Stuck With the Off Limits Protector
by Maia
Ambrose
Genre:
Steamy Contemporary Romance
MAIA AMBROSE - Guest Post Responses for Silver Dagger Tours
What is
something unique/quirky about you?
I love astronomy and geology! I took classes in these subjects during grade school and aced them everytime. If I could do it all over again, I'd probably major in one of the two instead of going the business route.
Also, I'm a Throner and Winter is Coming! #Snow
What are
some of your pet peeves?
The first things that came to mind are people over-talking other people, having to repeat myself 3x or more, and hidden fees with service providers or subscriptions (I’m a budgeter).
What do you
do to unwind and relax?
I read
books, meditate or play a few video games. Other times, I just do nothing,
which is actually harder than it sounds.
I was
young in grade school writing down my thoughts and events in journals as well
as short stories and poems. However, I only started writing professionally this
year!
Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in Stuck With The Off Limits Protector?
Tiffany
is your typical millennial. She’s career-driven, strategic, independent, sassy
but funny, gorgeous and unapologetically her. Family is important to Tiffany
being that she lost her father at a young age. And although successful, she
understands clearly how to make due with whatever life throws at her. In fact,
she has had her ups and downs over the years, especially with love, so she’s
trying to turn inward for healing and personal development. Accountability is
one of her best attributes.
Now, Kyle isn’t the type of guy to be judged by his cover (pun intended). While
he’s a former jock and ex-military, Kyle is methodical, determined, smart,
intuitive, strong, protective, and ultimately a hopeless romantic. Even though
he actually had a decent upbringing growing up, his relationship with his
father wasn’t the best, which led to bad decision-making and trauma amongst
other things. What makes him great is his self-awareness and ability to be in
tune with and articulate his feelings.
Between the two, Kyle and Tiffani are both relatable characters who’ve been through the emotional ringer and aren't necessarily looking for love, rather just waiting on the ‘right one’. The interesting thing is - they don’t realize it until they cross paths with each other.
Are your
characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your
imagination?
Most characters are straight from the imagination and develop with the story itself. I don’t start with a particular person in mind, rather real qualities that would make characters relatable.
What did
you edit out of this book?
There wasn’t much cut from this story actually, if anything there were additions. However, I did struggle with the end initially. I went back and forth deciding whether Tiffani and Kyle should end up together either committing to working things out or going all in with marriage. When it comes to romance books, I always feel getting the HEA is expected, but sometimes life just doesn’t work out that way. For these two characters though, you’ll have to read to find out what they decide to do!
What book
do you think everyone should read?
Other than my new release? (Just kidding) It’s not romance, but a good book for anyone is The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. I love it so much, I read it every year to ground myself.
Do the
characters all come to you at the same time or do some of them come to you as
you write?
Main characters ‘come’ as I build the foundation of the story considering how one would interact with the other. Secondary characters usually develop within the story.
Do you see
writing as a career?
Yes! Writing has lately transformed to something similar to what reading does for me in that it’s become therapeutic. My goal is to be able to transition from my corporate career to writing full-time.
Do you
prefer to write in silence or with noise? Why?
Silence definitely. It’s not always guaranteed since I don’t live alone, but I need to be able to focus and hear the characters ‘talk’ as the words fill the page. Because of this, I find my most productive hours burning the midnight oil or in the wee-hours of the morning.
Pen or
typewriter or computer?
I love this question. It’s changed over the years. I started with journals as I mentioned, then I had a typewriter as a teenager (I loved the sound and feel of the typewriter but hated changing the ink ribbon and mistyping). These days, time is of the essence, so I prefer word processors that can make quick edits and track progress.
What made
you want to become an author and do you feel it was the right decision?
Yes, being an author has always crossed my mind but never thought it was attainable in the traditional publishing sense. I’m excited to have crossed the barrier with the help of modern technology and ecommerce and look forward to what the future holds!
Describe
your writing style.
Realistic, Romantic and just a bit Raunchy :)
What is
your writing Kryptonite?
Netflix lol. There’s no way I can do both at the same time.
Blurb
I was sworn off men until this hot alpha hero fought his way into my life.
Turns out he’s ex-military and works for my new boss.
Just my luck, he’s the one man I'm not allowed to have.
But constant road trips cause our worlds to explode like fireworks.
His skills give secret service duty a whole new meaning.
And we're playing a dangerous game as lovers and friends.
We can't stop despite our jobs and lives are on the line.
Ironically, our pasts are already intertwined.
Yet, saving me won't right the wrongs done.
