Today's Author Spotlight introduces you to young adult author Rachael Brownell. Brownell is the author behind the books A Secret Life, Take A Gamble, Secrets and Lies, and the Holding On series. She released her first book Holding On at the end of last year and just released Weakness the third book in the Holding On series in June. While she has released six books in a short time, Brownell actually discuss in her interview that it was a longer process. It's time to get ready to meet today's Jazzy World of E's Author Spotlight, Rachael Brownell.
Rachael Brownell's Biography
Author Rachael Brownell is the author of A Secret Life, Take A Gamble and the Holding On series. She can usually be found hiding in her office, procrastinating on Facebook, or occasionally on the golf course. When she's not working, she enjoys photography, scrapbooking and is an avid reader. Although she writes youngadult romance, Rachael enjoys reading books from all genre's.
An Interview with Rachael Brownell
You started writing your first book, Holding On last Fall. Since then you've released four other books, Unglued and Weakness part of the Holding On series and two stand alones, A Secret Life and Take A Gamble, did you plan on having five books released in a year’s time or did it just happen organically for you?
My first two books - Holding On and Unglued - were originally with a publishing house so they took longer to get to the public. While I was impatiently waiting on them to be released I just kept writing. Then I decided to start releasing the other books I wrote. It looks like I released five books in 6 months but it really took about a year and a half to write all of them.
Your books focus on the young adult genre, what is it about this type of genre that inspires you as a writer?
I'm not really sure. I think, more than anything, I'm able to relate to that age group still. I work in an industry where I deal with the public and most of the people that work for me are young adults. I study them, watch their mannerisms and listen to what they talk about. I remember being that young and some days I miss it so I think this is how I get my "fix" in a way.
Having written both stand alones and a series do you prefer one over the other or do you enjoy writing both?
I LOVE my series. I loved digging further into their lives and watching them grow along with the story. On the flip side of that, sometimes a book ends and I love the ending and there's no where else I want to take those characters. I like writing both and will probably continue to write both.
The final book in the Holding On Series, Weakness came out in June, how does it feel to be done telling Becca, Ethan and Brad’s story?
I'm not really sure that I'm done with the story. I feel like I left the readers hanging a little with what happens to Brad. I'm contemplating writing his story but I'm not really sure where I want to take it yet.
Do you ever think you’ll revisit them down the road?
Maybe. Even if I don't write Brad's story I can picture maybe writing something about Eli and Natalie, starting their stories where I started Becca and Ethan's, as late teenagers.
Take a Gamble asks the question of how long does it take to fall in love and what you would do to hold on to it. What was the inspiration behind this story?
I was driving down the road one day and the idea for the story hit me. I actually pulled over and wrote the first three sentences on a piece of paper. I forgot about it for a few weeks and when I went to change purses, something I do A LOT, I found it. I spent most of the next two days trying to decide where I wanted the story to go and it wasn't working for me so I shelved it. I published A Secret Life, Holding On was released and I finished Unglued AND Weakness before I went back to it and my vision was clear. I had been writing about love and holding onto love in all my books so I kept with the theme in a way. I ended up writing Take A Gamble in about 3 weeks.
A Secret Life, your other stand alone book, has the main character Kat trying to blend in and hide from her past but Cam makes that hard for her. How was it writing a character like Cam for someone like Kat?
It was a lot of fun. He continually tried to challenge her and as much as she tried to resist him, she kept falling harder for him. He's charismatic and charming and everything we all want in a man but he's caring as well. I try to base some characteristics of my character off of people that I know so I can relate better to them and Cam is no exception. He's based off of an old boyfriend but he's more of the opposite of who he was, more who I always wished he was.
All of your books common thread is fighting for love. As a writer is this a topic that was easy for you to write about or were there days that you had trouble with it?
It was easy for me. I always felt like I was trying to hard to personally find love and that when it finally happened, it found me. I truly believe that we don't have a choice.
What has been your favorite part of writing and publishing books?
Connecting with the readers and other authors. I have met so many amazing people in the last few years that have touched my life and that I can now call friends. My best friend is a fellow author and I never would have met her if I hadn't started this crazy journey.
Of all the books you’ve written so far, do you have a favorite?
I love my male characters for some reason. My favorite character is probably from my newest release, Secrets & Lies. His name is Taylor. He's the bad guy but he wants to be the good guy. Secrets & Lies is a companion novella to A Secret Life so you get a little snippet of the lives of those characters.
What are some of your favorite books?
I have so many these days. I will read anything by Molly McAdams, Jasinda Wilder and Casey Bond (my bestie). If I had to pick just one... probably Taking Chances by Molly McAdams.
In 10 words or less can you tell readers why they should read your books?
There will always be a HEA and an emotional roller coaster.
Is there anything else you would like to say to your fans and or readers new to you?
Thanks for taking a chance on me. I truly hope you enjoy my books.
Books by Rachael Brownell
Synopsis
For five years Becca
has been struggling to hide her feelings for her best friend, Brad. Now
she finally has a chance to move on. She’s in a new city, she’s
attending a new school, and she’s met the first guy besides Brad who’s
held her attention in a long time. Not only is Ethan attractive, he’s an
amazing tennis player, and he might just be Becca’s match on and off
the courts.
Brad has loved Becca for as long as he can remember. Now that Becca’s family has moved two thousand miles away, Brad may finally be ready to lay his heart on the line and do whatever it takes to hold on to Becca.
But is Brad too late? Or will Ethan’s secret drive Becca back into Brad’s arms? Torn between her love for Brad and the promise of something new and exciting with Ethan, Becca has an almost impossible choice to make, the choice between letting go or holding on.
Brad has loved Becca for as long as he can remember. Now that Becca’s family has moved two thousand miles away, Brad may finally be ready to lay his heart on the line and do whatever it takes to hold on to Becca.
But is Brad too late? Or will Ethan’s secret drive Becca back into Brad’s arms? Torn between her love for Brad and the promise of something new and exciting with Ethan, Becca has an almost impossible choice to make, the choice between letting go or holding on.
Synopsis
“Look in your heart Becca
and tell me that you don’t love me and I will walk away but I need for
you to say the words cuz I know that deep down you love me as much as I
love you .“
Becca’s life has always been complicated when it’s come to choosing between the love of her life and her best friend. Her decision was simple in the end: she chose to keep them both in her life. That is, until Ethan is offered a job on another continent. Does Becca move on in her life with Ethan or is she unable to give up Brad once and for all? The decision is made for her but once she realizes that the wrong decision was made she attempts to right it.
Then tragedy strikes close to home. Will Becca finally realize who was meant to be standing by her side or will she come completely Unglued?
Becca’s life has always been complicated when it’s come to choosing between the love of her life and her best friend. Her decision was simple in the end: she chose to keep them both in her life. That is, until Ethan is offered a job on another continent. Does Becca move on in her life with Ethan or is she unable to give up Brad once and for all? The decision is made for her but once she realizes that the wrong decision was made she attempts to right it.
Then tragedy strikes close to home. Will Becca finally realize who was meant to be standing by her side or will she come completely Unglued?
Synopsis
"I set her down, place
my hands on her cheeks and kiss her like it's the last time I will ever
be able to. I can hear our families talking in the background but I
don't really care. She will be my wife soon enough. She's already
carrying my children. She's my entire world. I've felt an inner strength
and an emotional weakness for her since the moment I laid eyes on her."
Ethan and Becca's relationship has been far from easy. In the
beginning, Ethan had to fight to be with her. After Brad moved to town,
he had to fight to keep her. When he walked away he was sure that he
lost her. Then Natalie died and he was given a second chance to prove
his love to her. Now, Becca is pregnant. With twins! Can Becca and Ethan
hold on to the love that they shared? Or will the one secret that Ethan
has kept from Becca be the reason their relationship falls apart... for
good this time? A lie by omission is still a lie. Ethan's secret comes
to light as the final chapter of their story is told through Ethan's
eyes. The real question is... Will Ethan and Becca find their happily
ever after?
Synopsis
“I think you and I were meant to meet. I think all of this was supposed to happen. You are my destiny.”
She never thought that her life would be this complicated. Or this dangerous. Running from her past, Kat and her mom end up in a small Colorado town when Kat run’s directly into her future. She changes everything about herself to try and blend into the background, to go unnoticed. She pushes everyone away and erects walls around herself and her heart. As hard as she tries, though, Kat can’t seem to escape the pull that Cam has on her.
Cam has never been so intrigued by anyone. Not only is Kat the most gorgeous girl he’s ever seen but also the most mysterious. She’s hiding something and he’s hell-bent on finding out what it is. The only problem is that she’s trying to shut him out which only furthers his determination to get close to her.
