The Luminara Series: Box Set Volume 1: Lussuria – L’amore – Lucca’s Lust <— THE 3 BOOK BOXSET IS ON SUPER-SALE TODAY (from June 4th-June 11th as it’s a Kindle Countdown Deal), plus book #5 in the series was just released a few weeks ago. The author has placed all of her books in this series on sale, too (including her latest release).
So she’s celebrating with fun facts, a SUPER FUN GIVEAWAY (winner gets a gift card to their favorite Italian restaurant in their location plus more!!!) and she’s sponsoring today’s newsletter. 😀
The author warned me that this series – especially her latest release – is loaded in:
…lots of angst and suspense. The jaw-dropping rip your heart out type.
YES PLEASE!!!!!! 😏 That only makes me want to read it more!! 😂
FUN FACTS ABOUT THE SERIES:
Are you new to The Luminara Series?
From Amazon bestseller SJ Molloy, The Luminara Series is a supercharged, sexy, thrilling, dark, tear-jerking page-turner. A multi-layered, complex, and well-developed 6-book series following Lexi and Lucca on their journey into the light.
Emotional conflict, moral dilemmas, complexities, troubled pasts, and spine-chilling discoveries test Lucca and Lexi’s new relationship. Lucca will do everything to protect Lexi, but can he keep her safe and in his light when her past comes back to haunt her?
A Little about The Luminara Series.
The Luminara Series is a 6-book series Dark, emotive, twisted, gritty, heartbreaking, romantic, and jammed packed with angst, trauma, and suspense. It’s a sweeping romance and family saga, but also an erotic dark thriller focusing on fractured and flawed characters, intricacies, and a huge developed thought-provoking plot filled with suspense. The series covers several themes, and I’ve set up sub-plots throughout the series for secondary characters to have their own spin-off stand-alone books.
I set the series between Tuscany, Scotland, and Australia and it’s very atmospheric. If you like hot Italian alphas, then Welcome to The Luminara Series. Lucca Caruso will have your heart melting.
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Fun Facts about The Luminara Series.
There is a theme going on with the series. Lust. Love. Light.
Book 1 – Lussuria (Lust) —> P.S. Here’s the playlist on Spotify.
Book 2 – L’amore (The Love) —> P.S. Here’s the playlist on Spotify.
Book 3 – Lucca’s Lust – From Lucca Caruso’s point of view.
Book 4 – Luminoso (Light).
Book 5 – Luce Eterna: Part 1 (Eternal light). This is a new release and the penultimate conclusion to Lucca and Lexi’s journey.
Book 6 – Luce Eterna: Part 2 releases later in 2021
Fact 1: Lussuria (book 1) kicks off with Lexi, the protagonist, going on holiday to a cooking villa in Tuscany. She experiences her second chance encounter here with Lucca Caruso, and so their explosive journey begins.
Food, cooking, and hospitality features in The Luminara Series. Lucca owns Osurac Industries trading in the hospitality industry, health, fitness & well-being, and construction. Lucca comes from a family of chefs and is an amazing chef himself.
I got my inspiration for this from my parents. They were both chef’s and owned a catering business, so the food and hospitality industry has been a big part of my life. I also used to be a fitness instructor. That’s where the inspirations came from to have Lucca own a fitness club, which coincidently is where he has his first chance encounter with Lexi.
Fact 2: The Luminara Series takes placed between Scotland and Tuscany, with the backstory being set in Australia.
I’m Scottish, currently living in Scotland. We love to travel and Tuscany is one of our favourite places, and we used to live in Australia. Most of the places mentioned in the series, I have visited or been to. Reading and writing atmospheric literature excites me and I enjoyed writing about locations I am familiar with. Writing about these locations was fun because I mentally visualised everything and then developed that into my writing. I knew I wanted to write a series filled with escapism, so detailing the locations was important to me. I want my readers to lose themselves in the pages and be whisked somewhere else.
Fact 3: There is a song by Andrea Bocelli which is significant in Lucca and Lexi’s journey. It’s their song. It’s called “Because We Believe”.
When I was thinking of a fitting song for them, I thought this was a good fit. When my husband and I emigrated to Australia in 2006, we had a leaving a party with family and friends. This song played, and we danced to it together. So it’s somewhat special to me.
