Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Today's Special - - Susan Sey



  
The Romance Dish is delighted to host Stop #3 of the Money, Honey Blog Tour, in which author (and well-known Romance Bandit) Susan Sey celebrates the July 6 release of her debut novel by counting down the Top Ten Most Common Reactions an ill-groomed stay at home mom receives when confessing her secret career as a romance novelist.  Please give Susan a rousing welcome and be sure to leave a comment because Berkley Books is giving away FIVE copies of Money, Honey! (U.S. & Canadian mailing addresses only)
 






Hello, Dishers! Thanks so much for having me! I’m just thrilled to be here at the Dish today where we’ll be tackling Reponse #8: “Oh, romance. It’s so unrealistic.”

(If you’re all a-flutter to know the other nine, check out  http://www.susansey.com/pages.php?ID=5.)

Now this one makes me chuckle. Unrealistic? Really? That’s the objection?

Come on, people. That’s the point.  Now I don’t know what your reality looks like, but I have two kids under eight and I’m looking straight down the barrel of summer vacation here. I have a small mountain of laundry moldering in the basement. I have a shopping list as long as my arm, a black hole under the couch that gobbles up library books, and a gang of rabbits who think my garden is an all-you-can-eat buffet. (Alas, poor sweet peas. We barely knew ye.)

When I take the kiddos to the beach, I have no interest in dragging along six pounds of hard-cover reality. Frankly, I want something better than reality. I want a couple hours of adventure and action, a little flash and cash. I’m looking for witty repartee and sexual tension and happily ever afters. In short, I’m looking for a story that casts reality in the shade. And if I can follow the thread while keeping one eye on the kids, all the better.

But within all this anti-reality, I do insist on one small piece of truth. One itty-bitty, teeny-tiny, shining beacon of honesty: the emotion. For everything else, the farther over the top the better as far as I’m concerned. (And just to prove it, Money, Honey features a jewel-thief-turned-crime-novelist in love with a cult-survivor-turned-FBI-agent who’s hot on the trail of a cold-blooded, knife-wielding, revenge-obsessed counterfeiter. So there!)  But when it comes to emotion? To true love? To laying it all on the line for a shot at happily ever after? That I take very seriously indeed.

Liz and Patrick are two of the most damaged, guarded characters I’ve ever written. They’d much rather crack wise than wax poetic, so when it comes to love, they don’t fall into it so much as they face-plant. And we’re talking real love, by the way, in all its painful, messy, terrifying glory. Writing these two sharp, funny, wary people into a well-deserved happy ending was an absolute pleasure. I hope you’ll enjoy the ride as much as I did.

Want to meet them? Read on….

     “I’ll work for you, Liz.” He pulled back just far enough to smile into her eyes. “With you, I mean. One last time. But it’ll cost you.”
     She lifted her hand slowly, rested it against his chest and applied a questioning pressure. The touch of her hand burned through the light cotton of his shirt, but Patrick seized the threads of his control and dropped back a step. Obediently.
     “Cost me what, exactly?” Her eyes were clouded, though with what he couldn’t tell. Unhappiness? Fear? An answering desire?
     “Nothing you don’t want to give.” He took a second to pull it together, to breathe, to make sure that what he wanted to say would come out in one coherent piece. He tucked his hands into his pockets, nice and nonthreatening. “I’m done taking the high road, that’s all. I want you, and I can be damn persuasive when I try.”
     Her eyes went narrow with comprehension. “What does that have to do with forcing my boss to promote you?”
     “Nothing. That was just for fun.” He smiled at her, though it cost him an effort to keep it smooth. “But it came with an unforeseen bonus.”
     “What’s that?”
     “You’re an ethical soul, Liz. You would never sleep with an informant. An independent consultant, however, an equal . . .” He let the words trail off into suggestion.
     She rolled her eyes. “For God’s sake.”
     “Hey, if I’m not good for you, if you don’t want me, all you have to say is no. I won’t take anything you don’t willingly give.” He let years of suppressed want loose in his smile, felt it shift from warm to carnal. “But I swear to God I can make you want to give me things you don’t even know exist yet.”
     She stared at him, her lips parted just slightly in shock, eyes maybe a little glazed. An insane rush of anticipation had an unexpected laugh bubbling up in his throat. Why hadn’t he thought of this approach years ago? Either she’d resist him to the bitter end or they’d set his sheets on fire. Either way, he’d get what he wanted—a resolution to the Villanueva issue without going stark, raving mad from suppressed lust.
     He summoned up a level look for Liz. “You still want me on the team, you’ve got me,” he said. “But those are the new ground rules. Take it or leave it.”

