The Lovestruck Giveaway Hop is being hosted by Under the Covers Book Blog and Bona Fide Reflections.
Let the celebrations begin!
Hi peeps,
Welcome to the Lovestruck Giveaway Hop! Thanks to the lovely ladies of Under the Covers Book Blog and Bona Fide Reflections for hosting this hop.
I’ve spent a lot of time recently talking about TEACH ME, my second book. For this hop, though, I thought I’d talk a little bit about my first book, ENSLAVED. I haven’t really talked about it for a time, and I feel it deserves some love and affection.
 I was to teach a slave.
Marcus, a gladiator in my father’s ludus, was compelled to my presence to learn of Rome’s gods, her legends. When first he came, fear consumed me – fear of this silent, resentful slave who burned with his anger. Time, though, changes much. Marcus softened and I grew unafraid. As we became closer, I grew more than merely unafraid – I grew to love him. Never did I think we would be separated. I was wrong. I forced myself to forget. Forget Marcus, forget the almost-smile he gave to me alone, forget everything but my life as it was now. Then, one day, I wandered into a market and spied Marcus, and the truth I had always hidden, thought to forget, was thrust upon me. I had never ceased to love my slave. |
I was so happy when ENSLAVED was accepted for publication by Decadent Publishing. Not only did I love the story, it was to be my very first published work. Squee! I was now a published author!
In ENSLAVED, Lucia spends a lot of time pining away for Marcus, struck by love and unable to act upon it. In fact, in this excerpt, it’s rather obvious exactly what about Marcus has captivated her 
Leaning my forearms against the balustrade of the viewing platform, I watched Marcus battle another of my father’s champions, a Greek my father had purchased years ago. Back and forth they sparred, strength and speed behind each move.
The Greek raised his sword, striking fast. Marcus blocked the move and the strength of both gladiators locked the swords together. Face set in concentration, muscles standing in relief, Marcus strained against the force of the Greek. Mouth dry, I ran my gaze over his arms, his shoulders, the play of his back as he pushed against the sword. His loincloth had fallen from his hip, such that he appeared as naked from the side, a thin strip of cloth bisecting his hip the only break in the golden expanse of his flesh.
Raising his shield, Marcus broke the stalemate. The sudden move severed my fascinated gaze, and I swallowed to wet my throat as Marcus battered the Greek about his shoulders and head, the heavy blows sure to fell a smaller opponent. With a grunt, the Greek stumbled. Quick though he recovered, and once more set to spar.
As he blocked the Greek’s advance, Marcus’s gaze sought mine. Leaning further over the balustrade, I offered him a grin and won for myself a fleeting glimpse of his almost-smile. It seemed to me he kept such an expression for me alone, for it was certain I had never seen him gift it to another. It may be I fooled myself to believe such, but what harm was there in a small fiction?
And now, the contest#!
Comment below on your favourite lovestruck moment. It can be a book, or your life, or something completely made up! Let me know the wild and crazy times of the lovestruck. Go nuts, peeps!
One lucky commenter will win an ebook copy of ENSLAVED, as well as a signed TEACH ME postcard and TEACH ME magnet! International entries are welcome – if Australia Post can reach your country, you can enter!
Thanks for hanging with me, peeps. I look foward to reading your comments
xx
Click below to see the other awesome giveaways!
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# The small print: Comment before midnight on 23/06/2012 (Australian Central Standard Time) to be entered to win one (1) ebook copy of ENSLAVED, one (1) signed TEACH ME postcard and one (1) TEACH ME magnet. Winner will be selected via random.org, with winner’s name posted on this blog by 25/06/2012. Cassandra will also contact the winner by e-mail; the winner will be required to reply with their postal address so Cassandra can send the prize to them. Only one entry per ISP address. International entries are welcome. No purchase necessary to enter. Odds of winning depend on number of entries received. Void where prohibited.
The first time i ssn my hubby i was lovestruck, lost. in all that football glory… woooweeee
thanks for the great give away, i have never read enslaved it looks really good!
elliott2668(at)yahoo(dot)com
I know people in the literary world will scream. But, in the BOOK for Twilight, the meadow scene when Edward and Bella finally kissed.
I have to say when I first saw my husband. We went to high school together and due to skipping I sat in on another gym class to make up for the one I missed and when waiting for the instructor to show up I was sitting next to this hot guy (the Mr) and I asked my friend who he was. Ever since then, I had a crush on him. FFWD to senior year… I got to officially meet him through a friend, we dated and then I married him.
booksniffersanonymous at gmail dot com
Love struck…when I saw my husband for the first time!
Yvette
yratpatrol@aol.com
Hmm – I think I was a little lovestruck reading a vampire romance for the first time. Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Kyrian in the summer and I just remember absolutely devouring it thinking, where have these been all my life. It was a great introduction to paranormal romance and really awakened the reading bug inside of me.
Well, my lovestruck moment hasn’t exactly happened yet, but I imagine it something like this: the man of my dreams takes me out to a romantic dinner and we then slow dance together to our song, and at a perfect point during that song, he asks me to marry him. That’s just the basics of it, but I’m still waiting for it!
Btw, thanks for offering this giveaway, I’ve been wanting to read this book since it came out, but unfortunately, small pockets, massive TBR lists, and little time have prevented me from doing so so far. It’s on my list though, one day…
tiger-chick-1(at)hotmail(dot)com
In fiction, I love the scene in Gone With the Wind at the crossroads when Rhett kisses Scarlett and declares his feelings even as he’s leaving to go back.
Thanks for participating in the hop and for the giveaway opportunity.
sophiarose1816@gmail.com
I was love struck the first time I went to the Hoh rainforest in Washington state. The place brought me such peace and I felt so centered. Thanks for the giveaway. Email is heyprettiel @ hotmail dot com
Definately the first time I saw my husband like I was hit with lightning .Thank you for this chance to win .Hope you are having a great weekend .
My favorite lovestruck moment is in Suzanne Brockmann’s Into The Fire. It is the moment where Izzy sees Eden for the first time. Izzy is sitting at the bar in the Ladybug Lounge when Eden walks in looking for her brother Dan. The scene is great!
mimirose41209 at hotmail dot com
When Hubby and I had our first apartment he was working nights and I was on afternoons, so we slept during the day. I had to get up early one day to run some errands before work. I woke a few min before the alarm went off and went to get up so I could leave him sleeping. He reached out with both arms and pulled be back beside him and just held me. He was asleep the whole time. I don’t think I have ever felt so loved.
I’ve been lovestruck by Gideon from Sylvia Day’s Bared To You….the elevator scene…I was a goner!!!
andieleah78@gmail.com
That would have to be when I read Book #2 of the Black Dagger Brotherhood, Lover Eternal. Totally lovestruck over Rhage!! Zsadist and Vishous are yummy, too!
Thanks for the giveaway!
darlenesbooknook at gmail dot com
I was love struck the first moment I saw my children. There is nothing that can compare.
Lisa G
Wolphcall(at)bellsouth(dot)net
I met my husband my Freshman year in college, but we were just friends. My lovestruck moment was Senior Year when I looked across a crowded dance floor and really saw him for the first time. We had been great friends for 3 years, but both of us knew then that things were changing. That was 20 years ago and we’re still together and happy!
jlhmass at yahoo dot com
It was when I read Zsadist’s book from the BDB series.
Awww, I’ve loved reading all your comments, peeps! What wonderful lovestruck moments
Not long now until the end of the contest and the winner chosen. Good luck, everyone!
xx