Today I have my first ever author interview with
Catherine Mann. I’m very excited! I received a copy of the 2 in 1 release of Grayson’s Surrender and Taking Cover in exchange for an honest
review, and Catherine graciously agreed to an interview as part of her blog
tour.
See how it all started with the first two books in
Catherine Mann’s RITA Award winning “Wingmen Warriors” series!
***This 2-in-1 is available in print only. If you wish
to order the books digitally, they must be ordered individually.***
Grayson’s Surrender (Wingman
Warriors #1) and Taking Cover (Wingman Warriors #2)
by Catherine Mann
Genre: Contemporary Military Romance
Age category: Adult
Blurb:
GRAYSON’S SURRENDER: Flight Surgeon Grayson
Clark and NGO worker Lori Rutledge shared a passionate summer full of promise
and ultimately heartbreak. After his turbulent childhood, Grayson knows well
he’s ill-equipped to offer Lori the security she craves. But Grayson can’t
escape Lori’s allure when they’re paired on a military rescue operation to an
overseas orphanage. When one heart-tugging orphan charms her way into Lori’s
life and Grayson’s heart, Lori and Grayson discover a new understanding of
family – and a free-falling surrender to love.
TAKING COVER: Battle lines are drawn when Flight
Surgeon Kathleen O’Connell temporarily grounds Captain Tanner Bennett from
flying combat. No way does Tanner plan to watch his crew from the sidelines.
Not that he has a choice, thanks to by-the-rules Kathleen and his ground duty
assignment to investigate a crash. When Kathleen is teamed with him in the
investigation, they’re both diving for cover as they battle an attraction ready
to detonate!
You can find this 2-in-1 book Grayson’s Surrender and
Taking Cover here on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19084994-grayson-s-surrender-and-taking-cover
You can buy this 2-in-1 book Grayson’s Surrender and
Taking Cover here:
- Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/graysons-surrender-and-taking-cover-catherine-mann/1117542037?ean=9780373606245
You can also buy them separately. Grayson’s Surrender:
Taking Cover:
About the Author:
USA Today bestseller Catherine Mann and RITA Award
winner, Catherine writes contemporary romance for Berkley, Harlequin, and
Sourcebooks, With over two million books in print in more than twenty
countries, she has also celebrated five RITA finals, three Maggie Award of
Excellence finals and a Bookseller’s Best win. A former theater school director
and university instructor, she holds a Master’s degree in Theater from
UNC-Greensboro and a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts: Theater (with minors in
both English and Education) from the College of Charleston. Catherine and her
flyboy husband live on the Florida coast where they brought up their 4 children
– and still have 5 four-legged, furry “children” (aka pets). Catherine is an
active volunteer with her local Humane Society, serving on their Board of
Directors and fostering puppies and special needs dogs (she stopped counting at
a hundred). She recently checked off a major item on her “bucket list” by
completing the hands-on training for the Florida State Animal Rescue Coalition.
Catherine enjoys hearing from her readers and can be found online daily. To receive an autographed bookmark, send a
SASE to: P.O. Box 6065, Navarre, FL 32566
You can find and contact Catherine here:
-
Website: http://www.catherinemann.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CatherineMannAuthor
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/catherinemann1
- Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/catherinemann/
- Newsletter: https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/CatherineMann_News/
My Reviews:
Grayson’s Surrender: I gave this one four stars.
Grayson and Lori are a great couple who had a really good thing going,
but kind of messed it up. They shared a
summer of dating and a great relationship, but then decided they had different
life plans and broke up. They’re thrown
back together during a mission to rescue orphans from a warzone.
Lori has ideas about what it takes to be a real
family, and those ideas frighten Grayson, who has some ideas of his own about what
family involves. They end up spending a
lot of time together after the mission and the spark between them is definitely
re-kindled.
I really loved this book because Grayson and Lori seem
real; they have problems that are real world – different ideas about marriage
and children, different career paths, differing levels of willingness to pack
up and move, and some baggage from their childhoods. Together they work through all of that and
compromise and learn to give and take on the things that really mater to both
of them.
There’s also a very strong message that family can
extend beyond blood ties, and I really loved that. Grayson’s fellow crew members and their families
manage to become a second family for him, and Lori has no problems claiming an
adopted child as her own. I loved that
about this book, and it really leaves you with a great warm and fuzzy feeling.
Taking Cover: I gave this
one 4.5 stars. It is the best
contemporary romance I’ve read in a long time!
There’s romance, suspense, action, and adventure. You can’t really ask for more than that in
one book.