So, tell me, do you have a favorite pair of reluctant lovers? Books, movies, legend, myth, anything goes. We’ll pick five commenters at random to receive free copies of Money, Honey.  (U.S. & Canadian mailing addresses only)



73 comments:

  1. I love the will they, won't they of Rick Castle and Kate Beckett on the TV show Castle. It's a lot of fun.
    Money, Honey sounds like a lot of fun as well.

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  2. Congrats on your debut release, Susan. As for reluctant lovers, I'll go with the characters played by Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds in "The Proposal." I'm not sure if they're really a reluctant couple, but they were pretending to be together and eventually fall in love.

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  3. Whoo Hoo congrats on the release Susan have I told you how much I really want to read this book I will be putting my order in this week and money Honey will be on it.

    Can't think of any reluctant lovers at the moment but I am sure I have read a lot of them LOL

    Have Fun
    Helen

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  4. Amen, sister! I totally agree with you about escapism with *real* emotion! I'm so excited about Money, Honey's release! At last!

    I'm with Barbara E on the reluctant lovers. Castle is my new favorite obsession. Love the banter and the sexual tension. Nathan Fillion really sells it.

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  5. Hi Susan! Congratulations on the release of MONEY, HONEY! Do you feel like you've given birth to another child? *g* I very much enjoyed Liz and Patrick's story and hope others will as well.

    Like Barbara and Deb, I'm a huge fan of Castle. They make fabulous reluctant lovers!

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  6. Barbara E wrote: I love the will they, won't they of Rick Castle and Kate Beckett on the TV show Castle.

    I have heard such great things about that show! I'm going to have to break down & watch it. Not that it'll be a hardship to watch Nathan Fillion on screen. I fell in love with him on Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog. He was awesome as the conceited superhero to Neil Patrick Harris' villain.

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  7. Jane wrote: As for reluctant lovers, I'll go with the characters played by Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds in "The Proposal."

    OOoooh, I haven't seen that one yet but I love both those actors. Plus there's that scene from the preview where Betty White's feeling Sandra up while fitting her into an antique wedding dress. ("well, you're not as busty as I was, obviously. It's like an Easter Egg hunt in here.") heh. I love Betty White.

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  8. Helen wrote: Susan have I told you how much I really want to read this book I will be putting my order in this week and money Honey will be on it.

    Oh, Helen, that's so sweet. I really, really hope you like it.

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  9. Deb Marlowe wrote: Castle is my new favorite obsession. Love the banter and the sexual tension. Nathan Fillion really sells it.

    Oh, I adore banter. I really do. It's a huge piece of why I adore Jenny Crusie. She does great banter. And I'm with you on Nathan Fillion, too. I haven't seen Castle yet (I just recently became obsessed with Mad Men & have to ration my TV watching) but it's totally on my list.

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  10. PJ wrote: Congratulations on the release of MONEY, HONEY! Do you feel like you've given birth to another child? *g*

    Ha! PJ, I *do*. I really do. In fact, I have two kids, 3.5 years apart (I think 3 years is a very civilized spacing for children if you can manage it). And my youngest is 3.5 now so the urge was kind of upon me.

    Thank god Money Honey is coming out because I'm watching two of my sisters with their infants right now (3 months & a newborn) & thinking, "Adorable, but I don't want one of my own."

    :-)

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  11. Hello famous Romance Bandit!!!!!

    Ok, wow. I am biting at the bit to get Money Honey a feat which I THOUGHT would have to wait till Friday when I can go across town to the Borders (Would you believe a city like Louisville does not HAVE one in my end of the county?!!!)

    But....I may have to swing by after the doctors today! I am SO totally in love with Patrick!!! And YES....Castle-ish all the way.

    Susan, I knew it was going to be great because I knew you....after reading it? Girl, you better have the next one on your editor's desk!!

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  12. Jane said; As for reluctant lovers, I'll go with the characters played by Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds in "The Proposal."

    I have to check out that movie. I like both of those actors (as well as Betty White) and it looks like a cute movie. I do love to be entertained! :)

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  13. Thanks for stopping by, Helen! Hope you enjoy MONEY, HONEY. It really is a terrific story. I'm already excited for what Susan has in store for us next!

