Interview with romance author Isobel Reed

Today’s special guest is romance author Isobel Reed. We’re chatting about her new contemporary romance, Love Tools: Bluestone Series Book One.

During her virtual tour, Isobel will be giving away a $50 Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner’s choice) gift card. To be entered for your chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winner, feel free to visit her other tour stops and enter there, too!

Bio:
Isobel was born and raised in London. She still lives along the River Thames with her husband and her substantial book collection. Ever the hopeless romantic, she fell in love with the genre from a young age and was inspired to write her own stories. When she’s not feasting on romantic comedies or binge reading her hoard of contemporary romance novels, Isobel is writing.

Welcome, Isobel. Please tell us a little bit about your new release.
What happens when the king of casual meets the queen of picking the wrong men?

Lily is running. From a dead-end job, a neurotic mother and all the losers she dared to date. Moving halfway across the world to Bluestone County seemed like a good idea at the time. So did reopening her estranged father’s hardware store. But now she isn’t so sure.

Small town living has its perks though. Wide-open space, clean air, and sexy cowboys. Well, one sexy cowboy. Jake. Who also just so happens to be the new bane of her existence. At least when he’s not talking, she can admire the view.

Jake is the king of casual. The love of his life has always been his ranch, and that was fine with him. He never really saw the point in long-term. But all that changes when a mouthy, blonde sasses him into oblivion. He should have known she’d be trouble as soon as he laid eyes on her. Now it’s too late. She’s all he can think about. All he has to do is convince her that he’s finally the right man.

Excerpt from Love Tools:
Don’t be an a**hole, Jake.

“Let me guess, you’re here to kick me off my own land now too?”

Dammit.

“Funny. No, just getting the tour from your lovely sister. You sure you’re related?” she sarcastically replied.

There was the sass he remembered. “Ouch. I see there’s been no attitude adjustment since we last met, huh?”

What are you, five? You gonna pull her hair next?

“Be nice Jake,” Sam piped.

Clicking his tongue, he ignored his sister and stared into Lily’s emerald eyes once again. They were even more mesmerizing in the sunlight.

“Sorry, I’m not enough of a lady for you sweetheart.” Her attempted scowl was almost cute.

“I’d be more than happy to teach you some manners darlin’,” he winked.

Deep down he knew that he shouldn’t be trying to provoke her, but he couldn’t help himself. Seeing the fire in her eyes did something to him that he couldn’t explain. Even watching her try to snarl at him was making him feel funny.

What does your main character do that makes him/her special?
Lily is my main female character. The thing that makes her special is that she isn’t special. Like every thirty-something woman, or most people in general, she doesn’t have a perfect life or family. Her past relationships have left their mark. And as a result, she’s found herself going through the motions of life rather than living it. Like all of us, happiness is her goal and instead of waiting for it to come along, she’s going to do her best to go out and find it for herself.

What comes first, the plot or characters?
The characters. The plot comes after I begin writing. Normally the first scene comes before anything. Once I’ve written my first thousand words, I start thinking about who my characters are before I write any more. After that, my fingers hit the keyboard and the plot follows.

Where do you get your best ideas?
Normally in bed. I’ve always found it hard to switch off and nighttime is always the hardest. It’s also usually the time when my brain decides to become unstuck and think up all sorts of random ideas. Some for the book I’m writing at the time and some for books I haven’t even written yet. It means that I don’t ever get my eight hours but on the bright side, I’ve become an expert on how to conceal ginormous bags under my eyes.

What is the sweetest thing someone has done for you?
I’m lucky that my husband spoils me. And I’m not talking lavish gifts or fancy restaurants, I’m talking about normal, everyday stuff. Like refilling my drinks throughout the day, picking up something from the shop he’ll think I’ll like while he’s out and patiently listening to me vent when I’m having a bad day. But the sweetest thing has to be the way he looks after me. When I’m sick. When I’m injured. And when life is really kicking my butt. Believe me, this is a thankless job because my immune system is pretty rubbish, I’m seriously accident prone and life has proven several times that it has it out for me.

How would you spend ten thousand bucks?
I would probably use it to travel. Maybe somewhere exotic where you can wake up and you’re able to just jump into the sea from your room. Like the water villas in Maldives.

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