Lisa Suzanne Interview

I reviewed A Little Like Destiny on Tuesday so you all know how I felt about it.

Literally minutes after I finished the 3rd book I wrote Lisa Suzanne and asked her if she would be interested in doing an interview with me.

Guys, she was awesome!! She wrote me back instantly and she was so stinkin' nice. She let me fan girl forever and I have to tell you, it meant the world.

So thank you Lisa for not only taking the time to answer my questions but for also being such an awesome human.




1. How old were you when you knew you wanted to be an author?

I always loved to write, but I never wanted to share my writing with anyone. It wasn't until I had my husband read something I wrote back in 2012 that he encouraged me to look into publishing. I finally got up the courage, and now I've published 21 books in under six years!

2. You've said you created these characters over 20 years ago, what made you decide to release them to the world?

I started writing what eventually became A Little Like Destiny when I was back in college. I actually just found a notebook the other day with some of the original story in it! At some point I typed up what I had started on yellow legal pads and in notebooks, and I kept adding to it and adding to it. Every time I finished writing a different project, I'd open the file and read through the story, but it got to the point where it was so long, it was overwhelming to even think about editing it. So in 2017, I decided to start over from scratch, use the characters I knew (and loved) so well, and drop them into a different time and setting, I couldn't stop and was beyond happy with the finished product.

3. Is there any advice you have for aspiring writers?

If you love to write, make time to do it every day. When I tell people I'm an author, the first response is almost always, "Oh, I've always wanted to write a book!" If you want to write it, make the time to write it! For any writers aspiring to become full-time authors, my advice would be to understand that there's so much more that goes into this career than just having fun writing a book. I've learned so much in the past six years, but maybe one of the most important lessons is that being an author means running your own business. Only about 25% of this career is actually writing the book.

4. Vail is Reese's favorite band EVER, who is your favorite band?

Matchbox Twenty, with Maroon 5 as a close second!

5. I am not the biggest fan of love triangles and I'm usually set in my ways. I don't think I've ever swayed once my mind is made up. However you stumped me with this book, lol! Did you know all along who you wanted Reese to end up with?

Yes! This was always meant to be Reese's story with the man she ended up with (I'm trying to avoid spoilers, haha!). I always knew it would be him and it was always his story.

6. If you could put on a festival with Vail as the headliner, who else would you have play?

Matchbox Twenty, Maroon 5, Imagine Dragons. OMG, that would be an awesome show!

7. Why did you decide to write 3 books instead of one?

The story was too long to fit into one book. Somehow I always knew it was going to be a trilogy. To me it always had three distinct parts: Reese falls in love, fights her feelings for both men, and then the conclusion. But the original story took place over a summer, and the books were divided into June, July, and August.

8. I have to ask it, which celebrities do you think could portray your characters in a film?

Oooh that's hard! Obviously some really hot men for Mark and Brian! I feel like the models I chose for my covers really represent exactly how I picture the characters, so Mike Chabot for Mark and Forest Harrison for Brian.If we're talking Hollywood, that's super hard for the men. no one has the exact right look, but someone like Adam Levine comes to mind. For Brian, maybe Zac Efron. For Reese, someone like Evangeline Lilly or Victoria Justice would work.

9. How did you feel when you finished the trilogy?

Part of me felt a little sad because I knew I was finally letting these characters I'd known for so long out into the world. It's scary to let them go for them to be judged when I've held them so close to my heart for so long. But the other part of me was really excited. I could feel it in my bones that this series was different, that this one was going to be important and special for my career.

10. If A Little Like Destiny had a theme song what would it be?

It's funny because nearly every book I write, I have one song I listen to on repeat as I go. For this book (and series), though, I don't have just one. I think because it came from such a huge span of time, it's hard to pinpoint one song. As I rewrote the version I ended up publishing, two songs that I played over and over are "Heavy" by Linkin Park a lot as well as "Sound of Silence" by Disturbed. I don't think either of those necessarily represent the story all that well, but both have pieces in them that remind me of parts of the characters.


If you'd like to follow Lisa Suzanne on Social Media click here:

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A Little Like Destiny by Lisa Suzanne

Last month I downloaded this book with Kindle Unlimited. (I'll save you the speech on it because I already told you how wonderful KU is in my previous reviews) I picked it up a couple weeks ago and read all 3 books.

Like within a couple days.

