C.J. Butcher's Blog, page 122
February 1, 2017
Review: It Started With A Kiss
*****It Started With A Kiss*****
With a kidney transplant behind her, Avery Adams is determined to channel her inner adventurer and explore everything life has to offer. Only problem is, the closest she’s ever come to a real-life adventure was sixth-grade science camp. So to seize the summer in her rustic Sierra Nevada town, she takes a job as a guide at the local adventure lodge. But Avery doesn’t realize her biggest challenge will register at six-plus feet of rugged good looks and alpha-male charm.
As a member of the Sequoia Elite Mountain Rescue team, Tyson Donovan has made a life out of cheating death and rescuing weekend warriors from the treacherous terrain. “The world is my home” is more than just a motto; it’s what scares off women who would otherwise try to tie him down. When his dad’s health lands the family’s adventure lodge in serious danger of going up in flames, he moves home—and quickly remembers why he left. Until he meets Avery, the irresistible new guide who makes him want to stay.
Tyson gives the inexperienced Avery a lesson in romance that her books could never teach her. And with her undeniable spirit for life, Avery shows Tyson the healing power of love. But with one misstep, everything comes crashing down, and they’ll both have to take the biggest leap of all—into the kind of adventure that lasts a lifetime.
I loved this book so much after reading a couple of books this weekend that left a less than stellar taste in my mouth. This book had it...a quirky heroine and a hero who had a true "hero complex' and I liked it!! It had some sex in it but it didn't really detract from the storyline because....guess what? There was an actual storyline in this book! Thank you Jesus but there's a story and plot and not just sex on and sex off!! I recommended this book to my mother and I bought her a copy as soon as I saw the Pre-Order button. I was telling her all about it like they were real people and that is the test of a good book. It's that test that I put all books through. I truly enjoyed this book and fell in love with Avery and Ty. I could have honestly read for another 100 pages and not gotten bored or skipped any of those pages. I loved Harris, Dale and Irene and Avery's friends. She was a great character to have fall in love with Ty. I loved where she wrote on his truck in lipstick "I owe you a screw" and then her lipstick breaks and the whole time he's watching her because she dropped his screwdriver down the drain. She's always doing stuff to surprise him and yet it's not a surprise. He can only play off her mistakes and genuine flightiness. Pick this book up and read it, gift it or keep it...you won't be disappointed. I was given a copy of this ARC from the publisher on Netgalley for a honest review. All of the above comments are my express opinions and no one else's.
With a kidney transplant behind her, Avery Adams is determined to channel her inner adventurer and explore everything life has to offer. Only problem is, the closest she’s ever come to a real-life adventure was sixth-grade science camp. So to seize the summer in her rustic Sierra Nevada town, she takes a job as a guide at the local adventure lodge. But Avery doesn’t realize her biggest challenge will register at six-plus feet of rugged good looks and alpha-male charm.
As a member of the Sequoia Elite Mountain Rescue team, Tyson Donovan has made a life out of cheating death and rescuing weekend warriors from the treacherous terrain. “The world is my home” is more than just a motto; it’s what scares off women who would otherwise try to tie him down. When his dad’s health lands the family’s adventure lodge in serious danger of going up in flames, he moves home—and quickly remembers why he left. Until he meets Avery, the irresistible new guide who makes him want to stay.
Tyson gives the inexperienced Avery a lesson in romance that her books could never teach her. And with her undeniable spirit for life, Avery shows Tyson the healing power of love. But with one misstep, everything comes crashing down, and they’ll both have to take the biggest leap of all—into the kind of adventure that lasts a lifetime.
I loved this book so much after reading a couple of books this weekend that left a less than stellar taste in my mouth. This book had it...a quirky heroine and a hero who had a true "hero complex' and I liked it!! It had some sex in it but it didn't really detract from the storyline because....guess what? There was an actual storyline in this book! Thank you Jesus but there's a story and plot and not just sex on and sex off!! I recommended this book to my mother and I bought her a copy as soon as I saw the Pre-Order button. I was telling her all about it like they were real people and that is the test of a good book. It's that test that I put all books through. I truly enjoyed this book and fell in love with Avery and Ty. I could have honestly read for another 100 pages and not gotten bored or skipped any of those pages. I loved Harris, Dale and Irene and Avery's friends. She was a great character to have fall in love with Ty. I loved where she wrote on his truck in lipstick "I owe you a screw" and then her lipstick breaks and the whole time he's watching her because she dropped his screwdriver down the drain. She's always doing stuff to surprise him and yet it's not a surprise. He can only play off her mistakes and genuine flightiness. Pick this book up and read it, gift it or keep it...you won't be disappointed. I was given a copy of this ARC from the publisher on Netgalley for a honest review. All of the above comments are my express opinions and no one else's.
