Izzorah -- A little feral, a little innocent, all male. Fleeing a world that denies him basic rights, forced into a society blind to his needs, he lives for his music. When a freak accident throws him into the care of the most powerful man in the empire, the attention he receives is beyond anything he'd ever dreamed. But is the attraction he feels toward his rescuer gratitude, lust, or a deeper, abiding call to yield all that he is?
Luc -- the prestige of his power, wealth, and influence directs an empire scattered across the stars. His word shapes the foundations of business and his financial prowess is of mythic proportions. Yet beneath the myths beats the heart of a man who craves what he has never given and is certain he will always be denied -- steadfast, faithful love.
In the beds of countless lovers over the centuries, the immortal Luc Saint-Cyr has learned to be mastered as well as master. To be commanded as well as take command. When his previous mortal lover of five years leaves him for another, the distraught Luc withdraws from public view and throws himself into work. He attends a ceremony at his entertainment company for one of their most successful rock groups, and across the room, sees drummer Izzorah "Rah" Ceeow. One of the feline Kin race, his velvety, golden furskin, dark hair, and the impact of his green eyes draw Luc toward him. The pert ears and quick smile lighten Luc's mood immediately, but one look into Rah's emerald eyes, deep and tranquil as a forest pool, and the world around him ceases to exist.
He suspects the mid-twenties male is a virgin, but for once, Luc is in no rush for sex. Fascinated by Rah's innocence and the quiet depth of his inner peace, Luc longs for a deeper, closer relationship. Savoring Rah's surrender will be as delicious as taking him. Luc will force nothing, no matter how sexually starved he is. Rah will give himself to Luc when he is ready to surrender his innocence, to capitulate every part of himself to Luc's command. Rah will open himself and let himself be taken. Luc's anticipation and desire are palpable; as real as his hunger for faithful, unconditional love. But to gain Rah, how much of himself is Luc willing to surrender?
Reviews for Surrender Love
Literary Nymphs
"I truly believe out of all the lovers I've seen Luc with, Rah is the one sent by whatever God grants love and happiness. He's Luc's gift for the times over the thousands of years where Luc was suffering or lonely. I absolutely loved this first book of the Surrender Trilogy, and I can't wait to see where Ms. Allen is going to take us next. Surrender Love is a fantastic book, so if you are new to Luc or are an old fan, you truly won't be disappointed." -- Scandalous Nymph, 5 Nymphs
Rainbow Reviews
"During his many lifetimes, (the immortal) Luc has formed numerous relationships with humans, all ending for one reason or the other. Still confused over what went wrong in his last relationship, Luc struggles to make it through each day. When Luc meets Izzy the attraction between them is instantaneous, yet both have reason to be cautious. Soon all reasons to stay away from each other are thrown out the window and Luc will do whatever it takes to keep Izzy with him always. ...an exceptionally good book and one I would have hated to miss." -- Lydia, 5 Stars
Read an excerpt from Surrender Love
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About Kayelle Allen
Unstoppable heroes, Uncompromising love, Unforgettable passion
Kayelle Allen is a multipublished author of both straight and gay romance whose worldbuilding skills include a broad sweep of ten-thousand years of future history, a feline language, and tradestandard laws for the empire where her books take place. Her writing lures you inside each hero's head and seduces you with what he feels and thinks. She thrusts you into the hero's heart and mind, teases and satisfies you with his sexuality and sensual joys, and drags you onto the roller coaster with him when it plunges into the darkness of things-gone-wrong. When you and the hero get off the ride at the end, it's Kayelle's hope you'll be back in line when the next ride starts.
Her interests include writing, reading vampire, paranormal (shape-shifters and time travel), Regency, Fantasy and Science Fiction Romance, and any book whose cover has a man in a kilt. Hiking in the North Georgia Mountains in the spring, summer, and fall, nature photography, and attending DragonCon in Atlanta. Kayelle never misses 24, and is a fan of House, Lie to Me, Dollhouse, Bones, Mental, and the Mentalist. For movies -- political thrillers, big budget SciFi, action and spy stories, or any flick with shooting, car chases, pulse-pounding excitement, transforming robots or things blowing up grabs her complete attention. No fan of tear jerkers, romantic comedies, or most "chick flicks," she watches them however, because her husband is an avid fan of these, and Kayelle loves being with him. He's a teddy bear, and he's all hers.