Fact 4: I’m finishing writing book 6 just now, Luce Eterna: Part 2 which is the conclusion to Lucca and Lexi’s journey. As well as that, I’m also writing the spec script for tv drama.
When I started writing the Luminara Series, I knew it would be a well-developed series. I structured and planned it this way, so it would be like a continuing drama unfolding. I’m a visualise person, so I imagined what it would look like on screen, how it would play out episode to episode. That then became the foundation for writing chapter to chapter.
It’s a well-developed series and has a huge character cast. I knew there would be potential to dramatise it. I’ve set it up so that there could be seasons of drama shows, based on the story and the characters.
I’ve turned down five publishing deals because they weren’t the right fit for me, and I wanted to keep the rights to the series until it develops. It may not be the right thing, but it felt right for me.
Watch this space! The Luminara may be dramatised for a serial TV drama. And you can say you discovered it here.
Fact 5: As this series is well-developed, the books are long. They are over industry standard word count. I think Luminoso – book 4 is a whopping 220,000 words. That’s the biggest book in the series. I won’t waste it for you, but there’s lots going on. Twists, suspense, drama, heartache, angst, and trauma.
Fact 6: Book 3 – Lucca’s Lust is from Lucca’s Caruso’s point of view.
It is a full-length novel from Lucca’s point of view based on Lussuria, book one in the Luminara series. It also contains exclusive advance chapters from book four, Luminoso, in his words, and a bonus chapter: Lucca’s interview.
This book was never in the original outline for the series. It happened by chance. One of my bloggers asked if she could do an interview with the hero, Lucca Caruso. I agreed and discovered I had so much fun writing in a masculine voice and getting into Lucca’s mind.
My readers loved reading from Lucca’s point of view. I spoke with my developmental editor and we restructured the outline for the series and incorporated Lucca’s book in. It covers a lot of his thoughts, answers questions, and teases you with chapters from book 4 in his point of view.
Fact 7: Subplots.
I’ve set up lots of subplots throughout the series. The character, Jackson – a celebrity premiership footballer features a lot in the series. My readers adore him and have begged for him to have his own book. He is everyone’s saviour and guardian angel. In book 5 – Luce Eterna: Part 1, there is a chapter from Jackson’s point of view and it sets up his own story hinting at who steals his heart and will have a romance with him – spoiler alert! It’s one of everyone’s favourite characters from the series.
Book 7 in The Luminara Series is from Jackson’s point of view. It’s still untitled. It can be read as a stand-alone or after the 6-book series.
Fact 8: Cryptic Clues.
There are a few places mentioned in the series based on places I’ve been. I’ve changed the names for the series. Getting crafty, I used letters from our names, my husbands, two daughters and my own. I experimented with the letters and so we now have ‘TASA’, a trendy bar and nightclub in Florence, Tuscany, and ‘BARASTA’ a swanky members-only club and nightclub in Glasgow, Scotland.
Fact 9: Lexi owns a dog in The Luminara Series. It’s a Weimaraner called Doris. Okay, this one is a little weird. I used to have a Weimaraner called Maisie. We named her after my late grandmother. Maisie was my soul mate and stuck to me like glue. They call them Velcro dogs for a reason. I adored her and found it easy to write about Lexi’s dog because Maisie would lie under my desk and cuddle in while I was writing. She gave me inspiration.
I didn’t want to name Lexi’s dog Maisie, but as a nod to my other late grandmother, I named the dog Doris in the series. So in actual life, we named my dog after one of my Granny’s. In The Luminara Series, I named Lexi’s dog after my other Granny.
We waited a year after Maisie ventured to rainbow bridge. We now have a gorgeous Hungarian Vizsla puppy called Bronson. He’s getting so big already. Lively, loving, cute, and a little crazy. He sure is keeping us on our toes.
Fact 10: I’m happily married and love my husband, but I may be a little in love with Lucca Caruso. He’s been a part of my life since 2013. It’s an epic journey and series, so I feel as if these characters live with me 24/7.
About her latest book release in the series – Luce Eterna: Part 1: Book 5:
I worried about the fifth book as it was risky, very emotive and heartbreaking with lots of angst and suspense. The jaw-dropping rip your heart out type.
Although, all the books are like that so I had to make sure I developed and twisted book 5 … giving more of everything I had already given but increasing it tenfold. I sure did that. I’ve shocked them and left them all over the place with their emotions. That book was tough to write.
