There isn't a situation that can't be fixed by a coat of chocolate body paint or a liberal smear of Champagne Lick, right? Wrong!
Ever since her father was murdered by a gang of youths, Sienna Lloyd has named herself Potterford’s protector—her sexy lingerie shop is a place where the town’s women can visit and feel safe. But when that shop is in danger of closing, Sienna needs a solution that will keep her in Potterford, where she can always look out for her mother, friends, and clients.
The answer? Move the shop to her home at 16 Marsden Place. The problem? Her new neighbor, the delicious but seriously uptight Jack Beaton. Oh, and his four-year-old twin girls.
Jack has just moved to the tiny town of Potterford in a bid to start over. To build a new life that keeps his children safe from their violent and sex-crazed mother. So when he discovers his neighbor intends to open a sex shop right next door, Jack will do anything to ensure it doesn’t happen…including fighting every ounce of his attraction to the shop’s owner and his innate need to trust again.
Excerpt:
BANG, BANG, BANG!
The sound of a fist against glass hurled her back onto her ass. “Holy crap!”
The trowel flew from Sienna’s hand up into the air, narrowly missing her left ear on its descent. Her blood pumped wildly as her heart beat an out-of-control tattoo. She looked to the patio doors. Two of the most angelic—yet mischievous—faces she’d ever seen stared back at her.
Surely those two hadn’t the strength to bang on the doors that hard? She frantically scanned the back of the house. Bedroom windows: empty. Kitchen window: empty. Then the back door opened. Scrambling to her feet, Sienna brushed the mud from her knees.
“Oh, Lord. Here goes.” She plastered on a smile as embarrassment burned her cheeks.
When the man, presumably the kids’ father, emerged into the sunlight, her smile disintegrated, and her mouth dropped wide open. Come to Mama.
He strode out onto the decking. His shoulders were broad, his face handsome in a rugged, careless kind of way. His hair was thick and dark, with bits flopping onto his forehead. She clamped her mouth shut to lock in a tongue that wanted to loll onto the grass.
“Can I help you?” He walked down the steps toward her.
His voice was deep, husky, and very, very male. Sienna shivered and drew in a shaky breath. Talk, woman, talk. “Um, hi.” She smiled. “Funny story. I was just…”
“Pinching some of my flowers?”
She laughed, the sound far too high-pitched. “I wasn’t pinching your flowers. I was checking the soil. I’ve been...um…you know, watering them while the place has been empty.”
She bent over to retrieve the trowel. Anything to escape the unrelenting intensity of his gorgeous blue eyes. Lingering for a moment, she cranked her brain into overdrive thinking of something remotely feasible and effective to get her out of there in the minimum amount of time. But her brain remained so unresponsive, she considered the fact she might be dead.
About the author:
About the author:
1. What inspired you to write this book?
Sienna – she came to me fully-formed and ready for action. Her voice just popped into my head one day and I knew she owned a lingerie shop that was under threat of closure. Her only option was to relocate and then she realizes her hunky new neighbor has four-year-old twins in tow…that’s when her real problems begin! ;)
2. What characters do you connect with most?
In 16 Marsden Place, Sienna was my absolute favorite, closely followed by her best friend, Kelsey. Both of them are intelligent, savvy and streetwise but each with their own vulnerabilities and regrets. Humor is the essence of this book and Sienna uses it as an emotional shield.
She was so easy to write and connect with as I often use humor myself in uncomfortable or upsetting situations – I really hope my readers like her as much as me. It’s been a while since I released a comedy… * gulp *
3. What's your favorite book-turned movie?
Gone With The Wind is one of my all-time favorite books and the movie is just fantastic too – so for a classic, that would be my choice. For more contemporary favorites, I really enjoyed Message in a Bottle, Dear John and The Notebook and The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks. Great books and movies…
4. If you could be best friends with one of your characters, who would it be?
See above – Sienna or Kelsey all the way! They are such fun and honest girls to be around. They like their naughtiness, their wine and their men…what’s not to like??
5. Can you tell us about any other books you're writing?
I am just about to start writing book four in my ongoing series with Harlequin Superromance. It will be a Christmas 2014 book, which is my first Christmas book ever, and I am so excited! Finding Justice (Feb 2013), A Man Like Him (Aug 2013) are this year’s releases and then books three and four will be released in 2014. They are all set in the fictional UK seaside town of Templeton Cove.
As this community grows and I learn more and more about the characters, I just want to write more and more books. This is my first series and now completely understand how other authors have series than run to twenty plus books…the characters grow and change, new people come in and others leave. Templeton Cove is very real to me and I love it!
