Guest Post with Author Lilah Lance

Photo credits: Pixabay media
Edited by Vaishali

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​September is a time of rapid seasonal change, where we move into the final paces of the year. Does that mean that the thriving, bustling, ever-inspiring  orbit of self-publishing dwindles to a halt? Absolutely not. Books are still being born and inspiration is still of the essence. As our reading preferences shift with the wind, I deem the latter part to the year peak time for comfort reading. Comfort with intrigue. And when comfort converges with the likes of romance, thrill and suspense, we enter a genre that entertains and satisfies all at once. I do indeed speak of the recreation heralded by romantic suspense. Promising a passionate twist on the typical, emerging romance writer Lilah Lance introduces us to her Titans series, two of which are fully available for reader enjoyment. Lance's multicultural romance novels feature a set of interconnected standalones where danger follows, corporate intrigue abounds and the racy thrills of a high-heat romance proliferates what Lance calls a steamy take on the likes of James Bond.

​Promising a taste of everything, Lance's storytelling may be darker in nature with themes that explore power and control, redemption and healing, trauma recovery and high-stakes espionage, but  Lance believes in a good love story, a thriving love story, one that prevails no matter the circumstantial challenge.  Complications may arise and risk may erect higher stakes but Lance loves to dive into the complications and connections that dare to confront her characters. And she  establishes the value of the good guy in face of a tortured past by embracing the value of a healthy romantic connection. Her male love interests possess a dynamic combination of qualities that speak to the author's preference for a kind, supportive, loving and emotionally respectful male love interest. Heroes capable of harbouring a sizeable crush yet entirely unafraid of a passionate and committed pursuit. Whether one has a penchant for a protective, respectable, patient and emotionally encouraging hero or ones with the wiles of libidinous prowess who can heat up a scene with erotic voracity, Lilah believes that her hero profiling can cater to both crowds. And she's not afraid of writing what she loves to experience in a fictional courtship, and a central romance.

​​Along with a passionate twist, readers can also expect themes of forbidden love, family mysteries, strong female friendships, the nuances of character connection amidst personal difficulty, trust and vulnerability. Tropes such as opposites attract, forced proximity and billionaire business men also feature in the blossoming writer's work. Thick with the intensity of a spicy courtship, Lilah welcomes a refreshing interpretation of dark romance, and she hopes her work will delight and captivate potential readers. But who better to introduce herself than the writer herself? And so I warmly welcome Lilah Lance as she kindly shares an introductory guest post write-up!  Lance enlightens with her style of romance, her Ideas, Influences and Inspirations, some fun writer facts, the kind of world she loves to write in - how her real-life background in Intelligence informed her storytelling  - and the love interests she favours for her romance novels. You'll also find out more about her upcoming projects and a little excerpt from the opening instalment to her Titans series, Stroke of Luck. Read to the end for relevant links!

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CRAFTING LOVE IN A TIME OF DANGER:
Inside My World of Romantic Suspense

Hi, I’m Lilah Lance, a contemporary romance novelist who writes stories about love, danger, and the complexities of human connections. I strive to create strong heroines and swoon-worthy heroes—men who are multi-layered and dynamic, not bound by stereotypes. I believe in writing the kinds of heroes I would fall for, rather than shaping them to fit someone else’s mold. After all, everyone has an opinion, but no one else's opinion should stand in the way of your dream. So, I keep going, keep writing, and do what I do best.

Synopsis of Stroke of Luck 

Let me tell you a bit about Stroke of Luck, the first book in my Titan Security series. 
 
The story follows Reed Whittaker, a former intelligence officer who’s now the CEO of Titan Security. Reed's life is far from ordinary; he’s haunted by his past and the pressures of his job. He’s juggling way too much and he’s trying to make space for love.
 
Enter, Alisha Malhotra, a successful social media influencer, appears to have a picture-perfect life. But when a mysterious threat puts her in danger, she’s forced to rely on Titan Security—and Reed—for protection. As they navigate this dangerous world of deception and desire, they must learn to trust one another, all while trying to survive.

Genre and Themes

I write multicultural romantic suspense, blending love and danger at every turn. 
 
My stories dive into trust, betrayal, and the messy challenges of connecting with others when things get intense. I love exploring how love can either complicate or make things clearer, even in the riskiest situations. But I also love sexy-sweet men, and I think it’s important to create a space where you can have a hero to swoon over who is perfection to his lady. 

​Stroke of Luck's heroine: Alisha Malhotra

​Alisha Malhotra

 Alisha is a 25-year-old British influencer who works hard to take care of her younger sister, Avani. When she was 20, their parents were killed by a drunk driver, and Alisha took on the role of guardian for her then-17-year-old sister. Now, she's hustling every day to make enough money to send Avani to college and give her the best life possible.

 Even though Alisha’s not dating anyone, she still wants someone in her life, but her focus is being a role model for Avani. Alisha’s got dark hair, hazel eyes, and she’s petite. But she’s popular and she’s got the whole doe-eyed sexy thing down pat. And she’s definitely got a thing for Reed, but she’s terrified of committing and being a bad influence to Avani. 

Stroke of Luck's hero: Reed Whittaker

Reed Whittaker 

 Then there’s Reed. He’s 29, runs his own private security company, and used to be in military intelligence. After getting totally screwed over by the government, he decided to start his business and worked his way to the top. Reed’s a 6’4" tall, dark, and handsome guy with a heart of gold, but he’s known for dating these super cold, “ice queen” types—until he meets Alisha. She’s this warm, lively, and magnetic woman who totally shakes up his world.

