Spotlight & Giveaway: Janae Sanders’ Second Time Around by LaQuette

Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author LaQuette to HJ!

Hi LaQuette and welcome to HJ! We’re so excited to chat with you about your new release, Janae Sanders’ Second Time Around!

 
Hey, hey, hey!!! I’m LaQuette, the author of Janae Sanders’ Second Time Around, the second book in my Savvy, Sexy, & Single Club series. I am thrilled to drop in on Harlequin Junkie and hang for a bit.
 

Please summarize the book for the readers here:

Janae Sanders’ Second Time Around follows Janae, a forty-something divorcee whose only focus is her fifteen-year-old son and her work. As far as she’s concerned, everything else is just an energy drain and distraction that she can’t afford to succumb to. But when her former high school rival/crush, Adam returns home as the new superintendent of her son’s school district, ignoring Adam could cost her son the scholarship he needs to attend college. Ultimately, Janae must figure out a way to stop Adam. It’s only when she begins spending time with him and they’re not arguing that she questions if fighting him is the most beneficial way to stop him. Maybe collaborating with him might get her everything she wants: saving her son’s scholarship and having Adam in her life as more than her adversary.
 

Please share your favorite line(s) or quote from this book:

“I don’t know why you acting like Shemar Moore ain’t been trying to hold the light-skinned contingent down for like thirty years now. That brother is probably tired and could use a little help. By the looks of it, Adam is a worthy successor.”

Please share a few Fun facts about this book…

The title of the book is based off the Shalamar song, Second Time Around. It explains perfectly the evolution of Janae and Adam’s relationship from high school rivals with secret crushes to each finding the love they needed with each other after failing at love in other relationships.

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

He’s drawn to her bold personality. She’s drawn to his quiet strength.

Did any scene have you blushing, crying or laughing while writing it? And Why?

I loved writing the scene where Janae’s friends are trying to get her to admit she’s attracted to Adam by comparing him to Shemar Moore and Gary Dourdan. I love the fact that they can poke fun at each other and have these silly, superficial conversations while still supporting each other. In this case, her friends are trying to get her to understand that it’s okay for her to want something that has nothing to do with Janae’s job or her being a mother. Here’s the scene below.

“Is that Adam?” Cree’s question instantly had Janae scanning the school gymnasium for Adam just, like she did when they were students here at Monroe Hills High.
A tall, broad man with skin the color of butterscotch and sandy brown locs stood a head above most folks in the gym. Even if he was closer to Janae’s five-feet-two-inch frame, she’d still spot the glorious figure he made in a crowded room.
“Is that him, Janae?” Cree’s question snapped her out of her daydream in time for her to compose herself.
“He looks kind of like him.” Janae stared straight ahead, her dismissive tone downplaying the excitement she felt ramping up with her increased heartbeat.
“It’s dark in here and there’s a lot of people milling around. I’m not sure.” Both Vanessa and Cree stared at her, rolling their eyes, not believing her performance one bit. Determined to keep her cool and not look like the thirsty heifer she was, she shrugged, as if Adam’s presence wasn’t the single most important thing for her in that moment.
Cree’s squinting glare and pursed lips were silently calling bull- shit on Janae’s nonchalant answer.
“You know damn well that’s him. I’ve only seen him a few times since he got back. But damn if he doesn’t look better every single instance. Father Time sure has been good to him.”
“Is this one of those ‘he was a nerd in high school but transformed into a hottie as an adult’ things?” That question came from Vanessa. She was a new transplant to Monroe Hills, so she had no idea that Adam at eighteen was just as fine as Adam at forty-three.
Cree interrupted Janae’s trip down memory lane with a sharp bark of laughter. “Vanessa, that man has been gorgeous since the day his mama birthed him. Look at him, Janae. He’s walking around looking like he’s trying to bring light-skinned brothas back.”
Janae huffed and rolled her eyes. “Can we stop with the colorism? It’s so unbecoming.”
“Girl, please.” Cree dismissed her comment, staring her straight in the face, daring her to try to deny what anyone with functional eyes could see.
“I don’t know why you acting like Shemar Moore ain’t been trying to hold the light-skinned contingent down for like thirty years now. That brother is probably tired and could use a little help. By the looks of it, Adam is a worthy successor.”
Vanessa shook her head. “Have you seen that man on S.W.A.T.? The bald head and the body he has now makes his character Malcolm from The Young and the Restless look like his awkward stage.”
Each woman nodded her head, including Janae. Even she had to admit that Vanessa was not lying. Shemar managed to look better with each passing year, and staring at Adam, she had to wonder if he’d drank from the same fountain of youth.
“Adam’s always been attractive, Vanessa. But I don’t know why Cree’s carrying on like he’s some kind of toffee-colored Adonis. Please, ain’t nobody studying him.”
As she said the words, she could see that meme with Kandi Burress yelling, “The Lies! The Lies!” flashing across her mind. Even from her side glance, she’d clocked his beautiful angles.
“Is that so?” Cree continued. She folded her arms before pulling her eyes from Janae’s face and placing them right back on Adam. “I don’t know why you’re playing, Janae. But that brotha is walking through these halls giving Gary Dourdan from Janet Jackson’s ‘Again’ video vibes.”
Lord, why does she have to be right?
Age had only perfected his sex appeal and if she didn’t get her friend to shut up real soon, Janae was certain she was going to embarrass herself by moaning her agreement like the teenager she used to be.
You’re a grown woman. Act like it.
“Cree, why are you behaving as if you’ve never seen an attractive man before. Especially since you’re in Derrick’s face all day every day.”
“Derrick is my bestie.” Cree cut her off quickly. A little too quickly as far as Janae was concerned. “Adam is a completely different story.” Cree shook her head. “Whew, chile, that man could definitely hit it.”
Rage welled up inside Janae’s chest, and she turned so quickly her braids whipped around, hitting Vanessa’s hand, making her nearly spill the drink she was holding.
“If you hit that”—she pointed an accusing finger at Cree—“I’ll hit you, and not in the pleasurable way you’re talking about, either.” Cree’s red lips curved into a wide grin as amusement lit up her brown eyes.
“But I thought you weren’t studying him, Janae? Why you mad?”
Busted.
By the way her friend stared at her with a raised eyebrow, daring her to answer the questions, Cree knew Janae was full of shit.
Might as well come clean.
She turned her back to the crowd and moved in front of Cree. If she had to admit the truth, she could at least hold on to some of her composure by not having to look at Adam’s deliciousness.
“All right,” she relented. “Adam’s fine as fuck and if any woman in this town is going to get a taste of the new, improved version of his sexy self, it’s gonna be me, so back off, Cree.”
The amusement dripped off Cree’s face and it was replaced with wide-eyed shock. Janae knew her mouth was reckless sometimes, but she didn’t think anything she’d said should have elicited that response. But then she felt electric warmth behind her that zipped across her skin, making her shiver. Her stomach dropped and her pulse jumped as she looked from Cree to Vanessa, and then back again.
“Adam is standing right behind me, isn’t he?”
Her girls didn’t have a chance to answer before Janae heard the deep rumble of what was fast becoming a familiar tone.
“Yes,” Adam spoke, his voice sounding like aged bourbon poured over ice. “He is.”

