Getting Hot With the Scot, New Release from an Amazing New Author



ABOUT THE BOOK:

The first in a new series, a journalist focused on her career and a sexy Scottish comedian turn a one night stand into forever.

Cassie Crow leaves for vacation with two goals: fill up her empty charm bracelet and have a one night stand. For once, she wants to have fun instead of obsessively checking her work email. And kissing a man in a castle who’s dressed as a Scottish Highlander is the perfect solution. 

Except when that man turns out to be Logan Reid, the host of a popular sketch show—and Cassie has just been roped into his latest prank. She wants nothing to do with his antics, but that was a really great kiss, and one night together couldn’t hurt.

It’s clear that one night isn’t enough and when Logan’s show brings him closer to Cassie, they decide to give dating a try. Can the woman who’s focused solely on her career and the man who refuses to take life seriously make it work?


My Review:

When a reader takes a chance on a new author, she's never quite sure what to expect. This book was delightfully unexpected, and my risk paid off in spades. Flirty and frisky, clever and charming, and tender and touching, this hot Scot hero and his heroine have a palpable connection, with surprising depth and vulnerability. But it’s the author's ability to bring characters alive and humanize them that bonds me to the characters and fully invests me in the outcome of their story. 

Not only does this author have a comfortable, engaging style that showcases her talent, but she clearly displays her knowledge and love of the English language, even teasing about her word nerdiness by way of an impromptu grammar lesson from one of Cassie’s friends. I’ll never understand an author publishing a poorly edited manuscript riddled with typos, but you can rest assured that is absolutely not the case with Johnson's books. Her care for her work and pride in her product shine through on every error-proof page, and you can bet this is one author I'll be reading for a long time to come. I’m especially grateful for St. Martin's Press for bringing this book to my attention and making an advanced copy available through NetGalley. 

 All of the characters are well thought out, relatable and endearing, and I easily, eagerly devoured this book in one evening. I love Cassie's strength and the way she knows her own mind just as much as I love Logan's devil-may-care shenanigans that play a large part in covering the pain and loss he's carried around for years. Cassie and Logan are a poignant example of how two opposites can compliment and strengthen each other, making them better together than either is alone. I wholeheartedly recommend this heartfelt, humorous read, and I can’t wait for the next book in this series! 

Grab your copy using the link below, and have a look at the next two books in the Sometimes in Love Series, Smitten by the Brit and Once Upon a Bad Boy. Then scroll down for a fun Q&A with the author, more about Melonie and her social media links.  Until next time, dear reader

Much love between the covers,

BookAddict

*See my other reviews here.
AMAZON TOP 1000 REVIEWER  


WITH THE AUTHOR:

Since I've never done a question and answer session with an author before, I cheated just a little and got some help from Melonie's book group on Facebook, The Reading Lushes. This is a wonderful bunch of gals who are a lot of fun, and the best place to get the latest news from Melonie, so be sure to check out the group! (And thanks, Lushes, for the help!) 

1) We're often coached not to ask "why" questions because it can make the other person defensive, but hopefully you'll indulge me. Why did you choose to write romance? 

Is it cliché to say I didn’t choose to write romance, romance chose me? I’ve adored reading romances since I was in single digits, starting with the Sunfire romance series (imagine the American Girl doll historical novels, but YA, and with love triangles). Also, the promise of a happy ending is a gift. It is such a lovely thing to escape into a story and know that no matter what, in the end, things are going to work out. Now, more than ever, that promise is a much-needed comfort. 

2) Your writing clearly shows your love for the English language and its nuances. How did you become a word nerd? 

Aside from being a chatter-box, I started reading very young (Dr. Seuss, I wasn’t a prodigy or anything), and developed a love for words very early. A bookworm who got tingles of delight flipping through Scholastic book catalogs, I devoured the entire Nancy Drew series the summer of third grade, but I think I earned my “word nerd” credentials in fifth grade, when I discovered Shakespeare. In Getting Hot with the Scot, Cassie, the heroine, makes the comment she lived through her best friend Bonnie’s “Romeo and Juliet phase,” and that was totally stolen from real life. I had just such a phase—obsession would probably be more accurate. Around that same time, I was also bit by the acting bug. Reading scripts and performing plays naturally develops a special appreciation for language, and as you said, nuance. That love and appreciation only continued to grow as I moved through high school and into college, eventually becoming a high school English and theatre teacher and play director. And now, of course, a writer. 

3) What are some little known, unique facts about you or your life experiences that will help your readers get to know you better? 

I met my husband when we were teenagers working across the hall from each other at the local mall. We were both seeing other people at the time, but a series of events (including a botched matchmaking scheme on my part involving an attempt to hook him up with a close friend) eventually led to us dating. As young as we were, it was natural that we had some ups and downs and growing pains (aka a few break-ups), but this year marks the 20th anniversary of when he surprised me by popping the question when we took a spur of the moment trip to New Orleans to celebrate the turn of the millennium. I’ll be appearing at BookLovers Con in New Orleans in May and am thrilled to go back to the city where I got engaged.  

4) If you could have a cocktail with one author, dead or alive, who would it be and what cocktail would you serve?  Has this author influenced your writing, and if so, how? 

I think rather than cocktails, I’d like to order a nice bottle of red, and leisurely work through it with while chatting with Karen Marie Moning. KMM’s Highlander novels are on my “keeper shelf.” They are my comfort reads, the books I return to when I need an escape. To sigh, and laugh, and fall in love. If I had to try and pinpoint how my writing may have been influenced by her work, it is in her mix of heat and humor. I wish to achieve the same blend in the stories I tell. In GETTING HOT WITH THE SCOT, there’s a very affectionate nod to the “stumbling across a sexy time-traveling Scot” trope that is present in her Highlander novels. Also, even though I don’t love the Fever series like I do her Highlanders, I respect and am endlessly impressed by how KMM made the choice to shift away from romance and write her urban fantasy series. She didn’t play it safe. She stayed true to her muse. 

5) In the spirit of the previous question, and as a nod to your readers group, The Reading Lushes, if you could be any kind of alcoholic drink, what would it be, and why?  

If I could BE a drink? Hm. I’d say a margarita. In honor of Monday Margaritas with the girls in my Sometimes in Love series. Margaritas are fun. They’re sweet but tart, and best with a bit of salt to give it some bite. Like me. And like my Lushes.

6) What vacation destination(s) are you dreaming of visiting for book research purposes? 

Scotland, obviously. (Though at this point it will be to visit all the places I’ve researched but only seen via Google street view). My husband and I did London and Dublin for our honeymoon, so this time I’d like to go back and see the western shores of Ireland, and the Lake District of England (again, to actually step foot in all the places I scrolled around on my computer screen). Wales is also high on my list as research for another series that is currently hiding under the bed. 

7) What can we look forward to from you in the future? 

Lots of things, I hope! Haha. This year the first three books in the Sometimes in Love series will release back to back to back, and of course I hope to continue the series and ensure all the girls get their happily ever after. But right now, some exciting ideas are coming together for a fun, fresh contemporary romance series with a new trio of best friends. And *rubs hands together* there are definitely a few other projects brewing on the back burner. With luck, I’ll be able to share more news soon.  


 Author Twitter: @MelonieJohnson 

SMP Romance Twitter: @SMPRomance or @heroesnhearts 

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