Also by Kayelle Allen...
Loose Id www.loose-id.com
Surrender Love
Shadowfire Press www.shadowfirepress.com
The Last Vhalgenn (short story reprint) 2008 EPPIE Finalist in Fantasy
Naughty is Nice (Christmas anthology)
Wolfsinger Publications www.wolfsingerpubs.com
The Last Vhalgenn The Lorelei Signal E-zine Vol. 1 (short story)
The Last Vhalgenn featured in A Time To... the Best of the Lorelei Signal Vol. 1 (short story)
The Last Vhalgenn 2008 EPPIE Finalist in Fantasy featured in A Time To... the Best of the Lorelei Signal Vol. 1 Wolfsinger Publications (short story)
Liquid Silver Books www.liquidsilverbooks.com
At the Mercy of Her Pleasure
For Women Only
Tales of the Chosen - Wulf
Tales of the Chosen - Alitus
Tales of the Chosen - Jawk
Awards and Appearances
2009 Gaylactic Spectrum Award Nominee- Jawk, Tales of the Chosen
2008 EPPIE Finalist in Fantasy - A Time To... the Best of the Lorelei Signal Vol. 1, Edited by Carol Hightshoe (The Last Vhalgenn)
2007 Gaylactic Spectrum Award Nominee- Wulf, Tales of the Chosen
2007 Top Ten Finalist in P&E Readers Poll, Best Novel
2005 Recommended Read - At the Mercy of Her Pleasure
2005 EIRRCA Most Memorable Paranormal Romance - At the Mercy of Her Pleasure
2005 Romance Junkies Book Club Staff Pick - For Women Only
2005 Recommended Read - For Women Only
Upcoming appearances include DragonCon 2009 Atlanta as Moderator of Writer's Track first GLBT panel "Exploring the Final Taboo", a guest speaker, workshop provider at Outlantacon 2010 in Atlanta, GA, plus more appearances in process of being scheduled.
An Interview with Kayelle Allen
By Holly Hewson for The Romance Studio
HH: Kayelle, thank you so much for talking with us at TRS BLUE. Please tell us about your featured book, Surrender Love.KA: Thank you for the opportunity to be here and interview with TRS Blue. I always enjoy it!
In Surrender Love, long time readers were shocked that Luc and Wulf, whose book tag for Wulf, Tales of the Chosen was "Can a romance live forever?" had broken up. However, once the story continued, they forgave me and enjoyed the new love. One reviewer even said, "I truly believe out of all the lovers I've seen Luc with, Rah is the one sent by whatever God grants love and happiness. He's Luc's gift for the times over the thousands of years where Luc was suffering or lonely." (Literary Nymphs) The book has received reviews of four and five stars, and individual readers have written to tell me what aspect of the book they liked. I've never had such strong reactions to previous books. Originally, Rah (full name Izzorah Ceeow) was going to be a short-term fling to get Luc out of his doldrums. However, as I began to write the story, I saw how perfect he was for Luc. I know you hear authors say their characters talk to them or let them know what they want. It is completely true. Whenever I tried to write Luc, knowing that Rah was ill and would soon die a feeling of such heaviness, loneliness, and dread swept over me that I couldn't bear it. My beta readers felt the same thing. They asked, "Isn't there some way you could save him?" So I decided that my short fling would be a full novel and that Rah would be more than he appeared to be, and his illness would result in a hidden bless so that he could end up being Luc's forever love. Once I made that decision, the rest of the book was a joy to write. Here's the blurb.
Surrender Love
It's not rebound, payback, loneliness, or even the great sex, and it's way beyond love. It's surrender.
Izzorah -- A little feral, a little innocent, all male. Fleeing a world that denies him basic rights, forced into a society blind to his needs, Rah lives for his music. When a freak accident throws him into the care of the most powerful man in the empire, the attention he receives is beyond anything he'd ever dreamed. But is the attraction he feels toward his rescuer gratitude, lust, or a deeper, abiding call to yield all that he is?
Luc -- the prestige of his power, wealth, and influence directs an empire scattered across the stars. His word shapes the foundations of business and his financial prowess is of mythic proportions. Yet beneath the myths beats the heart of a man who craves what he has never given and is certain he will always be denied -- steadfast, faithful love.
HH: This is the first story in a trilogy for Loose Id. How did the trilogy idea come about? KA: Once I realized Rah was going to be staying, I knew the story would be too big for one book. Even knowing Loose Id didn't want manuscripts of this size, I submitted it because at a previous con, Allie had asked me to submit something set within my Tarthian Empire. I gave them the idea for two more books and a paragraph synopsis of each. I got a request for a full manuscript quickly, and not long after, an offer of a contract for the first book. I gave my editor a quick pitch for the other books, and she passed it on to the "Quad." Within a day or so, I got a call from Treva Harte and we talked about what I wanted to do. Number one, I was shocked to get a personal phone call -- I had interviewed her on internet radio with Sascha Illyvich so we weren't strangers -- but I was still surprised and pleased. I gave her my best pitch, and she agreed to buy all three books. I had those contracts in the mail the next day before she could change her mind!
HH: How does the sizzling story of Rah and Luc kick off the series? KA: Right from page one, I had to establish that in the Tales of the Chosen series, a lot had happened between page one of Wulf and the end of Jawk. Alitus, the middle book, featured the relationship of Alitus Vivaldi and Empress Destoiya, but I hadn't counted on two things. One, in previous books, I had written the empress as such an aggressive, grab-life-by-the-balls woman that many people didn't read the book. I was thrilled that I'd created such a realistic character, but dismayed that so many missed the vital details and changes in the book. Alitus let you see the softer side of the empress and gain sympathy for her side. The center book of a trilogy is where authors often create a turning point critical to the rest of the series. Although each book will stand alone, Alitus and Jawk complete the story Wulf starts. I think Wulf had such a satisfying ending that some readers were content to stop there. However, like real life, little is forever, and in the next two books, dramatic changes in Luc and Wulf's relationship create a split between Luc and the empress, once his lover and ally in a game of power. By the end of Jawk, that split is a chasm surging with antagonism. Alitus, Tales of the Chosen wasn't all about the empress -- but about Alitus himself, and also introduced a new shapechanger immortal. This Laura Givens cover is my favorite, but looking back, I can see how misleading it is. People were expecting a male/male series, and the cover threw them off. Here's my rewritten blurb for the book.
Alitus Vivaldi is a Better, an enhanced human bred for intelligence, discipline, and responsiveness. His combined talents in bed and politics take him from the Conqueror's favorite pleasure slave to her personal assistant. To help the Conqueror accomplish her secret agenda, Alitus forsakes his identity and pride, and surrenders himself to his darkest fear. Once nearly raped by a group of palace guards, when the empress asks him to have sex with a man to prove he's overcome his greatest fear, is his trust in the Queen of Quenchless Lust deeper than what his gentle and patient seducer evokes? Or has she finally demanded more from Alitus than even his noble spirit can endure? Has she pushed him into the arms of another man?
The Surrender series is Luc recovering from, as he puts it, "Wulf tore out my heart and threw it on the ground; Jawk stomped on it." If you haven't read the Tales of the Chosen series in full, add it when you can. But you can jump right into Surrender Love without knowing a thing about the prior books. Even my editor at Loose Id was unfamiliar with the other books, and in one of my chats, she wrote, "The great thing about this story is that it completely immersed me in the universe right from the start. I hadn't read the other books first, and it didn't matter, because I was immediately swept into these characters' complex lives, without feeling as if I was missing any important information or insight." So don't worry if you haven't read the others. Add them when you're ready. They'll give you greater insight, but not reading them won't diminish the new books.
HH: What can you tell us about the books to come? KA: Surrender Trust will show us more of Luc and Rah's relationship, and how each comes to trust not only the other but also himself. Luc must forgive himself for past wrongs and failures, Rah for what he perceives as his own cowardice and outright lies. It will also let us see all of the Tarthian Empire as Luc takes Rah on a tour of every world, which readers will be able to follow on my website by clicking on Tour the Empire on the front page, and then selecting options from there.
Surrender Will is where all the walls come down between them, and each finally admits what he wants most. This book will contain some BDSM scenes and re-establish Luc's confidence in himself as a dominant. Whereas with Wulf, he treated the younger man as a slave, Rah will be his equal who willingly surrenders to Luc's authority and dominance, something he has longed for since he first became sexually aware.
