BookLover Sue: Interview & Giveaway - Miriam's Surrender by Jennifer Wilck

Miriams’ Surrender

by Jennifer Wilck

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BLURB:

Josh Lowenstein is a successful architect, hired to redesign the alumni club of a posh, private school in New York. He is strong, capable and knows the best way to do everything. Except let another woman in.

Miriam Goldberg is the Assistant Director of Outreach, and is Josh’s day-to-day contact for the redesign. She’s taken care of everyone around her, and forgotten how to let someone else take care of her.

With a tumultuous history, neither one is prepared to work together. As they get to know each other, the animosity disappears, but Josh is hiding something from Miriam and its discovery has the possibility of destroying their relationship. Only when they are both able to let the other in, and release some of the control they exert over everything, will they be able to see if their love can survive.

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EXCERPT:

The line from Casablanca flitted through Josh’s head. “Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world...” He fisted his hands at his side and closed his eyes.

This morning, he’d hurried to work for a meeting with a new client. They’d been awarded the contract and this morning’s purpose was to meet the client’s daily contact, the person Josh would work with throughout the span of the project.

He’d walked into the red and black conference room of his architectural firm and froze. Sleek, black, flawless coiffed hair. No way. Ramrod straight posture. It couldn’t be. And as she turned and approached him, she’d glided. Oh crap. Miriam.

She gave no hint they knew each other, and his response that they were well acquainted remained unsaid. Of all the ridiculous, unbelievable, annoying coincidences, this one was the worst. It was stupid to still be angry with her. After this long, he couldn’t remember the last time he’d thought about their argument. He was no longer in love with her sister; in fact, he’d never been in love with the woman in the first place.

He was tired of her bossing him around. He didn’t like not knowing what was going on, and he didn’t like how he felt off-kilter at their meeting. If she thought he would put up with it, she was mistaken. He was a respected architect; clients begged for him to take on their projects. He controlled what went on around him. He led the projects. He knew what clients wanted often before they did. He didn’t need her meddling in his vision. One word to her boss and she would be thrown off the project.

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Let's learn a little about author Jennifer Wilck!

What is your writing environment?

Well, I assembled a desk and set it up in my living room—we never use that room—and it has a comfy sofa and a fireplace, so it’s perfect. My husband framed my book covers and they hang over my desk to inspire me. I do most of my writing there. Since I write on a laptop, when I need to move around, I just find somewhere else to sit.

Who is your perfect hero and why?

I like my heroes to be strong with a touch of vulnerability. I think it adds greater dimension to them and prevents them from being too perfect.

What authors have caught your interest lately and why?

I’ve always loved Lynn Kurland (time travel)—she writes amazing descriptions and emotions and her stories and heroes are perfect. I also like Justine Davis (contemporary romance) because her stories are fast moving and realistic, with a great emotional hook.

What type of book have you always wanted to write?

I’d love to write a sweeping historical, but I couldn’t do all the research required. At least not well.

Top 3 things on your bucket list?

Hotwire a car (I don’t want to steal someone’s, I just really want to learn how to do it)

Live in a castle

Go on an archaeological dig

How did you get the idea for this particular novel?

I love reading all kinds of romances, but I’ve noticed that most are, by default, Christian. Even if not religious, they celebrate Christmas or get married in a church. I have no problem with that at all, but I do think diversity in book is important, and just as I like to read about religions or cultures not my own, I thought other readers might enjoy doing the same. So I came up with a series that would have each book featuring a different Jewish holiday as part of the traditional romance story.

What is your favorite scene in your new release?

I can’t tell you specifically, because it gives away spoilers, but my favorite scene is toward the end when Josh reveals his secret to Miriam.

What are you working on now and when can we expect it to be available?

I’m working on the next Women of Valor book (#3) and I’m also finishing up a contemporary romance, not part of this series, that was inspired by a beautiful old Victorian mansion that was for sale. I really wanted to buy it! So I created a character, Cassie, who is refurbishing this house, where she actually lived as a foster child. She wants to make it into a home for her future family. Rayne is a war photographer who is suffering from what he saw. He’s on his way to keep a promise he made to a friend, but stays with Cassie while he does some temporary work on the outside of the house. He’s anti-commitment, she’s a nester. They’re a great couple and I can’t wait to try to get it published.

What do you like to do when you are not writing?

Hang out with my family and friends and volunteer at my temple.

What would you consider a perfect date?

Anything with my husband where we get to spend time together, just the two of us.

What is one interesting fact about you that readers don’t know?

I always try to put pieces of real life that my friends or family will recognize into my stories. In Miriam’s Surrender, Miriam is similar to me in that we are both control freaks—that’s not to say she’s based on me, because she isn’t. But people who know me will recognize some of her reactions. In other books, I’ve put my daughter’s favorite picture book, my great grandmother’s betting strategy or my favorite place to hike.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

When I was a little girl and couldn’t fall asleep, my mother would tell me to make up a story. Pretty soon, my head was filled with these stories and the characters that populated them. Each character had a specific personality, a list of likes and dislikes, and sometimes, even a specific accent or dialect. Even as an adult, I think about the characters and stories at night before I fall asleep, or in the car on my way to or from one of my daughters’ numerous activities (hey, anything that will drown out their music is a good thing).

One day, I started writing them down (it was either that or checking into the local mental hospital—the computer was way less scary). Since then, I’ve published two contemporary romances with Whiskey Creek Press. The Seduction of Esther is my first book with Rebel Ink Press, and I’m excited to be part of their team.

In the real world, I’m the mother of two amazing daughters and wife of one of the smartest men I know. I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, reading, traveling and watching TV. In between chauffeuring my daughters to after-school activities that require an Excel spreadsheet to be kept straight, I serve on our Temple Board and volunteer for way more things than I have time to do. I also write freelance articles for magazines and newspapers, and edit newsletters.

When all of that gets overwhelming, I retreat to my computer, where I write stories that let me escape from reality. In my made-up world, the heroines are always smart, sassy and independent. The heroes are handsome and strong with just a touch of vulnerability. If I don’t like a character, I can delete him or her; if something doesn’t work, I can rewrite it. It’s very satisfying to be in control of at least one part of my life.

I can be reached at:

www.jenniferwilck.com

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jennifer-Wilck/201342863240160

http://www.twitter.com/JWilck

My blog (Fried Oreos) is: http://jenniferwilck.blogspot.com

and I contribute to Heroines With Hearts at: www.heroineswithhearts.blogspot.com

and to Front Porch Saturdays at: http://sandrasookoo.wordpress.com

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Buy Links:

Amazon

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Giveaway: