Royalty Romances

I've had a few people ask me why I'm writing about modern day princes and princesses, and I admit I usually (with just a few exceptions) write about characters firmly rooted in real life situations. But when a story of forbidden romance came to me, I couldn't resist telling these characters' story and giving them their happy ending. And the Her Royal Romance series was born. So these are my very unscientific thoughts on why we love royalty romances.

What draws us to royalty? What has us scrambling for pictures of royal couples, following the engagement and wedding of William and Kate, and hanging on the media coverage of the birth of the new prince? I suppose there is always a fascination with people whose lifestyles are so different from our own, especially if they seem so glamorous. I remember as a little girl dressing up as a princess with a long skirt and a make believe tiara on my head. I felt pretty and special, and don’t all little girls want to feel that way?

Look at the popularity of television shows like Once Upon A Time. We grow up on fairy tales. Stories of princes and princesses. Fantasies that make us sigh when the shoe fits or the kiss wakes the Sleeping Beauty. Some say it’s a Cinderella complex. The first time I heard that term I had to look it up. Basically, it describes a fear of being independent that causes an unconscious desire to be taken care of by others. And while that might describe some women out there, I think we can enjoy our fantasies without worrying we have some kind of complex.

Enjoying a fairy tale romance that involves a handsome prince is not looking for a man to take care of us. At least not for me. And not for Mia in Her Royal Masquerade. She’s not looking for a romance with a prince. She’s a practical schoolteacher and definitely not looking for someone to take care of her. She can take care of herself, thank you very much. But while she might not be helpless, when it comes to the way she feels about Vittorio, she’s weak. And don’t we all fantasize about the kind of love that engulfs us, embraces us? The kind of love that makes our heart soar. The kind of love that is so powerful, there is no escaping it.

But, you see, the thing is, it happens to Vittorio too. He never expected to fall in love. He’s required to marry royalty, so he expected a cold business arrangement of a marriage like his parents had. And then he meets Mia. And he’s just as weak around her. There’s no escaping his feelings for her, even when he knows it is an impossible situation. And don’t we all like the thought of a man, rich and powerful or not, who’s brought to his knees by the love of a woman?

So this book is for the little girl inside of us who always wanted to be a princess, even when she knew she was just an ordinary girl. And this book is for the grown woman in us, who can sigh when approached by a handsome prince, drawn out onto the dance floor, and begins to fall in love.

Natasha
Voluptuous
Her Royal Masquerade
Silken Canvas
Playing for Real - coming Feb 4th- pre-order now

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Have You Been to the Playhouse?

There are 4 stories in the Paolo's Playhouse series and they are all available now for download. Haven't checked them out yet? Here they are.

FLAUNT IT

He’ll put her on display, if that’s what it takes to keep her…

Paolo’s Playhouse, Book 1

When it comes to sexy and sassy, Piper, the most popular waitress at Ben’s bar, has it all going on. Now that they’re dating, though, Ben wishes she’d dial down the skimpy clothes and flirty attitude, and her habit of dancing around the bar and flashing to her favorite song. Every teasing peek at her body, every laugh at some customer’s lousy joke, is certainly good for business—but it sends his jealousy meter into the red zone.

Sure, they’re dating, but he’s no muscled, tattooed stud with diamonds in his ears. How can he compete, especially when she refuses to even spend the night at his place?

Desperate, Ben books a room at his friend Paolo’s fantasy club, hoping an erotic night in front of a two-way mirror will get her exhibitionist streak out of her system. Praying it won’t prove his greatest fear—that she lives only to show off. And he’s not that special to her at all…

RISK IT

Time to put out…or get out.

Paolo’s Playhouse, Book 2

On the outside, Amy has the American dream. Two busy kids, a job she loves, a big house thanks to her husband’s climb up the corporate ladder. What she hasn’t had in a long time…is sex. Sure, she’s too exhausted at night to think about it, but maybe Will’s long hours at work aren’t the real reason he rarely touches her anymore.

