Spotlight & Giveaway: This Pucking Ship by A.M. Williams

Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author A.M. Williams to HJ!

Hi A.M. Williams and welcome to HJ! We’re so excited to chat with you about your new release, This Pucking Ship!

 
Hi! Thanks for having me.
 

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

This book is a little off brand for me in that it takes place on a cruise ship versus a small town in North Carolina, but it was still fun to write. I follows our heroine, Mo, as she struggles to overcome being fired by her previous boss (and now ex-boyfriend) and our hero, Dylan, as he discovers that he’s ready for more out of his relationships with women.
 

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

I wanted to know her better.
I wanted to know everything there was to know about her.

It just felt right with him. Like he was who I was supposed to be with.

What inspired this book?

I’m not sure it was any one thing that really inspired this book, but I’ve always wanted to go on a cruise and enjoy reading books about cruises. So when this opportunity came along, I did some research and did some soul searching on what I could include in the story to make it happen. So, my own dreams about going on a cruise plus what I love about romance novels came together to give you this book.

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

Like most of my books, one of my characters came to me almost fully formed. I knew exactly who Mo was (though I struggled with her name) and I had her backstory set. Dylan was a little more difficult to get set, but it was fun figuring out who he was.

What was your favorite scene to write?

Probably the first scene where Mo is teaching a step aerobics class to a group of women on the cruise with an 80s and 90s music playlist. It was just fun in general and I got to blast some great music while writing.

What was the most difficult scene to write?

A scene toward the end of the book where they’re having their dark moment. I don’t want to give anything away, but it’s after everything is revealed and Mo has a lot of self-doubt because of what happened before she went on the cruise.

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

It’s pretty close, but a slight departure. I think I’ve stayed true to myself with the actual writing of it, but overall, the book is somewhat off brand, like I mentioned before. I’m a small town writer that throws sports in the mix. This has sports in the mix, but not really the small town aspect.

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

Just that it was fun to read and an enjoyable break from real life.

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

I am currently reworking a series idea I got a few years ago. I’ve got part of book 1 written and most of the others plotted, so I’m hoping to slowly get those books written in the next year.

Thanks for blogging at HJ!

Giveaway: I’ll be giving away ebook copies of This Pucking Ship and The Forever Game.

To enter Giveaway: Please complete the Rafflecopter form and Post a comment to this Q: If you were 100% single and could have one fantasy come true on a cruise, what would it be and why?

 
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Excerpt from This Pucking Ship:

I cranked the volume on the sound system in classroom three as I pulled the steps we’d need for this morning’s step aerobics class out of the storage closet.
I sang and danced along as I set the steps up and put extra on the side.
This was my first group fitness class of the cruise, and I was excited.
Though some people find step aerobics to be super 80s and out of fashion, I loved the energy of it.
It was great for getting people moving and having fun while also burning a ton of calories.
I’d worked hard to choreograph a routine that I thought was fun and a little different from what they might normally see.
I heard a noise at the door and looked over my shoulder to see some women trickling in.
I turned and smiled at them. “Welcome! Good morning! Please select a spot.”
The room slowly filled, and I greeted everyone, answering a few questions as the stragglers came in.
I was getting ready to close the door to start class when one last person slipped in.
I froze when I realized it was Dylan.
My smile froze on my face. “Welcome. Please take an open slot.”
I clenched my jaw and curled my fingers into a fist at my side to keep from pushing him back out the door.
Dylan smirked at me before turning to face the room of gaping women.
Everyone had stopped what they were doing to watch this virile man saunter through the room to take a step at the back.
My gaze immediately dropped to his ass, and I sighed as I looked at it.
Then I realized what I was doing and jerked my gaze away, clearing my throat as I turned my microphone on.
“Good morning and welcome to Day One at sea! Let’s get our day started with some step aerobics.”
I tapped a button on my phone to start my playlist and Britney Spears “Oops… I Did It Again” came through the speakers.
“We’re starting to the right…”
Ten minutes in, I forgot Dylan was in the room, laughing as I led the class members through the moves and songs.
My playlist was filled with fun, fast-paced music like “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” “I Want to Dance With Somebody,” and other songs from the 80s and 90s that were fun to move to.
By the time class ended, I was dripping in sweat and grinning from ear to ear, as were the women with me. Even Dylan was grinning.
I started breaking the room down as the women left, waving to a few that promised to come back the next day for another workout.
As the last person left, I sighed and finished stacking the steps.
I turned and gasped as I almost ran into Dylan.
“What are you doing here? I thought you’d left,” I stuttered as I stared at his shirt plastered to his chest.
My voice boomed out of the speakers in the studio, so I quickly felt for the battery pack and flicked the microphone off so no one would hear us if they were to walk past.
“Nah, I wanted to help.”
I took a step back and saw that Dylan was holding several steps.
I swallowed thickly as I moved to the side. “You can see where they go.”
I slipped past him and would swear I heard him chuckle as I went, but I pushed that from my mind as I grabbed more items to return to the storage room.
Dylan and I worked in silence, and the room was soon empty once more.
I shut the door to the storage room and smiled at Dylan. “Thanks for your help.”
“You’re welcome. It wasn’t a problem.”
“I still appreciate it.”
I paused my music, and the silence was deafening. After the pounding beat through the last hour, it was weird to hear nothing but my breathing and the rustling of Dylan walking behind me.
“Did you enjoy the class?” I asked him as I powered the sound system down.
“Yeah, it was fun. Different from what I’m used to. I feel bad admitting that I thought it wouldn’t be that hard.”
I threw my head back and laughed. I couldn’t help it. So many people underestimated how hard step aerobics was. It was cardio and body-weight training rolled into one. You were constantly moving, and you had to be in great shape to keep up.
“If you keep with it, you’ll find it easy after a while.”
I wanted to kick myself after I finished speaking. The last thing I should do was invite Dylan to come to another class of mine.
“I’ll keep that in mind. Shall we?”
I glanced at Dylan and caught his expectant look.
I realized that I’d finished what I needed to do in the room and Dylan had picked up on that.
I sighed and walked to the door, flicking the lights off as I walked by.
As I passed the towel stand outside the door, I grabbed one and wiped my face. I’d also forgotten how hard that class was and was dripping in sweat, but I felt good after the workout and looked forward to my next one.
“You working all day?” Dylan asked as we stepped into the main room of the gym.
“Yep.”
“Think you can get away later and meet me for a drink?”
The smile that was on my face froze at his words before melting off my face.
They were an ice bath and a reminder.
I looked around, taking in the people in the main room of the gym, most of whom were looking at Dylan and me.
I took a small step away from him, not wanting people to get the wrong impression about us.
“No, I’m sorry. I can’t.”
Without waiting for him to say anything further, I scurried to the front desk.
Kelsey was sitting there staring at me as I walked closer.
A few moments later, Dylan walked behind me on his way to the free weights. “I look forward to tomorrow’s class,” he called out.
I ignored him. Maybe he’d get the hint.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
 
 

Book Info:

What started as a one-night stand has become an entire week stuck at sea. Can these two unlikely lovers figure things out or will one of them jump off this pucking ship?

Maureen

Taking a job working in the gym on a cruise ship seemed like a good plan, especially after being dumped and fired from my last job, thanks to my cheating ex.

What I wasn’t counting on was running into the hockey superstar I had a one-night stand with.

Now I’m stuck trying to avoid the chemistry between us despite his relentless pursuit before I find myself put out to sea.

I just need to survive this cruise with my head down and avoid the drama.

Dylan

Being a guest on a lover’s cruise wasn’t my idea of a dream vacation.

But running into the woman I can’t get out of my head? Now, that’s a dream come true.

I swore I wasn’t interested in a relationship, but the sparks between us make it hard for me to resist. Except she’s more worried about protecting her job aboard the ship than me.

Maybe it’s for the best if we go our separate ways especially once we’re off this pucking ship.

But back on land a unique opportunity to help Maureen secure her dream job presents itself. I’ll stop at nothing to make it happen because as much as she needs this job, I need her and this position will give us both what we want.

This Pucking Ship is a sports romance with a slightly forbidden twist, 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 |
 
 

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