Conspiring by J. B. McGee Blog Tour Stop

 

Welcome to the Blog Tour Stop for Conspiring

by J. B. McGee on The Indie Bookshelf!

Also be sure to read J. B.'s special "Top 3" Interview below!

Reviewed by Angela McLaurin

4.5 Stars

This series 2.5 Novella


Synopsis from Goodreads:  When Bradley refuses to take Veronica to his cousin's wedding, she finds herself in the company of the charming and attractive Ian. There is no denying that Veronica and Ian have an intense, mutual attraction which draws them together like magnets. But what neither of them realizes is that their attraction isn't the only thing pulling them together. It is a small world, and it’s about to get a whole lot smaller when an innocent fling turns into an intricate plan to conspire.

My thoughts...

I read both books from the This series, Broken and Mending, earlier in January and thoroughly enjoyed this companion novella.  For those of you who have not read the first two books, I recommend you reading them before diving into this novella.  Although it can stand alone, it gives some important back story to the first two books!

Broken and Mending were definitely tame compared to the hot, hot love scenes in this book! Wow, J. B. McGee has shown her steamy side here!  Veronica has a way with men, and oh boy, you will love all of her sexy escapades!  I was compelled to dislike Veronica in the first two books, but I may see her side of the story now.  She is simply desperate for love and a lasting relationship and this was a wonderful insight into who she is as a character.  Veronica has her sights set on Bradley, who wants nothing more than a casual relationship.  When she gets frustrated that Bradley didn't invite her to his cousin's wedding in Charleston, she meets Ian and takes him home with her.  Ian, who does appear to be sweet and have good intentions, clearly is a player who ends up turning back towards the girl whose heart he broke years ago.  Together they decide to conspire against the two loves of their lives, leaving behind the connection they both shared.

The plot was well developed and didn't lack for the details most novellas are missing.  I enjoy J. B.'s writing style and find it very easy and light, making her books quite pleasurable to read.  Her characters are described beautifully and are complex to the point that readers like myself form "love/hate" relationships with them, not quite making up your mind as to how you feel. 

This was a quick, steamy read and I'm sure that you will enjoy it just as much as I did.  J. B. McGee has upped her writing game with this novella and after reading, you will be sure to anxiously watch for work she publishes in the future.  Pick this one up and get ready for a ride you won't soon forget with Veronica, Ian, and Bradley. 

 

Purchase your copy from Amazon for only 99 cents!

 

 

J. B. McGee's fun and quirky "Top 3" interview:

 

I read your other two books and they were very much YA to me.  This one, however, was quite steamy!  Where are the top 3 places you found inspiration for the steamy sex scenes written about Veronica?

1.  My custom made playlist by J.L. Mac called Frolic Baby on Spotify.

2.  Eeek.  That first one was easy.  David Gandy, David Gandy, and more David Gandy?

3.  Ian Somerhalder – there is a You Tube video from one of his movies, Wake.  Ahh!!  Hot stuff.

Top 3 “naughty” places you have found yourself in personally?

1.  Hmm – This might be hard.  I don’t really go a lot of places, especially not naughty places.  These are probably all secret groups I’m a part of on Facebook.  The first one has to do with David Gandy.  J

2.  When I was dating my husband I attended an all-girls school.  I found myself in a hotel room often.
*Looks around innocently* 
The boy had to have a place to sleep since he wasn’t allowed in the dorms, right?

3.  I would say anytime I’m reading a steamy book on my phone (in say a pediatric doctor’s office).  It always makes me feel naughty. 

I remember not being able to put Fifty Shades of Grey down the day after I started it.  We had an appointment out of town for our special needs kids.  I just sat in the waiting room reading.  Even though I knew no one knew what I was reading (not even my husband), I could just feel my body turning five million shades of red.  I definitely felt naughty.

Who are the top 3 “total hotties” you pictured while writing this novella?

