, I cannot wait to find out what happens next to Holly. In anticipation of
, and this time she's turned to tables to ask me some questions, too. You can read my review
. (Click the titles for links to posts on the rest of the series:
MW: Wow! This book was jam packed with action, and sex, and heartbreak. Between reunions with those from Holly's past, to that heart stopping scene in the warehouse, and the heart breaking scenes with all her men, I sped through this read in one night. Although there are several unanswered questions, I'll go with this one: will we ever learn who Holly's real father was?
HK: Thank you so much, Mary. One night? Really?
[Um, yeah. I have a bit of a reading addiction.
:-) When I really like a book, I can't put it down.]
And yes, in the end you will find out who Holly’s biological father is.
[Yay! I know who I want it to be, but I'm prepared to be disappointed, as I get a feeling nothing about Holly's life is going to end up as a true happy-ever-after, but more as true to life.]
MW: I started catching this in Running, and had to ask if it was intentional. (I do it in my books, so I'm thinking you might be doing the same.) You always mention the title of the book being read, as well as the next book in the series (and I'd have to go back and see, but I think you might sneak in all the titles, at least in some of the later ones :-) ) Is this intentional?
HK: This actually wasn’t intentional.
Always Cambridge in its original state, was a stand alone novel. In the first draft, the years that Holly was missing, were just kind of glossed over. I gave a bit of a summary of what she’d been up to and how she met Alex but didn’t really get into the details. But once I’d finished, or so I thought, I was curious to know the particulars, so I had to go back and fill that part in, for my own peace of mind. (because honestly, it just wouldn’t leave me alone) And I found it made for a good story. So, other than
Always Cambridge, I didn’t have titles for the next five books. Book Two,
Running, was a last minute switch before I sent it to the EIC. The working title for it was,
Always Cambridge : The Alex Years.
(another little side note, once I’d filled in the missing six years, or the Alex years, I found there was even more story to be told) LOL. (
The Afterlife.)
[I really can't wait for next week and this book!]
The rest of the titles came out of what I’d written into the manuscript. On edits, certain phrases caught my attention as potential possibilities.
Misfortune of Birth, came out of a line written in the m/s. I believe it was phrased ‘accident of birth’, I just tweaked it.
[IIRC, in Running, you used accident of birth, but you also used misfortune of birth, too. I remember reading the phrase, and being like oh! she's setting up the next book right here. How cool!] Before that the working title was simply
‘Holly and Victor’. Usually when I start a new story without a title, I just name it the characters names until I come up with something more permanent.
[That is a cool way to title a WIP.]
Law and Order Crime and Chaos, just seemed appropriate for the trials and the violence that goes on in Book Four. At first I was thinking just ‘Law and Order’ but we all know the TV show, so I thought it needed more. And this book has so much going on in it with the trials, but also the violence, that’s where the crime and chaos came into play.
[Oh, yeah. This book had so much going on. I just had to keep turning the pages to see what would happen next!]
Book Five –
Afterlife came from the term used by the Witness Protection Program.
[I had no idea that's what they called it until this series.]
And for Book Six the conclusion,
Always Holly just seemed appropriate to round out the
Always Cambridge Saga. :-) Full circle.
[I'm so hoping she gets a happy-ever-after with at least one of her men :-)]
OK, time to turn the tables.
HK: I’d love to know what you thought of Randy and Alex’s relationship. The way they enjoy antagonizing each other, but underneath there is mutual respect and fondness, that goes beyond Holly. I really enjoyed writing their part of the story. And it was also kind of funny to see how each man handled Victor. Maybe even a little commiseration going on there. I think Alex and Randy form a real friendship, as they never really saw themselves as rivals for Holly’s affections per say, not the way Randy and Victor do. As much as the guys’ interaction with Holly is integral to the story, the relationships between her men, with each other, is quite a fascinating aspect, as well, and really fun to write.
MW: I loved seeing the way all the guys interacted with each other.
Alex, while he loves Holly, knows he can never have her and has accepted that. It gives him a unique perspective for both Randy and Victor. He doesn't see the appeal in Victor, but he never questions Holly about it. He would definitely rather see her with Randy, not just because Randy loves her, but because he knows Randy will do whatever he has to to keep her safe.
On the flip side, Randy has always hated Victor, and will never like him. Although, if he learned that's who put him back in touch with Holly, I think he might briefly reconsider. But Victor has always been a threat to Holly and Randy can't let that go, no matter how good Victor's intentions might be now. Alex isn't a threat. Sure, Randy knows he and Holly had a fling, but he did tell her to go and live her life. Alex is safe, and in another setting, I could certainly see them being best buds, and hanging out together.
Then there's Victor. He sees Alex as an inconvenience, mostly because of the disruption to his life from what Holly has put in motion. And he sees Randy as the only one of the three of them who can keep Holly safe. Victor really does love Holly. Enough to walk away, to put her in touch with Randy, to deny her that last time knowing how he'd feel if he were Randy. He's giving her up because he knows it's the best thing for her safety, and yet neither Alex or Randy seem to see this from him. To be fair, they don't know about many of the incidents, or his internal thoughts, but they've fit him into this hole because of who they think he is, and I think sometimes they miss the little clues that he isn't as bad as they think, and that, if things had gone a little differently at that exchange in the mall with Holly, he and she might be working with the Feds together.
So, that's how I think the men in her life see each other. It's a complicated relationship for all of them, to be sure!
Thank you for having us back, Mary and I’m thrilled that you are loving the series.
You are so welcome! And how could I not love this series? It full of twists and turns, and action, and love, and amazing writing. If you haven't started it yet, I recommend it. And if you have started it, are you counting down the minutes to tomorrow and AFTERLIFE? I know I am!
The Always Cambridge Series chronicles the life of Holly Cambridge through her tumultuous childhood, violent teen years into adulthood, and the consequences that stem from being the daughter of mob boss, Bill Cambridge.
Always Cambridge Book Four Law and Order : Crime and Chaos
The wheels of justice might turn slowly, but destiny's punishment can be swift and merciless.
In the next highly charged installment of the Always Cambridge Family Saga Series, all the men in Holly’s life come together in one common goal—to keep the woman they love alive.
Special Agent Alex Orton of the FBI prepares Holly for the rigorous court proceedings to come, where she will testify not only against her own family, but also against the Mayhue crime family, including Victor’s volatile and sinister older brother, Lorenzo.
However, in the midst of all the personal turmoil, Holly’s first love and former bodyguard, Randy Phillips, emerges from the chaos. He vows to not only stand by her through the trials, but accompany her into Witness Protection and her afterlife, if in fact they make it that far, as both the Mayhue and Cambridge crime families swear retribution.
But in a twist of law and fate, Lorenzo Mayhue is unexpectedly released from prison and lures Holly to the Mayhue Excavating warehouses under the guise of Victor.
Five people enter the storehouse, but only three walk out.
Follow the saga from the beginning…
Always Cambridge
Always Cambridge
Running
Misfortune of Birth
Law and Order Crime and Chaos
Coming August 1st Always Cambridge Book 5 – Afterlife
( If you haven’t seen the cover yet, click
HERE )
About the Author:
H K Carlton is a multi-published Canadian author of romance and it’s varied sub-genres, including contemporary, paranormal, historical, family saga and erotica.
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