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  14. Morning, Deb! Have you seen the new Castle commercial where Beckett and Castle "banter" back and forth with single words? Love it!

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  15. Joanie said; Girl, you better have the next one on your editor's desk!!

    Hi Joanie! I'm with you! Can't wait to read more of Susan's wonderful writing.

    You think you have it bad having to drive cross-town to get to Borders? I have to drive 45 miles to get to anything besides Wal-Mart!

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  16. Joan wrote: Susan, I knew it was going to be great because I knew you....after reading it? Girl, you better have the next one on your editor's desk!!

    Oh, it's there, Joanie! It's there. In fact, there's a little teaser in the back of MH. A secondary character got her own book. Funny how that happens, isn't it? You have some experience with that little phenomena, don't you? :-)

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  17. PJ wrote: You think you have it bad having to drive cross-town to get to Borders? I have to drive 45 miles to get to anything besides Wal-Mart!

    When I lived in TX, I had a 35 mile trip (one way) if I wanted to do anything other than buy groceries or gas. Believe me, when I got to a bookstore it was like a starving lion on a pack of old, lazy gazelles.

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  18. Welcome Susan. Money, Honey sounds like a lot of fun.

    I'm probably dating myself here, but whenever I think of a will they/won't they scenario I think of Pierce Brosnan and Stephanie Zimbalist in Remington Steele. I just love a handsome smarta$$. They get me every time. Throw in the accent and it's pretty much heaven. LOL

    Jenny Crusie is awesome with that, as well as Susan Elizabeth Phillips. She does the adversaries to lovers storyline very well, IMHO.

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  19. I'm dating myself as well but I thought of Mulder and Scully from the X Files.

    Your excerpt is smokin'! Congratulations on the release, Susan. :)

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  20. Irisheyes, Remington Steele is one of my all-time favorite TV shows. Susan has created a very similar dynamic between Liz and Patrick. She's the straight-laced, by-the-book agent and he's the elegant, charming, former thief. I didn't pick up on it while reading the book because I was so engrossed in the characters and the story but there's definitely a Remington Steele feel to it...and that's a very good thing!

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  21. Thanks for popping in, Gillian! I never got into the X Files. I probably need to check that out one of these days. I'm sure I can get it's out there on DVD.

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  22. Hi Susan! Great to see you here on The Dish today.

    Money Honey sounds great! I will definitely have to pick up a copy. And I am totally with you. The reason I read romance is for the escape, and the true love and happy ever after of it all, not to keep having reality shoved it my face, lol.

    I am all about reluctant lovers who on the surface can't stand each other, but you really know that underneath they're nuts about each other. It reminds me of Julie James' Practice Makes Perfect with Peyton and J.D. The banter is awesome, and you KNOW they're a reason they got under each other's skin from the beginning. The other would have to be JQ's fantastic Viscount Who Loved Me. It's a great battle-of-the-sexes book with Kate and Anthony butting heads at every turn and you just know that Anthony is going to drop his silly idea of pursuing Kate's sister Edwina because the sparks fly everytime he sees Kate!

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  23. irisheyes wrote: I'm probably dating myself here, but whenever I think of a will they/won't they scenario I think of Pierce Brosnan and Stephanie Zimbalist in Remington Steele. I just love a handsome smarta$$. They get me every time. Throw in the accent and it's pretty much heaven. LOL

    Okay, I'm probably dating myself as well but Pierce Brosnan was my first crush. I *loved* Remington Steele. Although he had some stiff competition in Bruce Willis from Moonlighting. Remember that show? He & Cybil Shepherd had GREAT banter. I heard they hated each other in real life but it translated to some smokin' chemistry on screen.

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  24. Gillian wrote: I'm dating myself as well but I thought of Mulder and Scully from the X Files.

    Oh, oh! I loved them, too!! I didn't even discover them until the last season or two--I lived in the woods for a few years & missed a lot of pop culture. But when I came out, I ate up the X-files like they were potato chips.

    Man, I miss David Duchovny. Or maybe just Mulder. It genuinely hurt my feelings to find out DD was addicted to internet porn. It damaged my sweet, sweet memories of Mulder, maybe?

    I'm glad you enjoyed the excerpt!

