MEET THE HEROT'Kon from Forbidden Love

I'm so happy to have Kaye Manro visit today! Kaye was one of the first authors I met when I started my blog two years ago, and we've been faithful followers of each others' blogs and careers since then. Kaye is celebrating her very first release, Forbidden Love! Take it away, Kaye!

Thank you so much Helen for inviting me as a guest on your blog today.

FORBIDDEN LOVE is a futuristic sci-fi erotic romance. Yes, there is space travel at FTL (faster than light). But there is also lots of sexy sensual exploring between the hero T’Kon and the heroine Maya, who hail from different galaxies and evolutionary paths. Rules on T’Kon’s planet forbid interspecies mating. When he crashes his spacecraft on Maya’s world close to her desert home, what else is he to do but let this lovely alien tend his, umm, injuries?

Here’s a blurb that many like best because it is from T’Kon’s view:

T’Kon and Maya are galaxies apart, so different yet so much alike…

Exploring the galaxies at FTL (faster than light) is routine for the inhabitants of Asconage. T’Kon’s planet is a cool-blood culture that exists in the scorch of binary suns. Yet there are governing archaic rules to prohibit interspecies mating with those from different worlds and evolutionary paths.

When T’Kon crashes his spacecraft on Terrain, a seasonal planet barely on the cusp of space travel, he cannot resist the warm-blooded audacious Maya who gives him aid. His desire for her entices him to abandon his species moral code.

There is little time to linger inside their illicit passion. The warring factions of her world are closing in. A quick fix of his spacecraft and a fast exit is his best choice. But can T’Kon leave Maya behind and forsake their emerging Forbidden Love?

Now for my favorite Forbidden Love excerpt of all:

...She was upon him so near he could feel her breath, sense her warmth. She reached out and ran a hand through the air, searching the length of him.

“Maya,” he blew her name on a sigh.

“Take me with you," she implored, as water filled her astounding tawny eyes. "I want to be with you, T'Kon.” She melded her body against his invisible one.

“You know nothing of me or my world.”

“Teach me, show me everything.”

He felt her heat burning inside him, yet the absurdity of her request burned brighter. “What you ask is not possible.”

“Will you please become visible so I can look at you?” She asked. “We need to talk about this before you go flying off into the universe.”

He unshielded his body so she could see him. “I cannot take you.”

“Why not? You can’t say it was coincidence that you happened to crash land in my back yard.”

No, an unfortunate accident. The truthful certainty traced across his mind. Yet his arms enclosed her and he lifted her up. Her legs straddled his waist, and he held her close against his body. A fit so right he could not deny it.

“I wish it were not so, but it is,” he whispered, breathing in her pungent scent. “You would not survive on my world.” He dropped his head to taste her lips before she had a chance to counter his words. “Just one last kiss.” Her mouth opened to allow his tongue entry and he explored the soft moistness, losing himself in her tang.

The stars help him. He did not want to leave her.

Without warning, a sudden and dangerous noise yanked T’Kon from his sexual stupor. He sensed peril approaching. In a rapid-fire move, he raised his palm. A copper arch flashed and shimmered before them revealing the entryway to his concealed spacecraft. He dragged her inside. Tapping a pad the opening closed leaving them hidden behind an undetectable shield.

Bio for Kaye Manro

As a romance author, I lean toward the adventuresome in my writing. I love science fiction and all the enticing quantum theories surrounding it. Where characters rush through outer space at Faster than Light speed, or teleport into another time, and even slipstream into an alternate reality. I like creating love scenes too with strong heroes, and captivating heroines. It just seemed natural to combine all these elements together in my stories and write (SFR) Science Fiction Romance.

I hope you enjoy reading FORBIDDEN LOVE my new Science Fiction Romance as much as I enjoyed writing it!

Links
FORBIDDEN LOVE Buy Page: http://redrosepublishing.com/bookstore/product_info.php?products_id=772
Kaye’s Web Site: http://sfr.kayemanro.com
Kaye’s Blog: http://kayemanro.blogspot.com

HUNKS ON HIATUS

It's sad, I know... Yes, the hunks are going on hiatus while I travel to New York and Europe for the next month! Hopefully all the culture will spark my muse. The bitch has been lying dormant far too long.

While I'm away, please be sure to stop by and visit some good friends of mine who will be taking over the blog while I'm gone.

May 31 -- Kaye Manro
June 7 -- Lia Slater
June 14 -- Joyce Henderson

They'd love to see you!

And to keep you warm until the hump-day hunks return...