6. What do you do in your spare time?
I love to read, knit, socialize with friends and family as well as going for long dog walks across the beautiful English countryside where I live. We have some gorgeous scenery surrounding where we live as well as famous places of history just a short car drive away. I dream of one day owning a house by the stream running through Bourton-on-the-Water – http://www.bourtoninfo.com/
7. Who's your inspiration?
Personally – my mum and my husband. My mum for her strength through adversity and her patience with my brother and I when we were going up! My husband because he’s one of the most hard-working, kind, funny and ambitious men in the world. He is a financial adviser by day and a vocalist by night – the women love him but that’s fine…I get to take him home, lol!
Professionally – there are too many writers who have inspired me over the years to mention all of them, but the writers who impacted me the most when I was young were Enid Blyton and then Judy Blume. I was around 11 or 12 when I knew I wanted to write.
Most favorite writers nowadays are Nora Roberts, Robyn Carr, Tess Gerritsen, Jodi Picoult and Philippa Gregory.
8. If you were stranded on a desert island which character do you want by your side?
From 16 Marsden Place, it would have to be Jack…handsome, built, intelligent, caring, a gorgeous dad to twin girls and just as sexy as hell. Yep, Jack…
9. Team Edward or Jacob?
Team Jacob.
10. Team Peeta or Gale?
With the risk of losing readers, I actually had to Google this, lol! My daughter will go crazy – she LOVES the Hunger Games, both books and movie. I’ll have to pass because I neither read nor watched, oops!
About the author:
Rachel lives with her husband and two young daughters in a small town near Bath in the UK. After having several novels published by small US presses, she secured agent representation in 2011. In 2012, she sold two books to Harlequin Superromance. She also writes Victorian romance for Kensington--her debut was released in April 2013.
16 Marsden Place with Omnific Publishing is her first romantic comedy since 2010.
She has just signed a further three-book contract with Harlequin Superromance.
Rachel is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and Romance Writers of America. When she isn’t writing, you’ll find Rachel with her head in a book or walking the beautiful English countryside with her family and beloved black Lab, Max. Her dream place to live is Bourton-on-the-Water in South West England…although she hopes a dream visit to Canada might just change her mind!
She likes nothing more than connecting and chatting with her readers and fellow romance writers. Rachel would love to hear from you!
26 comments:
I just love that excerpt. It makes me laugh every time. Sienna sounds so likeable and Jack, well.....
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Thank you for hosting
This is going to be one fun read. Thank you for the tour.
Kit3247(at)aol(dot)com
Loved the excerpt!! Sounds like a really good book!
peki0101(at)hotmail(dot)com
Well, it's the last day of the tour and I want to say I've enjoyed following you around, learning more about you and your books. So, thanks for a good time!
kareninnc at gmail dot com
I love the idea of this book...I bet it's a fantastic read!
books4me67 at ymail dot com
I loved the excerpt. I have to admit I have never, yet, seen a man that made my tongue want to lull out on the grass. lol. Thanks for the giveaway!
ArdarelFeuer@gmail.com
The excerpt is great! I want to read the book now!
Love it!!
This sounds like a really cute book! Thanks for the great giveaway!
Sounds like a great read!!
Thanks for the chance to win!
natasha_donohoo_8 at hotmail dot com
Great excerpt. Can't wait to read this. Thanks for the giveaway!
What fun it will be to read about these two as they learn to care about each other. I can hardly wait.
I didn't know the Team Peeta or Team Gale question either!
That's a nice excerpt showing shock and surprise in the garden! That's one way to meet the sexy new neighbor.
catherinelee100 at gmail dot com
I am honestly so excited to read 16 Marsden Place! It sounds all kinds of fun.
I've had such a blast on the tour!
All my best,
Chelsea.
justforswag(AT)yahoo(DOT)com
I am so glad that I stumbled across this post, I haven't heard of this book before. Sounds good. :)
TGReads(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Lovely interview
bn100candg at hotmail dot com
Yes! Totally can't wait to read this! Adding it to my TBR list... Love that cover, too ; ) I always wonder how much power they have over the direction of the design of their book cover. My brother just got into designing book covers and would like to know what he should expect! Thanks for sharing with us and Thanks for the giveaway!
mestith at gmail dot com
Sounds like a great book!! Awesome interview too.... I agree, team Jacob for sure!!
nomispp AT gmail DOT com
If you can believe it, I cant STAND Gone With the Wind. Too long for me and I'm not really a fan of the civil war.
andralynn7 AT gmail DOT com
Great excerpt and interview! This book sounds fabulous! <3
caliwillette(at)gmail(dot)com
I LOVE THE EXCERPT. THANK YOU. GNHARRIS92@GMAIL.COM
Looks like a story written by someone who knows what they are talking about. She has 2 young daughters and Jack has twin girls. I am going to have to google how many sex stores there are in Bath.
I love the excerpt! It sounds like a great book! :)
I love stumbling upon new books on these blogs! This one looks like something I would really enjoy! I always wonder how much say an author has on the design of their cover. My brother is getting into the book designing business so it's something I'm especially interested in!
Thanks for the giveaway!
mestith at gmail dot com
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