Hanna Martine | What Do You Love Most About Contemporary Romance?

Clearly you love reading romance (because you have excellent taste and are fabulous), but what aspects of contemporary romance novel relationships really make your heart do that skippity-jumpy thing? For me, it’s humor and chemistry between the couple you can practically taste.

In my newest book, THE GOOD CHASE, Shea is a whip-smart whiskey expert and Byrne is big-money Wall Street during the week and a rugby bruiser on the weekend. They share a brilliant sense of humor and a scorching attraction. Shea isn’t ready to give her heart away, but Byrne is persistent, and they both have to work through issues from their past to make their own delicious future together.

The idea for this book came directly from whiskey! The popularity of bourbon is rising and rising (commercials for it are ubiquitous, prices are going through the roof), but it has such a masculine aura around it. I really wanted to write a heroine who challenges these masculine/feminine lines. The concept of giving Shea an incredible whiskey nose and palate was endlessly appealing. She owns a wildly successful bar in NYC and dreams of opening her own distillery—a super strong woman making it work in a man’s world.

As for my hero? I just think rugby players are really hot. As hot as good men with honest, humble roots. And since I’m all about exploring contradictions in my characters, I made Byrne a bespoke-clothed millionaire to boot.

THE GOOD CHASE is the second book in my Highland Games series—contemporary romance with a modern Scottish flair. (But you do not have to read the first book, LONG SHOT, to understand this one.) It’s been called “refreshing” by many, many reviewers, so if you’re looking for a new romance, I’d love for you to check out my latest. I sincerely hope you love it as much as I do!

Excerpt

Taking the whisky bottle, he tipped a bit more into his mug. Shea was still holding the water bottle, and he asked for it with a lift of his eyebrows and a point of his finger. She answered with a nod but didn’t make a move to give it to him, so he reached for it. Slid his hand over hers. With the tiniest of gasps, she released the bottle.

The first touch is always the best, and he let it sink in, let himself memorize how it felt.

“Just a few drops,” she said, after clearing her throat.

“Gotcha.” He did as the expert instructed. “Is that enough?”

“Sure.” Though she hadn’t looked away from his face.

Under the pretense of getting more comfortable on the hard wood bench, he inched closer to her. “Do you add water to your whisky?”

She licked her lips. My God.

“Sometimes.”

Though he clutched the blue-and-white mug in his hand, it seemed nonexistent. Completely unimportant. The only thing he saw was Shea.

“Aren’t you going to taste it?” she whispered.

He was already leaning in. “Absolutely.”

And then her mouth belonged to him, her sweet whisky lips impossibly perfect, their movement open and yielding. He sank a little deeper and her mouth let him in. Cupping a hand around her neck, he couldn’t believe how soft her skin was underneath that fall of hair.

God, this kiss. This kiss. A whole year of anticipation had been backed up behind it, and now the taste of her rocketed through his body. The delicious whisky taste of her.

All my best,

Hanna Martine

Visit me at my website.