Natasha Blackthorne "A Measured Risk" + Giveaway!

My guest today is the lovely Natasha Blackthorne. If you love steamy Regency romance with a strong curvaceous heroine and yummy hero, you'll love "A Measured Risk".

Please welcome Natasha to Seven Sexy Scribes and leave her a comment.

Hello Everyone,
Welcome to my book blitz for the .99 sale on A Measured Risk, Regency Risks Book One.
I am giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card. To enter, please fill out the Rafflecopter at the end of this post.

On Sale .99 at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

June 20-22, 2014

A MEASURED RISK

By Natasha Blackthorne

Book one in the Regency Risks Series

He is her most dangerous temptation, the only man she has ever trusted and now he is demanding her submission. Dare she take the risk?

Emotionally scarred in the horrific accident that took her husband’s life, Lady Cranfield is imprisoned by her lingering terror of horses and carriages. She longs to be closer to the fascinating Earl of Ruel, as she senses intuitively that he might be able to teach her how to overcome the terrors that hold her in bondage.

And now she’s willing to risk almost anything—her reputation, even her virtue—to find out.

But what Lord Ruel proposes startles her.

When the shy, studious and socially awkward young widow approaches him, Lord Ruel instantly senses she will be the sweetest, most submissive experience of his life—but first he must gain her complete trust. Lord Ruel makes Lady Cranfield a non-negotiable offer: His help in return for her submission and obedience.

But Lady Cranfield grew up neglected by her ducal parents, raised by servants and then later ignored by her handsome, charming husband. She’s learnt to protect her heart at all costs and she trusts no one but herself.

How can the jaded Earl of Ruel break through Lady Cranfield’s self-defences and show her how to love when he himself has spent his life avoiding that tender trap?

Erotica Romance ~ Light BDSM ~ Rubenesque / BBW ~ Regency Historical ~ Shy Heroine ~ Novel Length 86,000 Words . Contains graphic erotic descriptions and frank sexual language. As a work of historical romance fiction, A Measured Risk is not intended to be an accurate portrayal of modern BDSM lifestyles.
Excerpt from A Measured Risk
©Copyright Natasha Blackthorne 2012, 2013
For Adults 18+ Only

