Those who enjoy emotionally intense romances will be drawn to this tale of a complicated hero and his very forgiving heroine. Keep reading to get a glimpse of this two-book series, In Deep and In Deeper by Kella McKinnon, along with my impressions of both books. Learn even more about this romance by visiting the other blogs hosting this tour as well as an interview with Ms. McKinnon. Make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win a $50 bookstore GC too!
LET'S GET TO KNOW MS. MCKINNON.....
-What have you got coming soon for us to look out for?
I’m working on two new books right now. One is a new twist on a Rock Star romance, with all of the trappings of a hot superstar lead singer in all his tattoos and complexity. The other is at the complete opposite side of the spectrum.
-Do you listen to music when you're writing?
I wish I could listen to music while I write, but I get too distracted and start singing along instead of writing. Music plays an important role in my creative process, though. I get a lot of ideas while jogging and listening to my favorite songs.
-Do you ever wish you were someone else? Who?
I love being me, so I wouldn’t want to be anyone else… at least not permanently. If I could be someone else for just a day or two, I’d have to say someone from the past, just so I could see what it was really like to live in another time and place. Because I’m guessing it was nothing like we imagine. Maybe I’d be a mediaeval peasant or a Viking woman.
-What did you do on your last birthday?
For my last birthday, my husband threw me a surprise party (my first ever). He had one of my close friends take me out shopping, and when we got back to her house, everyone was there waiting. I think it was the first time he’s ever actually been able to surprise me!
I am not good at math. My brain just doesn’t work that way. I’m not terribly good at organization or long term planning either. I tend to be very spontaneous and change my mind a lot as I find new things that interest me. Life is short, right?
I’m working on two new books right now. One is a new twist on a Rock Star romance, with all of the trappings of a hot superstar lead singer in all his tattoos and complexity. The other is at the complete opposite side of the spectrum.
-Do you listen to music when you're writing?
I wish I could listen to music while I write, but I get too distracted and start singing along instead of writing. Music plays an important role in my creative process, though. I get a lot of ideas while jogging and listening to my favorite songs.
-Do you ever wish you were someone else? Who?
I love being me, so I wouldn’t want to be anyone else… at least not permanently. If I could be someone else for just a day or two, I’d have to say someone from the past, just so I could see what it was really like to live in another time and place. Because I’m guessing it was nothing like we imagine. Maybe I’d be a mediaeval peasant or a Viking woman.
-What did you do on your last birthday?
For my last birthday, my husband threw me a surprise party (my first ever). He had one of my close friends take me out shopping, and when we got back to her house, everyone was there waiting. I think it was the first time he’s ever actually been able to surprise me!
-Do you have any tattoos? Where? When did you get it/them? Where are they on your body?
I don’t have any tattoos, but I’ve always kind of wanted one. I’ve just never been able to make up my mind what it should be! I’d want it to be both beautiful and something that is meaningful and symbolic for me.
-What do you think you’re really good at?
I’m really good at art and making things with my hands. I’m also good at understanding people, both their emotions and their motives.
-What do you think you’re really bad at?I am not good at math. My brain just doesn’t work that way. I’m not terribly good at organization or long term planning either. I tend to be very spontaneous and change my mind a lot as I find new things that interest me. Life is short, right?
Brielle Dalton thought the few months in Vegas she needed to finish her dissertation would also be a chance to have some fun before ‘real life’ took over. But she never counted on meeting Cristos Vicario, the irresistible but troubled owner of the Adagio casino. The attraction was instant and all-consuming, but in the beginning neither knew that their lives had crossed before, and the result had been nothing short of tragedy. By the time Brielle discovers who Cristos really is, and what he has done in a reckless attempt to keep her, it’s too late. She’s already in too deep.
EXCERPT:
From In Deeper....
“Jake…” I tried to reason with him. “I’m an adult, and I’m certainly not a virgin…”
“I can vouch for that”, Criss interrupted.
I turned to glare at him, but when our eyes met, his gaze was full of a little mischief and a lot of heat, and when he winked at me, I smiled. I couldn’t help myself. He looked adorable and sexy, and I just wanted to touch him and kiss him.
Criss stood and walked over to me, taking me in his arms and kissing my cheek, something he rarely did. “I have a meeting, baby. I just came back to get my laptop, but I’m glad I got to meet your brother.” He was being sarcastic, and I glared a warning at him. “You two seem to have some things to talk about, anyway.”
