BLACK IRISH

(BLACK IRISH 1#)

Abbey couldn’t believe he was gay. She nearly ran away from her dreams of being a children’s book writer when she was introduced to her illustrator Sloan O’Riley, a dark, sensual Irishman with incredible blue eyes. He certainly couldn’t be good for Abbey’s relationship with her boyfriend back in Iowa. How could she stay in New York and work with the sinfully sexy Sloan even if he was gay? And when Sloan is threatened to be deported, how far would Abbey go to keep him in the US?

Sloan was forced to tell a little white lie. He had no choice. He couldn’t let the sweet, beautiful, Abbey Wright flee from his life – not without a chance to explore the sudden desire he felt for her. But what would Abbey do if she ever discovered the truth about Sloan’s sexuality – or learned the deeper, darker secret he’s been hiding?

A Note from the Author:

Authors find the inspiration in the most unlikely of places. My book Black Irish is the definition of that. My hero was originally inspired by my Irish grandfather with a whole lot of big bad brooding Alpha Male tossed in. My heroine’s naive nature came from being an Iowa girl myself.

However a huge aspect of Sloan O’Riley’s dark past came from a class I almost dropped in college. This might be a spoiler…if you want to find out on your own stop here!

I graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in English. During my junior year I decided to take a class called Irish Literature. When I was little, my grandpa gave me books of Irish poetry and stories to read. I loved them! This class would be the same thing, right? Wrong! The entire curriculum was based on Northern Ireland and The Troubles. The teacher was very pro-IRA. The class belonged to political science majors not us. It was the only class I considered dropping but begrudgingly finished it out.

So you can imagine how amazed I was as I was developing the storyline to Black Irish and what I learned in that class, the one I hated, wove its way into the plotline! It gave my characters more depth and added a significant twist. And what was even more amazing was how much I remembered! Guess I wasn’t slacking off after all!

EXCERPT:

Sloan watched from a distance as Aubrey fought to keep Abbey from dashing away, a frightened doe in the terrifying forest named New York. Apparently, up to this point, the vicious predators of the city hadn’t sent her fleeing home.

Until he entered her world, obviously.

Sloan had to admit something about her alarmed him too. He knew many women and had been with several. But none of them like her. Innocent. Naïve. True. Or so she seemed at first glance.

He couldn’t pull away from her wide-eyed, burning, hazel gaze. He wanted to free her shining, brown tresses from her ponytail and bury his fingers in the locks. He wanted to taste her plump, rose lips. He wanted to caress her curves, feel her warmth.

Sloan could hear Abbey beg for another illustrator. He heard Aubrey counter that there was none better. He was part of the deal, or there was no deal. She was ready to walk away from a contract worth potential millions over a fear of him.

He wouldn’t let her do that. He wouldn’t let her leave his life before she ever became a part of it.

Slowly approaching the two women at the end of the hall, Sloan asked, “Aubrey, can I have a moment please? Let us talk it out and see if we can come to an agreement.”

Aubrey looked uneasily from him to Abbey then nodded. “Sure.”

Sloan waited for Aubrey to return to the conference room. He shot a warning glare at the associates that had gathered to watch the scene unfold before turning his attention back to Abbey.

“What’s the matter, miss?” Sloan took Abbey’s hands in his as he smiled encouragingly.

“I’m sorry. I’m sure you’re very talented. But I don’t think I would be comfortable working with you,” she confessed.

“You don’t even know me.”

“I know. And I’m sure you are a perfect gentleman. But, you see, I don’t think Michael would be very happy with me working with a…gifted man such as yourself.”

“Michael?”

Abbey blushed. “My boyfriend.”

Ah. There it is. A boyfriend. Sloan silently berated himself. He should’ve known a woman so beautiful would have already given her heart to someone. He couldn’t, however, allow her to get away so quickly. Perhaps he couldn’t have her, but that didn’t mean he had to let her go.

Thinking quickly, Sloan pressed one of her hands to his lips. “No worries, luv. I’m no threat.”

“How can you say that?”

“I’m gay.”

Her face brightened with relief. “Really?”

“Yes, Abbey. Gay.”

