Thursday, April 4, 2013

Blog Tour Interview & Giveaway: Faking It by Diane Alberts

 
I'm thrilled to be participating the the Blog Tour for Faking It by Diane Alberts because I love her writing! This tour is hosted by Entangled Publishing. Thanks for allowing us to participate! Be sure and scroll down for a chance to win the diamond necklace Derek gives to Stephanie in this story!
 

 
 
 
Faking It by Diane Alberts
Publication Date: March 11th 2013 by Entangled Publishing
About the book:
Derek Rory never meant to propose to his best friend’s little sister. But when her boss tells a family-oriented investor he’s Stephanie’s fiancé, Derek can either play along or let her get fired. He’s hardly one to turn away from a damsel in distress. If only that damsel wasn’t adorable and sexy with a laugh that could melt any cold business mogul’s heart.

When a business proposal becomes a marriage proposal, Stephanie Miller tries to keep it strictly boardroom. But when things get hot under the table, it’s all they can do to stay apart. As the tangle of lies drags them deeper into the underhanded world of business politics, Stephanie finds herself in over her head—not just with her job, but with her “fiancé.” His eyes are cold, but his kisses light her on fire. If she’s not careful, she’ll end up faking her way into a real romance.
 
My Thoughts:
If you want a story full of smoking hot chemistry, fun flirty banter, and strong but likable characters, look no further.  This is my fourth read by Diane Alberts, and I’ve found you just can’t go wrong with her stories.  Faking It is no exception.


Stephanie wants to make her own way without her brothers or any man stepping in and taking over. Something she feels has happened far too many times in her life.  This time the stakes are high because Stephanie is down to her last dollars and if she doesn’t turn her temporary job in to permanent, she’ll be back to living at her parent’s home.  So when a misunderstanding by a big investor is taken a step further by her boss, and they assume her brother’s friend, Derek is her fiancé, Stephanie feels she has no choice but to go along with the charade. 

 
Derek finally meets the little sister of his best friend from college, and he’s immediately taken in by this full-of-life, and klutzy creature.  Every one of her emotions is on display, and strongly felt.  Stephanie’s like a breath of fresh air to his controlled and cold life. For this reason when this awkward misunderstanding is thrust on him he plays along.  Oh, he definitely could get used to playing the doting fiancé if it includes “faking” kisses and touches in the name of saving Stephanie’s job. 

Stephanie is such a sweet and generous soul, never stingy with her feelings.  But she wants to guard her heart when it comes to Derek, because he’s just the kind of man she could fall hard for with his dark and sensual looks, and she doesn’t want to be hurt.  When Derek starts showering her with gifts she resists, thinking that it’s only pity motivating him. 
 
Derek was a sweetheart as well even though he was so reserved at first.  His normally closed heart opened big for Stephanie, so he feels hurt when she keeps rejecting his help.  Watching these two go from “faking it” to the real deal was a pleasure. 

This is not a very long story (154 pages) but Diane Alberts is the queen at capturing your attention and heart with a short amount of pages.  She has a talent for writing spicy scenes with cracking sexual tension but in a tasteful way.  I’ll give you just a small taste:

“Cold,” she murmured.
“Give it a moment.” The flex and pull of her lithe body under his fingertips was hypnotic. Slowly, he began to stroke the sunscreen into her skin, kneading her as if she were clay beneath his sculpting fingers, shaping her to his touch. She let out a sighing sound of pleasure and rolled her shoulders.

Stephanie’s brother, Aaron, was caring and overly protective, and we have hints about his sastory.  I was happy to hear from Diane that his story will be told in the future. 
5 Suns
 

 



 
Author Interview
 
Well now that we've established how much of a fan I am of Diane's you can see why I'm so excited that she agreed to answers some of my pressing questions about her writing and this lovely story:
 
 
Hi Diane, thanks for stopping by and answering my questions! I’ve read a few of your books and I always have a big fat smile of satisfaction on my face when I finish, so I’m really excited to have you on the blog!
 