Tanner and Kathleen have known each other for over ten
years. They shared one amazing kiss, and
then went their separate ways, each building a life that didn’t involve the
other one. They’re thrown back together,
and it’s explosive.
I like Kathleen and Tanner as a couple, but I also
just really liked them both as individual characters. They both worked really hard and overcame and
put up with a lot to get where they are in the beginning of the book.
There’s a definite chemistry between the two of them.
There’s a lot of sweetness, and some great banter. Kathleen and Tanner are both carrying some
major baggage; Kathleen a failed marriage and Tanner a devastating loss. They’re both wounded, but they find comfort
from one another, even though they don’t seem to want to. You just find yourself wanting them to have a
happily ever after.
I’m trying not to include any spoilers, but the
mission in this book becomes very interesting, with a twist that I just did not
see coming. So many suspenseful romances
seem to be a little short on the suspense factor, but this one had a great
action/suspense element, and it really helped the romantic part of the story
along.
If you’re going to read one contemporary romance novel
any time soon, I would definitely suggest choosing Taking Cover.
The Interview:
Catherine, thank you so much for agreeing to an interview! You’re my first author interview, so I’m really excited about it. Thank you again for the opportunity. I loved Grayson’s Surrender and Taking Cover, and really loved the 2-1 release. Two great books in one!
Q: As I was reading them, I couldn’t help thinking what great movies they’d both make, so I was wondering, if they were made into movies, who would be your picks to play Grayson and Lori? And who would be your picks to play Tanner and Kathleen?
A: Wow, what a fun question! For GRAYSON’S SURRENDER, Colin Farrell (Grayson) and Kiera Knightly (Lori). For TAKING COVER, Charlie Hunnam with his hair buzzed (Tanner) and Amy Adams (Kathleen).
Q: Did you write the characters with those actors in mind?
A: Actually, since I wrote these books over ten years ago, the actors I chose are older than the characters now. Originally, for Grayson and Lori, I envisioned George Clooney and Paige Turco. And for Tanner and Kathleen, I envisioned a blond football player (whose name I can’t recall!) and Gillian Anderson (X-Files). It’s fun seeing the new cover up next to original covers. Some folks have commented the guy on the new cover looks like Adam Levine from Maroon 5 (yum!).
Q: Your website mentions your flyboy husband; was he the inspiration for your Wingman Warriors books?
A: Absolutely! My husband’s Air Force career and all the military friends we made provided endless inspiration for plots.
Q: Do you have any writing rituals (certain time of day, must-have coffee mug, background noise, etc.)?
A: I write using a laptop, rather than a desktop. So I’m fairly mobile as to the locale, but I do usually have a diet Coke by my side and the TV playing in the background.
Q: Who are some of your favorite authors? Are there any authors who inspire your writing?
A: I have far too many favorite authors to list them all. I’m an avid reader. But to name a few of my auto-buy authors – Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Lisa Gardner, Teresa Medieros, Tana French, Jane Porter. And as for inspiration, Lori Foster, Suzanne Brockmann, Dianna Love and Sherilynn Kenyon have been tremendously inspiring and supportive over the years.
Q: I’m kind of a food person, so I have to ask, are there any treats you reward yourself with when you finish a tough scene, first draft, or any other milestone?
A: An Orange Dream Smoothie or a Mocha Madness Smoothie from Tropical Smoothie. They have a pick up window, so I can even pack up my dogs for a quick drive and some fresh air to clear my brain. And in colder weather I love a Starbucks skinny vanilla latte!
Q: I know Shelter Me is your next book, due out in August (which seems really far away right now); can you tell us a little more about Shelter Me?
A: SHELTER ME launches my “Second Chance Ranch” animal rescue series. SHELTER ME features a military hero returning from war to bring an Iraqi dog to the family of his fallen commander. The book has been called reminiscent of Nicholas Sparks’ THE LUCKY ONE with a hint of MARLEY AND ME. Here’s a book trailer video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBfLiHsis3o
Q: I have a feeling I’m going to love Shelter Me. Is the next book in the series in the works yet?
A: Thank you for asking! Yes, the sequel – RESCUE ME – is scheduled for February 2015. I just got an advance peek at the cover and it is absolutely gorgeous! Can’t wait to share it with readers. I also have an animal rescue Harlequin Desire coming out in November 2014 – SHELTERED BY THE MILLIONAIRE.
Thanks again for the interview, and for all of your work in animal rescue. Animal rescue is very near and dear to our hearts here in the land of Sweet Tea.
Thank YOU for featuring my books here and giving me the chance to visit!!
