Emma Munroe, a Juilliard senior, snags a plum role on Broadway a few weeks before her twenty-first birthday. She travels to Hawaii with her best friends to celebrate. When she gets lost in a jungle during an impromptu hike, she happens upon a waterfall—and a naked hunk bathing underneath it.

When she finds out his name is Avery Bell, she’s dumbstruck. She believes she’s meant to love someone named Avery. It all goes back to a message in a bottle she found when she was nine, a letter written by a soldier called Avery to his sweetheart named Emma. He’d written it in the aftermath of the Pearl Harbor attack during World War II. Since then, Emma has been searching (and saving her virginity) for her own Avery.

But Avery Bell is as mysterious as he is irresistible. Emma learns about his family secrets and bitterness. In the course of this vacation, an accident and a tragic death will shake both of them to the core. Her singular faith in him—her unwavering belief in love and destiny—proves to be his saving grace.

Q&A with Vina Arno: Why Hawaii and Romance Go Together

Q: What is Finder Keeper of My Heart about?

Vina Arno: The novel is a contemporary, new adult romance. It’s a classic soul mate/fate trope. The heroine, Emma Munroe, is a budding Broadway actress who persists against all odds in finding her soul mate. The hero, Avery Bell, is an MIT-educated techie who spurns destiny. When they are thrown together in a jungle in Hawaii, their beliefs are tested.

Q: Describe Emma in one sentence.

Vina Arno: Avery describes Emma best—she’s “a complete package,” with her tempestuous beauty, effervescent charm, and Juilliard-worthy talent.

Q: Describe Avery in one sentence.

Vina Arno: I’ll quote Emma, who says, “Avery was male in the best sense, without touting it or taking advantage of it—solid, reliable, efficient, intelligent, and too damn hot.”

Q: What inspired you to write this book?

Vina Arno: This novel is my love letter to Hawaii, which is a perfect setting for romance. You have to be pretty jaded to not feel romantic when you’re in Hawaii. Whenever I visit Hawaii, particularly the Big Island, I’m transformed the minute I get off the airplane. The first thing I do is remove my wristwatch, because I don’t care about time when I’m there. I feel a big release of frantic energy and everything slows down for me in a very good way. I’m lucky because I always go to Hawaii with my family and I associate the Hawaiian experience with requited love itself—unhurried, calm, rich, and joyful.

Q: What’s your favorite scene in the book and why?

Vina Arno: Emma meets Avery when she gets terribly lost in a jungle on the Big Island. He lets her stay at his campsite overnight and takes her back to civilization the following day. My favorite scene is when they hike to Waipio Valley and there’s a lot of sexual tension between them. A sudden rainstorm forces them to stop in a makeshift hunter’s shack. Inside, there’s a wall dividing the space into two rooms. They are literally divided by this wall and they don’t even touch each other, but the air is charged with intense desire.

Q: Some people say that every novel is autobiographical. Are you like your hero or heroine?

Vina Arno: Just like Emma, I believe in destiny. I grew up in the Philippines, where I kept looking for my soul mate without success. I immigrated to the United States quite unexpectedly, where my future husband was all along. Manila, where I came from, is halfway around the world from New York City, where my husband was born and raised. But, somehow we found each other. That’s destiny!

Q: What’s next for you?

Vina Arno: My next book, a literary historical novel titled, My MacArthur, will be published by the Sand Hill Review Press later this year. It’s a fictional account of General Douglas MacArthur’s romantic obsession with Isabel Rosario Cooper, a young Filipino actress, in the 1930s. Their interracial, May-December relationship broke many taboos. In many ways, their story fits the #MeToo narrative because of the huge power imbalance between MacArthur and Isabel.

From Tara Sue Me writing as Cat Waters:

There’s the truth you know….

 

At age 16, Athena Hamilton traded her body for survival when a powerful Vegas hotelier and pimp lured her into his world. Ten years of turning tricks has taught her to trust no one and feel nothing. Yet a chance meeting with a childhood crush sparks hope for something more.

 

The truth you believe…

 

There’s no way Isaiah Martin could want her. He’s a pastor. Too good. Too pure. But when she learns her days are numbered, she runs into the safety of his arms and trusts his promise of protection.

