New Books - NewInBooks

Interview with Patti Hornstra, Author of When He Was Anna

What can you tell us about your new release, When He Was Anna?

My journey started almost three and a half years ago when my youngest child, my fourth, announced that she was transgender and intended to live life as a male. She was not quite seventeen. I was shocked. I jumped right into denial. There were no signs.

Life became a whirlwind of tension, research, confusion, and therapy; none of which proved to be productive, at least not for me. The tension was unbearable. The research just added to the confusion. Therapy seemed to offer no help, although it did seem to add to the tension and confusion.

After two years it became clear that my emotional survival was up to me. And my relationship with Tristan, my fourth child who used to be Anna, was up to me. I had been in survival mode for two years; it was time to step up my emotional game. So, I did a thing. I started to write. I wrote my thoughts, my memories, my feelings. And then, one day, I had written a book.

When He Was Anna; A Mom’s Journey Into the Transgender World is my no BS tale of a clueless mom who finds herself trying to navigate life as the mom of a transgender child. It’s raw and often politically incorrect. But, it’s honest. And it’s me.

What or who inspired you to become an author?

I’ve always wanted to write, and I don’t remember an inspiration. I’ve always know that someday I would publish, I just never imagined that my first book would be a memoir.

What's on your top 5 list for the best books you've ever read?

Expecting Adam, by Martha Beck (my all-time favorite book)

The Color Purple, by Alice Walker

Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway, by Susan Jeffers, Ph.D.

Wild, by Cheryl Strayed

Girl, Wash Your Face, by Rachel Hollis

Say you're the host of a literary talk show. Who would be your first guest? What would you want to ask?

Martha Beck for sure. I’d ask her to tell me more about “The Seeing Thing” she writes about in Expecting Adam. I’d ask if it’s still a “thing” for her.

What's your favorite thing about writing?

It’s an escape for me. I sort of get in a zone. Very often I read what I’ve written afterward and frankly wonder who in the heck wrote that.

What is a typical day like for you?

I’m a real estate broker by day, so my days are typically very reactive. Lots of phone calls, research on the computer, paperwork, problem-solving, (some days in and out of houses but not everyday), glamorous stuff like that.

What scene from When He Was Anna was your favorite to write?

All of Chapter One. So many good memories. The kids were young, life was simple (although I didn’t realize it then, of course).

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

My favorite quote of all. Years ago I printed it and put it on the wall of my office so that I could read it everyday:

“People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway. If you find happiness, people maybe jealous. Be happy anyway. The good you do today maybe forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway. For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.”

― Mother Teresa

Patti Hornstra is the author of the new book When He Was Anna.

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Interview with Moses Yuriyvich Mikheyev, Author of Strange Deaths of the Last Romantic

What can you tell us about your new release, Strange Deaths of the Last Romantic?

I started writing Strange Deaths right after I finished my graduate degree in theological studies at Emory University in 2017. Initially, I was planning on getting my PhD in philosophy, but then I slowly changed my mind about that. I decided I’d take a break from school and try my hand at becoming what everyone told me was just a stupid dream: a writer. I figured I could take a few years off, write a few novels, and if things didn’t work out, I could always head back to school and become a philosophy professor. I finished the novel in a little less than a year. I then sent it out to agents, and it got rejected by all of them. Then I got an email from one agent that was interested. I signed a contract with that agency, and they tried to get it published. Allegedly, it came close to publication with Sourcebooks, but after further review, they ended up axing it. After two years, with no publishing deals and only coronavirus in sight, I decided to fund the entire project myself. I hired an editor from Penguin to edit the book and had my sister team up with an expert on the cover. After a year or so of that, the book is finally coming out November 17th, 2020. It was a long journey and I hope readers enjoy the book!

What or who inspired you to become an author?

I moved to Atlanta in the summer of 2015 to do graduate work at Emory. It took me a few months to find a job and get settled in. In that time period, I purchased a lot of Russian literature. I spent a month or so going through Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment and The Brothers Karamazov. I decided somewhere along the lines that I could write a book similar to Crime and Punishment. It was just a thought, but I decided when I had the time, I would try to write that book. (Strange Deaths is not that book. That book is yet to come.)

But, even before all of that, I’ve been writing short stories and making movies in my head ever since I was a kid. I always wanted to be a writer, but I never seriously considered it as a career option since its success rate is effectively zero. I guess reading Dostoevsky just strengthened my resolve to seriously consider writing an actual novel.

