Tuesday, February 10, 2015

It's All About the Book: Chasing Gold by Alexa Bourne w/a #giveaway





It’s All About the Book…

Please tell us about your current or upcoming release. 

 My current book is Chasing Gold. 

Grace McKay spends most of her time alone trying to convince the world she’s strong enough and smart enough to become one of the best treasure hunters. According to the media, though, all she’s managed to prove is she’s a frigid, narrow-minded woman who doesn’t have a chance to succeed in her current hunt.
Simon Andrews is tired of being a glorified secretary for his family’s treasure hunting business.  As the youngest brother, he’s never had the chance to prove himself in the field, where his true interests lie.
When Grace’s uncle hires Simon on a whim to assist her with the search for an ancient family heirloom, he comes up against a woman determined to accomplish her goal without his—or anyone’s—help. But Simon, although captivated by her passion for her quest and her beauty, will not relinquish his chance to prove both to the client and his brothers that he has the family gift for finding valuables where others have failed.
Grace, frigid? Simon is sure the media met the wrong woman. He’s in danger of bursting into flames every time they are alone together. As they get closer to finding the heirloom, though, their growing passion for one another may distract them from the very real danger that threatens their lives and their possible future together. Whatever that might mean.


* What is this book’s genre?  Is this the genre you usually write in?  Are there any genres you haven’t written that you’d like to try?

Chasing Gold is a combination of suspense and adventure. I usually write in suspense, but this book has a few more funny moments than I usually write. There aren’t as many questions about who is involved or how.


* What inspired you to write this book?

My friend Rebecca Royce told me about the Decadent Publishing Beyond Fairytales series and she suggested I contact them for a fairy tale to “rewrite”.


* How did you pick its title?  Did it come first or did you have to write the story first?

I had a really, really, REALLY hard time coming up with this title. I wanted something similar to the original fairy tale, but I couldn’t come up with one I liked. I asked A LOT of others for input. I think the book was completed and ready to be submitted when I finally decided on Chasing Gold.


* How did you create your characters?  Did you use any real life people in their making?

I always start out with who would play the character in a TV movie. As I write the rough draft, the character begins to take his or her own shape.


* Who is your favorite character of this book and why?

How can I choose between Simon and Grace, the main characters? I love them both. I love them both because they want desperately to prove how competent they are in the work world, but it takes their interaction with each other for them to realize how wonderful they are as people.


* What is your favorite part of this book?  Can you share an excerpt from that part?

My favorite part of the book? I love it all! BUT I will share a section. 

She lifted her chin. “What if it’s not in either one of those places?”
Unable to stop himself, he reached out and brushed his thumb along her jawline. He wanted to promise her she’d win the prize, but the words stuck in his throat. Lying to her wasn’t an option. “We’ll reexamine the notes, review the data, make another educated guess.”
When she nibbled on her bottom lip, his groin tightened. How could such a simple gesture fill him with lust? Every part of him ached to take that plump lip between his teeth and nip it. What would she taste of? The blueberry scones they ate for breakfast? The three cups of coffee? Or sweet, warm woman? He leaned forward, hoping she wouldn’t slap him. Hell, if he got a chance to feel her mouth on his, who cared about a smack across the cheek? Her gaze softened as though she longed to be kissed.
Zing! Something slammed into the tree trunk behind him.
Grace yelped. “Someone’s shooting at us!”
A second shot echoed through the woods. His heart rate skyrocketed. Who the hell would want us dead? He shoved her back in the direction they’d come from. “Go, go!” 


* What was the hardest part of this book to write? Can you share an excerpt from that part?

I actually didn’t have a hard time with it, but I can share another snippet.

He tugged the brush from her hand then began running it through her hair. “Why didn’t you tell me you were hurt?”
“What would be the point? You couldn’t have done anything about it.”
“Maybe not, but I would’ve tried.” Grace closed her eyes while the brush moved against her scalp. When he skimmed his fingers along the skin of her neck, a shiver ran along her spine. He pulled her strands over her shoulders and gathered it together. “What are you doing?”
“I’m braiding it for you.”
“How did you know what I wanted?”
“You’ve had it braided most of the days I’ve been with you.” He chuckled, the sound releasing warmth within her. “Besides, you’re not as difficult to read as you wish you were.”
She tensed. “What do you mean?”
“You want everyone to see this tough, determined, no-nonsense woman, but I know better. You have a gentle side, too. One you hate to share for some reason.”
She gritted her teeth. He stopped braiding to massage her shoulders, his thumbs gently kneading out a layer of tension from her neck. “Relax. It’s just me, your partner. I won’t spill your secret.”
“Promise?” His hands stopped, and the silence in the room unnerved her. She held her breath.
When he leaned forward, a wisp of breath tickled her skin. “Absolutely.”
She had spent so much time that day making sure to hold up the wall she’d built around herself, but he’d found her anyway. The thought frightened her and…felt refreshing. Why? Because a large part of her wanted to be the woman he spoke of.



