Today I am happy to welcome one of my most favorite people to the blog, author Juliana Stone. You may know Juliana as the author of the paranormal series League of Guardians as well as the Jaguar Warriors but that isn't all she has under her belt. Juliana has recently released her first contemporary novel Offside, the first book in The Barker Triplets and to celebrate the release Juliana is here to chat. Before I give the floor over to Juliana, let's get to know her a bit.
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Juliana Stone's love of the written word and 80's rock, have inspired her in more ways than one. She writes dark paranormal romance as well as Contemporary Romance and spends her days navigating a busy life that includes, a husband, kids, a dog and a cat.
Places to find Juliana:
A little over a year ago I read a book, Dream a Little Dream, by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. It was part of her Chicago Stars contemporary romance series, but more of an offshoot, and the action takes place in a small town. This book immediately made me not only fall in love with the characters, (seriously, Gabe is the most tortured hero ever and I love him to pieces) but with the small town and all the quirky characters you find in these settings.
When I decided to write contemporary romance (in addition to my paranormals) the direction I would take was pretty much a no brainer. I live in a small town, and totally agree with the concept of ‘writing what you know’. I love weaving in story threads or ideas that have taken root from my everyday surroundings, and I found contemporary romance to be very satisfying and fun to write. A totally different experience from paranormal romance. In my League of Guardians and Jaguar Warrior books, the world building is pretty intense, and the cool thing about that is using my imagination, and letting it go wherever the heck it wants to go. The world building or setting, becomes a secondary character.
But in contemporary romance, the main meat and potatoes are the people. Their relationships and quirks, their needs and desires. I think that’s what I enjoy the most about these books. The fact that I really have to get inside the heads of the characters I’m writing, and it’s so important to make the situations you’re writing about, believable.
OFFSIDE, the first book in my new contemporary romance series, The Barker Triplets, was a total blast to write. I decided to combine a few things that were familiar to me. Small town and the mentality that goes along with them…and hockey! OFFSIDE is the story about a female hockey player, one who’d played pro in Sweden, but has returned home and decides to join the local men’s hockey league. This causes all sorts of problems. I can tell you all, this was based on circumstances in my own small town.
And this is why I love contemporary romance. They’re real. These things happen to people we know and I think that’s why we love them so much.
To celebrate the release of OFFSIDE, I’m going to award one commentator an advanced readers copy of THE SUMMER HE CAME HOME, the first book in my second contemporary romance series, Bad Boys of Crystal Lake. This book features a rocker as the hero and it will release next April!
For a chance to win, tell me what your favorite contemporary romance is and why or who your favorite contemporary romance author is and why!
When hockey phenom Billie-Jo Barker returns home and decides to play in the local Friday night hockey league, all hell breaks loose. Not because Billie's talent is in question, but because Billie is a woman. And though these are modern times, some of the local guys still have a problem letting a girl into their 'men's club.'
Soon, Billie is at the center of a small town battle of the sexes, with everyone choosing sides. Her sisters. The townsfolk. Her friends. And yet, the only person whose opinion she cares about doesn't seem to care much at all. Logan Forest, the man who broke her heart when she was eighteen and the man she now shares the bench with ever Friday night.
She's got a lot to prove and though Billie Jo Barker scores on the ice, will this girl ever score with the man of her dreams?
Purchase: | Amazon | Smashwords | All Romance |
Want to win some goodies from Juliana? Check out what's up for grabs.
Up for grabs:
- 1 lucky winner will win a copy of THE SUMMER HE CAME HOME
- 1 lucky winner will win a signed cover flat of Wicked Road to Hell.
To Enter:
- Please leave a comment answering the following question: Tell me what your favorite contemporary romance is and why or who your favorite contemporary romance author is and why!
- Please fill out each Rafflecopter form
- US/Canada Shipping ONLY
Good Luck =)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I don't think I could ever choose a "single" favorite because I have many favorites! One of those favorites is Poughkeepsie by Debra Anastasia. It's a beautiful, timeless love story with great balance of emotion and humor. Maya Banks is also a favorite. Anything she writes, I read. Thanks for the chance to win!
