Guest Author: Darcy Flynn

This is another week for featuring guests authors and their books. I met Tennessee-based Darcy Flynn through an author support group called Authors Helping Authors. Like me, she writes sweet romances, and I’ve enjoyed reading her books. A few weeks ago I mentioned that I had read and reviewed her soon-to-be-released romance Double Trouble and I decided to ask Darcy some questions about how she came up with the idea. To give you a little background, here’s the blurb and book cover for Double Trouble:

       From the first moment coffee mogul Will Carrington gazes into the fiery, green eyes of Clare Sullivan, he’s hit with the feeling she does not like him. Not. One. Little. Bit. Used to being the proverbial prize by some gorgeous gold-digging fortune hunter, he’s learned to be careful. But with his hunter instincts now on high alert, he’s determined to find out the why behind her stormy-eyed glances.
Top home designer Clare Sullivan wants absolutely nothing to do with arrogant, self-assured Will Carrington, especially after he called her half-sister a gold digger. When she gets the opportunity to design his multi-million dollar Miami penthouse, she arrives at his office ready to decline his offer, and to tell him exactly what she thinks of his cruel and un-warranted comments.
While there, she overhears his one-sided phone conversation, which seems to further insult her sister. Assuming the worst, Clare makes the rash decision to accept the job and charge him a fortune in the process. Someone needs to teach him a lesson and what better way than with a swift kick in his wallet.
Since she and her sister have different surnames, Clare conveniently hides the connection to her sister. But while she works with Will, she discovers another side to this self-assured, woman-hater. A Jekyll to his Hyde. Charming and professional, he’s nothing like the man she’s heard about. What she doesn’t know is Will Carrington has a few secrets of his own.

And here’s an excerpt from Double Trouble:

“You look like you could use a drink.” Will splashed gold liquid into a glass and handed it to her.
“No, thank you.”
“Suit yourself.” He sat down opposite her and crossed one leg over the other. Sipping his whiskey, he gave her look for look. “You know, I can do this all day and night.”
“So what? Does that mean I’m not allowed to sleep while I’m here?”
“Of course you’ll be allowed to sleep. As many nights here as it takes.” He grinned, knowing full well it would infuriate her even more.
She raised her chin a fraction. “You’re hateful. But with your history, I shouldn’t be surprised.”
“Finally, we seem to be getting somewhere. And we have a history?”
She dropped her gaze from his and stared at his chest.
“Please, enlighten me?” While he waited for a response, he swirled the tumbler in his hand, causing the ice cube to clink against the glass.
Her long lashes fluttered against her cheek, making her appear nervous, which he highly doubted.
“Why don’t you just spit it out?” he said. “While I’m in a listening mood.”
She raised her eyes to his. “I have something to say to you, all right. But I will pick the time and the place to do it.”
“Ah, a woman who takes control. I like that.”
Her sparkling eyes clouded with doubt and uncertainty. She was finding him hard to read. For the moment, that suited him just fine. A woman with her designs needed to be kept on her toes. Poetic justice, as he’d had to learn the art of being unreadable because of women like her.
“Okay,” he said. “I’ll start.” He set his tumbler on the side table, never taking his eyes from her face. “You’ve disliked me from the first day I met you. Like most men, I have the hunter instinct. And you, my dear Miss Sullivan, with your glittering, green, accusatory eyes, tossed me a dare I frankly couldn’t ignore. And whether you believe it or not, what you said to me was ‘come and get me.’”
Her expressive eyes flared.
“I did no such thing. I wanted nothing to do with you. You two-faced, arrogant…” She looked him up and down. “You and your hurtful, callous words.”
Clare puffed up, reminding him of a threatened parrot.
He stared at her, dumbfounded as to what she could be talking about. This was getting more and more interesting. He picked up his glass and eyed it. “To my recollection, I’ve seldom, if ever been the callous type.”
“You know what they say.” She shrugged. “If the shoe fits.”
Her sassy, bravado act came across purely as self-preservation, and there was something poignant in that. What was it about her that could both irritate and tug on his heartstrings all at the same time?
She blinked and glanced toward the door.
“Waiting for reinforcements?”
Her eyes widened a fraction.
“I thought so.” He shook his head. “No one’s coming. It’s just you and me.”

****

Last week Darcy and I chatted a bit about the book: 

PK: Are you a twin?
     DF: No, I just know many. twins have been a part of my life since I was little.

PK: Did you ever date one?
     DF: No, but my first kiss was a twin. I’d loved him since second grade! I was 14 when he walked me home and kissed me! The story of my first kiss from this boy is told in my short story, The Kissing Booth! All the years I crushed on this boy and he broke my 8th grade girl heart!

PK: Oh no! Did you ever mistake his brother for him?
     DF: Never, since I’ve known them both since first grade.

PK: So you could tell them apart. Were they identical?
     DF: Yes. His brother used to sit behind me in one of my classes and he’d sing to me and get me in trouble when I laughed.

PK: Do you have plans to write about any of the other brothers?
     DF: Oh yes! Wes (Will’s twin) is next! He’s a real pill! I like his back story.

PK: Hmm. So something happened to him that DIDN’T happen to Will?
     DF: Yes, he distrusts woman because of one in particular from his past.

PK: Ouch. Did you write the story with a series in mind?
     DF: Yes I did. Most of my books are stand alone, but I liked the idea of twins. Telling their stories…

 

My thoughts:
This isn’t my first Darcy Flynn romance. I’ve enjoyed several of her others, and this one doesn’t disappoint! The writing is excellent, and the conflicts, both inner and external, come through clearly without being flaunted. I loved the natural progression of the relationship. If you like sweet romances you’ll love this one – especially since we now know that there’s more to come!

You can Pre-order Double Trouble (to be released May 31): at Amazon.

You can find Darcy Flynn at her website as well as on Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, and Goodreads.