January 31, 2017
Interview with Christina Phillips
Interview with Christina Phillips:Thank you so much Christina for taking the time to answer a couple questions.
Thanks for having me, Christa!
1. As an author of sexy romance, what are some of the biggest misconceptions about the romance genre as a whole, in your opinion?
The big one I guess is that I write porn. Um, that would be a no. I don’t write erotica, either, and this is quite a common misconception. Erotica is the sexual journey of the character, with no promise to the reader that love will be found along the way, and doesn’t necessarily end in a happy-ever-after. Another misconception is that romance novels subjugate the heroine and therefore the reader. It makes me wonder when the last time these people actually (if ever) read a romance book.
2. If you could co-author a book with anyone, who would it be?
Ooh, hard one! I have actually collaborated with a couple of author friends on two boxed sets. Although we each wrote our own novella, the stories are connected through the heroes, who are brothers, and each box set has an overarching storyline. That was huge fun to do, but also a lot of work juggling the details. I don’t actually know who I’d like to co-author an individual book with! Probably someone who shares my ridiculous sense of humor!
3. Is there one passage or line you've read that's ever stood out for you, either when working on a book or reading one?
I’m currently writing the third Viking Bastards book, BURNED, and there’s a line near the end where the heroine, Jas, thinks about Ty, and I just love it, because those few words sum up Ty completely:
The bad boy I fell in love with grew into the best man I ever met.
4. I'm very interested in what motivates you to write characters that you do...For example, in your new book it deals with the MC world - How much of that is research and how much is real life?
Funnily enough, the idea to first write MC books came to me a couple of years ago when two writer friends and I were thinking of writing a boxed set together. We did some research, and ultimately decided to write something else. But the seed had been planted, and when Entangled asked if I’d be interested in writing some bad boy bikers for their Scorched line, I totally jumped at the chance!
I did a lot of research online, so I had an idea of the life. But while my Viking Bastards are tough, badass guys, I write romance, and my heroes never cheat on their heroines once they’ve connected. I’m not a fan of cheating in romance so although that is certainly a part of “real life” you won’t find that aspect in any of my books.
5. How do you juggle family commitments and everyday life with squeezing in the commitment and discipline it takes to write?
I have NO idea how I juggle everything! Quite often all the balls just crash on the floor and I’m rocking in the corner whimpering I’m a terrible procrastinator, and can be found playing on Facebook when the writing gets tough (which is quite often!) Luckily I have a couple of amazing writer friends, who are also my critique partners, who help keep me in check!
6. Last question and thank you so much for answering these. If you were quarantined and unable to be around civilization and therefore people for 3 months and could only have 3 items, what would they be and why?
Well, do fur babies count and if so can my three kitties count as one item? No? LOL! Okay I’d take my laptop, loaded with all my books from the iPad, so I could catch up on my reading (and do some writing!) I’d also take a coffee maker with plenty of coffee so I could feed my addiction of daily lattes because trust me you do not want to see me when I’ve gone without! (coffee, that is…:D ) hmm, I guess Jason Momoa is off the table with the no people thing…in which case I’d take a spa bath! Because, bubbles!
I think everyone agrees that Jason Momoa is the go-to for everything LOL!!! Hooked Releases February 6th, 2017. Check it out and Pre-Order it. It's worth reading and I'll have my review up here soon! Links are below to order.
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Author Website
Sarah Castille Book Promotion
FIGHTING ATTRACTIONComing April 4, 2017! Five sexy MMA fighters who will fight hard to win their girl. Fans of Fifty Shades of Grey, Mine, and Worth the Fight will love this standalone addition to the Redemption series by New York Times Bestselling author, Sarah Castille.
Pre-order FIGHTING ATTRACTION and add it to your TBR pile on Goodreads! Then keep reading to get a sneak peek at FIGHTING ATTRACTION and to enter the giveaway for the first three books in the Redemption series!
