Author Interview, Book Review & Giveaway: Nicky Wells and Sophie's Turn

Today I welcome Nicky Wells, author of Sophie's Turn, the first book in the Rock Star Romance Trilogy to My Reading Room.  She's stopping by for an interview, then I have a book review of Sophie's Turn and you have a chance to win a copy of Sophie's Turn (and you'll want to win a copy or buy your own!)  So welcome Nicky!

First of all, I just want to say “Thank You” for inviting me here today. It’s so much fun stopping off for an interview, and I really enjoyed your questions, so: Thank you for your time and interest! Rock on! Now, without further delay, let’s delve in…

What three things do you need in order to write?

Great question! I’m assuming I can take things like laptop and paper for granted, so I’m going to offer you three other things.

One is tea, in copious amounts. Milk and two sugars please. Intravenously would be great, that would cut down on drinking time and definitely keep me awake. (Just kidding!).

Next are post it notes. I’m forever coming up with different nuggets, new ideas, or remembering things I need to do with the kids later, and I’d be lost without post it notes.

Finally, I couldn’t write without a blanket, except in the height of summer. I get desperately cold when I’m typing away and have been known to sit here wrapped in a couple of blankets in addition to wearing a thick woolly jumper and two pairs of socks.

What's your favorite season?

Fall! I was going to say spring, because I love the new life and the greenery and delicate flowers announcing that winter is over, but usually my hay fever sets in very quickly and I’m reduced to sneezes and wheezes. Fall, on the other hand, is a riot of warm, comforting colors but no attendant hay fever symptoms for me. You get those glorious sunny days with the leaves blowing off the trees, and the nights are drawing in making you long for toasted marshmallows and cups of hot chocolate. You can take the kids to fly their kites, and it’s still warm enough to have an occasional picnic and dry your laundry outside. Yes, I would have to say, Fall is my favorite season!

If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?

Anywhere? Like absolutely anywhere? The world is my oyster, and all that? Well, I’d love to see the Great Barrier Reef. I don’t know why, I just have this irrational desire to go and see it. I’d also love to visit the Grand Canyon and Niagara Falls. Maybe one day…

What's the first sentence of Sophie’s Turn?

“Would you marry me?”

How’s that for an opening? The ‘would’ is deliberate and has some significance later on. Hooked? J

Crystal: I know about the would :)  But I'm not telling.  It's so subtle I didn't notice when I read it in the prologue, but I love it!

Tell us what is Sophie’s Turn about.

Sophie’s Turn is the funny, charming and occasionally bittersweet story of one young woman’s entanglement with a rock star. One fine day in Paris, Sophie Penhalligan suddenly finds herself engaged to her teenage crush and love-of-her-life-from-a-distance, rock singer and star extraordinaire Dan Hunter. But there is the small matter of her very recent, but very prior, engagement to Tim. Reliable, honest, trusting Tim, her boyfriend of two years stashed away safely in his mews house in South Kensington while Sophie is drinking rather too much champagne with Dan in Paris. This glamorous and contemporary fairy tale describes how Sophie gets into her impossible situation and how she turns it around.

Dish, who’s your favorite character?

Oh, Dan, the rock star, definitely. I have a huge soft spot for rock singers myself and I am very envious of Sophie and all her experiences and romance. I tried to make Dan as gorgeous and desirable and likable as possible… with a few foibles, of course. **Swoon** Oh for it to have been me… LOL!

Crystal:  I have to say you succeeded with Dan.  I pretty much gave up my rock star fantasies as a teenager, but after this book, I think I may pick them up again, lol!

How did you feel when you finished Sophie’s Turn?

Do you know, nobody’s ever asked me that! I felt elated. Tearful. Bereft. And confused. Elated, because I’d done it, I’d really done it, I’d pulled it off. I’d written a book. Tearful and bereft, because I didn’t want the story to end, didn’t want to part ways with Sophie, Dan and Rachel. And confused, because the story didn’t end how I’d planned it. Sophie had other ideas and ran away with the ending, which was a good job because it’s a great ending (if I say so myself) but it left me very disorientated. I realized that I would simply have to continue the story in another book!

Crystal:  I've never had an author tell me they were confused when finishing a book, but I can definitely understand.  You did end the book great but I can see where it wouldn't be what you planned, it definitely was not what I expected, but I like it a lot! 

When you started Sophie’s Turn did you know you were writing a trilogy or did you figure that out along the way?

Following on from the end of last question… No, I had no idea I was going to write a Trilogy when I started Sophie’s Turn. It wasn’t until I started planning book 2 in earnest that I recognized that there was much more to tell than could possibly fit into a single sequel, and I mapped out the second and third books together. Thus when I started writing Sophie’s Run, the sequel and book 2 in the Trilogy, I already knew that there would be a third book and what that would look like. I’m writing that one now, by the way…

What can we expect next from you?

