Spotlight & Giveaway: Across the Horizon by Aly Martinez

Posted December 14th, 2018 by in Blog, Spotlight / 57 comments

Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author Aly Martinez to HJ!
Spotlight&Giveaway

Hi Aly and welcome to HJ! We’re so excited to chat with you about your new release, Across the Horizon!

 

Please summarize the book for the readers here:

Across the Horizon is a witty new dramady about a celebrity chef (and secret mama’s boy) who finally finds a woman who doesn’t care about his social status or abs.
Just kidding, Rita loves the abs.
One problem, Rita is fresh out of a marriage where her husband of seven years cheated on her. She is nowhere near ready to start a new relationship. Especially not one with a man so famous fans call him by both names.
Two-name Tanner Reese is up for the challenge though. He won’t stop until Rita gives in to his unrelenting charm and persistence. Not to be confused with stalking because that would be wrong.
 

Please share the opening lines of this book:

“Get out!” I screamed, hurling my wine glass across the room. It shattered into a million pieces at his feet.
Just like my heart.
“Rita, baby. You have to let me explain.” He took two steps toward me, his long legs devouring the distance between us. If only he had done that sooner. Like maybe if he had closed the distance six months earlier rather than walking into another woman’s arms.
I stepped away.
If only I had done that sooner.

 

Please share a few Fun facts about this book…

  • This is a spin-off of my bestselling Darkest Sunrise Duet. But I wrote it in such a way that it can be read as a complete standalone.
  • I’m known to write heavy, heartbreaking angst, but Across the Horizon is much lighter, filled with sharp banter and snark. It still has a good bit of emotional stuff, but it probably won’t make anyone cry.
  • Because this book was so fun to write, it only took me six weeks to finish. Tanner is a chatty man.

 

Please tell us a little about the characters in your book. As you wrote your protagonist was there anything about them that surprised you?

Tanner Reese is one of the nicest heroes I’ve ever written. He is just genuinely, at his core, a really good guy.
Rita Laughlin is also a really good person, but I think she surprised me the most. She’s so strong. She wasn’t star struck by Tanner or self-conscious even though she was just getting out of a rather horrible relationship. She knew she was amazing, and most of all, she knew she deserved better than her ex.

 

If your book was optioned for a movie, what scene would you use for the audition of the main characters and why?

Oh, we would definitely need to know if there was chemistry between the stars. I would use the scene when Rita and Tanner first meet by chance in front of her ex and his mistress. Rita didn’t recognize Tanner from his TV show, but she needed an out. And who better than to rub in your ex’s face than a gorgeous stranger that you pretend is your new man.

“Oh, honey, you came!” she said, launching herself into my arms.
I narrowed my eyes and peered down at her in confusion. But considering that this woman was fucking beautiful, even if she did look like a senator’s trophy wife with her angled bob, pearls, and a knee-length black dress that hugged her in all the right places, I didn’t set her away. I was a gentleman like that.
“Well, hello there,” I crooned.
She tilted her head back, resting her chin on my pec and somehow shifted closer, the toe of her sexy, red heel brushing my boot to the point that our legs were practically intertwined. “Any chance you’d be willing to play along?” she whispered.
I twisted my lips. “With what?”
Her deep, green eyes turned worrisome as they searched my face. Then almost inaudibly she asked, “Are you married?”
“Not that I know of.”
Her nose scrunched adorably. “Fiancée? Girlfriend? Friends with benefits?”
My gaze fell to her plump lips. “You offering or asking?”
“Who the fuck is this guy?” the man rumbled, reminding me that the prick was still standing there and had unfortunately not fallen into a sinkhole.
And then a wide and entirely fake smile tipped her lips as she turned, using my wrist to guide my arm around her shoulders. She wasted no time plastering her front to my side.
“You missed me, didn’t you?” she purred. “You couldn’t get enough of me last night, so you showed up today for a little more.” She pushed up onto her toes, her soft, silky lips brushing my cheek. “Don’t worry. I missed you too.”
My eyebrows shot up, but swear to God, the way her breasts pressed against me made my cock stir. “Did you now?”
She nodded, and despite having no idea what the fuck was happening, I watched with rapt attention as her pink tongue peeked out to dampen her lips.
Okay, so this was definitely different than the usual fan reaction, mainly because she wasn’t looking at me like she was a fan at all.
She was nervous, but not because of me.
Up close, the spark glittering in her eyes wasn’t recognition—it was…desperation?

