Author Interview and Giveaway - Strapped by Nina G. Jones

Welcome Nina G. Jones!  This book sounds so good, I can't wait to read it and I am sure many readers will be adding it to their TBR list!  Nina has answered some questions about her work and life and generously offered commenters on this tour a chance at winning a Gift Card, so don't forget to comment! 

Strapped

by Nina G. Jones

 

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BLURB: 

By all appearances, Shyla Ball has an enviable life: a loyal boyfriend, a great job, and family that loves her. She doesn't realize how deeply unsatisfied she is until she has an embarrassing encounter with a handsome stranger at a coffee shop. 

Taylor Holden, a successful businessman, takes a sudden special interest in her and offers her a job she cannot refuse. Soon after, she learns there is much more to this intensely private man than meets the eye. He is hiding many painful secrets, including why it is that he has seemingly plucked her out of obscurity for such a lucrative position. Her "perfect" world is turned upside down by her infatuation towards Taylor and in just a couple of months, her life looks nothing like it did before. While she is frightened by the changes she sees in herself, she cannot resist the lure of Taylor Holden. 

As Shyla slowly gains Taylor's trust, she learns of his complex history and how it has molded him into the person he has become. When elements of Taylor's secret past resurface and threaten to destroy them, Shyla finds out there may be more to Taylor's story than even he is aware of. 

Strapped is a story of passion, manipulation, obsession, and family secrets.

 

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Excerpt: 

“You forgot your jacket.” It is still on my shoulders. I turn around to offer it up to him. 

“Thank you Shy,” As he says this he takes both of his hands, grabbing each shoulder of the jacket and oh so slowly pulls it off of me, grazing my bare arms and back as he pulls it off. I close my eyes taking in his touch. Each caress of his fingertips feels like one thousand little sparks. How can just the faintest touch from this man set me off like this? Please kiss me. Kiss my neck. I won’t say no. I hold my position for a second more than I should, but it feels so tortuously long. There is nothing, not another touch, not a kiss. I turn to face him again and bid him goodnight. His face looks sad, almost guilty. Every word, every touch, every action tonight was an implication. This keeps us safe from one another. It keeps me safe from him. 

“Goodnight Shy,” he says as if dismissing me from his presence. 

“Goodnight Taylor.”

 

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Author Interview:

 

What is your writing environment:

I love writing in my office or living room in the stillness of the night, among the dim yellow glow of a few lamps as some mood-setting music plays on my laptop; one or both of my Boxers resting at my feet.

Who is your perfect hero? And why?

I am going to define “perfect” as “perfect for my enjoyment.” In that case, I love complex, damaged heroes who tote the line between “good” and “bad.”

Which authors have caught your interest lately? Why?

Gillian Flynn, because of the buzz around Gone Girl.

What type of book have you always wanted to write?

There are a few. The Strapped Series, is one of those stories I wanted to tackle: dark, twisty, and sexy.

I have a dark romantic comedy sitting in my brain, as well as a heart-wrenching contemporary romance and a sexy detective novel.

Ultimately, I would like to also write something more literary, and I have some ideas, but I want to continue in the romance/erotica genre for a while before I move to that type of project.

What’s the last movie you watched and loved?

Prisoners! I think if you read Strapped, you’ll see why this movie fit perfectly into my tastes.

Top three things on your bucket list:

-    See the Northern Lights from that Igloo hotel in Iceland.

-    Travel throughout Europe and South America without any plans, just following where the wind blows.

-    Get on the NYT Bestseller list. Yeah!

How did you get the idea for this particular novel?

I saw the movie Nine and a Half Weeks, which lead me to the book. It then lead me to other books such as the Story of O and then just after that the 50 Shades of Grey phenomenon struck.

Meanwhile, I have always been fascinated by crime, abnormal psychology, and psychopathology. Ever since I can remember I have loved psychological horror movies, and watched detective shows (particularly those about psychological profiling). I felt I could take the common themes we currently see in Erotica, such as the rich-alpha and BDSM, and fuse it with a much darker tale of crime, family secrets, and mental illness. I also became frustrated by books where characters where severely damaged and then became completely “cured” by the end. I get it, it’s Romance and escapism, but I was always left feeling incomplete because I know in real life, endings are hardly ever so perfect.

As you delve deeper into the story, although it may begin with themes that have already been touched upon in other works, as you get to know these characters, I hope you will see that I take them in a much different direction as the series goes on.

What is your favorite scene in your new release?

That is so hard to answer! I think it’s Taylor and Shyla’s night in St. Petersburg after the gala. The beautiful scenery of the city and so much unrealized tension between them was a lot of fun to write. I just love when she goes to return his jacket. I think if you have ever wanted someone who was forbidden, you could identify with that longing she feels for him.

What’s your idea of a perfect date?

Something fun and active, like speedboating or ATVing, followed by a beautiful dinner outdoors, and then...well, you know ;).

If you could take a romantic trip, where would it be?

The one on my bucket list. Snuggling with my husband, looking through the glass ceiling of an igloo-like enclosure, watching the magnetic swirls of the Aurora Borealis dance in the sky.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links: 

Nina G. Jones was born and raised in Bronx, NY and currently resides in Milwaukee, WI with her husband and two crazy Boxers. 

She is the author of Strapped, and is currently working on the sequel for Strapped, slated to be released in early 2014. 

Nina lives a pretty wholesome life, but is fascinated with the dark side of things. She loves watching true crime TV shows and it creeps her husband out to no end. Nina has a degree in Psychology and uses her characters as a vehicle to explore the human psyche. 

She also totally gets it if you want to throw your Kindle at her when you reach the end of Strapped, but please let her know so she has a chance to duck. 

Links:  

Website: http://ninagjones.com/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/strappednovel 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NinaGJones 

 

Buy:  

Amazon  *  BN  *  ARe  *  Kobo

 

 

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GIVEAWAY

 

Nina will be awarding a $50 Victoria's Secret Gift Card to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.  The more blogs you visit and comment at the better your chances!  Follow the tour HERE.

 

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