Blog Tour: Misadventures with a Time Traveler by Angel Payne

Blog Tour: Misadventures with a Time Traveler by Angel Payne

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Misadventures with a TIME TRAVELER
by 

Angel Payne
Time Traveler cover Blog Tour: Misadventures with a Time Traveler by Angel Payne

If you are looking for a time traveler romance, check out Misadventures with a Time Traveler. A quick adventure in a castle with a 17th century frenchman might be what you’re looking for.

When Allie Fine needs a little rest and relaxation she believes Maximillian De Leon is a delicious surprise for her birthday. What will she do when she discovers that he isn’t pretending and some things can’t be explained? If she can open up her heart she just might discover he’s the best thing that ever happened.

Curses, mysteries, and a few unexplained things make way for a scorchin read. Will they find their way to a happy-ever-after? Sometimes you just have to believe.Caution, may lead to unexpected need to turn 4 Scorchin Larger Image Final 300x300 Blog Tour: Misadventures with a Time Traveler by Angel Payneon the A/C.I received an ARC from Bare Naked Words for a fair and honest review.*****

Misadventures is a romantic series of spicy standalone novels, each written or co-written by some of the best names in romance. The stories are scandalous, refreshing, and, of course, incredibly sexy. They’re the perfect bedside read, a ‘quick blush’ for the reader who loves a page-turning romance.

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Books I Love A Latte participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you click on the link and purchase the featured book and/or anything else during that shopping session, Books I Love A Latte will receive a small percentage between 2-6%. Any profit earned from this transaction is given directly back to readers via giveaways (gift cards, books, etc.) Thank you in advance.%name Blog Tour: Misadventures with a Time Traveler by Angel Payne

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Meet the Author

 
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USA Today bestselling romance author Angel Payne has written for four publishing houses, and is also independently published. She loves to focus on high heat romance starring memorable alpha men and the women who love them.
She has numerous book series to her credit, including the Suited for Sin series, the Cimarron Saga, the Temptation Court series, the Secrets of Stone series (with Victoria Blue), the Lords of Sin historicals, and the rebranded Honor Bound series, as well as several stand-alone titles.
Currently, she is serving as the Vice President of Romance Writers of America’s Passionate Ink Chapter.
She lives in Southern California with her soul-mate husband and beautiful daughter.

LEARN MORE about the Misadventures Series  www.Misadventures.com

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Coffee With Alison Gary of Wardrobe Oxygen

Coffee With Alison Gary of Wardrobe Oxygen

alison gary 2 300x300 Coffee With Alison Gary of Wardrobe OxygenRae: Thank you for hanging out with me. First, if we were meeting at a coffee shop I’d be drinking a Mocha Latte with Coconut Milk. What would you order?

Alison: A vanilla latte with oat milk, yours sounds delicious I may order that next time!

Rae: First, congratulations on your recent appearance on the Today Show. You shared on your blog how that segment came to be, I love they reached out to you. What was that like to read the e-mail in your inbox?

Alison: I didn’t believe it at first! I Googled the producer who contacted me to be sure it was legit! I’ve been blogging for almost 15 years but am still relatively unknown. It was thrilling to be recognized for my work!

Rae: What would you say to the bloggers, writers, and dreamers out there who want to be recognized for their blog, book, or idea on a national level? Was there something you wished you’d said or did during your experience?

Alison: There is so much temptation to share everything. The likes, the followers, and the paid opportunities. But the internet lasts forever. Do you really want to monetize every family moment, your children growing up and their growing pains, your relationships, every inch of your home? If you have talent, you can succeed without having to turn your life into a reality show. Make some ground rules of what you will and will not share and stick to them. Spend the time you would featuring your everyday on growing your business or honing your craft and you’ll have a stronger platform five years from now.

Rae: How did your blog begin?

Alison: I started a new job. I was hired specifically for a government contract that the company knew they’d win but hadn’t yet received. They brought me on early so all onboarding and training would happen before the contract so I could hit the ground running. I had a few weeks where I was told to “look busy.” I had seen a news show segment about blogging and thought that would be a great way to look busy. I worked a decade in apparel and retail and would type my thoughts on fashion in Microwoft Word, email them to myself and then once home in the evening put them into a blog post. Once the contract started, I began traveling regularly to visit clients. I began journaling what I wore so I wouldn’t wear the same thing twice to a client site (one client made a snide comment about my repeating outfits and I swore never again). In 2010 I merged the writing blog with the outfit blog and it became what Wardrobe Oxygen is today!

Rae: Did you have help with the technical part of the blog or did you build it yourself?

