Tag Archives: contemporary romance

Hollywood Royalty! New Release by TS McKinney

Victoria thought that she would give anything for the role of Annabelle Hutchinson. She just didn’t realize what she would end up losing.
Victoria thought that she would give anything for the role of Annabelle Hutchinson. She just didn’t realize what she would end up losing.

 

Hollywood Royalty Book Blurb

Victoria Winstead: My parents are the reigning King and Queen of Hollywood and since I am their only child, that clearly means I am a pampered princess who is accustomed to getting everything I want, when I want it, and how I want it…and right now, I want the most coveted role in Hollywood. Only one thing stands in my way.

Grayson Leman: This bastard is the only son of the reigning Prince and Princess of Hollywood and I hate everything about him, always have and always will. Our families have a history and it isn’t pretty. It’s ugly, Hollywood style. Oh yeah, he’s the one thing standing in my way.

Annabelle Hutchinson: She’s the creation of a writing trio that has managed to rock the entire female population with their erotica novel, Dark Lovers. They have single-handedly brought mommy porn front and center and made it not only acceptable but sexy as hell. A movie deal was made and I am literally (this is embarrassing to say) having to actually fight for something for the first time in my life.

Not to worry, though…I am Hollywood Royalty.

Buy Link:

http://www.darkhollowspress.com/#!hollywood-royalty/c1kpr

 

Hollywood Royalty Excerpt:

“You leaving in the morning, Gabe? Or staying the day?” His band members got up and shook his hand as he started to leave. They didn’t tease him, but I could tell they wanted to. Badly.

“I’m staying. I’ll see you Sunday night.”

“Great. Okay. You guys have an…an exciting night.” He was stalling. I swear he was stalling.

Honestly folks, I didn’t want to say anything. It had been my vow to myself to give him the silent treatment all evening long. I had done so well. I should probably be nominated for an Oscar for my performance. Not one time did I lean in to sniff his intoxicating scent. Nope, I didn’t. Nor did I allow my gaze to stray toward that body that was made for nothing but pure undiluted sin. Nope, the only time I looked at him was to roll my eyes or glare. Ignoring him had been my only task for the evening. I had been an awesome bitch…up until now. For some reason, unknown to me, I couldn’t stop the word from slipping between my lips as he turned to walk away.

“Pussy.”

Memphis had to struggle to keep the full blown smile from covering her face. Gabe didn’t even try to hide his reaction. He slammed his fist on the table. The rest of the table just looked shocked and appalled by my outburst. I felt a blush start to stain my cheeks and I fought furiously to clamp down on the feeling. I didn’t need to feel bad for being mean to him or embarrassing him. He, my friends, is the enemy. Yet, I wasn’t really as proud of myself like I’d always imagined I would be in a situation like this.

He stopped walking and stood with his back to us for several long, intimidating seconds. From the way the muscles in his back quivered, I believe he was trying to control his temper. Oh, well. I wasn’t really worried. It isn’t like Mister Boy Scout would ever hit a girl, right? I felt myself start to fidget when he just stood there. We had also caught the attention of several of the patrons that were seated around us. In fact, I believe we were making quite the spectacle of ourselves.

“Just go, Grayson. Don’t do it,” Gabe pleaded. He glared at me in disgust. “You don’t have anything to prove, especially to her.”

Finally, Grayson slowly turned around and looked me dead in the face…hard. This time, I definitely started fidgeting in my seat. His intense stare was breathtaking with his bright blue eyes and girly lashes. God, did I mention how hot he was? “What did you say to me?” he asked quietly. When he’d been on stage singing, his voice had sounded like hot whiskey – now he sounded cold and furious. Well, he could just get over himself. I didn’t like him. I wasn’t trying to be his friend or suck up to him to get him to star in their movie. I, my dear friends, didn’t give a flying fuck what he thought about me.

“She called you a pussy, dude.” Gabe answered loudly when I failed to answer promptly enough to suit him. Of course, when Gabe said it, everyone within a ten mile radius heard him. I was seriously getting tired of dear ole Gabe, really fast.

