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Friday, January 25, 2013

Blog Tour: Interview, Review & Giveaway - "Vanilla on Top" by C.J. Ellisson

Welcome to our virtual book tour stop of "Vanilla on Top" by C.J. Ellisson brought to you by Bewitching Book Tours.
1. Tell us 5 things readers may not know about you. 

-I can't touch type. (yes, that's true, please stop laughing ;-)
-I have such difficulty with spelling that I very rarely send a hand-written a card to someone.
-I never finished college.
-I have no formal training in writing, my majors in college were Art, Business (really boring) and then Chemistry (fascinating, but 8-10 hours in a lab all day would be equally boring).
-Before I became a writer I was going for my contractor's license. My first love was flipping homes with my husband.

2. How did you come up with the idea of "Vanilla on Top"? 

I have never read Fifty Shades of Grey, and never will, but I know a lot of readers who have. Listening to them describe the story disturbed me. The hero's behavior sounded very controlling, something I experienced first hand in a mentally and physically abusive relationship I left in my early twenties. It bothered me to think women would want to experiment with BDSM and read about it portrayed in fiction in what was essentially a mentally abusive relationship. I realize my opinion may be out of the norm regarding Fifty (so please don't send me hate mail), but I just can't bring myself to read about that kind of control no matter how many people tell me it's a love story.

I'm eternally grateful the series has brought so many readers to erotic fiction, even if it is not fiction I choose to read. But that got me thinking, what would I read regarding BDSM? Was I ready for the scary stuff with equipment and Dom/sub relationship details? Did I want to read about the power play and emotional angst and upheaval prevalent in such stories? I realized I wanted to read something lighter, something more real.

I created a story I could relate to -- one of two lovers exploring the boundaries of their sexuality and finding new things they never would have discovered with anyone else. True intimacy in a relationship usually comes with time. It is my belief that trying anything risqué or out of your comfort zone can only be done in a loving, monogamous relationship. And since I hadn't come across anything like VoT yet, it seemed like a great fit.

3. Tell our readers a little bit about Vanilla on Top and why they should check it out? 

Vanilla on Top is a love story with heart and emotional depth. The characters take risks with each other and with trying something new. The love they discover along the way surprises both of them. I think the publisher's short description says it best:

Determined to leave her wallflower tendencies at the door, Heather Pierce attends a speed dating event pretending to be someone new. Someone dominant. Little does she know, the larger than life man whose world she rocks is incognito himself, and he isn’t about to let the mysterious vixen slip through his grasp.

4. How many books are planned for the Wildside Series? 

Right now, I've got five planned. Three are contracted in Entangled's Brazen line with new couples in each one, and two will be the continuation of Heather and Tony's developing relationship.

5. What is up next for C.J. Ellisson? 

Professionally, I've got my next V V Inn inspired book coming out in March (no release date yet). It's a short novel based on Jon, the werewolf readers love, and how he came to be Vivian's servant. Before that book comes out I'll be at a terrific new reader event in St. Augustine Florida called Olde City, New Blood this February.

Personally, I'm still getting treatment for my various auto-immune diseases and following doctors orders to try and rid my body of multiple bacterial strains. Some days it feels like a never ending journey, but I know I'll be back to normal health one day.
Vanilla on Top
(Walk on the Wild Side, #1)

Description:
Discover your inner bad girl, and set her free… 
Heather Pierce is done being a wallflower, both personally and professionally. Desperate to live a different life for one night, she attends a speed dating event. Maybe here, anonymous unless she chooses otherwise, she can become someone new. When a man way out of her league sits across from her, Heather gathers her courage and takes charge of what she wants, secretly fearing he won’t desire the real person she’s desperate to hide. 
Top acquisitions officer and international playboy Tony Carmine is about to close the biggest deal of his career. But then he meets Heather at a speed dating event…and discovers losing control may be exactly what he needs. Her blossoming sensuality occupies his every thought, consuming him with the need to possess the most intriguing lover he’s ever encountered—until he walks into the boardroom and sees Heather on the other side of the negotiating table.
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Short promo description
Determined to leave her wallflower tendencies at the door, Heather Pierce attends a speed dating event pretending to be someone new. Someone dominant. Little does she know, the larger than life man whose world she rocks is incognito himself, and he isn’t about to let the mysterious vixen slip through his grasp.
 photo 5moons.png
My Review:
I have been waiting patiently to read C.J.'s latest release, Vanilla on Top.  This is definitely a FAVE for 2013 and I cannot wait to read the next installment.
Discover your inner bad girl, and set her free....hello...is that not catchy?  I know after reading this book, I need to set my inner bad girl free more often.  =)
"Vanilla on Top" should not be compared to Fifty Shades or even Crossfire.  This book is in a league of its own.  I had a hard time putting it down and of course my husband kept giving me the weird eyes whenever he would see me reading this from my iPad.  He was always asking what I was smiling about...he has no idea.  =)
Be prepared to be blown away from the first chapter in the book with a very heated, steamy scene between Heather and Tony.
This book is about Heather Pierce taking control of her life. She is tired of being the good girl and decides to set the bad girl inside of herself finally out.  She is new to it, but when she finally gets the courage to set her free, she is about to have some of the wildest times with the one man who she met at a speed dating event, Tony, and he will have a hard time resisting her.
The only thing is Tony is about to change Heather's world once Heather finds out the truth on where he works and what he is up to.  He never knew Heather and that his job would end up almost ruining her career.

