INSIDE OUT Contest – Day Two!
Oct
27
2010

Today’s prize is a signed copy of the book that started this series – Laid Bare.

When I first opened the jpg for this cover I gasped. There are no words really to express just how much I love this cover. It’s just *perfect* for the story. That woman is Erin. I love the beads of sweat on his arms. I absolutely adore the colors and that tattoo. It’s so unique and vivid, really truly I can’t say enough about how much I appreciate and love the Berkley art department and Tony Mauro. The way Tony Mauro has created these covers, each so gorgeous and perfect for the couple, I am beyond jazzed to see what he does with Adrian’s book next year.

Unexpected Desire…

It’s been ten years since clean-cut, sexy-as-hell police officer Todd Keenan had a white-hot fling with Erin Brown, the provocative, wild rocker chick next door. Their power exchange in the bedroom got under his skin. But love wasn’t in the cards just yet…

Now, life has thrown the pair back together. But picking up where they left off is tough, in light of a painful event from Erin’s past. As Todd struggles to earn her trust, their relationship takes an unexpected and exciting turn when Todd’s best friend, Ben, ends up in their bedβ€”and all three are quite satisfied in this relationship without a name. As the passion they share transforms Erin, will it be enough to help her face the evil she thought she had left behind?

I seem to be on a theme lately about books starting off as one thing and taking a hard left. Laid Bare is probably the best example because originally the book was meant to only have one menage scene in it and that scene was supposed to have been with Cope. But as I started writing, Ben really stayed in my mind and worked his way into a lot more scenes than I’d planned. He, like Polly Chase and Nina Warden, is a character who simply wouldn’t be written any way but they way they were meant to be even if I didn’t understand it totally just yet.

Originally I’d planned to write her situation as a stalker returning from prison and she fought off an attack at the end. But after some talk with my editor and then some fine tuning, Adele came into the story and Erin’s grief changed, deepened. As a mother, admittedly that part of her, the wounded part of her really spoke to me. Those parts of the book were tough to write, but I felt them deeply as I worked and Erin felt them deeply. Of all the characters I’ve written, hers was the one I felt I knew very early on.

Of all the books I’ve written, Laid Bare is the one that feels most heroine-centric. It’s very much Erin’s story.

Today’s Question: To win a signed copy of Laid Bare Do you seek out books told from a certain POV? First? Third person with the hero and heroine? Just one or the other? First? Any recommendations for favorite heroine-centric books?

I’ll choose a winner tomorrow morning. Good luck everyone

34 comments to “INSIDE OUT Contest – Day Two!”

  1. Stacie
    October 27th, 2010 at 4:54 am · Link

    I really don’t seek out stories with a specific POV. I do feel that Megan Hart’s Tempted was very heroine centric. It truly is Anne’s story. It is one of my favorite stories and not just because we got to meet ALEX for the first time.



  2. Rebecca C
    October 27th, 2010 at 4:55 am · Link

    Hi Lauren, I love this series of books! I prefer third person POV’s from both hero and heroine. I’m not fond of the first person style of POV. Thanks for another great contest!



  3. Pamk
    October 27th, 2010 at 5:36 am · Link

    Nope I read what I like and would have to really think about what pov they were in. If the cover and blurb grabs my attention i’ll read it that is if I have the time lol.



  4. steph j
    October 27th, 2010 at 5:44 am · Link

    I read based on the author and the blurb on the back of the book. POV doesn’t really come into it.



  5. Jeckie
    October 27th, 2010 at 5:45 am · Link

    I don’t even really think about POV in a book unless someone brings it up. When I read, it’s more like a movie running in my mind, and less the “voice” of the narrator.



  6. Rachel Riddles
    October 27th, 2010 at 6:06 am · Link

    To me it really doesn’t matter whose POV the story is told from. I’ve read books that have been from one POV and have liked them and from 3rd person POV. Sometimes if its an emotional story I do like 3rd person because you feel both people’s emotions a lot more. I think it depends on the writer too. Usually it doesn’t sway me one way or another when I choose a book. I loved Erin’s story, I’m a mom to so I can imagine how hard it was to write. I don’t think I’ve cried so hard reading a story before.

    Can’t wait for Nov 2nd!!

    Rachel



  7. Christine
    October 27th, 2010 at 6:28 am · Link

    Let me start by saying love this book. Then answer and and say not really. I always am looking for a great story and pov doesn’t impact on whether I’m going to read it or not.



