Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Blog Tour - Mika Jolie's NEED YOU NOW (Martha's Way, #2), Review and Interview!

Cover Reveal Blast


NeedYouNow_Final


Need You Now

Martha’s Way Book 2
 By Mika Jolie
Release Date: November 19, 2014
Publisher Secret Cravings Publishing

Synopsis

Elementary school teacher Liliana Serrano has never been one to let others determine her future. Whether it’s her pack of three overly protective brothers or her Puerto-Rican, American heritage, she stands on her own. Which is exactly how she entered her arrangement with Adam Aquilani. The hot formula one driver is aloof, detached and not interested in relationship. After a cheating fiancĂ©, no strings attached sex was just what she needed. Except one year later, they’re still hooking up and things aren’t so clear cut anymore. Especially when a surprise pregnancy enters the picture. Adam is determined to marry Lily and raise their child as a family. But Lily refuses to settle for anything less than love. As the two go on a journey of discovering, secrets are revealed, testing the strength of their connection. Can they learn not to give the past the power to define their future? Need You Now is book two of the Martha’s Way Series. This book is a stand-alone story and you do not need to read book one to read this installment.


Review

Amazon/Goodreads rating: 5/5
In Patti's Imagination rating: 9.5/10

While I was reading The Scale, I was asked if I wanted to read Need You Now for an honest review, since I was participating in the tour already. By that point in The Scale, I was in love with these characters and probably couldn't have said YES fast enough! Not only did Mika live up to my expectations, she exceeded them.

Jason and Minka made a great, interesting and sexy couple, but Adam and Lily scorched the page. Strong female characters win with me every time, and I liked how Mika balanced Lily's desire to stand on her own with the undeniable pull Adam had on her. Lest we think this was one-sided, Mika gives us Adam's point of view and lets the reader know, Lily's ideas in her head don't mesh with Adam's true feelings, even if he's hesitant to admit that. See, Adam holds a lot of pain inside, and he's not used to letting people in the way that he wants Lily to be a part of his soul. They both have to work past their personal hang-ups and move forward together. Each character grew in their own way over the course of the story, and in the end, that's what I need to see.

For me, stories are all about the characters. A story with characters who move me can make a contrived plot and bland settings seem reasonable, and they almost always get at least 3 stars from me. But this story, it was one which excelled all around. The plot had some interesting developments (which I won't divulge to avoid spoilers) and made me love Adam and Lily even more. While I read, it seemed as if I was there with the characters on Martha's Vineyard. Yet, it didn't appear that I was reading about a bunch of spoiled rich people in the way it could have if the story was written by a less-talented author. And the secondary characters, well, they're fabulous. We learned a little more about Minka and Jason, glimpsed some additional Claire and Forrest, and peeked at Blake and Keely. Then there were Lily's brothers...oh, I cannot wait to have more of them!

It all adds up to a story I did not want to put down. Was it perfect? No. But when I'm wishing the next book was ready, I know it's a stellar read. Thanks for letting me go on this adventure with you, Mika!

Buy Links




Excerpt


Her phone beeped again. Damn it! It wasn’t like her brothers to bother her that much…unless something was actually wrong. “I’m sorry, but I need to check my messages. Something may be wrong.” She offered the apology while reaching for her phone.
The text read—

Liliana

Her heart hitched. Oh Lord, only one man ever called her by her full name.
The second text read—
Where are you? I’ve been trying to reach you for two days.

Her breath caught. She had been ignoring his calls and text messages the last two days. She needed to focus and figure out how to dump his ass. Even the fact that her best friend, Minka, had defended him and advised her to give him a chance to explain had set her off. She couldn’t blame her friend, though. Her mind was clouded and she was high on love. In about eight weeks, Minka was going to marry one of Adam’s best friends. Except Jason had been a model fiancĂ© and never felt the need to kiss any other but his lovely soon-to-be wife. She couldn’t say that about Adam Aquilani.

I’m imagining you naked in my bed.

Oh, God. The room became sweltering hot. She sat in the broiling heat Adam generated even miles away.

I’m horny and I want to make you come. Phone sex?

Her breath rose to her chest and that little spot between her thighs throbbed with need. She didn’t need to read further. She knew the messages would get more explicit. That was Adam’s way and somehow he had managed to entangle her in his dirty little games, including phone sex.



Interview with Mika Jolie


I'm so excited to do this interview! This will be a fun discussion, talking about writing and the books as opposed to the generic questions. Thanks for joining us, Mika!

First, let's talk about writing in general, to help put us in your shoes.

In Patti's Imagination: Where do your ideas tend to generate? Are you a people watcher? All writers leave a bit of themselves in their work, but do you tend to draw from your own life and the people around you to a greater or lesser degree?

Mika Jolie: Wow, that’s a mouthful. (Chuckles). Where do I start? I get my ideas from everything around me. For example, The Scale came to me from a conversation I heard between two ladies at the gym. It was maybe a two-seconds conversation between them. It went something like this:
Woman 1: “Wow, you’re so skinny. You look great!”
Woman 2: (Pinched the flesh by her waist and grimaced) I’m so fat

I remember sitting there thinking, wow, this woman is skin and bones, but when she sees herself in the mirror, she sees an overweight person. So, I decided to explore our ongoing battle with the scale.

