Just This Night by Mari Madison – Review, Interview & Giveaway

 

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Description:
At News 9 San Diego, the hottest stories happen off camera.

Betrayed and abandoned by his wife and left to raise their young daughter on his own, TV news photographer Jake “Mac” MacDonald has moved to San Diego for a fresh start. He’s sworn off women forever and devoted his life to his little girl. But when his brother-in-law drags him out to a night club, Mac can’t help but be drawn to the cute blonde who asks him to dance. Maybe he can make an exception…for just one night.

A hot fling is exactly what news reporter Elizabeth White had in mind when she brought Mac home. A quick cure to help her get over her ex-boyfriend. But things get awkward when her anonymous hookup turns out to be her newest colleague. Now they must put their attraction behind them and find a way to work together. But when someone starts sabotaging Beth’s career, she realizes Mac is the only one she can trust. And maybe their one night has the makings of an exclusive after all.

 

Review:

Just This Night by Marii Madison is the 1^st book in her new Exclusive Romance series. Jack Macdonald (Mac) is our hero, who has just moved to San Diego with his young baby daughter, Ashley. Jake’s wife walked out on both of them, forcing him to move close to his sister, who can help with Ashley . This has also caused Jake to swear off women and only concentrate on his new job and his daughter.

Elizabeth White (Beth) is our heroine, and she is an early morning news reporter for the News 9 TV show. With Beth depressed that her ex fiancée is now marrying her sister, her roommate forces her to out to a club and get herself laid for a one night stand. At the same time, Mac’s brother in law forces him to go to a club to relax and get drunk.

Beth and Mac do meet at the bar, where their banter with the bartender was cute. It did open the door for them to head back to Beth’s place and what they both thought would be a one night of fun for both of them.   When Beth wakes up, Mac is gone and she isn’t too happy that he didn’t even say goodbye. But in a short time, Beth will come across Mac again, but this time at News 9, as he is starting his new job and where they find themselves working together.

Despite Mac’s determination to not become involved, his attraction for Beth is strong. Beth at the same time knows she likes him, but is hurt by his attitude. What follows is a slow build romance that despite issues on both sides becomes a hot steamy relationship. I really liked Mac and Beth together, especially the friendship they developed, and the camaraderie Beth had with Ashley. It was nice to see how they helped each other professionally too. The story besides the romance also had a nice mystery that had someone sabotaging Beth at every turn on her job.   As she gets promoted, her best friend becomes her enemy. The mystery and suspense added a nice element to this story. There were some twists and surprises that showed not all was what it seemed.   Just when you think Mac and Beth are finally coming together, things will get more complicated as Mac’s ex returns,

Just This Night was very well written by Mari Madison. This romance had a bit of everything, which included a great couple; lovers to friendship to lovers again; family dynamics, steamy sex, mystery, and dire moments. I recommend that you read this book.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

Hi, Mari. Thank you for taking the time today, to answer some questions for our members at The Reading Café. We are always looking forward to reading about the author behind the book.

Mari:  Thank you for having me! I’m excited to join you guys!

TRC:  Please tell us something about yourself?

Mari:  I’m a former Emmy award winning TV news producer and now full time author, writing books for adults and teens. (The teen stuff is under the name Mari Mancusi.) I live in Austin, Texas and I’m mom to a very enthusiastic four-year-old girl. I love traveling, wine tasting, Disney, and, my favorite guilty pleasure, videogames.

TRC:  Have you always been interested in writing? When and how did you first start writing?

Mari:  I feel like I’ve always been a storyteller. Before I was old enough to pick up a pen I’m told I would dictate stories for my mother to transcribe and I’d draw the pictures to accompany them. When I was in high school I used to write fan fiction about my friends and the rock stars who loved them! But it wasn’t until I was in my twenties that I started getting serious about writing. I sold my first book—a time travel romance—eleven years ago and never looked back since!

TRC: Can you please tell us the premise of your new Exclusive Romance series? Also, how many books do you anticipate for this series?

Mari:  The Exclusive Romance series is set at a fictional TV newsroom in San Diego and follows the lives of the reporters and videographer and others who work there. As a former TV news producer myself I know first hand just how much drama can go on once the cameras stop rolling! There will be at least three books in the series and if readers like the stories I can see myself doing more. There’s just so much potential with that backdrop.

