Piper Noble feels like she's going places. Her business, the Poppin' Fresh Bakery, is a culinary success story. Next on her to-do list is expanding the bakery into the vacant shop next door...and starting a new diet, like her mom keeps nagging her to. But when Joe Montoya steps into her life, her grand plans grind to a sudden halt.
Joe's taken a big risk returning to Whistle Stop. But with his disastrous marriage over, it's time for a fresh start, including opening a coffee shop...and coming to terms with his troubled past. Though his neighbor Piper looks like she'll be a big distraction in getting Fill-It-Up Joe off the ground--with her honeyed smile, curvy goodness, and her unflagging determination to grab his storefront.
However, when Piper and Joe are elected as co-chairs of a fundraising committee to help the town's revitalization project, the hostilities must cease. Joe's not sure about spending time with a woman who, one moment, reminds him of all the good things he's been missing, and the next minute drives him up a wall with her stubbornness. Meanwhile, Piper's looking for the way to this gorgeous but grouchy guy's heart--maybe serving him one of her fresh-from-the-oven pastries could be just the right start...
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Hi Jennifer. Welcome back to Read Your Writes Book Reviews. How are you?
Hi. (smile) It’s been a while. I’m so happy to be back.
You have a series called Whistle Stop Romance. Can you tell me about Whistle Stop, New Mexico and the characters (or should I say people) who live there? Is Whistle Stop based off of a real place?
Whistle Stop is a small Southwestern town. It isn’t based off a real place but in my mind it’s very real. (wink) The townfolk are wonderful—some are sexy cowboys but just as many aren’t, such as in the latest release in the series, A MOMENT ON THE LIPS. It’s about the owner of the Poppin’ Fresh Bakery and the handsome but stubborn man who has moved in next door. There’s definitely some sparks and sizzle as these two get to know each other.
The covers for the Whistle Stop Romance Series are beautiful. Do you pick them out yourself or have any say in them?
I am so glad you like them. (smile) And if you get to check out the back covers, they’re just as beautiful. I’m lucky in that I’ve been able to pick and choose what goes on the cover. The amazing Kim Killion at the Killion Group takes my vision and makes it into a work of art. It’s very exciting waiting for a new cover. (wink)
Who's your favorite couple from the series and why?
Oh my. Talk about a difficult question. I truly love them all and you’ll see returning characters in future books. I think it’s nice to keep track of them and see what they’re doing now. So my favorite characters change from book to book, whatever book I’m writing at the time will be my favorite.
Piper Noble is the heroine in A MOMENT ON THE LIPS. I envy her having a bakery of her own. I love to bake but I don’t do it often because I’ll eat it all. (wink) She too has a weakness for the cupcakes she bakes. I could really relate to her struggle to resist the extra calories or break down and just enjoy the indulgence.
And then there’s Joe Montoya. He was a bit of a mystery at first. He’s a man used to holding everything inside. So it took a bit for him to open up to me about why he was the way he was. It was only then that I understood his need to keep people at arm’s length so he wouldn’t be hurt again.
These two wounded hearts were amazing to have together in the same room. They were good for each other. She’s a little excessive and he’s a bit stingy. Together they find just the right middle ground.
You are ALWAYS writing. Do you have a job outside of writing and being a mom or is writing your full time job?
You’re right, I am always writing or doing associated admin, most times it’s 7 days a week. Luckily with the hubster’s help, I was able to walk away from the office job and follow my dream. I now work longer hours than I did before, but it’s a labor of love and that is a HUGE difference.
Tell me about your Twin Princes of Mirraccino duet.
I wrote A PRINCESS BY CHRISTMAS last year. Originally I’d proposed doing two books, but things happen and decisions are made. So I ended up just writing the one prince’s story. When the book released, I received a tremendous amount of reader mail requesting the crown prince’s story too. I passed along the requests to my editors. They in turn juggled my schedule so that I could write Prince Demetrius’s story in time for this Christmas. The book is dedicated to my readers because if not for them and their collective voice, the story wouldn’t have been written.
So this Christmas, slip away to the Mediterranean island nation of Mirraccino for some holiday cheer, Christmas cookies and a royal romance. This Christmas, the Crown Prince is reunited with the one woman who stole his heart…and who he is still secretly married to…for now. Can the magic of the season heal these two broken hearts?
Oh. That is definitely interesting. Your books take place in the US and abroad. What research do you do in order to make sure the locals are authentic?
I love being able to write the small town romances with the Whistle Stop series and then switch gears and go international or big city with my Harlequin titles. It is definitely the best of both worlds. Research is a huge part of the process. And thanks to the internet, it makes it so much easier. I read non-fiction books, watch dvd’s, search blogs, check out YouTube and Google…lots and lots of Googling. Sadly because of word count restrictions, a lot of my research never makes it into the book.
