Addy: Today I welcome Ashe Barker to my blog with her sizzling new release, The Laird and the Sassench. Please tell me a bit about it.
Ashe:The Laird and the Sassenach is a story of a man with justice to mete out, and a dilemma to face. Sometimes the truth seems to stare us in the face, at other times it may be not so clear where the blame lies. In the middle ages, of course, matters of crime and punishment, guilt or innocence were simple enough. The social hierarchies of the time placed authority and power in few hands and there were no qualifications required which entitled the privileged to rule. They were just handed the job and the common folk had to hope their leaders would turn out to be wise and fair. Sometimes they got lucky, and The Laird and the Sassenach is a story of one such instance.
I love to write historical stories. I am especially drawn to Highland fantasies, and why not? Who can resist the soaring Scottish scenery and sexy men in kilts. I find myself fascinated by that heady cocktail of honour and lawlessness, the atmospheric sensuality of the time and the way an all-powerful laird will reveal his soft centre just when it matters. But the Sassenach in the story also has her little quirks and faces some unique challenges. And look out for an unlikely star of the show. Freya the wolfhound has her part to play and I absolutely adored her.
Addy: You say you love the Highland fantasies. Why do you enjoy writing historical fiction?
Ashe: History was my favourite lesson at school, though some periods are more fascinating to me than others. I always preferred the medieval or even earlier times, though the Victoriuans were an interesting bunch too. In many ways life was simpler in the past, if a lot more brutal, and of course some of the moral issues we would have to deal with in a contemporary setting don’t apply. Inequality was the norm. Women were expected to obey – or else. A spanking author can have a field day.
Addy: Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
Ashe: I think it was always there, though I only started writing properly about three years ago. I have always tended to plot stories in my head though, often when sitting in traffic jams on my daily commute. I now work at home so all that time spent inhaling exhaust fumes is finally paying off.
Addy: Ugh. I completely understand. I only have a ten minute commute and I'd rather be writing. :smiles: Last question. What advice would you have for writers who decide to try their hand at erotica?
Ashe: I’d tell them to have a go, but to have a decent thesaurus to hand. And an internet connection. Youtube is the erotica writer’s friend.
Addy: Aha! I will certainly keep that in that mind. I do love a good thesaurus though. Do you have anything else to tell your readers?
Ashe: I hope readers enjoy The Laird and the Sassenach as much as I loved writing it.
Addy: Come back anytime. I wish you the best of luck on your release!
Excerpt:
An
hour later Blair ascended his private stairs leading to his solar.
Roselyn had gone up some twenty minutes earlier, at his bidding. She
should be ready for him by now. Aiden had also completed his allotted
task and the products of the man’s labours now awaited the laird,
suitably prepared and soaking in a bucket of water in the hallway
outside his chamber door.
Blair
halted to check the switches. Aiden had done his work well and Blair
could detect no sharp edges which might cut Roselyn’s delicate
skin. He crossed the solar to the door which led to the smaller
chamber where he slept.
Roselyn
had obeyed his instructions to perfection, particularly considering
that this was the first time he had required her to be naked in his
presence. He had been tempted on many occasions and as his prisoner
there would have been little she could do had he decided to take
advantage of her vulnerable situation. When her very life hung in the
balance his innate sense of honour would not permit him to stoop to
such an act, but all had changed now.
She
turned her head as he entered the room. “My lord…?”
“You
will not speak, Roselyn, unless I ask you a direct question. You may
of course scream—indeed, I believe my people will expect it.”
She
nodded and bowed her head.
He
paused for a moment to peruse her slim body. Had there been the
slightest mark remaining, any residue of her beating at Kelso, he
would have insisted that this issue between them be deferred. There
was not.
Very
well then, we continue. He strode past
her to fetch the bolster from the head of the bed and moved it to the
foot. Blair considered the arrangement for a moment, then took a
length of folded plaid from a chest and added that to the pile. It
would do. He turned to regard Lady Roselyn.
“I
shall require you to lie across the foot of my bed where I have
placed pillows which will lift your bottom up for me. I expect you to
remain still and in position until I am finished, and I have no doubt
that you will find that difficult. If you move I shall be obliged to
start all over again, so to avoid disappointment to both of us I
shall tie you in place. Your wrists shall be secured, and your
ankles.” He moved to stand immediately in front of her and tipped
up her chin with his fingers. “I will hurt you, Roselyn, for that
is what I intend, but I will do you no lasting harm. Do you
understand the difference?”
