by Sarah | Mar 13, 2013 | Character Interview, Guest Authors, Writing
I am very happy to have a fellow Secret Cravings Author, Jean Joachim, stop by today. Or rather, her heroine, Susanna Barnes from [amazon_link id=”B00BOTXQZW” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Red Carpet Romance[/amazon_link] has stopped by. I think you’ll enjoy her interview as much as I did. She’s fun and sassy…the kind of character I can get behind.
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1. Tell us a little about yourself. How did you come to your author’s attention? Occupation?
I had a tragedy. Jean, my author, loves tragedy. Tragic figures call to her. Frankly, I think she needs anti-depressants. Oh, yeah, I’ve got real dark hair and gray eyes. She wanted a pretty, but different looking women for this book. I used to be a budding art historian. Now I’m a nanny. Tragedy struck. It sucks.
2. What or who is the greatest love of your life? Why? What drew you to them?
Quinn Roberts, without a doubt. Geez, if you had a gorgeous movie star panting after you, would you fall in love? What drew me outside of his looks and fame? His generosity and sense of humor. He’s sexy and funny, a perfect combination.
3. What’s your greatest fear?
My greatest fear is that something will happen to Quinn or my sister, Annie, and her brood. They are the only family I have left.
4. What’s your motto in life?
My motto? Hmm, let’s see. A positive attitude will bring positive results. I’m kind of a romantic, a believer. Unrealistic maybe but it keeps me happy.
5. How do the other characters in your book view you?
Jaden Sinclair thinks I’m the biggest man-stealing slut going. And I can see her point-of-view. Quinn’s sister, Maggie, sees me as a new best friend. I’m pretty good at getting along with people.
6. What do you prefer? To spread & hear gossip, or be the creator of gossip fodder?
I hate gossip. After Tiffany Cowles, tabloid editor, came after me, wow, scared the crap out of me. I guess hear gossip but mostly I prefer to stay away from gossip, since I’ve been at the center of some pretty nasty stuff.
7. What is it about you that is going to draw us readers in?
My chemistry with Quinn, my affection for Junior, a baby, and my snappy comebacks. Okay, okay, Jean – she’s responsible for the snappy comebacks. *whispers* I thought we were doing this interview without her!
8. What was your happiest moment?
*Blushes* there are a few I can’t tell you about. Let’s just say, being on the Red Carpet with Quinn. Guess you’ll have to read the book to find out what that means. That ought to keep Jean happy.
9. What trait in others do you find most deplorable?
Dishonesty and greed – it’s a tie.
10. The random question: If you were a color, what color would you be and why?
Me? I’d be turquoise blue, I think. My favorite color and the color of a gown I wore in the book.
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A bit about the book
Why is gorgeous movie star, Quinn Roberts, sharing his space with a baby he calls “Junior”, if it isn’t his own? Susanna Barnes, live-in nanny, can’t figure him out. Overwhelming mutual heat melts his guarded heart and her reserve until a slip of the tongue shatters his dreams. Will she unravel the mystery of Junior’s birth and will they regain lost trust?
Excerpt
Raven-haired Susanna Barnes pushed open the unlatched door. Quinn Roberts, stuck up, rich boy movie star. With a kid. Great. “Hello?” She called out, stepping just inside the doorway.
“In here…twenty-eight, twenty-nine, thirty,” called a deep voice.
She moved toward the sound, stopping a few feet from the entrance to the living room. When she glanced up, she saw the almost-naked, suntanned body of a muscular man, hanging by his hands from a metal pull-up bar stretched high across the entryway. Her gaze wandered over the flexing, sweaty muscles of his shoulders then back and down to his hips. Boxers…cute butt. Farther down were strong thighs tapering to Bermuda-shorts-perfect calves and bare feet.
When she cleared her throat, he dropped off the exercise device and turned around.
“Do you always greet people in your boxers, Mr. Roberts?” She cocked an eyebrow as her stare roved over his damp chest covered with a smattering of brown curly hair, stopping at his waist. Shoulders as wide as a basketball court.
He grabbed a black, terry towel from a nearby chair and wrapped it around his middle. Color flooded his cheeks.
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Buy Links
[amazon_link id=”B00BOTXQZW” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]AMAZON[/amazon_link]
Barnes & Noble
All Romance Ebooks
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Bio
Jean Joachim is an author, married, a mother of two boys and owner of a rescued pug named Homer. She writes contemporary romance and has more than a dozen contemporary romance books published with more scheduled to be released within the coming months. Jean has been writing non-fiction for over twenty years and fiction for three. Her review column, “Movie Choices for Kids” has been syndicated on parenting newspapers websites for the past 12 years. A native New Yorker, she still lives in New York City. Her website address is: http://www.jeanjoachimbooks.com.
by Sarah | Mar 12, 2013 | Books, Changing Tracks, Hump Day Hook, Publishing Credits, Secret Cravings Publishing, Writing
Another Hump Day Hook! Changing Tracks has taken me on a whirlwind of joy this week. It showed up on Secret Cravings Bestseller list (#1 on the Historical Bestseller list still)…and got a Silver Star at All Romance Ebooks, indicating another best seller. I just got my first review & rating from someone unknown to me (and it was [amazon_link id=”B00BEMN5SC” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]4 stars[/amazon_link]!). So it’s been a bang-up week.
So as a treat I’m going to give another little hook from Derailed (Dominion Falls Series #2). One you might kill me for…because it’s from a little later in the scene that I posted two weeks ago – but it’s just another tease:
She couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe. The tight grip his hand had on hers transferred his old panic and fear right to her heart. A soft gasp whispered through the room and she wiped at a tear, “You had no choice.”
“I didn’t mean to hurt her. I just was trying to get the knife.”
A small splash of salty sorrow landed on his stomach and curved along the lines to the bed beneath. “Cole.”
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Hump Day Hook asks authors to post one paragraph of one of their stories, whether a WIP, one contracted, or already published. Please visit and comment on the participants – you might just stumble on the next great read for your library! To see more participants, click on the HDH banner below:
by Sarah | Mar 11, 2013 | Cover Reveal, Guest Authors, Writing
A famous television actress trying to balance her fictional character and her real life. And an obsessed fan who cannot tell the difference.
Blurb:
The technical wizard of The Protectors agency…
Bryce Black can invent, build, or hack anything. Preferring to leave the danger to his fellow operatives, Bryce is happiest at home designing gadgets, and pursuing his hobby of creating replica diamonds. When offered an assignment to protect a fortune in real gems featured in a high rating television show, he accepts. Only to find himself falling for the beautiful lead actress.
Katrina Abbott is walking away from her acting career without regret. The loss of privacy and invasion of her personal life have become overwhelming. The handsome security advisor with his fascinating amber colored eyes has her contemplating a new life, far from the glaring spotlight. But first she needs to film the finale of her wildly popular drama series.
One female fan does not want the show to end, and has a very different view of what Katrina’s future should be.
by Sarah | Mar 10, 2013 | Books, Hybrid, Tuesday Tales, Writing
The prompt this week is a picture prompt and it was author’s choice. Soon as I saw this image I knew how to end the first chapter of this story. Hard to believe just a few weeks of Tuesday Tales has brought me almost 3000 words and one full chapter into a story that as yet remains untitled.
Remember, this is a meme with many contributing authors, so make sure to click the link at the bottom of the image to take you to see more!
Anyhow, as always this is un-edited mostly, so forgive any errors. :
Jdyne remained quiet. The thin human veneer he wore sagged into tired lines. Silver-streaked gray hair quivered in the breeze as he leaned his hand on his knee.
I didn’t know what else to say. My responsibility was clear, but to leave the life I’d formed, the family I’d grown attached to still weighed on me. “Who will protect them?”
“Hm?” My father shook out of his reverie. “The humans? It won’t get that far, if we handle it well.”
“Alatus will not play by the rules.”
“Very true.” A screech broke through the hum of wind, the phoenix appearing in a flash, bright red against the purple sky. It glided down to rest on Jdyne’s shoulder. “What are you suggesting?”
“I don’t know that I’m suggesting anything specific. However, the elders should face that Alatus is likely to involve humans.” When the phoenix bowed to me, I lifted a finger to run it along his forehead. Licks of flame traveled along the lines of my hand like a caress.
“You will come with me to speak with them. You are one of the best warriors and the best tactician we have. They will listen to your ideas.”
I pursed my lips and dropped my hand, “What of Darren and the children?”
“They won’t even know you’re gone.” He turned his now bright silver eyes on me. “Come, child.”
With a sigh, I set my hand on his and walked down the dune toward what had been the center of town. A wave of his arm brought a strong enough wind to sweep away the sand. Behind the dune sat a stone door frame, the door itself wrought like iron, but out of liquid silver. The doors already hung open, revealing the mountains of home.
I nodded and together we stepped through the gates home.
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Hope you enjoyed it! Click on the Tuesday Tales badge to see more excellent entries!!
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by Sarah | Mar 8, 2013 | Blog Hops, Books, Changing Tracks, Contests, Giveaway, Secret Cravings Publishing, Writing
{WINNER – JL Hammer!!!}
I almost didn’t join this hop, after all my characters don’t inspire any great dessert recipes. There is no scene in Changing Tracks that talks about it, with the exception of one scene where Jane is offered a slice of apple pie.
However, I couldn’t resist showing this ‘outtake’ of sorts – one that Jane may never forgive me for – unless the ending is good enough for her to soften.
Please enjoy – and one lucky commenter will receive a copy of [amazon_link id=”B00BEMN5SC” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Changing Tracks[/amazon_link], and a $10 Amazon (or Barnes & Noble, your choice) Gift Card! So leave a comment and then get hopping over to the Secret Cravings blog to find chances to win other great SCP authors books (or don’t, so my chances are better 😉 ).
Dessert Is On Me:
Jane threw the pan and everything on it into the water. The smoke that poured off in the resulting clatter and hiss added to the smoke already filling her house. Another attempt at cooking burst into flames—in rather spectacular fashion.
“I give up.” She sneered at the charred and drowning remains of her attempt at sweet cakes. Not even detailed instructions from Cora had resolved her inability to make what Cora had declared a simple recipe.
A knock at the door interrupted her attempt to glare the pan into cleaning itself. She spun and left the pantry. On her way past the stove she kicked shut the door. The whole way to the door she waved her arms at the smoke in a useless gesture of clearing the air.
When Jane yanked open the door, Cole’s lips were already quirked in a cockeyed smirk. His ice blue eyes twinkled without any restraint of his laughter. “I could see the smoke from half a mile back. Wondered if I oughtta call for help.”
“Hush.” She couldn’t contain her own grin at his amusement. “I wanted to try to cook again. Cora swore the recipe was simple, I think she lied.”
“Or you just can’t cook.” He chuckled and held up the bowl in his hand. “Think Cora ain’t too confident in your cooking neither. Sent ya some custard.”
“Good to know she has such faith in me. Too bad she didn’t send some sweet cakes. I prefer it to custard.”
“She did try. I told her to send the custard.” One long finger dipped into the creamy custard and he held it out to her. “It’s more fun.”
“I didn’t think about that.” Her heart fluttered and her womb clenched when he licked his lips. She licked her lips before leaning in to capture his finger in her mouth. The sweet treat melted smooth on her tongue, and she held still until his low groan.
When he took a step closer she swirled her tongue around his finger, flicking it across the tip. Slowly she pulled back, sucking gently until his finger was free.
She smiled and licked her lips. “I don’t remember custard ever tasting so good.”
“I wanna try.”
Blurb:
There’s nothing simple about forgetting your past.
Cole Mitchell runs the busiest saloon and brothel in Dominion Falls. He keeps his women at a distance, unwilling to relive a past he worked hard to forget.
Until the night Jane Doe falls into his saloon bleeding and near death. She wakes with no memory, only the firm belief someone tried to kill her. In the strange world of amnesia she manages to find solace in Cole’s arms and he finds home in hers.
While they work together to solve the mystery of her appearance, their pasts – her lack of, and his buried – build a barrier between them.
To make matters worse, Jane’s past isn’t willing to let her go. A stranger proves he’ll kill to keep his secrets safe. With those she loves in danger, Jane’s errant memory is all that stands between them and death. Cole can only do so much to protect her, will it be enough?
Buy Links:
Secret Cravings Website
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
All Romance Ebooks
Bookstrand
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Don’t forget to go over to the Secret Cravings blog for links to the other participants and their giveaways!!
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*Winner will be drawn Monday, March 11th at 9AM. Winner will have choice of Kindle or Nook version (and choice of GC to Amazon or B&N).
A bit about the book
