, how  do you feel about them and can you explain them.

* I loved that you have a plus size heroine. I'm a curvy girl myself and it's nice to see it represented.

Marina:Thank you! There seems to be a shortage of romances featuring real women. Too many have these frail, delicate heroines that must be saved. Most women I know are not teensy little orchids that need nurturing, and I wanted to show that you don’t have to be a size zero to be beautiful. Kelly is rather Amazon-like – tall, busty, curvy – and carries a few extra pounds. She’s confident in herself to a point, but like all of us, she can only take so much before her insecurities come screaming out.

 

Dawn: Your book is set in Las Vegas - Sin City. Why did you choose that as your setting? 

Marina:Why did I choose ‘Sin City’? C’mon, Dawn! ;-) Actually, Rick and Kelly don’t use the city to its full potential, mainly because they’re trying to figure out their relationship (and some other stuff). But there are some characteristics about Vegas that come to play in the story.

Dawn: What is it do you think that attracts people (me included!) to motorcycle men?

* I know I like the feel of the motor between my legs and the smell of the leather *shivers*

Marina:They’re so stereotypically alpha, don’t you think? I mean, they’re wearing animal skins and have enormous, powerful phallic symbols throbbing between their legs. How can we not be attracted to them?!

Dawn: I'm a very impatient reader. Can you share some details, surprises, or upcoming treats with us? I want, no need to know :)

                                                                                               

Marina:I can tell you that things don’t go as well as Kelly (and Rick, for that matter) hope in Vegas. I won’t tell you why, but I will say that at one point Kelly finds herself penniless and alone on the not-so-nice streets of New York City.

As for what the future might hold for Rick and Kelly, that’s entirely up to the readers. If they tell me they’d like to see them go on to other adventures, I have something percolating that could be very exciting — and possibly exotic!

Thank you so much for stopping by we loved having you! Please come back anytime, you are always welcome.

Thank you so much for having me, Dawn! This was a treat!

EXCERPT:

They sat entwined under the stars, swaying slightly with the rhythm of their own bodies. Rick's hands moved slowly from her hair down her back. Shivers of anticipation rippled through Kelly. They were going to make love under the stars. It had always been a fantasy of hers but she'd never imagined it would come true. But a lot of things she'd never imagined were happening lately.

Feeling the need to show him she wasn't some precious flower that needed tending and special care, that she was an independent woman, Kelly took control. His eyes never left her body as she moved to stand over him, legs spread, hands on her hips.

"Strip." The single word brought a knowing smirk to Rick's face. Without a word, and still never taking his eyes from her, he eased his off his jacket, throwing it aside. His gaze was positively smoldering as he loosened his tie and started to pull it over his head.

"Leave it." Kelly commanded on impulse. His hands paused, then dropped to the front of his charcoal Armani button-down, his eyes burning into her flesh like a brand. His fingers worked slowly, deliberately, intensifying her need for him. But she wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing her impatience. Cocking her hip, she let him tease her with his leisurely pace.

When the shirt was lying atop the leather jacket, he looked up expectantly, awaiting her next instruction. When she nodded toward his pants, triumph flashed across his face. She realized her mistake as he moved to stand. Once on his feet, he would tower over her, emphasizing her vulnerability and his dominance.

"On second thought, scratch that." One of his eyebrows shot up, and a look of exasperation took the place of triumph. She knew the score and she wasn't going to give him an advantage if she could help it. He leaned back on his elbows -- shirtless and irresistible -- and studied her.

She couldn't afford to make a misstep or show any hesitation. This had become less of a game for her and more of a demand for equality in this relationship. He may be rich, but that didn't mean he was in control here. Either he accepted that they were in this together, as equal partners, or he would be taught that lesson. Of course, she suspected that would be a lesson he might enjoy learning.

AUTHOR BIO:

Marina Maddix is a romantic at heart, but hates closing the bedroom door on her readers. Her stories are sweet, with just enough spice to make your mother blush. She lives with her husband and cat near the Pacific Ocean, and loves to hear from her fans. Connect with her by email, on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads or her website www.MarinaMaddix.com.

Marina's part of the Insatiable Reads book tour with 15 other sizzling hot romance authors. Different authors will be featured on various blogs throughout the month of March, culminating in several excellent giveaways. Check out the tour at www.InsatiableReads.com, where you'll find a schedule of Marina's other blog stops.

Vegas Knights Goodreads Page

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