HIS TO KEEP (Beauty and the Brit #3) by Terri L. Austin-Review, Interview and Book Tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 1, 2016

Iain wasn’t just rough around the edges-he was uncivilized, despite all the elegant trappings and expensive suits. And Brynn wanted more of it. She wanted Iain in full-on barbarian mode.

She wanted to be taken.

Filthy rich British bad boy Iain Chapman made a name for himself as a ruthless businessman, but if he can secure an investment from Vegas powerhouse Trevor Blake, Iain could take his business to the next level. Solution? Hire beautifully timid corporate trainer-and Trevor’s sister-in-law-Brynn Campbell and seduce his way to success.

Brynn’s everything Iain is not: kind, delicate, decent. But she’s also got a taste for something a little beastly, and it doesn’t take long for Iain to break through her every inhibition. Brynn was supposed to be his pawn, but as Iain gets closer to his goal, he begins to realize he’s not ready to let her go, not now, not ever-even if it costs him everything.

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REVIEW: HIS TO KEEP is the third full length installment in Terri L. Austin’s contemporary, adult BEAUTY AND THE BRIT erotic romance series. This is billionaire businessman/ British ex-pat Iain Chapman, and corporate trainer Brynn Campbell’s story line. HIS TO KEEP can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Some of the characters from the previous story lines play secondary and supporting roles. Any important information from previous installments is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Iain and Brynn) HIS TO KEEP continues on the theme of the Campbell sisters falling in love with British businessmen. Las Vegas is all about appearances but Brynn is a woman who is content to hide in the shadows, playing the yes-woman to her bosses demands-a bit of a doormat when it comes to saying no. When Brynn is forced into working with wealthy British billionaire Iain Chapman, all bets are off when Iain vows that one day she will be his. What ensues is the building relationship between Brynn and Iain, and the length Iain must go to, to hide his original intent. Iain is looking for investors, and Brynn’s brother-in -law Trevor is the perfect man to help with Iain’s investments.

The relationship between Brynn and Iain is one of immediate attraction but Brynn is not the usual type of woman Iain has by his side. Brynn is a woman who has written a book about office and business protocol, and Iain refuses to abide by any of Brynn’s suggestions and demands. Brynn is a woman whose sense of taste and style is a throwback to another time, and Iain finds himself ‘charmed’ but her nuances and little idiosyncrasies. Iain is a self made man; a billionaire who makes demands and doesn’t care who gets hurt in the fall out. While Iain continues to push all of Brynn’s buttons, Brynn finds herself falling for a man who is determined to keep himself apart from everyone he knows. The $ex scenes are erotic, intense, provocative and seductive. There is some very light bondage and discipline play-Iain likes control both in and out of the boardroom.

The secondary and supporting players include Brynn’s sisters and their husbands: Trevor and Allie Blake (His Every Need #1); Cal and Monica Hughes (His Kind of Trouble #2); as well as Iain’s best friend and business partner Marcus (Marc) Atwell who is having some woman troubles of his own; and Brynn’s hopeless neighbor Natasha. We are also introduced to Brynn’s boss Cassandra, and Brynn’s co-worker Paige.

The world building focuses on Iain and Marc’s business ventures, and Iain’s inability to acknowledge the people who work for him –every day. There is an abundance of British terminology and slang that is interspersed throughout the story.

HIS TO KEEP is a fun read; sexy look at a billionaire businessman who loses his heart and his soul to an American wall flower who runs at the first sign of trouble. The premise is entertaining and enjoyable; the characters are charismatic and charming; the romance is an erotic path to a happily ever after.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley

reviewed by Sandy

TRC: Hi Terri and welcome to The Reading Café

Terri: Hello! It’s great to be here.

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TRC: We would like to start with some background information. Please tell us something about your self?

Terri: I’m a writer, a mom, a lover of all things British. I’m an avid beader and reader. If I could find a way to do both at the same time, I’d be in heaven.

TRC: Who or what influenced your career in writing?

Terri: There are some authors I’ve loved and gobbled up throughout the years. Kresley Cole, Karen Marie Moning, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, and Janet Evanovich to name a few. When I read a good, fun book, it inspires me to be sharper, wittier, and have a stronger voice.

TRC: What challenges or difficulties have you encountered writing and publishing your stories?

Terri: I think everyone has obstacles along the way. Trying to find an agent or a publisher is always a challenge. There are a lot of naysayers who like to tell you how impossible it is to make it in this business. I don’t listen to the naysayers. You have to have to be willing to work hard and persevere.

TRC: Would you please tell us something about premise of your new release HIS TO KEEP-the third installment in your Beauty and the Brit series?

Terri: Iain Chapman is a beast of a man. Hailing from Manchester UK, he’s hard, aggressive, and has made his money the old fashioned way. But he knows that he can grow his business with an investor like Trevor Blake. Enter Brynn Campbell, Trevor’s sister-in-law and eternal pushover. Iain falls for Brynn immediately. But if she finds out he’s played her, she’ll not only be devastated, she’ll never trust him again.

Brynn begins to stand up to Iain and finds that once she becomes confident in the bedroom, that self-assured attitude spills over into other areas of her life. As she grows, she sees a different side of Iain. Maybe he’s not such a beast after all.

TRC: Are any of the characters based in reality or a mixture of real and fiction?

Terri: Brynn’s boss, Cass, was loosely based on a friend’s experience in the corporate training world.

TRC: How many books do you have planned for the series?

Terri: So far, just three. But I have a couple of novellas swirling around. The Beauty and the Brit world is a fun place I’d like to revisit.

TRC: How do you keep the plot(s) unpredictable without sacrificing content and believability?

Terri: To me, the plots and the characters are intertwined. If I plugged a different hero into the scenario, the plot would be totally different. I let the characters tell their story. I know that sounds cliché, but if I push them in a direction they don’t like, they’ll let me know about it.

TRC: Do you believe the cover image plays a deciding factor for many readers in the process of selecting a book or new series to read?

Terri: It’s like a blind date. That cover is the first impression. If a potential reader likes the cover, they’ll glance at the back blurb. If they like the back blurb, they’re more likely to make a second date and give the book a try.

TRC: When writing a storyline, do the characters direct the writing or do you direct the characters?

Terri: My characters are absolutely in charge. If I can’t hear them speak to me, if they go radio silent, I know I made a wrong turn.

TRC: On what are you currently working?

Terri: I’m writing a new series featuring Irish bare knuckle boxers. It’s called the Irish Brawlers series and takes place in Chicago.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Terri: Thanks for hosting me. I really appreciate it. And if your readers enjoy arrogant English heroes and hot, steamy love scenes, they might want to give His to Keep a try.

TRC: Thank you Terri for taking the time to answer our questions. Congratulations on the new release.

Terri: Thank you so much!