Spotlight & Giveaway: Dirty Work by Regina Kyle

Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author Regina Kyle to HJ!

Hi Regina and welcome to HJ! We’re so excited to chat with you about your new release, Dirty Work!

 
Hello, HJ readers, and thanks Sara for having me here!
 

Please summarize the book a la Twitter style for the readers here:

Workaholic hero hires reformed workaholic heroine to help take care of his parents’ Irish wolfhound. But pretty soon they wind up taking care of each other–in and out of the bedroom.
 

Please share the opening lines of this book:

I’VE SEEN A LOT of strange things in my line of work. Manhattan is full of oddballs, and I seem to be a magnet for them. I’ve taken each and every one of their, shall we say, eccentric requests in stride. You know what they say. The customer’s always right. Well, almost always.

Please share a few Fun facts about this book…

Here’s just a few of the fun things you’ll find in Dirty Work:

• dirndl wearing drag queens
• a penis-themed bachelorette party
• a smexy game of strip Scrabble
• a classic 1980’s John Hughes movie
• a cock-blocking Irish wolfhound named Roscoe

What first attracts your Hero to the Heroine and vice versa?

Well, Jake walks into his apartment and finds Ainsley on her hands and knees scrubbing dog pee out of his rug, her ass in skin tight jeans, swaying as she scrubs, so . . .

Their meet-cute rattles Ainsley because she doesn’t expect Jake home early and catch her cleaning. But as rattled as she is, she still notices Jake’s piercing eyes, strong jaw, and muscular build. It’s a Dare, so the physical attraction definitely comes first. The emotional connection builds as the story progresses.
 

Using just 5 words, how would you describe Hero and Heroine’s love affair?

Fun, flirty, steamy, passionate, intense.
 

The First Kiss…

She hesitates, then leans in, brushing her mouth over mine in a move that’s more tease than kiss. But I’m not letting her get away that easy. Now that I’ve got her where I want her, I want more than a taste. I want that pierced tongue tangling with mine. I want her teeth nipping at my lips. I want her arms around me, her chest smashed against mine, her fingernails digging into my back.
Like that pain in the ass chick in Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory, I want it all. And I want it now.

Without revealing too much, what is your favorite scene in the book?

OMG this is a tough one. There are so many fun scenes in this book that I had a blast writing. But I’m particularly fond of the banter in what I call the penis party scene:

“What the hell is this?”
I look up from the penis wine charms I’m fastening around the stems of eight wine glasses—one for the bride and each of her seven bridesmaids—to see Jake holding a box like it’s about to bite him. I suck in a giggle when I see the picture on it. Two women whacking each other with inflatable dicks strapped around their waists.
“That’s one of the party games. Dueling Dickies.”
He shudders. “Please tell me I don’t have to blow them up.”
“So you’re okay with being serenaded by drag queens, but putting your lips on a plastic penis is where you draw the line?”
“I am not giving a blow job to a four-foot phallus.”
This time I can’t fight the laughter, and it bubbles out. “No worries. If it threatens your precious manhood, I’ll do it. You can fill Willy Whack-It.”
“Willy what?”
“The party pecker piñata.”
I hand him a bag of individually wrapped penis gummies and point him toward the fully stocked bar, where the piñata lies face up, its taunting, cheeky smile on full display. He approaches it cautiously, like it might jump up and attack him if he moves too fast.
“You weren’t kidding when you said the maid of honor is penis obsessed. This thing’s creepy. What kind of dick has a face? It’s looking at me like it wants to stab me in my sleep.”
I put a charm on the last wine glass, open a bag of brightly colored confetti shaped like tiny, adorable, nonmurderous penises, and start scattering them across the dining table.
“Don’t be such a wimp. It’s all in good fun.”

If your book was optioned for a movie, what scene would be absolutely crucial to include?