Now that I know what he’s been hiding, he must think I’m a fool to let it fly.
While my heart feels he’s the one, everything else is telling me to say goodbye.
Excerpt
"Okay. But what’s your stance on it? Are you pro-abortion or anti-abortion?"
“Well there seem to be solid reasons for and against the matter. What I will say is I think men should have a say so.”
“And what do you mean by that exactly?”
“If a guy gets a girl pregnant, he should know and have influence on the decision.”
“See that’s the problem right there.” She responds. “Let me ask you this, when’s the last time women ever got involved with how or with whom men can procreate? Think about it. Have we ever tried to pass laws telling men what they can or can’t do with their testicles? I’ll wait” she says sharply.
Damn, this woman has some wit about her that I like. And she also has a point – to a degree.
“I get where you’re going, I’m just saying men have feelings too when it comes to becoming a parent. It takes two to make it, so it should take two to eliminate it. The decision for a baby to live or die shouldn’t be one-sided that’s all” I respond.
“Ah just like the government does when playing God sending the military overseas to kill innocent people. I’m starting to see a pattern.”
“Whoa, it’s not like that. The military executes orders to protect and serve. And exactly whose side are you on Tiffani?”
“I meant no disrespect. It’s just a correlation. Say for instance we were having a baby. I’m leaning to terminate but you want to have it. It’s my body and I’d have to deal with all the complications that come with carrying to term because men get the last word. If laws are in place to force the pregnancy, where are my rights and respect as a human being before anything?”
My brain is stuck imagining what it would be like having a kid with Tiffani Bradshaw. I snap out of it quickly.
“That’s why I said it there’s pros and cons. Why do you care so much?” I reply.
“I’m a woman, why shouldn’t I? And I want to give the issue a voice without taking a side.”
“Seems like you’re already a bit biased, no?”
“And that’s why I’ve been interviewing men like yourself” she contends.
“I think I find it easier discussing how the USAID deployed a disaster assistance response team to Ukraine,” I say.
Her eyes turn sullen. “You know, thinking about the Ukraine-Russia war right now is crazy. I know it’s a lot we civilians don’t know, but it honestly seems senseless. We’re here because two men in power want to see whose balls hang lower. It’s fucked up people are losing their lives and others becoming displaced. Foreign policy I get – but this doesn’t make any freaking sense.”
I turned to her amazed at her opinions on the matter, visualizing kissing her passionately.
“Yeah I hear you. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t get involved.”
“Imagine how better the world would be if we didn't have to deal with wars,” she says.
“Unrecognizable is the first word that comes to mind. When you strip down the bullshit, war boils down to two things and two things only, money and power. He who has the most wins” I declare.
She goes quiet, and so do I.
Why it’s taking so long to get the elevator fixed is beyond me. I know I wanted to chat with her, but staying this close to her is affecting my ability to resist kissing her. I take my eyes away from her, but she drifts closer to me, causing her arm to brush against mine more intensely than it did before.
Her skin is soft,
and I want to feel more of it. The urge in me to kiss her full lips grows. Am
I'm the only one feeling this tension? I wonder what she thinks as she’s
leaning on my shoulder or if she feels the same way. I try to keep holding back
but looking ahead. But once I look down at her, she looks up at me almost in
synchronicity. Our gazes lock and there’s only one thing that feels right to
do. I can't take it anymore. I crush her lips with a kiss and she doesn't move
back or pull away. Instead, her mouth gladly welcomes my swirling tongue. This
makes it hard for me to resist the urge to stop kissing her. So, I don't.
**Only .99cents!**
Book Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CLRR2S2C
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/200664723-stuck-with-the-off-limits-protector
About the Author
Maia Ambrose is an African American Steamy
Romance author from the Midwest who believes in the power of love and
everything it has to offer. Her stories illustrate the dynamic of contemporary
interracial relationships between strong, resilient black women and
heart-throbbing, irresistible white men. Maia believes there's truly someone
for everyone and aims to inspire more love energy in the world with her work.
Maia is a notorious night owl, who frequently burns the midnight oil, coming up
with creative romantic ideas. When she's not writing her BWWM stories, she's
spending time with the people she loves most and practicing self-care.
Facebook * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads
Author
Links
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maia.ambrose.romance
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/maia-ambrose
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0CBB3L13V
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/40983060.Maia_Ambrose
Giveaway
$20 Amazon
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the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
I enjoyed the interview. The blurb and excerpt sound like something I would like reading.
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a great novel. Thanks for hosting this giveaway.
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