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  25. PJ wrote: I didn't pick up on it while reading the book because I was so engrossed in the characters and the story but there's definitely a Remington Steele feel to it...and that's a very good thing!

    Shoot, I didn't pick up it when I was *writing* it. But you're totally right. There must be a lot of Pierce Brosnan still kicking around my subconscious.

    And as you said, that's not a bad thing. :-)

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  26. Lisa writes: I am all about reluctant lovers who on the surface can't stand each other, but you really know that underneath they're nuts about each other. It reminds me of Julie James' Practice Makes Perfect with Peyton and J.D. The banter is awesome, and you KNOW they're a reason they got under each other's skin from the beginning.

    I just discovered Julie James! I think I read Something About You, but you're right. She does banter really, really well. There were a few scenes between her heroine, her hero & a cop or two & the pacing is snappy, the dialogue is clever & it's just a delight to read.

    I'll take her to the beach any old day. :-)

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  27. WOOOT!! MoneyHoney's OUT! Grins. Love, love, love it. :> Can't wait to get my hands on her.

    Susan, I love these characters and I am trekking to the B&N in the heat today to get it. La, la, la!

    Grins.

    As to favorite couples, my most fav reluctant couple are the characters from the Taming of the Shrew, AKA Kiss Me Kate in the movies. So reluctant. :> So, I pik Petruchio and Kate. Grins.

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  28. In my excitement to comment about Money Honey's debut, I neglected my manners!

    Hi, Dishies!!! *waving madly* So glad to see you and see Susan here today. Grins.

    Given how late the Launch party went in the Romance Bandits Lair last night, she's mighty chipper. *sigh* She's more resiliant than me, I think. Snork.

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  29. Hi, Susan! Money, Honey has been on my must-read list since January. I haven't been able to find it locally, but I have high hopes I will when I venture into the city and check out B&N and BAM this weekend.

    One of my favorite pairs of bantering lovers is Beatrice and Benedick from Much Ado About Nothing. Moving a little closer to the 21st century, I also love the Hepburn-Tracy movies from the 1940s. And I promise I don't date back to the original performances in either case. :)

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  30. Hi Susan,
    Congrats on your new release!

    I would have to say Lorelei Gilmore and Luke Danes from Gilmore Girls. It took them nearly 5 seasons and countless significant others to see what the audience has seen since episode one. ^^

    Melissa

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  31. Jeanne wrote: As to favorite couples, my most fav reluctant couple are the characters from the Taming of the Shrew, AKA Kiss Me Kate in the movies. So reluctant. :> So, I pik Petruchio and Kate. Grins.

    Hey, did you ever see the episode of Moonlighting where Dave & Addy did the Taming of the Shrew? Oh, good times. Good times. :-)

    Hope you enjoy Money, Honey. Can't tell you how much I appreciate all the love & support you guys have given me.

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  32. Jeanne wrote: Given how late the Launch party went in the Romance Bandits Lair last night, she's mighty chipper. *sigh* She's more resiliant than me, I think. Snork.

    Oh, Joanie's gladiators gave me a private present that was quite...invigorating. I feel fiiiiiiiine this morning. Just fine. :-)

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  33. Janga wrote: One of my favorite pairs of bantering lovers is Beatrice and Benedick from Much Ado About Nothing. Moving a little closer to the 21st century, I also love the Hepburn-Tracy movies from the 1940s. And I promise I don't date back to the original performances in either case. :)

    Hey, Janga, thanks so much for trying to find Money, Honey! I hope you'll think it worth the trouble!

    Hey, have you ever read any Marisa de los Santos? She has two books out--Love Walked In and Belong to Me. Love Walked In was my favorite & it had such an Old Hollywood vibe to it. I just loved it. If you love that Tracy/Hepburn banter, you might really like her books.

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  34. Susan said: Oh, Joanie's gladiators gave me a private present that was quite...invigorating. I feel fiiiiiiiine this morning. Just fine. :-)

    Ahhh! So THAT'S what put the spring in your step! *note to self: make sure gladiators are on hand for Sept. Launch of Deadly Little Secrets*

    Got it.

    Grins.