ReplyDeleteehaney578 at aol dot com
My favorite. There are many, BUT the first sticks with me even to this day. Nobody's Baby but Mine by SEP. Like you, I fell in love with everything about that series. :D She is my go-to writer for contemporary romance.
ReplyDeleteWould love to read a book inspired by those feelings. :D
Don't have a fav, but have a bunch of them. I would say Stephanie Plum's Stand Alones with Thanksgiving being my fav. Nora Roberts Bride series with Vision in White being my fav. Nicholas Sparks-all his books, but Message in a Bottle being my fav. Also like Lisa Kleypas, Kristin Higgins, and Carly Phillips. Thanks for the great giveaway.
ReplyDeletechristinebails at yahoo dot com
I've got a lot of favorites, but I really loved Nora Roberts Bride Quartet series, also Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove series.
ReplyDeleteI love this idea of a woman playing on a men's sports team!
sallans d at yahoo dot com
I have a ton of favorite authors actually to many to pick from but I really enjoy S.C. Stephens and Elizabeth Reyes to name a few.....
ReplyDeleteThanks for a great giveaway and congrats on on the new release! Love, love, love anything and everything by Jennifer Crusie :)
ReplyDeleteBeing a reader of mostly Paranormal/SciFi/Fantasy, I just got into reading Contemporary Romance and it was all Laura Kaye's fault. I read her "Hearts in Darkness" and absolutely loved her characters so much, that I decided to give other authors a shot!! :)
ReplyDeleteI really like Jennifer Crusie, Carly Phillips, and Lisa Kleypas. Thanks for the chance to win!
ReplyDelete@Natasha OH I totally forgot how much I fell in love with Hardy Cates in Blue Eyed Devil....
ReplyDeleteLots of great authors here!
My favorite contemporary book is Love Unscripted by Tina Reber. I love that book. The characters are likeable and the story is full of emotion.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway.
Right now my favorite is a slightly older book called Anyone But You by Jennifer Crusie. I love this book because the characters are act like people I would know and be friends with.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway.
Hmm, I don't think I could pick a single favourite contemporary book... so I'll go with author. Or authors :D. I read primarily romantic suspense & romantic thrillers, but I like to throw in some contemporaries as a break from all that murder & mayhem. SEP & Nora aside [because, really, those two are the deities of Romancelandia], Jill Shalvis and Julie James are two of my absolute go-to contemporary authors. Both write with such wit & humour and develop such great characters that I go through their books with a giant grin on my face. And laughing out loud as I read; I get many an odd look from my labmates :)
ReplyDeleteP.S. I'm great friends with a girl who played on the blokes' hockey league, so reading OFFSIDE is going to be a laugh!
I have so many favorites, i dont know where to begin. Depending on the book im reading or the authors, id say they were my favorite! I love books! :) One of my favorites is Olivia Cunning. I cant get enough of her books. :)
ReplyDeleteMy favorite is by After Last Night by Linda Howard. I loved the characters in the story. Poor girl in trailer park falls in love with a handsome and rich boy.
ReplyDeleteI love Lori Foster. Her books always grab me and don't let go :)
ReplyDeleteI am a Nora Roberts fan and usually choose one of her books when I want a good contemporary romance.
ReplyDeleteIt is so hard to pick a favorite. I love Jill Shalvis and Victoria Dahl's books.
ReplyDeleteI dont have a single favorite book. Nora Roberts is probably my favorite contemporary author. They are my feel good stories.
ReplyDeleteI mostly read YA now, but have starting incorporating more adult romances in my reading list. I recently discovered Olivia Cunning, and am also really enjoying Megan Hart.
ReplyDeleteI have started reading more contemporary. I really like Marquita Valentine with her Holland Springs series.
ReplyDeleteJill Shalvis. Her books are adorable and her sex is hot, what more does a girl want?
ReplyDelete