Blog Tour Interview & Giveaway: The Best Laid Plans by Amy Vastine

A themed tour through Prism Book Tours.

The Best Laid Plans
(Chicago Sisters #2)
Amy Vastine

Adult Contemporary Romance
Paperback, 368 Pages

March 1st 2015 by Harlequin Heartwarming

She planned on falling in love. Just not with him!

Emma Everhart's life is going according to plan. Finish nursing school with flying colours… Check. Get a great job in the ER… Check. Marry a handsome doctor and have two babies, three years apart… Not quite yet. But with a dreamy new doctor joining the hospital staff, she's so close she can almost taste the wedding cake. Now is not the time to let the tall, dark and flirtatious paramedic Charlie Fletcher distract her! He may be the best date and best kiss she's ever had, but he's definitely not part of her plan. No matter how he makes her feel…

  

The Better Man

(Chicago Sisters #1)

by Amy Vastine

Adult Romance 

Harlequin Heartwarming

January 1st 2014

Kendall Montgomery's six-year-old son has barely spoken in the past year, locked in his world of silent grief. Then one day, he spots his dead father across a crowded street.

Max Jordan moved to Chicago to be closer to his own son and prove he can be a better father than his deadbeat dad. His striking resemblance to Kendall's husband and his track record with fatherhood make her determined to keep her distance…until Max helps her little boy come out of his shell. But can she trust him with their future? How can she be sure he won't take off just when they need him most?

  

Author Interview

I’d like to welcome Amy to my blog today! I’ve really enjoyed reading both of your previous books, The Weather Girl and The Better Man (the first book in this series). I’ve been looking forward to reading Emma’s story in The Best Laid Plans. Let’s start off by finding out a little about the series...

1. What is your favorite thing about the Chicago Sisters Series?

First, let me say thanks so much for having me! 

I am the only girl in a family of three. I have always wondered what it would be like to grow up with two sisters instead of two brothers. These stories allowed me to pretend. I am envious of sisters who have built-in friends in each other. The Everhart sisters are friends as well as family and even though the stories focus is on the romance, the sisters are special to me!

I felt that definitely comes through in this series - their friendship. I think that's one reason why I relate to them too, because I have two sisters (both older than I am) that are also my best friends.

2. Would you introduce us to your heroine, Emma Everhart, and her hero (against her wishes), Charlie Fletcher?

Emma is an ER nurse in Chicago. She is a caring and compassionate woman, who knows exactly what she wants. What I love about Emma is that she's confident and sure of her choices. She's a planner and her plans have led to a very successful career and life. Charlie is a paramedic with a heart of gold. He's the kind of guy you want to hang out with. He's fun. He's easy-going. He's also a little worried he's going to be that nice guy who always finishes last, however. What I love about him is that he shakes up Emma's world. She may know what she wants, but he gives her something even better. I also love how much he loves her. There's nothing so attractive than a guy who is smitten. 

From what I know of Charlie so far, I already think he's a great guy.

3. What was the best part of writing Emma’s story?

I loved playing in both Emma's and Charlie's worlds. There is so much that can go on in a hospital and a firehouse. It was like getting to write for Grey's Anatomy and Chicago Fire at the same time! 

I loved that Charlie and his crew hang out with the firemen. I never thought about the paramedics doing that. I just always assumed they hung at the hospital or something. There was a great scene at the beginning of the book where the fireman are totally joking around and teasing each other, including Charlie, that I loved.

4. What is your favorite thing about being an author?

I love letting my imagination run wild. I have always been a daydreamer and writing allows me to flesh those dreams out into full stories with lots of happy endings!

And I'm so glad you get to do that and share with us. :)

5. What is your favorite genre to read?

Well, honestly, I probably read more YA than anything. I was hooked on all the big series. I work as a middle school social worker and I like to be able to relate to the kids. Being able to chat about Divergent or Harry Potter was helpful. I used to love all the John Grisham books when I was in college and Jodi Picoult is amazing. 

Ah. Me too. I tend to read some middle grade too so I can talk about them with my kids, so it makes sense. YA is a great genre, but I think great books can be found everywhere.

6. Can you give us a hint or teaser for the third book in this series that will be Lucy’s (the third sister) story?

Lucy, Lucy, Lucy. I couldn't wait to write Lucy's story because there's so much going on in that head of hers that she never shares with anyone. She always comes across as the tough sister but she's really the most fragile emotionally. Lucy is a breast cancer survivor but when she was first diagnosed, fear caused her to push the man she loved away (without informing him of her illness). Fast forward five years and Dylan Hunt finds a way back into her life. But he's not the same man she knew ... or is he? Will she let fear keep him away again or will she finally let him in? That's what readers will find out in The Hardest Fight out in July!

I love those types of plots... where the guy is from the past and something came between them, but their love gets rekindled. I honestly can't wait!!

Thanks so much for stopping by, Amy! I'm looking forward to a long line of future books. :)

About the Author

Amy Vastine has been plotting stories in her head for as long as she can remember. An eternal optimist, she studied social work, hoping to teach others how to find their silver lining. Now, she enjoys creating happily ever afters for all to read.

In September of 2012, she saw a tweet about Harlequin’s So You Think You Can Write contest. She entered, hoping for nothing more than a little feedback from some people in the business. Amazingly, The Weather Girl made it into the semi-finals, thanks to the many wonderful voters out there! The manuscript didn’t make it to the finals, but the editors over Harlequin were still interested. A few revisions later and The Weather Girl was contacted for publication with Harlequin Heartwarming – a dream come true!

Amy lives outside Chicago with her high school sweetheart-turned-husband, three fun-loving children, and their sweet but mischievous puppy dog.

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Follow the Tour

15th: Launch

16th: JoJo's Corner, J.R. Richardson Fics, & Deal Sharing Aunt

17th: Southern Chelle & Letters From Annie (Douglas) Lima

18th: Wishful Endings, i blog 4 books, & My Life Loves and Passion

19th: Underneath the Covers, Christy's Cozy Corners, & The Written Adventure

20th: Katie's Clean Book Collection, Getting Your Read On, & I Am A Reader

22nd: Grand Finale

Tour-Wide Giveaway

- $50 Amazon gift card & signed paperback of The Best Laid Plans (ebook if international winner)
- 5 copies of The Best Laid Plans (paperback to US winners and ebooks to international winners) and Chicago swag and Sweet and Heartwarming Bracelet for (US winners only)
Ends March 29th

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