Deceived
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I scanned the room again until my eyes fell on a group of men in the corner. Normally I wouldn’t give a shit who Papa had invited to these things. This group I hadn’t seen before. Four of them. All equally striking in their own right. One had dirty blonde hair with a scar running across his right eyebrow. Another had chestnut hair with dark eyes the colour of an evergreen forest. The third slouched against a bookcase with a whisky tumbler in his hand, his auburn hair glinting under the lights and his blue eyes piercing. It was the last man who caught my attention. He had dark hair and eyes as black as night. He looked like he’d walked right out of hell, wearing all black with a single red handkerchief in his suit pocket. The look in those dark eyes as he scanned the room with a sneer on his face sent a chill down my spine.
If I was the superstitious type, I’d say these men were a bad omen. Something about them made me want to shrink into the background so they couldn’t see me. Especially the dark-haired one. He could gut a woman with a single glance. I decided then and there, I never wanted to make their acquaintance.
“Who are they?”
“I advise you not to ask that question, Ashleigh.”
I turned to her, my eyes wide.
“Why not?”
“Forget you saw them. They’re not men you want to know.”
My mother’s eyes were narrowed. She gripped her glass of champagne tighter. Her reaction only confirmed my suspicions. They were not good men. Why were they at my father’s party? How had they gained entry?
“Mother…”
“Don’t. Stay far away from them. Promise me you won’t go looking for trouble.”
As if. I knew what type of men graced this world. Growing up with hardened criminals changes a person’s perception. You’d think Papa might have shielded his own daughter from the horrific nature of his business. No such luck there.
“I won’t.”
She eyed me for a moment longer before nodding and sauntering off towards the games room where my father was gambling. I decided I’d seen enough. Papa expected me to make an appearance tonight, and that was it. I’d done his bidding, now it was my time to escape.
Glancing around one last time, my eyes lingered on the man from hell. His eyes were fixed on the open doors of the gaming room where my father could be seen laughing. The rage and hatred in his eyes were unmistakable. Whatever problem he had with Papa, it was no concern of mine.
I slipped from the room into the hallway and walked towards the stairs. That’s the last thing I remember of that night. My foot landing on the first stair before a hand slammed over my mouth and the sharp sting of a needle slicing through my flesh. I never got a chance to scream. Darkness overtook me, dragging me down as my body slumped against a solid chest and all my senses faded to black.
If I was the superstitious type, I’d say these men were a bad omen. Something about them made me want to shrink into the background so they couldn’t see me. Especially the dark-haired one. He could gut a woman with a single glance. I decided then and there, I never wanted to make their acquaintance.
“Who are they?”
“I advise you not to ask that question, Ashleigh.”
I turned to her, my eyes wide.
“Why not?”
“Forget you saw them. They’re not men you want to know.”
My mother’s eyes were narrowed. She gripped her glass of champagne tighter. Her reaction only confirmed my suspicions. They were not good men. Why were they at my father’s party? How had they gained entry?
“Mother…”
“Don’t. Stay far away from them. Promise me you won’t go looking for trouble.”
As if. I knew what type of men graced this world. Growing up with hardened criminals changes a person’s perception. You’d think Papa might have shielded his own daughter from the horrific nature of his business. No such luck there.
“I won’t.”
She eyed me for a moment longer before nodding and sauntering off towards the games room where my father was gambling. I decided I’d seen enough. Papa expected me to make an appearance tonight, and that was it. I’d done his bidding, now it was my time to escape.
Glancing around one last time, my eyes lingered on the man from hell. His eyes were fixed on the open doors of the gaming room where my father could be seen laughing. The rage and hatred in his eyes were unmistakable. Whatever problem he had with Papa, it was no concern of mine.
I slipped from the room into the hallway and walked towards the stairs. That’s the last thing I remember of that night. My foot landing on the first stair before a hand slammed over my mouth and the sharp sting of a needle slicing through my flesh. I never got a chance to scream. Darkness overtook me, dragging me down as my body slumped against a solid chest and all my senses faded to black.
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Defied
The Devil's Syndicate Book 2
Two become three. Lies, lust and betrayal. Who will fall first?
It started when I chose to remain with them. The ones who took me from my life and changed all the rules.
The chains binding me to my family loosened their hold. Little did I know that by taking me, Quinn and his friends began the long process of setting me free. And even as I got closer to the boys, the past always held us back. Keeping our feelings at bay.
The questions plagued me. Where did my loyalties lie? Who could I trust? And the biggest one of all. Could I really go against everything I knew to be with the four people who kept me captive to use me against my father?
Our secrets brought us closer. Our lies tore us apart. And it became crystal clear that every decision you make in life comes at a price.
A dark reverse harem series with cliffhangers and drama in abundance and a HEA in the final book.
Get ready for more of Ash and her boys - Quinn, Xavier, Eric and Rory.
Goodreads * Amazon
It started when I chose to remain with them. The ones who took me from my life and changed all the rules.