As soon as Criss left, Jake rounded on me. “So… about this new boyfriend of yours… I don’t like him.”
I rolled my eyes. “I noticed. What was that, some sort of epic testosterone battle?”
“You’re my baby sister, Brie. I need to look out for you.”
I sighed and slumped a little in the chair I had sunk into. “Yeah, I know. And I really appreciate that you do… I’m sorry. Criss can be a little intense sometimes.”
“Mmm, you don’t say. I take it he’s the jealous type? Maybe even, oh I don’t know, possessive? A complete asshole?”
I ignored that last part. “Honestly, I don’t think we’ve known each other long enough for him to be… possessive.”
“But you already slept with him?”
“Jake! I am not discussing my sex life with you. I’m almost twenty-six years old and as we’ve already established, not exactly a virgin anymore, and haven’t been for some time, by the way.”
I heard my brother groan as if he was in pain. “Brie… I don’t even want to think about that.”
“You’re the one that brought it up”, I pointed out.
“Well, forget I did. I just want to know that you’re safe with this guy. He seems like a real prick.” Jake crossed his arms and stared at me, waiting for me to defend my taste in men, I suppose.
“Yeah, you’re right”, I said. “As far as I can tell, Cristos does exactly what he wants and expects the rest of the world to just get out of his way. He’s hard to handle, but I like a good challenge. And it’s not serious, Jake. I’m just having fun while I’m here. There’s no way this will last once I leave town.”
My brother looked somewhat mollified by the impending end of my fling. “Listen”, he said. “Why don’t I take you out for dinner later, and we can finish catching up then. I have to be at a seminar in half an hour.”
“Okay. How about if I meet you somewhere? Marlo’s? It’s just down the street from here, right on the Strip.”
“All right. Six-thirty good with you?”
“I’ll see you then, big brother.” I grinned as he backed out the door and I saw him scrub his hands through his hair in consternation all the way to the elevator.
“Jake…” I tried to reason with him. “I’m an adult, and I’m certainly not a virgin…”
“I can vouch for that”, Criss interrupted.
I turned to glare at him, but when our eyes met, his gaze was full of a little mischief and a lot of heat, and when he winked at me, I smiled. I couldn’t help myself. He looked adorable and sexy, and I just wanted to touch him and kiss him.
Criss stood and walked over to me, taking me in his arms and kissing my cheek, something he rarely did. “I have a meeting, baby. I just came back to get my laptop, but I’m glad I got to meet your brother.” He was being sarcastic, and I glared a warning at him. “You two seem to have some things to talk about, anyway.”
As soon as Criss left, Jake rounded on me. “So… about this new boyfriend of yours… I don’t like him.”
I rolled my eyes. “I noticed. What was that, some sort of epic testosterone battle?”
“You’re my baby sister, Brie. I need to look out for you.”
I sighed and slumped a little in the chair I had sunk into. “Yeah, I know. And I really appreciate that you do… I’m sorry. Criss can be a little intense sometimes.”
“Mmm, you don’t say. I take it he’s the jealous type? Maybe even, oh I don’t know, possessive? A complete asshole?”
I ignored that last part. “Honestly, I don’t think we’ve known each other long enough for him to be… possessive.”
“But you already slept with him?”
“Jake! I am not discussing my sex life with you. I’m almost twenty-six years old and as we’ve already established, not exactly a virgin anymore, and haven’t been for some time, by the way.”
I heard my brother groan as if he was in pain. “Brie… I don’t even want to think about that.”
“You’re the one that brought it up”, I pointed out.
“Well, forget I did. I just want to know that you’re safe with this guy. He seems like a real prick.” Jake crossed his arms and stared at me, waiting for me to defend my taste in men, I suppose.
“Yeah, you’re right”, I said. “As far as I can tell, Cristos does exactly what he wants and expects the rest of the world to just get out of his way. He’s hard to handle, but I like a good challenge. And it’s not serious, Jake. I’m just having fun while I’m here. There’s no way this will last once I leave town.”
My brother looked somewhat mollified by the impending end of my fling. “Listen”, he said. “Why don’t I take you out for dinner later, and we can finish catching up then. I have to be at a seminar in half an hour.”
