Dangelico’s first foray into New Adult romance, Nothing But Trouble, is out today, and you do not want to miss this sexy, witty and thoroughly entertaining sports romance that packs an emotional punch. As the university’s star water polo player falls for the quirky, newly-transferred film major, you’ll feel absolutely everything along the way, and you won’t want to say goodbye to these characters. I’m already anxiously awaiting the next book in the series, and I’m thrilled to welcome Paola, aka P. Dangelico, to Frolic to chat all about Nothing But Trouble and The Malibu University series.
Mary: Welcome to Frolic, Paola! I finished Nothing But Trouble late last night, because I couldn’t put it down. I love it! Tell readers little about it and the Malibu University series.
Paola: The Malibu University Series is set in the sexy, sunny beach town of Malibu, California and stars the men’s championship winning water polo team. It kicks off with Nothing But Trouble, Reagan and Alice’s story, and each book will be a standalone.
I think what differentiates this series from other college sports themed romance books are the heroines. I tend to be heroine-centric in my novels and even though The Malibu U series has an amazing cast of swoonworthy heroes, I really wanted to highlight the bonds of friendship formed between the girls.
Mary: Malibu University sounds like my dream college. Is it based on a real school?
Paola: Malibu University is not based on a real school. However, I would be disingenuous if I didn’t admit that it was somewhat inspired by my own college experience at Pepperdine University.
Mary: Reagan is a star of the water polo team. Did you already know a lot about water polo or did you have to do some research?
Paola: Yes, I already knew quite a bit about it. When I attended college (many, many moons ago), the Pepperdine men’s water polo team was highly ranked and got a lot of love on campus. That said, I’m a stickler for authenticity, so I researched new training methods and found they have changed significantly over the years.
Mary: In the same vein as the previous question: Alice is a film major, and you include a lot detail about her cameras and the classes she’s taking. Do you have a background in filmmaking?
Paola: Filmmaking was my first love. I started as a screenwriter. Which is probably why I always struggle with exposition instead of dialogue in my books. Cinematography has always been a secondary passion. I had a lot of fun researching the latest equipment for Alice to play with.
Mary: This is your first New Adult romance. How is writing it different than adult romance? What is the most challenging aspect?
Paola: I had to be very careful not to make these characters sound like they had the wisdom and experience of someone in their mid-thirties. In my opinion, what’s most important in whatever genre you’re writing is authenticity. Nothing turns me off faster than characters who do not sound their age or gender. That’s not to say a character can’t be unique, but a reason for his or her speech or behavior needs to be supplied.
Mary: Do you read New Adult romances? If so, what are some of your favorites?
Paola: Yes, I do read NA! I will say that I’m very late to the party. I only started reading it in the last two years. Some of my favorites are Law of Moses and The Smallest Part by Amy Harmon, The Failing Hours (How To Date Douchebag) by Sara Ney, The Hook Up by Kristen Callihan, and The Mistake by Elle Kennedy.
Mary: What book have you reread the most?
Paola: I’m shameless Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Lisa Kleypas, Laura Kinsale fangirl. I’ve reread Fancy Pants, Dreaming of You, The Shadow and the Star so many times my paperbacks are duct taped together.
Mary: Tell us about the rest of the series? I can’t wait.
Paola: I’m really excited for the rest of the Malibu University Series. These characters sprang out of my head fully fleshed out and I can’t wait to share them with everyone. I’m currently working on Dallas Van Zant’s story, Nothing But Wild, and he’s already breaking my heart. He’s gotten himself in bit of a pickle and a certain shy someone comes to his rescue. I’ll leave it there. *wink*
I can’t thank you enough for taking the time to read Nothing But Trouble. You’ve basically read everything there is to read in romance, so coming from an expert, your support means the world to me. And can I say how much I love Frolic? Book Universe gets me all the book news I need in one pretty place. It’s the first site I check when I come up for air and need to get caught up on what’s happening in booklandia.
Reagan Reynolds…
Water polo god.
Owner of face that belongs under Wikipedia’s definition of drop dead gorgeous.
Too charming for his own good.
But most importantly––the worst driver on the planet.
No, really, I’m pretty sure his blind nana taught him how to drive.
I had no idea who he was until he almost ran me over. And frankly, I kind of wish I still didn’t because then I wouldn’t have a sprained ankle to show for it. And my leg wouldn’t resemble a boa constrictor that’s swallowed a feral pig.
Yeah, it’s that bad.
I’ve spent years saving every penny I’ve ever earned to be able to transfer to Malibu University. And now my entire future––including my scholarship––is in jeopardy.
So I either accept the help he insists on giving me, or lose everything I’ve sacrificed for.
In the meantime, I’m going to ignore the fact that we’re becoming friends.
And I’m definitely going to pretend he’s not turning into the object of my…umm, dirty fantasies.
That’s not happening.
Not even a little.
Because the minute I clapped eyes on him I knew he was nothing but trouble.
I am a painter’s daughter. Only later would I come to realize the profound effect that would have on me. Growing up, my eyes feasted on swirls of paint, on sensual images of women. Some young, some less so. Their beauty, not diminished by age, told a story, their faces illustrating their triumphs and their defeats. Captured in time on a canvas, tight lipped, they kept their secrets. So in the privacy of my mind, I made up stories for them. It was the beginning of a great love affair…between me, and the written word.
Find out more about Paola and her books at pdangelico.com.
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