Looking for a hot read for your hot summer day? Our guest today has a book that will do the opposite of cooling you down. Welcome Sarah Castille!
Lexi: Sarah you are no stranger to book awards, wow! Your debut novel, Legal Heat, won a slew of contests and then book two was named one of Publishers Weekly Top Ten Picks for Romance and Erotica in 2013. And the hits keep coming. Do you ever look back at your old day job and pinch yourself?
Sarah: You should see all the pinch marks on my arms! I really enjoyed practicing law and I don't think I could write the stories I write if I hadn't met all the interesting people I encountered while working at an international law firm or had the opportunity to travel to so many fabulous places. But I have no complaints about trading in my stilettos for fuzzy socks, my suits for jammies, and my long days and nights for, well…some things don't change!
Lexi: I hope you enjoy every crazy minute of it. Your readers certainly do! It is a little before the release day of July 1st and there are already some raving reviews. Do you read reviews or do you avoid them like the plague?
Sarah: I read the reviews at the beginning to get a feel for what readers did and didn't like about the story so that I can make the next story better. One thing I've learned from the reviews is that there is much truth in the saying "truth is stranger than fiction" and sometimes the biggest criticisms I've had come from things that are true, but people have a hard time believing. In Against the Ropes, for example, many people queried the actions of the debt collector character. And yet, I developed that character after reading a series of newspaper articles about debtors who had experienced just that kind of behavior. And of my book Legal Heat, people said "lawyers don't behave like that." But, oh my friends, they do **winks**.
Lexi: Avoiding anything can be difficult. Especially for Amanda from In Your Corner. She left Jake to pursue a career, she got it but is alone until she sees Jake again in her boardroom. Was it easy to write her reaction to Jake when she saw him again for the first time?
Sarah: I had that scene in my head from the moment I wrote the scene of them breaking up in Against the Ropes. I knew they belonged together and I was desperate for them to meet again. I also knew it would have to be somewhere Amanda feels comfortable, but when she sees Jake, she is totally rattled and loses control.
Lexi: Your writing brings out the raw feelings of your characters which is complimented by the athletic alphas gracing your pages. Sounds like Jake could put anyone through their paces. Do you do a lot of sports research for your heros?
Sarah: I visited a few MMA gyms and interviewed some fighters for the series. I also watched a lot of MMA fights and post fight interviews, did extensive reading, and followed a few MMA pages on Facebook so I could get a handle on the moves and the lingo and what life is like for the fighters. The visits to the MMA gyms were the best! The fighters were very welcoming and helpful and, of course, it wasn't hard to watch a bunch of cut, fit, ripped guys rolling around on the mat!
Lexi: Thanks for stopping by to talk about your award winning books Sarah! Congratulations on In Your Corner, book two in your Redemption series. We are excited for you and wish you success!
Sarah: Thanks so much Lexi for having me on the blog and for all your kind words!
(Redemption #2)
by Sarah Castille
Paperback, 304 pages
Published July 1st 2014 by Sourcebooks Casablanca
"You have to go. I won't be able to control myself. I've wanted you so bad for so long and after I've been in the cage...I can't think straight." He gives a guttural groan and his fist clenches on my hip.
Primitive. Primal. His need speaks to me. I tighten my grip on his neck and rock up to kiss him. He takes over. His kiss is hard and demanding.
"Mine." His voice is raw, savage and for a moment I truly believe he may lose control.
He rules in the ring
Two years ago, Jake and Amanda were going hot and heavy. But when Jake wanted more, Amanda walked away. Jake immersed himself in mixed martial arts, living life on the edge. But that didn't dull the pain of Amanda's rejection-until a chance encounter throws them together.
A high-powered lawyer, Amanda was a no-strings-attached kind of girl. But two years after her breakup with Jake, she still hasn't found anyone who gets her heart pumping the way he did. And then he shows up in her boardroom, hot as sin and needing help...
But can he rule her heart?
Jake is darker, sexier, and impossible to resist. As their chemistry builds, Amanda's not sure if she can stay in control, or if she's finally willing to let him claim her body and soul.
About the Author:
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author, Sarah Castille, worked and travelled abroad before trading her briefcase and stilettos for a handful of magic beans and a home near the Canadian Rockies. She writes erotic contemporary romance and romantic suspense featuring blazingly hot alpha heroes and the women who tame them.CONTACT INFORMATION:
Sign up for Sarah's newsletter for info about new releases: http://bit.ly/SDdzWXWebsite http://www.sarahcastille.comFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/sarahcastilleauthorTwitter: http://www.twitter.com/sarah_castilleGoodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6920675.Sarah_CastillePinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/scastilleauthor/Amazon Author: http://www.amazon.com/author/sarahcastille
GIVEAWAY:
Sourcebooks is giving away one copy of IN YOUR CORNER to one reader, US/CA only please. To enter, just leave a comment or question on this post for the author and then fill out the rafflecopter below. Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Were you into MMA fighting before you wrote these books?
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely LOVED the first book in this series. I was so glad I had taken a chance on a new to me author ;)
ReplyDeleteSarah, I loved the first book in this series and am so excited to read this book! How many more books are planned for this series?
ReplyDeleteBarrie
when did you first get interested in fighting or is it the fighters?
ReplyDeletecongrats to Sarah on the new release!!! thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE both the covers!! (fanning myself)
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great book.
ReplyDeleteWhat was your first impressions of these covers? (they are very hot) :)
Hi everyone! Sorry not to respond right away we had an internet issue which has now been fixed!
ReplyDeleteSue G, I was into martial arts but not MMA when I started the series.
Kassandra, thanks very much :)
Books4me, the third book in the series, Full Contact, will be out next April. As for more...there just may be a few!
Di, I've been involved in martial arts but I became interested in MMA when I got lost one night and stopped at an MMA gym for directions :)
Thanks Erin and Rachel!
Elaing8, when they sent the covers they asked if I wanted to change anything and I couldn't think of anything I wanted to change!
Thanks so much to Reading Between the Wines Book Club for hosting me!
I can't wait to read In Your Corner!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance to win!
I really enjoyed the first book and I'm looking forward to Jake and Amanda's story! Full Contact sounds like a good book too! Are you writing any other books right now?
ReplyDeleteIm so excited to start this series!!
ReplyDeleteSounds great. Thanks for sharing!!
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to read this series!
ReplyDeleteHi Sarah, congrats on the release of In Your Corner! I have it on my wish list and can't wait to read Amanda and Jake's story!
ReplyDeleteNice covers! I have been seeing a lot of good reviews and will definitely be adding this series to my TBR. Thanks for the chance to win.
ReplyDeleteI'm really looking forward to reading your new book! Sounds fantastic and thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDelete