by: Diane Alberts
Series: Shillings Agency
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: October 3, 2016
Publisher: Entangled Brazen
One night with a stranger…
Security expert Mark Matthews has loved, and lost, and has no intention of ever loving again—especially not a woman who thrives on her life being in danger. Now, hot, meaningless sex with strangers he had no intention of ever seeing again? That’s a whole other story. And it’s all life as a single father allows him to enjoy. But when he meets a woman who refuses to tell him her real name, the game is on, because she’s everything he swore to stay away from. Daisy O’Rourke has bad idea written all over her, but he’s in too deep to walk away now…
Security expert Mark Matthews has loved, and lost, and has no intention of ever loving again—especially not a woman who thrives on her life being in danger. Now, hot, meaningless sex with strangers he had no intention of ever seeing again? That’s a whole other story. And it’s all life as a single father allows him to enjoy. But when he meets a woman who refuses to tell him her real name, the game is on, because she’s everything he swore to stay away from. Daisy O’Rourke has bad idea written all over her, but he’s in too deep to walk away now…
Hi Diane. Welcome back to Read Your Writes Book Reviews. How are you?
I’m great, just sitting on my couch, sipping coffee, about to get to writing. How are you? (smiles)
I’m good. Thank you for asking. Honestly, I’m still thinking about His Best Mistake. Sigh. Okay. Let’s get down to business. His Best Mistake is the sixth and final book in your Shillings Agency series from Entangled Brazen. What was it like writing the final book?
A little bittersweet, to be honest! I knew that by the time I reached the last book, I needed to show Kayla and Cooper actually getting married (they’re the first couple in the series), but it couldn’t focus too much on them, so I figured the best way to do that was to have our couple in the sixth book meet at the wedding! And all the fun kinda catapults from there.
Describe His Best Mistake in one sentence.
Marvel, Mistaken identities, and a hell of a lot of drama…all in one sexy package.
Lol. That’s a good summary. I’m sure you know I’m a huge fan of Holt Cunningham and Cooper Shillings. Mark Matthews has put himself in the running for my favorite Shillings Agency man. How did you come up with his character?
Honestly, he kind of just came to me when I was writing Steven and Lauren’s story! When Lydia hooked Lauren and Mark up on a blind date, I had no idea Mark was going to be such a compelling character. And when he went into Lauren’s bakery and asked for a cookie for his daughter, I was like, “Oh, hell yeah. Here we go.” Pairing him with Daisy, who also lost her loved one, was just like a match made in heaven to me.
His Best Mistake has a completely different vibe from the other books in the series. It’s not dark, but the pasts of Mark and Daisy are. I found the story to be heart wrenching and emotional. How trying was it for you to write it?
I loved it! I love emotional stories that twist the heart a little bit, but make you smile, too, and I felt like Daisy and Mark did both of those things, easily. It was amazing and incredible, watching their story play out on the pages like it did. It just goes to show the healing power of love.
I never looked at it that way. But you’re right. I love the pop culture you put into the book. What made you decide to go Marvel?
I love Marvel, so when they decided to give each other nicknames, I kind of just immediately went there. Most of the pop culture references I make are because I, myself, love those things. It’s a little piece of me in every book. Just like every time I mention a drink, or food, it’s probably because that’s what I want to eat right then, haha! (unless it’s seafood, I hate seafood)
What’s your favorite part of a romance to write? (The beginning, the first meeting, first kiss, getting to know each other, first love scene, big fight, HEA or something else?)
I think it’s tied between the first kiss, and the big fight that rips it all apart. I love writing both of those moments. They’re my jam.
You’re pretty good at putting the characters back together again, after the big fight. This is a spoiler question for anyone who hasn’t read the series. But where do you see all the characters today?
Oh, I love this! Okay, here we go!
Cooper & Kayla—happily married, and Kayla would find out she is pregnant within a few months of marriage, and she’d start spouting out statistics about pregnancies, and children, and losses—and Cooper would kiss her into silence.
Tara & Jake—Planning their own wedding, and happily married, with Jake letting Tara brighten his life a little more each day. I see them having children in a year or so, after marriage. Maybe three in total.
Gordon & Isabelle—Busy running a country, and juggling all the diplomatic details of that! The people love Gordon, and he’s a fair partner to the princess, and their son is the pride and joy of the country. She’s pregnant again, with a girl this time, and they’re blissfully happy.
Holt & Lydia—They have a quiet wedding, and she gets him a Doctor Who related wedding ring, and wears the matching one. They have two children in the end, and they name them Rose and David.
Lauren & Steven—They don’t have children for a few years, and travel the world a bit. Lauren’s bakery is successful, and they get married in a big stone church. When they have a child, it’s a girl, and it’s their only child.
Mark & Daisy—They’re planning their wedding, and all the Shillings peeps will be going to it, as well as all the cops. Daisy does well, and becomes detective, and then they have one more child, a boy, and live happily ever after.
Oh my gosh! You seriously thought all that out. Awesome. Okay, before I go. I have to ask what you’re working on currently.
I’m currently switching between a third James Patterson BookShots story as Jen McLaughlin, and the second Indulgence book in my new Hamilton Family series as Diane Alberts.
Thanks for having me here today!
You are more than welcome. Thank you so much for allowing me to interview you.
Purchase His Best Mistake from:
The Shillings Agency Series:
(Clicking on the book covers will take you to Amazon.)
Diane Alberts is a USA TODAY bestselling Contemporary Romance author with Entangled Publishing. Under the name Jen McLaughlin, she also writes New York Times, USA TODAY, and Wall Street Journal bestselling books with Penguin Random House. She was mentioned in Forbes alongside E. L. James as one of the breakout independent authors to dominate the bestselling lists. Diane is represented by Louise Fury at The Bent Agency.
Places to find Diane Alberts:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest | Instagram | Street Team | Newsletter | Amazon Author Page
Great interview. I will be putting this series on my "want to read" list.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I love this series. I will never look at a blanket in an airplane the same again.
Delete