VBT: Review, Giveaway, and Interview with Andrea Stein author of Rough Harbor

  

BLURB:

After a bitter break up and professional set back in London, twenty seven year old Caitlyn has returned to Queensbay to work for Maxwell Randall, an old family friend, at his financial management firm. So far, bit by bit, Caitlyn’s been rebuilding all she lost after Michael St. John broke her heart …and tried to ruin her professional reputation.

But her past comes back to haunt her when Maxwell unexpectedly turns up dead. Not only does Caitlyn find her career in jeopardy but her heart is too, when Noah Randall, Maxwell’s son, and her first love, returns to Queensbay. Once, ten years ago, Caitlyn was sure Noah was the one for her…but the tragedy of her grandfather’s suicide and Noah’s decision to leave town left her bereft…and determined never to trust him again.

Over the past decade, she’s managed to do her best to forget about Noah Randall and the lingering questions surrounding her grandfather’s suicide. But now that’s he back in town – rich and more handsome than ever, and she can’t help wondering what if? What if Noah really was the one?

Noah Randall left home ten years ago to seek his fortune – vowing never to return until he’d made a success of himself – and show Caitlyn Montgomery just what she’d given up. He returns to find that Caitlyn Montgomery has only grown more alluring with time. Noah’s always wanted he couldn’t have…and now he wants Caitlyn again. But she’s determined not to make the same mistake twice.

While Noah and Caitlyn are revisiting old ground – and forging a new relationship, there’s trouble brewing in Queensbay. Old secrets and new lead Caitlyn to believe that perhaps her grandfather didn’t kill himself – and that Maxwell’s death was no accident. But just how far will someone go to keep her – and Noah – from finding out the truth…and will Queesbay prove to have troubled waters after all?



   
Here's an excerpt for you:

 Noah leaned in closer, his lips hovering above hers, his arms moving around her, pulling her closer to him, so he could feel his body next to hers, feel the swell of her breasts, see every freckle on her nose.

“I have people for that,” he murmured, letting his lips feather across her. Her eyes opened wide, and he knew that she was feeling, that he had gotten to her.

“Noah…” It was more of a moan than a whisper.

“Shh, I know you’re not after my money. Just shut up and let me…”

Kiss you. And he did, their lips touching. Softly at first, so he could taste her, smell her perfume, something spicy, and her shampoo, something fruity. She moved in his arms – not away, but closer – and he took that for an invitation, an invitation that his attentions were wanted.

He deepened his kiss, letting his tongue explore, letting his hands slide from her shoulders down to the V of her neck, skimming lightly over her breasts, feeling the fabric of her bra, then the hard nub of her nipples which sprang to attention under his caress.

She moaned, answering his kiss, her hands running through his hair, pulling him towards her as their embrace deepened, grew more passionate, his hands roaming feeling, possessing her.

Until. “Stop, Noah, stop.” She broke free, her head moving away from him, her hands still twined in his hair. She lowered her eyes and leaned against his shoulders.

“What, what is it?” His voice was husky, raspy, and he could feel desire, the sheer wanting of her flowing through him, all the way through it. She felt it, too, and took a step back.

“Noah, you’re the boss. And we barely know each other. I mean now. I just can’t get involved right now.”


                          About the Author:

Hi, I’, Andrea Stein an author, mother, wife and blogger and a certified mom-chauffeur. I have been scribbling stories for as long as I can remember, including my first adventure story, inspired by an obsession with Out of Africa (book, movie and biography) about a young girl stranded in Kenya. It was serial fiction handwritten, given to my sister, who couldn’t read my handwriting. That story dies after one installment, but the next year I got a word processor (not a computer, but an ACTUAL WORD PROCESSOR) that showed about twenty lines of text at a time. This was before laptops were widely available and this allowed me to be able to type to my heart’s content in the privacy of my own room. Which I did. I think I spent the time writing stories about my “frenemies” to amuse myself. I also listened to a lot of the Cure and New Wave music. I have since moved on to a happier place.

Even though I read lots of different types of books, I write romance novels with a twist. More like contemporary romance than romantic suspense (I don’t write about serial killers or FBI agents) but I usually like to include a puzzle or mystery for my hero and heroine to solve.

Rough Harbor is my second novel, set in a small New England town. Coming soon is Ivy Cottage, also set in a small New England town on a river.

Other than writing I spend most of my time reading, watching TV, cooking, cleaning, taking care of kids, trying to keep the house clean and folding laundry. I love Twizzlers, chocolate and shows on the WB. For me, reading has always been an escape, a way to escape the ordinary and dive into a world that feels real – but with all of the ‘boring’ parts edited out.

