Allow us to introduce you to a “Beautiful Stranger”

Join us for a cup of coffee with contributing chick, Paige Turner. *whispers* If you want to lace your coffee with something stronger, we won’t tell 😉

“Beautiful Stranger”

*MINOR SPOILERS*

Have you ever felt like there is a secret person inside of you just waiting to be unleashed? Someone the public doesn’t get to see? Someone your family and friends might not believe you could be? Does fear and uncertainty of what perceptions others might have of you keep you from actually exploring that side of yourself? 

But what if? What if we could find that one person who we could show that secret to? For just one night, we could be . . . unleashed. Completely and totally. No inhibitions. No fear. Just fun. No names. No numbers. Just one night. Two people. No judgment.

If given the opportunity, would you take it?

Welcome to the world of “Beautiful Stranger.”

For the past few years, Sara Dillon has lived a sort of lie. She believed she was in love with a man who used her family name and reputation and cheated on her . . . publicly and repeatedly. She has finally woken up and taken control of her life. She is moving to New York to start over: new home, new job, new life, new Sara . . . and NO RELATIONSHIPS! She is swearing off men (a valiant effort most of us have made the mistake of doing at least once in our lives). This time in her life is going to be just for her. She wants to discover herself, be young, and have fun. And she most definitely doesn’t want to tie herself to another man.

As the story opens, Sara sets out to do just that. She is getting ready to hit the Big Apple with her two best gal pals, Julia and Chloe (from Beautiful Bastard) for a girl’s night out to celebrate Chloe’s engagement. And her plan is working out perfectly . . . so perfectly that she doesn’t even see the beautiful stranger coming her way until he is standing beside her at a crowded bar, as she is being ignored by the bartender.

She hasn’t noticed the very tall, very sexy, very smiling, VERY British beautiful stranger who has been watching her all night. And after a rather cheeky conversation filled with innuendo, and a blatant offer to go home with him, Sara leaves the beautiful stranger to return to her friends.

And so our story begins . . .

Max Stella – a successful and charming playboy and a beautiful stranger

Sara Dillon – the smart and responsible ‘good girl’ ready to let loose

“Beautiful Stranger” is the second book in what is now being called the “Beautiful Bastard” series. I read “Beautiful Bastard” and loved it. However, I think I loved this story even more. Sara and Max meet and agree to enter into a ‘relationship’ of sorts following her rules . . . the most important being “No strings attached. Strictly sex.”

Sara tells him she expects nothing from him and, in fact, only allows him to see her one evening a week . . . where they meet in a public place to live a little bit dangerously and try not to get caught in the act.

This kind of arrangement might sound crazy, a little bit scary even, to some but that’s where the story gets interesting for me.

There is such a large amount of trust that goes into a relationship like this. It’s funny to me that Sara thinks she is in control of the relationship by not expecting anything from it, when, from the first moment, she is placing a tremendous amount of trust in Max.

This really is a beautiful story. Not only does it touch on the sexual relationship between Sara and Max (which is pretty hot and very, very sexy), it touches on ‘real life’ elements . . . healing a broken heart, forgiving yourself for your own mistakes, accepting what you want/need from a relationship, and learning to know the difference between loving someone and being in love with the right someone.

What if it could be just for one night? Pick up “Beautiful Stranger” and lose yourself in the possibility. You won’t regret it. It’s a real . . .

-Paige Turner

Chirps from the the Co-Admin Chicks . . .

It was recently announced by The Hollywood Reporter that the authors of “Beautiful Bastard” and “Beautiful Stranger” (Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings – writing as Christina Lauren) inked a five-book deal with Simon & Schuster imprint Gallery Books. To read an exclusive interview about what the five books will be, go here.

To keep tabs on the “Beautiful Bastard” series, check out these social media links.

Websites: Christina Lauren Books, Beautiful Bastard Film Fansite

Twitter: Christina Hobbs, Lauren Billings, Beautiful Bastard, BB Film Fans

Facebook: Beautiful Bastard, Beautiful Bastard Film Fans

Purchasing options for the books/audiobooks are available on the authors’ website.

And last, but not least, two wings up for Paige and her review of “Beautiful Stranger.”

kitt & Lisa (17FL)

Gabriel’s Redemption Cover Reveal Plus Q and A With The Professor

We think the cover for Gabriel’s Redemption matches the style of  the other two books in Gabriel’s Trilogy beautifully!

Summary:

“Professor Gabriel Emerson has left his position at the University of Toronto to embark on a new life with his beloved Julianne. Together, he’s confident that they can face any challenge.  And he’s eager to become a father.

But Julianne’s graduate program threatens Gabriel’s plans, as the pressures of being a student become all consuming. When she is given the honor of presenting an academic lecture at Oxford, Gabriel is forced to confront her about the subject of her presentation – research that conflicts with his own. And in Oxford, several individuals from their past appear, including an old nemesis intent on humiliating Julia and exposing one of Gabriel’s darkest secrets.

