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Chef's Delight
Teresa Carpenter
Heather Brown has one stipulation when it comes to finding Mr. Right: anyone but the boy next door. Ex-SEAL Joss Stone may live next door, but he’s anything but a boy. And he’s the one thing standing between her and everything she’s lost.
Here's an Excerpt:
Heather sighed as she watched Joss jog away, his fine tush showed to advantage in thin knit shorts. She was so hot for his bod and all she got from him was a peck on the cheek. Wasn’t that the story of her life? Men thought of her as a friend or sister, rarely as a lover.
Maybe he was right. Maybe she was too nice.
And maybe she needed to do something about that.
A few weeks ago she wouldn’t have done it. She’d be too timid, too nice to contemplate such a bold move. But the hurt she’d suffered and the resulting anger gave her an edge. She didn’t really care if she provoked a little anger in exchange.
She climbed into her car, drove ahead of Joss, and leaned against her car waiting for his arrival. As she anticipated, he stopped when he reached her. Lord, he wasn’t even breathing hard. But he had removed his shirt and his broad chest glistened with sweat.
He had a light dusting of dark hair on his pecs that narrowed into a thin line bisecting his abs. She licked her lips. Sometimes a girl had to go after what she wanted.
“What?” he demanded.
“This.” And she threw her arms around his neck. Dragging his head down to hers, she plastered her mouth to his running her tongue along the seam of his lips.
Jillian: Steamy excerpt! I am thrilled to welcome Teresa Carpenter to GLIAS! Teresa enjoys a long and successful partnership with Harlequin Books, as well as her new relationship with Boroughs Publishing Group.
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Jillian: Where do you read and how often?
Teresa: Everywhere and as often as possible. I love to read. It’s one of my greatest joys in life. I carry my book with me wherever I go and whenever I have a few minutes, I’ll read. Watching the kids in the front yard, in between innings at my nieces’ softball games, in line at the store, waiting for the movie to start are all opportunities to get in a few pages. But my favorite time is a lazy Sunday morning in bed. Unfortunately, I don’t get too many of those.
Jillian: What is your favorite tradition from your childhood that you would love to pass on or did pass on to your children?
Teresa: I have a large close-knit family and I think the best tradition that’s been passed down is we love and support each other no matter what. In fact, my moto is With Love and Family Anything is Possible. I’m the main cruise director in our crowd and I hope what I’ve passed on is the importance of celebrating each other. Birthdays, holidays, special accomplishments need to be acknowledged and celebrate. It’s a way of showing each other you’re important to me.
Jillian: How often do you get lost in a story?
Teresa: Every day. In two stories, the one I'm reading and the one I'm writing. And when I'm not actually doing one or the other, it's always a good sign when it's the one I'm writing that occupies my thoughts. If not, it becomes a good news, bad news scenario, because it means the book I'm reading is really great but I have to push through and finish it because it's messing with my creative process.
Teresa: I love fairy tales. The whole idea of finding true love and overcoming impossible barriers to reach happily ever after is the basis for all romance stories. My favorite is Beauty and the Beast. What can I say; I just melt when a wounded Alpha male is tamed by a gentle beauty with spirit and loyalty. In fact my Princess Camp series for Harlequin Romance is a trilogy loosely based on fairy tales. My give away book, The Sheriff’s Doorstep Baby the first in the series, is based on Sleeping Beauty. Of course I had to do Beauty and the Beast, which is book two, Baby Under the Christmas Tree. And in June 2013 is Rapunzel with The Making of a Princess. Love the cover. (you could insert picture of my cover here, this is from
Jillian: What's the first book you remember reading?
Teresa: The Flame and Flower by Kathleen Woodiwiss. I heard my mom talking about it with her friends and I thought it sounded really intriguing. Of course I had to read it under my covers because I was only thirteen and she would have had a fit. I loved it. And then I spied a Harlequin romance sample in the store for fifteen cents and talked my mom into getting it for me. I've been hooked ever since. My younger brother was named Brandon after the character in The Flame and the Flower. He's going to be 40 this year.
Jillian: Tea or coffee? And how do you take it?
Teresa: Iced tea, no sweetener, no lemon. You're probably thinking ugh. My family wrinkles their noses at me, but then someone is always stealing a sip! I don't care for the taste of mocha in anything drink, candy, ice cream. But I love the smell of fresh ground coffee beans.
Teresa has a question for readers: Who's your favorite fairy tale heroine? I’m giving away a copy of the first book in the Princess Camp series, The Sheriff’s Doorstep Baby to one commenter drawn by randomizer. Good luck!
Previous Books:
Baby Under the Christmas Tree (Princess Camp)
The Sheriff’s Doorstep Baby (Princess Camp)
The Playboy’s Gift
The Boss’s Surprise Son
Sparks Fly With Mr. Mayor
Sheriff Needs a Nanny
Flirting With Fireworks
Her Baby, His Proposal
Baby Twins: Parents Needed
Daddy’s Little Memento
The Baby Due Date
Books Coming Soon:
Chef’s Delight, Boroughs Publishing
The Making of a Princess, Harlequin Romance June 2013 (Princess Camp)
Find Teresa Here:
***Note: Offer void where prohibited. Prizes will be mailed to North America addresses only. If an Advanced Reading Copy (ARC) is available, the author may utilize that option for International participants. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants.
I like Belle from Beauty and the Beast. Especially the version that has 3 sisters in it and Belle was the one who volunteered to take her father out of the 3 sisters.
