I am pleased to have Anne Marsh author of the Bond With Me here at FVBR.
BOND WITH ME opens in M City—Moscow in the near-future. The year is 2090 and Russia has become a dark world in which humans have become increasingly aware of their paranormal neighbors and of the power those neighbors exert. Russia has always been a magical place for me, and BOND WITH ME owes its birth to my Russian summer. As a Russian minor, I made the obligatory pilgrimage to the former Soviet Union, splitting my time between Petersburg and Moscow. I did make it to a few clubs (shh, don’t tell my mother), where I discovered that no party was complete without bottles of iced vodka, champagne and bowls of caviar. I’d assumed this champagne-and-caviar decadence a myth, but it turned out to be more fact than fiction. My hero and heroine meet in a club, surrounded by the pounding rhythm of the music and the erotic possibilities of strangers meeting, touching—and slipping away from each other. Brends Duranov, of course, spots Mischka Baran as soon as she sets foot in his club and decides instantly to pursue her. Before the night is over, he’s made her a darkly seductive offer: bond with me. In exchange for her soul, he’ll grant her one favor. Any favor at all. Surrounded by the pulsing beat of the club music and the hotter heat of the Fallen angel bracing her against the wall as he whispers his dark offer, Mischka Baran is tempted.
Mischka isn’t the only one—her cousin, Pell, is also tempted by the Fallen, following her own dark angel out of the city and into the Russian countryside. I fell in love with the Russian countryside myself, through the windows of the Petersburg-Moscow train. The impossibly green Russian forest slipped past the windows as the train clacked relentlessly onward and the conductor poured endless glasses of sweetened tea in silver holders (our teacher had inadvertently over-tipped—giving the woman ten dollars—and so the conductor poured tea, glass after glass, for our entire group of sixty, determined to provide value for the tip). I ended up watching the views from the hallway—two of my fellow students hooked up and pleaded for an hour alone in our compartment to explore the erotic possibilities of the swaying car and the train’s rhythm. Pell and Dathan make love—and Dathan reclaims his wings—when they spend the night at an abandoned country estate, surrounded by the luxurious, decadence of the Old World place, a place like the ones I watched from the windows of my train.
BOND is a series of erotically-charged Russian moments. Dathan’s seduction of Pell in a bathhouse. The chill winter air against bare skin. The view of the Moscow River from the intimacy Mischka’s flat as Brends and Mischka learn each other. Every place has its stories, and these are just a few of mine. What places do you associate with romance and erotic adventures? And are they rooted firmly in reality, in your fantasies or, like BOND WITH ME, a blending of both?
Thank you Anne for stopping by today and for the wonderful guest post. –FV
***GIVEAWAY***
Anne would like to giveaway an e-book copy of her upcoming release of BOND WITH ME to one lucky commenter. She would also like to giveaway a print copy of her book THE HUNT.
For entry, leave a comment answering Anne’s question from her post:
Every place has its stories, and these are just a few of mine. What places do you associate with romance and erotic adventures? And are they rooted firmly in reality, in your fantasies or, like BOND WITH ME, a blending of both?
Please specify if you would like to win the ebook copy of Bond With Me, the print copy of The Hunt, or if you would like to win either one.
Giveaway is open to all and will run through August 28th, winner announced the following day.
About FV Sophia
My places are a blend of both. I think a little fantasy makes for incredible reading, the the reality makes it that much more pleasurable for me to read.
I would love the chance to get both The Hunt and Bond with Me
minnchica(dot)bookpusher(at)gmail.com
Great blog post — I love authors who make location almost another character. Ms Marsh's love for Russia is making me itchy to go!
I'd be hard pressed to find a place that doesn't invite romantic or erotic adventures
but to choose one, I'm going to have to say Torrey, UT. My wife and I vacationed there last summer and were blown away by the harsh, striking landscape. I described them as the anti-moors to her; they reminded me of a Bronte moor, only without the fog and grass — but there was still that sort of wild danger all around!
Thank you for the giveaway — I'd be happy to win either! thesibylqueen at gmail.com
Wonderful interview. I love the blending of emotion and fantasy. A romantic spot? Hmmm hard to say. My fav spots are Ireland and Scotland. Such mystical places. Though Russia invokes more darker passionate feelings. I'm babbling. lol
I would love to be entered in your contest FV.
I love Egypt for my romantic spot – it the ancient feel of the place – both in reality and in my head when I think of it. I think knowing that even thousands of years ago there were people there who lived and loved there gives Egypt a romantic weight. Plus the sunshine helps!
I'd love a paper copy of The Hunt please(still without an e-reader -I'm so behind the times, but I like the feel of paper in my hands!). Thanks!
