Thank you to my new friend, and sister WRP author, Anne Ashby for entertaining us today!

Hi Calisa,

Thanks so much for welcoming me to your blog. I’ll enjoy interacting with any of your readers who take the time to post a comment. I’d also be happy if you would assist me by choosing one of those who comment to be the winner of a PDF copy of “The CEO Gets Her Man”.

 Please be aware of our time zones differences. My responses may be a while after comments are posted. But be assured, I will respond to every comment.

Does Role Reversal Affect Our Heroes?

As a romance writer it probably goes without saying that I love to read romance stories too. I especially like stories that are slightly different. There is so little we as writers can do to change the basic themes available within the romance genre, but personally I enjoy the idea of reversing some of the “expected” roles our characters play. In “The CEO Gets Her Man” it is the heroine who is the rich, powerful, business person in control of everything around her. Or at least she is until she meets her hero. Having the female lead as a powerful individual doesn’t not mean her man has to be less of a hero. In my eyes, heroic characteristics never include wealth, power or position but much more important traits like honour, commitment and sensitivity. If you haven’t already guessed, my heroes don’t usually turn out to be alpha males. They’re still true heroes, just like Jase in “The CEO Gets Her Man”. Is it his strength, his determination, his drive that impresses Debra? Or his understanding and sympathy for the struggle she’s had establishing herself in a man’s world? Or his willingness to help her out of a tight spot? More likely it was a combination of all of these qualities that gradually shows Debra what a true hero Jase is.

What are the heroic characteristics you look for in your heroes?  What do think makes a real hero?

Bio:

Hi, I’m a contemporary traditional/sweet/clean romance writer from New Zealand, published with The Wild Rose Press.  I grew up in a very small coastal town in Southland, New Zealand’s southern-most province. An eagerness to travel, fostered by my mother, led me to join the Royal NZ Navy where I enjoyed a very satisfying career. I am fortunate to have travelled extensively and lived in Singapore and Maryland USA. I began writing contemporary romance stories when my youngest child started school. I enjoy including family issues, genealogy, rugby and/or snippets from my past military life in my stories. I also write something about my beautiful country, so New Zealand always features in my stories, normally as the setting.  When not reading or writing, I find plenty to occupy my time with my family commitments. I currently live in Auckland with my husband and two of our four children.

I’d like to share with you my latest release which is initially set in the southern region of New Zealand before shifting to our capital city, Wellington.

Blurb:

Ensuring her company’s success is Debra Laurie’s life. But when she goes undercover to investigate a failing hotel in southern New Zealand, she finds her confidence crumbling. Masquerading as a waitress is a disaster—especially when the hotel’s assistant manager is a former rugby star she once had a crush on.

Jase McEwan is struggling to keep the hotel afloat. An unpredictable manager, ridiculous demands from the head office, and employee unrest are problems enough. Now a haughty new waitress is causing mayhem in the restaurant—and in his heart.

Determined to be impartial, Debra sets out to discover if Jase is responsible for the hotel’s drastic situation. But the more she investigates, the more she likes his work—and the more their attraction sizzles. Before long, Jase has turned Debra’s world upside-down. But what happens when he learns the new waitress is really his CEO?

Excerpt:

Jase had been surprised at the improvement in the new waitress’s service when he was in the dining room earlier chatting to guests. He dismissed his earlier concern about her employment. However now she caught his eye again. Not because she’s doing anything wrong.

Jase swallowed. His attention had little to do with anything except hormones. She was so very attractive. And the dark uniform, possibly a little on the tight side, accentuated her curves very nicely thank you. He didn’t even try to look away when she glanced in his direction and their gazes locked. Time ceased as his pulse rate quickened.

Her smirk as she hoisted a tray of wine flutes up to her shoulder irritated him. Clearly she found his regard amusing. His lips tightened.

He kept his narrowed gaze on her as, after what seemed like an intense but short conversation with George’s head waitress, she headed across the floor toward Karin Laurie’s table.

Within a couple of paces Jase detected movement on Debra’s tray. A faint wobble that experience had taught him would soon increase and cause a debacle. The breath caught in Jase’s throat. Disaster loomed.

Well before his sprinting legs could take him anywhere near close enough to prevent the shambles, as if in slow motion, the tray tipped first one way and then the other. The flutes took on lives of their own and acting like lemmings they fell to their death on and around the table of the hotel’s owner.

Karin Laurie’s guests both leapt to avoid the cascade of red wine and orange juice but she stayed remarkably still after an initial shocked jolt. Sliding to a stop beside her, Jase was horrified to see her clutching her leg, red of an alarmingly different hue from the wine slowly oozed between her fingers.

***

Links:

website – http://www.anneashby.com

website blog – http://www.anneashby.com/blog

facebook – http://www.facebook.com/AuthorAnneAshby

twitter – http://www.twitter.com/AuthorAnneAshby

goodreads – http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4386672.Anne_Ashby

my publisher – http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=679

Buy Links:

Book is available in both print and digital from:

Publisher – The Wild Rose Press http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=679

Amazon – http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=679

B&N – http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-ceo-gets-her-man-anne-ashby/1115202539

Thank you again for joining us today, Anne! What a lovely cover and great excerpt!

Ok folks, line up and comment for a chance to read your very own copy of The CEO Gets Her Man!