 

And the truth you never imagined…

 

The aftermath of a tragic accident and a bitter betrayal leaves her destitute and alone. The one man she shouldn’t trust offers her a chance to escape. But when good and evil collide, what do you do when the truth is Obscured?

Describe Athena in one sentence.

A determined woman who takes her future in her own hands, even though she knows it might get her killed.

Describe Isaiah in one sentence.

Handsome pastor who is more than he seems.

Favorite and least favorite scene to write in Obscured?   (Without spoiling! ☺ )

Favorite scene is when Athena talks with the young girl in the mall. It’s one of those scenes I didn’t plan, but rather, it just happened. I felt Athena’s urgency in that scene. Her passion, knowing she probably wouldn’t stop the young girl, but she had do something. Which is saying a lot based on what she was told moments before that scene takes place.

My least favorite scene is anything with Mike. He’s such an ass.

What’s your guilty pleasure?

Bargain shopping! I’m borderline obsessed with finding a great deal!

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Definitely my kids. They’re growing up and you see traces of the adults they’re going to be and I’m so proud.

If you could meet anyone, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

My grandfather on my dad’s side. He died before I was born, so we’ve never met. In fact, I’ve only met one of my biological grandparents.

Favorite Word and Least Favorite Word?

My favorite word is ‘no’ because I’m finally learning how to say it now that I’m in my forties.

My least favorite word is also ‘no’ because I don’t like hearing it!

Biggest fear?

Something happening to me and leaving my family alone. Or something happening to my family.

Deepest regret?

Not learning how to say ‘no’ earlier in life. I spent too much time trying to make everyone else happy.

Favorite memory?

The first cruise we took the kids on, we went snorkeling in Freeport. Seeing their faces as they looked under the water for the first time. Priceless.

Worst flaw?

I’m too passive. I need to get angry more often.

Most annoying pet peeve?

Bad drivers!

If you could change one thing about yourself…what would it be?

I’d speak my mind more

The day I meet Isaiah Martin for the second time, I am running late. I pride myself on my punctuality, not to mention that my clients demand it, and I’m not paying attention to my surroundings.

I look at my watch again. Five minutes after. Shit. I scurry through the hotel lobby, making a beeline to the elevators. If luck happens to be on my side, I won’t have to wait, but the elevators in the largest hotel in Las Vegas are notoriously slow.

Will the stairs be quicker? I glance over my shoulder. The stairwell is located on the other side of the large open atrium. With my client’s room on the thirtieth floor, the elevator is faster, even if I have to wait. I turn back to the elevators.

And run right into a man standing in my path, overcorrect, and twist my ankle.

“Excuse me, ma’am,” he says in a soft, cultured Southern accent, reaching out a hand to steady me.  “You okay?”

“Damn it!” My ankle throbs so much I’m not sure I can walk. I gingerly put my weight on the hurt ankle and curse again at the pain.

Suck it up, Athena. This is nothing.  Think about what’ll happen if you don’t make it upstairs in the next few minutes.

“Ma’am?” Mr. Southern Gentleman repeats.

“I’m fine.” I tentatively move my foot side to side. “Just give me a minute.”

“Why don’t you come sit down and let me take a look at that ankle?”

“You a doctor?” Odds are Odds are he’s just your standard pervert wanting the chance to run his hand up my leg. Even if he is a doctor, I’m not about to let him put his hands on me. Not a wise thing to do, since it’s almost a certainty Mike will find out.

“No, ma’am,” he says. “But I think you may need to rest that ankle just a bit.”

“Really, I’m fine.” I put my full weight on the ankle and nearly fall over as the pain sparks up my leg. “Ow. Ow. Ow.Hell.”

He doesn’t speak again, but takes me by the arm and leads me to a bench near the elevators. His head drops down and he runs a finger along my anklebone. Pokes and prods me.  “I don’t think anything’s broken, but you should probably stay off your feet for the next little bit.”

“Easy for you to say,” I snap. “You’re obviously not the one running late.”

He looks up and our eyes meet.

Warm caramel eyes. His thick, black hair is long overdue for a haircut and curls up the tiniest bit at his neck. His firm lips give way to a perfect “O” of surprise at the exact moment I recognize him.

