Ramblings From This Chick: Guest Post with Author Shannyn Schroeder and Giveaway

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Guest Post with Author Shannyn Schroeder and Giveaway

Meet Shannyn Schroeder, author of Just a Taste.

Shannyn is a former Shannyn Schroeder is the author of the O’Leary series, contemporary romances centered around a large Irish-American family in Chicago and the new Hot & Nerdy series about 3 nerdy friends and their last spring break. When she’s not wrangling her three kids or writing, she watches a ton of TV and loves to bake cookies.

Find Shannyn at:

Just a Taste – Meet the Hero Liam O’Leary

Liam is the last single O’Leary brother. He stands out from the others in his family in many ways. First, his appearance: he’s the only one of the boys to inherit his mother’s red hair. Second, unlike the rest of the family, Liam tends to be quiet. He doesn’t talk nearly as much as everyone else, but when he has something to say, he lets everyone know. Of the O’Leary siblings, he’s probably closest to his sister, Moira, who is right behind him in birth order. Although they look the most alike, he and Moira are opposites.

Liam is a chef. He’s been working at a downtown Chicago restaurant for years, but he’s been thinking about opening his own place. Thinking is about as far as he’s gotten in his plans. Liam can think things to death before he makes a move. It’s a trait that he uses in all aspects of his life.

When an old friend dies, he leaves Liam part ownership in a food truck. Liam ultimately decides to quit his job in order to run the food truck, which he knows nothing about. Add to that, it’s winter in Chicago and Liam becomes frustrated pretty easily. He likes to have control over things and running the food truck doesn’t always go as planned. And then there’s Carmen, who is the other owner of the food truck, his friend’s daughter. There is instant attraction, but Liam isn’t quite sure what to do with her either.

I enjoyed writing Liam because he was different. He’s thoughtful and considers things before he acts. He’s especially cautious when it comes to Carmen. She’s just lost her dad and is trying to find her own way in life. Liam does what he can to support her as she figures things out. But he still pursues her in his quiet way.

The hardest thing for me to write was Liam as a chef. Although I cook, I do it to feed my family, not because I love it. I’m not a “foodie.” I don’t try new things because I’m not adventurous. Because of this, it was hard for me to portray Liam. He’s a guy who loves food. He loves to cook it. He loves to share it. It’s a huge part of who he is, and he wants to share that love with everyone, especially Carmen.

Grief has brought them together again—will love open the door to their future? When it’s an O’Leary in the picture, finding out is just part of the adventure…

Carmen Delgado is left reeling when her father dies. Taking care of him has been her sole purpose for so long, she’s forgotten what it’s like to have dreams of her own. And with steady, sexy Liam O’Leary inheriting a share in her dad’s successful food truck, Carmen is suddenly free to explore her life’s possibilities. She never expected Liam to provide the kind of temptation she’s not sure she can resist…

A talented chef, Liam O’Leary has been itching to open his own restaurant for years—and the death of his mentor is a reminder that time passes too quickly. Gus’s Taco Taxi isn’t exactly what he dreamed of, but he can’t desert Gus’s daughter. Working side by side is an unexpected pleasure—and grownup Carmen is alluring in all new ways. Is love on the menu—or will old fears and insecurities drive them apart?

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