Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Avon (December 28, 2010)

Labels: Toni Blake

Welcome to Destiny, Ohio—where two families have been at odds as long as anyone in town can remember.

However the minute she sets foot back in Destiny, she clashes with the local authorities. See, Rachel has a bit of a hot foot when she's behind the wheel, and Mike Romo won't stand for it, not in Destiny, so he gives her a hefty fine. Finding out that she's a Farris certainly doesn't endear her to him either, so he feels he has even less of a reason to be lenient. Especially when he catches her speeding again.

Rachel cannot believe the nerve of that man! Mike Romo, also known as Officer Romeo in her eyes - which irritates him to no end - is a first class jerk. So she likes to drive fast, so what. There are worse things she could do. But Rachel knows the long-standing feud between their families is what's driving this anomosity between them. It certainly couldn't be some intense, deeply hidden attraction that has her looking forward to exchanging barbs with the blasted man, and if she's seeing sexual heat in his eyes whenever he looks at her, it must be a trick of light. There's no way that a Farris and a Romo could ever hook up and, God forbid, enjoy it. That would go against the laws of nature....

My thoughts:

In book 2 of the Destiny series, Toni Blake has once again written a sexy, intense story about two people who might seem all wrong for each other, but can't help falling in love anyway.

Mike and Rachel have a long family history, even if they never really knew each other growing up in Destiny. But the bad feelings that started with their grandparents has carried over into their own lives, and they can't help but react to it whenever they see each other. yet underneath it all, they both feel a crazy attraction that doesn't make sense. And when it's inevitable that they finally act on it, the results are amazing. Toni writes incredibly sensual and erotic love scenes (shades of Lacey Alexander) and it's sexy how Mike can't keep his hands off Rachel, and how he can't help but see to her pleasure because that turns him on. Rachel is no prude, and has had her fair share of lovers, but none of the men she's ever been with have ever excited her like Mike does, even if she thinks she hates him. It might not make any sense, but their forbidden attraction is what brings them closer together, and has each of them sharing a part of themselves that they don't show to other people.

In addition to being incredibly sexy, Toni has also written an incredibly poignant storyline featuring Mike and his family. I won't give it away here, but suffice it to say, it's something that most likely will make you cry, and it's not something that has a happy ending, a fact that I appreciate because Toni could easily have chosen that path and made everything perfect in the end, but she chose not to, not only because it made complete sense, but also because it wouldn't have been fair to the reader. Sometimes you have to make the tough choices and not try to wash away all the ugliness and unfairness of life, and I believe it was the right thing to do.

Of course this aspect of Mike's life affects him very deeply, and makes it difficult to connect with people. He's gruff and often unapproachable, but in Rachel he finds a woman who is not easily intimidated by his demeanor. She gives as good as she gets, and he respects her for that. Mike can truly be himself around her and not worry that it will drive her away. And once Rachel understands his history, she decides she's not going anywhere. At least not until the Apple Festival is over.

Rachel is dead set on returning back to Chicago because she loves what she's accomplished, and has worked hard to get there. Her insecurities about being replaced by a younger, more ambitious go-getter drive her to stay on top of her game, and even while in Destiny, she can't completely walk away from the Blackberry, no matter how many times her grandmother tries to hide it from her. Even when she starts to fall for Mike, she's not sure she can give up the career for a totally different lifestyle, one she'd gladly ran from years ago. While she misses her friends and family, she's worked so hard to make something of her life, and she worries that if she's not successful, who will take care of her family if she can't. Rachel puts a lot of responsibility on her shoulders, and it has her conflicted about what she really wants.

I loved coming back to Destiny, and though I wish we'd seen a little more of Jenny and Mick, it was nice catching up with some of Rachel's other girlfriends, and hopefully the men they will end up with. It was also a lot of fun getting to know Rachel's grandmother Edna, who proves that you can be old but not dead, and her candid opinions and comments are hilarious. We discover how the feud between the Romos and the Farrises started back all those years ago, and we learn forgiveness can be a very good thing. Sugar Creek is a lovely place to visit and I can't wait to return.

Rating: ****1/2 out of *****

Labels: reviews, Toni Blake

Welcome to Destiny, Ohio—where two families have been at odds as long as anyone in town can remember.