I’m definitely a people-watcher. One day I was at WholeFoods with my husband, I leaned to him and told him I was going to write this woman (she was standing in front of me) in my book. (Laughs). I think it helps to draw ideas from your own life and people or things around you. It makes the stories more realistic. I don’t write fantasies. I’m not saying I would never, but right now, I try to stay true to what is happening around me.

In Patti's Imagination: When writing a series, do you find that the secondary characters are screaming at you for their own story? Did the concept of a series spring forth before or during the first book?

Mika Jolie: Oh My God! You have no idea. When I was writing The Scale, I started cheating on Jason with Adam. While writing Need You Now, I found myself cheating on Adam (as hot as he is) with Forrest and so forth. It’s insane

I always knew it was going to be a series. It started with just two books - Jason and Adam. Then, during my fourth re-write of The Scale, I introduced Claire and Forrest, and I knew I had three books in my hands. I didn’t realize I had to tell Blake and Keely’s story until after I had finished writing The Scale. There’s so much between the sisters that needs to be explored.

In Patti's Imagination: How important is research and storyboarding to you in the writing process? Is there a specific way you like to keep track of ideas if you storyboard?

Mika Jolie: I love my characters. The more I know about them, the more I connect with them and bring them to life. I actually wrote a blog post about how important research is when writing. Here’s the link to the blog if anyone would like to check it out.

As for storyboarding, I can get a little crazy there. I have boards for everything, from their house, cars, the way they dress, my writing muse, etc. If anyone would like to get a little crazy with me, please connect with me on Pinterest.

On my personal blog, I have a page for each book of the series. I even have a Meet the Characters post where I have their bio posted. (Shakes head and smiles) It gets a little crazy. But I love it. Here’s the link to the Martha’s Way Series page on my blog

In Patti's Imagination: Are you a linear writer? Or do you compose scenes as they come to you? Do you outline? Are you a plotter or a pantser or a little of both?

Mika Jolie: In general, I’m a linear writer, but at times, I do write scenes as they come, put them to the side, and return to them later. Ah, the dreaded outline question. (Grimaces). I admit I do, but really very little. I did outline the first three chapters of the third book of the series, only because the first three chapters are so crucial to the rest of the story and I don’t want to lose sight of any details. Other than that, my outline consists of three things: what should happen, what must happen and what could happen. While writing The Scale, I deviated from those and I had to go back and rewrite a good part of the story because I wasn’t happy with the way the story ended.


Now that we're more familiar with your writing process, let's talk about the books in the Martha's Way Series.

In Patti's Imagination: The series is set primarily in Martha's Vineyard. Martha's Way is an inn owned by Jason Montgomery, the male lead in book 1, The Scale. What made you decide to set the story in the Vineyard?

Mika Jolie: Oh I love it there. My family and I go there every year. Once I’m there, I forget about the rest of the world. I love the quaintness of the island, the warmth.

In Patti's Imagination: Let's start with The Scale (Martha's Way, #1). There are several interesting themes in this story, including an interracial relationship, sibling rivalry, infidelity and self-image issues. One thing I enjoyed the most about how you handled these themes was the fact that they weren't typical tropes. Blake is a man of color, but there is never a question as to whether or not it's more appropriate for Minka, as a woman of color, to want him as opposed to Jason, who is white. Likewise, there is a financial disparity between Minka and Jason, but that's never an issue between them, either. I liked the story more because I was meeting amazing characters whose lives had been shaped by their upbringing, but who were not defined solely by them. What drew you to each one of those themes? Was it a conscious decision to steer clear of stereotypes?

Mika Jolie: Most definitely. I didn’t want to make my books about race. I’ve read many Multicultural/Interracial books where the difference between the two characters is so stressed upon. I didn’t want to go there. That’s not my style. I’ve also read other mainstream romance novels where there is not even one ethnic character and I find myself thinking, really? How unrealistic is that?

I wanted to explore love in a diverse world. You see, my world is a mixed bag, I have in-laws who are Asian, German, African-American, and my husband is white. Yes, racism exists, but to me, love transcends hate, discrimination, etc.

There is a financial disparity between Minka and Jason, but don’t forget she drives an Audi and her parents are very prominent in their own way. There is a greater financial gap between Lily and Adam. But even there, I didn’t focus on it. It’s mentioned, but race and financial status do not drive either story. I prefer to explore the human psyche and what drives us.

I came from a multi-racial background, my grandmother was French. A blonde hair, blue eyes woman. In my family, we have it all. We joke we are the United Nations. You should see our house during a get together. It’s pretty funny and filled with love.

In Patti's Imagination: Was it more challenging to write The Scale because you were world-building?

Mika Jolie: The Scale was definitely a challenge. The published version is like the fourth. Initially, it was set in New Jersey where I live and Jason was not who he is now. Then I made him a musician. He became too whiny and waaay too in touch with his emotional side (Laughs). He wasn’t happy with me and let me have it. At one time I walked away from the book, but both Jason and Minka were pretty stubborn. They wouldn’t let me walk away from them.

In Patti's Imagination: When we get to Need You Now (Martha's Way, #2), our characters are well-established for a series reader. How important is it to you that each series book can be read as a standalone? Did you find it easier to write for Adam and Lily because their story began in the first book, or was it equally as difficult as when you had more world-building to do?

Mika Jolie: It was difficult in the sense that I had to make the book a standalone, and at the same time, pique readers curiosity to go back to The Scale, discover Minka and Jason, and find out how Lily and Adam first met. For example, the scene at the beach, when Adam first went to Lily, was written from Jason’s POV in The Scale, so we didn’t know what exactly happened between them until Need You Now.

In Patti's Imagination: As you wrote for Adam Aquilani, did you already know about his tragic past, or did he reveal it to you as the story progressed? I appreciated, as a reader, that Adam's wealth was less of a character in the story. It could easily have become another 'rich guy' story, but it never felt like that with Adam. Do you think that was about Adam as a character, or was it also intentional on your part to ignore the trend in rich guy romances?

Mika Jolie: Adam’s tragic past was one of my MUST. I toyed with the idea of how far I should take it - whether or not I needed to save him and not have him commit the actual act - but in the end, I decided to go there and strip him completely naked. After I wrote that scene, as heavy as it was, I was proud. I cried. My husband read it and told me I beat the shit out of Adam. At the same time, it helped make him human. He’s this incredible force, and as readers, we need to understand why he is that way.

I didn’t purposely downplay his wealth; it’s really all part of living on the Vineyard. For example, one time while we were there, my family was sitting right next to the Kennedy’s. No big deal. Another time, we were shopping right next to Ted Danson, again no big deal. When Ted left, he drove away in this old pick-up truck. That’s the life on the island. I wanted to capture that. There is definitely a class issue on the island though, which I’m going to explore in book three.

In Patti's Imagination: With Lily, we're presented with a very strong female lead in Need You Now. Do you prefer to write an empowered female lead? Do you find it challenging, as a writer, to help a character with a firm sense of self grow through the story?

Mika Jolie: I love to portray the different layers of people, especially women. Lily and Minka are best friends and complete opposite of each other, yet, there’s a piece of me in each one of them. You are so right, there was definitely a bit of a challenge there with Lily because she’s so centered. After I completed Need You Now, I went back and changed her character a bit. I needed to add some vulnerability to her character.

In Patti's Imagination: Last question. What's coming down the line for fans of the Martha's Way Series?

Mika Jolie: Well, book 3 and 4 will be published in 2015. Away We Stay is next. That’s Forrest and Claire’s story. I do intend to write Novellas here and there as a way to provide an update on the characters. I can practically write a novel about Jason and Minka and Lily and Adam again. (Laughs) But I don’t think I will go there, I want to keep it short. After that, I might take a bit of a break before writing my next series.

Thank you so much for joining us! We can't wait to have you back when Away We Stay (Martha's Way, #3) is published! Bring on Forrest and Claire!

Mika Jolie: (Smiles) Thank you for having me. This was so much fun. Great questions. I’m looking forward to our next chat.


Author Bio and Links

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Author of contemporary sensual, empowered romance, with fun relatable characters. Member of Secret Cravings Publishing. I live in New Jersey with what I often refer to as my Happy Chaos or my three men, which comprise of my husband and our two energizer bunnies. When I do have time to breathe, I like to run, hike with my camera at hand, and work on my gardening and knitting skills.
For latest news on my current WIP, interviews with fellow authors, or just to see what I’m up to, check out my blog: http://mikajolie.com/ While there, sign up for my newsletter for the latest news and giveaways. No spamming. I’m also on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads. Join me on my journey.

Books I’ve written

Martha’s Way Series
The Scale – Book One
Need You Now – Book Two
 

Author Contact Info




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Saturday, November 22, 2014

Cover Reveal - Xunaira J.'s BEFORE TIME

Cover Reveal Tour Banner 


BOOK INFORMATION

TITLE – Before Time SERIES – The Time Series AUTHOR – Xunaira J. GENRE – New Adult / Tragic Romance PUBLICATION DATE – 22nd November 2014 PUBLISHER – Amazon
  

BOOK SYNOPSIS


His eyes told her what his tongue could not.

Nineteen-year-old Onaiza Shahid is a loner and a dreamer, bookish and socially isolated. A chance ramble into a chatting software changes everything. The words of a stranger compel her. Addicted and falling fast, their secret love changes her life. But will the idealistic teenager get her happily ever after?


Before Time - Book Cover 

  

BUY & TBR LINKS






AUTHOR BIO


As a thirteen year old teenager, Xunaira J. aspired to be an author someday. From short stories to novellas, she has written them all but as an adult now, she has published two short stories and is now aiming to publish her first Novel, Before Time, scheduled for November release. Xunaira resides in Islamabad, Pakistan and enjoys a hot cup of cappuccino, a good romance novel and her favorite music from the 80's. Apart from that, when she's not working on her current literary project, she loves developing mobile applications and studies as a software engineer.


AUTHOR FOLLOW LINKS


AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE –  WEBSITE –  BLOGFACEBOOK TWITTER –  GOOGLE+PINTEREST –  GOODREADS SHELFARI –  OTHERS


 

Reveal & Blitz Hosted & Organized by

 
1-MINIBUTTON
 

Release Day Blast - Leigh Hutton's JUMP GIRL (Go Girls Chronicles, #2)




Show jumping is an extreme sport with a dress code, one this girl doesn't follow... Imagine being dumped by your mother as a newborn and shifted between foster homes your entire childhood. Imagine being taken in and offered hope for your future by a kind, loving show jumping socialite. Imagine falling in love with some of the most gorgeous horses in the world, and making a life in the thrilling and glamorous sport of international show jumping.

Now imagine it all being taken away. Ebony Scott Harris is painfully close to making her dreams a reality when the only mother she has ever known mysteriously dies. She’s forced from their home to live with the gold-digging aunt, who takes her in only to ride the prized show jumpers she claims are now hers.

Teetering on the edge of a hopeless depression, Ebony is saved by the discovery of a forgotten horse nearly starved to death, and an unlikely partnership with a handsome stranger, whom she must learn to trust if she is to uncover the truth about her mother’s death and reclaim her home.

But with the evil aunt selling her best and beloved horse, a maniacal ex-coach out for revenge and more savage competitors than she can count, Ebony has a lot more at stake than proving the truth, saving her horses and jumping for gold at the World Equestrian Games...

The highly anticipated second book in The Go Girls Chronicles - stories of gutsy girls in action sports, by Leigh Hutton.






"I am excited for the Jump Girl book because it will be something that riders can actually relate too. It’s nice that there is a book that reveals the excitement of the sport while showing there can still be problems and a lot of times things won’t go as planned!"
Shelby Edwards
Real Life Jump Girl



"Leigh has a talent for making the reader be captured in their imagination. I was able to imagine scenes, accents, and how people looked. It was different and refreshing."
[review of Rev Girl]
Angel Reads
Book Blogger



"[Jump Girl] gives us a look into the fierce yet glamorous world that is Show Jumping, as well as; Love & Romance, Action & Adventure, Murder & Mystery, Redemption & Self Discovery, all woven together beautifully in this fast paced coming of age novel. I have been lucky enough to read Jump Girl before its release and let me say it is brilliant. Awesome job Leigh. It made me yearn to have a Monster or Gallant of my own. I immediately fell for Ebony. Her life felt so real and I was drawn into it heart first. I could not put the book down. I practically read it in one sitting... Five of five stars for Jump Girl."

Sarah Fairbairn
Author and Goodreads Reviewer




Also available on iBooks and Nook from Barnes and Noble Paperback available from The Book Depository The paperback edition will be available via Amazon, and check out Leigh's Blog for more information where to purchase Jump Girl.


   A portion of every JUMP GIRL book sold goes to the Make-A-Wish Foundation to help grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions.

 


 
Leigh Hutton is a former News Ltd journalist and champion dirt bike racer and horse show jumper. She was born and raised in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains near Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and now lives with her husband and three young children in southeast Queensland, Australia. When she isn't wrangling the kids, swilling coffee, or writing, she loves to read, watch good TV and movies, shop, hit the beach, ride her motorbike and daydream about gorgeous horses.


 


Friday, November 21, 2014

Times, they are a changin'...*


Hi, everyone! A lot is happening in my world these days. One such thing is that the purpose of this blog is changing. You may (or may not) notice content disappear. That is because the author associated with this account will soon not exist as you've always known her.

The blog, however, will continue to be a place which supports authors, especially Indies and those who need it most. We'll be working with tour organizers as well as posting reviews on our own. It seemed a shame to terminate the relationships I've built over the last year as a blogger just because my writing career is coming to a close. As a reader, I love to support the authors whose books I enjoy and those new to the scene who need some extra help spreading the word about their work.

Another thing that will be different? Did you notice I said 'we'll'? That's because this is no longer a writing blog, but is a book blog. Leanne Smith Coulson, Anita Biškup and Connie McElfresh will be joining Patti Korbet here as bloggers/reviewers. We're hoping to gain a few more reviewers eventually, but for now, the four of us will post reviews on the blog.

Each day, the sun sets and it ushers in a brief period of darkness before a new morning. My career as author Patti Korbet it setting, but In Patti's Imagination is getting ready to break a new dawn. Join us, won't you?

*Edited to include our additional bloggers, who joined the team shortly after I posted this.

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Release Day Blitz - NEED YOU NOW by Mika Jolie

Cover Reveal Blast


NeedYouNow_Final


Need You Now

Martha’s Way Book 2
 By Mika Jolie
Release Date: November 19, 2014
Publisher Secret Cravings Publishing

Synopsis

Elementary school teacher Liliana Serrano has never been one to let others determine her future. Whether it’s her pack of three overly protective brothers or her Puerto-Rican, American heritage, she stands on her own. Which is exactly how she entered her arrangement with Adam Aquilani. The hot formula one driver is aloof, detached and not interested in relationship. After a cheating fiancĂ©, no strings attached sex was just what she needed. Except one year later, they’re still hooking up and things aren’t so clear cut anymore. Especially when a surprise pregnancy enters the picture. Adam is determined to marry Lily and raise their child as a family. But Lily refuses to settle for anything less than love. As the two go on a journey of discovering, secrets are revealed, testing the strength of their connection. Can they learn not to give the past the power to define their future? Need You Now is book two of the Martha’s Way Series. This book is a stand-alone story and you do not need to read book one to read this installment.