I don’t think there is anyone who has read it who didn’t ugly cry, want to through their kindle off a wall, scream, and cry again. It’s very different from the others. But, everyone is loving it and the reviews are great. They are now patiently waiting on book 6 – the conclusion which
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will eventually see their HEA. Jeez, I think my readers deserve it after everything they have been through with these characters.
Fun Facts about the author:
Fact 1: I went to Thailand on a backpacking holiday with my friends in 2013. I took several journals with me and started sketching the outline for The Luminara Series. The trip was inspirational and calming, giving me time to declutter my mind, focus on my characters and plot, and allowed me to get creative. From them, my imagination ran wild.
Fact 2: I’ve been in the Guinness World Book of Records twice. The first was for co-teaching the world’s biggest Zumba class, and the second was for co-teaching the world’s biggest Powerhoop class. Back in the days when I was fit and active, before my spinal complications.
Fact 3: I have 7 names. No joke. 7 full names, although that includes my maiden name and married name. So, I actually have 5 names and then my surname on my birth certificate. At school my friends loved to laugh about this, they still tease me about it even now. When I was old enough, I changed my passport to just my first name and my first middle name only.
Fact 4: I’ve had three spinal operations and now have permanent nerve damage. I’m meeting my neurosurgeon in June to discuss further treatment and possibly another operation. The care team has warned me multiple times over the years to stay away from the desk. I’m working 16-hour days just now with writing and publishing so it hasn’t been possible lately. Honestly, I should know better, but when you’re passionate about something and love what you do, you sometimes get carried away and forget the medical advice. Plus, I’ve built a world with The Luminara Series and it would be an injustice not to finish it.
Fact 5: We moved to Australia in 2006 and ‘boomeranged’ back to Scotland for family reasons. Home is where the heart is, as they say. We love Scotland, but I truly miss the warmer weather. We stayed in a beautiful beach town on the Mornington Peninsula, in Victoria, Australia. Hugh Jackman had a house a few minutes from us. I kept thinking we might bump into him, but we never did.
Fact 6: When I was twenty 23, my friend called me one Saturday morning and told me we were going ‘Fugie Hunting’. There was a radio station called Real Radio. They used to do a competition called ‘The Fugitive’. They gave you a clue where he was every morning. He’d be in a different location across Scotland. You had to find the clues and then ask strangers if they were the Real Radio Fugitive.
He was apparently in a town 15 minutes from us. We jumped in the car; I had sweats on and a sleep top and had no time to get ready. She whisked me to the town, and we started ‘Fugie Hunting’. We split up, and I asked every single man I could see. It was a well-known frenzy, so everyone just laughed. The town was all buzzing about asking people.
I found him just by fluke and won the competition. I ended up winning £1500. We were only 23, so we thought we were millionaires. My friend returned 15 minutes later looking deflated and frustrated. I sat on a bench coyly and said, “Guess what?”
She screamed, “You never?”
“I did.”
“No way!” She couldn’t believe it. The presenters finished taking my details and left us alone.
“So, what are we going to do?”
“The Lona!” we both yelled out in unison while jumping up and down.
We booked a city break in Barcelona and went with her two sisters.
Fact 7: I have a few idols.
Shonda Rhimes the master behind the hit shows, Scandal, How to get away with murder, and Bridgerton is one of them. I would love to shadow her and pick her brains.
I also have a crush on Levison Wood. He’s an explorer, writer, and photographer and goes on writing expeditions which are now TV shows. He’s extremely attractive. I love his sense of adventure and he’s fearless. If you don’t know who he is, look him up. He’s a very handsome explorer.
I’d love to meet Oprah Winfrey, Maya Musk, Kris Jenner, Ellen DeGeneres, and Dick Van Dyke. I know, a whole mixed bunch of idols there. And of course, Levison Wood and Shonda Rhimes.
Fact 8: I love country music and listen to it in my car. I sing along but I can’t hold a tune.
Fact 9: My guilty pleasures are Kettlechips and a nice Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. I love reading my kindle with a packet of potato chips, a glass of wine, and a great story. Bliss.
Fact 10: This is funny.
At high school, seniors had to do a week of work experience. I tried to get into a publishing firm or art gallery because I loved English and Art. They were all full or would not take school kids on. I got into a boutique architectural firm.
