Title: Acting Lessons
Author: Kathryn R. Blake
Genre: Contemporary Romance (Sexy, Erotic, Spanking)
Book Blurb:
He was a strict and demanding college professor turned professional director who excelled at giving acting lessons. She was his shy and uncertain former student who became a professional actress under his tutelage. They fell in love, married, and won two Tony Awards before tragedy struck and a simple kiss ripped them apart.
Six months later, Peter Thorton decides to take matters into his own hands by making his famous wife, Kate, an offer he knew she wouldn't refuse. Plainly put, he wants her back and he intends to do whatever is necessary to achieve his goal, even if it means giving his stubborn, willful leading lady a daily reminder over his knee that she had promised to obey him.
Excerpt:
Kate and Peter are at her agent's office in New York where Peter is attempting to convince his stubborn wife that she should work with him again.
Where is this summer stock theater anyway?” she asked, neither caring about the location, nor ready to commit to the venture.
“Upper New York State. In the Adirondacks.”
“So, what else, if anything, is around there?”
“Nothing much. The college provides the primary source of entertainment for the locals. This program is meant to give students a realistic appreciation for working in a regional theater, which I am confident your knowledge and experience will prove of immense benefit.”
“Flatterer,” she murmured under her breath. “If I agree to this, I would need you to agree to certain stipulations as well.”
“And they would be?”
“One: I get my own room.”
“Not a problem,” he conceded with a nod for Don to add her request. “What
else?”
“Two: I may want to invite a guest to stay with me for a time. If I choose to do
so, I will need at least two beds.”
His eyebrow arched slightly, but he gave another nod. “Easily seen to. What
else?”
Surprised by his swift agreement, she added the one stipulation she suspected he would shoot down without blinking first. "Three - you respect any boundaries I establish."
"How so?"
"If I say there is to be no touching between us, you have to honor my request."
"Darling. This is Kiss Me Kate. Are you familiar at all with the show?"
"I've heard of it. I've never seen the musical, but I believe it was originally produced in the 50s."
"Correct. It is also about a divorced couple who are actors putting on The Taming of the Shrew. You have at least seen that play, I presume?"
"Yes," she answered, giving him and his superior attitude a sharp nod. "In addition to the Taylor-Burton film."
"Good. So, you should also realize there will be lots of 'touching' between us whether you want it or not. Furthermore, I will not allow you to put up artificial barriers in order to keep me at bay."
We may no longer be living under the same roof, but we do have a past, and I intend to call upon those memories from time to time. However, if giving my word will ease your mind, I vow not to violate the sanctity of your bed unless you invite me to do so, but other than that--I make no promises about keeping my hands to myself."
Kate frowned. Nothing he said offered her mind ease. Worried about what he didn't say, she straightened her shoulders and met his calculating gaze. "What if I disagree?"
His smile turned wicked. "You are always welcome to disagree with anything I say or do, although I warn you now there will be consequences for such action, and I assume you recall which form they will take?"
Sitting back, Kate crossed her arms over her chest, creating a non-verbal barrier. "Those days have long passed, Peter. We're both much older and wiser now to play silly games of dominance and submission. Wouldn't you agree?"
One eyebrow arched. "No, I don't. Despite what your sharp words intimate, they weren't games, Kate. Not ever. You may not believe me now, but I will put you over my knee if you continue to act the spoiled dilettante."
Kate's entire body went on instant alert. "Try it, and I'll have you arrested," she warned, inching her chair out of his reach.
"I sincerely doubt you'll call the police, but whether you will or won't makes little difference, since your threats can't stop me from doing what I believe needs to be done."
"Go to hell."
Though Kate spoke the words softly, Peter's eyebrows snapped together as if she'd shouted them. With a subtle shift in his position, he leaned forward and scowled. A reminder. Peter had a rule against swearing.
Kate's mouth grew dry with uncertainty as an apology hovered on the tip of her tongue. Then, with a silent curse at herself for playing into his hand, she surged to her feet and glared at her agent. "I won't--"
She didn't get one word further before Peter grabbed her arm and pulled her face down over his knees.
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What makes your featured book a must-read?
Because the book is personal for me. I love Mother's Day and celebrate it every year, although I know some people find the holiday too painful due to the loss of a child. I understand that. Losing a baby is one of the most traumatic experiences a woman can go through. It's devastating. Even with a supportive husband at your side, you feel like you failed in some elemental way as self-doubt gnaws at your confidence. I went into labor at 26 weeks and his lungs were too small to support his life. Today, with all the advances in medicine, my baby would have a much better chance at survival. Sadly, that wasn't the case in the 80s.
I primarily wrote Acting Lessons as a result of my experience and feelings, and wrote a note at the end of the book to explain my reasons. I also happen to love "Kiss Me Kate," so that plot point figured prominently into the story as well.
However, Acting Lessons is a spanking romance, so I gave Kate the required "Happily Ever After," even though I can't say my husband and I were so fortunate.
Giveaway –
Enter to win a $25 Amazon US or Amazon Canada gift card
Open Internationally. You must have an active Amazon US or CA account to win.
Runs May 5 – May 13, 2022.
Winner will be drawn on May 14, 2022.
Author Biography:
Though Acting Lessons is Kathryn R. Blake's third novel with Blushing Books, and her second spanking romance where Domestic Discipline is primary to the plot, it is not the first book she has written in which the hero spanks the heroine. Most of her novels have some sort of spanking in them. To date, all of her heroes are Dominant, alpha males who are extremely protective of the women they love. However, part of that protectiveness includes the desire for a certain amount of control. They do not suffer defiance or disobedience lightly. In fact, it is something they refuse to tolerate, and will take firm steps to ensure the undesirable behavior is not repeated.
Besides writing, Kathryn enjoys reading and acting in community and regional theaters, and also makes and sells sparkly earrings in her spare time. A passionate lover of animals, she currently has two four-legged strays taking shelter in her home. Unfortunately, they don't get along, so they're currently occupying separate floors. She also manages a tank of small, finned entities that say little and eat much.
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Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Kathryn-R-Blake/e/B003G5G15Y