Today I am really excited to have Mimi Jean Pamfiloff here. I absolutely love the premise of this book, the excerpt (below) is hysterical, and wish I had time to do a review before Mimi stopped by for a visit.
First, I want to tell you about this book, and then we’ll chat a little bit with Mimi.
What it’s About:
Twenty-two-year-old Emma Keane has a secret friend. He’s powerful, mysterious, and devastatingly handsome. In her dreams, anyway.
In real life, he’s an enigma. Maybe just a teensie jealous. Definitely overbearing. He’s also a voice only she can hear.
So who or what is he? He won’t say. But if she wants to be free, to be normal, Emma will have to trek to the jungles once ruled by the Mayans and find the forgotten ruin holding the answers.
However, the ruthless deity she’s about to unknowingly unleash on the modern world might not be so easily extracted from her life. Bottom line, he’s got enemies, and now, so does she.
Excerpt:
Chapter 1 – Present Day
Wasn’t dating supposed to be fun? Because this was anything but. At any moment, a man I’d never met—approximately six-foot-three, brown hair, and soul-piercing blue eyes, according to his online profile—would walk through the door of the Conga Lounge, give his name to the hostess, and scream hysterically at the sight of me. Okay. He wouldn’t scream. Aloud, anyway. Not that I was heinous, but anyone who looked closely enough might notice I was…different.
I eyeballed the door, contemplating making a mad dash before he arrived.
No, you can do this, I thought while staring at the condensation channeling down my glass of water, my leg bouncing under the table. Why had my date picked a corny theme-bar that looked like Gilligan’s Island threw up? What sort of man goes novelty on the first date? Bad sign. Bad sign.
At least the other patrons—seated around the faux-torch lit room, leisurely sipping Bahama Mama’s and Mai Tai’s—were oblivious to my impending meltdown.
I felt the gentle whoosh of summer evening air as the door swung open and the noise from the traffic-packed New York street poured in. A tall man with sun-kissed skin, broad shoulders, and tousled brown hair floated in—yes, floated—as if he’d ridden in on a cloud straight from Hot-Man Land. He wore a black polished-cotton shirt, which hugged his well-constructed chest, and low slung jeans that molded to his lean physique. He wasn’t just good looking, he was Milan runway edible.
“Oh, sweet Virgin of Guadalupe, please be Jake,” I muttered under my breath.
Like a cliché from a movie, our eyes met from across the room, and his face lit up with a dimple-framed smile. My heart nearly stopped. “Thank you, Virgin,” I said, releasing my breath.
He strutted across the restaurant, a magnet for every female in the room.
“Emma?” he said in a deep slow-churned voice then smiled and held out his hand. I stood up in a daze, mentally pinching myself.
“You are Emma, right? Curly, shoulder-length, red hair, five-three. Several crazed female stalkers for best friends?”
Oh, no. What had my roommates done? Since the whole online-blind-date thing was their idea, they assured me they’d carefully “screened” the guy. But I thought they were just joking about breaking into his apartment and rummaging through his underwear drawer. And dammit, they hadn’t even bothered to dish. Tighty whities or boxers?
I looked down at his outstretched hand. Oh, shoot. Shake hands. “Sorry, it’s just—I wasn’t expecting someone so…” I swallowed and placed my palm in his. It was warm and inviting, just like his eyes. “Um…so tall.”
“And I wasn’t expecting a woman so…” He paused to look me over like a dog eyeing a giant juicy steak. “…adorable.”
“Adorable?” said the deep male voice inside my head. “What kind of moron compliments a woman with the word ‘adorable’? Does he think you’re a goddamned puppy?”
Couldn’t I have one, just one lousy day without the voice? My blood began to boil instantly, but I resisted the urge to snap back with something lame like, “Well, maybe Jake senses I want to lick him from head to toe. Maybe even have a go at his leg.” But then I thought better of myself. Because tonight, I was on a mission, and nothing would stop me from climbing my own mental Mt. Everest: convince myself that I, Emma Keane, could feel attraction for a real live man with ten fingers, ten toes, arms and legs, and the other necessary dangly bits needed to make a relationship normal. All I needed was the right man.
The catch?
The other person I needed to prove this to wasn’t exactly a person. Okay—truth be told, he was a mysterious voice only I could hear. Yes. A luscious, deep velvety voice so seductive that it could turn me into a quivering mindless puddle of need with one little sigh. Sound crazy? That wasn’t the half of it. But it was why I had to do this. If I wanted a shot at normal, I had to take this first step.
What People Are Saying About the Book:
EDITORIAL REVIEW (AMAZON.COM):
Mimi Jean Pamfiloff is hysterical. This is the first in her Accidentally Yours series. Can’t wait for more.
