Jude’s Sweet Fire by Jessica McBrayer: Author & Character Interviews

Book Title: Jude’s Sweet Fire
Author: Jessica McBrayer
Publisher: Mess of Geckos
Publication Date: June 19
Series Title: Savannah Heat Hockey Romance Book 1
Genre: Contemporary Romance/Sports Romance

A sweet and sexy NHL captain.

A strong southern woman who unknowingly steals his heart.

A ruthless stalker who’ll stop at nothing to prevent their Happily Ever After.

When Jude Christensen, the Captain of the Savannah Heat hockey team, sets out on his morning run, he has no way of knowing that this particular run will change his life forever. Rescuing a tattered kitten from a feral dog leads him to meet Dr. Megan James, the captivating veterinarian who treats the cat, and catches his eye.

Megan wonders about the man who doesn't hesitate to pay for the treatment of a kitten that wasn’t even his own and as fate continues to throw them together, Jude and Megan explore their mutual attraction.

But when Megan becomes the target of a stalker who doesn’t like the attention she is getting from the handsome Captain, things take a sinister turn. The stalker will stop at nothing to keep Jude away from “his” Megan. As the danger increases, Megan refuses to be intimidated, and Jude must find a way to save her life as he earns her heart.

Jude's Sweet Fire is the suspenseful first installment in the Savannah Heat Sports Romance Series and includes a BONUS free novella download!

Available at:

Amazon

Excerpt

Knock, knock, knock!

I woke up on Saturday to a pounding on my door and a minor hangover. I glanced at my clock and saw it was already eleven in the morning. I grabbed my robe and crutches and hobbled to the front door.

Knock, knock, knock!

“I’m coming!”

Geesh. Impatient much. I opened the door to a huge bouquet of red roses and suddenly felt a wave of nausea roil through my stomach.

“I have a delivery for a Miss Megan James.”

I didn’t want them.

I knew who they were from. Oh, God. Why? Why now?

“That’s me,” I whispered. He handed the flowers to me. I set them down on the table by the door. “Thanks.”

The guy left, I shut and locked the door. I felt cold, though it must have been ninety degrees outside.

My shaking hand reached for the card.

My Dearest Megan,

I hope you like the roses. Your favorite. Have you forgotten about me? I haven’t forgotten about you. I’ve been watching you. I’m pleased you haven’t replaced me. You still need to lose that weight. I don’t like the short hair either. Let it grow out.

I’m concerned about the hockey player. I saw him kissing you, yesterday. You. Are. Mine. When will you get that through your head? You will always belong to me. No matter where you go or what you do, I’ll be there.

Yours eternally,

Charles ~

I felt the blood drain from my face and dropped the card. I covered my mouth and barely made it to the bathroom in time to throw up, over and over again. He’s been watching me. Oh my God. My stomach dry heaved at the thought.

I had to call off the date with Jude. I couldn’t drag him into this mess.

Author Bio

Jessica McBrayer lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family. She enjoys reading voraciously as well as writing and is often daydreaming about her next book. A die-hard San Jose Sharks fan, you can find her during hockey season wearing her favorite player's name on the back of her jersey and yelling at the TV. She never wants to find out what the world would be like without hockey in it.

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Interview 

Please welcome Jude’s Sweet Fire author Jessica McBrayer to Diane’s Book Blog. 

How long did it take to write Jude’s Sweet Fire?

This book flew out of me. I wrote in less than a month which is not my usual. I was averaging 7,000 words a day.

If you could be best friends with one of your characters, who would it be?

Rachel. I know she’s not a main character but something about her really resonates with me. She’s just the right amount of damaged but fiercely independent and loyal at the same time. Rachel shows her fighting spirit every time she touches one of the animals at the clinic. She uses tenderness and care but is not afraid to do what’s best for them to get them healed, even if it may cause them a little pain. She’s the same way with her friends. She tells it like it is instead of tip-toeing around their feelings, knowing that they need to know the truth if they’re going to grow. Rachel is funny, beautiful, and smart.

What inspired you to write the first book?

My husband has always been a Chicago Blackhawks hockey fan and has tried to get me interested since we were dating. It took reading my first hockey romance to get me instantly hooked. I soaked up everything I could from him and became a huge addict right after that. Now I never miss a game of my favorite team, which is not the Blackhawks.

Who or what inspired you to be a writer?

I know this is a cliché, but it was a teacher. She started me on poetry, and I won some awards which built my self-esteem. Eventually, I went on to short stories. My daughter passed away eight years ago, and it was very traumatic. But I took away something from the experience: Life is short. Follow your dreams. Bills will still be there, the hum-drum of work will still be there, but our dreams are fleeting. Her illness helped me to realize I wanted to write my first book and I dove into it. I published my first novel just days before she passed. In a way, writing has been really good therapy for me. I based one of my characters off of my daughter and each time I wrote about her it made me feel like she was getting her opportunity to live again and fulfill some of her dreams.

What’s your favorite book-turned movie?

