Blog Tour & Giveaway: Release Me by J. Kenner

Please welcome author Julie Kenner who joins us with her debut book, Release Me.  She shared some thoughts with us, so check it out after my thoughts on the book!

Giveaway Details:  We have been authorized to giveaway one copy to a lucky winner. (US only please).  Just leave a comment with a valid e-mail to enter.  The giveaway will close on December 28, 2012.  Good luck!

Publisher: Bantam

Date of Publication: January 1, 2013

 
He was the one man I couldn’t avoid. And the one man I couldn’t resist. 
 
Damien Stark could have his way with any woman. He was sexy, confident, and commanding: Anything he wanted, he got. And what he wanted was me. Our attraction was unmistakable, almost beyond control, but as much as I ached to be his, I feared the pressures of his demands. Submitting to Damien meant I had to bare the darkest truth about my past—and risk breaking us apart.
 
But Damien was haunted, too. And as our passion came to obsess us both, his secrets threatened to destroy him—and us—forever.



Release Me is an erotic romance intended for mature audiences.

My take:

Just like Bared to You by Sylvia Day, which I loved, (my review) Release Me by Julie Kenner is yet another book that proves there are great writers of erotica out there. You just need to know where to look.  Ms. Kenner has produced a well written and extremely sensual story.  I devoured this book.  The characters were strong, the writing was flawless and the story was captivating. 

I read this one pretty quickly.  I had a hard time putting it down once I started it. Both Nikki and Damien share secrets from their past. As their relationship grows, Nikki comes to realize that their backgrounds are very similar. I really liked Nikki.  Nikki is a flawed, yet strong person.  She may be young, but she is uber smart and is not naive.  Damien is powerfully rich, but he isn't an ass.  Yes, he is very much an alpha male, but he was never crude to Nikki and I felt he genuinely cared about her.  This book does deal with the Dom/sub topic, but I felt it showed a genuine portrayal of that type of relationship. It's about pleasure and trust, not about demeaning the other person.

I won't bring up that other book, (you know... the one I didn't like), because frankly, there is no comparison. You should read this one, not that one. Seriously, what are you waiting for? It comes out January first.  Why not start the year right? 

I can't wait to read the next one, Claim Me, which comes out sometime in 2013.  I know I will be stalking the bookstores for that one!

Thanks for joining us today, Julie!

Kari & Autumn: What inspired you to become a writer?

Julie: That is such a good question, and just don’t have a solid answer.  I can’t remember really wanting to be anything else (though there was the obligatory “I wanna be a vet” thing—do all little girls have that?).

I've always written stories.  Even before I could write—or read, for that matter—I’d bang out stories on my dad’s old typewriter.  His home office was in a loft accessed by a spiral staircase that overlooked the living room and I would go up there, sit at his desk and (dating myself here) type so fast that keys stuck together. 

In high school, I tried to write very erudite and “important” short stories that were really just boring and pretentious.  Why I did that is anyone’s guess, as my reading was primarily Stephen King and Sidney Sheldon,  so it’s not like I was reading boring and pretentious!

I did journalism in high school and college until I switched my major to film.  Then I wrote screenplays.  Then I went to law school and had no time to write, but when I started working I wrote a play, then moved to Los Angeles and had no time to write.  Then I realized I was going crazy for the lack of a creative outlet and moved to a smaller firm so I could write.  I finally wised up and started to write genre fiction, and I “broke in” with a romance.  I've been writing non-stop ever since!

Kari & Autumn: Where do you come up with the ideas for your books?

Julie: I would say that I wish I knew, but I really don’t; that might steal the magic!

Seriously, they come from all over.  Sometimes, it’s a snippet of conversation.  Sometimes it’s a title; “The Good Ghoul’s Guide to Getting Even” came to me as a title before the story or characters.  Sometimes it’s a concept (a judicial system for paranormal creatures became my Shadow Keepers series, written as J.K. Beck).  Sometimes it’s a genre.  I wanted in chick lit, but I love paranormal.  That managed to morph into my demon-hunting soccer mom series. 

I’m an only child and as a kid I traveled a lot.  I get car sick when I read, so I made up stories in my head.  Whether that’s a cause or an effect, I don’t know.  I do know that I have enough book-worthy ideas that I could spend the rest of my life writing them.  Toss in the crappy ideas and I have several lifetimes’ worth!

Kari & Autumn: What exciting projects are waiting in the wings?

Julie: The most exciting is the next two books after Release Me – Claim Me and Complete Me.  I’m thrilled they’re both coming out next year, but at the moment writing and revising them is my primary focus. 

In addition, I’m re-releasing my demon-hunting soccer mom books(written as Julie Kenner) in digital format, and once they’re all up early next year I’ll be releasing the sixth book! I’m so thrilled that Kate’s coming back to fans and new readers!  (and I just accepted an offer from 1492 Pictures and their producing partner to renew the movie option on book one, Carpe Demon, so fingers crossed!)

Of course, I’d love for folks to check out my website to see all the stuff I have going on!

Kari & Autumn: Who is your favorite literary character and why?

Scarlett O’Hara, and for so many reasons.  She’s such an honest character.  Her good qualities and her bad are right there on the page.  She’s strong, but it takes awhile for her to realize it.  She’s frustrating in that she could have everything she wants, if only she weren’t so thick-headed.  She’s smart, except when she isn’t.  She’s cold, except when she isn’t.  She’s utterly fascinating.

Other favorites are Claire from the Outlander series, Eve Dallas from the In Death series, Meg from A Wrinkle in Time, Charlotte from the Inspector Pitt mysteries.  Oh, man, I could go on and on (can you tell I love books in series?)

Kari & Autumn: Just for fun, if you could be any animal, what would it be and why?

Julie: A cat!  I love cats.  Cats are pampered and petted.  Cats are independent.  Cats were once worshiped (I’m pretty sure my cats still think they are).  Cats get to sleep whenever and wherever they want.  Cats have attitude.  Cats can purr. 

And I have an “interview” question for readers:  What’s the first book that truly made an impact on you?  Mine was “Half-Magic.”  I read tons of books before that, but something about that one clicked with me and I read, re-read and then glommed the author!

Thanks so much for having me!

About the author:

J. Kenner is the pen name of USA Today bestselling author Julie Kenner (who also writes as J.K. Beck).  Release Me, an erotic romance, will be available in the U.S. and the U.K. on January 1, and in over a dozen other countries later in 2013. 

You can hang out with J.K., learn more about Release Me and her other novels, or just poke around and see what catches your eye at her website, www.jkenner.com, and also at her J. Kenner Facebook page, www.facebook.com/jkennerbooks and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/juliekenner