Blinded by Desire by Arabella Sheen - EXCERPT 3

           

Blinded by Desire

Arabella Sheen

Back Cover Copy

Is Jason ready to give love a chance, and can he capture Beth’s heart?

Jason Andre is a successful billionaire architect who thinks he can get what he wants when he wants.

Beth Ashton is a feisty redhead with an up-and-coming career as a landscape designer. And she wants nothing to do with Jason.

From the outset, sparks fly between them. She excites him and he infuriates her.

When Jason’s light aircraft crashes and he loses his sight, Beth steps in and does exactly what she promised she wouldn’t do…she works for him.

Are Beth and Jason destined to love or is passion and desire the only thing on offer?

Chapter One - Excerpt 3

Jason had driven the sleek, black Porsche to Clifton Hall. Fast cars and beautiful women were only a few of the many pleasures he indulged in. He was a man who played and worked hard.

Having had a difficult day battling building inspectors and fellow architects, Jason was in no mood to spend an evening chit-chatting over dinner with relatives.

He had grown-up with his sister on one of the Greek islands. And as much as he loved seeing her, the idea of spending a weekend in the English countryside with the landed gentry was, in his opinion, a waste of time.

Comparing the quality of brandy or the seat of a horse wasn’t his form of entertainment. He preferred to work. Or if he wasn’t at work, he was entertaining one of the many women who were eager for his company.

Jason lived life in the fast lane, and he considered his time too precious to be away from the buzz of the metropolis.

There was always a mountain of work waiting for him at the office. And knowing his associates couldn’t work at his pace, he was aware charts and papers would still be on his desk for him to look at on Monday.

No―he really couldn’t afford to be away from the business for any length of time. But he'd recently been on a visit to Clifton Hall, and having seen its newly landscaped gardens, he wanted the same, if not better, for his house in Greece.

The gardens were being revamped by the relatively unknown firm of Ashton Landscaping. And if Jason knew anything about landscapers, which he did, he realised the firm would soon be in demand.

Their work was top quality. And having seen the work for himself, he wanted Ashton Landscaping for his project in Greece, and he wasn’t prepared to wait. He was ready to do and pay almost anything to achieve his goal.

This weekend, Jason intended to persuade Ashton to work for him, and he was determined to get this new designer on his team, and nothing was going to stop him.

“Charles, one day when I’ve finished with the Porsche, I promise you’ll get first refusal.”

Jason saw a flash of desire and a glint of longing shining in his brother-in-law’s eyes.

“Thanks, Jason, I’ll look forward to the occasion and I hope it will be sometime soon.”

“Um…don’t hold your breath.”

Charles took another large gulp of whisky, “Anyway, what’s dragged you away from the city? You rarely leave the city for rural life.”

Jason shrugged his shoulders. “Sophie somehow got wind of the fact I’m in need of a gardener. She has recommended Ashton, and from what I’ve seen of his work, he’s doing a reasonable job.”

“Yes. We’re very pleased with the…landscaping firm.” Charles raised a brow, and looked at Sophie. It had been a questioning look, and Jason wondered why.

“Ashton has a style which I quite like.” Jason said in a casual manner. “And although I like his style, I’ve yet to be convinced it’s what I’m after.”

He tried not to sound too enthusiastic, and was paying his cards close to his chest. He didn’t need to be convinced about the gardener’s capabilities. And he was in no doubt that he wanted Ashton as a designer. But until he got what he was after, he wasn’t telling anyone he was prepared to pay a high price to get Ashton Landscaping to work on his project.

“You've stirred my curiosity. What is it you need to be convinced about?” Charles asked.

“Lots of things,” Jason said. “However, my main concerns are the differences and difficulties of creating a garden for a villa in the arid climate of Greece, and the humid weather of the English countryside. It’s a whole different ball game when temperatures soar above thirty degrees.” Jason brushed back a fallen lock of hair from his brow as he spoke. “I’m not sure if this designer of yours is up to the challenge. Ashton might not know how to plant in heat.”

And then, from behind a screen a woman appeared. She walked steadily toward the sofa and stood squarely in front of him.

He rose to confront her.

They were face to face, and she looked like a woman on the warpath. Tension was in the air. Invisible sparks of instant awareness were flying between them, and Jason was in no doubt that a storm was brewing.