 Alisha is everything Reed isn’t. She’s vibrant and kind and honestly? He becomes obsessed with her and he’s got this huge crush on her everyone teases him about and he doesn’t care. Once Reed enters her life? He’s really determined to be the best he can and he understands she’s independent and she doesn’t need him…until she does. Reed is morally gray but in a way that doesn't take the look of random kills but he will do anything to protect Alisha. Anything. At. All. Reed steps in and becomes a big part of both Alisha and Avani’s lives. He’s protective, caring, and honestly, a little bit like Mr. Darcy meets Angel from Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

​He’s inspired by Tom Welling in Smallville (2009), so you know he’s got that good-guy vibe going on. I wrote Reed based off of the 00’s portrayal of men I loved growing up watching  because I do think they were these protective and nice guys that weren’t really polished, but wonderful nonetheless. They had flaws, and they didn’t try hard but they tried enough, and women loved them. I feel like it was a different era of men and I wanted to capture that in my books. In my second book, Stroke of Fate, Lucas is inspired by Hunter Parrish and you might know him from Weeds. But I think those guys are adorably cute and I’m a sucker for a guy with a cute smile. 

The Conflict 

​The Conflict? After Alisha and Reed finally get together, things take a scary turn. Alisha starts getting threats from someone who’s got a creepy obsession with her. That’s when Reed’s skills come into play—he’s the one who’s going to keep her safe and take down whoever’s after her. The stakes are high, but Reed is all in to protect her, no matter what— and that ends up being part of the problem because Reed…means no matter what. Even if it means crossing the line.

Inspiration

My heroines are inspired by shows like Charmed, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Smallville, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and those cozy ’00s TV hits. 
 
My love for storytelling dates back to the ’90s and early 2000s, when bold, fearless female leads ruled TV. They were captivating and unforgettable—just like the strong, charming male leads. I wanted to create stories for girls like me who believed that love was possible for everyone, no matter their background or the hurdles they faced.
 
My fascination with love and danger deepened when I worked in Intelligence and Cybersecurity. Seeing how emotions, loyalty, and peril often clashed made me realize I could channel those experiences into my writing. In my stories, characters don’t just find love—they fight for it, sometimes with everything they’ve got.
 
I was pursuing a Master’s degree when I decided to drop out. I just didn’t feel it anymore. I had been working in Intelligence and Cybersecurity, but life was too short to be stuck in a place where I didn’t love what I was doing or surrounded by misery. Instead, I wanted to believe in myself and take the leap into writing. Through my work, I aim to show that love is universal and that everyone deserves their own epic, hard-earned romance.
 

Favorite Books and Influences

I draw inspiration from many authors, but a few that have deeply influenced me are:

• J.R. Ward and Sherilyn Kenyon for their strong, complex characters and supernatural worlds.
• Mia Sheridan’s Stinger holds a special place for me in contemporary romance.
• Rainbow Rowell is another favorite for her exceptional talent in character development and storytelling.

I’m a sucker for trashy supernatural books—honestly, I just can’t get enough of them! From True Blood to Anne Rice’s novels, I love it all. But while I adore reading them, I can’t seem to write them myself. We all have our weaknesses, right? Lol.

Fun Facts

• I worked in Intelligence for several years before pursuing my dream of writing full-time.
• I recently moved to the States to fully focus on my writing career. And I move around for peace of mind. The States is just too huge to sit still.
  

Upcoming Projects

Exciting news—Book 2 of the Titan Security series is set to release on September 17th, and Book 3 will follow on February 13th! I also have four more releases planned for next year, so there’s plenty to look forward to.

Excerpt from Stroke of Luck

For some context, this scene features Reed trying to convince Alisha to give him another chance after a few missteps on his part. Reed isn’t exactly Mr. Smooth, but I think that makes him all the more real. Here’s a sneak peek into their chemistry:
 

“I’ve wanted you for the longest time. And I waited patiently,” Reed’s voice dropped to a whisper. “You think I’m going to let you go after you told me the same thing with no words?”
 
I needed to take a step back, but my body was already responding to his every move.
 
“I can’t—” I pushed at his chest, but he didn’t budge.
 
“Stop running from me,” he said, his voice soft but firm. He looked even more upset that I would try.
 
“I can’t think with you.” 
 
“That’s the point.”
 
I wanted to help him, but I didn’t know how. The confusion must have shown on my face because Reed eased back, just a little, his hand sliding to the back of my neck.
 
“Because you want me to be your—?”
 
“Because I care about you,” Reed said fiercely, his eyes blazing. “I’m sorry for letting you down. I promise it won’t happen again. I had to take care of some things, but I’m here now. For you."

Want more exclusive sneak peeks into my stories, behind-the-scenes content, and updates on new releases? Subscribe to my newsletter on my website today! I'd love to have you as part of my community—your support and feedback mean the world to me. Let's build a space where we can connect, share our love of swoon-worthy romance, and continue this exciting journey together.

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TITAN SECURITY SERIES!

- B Y  L I L A H  L A N C E

BOOK #1 & BOOK #2 of the
​​TITAN SECURITY SERIES

Coming Soon: STROKE OF LUST

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A big thank you to the author, Lilah Lance, for participating in this guest post with me! Important links below...

Where you can find Lilah and her work

● Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Lilah
● Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Lilah
● Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author
● Author Website: https://www.lilahlance.com/
● Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lilahlance
● Instagram: @authorlilahlance

Trigger Warning for Lilah's books

​Trigger Warnings:

1. Mentions of PTSD and trauma
2. Emotional abuse (in backstory)
3. Family estrangement
4. Violence and intense action scenes
5. Explicit Content/Mature Themes 

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