What can possibly go wrong when you mix food and first love? If you’re romance novelist Reese Ryan, everything. I recently spoke with her about Just a Little Married.
Tell me about your latest book.
Just a Little Married is a modern marriage of convenience, second chance romance centering of teenage sweethearts. Philanthropist and investment heiress, Riley George, proposes a marriage of convenience to her first love—irresistible celebrity chef Travis Holloway. What can possibly go wrong?
What inspired you to write it?
It’s the final book in the Moonlight Ridge Trilogy, which I collaborated on with fellow Harlequin Desire authors Joss Wood and Karen Booth. The series follows three estranged foster brothers who return to the luxe mountain resort in Asheville, North Carolina, where they were raised, to help save the old place and nurse their father back to health. In doing so, they find redemption, family, and love.
When did you fall in love with the written word?
My parents read to me when I was quite young. That’s when I fell in love with stories. They taught me to read at a really early age, and I became an avid reader from that point on.
What’s the best part of being an author?
The best part of being an author is being able to connect with readers. First and foremost, through the stories I write. But I also enjoy connecting with readers via medium like social media; my private reader group, the Reese Ryan VIP Reader Lounge; livestreams like my YouTube show, Story Behind the Story; and in-person or online reader conferences.
What’s the hardest part of being an author?
The hardest part about being an author is actually writing the book. LOL. And some books are much more difficult to write than others.
What books have you read lately and loved?
Right now, I’m on a romantic suspense kick. So I’d recommend the West Investigations series by K.D. Richards; His to Protect by Sharon C. Cooper; and the To Serve and Seduce series by Deborah Fletcher Mello
What book(s) are you most excited to read next?
Cold Case True Crime by Denise N. Wheatley and Wild Women and the Blues by Denny S. Bryce, who was a recent guest on Story Behind the Story.
Who would you cast in a movie to play your main characters?
Handsome celebrity chef Travis Holloway would be portrayed by actor Lance Gross and actress Nafessa Williams would play the role of philanthropic investment heiress Riley George. I wrote the book with the two of them in mind, and it would be a dream come true to see this trilogy come to life with these two playing the roles of Travis and Riley.
What’s next for you?
My next release is The Bad Boy Experiment on December 28. It’s the final planned book in my Bourbon Brothers series. Currently, I’m working on revisions for Return to Hummingbird Way, the next book in my Holly Grove Island sexy small town romance series.
Do you have anything you would like to add?
One of the projects I started during the pandemic is a livestream YouTube show called Story Behind the Story where romance readers and authors connect. It’s been so much fun interacting with readers and chatting with fellow authors like Brenda Jackson, Beverly Jenkins, Donna Hill, Jacquelin Thomas, Farrah Rochon, Kennedy Ryan, Naima Simone, several of the former Kimani Romance authors, fellow Harlequin Desire authors, and so many more authors.
We chat about their latest releases, but we also discuss larger topics in romance like diversity in small town romance; writing older heroines in romance; diverse romantic suspense; tips for writing family drama, love scenes, real life situations, and more. Plus, my guests and I often provide recommendation lists based on the show’s topic. Readers can check out past livestreams at: http://bit.ly/PastReeseRyanLivestreamChats
Use the Black Fiction Addiction affiliate link to purchase your copy of Just a Little Married.
To learn more about romance novelist Reese Ryan, visit her website or connect with her on social media.
Website: https://www.ReeseRyan.com/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/reese-ryan
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Reese-Ryan/e/B00CD31WJ0/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReeseRyanWrites/