Spotlight & Giveaway: Ship Happens by Kate Stacy

Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author Kate Stacy to HJ!

Hi Kate and welcome to HJ! We’re so excited to chat with you about your new release, Ship Happens!

 
Thank you! Thrilled to be here!
 

To start off, can you please tell us a little bit about this book?:

Ship Happens is a friends with benefits romance, and the first of eight books in the Love at Sea multi-author series. The series is set on a cruise ship where the theme is “celebrating love.” The cruise is designed for couples in love, and singles looking for love. Each book features a new hero and heroine, and their journey to their HEA. The characters in Ship Happens, Tate and Macy, have been friends their whole lives and they’ve reaped the “benefits” for several years. They unknowingly end up on the cruise together and over the course of their seven-day adventure, they realize that maybe they’re meant for something more than their arrangement.
 

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

These are my absolute favorite lines from Ship Happens:

For years, we stuck to our rules.
They worked…
Until they didn’t.
Somewhere along the way, the lines blurred.
Or maybe the lines were never there at all.

The heart wants what it wants.
Mine wants Macy.

I know Macy’s body better than my own.
I’ve spent years learning exactly what she likes, exactly what will get her off.
Nobody can please her like I can.

What inspired this book?

This book was largely inspired by my love of experiences. I’m the type of person that wants to experience everything when I travel somewhere. When I saw the post looking for authors to write for a Love at Sea cruise ship series, I jumped at the chance to be involved. Writing this book was an experience in itself because I’ve never been on a cruise. It was challenging to bring this book to life, but I was inspired by the incredible experiences and beautiful locations in the cruise itinerary chosen for the series.

How did you ‘get to know’ your main characters? Did they ever surprise you?

I got to know my characters by having experiences with them. I knew a bit about Macy, as she’s a side character in another one of my books, but I didn’t really get to know her until she raced to get on board the cruise ship. My characters are constantly surprising me. Tate, for example. He loves to dance! I had no idea until he and Macy were in one of the clubs on board the Heart of the Deep for salsa lessons. He surprised both me AND Macy with his moves!

What was your favorite scene to write?

Easily, the sea turtle experience Macy and Tate have at the port in Cozumel. It was a fun, sweet scene to write. The excitement of saving baby sea turtles for Macy and experiencing it with someone who means so much to her was a joy to write.

Snippet:
Barely holding back a squeal, I sit down, immediately pushing my fingers into the warm sand. Tate squats down beside me, watching as I scoop sand out of the way to reveal the nest. About a foot down, something wiggles against my fingers, and I gasp.
Gently grabbing hold of it, I pull the first baby turtle out of the hole.
“Look at that,” Tate says.
The sand-covered turtle is barely the size of my palm.
“Aww, look at him,” I say, lifting the tiny turtle a little higher. “Hello, sweet baby.”
The men around me chuckle, but they don’t understand.
Well, Tate does.
I glance over to find him watching me.
We share a silent moment before one of the twins says, “Look, you can see more moving around in there.”
Tate tosses some sand in the bottom of our bucket and gently takes the turtle from my hand, placing him inside.
“Time to save the rest of them, Mace.”
Smiling so hard it feels like my face might crack, I reach back into the hole and pick up another baby, handing it off to be put in the bucket. One by one, I pull them out of the sand until I reluctantly sit back to give the guys a chance to help.

What was the most difficult scene to write?

You’d think it’d be a dramatic moment, right? Not this time. Honestly, the hardest for me to write were the two dancing scenes. Trying to describe dance moves in a way that paints a picture and makes sense is really freaking hard! I spent hours online watching videos and trying to figure out how to translate what I was seeing (and what I had in my head) from images to words. I’m pretty happy with how they came out, though.

