Seattle Delight By: Charlotte Stout (Interview & Review )

Hi everyone! Today I'm hosting for Goddess Fish Promotions, and today's feature is Charlotte Stout's Seattle Delight! I'm so excited to be sharing an Interview I had with Charlotte and my Review can be seen below. And...there's a Giveaway, so be sure to check out the details below because there is a huge prize! :) 

Blurb

Charly’s life was simple and uncomplicated, just like she wanted it.  Or so she thought!  One chance encounter with a devilishly handsome stranger in her local coffee shop would turn her world, and her heart, upside down.  She would be thrown into a realm of privilege and romance, and more than just a little danger.  

How will she handle the dark gorgeous man who has inserted himself into her domain?  When danger threatens those she loves, will she have the strength of heart and spirit to do whatever it takes to save them?  Share Charly’s adventures as she navigates through the quickly changing landscape that has become her life.

Interview

(Thank you so much for answering my Q's!)

Before I get to your questions, I want to thank you for hosting this stop on the tour.

When and how did you come up with Seattle Delight?

 I’m a sucker for romance.  The way I met my husband and our courtship inspired me to write the story of Julien and Charly in Seattle Delight.

When we were living in Hong Kong for a year in 2007 I had a lot of time on my hands.  I was not working as I had left a job for this opportunity to live abroad.  I felt this hiatus from work was the perfect time to put pen to paper and write a story that reflected some of what we experienced.  Of course, we didn’t have a yacht, or a limousine and my husband is not French but it was the essence of what we experienced and felt that I wanted to capture.

I let my husband read the first draft of the book on one of our flights back to the States for a short visit.   It was a fourteen hour flight and what else is there to do but read or watch a movie?  He read the book and laughed out loud several times.  That’s when I knew I had captured the essence of my intent.  It swelled my heart to hear that laughter.

How long did it take to write?

I started writing Seattle Delight shortly after arriving in Hong Kong in 2007.  My husband would go to work in the morning and I would start writing.  I would normally write for a few hours each morning.  I was often out during the afternoons exploring my surroundings or spending time with people I had met while living in Hong Kong.  So, I didn’t write full-time.

We often spent weekends out and about in China so, I rarely wrote on weekends.  That’s why it took me almost a year to finish the book.  I was having too much fun in Hong Kong to stay inside and write all day. I finished the book just before our time ended in Hong Kong in late 2007.  

 Is there a special message that you want readers to see?  What is that?

If there is any message it is; this is a simple, fun, light love story.  And, sometimes that’s just what I need.  A feel-good uncomplicated story that helps me to remember that simple is good.  Maybe the message is more for me than for anyone else.

What actors do you see playing the main characters?

 Wow, you are making me think.  For Charly I would pick a young Tina Fey.  Tina is hilarious, adept at playing many different characters, is not wafer thin and is smart.  She’s strong, independent and yet quirky, which is how I envision Charly in Seattle Delight.  Charly is a wholesome girl with good values and morals but is a bit naïve.  I believe Tina would be able to embody those characteristics perfectly and convey the naiveté.  The only enhancement needed may be a curly wig.  I think Tina, as Charly would keep Julien a bit off balance.

For Julien, I would select Gilles Marini of DWTS fame, Brothers and Sisters television series and Sex and the City – The Movie.  He is French, hot and built.  Have you seen his abs and pecs?  I mean come on!  He is perfection.  His accent is perfect, his eyes would require blue contact lenses but other than that he is sex on legs – IMO.

Where is your favorite place to write?

I can write anyplace that has a great view.  If I feel closed in and the space is dark, I am completely blocked. 

In my current writing space I look out a window onto a golf course.  I love taking a moment to watch the golfers take a shot.  Even though I am not out there with the golfers, just being able to watch activity outside my window makes me feel more alive and driven to work.  Quirky isn’t it!

When did you first decide to become a writer?

I started penning my first story back in 1997.  I finished writing over a hundred pages of a romantic suspense novel.    I shared those first one hundred twenty pages with two girlfriends while we were enjoying a girlfriend getaway at the Grand Canyon and they have hounded me to this day to complete the rest of the story. 

Their enthusiasm meant so much to me that I decided that one day I would finish that story.  Patty, Bev and I have been on many trips since then and each time we talk about my writing.  They were the first friends to purchase my novel “Seattle Delight” and I am sure they will be the first to buy succeeding novels.  They are the best friends one could ever have.  So, I have them to thank for encouraging me to pursue what has been a flickering interest in the back of my mind since 1997.

What are you currently working on?

I am working feverishly to complete the editing of a romantic suspense novel.  It is set in Minnesota and Alaska and I hope people find it to be a fast moving, yikes – I’m scared, kind of book.  

