5 out of 5 stars
Another heartwarming book by Sarah O’Rourke. This dynamic duo never fails to make me laugh, be happy, be frustrated, cry, and then feel like I’ve just read a masterpiece. This was a quick read as part of the Aurora Rose Reynolds kindle world, and I believe this series wouldn’t have been the same without Sarah’s contribution.
Michelle didn’t have the picture perfect family growing up which made her weary of any relationships with men. At the age of 25,she’s doing anything to try to lose her virginity. Needless to say, these dating apps aren’t quite what she expected. After waiting for blind date for almost an hour, Luka barges his way to her table and into her mind. She tries so hard to resist, but that Luka is the perfect specimen of a man. There’s no way I would’ve been able to hold out as long as she did.
Luka grew up with parents that were married almost immediately and still going strong 40 years later, so when his eyes land on Michelle, he knows he’s found his forever. Watching this man and his unrelenting pursuit for what he wants just made my heart so happy. Who doesn’t want a man like that?
Sarah has never failed to deliver an alpha male that I haven’t fallen head over heels in love with, and Luka just added to the list. I cried the entire epilogue. It was so beautiful. Another Sarah O’Rourke masterpiece!
Until Sunrise by: Sarah O’Rourke
Part of Aurora Rose Reynolds’ Happily Ever Alpha Kindle World
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Release Date: April 3rd, 2018
Cover Design: Sarah O’Rourke
Michelle Buchanan wasn’t looking for the perfect man to fill her life. She’d settle for Mr. Right Now to fill the empty spot in her bed – just someone that could help her with the little problem of her lingering virginity. But when Luka Templeton invaded her blind date and suddenly begins taking over her every waking thought, she realizes that she is in way too deep with the confident alpha male currently wreaking havoc on her life.
Join us on this romantic comedy romp as Chelle and Luka find their way to happily ever after!
Romantic comedy. Releases on April 3 as part of Aurora Rose Reynold’s Happily Ever After Kindle World. (And if you’ve read Aurora’s Until series, you’ll know Chelle from Until Ashlyn!)
Available exclusively in Kindle Unlimited!
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How did the two of you begin writing together?
We met in an online writing group, found out that we were writing similar type stories and plotlines, and soon became fast friends! After a few months, we started beta reading for each other, and that soon morphed into “Ummmm, just help me out with this one paragraph, ‘kay?” Needless to say, it grew into much more than just a paragraph or two when we started writing whole stories together. That was over 9 years ago…and wow! Life has surely changed so much during that time. We call ourselves Crazy One and Crazy Two — for VERY obvious reasons!
2. Where did the concept for Until Sunrise come from?
Until Sunrise is based in the Happily Ever Alpha Kindle World (Aurora Rose Reynolds.) Our characters were very briefly mentioned in ARR’s book Until Ashlyn. We had the great pleasure of giving a romantic (and funny!) backstory to Michelle and Luke that we hope does justice to ARR’s amazing world!
3. What is your favourite type of book to read?
Romance. Romance. And MORE Romance!!!
4. Out of all the books you’ve written, do you have a favourite?
Oh, we’re not supposed to have favorites, right? Well, don’t tell the other little book children, but we are both exceedingly fond of Man of Honor. Zeke is the ultimate hero that we just love to pieces!
5. What is your writing process?
Our process usually starts with a few glasses of wine and a 4-hour phone call. Crazy One usually has some wild-ass idea for an off-the-wall story, so we start with 30 minutes of Crazy Two trying to talk Crazy One out of the latest adventure. It seldom works. Then, Crazy Two resigns herself to 4-6 months of writing hell. (FYI: In case you’re wondering, Crazy Two knows the battle has been lost when Crazy One lets out a war cry of “Bitch, let’s do this thing!”)
At the beginning, we usually talk and talk and talk about plotlines, settings, characters, etc. before the first word is written. Do NOT underestimate the amount of talking that we do. We then make sure that all of our crazy meds are filled and available at a moment’s notice. Then Crazy One will start writing – and after an inordinate amount of bitching, whining, and complaining, she sends the chapters to Crazy Two for review. Crazy Two then drinks a few bottles of wine, puts on her football helmet, and goes to battle with Crazy One over any changes. This can get bloody.
