ANNOUNCEMENT: Today’s Release of THE JOY OF SEXUS, plus special Guest Post + GIVEAWAY!!

 RELEASED TODAY!!

THE  JOY OF SEXUS, byVicki Leon

Today I have the immense pleasure of bringing to you my lovely readers, the Enchanting Vicki Leon!  Her fabulous book:  THE JOY OF SEXUS, is being released today- AND- she’s giving away a copy of her book to 3 of my lucky Winners!!

But first here is a great guestpost by this fantastic author- Please welcome, Vicki Leon!

My favorite love story from The Joy of Sexus: by Vicki Leon

More than a bittersweet fling, this decades-long grand amour involved the most famous man of his era--and history’s FIRST cougar!

Her name? Servilia Caepionis,whose graceful elegancedoes sound catlike. From an aristocratic Roman family, she had it all: passionate personality, looks, and brains. Even in her late forties, her allure bewitchedRome’s supreme military commander. 

He was barely 36, a brilliant big thinker, politician, and warrior, busy conqueringthe then-wild lands of Gaul and Britain when not busy seducing a long list of illustrious women. His name? Gaius Julius Caesar.

Around 64 B.C., when love’s thunderbolt struck, they were both married to their second spouses. He had a daughter; she had a son by her first husband, and three girls by her second. Messy; but they were unrepentant--and their spouses went along.

A risk-taker and political activist, Servilia relished action. At times, outrageous action. Although as a woman she could not hold office, her younger half-brother Cato was an important senator. During the ardent early days of her romance with Julius, on a whim Serviliasenta note to her lover. It so happened that Caesar washard at work in the Senate chamber, deep in a rancorous debate overahuge conspiracy case with Servilia’s brother.

When her note got delivered by messenger, Senator Cato immediately thought it related to the conspirators. He didn’t ask, he demanded to have it read. Read aloud. The chamber went silent, the senators hanging on every red-hot word. Catono doubt turned crimson himself, as he learned--in front of his peers-- about his sister’s adulterous feelings for his prime political opponent.

Afterwards, Servilia and Julius may have laughed about it together. Thatsemi-comic episode, however, would have dire consequences. From that moment on, Senator Cato and his conservative followers loathed Caesar. More than political foes, they became dangerous enemies, the nucleus of a “save Rome from Caesar’s monarchy”movement.

Even more heartbreaking, their animosity would eventually involve Servilia’s own son Brutus, damaging his relationship with his mother, and motivating him to take an active role in future disaster.

But as lovers do, this passionate pairtook little notice. They were riding high, and goddess Fortuna favored them for the moment. Suetonius,

a later historian, after listing many of Caesar’s female conquests, says admiringly: “But beyond all others Caesar loved Servilia.” Clearly, in terms of attention paid and years spent as lovers together, it seems to be true. Julius once gave Servilia a glorious black pearl from Britain worth six million sesterces. More than that, he gave her twenty years of his devotion.

Two decades after their tempestuousaffair began, Servilia lost the grand love of her life. On the Ides of March, 44 B.C., on the marble floor of the room where the Senate met, a disorganized group of conspirators stabbed Julius Caesar 23 times. Servilia never saw Julius in the flesh again. Instead she had to endure the grotesque display ofhis lifesized wax statue, accurately depicting his 23 knife wounds, in the Roman Forum. 

Servilia lost more than the man she adored. She also lost her beloved only son Brutus, a ringleader in the murder conspiracy. A final horror: Servilia’s son-in-law Cassius, married to one of her daughters, was also a co-conspirator.

In the chaotic aftermath, a grieving Servilia tried but failed to save the lives of her guilty kinfolk. Nearly everyone in her social circle died in the years of civil war that ensued. She, however, may have seen her seventieth birthday,given shelter in the countryside home of a longtime friend.

          As a writer myself, I like to imagine Servilia, well-educated, still sharp as a tack, writing her tell-all memoirs in this safe harbor. What a saga that would be! Although a fictionalized version of Servilia as Caesar’s lover appeared in the HBO/BBC epic Rome, their largely unremembered liaison deserves a film or book of its own. What do you think?

WOW!!!! Please leave a comment for Vicki to win the Giveaway (bottom)

MY BOOK REVIEW:

Here are my thoughts on THE JOY OF SEXUS: (If you'd like to watch my MINI Review on Youtube go here: http://youtu.be/jW0x6IMzIbE

I love Vicki Leon’s books!    These are filled with  utmost originality in content, presentation, details, facts and entertainment- and that’s in Nonfiction- History books!!  It’s true.  If you’ve ever read any of her books you know exactly what I mean.

So, when I was offered THE JOY OF SEXUS for review- I lunged for it!  I know, I know, some of you may be reluctant because of the title…Let me begin by saying, it’s HISTORY!  This wonderful little book contains all the beliefs, superstitions, spirituality, love and more that originated back then.

Ever wonder how all of the above ever came about?  Where did the terminology come from?  What is the root of those beliefs and practices?  Well, THE JOY OF SEXUS, will clear that  up and give you sometimes more information than you need…but in such good taste and humour that you will be chuckling the whole way through it. And historically speaking, this book will put you at the forefront of ‘the reasons why’- conversation starters and movers that can be used at cocktail parties or nerdy history conferences alike!

I particularly loved the stories on the ‘celebrities’ of back then.  Who knew that Caesar loved a certain Cougar to death? (…me who thought no one could top Cleo!) My all-time favourite couple was Pericles and Aspasia- such romance!

Vicki  Leon engages her readers by peaking our interest from the very first page to the last.  This is the kind of history that will be retained because of the immediate interest it evokes and the in-depth info it provides.  All those juicy details that beg to be told don’t just pop in here and there- the book is filled with them! I can honestly say that I learned something new and interesting on every page.  

A quick read that fully satisfies and quenches that historical wonder…

A five-star read!!! I highly recommend this book!

         And now…

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!

To Enter to Win a Copy of this book:

1- You must be a Follower of this blog

2- Leave a comment for Vicki

3- For Additional Chances, post on FB, Twitter, Linkedin, Blog and elsewhere! Just come back and post your link in comments.

Open to US and Canada

Good Luck!!!