RT PHOTOS

Eventually I do get around to posting my photos! My roomie Monica Kaye and I had a blast at RT.

My name in lights at the EC Lady in Red Party. Very cool!

Here I am with the new Mr. Romance, Jamie Ungaro, and author Arianna Skye at the EC party. Arianna and I met last year at RomantiCon and it was fun to catch up with her!


Monica getting down at the EC party!

A very bad photo of the Cavemen dancing. Sorry! They all came out poorly....

In the bar before the Faery ball -- me, Monica, and urban fantasy author Jessa Slade.

At the Faery Ball -- historical author Delilah Marvelle, me, chaptermate Liz Pelletier, and Monica.

EC author J. Hali Steele (a fellow Suzette who I also met last year at RomantiCon) and thriller author Andrew Peterson. This is at the Vampire Ball dinner.

HUMP-DAY HUNK -- Upen Patel

Many apologies for being late with today's hunk! But he was worth the wait, don't you think? Though born in Britain in 1980, Upen is an Indian model. He has modeled for Hugo Boss, among others. He's currently waiting for the right film role to come along. Do any of you have any ideas?

MEET THE HEROSam from Promise Me

Today I'm thrilled to welcome Deborah Schneider! Last year Deborah was honored as RWA's Librarian of the Year. Her newest release, Promise Me, is available at The Wild Rose Press. It's a wonderful story with a hero to die for -- Sam Calhoun. Before we meet Sam, though, here's a little about Deborah.

A love for American History drew Deborah to the field of education and teaching American History right after college. She resides in a small town near the Cascade Mountains in the Pacific Northwest, where she fulfills her dream of waking up every day to look at a mountain. She’s the winner of the Molly Award for Most Unsinkable Heroine for her book, Beneath A Silver Moon. She loves writing about strong, smart women who aren't afraid to challenge the men they love. She's employed by one of the busiest library systems in the US, is the 2009 Romance Writers of America Librarian of the Year, and believes in the power of books to change lives.

Blurb:

After spending years in an arranged marriage as the repressed wife of an older man, Amanda Wainwright has learned the hard way that money can’t buy happiness. She arrives in Willow Creek, Montana determined to keep a deathbed promise to her husband and do something to help other people. When Amanda meets a handsome, mysterious stranger who tempts her with sweet promises and long nights of passion, she discovers a fiery, passionate nature that could lead her to disaster.

For Samuel Calhoun, falling in love wouldn’t just be foolish, it could be deadly. He’s on assignment as an undercover agent for the Secret Service. In order to maintain his secret identity he accepts an offer from a consortium of mine owners to seduce, humiliate and ruin the Widow Wainwright. Before long, Sam knows he’s met the woman who can banish the aching emptiness in his soul and he’s willing to risk everything – even his life – to be with her.

And now a taste of Sam:

Amanda’s delicate fingers finished unfastening his shirt. She gave him a saucy, heavy-lidded look.

“I’m no authority on this, Sam, but wouldn’t it be easier if we were both naked?”

Sam gritted his teeth as the image of their bodies entwined upon the bed flashed through his mind. His erection tented the wool of his trousers, and he couldn’t tell if this frightened or excited Amanda.

“A widow might consider herself something of an authority about such things.”

A flicker of sadness darkened her emerald eyes, and he wondered at the cause.

Her tongue traced a delicate pattern down his chest, and he closed his eyes to savor the sensation. She knew enough, if her current demonstration was any proof of her carnal talents.

Sam took a step forward to set her back upon the bed, then he fumbled with his clothes. His fingers felt thick and clumsy, and he couldn’t get his boots off without stumbling. He took a deep breath and looked up to discover she was laughing.

“You’re such a handsome, glib-tongued fellow; I thought you’d be better at this.”

Sam growled and tossed his boot across the room and flung his frock coat after it. His waistcoat lay crumpled at his feet and his shirt was fully unbuttoned as he folded his arms across his chest.

“You can’t play with fire without getting burned, Amanda. I’ll walk out of here right now if you’re not sure about this.” He swallowed. And go home and shoot myself.

She stretched across the quilt, her softly-curved female body enticing him with all its secret delights. Her long, copper curls formed a halo of flame on the pillow, and he realized she wasn’t going to send him away. He heaved a sigh of relief, because despite his offer, he didn’t know if really could have walked away.

Sam fought a war of conscience, his badly tarnished sense of honor reminding him he was a scoundrel for staying with Amanda.

