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Blog Tour: At Last in Laguna by Claire Marti (Excerpt, Author Interview & Giveaway)

October 18, 2017 By AnnMarie 26 Comments

Blog Tour: At Last in Laguna by Claire Marti (Excerpt, Author Interview & Giveaway)At Last in Laguna (Finding Forever in Laguna, #2) by Claire Marti
Published by The Wild Rose Press on October 18th 2017
Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo
Goodreads

Alyssa Morgan has secretly been in love with her older brother Nick’s best friend, Brandt Dempsey, since she was an awkward, lonely teenager. When she catches the bouquet at Nick’s wedding, she throws caution to the wind and propositions Brandt to a two-week fling. He’s tried to ignore how Alyssa has blossomed into a strong, talented, gorgeous woman because as his best friend’s baby sister, she’s off limits.
After they share a mind-blowing kiss, Brandt struggles to fight their undeniable chemistry. His tragic childhood scarred him, but he pushes it deep inside, only allowing the world to see a wealthy, carefree entrepreneur. Forced to work together on Brandt’s latest charitable venture, Brandt and Alyssa’s passion cannot be denied. Alyssa knows he’s the one. Can she convince him they belong together?

Alyssa Morgan gripped her champagne flute in her left hand and glued her right arm to her side, fingers curled into a fist. How in the world had she been recruited for the traditional wedding bouquet toss? The last place she wanted to be was among the pack of women vying to snag a bunch of flowers.

In fact, she’d hidden in the restroom with her champagne, certain she could escape the single ladies’ ordeal. Unfortunately, Sophie Morgan, née Barnes, refused to begin the archaic ritual until her new sister- in-law could be included. The other bridesmaids hunted her down and corralled her back to the dance floor.

Fine. So here she was, squeezed into the middle of the group. She’d pretend to participate. Nothing short of a cattle prod to the back could induce her to jump up and try to obtain the unwanted prize for herself.

If you could have given your characters one piece of advice before the opening pages of the book, what would it be and why?

I would advise Alyssa not to assume that Brandt won’t get involved with her solely because her over-protective big brother Nick is his best friend. Deeper scars reside under the surface of his perfect-seeming self.

I’d advise Brandt to not to assume that Alyssa’s actions don’t stem simply from her schoolgirl crush—she’s grown up and knows what she wants.

Please share a few fun facts about this book.

Brandt’s ancestry is Irish and I spent way too much time immersed in research to find Gaelic words to name his charitable center, Tearmann House, and the computer program he developed, Garda. I was fascinated with the history and ended up reading for hours.

Alyssa uses a few different dating sites to procure a blind date to make Brandt jealous. A single friend of mine spent some time with me using her Tinder account and I almost coughed up a lung laughing at some of the profiles.

The wedding bouquet scuffle in Chapter One is based loosely upon a real incident at a wedding I attended. And, no, it wasn’t me fighting for the bouquet.

Do you intend to write your characters with certain personalities or do things “just happen?”

I make character charts, detailed down to astrological sign, favorite books and magazines, and political preferences. I tear out photos or pin photos of people who embody how I visualize my hero and heroine. Once I start writing, some characteristics change, however. The characters start speaking to me and I tweak as I go.

If you could have dinner with any three authors, who would you choose and why?

Ernest Hemingway: He’s my favorite author and I would chat with him about Paris. I also lived there and would love to compare notes.

Oscar Wilde: I just returned from a trip to Ireland and it renewed my interest in his work. I love The Picture of Dorian Gray.

Nora Roberts: Because she’s my idol and her books inspired me to write romance.

Is there anything fun you’d like to share with the readers about yourself?

My friends love to tease me about my years teaching high impact aerobics, complete with reebok high tops, slouchy socks, shiny tights and a thong leotard. I loved every minute of it!

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You can follow the Goddess Fish Promotions Tour HERE

 

About Claire Marti

Claire Marti started writing stories as soon as she was old enough to pick up pencil and paper. After graduating from the University of Virginia with a BA in English Literature, Claire was sidetracked by other careers, including practicing law, selling software for legal publishers, and managing a non-profit animal rescue for a Hollywood actress.

Finally, Claire followed her heart and now focuses on two of her true passions: writing romance and teaching yoga. She teaches at studios, online for the international website www.yogadownload.com and also has a Yoga for Cancer Recovery DVD. Claire’s also the author of Come Ride with Me Along the Big C, a memoir on her experience as a breast cancer survivor.

Her debut novel, Second Chance in Laguna, won best unpublished contemporary romance in the Heart of the Molly and third place in the Maggie. She’s hard at work on the second and third novels in the Finding Forever in Laguna series.

Claire is a member of the Romance Writers of America and the San Diego Romance Writers.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon

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Comments

  1. Lisa Brown says

    October 18, 2017 at 4:20 AM

    I enjoyed reading the excerpt and interview to get to know you and your book; congrats on the tour and I hope it is a fun one for you 🙂

    Reply
    • Claire Marti says

      October 18, 2017 at 10:51 AM

      Thanks Lisa!

      Reply
  2. Goddess fish promotions says

    October 18, 2017 at 5:07 AM

    Thanks for hosting!

    Reply
  3. James Robert says

    October 18, 2017 at 5:27 AM

    Congrats and best of luck on your terrific new release. I wish you the very best!

    Reply
    • Claire Marti says

      October 18, 2017 at 10:51 AM

      Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply
  4. Joana Bento says

    October 18, 2017 at 9:13 AM

    I hope the book is a success 🙂

    Reply
    • Claire Marti says

      October 18, 2017 at 10:51 AM

      Thanks! I hope you enjoy it.

      Reply
  5. Anne says

    October 18, 2017 at 10:30 AM

    Your book sounds captivating and special, I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012. I would be interested in the memoir of her experience with breast cancer.

    Reply
    • Claire Marti says

      October 18, 2017 at 10:53 AM

      Hi Anne, Welcome survivor sister. My memoir is called Come Ride with Me Along the Big C. I also have a DVD called Yoga for Cancer Recovery that works during treatment and beyond. I hope you’re feeling healthy.

      Reply
  6. Jennifer Wilck says

    October 18, 2017 at 11:55 AM

    Can’t wait to read this book, and I always like learning more about you. Good luck!

    Reply
    • Claire Marti says

      October 18, 2017 at 3:23 PM

      Thanks Jennifer!

      Reply
  7. Karen H says

    October 18, 2017 at 4:37 PM

    Hello to another new-to-me author. Just discovered your tour so I’m coming in a little late in the game. Love the cover and I enjoyed reading the excerpt of your book.

    Reply
    • Claire Marti says

      October 18, 2017 at 9:28 PM

      Thanks Karen! I hope you’ll read the book–It’s the perfect mix of emotional intensity and humor!

      Reply
  8. Gwendolyn Jordan says

    October 18, 2017 at 5:48 PM

    Congrats

    Reply
    • Claire Marti says

      October 18, 2017 at 6:57 PM

      Thanks!

      Reply
  9. Lisa Ehrman says

    October 18, 2017 at 7:24 PM

    Congrats on the new book. It looks lovely.

    Reply
    • Claire Marti says

      October 18, 2017 at 9:29 PM

      Thank you!

      Reply
  10. Mary Preston says

    October 18, 2017 at 7:56 PM

    This sounds wonderful.

    Reply
    • Claire Marti says

      October 18, 2017 at 9:29 PM

      Thanks so much Mary! I hope you read it and find it to be wonderful.

      Reply
  11. Victoria says

    October 18, 2017 at 9:33 PM

    Great post!

    Reply
    • Claire Marti says

      October 19, 2017 at 12:42 AM

      Thanks!

      Reply
  12. Glenda M says

    October 18, 2017 at 9:58 PM

    Sounds great! Thanks for the spotlight!

    Reply
    • Claire Marti says

      October 19, 2017 at 12:42 AM

      Thanks for stopping by Glenda! Hope you enjoy Brandt and Alyssa’s story.

      Reply
  13. Nikolina says

    October 19, 2017 at 8:21 AM

    I really enjoyed reading your interview, thank you!

    Reply
  14. Ilona Fridl says

    October 19, 2017 at 11:10 AM

    Hi, Claire! This should be as good as the last book. Loved the interview.

    Reply
  15. Danielle M. says

    October 20, 2017 at 9:55 AM

    Thank you for the giveaway!

    Reply

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