Labels: bookcovers, Toni Blake

Labels: Toni Blake

Happy Monday, everyone! I hope y'all had a fabulous weekend. Finally it seems like the weather is catching up and getting nice. How extraordinary to see the sun again :)

S ~ Toni, thank you so much for stopping by. As you know, I've been a fan for years. What has been your most rewarding experience as a writer?

Toni: For me, it’s ALWAYS, ALWAYS when I meet or get an e-mail from a reader who really loved or was moved by one of my books. To me, at the core, writing has always been about connecting with other people, so to find out I’ve succeeded in touching someone with my stories is the ultimate reward!

S ~ How challenging is it to write as both Toni Blake and erotic romance author Lacey Alexander? How do you choose which persona to be from book to book?

Toni: It’s both challenging … and not. ; ) The hard part is keeping up with it all – two web sites, two sets of deadlines; two names in general is a lot to juggle.

But the writing part comes pretty easy for me. I don’t really choose which persona to be for each book – to me, there are huge differences between a Toni Blake book and a Lacey Alexander book and I approach them with entirely different methods of writing.

A Toni Blake book is focused on two people, one of whom is often a bad boy hero, who have a lot standing between them – and it’s very much about breaking down barriers, overcoming adversity, and about the heroine ultimately using the power of love to sort of “rescue” the hero from whatever made him such a bad boy in the first place. These books use a combination of emotion, angst, humor, passion, and everything in between to hopefully create a very “complete” feeling story. Toni Blake books also have much more complex plots, usually with a secondary story that ties closely with the primary one, and there are usually a lot of small threads and strings that must be tied up neatly in the end to pull it all together.

A Lacey book, conversely, focuses very firmly on sexual content and a sexual situation. From there, the characters and their conflicts grow, but the plot is less complex.

The main thing I feel the two types of books have in common is that they both have a lot of emotion in them. Whatever’s going on, I consider it my job to make sure the reader knows what the character is feeling while it’s happening.

S ~ What was the romance novel you remember reading? Did it convince you to keep reading them?

Toni: Jennifer Crusie’s MANHUNTING and GETTING RID OF BRADLEY – the original first editions. ; ) And yes, absolutely. A friend of mine suggested I should switch from writing literary fiction to romance. I’d never really read romance, so she shoved those books into my hand and promised me they weren’t what I expected. She was right – at that time, I had no idea romance could be so smart and sexy and funny. It literally changed my life because I immediately started reading and writing romance, and I’ve never looked back.

S ~ What's the most decadent thing you've done in the name of research? (i.e. gone to a spa, taken a luxurious vacation, etc)?

Toni: Well, I wouldn’t call it a luxurious vacation, but when I was writing IN YOUR WILDEST DREAMS, my best friend and I took a research trip to New Orleans. I’d been there several times before, but there were some very specific questions I needed answers to – and some things I wanted to experience rather than just read about, like floating along a bayou. We had a great time, and I also got all the answers I needed.

S ~ How do you think the industry has changed since you first became published? Is it easier or more difficult to find an audience?

Toni: Wow, great question. These days the book industry is struggling, right along with the rest of the economy, and competition is stiffer than ever. So I really do believe it’s more difficult to build an audience and get a foothold now. I’m still trying to do this after eleven years in the business. ; ) Particularly, I think these days it’s more challenging to get publishers to stick behind newer authors and give them a chance to grow, and I also think it has become more rare for a publisher to really put a lot of backing and support behind an author until he/she is a bestseller – and the flipside of that, of course, is that it’s hard to become a bestseller without that big backing and support. ; )

So … to anyone who picks up a copy of my new release, ONE RECKLESS SUMMER, you have my true and sincere appreciation! :)


S ~ How do you pamper yourself after spending weeks or months working to finish a book?

Toni: Hmm. Usually, I do something really wild and decadent like … read a book. ; ) Which might not sound that exciting, but lately my reading time is at a minimum, so getting a chance to read feels pretty fun. I also sometimes treat myself to a little shopping. And I allow myself to work on my quilting more – because I have bad shoulders, and usually, typing all day does them in. So in the short periods when I’m not typing all day, that’s a great time to punish them by quilting. ; )

S ~ What is the most valuable piece of advice you've gotten about writing?

Toni: Never give up. Because most people do. If you don’t, you’re already ahead of the odds.

S ~ How do you feel about promotion - what avenues do you think have been positive about getting the word out there about your books? Do you find any medium that has not really worked for you?

