[Note from Frolic: Today, we welcome author Scarlett Cole back to the site. She has an interview with one of Romancelandia’s newest reviewers, MarcusRomance. Take it away!]
I am so excited to be here at Frolic this week. As any author will tell you, bloggers are a critical part of our success. We love the messages we receive while bloggers are reading our books. (Except for the messages I got when Lennon Reborn came out because you all were plenty mad at what I put that man through in the first three chapters!) We love the collages you make and the soundbites you create that we get to use in marketing. But, most importantly, we love that you take the time to read our stories and share your thoughts on them with people you know. Word of mouth is the single greatest way to sell a book.
This month, I had a blast helping a new blogger find his feet. Jamarcus ‘Marcus’ Turner and I met on Twitter in one of those “Hey, it’s nearly Valentine’s Day, let’s bash romance books,” articles. Marcus announced he was a fan of the romance genre since reading a romance book in jail. I told him the romance industry would welcome him with open arms.
His response? “You think they want romance novels reviews from a 6’3” 240 black dude covered in tatts?”
Of course, I said yes. I wanted to hear them. And so began our friendship and Marcus’s Romance Reviews.
Marcus, welcome to Frolic. Your comment on why you started to read romance books is approaching a thousand likes on Twitter. Would you mind sharing the story here?
When I was 20 I tried to get in a bar and instead went to jail for two weeks. I read a lot so after a week I had read every book on the cellblock besides the romance novels. I picked one up and have been hooked ever since.
Do you remember what your first romance novel was?
My first romance novel was ‘The Highlander’s Touch’ by Karen Marie Moning. The main character travels back in time and meets an immortal Highlander, who gets turned on seeing her in jeans.
Karen Maire Moning was a fantastic pick for your first book. Her Highlander series is incredibly popular. What is it that makes you come back to romance books?
I keep reading these books because they are light and almost without consequences because you know they’ll end up together in the end. But the stakes also couldn’t be higher when dealing with the most important subject of all, love.
If you had to list three of your favorites, which would you choose?
The Highlander’s Touch (because it was my first), The Duke’s Captive by Adele Ashworth, Suddenly You by Lisa Kleypas, and Rebel by Beverly Jenkins.
All great choices, although I’m pretty sure Ms. Bev, legend that she is, would make the top three for so many people! Do you have any advice for people who have so far avoided reading romance?
Read everything. I think without reading these books I would be a one-dimensional character. I like feeling fully fleshed out.
It’s been a three weeks since we met in the Twitter comments and we got you established to review romance books. What has your journey been like since then?
It’s been amazing. Everyone is so helpful. Finally talking about these books I love is nice. I talked about them with my friends, they just wished I would stop.
That’s the great thing about Romancelandia…we LOVE talking about books. Are there any particular genres of romance you’d like to review?
I’m so new to the scene I’d like to read everything. Any era any settings. I want the love.
That’s the basic tenet of romance… a happily for now/happily ever after ending. This is also I hill I will die on. So, what can we expect from Marcus’s Romance Reviews?
Lots of content. I’m a talker so I post a lot. I want to do deep dives on old reads. Read-alongs with new ones, and conversation about all of it in-between.
I loved the review you did of Love in Moments, my February release. I’ve never been compared to a pastry chef before, but I will take the 5 chocolate-coated strawberries with gratitude. You’ve been immersed in Romancelandia for three weeks now, how have you found it?
It’s like nothing I ever experienced. My family knew I loved this genre. But they treated it like something I caught, and they should stay away. Now I finally have people to talk to and go over Bridgerton with me like it’s game tape.
I stan Julia Quinn. It’s amazing to see how successful a romance book series can be when produced in the mainstream. I’ve binged it three times already. And I write almost every day to the soundtrack. The final song, A Grand Finish, is perfect for epilogue writing.
Once last question Marcus… I know you are open to receiving ARCs from authors to review. How can they contact you?
I’m on Twitter, @MarcusRomance. I love reading everything, so don’t be afraid to hit me up.
About the Interviewer:
Scarlett Cole is a contemporary romance author that calls both Toronto, Canada and Manchester, England home. A born city dweller, she periodically quashes the urge to live in the country by hiking up a mountain to remind herself that living away from people would terrify the pants off her.
She believes everybody deserves their love story to be told and loves her heroes on the rough and rugged side…and usually tall (because she married one of those 6ft 6” men you read about in romance!). She’s an A-type personality and Scorpio star sign, so good luck getting her to do anything she doesn’t want to.
When she isn’t writing, she’s happy to talk hot men and expensive shoes while drinking a cold gin and tonic. Don’t bring up olives. As far as Scarlett is concerned, they are the devil’s food. As long as you don’t bring up olives, she’s happy to hear from any time.
Connect with Scarlett:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scarlettcole/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/itsscarlettcole
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ItsScarlettCole
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2FNTzyC
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/scarlett-cole
Newsletter sign-up: http://www.scarlettcole.com/contact
Love in Moments by Scarlett Cole, out now!
One night.
That’s all he can give her.
Hockey player Anders Berg has spent three years of hard work to prove he has what it takes to be the very heart of a hockey franchise. Nothing can distract him from landing the trade of the season. Especially not Olivia Dyer, his brother’s wedding planner, who deserves so much more than he can give her.
One night.
That’s all Olivia Dyer needs.
One night to remind herself what it feels like to be seen by someone who doesn’t think she’s broken, someone who doesn’t know how she ruined her family-run gin distillery and fell apart in the aftermath. Especially if it’s with the hot hockey player who’s been watching her all evening.
One night.
Can it ever be enough?
A kitchen catastrophe ends with one night neither of them can forget. Until Anders is unexpectedly traded to see out the rest of his contract with the Denver Rush, and can’t seem to avoid Olivia, the woman he’s dreamed about. Despite their efforts, they can’t resist giving in to their growing feelings for one another.
Yet with Liv stuck in the past, and Anders firmly focused on the future, can they find love in the present or will one night be all they’ll ever add up to?
