Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Today's Special - - Jeanne Adams

I'm so excited to welcome Jeanne Adams back to The Romance Dish. Jeanne is quickly making her mark as the immensely talented creator of thrilling romantic suspense novels.  A former marketing executive, Jeanne also has degrees in interior design and landscape design, worked in the funeral and cemetery business for several years and teaches classes on fascinating topics such as Body Disposal. Is it any wonder she's a successful suspense writer? For more information about Jeanne, check out her website here. You can also connect with her at facebook, twitter and at Romance Bandits where she's a regular blogger. Please give Jeanne a warm welcome!



Hi Jeanne! Congratulations on the release of Deadly Little Lies! I'm so excited to finally have Dav and Carrie's story.  What can readers expect from this book?

A roller-coaster ride! Grins. Seriously, the fun of Deadly Little Lies is the fast pace and the non-stop action. The hero and heroine, Carrie and Davros have known one another for awhile, so they don’t need to have “get to know you” time. Given that, it was easy to plunge them right into the action, put them in jeopardy, and make them work for each other. Nothing like some mortal danger to put your priorities in order, right?

This book covers a lot of territory, both geographically and with the local, state, federal and private agencies (plus a few “unofficial” players) that come together to save the day. What kind of research did you have to do to make sure their individual, and combined, roles were realistic?

Oh, I had so much fun with this! Since my first book, Dark and Dangerous, involved the FBI, I’d done that research, and some on the US Marshal’s service which handles witness protection. I spent a lot of time talking with my local DC police detective pals about inter-agency cooperation, although they didn’t want to be credited in the book. Grins. Some of it was intuitive though, in that I’d set it up as a follow up book to Deadly Little Secrets. The book stands alone, but the characters already knew each other from Deadly Little Secrets – that made cooperation easy. With the research that I’d done for Deadly Little Secrets regarding the CIA, that played in as well. Now, we’ll have to see if you and readers think I made it realistic…

It seemed realistic to me!  I was so glad to see Dav and Carrie get their happy ending but you sure threw some dandy obstacles in their way. Forcing Dav into a situation where he had to face a longstanding fear - which just happens to be one of my worst fears – had my heart racing right along with his. Do you ever scare yourself when you’re writing scenes like that?

I really, really tortured them, didn’t I? I did scare myself a bit because I’m not particularly fond of closed in spaces either. What kept me at it though, is I kept wondering what happens to a person who’s been successful in virtually every other area of his life – the man who has everything – when he’s caught in this kind of nightmare? Does he bend? Does he break? Then I would rub my hands together in glee and write on.

Without going into too much detail (for people who haven’t read the books yet), you managed to take a secondary character from Deadly Little Secrets who did very bad things and, without changing his basic character, turn him into someone I actually cheered for. (which, quite frankly, shocks me) Was his character arc preplanned or did he surprise you with his evolution over the two books? Did you find yourself cheering for him too? 

He does do bad things, doesn’t he? Bwahahaha! He surprised me, he really did. (Which will tell you that the answer is no, I didn’t preplan him.) He was a bad guy, and remained a bad guy throughout both books. He’s got his own sense of things, his own code, obviously.

When my editor said “Oh, my gosh, I did not see THAT coming,” at the end of Deadly Little Secrets, I knew I had something in Jurgens. (By the way, I hadn’t seen it coming either, the way he evolved.) Then, my editor said, “He IS going to be in Deadly Little Lies, right?”

Ummmmm, yes? Hahah! So he became a central feature of what happened in Deadly Little Lies.

You’re a very busy lady, what with all the “life plates” you have to juggle on a daily basis. What are your favorite ways to relax when you manage to score some “me” time?

Wait…there’s supposed to be me time? Why didn’t anyone tell me!?! Hahah! With hubs and kids and writing and “stuff” I do manage to stay busy, but it IS really important to gets some time to refill the well, as they say. I read a lot – everything from Clive Cussler to all the Romance Bandits to Tolkien. I just finished re-reading C.L. Wilson’s Lord of the Fading Lands series. OMGosh, that’s a GOOD series of books. I also walk a lot. We have two dogs and I get my exercise that way, and plenty of thinkin’ time. Grins.