Grayson’s jaw ticked and his mouth formed a frown that didn’t do a damned thing to make him unattractive. I guess this is why our families had always worked so hard to keep us apart from each other. He was hot enough that I wouldn’t be able to keep my hands to myself and I was bitchy enough that my very touch would soil his pure skin.

“Yep, I called you a pussy, Grayson. Got a problem with that?” I sounded a lot tougher on the outside than I was feeling on the inside. It actually bothered me to be mean to him and I had no clue why.

“Yea, I guess I do,” he answered with a lazy shrug of his perfectly shaped shoulders—you know, not too much muscle releaseblitzbutton_hollywoodroyaltybut just enough to make a girl swoon? “Actually, I have a problem with how you’ve treated me all night long,” he explained as he closed the distance between us with a determined stride. Once he was close enough, he grabbed his vacated chair, swirled it around, slammed it right up against my knee, and straddled it. When we were practically eye to eye, he continued, “I’m pretty sure I’ve never done anything to offend you personally, but you still act like a bitch. Why is that, Vic? Are you afraid of me?” His voice was low enough that I was the only one that could hear him unless people rudely moved in closer. I knew they wanted to, but they didn’t. Actually, Memphis wouldn’t let them. It was a good thing Memphis could multi task because she was having to keep other patrons away from us and keep Gabe in line at the same time. Gabe was even more furious than Grayson was and that made about as much sense as the way I felt with Grayson being so close to me.

“Afraid of you? Mister Boy Scout? I seriously doubt that,” I answered smugly. “I just don’t like you.”

“You don’t know me.”

Well, he had me there, but I didn’t intend to back down. “I don’t have to know you to not like you. Don’t let it hurt your feelings, sweetie. Are you going to cry like your mommy did?”

Yea, I went there. The minute I did, I wished I hadn’t. Too late. I watched many emotions cross through those blue eyes—hurt, anger, surprise, lust…

He tilted his head to the side and studied me like I was some kind of sideshow freak. I could tell he was pondering something. Maybe punching me in the face and seeing if he could make me cry? Right when I was about to cave and apologize, he leaned in and whispered in my ear, “You want to make me scream, don’t you, Vic? You want to hurt me?” I could feel his hot breath tickling my neck and sending waves of desire rushing through me. Actually, those waves had started the minute he had gotten close to me. It was his hot breath or the way his tongue almost touched my ear when he spoke. “You wanna do it on stage? How brave are you?”

 

About TS McKinney:

TS McKinney lives in East Tennessee with her high school sweetheart/husband and all the countless dogs she picks up from deserted country roads. Her professional career has been in business but her heart has always belonged to the fantasy world found in books.

Creating wicked worlds where one can meet the perfect hero – and then do anything to him that you want – has been a hobby that has brought her plenty of hours of fun and naughty entertainment.

When not working, reading, or writing, she loves to spend her time with her family and forcing them (because they don’t really have another choice) to allow her to redecorate their house…and listen to her naughty…sometimes sadistic stories.

Find TS McKinney Here:

http://www.darkhollowspress.com/#!ts-mckinney/c1mwz

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100006245056875&fref=ts

Twitter: http://twitter.com/TSMcKinney1

 

Romance and Eroticism by Charlotte Howard (@shy_tiger)

Click here to view the tour schedule
Click image to view the tour schedule

Thank you for hosting today! Recently I got asked what my idea of romance and eroticism is, so I thought I’d take the time today to answer that question.

I may have a problem – it has been noted by quite a few (male) friends, that I think like a man. This is not a good thing when you’re supposed to be a romance author. I can’t even blame growing up in a male environment because I grew up in a small village, living with my mum and two of my sisters, my dad worked on the oil rigs so was a way a lot. It was a very female-orientated life. Still, I think like a man. Apparently.

I am not a flowers and hearts girl. I’m allergic to lilies and daffodils, well any high pollinating flower, for a start. I’m seriously crap at remembering things like birthdays and anniversaries, and don’t even get me started on Valentine’s Day! I much prefer March 14th… (If you don’t get that reference, ask the nearest man.) A romantic night in, as far as I’m concerned, involves a takeaway curry, a cup of tea, and a good action or thriller movie. If it has Channing Tatum or Will Smith in it, that would be a bonus.