The chains binding me to my family loosened their hold. Little did I know that by taking me, Quinn and his friends began the long process of setting me free. And even as I got closer to the boys, the past always held us back. Keeping our feelings at bay.
The questions plagued me. Where did my loyalties lie? Who could I trust? And the biggest one of all. Could I really go against everything I knew to be with the four people who kept me captive to use me against my father?
Our secrets brought us closer. Our lies tore us apart. And it became crystal clear that every decision you make in life comes at a price.
A dark reverse harem series with cliffhangers and drama in abundance and a HEA in the final book.
Get ready for more of Ash and her boys - Quinn, Xavier, Eric and Rory.
Goodreads * Amazon
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Derailed
The Devil's Syndicate Book 3
Three mixed with four. The captive became an ally. Who will break first?
It started when they betrayed me. The ones who I’d come to trust. The ones I was starting to love.
My world flipped upside down and nothing is as it seems. Everything was unravelling before my eyes, tearing us apart whilst pulling us closer together.
I’m caught between two worlds. The one I grew up in and the one I’d started to forge with the boys. Everything came to a grinding halt when long hidden secrets came to light. The truth changed the rules and made us realise nothing in life is ever as it seems.
Sometimes the only way out of a situation is through. Never before had been truer when it came to the five of us and our future together.
Did we have a future? Or was everything too much for us to handle? The pieces were starting to fit together, but there’s always something holding us back. My family. My loyalty. My duty. And whether to throw it away or stand and fight by their sides.
A dark reverse harem series with cliffhangers and drama in abundance and a HEA in the final book.
Get ready for more of Ash and her boys - Quinn, Xavier, Eric and Rory.
Goodreads * Amazon
It started when they betrayed me. The ones who I’d come to trust. The ones I was starting to love.
My world flipped upside down and nothing is as it seems. Everything was unravelling before my eyes, tearing us apart whilst pulling us closer together.
I’m caught between two worlds. The one I grew up in and the one I’d started to forge with the boys. Everything came to a grinding halt when long hidden secrets came to light. The truth changed the rules and made us realise nothing in life is ever as it seems.
Sometimes the only way out of a situation is through. Never before had been truer when it came to the five of us and our future together.
Did we have a future? Or was everything too much for us to handle? The pieces were starting to fit together, but there’s always something holding us back. My family. My loyalty. My duty. And whether to throw it away or stand and fight by their sides.
A dark reverse harem series with cliffhangers and drama in abundance and a HEA in the final book.
Get ready for more of Ash and her boys - Quinn, Xavier, Eric and Rory.
Goodreads * Amazon
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Debauched
The Devil's Syndicate Book 4
Four seek their fifth. The hunter devours his prey. Who will lose first?
It started with an impossible choice. One I had no wish to make from a person who’d only just come to know.
So many of our decisions had led up to this moment. Perhaps it was the way we’d come together which threw my life so off balance. Leaving me with the final say in a matter I wanted no part of.
We had to draw up the battle lines. Change our fates. Or we’d all crash and burn. It wasn’t a case of if we’d fight for survival, it was when. When would he come after us? When would he try to destroy us? When would he decide I wasn’t worth saving any longer?
The inevitable hung over us like a dark cloud. A time bomb waiting to go off. No matter how many times we tried to stay ahead, we were always one step behind. And it was perfectly clear, we had to be prepared to go to war or we might end up with nothing at all.
A dark reverse harem series with cliffhangers and drama in abundance and a HEA in the final book.
Get ready for more of Ash and her boys - Quinn, Xavier, Eric and Rory.
Goodreads * Amazon
It started with an impossible choice. One I had no wish to make from a person who’d only just come to know.
So many of our decisions had led up to this moment. Perhaps it was the way we’d come together which threw my life so off balance. Leaving me with the final say in a matter I wanted no part of.
We had to draw up the battle lines. Change our fates. Or we’d all crash and burn. It wasn’t a case of if we’d fight for survival, it was when. When would he come after us? When would he try to destroy us? When would he decide I wasn’t worth saving any longer?
The inevitable hung over us like a dark cloud. A time bomb waiting to go off. No matter how many times we tried to stay ahead, we were always one step behind. And it was perfectly clear, we had to be prepared to go to war or we might end up with nothing at all.
A dark reverse harem series with cliffhangers and drama in abundance and a HEA in the final book.
Get ready for more of Ash and her boys - Quinn, Xavier, Eric and Rory.
Goodreads * Amazon
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Depraved
The Devil's Syndicate Book 5
Together. Apart. Where does it end?
It started with the war. The war we’d wage upon the very man who’d raised me. The war which would either tear us apart or keep us together.
We’d finally found our way to each other. The five of us gave in. It’d been inevitable from the start. Desire had forged us, but it was love which set us free. Made us into what we were. A family drenched in blood.
Everything had built up to this moment. Our final fight for survival. Our final battle against corruption. Quinn, Xavier, Eric and Rory were the ones I had to protect at all costs. Even if it meant I sacrificed parts of myself in the process.
