Owning Violet (The Fowler Sisters #1) by Monica Murphy-Review, Interview and Giveaway
Owning Violet
The Fowler Sisters #1
by Monica Murphy
Genre: adult, contemporary,erotic, romance
Release Date: December 2, 2014
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OWNING VIOLET (The Fowler Sisters #1) by Monica Murphy
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 2, 2014
New York Times bestselling author Monica Murphy begins a sexy new contemporary romance series—perfect for fans of Christina Lauren and Emma Chase—that introduces three sisters born to wealth, raised to succeed, ready to love, destined to make waves.
I’ve moved through life doing what’s expected of me. I’m the middle daughter, the dutiful daughter. The one who braved a vicious attack and survived. The one who devoted herself to her family’s business empire. The one who met an ambitious man and fell in love. We were going to run Fleur Cosmetics together, Zachary and I.
Until he got a promotion and left me in the dust. Maybe it’s for the best, between his disloyalty and his wandering eye. But another man was waiting for me. Wanting me. He too has an overwhelming thirst for success, just like Zachary—perhaps even more so. He’s also ruthless. And mysterious. I know nothing about Ryder McKay beyond that he makes me feel things I’ve never felt before.
One stolen moment, a kiss, a touch . . . and I’m hooked. Ryder’s like a powerful drug, and I’m an addict who doesn’t want to be cured. He tells me his intentions aren’t pure, and I believe him. For once, I don’t care. I’m willing to risk everything just to be with him. Including my heart. My soul.
My everything.
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REVIEW: OWNING VIOLET is the first installment in Monica Murphy’s contemporary, adult The Fowler Sisters erotic, romance series focusing on heirs to the Fleur Cosmetics Company Violet, Lily and Rose Fowler. This is Violet Fowler and Ryder McKay’s storyline.
Told from alternating first person points of view (Violet and Ryder), OWNING VIOLET finds good girl and daddy’s favorite Violet Fowler in a state of confusion. Believing her less than faithful boyfriend of two years is about to propose, Violet comes away shocked to discover that Zachary has accepted a temporary position in London, England with Fleur Cosmetics. Dismissed and discarded, Violet will unknowingly find herself the pawn in a much different game when the sexy head of packaging for Fleur Cosmetics-Ryder McKay-takes an immediate interest in Violet where an anything goes relationship is just what she needs. Hoping to keep their tryst a secret, Violet agrees to a ‘friends with benefits’ affair not realizing that someone else is pulling Ryder’s strings. What began as a dare becomes something so much more.
The relationship between Violet and Ryder is spontaneous, erotic and sensual. From the boardroom conference table, to the bedroom and every surface in between Ryder and Violet’s supposedly secret affair becomes fodder for the employees at Fleur Cosmetics. Violet is considered the quiet, shy and overachieving sister but in the bedroom a different side of Violet will emerge.
Ryder is a bad boy with a bad boy reputation; an alpha male with dark secrets and a darker past but when Violet is told that everything about their relationship is a ruse, Violet will walk away heartbroken and destroyed. Ryder has made a pact with the devil and the devil has set her sights on someone more powerful within the company. Ryder is a man who demands obedience in the bedroom; a little rougher around the edges with his needs and wants. The sex scenes are numerous, provocative and intense.
We are introduced to Violet’s sisters Lily and Rose. There are some broken family dynamics as it involves Forrest Fowler and his daughters, but none more so than the destructive nature of betrayal and loss. Forrest’s new love interest could very well destroy the company and that of his daughters’ respect and love.
OWNING VIOLET focuses on the corporate ladder and what some people will do to get what they want. There are moments of intimate passion and heartbreaking revelations but in the end two people will get their happily ever after. Monica Murphy’s incredible imagination will pull you in and never let go.
Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley.
Reviewed by Sandy
TRC: Hi Monica and welcome back to The Reading Cafe.
Monica: Thanks so much for having me, Sandy!
TRC: For anyone who does know you or your alter ego Karen Erickson, would you please tell us something about yourself?
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Monica: Absolutely. I’m Monica Murphy and I write both new adult and contemporary romance for Bantam and Avon. I also write contemporary romance as Karen Erickson. The difference between the two pen names? Monica writes in first person point of view and the books are a little darker with a lot of angst. As Karen, I write third person POV and the books are still sexy but lighter and fun.
TRC: When not writing, what do you do to relax? For fun?
Monica: I like to read, hang out with my family, watch bad reality TV (Bravo is my weakness). We also like to travel though I wouldn’t always call that relaxing.
TRC: OWNING VIOLET is your December 2014 release and first installment in your new Fowler Sisters series. Would you please tell us something about the premise?
Monica: The Fowler Sisters are heiresses to Fleur Cosmetics company, which was founded by their grandmother and is currently run by their father. There are three sisters: Lily is the oldest and is a complete party girl mess. Rose is the youngest and she’s very headstrong — she doesn’t hold back. And then we have Violet, the middle sister, the dutiful sister, the one who is being groomed to take over Fleur. At the beginning of OWNING VIOLET she believes her life is perfectly set down a specific path. But then everything changes and she becomes involved with the very mysterious, very sexy Ryder McKay, who works at Fleur.
TRC: How many books do you have planned for the series ?
Monica: Three. So far. Never say never to the possibility of more.