I am also working on finishing the romantic suspense novel I mentioned earlier.  The one I presented to my girlfriends when we were on one of our trips to the Grand Canyon.  I want to finish it not just for me but for them.  They still ask me about it to this day.

Then there is the sequel to Seattle Delight.  Julien and Charly are not finished with their journey together.  I actually love both of these characters and it is so fun to pretend I’m Charly when I am writing.

I have started a blog, continue to work on my website and find time to spend with friends and do something physical to expend all that pent up energy from sitting behind a desk. 

Favorite dream vacation?

We have scheduled what I consider my dream vacation.  In October 2013 we will be going on a 15 day European River Cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest.  The River Boat only holds 190 passengers.  I am excited about being in a more intimate setting to meet and get to know people.  We will be exploring many historical sights, attending an opera and symphony and drinking tea while sitting at a sidewalk café where I can watch all the people meander by.  Doesn’t that sound dreamy?

Prior to boarding the River Cruise, we plan to spend a week in France and a week in England.  It has been my dream to go to France for so many years I have lost count.  I have been taking French since January 2012 in the hope I will be proficient enough in the language to really enjoy the cultural experience and the people.

Location of favorite place you have ever visited?

Montana.  The state is so diverse in its beauty.  The people are down to earth and friendly.  They mean what they say and say what they mean.  If life had gone a little differently, I believe we would be living in Montana right now.  I’m just thankful I have had the privilege of intimately learning about the beauty of the mountains, streams, forests, wheat fields, farms, small towns and the people of Montana.  There is no place else like it in the forty-eight contiguous state, in my opinion.

Again, thank you for hosting this stop on the tour.  I genuinely appreciate your time and interest.

Bonne Journée

Charlotte Stout

Excerpt

“Focus Charly! You have got to get out of these Spanx.” The first thing she looked for was a wastebasket but didn’t see one. She checked in the dressing room, in the water closet and in the storage cabinet where the linens were kept. Then she saw what looked like a drawer. She pulled it open and voila there was the wastebasket. “I truly do covet this bathroom,” she exclaimed.

The wastebasket was empty. Dang! Charly realized that if she took off the Spanx and tossed them in the basket Julien would undoubtedly know they were hers. That is, if he happened to use the bathroom during the cruise. Maybe he won’t come in here. Maybe he has his own personal bathroom. He had to, didn’t he? She said a silent prayer to the bathroom gods while searching for other options.

Charly checked the picture window but it didn’t open. There was no way to dispose of the Spanx in Puget Sound. She sat on the toilet in the water closet while conjuring a plan to dispose of the Spanx. Her thoughts were jarred by Julien’s voice. “Charly, are you alright? Is there anything you need?”

How long had she been in here? “No, no – I’m fine. I’m admiring the décor, and trying to dispose of my girdle. I’ll be out in a minute.”

“Tres bien – very well. I’ll meet you in the salon.” 

Review

Seattle Delight was a lovely story. It was primarily a love story, and I felt it throughout. There is also a mysteriousness here, and I think it enhances the story, and brings both Charly and Julien closer together, something that they were not expecting to happen so fast. I enjoyed reading both characters. Charly is a writer, and I liked how she used the gorgeous Julien as inspiration for her upcoming book, and took photos that adds to the inspiration to her story. I thought that and the whole writing aspect fit well perfectly into the story. Charly seems to have a quirky personality, and I liked that about her. She's a good different sort of character and sometimes relatable. Julien seems like a perfect male interest, and when I was reading his lines, I was definitely hearing a french accent throughout, yup! :) Anyways, I also liked that this was of course set in Seattle. The novel I reviewed yesterday also took place in Seattle, so I must be in a Seattle mood, I like it! 

If you enjoy a good romance story, this one is for you, so I do hope you read it! :)

My Rating: 4/5

*Giveaway*

- 1 Lucky commenter from this Entire Tour will win a $75 Amazon Gift Card! Yes, that's right, so comment on! 

- To Enter:

*Please leave a comment below.

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*Enter before August 10, because that's when this great Giveaway ends!

Thank you and Good Luck!

Author Info

Charlotte lives in Arizona with her hunky husband Warren, and her spoiled Silky Terrier, Tess. Her life has been filled with serious endeavors, including earning a Master's degree, owning her own business, consulting and working in the corporate world as a human resources executive. Before penning her first novel, Charlotte had written several practical guides for business applications, not exactly steamy stuff. Luckily, she never lost sight of her dream to write a novel that would encompass her passion for gorgeous men, adventure and a love of life. Enjoy

Website/Blog

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