by: Melissa Kate
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: May 24, 2016
Publisher: Fiery Seas Publishing
Audrey Kelly finds her way back home to Crystal Valley with her bruised pride and a shattered dangerous past mocking her rear view mirror. What she didn’t expect was to be face-to-face with Adam Parker, resident bad boy, sexy Navy SEAL and one of the reasons that Audrey ran all those years ago.
Audrey was the last person Adam had ever expected to see back in Crystal Valley. Over a decade ago, they shared a sizzling night together before he received the worst news of his life and he hasn’t seen her since…until she’d moved back unexpectedly. She was no longer the sweet innocent girl he once remembered, but Adam has his own problems without having to deal with Audrey’s ice princess recital, no matter how tempting the auburn haired seductress may be.
Sparks begin to ignite between them but can they accept Audrey’s past when it threatens to engage them in a dangerous twist? Can they save each other from themselves and stop running once and for all?
Audrey Kelly cruised down the main highway in her little Audi TT heading straight into Crystal Valley. A familiar maelstrom of emotions crept in. The gnawing in her chest overpowered only slightly by the urge to turn tail and drive in the opposite direction. She pushed a button and the window automatically rolled down with a soft hum, letting in the warm, California air. She breathed in deeply, inhaling the fresh salty breeze, taking her back to her childhood. Splashing in the ocean, lying on the warm beach to dry off, ice cream cones and pizza parties. Days of innocent abandon. It was also the days of bitter disappointment and regret.
She squelched those feelings as she turned on to Crystal Valley exit. Good old small town USA. Audrey felt the tightening in her gut, the familiar noose around her neck that came with small town living. The stifling claustrophobia trying to claw its way out. She hadn’t been back in fourteen years, well except for the few days six years ago... and even that was a memory tightly locked away. The day high school graduation had rolled around, she had hightailed it out of here so fast she was surprised her coat tails hadn’t caught fire. Audrey had wanted to amount to more than just a clerk in the local store or a hairdresser at the corner salon. There was more to it than just that, more that she didn’t want to recall. She had set her sights on a high profile life. She had wanted to create a name for herself – a legacy to leave behind. And she did.
Audrey turned onto the street where she lived as a child. Grandpa Joe’s house. She smiled up at the familiar building. The two story, cottage- style house eased the anxiety that had been growing with each mile she drove closer to home. She parked in the gravel driveway and took in the house that had been her haven for most of her formative years. The black shutters on the large windows gave the home a real country feel. The wrap-around porch along the left of the house remained exactly as she recalled, even with the small swing seat where she and her grandma had spent many evenings together, regaling each other with made up stories. The garden surrounding the base of the house was still trenched but did not have even a fraction of the blooms that her beloved grandma had maintained year round. Audrey’s chest pinched and she buried the emotion. Just another one to file away, she thought wryly.
Hi, Melissa. Welcome to Read Your Writes Book Reviews. How are you?
Thank you so much for having me! I am great, thank you.
Waiting For You is your debut novel from Fiery Seas Publishing. What can you tell me about the book that isn’t already in the blurb?
There’s a little bit of a dark element in the book with Audrey’s past which adds a thriller element to the story. On the flip side, the secondary characters are a hoot. Emma and Oliver are funny and add a great comic relief to the otherwise serious plot. Oh and they will get their own book too!
Audrey Kelly and Adam Parker shared one night together, before they were pushed apart. What have their lives been like in the ten plus years since?
Audrey went on to study art and photography and then got married. Her life wasn’t all roses though as her marriage changed who she was as an individual. She’s haunted greatly by her choices and the fun loving youth she left behind.
Adam on the other hand was dealt a tough blow in his early years with his Father’s health diagnosis and chose to enlist in the Navy to support him. He has lived a full, somewhat burdened life but he’s come out ok.
What do you love about Audrey and Adam?
Their deep sexual attraction. Adam particularly is a hottie. I mean really, who doesn’t love a ripped ex Navy SEAL? They shared an innocent past and then lived their lives separately and now carry along their own demons. Being together again seems to bring out the light in each other once more. They seem to heal the other. They are good together.
How did you come up with the characters names?
There was no grand process. I just liked the names.
Did you encounter any surprises in writing Waiting For You, from any of the characters or plot twists?
Not particularly. I found that writing the secondary characters were a surprise because they added a fun element that I hadn’t planned for.
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?)
The banter, particularly if they have a love/hate relationship.
What’s next for you?
I have my next book, Love in the Fast Lane coming out soon and am also working on Book 3 which is Emma and Oliver’s story.
Melissa, thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me. Congratulations on your new release.
Thanks so much and thank YOU for having me!
Purchase Waiting for You from:
Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/1XpOSaEHMI8
When she’s not furiously typing away on her laptop, Melissa can be found cooking or baking up a storm. Even she has to admit, she’s a pretty awesome chef. She has a small addiction with shoes which she attributes to her petite stature or as she likes to call it “Short girl problems”.
She balances her day job and conjuring up new romantic tales with a local personal blog with arb ramblings about her life in Durban. She’s been writing for years now, any bits that she can and she can't wait to share that with you!
Places to find Melissa Kate:
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Thank you for a wonderful Q&A and excerpt.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
Deletelove the excerpt and Q&A Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThanks Rhi.
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