Well, first of all I’m going to finish the Trilogy, so look out for Sophie’s Run on 7 February 2013 and book 3, Sophie’s Encore, on 7 September 2013, both to be released by Sapphire Star Publishing. After that, I’m going to continue writing romance that rocks your world and I have a particular story line in mind that’s intriguing me. It involves long lost love… unawares it found itself again. Very much a rough notion at this moment so I won’t share any more just now…

Thanks Nicky!

You are welcome, I had great fun chatting with you today! Rock on! J

Rock On! Nicky Wells writes fun and glamorous contemporary romance featuring a rock star
and the girl next door. Her debut novel, Sophie’s Turn, is the first part in her Rock Star Romance
Trilogy. Not unlike Sophie, her heroine, Nicky loves rock music, dancing, and eating lobsters.
When she’s not writing, Nicky is a wife, mother, and teaching assistant. Nicky is also a featured
author on the innovative reader/author project, loveahappyending.com.

Originally born in Germany, Nicky moved to the United Kingdom in 1993, and currently lives
in Bristol with her husband and two boys. In a previous professional life, Nicky worked as a
researcher and project manager for an international Human Resources research firm based in
London and Washington, D.C.

Visit Nicky on her blog where you can find articles, interviews, radio interviews and, of course,
an ongoing update on her work in progress, the second and third parts of the Rock Star
Romance Trilogy. You can also follow Nicky on Twitter and find her on Facebook.

Website

Twitter Handle: @WellsNicky

Facebook 

  

Date to be Published: 9/6/12

Publisher: Sapphire Star Publishing

Synopsis: 

Slapper. Slut. Adulteress. These are hardly words that Sophie Penhalligan would
normally use to describe herself. Yet this is exactly how she is behaving, all things considered,
even if she isn’t quite married to Tim yet. And it’s all happening because her past is coming to
tempt her! Nine years ago, she met her teenage idol and rock star extraordinaire, Dan, up close
and personal. Well, almost. Now Dan has crash-landed back in her life. How could Tim ever
stand a chance against the charming, handsome singer? How could she?

My Review:
I'm not sure what I expected from Sophie's Turn, but I got so much more than I expected from the book.  I received entertainment for an afternoon an evening.  I was taken to a world that was different from my own.  But I also watched a woman deal with her issues by first not dealing with them and then tackling them.  I watched a romance bloom.  I toured with a band around Europe and stayed at 5-star hotels.  And I enjoyed every minute.  Ms. Wells knows how to write a story that fully immerses you in the experience of her characters and makes it very enjoyable.

Sophie was a great character.  She is funny, witty, has a great best friend, a good boyfriend and a good life, so why are memories of a night spent with a band ten years ago coming back to her?  And then the happenstance meeting with one of those band members in an airport that lands the band back in her life.  Is it what she wants and will it turn her life upside down?  Well of course the book needs some tension and conflict to proceed and this has it.  But it also has great friends, romance, heartfelt insight, tender moments with parents and so much more.  Sophie has a whole range of emotions and she goes through all of them.  But not on a whim. Sophie is not a silly girl that you just want to slap, at least I didn't.  I felt that she had a reason for each thing she did and each time she went through a range of emotions she had good reason.  I just loved her, she was so real.  She battled decision-making.  Nothing was easy for her.  Every time she thought it was, something else came up and showed her something else.  Rachel also made a great supporting character and best friend.  Rachel just wants the best for Sophie and she wasn't one of those mean girl friends that you get in some books.  She honestly had Sophie's best interests at heart through the whole book.  I loved her and I'm interested to see more of her in the next book.  Tim, I'm not sure I can say I liked him, but he serves his purpose.  Dan, now Dan is the man that could make me want the rock star fantasy again even though I'm pretty sure I got over that as a teenager.  Dan is hot, he's sweet and he's the whole package.  No he's not perfect, but his good seems to make up for the bad.  I also can't wait to see more of him as well.

Sophie's Turn was a very hard-to-put-down book.  While the plot was character-driven and I have gone over the characters, the plot move along at a fast pace.  The book is divided into sections and nothing is dwelt on too much to make any part of the book drag on.  I pretty much flew through the whole thing dying to know what would happen next.  Ms. Wells has the timing of the book down to the science to keep the reader engaged with the right amount of information, romance and action.

I loved Sophie's Turn and cannot wait for Sophie's Run.  Ms Wells expertly weaves a story based around Sophie and decisions she needs to make in her life and the two men in it, without making Sophie into a completely wishy-washy annoying woman.  The dialog is witty and fun, the places and scenes keep the story fresh and Sophie herself kept me interested in the book the whole time.  I loved the characters, the plot, the book as a whole.  I think Ms. Wells did an excellent job and think that if you enjoy chicklit, romance or a good general fiction book that Sophie's Turn is a great choice for your next book.

