Spotlight & Giveaway: Sex Lies and Sensibility by Nikki Payne

Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author Nikki Payne to HJ!

Hi Nikki and welcome to HJ! We’re so excited to chat with you about your new release, Sex Lies and Sensibility!

 
Hey Fam!
 

Please summarize the book for the readers here:

Imagine this: a spicy retelling of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility where Nora Dash, living her best (or worst?) life, finds out she’s the bonus track on her dad’s family album—surprise, you’re the secret second fam! This bomb drops right in the middle of a will reading, talk about drama. But wait, it gets juicier. Nora’s spicy videos just hit the internet like wildfire. Reputation? Shattered. Dad? MIA. What’s left? A dusty beach house in Nowhere, Maine.

Nora and her sister Yanne, still shaking off the city glitter from their designer gear, barely set foot in Maine when the first curveball hits. Enter Ennis “Bear” Freeman, a too-hot-to-handle fake park ranger, acting like he owns their new spot. He’s used to unexpected guests on his turf, but city slickers with property deeds? That’s new.
Bear bets they’ll bail in a week, but plot twist: Nora’s got a knack for this wilderness life. She’s flipping Bear’s world upside down, business and all. As they start connecting, Bear’s own closet of secrets might just be the wild card that changes everything. Welcome to Nora’s new life, where the only thing predictable is unpredictability.
 

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

A powerful scene from the book is when Nora decides to head to Maine, facing the other family. It’s a pivotal moment that showcases her strength and self-respect. She refuses to be demeaned or belittled, standing firm in her identity despite the chaos around her. This decision marks a significant turning point in her journey, highlighting her resilience and determination to rise above the challenges she faces.

Please share a few Fun facts about this book…

 
The author’s lack of firsthand experience with Maine led to an adventurous research trip, including a memorable canoe incident! (Spoiler I fell out of a Canoe)
The book explores the contrast between urban and rural lifestyles, inspired by the author’s own experiences and observations.
Real-life interactions and conversations with the Wabenaki community during the Maine visit influenced the character development.

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

Ennis, or Bear, is initially drawn to Nora due to her athletic prowess, recognizing her from her sports career. This recognition is a breath of fresh air for Nora, who’s been overshadowed by her viral scandal. It’s a moment of genuine appreciation for her talents and achievements, separate from the controversy surrounding her. For Nora, it’s surprising and refreshing to be seen for who she truly is, not for the scandal she’s embroiled in.

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

Absolutely! The scene where Bear and Nora go running together is a standout. Bear turning off his music to sync with Nora’s pace is such a subtle yet profound gesture of care and connection. It’s these little moments of understanding and consideration that build their relationship. It’s heartwarming and shows how deep connections can form from simple, thoughtful actions.

Readers should read this book….

Readers should dive into this book for a rollercoaster of emotions and a fresh take on love and self-discovery. It’s not just a romance; it’s a journey of Nora finding her footing in a world that’s thrown her curveballs. The backdrop of rural Maine adds a unique flavor, contrasting the chaos of Nora’s life with the tranquility of nature. It’s a story about finding love in unexpected places and the power of new beginnings.

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

I’m working on a sexy murder mystery that may or may not be Northanger Abby-inspired.
 
 

Thanks for blogging at HJ!

Giveaway:  A Print copy of SEX LIES AND SENSIBILITY by Nikki Payne

To enter Giveaway: Please complete the Rafflecopter form and Post a comment to this Q: What would you do If you found out you were the family secret?

 
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Excerpt from Sex Lies and Sensibility:

Nora pointed to the Wabanaki Nation flag. “Can I ask a really dumb question? Are we in America? Is a reservation-”
He covered his eyes. “Don’t finish. Yes, a reservation is land held in trust by the federal government for Native Americans.”
“Oh god, Ennis, I thought reservations were like the embassies we have in DC… their own nations within.”
“Don’t feel stupid. In fact, let’s just stop and ask each other stupid questions. Let me start with the basics. I do pay taxes. I don’t have Casino Money. My native percentage is none of your business.”
Nora’s lifted her chin. She looked proud like she got through that list unscathed. “I would never ask any of those.” She said
“And traditional clothes are not a costume.” He deadpanned
Clocked her
“Damn, I almost made it. Nora put her hands on her hip.
“So let me clear the air.” Nora cleared her throat
“I’m good at sports. Me, Nora, not black people. I can’t dance. I’m not urban. I’m from Mongomery County, Maryland. No, I don’t know that other black person you know, and you may not start sentences with “girlfriend.”
“Got it. Ok, start your questions.” He clapped like a…well, like a coach.
“What do I call you?”
“Bear. I liked it when…”
She cut him off here. “No. Like, what do you call yourself? Do you call yourself Native American?”
“No.”
“First Nations?”
“Eww,” Bear wrinkled his nose
“Tribesmen?”
“Gross.”
“Indigenous,” she offered.
“Sounds like a kind of fungus.”
“Ennis.” Nora stomped her foot. “What can I call you!”
“Call me Abenaki.”
She nodded.
Now it was his turn to ask her questions.
“Should I call you African American.”
“Kind of a mouthful,” Nora said
“Sista?”
“Don’t.”
“Girlfriend?” he asked, this time with a touch of softness.
Her eyes widened at his sneaky little double-entendre
“No.” was all she said.
“Black?”
“Say it loud.” Nora held up her fist.
“Do people really ask to touch your hair?” Bear asked
“Yep, you?”
“Do I want to touch your hair? Yes, “ Bear winced at how thirsty that came out.
“No,” Nora looked down at her feet. “I meant, do people ask to touch your hair?”
“Oh, Always”
“But your hair is,” Nora Paused. “Different. You can barely look away.”
Ennis Smiled at her admission. “Do you want to touch my hair, Nora?” he teased.
Nora punched his arm, then took a tentative tug
“You should let me braid this up,” she suggested.
Bear Froze. He knew she didn’t, couldn’t know what it meant to braid a man’s hair. But her words went off like a firework inside of his chest. He looked at her then and just said it.
“Nora Dash, I would love for you to braid my hair one day.” A flush of warmth under his clothes made him know it was true.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
 
 

Book Info:

Two sisters roll up their sleeves to run a dilapidated inn but must learn to work with the locals in this deliciously spicy novel inspired by Sense and Sensibility.

There’s never a good time to learn you are your father’s secret child—especially not at the reading of his will. With their father’s affairs laid bare and Nora’s sensible reputation in tatters due to a viral video scandal, she and her free-spirited sister have nothing left but a rustic inn in the middle of nowhere and each other. What’s more, they need to revamp the inn before Labor Day or they lose it all. Nora hasn’t even knocked the traveling dust off last season’s designer boots when she’s confronted with three problems:

1. She really should have watched more HGTV.
2. She hasn’t seen another Black person for miles.
3. A tall, dark stranger has already staked a claim on their property.

Native Abenaki eco-tour guide Ennis “Bear” Freeman has seen hapless tourists come and go. When he spots two pampered city girls at his unofficial headquarters, he expects them to catch a flight out of the inhospitable coastal Maine backwoods within a week’s time. But Nora, turns out, is made of sterner stuff. And as she rolls up her sleeves to breathe new life into the inn, she unwittingly reignites a flood of emotions inside of Bear that he had very intentionally suppressed.

Their connection is electric, their desire palpable. But Bear’s silence about his mysterious past might turn out to be the one thing that sends Nora packing.
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