And the Winner is . . .

The Kiss and Thrill ladies would like to thank Jessica Scott again for visiting our site this week. We enjoyed hosting her and we hope she comes back soon, especially when the third book in her trilogy Back To You is released!

Now, it’s time to announce the winner.

The winner of one eBook of Until There Was You is: Chris Bails

CONGRATULATIONS! To redeem your free eBook, please email your preferred email address to contact@kissandthrill.com (or go to contact page for details). Remember, we must hear from you within 10 days.

Thank you all so much for commenting! We hope you will bookmark KissAndThrill and visit often or better yet, subscribe!

What’s next you ask?

Tuesday, October 16, our very own Gwen Hernandez is up, and on Tuesday, October 23 we welcome Rolynn Anderson. Then, Friday Oct 26, we have Carey’s special Halloween “Ghosts and Giveaways” spectacular.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Bestselling Author Jessica Scott: A New Book, Another Interview

Today we are so excited to welcome back one of my favorite authors, Jessica Scott. Jessica is a career army officer, mother of two daughters, three cats, three dogs and two escape-artists hamsters, wife to a career NCO and wrangler of all things stuffed and fluffy. She has commanded two companies, served in Germany, Korea, Fort Hood and Iraq, and been lucky not to get fired. She is a terrible cook and an even worse housekeeper, but she’s a pretty good shot with her assigned weapon. Somehow, her children are pretty well adjusted and her husband still loves her, despite burned water and a messy house.

Yet, despite her “housekeeping flaws”, Jessica is celebrating the release of her second ebook for Loveswept UNTIL THERE WAS YOU.

JS: Thanks so much for having me back on Kiss and Thrill! I’m so flattered to be asked back!

SW: And we are so happy you’re with us today! I know your first book BECAUSE OF YOU garnered rave reviews not only from readers, but from some of today’s top romance authors. And so far, your new book is doing as well, if not better. How different was the writing experience of UNTIL THERE WAS YOU from BECAUSE OF YOU?

JS: UNTIL THERE WAS YOU was a very tough book for me to write. I’ve been writing and rewriting Evan & Claire’s book since 2008 and so for me to figure out a completely new story for them was a massive challenge. One I almost failed at!

SW: I sincerely doubt that, but I can imagine how hard that must have been. How did you handle a full-time job, a busy home with husband and kids, along with the second full-time job of published author promoting a book while writing/rewriting a second?

JS: Simple: I have no life. My children are being raised by the cats, lol! No I try to be very very good at time management and the short answer is that when I’m in the zone, I can work my tail off relatively quickly.

SW: I know UNTIL THERE WAS YOU is the second book in a trilogy. Why did you choose Evan and Claire for the second book instead of Trent and Laura?

JS: Truth be told, Trent & Laura were the original 2nd book in the series but I had massive problems figuring out how to make a reunion romance between a husband and wife sexy enough for a romance novel. I was lucky enough that my publisher helped guide me through the chaos of schedule shifts and storyline shifts and I am VERY happy with how Laura & Trent’s story is turning out now that I’ve had a book long break before working on them again.

SW: I can’t wait to read Laura and Trent’s story! You write such incredibly strong heroes and heroines, but which is easier for you to write–the hero or the heroine?

JS: I think the heroes are easier for me simply because I’m surrounded by strong military men every day. But I also can’t stand weak heroines in books I read so I try to make sure they’re a match for the heroes. I had the opposite problem in Evan & Claire’s book: Claire originally was much stronger than Evan. I had to alpha him up a lot (we can all thank The Romance Man for helping me figure that out!)

SW: I love hearing how you had to “alpha him up”! LOL. You handle both married couples and couples who’ve just met so well. When constructing a story, do you have a preference for writing about “new” or “old” couples?

JS: I like couples that have a history, honestly. For me, it’s about watching the hero and heroine learn to forgive past mistakes and love the person who they are now, now who they were, you know?

SW: I do know. Reunion stories have always been a favorite of mine. Your stories are so emotional. Is that emotion present from your first draft or do you have to layer it in during revisions?

JS: Layering, Layering, layering. I usually get the sketch of the idea and have a good idea of what needs to be there but the emotional kick doesn’t happen until I start layering.

SW: Of your three heroes in this trilogy, do you have a favorite yet?

JS: I think Shane will always be my favorite. He and Jen (BECAUSE OF YOU) made me keep rewriting them until I got them right!)

SW: I loved Shane as well! What are you doing in regards to promotion for this book? Is it any different from what you did with the first?

JS: Lots of blog tour stops. As a new author, the publisher is limited in what they can invest financially and honestly, being a digital book, my readers are by and large on line. So many bloggers have gotten behind me and supported me on this book! I’m so so fortunate!

SW:  It’s easy to support you when you write such wonderful books! Can you give us a blurb from UNTIL THERE WAS YOU?

JS: Absolutely!

“Jessica Scott returns with an all-new contemporary eBook original romance, following last fall’s release of her sizzling debut novel BECAUSE OF YOU.”

He plays by the rules, she’s not afraid to break them. Now these two strong-willed army captains will prove that opposites attract . . .

A by-the-book captain with a West Point background, Captain Evan Loehr refuses to mix business with pleasure—except for an unguarded instance years ago when he succumbed to the deep sensuality of redheaded beauty Claire Montoya. From that moment on, though, Evan has been at odds with her, through two deployments to Iraq and back again. But when he is asked to train a team prepping for combat alongside Claire, battle-worn Evan is in for the fight of his life.

Strong, gutsy, and loyal, Captain Claire Montoya has worked hard to earn the rank on her chest. In Evan, Claire sees a rigid officer who puts the rules before everything else—including his people. When the mission forces them together, Claire soon discovers that there is more to Evan than meets the eye.

He’s more than the rank on his chest; he’s a man with dark secrets and deep longings. For all their differences, Evan and Claire share two crucial passions: their country and each other.

SW: It sounds wonderful, Jessica! And for our readers, you can order  UNTIL THERE WAS YOU at these ebookstores or wherever ebooks are sold!

Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Powell’s, iTunes

Thanks for spending the day with us Jessica, and we wish you the best of luck with your new release!

JS: Thanks so much for having me back on Kiss and Thrill! And I’m giving away a digital eBook of UNTIL THERE WAS YOU to someone today!

SW: For more information about Jessica Scott, you can fine her online at:

Website: http://www.jessicascott.net

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jessicascottauthor

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/jessicascott09

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5131118.Jessica_Scott

Now we’d love to hear from you. What questions do you have for Jessica?

And the WINNER is . . .

The Kiss and Thrill ladies would like to thank Jessica Scott again for visiting our site this week. We enjoyed hosting her and we hope she comes back soon, especially once her next book Back to You is released!

Now, it’s time to announce the winner.

(Note: Only commenters with a U.S. mailing address are eligible, so if anyone announced below does not provide a U.S. mailing address, we will choose another winner.)

The winner of one e-copy of Because of You along with a $25 Barnes and Noble gift card is: Khaki (Kathy) Crouch!

CONGRATULATIONS! To redeem your free book or gift card – please email your snail mail address and preferred email address to contact@kissandthrill.com (or go to contact page for details). Remember, we must hear from you within 10 days.

Thank you all so much for commenting! We hope you will bookmark KissAndThrill and visit often or better yet, subscribe!

What’s next you ask?

Our own Diana Belchase is currently gathering words of thanks, holiday greetings, and uplifting messages to send to US troops.  Please join her at www.DianaBelchase.com and follow the links to Cyber-Hugs for Heroes to add your own sentiments.  Every message counts, so please spread the word!

Next week, on December 27, please join the ladies of Kiss and Thrill as we offer our resolutions, hopes, and dreams for the New Year. We’d love to hear about yours as well.

We also have an exciting line-up of author interviews in January  including Rebecca York, Roxanne St. Clair, Elisabeth Naughton, our very own Manda Collins, as well as inspiring posts from our own Gwen Hernandez and Krista Hall. We all look forward to seeing you there!

