Blog Tour Stop including Author Q&A, Review & Giveaway - Spice by Lilah Suzanne ~ BFD Book Blog

Book Name: Spice

Release Date: April 2, 2015

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23665480-spice

Author Name: Lilah Suzanne

Author Bio: Lilah Suzanne has been writing actively since the sixth grade, when a literary magazine published her essay about an uncle who lost his life to AIDS. A freelance writer, she also authored a children’s book and has a devoted following in the online fan community.

Q: I’m an IT professional and I love stories with IT geeks as main characters! How did you get the idea for this story and the characters?

A: I wanted to write a romantic comedy, because I love them and don’t see a lot of them in the romance genre. The idea of an IT geek as the love interest came after creating my rom-com lead, Simon, a columnist who gives other people advice but has built his own messed up love life around this ideal man that never really existed. Benji is the guy Simon wouldn’t have imagined for himself, he doesn’t look or act like the picture in Simon’s head, and yet Simon is immediately drawn to him because he’s genuine and unassuming and sweetly endearing.

Q: I have a purebred pit bull and a pit bull mix. I love when pits are included in stories! Do you have a pit or any other dog?

A: I love pits, too! Walt is my fantasy dog: a big happy lovable goof. But what I do have instead is a small, neurotic chihuahua mix. His name is Tank, he weighs thirteen pounds and is my fierce, loyal protector. Maybe someday I’ll get my pit bull, when I have a big yard and Tank settles down a little. (That could happen still, right?)

Q: Have you considered turning into a story the essay of the uncle with AIDS published in the magazine?

A: You know, it is a story I’ve thought about telling, or a similar one, but it still hits pretty close to home for me. I’d also like to find a way to tell it with humor and warmth instead of just angst and misery. If I can figure out how to make it less personal and more hopeful, I could see myself writing something, yes.

Q: Your bio lists you as a children’s author. Do you prefer writing those books or adult books? Which is harder to write? What is your favorite children’s book you’ve written?

A: I honestly think children’s books are harder to write. It’s tough to get the balance of a story that’s smart and will hold a child’s attention, but not be so complex that the story and language strays out of the reading level you’re aiming for. I may go back to it someday, I’ve left that door open, but for now I’m really enjoying the genre I’m in.

Q: What is y our favorite place to write? What time of day are you most productive with your writing?

I tend to work in the late morning through the afternoon, and most of my writing happens whenever and wherever I can get to it, so I’m not sure I’ve found my favorite place yet! I frequently dream of having a quiet office of my own where I never get interrupted. Another fantasy I guess!

Where to find the author:

www.lilahsuzanne.com

Facebook: Lilah Suzanne

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/lilahsuzanne

Twitter: @lilahsuzanne

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lilahsuzanne/

Publisher: Interlude Press

Cover Artist: Cover Art by Gladys Garcia; Book Design by BuckeyeGrrl Designs

Blurb:

As writer of the popular “Ask Eros” advice column, Simon Beck has an answer to every relationship question his readers can throw at him. When it comes to his own life, the answers are a little more elusive—until computer troubles introduce him to the newest and cutest member of his company’s IT support team. Simon may be charmed by Benji’s sweet and unassuming manner, but will he find the answer to the one relationship question he has never been able to solve: how to know when he’s met Mr. Right?

Categories: Contemporary, Fiction, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance, Rom-Com

Excerpt:

“How about you? Did you always want to be a writer?”

“Yeah. I think I did.” He finally gives up on work completely and closes the laptop. “I mean. I guess what I write about is kind of pointless, but I wanted to be a poet once upon a time, so I guess it could be even more pointless,” he jokes.

Benji’s eyebrows knot. “It’s not. Why would it be pointless?”

Simon gives a humorless laugh. “I mean, I write a sex column for women. Not exactly moving prose or hard-hitting journalism.”

Benji scoots over little on the desk, sitting with his legs so close to where Simon is sitting low in his chair that he can smell Benji’s crisp laundry detergent and citrusy soap. He suddenly has to fight the urge to move a fraction to the left, press his nose to the inside seam of Benji’s jeans and breathe him in.

“You listen to people. You remind them that they’re valuable and worthy of love and respect. How is that not important?” Simon is struck speechless, chest tight and breath caught. Then Benji claps him on the shoulder and hops off the desk. “Come on. Let’s go have lunch.”

Pages or Words: 228 Pages

Christina’s Review:

Spice by Lilah Suzanne

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

this is a super cute read although a bit long at times. the angst was low and the sex was hot (as you can imagine from a sex advice column writer)! this story is extremely unique which made it even better! the character development for these 2 was good and i loved their banter! the chemistry between simon and benji is hot and sweet at the same time. their love for each other is heartwarming. i liked what they eventually did with simon’s column but it seemed to go on a bit too long. the ‘fast forwards’ in the story were handled well and didn’t seem rushed.

a couple of my favorite lines that i copied to include:

Benji looks up with a crooked smile, and Simon should really track down whoever is cranking up the thermostat.

“Oh, here she comes. Just pretend to be working, and she’ll leave you alone.”
“Or I could actually work. Which is a thing I do.”

overall a really cute read that i recommend!

View all my reviews