Monday, July 27, 2015

The Secret Sister Blog Tour: Interview + Giveaway

http://www.cbbbookpromotions.com/tour-sign-up-the-secret-sister-by-brenda-novak-july-27-aug-7/

I'm so pleased today to have author Brenda Novak stopping by the blog to answer a few questions about her upcoming release, The Secret Sister. Brenda was a new-to-me author until a couple months ago (FAIL!) when I participated in a tour for This Heart of Mine, the latest in her Whiskey Creek series. I fell madly (madly!!!!!) in love with that book, so I'm super excited to be a part of the promotional tour for The Secret Sister as Brenda now has another adoring fan in me. Welcome to Supernatural Snark Brenda!

To help us get to know Maisey a bit better, let’s take a look at her bookshelves. What are 3 books that sit on her shelf of favorites?

Maisey writes children's book, so she would have a collection of the children's books that've inspired her the most: LOVE YOU FOREVER, THE GIVING TREE, THE POLAR EXPRESS, WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE, THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR, GOODNIGHT MOON, JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH, the Harry Potter series and HOLES.

If Maisey could ask you one question about why you wrote her family the way you did, what do you think she would most want to know?

Hmm...this is tough because I didn't write the story; Maisey did. This is all coming from her, so it's her thoughts, her feelings, her perspective. She's the one who struggles with her controlling mother and her substance-abusing brother. She also misses the father that was so nurturing to her growing up and provided her with a firm foundation amidst the confusion and pain.

Let’s say that tomorrow you find a box of photographs that hints at a family secret as Maisey does, which one character (aside from Sherlock Holmes) from a piece of fiction would you most like to recruit to help you unravel the mystery?

If I had a mystery to solve, I think I'll have to go with Thomas Magnum from Magnum P.I. Why? Tom Selleck is still hot. LOL (And Maisey has her own hot guy living next door, so why shouldn't I have one to help me, too?)

If you were to create a time capsule for future generations of your family, what are a few of the items you would include to help them get a feel for who you were?

In a time capsule, I would put pictures of my family. They mean the most to me (I have five kids). I would also put my favorite books--JANE EYRE, PRIDE & PREJUDICE, THE SECRET GARDEN, GONE WITH THE WIND, THE THORNBIRDS, OUTLANDER, EYE OF THE NEEDLE, SHOGUN, FOREVER AMBER, THE ALIENIST, A WOMAN OF SUBSTANCE, the early books by Kathleen Woodiwiss, several Susan Elizabeth Phillips titles, several of Sandra Brown's titles and many of the Stephanie Plum series (I would add more but you didn't say how big this time capsule could be--LOL). I would then probably include the awards I'm most proud to have received--like the Silver Bullet Award from the International Thriller's Association, which I was awarded for my efforts to raise money for diabetes research over the years. After that, I'd put in a few things that mean a lot to me because they represent milestones in a career I have thoroughly enjoyed (like the pin I will receive this summer for having written 50 books for Harlequin). And last, but not least, I would include some of my journals to show my thoughts and feelings and what I have learned as I progress through life.

If The Secret Sister was to be made into a movie, how would the tagline on the promotional poster read?

Tagline: Did she once have a sister? Has her mother lied all these years? Why?

Thanks so much for answering my questions Brenda!

• • • • • • • • • • • • 

THE SECRET SISTER


After a painful divorce, Maisey Lazarow returns to Fairham, the small island off the North Carolina coast where she grew up. She goes there to heal—and to help her brother, Keith, a deeply troubled man who's asked her to come home. But she refuses to stay in the family house. The last person she wants to see is the wealthy, controlling mother she escaped years ago.

Instead, she finds herself living next door to someone else she'd prefer to avoid—Rafe Romero, the wild, reckless boy to whom she lost her virginity at sixteen. He's back on the island, and to her surprise, he's raising a young daughter alone. Maisey's still attracted to him, but her heart's too broken to risk…

Then something even more disturbing happens. She discovers a box of photographs that evoke distant memories of a little girl, a child Keith remembers, too. Maisey believes the girl must've been their sister, but their mother claims there was no sister.

Maisey's convinced that child existed. So where is she now?



• • • • • • • • • • • • 

BRENDA NOVAK


New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Brenda Novak has penned over 45 novels. A two-time Rita nominee, she's won The National Reader's Choice, The Bookseller's Best, The Bookbuyer's Best and many other awards. She runs an annual online auction for diabetes research every May at www.brendanovak.com. To date, she’s raised over $2 million. Brenda considers herself lucky to be a mother of five and married to the love of her life.

