Today I'm turning my blog over to Ann Montclair, who I interviewed about her latest novel "One Wet Summer!!"ALSO -- Be sure to comment on this post to be able to sign up for this tour's GIVEAWAYs (listed below)!! [Blog Tour will run from June 18 - 29, 2012]
My Q&A with Ann Montclair :
Jess : What books did you enjoy reading while growing up?
Ann : I loved reading traditional fairy tales, Aesop’s Fables, Little Golden Books, Charlotte’s Web, YA classics by S. E. Hinton—then I found my mom’s romance novels, and my love of that genre took firm hold by the time I was 12 or 13.
Jess : Which of your characters would you most & least to invite to dinner, from which book and why?
Ann : I’d love to cook for Maura Fields (the heroine) and Jessie Driscoll (the hero’s daughter) from "One Wet Summer." Maura would make a fantastic guest because she loves food and isn’t terribly particular, and Jessie could hang out with my twelve year old son. I’d host a barbecue at the local state park, and we could go swimming there. I know they’d enjoy those activities.The person I’d least like to dine with would be Lexi from "The Billionaire’s Bauble"—she’s got questionable character, and she’s rather snobbish.
Jess : What sparked the idea for "One Wet Summer?"
Ann : My daughter Morgan was on the swim team at her HS, and I remember being impressed, awed even, at how comfortable she was in a swimsuit in front of scads of people. Such body confidence, especially when one is growing and changing, is admirable. I wanted to write an adult character who possessed that same mojo. Maura isn’t perfect by Hollywood standards, but she is perfectly at ease with her large size and athletic physique. That’s where the story started for me—at a pool, in a swimsuit.Jess : When writing "One Wet Summer" did you listen to a certain song list/playlist that you could share with us?
Ann : I wish I had a clever response, but to be honest, I write without music. Household noise surrounds me, so music happens, but I don’t choose it. I leave that to hubby (jam bands) and son (rap).
Jess : If "One Wet Summer" were to be made into a film, who do you see playing the main characters and why?
Ann : Zooey Deschanel would make a cute Maura, and Ben could be played by Josh Duhamel. It’s funny, but a fellow author thinks the cover shot of Ben looks like a young Patrick Swayze.
Jess : Which usually comes first for you, the character(s) story or the idea for the novel?
Ann : My stories are character driven, so the heroine is first, then her hero, then their situation.
Jess : Please describe your hero, from "One Wet Summer," in one to two sentences.
Ann : Ben Driscoll is a man who has had to work hard for his rewards, and those efforts have consumed him. Nothing has gone as planned or expected in his life, but he is dedicated to making the best of every situation.Jess : In regards to your most recent novel, if you could write it all over again, would you change anything about it?
Ann : No. I’m a writer who believes, “I told the story the best I could.” Now that it’s told, I’m on to the next one.
Jess : How many books have you written? Which is your favorite and why?
Ann : I’ve written five books, and I’ve published two and have contracts for two more. Each novel I’ve written is part of my heart. They’re like my kids: I couldn’t possibly pick a favorite!
Jess : Do you have any other projects in the works? If so, can you share a little of your current work with us?
Ann : I am in edits for my next novel, "Good Things Come in Tall Packages." The main characters are two people readers will meet in "One Wet Summer." It’ll be released August 2012 from Musa Publishing. Here’s the blub-in-progress for "Good Things Come in Tall Packages."
- When vivacious Savannah attorney and socialite Lucy Alcott entered the Hyatt looking for fun, martinis, and if lucky, some hot sex, the last thing she expected to find was a man who would compel her to reveal her innermost thoughts and challenge her adversity to love and commitment. Polar opposites in every sense of the word, tall, handsome, debonair, African American Dr. Joe Connors, with his compassion, deep spirituality, and philanthropic nature, rocked Lucy like no man had before. When an unexpected meeting six months later brings them together again, will a family crisis and Joe’s request for help overcome Lucy’s fear of losing her heart, or is the fact they are from two worlds and two ethnicities destined to keep them apart forever?
Ann : Coffee. I can’t live without it. I love red wine, too.
Jess : If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be?
Ann : "Love Triumphs"
Jess : What book are you reading now? How do you like it so far?
Ann : I’m a voracious reader who consumes up to five books a week. Today I started "Sea Swept" [Chesapeake Bay Saga, Book 1] by Nora Roberts. I’ll read the other two in that series when I finish the first. I love it so far. Nora writes compelling characters, and I love her American settings.