* Did you have any special rhythm or quirks while writing this?

I used the same music to write it. When I first started, I scanned Celtic music on youtube.com until I found Adrian von Ziegler (http://youtu.be/jiwuQ6UHMQg). It fit perfectly as I wrote through each draft of the book.


* Is this a stand-alone book or is it part of a series?  If so, we want to hear about it and what’s next in the series.  If not a series, what comes next to be released?

Chasing Gold is part of Decadent Publishing’s Beyond Fairytales series, but it stands alone. I honestly thought about writing another fairy tale, but I don’t think I can capture the excitement, beauty and…specialness of Chasing Gold. And I’m not really sure I’d want to try.


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       Chasing Gold
                     Alexa Bourne

                                 A Beyond Fairytales Adventure
                      Suspense, Contemporary Scottish Romance
                                       24,656 words, heat level 3

Grace McKay spends most of her time alone trying to convince the world she’s strong enough and smart enough to become one of the best treasure hunters. According to the media, though, all she’s managed to prove is she’s a frigid, narrow-minded woman who doesn’t have a chance to succeed in her current hunt.
Simon Andrews is tired of being a glorified secretary for his family’s treasure hunting business.  As the youngest brother, he’s never had the chance to prove himself in the field, where his true interests lie.

When Grace’s uncle hires Simon on a whim to assist her with the search for an ancient family heirloom, he comes up against a woman determined to accomplish her goal without his—or anyone’s—help. But Simon, although captivated by her passion for her quest and her beauty, will not relinquish his chance to prove both to the client and his brothers that he has the family gift for finding valuables where others have failed.
Grace, frigid? Simon is sure the media met the wrong woman. He’s in danger of bursting into flames every time they are alone together. As they get closer to finding the heirloom, though, their growing passion for one another may distract them from the very real danger that threatens their lives and their possible future together. Whatever that might mean.


Buy Links:    Amazon    Decadent Publishing    B&N
ARe    Smashwords     Kobo Books





Excerpt:
After sipping her tea, she picked up another piece of pastry. Midway to her mouth, she stopped. A tall, thin man, glasses clinging to the end of his nose, strode through the doorway and scanned the room. A loose-fitting, faded T-shirt covered his chest, and khaki shorts hung on his hips. Kind of thin and bony for her liking, although the soft shade of ginger hair with a hint of blond in it grabbed her attention. It reminded her of her favorite movie star. Both hands were inside his pockets.
With a crooked grin, he walked straight up to her table. “Grace McKay?”
“Yes. Can I help you?” 
He held out his long fingers. “I’m Simon Andrews.” He waited as if his name was supposed to mean something.
She didn’t shake his hand. “What can I do for you, Mr. Andrews?”
He lowered his arm. “Your uncle said you’d be helping me on my expedition here.” From his New England accent, he could only be American.
Uncle Thomas sent him? Of all the crappy things he’d done, this had to be the worst. Did he not believe in her enough to allow her to handle the job? She stood, gathering her papers. “My uncle was wrong. I don’t need any help with my expedition. Good-bye.” She shifted around him and started for the lobby. Studying her paperwork in her own room would suit her better.
“Ms. McKay, wait.” He grabbed her arm.
She froze. Every muscle tensed.
“I realize you want to help in the search, but your uncle hired me to—”
She tugged herself free. “I know what he hired you for, but I’m telling you, you’re fired.” As she stalked across the pub, many pairs of eyes stared at her, some wide in question, some narrowed. Who cared? She hadn’t done anything wrong.
“That’s not your call, sweetheart,” he said.
She jerked to a stop just inside the door and spun around, gritting her teeth. Andrews stood waiting, as cocky as could be, with his hands on his hips.
“First, I am not your sweetheart. Second, I don’t need a partner.”






Bio:
Alexa Bourne is a teacher by day and a romance writer by nights, weekends, and all school holidays. She also teaches online classes for writers throughout the year. She writes romantic suspense and contemporary romance and is thrilled to have the chance to share her stories with readers everywhere.
When she’s not concocting sinister plots and steamy love scenes or traveling and exploring new cultures, Alexa spends her time reading, watching brainless TV, and thinking about exercising. Okay, she also spends way too much time interacting with readers and writers on social media sites. But don’t tell her editors! Find out more about her and her books on her website, www.alexabourne.com.



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Grand Prize Giveaway:  Scottish Prize Pack
 + mini prize giveaways(make sure to leave a comment)



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