Cari Quinn and Taryn Elliott are at it again! Laughter, romance, and rock stars are headed our way from this dynamic duo! I've got an excerpt from their new book, and interview with them, my thoughts, and a giveaway!
MANACONDA
Hammered #1
Taryn Elliott & Cari Quinn
Releasing on January 19, 2016.
Rainbow Rage Publishing
Synopsis
Rolling Stone did.
On the front cover of their damn magazine.
I still haven't lived it down. And now our record label wants to maximize the frenzy.
So, I have a brand new PR person–Kennedy McManus.
And she's making me insane.
I don't know whether to ignore her, yell at her, or push her up against the wall and kiss her smart mouth shut.
BEYOND OBLIVION - A Rockstar Romance full of sexy fun set within the world of our Lost in Oblivion series! You never know who you'll see show up in the books.
**** Warning: book does end on a cliffhanger ****
Excerpt
Author Interview
Review
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“Maybe we should go back.”
I shook my head. “Maybe we can sneak around. Seems like there wouldn’t be any fans back here.”
“Famous last words,” she muttered.
I strode out, gravel crunching under my boots.
“You know, I’m not a huge fan of this dragging me around like a child.”
I turned back to her, dragging her into my body. “Nothing child-like about you, Kenny.” I bent down to her, our noses touching. “I just want a little alone time with you.”
A loud engine started up.
“There’s an elevator back there.” She pointed with her thumb. “I bet we could do a lot of things in your room, my room—whatever.” She rose on her toes until our lips were a breath apart. “You can give that whole seven thing a go.” She dragged her nail over my bottom lip. “I don’t believe you’ll make it to seven, but I’m willing to let you try.”
“I—”
“Oh, my God, that’s Hunter!”
The hiss of hydraulics and stomp of many feet did not bode well.
I closed my eyes. “Shit.”
“What?”
“Please don’t be what I think it is.”
“What?”
A trio of people in black shirts with our new album on the front were standing in front of a huge bus. “Can you run in those things?”
She looked affronted. “I can do anything in heels.”
“I hope so.”
A woman in her twenties pointed our way. “Is that him?” she shrieked.
“Fan club.”
“What?”
“This is where the fan club bus is parked.”
“They should be at dinner. Why aren’t they at dinner?” Kenny asked with rising panic.
“Guess it’s over.” I sprinted to the door we’d just come out of. “Son of a bitch.” I twisted the handle but nothing. “It must have locked after us.”
She slapped the keypad. “Ya think?”
“Not helping.” I darted a look past the bus, along with the line of at least seventy people lined up to board. Definitely couldn’t go that way.
“They’ll eat you alive.”
“No kidding.”
Three women broke off from the crowd and headed our way. As soon as they did, twenty more followed. I dragged Kenny with me to the front of the bus and around the side. The bus driver looked down at us and shook his head.
No help there.
The people that had boarded the bus were pointing at us as we ran to the other end. I shot by another line of cars and zig-zagged around another bus and saw a familiar logo. “Thank God.”
“Where did he go?” Came shouts that were way too close.
“Where are we going?” she hissed.
“My bus.”
“Your bus?”
I dragged her behind me as I ducked behind a black truck we used for our equipment. It has been a stripped down stage, but we still had a lot of instruments between Keys’s pianos, the entire percussion set up that Wyatt used, all the guitars, amps, and digital network we used—we needed a truck no matter what.
“New plan.” I unlatched the back of the rig and lifted the rolling door. “Get in.”
“Are you freaking kidding me?”
I stared down at her. “Does it look like I’m kidding?”
She groaned. “I can’t get up there.”
I lifted her until her knee was on the base of the truck ledge. She scrambled in as the scraping of heels and running feet got closer.
“Move it, Kenny.”
Her skirt rode up as she dragged herself inside. I threw her a soft whistle. She turned back to me with murder in her eyes. I squashed down a laugh, rolling in after her, tugging the door down behind me with a bang.
“I hate you.”
I just smiled into the dark.
Today, I am joined by the writing duo of Taryn Elliott and Cari Quinn, authors of the Lost in Oblivion Series.
Ladies, how exactly do you break up the writing?
Hi everyone!! Thanks so much for having us. We’re excited to start a new series and share it with our readers, and hopefully find some new ones along the way.
We tend to plot it out on a phone conversation or during a vacation, then write online together – sharing bits for feedback. That’s the easiest way to make sure that we like where a book is going. Then we each do a final read through, and finally Cari does a majority of the final edits if we don’t have an external editor lined up.
The Lost in Oblivion Series is a huge success, how did it all come about that you two would team up?
We were messing around in a chat window about how much we love musicians and hahaha maybe we should write one together. Best friends and all, surely we could do it. So we figured…eh, why not try writing together? Seduced was our first venture together. I wrote the Simon parts, and Cari wrote the Nick parts. It was a bit of a crazy story to put together – not really a romance, but a romance of the band itself. Definitely something that we could only do in the self-publishing realm.
Then we attacked the rest of the books as a team instead of writing alternating chapters. Made things a little smoother.
Which couple (or hero/heroine) has been the most fun to write for each of you? and why?