“Athena?”

“Isaiah?”

He embraces me with a crushing hug. “Imagine seeing you here. How are you?”

My spine goes rigid, and I don’t return the hug. “I’m….I’m fine,” I stutter while my eyes dart around the lobby, trying to see if anyone’s watching me.

“I can’t believe it’s you.” He is oblivious to my discomfort. “Are you in town for long?”

I force myself to stop scanning the area and focus on Isaiah instead. A cold chill  runs down my spine as I take in his handsome features. The last twelve years have treated him well. No longer is he the awkward teenage boy plagued by acne and thick glasses. He’s grown into the handsome man I always knew lay beneath the surface.

He looks at me in expectation. What did he ask?

I fiddle with the hem of my skirt. It rests just above the knee. “I live here.”

For Jake Wrigley, the future is bleak. Some people are survivors, but he’s getting by on his bad-boy looks and charming smile. He owns a gym, gets into bar fights, and wrestles his demons with rough workouts—both in and out of the bedroom.

For Alyson Road, the future is bright. Life can only improve from where she grew up. She graduated at the top of her law class, cares for her ailing mom, and in her job, she defends those who can’t afford anyone else. Her work is thankless but honest.

Jake’s twin brother has been covering his ass for as long as they’ve been alive, but that all changes when Jake finds himself in front of the fiery public defender, his future in her hands. For the first time ever, he doesn’t want to involve his brother, finally realizing he needs to stand alone, be his own man.

Even if Jake’s never absolved of his past wrongdoings or his heart is never scrubbed of the blackness that resides there, he can do one good deed—protect the beautiful lawyer who touched his soul—until helping her nearly becomes his own undoing.

Describe Bess in one sentence.

Bess is a messed-up young woman, floundering in college and searching for her identity, until she hits rock bottom and finally gets it together just in time to rescue Lane.

Describe Lane in one sentence.

Lane is a good guy, smart, rich, polished, built, but filled with inner demons––ones he doesn’t even know are there they’re so deeply seeded.

Describe Aly in one sentence.

Aly – Alyson Road has an agenda and nothing is going to stop her from achieving it, not friends, the world around her and definitely not men.

Describe Jake in one sentence.

Jake – Jake is a bad boy, rough, tough, and coated in a hard shell, who doesn’t believe he deserves to be saved and until he meets a girl worth saving himself for.

Favorite and least favorite scene to write in Redemption Lane?  Absolution Road? (Without spoiling! 🙂 )

The hallway scene when Lane shows up at the hotel over Christmas. I won’t give spoilers other than the two of them had been going back and forth in every range of emotion, and Lane finally takes a stand. Whew, the chemistry crackled right then and there.

For Jake & Aly in Absolution Road:

The last chapter before the epilogue. Jake and Aly have such an emotional journey, and this chapter is so soft and swoony. It makes all the tears dry up and smiles take up residence. 🙂

What’s your guilty pleasure?

Running. I try to make time for this a few times a week…okay, but that’s not so naughty! I would have to say, my nightly wine and going for a doughnut over the weekend. Hey, I’m a cheap date!

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Living with the same guy for seventeen years so far. Geez, we are both only children, and it’s hard!!! 🙂

If you could meet anyone, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

All my readers. No joke. If I could, I would meet each and every one.

AND Charlie Hunnam, Tony Goldwyn, and Taylor Kitsch.

Favorite Word and Least Favorite Word?

Favorite: Tiny. I would describe the whole world as tiny…except Pen!$es…

Least Favorite: Rosepetal.

Biggest fear?

Something going wrong with my upload. I loathe uploading.

Deepest regret?

Not traveling abroad during college. I would have loved to get a job in some European town and just live their way of life for a while, maybe fall in love for a season.

Favorite memory?

My fave book memory is meeting my editor in person, face-to-face. We spend countless hours going back and forth over email and chat, picking apart my words, discussing nuances…and just hugging her was so great. I feel like she has been able to peek in my soul…and I love her.

Worst flaw?

I’m not gushy.

Most annoying pet peeve?

Cattiness. Need I say more?