How hard is it to write a book based on and involving Christmas when it's 80 degrees or more outside? How do you get in the Christmas mindset?
To tell the truth, I’ve never written a Christmas book in the summer. I’ve only ever written Christmas books for Harlequin and they are written well in advance. Which means that I’m writing my next Christmas book this winter. It is due March 1st. So once the rush and franticness of the holiday is over, I’ll settle down on the couch and play Christmas music on Pandora and write. (wink)
Oh wow. That’s good. You're published in other countries. That's freaking cool! What was your reaction when you found out that was going to happen and how did you feel when you had the foreign book in your hand?
I know! It’s totally cool!!! I must admit that when I was signed by Mills & Boon, I knew they had a large foreign market. So it was no surprise. But it was still so exciting to get my first foreign book. It was RANCHER TO THE RESCUE in French. And by being published via Mills & Boon, I also get hardcopy editions of my books. That is really cool because when I was a kid, I’d meandered around the bookstores and stare at the hardback books. I wanted my name on one of those books so bad and now my dream has come true. Sometimes I just need to pinch myself to make sure it’s all real.
Congratulations on having a childhood dream fulfilled! I mentioned that you're ALWAYS writing. The third book in the Whistle Stop Romance Series, A Moment on the Lips, just came out (October 12th). You have The Prince's Christmas Vow coming out on November 1st. Do you ever take breaks?
Breaks? What are those? LOL. Honestly, I don’t take many breaks as they are a lot of work. I equate it to pushing a snowball uphill. Once you get it going, it’s not too bad. But once you stop, it is so hard to get going again. I took a short vacation with the hubster this summer and totally unplugged. It was great to get away from it all, but when I got home it was very hard to catch up on everything and to get my mind back into the rhythm of writing daily. I’m really good with routines. Take me out of my routine and I struggle a bit.
Okay, so what are you working on now?
Right now, I’m writing my next Harlequin. It’s the second book in the Brides for Greek Tycoons duet. It’s due out in the July. The first book is releasing in March, THE GREEK’S READY-MADE WIFE…
Tipping the maid…with a diamond ring!
When chambermaid Kyra Pappas enters the hotel suite, she's not expecting a marriage proposal! But tycoon Cristo Kiriakas believes she will make the perfect convenient bride to help secure a vital deal—and in return, he'll help her find her long-lost family.
Kyra is sure she can handle planning a wedding with no emotional entanglements—but is soon fighting the temptation to kiss her gorgeous fake fiancé! Relationships have only ever meant heartache for these two lost hearts—but together, can they make their fairy-tale ending finally come true…?
As soon as I finish that book, I’m returning to Whistle Stop as wedding bells are about to ring out there and it won’t be your typical wedding. (wink) And if that isn’t enough, there’s a mayoral election that’s about to become sticky and not from the honey fresh pastries at the Poppin’ Fresh Bakery either. For years now, Mayor Ortiz has run unopposed, but all of that is changing. Are the townsfolk of Whistle Stop ready for so much change all at once? And will Mason Noble tossing his hat in the election endanger his engagement to Bella Nez? So many questions. So many changes. Keep an eye out for the fourth installment in the Whistle Stop series.
FYI, if you’re new to the Whistle Stop Romance series, for the next week, you can grab the e-book of the first book in the series, A Moment to Love, for 99 cents.
It was a pleasure chatting with you. Take care.
Thanks so much for having me. I just love your blog and all of the amazing books you showcase here. I hope we can do it again soon.
Definitely.
The Whistle Stop Series:
(Click on the book covers for more information and/or to purchase from Amazon.)
Award-winning author, Jennifer Faye pens fun, heartwarming romances. Step into the pages of exciting destinations with rugged cowboys, sexy tycoons & enchanting royalty. She is the author of the WHISTLE STOP ROMANCE series.
Jennifer is a two-time winner of the RT Book Reviews Reviewers' Choice Award, has been named a TOP PICK author, and has been nominated for numerous awards.
Now living her dream, she resides with her patient husband, amazing daughter (the other remarkable daughter is off chasing her own dreams) and two spoiled cats.
Places to find Jennifer Faye:
All the Whistle Stop books are great reads!
ReplyDeleteHi Angela!!!
DeleteHow are you? I've heard Jennifer's books are really good. I haven't read them, but my blog mate Julie has and she LOVES them.
Thanks so much, Angela!!! That means a lot coming for you. :-)
DeleteWonderful interview!
ReplyDeleteThanks Julia.
DeleteSo glad you enjoyed it! :-)
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