BOOK DESCRIPTION: My sweet, sexy Penny has a dark side. Just like me. I will have her. And then I will lose her, and suffer a lifetime of regret. Rampage. Everyone loves him. He is Redemption's top heavyweight fighter and the biggest gossip in the gym. But he isn't the teddy bear everyone thinks he is. He's hiding a dark secret-and he hates himself for it.Twice a week, Rampage transforms into Master Jack, a notorious dom only the most hard-core submissives will play with. How can he-a Southern gentleman, bred to respect and protect women-want to dominate them?But Penny Worthington wants him. Beneath her pearls, kitten heels, and prim British exterior beats a tortured heart...Master Jack is the only one who can set her free.
PRE-ORDER LINKS:
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2jvBTuD
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2kOcmOB B&N: http://bit.ly/2j5qgYa iTunes: http://apple.co/2iKwXkv Google Books: http://bit.ly/2jsS5NG BAM: http://bit.ly/2j5oB4J
Redemption Series:Against the Ropes (On sale for $1.99!)In Your Corner Full Contact Fighting AttractionStrong Hold (Coming soon!)
Spread the news about FIGHTING ATTRACTION with a GIVEAWAY!Grand Prize: One (1) lucky winner will receive paperback copies of the first three books in the Redemption series (AGAINST THE ROPES, IN YOUR CORNER, AND FULL CONTACT).
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Exclusive sneak peek at FIGHTING ATTRACTION! Copyright © 2017 Sarah CastilleJack “Rampage” Caldwell is the first MMA fighter I created for the Redemption series, and even when I first brought this Southern gentleman to life, I knew he had a secret. But Penny has a dark secret, too. After Jack discovers what she hides from the world, he makes her promise to come to him if she needs him. But trust doesn’t come easily for Penny. She breaks her promise, never expecting that Jack will find out. But, of course, he does…and crossing a sadist is never a good idea!“I’ll call you back. Jack is here.”Cora sucks in a sharp breath. “I’ll see you at class tonight. I can hardly wait to hear all about it.”I end the call and swallow past the lump in my throat. It’s only been three days, and yet it feels like I haven’t seen Jack in forever. He’s wearing a white T-shirt that clings to his taut, muscle-ridged abdomen, and worn jeans that ride low on his narrow hips.“What are you doing here?” I ask, trying to keep my gaze above his belt.He pins me with a direct stare, his eyes fierce and hard. I feel like he’s trying to see into my soul, but my heart is pounding so hard I’m not sure enough oxygen is getting to my brain to make any sense of what’s going on.“Jack?”His gaze rakes over my body, lingering on my thighs as if he can see beneath my skirt. He tenses, and his eyes narrow. If I didn’t know X-ray vision was impossible, I would swear he knows I broke my promise.“Are you alone?”“Yes.” My pulse kicks up a notch. “Everyone’s out for the rest of the afternoon.”He takes a step toward me, and the hair on the back of my neck stands on end.“Lock the door.”A thrill of fear shoots through me, and sweat beads on my forehead. What if he knows? Or suspects? What will he do?“Now.” His deep, commanding Dom voice ripples through me, fanning the flames of my desire. Do I trust Jack enough to lock myself in the office with him, especially when I know what is coming? Do I trust myself?I brush past him and lock the front door. “Your office,” he snaps after I return.I jump at his sharp tone and scramble out of his way as he brushes past me and through my office door, a lithe and powerful animal herding its prey.“What’s going on?”“Stand in front of the desk.” He gestures to the big oak desk Amanda and I refinished when we first moved into the building.Puzzled, I do as he asks, my breath catching in my throat when he closes and locks the door behind him.“Jack?”He gives me his back as he draws the curtains at the side of my office. “Don’t move.”A sting of disappointment hits me in the chest. Has he come to reject me all over again? Does he want to make sure I understand there is nothing between us? It shouldn’t bother me because I got the message the other night. I’m nothing. Nothing special. Nothing extraordinary. Not worth his time, especially since he’s on the cusp of fame. I’m just his pal. Plain old quirky Pen. But he doesn’t have to be so cold.Worthless, no-good piece of shit.No. No. No. My fingers tighten on the lip of the desk. I haven’t even started to heal from last night. I don’t need the past intruding on the present.Jack leans against the door across from me, thick arms folded over his massive chest. “Lift your skirt.”Shock steals my breath away, and all I can do is stare. “What?” “You heard me. Lift your skirt. Now.”Bang. Bang. Bang. My heart thuds frantically against my ribs. Adrenaline pounds through my veins, and I feel a rush of heat between my legs. He knows. I can see it in his eyes, hear it in his voice…“Why?” I whisper, stalling. And why is this turning me on? “You know why,” he snaps. “You didn’t keep your promise.”I smooth my hands over my cream skirt, silky underneath with a cotton macramé overlay, pressing it tight against my thighs. “It doesn’t matter if I kept it or not. We’re not in the club. There’s nothing between us. You made that clear the other night.”