When the book is finished, Crazy Two then edits and rewrites…and sends it back to Crazy One, who has her Momma and the Crazy Crew Street Team read it while simultaneously yelling about the ridiculous and wicked cuts that were made to her precious manuscript. Momma, who obviously was a Grammar Nazi in a previous life, then lectures both Crazies on their lack of knowledge concerning basic English language structure. (Ignore Momma…she’s a little bitter about all those dollars spent on Crazy One’s college education. Hi, Momma!)
In the end, Crazy Two prepares the covers (which usually sends Crazy One into hiding because Crazy Two becomes slightly psychotic during design time. It’s not her fault…no one appreciates how much she SUFFERS for her art!) Then we publish the book and pray. And drink. A lot. There ya go! Does that sound confusing? Imagine how we feel!
6. If you could meet one author, who would it be and why?
Well, we’ve been blessed to meet so maaaaany of our idols recently. BUT…if we were able to turn back the clock, we’d want to meet Margaret Mitchell…hands down. In our opinion, that woman wrote the best alpha male ever to grace the pages of a book. We would love to just have 5 tiny, short minutes with her to pick her brain and find out what motivated her to write Gone With the Wind and how she managed to develop such amazing characters! (And we’re both born and raised in the South…)
7. Where does your inspiration come from?
There’s an old saying that recommends that you “Write what you know.” We’ve taken that to heart, and most of our books are set in the South (southern United States) and are about Southern belles and their kick-ass alphas. Since both of us were born and raised in the South, we’re pretty well-versed in how romance works down here, and we often find ourselves including scenes or dialogue that we have heard or actually said!
8. What are your favourite things about signings? Do you get nervous at them?
Oh, Crazy One is our signing guru. She loves to interact with our current readers and meet new readers! Signings are also a time for to be fangirls and get to meet the other authors that we love and admire!
9. What inspired you to become writers?
We each started for different reasons but ALMOST at the same time. Crazy One started writing in order to deal with her husband’s military deployment. Crazy Two began writing in order to relax from work issues.
10. What are your next upcoming releases?
We’re currently working on Copy Cat, which will be a companion story to our paranormal shifter romance Cat Scratch Fever. Then, we’ll be working on Maggie and Ice’s story (from our Passion in Paradise series.) We’re not quite sure on the title yet, but we do have it narrowed down to two choices! That’s progress for us!
No Excuses (Your Momma Raised You Better Than That) – Meghan Trainor
Perfect – Ed Sheeran
I Feel a Sin Coming On – Pistol Annies
Whatever It Takes – Imagine Dragon
What Lovers Do – Maroon 5
Heart in Your Hand – Plant and Page
Do You Want to Know a Secret – The Beatles
She’s with Me – High Valley
Marry Me – Thomas Rhett
Michelle Buchanan – a younger Rachel McAdams
Luka Templeton – Joe Manganiello
Ashlyn Mayson – Kate Hudson
Amelia Templeton – Diane Keaton
Ed Templeton – Tommy Lee Jones
Alan Sandfeldt – Jack McBrayer
Please visit Sarah O’Rourke’s author page here to enter an exclusive giveaway!
Sarah O’Rourke is actually TWO besties who live three states apart and write at all hours of the day and night! Born and raised in the Southern United States, they are overly attached to their one-click accounts, can’t make it through the day without copious doses of caffeine, and spend way too much time on the phone with each other.
Between them, they have four children and twenty-plus years of marriage…one to a retired super soldier and the other to egomaniac engineer. They hate empty chocolate wrappers and writer’s block, love to talk to readers…and oh, by the way, they write about strong, kick-ass women and hot alpha heroes!
two dozen titles, Kendall Ryan has sold over 1.5 million books and her books have been translated into several languages in countries around the world. She’s a traditionally published author with Simon & Schuster and Harper Collins UK, as well as an independently published author. Since she first began self-publishing in 2012, she’s appeared at #1 on Barnes & Noble and iBooks charts around the world. Her books have also appeared on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists more than three dozen times. Ryan has been featured in such publications as USA Today, Newsweek, and InTouch Magazine.
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