Review

Amazon/Goodreads rating: 5/5
In Patti's Imagination rating: 9.5/10

While I was reading The Scale, I was asked if I wanted to read Need You Now for an honest review, since I was participating in the tour already. By that point in The Scale, I was in love with these characters and probably couldn't have said YES fast enough! Not only did Mika live up to my expectations, she exceeded them.

Jason and Minka made a great, interesting and sexy couple, but Adam and Lily scorched the page. Strong female characters win with me every time, and I liked how Mika balanced Lily's desire to stand on her own with the undeniable pull Adam had on her. Lest we think this was one-sided, Mika gives us Adam's point of view and lets the reader know, Lily's ideas in her head don't mesh with Adam's true feelings, even if he's hesitant to admit that. See, Adam holds a lot of pain inside, and he's not used to letting people in the way that he wants Lily to be a part of his soul. They both have to work past their personal hang-ups and move forward together. Each character grew in their own way over the course of the story, and in the end, that's what I need to see.

For me, stories are all about the characters. A story with characters who move me can make a contrived plot and bland settings seem reasonable, and they almost always get at least 3 stars from me. But this story, it was one which excelled all around. The plot had some interesting developments (which I won't divulge to avoid spoilers) and made me love Adam and Lily even more. While I read, it seemed as if I was there with the characters on Martha's Vineyard. Yet, it didn't appear that I was reading about a bunch of spoiled rich people in the way it could have if the story was written by a less-talented author. And the secondary characters, well, they're fabulous. We learned a little more about Minka and Jason, glimpsed some additional Claire and Forrest, and peeked at Blake and Keely. Then there were Lily's brothers...oh, I cannot wait to have more of them!

It all adds up to a story I did not want to put down. Was it perfect? No. But when I'm wishing the next book was ready, I know it's a stellar read. Thanks for letting me go on this adventure with you, Mika!

Buy Links






Excerpt


“I need more, Adam. I need stability and tame.”

He sat back. “Tame,” he repeated.

“You’re not tame,” she said sadly. “You can never be tamed.”

He brushed a hand over his jaw and let out a breath. “You want boring.”

Silence.

He pushed his chair back, came to his full height and extended his hand to her. Puzzled, she looked at him. “I’ll walk you out.”

With a slight lip press, she absorbed the unexpected shock of disappointment and lowered her head to keep it from reflecting on her face. What did she expect? For him to fight for them, or even worse, try to convince her to stay.

“I want you, Liliana,” Adam admitted, his voice very quiet. “When I touch you, I melt. When I think of you touching me, I lose myself.”

Life needed to go easy on her. It just wasn’t right for him to tell her things like that. To whisper it as if she were the love of his life while he was breaking her heart.

“But I don’t fit the mold of your ideal guy. I can never be that person.”

There was a hint of regret in his voice that pulled at her heart. Lily glanced at him, his expression clouded. When she didn’t place her hand in his, he dropped his extended hand to his side and waited for her to join him.

This is it, she thought and stood. The end. No more Adam. No more secret smiles or early morning phone calls. She walked ahead of him, heading for the exit. Her heart beat a slow ache in her chest. She stumbled, almost tripping down the stairs. She quickly reached for the wall to catch her balance but he was already by her side, strong arms around her waist. Their faces inches away.

“Don’t fall,” he whispered. His gaze on her mouth.

The warning came too late. She already had.


Author Bio and Links

4e2b6c8152910a8ae018b4.L._V326465851_SX200_ 

Author of contemporary sensual, empowered romance, with fun, relatable characters. I’m also a wife, and mommy to 2 energizer bunnies. Member of Secret Cravings Publishing. When I do have time to breathe, I like to run, hike with my camera at hand, and work on my gardening and knitting skills. I promised my husband I’d knit him a scarf…that was 5 years ago. For latest news on my current WIP, interviews with fellow authors, or just to see what I’m up to, check out my blog: http://mikajolie.com/  Join me in my journey. 



Author Contact Info

Amazon Author page: http://bit.ly/1vunvxU



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Tuesday, November 18, 2014

REVIEW and AUTHOR INTERVIEW - Melissa Cutler's UNDEFEATED: A Bomb Squad Novel



Book Information

Title: Undefeated
Series: Bomb Squad
Publisher: InterMix
Publication Date: November 18, 2014
Pages (Print): 301


Synopsis


Welcome to Destiny Falls, New York, home of Bomb Squad—an ice hockey team full of rugged military heroes. The team’s battling a losing streak, but the season’s biggest game changer is one player’s second chance with the one who got away…

Yoga instructor Marlena Brodie is always up for a challenge, and her new job of snapping Bomb Squad out of their rut is definitely that, even though it means being in close contact with Liam McAllister, her high school crush gone bad. She can feel the damage pouring off of him—but also a wild and sexy strength that calls to her.

