As part of an on-going feature of my blog, I’ll sometimes interview characters in a Character Corner post. These interviews are uniquely different from my author interviews because they involve make-believe people who exist only in the pages of a novel and in the mind of the author who created them.  So, I’ll have to interview the author rather than the actual character—since he or she doesn’t really exist.  I only ask that the author dig deep to find that character and answer from his/her perspective.

My character today is Becca Morgan from the novel Whatever It Takes by author JM Stewart.

Becca: *takes a seat* Hi. Glad to be here.

Good Morning, Becca. Happy to have you.  I guess we should get started with an easy question. Where were you born?

In a rural area of Tacoma, Washington, in a little farm house. I miss that place. We had so much fun there. We’ve all since moved out, including Mom. My older brother Chase lives there now with his wife, Lila.

Sounds like you’re a bit homesick. But any place you’re happy can be home. Where do you live now, and what do you do for a living?

Well, at the moment, I live with my ex-husband, so I’m currently living in Graham, Washington. I’m a karate instructor. I own a dojo. Learning karate taught me how to defend myself, taught me self-confidence, discipline and respect, and I enjoy teaching what I’ve learned to others. I also teach a self-defense class for women once a month.

Living with your ex, huh? That sounds a bit awkward. I’m thinking there’s a lot more to that part of the story than you’re sharing. So, care to tell me what’s going on in your life right now?

*laughs* You mean besides that my house burned down, taking everything I own with it, and I’m forced to live with my ex-husband again? Oh, nothing special.

Oh. That sucks. I’m sorry to hear about your house. But if you’re living with your ex, how does that affect your social life? Is there a special person in your life?

*sighs* Okay, so I can’t deny it. That would be Jackson. Said ex-husband.

Ouch. That definitely sounds awkward, with a capital “A.” So, how did you two meet?

Jack and I met in Seattle seven years ago. I was walking back to my car, after a martial arts expo late one night, when a man tried to mug me. Jackson was walking on the other side of the street and ran over, thinking he’d save me. *laughs* I don’t think I’ll ever forget the look on his face when that man hit the ground.

Ahh, I guess he wasn’t expecting you to be able to take care of yourself. But that doesn’t seem to have stopped him from asking you out, or for asking you to marry him. And apparently, you still care for him. So, what’s keeping you two apart?

At the moment? Divorce papers. *winks* Oh, you want honest. *sighs* All right. I don’t think he loves me. He’s a good man, deep down, and he’s a good father, but I need more than that. He wants to take care of me, but I can take care of myself. I want the fairy tale. I want to be the reason he gets up in the morning and the reason he comes home every night, and I don’t think I am. Jackson’s a workaholic. I’m not his priority. I think his mother was right, that he only married me because I was pregnant, and he’s the kind of man who tries to do the right thing. He insists I’m wrong, but I have six years of loneliness that proves otherwise. It’s one thing to be single. It’s quite another to be married and still feel alone, you know?

I can’t imagine a worse kind of lonely. But surely you’re not going to give up. Or are you? How would you like to see this situation resolved?

I need him to tell me he loves me. And I need him to prove it.

Has he said I love you before? If he has and he shows it, what other obstacles stand in your way?

I’m not sure I can trust him anymore.

So, is there a happily ever after in your future?

I won’t spoil it for you, but I’m happy to say there is.  Though it wasn’t easy. I had to learn to trust Jackson again. I will hand it to him, though. Jackson stepped up with style. He’s a hopeless romantic at heart. I’m still finding rose petals in my office, and I’m not sure I’ll ever look at a limo the same way again. *grins* I still don’t like snails, however.

It is an acquired taste. *smiles* So, any last comments before I turn this interview over to JM? 

Only that we had some fun along the way. With Jackson, things are never dull. I hope readers enjoy our story.

I’m sure they will. JM knows how to pack an emotional punch!

Author bio:

JM Stewart is the author of passionate, heartfelt contemporary romance. She’s a wife, a mother, a spiritualist, and lover of puppies, and happily addicted to coffee and chocolate. She lives in the rainy Pacific Northwest with her husband, two sons, and two very spoiled dogs. She’s a hopeless romantic who believes everybody should have their happily-ever-after and has been devouring romance novels for as long as she can remember. Writing them has become her obsession.

Book blurb:

 She’s been dying to hear the words…

 Walking away from her husband was the hardest thing Becca Morgan has ever done, even if it was the only way to save her heart from being broken by a loveless marriage. Still, when a terrible accident forces her to stay at her ex Jackson’s house for a few days, emotions she thought she’d buried long ago start coming to the surface—and, to her surprise, seem to be reciprocated…

 …he just doesn’t know how to say.

 Jackson Kade has never known love like he knew with Becca, but his cold upbringing left him unable to show her how deeply he feels. When Becca winds up under his roof once more, he knows it’s his only opportunity to prove his devotion—and passion. But old habits die hard, and even one mistake could shatter their last chance at love…

Short 1 page excerpt.

“What are you afraid of, Jack?” She stiffened her spine and stood straighter. “That you might actually feel something?”

As quickly as he’d shut her out, he pivoted and stalked across the deck toward her. She took a step back, but in a few long strides, he reached her, seized her waist, and dragged her against him. As her body hit his, a gasp escaped, but she could only stare at him, stunned. A war raged in the depths of his eyes. More emotion than she remembered seeing there in a long time. Desire, anger, pain, frustration, all fighting for supremacy.

She braced her hands on his chest, to push him away, but his head dipped down, his lips brushing over hers, the barest of kisses.

“Or else I may do something I’m pretty sure you’ll hate me for in the mornin’.” The low huskiness of his voice washed over her like a heated caress, sending shivers down her spine, and obliterating whatever defenses she’d manage to build against him. “The feel of your hands on me about drove me mad. Do you have any idea how aroused I am right now? I’m two seconds from picking you up and carrying you upstairs.”

 

Purchase links:

 The entire first chapter is available to read on Amazon and Barnes and Noble (links below):

 Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FFFSZDE

B&N: http://ow.ly/CZijn

iTunes: http://ow.ly/CZiko

Kobo: http://ow.ly/CZipW

Author links, webpages, fan pages, and book trailers.

Website: http://authorjmstewart.com/

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