Jessica Scott: Spotlight on the Author and Soldier

 Adding to our wonderful line-up of author interviews, today we are excited to welcome Jessica Scott to Kiss and Thrill.

A career soldier with 16 years in the Army, Jessica is a Company Commander in charge of 130 soldiers, a mom with two young kids who never sit still, and an Army wife, whose husband is back in Iraq. Blogging from Iraq landed her a spot on PBS Point of View, tackling tough issues involving women and war.

Her novels are all pulled from her experiences as an soldier who has lived through both being deployed and being the spouse left at home with the kids.

Her first release, Because of You, is a Loveswept eBook original which has garnered rave reviews from press, peers, and public alike.

Thank you so much Jessica for spending your day with us and answering all our questions. So let’s get started with some fab reviews!

“Edgy and current–and a truly satisfying love story. Put this book, Jessica Scott’s BECAUSE OF YOU, on your “must read” list.”  Suzanne Brockmann | New York Times Bestselling Author

“Jessica Scott is an exciting new voice in romantic fiction who bursts upon the scene with an unputdownable debut novel!” Robyn Carr | New York Times Bestselling Author

“BECAUSE OF YOU is powerful, timely and wonderfully executed. Jessica Scott should be on every reader’s list.” Brenda Novak | New York Times Bestselling Author

“Jessica Scott writes with a soldier’s heart. BECAUSE OF YOU is touching, authentic and a fantastic read.” Cindy Gerard | New York Times Bestselling Author

“Crackling with realism, sizzling with sexual tension, and pulsing with emotion, Jessica Scott has penned an unforgettable military romance that delivers heartache and hope on every page.” Roxanne St. Claire | New York Times Bestselling Author

“Watch out Navy SEALS, there’s a new hero in town and he’s wearing Army gray!  BECAUSE OF YOU is a beautifully crafted, wonderfully emotional debut.” JoAnn Ross | New York Times Bestselling Author

Sharon: What was it like to get so many amazing reviews from some of the today’s top romance authors?

Jessica: I was really awe struck. I mean we’re talking pillars of the genre and they liked my book. It was kind of awe inspiring and humbling all at once.

Sharon: Is Because of You the first book you’ve ever written?

Jessica: Technically, it’s the second book I ever wrote but it’s the one that I’ve spent the most time with over the years. I kept coming back to it no matter how many times I put it under the bed and tried to move on to the next project.

Sharon: How long did it take you to write Because of You?

Jessica: Which time? I’ve written and rewritten that sucker so many times I lost count. The very first draft I wrote in a week when I was supposed to be paying attention in class and it will never, ever, ever see the light of day, not even in a bloopers reel.

Sharon: How long did it take to sell Because of You?

Jessica: A really, really long time, mostly because I started querying waaay too early and didn’t spend enough time honing my craft. Trust me, just because you wrote The End does not mean it’s time to hit Send on the query.

Sharon: Do you have a favorite holiday book or movie?

Jessica: I don’t generally enjoy holiday films for some reason. I think maybe it’s got something to do with the overwhelming pressure at the holidays to shop shop shop and generally meet everyone else’s expectations when it should be something simpler like creating memories and family.

Sharon: What other genres of fiction do you read?

Jessica: I like a lot of thrillers but if I’m not reading romance, I’m most likely reading non fiction.

Sharon: Can you name one (or more) book(s) that changed your life?

Jessica: There are lots of books that have stuck with me. Anne McCaffrey’s Dragon Riders of Pern have been on my keeper shelf since the 7th grade. Laura Kinsale’s The Shadow and The Star made me want to learn Japanese in high school. The Hunger Games makes me wish I could write a book that caused me such a strong reaction. BlackHawk Down made me want to be able to capture that raw emotion on the page. There are far too many to mention, honestly. My keeper shelf is vast and full.

Sharon: When did you decide to join the army? Did you always know you wanted to make it a career?

Jessica: I joined the Army right out of high school. I didn’t know what I wanted to be when I grew up so I figured I’d join the Army to see what life had to offer. Guess it stuck because it turned out to be the first thing in my life that I was really good at and it became my passion. I love what I do every single day and it’s an honor and a privilege to wear the uniform.

