Book recommendation - Rocky Road
FBI Agent Jude Camden handles every aspect of his job with by-the-book professionalism. There's no reason why his latest assignment—which calls for him to pose as the boyfriend of perfumer Gemma Clare—should be any different.
Except Gemma is different. She's creative, bold, and feisty. And as soon as she meets Jude, she wants to loosen him up, wrinkle his perfect shirts, and test every ounce of his towering self-control.
The FBI has an iron-clad rule against romances between those working together on operations. Jude's never met a rule he didn't respect. But adhering to this one is going to be tough because, as time goes by, he finds Gemma more and more irresistible.
Buckle up! It's going to be a rocky road.
Escape to Maine for this swoon-worthy "fake romance"! Banter, humor, perfume, and a mystery from the past intertwine in this sweet Sons of Scandal love story.
Because I got an early copy, I was able to connect with the author for a Q&A session. Here's how that went:
1. What was the inspiration for this story?
The fake relationship trope! I've written 13 romances but never before
that particular trope. It's a fun creative challenge to try new-to-me
tropes.
2. Which character did you best relate to on a personality level?
Definitely Jude. He and I are both enneagram 1s so I related
wholeheartedly to his longing to do things the "right" way, to his sense
of duty, his reliability, his striving for (and failing to hit)
perfection in his work. His strengths and weaknesses and my strengths
and weaknesses are very similar! For those reasons, it was easier for me
to get to know Jude deep down than some of my past heroes and heroines.
Which character was the most difficult to write?
Gracie and Simone because they have more subtle personalities which were
more difficult to pin down and communicate on the page. Demanding,
distinctive, quirky characters (like Fiona and Colette) tend to spring
to life and elbow their way into scenes. In real life, subtle
personalities are often easier to connect with than larger-than-life
ones. But when writing fiction, I find the opposite is true. The bossier
the character, the easier they are to write.
3. I loved that family was so prominent in the story. Where did you get the inspiration for all of those different characters?
I gather character inspiration from many places. People I know, people I
observe, things I see on TV, my research, etc. When I'm looking for
character inspiration, I find it around every corner. I have an "idea
file" and I try to jot down inspirations there, no matter how small the
idea. Later, when it's time to "cast" a novel, I go shopping in that
file.
4. Did anything surprise you in the story as you were writing? Or did anything happen during the writing to change the trajectory of the story?
Rocky Road's mystery thread involves the lost portions of Gemma's
great-grandparents' love story. I didn't know myself the twists and
turns that would take when I started writing the novel. In fact, in the
first draft, the mystery remained so unclear to me that I simply stopped
writing that thread and focused on the resolution of the FBI case and
the romance. It wasn't until the next draft that I began to see how that
mystery would unfold--which both surprised me and changed the trajectory
of the story in a way I ended up loving.
5. I loved the unique careers of the characters, but I expect that required a good bit of research. What was the most interesting thing you learned in your research for this story?
Jude's an attorney and an FBI agent so I read two non-fiction books
written by FBI agents who spent their career working undercover cases.
Plus, one of my readers is married to an FBI agent and she nominated him
to help out with any questions I might have. I certainly ended up having
a few, so he was a great resource!
Gemma's a perfumer so I read one non-fiction book written by a perfumer.
I adore this type of research. It's one of my favorite stages of the
writing process.
Most interesting thing I learned... For every alias an undercover agent
assumes, the FBI will have created a complete history and that history
(digital footprint and more) will be just as believable as the history
of any actual person.
6. What are you hoping readers will glean from this story?
Most of all--hope! I'd love for Rocky Road to take readers through the
swoony (and also the challenging) emotions of falling in love, for it to
keep readers guessing, for it to bring smiles and laughs, and for it to
provide inspiration, entertainment, and rest.
7. Is there any "behind the scenes" fun or trivia you'd be willing to share with my readers?
I view my "writer dog" Duke as an important member of my team! I write
most often from the desk positioned by the front windows of my Dallas
home. Mt Cavalier King Charles spaniel snoozes in the dog bed under the
desk whenever I'm at my computer. Writing can be isolating work and so
it means the world to me to have his company. I know he's cheering me
onward with my book while he's snoring!
8. What is coming next and when can we expect it?
The third and final book in the Sons of Scandal series. I expect it to
release in early 2025.
I am excited for the next installment! Rocky Road releases on February 14, 2024. Be sure to check it out!
About the author:
During her childhood in California, Becky frequently produced homemade plays starring her sisters, friends, and cousins. These plays almost always featured a heroine, a prince, and a love story with a happy ending. She’s been a fan of all things romantic ever since.
Becky and her husband lived overseas in the Caribbean and Australia before settling in Dallas, Texas. It was during her years abroad that Becky’s passion for reading turned into a passion for writing. She published three historical romances for the general market, put her career on hold for many years to care for her kids, then eventually returned to writing. She loves penning sweet contemporary romances laced with sizzling chemistry, mystery, faith, banter, and humor. Her twelve novels and five novellas have been recognized with a Carol Award, INSPY awards, and a spot in the Christy Award Hall of Fame.
When she’s not at her computer, you’ll find her power-walking her neighborhood, driving carpool, eating chocolate, doing yoga, or admiring her Cavalier spaniel.
For more information, check out the following links:
Becky Wade's website: https://beckywade.com/home/
Becky Wade's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/authorbeckywade
My full 5-star review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6193973693
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