More Than Anything by Kimberly Lang – Review, Interview & Giveaway

 

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Description:
The small, waterfront town of Magnolia Beach, Alabama, gets its fair share of tourists breezing in and out, but one handsome visitor might just be tempted to stay…
 
Running the Bay Breeze marina means Shelby Tanner is used to fielding strange requests from vacationers, but she is still less than amused when she gets a call in the middle of the night to rescue a boat stranded nearby. The clueless sailor is infuriatingly inexperienced—yet also frustratingly attractive.
 
Architect Declan Hyde only planned on stopping in Alabama briefly on his move from Chicago to Miami, but Magnolia Beach is proving to be more captivating than he imagined. For one thing, there’s the sweet, Southern charm. For another, there’s the stunning tomboy who rescued him from the bay and keeps invading his thoughts.
 
As the time draws near for Declan to weigh anchor, he begins to realize that Shelby may have saved more than his boat that night—and leaving Magnolia Beach might set his lonely heart permanently adrift…

 

Review:

More Than Anything by Kimberly Lang is the 3^rd book in her Magnolia Beach series.  Shelby Tanner is our heroine in this book, and we met her in the first book of this series.   Shelby runs the Bay Breeze marina for her family, and she loves her job, even if she is always on call.   In the middle of the night, she gets an emergency call for help from a vacationer stranded on a boat.  Declan Hyde, our hero, is the stranger who needs to be rescued by Shelby.  Declan comes across as a loner, since people in Magnolia Beach never see him, including Shelby.  Declan is an architect, who is starting a new job in Miami in a couple of months.  His friend loaned him the boat to stay on, and Declan keeps to himself, reading and watching tv. 

Shelby finds him strange, but is determined to teach Declan how to use the controls on the boat in an emergency.  What follows is a friendship that will blossom into a scorching romance.  Both Declan and Shelby know this is short term only, but they are enjoying the benefits.  Declan, with Shelby’s persuasion, gets himself out into the town and meets all the townsfolk, including the overprotective Tanner family.  It was fun to watch Shelby’s family; especially her brother and cousins who put pressure on Declan.  In time, Declan learns more about Shelby, her life as the only Tanner girl, and her secret plans to upgrade the marina.  Of course, Shelby never thinks anyone will pay attention to her, but Declan pushes and helps her to explore the possibilities for the future of Bay Breeze marina.

As things continue to get hotter between Shelby and Declan, their feelings for each other become stronger, thereby creating problems when Declan’s job sends him away from Shelby and Magnolia Beach. Will Shelby be able to forget Declan?  Will Declan miss Shelby and Magnolia Beach?

I really loved their romance, and Lang did a fantastic job creating such a sweet storyline.  More Than Anything was a fun, sweet, enjoyable romance, and the town of Magnolia Beach remains a fun place to visit.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

Hi Kimberly.  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.

 

 

Kimberly:  Hi there! I’m so happy to be here and will endeavor to be interesting (or at least entertaining!).

 

 

 

TRC:  Would you please tell us something about yourself?

Kimberly:   I’m a Sagittarius. I have a close, personal relationship with tea. I humor my dog’s neuroses a little too much sometimes. The Nerd Wars rage in my home (Liberal Arts Nerd vs. Science/Tech Nerd), and I think I am losing.  I love the soundtrack to The Little Mermaid.

TRC:  Did you always have an interest in writing?  When and how did you first start writing?

Kimberly:  Like many English majors, I always threatened to write a book, and I always said that book would be a romance. Although I’ve been telling myself stories for years, I didn’t start writing those stories until I was in my 30s. I guess it took a while for me to work up the courage. I have a background in dance, so I was already familiar with the idea of being “good, but not good enough,” and I think that worry held me back for a while. I finally submitted my first manuscript in 2004 and sold (a completely revised version of it) in 2008.

TRC:  More Than Anything, the 3^rd book in your Magnolia Beach series, was released on Tuesday.   For our members who have not read this series, can you tell us the premise of the Magnolia Beach?

Kimberly:  It’s the lives and times of the good people of Magnolia Beach, a small town on the Alabama coast, where the men are all ridiculously good-looking — and single — Alpha males.  

TRC:  How did you come up with the idea of Magnolia Beach, and how many books are you planning for this series?

Kimberly:  The Magnolia Beach books give me the chance to celebrate everything I love about the South and poke fun at it, too. It’s all rooted in truth, so there’s both freedom and joy in writing what I know. As for how many books… Well, there are more stories to tell, so if the readers are willing to read them, I’ll be happy to write them.

TRC:  Can you please give us a brief description of More Than Anything?

Kimberly:  This is Shelby Tanner’s story, the one girl in a generation of Tanner boys, who meets a handsome recluse who’s only in town for a short while. He needs something to believe in, and she needs someone to believe in her.

TRC:  You write Contemporary Romance. Have you thought about writing in other genres?

Kimberly:  I read in many genres, especially historical, and while I toy with the idea occasionally, I don’t think I’ll try.  I love contemporary too much and have too much fun writing it to do anything else.

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?  Is there a special time of day that works best for you?

Kimberly:  I am learning to outline. I’m not great at it yet, but I’m trying. For the most part, I write in the mornings, either at my desk (with Cupid snoring behind me under the printer) or curled up in the recliner. Wherever I am, I have to have my tea. 🙂

TRC:  What books, authors or people in your life have influenced your writing? 

Kimberly:  Professionally, I’m fortunate to have a supportive group of writer friends who offer both great advice and support and are definitely an influence. Creatively, Jenny Crusie, Julia Quinn, Julie Garwood, Linda Howard, and Linda Winstead Jones — that’s the kind of writer I want to be.

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

Kimberly:   I teach a combination yoga-Pilates class (it’s fun and it combats the time I spend — and the snacking I do —  in my chair). I love crossword puzzles, and one day, I am determined to learn to knit.

TRC:  Would you like to add anything else?

Kimberly:  I borrowed a song from Chapman James, a songwriter friend of mine, to use in the book because it’s perfect for Declan and Shelby’s story. “My Soul’s in Alabama” speaks to Declan because it helps him see what he’s leaving behind. It’s a beautiful song, and you can get a listen here: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/chapmanjames2

 

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food: Anything Mexican (please add extra guacamole).

Favorite Dessert:  Lemon things — lemon icebox pie, lemon bars, lemon cake with glaze…

Favorite TV Show:  Right now, Jane the Virgin and Reign. I’m binging Reign on my own — it’s got royals and drama and romance and intrigue — and Jane the Virgin is something I’m watching with my daughter. It’s both campy and sweet, and we’re addicted.

Favorite Movie or TV Celebrity: Dame Maggie Smith.  She’s a genius in everything.

Favorite Fictional Character (not your own):  I’m loving Matthew from Jane the Virgin right now. He’s a sweet beta in an Alpha job and role. He screws up, but he owns it and his love for Jane is never in question.

Milk or Dark Chocolate:  Milk. I feel that dark requires a maturity I don’t have.

Dog or Cat:  It would break my Cupid’s heart for me to say anything other than dog.

TRC:  Thank you Kimberly, for taking the time to answer our questions.  We wish you the best of luck with More Than Anything. 

Kimberly:  My pleasure! Thanks for having me!

If you want to learn more about Kimberly Lang, you can check out the following links:
Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

Kimberly’s publisher is offering a paper copy of MORE THAN ANYTHING to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

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9. Giveaway runs from December 8 –12, 2016