We’re so pleased to welcome author Karen Stivali to TNA today, on the tour for her latest release from Dreamspinner Press, Moment of Fate, book five in the Moment in Time series.
Welcome, Karen!
Secondary Characters Who Demand Their Own Starring Role
No matter how much the two main characters are the stars of their book, no story is complete without secondary characters. Whether they’re family members, co-workers, BFFs, good influences on the main characters or bad ones from their past, those side characters have a huge impact. They can talk sense into the heroes, or give them a hard time, or be there in times of need as a shoulder to lean on or a burst or levity when times are tough.
I love writing secondary characters and always try to make sure they have full lives of their own. They’re not shells of people only there as sidekicks, they’re their own people. Which is why a lot of the time they wind up demanding that their own stories get told.
Part of the joy of writing a series is getting to give all the scene stealing secondaries their own moments in the sun. That’s been my favorite part of writing the Moments In Time series. The support cast has stolen my heart and I want nothing more than to spend time with each and every one of them until they all get their own happily ever afters.
If you’re familiar with the Moments In Time series, you’ll remember Bryan as the sexy rocker housemate in the Fire Island house in Moment Of Truth. But since MOMENT OF FATE is purely Bryan’s story, you do not have to have read any of the other books in this series to enjoy his love story. It is completely a standalone tale and can be read before (or without) reading any of the other books.
Bryan is the lead singer in the band Wasabi Incident and is working hard to finish his BFA in photography at NYU—a goal that was derailed a bit when the band got offered to do a pretty major tour. He’s driven and passionate and has had to deal with several emotionally taxing things that have him re-evaluating his life. Part of that evaluation led him to embark on a year-long self-imposed celibacy kick. He wants to focus on getting things done and keeping himself on track, and wants to prove that he can go a year without sex.
This goes great…until he meets Oliver. Oliver is Bryan’s opposite in a lot of ways. While Bryan has always been out and proud, up until a few months ago Oliver was not only closeted, but had been engaged to his female BFF in what would have been a marriage of convenience that suited both of their needs at the time, but no longer fits what either of them wants. Where Bryan is the front man in a band, comfortable with being in the spotlight, Oliver has a far more quiet charm and isn’t even aware of the sexuality he exudes.
When they meet, sparks fly, but thanks to the celibacy pact, Bryan won’t act on his feelings, so instead of lovers, they become friends. Friends who meet in such an unusual circumstance that from the moment they meet they’re privy to one another’s deepest held secrets. The bond that creates starts them on their journey of self-discovery from friends/confidants to lovers, to more.
Giving Bryan his long awaited HEA was something I’d wanted to do since his first appearance in the second book in this series. Now I’m working on giving some of the other scene stealers their own HEAs in the next books in the series…
About the Book
Release Date: February 24, 2017
Length: 244 Pages
Cover Artist: Anna Sikorska
Buy Links: Amazon || B&N || Kobo || DSP || Google Play || Apple
Blurb: Bryan Dane’s been living the dream—photography student by day, up-and-coming rocker by night. His summer goals are to earn his last few credits, graduate from NYU, spend as much time in the recording studio as possible, and survive the next few months without sex so he can complete his yearlong goal of self-imposed celibacy. Everything is on track until he meets Oliver Newcastle.
For years Oliver planned a marriage of convenience with his high school BFF, but now that she’s fallen in love for real with someone else, it’s no longer convenient. So Oliver came out to his family, quit his job, and left small-town New England for NYC, an intensive summer study program, and a chance to find his own happiness.
From the moment they meet, the sexual tension between Bryan and Oliver sizzles. But Bryan wants no part of a relationship, and Oliver wants to sow his wild oats—he just isn’t sure how. Oliver seeks Bryan’s help navigating the NYC gay scene, which throws them together in increasingly more sexual situations until they can no longer deny they’re hot for each other. Bryan is desperate to keep things simple, but fate may have other plans.
Other books in the Moments in Time series: MOMENT OF IMPACT (Book 1) || MOMENT OF TRUTH (Book 2) || MOMENT OF CLARITY (Book 3) || MOMENTS IN TIME (a compilation of Books 1-3) || MOMENT OF DOUBT (Book 3.5) || MOMENT OF SILENCE (Book 4) || MOMENT OF FATE (Book 5)
About the Author
Karen Stivali is a prolific writer, compulsive baker and chocoholic with a penchant for books, movies, and fictional British men. She’s also the multiple award-winning author of contemporary and erotic romances. She writes novels about love…like real life, only hotter.
Karen’s lifelong fascination with people has led her to careers ranging from hand-drawn animator, to party planner, to marriage and family counselor, but writing has always been her passion. Karen enjoys nothing more than following her characters on their journey toward love. Whether the couples are m/f or m/m, it’s guaranteed that Karen’s novels are filled with food, friendship, love, and smoking hot sex—all the best things in life.
When Karen isn’t writing (and often when she is), she can be found on Twitter attempting witty banter and detailing the antics of her fruit-loving cat, BadKitteh. She loves to hear from readers (and other writers), so don’t hesitate to contact/follow/like her at:
Twitter || Facebook || Website || Pinterest || Goodreads || E-mail
The Novel Approach Reviews 
Leave a Reply