Spotlight & Giveaway: Scandalous Passions by Nicola Davidson

Today it is my pleasure to Welcome romance author Nicola Davidson to HJ!

Hi Nicola and welcome to HJ! We’re so excited to chat with you about your new release, Scandalous Passions!

 
Hi everyone!
 

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

Formerly James IV’s mistress and known as the worst sinner in Scotland, Lady Janet Fraser lives to break rules. Then the king appoints her guardian to convent-raised virgin Lady Marjorie Hepburn, with his champion swordsman Sir Lachlan Ross to protect them. Both are forbidden. But as the three surrender to lust, tender feelings grow, and villains circle, breaking the rules could lead to all their undoing.
 

Please share the opening lines of this book:

The knock at her chamber door sounded more battering ram than human. Powerful. Relentless. Deadly.
Even before the heavy oak swung open, Lady Janet Fraser knew who it was. There was only one man King James IV sent when he had reached the end of his tether with a recalcitrant courtier: Sir Lachlan Ross, his Highland Beast.

Please share a few Fun facts about this book…

• Scandalous Passions is an erotic FFM threesome. Everyone is into everyone!
• Lady Janet Fraser was inspired by the Scottish King James IV’s real life mistress Janet Kennedy.
• Medieval noblewomen used items like egg yolks, bacon fat, and vinegar to wash their hair.
• Forks were not yet used. People used eating daggers, spoons, and (clean) hands.
• The story begins at Stirling Castle; the characters road trip first to Loch Leven, then St. Andrews.

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

Sir Lachlan loves Lady Janet’s fiery spirit, boldness, and lusty nature. With Lady Marjorie, it’s her sweetness, wit, and plump curves. Both women are attracted to Sir Lachlan’s mountain-man physique, his loyalty, and protective nature.
 

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

The FFM threesome is fem domme, erotic, playful, caring, steadfast.
 

The First Kiss…

Lady Marjorie kisses Lady Janet on the cheek (all she dares to do) and Lady Janet decides she needs comprehensive kissing lessons with herself as tutor.
After Lady Janet tends to his battle wound and they discuss terms of an affair, Sir Lachlan and Lady Janet kiss for the first time beside a campfire at Loch Leven.

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

I don’t have a favorite scene, but this one always amuses me.

Marjorie lost her words entirely as something nudged her leg. Something slimy. A shriek tore from her throat, and she threw herself at Sir Lachlan, wrapping her arms and legs around him and clinging like a kitten to a tapestry. Somehow he didn’t stumble under her weight or drop her in the water. In fact, with nary a blink, he merely curved one bulging arm under her bottom as a sort of seat.
His lips twitched. “You’re safe, lady.”
“What was that?” she spluttered.
“A fish?”
Marjorie groaned inwardly. A shriek to wake the dead and a leap as though pursued by rabid wolves…for a fish. “Does it not know we supped on them last evening? We are death to fish! It should be rushing to warn its friends and family, not…not…kissing my leg!”

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

The scene where Lady Janet, Lady Marjorie, and Sir Lachlan have an outdoor picnic. It’s bawdy and playful and sweet, and shows their relationship growing beyond lust.

Eager to serve, Lachlan unpacked the first basket, spreading out the rug and arranging the cushions in a half circle. Lady Janet sank onto the rug with a deep sigh, leaning back on a cushion and lifting her face to the sun.
“I’ll need all the lemon juice in Scotland for the freckles I shall gain this day, but it will be worth it. Hold your noses now, I’m removing my shoes and stockings.”
As soon as she did so, Marjorie began to cough and sway before pressing her hand to her forehead, swooning onto the cushion and twitching, then lying deathly still.
Lachlan applauded.
Lady Janet raised an eyebrow. “Saucy. Both of you.”
“Are you going to punish us, mistress?” said Marjorie, batting her lashes, and her guardian couldn’t help but smile.
“Indeed. An extra half hour on your knees—”
“Hooray!”
“In chapel.”
They both stared at her in horror. Lady Janet stared back for a few moments, then she began to laugh. “Your faces.”

Readers should read this book …

If they love Scottish history, the lusty rawness of the late medieval era, and are interested in the dynamics of a fem domme polyamorous romance.

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

The second book in the Highland Menage series, Wicked Passions (MMF), releases August 24. I also have two other books I’m working on, both erotic M/F Regency era stories for anthologies releasing in October and November.

Thanks for blogging at HJ!

Giveaway: $10 Amazon giftcard (US only)

To enter Giveaway: Please complete the Rafflecopter form and Post a comment to this Q: What is your favorite aspect of Scottish historical romances?