It was an old building but modernised inside. They played classical music while they worked. A little quirky, it was an intense atmosphere and a little intimidating. I love to chat, so I tried to break the ice and ask them lots of questions because I wanted to learn and thought they’d like me if I appeared interested.
They told me to take a half day on the Wednesday and were giving me Thursday and Friday off. They said I talked too much, and I was distracting them because they were working on a serious project.
Bonus Fact:
When I was little, I used to watch Agatha Christie’s Poirot. I loved mysteries and trying to solve them. One of my favourite genre’s in literature is psychological suspense. I went back to do my post grad MLitt in Creative Writing, Crime Writing, Forensic Science and The Law. After I’ve finished The Luminara Series, one of my next projects is a psychological thriller suspense.
A snippet from the blurb about book #1:
…To maintain order, Lexi has a firm set of boundaries in place, and she never lets anyone too close.
Lexi has no intention of giving in to the charming Lucca Caruso when he comes into her clinic for an emergency physiotherapy session. Despite his painstakingly handsome face and Italian that renders her speechless, Lexi is able to resist.
A Tuscany holiday with her best friend is just what Lexi needs to stop worrying about life and start enjoying it. A cooking course at a villa near the Chianti hills, just outside of Florence, will take her mind off a certain set of mesmerising azure blue eyes.
Lexi never expected to see the Italian god again, but they’re staying at the same villa…
SERIES READING ORDER:
- Lussuria: The Luminara Series, Book 1. The hottest, emotive, twisted, and gritty erotic thriller series of 2021.
- L’amore: The Luminara Series, Book 2. The hottest, emotive, twisted, and gritty erotic thriller series of 2021.
- Lucca’s Lust: The Luminara Series, Book 3. The hottest, emotive, twisted, and gritty erotic thriller series of 2021.
- Luminoso: The Luminara Series, Book 4. The hottest, emotive, twisted, and gritty erotic thriller series of 2021.
- Luce Eterna: Part 1: Book 5, The Luminara Series. The hottest, emotive, twisted, and gritty erotic thriller series of 2021.
NOW FOR THE LUMINARA SERIES GIVEAWAY:
Open Internationally
#Giftoftheday
It’s Date Night.
Lucca Caruso is a hot, sexy, handsome, charming, irresistible, protective, caring, generous, talented, virile, romantic Italian alpha hero. He really has it all.
His family own’s cooking villa’s in the heart of the Chianti hills in Tuscany. Lucca is also in the food, hospitality, and entertainments business. He’s also an amazing chef. Italian cooking is very dear to his heart and it’s how he manages to win the heart of Lexi.
Since we’ve all had a tough year and restrictions are starting to life, Lucca would like to treat one lucky winner to an Italian meal. He wanted to wine and dine you and take you on one of his famous dates, but the flights are grounded because of the pandemic. So while he can’t be with you physically, he’d still like you to enjoy an Italian meal on him.
He’s gifting you a $100 (or equivalent depending on currency) voucher or gift card for or towards an Italian meal in an Italian restaurant of your choosing depending on where you live.
You get to pick the restaurant and email author SJ Molloy – [email protected] telling her where you’d like Lucca to send you and she will arrange a $100 voucher or gift card with the restaurant.
That’s not all.
You also win a signed paperback copy of book 5 – Luce Eterna: Part 1 (the new release) and a Luminara swag pack.
“Good luck, Dolcezza’s. I’m sorry I can’t be with you, but I do hope you enjoy your meal. It is your gift of the day.” – Lucca Caruso
If anyone would like to subscribe to SJ’s newsletter for more future giveaways and fun info, and book related updates, here’s the link – https://bit.ly/39C1dIi
*SJ does not share or pass your details on. Your email address will not be used externally. The newsletters contain a mixture of information on new releases, sales, teasers, giveaways, excerpts, bonus chapters, deleted scenes, writing updates, and behind the scenes with SJ.*
How to enter for a chance to win it? Just leave a comment below (and better yet, tell us YOUR favorite travel and/or “foodie” romance book) and by 10pm EST, Sunday June 6th, 2021, I will randomly select one lucky commenter as the winner.