“I fucked up the other night.” He shifts his stance. “I’m not good for you, Pen. You need to be with someone normal. A nice guy who’s going to treat you right and doesn’t want to hurt you.”My hand fists on my thigh. “I don’t like nice guys. They don’t understand me. They’re too gentle. My life is about pain. Emotional and physical pain. It’s what I know, what I understand, what I need.”“So you hurt yourself?” “I didn’t—”He cuts me off with a scowl. “Don’t lie to me.” He pauses, and his voice takes on a deeper, cutting edge. “Show me.”My mouth goes dry at his abrupt command, and I fiddle with the edge of my skirt, at once indignant that he would try to boss me around and aroused that he did.“What if I did?” I say defiantly. “There’s nothing you can do about it.”His corded throat tightens when he swallows, and he fixes me with a level stare. “I’ll give you what you need.”All the air leaves my lungs in a rush, and I feel a disconcerting wetness between my thighs. “You wouldn’t dare. I’m at work.”“Try me.”Electricity sparks in the air between us, and a curious mix of fear and arousal courses through my veins. Stiffening my spine, I curl my fingers under the edge of my skirt and draw it slowly, painfully slowly up my thighs. Jack stills. His eyes flick down and then back up again. He licks his lips, and his eyes darken.I have awakened the beast.
PRAISE for Sarah Castille's Redemption series:"Powerful. Gritty. And sexy beyond belief. Sarah is a true master!"- Opal Carew, New York Times bestselling author of HIS TO CLAIM
"Hilarious, hot and occasionally heartbreaking. I loved it! "- Maryse's Book Blog on AGAINST THE ROPES
"Castille's follow-up to the excellent Against the Ropes doesn't pull its punches." - Publishers Weekly, starred review for IN YOUR CORNER
"Emotionally charged, amazingly sexy, and flat out fantastic."- Fresh Fiction on FULL CONTACT
Other Books in the
Redempton
SeriesAGAINST THE ROPES ( Redemption #1)Download the series starter for $1.99!Order Paperback: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book DepositoryBooks-A-Million | IndieBound | IndigoOrder Ebook: Kindle | Nook | Kobo | iTunes | ARe | Google Play
IN YOUR CORNER ( Redemption #2)Order Paperback: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes & NobleBook Depository | Books-A-Million | IndieBoundOrder Ebook: Kindle | Nook | iTunes | Kobo | Indigo | Google Play
FULL CONTACT ( Redemption #3)Order Paperback: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes & NobleChapters Indigo | Book Depository | Books-A-Million | IndieBoundOrder Ebook: Kindle | Nook | iTunes | Kobo | Google Play
ABOUT Sarah Castille:Sarah Castille is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Redemption Series, Ruin & Revenge Series, Sinner’s Tribe Motorcycle Club series, Legal Heat series and the Club Excelsior series. A recovering lawyer with a fondness for dirty-talking alpha males, she now is a full-time writer, who lives on Vancouver Island. Sarah loves to connect with readers. Visit her website and sign up for her newsletter to hear about new releases: http://bit.ly/LgFZlb
Connect with her at:TWITTER: https://twitter.com/sarah_castilleFACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/sarahcastill...INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/sarahcastil...AMAZON AUTHOR:http://www.amazon.com/author/sarahcas...GOODREADS: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...PINTEREST: http://www.pinterest.com/scastilleauthor YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnP8...BOOKBUB: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/sarah...
STORMCHASER SUMMARY: No one charters the depths of p...
STORMCHASER SUMMARY:
No one charters the depths of passion on the high seas like New York Times bestselling author Cherry Adair
DESIRE RUNS DEEP
Somewhere off the coast of Greece, a king’s ransom in gold, emeralds, and silver coins lies waiting at the bottom of the sea. Finding this ancient treasure would be a dream come true for marine archeologist Calista West. But that’s not why she’s here. She didn’t climb aboard Jonah Cutter’s magnificent yacht seeking fortune or fame. She’s come for revenge—against the sexiest, most seductive, modern-day pirate she’s ever encountered…
Like his famous half brothers, Jonah is a master of salvaging ships—and driving women mad with his movie-star looks and raw animal magnetism. Tall, dark, and devastating, he manages to make Callie forget her mission. Every moment they share under the hot Mediterranean sun is an erotically-charged adventure neither can resist. But when Callie discovers what he’s really after—the lost city of Atlantis—is it too late to change the course of her heart…or go all in with the lover of her dreams?
