I’m thrilled to introduce you to Jasmine Hill today! She’s sharing about her book, Kismet.
Kismet
Jasmine Hill
Can Tanvi alter kismet’s path?
Tanvi Sharma has always lived life carefully. What has she done, then, to deserve the sentence her family has subjected her to? What cruel form of kismet has intervened so drastically to change her life as she knows it? New Delhi offers Tanvi, who works as a contracted accountant for the Totally Five Star Group, a little solace and removes her from the stifling environment of her father’s business. But she knows it’s only temporary. Soon she has to accept her fate and agree to the marriage her parents have arranged for her—to a man she despises.
She’s all but resigned to her ominous future when a smoldering look from a handsome businessman starts Tanvi’s juices flowing and she allows herself to fantasize about a relationship that can never work. But would a short-term affair be so wrong? Perhaps a no-strings-attached fling with a handsome stranger is just what she needs before entering into a loveless, passionless union.
When Australian businessman Alexander Banks spots Tanvi in the hotel restaurant, the exotic and aloof creature immediately intrigues him. Never one to shirk from a challenge, Alex quickly learns that he has his work cut out for him if he wants to get closer to the reserved beauty.
Alex soon realizes that cultural differences and long-held traditions are obstacles greater than he could ever have envisioned and light years away from his Western rationale. Just when he expects that a relationship with his Indian beauty might be going somewhere, it turns out that someone else has other plans and the Totally Five Star Hotel becomes a dangerous and risky place for them to be.
Excerpt from Kismet
Tanvi gasped in shock as Alexander pressed her against the brick, her back flush with the warm cement. Before she could say or do anything, he grasped both her hands in one of his and pushed them above her head. Her heart beat a rapid tattoo against her ribs. She tipped her head back and eyed him warily. He was looking at her intently, his ice-blue eyes boring into hers from above.
He dropped his head until she felt his lips against her ear. “Shhh,” he whispered.
His cologne, all woodsy and masculine, wafted around her and she relaxed slightly and closed her eyes. He traced his lips across her cheek to her mouth, his breath whisper soft against her skin. Her nipples pebbled and hot desire sluiced through her veins. She waited for Alexander to take her mouth, but he hovered there, a hair’s breadth from her lips.
Please!
Never had she felt such desire just from a man’s proximity. His hard body was contrary to her softer one — a wall of solid muscle. She should have felt afraid but her initial fear had turned to pure want. Then, finally, his lips were on hers, soft but firm and demanding, so demanding as he took her mouth in a powerful kiss. All thought deserted her and she succumbed to his will, urging her body tighter to his. She heard a moan and realized with a start that it came from her. He swallowed the sound as he slanted his lips roughly across hers, invading her mouth with his tongue. He kept her hands imprisoned, preventing her movement. Her mind, made fuzzy through lust and champagne, grasped one thought—it was so hot! If he could make her feel like this, he could hold her captive whenever he wanted. His free hand was at her breast, caressing the side lightly before he smoothed it lower, over her waist until he grasped her hip and pulled her pelvis tightly to his. She could feel his erection between them, hot and thick and pulsing. She moaned again, uncaring of their location and raised her thigh, desperate to feel his throbbing at her core. Her dress restricted her movement and she groaned her frustration. He slowed his assault on her mouth and kissed a trail down her throat before sweeping her dress a little higher up her thighs. Then he was lifting her, his hand on her backside and his thick erection at her sex, grinding into her exactly where she needed it. She gasped her pleasure before he took her lips once more, his mouth demanding and powerful. Tanvi had never felt such desire, such overwhelming sensations. She didn’t want it to stop. Every thought but those of lust and longing had been swept from her brain. All too soon, he pulled away from her, sliding her body slowly down his until her feet touched the ground once more. He dropped his forehead to hers and swore softly through his panting breaths. She couldn’t speak, still too winded and woozy.
Alexander released her hands and rubbed his thumb over her lips. “Your mouth is swollen from my kiss,” he muttered, his voice low and rough. He fixed her dress then stooped and picked up her handbag from the ground where she’d dropped it. “I better get you home.”
Buy Kismet today from Amazon or Totally Bound!
Why New Delhi?
One of the many questions I’m often asked is why I set a particular novel in a particular place. In Kismet, my most recent release, I set my story in New Delhi. Kismet is also my second book in Totally Bound’s Totally Five Star collection based around a glamorous Five Star hotel chain. I’m comfortable writing about what I know and as I have lived in New Delhi and I adored my time there, I wanted to use some of my memories and experiences in a story and the Totally Five Star imprint was the perfect opportunity.
India is a country brimming with vibrancy, colour and activity. It’s a bustling and lively melting pot of various cultures, religions and traditions. In Kismet, I take the reader through the streets of New Delhi and to Agra, home to the Taj Mahal. I thought it fitting to include this beautiful monument, designed and constructed out of the fierce love that Shah Jahan held for his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal (Chosen One of the Palace).
The research I conducted for this novel was mainly to double check and confirm different aspects. I’m familiar with the city and Indian culture. I did feel that it was very important to verify some of the more significant cultural elements. Also, I ensured through research that the different Indian terms and names were spelt correctly. In Kismet I wanted to use the local dialect (in this case Hindi) rather than the accepted Western spelling for many of the Indian words.
Dealing with the cultural issues was tricky. The cultural differences between India and the West are rather complex. I had quite a lot of exposure to these aspects when I lived in India and I have many Indian friends whom I spent a lot of time with so that helped. In writing Kismet, I also confirmed a lot of the cultural facets with a good Indian friend who also happens to be an editor in New Delhi. Her assistance was invaluable and I actually dedicated Kismet to her.
I was careful with the erotic and BDSM aspects of the story. India is traditionally, quite conservative so I wanted to keep these elements realistic and true to the environment. The BDSM components are lighter than in my other novels and I focused more on the development of a BDSM relationship and the testing and exploration of limits.
Kismet is a story where West meets East and the cultural issues inherent in such a union. It’s a story about passion, risks and sacrifices.
About Jasmine
Jasmine was born in Australia and grew up in Sydney. She currently lives in Madrid, Spain with her husband.
She adores reading all genres but in particular she enjoys erotic romance novels and thrillers.
Jasmine loves writing and is always looking for new ideas for stories that will provoke inner passions, stimulate the senses and ignite the imagination.
Her interests include cooking, traveling, yoga and skiing.
She has won some short story competitions and is now excited to have started publishing her erotic romance stories through Totally Bound Publishing.
