Tag Archives: Stepping Up

An Interview with Lisa Renee Jones

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An Interview with Lisa Renee Jones

The Reading Cafe is happy to have the fantastic Lisa Renee Jones as our guest today.

Lisa Renee has just released her final book in her Stepping Up Trilogy.  Our review of this wonderful series is just below this interview.

Lisa Renee is here to talk to us about her her latest book, as well as her other very hot new release, If I Were You.

Let’s meet Lisa Renee.

 

Hi Lisa and welcome to The Reading Café.  We would like to start with some background information.

TRC: Please tell us something about yourself?

Lisa: I owned a staffing agency for 11 years and people thought I was crazy to leave to write but life is short and I wanted to chase the dream. Thankfully, though it took years to feel successful, it’s been a good decision.

TRC: Have you always been interested in writing?

Lisa: No. I was interested in acting and did some independent film in Austin, Texas and even hit film festivals with one of them I was the lead in. But I had kids and a company, and it just wasn’t possible to fully pursue it. Then one day I picked up a script and said — I love to read. Books are so a part of my life, maybe that creative side on me would feed into writing. So I tried and finished a book in about 3 months. It was horrible but it was a start.

TRC:  Is there anything (in general) you find particularly challenging about writing?

Lisa: Those moments on deadline when I hit point where the words aren’t flowing. It always means something is off I need to go back and fix but I freak out every time. My fiancee always reminds me — this means something is wrong. Go back and read what has happened in the book so far.

TRC:  What challenges have you faced getting your novels published?

Lisa: I got published fairly quickly but it’s hitting that sweet spot for exposure. Indie helped me overcome that and get to the point I’m at now.

TRC: You just released your 3rd book in your Stepping Up Trilogy….Winning Moves. Can you please give us a brief description of the book?

Lisa: I LOVE this story. It’s my favorite Blaze I’ve written and my last for a good while:( My schedule is just too tight. It’s about love rediscovered and I felt the characters so deeply I hope the readers do too. It’s about a Dance Show that becomes a Vegas show.

LINKS TO ORDER Lisa Renee Jones Books:
Amazon / Barnes and Noble/The Book Depository /

TRC: Next month you are starting a new Urban Fantasy series, Dark Angel. Can you please tell us the premise of this series?

Lisa: Actually it looks like I might have to put off this date. I’ll know next week but I hope not. But the premise is a woman who has a birthday on December 21 and discovers that something is awakened inside her that makes her be the key to causing the end of the world. Two sexy men will help her find a way to stop that from happening.

TRC:  If I Were You is the first book in your Inside Out Trilogy, which has had a fantastic start. Can you give a brief description of this series?  Also, when do you plan on releasing the 2nd and 3rd books of this series?

Lisa: The series is based on a real journal my fiancee found in a storage unit when we use to buy and sell storage units. It was inspired by that journal and I wrote it over a long period of time as I let the idea develop and take form.

Simon and Schuster releases the print of IF I WERE YOU in March, 2013,  BEING ME is June 11, 2013 and REVEALING US is September 11, 2013

About IF I WERE YOU:

The steamy first installment in the Inside Out erotic romance trilogy by Lisa Renee Jones, in the bestselling tradition of Fifty Shades of Grey.

When Sara McMillan finds a stack of journals in a storage unit, she’s shocked and enthralled by the erotic life the writer led. Unable to stop reading, she vicariously lives out dark fantasies through Rebecca, the writer—until the terrifying final entry.

Certain something sinister has happened, Sara sets out to discover the facts, immersing herself in Rebecca’s life. Soon she’s working at the art gallery Rebecca worked at and meeting Rebecca’s friends. Finding herself drawn to two dangerously sexy men, the manager of the gallery and a famed artist, Sara realizes she’s going down the same path Rebecca took. But with the promise of her dark needs being met by a man with confident good looks and a desire for control, she’s not sure anything else matters. Just the burn for more.

TRC:  You write many different genres, such as romance, erotic romance, paranormal, suspense, urban fantasy.  Do you have a preference?  Do you find it difficult to switch between these genres, when writing your stories?

Lisa: I love writing across genres because it keeps me fresh but first person has really grabbed me. I am enjoying it more than I have 3rd in the past.

TRC:  Where do you get the energy or ideas to write so many books in one year?  Also what is your writing process, such as where you like to write or do you have preferred times?

Lisa: I write 7 days a week because it keeps my head in the stories. I set word count goals and if it takes until 3am then I make that goal.

TRC:  What are you working on now?

Lisa:  I just finished Being Me and now I’m working on a special secret attached project.

TRC:  Who is your favorite character (male and female) of your own books, and why?

Lisa: Well I’m writing Sara now and I enjoy writing her. She is my favorite for all kinds of reasons.

TRC:  Many authors bounce ideas and information between each other and their family and spouses.  With whom do you bounce ideas?

Lisa: My fiancee. He is the one who talked me into writing the INSIDE OUT trilogy and I released book 1 on his BDAY because of that and for luck.

TRC:  Would you like to add anything else?

Lisa: BEING ME and REVEALING US is up for pre-order!

Amazon Pre order Links:
Being Me:
Revealing Us:

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food: Mac N Cheese

Favorite Dessert:  Chocolate anything

Favorite TV show:  I have many. We are TV fans at my house. We save things and watch them in marathons. I just started Sons of Anarchy and I’m loving it.

Favorite Movie: No favorite though I have to say I still love Pretty Woman.

Dark or Milk Chocolate: Milk for sure

Favorite Author: No favorite but Karen Marie Moning’s Fever series is a big favorite for me. I love Patricia Briggs Mercy series too. Shannon McKenna’s suspense. The list goes on.

Favorite Literary Character (male & female) not your own: Mac from the Fever series

Thank you, Lisa, for taking the time to answer our questions.  The Reading Café wishes you good luck with your Stepping Up Trilogy, Inside Out Trilogy, and the new Dark Angel series.

If you want to learn more about Lisa, you can find her at the following links:
Website: http://www.lisareneejones.com/
Twitter:
Facebook:
Goodreads:

Lisa has graciously offered to give a member of The Reading Café a chance to win one of her backlisted e-books.

1.  You must be a member at The Reading Cafe. If you are not a member, please register using the Log-In at the top of the page, or by using one of our social log-ins.

2.  If you are using a social log-in e.g. Twitter, please leave your email address along with your comment.

3.  Giveaway open to U.S. & Canada Only

4.  Contest runs from November 16th – November 19th.

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Stepping Up Trilogy by Lisa Renee Jones – a combined review

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Stepping Up Trilogy by Lisa Renee Jones – a combined review

 

All three books of Lisa Renee Jones’ Stepping Up Trilogy  were fun, enjoyable, and relaxing reads  This series had a fantastic concept, a TV Dance Reality show, with wonderful and sexy couples for each book.  Though some scenes in each book were steamy, it was not erotic. If you are looking for romance, great couples, and just pure fun, then Stepping Up is perfect for you.  The great thing about this series is that all 3 books came out within 3 months, allowing me to read without waiting long for the next book.  Below is my review on each book.

Watch Me – book 1

Watch Me is the first book in Lisa Renee Jones’ Stepping Up Trilogy. This is a contemporary romance, with a Realty TV Dance show as the premise of the story.  Meagan Tippan is the producer of this show, and she is our heroine of the story.  The show is called America’s Stepping Up, and Sam Kellar, a former Special Forces soldier, is the head of Security for the studio, as well as our hero.

Meagan is a former dancer, who suffered a serious leg injury to cut short her career in dancing, but she uses her love of the dance, to come up with the idea of this reality tv show.  Right from the start, as all the contestants are chosen, they are plagued by unusual mishaps, such as the fire sprinkler going off in the house they were all living in, causing enough damage for them to have to find a new place.  Everyone whispered that there was a curse, as this was not the first mishap.  Because of this, Meagan is forced by her bosses to allow Sam to be part of the full time team, in charge of security.   Meagan knew the management wanted to use the curse as a gimmick to kick start the show.

Meagan wasn’t happy about Sam, as he was everything she didn’t like. a strong tough guy, and gorgeous hunk, as she preferred someone more laid back. Sam, though finding Meagan attractive, called her an ice princess.  But it was Sam, who would make the first move to try to win Meagan. 

