Spotlight & Giveaway: Red Awakening by Janet Elizabeth Henderson

Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author Janet Elizabeth Henderson to HJ!

Hi Janet and welcome to HJ! We’re so excited to chat with you about your new release, Red Awakening!

 
Hello! It’s lovely to be here!
 

Please summarize the book for the readers here:

It’s Die hard, with hot romance, set in a technologically obsessed future. About 90% of the book takes place in a high-rise research facility that’s overrun by terrorists. And the romance is a love of the ages, with characters who have some similarities with Han Solo and Princess Leia. Bet you’re sorry you asked me to describe the book now, aren’t you?
 

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

Her eyes narrowed at him. “Do you need to be so sarcastic?”
“No. It’s just an added bonus. You get it free with the rescue.”
…and…
It was Keiko Sato’s birthday, and if she had just one wish, it was to get laid. That’s all she wanted. One night. Amazing sex. No chitchat. But, like most birthday wishes she’d made throughout the years, this one wasn’t going to materialize either.

Please share a few Fun facts about this book…

Red Awakening is my love letter to Die Hard. And because I love the movie so much, I’ve sprinkled little Easter Eggs about Die Hard throughout my book for readers to find. I’m hoping they join me on Facebook after they’ve read it to share what they’ve found. Then we can geek out together!

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

It’s an attraction of contrasts. Initially it’s about looks – Mace is a massive, sexy Viking of a man, and Keiko is petite, sophisticated and sexy as hell. But Mace is also deeply attracted to Keiko’s courage and confidence. While she’s attracted to his rough-around-the-edges cynicism. the thing that unites them is their shared sense of honor and willingness to do what’s right, no matter the cost to themselves.

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

Okay, confession time. I laughed hard while writing this, because it’s something that actually happened to me! There really is no way to kick someone in a tight skirt. Just sayin’…

Her eyes narrowed at him. “Do you need to be so sarcastic?”
“No. It’s just an added bonus. You get it free with the rescue.”
“You’re rescuing me? I don’t think so. You’re just protecting your interests. It will be a helluva lot easier to get out of this building without Enforcement shooting at you if you have the company’s press secretary at your side.”
“Whatever.” Great, now he sounded like a teenager. She brought out all of his best qualities.
Of course, she called him on it. “Mature. I don’t need you protecting me, and I don’t want to have anything more to do with you. Just go. Save yourself.”
He’d had enough. He spun away from the panel and leaned into her. “You do not want me to go, princess. You wouldn’t last five minutes without me.”
Her dark eyes blazed as she stood to face off against him. “I can look after myself.” She paused, her eyes fluttering away from him in a sure tell that she was about to lie. “I know Kung Fu.”
“Sure you do.”
A look of rage swept over her face, and in a furious move, she swung her leg hard to kick him. Only, her dress was too tight, and the momentum swept her other leg out from under her. She landed on her back, on the floor, with a thud.
Mace looked down at her. “Yeah. You’re right. You can totally look after yourself.”
She blinked up at him for a few seconds. “I can’t think of anything to say that will make this seem less humiliating.”
He let out a sigh. “Neither can I.” He reached down and helped her to her feet. “Anything broken?”
“My pride.”
“Then we’re good to go. Unless, you want to try some more Kung Fu moves on me.”
“Turns out, you can’t do Kung Fu in a dress. Who knew?”

Readers should read this book….

If you like books that will keep you on the edge of your seat and take you on a wild ride, then this is the book for you. Equally so, if you enjoy a romance where the hero and heroine are flawed, but together become stronger, developing a love that shines because it’s so damn pure, then this is the book for you too.

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

Right now I’m polishing my latest romcom – Can’t Buy Me Love – which is due out before Christmas. This will be my thirteenth pure romcom, and the story is going to blow my long-term readers away! In saying that, like all of my books, you don’t have to have read any others to appreciate the one you pick up. They’re all standalones. Just thought I’d clear that up!
 

Thanks for blogging at HJ!

Giveaway: Two ebook copies of Red Awakening.

To enter Giveaway: Please complete the Rafflecopter form and Post a comment to this Q: If you could write your own version of your favorite movie, which movie would it be?

