Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author Inara Scott to HJ!
Hi Inara and welcome to HJ! We’re so excited to chat with you about your new release, Heartbreaker!
Hello everyone! I’m so glad to be here!
Please summarize the book for the readers here:
I wrote Heartbreaker after a five year break from writing while I was focused on my other job. When I sat down to write, I decided I just wanted to have as much fun as I possibly could in a romance novel! So Heartbreaker is about : 1) a ridiculously hot guy; 2) who meets a Cinderella girl; 3) over a misbehaving mastiff; and 4) the shenanigans that follow.
Put another way, Heartbreaker is what happens when you put together a guy who does fun but not commitment, a girl who does work but not fun, and a mastiff who drools. (Which is every mastiff, come to think of it…)
Please share your favorite line(s) or quote from this book:
So the hero of Heartbreaker, Mason, is part of a team of angel investors who’ve been given the nickname the Bad Angels. This excerpt kinda sums up Mason, at least at the start of the book:
Sometimes, just before he brushed his lips against the soft, delicate skin at the base of a woman’s neck, or gently cupped the back of her head in one large palm, he’d whisper, “Which do you prefer? The bad…or the angel?” And then he would laugh, wickedly, because he knew the answer to the question was both.
And more.
And this is one of my favorite lines from Tess, our heroine, who really really deserves a little magic in her life:
Maybe he wasn’t for her and maybe she didn’t fit in, but maybe tonight it didn’t matter. Maybe sometimes Cinderella just had to take her one night with the prince, even if she knew that it was all going away in the morning.
Please share a few Fun facts about this book…
- This was the first book I’ve written in five years!
- I gave three characters duplicate names while writing the book.
- The working title for this book was “Her Worst Mistake.”
- My heroine (age 26) is finishing her college degree online and struggles to work and study and keep it all together. My inspiration for this came from all of my students (I’m a college professor) that return to school later in life. If you are one of those people, you are AMAZING.
- I walked 25 miles in two days in San Francisco while researching this book!
What first attracts your Hero to the Heroine and vice versa?
At first, Mason is attracted to Tess’s humor, sass, and refusal to fall under his Bad Angel spell. Later, he falls hard for her spirit, her strength, and the vulnerability she tries hard to hide. Tess is initially attracted to Mason’s absurdly attractive exterior, but she makes some assumptions about him based on his looks. Later, she realizes that she’s underestimated the person underneath it all.
If your book was optioned for a movie, what scene would you use for the audition of the main characters and why?
This scene comes after Tess’s first day dog sitting for Mason. After he starts to flirt with her, she (correctly) identifies him as a bit of a player, and he challenges her to prove it.
The rebellious part of her that never quite knew when to shut up took over. “I bet I can prove your status in about two minutes.”
“Based on my apartment?” He raised a single, curious brow. “That’s impressive. Please, be my guest.”
Tess set down her computer. “Okay, but don’t say I didn’t warn you. Do I have permission to move around?”
“Of course.” He gestured toward the hallway. “Bedroom is that way, if you’re interested.”
“Perfect.” She headed in the direction he’d indicated was his bedroom, which she had refused to explore when she’d been alone in the house all day. He followed a few steps behind. It was everything she’d imagined—enormous king-size bed, masculine yet comfortable pillows. Perfectly made, presumably not by him. A startlingly beautiful view of the Bay Bridge, now lit in a gorgeous display of twinkling lights, dominated the room.
“Okay, let’s start with the bedside table. You’ve got a healthy stash of condoms over there, I assume, probably ribbed for her pleasure.”
He lingered in the doorway, leaning against the wall in a casually elegant slouch, arms crossed over his impressive chest in a way that set off his perfect biceps. “You’d prefer to go without?”
She swept on to the master bathroom, pointing to the spotless interior and the towels neatly hanging on racks. “Extra set of towels and a toothbrush for unexpected guests?”
“My mother always said hospitality was important.”
“If you have an extra bathrobe, my case is made.” She opened a small closet in the corner of the bathroom. Two matching cotton robes hung inside. She laughed out loud. “I can’t say I’ve ever known anyone who actually has two bathrobes before.”
