Author Spotlight: Jacquelyn Ayres

For anyone that has yet to meet Jacquelyn you are in for a treat. This is her official author bio!


I am a Domestic Engineer (born and raised in NJ) whose sole responsibility is to guide three young impressionable kids into becoming phenomenal adults. This challenging, yet rewarding work requires a lot of love (coffee), patience (wine) and determination (periodic exorcisms). I work all of this magic in the beautiful state of New Hampshire.

Before becoming a Domestic Goddess (not really), I spent over a decade working in the medical field where I wore more hats than the Queen.

I have had a love for the written word and the great escape it provides since I was a little girl. When I wasn't reading about people and the places they lived, I was creating my own characters and adventures. Finally, I have been putting a pen to paper allowing my characters to come to life. When I don't have a pen and paper in hand,you can often find me laughing at the conversations my characters are having in my head.


Now she forgets to add into that that she is, in the very best way possible, as crazy as a box of frogs, once she gets to know you, you can expect……..

• Mad dances on your twitter timeline!
  

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DmNGIg8f-0Wc&h=QAQE_6Rp8

• Arcs in your e mail! Whoo Hooo
  

·     

    Emoji’s and love notes ;-) in your morning inbox

She is honestly one of the most ‘giving’ people we have ever come across and here at BNW we are happy to call her our friend.

And –she’s as you may have guessed, an author!!

You need to check out her work!!

Goodbye Caution (lost and found #1) released in January

~ Synopsis ~

Becca Campbell is a mother, friend, and widow to a war hero (may he rot in hell). She just wants to raise her daughter right and keep her bed-and-breakfast afloat in this economy. Her traumatic past leaves her with no desire for a relationship—until Grayson James walks through her door. He’s not the type of man you can easily say “no” to. Becca can’t quite understand the pull she feels toward him. But then his controlling nature starts to push her away—and into Ray McNeil’s comforting arms. Which is right where Ray has always wanted her.

Who will Becca choose?

Will she finally give in to her feelings for Ray, or continue the tumultuous relationship with Grayson? Only one thing is certain—either choice will mean saying goodbye to caution. 

Review Snippets for Goodbye Caution

~ Buy the Book ~

Amazon US / Amazon UK

Goodbye Secrets (Lost and found #3) releases 26^th Feb

~ Synopsis ~

What if your life wasn’t exactly as you thought it was? What if there were secrets you kept—from yourself?

Becca Campbell has no idea her world is about to be turned upside down when she and Grayson return to New Hampshire.

Pieces start flying into place, answering the questions of the puzzle she calls her life. Things finally add up—it all makes sense. All that was lost is now found.

But will she be able to move forward, knowing the truth?

 ADD TO GOODREADS:

Goodbye Uncertainty (Lost and Found #3) release to be confirmed.

Jacquelyn has lots of other works in progress too! Check out our interview with her to see what’s coming up!

Hi Jacquelyn and welcome to the virtual HQ of BNW!  I’m sorry for the mess *shuffles tour packets and Arcs out of the way*

So my first question starts at the beginning with Goodbye Caution. It’s an unusual book, very fast paced, and it touches on some risqué subjects. Where did the idea for Goodbye Caution come from?

When I think back to the very beginning stages of Goodbye Caution, I can't help but chuckle. The Elm Creek Quilt novels by Jennifer Chiaverini inspired me, actually. This wonderful series is based around women who've built their friendships from their common love of quilting. Being a scrap booker myself, I could see the potential in building a series around the love of scrapping. So Becca Campbell and her lovely Bed and Breakfast (that host Scrapbooking weekends) were born. However, once she was, she sort of took over the reigns.

It was not going to be as wholesome as it was set out to be. Becca turned into your everyday, quirky, fun-loving kind of person. I wanted her to be relate-able. Look like most women, have real issues and love the things that other women love. So she's the girl next door with a heart of gold, a great sense of humour, and an effed up past.

Grayson can be demanding, all consuming and overpowering at times, how did you manage to make him so likeable and hot at the same time?

You know, I think having his POV the entire story makes him likeable (to most). I was actually shocked as to how many women are on Team Grayson! He can be a right bastard! But the fact that you get to see his thoughts on things softens him around the edges. You know that he isn't happy with the way he behaves. He has a lot of remorse over his actions and he does try to correct his behaviour a lot. I think if readers didn't see that, there would be a lot more for Team Ray! As far as his hotness is concerned, who doesn't love a confident man? Confidence and sense of humour are a sure fire fit for likeability and hotness!

I think you are right; his acceptance of his mistakes is a very likeable attribute. You've brought us nicely onto Ray........so similar to Gray yet so different. I struggled throughout Goodbye Caution flitting between rooting for Ray, and not. Have you had that response a lot?

Yes I have. Ray is a great character and swoon worthy in his own right. He's not as abrasive as Grayson but you can tell he's a man's man! He's got that rugged charm and great sense of humour. He's calmer than Gray is.

I, of course, happen to love them both.

The readers will learn a lot more about Ray in the next two books and I think everyone in general will be on the fence once again!

People cant wait for Book 2, the very title Goodbye Secrets hints that lots of questions will be answered! Can you tell people a little about your writing process? Do you pre-plan your books or did the idea come to you in dribs and drabs?

I think a little bit of both now that I have quite a few under my belt (not all published yet). For The Lost & Found Series, I had the idea that I mentioned and it just took over from there. Most of the time, that's how it is. The different paths my characters lead me down always surprise me. Though I get ideas for books, I just jot the idea down. I'm not one who outlines the story because I never know where the story is actually going to lead me. I do jot down conversations that happen between characters that are not necessarily happening at the part of the book I'm writing. It will usually get weaved in later when it's appropriate.

Fun Fact, by the way, this series was not only hand written but it was written as one entire book! lol. I typed it all up and said....uhh...no! This is three books, not one. It could've been stretched to 4 or 5 due to the size of the first two, but I didn't want to drag it out for people.

Hand written? In one huge book? Thats so funny! You must have been engrossed in the story!!

It’s no secret that the series deals with aggressive characters and spousal abuse and the fact that some of the proceeds are donated to a charity to help abused women and children shows it’s a subject you feel strongly about. Can you tell us a little about why you went in this direction and how you do your research?

Yes! It took up residence in several notebooks that I carried around with me EVERYWHERE! Engrossed is an understatement! I lived, breathed, and slept this story.

As far as some of the elements in this book regarding abuse, yes it is something that I do feel strongly about. Most of us, I think, can relate to Becca's character whether we have been the subject of one's abuse or have witnessed a loved one go through it. I knew that when I was creating Becca's character that she would have survived an abusive relationship.

However, being a student of psychology and knowing several different people with various shades of abuse in their background, I wanted to take her character to a different level. What readers need to understand about Becca is that she never gained the strength to walk away (or run) from her abusive husband. She was pulled out of that situation by the powers that be, if you will. So, in return, her psyche is very different than that of a person who did walk away. Though she's kept her distance from other possible relationships, she never really "unlearned" the behaviour patterns of an abused woman.

That is why we see her fall so easily into an obsequious roll. The great thing about Becca, though, is that she does grow through out the series and we all see this when she questions her own reactions to Grayson's temperament. Then she starts putting her foot down. Like I said before, I was surprised as to how many people fell in love with Grayson, but just like Becca, everyone can see that he really isn't mean spirited. His insecurities tend to get in the way of his judgement. I think people will enjoy learning more about Grayson and the reasons behind his behaviour in book #2.

And for your final question, it is also important to know that while I have personal knowledge of this sort of behaviour pattern, I've also confirmed it with a Licensed Social Worker (therapist) who has worked with abused women for over thirty years. Though my book is fiction, I would never write about such a sensitive topic without any knowledge or proper research.

And yes, a portion of my proceeds goes to Emily's Place which is a local shelter, near my town, that is run by YWCA.org. If you would like to donate the YWCA or see how you can help by volunteering, please go to their website to see how you can help!