She backed all the way into the bookcase.
“Why did you run away?” His deep voice settled in her belly, rich and warm, like crème brûlée on a cold winter’s night.
“Because I wanted you to follow.” She tried to sound sophisticated and seductive, but her voice choked off on the last word.
Ruel placed his hand on the shelf above her head and blocked her path to the door. His tall, solidly muscled body leaned over her, surrounding her with the sumptuous, sinful scents of tobacco, Scotch whisky and something masculine and undeniably dangerous. A slow, sensual smile stretched his hard mouth.
He appeared different. Softer. More approachable.
At the change, her insides seemed to flip over.
“Well, sweeting, getting us off alone was a very inspired idea.” He touched one of her fallen ringlets. “I am bored to distraction with endless talk of hunting and fencing.”
As he slowly wrapped the curl around two fingers, he brushed her collarbone. Fiery sparks tingled down her spine, so intense that she shivered and her nipples beaded, pressing against her stays. By some instinct she hadn’t even known she possessed, she arched her back, presenting herself for his assessment.
His eyes shone so vividly blue against his bronzed face that they resembled cornflowers. She swallowed tightly and wished for a long drink of claret. This more personal side of him suddenly seemed far more hazardous than his usually fierce exterior.
Well, no matter. There was nothing to fear. She would allow only as much contact as need be to get to know him a little. Since being torn from her lonely yet secure life in Ireland and thrust into Society at age sixteen, she’d spent her time allowing people only as near as was comfortable. She was an expert at emotional evasion.
It should be easy to regain her control.
But now, as rays of the late-afternoon sun played over his pale hair, turning it the colour of winter wheat, all her carefully rehearsed words flew from her mind.
Say something—anything—else he will think you’re a bird-wit.
An intimate smile, one that invited her to play, tugged at his mouth.
“In a situation like this, alone with a gentleman, it’s perfectly normal for a lady to feel some apprehension.” His hushed voice, barely audible above the piano and boisterous singing from down the corridor, accentuated their isolation. His gaze became so piercing that she had to lower her eyes.
He brushed his fingertips over her cheek. “She will invariably ask herself if he will try to kiss her.”
She jerked her eyes back to his face. God, he couldn’t mean to—not yet, surely… Peculiar, heated chills swept over her. She tried to take a step back, but found her arse flush against the bookshelf.
He leaned closer; so close that his Scotch-scented breath tickled her face. “And just in case you are wondering, Lady Cranfield—the answer is most assuredly yes.”
She should demand that he put his arm down so she could pass by and leave. She really should. But she couldn’t stop looking at his hard mouth and wondering what it would feel like upon hers. He was so close to her that his breath blew on her lips. If she moved but a fraction, she’d be kissing him.
Kissing him.
Dear God. Her breaths began to come very fast and short. Her throat went tight with a suppressed moan.
His eyes burnt as brightly as aquamarines. He looked so fierce. If he kissed her, if he dared… Oh God, it would be so harsh. That cruel-looking mouth could express itself no other way.
Excitement rushed through her, sending tingles to every point of her body, even her toes.
But no, he wouldn’t. Not yet.
He kept leaning closer. He didn’t close his eyes. Instead, he seemed to focus all the harder upon her.
Her heart pounding, unable to move away, she braced herself for his assault.
His lips brushed hers, barely. A gossamer caress.
He lifted his head.
It was done.
Ended.
And it hadn’t even begun.
He held her chin, appearing so cool, so unaffected. His kiss had seemed to sear her. An urge to put her fingers to her lips arose in her. She resisted it, for it would give away too much of how she was affected.
Never show your feelings.
He traced his thumb along her lower lip, slowly, deliberately, as he studied her with eyes that now glittered with something powerful and predatory. Heat pooled in her pelvis, low and spreading even lower.
She went weak all over, as if she’d lain in a sunny window seat for too long. Her knees almost buckled. She forced them to lock. To be strong.
It should not have affected her so profoundly. It had been just a peck—not a true kiss at all. William had poured out all of his skill upon her and hadn’t garnered even a tenth of the reaction in her that this man’s peck had.
Ruel traced her jaw line with his fingertips. Unthinkingly, she leaned in to his touch.
“Of course, once he has kissed her, then it’s his turn to wonder…” His voice sounded unnaturally loud in her ears. “How will she respond? Will she withdraw, or can he ignite some hidden fire?”
She sensed that he was toying with her. She didn’t understand flirtation—why had she imagined she could carry off this ruse? Was he making advances in order to have a laugh with Francesca and her simpering friends later? Hurt blossomed in her chest. She resented him for that. She ought to feel indignant, superior, uncaring—anything but hurt.
“Please don’t make sport of me.”
She cringed. Was that quavering, pleading voice really hers?
An infinitesimal pause. “Now, why on earth would I do such a thing?” His voice was as smooth as velvet.
“To please your vanity,” she replied, trying to regain her wits.
“Here.” He placed her hand to his chest. The contours of his muscles were hard, powerfully developed. Even more so than she’d expected. His body heat radiated through the satin and, beneath her hand, his heart’s beat was rapid and strong.
“Is that vanity?” He put a finger under her chin, giving her no choice but to face him. “Is it?” He gentled his grip.
The warmth in his voice settled over her like luscious hot chocolate. Melting her insides to quivering burgoo, rendering her speechless, unable to move.
“My dear, lovely Lady Cranfield, I am going kiss you again.”

About Natasha Blackthorne:

Escape into the past with intensely erotic, emotionally driven love stories. Natasha Blackthorne writes character-focused historical erotica romance featuring strong internal conflicts. Her stories are most frequently about the intimate journey of the characters as they learn to open their hearts to love.

