Interview & Giveaway with Barbara Velentin, author of FLIGHT RISK

Flight Risk (Assignment Romance, #4)

by: Barbara Valentin

Series: Assignment Romance

Genre: Romantic Comedy/Chick Lit

Release Date: August 17, 2016

Publisher: Gemma Halliday Publishing

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo | Smashwords | Goodreads

*Flight Risk will be $0.99 during the tour.*

When Aubrey Thomas, a phobic travel writer, must choose between jumping to what she considers certain death from a skydiving static line or sinking even deeper into debt in the unemployment line, she scrambles to find someone—anyone!—who can help her overcome her debilitating fear of heights. Enter John Trelawney, a charming window washer who thinks nothing of dangling by a cable fifty stories up and claims he can cure her. Everything about John makes Aubrey nervous... including the way her heart kicks into overdrive whenever he's around. But, at the end of her rope, she takes him up on his offer. Can he really help her get over her fear of heights? Or will Aubrey find herself free falling...possibly even in love with him?

"Where to now?" Aubrey asked as she wadded up what remained of her lunch and deposited it in a nearby trash can.

"You'll find out when we get there."

So juvenile.

John then headed for the exit. With the midday sun rising higher in the sky, the lakefront began to toast. So did her cheeks when she watched him tug off his sweatshirt as he walked. The white fitted T-shirt he had on underneath left little to her imagination.

A tumble of excitement, exasperation, lust, and dread welled up in her as she joined him.

"You're like a kid in a man's body, you know that?"

An incredibly hot man's body.

He stopped and faced her. "And did you know that most people who suffer from phobias have a hyper-developed need for control?"

"Are you implying that I'm a control freak?"

He chuckled. "No, I'm not implying it. I'm stating it, rather explicitly."

She pointed at him. "There. You did it again."

"What?"

She quoted back what he had just said. "Who talks like that?"

He narrowed his eyes. "Well-read adults?"

Of which you seem to be neither.

She kept walking.

"What are you getting so huffy about?" with another of his penetrating stares.

After a moment of silent reflection, she replied, "I don't like not knowing where I'm going."

At this, he held out his hands as they walked along. "Did I call it, or did I call it?"

She turned and grumbled, "Jackass."

Hi Barbara.  Welcome to Read Your Writes Book Reviews.  How are you?

I’m doing well. I love your site and feel honored to be here!

Thank you so much.  Flight Risk is the fourth book in your Assignment Romance series.  What can you tell me about the series and the book itself?

Each book in my Assignment: Romance series is set in Chicago and each of the heroines works at the Gazette, a fictional newspaper that is owned by the Griffin Media Company. The characters from each book appear from time to time in all of the books. Still, each book can be a standalone.

Flight Risk features Aubrey Thomas, a phobic travel writer who must choose between jumping to what she considers certain death from a skydiving static line or sinking even deeper into debt in the unemployment line, she scrambles to find someone—anyone!—who can help her overcome her debilitating fear of heights. Enter John Trelawney, a charming window washer who thinks nothing of dangling by a cable fifty stories up and claims he can cure her. Everything about John makes Aubrey nervous... including the way her heart kicks into overdrive whenever he's around. But, at the end of her rope, she takes him up on his offer.

Tell me about Aubrey Thomas and John Trelawney. (I want details.  Their ages, backgrounds, things they would rather people not know about them.)

Aubrey is 27, raised by her gypsy nana. Uncomfortable with letting new people she meets know that she’s a widow.  The other thing Aubrey would prefer to keep under wraps is that her nana predicted her soul mate’s initials on her 13th birthday.  Afraid of heights and commitment – especially after witnessing her cheating husband meet his maker at the wrong end of a bungee cord Aubrey is a hot mess. She’s intimidated by her editor (who never wanted to hire her in the first place). Up to her eyeballs in credit card debt, Aubrey sets her sights on a well-off, well-coiffed accountant at the paper. The day she finally works up the nerve to invite him to a friend’s wedding, she crosses paths with John, a 29 year-old window washer who claims he can “cure” her. All anyone really knows about him is that he’s a window washer, lives very modestly and in the not-too-distant past, hailed from a homeless shelter. Still, there’s something about this story that doesn’t ring true with Aubrey. And she has good reason to be suspicious. I’d tell you who he really is, but that would spoil the story, wouldn’t it?

Oh my GOSH!!!  I’m getting this story! How did these two meet?

John is in the exact right place at precisely the right time when, standing behind Aubrey in line at a coffee shop, he’s able to talk her down from a panic attack. He then takes the opportunity to offer his services to help her get over her fear of falling.

What do you love about these two?

I love that they each have a dire, time-sensitive need, so they don’t have time for second-guessing, doubt, or fear. They just have to dive right in, accept each other at face value and trust that everything will work out. The reader, on the other hand, may not be so sure. While this adds to the suspense, I hope it makes for a fun read. Their natural chemistry goes beyond physical attraction and I just love their rapport.

Can you tell me about your favorite scene from the book and why is it your favorite?

My favorite scene is when John gives Aubrey her first “test.” It’s apparent from the onset that they each have what the other needs. While her trust in John gives him hope, that he is a hunky bundle of security and danger complete reels her in.

I love the covers for this series.  Do you have any input in them?

Yes, I do – to a point. My publisher’s illustrator asks for input on what the main characters look like, a high-level plot line and any items or themes I feel might be important to include. We decided after False Start (book #1) to keep the Chicago skyline in the background for all subsequent covers and I love how she has managed to make that work.  I’m very grateful I have such a talented artist doing my covers. They’re very eye-catching and reflect the fun tone of my books.

Barbara, thank you so much for taking the time to answer questions for me.

Thanks so much for having me!

Purchase Flight Risk from:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo | Smashwords | Goodreads

The Assignment Romance Series:

(Clicking on the book covers will take you to Amazon.)

*Flight Risk will be $0.99 during the tour.*

Author of the bestselling Assignment: Romance series, Barbara was named "Indie Star of 2015" by Publishers Weekly. A member of Romance Writers of America, she looks forward to the day when her to-do list includes "Send Oprah a thank you note" and "Accept Godiva's request to be a taste-tester."

Places to find Barbara Valentin:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Google+ | Amazon Author Page

You can follow the Flight Risk Blog Tour here.

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