Alison: I started on the Blogger platform, which is HTML-based. I learned basic HTML thanks to Google and would play with colors and fonts. In 2014 I had a friend who is a WordPress guru transfer my blog to WordPress and set up my first theme/template. I don’t really know CSS, and relied on that friend and another friend to help me when I was in technical jams. A few years ago I signed up for ChloeDigital, a WordPress support company that focuses on fashion and lifestyle blogs. It’s the best money I’ve spent on my business, they understand my goals, get my audience and niche, and have helped my site become better looking, faster, easier to search and find, and they also help me with brand strategy.

Rae: I discovered you on Instagram as I browsed for fashion and real women. I love that you are honest, candid, and put it all out there. Not many bloggers would post pictures of themselves trying on bras, but your honesty helps so many women. The way we look at ourselves impacts our wardrobe choices. You have proven post after post, and IG after IG story, it doesn’t matter what size you are. By being comfortable and understanding body type, you encourage women to select the right clothes.

How often do you receive clothes to sample and of the ones you receive, how many of your wardrobe pieces fit out of the box?

Alison: Years ago, I was psyched to get anything free in the mail and would say yes to any brand that offered gifted product. Now I have become more discerning. I don’t want to sacrifice the trust of my audience for an eye cream or sweater.

When a new brand reaches out to me and they look like a good fit for my audience and my personal style, I do a deep dive into their site and social. I look at other people in their clothes, check out their size chart measurements, read any customer reviews, find other bloggers who may have written about it. Then if they still seem like a great fit, I will ask for only one or two things and let them know a gifted item is not a guarantee that it will be featured. If it fits and I like it, I may feature it. If it doesn’t, I’ll reach out and return it.

Most clothing, from any retailer, won’t fit perfectly off the rack. No body is alike, you can’t expect to have the same shape as a brand’s fit model, especially if they use one fit model for a broad range of sizes. I will share if I tailor an item or if it’s worn right off the rack or box. But when you look at people with really great style, it’s not the cost of their clothes it’s the fit.

Rae: What is your opinion of tailoring vs. taking a pass if it doesn’t fit off the rack?

Alison: I don’t believe in recreating a garment. Sure, I’ll nip here, shorten here, and adjust a piece for my unique curves but I won’t try to make a too big or too small piece work. I recently donated a suit I got on clearance. It was the coolest fabric, it fit great in the arms and bust and thighs. But it was too long for my body. It would have required extensive tailoring to get the jacket to hang just right and it’s not like my life will change by owning or not owning the suit. So I let it go. I should have returned it as soon as I got it, I knew even then it would be a lot of work but I was blinded by the cool fabric and low price.

Rae: What posts can we expect to find during the holiday season?

Alison: Lots of holiday dressing, but looks that will work beyond New Year’s Eve. Some gift guides, but I am really picky with my gift guides, I want to share things that are unique and a reasonable pricepoint. Reminders to care for yourself during the holiday season. Like the oxygen mask policy on planes – you need to take care of yourself before you can properly care for anyone else!

Rae: Will you be sharing any of your non-dairy recipes for sweets and treats?

I don’t share recipes because I don’t cook! My husband took over cooking when our daughter was born and he’s AMAZING at it and essentially kicked me out of the kitchen! We don’t do a lot of sweets, he does bake cookies every Sunday for warm cookies after Sunday dinner and to have them for packed lunches all week. But at the holidays, we may host but we do a bit of a pot luck and look forward to our friends and family bringing their favorite desserts!

Rae: I love how you connect with your readers on social media through Instagram stories and posts. I always enjoyed your outings to your garden and the unexpected fashion wardrobe pieces.

Many of my readers are authors who are constantly traveling for conferences and book signings, what advice can you give so they look fashion forward, comfortable and able to pack in a carry-on? I always find packing for trips in a weekender to be tricky and stressful.

Alison: I also find packing in a weekender tricky and stressful! They look so chic but they’re hard to lug through the airport and they don’t seem to hold enough in them! I believe in a hard-shell spinner suitcase. No need to drag it behind you, it can roll next to you all gracefully. My personal bag is always a backpack, not a handbag (I’ll tuck a small one in there for once I reach my destination). A backpack usually has more organization, can hold your laptop and such, and many have travel sleeves to slide onto your spinner handle. I use packing cubes and small pouches to organize both bags and maximize space. No one is giving out awards for the most minimally packed traveler; as long as you fit the airline’s requirements I say use the full space and weight available.

Rae: While you cater to women, have you thought about having Karl fashion men’s clothes?

Alison: I like having Wardrobe Oxygen a comfortable community for women. Karl has fab fashion sense, but I think if he wishes to share it with the public, he should start his own platform.

Rae: When you sit down to write for your segments, do you have a writing ritual or secret location to get the work done?

Alison: I usually do them where I am right now – in my home office. I can’t have any music or distractions, and I do best with plenty of natural light. Writing comes easy to me, quiet and time alone notsomuch!

Rae: How do you tackle plotting your videos? Is it on a massive board, sheets of paper or just write as you go with a simple outline?

