Title: Hard Wear
Author Name:
Marilyn Lakewood
Book Genre: Romance/Hot Alpha
Billionaire
Publisher: Troll River Publications
Release Date: February 14, 2015
Buy Link(s): http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00TNGS2QG
Book Description:
Book One of the Hot Alpha Billionaire Series
Stand alone. Not a cliff-hanger. HEA. M/F, Mild D/s
themes.
How does a sophisticated man
with everything, convince an unassuming older woman with nothing, that she’s
what he desperately needs?
At 36, Chase Tanner
controlled his world and the women in his bed. With a grown son and several
successful businesses, he thought he had everything a man could desire… until
he walked down the aisle of a country hardware store and saw exactly what he
needed for a happily-ever-after. Now, he just had to make her believe it.
”You’re just not good
enough, Kali.”
Her ex-husband’s hurtful
words echoed in Kali Benson’s heart as she rebuilt her life in tiny Laketon,
Washington. It took some time, but at 39, she’s happy, self-sufficient, and
emotionally armored. She’s strong enough to resist a sweet-talking hunk, who
drives an old Dodge truck and makes her feel nineteen again... isn't she?
Excerpt
Chase took the shortest route to
the auto accessories area and cut through the carpentry section. He turned down
the aisle and his steps slowed. Fuses, old trucks, everything, dropped off the
radar as his gaze focused on the woman perusing the locks-and-hinge display.
Sweet. There was something
incredibly sweet and alluring about her. More than pretty, she was arresting.
His heart did a drum roll against his ribs, and he drew in a deep, stabilizing
breath.
Easing to a stop a few steps
away, he positioned himself near the opposite side of the aisle as if he were
interested in something other than her. Not the most inspired tactic, but he
needed a moment to process her intense effect on him.
In profile, she had a straight,
refined nose, full lips, and a balanced chin. Thick, golden-brown hair
shimmered in glossy layers past her shoulders, styled with a fringe of bangs
across her dark, tawny brows.
When she pulled an item from the
display, he noticed she kept her nails a short, practical length, and she wore
no wedding ring.
Marilyn lives in the northwest U.S., not too far from the Canadian border, and believes the long, cold winters are perfect “writing weather.”
She started writing romantic, sex-driven stories “just for fun” seven years ago. Today, she’ll joyously admit she’s obsessed with creating hard-core dominant heroes and happily-ever-after endings.
Visit Marilyn at www.marilynlakewood.com
Author Links - The link for any or all of the following...
Website: www.marilynlakewood.com
Pintrest: http://www.pinterest.com/marilynlakewood/
Interview
Interview
Where are you from?
Northern
California, but we moved around the western U.S. while I was growing up. I met
my hubby in Washington State and it’s my home now. We both love the Northwest.
Tell us your latest news?
My first book
tour. Yay! It continues through May 28th, and I’ll be focused on all
the wonderful bloggers hosting Hard Wear
and the readers who stop by to chat.
After the tour, I plan to finish edits on Stone Wear, the second book in this series.
What inspired you to write your latest
book?
Various events influenced Hard Wear, but the
opening location and how the hero meets the girl were inspired by a flirty
glance from an attractive man in a hardware store. Yes, he was that inspiring.
I couldn’t not notice him. In real
life, I skittered away, but my writer’s mind took over and the first ideas for Hard Wear began. I wrote the book that
summer while my hubby and I were doing a lot of camping. Surrounded by lakes
and mountains and charming small towns, I imagined a woman who secluded herself
in the rural countryside to rebuild her life. I loved the setting so much, the
fictional town of Laketon, Washington was born.
How did you come up with the title? Hard Wear is actually a play on words to reflect
the hero’s business, his dominance, and the place where he first sees the
heroine. Hard Wear is also related to
something she’s wearing. I wanted to create a way for him to immediately recognize
that she’s a submissive and might be receptive to his pursuit. I hope everyone
likes how I did it.
Is there a message in your novel you want
readers to grasp? One of the themes in Hard Wear
is that love usually comes into your life when you least expect it and from where you least expect it. The story is
a light, sexy read. It’s about seduction—a woman trying to resist an
irresistible man who’s determined to win her heart.
What books have most influenced your life?
In regards to romance novels, one of the books that
ignited my love of alpha heroes was Silver
Flame by Susan Johnson. Oh, wow. My eyes
rounded in awe as I read it. Sex and passion—more than I’d ever seen—all wrapped up in a good story with an amazingly
accurate historical setting. It was groundbreaking for me.
The book that inspired my first dream of actually writing
a romance was Tears of the Renegade
by Linda Howard. The story had a dark, handsome hero, and a classy, soft-spoken
heroine, plus a ton of sexual tension. I read it in a day. But it was author’s bio
in the back of the book that led me to where I am now. Linda Howard wrote
stories for years, for her own entertainment, before she finally sent one to a
publisher. I loved that approach. I was pretty shy about writing steamy
romances, and I wasn’t sure if I’d ever show them to anyone, so I just wrote
for fun.
Are there any new authors that have grabbed
your interest?
Oh, yes. I loved Reckless by Skye Jordon, and Explicit
Instruction by Scarlett Finn. I just started Captured in Surrender by Liliana Hart, and also Controlling Her Pleasure by Lili
Valente.
What are your current projects? After finishing
the edits on Stone Wear, the second
book of the Hot Alpha Billionaire Series, I’ll be submerged in writing Soft Wear, the third book. I also have a
novel called Warriors of Strathan,
which I believe will be published in May or June. It’s a ménage story - M/f/M -
with muscled immortal warriors, magic, monsters, and mayhem. The setting is
ancient Britain, circa 70 B.C. Warriors
of Strathan has a darker tone and is more graphic than Hard Wear.
What would you like my readers to know? As you can see, I love alpha heroes. All my stories feature
dominant men. They range from light to hardcore in their sexual extremes. Happily,
the heroines in my books love alpha males, too. J In the world of hashtags, here are some that apply
to my writing: #AlphaHero #Dominance #Submission #Erotic
#BDSM #Fantasy #M/f/M
#Ménage #M/f #Romance and #HEA.
Oh, and if you enjoy sexy images, check out my
Pinterest boards and see what’s inspired me. https://www.pinterest.com/marilynlakewood/ Warning: these are NSFW and only for 18+
viewers.
Happy reading to everyone.
Marilyn
Thank you, Deal Sharing Aunt for hosting Hard Wear! What a great site. I love all the information and giveaways! :))
ReplyDeleteGreat interview! Thank you for posting.
ReplyDeleteBrooke at Brooke Blogs
Pit Crew
Thank you for hosting :)
ReplyDelete