Spotlight & Giveaway: Accidentally Perfect by Marissa Clarke

Posted February 25th, 2022 by in Blog, Spotlight / 54 comments

Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author Marissa Clarke to HJ!
Spotlight&Giveaway

Hi Marissa and welcome to HJ! We’re so excited to chat with you about your new release, Accidentally Perfect!

 
Hi! Thank you so much for hosting me today.
 

Please summarize the book a la Twitter style for the readers here:

Stressed out workaholic Lillian Mahoney evades a work scandal by escaping from New York City to the tiny, seaside town of Blink, Maine—a town as irritating as its resident grumpy hunk, Caleb Wright. With her life and career in shreds, Lillian might just discover what happens when she gives her bad first impression a second chance.
 

Please share the opening lines of this book:

There were good days. There were bad days. And then there was this day.

Lillian Mahoney gritted her teeth as the TV camera moved in closer to the food-prep table. She’d known they’d be filming this segment of Good Day Manhattan outside, but she’d been assured it would be a closed set.

The set was totally not closed.

 

Please share a few Fun facts about this book…

  • I currently live in a town smaller than Blink
  • Like Lillian, I moved from a huge city to a tiny town
  • A common question authors get asked is if they model characters after someone they know in real life. In this book, Doodle the rooster is modeled after one of my own chickens. The people, not so much.
  • There is a blueberry pie contest in the book. I do not like blueberries.
  • Lillian gets her heel stuck in the planks of the harbor walkway. I did that on a set of stairs on the outside of a beachside restaurant on a first date when I was young enough to be embarrassed about things like that.

 

What first attracts your Hero to the Heroine and vice versa?

The physical, at first. Then they both appreciate each other’s insight and sense of humor.
 

Using just 5 words, how would you describe Hero and Heroine’s love affair?

(At first) unexpected, hesitant, guarded (later) enriching, necessary.
 

The First Kiss…

Too short 🙂

 

Without revealing too much, what is your favorite scene in the book?

I like all of the scenes where Lillian begins to loosen up and enjoy herself for the first time in years. Caleb and Blink bring out her playful side.

“Good morning,” Caleb said, taking a step closer to her.
She smiled and brushed some hair back off her forehead. “Good morning. This place is really nice. You built it?”
It was pretty basic. Nothing fancy, but it was well-built and clean. “I had a lot of help, and the residents of Blink raised the funds, but yes. I did a good part of the work,” he said.
She looked him up and down. “And here I thought you were just eye candy.”
“Only if you have a sweet tooth.” He hadn’t known what to expect after the kiss on her porch, but he and his rapidly heating body loved her teasing.
She put her hands on her hips. “Why, Grumpy Caleb. If I didn’t know better, I’d think you had a sense of humor.”
“I have a lot of things. Wanna see?”
Blush flushed from her neck all the way to where her hairline began. He loved this side of her. All-business Lillian liked a good flirt. He was happy to oblige. “Grumpy Caleb?”
“That shoe seems to fit,” she said as she strode toward the kitchen with a grin. He followed.

 

If your book was optioned for a movie, what scene would be absolutely crucial to include?

The scene on the beach where Caleb puts it all out there, even knowing what her answer will be.

He pulled her into his arms and kissed her again, then stepped back, breathing heavily, and studied her face. “Stay,” he whispered. “I want you to stay.”
For a moment, the world stopped. She stared up into his clear blue eyes and allowed everything to fall away except the two of them on this beautiful beach bathed in moonlight—allowing herself, for a fraction of a second, to picture herself with this man with no ticking clock hanging over their heads.
Too soon, the world sharpened back into focus.
“I can’t,” she said.
He pulled her against his chest and the steady, comforting sound of his heartbeat. “I know.”

 

Readers should read this book …

If they are looking for a fun, entertaining read with a satisfying conclusion.

 

What are you currently working on? What other releases do you have planned?

Currently, I’m doing edits on a category romantic comedy, LOVE OUT LOUD (Animal Attraction Series #3), and I’m writing the second book in this series (Hideaway Harbor) ACCIDENTALLY FAMOUS.

 

Thanks for blogging at HJ!

 

Giveaway: US only: $10.00 Amazon gift card

 

To enter Giveaway: Please complete the Rafflecopter form and Post a comment to this Q: I carry a smooth worry rock my daughter found when she was tiny. It calms me down and is easy to carry in my purse or pocket. In ACCIDENTALLY PERFECT, Lillian has her “power shoes” that make her feel confident. Do you have anything you carry or wear that brings you comfort, confidence or strength?