The winner will be contacted and will have 48hrs to respond confirming their email & mailing address, so if you are picked, do not delay or you will lose your chance. The gift card will be sent to the winner directly by the author.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
SJ Molloy, British Author of ‘The Luminara Series’ was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. She currently resides in Scotland with her husband, two daughters, and her puppy, a loving gun dog who is utterly spoiled. Along with writing and publishing romance fiction, SJ is completing her MLitt Creative Writing, Crime Writing and Forensic Investigation postgrad at the University of Dundee. When she is not writing, reading, studying, enjoying family time or walking her dog, SJ loves all things practical and creative. Dancing, music, cooking, travelling, good food and wine and painting are her favourite past times along with laughter, lots and lots of laughter.
SJ loves reading and writing romance and crime novels, which focus on moral complexities, fractured relationships, and contain a unique voice. She enjoys stories filled with imagination, intricacies, flawed characters, twisted plots, and suspense. Anything to get her thinking. Family saga’s and multi-layered stories are among her favourites. She loves to submerge herself between the pages of heart-stopping, emotional, and atmospheric reads which grip her attention and awaken her senses.
A note from SJ:
I began writing it in 2013 and knew it was going to a complex and intense series full of every emotion imaginable. I released the first four books and then I had to have five years off from publishing because of having three spinal operations, suffering health complications, and we had several family bereavements. During this time, I went back to uni to do my postgrad MLitt in Creative Writing, Crime Writing, Forensic Science, and The Law. I’m now back working. I published book 5 – Luce Eterna: Part, the penultimate conclusion in the series, two weeks ago. Book 6 – Luce Eterna: Part 2 releases later in 2021. Along with writing book 6, I’m also writing the script to pitch for tv drama.
If you’d like to follow me on social media here are my links.
Love sj’s books she’s such a lovely women and amazing at writing. I would love to travel to Italy but that won’t happen any time soon. I love the travel in these books but think I also love to readthe sister Hood of the traveling pants it’s a book I can read with my daughter
Thank you, Pamela. That’s very kind. SJ X
Love the blog post, it’s so nice to read something different from the same post on every blog and I love SJs work, she’s incredible! Thank you for the chance
Thank you, Francessca. Good luck with the giveaway. SJ xx
Loved the fun facts. I’ve followed (ok stalked you) for ages so loved reading these.
You know how much I adore these books and how they have a special place in my heart (and bookcase)
You have been through a lot these past few years but you have still managed to publish an amazing book and I can’t wait for book 6 xx
Thank you, Paula. That’s so sweet. You’re the best wee stalker ever. I will send your giveaway win of book 5 out on Monday. And a promise is a promise. SJ
My favorite foodie romance book is Bet me by Jennifer Crusie. Your series sounds like a whirlwind trip with the countries and the romance.
Hey KV. It’s definitely atmospheric with escapism, for sure. I’ve not read Bet Me, yet. I’m always looking for new books, so I’ll add it to my tbr. Thank you for the recommendation and good luck with the giveaway. SJ X
SJ Molloy is a new to me author. I’m always on the lookout for the next engrossing read. I have to say the Luminara Series has piqued my interest.
My favorite foodie read is The Opposite of You by Rachel HIgginson.
Thank you for the giveaway!
That’s my favorite too, Ria!!
Hey Ria, I’m always on the lookout too for new exciting reads. I haven’t read The Opposite of You, I’ll add this to my tbr. Thank you for the recommendation, and good luck with the giveaway. SJ x
The Opposite of You by Rachel Higginson is my absolute fav foodie book! Killian and Vera, gah, I love them so much! Her little food truck pitted against his 5 star restaurant makes for some good old competition and angsty goodness!
Hi Tiffany. I’m looking forward to reading The Opposite of You. Thank you for the recommendation. Good luck. SJ x
This is so exciting! Thank you for allowing me to participate. My favorite foodie romance is Wallbanger!!
Hi Megan. I loved Wallbanger too. Thank you for participating. Good luck. SJ x
The Luminara Series sounds exciting. Thanks for sharing the great fun facts. One of my favorite foodie romance books is Feel the Heat by Kate Meader.
Hey Bonnie. This book is new to me as well. I’m loving that I’m finding lots of new exciting read. I’m glad you enjoyed the fun facts. Thank you for participating. Good luck. SJ x
These books and this author fascinate me. Books written about food and romance have never been high on my list but these somehow seem different to me and I’m going to give them a try and will definitely let you know what I think. Thanks so much for the opportunity.
Hey Julie, welcome to The Luminara Series. Good luck with the giveaway. I hope you enjoy the series. SJ x