No need to enter me I'm just stopping by.
Hmmm I associate the jungle with 'erotic adventure' it's hot, the main hero/heoroine are all sweaty, lots of danger and adrenaline.
For me it's a blending of both because there are some realistic places like Paris that I associate with romance but there are also the fantasies of romance and erotic adventures that fill my head too.
I would love to win either one.
I used to always associate London with romance. Spies and old architecture, and a feel of foreign while not having a language barrier.
I would love to read Bond with Me.
Thank you – Miranda
mdwartistry at yahoo dot com
Scotland, it's such a beautiful country and those guys in kilts, that just spells romance
I'd love The Hunt
blodeuedd1 at gmail dot com
Great post! Thank you!!
I think romance is set in fantasy for me. That is why I love PNR books so much. It takes me out of my everyday and wraps me in a world where anything is possible – including pre-destined mates, living happily ever after, etc.
I just read the review of Bond with Me and am interested in reading it. Thank you.
I'd like to win either one as long as the ebook is pdf or epub (I have a Sony pocket).
I think it is a blending of both. Love the real setting where you can actually see the place and blend it with the fantasy.
This books sounds great!
Your books sound amazing! A romantic spot for me and be anywhere. I would love to travel to Transylvania, Egypt or Italy though, and I know those places could be very romantic if I was with me love Danny hehe!
I would love a print copy of The Hunt!
natashajennex(at)gmail(dot)com
I think books set in Italy,Scotland and Ireland would be wonderful reads. You have a lot of history in all three and great accents. I think to make a good book you need a blend of reality and fantasy.
sstrode@scrtc.com
I think for me a little bit of both is necessary. The fantasy takes me places only my mind can go while reality helps to keep me grounded and helps to bring the story to life.
I would be happy to win either stories.
I love the fantastical where anything is possible; set in locales that are realistic yet wrapped in mysticism.
I would prefer a print copy of The Hunt.
Thank you for the giveaway
d.septer(at)insightbb.com
Every place has its stories, and these are just a few of mine. What places do you associate with romance and erotic adventures? And are they rooted firmly in reality, in your fantasies or, like BOND WITH ME, a blending of both? I like a blending of both worlds. The real and the fantasy. It make it interesting. I think you can find romance and erotic adventures anywhere. The setting just has to be right and the people have to be the right people. But I think Italy or Ireland would be pretty romantic and magical. Please enter me in contest for both books. tore923@aol.com
I always think of vacation places as romantic sites. The camp ground, a clearing in the woods, perhaps an deserted island. Nature and quiet draw me in. I suppose these are all based in reality. Though a medieval castle would be awesome.
robin [at] intensewhisper [dot] com
I associate Scotland with romance and erotic adventures. I love the language, old castles and those kilts don't hurt. I prefer a blending of reality and fantasy.
I would love a chance to win a ebook copy of Bond With Me.
mizztuts AT bellsouth DOT net
I agree on Scotland being the place of romance and erotic adventures! A highlander in a kilt and castle is all it takes for me! Of course this would be fantasy, since I haven't been there, but would love to go…
I enjoyed The Hunt and would love to get the ebook of Bond with Me!
I associate Romance with the lake we live by because all the teens go there to make out.Even me as a teen.
I would love to win the hunt
sasluvbooks(at)yahoo.com
Because I scuba dive, I've gone to lots of tropical islands and they are the places that I most associate with romance.
I prefer to read ebooks, so I'd love to win Bond With Me.
jen at delux dot com
I think Honolulu is quite the romantic place
I'd like to be entered to win the print copy. I don't own an ereader.
juliecookies(at)gmail.com
places that seep with history, like scotland, egypt, and even older parts of the south, are more romantic to me. since i haven't been to most of these places, they're fantasy to me, but i enjoy a nice blending of reality and fantasy. if it's done right, it can still carry me away….
i would like the print copy of the hunt please!
k_sunshine1977 at yahoo dot com
To me romantic places are foreign spots like Italy, Brazil, the Islands. Anywhere that would be special because they are so different than where I live.
usignolc(at)yahooDOTcom
I would like to win either book/ebook.
I associate romance with vacation destinations like Paris or tropical islands, and most of that is fantasy for me since I haven't traveled much.
meredithfl at gmail dot com
"What places do you associate with romance and erotic adventures?"
I don't get much of a thrill if a story is based anywhere near my hometown, or any place I have physically been to for that matter. There's no fantasy in that.
ebook Bond With Me please =) Love some fallen angels.
Hm.. I think that a bridge is associated with romance. Maybe I'm influenced by cliche Hollywood settings: an old oak bridge, pale moonlight behind mists, running stream… =romance
I would like to win either of the book/ebook. Thanks so much for making this international!
