Taming the Texas Beauty by Jody Vitek #Contemporary #Romance

Jody Vitek will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

 

If your book were made into a movie, who would you want to play your main characters?

Usually, I look at models on modeling sites, such as Ford Models or Maximum Talent Agency. I don’t give much thought to which actor or actress would fit my characters. It took some time to think about this one. I love Sandra Bullock. Her facial structure is a good match to Stephanie Lockhart. Based on facial features again, Ryan Reynolds is a perfect match for the role of Ryan Rogers. Ryan Reynolds hair is too dark, so he’d have to lighten it to a dirty blond. What do you, the reader think?

How do you come up with the titles of your books?

Titles can come to me right away. Or they can be tough, such as Taming the Texas Beauty. All my stories get a working title. They can be as simple as the hero and heroine's name. In the beginning, all Taming the Texas Beauty files were titled “Ryan and Steph Story.” Other stories are titled and it sticks with the story into publication. Sometimes I rely on my critique partners to brainstorm titles. I do like to tie the title into the story in some way. For this story, Stephanie’s salon is named Taming Texas Beauty, and Ryan later gives her a pet name in regards to the title.

What does your writing space look like?

I kind of have two writing spaces. The first place is at the dining room table. I have a nice view of the trees in my backyard, or a view of the neighborhood through my patio door. It’s warmer sitting upstairs. To break the habit of sitting upstairs, I removed my laptop power cord from the dining room and gave my office a makeover. I bought a new chair, a heater, and fun peel-and-stick wallpaper from Target. My office has no windows and is in the darkest corner of the basement in our home. Okay, it’s not all that bad. If I leave my office door open, the daylight shines through the patio door if the curtains are open. I don’t leave the door open because the heat from the heater will from escape the room. Yes, I’m selfish. Shelves hold copies of my books, craft books, my files for writing, other writing supplies, and then the oddball items that need a home. This past year I visited a shop that repurposes furniture and items. I purchased two hardcover books that had been cut for display. One is a blue letter ‘J’ for my name, and the other is white with “Love” cutout in the middle. Framed photos, I personally took, hang on two walls, with my book cover art framed and adorning the walls as well. I like things organized, so it’s rare to find my office a mess.     

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not writing?

Spending time with friends and family, scrapbooking, coloring, or watching my son or the Minnesota United FC play a friendly game of soccer. Basically, anything that isn’t related to cleaning the house.

What is your favourite color?

Depends on what you’re talking about. I wear a lot of black colored clothing. Usually, I stick to the dark reds, dark blues, or browns for fingernail color. For my toes, I want a summery pink color. I prefer house colors to be neutral with accents of color, such as the front door and shutters.

What is your favourite pleasure food?

Kung Pao Chicken. It’s not a healthy food choice, so I limit the dish for a treat now and then. The restaurant close to my house makes it spicy with lots of vegetables and a non-gravy sauce. I’ve ordered it elsewhere and don’t care for the light-colored, gravy type sauce they use.

What is your favourite season?

Summer. I love being warm. My summers are short in Minnesota, but I love having all four seasons. I’d love to live somewhere warm year round, but I’d miss the snow during the holiday. My husband doesn’t do well with the heat, so this works. Plus, our families reside in Minnesota.

What is your favourite television show?

Survivor. So much so, that I refused to miss it while in labor with my third child. It was a life savior, in a sense, because my focus was on the show and not the pain. I made it through to the end of the show and didn’t miss a beat.

What is your favourite movie?

Oh, this is hard. How can you pick just one? My all-time favorite Christmas movie is White Christmas. Sci-fy fav would be the Star Wars series. When it comes to picking a romance favorite, that’s really tough because I love romance, but A Good Year with Russell Crowe is one I own and have watched multiple times. For a teen movie, any John Hughes movie will work for me. After all, I lived the 80’s.

Who is your favourite actor?

I first fell in love with Harrison Ford when I saw Raiders of the Lost Ark. No, it wasn’t Star Wars. I think I was too young to find him attractive. I’ve enjoyed every movie I’ve seen with him in it, and I haven’t seen them all.

What is your favourite song?

Oh, you’re killing me with having to pick favorites because my answers would be different if you asked me in a day, a week, or…well, you get the idea. For writing, it’s “The Climb” by Miley Cyrus. It’s my reminder song to stay strong. I like it so much, I’m having a line from the song tattooed on my forearm in May. I’d have to say “Bringin’ On The Heartache” by Def Leppard for my non-writing song. It’s my favorite song by them. I had a huge crush on Joe Elliot. I’m a bit embarrassed to admit that I wrote him a fan love letter. I didn’t do that with any other singer I had a crush on, and there were plenty. I’m glad I can laugh at the letter now.

What is your favourite comfort clothing attire?

Sweatpants and a t-shirt. If I can stay in my pajamas all day, I’d prefer to do that.

What books might we find on your bedside table?

My Kindle is beside my bed and has several books on it, with more waiting to be read on my account. I’m currently reading Hope’s Return by Tara Fox Hall and Hands That Heal by Echo Bodine.

Describe yourself in three words.

Friendly, shy and passionate

BLURB

Two years ago, Ryan Rogers was attracted to Stephanie Lockhart, but as the detective who brought down her criminal brother, getting close to her was out of the question. Now, ready to restart the relationship, he discovers her salon is connected to a series of high-end robberies.

In spite of losing her brother because of Detective Rogers, Stephanie hasn’t forgotten their attraction. It could be happily ever after when they meet once again…until she and her salon are implicated in crime, sending her world spiraling out of control.

EXCERPT

“I’m sorry to have brought it up, but at the salon you seemed to have put distance between us. And seeing you…I wanted to talk to you. Over the phone or in text wouldn’t have been right.” He glanced at his hands.

“Your turn.” She rested her hand on his forearm. “Why didn’t you call me?”

“We were busy with your brother’s investigation, as well as other cases. I couldn’t get involved with you while working on your brother’s case. When the time came around that I could’ve called you, I figured it was too late. A girl like you doesn’t wait around for a guy.”

“No, I didn’t wait around.” She removed her hand. “And what kind of girl am I, Ryan Rogers?” She relaxed against the back cushion and crossed her legs. Waiting. Waiting for his response.

“You’re beautiful and smart. You run your own business. Come from a wealthy, well-known family, and could have any man you wanted.”

She lurched forward with a laugh before raising an eyebrow. “Any man I want, huh? Your brother turned me away when he was single.”

Ryan sat upright. “You—my brother?”

“We kissed, then he kicked me out of his hotel room. So no, I can’t have any man I want. And you didn’t want me either.”

“I never said I didn’t want you. We never got beyond the phone number exchange.” He raised his voice, frustrated with the situation. “What if I told you I want you now? What if I took you into the bedroom and followed through on your handcuff suggestion?”

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Jody Vitek is a multi-published author with Satin Romance, an imprint of Melange Books, LLC. She has been a member of Romance Writers of America (RWA) and Midwest Fiction Writers (MFW) since 2001 and is a Provisional PAN member of RWA.

Born and raised in Minnesota, Jody remains close to home living with her husband of twenty-five plus years, three children and a cat named Holly. Growing up, she enjoyed reading V.C. Andrews’ the Dollanganger series, starting with Flowers in the Attic, S.E. Hinton, and Stephen King to name a few. Today her tastes run across the board in fiction and non-fiction, in all genres.

She has traveled throughout the United States, to the Bahamas and Cancun, Mexico. Between watching her youngest son playing soccer, maintaining one of the many scrapbook albums, gardening and being the COO of the Vitek household, she writes contemporary romances.

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