Hello and welcome to my blog for another round of Meet the Characters! Today I am featuring a guest blogger who has graciously agreed to let me do a character interview, which is my favorite kind of interview. Join me in welcoming author, Melissa Keir, and her characters from Chalkboard Romance. It’s a fantastic contemporary romance with wonderful characters so without further ado here is the interview with Mac and Lauren.
Hello, I’m Mac Thomas and this here is Lauren Walsh. We’re the main characters in Chalkboard Romance. Thank you for having us stop by and visit with your readers.
What was your first opinion of each other?
Mac- I saw her and was instantly attracted.
Lauren- Was that before or after I fell on my face. That’s the last time I let Melanie talk me into Ferragamo shoes. *smiles*
Mac- I thought you looked like a filly- all legs and frisky. *winks at Lauren*
What kept you from acting on that attraction?
Mac- Who says we didn’t act on it. The elevator ride to our room was amazing.
Lauren- *blushes* No comment.
What’s the best thing about the two of you together?
Lauren- He gives me the strength to stand up for myself. I have a new self-confidence that I’ve been missing for a long time.
Mac-She gives me insight into my son that I never had. I’m calmer and more loving.
What song title best describes your relationship track record: “Nothing but a Good Time,” “Turn Me Loose,” “Shot Through the Heart (You Give Love a Bad Name)”, “Money Talks/Material Girl”, “Looking for Love in All The Wrong Places”?
Mac- My former wife was a “Material Girl”. Maybe “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend” fits her best. She only wanted the money.
Lauren- “Shot Through the Heart” fits my ex-husband. He put me down and taunted me.
Mac-Now our new song is “Treasure” by Bruno Mars. Lauren is my treasure and I don’t deserve her.
Lauren-Aww. That’s sweet but so not true. You’re my treasure and you’ve brought Todd into my life full time. *she bends over to kiss Mac*
What are you most looking forward to as a couple?
Lauren- I’m looking forward to being a parent to Todd and growing old with Mac. I sense a lot of humor in my future. Mac keeps me laughing.
Mac- I’m looking forward to more children or at least the practice making them. *winks at Lauren*
What’s your ideal romantic evening?
Lauren- My ideal romantic evening is to recreate our first date. I’d love to return to the Lotus Hotel and enjoy all the hospitalities the hotel offers. It was where I knew you were going to break through to my heart.
Mac- I’d love to take her for an evening ride through my folk’s property and have a midnight snack and swim at the fishing hole, then sleep under the stars.
Lauren- That sounds nice too. But why do we have to have only one romantic evening? Let’s do both!
What’s the perfect Valentine’s Day gift?
Mac *bends over and whispers to me*- I got Lauren her own horse this year for Valentine’s Day. She’s going to love her.
Lauren- What are you whispering about? Mac Thomas, you know I don’t like secrets. Now I’m going to be wondering all night…and bugging you. *smiles*
Mac- Thank you for having us. We’d better get going. I have a feeling this is going to be a long night!
Blurb:
Lauren Walsh, a divorcee and elementary teacher, wanted to feel sexy again, after her ex tossed her aside for a younger woman. Her teaching partner and best friend encouraged her to sign up for The Playhouse–a renowned dating agency.
Mac Thomas remained trapped in a marriage to a money grubbing socialite. Forced to stay away from his young son, Mac lost the ability to trust. After the death of his wife, he returned to care for his son but his sister wants more for him. She sets him up with The Playhouse.
Passion ignites but Mac’s a parent of one of Lauren’s students. A teacher and a parent dating could cost Lauren her job and her chance at happiness. Will Mac be able to convince the school and Lauren, that love is the most important thing?
Excerpt:
Mac sat at the beautiful mahogany bar nursing his first beer. I’m more nervous than a long-tailed cat in a rocking chair factory. The last place he belonged was somewhere as opulent as this. He ran his fingers up and down the condensation on the beer glass. Even though he grew up in a family with a great deal of money, his parents taught him the benefit of working hard and doing what you love. At eighty, his dad still worked in the stables every morning, grooming his horse or was out in the pasture feeding the cattle.
Claire never understood his family. Money wasn’t important to them unless the cash could be used to befit someone else. Mac shook his head. Sure, he used his family’s money to get inside some of those war-torn countries but only so he could show the world the truth.