  8. Terri
    October 27th, 2010 at 6:31 am · Link

    Hey Lauren,

    I actually prefer third person in both the h/h POV’s. I love to know what the characters are feeling during the same situation.

    A story told in the first person has to be very well written to hold my interest.



  9. Bella F.
    October 27th, 2010 at 6:43 am · Link

    ooh, that’s a beautiful cover! I dont seek out certain POV’s in my books, but I do tend to enjoy female narrators/protagonists more cuz it’s easier to relate to. My favorite heroine-centric book lately is Richelle Mead’s Georgina Kincaid series and Patricia Brigg’s Mercy Thompson series :mrgreen:



  10. Renee
    October 27th, 2010 at 7:09 am · Link

    I said it yesterday and I will say it again today…I love all the covers in this series. They are just amazing and it is nice to see them go so well with the stories inside.

    POVs I have discovered I am story driven. I used to only like 3rd person POV but Mandy Roth taught me that I can love 1st person stories just as much as long as they are well written. And I read too many to think of a heroine-centric book.



  11. Emma
    October 27th, 2010 at 7:16 am · Link

    Laid Bare’s cover caught my eye and I just had to have a look at the synopsis for the book, I don’t tend to normally check a boko out just because of it’s front cover, but with Laid Bare, I couldn’t help myself.

    I tend to read a book more for the story it tells, be it first or third pov.



  12. Alisha
    October 27th, 2010 at 8:08 am · Link

    I don’t look for a certain pov. Once I find an author I like then I try to read all there books and every now and then I’ll try a new other based off of recommendation from fellow readers. I’m always on the lookout for a new to me author.



  13. Jeanette Juan
    October 27th, 2010 at 8:51 am · Link

    I don’t look for specific POVs in books, I just read what’s interesting but I enjoy when as a reader you get the male and female POV in a book. I love the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews in Kate’s perspective.



  14. Jennifer D.
    October 27th, 2010 at 9:07 am · Link

    Hi Lauren,

    I usually prefer the third person POV from both the heroines and heroes point of view. Although, I don’t necessarily look to see the POV before buying the book – I base it on the author and back cover blurb mostly. I can think of one series that is written first person from the heroine’s POV that I enjoyed – Linda Howard’s two books featuring Blair Mallory. I like the aspect of humor that she put into the mini-series.

    Thanks!



  15. Emily L.
    October 27th, 2010 at 9:16 am · Link

    Hey Lauren,
    Just got to say that I also love all those super sexy covers. Tattoos are something I’m always really interested in, and the ones on Erin are just amazing. I tend to prefer 3rd person POVs with both the hero and the heroine, just because I love to see how they both react to a situation, However, you never really look up a book for its POV, so I’ve read all kinds and it’s the author’s quality of writing that really makes the difference. Thanks!



  16. Serena
    October 27th, 2010 at 9:56 am · Link

    Hi Lauren,

    I want to know *everything.* I usually dislike first person POV because you only get half of the story (kinda like my kid saying “I punched him because he _____!” Ok, why did he ______? Insert blank stare here.) So I wanna know what each side is thinking/feeling/saying/eating/doing/wearing, whatever. I’m a nosy kind of girl that way. πŸ˜‰

    Serena



  17. Jolene Allcock
    October 27th, 2010 at 10:09 am · Link

    Na, I’m not real picky. If it’s a good story it doesn’t really matter who’s point of view it’s told from. If the book looks good and the blurb on the back catches my eye, I’ll buy it πŸ™‚ My favorite is the point of view told from both the heroine and hero. Susan Elizabeth phillips comes to mind when I say this because she is great at letting us see inside both characters. I love Kristin Higgins books, but we only get to see the story told through the heroines eyes. I would love to see how the hero is thinking and feeling through her books, but I don’t think it takes away from the story, it just leaves me guessing. Jocelynn Drakes dark days series was giving me issues. I love Mira and was super excited to have one book completed in Danius point of view. It made the whole story come alive for me to have that window into his soul



  18. Himeko
    October 27th, 2010 at 11:24 am · Link

    I think I do try and go for books from a certain POV but I get intrigued when it is only one POV and not third with the hero and heroine. I wonder if the author is going to do a book from one of the other characters POV. I like both, I don’t really have a preference.