Definitely the strip Scrabble scene:

I set the tray down a safe distance from the board, pull up a chair and sit across from her with the coffee table between us. Can’t have her peeking at my rack, or accusing me of peeking at hers. Although from here, I’ve got a sweet view of the only rack I want to see. Her tank top doesn’t hide much. I’m getting an eyeful of her breasts, tight against the thin, clingy fabric, the outline of her dusky nipples clearly visible. My fingers twitch with the need to peel it off her, but I resist the siren’s song of immediate gratification in favor of the more tempting idea that’s beginning to form in my sex-obsessed brain.
She thinks I don’t know how to have fun? I’ll show her what fun is.
I drag my gaze from her perfect tits and carefully select tiles from the drawstring bag on the table. “How about we make this a little more interesting?”
She reaches for her brandy. “What did you have in mind? A wager?”
“Of sorts.” I lift my drink to my lips but stop short of sipping. “Have you ever played strip Scrabble?”

Readers should read this book …

to give them a little respite in an uncertain time. Let’s face it, we’re all struggling to adjust to this new, hopefully temporary normal. Dirty Work is a flirty, dirty romp that’s heavy on the steam and sexy banter and light on angst. The perfect antidote to the woes of today’s world.

What are you currently working on? What other releases do you have planned?

I’m finishing up Dirty Secrets, the follow-up to Dirty Work, which releases in November 2020. It’s Connor and Brie’s story. They’re the best friend and little sister of Jake, the hero in Dirty Work, so I think you can see where that one’s going LOL. I’m also working on edits for the first book in my Mediterranean Millionaires series for Entangled Indulgence. And I’m writing a book for Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward’s Cocky World, titled Lucky Stiff. No release dates for either of those two books yet. Oh, and the male/male novella I wrote for the Read Me Romance podcast, Play It Again, should be coming out soon in print and digital with a bonus epilogue. So lots on the horizon for me in 2020 and 2021!

Thanks for blogging at HJ!

Giveaway: I’ll give one randomly selected commenter an e-book copy of Dirty Work PLUS winner’s choice of one of my backlist e-books.

To enter Giveaway: Please complete the Rafflecopter form and Post a comment to this Q: What’s the wackiest job you’ve ever had? (Mine was as a receptionist at a dating service.)

 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

 
 

Excerpt from Dirty Work:

