Interview with Nona Raines, author of Take This Man!

Holly:  Hi Nona! Would you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Nona Raines: Sure thing! I'm a former librarian who's been a reader all my life. I've also been a writer most of my life (though an unpublished one until recently). Having my books published has been the culmination of a dream.

Holly:  Can you tell us a little bit about your book Take This Man?

Nona Raines: This book is the second in The Man series and features Adam Vostek, who was introduced as a supporting character in my first book One Good Man. He's still carrying a torch for a woman who left town two years ago. He's angry that she left, but he also feels guilty because he knows he pushed her away.

Here's a blurb:

The biggest mistake of Elyse Zemanski's life was falling in love with Adam. When a night of sexual fantasy went too far, she was crushed and couldn't leave town fast enough.

The biggest mistake of Adam Vostek's life was letting Elyse go. He'd been afraid of the love she promised and pushed her away—into another man's arms...and bed.

When Elyse returns to Summit to help a friend, Adam wants a second chance to prove he’s worthy—in and out of the bedroom. She claims she's over him, but one look from those smoldering dark eyes, and she throws caution to the wind. Elyse offers him seven days of wild sex, hoping to get him out of her system. Adam's good to go on the sex. But will a week be enough to win back Elyse's love and trust?

Holly:  Which came first for you, the characters or the plot?

Nona Raines: In this case, the characters definitely came first. Adam was pretty cynical in the earlier book and had quite a jaded view of love. He made me curious and I

really wanted to find out why he felt this way. As the story evolved, I learned that his cynicism was hiding a lot of hurt and disappointment.

Holly:  Where can we purchase Take This Man?

Nona Raines: It's available at:

The Wild Rose Press  Amazon  Barnes and Noble     All Romance ebooks

Holly:  Do you think you will have a follow up book to this novel or is it just a stand-alone novel?

Nona Raines: As a matter of fact, there is a follow up book, number three in the Man series, titled Her Perfect Man. The third installment follows Kim Hansen, who was the odd woman out in Take This Man. She finally gets her own love story with a very unlikely partner.

There's also a short story, Irresistible Impulse. It features Tania and Latisha, the lesbian couple who appeared in the first two series installments. I enjoyed them so much I decided to give them their own little story.

Holly:  Can you tell us some of your latest news, what are your plans for 2012/2013?

Nona Raines: I have a couple of erotic romances, Uncollared (BDSM themed romance) and His and Hers and Hers (FFM ménage), published by Loose-Id. I'm also shopping around another story and working on a few others. Too soon to say much about that, though!

Holly:  Can you tell us a few do’s and don’ts for aspiring authors?

Nona Raines: I think aspiring authors should WRITE! Don't just talk about it and dream about it, do it! Take a little time for yourself every day and write, even if it's just for ten or fifteen minutes. Another thing I think is really important is to connect with other writers, either online or in real life. It's very inspiring to know that others have been published, and you can be, too. It helps offset the loneliness of the writer's life. If you can, join a RWA chapter. That's what really helped me. For the most part, the romance community is very helpful and supportive.

DON'T let anyone tell you your dream is silly or that you can't be an author.

Holly:  Have you ever read a book that made you so mad, sad, happy, and excited and so many other emotions that even though you loved it your might not ever read it again? If so, what book?

Nona Raines: A book that I loved/hated was an old-skool romance titled Love's Tender Fury by Jennifer Wilde. It's well-written and the characters are fascinating, but it's definitely not politically correct. Has a lot of dubious consent between the hero and heroine.  In fact the hero, Derek, is a real jerk to the heroine. I think even the author realized that because the sequel, Love Me, Marietta, introduces another hero who's far more likeable. I suggest anyone who picks up the first one also read the second, to find out who Marietta finally ends up with.

Holly:  Do you have anything you would like to say to your readers?

Nona Raines: I'd like to thank them for reading my books! I hope they've enjoyed my characters and been touched by my stories.

Random Quickies!

Holly:  When do you prefer to read?

Nona Raines: Whenever I want to relax and treat myself.

Holly: Supernatural or Psych? (TV Shows) 

Nona Raines: I like Psych because of the humor and the two guy leads are adorable!

