I want to share a sneak peek at my friend Voirey Linger's newest release! Voirey's writing is the kind I love to savor--scorching sexual tension, high emotion, and enough gritty realism to her characters to make them completely unforgettable. Take a look!
Voirey Linger writes stories designed to ruffle your feathers. Her second angel book, Forsaking Eternity releases February 25th from Ellora's Cave Publishing, and this summer she will be launching a new series of erotic shorts called The Mansion series. She's also the founder of The Summer Reading Trail, a collection of free reads from authors of all genres. For more information about Voirey's stories or the Summer Reading Trail, please visit her Website at www.voireylinger.com.
Sequel to Risking Eternity.
There are some things an angel shouldn’t do…
Renatus is a legalist and knows the rules better than most. But knowing the Law doesn’t stop him from imagining the press of a hard male body against his, or remembering one forbidden kiss that left him hungry for more. He leaves Heaven to mingle with mankind, hoping that satisfying curiosity will quell desire. He finds Adam, a college professor who has given up on love.
Adam once dreamed of finding the perfect man and settling down. His dreams and trust were shattered when he found out the truth about his ex. Meeting Renatus seduces Adam into taking another chance on love. But Ren is keeping secrets, and the only promise he will make is that he will leave.
Now the Most High has commanded Renatus to retrieve the Law of Men and Angels, and a vengeful demon is circling, waiting for her opportunity to strike. Staying is impossible, leaving unbearable, and Ren wants to succumb to temptation, forsaking eternity for a life on Earth with Adam.
Excerpt:
An Excerpt From: FORSAKING ETERNITY
Copyright © VOIREY LINGER, 2011
All Rights Reserved, Ellora's Cave Publishing, Inc.
“Do you work nearby, Adam?”
“Fairly. I’m a professor at the university. I’m farther away than most of the lunch crowd but still close enough to walk. And you?”
“I do not work nearby.” That line of questioning used up his conversational repertoire. Ren picked up his coffee mug and took a nervous sip.
The hot brew hit his mouth and Ren’s eyes watered. Merciful Heavens, it was vile. The heat of it singed his mouth and the bitter taste made him recoil. Even the packets of sugar he had used did nothing to improve the flavor. His eyes watered and he forced himself to swallow. How could Maggie drink this? From her blissful reaction to a simple cup of coffee, he’d expected it to taste, well…good.
“What’s wrong? Too hot?”
Ren gasped and cleared his throat before speaking. “The taste was not what I was expecting.”
“Are you one of the connoisseurs who likes their coffee to be just so? I have to admit to being underwhelmed by all the special blends. To me, coffee is just coffee.”
“No, it’s not that. I don’t believe I like coffee at all, actually.” Could this trip have possibly been a bigger failure? No doubt he looked like a fool.
“Ah, ordered the wrong thing then. What did you want? Hot chocolate maybe?” He turned to flag down a waiter.
“Please, do not be concerned. I do not need anything.” He reached across the table and placed his hand on Adam’s arm to stop him. His fingers tingled where they touched the tweed of the jacket. The power flowing through their bodies shifted, aligned once more. Never before, in all the eons of his existence, had he ever experienced anything of the like.
Adam’s hand eased back down and he stared at Ren’s fingers on his sleeve. His lips parted, his breath caught for one brief moment before he drew a shuddering gasp.
Adam felt it, too.
The knowledge went to Ren’s head in a giddy rush. Flustered, he pulled away. Clutching his coffee for dear life, he stared into the faint wisp of steam escaping it and tried to make sense of what just happened.
Was this attraction? Something more? The beginnings of…what, exactly?
“Adam?” Another man stopped by the table, claiming the human’s attention. “Sorry to interrupt, but we need to go or we’ll be late.”
Adam checked his watch and grimaced. “Head back without me. I’ll be right behind you.”
“He is a friend?” Ren asked as the man walked away.
“Tom is a longtime friend and colleague. And I’m afraid he’s right. I have a lecture and need to get back to campus.”
Adam gave Ren a thoughtful look before standing. “Do you have anywhere you need to be? If you have time I’d like it if you would walk to my office with me.”
Ren examined the small brown bubbles floating in his coffee cup, flustered. His face felt unaccountably hot and he didn’t know where to look. “I am available and would like to accompany you.”
