Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Blog Tour, Guest Post, & Giveaway - Sweet, but Sexy featuring a Guest Post by Magdalena Scott



Today we are thrilled to have Magdalena Scott, one of the author's from the Sweet, but Sexy Boxed Set,  do a guest post on the blog. Read about why she loves the characters in her novella, Building A Dream, and leave a comment to say hello!
Thanks for stopping by today Magdalena! 


The Sweet, but Sexy Boxed set Presents: 
BUILDING A DREAM
Ladies of Legend
©Magdalena Scott




Thank you so much for inviting me to be here today to talk a bit about my novella, BUILDING A DREAM.
As soon as I finished writing WHERE HER HEART IS, I wanted to create a sequel with minor characters Greg Andrews and Chloe McClain as the hero and heroine. While washing dishes one night I had overheard a snippet of conversation between these two. I wrote it down, saved it (because I wasn't finished writing WHERE HER HEART IS), and eventually put it in place.

Chloe especially deserved her own story, because she’d been in the supporting cast of two Ladies of Legend novellas already. She was a walk-on in both MIDNIGHT IN LEGEND, TN and WHERE HER HEART IS, behaving herself very nicely and not pushing the main characters off the stage. Such easygoing behavior isn't always the case with members of my McClain family! It turns out Chloe was just pretending to be easygoing until the spotlight swung her way.

Greg deserved his own story because when I created him, I’d made him easy to dislike. Cute, and with a certain charisma, but a bit of a jerk. I wanted to redeem him. Or actually I wanted Chloe to redeem him, while Greg resisted. That makes it fun, doesn't it?

Greg and Chloe are the same but different. They’re both artists—Greg with his building contracting business, and Chloe with her landscapes of her beloved Smoky Mountains. Both of them are temperamental, too. It's as if I can see sparks fly when they get irritated with each other. They are two of my favorite characters!

One challenge of writing sweet romance is for the reader to feel the passion that builds between the hero and heroine, without the use of described love scenes. Chloe and Greg made that easy. From page one these two had a fiery chemistry.

This is one of my best books in the Ladies of Legend series, and I’m thrilled to share it with readers!

Magdalena




Chloe McClain is an artist, so she’s used to creating something from nothing. This time, though, the project is bigger than her usual canvas—this time she’s bought a big dilapidated building to rehab into a classy art gallery. Should be easy enough; she’ll hire Greg Andrews and his construction crew. Greg’s work has gotten good reviews from everyone in Legend. Of course there is kind of a rush on the project…

Greg is a professional, and his professional opinion is that Chloe’s pile of bricks should be put out of its misery. There’s no way he can bring the place up to code by her deadline, let alone turn it into the showplace she has in mind. But Chloe’s a McClain, and besides a wide stubborn streak, that means deep pockets. Speaking of which, Greg can’t keep his eyes off the back pockets of Chloe’s jeans...

When you live in Legend, Tennessee, there are certain things to remember. People in Legend pull together. Community before self. And you never want to take a wrong step around a McClain—even the cute females.




The customer is always right.

Greg Andrews looked around the interior of the derelict building and knew that was one of the stupidest sayings ever inflicted on the service profession. The customer’s got no clue would come a lot closer. He sighed, knowing that if the customer had the money, he’d likely take the job anyway. Although it made him want to hurl just thinking about the amount of work required to do the thing right, it could be an interesting project.

He would write up an estimate, present it, and see what happened.

Greg made rough notes on the yellowed paper hinged to his clipboard. He had pored over the owner’s meticulous drawings, understood what was expected, and appreciated the possibilities. Sure would be a lot easier, though, to just knock down the building and put up something new. Not that anyone besides him would consider the possibility. It hadn't taken long to realize that people in Legend, Tennessee, weren't much into new. A lot of them were into preservation. Since moving himself and his business here a year and a half ago, Greg had done mostly renovation work. He could build new houses—loved building new houses—and had a guy on his crew who was as talented and fast as anybody in the business on new construction. They’d had to adapt, though. He’d hired some local help with different skills. Even changed his business name from Andrews Construction to Deluxe Home Improvements when he came here. Nobody in Legend knew or cared about the Andrews name. Deluxe, though—that was the way to go. People saw Deluxe in the phone book, or on the little signs he put in the yards of satisfied customers, and they were likely to call.

Business was good. He had as much work as he and his employees could handle. Walking to the middle of the large empty room, he tried to imagine its transformation—and nearly broke his leg when part of the rotten floor gave way. Cursing fluently, he jerked his leg free and carefully moved back the way he’d come. He roughly tossed his long blond braid over his shoulder so it hung down his back.

Yeah, this is definitely looking good so far.

* * * *

“You must be kidding,” Greg said, walking carefully around the hole he’d dropped his leg into earlier. “No way can this be rehabbed in a month. No possible way. Mike said you had a time frame in mind—but thirty days is plain crazy.”

“Fine,” said Chloe McClain. “I'll get someone else.” She closed a small notebook and slid it into the back pocket of her snug jeans, then stuck the ballpoint behind her ear. The motion made the cascade of bell-shaped earrings tinkle softly. The sterling silver caught what little light came through the crud-encrusted windows. There was also a diamond stud up high in one ear. Greg had never considered ears to be particularly sexy, but on Chloe McClain, it seemed everything was sexy. At least, everything he'd seen. Her blonde-and-dark-brown streaked hair was wavy and cropped close to her head, but it grew a bit long in the back, and curls caressed her delicate neck. Her eyes were big and brown and bright as a child's. The long lashes and dusky eye shadow had him wondering what those big dark eyes would look like if Chloe were feeling passionate about something besides an ugly old building. Her mouth was generous and shaped as perfectly as any he'd seen on lipstick commercials. Even her nose intrigued him. Short and straight, but turned up on the end. It made her look spunky, and he had an idea it wasn't false advertising. Her body wasn't runway model thin, but slender and pleasantly curvy. She looked even better once you started talking to her. Then her eyes began to snap, her head moved in emphasis to her words, the music started from her strange earrings, and that gorgeous mouth had you looking there more of the time than you probably should. Good thing she was nuts, or he might be attracted to her.

