THE CONVENIENT WEDDING BY SUSIE WARREN

The Convenient Wedding
by Susie Warren

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

The Convenient Wedding

A reluctant socialite is pulled into a scandal and must choose between her families’ reputation and her future happiness.

Lucia Montgomery is from an old and powerful political family in Connecticut and desperately wants to shed her reputation as a superficial socialite. Against her family’s wishes, she seeks a position working for a fiercely contested political campaign and the dark horse in the race, Anderson Adams. She is thrown into the middle of a scandal of her own making when she is tricked into going to his hotel room. Anderson persuades her to play along with a pretend engagement then an actual wedding to save her reputation and his campaign. The media falls in love with the charismatic couple and they must figure out how to reconcile their public image with their private life.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Excerpt:

Anderson Adams watched the graceful, blond girl across the room spin seductively in an effort to show off her gown. She was strikingly beautiful and seemed to spread cheer to those gathered around her. He decided in that moment that he needed a break from the endless political chatter surrounding him.

He politely excused himself from the discussion and asked his campaign manager, Brian Gallagher, “Who is the beauty across the room?”

Brian followed his gaze and said, “Ah, Bella Montgomery. William Montgomery’s granddaughter. I’ve heard that she has relocated to Connecticut and is interested in launching a PR firm. I think she goes by Lucia Montgomery now.”

“Have you spoken with her this evening?” Anderson kept his voice disinterested. He needed a diversion for the evening but had to be careful of his reputation. It wouldn’t help his cause to irritate the former governor. While this campaign may not end in success, he had other political aspirations for the future.

“Not yet. But her grandfather asked that I interview her for a position in the campaign. Apparently, he would like to see her heading up the PR elements. The campaign needs experience and talent not a bored socialite but having a connection to the former governor wouldn’t hurt us.”

Anderson avoided making eye contact with anyone, taking a moment to contemplate his approach. “Connections are important. William Montgomery has the influence and positive record to energize older voters. An association with Ms. Montgomery could prove to be helpful.”

His campaign manager put a hand on his shoulder and guided his view away from Lucia Montgomery. “I wouldn’t seek her out. She is exactly what you don’t need. Young, blond and receptive. You need to be seen having a mature relationship, not chasing a young socialite who may end up having a position in the campaign.”

There was no way he would allow his campaign manager to dictate his choice of companion. Cultivating a veneer of respectability was necessary, but he wouldn’t allow it to command how he lived his life.

Taking a large swallow of whiskey, he handed the empty glass to Brian. “I’ll see what she has to offer the campaign.”

Making his way across the room, he noted her companion abandoned her when she saw him coming towards them.

He stopped within a few feet of her and was captivated by her intense and open stare. He had the sense that she had been waiting for him. The crossover V-neckline in front and back exposed sun-kissed, flawless skin. He had to push away thoughts of her undressing for him. How could she tempt him so easily? He had given up on women in the last few months, instead deciding to slide into a forced celibacy after his last nightmare of a relationship had ended with bitter regrets.

He said, “I don’t think we have met. I’m Anderson Adams.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Susie Warren writes contemporary romance. Besides being an avid reader, she spends much of her free time crafting intense and complex stories about falling in love. When she is not writing, Susie works as an administrator in a small, independent school while caring for three teenagers and keeping tabs on her inventor husband. With the launching of her first book, The Forgotten Heiress, she has slowly begun to navigate the social media realm.

Susie loves to hear from readers and responds to each email and Facebook post. Please reach out to her via Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Susie-Warren/647556668647832 or Twitter @susiecwarren

For more information on her upcoming releases, new excerpts and other related postings, or to sign up for free promotions, please visit http://www.susiewarren.com

The Rosa Legacy Series

The first novel in The Rosa Legacy series, Ruthless Perfection, started with the idea of a traditional Italian mother who wanted her only daughter happily married. The mother, Carla Rosa Neri, along with her two sisters, Francesca and Marie, had emigrated from Italy as young girls and each went off to create a dynamic and successful family.

Each of the sisters had an only daughter and they made sure the girls spent time together. They attended the same boarding school in the northeast and visited each other’s homes in the summer.

Ruthless Perfection

Carla Rosa married into the Neri family with a long history in the Carrara marble industry. Her daughter, Isabel Neri, being a filmmaker and wanting to honor her grandfather’s legacy, approaches a reclusive billionaire, Marc Santoro, to ask permission to produce a documentary about the life of a quarry worker. Ruthless Perfection is the story of how they fall in love.

The Exiled Jeweler

Francesca Rosa married into the Berceto family with a long history in the jewelry making business. The Second novel in The Rosa Legacy series, The Exiled Jeweler, is about her daughter, Emelia, who went into seclusion after a scandal tore the family apart. Emelia is a talented jewelry designer who lived a sheltered life and was drawn into a passionate encounter with her family’s rival, Alexander Armati at a gala. Outside in the garden, photographs were taken on them and sold to the tabloid press. Her family was shocked and embarrassed and sent Emelia off to Florida. Four years later, she returns when her grandfather has a heart attack and her parents are deciding to sell the family business.

