I Do by AJ Pine If Only #3 Publication Date: November 16, 2015 Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
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Synopsis: A new adult romance from Entangled's Embrace imprint...
Sometimes you have to trust your heart to find out what home really means.
Duncan McAllister is marrying Elaina Tripoli tomorrow. Except--he's missing. Jordan, Noah, Griffin, Maggie, and Miles arrive in Greece for the festivities to find frantic messages from both the bride and groom. Noah and Griffin set off to find Duncan while Jordan, Maggie, and Miles try to salvage what should be a day of celebration before the wedding.
But the Americans have their own baggage. Noah's got a surprise planned for Jordan that has to go perfectly. Griffin's keeping life-changing news from Maggie. And Miles--well, he wasn't looking for love on this trip until a Greek sous chef named Alex rocks his world.
The race is on for Duncan to make it back to Elaina before she decides not to take him back at all. For Noah to make sure his monumental plan goes off without a hitch. For Griffin to tell Maggie the truth without losing her. For Miles to admit that letting himself fall in love is worth the risk.
Happily Ever After waits at the finish line…if the four couples can make it on time.
Other Books in the If Only series...
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Synopsis: Sometimes it takes crossing an ocean to figure out where you belong.
It's been two years since twenty-year-old Jordan had a boyfriend—which means it's been forever since she, well, you know. But now she’s off to spend her junior year in Aberdeen, Scotland, the perfect place to stop waiting for Mr. Right and just enjoy Mr. Right Now.
Sexy, sweet (and possible player) Griffin may be her perfect, no-strings-attached match. He’s fun, gorgeous, and makes her laugh. So why can’t she stop thinking about Noah who, minutes after being trapped together outside the train’s loo, kisses Jordan like she’s never been kissed before? Never mind his impossible blue eyes, his weathered, annotated copy of The Great Gatsby (total English-major porn)…oh, and his girlfriend.
Jordan knows everything this year has an expiration date. Aberdeen is supposed to be about fun rather than waiting for life to happen. But E. M. Forster, Shakespeare, and mistletoe on Valentine’s Day make her reconsider what love is and how far she’s willing to go for the right guy.
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Synopsis: Sometimes it takes letting go of the past to find out who you want to be.
During his semester abroad, Griffin Reed almost gave his heart to a girl who loved someone else. Lesson learned. Now he’s home, where following in his father’s footsteps may not be what he wants, but it’s what his parents expect. It might be taking the easy road, but he doesn’t see a way out.
Something that could have killed Maggie Kendall took away the person she used to be instead. Her condition makes her dependent on sticky notes, photos, and medication just to get through each day. The last thing she needs is a distraction—or someone new to disappoint.
What they refuse to see is they are perfect for each other. Maggie makes Griffin want to be a better man, and he makes her believe a future is possible. But these two have to find a way to share the secrets ripping them apart, if they’re ever going to have a chance at happiness.
ABOUT AJ PINE
1.
When did you first
realize you wanted to be a writer?
I think it was always sort of there, lingering in the
background. I’m a huge reader, and every time a story gave me a book hangover,
I always thought, “Wow, I wish I could do that.” But it wasn’t until 2011 that
I finally sat down at the laptop and tried.
2.
How long does it take
you to write a book?
Haha. Depends on my deadline. But really, the drafting stage is
my favorite, and I can do that fairly quickly, in six to eight weeks. But then
there are multiple rounds of edits after that, on my own and with my editor.
The drafting happens quickly. The making pretty takes time.
3.
What is your work
schedule like when you're writing?
I have a day job as a high school librarian, so this is tough.
It starts with plotting out my novel with a 2-4 page synopsis. Then I either
write early in the morning or late at night, but the main rule is that I write
every day and try to hit my target word count (I make a calendar so I know
where I should be each day). And if I don’t hit word count (like I didn’t
yesterday…oops), I recalculate the calendar.
4.
What would you say is
your interesting writing quirk?
If I’m writing at home, it has to be quiet. Every little thing
distracts me when I’m in my own environment. That means not even having music
playing. But if I’m at Starbucks (my office away from home), I’m totally good
with the ambient noise. Even the music. In fact, I actually like it. I guess
that means when writing becomes the full-time job, I probably won’t be making a
home office.
5.
How do books get
published?
I can only speak from my experience, which is part traditional,
part non-traditional. I got my first contract with Entangled via a blog contest
where I had to pitch my novel in three sentences to (the person who is now) my
editor. I won the chance to send her my full manuscript. And from there I won a
two book contract. At the time all of this was happening, I was querying agents
with another manuscript. That manuscript
connected me with my agent who then submitted that particular book to publisher
and eventually sold it to Berkley/Intermix.
6.
Where do you get your
information or ideas for your books?