Eroticism… Well maybe I’m more female on this one… What do I find erotic? Fit, sexy, and tattooed. Think Steve McGarrett (Hawaii Five-O), Agent Booth (Bones) or Oliver Queen (Arrow). Muscles and ink, and I’m weak at the knees. It’s terrible when I go to the gym – to get fit, obviously – and am surrounded by these hot hunks. But eroticism isn’t just about the person is it? It’s about the situation, the surroundings.

I’m a sucker for a powerful man. Now I’m not saying I want to be thrown onto the bed and tied down, but there is nothing more erotic than a man who knows what he wants, and knows how to get it. No, I’m not talking about any varying shades of gray. I’m talking strong, determined, and sane. I do not want a broken piece of china that needs gluing back together. I want Kevlar. I want someone who can look after me. A knight in shining armour on his glorious steed.

Romance and eroticism don’t have to wear a business suit or high heels. They can easily come in a pair of scruffy jeans and work boots. And that is what I hope I put into The Final Straight. Max is as far from business-like as possible, but he is still a force to be reckoned with. April is not your make-up wearing, mini-skirt clad, broken girl. She wears boots and a riding hat, but she’s still a hot woman. AJ… Well he’s AJ, and you’ll just have to read the book to find out what he’s like.

 

The Final Straight by Charlotte HowardExcerpt:

“I should go,” April yawned, watching as he scraped food into the bin and placed plates into the dishwasher.

“You’re staying the night,” he insisted.

“We’ve been through this a hundred times,” she sighed. Her hands waved between them. “This can never happen.”

He gave her a disappointed look. “We could have a little bit of fun.” He gave her a playful smile. “You never know what might develop.”

“I should stop drinking around you. Every time…” She didn’t stop him when he grabbed her hips and rocked her from side to side. “You know exactly where it would go. You forget that unlike your bits on the side, I know you. You’ll wake up in the morning and regret it. You’ll try to placate me with empty promises, and then in a couple of months you’ll find someone taller, thinner, and sexier, and I will be left alone.”

“I would never cheat on you,” he said, honesty brimming through the firmness of his voice. “You are the only girl for me.”

“Please don’t,” she said, placing her hands on his chest. “We want different things…”

“Okay.” He kissed the top of her head. “Spare room it is.”

“Thank you.” She stepped back and looked at him. There was a sadness in his dark brown eyes, one that hurt her heart. “We are okay aren’t we?”

“We’re great,” he said with a small smile.

“I couldn’t bear to lose you as a friend. Let’s not get serious again.”

“Okay.” He nodded. They smiled and kissed each other on the cheek; a signature on their unspoken agreement to remain just friends.

 

 

Blurb / Buy Links

April Miller works for her best-friend, Max Knight on his livery and competition yard. Their friendship has withstood many turbulent times, and while April is deeply in love with Max, she is also aware of his womanising ways and has refused to succumb to his flirtatious charms. When her ex, AJ, suddenly comes back with a business proposal, April finds herself torn between the two men.

http://tirgearrpublishing.com/authors/Howard_Charlotte/the-final-straight.htm
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00SW7GE26
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00SW7GE26
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/514851
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-final-straight/id962554508
https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-final-straight
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-final-straight-charlotte-howard/1121135931

 

Bio / Links

Charlotte lives in Somerset with her husband, two children, and growing menagerie of pets and can always be found with a cup of tea in her hand. When she’s not writing or running around after small people and animals, she loves to eat curry and watch action films.

Charlotte is an active (and vocal) member of the Yeovil Creative Writers.

www.charlottehowardauthor.co.uk
http://choward2614.wordpress.com
www.facebook.com/charlottehowardauthor
www.facebook.com/chowardauthor
http://tirgearrpublishing.com/authors/Howard_Charlotte/index.htm
www.twitter.com/shy_tiger
https://www.pinterest.com/choward2614/
https://instagram.com/choward_author/

 

GIVEAWAY!

