Monday, August 22, 2016

Roadside Assistance and Q&A with author Marie Harte

Q ~ Can you tell us a bit about yourself? 
Hi. I’m a writer, mom, and coffee addict. I love when school starts, because I do best having a set schedule and my kids are occupied. I constantly have deadlines I’m striving to meet, and I’m always plotting a new book that I add to my (TBW—To Be Written) folder. I have over a hundred titles written and am a New York Times and USA Today bestseller.

Q~ Who is your favorite literary hero(ine) and why? 
That’s such a tough question to answer. I like different heroines for their different strengths. And I’m a fan of so many different books! I will say I especially love Mercy of Patricia Briggs’s Mercy Thompson series.

Q ~ How do you think people perceive authors? 
 I think a lot of people view writing as a mysterious process that will net a lot of money. Mysterious? Yes. Lucrative? Ah, that’s really hit or miss.

Q ~ How did you begin writing? Was there a single catalyst or a series of events?
I wrote as a youngster to amuse myself. Then as I got older, I wrote the stories I wanted to read. There was no real catalyst but time.

Q ~ Are you a plotter or a pantser? 
A bit of both, though the plotting is really just a rough story outline. My characters start at A and end at Z, but how they get there just unfolds as I write.

Q ~ How much research goes into your books? 
A good bit. Especially if I’m not familiar with a character’s occupation. I’ve visited many of the locations I write about as well. I’ve interviewed mechanics, nurses, massage therapists, accountants, you name it. The McCauleys and Bad Shop Body Boys have been more research than I’d anticipated, but I’m learning a lot.

Q ~ You get a brilliant phrase/idea/thought at an inopportune time (while driving, drifting off to sleep/in the shower). What do you do?
I’m never driving and thinking about a story, really, paying too much attention to the road. But in the shower, walking, sitting in a coffee shop…I always keep a small notebook by me. Or there’s always my phone to record notes.

Q ~ Why do you think romance readers love reading about bad boys so much?  
Bad boys are sexy, forbidden, and sometimes not so good for us—on the surface. But like chocolate, they’re tasty and make you feel good. *grin*

Q ~ Can you tell us a little bit about your latest release and what inspired you to write it? 
Roadside Assistance is a love story between a confident, rough, single mechanic and the bold, beautiful woman who has to believe in herself to believe in love. Cyn isn’t a small woman. She’s tall, voluptuous, and will never be model-thin. She’s smart, savvy, and confident—in her business skills. But when it comes to men, she’s not so sure. Foley knows what he wants, and he wants Cyn. Unfortunately, he’s not the smoothest guy when it comes to dating. Still, he refuses to take no for answer, not until Cyn gives him a real chance.

Q ~ Is anything in your new release based on real life experiences or purely all imagination? 
Sadly, purely imagination. But if I find the real Foley, I’ll be sure to hold onto him. For research, of course. Ha.

Q ~ What question do you wish that someone would ask about your book, but nobody has? Write it out here, then answer it. 
 “Should I wait to buy the whole series once it’s all done, to be sure the four books actually come out?”

No, buy them now! The series will be complete, so no worries you’ll start now and not get a satisfying ending. Yes, I’ve been burned before by falling in love with a series and not getting all the books. The Body Shop Bad Boys are nearly all done and have publish dates. Yea!

Q ~ You’ve written works outside of this series as well. For you, do they compare to one another? Do you have a favourite or do they all stand out in their own way? 
Each book I work on is my favorite, until the next one. Since all my stories are different, it’s tough for me to compare them. I love them all! Writing in different genres also helps keep me fresh.

Q ~ Do you have anything in the works at the moment? Care to give us a hint about it? 
I’m currently working on the final Body Shop Bad Boy story—Lou’s story. Lou’s arrogant and domineering, and he really knows women, having been raised amid a bevy of female relatives. But the woman he wants is making him work to get noticed, and she’s driving him crazy. I love that Lou, who’s such a sweetheart but so bossy, has met his match in the somewhat shy, vulnerable yet strong woman who wants to love and be loved so much.

Thanks for having me!

Marie
http://marieharte.com

About the Author:

Caffeine addict, boy referee, and romance aficionado, MARIE HARTE is a confessed bibliophile and devotee of action movies. Whether hiking in Central Oregon, biking around town, or hanging at the local tea shop, she’s constantly plotting to give everyone a happily ever after. Visit marieharte.com and fall in love.


Title:  Roadside Assistance
Series:  Body Shop Bad Boys #2
Author:  Marie Harte
Publication Date:   September 6th 2016 by Sourcebooks Casablanca
Length:  352pgs
Genre:  contemporary romance
Shelf:  Review
My Rating: ★★★★★
Book Links: GoodreadsAmazon(US)Amazon(CA) - B&N - Kobo - Indigo - Google Play 

Back Cover Blurb:

Underneath the axle grease and tats
He's a gentleman


Foley Sanders figured he'll always be content with a life of cars and casual hookups. Until a run-in with Cyn, a statuesque firecracker with a hate-on for men, leaves him bewitched and intrigued-much to her annoyance.

Maybe Cynthia Nichols was a little hard on Foley, that muscular, tattooed, super-hot mechanic next door. But she's tired of feeling defensive about her size and has sworn off men. She's got a new job, new life, perfect plan. Foley has trouble written all over him-no way is she going to fall for his charms.

Foley might look like a bad idea, but underneath, he's all gentleman. Too bad Cyn's not buying it. What's a bad boy to do when the goddess of his dreams won't give him the time of day?

My Review:

What a fun novel! Harte had me laughing so hard I was in tears throughout this novel. She showed life at its finest, while also hinting at the dark undertones that can run through it. At the same time, there were also some real tear jerker moments. The banter between the characters is so real. I love how it brought not only the characters, but the entire story to life.

I love how Harte brought all of the different characters’ emotions to life throughout the story. It really made Foley seem larger than life and absolutely unforgettable. I love the simmering edge of danger in his character. The way that he and Cyn fit together was fantastic. Chemistry vies with real caring to create the perfect foundation for this whirlwind romance. Cyn’s mom was definitely a piece of work. I don’t know how she ended up so well adjusted growing up within this family. That said, seeing Cyn finally gain the courage to stand up to her was fantastic. Sam’s thoughts were almost as intriguing and insightful as those of the main characters. I loved getting to know him on this deeper level and definitely can’t wait to find out his secret when we get to read his story.

Once again Harte has created a novel that readers from all walks of life will fall in love with. The fast pace and complex plot of the story will keep you on your toes as you fall in love with the fantastic characters that we meet.

And now, be sure to enter this fantastic tour wide giveaway!


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