What's on your top 5 list for the best books you've ever read?

That one is easy.
(1) The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
(2) Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky
(3) East of Eden by Steinbeck
(4) The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
(5) Søren Kierkegaard: A Biography by Joakim Garff

Say you're the host of a literary talk show. Who would be your first guest? What would you want to ask?

If it’s writing-related, then I’d love to interview Fitzgerald. I’d love to pick his brains about Gatsby. And maybe I’d ask him why he thought Tender is the Night was his best work (I think it’s pretty awful). Either way, I think he’s the best writer that America ever produced and it’s unfortunate he wasn’t recognized in his own lifetime.

What's your favorite thing about writing?

“Favorite” and “writing” in one sentence? That’s a loaded question. I hate writing. It’s awful. Don’t let anybody else tell you otherwise. It’s excruciating pain. I’d much rather be crucified upside down than finish another novel. Being a writer is a curse. You know you have to write, and you know you can’t stop—and you know everything you write is garbage. Like William Goldman, I only write because “the rage” is still there. One day I’ll wake up and the rage will be gone. Then I’ll probably shoot myself.

What is a typical day like for you?

I used to have a routine with writing. The goal was always 2,000 words a day. After four completed novels, I’m starting to take breaks. I’ve started and stopped something like 4 or 5 novels in the last year or so. It’s awful—writing is. I have this one novel that I’ve been working on that was supposed to be epic. I got a hundred pages in and quit writing because it started boring me to death. Most novels are like that: they bore the author and then the audience. The good news is: when I get bored, I just stop writing. There’s no use in publishing utter garbage. I only finish novels I somewhat believe in. I guess Strange Deaths made the cut.

What scene from Strange Deaths of the Last Romantic was your favorite to write?

Writing the entire book was pain. It was written out of pain and in pain. I mean, I could say it was written for, by, with, et cetera pain in mind. I don’t think I enjoyed writing a single scene. I mean, I’m no sadomasochist, so pain brings me no joy. And all real writing is just verbal pain. But if I’m asked, “Which scene was least painful to write?” then I’d have to go with the prologue. The prologue was easy. I felt no pain writing that one.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

In my twenties, when everything was just cotton candy and pink sunsets, I lived by the idea that hard work paid off. Today, I live by the idea that life is just work—and every once in a while, those who get lucky, get paid. I guess I’m no longer an idealist. This book, like a million other books, will likely sell ten copies—if I’m lucky. The “if” is really a big one. I feel that if every day of my life. I just write because I have to. I live for the same reason: I have to.

Moses Yuriyvich Mikheyev is the author of the new book Strange Deaths of the Last Romantic.

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Interview with Lauren Dawes, Author of Half Blood: The Complete Collection

What can you tell us about your new release, Half Blood: The Complete Collection?

This is the complete collection of my Helheim Wolf Pack Series. The whole series follows a different member of the Helheim pack, and each book offers their story of finding their true mate. It's a great mix of urban fantasy and paranormal romance, and if you love J.R. Ward's style of writing, you're going to love this series.

What or who inspired you to become an author?

This will probably make everyone laugh, but Stephanie Meyer, but probably not for the reasons you all think. I'm a vampire purist at heart. As far as I'm concerned, Anne Rice is the Queen of the vampire genre. What Meyer did with the Twilight saga still makes me cringe to this day. So, I can say, in part, it was a combination of Stephanie Meyer's creation and a drive to write creative fiction that I've had since I was about 8.

What's on your top 5 list for the best books you've ever read?

Dark Lover by J.R. Ward, Stray by Rachel Vincent, The Book Thief by Marku Zusak, Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov and Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.

Say you're the host of a literary talk show. Who would be your first guest? What would you want to ask?

J.R. Ward and "Can I live inside your head?"

What's your favorite thing about writing?

The freedom of creativity, of getting lost in a world of my own creation.

What is a typical day like for you?

I get up at 5am, make tea, then hit the computer until about 7am when the rush to get my daughter ready for school is on. I'm still juggling a day job of sorts so after I get all my work done for clients, I write. I sprint, getting about a thousand words every thirty minutes, so even a couple of hours in addition to my morning time, I'm getting between 2 and 5 thousand words a day.

What scene from Half Blood: The Complete Collection was your favorite to write?

I love any of the fight scenes. The more blood, the better!

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

"Do the things that terrify you." It builds confidence and makes you see that you can achieve anything you put your mind to.