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Waiting for Wade!

http://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-photos-birthday-background-party-streamers-confe-colorful-balloons-design-childrens-design-kids-image35629278INTERVIEWING WADE is finished! That’s right, the manuscript is done, dusted and sent of to my lovely editor at Xcite Books! As you can well imagine, there is much happy dancing at Grace Manor these days. *pops fizz cork* From the very early days right after the release of Grace Marshall’s An Executive Decision, readers who loved Dee and Ellis were asking me when I would be writing Wade Crittenden’s story. For those of you who don’t know, Wade is the nerd genius at Pheuma Inc, who is as reclusive and mysterious as he is brilliant. With very few social skills and a version of tunnel vision that makes my own look like ADD, Wade is right at the top of Portland’s most eligible bachelor’s list, with the added label of Portland’s most unavailable eligible  bachelor. Enter intrepid investigative journalist, Carla Flannery, and Wade doesn’t know what hit him. And Now, after Grace Marshall has told Kendra and Garrett’s story and Stacie and Harris’ story, Wade’s turn has come!

OMG! Was this novel FUN to write! I think it quite possibly might have been the most fun I’ve ever had at the keyboard! And Wade led me on a very merry chase. My journey of discovery with him was truly as full of surprises as Carla’s was. Still waters run deep and dangerous, and full of surprises. I can’t wait to share Wade’s story with all of you! I’m told by Xcite that Interviewing Wade will be up for pre-order very soon, and I’ll keep you posted on details as they unfold. In the meantime, here is a tasty little encounter between Wade and Carla. Enjoy!

Blurb for INTERVIEWING WADE:

The Executive Decisions Trilogy may be over, but the story continues. Intrepid reporter, Carla Flannery, wants to interview Wade Crittenden, the secretive creative genius behind Pheuma Inc. But when, against all odds, Wade agrees to the interview, Carla suspects ulterior motives.

Carla has made a lot of enemies in her work and when Wade discovers she’s being stalked, he agrees to the interview to keep her close and safe. As the situation turns deadly, lives and hearts are on the line, and the interview reveals far more about both than either ever expected.

A Tasty Excerpt from INTERVIEWING WADE:

Carla nodded to the chair opposite her and Wade sat down cautiously.

She offered a dry smile and spoke around a mouthful of toast. ‘Chair’s not booby-trapped, food’s not poisoned. My security system’s not that good.’

AED new coverWhen he made no reply but savoured a forkful of eggs, she joined him in devouring the feast, satisfied that after the first bite, he shovelled it in with as much relish and lack of delicate table manners as she did. With her, eating was always done in a hurry to get on with what was always way more work than she had time for, unless she was settling in for a meal with her father. She suspected he cooked for her especially for that reason. And as she watched Wade stuff half a slice of toast into his mouth in one go, she figured he was probably the same, with no one to make sure he got a good meal from time to time. Though possibly Ellis invited him over occasionally, or maybe Harris Walker and his new wife, Stacie Emerson. Apparently her culinary skills were spoken about in hush tones. Strange, but it felt good to be able to offer something to Wade, even if the idiot did show up at three in the morning

‘Good,’ he said, at last, covering his full mouth with the paper towel she’d given him in lieu of the napkins she didn’t have.

‘Thanks. You think this is good, you should see me make Pop Tarts.

‘I like Pop Tarts,’ he said.

‘The secret is,’ she leaned across the table, ‘you’ve got to get the toaster set just right. And then afterwards,’ he leaned closer with wrapped attention, ‘afterwards I put butter on ‘em and stick ‘em in the microwave until it melts.’

Wade’s eyes were huge and very green in the kitchen lighting. He looked dead serious, as though she had just given him her secret for cold fusion. ‘I never thought about melting the butter on them in the microwave,’ he said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. ‘But I find that I do like mine so that the little pastry edges are just beginning to get almost too brown.’

Christ! Were they actually talking about Pop Tarts? She laughed. ‘I like ‘em almost burnt, but I know that’s a matter of personal taste. My Dad likes his just barely warm.’

He lowered his head and went back to shovelling eggs.

She popped the last of her bacon into her mouth and spoke around it. ‘So tell me, is Fort Flannery as unassailable as my father assured me, or are we in need of an upgrade?’

He drained his glass of orange juice and pushed back from the table. ‘Your father did a good job. I didn’t have to do hardly anything.’