Readers should read this book….

Most romances focus on young love. This book shows how good love can be when you’ve matured into the season of your life when games and drama are in the past. Adam and Janae make their wants and desires clear. They both know what they want, and they have no qualms going after it.

What are you currently working on? What other releases do you have in the works?

I am currently working on the next book in my Savvy, Sexy, and Single Club series, Cree Brennan’s Man Next Door. It’s a friend-to-lovers story where Cree must face the fact that her love for her bestie isn’t all that platonic. Once she does, she has to decide if revealing her love for him is worth the risk of losing the person who’s always had her back, no matter what.
 
 

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Book Info:

A single mom gets a second chance at love with her high school sweetheart.

Wary of love after divorce, Janae Sanders focuses on the best things in her life: her son James and her besties in the Savvy, Sexy, and Single Club. As for romance? Not today, Satan. That is, until high school heartthrob Adam Henderson crashes back into her life at their 20-year reunion. Sparks fly, but just when Janae considers dating again, the new superintendent of James’ school district slashes his beloved arts program. Instead of getting her groove back, Janae gets her protest on.

Returning home after twenty years, Adam jumps at the chance to reacquaint himself with Janae, the one who got away. But he’s nearly reached his limit, juggling a meddling father, school politics, and—unbeknownst to him—Janae’s ire. If he can’t get the head of the PTA off his back after cutting programs that were costing the district money, his debut role as superintendent and his love life hang in the balance.

When a school board meeting is called and they both realize they’ve been dating the enemy, Janae gives Adam two choices: restore the program or lose her. Adam proposes a third option: one weekend at his cabin to talk it all out—funding the arts, and old feelings too. When her girls cheer her on, Janae must decide if she’s willing to risk it all. Armed with sass, sarcasm, and a suitcase full of emotional baggage, Janae and Adam discover that sometimes love shows up in the most infuriating and unexpectedly sexy ways.
Book Links: Amazon | B&N | Google |
 
 

Meet the Author:

LaQuette, author of Vanessa Jared’s Got A Man and Royal Bride Demand, writes sexy, stylish, and sensational romance. That means sentimental and steamy stories (Hallmark-like tales, but HAWT) with big emotions featuring fashionable and bold characters. If this Brooklyn native and current Ph.D. student isn’t writing, reading, or studying, she’s probably trying on or looking for her next great makeup find.
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