Love and Lust: 'BAMF' and 'Filthy Acquisitions'

BAMF by SJD Peterson

What it's about (courtesy Dreamspinner Press):

With his fauxhawk, sleeve tattoos, and visible piercings, Ridley Corbin has the whole bad-boy vibe going on in spades. The image serves him well as the self-proclaimed protector of the underdog, and he wants nothing more than to be Alex Firestone's hero.

Alex, a mild-mannered library assistant, has moved to Slater, a quiet college town, hoping to hide from his past. He keeps to himself, but that doesn't save him from catching the unwanted attention of the campus bully. But not all is as it seems. Alex's past comes calling, and it's time he becomes top dog.

Why you should read it: What does BAMF stand for? Google it. Now, the next question is who is the BAMF in this story? We start out knowing Ridley is an inked bully fighter who knows he is as BAMF as they come. Until he meets Alex, the persecuted library assistant. When Ridley jumps into the uneven five-against-one fight to save Alex, some truths and some mysteries come to light, as well as who is the real BAMF here.

When Ridley finds out about Alex's past, it leads him in a direction he had no intention of going but has no choice but to follow. Who is trying to kill Alex and why? And why are they now after Ridley? Is Alex a good buy or a bad guy? We are taken on quite a ride to find out what caused Alex to get caught in this ongoing situation and how in the world is he going to get himself and Ridley out of it?

There is some smokin'-hot sex going on between Ridley and Alex that leads to a relationship that both would like to see go long term but know it can't.

One of the things I love about the ending is there is an HEA for a number of people, including some secondary characters who until then have only appeared off page. I cried big ol' salty tears at one touching reunion.­­­­­­­­ I started this book when I went to bed one evening, intending to read until I got sleepy and mark my page for the next time I picked up my Kindle. Ha! At 5:15 the next morning, having never put it down all night, I finished the book. This is one book you REALLY can't put down! What a thrilling story.

INTERVIEW WITH SJD PETERSON

It is always such a pleasure to talk to authors about their books and writing. Join me as we catch up with Ms. Peterson:

Becky: I'm going to tread lightly here in talking about the book because I don't want to give away any spoilers. You cast against type with your tattooed and pierced protector of the bullied and your nerd who can definitely take care of himself. Did these characters come to you fully developed or did they tell you who they were as you worked out the plot?

SJD: I had been wanting to write a stand-alone contemporary romance about a bad boy but I had/have an insane "to-be-written list" and I had no plans to write it when I did. Ridley came to me and just weaseled his way to the top of the list and dragged along Alex with him. Ridley was a fully developed character, but I had no clue who Alex was. He is Ridley's idea of the perfect man and I learned about him over time as I worked on the plot.

Becky: How did you research the locations in your story? Did you visit them or use the Internet?

SJD: When I was younger I put myself through nursing school working as a commercial fisherman. I actually lived in Hackberry, Louisiana, for over a year. I loved it there but the smell? Yeah, I agree with Alex, it's godawful! While Slader University is a fictional place, the experiences of visiting the Upper peninsula of Michigan are mine.

Becky: Do you do anything while writing that others might find unusual?

SJD: Hmm, unusual, huh? I think if you were to ask most people who know me they'd say I'm pretty unusual in everything I do, so I'm sure the answer to this has to be yes. Only thing I can think of, though, is that I write 90% of the time not to music in the background but with ID Television playing. It's usually on in my house 24/7.

Becky: I would love to read more about Ridley and Alex, as well as some of the secondary characters in this book. Any plans for a sequel or series?

SJD: Not at this time, since I really do have to finish up the books which already have deadlines assigned. However, I never say never. I did that once when asked about Mac & Gunny from Beyond Duty and had to eat those words as their next story comes out early in 2015. ; )

Becky: Do you have a website where readers can learn more about you and your works in progress?

SJD: Sure do! Thanks for asking. I try to keep my blog up regularly but sometimes life or writing gets in the way. But anyone interested can keep up with what's going in in my world at sjdpeterson.blogspot.com.

Filthy Acquisitions by Edmond Manning

What it's about (courtesy Wilde City Press):

Keldon Thurman hates his job, purchasing serial killer art for a private investor. He would quit if he weren't completely impoverished, but with no life skills and no ways to generate income, Keldon has no options.

However, Acquisition Number Five proves to be more challenging than expected. Irene Woullet, who's in a wheelchair, and her handsome nurse caretaker, Joshua Greene, refuse to cooperate. Keldon's only chance is to seduce the old-fashioned, simple-living Josh in the hopes that Joshua can persuade Irene. But Keldon has to work fast—he has only two dates to win Josh's affection.

With love's potential in bloom, how can Keldon live with his own worsening conscience as he gathers these filthy acquisitions?

Why you should read it: This is a book that touched me deeply. Edmond Manning has a way of doing that in his writing, and this isn't the first time (King Perry gave me a nickname that I treasure, Queen Becky the Birthday Giver. You'll have to read that one to find out what kind of king or queen you are.)

Keldon doesn't hate his job at first. It's only after Josh makes him really examine why he's doing it that he realizes how much he hates himself, not just the job. But he needs the money and the huge bonus that will come when he completes the task of curating the collection.

Josh and Keldon are falling in love, but when the truth of what is behind Keldon's job comes to light their budding relationship is threatened. Can they both overcome what Keldon is doing? This is definitely a character-driven book and you will find yourself examining character motives like you've never done before. The secondary characters are just as important as the main characters and play critical roles in the story. In fact, it's hard to think of anyone as "secondary" in this book.

Be prepared to love, hate, be touched, and cry, but by the end you will find great satisfaction in this book. And be prepared to ask yourself, what is the greatest evil and what is the greatest good?

INTERVIEW WITH EDMOND MANNING

Edmond Manning is one of the funniest people I've ever met, yet his books can be very philosophical and serious. Therefore, it is a treat to have the opportunity to chat with him about books and writing.

Becky: Your books are so deeply introspective for your characters. Is this part of your character development or are you looking for something else?

Edmond: My favorite part of The Grinch Who Stole Christmas (original cartoon, not Jim Carrey nightmare) was when the Grinch's heart grew three sizes. There he was, sliding headfirst through slush, losing, failing in life after deciding he wanted to be a better Grinch … and boom. His heart explodes with more love than he knew he had in him.

I love that moment. I think a lot of people do.

I try to write about that moment where characters' hearts burst with greater love. I try to write about the factors that go into the moment, the previous hurts, the self-interpretations of those hurts. My characters tend to be introspective because that's the only way I can see into their hearts. I want to be there when it grows three sizes too big. So we can feel sad and sing the hopeful Whoville song together.

But I liked the second half of your question regarding, "looking for something else." I think the characters aren't done discovering parts of themselves. There's always something to learn about yourself. So, yeah, they're looking for something else. As character and author, perhaps we'll find that "something else" together.

Becky: I loved Josh and Keldon so much. Is there some of you in either of them?

Edmond: Oh, I think so. I would love to live more like Josh — farming, creating new ways of living closer to the earth. I love farmers' markets and the mini-relationships with vendors I know and trust. Josh is the man I wish to grow into. Keldon … well, I can relate to Keldon as well. When I was younger, I worried about money more than I do now. Where will it come from? What if I lose my job … how long before I have to sell my things? A few nights in my 20s, I lay awake thinking about how hard it is to live in the world and make a decent living without completely whoring yourself out to cash.

I think an author has to put a little bit of themselves in each character for their lives to ring with authenticity. Neither character reflects who I am today. But if they didn't express a part of me, how could I recognize (and write about) their pains and their big dreams?

Becky: Money is so important in this story. Would there have been a way to tell a story about serious evil without money being part of it or is money truly the root of all evil?

Edmond: I'm not sure money is evil. I think our relationship to money can get very unhealthy and we blame money rather than look at ourselves and how we fostered that unhealthy relationship. It's like me blaming Cheetos for my being chunky. C'mon.

I didn't want to write a book about serial killers, the worst evil I can imagine. I wanted to write about the lives touched by that evil, directly, indirectly, and even someone like Keldon who has no connection to this serial killer … until he accepts the job acquiring the dead killer's art. Most of us can't relate to a serial killer except through television or movies. But we can relate to money … its grubbiness, the freedom it brings, the worry over it. I think money had to be part of this story so readers could relate to that dark side. What would you do for money? Where is your line in the sand where you say, "No more"?

Becky: Do you consider the ending of this story an HEA or an HFN? How much of a romantic are you?

Edmond: Hmmmmmm … I guess I'd say a HFN. I certainly think readers could interpret this as a HEA. But I have another story or two to tell about Keldon and Joshua. After all, Keldon has only collected six of the 15 required "filthy acquisitions." What about the remaining eight? I look forward to telling more of their unfolding story together.

Am I a romantic? Oh yes. Definitely. However, I think love is harder than people give credit. To love fully, I believe we make sacrifices and allow ourselves to be changed by love. It's more than looking at each other across the room and deciding he's "the one." The dance is more beautiful and complex. So I make my characters work for their love. Does that make me a romantic or a sadist? I'm not sure.

Becky: Which is harder to write, the beginning of a story or the ending, and why?

Edmond: The beginning. No, wait. Let me think this over.

See, I cheat. I often write the endings first. And then I write … all over the place. I write four paragraphs of the beginning, then write the final two paragraphs. I'll write pivotal scenes in the first third of the book, last two-thirds, and then revise the beginning, adding a few pages. Actually, I think the hardest part for me to write is the middle! I write backwards and forwards until there I am, staring at that middle chapter where lives change.

I write in such a chaotic way because I need a clear picture of where the characters end before I can anticipate where they begin. In the first draft of Filthy Acquisitions, Keldon was more cynical. It didn't fit who he was at the end of the book, hopeful and trusting. I reread the cynical beginning and thought, "This isn't quite Keldon. This isn't the right man." So, I write backward and forward as I get to know the characters.

Becky: Do you have a website where readers can find out more about you and your works in progress?

Edmond: Please visit me at www.edmondmanning.com. I love writing non-fiction stories about the lunacy in my personal life as well as giving teasers about upcoming works. I'm in the finishing stages of my third book in The Lost and Founds series, a series of "urban fairy tales." The latest book takes place in New York City and is titled The Butterfly King. Should come out in late August or early September. It's quite a wild ride.

Becky Condit is a widow, mother of three and grandmother of 10 who reads all kinds of books, but her go-to comfort books are erotic romances. A romance novel coupled with just-out-of-the-oven chocolate-chip cookies and a glass of cold milk is her idea of heaven. She reads and reviews more than 250 books a year, so you won't often find her without her Kindle in hand, but when you do, she'll probably be gardening, doing needle crafts, working in her upholstery workshop and spending time with her family.