Contemporary Romance
Date Published: 3/25/12
she’s also knee deep in a delayed quarter-life crisis. With her meager paychecks devoured by student loan debt, a car payment and rent for office space, living at home with a flighty, folksinging mother seemed like a good idea…at first. Now Maggie’s not so sure. She wants space to sort things out and launch a life of her own, but she needs a cushion of cash to get there. When an unexpected phone call brings an offer Maggie can’t refuse, she’s one deal with the devil away from moving out of her mother’s house.
The devil of contract negotiations, baseball agent Jordon Kemmons, has a problem the
usual experts can’t fix…his star pitcher is too depressed to throw strikes. Even worse,
Jordon’s post-divorce grudge against women is turning him into a raging mess. If desperate
times call for desperate measures, then cynical Jordon has made the most desperate move
of all. He’s hoping sexy psychotherapist Maggie Collins is the answer to all his rusty prayers. Soon Maggie and Jordon are fighting an attraction that threatens everything they’ve ever believed. If it’s not just physical attraction…if it’s something more, maybe two wrongs can make a right.
Author Bio
Elley Arden is a born and bred Pennsylvanian who has lived as far west as Utah and as far north as Wisconsin. She drinks wine like it’s water (a slight exaggeration), prefers a night at the ballpark to a night on the town, and believes almond English toffee is the key to happiness.
Elley has been reading romance novels since she was a sixteen-year-old babysitter, sneaking Judith McNaught and Danielle Steele novels off the bookshelves of the women who employed her. She started her first manuscript when she was twenty-five, writing during babies’ naps. A total of three children and ten years later, the manuscript was complete. Little did she know, her journey to publication was only beginning…
Elley writes provocative contemporary romances for Crimson Romance.
elleyarden.com
Twitter - @ElleyWrites
Facebook
Twitter - @ElleyWrites
5 Reasons to Write Romance
Why not write
_______?
I have three
children, so over the years people have asked why I don’t write children’s
books. When Twilight shot to fame,
people asked why I didn’t write about vampires. And occasionally, someone who
doesn’t understand me at all will ask why I don’t write “a good thriller,”
because it’s “much more exciting than romance.”
So…why do I write romance?
I write romance for the rush of emotion. I love
love. The whole intricate dance of two people meeting, getting to know each
other, falling in love and spending a life together makes my heart sing. Falling
for my husband was the most exciting, fulfilling thing I’ve ever done, and in
some ways I get to re-experience those emotions over and over again with each
story I write.
I write romance for the inspirational heroines. I’m not a perfect woman. My flaws are many. And
my flaws linger much longer than they probably should. I’m scared of my own
shadow, warped when it comes to body image, and slow to change. But day in and day out I get to write women
who figure out how to live and love with their flaws. It’s very inspirational.
I write romance for the hot heroes. What other job allows you to legitimately ogle
men in the name of character development? When I’m writing, especially early in
a manuscript, it’s not uncommon for me to have an entire browser devoted to
visual inspiration of my characters. Let me tell you, that’s no hardship when
the inspiration is David Beckham or Joe Manganiello. *grins*
I write romance for the happy endings. The world can be a cold, dark place. There is
pain and suffering everywhere, but there is also joy and beauty. Writing
romance allows me to put my characters through the proverbial wringer, knowing
they will be blissfully happy when they come out the other side.
I write romance to be a part of an amazing
community of writers, readers and bloggers.
Romance is a top-selling genre, and that’s not by accident, and it’s not a
trend. The passion on the pages bonds writers and readers. I’ve seen women
reading in public, glimpsed the book cover, realized it’s a romance and about
killed myself, dodging park benches and dogs on leashes to share my enthusiasm.
“Susan Elizabeth Phillips? She’s one of my favorites. I love that book. What do
you think?” Instant ice-breaker.
We writers and
readers of romance share excitement over new books, sadness over black moments
and joy at happy endings. It’s more than a genre…it’s a sisterhood.
Excerpt from Save My Soul (Kemmons Bros. Baseball No. 1)
“The other thing? You mean the sex. I’m transferring feelings of
love to you from my childhood because we have hot, sweaty sex—the best sex I’ve
ever had?”
The woman dropped the tube, and Jordon walked toward her. “Let me
get that for you, ma’am.” He bent down, and handed the toothpaste to the gaping
woman, who wandered aimlessly down the aisle until she disappeared, forgetting
her cart.
“That was uncalled for.” Maggie shook her head and bit back a
laugh.
Jordon didn’t stop at the end of the cart. He came around and
grabbed her by the hips. “We’re done with this conversation. I’m not going to
let you push me away because of your misguided notions and over analysis.”
Her mouth opened at his absurd insults. Before she could say a
word, his fingers rested on her chin and he closed her jaw.