Her heroines are not perfect ladies. They are wildflowers and wallflowers who enjoy flirting with the forbidden. Whether they are bold or shy, her heroines’ strong desires and deep emotions drive the plot and drive their heroes to the point of no return.

Connect with Natasha Blackthorne:
Please feel free to "Friend" me on Facebook or subscribe to my public feed.

My Blog

 To Purchase A Measured Risk Now Please Click Here:
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Giveaway:

 Enter to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card. The giveaway is open to all current USA residents who are aged 18 or older. Please fill out the Rafflecopter below. By entering to win, you are stating that it is legal for you to enter such contests where you currently reside. Giveaway ends: 12 AM Eastern Time on June 30, 2014.

Link to the Rafflecopter: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/8361aa84
Code for the Rafflecopter:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 Good luck and thank you for visiting with me today.

Loup-Garou For You Excerpt

I love autumn and this is the perfect time of year to enjoy a hot wolf-shifter story and guess what?  I have one for you! This excerpt is from "Loup-Garou For You" chapter two (Yes I know that rhymes)

(In this excerpt, Aubert is corned by a long-time family associate Mister Aldridge and given some bad news.)

…Aubert’s heart hammered in his throat as he forced himself to stop and turn. He was confronted by the cold gray gaze of Mister Aldridge, the family’s solicitor-trustee. Mister Aldridge was the sort of man who could incite vexation with a glance. The last thing Aubert needed today was more provocation. Corrine had fled the ballroom and he was no longer free to pursue her. He hated Mister Aldridge for it and fought a rising snarl. “Our obligatory annual meeting is tomorrow, Mister Aldridge. You’re a day early. Why?”

“Tomorrow might be too late, lad.” Mister Aldridge stared down the bridge of his hatchet-sharp nose. He stood in the doorway of the drawing room, slender and straight, attired in an elegant charcoal riding coat paired with a somewhat wild head of platinum hair. “I’m here a day early to enforce the conditions of the Marston family will and head off possible disasters before they occur.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Aubert padded toward the drawing room. He drew his broad shoulders back and stood at his full height, which was taller than anyone else on the plantation by a considerable margin. “I’m not a lad, Mister Aldridge, so stop treating me like one. I’m the master of this plantation and it’s never been more profitable. I’m not afraid to work hard and make my own decisions. I’m a grown man. I’m twenty-seven. I shouldn’t have to endure these annual meetings with you or the added insult of being called a lad.”

Mister Aldridge frowned. “Correction—you’re twenty-six. You won’t be twenty- seven until midnight and your stubborn refusal to take my advice is what makes you a lad.”

Aubert passed close and gave Mister Aldridge’s shoulder a deliberate nudge as he entered the drawing room and headed toward a sideboard set with breakfast. He picked up a teapot and poured a cup of strong black tea.

“It’s cooled.” Mister Aldridge frowned with disapproval. “But drink some anyway. It might clear your head.”

Aubert sipped the tepid tea. “I’ll admit I don’t look forward to our yearly meetings. May I be so bold as to ask when they will end?”

Mister Aldridge smiled. “Do as I say, Aubert, and this meeting can be our last.” He walked to the far side of the massive mahogany desk and placed a chunky, age- weathered wooden box in the center.

Aubert eyed the box with dread. He hated Mister Aldridge’s unending annual surprises.

Mister Aldridge drew a deep breath. “As you know, when I was a young man I was apprenticed to your grandfather, the senior Aubert Marston. He possessed a commanding spirit I respected. I learned a lot from him. I was honored to be in his service and swore to carry out my duties with the highest integrity.”