When Kat learns that her past is catching up with her again she has to run, leaving Cam, and her broken heart, behind.
She never thought that her life would be this complicated. Or this dangerous. Running from her past, Kat and her mom end up in a small Colorado town when Kat run’s directly into her future. She changes everything about herself to try and blend into the background, to go unnoticed. She pushes everyone away and erects walls around herself and her heart. As hard as she tries, though, Kat can’t seem to escape the pull that Cam has on her.
Cam has never been so intrigued by anyone. Not only is Kat the most gorgeous girl he’s ever seen but also the most mysterious. She’s hiding something and he’s hell-bent on finding out what it is. The only problem is that she’s trying to shut him out which only furthers his determination to get close to her.
When Kat learns that her past is catching up with her again she has to run, leaving Cam, and her broken heart, behind.
Synopsis
Secrets & Lies is a companion novella to A Secret Life. It is recommended to read A Secret Life first.
Magdelyn Becker lost her entire family when she was seventeen. Ever since, she’s avoided relationships at all costs: personal, physical, emotional. She doesn’t trust anyone and won’t allow herself to get close enough to create a connection. It’s the way she is. Take it or leave it. Her new job as an FBI agent has her letting her guard down, and letting the wrong person into her life, her mind and her heart.
Taylor Donovan is tall, sexy and powerful. He doesn’t show emotion and he can spot an agent a mile away. Being an FBI agent is the farthest thing from his mind when he lays eyes on Maggie Becker. She’s beautiful, sweet and honest and honesty is not something that Taylor is used to in his business. It’s her beauty that blinds him, though, and it might be what costs him everything, including his heart.
No one can be honest 100% of the time, not even Maggie. It’s her job to lie to Taylor. It’s her job to break him down then bring him down. The only problem is she has to do it without Taylor realizing it’s happening. After all, Taylor Donovan is supposed to be dead. The FBI shouldn’t be looking for him.
Magdelyn Becker lost her entire family when she was seventeen. Ever since, she’s avoided relationships at all costs: personal, physical, emotional. She doesn’t trust anyone and won’t allow herself to get close enough to create a connection. It’s the way she is. Take it or leave it. Her new job as an FBI agent has her letting her guard down, and letting the wrong person into her life, her mind and her heart.
Taylor Donovan is tall, sexy and powerful. He doesn’t show emotion and he can spot an agent a mile away. Being an FBI agent is the farthest thing from his mind when he lays eyes on Maggie Becker. She’s beautiful, sweet and honest and honesty is not something that Taylor is used to in his business. It’s her beauty that blinds him, though, and it might be what costs him everything, including his heart.
No one can be honest 100% of the time, not even Maggie. It’s her job to lie to Taylor. It’s her job to break him down then bring him down. The only problem is she has to do it without Taylor realizing it’s happening. After all, Taylor Donovan is supposed to be dead. The FBI shouldn’t be looking for him.
Synopsis
One summer.
One chance meeting.
One devastating phone call.
MacKenna Trist is not happy about spending a month with her family in Myrtle Beach. She would rather be at home, hanging out with her friends, before starting her senior year of high school. That is, until she meets the guy staying in the beach house next door.
Roe Gamble is speechless when he first lays eyes on Mac. Normally, pretty girls are his specialty but not this girl. From this girl, he wants more. More of everything. More than she can give him. Most importantly, more time to show her how he feels about her.
But time is working against them in more ways than one.
How much time do you really need to fall in love?
What would you gamble to hold onto it?
One chance meeting.
One devastating phone call.
MacKenna Trist is not happy about spending a month with her family in Myrtle Beach. She would rather be at home, hanging out with her friends, before starting her senior year of high school. That is, until she meets the guy staying in the beach house next door.
Roe Gamble is speechless when he first lays eyes on Mac. Normally, pretty girls are his specialty but not this girl. From this girl, he wants more. More of everything. More than she can give him. Most importantly, more time to show her how he feels about her.
But time is working against them in more ways than one.
How much time do you really need to fall in love?
What would you gamble to hold onto it?
Click Here to Buy Books by Rachael Brownell
A Secret Life
Take A Gamble
Holding On
Unglued
Weakness
Secrets & Lies
Teasers
Stay Up-to-Date with Rachael Brownell
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