“So... You’re Mike’s sister?” he asked. Mike McClain had worked for Greg a while now, but there were so many McClains in and around Legend, Greg couldn't keep them straight.

“Cousin.” She rolled her eyes, turned on the heel of her beat-up sandal, and headed for the door, where she flicked off the lights. Greg looked up at the half dozen bulbs hanging from the ceiling, suspended by dangerous-looking wires. Pathetic. The whole place was pathetic. He sure didn't want to get into a situation of trying to bring this dump up to code in thirty days, let alone do the project to her unreasonable expectations.

Chloe shut the door after them, and locked it. Right. As if anybody in his right mind would actually want to go in there.

“Well. Thanks for the opportunity, Miz McClain. Sorry I can't help you with this. Good luck finding somebody else.

“Uh-huh. Thanks. Well, I've got some contacts around. I'm sure there's somebody who could take it on. I need to have the place ready to go on deadline, or else...” She let the sentence trail off.

“Or else?” Not that he cared. Just making conversation.

“Or else I can't do the exhibition I've committed to.” She pushed some round-lensed dark glasses onto her nose, and caught her lower lip between her teeth. Frown lines marred that perfect brow, below the fall of wispy dark and light bangs.

Exhibition. Whatever. He needed to move on down the street. “So what kind of exhibition is that?” He hadn't meant to ask.

“Nothing. I need to go.” A sultry breeze came down the street, making the bells in her earlobes play again. She turned without another word and walked away from him into the breeze. Greg shivered. Some brush-off. Why he cared, he wasn't sure. He enjoyed watching her from behind until she turned the corner and was gone.

Oh well. Cute, but not my type. Dating a cousin of Mike's would surely be more than he wanted to deal with anyway. Might get awkward when it ended. Greg's relationships generally ended dramatically. Yelling and name-calling were sometimes part of it, and he sure didn't need Mike to be in that picture. It was complicated being a single man in Legend, Tennessee.

* * * *




Magdalena Scott lives in her own fantasy world of Magdalenaville, Indiana, and spends her time writing stories with small town settings. As a lifelong citizen of small town America, Magdalena knows that life in a “burg” is seldom dull—if you’re paying attention. There is mystery, romance, scandal, and the occasional unexplained occurrence. Step into Magdalena’s world and find out what’s hidden just below the surface of those tiny dots you can barely see on the map.







Sweet, but Sexy
by Maddie James, Jennifer Johnson,
Janet Eaves, Magdalena Scott, Jan Scarbrough,
Amie Denman, Jennifer Anderson, and
Constance Phillips
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: July 17, 2014





Blue Bottle Beach by Amie Denman – Mitchell finds Jackie irresistible as he romances her on Blue Bottle Beach, but he has no idea she should be in her cubicle in Chicago balancing the sheets for one of his many companies. Amie is an Amazon bestselling author (Unforgettable Heroes).

All That’s Unspoken by Constance Phillips – The only thing standing in Nate’s way is Hailey, the woman who left him eight years ago without even saying goodbye. Constance is a TMP 2013 Reader’s Choice Award nominee (All That’s Unspoken).

Secrets by Jan Scarbrough -- How was she going to keep her secret? It had been with her like a living thing for twenty-one years. Jan is an Amazon bestselling author (Love in a Small Town)

Crossroads by Janet Eaves – Desperation has a way of changing everything…. Janet is an Amazon bestselling author (Love in a Small Town, Unforgettable Heroes).

My Brother’s Wedding by Jennifer Anderson – Allison Daughtry is catapulted into a past life when she returns to her childhood home to attend her brother’s wedding. My Brother’s Wedding received a StoryFinds.com cover award.

Double Dog Dare by Jennifer Johnson – When Cheris McDowell wakes up in a hotel room next to the husband she doesn't remember meeting, she decides the only practical solution is a quiet divorce. Jennifer is an Amazon bestselling author (Unforgettable Heroes).

Hard Candy Kisses by Maddie James – New Year’s Eve is just around the corner and Patti Jo Baker has tried every trick in the book to land a date for the annual New Year’s Eve Bash at The Lodge. Maddie James is an Amazon bestselling author (Love in a Small Town, Falling for Grace, The Heartbreaker, and more).









Turquoise Morning Press: 
Twitter: @turquoisemorn

Hashtags: #sweetbutsexy #tmpress











8 comments:

  1. Very pretty blog! Thanks for hosting our boxed set today. I love Magdalena Scott's witty writing! She makes me chuckle. :)

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  2. lol oh that does make it fun seeing them turn around because of their hero or heroine :)

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  3. Loved the behind the scenes look at Building a Dream!

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  4. I just loved what Magdalena had to say about her characters! Thanks for stopping by!

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  5. Thanks for the kind words! My pleasure hosting your boxed set - can't wait to make some time to read it!

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  6. That is fun - and there's always bound to be some snarky words and sparks that fly during the process!

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  7. I'm so glad Magdalena was able to share with us - I always love to hear some of what went in to the making of a story! Thanks for stopping by!

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