Lauren Dawes is the author of the new book Half Blood: The Complete Collection.

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Interview with Danielle Kaheaku, Author of The Sa Tskir Brothers Chronicles

What can you tell us about your new release, The Sa Tskir Brothers Chronicles Books 1-3?

This was a very long work in progress for me. The first two books were released a few years ago and had hit #1 on multiple Amazon lists, but due to some personal circumstances, I had to delay releasing Book 3 until now. This is really a fun series full of adventure, comedy, and of course, sexy cat-like aliens wanting to be alpha for their human mates.

What or who inspired you to become an author?

I’ve been writing ever since I was a child. I realized my dream during my BA studies, when a published sci-fi professor helped me edit and submit my first novel. I was published just after my 20th birthday, and I’ve been writing ever since.

What's on your top 5 list for the best books you've ever read?

That’s a really tough one, as there are so many wonderful books out there. While I love romance and horror, sci-fi really is my first love (which you can see from my own writing). My favorite series is the Coldfire Trilogy by C.S. Friedman, and then I’d have to say C.J. Cherryh’s Foreigner, Laurel K. Hamilton’s Blue Moon, and as a kid loved Terry Brooks.

Say you're the host of a literary talk show. Who would be your first guest? What would you want to ask?

Jonathan Maberry. The guy is an NYT and USA Today bestselling author, and he pushes books out like nobody’s business. I’d love to pick that man’s brain on how he has this endless supply of ideas and manages to pump out so many words in a day. It really is incredibly impressive how efficient and creative he is as a writer.

What's your favorite thing about writing?

The ability to share my creativity with the world. Seriously, being able to share these crazy, fun ideas that are rolling around inside my brain, the characters that are constantly having conversations with me as I do the daily mundane chores like laundry and cleaning… being able to share these creations that have been following me around for years and have engaging discussions with my readers has been an amazing experience.

What is a typical day like for you?

Aside from writing, I’m also the Senior Acquisitions Editor for an online reading app called Readict. My typical morning begins with me putting in a quick workout before computer work. Most of my day is spent conversing with authors and my team, licensing books and working on author programs. Afterwards, I spend time with my kiddos and dog, with my favorite things to do being hiking, swimming, and cooking. Once the kids are down for the night my writing begins and usually ends with me falling asleep at the computer.

What scene from The Sa Tskir Brothers Chronicles Books 1-3 was your favorite to write?

Oh, definitely the major battle scene in the third book, The Remaining. I show the aliens battling it out in the other books, but this book really focused on the tortured main hero, Rikist, and his inner battles with PTSD and his need to protect his mate, Samantha. This fight scene went beyond anything I’d written about him before, showcasing his alienness and his ability to go feral if the situation arose. I probably rewrote the scene that spanned three chapters many times over, trying to get his reactions—both physical and mental—just right. And, according to my beta readers, I managed to pull it off!

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

Get it done. Seriously. If you want something, you’re going to have to work your tail off for it with no excuses. It’s OK if you fail, but then claw your way back to your feet and keep going because the only person in your way is yourself.

Danielle Kaheaku is the author of The Sa Tskir Brothers Chronicles Books 1-3.

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Interview with Rosalind Tate, Author of Stranded

What can you tell us about your new release, Stranded?

Stranded was inspired by a question that popped into my head a few years ago when I was watching Downton Abbey on TV. How would a modern girl cope - or not - if she found herself in a grand house a century ago?

I love time travel stories, but I wrestle with the paradoxes and consequences of time travel. A quantum computer couldn’t track all the effects that someone just traveling would bring about, never mind interacting with people in the past and future. The main character in Stranded, Sophie, thinks she’s traveled in time, but she’s actually landed in a similar parallel universe where time passes slower - so that world is a century behind ours.

Here in 2020, the scientific community is so convinced parallel universes exist, they’re searching for evidence of them in the Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland. Going with parallel universes made the story real for me.

The portal between universes is at the heart of the story. The portal isn’t magic. It works within the laws of physics. So, if Sophie can unpick its secrets, she’ll be able to get home.

Stranded also has romance and a love triangle, and Sophie, Hugo and Freddy’s friendship will continue and develop in subsequent books in the series. Readers have asked me whether I’m on ‘Team Hugo’ or ‘Team Freddy,’ but my lips are sealed!

What or who inspired you to become an author?

