Labels: Sarah Parr, winner

Oh how I love contests, and what a coincidence; today I'm having one. What fun :)

All you have to do is answer the following question and you'll be entered in the random drawing:

If you could be stranded anywhere, ANYWHERE in the world for a month, where would it be and who would it be with?

All are welcome to enter the contest to win a copy of Sarah's latest release, RENEGADE. It doesn't matter where you live, as long as you can receive mail. Contest ends Sunday, August 30th @ 5pm CST and a winner will be announced soon after. Please DO NOT leave your email address in your response as it is the winner's responsibility to contact me via email within 1 week of announcement. If no one has come forth, another winner will be drawn.

Also, anyone who leaves a comment in the previous post - Sarah's interview - will be included 1 additional time in the drawing. So please, go forth and enter :)

I first noticed this author when Katiebabs reviewed her book Renegade, and have been curious about her ever since. As I mentioned earlier, I had been lucky enough to meet Sarah in June, and she was so sweet. And kind enough to grant me an interview.

Jimmy Buffett says, ‘If we weren’t all crazy we would go insane’ – starting with me. I have a quirky sense of humor so I love the strange comments! (Great attitude!)

S~ Your bio states that you're well traveled. Have you been to the locations you write about? What are some of your favorite destinations?

S~ What is your typical day of writing like?

With a family to look after and boarding stables to run, I write when I can, blocks when I can find them, evenings where possible. In all, if I added it up, I would average around six hours a day towards writing.

S ~ I see your next release is set to be a sequel to Renegade. Can you tell us more about it, and when we can expect to see it on the shelves?

My next book is due in July 2010 and is a tied stand alone. It takes place over 30 years later and the hero is the son of Jonathon and Jaline – Warrick. Jonathon and Jaline are seen in cameos. (Ooooh, can't wait!)

S~ Now I always like to ask a few questions and find out what an author is like outside of their writing life. What are some of the ways you like to relax?

I ride dressage and cook gourmet. When I travel, I collect cookbooks from the places I visit.

S ~ Coffee, wine, chocolate? What's your idea of a good meal?

Dark chocolate – preferably 70%, an aged Portuguese tawny port, Coffee – dark roast or espresso. A good meal includes atmosphere such as at Ray’s Boathouse in Seattle, Le Bouchon de Grove in Coconut Grove, Lorelei on the water in Islamorada and Tugra in the Ciragen Palace Istanbul. Some of my best meals have included pizza on the deck of a cruise ship. When at home, I like recipes that are a challenge. Right now I am playing with Japanese cuisine.

Ray's Boathouse

S ~ Hotties are very important here at my blog. Who is your idea of eye candy? What kind of man do you find sexy and could you give us some (many) examples?

Hotties – David Boreanaz, Yannick Bisson, George Clooney, Orlando Bloom, Brad Pitt, Antonio Banderas, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Richard Gere, Keanu Reeves, Matthew McConaughey, Brendon Fraser, Harrison Ford, Sam Eliot, Johnny Depp, Patrick Dempsey...

S~ Who is someone you admire, whether a writer or someone outside the business? Why do they inspire you?

I have several mentors, people who have stepped outside their own success to help me. Too personal to name, they have taught me gratitude, sacrifice and giving back to others despite their journeys towards success. I owe them much and try to give back in return whenever I can.

S~ What books are you currently reading? Any book you cannot wait to get your hands on?

I average about a book a day. Right now I am working through the wonderful titles I picked up at RWA Nationals along with research books for my 2010 release.

S~ What has been some of the best advice you've gotten about writing?

Keep to the story.

S~ What goals have you set for yourself?

To keep improving my craft, to continue to write no matter what.

S~ Do you find it difficult to write those juicy love scenes or do you just let the characters come out to play?

Finding the right words so that the characters can express their story isn’t easy, but that is true in all scenes.

S~ Other than the RWA literacy signing, any plans to attend any booksignings in 2009? (Come to Chicago!!)

Not at this time, although if anyone would like an autographed copy, I have bookplates I can personalize. Send me a request, a SASE envelope to Sarah Parr PO Box 464 Pittsford, NY 14534 USA and I will sign one and include a bookmark for your collection.

S~ Any last words? Thoughts on the genre? Some exciting news you'd like to share?

Labels: author interviews, Sarah Parr

I read an amazing review by Katiebabs for this book, and knew I just had to read it. So when I met Sarah Parr in June at the Lori Foster/Dianne Castell gathering, I was disappointed to discover that her book had been sold out before I even had a chance to see the cover. But Sarah was very sweet and gracious, and later, she even did an interview with me (which will be posted later this week).

I decided to do this as a mini-review because it's very difficult for me to find the words to really describe this book. Sometimes a story sneaks up on you, has a way of seeping into you and you're not sure why or how it happened, just that it does. This is one of those books. I enjoyed it very much, but it's one of those times where it's hard to put into words how it make me feel. I don't look at that in a bad way, though it does make it a tad bit difficult to write a review. I guess you just have to read it to understand.

When we first meet Jonathan and Jaline, he has already won her in a gambling den, and he realizes that she's a bit scared of him. Jaline feels very much in Jonathan's debt, and is accepting in her fate as his mistress, though to him, it appears more like she's walking to the gallows. But he desires her greatly, and is not willing to let her go, especially when it is evident she is still in some kind of danger.

Since her parents died, Jaline has known what it's like to be a burden. She knows that Jonathan now owns her, and in fact can do whatever he wants to her, and she refuses to renege on the terms of their agreement. Yet despite her resignation, she's also strongly drawn to Jonathan, and finds his kindness and patience rather confusing. She also wonders why he hesitates to make her his mistress in truth, preferring to wait until a more comfortable situation for them both. Jaline is not used to men like Jonathan. He might just be the one to slip past her defenses, no matter how much she doesn't want to care...

My thoughts:

Jaline is part shy mouse, part clever and fearless tiger. Jonathan is captivated with her right from the start, even begins to fall in love with her, though while he doesn't think of her as a slave, he does consider her "his". He's charmed by this hauntingly sad and beautiful woman who has managed to survive by her wits and strength alone. I loved Jonathan's patience with Jaline, even though she has willingly agreed to share his bed, he doesn't want to just use her like she expects him to. She's heartbreakingly lovely and resilient, but he senses her vulnerability, understands that she expects him to turn on her like everyone else has. But to him she is so much more than a woman to warm his bed. He values her instincts, trusts her judgment implicitly. I really liked how Jonathan will defer to Jaline from time to time, not caring that she is a woman. He just knows that she's had experiences that shape her way of thinking, and that she's pretty spot on with her assessments. You gotta love a hero who respects the opinions of a woman, even if no one else does.

Jaline doesn't want to love Jonathan, but she cannot help herself. He's the first person to truly listen to her, to care for her for more than just a means to an end. But Jonathan is on his way to becoming a duke, and there is no way she will let her position as his mistress become more, ruining his chances to reclaim his family's title. Above all else, Jaline is a practical woman, and understands how these things work. I found her actions to be in line with the type of person she was, even if falling in love with Jonathan wasn't part of her plan. Jaline was a bit hard to get to know, but she manages to sneak up on you and make you care. She looks upon her beauty as more of a curse than anything else, and it isn't until she meets Jonathan that she discovers that not all men are ruled by their passions. While once she may have looked at being a mistress as an obligation, with Jonathan it is about giving, about pleasure and feelings.

"Renegade" is a lovely story, moving, filled with intrigue, action, betrayal, and most importantly, a wonderful love story. It's hard to explain, but suffice it to say that by the time I closed the book, I was assailed by that feeling of sadness I get whenever I don't want a book to end. The characters made me fall in love with them and I wasn't quite ready to leave their world. I definitely will be reading more of Sarah's work.

Please stay tuned later in the week where I'll be posting a wonderful interview with Sarah, and intend to give a copy of "Renegade" away to one lucky winner :)

Rating: **** out of *****

Labels: quickie reviews, Sarah Parr