My Sexy Saturday ~ TAINTED ~ Enemies to Lovers

This is my first week participating in My Sexy Saturday! Every week published and unpublished authors share 7 words, 7 sentences or 7 paragraphs from a work-in-progress or an already published book.

I'm going to share seven paragraphs from my recent release, Tainted, an erotic romance between a tough Celtic warrior and his beautiful Roman noblewoman. This is the first time Gawain and Antonia meet, and illicit passion ignites between them :-)

A dangerous love Rome will never allow...

Once again he smiled, but this time it was a smile of masculine satisfaction without a trace of his former mockery. Strange little darts of desire attacked low, between her thighs, and disbelief spiked through her as decadent warmth slid sensuously through her damp channel.

Her fingers twitched as the outrageous notion to push her hand between her thighs and press against her throbbing core fluttered through her distracted mind. Desperately she tried to concentrate on their conversation and not the exquisite sensations cascading through her breast and belly. But the man before her was the cause, and she could not look away.

“I have no wish for you to fear me, Antonia.” She scarcely registered his lack of deference for her rank as the tip of his finger traced over her wrist. “I would never hurt you.” His finger trailed along the back of her hand, perilously close to where her fingers clutched her gown on her lap.

Paralyzed, she stared at him and imagined, instead, how it would feel if Gawain slid his hand between her tightly pressed thighs. The thought scorched her senses and another exquisite wave of damp lust teased her swollen folds.

Did he know the affect he had on her? It was a mortifying thought. She struggled to regain control of her senses, the use of her voice. And only then did the scandalous impropriety of his touch finally occur to her.

She should pull her hand away. Stand up. Put distance between them. He might be a kin of her hostess, but he had no right to touch her so. No right to cause such shocking sensations to ricochet through her body with little more than a smoldering glance.

But the shameful truth was, she enjoyed his touch. Even if all it comprised was the tip of one finger tracing across her knuckles. Where, earlier, his lips had also caressed.

Read Chapter One of Tainted

Available from

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Don't forget to check out the other fabulous authors participating in My Sexy Saturday!

Release Day for TAINTED! Forbidden Love & Deadly Secrets...

 Tainted is the fourth book set in my mystical Roman/Druid world, and this time I mixed things up a bit. The hero is a tough Celt warrior, who had a minor role in the first two books, Forbidden and Captive. I always loved Gawain and wanted to find out what happened to him, and this is his story.  I knew for a long time that when Gawain fell in love again it would be with a woman so unlike any he had known before that his world would turn inside out. And much to my delight, this is exactly what happens when he meets Antonia, a beautiful Roman noblewoman :-)

 

A dangerous love that Rome will never allow...

Driven by the knowledge he failed to protect his king and embittered at losing the woman he loves, Celtic warrior Gawain despises the lust he feels for the beautiful Roman patrician, Antonia. She is everything he’s never wanted in a woman, yet she ignites his passion like no other. Despite the danger of discovery he embarks on an illicit liaison with her, determined to uncover the reason for the infinite sorrow that haunts her eyes.

Newly arrived in Britannia from Rome, Antonia is inexplicably drawn to the cold, tough Celt whose touch stirs a desire she long thought died at the hands of her brutal former husband. With Gawain she learns the pleasure of sex and his unexpected tenderness thaws her frozen heart. But she hides a deadly secret that could be her undoing, and knows her growing feelings for him can lead nowhere. Yet when a shadow from her past threatens her future Antonia is torn between the Empire of her birth and betraying Gawain, the man she’s grown to love.

Inside Scoop: This medieval romance dabbles a wee bit in the paranormal.

A Romantica® historical erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave

Buy from Ellora’s Cave 

Tainted has received its first review!

 

 "I was captivated with the time period and the characters... To say I loved this book is an understatement.  This book is a must read!  5 books!!!” I Feel the Need, the Need to Read

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Summer Seduction Blog Hop Winners!