Red hot daggers were shining in her eyes, and without being told, he knew she was seething with rage. For some reason, this woman before him was furious, and he wondered why.

With her hands planted firmly on her hips, she asked, “Why would Ashton not know how to plant in a Mediterranean climate? Would you care to explain your remark to me…Mr. Andre?”

Her soft voice was deceptively quiet. And even though she had spoken in hushed tones, Jason realised, she might just as well have shouted the questions at him. He’d heard her loud and clear. She was furious about something, and he was curious to know what.

If he’d wondered what the weekend would bring, he now knew.

A tigress was his first thought on seeing her. A sexy tigress. And he wanted what he saw.

Blinded by Desire

Copyright © 2012 by – Arabella Sheen

ISBN: 9780957569829

Publisher: priceplacebooks

Electronic Publication: May 2012

Cover: Fantasia Frog Designs

eBooks are not transferable. No part of this book may be used or reproduced without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations in articles and reviews.

This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.

UNIVERSAL BUY LINKS: https://books2read.com/u/4NQXno

Arabella Sheen Website:  http://www.arabellasheen.co.uk/

About Arabella Sheen

Arabella Sheen is a British author of contemporary romance and likes nothing more than the challenge of starting a new novel with fresh ideas and inspiring characters.

One of the many things Arabella loves to do is to read. And when she’s not researching or writing about romance, she is either on her allotment sowing and planting with the seasons or she is curled on the sofa with a book, while pandering to the demands of her attention seeking cat.

Having lived and worked in the Netherlands as a theatre nurse for nearly twenty years, she now lives in the south west of England with her family.

Arabella hopes her readers have as much pleasure from her romance stories as she has in writing them.

Social Media

Website:  http://www.arabellasheen.co.uk/

Twitter:   http://twitter.com/ArabellaSheen 

Facebook Author: https://www.facebook.com/ArabellaSheenAuthor

UNIVERSAL BUY LINKS: https://books2read.com/u/4NQXno

Welcome to Historical Author - Susie Beech

I’m delighted to welcome Susie Beech to my blog.

Hello Susie – And thank you for joining me on Arabella’s Blog and Chit-Chat today. It was lovely to connect with you through the Romantic Novelists’ Association. In my opinion, the RNA is such a great group of supportive authors and affiliate members with whom to share the writing journey, especially for New Writers’ Scheme members such as you. But before we discover more about your debut release, ‘Bewitched by Lady Rowena’, here are a few questions which will hopefully give your readers and followers an insight into some of the things that matter to you…

Arabella: Are there any organisations, writing, or reader groups, you belong to? And, how do they support or help you in creating such wonderful, inspirational novels?

Susie: The main group that I joined which has connected me to so many wonderful authors and indeed opportunities, is the RNA. I fell upon them by complete accident, read up about the New Writers Scheme, and then was determined to join in the next January. That has been about six years ago now. I’m still in the New Writers Scheme, but I’ve have had some very good feedback and ‘nearly there’s’, so fingers crossed. There are two other groups I must mention. The first was a group run by Carmel Harrington, a best-selling Irish author. Through Carmel I have met so many Irish writers and started going to book launches and workshops and met writers who have become great friends. I also belong to another group run by Sharon Thompson, Indulgeinwriting.ie and it is a great place to dip into every day for support and motivation and someone to kick my ass in gear if I need it.

Arabella: Where do you read? Sofa or bed or ____?

Susie: Mainly bed since I’m slightly allergic to cat hair and we have four cats and they seem to have rather taken over the sofas.

  

Arabella: In your debut release, Bewitched by Lady Rowena, who is your favourite character and why?

Susie: Rowena is my favourite character. I wanted to show how strong the women were during the Medieval years, when they were invariably used as currency to gain more wealth and land for their husbands, and perhaps power for the family. They had no choice in who they had to marry, however that didn’t make them weak. Indeed I created Rowena to show how incredible women had to be when they had no say in their own situation. She is feisty and physically strong and uses her brains to take control of the situation.

Arabella: When writing a novel, how do you work? Are you a plotter or pantser?