Obviously being careful of spoilers can you tell us what type of scene you enjoy writing the most??

I love writing from the male POV. Some authors have a difficult time doing it but I find it very freeing and fun. It's boring to act like a "lady" all of the time. But you asked about what type of scenes. I love writing the heart to heart scenes when you really get to the bottom of things. That's when a character truly shines for me!

If you absolutely had to, would you be team Grayson or Ray? You HAVE to.......

OMG . . . I really can't! You can't make me! I love them both too much!

LOL Ok I won’t make you......

What have you got in store for your readers?

I'm so excited about this year! There are so many things happening that will be leading right into 2015! Right now I am in the middle of finishing off my novella for The Southern Seduction box set that 12 of us Indie Romance Author Chicks are collaborating on. Very excited for that! We will be releasing that on April 14, 2014.

Roughly around the same time, I will be releasing the last instalment of The Lost & Found Series. However, I think we will hear from Becca again in a prequel as the requests are already coming in.

In June, I will be introducing my newest series to everyone called The GEG series. These will all be standalones based around 5 best girlfriends (2 being sisters). Each book will focus on one of the friends but still have the others intertwined. As with my other books, I touch upon a subject that causes great grief in the first instalment, but it's not a dark read like Caution and Secrets can be at times.

So far "Under Contract", which is the first book based on Mitch and Charlotte, has been the most fun to write! It's really got a lot of obnoxiously, in-your-face, laugh-out-loud moments (well, to me! lol). These characters were so funny to write. It was really great to step into a lighter story after The Lost & Found Series. I am currently working on "In the Mix", the 2nd book.

Other than that, I have been enjoying being a part of an amazing group of indie authors called Indie Romance Author Chicks. We started out as a small sprinting group, cheering each other on. Helping one another to stay positive. It's grown nicely and we continue to keep that positive attitude and try to send those vibes out to others. Speaking of sending things out.... we are formulating a plan to send all or most of us to one fabulous location in 2015 for our first IRAC signing event! We're all very excited about this! Stay tuned!

Oh that will be amazing, any chance it could be my side of the pond??

 I only wish!!!

Well chatting has been an absolute pleasure. The novella sounds exciting and I can’t wait for Goodbye Uncertainty and the GEG series.

Claire, I'd like to thank you for all of these wonderful questions. I really enjoyed myself and appreciate you taking the time! Thank You!

Valentine's Love Letter from Ryland Thomas

So, today’s Valentine’s Day and there’s nowhere I’d rather be than with you … so I could wrap you in my arms and do this

But since I’m not, I guess I’ll have to settle for letting you know this

And while I’m sleeping alone, and dreaming of this

And just so you don’t forget…

Love, Ryland Thomas

November Author of the Month: A.m. Hargrove

~Synopsis ~

Adult Contemporary Romance--Not appropriate for younger readers.

Alexia Hammond, broken and destroyed by a tragedy she can’t seem to recover from, is on a downward spiral toward destruction. A life of partying, alcohol, drugs and men has brought her near the edge of disaster. That is until one night while at work as a waitress in an upscale restaurant, she falls under the spell of one of her customers, Pearce Middleton. Once she gazes into his smoky gray eyes, her life takes on new meaning. But can she put her past behind her and allow herself to fall for the exciting and gorgeous Pearce, or will her lewd behavior come back to haunt her and ruin her chances of happiness forever?









Goodreads

~ Synopsis ~

An Edge Novel

Their trial relationship was meant to last six months, but things didn’t quite work out the way they planned...

Justin Middleton, who has left a string of broken hearts across the state of South Carolina, has only one thing on his mind, and that’s winning Terri Mitchell’s heart in six months. That’s all the time she’s given him...six short months. If he can’t do it by then, they’ll go their separate ways.

Terri Mitchell knows she’s lost her mind when she even suggested this harebrained scheme. She finally thinks her heart is on the mend from her past encounter with Justin. However, when he shows up at her house late one night looking deliciously sexy and irresistible, her iron will to fight him vanishes and the words tumble from her lips before she’s barely aware of what she’s done.