Your books have placed you on the favorite authors list of many readers (including me!). Who are the authors you most enjoy reading?

Oh, thank you so much, PJ. I tell you, that is the greatest compliment any writer can have, to be among people’s “favorites,” so thanks!

As to my favorites, I have so many. How much time do you have? Ha! I love all the books by the Romance Bandits, of course. I love to read across a lot of genres too. As I mentioned, I loved that CL Wilson series. My fellow Kensington authors Lisa Jackson, and Sylvia Day. Fantasy authors Mercedes Lackey and Anne McCaffrey are in my “I have every book they’ve ever written” category, as are Nora Roberts and Andre Norton. Kathy Reich’s forensic thrillers are an auto-buy, as are books by Jo Davis, Laura Gilman, and a whole ton of others. I also read a lot of non-fiction as well.

As I said, how much time do you have? Hahah!

September heralds the beginning of my favorite season of the year: College Football Season! What’s your favorite season and why?

FOOOOOTBALLLL!!! Love me some football! You’ve hit on my favorite season as well – football season! – and Fall. I love Fall and Winter best because I’m very hot natured and I just feel better in Fall and Winter. I have to hibernate in late summer (now) because the heat’s too much for me.  And Halloween is my favorite holiday so yep, FALL!

What’s up next?

I’m about to turn in a non-fiction book for Llewellyn Publishing on Magic Brooms. Grins. And now, I’m talking with Kensington about a new series. I’ll keep you posted….

Thanks so much for visiting with us today, Jeanne. Do you have a question for our readers?

I’d love to ask the Romance Dish readers a question…..In Deadly Little Lies, Dav and Carrie are kidnapped on their first date. What was your worst first date, and what was your best? And if you were kidnapped with your man-of-choice (real or imagined), what would be the worst place and/or the best place to be stranded?

Ooh, good question!  Jeanne has graciously offered a signed copy of Deadly Little Secrets to one randomly chosen person leaving a comment on today's blog!

~PJ

87 comments:

  1. Great interview! Thanks!

    I think all my dates were OK, nothing extraordinary. With my dream man (the real one I have :) I'd love to be stranded on a desert island. It just sounds almost like a vacation :)

    natalija (dot) shkomare (at) gmail (dot) com

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  2. Happy Release Day, Jeanne. Luckily I've never had a horrible date. They were pretty low key and mellow. I wouldn't mind being stranded on an island with Bear Grylls from Man vs. Wild. I can look to him to find us food and find a way back civilization.

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  3. lol...very interesting questions. All the dates i have been on have been ok....pretty basic...nothing spectacular. i would love to be stranded on a resort island. I love my creature comforts.

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  4. Woot, couldn't wait on this one to show up.

    Worst date was my junior prom, met him at the door, we walked in together and I didn't see him again.

    I think if I must be stranded with a date somewhere (oh please be a hunter) the jungle maybe?? At least there would be food. Of course there would be a lot of other creatures thinking we were food for them so maybe not.

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  5. Aloha, Jeanne! Come relax in Hawaii - I'm sure we can find some drama to inspire your next book!

    And I have started posting "what to do" for your sister's future trip!

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  6. Natalija, I like your desert island fantasy - as long as it comes with a four-star resort. I like my creature comforts. ;-)

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  7. Jane said, Luckily I've never had a horrible date.

    Jane, you are one lucky woman! I hope it stays that way!

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  8. i would love to be stranded on a resort island. I love my creature comforts.

    Right there with you, Sonali! :)

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  9. Worst date was my junior prom, met him at the door, we walked in together and I didn't see him again.

    Ouch! Teenage boys can be so totally clueless, can't they? Definitely his loss! I hope you were able to have a good time without him, Dianna.

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  10. Aloha, Jeanne! Come relax in Hawaii - I'm sure we can find some drama to inspire your next book!

    Hi Kim! I think we'd all like to come relax in Hawaii. I know I would! :)

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  11. Good Morning everyone! Thanks for stopping by today. I'm getting my kidders off to school, then I'll be back to answer posts. :)

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  12. Morning, Jeanne! Is today their first day of the school year? Are they excited or mourning the end of summer?