The Cutter Cay series is:
"Action-packed drama." —Fresh Fiction
"Sizzlingly sexy." —Booklist
"Enticing." —Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Giveaway Mass Market Paperback of Stormchaser a Rafflecopter giveaway
AUTHOR BIO: Cherry Adair has garnered numerous awards for her innovative action-adventure novels, which include White Heat, Hot Ice, On Thin Ice, Out of Sight, In Too Deep, Hide and Seek, and Kiss and Tell, as well as her thrilling Cutter Cay series for St. Martin's Press. A favorite of reviewers and fans alike, she lives in the Pacific Northwest.
BUY LINKS:
Amazon Barnes & Noble Books-A-Million Powells IndieBound Macmillan
SOCIAL LINKS:
Author Web Site Facebook @CherryAdairAuthor Twitter @CherryAdair
HURRICANE SUMMARY: Rydell Case’s ship is his home, his heart, and his reason for being. After his ex-wife left him—taking his brand-new megayacht, Tesoro Mio with her—she sailed off with a royal billionaire and out of his life forever. Now Ry spends his days searching for treasure—until his ship is hijacked. With the prospect of his salvage business tanking, he needs both the ship and his ex back—if only she didn’t despise him more than any man on earth. . .When Addison D’Marco boards Tesoro Mio to find her ex-husband in her cabin, she’s furious. Ry is more handsome, more annoying, and more determined than ever. Addy can’t believe he has the nerve to demand the ship back after the way he broke her heart. With her fiancé about to board, she doesn’t want Ry back in her life to ignite painful memories and never- forgotten desires. But could it be that, amid troubled waters, Addy and Ry can salvage what they once had and have a second chance at love. . .or does fate have something else in store?
Hurricane by Cherry Adair is part of her Cutter Cay series.
Review: Hooked by Christina Phillips
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Zach…
I like my sex dirty and disposable. I'm not into commitment or chicks who want more than one night. My brothers and club come first, second and last.
Until she walks into my life. Classy, rich and so out of my league it's crazy. A week together should get her out of my system, but this good girl is so bad when we're all alone and I can't get enough of her.
I don't do forever, but she's hooked me so bad I don't ever want to let her go. Except there's no way a princess can live in my world and I sure as hell won't live in hers...
So this book had plot and it had heat but for me it had too much heat. I thought it could have done with a lot less. I like books that are subtle in their sexiness and the language department. However, shockingly enough for this being a MC romance it didn't have that much language in it. For that, I gave it 4 stars. So plot, heat and the language wasn't that bad. If the sex had been used a little less and the plot a little more....this would have been a really good read. However, it was labeled Erotica so I knew going in what it was. I didn't have my eyes closed and that's another reason for the rating. I think the author did a good job at conveying her characters flaws, warts and all. This was a good read for me.
I was given a copy of this ARC from the publisher on Netgalley for a honest review. All of the above comments are my express opinions and no one else's.
Zach…
I like my sex dirty and disposable. I'm not into commitment or chicks who want more than one night. My brothers and club come first, second and last.
Until she walks into my life. Classy, rich and so out of my league it's crazy. A week together should get her out of my system, but this good girl is so bad when we're all alone and I can't get enough of her.
I don't do forever, but she's hooked me so bad I don't ever want to let her go. Except there's no way a princess can live in my world and I sure as hell won't live in hers...
So this book had plot and it had heat but for me it had too much heat. I thought it could have done with a lot less. I like books that are subtle in their sexiness and the language department. However, shockingly enough for this being a MC romance it didn't have that much language in it. For that, I gave it 4 stars. So plot, heat and the language wasn't that bad. If the sex had been used a little less and the plot a little more....this would have been a really good read. However, it was labeled Erotica so I knew going in what it was. I didn't have my eyes closed and that's another reason for the rating. I think the author did a good job at conveying her characters flaws, warts and all. This was a good read for me.
I was given a copy of this ARC from the publisher on Netgalley for a honest review. All of the above comments are my express opinions and no one else's.
January 30, 2017
The Bigger the Book, the Better it is.... : Layla Reyne Single Malt Book Promotion
The Bigger the Book, the Better it is.... : Layla Reyne Single Malt Book Promotion: SINGLE MALT (Agents Irish & Whiskey) by Layla Reyne The heart’s a resilient beast… Widower Aidan Talley refuses to love a...