The Army turned Liam McAllister into a man, but as a combat medic, he saw far too much to ever be whole again. He’s not interested in the civilian world beyond his job as a carpenter, but he never stopped wondering what might have been with Marlena—and it isn’t long before she’s crashed through his carefully constructed walls. He longs for a new beginning with her, but to be the man she deserves, he’ll have to step out of his defensive zone and score the most important play of his life…

Buy Links for Undefeated



Books in the Bomb Squad hockey series:


Risky Business (Bomb Squad #1) - August 2014
Undefeated (Bomb Squad #2) - November 2014
Game Changer (Bomb Squad #3) - April 2015


Review


Amazon/Goodreads rating: 5/5

In Patti's Imagination rating: 10/10

It's always great when you're able to read a book on your TBR (to be read) list, especially when you've received an early review copy from the author. I actually didn't realize the book was on my TBR until I came to post my review. Yes, I'm that busy these days!


This was a solid 5 (or 10) stars for me, no doubt. As anyone who reads my reviews knows, I'm all about the characters, and first of all, two of my favorite types of male characters are hockey players and soldiers. It's not often that I've met a literary one of either whom I didn't like. Combine them into the same guy? Yeah, I'm sold immediately - it's like my crack. So, the book would have to be pretty bad to drop below 3 stars for me before I read a word. Couple said hottie hero (and Liam is a hero, no doubt about that) with a strong, imperfect female lead? Love it. Marlena is so refreshing. She's warring constantly between the girl she was and the woman she has become, because Liam, you see, has been her crush since she was a girl. Turns out, Liam had a crush on her for years, too, but he had resorted to the little boy way of dealing with his feelings by being mean to the girl he liked.


All that sounds great, and if done well has the bones to be an excellent story, with characters I want to know. Thankfully, Melissa Cutler did not disappoint. Her sex scenes were hot, yet tasteful. The relationships were realistic, as were the settings and the emotions. Care was taken to respect and still reveal mental illness and PTSD - both from the perspective of a Vet and from that of loved ones - as well as a civilian type of PTSD that Marlena suffered. Yes, she and Liam speak the same language, even when he thinks her Eastern philosophy won't mesh with him and when she's not so sure she'll ever be the girl for a dominant alpha.


Bottom line here, the characters made me want to keep reading, even past my bedtime and before I did anything else this morning. A story that can accomplish such a feat warrants 4 stars, minimum, and this one had the extra oomph to push it up to five. Destiny Falls is populated with plenty of great secondary characters who need stories. Apparently, Harper and Brandon are already on my TBR, and I'm hoping, at the very least, for Olivia, Will and Gabe to get stories of their own. More Bomb Squad, please!


One word of caution, not so much for me, but for anyone who wants this to be a 'hockey' story. It's not a manual for the game. Personally, my hockey romances don't need to detail play-by-play all the way through. If you think they do, skip this series so you won't trash it for not meeting your expectations. Otherwise, enjoy!


Excerpt


From Chapter One

At five minutes until Liam's appointment time, Marlena unlocked the door, then took a seat on the stability ball she used as a desk chair. Fifteen minutes later, she was still waiting. So much for him being in a rush to see her. She caught her reflection in the glass of her storefront. Despite the dim studio lighting, she still looked good—her hair perfect and flowing, her breasts luscious and well-defined in the skintight pink tank that topped her equally skintight yoga pants. If she couldn’t make him want her tonight, with her looking like this and the sensual mood of the studio, then he never would.

Maybe he really does just want a massage.

For a thousand dollars? Yeah, right.

When the studio door finally opened several minutes later, she delayed the inevitable by listening to the sounds that framed his entrance—the static whir of air and cars, and the scrape of the door’s weathering strip along the carpet. Then, bracing for impact, she turned her gaze from the far wall to look at him. The angles of dim lamplight, candles, and shadows carved a dark intensity onto his face and into the cut of his jaw. Only the gold cross he wore gleamed where it hung around his neck.

Every molecule in her being tensed as though hunkering in self-defense. Even her heart thudded in tight, quick bursts. Thousands of times she’d seen Liam casually, from a distance, over the past two decades. Thousands of times and it never got easier. She flexed her toes out, then curled them into the carpet.

Rolling his weight from one foot to the other in an agitated sway, he hooked his thumb toward the parking lot. “I saw my sister’s car. Was she checking up on me again?”

No polite greeting, which wasn’t a big deal because she wasn’t all that crazy about small talk, herself, but the suspicion in his tone tipped her out of balance as much as the sight of him had. She held his unyielding gaze. “You’re worried I told Olivia about your appointment tonight? I didn’t. She takes my evening yoga class. You ought to try it. It’d be a great complement to the massages. And would it be such a big deal if Olivia had been checking up on you? She wants to be a part of your life, if you’d let her.”