Taryn: From our Lost in Oblivion series, Simon and Margo have been the couple I loved most. And yet, they were also the hardest, too. Simon had a lot of growing up to do—as well as manning up. He went from a self-involved ‘Super Slut’ to a guy that genuinely loves one woman, and wants to support his band. BIG learning curve for Simon. Margo comes from money, and privilege. All she’s ever known is the symphony and being a hired instrumentalist for studio work. When she walked into the studio to work with Oblivion, everything changed. From her interactions with Simon, to finding her very own family in the band—all of it was a huge change for her. She learned to love herself, and be loved. It was a pretty awesome transformation for both of these characters separately, and together.
Cari : For me, Nick and Lila from the Lost in Oblivion series have been the most fun couple for me to write about. Nick is basically my spiritual twin in too many ways to count. I don't have to try to write him. Basically I just start typing and he takes over. And Lila is such a dichotomy of a cool, businesslike outside with all those vulnerable, interesting layers beneath that I really enjoy writing her as well. Together, they're entertaining and a challenge to write, which is what I like best!
Where did the idea for MANACONDA come from?
Again…all of the late night insanity. We tend to have ideas always springing to mind. This one…it’s going to sound a little insane. There’s been a lot of crazy titles out there. A lot of titles referencing male genitalia or their promiscuity – Badboy this, Badboy Billionaire that. Are there any crazy titles left? Cari joked Manaconda – and then we just spun off from there. That it sounded like something that would be a terrible pun on a magazine. Then we created the cover to look like a Rolling Stone or Billboard magazine and voila. Insanity was born. Wait until you hear the other titles in the series. LOL
How different is it to write a Rom Com as opposed to more of a drama?
Well, even with the RomCom we can’t stay away from the draaaahma. LoL We both write funny pretty naturally. In the end it might not be the traditional RomCom like Tara Sivec can do, but we definitely have a lighter tone to these books.
There’s a lot of heavy themes in our Lost in Oblivion series. And man, do we love writing that stuff. Drama and over the top situations are our stock in trade.
With the Hammered series we get to let some of our silly out—especially with the madcap fan stuff that’s inherent in a Rock Star’s lifestyle. From photo shoots, to fan club busses full of crazy fans chasing them all over, to a ridiculous dog adoption—nothing was off the table for Hunter and Kennedy.
And come on. Manaconda? LOL You can’t help but laugh at that.
What are your release plans for after MANACONDA? What will you be working on next (either solo or together)?
Well, we’ve gotten so we love working together on most of our projects. We also write high drama serials that walk the line of Romantic Suspense and Sexy Contemporary. Those tend to have a bit of a darker tone. We’re wrapping up our first serial right now – The Boss. It’s a six parter that will finish up in March.
Fused – the final full length book in our Lost in Oblivion series will be out February 2nd.
We have another series starting in late spring with a spinoff from a few supporting characters in our Lost in Oblivion series. Two bands that were touring with Oblivion through all the books – that one is called First Hit. And because we just can’t let the Oblivion peeps go, we have Found in Oblivion which will star the brothers and sisters our readers have met along the way.
Oh, and book two in the Hammered series –Manhandled coming in April.
Talk about a lot of writing going on over here!
Thank you so much for chatting today!!
Thanks so much for having us! We really appreciate you hosting us on your blog. We hope you, and your readers, enjoy the first installment of our new series.
Xoxo
Taryn & Cari
★★★★ stars
I love romantic comedies. They mesh the best of both worlds, romance and comedy. Taryn and Cari have written some amazing books together, and while humor has been an important part of them, it hasn't been main focus. I must admit I thought this book was going to be slightly different, just by virtue of being a romantic comedy. I got plenty of laughter and romance, but not really in the way I was expecting. In fact, it's hard to think of other romantic comedies featuring rock stars that are similar or of this caliber.
Of all the things in this book, Hunter Jordan was the biggest surprise for me. I mean the man is a rock star. He's good looking, talented, extremely well endowed, and a lot more modest than I was expecting. I actually thought the way he handled all the unwanted attention was adorable and endearing. As someone used to the limelight, I would've thought he would've taken it all in stride, but being seen as nothing more than what he had in his pants really bothered him. Hunter had a naughty side too, which Kennedy and I both got to enjoy.
Kennedy McManus was very likable. I loved her no nonsense attitude and how sassy and capable she was. What took me by surprise was her initial reaction to Hunter. I mean I know the man had talented fingers and a magical voice, he had to as a rock star, but I would've never expected Kennedy to behave the way she did around him. Once I got past my initial reservations, it was good to see how Hunter pushed Kennedy's limits and boundaries.
While I really enjoyed Hunter and Kennedy's chemistry, I also enjoyed seeing the other members of Hammered. I loved the dynamic between them and picked up on some friction that really came into play later on in the book. That really blindsided me because of how it ended up creating trouble for Kennedy and Hunter. The truth behind it all was not revealed, and I couldn't believe how quickly I read this book. I can't wait for the sequel and to find out what exactly what went down.
*Thank you to the publicist for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for them in any manner.*
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USA Today Bestselling duo, Cari Quinn & Taryn Elliott, have been having a ton of fun with rock stars, but they also love a good MMA fighter story, oh and a suited guy. Can’t forget the suited guys. Getting these two authors together always includes some sweet & snarky moments, a lot of angst, and unlimited heat.
Oh, and let's not forget the jaw dropping moments. They really love those.
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