1.  David Gandy
(He keeps coming up, doesn’t he?  I think I have a problem.  Hi.  My name is J.B. McGee, and I’m a Gandyholic.)

2.  That dude on my cover, whoever he is. 

3.  William Levy

Where are the top 3 places you like write when you are scripting these love scenes?

1.  The Hamilton Mill Gwinnett County Library Quiet Room (EEEE!!!!!)

2.  My living room with screaming kids running around (while blasting said Frolic Baby playlist with    ear buds in my ears to drown them out)

3.  My bed.  J

I’m boring, right!?!

What are the funniest top 3 words you considered using when writing about a man’s….you know, stuff?

1.  I found this erotic thesaurus and I made my own while writing this book so I would have it for another time.  The funniest was “tool”.  When I saw that I busted out laughing.

2.  Shaft

3.  Member.  I mean who calls it a member?  I think I did use it maybe.  I can’t remember.  How crazy is that?  I just thought tool and shaft were funny.  I usually call things by their anatomically correct name.  So really I’m quite okay with penis and vagina, but those don’t seem to be used a lot in romance novels…well and “it”.  I would just assume call everything “it.”  

Your top 3 romantic locations are…

1.  Maui, Hawaii.  My husband won an all-expense paid trip to Hawaii in 2006 through his work.  They went all out.  We had a private luau, excursions, etc.  It was incredible.  We stayed at the Fairmont Kai Lani.  Definitely the most romantic place I’ve ever stayed.  We had this beautiful balcony and could watch whales doing their thing in the ocean since it was March and the whales were around.  I loved how open the entire resort was.  I can’t wait to go back there one day.

2.  I loved staying at The Wentworth Mansion in Charleston, SC with my husband for my birthday a few years ago.  I am determined to do a book signing there and get to stay there again.  Gabby and Bradley will also have some time there in Forgiven.  J

3.  Walking on any beach at sunset.  Can you tell I love the beach?

 

What are the top 3 books you would recommend to readers who are looking for some seriously steamy reads?

1.  I loved Gabriel’s Inferno and Gabriel’s Rapture.  (Let’s just consider that one , though.)

2.  Down to You and Up to Me by M. Leighton – Whew makes me hot just thinking about them.

3.  Because I’m anxious for the release of Turning Point – I will say No Turning Back and Turn to Me.  If you like Down to You and Up to Me by M. Leighton, you will love The Kathleen Turner Series!!

So that’s really like 6 – Happy Reading!!

Finally, what are the top 3 things you want readers to walk away with from Conspiring?

1.  Things aren’t always what they seem.  Give people the benefit of the doubt.

2.  There is good in everyone.  No matter how bad they may seem, we all have redeeming qualities.

3.  Think, count to ten, before you make a stupid, rash decision!!


Thank you so much J. B.  This was fun!!

 

J.B. McGee was born and raised in Aiken, South Carolina. After graduating from South Aiken High School, she toured Europe as a member of the 1999 International Bands of America Tour, playing the clarinet. While attending Converse College, an all-girls school in Spartanburg, South Carolina, she visited Charleston often. It quickly became one of her favorite vacation spots. She met her husband, Chad, during Christmas break her freshman year, and they married in 2001. They moved back to her hometown. In 2005, the couple welcomed their first son, Noah. J.B. finished her Bachelor of Arts degree in Early Childhood Education at the University of South Carolina-Aiken in 2006. During her time studying children's literature, a professor had encouraged her to become a writer.  In 2007, she welcomed their second child, Jonah, and she became a stay at home mom/entrepreneur. In 2009, they found out their two children and J.B. have Mitochondrial Disease. In 2011, a diagnosis also was given to Chad. Please take a moment and learn more about Mitochondrial Disease. Awareness is key to this disease that has no cure or treatments.  J.B. McGee and her family now reside in Buford, Georgia, to be closer to their children's medical team. After a passion for reading had been re-ignited, J.B. decided to finally give writing a shot. Conspiring (This Series), is her third book and first series.

 

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