“I’m not sure you’ve proven your point,” he said. “I have been known to entertain friends here. Some of them stay overnight. So what?”
“Mason, I’m not saying you’re a bad person. But let’s be honest. You’re not looking for your heart’s companion. And I’m here to do a job. I’m going to come to your apartment every morning, walk your dog, and leave at night with my panties still in place. Understand? No funny stuff. No sweet walks in the park, no gentle touches or soft glances at my lips. Nothing.”
He held up his hand. “I solemnly swear to leave your panties in place.” He slid her a wicked half smile. “If that’s what you want.”
Readers should read this book….
To laugh, maybe cry a little, and get that warm and squishy feeling that comes from reading a real love story. And to root for Tess, who’s been through a lot in her life, and fall in love with Mason alongside her.
What are you currently working on? What other releases do you have in the works?
I’m currently editing Bad Angels #2 (Connor’s book) and plotting out Bad Angels #3 (Nate’s book). I’m also trying to figure out how this author thing works, after not having done it for five years!
Thanks for blogging at HJ!
Giveaway: I’m giving away 2 paperback copies of Heartbreaker and an adorable Bad Angels notepad! Giveaway is open to US only!
To enter Giveaway: Please complete the Rafflecopter form and Post a comment to this Q: I love imagining what it would be like to be a great dog trainer (like Tess) because I am the absolute WORST. My dogs are totally ill-behaved. They bark, jump on people, and beg and all I can do is plead with them to stop. In my defense, I decided to get little dogs so at least my poor training wouldn’t result in someone getting jumped on by a German shepherd. So make me feel better about my inadequacy as a dog mommy! What are you terrible at?
Excerpt from Heartbreaker:
Scene: Tess is at Mason’s apartment, dog sitting while he prepares to go out for the evening
When he came out a short time later, wearing a tuxedo, she choked on her sip of diet soda.
“You okay?” he asked, as he gathered his keys and phone. God help her, she’d seen a man in a suit before, but having dropped out of school well before prom, she’d never seen a formal tuxedo in the flesh.
Her body turned to goo. At least, the lower part of her body. The upper part coughed and struggled for breath. Because, of course she’d make a fool of herself when he looked like a magazine cover. Of course she would.
His tuxedo jacket followed precisely along the lines of his shoulders and narrow waist. His shirt was crisp white, shoes a shiny black, and there was a line of white cuff at the edge of his sleeve just the way she’d seen it in red-carpet pictures. To top it all off, he had paired the traditional jacket with a skinny black tie, so he looked somehow both formal and like he knew it was all for show and refused to take himself too seriously.
Tess pushed back from the dining room table so she could cough more effectively. Not fair. The man should not be able to take just twenty minutes to shave and shower and put on a suit and look like that.
Like every woman’s fantasy.
“Fine,” she wheezed. “Just got some down the wrong pipe.”
He walked over and took her hands and pulled her to standing. Her heart jolted because up close, he wasn’t just a mouthwatering picture of sinfully sexy, masculine grace, he also smelled good. Musky and spicy, with a hint of “I know you want me” just for fun.
He raised her hands over her head. “I read somewhere that you’re supposed to do this when you’re choking.”
Tess wanted to protest. She really did. But somehow once he touched her she lost her ability to put together coherent words.
At least she stopped coughing.
“Surprisingly effective,” he murmured. Deftly, he captured both her wrists in one large hand, and slid the other down her spine, pausing at her lower back and resting on the waistband of her jeans. “You aren’t feeling dizzy, are you?”
She shook her head, unable to speak.
“I wonder if I can think up any other doctor moves while I have you here,” he mused, glancing from her lips to the top of her chest. “Maybe some kind of exam? Just to make sure you’re all right.”
Don’t look in his eyes, she counseled herself, forcing her gaze instead to the sheen of his black silk tie. Just imagine he’s Kaa from the Jungle Book. And you’re Mowgli!
Her breath rose in her chest. That was when she noticed that having her hands above her head elevated her breasts and put them within one deep breath of touching him.
And he’d noticed it, too, the bastard.