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

GIVEAWAY

Up for grabs today are 5 copies of The Secret Sister! To enter, please fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Giveaway is open to US/CA only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

TOUR SCHEDULE:

July 27
Supernatural Snark – Interview
July 28
Savings in Seconds – Review
July 29
Her Book Thoughts – Review
All Romance Reader – Review
July 30
Maine Book Momma – Review
Jael’s Reviews – Review
July 31
Aug. 3
Maureen’s Books – Review
Rainy Day Ramblings – Review
Aug. 4
Paperrdolls – Review
Remember the Books – Review
Aug. 5
Aug. 6
Talk Supe – Review & Guest Post
Aug. 7
Brooke Blogs – Review
Every Free Chance – Review
 

35 comments:

  1. I love a strong heroine and a flawed one as well. This sounds like the perfect summer read Jenny! Thanks for sharing this and that wonderful interview, I love that Maisey wrote her own story. ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're welcome Ali, so glad you enjoyed it:)

      Delete
  2. Magnum P.I. - lol! I don't know why I find that so funny, but I do. Great interview, ladies! The Secret Sister sounds like a really good book.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I feel like I need to watch Magnum P.I. now:)

      Delete
  3. Hmmm, this sounds like a very interesting mystery for sure! I think I'll be adding this one to the wish list.
    Great interview Jenny!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Well, I agree that Tom Selleck is still pretty hot. LOL!
    I love that she would include all these books in the time capsule. I would definitely have Jane Eyre and Pride & Prejudice in mine as well!
    Thanks, Jenny! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He is! He pulls that mustache off so well. I don't think many men can:)

      Delete
  5. I'm with Nick - Tom Selleck is still a hottie! I love the books in the time capsule-Kathleen Woodiwiss was one of my first introduction to HR and holds a soft spot in my heart. Such great questions - Thanks!! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oooo I'll have to check her books out Kim. Yay historical romance:)

      Delete
  6. Such great questions! I agree about Tom Selleck. I'm not sure if I've seem his recently but I know not long ago he looked like he hadn't aged any. Plus he's great at solving mysteries. ;)
    Thanks so much for hosting a tour stop!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think we have our own Tom Selleck fan club forming here. LOVE IT!

      Delete
  7. I find it weird and a bit hillarious that I completely agree about Tom Selleck's hotness. That is a tiny bit disturbing! But he is timeless, especially as magnum. As for those children's books, they really are the best of the best. What excellent choices for Maisey.
    Your questions, Jenny, honestly. I'd like to figure out how your brain works.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. *high five* I agree with Candace, the man just doesn't appear to age. Asshole ;-)

      Delete
  8. Great questions! I love the books Maisey would have shelved:) And though I can't agree about Tom Selleck, I know he is very popular!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Lol, great interview and yes Tom is hot. This sounds like a great read, and I have enjoyed previous books by her.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This Heart of Mine was my first but now I can't wait to go and read her backlist:)

      Delete
  10. Yes, Magnum P.I. is still pretty sexy after all these years. I read this one awhile back, and I enjoyed it.

    ReplyDelete
  11. This sounds like a good mystery and I love those! Thanks for this great post.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I have never read one of her novels

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ooo you should! I highly recommend This Heart of Mine:)

      Delete
  13. She is on my list of must try authors! I haven't read her either but I really want to even more now! Brilly interview.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Ooh, the time capsule question was great! I'd have to think about what I'd want in a time capsule that would really represent me and my worlf.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Me too. There's so much I'd want to include!

      Delete
  15. I've always been curious about Ms. Novak's books. Here's to winning a copy! Lol. :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. I still enjoy Tom Selleck. I like his new show too but the younger guys get all the action in it.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Nice selection for the time capsule :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. I used to love Magnum PI! And I love the list of Maisey's favorite books. Great interview questions, BTW!

    ReplyDelete
  19. tom is hot but I liked him better in his western's. He seemed more seasoned in those. lol

    ReplyDelete
  20. Tom Selleck is still pretty hot, but I didn't really get into him until he guested on Friends and had that detective series, Jesse Stone. I think Hercule Poirot would be a great choice to help out, too. Yay for adding some Sandra Brown novels in the time capsule. I'm curious about the mystery and it sounds like a great second chance romance, too. Great interview and post, ladies! And thanks for the giveaway! :)

    ReplyDelete