Blog Tour & Interview: Vanilla on Top by C.J. Ellisson

Today, Waves of Fiction is excited to join Entangled Publishing in hosting a stop for the Vanilla on Top Blog Tour.  We are excited to have C.J. Ellisson stop by.

Vanilla on Top (Walk on the Wild Side #1) by C.J. Ellisson
Published January 11th 2013 by Entangled Publishing (Brazen)

Purchase Links: Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble

About the book
Discover your inner bad girl, and set her free…


Heather Pierce is done being a wallflower, both personally and professionally. Desperate to live a different life for one night, she attends a speed dating event. Maybe here, anonymous unless she chooses otherwise, she can become someone new. When a man way out of her league sits across from her, Heather gathers her courage and takes charge of what she wants, secretly fearing he won’t desire the real person she’s desperate to hide.


Top acquisitions officer and international playboy Tony Carmine is about to close the biggest deal of his career. But then he meets Heather at a speed dating event…and discovers losing control may be exactly what he needs. Her blossoming sensuality occupies his every thought, consuming him with the need to possess the most intriguing lover he’s ever encountered—until he walks into the boardroom and sees Heather on the other side of the negotiating table.

Hi C.J. Ellisson. Thank you so much for visiting Waves of Fiction and taking the time to answer some questions about the book Vanilla on Top, as well as your writing process.

Thank you for having me! I've been overjoyed with the positive response and support my latest release is getting from blogger--bloggers like you! Thank you, Barbara.

So tell us, how would you describe Vanilla on Top to your readers in five words or less?

Role reversal becomes bedroom equality.

Do you have a favorite line in this book that you’d like to share with your readers?

Damn, I never seem to be able to choose. How about this? Commenters who share their favorite line can be entered to win a special giveaway. A Vanilla on Top coffee mug filled with goodies.

What is it about Heather’s character that draws Tony to her?

I think this is one of those times were you really can say it's her personality. Tony isn't easily wowed by good looks, he's had dozens of beautiful women. But Heather's attitude is what made him sit up and notice her.

When you’re not writing, what do you like to do in your spare time?

Number one thing I enjoy on my own is reading. When I'm not writing I'm juggling dozens of things, just like most of you. A house, animals, children, meals, laundry, health care, and keeping a husband happy. When I get time to myself I soak in a bath and read.

What do you love most about writing in this particular genre?

Oh, that's a difficult one. To be perfectly honest, I don't enjoy writing this genre as much as paranormal. Vanilla on Top is my first true romance title--and it was harder to write than I thought. I stopped reading romances ages ago because I was tired of the same old plot lines and obvious endings, but what I read in the Brazen line changed my mind. Some of them were more traditional as far as story lines, but what really appealed to me were the hot sex scenes. LOL! Apparently all I needed to know about contemporary romance was I could write the scene as hot as I wanted and not worry about offending readers! After shocking vampire fans with my V V Inn series, it was really nice to find a group of readers who embraced all the sexy naughtiness I was dying to write.

You also seem to enjoy writing in the Fantasy genre. How difficult is it to make the switch from erotic to fantasy and vice versa?

The hardest part for me is not writing about death and danger! Having the entire plot revolve around the growing relationship doesn't appeal to me as much as having a wicked adventure with scorching hot sex to keep you glued to the pages. I haven't had any problems switching back and forth when writing, but it's mainly because I know the story well before starting to write.

What are you currently working on now? Can you share some insight into your next book?

I'm two thirds of the way through the second book in the Wild Side series. This one revolves around Carla, and no, her love interest isn't Marcus. ;-) He may find his love in another story down the line, not sure yet. This book is harder to write than the first one. Carla has a difficult path ahead of her. It's taking a strong man to handle her prickly personality and high emotional walls. She's got to grow through facing some hard, painful truths about herself. My alpha readers are loving it, surprised they're falling for her after how she acted in the first book.

After this manuscript is submitted, I'll get back to working on Jon's prequel story, which I was halfway through when I stopped to work on the second Wild Side novel. I'm really excited to get this early book out for the readers who've fallen in love with the unmated werewolf. Everyone wants to know what sparked his loyalty and devotion to the ancient vampire, and I'm eager to finish the tale.

Well thank you for spending the time with us here at Waves of Fiction. Best of luck on your newest novel Vanilla on Top!

Thanks again for having me! I'm looking forward to coming back and chatting with your readers. I'm interested to see what others report as their favorite line from VoT!

Brandie's Thoughts

What a sweet and sexy read! This book is written in alternating POV's, which I really love. It gives you an insight into the mind and feelings of both parties.

Heather is an administrative assistant who's spent the last few years doing the work for her alcoholic boss while never getting the respect she deserves. Shy and insecure, she's gone through her entire life never asking for what she wants or fighting for what she deserves, professionally or personally.

Tony is a successful executive who's worked his way to the top of an investment firm. With the reputation of a player, he's lived a life of long work hours and entertaining fleeting women, with no real purpose.

Both of them are coerced into attending a speed-dating event by their friends and it's this one encounter with each other that will set both of their worlds in a tailspin. Heather is determined to be a bolder, sexier woman that gets what she wants - and Tony ends up falling for her hook, line, and sinker. What they discover along the way is a mutual desire for love and acceptance that just strengthens their connection. There are some bumps and misunderstandings along the way - but they are tolerable and add just enough suspense and angst to keep a reader wanting more...wanting to see these two get their happy-ever-after.

I absolutely adored both of these characters. I could relate to Heather because I have my own insecurities that I deal with and I knew how she felt. Her attitude made her so likable and deserving of love and respect.

And Tony. Ahhhh. He was so fantastic. He knew what Heather needed and he gave it to her. He didn't let her push him away or run. He fought for something he knew was worth fighting for and he was just the sweet, sexy, and sometimes possessive (the club scene...HOT) man we all love in a book like this. He left a big ol smile on my face until the very last page.

I very much enjoyed this smuttastic book and recommend it!

4 Suns

Arlene's Thoughts

Vanilla on Top is definitely a sweet treat if you’re looking for a quick fix of something smexy. The initial chapters don’t quite set the pace for the rest of the story, but rest assured that it definitely picks up its stride fairly quickly after that.

In this story, we meet Heather who is convinced by her friend to join her at a speed-dating event. This is where she meets the hot and oh so sexy Tony who not only carries an air of self-assuredness but also shows that he’s too busy as a mergers and acquisitions executive to spend time fostering any sort of meaningful relationship.  When Heather makes a bold decision to come out of her shell and show Tony not only her wild but also dominant side, he definitely takes notice.  

Let me tell you, these two characters not only start off on fire, but they definitely display a chemistry and slow-building love toward one another. Despite being faced with opposing challenges in their careers, they execute risky decisions that add a perfect amount of conflict to their relationship.

Fun story that’s filled with likeable characters and a believable plot. Enjoyed it much!

3.5 Suns

Author Bio

C.J. Ellisson, author of contemporary fantasy and erotica, lives near DC with her husband, two children aged 11 and 9, two Staffordshire Bull Terriers and a young cat she's newly allergic to. After spending most of her working life dealing with real estate - either as a sales manager in wholesale mortgage banking, a corporate trainer, a Realtor, or as a property manager - she's now writing full-time and happy for the first time in years. Writing has become her passion and to find people want to read her stories feels like a dream come true.

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