In an effort to confront his remaining demons, Gabriel begins a quest to discover more about his biological parents, beginning a chain of events that has startling repercussions for himself, Julianne, and his hope of having a family.”

Gabriel’s Redemption will debut December 3, 2013. To pre-order via Amazon (print and ebook), go here.

In addition to the cover reveal, we’re happy to share with you six ‘Would you rather . . .’ questions with The Professor. We were so flattered by his presence, we had to include a few of our reactions. 😉

WOULD YOU RATHER . . .

1.  First kiss or Baci?

Professor: First kiss, without qualification.

Chicks: Don’t tell Julia, but we’re closing our eyes and puckering our beaks!

2.  Bashert or sticky little leaf?

Professor: I’m grateful that I don’t have to choose between the two because my Bashert is my sticky little leaf.

Chicks: Oh that lucky, lucky Julia.

3.  Black and white photography or Renaissance art?

Professor: You didn’t mention whether there were nudes in the photographs.

Chicks: Would you like us to pose with you, Professor? We’re not afraid to drop feather.

4.  If it hadn’t been the study of Dante, Chaucer or Milton?

Professor: There’s more sex in Chaucer than Milton so I’d probably choose Chaucer.

Chicks: The raunchy and risqué musings of Chaucer? We’d be perched on the edge of our seats in your lecture hall.

5.  Get-away-with-it sex, in a museum or outside veranda?

Professor: A museum. No question. The Louvre is my next destination.

Chicks: Did you just chirp a spoiler?

6.  Exact revenge or be granted redemption?

Professor: I’d like both but until I have the latter I’ll always desire the former.

Chicks: We have our wings crossed that by the end of Gabriel’s Redemption it will be the latter!

To keep track of SR and his argyle socks, click on the links: Website, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads

Thanks to SR and SR’s publicist Enn Bocci (@ennbocci) for letting us be a part of the cover reveal for Gabriel’s Redemption! We know we are a relatively new blog, but we are longtime fans of the story!

If you missed our ‘One Honest Moment with The Professor’ post, check it out here.

“Tell me you want me or get out.”

And last but certainly not least, if you want to read more from the author who brought us The Professor and this beautiful story, be sure and check out our Q and A with SR here.

One Honest Moment with….Professor Emerson

It’s what we await, anxiously, one honest moment a character has with him/herself or between two main characters in a story.

It can be a revelation, a confrontation, an ultimatum, a vow, a truth, a discovery, or giving oneself over to another…just to name a few honest moments.

When it comes to stories with an alpha male, an honest moment is often experienced when the walls come down and vulnerability is shown, a moment we know is the first step or final step to a character admitting his innermost feelings and putting them on display. Despite the confidence, control, and power he exudes, we knowingly hope that when it comes to falling in love, he is able to reveal his inner self.

With the upcoming cover reveal of the third book in Gabriel’s Trilogy, Gabriel’s Redemption, by Sylvain Reynard, we thought Professor Gabriel O. Emerson was the perfect choice to begin our one honest moment series with.

This is my favorite honest moment with Professor Emerson. Finally, in a conversation between The Professor and Julia that isn’t tainted by alcohol, clouded memories, or a room full of students bearing witness, Julia and The Professor admit feelings for each other–Julia in an unsure way, and The Professor in his usual bossy way.

From Gabriel’s Inferno, Chapter 16:

“I’m just a student, Professor Emerson. You’re the one with all the power. You could–destroy me.”

“Bullshit. Is that what you think? That this is a power trip?” Gabriel pulled her book bag from her tense and twisted fingers and cast it aside. He spun her around and grasped her face, moving his hands to the curves of her cheeks. “You think I’d destroy you? After our history?”

“I’m not the one with the memory problem. You think I’m happy? You think this is what I want? I’m miserable. To finally see you after all these years and to see you like this? I don’t even recognize you!”

. . .

“Tell me you want me or get out.”

When she didn’t answer, Gabriel slowly withdrew. She felt ill from the loss of contact and didn’t even think about the words as they tumbled impetuously from her lips. “I never wanted anyone else.”

And then, this honest moment was sealed with a kiss. An epic kiss that opened the door and allowed them to begin the next phase of their complicated relationship.

The Professor is so used to getting what he wants, which at this moment is Julia, but up until that moment he’s been challenged and denied so much by Julia that he is rendered powerless, leaving the decision up to her.

Of course, this was just one of many honest moments with Professor Emerson.

We’d love to hear your favorite in the comments!

We’re excited to be taking part in the upcoming cover reveal of Gabriel’s Redemption. The current date for the reveal is April 22nd, so be sure and check back then. And you can follow us on twitter @Fics2Flicks.