Book Tour for Turkish Delights by Liz Crowe (Guest Post & GIVEAWAY)

Before Liz joins us to talk about her favorite exotic locales, I want to thank Goddess Fish Promotions for letting me be a part of this tour.  Thanks too goes to Liz herself for taking time out of her busy schedule to be here and for the awesome giveaway that three people have the chance of winning.  So be sure to read this entire blog post to find out how to enter.  I now bring to you Liz Crowe answering the question I asked her......How does an exotic location add to the feel of a story and what is your favorite exotic locale and why?

Since my entire series is based in Turkey, you'd think that answer would be obvious.

But don't think too quickly.

I was lucky enough to live overseas for many years, and am a little embarrassed to admit that I've seen more of Europe than I have of my own country.  I spent Christmases in one of the most picturesque counties (Germany).

Toured WW2 battle sights, the Ultimate Over the Top royal residence and strolled Paris streets with a baguette under one arms just so I could say I did it (France).

Had my entire family's passports stolen, then restored while staying in a rental villa up a hill from a beautiful beach (Spain).

Rode Elephants (Thailand).

Shared beers with the Yeoman Warders in their private pub inside the Tower and visited one of the most mysterious an beautiful cities on the Isles while in Bath (England).

Sang in a mixed age choir in one of the oldest churches in Lucerne, then got shit faced drunk on ice cold schnapps with same in a city function hall (Switzerland).

Rented a farmhouse with another family outside Edinburgh and joined the Scotch Drinkers Club (Scotland).

Blew Waterford crystal, drank a legit Guinness and walked the streets of a charming city that reminded me very much of my southern US home (Ireland). 

Stayed at one of the most beautiful hotels in the world--a Ryokan, traditional Japanese "B&B"--and got dressed up and photographed like a Geisha (Japan).

Of all of these experiences, I've decided that France is hands down the most romantic place I have ever visited.  Granted I have not been to Rome, or Budapest, Naples or (hides face) New York City.  I know these each could vie for the honor.

But for me, top to bottom, France wins.  Nowhere else can you walk into the equivalent of a CVS and buy wine better than anything at a top local restaurant around here anyway--for about $10 a bottle, snag a loaf of fresh bread, some amazing cheese and sit in the back lawn of the most famous museum on the planet and just...picnic.  In Normandy we spent hours walking up and down the landing beaches, that were subtly marked with notifications of the June landings then toured the somber graveyard at the top of the hill. Driving into Paris after a few nights at a family style resort just outside Normandy we stopped at Versailles.  I am a HUGE fan of the Marie Antoinette era of French history so you can imagine how I was the entire 2 days we spent there.

Then Paris. And we drove. In our English car.  Within an hour of hitting our ultra charming, downtown, Euro-style hotel (read: small), a half drunk street cleaner shaved off our rear view mirror, but stopped, came inside and offered to buy us a glass of wine.  And he was flipping cute too.  And our GPS took us back to the coast out of the city around the Arc du Triomphe.  The biggest, meanest, scariest roundabout in Europe.  Well, if you don't count the one outside Heathrow airport.

No it was not all perfect.  No vacation is.  But we liked it so much we came back twice more to Paris.  The City where I shall someday be reincarnated.  Mark my words.

Since I have been to so many places I love to read fictional stories set in far-flung locales.  For my taste, it adds to the emotion of the story to have locals mixing it up with visitors be they tourists or ex-pats like I was. Writers who set their stories overseas typically do so from a base of experience and can add their own personal spin on what it was like, how they felt about the natives and their overall views on the country.  

I have used it once so far for my current series, Turkish Delights.  My 2 years in Istanbul were amazing and inspiring on many levels.

But am head writing something right now that will be set in Germany in the early 1800's at the height of the popularity of brewing.  Picture one of the hottest, but somewhat difficult tall blond brewers you can imagine. Proud, bossy, demanding, utterly alpha.  And a woman who owns a brewery in the U.S. who visits German in 2015 on a tour of the Spaten-Franziskaner brewery, peeks into one of the old lagering caves under the brewery building and is transported back in time, landing smack in front of Eldric, the brewer, while he is trying to work.  She thinks its a weird gimmick for the tour.  He doesn't know what to think.  They have One Very Hot night. When she wakes up and he's still "in character" things get REALLY interesting.......

Wow Liz, you've seen some beautiful sights!  These visuals definitely enhance a storyline and I look forward to reading more of your stories.

Excerpt for Turkish Delights:

The hands moved up her calves as the silk sheet covering her nudity shifted, like a whisper against her skin. The masseuse concentrated on one leg at a time, traveling up her calf, reaching her thigh then back down, again and again. With each stroke, she was aware of fingers very near her bare pussy.

She raised her head, shocked but embarrassed by the way her nipples had hardened. It had been a solid year since she’d had sex with anything other than the toy Caleb had given her for her birthday the year before. After Marcus broke off their engagement, she’d jumped into an affair with some guy in finance, had a few close encounters with a man she met at a bar, but lost interest as her job responsibilities ramped up, or so she told herself. Convinced she was unable to sustain anything resembling a normal human relationship, she dove into work, pouring everything she had into it, including her libido.

“Relax,” a soft male voice advised. “It’s okay.” She put her face back against the rest, giving in, taking his advice. His voice comforted her, and her battered psyche needed soothing. Something struck her as odd, though. She thought this was to be a couple’s massage. The fancy cloth covered screen to her right indicated there was another table, and another massage, on the other side. She had assumed the massage would be without barriers.  But she’d paid Madame Eve to come up with her ideal date.  Maybe this was all part of a plan.  Besides her masseur was deliciously distracting.  She closed her eyes and let the man’s hands reach up her legs again, and this time when he brushed his fingers against her pussy she didn’t flinch, but nearly purred, thoughts of some tall, dark, handsome stranger on the other side of the fabric divide gone.

