Blog Tour # 2 - THE ESCORT w/Review
The Escort
Shamed # 3
Shamed # 3
By: Laura Marie Altom
Releasing August 11, 2015
Loveswept
Blurb:
In Laura Marie Altom’s scorching new Shamed novel, perfect for fans of J. Kenner and Tracy Wolff, a broken heart pushes a rugged loner to the breaking point—until a not-so-innocent affair changes everything.
When the woman he loves marries billionaire Liam Stone, Nathan Black swears off dating and playing by the rules. He’s also tired of being broke. His new gig as a male escort isn’t exactly legal, but the cash will help him build a solid future. Then there’s Carol Moore, Liam’s personal assistant. She and Nathan always seem to get paired up at Stone family functions—and always seem to end up in bed together. She’s definitely intriguing. But how could a good girl like Carol settle down with a screw-up like Nathan?
After Carol’s dreamy boss gets hitched, crushing any chance of them getting back together, she finds herself hooking up with the bride’s best friend. Nathan is hot, adventurous, and just a little bit dangerous. But when one of their sexy games goes too far, Carol discovers how out of control Nathan’s life really is. And before long Carol is forced to choose between her safe old life and the bad boy who makes her feel like the woman she’s meant to be.
Link to Follow Tour: http://www.tastybooktours.com/2015/05/the-escort-shamed-3-by-laura-marie-altom.html
Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23166978-the-escort?ac=1
Goodreads Series Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/134180-shamed
GUEST POST with Author, Laura Marie Altom
Anti-Heroes/Heroines—Major Turn-Off or Turn-On?
As long as I’ve been writing, my stories tend to elicit strong reader responses. Readers either LOVE or LOATHE my work. Early on, I spent a fair share of time obsessing over hate reviews, but then I heard a mega-Nashville music producer (wish I could remember his name) talk about how one of the toughest things for an actor/writer/musician/director/artist to do is illicit a response. He went on to say how across the board, the biggest stars in the world are equally loved and hated. Britney Spears, Tom Cruise, and in writing circles, even blockbuster mega-titles like Twilightand Fifty Shades of Grey, have passionate legions in their respective love/hate camps.
What do any of these stars have to do with me? I decided that if my work was going to strongly resonate with readers, I would give them added reason by tackling subjects that might not always be popular, but deserved an honest and sometimes even raw voice.
One of my earliest hot-button topics tackled the subject of childhood molestation by a close family friend. I was genuinely shocked by the amount of hate mail I received and even bad reviews—not for my writing, but subject matter.
Fair enough. I knew early-on these issues may not be popular, but if they help one woman—or, even man—find solace in realizing they’re not alone, then it’s worth it.
I’ve since done a story featuring an alcoholic mother fighting to win back custody of her child, a war veteran addicted to drugs and alcohol, and now, in my newest Loveswept release, The Escort, I’m tackling the issue of male prostitution—or, the bigger emotional question of just how far would you be willing to go to improve your lot in life?
Nathan Black has just lost the love of his life to a billionaire. He stocks groceries, takes a few online college courses, and now that he’s finally met a woman whose company he enjoys enough to take his mind off of the woman he lost, he realizes that because of his social standing, he doesn’t have a chance with her—or, at least, that’s how he perceives his situation when he receives an offer that’s not quite legal.
All of the sudden, Nathan is faced with a moral dilemma. Almost instantaneously, he can have every material good he’s ever wanted, but with strings attached. By every definition aside from erotica, a male escort is hardly a suitable candidate for a modern day hero, which makes him an anti-hero—a man so flawed as to maybe seem unredeemable. But that’s what I LOVE about writing broken characters—proving that most every man and woman deserve love. The tricky part is helping readers agree . . .
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Author Info:
Laura Marie Altom is the author of more than forty books in three different genres. Now that her kids are in college, Altom spends her days writing and chasing after a menagerie of pets: a mini long-haired dachshund named Cocoa, a Yorkie named Daisy, a mutt named Sweet Pea, and Domino—a black-and-white stealth cat she rarely sees. She’s happily married to her college sweetheart (go Hogs!), and when night falls, she steals a few romantic moments for herself with her own hunky cover stud.
Author Links:
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Ebook copies of:
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JUST A LITTLE CRUSH by Renita Pizzitola
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CRUSHED by Lauren Layne
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AGAINST THE CAGE by Sidney Halston
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POSSESS by Laura Marie Altom
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AFTER MIDNIGHT by Kathy Clark
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MAKE YOU BURN by Megan Crane
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MY HIGHLAND LOVER by Maeve Greyson
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BREAKING NOAH by Missy Johnson and Ashley Suzanne
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A FASHIONABLE INDULGENCE by K.J. Charles
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FORBIDDEN by Jacquelyn Frank
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Excerpt 1
“I, Ella, take you, Liam, to be my lawfully wedded husband . . .”
If I heard one more word of the happy couple’s vows, I’d fucking hurl.
I stood on the fringe of their big event with my hands shoved in the pockets of the khakis I’d picked up at Goodwill. Why wouldn’t I want to look my best for the love of my life getting hitched to a billionaire who’s actually perfect for her, and can give her the kind of life of which I’ve never even dreamed?
Everything about the beachfront nuptials was perfection.
Gently lapping surf—check.
Violet-streaked sunset kissing the ocean—check.
