Take Me As I Am
by Charmaine Ross
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GENRE: Contemporary Romance
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BLURB:
Forget
the whole billionaire tycoon thing: Kate Moore is a billionaire’s daughter, and
she knows first-hand that they’re not all romance novel worthy. Her father is
brilliant, inflexible, and brutal – and nothing she’s ever done has been good
enough for him. Her one chance to take over the massive Moore’s Hotel
Corporation is restoring the run-down Burnham Beeches in beautiful Sassafras to
its former glory. To that end, she hires David Wright, a talented landscaper
with an unparalleled eye for beauty and an unparalleled talent for distracting
her from her goal.
David
really needs this job. He needs the contract, the Moore’s name on his
portfolio, and the money to pay for his ailing father’s health. Everything he’s
worked for is now within his grasp, and he’s going to reach for it with both
hands. What he doesn’t need is the diversion, or the temptation, presented by
his new boss.
Neither
David nor Kate are free to follow their own desires, but they’re powerless to
fight their growing attraction. But they come from very different places;
perceptions will have to crash, misconceptions will have to collapse, and they
will have to face their own personal challenges before they find their space to
meet in the middle.
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Excerpt Two:
She rested the side of her head on the doorframe and yawned.
Her eyes half closed as she watched him and he was caught in a lasting gaze
that made his stomach clench. She was all soft and luscious and a sexy woman
beneath that bristly exterior.
‘David?’
He hadn’t realised he’d been standing here, staring at her.
‘I want to talk to you about tomorrow’s plans. I need to make an early start. I
want you to tell me if you don’t like something. I like to be up-front.’ He
stepped towards her. One small step. So close he felt her body warmth reaching
for him.
‘So do I.’ Her voice was so soft. So gentle it seemed as
though it caressed him.
He shouldn’t be standing here so close to her because that
would mean he had no control over what his body wanted and he couldn’t let that
happen. The reasons. Remember them. His mind searched desperately. The first
one. It was …
But when he breathed in, her scent was in the air. It was
sweet and feminine and warm and set his blood on fire so that it raced through
his veins screaming with an unquenchable need. He couldn’t move, was hypnotised
beyond physical ability.
‘If there’s anything you think of I can do …’ Like take her
in his arms and kiss her. Just a little kiss. A taste. The slightest of
touches. Lips to lips.
‘I’ll tell you.’ Kate’s gaze dropped to his mouth and
flicked back to his eyes. A quick movement, but one he didn’t miss.
Feminine perfume stirred in a slight breeze. He almost
groaned out loud. He needed to keep space between them. She was off-limits.
Beyond touch. He needed to keep himself in line. Reaching to the depths of his
most steadfast will he stepped back.
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AUTHOR
Bio and Links:
My first
foray into romance was as a fourteen year old where I fell hopelessly and
eternally in love with my hero as only a teenager can. Instead of watching
movies and staying up late, I would go to bed at eight thirty and continue my
very romantic, very safe, love affair.
Since then, I have fallen in love with
many heroes, some less safe than what my teenage brain could possibly imagine.
After earning a Fine Art’s Degree, a Diploma of Secondary Education and a
Diploma of Marketing, I worked as a Graphic Designer in various advertising
agencies as well as in-house marketing roles and am currently involved with
digital marketing and everything web in my current position. But I always
return to writing.
Although I have travelled, I always return to my home town
of Melbourne and live with my husband, two children and two cats in the
ferny-greens of the Dandenongs. If I'm not working on my latest romance and
falling in love with yet another hero, you’ll find me reading, watching and
basically indulging in my addiction to any story on any media type I can get my
fingers on.
Check out my web site to download and read two fun, flirty novellas
- the best news is they're free - plus free chapter downloads from all of my
books, as well as updates on my latest news @ www.charmaineross.com
Contact information:
Interview with Charmaine Ross
As a kid did you write
or make up stories?
I have
always been interested in writing since I can remember. I used to sit up and
night and fill pages, usually inspired by movies like Indiana Jones. Then I
went on to write about boys and boyfriends. It was quite safe having a
boyfriend right out of your imagination. I imagine my mother thought so too.
Where does most of your
Character inspiration come from?
I
like putting people in a situation and then think about what type of person
would this be particularly challenging for. I think that makes for interesting
characters. I want my characters to freak out, be uncomfortable. Be tortured.
Bwa ha ha. LOL
Do some qualities of your characters
come from real people?
Of
course, I look at past hurts, past events, and how their backgrounds would have
turned them into the people they are today.
What was the inspiration for your book?
I’ve always been
intrigued by the Burnham Beeches in Sassafras, in the Dandenongs in Melbourne
and have wanted it to be restored to its former beauty. I didn’t have enough
time, money or logistical prowess to do it myself, so I wrote about my heroine
who was more than capable of undertaking a job like that. The gardens
surrounding the Burnham Beeches are absolutely beautiful and would have been
stunning in their nineteen thirties glory. I needed a lean, toned, muscular
landscaper for that job and so my hero was born.
In this book, I
wanted to turn the tables on the rich man / ordinary gal plot and so made my
heroine a billionaire’s daughter, having been groomed for luxury and educated
in the best schools money could buy, and my hero a sexy, hard-working, yet
salt-of-the-earth man. My favourite scene is when my hero strips off his shirt
in the summer sun, my heroine can’t ignore the sizzle in her blood or the voice
in her head that tells her that what her body wants is a bad idea. A very bad
idea.
Add in some sexy
spice, some differences of opinion, undeniable physical attraction and you have
‘Take Me As I Am’.
What is your favorite
spot to write?
I
love writing in my favorite local café. I let them bring me coffee and muffins
and they let me use their electricity. Win win situation.
What advice would you
give budding writers?
Don’t
give up. Only listen to constructive advice. Don’t ask your Mum or your best
friends for their opinion of your books. Be open minded about honest advice.
Join a critique group. Join the RWA.
Thank you so much for having me here and I hope you’ve
enjoyed reading a bit about me. As a thank you to your readers I’m offering two
free fun and flirty novellas on my web site when you subscribe to my very
sporadic email. I also have free sample chapters on my web site. It’s worth a
look@ www.charmaineross.com
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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION
Charmaine Ross will be awarding a copy of the e-book Take Me
As I Am (international) to three randomly drawn winners via rafflecopter during
the tour.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