‘He’ll be glad to hear that,’ she said. ‘Sorry you had to waste your valuable time in the wee hours. I know how busy you are.’

‘Yes, well, it was on my mind. If you’ll let me see your Android, I’ll give it a little upgrade too.’

‘Will I be able to watch Russian porn on it?’ she asked.

‘Japanese and Chinese porn as well, if you like.’ There was that quirk of a smile that she really would love to eat right off his face.

‘And I’ll assume you’ve given it a test-drive.’

IC new coverTo her delight, the smile didn’t disappear, even though the blush was hot on those chiselled cheeks. ‘I’m my own best guinea pig.’

‘Wade Crittenden, that borders on too much information, but in the interest of consumer protection and all, I thank you.’ The blush grew, but the smile stayed put as she offered him a salute and went into her bedroom to get the device.

She returned to find that he’d shed his hoodie and was filling the sink with soapy water, his broad back mantling the counter like a giant bird of prey. For a second her stomach bottomed at the sight of Wade Crittenden doing dishes at her sink. She stood, Android crushed to her chest, feeling flushed and slightly off-balance. His t-shirt was a loose fit, misshapen and short in the back from too many washings for something that should have migrated to the rag drawer some time ago, and when he reached across the sink to add still more soap, the shirt rode up to reveal the slim line of his back and the muscles where his hips joined his torso just above the swell of his buttocks. The baggy jeans gave enough of an intimation of that swelling to leave Carla breathless and hot enough to want to throw off her own hoodie and splash herself with the soapy water in which he was nearly elbow-deep.

As though he sensed her watching, he turned, slopped water down the front of his shirt and onto his jeans and uttered a surprised curse.

Without thinking she rushed to his side, dropping the device on the table. ‘You don’t have to do that,’ she managed, in a breathless gasp. ‘Sometimes I go for weeks without ever washing so much as a coffee cup.’ She stretched around him, grabbed for a dish towel and offered it to him instead of patting him dry herself, which was what she really wanted to do.

He reached for the towel, holding her gaze. ‘You cook for me, I do the clean-up for you. Fair’s fair.’ His hand slid into the cloth and around her fingers as he drew it to his chest. His breath caught, his lips parted as though to speak, and God help her, she couldn’t resist, she leaned into him on tippy-toe and planted a kiss firmly on his mouth. She only meant for it to be a friendly peck, a way of saying thanks for checking up on her and for doing the dishes, but his other hand, covered with soapy water, swooped in and grabbed the front of her hoodie reeling her to him. Then he curled his fingers in the tangle of her wild hair and cradled the back of her head, pulling her still further up on her toes. ‘Oh God,’ he whispered, his tongue darting deep, his lips, soft and hard and bruising all at the same time, meeting hers in a clash of wills and a heroic effort to get closer and deeper. ‘Oh God, Carla, why did you do that,’ he gasped against her mouth.

‘Just being friendly,’ she managed, before the tongue sparring got serious. He gave the towel a toss and yanked down the zipper of her hoodie, shoving it off onto the floor, his hands skimming her breasts in his efforts, thumbs lingering to rake her nipples that were already painful in their peaking. His jeans might have been loose, but they were not loose enough to disguise his erection, and he didn’t seem to care. Both hands slid to cup her bottom and he lifted her, settling her onto the kitchen table, pushing her legs apart with his knees and moving in between her thighs as she went to work on his fly.

‘I have lots of friends, ‘ he breathed. ‘None of them do that to me.’

TE new cover‘How about this,’ she said biting his lower lip and sliding her hand down inside his boxers. ‘Do they do this?’

‘No,’ he returned the nip. ‘Never, none of them.’ For a second he faltered. ‘Carla, I –’

‘Shut up, Wade. I don’t wanna hear it.’ This time she bit his tongue before she took his hand and guided it down into her baggy sweat bottoms and into her own boxers.

City Nights: One Night in Paris by Lucy Felthouse (@cw1985)

One Night in ParisBlurb:

Jacob is nearly forty, and has recently come to the sudden realisation that he’s not doing much with his life. Sure, he’s got his own successful business, but what’s the point in earning lots of money and not doing anything or going anywhere to spend it?