Hands down, Stephen King’s the Stand. The adaptation was so close to the book, it was refreshing. So many times, the movie is so far removed from what the author wrote it’s a huge disappointment. Stephen King is known for being heavily involved in his film and mini-series adaptations and it shows. I’m looking forward to seeing some new projects of Neil Gaiman’s for the same reason.  I’m a huge King fan. I think I read my first King book in fourth grade and it’s been a love affair ever since.

What is your typical day like?

I work from home now, so it’s pretty laid back. I get up around five-thirty and have a cup of coffee with my husband with some breakfast. We go over what we want to do for the day and then I send him and my son off for the long commute to school. I eventually wander into my office and work on my latest manuscript for a few hours, writing or editing. Take a break and then work with my mom and business/writing partner on our publishing company before heading back to my manuscript. I go to bed fairly early unless there is a hockey game on, then all bets are off.

Can you share a little of your current work with us?

I would love to! I’m working on writing the fifth book in my hockey series which has yet to be named. That book will tell the story of Marcel “Frenchie” Hugo, who is basically a disgraced and troubled teammate paying his dues for his bad recent bad boy behavior. It will be a bit different from the other stories in this series. My characters will be doing a lot of soul searching and healing. I feel compelled to write this story because Marcel needs a chance to explain a lot of the mistakes we see him make throughout the series and to fix things in his life.

What book are you reading now?

I’m reading The Mister by E. L. James and two other lighter shifter romance books. I just got done with the Alpha Vampire. I tend to gravitate towards lighter books if I’m reading something heavy so I can take a break if I want, although the Alpha Vampire was dealing with some pretty hardcore stuff. Not my regular fare but it’s always nice to mix things up. I read exclusively fiction and not literary fiction. I want something light that I can escape into when I read. I used to read a lot of mysteries but have moved away from that too.

What do you prefer, paperback, hardcover, or ebooks?

Ebooks without a doubt. I have almost 4,000 books on my Kindle. Before ebooks it was hardcovers.

What is your favorite thing about sports romances?

I love that the heroes or heroines have this demanding physical aspect to their lives. After a while the billionaire, assistant fake marriage, secret baby romances get repetitive. (this doesn’t mean I’m not still a sucker for them) I definitely love the more physical, have to have your head in the game and make instant, independent decisions kind of sports. So, when it comes to sports romances I tend to read only MMA fighting books and Hockey.

Who is your favorite real life hockey team?

I am an absolutely huge, diehard fan of the San Jose Sharks. Particularly, Timo Meier, Joe Pavelski, Logan Couture and of course Jumbo Joe. Kevin Labanc has been sneaking up on my radar too, lately and who could pass up the smiling Tomas Hertl or the bearded Brent Burns? Martin Jones is just the sweetest goalie. I guess there isn’t a player on that team I don’t like 😊.

Character Interview  

Please welcome Dr. Megan James from Jessica McBrayer’s Jude’s Sweet Fire to Diane’s Book Blog.

(Pre-meeting the hero)

Profile:

What is your full name? Do you have a nickname?

My full name is Megan Elizabeth James and unfortunately, my dad calls me Sweet Fire.

What is your hair color? Eye color?

I have vanilla blonde hair and hazel eyes.

How old are you?

I’m twenty-seven.

Interview:

Where were you born? Where have you lived since then? Where do you currently call home?

I was born in Atlanta, Georgia. I lived in Athens, Georgia during college. My home and veterinary practice are in Savannah, Georgia now and I love it here.

What is in your refrigerator right now? On your bedroom floor? On your nightstand? In your garbage can?

My refrigerator has takeout containers and wine bottles in it right now. Lately, I’ve been too busy to cook although I love doing it. My scrubs are currently on my bedroom floor. I wouldn’t call myself a slob, but I’m edging towards that. My nightstand has a picture of me, my dad and my mom when I was a little girl. There’s also a charging station for my phone and a lamp. I mostly have my recycling can full at the moment. It’s filled with wine bottles, chocolate wrappers and takeout containers. I need to clean out my fridge. 

Who are the people you are closest to?

Easily my dad, who is the kindest, most caring father a girl could ask for. He always drops everything if I need him and is very protective without being smothering. He’s always supported me and helped me become an independent woman. My two besties, Rachel and Julie, are so much fun. They are smart, beautiful, funny women who religiously get together with me on Friday nights for wine, chocolate, good food and gossip. Who could ask for more?

Which living person do you most despise?

My ex-boyfriend, Charles.

What is your greatest regret?

I should have left my ex when he started being physically and verbally abusive. I wish I’d seen what was happening sooner. It started with little incidents followed by gifts and attention. I realize now that this can happen to any woman and that I did not have the experience of a serious relationship or the self-esteem to get out sooner.

What is the quality you most like in a man/woman?

In a man, I would have to say honesty. I value that in women, but I also love loyalty and trustworthiness. I guess that goes for both sexes. And humor. You have to laugh on a regular basis. Life is too short.

What do you most love about hockey?

I’ve never seen a hockey game and I know nothing about it. I think Savannah has a team now but I’m not sure.