Alison: I rarely do videos because they are so time-consuming and I am not good at editing. I hope to do more in 2020, but with staff to help with all the details.

Rae: I belong to a few Facebook groups for planners and organizing to stay focused and succeed in my personal goals for 2019 and soon 2020. How do you keep it all from spiraling out of orbit? Are you a planner girl or digital calendar queen?

Alison: I’m a bit of both. I used a paper planner for years, but this past year I have needed to share my calendar with family and team members so I’ve become more reliant on my Google calendar. However, I do rely on a moleskine/journal. Each day I start a page with the date and my to-do list. At the end of the day, anything I didn’t accomplish gets added to the next day’s list. I use the same journal to note things like combinations for capsule wardrobe shots, notes on fit when doing a clothing haul, notes when at a workshop or on a training webinar. It’s a cool diary of my business as well as a way to keep myself organized.

Rae: What can we expect in 2020?

Alison: I’ll be bringing back my newsletter, adding some more video, and looking to do in-person meetups. I will be adding staff to ensure consistency and have the ability to grow and do more interesting collaborations. This will be the 15th anniversary of Wardrobe Oxygen, and I think it’s reason to celebrate so I may be throwing a little party too!

Rae: Thank you for hanging out in the cafe today.

Readers, if you haven’t browsed through Wardrobe Oxygen, I encourage you to check it out. I’ve added a ton of fashion tips, cooking tips (thank you Alison’s husband Karl) and a handful of beauty tricks to my list.

Tasty Tidbits BILAL V1 300x300 Coffee With Alison Gary of Wardrobe Oxygen

1. What is a must read book and why? When I was in 11th grade my English teacher assigned The Handmaid’s Tale and it blew my mind. My mom was a feminist and often participated in protests and brought me and my sister, but I didn’t really “get” it. This book hit me hard. Every guy I dated, I told him to read this book. My husband is the only one who not only finished it, but we had the most amazing all-night discussion about it. Especially with what has been going on the past couple of years, I think it’s an important read to see how a book written in 1985, before the internet and ATM machines and such, can tell a terrifying yet possible future.

2. What is one place that I should see if I visit your hometown? I’ve lived in Greenbelt for 20 years and consider it my hometown. To visit here you have to have a delicious vegan meal at the New Deal Café and stay for the free live music, or else catch a film across the Center at the movie theater, which is the original Art Deco theater from when the city was built. They have the most wonderful taste in which films to show!

3. Do you take-in or cook? If so, what is your “go-to” dish? My husband loves to cook and he is plant-based so it makes more sense to eat in to enjoy a good variety of delicious food. I do love splurging on takeout a couple of times a month. My favorite go-to is sushi!

4. What is one thing readers would be surprised to know about you? That’s a tough one, I’m a pretty open book. I think people are surprised to find I am more of an introvert and recharge by having time alone.

5. Hard Rock or Classical? Favorite Band or Artist? I love it all, but I am a fan of rock. My favorite band is My Morning Jacket, I’ve seen them every time they’ve been in town since 2007, plus have traveled to other states several times to see them in concert or perform at a music festival.

6. What is the one thing you want every traveler to add to their suitcase that they didn’t know they needed? A backup pair of shoes. I love Rothy’s Flats for this because they’re so lightweight and take up little space. But I’ve been on trips where my shoe broke, I stepped into a disgusting NYC puddle, shoes I’ve owned for years caused blisters… a pair of comfy flats that can also dress up are a smart suitcase addition!

7. What is your guilty pleasure? A Frappucinno with a bag of salt and vinegar chips.

8. What are you afraid of? Falling down a flight of stairs (I’ve even done it and survived yet still it freaks me out), slipping on ice (I did it, I broke my arm, it caused the fear), the idea of a bug crawling in my ear (it happened to a friend and terrified me for life)

9. Tats or No Tats? If tats, how many and what did you choose for your first one? I think they’re a great way to express yourself and own your body. I have one, I got it in college. I designed an idea, I thought the tattoo artist would refine it and work with me but he just did the same exact messy design. It’s on my back to the right. For a while I considered getting it cleaned up or expanding it into a more detailed tattoo. But now I just see it as a reminder of that period in time.

10. Organized or Free Floating? I’d love to be more organized but I’m a pretty free-floating kind of person.

11. Binge watcher or weekly viewer? Which show(s)? I rarely binge. Right now my husband and I are watching Schitt’s Creek and for that we will watch two or three episodes in one sitting, but that’s it. I like my TV to be calm and fun and happy, a nice distraction. I am a sucker for any awards show and its red carpet, I DVR This is Us, God Friended Me, Project Runway, Younger, SNL, and CBS Sunday Morning but I don’t always get around to seeing all of them.

