Blog Tour Stop~The Promise of Paradise

 Welcome to my Reading Nook, Allie. Please make yourself at home and let my cabana boys/girls get you a drink.

Comfortable? Wonderful. Now let’s get started.

Tell us about your favorite character from your books.

            That has to be Eddie, the hero from this book. I've written 6 contemporary romance novels, but I have a soft spot for Eddie, the first hero I ever created. And apparently readers do too! During my recent review tour, reviewers had this to say about him:

           

            "Eddie West is definitely the highlight of this story! Sexy with a hint of bad boy..."

            "...a drool-worthy hero..."

            "...a sexy, hot, wounded hero..."

Tell us about your current/upcoming release. What inspired this story?

            The Promise of Paradise is a re-release of the first book I ever wrote and sold (in 2007), then titled Lost in Paradise. It is very much a friends-turned-lovers story. It's also probably the most closely based on my own life (still pretty loosely based, but still): I grew up in a small town like Paradise, I worked as a waitress in a jazz club one summer, and a boy named Collin once broke my heart. Luckily, I did find my own happy ever after in a guy a lot like Eddie :)

When in the day/night do you write? How long per day?

            Since I'm a full-time English teacher, it's tough to find time to write during the school year. I try to write on the weekends or occasionally in the evenings, if I'm not grading a stack of papers (and it always seems like I'm grading a stack of papers!) Truthfully, I do the bulk of my writing in the summer, when I'm not teaching. I try to draft at least one novel each summer, and then go back and revise during the school year.

What is the hardest part of writing your books?

            Plot structure and pulling together sub-plots. I always start with an idea I love, which then quickly turns to "what was I thinking, this is the stupidest story ever" somewhere in the middle. Fortunately, I've learned over time and trial and error how to bully my way through the sagging middle and also find support from other fellow writers to help me over the stumbling blocks.

What does your family think of your writing career?

            Oh, they're super-proud of it. I think my father-in-law is my biggest marketer! He's always telling everyone he meets, everywhere he goes, about my books. It's sweet :)

What do you think makes a good story?

            Ah, that depends on the genre! For me, it's characters I fall in love with and poetic phrasing. I love language.

What book are you reading now? Any favorite authors/books you want to do a shout out for?

            A couple of my favorite authors are Jodi Picoult (because she tackles controversial issues with beautiful writing) and Stephen King (because he writes a page-turner like no one else). I've also been reading more Young Adult these days (both because I teach teenagers and because I'd like to tackle a YA story as my next project), and I love John Green and Sarah Dessen.

What do you do to unwind and relax?

            Depends on the day and my mood! But I'm a big fan of working out and try to get to a few Zumba classes a week – or run outside, when the weather is nice. Spending time laughing with girlfriends over martinis is a close second.

Morning Person or Night Person? 

            Definitely a morning person. I'm up and going by 6 pretty much every morning, even in the summer. By 9 or 10 at night, I'm headed for bed, much to my husband's chagrin – he's more of a night owl and a morning sleeper-inner (is that a word??)

Coffee, tea or other drink to get you moving in the morning? 

            I never drank anything in the mornings until I went to Europe for the first time about 7 years ago and became addicted to cappuccinos and lattes. Since then, I need a shot of something caffeinated in the morning to get me going. Usually it's good old-fashioned coffee with a splash or two of flavored creamer (to sate my sweet tooth!)

What is coming up from you in 2013? Anything you want to tease us with?

            So glad you asked! My next contemporary romance, Beacon of Love, releases TODAY, May 6, with Lyrical Press. Here's the blurb to whet your appetite:

Welcome to Lindsey Point, Connecticut: suspicious of outsiders, loyal to tradition, and absolutely devoted to its local legends.

Enter Sophie Smithwaite, feisty travel show host, in town to film an episode about Lindsey Point’s haunted lighthouse. But digging into the story of a tragic murder-suicide and love gone wrong reveals startling connections to Sophie’s own past. When a gorgeous local handyman fills in behind the camera, Sophie’s life gets complicated by more than just her family history.

