Interview and Giveaway: Fever: Maya Banks
Jace, Ash, and Gabe: three of the wealthiest, most powerful men in the country. They’re accustomed to getting anything they want. Anything at all. For Jace, it’s a woman whose allure takes him completely by surprise...
Jace Crestwell, Ash McIntyre, and Gabe Hamilton have been best friends and successful business partners for years. They’re powerful, they’re imposing, they’re irresistibly sexy, and Jace and Ash share everything—including their women.
When they meet Bethany, Jace begins to feel things he’s never experienced before: jealousy, and a powerful obsession that threatens him, overwhelms him—and excites him beyond control.
Jace isn’t sharing Bethany—with anyone. He’s determined to be the only man in her life, and it’s jeopardizing a lifelong friendship with Ash. Bethany will be his and his alone. Even if it means turning his back on his best friend.
The Breathless Series:
Interview with Maya Banks:
1. Was it harder to write your KGI series or your erotica series?
3. What is the best gift you have ever received from a fan?
7. What inspired you to write the Breathless series when you
already have a popular long running BDSM series?
Definitely the KGI series. I'm not even sure WHY, but it takes me much
longer to write books for that series. I have a huge cast of characters and
multiple timelines to keep up with so every time I sit down to start writing a
new KGI story, I have to go back and reread the earlier books in the series to
catch up and to re-immerse myself in that "World"
2. Which character gave you the most difficulty to write? I would have to say Ash from BURN ;) I wrote him in the first two books as
"seemingly" a lot more charming and laid back than Gabe and Jace and yet I
hinted throughout that he was not as laid back as he APPEARED. So when it came
time to write his story, I KNEW that he was a lot darker and intense than Gabe
and Jace and I had to strike the perfect line between this really intense,
overwhelming alpha hero and the supposition that he's somehow lighter than the
other heroes in the trilogy.
3. What is the best gift you have ever received from a fan?
I had a reader who knitted me an awesome cap :)
4. Tell us who your fave hero, heroine, and couple are?
I have several favorites. Ethan and Rachel Kelly from The Darkest Hour and
Softly at Sunrise. Tyana and Eli from Into the Mist. Nathan Kelly and Shea
Peterson from Whispers in the Dark. Nathan and Julie from Sweet Seduction. Jace
and Bethany from FEVER. Just to name a few :)
5. Do you have any vices while writing (like music, snacks, drinks)?
I need absolute quiet because I'm easily distracted, but I also get tired
and burned out when I work in one "spot" for too long so I rotate working areas.
For a book or so I'll work in my office. Then I'll move to my bedroom and write
propped up against my "nest of pillows" and when the weather is nice I love to
work outside on my deck. I like to be comfortable and for it to be peaceful
wherever I write!
6. Where does your inspiration for the personalities of your characters
come from?
That's hard to say because I don't pattern any of my characters on any real
life characters. Not entirely. Sometimes I add quirks or certain traits from
people I know or whom I've read about but mostly I come up with a character from
scratch and let them develop as I write the story. It's fun because sometimes
they end up surprising me and I sit back and say, "wow, I had no
idea!"
It was because of my love of the Sweet Series and also my Harlequin Desires
that the Breathless trilogy came about. I saw an opportunity to marry elements
from both kinds of books into one series. I had SO much fun writing it because I
got to incorporate my favorite themes from BOTH the Sweet Series and the
Harlequin Desires into one set of books.
8. We are curious if you had to choose one: Damon or Gabe? Why?
Probably Damon, just because well he's one of a kind. The perfect
combination of dominance and tenderness and absolute love and care for the
heroine. I purposely made Gabe a colder character than Damon was, because he had
his reasons and it was important to me that he warmed as the story progressed
and he found himself falling in love with Mia.
9. I absolutely adored Damon and The House. Where did you find your
inspiration for this?
I didn't have an inspiration. He was a character that came to me while I
was writing Sweet Surrender and once he stepped onto the page, I knew I had to
write a story for him.
10. Which project do you have coming up next that you are most excited
about?
I have a few things in the works that the details aren't final on, so I
can't really say a whole lot about them OTHER than to say that readers can
definitely expect MORE of the kinds of books they expect from me and are used to
reading from me. Definitely got a lot of stuff in the works
:)
This is the second book in the Breathless series and I have to say I enjoyed it more than the first one Rush. I think it is because I really liked Jace more than I liked Gabe in the first one. But with that being said, I really warmed up to Gabe towards the end of the first book and really liked him in this one. But I just really have a soft spot for Jace.
He sees Bethany across the room at Gabe and Mia's engagement party and is immediately drawn to her. Unfortunately he mentioned her to Ash and that ended up in a situation that turned out to be problematic later one. We know from the first book that Jace and Ash are used to sharing. But this is the first time Jace does not really want to.
Bethany has had a hard life, but it strong and resilient. She does not understand why Jake would be attracted to her or want to be with her. She has deep feelings of insecurity, self esteem issues, and a past that she cannot forget.
"It's crazy, Jace. I can't fathom it. It's like a bizarre spin on the Cinderella story--only for girls like me, there aren't happily-ever-afters."
Usually I am not a big fan of insta-love. But in this instance it did not bother me so much. I think it is because Jace was always moody and intense. And since he had never really connected with a woman before like this, I think it made it all that more important to him. And the the things he found out about Bethany after their encounter, made things more intense for him and he had a strong need to find her, protect her, and keep her close.