The book following the Surrender series will be critical. It changes the balance of power in the Tarthian Empire and Luc Saint-Cyr's part in it -- forever. The working title is When I Breathe, and strongly features Khyff Antonello and his young half-brother Senth. SPOILER ALERT! We'll also find out that the twins Mehfawni carries may be her cousin Stahn's or Khyff's. Since Kin females can conceive by more than one father at a time, it may be that she is carrying one child from each of them. [Read For Women Only for more details] Will the truth be revealed in When I Breathe? Or will we have to wait and see? Both Mehfawni's lover and her husband have blond hair and blue eyes, and some HalfKin can look completely Kin, or human. Khyff's half-brother Senth is a HalfKin and has only Kin eyes and fangs, plus his natural father's height. Otherwise, he's completely human. Stay tuned - this little secret will be part of the conflict in the story, but there is so much to it than that! Since when have I ever written a story without dangling some toy or idea to draw you to the next book? *grins*
HH: How did you go about creating the world for their story? KA: It was an epiphany I had one day in college. I was early for class and had chosen my seat, gotten out my notebook and pen, and I was people watching as students filtered into the room. I knew a majority of them, and was thinking of how one girl's mother had been hurt in a car accident and had several doctors working on her case. I wondered how many hours those docs were away from their families to help a stranger, and what their kids and wives or husbands were thinking and feeling. A guy came in next whose brother was also in college one year ahead, and how their different sets of friends had blended, so the two brothers were surrounded by a strong support group that were all devoted to being the best. I wondered what their friends' families must have been like to have produced such strong young men who were not only great students and friends, but also active in community outreach. Then the outreach program came to mind and I realized that each one of those guys impacted a family of kids and moms and dads.
The truth that each of us has a network and that they make us who we are suddenly struck me. I had the germs of an idea for a SciFi story, but when such a simple thing as the interconnection of so many people over a vast network of worlds, and how some would be on one side during a rebellion and others on the established government, I could see enormous opportunities for conflict. What's better than conflict for a story? It also provided motivation.
I decided to create a universe where stories could naturally develop. I didn't have time to write in college, but I did have time to world-build, draw maps of the galaxy and divide it into smaller empires and confederations, and consider the history of these futuristic worlds. I decided to set it so far in the future that people wouldn't laugh at the technical aspects such as star travel and androids. I also wanted plenty of time for other aspects to develop, such as the idea that Earth was a myth, and the so-called "Sowers Theory" that people from Earth actually created non-human races such as the feline Kin, the dual-gendered Chiasmii, and the horned-and-hooved Tyrans had once been humans who were genetically altered -- some against their will. Who would have done such things?
By the time of the Tarthian Empire stories, the idea of anything except evolution was a fairy tale, although each world maintained some form of religion from the "old times." No one believed that anyone could have accomplished such genetic changes as old manuscripts insisted. Most were decayed and forgotten; others burned as heresy.
Except someone actually had, and because of this tampering and establishing so many bases with epically unsuccessful breeding, those who had "desecrated" mankind had to be punished. The problem was, those responsible had altered themselves over several generations, and were now immortal, invincible, and forgot nothing. How could humans overcome such creatures? Physical battle was out of the question. One cannot kill a creature who heals instantly. So, working together, humans tricked the immortals into helping work on a new project that would monitor the genetic changes of the various planets of "gens," as the altered humans had come to be called.
It took over one hundred years to capture each immortal and encapsulate them in stasis fields. Once they had what they hoped was all of them, they transported the nearly half million to a planet on the farthest edge of the galaxy away from Earth. Left with water, seeds, and basic hand tools such as shovels, hoes, rakes, and enough rations to last two months, the immortals were abandoned on the planet. Once safely back in space, humans released the stasis fields, and the immortals faced their first day on a world that became their prison for thousands of years.
My stories begin at the point where the immortals have re-developed space travel, but have also been pushed to the limits of their newfound peace and patience by the most powerful of them all. He and one hundred of his followers are exiled into space and left adrift on a non-functioning ship. He has only one goal. To make mankind pay for their betrayal by destroying them from the inside out. He and his cohorts are rescued at the last moment, and kill their rescuers in thanks before taking over their ship. The inmates are now loose, and they call themselves after their world, which means ever living: Sempervians. They're in no hurry to avenge themselves. Sempervians have all the time in the worlds.