Layla Reyne Single Malt Book Promotion
SINGLE MALT (Agents Irish & Whiskey) by Layla Reyne The heart’s a resilient beast…
Widower Aidan Talley refuses to love again. Enter handsome younger cyberagent, Jameson Walker. As they investigate cybercrimes and his late husband’s murder, Aidan falls hard for Jamie, putting their jobs, lives and hearts on the line. SINGLE MALT is perfect for fans of Mr. & Mr. Smith by HelenKay Dimon and the Cut & Run series by Abigail Roux and Madeleine Urban.
Advanced praise for Single Malt: A sexy, action-packed read that had me wanting the next book! --HelenKay Dimon, author of Mr. & Mr. Smith With sharp writing, compelling characters, and an engaging plot, Single Malt is the M/M romantic suspense series I've been waiting for. - Santino Hassell, award-winning author of the FIVE BOROUGHS series
Follow the First Look Celebration on January 26th! One grand prize winners will receive a $25 digital gift card for Amazon (Open US & Internationally).
a Rafflecopter giveaway Direct link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b050ef29321/?
About SINGLE MALT:
Title: Single Malt
Author: Layla Reyne
Series: Agents Irish & Whiskey
Genre: M/M Romantic Suspense
Release Date: February 27, 2017
Publisher: Carina Press
Synopsis:
Eight months after the car crash that changed everything, FBI agent Aidan Talley is back at work. New department, new case and a new partner. Smart, athletic and handsome, Jameson Walker is twelve years his junior. Even if Aidan was ready to move on—and he's not—Jamie is off-limits. Jamie's lusted after Aidan for three years, and the chance to work with San Francisco's top agent directly is too good to pass up. Aidan is prickly—to put it mildly—but a growing cyber threat soon proves Jamie's skills invaluable. Jamie's talents paint a target on his back, and Aidan is determined to protect him. But with hack after hack threatening a high-security bio-containment facility, time is running out to thwart a deadly terrorist attack. They'll have to filter out distractions, on the case and in their partnership, to identify the real enemy, solve the case and save thousands of lives, including their own.
Find out more at: Carina Press|Amazon|Google Play|Kobo|ITunes|B&N|Goodreads
January 29, 2017
Interview with the Funny Gina Maxwell
Gina L. Maxwell is a full-time writer, wife, and mother living in the upper Midwest, despite her scathing hatred of snow and cold weather. An avid romance novel addict, she began writing as an alternate way of enjoying the romance stories she loves to read. Her debut novel, Seducing Cinderella, hit both the USA Today and New York Times bestseller lists in less than four weeks, and she’s been living her newfound dream ever since. When she’s not reading or writing steamy romance novels, she spends her time losing at Scrabble (and every other game) to her high school sweetheart, doing her best to hang out with their teenagers before they fly the coop, and dreaming about her move to sunny Florida once they do.First of all, thank you so much for taking time out to answer some questions today. Let's jump right in and get started:
1. I'm very interested in what motivates you to write the characters that you do...For example, do you have any experience in martial arts?
Hi, Christa! I’m so thrilled to be here. No experience personally, although I did have an MMA fighter as a personal trainer for a couple of months as research. I just really love the sport and watch the UFC all the time.
2. I've always wondered if authors do their research online or hands on...I know all the women would prefer hands on after reading your books.
I’d prefer it, too! LOL But no, aside from the above-mentioned personal training stint, I do all of my research online or by asking questions. I have several people I’ve contacted, sometimes just for a question or two, and in some cases I have people I call “consultants.” I can contact them anytime I have a question and then I’ll often send them pieces of my book as I’m writing to make sure I get it right. This happens the most with my upcoming firefighter series, Boston Heat. (Hot for the Fireman releases March 27th!) The heroes are ex-Army Rangers, current firefighters, and obviously in Boston. Those are three areas I know nothing about! So I have a Boston native, an army sergeant, and a firefighter (three separate people) who help me immensely in the areas of their expertise. I wouldn’t be able to write those books without them.
3. What's your motivation when you're researching a book idea and do you ever go "out of the office" for it?
Uhhhh…so I’m the kind of person who does everything back-asswards. Like, everything . I don’t do research for a book before I start writing it. I do it while I’m writing it. So it’s sporadic and last-minute at best. The motivation is always, “Oh crap, now I need to know about this. Guess I’d better go learn about it!” And no, I don’t ever go out of the living room—I mean, office.
