Release Day - Prince of Whispers by Jen Bradlee

I am so excited and honored to introduce to all of you the stunningly talent Jen Bradlee as she releases her newest novel, Prince of Whispers. I'm not one to take the spotlight, so take it away Jen!

The blurb:

Dear reader...

If you are expecting a traditional medieval tale or charming prince, you will not find it here. I am not like other men for I have a voracious appetite and will appease it no matter the cost. Do you doubt my confession? Then I invite you to step into my kingdom.

Women were created for pleasure, tis my obligation to see them fulfilled. When I whisper, they come to me. All save one...Lady Ruby. I can see the desire in her eyes even though her pure and noble heart fights against it. She may be an outlaw, but a rare gem such as she has never been found in Meradin. She is my challenge, my penance, and my weakness. Nothing short of Almighty God Himself can keep her from me. I shall possess her. Ruby is mine.

Dear reader, will you begrudge me your company when you learn of my past and how wicked I can truly be? Or will you come to me willingly, surrender yourself to my charms, and beg for more? Surely my tale of intrigue, murder, and treason will be enough to tempt you to sin with me if only for a short while. Come with me, and I will lay myself bare.

Crispin Saville

From the author goddess, Jen Bradlee, herself:

I have never loathed and simultaneously loved a character as much as Crispin Saville. The idea for his story took root when I started following a wicked little Tumblr page called Loki's Dirty Whispers. They take quote submissions from followers (basically what they'd like to hear Loki say to them) and make memes with Loki's picture along with the naughty quote. I soon became addicted to them, cause I'm a huge fan of multi-faceted villains/anti-heroes and naughty writing.

Then I realized...I can write these. Simple right? I made several up, but soon I realized it wasn't Loki talking to me. It was a fresh character, one I'd never heard before. Prince Crispin Saville. That bastard.

For the next few weeks he haunted me. Before I knew it, I had written thirty thousand words for his story with no sign of stopping. What I had anticipated being a novella had transformed into a planned trilogy featuring my wicked Prince of Whispers and his love interest, the infamous outlaw Ruby, also known as the Lady of the Forest.

Most writers write their stories, but me, I have to listen to His Highness. That royal pain in my backside is constantly standing over my shoulder telling me how to write his story. In protest of his demanding ways, I took the summer away from his story. Once National Novel Writing Month started in November, I took up the pen again and finished his first book.

The characters, plot, setting, and history contained within this story grew and spread. I gained two secondary characters who are central to the plot of the story and a host of other characters who bring this world to life. They give Ruby and Crispin the support they need to push their relationship forward. It is a romance after all. But the more I wrote, the more complicated the story became. I had known back in the spring that it would be a trilogy, but finishing the first book proved a confirmation of this direction for the overall story.

My goal for Crispin's journey is to end each book at a natural pause in the story. Each will have a Happily For Now ending, but the arc of their journey will filter through all three books. Details in book one are crucial to understanding the events of the upcoming book two...which I haven't started writing yet, but I do have most of it plotted.

The Prince of Whispers began as a whimsical adventure of a fangirl lusting after a Loki/King Henry V mashup. I'm a huge Tom Hiddleston fan, so yeah, he became the model for Crispin's character. I still see him when I picture Crispin, but there's more dimension now, as if my character has taken on a life of his own. I shudder at the thought. Saints preserve us if Crispin ever leapt from the pages of my book.

Ruby reflects a lot of my own personality, but she also has very different qualities that make her unique. I wanted a strong, kick-ass heroine who could hold her own against a band of brigands or an insanely irresistible prince with a silver tongue. I can't give you much more information about Ruby...spoilers, darling. But know that she is definitely full of fire and will keep Crispin on his guard.

There are several references to Robin Hood in the story...Easter eggs, if you will, hidden in the text. I even made mention of a particular romantic pairing I favored from the television show, Robin Hood. So keep an eye out for that if you're a fan of the legendary outlaw.

I am both terrified and thrilled to write the next two books in this series. I love all the characters in the books, but I fear there is a lot of turmoil churning, both for me and the characters. Until then, I hope you enjoy my naughty prince and his wicked whispers. Feel free to send a message or follow me for more updates on my work. Thank you!


The synopsis:

Crispin Saville is the entitled second son of the king of Meradin. The Prince of Whispers, as he'd been dubbed by the ladies of court, seeks only to satisfy his own appetites and desires. After his brother's passing, Crispin believes himself to be next in line for the throne, until his father issues an ultimatum...forego his hedonistic ways or be banished from Meradin forever. 