This was a good story, as we watched Meagan and Sam discover each other; open up to their own demons from their pasts, as well as to work together to stop someone who is trying to sabotage the show.  The chemistry between Sam and Meagan was hot, and it was fun to watch them try to hide from others their growing attraction. 

The reality dance show theme was fun to watch, and see how jealousy, and friction between dancers can cause problems, and what producers have to deal with.  There also was the mystery, though for the most part you knew who was behind the sabotage, it still was interesting to see how it would all turn out.   Excellent first book in this series, as the next book is Follow My Lead, which I think is season two of the reality dance show.

Follow my Lead – book 2

Follow My Lead is the 2nd book in  Lisa Renee Jones’ Stepping Up Trilogy. The book picks up months after Watch Me ended.  As a reminder, this is a contemporary romance, with a Realty TV Dance show as the premise of the story.  Preparation is in full swing to start the second season of America’s Stepping Up show, and Meagan, our heroine in the first book, and producer of the show has picked her celebrity judges. 

We meet Darla James and Blake Nelson, our wonderful couple on the plane heading for the studio to meet Meagan, the other judges and plan for the auditions.  Darla, who has a fear of flying, is not happy to be sitting next to Blake, a tv show competitor whom she blames for an embarrassing mishap a few months ago.  Blake is also her competitor from another channel, as they have somewhat similar tv shows that they host.  She is downright rude, and antagonistic to Blake.  Blake finds humor in Darla’s attitude, as he tries to explain that he truly was not at fault for that mishap.  An uneasy truce is reached, as Darla must survive the plane ride and Blake offers his support.   

During the early days of preparation and auditions, both Blake and Darla find themselves becoming totally attracted to one another.  Both having decided a one night fling will be just the thing they both need to move on, ….only things don’t always work that way. Their chemistry and sexual relationship flies through the roof, and is very hot.  Each though has their own issues in regards to commitment and relationships.  Something they will both have to work through almost to the end. 

Meagan comes up with a gimmick utilizing Darla and Blake’s antagonistic attitude to each other, trying to tempt the audience to follow and see where if their dislike for each other (which is no longer true, something they have to hide) will change as the season moves forward. 

This was an excellent second book in this trilogy.  It is a fun relaxing read, with a very good theme…Dance Reality show, and what goes on behind the scenes.  Follow My Lead is more sexual then the first book, with a lot of steamy hot sex scenes; it is more of a romance, without the mystery of the first book.  I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, as well as Darla and Blake, and watching them find their love.  I look forward to the last book in this series.

Winning Moves – book 3

Winning Moves is the 3rd and final book in Lisa Renee Jones’ Stepping Up Trilogy.

We meet our heroine at the beginning of the story, as Kat Moore arrives home in Las Vegas, after traveling on a dance tour, and swears to herself that she will give up traveling forever.  Just when she is ready to leave the airport and head home, she gets a call from her agent about a gig right there in Las Vegas, allowing her to make some good money and stay home.  The show is based on the popular America’s Stepping Up Dance Reality show, but this one will be at a Vegas hotel. 

Unbeknownst to Kat, as she arrives to meet the people behind this show, she sees our hero, and Kat’s ex husband, Jason Alright.  Jason is the director of the Vegas show, and also a judge on the tv show.  He still loves Kat, and he wants to win her back, and does everything in his power to ensure that she will take the job as the show’s choreographer. 

Winning Moves is above all a wonderful romance between Kat and Jason, and has you rooting hard for them to find a way to make it work this time.  There are some good side stories, such as Kat’s retired parents, who are faced with bankruptcy. There is also the Dance show shenanigans that we got used to in the first two books, with the tough dance competition, as well as the sabotage that ensues, and Kat is right in the middle of it to help resolve any issues that threaten the show. 

Kat is afraid to let herself commit to Jason again, as they both have their own careers, and each time they tried to get back together, there was always something pulling them apart.  Jason is determined to prove to Kat that this time they will make this work, and stay together.  The sexual tension between them is hot, and no matter what issues they may have had, they cannot keep their hands off of each other.  Make no mistake, their chemistry together is steaming hot. Winning Moves is a fun, enjoyable and very sexy read. 

I enjoyed this series very much.  If you want something that is fun, to relax and enjoy, with a great story and an awesome sexual couple, look no further then The Stepping Up Trilogy, as it is a perfect read.

Reviewed by Barb

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