Within weeks, both of them find themselves passionately involved, but when Terri’s brother, Preston, shows up, mysterious things begin to happen, turning their blissful world into something dark and dangerous.


Goodreads

~ Synopsis ~

Preston Mitchell, undercover DEA agent, has led a life of danger and obscurity. Knowing his job would never allow a normal relationship, he’s never opened himself up to any woman...that is until the lovely Avery Middleton stumbles into his life.

To the outsider, Avery has it all...wealth, family, connections and a great job. But on the inside, she’s miserable. Her social life is in the dumpster, the kooky gal next door has some zany plans for her and her selfish mother drives Avery to the point of insanity. Her only salvation is to get out of Charleston and start a new life. So that’s precisely what she does. She moves to Seattle and steps right into the path of hot and sexy, Preston.

Unfortunately for both of them, Avery ends up being in the wrong place at the wrong time and is now running for her life. But she’s not alone. She has a gorgeous DEA agent protecting her and suddenly finds herself irresistibly captivated by him. There’s only one problem. Preston carries more than his share of mental baggage, courtesy of his job. His covert missions have put him in places and situations he can barely stand to think about. Avery rocks Preston’s world because she is nothing like anyone he’s ever met and something extraordinary begins to happen between them. But can their love survive in this world, where danger, intrigue and deception lurk on every corner?

Goodreads

~ Synopsis ~

* This is a New Adult Contemporary Romance with Mature content that is not suitable for younger readers.

Riviera Benson’s past has been nothing but horrific. It’s filled with secrets that she intends to keep tightly locked away...terrifying secrets that keep her awake at night...that prevent her from getting close to anyone...anyone that is, until her work as a muralist drives her into the arms of the hot and sexy Shan.

Benjamin Shandon, owner of Shandon Homes, works like a thousand demons are chasing him...because perhaps they are. His business has boomed, ever since the forest fire swept through the canyon and destroyed hundreds of million dollar homes. He demands excellence in everything...from his employees to his women. He slows down for nothing, keeping a schedule that no sane person would want. But Riviera interrupts everything, twisting his guts inside out, and wedging her way into his heart, destroying a promise he made to himself.

Will they let their pasts control their future, or will they decide to let go and allow their hearts to discover each other’s?

Goodreads

~ Upcoming Release ~

 

~ Synopsis ~

 

 

A male Romance Author… a convention in Vegas… a female book blogger… a goal to lose her virginity… what happens when you mix all the above?

Fallon McKinley is headed to Vegas for the Wicked Wenches Romance Con and losing her virginity is only one of her goals. The other is to meet her favorite author of romance novels, R.T. Sinclair. What she doesn’t realize is that the sexy green-eyed god she rams into at the airport is the real R.T. When they keep running into each other, she’s shocked, but excited, because the attraction is irresistible.

Ryland Thomas Sinclair doesn’t want anyone to know his true identity. He’s the author that all women love, but everyone thinks he’s a female. He hides his persona behind the public face of his twin sister, keeping his own a secret. But after meeting the lovely Fallon, his intentions to avoid a relationship come to a screeching halt. She’s put an unwanted kink into his perfectly laid out plans. His unusual reaction surprises him because after a heart-shredding breakup a few years ago, he’s managed to avoid women at all costs.

Resisting Fallon becomes more difficult than he imagines. Soon things are spiraling out of control, until a major miscommunication has Fallon walking out of his home and his life. Will Ryland Thomas succeed in losing the woman he loves? Or can he win her back?

~ A.m. Hargrove's Top 3's ~

 

Top 3 favorite books-  Totally NOT fair!! Ok...I'm getting around this by doing series, LOL...and I'm not ranking them! So here goes. I absolutely adore the Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning, The Black Dagger Brotherhood Series by JR Ward and The Night Huntress Series by Jeaniene Frost.