TRC:  Just This Night is the first book in this series. Can you please give us a brief description of this book?

Mari:  Two people who have given up on love connect and end up having a one-night stand that ends badly. Unfortunately the next day they find out they’re new coworkers and will be forced to work together day in and day out at News 9. While Mac is still attracted to Beth—and feels terrible about walking out of her the morning after—he knows he can’t give her what she wants. His little girl, who he’s raising on his own, takes first priority. But Beth—who only meant the night to be a quick fix to get over her ex—can’t move past her growing feelings for this hot, single dad. And when someone starts sabotaging her career, she realizes he may be the only one she can trust.

TRC:  You write Young Adult as Mari Mancusi. Which genre do you find more challenging? Are you interested in writing any other genre?

Mari:  I think both YA and romance have their own challenges, but I enjoy writing both. Many of my YAs are fantasy or paranormal so there’s a lot of world building involved versus a contemporary romance that takes place in a town I used to live in. But with romance, you really have to dig deep—almost play psychologist—as you help your two characters get over their hang-ups and work to find and accept new love. So that can be a challenge all its own—especially since you want it to feel real to the reader and not over-the-top.

TRC: Can you please tell us what are you currently working on, for Mari Madison and Mari Mancusi?

Mari:  I am currently finishing up a middle grade novel about a group of girls who start a princess babysitting club to get a leg up on the neighborhood competition and earn money to go see their favorite YouTube star at a comic book convention. The working title on that one is “If the Shoes Fits” and sort of loosely follows the Cinderella story.

Once I am finished with that, I will be moving on to the third book in the Exclusive Romance series, which doesn’t have a title yet. It’s about a war-torn foreign correspondent who has returned home to San Diego after reporting in the middle east and is suffering from extreme PTSD which prevents him from doing his job. (He has panic attacks every time he goes live.).

TRC: What is your writing process? Do you like to outline your story before you start? Do you have a specific place you like to write?

Mari:  I do like to have an outline, though often I end up straying from that outline before I’m done writing the book. I also like to get the main plot down, then layer as I go, discovering things about the characters more organically, just as a reader would.

As far as “where” to write, I’m not one of those social writers that can easily plop down in a café with friends and get to it. I prefer the solitude of my office and the quiet. When I really need to get a lot of work done, I’ll even book myself into a hotel for a night and get away. Order room service and write all night. As much as I love my family, it’s a bit heavenly to get away once in a while, too!

TRC: Many authors have friends or family, that they bounce ideas and information back and forth. Do you have anyone you like to discuss your story with?

Mari:  My husband is great for plotting. He’s a big movie junkie so any plot problem I have he can bring up a movie that’s dealt with it and talk about how they handled it to help brainstorm. Also—don’t tell him but I stole a lot of good material to use in JUST THIS NIGHT from interactions between him and our daughter! I think that might be one of the reasons I love the hero, Mac, in this book so much. He’s such a good dad, just like my husband. And he really cares about doing what’s right for his daughter, even at the expense of his own happiness.

TRC: When you are not writing, what other interests or hobbies do you have?

Mari:  I am a total Disney freak so I’m usually planning a trip to Walt Disney World if I’m not already there! Last year we got to go on a Disney cruise, which was amazing. I also love reading and watching movies and TV. And I love playing videogames. Right now I’m deeply immersed in Fallout 4.

TRC:  Would you like to add anything else?

Mari:  If you enjoy this series, you might also want to check out News Blues, a book I wrote back in 2009 (under the name Mari Mancusi) that is also set at the fictional TV station, News 9 San Diego. It’s currently available in e-book form on Amazon.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food: Mashed Potatoes

Favorite Dessert: Cake and ice cream

Favorite TV Show: Game of Thrones or the Walking Dead

Last Book You Read: Red Queen

Favorite Fictional Character (not your own): Guinevere

Milk or Dark Chocolate: Dark chocolate

Dog or Cat: Dogs (I have two of them!)

TRC: Thank you Mari for taking the time to answer our questions. We wish you the best of luck with Just This Night. Please keep us informed about your upcoming new releases, as we look forward to working with you again.

Mari:  Thank you for letting me stop by!!

 

Mari’s publisher is offering a paper copy of JUST THIS NIGHT to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe

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7. Giveaway is open to USA only

8. Giveaway runs from March 4 to March 8, 2016