What does the black rose stand for when tattooed over the heart?
I’ll first explain a little history about the black rose and what it signifies in my Sexy & Damned series. Murdock is a demon. He temps. He lures. He convinces people any way he can to make a deal with him. He wants your soul and in exchange, you’ll get what you want, but with a twist. Demons are tricky like that. They never fully deliver exactly as intended in the bargain. Of course, people don’t realize that when they deal with Murdock. As soon as the person makes their agreement with him, he brands the black rose to the person’s heart with his touch. The tattoo is a reminder he owns your soul. He can call upon you to do jobs for him or bring a quick end to your life and take your soul when he deems fit. The minute your heart stops, you are his to do with as he pleases in Hell.
Grim, yes?
Enter Celee Spence, a stripper. She’s had an extremely difficult life and as a result, made some bad decisions. After her parents died, her world changed. She wanted to help her siblings, but forces worked against her. She ran away and soon found the only way to survive was by stripping, and supernatural creatures paid better than humans did. Still, she aspired to help her brother and sister one day, to be a family unit again. Sadly, those dreams faded and high paying customers such as vampires used and abused her. She’d spent enough time in the hospital drained to the point of death that her heart turned cold. She wanted to fight back.
Enter Murdock. He offered her a chance to fight vampires, a chance to live forever and gain their abilities to beat them. The price? Her soul and she brings people to him when he asks. Deal made. But Celee didn’t exactly get what she wanted. Sure, she got vampire strength and immortality, but her survival doesn’t depend on human blood.
Tricky, tricky demon.
Murdock calls her when he has someone in mind he wants to bargain with. She delivers the person, and that’s all. No questions asked. She doesn’t force the person to do anything. He/she is free to deal with Murdock or leave.
Enter Jay. He wants to be a successful singer. Celee met him and had to deliver him to Murdock. The demon said he’d give fame to Jay, and the wannabe rock star accepted. Damn demon didn’t say WHEN he would deliver fame. So Jay works and works, trying to achieve his goal.
Jay doesn’t blame Celee for bringing him to Murdock. She didn’t force him to do anything. He loves her and wants her, but she resists. Every time she sees that black rose over his heart, she regrets she delivered him to Murdock. Jay tries to win over Celee. His efforts pan out better in book 2, The Complicated Stripper.
Celee hates the black rose, what it signifies, her tie to Murdock, and what she has to do because of her deal with him. Deep down, she has a good heart and soul.
Enter Greger. He knows she’s a good person and she got a raw deal. He’s watched her and picked her to help him. With what? You will have to read the books. LOL. And what will she get in return? Again, not going to tell you. ☺
Celee has her issues and challenges. She’s a kick ass stripper toting guns and knives. I plan for another 2 books in the series, perhaps more. There will be surprises along the way. I started out wanting the series to be urban fantasy erotica but I’m crossing into erotic romance. I feel it’s only right for Celee.
Title: The Deadly Stripper
Series: Sexy & Damned ~ Book #1
Celee Spence is a stripper trying to survive in a world full of supernatural creatures. She also works for a demon whom she sold her soul to and got a raw deal. Her life is full of sex and violence with no end in sight. Then, a hot vampire finds her and presents a deal. In exchange for help in locating a young woman mingling in Celee’s industry, he offers the powerful elixir she needs to stay alive.
Although Celee lacks understanding the vampire’s motivation for wanting to save the girl, she accepts his proposal. Sexy, armed, and dangerous, Celee places her life in jeopardy to save the human.
What she discovers in the end not only shocks her, it gives her a new job to add to her resume.
Title: The Complicated Stripper
Author: Diane Thorne
Series: Sexy & Damned ~ Book #2
Life is beyond complicated for Celee Spence. Tasked by both a demon and an angel, she must capture two teenagers without sending anyone who interferes to their grave. Werewolves and gun-toting gang members impede her job, but she manages to complete it for her demon boss. After she fulfills her mission for her angel friend, she finds out she will have to take the responsibility of caring for the teenager.Celee longs to avoid eternal damnation, but in a world filled with criminals, violence, sex, and nonhumans, can a stripper offer the proper guidance a troubled youth needs?Adding to her challenges, she must learn to control her raging hormones after she feeds, and her vampire donor seems unwilling to help. He suggests she seek out her friend, Jay, a singer who is pursuing his dream of fame. Can a human lover help her manage her carnal appetite?
Greger moved closer to her.
“Did you talk to him?”
“We talked.” The words came with a sigh.
“And yet he’s still here.”
“It’s none of your business, vampire.” She glared at him.
“I’m going to give you some words of advice.”
She shifted her gaze away from him and took a step toward the door. “Oh please, don’t bother.”
He reached out and gripped her arm, stopping her from leaving.
“Get rid of him before he does something foolish.”
She pushed his hand from her arm. “For your information were friends–lovers, but that’s it.”
“That’s not what I gathered from his thoughts a little while ago.”
“Oh really?”
“Yes, really.”
She stared at him, considering if she should ask what thoughts he’d plucked from Jay’s head. Did she honestly want to know? Was it anything more than what he’d already mentioned earlier?
“And what was he thinking? You already told me he loved me.” Her curiosity got the better of her.
“He claims you’re his and he wants you to himself. He’ll do anything to have you. He believes you are in love with him, but you try to deny it. He thinks you’re scared of committing and discovering you could be happy with just him.”
“You gathered all that from his thoughts.”
“Take my advice and find a way to make him leave. You’ll save yourself lifetimes of grief and heartache.”
“I’ll handle him.”
“The sooner, the better.”
“What’s going on?” Jay stepped into the room, naked.
Diane is a lifetime lover of the paranormal, sci-fi, and fantasy. Her mind constantly wanders into other worlds full of dark and mysterious creatures. Vampires, werewolves, demons, and other supernatural creatures are her friends. A few bite, others tempt, and some are hot as hell.
Reader beware: She is not responsible for any titillation, increased temperatures, hormonal stirrings, or unusual bite marks. Besides writing, Diane enjoys sunny days, strong coffee in the morning, traveling, shopping with her daughter, laughter, and red wine. She dislikes taxes, slow drivers, cold weather, and cranky people.
Other books by Diane:
Demon in Disguise (Playful Demons 1)
Demons in Disguise (Playful Demons 2)
Destined for Love (release date 1/7/2013)
Nikki’s Story (Sisters of Lonewood 1, release date 11/27/2012)
Kate’s Story (Sisters of Lonewood 2, release date Jan. 2013)
- Must be 18 years or older
- One ecopy of by Diane Thorne
Sounds fantastic! Thanks for sharing and congrats to Diane on the newest release!
Seems like it’ll be another AMAZINGLY great read 🙂
Thanks for sharing the post and Congrats Diane 🙂
Thanks for the giveaway. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com
I’m going to be watching out for anyone with a black rose tattooed over their heart. The books look incredible.
Loved the cover book and the story look interesting. Looking foward to read this series 🙂