“I…
I believe so, my lord. You are not at all like my brother.”
“No,
I am not. So, may I help you up?”
She
nodded and reached for his hand. Blair helped her to her feet then
paused to peruse her naked form. “You are quite lovely.” He meant
it, but now was not the moment to pursue that disruptive line of
thought. Instead, he brushed his lips across her forehead then led
her to the foot of the bed. “Lean forward and rest your body on the
pillows. You may take your time to get settled, and when you are
ready I shall tie you in place.”
He
stepped back to allow her the space to move, and moments later he was
rewarded by the sight of her upturned, naked buttocks presented
prettily for his punishment. His unruly cock stood to attention as
Blair admired the vision before him. For several moments he did not
move, but then he heard her whimper. She was afraid, utterly
terrified. He should conclude this as quickly as he might and ogle
her later.
“Spread
your legs as wide as you are able, Roselyn. I shall secure your
ankles first.”
He
crouched and fastened her delicate feet to the bedposts, his actions
both swift and deft. He used leather straps, sufficiently flexible
not to cause undue discomfort, but neither could she escape or kick.
He had every confidence she would do her utmost to achieve both
before they were done.
Next
he moved to her side and took her right hand in his. He pulled it
into the small of her back, then drew her left to join it. “I shall
bind your wrists like this.”
She
lay still as he finished his preparations, her breathing rapid.
Satisfied that she would remain quite still during the proceedings
and not wishing to prolong her ordeal unnecessarily, Blair returned
to the outer solar to select his first bundle of switches.
***
Blurb
After
her half-brother attacks the kinsmen of Blair McGregor, Lady Roselyn
of Etal is brought before the stern highland laird to answer for her
reluctant, unwitting role in the crime. Once she has told her story,
she throws herself at his mercy.
Blair
soon realizes that Roselyn is as much a victim of her half-brother as
anyone, but his people’s demands for justice cannot be ignored
entirely, so he strips the young Englishwoman bare and chastises her
firmly with a switch applied to her naked backside.
The
painful, humiliating punishment both assuages Roselyn’s guilt and
leaves her yearning to be even more thoroughly mastered by the
handsome laird. Though Blair makes it clear that she is free to
return home, she instead chooses to remain with the him in his
castle… and in his bed. Their passion soon blossoms into romance,
but can the highlander protect his beautiful Sassenach when the
villain who caused them both so much pain tries to tear her away from
him?
Publisher’s
Note: The Laird and the
Sassenach includes
spankings and sexual scenes. If such material offends you, please
don’t buy this book.
Buy Link
Amazon
a Rafflecopter giveaway
More
about Ashe Barker
USA
Today best-selling author Ashe Barker has been an avid reader of
fiction for many years, erotic and other genres. She still loves
reading, the hotter the better. But now she has a good excuse for her
guilty pleasure – research.
Ashe
tends to draw on her own experience to lend colour, detail and
realism to her plots and characters. An incident here, a chance
remark there, a bizarre event or quirky character, any of these can
spark a story idea.
Ashe
lives in the North of England, on the edge of the Brontë moors and
enjoys the occasional flirtation with pole dancing and drinking Earl
Grey tea. When not writing – which is not very often these days -
her time is divided between her role as taxi driver for her teenage
daughter, and caring for a menagerie of dogs, tortoises. And a very
grumpy cockatiel.
At
the last count Ashe had over forty titles on general release with
publishers on both sides of the Atlantic, and several more in the
pipeline. She writes M/f, M/M, and occasionally rings the changes
with a little M/M/f. Ashe’s books invariably feature BDSM. She
writes explicit stories, always hot, but offering far more than just
sizzling sex. Ashe likes to read about complex characters, and to
lose herself in compelling plots, so that’s what she writes too.
Ashe
has a pile of story ideas still to work through, and keeps thinking
of new ones at the most unlikely moments, so you can expect to see a
lot more from her.
Ashe
loves to hear from readers. Here are her social media links:
Or
you can email her direct on ashe.barker1@gmail.com
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