“Okay. How about if I meet you somewhere? Marlo’s? It’s just down the street from here, right on the Strip.”
“All right. Six-thirty good with you?”
“I’ll see you then, big brother.” I grinned as he backed out the door and I saw him scrub his hands through his hair in consternation all the way to the elevator.
MY IMPRESSIONS OF THESE BOOKS:
In Deep is an emotionally intense start to a two-book series that is at times predictable, frustrating, but ultimately compelling. With its engaging lead couple, whose alternating POVs propel the story, it's a complex journey full of push and pull interactions amidst numerous twists and turns. Brie and Cristos are both strong-willed people who still carry the weight of pasts full of pain, particularly Cristos whose past is also shrouded in darkness. It's made him a hardened man, a dominating one, and while sometimes unlikable he's utterly enthralling and sexy. This series starter digs into his past much deeper than Brie's which helps readers forgive some of his more domineering moments as this story progresses though. Brie faded into the background when connecting with Cristos which was disappointing as she first appeared so confident. Theirs is a super steamy journey with sexual interludes that radiate power. These two can't keep their hands off each other, though there are moments of toxicity, and it's the main crux of this story that kept me coming back for more!
In Deeper picks up right where the previous book left off with the intense yet toxic emotional connection between Brie and Cristos just as palpable. The flow of Brie and Cristos' overall story remains under-polished but with Cristos' enthralling nature I couldn't stop reading even as his domineering ways cross a few unforgivable lines. Brie also continued to frustrate me as she always went back despite everything Cristos said and did. I think she and I both knew that deep down he could be a better man and we were both waiting to see a grand gesture on his part to justify why we both kept with him. All this leads to an emotional tug of war that was entertaining but also draining. Thankfully there's Brie's brother Jake to tell it like it is and inject some humor and heart. I enjoyed his interactions with Brie and his no-nonsense feelings regarding Cristos. All in all, and despite some frustrations, this is a series I couldn't put down. Though Cristos could be cruel at times his darkness and power called to me. He's a larger than life character who takes over every scenes he's in and I wish Brie had been more of a match for him, though she does bring out a surprising side of him towards the end. This series was my first time reading a work of Ms. McKinnon's but it won't be my last.
My rating for In Deep is a B
My rating for In Deeper is a B-
*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
Hello everyone! Let me introduce myself. Though I used to work in Boston in the biotech industry, I’m now loving life on a small farm in New England where my husband and I are raising our three children and lots of animals. Between taking care of chickens and goats and shuttling the kids to dance class and piano lessons, I find the time to pursue my own interest: writing. I relish creating stories and bringing my characters to life on the written page, and each book is a labor of love.
I’m passionate about the romance genre because of the emotional journey a well-written novel can take the reader on, and my goal with each of my books is to do the same for my readers.
I’m passionate about the romance genre because of the emotional journey a well-written novel can take the reader on, and my goal with each of my books is to do the same for my readers.
EMAIL: kellamckinnon@gmail.com
AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE: www.amazon.com/author/
GOODREADS AUTHOR PAGE: https://www.goodreads.com/
WEBSITE: www.kellamckinnon.com
**********GIVEAWAY**********
Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteLove the Q&As, and thanks for the reviews!
ReplyDeleteTrix, vitajex(at)Aol(Dot)com
I could just see this brother talking to her. I loved the excerpt.
ReplyDeletei enjoyed the excerpt
ReplyDeleteLove the interview, excerpt and that cover was yummy! =D
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway & Happy Tuesday!
//Linda
I found your impressions most helpful.
ReplyDeleteI loved the interview and excerpt. Thank you for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the excerpt. Sounds like a good read.
ReplyDeleteI loved the excerpt. Brie seems like quite the character.
ReplyDeleteI love your bio :) I think it is cool to share with readers a bit about you. It is a lovely way to raise your family too. You sound passionate and that shows thru in your excerpt. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat I liked best about this post was the extended excerpt from the book. thanks
ReplyDeleteThe sexy cover of the book, what a good one!!!!
ReplyDeleteI think it is cool to share with readers a bit about you.
ReplyDeleteWhat I like best is that it gave me a good idea for a birthday gift for a friend - thank you ! Mike Kozseluha
ReplyDeletei am certain this book makes an excellent read
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