Please help me welcome Sophia Knightly to my blog today. Sophia has generously decided to give two winners copies of her new boxed set containing Wild For You and Sold On You, so be sure and leave her a comment to be entered into the contest.

What genre(s) do you write in and why?

I write romantic suspense because I enjoy reading page turners and solving mysteries. I also enjoy writing romantic comedies–it comes naturally to me because I love to laugh!

What is your favorite part of writing?

My favorite part of writing is characterization and dialogue.

What is your next project and when will it be released?

My next project is Heart Raider (Heart Sisters, Book One) and it will be released in the spring.

In the face of looming Hurricane Abby, daredevil TV reporter, Veronique Whitcomb arrives on reclusive billionaire Nick Cameron’s doorstep in Key West with a plan. To revive her flagging career, she’s determined to score an exclusive interview with Nick, the notorious, self-made billionaire who has repeatedly refused media press after his fall from grace. The last time Nick saw Veronique was fifteen years ago at summer camp where he was her reluctant protector as camp counselor to the thirteen-year-old hellion. Marooned together in the aftermath of the hurricane, Veronique rocks Nick’s world in more ways than one…

How has your experience with self-publishing been?

Self-publishing has been a wonderfully successful venture for me. I love the control I have over my work from the inception of the idea to the finished product. I enjoy choosing my own cover and blurb, and then devising a marketing plan to promote it. Wearing many hats is exciting and gratifying.

What advice do you have for other authors wanting to self-publish?

Write the best book possible that includes an interesting premise, a tight plot and engaging characters who hook you from the beginning. Breathe life into the characters until they become real people that we care about. When the book is polished and free of typos, have others read it objectively and give you critiques. When your book is ready for your reader’s hands, create a fabulous cover and make sure the blurb has an exciting premise and sells your book in a few paragraphs. A memorable book cover does wonders to sell a book.

Do you have critique partners?

I have several critique partners and beta readers, and I value their input very much.

Do you have a view in your writing space? What does your space look like?

I have a lovely view of a lake from my home office window. I see many ducks and geese every day. I especially love to watch the egrets take flight. Their expanse of white wings against a clear blue sky is inspiring and beautiful to behold. My office faces west so I get a great view of the sunset at dawn.

Please tell my readers a little bit about your book.

My Tropical Heat Series Box Set combines two fun, sexy and heartwarming romances in one bundled volume. Marisol, the heroine in Wild for You. is the little sister of Marcos, the hero in Sold on You.

In Wild for You (Book One), Detective Clay Blackthorne has his hands full when he promises to safeguard an old college pal’s sister without letting her know what he’s up to. He never imagines that lively Marisol Calderon will knock his socks off and put a ring on his finger–and all at his suggestion! Their marriage of convenience is meant to protect her and Clay doesn’t plan on being hitched for long to the tempting beauty. But the honeymoon sure feels real to him…

Sassy Marisol is used to doing whatever she wants–and right now her plan is to shake up the hot detective’s hard-edged demeanor. But the fun turns to danger when a mystery stalker bent on marrying her marks her as his prey. Temporarily becoming Clay’s wife seems like a practical way to thwart the stalker. But as passion ignites and Marisol falls for the tender heart buried beneath the tough detective’s chest, Clay’s true identity is revealed and she begins to wonder who–if anyone–she can trust…

In Sold on You, (Book Two) Confirmed bachelor Dr. Marcos Calderon is in hot water. He needs to come up with a fake fiancée fast or he’ll disappoint his beloved grandma who’s arriving on the next flight to meet her. Proper social worker Gabriela Morales should fit the bill–but tonight, in that sexy, slit-to-there red evening gown, she looks anything but proper.

Gabriela only volunteered for the hospital’s charity bachelorette auction to benefit a cause dear to her heart. Now she’s reeling from the hot doctor’s bid of fifteen thousand dollars for a weekend date with her! She’s not sure what Dr. Handsome has in mind, but the smoldering look in his eyes is unmistakable…

EXCERPT FROM SOLD ON YOU

Dr. Marcos Calderon leaned forward and watched, fascinated by the dark-haired knockout strolling onto the stage. Gabriela Morales? Not in a million years! He couldn’t believe his ears when the auctioneer confirmed that she was the conservative social worker at the hospital where he worked. Just this morning, they’d locked horns at the board meeting.

