Welcome to The Forbidden Bookshelf, Emma! Just for fun, introduce yourself to readers using six words only.

The one with the weird accent.

Today is the release day of your BDSM erotic romance, A QUESTION OF TRUST. :-)  Can you share some juicy details about the book?

The heroine in A Question of Trust has a very big problem. You see, she’s being blackmailed into stealing from someone she doesn’t know.

Even worse, she’s supposed to seduce that man into spending the night with her so she can go through his stuff once he falls asleep.

She’s not really the type of woman who has one night stands, but tonight has to be different. And it is…

What compelled you to write this book?

I’d actually written the first pages years ago and kept thinking it would make a good beginning for a book. I just had no idea what type of book. One day I opened the Word document, started writing and everything just clicked into place.

I don’t plot my books, you see. I tend to just let the characters do whatever the hell they want, and this time Dylan took over. I mean, I know he’s a Dom but still! He just led the story so I let him do his thing. He’s very good at that. Trust me…

How do you create your characters’ names?

I ask on Twitter. No, seriously! I’ve done that several times now. I love seeing what people come up with.

When I needed the names of 5 guys (count them, 5!) for Out of Control (Resplendence Publishing, August 2011), I asked my followers and used their suggestions, including the one from a friend about a ‘Leo’. You see, the five male characters are shifters. Lion shifters. And yes, it was too funny not to use, so the main hero is called Leo. Leo the lion. My sense of humor at its best!

What is the most interesting thing you’ve ever done for research?

Oh God. This will remain unanswered. No, really, you don’t wanna know. ;-)

Do you have any interesting writing quirks?

I need to have music on, and not just background music. I need to have my headphones on. I don’t know if this is because it blocks the outside noise, but it works.

I know most of the reviews I get for my books say they are fast-paced (which is true!), but I’ve never been sure if this is because I like to listen to get-up-and-dance music when I write. What do you think?

Where do you as an author draw the line on erotic subject matter?

That’s an interesting question.

I started writing because I couldn’t find the books I wanted to read, and that somehow translates into what I write still to this day. I won’t write something I wouldn’t want to read or experience. If I’m not comfortable with something, then I won’t write it. It’s that simple.

What was the very first erotic novel you read? What was your initial reaction?

Probably the first Angélique book by Anne & Serge Golon.

The films inspired by the series were very popular when I was a child, and I remember watching them during the summer. Of course at the time the sensual tone went right over my head. Until years later when I found that first book in the library. I read it in one setting. I went to bed with it and stayed up half the night. It was so good!

What are three things that many people don’t know about you?

I’ve got three college degrees including two post-grads in Politics-related topics.

I dunk everything. It’s a French thing. Give me coffee and I’ll dip something in it.

One of my favorite songs at the moment is Mateo – Get To Know Me. YouTube it…it’s worth it!

Where can readers find you on the web?

I love emails. No, really, I’m addicted. So I’ll love you forever if you send me one at droptheglasses@hotmail.com

I’m also on Twitter. A lot. I chat about everything and post pictures about…well, pretty much everything :) @droptheglasses

Maxine has a problem. She has to seduce a man she doesn’t know and steal from him once he’s asleep. And not only is Dylan the most handsome man she’s ever seen, he’s also into bondage and BDSM and all that stuff she’s never even thought to try.

When he falls into her trap and they spend the night together, something sparks between them. Dylan must have felt it too, because he asks her to go back to L.A. with him to become his submissive. Eager to get away from the men coercing her, Maxine jumps at the opportunity.

Dylan is a tough man to please, but under his hard touch, Maxine soon blossoms. But her enemies are near, and her secrets difficult to hide. When disaster strikes, it’s up to Maxine to prove she’s worthy of Dylan’s trust. For better or worse.

Excerpt:

Ready or not, here I come, you can’t hide… The song kept repeating in Maxine’s head as she stared at the handsome stranger over her Kindle.

He’d been staring moodily into the distance for the past few hours, his fingers squeezed tight around his glass as if he was afraid to let go. He wore a black suit that accentuated his wide torso and lean hips. He had short dark hair and clear eyes, green or gray, she couldn’t say for sure. He was seriously handsome, even with that perma-frown on his face.

He was the man she’d been looking for, the one she was supposed to steal from. Of course, he needed to notice her first.

