Can a secret crush . . .
Jo Walsh has loved Cameron Mitchell for as long as she can remember. Whether front and center in her life or on the periphery, the tall, brooding artist has made his presence seductively and irresistibly known. But whenever they start to get close, Cam pulls away. Jo’s tired of keeping her feelings in a box Cam is afraid to open. If he wants her, he’ll have to prove it. And if he doesn’t, Jo will need to know the real reason why . . .
. . . become the love of a lifetime?
How do you walk away from your soul mate? Cam wishes he knew. No matter how far he runs from Jo, he can’t resist looking back at the silver eyes that seem to see right through him. But as well as Jo thinks she understands Cam, the dark truth about his past is something she shouldn’t have to handle. Cam’s sure that setting Jo free is the right thing to do. Too bad his heart has other ideas . . .
Did you see Cam’s Love Note a couple of weeks ago? He’s amazing…
Forever is a heartbeat away . . .Kerris Moreton knows how to make things work. Bounced from foster home to foster home as a kid, she adapted; when opportunity arose, she thrived. Now, about to open her own business and accept a marriage proposal, Kerris is ready to build the life she’s always wanted. The only thing missing? A passionate connection with her would-be fiancé, Cam. Kerris wants to believe that sparks are overrated-until Walsh Bennett lights her up like the Fourth of July.
. . . but what about love?
As one of the East Coast’s most eligible bachelors, Walsh enjoys financial independence, fulfilling work with his family’s nonprofit, and plenty of female attention. But lately he’s been distracted by the one woman he can’t have. Lovely to look at and even sweeter to know, Kerris is the soul mate Walsh never thought he would find. The problem is, his best friend found her first . . .
The man she can never have . . .
Kerris Moreton should be the happiest woman in the world: She has a successful business and is about to start the family she’s always wanted. But the man of her dreams-the one whose green eyes see straight into her soul and whose gentle hands make her body hum with pleasure-is not hers.
Each secret moment with Walsh Bennett serves to remind Kerris of what she’s missing. And every stolen hour makes it harder to see her future without him. But being with Walsh would betray a sacred promise and upend her perfect life. When tragedy strikes, the razor’s edge between love and loyalty grows sharper than ever. And Kerris must decide where her heart will fall
Describe Jo in one sentence.
Jo is a tough-headed, tender-hearted angel. That is actually how Cam describes her, but I think it’s accurate! She has this huge capacity for unconditional love that is really rare, and that is exactly what someone like Cam, with his troubled past, needs.
Describe Cameron in one sentence.
Cam is an exceptionally talented man who learned early in life not to trust or rely on anyone else, but who wants more than anything to share his life with someone who will love him no matter what
Favorite and least favorite scene to write in Be Mine Forever? (Without spoiling! 🙂 )
One of my favorite scenes to write in BMF is at Cam’s cottage. He is a brilliant artist, and let’s just say he decides to use Jo as his medium of choice. I had to re-read it a few times to make sure I had actually written it. I love it that much. And I know someone else might read it and be all – it ain’t all that! LOL! But it showed Cam at his absolute most vulnerable, and Jo felt like she had received a gift because she got to see more of him than anyone else ever had.
One of my least favorite scenes is a flashback to a traumatic moment in Cam’s childhood. It’ll be a lot of folks’ least favorite to read. It is uncomfortable, but I felt it was necessary for readers to understand why he was the way he was, especially those who met him in books 1 and 2. He gained a lot of haters after those books! They were completely justified in their responses to his actions. I didn’t set out to make Cam perfect. If he were perfect, there would be no room to grow and no lesson for him or for the reader. I at least want them to understand him, so we had to go back to the genesis; his childhood where it all started.
What inspired you to write The Bennetts Series?
The simple answer is the Chattahoochee River! A couple of summers ago my son wanted to go to the river every single evening. Not shocking. He has autism, and lots of kids on the spectrum are water obsessed. So when the weather is nice, my husband and I can usually be found with our son near some body of water every evening. Fountains, swimming pools, and that summer, the river. It’s no coincidence that the central location of the series is a fictional North Carolina town called Rivermont. The rushing water and vibrant sunsets of the Chattahoochee inspired the town with a river at the center. And in the quiet on the riverbank, I started to hear the voices I hadn’t heard in years; characters speaking to me, telling me their stories. I envisioned the first scene there. It is one of the most pivotal scenes in WHEN YOU ARE MINE, and I just kept imagining every day by the river until the first two books were done.
What’s your guilty pleasure?
Chris Brown. LOL! I know he is incredibly unpopular in a lot of circles. I would never date him, but I love his music, and he’s so talented. I love watching him perform and paint and dance. He is the total package, and I hate that the drama in his personal life overshadows his gifts. But whenever I say I like him, I get that look! So…guilty pleasure! LOL!