I could NOT put them down.

Teacher Reese Brady goes with her best friend to see her absolute favorite band.

And then goes home with the lead singer. The literal man of her dreams. Mark Ashton.

The next morning she sneaks out of his penthouse, refusing to be "one of the many" who lingers in hopes he wants more than one night with them. Naturally once she reaches the lobby she drops her bag, spilling out its entire contents. While putting everything back in her bag an unbelievably attractive man starts to help her. He asks her for coffee but she passes.

Flash forward and she's now in an office building ready to meet someone who she's hopeful will donate money to her school. Turns out its the hot dude from the hotel who was helping her with her bag. Conversation happens and Reese finds herself attracted to the young businessman named Brian Fox. So she agrees to go out with him.

The two of them spend more and more time together and she begins to fall for him - however the entire time she's been with him she's not stopped thinking about her one night with Mark. Things begin getting more and more serious between the two and one night Brian takes her with him to a party at his brothers house to meet him and their sister. However when they get to the house it's a little familiar. Scratch that. A whole helluva lot familiar.

It's Mark's door.

Her boyfriend is the brother of her favorite rock star.

Oy.

I'm going to start with my negative comment just to get that pesky little bugger outta the way. Sometimes Reese made me a little loony. She went so back and forth on things sometimes that I actually wanted to slap her to get her to focus. I'm not sure I've ever loved a character more that also drove me so crazy.

Okay now that that's over let me tell you more.

I am not the biggest fan of love triangles - they can drive me a bit wild sometimes - however I will say that never have I ever swayed once I pick a team. I love Jacob but girl, I'm team Edward. I love Peeta but no I'm team Gale. Whether the character ends up with the person I like most or not I still do not sway.

Until now.

I was totally team Brian. Nothing was going to change my mind and I mean nothing. When Mark was reintroduced and we go to learn more about that night and more about him I told myself, "Self, you will not change your opinion. You love Brian. You choose Brian." Then before I realized it I told myself, "Self, you have changed your opinion. You love Mark. You choose Mark."

The moment that I finished this book I began book 2 (which I finished in a day and a half or so) and then picked up the third. I couldn't stop reading. I needed to know what was going to happen. I had to know who she'd pick and how they would react.

I loved these books so much that now that I've finished I actually feel like a piece of me is missing. Yeah, it's that good.

So in case you can't tell I DEFINITELY recommend this book - and this series.

Buy A Little Like Destiny by clicking HERE

125,000 Ways To Say I Love You by Pia Frey

Happy Valentine's Day fellow book lovers!!

Today I wanted to share a book with you that I was sent and am currently obsessed with!!

125,000 Ways To Say I Love You is an interactive flip book that you have complete control over! There are 3 sections with multiple phrases or words and you get to combine them any way that you want. You can make it say pretty much anything. It can be something super sweet or something a little bit salty ;)

It's the perfect book to give someone for Valentines Day - or really any day. I also think it's a fun book to buy for yourself. I've been having so much fun changing what it says and literally laughing out loud at some of them.

If you'd like to buy this book for you or your special someone click any of the links below! :)

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Books A Million

Samantha Garman Interview

On Tuesday I shared my review for Queen of Klutz and if you've read it then you know how much I adored it!

I was doing backflips - my nose just grew, I don't know how to do backflips - when I wrote Samantha Garman and she agreed to do an interview with me!

Thank you so much Samantha for answering all of my questions and for letting me go on and on about my love for your books.

Enjoy!!

1. What was the first story you remember writing?

Is it terrible if I say I can't remember.

2. When writing Sibby's story did you know that you wanted it to be more than one book?

No. It was only supposed to be one book. But then my husband and I went on a real road trip across the country and camped for six weeks and I was miserable for a large portion of the trip. That spawned the questions: How would Sibby handle camping and nature? So a lot of what happens in Sibby Slicker is based on my own real life experiences.

3. Aidan is literally the perfect man. Which celebrity or fictional character do you think is the perfect man?

McDreamy from Grey's Anatomy. He is everything.

4. In one part of the book Sibby says she laughed out loud while writing her book - did you laugh while writing Queen of Klutz?

Constantly! When I make myself laugh during the writing process I know people are going to love the book.

5. What characteristics do you and Sibby share?

The clumsiness and the snark. That's all me.

6. A lot of the book takes place inside a restaurant and all the shenanigans that take place there. What job did you have the most fun at?