 

 Top 3 favorite movies- Again--NO FAIR! I love Sci-Fi so I'm going with the new Star Treks with Chris Pine. And I love the Star Wars movies...old and new. And then I'm going with the Harry Potter movies. For such in-depth books, particularly the last 2, they did a brilliant job of capturing the true essence of the books. I can watch those movies over and over again. And I'm going to throw in Pride and Prejudice just because it's so romantic. 

 

 Top 3 sexiest men- Chris Hemsworth, Gerard Butler-- only 3, huh? Dayam! Henry Cavill has to be in there too.

 

 Top 3 favorite alcohol drinks- VODKA! Martinis, Grey Goose, extra dirty, with extra olives. Lemon drop shooters. Vodka with club soda and double lime.

 

 Top 3 favorite scenes to write- Hehe... Steamy ones, of course. I love to write the suspenseful ones too that involve the creepy characters. I've always loved that...sort of the psycho characters. And then I love writing humor too. So any scene containing comedy.

 

 Top 3 favorite foods- Chocolate, coffee, ice cream. In that order.

 

 Top 3 favorite songs- Nothing Else Matters by Metallica is my number 1. I LOVE Metallica. If you had asked me this 2 weeks ago, my answers would be different but Pearl Jam just released the single Sirens as a sneak to their new album Lightening Bolt that releases later this year. And it's epic. I love Eddie Vedder's voice and this song is damn amazing. And I recently discovered this awesome Indie Alt Rock group called She Said Fire. They've released an EP called Boom and I LOVE all the songs on it. One of them is featured in my next book, Exquisite Betrayal. It's called Better Ways and it's such a cool song. When I first heard it I was blown away because it totally fit into the picture of what I was writing. So, I have to put it in the book. I ended up connecting with Joshua Hawksley, the lead singer, and he's super cool and was great about allowing me to use the lyrics in the book. Anyway, She Said Fire has a diverse sound and I totally fell in love with them. 

 

 Top 3 favorite couples- Bones and Kat...and I might be spelled Cat now that I'm thinking of it.  Mac and Barrons and I'm going to have to stick with Joss and Braden. They had such amazing chemistry that just hopped right off the pages.

Top 3 steamiest book scenes- Any sex scene--and I mean ANY-- between Bones and Kat. (Night Huntress Series.) The sex scene between Zsadist and Bella when she was in her needing in Lover Awakened; the sex scene between Joss and Braden when they get back together in On Dublin Street.

 

 Top 3 favorite authors- Seriously, this is NOT a fair question, haha! I have WAY too many to talk about here. Can I take the 5th?

 

 

~ Author Bio ~

 

One day, on her way home from work as a sales manager, A. M. Hargrove, realized her life was on fast forward and if she didn't do something soon, it would quickly be too late to write that work of fiction she had been dreaming of her whole life. So, she rolled down the passenger window of her fabulous (not) company car and tossed out her leather briefcase. Luckily, the pedestrian in the direct line of fire was a dodge ball pro and had über quick reflexes enabling him to avoid getting bashed in the head. Feeling a tad guilty about the near miss, A. M. made a speedy turn down a deserted side street before tossing her crummy, outdated piece-of-you-know-what lap top out the window. She breathed a liberating sigh of relief, picked up her cell phone, called her boss and quit her job. Grinning, she made another call to her hubs and told him of her new adventure (after making sure his heart was beating properly again).

So began A. M. Hargrove's career as a YA/NA and Adult Romance writer. Her books include Kissing Fire, Edge of Disaster, Shattered Edge, the series the Guardians of Vesturon (Survival, Resurrection, Determinant, Beginnings and reEmergent), Dark Waltz and the upcoming release Tragically Flawed.

Other than being in love with being in love, she loves chocolate, ice cream and coffee and is positive they should be added as part of the USDA food groups.

 

~ Social Media Links ~

 

Blog: http://amhargrove.com/

 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Amhargrove1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AMHargroveAuthor
Author Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5338829.A_M_Hargrove
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/amhargrove1/