Hello everyone! Today I am very excited to welcome author Avril Ashton to the blog. Â Avril is here to talk to us more about the latest book in the Brooklyn Sinners series, A Sinner Born. Â Avril has also brought a great excerpt, as well as a copy of the book to give away to one lucky reader. Â So please join me in giving a big welcome!
The first kiss. Itâs an integral part of the romance novel, isnât it? Iâm a huge fan of the first kiss, that first taste. Nothing is as delicious, or sensual. In my opinion a first kiss is it. Itâs everything and sets the tone for the chemistry between the h/h. We get a feel for their leanings and who gets to take control. Because, really, someone has to.
With the men of A Sinner Born, their first kiss comes a little bit later, after some cards are laid on the table, after secrets (some) have been shared. Syren Rua takes a chance at opening himself up, sharing his dark past and his innermost fears. It is only when he takes that chance that heâs able to be with the man heâs wanted for so very long, the still-grieving Kane Ashby. Kane is grieving the death of his lover. Syren fascinates him, yes, but Kane canât act on it because Syren does bad things. For bad people. To bad people. Itâs the excuse Kane uses to keep Syren at bay, but all it takes is a little bit of truth to get Marshal Ashby to let down his guard and open his arms.
Their first kiss was my absolute favorite to write. Hands down. Those two gave me shivers. Itâs more than a kiss, you see. Kane is taking that step outside of the memories of a lover long dead, and Syren is trusting someone. Itâs a monumental thing, that first kiss, because it signals a shift in the dynamic between Syren and Kane. Itâs about both men drowning and reaching out for each other, and it sets in motion a love story thatâs my most painful personally, but also most fulfilling.
BLURB
Book three in the Brooklyn Sinners series.
One man buried in secrets. Another still grieving the love he lost. Their worlds collide in a battle between memories, old and new, while trust hangs by a fragile thread.
Syren Rua is at war. He battles painful childhood demons and his intense need for the first person who makes him feel. As Faro, Syren makes deals with the worst while taking the steps necessary to bring his familyâs killer to justice. He isnât one to indulge in selfish needs, but heâll make the time in this instance. Syren has been watching Kane Ashby, craving the grieving man for his own. Heâs always stayed away from temptation, but thatâs about to change.
Kane isnât over the death of his long-time partner. Heâs certainly not ready for a relationship, sexual or otherwise, but Syren isnât a man who takes no for an answer. The unpredictable Syren offers nothing but secrets and brings with him memories so dark, they could wipe out any chance the two might ever have. Syren brings Kaneâs heart back to life. But it is also Syren who could inflict the most damage.
Inside Scoop: One of our heroes has a panty fetish. And itâs hot. This book also contains brief references to rape and child abuse.
At Elloraâs Cave: http://www.ellorascave.com/a-sinner-born.html
EXCERPT
He pressed their foreheads together. âGabe thinks youâll hurt me,â he said softly.
âHeâs right.â Syrenâs breath heated Kaneâs face when he spoke, whispering back, âYour brother knows this could never be anything but a bad idea.â His fingers crept up Kaneâs left shoulder and delved into his hair, nails scraping his scalp.
Kane shivered.
âBut you must want this,â Syren murmured, âif you discussed me with your brother.â
âIââ Syrenâs knuckles grazed the shell of his ear and Kane lost his train of thought. He cleared his throat. âHe asked about my date with Vince and I told him Vince wasnât who I wanted.â
âVince. Right.â Syren didnât release Kane but instead pulled back a bit, meeting Kaneâs gaze with eyes clouded with heat and something else. âHow did the date go? Did you enjoy it?â He leaned forward and nosed Kaneâs neck, his breath and lips skating over the exposed skin there.
Kane growled low in his throat and tightened his fingers on Syrenâs left shoulder. âThe date wasâŠfine. He kissed me.â
Syren paused infinitesimally, but Kane felt it. âOf course he did.â Sharp teeth nipped his lobe. Kane slid his fingers into Syrenâs hair and tugged.
âSyren.â
The man in his lap shuddered. A full-body shaking that echoed in Kaneâs crotch.