When it came to her causes, Gabriela was passionate and pigheaded. Her prim, businesslike manner had never appealed to Marcos, and that was precisely the reason he’d waited till the end of the auction to bid on her. Normally reserved and proper, she was the one woman who would fit the bill for his plan.

But he hadn’t expected her to look so hot.

Marcos’ jaw dropped as he took in her hourglass figure, an ample bosom above a tiny waist and round hips, and endless, shapely legs. This hip-swaying bombshell couldn’t be the same Gabriela who hid behind demure, oversize suits—the same woman who always seemed to be on opposing sides from him at hospital board meetings.

“What happened to the proper social worker?” Marcos asked Dr. Alex Cortes, his colleague bidding beside him.

“I don’t know, but Gabriela looks damn sexy tonight. Two thousand dollars!” Alex called out, upping the amount from a thousand.

“Quit bidding on her,” Marcos muttered, raising his paddle when the auctioneer called for two thousand, five hundred.

“I can’t help it. Who woulda known she was hiding a body like that? Those curves—”

“Knock it off. I need to win,” Marcos retorted.

“Five thousand,” another bidder called out.

Marcos’ head swiveled around to find an older gentleman holding up his paddle with a determined look on his face.

“Who the hell is that?” Marcos asked Alex.

“Ruben Ball, self-made millionaire. He must want a piece of her, too.”

“Well, he’s not getting any. She’s mine. I need her for the weekend.”

Alex chuckled. “I don’t blame you. Okay, I’m out. She’s all yours.”

Marcos lifted his card and raised the bid to ten thousand, ignoring the mocking grin on Alex’s face as he concentrated on outbidding his other opponent.

“Ten thousand dollars,” the auctioneer repeated. “Do I see ten thousand five?”
Marcos leveled a fierce look at his opponent.

Undeterred, Ruben raised his paddle.

“Ten thousand five. Do I see a bid for eleven for this gorgeous creature?” the auctioneer called out, revving up the audience’s interest with a meaningful look.

“Fifteen thousand!” Marcos shouted, ignoring Gabriela’s glower when they locked eyes.

“Fifteen thousand! Do I see fifteen five?” the auctioneer asked, his keen gaze scanning the audience.

Ruben took a moment to ponder it and then shook his head ruefully, signaling he was out of the running.

Marcos flashed a victorious smile and winked at Gabriela.

“Fifteen thousand once, fifteen thousand twice. Done! The weekend date with Gabriela Morales goes to Dr. Marcos Calderon for fifteen thousand dollars!” the auctioneer announced. “This concludes our bachelorette auction. Gentlemen, please adjourn to the Vanderbilt Ballroom with your dates.”

Gabriela barely made it off the stage without openly glaring at that arrogant Dr. Calderon, who’d had the nerve to wink at her when their eyes met. How dare he ruin everything!

What happened to Ruben Ball, the shy widowed lawyer, who was supposed to bid higher than everyone else for a weekend date with her?

Why would arrogant Dr. Calderon be willing to divest himself of so much money for a date with her when most of the women at the hospital were throwing themselves at him? she wondered uneasily. From what she’d seen, his tastes ran more toward cool blondes.

Once she was safely inside the dressing room, Gabriela stared at the unfamiliar seductive woman in the mirror returning her gaze. She had never worn so much makeup in her life. Her green eyes smoldered with smoky eye shadow and black eyeliner, her mouth looked like a swollen cherry, thanks to Sabrina’s vivid red lip gloss, and her cheeks glowed hot pink, a combination of cream blush and being upset over her predicament.

The only good thing that would come of this date was the whopping fifteen thousand dollars Dr. Calderon had pledged to the Fresh Start center for unwed mothers.

Gabriela studied her bountiful cleavage in the mirror. Thanks to the provocative gown Sabrina had chosen for her, her breasts were pushed upward like an offering of cupcakes. After he got an eyeful of that display, Dr. Calderon would surely expect more than companionship during their weekend date.

A sly smile played at the corners of her mouth as a plan began to brew in her mind. If Dr. Calderon thought she had transformed her conservative image to bait a well-to-do bachelor, he had another thing coming.

The cocky doctor was in for a big surprise.