Mister Aldridge turned toward the far wall and pointed at an imposing oil portrait of a handsome young man with a dimpled chin. “Your father Graham and I were raised as if we were brothers. The night you were born, in this house, I was present and promised Graham I would always look after you until you were ready to look after yourself. What you don’t understand is that our families—yours and mine—share a common ancestor and a bond thicker than blood. You treat these annual meetings since your dear parents’ unfortunate deaths as a great inconvenience, but I see them as a soul- honored necessity. I also have it in writing from your late father that they must take place.

“I am here to enforce your late father’s wishes and act in Graham’s stead. If you don’t like it that’s too bad. I do this out of loyalty to Graham. You see, there are no more male Marstons in the world—you are the last in your branch of the family—and I will not allow the noble Marston line to flicker out in disgrace.”

Aubert balked. “I’ve done nothing disgraceful.”

Mister Aldridge huffed under his breath. “Not yet.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” An odd chill raced through him. The fleeting thought occurred that Mister Aldridge had heard rumors of, or even sensed, his inner turmoil and strange metamorphoses. He didn’t want anyone to know about his personal troubles, and cringed.

“Aubert, why didn’t you follow my advice from last year’s meeting?” Mister Aldridge’s bony fingertip tapped the tabletop. “You had an entire year to act. I handpicked several eligible, wealthy young women from the ancient Marston bloodline and you didn’t bother to contact any of them.”

“What the hell, Aldridge? An arranged marriage from the old country? In case you didn’t notice, we don’t live in a feudal society.”

“Really?” Mister Aldridge’s gaze swept across the elegant plantation drawing room, built on the labor of slaves. “You don’t see the irony, do you?” He reached toward the weathered wooden box. “Do you have any idea how much this pains me, to arrive today and confront you this way? Today should be a day of celebration, not incarceration.”

“Incarceration?” Aubert paced the room. “Are you mad? I spent this past year working like a dog. Do you have any idea what this plantation has endured in the last twelve months? Cotton blight, weevils, floods, hail, cane rats and swamp fever that kept half my men from the fields. I rolled up my sleeves, dealt with it all and made a profit on top of it. Exactly what am I being accused of?”

“You’ve worked hard—that’s not the problem—but you ignored my most important request.”

Aubert threw his hands into the air. “That I marry before my twenty-seventh birthday? Were you serious about that? I thought that was just more of your outlandish tomfoolery. I’ve been busy, Mister Aldridge, and I didn’t meet the right girl. Besides, it’s none of your goddamn business whether I marry or not.”

“In fact it is my business, and since you’ve made a deliberate choice not to act on your own behalf, for the good of the Marston family legacy and the innocent people of this plantation you’ve forced me to take action.” Mister Aldridge opened the weathered box, revealing a rusted set of medieval-looking iron manacles and chains. “It’s no use fighting—the chains carry a heavy enchantment that you will not be able to resist. During transport, Le Brut Entraver is meant to protect you from yourself and prevent harm to others.”…

Loup-Garou For You is available now from Ellora's Cave for only $5.95

http://www.ellorascave.com/loup-garou-for-you.html

Prizes, Contests, Excerpts and Loup-Garou For You!

I want to start my favorite month of the year with some paranormal fun and a few great contests. I'll have more about that at the bottom of this blog and I'll be adding contests and giveaways as we get closer to Halloween.

First here's the blurb for Loup-Garou For You, in case you've not read it:

Bayou Country, 1834. Aubert Marston awakens on the eve of his twenty-seventh birthday to discover he’s undergone some disturbing physical changes. His body is bigger, stronger and hairier than it’s ever been, and burns with the lust of a beast. To make matters worse, a hundred guests are about to arrive for the plantation’s annual ball.

A mysterious young woman named Corrine appears in his home, temping Aubert to unleash the inner lycan, and family secrets from a medieval past surface. Corrine lures Aubert to a bayou camp of Cajun Loup-Garous—werewolves, But Aubert’s wealth and good looks are no advantage here. He must surrender to his feral nature and fight tooth and claw against another male pack member to claim Corrine as his own.