Congratulations to the Winners!

Valerie Rhodes won the $75 GC and  7 books 

Michelle Penden Vasquez won the 10 book bundle!

 

 

And the winner of an e-copy of  

Bloodlust Denied

is

 

Kathy Osborn

 

Congratulations Kathy! I will be emailing you very soon :-)

 

Thanks to everyone who stopped by and joined in the fun!

 

Don't forget to join in my Cover Reveal Blog Tour to celebrate the 28th August release of 

Tainted

my sexy Roman/Druid romance :-)  

 

     

TAINTED Cover Reveal & International Giveaway!!!

I'm so excited to finally reveal the absolutely stunning cover for the fourth book set in my mystical Roman/Druid world, Tainted. The hero Gawain and heroine Antonia are just how I imagined, and the details on the cover, that showcase both Gawain and Antonia's opposing cultures, are perfect :-)

To celebrate I'm participating in a month long Tainted Cover Reveal Blog Tour - details below.

What do you think of the cover?

        Blurb

A dangerous love that Rome will never allow…

Driven by the knowledge he failed to protect his king and embittered at losing the woman he loves, Celtic warrior Gawain despises the lust he feels for the beautiful Roman patrician, Antonia. She is everything he’s never wanted in a woman, yet she ignites his passion like no other. Despite the danger of discovery he embarks on an illicit liaison with her, determined to uncover the reason for the infinite sorrow that haunts her eyes.

Newly arrived in Britannia from Rome, Antonia is inexplicably drawn to the cold, tough Celt whose touch stirs a desire she long thought died at the hands of her brutal former husband. With Gawain she learns the pleasure of sex and his unexpected tenderness thaws her frozen heart. But she hides a deadly secret that could be her undoing, and knows her growing feelings for him can lead nowhere. Yet when a shadow from her past threatens her future Antonia is torn between the Empire of her birth and betraying Gawain, the man she’s grown to love.

Inside Scoop: This medieval romance dabbles a wee bit in the paranormal.

A Romantica® historical erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave

Read Chapter One of Tainted

ISBN: 9781419940734

Release date: 28th August 2013

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Tour Wide Giveaway Details

One Prize (International):

E-copy of the previous book set in this world, Betrayed

$10 Amazon Gift Card

Swag – Bookmarks, Postcards and Fridge Magnets

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Sneak Peek Sunday ~ BETRAYED

Welcome to this Sunday's Sneak Peek where I share six paragraphs of my debut release from Ellora's Cave, Betrayed.

A Druid priestess is captured and enslaved to a Roman tribune who must decide whether his loyalty lies with his heritage or the woman he suspects may be Rome's deadliest enemy...

 

 

 

Nimue is recovering from having an arrow removed from her shoulder, and is still under the influence of the pain killing opium. Tacitus is doing his best to resist her charms :-)

 

Languidly she brushed her fingers over the uncompromising line of his jaw. He was rough, and chafed her skin. Entranced, she rubbed her hand along his jaw again, and again the roughness caused tingles of desire to dance through her blood.

“Why not?” If only she could see his face properly. From recollection, his face was worth looking at. She was sure his body was too.

“Because I’m on duty.” For a fleeting moment, he glanced down at her, and the blatant lust glowing in his eyes caused raw need to bloom deep between her thighs.

Her lips parted, but it didn’t help her deprived lungs because every jagged breath held a subtle hint of foreign spices that fogged her reason and heightened her desire. Tendrils of fire wove through her blood, curled around her nipples, flickered with sensuous intent through her quivering sheath. He would not chose duty above her when she craved for his touch on her burning skin. When she ached to be filled by his tongue and his cock.

The image pounded against her temples and again she moaned. She imagined him spreading her thighs and impaling his length inside her wet folds. If he did not take her soon she would shatter from unfulfilled need.

“Are you in pain?” Once again he was looking straight ahead She turned her wrist and dug her nails into his face, and satisfaction spiked when once again his gaze clashed with hers.

