Two for the Price of One Giveaway: PERFECT FIT by the Perfect Author, New York Times Bestselling Author Carly Philips is Shooting the Breaze about her Latest Release

 Carly for the folks not familiar with you would you mind sharing a bit about yourself?

I’m a stay at home mom who used to be a lawyer, who turned into a romance writer and never looked back! I have 2 daughters, age (almost) 21 and 16, a husband, and two dogs (Wheaten Terrier and Havanese).  I love love love to read, I’m always online, I occasionally knit, and enjoy shopping and being with close friends!

During the Holiday season I invited authors to share their favorite things.  I thought I would switch it up a notch to PERFECT FIT things. =)

Perfect Book: At Peace and Motorcycle Man by Kristen Ashley.  Anything by Kristen Ashley J

Perfect Movie:  I’m a raunchy comedy girl – Saving Silverman, Ted … I’m just so bad.

Perfect Gift You Received:  My dad passed away two months ago and my mom gave me his wedding ring.

Perfect Song: I like such a broad, odd variety of music, new and old (70’s for example) that I can’t even pick one!

Perfect Date Night:  As long as I’m with my perfect date (my husband) and we’re alone, it can be anywhere. I love pizza and walking through a bookstore and having a Starbucks drink after.

Perfect Moment:  Any moment where everyone I love is healthy and happy is a perfect moment. I’ve had a lot of reason to reflect this year, and it’s the little things and moments that mean the most.

Perfect Holiday Memory:  Taking my whole family to Aruba and the sheer bliss of disconnecting from everyone and everything.

Perfect Writing Spot:  My recliner chair in my office! It’s perfect J

Do you remember where you were when you first thought about a spin off for your Serendipity series?

I don’t, actually! I just remember realizing that Cara and Sam had such potential (in Karma) and from there developing the rest of Sam’s family/siblings and knowing I had something great to work with.

After reading PERFECT FIT I can tell that you put your own blood, sweat and tears into ever characters and it shows on every page.  My imagination is running wild and curious to know if there is a bit of yourself in your characters.  Who do you believe is most like you?

Aww thank you! I’m so glad you felt that way because I just ADORED Mike and Cara and want readers to love them as well!

When you began the Serendipity series did you have the Mike Marsden and Cara Hartley’s arcs figured out?  Did you have an inkling when you began that they would end up the way they did?

No.  Those arcs didn’t come to be until I started thinking beyond the Barron brothers, towards the end of Karma.  I had no idea what I’d end up with, and there was a lot of tough stuff getting to the end, but I was so happy when I got there!

Carly, would you share with us a bit more about Mike and Cara’s story in PERFECT FIT?

Perfect Fit is a part of the town of Serendipity.  It's the first book where you meet Mike, but you've met his brother Sam in Karma, along with Mike's heroine, Cara Hartley.  Cara spoke to me and needed a hero.  In Perfect Fit, you're introduced to the entire Marsden Clan, the "cops of Serendipity" hence the subtitle Serendipity's Finest.  Mike feels like the odd man in his family, the only one who doesn't fit in because he's been adopted by the man who raised him and never felt good enough because his own dad abandoned him.  Despite his feelings, he's close with his parents and siblings and though he left home to make his own way as a cop, he returns when his adoptive father needs him, never expecting to stay long.  But Mike didn't count on Cara.  She's a Serendipity cop with whom he had a one night stand, and she's his brother's best friend. She's also a small town girl and Mike's a wanderer, or so he thinks.  But when they can't ignore the sexual tension between them, they figure an affair is the answer - until an unexpected emotional connection continues to grow.  Then Mike's real father's secrets come back to haunt him and he has to confront who he really is - and wants to be - or lose Cara for good.

What was your premise for writing this story?

The main premise for writing this story was the idea of the PERFECT family – on paper – and how it would feel to be the children of the town’s police chief.  I thought up various scenarios for the senior Marsdens’ backstory to surprise and/or shake up their kids.  In the end, it’s Mike’s story more than his parents – it’s the choices they make and how they affect him to this day.

I would like to take a moment and thank Michael and Cara for dropping by with Carly.  Hi Guys, (waving above the crowd) I am so excited that you were able to drop by today.  I hope you do not mind, but I would love to ask you some need to know questions that readers are desperate to know.

Hi Mike!  It’s really nice to see you back home.  How’s it been, you know, being home and with your family?

Strange.  I’ve been gone a really long time.  In some ways everything’s the same.  In others, too much has changed. 

I am one of those readers that love to find out what people think the moment they meet the love of their lives.  Cara, I will start with you.  What was the very first thing you thought when you laid eyes on Michael after (Christine clears her throat as her face turns as read as a radish) you know, that night…to find out that Michael is now your boss?

I thought, karma works in really strange ways and what did I do to deserve this? (She laughs).  I was mortified of course, and wondered how the heck I’d handle it!

Mike, you are up. =) What was your first impression of Cara?

Holy shit, this woman will be the death of me.  Sorry but it’s the truth. I knew if I let her in, she could change me in huge ways.

Cara, would you please share with readers the moment you knew this sexy cop had won your heart?