About the Author :
I was born in Los Angeles, California, where my parents and grown daughter now reside. I currently live in the Finger Lakes region of New York with my sexy hero, our handsome son, and a pile of lazy dogs and ferocious cats. I enjoy a plethora of hobbies including but not limited to attending concerts, hiking and cycling, cooking, and gardening. I love to dance, to dress up, and I'll go just about anywhere a good time can be had.I've built a satisfying career as an English professor at a small, rural community college, and now I'm also writing and publishing romance. I've finished and sold a few contemporary titles, and I'm working on perfecting a Tudor historical, and penning a modern day romantic suspense. I plan to spend the rest of my life reading and writing in my little cabin in the woods.
My biggest wish is that each of my readers will be inspired to believe in and find their own happily-ever-after.
- This is an ARC book - Available Formats through Amazon.com: Kindle Edition - File Size: 335 KB | Expected Release Date: May 2012 | Publisher: Musa Publishing | Obtained: Goddess Fish Promotions"One Wet Summer" by Ann Montclair
My Book Summary : Ben was living the playboy lifestyle up until his ex-wife died leaving his five-year-old daughter to him to solely raise while trying to keep running his successful hotel. Now two years later Ben has created a loving structured life for his daughter. It's a life he's happy with even though during those two years he hasn't dated anyone he hasn't really wanted to date anyone either. That is until he meets Maura ...
Maura is staying two weeks at Ben's hotel as a gift from her parents and she plans to enjoy every minute of it! And after she meets Ben, their attraction is undeniable, her trip is looking even better! However, because Ben has been use to keeping everyone at arms length (except his daughter) during these past two years their relationship goes back-and-forth between moving at a rapid-pace to them slowing everything down and being unsure of the relationship between them.
Will everything work out for them, leaving them to realize that they are meant to be together? Or will they come to the conclusion that they can't put their hearts on the line for love?
My Book Review : 3 out of 5 stars. Love finds a way of proving that everything you thought you wanted out of life is wrong and can usually turn out even better if only you'll allow it to! I loved Jessie!! She sounded adorable and mature beyond her years (after everything she went through). Maura and Ben have their moments when they are great characters and moments when you just want to smack them. With that being said, I enjoyed the plot and the intrigue that surrounds this book. It did made me wish that all of them (Maura, Ben, & Jessie) would get their happily-ever-after. =0)
I recommend this novel to anyone who is looking for a good contemporary romance novel!!
Author's Novel Extras : Find out my deja vu moment...
Book Teaser(s) :
Teaser #1 ~ within Chapter 1
“Let’s not talk about your leaving when you’ve just arrived. You’re staying two whole weeks, and I plan to monopolize every single second, if you’ll allow me.” He realized how much he meant the words. Maura made him feel like he was a man with a future instead of only a past. And the scent of her velvety skin and the heat of her body tucked up tight to his reminded him he was not just a father, but a red-blooded man.For more information on this book and/or any other books by Ann, then please check out her website.
“Well, if you insist...” She tapped him playfully on his chin.
“I do insist, as long as I’m not intruding on your good time.” He moved his chin aside and air-bit at her finger.
“You are my good time,” she said, and her voice lowered huskily.
He caught her palm, laid it against his cheek, and said, “You’re mine, too.” ~ within Chapter 7
Book Excerpt :
Maura had nothing to lose and everything to gain. Why not? What was she here for? Fun. And escape from the responsibilities of catering to children. This man looked like more fun than she had ever had, and Savannah was certainly an escape from the confines of her seventh grade classroom at Atlanta Mills Middle School. Ms. Fields was just Maura today, and damn, it felt good.
“My name is Maura Fields,” she said, and she giggled as his lips pursed—as if he were tasting her name and found he liked its flavor. “Maura Fields: single woman, no complications. Are you married, encumbered in any way? I hate to be so blunt, Ben, but I am a woman alone on vacation, and I don’t want to find myself taken advantage of, even by someone as beguiling as you.”
He looked taken aback as his blue eyes rounded and one eyebrow arched. “Ms. Fields, I am not married. Does that make you feel more at ease with my invitation?”
“Why, yes, it does!” she couldn’t help but exclaim.
“So, I will see you at four, ready to swim?” he inquired again, but this time it sounded like a statement, a predetermined actuality. Maura liked an assertive man, especially one so dapper. She nodded her head affirmatively, not trusting herself to make a dignified sound.
Ben bowed slightly and slowly raked his brilliant eyes over her body, toe to top. With an appreciative smile playing about his sexy mouth, he said, “Maura, you’re the best thing that has happened around this old place in a very long time.”
Giveaways!! :
- A $10 Musa Publishing Gift Cards to three randomly drawn commenters during the tour
To Enter : Please leave a comment on this post, with a valid email address included at the end of it.
Soo .... COMMENT, COMMENT, COMMENT on this post!! And you could WIN!! =0)
ALSO -- Be sure to follow the tour around the other blog sites! Commenting on the other stops on the tour will also increase your chance of winning!
Find Ann Montclair :