 

In 51 A.D., Druid priestess Nimue is injured and enslaved by the hated Roman Legions. Even though she is drawn to her captor, she’s determined to escape and complete her mission for the Briton king and her duty to Arianrhod, the goddess she is bound to.

The tough Roman warrior who captures her is far from the brutal barbarian she expects. His touch inflames her desires and passion burns between them. Though Nimue does not accept her enslavement, her heart surrenders to her enemy. When Arianrhod appears to her in the form of an owl, Nimue knows the union is blessed.

Roman warrior Tacitus is enchanted by the fiery beauty who shows no fear and challenges him at every turn. Though enslaving her goes against his heart, he’s determined to make her his. No woman has ever heated his blood as she does. But when he discovers her true nature as one who actually communes with the gods, his loyalties are torn between his heritage and a woman who could destroy everything he’s ever believed in.

A Romantica® fantasy erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave

Read Chapter One of Betrayed

Steamy Excerpt of Betrayed

 

For the month of April All Romance Ebooks has 50% off Ellora’s Cave books! Buy BETRAYED for only $4.38!

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Check out the other fabulous Sneak Peek Sunday authors! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Tasty Nibble of Hot Warrior at I Smell Sheep

Well yum! Who could resist a sexy warrior for dinner? If you fancy a nibble of something spicy, hop on over to I Smell Sheep where Tacitus offers himself up as the main course! And there's a copy of Betrayed up for grabs too!

Snippets & Smexiness!

Today I'm over at the British Romance Fiction blog, where there's a snippet from Betrayed for your reading pleasure!

A Clash of Ancient Cultures

What happens when two opposing cultures clash? Well, when we're talking about romance then it gives us a fantastic conflict between the hero and heroine. Today I'm over at the Historical Hearts Blog where I'm giving away another e-copy of Betrayed. Pop over and say hi! I'd love to see you :-)

ETA: Eek! I don't think my hyperlink is showing (thanks for letting me know, Kylie!!) Here is is -

http://historicalhearts.blogspot.com.au/2013/03/a-clash-of-ancient-cultures-giveaway.html

The Romance Reviews + Heaps of Prizes!

 

Happy Second Anniversary to The Romance Reviews!!!

To help celebrate, I'm over there today and there's a chance to win a copy of Betrayed. All you have to do is answer one easy peasy question and you'll be in the draw!

You need to register and be logged in to TRR before you can join in the fun and games, but registration is free and easy. 

Gods, Goddesses & the Power of the Moon

In Betrayed my heroine, Nimue, is an acolyte of the Moon Goddess, Arianrhod. You can learn more about this powerful goddess today over at the Dark Side Downunder blog, where I discuss the legend surrounding her. There's also a chance to win a copy of Betrayed.

I'm also over at my good friend Shelley Munro's blog, taking part in my very first Thursday 13. I list my favourite gods and goddesses from the Roman and Celtic pantheons and would love to know - who's your fave god/goddess? Let me know over at Shelley's and you'll be in the draw to win a copy of Betrayed!

And the Partying Begins!

A big thank you to everyone who joined in the Lucky in Love blog hop over the weekend. It was a lot of fun! I'll be picking a winner in a couple of days, so stay tuned!

And in other news I'm over at the lovely Phillipa Ashley's blog today where there's a glimpse behind the scenes of my Roman/Druid world. And there's a chance to win a copy of Betrayed!

A Captive Peek

With the upcoming release of Betrayed, book 3 in my Roman/Druid romance series, I thought I'd share some tidbits about the earlier books, Forbidden and Captive. Today I'm posting a piece that was originally published in Romantic Times in February 2011, the month that Captive was released.

