Your series for this story is about Ice Hockey, I am just wondering...are you a real hockey fan? (If YES) Do you have a favorite Hockey team?

Absolutely. I haven’t had a lot of time to watch this season, but I’m a diehard Dallas Stars fan. Have been since my high school years when they first came to Texas.

You chose to write about sports. Are you a sports fan at heart? Do you watch any sports with a signifigant other?/Family?

I always seem to love the outlier sports that don’t get a lot of love. I was a competitive swimmer for years, and a swim coach, so I still stay in touch with that aspect of my life. I’ve played softball, soccer, been in gymnastics, and ran track for a bit. I’ve always been an active person.

My kids and I will sometimes watch hockey, but they don’t get it as much as I do, so I usually end up either explaining everything, or watching it alone.

Topic: How has hockey/sports influenced your writing and your life.

In my high school years, the Dallas Stars came to town. For people that don’t know ice hockey, I usually describe it to non-watchers as soccer on skates and with sticks, because the rules are similar and it seems to work out in people’s heads better that way. Also, it always gets a laugh. Anyway, I’m the type to want to do anything once, so I was all “I want to play hockey!” and then promptly realized that hockey was practically non-existent in Texas at that time. I mean, we had our first pro-hockey team ever and it had only been there a matter of months. Needless to say, I was disappointed, but it’s never stopped me from being a fan and loving the game. And believe me, I’m a little jealous of all these Dallas kids growing up with hockey in their lives now.

Hockey, like soccer, is exciting. The puck is always moving, the guys are always full of energy, and the fights are awesome. Especially the ones where you can tell they planned to fight in the first place, because they’re constantly gunning for each other.

I suppose that’s how I want to see my life go. Always moving, always full of energy… but maybe no fights. Those aren’t as much fun off the ice. ;) I always feel like I’m too busy, but maybe that’s just because I’m emulating a hockey game. I’m chasing that puck, that ever-elusive goal, and trying to make my way past the defensive line without getting checked into the boards.

I got the idea for the Texas Highlanders series when I first read a hockey romance and realized, “DUDE. I can do this!” Not because the book was bad. Actually, it was Rachel Gibson’s Simply Irresistible, and I loved it like crazy. I still do. I frequently reread that entire series when I have the time.

I drew on that reading experience to write my first hockey romance, Off Her Game. From that book, a dozen characters popped out of the woodwork demanding their own story, including my newest release, Scoring His Heart’s Gavin and Zoe.

I’ve learned so much since I first wrote Off Her Game three years ago. I kept chasing the puck, and I grew as a person and as a writer, and yeah, I’ve been checked into the boards a couple times. I faked left when I should have faked right. But I still keep charging after that puck. I don’t think I know how to stop playing this game, and I probably wouldn’t want to anyway. Where’s the fun in that, anyway?

Scoring His Heart: Excerpt #1

Her father’s phone clattered to the floor as Zoe Logan halted in the doorway. The two men in the room stopped and froze. Gavin turned, his shirt half untucked, and his usually well-put together curls mussed from finger raking. The jeans he wore were faded and worn, but nothing could hide the bulge in the front of them. Misha, Gavin’s roommate, wasn’t in much better shape, his lips pink and kiss-swollen. He leaned against the wall, like if he tried to move away from it, he’d fall over. Her hands shook, and she clenched them tightly, as if she could stop it.

Dazed, Misha’s voice was barely there. “Zoe…”

She waved her hands in front of her, like it would wipe the scene away. “I… uh…” She tried to look everywhere but at the pair before her. All she wanted was to run out and hide, but her feet were rooted to the spot. Her cheeks heated, having interrupted what seemed to be a really private moment. Her chest ached with the stabbing heat of embarrassment. Breathing was suddenly almost impossible. She’d almost thought Misha could have liked her after she found out Gavin didn’t like girls, but no. She should have known better.

A long moment of awkwardness passed before she realized that she was blocking the only exit to the room. She stumbled backward, lifting her eyes so she could see them both, though her gaze fell on Gavin immediately. More pain and more stabbing in her chest forced her away from them faster.