Snippet:
We finish our drinks by the time the music comes back on in the club and I grab Tate’s hand, practically pulling him behind me, eager to dance. He follows willingly, keeping up with long strides. When we reach the dance floor, Tate takes the lead, easily matching the rhythm of the music.
I don’t struggle to keep up with him.
My body knows the motions.
We move together like it’s the most natural thing.
Tommy is no longer acting as an instructor. He and Dizzy are on the dance floor with us, everyone having a good time. Of course, the two of them dance a more advanced routine, leaving the rest of us watching in awe.
“This isn’t your first time salsa dancing, is it?” I ask Tate, realizing his movements are as practiced as the instructors.
The corners of his lips lift on one side. “Not even close.”
I knew it.
“Where’d you learn?” I ask, genuinely curious.

Would you say this book showcases your writing style or is it a departure for you?

Mostly. I typically write very angsty, dramatic romances and this one is on the lighter side of that. There are a few “heavy” moments, but overall it’s mostly loads of fun and new experiences. It has the bits of humor, slices of sarcasm, and relatable characters that I’m known for, but it doesn’t take you on the emotional roller coaster that most of my books do.

What do you want people to take away from reading this book?

A common theme throughout the story is not seeing what’s right in front of you. Whether it comes to simple information, or even love, sometimes what you’re looking for has been right there the whole time. I would love for people to take away that life is a journey, not a destination. Slow down and enjoy it, or you’ll never know what, or who, you might miss out on.

What are you currently working on? What other releases do you have planned?

I’m currently working on Bourbon Truths, which is the second book in my Love & Liquor series. The series revolves around the hot bartenders of 80 Proof Bar & Grill, set in my fictional small town, Blackwood, North Carolina. The series is five books, each is a standalone with a new couple and their HEA.
My next release, The Book Boyfriend, is a wrong side of the tracks romance that comes out on September 22nd, and is part of the Meet Cute Book Club multi-author series. I’m also writing in another multi-author collaboration, Hot Vegas Nights. My book, A Vegas Dare, is a dare/fling romance and it releases on November 22nd.

Thanks for blogging at HJ!

Giveaway: An e-book of choice from my backlist

To enter Giveaway: Please complete the Rafflecopter form and Post a comment to this Q: Have you ever been on a cruise? Where did you go and would you recommend it?
If not, would you ever want to? Where would you want to go?

 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

 
 

Excerpt from Ship Happens:

“Have you seen how many different types of tequila they have here?”
I snort. “It was half the draw. I’m actually thinking about trying Mezcal. I’ve never had it.”
“I’ve never even heard of it.”
“A bar is practically my second home,” I point out, meaning the bar that Camille’s brother and brother-in-law own.
“Second? I would think it would be at least third.”
“Nope. Hospital first. Bar second. My actual apartment is the third.”
“That’s kinda sad,” he says.
“Don’t I know it,” I agree.
Tate’s just as guilty as I am of spending time anywhere other than home. If he’s not working, he’s usually with one of his siblings. I know he spends a good bit of his free time with Tobias, Tripp, and Torin. He doesn’t see his brothers all day at work anymore, so he gets time whenever he can.
I envy the relationship he has with his siblings.
Not that I don’t have one with them too, but it’s not the same.
Tate grew up in a house full of chaos, while I grew up in a house alone. My mom did the best she could, but she worked too many jobs to spend much time with me. I spent more time at Tate’s house than I did my own. His family always treated me like one of their own, but despite our friendships, I still always felt like an outsider.
I always wanted a sibling, but it was never in the cards.
Mom was the only family I had, so when I lost her to ovarian cancer five years ago, I became an orphan. I miss her the most when I’m surrounded by happy families because it’s a reminder that I’m alone.
“You okay?” Tate asks, tearing me from my maudlin thoughts. He watches me with concern, making me wonder how long I was lost in my head.
“Yeah,” I reply, waving him off. “Sorry I spaced out on you.”
“Maybe you needed a longer nap,” he suggests playfully. “You’re obviously still tired.”
“Hmm. I guess that means I have to go to bed early tonight.”
“Not if I have anything to say about it.”
Heat flares in his eyes, and the look he gives me is so scorching, I find myself shifting in my seat. Before I can reply, the server brings our dinner to the table. When he asks if we need anything else, I ask for simply pure Mezcal from the bar.
“You sure you don’t want a drink?” I ask when the server leaves after Tate declines to order one.
“Positive,” he tells me. “If I never taste tequila again it’ll be too soon.”
His response makes me giggle. “They have beer, Tate.”
“I’m fine, really,” he insists. “I wanted to talk to you about something, though.”
“Uh oh. Sounds serious.”
My tone is playful, but I give him my full attention because in the minute since the waiter walked away from the table, something in Tate’s demeanor changed.
I’m honestly a little nervous.
Despite how mouthwatering it smells, neither of us moves to touch the food in front of us.
“Not in the way you might be thinking…” he says, trailing off as the server returns with my drink. Tate waits until he’s out of earshot before continuing. “It’s about our situationship.”
Situationship.
Huh. I don’t know how I’ve never heard him refer to what we have like that, but I kinda like it. Much better than Camille calling him my fuck buddy.
Wait…
“Are we pressing pause again?” I ask, not sure I want to hear the response. Not with the revelation I’ve had about my feelings for him.
“No! Not at all,” he rushes out.
Rubbing the back of his neck, he tries to explain before I jump to any more conclusions.
“You know I ended up on board under false pretenses…”
“Yeah…?”
“You didn’t,” he points out. “I don’t know if you were planning on hooking up with anyone this week—”
“I wasn’t.”
He looks relieved. Why does he look relieved?
“Does that mean I can have you in my bed every night?”
“If that’s what you want,” I tell him, struck by a little disappointment.
That’s not exactly where I thought the conversation was going to lead, especially when he practically breathed a sigh of relief when I told him I had no plans on fucking anyone else.
It’s okay though.
This is what I wanted.
More time with him to figure out how he feels.
“More than you know,” he says, giving me hope.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
 
 

Book Info:

Tate

Macy Carmichael has been my friend with mind-blowing benefits for a long time now. But, I’ve been craving more from her. More than she’s ready to give.

When my siblings book me on an all-inclusive cruise, I jump at the idea of a free vacation and a chance to get away for a while. Unfortunately, my meddling older sister left out a few important details—like the name of the cruise. Love at Sea. Is she for real?

If that’s not bad enough, she signed me up for a variety of activities and makes me promise that I’ll take part in every single one. She also failed to mention that she convinced Macy to book the same cruise.

Imagine my surprise when she sits down across the table from me during the speed dating event I didn’t even want to attend. All bets are off. I’ll be damned if some other man is getting close to what’s mine.

Macy

Desperate for a vacation and break from everyday life, I take the suggestion of a close friend and book myself a week-long cruise. I even go along with her recommendation.

The Love at Sea cruise aboard the Heart of the Deep. It doesn’t sound like a bad idea, even if the whole cruise is based around the finding and celebrating love.

But when my best friend with toe-curling benefits, Tate Thorne, shows up during the speed dating event, I know I’m in trouble. No matter what I do, it always comes back to him.

Maybe away from the hustle and bustle of our small town, we can finally explore something more. That is, if I can finally let go of all the “rules” of our previous arrangement.

Ship Happens is a friends with benefits romance, part of the Love at Sea multi-author series. Get ready to set sail through the Caribbean on Festival Cruises’ most alluring voyage with eight of your favorite authors – happily ever after guaranteed!

Experience everything the Love at Sea series has to offer. From speed dating to masquerades, guests are sure to enjoy the hot days and steamy nights. Explore hidden waterfalls, swim with dolphins, and watch as eight couples find their forever on the open ocean.

Book Links: Amazon |
 
 

Meet the Author:

Author of emotionally-gripping, contemporary romance, Kate Stacy’s novels feature sassy heroines, swoony heroes, life, love, friendship, and all the angst. When she’s not writing or spending time with her family and friends in small-town North Carolina, Kate can most likely be found nose deep in her Kindle. She stays up too late, swears too much, and loves too hard.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | GoodReads |