Inside Scoop:  This story contains mild bondage, southern hospitality, consensual sexual torment, f/f, m/m, anal play, cage fighting and unfettered animal lust. Enjoy!

A Romantica® historical paranormal erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave

(In this excerpt Aubert is told more of the family legend and threatened with the prospect of making an ocean voyage restrained in enchanted iron manacles. He’s just beginning to realize he’s in big trouble.)

…Mister Aldridge blanched. “You don’t understand. By sundown you will begin to change into a creature that has the cunning mind of a man and the impulses and desires of a beast. You will become Loup-Garou—a werewolf—and you will not be able to control yourself during the first stages of the transformation. The Le Brut Entraver is the only means I have of protecting you from harming yourself or others. My family has guarded the box for centuries.” He became shrill with hysteria. “It’s irreplaceable!”

“A Loup-Garou?” Aubert shuddered, half afraid Mister Aldridge’s strange ranting carried a note of truth. “You think I’m going to turn into a hairy wolfman? I don’t find your pranks entertaining. You just don’t know when to quit, do you, Mister Aldridge? I’d enjoy a good laugh at your expense, except for the fact you’re the trustee of my estate, and to be frank I’m concerned about your sanity.”

“Aubert, you’re the one we need to worry about.” Mister Aldridge held out his hand. “It’s not too late. Come with me now. I can smuggle you aboard the ship in an iron cage. I will say you are mad. I’ll watch over you on our journey to Castle Roland in the French Pyrenees. I’ll never leave your side. Once you are safely delivered to the wilderness, I promise to free you and stand vigil while you adjust to your new existence.”

“Castle Roland?” Aubert balked. “Please don’t exaggerate. We both know the ancestral estate is a medieval pile of rubble.” He pointed toward the painted ruins in the background of his father’s portrait. “Look at that. No roof. Crumbling windows. Missing walls. I wouldn’t use Castle Roland as a goat shed. It would be cruel to the goats.”

“Hush.” Mister Aldridge’s already severe expression became icy. “Don’t be disrespectful. Castle Roland’s importance is not about the state of the building, which is over a thousand years old—it’s the sacredness of the spot. Castle Roland is le pointe de début of our family. It is the site of the miracle, and where our story started.”

A shiver passed over Aubert’s skin, making the hairs on his arms stand straight. “Are you telling me that old tale is true? That’s outlandish, Mister Aldridge. You must think me a colossal fool. The story has everything doesn’t it? Enchanted swords, Knights Templar, vengeful Saracens and a beautiful half-blood witch—”

“Corinthia was an exceptionally gifted sorceress, not a witch,” Mister Aldridge corrected Aubert curtly.

“Is there a difference?”

“A big difference, and yes, the story is true.”

“Good day, Mister Aldridge. The joke’s wearing thin. These stories were fun to hear when I was a boy. I’ll admit I loved the game back then, but I’ve outgrown it. I appreciate that you tried to entertain me and give me some sense of family history after I lost my folks, but the storytelling just doesn’t work anymore.”

Aubert turned and walked toward the door. “I don’t have time for old-world fairy tales. I have a hundred guests coming to the house this evening and other personal issues to deal with. If you have legitimate business to discuss with me, we can do so at tomorrow’s official meeting. Other than that, I’m unavailable for the remainder of the day.”

“Aubert!” Mister Aldridge spoke with commanding authority.

Aubert came to a halt and turned, feeling guilty that he had aimed such harsh words at one of the few constants in his life.

“If the story is a ridiculous fairy tale, then tell me why you’ve undergone such extreme changes in past days.” Mister Aldridge stepped closer. “I’m right, aren’t I? You can’t hide the transformation from someone who knows what to look for. I can see it in your eyes. You’re becoming Loup-Garou. The beast has already wakened. The silver streak in your hair—when did it appear? My guess is recently.”