The books are set in Britain during the first century AD, when the Romans invaded and were charged with eliminating Druids from the face of the Empire. These fearless warriors, used to tough campaigns, harsh conditions and primitive provinces are brought to their knees by their intriguing heroines. Unfortunately for them, their heroines also happen to be powerful Druids :-) 

Originally I wrote the first book, Forbidden, without any inkling there would be a second. But not only did Morwyn, the best friend of the heroine from book one, demand to have her own happy ending, I also realized the powerful goddesses were not yet satisfied.

That really surprised me. I thought I’d tied things up there but apparently not! While Cerridwen, the Goddess of Wisdom, ensured her continuing legacy in Forbidden, the Morrigan, the Great Goddess, was insistent her side had to be told.

You don’t argue with an angry goddess!

Bren, the warrior hero in Captive, is one of my favorite heroes I’ve written so far. Tortured by brutal events in his past, Bren’s been undercover in the Roman Legions for the last three years. Bound by unbreakable chains of loyalty to his king, he will do anything to eliminate the invaders and ensure freedom for his people. Nothing else matters. Everything is secondary to his single-minded goal.

And then he meets Morwyn.

Morwyn, educated, independent and a warrior in her own right is not only recovering from the realization that the man she once loved brutally betrayed his own people, but has also turned her back on her Druidic heritage. Not content to hide on the sacred Isle of Mon with the rest of her clan, she sets off to join the rebels fighting the Romans, but is ambushed and captured by a tough Gaul mercenary.    

I loved watching the relationship between Bren and Morwyn unfold. As far as Morwyn’s concerned, her captor is nothing but a traitor to their people. She knows she should kill him without a second’s hesitation. Yet there’s something about him that fascinates her—not least the intriguing hint of vulnerability she glimpses beneath that tough warrior exterior.

For years Bren has lived a lie, knowing it’s the only way he can serve his king. But Morwyn turns his convictions inside out and although he knows he should set her free, her fearlessness and sharp retorts somehow soothe his wounded soul. He knows she believes him to be her bitterest enemy and wouldn’t hesitate to cut his throat given half a chance. And yet he can’t tell her the truth, because the truth could get them both killed.

And Bren won’t put this brave, infuriating woman in such danger.

But from the instant they meet a blazing sexual attraction ignites between them. The longer they spend together, the hotter the lust burns. When they finally give in to their overpowering need, both tell themselves it’s only sex. But as they grow to know each other the lust and sex evolves into something much deeper. And much more dangerous if either wants to survive unscathed.

I hope you enjoy reading my Forbidden romances as much as I enjoyed writing them!

The Book Depository

Amazon

Indie Bound

 Nook  

True Romance on Captive

Setting:    Britannia 51 AD

Subgenre:   Historical, Erotic Romance with Fantasy Elements

Hero:       Bren, undercover warrior-spy in the Roman Legions

Heroine:    Morwyn, kick-ass Druid priestess

One sentence summary:

 A tortured warrior and rebellious Druid priestess have to overcome their past, put their trust in each other and face their deepest fears if they want to survive the invasion of their lands and the wrath of a spurned goddess. 

Scene you like most and would never cut:

 There’s a scene in the middle of the book where Morwyn witnesses Bren doing something that shakes her to her core. The decision she makes – to stay with him instead of escaping – makes her face how much this man means to her. It’s an equally pivotal moment for Bren as he realizes that Morwyn is prepared to stick by him, no matter how low she believes he’s sunk.

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying:

 I can’t imagine Morwyn ever saying something like this: “Yes, dear. Anything you say, dear.”  If she doesn’t agree with something she has no hesitation in letting her views be known :-)

 

What celebrity is your hero like:

 I never really base my hero or heroine on celebrities, but if a movie was to be made of Captive (a girl can dream, right?!) then I’d be very happy if Clive Owen took the role J I think my editor would be very happy with that too! Alternatively, I’m a bit obsessed with Henry Cavill (Sussex in The Tudors) at the moment. He’d have to roughen up a bit, there’s nothing polished about Bren, but he is closer in age to my hero than Clive is. 