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
It would have to be my work with autism. Personally, securing resources for my son, who was diagnosed 11 years ago, to have his best shots in life. Professionally, establishing my foundation for families living with Autism. It is the most rewarding thing I do and lead to some of my proudest moments. Meeting and helping these families relationally, emotionally and financially – there is nothing like it!
If you could meet anyone, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Audrey Hepburn. She is my icon. I call her my-con! LOL! She was such a gracious human being. Obviously, she was a fashion goddess and style scion, but she had so much more dimension than that. Her humanitarian work with UNICEF was incredibly inspirational to me. And she had such a sense of her own brand; shaping and methodically building it, without becoming self-centered. At least by all accounts.
Favorite Word and Least Favorite Word?
Favorite word…this week…because it changes constantly…is atavism. Because…it’s awesome. And it got cut from the first 2 books of the series, but I managed to slip it in there for book 3! LOL! My dad used to assign me sections of the dictionary to read and would quiz me. With an experience like that in your childhood, you’ll either love or hate words. I fell on the love side! I literally collect words. I have a sticky on my phone where I capture unusual words or words I want to remember and use one day. #Geek
I know “moist” is everyone’s favorite least favorite, but it doesn’t bother me! Ha! My least favorite word would probably be impossible. I think we overassume it, so we overuse it. So many things we term impossible are just hard or take a long time or a lot of work or a lot of faith. If I could white out a word from the dictionary, it would be impossible. It goes back to Audrey who said, “Nothing is impossible. Even the word itself says I’m possible.”
Biggest fear?
If I’m completely honest, my son’s future. He is 11, but cognitively around 5 years old. His future sometimes feels uncertain, and from time to time, it scares me.
Deepest regret?
Not having kids after my son was diagnosed with autism.
Favorite memory?
When my son said “mommy” at 5 years old after being silent for 3 years. I wasn’t sure he’d ever talk again, and I still tear up when I think of that moment.
Worst flaw?
I’m a workaholic. Like neglect your family and everything important in your life if you’re not careful workaholic. My dad was one. I’m one. I may battle it in some form all my life, but I’m getting better.
Most annoying pet peeve?
Obnoxious noises when people chew. Ughhhh! Chewing with your mouth open! People who spit in public! Not picking up after your dog and leaving it there for me to step in. Should I go on? LOL!
If you could change one thing about yourself…what would it be?
I wouldn’t say I’d be less passionate, because I love my passion for life, but I would stop and smell the flowers, so to speak more. I don’t celebrate enough. One of my favorite words is selah, Hebrew in some translations for pause and think about that. I don’t pause enough. I’m so driven that I’m always, as Jay Z would say, on to the next one. And I need to take more time to relish.
Either/Or Questions:
Chocolate or Vanilla? Vanilla
Jo or Cam? Cam! LOL! I love that twisted guy. I love Jo, too!
Warm or Cold? Warm! I live in Hotlanta…so…there’s that! 🙂
Early Bird or Night Owl? Sadly, both! I do not sleep very much at all. It’s bad. I probably average…4 hours of sleep a night. It’s 2am as I’m typing this, and I’ll be up at 7am. Guarantee it.
Pain or Pleasure? Pleasure. Is this a trick question? LOL!
Outdoor or Indoor? Indoor. I’m not that over the river and through the woods chick.
Blondes or Brunettes? Brunettes. Fun is not just for blondes. It goes beyond follicles! 🙂
Ketchup or Mustard? Heinz 57 Sauce! Did I off road that one? I don’t feel passionately about either of those condiments, but Heinz 57 – just yes.
Coffee or Cocktail? Coffee. I’m a teetotaler! 🙂
Texting or Calling? Texting. Without a doubt. So much FASTER!
Kennedy Ryan writes contemporary romance and women’s fiction. She always give her characters their happily ever after, but loves to make them work for it! It’s a long road to love, so sit back and enjoy the ride. In an alternative universe and under her government issue name, Tina Dula, she is a wife to the love of her life, mom to a special, beautiful son, and a friend to those living with autism through her foundation Myles-A-Part, serving Georgia families.
Her writings on Autism have appeared in Chicken Soup for the Soul, and she has been featured on the Montel Williams Show, NPR, Headline News and others. Ryan is donating a portion of her proceeds to her own foundation and to her charitable partner, Talk About Curing Autism (TACA).
Her interview series MOMMIES DO THE MOST AMAZING THINGS is featured each month in Brooke Burke’s online magazine Modern Mom.
Very hot covers, all of them!