My Rating: 4.75/5.0

Giveaway:
Enter the Rafflecopter below to win an ebook copy of Sophie's Turn courtesy of the author and the tour. Ends Oct. 8.

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of Reading Addiction Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Reading Addiction Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorcements and Testimonials in Advertising*

Author Interview: Linn B Halton (The Restaurant @ The Mill)

 

What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?
My main passion is interior design and decorating. I was lucky enough to have been able to do
that as a second career for a few years before I gave up work to write full time. We moved into
a converted cow shed and hayloft about a year ago and have nearly completed remodelling it.
My husband and I love renovating old properties and have had most styles from very new (blank
canvasses) to an old hunting lodge that was over 250 years old. However, after thirteen moves
we feel we have finally found somewhere that feels right. This might be our last move … but
you never know!

What's your favorite season?
Spring, undoubtedly. It’s a time when there is a sense of renewal and beginnings. Everything
looks so fresh and new. You can almost ‘feel’ nature stirring and the energy builds as shoots
and buds appear and plant-life awakens. Watching the birds nesting and hearing the baby
birds chirping, seeing the lambs jumping about in the fields … it reminds me that it’s a time of
optimism and opportunity. I also welcome the lighter mornings after the darkness of the winter,
when all I want to do is hibernate and stay warm.

Describe your ideal reading space (no expense spared here).
I read more and more on my Kindle these days, but ideally I love to hold a paperback in my
hands and curl up in a cosy chair. Autumn/winter is my ideal time, as it’s guaranteed to be in
the comfort of the sitting room and there are fewer distractions. I like peace and quiet when
I’m reading as I want to immerse myself in the story. In summer I tend to read outside in the
garden, but invariably I find myself watching the birds or gazing across as the flowers. I also
find background noise distracting and if the story has lots of detail you can miss something if
your concentration wanders for even a few moments.

The best reading experience I ever had was on the first vacation we had after my mother had
died. It had been a traumatic few months and my husband and I went to a small French beach
resort. We rented a top floor apartment overlooking the sea, it was very quiet there. It had a
well-protected balcony, that was very private and mornings we spent walking along the pebble
beach, which was adjacent to a nature reserve. You could walk for over 10 kilometres to the
next small village. In the afternoons and evenings we played board games on the balcony
and read. I can’t remember the title of the book I took with me, although I know I have it still –
but the story was perfect for that vacation. I needed something to occupy my mind in a light-
hearted and entertaining way to stop myself dwelling on things that had happened. It really
helped make that break a cathartic experience, a time of rest, relaxation and healing – with
plenty of long walks, sea air and reading time. Both my husband and I went home renewed.

If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?
I’m writing this sitting in an apartment in Lake Garda (Italy), in a tiny village in the mountains
called Tignale. We are celebrating our wedding anniversary and doing a two-week tour of
Europe. I am glancing out over an unbelievable view that includes forests, mountain tops and
on down to the lake itself. It’s 7am and the early morning sun is making the lake look like pure
silver – it’s so quiet all you can hear is the odd cricket. I hope we get to come back again some
time in the future, because this is sheer heaven!

What three things do you need in order to write?
Quiet – I like gentle background music but no distracting noises. No interruptions - breaking
off at inopportune moments can often mean losing some of those precious thoughts that jump
into your head and go just as quickly if you don’t ‘grab’ them. The third thing is no pressure –
I couldn’t write to a timetable, although I can write continuously as I haven’t yet suffered with
writer’s block. However, if I had a target date by which to compete something I would feel like
it was ‘a job’ and that would spoil it a little for me. I write because I enjoy doing it and it’s pure
escapism.

I take my breaks when I feel my energy levels are flagging, but have often worked through the
night. Sleep is something you can catch up on when the mood has passed, and if my head
is full of something I often find if I do try to sleep, I only lay there thinking about what I want to
write.

What's the first sentence of The Restaurant @ the Mill?
The first time I walked around the flour mill at Huntingbridge in Gloucestershire turned out to be
a life-changing moment. Reminiscent of the first time I met my business partner, Ben Adams.

Do you have a favorite line in The Restaurant @ the Mill?
“I guess I have my answer—you were kissing me back pretty fiercely there!” It’s a moment
between two the characters that was a long time in coming! Their story began in my debut
novel released in February 2011 and, as secondary characters, it’s only in The Restaurant their
own story reaches a conclusion.

Tell us what is The Restaurant @ the Mill is about.
The Restaurant is not just about the owners, Hilary and Ben, but as 'The Restaurant @ The
Mill' thrives and comes alive with the conversations and emotions of people unconnected in
their day-to-day lives, another five stories unfold. There is also a cameo appearance by a spirit
names Sarah, who wanders the Mill looking for her beloved husband.

