LOLA KNOWS WHAT SHE WANTS
Lola Vonn isn't sure exactly when it happened, but sometime between ages seven and twentysomething, her best friend, Alex, got hot.Really hot. He's hotter than the blazing Arizona sun-and definitely hotter than the nerdy-cute mathlete she grew up with. And, when she needs to crash at his apartment while looking for a place of her own, Alex becomes a temptation she can't resist. But while unbuttoning Alex's buttoned-up self is scorchingly fun, wild child Lola fears risking the best friend she's ever had on a fling.
Lola Vonn isn't sure exactly when it happened, but sometime between ages seven and twentysomething, her best friend, Alex, got hot.Really hot. He's hotter than the blazing Arizona sun-and definitely hotter than the nerdy-cute mathlete she grew up with. And, when she needs to crash at his apartment while looking for a place of her own, Alex becomes a temptation she can't resist. But while unbuttoning Alex's buttoned-up self is scorchingly fun, wild child Lola fears risking the best friend she's ever had on a fling.
HE KNOWS WHAT SHE NEEDS
Alex Reed has wanted Lola since they were teenagers and now that she's parading around his condo in sexy stilettos and short nighties, he can't stop the more-than-just-friends fantasies he has every time he looks at his new curvy blonde roommate. Luckily he's no longer the painfully dorky teenager he once was-and it's high time he showed Lola that he's the man for her.
Alex Reed has wanted Lola since they were teenagers and now that she's parading around his condo in sexy stilettos and short nighties, he can't stop the more-than-just-friends fantasies he has every time he looks at his new curvy blonde roommate. Luckily he's no longer the painfully dorky teenager he once was-and it's high time he showed Lola that he's the man for her.
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Kobo: http://bit.ly/1Ku11dy
EXCERPT
Lola vowed to herself not to rattle Alex’s cage
while staying with him. Not too much, anyway. It was sort of a natural
compulsion. Everyone should have a little excitement in their lives. A few
twists and turns.
Regardless, she tidied up the breakfast bar,
relegating herself to her room so Alex would have the space he needed to adjust to her being there. He deserved that from her.
She slipped off the stool just as he came
through the door, though, foiling her good intentions.
“Thought you were having beers at Pete’s,” she
casually said.
“A
beer.” He gave her a once-over, shoved his hands into the pockets of his dress
pants and shook his head. “What are you wearing?”
“Huh?” She glanced down at her short, red-lace
nightie. “I wasn’t expecting you back so soon, and I was just looking at my
notes before I go to bed.”
“You do own a robe, right?”
“Actually, no.”
His jaw tightened.
“Geez, Alex. It’s just a nightie.” She set
aside her papers and wine. “What’s the big deal?”
“Nothing.” He disappeared into his room, but
came back seconds later, carrying a plush, navy-colored robe with a gold emblem
on the chest from a fancy New York hotel where he’d attended this year’s
insurance convention. Or maybe it’d been last year. She couldn’t keep track.
Thrusting it at her, he said, “Do me a favor
and cover up
while you’re here.”
She eyed him curiously. “Alex, women wear less
than this on the beach. On TV, even.”
He stared unwaveringly, his eyes locking with
hers. As though he didn’t dare look anywhere else but her face.
“Yes, I have breasts,” she announced.
“Newsflash! Not.”
“Just wear the robe, Lo.”
She took a step closer to him, but didn’t
accept the garment he offered. “What is going on?”
“There are
reflective surfaces in my condo. I’m sure you can see—on you—that is much more than ‘just a
nightie.’”
Her gaze dropped again. Okay, so there was a
healthy amount of cleavage on display. Not to mention thigh. Maybe a little ass cheek. Whatever.
She glanced up at Alex—and caught the flash of
lust in his eyes. Possibly because there weren’t glasses to deflect the
unexpected expression?
Something clicked in her brain.
“Alex—”
Oh, no
way...
A smile spread slowly over her lips. “Oh, my
God.”
He shook his head again. “Don’t make anything
out of this.”
Too.
Late.
Something had changed... She’d
been wrong all along.
Was she imagining this, or...?
Holy
cow!
Her body instantly gravitated to his as she
took a step toward him, barely realizing it. “Alex—you’re hot for me.”
He groaned. “No, I’m not.”
“Liar.”
She’d seen that look before, after all. On
other men.
Her gaze roved him from head to toe. He
appeared thoroughly disgruntled. In a very sexy way. Completely unkempt. So not his style. His
dark hair was unruly, which likely made him crazed, since he was an
every-strand-in-its-proper-place kind of guy. He’d rolled up his sleeves and
had loosened his tie. Something she’d never known him to do. He didn’t go for
the disheveled look, but it totally worked for him. Especially with his current
brooding, which made her skin tingle.
What
if...?
Her breath hitched.
Maxi had nailed it—Alex had become tall, dark and delicious. He was single and, alas,
hetero as far as she knew.
Sure, Lola was unpredictable and impulsive. So
very different from him in every conceivable way, yet...opposites attracted, right?
But wait.
What the
hell are you thinking?
Her spinning curiosity came to a screeching
halt. Alex was so not her idea of a
hot hookup.
Well, maybe it could be hot. He had chiseled facial features
and broad shoulders. Really nice hands, with long, blunt-tipped fingers and
neatly trimmed nails.
And though it seemed that he tried not to
devour her with a hungry gaze...he did.
She beamed, rocking back and forth on her bare
heels as exhilaration trilled down her spine. “When did this happen?”
Welcome to
Novels in Heels, Calista. We are
delighted to interview you today.
Calista:
I’m thrilled to be here! I love this blog and your Facebook page!
Can you tell us
a little how writing began for you?
Calista: I’ve always been a writer, starting as a kid and then
working as an editor on newspapers in school. I also majored in Journalism and
Communications in college. I had a pretty intense job managing PR for the
president and CEO of a health care company, and found that writing fiction on
the side was a great creative outlet. I’ve always loved romances, and one day I
picked up a Secrets volume (Red Sage Publishing) featuring some notable NYT
bestselling authors and I fell in love with the sexy novellas. I decided to
write my own. I submitted it to Red Sage, and Secrets Volume 13 was on
bookshelves in 2005 with my story, IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT. I’ve been writing
contemporary, paranormal, dark, and new adult romances with a spicy kick ever
since!
Tell us how do
you find writing? Is it an easy process
for you?
Calista:
I absolutely love it and feel blessed to be able to write for a living. My
process is really rather simple. I typically get an idea from a dream, and then
I let it simmer in my head for some time. I start to play scenes in my mind.
Then I piece the scenes all together like a movie and “review” it over and over
until I have it mostly all worked out before I even begin writing. That way, I
can be fully immersed in the book as it’s unfolding on screen and, luckily,
that keeps me from getting stuck on plot points and characterizations.
What inspires or
motivates you to write?
Calista:
I’ve been an avid reader since I was a child. My parents are huge readers and
we’d rather crack open a book than turn on the TV. So between my love of books
and my overactive imagination, I have plenty of motivation. And I find
inspiration all around me—scenery can spark an idea as much as people-watching
or reading the news.
Do you have a
mentor that you turn to for help?
Calista:
I have several! One is the very talented NYT bestselling author Erin Quinn, who
is fantastic at world-building, so I typically bounce my more complex plots off
of her (such as the BURNED DEEP trilogy, Oct. 6, 2015 from St. Martin’s Press).
I also rely on award-winning author Rachelle Chase to read some of my sexier
scenes to get feedback on them. My agent, Sarah E. Younger of Nancy Yost
Literary Agency, serves as a great partner in evaluating my manuscripts and
finding ways for them to fill niches, as she did with WHAT LOLA WANTS from the
Leave Your Shoes On (high heels and hot nerds) series!
How do you feel
writing sexy, erotic scenes? Do you
write them with experience or lots of research?
Calista:
Ha! My husband would prefer I say it’s all from experience! I really do have an
overactive imagination, and that helps! I never considered writing sexy until I
discovered SEX AND THE CITY, and with its popularity came the realization that
a lot of today’s women want some extra spice in their lives!
What research
do you do to write the stories you write?
How in depth is your research?
Calista:
It depends on my plot and what I’m trying to accomplish with the story. When
I’m writing a fun, sexy contemporary, they tend to be more character-driven and
that requires delving into personalities and trying to understand who they
really are and how they relate to others—and how others relate to them. For my
paranormals and dark romances, I do much more world-building, and so I’ll
research locations (typically someplace I’ve been before, though I also tend to
create settings), and I’ll research whatever plot devices I’m using. I LOVE the
research process!! It’s so interesting to learn things that might not have ever
occurred to me to know about until I’ve started down a rabbit hole. And while
the Internet is abundantly helpful, I like to ask experts my tougher questions
and pick their brains.