Pillar candles lining the aisle and practically an entire freaking orchestra playing powdery-soft Vivaldi—check, check. Toss in thousands of white orchids and roses, wandering flamingos, a champagne fountain, a tent with tables heaped with food and a vodka-ice-luge carved into an enormous E & L, and the scene was straight out of a circus freak show of flashy wealth. Only the thing about Liam was that I truly believed not a bit of this was for show, or to prove he’d win a wedding-of-the-century dick-measuring contest, but because he loves Ella so much that in ways, he’d reverted to a little kid, eager to prove his love by buying her every single toy on her Christmas list—only it was July, and knowing Ella, the only thing she’d ever really wanted Santa to bring was love.
In Liam, I knew she’d found that and more, and the fact was killing me.
Seating for the hundred or so guests was an assortment of gold-toned sofas, love seats and chairs that had no business being on a beach, but somehow seemed as perfect as the rest of everything Carol—Liam’s longtime assistant—and a pricey wedding planner had thrown together.
I saw her now—Carol—standing on the opposite side of the aisle from me.
Her pale blue eyes shone with unshed tears. The barely-there breeze stole strands from her elegant blond updo, streaming them like golden seaweed across her mouth, but she stood stone-still, as though if she froze, maybe time would, too, and this wedding wouldn’t happen.
She used to have a thing for Liam the way I did for Ella.
Judging by her solemn expression, the way her full lips turned slightly down at the corners, I guessed she pretty much felt the same as I did—that this whole event sucked balls.
The happy couple now delivered personally written, wholly heartfelt vows. Joy. I loved Ella. I should be thrilled for her, so why did I find myself gravitating toward Carol, then asking, “Want to get out of here?”
For the longest time she remained motionless—a pale-skinned goddess whose gold-satin gown reflected the sun’s last gasp.
“Carol?” The music swelled as if cued by Ella’s happy tears. How had Liam done it? Built riches so vast as to have his own wedding soundtrack?
Carol finally looked at me. Her pain contradicted her beauty. Silent tears fell, polluting her cheeks with wavy black mascara trails. “Fuck me.”
“No kidding, right? I’m happy for them, but for us, this whole thing seriously blows.”
“Agreed—but I mean it, Nathan. Fuck me. Pound me so hard I forget tonight ever happened.”
“Wait, what?” Gaze narrowed, I cocked my head. She didn’t flinch. “Oh shit, you’re serious.”
She grabbed my hand, then dragged me down the shore, away from the wedding and toward the deserted house. After pressing the call button for the glass-fronted elevator that had been built into the Big Sur cliff, she shoved me against the nearest rock wall, slashing her lips across mine for a kiss far more brutal than erotic.
But then I got into it, the whole anti-wedding, pissed-off spirit of the thing, and I returned her ugly kiss with bold strokes of my tongue. My dick roared, and I cupped my hand to her ass, tugging her against me. She was taller than Ella—a good five-foot-eleven with heels—and satisfactorily ground against my six-foot-two frame.
The elevator signaled its arrival with a discreet ding.
The doors opened and we plunged this shit show inside.
Now, I took the lead, banging her against the car’s mirrored rear wall. I gave her neck a rough nuzzle before pounding the up button, then helping myself to the deep vee of her gown. She wore no bra and when I grazed her nipple, it hardened beneath my palm.
I dragged my lips up her throat and along the tender underside of her chin.
She groaned, grabbing for my fly, but the car lurched to a stop.
When the doors swished open, we tumbled out onto the hardwood floor of what typically was a combo movie/game room temporarily being used for wedding gift storage.
An ornate pool table with a red-felt top had been piled high with wrapped gifts.
I released Carol long enough to shove them aside. A few plummeted to the floor. Judging by the muted jingle of broken glass or clanging metal, they didn’t fare well. Fucking oops.
Right now, all that mattered was blocking pain with pleasure.
I barely even knew this woman, but for my purposes, she’d more than do. By way of returning her favor, I’d give her a fuck she wouldn’t soon forget.
REVIEW***REVIEW***REVIEW***REVIEW***REVIEW***REVIEW
Nathan Black meets Carol Moore when the love of his life is marrying the love of hers. They have the pain and serious attraction between them, but honestly, what else? As they get to know one another, they are pleasantly surprised at the outcome.
Nathan wanted nothing more than to be with Ella forever. Then she married Liam. Carol understood the pain this caused and swept him away for a hot moment in time. The next time they see each other he is embarrassed to tell her he is too poor to take her to dinner. So he makes some rash decisions and sells his soul to make better money.
Carol just wants someone to finally love her for what she has to bring to the table. Liam helped put her in the right path, but obviously was never mean for her. She starts to feel that she has a chance with Nathan. He is just gone all the time and works all these strange hours. What is a girl to think?
Nathan finds he is truly falling for Carol. Unfortunately, the devil his soul to also knows. Threatened and scared, he continues to lie to Carol for her own safety. Can he convince her they have a chance at a future when they have so many lies between them? Trust becomes a real issue for this couple.
What an amazing book! This story had so much going on I thought about taking notes! I was loving all the characters and the suspense, though. If you enjoyed the first two books in the Shamed series, you will definitely love this one! This book can be read as a standalone read - but why do that if you can enhance it by reading all three? I loved it and found that I cannot wait to see what happens in the next installment.
***This ARC copy was provided by Netgalley.com and its publishers for an honest review only.
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