Toni: Another great question, Stacy! For the most part, I feel that in the world of “big publishing,” there’s not a lot authors can do to really tip the scales – it’s about things like getting great covers, getting great distribution, etc. But at the same time, I’m a believer that every sale counts and moves you toward your goals. The promotion I most enjoy is doing online stuff when I have the time – stuff like this interview, hanging out at my online readers group (www.Yahoogroups.com/ToniBlakeFans for anyone who’d like to join us!), doing occasional guest blogs, etc., and I do believe that things like this help. I personally believe I have picked up new readers – and friends – through MySpace. And I’ve shied away from things like buying print ads because they’re usually really expensive and I’m not sure they do any good. ; )

S ~ As Toni, you've recently completed an amazing story for the new and exciting Destiny series called "One Reckless Summer". What was the inspiration for this story? What else can we look forward to seeing in the rest of the series?

Toni: Ah – thank you, Stacy! :) As you know, I love me some alpha heroes, and I personally think Mick Brody is my ultimate alpha creation thus far. ; ) And I think this book is my personal fave of all I’ve written. The story actually began with a question: What would make a woman cross a dark lake in a canoe in the middle of the night? And then another question: What might she find on the other side in the woods? ; ) Actually, I answer this question in more detail – and you can see the woods that inspired the question – in this short video about the Destiny series: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qT5QdisCOVE

As for future stories, most of the characters you’ll meet are introduced in ONE RECKLESS SUMMER. For example, in upcoming books, you’ll find a hot cop, a sexy fireman, another long-missing bad boy who returns home with some secrets – and, of course, all the women who can tame them. ; ) The girls in the series all congregate at Under the Covers, the local bookstore, and their banter about guys and love and life has been a lot of fun to write so far. By and large, the Destiny books are heartwarming and life-affirming but at the same time are super sexy and fun to read.

And while we’re talking about Destiny, here’s a lovely one minute video that totally captures the mood of the series: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjsMqXHNDds

S ~ What is Lacey up to these days? What can we look forward to seeing from her next? And when will her next book be released in print?

Toni: Lacey is as busy as ever. ; ) Her next book from Penguin comes out this November and is called WHAT SHE NEEDS. This is actually a slightly darker, edgier project for Lacey which I think fans will enjoy.

S ~ Okay let's talk about something else. How about....Guilty pleasures:

S ~ favorite beverage?

Toni: Classic Coke

S ~ Favorite vacation spot?

Toni: Oooh, I can’t decide. I have three faves so far in life: The Cinque Terre in Italy, the Canadian Rockies, and Hawaii. But for pure paradise/relaxation: Hawaii, from which I just returned a couple of weeks ago.

S ~ Favorite way to pamper yourself?

Toni: Shopping.

S ~ Favorite movie?

Toni: Too many to name, I’m afraid, so I won’t even get started.

S ~ Favorite hottie? Or favorite romance hero?

Toni: A certain Mr. Clooney comes to mind …

S ~ Which celebrity would you love to meet, and one you've enjoyed meeting?

Toni: Again, a certain Mr. Clooney comes to mind. :) I’ve been within five feet of him, but did not, alas, get to meet him.

I’d also love to meet Ellen. I’m a big fan, and I so admire her uplifting attitude and positive way of approaching life.

S ~ Do you listen to music when you write? If so, what type of music inspires those hot 'n sexy scenes?

Toni: Nope, I’m all about peace and quiet when I write – even though most of my Toni books do have “soundtracks” that run through the books, songs I use within the story to set the backdrop and mood for certain scenes.

S ~ Any last words, or information you care to share? Perhaps the latest on book #2 in the Destiny series?

Toni: First, thanks so much for such a great interview – this was fun! As for Book 2 in Destiny, I wish I had more to share. So far, no title is written in stone, but I expect the book to be out early next year and I hope readers will dig the Destiny series as much as I do. Thanks in advance to any and all who give ONE RECKLESS SUMMER a try – it’s a book I’m truly excited about and very proud of; I personally feel it’s my best work to date, so I hope people will check it out. And for an excerpt and more, readers can visit my website at www.ToniBlake.com !

S ~This was great, Toni! I learned a lot today. And Cincy is less than a month away - I can't wait to see you again :)

Labels: interview, Toni Blake

This is book #1 in a new series by Toni Blake, and fans are sure to be pleased in her latest release, "One Reckless Summer". Toni excels at telling stories about everyday women who decide to break out of their protective little shells and take a chance on passion, and ultimately, love.

When Jenny Tolliver discovers her husband is cheating on her, she begins to question the way she's been living her life. Always the good girl, doing what's expected, Jenny realizes that even the safest path can still lead to heartache. Taking the summer to re-evaluate her options, Jenny decides to leave the city and go home to Destiny, where she has family and friends. She's grateful to have her father and her best friend, Sue Ann, who are there when she needs a shoulder to lean on and to provide unconditional love. But even the comfort of small-town living can be a little stifling. The one thing she can turn to when she needs to be alone is her love of the stars. Magnificent, vast and awe-inspiring, Jenny's love of the night sky is her passion, and Destiny, with its grand skyline and lack of city lights, is the perfect place to indulge. Oh, but the view would be oh, so much better across the lake...

...where the old Brody cabin sits. Years ago, Jenny had been out tanning on her side of the lake when she encountered Mike Brody and his questionable companions out on their boat, and while she knows he's dangerous, she can't curb the little thrill his nearness gives her. But that doesn't mean she's ready to live on the edge. Even now, years later, the thought of Mick Brody can still make her nervous, and not just in a good way. But he's been long gone, so it couldn't hurt to row over to his side of the lake and get a better view of the stars, could it? After all, no one will know what she's up to, right?

But of course who happens to be there but Mick Brody himself, and he's not too pleased to find someone snooping over on his land, even if it is that pretty, good girl he was never able to forget. Mick has something to hide however, and he can't take the chance on anyone finding out what it is. Yet the sparks between him and Jenny are potent and won't be ignored, and with one touch, they both go up in flames. And what starts out as a scorching affair turns into something neither one of them can walk away from.

I thoroughly enjoyed "One Reckless Summer". It made me think of going barefoot, enjoying the feel of the sun on my face, and the blistering humidity that can make one feel a little, well, reckless. Jenny was someone who'd always taken the safe path, the right path, and when it ends badly, she suffers a huge blow to her self-esteem. Even being the prom queen and marrying the right guy doesn't mean your life is going to turn out perfect. Her marriage lacked passion. With Mick, she not only finds passion, but someone who cares for her just as she is. She can talk about her dreams, and the pain of losing her mother, and what it's like when everyone expects her to be good all the time. She can be cranky and sexy and funny with Mick and it's totally okay. He doesn't mind one bit.

In fact Mick thinks he must have done something right somewhere to end up with someone as amazing as Jenny. If it weren't for this one secret that threatens to tear them apart, he could maybe let himself imagine them having a future together. He never knew what that was like before, to have someone to come home to, but now realizes he wants to find out. But there might just be one too many obstacles and too much pain to get past.

These are two very likable characters who are drawn to each other by a strong attraction but discover that maybe there's more between them than just incredibly hot sex. Jenny is basically a nice person, a little too concerned with pleasing others, especially her father, yet she cannot deny her feelings for the bad boy of her fantasies. And Mick was exactly that, going down a path of bad choices that could have landed him in jail if he hadn't realized early that he was getting nowhere fast. And because of his past, he didn't let people get close to him. Jenny is the first person who Mick actually trusts enough to let in, someone he wants to get to know better. She soothes him, and makes him feel like someone actually cares about what happens to him. And what starts out as a scorching fling turns out to be so much more for both of them. It's unexpected and scary, but no less real.

"One Reckess Summer" celebrates the good girl that lives in most of us, who never really goes away but does let herself be just a little bad from time to time. And in doing so, sometimes she ends up finding real love.

Rating: ****1/2 out of *****

Labels: Toni Blake

Labels: Toni Blake

Labels: reviews, Tempt Me Tonight, Toni Blake

Labels: Tempt Me Tonight, Toni Blake, winning

But Toni is not the only author who's been keeping secrets. Another one of my favorite authors, and my first ever interviewee, Janice Maynard , very recently admitted that she also writes the spicier stories as Elizabeth Scott, and "her" first book, released in January 2007, is called "Naughty Housewives", with another one called "Spin the Bottle" geared for October 2007. Here's a glimpse of Elizabeth's writing:

Labels: erotic romance, Janice Maynard, Toni Blake