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  13. Great interview, PJ and Jeanne! Happy New Book Release Day, Jeanne! I wish you soaring sales and raving readers.

    I had my share of bad dates. The worst is a tossup between the guy who, for four excruciatingly boring hours, told me every detail of every action movie he'd ever seen and the guy who rarely raised his eyes above my chest.

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  14. My worst first date, hands down, was also my first, and only, blind date. The guy was a good friend of my college roommate's fiance (should have been my first clue) and in town for the weekend. When they picked us up at the dorm I discovered my date was one week out of Viet Nam and I was his first post-combat date. (clue number two) We went to a party at somebody's apartment. When I left, my very drunk date was dirty dancing on a table with a very friendly blonde. My roommate spent the next two years apologizing. ;-)

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  15. Hi Natalija! I love your name. :) I'm with you about the dream man - I'm lucky enough to have one. I think I'd go for tropical, or even a nice cool-breezed NC island, but either way, you're right. (I'm not great with the heat...so no desert for me!) Vacation though? Definately. Grins.

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  16. Hi Jane! *waving madly* Thanks for stopping in!

    Wow, you ARE lucky if you've never had a horrible date. ANd your choice of men to be stranded with...excellent. He's not only cute, he's handy. Ha!

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  17. Now Sonali, you're a woman after my own heart. A resort island. Perfect.

    Heehee. Thanks for stopping in!

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  18. Hey Dianna! Thanks for popping in! And thanks for being eager for Deadly Little Lies.

    You said: Worst date was my junior prom, met him at the door, we walked in together and I didn't see him again.

    *wince* That is pretty bad. One of my worst proms was when I was a sophmore and dating a Jr. I went to his prom with him - dress, tux, limo, flowers - after having had both a tetanus shot and a pennicillin shot in my bum. Could only sit on one cheek the whole night. We had fun dancing as it was MUCH more comfy to be upright than sitting. Ha!

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  19. Aloha, Kim! I would love to come relax in Hawaii. It's so gorgeous there.

    And thanks for the ideas for my Sis! (I turned to the ever-knowledgable Kim when my sister said she'd like to go to Hawaii! What better person to say what's good to do and what's a waste of time, than someone who knows it like Kim does!)

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  20. Mornin' PJ! Has it stopped raining down your way yet? Hasn't here yet. Ugh.

    You said to Dianna: Ouch! Teenage boys can be so totally clueless, can't they? Definitely his loss! I hope you were able to have a good time without him, Dianna.

    I hope she did too. And yes, teenage boys can be TOTALLY clueless, can't they? Yikes. My eldest isn't to his teens yet, but sometimes the way his brain works...or doesn't... Yeah, and they think WE'RE mysterious! Ha!

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  21. PJ said: Morning, Jeanne! Is today their first day of the school year? Are they excited or mourning the end of summer?

    They actually started back last Monday (sing Hallelujah!!!), which was chaotic, but good. Both boys were actually sad to see summer end on one hand - pool closing, no more summer camp or sleeping late - but excited on the other hand. They both are being bussed this year as they're in holding schools while their regular schools are being renovated. They're liking that.

    My eldest puts it this way: during the summer, he can see only one or two friends at a time, maybe four or five at the pool. During the school day, he can hang with ALL his buddies...

    Yeah, he's an extrovert. Don't know where he got that from. *whistles, looks innocent*

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  22. Janga said: Great interview, PJ and Jeanne! Happy New Book Release Day, Jeanne! I wish you soaring sales and raving readers.

    Thanks, Janga! From your pen to the reading public's purse, briefcase, nook, kindle or e-reader! Hahaha! Y'know, you just can't say that old "from your mouth to God's ear" thing anymore. Gotta adjust it for modern tech. Heehee.

    And OMGosh on the date with the action movie fetish. That would have been horrible, although I do love action movies, I don't want a 4-hr recap! yikes!

    And the chest thing...yeah, so attractive when they do that, isn't it? NOT!

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  23. PJ said; When they picked us up at the dorm I discovered my date was one week out of Viet Nam and I was his first post-combat date.

    OMGosh. That would have been...oh, my. Yeah. Hope he enjoyed the very friendly blonde. Grins.

