Book Tour: Vamped Up

Happy Release Day to Kristin Miller's Vamped Up (Vampires of Crimson Bay #2, Avon Impulse). The author has stopped by with a wonderful guest post on those characters we can't help liking or loving--'bad boys.' She is also having a giveaway so be sure to follow the tour. We welcome Kristin Miller and the Vamped Up Book Tour to our blog today.

Blurb: On the run from hungry vampires with his lover under arm, madly possessive Ruan has one thing in mind: keep the dirty fangs of his khissmates off the neck of his one true love—a human with mouth watering blood. The fact that from the moment he invited EVE into his bed, he’s been having eerily real nightmares about violently screwing her, then killing her? Yeah, that part wasn’t fitting too well into his carefully concocted plan to keep her safe. 

Eve, a tantalizing biblical studies teacher at Crimson Bay University, has no idea her life is in jeopardy. Ironically, living with the knowledge of paranormal beings and sharing a bed with one of the most cryptic vampires on the planet was not what had her protectively grasping her throat at night. It was the mention of her name in the ancient scrolls; the scrolls written by vampire elders, revealing what’s in store for the end of times…and her spilled blood.

Savage, a villainous vampire-therian hybrid, has a simple plan: kill Eve, drain her dry, thus binding the death shades (dark spirits of vampire elders) to him.

Determined not to let the evil sucker execute his plan by harnessing the dark energy of the elders and killing everyone they’ve come to love, Ruan and Eve set upon a course to stop the future dictated in the scrolls from coming true. It doesn’t take long however, before Ruan realizes that breaking Eve’s heart and erasing himself from her life might be the only way to save her. If only the pull to her wasn't so strong...

An excerpt from Vamped Up:
"Vampires in Crimson Bay have been saved by the successful duplication of Eve’s pure blood. The threat to her safety is gone, Ruan. You can return to our haven. But if you choose the love of a mundane over the duty to your khiss, you’re on your own.”—Note from the San Francisco Primus 

“I said stop, Eve.” A dark musky smell emitted from Ruan’s skin. It was possession. Deep rooted need. “You don’t know what you’re asking of me.” 

Eve had spent an entire month begging Ruan to drink from her. To share one of the most erotic experiences a vampire and mundane could share. Yet he’d denied her. Now, there was no turning back. 

“Either drink from me now, proving to yourself that you have the strength to do this, or let me fulfill my personal obligation to your race on my terms.” Stifling a gasp, she punctured her skin with the tip of the blade, then lifted the steel to examine it. Her blood, red and thick, hung on the edge. “That’s only fair, given what we both want, don’t you think?”

With a hollow-sounding groan, Ruan snatched her hand and licked her palm, sending chills exploding through her hand. 

Guest Post from Kristin Miller: The 'Bad Boy'

I’d like to thank the Reader Girls for having me on their wonderful blog today! I’m so excited to be talking about the unforgettable archetype, the “bad boy”, and what makes him so much fun to write.

No matter how we deny it to our rational selves, there is something electrifying about the bad boy. You know, the hero who is world-weary and jaded, mysterious and stoic, yet has the sexual prowess that can light the world (and perhaps, the heroine’s panties) on fire. Bad boys are the toughest, strongest men walking the streets. And even if they’re not, their egos won’t let them think otherwise. They’re smart. Secretive in the sexiest of ways. They’re quietly powerful and burdened with hidden sorrow. As reckless teenagers, girls want to pursue this hero. And as things progress, mature women (perhaps having learned a lesson or two), want to read about him and be swept away.

So, what’s the reason for the allure?

First, I think we have to clarify something. When readers say they like to read the “bad boy”, I don’t think they mean the hero who will abuse or belittle the heroine. Instead, I think they want to read about a hero who wears the bad boy image like a badge of honor, but doesn’t transfer a lick of that poisonous behavior onto the heroine. She’s the woman who breaks the mold. Who makes the bad boy see the error of his philandering ways.

Maybe I’m getting ahead of myself here…

As women—heroines—we are attracted to the bad boy for many reasons. Some women yearn to believe they can tame the wild, roaring jaguar into a loveable pussy cat. Others are thrill seekers, deriving pleasure from that which they know to be bad for them. (Hello credit card fueled shopping trips and Ghirardelli Carmel Squares!) Instinct plays a part too. It’s a natural female desire to choose the toughest bad ass walking the streets to strengthen our offspring. Although we may not be aware of it on a conscious level, suppressed primal instincts could be the reason bad boys get our engines roaring.

Whatever the reason, it’s hard to deny the truth: bad boys are captivating to read.

What makes bad boys so much fun to write is the redeeming qualities that the heroines inevitably bring out in them. Although we ache to coddle the tortured hero and show him he’s worthy of love (much like Ruan, the hero in Vamped Up), it’s finding his ultimate counterpart in wit, brains, or strength, that makes the hero finally realize the truth: he’s a good guy swathed in bad boy armor. Heroines long to break down the walls and decode the mystery burning in the hero’s eyes. They do this by being supportive, trusting, worthy partners.

Creating this pair in a believable way is a challenge. Can I peel away the layers of the bad boy and make your heart melt for him, yet have you swooning over the cocky whip of his tongue? Can I keep him strong and possessive, yet vulnerable? Do you understand why he’s acting the way he is? On a deeper level than reactionary? Can I get a twinge of sympathy pulsing in your gut when he gets what he wants…then realizes it’s not as rewarding as he originally thought?

If I can create such a bad boy, that’s the ultimate reward. He’s an unsurpassed bad ass who treats the heroine like the queen she is. And, lucky, lucky Ms. Reader gets to hold on for the wild ride… 

About the author: Kristin Miller has had a passion for language and literature her whole life. Born and raised in Small Town USA, she often made up stories about faraway places and edge-of-your-seat adventures.

After graduating from Humboldt State University with a degree in psychology, Kristin realized there is no scarier place than the warped human psyche. Wanting to combine her love of writing with her desire to paint twisted villains, Kristin wound up in the unlikeliest of places—the classroom. She taught high school and middle school English before giving in to the desire to create her own world, where villains can be sympathetic and heroes can be devilishly good.

She is represented by Nalini Akolekar of Spencerhill Associates Ltd. and writes dark paranormal romances and toe curling romantic suspense.

Author links: Website/Facebook/Twitter

GIVEAWAY!
The author will be giving away a $25 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Don't forget to follow the tour and comment! The more you comment, the better your chances of winning.

The tour dates can be found here


We thank Kristin Miller and Goddess Fish Promotions