Cassandra Dean

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.

Tags: blog hop, Cassandra Dean, ebook, ebooks, ENSLAVED, giveaway, giveaway hop, michelle's book blog, red hot books, shameless summer, teach me

The Shameless Summer Giveaway Hop is being hosted by Red Hot Books, Romance Around the Corner and Michelle’s Book Blog.
Let the celebrations begin!

Hi peeps,

Welcome to the Shameless Summer Giveaway Hop! Big thanks to Jen of Red Hot Books, Brie of Romance Around the Corner and Michelle of Michelle’s Book Blog for hosting the hop.

So on with Shameless Summer! At the moment, it’s the furthers thing from summer for me – in Australia, June is the beginning of winter, and everything is grey and cold and rainy. All I want to do is snuggle up to a heater with a blanket and a nice, warm Nathan Fillion

I’m very jealous of the Northern Hemispherers and the warm, summery fun times they’re currently experiencing. Oh to be on a beach somewhere, sipping a cocktail and watching Nathan Fillion frolic in the waves – I’m a simple lass at heart.
And now, the contest#!
Comment below on your favourite summer extravagance. Do you like to laze by the pool? Are you longing for a cold beer on a warm night? Are you hoping to spy some scantily clad men (in the pursuit of Scientific Purposes*). Comment below and let me know!

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!

*As every lady knows, the examination of scantily clad men is purely in the interest of Science. Science is totally our friend.
 

TEACH ME

Ever curious, Elizabeth, Viscountess Rocksley, has turned her curiosity to erotic pleasure. Three years a widow, she boldly employs the madame of a brothel for guidance but never had she expected her education to be conducted by a coldly handsome peer of the realm.

To the Earl of Malvern, the erotic tutelage of a skittish widow is little more than sport, however the woman he teaches is far from the mouse he expects. With her sly humor and insistent joy, Elizabeth obliterates all his expectations and he, unwillingly fascinated, can’t prevent his fall.

Each more intrigued than they are willing to admit, Elizabeth and Malvern embark upon a tutelage that will challenge them, change them, come to mean everything to them…until a heartbreaking betrayal threatens to tear them apart forever.
 
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# The small print: Comment before midnight on 16/06/2012 (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 18/06/2012. 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.

Tags: blog hop, Cassandra Dean, ebook, ebooks, ENSLAVED, giveaway, giveaway hop, michelle's book blog, red hot books, shameless summer, teach me