Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author Sonya Lalli to HJ!
Hi Sonya and welcome to HJ! We’re so excited to chat with you about your new release, Jasmine and Jake Rock the Boat!
Please summarize the book for the readers here:
A companion holiday romance to A Holly Jolly Diwali, Jasmine and Jake Rock the Boat features Niki’s rebellious big sister Jamsine. Recently single, Jasmine agrees to accompany her parents on an Alaskan cruise with a bunch of their Indian friends, and doesn’t realize until it’s too late that it’s a senior’s cruise – and that the only other guest under the age of fifty is the community golden boy, Jake Dhillon.
Please share your favorite line(s) or quote from this book:
“You’re good enough,” Jake said, his voice serious and low. “You’re more than good enough. But you have to believe that about yourself first, Jasmine.”
Please share a few Fun facts about this book…
- I went on an Alaskan cruise with my family many years ago, and found it very useful for research and vividly bringing the crusie to life
- This is my first enemies to lovers romance
- Jasmine is the big sister of Niki, the protagonist in A Holly Jolly Diwali. Niki and her love interest Sam do make appearances in this book, too!
What first attracts your Hero to the Heroine and vice versa?
Their attraction is physical at first. Once they start to get to know each other, it becomes emotional, too.
Did any scene have you blushing, crying or laughing while writing it? And Why?
I always blush a little when running the more romantic and sexual scenes, even after five romance books!
Readers should read this book….
because it’s escapist, emotional and a LOT of fun.
What are you currently working on? What other releases do you have in the works?
My next book will be my second thriller novel, which I publish with a different publisher under the open pseudonym S.C. Lalli. I’m currently starting to think about my next romance, although details still to come…
Thanks for blogging at HJ!
Giveaway: A print copy of Jasmine and Jake Rock the Boat by Sonya Lalli
To enter Giveaway: Please complete the Rafflecopter form and Post a comment to this Q: What do you think draws readers to enemies to lovers romance novels? What is it about the trope that is so endearing to you?
Excerpt from Jasmine and Jake Rock the Boat:
“You really don’t remember me?” he said quietly.
I really didn’t remember him. Was I getting that old that I’d started to forget people’s names and faces? Although I’d partied in my heyday, I rarely got out of control. Rarely . . .
“We didn’t . . .” I pointed to his chest and then to mine. “Did we?”
“Are you kidding me?” Jake’s face split into a grin. “You would have gone to prison. Jasmine, you were my babysitter.”
I didn’t want to just smack Jake anymore. I wanted to attach weights to his limbs and chuck him over the side of the boat. He laughed heartily, and I, like a flustered fool, realized that I did know Jake Dhillon.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Book Info:
Jasmine Randhawa likes everyone to think she has it all—great job, perfect Seattle apartment, and a handsome boyfriend. But she’s not as confident or successful as she seems, and her relationship is at a breaking point.
When Jasmine finds herself single and tagging along on her parents’ vacation, she’s not sure her life can get any farther off course. It’s a nightmare for someone who’s been so fiercely independent to find herself on a cruise full of family friends who’ve judged her since childhood. Things only get worse once the ship leaves the harbor and she realizes that this is a seniors’ cruise, and the only other person under fifty on the entire boat is her childhood acquaintance, cocky and successful Jake Dhillon.
Jasmine and Jake clash right away, with Jasmine smarting over how their South Asian community puts him on a pedestal as the perfect Indian son, whereas her reputation as a troublemaker precedes her. Except they can’t avoid each other forever during the ten-day cruise, and they soon recognize a surprising number of similarities, especially in how many secrets they’re keeping hidden from their families. Their restlessness seems to disappear whenever they’re together, but is this relationship strong enough to last on land?
Book Links: Book Links: Amazon | B&N | kobo |
Meet the Author:
Sonya Lalli is a romance and women’s fiction author of Punjabi and Bengali heritage. Her books have been featured in Entertainment Weekly, NPR, The Washington Post, Glamour, and more. She lives in Vancouver with her husband.
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EC
What do you think draws readers to enemies to lovers romance novels?
The chemistry that is between the enemies that makes them become lovers.
What is it about the trope that is so endearing to you?
When they fall in love.
Diana Hardt
The hope that they fall in love and that there is eventually a happy ending.
Mary Preston
It’s the struggle to understand what is happening.
Lori R
I think readers are drawn by the hope that they will become friends and fall in love as they really get to know each other.
Amy Donahue
I don’t know why I love it, all I know is that I’ve been loving it ever since I saw Han and Leia when I was 11 years old 🙂
Debra Guyette
I like all the sparks that fly and the reluctance
Janine
Enemies to lovers is a fun trope.
Glenda M
The idea that there truly is a fine line between love, hate, and other strong emotions
Lori Byrd
My favorite trope. I love how the sparks fly then the love comes.
Texas Book Lover
For me it is usually just plain fun to read!
Rita Wray
Enemies to lovers usually ends with a happy ending which I like.
SusieQ
I love the tension between the protagonists.
Daniel M
don’t believe in it
Summer
There’s usually humorous banter in situations like that, I also just really like it when they gradually realize that maybe they had the picture of who this person is, I like that sort of revelation of not judging someone based on first impressions.
Laurie Gommermann
I like the enemies to lovers trope because of all of the emotional and sexual tension. CONFLICT! Sparks fly! Revenge is sweet, but wait, that moment when they realize that relationships and love are sweeter….
Latesha B.
I think readers are drawn to people who originally dislike each other to see how they overcome those feelings. I love seeing how they work through their issues to become a couple.
bn100
depends how it’s written
Bonnie
I enjoy the conflict and the snarky banter between the characters.
Shannon Capelle
I enjoy the fact that even if they are enemies there is a fine line to attraction and love! The push and pull is fun to read about!
Amy R
What do you think draws readers to enemies to lovers romance novels? Not sure, I’m a mood reader
What is it about the trope that is so endearing to you? I’m a mood reader
Linda F Herold
I like seeing how characters change throughout a book.