Feeling her marriage teetering on the edge, she rents the voyeur room at Paolo’s Playhouse. Maybe bringing back the memory of the one wicked thing they used to do together will relight the sparks.

Will loves his wife, but she’s never been one to take chances—except for the time before kids, when they’d camp out in a club’s back booth, getting all worked up watching the dirty dancers. Their careers have seriously cut into their “us” time, and if she’s booked them a sexual playroom, it sounds like she’s serious about solving the problem.

When Will shows up way, way late, Amy wonders why she bothered, and if her plan to relight the flame has only made it painfully clear that it’s too late to try.

BIRTHDAY GIRL

It’s not the age. It’s the attitude—and a healthy dose of kink.

Paolo’s Playhouse, Book 3

For Shannon, turning thirty means getting serious. Responsible. Old. She can’t help dreading the day she has to leave her spontaneous, crazy, young self-image behind. Then there are all those unfulfilled items on her to-do list, like that threesome she and her husband, Ty, used to fantasize about. It fell by the wayside, right along with their neglected bag of sex toys.

Her birthday dinner starts out like any other…then her present arrives at the table. Marc, an old college friend, whose edgy persona tickles her in all the right places. And that’s not all. Ty’s reserved a room at Paolo’s Playhouse—for all three of them.

By the time the playroom door closes behind them, Ty’s and Marc’s intimate touches and wicked whispers have roused her hormones to a fever pitch. But when kiss comes to nipple clamps, Shannon’s not sure she has the courage to step off the edge of fantasy and fall headlong into reality…

PLAYTHING

One taste of everything she ever wanted…how can she walk away?

Paolo’s Playhouse, Book 4

Julianne’s the epitome of a successful businesswoman. But where her boardroom reality is full of decisions, her bedroom fantasy is the exact opposite—allowing a lover who knows what he’s doing to strip her of the need to make any decisions at all.

When she reads an ad for Paolo’s Playhouse, her long-ignored need twists inside her, too sharp to ignore. Trembling, she picks up the phone, and Paolo’s charm, lyrical accent and empathy soothe her fear just enough to agree to be the Playhouse’s bondage toy. One look at Paolo the following night, and she wishes she’d struck a different bargain. To be his alone.

Paolo can’t take his eyes off the brave and beautiful woman with hair like the fire he sees in her soul. Her sexual need to be bound matches his own powerful need to be the one to bind her. Tonight and always.

Except Julianne agreed to only one perfect night. Now he must convince her it could be the first night of many for them—if only she will trust him.

I loved writing this series of short stories about four couples whose lives are changed by visiting Paolo's Playhouse. Stop by see what it's all about!

Natasha
SILKEN CANVAS - Coming Dec 25th
www.natashamoore.com

First Review for Plaything

Plaything, the 4th story in the Paolo's Playhouse series, will be released May 8th. Less than a month away! It's available for pre-order at Amazon & Barnes&Noble, and at the Samhain site it's even on sale for only $1.75!

I'm excited to bring Paolo's story to readers. He's the hero who started the whole series in my mind and, in my opinion, one of the sexiest heroes I've ever written. The first review is in, from Stacey at Sizzling Hot Book Reviews! It says in part:

"... Plaything is an enjoyable and quick story that delves into a very successful woman ready to take a chance on her desires."

You can read the full review here.

All the stories in the series are short for a reason. I wanted to show a couple at a crossroads and how, by living out their sexual fantasy at the playhouse, their lives are changed forever. I've loved these stories and the characters who all came alive for me. I'm sorry to see the series end, but I suppose it's always possible that later on there might be other couples who need playhouse therapy!

But even more possible, and pretty darn probable, there will be a longer book telling the rest of Paolo's and Julianne's story. I'm looking forward to delving into their lives as they fall in love while they struggle to make their life together work.

Natasha
Plaything - Coming May 8th
Birthday Girl
Risk It
Flaunt It
www.natashamoore.com