My first restaurant job ever was a blast. I worked at a BBQ joint called Jim 'n Nick's in Charleston, South Carolina. I worked there the year after I graduated college. I was saving money to move to New York and it was just so much fun.

7. Sibby and Aidan are couple goals, who are your favorite fictional couples?
Jamie and Claire Fraser from Outlander. Mac and Barrons from the Fever series.

8. If you could hang out with one of the characters from this book for one day, who would you choose and why?

Well, I get to hang out with them any time I want because I created them, so they never really leave me. ;)

9. What can readers look forward to with Sibby and her crew?
If I told you that, it would spoil all the surprises! But you can always count on shenanigans and snark!

10. If Queen of Klutz had a theme song what would it be?

Eye of the Tiger. That's more Sibby's anthem than anything else.


Follow Samantha on Social Media:
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Queen of Klutz by Samantha Garman

Sibby Goldstein is now one of my favorite characters I have EVER read.

I told you guys a couple weeks ago that I've signed up for Kindle Unlimited and while I was browsing titles Queen of Klutz came up. I instantly loved the cover, yes I judge the book by it's cover no judgey. After reading the plot I had to have it.

Sibby is having a bad day. Like a real bad day.

She's been fired from her job and she comes home to find her boyfriend in bed with someone else. Awkward.

To drown her sorrows and erase the events of the day she goes to a bar with her best friend. There she meets Aidan and ends up going home with him. Whoa calm down ya horndogs, all they do is spoon.

Flash forward and Sibby is now applying for a job at a restaurant as a waitress which is obviously the perfect job for a klutz. ;)

I adored this book so much I can't even explain it. It was a total romcom and it had me smiling and laughing out loud for the majority of the book. Sibby was hysterical and relatable and ooh boy Aidan is now my book boyfriend - Sorry Sibby.

I can tell already that this is one of my favorites of the year - which is insane since it's only January. I've read the second installment, Sibby Slicker, and will probably review that as well. There is also a 3rd one coming out in a few months!

I definitely recommend this book!!

Buy Queen of Klutz Here:
Amazon

Listen to my playlist for Queen of Klutz on Spotify by clicking HERE

Tracy Lorraine Interview

Hey all, today I get to share with you an interview I did with Tracy Lorraine! I reviewed her book Falling For Ryan on Tuesday and I'm so excited to now share this with you.

Thank you so much to Tracy for taking the time to answer my questions and for being so sweet.

Enjoy!!

1. How long have you been writing?

I started writing December 2014. I was going through a rough time and I was reading more and more to escape. I had this crazy idea one day that I'd like to have a go at writing my own story. I never intended for anyone to read it, but I confessed what I was doing to a friend and allowed her to read it. A year and a half later I published it. It was totally unexpected but incredible at the same time. I haven't looked back since.

2. If you weren't a writer what would your dream career be?

Honestly, I have no idea. My background has always been design so as long as I'm being creative, I'm happy.

3. What is the nicest thing a reader has said about one of your books?

I love it every time someone tells me that I kept them awake because they couldn't put one of my books down. But I equally adore it when readers tell me how much I made them cry #sorrynotsorry. It blows me away that readers are so invested in my characters that they cry along with them and feel their pain.

4. I feel like a lot of people hide behind a screen and don't care about others feelings. How do you deal with people who spread negativity on social media or leave bad reviews?

Sadly, it's part of the territory. I try my hardest to walk away from any negativity. I know that not everyone will love my books, just like I don't love every other book out there. It's important to remember why I'm doing what I'm doing and why I love it. Also surrounding myself with supportive readers, bloggers and authors works wonders. There are some really incredible people out there and I've met some incredible friends through it.

5. How did you come up with the concept for this series?

As I mentioned above, I had this idea to write my own book. That was all well and good but I had no clue what my story would be. Then I woke up one morning after having the most vivid dream. That morning I found a notebook and Molly, Ryan and the gang were born.

6. I've always wondered when authors write New Adult/Romance/Erotica if they let their friends and family read their books or if they make them steer clear. How do you feel about it?
I wrote in secret for quite a long time. I was a teacher and I was terrified some of my kids would find out and start reading my steamier scenes. That was not something I wanted to discuss in my classroom. Back then it was only my husband, my mother in law and a book obsessed friend who knew. Once I had my daughter and decided against going back to school, I embarked on writing full time I started to "come out". Now, if my friends and family want to read my books they are more than welcome to, apart from my nan. I've banned her! I can't cope with the idea of my nan reading my sex scenes. Even still, she's my biggest supporter.

