When I first decided I wanted to try my hand at writing a novel, I decided to target Blaze, because it was shorter than a full novel, and sexy. (This was 5 years ago, before novellas hit the scene, and EC was still a baby) I founf the eHarliquen website in the back of a book, and went there, and found a whole community of romance lovers.
I hung out in the I AM CANADIAN thread, and the STRUGGLING WRITERS CLUB. And even though I don’t hang out there anymore, I made several friends there that I still am in touch with. Some are just writer talk ones, but a couple have become more. Vanessa Jaye is one of those friends that has become more than a writer talk buddy. She’s been there for me through the good and the bad times, always there to listen, encourage, and sometimes to set me straight.
Not only is Jaye a good friend, but she’s a talented writer. I’ve known this for years, and I’m thrilled she’s finally at a place in her own life where she has decided to put more focus on her own writing. Surfing through my own blog posts the other day, I found this post from January 10, 2005 where I first mentioned her story FELICITY STRIPPED BARE. (And if you go read the post, you’ll see that Cece otherwise known as Amie Stuart, has been a bud for a long time as well.)
This is what I said about FSB then:
“I also was lucky enough to read Vanessa’s Golden Heart entry FELICITY STRIPPED BARE. I’m not a judge for the GH so it’s ok for me to rave about it! :hehe: I tell you, this was one story that has it all, Vanessa’s sharp wit shines through in her h Felicity, who is a street smart beauty struggling to find her own niche in life. The H, Daniel, is a real man that could make any woman drool. Even the secondary characters shine through with life and vitality. As it stands this ms is unsold…but I have NO doubt it will sell..and I’ll be getting an autographed copy!”
As we all know, life is hectic, and we can’t always find the time to do everything we want to. A couple of months ago Jaye finally got off her ass (Kidding!…sort of. ) and dusted the manuscript off and submitted it to a publisher. Today, I’m so absolutely freakin’ proud that Vanessa’s Jaye’s first novel, FELICITY STRIPPED BARE is finally published.
Check it out!
Just when things are looking up, she falls for the man of her dreams.
It’s been ten years since Felicity skipped out of high school, leaving behind the taunts of “retard”. Things have hardly improved since then. Her job waitressing at a strip club is just one more tick in the “sucks” column of her life. Now she’s signed up for tutoring and her future looks bright…until her hunky new landlord starts wreaking havoc on her libido.
And did he just say, “Evicted”? Not so fast, buddy. She may be dyslexic, but she’s not stupid.
Daniel MacKenzie is this close to achieving his dream of setting up his own renovation company, so he’s not interested in more demands on his time. Not even if one of those demands is a tenant wearing skintight jeans, teetering on four-inch heels and complaining a blue streak with the most kissable mouth on the planet.
Despite his resolve not to mix business with pleasure, Daniel not only teeters, he tumbles head-first into the scorching sexual tension between them.
He’s a man who’s used to getting what he wants, and he’s not above pulling every trick in the book to get—and keep—Felicity in his life. But she’s holding something back.
And he’s afraid it’s her heart.
And I’m not the only one who thinks it’s great. CHeck out what Azteclady says:
“Felicity Stripped Bare is Ms Jaye’s debut novel, published by Samhain. In my (never humble) opinion, though, this doesn’t feel, doesn’t read like a debut novel. Not at all. The characters are so appealing and the writing so compelling that I read it in one sitting…They are both painted so well, their feelings and struggles—internal, with each other, with their past, with their families—so real, that my heart was in my throat more than once while reading this novel.“
Read the full Karen Knows Best review for Felicity Stripped Bare HERE. And you really should, as she has some great insight into the story and characters in her review.
If you don’t know Vanessa Jaye, you can learn more about her by visiting her NEW WEBSITE HERE.
If you want to read an Excerpt For FSB, you can do it HERE.
If you want to Purchase FSB, you can do it HERE.
Congrats on the release Vanessa! I hope you sell a ton of books – I’m happy to be sharing release day with you.
Oh, and I’m also glad to see you have such excellent taste in friends :cowgirl:
Dammit, Sasha, you got me all teary eyed here! It’s been a long time and we’ve come a long way. friend. Thank you. 😀
Lorelei- I was just reading the excerpt of Tied Up/Tied Down (or is it Tied Up/Tied Down) either way, what a great read! I can see why you hit the MBSM Bestseller list on the first day of release! Lady, take a bow!
And thanks for the congrats. I’d think like attracts likes, if Sasha has good friends, it’s because she’s one herself.
:angel:
Congratulations Vanessa! 🙂 I can’t wait to read this story.