THE LEADER by Laura Tolomei
Virtus Saga Book 4They thought they defeated Virtus once and for all. They thought they could live happily ever after. And it was no consolation to know it had to be done, like Ylianor suggested from the start, the separation necessary.
Now with the Fitting and an unexpected pledge, their coming together the three of them, is at risk once more, with their compelling sexual attraction standing in the way of true union. But somehow they are the future of their world, so how to relate in and out of the council, mostly in and out of bed?
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Meet Laura Tolomei.
If you really want to know, I was born in 1965 in Rome, Italy, but soon started my travelling career. At the age of five, my parents took me to Lagos, Nigeria, where I grew up free and hot like I've never been since. I loved it there and still think of it with nostalgia. Anyway, it was also where I learned English.
After my African experience, I was ready to tackle the US. I lived in Atlanta, GA, five teen-age years, attending the Crestwood High School, where I started my writing career by publishing a short story Nostalgia on the Crestwood Journal. Very thrilled about discovering my new talent, I went ahead during college, writing for the Emory University journal The Phoenix. Three articles mark my first-and last-steps in journalism, "The peace Corps", "WAMM, Women Against Military Madness," and "Lesbism".
After my American experience, I moved back to Rome, but still kept living from time to time abroad, spending several months in Mumbay India, a country I always felt very close to me in more ways than one.
Today, I write both in Italian and English, mostly fiction of various genres, from fantasy erotica, to mysteries up to plain ordinary life stories.For those of you who read Italian, you can simply visit the Italian sections of my website, but if you feel particularly lazy, here's a short summary:
I have a short story on line Incontro Metropolitano (Meeting at the Subway) and two books:
Piccolo Crocevia a Cinque (Little Five Points, for those who know Atlanta it's a spot near Emory University), printed by Editing Edizioni, to be released December 2008.
L'Investigatto (loosely translated The Cat Detective), publisher Ennepil Libri, 2009.
In English, I write erotica in various genres, mostly fantasy, sci-fi and paranormal, sometimes trespassing into contemporary. Feel free to look over my current and future projects by clicking here.
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WIN - Leave Laura a comment or question today at her Cyber Launch Party and your name goes in the hat for a copy of her new book! Please leave your email address so we can contact you if you are today's winner - good luck!
Happy Release Day Laura!!!
ReplyDeleteLove the cover for your new release and really enjoyed the excerpts, can't wait to read it!
For those not familiar with your Virtus Saga, can you tell us a bit about it and how the books fit together?
Hey was just over at ARe and noticed your recent release RE-SCUE is a BESTSELLER - Super congrats!!! You must be thrilled!
Lots to celebrate! Enjoy your party and I hope THE LEADER is another bestseller for you!
Congrads on the new release Laura!!! The book and the cover look and sound awesome!!
ReplyDeleteviajeradelmar@aol.com
I look forward to reading this series, it sounds like one I would enjoy very much. cthrn.lmnsk@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteAdding to my list,loved your Pirate books.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the new release. I am so glad it's finally here as I have the first three and I have been on tenterhooks waiting for this one to be published :D
ReplyDeleteCongrats Laura! Sounds like an awesome book and love the cover! This is book 4, should you read books 1-3 before reading this one?
ReplyDelete-Jessica B
jessangil at gmail dot com
Hi DeNita, so very nice of you to host me again! I just love your parties and the way you have it's like clicking champagne glasses on line LOL
ReplyDeleteI MADE IT IN ARE'S BESTSELLER LIST???? OMG!!!!! OH WOW!!!!! Thank you for telling me. It's great! And I'm double glad 'cause RE-SCUE is one of my most original work yet!
As for the Virtus Saga, I'll post a recap of it separately.
And yeah! This 2012 is really starting with a blast!
Laura
VIRTUS SAGA - http://www.lallagatta.com/eng/virtus_saga.html
ReplyDeleteConcept
The planet Sendar is controlled by a mechanical device as part of a vast social experiment. This sophisticated mechanism channels people's aggression into sex, which in turn guarantees their feudal society knows no violence.
The World
Sex, sex and more sex without limits or boundaries—not in numbers, not in gender, whether it’s the phase, the pledge or the heat—such is Sendar’s very foundation, an apparently peaceful planet, without the usual pestilences associated with mankind, wars, hunger, violence. But is it really so?
The Characters
Lost while returning home, Duncan Caldwell, only son and heir of Prince Charles Caldwell, finds shelter in Ylianor Meyer’s rundown shack. The beautiful woman has a very familiar air, but for the life of him, he cannot remember who she is or resist the attraction he feels, despite his aristocratic tastes. So he offers her a job as Black Rose’s stable keeper, only to find out she’s the daughter of his father’s mistress. But will this stop the fatal pull drawing him to her bed?
Lord Christopher Templeton is fiercely in love with Duncan Caldwell, a love started before either was old enough to know what love is, which continues until Duncan decides it’s time for him to find a woman. But Chris is determined to hold on to his prince no matter what it takes, even if he has to face the hated rival he had already driven away from his lover’s side, once, so long ago.