4. Where did you get the idea for your current book that's going to be releasing on January 30th? Are they based on people you know? Where did you get your inspiration for your new book called Ruthless releasing at the end of January?
When my publisher said they were opening an erotica line (yes!) and wanted me to write a series for it, I jumped at the chance. It would give me the opportunity to spread my wings and try something new (writing in 1st person-present tense) and I could write the sex as hot as I wanted (again, YES!). So I tried to think of the sexiest, near-taboo premise I could come up with and settled on male strippers. Kind of like Magic Mike—normal, everyday guys with regular daytime jobs—but instead of working in a club, these are the kind who show up to your bachelorette party or can be hired out for one-on-one jobs. The heroes aren’t based on anyone I know personally, but that’s where I rely on my writer’s imagination to fill in all the blanks. ;)
5. Do you find it difficult to have the discipline to sit down and write when there are so many other things you could be doing? For example, if you love to read - there are so many good books out there, how do you not say I'll write later?
For me, the work-life balance is a constant struggle. Yes, I love reading, and I love watching movies and my favorite TV shows. I love writing, too, but because it’s my job now (before I was published I did for the love of it when I had time with no deadlines looming) it takes some of the shine off of it. I know I should be sitting down to write my 2K words…but look at the pretty book! And my dozen or so shows waiting for me on my DVR! But alas, I have to do the work before I can have the fun.
6. How do you juggle family commitments and everyday life with squeezing in the commitment and discipline it takes to write?
Oh, um…see #5. I don’t juggle well. LOL I have severe ADD and I can’t stay on task for more than a few minutes without moving onto the next thing I need to do, then chastising myself for jumping around before going back to the first thing and then getting distracted by that other thing soon after. Plus keeping track of my husband and two teenagers and our 3 pets and I’m frazzled more often than not. LOL
7. If there was one thing you could impart on someone who wanted to write, what would it be?
Learn, learn, learn, ask for help…and then learn some more. What I mean by that is, there are always ways we can improve. Things we can do better. Even authors who have an entire backlist behind them learn how to write even better than they did before. The first book I wrote was something I worked on as I learned how to write better fiction. I was great with candid, story-telling, journal entry type stuff. But fiction is an entirely different animal. So I read every article and blog post I could find that taught me how to write better. Then I’d hand over my writing to my CPs or betas, and they’d give me suggestions on how to make it even better, and I’d go back and fix things. Then I’d do the process all over again. It took me three years and fourteen major rewrites (and probably over a hundred minor revisions) before I got it to the point where it was good enough to pitch to agents and publishers. It was hard, and often frustrating, but it was so worth it in the end, so don’t give up.
8. How long does it normally take you, from start to finish to complete a book?
If we’re speaking first draft only… My shortest ever was Shameless (book 1 in the Playboys in Love series) which I wrote in less than 3 weeks. That was crazy-pants, though, and I never want to do that again. It made the editing process much more difficult for me, which I didn’t like. Normally, I’m a very clean drafter, which means there’s less to fix in edits. Other authors write very quick, messy drafts because they prefer to spend more time fixing it up later. There’s no one way that’s the “right” way, it’s all on what works best for us. But right now I think I’m averaging about 2-3 months per book, though I’m trying to get it down to about 6 weeks. I’m trying to get better at my “process.”
9. Last question and thank you so much for answering these. This is for everyone out there who really wants to know about the men on your covers: If you could pick one "it" guy to be on the cover of one of your books, who would it be?
I absolutely love choosing the perfect person for hero inspiration, and three of the models I’ve chosen have appeared on four of my covers, which is the best thing ever. Oh my gosh, you know this is like asking a mother to pick her favorite child, right? LOL Okay, despite not having any future heroes with long hair, the sexiest man on the planet (in my humble opinion) is Jason Momoa. That man just does it for me on every level. If I thought I could have him on a cover, I would write a hero based on his perfect features. *swoony sigh* Thank you so much for having me, Christa! I hope you and your readers will love Roman and Addison from Ruthless as much as I do. Ciao!
Please check out the Links below to order the upcoming release of Ruthless by Gina Maxwell. I've also included the Goodreads Link, so you can add it to your shelf. I have read this book and will have my review up as soon as possible, if it's not already up.
Ruthless Releases January 30th 2017! Amazon|B&N|Goodreads|Kobo|ITunes
Gina's Website
The Bigger the Book, the Better it is.... : Interview with the Funny Gina Maxwell
The Bigger the Book, the Better it is.... : Interview with the Funny Gina Maxwell: Gina L. Maxwell is a full-time writer, wife, and mother living in the upper Midwest, despite her scathing hatred of snow and cold weathe...