12. What’s on your playlist? My Morning Jacket, King Princess, Kacey Musgraves, Cigarettes After Sex, HAIM, The Highwomen, Sylvan Esso, ‘00s country, ‘90s hip-hop, and ‘80s new wave.

13. What play or musical do you want to see next? I haven’t yet seen Hamilton! My Fair Lady is coming to DC and my sister, mom, daughter, and I are thinking of seeing it.

14. Are you a crafter? I can be crafty, but I don’t do it regularly. My blog is my current creative outlet, but I’ve dabbled in jewelry making, stained glass, mosaic, and oils. The best part of being a Girl Scout leader was all the crafty aspects – I made the most beautiful Kaeper chart!

15. What’s your favorite TV show and why? My favorite show is Project Runway. I am not a fan of many competition shows because they focus so much on the personal dynamics. Project Runway focuses on the talent, the craft, the problem solving. I find it so inspiring to watch, and well as a lover of fashion, it really speaks to me!

16. If you could pick a book you’ve read and make it into a movie, which book would it be? Most movies made from books disappoint. The only one that didn’t was the original PBS series for Anne of Green Gables. It’s as though they went into my 5th grade brain and turned my ideas into reality.

17. What’s your favorite movie of all time and why? This is definitely not highbrow but I love love love Talladega Night: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. That movie makes me laugh, and I’ve seen it dozens of times. When I was pregnant I’d come home from work so stressed out and I’d pop in the DVD and it would relax me like a glass of wine and a foot massage!

18. Would you rather see a movie in the theater or at home on DVD and why? I love the theater experience, but I don’t do it often. Neither my husband nor my daughter finds the magic in it that I do. Every Christmas Day, my mom, sister, and daughter go to the movies and I just love that tradition so much. But I do love a family movie night on the couch under the afghan with a bowl of popcorn!

19. What is the one thing you can’t live without? A journal and a pen with a felt tip.

20. If you could invite 5 people to dinner (not friends and family – that’s too easy) who would be at your table? Where would you eat? I’d host dinner at my house with Diane von Furstenberg, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Margaret Atwood, Tina Turner, and Michelle Obama.

21. If you could try any career for a day, what would it be? I’d love to be a DJ, like Delilah chatting about love and loss and playing Richard Marx ballads.

Bio 300x300 Coffee With Alison Gary of Wardrobe Oxygen

Alison Gary is the woman behind Wardrobe Oxygen, a community for grown-ass women.  Since 2005, Wardrobe Oxygen has offered real-life style advice through capsule wardrobes, honest reviews, outfit posts, answering reader questions, and tips to achieve big style with a small closet.  Alison Gary has been featured on The Today Show and in The Washington Post, New York Times, and WhoWhatWear. You can find Alison on Instagram and follow Wardrobe Oxygen on FacebookPinterest, and at wardrobeoxygen.com.

Authors Dish Thanksgiving with Tarina Deaton

Authors Dish Thanksgiving with Tarina Deaton

Authors Dish Thanksgiving V1 300x300 Authors Dish Thanksgiving with Tarina DeatonWelcome newbies and seasoned readers to Authors Dish. Thanksgiving will be here Thursday and Authors are still dishin’ their favorites.

I am grateful for readers, authors, and everyone who make it possible to sink into my cozy chair and enjoy a new book adventure each and every day.

It’s time to find out what inspires your favorite Authors and discover how they enjoy the holidays, prepare their homes, set their tables and give thanks to those important in their lives.

Whether you’re celebrating at home or traveling far away, enjoy every minute of the season. We’d love to know how you enjoy your holidays, tell us below!

Stay tuned over the next few weeks as we plan to share plenty of reasons to be thankful so be sure to check the blog often. Wanna dish? Drop me a message.

Today in the cafe is Author Tarina Deaton

 

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Me 200x300 Authors Dish Thanksgiving with Tarina DeatonAuthor Tarina Deaton

1. What is your favorite Thanksgiving tradition? Eating. lol. We don’t have a lot of Thanksgiving traditions. Being a military family, it was always hard to have the big family gatherings. But family is also what you make it, so I always try to invite single service members over for dinner and make sure they aren’t alone during the holiday.

2. How do you decorate your table and home? I am not a big decorator. I hang a seasonal wreath and that’s about it. Besides, too many decorations on the table take up space that could be used for FOOD!

3. My favorite hostess gift is… Wine or dessert.

4. It’s time to pack up the leftovers, what do you do with all the food? Share it, use it for other yummy dishes or toss it?

If we have single Airmen over, I always try to send some home with them, but otherwise I have left overs for the next few days.

5. Black Friday shopping – on line fun, up early with a cup of java and a long list, or last minute shopper and don’t care about the sales? My sister dragged me Black Friday shopping one time and I swore I’d never do it again. There really isn’t anything I want bad enough to deal with the crowds. I much prefer to wait for Cyber Monday.