We had so much to live for. So much to lose. Would we really win this? Would we come out the other side? Would we still be whole? And the very last question I had… Is the love we share really enough for all of us in the end?
A dark reverse harem series with cliffhangers and drama in abundance and a HEA in the final book.
Get ready for the final chapter of Ash and her boys - Quinn, Xavier, Eric and Rory.
Goodreads * Amazon
It started with the war. The war we’d wage upon the very man who’d raised me. The war which would either tear us apart or keep us together.
We’d finally found our way to each other. The five of us gave in. It’d been inevitable from the start. Desire had forged us, but it was love which set us free. Made us into what we were. A family drenched in blood.
Everything had built up to this moment. Our final fight for survival. Our final battle against corruption. Quinn, Xavier, Eric and Rory were the ones I had to protect at all costs. Even if it meant I sacrificed parts of myself in the process.
We had so much to live for. So much to lose. Would we really win this? Would we come out the other side? Would we still be whole? And the very last question I had… Is the love we share really enough for all of us in the end?
A dark reverse harem series with cliffhangers and drama in abundance and a HEA in the final book.
Get ready for the final chapter of Ash and her boys - Quinn, Xavier, Eric and Rory.
Goodreads * Amazon
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Sarah writes dark, contemporary, erotic and paranormal romances. She adores all forms of steamy romance and can always be found with a book or ten on her Kindle. She loves anti-heroes, alpha males and flawed characters with a little bit of darkness lurking within. Her writing buddies nicknamed her 'The Queen of Steam' for her pulse racing sex scenes which will leave you a little hot under the collar.
Born and raised in Sussex, UK near the Ashdown Forest where she grew up climbing trees and building Lego towns with her younger brother. Sarah fell in love with novels when she was a teenager reading her aunt's historical regency romances. She has always loved the supernatural and exploring the darker side of romance and fantasy novels.
Sarah currently resides in the Scottish Highlands with her husband. Music is one of her biggest inspirations and she always has something on in the background whilst writing. She is an avid gamer and is often found hogging her husband's Xbox.
Website * Facebook * FB Group * Twitter * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads * Newsletter
Born and raised in Sussex, UK near the Ashdown Forest where she grew up climbing trees and building Lego towns with her younger brother. Sarah fell in love with novels when she was a teenager reading her aunt's historical regency romances. She has always loved the supernatural and exploring the darker side of romance and fantasy novels.
Sarah currently resides in the Scottish Highlands with her husband. Music is one of her biggest inspirations and she always has something on in the background whilst writing. She is an avid gamer and is often found hogging her husband's Xbox.
Website * Facebook * FB Group * Twitter * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads * Newsletter
Can you, for those who don't know you already, tell something about yourself and how you became an author?
Well, I’m Sarah, I live in the Highlands in Scotland, but I’m originally from England. My four obsessions in life that aren’t writing are reading, gaming, music and cats.
I started writing seriously three years ago, but I’ve always written on and off throughout my life as I come from a very creative family. I became an author when I published my first book (Demon’s Destiny) two years ago after setting up my own business (Twisted Tree Publications). Whilst I started out writing paranormal romance, I now mainly write dark romance and I’m known as ‘The Queen of Steam’ for my rather steamy sex scenes.
Where were you born/grew up at?
I was born in Sussex, UK and lived there up until I was seventeen. It’s roughly an hour south of London. I spent a lot of my childhood going down to such places as Brighton and Hastings.
Who is your hero and why?
My dad. We’ve always been very close. He’s championed me throughout my life and fully supports my writing. He even reads my books, which is probably a little embarrassing for me considering I write dark high heat romances, but he loves them.
I’d definitely call myself a daddy’s girl. He’s just such a strong and amazing role model. He’s always admitted to his mistakes and that makes me respect him all the more. Plus, he gives the best bear hugs.
What do you do to unwind and relax?
Oh, I love to read, especially in the bath. That’s probably my favourite way to relax. Pop some music on, run a bubble bath and read a great book.
There’s always good old Netflix or Amazon Prime if I’m in the mood for some TV/movies. I’m more than a little obsessed with Lucifer, Supernatural and K-Dramas.
I’m also a huge gamer, which I find relaxing since I get to immerse myself in another world. I mostly play RPGs – currently I’m trying to actually finish Shadow of War, but I’ve been replaying the Witcher 3 (my favourite game ever!) whilst I’m waiting for Cyberpunk 2077 to come out.
Describe yourself in 5 words or less!
Introverted, music and book lover
Do you have a favorite movie?
Yes, it’s probably one of the most random films, but I’m obsessed with Mallrats. I really got into Kevin Smith films years ago. Even though this is such a stupid film, I just love it anyway.
What inspired you to write this series?
As with most of my books, the idea just came to me whilst listening to music. The first song to go on the playlist (I have one for every book/series) was Put It On Me by Matt Maeson. But I was also listening to a lot of MISSIO at the time, that really gave me a focus for the characters. Especially Sing To Me and Twisted.
What can we expect from you in the future?