HH: What else do you have in store for lucky readers?
KA: I'm planning to complete eight more books in the Tarthian Empire setting and then take a trip across the galaxy (contemporary period with the empire) and work on at least two series set on this side -- in print. I've also been asked, several times, for a sequel to The Last Vhalgenn, which I may be doing if I can work it in over the next year or so. Plus I'm hoping to break into shorter material so that I always have something new coming out. Trust me; I'm in no danger of running out of ideas any time soon!
HH: What goals have you set for yourself at this point in your career?
KA: My mission statement is "to establish the name Kayelle Allen in the eBook and print community as a leader and innovator and to develop long-term relationships." I've been working on relationships since day one, and that is my major goal. I've always believed in People First, Things Second. I will continue to use Romance Lives Forever, my personal yahoo group as a platform to assist other authors as well as keep my readers abreast of my own accomplishments and books. I am continuing, along with co-owners Marty Raynes and Jeanne Barrack, to develop Marketing for Romance Writers, and I am becoming heavily involved in protecting author rights, both in print and eBook format. Writing gay romance has opened my eyes to needs within the gay community, and I am committed to both wellness and equality in marriage. There is much work to be done in all areas of my career. I have trouble "not" being busy and have to force myself to slow down at times. I love what I do and want to do more. I need more inner balance.
HH: What can you tell us about the upcoming DragonCon? KA: DragonCon takes place in Atlanta Georgia every year over Labor Day weekend, this year September 4-7, 2009. I've been attending for several years. The last two years, I was on a panel in the Tolkien track. We didn't discuss the legendary writing of the master of the Rings, but were focused more on fan fiction and how to move from writing for fun into publishing original material for pay. This year, five of us will be in the Writer's track. Our topic is "Exploring the Final Taboo: Authors of same-sex romance, including sci-fi and fantasy, answer reader and writers' questions about the genre." The panel includes authors Ally Blue, Barbara Karmazin, Jolie DuPre, Kiernan Kelly, and Sascha Illyvich. I'll be the moderator. This is a huge move up for us and should gain us a much larger and more diverse audience. We're hoping it also opens the possibility of writing GLBT stories to those who've always wanted to, but never knew how to go about getting it published. Four years ago, finding an e-publisher who would accept a GLBT story was slim. Now, nearly all of them are asking for it. It's the fastest growing genre in the eBook world. Even print authors such as Lynn Viehl included an excellently written male/male scene in her last book. Let's not forget best-selling print author Suzanne Brockmann's male/male romance All Through the Night from Ballentine Books, which was a huge hit with great reviews.
HH: What do you enjoy reading, Kayelle? KA: I read anything that stays still long enough for me to focus on it, but my favorite genre is vampire romance, and my favorite authors right now are Raven Hart and Lynn Viehl. I also love an up and coming author named Janet Elizabeth Jones -- her writing is evocative and lyrical; she captures the rapture of the vampire with his victim in the most stunning way I've ever read. Thank goodness, all these authors have new books on the near horizon. I hate waiting for a book. I love Deborah Cooke's dragon shape shifter series as well. I've never had the desire to write a vampire romance, but I'd like to do a time travel story. I also like Regency Romance. Quite different from what I write, isn't it? That said, I do read male/male romance and Kiernan Kelly and Michael Barnette are side by side in my choice for favorite. For SciFi Romance it's Jennifer Leeland. I have to stop naming names or this interview will be pages long!
HH: What are you doing this summer? KA: I spent a week with Kiernan Kelly during Gay Days and got in some time with my sister who lives in Florida as well, catching up on all my extended family's news. The rest of the time I'm being a total geek and working on my website, completing book two of the Surrender series, and working on increasing my physical endurance by walking at least two miles a day 3-4 times a week. It's good cardio and excellent weight-bearing exercise. Some who know me are aware I've been on a slow weight reduction program and my new weight is 66 lbs less than when I started. *buffs nails* I'd love to add swimming to my regimen but there are no spas anywhere close to me that have one; I'm way out in the country. I'm also reading quite a bit and plotting my next books. I also like to shop at a Goodwill that's very close to me, looking for bits for a costume for DragonCon. I'd like to go as a Kin warrior this year. Some of my readers have said they're coming as Kin, and I think it would be great to get everyone together for a picture!
HH: Thank you!
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