Susie: I do like plotting. I get a germ of an idea. I think about it, then usually I can visualise the ending. With my novellas, I don’t actually plot it on paper with post-it notes, but I write a good blurb and synopsis. With my other historical novels, dual-timeline or historical fiction, they need lots of plotting.

Arabella: Which would you prefer to do: 1) spend a morning vigorously working out at the gym, 2) be pampered from head to toe at the spa and beauty salon, 3) indulge and pile on the pounds with a romantic dinner for two?

Susie: None of the above. A bookshop or museum and coffee and cake would be my idea of heaven.

Arabella: Which would you rather wear: beach shorts and top, a long evening skirt and blouse, pyjamas and slippers?

Susie: Again neither. Jeans and trainers most days. I’m a very casual dresser and most activities can be managed perfectly well in these.

Arabella: We all have a long list of books we keep meaning to read but never have the time for --- which book is a must read for you this season?

Susie: Well since I love history, I think two books; The Irish Princess by Elizabeth Chadwick and Jenny Ashcroft’s new release, Meet me In Bombay.  Both perfect for early nights curled up in bed.

Arabella: What about your future plans? Any books or series in the making?

Susie: Bewitched By Lady Rowena is just the first shortish novella in what I hope will be a set of three or four books in a series called ‘The Brides of Harpend Court’. Book 2, Captivated By Her French Knight is being edited and I have plans for Book 3 and 4. The stories are all based or connected to this estate where Rowena lives. The other books will be set at different dates over the next two hundred years.

Arabella: Thank you for joining me on Arabella’s Blog and Chit-Chat, Susie. Like me, I’m sure your readers enjoyed discovering a little bit more about your personal life.

Good luck with your soon to be released debut novella, Bewitched by Lady Rowena

All the best, and wishing you lots of happy-ever-after writing, and of course eventually graduating from the RNA’s - New Writers’ Scheme.

Arabella Sheen

www.arabellasheen.co.uk  

 About Susie Beech

My first love in life is History. Sorry hubby. Reading, writing, researching it. I’ve always chosen historical books from when I was first taken to the library and I could read small chapter books. When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit by Judith Kerr, was a favourite of mine from a very young age, as were all the books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. If I had to pick a favourite era as a child, it was either WW2, or the American Wild West.

I started writing seriously about six years ago, whilst working part-time in both retail and education. My first love has always been history, and various types of historical novel were always going to be where I felt most at home.

Recently I have decided to self-publish under a pen-name of Susie Beech. These are sassy, sexy medieval romances, with strong female characters. I wanted to write something fun for myself whilst I still pursued a traditional contract (using my other pen-name of Susanna Branson) for my recently finished dual-timeline novel and historical romances set in and around WW1. As we all know the wheels of publishing move very slowly, but all the waiting was sapping my creative energies, so writing the medieval novellas has been a therapeutic endeavour for me.

 

I don’t use my real name in writing due to my day job. I have only ever been interested in writing because I like to tell stories, and I’m a bit camera shy so don’t mind in the slightest if I don’t promote my real name. Currently I live in Northern Ireland, with my husband, children and plenty of cats. I’ve had various jobs over the years, but my first Saturday job was in a bookshop, and I think it was only a matter of time before I turned to creative writing.

I am on facebook, but really only for the various groups that I belong to, my main use of social media is twitter and Instagram as both Susie Beech and Susanna Branson

Social Media Links 

Twitter:   https://twitter.com/susiebeech   

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/susiebeech.books/

Website:        https://susiebeech.com/

Book Blurb   Bewitched by Lady Rowena

Armand de Beaufort, loyal knight of King John has been rewarded for his faithful duty during the fight for Constantinople. All the lands belonging to his old enemy, Raulf d’Agincourt are his prize. Favoured by his king, revered by his own men, Armand de Beaufort is loyal, brave and honest. His prowess on the battlefield is beaten only fractionally by his skill in the bedchamber.

As part of his reward, Armand receives the hand of Raulf’s fair widow, Lady Rowena. But Lady Rowena despised her dead husband and has no desire to meekly accept the hand of her new husband. Instead she escapes to the countryside to take charge of her own destiny: falling in love was never on the agenda.

Armand might have prospered in battle, but is he ready for the challenges Lady Rowena throws at him?