    I really dislike blind dates. Urg. I only had one of them where the date was nice. The problems came later when I told the guy on the third date that I just didn't think we were compatible.... Then he turned stalker-ish. Ugh.

    Anybody have a GOOD blind date experience?

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  24. Jeanne, the very worst part of that date? Not fifteen minutes after I told my roommate I'd go, the guy I'd been crushing on for the past year called and invited me to go skiing with a group that same weekend. Of course, I had to decline because I'd promised my roomie but, boy howdy, did that ever hurt!

    I'm off to spend some quality time with my hair stylist. Back in a little while! :)

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  25. PJ said: Not fifteen minutes after I told my roommate I'd go, the guy I'd been crushing on for the past year called and invited me to go skiing with a group that same weekend.

    Oh, serious *wince*!!!

    Enjoy the hair dresser's! It's so lovely to go to the salon and get "fixed" isn't it? Grins.

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  26. Great interview, PJ and Jeanne!

    Deadly Little Lies was just delivered to my Kindle yesterday as I'd pre-ordered it! I'm so eager to start this book because I love the concept of a competent (in every way) man who has one tiny fear you'd never think of. Then making him face that fear? Yummm, good story!

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  27. Forgot to answer the question. Oooohhh, worst first date? I was 18, working on the army base near my home, and was asked out by one of the young lieutentants. I accepted and we went to the Officers Club (I thought I was so sophisticated). Let's just say I got in a little over my head and the date ended early. Uh, noooo, I'm not that kind of gal!

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  28. Hi Jo! Thanks for coming over to the Dish today!

    You said: I'm so eager to start this book because I love the concept of a competent (in every way) man who has one tiny fear you'd never think of. Then making him face that fear? Yummm, good story!

    Oooh, so nicely put. And thank you! :) How cool that it "delivered" to your Kindle! I've not gotten an e-reader yet but I'm going to have to "break down" and ask for one this Christmas, I think.

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  29. Jo said: I accepted and we went to the Officers Club (I thought I was so sophisticated). Let's just say I got in a little over my head and the date ended early. Uh, noooo, I'm not that kind of gal!


    Oh my! *wiggles eyebrows* Shades of Officer and a Gentleman! :) I only dated two men who were in the military. One was a decorated war vet who liked to talk about his war experiences a bit TOO much, exp. under the influence, the other, a really nice guy who got deployed after a couple of dates. Wonder what ever happened to him...

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  30. Hi Jeanne, thanks for a very interesting interview. You're a new Author to me, so it would be nice to win your book.

    My worst blind date ever was when I was 16. We had arranged to meet at a disco club. When I met him, I was mortified by what a freak he looked. Needless to say, I had gone prepared. I asked him to watch my handbag whilst I went to the toilet. Then, I skipped out the back way. My bag? Well, to tell the truth, my friends and I had picked up a few old bags at a jumble sale (to be used strictly for times like this),and it was also empty inside.

    dpd333 AT aol dot com

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  31. Hi Diane D! So glad you popped in today!

    Okay, I totally had to LOL. You said: I asked him to watch my handbag whilst I went to the toilet. Then, I skipped out the back way. My bag? Well, to tell the truth, my friends and I had picked up a few old bags at a jumble sale (to be used strictly for times like this),and it was also empty inside.

    That is just TOO funny!

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  33. Hey Jeanne! Can't wait to read my copy of Deadly Little Lies! Like Jo, my copy was auto delivered to my Kindle. Yippee!!

    Can't really say I had any "bad" dates. But I had a few boyfriends that had some bad traits. Mostly the kind that had tempers. Managed to get out of those relationships unscathed!

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  34. Hey Suz! Thanks for swinging over from the Romance Bandit's Lair! You've got a cool guest on there today. (Dragons are involved.)

    You said: Hey Jeanne! Can't wait to read my copy of Deadly Little Lies! Like Jo, my copy was auto delivered to my Kindle. Yippee!!

    I love this idea of "auto-delivery"! I have GOT to get an an ereader! :)

    And I'm glad you got out of the tempermental situations unscathed. :)

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  35. Great interview, Jeanne and PJ! A big WOO HOO on your latest fab book, Jeanne. :-)

    Fortunately, I never had any truly bad dates---feeling very lucky about that.

