It’s our great pleasure to welcome Award Winning, Samhain Bestselling Author Anne Rainey to BLI today! Anne is here to celebrate the release of her latest novel So Sensitive, which is published by Kensington Aphrodisia and hits the stands June 28, 2011. So Sensitive is a sizzling erotic romance with suspense elements involving Gracie Baron and hot alpha hero Wade Harrison. This is the first in Anne’s Hard To Get series of novels.

So Sensitive is an RT Book Reviews Top Pick for July, The reviewer said: “A touch of BDSM complements sizzling-hot sex in this suspenseful winner.”

Anne! Welcome to BLI, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to chat with us today. 🙂

Anne: Thanks for having me here!

Anne can you please tell us a bit about yourself?

Anne: How about the official bio? 🙂

I grew up in a small town in central Ohio the only girl with three rowdy, older brothers. When I wasn’t playing tackle football with them I was usually tucked away in my mother’s book room getting lost in mysterious worlds created by authors such as Martha Grimes and Andrew M. Greeley. I’ve had a variety of odd jobs including: Chiropractic Assistant, Frame Stylist, Restaurant Hostess, and Nail Technician.

I now live with my fabulous husband, two gorgeous teenage daughters, two ornery dogs and three snooty cats. When I’m not dressing, feeding, cleaning or spending time with them, I can be found at the computer writing stories hot enough to make your toes curl!

Describe a typical day of writing? Are you a planner or pantser?

Anne: Well, there are no hot cabana boys and there is no personal assistant or maid service. Although I wish! The reality is that I get up around 6am, iron my husbands clothes that he’s going to wear for the day, get my cranky kids up and drive them to school. Somewhere in here I’ve had to let the dogs out so they could do their business and I’m generally dressed and groomed by this point, lol.

Once I have the gang out of the house I grab a cup of coffee, boot up the computer and begin going through the email. An hour or so later and I’m usually ready to break out the work-in-progress and get some REAL work done. I eat lunch at my computer most days, and then somewhere around 2pm I pick the kids up from school. Homework, after school activities (I’m the chauffer), dinner, and chores take up the next few hours. Sometimes I can move quick enough and I’ll get another hour or so with my WIP before I close down the computer for the day. Summer schedule? Any time I get at the computer is precious time spent! :-p

As for whether I’m a plotter or pantser. I tend to hover somewhere in-between. I don’t necessary plot every tiny detail of the story, but I don’t just wing it either. If that makes sense…lol.

What can we expect of So Sensitive?

Anne: So Sensitive is my first full length novel and I’m very excited about it. While it is a very hot story, there is also a mystery involved. Gracie Baron has a stalker and he’s way the heck off his rocker. She also has quite a bit of family turmoil that keeps her on an emotional rollercoaster.

Wade Harrison is Gracie’s big, strong protector. At least he wants to be—if Gracie will only let him. The only thing Wade wants is to see Gracie safe and happy…and all his. He’s sexy and extremely determined, but Gracie has trust issues.

The sparks really fly between these two strong-willed characters. There are also a few secondary characters that very nearly steal the show!

You’ve shared a great sneak peek at So Sensitive on your website and mention it’s connected to Cherry On Top which is part of the anthology Some Like It Rough. Can So Sensitive be read as a standalone or would it be beneficial to read Cherry On Top first?

Anne: Yes, So Sensitive can be read as a standalone. However, while I don’t feel it’s absolutely necessary to read Cherry On Top to follow the plot in So Sensitive, I do think that the few glimpses readers get of Cherry and Dante will make them want to see how the pair found their own HEA.

Here is a little snippet from the Prologue of So Sensitive you’ve posted on your website:

“Gracie couldn’t take her eyes off the man leaning against her desk. His dark, wavy brown hair and easy smile sent a shiver of awareness down her spine. He was large, with well sculpted, drool worthy arms. Arms that would hold a woman tight. And he was looking at her as if he’d struck gold.

“I don’t believe we’ve been properly introduced. I’m Wade Harrison, Cherry’s friend, and you are?”

So Sensitive © Anne Rainey

Yum! LOL.. Can you tell us a little more about Wade’s character Anne?

Anne: Wade Harrison is an ex-soldier turned PI. And while he now runs a successful private investigative business with his friend, Jonas Phoenix, Wade is a soldier to the core. As the oldest of three siblings, he’s always been the responsible one. The type of guy who feels the need to help a damsel in distress. When he first meets Gracie he’s instantly attracted to her. He imagines getting her into his bed. After he learns about her stalker and all the drama she’s been forced to deal with on a daily basis, Wade suddenly sees more than a pretty face in Gracie Baron. He sees an intelligent woman with a big heart. A woman he could spend the rest of his life with. If only she’d stop being so contrary! lol

Gracie has a pretty rough life. She works two jobs and has a father who drinks his money away and depends on her for support. So you’ve created a heroine with a high work ethic and a sense of responsibility. In addition, she has a stalker! Would you be willing to tell readers a little more about Gracie’s character and her background?