What celebrity is your heroine like:

 Oh this is a hard one. When Bren first meets Morwyn she’s under attack and he rescues her (much to her disgust). She is very feminine and brings out his protective streak. But she is also tough and a warrior in her own right, so whoever played her in the movie of Captive (whoops, there I go again!) would have to be able to show these aspects of her character. I’m thinking Jessica Alba, when she was in Dark Angel.

What is your heroine's occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing:

 Morwyn is an acolyte of the great goddess, the Morrigan. Almost fully trained before the invasion of the Romans, Morwyn is a powerful Druid priestess but at the start of Captive has turned her back on her calling.

What is your hero's occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing:

Bren is a tough warrior who, three years ago, took on another man’s identity in order to infiltrate the Roman Legions. He is completely loyal to his king and dedicated to ridding his land of the invaders.

 What you think readers will like best about this book:

 Bren is horribly tortured by the brutal events in his past. Because of this, he’s locked his heart away and constructed an impenetrable shield around his emotions. I think readers will enjoy how both Bren and Morwyn fight their attraction for each other, and watching how Bren’s barriers are demolished by Morwyn. 

The person that readers want you to write about but you haven't yet:

 I had several readers wanting to know what happened to Gawain, a Celt warrior from my debut romance, Forbidden. I wanted to know what happened to him as well. Then I started writing Captive and found out. I was a bit choked!!

This was first published on the Borders True Romance blog in February 2011.

The Book Depository

Amazon

Indie Bound

  Nook

Captive Historical Tidbits

This interview was first published at Unusual Historicals on 3rd April 2011

When and where is CAPTIVE set?

Set during the first century AD during the early years of the Roman occupation of Britain, my Forbidden series has sexy warrior heroes and magical Druid heroines.

Captive begins six months after Forbidden ends. The heroine, Morwyn, is not only recovering from the realization that the man she once loved brutally betrayed his own people, but has also turned her back on her Druidic heritage. She sets off to join the rebels fighting the Roman invaders but is ambushed and captured by a tough Gaul mercenary. They journey to Camulodunum—present day Colchester in Essex in SE England—which at that time was the Roman capital of Britannia. It was only after the Boudicea revolt in AD 61, when Camulodunum was razed to the ground, that Londinium (present day London) became the capital city.

The hero, Bren, is haunted by his violent past and far from being Morwyn’s bitterest enemy as she imagines, has been undercover in the Roman Legions for the last three years, secretly working for his displaced Briton king, Caratacus. The problem is he can’t tell Morwyn the truth, because the truth could get them both killed. 

Were any events in CAPTIVE based on historical fact?

Caratacus was king of the Catuvellauni tribe at the time the Romans invaded Britain in AD 43, and he became leader of the anti-Roman campaign. After some early defeats in the east he moved west into the mountains of Wales where he and his forces continued to aggravate the invaders by using guerrilla tactics. And I wondered… would he have spies in the Roman Legion? It seemed plausible.

Captive is set during AD 51 and the Annals of Tacitus describe how in that year Caratacus rose up against the Roman invaders in what he hoped would be a decisive battle. I was intrigued as to how he and his rebels managed to evade the Romans for so long and Caratacus and his vision for freedom became a vital thread of the book.

Reviews

Romantic TimesBOOK Review, 4 Stars

Phillips’ second in the Forbidden series is just as hot as its predecessor. Readers will be held Captive by the magic between Druid priestess Morwyn and Bren. 

Bookaholics Romance Book Club, 41/2 Stars 

"Primal and sexy, I love this series.

"Bren('s)... reputation is black and unsavory, but the author gives him a vulnerability and humanity that proves how worthy he actually is. It was fun to read how this sober and serious Bren lightens up under Morwyn’s sensuous attack... When Bren reveals what drives him, I really felt for him. But the best sections are their interactions as they flirt with each other and slowly learn to respect and care for each other...