“What are you hauling me off to today?” Jake grumbles as I lead him across the artificial turf at Hudson River Park’s Pier 46. “Another drag show? A museum? Shakespeare in a parking lot?”
We’ve done all of those things—and more—in the seven stupendous sex-filled days I’ve been staying at Jake’s. Usually he’s not so surly about our little excursions. Sure, Mr. All-Work can take some convincing to switch to play mode. But he comes around pretty quickly. Especially when I sweeten the deal with the promise of a late-night excursion between the sheets. Or in the shower. Or on the kitchen counter…
Today, though, he’s moodier than usual. But I have a feeling I know what’s bugging him. I’m hoping this not-so-impromptu picnic will get him out of his funk. Then—fingers crossed—he’ll be in the mood for another late-night excursion when we get back to his place.
Maybe this time we’ll christen the balcony, me holding tight to the railing while Jake pounds me from behind with the New York City skyline, illuminated at night, as our backdrop.
Sweet zombie Jesus. My panties are getting damp just thinking about it.
“It’s a surprise.” I heft the basket in my right hand and tighten my hold on Roscoe’s leash with my left. The big lug’s been a prince all day, tagging along with me on errands like he’s done all week. But I don’t want to risk losing him in the crowd that’s starting to set up chairs and blankets in front of the giant inflatable screen at the far end of the lawn. “We’re celebrating.”
“Celebrating what?”
“Your good news from the doctor.” I gesture with my head to his right arm, newly sans sling.
Jake frowns. He’s been a grump since he met us after his follow-up appointment with the orthopedist. “If you call another week out of work good news. I don’t see why I can’t go back. My arm feels fine.”
“I’m sure the doctor’s just erring on the side of caution. He doesn’t want you playing bouncer again until it’s a little bit stronger. And he let you ditch the sling, didn’t he?” I stop at what looks to be a good vantage point, close but not too close to the screen and off to one side, so we won’t get crushed in the mob of moviegoers. “Baby steps. It’s all about the small victories.”
I ignore the voice at the back of my head telling me that this small victory has big implications for me. For us. With Jake back to two mostly usable arms, there’s really no reason for me to keep shacking up with him.
Well, except for the multiple orgasms.
“Small victories suck,” he mutters, taking Roscoe’s leash from me so I can put the basket down and pull out the blanket I’ve packed. “I have to get back to work. Shit’s going down on this Miami deal. The architect we hired is finishing up the preliminary drawings for our New York renovation. And we’re short two bouncers, thanks to the stupid summer cold that’s going around. They need me.”
“No one’s indispensable. Connor can handle things until you’re able to return.”
He flinches a little. Understandable. No one likes being told they’re an easily replaceable cog in the corporate machine. But my words aren’t meant to be hurtful, just truthful. Jake lives for his job. He needs a wake-up call, before it’s too late and one day he looks around and finds that’s all he’s got.
Like me.
I spread out the blanket, take a seat and pat the space next to me. “In the meantime, why not stop and smell the roses? Or eat dim sum from Wo Hop and watch an iconic `80s movie.”
He lowers himself to the ground, staring at me openmouthed the whole way down. “You went to Wo Hop? I’ve loved that place since college. Their roast pork chow fun got me through freshman year.”
“I know.” Roscoe flops beside Jake, his big canine body taking up a good two-thirds of the blanket. I drag the picnic basket closer to me, open the flap and pull out a rawhide bone to keep him occupied. “Connor told me.”
Jake takes the bone from my hand and passes it to Roscoe, who immediately begins gnawing on it with the enthusiasm of a two-year-old who’s been given his first lollipop.
“You and Connor seem to be getting awfully chummy,” he mutters, not looking at me.
I stretch up on my knees to kiss the corner of his mouth, this spark of jealousy in him making me bold. “Don’t get your knickers in a twist. All of our conversations revolve around one subject. You.”
He seems satisfied with that and moves on to another subject. “So what’s the movie? Please tell me it’s not The Princess Bride.”
“That’s next week.” I start pulling dinner out of the basket. Steamed dumplings. Egg rolls. Roast pork buns. The aforementioned chow fun. Both forks and chopsticks, since I don’t know how adept Jake is with the latter. “Tonight’s feature is Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.”
He unwraps a pair of chopsticks and reaches for the dumplings. “Cool. I’ve never seen that one.”
Now it’s my turn to gape openmouthed. “Are you kidding me? You’ve never seen Ferris Bueller? It’s a coming-of-age classic.”
“Nope.” He pops a dumpling in his mouth. “Never.”
“Then it’s a good thing I brought you here so you can pop your Ferris Bueller cherry. There’s a huge hole in your pop culture education that needs filling. You’re in for a treat once dusk rolls around.”

Excerpts. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
 
 

Book Info:

Millionaire nightclub owner Jake Lawson works hard, but executive concierge Ainsley Scott is showing him how to let loose…in the sexiest possible way!

I knew I was in trouble the moment millionaire Jake Lawson walked through the door of his swanky Tribeca loft. The definition of tall, dark and handsome, he’s hired me to take care of his parents’ Irish wolfhound. But one game of strip Scrabble later and we’re taking care of each other all night long…

Starting my concierge business was my way out of the rat race I ran as a lawyer until it cost me my fiancé. And Jake is a full-on workaholic, certain his high-end nightclub will fall apart if he loses focus for a second. We couldn’t be more different. But the chemistry between us is off the charts!

From drag-queen karaoke to movies at Hudson River Park, I’m showing Jake how to lighten up and enjoy everything New York City has to offer. But I can’t help wondering if blowing each other’s minds in bed is enough to make up for our different values. Can Jake step away from his smartphone long enough to give us a chance?
Book Links: Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Goodreads |
 
 

Meet the Author:

Regina Kyle knew she was destined to be an author when she won a writing contest at age 10 with a touching tale about a squirrel and a nut pie. By day, she writes dry legal briefs, representing the state in criminal appeals. At night, she writes steamy romance with heart and humor. She is a two-time winner of the Booksellers’ Best award, in 2016 for Triple Dare and in 2018 for The Billionaire in Her Bed.

A lover of all things theatrical, Regina lives on the Connecticut coast with her husband, teenage daughter and two melodramatic cats with an insatiable need for attention, especially during deadline crunch time. When she’s not writing, she’s most likely singing, reading, cooking or watching bad reality television.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | | Instagram |