Anne: Gracie has learned the hard way that the only person in this world you can rely on is yourself. Her mother left when she was too little to even remember her. Her grandmother was the only person ever kind to her, but she died when Gracie was ten years old, leaving Gracie alone with an alcoholic father. Gracie doesn’t trust men at all.

When Wade comes along and all but forces her to accept his help and his friendship, she’s flummoxed. In her world men are only nice when they want something. She has a lot of misconceptions to overcome. Luckily, Wade is sweet and patient and more than willing to prove to Gracie that not all men are scum.

When you are writing do your characters talk to you?

Anne: All the time! When I’m cooking, doing laundry, and most especially when my head hits the pillow at night. That’s when they start telling me how to write the next chapter, and boy can they be demanding. They’re only quiet after they get their HEA!

And we readers are sure glad about that! lol

Pleasure Bound is Book II in the Hard To Get series and it is due out in November? Will readers meet the main characters in Pleasure Bound in So Sensitive? Or are the books more loosely connected?

Anne: Actually, these two books are pretty closely connected. Jonas Phoenix, the hero in Pleasure Bound, is Wade’s business partner and his best friend. Jonas does in fact play a big role in So Sensitive. The heroine in Pleasure Bound, Deanna Harrison, is Wade’s sister and you’ll get a few peeks of her in So Sensitive as well.

Jonas has the hots for Deanna, but because she’s Wade’s little sister she’s supposed to be off limits. Jonas has a way of getting his own way, though—and he wants Deanna. She thinks Jonas is annoying and doesn’t want anything to do with him (unfortunately for Jonas). There is a lot of hot sexual tension in Pleasure Bound. They’re story is fun and sexy, and not quite so…heavy as So Sensitive.

What is next on your schedule after the release of So Sensitive?

Anne: Well, on September 6th the print copy of Tahoe Nights will release with Samhain Publishing. That anthology has stories by Karen Erickson, Scott Carpenter and myself. Then, as mentioned above, readers will get Pleasure Bound on November 1st. And later this winter I’ll have a new novella out titled Sam’s Promise, which starts off a new series for me at Samhain Publishing. More on that later, I promise!

I for one can’t wait for all your upcoming publications Anne!

Can you summarize So Sensitive for us twitterstyle (in 140 characters or less)?

Anne: I’m NOT good at this. LOL! How’s this?

Gracie Baron has a stalker and she knows of only one man capable of helping her get rid of him—the totally irresistible PI Wade Harrison.

It’s perfect! You nailed it Anne!

Now can you tell us 3 reasons why people should read your books?

• Readers will always find characters that are easy to relate to when reading an Anne Rainey story.
• There are steamy love scenes in all of my books, but they aren’t humiliating, nor is there anything too over-the-top.
• The plots are fast-paced and the reader won’t get bogged down by tons of boring facts or filler. And of course there is always a happily ever after. Oops, that might count as four reasons. 🙂

Will you come back and visit us again when Pleasure Bound is released in November?

Anne: I’d love to! And just wait until you meet Jonas Phoenix. He’s yummy! LOL!

Can’t wait!! 😉

Anne, it’s been such a pleasure to chat with you today, congratulations on the release of So Sensitive! Thank you so much for joining us!

Anne: Thanks for the fun questions!!

And now a question for commenters from Anne:

Anne: I deal with the uncomfortable real-life situation of alcoholism in So Sensitive. During the beta reading phase I received mixed reactions about how Gracie handled her alcoholic father. One thing I learned is that there aren’t always easy answers to tough issues such as what Gracie goes through. My question to you is, have you ever had to make a tough choice about a family member, then later been criticized for it?

Where to find Anne:

Website
Twitter
Facebook

Anne has generously offered a print copy of So Sensitive to the first winner chosen *if the winner is from the USA or Canada*, if the commenter is from overseas then a copy of an e-book from Anne’s extensive backlist is offered. Winner #2 can choose an e-book from Anne’s extensive backlist to the second winner chosen.
You can peruse Anne’s backlist by clicking here. 🙂

All you have to do is answer Anne’s question above.
(You can read our full giveaway policy here)

Please leave us a way to contact you.
(Email in blogger profile or twitter name – no way to contact you – no entry).

*Print Book open to USA and Canada
E-book choice is open worldwide!*

Giveaway ends on Saturday, 9 July 2011; and we will announce the winner on Sunday.

Good luck!

About Lea

Lea is an animal loving, tree hugging vegetarian who lives in Toronto, Canada with her family, which includes three dogs. She is a prolific reader and has been blogging and reviewing since 2008. Lea is a contributor at the USA Today HEA Blog and an active member at Goodreads.

• View all posts by Lea →
• Blog
• Twitter