Tentative Tourist: A Mayne Attraction Short Story by Ann Mauren

Grayson Gregory is finally being taken seriously by his father, the founder and CEO of Gregory Geologic Resources. Anticipating his first opportunity to lead a project management team on a survey for Iceland's Ministry of Natural Resources, he hopes to prove to his father and the executive staff that he's ready to assume greater leadership responsibilities within the international company that will someday be his.When world renowned geologist and longtime family friend Dr. Samuel Mayne comes out of retirement to consult on the project, Grayson is ecstatic. He is certain that the collaboration and Midas touch genius of his mentor, Dr. Mayne, will guarantee the success of his debut in the driver's seat. But the presence of Dr. Mayne's travelling companion results in a frustrating change of assignments for Grayson, who becomes tasked with the oversight of a Tentative Tourist.

(Image and Description from Goodreads)

Another wonderful teaser from Ann Mauren!

So far we have had a whole novel from the point of view of Ellery the heroine of the tale, a short story from Ash, one of the corners of the love triangle, and now we get a short story from the other corner, Grayson. 

It was brilliant to be reminded all over again why I enjoyed In The Spotlight (Bk #1) so much. Ann Mauren has a way of grabbing me and pulling me right into the story and making me not want to come back out of the world she has made. 

This is the first look into Grayson's mind we have been given and it was great to get a feel for the guy that has quite a large presence in the first book while getting to see the heroine through his eyes for the first time. I can't wait to read a full novel from his point of view. 

This has well and truly got me ready for In the Smoke. I can't wait to dive back into Ellery's world!

Barefoot Heroine (Mayne Attraction) by Ann Mauren

Former CIA agent Ash Ryan has finally found a stress-free dream job. But his life turns bitterly painful when he falls desperately in love with Ellery Mayne, the entrancing but clueless subject of his company’s security contract. This excerpt from the Mayne Attraction series reveals the secret life of Ellery as seen through the eyes of a man who adores her but believes he will never get to meet her.

Yay, my Mayne Attraction fix - hopefully enough to keep me going.

So here we have excerpts from one of the future books that will be told from Ash's point of view and it is filled with some of the cutest, awe and smile worthy thoughts from Ash I have ever read - I am smiling like a loon as I type this that is how cute they are.

"...You’re welcome to whatever you need from me. Any time." A kiss, a hug, a husband … whatever you need.

See!

And one of the best things is that one of the chapters included is Ash and Ellery's first PROPER  meeting told from Ash's perspective - Chapter 17 from In the Spotlight. It was great to read what was going on in Ash's head.

*sigh* Don't you just love reading moments through the hero's eyes?

If you have read In the Spotlight and want a taste of what the next book will be like give this a read, I do not think you will find it a disappointment.

And if you have not read Mayne Attraction... *dangles carrot* It is free on Amazon...

Amazon UK
Amazon US

Smashword - for non-Kindle peeps

Or head on over to Ann Maurens website and read some extracts from In the Spotlight (book 1) if you do not want to be faced with a full novel straight away.

Author Interview - Ann Mauren

*Skips along, throwing daisies from a basket with blue birds fluttering around my head and forest animals following behind*

Y'all remember how I was singing and dancing about the Mayne Attraction series by Ann Mauren?

Well, Ann kindly agreed to answer some questions for me.
I KNOW RIGHT!

Interview


When you began writing In the Spotlight was it a spontaneous process or did you have to work yourself up to begin writing?

It was quite spontaneous. I had finished reading a certain saga (that shall remain nameless due to its polarizing nature) and thought “I wonder if I could write something that I enjoyed as much as this?”


What message do you want readers to go away with at the end of your book?

If you are young and especially if you are female, develop yourself into the grown-up you want to be long before you pursue romance. Reversing those steps rarely ever works out.

With the YA scene being filled with so much of the paranormal element did you feel some trepidation over how your book would be received?

I’m hoping the change to a real world feel will be refreshing and relatable to YA readers. I like to joke and say that my characters do all their own stunts (without special paranormal powers!)


As it is unfair to ask whether you would chose Grayson or Ash if you were in Ellery's shoes... I'll ask, who would you chose, Mr Darcy or Mr Rochester?

I would choose Fitzwilliam Darcy every day and twice on Sunday! Though both men are revealed to be deeply misunderstood, the uncovering of Mr. Darcy’s character never ceases to satisfy and please me, no matter how many times I read it.


