Archeologist Emma Zale sees the past when she touches ancient relics. It's how she uncovered evidence of an ancient order of assassins -- the Sicari. When a sinfully dark stranger shows up on her Chicago doorstep demanding an ancient artifact she doesn't have, he drags her into a world where telekinesis and empaths are the norm. Now someone wants her dead, and her only hope of survival is an assassin who's every bit as dangerous to her body as he is to her heart.
Ares DeLuca comes from an ancient Roman bloodline of telekinetic assassins. A Sicari, he's honor bound to kill only in the name of justice. But when the woman he loved was murdered, Ares broke the Sicari code and used his sword for revenge. Love cost him dearly once before, and he's not willing to pay the price again. At least not until hot, sweet, delectable Emma walked into his life. Not only does she hold the key to a valuable Sicari relic, she might just hold the key to his heart.
Reviews for Assassin's Honor
"...fast paced, deliciously sexy and highly unique -- another winner [for Burns] and most definitely a must read." - Two Lips Reviews
An award-winning author of erotic romance, Monica Burns penned her first short romance story at the age of nine when she selected the pseudonym she uses today. From the days when she hid her stories from her sisters to her first completed full-length manuscript, she always believed in her dream despite rejections and setbacks. A workaholic wife and mother, Monica believes it's possible for the good guy to win if they work hard enough.
Forbidden Pleasures (in print only) Love's Revenge / Love's Portrait
1-58608-734-7
02/06
New Concepts Publishing
$12.99
An Interview with Monica Burns
By Holly Hewson for The Romance Studio
HH: Monica, thank you for talking with us at TRS! Please tell us about your featured book, Assassin's Honor.
MB: As always, thanks for having me. I excited to be sharing my new release Assassin's Honor. I could use the standard blurb, but I tried something different on another forum, and it seemed to help folks understand the series. So here are some familiar themes that run through the book and the entire series:
Hot Romance Factor - Ares and Emma. Scorching, sexual tension that culminates in a way one might not expect.
HBO mini-series ROME - swords, honor, treachery, battle between an old religion (pagans) and a new religion (Christianity)
Hot Romance Factor
DaVinci Code Factor - Ancient artifact out there that the Sicari and their enemy the Praetorians BOTH want. No one's really sure what it is, but the myth is that it's powerful and can change the balance of power between the two factions. Also see above with the new/old religion piece.
Hot Romance Factor
The Klingon Factor - The Order of the Sicari. Honorable warriors although there are traitors. Hey, they're human. Brutal culture, yet still noble.
Hot Romance Factor
National Treasure /Indiana Jones Factor - Archeology hunt for treasure with great romance
Did I mention the Hot Romance Factor?
HH: Your heroine is an archeologist with a special ability -- and she's in trouble. Your hero is an assassin with a secret of his. Where did you get the idea for this amazing story?
MB: It took me about five years to come up with this idea. But it was one evening while drowning my woes in a hot fudge sundae and indulging in a viewing of the HBO-mini series ROME that I got my inspiration. I couldn't reach the TV remote, wished I had telekinetic abilities and looked at the screen to see delicious alpha males wearing skirts... the idea was born.
HH: Your love of history shines through in this story, as always. But this is a different type of story for you. What was working on this project like for you?
MB: This series meant definitely stepping out of my normal comfort zone. Writing historicals is something that comes like second nature to me. I know my world well. I'm really comfortable there. With the Order of the Sicari series, I stepped completely out the box and stretched myself so that I went to places I didn't think I could go. This is a world I built from scratch. Unlike worlds that are already familiar to readers (vamps, werewolves, demons, etc.), the Sicari culture is completely new to readers. It's based in myth, history, religion and there's a wonderful solid feel to it that I never thought I'd be able to accomplish simply because I'd never written a world of my own creation.
When I was writing the book, it was like being a reader, not knowing what's going to come next. And when I got backed into a corner, it was as if I were there trying to figure out how to survive. When Ares and Emma blood bonded, I was like OMG now what!!! The one thing about this culture is that I get to share the beginnings of Sicari in book 2. The historical richness of the books are for me a reward in that I got to research my personal heritage in great detail than ever before.
HH: What do you like best about Emma and how is she different from any other heroine you've written?
MB: Emma's smart, and when she meets up with Ares, she's thrown for a loop by his abilities. It's not the strangeness of his abilities that scares her, but the thought that she has to give up the life she knew for something completely different. It makes her incredibly stubborn and resistant to the idea of the Sicari, but she manages to keep from going off the deep end and acting like a heroine who's TSTL. I mean it takes a brave chick to interfere in a cultural ritual when she thinks someone is going to die because of her. In trying to adapt, she makes tons of mistakes, but I love that about her. It emphasizes the humanity of the series, because the Sicari are mortals, which as I understand it, is somewhat unusual in paranormals. (I'm ALWAYS the last one to find out these things! LOL) As for different, she eventually becomes a Sicari and that's a whole new adjustment for her. So she's continuously having to grow beyond the first book.
HH: What else do you have in store for lucky readers?
MB: Book 2 of the Order of the Sicari comes out September 7, and if readers enjoy Assassin's Honor, I'm certain Assassin's Heart will not disappoint them.
For my historical fans, I just turned in a male virgin, older woman, courtesan book that I love. It's different from my other historicals in that there's no exotic locale or gothic setting. It has a small murder, mystery component, but it's predominantly a character driven book, which I had a wonderful time writing.
I'm now in the process of getting my head around Book 3 in the Order of the Sicari series. I've got a small inkling of plot and character inner conflicts, but it's still percolating in my head.
HH: What do you think today's readers are looking for and how do you fill that demand in your writing?
MB: Readers want to be entertained, and they want a good story. Readers spend a lot of money when they buy a book, and I want my stories to be the best they can possibly be so that reader will buy the next book. My goal is to always tell a good story. While reviews and reader opinion are just that, I listen when a reader points out something they don't like in one of my books. I think it's possible to learn from reader comments. However, while I respect opinions, I don't have to act on it in my writing. It's impossible to please everyone, although I wish I could! Still readers know what they want, and I pay attention. If I can meet the demand I will, but first and foremost is my goal to tell a story that makes readers get that ahh... sensation.
HH: What you most like to accomplish in your writing career?
MB: I want to be able to support myself writing without having to work a full-time day job. It really cuts into my creativity, because my job often feels like I'm working with a demanding child. So writing for a living would be wonderful. It would also allow me to travel to different conferences and meet readers. I love talking romance with readers.
HH: What makes it all worth it to you as an author?
MB: When someone writes me to say that they loved one of my books, or that they can't wait to get the latest story. But it's the emails that come from readers who tell me my books sweep them away into a world where they can forget their debt, their lousy jobs, the weight of whatever's on their shoulders that mean the most. That's what I want to achieve. I want readers to lose themselves in a book I write. It means I've made someone happy, and that makes me happy.
HH: What are you reading right now?
MB: I've been trying to finish Eloisa James' An Affair Before Christmas. I'm really enjoying it, but every time I pick it up to read, something else demands my attention. I'm hoping to read later this week.
HH: Any big plans for the summer?
MB: No big trips, but I'm going to be attending the Lori Foster Reader Get-Together the first weekend in June, and the first part of September, I'll be attending Lora Leigh's RAW (Reader Appreciation Weekend) . However, should I win the lottery, we'll be heading to Europe in late summer and then to Disney World in late October. Naturally, as a writer I can totally see this, but as for making it happen…well, anything's possible no matter how unlikely. *grin*