He’s in serious danger of being all work and no play, so he starts to rectify this by organising a twenty four hour layover in Paris en route to a meeting in Dubai. Whilst there, he goes on a bus tour of the city, and there meets Annabelle, a fellow Brit who’s studying in Paris. There’s clearly an attraction between the two of them, so when the gorgeous Annabelle makes an indecent proposal to help Jacob fill his time in Paris, who is he to refuse?

Buy links: http://lucyfelthouse.co.uk/published-works/city-nights-one-night-in-paris/

Add to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21923363-one-night-in-paris

*****

Excerpt:

Jacob huffed out a breath as he reached the kerb, shooting a dirty look at the motorist who’d caused him to leap for the relative safety of the pavement. Christ, he’d heard talk of Parisian drivers, but until he’d experienced the place for himself, he’d thought the claims were exaggerated. Apparently not.

Running a hand through his hair, he tried to regain some modicum of composure. It was not the best start to his day—all he’d done was catch the Metro to the Eiffel Tower so far, and he’d barely caught sight of the iconic monument before an insane motorist had almost run him down.

Checking his pockets to make sure nothing was amiss, he retrieved his pre-booked ticket for one of the hop-on, hop-off bus tours of the city while he was there. Horribly touristy, he knew, but given he’d never visited the French capital before, he felt it was excusable. Hell, he’d even booked a plane ticket with a nice twenty-four-hour layover so he could sneak in some sightseeing. It was going to be non-stop work when he got to Abu Dhabi, so he felt he was entitled to a little chill-out time before he got there.

He was the boss, anyway, so nobody could tell him what to do, where to go, or when. If he wanted to head for a brief jolly in Paris before a bunch of intense meetings with his Arabic clients, then he damn well would. What was the point in working his arse off constantly if he couldn’t reap the benefits? His fortieth birthday was approaching and the realisation had made him think. Almost forty and he hadn’t seen nearly enough of the world. Especially if you discounted hotels and conference rooms. Once, he’d flown to Rome, had a meeting in a hotel near the airport, then turned around and boarded a flight home. It had been worth it financially, but only months later, it hit Jacob what a colossally wasted opportunity it had been. Yes, the client had insisted on a face-to-face meeting, rather than a Skype chat, and yes, he’d needed to get back home to continue with yet more work, but it could have waited a day or two. Even a couple of days in the Italian capital would have been better than nothing.

What was the point in having plenty of money if one couldn’t enjoy it, after all?

With a decisive nod, Jacob checked his ticket for the location of the bus stop. He’d just headed for the Eiffel Tower in the first instance because he’d figured it would be the easiest thing in Paris to find. He’d been right in assuming that; the mighty iron structure pierced the sky, impressive and strangely beautiful. It was next on his list, after the bus tour, which he felt would help him get his bearings. He only had twenty four hours—there was no time to waste getting lost.

He quickly located the bus stop he’d been looking for, helped by the vehicle that had just arrived, emblazoned with the tour company logo. There was already a group waiting, and he hurried over to join the back of the queue. After a couple of minutes, it was his turn to have his ticket checked, then he was ushered onto the bus.

It seemed the majority of people who’d alighted in front of him had snagged seats on the bottom deck. It was far from full but somehow already felt crowded, so Jacob headed up the stairs, the child in him making a bee-line for the back seat.

He’d taken a couple of long strides when he saw someone already sitting there. A blonde, maybe a decade younger than him, and gorgeous. Their gazes met and they exchanged a polite smile before breaking eye contact.

*****

Bio:

Lucy Felthouse is a very busy woman! She writes erotica and erotic romance in a variety of subgenres and pairings, and has over 100 publications to her name, with many more in the pipeline. These include several editions of Best Bondage Erotica, Best Women’s Erotica 2013 and Best Erotic Romance 2014. Another string to her bow is editing, and she has edited and co-edited a number of anthologies, and also edits for a small publishing house. She owns Erotica For All, is book editor for Cliterati, and is one eighth of The Brit Babes. Find out more at http://www.lucyfelthouse.co.uk. Join her on Facebook and Twitter, and subscribe to her newsletter at: http://eepurl.com/gMQb9

 

Daniel Gleason Interview – His Hometown Girl – by Karen Rock (@karenrock5)

So, Daniel, after reading His Hometown Girl, the reader understands more about you and how you became a dairy farmer who produces organic dairy products from ethically treated animals.  What can you tell the folks who haven’t read the book yet about your situation?

