Love Painted in Red
by Cristiane Serruya
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GENRE: Romance
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BLURB:
Tavish MacCraig, thirty-three-year-old Highlander, forsook his medical and military career, after being a POW for 6 months in Afghanistan, to run his family’s internationally renowned art gallery in London, The Blue Dot. Despite being surrounded by wealth and beauty, Tavish’s days are bleak, his nights, living nightmares, and his heart, an empty shell. But when he meets Irish painter Laetitia Galen, a powerful and sizzling attraction ignites between them.
Laetitia, who fled hell on earth when she was sixteen, now works as a well-paid housekeeper in a forsaken country manor in Warwickshire and sells her paintings in an obscure gallery. To preserve her new life and recently found peace, she resists Tavish and The Blue Dot's fantastic offer of an exclusive contract.
Laetitia becomes Tavish’s obsession; Tavish, Laetitia’s unattainable dream.
Meanwhile, a man with a burning grudge plots his long-awaited revenge, which could destroy them all over again.
Laetitia, who fled hell on earth when she was sixteen, now works as a well-paid housekeeper in a forsaken country manor in Warwickshire and sells her paintings in an obscure gallery. To preserve her new life and recently found peace, she resists Tavish and The Blue Dot's fantastic offer of an exclusive contract.
Laetitia becomes Tavish’s obsession; Tavish, Laetitia’s unattainable dream.
Meanwhile, a man with a burning grudge plots his long-awaited revenge, which could destroy them all over again.
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Excerpt Three:
Mallory Court Hotel
12:00 p.m.
“I trust you’ll find the food excellent,” he said, parking his car in front of a Lutyens-style main house, the epitome of a classic English country house.
After she had changed clothes and came to meet him in the studio, he had known she would capture the attention of all the men in Mallory Court. It was not that her dress was transparent, clingy, short, or even brand-new. Far from that. She was wearing a lilac turtleneck long-sleeve maxi dress with a large gray belt low on her hips and gray flat booties. The vintage outfit emphasized her youth and put his imagination on fire. He wanted to rip off her dress and devour her breasts.
He wasn’t quite sure what they had talked about or what had happened on the way to the hotel, as her sweet scent wrapped him in its flowery vine.
As he helped her out of the car, the warmth of his hands penetrated through her dress. She kept her hands on his shoulders when he didn’t let go of her waist immediately, striving to ignore how rigid and well formed his muscles were. Damn, Laetitia! Stop these thoughts. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Wee lasses tend to have a difficult time descending from my car in long dresses, unaided.” And man, I’ve developed an appreciation for wee lasses in long dresses.
She wanted to point out that everything would be wee when compared to him, but she just said again, “Thank you.”
He clasped his hands behind his back, lest he would pick her up in his arms and take her directly to a room. Focus on something else. “You have a lilting Gaelic accent. But you’re not Scottish, are you?”
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Cristiane Serruya is Brazilian and lives in Rio de Janeiro, with her husband, two teenage daughters, and Loki, her Shetland sheepdog. She has studied in England, France, Italy, and Switzerland and graduated in Law, with a Master’s in Business Law, and a BA in Fine Arts. In 2012, she published her first romance, and is proud of the awards her novels have received.
She still works as a lawyer, but writing has become an essential part of her life, and a fulfilling adventure, as it allows her to make friends all over the world.
Links:
Hello, Teresa. Thanks for hosting me on your lovely blog. I’m so happy to be here with you and your readers today.
As a kid did you write or make up stories?
I’ve always written. As a lawyer my job was to essentially retell my clients’ stories. In 2009, I considered writing fiction and eventually created the embryo for TRUST Series, where Tavish is also featured. When it was done, I knew I’d found a new calling.
Where does most of your character inspiration come from?
Real life is what inspires me to write. I observe and listen to my family’s and friends’ stories, my neighbors’ daily lives, read the international newspapers, and then I mix everything in my story cauldron.
Real life is what inspires me to write. I observe and listen to my family’s and friends’ stories, my neighbors’ daily lives, read the international newspapers, and then I mix everything in my story cauldron.
Do some qualities of your characters come from real people?
Meeting interesting people—in person or on line—gives me the inspiration and ideas for my characters. Also, there’s a little bit of me in them as well—including the bad ones. *smile*
Meeting interesting people—in person or on line—gives me the inspiration and ideas for my characters. Also, there’s a little bit of me in them as well—including the bad ones. *smile*
What was the inspiration for your book?
It was an emotional experience writing of the lead characters’ pains, especially Tavish, a war veteran. The impact of war on soldiers is heartbreaking and I struggled to capture some of that pain in a meaningful way. This book is my homage to those who dedicate themselves to make this world safer.
It was an emotional experience writing of the lead characters’ pains, especially Tavish, a war veteran. The impact of war on soldiers is heartbreaking and I struggled to capture some of that pain in a meaningful way. This book is my homage to those who dedicate themselves to make this world safer.
What is your favorite spot to write?
In a big armchair in my living room. It’s there I cry and laugh with my characters and write my first draft. To edit, I use my home office.
In a big armchair in my living room. It’s there I cry and laugh with my characters and write my first draft. To edit, I use my home office.
What advice would you give budding writers?
Research what you are writing about even if you are familiar with the theme. And, of course, exhaustedly review your draft and ask beta readers to read it, too, before you consider it a manuscript.
Those who want to receive my very, very sporadic emails about new releases and promotions can sign-up here: Cristiane Serruya Website. And to be part of my Street Team, sign-up here: Cris's Street Team
I love to connect and hear from readers, so feel free to stalk me online!
I’m available to comment or answer any questions so I want to invite everybody to leave a message here or on my website.
Thank you for the opportunity to share my thoughts here and helping me promote my work, Teresa.
I hope you are all having a great day!
Cris :)
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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION
Cristiane Serruya will be awarding a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeletecongrats on the book tour and thanks for the chance to win :)
ReplyDeleteGreat interview, I always enjoy learning about authors. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThanks for having me here. Love Painted in Red is on KindleDeal this month for only 1.99.
ReplyDeletePTSD is a very tough subject to deal with. Hope it all goes well for you!
ReplyDelete