My mother inspired me. She wrote historical novels that were published in the 1980s. As a teenager, I never thought much of it, but now I appreciate how hard she must have worked and appreciate the high quality of her books. It’s a commonplace tragedy nowadays, but she has advanced dementia, so I can’t tell her how proud I am. Her novels are out of print and I intend to republish them, so she’ll live on in those stories.

What's on your top 5 list for the best books you've ever read?

For me, very special books take you out of reality, keep you gripped, make you think and — the ultimate test — when you get to the end, you can’t bear it and have to read from the beginning again. I’m afraid my choices aren’t very original!

These need no explanation…

The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien,

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis.

A bit more up to date…

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness. Deborah’s knowledge of history (she’s a history professor) and modern DNA techniques, and the way she weaves that through her story of vampires and witches, means you’re hooked until the very last page.

Fortune’s Fool by Angela Boord. This novel knocked my socks off. It won the Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off competition (SPFBO) last year, and I stopped reading the eBook on the second page and bought the paperback. Her wonderful writing needed to be savored slowly and that merited a physical book!

My final choice is not a book, but can I cheat? The TV series, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, written by Joss Whedon, has to be up there. The best dialogue, how you can succeed with the help of your friends, and how hard it is to be a leader. I’m not sure it’s even about vampires…

Say you're the host of a literary talk show. Who would be your first guest? What would you want to ask?

The scientist, Jane Goodall.

Jane conducted a six-decade study of wild chimpanzees in Africa, debunked the assumption that humans are uniquely different from other animals by proving (among other things) that animals construct and use tools. And because of her tireless campaigning, there are now no laboratories in the US that experiment on chimpanzees.

Jane is my hero and her work influenced how I’ve portrayed Sophie’s dog, Charlotte, who also falls through the portal in Stranded. Charlotte has her own personality (as anyone who has a dog will know!) and she’s just a regular dog. But (no spoilers) she’s not in the book by accident.

The question I’d ask Jane is: why and how did you not give up, when for years eminent professors and scientists ridiculed you and your work?

What's your favorite thing about writing?

When complete scenes and dialogue come into my brain from the ether (usually when I’m in the shower) and I have to write it all down or it’s lost. It feels as though it’s come from somewhere/someone else and that I’m ‘cheating,’ as I haven’t consciously created them!

What is a typical day like for you?

I get up at 4 am while my family are asleep. When my head is in 1925, any well-meant interruption (‘How’s the book going?’) can stop my chain of thought for the day! I write in a shed in the garden until 11 am (at the moment, I’m writing Escape, the next book after Stranded), then I have coffee with my long-suffering husband, and in the afternoon I do marketing, publishing admin and answer reader’s emails. I’m not superwoman, so I’m in bed by 8 pm most nights. I take it easy at weekends and spend time with my family. That’s not typical at the moment. We’re in lockdown here in England and because two of my grown-up children are miles away, we can only Zoom.

What scene from Stranded was your favorite to write?

The Summer Ball at Shorten Manor. Sophie is wearing a fabulous dress, posh white gloves to above the elbow and looking as pretty and delicate as Cinderella. But when a lecherous guest tries to seduce her, she puts him on the floor with one punch. Yay!

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

‘Carpe diem’ or ‘Seize the day.’ We’re only here once (probably), so enjoy it. I don’t always succeed in living by that motto though. Life too often gets in the way…

Rosalind Tate is the author of the new book Stranded.

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Interview with David Staats, Author of A Midsummer Night's Death

What can you tell us about your new release, A Midsummer Night's Death?

Book three in the Walter Dure series is an attempt to meld two incompatible ideas: a murder mystery with the delightful atmosphere of Shakespeare's fey play.

In a setting shaped by too many dollars and too little sense, a young person dies suddenly in full view of a dozen or more people. That foul play was involved is clear, yet none of the witnesses could tell the how or the who. Caught between a nouveau riche billionaire and a stereotypical, not-as-smart-as-he-thinks-he-is sheriff, Attorney Walter Dure is maneuvered into having to investigate a murder.

What or who inspired you to become an author?

When I was a teenager, I loved the book King of Paris, Guy Endore's fictionalized biography of Alexandre Dumas.

What's on your top 5 list for the best books you've ever read?

Without going into a detailed essay about what constitutes a “best” book, here are five books that I would recommend to anyone, or at least anyone over the age of twenty (not because there is anything risqué in these books, but because to be enjoyed they require a certain maturity):

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
Don Quixote by Miguel Cervantes
The Odyssey by Homer (Fitzgerald translation) (hopefully this book hasn't been ruined for you by its having been taught in school)
Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe
Witness by Whittaker Chambers

How about mysteries? Give us a few of the best mysteries you've read?