If you could change one thing about yourself…what would it be?

I would be tiny and not 5’11’’.

Either/Or Questions:

Chocolate or Vanilla?

Vanilla cake with vanilla icing, vanilla icing filled doughnuts, OR red velvet cupcakes with vanilla icing. No ice cream. I don’t like ice cream unless it has peanut butter in it. OH, I also recently gave up sugar.

Bess or Lane or Aly or Jake?  

Bess. She’s so fucked up in college. Well, and Lane & Jake too––in a tub full of vanilla doughnuts.

Warm or Cold?

HOT. I like the heat. The hotter, the better.

Early Bird or Night Owl?

Both. Cliché, but I will sleep when I’m dead. That’s why there’s coffee.

Outdoor or Indoor?

Outdoor when it’s warm. Inside by the fireplace when it’s cold.

Blondes or Brunettes?

Blondies. Big, thick well-built ones…like Charlie Hunnam.

Ketchup or Mustard?

Neither anymore. Ketchup when I was little.

Coffee or Cocktail?

Both. Sometimes together.

Texting or Calling?

TEXTING! I despise talking on the phone.

Leaning my chair back on its two rear legs, I couldn’t help but laugh again before trying to contain myself. This chick and her soft demeanor were all business. Of course, she would be. Who else would work on Christmas Eve? I was pretty certain she could have made me wait until the day after Christmas to post bond, but here she was defending the public on the most holy night of the year.

Add a big heart to the brain, tits, and long legs I’d already noted in her plus column. Maybe I didn’t want to bang her, but rather cherish this sweet thing? The reality of that seemed slim, seeing as the smart, good girls didn’t go for me. Nor did I expect them to. I was the bad boy, and I had the guilty conscience to back that notion right the fuck up.

“Of course, Ms. Road. It’s Jake, by the way. Just J-A-K-E. Full name is J-A-S-O-N, but I haven’t been called that in twenty years.” I mocked her spelling with my very own rendition, teasing the schoolgirl, looking for a reaction like I was in the third grade. “So, let’s get down to brass tacks and get my ass outta here so you can head home to your . . . husband? Boyfriend? He must be waiting for a gem like you to come home to start the holiday, right?”

No harm in trying.

As I spoke, she narrowed her eyes and glared daggers at me. “Are you done with probing into my personal life, interrogating me? I’m pretty sure I’m not the one in jail.”

Obviously annoyed, she followed that volley with another few leg switches. Left over right, right over left. I wanted to grab her knees and spread her limbs and dive in, let my tongue dig deep into her folds, make her let go of all that stuck-up bullshit she had going on while screaming my name. She probably tasted like sweet honey.

Psychology postgrad Evelyn Maier eschews men and sex. Her joy’s in work and travel—like her upcoming trip to Africa. But her vacation is cancelled when she inadvertently enters a dangerous, illicit sex game. Without warning, she finds herself ensnared by a smoldering Dominant who pulls orgasms from her nearly against her will.Mason Brady has suppressed his Dominant nature ever since a disastrous relationship that left him broken. But when his brother convinces him to rejoin The Chase, the sprawling game of domination and submission Mason founded years before, he relishes the role. Until he captures Evelyn, an unwitting passerby.

Now Evelyn is crying rape, and Mason is racked by guilt. He’s certain he’ll convince her it was a misunderstanding, but he must hold her until she trusts him. Evelyn has her own angle: she’ll play along with Mason’s kidnapping until she’s fooled him into believing she’s forgiven him. Then she’ll seek her revenge once he releases her.

In the ensuing game of cat and mouse, they ride the lines between capture, consent, and love.

Describe Evelyn in one sentence.Evelyn is a very human, flawed character, who is able to see other’s problems clearly while remaining blind to her own, and who is incredibly smart in some ways, but very dense in others!

Describe Mason in one sentence.

Like Evelyn, Mason is imperfect, creating his own problems by doing certain things even though he knows better, and having to work extra-hard to be able to live with his own conscience.