 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

 
 

Excerpt from Accidentally Perfect:

Caleb started to stroll again but abruptly stopped. He opened his mouth to speak but simply exhaled and stared out over the water. “I swore to myself I wasn’t going to do this,” he said. “I told myself that things happen the way they are supposed to happen and can’t be forced.” He dropped her hand. “I know you have a business to run, and it has to be run out of New York. I also know you are going to leave. That you have to leave—but I don’t want to look back on this for the rest of my life wondering what would have happened if I…” He ran a hand over his face and let out a frustrated breath. “I don’t want to wonder if things would have been different if I had let you know how I feel.”
Oh, no. No, no, no. Lillian looked back toward the campsite, wanting to run. This was hard enough as it was. Her heart fluttered like a bird trapped in her rib cage.
“I can’t leave Blink,” he said. “I have Bethany and my parents and—”
“Stop,” she said, doing that finger-over-his-lips thing she had hated so much, but she had to shut him up.
He pulled her into his arms and kissed her again, then stepped back, breathing heavily, and studied her face. “Stay,” he whispered. “I want you to stay.”
For a moment, the world stopped. She stared up into his clear blue eyes and allowed everything to fall away except the two of them on this beautiful beach bathed in moonlight—allowing herself, for a fraction of a second, to picture herself with this man with no ticking clock hanging over their heads.
Too soon, the world sharpened back into focus.
“I can’t,” she said.
He pulled her against his chest and the steady, comforting sound of his heartbeat. “I know.”

Excerpts. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
 
 

Book Info:

Workaholic Lillian Mahoney has given everything to her job. The hugely popular lifestyle show she helped create monopolizes her time, energy, creativity, and anything remotely resembling a life. But all it takes is the show’s womanizing, egomaniac star throwing a massive hissy on live TV to utterly implode Lillian’s career in a New York minute.

Now Lillian’s hiding out in the gorgeous and completely unknown seaside village of Blink, Maine. Out of gas. A stolen wallet. A broken heel. And worse, she’s somehow managed to completely piss off the town’s resident hunk, Caleb Wright. She’ll show that hot, grumpy single father exactly what she’s made of.

But Blink isn’t quite what Lillian expects―and neither is Caleb…or his feisty teen daughter she can’t help but love. And while her entire life and career are in shreds, Lillian might just discover what happens when she gives her bad first impression a second chance…
Book Links: Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Goodreads |

 
 

Meet the Author:

Marissa Clarke is a multi-award-winning, RITA nominated author of romance for adults and teens. She lives on the Texas Gulf Coast with her ever-patient husband, two cantankerous cairn terriers, and an abundance of bossy chickens.

She writes young adult novels as Mary Lindsey and loves to connect with readers. She can be found at www.marissaclarke.com
Website | Facebook | Twitter | | Instagram |

 
 
 

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54 Responses to “Spotlight & Giveaway: Accidentally Perfect by Marissa Clarke”

  4. Jennifer Shiflett

    I have a small mirror that my oldest daughter gave me when she was 5 that I always carry with me. For over 15 years, I haven’t left home without it.

  11. Amy Donahue

    I have some of my Nana’s jewelry that I wear when I need that extra boost.

  16. Audrey Stewart

    I have a small photo of my Mom that I keep in my underwear drawer and I kiss it every day since she passed away.

  24. Eva Millien

    Unfortunately, I have never found anything that helped me! Great post and Accidentally Perfect sounds like a wonderful book for me! Have a spectacular TGIF!

  25. Jeanna Massman

    I wear a gold wedding band my mother and my grandmother both wore and it gives me confidence l

  26. Karina Angeles

    I have a necklace my kids and husband bought me for my birthday a few years ago. I hold the pendant when I’m frustrated or sad.

  29. Pammie R.

    I wear my mom’s hoodie on cold days or when I go somewhere she might have gone, too. I also have my grandmother’s watch that i used to carry everywhere with me but I became scared I would lose it and put it in a clear globe Christmas ornament.

  43. Kay Garrett

    For me, it’s a photo of my daughter. She died when she was 17 during her senior year in high school. It reminds me that love never dies and that I’m strong enough to get through anything.
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

  46. Patricia B.

    Not really, but I need to find one. We all need all the help we can get.

  47. anna nguyen

    not really, but maybe my phone because if i am in trouble i could contact someone. i don’t have any good lucky charms though.

  48. Ellen C.

    I have some jewelry that gives me a boost when I need it. I keep some things around the house that connect me to loved ones that help,too.