“Maggie, transference is bull shit. Freud was a flake. You shrinks
like to wield power over weak-minded patients. I’m not weak, and I’m not your
patient.” He slid his thumb across her bottom lip. “I do…feel exactly the way I
said I do, but I won’t say it again until I’m damn sure you’re going to say it
back. Until then, keep your shrink wrap away from my head. There’s enough going
on in there without you digging around.”
Despite the hypnotic sensation of his thumb stroking her lip, she
couldn’t keep quiet anymore. “I find you offensive.”
“No you don’t.”
Jordon leaned his face closer, and she swallowed. Her tongue
reflexively brushed over her lip, tasting the tip of his thumb. He stepped into
her, and she swallowed again, knowing his mouth would be covering hers in the
middle of a busy supermarket. But the minute his arm wound around her waist,
she didn’t care where they were. She wanted him to take what he wanted and leave
her begging for more.
He stopped inches from her mouth, his smiling eyes locked with
hers. “Not here. This is not an appropriate place.”
Her jaw dropped again. “That’s what I said.”
Lifting his head, Jordon set his broad shoulders. “Bread aisle. I
need rolls.”
Maggie gripped the cart with shaking hands. “You need a lobotomy.
Something is not right with you.” Her heart was racing. She didn’t know whether
to push the cart away as fast as she could or grab a handful of dental floss
and pitch it at his gorgeous, gloating face.
“What?” He feigned innocence. His eyes wide, his brows high on his
head. He even had the audacity to shrug and lift his palms. “What did I do?”
Trying to steady her breath, Maggie clamped her teeth together
before she spoke. “Your negotiation tactics are suspect.”
He winked. “Never. Now
move your cute little ass to the bread aisle because next time, I’ll make you
beg with more than your eyes.”
LINKS TO BUY
Amazon
iTunes
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/save-my-soul/id618121662?mt=11
Although the story is funny in parts, it really is full of struggles and hardships that captures the reader’s interest. Each character has their own fight and the readers are right beside them cheering them on! Maggie and Jordan are truly saving each other’s souls along with Carlos, a sweet secondary character who I loved reading about.
Wow!
I absolutely loved this book! There was something deeper and meaningful about
the characters and the obstacles they had to face. I love how Elley knew the
insides and the outs of each character and how she delved deep into their “souls”
to make the readers feel like we really knew the characters. I made connections
– and that’s what reading is about.
The
story begins with a funny scenario that had me giggling and cringing at the
same time. What I loved was that Maggie seemed real yet unique starting from
page one. She is a free-spirit, who struggles with events around her –
including spiders chasing her, I might add! I loved the realness of her
screaming whenever she saw a spider (because I’ve done that so many times I can’t
count).
Jordan,
the MMC, is a true Alpha, powerful businessman who knows what he wants. What I
love the most is he realizes he’s in love with Maggie way before she is able to
admit it and I found it endearing. This big tough guy is a softy at heart – and
wants to love!
Although the story is funny in parts, it really is full of struggles and hardships that captures the reader’s interest. Each character has their own fight and the readers are right beside them cheering them on! Maggie and Jordan are truly saving each other’s souls along with Carlos, a sweet secondary character who I loved reading about.
I
give Save My Soul FOUR WINKS! Well-done Elley Arden! I look forward to reading
more from you in the future.
May 3 - Reading Addiction Blog Tours - Meet and Greet
May 4 - My Reading Addiction - Review
May 5 - Laurie's Thoughts and Reviews - Interview/PROMO
May 8 - Queen of the Night - Review/Guest Post
May 9 - Texas Book Nook - Review
May 10 - Up All Night Reviews - Guest Post/PROMO
May 12 - In Love with Romance- PROMO
May 13 - The Serial Reader - Review/Guest Post
May 15 - My Pathway to Books - Review
May 17 - Illustrious Illusions - Review/Guest Post
May 18 - Flirting with Romance - Guest Post/PROMO
May 19 - Beth Art From the Heart - Review
May 20 - Izz Bookish Place - Guest PostPROMO
May 22 - Taking it One Page at a Time - Review
May 23 - My Cozie Corner- Review
May 24 - LovLivLife Reviews - PROMO
May 25 - Busy Mom book Reviews - Review
May 25 - Book Referees - Guest Post/PROMO
May 28 - Bunny's Reviews - Review/interview
May 29 - Faerie Tale Books - Review/Guest Post
May 30 - The Canon - Review
May 31 - RABT Reviews - Review
Thank you for hosting me and for helping me get the word out about Save My Soul. I'm so happy you enjoyed reading it.
ReplyDeleteBest,
Elley
I'm a huge Romance book junkie. I loved your interview and can't wait to read your book. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Sandie! I hope you enjoy the book. :)
Delete~Elley
Loved the book and what a great interview!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rachel! So glad you stopped by and commented. :)
Delete~Elley