    A dream date with my dream man (could be either my hubby or Hugh Jackman) would be going to a private island where we would be waited on by a very discreet staff. *g*

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  36. Great interview!

    I think I'd like to be stranded on a tropical island complete with a five star resort and cabana boys. :P

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  37. It's been a while since I went on a date but I guess my worst date was when a man asked me out for dinner which turned into a group dinner because he had invited other friends of ours and then he pulled me aside and told me he couldn't afford to pay for my meal because he owed some of the other people in the group a meal...luckily I had cash with me and a credit card ...as far as a best date...none really stand out..just average dates for the most part...If I was kidnapped with my dream man...the best location would be a tropical island..lol...the worst would be antartica...Thanks for the contest!

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  38. Hi, Jeanne and PJ! Waving madly! What a great interview and interesting questions. Looking forward to reading Deadly Little Lies. My worst date was with a guy who had a crush on me all the way through junior high and high school. I went out with him as a favor to a friend. He took me to the drive-in and he spent the whole night talking about cars. Since I didn't really like him to begin with, that was the end.

    As far as a place to be kidnapped with my DH, it would have to be either Scotland, Australia, or France.

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  39. Hi, Jeanne! My worst first date, the guy brought his best friend along so he wouldn't feel awkward. What about me? I did feel awkward! I felt like I was on a date with a high school kid!

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  40. When you've been married as long as I have, you no longer remember dates. I can, however, speculate that if I were to be kidnapped, I'd want my partner to be Roarke, (from J.D.Robb's In Death series) for a couple of reasons. First, he'd probably already own whatever place we were stranded. Second, with his mad skills he'd surely be able to get us free in a nanosecond.

    And YAY for the other College Football Crazies out there. Isn't this just the best time of year?

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  41. Aww, Hey Gannon! You said, "fab book". I love that. *blush* How fun. Thank you. :>

    You also said: A dream date with my dream man (could be either my hubby or Hugh Jackman) would be going to a private island where we would be waited on by a very discreet staff. *g*

    Ohhhh, yeah. I like that idea. Discreet staff and all. Verrra nice.

    And I'm glad you've never had bad blind dates. I really am.

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  42. Hey Antonia!

    Thanks for stopping by!

    Oh, c'mon is it really stranded if: I think I'd like to be stranded on a tropical island complete with a five star resort and cabana boys. :P

    Be that as it may, though, with whom would love to be stranded??Grins.

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  43. Hi Jeanne (waving madly) -

    Hmm...dating was a long, long, long time ago. I can't even really say my husband and I "dated" as ours was a long distance relationship until we married. But I suppose if I were to be stranded - it better be somewhere with fully functioning restaurants, bookstores, and indoor plumbing. LOL. My "roughing it" days have long past.

    Love the excitement you pack in every book, Jeanne. Keep them coming.

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  44. Hey Maria!

    Brrr! Antartica! I thought about sending Dav and Carrie northward to Alaska...wild, uncharted. :>

    You said: my worst date was when a man asked me out for dinner which turned into a group dinner because he had invited other friends of ours and then he pulled me aside and told me he couldn't afford to pay for my meal because he owed some of the other people in the group a meal...luckily I had cash with me and a credit card ...

    Oh, now THAT is just wrong.

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  45. Hi Cathy!

    My worst date was with a guy who had a crush on me all the way through junior high and high school. I went out with him as a favor to a friend. He took me to the drive-in and he spent the whole night talking about cars. Since I didn't really like him to begin with, that was the end.

    OMGosh. That's awful. And at a drive-in? Eeek!

    But I do love your Chices of where to go on an abductiopn! Scotland....yep. Excellent.

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  46. Hey Margay! So lovely to see you over here at the Dish today!

    Okay, I can't help it, I LOL. You said: My worst first date, the guy brought his best friend along so he wouldn't feel awkward.

    OMGosh. Awkward all the way around, for everyone. *eye roll*

    So where would you like to get abducted to? Grins.

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  47. Hey LSUReader! Are you ready for some FOOOOOTTTBALLLL!?!?!

    Heehee. Love me some football. Your team's started out of the gate well so far. Just out that they've been named #2 in the AP Poll. Go Tigers!