"Sensual and vibrant, this historical romance is emotional and sexy. I could not put it down and this may be my favorite new time period in historical romance. I can’t wait for the author to write more!"

Sneak Peek ~ Snippet of BETRAYED

1.  

   Here's a snippet from my upcoming EC book, BETRAYED. Nimue is recovering from being shot with an arrow and Tacitus is still under the misguided notion that she is a fragile flower :-)
   
   “I’ve never been so incapacitated.” She sounded distressed, although she still glared at him. “It’s humiliating.”
   
   “It will soon pass.” If her blood had poisoned, she would already be showing the symptoms. “I regret you were shot, as if you were an enemy. It should never have occurred.”
   
   Her glare faded and she looked confused.
   
   “But I am your enemy. I only wonder that you did not strike me down yourself.”
   
   Her fingers peeked from between the folds of his cloak. He covered them with his hand in a blatant gesture of possessiveness. She did not protest.
   
   “I told you.” He didn’t bother hiding his amusement. “I don’t fight women. You posed no threat to me or the Empire. Why would I strike you down?”
   
   “Had our positions been reversed,” she sounded irritated. “I would have had no hesitation in striking you down.”
   
   How enchanting she believed herself capable of felling a warrior. The conversation reminded him of the one they’d shared at the stream, before he’d had no choice but to make her his slave.
   
   “I’d like to see you try.” He knew some Celtic women fought alongside their men-folk but they were built like men themselves. Or so he had heard. Personally, he’d not faced any in battle and for that he was relieved. The thought of killing a woman, even a woman who thought herself as good as a man, horrified him.
   
   “You would not have time to see.” Nimue’s eyes darkened before his gaze. “If I struck, you would be dead before you realized what had happened.”

    

   

    Read Chapter One of Betrayed

   Ellora’s Cave  Publishing

The Process of Cover Art

I always love to know the process of how an idea for a book cover transforms into the finished product.  Here is a guest post I wrote for Cover Stories at the B&N Community Blog when Forbidden first came out.

FORBIDDEN is my debut novel, and not wanting to jinx myself, while writing it I didn’t think much of how the cover might look if it was ever published. However, after signing with my agent in June last year and then selling to Berkley Heat in the September, I knew I could finally indulge my dreams!!

The book is set during the first century AD ~

Between a warrior and a princess comes an erotic passion as all-consuming as the hatred between their warring worlds…

Berkley was completely awesome when it came to designing the cover. My original idea, after my editor asked for input, was for my heroine Carys to be on the cover, standing in a wooded glade beside a tree, with a waterfall in the background. I also wanted her looking toward the forest away from the “camera” so we see her face in profile. Alternatively, I suggested having both Carys and her Roman centurion hero Maximus on the cover in a similar pose. The eerie thing is when I discussed my ideas with my agent before sending them onto my editor, her vision was almost identical to mine – right down to having Maximus in his full Roman regalia!

My editor loved my ideas but suggested it might have to be a bit sexier. So I thought I would end up with a half naked guy on the cover. Now don’t get me wrong – I love half naked heroes on covers! But I had this burning desire for the cover to show exactly what the book was about – and it’s about a Roman centurion, a Druid princess and a lot of the story takes place in the forests of ancient Wales. And yes, the waterfall has great significance!

There were lots of emails flying between my agent, editor and me during the week leading up to Christmas 2009. It was hugely exciting! In the New Year my editor asked for additional input on what clothing Maximus would wear – although she added he might be bare-chested on the cover. So I sent her heaps more info on clothing and weapons.

A couple of days later she got back to me with suggestions for Carys’s gown. It wasn’t how I imagined a typical Druid gown would be – but I could immediately see the image my editor suggested would look completely fabulous on the cover. Because I like to authenticate things as far as possible I looked up the history of linen – and discovered there had been a thriving linen industry in Egypt for thousands of years, and they could produce linen so fine it was like gossamer in texture. Perfect for Carys’s gown!