Favorite and least favorite scene to write in Stockholm Syndrome? (Without spoiling! J )

It’s tough to answer this one without spoiling, so I’ll try not to say too much! My favorite scene was the first kiss. We get some insight into Mason’s character, and it represents an important turning point for both of them. My least favorite scene is their first sexual encounter because it is based on blindness and misconceptions (literally and figuratively), and I hurt for both of them when writing it.

What’s your guilty pleasure?

Oh, I have sooo many! I guess the guiltiest one of all must be reading when I should be doing something else, like working, writing, or even sleeping.

A good book is a dangerous thing for me. If I get hooked, I’ll let my family starve, let bills go unpaid, miss deadlines and go without sleep for days, just to finish it. Luckily, I read fast, so I can finish even long books within a day or two – but if it’s a series, I’m so screwed!

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

I had to think about this. Initially, I was going to say my beautiful and talented daughter – but she’s actually her own greatest achievement, not mine. My finest personal accomplishment to date has been the organizing of my family’s emigration from South Africa to Australia.

We made the decision to emigrate after being hit by one crime after another over a period of several years. We weren’t one of the “lucky” families who had a job lined up with an Australian company that would help expedite the emigration procedure – we did it the hard way. It took over two years of intense work and enormous determination in the face of multiple setbacks to get our precious visa. I sold my business so that I could focus entirely on the visa application (and associated matters like winding up our finances and selling our house), and it was, without doubt, the most stressful and difficult thing I’ve ever voluntarily done. But now that we are safely settled in Australia, I can definitely say it was worth it.

If you could meet anyone, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

Sir David Attenborough. I have a deep and passionate love of nature, and meeting someone so knowledgeable about the natural world, who has seen and done all the amazing things he has, would be the ultimate privilege.

Favorite Word and Least Favorite Word?

Favorite Word: Love.

We’re at our best when we love – any kind of love, it doesn’t matter. It may not be perfect, but at least we’re heading in the right direction. My advice to my fellow humans (should they happen to care) is use the word as much as possible. Try to wear it out!

Least Favorite Word: Hate

You guessed it, right? People use “hate” for such stupid, trivial things. Do you really hate decaf coffee? Do you want to take it out back and beat the crap out of it? C’mon, learn another word!

Biggest fear?

A lingering and painful death. You asked!

Deepest regret?

Getting fat in the first place.

Favorite memory?

Ice-cold sundowners on safari in Africa, parked on a hill under an infinite sky. Watching the sunset fade and the stars come out, with nothing around for miles but the smell of the bush on the breeze and the sounds of animals.

Worst flaw?

Procrastintion.

Most annoying pet peeve?

Obsessive, extended channel-hopping, before surrendering with a whimper to an ancient episode of Seinfeld.

If you could change one thing about yourself…what would it be?

I’d want to be thinner, fitter and healthier (See “Deepest Regret” above). I keep reminding myself that I can change this, and I’m working on it, but it’s hard!

Either/Or Questions:

Chocolate or Vanilla?

Chocolate, baby! Vanilla’s a distant memory.

Evelyn or Mason?

Mason, please. With Chocolate.

Warm or Cold?

Warm!

Early Bird or Night Owl?

Unrepentant and incurable Night Owl.

Outdoor or Indoor?

Ohh, tricky! I’m gonna go with indoor for now, but that’s subject to change without notice.

Blondes or Brunettes?

Blondes.

Ketchup or Mustard?

Ketchup.

Coffee or Cocktail?

Both. Preferably combined. I absolutely refuse to choose.

Texting or Calling?

Calling, especially for important things.

Watching sex tapes at the office is just part of PR professional Vivian Blake’s job, especially when she has to clean up a celebrity’s image. Except that her newest client isn’t quite that easy. Racecar driver Jarod Cage is beyond hot, and his onscreen “performance” is already compromising Viv’s cool professionalism.

While Jarod hasn’t exactly been discreet about his personal life, he never thought his reputation could cost him both his sponsor and his racing career. Now he has to put his future in the hands of a tiny, pixie-like publicist. Which is becoming a problem, because the heat between them is about to redline. But when you go this hard and fast, putting on the brakes is the most dangerous thing you can do…

This was so fun. Thanks again!!