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  35. Melissa wrote: I would have to say Lorelei Gilmore and Luke Danes from Gilmore Girls. It took them nearly 5 seasons and countless significant others to see what the audience has seen since episode one. ^^

    Oh, Gilmore Girls is another one I've heard wonderful things about but never checked out myself. It's on the list, though. I just have to convince my husband it's a must-see. We have two little girls & his wife writes romance novels. He already cuts us a lot of slack in the girlie department. When it comes to picking a Friday night movie/TV I often let him pick. I feel like I owe him that much. :-)

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  36. Karyn Gerrard wrote: Since I am reading 'The Devil in Winter' at the moment, I will go with Sebastian, Lord St. Vincent and Evangeline, as only Lisa Kleypas can weave.

    Ooooh, Lisa Kleypas. A classic. :-) Plus I just love that title. The Devil in Winter. It' so evocative.

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  37. Jeanne wrote: Ahhh! So THAT'S what put the spring in your step! *note to self: make sure gladiators are on hand for Sept. Launch of Deadly Little Secrets*

    Speak with Joanie. She'll hook you up. [wink]

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  38. Hey, Susan, and welcome to The Romance Dish!! I'm so excited for the release of MONEY, HONEY! I have read it and loved it. In fact, I am featuring it as one of our Beach Bag reviews next week. It's the perfect beach read!

    Liz and Patrick were terrific reluctant lovers! I can't think of any others right off the top of my head...but I'll keep thinking...

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  39. Yay Susan - so thrilled about your debut, my fellow Bandita - I know it's the first of many, many more!

    I'm with you on the whole reality thing. Ranks up there with misery, depression, death and generally morose books/films etc.

    I mean, come on people, it's called romantic fiction for a reason!

    One of my favourite reluctant couples is Alyssa Locke and Sam Starrett from Suz Brockmann's fabulous Troubleshooters series. Actually most of her reluctant couples are fab - including Jules and Robin.

    SEP does wonderful reluctant couples too - Natural Born Charmer is one of my all-time favourites, but I love all her Chicago Stars books.

    Susan Mallery's reluctant couples are always great too. Oh and Lisa Gardner's another fave!

    Another favourite pair is from Deirdre Martin's Total Heat - the fireman and the new-ager!

    I'll add my vote for Castle ... and for Hepburn and Tracy ... and Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn in Charade.

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  40. Congrats on Money, Honey.
    I just finished Anna Campbell's My Reckless Surrender. I can't get Ashcroft and Diana off my mind. Fabulous book.

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  41. Hey, Susan! Congrats on Money, Honey being on the shelves. It must be a thrill seeing your name on the cover, and going, "That's mine!" I'd probably squeal every time I saw it, which would undoubtedly cause people to stare. *g*

    I have to agree with Castle and Beckett. I love that show!! Can't wait till it comes back on in the fall.

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  42. Andrea wrote: I'm so excited for the release of MONEY, HONEY! I have read it and loved it. In fact, I am featuring it as one of our Beach Bag reviews next week. It's the perfect beach read!

    Oh, Andrea, that's SO great to hear! I'm excited about the Beach Bag review, of course, but just to hear that somebody read it & really liked it? After all those years of rejection? It's enough to make this grown up cry. Happy tears, though. The happiest. :-)

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  43. Anna S wrote: One of my favourite reluctant couples is Alyssa Locke and Sam Starrett from Suz Brockmann's fabulous Troubleshooters series. Actually most of her reluctant couples are fab - including Jules and Robin.

    Oh, Sam & Alyssa. *sigh* The first Suz Brockmann I ever read was the one with the handcuffs & the chocolate & the shower with Sam & Alyssa....

    Let's just say I remember it fondly. :-)

    And Jules & Robin have always made me so happy. They're just so...charming. I think SB has such a gift for dialogue, don't you?

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  44. Runner10 wrote:Congrats on Money, Honey.
    I just finished Anna Campbell's My Reckless Surrender. I can't get Ashcroft and Diana off my mind. Fabulous book.


    Oh, Anna Campbell. I do love her. :-) I can't wait to pick up My Reckless Surrender. Every time I see that gorgeous cover I think, "Must...have...."

    There may be a trip to the book store in my afternoon.

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  45. Gannon Carr wrote: It must be a thrill seeing your name on the cover, and going, "That's mine!"

    Um, guilty. :-) Yeah, I've done that. My husband's worse, though. He grabs total strangers. "My wife wrote this book!"

    And friends have been emailing me pictures when they find it on the shelves & I squee ever time I open the email.

    Yeah, I'm pretty calm about this whole thing.

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  46. Hi! Congrats on your debut release!