She blushed pink. “I’m so embarrassed I overreacted. Please forgive me?”

“Of course I forgive you. Now, will you stay and undertake this project with me?”

Abbey beamed. “Of course. I would love to.”

Sloan motioned for her to precede him back to the conference room. He watched her walk before him, his gaze transfixed on her hips, her slim waist, and her luscious curves. A little white lie. She’ll never know.

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AUTHOR BIO:

Tricia Andersen lives in Iowa with her husband, Brian and her three children – her sons, Jake and Jon, and her daughter, Alex.  She graduated from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Arts in English and from Kirkwood Community College with an Associate of Arts degree in Communications Media/Public Relations.  Along with writing (which she loves to do), Tricia coaches and participates in track and field, practices Muay Thai kickboxing, reads, sews and is involved in many of her children’s activities.

Tricia is one of the hosts of the Blog Talk Radio show Freshly Booked, a part of Writers Online Network. She is also a member of the Romance Writers of America and RWA Chapter 177 From the Heart Romance Writers.

AUTHOR LINKS:

www.triciaandersen.com

www.insidethiswritersmind.com

www.facebook.com/t.l.andersenauthor

www.twitter.com/triciaandersen

www.youtube.com/channel/UC-urTJQmAbPpgO4aJ6PooMQ

www.pinterest.com/tricialandersen

If you’d like to know more about Tricia Andersen’s book, Black Irish, check out my Goodreads review:

3.5-4.0 stars

Like all my reviews, this one is honest and only done to help the author and future readers.

BLACK IRISH (Black Irish #1) by Tricia Andersen tells the story of naïve Iowan, Abbey Wright, whose dreams come true when her children books are accepted for publication by Panda Publications in NYC. When she travels to the big apple and meets her tall, dark, and Irish illustrator, Sloan O’Riley, there is an instant connection between them. But there are two problems: Abbey already has a boyfriend waiting for her back in her hometown…and Sloan’s gay! At least that’s what he claims. But when Abbey finds out the truth behind the Irishman’s ice blue eyes, can she really handle it?

The relationship Andersen creates between Sloan and Abbey is true to the romance genre. Their bond is tested, bended, broken, and super-glued back together again and again by everything and anything. There were times I really wasn’t sure this book would have a romance HEA because Andersen kept me guessing until the very end. Every time I thought the couple was safe, she would throw another twist into the mix. I enjoyed not knowing what was coming. Andersen succeeds in keeping the reader engaged and cheering for the HEA Abbey and Sloan deserve until the very end.

Sloan, Robert, and Gordon’s relationship is probably my favorite. I like how the dynamic between them started and—even better—how it ended and what it’s really revealed to be. It explains their closeness and just…fit the story. I don’t know how else to describe it. The three of them acted more like brothers than anything, and I loved reading scenes with them together. Andersen does a great job establishing their characters and the unique connection between them.

I did wonder a little about some of the plot in this story. I found it a little predictable, but that may be me. I do read a lot. I figured out the solution to every conflict and sub-conflict before the reveals—especially the pregnancy bit. Any time a female has unprotected sex and acknowledges it, a baby results, so the moment Sloan and Abbey shared that moment, I knew what was coming. I feel like it happens a lot. Also, (and this is honestly) Abbey annoyed me…a lot. In the beginning, she came across as calm and level-headed, but the moment she met Sloan, she was irrational and dramatic. There was a 180 switch in her. She had a thing for running off, and most of the time, there was no reason for it. Then she wouldn’t talk to Sloan for weeks at a time. If she had just stayed put and spoke to someone once in a while, more than half the issues she had would have been solved. But then, I guess the book would have ended a lot sooner. I experienced some moments when I just wanted to read into the book and shake Abbey. There aren’t many female characters I like, in general, so this is just my honest opinion.

BLACK IRISH (Black Irish #1) by Tricia Andersen is a contemporary sweet romance with a couple to rival other romance couples. A roller-coaster of emotions, ups and downs, and high and lows. I will admit I have already read the blurbs for the next books in the series, and I’m curious about what else is in store for the O’Reilys.

Thank you, Tricia, for stopping by!

~H.A.B.