Josh Lane, for sure. He’s the hero of At the Brink, a decorated war hero and former SEAL turned successful entrepreneur. Josh is blunt, ruthless, intense and exacting; a workaholic driven by internal demons, a man who doesn't play games, except in bed, of course, where he is always in control. When he meets Lily Boswell, a talented but stifled artist trapped in a dangerous situation, he devises a sexual agreement that explores their most primal erotic cravings, the only chance he might have to protect Lily and banish the demons that haunt his dreams.
From the beginning, Josh is the ultimate alpha, succesful, confident, strong and super-sexy. But there’s so much more than brawn to him. We get to learn a lot about Josh as the story develops. With each chapter we realize the strentgh and weakness hidden beneath his gorgeous, carefully constructed facade. We learn how Josh‘s smarts match his brawn, how his toughness contrasts with his generosity. We discover the engine that powers his indominable drive and his passion. There are twists and I won’t give those up, but I’ll say this: When the last page is turned, we understand the makings of a hero like no other.
Q: Which came first, the title or the novel?
The novel came first. The title I penned as a sentence somewhere in the last few chapters. Hmm. I wonder if there’s a clever reader out there who caught the exact moment in which the words became the title.
Q: What scene in the book are you most proud of, and why?
I have to say, I’m really proud of the entire novel. I took my time with At the Brink, in the hopes of offering the reader a full story, a total escape. At the Brink is a fun, sexy read, but it’s also a carefully crafted tale that begins by evoking familiar settings and then takes off in an original and deeply erotic journey where we share in the delicious discoveries that lend sex meaning and love context.
Having said that, I’ll admit to being particularly proud of three scenes, mostly because how they came about. You see, back when I was “auditioning” for Carina Press, I got a request from the editors considering my submission. Requests like these are not unusual at Carina, as they’ve built their reputation by carefully selecting their authors. The editors wanted to see three new scenes added to the original manuscript. So I wrote, fast and furious. It must have worked, because here we are, celebrating At the Brink’s release.
Curious about those scenes? Three hints: One scene involves a custom “active sex” piece of furniture. Another scene has to do with bunk beds. Lots of bunk beds. The third scene is very artistic. It involves paint. Body paint.
Q: What do you like most about the cover of the book?
I love the cover of At the Brink. I love everything about it, the background, the city lights sparkling in the night, and the colors, the way the yellow and blue contrast against the dark background. But let’s be real. Who are we kidding? I love the guy on the cover most. When I first got the cover concept, I actually gasped. I wondered if the folks at Carina Press had somehow extracted him from my brain. He is Josh Lane in all his glory and he’s dressed for trouble.
Q: What’s up next for Anna del Mar?
I’m keeping busy with a four releases scheduled for 2016.
At the Brink marks my second release this year, coming on the heels of
The Asset, book one of my Wounded Warrior series, a collection of romantic suspense novels about strong heroines struggling to find their place in the world and the brave, sexy, kickass, military heroes who challenge their limits to protect the women they love.
The Stranger, book two of the series is coming out in August. It’s about Summer Silva, a warmth loving Miami architect who comes to Alaska chasing after her missing sister only to find herself stranded in the Alaskan wilderness and in danger from more than the elements. Only a mysterious, sexy stranger, an Alaskan scion and an ex-military pilot fighting his own demons who has no time for a lady in distress—let alone one who gets into trouble when she sleepwalks—can protect Summer from murder, treason and Alaska’s ruthless winter.
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