Romance happens to born in your head, than go straight to your heart and your soul. So the place would never be stuck in reality alone. It would have to be both, fantasy and reality sharing a space when the feelings can fly.
Thank u so much to open this to everybody 
I would like to be in the run for the hunt
Some of my favorite places of romance and adventures make no sense to anyone but me. But I think my favorite romantic place is when I'm in an oak tree.
My first kiss was 15 feet up in the air in a giant oak tree. (Then I fell out of it and almost broke my arm. My kisser lost a canine tooth) My first long-term boyfriend and I met when I found him unconcious in a treehouse in- yup, you guessed it, an oak tree.
Oak trees tend to represent good romantical things for me, so I love finding giant old oak trees that I can climb. Amazing things and them just tend to happen to me around them.
I definitely associate romance with London since I started out reading romances with historicals set in London. I like fantasies, so a blending of both works for me. I love how paranormal romances are so popular now – a blend of my two favorite genres.
I'm interested in either prizes. Thanks for the giveaway!
I like a blending of both. With strong influence of anything not normal.
lovemybabysquid at yahoo dot comn
Oops, forgot to say…I'd like the actual book as I have no e-reader.
lovemybabysquid at yahoo dot com
Thank you for the great guest post. I'm adding Russia on my places to visit when I hit the lotto.
For me any island setting is romantic and exotic and without a doubt contains both reality and fantasy. Life's just funner that way.
Sign me up for the e-book copy of Bond with Me. Thanks!
Really enjoyed the post. For me, like others, Scotland evokes strong feelings. (Plus I've got a thing about Scotsmen).
I'd love a print copy of either book.
Q: Every place has its stories, and these are just a few of mine. What places do you associate with romance and erotic adventures? And are they rooted firmly in reality, in your fantasies or, like BOND WITH ME, a blending of both?
A: I grew up in a culture where erotica is considered a grave sin and surely will go to hell. As I tried to be a "good girl", I grew up with my erotica side supressed. But once I got away, I was no longer supressed. Or so I would like to think. However, a lifetime of habits die hard. My boyfriend helped me be a little bit more adventurous. But I guess it's a bit too late now. I'm already too old. So, consequently I do not have a "place" where I associate with romance and reality. But, I would like my chance at that copy of The Hunt so here is my answer… It is more like "with whom" than anyhting else. Anywhere is romantic and erotic to me if I am with the right person
Thank you for the chance to win The Hunt!
Re-posted your contest at: http://contests-freebies.blogspot.com/2010/08/win-bond-with-me-or-hunt-at-fiction.html
Re-twitted: http://twitter.com/cherrymischivus/status/22109621664
Cherry Mischievous
mischivus101-warrior [at] yahoo [dot] com
I think you can make any place romantic and erotic. I think a blend of both fantasies and reality is great.
I would like a print copy of The Hunt.
jellybelly82158 at gmail dot com
For me I think the places are mostly rooted in reality.
Think Paris and the Seine, Italy and Florence, Greece and the Aegean islands.
Those are the sort of places that say romance to me !
Thanks
I would love a print copy of The Hunt.
Carol T
buddytho {at} gmail DOT com
Oh, wow, I love your vivid description of Russia
I associate Venice, Italy and Montana with romance and adventure… of course, I haven't been to either, yet, but I have plans to. So, my idea of the two are definitely part of my fantasy. Venice, with it's rich history and Montana with the open land and endless possibilites.
I'd like to enter to win a print copy of The Hunt, please
aliciaeflores1 @ yahoo.com
I associate romance with Scotland, Ireland, and England – probably based on the books I've read!
But, there seems to be something elegantly, and sometimes tragically, romantic about these places. And I think they can be rooted in both reality and fantasy. Although fantasy is way more alluring to me. All the 'what-ifs' that can be associated and brought to life through fantasy makes it even more romantic to me!
Great post and thanks for the chance! I would prefer the ebook Bond With Me, but either book would be fine.
~Tanya
amongthemuses @ gmail . com
I like a blend of both. I associate Scotland with romance and enjoy fantasy and futuristic elements.
I would like a chance to win both.
marlenebreakfield(at)yahoo(dot)com
Ireland and the Scottish coast hold that significance for me. It's a step back to olden times where superstition ran rampant and anything felt possible.
I would love to win a copy of Bond with Me! I love this cover
a.leigh86(at)yahoo(dot)com
My place is Paris. It is rooted in fantasy because I haven't beem able to visit Paris. I would like to win the print copy. garrettsambo@aol.com
I would like to win either book. I'm always looking for new authors to read! thanks for the chance!