Leather and Lace by Maggie Adams (VNBtM, guest post, review and GIVEAWAY) ADULT title, GFT

I have the pleasure of a guest post from author Maggie Adams, as she shares...

Authors that Influenced Me….

by Maggie Adams

I was introduced to romance novels by my best friend when I was thirteen. She’d found a paperback, The Flame and the Flower, by Kathleen Woodiwiss, under her older sister’s bed and we took turns reading it, then putting it back. After about two days, I got tired of waiting to see what happened next, so I went to my local library and got it myself. It’s still one of my all time faves.

As I grew up, I found Nora Roberts and Debbie Macomber. They gave me hometown humor and romance. I love a series with real characters. Good people, true friends, and honest to goodness love. Nora Roberts swept me away to Ireland, on adventures with good women and men, and made me want to be a part of their lives. She writes love stories with an aching sweetness tempered with humor and suspense and she does it flawlessly.

In my twenties, I discovered Johanna Lindsey and the Mallory clan. Oh, those Mallorys! She fed my love for history with a healthy dose of steamy romance. And what girl didn’t dream of handsome pirates, and sexy spies. She also showed me that novels don’t have to end in a trilogy. If you love the characters, write their stories, and their friends’ stories, never let it end!

Jayne Ann Krentz/Amanda Quick/Jayne Castle weaving a series into three different time periods – her fantastic storylines are impressive. I can’t even begin to imagine what that kind of structure she must have to go through to make this series of past, present and future happen.

Now I’d have to say Sophie Oak,(menage, oh baby!) Shayla Black (virgin ménage!), Lexi Blake (Masters and Mercenaries, hot!) and Cali MacKay (Great storylines, super sex!) are my faves. Their styles are similar to mine – humor, suspense, and lots of sex.

I’ve grown up with these novelists and they have influenced my life. It’s a fine line to walk – not to hinder creativity, but at the same time, to include elements of issues that are present today, or in the past. So many authors create worlds that spark a reader’s imagination, or shed a different light on particular subjects, while letting their own creativity soar. I am thankful for every book I have read.

A novel is, indeed, a piece of art. And the beauty is in the eye of the reader.











Leather and Lace
by Maggie Adams
(ADULT title)

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BLURB:

Sam Coalson, ex-Navy SEAL, has returned to Grafton for the wedding of his brother. After being run out of town fifteen years ago for a crime he didn’t commit, he’s determined to claim what is rightfully his and take on anyone crazy enough to try and stop him.

Angel Devereaux is smart, sexy and definitely on Sam’s blacklist. After siding with Sam’s enemy fifteen years ago, Angel can’t help but wonder what if….what if Sam had never left? What if he could forgive her now? She had her reasons, but he won’t listen. So enough with words, sometimes action is exactly what’s called for.


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EXCERPT

He spun around and stalked towards her, but she held her ground in the middle of the room. “One minute you’re drinking wine with me and the next thing I know, you’re dancing at a strip bar, naked for all intents and purposes. Swinging your ass and looking like you want to screw the fat pig and his boss. He’s the one that beat me. Did you know that?”

Sam continued to advance on her. “And you don’t even want to know what he was gonna do to you if he could’ve gotten a chance.” Sam’s good eye began to twitch at the thought of the danger she had been in. She had no sense, but by God before the night was over, she would know to never put herself in danger again. He’d see to that. Apparently, she’d been flying wild these past fifteen years. Well, that was ending now.

Angel threw her arms up in exasperation. “Oh that’s just great. Just swell, dandy, fine. I try to save your miserable ass and you’re accusing me of being unfaithful. Well, of course you would. You can’t trust me, remember? I turned against you once, right? So therefore, I’ll do it again, right?” she screamed at him as tears ran down her face. It was just too much! She couldn’t stand his mistrust anymore.

“I had everything under control. There was no need for your ‘help’ as you call it,” he growled at her. He kept seeing the lecherous looks of those men and the hands reaching out to touch those perfect breasts. She was his, dammit! No one touched his Angel.

“Oh yeah, right. I can tell you had everything well in hand. You were locked up, beaten up, and completely outnumbered. Oh, and the FBI was considering you an accomplice in the whole mess. They didn’t care if you were dead or alive. Yeah, you had them shakin’ in their shoes, all right.” She’s wiped her tears. “I was sick and scared for you, yet you’re so stupid you have the audacity to question my loyalty to you.”



Buy link:


Amazon
 
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Hi! I'm Maggie Adams. I live near St. Louis, MO with my high school sweetheart, Ned, and my wonderful kids, Katie (Kyle) and Ross (Valerie). My life is like a walking, talking sitcom from I Love Lucy, but I love it, although people do tend to keep their distance from me! Writing has always been my dream, with reading my favorite hobby. I try to include a little bit of my life in everything I write, so when you read my books, keep your eyes wide open - I'm in there somewhere! Happy reading!


You can reach me at:

Website
Facebook
Twitter -@authrmaggieadms,
GoodReads
Tsu
Amazon author page



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My review:

 

3.5 out of 5 stars

Leather and Lace by Maggie Adams is Book 2 of the ‘Tempered Steel’ series and centers on Angel Devereaux and her complicated relationship with Sam Coalson.  Fifteen years have elapsed since their fateful breakup at the hands of Angel’s father, but they haven’t resolved their issues one way or another.  As events transpire that indicate an enemy is out to destroy one or both of them, they realize that they need to work out their past differences. 

This contemporary erotic romantic suspense has exciting action scenes interspersed with sensual interludes and a few off-camera developments that I suspect are going to be explored in other stories.  The strained relationship between the main characters is a little odd for me, since most of Sam’s family has insight into Angel’s motivations yet haven’t managed to enlighten Sam about them.  This is not the story for one who doesn’t like constantly shifting points of view and one should be forewarned that there is only a partial resolution to some of the happenings detailed in this tale, although there is a happy ending for some folks.  There are plenty of secondary characters who are only briefly explored, so there is plenty of fodder for more exciting stories in this series, but it is probably advisable to read them in sequence.  This is an entertaining quick light read.

A copy was provided to me for review purposes




Other titles in the series: