Thursday Tales: Kristina Knight & a Giveaway

Hi! Thanks so much for coming today. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Hey, Carrie Ann and readers! I'm Kristina and I'm so happy to be hanging out with you all today! I'm a happily married Virgo who regularly cheats on her family with the characters in her head…so far the family has been forgiving.

Tell us a bit about your book.

The Saint's Devilish Deal is my second book with Crimson Romance and it's a reunion story – one of my favorite stories to write! Santiago (Saint) and Esmerelda (Esme) grew up together and fell in love, but bad things happened. He left her, she turned herself inside out…Now, they're back in Puerto Vallarta at the same time stirring up those old feelings…

Is this part of a series?

Not at this time, although I never count out linked books. Sometimes those secondary characters have a way of coming back!

What was your favorite part?

My favorite part of this book were the days Santiago blackmailed Esme into spending with him. He's a very bad boy – just the kind I like!

Why did you choose to write romance?

Because I love happy endings. Life is hard enough; sometimes we just need an escape, sometimes we need to know that good things can happen. I read a quote once that went something like 'fairy tales don't tell children dragons exist, they tell children that dragons can be defeated'. I think it's the same for romance – romance novels don't tell us happily ever after exists, they show us how to embrace the happily ever after in our own lives.

Do you ever have any conversations in your head with your characters? If so, can you give us a hint of what you might talk about?

all the time! We argue about past issues, we talk about their favorite things. It really depends on the character. I try to have the conversations when I'm alone, but I'm embarrassed to say our mailman has caught me talking to them more than once…I think he has a mental hospital on speed dial for me. lol

Rate your story in terms of steaminess

Well, they do take a hot bath together and that gets a little steamy…and the book is set in Puerto Vallarta which is always steamy. One a scale on 1-5, I'd give it a 4.

What are you reading right now?

A Game of Vows by Maisey Yates – love how she works character and conflict together!

I know this is like asking who is your favorite child, who is your favorite romance author (s)?

Nora Roberts. She does things with characters that just awe me. Plus she writes, like 500 books a year. You have to admire a woman with that kind of productivity!

What is your favorite romance book or series?

Love, love, love, love the Arcane Society series by Jayne Ann Krentz/Amanda Quick/Jayne Castle. I love how she writes one book from each mini-series as one of her pseudonyms and then connects the series through her other pen names. So much fun!!!

Who is your favorite romance character? If you could go on a date with that person, what would you do? Details please! *wink*

Ah, yaaah! Westley from The Princess Bride. He could tell me 'as you wish' once a day for the rest of our lives and I wouldn't complain. However, if he tried picnicking in the Fire Swamp, I might object…

Boxers or Briefs?

boxer briefs, please

Chocolate or Vanilla?

 chocolate, dark with a bit of sea salt

Do you have a special piece of clothing you wear when you write?

Ha! No. Although I do own a feather boa…if it wasn't so fluttery I'd totally wear that!

What is next for you?

My second Texas book is coming out in December – What a Texas Girl Needs is linked to my debut, What a Texas Girl Wants, and continues the saga of the Witte family in Texas. I'm very excited for this book – it's been such fun to write!

What were your first impressions of each other?

Santiago: That this little imp of a girl was going to ruin my summer vacation! She was seven and just wanted to follow my and my friends around the beach all the time. Esmerelda: That I was going to marry him. I always was a smart cookie.

What are your favorite parts about each other?

Santiago: I love Esme's drive, her loyalty and her body. Esmerelda: Saint is funny without trying to be, he's loyal and protective…but I think what I like best about him is that he makes me try things I wouldn't normally do. He brings me out of my shell.

What’s next for you?

Santiago: A life on the beach, of course! Esme: I'd like to see how he steams up a ski resort…I think we may head for Colorado or Wyoming and try some indoor sports…

Kristina's question for the readers: What is your favorite type of romance – reunion stories, friends-to-lovers, mistaken identity, etc.?

Giveaway: One lucky commenter will receive a copy of my debut, What a Texas Girl Wants

Book Blurb for The Saint's Devilish Deal: Esmerelda Quinn has been looking for a place to belong since her parents were killed in a car crash when she was young. The closest thing to home has always been Aunt Constance's villa in Puerto Vallarta, so after a string of dead-end hotellier jobs, she's coming home to run the villa.

Santiago Cruz has called the villa home for as long as he can remember. In between surfing events, Constance has always had a room for him. Color him surprised when Constance decides to retire - and leaves a joint interest in the villa to both Santiago and Esme.

Esme isn't thrilled to share ownership of the villa with the the youngest Cruz brother - especially when she learns Santiago's brother has been after the villa for years. But Santiago has grown up while she's been away at school and soon she finds herself falling for the rich boy down the hall.

Buy Links: Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Saints-Devilish-Deal-ebook/dp/B0096D6WFE/ref=la_B0081LO6DM_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1349205407&sr=1-2

iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-saints-devilish-deal/id559862469?mt=11

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/kristina-knight