As for the rest of my life, I grew up on Long Island, spent a lot of vacations in small New England towns, went to college in New York City, married by high school sweetheart, worked, had kids, stopped working, and kept on writing. Now I live in rural New Jersey (yes, there is such a thing), and though I don’t own any horses, I do have a barn, which I share with squirrels.

There’s something successful writers always tell new writers about their secret to success. Just do it…Bum Glue…write 1ooo words a day…write for two hours a day….Keep writing. And they’re right. I got more successful with my writing when I started to do it consistently. I don’t write every day, but I shoot for five days a week. This means that the words and pages pile up — and I have stories to shape, make and mold…and share.

I hope you enjoy my books, currently available at www.amazon.com

Website  / Facebook / Twitter  

I was able to interview Andrea Stein and this is what she shared with me:

Do you have to concentrate and visualize the story or do ideas just randomly come to you when you're out and about? I definitely use concentration and visualization. Sure some random thoughts pop up, but as I’m writing it feels a bit like a movie unfolding in my head that I type as fast as I can to get onto paper. And I am a plotter, not a punster, so I generally try to come up with an outline first of the events that are going to happen, and then I start writing. I find myself heading down the rabbit hole – and doing a lot more re-writing than necessary if I don’t “plot” it out.

 Which of your characters is your favorite to write? the easiest? the hardest? the most fun? The heroine. I envision my heroine as every woman but a bit more. Smarter, wittier, successful, etc. but still with enough quirks to make her interesting. Plus when my heroines usually have a career or a business so I get to envision what it would like being something totally different than a writer and what I do and did for a living.

In what scenario do you do your best work? After the kids are at school, and the house is quiet. I am not a night owl or a morning person, I truly do my best work in the middle of the day – but I do need peace and quiet – I can’t write while the kids are underfoot or after dinner – I am ready to relax, read, watch something and enjoy a glass of wine.

 

Breakfast, lunch,or dinner which meal is your favorite? Dinner. I definitely enjoy making dinner more than any other meal. Lunch is terrible, especially when half the time you’re making it for kids who don’t want to eat anything. And everyone else’s pancakes are always way better than mine. lol! My son makes The Best pancakes from scratch! :D when we are having pancakes I always ask him to make them if he doesn't offer first.

What book would you like to see made into a movie? A Discovery of Witches – it’s sort of like a grown up Twilight and it would be interesting to see how it all comes together without teenagers involved. Hmmm. I haven't read that one yet. I have to move it up on the TBR list!

If you could pick any destination, where would you go? Hmm, hard one. I like the warmth so I am going to go with the pyramids in Egypt. Plus I used to want to be an archeologist, until I realized it wasn’t about being Indiana Jones. :D

Hardback, paperback, or ebook? I love ebooks – the fact that you can have a bunch queued up and ready to go, plus if you hear of a good book you can grab it and start reading it.

Which books have been on your tbr shelf the longest? The Kite Runner. I know I am “supposed” to read it, but I just haven’t gotten to it yet.

Homebody or social butterfly? A little bit of both, but more of a homebody than a social butterfly.

What type of music do you listen to? Generally chick music, like Colbie Calliat and Dido… but I also like Foster the People. Unfortunately I’m tone deaf so music kind of goes in one ear and out the other. Ha! Is that what they call it? I've been listening to it all this time and didn't know! :D 

What is your biggest weakness? Chocolate chip cookies. And saying yes when I should say no, since it usually means I have less time to write. Or relax or just do nothing.

What is your favorite animal? Cats…And friendly, happy dogs.

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. :D

Thanks so much – what fun questions!


Andrea will generously be awarding a $50 GC, winner's choice of Starbucks, Amazon or Walmart, to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour!  

Here's the link to the Tour Schedule. The more comments you make, the better your chances of winning. :D 


My Thoughts: 

Rough Harbor is a story that brings many emotions to life. In parts I was angry, sad, confused, scared, and happy.

The plot had murder, secrets, romance, a creepy ex boyfriend, embezzling, young love, suspicion, and more. :D

I really liked this romantic suspense story and I recommend it to everyone who likes this type of book. In parts I was on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen.

I really liked Caitlyn's character. She was strong, smart, and she was not afraid of hard work. I felt bad that she had so many bad things happen to her.

Noah was a good fit for Caitlyn. I didn't like the way he believed Michael and doubted Caitlin but that was short lived.

I received a copy of this book from Goddess Fish in exchange for my honest opinion. I really liked it and enjoyed trying to figure out what was happening and who was behind it.


Leave a question for Andrea or a comment about Rough Harbor. :D

 I'd love to know what you're thinking. Please leave a comment!