BookLover Sue: Book Tour: Interview & Giveaway - Ruthless Perfection by Susie Warren

Ruthless Perfection

by Susie Warren

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BLURB:

A filmmaker wanting to honor her family’s legacy approaches a reclusive billionaire for help

Isabel Neri’s innocence captures the attention of a well-known Italian marble mogul, Marc Santoro, when she approaches him against her family’s wishes. Wanting to honor her disgraced grandfather, Isabel needs Marc’s permission to produce a film about the Carrara marble industry.

Faced with honoring an old family obligation, Marc allows Isabel to travel to Italy with him but seeks to limit her exposure to his family’s tragic past. Isabel discovers the untold story and challenges Marc to reveal the truth. She is forced to expose her own secret as their desire sparks out of control.

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EXCERPT:

First Meeting

Isabel felt a moment of panic as she watched the driver make a swift exit. She carefully walked up the stone path that led to the front door, being careful not to catch her black Manolo Blahnik heels in the stones.

The front door swung open and Isabel felt the oxygen leave her body. She wasn’t prepared for seeing Marc Santoro in the flesh again. She could feel his gaze rake over her in appraisal, apparently sizing her up. He looked every inch the wealthy business owner: he was dressed in an expertly tailored gray shirt with slightly darker gray trousers that were pressed to exactness. He was even more striking than she remembered, and she reminded herself to just breathe and focus on her pitch.

It was his intensity that she responded to; he seemed to be absorbing everything about her. Isabel hid her expression as she acknowledged to herself that while he may appreciate her outward appearance, he wouldn’t appreciate her damaged body.

Would he remember meeting her before?

She forced herself to reach out and offer her hand. As his warm fingers enveloped hers, she felt a spark of attraction travel through her body. She immediately pulled back, but not before she saw his eyes darken.

He merely smiled at her reaction, saying, “So you are not just a figment of Alberto’s imagination.” Guiding her inside, he added, “I was beginning to doubt that the old man had any relatives interested in the marble trade.”

Isabel felt her spine stiffen. Was he questioning her family’s loyalty?

“My grandfather speaks very highly of you,” Isabel said as she took in the luxurious setting, trying to get her bearings.

His voice was cool and didn’t give her any clue if he welcomed her visit. “It isn’t often that Alberto Neri asks for a favor.”

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Let's learn a little about author Susie Warren!

What is your writing environment?

I live in an 1830’s stone house in upstate New York. My home office has an historical feel with refinished plaster walls, built in bookshelves and deep window seats. I much prefer to write in my home office but sometimes, I’ll take a notebook or my laptop and write wherever I happen to be – waiting at the orthodontist, a ballet class or in my car.

Who is your perfect hero and why?

Challenging. I think a good hero should make the heroine think and want to win him over.

What authors have caught your interest lately and why?

I love trying new authors so often I’ll chose a novel based on the premise and not just the author’s name. But in particular I like Jane Porter for her fast-paced stories, Christina Tetreault for her emotional impact and Bella Andre for her interesting families and captivating male characters.

What type of book have you always wanted to write?

I want to write a book that readers won’t be able to put down. My hope is that readers will order take-out and not answer the phone.

Top 3 things on your bucket list?

Run a marathon

Hire a guide and visit the Amazon Rain Forest

Take a road trip across the U.S.A

How did you get the idea for this particular novel?

For Ruthless Perfection, I came across a beautiful coffee table book with images from the Carrara Marble Quarries in a local bookstore. The images were so captivating that I purchased the book and began to consider setting a story with the marble quarries as a background. I spent time researching the history of the marble quarries and the background for the characters naturally evolved. I knew I wanted to weave in a character’s struggle with issue of seeking perfection in their life and how that would impact meeting the love of their life. There are so many beautiful works of art created out of marble that it seemed like a natural extension to carry that over to seeking perfection.

What is your favorite scene in Ruthless Perfection?

My favorite scene in the book is when he takes her to see the quarry at night. She is mesmerized by the sheer beauty of the light reflecting off the marble quarry and he is mesmerized by her response.

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

My third novel, The Exiled Jeweler, came out in December. It’s about a shy heiress who captures the attention of a celebrated business entrepreneur when she attends a gala at his mansion in Los Angeles. Images secretly captured of her partially nude are released to the tabloids and her overly protective family sends her far away.

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

In my spare time - when I’m not writing (or taking care of children)… I spend time chatting with friends, going for long walks outside, suffering through Pilates classes, and finally late into the evening I’ll read whatever I’ve downloaded to my kindle.

What would you consider a perfect date?

My husband and I often go to our children’s soccer games or drama performances for entertainment. But every once in a while, I’ll meet him at the airport when he is coming home from a business trip and we will go off for a quiet dinner before returning home. This allows us to catch up after we have been missing each other.

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

People are often surprised to learn that I have five brothers. I grew up as the only girl in this large Irish Catholic family and have a feisty and complex extended family. When I was a child, there was always a baptism, wedding or funeral to attend.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Susie Warren writes contemporary romance. Besides being an avid reader, she spends much of her free time crafting intense and complex stories about falling in love. When she is not writing, Susie works as an administrator in a small, independent school while caring for three teenagers and keeping tabs on her inventor husband. With the launching of her first book, The Forgotten Heiress, she has slowly begun to navigate the social media realm.

Susie loves to hear from readers and responds to each email and Facebook post. Please reach out to her via Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Susie-Warren/647556668647832 or Twitter @susiecwarren

For more information on her upcoming releases, new excerpts and other related postings, or to sign up for free promotions, please visit www.susiewarren.com.

Amazon at: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00N09UD32

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AMAZON

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Giveaway:

Susie will be awarding a $50 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Follow the tour HERE

a Rafflecopter giveaway