6. I am thankful for…

 So many things. My children, my parents and siblings, the opportunity to give my children the experience of traveling the world, good health, and (of course) all my readers.
       I hope you have a wonderful holiday and get to spend it with the people you love!

Thanksgiving Divider 300x300 Authors Dish Thanksgiving with Tarina Deaton

Bio:

Tarina is an award winning author who has spent her entire life in and around the military – first as a dependent and then as an enlisted Air Force member. Her debut novel, Stitched Up Heart, released in September 2016 and hit the number one spot on Amazon’s Top 100 Free Military Romance. She uses her life as inspiration for many of her stories, because truth is stranger (and funnier) than fiction.

Tarina is still active duty and a single mom of six-year-old twins. Her favorite hobby is sleep. She has delusions of retiring from the military and being a stay-at-home mom.

Thanksgiving Divider 300x300 Authors Dish Thanksgiving with Tarina Deaton

Check out Tarina’s backlist after you’ve put all your dishes in the oven or while you’re cooking!

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Free Printables 300x300 Authors Dish Thanksgiving with Tarina Deaton

Click on the link here for fun and FREE printables to keep you organized this fall season.

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The Extra Shot: Exclusive Excerpt for Hook by New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Gina L. Maxwell

The Extra Shot: Exclusive Excerpt for Hook by New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Gina L. Maxwell


The Extra Shot Promo 200x300 The Extra Shot: Exclusive Excerpt for Hook by New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Gina L. Maxwell  

 

 

 

Welcome to The Extra Shot where you’ll find an EXCLUSIVE excerpt from Hook by New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Gina L. Maxwell.

 

       

 

Copy of HookTeaser1 The Extra Shot: Exclusive Excerpt for Hook by New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Gina L. Maxwell

Hook2 1600x2400 The Extra Shot: Exclusive Excerpt for Hook by New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Gina L. Maxwell

 

Exclusive Excerpt for blog post V1 300x300 The Extra Shot: Exclusive Excerpt for Hook by New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Gina L. Maxwell

Exclusive Excerpt of Hook by Gina L. Maxwell

For the first time in my adult life, I might be out of my depth.

Not on the job. I’m confident in my abilities for this assignment. I have a good team behind me, and the background they created for me is solid. Croc can look all the way back to my kindergarten records, and he’ll find that John Dorian McRae was excellent at coloring in the lines but also had issues with authority.

No, it’s not the case that’s got me tossing and turning on these Egyptian cotton sheets (I guess he wasn’t kidding about enjoying the finer things in life). It’s the man on the other side of this wall. The man who sucked my sweat from the pad of his thumb and demanded I acknowledge his authority over me in this loft. And fuck if I didn’t want to agree before he even got all the words out. I would’ve done it on my knees if he’d pointed at the floor.

And that’s what has me so twisted up—this insane desire to please James, whatever it takes. I want to give him what he needs, to make him feel good, if only in the context of the bedroom. But while I’ve always been in relationships where we switched off physically as tops and bottoms, I’ve never had any kind of submissive tendencies. Quite the opposite, in fact. I’m very Type A. I like control and my routines, and the only time I ever take orders is from my superiors at work. Full stop.

But with James…f^*k, I don’t know what it is. Maybe there’s a part of me that’s still that little boy trying to impress the older kid and get him to like me or even notice me. Maybe it’s because I know he hasn’t had it easy in life and the idea of being an escape for him, however briefly, speaks to my protective side. Whatever the case, I can’t let it affect this assignment. Too much is at stake. I need to keep things strictly professional.

Strictly.

Professional.

Growling at the ceiling, I kick off the sheet and get out of bed. All this thinking about James is making me thirsty, and since I’m not getting any damn sleep, I might as well get some water. I contemplate slipping on a pair of lounge pants over my boxer briefs, but that seems like a lot of work for a ten-second walk to the fridge, so I don’t bother as I leave my room and head for the kitchen.

His place is nice, understated and simple. But it might as well be a hotel suite—tidy and functional, with all the furniture and appliances one needs but without any of the personal touches that make it a home. No pictures, knickknacks, or anything that would give any clue as to who lives here. I have a small house in the middle-class area of London. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s homey. I worked hard to put my stamp on it and fill it with things that remind me of the people I love.

Opening the fridge, I grab a bottle of water and take note of the blender in the corner on my way out of the kitchen. Good, I’ll need that for my morning meal. I twist off the cap, drain half the water, and recap it as I pad my way across the huge living room.

I catch movement out of the corner of my eye and instinctively reach for the gun that isn’t there. The water bottle drops to the floor and rolls under the couch somewhere as I try to recover from the near heart attack.

