Author Override: Savanna Fox

Author Override is the place where authors take the reins and take you on a journey into their world. Some may allow you into their private writing dens. Others may take you along with them on research trips or interviews. Whatever the case may be, sit back, relax and enjoy the ride because here you’ll get an in-depth look into an author’s musings.

CAN A BOOK CLUB CHANGE YOUR LIFE?

Thank you to Under the Covers for inviting me here today.

Years ago, I started a book club. As an introverted only child, books have always been my best friends, but I longed to discuss the books I read with other people. My book club really has changed my life, because I’ve been ... shall I say persuaded? (okay, forced, browbeaten, guilted) into reading books I’d never otherwise have picked up. And they’ve expanded my world, my knowledge, my perspective.

Young widow Georgia Malone’s in a book club too, hoping for social interaction and intellectual discussion. She’s open to having her horizons expanded—but less enthused when two members of the club advocate for scrapping the weighty literary tomes and reading erotica.

Little does Georgia realize, as the club begins to read The Sexual Education of Lady Emma Whitehead, that her own life is about to begin a sexual journey that in some ways parallels that of Lady Emma.

THE STORY

Don’t you wish your book club read “dirty” books?

When Georgia Malone’s book club makes their first erotic selection, The Sexual Education of Lady Emma Whitehead, the marketing executive is surprised to find herself identifying with the main character. Like Emma, Georgia is a widow who has never truly experienced the joys of sex.

When she meets the spokesman for her newest campaign, Georgia’s long-buried libido is awakened. Hockey star Woody Hanrahan is supremely masculine, with rough edges and cocky charm—exactly the sort of man she usually avoids. But while her mind says stay away, Georgia’s body tells her to give in.

As the book club explores the tantalizing extremes of fiction, Georgia experiences first hand, and for the first time, the real pleasures of the flesh, and fulfills the desires that—chapter by chapter—are getting delightfully dirty. Woody is hers to command in a hundred deliciously wicked ways, but can a newly minted dirty girl write her own happy ending—and win not just Woody’s body, but his heart?

THE BOOK

The Dirty Girls Book Club is a September 2012 release from both Berkley in the US and Penguin the UK. I think it’s fascinating to see the totally different covers the publishers have chosen. Berkley’s focuses on the erotic romance and the passionate connection between Georgia and Woody. Penguin’s picks up on the book club aspect, and is more subtle about the erotic element (don’t you love the provocative contrast between the title and the image?).

BACK TO MY QUESTION

I started by asking whether a book club could change your life. What do you think? Are you in a book club or a reader group? What kind of books does the group choose? Do you read literary fiction, commercial fiction, non-fiction, or ??? Do you like the choices? Have any of them—or the interaction with the other members of your group—changed your life? Have any of them led you to romance?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Savanna Fox is a pen name for award-winning author Susan Lyons (also writing as Susan Fox), who writes “emotionally compelling, sexy contemporary romance” (Publishers Weekly). She’s published by Berkley Heat, Penguin UK, Kensington Brava and Aphrodisia, and Harlequin Spice Briefs. She has presented workshops at RWA® National, the RT Booklovers Convention, and regional RWA® conferences.

Savanna/Susan is a Pacific Northwester with homes in Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia. She has degrees in law and psychology, and has had a variety of careers, including perennial student, computer consultant, and legal editor. Fiction writer is by far her favorite, giving her an outlet to demonstrate her belief in the power of love, friendship, and a sense of humor. www.susanlyons.ca

Berkley is giving away a print copy of THE DIRTY GIRLS BOOK CLUB to one lucky US commenter!

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ARC Review: The Dirty Girls Book Club by Savanna Fox

The Dirty Girls Book Club

by Savanna Fox

Way to make a book attractive by just looking at the cover.  Not only is it a stunning cover, but the title of this book is bound to catch your eye and make you want to read it.  Although I'll admit I don't think it necessarily goes with the book.  Yes, there is a book club involved in the life of our heroine but they are by no stretch of the imagination a bunch of dirty girls and the book they are just now reading is their first smutty read.

That being said...you put a hot hockey star with a dubious past, a buttoned up woman that has a lot of energy that needs to be released, and a cute storyline without too much drama and that's for sure the recipes for a light, sexy and enjoyable read.

I couldn't put this book down.  It was sexy from the very beginning, and by that I mean sex early on (like in the first 20 pages).  I just had to like the hero.  Woody Hanrahan, the hockey star, has no money.  His manager, and one of the few people that Woody trusted, gambled most of his money away.  Woody's moms cancer treatments are expensive and that leaves Woody cornered into accepting a sponsoring deal.  That right there is reason enough for me to like the guy.  Add in the fact that he is one of the best players to step on the ice, extremely good looking (looks really hot in a thong) and is just a tad rough around the edges to be cute. Mmmmmmm

Georgia works for the marketing firm handling the campaign and since this is her first job where she's in charge, she has to make a good impression.  But everything pretty much goes out of the window because the sparks between them are instant (see reference to sex above).

Georgia and Woody are so different and they are both the total opposite of what each would normally go for.  I love when those types of relationships can work.  I consider this a light read because there wasn't a whole lot of conflict in this story.  But sometimes the lack of stressful situations is a nice change of pace and just what I need to read.

Another thing I enjoyed is the fact that you get to read along with Georgia the erotic historical that the book club was reading.  The story in that book mirrors her relationship with Woody quite well and I think it must've been fun for the author to write both versions of the story where she got to give them two different endings.

I'm not sure if this is meant to be a series but I see the possibility.  The book club girls need to find their HEAs!!  I think Georgia's friends are a lot of fun and I would even include Viv into that group, maybe they should invite her to a book club dinner.

*ARC provided by publisher

Purchase Links: Amazon