You will love Emma and the arrogant god she can’t see. She does not dare let people find out she has a relationship with someone she only knows through dialogue in her thoughts. Her friends and family will think she is bonkers.
But when he calls her into the heart of the Mayan jungle to free him from some ancient ruins, with a promise to finally leave her alone after that, she finds that he is not only real, (and gorgeous) but about to further turn her world upside down.
Her desire to have a normal life, without some voice bothering her, may be a futile desire. Because desire is the word. This ruthless warrior-god is the most amazing male she has ever seen or imagined.
Emma is in big trouble. She realizes that her god is as dangerous as the other crazy gods, including my total favorite, wild and crazy Cimil. You are going to love Cimil and laugh out loud at her antics. Is she going to help Emma with the evil that has been unleashed into the world, the terrifying Uchben, or is she only going to make things worse?
Where to Buy:
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/123362
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
I absolutely love the premise of this book and wish I had time to review it before you stopped by. What was your inspiration for this story?
First, a special thank you to Carly for hosting me!
I love PNR. If I could spend every waking moment reading it, I just might do that. When I woke up one day (about 4 years ago) and said, “Hey, it might be fun to write one,” I decided to build the story around the things that make me melt, swoon, and go “ga-ga.” Hey, at least if no one bought the book, I’d have fun writing it!
So, if you’ve ever seen photos of Bacalar, Mexico, then you’d know why that was on my list of things I swoon over. It’s a lake near the border of Belize, but looks just like the tropical ocean from those Corona commercials. But it doesn’t have the downside associated with the ocean (no jelly fish, sharks, or salty waves). Sitting on one of its docks, sipping an ice-cold beer, swimming in the bath-like water…there’s nothing like it.
Aside from that, I studied in Mexico and always loved the pre-Hispanic culture. Now those were some creative people! It’s pretty easy to find inspiration in there.
In any case, the long and short answer is that I write about what I know and love then try to make it fun and different. I’m really, really lucky to have found people who happen to appreciate the things I wrote about.
What was the most difficult character of this story to write?
Emma. Most of the book is from her POV, and I tried to make her likeable. It’s hard because I am a quasi-cynic. But writing her (and Helena in Book 2) forced me to see the world through a different lens. Very therapeutic.
What was the most enjoyable character of this story to write?
Cimil! OMG. She cracks me up. No one will believe me, but she writes herself. I am NOT that funny of a person.
Do your characters talk to you? And if so, what do they say?
No (yes). Because that would be crazy (please don’t have her committed). And any writer who admits their characters speak to them is (brilliant) clearly deranged. (Note from Carly: I’m going with brilliant on this one, Mimi, or we’re both in trouble!)
How long did it take you to write this book?
Yikes. About 3 years. I rewrote or edited each time I learned more about writing. I think it should be finally done in about one more year. (Ha ha.)
What’s better – spearmint or cinnamon? And why?
Spearmint. Because it’s coooool.
What is one thing that readers don’t know about you?
The readers don’t know anything about me at all, actually. First, because I’ve only been published for a few short months. Second, because I really want the books to be all about the story and the person reading it. Maybe it’s just in my head, but sometimes seeing the author (and getting to know them) detracts from the fantasy. This is especially true for romance.
Imagine you just read the hottest story ever. It had you sweating and panting for more. But then you flip to the back of the book and see some guy with a horrible toupee, rotten teeth, and five chins. You find out he cleans up road kill for a living. I’d have a hard time picking up another one of his books and sharing a sexy fantasy with him again…no matter how good the story.
That was an extreme example, I know. And, no, I’m not an old yucky man. I’m a fairly normal, middle aged woman with a very, very busy life. The point is, I am like everyone else, and when it’s time to escape, I want it to be the best escape possible. I want that for my readers, too, and that means I stay behind the curtain.
That said, I love it when readers reach out to me! Romance fans are so kooky and fun and passionate about the genre. I love it!!
More About Mimi…
Before taking up a permanent residence in the San Francisco Bay Area, Mimi spent time living near NYC (became a shopaholic), in Mexico City (developed a taste for very spicy food), and Arizona (now hates jumping chollas, but pines for sherbet sunsets). Her love of pre-Hispanic culture, big cities, and romance inspires her to write when she’s not busy with kids, work, and life…or getting sucked into a juicy novel.
She hopes that someday, leather pants for men will make a big comeback (note from Carly – me too!:) ) and that her writing might make you laugh when you need it most.
Where to find Mimi:
Website: www.mimijean.net
iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/mimi-jean-pamfiloff/id498303364?mt=11
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/MimiJeanRomance
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mimi-Jean/218935048190356
Email: mimi@mimijean.net
To see where else Mimi will be, please click here:
Thank you Carly! Watch out for the jumping chollas!