ReplyDeleteYour book sounds terrific too! Great excerpt!
maybe31 at yahoo.com
My favorite fairytale heroine is Rose Red because she's brunette like me. When I was a kid it seemed like all the heroines had long blonde hair and I felt left out. Can't wait to see your story out.
ReplyDeleteJillian, thanks for hosting me. Get Lost in a story is a great site and I'm happy to be here.
ReplyDeleteAs you probably guessed Belle is my favorite, too. She's a reader, I'm a reader, there was a connection there that drew me in. Maybe I'd find my own prince disguised as a beast someday :)
ReplyDeleteYou're right Jackie, a lot of the early princesses were blonde. I love how Disney has embraced diverse cultures and ethnic backgrounds for their stories. It gives every little girl someone to identify with.
ReplyDeleteI always love learning the story behind the book cover, i.e. who the author is as a person. This is a great interview because it shows what shaped and influenced the themes and characters you now right about. I've read several of your books and the characters could be my friends and neighbors, which makes them so easy to connect with.
ReplyDeleteEmKay, you gave me chills. This is one of the best compliments I've ever received as a writer. Thank you.
DeleteHi Teresa and Jillian,
ReplyDeleteGreat interview. My favorite new heroine is Rapunzel in Tangled. No matter what gets thrown at that girl, she stands back up (cast iron frying pan in hand), believes in her dream, and in the end she gets everything she wished for, and the handsome prince.
How much better could a fairy tale get?
Paula, it was great fun working with the theme of Rapunzel in The Making of a Princess. She's an innocent with great depths of strength when needed, which makes her complex but likeable.
DeleteI like the fact that Teresa has a large extended family. When I was growing up in the mid-west I knew all my grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. I really miss that now that our kids live so far away. My favorite fairy tail would probably be Cinderella, as it's the first one I remember - I had a 78 record (remember those?) that read the story that went with a picture book. So no matter how bad things are, good will be rewarded.
ReplyDeleteCinderella is one of my favorites, too. If I had to say which fairy tale heroine best fit Heather in Chef's Delight, I would say Cinderella. She's always taking care of others and guys see her as one of the guys so no big adventures to the ball. But watch out when Cinderella has nothing more to lose!
DeleteHey Teresa,
ReplyDeleteSo happy to have you with us today! I think every romance novel I write is, in some shape or form, influenced by Beauty and the Beast.
I can see that in your stories. But those Scottland Yard men are yummy and redeem themselves so nicely.
DeleteLove finding a new book and author. Beauty and the Beast in my favorite fairy tale.
ReplyDeletelauratroxelatyahoodotcom
Me too. It's always a thrill to find a new author whose next book you're waiting to read. Jillian is one such author for me. A Private Duel with Mr. Gunn is next on my to be read list.
DeleteTeresa is a new discovery for me, as well. I've got The Sheriff's Doorstep Baby on my Kindle! And I do hope you enjoy your private duel with Agent Gunn ;)
DeleteI have no doubts. He already snagged my attention in A Dangerous Liaison with Dectective Lewis, which was a great romp. I do enjoy stories where the hero and heroine are on the run together. Hmm, something to think about for a future story.
DeleteI honestly really do like Beauty & The Beast. I like the whole beast being tamed theme. Its like no matter how much of a badass he is, he falls to his knees in front of the woman he loves.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you all the way Jpeezy. My Beauty and the Beast story is Baby Under the Christmas Tree that came out in December. Max "The Beast" Beasley is a bad boy hockey player. The thing is for all they roar, it's to hide deep vulnerabilities that just needs the right Beauty's touch to heal. But yeah, the Beast melts me.
DeleteCinderella
ReplyDeletebn100candg at hotmail dot com
Cool.
DeleteI've always loved Beauty and the Beast, because no matter how surly the Beast was, Beauty could see through that to the inner man.
ReplyDeleteMarcy Shuler
bmndshuler(at)hotmail(dot)com
Yep, B&TB seems to be a favorite. I think we all like the thought of taming the wild beast. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi Teresa,
ReplyDeleteGreat interview! Thanks for being Jillian's guest here at GLIAS. My favorite heroine is Rapunzel because she is smart but she has a sense of the slapstick about her. I would definitely use a frying pan as my weapon of choice--probably by accident. I do like Merida from BRAVE, though, too, because I would like to be more like her: independent, defiant, determined against the odds.
Thanks for having me at GLIAS. Great choices. Love that frying pan. Tangled is a movie I can watch again and again. And I agree Merida's independence does shine through. It was a great story but I was a little disappointed there was no romance. Sequel Disney?
DeleteWELCOME TO GLIAS Teresa.
ReplyDeleteRapunzel from TANGLED is wonderful !! I'm a huge fan and that's a safe heroine for me to choose. LOL Of course, I love that she just keeps stepping into messes...but has the ability to get herself free.
~Angi
I liked Cinderella character from Ever After played by Drew Barremore
ReplyDeleteONE OF MY ALL-TIME FAVORITE MOVIES !!!!!
DeleteCongratulations, laura troxel (lauratroxelatyahoodotcom)
ReplyDeleteYou have won a copy of the first book in the Princess Camp series, The Sheriff’s Doorstep Baby.
I have forwarded your email address to Teresa and she will be contacting you.
I want to remind commenters to be sure to leave your email address. Only those commenters who leave an email address get added in the drawing.
Jillian Stone