Jesus Christ, you scared the hell out of me,” I say to a very calm James who’s sprawled in the chair, bathed in the light of the full moon streaming in through the windows. He’s wearing only a pair of black lounge pants, his legs stretched out in front of him, his incredible torso on full display.

Holy s%*t, this is the first time I’ve ever seen Hook shirtless, and my eyes drink in every detail like a greedy sponge. He has another tattoo—a large, three-masted ship flying a pirate flag that takes up most of his right side—his nipples are pierced with hoops, and his chest is lightly dusted with black hair that disappears at his sternum and picks back up under his navel. He has the frame of a swimmer, broad at the shoulders and tapered at the waist, with plenty of defined muscles in between.

I feel like someone dumped water on my mental circuit board. I can’t think, can’t speak. And it’s not even the tattoo, the pierced nipples, the blocks of abs, or the dips of his V angling into his low waistband that has me completely tongue-tied. It’s the fact that he’s reading a worn copy of The Count of Monte Cristo and wearing black Clark Kent eyeglasses. He looks like a f#%kable, badass professor relaxing at home. Good goddamn, this part of the assignment is going to be one giant exercise in sexual frustration.

“What the hell are you doing over there?”

A single eyebrow rises above the rim of his glasses. “If you can’t figure that out, you might not be as good of a cop as you think.”

I roll my eyes. “I mean, what are you doing reading at nearly three in the morning? You have insomnia or something?”

“Or something.”

His tone has a hint of bitterness, or maybe resentment. Combined with the elusive answer, the wheels in my cop brain start spinning. “Do—”

He lifts his book again and interrupts me with a forceful, “Go back to sleep, Darling.”

I’ve accepted that he’s going to keep using my last name as a way to get under my skin, so it no longer bothers me. But f%^k if I’m telling him that. “I wasn’t sleeping, either.”

He lowers the book to his lap, and his eyes take a slow perusal of my body. Everywhere his gaze lands feels like an intimate touch, making me burn in its wake, and if I don’t distract myself, I’ll be pointing due north in seconds. There’s a trick I’ve used in the past if I found my mind wandering down a path that might lead to an awkward reaction. If I catalog the details of the person’s face and mentally file them away like I’ll need them for a report later, it keeps my mind out of the gutter. C’mon, cop brain, don’t fail me now.

Jesus. How can someone with such a ruthless reputation be so goddamn beautiful? His features are an odd mix of harsh and lush that complement each other. Cold eyes are framed with thick lashes, his often-snarling mouth is made with sexy, full lips, and his granite-edge jawline is softened by his trim beard that looks like strands of black silk. My fingers itch to stroke it as my lips lay claim to his, then trail lower to where the silky strands fade into the top of his throat, kissing their way down…

F#%k. So much for that trick. There’s no hiding my reaction to him when the only armor I have is a pair of gray boxer briefs. His eyes drag back up my body to meet mine, his mouth twisting into a smug grin. “Insomnia?”

“Or something,” I answer huskily.

©Hook, Gina L. Maxwell 2019  

 
 
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Gina L. Maxwell is a full-time writer, wife, and mother living in the upper Midwest, despite her scathing hatred of snow and cold weather. An avid romance novel addict, she began writing as an alternate way of enjoying the romance stories she loves to read. Her debut novel, Seducing Cinderella, hit both the USA Today and the New York Times bestseller lists in less than four weeks, and she’s been living her newfound dream ever since.

When she’s not reading or writing steamy romance novels, she spends her time losing at games to her high school sweetheart, hanging out with their adult teenagers as they learn to fly on their own, and dreaming of her move to someplace warm once they finally do.

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Coffee With New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Author Gina L. Maxwell

Coffee With New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Author Gina L. Maxwell

Rae: Welcome to the blog Gina L. Maxwell. I’ve got a spiced Latte with Almond Milk and a drizzle of chocolate in my mug. What’s in your cuppa?

Gina: I have an iced Boston Latte with whipped cream. It’s a drink that my local coffee shop makes; it’s just espresso, honey, and milk. It’s my favorite thing to drink while writing. That or Diet Cherry Pepsi. 😉

Hook2 1600x2400 200x300 Coffee With New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Author Gina L. MaxwellRae: Congratulations on your recent release of Hook, the second installment in your Neverland Series. A modern day twist on a childhood classic, what was the inspiration for this series?

Gina: Thank you so much! I actually got the idea to write a book about an NA hero who doesn’t want to grow up (in other words, be a mature adult) when I heard the country song “Peter Pan” by Kelsea Ballerini. Originally that’s all it was going to be: a friends to lovers trope with a hero who was responsibility challenged. I have no idea when or how it morphed into what it is today; I honestly can’t remember. But it went from a single book based on the idea of a Peter Pan type hero to a planned 10-book series that takes the original book by JM Barrie and twists those stories and characters to make them fit into a contemporary and modern world. I actually read the original book (which is not an easy read) to make sure I have all the characters and iconic moments included. I’ve never had so much fun with a book as I did writing Pan (book 1), and I’ve never fallen in love with a hero more than I have with Captain Hook. I’m not sure I’ll ever top him.