As she sucked in a lungful of air, he watched appreciatively, a smile playing around the corners of his mouth. She jerked her hands from his grasp, but instead of pushing away she found herself holding onto his shoulders, the material of his suit smooth and cool under her fingertips.
“Let me know if you start feeling lightheaded.” He lowered his head, his breath touching her cheek. Her fingers tightened as she struggled to breathe. “I’m sure I can help with that, too.”
“Mason, what are you doing?” When the words emerged, they were husky and altogether too welcoming.
He moved in closer, settling his hands around her waist. She wore her usual T-shirt, which now felt shockingly thin and flimsy, the heat of him burning through the soft cotton fabric. A heartbeat throbbed in her stomach.
“I’m checking your breathing,” he said. “Making sure everything is in working order before I go.”
He paused. His eyes found hers. She felt him wait for her to protest. To pull away. When she did not, he moved closer.
Lower.
Her heart began to race, the rush of sensation almost dizzying in intensity. She felt them poised at the edge of a precipice, a chasm in front of her promising nothing but a long tumble into the unknown.
Then it happened. His lips found a spot just below the curve of her jaw. A single kiss, light as a feather along her heated skin. So light she wasn’t sure if it had really happened, or if she’d just imagined it.
He straightened.
“All clear,” he whispered.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Book Info:
Mistakes? She’s made a few…
Dropped out of high school? Check. Ran away with loser boyfriend at age sixteen? Check. Fell for every line from every guy? Sadly, check. But now, Tess Paplion has started over. Juggling multiple part-time jobs while finishing her college degree, she’s not letting anything get in her way. Especially not a sexy angel investor with “one-night disaster” written all over him.
Mason Coleman just inherited a 200-pound invalid Mastiff—and an intriguing, unusual, and thoroughly infuriating dog nanny who turns his life upside down the moment she steps through his front door. No matter how she makes him feel Mason doesn’t do commitment—so what happens when he falls for her? And worse, what happens when she wants nothing to do with him?
Book Links: Book Links: Amazon | B&N | iTunes | kobo | Google |
Meet the Author:
Best-selling author and RITA® finalist Inara Scott spent most of her childhood reading about pirates, dragons, and true love. Despite having grown up (mostly), little has changed. Inara splits her time between writing, reading, teaching law, taking care of her family, and hiking around the Oregon forests with her husband and little white dogs. Inara firmly believes that true love does exist, and everyone deserves a happily ever after. You can find her online at Twitter (@inarascott), on Facebook, and at her website: www.inarascott.com.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | GoodReads |
Sonia
I’m also terrible at the dog training and since it’s said you can’t teach and old dog new tricks I just let them be (they are old by the way) 🙂
clickclickmycat
I am terrible at math. I have cats and they really can’t be trained. (Audrey Stewart)
Debra Guyette
We had a golden retriever that ate everyone’s food. I tried but the only thing that helped was putting her out when we ate.
Pamela Conway
I’m not good at training my dogs either, luckily they’re pretty good dogs! Also have a terrible sense of direction!
janinecatmom
I am terrible at training cats. Mine jump on the kitchen counter and table while we are eating. No matter how I tried to stop them, in the end, they win and get their way.
Lori Byrd
discipline I never could look at my sweet children and spank them.
Kari Angeles
I’m a working mother. When time is short, I wipe my son down with baby wipes. It’s a quick bath and he smells clean.
laurieg72
What are you terrible at? I am terrible at playing the guitar and the piano. I have no sense of rhythm or an ear for musical notes. I’m also terrible at dancing and singing and drawing. The artistic gene definitely skipped me.
Jana Leah
I’m terribly at any kind of diy-ing.
nancy j burgess
I’m not good at training animals either.
Joanne B
I am terrible at scheduling time. I always think a task will not take as long as it does, so I’m always left scrambling to get things done.
Caro
Same! I have dogs and cats and it’s SO hard to say no to them. I do try to scold them, but they know I’m not THAT serious, lol. It’s just those faces!
I’m also horrible at gardening, everythings dies on me, I never remember to water them and I just suck. Thank God I’m WAY better at taking care of my fur babies. 🙂
Kim
I feel your pain. We have a husky. We had him for about two months, when I was walking him. He managed to get out of his collar and ran around our complex. He decided he needed to give this little (she was very petite) old lady 70’s or 80’s a huge. Yes. He knocked her back into her car.
