Recently I realized that Sylvia Day and I are going to be release sisters! How cool is that? She has a new book coming out on January 25th. So, I have to confess, I generally am not a huge historical fan. But there are a handful of authors in the genre whose stories are so awesome they force me to love them. Jennifer Haymore, Dawn Halliday, Sabrina Jeffries, Samantha Kane, old school Catherine Coulter (Mari Carr got me hooked!) and of course Sylvia suck me right into their worlds. I love their books to pieces!
The moment I saw the cover of this one I knew I had to have it. How can you resist? In case you are better than me and don’t judge a book by it’s cover, check out the awesome blurb and excerpt below.
Sylvia has been kind enough to donate a copy to a lucky reader of this blog! All you have to do is comment to be entered into the drawing. The contest will remain open until January 21st. You can get your hands on Pride and Pleasure when it releases on January 25th. The same day Morgan’s Surprise will unleash the rest of the guys from Kate’s Crew on the world 🙂
PRIDE AND PLEASURE by Sylvia Day
Wealth has its dangers…
There are disadvantages to being an heiress, as Eliza Martin knows well. Fortune hunters flock to her, acquaintances lie and pander, and lately, someone is engineering “accidents” to propel her to the altar. But Eliza will not be bullied, and she will get to the bottom of this plot. All she needs is a man to infiltrate her assemblage of suitors and find the culprit. Someone not easily noticed; a proficient dancer, quiet, and even-tempered.
…so do certain men
Thief-taker Jasper Bond is entirely too large, too handsome, and too dangerous. Who would believe that an intellectual like Eliza would be seduced by a man of action? But the combination of her stubbornness and the mystery makes the case one Jasper can’t resist. Client satisfaction is a point of pride and it’s his pleasure to prove he’s just the man she needs after all…
~~~~~
Available January 25
ISBN: 978-0758231727
Kensington Brava
~~~~~
Jasper watched her with an enigmatic smile. “I like this.”
“The dance?”
“The way you follow my lead. The feel of your body moving in just the way I want, with only the slightest urging.”
“You like being in control.”
Jasper paused mid cross step. Their faces were turned toward one another, their lips only inches apart. “And you like me in control.”
“Perhaps—” she lowered her gaze to his lips, “—being out of control is my aim.”
His hand tightened on her waist. “Are you propositioning me, Miss Martin?”
“What would you do if I did?”
“Anything you want.”
He sidestepped, so that their bodies were aligned. Face to face. Jasper was such a large, strong man. She felt so delicate when she was with him, yet never overpowered.
“You know what I want,” she whispered, blushing.
“A kiss?” He gently pulled another pin from her hair. “An embrace?”
“More.”
“How much more?”
She bit her lower lip.
Jasper caught her chin. “Shyness has no place between us.”
“I don’t want to be… overbold.”
“Sweetheart.” His tone was soft and warm. “Can you still be unaware of how I relish your esteem and desire? Haven’t I told you how deeply they please me and how much satisfaction I derive from them?”
“As if I’m the only woman to admire you,” Eliza said wryly.
“You’re the only woman whose admiration has value to me.”
“Why? There’s nothing special about me. Whatever pleasing traits I possess are better represented in other females.”
“Not in the combination with which you are blessed.” His hand drifted from her jaw line and closed around her breast. He studied her reaction as his thumb circled a highly sensitive nipple. “I love that you are beautiful and clever and carry a constant desire for me. You could not be more perfect.”
Her body responded instantly to his expert touch—her nipples tightened into aching points and the flesh between her legs throbbed with need.
“Tell me what you want,” he coaxed, anchoring her with a hand at her hip. With two fingers, he rolled and tugged the erect point of her breast, the pressure too light to offer any relief.
She felt pliable and wanton. Intoxicated. They’d been alone for an hour, only inches apart; his body had been in motion the entire time. Watching him move was a seduction in and of itself. She couldn’t keep herself from wanting him. Her infatuation was far too great to be moderated.
“I want you naked,” she breathed.
A soft rumbling came from his chest, sounding suspiciously like a purr. “Why?”
Her hands moved of their own volition, catching the lapels of his coat. “Take this off.”
His wicked smile made her toes curl. He shrugged out of the expensive garment and let it fall to the floor. “Better?”
“Not nearly.” She caressed his arms through his shirtsleeves. Looking behind him at the mirror on the opposite wall, she drank in the view of his buttocks and thighs. The sight, smell, and feel of him were all aphrodisiacs to her.
He glanced over his shoulder. “You surprise me in all the best ways. Should I hang a mirror above our bed?”
“Jasper…” A shiver of mortified delight moved through her. “I would never be able to look.”
“I think you won’t be able to look away. Shall we prove it?”
Eliza stilled. “Here?”
“Would Melville disturb us?”
She shook her head. “How…?”
Her mind rushed forward, planning how they could manage a coupling without a bed.
“Your nipples are so pretty,” he murmured, drawing her attention to her bodice. She was shamelessly, visibly aroused. “So tiny and petite.”
He stayed her when she moved to cover herself. “Unfair for you to hide when I cannot.”
She followed the gesturing sweep of his hand and found the bold outline of his erection straining the placket of his breeches. A soft sound of yearning escaped her. She wished for nothing more than to be naked with him, his powerful body flexing and working atop hers, his long thick penis pushing deep into her. Despite her lingering soreness, the lure of orgasm was too great to be denied.
He stroked himself brazenly through the doeskin. “You cannot have this again so soon.”
“Why not?” she demanded, her gnawing desire making her audacious.
“You’re sore, and I’m not in possession of a condom.”