Aw, thank you so much for having me here! And for saying such nice things!
 
Q:  What inspired you to write Faking It?
 
Hmm. That’s a good one! I think the story of opposites attract inspired me. I love how people can have next to nothing in common, and yet fall madly, hopelessly in love with one another. It goes against all reasons of logic and sense—and goes to prove the heart is nothing if not unpredictable.
 
Q:  Stephanie is a big klutz but also a strong, self-willed woman (I loved her!).  Is she based on anyone you know? 
 
 ~laughs~ I’m a huge klutz, so I guess in a way she reflects that in me. Wow! I hadn’t realized it until you asked, actually, but she’s a lot like me. I’d say she’s the most “me” heroine I’ve written yet. Huh. Who knew? There’s a first for everything!
 
Q: Do you find it difficult to write from the male perspective?  Do you have any advisors to help with insight?
 
I do sometimes. It depends on the man. Some of them just come easily. Others, I struggle over. I used to have a male editor, so he helped me a lot with keeping the male POV accurate and realistic. I’m going to miss him!
 
Q:  You write some very nice and spicy scenes!  Is it a struggle to write them? Do you ever worry about anyone, like your parents reading them? Lol! 
 
My mom does read them!! Haha! So do my sisters. My thirteen year old has asked here and there, and I’m all NO!!!!! ~grin~  But in all reality, they come pretty easily. I generally write the basic motions in the first draft, then fill in emotions and inner thoughts in the second and third drafts.
Sometimes it’s more of a struggle to write unique sex scenes, and then other times they just come. (haha, no pun intended!)
 
Q: Do you ever get writers block, and what do you do to combat it if you do?
 
I haven’t except for one time. A book was really, really fighting me. I had to force my way through it and sludge on, no matter how painful it was. I refused to give in to the temptation to give up. But it was HARD.
 
Q: What are you working on now (and when can I read it?!!)? 
 
I’m actually on a writing break since I’m about to move, but I just sent in a new, full-length single title contemporary romance to my agent, Louise Fury. I’m really excited about this one!
I’m also editing Love Me, the second book in the Take a Chance series. It’s slotted to come out in a few months! And the last book in the Superstars in Love series, One Night, will be out in June. J
 
Okay, let’s have some fun with some THIS or THAT questions:
 
Oh, fun! Okay, I’m ready!

Q: Country or Rock?
 
Rock.
 
Q: Bad-Boy or Good?
 
In books? Bad. In real life? Good.
 
Q: Buffy or Wonder Woman?
 
Buffy.
 
Q: Physical copy or e-book?
 
E-book. Unless it’s one of mine, then I want the hard copy in my hands.
 
Q: Angel or Spike?
 
Angel!
 
Q: Summer or Winter?
 
Summer, definitely! I freeze to death in Winter.
 
Okay, I'm thrilled you picked Buffy over Wonder Woman enough that I'll let the whole Angel over Spike go, lol.   I'm so excited to hear we get another story in the Take A Chance worldThanks again, Diane for answering my questions!  
 


Diane Alberts is a multi-published, bestselling author with Entangled Publishing, Swoon Romance, and Decadent Publishing. She has, as of this date, four books with Entangled Publishing, one book with Swoon Romance, and five older books with Decadent Publishing. Her February release with Entangled Publishing, ON ONE CONDITION, hit #18 on the Barnes and Noble bestseller list, and TRY ME hit #76 on Amazon. Her Swoon Romance novella, CAPTIVATED BY YOU, hit #31 on the Barnes and Noble bestseller list. Diane is represented by Louise Fury from the L. Perkins Agency.
 
 
 
 
Diane Alberts is generously offereing up the diamond necklace (see picture) Derek gives to Stephanie in Faking It!! How awesome is that?! Just fill out the rafflecopter below for a chance to win. 
 
 




a Rafflecopter giveaway

No comments:

Post a Comment