More dark romances. I’ve got a duet on the away after this series as well as a complete standalone that’s very different from what I’ve written before. For starters, it’s male/male and a really long book, which I don’t usually tend to write. It’s hard for me to describe and pin this one down, but we get to watch these two boys grow from children into adults. It’s full of dark and twisted happenings, a lot of which break my heart. It’s one of those books which steals your entire being and I can’t wait to release it.
Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in The Devil’s Syndicate?
So, we have Ash (Ashleigh) Russo, our heroine who is the daughter of a London crime boss. She’s feisty, smart and doesn’t take any crap off anyone.
Then we have our four heroes, Quinn, Xavier, Eric and Rory.
Quinn Knox is the de facto leader of this merry band of men. He’s an alpha male, dominant and likes to get his own way at all times.
Xavier Scott is our joker of the group. He doesn’t take life too seriously and is at constant loggerheads with Quinn.
Eric Nelson is our pragmatist who’s always trying to keep the peace. He takes care of the boys and is always there to offer an ear.
Rory Carter is the youngest of the group and the quiet one. He has a super tragic past and is darkest male of the group, but that boy is super observant too.
How did you come up with the concept and characters for the series?
The concept just came to me one day. The idea that a girl who’s not an innocent heroine gets taken by four men who want to use her in a revenge plot. I liked the idea of having four best friends who’d been through hell and back banding together to form their own family unit. Originally this was not meant to be a reverse harem at all. Ash was meant to be Quinn’s love interest, but as I started writing, it became clear to me there was more to this story than meets the eye. When I realized I wanted each of the characters to have their own point of view, I knew that reverse harem was the way I wanted to go with it. And it grew from there.
What did you enjoy most about writing this book?
Getting to explore the backstories for each of my five main characters. They’re all very different and have their own unique personalities. I loved that about them. It made them feel more real to me.
Who designed your book covers?
I actually designed and created these covers. I usually work with a designer, but recently I’ve been learning how to do them myself.
Did you learn anything during the writing of your recent book?
That I really enjoy writing non-traditional romances. Poly romance was never something I planned to write nor was something involving male/male either, but this series enabled me to branch out of my comfort zone. For the first time, I was writing not only multiple partners, but sex scenes involving more than two people. I think it pushed me as a writer, which is a good thing. Now I feel I can continue to write more diverse characters and romances which aren’t always so cut and dry.
Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination?
I don’t base any of my characters off real people. They have characteristics of people I know, but it’s more like an amalgamation of different people. I like my characters to feel real, so I breathe life into them that way, but they really do all come from my imagination.
Do your characters seem to hijack the story or do you feel like you have the reigns of the story?
They hijack the story every single time. I’m never in control. They tell me what they want me to write and I go with it. Probably why I don’t do any huge major planning my stories. I’ll have ideas and a general gist of what’s going to happen, but usually just I sit down and write. The funny thing is often I’ll include things earlier that I don’t even realise relate to things later on down the storyline. Guess my characters know what’s coming but I don’t, so they know when to foreshadow. I think it’s more fun this way. I call it writing like I’m the reader. Plot twists will come out of nowhere a lot of the time. It certainly keeps me on my toes when I’m writing!
Convince us why you feel your book is a must read.
This isn’t like any other reverse harem you’ve ever read. Some might call it a slow burn, but I’d call it real, raw and gritty. Ash doesn’t just fall into bed with these men, she develops an individual relationship with each of them. You’ll see them grow in unexpected ways and the wild ride is so worth the journey. It’s full of angst, steamy scenes, emotional turmoil and you won’t see the twists and turns coming. Our heroine isn’t an innocent girl, she’s just as dark and depraved as the men who take her.
If you want to read something a little different with characters who will make you laugh, cry, scream and most of all, fall in love, you should definitely pick up this series. It will put you through the wringer, but I always guarantee that HEA at the end.
Have you written any other books that are not published?
A fair few. I’m always writing something new, but I’ve got books sitting around which I’m not sure I’ll ever publish. I did start writing a sci-fi series, which has two finished books, but I’ve never completed the last one. I guess when I found my niche in dark romance, everything else fell by the wayside. Maybe one day I’ll pick them back up, but who knows.
What are your top 10 favorite books/authors?
Bait by Jade West
Birthday Girl by Penelope Douglas
The Cane Series by Shanora Williams
Cold Cole Heart by K. Webster
The Ribbon Duet by Pepper Winters
Priceless by Miranda Silver
The Crimson Elite Series by T.L. Smith
Undead and Unwed by MaryJanice Davidson
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkein
Fir Lodge by Sean McMahon
Do the characters all come to you at the same time or do some of them come to you as you write?
It’s a bit of both. My main characters tend to come to me around the same time, but my side characters will often come to me as I write. I guess this a product of me not plotting my books out, but they pop up when I need them to, which works for me.
Do you see writing as a career?
Yes. This is what I do full time for a living now and have been for over a year which is pretty exciting for me. When I started, it was my goal to be able to make this my career so to have done that in three years is such an achievement for me.
Do you read yourself and if so what is your favorite genre?