He’d worked hard to be impartial but his soft heart swayed him. Seeing any amount of suffering hurt, making him known as a compassionate emissary in those challenging countries.
With Claire gone, his life had changed once again. He took a job as a reporter at the local station affiliate, reporting on the important events happening in his community so he could be at home with Todd. Realizing how much poverty and conflict existed in his own hometown left him cold. They say charity begins at home. Well, he was determined to find a way to help, while setting a good example for his son.
He took a look at the clock on the wall. Where was she? Maybe she took one look at him and ran for the hills.
Mac turned on his bar stool in time to see a gorgeous brunette walk into the bar. Her steps seemed to match the beat of his pulse. Shifting in his chair, he adjusted his now tight, uncomfortable pants. Maybe it’s a good thing he was meeting a woman tonight, if she shows.
He twisted his stool around farther to get a better look at the hottie.
If only she was his date. The woman’s blue dress hugged her curvy body and he couldn’t take his gaze off those legs that seemed to go on forever.
Oh no!
One minute she remained all grace, next her poise went down the drain as her shoe broke. Mac lurched to his feet and ran over to help the stunning woman.
“Are you hurt?” He reached his hand out to help but instead of the tears he expected, Mac heard laughter coming from under the waterfall of hair which hid her face. He ached to touch the burnished bronze length. She reminds me of Dad’s favorite colt, a little skittish but feisty. I like spirited women.
Not wanting to see her sitting there on the floor, Mac scooped her up in his arms. Whoa. She was like a foal, all legs, and she fit perfectly in his arms. He could hold her all day.
“Sir, is the woman okay?” The bartender stood in front of Mac. He couldn’t tell if the guy wanted to grab her out of his arms for himself or to protect his hotel from a lawsuit.
Mac couldn’t help but growl like a dog defending his territory. “I haven’t checked yet. She appears fine. Why don’t you get her a glass of water?” Anything to get rid of him. He wanted to keep her in his arms.
Mac pulled her close to his chest. At the thought of letting her go, his heartbeat sped up. Maybe I can convince her to have a drink with me. He reluctantly set her down in a chair at one of the bar tables.
“Are you okay?” Mac brushed the hair back from her face.
The strands felt like silk between his fingers. Images of brushing this woman’s hair while they lay naked on the bed danced through his mind. Reluctantly, Mac pulled his hand from her and took a deep breath. He didn’t understand what had come over him. He didn’t have this strong of a reaction when he met Claire.
Like uncovering a present on Christmas morning, he could hardly wait to see her face. He watched as the woman lifted her head to meet his gaze. Mesmerized by the light dusting of freckles across the woman’s nose, his breath stopped. Her beautiful green eyes sparkled with merriment. Her tantalizing laughter danced across his skin making his slacks already tight very uncomfortable.
Buy the Book:
SECRET CRAVINGS STORE http://store.secretcravingspublishing.com/index.php?main_page=book_info&cPath=4&products_id=794
AMAZON: http://www.amazon.com/Chalkboard-Romance-Melissa-Keir-ebook/dp/B00HQ6KIKI/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1390784222&sr=1-4&keywords=melissa+keir
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/chalkboard-romance-melissa-keir/1117992791?ean=2940148293705
ARE: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-chalkboardromance-1389701-149.html
Meet Melissa:
As a writer, Melissa likes to keep current on topics of interest in the world of writing. She’s a member of the Romance Writers of America and EPIC. Melissa is always interested in improving her writing through classes and seminars. She also believes in helping other authors and features authors and their books on her blog.
Melissa doesn’t believe in down time. She’s always keeping busy. Melissa is a wife and mother, an elementary school teacher, a book reviewer, an editor for a publishing company as well as an author. Her home blends two families and is a lot like the Brady Bunch, without Alice- a large grocery bill, tons of dirty dishes and a mound of laundry. She loves to write stories that feature “happy endings” and is often found plotting her next story.
Melissa loves hearing from readers!
www.melissakeir.com
http://www.facebook.com/melissaakeir
http://www.facebook.com/AuthorMelissaKeir
www.twitter/melissa_keir
Thank you for joining us today! I hope you enjoyed this round of Meet the Characters and will join us again next week!