TRC: If you could virtually cast the leading characters in this storyline, which models or actors best represents your ideal image?
Monica: This is so tough! I don’t really have anyone in mind for the guys. They are always in my head (and just the perfect, ideal man of course). For the sisters, I could see Leighton Meester, Mila Kunis…dark haired, beautiful actresses would fit the bill for all three of them really.
TRC: STEALING ROSE is the second installment in the series. What can you tell us about the premise?
Monica: STEALING ROSE is completely different compared to OWNING VIOLET. Though Rose is having a moment of crisis when the book starts out and she meets a mysterious man…but Caden is nothing like Ryder. He’s much lighter. Very sexy. Oh, very sexy. I adore Caden and can’t wait for readers to meet him!
TRC: Who or what was the inspiration behind the series and the sisters?
Monica: I’ve been wanting to write a series about three sisters named after flowers forEVER. It’s been lying in wait in my idea file (seriously – I found notes on The Fowler Sisters recently dating back to 2007) for a long time. I wanted to write something glamorous, edgy, emotional and over the top sexy. I hope this series hits all of those notes and more.
TRC: What challenges of difficulties did you experience writing this particular series?
Monica: Ryder is quite frankly, not a nice person. Caden in STEALING ROSE does bad things too. And Lily from TAMING LILY is a mess. I like taking characters that seem unredeemable and redeem them. It’s fun. I’m fascinated by the anti-hero (and heroine).
TRC: When writing a storyline, do the characters direct the writing or do you direct the characters?
Monica: At first I direct the characters but they always take over. It sounds crazy but as I write, I discover more and more and they tend to steer the stories where they need to go. It’s always a surprise. That’s why I can never plot every little chapter/step out. That process just doesn’t work for me.
TRC: December and January are busy times for you as an author. As Karen Erickson, you have two books in your Vegas Nights Series due to be released (one month apart). Would you please tell us something about each book?
Monica: December 23, 2014-WICKED WEEKEND: This is a FREE short story that releases right before Christmas and introduces you to the characters that will appear in the VEGAS NIGHTS series. Three friends who are nurses and work all the time take a girls only vacation to Vegas. Where they end up meeting a guy who invites them to an exclusive party. Of course, they meet the sexiest men alive there and proceed to fall madly in love.
January 13, 2015- RECKLESS NIGHTS: This is Reagan and Declan’s story. Declan is an actor who’s career has been given a second chance. He used to be a teen heartthrob–and Reagan’s teen crush. To her, having a chance to spend time with the sexy Declan is like a dream come true. And for Declan, he feels the same.
Two more novellas are coming in the series, in the spring and summer of 2015. More info soon.
TRC: Do you have plans to add to your ONE WEEK GIRLFRIEND series with either a novella or epilogue set of storylines perhaps focusing on each couple (e.g. 5-10 years in the future)? 😉
Monica: I get asked this question a lot, especially about Owen and Chelsea (FOUR YEARS LATER). Many feel like their story was left unfinished. I will never say never. Who knows. The opportunity may arise again someday. I do know I miss writing in that world. Drew + Fable are special to me. They always will be.
TRC: The mark of a good writer is to pull the reader into the storyline so that they experience the emotions along with the characters. What do you believe a writer must do to make this happen? Where do you believe writer’s fail in this endeavor?
Monica: Hmm, well I think it helps to go as deep within the point of view of the characters as we can get. That’s where first person POV comes in handy. You as the reader truly feel like you’re experiencing what the characters are experiencing. As a writer you just have to reach deep and be genuine in describing the emotions. Both the good and the bad.
TRC: Writer’s Block is a very real phenomenon. How do you handle the pressures and anxiety of writer’s block?
Monica: There’s this thing called a deadline that won’t allow me to get writer’s block. *winks* Seriously, this is my career, I’ve been writing full time for years and I can’t allow myself to get stuck for too long. I have a schedule and I must meet it. I think we can train ourselves to push through and get it done. We can always go back and fix it.
TRC: Many authors bounce ideas and information with other authors or friends
and family. With whom do you bounce ideas?
Monica: My critique partner is Katy Evans and she’s my saving grace. I adore and trust her input and opinion. And I know she feels the same way about me.
I also like to bounce ideas off of my husband. He comes up with the CRAZIEST stuff. Like, bizarre. But I can always pull a little something from the crazy and make it work. He’s my go to when I’m really stuck. He always comes up with some insane idea. Ha ha I make him sound like he’s nuts. He’s not. I swear. *winks*
TRC: What three things would you like to accomplish in the next five years?
Monica:
I want to maintain and grow my career. Try something different, writing-wise.
I’d like to travel more with my family.
And learn how to work just a little less (we shall see on that one).
TRC: On what are you currently working?
Monica: I just turned in TAMING LILY to my editor so I expect edits/revisions on that any day now. I’m also working on the second novella for the VEGAS NIGHTS series as Karen.
TRC: Would you like to add anything else?
Monica: I’m excited for readers to pick up OWNING VIOLET and I hope they enjoy it. It’s different compared to what I’ve written as Monica in the past but I think my readers will love it. Hopefully.
TRC: Thank you Monica for taking the time to answer our questions. Congratulations on all of your success and your upcoming new releases.
Monica: Thank you again Sandy! I appreciate it.
Monica and her publisher are graciously offering a paper copy of OWNING VIOLET to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe
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