Interview with Author LINDA ENGMAN

~Romance, Holidays, and Hot Heroes~ by Linda Engman

I think I must be a frustrated party planner. With the upcoming release of my fourth book, My Sexiest Wedding, in January of 2013, I’m starting to see a trend in my book plots (besides including sexy, rugged heroes) such as: weddings, parties, and holiday celebrations. Within each sexy-fun plot there is always an opportunity for the heroine to dress up and clink glasses of champagne with a tall, handsome hero. Whether it be at midnight on New Year’s Eve, on a sultry tropical beach, or while attending a romantic wedding. Sometimes even at their own wedding—if the hero plays his cards right.

It could be that I just love holidays and celebrating special occasions with champagne. Bubbly and sparkly, the classic romantic drink immediately puts you in a good mood and makes a person feel like celebrating something-anything. I had so much fun including champagne in a steamy midnight scene in my holiday romance, Manhattan Holiday. Within the scene the heroine, April Sutton, a somewhat stuffy law assistant, finds herself in the hero, Roman Vasquez’s Manhattan penthouse condo, dressed only in one of his white dress shirts, a little tipsy, while she lets her inhibitions down and does an unplanned sexy lap dance for him. I couldn’t have wrote that scene without her drinking a little too much pricy French champagne on his New Year’s Day birthday. And the hero? Yes, he enjoyed it too.

Champagne isn’t just for holidays and romance. My heroines, Amber Bradley and Heather Grant, from my Cedar Point series, I’ve Got You and Falling For You, never hesitate to pop open a bottle of bubbly while commiserating with their BFF’s regarding their man problems and love lives. When I wrote those scenes it brought me back to my single days doing the same exact thing with my girlfriends after work. Thank goodness for best friends who show up with a bottle of something sparkly when you need a good girl chat.

And romantic candlelit weddings never fail to be an opportunity to showcase my heroes in a new light. In My Sexiest Wedding, the hero Rafael Quintero, a Spanish cowboy, is more used to riding the pampas grasslands of Argentina and drinking tequila, so having him outfitted in a suit and attending a wedding in the small town of Bernie, Ohio, while drinking champagne, was too much of temptation for me to pass up. The man cleans up well too! And after a few glasses of the effervescent bubbly stuff, this hero is more than ready for some serious romance.

I’m in the middle of finishing another sexy-fun romance. I can’t wait to see what holiday or how the characters will celebrate. Or maybe I’ll include another romantic moonlit wedding? I’m pretty sure my heroine won’t mind.

Linda

*PS. I thought I’d share my favorite champagnes with you. Enjoy the upcoming holidays!



*My Champagne Picks for the Holidays*

-FREIXENET. Elegant, edgy Freixenet is unlike any other champagne I’ve tasted. The price is affordable.

-MUMMS. Pricier but worth it.

-ANDRE’S. Extra Dry, Brut, Blush and Asti. Inexpensive with a high price taste. (I love the plastic cork. Pour a glass, re-cork, and the next day it’s still bubbly.)

-MARTINI and ROSSI. Another mid-priced champagne/Asti to ring in the New Year.

Very Special Occasions and Celebrating Book Releases: Veuve Clicquot, Moet & Chandon, Taittinger.

Blush: Pink, Sweet and Sparkly

Extra Dry: Medium Dry

Brut : Very Dry

Asti: Very Sweet and Bubbly



Book Blurb: Manhattan Holiday

Recently jilted, legal assistant April Sutton is ready to find a way to forget her ex-fiancé and the heartache she’s been carrying around snowy Manhattan. With the New Year holiday approaching she’s determined to restart her life. Never in her wildest dreams does she expect a last minute marriage to dynamic Roman Vasquez, along with a sultry weekend trip and a romantic dream wedding, to do the trick.

In order to meet the New Year’s Eve deadline of his grandfather’s will, successful developer Roman Vasquez will do whatever it takes. Even if it means giving up his bachelor status and convincing an unwilling April Sutton to tie the knot. Although he finds all it takes to persuade her is—one kiss, a contract, and the wedding of her dreams.

Will Roman and April keep it all business...or let the magic of the holiday season, along with meddling friends, family, and hidden feelings turn their temporary whirlwind marriage into everlasting love?

You can find me at www.lindaengman.com

*Available in

Print/eBook at:

Amazon

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The Wild Rose Press