When the cover dropped into my inbox, I was pretty nervous. But when I opened it up – OMG! I was overwhelmed. I even shed a few tears J. It was everything I’d dreamed of and more. Even the waterfall surpassed what I’d imagined! Within a few minutes I was on IM with my agent – she was as excited as me! Carys is as ethereal as she is in the book and even has bi-colored eyes (they show up beautifully in the enlarged version!) And as for Maximus, I think he is sooo hot. Look at those biceps!! I find the cover incredibly sexy and enticing – and it immediately gives an accurate impression of what’s inside the book. 

“Ms. Phillips skill in creating sexual tension that simmers and explodes from the first meeting between Carys and Maximus is palpable. While their love scenes are filled with erotic passion and grace it doesn’t overpower the story, but rather enhances their developing love adding dimension to their developing personalities and relationship…

“It’s satisfying to find a new author whose debut novel is so impressive with attention to detail giving us a glimpse into the life of these Roman legionaries and Celts, but also wrapping it all up in a fantastical and engrossing story to give us a compelling and spellbinding romance. I’m sure I’ll be re-reading Forbidden many times. I highly recommend Forbidden and for these reasons I recommend a Gold Star Award.” Aggie Tsirikas, Just Erotic Romance Reviews. Full Review can be read here

A Glimpse into the World of my Hot Warriors

With the release of Betrayed in only 20 days, here is a little glimpse into the world that Nimue and Tacitus live in.

This was first published at the Lovin' Me Some Romance blog in October 2010, on the release of Forbidden, book #1 in my fantasy historical romance series.

I’ve always loved history and historical romances, but because I enjoy writing about heroines who are powerful in their own right and don’t need a man in order to conform to their society’s view of propriety, it had never occurred to me to actually write a historical romance until recently.

But when Maximus stormed into my head one night and refused to leave until I discovered why he was searching for his Druid princess, a whole new world of possibilities opened up. The Romans, with their military skill and advanced technology, were literally taking over half the world. While to a certain extent they assimilated the various religious beliefs of those they conquered, when it came to the Druids they wanted nothing less than annihilation.

All we really know about the Druids from contemporary sources comes from the Romans themselves. The Druids held responsibilities for lawmaking, were the keepers of knowledge and wisdom and were known as magicians. They were widely respected as the priests of Celtic society, and the Romans feared the power they wielded over the rebellious tribes that inhabited ancient Wales.

My muse was enthralled :-) Here was an entire segment of people that, despite the power and knowledge they clearly held for many generations, we know almost nothing about. Did they believe in the goddess culture?  What was their societal structure?

Their world unfolded around me. In Forbidden, the Druids do worship the goddess culture and their women are as powerful as their men. My heroine, Carys, is not only a princess by virtue of her birth but also an acolyte of the Goddess of Wisdom, Cerridwen. Carys has never been used to taking orders or believing that a man is her superior, simply because of his gender.

Since the Romans believed the opposite, there is of course that conflict between Carys and Maximus, but because of their personalities and willingness to open their minds to a culture so different from their own, it’s far from insurmountable. The greatest threats come from the Roman Emperor and his desire to wipe out all trace of Druidic culture from the face of the earth, and the High Druid of Carys’s clan who has his own agenda.

Forbidden, and the second book in the series, Captive, both have strong heroines who are struggling against all the odds to preserve their way of life so their beliefs don’t vanish into the mists of time, lost forever to future generations. Forbidden is about ancient goddesses who will do anything to ensure their names linger on in the minds of their children. And most of all, it’s about how love can conquer anything.

“The sexy elements of the book did not overpower the plot or the characterisation, but added to their love story. The real heart of the book is the emotional elements between them, and I really liked how that was played out throughout the book. Although the well written love scenes added a sensual layer of heat and passion, and *fans self*, I will never think of Roman Baths the same way again.”  Has, The Book Pushers. Full Review can be read here.