Welcome to today’s Book Hooks blog hop!
My
excerpt today comes from my BDSM erotic romance The
Understudy. Appropriately,
this story has a summertime setting. It also features one of my
favorite plays, A
Streetcar Named Desire.
Blurb
Is
there a future in playing stand-in to a slave?
Sarah Gladstone was thrilled to be offered her first real acting job at the Berks Summer Playhouse. She never expected to be working with theatre legend Geoffrey Hart. The charismatic actor quickly brings her under his spell, not to mention his control, as he initiates her into the dark delights of BDSM. He offers her far more than physical pleasure; they share a level of intimacy and trust beyond anything Sarah could have imagined.
According to the rumors, though, Geoff's heart is taken. Renowned actress Anne Merrill, his long time partner and submissive lover, has severed their relationship and Hart has escaped to the Berkshires to lick his emotional wounds. With her youth, inexperience, and girl-next-door persona, Sarah knows that she can't compete with the glamorous theatre veteran. She fears that she's just a substitute for the real object of Geoff's affections. As he draws her deeper into his intoxicating games of dominance and submission, Sarah wonders if she's willing to settle for the role of understudy in this perverse passion play.
Sarah Gladstone was thrilled to be offered her first real acting job at the Berks Summer Playhouse. She never expected to be working with theatre legend Geoffrey Hart. The charismatic actor quickly brings her under his spell, not to mention his control, as he initiates her into the dark delights of BDSM. He offers her far more than physical pleasure; they share a level of intimacy and trust beyond anything Sarah could have imagined.
According to the rumors, though, Geoff's heart is taken. Renowned actress Anne Merrill, his long time partner and submissive lover, has severed their relationship and Hart has escaped to the Berkshires to lick his emotional wounds. With her youth, inexperience, and girl-next-door persona, Sarah knows that she can't compete with the glamorous theatre veteran. She fears that she's just a substitute for the real object of Geoff's affections. As he draws her deeper into his intoxicating games of dominance and submission, Sarah wonders if she's willing to settle for the role of understudy in this perverse passion play.
The
Hook
“It’s
him!” Adele tugged at my shirt, almost hard enough to tear it.
“Look, Sarah!” She pointed to the shiny black Lincoln cruising
around the corner. “I still can’t believe it! We’re really
going to have a chance to work with Geoffrey Hart!” The wooden
porch shook as my friend literally jumped up and down with
excitement. Adele’s temperament matched her fiery hair.
Of
course my own heart beat faster than normal as the town car
approached the inn at a sedate pace. Geoffrey Hart was a legend in
American theatre. Since his first appearance off-Broadway ten years
earlier, he had won every award in the world of drama. He’d played
every prestigious role from Oedipus to Willy Loman. One summer in
Central Park I’d seen him as both Hamlet and King Lear. He was
astonishing, equally convincing as the callow, indecisive university
student and the bitter, world-weary old man. His magical voice, full
of nuance and music, reached the back row without amplification. His
body language was eloquent with emotion. In both plays, he’d made
me cry. His performances were an inspiration, one of the things that
finally made me settle on drama—much to my parent’s chagrin.
I’d
been thrilled when the Berk Hills Playhouse offered me a place for
the summer. I never in a million years expected that I’d meet the
man who had been such a role model.
But
why on earth was he coming here, to a little summer stock theatre in
the rural hills of western Massachusetts? The last news I saw, he was
lead actor and part owner of the Gotham Repertory Company. What could
possibly have induced him to abandon the city for the sticks?
“I
heard that he broke up with Anne Merrill,” said Adele, sotto
voce, as if she’d read my mind. “She
dumped him. He’s come out here to the country to lick his wounds.”
“What?
Who told you that?” I recalled the actor’s handsome face and
imposing presence. It was hard to believe someone would dump him—he
seemed like the type to do the dumping.
“I
can’t reveal my sources.” Adele’s eyes sparkled with mischief.
“But the word is that his heart is broken.”
“Oh
come on!” I just couldn’t imagine someone like Hart moping about
a woman. “Seriously?”
“I
wouldn’t lie to you, would I?” She put her arm around my
shoulders and gave me a quick hug. “And that’s not all. There are
rumours about their relationship—that it was, well, kinky, if you
know what I mean. According to the grapevine, she wasn’t just his
girlfriend. She was also his slave.”
“Please!
You shouldn’t believe every bit of gossip you hear.”
“I’m
just saying…”
“Shush!
They’re here.”
The
town car slid to a silent stop in front of the steps. The uniformed
driver opened the back door, then stood back to let his passenger
alight. For a long moment nothing happened—like the suspense before
the curtain rises. I realised I was holding my breath.
~
~ ~ ~
Buy
links
Amazon
US
Amazon
UK
BN
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-understudy-lisabet-sarai/1106799949?ean=9780857155238
Totally Bound
https://www.totallybound.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=1175
Audio Edition
https://www.totallybound.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=1184https://www.totallybound.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=1175
Audio Edition
Drop
by to read great excerpts from the other authors participating in
today’s Book Hooks!
6 comments:
Intriguing opening. She's star-struck and very enjoyable.
You got me when the porch shook as she jumped up and down. I felt I could see the whole house.
You've set up her naive hero worship very believably and hinted at the reality that is due to collide with the worship.
You've opened a fangirl's fantasy, sure to be crushed and then rebuilt into something stronger.
Great setup for the story. I foresee a big character arc for her. Tweeted.
Great scene. Intriguing. Want to read more.
Tweeted.
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