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Chloe Thurlow used to be real bad but she’s getting better. She likes shoes, dancing, Mediterranean nights and broad shoulders. Katie in Love is her 6^th (and best novel). She also writes a prize-winning blog at www.chloethurlow.com

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…

Genre: Contemporary Romance

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 . . .

 

Title: Loving You Always (The Bennetts Book #2)

Author: Kennedy Ryan

Genre: Contemporary Romance

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!

 

 

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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.

When college freshman Rowan Michaels meets gorgeous, up-and-coming rock star Adam Everest, she knows a player like him is the last thing she needs after her ex-boyfriend shattered her heart. But she can’t stop thinking about the kiss they shared on his tour bus.

On the first day of school, Rowan is stunned when Adam saunters into her French class. He’s soon failing miserably, and, on a whim, she offers to tutor him. But Adam doesn’t recognize her as a makeup-free, glasses-clad college student—a far cry from the beautiful, mysterious “Peach” he met at his concert.

During a wild weekend on tour with the band, Rowan can’t help falling for the sweet guy buried beneath Adam’s rocker persona. Yet she knows she could never compete with the girls constantly throwing themselves at his feet. She’d just end up hurt … again.

Peach is all Adam thinks about, though, and when Rowan realizes this, she has a decision to make: stay just friends to protect her fragile heart … or reveal the truth about the night they met and admit she’s fallen completely, hopelessly in love with him.

When Dee Dawson meets sexy mohawked guitarist Joel Gibbon, she knows it won’t be long before she has him wrapped around her finger. No guy has ever been able to resist her… but Dee’s met her match in a player like Joel.Dee’s not the relationship type—not after seeing the pain “love” has caused her friends and family—yet she’s desperate to make Joel want her more than anyone else. He quickly becomes an obsession, and when a reckless attempt to make him jealous ends in disaster, Dee turns into the damsel in distress she never wanted to be. With her carefree world crashing down around her, the last thing she needs is Joel’s pity.But Joel is suddenly determined to prove he cares, and no matter how hard Dee tries to push him away, he refuses to let her shut him out. Now the girl who swore she’d never say those three little words must choose between guarding her heart and losing Joel forever… or falling head-over-heels for the tattooed rock star of her dreams.

Describe Rowan in one sentence:

Rowan has two sides—a straight-laced college student on the outside, and a funny, sarcastic, off-the-wall spitfire on the inside.

Describe Adam in one sentence:

Adam is a ridiculously hot, up-and-coming rock star—laid-back to a fault, but totally irresistible.

Favorite and least favorite scene to write in Mayhem? (Without spoiling! 🙂 )

My favorite scene to write was the King’s card game scene toward the end—It’s a drinking game I’ve played before, and it’s hilarious, so writing it was just as fun! I especially liked deciding which characters picked the kissing cards. 😉

Least favorite scene… hm… Honestly, the entire book was fun to write, so I’d have to say the very last one. Don’t get me wrong—I loved writing it because it was such a happy ending for the characters I had grown to love so much—but it’s always bittersweet to end a book and say goodbye. (Authors get book hangovers just like readers do!) Fortunately, I got to sprinkle Rowan-and-Adam scenes into RIOT, and all of the characters will make appearances throughout the entire series, so it wasn’t goodbye for long! 🙂

What inspired you to write the Mayhem Series? 

Honestly, when I wrote it, I hadn’t read any books or heard of many books about rock stars, so I wrote the book I wanted to read.   Plus I have a weakness for emo boys, especially sexy lead singers. 😉 Mayhem actually started with me writing the very first scene just for fun, which was actually similar to something that happened to me in real life—a few friends dragged me to a concert, we were first in line, and when the lead singer knocked on the door of the venue, I had no idea who he was. And yes, my exact words to him were, “They’re not letting people in yet.” And yes, everyone freaked out as soon as he went inside, asking me if I knew who he was. It was SO embarrassing! Haha. The entire storyline stemmed from me writing out that scene, and Rowan and Adam were born.

What’s your rock star preference – singer, guitarist, drummer, bassist?

Oh, lead singers, definitely. Lead singers get me every single time. They’re all just so charismatic and artistic and energetic and sexy and… *sigh* Yeah, I love them. (Even though, in the Mayhem series, the guitarist, drummer, and bassist are all super hot too!)