âDonât keep me in suspense, Marshal.â Syrenâs tongue traced the curve of Kaneâs ear and he groaned. âDid you like his kisses? Is he a better kisser than me?â
He wiggled and Kane gasped. âDamn, Iâ I donât know.â He lifted his hips to press against Syren. âI donât know.â Fuck. Heat licked his skin and he wasnât looking to be cooled down anytime soon.
Syren stopped all movement. âWhy is that, Marshal? Why donât you know?â
What the fuck? Twenty questions at a time like this? Was he supposed to think? âSyren.â
Lips closed around his lobe. Syren sucked him into his mouth, warm and wet and God, so hot. Kane couldnât stop shaking. âIâIâve never kissed you so I donâtââ
Syren lifted his head and peered down at him. âTime to remedy that, donât you think?â
Yes. Yes. âFuck yes.â He lurched forward and sealed their lips together. They stayed like that, lips pressed to each other, just feeling, then Syren shifted, parted his lips and oh fuck.
Kane dived in, groaning as Syren latched on to his tongue and sucked. He twisted his fingers in Syrenâs soft hair as his eyes rolled back. The taste of Syren, warm and sweet, carnal flavored with the untried, went straight to his head and groin.
His head spun, his entire body throbbed, but nowhere as intensely as his cock. Syren mustâve felt him there, nestled against his ass, because he rocked back.
Then forth.
Kane yanked on his hair, but Syren merely whimpered and sucked harder on his tongue. Oh fuck. Oh Jesus. Kane fought to breathe, to think. To remember why this, them, was such a bad idea, but he came up with a blank. He pulled Syren tighter against him and ground up, the evidence of Syrenâs arousal heavy and trapped between their straining bodies.
He slid his hand down Syrenâs back carefully, because he hadnât forgotten the ugly scars there, and cupped his ass through his clothes.
âHmm.â Syren moaned into his mouth.
Kane kneaded him and Syren trembled. God. The responses were heady. The way Syren reacted to his every touch. The sexiest thing ever. He tried slowing down the kiss, gentling it, but Syren was in control and having none of it. He chased after Kane with his mouth, capturing him, feasting on him like a man starved.
Kane wanted to hold back, be careful, but all he could do was go with the flow, get swept away with Syrenâs kisses. Every swipe of Syrenâs tongue was a welcomed touch, a much-needed salve, precious commodity he wanted to hold on to forever. Every grunt, every moan, every sigh was music and heâd been deprived of it so he gorged, tightening his hold on Syrenâs hair and meeting him thrust for thrust.
They battled. Mouth, teeth and tongue fighting for dominance as hands and fingers held on for dear life and their bodies jerked closer and closer together. Movements were awkward, uncoordinated, but they worked and never felt hotter.
Sexier.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A Caribbean transplant, Avril now lives in Brooklyn, N.Y with a tolerant spousal equivalent. Together they raise an eccentric daughter who loves reading and school (not so much school anymore). Avrilâs earliest memories of reading revolve around discussing the plot points of Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys with an equally book-minded mother.
Always in love with the written word, Avril finally decided to do the writing in August of â09 and never looked back. Spicy love scenes, delicious heroes, and wicked women burn up the pages of Avrilâs stories, but thereâll always be a happy ending; Av remains a believer of love in all its forms.
Addicted to cake, the ID Channel and the UFC, Avril writes Erotic and GLBT Romance for Ellora’s Cave, Evernight Publishing, eXtasy Books, Secret Cravings Publishing and Total-e-Bound.
Visit: http://www.avrilashton.com
Friend Avril on: http://www.facebook.com/writeravrilashton
http://www.twitter.com/#!/AvrilAsh
http://avrilashton.tumblr.com/
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/author/avrilashton
ARe: Â http://www.allromanceebooks.com/storeSearch.html?searchBy=author&qString=Avril+Ashton
GIVEAWAY
Avril has brought a copy of A Sinner Born to give away to one lucky winner. Â To enter, leave a comment at the end of the post. Â The contest closes on Thursday, July 27th at 11:59 pm EST.
- By entering the giveaway, youâre confirming that you are at least 18 years old.
