Dec
2015
Heloise West’s If I Were Fire
I’m so excited to have Heloise West as my guest today. She stops by for a fabulously fun interview that you don’t want to miss. Her latest book If I Were Fire is out now and I know you don’t want to miss it. It’s under 100 pages so it’s short enough for you to enjoy in one sitting, but there’s still plenty of story to get lost in. After the interview, read all about the book and an excerpt that will leave you wanting more. At the very bottom enter for a chance to win one of three copies of the book.
Amanda C. Stone: Good morning Heloise! I am so excited to have you here to day. What is the worst birthday present you have ever received? And who gave it to you?
Heloise West: My mom gave me a sweater for my birthday years ago. There was a sheep on the front with curly hair that stood out from the sweater—cute but not my type of thing to wear. Mom could have exchanged the thing, she always said so, but the hurt feelings, the guilt, and the time it would take her to get it done and resend it…. My roommate liked it, so I gave it to her. Of course the one day my mom came to visit was the day my roommate chose to wear it….
ACS: Oh man! I would love to know your mom’s reaction to your roommate wearing it! You are traveling with The Doctor (or any other time traveling person). Would you visit the past or the future?
HW: The past—the future is unknown (though this question did give me a plot bunny 😉 and a little scary, though the known past can be pretty frightening, too.
ACS: Hooray for plot bunnies! Now to wait until the book is written and I can read what my question inspired! Name 3 things on your Bucket List.
HW: 1) See Pompeii once more. 2) Learn to Italian. 3) Learn to draw.
ACS: I would absolutely love to see Pompeii at some point in my life. It’s on my bucket list too! What is the weirdest thing you have ever eaten?
HW: Raw oysters are as weird as it gets for me.
ACS: Sounds pretty weird to me! I don’t think I could ever eat raw oysters. The few times I’ve had cooked it grossed me out too much. If you could travel anywhere all expenses paid where would you go? Name one thing you’d see or do there.
HW: I’d definitely spend more time in Italy seeing the sights, but if this is expenses paid, a shopping spree is in order, too. 🙂
ACS: Oh if only an all expenses paid shopping spree were for real. I would definitely be joining you there. Thank you so much for stopping by today. I loved having you!
Blurb:
In 18th century Siena, Count Salvesto Masello has returned home to find the family villa and his father’s estate steeped deeply in debt. In order to save it, he has been selling off valuable family heirlooms, but he is running out of silverware. Somewhere in the villa his deceased father had hidden the art treasures that will pay the debt, but Salvesto can’t find them anywhere.
Amadeo Neruccio has been on the run from the vicious pimp, thief, and pawnbroker Guelfetto, but his toughs finally catch him and bring him to the cellar where Count Masello is selling off his silver. When the count learns what fate Guelfetto has in store for Amadeo, he intervenes and trades the last of his mother’s dowry for the young man’s freedom.
Salvesto had left home over ten years ago to live the life of adventure he craved. He had also hoped to leave his broken heart behind. When he rescues young Amadeo, he did not expect to find love again, or that his adventures had yet to end.
Excerpt:
Everyone knew everyone’s business in the small hilly honeycomb town of Siena. The house the Masello had once occupied for short periods during the year belonged to a rich merchant now. The eldest Masello had died in a hunting accident in the countryside, and his father, it was said, died of grief a year later. This event had brought the new conte home to the villa with the leaky roof, the broken-backed barn, and massive debt. Yet perhaps Conte Masello was not as bad off as they said, for he had paid Amadeo’s debt to Guelfetto.
Likely Amadeo was wrong about that, too, as the conte had traded for his freedom with silver dishes and spoons. Amadeo swallowed hard but could not dislodge the lump in his throat, a combination of gratitude and resentment. Life in a Florentine bathhouse and sexual slavery to the traditional enemies of Siena was no life at all. He shuddered. He had meant it about throwing himself on the tender mercy of the river.
What kind of master was the new Conte Masello? He glanced at the man beside him and found warm hazel eyes gazing down at him. His new master’s hair was as brown as chestnuts and touched with gray strands. Whatever he’d been doing while the family fortunes dwindled—soldiering, sailing, perhaps even tramping about in the New World—had made him a man with a face weathered by the sun and muscles that strained the seams of his fine clothes. He was broad-shouldered and a forearm’s length taller than Amadeo, who felt like a willow tree beside such an oak.
“We have another stop to make,” the conte whispered. “Finish your prayers.”
The hard press of the conte’s velvet-clad shoulder and the intimacy of his warm breath on Amadeo’s neck sent a small shock through him, and his cock stirred restlessly in response.
Oh no, you don’t. You are not to ruin this chance for me either. Pardon me, dear Saint Catherine. I pledge to you I will stay away from the gaming tables and this man’s bed.
About Heloise:
Heloise West, when not hunched over the keyboard plotting love and mahem, dreams about moving to a villa in Tuscany. She loves history, mysteries, and romance of all flavors. She travels and gardens with her partner of 10 years, and their home overflows with books, cats, art, and red wine.
Dreamspinner Press Author Page: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/AuthorArcade/heloise-west
Blog: https://velvetpanic2.wordpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heloise.west.1
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/heloisewest/
Email: heloisewest@hotmail.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/velvetpanic
Tumblr: http://heloisewest.tumblr.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8188216.Heloise_West
Buy Links:
Dreamspinner Press: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6854
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/If-Were-Fire-Heloise-West-ebook/dp/B014OLT4L6/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1441112217&sr=1-1&pebp=1441112225561&perid=0XNWXC3PTVNH5EF3QKXY
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/if-i-were-fire
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/if-i-were-fire-heloise-west/1122595748?ean=2940150861008
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Heloise_West_If_I_Were_Fire?id=6ON1CgAAQBAJ
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-ifiwerefire-1876681-162.html
Tour Stops:
15-Sep: Bayou Book Junkie, Mikky’s World of Books, Velvet Panic,
22-Sep: Happily Ever Chapter, The Novel Approach
29-Sep: Bike Book Reviews, Cathy Brockman Romances, Hearts on Fire
6-Oct: Prism Book Alliance
13-Oct: Wake Up Your Wild Side, My Fiction Nook
20-Oct: MM Good Book Reviews
27-Oct: Divine Magazine
3-Nov: Love Bytes
10-Nov: V’s Reads
17-Nov: Emotion in Motion
24-Nov: Parker Williams
1-Dec: BFD Book Blog
8-Dec: Amanda C. Stone
15-Dec: Inked Rainbow Reads
22-Dec: Molly Lolly
29-Dec: Jessie G. Books
Giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thanks, Amanda! 🙂