Meet Jana Richards, Her New Book & Giveaway

When Jana Richards read her first romance novel, she immediately knew two things: she had to commit the stories running through her head to paper, and they had to end with a happily ever after. She also knew she’d found what she was meant to do. Since then she’s never met a romance genre she didn’t like. She writes contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and historical romance set in World War Two, in lengths ranging from short story to full length novel. Just for fun, she throws in generous helpings of humor, and the occasional dash of the paranormal. Her paranormal romantic suspense “Seeing Things” was a 2008 EPPIE finalist.

In her life away from writing, Jana is an accountant/admin assistant, a mother to two grown daughters, and a wife to her husband Warren. She enjoys golf, yoga, movies, concerts, travel and reading, not necessarily in that order. She and her husband live in Winnipeg, Canada with their Pug/Terrier cross Lou and several unnamed goldfish.

Beverley: Which genre or genres do you write or prefer to write? And why?

Jana: I’ve written in a few romance genres – contemporary, romantic suspense, historical romance set in WW2 – but I always seem to come back to contemporary romance. Sometimes I like adding humor to the writing, or sometimes I’ll add a touch of paranormal, like I did with the Love at Solace Lake series. I enjoy mashing up bits of several genres. However, there’s a World War Two story and a mystery series that keeps calling my name so you never know what could come next.
Beverley: Who influenced you the most in deciding to become a writer?
Jana: I guess it’s not so much a who as a what. I started reading romance novels in the early nineties and got hooked. I thought “I could write these books.” Then I found out writing a romance novel was a lot tougher than it looks. It took a lot of years before I managed to produce something worth publishing!
Beverley: What gets your creative juices flowing?
Jana: Talking with other writers. I’ve been lucky enough to belong to several writing groups over the years and being able to talk writing with people whose eyes don’t glaze over at the mention of POV (point of view) is really special. I especially like getting together with other writers in person. One of my groups meets once or twice a year for a writing retreat and it’s so much fun. These ladies are intelligent, fun people and it’s a joy to hang out with them. I always feel totally revitalized and full of ideas after our time together.
Beverley: Do you have a favorite cartoon character? Why?
Jana: I’d probably have to go way back to my childhood and go with Bugs Bunny. Bugs is nobody’s fool. He manages to outsmart everybody, especially poor, dumb Elmer Fudd. Bugs is way too slick for him!
Beverley: Who would you love most to meet 'in person' and why?
Jana: I’d really like to meet J.K. Rowling. She sounds like an interesting, intelligent person, and in any story I’ve read about her she seems so nice. I’d like to pick her brain a little, find out where her stories come from. I’d also like to know where her motivation to keep writing came from after she’d been rejected numerous times, and money was tight. I think we all need some of that fortitude sometimes.
Beverley: If you had an unexpected free day what would you do with it?
Jana: If one of those rare free days miraculously showed up, I would probably spend it reading, preferably outdoors in a comfortable chair with an adult beverage close at hand. That sounds like nirvana to me!
Beverley: What are you working on now?
Jana: I’ve got a few things on the go at present. I’m working on another small-town series, set in a fictional town in North Dakota. I’ve finished book one and I’m part way through book two, in what I envision as a four-book series. I’ve also got a paranormal/time travel/contemporary series started. When a man arrives at Heaven’s gate, his task is to help give mortals a second chance at love in order to earn his wings and his place in the celestial hereafter. But while he’s helping others, he’s learning what went wrong in his own relationship. Lastly, I’m working on a book to giveaway for subscribing to my newsletter. I’m giving away a short story right now, but I wanted something more substantial to give to new subscribers. It’s going to be a sort of sequel to current my free read, RESCUE ME. So, you can see I don’t have a lot of free days!

Blurb for Secrets and Solace

No matter how deeply buried, secrets rise to the surface

Scarlett Lindquist has agreed to help her sisters rebuild the dilapidated fishing lodge in Minnesota they inherited from their grandparents. Although the lengthy restoration is bringing the three sisters closer together, Scarlett’s support is temporary. Her leave of absence from her job in Chicago is temporary and she has no intention of staying at Solace Lake Lodge, where the lake holds dark secrets. When frightening childhood memories resurface, they are tempered by her fascination with an irritating contractor. If only she could trust her feelings for him. If only he could trust her.

Cameron Hainstock meets Scarlett at his brother’s wedding to her sister and their attraction is instantaneous. But Cam avoids the beautiful marketing executive. All his efforts are aimed at battling for custody of his only child. When the unimaginable happens and Cam faces the biggest challenge of his life, he’s reluctant to accept help to halt his downward spiral. Can they learn to trust each other and fight for a future together or will they go their separate ways?

Excerpt from Secrets and Solace:

The shock on Scarlet’s face, the disbelief and grief,
made him wish he’d kept his mouth shut. The last thing he wanted was to inflict her with the same hell he was going through. He turned away from her,
pushing her hand from his arm. “Go home, Scarlet.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” She grabbed his arm again, preventing him from picking up the axe, the
tool he’d used to keep himself from reaching for a bottle. “I won’t leave you alone.”
Ignoring the sweat and dirt, she wrapped her arms around his waist and held him tightly, resting her head against his chest. His body stirred to life at her touch, disgusting him. His world was crumbling around him and all he could think was that he wanted to bury himself inside her until she screamed his name.
“Go,” he said roughly. If she was smart, she’d run away and never look back. He was a bad-tempered, recovering alcoholic with nothing to offer her. He wasn’t worth the risk.
She looked up at him, her blue eyes clear and steady. “No. I won’t leave you.”
He pushed her up against the wall of the workshop, not sure if he was trying scare her away or make her stay. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
She shook her head. “You won’t.”
Cam closed his eyes and groaned. He wrapped his arms around her in a vice-like grip, unable to resist her any longer.
God, he needed her.
He lowered his head and kissed her. There was no subtlety in the kiss, no gentleness or finesse. Only passion and raw need. But she stayed with him, returning his passion, giving solace. He greedily lapped it up, taking everything she had to give.
But he wanted, needed more. He lifted her, and she wrapped her long, slender legs around his waist. He buried his face against her soft, sweet-smelling neck, inhaling her clean, floral scent. At the same time, he snaked his hand up her thigh and began to pull down her panties.
“Tell me to stop,” he rasped. “Tell me now while I still can.”

Buy Links for Secrets and Solace                                                               Amazon Buy Link

You can contact Jana at:
Website:  http://www.janarichards.com
Blog:  http://janarichards.blogspot.com
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/JanaRichardsAuthor
Twitter:  http://www.twitter.com/JanaRichards_
Amazon Author Page:  http://www.amazon.com/author/janarichards
Amazon UK Author Page: http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B002DEVWWG
Newsletter Signup: http://janarichards.com/contact.html#newsletter
Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2892274Jana_Richards
Google+ Profile:  https://plus.google.com/100820406211390323245
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jana-Richards

Jana is giving away some wonderful prizes during this tour. Please use the Rafflecopter below for your chance win Ebook First and Again, Ebook There Goes the Groom, Ebook A Long Way from Eden, $10 Amazon gift card, or $5 Amazon gift card. Remember you may increase your chances of winning by visiting the other tour stops. You may find those locations here.
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