Holly: Favorite genre to read? 

Nona Raines: Erotic romance, of course!

Holly: Favorite book to movie? 

Nona Raines: Dolores Claiborne (love Kathy Bates!) It has some great quotes:  "Sometimes you have to be a high-riding bitch to survive. Sometimes being a bitch is all a woman has to hold onto."

Thanks so much for having me here today, Holly!

Nona Raines
Hot Contemporary Romance
Edgy ~ Emotional ~ Erotic
www.nonaraines.com

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Take This Man

by Nona Raines

The biggest mistake of Elyse Zemanski's life was falling in love with Adam. When a night of sexual fantasy went too far, she was crushed and couldn't leave town fast enough.

The biggest mistake of Adam Vostek's life was letting Elyse go. He'd been afraid of the love she promised, and pushed her away—into another man's arms…and bed.

When Elyse returns to Summit to help a friend, Adam wants a second chance to prove he’s worthy—in and out of the bedroom. She claims she's over him but one look from those smoldering eyes, and she throws caution to the wind. Elyse offers him seven days of wild sex, hoping to get him out of her system.

Adam's good to go on the sex. But will a week be enough to win back Elyse's love and trust?

Genre: Contemporary erotic romance m/f

Buy Links: Barnes and Noble / Amazon / The Wild Rose Press / All Romance ebooks

Excerpt: 

They got as far as the parking lot before Adam dragged her into his arms for a kiss. Crushing her against the passenger's door of the truck, he nudged her belly with his rock-hard erection. Elyse dug her fingers into his shoulders to keep her wobbly legs from sliding out from under her.

His velvety tongue stroked hers—he tasted sweet and minty. Her own tongue played inside his mouth to catch more of the flavor. In a fog of lust, she rocked her body against his cock, teasing him. The heat in her belly was now a bonfire showering her with sparks. Her lips, breasts, and pussy were all aflame.

Someone cleared his throat nearby, and Elyse fell back to reality with a thump. An older couple passed nearby, the man glaring at them with disapproval, the woman trying to hide a smile. She flashed Elyse a wink over Adam's shoulder.

Adam pulled away with a groan. He opened her door and practically tossed her inside. In a blink, he was in his seat, giving her a searing look. Then his shoulders shook with laughter. “You're always getting me in trouble in public.”

“It's your fault,” she told him, her hand creeping to his thigh.

“Oh, right. My fault.” His large hand mimicked hers, resting on her thigh and gliding under her dress. She purred and adjusted her legs, opening to give him better access. His fingers skimmed lightly along her skin—now prickling with goosebumps. Meanwhile, Elyse stroked the bulge in his pants lightly, teasing him with her thumb.

Her breath slowed as he played at the juncture of her thighs, toying with the elastic of her panties. Her clit tingled, she was so close. She grasped Adam's fullness in her hand and he hissed. Then he snatched his hand away and removed hers, placing it safely on her seat.

Elyse moaned in frustration. “No fair.”

“Too many people here.” He spoke through gritted teeth. He turned the key, started the ignition. “My place.”

She pouted, even though she knew he was right. Shifting on her seat, she suppressed a groan. Her pussy was so wet and her clit so tender, it was agony to move.

He glanced at her as they pulled out of the lot. “You all right?”

“No,” she muttered. “I'm dying. Hurry, get us there.” She pressed her thighs together, but that just made her more aware of the throbbing.

“Just hang on.”

Pulling her dress to her the tops of her thighs, she gave him a sultry look. She needed to torture him a little. “I could play with myself, take the edge off.”

“Don't you dare.” His voice was thick. “I'm the only one who's gonna make you come tonight.”

About the Author:

Nona Raines became hooked on romances when she first picked up "The Flame and the Flower" by Kathleen Woodiwiss (and she's not telling how long ago that was). Romances may have changed since then, but her love for a good love story has not. She's been writing off and on for years, but it was only when she joined the Central New York Romance Writers Association that she finally gained the support and confidence she needed to complete a manuscript.

Nona lives in upstate New York with her many pets and is currently working on her next novel. A former librarian, she enjoys reading books of all genres and discussing them with others. She is thrilled to finally be able to call herself an author and looks forward to hearing from readers.

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