Set in 1205, ‘Bewitched by Lady Rowena’ is set in the heart of the English countryside when fairy tales and folk lore, myths and superstitions were a part of everyday life. 

AVAILABLE ON AMAZON…

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bewitched-Lady-Rowena-Medieval-Romance-ebook/dp/B0825G23CW/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=susie+beech&qid=1575233004&sr=8-1

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Bewitched-Lady-Rowena-Medieval-Romance-ebook/dp/B0825G23CW/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=susie+beech&qid=1575233004&sr=8-1

Updates on release date via  Susie Beech’s Website:     https://susiebeech.com/

Blinded by Desire by Arabella Sheen - EXCERPT 2

           

Blinded by Desire

Arabella Sheen

Back Cover Copy

Is Jason ready to give love a chance, and can he capture Beth’s heart?

Jason Andre is a successful billionaire architect who thinks he can get what he wants when he wants.

Beth Ashton is a feisty redhead with an up-and-coming career as a landscape designer. And she wants nothing to do with Jason.

From the outset, sparks fly between them. She excites him and he infuriates her.

When Jason’s light aircraft crashes and he loses his sight, Beth steps in and does exactly what she promised she wouldn’t do…she works for him.

Are Beth and Jason destined to love or is passion and desire the only thing on offer?

Chapter One - Excerpt 2

Standing under the power shower, Beth had soaped her scalp and was washing her hair. Having rinsed away the shampoo, she then reached out her hand and turned off the flow of hot, steamy water. The spray of water halted, and a haze of mist was left hanging in the cubical.

Towelling her damp skin dry, and leaving the steamy bathroom behind her, Beth made her way into the bedroom. She still had to dress and get ready for the evening ahead.

Delving into one of the wardrobes, she retrieved the one and only evening dress she had brought with her.

When Beth was staying away from home and working on a project, she usually wore everyday workwear or casual clothing. Things like her jeans and sweatshirts, or heavy workman's boots.

Normally, she was constantly working from dawn to dusk, so she didn’t expect to go out of an evening. But there had been the odd occasion when she’d been put on the spot by a client, and now, as a safety measure, she always brought along something dressy to wear.

She called it her…‘just in case dress.’

Holding the dress up and looking at it, she wondered what had made her pick this dress in particular. And the more she looked at it, the more she wished she had packed another.

The dress was a black silk tube made from stretchy soft material. And when she put it on, it clung tightly in all the right places to the curves of her body. Nothing was hidden from the eye, and all her womanly curves were revealed.

The dress had definitely been a bad decision, but it wasn’t as if she’d chosen this dress with Jason Andre in mind. She hadn’t known she would be meeting him this weekend.

With no other evening dress to wear, she decided it would have to be this one, or nothing. She couldn’t go dressed for dinner in jeans and Wellington boots, could she?

Beth’s alabaster skin was blemish-free and had a sort of natural beauty. She was the type that didn’t need to wear make-up. So, pulling her magic wand from the make-up bag, she quickly added a coat of mascara to her eyelashes and a splash of plum lip gloss to her lips, hoping it would give her some sort of bravado against Jason.

Then, giving her dark auburn hair a hurried brush before pinning it into position with a diamante clasp, she was finally ready.

The result was stunningly glamorous.

Looking in the full-length mirror, Beth saw a stylish, young woman reflected back, and felt ready to face the evening ahead with anyone. Especially the daunting tycoon architect, Jason Andre.

She pulled the clinging material of her dress down around her hips and up over the full, roundness of her breasts.

Maybe I’ve overdone it, she thought. But she needn't have worried. She wasn’t aiming to impress, and she was most definitely not striving to make an impression on Jason.

Beth had already come to the conclusion he was out of her league and beyond reach.

Collecting her pink cashmere wrap from a nearby chair, she threw the wrap on, draping it casually about her shoulders. The wrap was to ward off the cool breeze of the autumn evening as she made her way over to the main house.

Carrying her clutch bag and wearing high heels, she walked with care along the tree-lined drive following the gravelled pathway toward the bright lights of the big Hall. It was only a short walk from the lodge house, but it seemed like miles.

