A Celebration of “The Good Bits” – A Guest Post by Aurora Russell (@arussellromance @goddessfish) #giveaway

First of all, thank you so much to the Erotica For All website and to Lucy Felthouse for inviting me to be here!

Full disclosure, I almost called this post “In Defense of ‘The Good Bits’” but then I realized that I didn’t want to defend anything – parties are a lot more fun than court trials, after all! – and a celebration seemed much more appropriate.

If you’re reading this post, you probably already have an appreciation for what I am calling The Good Bits of stories. You know what I’m talking about. The parts that make your heart pound and your breath quicken…they might even give you goosebumps or cause you to shift in your seat. I LOVE these parts of the story…which is why I write the stories that I do. But why? Why are these parts in particular so compelling? What is it about them?

I will happily confess that I love a good television holiday romance movie. Christmas, New Year’s, Valentine’s Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving…I have even watched some pretty decent Easter romance. There is just something so lovely and comforting about watching the slow build of romantic tension leading to love, set against the backdrop of the season, festivals, and traditions. But at the end, it’s just…missing something. They are awesome, don’t get me wrong, but they also miss a key part of real romance.

Here is where The Good Bits come in. In a genuine, epic romance between consenting adults, all of the physical manifestations of lovemaking and passion are a huge way that we truly show our partners the depth of our emotion. We leave ourselves more vulnerable – both men and women – to each other than we ever do in any other way. We literally bare ourselves, and we have the chance to be in turns caring, relentless, tender, deliciously rough, attentive, worshipful, and demanding. Everything is allowed…and encouraged, at least when passion is at its best. It can be one of the high points of the entire human experience.

My upcoming novel, The Au Pair and the Beast, was inspired by my love of classic Gothic romance stories like Rebecca and The Mysteries of Udolpho, along with every form of the beauty and the beast fairy tale. When I initially wrote this book, I actually thought that it might end up being something a little shocking (for me!): A Sweet Romance (gasp!!). That just felt wrong, though. Oh, there was nothing wrong with the romance and heat between Alain and Veronica, the two main characters, but when I imagined what they were feeling, how they would truly act, I knew that the story needed The Good Bits.

As soon as I made that decision, the story became deeper, richer. When Alain introduces Veronica to lovemaking and ecstasy, the connection between them comes alive. When they have a massive misunderstanding, their pain is palpable.

If you’d like to read more, I hope you’ll consider picking up a copy of The Au Pair and the Beast or one of my other books. In any case, I hope you’ll join me in raising a virtual glass (of wine, tea, coffee, or anything you have handy!) to love, passion, and all the best bits of erotic romance. Cheers, Santé, and Chin Chin!

Links to The Au Pair and the Beast:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08QMRXT5P

Barnes & Noble: http://barnesandnoble.com/s/9781839439490

First for Romance: https://www.firstforromance.com/book/the-au-pair-and-the-beast

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Excerpt:

Alain’s look was inscrutable as he spoke to her. “I’m sorry. We’ve really continued to keep a totally French household, so Jean-Philippe hasn’t felt like things have changed much from one home to another, but…there are certain inconsistencies between us and American societal norms.”

Veronica shook her head, feeling bad that this was becoming such a big thing, when really, it was a very normal part of daily French life. It was certainly of no consequence to Alain, so why should it be to her?  “Not a problem. I, ah…don’t mind.” She felt her cheeks burn hotter as she realized how that had sounded, so she hastened to explain. “I mean, I got used to being kissed when I was studying in Paris.”

Alain raised one dark eyebrow. He didn’t smile, but his eyes were amused. “Indeed?”

“Not…like that. It’s just that all my friends—older men, younger men, everyone—kissed me,” she stammered. “Women too, of course.”

Now Alain’s lips twitched, and Veronica realized she’d made it even worse.

She took a step closer. “I, ah…just go ahead,” she said, sticking her face forward and closing her eyes. Her heart pounded a deep tattoo in her chest.

She expected a quick, businesslike press of his cheek to each of hers, with an air kiss, but instead she felt his large, warm hands on her shoulders as he slowly kissed one hot cheek, then the other. His lips were incongruously soft. Before he stepped back, he said quietly, “I don’t mind, either.”

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BLURB:

Veronica’s new job comes with a darling little boy, a Gothic castle and…a beast?

When recently laid-off Francophile Veronica Carson is recommended for an au pair job by the elegant leader of her French conversation group, she isn’t sure what to expect—but a Gothic castle deep in the wilds of Maine is certainly not it. Still, she’s drawn in by her joyful little charge, Jean-Philippe, and even more drawn to his brooding father.

Ruthlessly successful businessman Alain Reynard has loved before and has no wish to repeat the painful experience. The tragedy of his recent past is still fresh in his mind, and he wants nothing to do with his son’s lovely new au pair. Despite his best efforts, though, he can’t seem to get her off his mind.

A passionate romance begins to blossom but is put to the test when painful reminders of Alain’s past return. As ugly rumors swirl, the truths of the past and the present collide. Veronica must decide if Alain really is a beast and, if so, whether she can love him enough to break through the dark memories and secrets that tether him to what once was.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Aurora is originally from the frozen tundra of the upper-Midwest (ok, not frozen all the time!) but now loves living in New England with her real-life hero/husband, two wonderfully silly sons, and one of the most extraordinary cats she has ever had the pleasure to meet. But she still goes back to the Midwest to visit, just never in January. She doesn’t remember a time that she didn’t love to read, and has been writing stories since she learned how to hold a pencil. She has always liked the romantic scenes best in every book, story, and movie, so one day she decided to try her hand at writing her own romantic fiction, which changed her life in all the best ways. Find out more about Aurora, upcoming releases, and news at https://aurorarussellauthor.wordpress.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arussellromance/

Twitter: @arussellromance

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