I’m an avid reader. My favourite is obviously romance, but I typically read a lot of dark romance as that’s what I write. I’m a HUGE fan of forbidden romances, age-gaps, bad boys (I’m absolute trash for them) and anything that’s real, raw and gritty.
Do you prefer to write in silence or with noise? Why?
I write to music. I find it incredibly inspiring. It sets the mood for me. Writing in silence doesn’t always jam with me unless it’s late at night and I’m in bed writing on my phone. Then I don’t want to disturb my husband so no music.
Do you write one book at a time or do you have several going at a time?
I used to write one book at time, but now, I have several going at one time. Usually I’ll be writing only one book at a time, but often I’ll be editing another in between.
Describe your writing style.
I write very character driven narratives, so whilst there’s always a plot behind it, the characters are the ones guiding the story along. I like to get down to the nitty gritty of their feelings and emotions which is why I write mostly in first person point of view. It makes for a more intense story as I essentially live and breathe my characters the entire time I’m writing them and that comes across in my writing.
What makes a good story?
Any story has to make me feel something for the characters, but a good story will make me laugh, cry and scream over them. I want to love them or hate them, but they have to feel like actual characters. The story needs to have enough conflict to keep me routing for them. And it definitely has to be well paced. You don’t want to rush it or for it to go too slow.
What is your writing process? For instance do you do an outline first? Do you do the chapters first?
I usually start out with a flash of a character or a situation in my head. Then I let that sit for a bit until a story or an idea starts to form properly in my head. I’m not a huge planner, so I usually just jump in and start writing at this point. I’ll make character notes if I’m writing a series, but I keep most of the story in my head. I have a critique partner who gets my chapters as I write them, and she helps me keep the story on track. I’m able to bounce my ideas off her, which often gives me a clearer picture as to where I go next.
To be honest, my characters tend to just take control after I start and direct the story. I’m just along for the ride. It can be a lot of fun, but also incredibly frustrating when they decide to throw a spanner in the works and I have to write my way out of it. No one said writing was easy. I always manage to end up with a coherent story at the end of it, so I must be doing something right.
Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?
Honestly, a little bit of both. I like to put my own stamp on my stories whilst still writing within the scope of my romance sub-genre. I’ve been told you can definitely tell you’re reading a Sarah Bailey book regardless of what I write. I do also feel like I’ve got to deliver on what readers are expecting from me. That means most of my books come with a high heat warning! I think I outdid myself with this new series. There may be a scene involving all five characters in the last book, but you’ll just have to read it to find out how that comes about!
What’s the most difficult thing about writing characters from the opposite sex?
I’d say making sure they sound and behave like men. I like my men in books to sound realistic, so I try to write all of my male protagonists with that in mind. It’s not always to achieve. One of my best friends and readers is a guy who has never once complained about my approach to writing men, so I must be doing something right.
How long on average does it take you to write a book?
Roughly about a month. It really depends on the length of the book and whether I’m writing more than one at a time. I’m a fast drafter and mostly I edit as I write so by time the book is done, it’s a very clean draft. It saves me a lot of time during the editing process.
Well, I’m Sarah, I live in the Highlands in Scotland, but I’m originally from England. My four obsessions in life that aren’t writing are reading, gaming, music and cats.
I started writing seriously three years ago, but I’ve always written on and off throughout my life as I come from a very creative family. I became an author when I published my first book (Demon’s Destiny) two years ago after setting up my own business (Twisted Tree Publications). Whilst I started out writing paranormal romance, I now mainly write dark romance and I’m known as ‘The Queen of Steam’ for my rather steamy sex scenes.
Where were you born/grew up at?
I was born in Sussex, UK and lived there up until I was seventeen. It’s roughly an hour south of London. I spent a lot of my childhood going down to such places as Brighton and Hastings.
Who is your hero and why?
My dad. We’ve always been very close. He’s championed me throughout my life and fully supports my writing. He even reads my books, which is probably a little embarrassing for me considering I write dark high heat romances, but he loves them.
I’d definitely call myself a daddy’s girl. He’s just such a strong and amazing role model. He’s always admitted to his mistakes and that makes me respect him all the more. Plus, he gives the best bear hugs.
What do you do to unwind and relax?
Oh, I love to read, especially in the bath. That’s probably my favourite way to relax. Pop some music on, run a bubble bath and read a great book.
There’s always good old Netflix or Amazon Prime if I’m in the mood for some TV/movies. I’m more than a little obsessed with Lucifer, Supernatural and K-Dramas.
I’m also a huge gamer, which I find relaxing since I get to immerse myself in another world. I mostly play RPGs – currently I’m trying to actually finish Shadow of War, but I’ve been replaying the Witcher 3 (my favourite game ever!) whilst I’m waiting for Cyberpunk 2077 to come out.
Describe yourself in 5 words or less!
Introverted, music and book lover
Do you have a favorite movie?
Yes, it’s probably one of the most random films, but I’m obsessed with Mallrats. I really got into Kevin Smith films years ago. Even though this is such a stupid film, I just love it anyway.
