Isabel Archer asked Kristen Ashley:

Love Chaos so deeply I've had trouble reading anything else--I just want to be back at the Compound. THE WILL just changed that. So powerful. Reading it I could feel these characters coming through you like this story had to be told. I have to ask what inspired Jake. He, and the book, are so YOU and familiar yet there was something different, new. Did you identify this newness? If so, how did you conceptualize it?

Kristen Ashley Jake, like many of my characters -- and heroes -- came to me as a gift.

The concept for this novel (and the series) was that I'd been ask by a goodly number of my readers to explore HEAs with older characters. I really wanted to do that, especially as I grew older and could step into those shoes. I actually expected this series to be beloved by me, but a big flop! Truly. I didn't think some of my younger readers could identify with Jake and Josie.

Boy was I wrong. Happily, giddily wrong!

As for Jake himself, I'd always wanted to write a boxer. The only type of athlete I'd explored was a football player (Tate in SWEET DREAMS and Sam in HEAVEN AND HELL). I liked the idea of exploring the strategy and grace of boxing, a man behind a sport that's very violent, but that man is very gentle with the people around him, his kids, Lydie, Josie.

It was a pleasure to write him. And I'm glad you enjoyed spending time with him!

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