Lust on the Rocks by Dianne Venetta: Guest Post & Giveaway {Goddess Fish Promotions}

Today I have Dianne Venetta on the blog for a guest post about five aspects of her genre that she enjoys reading and writing. Also be sure to comment to win a $25 Amazon GC, click the banner for the rest of the tour for more chances to win. Enjoy!

Thanks for having me today! And GREAT question. I could probably go on all day on this subject, but I’ll spare you the prattle and we’ll keep on point.

1) I like the fantasy escape of a romantic couple in the throes of their passionate beginnings. While I love my life and all its hustle and bustle, I still succumb to the pull of fantasy, thoughts of dreamy days and passionate nights complete with beautiful setting and handsome man to draw me away from the stress of my everyday obligations. What woman doesn't want to be fawned upon—adored as she lounges about with her favorite man? It's glorious! Fantastic!

But not real life. Real women usually don't have time for such frivolity which is why many of us enjoy the escape into fantasy.

2) I find romantic women’s fiction fun to write because I can create the scenario that I want to have happen—which appeals to the control freak in me. (Egads! Did I say that out loud?) But I must confess, it's true. I do like to control my direction, my choices and penning romantic fiction affords me the opportunity to write what I enjoy reading.

3) Yet I also enjoy reading about issues that affect me—a “thinking” book, if you will. I mean, romance is wonderful and highly fulfilling, but I also want to think about what the heroine is going through as she works to meet her relationship needs. Is it difficult for her to commit, to trust? Is there something in her past, her psyche that prevents her from opening fully to receive the love of another? Is she deeply conflicted and if so, why?

And who better to know the answers to these questions than her best friend or sister, mother or daughter. But including too much input from these secondary characters is not the normal path of a romance novel. They focus on two people and two people only, which is why I write romantic women's fiction. I like to combine the struggle between hero and heroine with the advice and opinions of those closest to them!

4) Writing something that I feel may be helpful, may give someone a new perspective also appeals to me. I love to delve into the psychology of people, their behavior, and how it affects their relationships and romantic women’s fiction gives me the perfect opportunity! And if I can help someone gain fresh perspective on an issue affecting their life, then I feel like I've contributed something of value. While I love to entertain and make people laugh and cry with my writing, I'm also gratified when the story resonates on a deeper level.

5) And of course, I LOVE the HEA quality to romance. I don't enjoy reading a book that scares me or depresses me. It makes no sense. Why would I knowingly subject myself to such misery? Shoot, life is hard enough as it is! Give me hope, give me pleasure, give me sexy—just don't make me want to jump off a building!

How about you? What do you enjoy reading and why?

Thanks for stopping by Dianne!

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She has what he needs, and he won't stop until he gets it. Trouble is, what begins as a matter of death, becomes a matter of life.

One case away from partnership, Samantha Rawlings is forced to share her high-profile case with a sexy younger man, whose eyes are on a different prize. In the best interests of her client, Sam opens the door to his strategy. Turns out, a little too far...

Victor Marin has ulterior motives. The defendant in her case holds the key to his revenge, and his last chance for justice. But as he chases old demons, he uncovers a powerful woman with no inhibitions, one he wants to possess for himself. But decidedly single, Sam wants no part.

Until Vic walks away.

Excerpt:

“My father is a prominent attorney.”

Sam gave an expectant lift to her shoulders. “And?”

“And, what? He’s a good guy.” Depressed, angry… Vic sighed. But a good man at heart.

“What do they think of you moving to Miami?”

Something inside him hardened. “They’re very supportive of what I do.”

She nodded, as though it were obvious. “They want you to be happy.”

Vic felt the old pressure swell in his gut. “Something like that.” He sipped from his drink, coating his ache with a soothing measure of gin.

“Family is important,” Sam said, with what sounded like genuine admiration. “Particularly the dedicated kind.”

He paused, and held onto the softness that entered her voice. “If you feel that way, why aren’t you married?”

“Why aren’t you?”

“Asked you first. The way you said it, sounded like you have some experience in the department.”

“I do. Loads of it.” She shook long bangs from her well-shaped brow and said, “I come from a family of six kids.”

“Six kids?”

“Six. And I, being the oldest, had to help raise the little beasts—I mean, dearies.” She smiled sweet as syrup. “And mind you, I love every one of them, but I don’t want to repeat history.” She mimicked a shudder and fiddled with her drink’s red plastic sword. “I’ve had my fill in the child-rearing department, thank you very much, but that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate the commitment my parents made to keep it together.”

Oblivious now to the parade of passersby, Vic felt a strange wave of disappointment. “What, you don’t want kids?”

“I have kids,” she asserted. “My brothers and sisters have several between them who I enjoy very much, but as for myself I’ve chosen a different path.”

Vic nodded, but said nothing. He was calculating the new information, turning it over in his mind, deciding what it meant and how he felt about it.

And it’s reflection on her.

“So Vic, you still haven’t explained why you chose Miami.”

He welcomed the shift in tide. Talk of marriage and children was starting to depress him. “I’m looking to add a little ‘sunshine’ to my life and this seemed just the place.”

Sam dipped into her martini, the fiery gleam in her eyes magnetic, her smile reflecting the earlier reference. Inciting desire, it pulled him in, all without revealing her first thought.

“Yes, well, sounds to me like you had a vested opportunity in your father’s firm. Why cross the country and start over?”

“I wanted a change in scenery. While I’m young,” he added, with measured thrust.

Sam smiled, intrigued, but let the subject go.

While she had yet to decipher the reason for Vic’s move, and Raul’s insistence on acting as his cheerleader, she knew men didn’t usually uproot their careers and move halfway across the country, particularly when their father was a well-connected attorney in town and their academics were spotless.

Unless there was a problem.

Dianne lives in Central Florida with her husband, two children and part-time Yellow Lab--Cody-body! When not whacking away at her keyboard crafting her next novel you'll find her in their organic garden chasing grasshoppers and plucking hornworms all while drawing wild analogies between kids and plants and men. Definitely men.

A girl's gotta have fun, right?

When she's not knee-deep in dirt or romance, Dianne contributes garden advice for various websites and volunteers in her kids' school garden (a crazy existence to be sure). But at the end of the day, if she can inspire someone to stop and smell the roses--or rosemary!—kiss their child and spouse good-night, be kind to a neighbor and Mother Earth, then she's done all right.

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