The hint of smirk he leveled at her tugged at his cheeks and tightened the edge of his eyes. He stepped more fully into the studio and stood before her desk, a soldier at ease, legs hip-width apart, hands clasped behind his back, spine straight. Marlena might be eternally doomed to a jarring visceral reaction whenever she saw him, but she hadn’t been intimidated by his rakish charm in high school, and she wasn’t intimidated by the cold hostility that had overtaken him in the army. Rather, Marlena had always felt that she and Liam were two incompatible predators, studying each other on opposite sides of glass in a zoo.

A wolf and a lioness.

Why do you think I’m here?” he asked.

Another question. Another test. Pressing her palms to the desk, she stood and searched the darkness in his gaze, looking for the answer. The ylang-ylang scent hovered between them, heavy with suggestion. “You’re here because you paid a pretty penny to be. Why do you think you’re here?”

The smirk erupted into a laugh, quiet, his eyes downturned. When he looked up again, it was through thick lashes. For the first time in a long time, she saw a hint of the charmer he used to be. “Why do I think I’m here? You trying to trip me up?”

It wasn’t a trick question. You can only discover your true reason for being here after you leave.”

He tapped the bald head of the laughing Buddha figurine on her desk. “You talk like a new age guru, which makes sense because that’s what you are, right?”

More or less.” She wasn’t a guru yet—not for many more years of study and practice—and nothing about what she taught or studied was new age, but ancient.

Another layer of artifice vanished from his face. She had no delusions that she was seeing the real Liam yet, but that would come. His true self would appear when she touched him, of that she was certain.

He set two tight fists on her desk and sank into his arms, the cross necklace swaying like a pendulum from his neck. “I’m here for my first massage.”

The skull tattoo on his right forearm looked up at her from black eye sockets. A tingle of desire skittered over her skin at the sight. She wasn’t usually turned on by his kind of hostile, in-your-face masculinity. But the tattoo turned her on anyway. The chiseled line of his jaw and his terse words turned her on. The flex of muscles beneath the thin, tight white tank top he wore turned her on even as he scared her with his potential for power. That was a funny thing the universe had done, making the line between lust and fear so fragile.

She pushed her tongue around her suddenly dry mouth, fighting for inner balance. It was useless. But if he wanted to keep pretending he was there for the massage, then she was professional enough to play along. She walked around the desk and met him head-to-head. “I’m ready for you.”


Interview



Tell us about the Bomb Squad series. As my review states, hockey plus soldiers is my personal crack. What made you decide to meld these two groups into a single entity? Was there a specific reason you focused on Vets with injuries? Did you do a lot of research on PTSD and amputees?

I’d decided to write a series featuring wounded soldiers because there are no more worthy heroes of finding true love than those who’ve sacrificed so much of themselves. I’m really drawn to flawed characters and blue-collar heroes in literature, and wounded vets seemed like a natural fit to write about.

Furthermore, I wanted my series to visit these soldier heroes years after their injuries had been sustained, once they’d gotten on with the business of living their lives, and I wanted to give them something cohesive and uber-manly to do together, to show their bond with each other as well as how strong and able they are. Since my favorite sport happens to be ice hockey, I started researching ice-hockey for people with disabilities. That’s when I stumbled upon information about a real-life wounded warrior ice hockey team in Boston who’d played an exhibition game with a wounded soldier ice hockey team from Russia more than a decade ago. And there you have it. Serendipity!

Like Undefeated, my most recent book, Time to Begin, also features two main characters who appear to be polar opposites, but in truth are more alike than they think (and more than I realized before I listened to them tell their stories!) Was it hard to balance that with Liam and Marlena when their life philosophies seemed to be so divergent? Personally, I loved how you wove them together on that other plane Liam mentioned – the one that involved just the two of them – showing that Liam's spirituality meshed with Marlena's focus on Eastern religion, and that her physical/sexual needs were not naturally that far off the mark from his when it came right down to it.

Congratulations on your latest release, Patti! I’m so glad that Liam and Marlena came across to you as polar opposites at the beginning of the book. That was definitely on purpose. I love to explore opposites in my books. Since the book deals a lot with Eastern philosophies, I wanted to show a real yin and yang hero and heroine and how well those two halves of the same coin complement each other beautifully.

One thing that Liam and Marlena have in common from the very beginning is that they’re both very physical people. Not just sexually, but in their daily lives—with yoga and dancing and their chosen careers. Both work with their hands—Liam as a carpenter and Marlena as a masseuse. This common element gave their relationship a jumping off point. The dancing element was an important character trait for me to include for Liam, because he’s such an introvert and hates civilians, but he loves to go to clubs and dance. Like I said, I like to explore the idea of opposites, so I try to give each of my characters one trait that seems totally at odds with the rest of his or her personality. If you go through my books, you’ll find this a lot.

Honestly, and I’ve chatted with another reader about this exact thing, I don’t think that Liam could’ve ever ended up with a different woman. Marlena is so singularly suited to him, it’s crazy. Especially in little ways. She doesn’t own a TV, is totally out-of-touch with pop culture, and she’s not into material goods. He really needs someone with a quiet, centered spirit to quell the storm in his mind from his ongoing struggles with PTSD.

As a writer, how do you develop new stories?