His Hometown Girl bannerGrowing up on a farm was the best. Ever since I was old enough to carry a bucket, I followed my Pop around the barns, helping. I didn’t like waking up so early to get chores done before school, but it was the only way to work and get the education my parents valued. After I graduated from Cornell’s agricultural program, I came home to take over the farm when my father’s Parkinson’s got too bad for him to manage on his own. I’d learned a lot of new methods and I put them into practice when I got home, like using natural alternatives to pesticides and not using hormones. I also upgraded the barns and put in a rotating, circular milker to make things more efficient. Because of that, I’m able to charge more money per pound of milk. For once, my family is not in debt and we’re turning a profit. I’m trying hard to convince my cash-strapped neighbors to join in a co-op with me and make these upgrades. I believe in the farming way of life. It’s shaping your life, molding your future, with your own two hands. You’re your own boss. I value my independence,  and I’ll work  hard work to keep it. Mostly, farming is a tradition that goes back hundreds of years in Cedar Bay, and it needs to be preserved. Neighbors helping neighbors, the community coming together to celebrate and mourn together means we are all a family. We need to work together to stay together.

 

Your sister, Sue, was a seriously funny lady! And very smart. Why do you think she won’t go back to Princeton and finish her dissertation on Child Psychology? 

My little sister is the most stubborn person I know- besides me. She wants to prove she knows best how to treat autistic children and doesn’t want to present findings using a method her advisor suggested. When Jodi returned home  with her son, Tyler, Sue figured she had the perfect chance to use her experimental methods to help the boy talk again. And that’s a good thing. I’d much rather she’d spend her time working with Tyler instead of in the kitchen or mooning over our new farm hand. We’ve had too many burnt pot roasts and potatoes as hard as rocks- or as we call them- ‘Sue’s specialty’. Of course that means I’ve got to do the cooking, but since it relaxes me, and I get a meal cooked all the way through, I don’t mind. Still, I wish I had someone by my side. Farming can by lonely.

 

banner Lola's Blog ToursYou had strong connection with Jodi growing up. Do you think you’ll ever be close again?

Jodi Lynn used to drive me nuts as a boy- still does. She’s smart, pretty and always sure she knows best. I couldn’t help, growing up, wanting to best her every chance I got. Seeing that line appear between her blue eyes always made me smile. At least she knew who I was, even if she seemed like she hated me. Except one summer, the year we worked together after her father’s accident, she kissed me while we were berry picking. That changed everything. I wanted to hold her every chance I got after that, but we had to keep our relationship a secret because our family’s were feuding. My parents loaned her family a machine that mutilated her father’s arm and ended his career as a farmer. The machine was ruined and the cost of replacing it was more than my family could handle without going under. Both blamed each other, but Jodi and I grew closer and closer. Then she overheard me admit that I did resent her family. She accused me of hiding my feelings and pitying her. I couldn’t deny any of it, especially since my mother couldn’t take our financial troubles and was leaving. A part of me was mad at Jodi’s family. But I still loved Jodi. Wished I’d told her. Before I had a chance to explain, she left and never came home again until ten years later.

 

Were you surprised about how willing Jodi was to return home and purchase her neighbor’s farms for her employer, essentially destroying the community you both grew up in?

Yes and No. I knew that Jodi wanted nothing to do with me or Cedar Bay since she never sent word or came back all those years. Since her dad was hurt in a farming accident, I understood why she thought farming wasn’t the best job. I guessed she thought she might be doing her old neighbors a favor by getting them out of it. But she forgot how special Cedar Bay is and it was my job to remind her of that. I picked her up at Burlington airport and gave her the scenic drive to her Aunt’s house on Lake Champlain. I drove her nuts talking about all the old places and when she reminded me weren’t kids, battling like we used to, I told her that I agreed, because this was bigger. It was war. I wasn’t going to let her get away with destroying a community that had existed for centuries. We have traditions that go far back. In the same way, Jodi and I had a long history and the more time we spent battling each other to win over the farmers- I wanted them to join my co-op and she wanted them to sell out- the closer we got again. It was hard to fight my feelings because she made me forget she was the enemy. Someone that’d broken my heart before and would, I suspected, do it again.