So I had the pleasure of interviewing Ms. Gina Maxwell and some of her answers were something I would have written. I admit that sometimes in my life...okay every day in my life I'm ADD. I'm not ADHD, I'm just ADD - unmedicated. I like to move stuff around and not pick it up, I like to buy stuff and not ever use it, I like to take up hobbies that I'll never master. Like that time I decided that I would be a great artist with expensive as heck coloring pencils. For $200 you too can color like a master!! I think that everyone can color like a master for two hundred dollars. We all do crazy crap like this I'm sure and if you don't then you really shouldn't get started because you'll be in the poorhouse before you know it. I got on a kick recently where I couldn't buy one Kristen Ashley paperback book (because that makes too much sense) I had to buy 11!! But it's because I got 20 percent off if I bought 10 or more and I wasn't buying them brand new or anything...they were gently used. I'm not rich or looking to sell a kidney because that's how much it is for her books, but gosh it's worth it. This all ties in to the ADD because I started to think that I'm really like that and can't focus sometimes and it's a curse but it can also be a gift. Like doing what I love. I get to work with people that have ADD and ADHD in my full-time job and part-time I get to read and write. To me, there is nothing better than doing that.
So I had the pleasure of interviewing Ms. Gina Maxwell and some of her answers were something I would have written. I admit that sometimes in my life...okay every day in my life I'm ADD. I'm not ADHD, I'm just ADD - unmedicated. I like to move stuff around and not pick it up, I like to buy stuff and not ever use it, I like to take up hobbies that I'll never master. Like that time I decided that I would be a great artist with expensive as heck coloring pencils. For $200 you too can color like a master!! I think that everyone can color like a master for two hundred dollars. We all do crazy crap like this I'm sure and if you don't then you really shouldn't get started because you'll be in the poorhouse before you know it. I got on a kick recently where I couldn't buy one Kristen Ashley paperback book (because that makes too much sense) I had to buy 11!! But it's because I got 20 percent off if I bought 10 or more and I wasn't buying them brand new or anything...they were gently used. I'm not rich or looking to sell a kidney because that's how much it is for her books, but gosh it's worth it. This all ties in to the ADD because I started to think that I'm really like that and can't focus sometimes and it's a curse but it can also be a gift. Like doing what I love. I get to work with people that have ADD and ADHD in my full-time job and part-time I get to read and write. To me, there is nothing better than doing that.
January 24, 2017
Review: The Protector
The Protector by Donna GrantMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
EVERYTHING’S HOTTER IN TEXAS
When Marine Force Recon captain Cullen Loughman learns that his father’s been kidnapped, he will do whatever it takes to find him. In order to achieve his mission, Cullen will need to team up with the best of the best—someone who just happens to be the most stunning woman he’s ever laid eyes on…
This isn’t the first rodeo for ex--Air Force pilot Mia Carter. Still, Cullen’s bad-boy good looks and charm are distracting her from duty. . .and it appears that the feeling is mutual. As Mia and Cullen make their descent into a dark, dangerous world, their attraction reaches the boiling point. But is their desire worth the risk when a ruthless enemy is waiting in the wings—or will their Lone Star love conquer all, in The Protector, the next Sons of Texas novel by New York Times bestselling author Donna Grant.
Can you say lots of action? I loved this book from page 1! It has characters from the first book and I had to go back and read it first before I picked this one up to start it and I wasn't disappointed I did that. I loved all the characters that were revisited in this book. I enjoyed the pace and the plot. At no point did it get boring, which is a big draw for me when reading a book. I'd say that Donna Grant is a definite buy for me in the future. I had her first book and didn't know it and hadn't read it but I'm sure glad I did because it helped when reading this book. However, you don't have to read book 1 but it helps because book 2 picks up where book 1 leaves off. If you're like me, then you like to read your series in order and I'm orderly like that..
There was a whole lot of information in this book and a lot of action. The romance was really kind of forced and secondary to me. I kind of thought that it could have been a longer book to be honest. It's one of those books where you really don't have to have a romance at all and it's still a really good book. Nothing is really resolved in this book, so it's going to continue into the third book - which I will buy!! It's that good. I love a good suspense, espionage book that leaves you hanging.
If you're looking for a book that is thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish with non-stop action, then this is your book!!
I was given a copy of this ARC from the publisher on Netgalley for a honest review. All of the above comments are my express opinions and no one else's.
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