Ren braved a glance at Adam’s face and was struck by the pleasure the human radiated. Had he done that, made Adam so incredibly happy just by agreeing to walk with him? The other man’s happiness seemed to spark an answering joy deep in Ren, a joy he hadn’t felt in seven thousand years.
He stood, leaving his coffee on the table, and shoved his hands in the pockets of his jacket. Adam gestured in the general direction of the campus and the two of them started down the sidewalk.
“You are an educator. Do you have many students?” he asked Adam as they walked.
“Not really. The college is a small one, and ancient language studies aren’t very popular. Students take my classes because they need them, not because the subject interests them. I enjoy teaching, but translation work is more interesting to me.”
“Translation?”
“We’re sometimes sent old texts. Oftentimes it’s something that’s been translated before and we’ve been asked to confirm the interpretation. Other times it’s a new find. We’ve had a few partial texts to handle and identify but those usually go to larger universities.”
“That sounds like interesting work.”
“It is. What about you?”
“I am not from here.”
Adam chuckled, and the sound sparked a warm glow of what might have been happiness in Ren.
“Yeah, I did notice that.”
Ren stopped, confused. “How did you know?”
“The vaguely European accent, formal speech patterns, some of your word choices.” Adam smiled indulgently. “Your American accent is good but not perfect.”
“I’ll have to work on that.”
“No. Don’t. I like it. Come on, we’re almost there.” They began walking again, but this time there was a companionable silence, the simple satisfaction of being close to each other. How odd to have such comfortable familiarity when they’d only just met. He didn’t feel this at ease with beings he’d known since before time.
They reached the college and Adam took him on a slow tour of the grounds, pointing out various buildings and bits of architecture. At almost two hundred years, the campus was old by American standards. Well-maintained lawns were framed by cobbled walkways and neat shrubberies graced beds laid to rest in anticipation of the coming winter. Trees, thick with the vibrant shades of autumn, overlooked red brick buildings which displayed a level of craftsmanship long dead.
They reached the language studies building and Adam led Ren inside. Adam’s office held the same quaint charm and timeless appeal as the grounds. Dark wood floors squeaked under their feet as they entered. Two large windows dominated the wall opposite the door, stretching from knee-high to a handsbreadth of the high ceiling. Wooden shelves, their stain nearly black with age, lined the walls on either side of the room and matching wainscoting graced the bare walls. The plaster was a plain white which gleamed in the midday light streaming through the glass.
“Is it too bright for you? I can close the blinds if you’d like.” Adam took a stack of books from a battered chair and set them on his overfilled desk. He began shuffling papers, straightening the desk. “I like the light so I keep the blinds up most of the time. Natural light is much better for working, at least it is for me, but if you don’t like it…”
Adam stood still as a statue for a hesitant second. “I’m rambling, aren’t I?”
“Perhaps a little.” Ren ducked his head and smiled.
“Please, make yourself comfortable. I don’t have much time, unfortunately.”
Ren didn’t move. He couldn’t. His feet were firmly planted on those aging boards, held captive by this man, this simple human. After an eternity of living among wonders beyond this or any man’s comprehension, how was it that Adam, in all his base humanity, could fascinate him so?
“I don’t really wish to sit.” He peeked up at Adam and his gaze caught on the expression on the human’s face.
Adam slowly circled the desk once more until he stood close in front of Ren, closer than socially acceptable, closer than comfortable. Something deep in Ren’s chest responded. It pulled at him, tugged him toward Adam until he swayed.
“Why did you come, Renatus?” The words were a whisper, their speaker so close Ren could feel them ghosting over his own lips.
“I wanted to be with you, if only for a few more moments.”
Ren couldn’t say which one of them moved, or if maybe they both had. He just knew that in the next moment his jacket brushed against the tweed of Adam’s, the near-contact of their bodies so overwhelming that he could feel every fiber as they caught and clung. Adam’s breath fell hot and fast against his face. Ren’s lids grew heavy, his head tilted and he began to lean in.
Forsaking Eternity by Voirey Linger
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Buried Treasure
This is so nice! One of the most respected romance review sites out there, All About Romance, mentioned On the Steamy Side in their post about 2010 books they hoped more readers would find. Thanks, guys!