 
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Excerpt from Red Awakening:

Threading her arm through her friend’s, Keiko turned toward the exit. And that’s when she felt it. A hum throughout her body, a visceral awareness of something else in the room. No, not something—someone. Her skin tingled and her heart raced as she found herself turning around to see what had caused the strange sensation.
And there he was.
A Viking.
Striding through the crowd. His eyes fixed on her.
He had to be more than a foot taller than her, and that was with her in heels, and his shoulders made him three times wider. His charcoal gray suit fit like a second skin, skimming over muscles that rippled and flowed with power. Overgrown honey-blond hair fell across his forehead. It looked bedroom tousled, as though someone had run their fingers through it one too many times.
As he came to a halt in front of her, she looked up to find a wide jaw sprinkled with stubble, a nose that had been broken and never set properly, and deep-set eyes that were the clearest blue she’d ever seen. He didn’t smile, and Keiko’s mouth went dry as her hand tightened on Abigail’s arm.
“I’m Mace Armstrong,” he rumbled in a voice so deep it sent chills down her spine.
It was only when Abigail cleared her throat that Keiko realized he was holding out his hand for her to take. She slid her hand into his and something wild within her awakened.
“Keiko Sato,” Abigail said when it became clear Keiko wasn’t going to respond. “She’s Keiko. And I’m Abigail.”
Mace blinked once or twice before glancing at Abigail. “Pleased to meet you.” He didn’t offer his hand, which still held Keiko’s.
“Could you excuse us for a second?” Abigail said as she yanked on Keiko’s arm and ripped her from Mace’s grasp.
“Sure,” he said with flash of impatience that he quickly covered with a smile.
Abigail dragged her a few steps away and leaned in. “He’s a Viking!”
Keiko tore her eyes from the man behind them. “He’s a businessman.” She could read the information stored on the club’s network just as easily as the next person. In fact, his details were scrolling across the lens in her eye as they talked.
“A businessman with a broken nose. One he’s never had cosmetically adjusted. That has to count for something. He looks rough. Like. A. Viking.”
Rough wasn’t the word Keiko would use. Sexy. Lickable. Hot. Huge… Yeah, there were definitely a lot more words.
“You need to go for it,” Abigail hissed.
“What?” Keiko jerked her attention back to her friend. “No. I can’t. We’re here together. I’m not leaving you alone.” For a start, she wasn’t sure Abigail would make it home without her. She had a reputation for turning around in the ladies’ restroom and not being able to find her way out. “But I will get his number.”
“You’ll do more than that.” Abigail frowned. “Look, we both know I’m the worst wingman in the history of wingmen.”
“Um…” There was no denying it. There were years of proof to back up that statement.
“Don’t you see?” Abigail gave her a little shake. “This is my chance to turn that around. This could go down in wingman history. This is the most epic setup ever. I found you the Viking you were looking for! I’m going to be a legend.”
Yeah. Right. “Basically, you’re telling me I have to hook up with this guy to make your reputation. That this is all about you.”
“Yes.” Abigail struggled not to laugh.
“I really wonder about your IQ,” she said to the woman who’d made her name as a child prodigy in the world of scientific research.
“I know.” Abigail beamed. “Now, go get lucky.”

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
 

Book Info:

In a future where corporations and nanotech implants run the world, Mace Armstrong is in the wrong place at the wrong time… Literally.

The mission is simple: find a way into CommTECH’s state-of-the-art compound, bug the lead scientist of their bio-engineering team before they release an implant that will kill millions, get out without anyone knowing he’s there. For an ex-army ranger, even one out of his element by a century, it should be a walk in the park. Right?

Wrong.

Because Mace isn’t the only one who breaks into the secure facility. With the building overrun with terrorists, he has to find a way out before he compromises himself and the entire Red Zone team to the enemy.

But there’s no leaving without the woman who inadvertently helped him get into the building in the first place: Keiko Sato, CommTECH’s press secretary. She’s brilliant, beautiful, and knows how to hold a grudge. Against him. She has no idea what secrets he and his team are harboring, or that she’s calling to the animal that’s been locked inside of him for a century.

Even as she argues with him about everything, Mace is determined to protect her. He got her into this mess, and he owes it to her to get her out of it.

Whether she wants him to or not.
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Meet the Author:

Janet grew up in Scotland but now lives in New Zealand. Among other things, she’s been an artist, a teacher, a security guard at a castle, a magazine editor, and a cleaner in a drop in center for drug addicts (NOT the best job!). When she isn’t living in her head and writing about the people she finds there, she raises two kids, one husband, and several random animals. She survives on chocolate and caffeine.

Janet has written twenty books in the romantic comedy, romantic suspense and futuristic romance genres. Her work has won several awards, including the Daphne du Maurier for best romantic suspense. She’s represented by Nalini Akolekar at Spencerhill associates.
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