Part-time paramedic, handyman, seasonal Santa-Lucas Oakes does it all–except get attached. He’s still reeling from the death of his best friend ten years ago and the more recent infidelity of his ex-fiancee. Yet despite Sophie’s big-city nosiness and her insistence on chasing long-dead ghosts, he’s drawn to her.
But mixing with an outsider means questioning people and traditions Lucas has always defended. When a series of attacks seem to be connected to Sophie’s investigation, both Sophie and Lucas must decide if they are willing to risk everything to uncover the town’s secrets…and their own.

Contest Information:

Allie will be awarding a $10 Amazon OR B&N Gift Card AND an e-copy of any of the author's backlist (winner's choice) to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Make sure to follow the tour and leave more comments to be entered in to win this great prize. The tour dates can be found here:  

http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/02/virtual-nbtm-tour-promise-of-paradise.html

The Promise of Paradise by Allie Boniface

Harvard grad Ashton Kirk is headed for a promising law career when scandal breaks apart her family. To escape, she changes her name and rents an apartment in the small town of Paradise, New Hampshire, where no one knows who she is.

Ash hopes for solitude, but all bets are off when Eddie West, the town’s most eligible bachelor, moves in downstairs. The sexy auto mechanic loves his women and his cars shiny, sleek, and fast, and when he meets his new housemate, he wastes no time getting friendly. But Eddie is nursing his own recent loss, and the last thing he wants to do is let someone new into his life or his heart.

Can two people from different worlds find common ground and a place to fall in love? Or will Ashton’s past and Eddie’s scars keep them apart just as summer heat brings them together? Is it possible to find your soul mate in the place you least expect?

Teaser Excerpt:

Near the curb, engine still running and rock music bellowing from the speakers, idled a red pickup truck. White and yellow flames danced along both sides. Bending over the tailgate was a broad, bare, definitely male back. Yow. No wonder Jen looked like she was about to start drooling. Even one floor up, Ash could trace the outline of nearly every muscle in his arms and back. A bright red and yellow king cobra tattoo curled around his left triceps. Wavy brown hair fell across the sides of his face. His jeans, faded in all the right places, sat low on his hips. Ash squinted harder and ran one hand over her hair.

           

Oh God. They still make men who look like that?

           

“Turn around, please,” Jen commanded under her breath. As if he’d heard her, he straightened up, biceps flexing as he hauled two large boxes from the back of the truck and turned up into the sidewalk. Her sidewalk. He looked up, and Ash’s heart dove into her stomach. A neatly trimmed goatee underscored a crooked nose. He flashed a smile and winked.

           

“Hey,” he called up. “You live here?”

           

Jen nodded and jabbed a thumb in Ash’s direction. “She does.”

           

“I’m Eddie West. Movin’ in today.” It was hard to hear him over the noise of the truck’s humming engine and the music. Ash watched his mouth move instead.

           

“Need any help?” Jen asked.

           

Eddie shook his head. “Nah. I’ve just got a couple of boxes to bring in. The rest is coming tomorrow. But thanks.” He continued up the sidewalk.

           

Jen cupped her hands around her mouth and yelled down. “Come up later, if you want.”

           

Ash elbowed her. “What are you doing?”

           

Eddie backpedaled and nodded, grinning wider. As he disappeared from their view, the heavy front door creaked open and, after a few seconds, thudded shut behind him.

           

Jen straightened up. “See? I told you he’d be good-looking.” She rolled her eyes. “He’s beyond good-looking, Ash.” She fell back against the railing, hands to heart in a dramatic pantomime. “He’s perfect.”

About the Author:

Allie Boniface is a small-town girl at heart who's traveled around the world and still finds that the magic and the mystery of small towns make them the best places to fall in love and find adventure. From the New England coast to Rocky Mountain hotels to tiny European bars, she's found more character and plot inspirations than she could ever count. Currently, she's lucky enough to live in New York's beautiful Hudson Valley with her own "Hometown Hero," a guy who can fix, build, drive, and grill anything and is the epitome of the strong and silent type.

When she isn't writing love stories, Allie is a full-time high school English teacher who gets a kick out of helping her teenagers negotiate the ups and downs of writing along with the ups and downs of life (because, really, she's still trying to do the same thing!). And while she'll continue to travel far and wide, Allie knows there's really nothing like coming back to the place where the people who have known you forever welcome you home with open arms. 

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