7. If Molly and Ryan's story was turned into a television show or a movie, who would you want to portray them?
None of my characters have ever been based on real life people and I really struggle finding people who I'd want to portray them because the details just aren't quite right. So sorry, but I"m going to have to pass that question!

8. Originally the name of the book was Falling For Molly, what made you change the name and update the cover?

I first published Falling For Molly in February 2016 and as time's gone on and I've studied the market more, seen what's popular and I've evolved my books. I was toying with the idea of swapping the names for a while but when I decided to change the covers I didn't feel the female names matched the darker design so I went for it.

9. Falling For Ryan is only the beginning of the Falling series - who was your favorite couple to write about?
I have loved each and every one, but Nicole and Declan are the closest to my heart. Nichole is very much me, from the story with her mum to her sleepwalking antics. I'd planned their story before I even published the first book in the series and I had to wait until book nice to be able to get the story out. It  was emotional to write because I have first hand experience at some of the more painful bits but I love it so hard.

10. If Falling For Ryan had a them song what would it be?

Songs have been a big part of my writing. I planned a lot of them while driving back and forward to work, listening to the radio. My song for Falling For Ryan is the one mentioned in the last chapter of the duet Ed Sheeren's "Thinking Out Loud". Every time I heard it, it just made me think of Molly and Ryan.

If you'd like to follow Tracy Lorraine on Social Media take a peek below :)

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Falling For Ryan Part 1 by Tracy Lorraine

Good afternoon fellow book lovers!
I'm so excited to tell you all my thoughts on Falling For Ryan Part 1 but before I start I have to give you some back story.

I was wandering around on Facebook and an ad for this book came up. I clicked on it and it took me to Amazon and Kindle Unlimited. It was offering a free trial for a month and I figured it was worth a shot to just try it out. You can rent 10 books at a time and then when you want more you just return the ones you've finished or no longer want. It's basically a library but for your kindle which is awesome. It's $9.99 a month after your free trial and I think I'm going to start doing it. I can rent unlimited books for less than $10?! I mean, come on, that's awesome!

Okay, back to the review.

I'm obsessed.

Molly and Ryan are so wonderful I can't take it.

Here's the scoop, Molly's boyfriend cheated on her. Bastard. Worse part is she totally catches him in the act. Bastard squared. She runs to her best friend Ryan's house and he offers to let her move in with him. He's recently bought this big house and has more than enough room for her. They're best friends so what could go wrong? Well the fact that they have scorchin' hot chemistry for starters.

Throughout the book the two try and fight their attraction but it gets the best of them some times. The term "slow burn" is more accurate than ever when describing their relationship. I'm going to be honest, I don't usually like that. I hate reading a whole book waiting for the couple to finally get together the last 80% then something happens, they break up, and then they get back together at the end. I literally hate that. However Falling For Ryan didn't do that to me and I actually enjoyed the suspense of waiting for them to admit their feelings. It was kinda hot. Shhh.

There are two parts to this book and I'm thinking I'll review part 2 at a later date but I can tell you that it was also delicious.

Now here's the part that I never like doing but I am always honest with you all. A drunk driver has changed their life - I'm not going to go into further detail because I don't want to spoil anything - and for people who had to deal with that they sure drink a lot. It bugged me. I've lost a friend and my uncle both to drunk drivers so it's a sensitive issue for me. They are responsible in the book and never drink and drive and I feel like the author really calls attention to that fact but still, they drank way too much for my liking. The other thing that kinda got to be a bit much was the crying. I'm an emotional loon. I cry a lot. Over stupid things. Like really dumb things. But even I sighed a couple times when Molly cried because it was so often. Sometimes I totally understood why she would but eventually it got to be a bit much.

All in all though I absolutely adored this book and the characters! There are more in the series based on couples your meet in part one and two of Falling for Ryan which is one of my favorite things. I also have to point out that it was in dual POV which you all know is my fav.

If you haven't checked Falling For Ryan out yet I definitely recommend you go do that now!!

Buy Falling For Ryan Part 1 Here:
Amazon

Listen to my playlist for Falling For Ryan on Spotify by clicking HERE