Saturday, June 11, 2011

Restraining the Receptionist by Juniper Bell

NOTE:  Juniper's post was scheduled for yesterday, Saturday, June 11. However, through a blogger glitch--don't we just love those? LOL--it did not post, and therefore has been posted today. And oddly enough is showing the date as yesterday. Beats me! I'm just glad she's here and her new book looks smokin' hawt!!!!



I’m going through first-time jitters all over again. Trembling with nerves, torn between desire and shyness. Wondering if I’ll measure up…if it will hurt…if this will be my first and my last time…

See, while I’m no longer a virgin in most respects, I am when it comes to sequels. Restraining the Receptionist, out June 14, is my first. It’s a follow-up to my book, Training the Receptionist. I never particularly intended to write a sequel. But I actually got requests for one, which blew my mind to the point that I couldn’t … well, restrain myself.

I quickly discovered that writing a sequel is really weird. It’s like picking up dolls you abandoned in the toy box. Your characters are still piled there in the same position you left them, waiting for you to decide what to do with them. Last time I saw Dana, Ethan and Simon, a receptionist and her two sexy bosses, they’d finished a hot three-way and had made a deal to continue working/playing together.

Did they have any more stories left in them? Would their voices come back to me, particularly Dana’s, my first person narrator? Would the new story please the readers who had enjoyed the first one? Or (nooooo!!) would it disappoint them? These are questions I never worried about before. But with a sequel, they seem to go with the territory.

The good news is, Dana reappeared without missing a beat. And another character immediately grabbed my attention. Most of Training the Receptionist involved Simon’s relationship with Dana. Ethan was a shadowy figure who only appeared at the end. This time, he took center stage right away. He’s a very strong, very dominant character with some demons in his past. Dana has her hands full with him.

The story that unfurled surprised me, as they always do. The surprise here was how Ethan challenged Dana to discover even more about herself—about her spirit of adventure, and her capacity for trust and surrender. As I wrote, the enigmatic Ethan emerged from the shadows and revealed some of his complexities.

And that turned out to be the most fun part of writing a sequel—the chance to go deeper with characters I already knew and loved.

In a few days, Restraining the Receptionist will be out of my hands and into those of whoever wants to read it. And then I’ll find out how my first time went. Whether it was painful or orgasmically awesome. I already know it was good for me. My first time was way too much fun. I’m hooked.

If I smoked, I’d need a cigarette right now.  

How are sequels for you? Do you like reading them? Writing them? What’s the best part and the worst part of a sequel? I’ll choose one commenter to receive a download of the first book, Training the Receptionist

BLURB:
Every deal has a loophole.

…the Receptionist, Book 2

Dana Arthur’s new job with the firm of Cowell & Dirk is going well. Translation: the occasionally kinky ménage with her two bosses, Ethan and Simon, has been several months of politically incorrect bliss.

Except the relationship feels unbalanced. While Ethan is the undisputed master, the partners’ iron-clad agreement stipulates that Simon must be present as she performs her “duties”. And she senses there’s a subtle, powerful tug-of-war developing for more than just her body.

Simon had agreed to share the firm’s fiery, sensually daring receptionist…to a point. With Simon out of town, Ethan plans a feast of erotic temptations designed to have Dana begging him to break the deal. He didn’t realize his heart would be a casualty.

Once she surrenders to his wicked demands, Dana realizes there’s no going back. It’s time for a three-way renegotiation…this time, all or nothing. 

Product Warnings
NSFW!! Do Not Try This at Your Job. Contains highly inappropriate workplace behavior including m/f/m, m/m, bondage, creative use of office space and a high-stakes trip to Atlantic City.

Read an excerpt here

Check out Juniper’s website here.

Download a Free Read in the Receptionist series here.

12 comments:

Harlie Williams said...

Great post Juniper and I've waited what has seemed like forever for this book. Can not wait! Thanks again.

Harlie Williams said...

Also, thanks for the link to the first one that got everything started.

Juniper Bell said...

Thanks Harlie! Believe me, it feels like forever to me too, LOL. This week is it, yay!

Drmgrl99 - Dawn said...

Juniper!! Xoxoxoxo I'm so excited for Tuesday I can't wait to get my hands on this book :) first off I love the cover, now on to your questions do I like sequels - yes! Do I write - no - lol. What do I like about sequels? I like to see more of the characters the different situations you put them in and the development they under go because of it. What don't I like? I don't like it when it takes forever to get it! Lol
Congrats on the release and hope to see more really soon.

PG Forte said...

Oh, I love sequels--to read and to write! It's like visiting old friends you haven't seen in a while. It's familiar yet new, comfortable and still exciting.

Now, did I hear something about your considering a third receptionist book???? How many requests is it gonna take to make it happen this time? o_0

Jen B. said...

I do read a lot of series. I read different sort of series like focusing on the same main characters in every book and the type where the main characters are minor characters from prior books. I think a series is great because you get to revisit characters that you might wonder "what happened next?". I ask that a lot. I really want to read Restraining The Receptionist. For me, I will have to read the series in order. I'm just like that.

books4me said...

Juniper, I am thoroughly enjoying the Training the Receptionist and have saved the link and date to order Restraning the Receptionist. I will be ordering it on the 14th! When I find characters or plots that I love reading, I always go back looking for more! It is a real disappointment if there isn't a sequel.

Juniper Bell said...

Dawn! I totally agree with what you're saying about sequels. You get to know the characters so much better with each book. And I promise not to take so long next time! LOL

PG - I'm totally up for another Receptionist book, but I need a good title. Any ideas? ;-)

Juniper Bell said...

Jen B. - That's one of my favorite kinds of sequels, when the main characters from the first book appear as minor characters in the next one. Love that!

Bearaboo - So glad you're enjoying Training the Receptionist!! I hope you like the next one too. Thanks for stopping by!

Eileen said...

Great post. I love to read sequels to a good story. It gives the author more opportunity for the characters to grow and deal with different situations. Thanks for the free read too. This is one hot story!

Juniper Bell said...

Thanks to everyone for stopping by! My stepdaughter picked the winner ... EILEEN! Eileen, email me at juniperbell.author@gmail.com and I'll send you a copy of Training the Receptionist.

Katie Dalton said...

Wow sexy cover. Yes! Love it. I like sequels if they can hold up to the originals. But if not...then why bother. :) Hey is there any way I can get a paperback of this book?

K28dalton (at) yahoo (dot) com