The Convenient Wedding

Marie Rosa married into the prominent Montgomery family, with a successful background in politics. Her only daughter, Lucia, is fascinated by politics and becomes a campaign aide. The opportunity to work on a senate campaign in Connecticut draws her into the middle of a scandal. Anderson Adams is a dark horse in the senate race yet convinces Lucia to play along with a strategy to save his campaign. The third novel in The Rosa Legacy series, The Convenient Wedding, is the story about how they reconcile their public image with their private life.

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Convenient-Wedding-contemporary-romance-Legacy-ebook/dp/B00SX7Z1HE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1429831954&sr=8-1&keywords=the+convenient+wedding

Interview with Susie Warren:

What do you write?

I write category romance, similar to a Harlequin Presents Novel.

What genre do you favor?

Contemporary Romance.

A recent reviewer on Amazon did a rather good job of summing up my niche – “Remember when romance novels were emotional and about the relationship rather than tattooed alpha males or billionaire rock stars? This book is a true romance. Both characters have issues and the story explores them and how they help each other. It doesn’t rely on gratuitous sex to move the story, though there are a few steamy scenes.”

When did you realize you wanted to be a writer?

I began writing short stories and poetry in high school but when I went to college at seventeen, I worried that a writing career would be too elusive or risky so I gravitated toward more established career paths. I’ve used my writing ability in other pursuits, technical writing and business administration, and wrote reports, speeches, articles and technical documents until finally I decided to take a leap of faith and begin writing fiction eight years ago.

What do you think is the best way to publish these days?

I think it really depends on the author.  Traditional publishing and self-publishing are quite different and both pros and cons. In my view, traditional publishing has been somewhat narrowly focused and doesn’t allow for flexibility and new concepts as much. It is somewhat conservative. There is much more opportunity in self-publishing but many writers jump in and make mistakes. A number of writers are building a hybrid strategy in terms of publishing and I’m moving in that direction as well.

What are your favorite genres to read? Why?

I read a tremendous amount of romance in almost every genre. I don’t typically read thrillers or anything with violence. But I do read memoirs, biographies and a few history and business books.

Do your characters talk to you?

I don’t have conversations directly with my characters but I can see them relating to one another as a scene plays out. If a character is going to acknowledge something than it usually comes out in internal thought or in dialog with another character.

How do you approach starting a new book?

Often my story ideas begin with a visual image. It could be while traveling and looking at a different landscape or seeing an interesting photograph of a city. After considering who would live and work in that landscape, I think about the characters and the possible challenges they could face. With The Convenient Wedding, I purchased a coffee table book with images of loft style apartments in New York and Connecticut.  I imagined an architect would convert an old warehouse into loft apartments and when he wanted a new challenge then he would get into a last minute election for Congress.

What is your writing process?

I think about how the character flaws will play into the central conflict. Once I have some basic ideas about the story, I use the twelve steps in The Hero’s Journey to outline the novel.  As a final step before writing, I use a concept about plotting that I learned from http://www.how-to-write-a-book-now.com.

At this point, I have extensive ideas and a basic roadmap so I’ll write a first draft of the story from start to finish. During the second and third draft, I add layering and subtleties and continue to flesh out the characters.

What are the best writing books or blogs you’ve ever read?

The Writers Journey by Christopher Vogler, GMC (Goals, Motivation and Conflict) by Debra Dixon and the website http://www.how-to-write-a-book-now.com.

What are your non-writing hobbies, or what do you do to relax?

I’ve sacrificed most of my free time and quite a bit of sleep in the last five years to pursue a writing career. I have a full-time job as an administrator in a small school and have three growing children who are now teenagers. I get up early to write each day and then spend longer stretches of time on weekends and holidays to push a story forward. When I’m not writing, I spend time with my children or husband. I often do things that interest them and to relax we spend time watching movies or spending time outdoors.

What was your best date ever?

Recently, I met my husband at a black-tie event already underway and when I walked in, he didn’t immediately recognize me. I was earlier than expected and wore something new. The event turned out to be not what we expected and we spent the evening in each other’s company.  We danced, enjoyed a delicious dinner then spent the night in a quaint hotel.

Navy SEAL or cowboy?

NavySEAL.

Chocolate or chips?

Chocolate.

If you could have a superpower what would it be? Why?

I’d like to have a powerful singing voice that could put babies to sleep, calm fears and anxieties and inspire people to reach new heights.

Fancy restaurant or picnic?

Fancy restaurant.

Beer or wine?

Wine.

Favorite author?

Christina Tetreault.

Smooth or hairy?

Smooth. Definitely.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Susie will be awarding $50 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour, and a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn host.

Enter to win a $50 Amazon/BN GC – a Rafflecopter giveaway

Susie encourages her readers to follow the tour and comment; the more they comment, the better their chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:

http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2015/04/nbtm-tour-convenient-wedding-by-susie.html