Thrust into a journey of self-discovery at the command of the king, Crispin finds himself without title or coin to sustain him as he wanders the kingdom. When an outlaw, the notorious Lady of the Forest, comes to his aid, he must hide his true identity. Crispin discovers hiding his true nature difficult as the fire haired lass bewitches him with her sharp wit and even sharper blade.

Murder and tales of treason fill the halls of Culver. Crispin and Ruby must battle their desire and learn to trust one another, or risk losing the nation they both love to war and chaos. 

The excerpt:

Crispin stood behind the stable, leaning against the wall. He saw the little space Matthew had set up for Ruby's bath. The curtains were backlit by the lantern, and from this angle, he could see everything perfectly. He watched as she stripped off her tunic, tossing it on the ground. Then she toed off her boots and shimmied out of her trousers, adding them to the pile. Her silhouette left little to the imagination. Crispin groaned, hard and aching for her. Seeing her thus only intensified that feeling tenfold.

She stepped into the bath. When he heard her sigh of delight echo in the darkness, it proved too much for him to take. Crispin pushed away from the wall, taking silent, purposeful steps toward her little oasis. The sound of the water sloshing in the wooden tub and the water falling over her head as she rinsed the soap from her hair reached his ears. He paused, just outside the little makeshift curtain. Her soft sighs made his cock twitch. He watched her shadow move as she bathed, her hands gliding over her body. His hands clenched into fists as he fought the desire raging through him.

Ruby settled her head back against the tub. The throaty sigh she released snapped what remained of his reserve. He pulled the curtain aside and stepped into her tiny sanctuary.

Her head snapped up in surprise, her hands covering her chest instinctively. "What are you doing? Get out!" She looked delicious, completely drenched, the water running in rivulets down her pale skin. He wanted to trace every trail with his tongue.

"You and I have unfinished business, my lady," he said, wrapping his hands around her wrists and pulling her up. Her breasts fell free when he did so, and his blood heated at the sight of them. Slightly fuller than he had imagined, they complimented her curves perfectly. Her rosy nipples perked at the kiss of the cool night air. He held her wrists tight as she tried to jerk free. His cock strained against his trousers, begging for release.

"You would rape me then, to get what you want?" She scoffed, sneering at him. "You are no better than the bastard I killed in that cave."

Crispin tsked. "I never take what is not freely given." He pulled her close, pressing her naked body against him, and pinned her wrists at her sides. She faced him, defiance shining in her eyes. "Tell me you do not want what I offer you. A night of pleasure the likes of which you have never experienced."

"That is not saying much," she said with a half-choked laugh.

"Untouched?" he asked, intrigued. "You are a wealth of surprises."

"Let me go, Cris." Her words were direct, but he heard the quiver in her voice.

"Your lip trembles," he murmured. "Do I frighten you? Or does the thought of me claiming you make you shiver in anticipation?"

Her eyes narrowed. "I am cold, you calf-brained fool."

"Then allow me to remedy that." He dropped her wrists and hoisted her up and over his shoulder.

Biography:

Jen Bradlee can get away with murder, metaphorically speaking of course. She is a sensual woman who enjoys people watching, belly dancing, and taking walks in the rain. Give her a man who isn't afraid to get his hands dirty and plays hard. The ones with rough edges and a little scruff are the best. She finds cathartic release when she pours all her fantasies and desires into her writing. Comes with a warning label. "Too hot to handle."

Her sexy romantic side comes out in her writing. Inspired by Tom Hiddleston and Benedict Cumberbatch, she creates characters who have multiple facets to them...the gentleman in the streets but with a wild, dangerous side behind closed doors. She loves villains and anti-heroes, bad boys and irredeemable men. We all have a dark side, sometimes it must be freed. 

 

An intense introvert, Jen finds it difficult to interact with people in person, but online is a whole different beast. So send a message, strike up a conversation...she promises not to bite...hard. *wink*

 

Author Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenBradleeAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JenBradlee

Blog: www.jenbradlee.wordpress.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/Jen_Bradlee

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00MMIDPV4

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Prince-Whispers-Wicked-Trilogy-Book-ebook/dp/B00YB2OGV2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1432822482&sr=8-2&keywords=the+prince+of+whispers

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/545831


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