 
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Excerpt from Scandalous Passions:

“Are you unwell, lady?” Sir Lachlan asked.
On another day the low rasp in her ear might have been startling, but comfortably mellow, Janet began to shake her head at him. Then halted.
Maybe her evening could be saved after all.
“I fear so,” she lied. “Would you escort me to my chamber? Lady Marjorie is speaking to the king and queen, so will be quite safe.”
He hesitated before nodding. “Aye.”
Moments later, they stepped outside. After the cloying stench of sweat, grease, food, burning wood, and wilted flowers, the cool, fresher air was most welcome, and Janet inhaled heavily as she glanced over to the oldest part of the castle where her chamber was located. Unlike the other royal castles, Stirling had little accommodation for guests. James might have more pressing reasons to send her away, but he wouldn’t be dismayed to have another chamber to make use of.
As they walked across the inner close, her heel caught on an uneven stone, and she stumbled. But with the reflexes of a cat rather than the bear he reminded her of, Sir Lachlan curled one hand under her elbow and halted a fall.
There…those wretched tingles again.
Her heart pounding, Janet tilted her head and studied him. “I find you…intriguing,” she murmured.
“Oh? How so?”
“You say very little yet see everything. The king trusts you above all, but you have no family. No wife. I know you and James have rutted your way through the realm, yet unlike him, you have no bairns. You choke an ill-mannered man at a table, would kill an enemy with nary a blink, but are kind to a friendless convent orphan. Although in truth, that isn’t a hardship. Lady Marjorie is rather delicious, is she not?”
Sir Lachlan glanced down at her, true surprise on his face. “Er…”
“Oh, come now. God creates beauty in many forms; all must be appreciated. And you liked it when she stroked your hand, yes?”
He didn’t reply, but his fingers flexed on her arm. A resounding yes from the Beast.
“I shall counsel you not to bed the king’s virgin ward under his nose,” Janet continued merrily, the wine making her reckless as he led her up the stone steps and into a wide torch-lit hallway.
“I would not!” he growled. “I mean…no virgins. I like…experience.”
Janet blinked. Well. This stoic, taciturn Highlander would offer a little something when pushed. “Then I must beg forgiveness, stealing you away from your current mistress. I wager she awaits you, naked and wet and aching to be plundered.”
Sir Lachlan sucked in a harsh breath. “Your ch-chamber, lady.”
“So it is,” she said, leaning against the heavy oak door. “Do you know, on nights like this I miss my husband most. He knew wine unleashed wickedness in me. Made me especially demanding…”
There was a long, long silence. But her escort didn’t move. Then, he gritted out, “It does?”
Janet closed her eyes in sweet remembrance. “Oh yes. See, our marriage was different than most; in the bedchamber, he ceded total command. Certain men love to receive instruction. They crave it. I would make him kneel and pleasure me with his tongue and fingers, and only when I was thoroughly sated would I permit his release. He spent so hard when I rode him, bucking like a spring colt as he gave me every drop of his seed…”
The silence stretched again. Inwardly cursing her wine-loosened lips, Janet opened her eyes and looked up.
Except it wasn’t scorn or disgust on Sir Lachlan’s face. Just pure yearning.
But how could that be? He was the Highland Beast!

Excerpts. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
 
 

Book Info:

Scotland, 1504.
Lady Janet Fraser didn’t earn her reputation as Scotland’s most notorious sinner by following the rules. A former mistress of King James IV, she’s content to live her life from pleasure to pleasure. Even if those pleasures—and people—are forbidden.
People like Sir Lachlan Ross, given the moniker The Highland Beast, a man as intimidating in battle as he is in size. A beast she discovers secretly wishes to be tamed and submit to her dominance.
Or like her new ward, Lady Marjorie Hepburn, a convent-raised virgin with a desire to be taught all the sensual secrets of the marriage bed. Things that Janet is fully willing to teach her, again and again. There’s much for her to learn.
And forbidden pleasures like the three of them together in one bed.
But Lachlan and Marjorie both have ties to the king. As wicked lusts are indulged and affection unexpectedly grows into love, breaking the rules this time could mean all of their undoing…
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Meet the Author:

NICOLA DAVIDSON worked for many years in media and government communications, but hasn’t looked back since she decided writing erotic historical romance was infinitely more fun. When not chained to a computer she can be found ambling along one of New Zealand’s beautiful beaches, cheering on the All Blacks rugby team, history geeking on the internet, or daydreaming. If this includes dessert—even better!
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