Ylianor Meyer has been in love with Duncan Caldwell since the very beginning, growing up with him on the green hills and cliffs of Black Rose. Banned by Prince Charles’s mate, she hasn’t seen Duncan for over 10 years, but when he walks in her rundown shack, she knows she still loves him as passionately as when she was merely nine-years-old. So she follows him, no matter what the consequences, no matter what his despicable lover will do to drive her away…again.
Lord Arthur Fairchild, leader of the High Council, knows time is slipping away from his grasp and Sendar will be condemned if his hero doesn’t come forth soon. So he summons him—not just him, but also the ones he’s connected to by lifetimes of bonding love and feelings so strong they’ve transcended time and space. And the uncontrollable power, the Virt, the energy running wild on Sendar only complicate matters.
The pyramid
Three-sided like the three lovers full of power and explosive feelings, Virtus controls Sendar in ways they have yet to discover and if they can, change.
The story
Unknown to most, powerful forces dominate Sendar’s feudal-like society, the ability to wield destructive energy so strong in some people, it’s threatening to devastate their world. But to reach a new balance you have to learn, grow, blend with the world from which you come, then go beyond it before the world collapses into chaos. And that’s what Duncan, Chris and Ylianor must learn to do if sex, power, magic, passion and jealousy won’t stand in their way.
VIRTUS SAGA -
ReplyDeleteThe Chapters
THE SEX #1 – So they meet, the prince, his lover and the woman who as yet has no place except sporadically in their bed. Chris and Duncan’s fiery love is enough to keep anyone at a distance, but not her. Maybe it’s the fact she awakens a power in Duncan he had not thought he had. Maybe because Chris cannot get enough of her however jealous he is of her influence on the prince. Either way, they bring her along when they’re summoned by the leader, Arthur Fairchild. Their mission: to retrieve the pyramid stolen from the Nephis Valley. And since they all have powers, Virts as they are called, she cannot be left behind…ever.
THE GAME #2 – To retrieve the pyramid, Chris, Duncan and Ylianor have to participate to Cecilia Hurst’s Game of Masters and Slaves. Predictable who’ll be the Master and who’ll be the Slave, with Chris playing as Guest in an erotic non-stop of domination and surrender. But the Game won’t keep Virtus from lashing out to destroy their world. And if they stop him, they can’t avoid Arthur Fairchild’s death and Duncan from becoming the new leader, which only complicates matter.
THE FESTIVAL #3 – To celebrate their world’s survival from Virtus, Duncan, the new leader, calls for a Festival all over the lands–three days of sex and food enough to satisfy everyone’s taste. It’s also a time to patch up things between Chris, Duncan and Ylianor, divided by frustrations beyond their control. It’s also the moment their feelings start changing–Chris and Ylianor starting a BDSM knife game of their own that will bring them together, Duncan and Ylianor starting to find a balance between them. This helps them defeat Virtus and lock him back up in the Nephis Valley Tower. Too bad the book ends with their parting their way to reflect and meditate on the future to come.
THE LEADER #4 – Yes, they’ll come back together and stronger than before, their feelings sharply in focus and ready to explode in and out of bed.
Hi! In your youth were you a story teller.? Do you consider yourself an author or a story teller? Ann Council, saltpepper1_2000@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteIlona,
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry I've had to make you wait so long to have Virtus 4 out. I had planned on closer releases, but things got complicated with my RE-SCUE edits, so I had to push Virtus back. But now they'll keep coming, don't worry! The Pledge, Virtus #5 will probably be out by mid-2012, and then I just have three more books to release. Yeah, it's long, but I hope you'll agree with me, it's also satisfying!
Thanks for dropping by,
Laura
Hi Jessica,
ReplyDeleteyes, it would be advisable to read Virtus 1, 2 and 3 before attacking this one. The Virtus Saga is a series, which means each book builds upon the other and the story is an ongoing one between the same characters moving through time. This means that THE LEADER starts off exactly where THE FESTIVAL left off, with the three protagonists separating, and continues their fight against evil Virtus and their own tentative approaches to reach true union. Yes, because beyond sex, beyond their passionate twists in bed, Chris, Duncan and Ylianor are meant to be together in ways other mortals can't even imagine. Their powers' fault or maybe just the amazing attraction that pulls them together. Whatever the reason, what started in THE SEX Book 1, is coming to a completion in THE LEADER, so it's best to read them in sequence.
Thanks for stopping by,
Laura
Congrats on the new release! I've been waiting for this book, loved the previous books in this series!
ReplyDeleteeva.silkka at gmail.com
Wow, never heard of this series, but it sounds absolutely fascinating! I'm definitely adding these to my TBR pile. Congratulations on the new release!
ReplyDeleteashley.vanburen[at]gmail[dot]com
Congrats on the release of your new book. Wish you much success on all future endavers. What do you Prefer to write English erotica or do you prefer to write in Italian? Also what inspired you to write ménage romances.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the new release! The story sounds great and the cover is beautiful!