Do you fangirl over any bands?

TONS. I’m a huuuge fan of Taking Back Sunday, Brand New, The Used, and so many other bands in that genre.

What’s your guilty pleasure?

Smutty books and smutty TV. 😉 Though I refuse to feel guilty about it! (I’m DYING for Outlander to come back on!)

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Getting the Mayhem series published and seeing how far it’s going. The fact that I’m doing this interview right now gives me chills. It’s a dream come true. 🙂

If you could meet anyone, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

Hm, maybe a distant ancestor of mine. It’d be exciting to see where/who I come from.

Favorite Word and Least Favorite Word?

Favorite word: “cataclysmic.” Don’t know why, just love it. Least favorite: “historical” when people don’t pronounce the “h,” or “mature” when people enunciate the “t.” *cringe*

Biggest fear?

The big unknowns. Deep water, space, ghosts. *shivers* I have to stay away from the SyFy channel. I’m kind of a baby.

Deepest regret?

Man, this interview is getting DEEP. Hm. Maybe not making the most of my teenage years. I wish I would have gone to more concerts, especially when it comes to bands that have broken up since then.

Favorite memory?

Playing in the woods as a kid. Everything seemed so magical back then!

Worst flaw?

I’m Type A and a hardcore perfectionist. It leads to a lot of stressing out. In some ways, it’s a good thing, but in other ways, *eye twitch* Rowan and I have that in common!

Most annoying pet peeve?

Bad drivers. Don’t let your children ride in the car with me—they’ll learn all sorts of vocabulary words I can’t be held responsible for.

If you could change one thing about yourself…what would it be?

Easy, I’d be filthy stinkin’ rich so I could sit around and write all day! 😉

Either/Or Questions:

Chocolate or Vanilla? Mmm, vanillaaa.

Rowan or Adam? MAN. How are you going to ask me this? …okay, I love my heroines… but… I mean… it’s Adam freaking Everest. Adam. Freaking. Everest. I kind of love him, in case you couldn’t tell.

Warm or Cold? Warm! I hibernate when it’s cold. (Seriously, my neighbors haven’t seen me in weeks. But hey, I’ve gotten a ton of writing done on CHAOS, the 3^rd book in the Mayhem series, so win/win!)

Early Bird or Night Owl? Night owl. I currently go to bed sometime around 4 or 5am and don’t wake up until noon or so. It works best for writing. 🙂

Pain or Pleasure? Pleasure. Pleasure, pleasure, pleasure.

Outdoor or Indoor? Depends on the season. Right now, it’s freaking freezing, so let’s go with indoor.

Blondes or Brunettes? Both!

Ketchup or Mustard? I would like to counter that question with, hot dog or hamburger? In both cases… both!

Coffee or Cocktail? DON’T YOU DARE MAKE ME CHOOSE.

Texting or Calling? Oh, this one is easy. Texting!

The Fantasy by Ella Frank

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

*ARC Given to Blog for Honest Review*

3.5 “desperate” Kisses

There was absolutely no way that that synopsis wouldn’t catch my attention. Plain and simple…I had to read this book. I’m not a huge serial reader, at least not until all of the books are out, but something was telling me I needed to read The Fantasy. And I’m glad I listened.

Evan James…oh my poor, poor Evan…he is in every way an addict. He’s completely ruled by his need for sex…for release…for the high that he gets from it. It controls his thoughts…and it’s simultaneously erotic and sad. I mean, don’t get me wrong…the drive and his need for sex is undeniably hot, but I think it’s the levels that it takes him that took me to a darker place than even I was expecting. Bravo to Ella and Brooke because they really do show the good, the bad and the ugly of sex addiction and Evan is a fascinating study. He’s an attractive, intelligent man that can’t stop fucking. His addiction is serious enough where it’s almost ruined his life and he’s on his last leg…his one last hope to maintain the career and lifestyle that he’s become accustomed to living…and there’s just one blonde obstacle standing in his way…

‘If he could live in pussy, he would. It was his weakness, his addiction, the one thing he’d give up anything and everything for. And he nearly had.’