I’m terrible at cooking. But my husband says that’s because I tend to halfway read the directions.
Amy R
Yard work and home repairs
Rina H
Not good at being a homemaker.
Laurajj
Oh I have to admit….I am like you! When they get in trouble….I just cant stay made or yell…they just look at you with those big beautiful eyes! I am a softy when it comes to dogs! They just melt my heart!
Joy Tetterton Avery
The same thing. My dog acts like he’s deaf when I give any commands.
Mary C.
knitting
Lilah Chavez
I’ suffer from severe depression so I think I’m terrible at everything lol but I do feel you! I have 2crazy Australian Cattle Dogs aka Queensland Heelers I love them to death…. But omg they’re completely stubborn.. I mean yes they’re trained.. They just refuse to listen to me …. Bratz!
BookLady
I am terrible at learning a foreign language.
Anna Nguyen
cooking. i am disorganized and a messy cook.
Teresa Williams
I’m pretty good with dogs.I don’t have my own pets but I have babysit some.
erinf1
oh boy… I tend to be a bit indulgent with my furbabies too! but I’ve been lucky and my Sammie boy is naturally well behaved even with his cherry tomato addiction 🙂 thanks for sharing!
Tammy Y
Crafts
Diane Sallans
I’m terrible at lost of things – can’t remember names of people (unless I write them down), can’t knit or Crochet, never could get physics or trigonometry ….
Shannon Capelle
I am terrible at training my dogs too and I lose things all the time especially my keys!! I just put things down anywhere then cant find them!!
lorih824
Math
Nicole (Nicky) Ortiz
Same here. I could only get my dogs to listen when they felt like it.
Thanks for the chance!
Lori R
I am terrible at writing letters to friends who have moved away.
Jennifer Shiflett
Being around new people. I have such bad social anxiety!
Daniel M
terrible at contests
Colleen C.
putting my thoughts down on paper
Barbara Bates
Would love to be a great singer but cannot sing at all!
Banana cake
I would say I am a bad dog trainer as well, I have one dog and I live with my sister and she has two dogs. I would say my dog Libby is very good about not barking but that is not because of me, she is spoiled she gets to lick the peanut butter knife every morning. She is very friendly and she doesn’t understand why people don’t want her to jump on them.
bn100
n/a
Katrina Dehart
I’m terrible at the dog training too!.I have 12 and they’re all lunatics lol
Ellen C.
I’m terrible at remembering numbers and passwords.
Patricia Barraclough
I am terrible at resisting books. My poor husband has filled almost every wall in our house with bookshelves, but it still isn’t enough. I love books and want to read them all. I love antique books and have several bookcases full of them. And by the way, you aren’t the only one with dog issues. We currently have 2 that sort of listen, when they want to. They are rescue pit bulls that our son brought home. He is away working most of the time, so they are living with us. When they decide to bark and “defend us” there is no quieting them down. For the most part they are well behaved but they are terrible beggars. One will finish her meal then go sit by the treat container waiting for something more. I will blame the spoiling on my husband, but they expect the same from me. They will try, but don’t press it because they know I won’t give in.
My son did bring a mastiff home to keep for a friend. It was supposed to be for a week, but she just kept giving excuses for him to keep it a bit longer. The sliming finally got to be too much and he gave her an ultimatum. After ruining the sofa, it is now has free run at her dad’s farm.
Our daughter switched careers and went back to school. She was a good student, but it is much different at 45 with a 6 year old that didn’t want to move and a husband who is dealing with cancer and type 1 diabetes. She is in law school and in her words, it has been brutal. It is something she always wanted to do and it certainly took guts to leave a director’s job at a college and start over.
Welcome back to the writing world. Good luck with the series.
Lynne Brigman
I am terrible at decorating and crafts. My daughter comes over and helps me when I want to make a change in anything. When Christmas comes her and my granddaughters do all my decorations. When I do it they come behind me and change it.
Terrill R.
I am terrible about keeping on top of my mail clutter.
Linda Herold
Art for sure! No ability what soever!!!