Blog Tour Review, Interview & Giveaway: Sweet Surprise – Candis Terry

Playing naughty or nice . . .

Fiona Wilder knows all about falling in lust. Love? That’s another story. Determined not to repeat past mistakes, the single mom and cupcake shop owner is focused on walking the straight and narrow. But trouble has a way of finding her. And this time it comes in the form of a smoking hot firefighter who knows all the delicious ways to ignite her bad-girl fuse.

Can lead to heartbreak . . .

Firefighter Mike Halsey learned long ago that playing with fire just gets you burned. He’s put his demons behind him, and if there’s one line he won’t cross, it’s getting involved with his best friend’s ex. But when fate throws him in the path of the beautiful, strong, and off-limits Fiona, will he be able to fight their attraction? Or will he willingly go down in flames?

Or a sweet surprise!

Series: Sweet, Texas #4
Release Date: January 27th 2015
Publisher: Avon
Source: Edelweiss
Reviewer: Shannon
Rating:

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Reviewer’s Thoughts

3.5 Cocktails

SWEET SURPRISE was a cute story.  I haven’t read the other books in the Sweet, Texas series, but that didn’t take away from my ability to jump into this story.

Fiona and Mike were interesting characters.  They were each very gun-shy about jumping into a relationship.  Fiona was looking for someone who was going to love her forever and Mike was only willing to think about right now.  But the more these two were together, the more sparks started to fly and you knew they were going to have to get out of their own way.

I liked Fiona.  I liked her need to be independent and build something on her own, for herself and her daughter.  She might have been a bit stubborn when it came to that independence, but I could see why it was so important to her and support it.  Her relationship with her ex in-laws was special and I enjoyed seeing how the Wilder family truly loved Fiona, even if she was no longer married to one.

Mike was a bit harder for me to warm up to.  I’m not sure why that was.  He was everything I generally like in a hero, but he was a little too at odds with himself, his feelings and his need to be a white knight.  His inner monologue said one thing and he went the opposite direction, which made me crazy and probably why I couldn’t warm up to him.

Overall, it was a solid read.  It took Mike and Fiona a while to get there, but eventually they got out of their own way and discovered what they needed to do in order to get their HEA.

Tell us about yourself.

I’m a misplaced Southern California girl who lives on an Idaho farm where I’ve become an expert at chasing down fence-busting steers. It took me 22 long years of working hard to learn to write and before I finally sold a book. I’ve been very fortunate since I first signed on with Avon Impulse books and then was moved up to mass market publication for Avon Books. It’s been three years now since I received “The Call” and my eleventh book will be published in July of this year. Sleep is not in my vocabulary.

What three things about you might surprise your readers?

I’m a demon on a snowmobile. I have a serious addiction to holiday decorating. And I was once a child performer.

Is there a genre that you think “I might like to write one of those.”?

Yes! For years I’ve had an idea rolling around in my head for a dark paranormal story that I simply must write some day! Must!

Tell us about Sweet Surprise.

Fiona Wilder is a reformed bad girl. She’s a single mom and the ex wife of the seriously hot firefighter Jackson Wilder (from Sweetest Mistake) whom she married because she got pregnant. Now they’re great friends and he’s remarried. But Fiona has put her alter ego “Naughty Fiona” in bad girl lockdown. She’s learned from her mistakes and swears she won’t repeat them as she moves forward to create a life for her and her daughter and live her dream by opening a cupcake shop. Fireman Mike Halsey is a guy with some serious baggage. He’s also Jackson’s best friend. When he meets Fiona he can’t stop thinking about her. He fears losing his best friend if he makes a move, but some things are just meant to be. Watching Mike struggle with trying to stay in the “friend zone” is a whole lot of fun. For the reader, not poor Mike.

Where did the idea for the storyline come from?
Sweet Surprise is the fourth single title book in the Sweet, Texas series. Since the heroine, Fiona, was once married to Jackson Wilder, she’s been around for several books. Through all of those books her storyline just kept developing in my head. Since Jackson is a hot fireman and she’s sworn off ever getting involved with another hot fireman, I thought, hey, why not put a hot fireman directly in her path? And so it began.

What do you think readers will like/love about Fiona and Mike?

Fiona is very real. She’s a single mom with all the complications that come along with that title. She puts her daughter first but finds herself very lonely and wishing for someone to love. She battles guilt and doubt and yet she strives to succeed. All in all she’s a very nice person I think readers will relate to. Mike is tortured. He’s lived a tough life, yet he’s always been there for his family—even when they may not have deserved his devotion. He’s the kind of guy who, you just know once he falls in love, you’d never doubt him being there to still be holding your hand even when you’re old and wearing orthopedic shoes.

What was your favorite scene from the book?

It’s impossible to pin down just one scene. One that stands out in my mind is the first kiss Fiona and Mike share. They’ve both been trying so hard to stay away from each other, fighting the attraction like nobody’s business. And when they do come together it’s almost like the popping of an emotionally, sensually filled, combustible balloon. I remember writing it and my heart was pounding so hard I had to laugh.

Who are some of your book boyfriends?  What draws you to them?

Oh! There are so many! Bobby Tom Denton from Heaven, Texas by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. He’s cocky and a true pain in the backside, but he’s also sweet and funny and loyal as hell. Also, Nick Alegreeza from Truly Madly Yours by Rachel Gibson is a truly tortured hero with a tender heart. And then there’s the oh-so-charming Tucker Longstreet from Nora Roberts’ Carnal Innocence. I’m not sure there are enough words to describe Tucker but he’s definitely one that sticks in my memory as well as my heart. And please don’t even ask me to choose between Coreene Callahan’s Dragonfury heroes (but Rikar really does rank right up there at the top!).

If you had to pick a favorite cocktail of choice, what would it be?  (It can be non-alcoholic too)

I love lemon drop martinis. If you add some huckleberry in there I’ll smile even more. I’m definitely more of a fruity umbrella drink kind of girl. Keep those Fireball Shooters away from me!

What’s next for you?

I just completed the final book in the Sweet, Texas series. Truly Sweet is baby brother and former Marine, Jake Wilder’s story, and it will be released in July 2015. I’m very happy with the way his book turned out. Very. Happy. Now I’m starting a brand new series with even more stubborn and ornery brothers to keep me awake at night.

Thank you for inviting me here today. It’s been a lot of fun!

“Fiona swallowed. Something warm and forbidden swirled in the pit of her stomach, then wound its way into her heart and other vital parts of her body. In the old days she’d tug him closer and take what she wanted. But this was a new day. A new Fiona. A more responsible Fiona who, unfortunately, couldn’t seem to get this man off her mind.
“Then maybe this won’t work out.” She eased her hand from his and instantly missed the fire in his touch.
“Maybe.” Those broad shoulders beneath that fresh cotton T-shirt lifted in a nonchalant shrug. “I’m willing to give it a shot if you are.”
Give what a shot, she wanted to ask. The actual work? Or the sexual tension that ignited between them like gasoline and matches?
A sigh expanded her chest. “If you’re going to work for me there can’t be any flirting. Or touching.”
His smile widened to a grin. “It’ll be a pleasure working under you.”
Oh boy.”– Candis Terry, Sweet Surprise

Candis Terry was born and raised near the sunny beaches of Southern California and now makes her home on an Idaho farm. She’s experienced life in such diverse ways as working in a Hollywood recording studio to scooping up road apples left by her daughter’s rodeo queening horse to working as a graphic designer. Only one thing has remained constant: Candis’ passion for writing stories about relationships, the push and pull in the search for love, and the security one finds in their own happily ever after. Though her stories are set in small towns, Candis’ wish is to give each of her characters a great big memorable love story rich with quirky characters, tons of fun, and a happy ending.

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