ReplyDeletemanning_j2004 at yahoo dot com
Hi Tameka,love your questions!
ReplyDeleteLet me see...about what I prefer writing. To be honest, I love writing English erotica. It frees my imagination like few other things. And it's easier to publish than anything Italian. The publishing industry in Italy is literally a disaster, so I'd rather stick to the English-speaking world, without counting the fact there are lots more readers in English than there'll ever be in Italian LOL
As for your second question, I've always been fascinated by mPnage. Deep down, I'd love to try one out in the real world...me with two men! I'd try it out for a while. Maybe it's the number three that fascinates me, so divinely perfect if you know what I mean. I also thing in three there would be no lack of passion, no lack of sex, no lack of fun and less responsibilities in a way, in the sense one doesn't have to feel guilty if he or she is tired 'cause his partner won't be left alone. Either way, my desires inspired me to write ménage and see how it could work, at least on paper LOL
Thanks so much for being here tonight,
Laura
All right gals,
ReplyDeleteas usual it's been great fun partying here with y'all, but now it's time for my beauty sleep. You keep leaving your comments. Since I'm in Italy, DeNita does me the courtesy of prolonging the party until tomorrow, so I can read and reply to your comments. Tomorrow i'll aslo pick the winner, so be sure to check in again!
Thanks so very much to DeNita for having me and for the great party!
Good night from Rome,
Laura
I haven't read your books yet but I most definitely want to read the Virtus Saga.
ReplyDeletelringel[at]comcast[dot]net
Hi, Laura!! wooohoooo Finally here! Congrats and congrats again on our LRC nominations. Would have been here earlier but me and mamma had a lil something to do....lol But I did not want you to think I forgot about the book release. Almost as excited when The Pirate's Surrender came out....laughs
ReplyDeleteCatch you on the flipside!!
Jan
Wow what an excerpt. Thanks for the invite to get a look inside this story. lisagk(at)yahoo(dot)com
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your release! It sounds great!! And awesome cover! Love it! What hobbies do you enjoy doing when your not writing? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteshadowluvs2read(at)gmail(dot)com
hey, how could I miss such an opportunity! Laura, my beloved colleague and favorite author, the inspiring Muse of my hidden fantasies!
ReplyDeleteGuido -
guidotav@katamail.com
Congrats on the new release. This book looks great and would love to win and read. You are a new author for me and always looking for new authors to read.
ReplyDeleteMy question for you is: Do you prefer to write series or stand-alone books? Also what is your favorite genre to write?
Thanks for the chance to win.
christinebails@yahoo.com
Hi Jan,
ReplyDeletehow very very nice to see you here! It's always a pleasure to have you at this event, just sorry I couldn't catch you...shucks this damn time difference! But thanks for stopping anyway. I really appreciate it!
Laura
Hi Shadow,I love traveling if I have enough free time and money to afford it. Yeah that would qualify as my #1 hobby. When I don't have much of either, I like looking for info on the music I listen to constantly. Then I love going to the beach, if the weather allows, and just lie under the sun the whole day and think up new characters and plots. If the weather's bad, I like going to the movies (nah,I love it!) or in lack of somethign good to see, TV is ok and I can spend entire afternoons in front of it, provided there's something like a good movie or a good crime series. Another favorite of mine is to cuddle cats, again if they consent, which they don't always do. I also love going for long walks with my music...inspired some of my best books LOL
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping in,
Laura
GUIDO!!!! You handsome devil! I wanted to wish you happy birthday and couldn't find you, so I'm wishing you HAPPY BDAY on line and a bit late, but I'm sure they're still well accepted! I know you're one of my greatest fans, so thank you so much for stoppign by! Your support means a lot.
ReplyDeleteLaura
Hi Christine,
ReplyDeletethank you for your questions. To be honest, I don't prefer to write series over stand-alones. I never start a book with the idea it will become a series. In fact, it's always dawns on me a book needs a sequel only after I've finished writing it. Might sound crazy, but I never know where the characters are taking me while I'm writing. It happened with Virtus, but also with RE-SCUE, which has a sequel in TASTING LEON'S MARK, and also with what is now the Soulmate seires, which originally was just one book, TO SEDUCE A SOUL MATE. When I worte the word The End to Leon and Sean's story, I knew I couldn't end it there and had to write another book on them, and the same thing happened with the devil Martin and Pirate Drake. That's why I wrote THE PIRATE'S SURRENDER after two years from the first Soulmate. What I can tell you is that to write a series is more complicated 'cause you have to remember the facts of the other books and get them straights. Details require more attention and that can be more tiring.
As for my favorite genre, I'd say paranormal and fantasy. Those are two genres I can be the most creative, the most imaginative without fear of anyone contraddicting me LOL
Thanks for giving me a chance as a new as a new author in your life,
Laura
Congrats on the new release! This sounds like a great book and I would love to read it. Beautiful cover.
ReplyDeletee.balinski(at)att(dot)net