    The reporter said it was wondered how they'd deal with the program's problems, and went on to say, "Deal they did, and hot they are."

    Now THAT's sayin' something. Grins.

    I root for two of the sorriest teams in the ACC when it comes to football - Duke and Carolina - although they've been making strides in recent years.

    My DH roots for Maryland, who changed their unis this year to some awful combo/color/ick thing to "reflect the MD-State Flag"

    Eeek.

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  48. Hey Donna! Another Romance Bandit pops in!

    You said: I suppose if I were to be stranded - it better be somewhere with fully functioning restaurants, bookstores, and indoor plumbing. LOL. My "roughing it" days have long past.

    Snork! Well, our discreetly staffed resorts seem to be popular...

    And thanks for your kind words!

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  49. Congratulations on your release!
    Worst dates for me are blind dates just because they're not for me. They tend to be awkward which isn't fun for anyone. Best dates for me are the simple ones where I feel comfortable and relaxed, such as staying home for a home-cooked meal. It's pretty endearing when a man shows off his cooking (or lack) of skills. I would love to be stranged in an old, isolated Scottish castles surrounded by fruit trees!

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  50. Wow, Jeanne's in the house and it's rockin'! Waving madly to my wonderful Romance Dish buddies.

    Jeanne, huge congratulations on the release of DEADLY LITTLE LIES. I adored DEADLY LITTLE SECRETS. Well, apart from the bit where I had dark circles under my eyes for a week because I had a sleepless night turning the pages to find out what happened next. I've learnt I don't start a Jeanne Adams book when I want to turn the light out after the first chapter and get some shut eye!

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  51. Hey Na! Thanks for poppin in!

    You said: It's pretty endearing when a man shows off his cooking (or lack) of skills. I would love to be stranded in an old, isolated Scottish castles surrounded by fruit trees!

    Oooh, nice place to be stranded!

    My DH - the wonderful man that he is - has three or four dishes in his repertoire. He dazzled me with Chicken Tettrazini, french bread, and (bagged) tossed salad, etc. I was VERY impressed. Grins.

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  52. Hey Anna! La Campbell's in da howz! LOVE it!

    You said: I've learnt I don't start a Jeanne Adams book when I want to turn the light out after the first chapter and get some shut eye!

    Heehee. I take that as the highest compliment. To be "unputdownable" (as RT called Deadly Little Lies), is the most wonderful thing a book can be. LOVE that. :>

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  53. I'm baaaaaack! Did ya miss me? *grin*

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  54. Hi Jo! *waving* Your book, The Watcher is almost to the top of my tbr!

    Had to chuckle at your worst date. There just seems to be something about those young, single military guys, eh? ;-)

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  55. LOL @ Diane D! How clever you were! I had a few dates in my young, single years when I could have benefited from some of those "throw-away" bags!

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  56. Hi Suz! You said, Can't really say I had any "bad" dates. But I had a few boyfriends that had some bad traits. Mostly the kind that had tempers. Managed to get out of those relationships unscathed!

    Very glad to hear that! You're much too sweet to be subjected to that. Honestly, nobody should be subjected to that!

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  57. A dream date with my dream man (could be either my hubby or Hugh Jackman) would be going to a private island where we would be waited on by a very discreet staff. *g*

    Ooh, I could definitely get into that! Um...Hugh, that is. Although your hubby is very appealing (he is, ladies), he is after all, your husband. Yes, I know Hugh is somebody's husband too but I don't know his wife so fantasizing about him is okay. *grin*

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  58. I think I'd like to be stranded on a tropical island complete with a five star resort and cabana boys. :P

    Excellent plan, Antonia!

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  59. LOL @ Maria! Yep, Antarctica would be pretty bad. lol

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  60. Cathy P said, As far as a place to be kidnapped with my DH, it would have to be either Scotland, Australia, or France.

    Ooh, all excellent choices. I'd take any of them...and add Italy to the list for flavor! :)

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  61. Margay said, My worst first date, the guy brought his best friend along so he wouldn't feel awkward. What about me? I did feel awkward! I felt like I was on a date with a high school kid!

    Yeah, that would be pretty bad. I remember a date in my teens that was overflowing with awkward. My then boyfriend and I doubled with his best friend and his date. When they arrived at my house to pick me up I discovered the best friend's date was my boyfriend's ex-girlfriend who still liked him and wanted him back. Yep. Awkward pretty much covers it. ;-)

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  62. LSUReader said, And YAY for the other College Football Crazies out there. Isn't this just the best time of year?

    YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!

    I watched the LSU vs Oregon game. Awesome!

    My alma mater (Michigan State) is #17 and my adopted school, Florida State (my brothers, niece,nephew, SIL, etc. went there)is doing very nicely at #5. Hope they keep it up!

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  63. Hi Donna! You said, I can't even really say my husband and I "dated"

    My dh and I never went on a date until after we were married though there were several occasions when he cooked for me at his apartment. I never really considered those "dates" though since his apt. was across from mine. ;-)

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  64. I root for two of the sorriest teams in the ACC when it comes to football - Duke and Carolina - although they've been making strides in recent years.

    Jeanne, you root for Duke and Carolina? What do your Duke and Carolina friends think of that? I know what my second generation, Carolina alum family-of-the-heart would say! lol!

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  65. Janga said, I had my share of bad dates. The worst is a tossup between the guy who, for four excruciatingly boring hours, told me every detail of every action movie he'd ever seen and the guy who rarely raised his eyes above my chest.

    LOL! I've never had the action-movie loving date but I sure can relate to the guy who spoke to your chest. ::Sigh::

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  66. PJ said: Jeanne, you root for Duke and Carolina? What do your Duke and Carolina friends think of that? I know what my second generation, Carolina alum family-of-the-heart would say! lol!

    Hahaha! My parents were both Carolina grads and rooted for the 'Heels, but I really, really like Duke. So....grins.

    I just shut my ears and go "lalalalalala" when they play each other. Hahaha!

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  67. It has been so long since I went on a date but I don't remember any really bad ones. The first one I went on with my husband was to a really lovely restaurant. I would want to be stranded in Hawaii since I have never been there.

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  68. Hey PJ! Honestly, nobody should be subjected to that!

    I had fairly even tempered parents, so I knew those guys, no matter how cute, were not going to be the ones to spend a life with.

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  69. Jeanne, the crazy thing was, I met him through my sister and her husband and they set up the date, so I already knew him! I never realized I was that intimidating!

    As for where I'd want to be abducted to, how about Ireland or Scotland? I'm a sucker for a good brogue.

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  70. Hey Jeanne!!! Welcome back!! Congrats on the new release.

    Hmmm, worse date ... would have to be the blind date my best friend (at the time) set me up on. See, she was meeting her boyfriend (who was hawt) at the movies and he was bringing a guy friend. I assumed the friend would be hawt too but sadly he wasn't. Nope, looked like a q-tip -- tall, skinny and with a bush full of hair. Sweaty palms too. Not the best date.

    As far as the best date ... I would have to say that would be next the one with hubby. It's always better than the last date ;-)

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  71. Hey Maureen! How fun, you said: The first one I went on with my husband was to a really lovely restaurant. I would want to be stranded in Hawaii since I have never been there.

    That's nice about your hubby. And hey, Hawaii, what's not to love? Grins.

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  72. Margay said: I never realized I was that intimidating!

    As for where I'd want to be abducted to, how about Ireland or Scotland? I'm a sucker for a good brogue.


    It's amazing to me what intimidates guys. If you ask them, once you know them, there's all kinds of things they say they were unsure about, and you're like...wha??? REally??? Grins

    I too am a sucker for a good brogue, btw....just sayin'

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  73. *waving madly* Hi, Jeanne!! We are so happy to have you with us today! Congrats on your newest release. I hope it flies off the shelves!

    What was your worst first date

    I was 15 and all he wanted was one thing and I wasn't down with that. Needless to say, I didn't go back out with him. Yuck.

    and what was your best?

    That's easy--with my husband when we were dating. Pretty much every date. :)

    And if you were kidnapped with your man-of-choice (real or imagined), what would be the worst place and/or the best place to be stranded?

    Well, my man of choice would be my husband and I think the best place to be stranded is at home. *g*

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  74. Hey Buffy! *Waving madly* I'll interrupt the blog fun to again say thanks to all of you over here at The Dish for having me on today!