    I, too, thought of Remington Steele first. I think I still have a poster of Pierce Brosnan in a tux somewhere. :) (never got into "Moonlighting" though)

    SEP and Lisa Kleypas have some rather great reluctant lovers in their books.

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  47. Congrats Susan!!

    I have to agree with PJ...Laura Holt and Remington Steele had great chemistry, as did Hepburn and Tracy in "Desk Set", Kathleen and Joe in "You've Got Mail", Grace Kelly and Cary Grant in "To Catch a Thief".

    Loved the "Gilmore Girls' because of the the snappy dialogue and Luke was pretty hubba hubba in that "every man" kind of way. :) I finished "Something About You" a couple of weeks ago. Julie James does terrific dialogue.
    Just ordered a couple of copies of Money Honey on Amazon..for me and one for my CP. Enjoy your big launch!
    Jen

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  48. I really liked how hard it was for the protags to get together in 'Romancing the Stone'. Such a fun movie! Sounds like this would be just as much.

    Now going to go look at the other top ten responses!

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  49. Hello,

    Congrats on the new book. I watch a couple of soap operas (now, that's a reality escape) and I feel they always have some of those characters that start off hating each other and end up falling in love. It's always so much fun to watch. Simon and Katie from As the World Turns come to mind. In books, I have to agree with the commentators that mentioned one of my all time favorite couples -Sam & Alyssa. Love their dynamic. Another couple, that fits the bill is Griff Powell & Nicole Baxter from Beverly Barton's romantic suspense books. I really enjoy reading books with great banter and dialogue between the main couple.

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  50. Congratulations on your debut release! It sounds great!
    I have to say Castle and Beckett.

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  51. Hey Susan!!! Sorry I'm late to the party -- it was a long day at work. Congrats on the release!!!! I have heard some really great things about it (but I knew it would be great coming from a Bandit!!) I'm looking forward to getting my hands on a copy of it :-)

    I guess I need to go along with everyone else and say Rick and Kate from Castle. It is such a great show!! You really need to watch it. The banter sort of reminds me of Moonlighting.

    LOL @ your comment on your children being spaced out 3.5 years. Mine are 2 months shy of 4 years apart. I don't think my mental health could have handled having them closer together.

    I think it is so sweet that your hubby is so excited and tells strangers about the book. A supportive spouse means the world when achieving your dreams.

    Looking forward to seeing you in Orlando

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  52. I agree with Barbara about Castle - also Bones. It's nice to know that a nice girl can find love with a hunk!

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  53. I love all of Christy Reece's couples, but a few stand out to me; Skylar James and Gabe Maddox and McKenna Sloan and Lucas Cain. Both sets have to overcome some unbelievable obstacles to be together.

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  54. Hurray for Susan and MONEY,HONEY!! I don't read contemps much, but look forward to getting your debut novel.

    I don't have a specific reluctant hero or heroine, but Suzanne Enoch does a really good job of writing about rakes of the first order who are reluctant to fall in love. Her heroes tend to do so slowly, but then BAM! They know they love the heroine and woo them accordingly.

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  55. New book releases give me goosebumps, because I think maybe someday my book will be gracing a shelf. In a romance, the main characters playfully tussle having their own tug-to-war. The ebb and flow of making up keeps the action hopping and hoping.

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  56. Well, I really can'tthink of any reluctant lovers at the moment. The book looks great and I'd love a chance to win it. Good luck and congratulations!

    mlawson17 at hotmail dot com

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  57. cories wrote: I think I still have a poster of Pierce Brosnan in a tux somewhere. :)

    Oh, you must put it up somewhere! I'll never forget how thrilled I was when Pierce Brosnan got the James Bond role for a while. He was such a suave, elegant Bond. I loved him. *happy sigh*

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  58. Pink Peony/Jen wrote: I have to agree with PJ...Laura Holt and Remington Steele had great chemistry, as did Hepburn and Tracy in "Desk Set", Kathleen and Joe in "You've Got Mail", Grace Kelly and Cary Grant in "To Catch a Thief".


    Oh, now you've got me jonsing for a black & white movie fix! I haven't seen "To Catch a Thief" in ages!

    And thanks so much for picking up Money, Honey! I really hope you like it!

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  59. M. wrote: I really liked how hard it was for the protags to get together in 'Romancing the Stone'. Such a fun movie! Sounds like this would be just as much.

