New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kristen Proby is well known for her brand of sexy, humorous, heartfelt romance, and now, she’s hitting the streets of Louisiana with a new series that promises to scorch the pages. I had the chance to chance to talk to Kristen about her new series, and the first book, Easy Love, which will be out on March 3rd.
Eli Boudreaux’s family has built ships and boats in Louisiana for generations. He comes from a hardworking, wealthy family and his empire is growing by leaps and bounds. At thirty, he is the youngest CEO to ever head Bayou Enterprises, co-chairing with his eldest brother. His head for business and his no-nonsense work ethic is also quickly making him the best the company has seen in generations. His staff admires him, women adore him and Eli’s family is solid. But he’s recently discovered that someone on the inside of his business is stealing from him and he’s determined to find out who.
Kate O’Shaughnessy is hired by companies all over the world to slip inside and investigate every member of the organization from the CEO down to the custodial staff to find the person or persons responsible for embezzling. She’s excellent at blending, becoming part of the team, and finding the weakest link. She’s smart, quick-witted, and she’s now been hired by Bayou Enterprises, specifically Eli Boudreaux. The attraction is immediate and the chemistry is off the charts, but Kate has heard all about Eli’s playboy past and she has a job to do. Sleeping with the boss isn’t a part of that job, even if just the sound of her name rolling off that Cajun tongue and the way he fills out a designer suit does make her sweat.
Eli’s southern charms surprise Kate. The man whose reputation labels him as a ruthless, callous womanizer is not the man she’s coming to know intimately. He’s generous, protective and makes her smile. Cracking through Kate’s cool, reserved demeanor and discovering her love of sexy, expensive lingerie is a challenge Eli can’t resist, but her sweet nature, love of family and sense of humor pull at him in ways no one else ever has.
But when the person responsible for trying to single-handedly dismantle Eli’s empire comes to light, and it’s time for Kate to move on, to what lengths will Eli go to keep the woman he’s fallen in love with by his side?
So you have a new series… The Boudreaux Series, which takes place in Louisiana. It must be both exciting and nerve-racking… and the first book is coming! What can we expect in terms of style and stories in your newest project?
Yes, I’m super excited for this new series! I’m so in love with these characters, and I’m ready for the rest of the world to fall in love with them too. The style is very similar to my With Me In Seattle series… Urban, hip, sexy with a dash of humor. The men are super alpha and strong, and my girls are also strong with that confidence that the readers have grown to love.
Do you know how many books are planned yet?
There are six books planned for this series; one for each of the Boudreaux siblings.
What inspired these stories?
I was in NOLA early last year and fell in love with the city. It was screaming at me to set a series there, and I just couldn’t shake it from my head.
Sounds like this is a family-style saga like the With Me In Seattle series… what attracts you to that kind of dynamic? That sort of series?
Yes, like my other series, this is very much a family saga. I love the idiosynchroses of a family dynamic. The relationships between the siblings and their parents, how they come to welcome a new member to the family, etc. I think it adds a beautiful depth to the story.
Tell us about the Boudreaux family. How would you describe them?
Diverse. Traditional. There are six siblings: Eli, Beau, Declan, Savannah, Charlotte and Gabby. Three of them run the family empire, Bayou Enterprises, which has been around for five generations. The other three run other businesses in New Orleans. They are intelligent, sexy, funny… did I mention sexy?
So Easy Love is first! This is Eli and Kate’s story. What can you share with us about the story?
About Eli and Kate? Eli and Kate are two of the most damaged characters that I’ve written to-date. Watching them fall in love was a privilege, and something that I didn’t take for granted. They were also stubborn, and slow to trust. It was a balancing act with them, but the journey was so worth it. Readers are going to love Eli’s tenacity, and his vulnerability. His bossiness. His ability to draw Kate out of her shell. And I think readers are going to relate to Kate and her baggage, why she carries it, why it’s difficult to move past it.
What is one of your favorite lines from Easy Love?
My favorite line from the book is spoken by Eli. It is: “I fell into such an easy love with you, I didn’t even realize it was happening, until one day, it was everything.”
What do you hope readers take away from this new family and series?
My hope is that readers hear my voice. That is to say, that they recognize that it’s my style, but that it’s a whole new family to fall in love with and invite into their fold.
Give us a hint at what to expect next, after Easy Love…anything you are super excited about? A story you are dying to tell?
Honestly, I’m excited for every single story in the series. Each couple will bring something new and fresh with their story. Releasing on March 24th is a novella from 1001 Dark Nights called Easy With You, and that will be Asher (Matt Montgomery’s partner in Tied With Me) and Lila’s story. Lila is introduced in Easy Love. Then in early summer the second book, EASY CHARM will release. That will be Rhys and Gabby’s story, and I can’t wait for it!
Thank you Kristen!!!! We are all so excited about your latest project and we can’t wait to meet Eli and Kate!
Thank you so much for hosting me today, Vilma! You’re the best. xo Kristen
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New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Kristen Proby is the author of the popular With Me in Seattle series. She has a passion for a good love story and strong characters who love humor and have a strong sense of loyalty and family. Her men are the alpha type—fiercely protective and a bit bossy—and her ladies are fun, strong, and not afraid to stand up for themselves. Kristen spends her days with her muse in the Pacific Northwest. She enjoys coffee, chocolate, and sunshine. And naps. Visit her at KristenProby.com.
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