Rae:There is trigger content, without spoilers how you prepared yourself from plotting to writing Hook’s story.

Gina: As for how I prepared, I’m not even sure I did. When it comes to storylines, I’ve become a loose plotter. Before I start writing, I at least have to know the basics of what happens in each chapter so I know where the story is going. But when it comes to my characters, I only know the bare minimum about them before I start writing, then as I go along, they reveal things to me about who they are and what’s in their pasts. So I didn’t necessarily know about Hook’s past when I started writing him in Pan, I only knew that he was going to have some kind of bad relationship with Croc, because in the original, the crocodile has it out for Captain Hook. But when I wrote that first chapter, I suddenly knew, and it was bad. It had to be to explain the 43094164. SY475  200x300 Coffee With New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Author Gina L. Maxwellcomplexity of his character. So I don’t think there was any sort of preparing I did or could do. I’ve learned to let my characters lead me through their stories. It feels very much as though they’re simply showing me what happens, and I’m merely the person who transcribes those scenes for others to see as well. It wasn’t easy writing some of the chapters in Hook, but the hard parts are necessary to understand him and they make you long for his HEA even more, because he deserves it so badly.

Rae: For fans of your Neverland series, how many books do you anticipate?

Gina: As I mentioned, I have ten books planned for this series. I’m operating on a strict No Lost Boys Left Behind policy. That includes Tink, Tiger Lily, the two Pirates, Smee and Starkey, who were originally Lost Boys, and the honorary Lost Boy, Chief, who is Tiger Lily’s older brother (the only character I made up that’s not in the original books).

Rae: Are you releasing any new series or finishing up others?

Gina: I’m not releasing any new series as of now, but I have a couple of ideas in the works. Eventually I’d love to write books for the other 4 guys in my Boston Heat series (right now Hot for the Fireman is acting as a stand-alone), and maybe one or a few more in my Playboys in Love series, but none of those would happen for a few years yet, if at all.

Rae: With all the that, how do you keep all of your worlds and characters from crossing over?

Gina: I don’t have to worry about my characters and worlds crossing over because I’m not the kind of author who can work on multiple projects simultaneously. I start a book and finish it before I move on to something else. I’m a horrible multi-tasker. LOL

Rae: As a reader who appreciates a well crafted book cover, are you active in the creative design process? The covers capture your books – love the models ;).

Gina: 100%! I’ve been really lucky that I’ve always had a lot of creative control when it comes to my covers, and now that I’m self-publishing the Neverland Novels, I have all the control when I work with my designer. I feel very strongly about having great covers because it’s the first thing that attracts a reader. They’re super important.

Rae: Writing all the words is a challenge, do you have a writing ritual or secret location to get the work done?

Gina: I’m the least ritualistic person ever. In fact, I’m closer to a hot mess. LOL The closest I get to something like that is going to my local coffee shop (my town is too small to have a Starbucks) to write. I can usually focus better there than I can at home.

Rae: How do you tackle plotting your series? Is it on a massive board, sheets of paper or just write as you go with a simple outline?

Gina: It’s a combination of handwritten notes and an excel spreadsheet. I first start putting my ideas on paper, but then to actually plot the chapters, I write brief summaries of what happens in the spreadsheet. As I finish writing the chapters, I change their color to mark them as done.

Rae: Your backlist is impressive and inspiring with multiple series and standalone reads both from traditional publishing houses and self-published. What can we expect to see in e-reader shops and bookshelves in the last two months of 2019 and early 2020?

Gina: From me? Nothing. LOL I’m an incredibly slowwww writer, and like I said, I only work on one project at a time. Hook was the most complex book I’ve ever written and it took me 9 months to complete, so I need a bit of a break. I’ll be starting Tink’s book in January (with the hopes of releasing it in the Spring of 2020), but in the meantime I’ll be working on chat fiction stories for the Hooked app (I’ve written several of those in the past) and a proposal for a new idea for my agent to shop around after the holidays. I might write a bonus scene for Hook that I can release around Christmas time, but other than that, I won’t be doing much until the New Year. I do have plans to collaborate soon on a fun new series with my friend and super talented author, Lorelei James, but I have no idea when the first book will be releasing.

Rae: Thank you for hanging out in the cafe today.

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1. What is your must read book and why? The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros is the most brilliant book I’ve ever read. The%name Coffee With New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Author Gina L. Maxwell way Rebecca weaves the letters between the characters in with the current timeline is sheer genius, and the story itself is so beautifully heart wrenching and true to real life. If I could physically put it in the hands of every woman, I would.

