“She sat beside me on the bus – and she changed my whole life.”
Successful, wealthy and absurdly handsome – Spanish ex-football player Mateo Casalles seemed like he had it all. A high-society wife, an adorable little girl, and flashy apartments in Madrid and Barcelona only sweetened the deal. But there was more to Mateo than met the eye – a life of uncertainty and regret that colored his black and white world.
That was until Vera Miles came into his life like a shooting star. Tattooed, wild and young, Vera seemed like Mateo’s polar opposite at first. But you can’t choose who you fall in love with and the two lost souls did everything they could to be together, all while suffering the grave consequences.
Now with Mateo divorced and living in Madrid with Vera, there is a whole new set of challenges and setbacks facing the couple and rocking the foundation of their star-crossed relationship.
Unfortunately for them, the brighter the star, the faster they burn.
I LOVED the Love, in English – A LOT! One of my favorite books of 2014 – check out my review here! If you haven’t read Love, in English…now’s your chance! It’s only 99 cents! To say that I’m excited about Love, in Spanish is an absolute understatement and after seeing the cover and reading the excerpt…I need this book. Right. Now! Did you read the excerpt from the cover reveal?
He’s thirty-eight. I’m twenty-three.
He speaks Spanish. I speak English.
He lives in Spain. I live in Canada.
He dresses in thousand-dollar suits. I’m covered in tattoos.
He’s married and has a five-year old daughter.
I’m single and can’t commit to anyone or anything.
Until now.
Because when they say you can’t choose who you fall in love with, boy ain’t that the f*#king truth.
To a restless dreamer like Vera Miles, it sounded like the experience of a lifetime. Instead of spending her summer interning for her astronomy major, she would fly to Spain where she’d spend a few weeks teaching conversational English to businessmen and women, all while enjoying free room and board at an isolated resort. But while Vera expected to get a tan, meet new people and stuff herself with wine and paella, she never expected to fall in love.
Mateo is unlike anyone Vera has ever known, let alone anyone she’s usually attracted to. While Vera is a pierced and tatted free spirit with a love for music and freedom, Mateo Casales is a successful businessman from Madrid, all sharp suits and cocky Latino charm. Yet, as the weeks go on, the two grow increasingly close and their relationship changes from purely platonic to something…more.
Something that makes Vera feel alive for the first time.
Something that can never, ever be.
Or so she thinks.
I’m also excited about Josh’s book! This is Vera’s brother…his book can be read as a stand alone…and after this excerpt…I have a feeling Josh is going to be just as amazing as Vera! 🙂
A new adult novel that perfectly captures the existential angst of your early twenties with raw wit, fresh insight, and true feeling from a critically adored USA TODAY bestselling author.
Joshua Miles has spent his early twenties spinning his wheels. Working dead-end jobs and living at home has left him exhausted and uninspired, with little energy to pursue his passion for graphic art. Until he meets Gemma Henare, a vivacious out-of-towner from New Zealand. What begins as a one-night stand soon becomes a turning point for Josh. He can’t get Gemma out of his head, even after she has left for home, and finds himself throwing caution to the wind for the first time in his life.
It’s not long before Josh is headed to New Zealand with only a backpack, some cash, and Gemma’s name to go on. But when he finally tracks her down, he finds his adventure is only just beginning. Equally infatuated, Gemma leads him on a whirlwind tour across the beautiful country, opening Josh up to life, lust, love, and all the messy heartache in between. Because, when love drags you somewhere, it might never let go even when you know you have to say goodbye.
I was so excited to get a chance to pick Karina’s brain about Vera, Mateo & all things Love, In Spanish! 🙂
Describe Mateo in one sentence.
A charming, passionate man who loves deeply and feels everything
Describe Vera in one sentence.
A unabashed wild child, confident in herself but still looking for her place in the world
Favorite and least favorite scene to write in Love, In Spanish?
My favorite scene to write would have to be one that happens on the beach in San Sebastian, just because it is so beautiful and emotionally charged. Brutal too, but I love that. My least favorite would have to be anytime Mateo and Isabel are together. That shit gets fucking rough.
Love, In English was originally a stand alone – not that I’m complaining, but what made you want to write Love, In Spanish?
The readers wanted more and I happily obliged. I love standalones but I also like keeping the choice to revisit characters open, which is why I only set the epilogue five months in the future after Love, in English. I wanted the chance to hang out with Vera and Mateo again if I chose to and luckily everyone seemed in agreement!
Whose POV do you prefer to be in? (or do you have a preference?)
No preference though I will say that Mateo came surprisingly easy to me, considering he’s a 39-year old Spaniard with an ex-wife and child.. His POV is so calming, even when he’s losing his mind, so it was a pleasure to be in his head. But Vera, of course, is so much like me that she’s easy and fun to write too.
Which book was easier to write….Love, In English or Love, In Spanish?
Hard to say. Love, in English is twice the length and an epic, three-part story so I’d go with that. Yet Love, in Spanish took longer.
Top five things you love about Mateo and Vera.
1. I love how real they are
2. I love how deeply they love each other
3. I love that their “happily ever after” doesn’t come easy to them
4. I love that they have done wrong, are ostracized outcasts and have to pay for their sins, yet they don’t let it destroy their relationship
5. I love that they both took a chance on something that got them both shunned from society (and readers!) and it paid off, proving that you when you see love, no matter who says it’s wrong, it’s worth a shot. When it’s real, love isn’t wrong. I should know.
With her USA Today Bestselling The Artists Trilogy published by Grand Central Publishing, numerous foreign publication deals, and self-publishing success with her Experiment in Terror series, Vancouver-born Karina Halle is a true example of the term “Hybrid Author.” Though her books showcase her love of all things dark, sexy and edgy, she’s a closet romantic at heart and strives to give her characters a HEA…whenever possible.
Karina holds a screenwriting degree from Vancouver Film School and a Bachelor of Journalism from TRU. Her travel writing, music reviews/interviews and photography have appeared in publications such as Consequence of Sound, Mxdwn and GoNomad Travel Guides. She currently lives on an island on the coast of British Columbia where she’s preparing for the zombie apocalypse with her fiance and rescue pup.”
Sounds interesting like the hot guy on the front of the book good choice for the cover
I haven’t heard about Love, in English or Love, in Spanish before, but both sound like books that I would enjoy. Thanks for the interview. 🙂