Monday, April 14, 2014

Today's Special - - Juliana Stone


PJ here.  It's my pleasure to welcome Juliana Stone back to The Romance Dish.  I've been a fan of Juliana's writing since the publication of her debut and eagerly await each new book she writes. Whether it's paranormal, contemporary or young adult, Stone's character-driven stories never fail to engage and satisfy me. Describing herself as an "80's geek," Juliana indulges her passion for music by singing in a band in which her husband plays guitar.  A Canadian, Juliana also has a passion for hockey.   

You can find out more about Juliana and her books at her website and connect with her online at Facebook and Twitter. Please give Juliana a warm Romance Dish welcome!




Welcome back, Juliana!  Congratulations on the release of The Day He Kissed Her, the third book in your Bad Boys of Crystal Lake series.  Please tell our readers about this series and what they can expect from the new book.

Bad Boys of Crystal Lake - Book 3
Hey PJ! Glad to be back at one of my favorite online places and thanks for the congrats.  I think a lot of people were looking forward to Mac’s book and I’m so glad it’s finally here!  The idea for the series came about after I decided to write a trilogy based on three Bon Jovi songs.  This last book, The Day He Kissed Her, was originally titled Lay Your Hands On Me.  This tied in perfectly with my tortured and abused Mackenzie Draper. I wanted to write about three guys, lifelong friends and this series was perfect for that.

I love the bond that these friends share and you can count me among those who have been waiting for Mac's story.  I didn't know about the Bon Jovi tie-in!


Mac and Lily are both complex, emotionally wounded characters with no interest in a happily-ever-after.  What would you like readers to understand about each of them and what convinced you that they belonged together? 

I’ve always been attracted to books and movies about broken people. I’m one of those readers who loves to cry when they read. And this series has dealt with some pretty intense subject matter.  Death. Broken families. Lost love. Childhood abuse.  Abuse in a marriage.  The trick is to balance the darkness with some light and that’s what I love about writing contemporary romance.  For Mac, he’s been the victim of abuse at the hands of his father and he truly believes that if he had a family he would become his father. So, he’s decided it’s not for him. And Lily, well, she’s had her own demons as well, rooted in a very dysfunctional family. On some level she doesn’t believe she’ll find true love and with Mac thinking he doesn’t deserve it, they’ve got some challenges. That’s what makes their HEA all the more satisfying. Watching them grow (especially Mac) and finally accept that love does have a place in their lives and that even though a lot of us are a product of our upbringing, there are those strong enough to break the chanins.


You'll be happy to know that I cried right along with you while reading Mac and Lily's story.


Bad Boys of Crystal Lake - Book 1
I’ve fallen in love with the people of Crystal Lake and would love to see more of certain secondary characters still in search of a happy ending.  Will there be more books in this series?  Any hints about future stories that you can share?

Well, your timing is impeccable. We’re just now talking about more books so I’ll have more information on that in a few weeks, but for me personally, I’d love to see Becca (Mac’s sister) find a man worthy of her love.  And how about our mayor, Blair Hubber?

Yay!  You've made me a very happy reader!  :)


You’ve shared your thoughts about your characters.  Now let’s flip the tables.  What would your Crystal Lake bad boys – and their lovely ladies – have to say about you?  Anything that readers would be surprised to discover about you?

Oh!  Good question.  I think they would find a girl who loves family, friends and red wine! LOL, I love baseball, hockey and I hate peas. I talk to myself (a lot) and would like to skydive one day.

I think we’ve all fantasized about stepping into the shoes of our favorite heroine or being romanced by our favorite hero.  If you could step into the life of any fictional character (with an escape hatch back to your current life, of course) who would you choose and why?

Have you read the Fever series by Karen Marie Moning? (if not you’re missing out on the best urban fantasy ever) The hero Jericho Barons is freaking off the charts alpha hot.  I would love to be Mac, the heroine just so that I could have some alone time with the very lickable Barons.

Ooh, good choice!  KMM writes some incredible heroes, doesn't she?  


What’s your current favorite book by an author other than you?

Alexander from The Bronze Horseman. Oh that man gives me the swoons. Again, if you’ve not read The Bronze Horseman you need to!

I have a copy but haven't gotten around to reading it yet. Still looking for those extra reading hours in the day so I can work through my tbr mountain. 


Bad Boys of Crystal Lake - Book 2
Will you be attending any conferences or book signings where readers will have an opportunity to meet you this year? 

I am going to be in New Orleans for RT, and will be signing my young adult novel, BOYS LIKE YOU as well as The Day He Kissed Her (I believe)  I’ll also be in Texas for RWA and will be signing there as well (and looking forward to seeing you PJ!)

I can't make RT but I'll be at RWA.  Looking forward to catching up!


What’s next from Juliana Stone? 

Lots!  I just finished writing my second young adult novel and am working on JACK, which is book 2 in my self published series, The Family Simon. After that I am looking at more Crystal Lake books!

News that makes my reader's heart happy. :)

Thanks so much for visiting with us today, Juliana.  Would you like to ask our readers a question?

I’d love to know what their most anticipated read of the year is!

Great question!  Readers, one person who leaves a comment on today's post will receive a copy of The Day He Kissed Her

36 comments:

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    1. Good to go.

      I'm hoping to read THE WINDS OF WINTER by George RR Martin sometime this year.

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    2. You and me both!!! Did you watch GOT last night? :-)

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  2. Congratulations Juliana on your new book! I enjoy stories with wounded characters who find happiness. I'm looking forward to Hard Time by Cara McKenna that's out this week.