Reagan Spencer…she’s like Evan’s equal and his opposite all rolled into one. Where Evan is this uncontrolled mess because of his addiction, Reagan is poised and precise…but has her own secrets as well. She’s just as ravenous when it comes to sex…underneath all that business is a vixen that is perfectly matched to Evan’s desires and needs. I don’t want to spoil who Reagan is and how she relates to Evan…I guess it could be a little cliché but it worked for me and I liked it. It added to their relationship, gave it a new dynamic and I enjoyed how it transformed the storyline. Reagan surprised me…I loved how she complimented Evan and yet was his catalyst all in the same breathe…I loved the juxtaposition of the two of them…she was the calm to his chaos…the controlled next to his frenzy…it was captivating to read.

“Okay, okay,” she relented. “I was just trying to lighten the mood.”
“By teasing me? Don’t insinuate anything you don’t plan to follow through on.”
She narrowed her eyes. “I think we both know I don’t have a problem with follow through.”
“I’ve noticed, and so has every other man who’s ever laid eyes on you. It’s hard not to be drawn to someone like you. Femme fatale. That’s what makes you so dangerous.”
A vixen smile spread across Reagan’s lips. “Oh, you have to stop with the compliments today. First, I’m the devil, and now, a femme fatale? I’m starting to think you like me.”
“I don’t like anyone.” He smirked. “At least not for more than a night.”
She let out a loud laugh. “You’re full of shit, Evan James. But I’ll let you keep that cocky exterior up in case anyone tries to see past it.”

There is no way not to read an Ella Frank book and not expect exceptional sex. It’s just not possible. The woman can set a page on fire and The Fantasy was no exception. I mean if you open a book about a sex addict and don’t realize you’re getting erotica, then I don’t know what to say – but this was fantastic erotica. But Ella isn’t the only one who had a hand in The Fantasy…and if this is what I can come to expect from Brooke Blaine…then I’m intrigued. I have read books written by two authors before and sometimes it can sound like two people wrote it and sometimes I can’t tell the difference – in this case…I couldn’t tell the difference. It was seamless and blended very well, which made the reading experience that much more enjoyable.

‘He wondered what she’d do if he touched her now. If he said exactly what he was thinking. Fuck it.
“Maybe that’s what you want,” he said, his voice low and seductive like a vampire compelling its prey. She wasn’t moving, so he took that as a sign to continue. “Maybe you like the idea of me hiking that tight-as-fuck skirt up your legs, bending you over my desk, and shoving inside of you” – he paused and leaned a little closer – “just as I’ve been imagining all day.”’

Like I said earlier, The Fantasy is a serial…meaning, this is only the beginning of Evan’s journey…we’re barely skimming the surface and while I was at times wishing for more, the pacing was very natural. There is a progression there, I could feel it…it’s not a complete story but the build to what was coming at the end and where it will be taken in the next book was very well thought out. Speaking of the end…where we are left, definitely has me wanting more. The entire time I was begging for more progress with Reagan and Evan…which I know is the point…but the development in their…relationship, if you will, was very interesting and I can’t wait to see where Brooke and Ella take it next.

“You’re the fucking problem, because for the last two weeks, I’ve had a fucking erection I can’t seem to get rid of. Day after day, I’ve watched you walk around, making my cock fucking ache to sink inside you again, and you know what? I’ve been on my best behavior. I’ve looked, yeah. I won’t lie. But did I touch? No…I went home and tried to forget. Tried to somehow relieve this craving you’ve built deep inside me, but I think I’ve finally worked it out…” His eyes trailed down her neck, watching her pulse beat rapidly as she lowered her arms to the desk to steady herself. “It’s you. I want you.”

The series is perfectly named…A Desperate Man…fits Evan perfectly, and this series has turned me into a desperate woman. I want more…need more…I almost feel like I’m the addict now because I have to know what’s in store for Evan and Reagan! I’ll be anxiously awaiting the next volume.

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Ella Frank is a #1 Amazon Bestselling Author. She writes both contemporary and erotic fiction and is best known for her Exquisite Series, and Temptation Series.

The minute she began her love affair with reading, she became and avid supporter of the romance genre and has never looked back.

Ella is Australian born and bred but currently resides in Houston, Texas with her husband.