  19. Cheryl McInnis
    October 27th, 2010 at 11:26 am · Link

    I’ve never really thought about it until now, but looking back on my favorite books it seems that I usually prefer third person, primarily from the hero’s POV…Huh, who knew?…. πŸ˜•
    That being said, I was never a huge fan of first person until reading Lisa Kleypas’ contemporary series. Blue-Eyed Devil is now one of my all time favorite re-reads, so I guess you never know what will tickle your fancy πŸ˜†



  20. Jenn
    October 27th, 2010 at 11:35 am · Link

    The covers for this series are among my favourite out there. There is so much detail on them.

    I don’t really look at POV when deciding to read a book. I tend to go by author, recommendations, etc.

    Although, through my reading, I have found that, in a longer series, first person POV from the same character can get a little tiring. If there are going to be a number of book in a series, I think that third person or alternating first person is preferable.



  21. Bet Lantaff
    October 27th, 2010 at 11:59 am · Link

    I used to like only 3rd person, but I’ve recent read so many 1st person books that it doesn’t matter. They both have their own qualities. First person gets stale if you are reading a series. Third person gets into a ‘he said/she said’ monotony and I end up thinking, ‘just get over yourself already!’ I have been trying to read new (to me) authors lately so I haven’t become author-centric lately. If I had to give one that is new to me it would be Christie Craig. I really love her contemporary writings.



  22. Kimberly
    October 27th, 2010 at 12:09 pm · Link

    Hi Lauren, I don’t seek out POV, I read for the story. As long as it flows well, I’m fine with any POV.

    As for heroine centric books, I like a good balance between heroine and hero. I feel like I missed something in the development of the story if there is only one view throughout the book.



  23. Sheri
    October 27th, 2010 at 12:15 pm · Link

    I would say that my favorite POV is third person, with both hero and heroine voices. But it isn’t a factor when I chose a book. As for a heroine-centric book, I sure I’ll think of 10 or more as soon as I hit submit! πŸ˜‰



  24. Corinne Bridges
    October 27th, 2010 at 1:12 pm · Link

    I also like the POV of the third person that way you get involved with everyone in the book. Of course my obvious choice of heroine-centric would be Erin of “Laid Bare”. What a survivor. But a close second is Elle, from Megan Hart’s “Dirty”, also a survivor and a third I also love is Megan Hart’s Paige from “Switch”….I am a sucker for a “Second Chance”!!



  25. Chelsea B.
    October 27th, 2010 at 1:58 pm · Link

    I love reading from all different POV’s, but I think my favorite would have to be the hero/heroine which is usually found in romance πŸ˜€



  26. Rory G
    October 27th, 2010 at 2:22 pm · Link

    I usually prefer third POV – it gives more information on character motivations. However if the book is engaging enough it doesn’t matter. Heroine-centric books I would recommend are the KMM Fever Series, LKH’s Gentry and Blake series and Brigg’s Mercy Series. Relentless is another of your books that was focused on the female heroine, Abbie. That book actually made me cry. I loved it so much.



  27. Jane
    October 27th, 2010 at 3:37 pm · Link

    I don’t seek out books told from a certain POV, but I do prefer third person POV from both the hero and heroine.



  28. Lillie
    October 27th, 2010 at 5:15 pm · Link

    I usually struggle with first person POV but I absolutely loved Keri Arthur’s Riley Jenson series. Written in first person, UF not romance, and no guarantee of a HEA but the heroine was so fantastic and real that I couldn’t put those books down.



  29. Jessie
    October 27th, 2010 at 5:25 pm · Link

    I really do love the covers in this series. I usually go for 3rd person, it’s very rare that I will read a first person book.



  30. Diane Sadler
    October 27th, 2010 at 7:14 pm · Link

    No I just read the excerpt, the blurbs, the recommendations and decide if I want to try the book. It’s all about the story for me.



  31. Sue A.
    October 27th, 2010 at 8:15 pm · Link

    I don’t seek out a story for the POV itself. I’m more interested in the storyline.



  32. Lindsey Ekland
    October 28th, 2010 at 1:07 am · Link

    Do not enter me since i have this book signed. I prefer to read third person but because I follow certain authors I am reading more first person. Yasmine Galenorn’s books all center on the heroine and I loved her last one Night Myst.



  33. Terri
    October 28th, 2010 at 10:47 am · Link

    No I don’t read for the POV it’s more for the storyline and well written characters!



  34. emmad
    October 28th, 2010 at 12:56 pm · Link

    Must admit I don’t think about POV when deciding to read a book. Thinking about books I’ve just finished I do seem to gravitate to third person though. Just finished Play of Passion by Nalini Singh and loved it