What inspired you to write this series?
As with most of my books, the idea just came to me whilst listening to music. The first song to go on the playlist (I have one for every book/series) was Put It On Me by Matt Maeson. But I was also listening to a lot of MISSIO at the time, that really gave me a focus for the characters. Especially Sing To Me and Twisted.
What can we expect from you in the future?
More dark romances. I’ve got a duet on the away after this series as well as a complete standalone that’s very different from what I’ve written before. For starters, it’s male/male and a really long book, which I don’t usually tend to write. It’s hard for me to describe and pin this one down, but we get to watch these two boys grow from children into adults. It’s full of dark and twisted happenings, a lot of which break my heart. It’s one of those books which steals your entire being and I can’t wait to release it.
Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in The Devil’s Syndicate?
So, we have Ash (Ashleigh) Russo, our heroine who is the daughter of a London crime boss. She’s feisty, smart and doesn’t take any crap off anyone.
Then we have our four heroes, Quinn, Xavier, Eric and Rory.
Quinn Knox is the de facto leader of this merry band of men. He’s an alpha male, dominant and likes to get his own way at all times.
Xavier Scott is our joker of the group. He doesn’t take life too seriously and is at constant loggerheads with Quinn.
Eric Nelson is our pragmatist who’s always trying to keep the peace. He takes care of the boys and is always there to offer an ear.
Rory Carter is the youngest of the group and the quiet one. He has a super tragic past and is darkest male of the group, but that boy is super observant too.
How did you come up with the concept and characters for the series?
The concept just came to me one day. The idea that a girl who’s not an innocent heroine gets taken by four men who want to use her in a revenge plot. I liked the idea of having four best friends who’d been through hell and back banding together to form their own family unit. Originally this was not meant to be a reverse harem at all. Ash was meant to be Quinn’s love interest, but as I started writing, it became clear to me there was more to this story than meets the eye. When I realized I wanted each of the characters to have their own point of view, I knew that reverse harem was the way I wanted to go with it. And it grew from there.
What did you enjoy most about writing this book?
Getting to explore the backstories for each of my five main characters. They’re all very different and have their own unique personalities. I loved that about them. It made them feel more real to me.
Who designed your book covers?
I actually designed and created these covers. I usually work with a designer, but recently I’ve been learning how to do them myself.
Did you learn anything during the writing of your recent book?
That I really enjoy writing non-traditional romances. Poly romance was never something I planned to write nor was something involving male/male either, but this series enabled me to branch out of my comfort zone. For the first time, I was writing not only multiple partners, but sex scenes involving more than two people. I think it pushed me as a writer, which is a good thing. Now I feel I can continue to write more diverse characters and romances which aren’t always so cut and dry.
Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination?
I don’t base any of my characters off real people. They have characteristics of people I know, but it’s more like an amalgamation of different people. I like my characters to feel real, so I breathe life into them that way, but they really do all come from my imagination.
Do your characters seem to hijack the story or do you feel like you have the reigns of the story?
They hijack the story every single time. I’m never in control. They tell me what they want me to write and I go with it. Probably why I don’t do any huge major planning my stories. I’ll have ideas and a general gist of what’s going to happen, but usually just I sit down and write. The funny thing is often I’ll include things earlier that I don’t even realise relate to things later on down the storyline. Guess my characters know what’s coming but I don’t, so they know when to foreshadow. I think it’s more fun this way. I call it writing like I’m the reader. Plot twists will come out of nowhere a lot of the time. It certainly keeps me on my toes when I’m writing!
Convince us why you feel your book is a must read.
This isn’t like any other reverse harem you’ve ever read. Some might call it a slow burn, but I’d call it real, raw and gritty. Ash doesn’t just fall into bed with these men, she develops an individual relationship with each of them. You’ll see them grow in unexpected ways and the wild ride is so worth the journey. It’s full of angst, steamy scenes, emotional turmoil and you won’t see the twists and turns coming. Our heroine isn’t an innocent girl, she’s just as dark and depraved as the men who take her.
If you want to read something a little different with characters who will make you laugh, cry, scream and most of all, fall in love, you should definitely pick up this series. It will put you through the wringer, but I always guarantee that HEA at the end.
Have you written any other books that are not published?
A fair few. I’m always writing something new, but I’ve got books sitting around which I’m not sure I’ll ever publish. I did start writing a sci-fi series, which has two finished books, but I’ve never completed the last one. I guess when I found my niche in dark romance, everything else fell by the wayside. Maybe one day I’ll pick them back up, but who knows.
What are your top 10 favorite books/authors?
Bait by Jade West
Birthday Girl by Penelope Douglas
The Cane Series by Shanora Williams
Cold Cole Heart by K. Webster
The Ribbon Duet by Pepper Winters
Priceless by Miranda Silver
The Crimson Elite Series by T.L. Smith
Undead and Unwed by MaryJanice Davidson
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkein
Fir Lodge by Sean McMahon
Do the characters all come to you at the same time or do some of them come to you as you write?