I loved that Ellery was a sleepwalker (I thought it was pretty cute). What made you give her this disorder?

I was a sleepwalker as a girl, so I am familiar with the many humorous variables this behavior can create. Books two and three of the series will bring more of Ellery’s sleepwalking hijinks to light.


If you could walk in any other author’s shoes for a day (past or present), who would it be?

One of my very favorite authors is Bill Bryson who is particularly known for his humorous brand of travel writing. I would have loved to walk in his shoes the day he visited the island of Capri, off the coast Italy.

Why did you opt to go down the self publishing route over the traditional route?

I am ‘do it yourself’ oriented by nature, so it was very much in keeping with my style to pursue this new endeavor in the most accessible, rejection free manner available: self-publishing.

Would you say that the satisfaction of independently publishing your book was worth the extra work that you had to put in?

I am also a perfectionist and a control freak about my work, so yes, though the extra effort was par for the course, I find it very satisfying. And I have a completely new respect for publishing in general and authors in particular.


Did you plan on making Ellery's story span three books or did it just happen?

I originally envisioned just two books, each one written from Ellery’s and Ash’s perspectives. But as I began working my way through the story, it became clear that Gray’s perspective was too important to leave out. So he got his own book in the middle, though I’ve regretted this decision a time or two when I’ve had trouble getting into his mind. He’s complicated.


If you could describe your book in one word what would it be and why?

For ‘Spotlight’ the word is “Misconception”. The main character suffers from chronic misconceptions about her own abilities and value as a person, and the way she is perceived by others. Her security team completely underestimates her capabilities and intentions. Gray miscalculates her reaction to his reappearance in her life.

For the Mayne Attraction series as a whole the word is “Layers.” When you apply Gray’s filter over Ellery’s story, and then rest Ash’s perspective over top of that, what you will get is a rich tale with many layers of emotion, intention and detail. I want it to be fun, even amusing at times, to reread the first two volumes after having completed the third to see how seemingly minor details and dialogue take on new life through the application of these layers.

Anything else you would like to add?

One of the recurring comments in reviews has been the fact that the opening scene in the book’s prologue is seemingly never discussed again. Let me clear the air on this, if I may. The main body of the story is told from Ellery’s perspective, and as she was sleepwalking through that scene, she is unable to give further details of it in her narration, though she does meet up with Artan and Dritan Agoli again at the drug store, and glimpses their cousin Besnik at Kings Island. So in truth, they are not completely dropped or forgotten. And the brothers Agoli will play a major role in books two and three, where full disclosure of who they are and what they want will be made. (Wow, it feels good to get that off my chest!)

If you’d like to check out the world of Mayne Attraction, please stop by www.MayneAttraction.com and have a look around. Be sure to leave a quick comment somewhere so I know you were there. It makes my day—it really does!
Thanks very much for this opportunity to “blether” about my book!

Thank you very much Ann for your time and for answering my questions! I can't wait to read more of Ellery's story.

Favourite Love Triangle - Mayne Attraction by Anne Mauren

It has been a while since I have done a post on a favourite love triangle and that is just because I have been a little but lazy about it. I have been meaning to put this up since I read the book,

So here we go.

This triangle is the relationship found in the book Mayne Attraction – In the Spotlight by Ann Mauren.

This is really interesting because both of the men involved as so different from each other and yet they have one solid thing in common – they both love Ellery and would do anything for her and in their own ways they are both honourable.

Another thing that makes this triangle brilliant is that there are no super natural elements. Everyone is normal. So our two guys can dislike each other purely for the personal reasons involved and not for any dumb deeply ingrained ‘you’re a werewolf, I’m a pixie/vampire/whatever’. Just pure male jealousy and you can’t go wrong with that.

Ash is so protective and yet unsure of the relationship that he tends to be a bit stiff about things but he loves and respects Ellery and shows this by not allowing their physical displays of affection go to far.

Grayson is the complete opposite of Ash, he is more laid back and sure of himself and more flippant about winding Ellery up. And yet he too has shown that he cares by having given her time to grow up.

So here we have another two men in a triangle who are as different as chalk and cheese and yet are lovely in their own ways.

And why do I love this triangle? Because I have no idea who I want Ellery to choose.

This book was a really fun read and I have read it again in between times.