I would say these are three can't-miss mysteries:

A Kiss Before Dying by Ira Levin
Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane
Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie

How do you feel about reader ratings and reviews that appear online?

I am very appreciative when anyone takes the time to share their reaction to one of my works. The overwhelming majority of readers are in fact generous. If there should be an occasional less favorable review, I can comfort myself by reading 1-star reviews of great books. For example, a 1-star reviewer of Anna Karenina, which many consider the greatest novel, wrote: “This is an extremely long-winded book …. Numerous dull and irrelevant discussions about local politics, farming methods etc take up endless pages and add nothing to the story. One gets the impression that Tolstoy was paid by the page and did all he could to drag things out.”

If Tolstoy gets his lumps, I guess I shouldn't be surprised to get some myself.

What's the hardest thing about writing?

That as a writer you have to compete with all of the writers in history. I try to write so that someone could reasonably spend their time reading my book, even though they could instead read something by Tolstoy, or Dickens, or Mary Ann Evans, or thousands of other writers.

David Staats is the author of the new book A Midsummer Night's Death.

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Interview with Mary E. Twomey, Author of Savage Hearts

What can you tell us about your new release, Savage Hearts?

This is a five-part series, which is based entirely in Hispanic folklore. All the monsters, themes and magical twists can be found in Latino lore. All the characters are Latino, as well. When I looked at the top 100 books in paranormal romance on amazon, there were zero Latina women on the covers. My goal is to get more diverse offering for readers, so everyone feels seen and is included in the genre I love so much.

What books are currently on your nightstand?

Right now, I've got my kindle on my nightstand, which contains a billion books to be read. Mostly nonfiction, but also some romance and paranormal romance.

What advice would you give your teenage self?

Listen first. Listen second. Act third.

If you had an extra hour each day, how would you spend it?

Ideally, I would be sleeping. But I would probably work instead.

What makes your world go round? Why does it bring you joy?

My kids are great fun. I also enjoy cooking. I've been into making flatbread lately.

What scene from Savage Hearts was your favorite to write?

I loved any time Cruz and Santos are sweet to each other, which happens often. They have a unique brotherhood. It was nice to have several scenes laced with manly sweetness.

Mary E. Twomey is the author of the new book Savage Hearts.

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The Story Behind The Formidable Earl by Sophie Barnes

By Sophie Barnes

Writing The Formidable Earl was more challenging than any other book I’ve ever written, not because of the plot, but because of who the hero is. Looking back, I think it’s because I’ve always loved the heroes and heroines in my books from the get go, which made character development easy. But when it came to writing The Formidable Earl, it was hard.

If you’ve followed my Diamonds In The Rough series from the beginning, you may remember Simon Nugent, the Earl of Fielding, from the first book, A Most Unlikely Duke, where he appears as Gabriella’s arrogant fiancé. While written as a dislikeable character, I always wanted him to have a chance to redeem himself, to grow and become more than anyone ever believed he could be. Even himself.

This transformation from the sort of man most people would feel like strangling for his snobbish behavior and constant fear of other people’s opinion, was tough. And when I thought I’d gotten it right, it turns out I hadn’t. As is oftentimes the case for authors, we’re so engrossed in our own stories and know more than what’s on the page, that we don’t always see the problems with our books. This is why we need beta readers, editors, and proof readers to help the story shine.

When it came to The Formidable Earl, I finished the book early. I was happy with it. My beta readers got back to me with a bit of advice which I implemented and off it went to editor number one. I made huge changes to the plot – changes so extensive that looking back, I ought to have sent it for content edits once more. Instead (thinking I’d done a great job – sigh) I moved on to line edits, made some more tweaks and additional corrections.

Long story short, The Formidable Earl was published to Netgalley with a hero who, as it turns out, nobody liked. Which is pretty disastrous for a romance novel. Having multiple reviewers say that they wished the heroine had ended up with someone else, was not great. So I pondered my options for a couple of days. It was mid-October so there were just two months left until the book was due for release. After receiving a bunch of fantastic advice and encouragement from other authors, I chose to bite the bullet and overhaul the entire manuscript with particular focus on the hero’s character development and a few plot issues reviews consistently mentioned.