As Beth stumbled on the uneven surface of the path, she realised she shouldn’t have worn her heels. She ought to have driven the old Land Rover the short distance. But vanity, and the thought of her dress being soiled by the muddy seats in the Land Rover, had stopped her.

If she wanted to arrive in pristine condition, walking to the Hall on foot was her only means of travel.

For goodness sake, she thought. I’m only having dinner. Tonight’s not a proper date. I’m here to discuss landscaping with a professional architect. I’m not here to flirt with a sexy billionaire.

Reaching the large, heavy oak doors, she let herself in. The days of servants had been and gone at Clifton Hall. These days the Fitzgerald’s employed staff.

Beth tossed her wrap onto a nearby chair and waited, expecting someone to emerge and welcome her. No one appeared.

Voices were coming from the drawing-room at the end of the long carpeted hallway, and as she walked toward them, she carefully adjusted the stretchy black tube of her dress into a more secure position.

She wondered if Sophie had invited other people to dine at the Hall, but she needn’t have worried. Beth found only her clients―Sophie and Charles Fitzgerald, in the room.

Sophie was sprawled on a sofa, and Charles was leaning casually against the large fireside inglenook with a glass of whisky in his hand.

They were having pre-dinner drinks.

Seeing Beth framed in the doorway, Charles came toward her and leant in to give her a kiss on the cheek.

“Come and make yourself comfortable, Beth,” he said. 

Tucking an arm around her waist, he gave an enthusiastic squeeze before steering her toward the drinks table situated against a wall.

“We’re waiting for Jason to come downstairs and join us,” Sophie explained. “He’s in his room, changing. He shouldn’t be too long.”

Sophie then shifted position on the sofa.

“In the meantime what can I get you?” Charles offered, pointing to the drinks table.

As a man, Charles was too smooth and too debonair for Beth’s taste. She supposed it was because she was accustomed to the rugged, outdoor type of man. And Charles wasn’t that by any stretch of the imagination. Charles simply didn’t press any of her buttons.

Shaking her head in his direction Beth declined the offer of a drink.

“Nothing for me thanks, Charles. But if you don’t mind, I’ve just remembered something I have to do, and I’d like to make a note of it before I forget.”

“Go ahead. You know where everything is,” he said, pointing to an ornate Chinese screen at the far end of the room.

Beth crossed the room and behind the screen was a writing desk obscured from view. She sat down and taking a notebook and pen from her evening purse, she started to jot something down. She was in the middle of writing her memo when she sensed someone had entered the room. And looking between the cracks in the screen, Beth could see a man standing just inside the doorway.

He walked further into the room and went to stand near the hearth, next to Charles. He hadn’t seen her, and appeared unaware of her presence.

With her pen poised in hand, hovering over the sheet of paper, Beth turned in her seat to get a better view. She could only see the man’s profile.

Jason Andre looked much like the pictures she’d seen of him in the newspapers and tabloids. And if she wasn’t mistaken, this was the indeed man she’d been summoned to meet and dine with.

He was tall…very tall. At least six-foot-two. And he was dressed in a classic, black dinner jacket which had been faultlessly tailored.

The jacket showed off his broad shoulders to perfection, and beneath, he wore a crisp, white evening shirt.

Jet black hair fell stylishly onto his collar, and his dark tan had obviously not been gained from the English climate. It was evident Jason had recently been somewhere hot or somewhere bathed in sunshine. He looked in peak condition, and that was only viewing him from a distance.

“Jason,” Sophie smiled, welcoming her brother and confirming his identity. “It’s good to see you again. How was your journey from the city?”

“It was fine. And how are you? I can see you’re looking well.” Jason then said something in a language which Beth didn’t understand.

“It’s been ages since Charles and I saw you. How long has it been…six months?”

Jason dipped his head from his great height and planted an affectionate kiss on his sister’s cheek.

“Don’t exaggerate Sophie. It’s only been a couple of weeks. But it’s nice to know someone has missed me.”

Beth was thankful she was sitting down. She felt sure that if she’d been standing the sound of his Mediterranean accent would have made her bend at the knees.

It wasn’t as if she knew Jason, although what she did know about him, she didn’t like. But his husky, sexy drawl was doing something to her. It was causing warm feelings to stir deep inside, but then again, she imagined his voice would have that effect on any woman.

