Welcome Sara!
What three things do you need in order to write?
·
A keyboard -- I use a pen and paper for
brainstorming, but for actual writing I need to type.
·
A window – If I can’t be outside, I need to
stare at the trees and sky to really get my creative juices flowing.
·
Coffee -- self-explanatory!
What's your favorite season?
I love warm weather, so summer is my favorite season. But I especially adore those warm fall days
that still feel like summer, the leaves are in full color on the trees, and the
ones on the ground crunch under my feet.
If you could write in any other genre besides romance what
would it be?
To amuse myself (and my kids), I’ve been playing with some
middle grade stories about quirky squirrels and also tween books about boys who
go auto racing. Ultimately, I love to tell happily-ever-after stories about family
and characters who long for a better life, regardless of the genre.
If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?
Living in a landlocked suburb, I am a complete sucker for
the waves crashing on the sand or rocks, so Hawaii is my dream destination, but
really any body of water that I can walk along in at least semi-warm weather
will do. A perfect day would start with a morning stroll along the beach, hours
writing in sight of the water, a nice long hike in the woods, more hours of
writing, and then capped off with a sunset walk along the beach with my hubby.
Ahh, perfection!
What's the first sentence of Construction Beauty Queen?
The checkered destination flag on the GPS screen waved over the entrance to the most desolate trailer park Veronica Jamison had ever seen.
Where did the idea for Construction
Beauty Queen come from?
Growing up in a small town where my parents have a small
business was a big inspiration for me. I love stories where everyone is always
in everyone’s business, helping the hero and heroine get to happily-ever-after
or stirring up to trouble to make the path more difficult. I love reading
small-town stories, and I loved writing this one!
Tell us what is Construction
Beauty Queen about.
Chicago socialite Veronica Jamison is determined to shake
off her sheltered lifestyle and overbearing parents. She heads to her
grandfather’s small town of Kortville, ready to roll up her sleeves and work
for the family construction business. She’ll prove her worth, even if it means
answering to the company’s ruggedly handsome co-owner, Matt.
Matt Shaw just wants to run his business, spend time with the niece he’s raising on his own, and give back to the townspeople who have stood by him. Managing a spoiled-rotten princess he knows he’ll never be good enough for? Not part of his plan. But as he gets to know Veronica, he learns there’s more to her than her beautiful looks and designer clothes. She’s got a heart as rich as her background.
With the quirky townspeople rallying against Veronica inheriting her grandfather’s business, it’s up to Matt to try to drive her out of town. But how can he, when instead she’s driving her way into his heart?
Matt Shaw just wants to run his business, spend time with the niece he’s raising on his own, and give back to the townspeople who have stood by him. Managing a spoiled-rotten princess he knows he’ll never be good enough for? Not part of his plan. But as he gets to know Veronica, he learns there’s more to her than her beautiful looks and designer clothes. She’s got a heart as rich as her background.
With the quirky townspeople rallying against Veronica inheriting her grandfather’s business, it’s up to Matt to try to drive her out of town. But how can he, when instead she’s driving her way into his heart?
Dish, who’s your favorite character?
I really enjoyed writing the quirky townspeople. Barney, who
runs the convenience store, was constantly plying Veronica with so-called
“welcome” gifts. And Pauline, who owns the diner, has a serious espresso
fetish—the more bizarre the flavor, the better! Of course, I love Veronica and
Matt, but Barney and Pauline were so much fun to write.
How did you feel when you finished Construction Beauty Queen?
I felt a really strong sense of accomplishment. I made a lot
of revisions on this story, and I’m so proud of the result. Construction Beauty Queen is lighter in
tone and more humorous than any of my other books, and I’m looking forward to
writing more books in this vein.
For all of us impatient readers, what is up next for you?
I’ve been spending a lot of time editing various “finished”
projects this fall, and I am definitely looking forward to starting something
new. I have an idea for a book with a couple characters who appeared in Construction Beauty Queen, so hopefully
that will soon be my new project.
Thanks Sara!
Thanks for having me. I love to connect with my readers!
My Review:
Construction Beauty Queen is such a fun novel. It has one of my favorite things in a contemporary romance, the small-town theme where the small-town becomes a character itself. I fell in love with Kortville and it's residents right alongside of falling in love with Matt and Veronica. Yes they are tough on Veronica in the beginning but it's very typical of small town so I understood, but as she worms her way into their hearts and Matt's heart, the real story starts.
The characters are great. You have the spoiled rich girl who really wants to make it on her own. Right there you have a character I like. She traded her graduation present car in for an old beater to pay her school loans and while she still has the designer wardrobe she is a generous and sweet soul that you can't help but love. And she has a spine. Does she slink away when Kortville and it's residents throw every curveball her way. Heck no! Veronica is amazing. The only place she is unsure is with her heart and with Matt. She doesn't want to rely on anyone any more, she is sure she wants to do it on her own and I admire that about her. But there is Matt who is oh so attractive and a good man to boot. But Matt has his hang ups. While he is firmly entrenched in the small town life now raising his niece. He hasn't always been there in Kortville and he has been burned which makes him very wary of rich-girl Veronica. I like Matt, he's loyal, he loves Kortville and his niece. He's loyal to his brother's memory, but is it time to let go and really live his own life? Veronica and Matt really need each other to grow and I love that. The chemistry works, the romance grows and both of their hearts are good which makes the story and romance easy to believe.
As far as plot, the town and it's residents really helped push this along for me. At the beginning it was what would they do to Veronica next. And then it was how would they react and grow to love her next. I love how the various townfolk grow and change during the book as well. Also I love how Veronica comes into her own with her business as the plot moves. Then there is the romance, can't have a romance without that. And Construction Beauty Queen has that. From the first kiss to the end, the romance had me sighing in a good way. And it left me smiling and happy.
Construction Beauty Queen is a great read for these cool fall days, it makes you feel all warm inside with the way that people can be good to each other. And that there are happy endings out there. I loved Matt and Veronica and fully enjoyed this book. I laughed and cried, it kept me entertained and it was hard to put down. If you are looking for a quick romance read, then grab this one. If you love small town romances, then this is right up your alley. If you just love a good romance then rush and get it. I can't say enough that this is one wonderful book. Entangled Publishing you have done it again, please keep it up, you find wonderful authors with great stories to tell!
My Rating: 5.0/5.0
Giveaway:
Thanks to the publicist with Entangled Publishing I have one ebook copy (PDF or epub) available to one winner. Open international, ends 11/6.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
***I received this book from the publisher for an honest review. I was not compensated in any other way except receiving the book for free. ***
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2 comments:
Congrats, Sara, on the new release. This book sounds fantastic. Can't wait to read it. Thanks for the great interview and giveaway.
e.balinski(at)att(dot)net
Great review! I grew up in a small town too, so I know all about everyone is always in everyone’s business:) I don't read a lot of stories with this type of setting, but I do really like the ones I've read. I can totally relate!
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