Nearly fifty years after the events of Awakening 2, Lilly decides to stop running away and returns to Italy only to find the threat of a vampire civil war growing. With the help of Beth, Carrie and Jamie, Lilly learns how to face her feelings about her tragic past and to accept that, whether Torren wants her or not, her heart wants him. But when she finds Torren in Rome, not only is he still with Vittoria, he doesn’t seem to remember Lilly at all.
Can Lilly convince Torren to leave Vittoria to be with her and help the Organization find a peaceful solution to the conflict, or will Vittoria and a vampire war come between Torren and Lilly and their happily ever after?
5 Things You Didn't Know about
AWAKENING 3 by Jeanie Grey
1. I was inspired to start writing the Lilly Frank trilogy after reading Janet Evanovich's One for the Money (Stephanie Plum series), and in the early drafts, Lilly Frank was a bumbling freelance assassin who'd never actually managed to kill anyone. Someone else had been killing her targets and letter her take credit. The original title of the first book, Awakening, was First Kill.2. I've known for years where the series would end up in terms of Lilly's personal growth and the epilogue at the end of Awakening 3, but I didn't know until I started writing the second book that Torren's first love, Vittoria, was still alive, much less that she would play such a crucial role in the trilogy's conclusion.
3. When I started writing Awakening 3, Vittoria scared the bejeezus out of me because she's so temperamental and reactive, but as the story progressed I fell more and more in love with her. I hesitate to say she's my favorite character in the series because I don't like to choose, but she definitely has a special place in my heart.
4. In an early draft of Awakening 3 we found out that Lilly, during her time of wandering between Books 2 & 2, had accidentally killed a man and was worried she was going to be labeled a rogue vampire and sentenced to death. In the end, I had to delete that scene because Lilly had enough on her plate without dealing with the psychological fallout of being a murderer as well.
5. Even though the trilogy is over, I have plans to write some short stories related to the series next year, including how Lilly fell in love with Étienne.
“I’m just trying to understand…was she always like this?” Lilly asked.
“Like what?” Torren said, genuinely confused.
“So…selfish and self-serving. I mean, was she different as a human? Is that why you fell in love with her?”
Torren sat up, struggling to maintain his temper, reminding himself that Lilly had very limited experience with Vittoria. “Lilly, I realize that what you’ve seen of Vittoria has not given you a very good impression of her, but I have known her for a very long time. She is a good person, if a bit impulsive. She cares for me deeply, and it was her love for me that led her to try to ease my suffering. I’m not saying she was right to do what she did, but she certainly isn’t unfeeling.”
Lilly softened immediately. “Oh, I’m so sorry, Torren. I shouldn’t have said that. I can tell that you care deeply for her.”
Somewhat mollified, Torren settled back against the pillows again. He took Lilly’s hand and kissed her knuckles. “Apology accepted,” he said. “Thank you.”
She settled back against him and ran her hand over his chest to his bicep. “I can only imagine how hard this decision must have been for you. I want you to know that I’m truly grateful. You won’t be sorry.”
Torren stilled, trying to understand what Lilly was talking about. “What?”
“I just mean that given your history and how much you care for her, it must have been hard to leave her and come here.”
“Not really,” he said, still not getting it. “She was out when I left.”
“Oh! Did you leave a note or something?”
“Yes, I let her know I was coming here and didn’t know when I’d be home.”
It was Lilly’s turn to pause. “Home to collect your things, you mean?”
“What?” he repeated.
Lilly sat up and looked down at him, doubt welling in her eyes. He sat up too and studied her.
“When are you going to tell her?” she said carefully.
“Tell her what?” Torren replied, and only then did he begin to guess what she meant. Her next words confirmed it.
“When are you going to tell Vittoria that you are leaving her for me?”
“Like what?” Torren said, genuinely confused.
“So…selfish and self-serving. I mean, was she different as a human? Is that why you fell in love with her?”
Torren sat up, struggling to maintain his temper, reminding himself that Lilly had very limited experience with Vittoria. “Lilly, I realize that what you’ve seen of Vittoria has not given you a very good impression of her, but I have known her for a very long time. She is a good person, if a bit impulsive. She cares for me deeply, and it was her love for me that led her to try to ease my suffering. I’m not saying she was right to do what she did, but she certainly isn’t unfeeling.”
Lilly softened immediately. “Oh, I’m so sorry, Torren. I shouldn’t have said that. I can tell that you care deeply for her.”
Somewhat mollified, Torren settled back against the pillows again. He took Lilly’s hand and kissed her knuckles. “Apology accepted,” he said. “Thank you.”
She settled back against him and ran her hand over his chest to his bicep. “I can only imagine how hard this decision must have been for you. I want you to know that I’m truly grateful. You won’t be sorry.”
Torren stilled, trying to understand what Lilly was talking about. “What?”
“I just mean that given your history and how much you care for her, it must have been hard to leave her and come here.”
“Not really,” he said, still not getting it. “She was out when I left.”
“Oh! Did you leave a note or something?”
“Yes, I let her know I was coming here and didn’t know when I’d be home.”
It was Lilly’s turn to pause. “Home to collect your things, you mean?”
“What?” he repeated.
Lilly sat up and looked down at him, doubt welling in her eyes. He sat up too and studied her.
“When are you going to tell her?” she said carefully.
“Tell her what?” Torren replied, and only then did he begin to guess what she meant. Her next words confirmed it.
“When are you going to tell Vittoria that you are leaving her for me?”
♥ Click on the covers for more info
Jeanie Grey is a feminist writer of extraordinary romance & erotica for those seeking something different from the norm. Her short stories have been published on deadlyeverafter.com and thedarkerhalf.com, and the complete Lilly Frank Trilogy is available now on Amazon and Smashwords. Jeanie is currently working on two novels - a contemporary romance and a historical pirate romance - as well as on a few short erotica pieces that explore the theme of self-discovery and personal growth through sex.
Prize Package #1: Win a $10 Amazon gift card and an ebook of Awakening 3
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Thank you so much for participating in the tour and inviting me to write a guest post. So fun! :)
ReplyDeleteThose "fun facts" are my favorite things to read about! I think it gives a more personal connection to the book if I know a little more about what went into writing it. The whole series looks fantastic!!!
Deleteinteresting facts
ReplyDeleteReally like the storyline, now to juggle the budget and figure out when I can buy all three books!! LOL Thanks to Lauren for intoducing me to another new author! :)
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