Book Title: EARTH MAGIC & HOT WATER
Character Name: Cat Byrne
How would you describe your family or your childhood?
I had it good growing up, other than the few times my sisters and I accidentally set things on fire. But Dad handled it!
What is your greatest talent?
Umm … I can list off a lot of fish facts … is that a talent? I guess I never thought of myself as talented at anything in particular. My older sisters got all the cool genes, and I’m just Cat, I guess.
Oh, but I do have fire magic! I mean, my whole family does, and mine is out of control at the moment, so I wouldn’t call myself a talented fire elemental. Still, humans would probably think it’s cool if they knew about it.
Significant other?
There’s this guy Aspen Baumann, we dated in high school, and he just moved back to town. We’re not anything right now, just friends who flirt. Honestly, he’s too good for me. Smart and kind and hot. So hot. I was the one to break things off because I didn’t want to hold him back, but I don’t think I ever stopped loving him.
Biggest challenge in relationships?
Oof. Vulnerability, definitely.
Where do you live?
Phoenix, Arizona! A lot of people might struggle with living in the desert, but the heat has never bothered me.
Do you have any enemies?
Yes. Rafael Aguado. He used to be my best friend but now I hate him with the fire of a thousand suns! And of course he just moved back to town too and keeps popping up everywhere I go. Infuriating. I may have melted the soles of his shoes to the ground, but he totally deserved it.
How do you feel about the place where you are now? Is there something you are particularly attached to, or particularly repelled by, in this place?
Well, I’m answering these questions on my break, so I’m sitting at the bar in a strip club where I waitress. I’m extremely attached to this cushy stool that I’ve perched on which is giving my sore feet a rest.
Do you have children, pets, both, or neither?
Neither, but I visit the local aquarium all the time! Jellyfish are my favorite.
What do you do for a living?
My oldest sister Harley got me a job at The Jewelry Box, a high-end strip club. Since I have zero rhythm, I serve drinks. No pole dancing for me! Still, the tips are good, most of the staff are elementals like me, and I only plan on waitressing until I figure out what I want to do with my life. Which hopefully I will come up with an answer for some time in this decade.
Greatest disappointment?
The way I handled the breakup with Aspen, I’m so guilty about that. I’m hoping I can find a way to make it up to him.
Greatest source of joy?
And we’re back to jellyfish. Seriously, watching their mushroom-shaped bodies swim around is my happy place.
What do you do to entertain yourself or have fun?
The fact that I want to bring up the aquarium again makes it sound like I have no social life. Which, fair. But I do hang out with other people sometimes! This one water elemental Damien has pool parties at his house, and I go to those when I’m free. Although, at the last one, I ran into my nemesis Rafael, and ended up shoving him into the pool so I could escape. Not sure I’ll be going to future parties there.
What is your greatest personal failing, in your view?
Lack of direction. I still feel like an immature kid most days because I have no idea what I want to do with my life.
What keeps you awake at night?
Thoughts of Aspen, and how I wish he was in bed with me. And thoughts of Rafael—because I hate him obviously!!!
What is the most pressing problem you have at the moment?
Ever since Rafael showed up in town, my temper is out of control, which means my fire magic is too. I keep melting things! I’m a hazard!
Is there something that you need or want that you don’t have? For yourself or for someone important to you?
I want to control my magic. I used to have it locked down tight, but now I’ve lost my grip, and I’m worried I’ll injure someone or something. If I’m giving off too much heat, there’s no way I can visit the aquarium. I might hurt the fish. But if I can’t escape to my happy place, then my anger is just going to get worse! It’s a vicious cycle.
Why don’t you have it? What is in the way?
Did I mention that Rafael works at the aquarium now? This guy is seriously ruining my life.
EARTH MAGIC & HOT WATER by Lauren Connolly
Casual Magic #2
Her first hate and first love are back in town. Things are about to get heated…Cat Byrne seems sweet, but she’s hiding a volcanic temper. Her anger-fueled fire magic can melt tires off cars. Then her ex-best friend moves back to town, and the guy keeps popping up in inconvenient places, making sure she’s running at a constant simmer.Rafael Aguado hopes to calm the waters between him and Cat, but that’s hard to do when she’d rather see him boil alive. Maybe the water elemental could cool her off with time, but he has romantic competition. Rafael lost Cat to a handsome earth elemental years ago, and he refuses to let his rival win again. Even if it means kissing the hell out of the magical man to throw him off balance.Aspen Baumann’s last relationship taught him an important lesson: never settle for less. Determined to have both the people he wants in his bed, the earth elemental attempts to regrow the bond between the estranged pair–with him rooted directly in the middle.Hopefully, enough indecently steamy encounters can wash away past mistakes…You’ll be burning for this hot paranormal ‘why choose’ romance where scenes are spicy, swords cross, and all parties get an HEA! Fans of C.M. Nascosta, Ruby Dixon, and Molly Harper will want to dive into this steamy, paranormal rom com.
Paranormal | Fantasy [City Owl Press, On Sale: September 1, 2023, Paperback / e-Book, / ]
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About Lauren Connolly
Lauren Connolly is an award-winning author of contemporary and paranormal romance stories. She’s lived among mountains, next to lakes, and in imaginary worlds. Lauren can never seem to stay in one place for too long, but trust that wherever she’s residing there is a dog who thinks he’s a troll, twin cats hiding in the couch, and bookshelves bursting with stories written by the authors she loves.
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