Who can see the clue to what the next post will be? HINT HINT! :-)  

Can't Wait...for the rest of the Mayne Attraction series!

Did you guys see how many posts I put up last month!!! That number totally blows my mind. That is nearly the total amount of post just from last year.

Anyway, moving on.

So, last month I found a new series (yay) well…new book (it isn’t a series yet as I am waiting with bated breath for the next two to come out).

So, here are –

The Books I Can’t Wait For.

 And the titles TOTALLY make sense!!

In the Shadow and In the Smoke.

From what I can figure out these are following on/tie in novels to go with book one.

Now, I am the kind of girl who – although I love Jane Eyre to bits – would have loved to have read Mr Rochester’s point of view. I would love to have known what was going through his mind when he first met Jane and as the months went by and he fell in love with her *sigh*. What can I say, I’m a hopeless romantic. But…my wishes will be coming true for this book. And not only do I get one love sick guys point of view…I get TWO! That’s right, because this is a love triangle. And each of these books deal with each of the leading men. Now, I don't know about anyone else but that sounds pretty funky to me. 

Can’t wait!

Check out the author’s book website for some extracts and other cool series stuff. http://mayneattraction.com/

My review of book 1 In the Spotlight is here

Mayne Attraction - In the Spotlight (Book 1) by Ann Mauren

Ellery Mayne is a high school girl who makes a disturbing discovery. After a foiled abduction attempt, she realizes that an entire team of security personnel are secretly shadowing her every move. As she works to make sense of this startling development, she secretly carries out observations of her own, testing the limits of a secret service detail who think they are conducting transparent surveillance on a clueless teenager. 

When the mystery behind the secret security unravels, Ellery is faced with decisions that involve her future and the hopes of two unlikely love interests: a handsome but conflicted security agent who doesn’t realize she knows about him, and her first love—a boy that broke her heart—who has returned to explain his actions and his feelings for her. 

Told from Ellery’s perspective, she puzzles over what could interest not one but two handsome suitors and a whole security force. Suddenly this quiet loner realizes that her life is In the Spotlight and she is the Mayne Attraction.

*Insert embarrassing happy dance here at finally reading a GOOD book*

I loved this book! I started reading it and couldn’t put it down until I had finished – and even then I could have quite happily gone on for another 500 pages (but that didn’t happen…).

Romance, mystery, heartbreak, death, kidnapping attempt, hidden feelings... Greatness!

Ellery was a great character to see the story through. She was so cute with the little things that she did that it made her o much more real to read. She was painted to be so 3D and she stayed that way all through the book which was another joy of this story. She was not thick. She knew what she wanted to do, she knew what the consequences of her actions could be and she didn’t flinch from them. She didn’t paint everyone else as the bad guys if they didn’t understand her reasons or agree with her (having that happen in other YA novel sets my teeth on edge). She had definitely been the most realistic YA heroine I have read this year! The way that she conducted her little tests and experiments to see who was watching added a real fun twist to the story too. 

And finally! NO SEX! Thank goodness. Kodak moment with party poppers and fireworks people! There was kissing and some slight (SLIGHT) innuendo but that was it and I loved it. I spent the book dreading when I would click to the next page and see the infamous words ‘I took his hand and lead him upstairs’ or have the wondering hands scene which would then lead to something else. But there was nothing like that! In fact, everything about this book was lovely. The relationships were geared towards a more serious nature - instead of having just dating things where more serious in that engagements were being spoken about and I personally liked that.

Ellery not allowing herself to be pressurised into doing something she wasn’t comfortable with made me very happy too. She had the kind of personality were she likes to please people but I was glad to see that she could make decisions for herself. (SPOILER) Even with what would seem like a small thing like sharing a tent with a guy. Even though he said he would ‘behave’ himself. She still said no. For some reason this stuck out with me. I suppose that was because if a guy cares for you enough he should respect your decision and if something comes up that makes you the slightest little bit uncomfortable you have the right to make your own decision and put your foot down. I could be reading waaaay to much into that little bit but I really liked it anyway.

The supporting cast are so colourful and as much fun to read about as Ellery is. And having her make friends with a group of Goths was a stroke of genius – in my humble opinion.

Gray and Ash are both lovely in their own ways and I can honestly see why Ellery finds herself stuck between the two of them. I would find it difficult to choose between then too I think. I can’t wait for the next in the series.

A wonderful, fun read.

5 stars!