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  3. I was given a copy of the first book in this series and LOVED it. So of course I glommed everything I could find. Just finished Tucker and he was yummy!! Looking forward to It Happened One Wedding Julie James.

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  4. Is it cheating if my most anticipated read isn't a romance? It's Lee Child's Personal, a Jack Reacher mystery/suspense book. In romance, my top choice would be the fall release Brown-Eyed Girl, by Lisa Kleypas. It seems like it's been forever since she had a new novel!

    Your newest sounds great. Thanks for visiting with us today.

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    1. Of course that isn't cheating! I love mystery/suspense too. If fact, one of my anticipated books is a straight suspense novel.

      Like you, I'm also looking forward to Brown-Eyed Girl!

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  5. Closer Than You Think by Karen Rose

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    1. Jcp, I'm sure you're one of many anticipating that book!

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  6. I'm so happy to learn that there will be more Crystal Creek books. I knew Blair Hubber had hero potential.

    I have a long, long list of books I am eagerly awaiting between now and December. But if I have to choose one as most anticipated, I'll go with Sarah MacLean's fourth Rules for Scoundrels novel, Never Judge a Lady by Her Cover. I know I'm not alone in thinking November 25 seems too long to wait for Chase's story.

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    1. I share your enthusiasm for Crystal Lake, Janga!

      There are many books I'm anticipating this year. Never Judge a Lady by Her Cover is right at the top of that list!

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  7. I look forward to this book as I have enjoyed the previous ones. I look forward to reading Evening Stars by Susan Mallery.

    Patoct

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    1. Hope you enjoy it, Patoct. It's a wonderful addition to the series.

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  8. I'm looking forward to this year's Susan Mallery Fool's Gold trilogy. Always at the top of my Must Read!

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  9. Actually mine has already arrived, WULFE UNTAMED by Pamela Palmer since who knows when book 3 in the Vamp City series will be here. I also always look forward to ones by this wonderful new contemporary author who use to write awesome paranormal, I believe her name is Juliana Stone.
    So are we ever going to get any more paranormal, my dear? :-)

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    1. Hey Amy! you are too sweet :-) As for more paranormals, I'd love to add some more books to the League of Guardians but it's finding the time that's hard.

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    2. I'm with you, Amy. I love Juliana's contemporaries but I'd love more of her paras too!

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  10. I would have to say my most anticipated reads are: JR Ward's The King, Laurell K Hamilton's A Shiver of Light, and Samantha Young's A Fall From India Place. Those are my top 3 so far of this year. I am also a big fan of Juliana's books. I love the Barker Triplets series and loved Tucker. Definitely looking forward to more of that series. I have not had a chance to read any of the newest series, but love the covers and love to read about some sexy Bad Boys from Crystal Lake.

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    1. I'm not familiar with Samantha Young. Off to check her out!

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    2. Samantha Young write NAish books. I loved On Dublin Street, :-)

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  11. I'm not sure what is being released this year, so I will just say books by some of my favorite authors: Shana Galen, Anna Campbell, Nora Roberts, Susan Mallery, and Julie James, to name a few.

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    1. Julie James has one coming out this spring and Anna Campbell has one coming out in the fall. I'm looking forward to both!

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  12. I haven't read that many severely broken characters, but when I did, I found novels w/ issue like childhood and marriage abuse very intense to read when it's part of hero or shero's past. But it's quite satisfying in the end when it's a HEA ending, thanks goodness for that ending, or else I would be too emotionally involved, got really mad, etc. One such author who delivered such stories (that I read) was Lisa Kleypas's contemporary series. Others that I found in HR would be something like war wounds, traumas, disfigured, etc which would be easier to deal w/ as a reader. I've never read your novels yet, but you would be another one of my "new author n book to read". ;)

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    1. Dotland, I highly recommend Juliana's books. She's very talented at writing emotional intensity and her happy endings are very satisfying!

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  13. I am looking forward to reading Cavendon Hall by Barbara Taylor Bradford.

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    1. I haven't read one of her books in years. I may need to take a look at her new one.

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  14. Oh oh, Kresley Cole's "Dark Skye"! I'm a huge fan of hers, she was one of the very first romance authors I read that got me hooked and I've been waiting for this book for a long time!!

    Also - I've had "The Day He Kissed Her" on my to-read list for a while now too! I love the sound of it, I can't wait to read it too! :)

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    1. Good one! I am in need of a good shot of paranormal, it's been awhile :-)

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  15. I have really enjoyed Elizabeth Hoyt's Maiden Lane Series. I have DUKE OF MIDNIGHT but haven't been able to get to it yet. I look forward to reading it and the next one coming out about Artemis's brother, Apollo. This series has a touch of a gothic feel to it which I enjoy.

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  16. Even though I don't want it to end, I'm looking forward to the last three books in the Lucky Harbor series by Jill Shalvis.

    I have the first two books in Juliana's series and am looking forward to reading this third one. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.

    Marcy Shuler

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    1. Ah, I hope you enjoy Kissed! Mac sure deserved his HEA

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  17. All of Robyn Carr's new ones! Love her.
    Natalie's Mama
    lovesthemets@yahoo.com

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  18. Congrats Juliana on the new release!!! Right off the top of my head, I'd have to say the new releases by Kevin Hearne and Ilona Andrews :) And btw, Game of Thrones is setting up to be awesome this year!!! :)

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  19. I love your books . Congratulations on your success and thank you for the contest

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