Jason still hadn’t looked in her direction. And from where she was sat, half-concealed from the room behind the Chinese panel, she’d had the leisure to study him without being discovered.

“How was your journey, and how long are you staying with us?” Sophie patted the vacant seat next to her on the sofa.

Jason sat beside his sister, stretching his long legs out in front of him.

“I’m here for the weekend if you two will have me. And the journey was good. The car ate up the miles in no time, but the further south I came, the heavier the weekend traffic was getting. Only a fool would hit the motorway tonight.”

His words reminded Beth that she ought to be on the road travelling home to her farmhouse cottage in Devon. And she would gladly be called a fool if it meant she could be on the motorway that evening. Even if the traffic ground to a halt, it would be better than sitting through a dinner party she didn’t want to go to.

As if bored with Jason being the centre of attention, Charles moved away from the fire, and went back to the drinks table to pour another drink.

“Which is it this time, Jason?” Charles asked. “The BMW or the Porsche?”

Sitting on the sofa, Jason looked relaxed and like a man of leisure. His evening jacket was unbuttoned and his hands were thrust deep into his trouser pockets, pulling the fabric tight across his bulging thigh muscles.

Jason looked as if he had the freedom to do as he liked. He was laid-back and stress-free, and yet that evening he was the most commanding presence in the room. All eyes were focused on him. And everyone was waiting for his answer, including Beth.

“The Porsche of course.”

The simplicity of his reply concerning the status symbol was effective. It was as potent as the man himself.

Blinded by Desire

Copyright © 2012 by – Arabella Sheen

ISBN: 9780957569829

Publisher: priceplacebooks

Electronic Publication: May 2012

Cover: Fantasia Frog Designs

eBooks are not transferable. No part of this book may be used or reproduced without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations in articles and reviews.

This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.

UNIVERSAL BUY LINKS: https://books2read.com/u/4NQXno

Arabella Sheen Website:  http://www.arabellasheen.co.uk/

About Arabella Sheen

Arabella Sheen is a British author of contemporary romance and likes nothing more than the challenge of starting a new novel with fresh ideas and inspiring characters.

One of the many things Arabella loves to do is to read. And when she’s not researching or writing about romance, she is either on her allotment sowing and planting with the seasons or she is curled on the sofa with a book, while pandering to the demands of her attention seeking cat.

Having lived and worked in the Netherlands as a theatre nurse for nearly twenty years, she now lives in the south west of England with her family.

Arabella hopes her readers have as much pleasure from her romance stories as she has in writing them.

Social Media

Website:  http://www.arabellasheen.co.uk/

Twitter:   http://twitter.com/ArabellaSheen 

Facebook Author: https://www.facebook.com/ArabellaSheenAuthor

UNIVERSAL BUY LINKS: https://books2read.com/u/4NQXno

Welcome to Chick-Lit Author - Sasha Lane

I’m delighted to welcome Sasha Lane to my blog.

Hello Sasha - It was wonderful to connect with you through the Romantic Novelists’ Association. I’ve met some fantastic authors via the RNA – and it’s always a pleasure to host them and their latest book on this blog. But before we get to hear about your latest release, Girl. Always and Forever, here are a few questions which will hopefully give your readers an insight into some of the things that matter to you.

Arabella: Authors can release books, making them available to readers in various ways…via an agent, or working directly with a traditional publisher, or they can even go the self-publishing route. Which method of publishing do you prefer, and why?

Sasha: I have self published all four of my books and this has worked well for me.  The positives I have found are that you are in control of everything. You can see you vision through from start to finish and it’s exactly how you want it to be.  The hard part of self publishing is the marketing. As an author you want to spend your time writing books but a huge part of your time is spent getting your books out there for readers to find.

Arabella: A slice of Chocolate Cake, a piece of Fruit, or Burger and Fries?

Sasha: A piece of fruit.  I’m vegetarian and I love fruit so am always eating it!

Arabella: Who or what inspired you to write your latest release, ‘Girl, Always and Forever’?

Sasha: I initially wrote a trilogy about a character called Emma, a girl in her thirties trying to make sense of life, but after the trilogy readers were asking for another book from this character.  I turned forty this year so thought it would be fun to write one last story about the character, Emma, as she also turns forty.  I guess this was a bit more of a personal story for me, and I’ve actually included a few real life experiences that I have had in the book.