Knowing he was vulnerable to her, she closed the distance between them. With one hand at his nape and the other gripping his buttock possessively, she rubbed against him like a cat.
Jasper’s chest vibrated with a chuckle, stimulating her already tender nipples. “Vixen,” he murmured, bending his knees and notching his erection against her swollen sex. He worked her against him, stroking where she ached with the stone-hard length of him.
“Yes,” she panted, her nails digging into his skin. “I want this.”
His lips moved against the shell of her ear. “You can’t have it, I told you. But I can make you come. Would you like that, Eliza?”
“Please.” She felt feverish.
“Are you wet for me?”
“Jasper!”
“Show me.” He backed away. “Lift your skirts and bare yourself.”
Despite the extremity of her desire, Eliza was still mortified by the request. It was one thing to be in his arms and lost to his skill. It was quite another to stand alone and lewdly display herself. “I cannot.”
His eyes were so very dark. “I promise to reward your courage.”
She fought against years of training and memories of her mother’s promiscuity to blossom as he wished her to do. She’d always believed intimacy was built through time and familiarity. Now she knew it could also be based simply on trust.
She clutched her skirts in her hands. “I suppose you’ve seen countless pantalettes before.”
The corner of Jasper’s mouth twitched. “Countless? How debauched do you think I am?”
“Enough to ask me to do this.”
“True enough,” he conceded with a regal bow of his dark head. “But I did not ask.”
She might have taken him to task for his arrogance, if her brain hadn’t leaped in another direction. So rare is this particular skill, that many a woman will disregard other considerations in favor of it, he’d said the day they had first met. And she’d laid claim to a man who possessed such expertise and wanted to practice it on her. How foolish was she to deny herself?
Before she altered her mind, Eliza yanked up her narrow skirts.
The way he looked at her caused the hairs on her nape to stand on end. “How brave you are,” he praised.
Emboldened by his admiration, she untied the ribbon that secured her pantalettes around her waist. The lace-hemmed linen fell to the floor and pooled around her ankles.
“Sweet Eliza,” he murmured, his foot deliberately catching on his discarded coat and sliding it across the floor to a spot directly in front of her. “You are more generous than I deserve.”
He sank to his knees.
Good luck and happy reading!
Jayne
www.jaynerylon.com
Don’t enter me Jayne unless you’re also giving away Morgan’s Surprise because I own this book already it was a gift from Sylvia and I too fell in love with the cover. Does he not resemble Keanu Reeve, and the colors are so very pleasing. You picked the perfect excerpt I love what he says when he slides his coat over to kneel infront of her. This was the book I picked to be my first read of 2011 and after reading the excerpt I may have to go reread it. Did you enjoy the twists and turns? I never saw the true villian coming.
Congratulations to you both on some wonderful stories being released.
Zina
I love this cover! I have read Sylvia’s paranormal books -the Eve of Destruction seris- and I really liked them but have never tried her historicals and I’ve been told that I must….lol…
Congratulations to both you and Sylvia for your upcoming releases! May you both have lots and lots of sales:)
Sweet!!! This sounds great — such a twist from the ‘normal’ historical! Thanks for the recommendation. I’ve read Sylvia’s paranormals too, but I’ve not read her historicals. Yummmy!!!
hugs,
billi jean
what a great excerpt 🙂
meandi09@yahoo.com
Congrats on the upcoming release! I’ve not read Day’s historical or paranormal romances but this sounds great.
Raonaid (at) gmail (dot) com
Oh how fun that you and Sylvia have the same release day, Jayne – congratulations to both of you on your upcoming books!
I’m so excited Sylvia has another historical out – I love reading hers too.
WANT THIS…*sigh* It sounds so wonderful!
Love historicals but have not read any of Sylvia’s yet. My fav is Julie Garwood. Love this cover and the excerpt.
Congrats on both your new releases!
Lisa B
Modokker at yahoo dot com
WOW that was hot. I don’t think I have ever read one of Sylvia Day’s historicals, may have to give this one a try. Jasper sounds like a man for all times. Yummy.
This cover is so beautiful! Congrats on the upcoming releases.
I would love to win Sylvia’s book (I have Morgan’s Surprise pre-ordered from Amazon!). The excerpt sounds great!
Good luck to Sylvia & to you Jayne on your new releases!
Stacie
GeishasMom73 on twitter
Wow. Love the excerpt. I can’t wait to read this. I have had this on my wishlist for months now. It looks so good.
iqb99@yahoo.com
I have, and have read, some of Sylvia’s other historicals (but not her Eve series – I know – Bad me!), and they have placed her at the top of my “favourite authors” list, so winning this book would be super fantastic!! But, even if I don’t win, I’ll be buying it!
Later,
Lynn
This sounds so good! Can’t wait to read it 🙂
This sounds Awesome! I’ve got a few of Sylvia’s works on my to-read list. Thank you so much for bringing this one to my attention! Can’t wait to read it!
I will admit that Historicals are not a genre I have read much of but after reading this wonderful excerpt I think it’s time to try something new. I was pulled into the story immediately and now want to hear more from Eliza and Jasper. Thanks Sylvia!:)
Sounds Awesome, and who doesn’t love the name Jasper!!!
Sylvia’s historicals rock 🙂 Thanks for the contest, Jayne! Can’t wait for Morgan’s Surprise, either!
Jasper sounds addicting. Congrats on the release to you both.
This sounds Great !! I can’t wait to read this.
Congrats to both of you on your upcoming releases!
can’t wait to read both books 😉
Awesome cover! I love historicals and this seems like a gem. 🙂
Ooooh! This sounds so good!!
ladiie_vee@yahoo.com