Please welcome Roni Loren to Novel Reflections! She’s here today to talk about her debut release, Crash Into You published through Berkley Heat.

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Please tell us about your latest release.

I’m the worse at summarizing my book in those one or two snappy sentences. But at it’s heart, this is a story of lovers reuniting. I wrote it in dual timeline so every other chapter alternates between Brynn and Reid’s relationship in college and their relationship now. So readers will get to see them before life got in the way and then after when they are much more jaded and are dealing with a lot of hurt. Oh, and there’s a killer in the mix too. ;)

Here’s the blurb:
Brynn LeBreck has dedicated herself to helping women in crisis, but she never imagined how personal her work would get, or where it would take her. Her younger sister is missing, suspected to be hiding from cops and criminals alike at a highly secretive BDSM retreat—a place where the elite escape to play out their most extreme sexual fantasies. To find her Brynn must go undercover as a sexual submissive. Unfortunately, The Ranch is invitation only. And the one Master who can get her in is from the darkest corner of Brynn’s past.

Brynn knows what attorney Reid Jamison is like once stripped of his conservative suit and tie. Years ago she left herself vulnerable only to have him crush her heart. Now she needs him again. Back on top. And he’s all too willing to engage. But as their primal desires and old wounds are exposed, the sexual games escalate—and so does the danger. Their hearts aren’t the only things at risk. Someone else is watching, playing by his own rules. And his game could be murder.

What inspired you to write this book?

In my previous career as a social worker, I worked with college students in a therapy setting. And one of the issues, unfortunately, that came up often was women dealing with rape. So beyond helping those women work through that trauma, I also did my graduate school research on date rape and sexual coercion.

Well, fast forward a few years and one day I found myself wondering (after reading a lot of BDSM stories)–what if someone who was naturally a submissive suffered that kind of trauma? Would the person be able to go back to that role where they put power in someone else’s hands? Or would they bury their natural tendency and try to forget that side of themselves? That’s when Brynn’s character came to me. I knew rape would be a touchy subject to deal with, but I really tried to handle it respectfully and to give real weight to how deeply that can affect someone’s psyche.

Was there a character you enjoyed writing the most?

I really enjoyed writing Reid’s (the hero’s) best friend, Jace. He’s a smart aleck and cocky and always pushing Reid’s buttons (for his own good of course!) I loved having him there for some comic relief. After I was done writing CRASH, I couldn’t wait to write Jace’s story (which will be the next book, MELT INTO YOU.)

Without giving away spoilers, can you share your favorite scene from the book?

My favorite is when they’re in college and Brynn finds out for the first time that Reid is having these dominant/sadistic urges. He’s trying so hard to protect her from this side of himself and she won’t back down and let him hide from it. What happens after she challenges him was so much fun to write.

Which character has the most identifiable characteristics of yourself in them and what are they?

I think there are a few things about Brynn that match my own personality. Beyond the fact that she’s a social worker, she tends to use humor/sarcasm as a defense mechanism. (Which I definitely do.) She also is pretty dogged once she puts her mind to something and I can identify with that. My husband calls it “mission mode” where once I’m focused on a goal, nothing is going to distract me.

What is your formula for developing characters?

I think because of my therapy background, I tend to develop characters’ histories before anything else. I always want to know WHY someone is a certain way. For instance, with Jace, I knew he was the good times, not a care in the world type of guy. But I needed to know what he was covering up with all that easy humor. So when I sat down to write book two, I needed to know what his “wound” was before I could move forward and come up with the plot for his story. We all are the way we are because our lives shaped us, so I need to know what came before in order to write who the character is now.

How do you like your heroes and heroines?

I like my heroes very alpha, loyal, and to have a good sense of humor. I like heroines to be tough and capable with a sarcastic streak and a soft spot for whoever their hero may be.

What was the last amazing book you read?

Haunting Beauty by Erin Quinn and Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler.

What can readers expect next from you?

The second book MELT INTO YOU releases in July 2012. I also have an ebook novella, STILL INTO YOU, releasing in June that is part of the series.

Can you leave readers with a little teaser from CRASH INTO YOU?

“Good, cause I wanted to introduce you to the new lawyer.” Cooper nodded at someone behind Brynn. “This is Reid.”

Brynn’s response lodged in her throat, the all-too-familiar name ringing in her ears. No, couldn’t be. But a sinking feeling settled in her gut. She’d only met one Reid in her life, and that Reid was a lawyer. She closed her eyes and took a steadying breath before she turned around to face her new co-worker.

Reid’s blue-eyed gaze met her head-on, hitting her like an airbag to the chest. She sucked in a breath and fought the old instinct to lower her eyes in deference. Sonofabitch, where had thaturge come from? She ticked her chin up and gave him her best I-hate-you-but-will-be-polite-because-I’m-the-bigger-person glare. “Hello.”

Cooper walked around Brynn and clapped Reid on the shoulder. “Reid, I’d like you to meet our other social worker, Brynn LeBreck.”

Reid nodded, his expression annoyingly unreadable. “Brynn, pleasure to see you again. It’s been a while.”

Not long enough. Three years had passed since she’d last seen him. His inky hair was longer on top and a few lines creased the corners of his eyes, but time hadn’t softened her warring responses to him. The urges to pummel his face and strip naked before him held almost equal weight. Luckily, the venue was too public to give in to either. She feigned an air of indifference. “It has.”

“Still as beautiful as ever, though.”

The warm notes of his voice stirred the dark recesses of her memory, further inciting the old longing. She shifted in her heels as hot tingles crept from deep in her belly and moved downward to settle between her legs. Un-f**king-believable. Her body was a whoring traitor.

Melody stepped next to Brynn, as if sensing her need for support, and Cooper’s eyebrows rose. “You two know each other?”

Boy, did they—in just about every way a man and woman could. She searched Reid’s face, and he tipped his head infinitesimally, as if giving her permission to answer the question. Her eyes narrowed. “Used to. Long time ago.”

Cooper smiled, either oblivious or unperturbed by the tension zipping through the air between her and Reid. “Great. Guess introductions weren’t needed then.”

Nope. Not needed. Brynn knew exactly who Reid Jamison was. A first-class bastard.

*The complete first chapter is posted here if you’d like to read more: www.roniloren.com/excerpts

Where can readers find you on the web?

Website: www.roniloren.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/roniloren
Blog for Writers: http://fictiongroupie.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/roniloren
Tumblr: (where I post mancandy) http://roniloren.tumblr.com

 

About the Author:

Roni wrote her first romance novel at age fifteen when she discovered writing about boys was way easier than actually talking to them. Since then, her flirting skills haven’t improved, but she likes to think her storytelling ability has. Though she’ll forever be a New Orleans girl at heart, she now lives in Dallas with her husband and son. If she’s not working on her latest sexy story, you can find her reading, watching reality television, or indulging in her unhealthy addiction to rockstars, er, rock concerts. Yeah, that’s it. Her debut novel, CRASH INTO YOU, will be published by Berkley Heat January 3, 2012.



Giveaway Details:

  • Roni is generously gifting the following during her tour:
    • One signed set of Romance Trading Cards for “Crash Into You” to a random commenter at every stop.
    • 

A $25 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour.
  • Please leave a comment, or question for Roni.
  • Contest is open internationally and during the duration of the tour.
  • Winner will be randomly selected and notified.

Tour Stops:

The tour dates can be found here:  http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2011/11/virtual-book-tour-crash-into-you-by.html