God, how mortifying. Thoughts were barely coherent in her mind, knowing that she’d put herself out there for not one, but two guys who just weren’t into her.

Her throat hurt, the tears lodged into it like a square block in a round tube. She reached down and grabbed the phone she’d dropped, her hands still shaking, and placed it on the desk, careful to stay out of arm’s reach of either guy.

“Um, when you’re done. Could you plug that in? I won’t tell Dad you’re using his office to… Just make sure you clean up.” Clean up? Did she really just say that? Oh, good god. She was a complete and total moron. Gavin started to step forward to say something, but she stumbled back again, slipping out of the room before he or Misha stopped her.

Her entire face was flushed, rich with the memory of the two men inside that office kissing each other like nothing else in the world mattered. She didn’t stop when she reached the main bar area. The party was in full swing, and all she could think about was getting out.

***If you have not yet seen my review - CLICK HERE TO READ REVIEW

BLOG TOUR TODAY!

After an uncomfortable encounter Zoe Logan and professional hockey players, Gavin Ferrara and Misha Kozlov avoid each other for months. With the season about to start back up, they need to address their issues.

Scoring His Heart is an enticing novel that will have you panting for more.

Zoe is a sweet heroine. At nineteen, she is young and innocent. At least before the hockey players get their claws into her. After her mother abandoned her and father, she has major trust issues, resulting in running from potential commitments. I enjoyed her growth throughout the novel.

It’s hard not to like Gavin. He’s a hockey player, a definite point in his favor. He is open minded. He wants to do the right thing. I like that he takes in his niece and wants to be a good guardian.

I really like Misha and want to hear more about him in a future book. He is carefree and sexy but secretly would love to settle down.

Scoring His Heart is an exciting book that is hard to put down. The story is well-written, and the plot is stirring.

I admit I was bad and read this novel before the others in the series. I bought the other books, and they are patiently waiting for me to read them on my eReader. I had no problem following this story out of order, but I am now definitely very curious to go back and read the rest of the series.

Complimentary copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Scoring His Heart: Excerpt #1

Her father’s phone clattered to the floor as Zoe Logan halted in the doorway. The two men in the room stopped and froze. Gavin turned, his shirt half untucked, and his usually well-put together curls mussed from finger raking. The jeans he wore were faded and worn, but nothing could hide the bulge in the front of them. Misha, Gavin’s roommate, wasn’t in much better shape, his lips pink and kiss-swollen. He leaned against the wall, like if he tried to move away from it, he’d fall over. Her hands shook, and she clenched them tightly, as if she could stop it.

Dazed, Misha’s voice was barely there. “Zoe…”

She waved her hands in front of her, like it would wipe the scene away. “I… uh…” She tried to look everywhere but at the pair before her. All she wanted was to run out and hide, but her feet were rooted to the spot. Her cheeks heated, having interrupted what seemed to be a really private moment. Her chest ached with the stabbing heat of embarrassment. Breathing was suddenly almost impossible. She’d almost thought Misha could have liked her after she found out Gavin didn’t like girls, but no. She should have known better.

A long moment of awkwardness passed before she realized that she was blocking the only exit to the room. She stumbled backward, lifting her eyes so she could see them both, though her gaze fell on Gavin immediately. More pain and more stabbing in her chest forced her away from them faster.

God, how mortifying. Thoughts were barely coherent in her mind, knowing that she’d put herself out there for not one, but two guys who just weren’t into her.

Her throat hurt, the tears lodged into it like a square block in a round tube. She reached down and grabbed the phone she’d dropped, her hands still shaking, and placed it on the desk, careful to stay out of arm’s reach of either guy.

“Um, when you’re done. Could you plug that in? I won’t tell Dad you’re using his office to… Just make sure you clean up.” Clean up? Did she really just say that? Oh, good god. She was a complete and total moron. Gavin started to step forward to say something, but she stumbled back again, slipping out of the room before he or Misha stopped her.

Her entire face was flushed, rich with the memory of the two men inside that office kissing each other like nothing else in the world mattered. She didn’t stop when she reached the main bar area. The party was in full swing, and all she could think about was getting out.

***If you have not yet seen my review - CLICK HERE TO READ REVIEW