C.J. Ellisson does an amazing job with writing a book that actually has a female character taking over the dominant role in the bedroom, and without using the tools you would find in a sex shop, but instead every day things that make it romantic.
She even writes a male lead who is able to let the female take over in the bedroom, or whenever, or wherever.  Tony definitely needed Heather though since he was used to being in control.  She managed to tame the man from his own ways.
She reminds us how women could play the vanilla Dom in a relationship.
Heather had her insecurities at first, but in my own opinion she overcame those insecurities.  The best part of Heather is that she used fantasies that she was comfortable doing and she happened to be a romance reader. (And she even referenced she never read Fifty Shades...which she may be a fictional character, but I definitely am one of those readers who has not read it...I'm really trying to now...but it may be my first DNF ever)
C.J.'s writing style is unique compared to other contemporary romance or erotic writers out there, which makes me adore her even more.  She does not follow in others footsteps.  She takes a different route into the genre.
There is no comparison with Vanilla on Top to other erotic books.
If you are a fan of contemporary romance or erotic genres and want to read a book where the roles are switched, you definitely need to read "Vanilla on Top".
Warning....sex scenes are throughout this book.  Who knows maybe you as a woman, will find out you have a inner bad self yourself after reading this book.
I know I must unleash my inner bad girl more often.  (It does drive the hubby crazy)  =)

I received a complimentary copy of the book for the blog tour in exchange for an honest review.  This review is my own personal opinion and I was not paid for it.
 photo Fransig1.png
Tony steps closer and sinks to the cobblestone terrace, reaching with two eager hands toward my hips. He buries his face in my crotch and breathes deeply. “You smell so good.” He rubs his cheek back and forth against my panties. “What do you want me to do?”

A shudder ripples through me as the breath of his whispered voice warms my skin through the thin lace. He wants me to tell him what to do. I can do this.

“Kiss me,” I rasp, my voice barely above a whisper.

His soft lips press against the thin garment as the heat from his flesh teases me higher. My every sense feels on high alert during this encounter. I’ve never done anything so daring in my entire life. The next kiss presses harder and little shocks of arousal dart through my core.

“That’s nice,” I say, resisting the primal urge to grind myself into his face. “But I need more.”

I glance down into Tony’s light brown eyes and see an intensity I’ve never seen on a man’s face. To know it’s directed toward me feels even more amazing. “Tell me what you want.” His hot hands skate up my thighs to rest near the aroused juncture between my legs.

I feel the wetness pooling in my panties, my body eager and ready to be with this man I just met. More than anything I want his fingers teasing me to a release. “Slip your thumbs under my underwear and stroke me.”

He pulls his hot lips away from the damp cotton panel of my panties and breathes deep. “Yes, ma’am.”

A prickling ignites my skin, sending the hairs on end when he calls me ma’am. I like it.

I like it a lot.
C.J. Ellisson writes erotica and urban fantasy. Her vampire series, The V V Inn, mixes a heavy dose of erotic elements with suspense, action, a little bit of mystery and some light humor. She lives in northern Virginia with her husband, two children, two dogs, and a fluffy black cat who makes her sneeze.

To learn more about C.J.'s books (where you can read half of the novels for free), please visit her website at www.cjellisson.com

CJ is offering a signed swag pack awarded for every ten commenters- if Book Lovin' Mamas gets to forty commenters she'll add a VoT mousepad and bumper magnet in each of the winner's packages.  
And one exclusive VoT Ping Pong paddle is up for grabs as well. 
Please make sure to add your broken email addy if you are entering the giveaway. 
Winners will be announced on Feb 1st. 

9 comments:

Katrina said...

What a very nice interview! Vanilla on Top is one of my all time favorite books. I can't wait for the next book to come out!

Unknown said...

Love the book cover and looks like a very interesting read.
olga_sergejeva (at) hotmail.co.uk

cindy said...

Love the interview, and loved Vanilla on Top. A truly hot read. Loved the fact that I felt I actually walked into the book as if I was watching a movie. Can't wait for the next one.

Unknown said...

A fantastic erotic romance!!

Annette Guerriero
amgiap@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

A fantastic book!!

Annette Guerriero
amgiap@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

Loved the book I can't wait until the next 1 comes out. I am a big fan of erotica reads when they are monogamous relationships and some BDSM and C.J. captures this is her amazing book.

gummi0197 said...

Great interview and review! Cant wait for the other books in the series!

laurie said...

Great interview and review! Cant wait for the other books in the series!

Linda said...

Love the excerpt and review, can´t wait for my chance to readmore! =)
Happy Tuesday!
//Linda
fr_larsson at hotmail dot com

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