It’s a bit of both. My main characters tend to come to me around the same time, but my side characters will often come to me as I write. I guess this a product of me not plotting my books out, but they pop up when I need them to, which works for me.
Do you see writing as a career?
Yes. This is what I do full time for a living now and have been for over a year which is pretty exciting for me. When I started, it was my goal to be able to make this my career so to have done that in three years is such an achievement for me.
Do you read yourself and if so what is your favorite genre?
I’m an avid reader. My favourite is obviously romance, but I typically read a lot of dark romance as that’s what I write. I’m a HUGE fan of forbidden romances, age-gaps, bad boys (I’m absolute trash for them) and anything that’s real, raw and gritty.
Do you prefer to write in silence or with noise? Why?
I write to music. I find it incredibly inspiring. It sets the mood for me. Writing in silence doesn’t always jam with me unless it’s late at night and I’m in bed writing on my phone. Then I don’t want to disturb my husband so no music.
Do you write one book at a time or do you have several going at a time?
I used to write one book at time, but now, I have several going at one time. Usually I’ll be writing only one book at a time, but often I’ll be editing another in between.
Describe your writing style.
I write very character driven narratives, so whilst there’s always a plot behind it, the characters are the ones guiding the story along. I like to get down to the nitty gritty of their feelings and emotions which is why I write mostly in first person point of view. It makes for a more intense story as I essentially live and breathe my characters the entire time I’m writing them and that comes across in my writing.
What makes a good story?
Any story has to make me feel something for the characters, but a good story will make me laugh, cry and scream over them. I want to love them or hate them, but they have to feel like actual characters. The story needs to have enough conflict to keep me routing for them. And it definitely has to be well paced. You don’t want to rush it or for it to go too slow.
What is your writing process? For instance do you do an outline first? Do you do the chapters first?
I usually start out with a flash of a character or a situation in my head. Then I let that sit for a bit until a story or an idea starts to form properly in my head. I’m not a huge planner, so I usually just jump in and start writing at this point. I’ll make character notes if I’m writing a series, but I keep most of the story in my head. I have a critique partner who gets my chapters as I write them, and she helps me keep the story on track. I’m able to bounce my ideas off her, which often gives me a clearer picture as to where I go next.
To be honest, my characters tend to just take control after I start and direct the story. I’m just along for the ride. It can be a lot of fun, but also incredibly frustrating when they decide to throw a spanner in the works and I have to write my way out of it. No one said writing was easy. I always manage to end up with a coherent story at the end of it, so I must be doing something right.
Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?
Honestly, a little bit of both. I like to put my own stamp on my stories whilst still writing within the scope of my romance sub-genre. I’ve been told you can definitely tell you’re reading a Sarah Bailey book regardless of what I write. I do also feel like I’ve got to deliver on what readers are expecting from me. That means most of my books come with a high heat warning! I think I outdid myself with this new series. There may be a scene involving all five characters in the last book, but you’ll just have to read it to find out how that comes about!
What’s the most difficult thing about writing characters from the opposite sex?
I’d say making sure they sound and behave like men. I like my men in books to sound realistic, so I try to write all of my male protagonists with that in mind. It’s not always to achieve. One of my best friends and readers is a guy who has never once complained about my approach to writing men, so I must be doing something right.
How long on average does it take you to write a book?
Roughly about a month. It really depends on the length of the book and whether I’m writing more than one at a time. I’m a fast drafter and mostly I edit as I write so by time the book is done, it’s a very clean draft. It saves me a lot of time during the editing process.
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All Things Dark & Dirty
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A Pinch of Bookdust
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LC Owen Books
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Jul 13
#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee
Momma Says: To Read or Not to Read
Jul 14
Word Processor, Romance, Cats, Kids and Creed
Jul 15
Triquetra Reviews
Girl with Pen
Jul 16
Books all things paranormal and romance
Dragon's Den
Jul 17
Books a Plenty Book Reviews
nanasbookreviews
Jul 20
The Sexy Nerd 'Revue'
Pen Possessed
Jul 21
Book Corner News and Reviews
Jul 22
The Book junkie Reads . . .
Books, Authors, Blogs
Jul 23
eBook Addicts
Jul 24
Midnight Book Reader
Jul 26
Why I Can't Stop Reading - REVIEW ALL
Jul 27
Chapters through life
Jul 28
Insane Books
Jul 29
Bedazzled By Books
The Scratching Post
Jul 30
Musings From An Addicted Reader
Twisted Book Ramblings
Jul 31
Valerie Ullmer | Romance Author
Books A-Brewin'
Aug 1
Scrupulous Dreams
Teatime and Books
Jul 1
kickoff at Silver Dagger Book Tours
Nicolie-Olie's Meanderings
Jul 2
Craving Lovely Books
The Book Dragon
Jul 3
Miss Flames So Bookish Blog
All Things Dark & Dirty
Jul 5
A Wonderful World of Words
Jul 6
A Pinch of Bookdust
The Bookshelf Fairy
Jul 7
LC Owen Books
Stormy Nights Reviewing & Bloggin'
Jul 8
Sapphyria's Book Reviews
Sylv.net
Jul 9
Inside the Insanity - GUEST POST
T's Stuff
Jul 10
Celticlady's Reviews
Readeropolis - GUEST POST
Jul 11
AC Squared Book Blog
Maggie Blackbird - GUEST POST
Jul 13
#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee
Momma Says: To Read or Not to Read
Jul 14
Word Processor, Romance, Cats, Kids and Creed
Jul 15
Triquetra Reviews
Girl with Pen
Jul 16
Books all things paranormal and romance
Dragon's Den
Jul 17
Books a Plenty Book Reviews
nanasbookreviews
Jul 20
The Sexy Nerd 'Revue'
Pen Possessed
Jul 21
Book Corner News and Reviews
Jul 22
The Book junkie Reads . . .
