One Wet Summer
by Ann Montclair
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BLURB:
Maura Fields loves her uncomplicated, independent, single life, but things quickly change when a summer vacation opens the door to an unexpected world of passion and desire. Wealthy Savannah hotelier Ben Driscoll had his playboy lifestyle upended when his ex-wife died, entrusting him to care for their daughter—a child he sequesters and vows to protect from future heartache and disappointment. Can the wall Ben has built around his heart withstand the assault from the intriguing, beguiling Maura, or will it crumble, leaving him vulnerable to the undeniable attraction and unbridled need to make her his own?
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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.”
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
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.
LINKS
Web site: http://www.annmontclair.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/AnnMontclair
Buy link: http://www.musapublishing.com/
Q&A with The Author:
-If you weren't writing, what career do you think you would choose? I have my chosen career. I’ve been a college English professor for eighteen years, teaching creative writing, literature, and composition and rhetoric. I’m on academic sabbatical this year, and I’ll admit, I love getting paid to stay home and read and write romance! But I do miss my students. Their youth, vitality, and energy inspires me daily. When I return to teaching in the fall, I’ll still have almost a month off every Christmas and all teachers enjoy their summers(like Maura in One Wet Summer).
- Your book One Wet Summer is a contemporary romance, are those the books you enjoy reading as well, or just writing? I enjoy reading everything, but romance is my favorite genre. Contemporary is my preference, then historical, which I also write.
- How do you come up with characters names, do they just come to you as your writing, or do u have some sort of system to picking them? I make lists of names, and when I come up with two I like, I ask my son. I describe the character, and then he chooses between the two names. It works well. Twelve year olds are very organic and insightful!
- If you were deserted on an island and could only bring three books along what would they be and why? I’d bring the complete works of William Shakespeare, the Bible, and the complete works of Emily Dickinson. Drama, drama, and more drama—in verse.
- How do you come up with characters names, do they just come to you as your writing, or do u have some sort of system to picking them? I make lists of names, and when I come up with two I like, I ask my son. I describe the character, and then he chooses between the two names. It works well. Twelve year olds are very organic and insightful!
- If you were deserted on an island and could only bring three books along what would they be and why? I’d bring the complete works of William Shakespeare, the Bible, and the complete works of Emily Dickinson. Drama, drama, and more drama—in verse.
Please comment on my post as well as the other tour stops as Ann will be giving away 3 $10 Musa Publishing giftcards to random commenters throughout the tour!
Thanks for having me. :)
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome that you get to stay at home now (or for now) to focus on writing and everything! That's what I love about summer being a high school English teacher. :) Good luck with your book!
ReplyDeleteIsn't summer the best? I feel renewed each fall after a summer spent reading, writing, and relaxing. I love my job--and not because we get time off, but because we have substantial time to get/stay current with our subject. Thanks for stopping and commenting, Dusty.
DeleteWell, I am jealous of both you and Dusty! My teaching career in English tanked a few years ago due to budget cutbacks and to find another position I was going to have to some serious commuting. I ended up with a part-time newspaper shtick for a while that was GREAT for writing, but stank for money and for peace of mind. So now I'm doing the day job grind. Sometimes I'd give my right eye to be back in the classroom. Sometimes I am so glad I'll never have to grade another essay. Oh well. You do what you gotta do. You gals enjoy your time to write!!
ReplyDeleteArley, I hope you find just the right job. I bet you were a great teacher, and it's always sad to lose talent in the classroom. But at least you don't have to grade papers anymore. :) I teach quite few courses online, and now that I've been formally edited, I understand how to "review" word docs and "track changes." I'm hoping I'll be more efficient with my own grading when I return. Fingers crossed.
DeleteThank you for your comment.
The Billionaire's Bauble was such a wonderful book. I am sure One Wet Summer will be as well.
ReplyDeleteCongrats and keep turning them out. Fans are waiting ;)
Thanks, BJ. I'm trying to please the masses. ;)
DeleteHi, Ann, I've only got a second, but wanted to at least stop by.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Cordelia. Much appreciated!
DeleteHi Ann, keep enjoying your tour! :)
ReplyDeleteA thrill a minute, Joanna! ;)
DeleteHi, Ann. Your sabbatical sounds like it's been a great opportunity for you to focus on your writing. I like the idea of the cabin in the woods. Very cozy and romantic!
ReplyDeleteI must say, I do love my cabin. It is a dreamy location, but lots of work, too. Haul wood, trim trees, skim pond, shovel snow...but I'm not complaining. :) Thanks, Margaret.
ReplyDeleteHi Ann, I loved learning that your son collaborates with you on selecting character names! Has he shown any interest in becoming an author like his mom? Much luck to you on your second release!
ReplyDeleteHe is a wonderful child, and yes, he does write stories. My grown daughter is also interested in writing, but she's too busy holding down two job in order to afford her California rent. Thanks for stopping by, Nona. I appreciate your comment. :)
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