2. If I visit your hometown, where am I going and what’s the best place to grab a bite? I grew up and still live in Fort Atkinson, WI. For some amazing Italian food, hit up Mangiami.

3. Do you take-in or cook? If so, what is your “go-to” dish? I hate cooking. HATE. IT. If I’m getting delivery, it’s usually pizza.

4. What is one thing readers would be surprised to know about you? I hate writing sex scenes. This usually surprises readers because I’m literally known for them. But they’re hard to write because they involve so many different aspects, so I usually put off writing them and then complain the whole time when I finally do. LOL

5. Hard Rock or Classical? Favorite Band or Artist? Hard Rock. Pink Floyd is one of my favorite bands.

6. If you had an all expenses paid trip anywhere in the world for research, where would you go? Some place like Bora Bora or Figi.

7. What is your guilty pleasure? I can’t think of anything that would be considered a guilty pleasure, but my favorite dessert is tiramisu. I suppose if I had it every day I’d have to feel guilty about it. LOL

8. What are you afraid of? My kids dying before me.

9. Tats or No Tats? If tats, how many and what did you choose for your first one? I love tattoos. When I was 19, my friend and I had plans to get our first ones together. Three days before our appointments, he was killed in a car accident we were in together. So I combined our designs as a tribute to our friendship. It’s the blue and purple crescent moon with a sleeping face that I wanted and the lizard that he wanted curled up on the inside of the moon and the word PALS with the infinity sign.

10. Organized or Free Floating? Definitely free floating.

11. Binge watcher or weekly viewer? Which show(s)? Binger! I really like Stranger Things, Schitt’s Creek, The Ranch (only Parts 1-5, after that I hate it), The Magicians…uh, I’m not sure what else. It’s been ages since I’ve had time to watch anything really. My “to be watched” list is just as long as my TBR list.

12. What’s on your playlist? While writing Hook I listened to a lot of Billie Eilish.

13. What play or musical do you want to see next? I have yet to see “Hamilton.”

14. Are you a crafter? I’ve been known to be crafty for certain things, but I wouldn’t say I’m a crafter, no.

15. What’s your favorite TV show and why? “Scrubs” would be my favorite comedy. The writing was amazing and so funny. All our cats are named after Scrubs characters, and I even made a reference in Hook. John’s undercover alias is John Dorian McRae. John Dorian, aka JD, is the name of the main character in Scrubs. I also absolutely love “Schitt’s Creek” and David is probably my favorite TV character of all time. My favorite drama was a Netflix original that has only 2 seasons called “SENSE8.” It’s absolutely brilliant, I could discuss that show for hours, and I recommend it to everyone.

16. If you could pick a book you’ve read and make it into a movie, which book would it be (besides yours 🙂 )? The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros

17. What’s your favorite movie of all time and why? “The Sweetest Thing”%name Coffee With New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Author Gina L. Maxwell

18. Would you rather see a movie in the theater or at home on DVD and why? I love going to the theater, especially for action and fantasy movies.

19. What is the one thing you can’t live without? My kids.

20. If you could invite 5 people to dinner (not friends and family – that’s too easy) who would be at your table? Where would you eat? Gena Showalter, Dan Levy, Jason Momoa, Reese Witherspoon, Ellen DeGeneres. We’d eat somewhere super fancy with amazing steaks that cost ridiculous amounts of money and they’d foot the bill because they’re all rich. LOL

21. If you could try any career for a day, what would it be? Dolphin trainer at Sea World

22. Person you admire and why? I admire anyone who lives as their authentic selves because in this day and age, the world isn’t making it easy on anyone who is different or “atypical”. I also admire those who are in the process of their self-discovery and working up the courage to embrace who they are. These are the people I admire the most. <3 Thanks again for hanging out! Happy Reading Dear Readers.

 

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Books I Love A Latte participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you click on the link and purchase the featured book and/or anything else during that shopping session, Books I Love A Latte will receive a small percentage between 2-6%. Any profit earned from this transaction is given directly back to readers via giveaways (gift cards, books, etc.) Thank you in advance.%name Coffee With New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Author Gina L. Maxwell

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Gina L. Maxwell is a full-time writer, wife, and mother living in the upper Midwest, despite her scathing hatred of snow and cold weather. An avid romance novel addict, she began writing as an alternate way of enjoying the romance stories she loves to read. Her debut novel, Seducing Cinderella, hit both the USA Today and the New York Times bestseller lists in less than four weeks, and she’s been living her newfound dream ever since.

When she’s not reading or writing steamy romance novels, she spends her time losing at games to her high school sweetheart, hanging out with their adult teenagers as they learn to fly on their own, and dreaming of her move to someplace warm once they finally do.

Stalk Me

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | Amazon | Join The Maxwell Mob | Goodreads | Bookbub | Subscribe to My Newsletter

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