    Oh, Romancing the Stone. I loved that movie--Joan Wilder? The Joan Wilder? We *love* Joan Wilder!

    Who knew third world mercenaries loved romance novels? :-)

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  60. Susan, thank you so much for visiting with us today! We wish you all the best with the release of Money, Honey and look forward to seeing you in Orlando. You will be there, right?

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  61. Jennifer wrote: Another couple, that fits the bill is Griff Powell & Nicole Baxter from Beverly Barton's romantic suspense books. I really enjoy reading books with great banter and dialogue between the main couple.

    Ooooh, I haven't read any Beverly Barton yet! I'm going to have to pick that up. I'm a sucker for romantic suspense with great banter. :-)

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  62. chey wrote: Congratulations on your debut release! It sounds great!
    I have to say Castle and Beckett.


    Thanks, Chey! I'm pretty excited.

    And this is a lot of vote for Castle. I might have to break down & just start watching.

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  63. Buffie wrote: LOL @ your comment on your children being spaced out 3.5 years. Mine are 2 months shy of 4 years apart. I don't think my mental health could have handled having them closer together.

    Tell me about it. Sheesh. My mental health is still on pretty shaky ground & the kids are 3 & 7 now.

    Which is all the more reason I'm so looking forward to Orlando & seeing all of you guys! Only a couple more weeks now....

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  64. Let us go way back for a reluctant couple and take the two lead characters in the movie AFRICAN QUEEN played by Katharine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart.

    I'm with you, there are times when I want to read something just for fun. I don't need realistic, I have enough of that in my own life. I want to escape, laugh and dream.

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  65. kmt1976 wrote: I agree with Barbara about Castle - also Bones. It's nice to know that a nice girl can find love with a hunk!

    I know. It sort of restores a girl's faith in the universe, doesn't it? :-)

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  66. Kellijo23 wrote: I love all of Christy Reece's couples, but a few stand out to me; Skylar James and Gabe Maddox and McKenna Sloan and Lucas Cain. Both sets have to overcome some unbelievable obstacles to be together.

    I have a Christie Reece making its way to the top of my TBR pile as we speak. JR Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood has temporarily eclipsed that pile but I'm sure Ms. Reese will surface again soon, especially with that recommendation!

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  67. Deb wrote: Suzanne Enoch does a really good job of writing about rakes of the first order who are reluctant to fall in love. Her heroes tend to do so slowly, but then BAM! They know they love the heroine and woo them accordingly.

    Now that's what I like to see--a man who knows what he wants and goes after with some verve! I haven't read any Suzanne Enoch in ages but I might just reacquaint myself with her books after that.

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  68. Sunnymay wrote: New book releases give me goosebumps, because I think maybe someday my book will be gracing a shelf.

    I just did my first book signing tonight & told a really wonderful group of readers & writers about the five long years I wrote into the void without any encouragement from the publishing world. It was a dream come true, absolutely. I wish the same for you! Keep writing!

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  69. Martha Lawson wrote: The book looks great and I'd love a chance to win it. Good luck and congratulations!

    Thanks, Martha! Good luck!

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  70. PJ wrote: Susan, thank you so much for visiting with us today! We wish you all the best with the release of Money, Honey and look forward to seeing you in Orlando. You will be there, right?

    I absolutely will be there! I wouldn't miss the chance to participate in my first ever literacy signing! Plus I'm jonsing to hang out with all you Romance Dish ladies! Looking forward to seeing you all there!

    Thanks a ton for having me today! I had so much fun with you all, & can't imagine a better launch for my precious baby.

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  71. librarypat wrote: Let us go way back for a reluctant couple and take the two lead characters in the movie AFRICAN QUEEN played by Katharine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart.

    Oh, I loved that movie! Then again, I love pretty much anything Katharine Hepburn's in. I just saw the Philadelphia Story for the first time last summer & was completely in love.

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  72. I love these interviews! Great concept with the top 10. I've been to each site now, reading them all. With most other author blog tours, I usually only read a few (or just one).

    Looking forward to the others!

    Tami

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  73. Elizabeth & Darcy were a bit reluctant. Look how well that turned out! Julie James', Practice Makes Perfect had a h/H that knocked heads and "hated" one another. Loved it.

    I want to read MONEY, HONEY so badly! Keeping fingers crossed! Thanks :)

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