Only one thing is certain, life is an eternal struggle and that is the common thread which ties
us all together. Age, relationships, and careers – we all appear to be so very different. Yet
beneath the exterior facade we show to the world at large, is that really the case? The things
we bury deep inside; the worries and fears we are unable to verbalise, and the hand fate takes
in our lives. Sometimes we fail to recognise in each other that innermost struggle and yet it
exists for all of us. Each story is unique, each is a story about the pursuit of love…

Dish, who’s your favorite character?
Now that’s a tough question. I think it would have to be Ben, he’s the chef at the restaurant and
as the story unfolds we find out there’s much more to this gentle, shy man who hides away in
his immaculate kitchen. He’s a fighter and he’s determined to hold onto the person he loves
with all his heart in the only way he knows how.

How did you feel when you finished The Restaurant @ the Mill?
A great sense of completeness. Several of the characters within the story have featured in
other novels I’ve written and I felt their relationships were interesting enough to see how they
developed and find out whether they achieved their ‘happy ending’.

For all of us impatient readers, what is up next for you?
It’s ‘Never Alone’ which is a romance with quite a strong psychic element to it. Planned release
date is October 10, 2012.

Thanks Linn!

Thank you! Fun questions. L


About The Restaurant @ the Mill

Age, relationships, and careers -we are all unique. Yet beneath the exterior facade we choose to show to the world at large, what do we have in common? The things we bury deep inside-the worries and fears we are unable to verbalize, and the hand fate takes in our lives is a common thread. Sometimes we fail to recognize in each other that innermost struggle on the path to true love.

Six very different stories, six couples linked by The Restaurant @ The Mill, owned by Hilary Marks and Ben Adams. As the restaurant thrives the atmosphere is alive with conversation, snapshots of lives unfolding, each one a personal journey.
Will Hilary learn to trust a man with her heart ever again? Why does Ben prefer the sanctuary of his kitchen? Will he finally open up and let the world in?
And the diners-how will their lives play out?
Charlotte kissed a lot of frogs before she found her Prince, but will it all fall apart after an accident changes the man she loves?
Grace and Lawrence have been parted for more than half a century. Can an old secret bring them together for their twilight years?
Isobel and David's love is strong, but everything in their lives is changing. Isobel is attractive and still a catch, but will she begin to tire of him now that it's just the two of them?
Will Sadie ever get Sam to see her as a serious love interest when he used to be engaged to her sister? Or will she always be the younger sibling?
And Thomas, rich beyond most people's wildest dreams, but still in love with the girl he knew at school - is he destined to be a sought-after bachelor for the rest of his life?
About the Author
Linn B Halton lives in the UK, in the small Gloucestershire village of Arlingham, on the banks of the River Severn with her adorable husband and cat with attitude – Mr Tiggs! She writes romantic fiction with a psychic or astrological theme and many of the paranormal events that feature in her books are real life experiences.

Linn is also a featured new Author on http://loveahappyending.com/ and Editor of the feature ‘Author & Associate Catch-Ups’ including ‘Reader/Author Team Reports’ on the website’s magazine-style blog.

Promo Blitz: Haceinda Moon by KaSonndra Leigh

Hacienda Moon by KaSonndra Leigh

Gothic Romance

Date Published: July 28

Synopsis: 

A Pathseekers Novel

Love, obsession, and betrayal, the most powerful human emotions, are spun together in this gothic novel. Tandie Harrison is a police medium who has just suffered a divorce after losing both her psychic visions and her daughter in a car accident. When she leaves New York City to start a new life near her hometown, she moves into the alluring plantation house, Chelby Rose, and falls for its enigmatic caretaker, EricFontalvo. Their burgeoning affair ignites a centuryold curse, ensnaring them in a web of danger, deceit,and intrigue. Soon Tandie learns that in placid Bolivia,the worlds of the living and the dead are dangerously connected.

Hacienda Moon is a seductive tale of one woman’s journey to confront the demons of her past and find the courage to face her future. It is a mesmerizing novel that explores the deepest depths of human nature, and the characters will hold and haunt you long after you have read the final chapter.

Author Bio: 

KaSonndra Leigh was born in Charlotte, North Carolina. She now lives in the City of Alchemy and Medicine, North Carolina. She likes to
write about people doing fantastical things in magical worlds. Her two sons have made her promise to write a boy book next.

She holds the MFA in creative writing, and loves to play CLUE, Monopoly (the Indiana Jones version), and Pandora's Box (good writer's
block therapy). She lives in an L-shaped house with a garden dedicated to her grandmother. It has a secret library complete with fairies, Venetian plastered walls, and a desk made out of clear blue glass.

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