Books, Authors, Blogs
Jul 23
eBook Addicts
Jul 24
Midnight Book Reader
Jul 26
Why I Can't Stop Reading - REVIEW ALL
Jul 27
Chapters through life
Jul 28
Insane Books
Jul 29
Bedazzled By Books
The Scratching Post
Jul 30
Musings From An Addicted Reader
Twisted Book Ramblings
Jul 31
Valerie Ullmer | Romance Author
Books A-Brewin'
Aug 1
Scrupulous Dreams
Teatime and Books
41 Comments
Beyond Comps
7/1/2020 06:31:15 am
Great cover!
Sarah Bailey
7/3/2020 06:26:14 am
Thank you so much!!!
Rita Wray
7/1/2020 08:51:34 am
Sounds like a great series.
Sarah Bailey
7/3/2020 06:32:58 am
Thank you! It's been one of my faves to write :)
Wendy Jensen
7/1/2020 10:14:38 am
A devilish book cover.
Sarah Bailey
7/3/2020 06:33:21 am
Thank you - designed these myself so to know people like them is so nice :)
Victoria Scott
7/1/2020 12:17:53 pm
This series sounds really, really good! I enjoyed the interview too! Thanks for sharing!
Sarah Bailey
7/3/2020 06:34:13 am
Thank you so much! I always enjoy getting to talk a bit about the background of my books :)
Jennylyn Gross
7/1/2020 12:40:13 pm
Sexy cover
Sarah Bailey
7/3/2020 06:34:29 am
Ah thank you, I designed them myself :)
wendy hutton
7/1/2020 03:10:16 pm
sounds like a great series thanks
Sherry
7/1/2020 03:17:42 pm
The books sound really good.
Calvin
7/1/2020 04:08:14 pm
Very specific genre, nice.
Debbie P
7/1/2020 05:46:18 pm
This sounds like an excellent read.
MARCY MEYER
7/1/2020 07:08:37 pm
Looks like a great series. Love the covers.
Judy Thomas
7/2/2020 05:38:02 am
I love the awesome hot covers!
Molli Taylor
7/2/2020 09:46:12 am
these books look awesome!
Terri Quick
7/2/2020 10:11:32 pm
Sexy cover
LYNN CLAYTON
7/3/2020 09:45:08 pm
oh nice cover looks like a great read
Sandy Klocinski
7/4/2020 03:36:13 pm
Awesome covers! Loved the interview.
Jamie Bertrand
7/4/2020 04:03:20 pm
this is exactly what my gf reads!
Stephanie Liske
7/4/2020 04:10:38 pm
I like the cover.
Mya Murphy
7/5/2020 03:58:58 pm
Amazing sounding series..very attractive covers!!
Francine Anchondo
7/6/2020 01:36:08 pm
Sounds like a great series
Emily Gibb
7/7/2020 06:52:15 pm
This is so awesome! I love the excerpt
Renata
7/8/2020 07:27:46 pm
I like cover
Mary Cloud
7/12/2020 07:29:52 pm
No questions - the covers are interesting
Heather Mahley
7/14/2020 01:40:34 am
THat cover is HOT
Linda Fast
7/15/2020 10:01:34 am
I love the covers, this looks like a great series.
Thomas Gibson
7/20/2020 01:52:16 am
The cover art in this series is consistent and very well done.
Karin
7/20/2020 08:10:01 am
Sounds like an interesting series
Diana Hardt
7/20/2020 11:48:11 am
Nice covers. They sound like interesting books. Thank you for sharing.
Paula
7/20/2020 12:49:45 pm
The cover art seems appropriate for the book. Good job.
Rajee Pandi
7/21/2020 08:45:14 am
so awesome to read
Heather Kaufman
7/26/2020 02:04:10 pm
The covers are all so yummy!
Daniel M
7/30/2020 06:36:36 pm
like the covers
susan smoaks
8/1/2020 03:40:56 am
i would love to read this. i like the cover.
Emily B.
8/1/2020 03:51:18 pm
Sexy covers!
Betty Curran
8/1/2020 04:38:17 pm
Is there a particular time or place that keeps you more motivated to write?
Sand
8/1/2020 09:57:37 pm
Looks like a great cover!
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