Sharon: What made you decide to make the jump from enlisted to officer?

Jessica: I love my years as an NCO (noncommissioned officer) but eventually, I starting thinking I wanted to be part of the folks making the decisions instead of implementing them. I wanted a stronger ability to impact change on a higher level than what I felt I could attain in the NCO Corps.

Sharon: Will you be deploying overseas again?

Jessica: Probably. The war in Afghanistan is still on going. My turn will come around again at some point.

Jessica Scott and Roxanne St. Clair

Sharon: What made you decide to write a novel?

Jessica: Honestly, I don’t remember. I remember starting After the War in Officer Candidate School and I just kind of never stopped writing since.

Sharon: Did you ever consider self-publishing Because of You?

Jessica: I did but when I crunched the numbers, it simply didn’t pan out. I wasn’t able to justify spending 3,000 – 5,000$ putting together a book that might never have left my circle of family members. Mind you, I had somewhat of a web presence, too, from my blogging from Iraq. So while I toyed with the idea, never seriously once the reality of the numbers game stared back at me.

Sharon: Were all three books in this trilogy (Because of You, Back to You, and Until There Was You) written before the contract?

Jessica:  In some version and by that I mean, I had an idea which characters each book would be about. But written and ready to submit? Not even close.

Sharon: How important was your blog on your path to publication?

Jessica: Very but then again, remember, I blogged about being a mom, soldier and writer, not just about being a writer. Blogging and tweeting from Iraq were the smartest things I ever did because it enabled me to learn more about the industry and to interact more with the industry professionals like other authors and agents. I blogged about being in Iraq, about being a female soldier, about being a mom away from my babies. All of that was far more traffic generating than my breaking up with my agent or any writing drama I went through.

Jessica Scott and Cindy Gerard

Sharon: Do the people you work with know that you write romance novels? How do they feel about it?

Jessica: Some do and not a single person has been a jerk about it.

Sharon: What is your preferred source of caffeine? Coffee, tea, soda?

Jessica: Coffee, coffee, coffee, Venom, coffee.

Sharon: Do you have any time management secrets you can share? (I honestly don’t know how you do everything you do)

Jessica: Crack, coffee, coffee, coffee. Kidding. I’m very calendar driven. I just keep knocking down the next thing that’s due. If it’s not on my calendar, it probably won’t get done. That’s why deadlines are my friend because I HATE being late.

Sharon: Thank you so much Jessica for answering all of our questions. And because Jessica is as generous as she is lovely, she’s giving away a copy of Because of  You along with a $25 gift card for BN for one lucky commenter. The winner will be announced here at Kiss and Thrill on December 22.

Jessica: Thanks for letting me blog with y’all!

You can join Jessica at her website, blog, Twitter, and Facebook because the Army adventure never stops! Her next novel Back to You is now scheduled for a Fall 2012 release. Look for it!

And the WINNER is. . .

The Kiss-and-Thrill ladies would like to thank Harlan Coben again for visiting our site this week. We enjoyed hosting him and look forward to reading his books and watching movies of his books for years to come! We hope he’ll come back soon!

Now, it’s time to announce the winners!

(Note: Only commenters with a U.S. mailing address are eligible, so if anyone announced below does not provide a U.S. mailing address, we will choose another winner.)

The winner of one e-copy of LIVE WIRE is: Jillian Chantal

The winner of one e-copy of  SHELTER is: Steph Bochenek

CONGRATULATIONS! To redeem your free books – please send your email address to contact@kissandthrill.com (or go to contact page for details). Remember, we must hear from you within 10 days.

Thank you all so much for commenting! We hope you will bookmark KissAndThrill and visit often or better yet, subscribe!

What’s next you ask?

December 20th, we host debut author Jessica Scott!

Jessica Scott is a career soldier (a company commander), a mom, and wife of a career soldier. She served in Iraq and blogged about it and has just published her first novel in a trilogy about a soldier coming home. Her debut novel Because of You released in November to wide acclaim.

Then, please join us on December 22 when we announce the winners of Jessica’s giveaway.