Blog Tour: Interview with Inara Scott and Giveaway!

Today I'm really excited to welcome author Inara Scott here at Books to Brighten your Mood in celebration of her newest release with Entangled, the Boss's Fake Fiance, which is one of the best contemporary romance titles I read this year (you can read my review here). Inara stops by today to answer a few of my questions about her new book along with some other interesting things and to giveaway to one lucky reader a copy of it. So, please let's give a warm welcoming to Inara :)

- Could you tell us a bit more about your newest release, The Boss's Fake Fiancee?
Inara: I have to say that this is a book that in some ways, I was scared to write. Garth Solen, the hero, has some real reasons to fear love and relationships. When I first wrote him, I held back for fear that readers wouldn't understand him, or might not be sympathetic to him. But my brilliant editor, Libby Murphy, and all the folks at Entangled Publishing really had my back on this one. They encouraged me to take the book to the next level, and I think it's really something special.

But that's all I'm saying. ;-) Other than that, you'll have to read the book!

- When you were writing Rules of Negotiation, did you already have in mind
to return to the same characters later, or was it something that came along
while telling Brit's and Tori's story?
Inara: I had no idea Melissa and Garth would have their own book. If I had, I probably would have come up with a different name for my hero! LOL!

- If The Boss's Fake Fiancee would become a movie, which actors would be
your choices to play Garth and Melissa?
Inara: Maybe your readers can help me answer that one? I don't really watch much in the way of TV or movies. Who would you nominate for Garth? He's tall and lean, with black hair and piercing grey eyes. Wickedly smart, intense, and sexier than is fair for one man. Melissa is slight, with a heart-shaped, expressive face that reveals every one of her emotions, and the trademark Bencher blue eyes. She's loving and a wee bit impulsive--definitely has a tendency to put her foot in her mouth!

- Do you plan on writing a sequel to The Boss's Fake Fiancee?
Inara: Melissa and Brit's brother Ross needs a happily ever after, don't you think? ;-)

- What should we expect from you in the future?
Inara: More of everything, I imagine. More YA, more adult romance, more more more!

- Do you prefer writing adult or YA stories more? What is the genre that
you find more challenging?
Inara: They are each challenging in different ways. When I write adult romance, the characters really drive the story, so I work hard to make their growth and development believable, heart-breaking (and heart warming), and real. With YA, the challenge is to keep the narrator relatable and authentic, while moving the plot along quickly and keeping the audience guessing. Really, I love writing in more than one genre. It keeps my writing flowing in all different ways.

- Are there any authors that influenced your work?
Inara: Oh, I was very much inspired by Johanna Lindsey as a teen--her books swept me away. I think like many authors, I spend a lot of my time as a writer attempting to recreate the feelings she inspired in me as a reader.

- What is your favorite genre to read and could you share some of your
favorite books?
Inara: Tender Rebel is probably my favorite Lindsey book (historical romance). I'm also a sucker for just about anything Susan Elizabeth Phillips writes. I also enjoy fantasy and sci fi. My two favorite all time non-romance authors are David Eddings and Anne McCaffrey. When it comes to YA, my favorite book ever is I am the Messenger, by Markus Zusak.

- When not writing, how do you like spending your free time?
Inara: Spending time with my family, doing yoga, and getting outside. I'm lucky to live in a truly beautiful part of the world.

- Which place in the world are you dying to visit?
Inara: I'd love to visit New Zealand--but I'm not sure I'd survive the flight there! Maybe if they come up with a "beam me up, Scottie" device I'll be able to get there. :-)

Thanks for hosting me, Anna! 

Thanks for stopping by today Inara!

About Inara:

Inara Scott grew up on a steady diet of Harlequins, heaving bosoms, and happily ever after. Romance inspired her first novel, penned at the age of 14, titled A Wild and Stormy Passion. Today, Inara sips tea, stares at the rain, and writes anything and everything, including young adult fiction and adult romance. She has been known to dress up her little white dog in princess costumes, but only for special occasions. Rumors of her secret life as a university professor, writing about energy law and economics, also circulate. She does frequent school visits and loves teaching writing to students of all ages. Kirkus Reviews called her debut novel, Delcroix Academy: The Candidates a “tightly written, intriguing mystery.” The Candidates (released in paperback as The Talents) was a 2010 Oregon Spirit Book Award Honor Book. The Marked, the second book in The Talents series, was released in April 2012. Inara also writes adult romance for Entangled Publishing. Her fantasy romance Radiant Desire won a 2012 HOLT Medallion Award of Merit, and was a Romance Reviews Top Pick for 2011. Inara’s latest contemporary romance, The Boss’s Fake Fiancée, will be released in October 2012.

Visit Inara:

Goodreads ~ Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

About the Book:
Title: The Boss’s Fake Fiancee
Author: Inara Scott
Genre: Category – Contemporary
Length: 288 pages
ISBN: 978-1-62266-984-4
Release Date: October 14th 2012
Imprint:  Indulgence
Purchase Info: Amazon, Barnes and Noble

Is she his worst nightmare…

No relationships, that’s billionaire Garth Solen’s rule—especially not with a woman like his new employee Melissa Bencher, who thinks with her heart and not her head. But all bets are off when Melissa tries to make her jerk ex-boyfriend jealous by suggesting that she’s dating her gorgeous boss. How could she have imagined all the trouble one impulsive act could cause?

…or a dream come true?

To protect his ailing grandmother, Garth is forced to play the part of Melissa’s adoring fiancé. Now they’re trying on rings and posing for the paparazzi. The game is clear: for one month, they play the part of an engaged couple, and then they part ways. No emotions. No entanglements. But when it comes to matters of the heart, Melissa’s never been good at following the rules…

~~~~~~~~~~~~GIVEAWAY~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Entangled Publishing has generously offered an e-copy of The Boss's Fake Fiance to one lucky winner. (Open Internationally.)

Guidelines

~ The contest is open to all.

~ You must be 13 years old or over to participate.

~ The winner will be chosen via Random.org

~ The prize is submitted by the author/publisher and I have no responsibility whatsoever over it.

~ The contest will be open until December 16th.

~ The winner will be notified via e-mail and will have 48 hours to confirm his/her e-mail address before a new winner is selected.

~Fill the form below to enter ~

a Rafflecopter giveaway

REVIEW: The Boss's Fake Fiancee by Inara Scott

The Boss's Fake Fiancee by Inara Scott

Publication Date: October 14th 2012

Publisher: Entangled Publishing (Indulgence)

ebook

Useful Info: Goodreads, Author's Website

Is she his worst nightmare…

No relationships, that’s billionaire Garth Solen’s rule—especially not with a woman like his new employee Melissa Bencher, who thinks with her heart and not her head. But all bets are off when Melissa tries to make her jerk ex-boyfriend jealous by suggesting that she’s dating her gorgeous boss. How could she have imagined all the trouble one impulsive act could cause?

…or a dream come true?

To protect his ailing grandmother, Garth is forced to play the part of Melissa’s adoring fiancé. Now they’re trying on rings and posing for the paparazzi. The game is clear: for one month, they play the part of an engaged couple, and then they part ways. No emotions. No entanglements. But when it comes to matters of the heart, Melissa’s never been good at following the rules…

The Boss's Fake Fiancee is soooo much better than the first book in this series Rules of Negotiation. So much better that you can't even imagine it! It sucked me from the first page and until the very last one I just couldn't put it down. It's cute and sexy and fun and a romance title that I absolutely loved.

If you read my review of Rules of Negotiation, you know that I had some problems with the characters, but the writing style was so good that I managed to like it despite the fact that I couldn't connect with the characters. Well, in The Boss's Fake Fiancee, imagine the same exceptional writing style, but with characters I couldn't help but fall in love with. Both Melissa and Garth are characters I loved reading about, that I could connect with and care for them, something that I couldn't feel with Brit and Tori. And now that I think about it, Brit, my main problem in the first book, remains a character that I can't really like. I mean, as Melissa's older brother he was a secondary character in this one, and everytime he made his appearance I kind of remembered why I couldn't like him before.

Anyway, The Boss's Fake Fiancee is the story of Melissa, Brit's little sister and Garth a super smart billionaire and her boss, who are trapped in a fake marriage scenario that sooner rather than later becomes true. Well, I'm a sucker for the forced marriage of fake marriage trope and no matter how many stories like that I read, if they are well written, I can't resist but fall in love with them. And this one, is an exceptionally written one. It's not a long story but the character development is amazing, and even if the plot follows all the cliches of such stories, it still manages to stand out and be memorable. Mainly, because of the main couple. Melissa is the kind of female heroine I like reading about, caring and compassionate and I loved seeing her taking her life into her hands and putting both her mother and Brit in their place and demanding that they both stop judging her and her decisions. The scene with the wedding gowns was just precious!

