The
Blowhole is the name of the resort where Little Rainbows is set. Are you
giggling yet? That’s okay, I’ll wait while you compose yourself. And don’t
worry, you’re not alone. Heather, my female protagonist, raised one of her
beautiful eyebrows when she first encountered the name.
“She wondered about
the name as she drove. The Blowhole. It could be a reference to everything
going on behind the resort’s walls. Or, maybe the owner enjoyed provoking and
shocking people. Anyone unaware of the true nature of this place would probably
assume a connection to the numerous chimneys on the roof. Knowing all too well
what awaited her once she stepped out of her car, she doubted chimneys had
anything to do with the choice.”
Let’s
take our minds out of the gutter for a moment because ‘blowholes’ are actually
real things. They are the holes on top of the heads of dolphins and whales
through which they breathe. But, as much as I adore those mammals, they do not
feature in my book and their respiratory system has nothing to do with the name
of this resort.
A
blowhole is also a geological phenomena. As Wikipedia explains it:
In geology, a blowhole is formed as sea caves grow landwards and upwards into vertical shafts and
expose themselves towards the surface, which can result in blasts of water from
the top of the blowhole if the geometry of the cave and blowhole and state of the weather are appropriate.
A
few weeks before I started writing Little
Rainbows I visited Belmullet on the west coast of Ireland where I saw a
blowhole for the first time in my life. In fact, I had never heard about this
magnificent force of nature before that date. Although I had been told a spout
of water would emerge from the hole in the ground at any moment, the eruption
still took my breath away with its power and beauty. The image has been lodged
in my mind ever since that weekend. When I needed a name for a sex resort on
the west coast of Ireland, the solution seemed obvious.
The
physical presence of a blowhole in that location wasn’t the only reason for
using the name. Of course the possibly kinky connotations the name has played a
role as well. First and foremost though, the unpredictable power of the water
bears strong parallels with Heather’s feelings and her developing relationship
with Jason. As Heather says the first time she looks into the hole:
“See how the water
down there appears to be solid? That’s how I feel sometimes. I appear strong to
anyone who doesn’t know me. But it only takes a tiny bit of pressure to make me
dissolve, only a small push to cause an explosion.”
Whether
or not Heather will be able to find her equilibrium and how much of a help or
hindrance Jason will be during that process is something you won’t find out
unless you read the book.
When Jason and Heather first meet they are
young and sure they are wrong for each other. As a result they spend a summer
admiring each other from a safe distance.
Twenty years later Heather is coming out of
mourning, having lost her husband and Dom eighteen months earlier. Jason, now
the owner of an exclusive sex resort on the west coast of Ireland, struggles
with the loss of his desire to dominate.
Jason’s resort is about to celebrate its
first anniversary and party planner Heather has been hired to create the
perfect celebration. Their reunion comes as a big surprise to both of them.
Old and familiar attraction, battles with
new and conflicting emotions as Jason and Heather work together to organize the
ultimate BDSM event. Overcoming the issues between them isn’t the only obstacle
Jason and Heather face. In the background lurks a threat both to Heather’s
independence and Jason’s livelihood.
Excerpt:
The lighthouse was
only a few miles away, on one of the most western points of Ireland. As
he’d hoped, they were on their own. Not many people ventured this far. Taking a
blanket from the boot of his car, and with his arm once again around her, he
walked Heather as close to the edge of the cliff as he dared.
“Let’s sit here and
enjoy the view.”
Jason spread the
blanket on the grass. His heart skipped a beat when Heather sat down close
beside him. Nothing could convince him she hadn’t meant for their legs to
touch.
“This place is
amazing.”
A smile as bright as
the sun shining down on them lit up Heather’s face. The setting was perfect. A
calm and warm day, blue skies and hardly any wind, and yet the ocean appeared
wild. They were alone, the peace and quiet only interrupted by the sound of the
waves crashing against the rocks. Just him, Heather and the sea, again.
“Remember the last time it was just us and the
sea, Heather?”
“In Wexford? Yes, I
do. That was different though.”
His mind travelled
back. He couldn’t remember why, but Heather and he had been alone that day. The
walk on the beach had been delightful, as had lying down in the sand for a
rest. They’d had no intention of falling asleep, but the combination of warm
sunshine and soft sand had been too much for both of them. When they’d woken
up, they’d found themselves on a sandbank of sorts, surrounded by water. Not in
any danger of ending up in the sea, thankfully, but with no way back to the
rest of the beach without getting soaked. They’d sat there together for hours,
looking at the sea, talking and, eventually, kissing.
“That kiss.” Heather
paused. “Those hours with you in the middle of the sea… It was the only time
during that summer I thought I might have made a mistake when I decided not to
pursue you.” She smiled. “I didn’t believe I could give Moira competition when
it came to you, but that afternoon I thought maybe I should have tried.”
“I know. I felt the
same.” And he could still kick himself that he’d been too much of a coward to
just drop Moira and hang on to Heather. “It felt right when I kissed you. Felt
right in a way it never did with Moira.”
Jason looked at
Heather and saw in her eyes the same hunger he knew had to be shining out of
his.
He moved closer,
giving her plenty of time to stop him or pull away. She didn’t. Just as slowly
she moved closer to him. Her teeth nibbled on her bottom lip, her gaze jumped
from his mouth to his eyes and back again, but she didn’t try to prevent what
was about to happen.
Mouth against mouth.
Soft lips moving over his, finding every corner of his mouth. A small sigh and
her lips were caressing his again. Her hand touched his cheek, stroking as her
lips continued their investigation of his mouth.
“Jason.” His name was
a breath against his lips, her slightly opened mouth an invitation. No hurry,
no rush, no force. Just lips stroking lips, tongues finding each other,
touching, teasing, playing.
Without removing his
mouth from Heather’s, Jason pushed her until she was flat on her back. Leaning
over her, he pulled away and drank in her beautiful features—her face relaxed,
her eyes open and smiling at him, her lips parted. He traced his fingers over
her skin, her lips, her ears. So soft. She pushed her face into his hand,
searching for his touch, asking him for more. He needed to taste her again. His
mouth on hers, her tongue against his. His hand in her hair, on her face. Her
hand on his neck. This was perfect, it was too much and it wasn’t nearly
enough. He wanted more.
“Jason?”
He heard the confusion
in her voice when he abruptly pulled back. “Shhh, beautiful. It’s all good. I
want you more than I should.”
“Yes.” She panted
rather than spoke the word.
“But not here, not
right now. I don’t want to rush this. We’re not making the same mistake twice.”
He hesitated. “When I do get you naked, I don’t want to have to look over my
shoulder.”
Author info:
Helena
Stone can’t remember a life before words and reading. After growing up in a
household where no holiday or festivity was complete without at least one new
book, it’s hardly surprising she now owns more books than shelf space while her
Kindle is about to explode.
The
urge to write came as a surprise. The realisation that people might enjoy her
words was a shock to say the least. Now that the writing bug has well and truly
taken hold, Helena can no longer imagine not sharing the characters in her head
and heart with the rest of the world.
Having
left the hustle and bustle of Amsterdam for the peace and quiet of the Irish
Country side she divides her time between reading, writing, long and often wet
walks with the dog, her part-time job in a library, a grown-up daughter and her
ever loving and patient husband.
Helena
Stone can be found in the following places:
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/HelenasHeat
Website:
http://helenastone.blogspot.ie/
Pinterest:
http://www.pinterest.com/helenastone735/
Email:
helenastoneauthor@gmail.com
For the giveaway Helena is offering one of you a copy of this fabulous book! Contest will run until March 2nd and the winner will be notified via email (So check your spam) I wish you all good luck, I thank Helena for spending time with us today and for offering one of you a chance to fall in love with this book. Remember, review what you read, it matters!
Thank you so much for hosting me. You made my first encounter with promoting my book far less scary than it might have been <3
ReplyDeleteGOOD! It shouldn't be scary and I am SO SO happy you let me help!
DeleteI remember hearing about your excursion to the blowhole. And Heather's description of the water below was one of my favorite passages in Little Rainbows. I won't enter the contest because I've already read - and adored - the book, but some lucky person is in for a treat!
ReplyDeleteLovely to read about Little Rainbows and how you came upon the name of the resort. Ireland is very beautiful and I look forward to reading descriptions of it. Especially as it is written by you, Helena, I would love to win this book.
ReplyDelete