She kept on watching as he sighed and brought the tumbler to his lips, taking one long gulp before slamming it back down onto the marble-covered tabletop. She winced at the sound and too late realized he’d seen her grimace. He shook his head, the gesture resembling an apology, and yet, he went straight back to staring at nothing.

It was her turn to sigh. She knew she wasn’t really the type of woman men hit on at bars, but surely tonight should be different.

She had instructions, after all. How on earth could they have considered her perfect for this job? She didn’t even look the part, she thought as she stared at her surroundings. But they’d been adamant he’d take the bait and lead her to that box. What was inside was worth a lot more than what she supposedly owed them. One night, and she’d be free of them.

Maybe she should have thought this through a little more and came up with a plan that consisted of more than just her acting as if she was entirely focused on her book. Because right now her plan sounded as bad as she was feeling.

She put her e-reader down and felt her neck twitch. That’d teach her to sit here unmoving for hours. She brought her hands up and kneaded the back of her neck, running her fingers up into her hair. She took the ponytail holder off and shook her hair down her back. Now that felt better already.

Looking up with a contented smile, she froze when she noticed his eyes on her. Their gazes locked. She watched, her eyes widening, as he stood up and stopped by her table. His voice just above a whisper, he said, “I’m in Room 1001,” and strode off.

She blinked and turned around, watching his back as he left the bar. Wow. She sure hadn’t been expecting that one. That had been almost too easy. Hoping her karma wouldn’t change, she grabbed her purse, dropped her Kindle in it and quickly stood up.

I did it!

The buoyant feeling lasted until she stood in front of the hotel room he’d indicated. It was located on the penthouse level and just one look around her reminded her know how badly she fit her surroundings.

They’d given her money to spend the night in the hotel, but she had the cheapest room available. Still, she hadn’t been in a hotel in so long it was quite a novelty. If she closed her eyes and forgot about everything else, she could almost believe she was on vacation somewhere fun. If only…

I should just go, she thought as she hooked her bag higher on her shoulder. Her gaze drilling a hole into the door only inches from her face, she remained immobile as she pondered her options. Not that she had any, really. She had no choice but to play nice with Dylan…Stevens.

Yes, that was his name. She remembered it from the fact sheet they’d handed her that afternoon. He’d just turned forty, was a lawyer of some kind in California and was only in town for the weekend. That meant she had to succeed from the get go. Lucky her.

She sighed. He might be a handsome man, but it still didn’t mean she wanted to do this. She wasn’t a whore, damn it! How was she going to act if he tied her up?

The file had also mentioned he was a bondage master, and she’d had to Google it just to make sure she wasn’t going crazy. The man was into BDSM. She’d even watched videos and, oh my God, she really shouldn’t have.

She didn’t like pain. Really, she didn’t. She’d never really been adventurous in bed, even with her ex-husband. Maybe this was payback. Maybe she should have tried all this naughty stuff before. Maybe tonight would have been easier then.

No! She had to do this. She had to. She would say yes to everything he proposed and hope he went to sleep soon after. At least he was handsome. That was something, right? And the file said he was rich, both from his chosen profession and from inheriting his family’s estate.

Tall, dark, rich, handsome. What could go wrong? He sounded perfect on paper.

She could do this. She totally could.

She watched her right hand rise and knock on the heavy wooden door, staring as it opened almost immediately and revealed the man from downstairs.

He’d obviously used the time he’d had to make himself comfortable. He was still wearing suit pants, but the jacket was gone, the shoes too.

He stood there and looked at her in silence, so she took the opportunity offered and admired his body. Smooth white cotton stretched over his wide torso, the few buttons he’d opened at the neck showing his tanned skin. Her gaze drew down and stopped for a few seconds around his middle. Oh my.

“See anything interesting?” he asked then, his voice gruff.

Buy Link: http://www.jasminejade.com/p-10056-a-question-of-trust.aspx

Giveaway Details:

* Updated 5/8/2012: Emma’s two book winners are Lucy Felthouse and Lynda G.  Congratulations!

Emma is giving away a digital copy of A QUESTION OF TRUST to TWO lucky winners!  To enter, please leave a comment on this post.  No need to leave an email address.  I can get it when you sign in to comment.  Entries will be accepted until 5/7/2012 at 11:59 pm EST.  18+ only, please. Open internationally.  Good luck!