It’s a little different every time. When I’m imagining a brand new series, like Bomb Squad Hockey, I usually start with a concept, theme, or trope that I want to explore. And then I think about types of characters that I’ve been wanting to write and that I think will help me explore/expand/turn-on-its-head that particular concept or trope or theme. I think a lot about opposites.

With Undefeated, I knew I wanted to write about a former soldier with severe PTSD. Not PTSD as character shorthand for a damaged, brooding alpha hero, but an actual crippling, life-altering illness. I think that people who cope with PTSD, who undergo treatment and emerge from the darkness of being suicidal and crippled with guilt, have the hearts of lions. I can’t think of a braver thing than to go to battle against your own mind so you can heal. That’s badass, which the hero of Undefeated, Liam, definitely is.

I’ve found that I’m often inspired by my secondary characters. Does this happen to you? I wondered because I immediately looked at Harper and Brandon, and I wanted a story for them. I was excited that theirs is next. I’m hoping that we’ll get some additional stories for the Bomb Squad crew – personally, I want Gabe, Will and Olivia to find happiness, too. Is that in the cards?

I always try to create secondary characters who are so fleshed out, interesting, and real that readers want them to have their own happily-ever-afters, too. That’s my goal with every book.

Harper and Brandon’s book, Game Changer, is EPIC, by the way. I love it so much. Lots of twists and turns and awesomeness. Brandon accepts the role of the “groom” in a reality TV show much like The Bachelor, and then the book just explodes from there. There’s an epic road trip, some great new secondary characters (including Duke’s granddaughter), and one of my favorite endings ever. That book comes out next May. I’m really hoping I can write additional Bomb Squad stories after that, too, even though I don’t yet have any contracts set in stone. I would love to give Gabe, Will, and Olivia their happily-ever-afters!

I’m an organic writer, a pantser in execution, but I have plots very defined in my head, with the occasional email to myself that tacks the ideas somewhere I can return to them later if need be. What method do you use, Plotter or Pantser? What appeals most to you about this approach?

I’m a plotter, but not so much that I map out the details of every scene. But I can’t start writing until I have an excellent handle on my main characters’ goals, fears, and needs, and how those three things complement/clash with the other characters’ goals, fears, and needs. That’s what really drives my plotting time before I start writing.

I’m not sure I chose plotting because it appeals to me. It’s just what I naturally do. My advice to writers always is: honor your natural writing style. The more you cultivate it, the better a writer you’ll be.

Do you listen to music when you write? I create playlists for each story, but I've met plenty of authors who can't be distracted by music with words. Which category do you fall into? And if you have a playlist for Liam and Marlena, can you share it with us?

Yes, I do make playlists for my books. I even give each character at least one “theme song.” I don’t always listen to the playlist as a write—I generally prefer ambient noise like rainymood.com—but I listen to it while I cook or drive or answer emails. It helps me meditate on my characters’ emotional arcs.

I’d love to share my playlist for UNDEFEATED.
“Somebody to Die For” by Hurts — this was Liam’s theme song. Really that whole album by Hurts, titled Exile, was great for my book.
“Running up that Hill” by Placebo
“Life in the Pain” by Safety Suit
“Drunk in Love” by Beyonce — sexytimes!
“Like a Prayer” by Madonna — one of Marlena’s theme song
“Independent Women” by Destiny’s Child — Marlena’s other theme song
“All Night Doctors” by Bush
“The Only Exception” by Paramore
“Secret Garden” by Bruce Springsteen
“Don’t Fear the Reaper” by Blue Oyster Cult and the dance remix version you can listen to here: https://soundcloud.com/phatkidz/blue-oyster-cult-dont-fear-the


What's next on your writing agenda? Give us an idea of what you'll be publishing over the next year.
Right now I’m finishing up a Harlequin Romantic Suspense that’ll be out in July 2015
Also coming in 2015 is the third Bomb Squad Hockey book, GAME CHANGER
Other than that, I have some exciting news that I’m not yet at liberty to announce, but you know my Facebook followers and newsletter subscribers will hear it first!


Some fun get-to-know you questions.

Favorite color? Red
Coffee or tea, neither, both? Coffee all the way! I drink Bay Blend from Trader Joe’s
Favorite sport? Hockey!
Last movie you watched in the theater? Gone Girl
Last band you saw live in concert? Brad Paisley

Finally, share with us your social media contacts so we can keep up with your work. Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Thank you so much for having me! All my social media links are in my bio below. The best ways to keep in touch with me are through my Facebook page and my monthly newsletter.

About the Author





Melissa Cutler knows she has the best job in the world writing sexy contemporary romances and romantic suspense. She was struck at an early age by an unrelenting travel bug and is probably planning her next vacation as you read this. When she's not globetrotting, she's enjoying Southern California's flip-flop wearing weather and wrangling two rambunctious kids. She loves hearing from readers at melissa@melissacutler.net, or on Facebook (www.facebook.com/MelissaCutlerBooks ) and Twitter (@m_cutler). Visit www.melissacutler.net to learn more about Melissa and her books and don’t forget to sign up for her newsletter: http://bit.ly/16mkpCs