Needless to say, October turned out to be extraordinarily stressful. I knew it would be going in, but it was well worth it. My editor was a champ and at the end of it all, I am so much happier with the book as it is today. So far, the reviewers who have read the updated version have given it great reviews. Hopefully readers will also enjoy Simon’s transformational journey and feel as though he absolutely deserved to win Ida Strong when they turn the last page. Keeping my fingers crossed for a successful release.

Sophie Barnes is the author of the new book The Formidable Earl.

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Interview with Evy Journey, author of The Shade Under the Mango Tree

What can you tell us about your new release, The Shade Under the Mango Tree?

The Shade Under the Mango Tree is a multicultural/transcultural story told partly through journal entries. From birth, Luna, the multiracial Asian-Hawaiian-Caucasian protagonist—no longer unusual in the story’s West Coast setting—is exposed to different cultures. The mango tree and its fruit is symbolic of that heritage. A year after college, she chooses to travel to an ancient culture with a deadly history where she confronts a harsh reality she never imagined.

The love that blossoms between Luna and Lucien, the young architect who inspires her to travel, starts with the journal she has lost. But, as one reviewer says, the novel is far more complex than the usual storybook romance. It’s more about forging one’s unique path through the choices they make.

What books are currently on your nightstand?

The Street of a Thousand Blossoms by Gail Tsukiyama.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows, which is also an epistolary novel.

Every Day is for the Thief by Teju Cole.

What advice would you give your teenage self?

It’s not enough to be open to possibilities, your life may be fuller if you actively seek them out.

If you had an extra hour each day, how would you spend it?

Doing art, lately mostly digital art. But I occasionally go back to oils (or acrylics) and pastels. Art-making is so absorbing, though, and gets me engaged for hours once I get into it.

What makes your world go round? Why does it bring you joy?

Literally, it’s traveling. The world is big, varied, and full of wonder. It teaches you or shows you so many things you would never know or experience if you stayed home or traveled only within the borders of your country. You expand your own world when you travel (not just sight-see) and get to know more about how other people in other lands live.

What scene in The Shade Under the Mango Tree was your favorite to write?

I love reunions so it has to be that scene in the second to the last chapter when, all alone in a foreign land and beaten by her experience—though she isn’t aware of it yet—Luna hears a knock on the door. She’s packing to return home and doesn’t believe anyone could have anything more to ask of her. But the insistent knocking compels her to peek through her window. She sees someone she never expected to see in that faraway place. Please read the book to find out what happens.

Evy Journeyis the author of the new book The Shade Under the Mango Tree.

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The Story Behind Wild Forces by Karen Renee

By Karen Renee

A protective Alpha-male.

A slow-burn romance.

Music. So much music!

Those are just three things you’ll find in Wild Forces, the latest book in the O-Town series. Cassie and Gabe are best friends, but neither wants to ruin their friendship by taking things further. This book is the second installment in the O-Town series, and while it is a stand-alone, the friends-to-lovers story came to me in the midst of writing Relentless Habit, the first book in the series.

You might think that would make it easier to write, but I thoroughly struggled with Cassie and Gabe’s story. Mainly because I hadn’t written a friends-to-lovers romance before, and possibly because that trope is not my jam.

Speaking of jams, music is so abundant in this book because Gabe is a freelance DJ and because he meets Cassie when she’s a teaching assistant for a Music Appreciation course Gabe took. The two of them talk music all the time. Writing their banter about music was especially fun because it showcases how different their personalities are.

Their conversations about music ultimately spurred the title for the book. I knew I wanted the word Force in the title. Cassie is a huge fan of the Rolling Stones and their song “Wild Horses.” When that song came up, I realized that was a fun play on words and their title was born.

Orlando DJ, Gabe Sullivan spins a woman up only to revolve right out the door. His tune changes when his only female friend, Cassie, pretends to be more than friends. Sparks fly from their fake kiss, and Gabe insists on exploring things further with Cassie.

After a business deal enters the picture, Cassie pleads for Gabe to listen to her. His fiery temper and misconceptions create an enormous rift. When Cassie finds Gabe to apologize, she discovers he’s kept a secret from her. He claims he was protecting her, but his betrayal cuts too deep.

Can their love overcome so many outside forces of confusion and betrayal?

“I’m surprised by how well this author grabs me from jump. Gabe and Cassie were anything but predictable, and the twists that Karen threw in kept me guessing up to the last chapter or two.” – Jenn the Readaholic, Goodreads