::Sigh:: I probably always knew but since he wasn’t sticking around, I couldn’t let myself think that way.  As you probably know I have a hard time trusting anyone to be there for me and Mike made it clear he wasn’t staying.  So I couldn’t let my heart go there.  You know?  But when I woke up in the hospital and saw him … I really should let readers read the book, right? ::laughs::

Same question for you, Mike.  When did you realize that your life wasn’t complete and didn’t make a lick of sense if Cara wasn’t in it?

When did I know or when did I let myself admit it? Cara rolls her eyes.  “It took him way too long.”

Mike – “It did.  And I can’t give everything in the book away …”

What is one thing you, Michael and Cara, would like readers to walk away with after reading your love story?

Mike – I guess that there’s no such thing as anyone being perfect and people are bound to make mistakes.  So you’d better believe in yourself no matter what or you might lose the best thing that ever happened to you.

Cara – I guess it’s that you have to fight for what you want and trust that if you love someone and they love you, you can work things out.  God that all sounds so sappy and easy.

Mike – It wasn’t.

Cara – No, it wasn’t.  But it was so worth what we went through.

Mike – Agreed.

Now back to Carly.

Thank you, Carly for bringing along Mike and Cara from PERFECT FIT with you today to chat about their love story.  I truly appreciate you letting me take a few moments to ask them some need-to-know questions. =)

You’re welcome! I love coming to visit with you guys.  You keep me on my toes, that’s for sure!

When that fleeting free time comes your way what do you like to do?  Are there any authors you would recommend to readers until we have the next book in our hands?

I love to read, so your next question really works for me.  I’ve gotten into that New Adult type genre (no college age kids for me) but I loved books like Samantha Young’s On Dublin Street, and R.K. Lilley’s In Flight and Mile High.  Sizzling and good.  And in a different genre, contemporary, Bella Andre’s Come a Little Closer (any Sullivan sibling book but this was Smith’s and he was so worth the long wait!).

One more thing before I let you skedaddle.  For the holiday season I invited authors to share their favorite recipe.  I was wondering if you had a special recipe that you make that your family and friends rave about that you would like to share with RCJR eZine readers.

If I was any good in the kitchen, I’d be happy to share.  Unfortunately, I specialize in ordering food, and what I cook well … it’s pretty basic.  Sorry!

I would like to thank you one more time, Carly for bringing readers into your sassy, sexy and fun loving world.

Thank you for having me back.  You always challenge me with your questions and I really enjoy coming here and talking with you!

Carly Phillips has written over 35 romance novels with contemporary characters and small town settings that today's readers identify with and enjoy.  She's currently focused on the New York Times bestselling Serendipity series set in the small fictional town in upstate, New York.  Carly is a writer, a knitter of sorts, a wife, and a mom to two daughters (16 and 20!) and two crazy dogs (a 1 year old Havanese named Brady and a 5 year old wheaten terrier named Bailey).  In addition, she’s a Twitter, Facebook and Internet junkie and is always around to interact with her readers.   Carly lives in Purchase, New York and would love for you to like and follow her on the web.

Find Carly:

Carly’s Website – www.carlyphillips.com

Carly on Twitter - www.twitter.com/carlyphillips

Carly on Facebook - www.facebook.com/carlyphillipsfanpage

Carly on Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/10000.Carly_Phillips

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780425259719

Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)

Publication date: 12/31/2012

Format: Mass Market Paperback

Pages: 304

Sales rank: 492

Series: Serendipity's Finest Series #1

Buy at Amazon or B&N

Read an excerpt

Overview

In the picturesque town of Serendipity, New York, three siblings have grown up in the shadow of their proud and respected police chief father. But what do love, fate, and fortune have in store for the next generation of Serendipity’s finest?

Always feeling like the odd man out in his family, Michael Marsden wanted to make it on his own. So he escaped Serendipity to become an undercover cop in Manhattan, where the Marsden name wasn’t known. But Michael’s independence is compromised when he returns home to replace his sick father as chief of police. Back in the shadow of his family, he’s as lost and restless as ever, until he’s challenged by someone he never anticipated.

Cara Hartley is the Serendipity cop with whom Mike had a one night stand three months earlier. Neither expected anything more but fate has other things in store. When Mike returns as Cara’s boss, the sexual tension between them is impossible to ignore—and the unexpected emotional connection continues to grow. But Cara’s a small town girl while Mike has a wanderer’s blood in his veins.

Both are convinced a future together is impossible. Until Mike’s real father’s secrets come back to haunt him and he realizes there are some things worth staying and fighting for. Including Cara. 

Giveaway:

Wow, I don’t know about you but I am so excited that we have one of New York Times best, Ms. Carly Phillip spending the day with us, right here, at RCJR eZine Blog.  I am always thrilled when Ms. Phillips drops by.  Today she is spilling the beans --not all of them ;)-- about what is happening in that sassy and sexy little town of Serendipity.  Her latest release is not only the PERFECT FIT but ‘"he perfect read" to snuggle up on these cold winter nights and escaping the cold for a few hours.

In celebration of PERFECT FIT one very lucky reader will have the choice of one of the first three titles in Ms. Phillip’s Serendipity series: SERENDIPITY, DESTINY and KARMA.

Here is how to enter:

*Leave a comment for Carly Phillips

*Become a follower of RCJR eZine Blog

*Like us on Facebook

*Spread the word on Facebook and Twitter

Please leave your email in your comment.

Contest runs until January 5, 2013

Winner will be contacted directly on January 6, 2013

HAPPY READING!