The Creatively Green Write at Home Mom: Interview and Giveaway: Colors of Us by Sandra Bunino

Hi there, Wenona! Thanks for having me on your wonderful site today. Wow – you are a busy lady. May I just say, I’m in awe of your Halloween boxes made out of toilet paper rolls. I love your creativity! :-)

Thank you, I like to work with what I have on hand. Sometimes a little creativity can go along way- for moms and writers :-)

Please share a little about yourself, your genres, any other pen names you use.

I’m in the romance business. It’s what I write and about 99% of what I read. I’m a sucker for the HEA. With a focus on contemporary romance, my work varies in heat levels from spicy to a slow but steamy simmer. Most of my back listed titles are adult novellas and short stories. I’m excited about my newest release because it’s different from anything else I’ve published.

Tell us a little about your latest or upcoming release.

Colors of Us is my first full-length New Adult novel. I love the feel of new adult fiction – it’s fresh, raw and gritty. Hunter and Michelle, the hero and heroine of Colors of Us, have their own demons to face. They’ve both had their share of tragedy and challenges but learn to overcome and heal as their lives cross and intertwine.

Are you a mom ?

I’m a very proud mom! I have three kids, two in college and a high school sophomore. They keep me on my toes, as do my two dogs, Montana and Coco.

If yes do you find it hard to juggle writing and parenting?

Life is a juggle, isn’t it? Now that my kids are older, they don’t require constant supervision, however I enjoy spending time with them as they move from childhood to adulthood. They amaze me every day.

What would your readers be surprised to learn about you?

I was a college professor and taught undergraduate Business Statistics, Accounting, and Corporate Finance classes to adult students.

Is there a genre(s) that you’d like to write that you haven’t tackled yet?

I’ve always wanted to write a children’s book. I pitched an idea to an agent last year and she loved it. Now, I need to find the time to actually write it!

Of all the characters you’ve ever written, who is your favorite and why?

Does a mother have a favorite kid? LOL My favorite characters are always the ones taking up space in my brain from my current WIP. Right now that’s Miranda and Alex from Passion of Us, the next book in the series.

If this book is part of a series…what is the next book? Any details you can share?

Yes! Colors of Us is book one in the McAvery Brothers series. Three sexy McAvery brothers give me enough material for three books, and one novella, planned in the series.

What is next for you? Do you have any scheduled upcoming book events?

I’m a featured author at the Hot Mojave Knights reader event in Las Vegas, September 25 – 27. I’ll also speak at the BookCon in Belmar, NJ and the NJRW conference in October.

What book are you reading now?

I’m finishing Carlene Love Flores’s Wicked Flower. It released two days after Colors of Us and is from her Sin Pointe series. Carlene and I have a similar style and I really enjoy her writing.

What is in your to read pile?

There are so many fantastic titles in my TBR pile right now. I’m looking forward to reading Rogue with a Brogue by Suzanne Enoch. I think I’ll save that one for the flight to Las Vegas!

Colors of Us

McAvery Brothers

Book One

Sandra Bunino

Genre: Contemporary Romance/New Adult

Publisher: Evernight Publishing

Number of pages: 240

Word Count: 62,000

ISBN: 9781771309783

ASIN: B00MwFP98E

Cover Artist: Sour Cherry Designs

Book Description:

Everything she knew to be true fell apart. Then fell apart again…

Michelle Willis is running from her past. What better place to hide than in the anonymity of New York City. Finding refuge in a tiny SoHo art gallery, she rebuilds her life one painting at a time.

A wrong turn sends Hunter McAvery on a crash course with disaster. He fights his own demons by following his big brother’s lead - drinking and bed-hopping his way through Manhattan.

A glance at Michelle’s self-portrait triggers emotions Hunter can’t tamp down. Driven to meet the artist, he discovers a fiery chemistry as their lives collide. But when their past threatens to tear them apart, can their love survive?

Available at Amazon Amazon UK

Evernight Publishing ARe Smashwords

Music Playlist:

https://play.spotify.com/user/12134886106/playlist/07orDaxcxJE4sfSZW59Loa

Excerpt:

“I think pink is your color. It looks great against your dark hair.” Reaching past her shoulder, he curled a strand of her hair between his fingers and tugged gently before letting it fall onto her shoulder.

Meeting his gaze, she smiled. “Thanks.” Michelle wasn’t used to compliments. It’d been her goal to fade into the crowd and not to call attention to herself. But her self-imposed rules seemed to float away around Hunter McAvery.

Returning her smile, he continued the lesson. “After you slide your hands into the opening, you’ll wind the long strap around your fingers and wrist like this.” Holding her fingers in his hand, he wound the dangling strap around her palm and over her knuckles. “You want to protect the part of your hand that meets the bag.”

He stepped closer as he slipped the strap around the base of her thumb. When he brushed his fingertips against the sensitive area just below the fleshy part of her palm, a shiver shot up her arm and traveled to her belly. His warm breath ghosted her face as he circled the end of the strap around her wrist and secured the Velcro tab. Before she knew it, strong fingers captured her left hand and guided her arm to the warmth between their bodies. She itched to graze her fingers along his muscled chest, capturing his heat with her palm. Her gaze bounced to his neck and stubbled jaw, which clenched as he slid the other wrap over her hand. Slowly wrapping her other wrist, he secured the strap and held both of her gloved hands in his. “Make a fist,” he said huskily.

Tightening her hands into a ball, she tucked her thumb around the outside of her fingers like he showed her at the gym.

He squeezed her fists. “They look good. You’re a badass.”

Michelle snorted. “A badass in pink.”

“Let’s see what you got. Show me some upper cuts. Right here.” He tapped his abs.

“You want me to hit you?” She giggled.

“Sure. I can take it.”

Turning her palms up, she made a fist and alternated soft punches to his belly. His rock-hard belly. Each strike made her aware of how alive he made her feel. The force of impact sent ripples up his tight shirt, awakening the planes of his muscular form. She gulped back the desire to open her fists and run her fingertips along the line of each thick muscle.

His hands came to rest on her forearms, halting her movement. The pads of his thumbs stroked the sensitive skin near the inside of her elbow causing a delicious shiver up her arm. Michelle’s eyes met his. The fire brewing in his darkened gaze drew her in. Hunter stepped between her legs, nudging her back against the wall next to the mural. She closed her eyes and choked back a groan, wanting—no, needing—to grind her heat on his leg. Raising her arms above her, he pinned them against the wall on either side of her head. His scent flooded her senses as she lifted her chin to close the gap between them.

“I’m trying like hell not to kiss you.” Hunter straightened his back but didn’t loosen his grip on her arms.

Her skin prickled from the nearness of his body. She let her gaze drift to his lips. “Why?” she whispered.

He blew a slow breath between his teeth. “Nothing good would come of it. I’m not capable of giving or feeling… or offering anything much to you.” He shook his head but he didn’t move from her body.

“I don’t believe that.” Michelle wriggled her arms from his grasp. Her fingertips lingered on his corded forearms, which flexed under her touch. Easing a trail toward his shoulders, her fingers reminded her of a paintbrush’s first dab of color on a fresh canvas. She’d always believed each canvas had a personality of its own, and it was the symphony of the brush, artist, and canvas that created the work of art. She wanted to explore the blank canvas of Hunter McAvery.

She studied his arms, still caging her in. Protecting her. Wanting her. Her eyes met his gaze. He stared at her, unmoving, but a spark burned in his eyes. She held her breath, afraid to break his trance. Her palms smoothed over his shoulders and down his chest, stopping at the center of his ribs. Pushing into the muscles of his chest, she felt the strong beat of his heart on her fingers. “Kiss me, Hunter.” Raising her eyebrows, she dared to look him in the eyes, almost afraid of what she’d see.

“You don’t understand. You’re too… good.” He averted his gaze.

“Maybe you should let me decide what’s good for me.” She moved closer, his breath burned hot on her face, and he squeezed his eyes closed.

“Michelle….”

Her hands traveled up his chest and rested on the bulk of his strong shoulders. Pulling him in, her breasts molded into his chest and, finally, he crashed his lips down on hers. She met every stroke of his tongue as her fingers raked through the ends of his hair. Moaning into his mouth, she straddled his muscular thigh as warmth flooded her sex. She’d never felt more alive.

His hand grazed her cheek before taking her chin between his thumb and index finger and pulling away from their kiss. He tipped his forehead to hers, his raspy breath hot on her mouth. “Shit.”

Michelle widened her eyes. “What?” she whispered.

“You. Me. This just can’t happen. Not now. Not like this.”

About the Author:

Sandra Bunino is a romance author of several novellas including The Satin Rose Experience series. Her first full-length novel, Colors of Us from the McAvery Brothers series, released in August. She makes her parents proud by putting her MBA degree to good use dreaming up heroes who resemble David Gandy whenever possible. When not staying up past her bedtime torturing her oh-so-sexy heroes, she can be found shopping for shoes or saving turtles.

As a social media junkie in need of a ten-step program, you can also follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and her new addiction, Pinterest. Sandra loves to read and chat with other readers, so she formed the Bunino’s Bookalicious Babes group on Facebook where they currently share their love of Jamie Fraser from Outlanders…and David Gandy, of course.

Website: http://sandrabunino.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5406952.Sandra_Bunino

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SandraBunino

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SandraBuninoAuthor

Bookalicious Babes Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/597429020306289/

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/sandrabunino/

Bookalicious Babes mailing list: http://eepurl.com/LuwPL

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