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
 

What do you want people to take away from reading this book?

I want people to smile. That’s it. With as hard and stressful as the holidays can be, I want readers to find an escape from the chaos for a few hours. Tanner Reese is more than up for the job.

 

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

I have several projects in 2019 including a book in my Guardian Protection series. But first up is a secret co-written project. More on that later!
 

Thanks for blogging at HJ!

 

Giveaway: Signed Paperback of Across the Horizon and $10 Amazon GC

 

To enter Giveaway: Please complete the Rafflecopter form and Post a comment to this Q: If your boyfriend was a celebrity chef, what would you have him cook you for dinner?

 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Book Info:

“Sometimes love happens when you least expect it.” That was what my husband’s mistress told me the day I found out about their affair.

I didn’t believe it until five minutes later when mouth-watering celebrity chef Tanner Reese walked up, tossed his arm around my shoulders, and told my cheating husband to take a hike.

Tanner and I couldn’t have been more different. He spent his weekends at clubs, rubbing elbows with fellow A-listers. I spent mine in yoga pants with cheese boards and a glass of wine—or six.

Our relationship shouldn’t have worked, but it did. That is until Tanner proved to me that even though love happens when you least expect it…

So does heartbreak.

Book Links: Amazon | Goodreads |
 
 

Meet the Author:

Originally from Savannah, Georgia, USA Today bestselling author Aly Martinez now lives in South Carolina with her husband and four young children.

Never one to take herself too seriously, she enjoys cheap wine, mystery leggings, and baked feta. It should be known, however, that she hates pizza and ice cream, almost as much as writing her bio in the third person.

She passes what little free time she has reading anything and everything she can get her hands on, preferably with a super-sized tumbler of wine by her side. Website
 
 
 

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57 Responses to “Spotlight & Giveaway: Across the Horizon by Aly Martinez”

  2. Marie C

    Ooh, I think I would choose something like sushi and then something rich and chocolatey for after

  3. Mary Preston

    Whatever I felt like at the time. I would be expecting him to clean up the kitchen too.

  4. Kim Brewing

    I’d make him keep it basic, but fancy it up – like steak and potatoes, to see what he does.

  9. Didu

    Any comfort food we crave on the moment (he’d be good at all kinds of food; asian, western, mexican… I’m game for improvisation too!) but no fine-dining style one, lol.

  10. Jennifer Beyer

    I’d ask him to challenge me with something new but not liver. I don’t eat liver.

  11. Jennifer Shiflett

    A really good steak for dinner and creme brûlée for dessert.

  14. laurieg72

    Beef Wellington with asparagus, sauteed mushrooms and onion straws and a baked potato Baked Alaska for dessert

  24. Kathleen Bylsma

    Something he’s been trying out and wants an opinion before debuting…sweet or savory, I don’t care!

  30. Marsha Bachmeier

    Nothing too fancy. And nothing I can’t pronounce! lol I’m a simple girl and like simple things. Mexican is always good though! 🙂

  34. Barbara Bates

    Pasta Primavera with salad and breadsticks with Chocolate Fudge Cake

  37. Ellen C., ,

    Anything that I wouldn’t normally cook…. I’d even help with dishes.

  38. erinf1

    pesto pasta and any Italian dish 🙂 this is my dream guy! One who can and will cook! Thanks for sharing!

  39. Joye

    I would not care what he cooked as long. as he didn’t expect me to do the dishes!

  40. Monique D

    Deep fried calamari, because they’re difficult to do right, and a baked Alaska.

  42. Marisela Zuniga

    I would want some authentic mexican food with a delicious chocolate cake for dessert

  51. Lynne Brigman

    Chicken and pastries because a man that can make this is definitely worth keeping.

  55. Joanne B

    Chicken Marsala and/or prime rib and maybe Tiramisu or Black Forest cake for dessert.

  57. Mya Murphy

    Beef Wellington is SO wanted right now and my man needs to step up his game lol