- Winners will be selected by random number. No purchase necessary to win.  The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning.
- If you win, you must respond to my email within 48 hours or another winner may be chosen. Please make sure that your spam filter allows email from Joyfully Jay.
- Winners may be announced on the blog following the contest. By entering the contest you are agreeing to allow your name to be posted and promoted as the contest winner by Joyfully Jay.
- Prizes will be distributed following the giveaway either by Joyfully Jay or the person/organization donating the prize.
- By entering you are agreeing to hold Joyfully Jay harmless if the prize or giveaway in some way negatively impacts the winner.
- Readers may only enter once for each contest. Â Duplicate entries for the same giveaway will be ignored. In the event of technical problems with the blog during the contest, every effort will be made to extend the contest deadline to allow for additional entries.
- Void where prohibited by law.
Oh my gosh!!!!! This book looks like it will be just as hot as the first 2 in this series! Holy crap on a cracker what an excerpt! Please count my in the contest and wow, I cannot wait to read this book! =)
LOL So glad you liked the first two, Darlene. Good luck!
Want! I’ve been waiting for this one since I read the other two! Yay!
Hi Kris, hope it’s all you expect it to be. Good luck!
yippee!!! i luv this series. count me in.
Maria, so happy to hear you love the boys ;D Luck!
Thanks for the great excerpt. Please count me in.
Antonia, thanks and good luck!
Wow! Hot excerpt!!! Count me in for the giveaway ð
Good luck, Jenny!
Great excerpt. Â Count me in too.
Thanks, Kim. Luck!
Thanks for the giveaway. Please count me in. I’d love to read this book.
Hi Cynthia, hope you get a chance to check out the boys ;D
Please count me in. Re-reading the other two books just to get more Syren feels. Thank you for doing this Mrs. A.
Ahh! Haiau126, I miss the boys! Glad you’re enjoying them. Again.
Love the series.Count me in please,thank you.
Glad to hear it, Cornelia ð
Loved the sexy excerpt! Way hotter than my first kiss ð can’t wait to read book 3!
tiger-chick-1(at)hotmail(dot)com
LOL Emily, it is a hawt one!
Mmm, that was just lovely!
vitajex(at)aol(dot)com
Mmm, Trix, indeed.
What a hot excerpt! This looks really great! Thank you for the giveaway and please count me in!
Thanks! Best of luck!
***Fanning Self*** Ohhhh Myyyy that was soooo Hot!!!! Thank you Avril for sharing that special excerpt between Syren and Kane with Us.
I’m a big Fan of your writing & love your Brooklyn Sinners Series….the first 2 Books were Awesome, I can’t wait to read, “A Sinner Born”.
I would very much appreciate the opportunity to be considered in your very generous Giveaway. Thank You & Wishing you much success with your new release.
Take Care & Stay Naughty,
PaParanormalFan (Renee)
paranormalromancefan at yahoo dot com
LOL Renee, Hope you get a chance to check out the boys <3
This is a new series for me, but based on the excerpt (and others’ comments), I’m missing out. Thanks for the chance to win!
Carolyn, I hope you get the chance to read the boys. They’re awesome, if I do say so myself ;D
I will take your totally unbiased opinion into consideration, Avril. ð
ð ð
Loved the hot excerpt!
Thanks Gigi!
Holy Cow… I have missed these guys. Have been dying waiting for this book. Thank you! Thank You! These Brooklyn boys are the hottest.
LOL Melissa ð
Beautiful excerpt! Please count me in, thank you.
Thanks! Luck!!
Sounds fantastic. Please count me in. Thanks so much for the chance to win.
Hi H.B! Good luck!
Please count me in. Thanks.
Good luck!
Well, that was HOT! Whew!!!
Please count me in. Thanks!
LOL Maya, we like it hot in BK ;D
Ohh sounds very good! sugar_n_spice63830@yahoo.com
WOW – that was a HOT excerpt!! I love a good first kiss scene and this certainly delivers! I haven’t read this series yet, but I am definitely putting it on my list.
Congrats on the five star review here. Sounds great.
Wow! What a first kiss… Hot damn.