 

How did you feel about Jodi’s son, Tyler?

Tyler’s an incredible kid. He doesn’t have much to say, but a lot of people who talk a lot don’t have much to say either. He’s got a good sense of humor and he wants to help out on the farm. Kind of reminds me of me. He’s autistic which makes it hard for him to control how he reacts to things, but on a farm, we don’t have to behave any certain way that doesn’t suit us. In fact, the farm suits Tyler. His temper tantrums disappear whenever he’s here, spending time with Sue. He does her therapy which is a lot of hands on work with the animals. He’s really an amazing boy and it kills me that his father abandoned him. If he were mine, I’d be the proudest dad in the world.

 

When did you realize you still loved Jodi?

I’d like to say it was when she drove the tractor into the strawberry fields, Tyler on her lap. That really impressed me. Or when she helped me birth a breech calf and got her foot fractured in the process without complaining. Maybe it was the moment she stepped out of the terminal and I saw her again for the first time. It felt like a ton of bricks had been dumped on my chest. But no. I never stopped loving Jodi Lynn. Never will.

 

When she admitted that she loved you, did you hear anything else or were you stuck on that? I’m glad she said it again!

I’m glad too. I couldn’t believe it and needed to hear her say it twice. After everything we’d been through, past and present, she realized she loved me and Cedar Bay. Enough to give us a second chance. I’m the luckiest man for it.

 

*Thanks so much for inviting me to do this fun interview! It was terrific 🙂 – Karen

*****

his hometown girlBlurb:

He’d always managed to best her…

Jodi Chapman will do whatever it takes to get top care for her autistic son. If that means going home and convincing local farmers to sell their land, so be it. Even if her biggest opponent, childhood rival Daniel Gleason, is equally determined to convince farmers to buy into his co-op plan. And he’s not playing fair.

Facing off against Daniel is the last thing Jodi wants. The attraction that’s always fueled their competitiveness is as strong as ever and just as distracting. But with both their futures on the line, and years of distrust between them, how can they ever be on the same side?

You can find His Hometown Girl on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20501051-his-hometown-girl

You can buy His Hometown Girl here:

– Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1daYrXx

– Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1ktNqWq

– eHarlequin: http://bit.ly/KaSxKm

*****

karen at deep dish pizza place in chicago with Joanne at ALA 2013About the Author:

Karen Rock has adored romance since receiving Harlequin Presents books from her grandmother each summer. She formed her Young Adult writing partnership, J.K. Rock- pseudonym for the CAMP BOYFRIEND series, with her sister-in-law and Blaze author, Joanne Rock in 2011. When Karen heard of a call for submissions to Heartwarming, Harlequin’s latest line, she was inspired by the possibilities of writing unforgettable, deeply romantic, tender love stories that mothers would feel comfortable sharing with their daughters. Since then, her first Harlequin, WISH ME TOMORROW came out in September, 2013 and her next novel HIS HOMETOWN GIRL comes out in March, 2014 with three more releases expected this year.

When she’s not writing, Karen loves scouring estate sales for vintage books, cooking her grandmother’s family recipes, hiking the ‘high peaks’, and redesigning her gardens. She lives in the Adirondack Mountain region with her husband, daughter, and two Cavalier King cocker spaniels who have yet to understand the concept of “fetch” though they know a lot about love. For more information about Karen’s upcoming books, check out her website at http://www.karenrock.com, Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/karenrockwrites or follow her on twitter at http://www.twitter.com/karenrock5 . She’d love to hear from you!

 

You can find and contact Karen here:
– Website: http://www.karenrock.com
– Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/karenrockwrites
– Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/karenrock5
– Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6761362.Karen_Rock
– Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/karenrockauthor/

*****

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