Sugarbeat's Books

The Home of the Romance Novel

Until There Was You

Until There Was You by Jessica Scott

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Welcome to Sugarbeat’s Books – The Home of the Romance Novel

shapeimage_3Blurb: A by-the-book captain with a West Point background, Captain Evan Loehr refuses to mix business with pleasure—except for an unguarded instance years ago when he succumbed to the deep sensuality of redheaded beauty Claire Montoya. From that moment on, though, Evan has been at odds with her, through two deployments to Iraq and back again. But when he is asked to train a team prepping for combat alongside Claire, battle-worn Evan is in for the fight of his life.

Strong, gutsy, and loyal, Captain Claire Montoya has worked hard to earn the rank on her chest. In Evan, Claire sees a rigid officer who puts the rules before everything else—including his people. When the mission forces them together, Claire soon discovers that there is more to Evan than meets the eye. He’s more than the rank on his chest; he’s a man with dark secrets and deep longings. For all their differences, Evan and Claire share two crucial passions: their country and each other.

Why you need to read this book?

You need to read this book because Claire Montoya kicks ass! And Evan is a man who can appreciate that.

 

 

Excerpt:

PROLOGUE

Fort Hood, Texas
 July 2005
Captain Evan Loehr was having a bad day. Granted, it could have been worse. Itcould always be worse. But as he pulled his Stetson out of its carrying case and dusted itoff, he contemplated the consequences for blowing off the mandatory fun of tonight’shail and farewell. He was not in the mood. Not in the least. Not when he was eight weeksout from leaving on his third deployment and was up to his neck in maintenance issuesand, well, other issues that he’d never in a million years thought he’d have to deal with asa company commander.
There were things he simply did not want to know about his soldiers.
But his battalion commander said they were going to the hail and farewell, so Evan was going to the hail and farewell. The brutal Texas summer sun blazed overhead,baking the earth and melting the asphalt beneath his shoes. He hoped like hell there wasair-conditioning in the bar.
More, he hoped none of his more illustrious soldiers decided to attend tonight’s shindig. He’d been in command for less than a month, and so far at least one of histroopers had spent a night in jail every single weekend.
Stepping into the bar, he walked into a blanket of darkness, tinged with cigarette smoke and a bouncy country song blaring at him from all sides. The dance floor wassurrounded by a low wall and illuminated with flickering strobe lights. He couldn’tbelieve they were having a military function at a bar where there would be civilians.Normally military functions like these were in separate rooms at somewhat classierestablishments, not in rowdy country bars. He wasn’t entirely sure it was a good idea, butthen again, he wasn’t in charge of planning the event. Evan made his way to the bar,needing something a hell of a lot stronger than a beer to get him through tonight.

Interview & Giveaway – Kristan Higgins, author of Somebody to Love

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Welcome to Sugarbeat’s Books – The Home of the Romance Novel!

Today is an exciting day!  We are welcoming Kristan Higgins to the blog!  She is the author of Somebody to Love and is here to giveaway a copy of her book as well as tell us a bit about herself and her book. Although I haven’t read Someone to Love, I have read several other books that Kristan has written and they were all excellent!  I imagine this one will be great as well!  If you are interested in winning a copy of this book, fill out the form below, and Kristan will be dropping by to say hi, so leave any questions you might have in the comments!

Barb – Tell us a bit about yourself and your writing.

Kristan – Let’s see…I once told Stephen King to get a life when he mocked my Yankees shirt at Fenway Park during a Boston/New York ball game. That may be the most interesting thing sugarbeat's books romance books romance novel reviews historical contemporary eroticaabout me. Oh, and I can whip up a batch of chocolate chip cookies in under six minutes. Land-speed record, I think.

I’m a happily normal person who has a very fun job. I backed into writing when my kids were little (they’re teenagers now). I was a stay-at-home mommy looking for a way to stretch that out, and since my expertise in life seemed to be ironing, imitating bird song and reading romance novels, I figured I’d give romance writing a try. I picked contemporary because I wanted to write love stories about regular folks, you know? People like my friends, siblings, self—not spectacularly gifted or beautiful or wealthy…just regular people who got to have wonderfully romantic love stories.

Barb – Tell us about your latest release, Somebody to Love?

Kristan – Now see, you’ve already caught me in a lie, because when the book starts out, Parker is fabulously wealthy. Well, actually, she’s broke, but she doesn’t know it yet. Though she had a very privileged life growing up, she’s just learned that her daddy has emptied the family coffers, including her trust fund, and she’s got to move and find a job that’ll pay the bills, just like the rest of us. All she has left is a decrepit house on the northern coast of Maine and about six weeks to flip it so that she can have a little starting-over money for her and her son.

James Cahill is the son Parker’s dad never had. He’s Harry’s personal attorney, and he’s nursed a crush on Parker for years. When Harry heads off to prison for insider trading, James figures he owes Parker some help whether she wants it or not. Maybe he can change her mind about him. He’s certainly going to try.

Barb – Do you create an outline before you start writing, or do you let the characters take the story away?

Kristan – A little of both, actually! I do like to have an outline to keep me grounded in the story, because otherwise, I tend to lose my place a bit. But the characters definitely drive the car, as it were. Sometimes I’m surprised at what I learn about them while writing the book; we authors think we know what our people will do, and then bam, they surprise us by veering off the road. It’s always worth it.

Barb –  What is it you love most about writing? What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

Kristan – I love coming up with a new idea; I love falling for a character, whether it’s the hero or a secondary character or a kid in the story. I also love the reaction from readers, which has been overwhelming. I still remember my first fan letter (Alana in Montana, I’m talking to you!) and how stunning it was that someone would write to me.

The hardest part for me is the first draft, which I view as necessary drudgery. The outline is fun because the story is completely fluid at that point. Revisions make the manuscript turn into a book. But the first draft is…well, it’s like soil preparation in the garden. The fun part is designing the garden and planting the flowers. The hard part—and the most important—is preparing the soil, fertilizing it, getting rid of the rocks, digging it up. It’s not as glam as the other parts, but without that, your garden won’t grow.

Barb – Do you have a favorite character from your stories or are they like your children and you can’t choose between them?

Kristan – The latter. It really depends on the day. A few favorites are Liam from UNTIL THERE WAS YOU; BeverLee from MY ONE AND ONLY; Angus from TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE. I love Callie and Malone, Crazy Dave, Danny and Chantal…it’s tough to choose just one. Or even one dozen!

Barb –  What book is currently on your nightstand?

Kristan – I’m reading PARIS IN LOVE by Eloisa James.

Barb –  Where can your fans find you ?

Kristan – www.kristanhiggins.com and www.Facebook.com/KristanHigginsBooks.

Barb –  What project are you working on now?

Kristan – I’m currently working on the first book in a series set around a family-run vineyard in the Finger Lakes region of New York. Readers can expect gorgeous scenery, a dopey and wonderful Golden Retriever, and a hero to swoon over. Well. At least I’ve been swooning over him. It’s a little embarrassing, how much I love this guy.

Barb –  Anything else you’d like to add?

Kristan – Thank you so much for having me today! It’s a pleasure.

sugarbeat's books romance books romance novel reviews historical contemporary eroticaSOMEBODY TO LOVE is a timely story about a rich girl who discovers that a little hard work may be just the thing she needs. After her father loses the family fortune in an insider-trading scheme, single mom Parker Welles is faced with some hard decisions. First order of business: go to Gideon’s Cove, Maine, to sell the only thing she now owns – a decrepit house in need of some serious flipping. When her father’s wingman, James Cahill, asks to go with her, she’s not thrilled, even if he is fairly gorgeous and knows his way around the toolbox.

Having to fend for herself financially for the first time in her life, Parker signs on as a florist’s assistant and starts to find out who she really is. Maybe James isn’t the glib lawyer she always thought he was. And maybe the house isn’t he only thing that needs a little TLC… In addition to the great chemistry between Parker and James, SOMEBODY TO LOVE is sure to make readers fall in love all over again with Gideon’s Cove (the charming town from Kristan’s bestseller Catch Of The Day).

I’d like to thank Kristen for dropping by and sharing!  If this sounds like a book you are interested in winning, fill out the form below!

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