    You said: I assumed the friend would be hawt too but sadly he wasn't. Nope, looked like a q-tip -- tall, skinny and with a bush full of hair. Sweaty palms too. Not the best date.

    Snork. A q-tip. Heehee. Poor guy, he probably thought he'd struck gold, getting to go on a date with you! Grins.

    Love that the "next date" is the best with your hubby. I love getting date night with mine too. Always fun.

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  75. Congrats on your new book I have been waiting to get it!!! Maybe this weekend...

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  76. Most of my dates were fine nothing really sticks out. I would love to be stuck on a desert island with the hunk of my dreams.

    lead[at]hotsheet[dot]com

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  77. Hey Andrea! *Waving madly back* And thanks to you too, for having me here at the Dish! You, PJ, Gannon and Buffy are da bomb! Grins.

    Had to LOL about the first date w/ the 15 y/o.

    And isn't it wonderful to love those dates with your hubby? Le Sigh. I wish I got more of them! It's hard when you live away from family and have no grandparents to sucker into watching the kids. Grins. We manage though! Heeehee.

    *wink, wink*

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  78. Hi DearDoe69!! Thank you!

    You said: Congrats on your new book I have been waiting to get it!!! Maybe this weekend...

    It's really a delight to know people have been waiting for this book. I'm just so excited and humbled by that. :>

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  79. Hi Virginia! So wonderful to see you over here today! And wouldn't it be fun to be "stuck" somewhere with the man of your dreams?

    I really like the idea of that secluded island - tropical, not desert - with "discreet staff" around. That way you could feel alone and not have to cook! Haha!

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  80. Jeanne, thanks so much for being with us today!

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  81. Worst date: I got sea sick as we sailed out of Sydney Harbour & into open ocean. I was wearing a strappy sun dress. I found myself below decks wearing someone's smelly pullover & vomiting. Not how I had visualised the day.

    Best date: still on water but inside the Harbour. We sailed around Sydney Harbour on ferries all night. It was magic!!

    Not the same date.

    Could I be stranded with Jeff Probst from Survivor please!! He looks capable!!!

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  82. THanks so much, PJ, and to all of the Dishers and friends, for such a wonderfully warm welcome today.

    I loved being here and hanging out and talking about first dates and wincing over q-tip-looking-awkward guy. Grins.

    (Poor man, somewhere, he's cringing and doesn't even know why)

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  83. Marybelle said: I found myself below decks wearing someone's smelly pullover & vomiting. Not how I had visualised the day.

    Ugh, now that IS a horrible date! Yikes! Bless you!

    But how fun that the really great date was on the water too, and could "erase" the memory (at least a little!) of the awful one. :>

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  84. I once subbed for a friend on a group date (I was going to go to bed early - fun college years, let me tell you). Unfortunately, I was tired so I wasn't as accommodating as I would have been and, as I found out later, the guy was way younger (one of those got-into-college-at-the-age-of-16 types). So he was way too shy and I just yakked at him. As I told his friends later, conversation with him was like pulling teeth (I want more than one word answers) and so I decided to entertain myself. Ugh. I hope he matured into a confident man.

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  85. "Be that as it may, though, with whom would love to be stranded??Grins."

    @ Jeanne: Just one person? :P Well at this moment I think I'll settle for the male cast of the upcoming Avengers movie. Yum!

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  86. Wow, PJ, you certainly had a busy day with that wonderful review and this engrossing interview.

    Congratulations on your new release, Jeanne. You can be sure that my interest is totally piqued!

    My worst date was the guy who would not go away. We went out only once and I knew he was not for me, but he kept calling and calling me for months! Maybe I should have been flattered, he would just not take no for an answer. I finally told him to stop calling and refused to take his calls. Thank goodness he finally got the idea.

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  87. Now as for my best date; that would be the date I had with a boyfriend who I had dated before for almost three years. He had stopped calling me because I was not ready for a serious relationship and marriage. After not calling me for a YEAR, he called to make a date for, of all things, Valentine's Day! We were narried the next spring and celebrated our 33rd anniversary this year. I guess I was/am hard to get, now anywhere we are together is wonderful

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