INTOXICATED by Jeana E. Mann Excerpt, Interview & Giveaway

INTOXICATED

by Jeana E. Mann

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BLURB:

Love is intoxicating, but the hangover can be agony...

Conservative, straight-laced Ally Taylor has the perfect life – successful fiancé, beautiful home, great career – until she catches her fiancé and best friend in bed. Desperate to shake off the sting of rejection, Ally heads to Felony, a notorious heavy metal club on the bad side of town. Even more dangerous than the bar is Jack Jameson, the hunky alpha male bartender whose smoldering dark eyes and dimpled smile turns her common sense to mush and her knees to noodles. After eight long years in a failed romance, the last thing Ally wants is to hook up with someone like Jack, but she can’t help wondering if he’s really as good in bed as his reputation suggests.

Jack Jameson has had his eye on Ally for months, drawn to her smart mouth and tightly wound self-control. When Jack finds Ally sitting on a barstool in his club, heartbroken and miserable, he’s more than happy to offer a little heat between the sheets to distract her. Too bad Ally’s not interested in his “hit-it-and-quit-it” philosophy. If only Jack could convince Ally that he’s tired of the endless parade of girls through his bedroom, she might see him in a different light.

When Jack and Ally get together, everything goes wrong and it’s more than either of them bargained for. Ally’s got serious trust issues and a need for control that makes Jack crazy. Jack’s got more baggage than an airline carousel; the constant stream of women from his past stirs up all of Ally’s insecurities. Can Ally overlook Jack’s womanizing past and learn to trust him? Will Jack be able to commit to just one woman or will a secret from his past ruin everything?

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Excerpt 

Miss Ponytail had taken up residence in Jack’s Seat of Shame. The girl had one hand on Jack’s arm, rubbing the swell of his tattooed bicep with a sly smile on her crimson red lips. Upon seeing Ally, Jack deserted the new girl, grabbed two shot glasses and a bottle of Jack Daniels from behind the bar, and took up the empty barstool next to her.

“That’s some crazy sh*t, them showing up here like that,” he said as he filled both glasses and pushed one towards her. “I admire your control. I probably would’ve punched one of them in the mouth.”

For the millionth time that day, she withered with embarrassment. She decided to pretend indifference to cover her shame. “I don’t have any idea what you’re talking about.”

“That. Over there.” He jerked his head in the direction of the happy couple. “They’re having a bit of a disagreement over whether to leave or stay. Seems your presence has shaken them up a little. Wanna know what they said?”

The question gave birth to a dozen more emotions that she didn’t want to face. A flush crept up her neck and into her face. The heat of it burned her cheeks. “Didn’t your mother ever tell you that eavesdropping is impolite?”

“She did,” he admitted with a flash of dimples, “but I learn the most interesting things that way.”

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Jeana Mann is the author of sizzling hot contemporary romance. Her debut release Intoxicated was a First Place Winner of the 2013 Cleveland Rocks Romance Contest and a finalist for the 2014 Carolyn Readers Choice Award. 

Jeana was born and raised in Indiana where she lives today with her two crazy rat terriers Mildred and Mabel. She graduated from Indiana University with a degree in Speech and Hearing, something totally unrelated to writing. When she’s not busy dreaming up steamy romance novels, she loves to travel anywhere and everywhere. Over the years she climbed the ruins of Chichen Iza in Mexico, snorkeled along the shores of Hawaii, sailed around Jamaica, ate gelato on the steps of the Pantheon in Rome, and explored the ancient city of Pompeii. More important than the places she’s been are the people she has met along the way.

Be sure to connect with Jeana on Facebook or follow along on Twitter for the latest news regarding her upcoming releases.

Interview:

Where are you from?

I was born and raised in Indiana. I still live there in a tiny town without any stoplights, a view of cows and cornfields from both my front and back porches, and the smell of fresh cut hay on any given day.

Tell us your latest news?

I have two releases planned for this year - a novella (prequel) Unexpected and second book of the Felony Romance Series coming out later this year.  Look for a cover reveal of Unexpected sometime soon.

When and why did you begin writing?

I started writing as soon as I picked up a pencil. I used to write stories for the elementary school librarian. She always encouraged me (even though the stories had to be terrible). I still think about her often and wish she was around to know how much she inspired me. Anyway, I’ve been writing non-stop ever since. My closets are filled with notebooks of stories that will never see the light of day, but I will never stop. It’s not just something that I do, it’s something that I have to do – like

breathing.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

Not until I joined RWA. My writing had always been a secret before that first chapter meeting. I was surprised and overjoyed to learn that others shared my passion. At that first meeting that someone informed me that if I had put pen to paper I was already a writer.

What inspired you to write your first book?

My first published novel is Intoxicated, and it’s about the people who live and work in the bar/nightclub scene. I had been kicking around the concept for several years and finally made a commitment to publish it in 2014 after many, many rewrites and a few contest entries. I’ve been to quite a few bars and colorful places during my life. I wanted to bring a little of that flavor to other readers.

I’m an avid reader and I love the new adult genre. However, so many of those books have fantastic characters (billionaires, rock stars, etc). Even though I love those books, sometimes I want to read about average, everyday people going through issues that affect us all in a normal day. That is my goal with the Felony Romance series – to write believable characters with problems to which everyone can relate.

What would you like my readers to know?

I am often asked by others what it takes to become an author, and my answer is simple. This applies to any dream you might have. Just go for it. Don’t think about failing. Write your story to please yourself and take the steps to get it out to the public, whether it is through an agent, an editor, or self-publishing. Find a group of like-minded people who can help you succeed and support your efforts. And don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t. The only thing stopping you is you.

Links:

Website:  http://JeanaEMann.net

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/JeanaEMann

Twitter:   https://twitter.com/JeanaEMann / @JeanaEMann

Amazon author page:  http://www.amazon.com/Jeana-E.-Mann

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21955033-intoxicated

Intoxicated available on:

            Amazon:   http://amzn.to/1d8XTAJ

            Barnes & Noble:  http://bit.ly/1lQ6Ulf

            All Romance eBooks:  http://bit.ly/O3EGYM

            Google Play:  http://bit.ly/OIBgei

            iTunes:  http://bit.ly/1gcECRo

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