Brit on the other hand was the challenge in this novel. Writing his character was the most difficult part of this novel in my opinion and the part where I appreciated Inara Scott all the most. The way she handled him and presented him was just perfect. Granted, I understood really soon what was the deal with him, but even so, his character was well researched and believable. I won't say anything more, I hate spoilers, but thumbs up to the author for writing him. He was my favorite part of the story.

All in all, The Boss's Fake Fiancee is a rather typical romantic story, that manages to stand out due to its characters and the author's incredible writing style. There's not a single moment you'll feel bored while reading it and I can't help but recommend it to all fans of romance. It's quick and cute and sexy. What are you waiting for?

 

* This title was provided for review from the publisher

REVIEW: Rules of Negotiation by Inara Scott

Rules of Negotiation by Inara Scott

Publication Date:February 14th 2012

Publisher:Entangled Publishing

ebook

Book & Purchase Info: Goodreads, Author's Website

He let her make the rules…

NYC’s most eligible bachelor, Brit Bencher, is also known as The Slayer for his reputation in the boardroom…and the bedroom. And he’ll do anything to take care of his family, even seduce high-powered corporate attorney Tori Anderson in the hopes of getting her to reveal confidential information about one of her clients. But for the first time in his life, he finds he’s falling for a woman.

…and then he started to break them.

After juggling the demands of her career and the stress of caring for her ailing mother, Tori Anderson doesn’t have time for relationships—but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t want to feel like a woman. When Brit offers a no-strings attached fling, it sounds like exactly what she needs. But what will she do when Brit decides he won’t take “one night stand” for an answer? When Tori uncovers his lies, will he lose his chance with her forever?

First published at Book Lovers Inc

Rules of Negotiation was a fun and really quick read that unfortunately I won't remember for long since I finished reading it. It's cute story, written by a really talented author but somehow it's not something either extraordinary or fresh. It's a story told so many times already and that is probably why I will soon forget everything about it.

In this story you have a really gorgeous and successful hero, the kind that makes all female swoon all over him and the heroine who is beautiful but doesn't even suspect it, with low self esteem, who waits that said hero to "wake" her up and make her love herself and her life. The hero's motives of flirting with the heroine are shady, heroine learns all about it but by the time they have already fallen in love so everything is fixed in paradise.

That's the story of Rules of Negotiation and honestly nothing more. I know it was obvious from the summary of the book that this would be the story, but I always expect that something is added, something that will make you remember the story, maybe the characters, or a spin in the narration, anything. Unfortunately with this book, nothing new was added. And although it was a fun and quick read, it can't really stand out among all the other books with a similar story out there.

Before I say anything else, I want to point that Inara Scott's writing style is really fresh and effective and that was what I most enjoyed in this book. The story itself of the book couldn't really grab my interest, but it was written in such a way that I wasn't bored or tired. And for a book that couldn't hold my interest, that means a lot.

The romantic plot was a bit forced for me. I mean, I didn't even have the time to adjust to the idea that Brit and Tori were lightly flirting and BOOM! they move into a whole other territory of making out. Honestly, I just had the sense that everything progressed way too quickly between them. I felt like I was a bit forced to see the attraction between them and I just couldn't see any of it.

Another thing that I didn't really like in this story was that the plot was a bit loose. From the summary, we get the idea that Brit wants something very essential for his family from Tori, and for that he seduces her. Now, should what he needed was indeed very important, I honestly wouldn't mind the way he treated Tori. But to seduce a woman, just for something like that, is unethical. Surely it's unethical on both accounts, but at least if it's a matter of life and death you can forgive someone the lengths he goes to succeed. But Brit, has no excuses. And I simply couldn't really like him after that. He kind of reminded me a spoiled kid who does anything to achieve whatever he wants.

Tori was a far kinder character, and someone I enjoyed reading about but still, their story and their romance was nothing I will remember of.

All in all, Rules of Negotiation was a light and fun read but don't expect fireworks from it. You will be disappointed. It's not exactly not worth your time, but not something to go crazy over either.