Interview with Sarah Mayberry—and giveaway!

A couple of weeks ago, I revealed the cover for my next release, One Night With Her Bachelor, which is the sixth book in a multi-author series set in the small town of Marietta, Montana. The series revolves around a bachelor auction raising money for a single mom whose son had a bad accident. The books are about the super-hot men who selflessly let themselves be auctioned off to the highest bidder…and end up falling in love.

Over the next several Fridays, I’m interviewing the authors about their books and giving you a chance to win something fun. We’re kicking off the fun with Sarah Mayberry, whose book Bound to the Bachelor comes out today! *throws confetti*

First of all, let me tell you that one of the big reasons I’m SO excited to be part of this series is that I get to work with Sarah, one of my all-time favorite authors. She is BRILLIANT. If you think I’m just sucking up to her now because I’m working with her, you can check out my blog to find a long history of suck-upage. Like this interview with her. And this post about why I think Australia’s the sexiest country in the world. I was lucky enough to read Bound to the Bachelor a few weeks ago, and it’s fantastic. If you like stories about strong women overcoming their painful pasts while also having super-hot sex, one-click that sucker.

Please help me welcome Sarah and congratulate her on Bound to the Bachelor!

1. Tell us a little about the hero and heroine in Bound to the Bachelor.

Well, Beau and Lily have known each other for about five years. She’s best friends with his younger sister, Andie, and from the moment she and Beau met each other it’s been snark at ten paces. She thinks he judges her for having been a stripper in a former life. He thinks she’s trouble, and way too much of a distraction for a guy trying to get a fledgling business off the ground. They’ve always kept each other at arm’s length…until the bachelor auction.

2. How does Lily end up buying Beau?

Lily has had a difficult young adulthood. She was forced to leave home at an early age, and on the day of the auction, she receives a surprise inheritance from the man who forced her to run away. He’s left her a legacy in his will, but Lily doesn’t want anything to do with him. She wants to give it to her friend, Molly, and her injured son, Josh, both of whom are the reason everyone is rallying for the bachelor auction, but she knows that Molly won’t take a straight donation. Which means she needs to buy herself a bachelor. Unfortunately, there’s only one man left on the auction block by the time she’s thought her way through to this conclusion, and so she winds up buying Beau.

3. What makes their relationship complicated?

She is convinced he judges her for her past. And he knows that if he starts something with her, it’s going to be intense and full on, and he’s throwing all his energy into his rapidly-growing security company right now. Once they acknowledge their mutual attraction, they’re both prepared to back away into opposite corners and resume hostile relations again – but then Lily’s past comes back to haunt her and Beau needs to step in to protect her.

4. Is Bound to the Bachelor related to any of your other books?

It is! Lily and Beau were introduced in Make Believe Wedding, which features the romance between Andie, Beau’s sister, and Heath, Beau’s best and oldest friend.

5. If you could buy any celebrity for a date, who would you buy and what kind of date would he take you on?

Gosh, that’s a hard one. I’m happy to fantasise about hot movie stars while watching them in a movie, but in real life I’d be a tongue-tied mess. I might be better off doing something with someone I find really charming and non-threatening, like Graham Norton. Or – and this is going to sound weird – I would totally kill to have a meal with Tina Fey. She could take me anywhere. I think she’s amazing. See, this is the side effect of being very happily married – my husband stars in all my best fantasies!

Speed-dating round

If you could travel back in time, where would you go?
The Regency period in England. I would love to go to Almacks to witness an assembly. And maybe a grand ball. That would be awesome.

Name two of your favorite romance novels.
Blue-Eyed Devil by Lisa Kleypas and See Jane Score by Rachel Gibson.

When you were a kid, what was your dream job?
Writer! Still is.

If you won the lottery, what’s the most expensive thing you would buy?
Probably a house. And after that, a fast, sexy car. My father loves cars, and I have inherited his lust for shiny metal.

What’s the most beautiful place you’ve been to?
Chateau de Chenonceau in the Loire Valley, France. Google that name and you will see what I’m talking about. I literally had tears in my eyes as I walked around this stunning, beautiful, special place. It’s straight out of a fairy-tale, so romantic and amazing… I could rave and rave. The gardens, the building itself, the decor… If you are ever in France, add it to your must-see list. You won’t be disappointed.

Giveaway!

Sarah says: “I’d love to offer two readers the opportunity to read Make Believe Wedding, the prequel to Bound to the Bachelor. Just comment below to be entered in the draw for an e-book.”

About the book

Your date with Marietta local Beau Bennett includes a day on the slopes at Big Sky Resort, complete with a sumptuous meal in the Resort’s fanciest fine dining restaurant and door-to-door transport. Dig deep to secure the attentions of one of Montana’s most eligible – and elusive – bachelors.

Lily Taylor knows Beau Bennett dislikes her, but that won’t stop her from asking him to volunteer for the Bachelor Auction she’s organized to help her friend Molly provide for her tragically injured son, Josh. If Beau’s gorgeous face, piercing blue eyes and chiseled body inspires the women of Marietta to dig into their pockets for a good cause, then Lily will do whatever it takes to secure his participation.

Beau Bennett isn’t sure how he wound up on the auction block being eyed up by hundreds of eager women, but he knows who to blame for it – Lily Taylor, the sexy, distracting, off-limits best friend of his kid sister. As far as he’s concerned, the sooner this nightmare is over, the better.

The last thing either of them expects is for Lily to wind up bidding on – and winning – Beau, or that their date will lead to Beau stepping in to save Lily when her past comes back to haunt her. As Beau does his best to keep Lily safe, they discover that maybe they don’t dislike each other quite as much as they thought.

In fact, maybe it’s just the opposite…

Check out the Bound to the Bachelor page at Tule Books for excerpts and buy links for the most popular vendors.

About the author

Sarah Mayberry is the New York Times best selling and multiple award winning author of more than 38 books. When she’s not writing romance, she’s working in the film and television industry in Australia and New Zealand. She’s married to the love of her life, and adores her furry black Cavoodle, Max.

You can find Sarah at her website, Facebook and Twitter.