Dawn's Reading Nook: Guest Author Day with Kelli A. Wilkins

Please give a warm welcome to Prince Dalton, the hero from A Most Intriguing Temptation by Kelli A. Wilkins. Today we sit down and see what makes him tick.

Q: Greetings, Prince Dalton. A Most Intriguing Temptation is the second book in a series of historical/fantasy novels. Can you tell us about the trilogy?

Certainly. As some readers may already know, A Most Intriguing Temptation is the second story in a trilogy that began with A Most Unusual Princess and concludes with A Most Unfortunate Prince. Although the books are related, each stands alone as an individual read.

A Most Unusual Princess introduced readers to Princess Elara and myself. That was the book that brought us together through unusual circumstances. (Elara discussed that story in a previous blog.) In A Most Intriguing Temptation, I’ve been called away to attend a business meeting with Emperor Salizar. Elara got jealous of the fact that I’d be away and surrounded by Salizar’s sultry “kharim” women, so she decided to follow me and her brother, Prince Allan, to the palace. Needless to say, she got into a lot of trouble. A Most Unfortunate Prince (the last book in the series) is all about Allan’s banishment from the kingdom and his journey as he finds true love. Elara and I are also in the story, and we play a central role in the ending.

Q: Tell us about yourself. What got you in the crosshairs for your author?

I was charged with guarding Elara while she received suitors. Of course, one thing led to another and we ended up falling in love. I’m a very patient and understanding person and it takes a lot to push me to the edge. However, in A Most Intriguing Temptation, Kelli (my author), tested me at every turn.

In this novel, Kelli explored the themes of fidelity and trust. I was sent to a palace full of women whose only function was to satisfy the male visitors’ every wanton need. When Elara learned where I was going, she followed me, and to my surprise, impersonated a “kharim” woman to test me and my loyalty to her. I admit, I was tempted, but when I learned of her deception, I turned the tables on her to teach her a lesson.

Q: What was it that drew you to your mate?

Elara is headstrong and intelligent, and she has a sweet and vulnerable side that she only shows to me. Of all the people in her life, I’m the one who understands her best and can “manage” her moods and unpredictability. I love her dearly, and yet, at times, she is vexing.

We met under very unusual circumstances (she was nude and bathing in a pond) and I thought she was absolutely lovely—until she became furious with me for watching her. As we spent time together, I realized that she was putting on a brave front most of the time, and I learned not to be swayed by her tantrums or tricks. Elara needs to be treated like an equal, both in and out of the bedroom.

Q: A little naughty fun, where was the wildest place you seduced your partner? Or where she seduced you?

This story is definitely naughtier than the last one. We’re not shy about our lovemaking at home, or anywhere. Elara (disguised as Oonish) tried to seduce me everywhere—in the bathtub, in bed, in a hallway… In the book, we made very naughty use of a settee, and later we got frisky on a pile of satin cushions (and we were not alone!). After the story ended, we wanted to recreate the wanton atmosphere of the palace, so Elara and I set up a tent outside to engage in a few wild fantasies. She likes fooling around outside in the dark, and it’s something I look forward too, as well.

Q: If your partner wants to seduce you, what's one sure-fire trick she can do?

I’ll admit, I’m easy to seduce. (Laughs.) Elara can turn me on with a simple kiss or a gentle touch. She loves my chest and upper body, so anytime I take my shirt off, she pounces on me and gives me a massage or rubs my chest and stomach. It doesn’t take long for me to lose control and submit to whatever wicked ideas she has at the moment.

Q: What is the one place on your partner's body that you know will drive her wild—in and out of bed?

Sometimes I give Elara a light smack on her buttocks. I actually did that the first time we met. Although she pretended to be shocked and insulted, I knew deep down that she enjoyed it. Of course, she loves having her neck kissed and sucked on—doesn’t everyone?

Q: What was one of the most embarrassing things your author did to you in A Most Intriguing Temptation?

Throughout most of the book, I’m in a state of sexual frustration. Oonish is at my side every minute of every day, and she’s practically naked. She goes out of her way to tease me, arouse me, and test my loyalty to Elara. And since Oonish is Elara, she knows just what to do to get me hot and bothered. At some point in the story, I get very, very excited and want Oonish so bad… I have a naughty dream about her and… Well, let’s just say, my body reacted in a physical way to the extremely erotic dream. It was highly embarrassing to be discovered like that, and I’m not thrilled with Kelli for putting me in that awkward situation. Naturally, Oonish/Elara thought it was funny!

Q: Kelli has written 19 romances in all genres in all heat levels. Does she find the love scenes difficult to write?

I asked her about that. A Most Unusual Princess was a mild book (I believe you’d call it a heat level of 1) and A Most Intriguing Temptation is much hotter (a 2 or 3, depending on your taste) and contains a lot of wanton sexual activities taking place at the palace.

Kelli’s books have different heat levels because she matches the intensity/situations with the characters and the plot. She says that she tries to make the love scenes as natural and as real for the characters as possible, given the story, the characters’ personalities, motivations, and backgrounds, and what level of intimacy they share.

She admits that sometimes she’ll be writing a scene and the characters “take over” and decide that the scene should go a different way, or something she planned on happening changes. (This can happen during regular scenes or love scenes.) Characters can jump off the page and take the story in a different direction. (“Of course we can,” I told her. “This is our story!”)

Kelli said that although she thought knew all about her characters before writing A Most Unfortunate Prince, she was surprised to discover a different side to Prince Allan. (I have no idea what that means exactly, but Allan will be here in a few weeks to address his book, so you can ask him.)

Q: Anything else you would like to add?

Although A Most Unusual Princess, A Most Intriguing Temptation, and A Most Unfortunate Prince make up the Royal Desires series, each of our stories stand alone as individual reads. You can start with book 2 and then go back to book 1 to see how everything started, or start with book 3 and go in reverse order. However you read them, I encourage romance lovers to catch up on all of our adventures. I’m content with the way the trilogy ends—and I know that readers will be satisfied (in many ways!).

I’d like to add that Kelli has written several fantastic books in all genres, not just historical romances. She has contemporary, paranormal, and gay romances that bring incredibly interesting characters to life. I’d love to meet them. Maybe one day Elara and I can have a crossover with a few of her other characters. We would have a lot of fun together. (Winks.)

This visit was fun. Thank you for having me. Elara has arranged for Prince Allan to answer a few questions in another chat. Brace yourself, because he’s a wiseass.

Thank you, Prince Dalton, for joining us today. Here’s a look at A Most Intriguing Temptation.

You can find all of Kelli A. Wilkins’s books at www.amazon.com/author/kelliwilkins or https://www.books2read.com/ap/nkvddR/Kelli-A-Wilkins or on her site: www.KelliWilkins.com.

Here’s the book summary and a brief (tame) excerpt from:

A Most Intriguing Temptation

After only four months of marriage to Princess Elara, Prince Dalton is sent to Emperor Salizar’s pleasure palace on business. Not wanting to be left behind, Elara risks her personal safety and sneaks along on the trip.

Aided by her mischievous brother, Prince Allan, she disguises herself as one of Salizar’s sultry “kharim” women and decides to test Dalton’s loyalty. Masquerading as Oonish, Elara goes out of her way to tempt Dalton at every turn. Despite Dalton’s resolve to resist the indulgent girls, he finds himself falling under the spell of the mysterious Oonish.

After nearly giving in to temptation, Dalton discovers Elara’s trickery and turns the tables on her, making her into his submissive playmate. Their fun and games are quickly shattered when Emperor Salizar learns about Elara’s deception. He holds the royals prisoner and condemns Elara to a fate worse than death.

Can Dalton save Elara before it’s too late, or will her prank bring about the end of their love?

Bonus! This e-book includes a sneak peek at the third book in the Royal Desires series: A Most Unfortunate Prince.

The Excerpt:

Dalton rolled over in his sleep. He heard bells jingling again. What was Oonish doing now? He’d told her to stay in the outer room. He opened his eyes. Oonish trotted around the foot of the bed. The room was dim and shadowy. How long had he been asleep?

“Good, you’re awake, Your Highness. I would not want you to miss anything.”

“Miss what?” he grumbled and tried to sit up. As he did, he realized that his arms were bent over his head. His wrists were tied to the wrought-iron headboard with long pink scarves.

“What is the meaning of this?” He moved his legs and found that his ankles were bound as well. “I order you to untie me, now.”

“Nay, Your Highness. You must stay here and be pleasured. It is my duty,” Oonish said as she unhooked her belt. Her scarves and bells fell to the carpet, revealing her tiny covering.

He looked away. What was she going to do? “I wish for you to--”

“You wish for this,” she said, turning her back to him and wiggling her buttocks.

He swallowed hard. Whether he wanted to admit it or not, Oonish was enticing…

***The Royal Desires series is available on Amazon & other platforms. Catch this hot historical/fantasy trilogy from the start:

Book 1: A Most Unusual Princess:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Most-Unusual-Princess-Historical-Fantasy-ebook/dp/B01CBX43D8

All other platforms: https://books2read.com/u/me00L9

Book 2: A Most Intriguing Temptation:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Most-Intriguing-Temptation-Historical-Fantasy-ebook/dp/B01D8P8604

All other platforms: https://books2read.com/u/47kkvj

Book 3: A Most Unfortunate Prince:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Most-Unfortunate-Prince-Historical-Fantasy-ebook/dp/B01DMBYJ6E

All other platforms: https://books2read.com/u/3yPPM6

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kelli A. Wilkins is an award-winning author who has published more than 100 short stories, 19 romance novels, and 5 non-fiction books.

Her romances span many genres and heat levels, and she’s also been known to scare readers with her horror stories.

Kelli’s writing book, You Can Write—Really! A Beginner’s Guide to Writing Fiction is a fun and informative guide filled with writing exercises and helpful tips all authors can use.

Visit her website www.KelliWilkins.com and blog http://kelliwilkinsauthor.blogspot.com/ to learn more about all of her writings.

Follow Kelli A. Wilkins on the Web…

Website: http://www.KelliWilkins.com

Blog: http://kelliwilkinsauthor.blogspot.com/

Newsletter sign-up: http://eepurl.com/HVQqb

Amazon Author Page: www.amazon.com/author/kelliwilkins