What I loved about Jace was that even though he was controlling, he did it initially to help and protect Bethany. And even though she felt unworthy of his time and attention, he spent time telling and showing her that her circumstances and her past did not affect his feelings. And he tried to build up her self esteem and show her that she was worthy of him and deserved more in life. He was loving, protective, generous, and compassionate with her. Even when he lost his temper, you could still see that he could not fathom not having her in his life. Yeah he was a possessive jerk at times with a bad temper and said some crappy things in the heat of the moment. And yes, he is all about control in his personal life and in the bedroom. But even then, he still gave her some choices and was not overbearing with her. Bethany liked his dominant side and they were a good match.
"One day you'll see you like I see you, baby. If it's the last thing I do, I'm going to make it happen."
"Life works however the hell you make it work. And the hell I can't take over. Not to hurt your feelings, baby, but you haven't done such a great job taking care of yourself. I'm going to change all that."
The last part of the book got pretty nerve wracking to see how things would play out. It was hard to see them both struggling to keep it together when it was obvious they both really needed each other. But they had obstacles that kept getting in the way.
And we saw some changes in Ash and Jace's friendship as they struggled to find a new balance. They were used to sharing before, and Jace cannot handle that with Bethany. And Ash wants to protect Jace and tries to be a good friend even when Jace does not want to hear it. But now Ash is the odd man out with his friends and I am looking forward to see his love interest in the next book Burn due in August 2013.
Thanks to Maya Banks and Sullivan and Partners for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review
"Sometimes I feel like a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde because there are times when I worship the woman I'm with. Savor. Touch, kiss, make love to. And other times? I want it my way. Any way I want it."
As you may know (and just in case you didn't) I was not a fan of Gabe. I just could not get on board with his hot and cold attitude. However, Jace, well Jace kinda rocked in his book! I found him intriguing in Rush (with his sweet protective side) and wanted to get to know him much better especially since Maya hinted at his dom side. Fever was a fun read for me because I loved seeing the vulnerable protective Jace mixed with the possessive alpha male. I know this did not work for some, but I think Maya nailed his character.
If it wasn't for the insane insta-love and I mean instant, Fever would have been a 5 star read for me. Nothing kills a book for me faster, but looking past that I think Jace was a doll. Was he possessive, yeah, but you know what I adored that about him. He knew exactly what he wanted and he bull dozed through what ever stood in his way to take it. There were times he had his ass hat moments, but they endeared me to him even more because it showed that he was human. Jace had flaws and he wasn't afraid to acknowledged them while trying his best to make up for them. Jace was quick to judge and he was quick to temper, but in the same sense he immediately knew he was wrong and moved heaven and earth to make it up to Beth. This worked for him in my book. While I don't understand insta-love, I could feel that Jace needed her, Beth was different for him. He never felt this way before, so I was able to understand his jealousy and his possessiveness. Maya did a great job building and developing both Jace and Beth and their chemistry.
"The truth is I've never felt this way about another woman. The truth is I'm fucking obsessed with you. The truth is I want you in any way I can have you. The truth is if you told me right now that you could never submit to me, never give me what I want so badly from you, that it wouldn't matter. I'd take you any way I could have you. The truth is I'm not letting you go."
Where I was wicked disappointed in Rush, Maya saved the series for me with Fever. I really enjoyed Jace and Beth. AND I even grew to like Gabe. The drunk scene was the best with him. Showed a completely different side of him. I had tons of fun with Mia in this one too. She was so excited for her brother to have found the same love she had and you could feel it flow off the pages.
"When the car pulled up, Gabe got out and then
helped Bethany extricate herself from the backseat. She wobbled
unsteadily on her heels as they started toward the entrance to the
building.
“You’re going to kill yourself in those damn heels,” Gabe muttered.
“But they’re sexy,” Bethany defended. “At least, I thought so.”
“No doubt there, sweetheart. You look killer in them. Jace is going to swallow his damn tongue. But if you kill yourself before you get to him, they won’t have done much good.”
“Mia said Jace would want to fuck me in these shoes,” she said and then was mortified by what she’d blurted out.
Gabe chuckled, his eyes gleaming with amusement. “Did she now? Well, Mia is an authority on being fucked in killer heels, so if she said that it’s probably true.”
“You’re going to kill yourself in those damn heels,” Gabe muttered.
“But they’re sexy,” Bethany defended. “At least, I thought so.”
“No doubt there, sweetheart. You look killer in them. Jace is going to swallow his damn tongue. But if you kill yourself before you get to him, they won’t have done much good.”
“Mia said Jace would want to fuck me in these shoes,” she said and then was mortified by what she’d blurted out.
Gabe chuckled, his eyes gleaming with amusement. “Did she now? Well, Mia is an authority on being fucked in killer heels, so if she said that it’s probably true.”
Now I anxiously await Ash! I must admit that I have a bit of an obsession with this bad boy (he is my fave of this trio). Not sure why but I am seriously addicted to him and NEED his story like now (August is way too far away). Ash is going to be so damn intense to read. I am thinking his dominate side and possessiveness will blow Jace and Gabe out of the water. Any who, enjoy Jace and the gang in Fever!
Thanks to Maya Banks and Sullivan and Partners for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review
Thanks to Maya Banks and Sullivan and Partners for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review
Giveaway:
(1) Paperback copy of Fever. Books will be gifted from Maya Banks publisher, so please allow for shipping time once the giveaway has ended. (US ONLY)
1 comments
Thank you so much for this post and your thoughts on Fever. I loved the first book 'Rush' and I have been excited for this next book! Thanks for the chance to win!
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