Aubert froze, both horrified and relieved that someone was ready to discuss a difficult topic he’d been forced to bear alone. He closed the drawing room door and whispered, “For years you told me wild stories about the Crusades, magic swords, knights of the court and of course Castle Roland but I’m certain you never once mentioned the Loup-Garou until this morning—why?”

“Because it was an unknown. In the past, some desperate young men in our bloodline have taken their own lives to avoid it. I couldn’t risk telling you everything until I was certain. I did not want to burden you with this news if it was not meant to be. The change can skip a generation and has even died out completely in some branches of the family. If the transformation takes place it always happens on the man’s twenty-seventh birthday—the same age at which our distant ancestor Marston d’Roland underwent his transformation. There are a few practical measures we can take to ensure you survive the change and adjust.”

“Like iron manacles and marriage?”

“Yes. Had you married sooner and had a wife’s loving support during this time, it would have been far easier for you to endure the shift to Loup-Garou.”

“And the unfortunate bride shackled to a crazed beast—what about her? It doesn’t seem fair to the poor gal.”

“That’s why I pointed you toward young ladies of our European bloodline who were not only willing but eager to make a match with a Marston. It’s a pity no match was made, because a son conceived on the night of transformation would indeed be a strong and noble being. One such outstanding example was your father Graham.”

Mister Aldridge gazed at Aubert with sadness brimming in his eyes. “Being Loup- Garou isn’t a punishment or curse. It was originally conjured in love and there are gifts to be had from the experience, but I can’t allow you to run amok and do regrettable things while you’re learning to control your feral impulses. Without a mate to buffer the ill effects there is little hope of an easy transition. We must deal with the inevitable as best we can. Go upstairs and pack a few practical items. Bring only what you’ll need to survive in the mountains and abandon the rest. If we leave now we can arrive in New Orleans before nightfall and book passage on a ship bound for France.”

Loup-Garou for You is available now!

Ellora's Cave: http://www.ellorascave.com/loup-garou-for-you.html 

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Loup-Garou-for-You-ebook/dp/B00FGUIA4W/ref=la_B00BIXI8BQ_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1380595539&sr=1-7

Want to win some prizes?

Paranormal Cravings is hosting the Shifters and Were's Event. This is a big contest and so much fun. Lots of prizes, wonderful authors and an easy rafflecopter to click for your chance to win. I'm hosting the coveted October 31st Halloween blog spot. Aubert and Corrine from "Loup-Garou For You" will be interviewed and they'll be helping me give away some surprises. 

Visit my website and click: http://katalinaleon.com/katalina_leon/Home.html

Or click icon to start hopping http://www.paranormalcravings.com/

Want to win a $100 Golden Griffin Egg disguised as an Amazon Gift card? Click this icon on my website and start hopping, good luck to you! 

http://katalinaleon.com/katalina_leon/Home.html

Fairy In The Flesh is getting great reviews! Here is a sample:

Sabina at Sabina's Adventures in Reading gave "Fairy In The Flesh" 5 Stars and said this: 

"

I have to tell you, this was an amazing read. The beforehand doomed relationship between André and Maya was intense to read, devastating sometimes, because they both fell so swiftly and hard for each other. The steamy scenes are well done, makes your toes curl, and the intensity is wonderful. My heart was breaking for Maya and André, because how would they ever get their Happily Ever After? Would a few days together suffice for both of them? The closer I got to the end, the more devastated I was, and the faster I read..."

Dragon Renee gave it 4 Stars and said, 

"This is my second time reading Katalina Leon's work and I LOVE how smooth, magical, imaginative and fun she writes. She allows the reader to visualize what's being depicted on the pages and for me that's very important. My only complaint is I wish it was longer. I LOVED the story and the characters and was not ready to say goodbye... I look forward to much more of her work in the very near future :)

Ellora’s Cave Publishing:

http://www.ellorascave.com/fairy-in-the-flesh.html

Thank you see you next week!