Arabella: If the person of your dreams, (husband/wife/partner/or superstar), were to take you out for the night, where would they take you and what would you do?

Sasha: I love New York, so for me it would be a trip to the top of the Empire state building to look out at the fabulous view across New York city – preferably at night so it’s all lit up and sparkling – followed by cocktails.

Arabella: Currently, what is your most favourite T.V. programme, and why?

Sasha: I’m watching a series called ‘FBI’. Crime is also a huge passion for me as I have a Criminology degree so I find myself watching Crime on television more than anything else.  I love fictional crime TV and also love true crime documentaries – I’m not sure what that says about me!

Arabella: When writing a book or chapter, which do you concentrate on first: plot, character, or setting?

Sasha: I always write the last chapter first.  When I start writing a book I know how I want the story to end so writing the last chapter initially helps me focus on the character’s journey.  I then go right back to the beginning and write the first chapter – the rest of the book may be written out of order and then rejigged but I always start with the last chapter then the first.

Arabella: How do you research your novels and characters?

Sasha: I’ve based my characters on a number of experiences – real life for me and my friends, television and films that I’ve watched, plus books that I’ve read.  I’ve tried to make my characters just everyday people that readers can hopefully associate with.

Arabella: What advice would you give to someone who is starting out on their writing journey?

Sasha: Write from the heart; write about what you want and in the way that is best for you. I write in first person despite loads of research telling me to write in third person.  I find it easier for me to tell the story from the main character’s perspective.  Write for your own enjoyment above anything else - You have to love your own work.

Thank you for joining me on Arabella’s Blog and Chit-Chat, Sasha. It was kind of you to share some of your writing secrets with us. I'll have to try your technique of writing the last chapter first and see where it takes me. :)

Best wishes, and good luck with your latest release, Girl, Always and Forever.

Arabella Sheen

www.arabellasheen.co.uk

About  Sasha Lane

Although the main character is completely fictional, she does bare some of the characteristics that I do, and I’ve actually included in the last two books, some true stories as some of the funny things that happen to Emma have unfortunately happened to me in real life too, but that’s also part of my writing style – I can laugh at myself, and add humour into the stories.

I always wanted to write a series about a character as I hate it when you get to the end of a book, close the last page, and that’s it – it feels like you’ve lost a friend.  I love the fact that the series follows Emma’s life over a period of eight years and really lets the reader get to know her, and see how her character grows over the four books.

It’s a romantic comedy that addresses serious life issues.  Throughout all of my books I wanted to write about everyday issues that women face.  I hope that this helps readers to connect with the characters and their storyline, and associate with some of the topics that I raise.  I keep the books light-hearted, and with humour, despite some more serious storylines, as I want them to be an enjoyable, fun read, and a bit of escapism from reality for my readers.

Sasha Lane’s books can be found locally in the Chronicle Bookshop, Barnsley, or online at Amazon.com and Waterstones.com.

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Twitter: @sashalaneauthor

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Website: www.sashalane.com

BOOK BLURB:  Girl, Always and Forever

Emma is turning forty, and that’s when everything in life falls in to place, right? Apparently not.

As Emma moves into a beautiful new house with her lovely boyfriend, Joe, she feels that life couldn’t get more perfect. But perfection is short lived as Emma’s friend’s relationships all start falling apart at the seams, with adultery and mid-life crisis wreaking havoc.

Joe is also given a promotion at work meaning he is away from home in London, leaving Emma alone and under pressure to keep everything together.

Joe‘s new found love for life in the big city, and his close relationship with his new work colleague, Karen, leave Emma questioning everything.

Is she destined to follow in the footsteps of her friends, or will she and Joe stand the test of time?

Hilarious, heart-warming and romantic! Will Emma find her happy ever after? An addictive read that is perfect for fans of Bridget Jones and for lovers of romantic comedy novels by Sophie Kinsella, Paige Toon, and Lindsey Kelk.

BUY LINK:

Amazon:  https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07X8QXC2Q?pf_rd_p=330fbd82-d4fe-42e5-9c16-d4b886747c64&pf_rd_r=07XMN6F1E6GQD4H70S2C