Joanne Rock: Double Life

My newest Harlequin Blaze release, MY DOUBLE LIFE, is available now and I’m so glad I got to keep the title. It works on a lot of levels. First and foremost, this book is written partially in first person, so the perspective is very much rooted in the heroine’s eyes. See what I mean:

“Hi,” he said suddenly, turning toward me. “I’m Trey Fraser.”

                I’d been spotted.

                He stalked toward me, hand extended as if to draw me into the room. I froze, heart pounding and feet sticking to the floor, in disbelief he’d seen through the camouflage my long bangs usually provide. Let alone my poorly fitting suit that I wore with running shoes since I never met with clients.

                Who noticed me when my gorgeous colleague was around?

                “H-h-hi,” I managed, though my stuttered greeting is so quiet he might not have heard.

We learn about Courtney through her eyes, experiencing her insecurities first hand. She hates her speech impediment, but she’d reached a point in life where she’d found ways to work around it. She likes her behind the scenes work at a wealth management firm, a job where her professional smarts really shine. But she’s also gotten a little lonely being isolated on the sidelines. Seeing the hero tempts her to step out of the shadows.

And then she really steps out of the shadows. With the help of a mask and a wig, she covers for a friend in a dance routine at a steamy club. Courtney gets addicted to the thrill of being someone else, having every man look at her when she’s used to going unnoticed. Her double life is a thrill she can’t resist, but you can imagine her worlds are bound to collide and trouble ensues.

Still, the idea of a double life works really well for a book that’s in the Forbidden Fantasies miniseries. Courtney can hardly believe how daring she grows as her fantasies play out in the story. I liked this premise so much, in fact, I gave a sequel to the hero’s brother. MY SECRET FANTASIES will be out in January 2014.

Lastly, MY DOUBLE LIFE is s fun title because it kind of relates to me as well. I may not be dancing in steamy clubs in my spare time , but I have started a second career of sorts with my new pseudonym J.K. Rock, an identity I share with my sister-in-law and writing partner, Karen Rock. In my own double life, I write Young Adult books when I’m not working on my next adult romance and it’s been so much fun. I’ve always found that writing one kind of story (historicals, suspense, lightly comedic books) helps me with another (most often, Blazes). The creative jolt I get from working in one arena carries over to the other and I find I’m fresher for having worked on something else for a little while.

So I’d love it if you’d keep an eye out for my YA debut as J.K. Rock when CAMP BOYFRIEND arrives in stores on July 2nd. You can pre-order it now at Amazon or BN, or download the prequel novella, CAMP KISS, for free here. And I hope you’ll consider checking out MY DOUBLE LIFE and let me know what you think!

Until then, I have a question for you and it’s an easy one! What are you reading now? Share with me on the boards today and you’ll be eligible to win a copy of MY DOUBLE LIFE!