The silky cover slid to the floor, leaving Elle fully exposed but something about it was suddenly, completely right. The hands reached her ass, caressed, worked her hips one at a time, before skipping up to her lower back. Just when she got used to that, the hands returned to her ass. She tilted her hips slightly.   Her swollen clit needed contact. She moaned softly when one hand thrust against the small of her back while the other gripped the inside of one thigh, pressing into both spots, fingertips grazing the edges of her pussy. When he touched her outer lips, his hand still held tight against her thigh, she gasped.  Dear God I am gonna…the orgasm surprised her in both its presence and intensity.  Her body spasmed.  Fluid gushed and coated her legs and his hands.  Elle moaned, in ecstasy and embarrassment.

Excerpt for Blue Cruise:

Adem climbed up from the hull of the boat. It was hard not to take over the kitchen. But the the current chef and captain kept pushing him out, gently reminding him that he was the client now, that this was a 1Night Stand event, and he needed to go meet his date. He laughed and took the steps two at a time. Determined to enjoy it, not to feel guilty about buying himself the good time he deserved, Adem looked up and saw the American Adonis that haunted his dreams. Ray Bans covered his eyes, and he appeared utterly dejected by the sight of the boat.

Weak kneed was a new sensation to him, but Adem gripped the ropes along the stairwell from the galley and tried not to gape. He cleared his throat and stepped out onto the hot asphalt, the four steps he needed to reach his dream date the longest he’d ever taken. Sweat trickled between his shoulder blades, but he squared his shoulders and smiled. The sad, beautiful smile that greeted him in return rolled over his heart like a wave.

“Hello, um, English okay?” The tall man held out a large hand. Adem noticed the distinct lack of the ring he’d watched him accept from the Turkish man on this very boat. Was it two or three years ago?

“Yes, it’s fine,” Adem croaked. “I can speak English, Turkish or French, if you prefer.”

“Oh, I’ll stick to English, thanks.”

The man’s soft blue dress shirt fit his torso like a glove. His jeans were worn, nice and tight, cupping his ass perfectly. Adem gulped. The memory of that cock he’d watched and dreamed about, encased in the denim within his reach, nearly overpowered him.

“Good, good,” Adem ran a hand through his long hair. Damn, I should have gotten it cut. This man probably preferred his dates a bit less…shaggy. “So, we can board if you like.” He gestured toward the boat, unsure what else to say.

The blond god spoke. “I’m Caleb, by the way. Caleb Blessing.”

Adem blushed. “Oh, sorry. Let’s start over.” He turned and stuck out his hand again. “I’m Adem. Adem Broussard.”

He watched as Caleb clenched his jaw.

“I know. I remember you.”

“Oh, well, then….” Adem didn’t understand the emotions flitting over the tall man’s face. When Caleb pulled his sunglasses off and rubbed his eyes, Adem would swear his fingers came away wet. He resisted the extreme urge to pull him into an embrace. Putting his hands in his pockets instead, he stood, letting the silence swirl around them.

“Well, let’s go, shall we?” the gorgeous, obviously unhappy man snapped, as he stomped toward the boat.

Adem’s gut clenched. This was not turning out like he’d hoped. Not at all.

Blurb for Tulip Princess:

Lale Deniz, young, drifting and prone to wildness that her Turkish family doesn't understand is seeking something to help her reestablish control over her life. Her beloved brother Tarkan has exited her life. His twin, Emre lives far away in America with his growing family. When Elle, Emre's American wife has a scary brush with death giving birth, Lale is dispatched to California to help with their five-year old daughter. But a recovering Elle has plans for Lale that involve a magical 1NightStand.

Andreas Michos, Greek former NFL star, now athletic director at UNLV also floats through life, unsuccessfully seeking satisfaction. His former wife and sexual sub left him when he took away the limelight of football stardom. He doubts his own abilities anymore and has given up finding an outlet for his natural Dom.

Set against a backdrop of ancient cultural clashes and Mediterranean family dynamics, Lale and Andreas do meet in Las Vegas at the famous Castillos resort for a date. But it seems destined to fail. Unless they are both willing to relinquish control and discover what can be found inside the soul of another.

Author Bio:

Microbrewery owner, beer blogger and journalist, mom of three teenagers, and soccer fan, Liz lives in the great middle west, in a Major College Town.  Years of experience in sales and fund raising, plus an eight-year stint as an ex-pat trailing spouse plus making her way in a world of men (i.e. the beer industry) has prepped her for life as erotic romance author.  When she isn't sweating beer inventory, sales figures or promotional efforts for her latest publication, doing pounds of laundry for her sweaty athletic children, watching La Liga on the Fox Soccer Channel, or trying to figure out what to order in for dinner, she can be found walking her standard poodles or doing Bikram Yoga.  Liz loves her Foo Fighters Pandora station, and watching reruns of Deadwood, when there isn't any decent European football on the telly.  If you want a beer education follow her: www.a2beerwench.com.  For writing related stuff, including her backlist, go to: www.brewingpassion.com.

**********GIVEAWAY**********

Three Turkish themed prize packages awarded to randomly drawn commenters throughout the tour which may include, but aren't limited to:

-a holiday stocking made from authentic Turkish kilim rug

-a mug with the Turkish "evil eye", meant to ward off said evil

-a pewter dish, that is traditionally used to hold "lokum" or the actual Turkish delight confection/candy

-a box of traditional lokum

-a small Turkish kilim rug (reversible--authentic)

-Giveaway is OPEN TO US ONLY.

-Please leave a comment, including your email addy, to be entered.

-The more blogs you leave a comment on from this list, the greater your chances of winning.

-Giveaway ends at 11:59 PM on 12/9.