Everywhere! For real, everything I experience from my day-to-day
interactions to books I read or movies I watch—it all sparks some sort of plot
bunny. I’m writing one series right now yet have a whole other one mapped on in
notes because when an idea strikes, I don’t want to forget it.
7.
When did you write your
first book and how old were you?
I wrote my first book only four years ago. It was a YA dystopian
story. Only a handful of friends and my then 4th period English
class (I used to be an English teacher) have read it. But you never know. It
may make a resurgence someday.
8.
What do you like to do
when you're not writing?
READ! Audio books are my savior because I have so little time to
sit down with a book or my Kindle. Also, I have two amazing kids who think my
laptop is another appendage, so when I can take a day or night off, my first
priority is to do something fun with them. I’m lucky they’re so patient with me
and that they think it’s pretty cool that their mom writes books. The only
problem is that my 10 year old daughter keeps asking when she can read them. Yikes.
9.
What does your family
think of your writing? Answer is above.
10.
What was one of the most
surprising things you learned in creating your books?
I’m a reader. I’ve always known the power of fictional
characters, of wishing they were real and missing them when a book is done. But
I didn’t realize I’d feel this way about the characters I made up as well. I Do is the final book in my If Only series, and it’s so bittersweet
to be done. I think I gave all my characters the happily ever afters they
deserve, but I will really miss them. This series, especially I Do, was so much fun to write, and I
will really miss hanging out with this group.
11.
How many books have you
written? Which is your favorite?
I’ve written eight books and one novella. As of I Do’s release, five will be published.
One will stay hidden on my laptop—maybe until the end of time. The novella
releases in February. And my new adult contemporary series launches in April. I
don’t know if I can call any particular book my favorite, but I will say of the
If Only series, Griffin and Maggie
were my favorite couple to write, which is funny because when I introduced
Griffin’s character in book one, he wasn’t supposed to be so likeable. I had
one idea for him, but once I started writing him I knew he was going to need
his own book and the girl who could challenge him—and that was Maggie.
12.
Do you have any
suggestions to help me become a better writer? If so, what are they?
Honestly, I’m not an expert. I’m still learning every day. Chuck
Wendig did a great post on this recently HERE.
He says it much better and funnier, but I agree. To be a writer at all, you
have to do the thing. Write. Every day if you can. And then finish what you
start. Even if that first book never gets published (*waves* Hi! I’ve got a
lovely dystopia book 1 in a series for you!), it is a learning experience to do
it. To write it. To say, “Look. I made all these letters into words and words
into a story and omg I wrote a book!” I think every book I write benefits the
next book because I’m always learning something new about the craft, about
myself, about what works best for the stories I want to make. I have a couple
friends who, on more than one occasion, have said they wish they could write a
book. And I always say the same thing. “You can’t write the book unless you
write the book.”
13.
Do you hear from your
readers much? What kinds of things do they say?
Yes I do! I interact with readers daily in a reading group I
share with fellow authors Lia Riley, Jennifer Blackwood, and Chanel Cleeton.
It’s called Our So-Called Group, and you can join us HERE.
I also love when readers tweet me after having read and loved a book. But the
best is when I get individual emails or messages from readers telling me how a
book touched them. That happened quite a bit with What If, Griffin and Maggie’s story. In that book Maggie survived a
big health scare, and I was really nervous about getting her experience right,
and it was really great to hear from several readers who had been affected by
the situation in real life that I had done right by my character.
14.
Do you like to create
books for adults?
YES! I Do is my final
New Adult novel for the time being. I have an NA novella that is part of an
anthology of stories taking place in the 80’s releasing in February, but after
that my next series is Adult Contemporary Romance. The first book, The One That Got Away, releases in
April. All books take place in Chicago and center around a brewery that is
owned by the hero in book one. Think Central Perk in Friends, but it’s beer instead of coffee. Keep an eye out for my
Kingston Ale House series!
15.
What do you think makes
a good story?
Well, I write romance for a reason. I love love stories. So for
my taste, whether I’m reading YA, NA, or Adult, I want a love story. I want
characters who are flawed because they need room to grow, and I need someone to
root for. And not that I don’t read books without a happily ever after (I enjoy
a good ugly cry every now and then), HEAs are my favorite.
16.
As a child, what did you
want to do when you grew up?
Sooo many things! But I think the one dream I’m still working on
is being a singer in a band or in a Broadway musical. I think I might have
better luck writing these goals into a book than actually seeing them come true
in real life. But you never know…
17.
What Would you like my
readers to know?
While I Do is the
third in a series, it works as a stand alone. Most of the characters are
introduced in the first two books, but their back stories are weaved into I Do so you know where they’re all
coming from. If you’re looking for a whirlwind weekend in Greece with four
romances, a wedding, and an engagement, I think you’ll enjoy I Do. Remember—I love a good HEA. You
just might find four in I Do.
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