For those of us
that don’t know much about you, what is the one thing you want to be known for?
Calista:
Making you laugh, cry, or sigh. J
What types of
books do you like to read?
Calista:
I don’t get the chance to read as often as I’d like these days because I have
numerous deadlines, but I’ll read anything from Jennifer Ashley and Cheyenne
McCray, as well as Lorelei James and Megan Hart.
Tell us a
little about yourself? Something more
than is in your Bio. Or tell us
something that none of your fans would know.
Calista:
I collect miniature high heels! The more intricately designed, the better. I
also have a collection of sparkly stiletto wine holders. My mother had a
massive shoe obsession when I was growing up, and I couldn’t wait until I was
old enough to wear heels. I suppose that’s what spawned my love of modern,
sophisticated heroines in designer shoes!
Have you ever
wanted to give up writing half way through a book?
Calista:
Absolutely! Chapter Five is usually when I’m ready to walk away, because that’s
the point where I’m thinking, “No one is going to want to read this.”
Eventually, I power through and fall in love with it again. I don’t think I’ve
ever intentionally given up on a book, though I have had to backburner a number
of them to work on manuscripts that are under contract. I have dozens of works
in progress!
What do you do
when you are looking to have a bit of fun?
Calista:
I travel a lot and end up meeting people that way. I consider anything
involving wine and chocolate fun!
How much of
your books are real – how much a fiction?
Calista:
Some of my plots and my characters’ jobs come from personal experience or a
news article, but for the most part, I make it all up as I go!!
Have you ever
acted out a scene in your book with your partner?
Calista:
Of course! ;-)
Can you share a
little of your current work with us?
Calista:
I would love to! Publisher’s Weekly just noted my Sept.15 release, WHAT LOLA
WANTS, in an article about the new adult genre, and I’m over-the-moon excited
about the Leave Your Shoes On series from Grand Central Publishing/Forever
Romance. WHAT LOLA WANTS is Book 1 in the series, featuring a very saucy, curvy
blonde named Lola Vonn, who has just returned to Scottsdale after a three-year
absence and suddenly realizes that her nerdy best friend Alex Reed is now
hotter than all get out! The sparks fly and Lola proposes a very risqué (and
risky) friends with benefits arrangement while staying at Alex’s condo. He gets
her creative juices flowing and she starts to rock her new job in the Marketing
department of Staci Kay Shoes, but it’s always dangerous for friends to sleep
together—especially if one of them falls in love!
The
book releases on September 15, 2015 and is available for pre-orders. http://amzn.to/1KcZKVe
What is the
best way for readers to get in contact with you?
Calista:
I love hearing from readers!
Now a couple of
naughtier questions if you will entice us.
What is your
one (top) sexual fantasy? Have you
accomplished it?
Calista:
I have a very sexy ménage series coming from St. Martin’s Press next year, and
I’d have to say that that scenario tops my list of fantasies! Have I
accomplished it? I’m not telling… ;-)
If you had a
choice would you choose – flogger, blindfold, handcuffs, restraints, rope,
whips, cane?
Calista:
While I had a little handcuff fetish in college, I prefer no restraints at
all—I like to touch! And I’m anti-anything that causes pain rather than
pleasure!
What Lola Wants by Calista FoxMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
4 RomCom Stars
What a wonderfully romantic and hilarious story. A little predictable, but still so much fun to read.
Best friends to lovers and all the escapades in-between. Who doesn’t love a fun ‘friends to lovers’ story?
I enjoyed this story. It was entertaining, fun and lighthearted and never missed a beat with the sexy stilettos and hot steamy scenes – right up my alley.
If you are looking for a fun, steamy and entertaining read, then this is definitely for you.
View all my reviews
About Calista Fox
Calista is a former PR professional,
now writing fast-paced, steamy books to set your pulse racing! She is an
Amazon bestseller and has won many Reviewer's and Reader's Choice
Awards, as well as Best Book Awards and other competitions
with publication as first prize. Calista is a
college graduate and teaches online writing classes. She is also Past
President/Advisor of the Phoenix Chapter of Romance Writers of America.
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