[Jennifer Shirk] ! My heroine Kendall is a young widow who lost her firefighter husband in the line of duty. She’s about to start up a new career for herself as a bakery owner and who should come along to help her out with that but her good friend Brad. Brad has always held a torch for Kendall and them working together brings it right back around again. Kendall feels an attraction toward him too, but she’s hesitant to start up a relationship with him especially since he’s a police officer and she doesn’t want to lose another loved one like she did her husband.

HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE CONCEPT AND THE CHARACTERS FOR THE STORY?

[Jennifer Shirk] The characters came from a previous book I wrote called Georgie on His Mind, but at the time Kendall was engaged to someone else. So for this book I decided to kill off the husband so she could finally be with Brad and the rest kind of developed from that.

WHAT THREE WORDS BEST DESCRIBE KENDALL?

[Jennifer Shirk] Kind, careful, and loyal.

IF BRAD HAD A THEME SONG WHAT WOULD IT BE?

[Jennifer Shirk] "Fall" by Clay Walker. If you listen to the lyrics it’s just SO Brad with Kendall! Here’s the video: http://youtu.be/cytTA8rbVYE

NAME ONE THING KENDALL WONT LEAVE THE HOUSE WITHOUT.

[Jennifer Shirk] Her business cards. You never know when someone might need a good baker!

WHAT THREE THINGS WILL YOU NEVER FIND IN BRAD’S POCKETS?

[Jennifer Shirk] His handyman business cards, loose change, and gum.

WHAT IS KENDALL’S GREATEST REGRET?

[Jennifer Shirk] That she never had a baby before her husband passed away.

WHAT ARE YOUR GREATEST CREATIVE INFLUENCES?

[Jennifer Shirk] Well, I do LOVE to watch romantic comedies. So I when I write I always like to picture how it would play out as a movie. Susan Elizabeth Phillips and Nora Roberts are my idols in writing and really got me into writing romance.

WHAT THREE THINGS DO YOU NEED IN ORDER TO WRITE?

[Jennifer Shirk] Quiet, coffee or tea, my story notes.

WHAT IS THE LAST BOOK THAT KNOCKED YOUR SOCKS OFF?

[Jennifer Shirk] The Book Thief by Mark Zusak. Honestly, my favorite book I read all year.

IF YOU HAD TO PICK ONE BOOK THAT TURNED YOU ON TO READING, WHICH WOULD IT BE?

[Jennifer Shirk] I started reading Mary Higgins Clark and went right down the line with all her books. They had me hooked! But when I read Nobody’s Baby but Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips, I knew I wanted to write romance.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO WHEN YOU AREN’T WRITING?

[Jennifer Shirk] I love to cook and bake. So when I’m not writing or actually cooking, I’m looking for new recipes to try!

HOW CAN READERS CONNECT WITH YOU?

[Jennifer Shirk] Too many ways! Pick one! LOL!

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JenniferShirk

Blog: http://jennifershirk.blogspot.com/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/jennifershirk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorjennifershirk

Thanks so much for having me today!!

THANK YOU!

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About the book:

Kendall Grisbaum is finally taking charge of her life—pouring her heart into opening a new bakery business and even allowing her best friend Georgie to play matchmaker for her. Trouble is, the one guy she secretly wants is Georgie’s older brother, Brad, who is decidedly off limits. Brad can’t seem to get his little sister’s best friend out of his mind. He and Kendall used to be close friends, too, and as a local policeman, Brad can’t help but play protector, looking out for Kendall. When he offers to help her renovate her new bakery space on the side, their friendship—and their attraction—flares back to life. Amid the temptation of doughnut muffins and blueberry cobbler, a new temptation draws them both closer. Can they take a chance on love when it means risking their friendship, even when not doing so risks everything?

About Jennifer

About Jennifer Shirk: Jennifer Shirk has a bachelor degree in pharmacy–which has in NO WAY at all helped her with her writing career. But she likes to point it out, since it shows romantic-at-hearts come in all shapes, sizes, and mind-numbing educations. She writes sweet (and sometimes even funny) romances for Samhain Publishing, Avalon Books/Montlake Romance and now Entangled Publishing. She won third place in the RWA 2006 NYC’s Kathryn Hayes Love and Laughter Contest with her first book, The Role of a Lifetime. Lately she’s been on a serious exercise kick. But don’t hold that against her. Feel free to follow her on Twitter or become a friend on Facebook.