When Marly Hampton offers a handsome stranger a meal and a place to sleep, it's only for the weekend after he breaks down in her small town on the outskirts of the Smoky Mountains. But the mysterious Mitch Allen stirs emotions in her long thought buried. A widowed, single mom raising her son, Marly has no time for romance. Or is that about to change?
Mitch won't be staying in town any longer than it takes to repair his truck. The former Boston detective has hit the open road to run from painful memories. Falling in love is the last thing on his mind. When he's accused of murder, Mitch comes out of retirement not only to fight for his reputation but also for the woman who has opened his heart. Can they both face a past that stands in the way of their future before they lose what could be? Or will the evil lurking nearby succeed on destroying them?
Rated 5 Delightful Divas by Deb at Dark Diva Reviews:
"Christina James gives us, laughter, love, and heartbreak moments with tears... Let me just say Christina James has star quality. If you want a spicy book to enjoy please pick-up Operation: Spank Me as it's sure to add some sizzle to your reading library"
Rated 4 Ravens by Honey at Blackraven's Reviews:
"Finn and Emma! These two are sugar and spice and everything nice... and naughty. Operation: Spank Me takes these two characters on the ride of their lives... Christina James brings real emotion to these characters. I smiled, laughed and even cried while reading Finn and Emma's story."
4 Hearts from Marissa D. at Sizzling Hot Books:
"Make a Wish and Blow is a spicy erotica novel, that will have you breathing heavy, because of the heat between Daren and Cassandra... Make a Wish and Blow was a hot Dominate/submissive read... the chemistry and tension between Daren and Cassandra is off the charts."
Rated 4 Delightful Divas by Karyl at Dark Diva Reviews:
"If only all birthday wishes came true like they did for Cassandra. I am a huge fan of Christina James, and I love how well she wrote Cassandra and Daren's story in Make a Wish and Blow. If you're willing to take a chance on love, then pick up Make a Wish and Blow ... and make all of your birthday wishes come true."
Christina James is an author of erotic, contemporary, and romantic suspense novels that have received outstanding reviews. She enjoys writing of romance and heartache and of characters who overcome the odds. Passion is at the heart of every tale, and she strives to create realistic characters, so the reader can fall in love with them like she does. A sucker for a good love story, Christina writes hot, sensual romances with sarcastic wit and some humor in a contemporary setting. When not at her laptop, she enjoys reading, traveling, spending time with friends and family, romantic walks on the beach, and listening to the rainfall.
Also by Christina James
Available from The Wild Rose Press: Make A Wish and Blow; Operation: Spank Me; Web of Lies
Available from Passion In Print Press: A Place to Call Home
Coming soon
Operation: Tempt Me Saving Christmas
An Interview with Christina James
By Holly Hewson for The Romance Studio
HH: Christina, thank you for talking with us at TRS! Your featured book is For the Love of a Woman. Where did you get the idea for this incredible story?
CJ: I got this idea when I was traveling past some mountains here in the Northeast. I wondered what it would be like to hit the open road without a destination in mind... to just drive. Then my imagination took over and Mitch was born. I am always thinking of characters and stories. Their emotions grab me then I can't let go until I know the character's story.
HH: What do you like best about Marly and why will readers relate to her?
CJ: I love that Marly has survived being widowed at a young age with a baby. I love that she's a very capable woman who can take care of herself but also craves someone to lean on. I think readers will relate to her because we all like to have that one person who knows us so deeply that they can figure out what we need before we do. We all need someone to lean on sometimes or just to know is there for us. I think Marly's struggle to accept this about herself is why readers will love her because it's about time she got a break.
HH: What do you like best about Mitch and why will readers love him?
CJ: I love how Mitch hasn't allowed his troubled past to change his easy-going nature. Sure, he has memories that haunt him, but he survived a traumatic experience. He deserves the time to heal and finding Marly was his best medicine. Readers will love his relationship with Marly's son and how he adjusts to small-town life after living in Boston. Mitch may have hit the road with no destination in mind, but there's no turning back once he meets Marly.
HH: What draws today's readers to the romance genre in your opinion?
CJ: I think we all need an escape from our busy lives and what better way than to loose ourselves in a romance book reading about two people who fall in love while overcoming whatever odds are stacked against them. Romances may be guaranteed a happy-ever-after ending, but the reader wants to see how they get to that point. And it's that struggle and triumph that captivates readers of the romance genre.
HH: What else do you have in store for lucky readers?
CJ: In December 2011, I have two books released with The Wild Rose Press, Operation: Tempt Me and Saving Christmas. I am working on a novella that I hope to self-publish for this Christmas holiday…if not now then for next season. But I have a number of other books in the works from contemporary to hot hot hot.
HH: What's a day in the life of author Christina James like?
CJ: Um, I get up at 6am and go to bed around 1am. During that time I am shuffling kids around, working my full-time job as a Security Supervisor in a hospital, volunteering for my writer's chapter as Treasurer and Bean Pot Contest Coordinator (a published author's contest held annually), doing promo for my current and upcoming releases, and either editing works-in-progress or writing my next books. Yes, I live a busy life but love it all. Writing is a huge part of my day. I spend about 8 hours a day on my writing career because I'm hoping one day to quit the full time job and write full time.
HH: What goals have you set for yourself at this point in your career?
CJ: I am currently re-focusing my efforts to self-publishing now that I have self-published my first book, For the Love of a Woman. I love the freedom of controlling the price, publication date, cover, and the story. I am fortunate to be a prolific writer and can now give my fans more books by self-publishing rather than being at the mercy of a publisher's schedule. My fans can be assured that my self-published books are just as professional as any book I have through a publisher. I make an investment in my self-published books to make them as perfect as they can be by hiring a professional editor and cover artist. If the book is going to have my name on it then I want it to meet readers' expectations. I am grateful for my fans and I work hard to make sure they get a fantastic read each time. My favorite part of self-publishing is having the control to set the price of the book so that my readers can have an affordable and enjoyable read.
HH: What are you reading at the moment?
CJ: I have a huge TBR pile and lots of writing projects that keep me from reading like I wish I could. But I've found great authors at The Wild Rose Press and self-published authors on Amazon so I hope to tackle those over the winter when it's too cold to be outside.
HH: Where is your favorite place to shop for books?
CJ: I live near a huge Barnes and Noble Bookstore and I love going in there and walking the aisles. I take my time in the romance section and look at all of the shelves because you never know where there's a gem hidden on one of the lower shelves. I also love browsing Amazon and Barnes and Noble to see what new books are available by self-published authors.
HH: Any special plans for the holidays this year?
CJ: I plan on spending lots of time with my son, 12, and daughter, 16. We snuggle on the couch and watch Christmas movies on Lifetime and the Hallmark Channel. Those movies always inspire me and story ideas pop into my head all the time. I plan on snuggling with my boyfriend as well since he's so good about giving me time to write and he never complains when I hide with my laptop to write my next book or do some edits. And, of course, I'll sneak in some time for writing!