Amanda’s golden body shimmered in the light of the candles spread throughout the room. A heavy ache pulsed in his groin. Even the most well intentioned and honorable man would find it hard to walk away from this angel.

“Are you afraid of me, Sam?” Her voice purred with confidence.

He removed his shirt and dropped down heavily onto the bed next to her. “Terrified, darlin’.”

RT, A New Contract, and a Great Review!

I haven't had a chance to blog about RT yet, and since my dear friend Monica Kaye has said it so much better than I ever could, I direct you over to her blog to read about our adventures. The new Mr. Romance, Jamie Ungaro (below) is as sweet as he is hot. He's shy, which was very endearing.

The lovely Diana Carlile at The Wild Rose Press recently contracted my new menage, Primal Instinct. First round edits are done so I should have more news shortly.

And last but certainly not least, Brenda at The Romance Studio gave Lessons of the Heart an awesome review! She says:

Ms. Hardt has once again written another well-developed, interesting novel. Her characters were so believable it was as if I lived on the outside of the cabin looking in. The main characters had such dynamic, emotional personalities, it seemed as if they were destined to find each other. However, a happily-ever-after was not simply reached. The style of Hardt’s book grabbed my attention.

The sensuality of the book wasn’t too graphic. There were some flashbacks of the war which did get explicit. She wrote intelligently about the situations and made them very real to this reader.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical romance. Hardt is an author whom I expect to see more and more of in the future.

Thank you, Brenda, and have a great weekend, everyone!

HUMP-DAY HUNK -- Enrique Iglesias

Enrique Iglesias -- really, does anything more need to be said?

HUMP-DAY HUNK -- Peter Le

I'm in the mood for something spicy and Asian today -- and I don't mean Kung Pao Chicken! So I'm bringing one of my past hunks out of retirement. Meet Peter Le. He's also a dead ringer for my hero, Dylan, in Seduced in Seoul. Except Dylan has longer hair, of course. All my heroes have long hair ;). Peter is a personal trainer and model, and he's been known to model (gasp) nude!

MEET THE HEROWolf from The Third Rose

Please welcome Jean Hart Stewart as she tours blogdom with Goddess Fish Promotions! Jean is here to introduce us to her hero in her Red Rose Publishing release, The Third Rose.

Blurb:

When Sara Coverly hides in Lord Wolverton’s bedroom to avenge him for the rape of her friend, she is determined to shoot him so he can never ruin another female. Instead she finds herself wondering if she’s picked the wrong man! Wolf decides he needs a token fiancée to cover his tracks as he searches for a spy, and soon Sara finds herself helping him. And falling deeply in love.

Wolf’s espionage duties bring danger to them both. When he decodes a message threatening the assassination of Wellington at Waterloo, they both set out for Brussels to catch the villain.

Can their growing love endure through war, a desperate villain who is out to stop them, and Wolf’s determination to save Wellington at any cost?

Excerpt featuring Wolf:

“I love the room, Josh. I can see why your mother loved it, also. It’s truly charming.”

“As are you, my new wife. I’ve promised not to force you, but that does not include never kissing you. Come to me, Sara.”

Wolf took her and turned her into his arms, lowering his head to hers. Her lips were soft, incredibly soft, and warm as honey standing in the sun. He’d meant to only give her a taste of the joys of loving, but he found he could not possibly stop at just one kiss. He gathered her closer, pressing his body against her, wondering if she noticed the arousal she so quickly caused.

She gave a little gasp, and leaned into him, returning the kiss in an untutored but most pleasing manner. The lady had definite possibilities as a seductress! He sucked at her lower lip until she slightly opened to him, and then he plunged his tongue in, fully tasting her sweetness. Her flavor was indescribably satisfying as he kept exploring her mouth. When he found himself looking at the bed, and judging how many steps he’d need to reach it, he woke to the fact that he was about to break his word and carry her to it.

He set her from him, reluctantly, but with a smile at the shadow of regret in her eyes.

“I am not given to ravishment, my dear, as I once told you, or I would carry you over to the bed and have my wicked way with you.”

When she still looked bewildered, he gave a little laugh. “I’ve told you, I’ll not take you until you are fully ready. You are closer than you think, you know. Come to me soon, Sara.”

He gave her one last soft, lingering kiss, making her cling to him and bury her face in his chest. Well pleased with her reaction, he turned abruptly and strode to the door.

She might not yet know it, but she’d soon be truly his. It would put a strain on the lustful side of his regrettable nature to wait, but wait he would.

“Till tomorrow, wife,” he said huskily, and left her standing in the middle of the room, her lips slightly parted.