Psychology postgrad Evelyn Maier eschews men and sex. Her joy’s in work and travel—like her upcoming trip to Africa. But her vacation is cancelled when she inadvertently enters a dangerous, illicit sex game. Without warning, she finds herself ensnared by a smoldering Dominant who pulls orgasms from her nearly against her will.Mason Brady has suppressed his Dominant nature ever since a disastrous relationship that left him broken. But when his brother convinces him to rejoin The Chase, the sprawling game of domination and submission Mason founded years before, he relishes the role. Until he captures Evelyn, an unwitting passerby.
Now Evelyn is crying rape, and Mason is racked by guilt. He’s certain he’ll convince her it was a misunderstanding, but he must hold her until she trusts him. Evelyn has her own angle: she’ll play along with Mason’s kidnapping until she’s fooled him into believing she’s forgiven him. Then she’ll seek her revenge once he releases her.
In the ensuing game of cat and mouse, they ride the lines between capture, consent, and love.
Describe Evelyn in one sentence.Evelyn is a very human, flawed character, who is able to see other’s problems clearly while remaining blind to her own, and who is incredibly smart in some ways, but very dense in others!
Describe Mason in one sentence.
Like Evelyn, Mason is imperfect, creating his own problems by doing certain things even though he knows better, and having to work extra-hard to be able to live with his own conscience.
Favorite and least favorite scene to write in Stockholm Syndrome? (Without spoiling! J )
It’s tough to answer this one without spoiling, so I’ll try not to say too much! My favorite scene was the first kiss. We get some insight into Mason’s character, and it represents an important turning point for both of them. My least favorite scene is their first sexual encounter because it is based on blindness and misconceptions (literally and figuratively), and I hurt for both of them when writing it.
What’s your guilty pleasure?
Oh, I have sooo many! I guess the guiltiest one of all must be reading when I should be doing something else, like working, writing, or even sleeping.
A good book is a dangerous thing for me. If I get hooked, I’ll let my family starve, let bills go unpaid, miss deadlines and go without sleep for days, just to finish it. Luckily, I read fast, so I can finish even long books within a day or two – but if it’s a series, I’m so screwed!
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
I had to think about this. Initially, I was going to say my beautiful and talented daughter – but she’s actually her own greatest achievement, not mine. My finest personal accomplishment to date has been the organizing of my family’s emigration from South Africa to Australia.
We made the decision to emigrate after being hit by one crime after another over a period of several years. We weren’t one of the “lucky” families who had a job lined up with an Australian company that would help expedite the emigration procedure – we did it the hard way. It took over two years of intense work and enormous determination in the face of multiple setbacks to get our precious visa. I sold my business so that I could focus entirely on the visa application (and associated matters like winding up our finances and selling our house), and it was, without doubt, the most stressful and difficult thing I’ve ever voluntarily done. But now that we are safely settled in Australia, I can definitely say it was worth it.
If you could meet anyone, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Sir David Attenborough. I have a deep and passionate love of nature, and meeting someone so knowledgeable about the natural world, who has seen and done all the amazing things he has, would be the ultimate privilege.
Favorite Word and Least Favorite Word?
Favorite Word: Love.
We’re at our best when we love – any kind of love, it doesn’t matter. It may not be perfect, but at least we’re heading in the right direction. My advice to my fellow humans (should they happen to care) is use the word as much as possible. Try to wear it out!
Least Favorite Word: Hate
You guessed it, right? People use “hate” for such stupid, trivial things. Do you really hate decaf coffee? Do you want to take it out back and beat the crap out of it? C’mon, learn another word!
Biggest fear?
A lingering and painful death. You asked!
Deepest regret?
Getting fat in the first place.
Favorite memory?
Ice-cold sundowners on safari in Africa, parked on a hill under an infinite sky. Watching the sunset fade and the stars come out, with nothing around for miles but the smell of the bush on the breeze and the sounds of animals.
Worst flaw?
Procrastintion.
Most annoying pet peeve?
Obsessive, extended channel-hopping, before surrendering with a whimper to an ancient episode of Seinfeld.
If you could change one thing about yourself…what would it be?
I’d want to be thinner, fitter and healthier (See “Deepest Regret” above). I keep reminding myself that I can change this, and I’m working on it, but it’s hard!
Either/Or Questions:
Chocolate or Vanilla?
Chocolate, baby! Vanilla’s a distant memory.
Evelyn or Mason?
Mason, please. With Chocolate.
Warm or Cold?
Warm!
Early Bird or Night Owl?
Unrepentant and incurable Night Owl.
Outdoor or Indoor?
Ohh, tricky! I’m gonna go with indoor for now, but that’s subject to change without notice.
Blondes or Brunettes?
Blondes.
Ketchup or Mustard?
Ketchup.
Coffee or Cocktail?
Both. Preferably combined. I absolutely refuse to choose.
Texting or Calling?
Calling, especially for important things.
Craving something different? JB writes gasping-hot erotic fiction for readers who hunger for extraordinary passion every day. Sometimes humorous, sometimes dark, her creations are passionate and earthy.
A survivor of the corporate world, JB spent twenty years in the IT industry, from which she finally escaped, allowing her to indulge her true passion…creating unusual erotic encounters for her imaginary friends!
JB is an ex-South African and lives with her extended family in Queensland, Australia’s sunshine state. She feels privileged to coexist, in relative peace and harmony, with her husband, daughter, parents, grandmother and two slightly crazy ex-racehorses. She loves to write – anytime, anywhere – and could not survive without the techno-gadgets which make this possible.
JB is a firm believer in lust at first sight, and love ever after.