According to the post, "Reviewer Dabney Grinnan [my new favorite person!] particularly enjoyed On the Steamy Side by Louisa Edwards and thought it deserved more attention. Of this novel, she says, 'This is the second book in a series set in the restaurant world of New York City. The lovers in this one, Devon–the bad boy celebrity chef– and Lilah Jane–ex-high school drama teacher–, are very sexy and funny together. Plus the book–and the series–features a m/m love story that is lovely and sexy in its own right. I like all three books in the series, but this is my favorite.'"
The whole list is very interesting, especially if you're looking to add some new-to-you authors to your TBR list. I'm honored to be in such illustrious company! Check it out.
What are some of your "buried treasures" from last year?
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Hottest Chef in America
If you're as obsessed with chefs as I am, you know there are a lot more hotties out there than just the ones you see on the Food Network. And every year, food enthusiast website Eater runs a competition to choose the hottest of the real-life chefs! This year's line-up is stellar.
Check it out and make your voice be heard! Taff Mayberry (the cutie on the middle left) is my pick--and he would be, even if he weren't a chef in my new hometown. But Vikas Khanna gives him a run for his money. That accent! *swoon*
Who gets your vote?
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Beta Heroes
There's a very interesting challenge going on over at RomanceBooksForum. They want to prove the existence of the Beta Hero! If you're not 100% sure what that is, check out their post--they offer a good link to explain it.
I love beta heroes--always have. A couple great examples are Robin from Mary Jo Putney's wonderful ANGEL ROGUE, and Davy from my very favorite Jennifer Crusie novel, FAKING IT.
And it made me wonder. Do you think any of my heroes can be classified as betas? The only one who's been published so far that might fit the bill is Wes, from JUST ONE TASTE. Adam and (especially) Devon are both pretty alpha! But for those of you who, like me, love the quiet, calm confidence and intelligent leadership of the beta hero, I can't wait to introduce you to Danny Lunden, the hero of SOME LIKE IT HOT, the second book in my next trilogy. You're going to adore him!
Monday, February 14, 2011
Happy V-Day!
It's hearts and flowers time again, kids! Personally, I'm spending the Day of Love working on my current manuscript, slaving away over revisions and polishing until the story shines as brightly as a brand new diamond drop necklace! Because that's how much I adore you all.
What are your romantic (or anti-romance) plans for the day?
Friday, February 4, 2011
Facebook Giveaway: Three Signed Books!
Edge of Sight, first in the new Guardian Angelinos romantic suspense series by Roxanne St. Claire, The Perfect Dish, sweet culinary romance by Kristen Painter, and Hard to Hold, a real life romance by Julie Leto! All autographed by the authors. And the luck winner will also get one of my hot new cover flats as a bonus...
Comment on the original Facebook post to be entered in the drawing. Only US/Canada residents who are fans of my official page are eligible.
Good luck! These are some fun, steamy reads to warm up your chilly winter nights!
Thursday, February 3, 2011
It's Officially A Cover
For those without a magnifying glass who want to know what the back cover actually says, here it is:
Welcome to the Rising Star Chef competition, where today’s hottest chefs battle it out on national TV for a chance at fame, fortune and culinary supremacy. Every contestant hungers to win, but only one will take the prize…
HE’S GOT THE SIZZLE
When it comes to competitive cooking, Max Lunden is no stranger to winning…though he’s never been great at working with a team. A master chef—and major hunk—he’s traveled the world, picking up new cooking techniques as well as beautiful women. But when the prodigal chef returns home to his family’s Greenwich Village restaurant, he discovers one too many cooks in the kitchen—and she’s every bit as passionate as he is…
SHE’S GOT THE FIRE
Juliet Cavanaugh used to have a crush on Max when she was just a teenager, hanging out at Lunden & Sons Tavern, hoping to catch a glimpse of the owner’s oldest, and hottest, son. Now a chef herself—competing in the biggest culinary contest in the country—Juliet will be cooking side by side with the one man she’s always admired…and desired. But despite their simmering attraction, Juliet is determined to keep her cool—no matter how hot it gets…
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Naughty
For a spicy trip down memory lane, check out the Cityroom blog today at the NYT--they're showcasing The Gentleman's Directory, an 1870 guide to the brothels and whorehouses of Manhattan. It's a fascinating look at a slice of history that's usually hidden away, swept under the carpet. It's interesting to think of people back then as real and flawed, rather than the quaint, idealized picture painted by most history books.
Enjoy!
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