Thursday, April 12, 2012

Sandra Bunino Guest Post and Giveaway

I am excited to say that we have a Diva in the house today! Sandra Bunino has stopped by to talk cars, her books and she has brought a book for giveaway with her! Let's all give her a big Diva welcome.

I’m thrilled to be The Jeep Diva’s guest today! It’s the perfect opportunity for a little “what your car says about you” analysis because a car tells a lot about the person driving it, doesn’t it? Cars give us a little insight into the driver and are a big part of that all-important first impression. Did you know that not only does the type of car you drive say something about you but the color does too?
I did some research and developed with my version of the handy Diva “What Does Your Car Say About You”

Cheat Sheet:

Type
Color
Convertibles: adventurous Red: passionate
Minivans: family oriented Green: conscientious
Sports Cars: likes to impress Blue: loyal
Economy Cars: practical Brown: reliable and responsible
Sedans: well balanced Black: self-assured
Luxury Cars: used to being pampered White: careful
SUVs: likes to be in control Gray/Silver: stable and self-reliant
Trucks: likes attention Gold: independent

When I plan a story, I imagine the type of car my heroes and heroines own. My current release, MAROONED IN MIAMI, is based in a small boutique hotel in the heart of South Beach during a wicked storm. There are no actual driving scenes in this story but if there were I know exactly what cars Jason and Stephanie would drive.
Jason is a Seattle builder and likes to be in control at all times. He’s been burned by women in the past and is very guarded. He is also very self-assured in his personal and professional life. He’s a man who knows what he wants and is not afraid to go out and get it. Jason’s ride is a black Land Rover. It has the perfect touch of rugged elegance and handles the rain soaked Seattle roads brilliantly.

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Stephanie is a pharmaceutical rep from Boston. She was mending a broken heart during her business trip to Miami where she met Jason. They didn’t exactly hit it off right away during their harrowing elevator experience, but Stefanie’s adventurous spirit (not to mention the fact that she didn’t want to walk up six flights of stairs in stiletto heels) made her agree to have a drink with Jason in the hotel’s lounge. It was her passionate side that kissed him during their dance. Stephanie’s car is a cherry red Audi TT convertible. It may not be practical while driving to clients during those snowy Boston winters but she sure looks cute tooling around with the top down in the summer.

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Now that you’ve had the chance to get to know a little about Jason and Stephanie, tell me, what does your car say about you?

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MAROONED IN MIAMI
Blurb:
Undeniable lust and a fierce Miami storm bring sexy strangers together at The Hotel Del Santos for a passion filled night.
Stephanie, still reeling from a failed marriage, needs a break from the past. She decides to take her friends’ advice and finds a perfect stranger for a night of no-strings-attached, smoking hot sex.
Jason, a wealthy Seattle builder has the worst luck with love. Swearing he would never allow another woman to get under his skin, Jason decides a life of casual sex is just fine with him. While watching Stephanie’s sexy stilettos click across the lobby floor he zeros in on his next conquest.
Cut off from the outside world, the lives of these two strangers collide and burn with desire when stranded in the perfect storm. Both are content with the idea of sharing a glorious one-night stand together, that is, until they go their separate ways.
Excerpt:

Startled by an angry crack of thunder, she saw a flash of lightning through the lobby’s floor to ceiling glass window. The chandeliers all flickered in unison as the elevator doors opened. She swore under her breath, looked down at her three-inch heels and considered walking up the six flights of stairs to her room.

“Hey, is it okay to take the elevator in this storm?” she called to the front desk clerk who nodded and gave her a small wave.

A night stuck in the elevator was not in her plan. She debated for a moment about walking up barefoot when she heard a low voice to her right.

“How about we chance it together?”

She spun around to see the source of those words that washed over her like a slow moving current. Stephanie’s breath caught when she turned toward the source of the silky voice. His eyebrows raised and waited for an answer to his question. His lips curled to showcase his straight white teeth. He appeared out of nowhere; surely she would have noticed him in the lobby. A day’s growth of dark stubble covered his chiseled cheekbones below dangerous blue eyes. Stephanie’s heart raced, while she imagined her fingers combing through his dark wavy hair. Stop it, she thought as she shook her head slightly and hoped the action would rid her mind of these visions. One side of her said kick off those heels and walk up all of those damn flights of stairs, but the other told her to take him up on the offer. It was as if an angel and a devil sat on her shoulders. The devil was winning. The front desk didn’t foresee an issue with the elevator so why should she?

Stephanie’s eyes narrowed, careful not to give him any indication of the attraction she felt, even though his dark hair and tanned complexion made her insides turn to mush. There was something about his presence that made her feel sexy. She couldn’t make sense of the feeling. Heat coursed through her veins and straight down to her core. How could a stranger have that effect on her? I’ve got to start dating. I’m turning into a horny mess. She stepped inside the elevator and pushed the button for the sixth floor. The man followed closely behind, slid his key into the PH slot at the top and pushed the button.


MAROONED IN MIAMI is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, AllRomance eBooks, and Bradley Publishing.

Sandra's next release is due out in May is entitled SARA'S SMILE.
Have you ever wondered what happened to your first love? Sara has her dream job at a top architecture firm, a swanky New York City apartment and the interest of a sexy builder she just hired for her new project. However, her idyllic world comes to a screeching halt when her first love and the man who has been invading her dreams, Will, turns up where she least expects him.
From the innocence of young love found on the beaches of Martha’s Vineyard to the rekindling of love’s passion in New York City and Santa Monica, SARA’S SMILE will leave you breathless for more.

Then LUSTED IN LAS VEGAS will release during Summer 2012!!
Stephanie and Jason’s sexy tryst continues in Sin City! Their chemistry is undeniable and lust is taking a turn toward love when they return to each other’s arms. However, all is not perfect in paradise when Jason’s ex comes to town.

Please visit Sandra on her website, Twitter (@sandrabunino) and Facebook.



Sandra is giving a lucky reader an eBook copy of Marooned in Miami. To enter comment below with your email address and tell us (using the key above) what your car says about you. I will announce the winner on Monday April 16.

14 comments:

  1. Well I'm adventurous, both my Jeeps are convertibles. One's white and the other is red. So I'm passionate & careful. That's an interesting mix.

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  2. My car is a used handicapped accessible green mini van, that I bought 5 years ago to replace another large handicapp accessible van that I bought so my siblings and I could transport my mother who had multiple sclerosis. Mom's passed but I still have the van. So-- your cheet sheet really fits me to a 'T'. Mini van-- family oriented and green for conscientious. LOL Just stopping by to be supportive of Sandra. I've already read her wonderful novella. Have a great day!

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  3. Thanks for a fun post and giveaway!

    I drive a nissan sentra so that makes me... brown? lol... Brown is actually a good color for me and I have been described by many as reliable and responsible...

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  4. I drive a blue Subaru. My vehicle says I am a loyal and like to be in control. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com

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  5. LOL, I love this post, lets see i have two vehicles, a mini-van that is red and a F-350 4 door Power Stroke (big ass truck) that is blue green. So that makes me family orient, passionate, who likes attention, and who is loyal and conscientious. LMAO! I think it shows we all have 2 sides to us.

    Loved your book and look forward to reading your next one.

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  6. Hey everyone! Thanks for your comments so far-keep them coming!!

    As for me, I drive a white Acura TL. It's respectable enough to pick up my son at lacrosse practice, his goalie stick fits in the back seat, but it also has a sporty side to quench my need for speed! Based on my cheat sheet that makes me well balanced and careful.

    What I really want is Stef's little red Audi TT up there! Yes, that explains the need for speed part. ;-)

    ~S

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  7. Hahaha Apparently I am loyal and well-balanced. I know a few who would argue otherwise on the second part LOL. But I am definitely loyal.

    Thanks for the wonderful excerpt - ready for more!

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    1. grr, email is bas1chsemail at gmail dot com

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  8. My Car says Hey Shes Fun And Well-balanced lol my email is butterfli262002@yahoo.com oh and it also says hey she looks good in blue.

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  9. My vehicle says I'm family oriented, stable & self-reliant!! I drive a silver van. :-) Thanks for the chance to win!!!

    jfort357(at)bellsouth(dot)net

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  10. Silver sedan...yawn...I'll try to do better.

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  11. Thanks for all of the great replies! A big thank you to my host, The Jeep Diva, Vanessa! I had a great time tooling around on your blog today. <3

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  12. Looking forward to Lusted in Las Vegas!

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  13. What an interesting and fun interview. I have an SUV so I like to be in control. It's silver/gray so I'm stable and self-reliant. I'm not sure that describes me at all, but then again, maybe it does. Can't wait to read this book. Sounds amazing.

    e.balinski(at)att(dot)net

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