Talking with Sadira Stone about Opposites Attract 

Tell us about Eddie, your main character

Eddie is a planner who carries around his to-do lists in a moleskin notebook—it’s almost a security blanket for him. To win Rosie’s heart, he quizzes her best friend about Rosie’s favorite places and activities. I loved writing the scene where he devotes a rare Saturday afternoon off to taking her to her favorite places—Tacoma’s Wright Park, an new Asian fusion restaurant she’s been wanting to try, a huge antique shop, and the Bridge of Glass, one of Tacoma’s most famous landmarks. Nothing too expensive, but every detail was catered to her taste. He’s so thoughtful!

What fascinates you about how people find one another?

I sometimes meet a couple who don’t seem to fit, you know? It’s fun to wonder what brought them together. Rosie and Eddie are one such couple. She’s outrageous, outspoken, and seems supremely confident. He’s uptight, shy, and soft-spoken. But somehow, they fit perfectly in the end. (It’s a romance, after all!)

What makes you laugh out loud?  

Before becoming a full-time author, I taught high school English, French, and German. Bad translations crack me up, as do my own misspellings and typos. What can I say? I’m a word nerd. One example: When I lived in Germany, my favorite Italian restaurant offered an English language menu. They translated Stracciatella, basically egg-drop soup, as “Sludge Deposit Soup.” I ‘bout fell out of my chair laughing!

What makes your series unique?

The Bangers Tavern Romance series is set in a neighborhood I love: Tacoma, Washington’s 6^th Avenue, a twelve-block stretch of funky shops, restaurants, bars, tattoo parlors, and weed dispensaries. I started writing the series shortly before the pandemic hit and the bars shut down! Now, I’ve been a cocktail server, but that was a loooong time ago. Fortunately, online research and interviews refreshed my memory of the details of running a bar. I just love setting stories in small businesses and the found families that develop there.

What secret do you use to blast through writer’s block?

A brisk walk and coffee. Lots of coffee.

 

Blurb for Opposites Attract

A mismatch sparks the hottest flames.

 

Blue-haired, buxom, and bodacious, server Rosie needs her job at Bangers Tavern, where her work family adores her weirdness and supports her hunt for a tattoo apprenticeship. When too much New Year’s bubbly tumbles her into a sweet, shy coworker’s bed, she craves more. But guys like Eddie never stick with girls like her.

Strait-laced, soft-spoken, and skinny, barback Eddie has a huge crush on his curvy, tattooed coworker. Their New Year’s surprise is a dream come true—until grandma walks in on them.  Eddie begs Rosie to fake-date him to appease his old-fashioned family. He’s already keeping secrets, so what’s the harm in one more? But the longer he pretends with Rosie, the deeper he falls.

Their boss lays down the law: No relationship drama at work, or you’re fired. Rosie’s everything Eddie ever wanted—but to keep her, he’ll have to drop a terrifying truth bomb on his loving but stifling family. And Rosie must trust her bruised heart with the guy who nearly crushed it.

Come back to Bangers Tavern for a steamy, laugh-out-loud, opposites-attract romance that ignites in all the worst ways—and the best!

 

Excerpt from Opposites Attract

He tugged her forward. TV sounds and laughter rang out from the next room. Stomach wobbling, she planted her feet. “I don’t know, Eddie. I feel bad lying to your family.”

Grasping her hand in both of his, he whispered, “I said we’re work friends, and that’s what we are.” When she balked, he raised her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. “Half an hour, tops. I promise. A few dumplings, a toast to the new year, and we’re out of here.” The soft brush of his lips did funny things to her core—warm, tickly things. If she had the sense God gave mud, she’d back out now. But Eddie’s grandma already thought Rosie was his girlfriend. What could it hurt to play along for a few minutes more?

She nodded, and Eddie broke into a sweet, crooked smile that made her feel even more guilty. Eddie wasn’t the kind of guy who indulged in meaningless hookups. Should’ve considered that before plastering herself to him on the dance floor last night.

 

Another excerpt from Opposites Attract

 After waking up naked and hungover in Eddie’s bed on New Year’s Day, Rosie realizes it was a huge mistake to hook up with a coworker, especially one as strait-laced and shy as Eddie. He doesn’t see it that way, but reluctantly accepts her decision to remain “just friends.”

 Rather than watch Rosie walk out his door, Eddie turned his back and started washing their dirty glasses. The front door clicked open, then she squeaked like a dog’s chew toy. He whirled. “Rosie? You okay?”

She’d frozen in the door frame, clutching her coat to her chest. On the landing stood his grandmother holding a tray.

“Babka!” He rushed to the doorway and stepped in front of Rosie. “Hi. What are you—”

“Surprise, lapochka!” With her ample hip, she nudged him aside and strode through the door, a woman on a mission. “You missed the big family party in Seattle last night, so Dedka and I came down to toast the new year with you.” She set the tray on his kitchen counter and pinched his cheek. “My hard-working boy.” She leaned past him and winked at Rosie. “Always working, this one. But I guess you know that, Miss…?”

Rosie croaked as if she’d swallowed her tongue.

Babka poked his ribs with her sharp elbow. “Why didn’t you tell us about your new girlfriend?” In his grandparents’ old-school world, overnight guest equaled serious relationship, not one-shot misadventure. What a freakin’ disaster.

“Babka, this is Rosie Chu, my friend from work.” A truthful statement, sort of. Hopefully, he and Rosie could get back to being friends someday, once they moved past this awkwardness—maybe in a few months, when the memories of their dead-end passion faded.

Right, like that’s gonna happen.

Babka flung her arms around Rosie’s middle and squeezed tight. “Such a gorgeous girl. Welcome to the family, sweetheart.”

Rosie’s mouth opened and closed like a startled goldfish. “I, er…” Her wide-eyed gaze met his over the top of Babka’s snow-white head.

“Please,” he silently mouthed, then raised his voice. “Rosie was just leaving. She has a family thing.”

Babka grabbed Rosie’s hand and patted it. “Family is so important, especially on the holidays. You’re what, Korean? How does your family celebrate the new year, darling?”

Great. Let the interrogation begin.

“I’m half Chinese,” Rosie said, “but we just have a normal American brunch—eggs, hash browns…”

Babka gave a conspiratorial wink. “To tell you the truth, not many of us Volkovs even speak Russian anymore. But we still like our Russian traditions. I made pelmenyi—little meat dumplings. Chinese people love dumplings, right? Come try one before you go.”

“Babka—”

With a dismissive wave, she quick stepped to the door. “Oh, I almost forgot.” She pulled his little moleskin notebook from her skirt pocket. “Found this on the landing.”

Relief duked it out with panic as he tucked the notebook into his pocket. If his sharp-eyed grandmother looked between the covers, she’d have questions about his lists of bar equipment, cocktail recipes, sketches of floor plans…

“Both of you, downstairs. Everyone’s waiting.” Babka flashed a grin over her shoulder. “Hurry before Dedka gobbles all the herring.” The door closed behind her with a bang.

Rosie clapped a hand to her mouth. “Herring?”

“With sour cream. Good for a hangover.”

She wrinkled her nose.

No doubt his grandmother was already telling the rest of the family about his new girlfriend. His single status was the source of much consternation at family gatherings, as if he were nearing his expiration date.

He clasped Rosie’s arms. “Look, I know it’s a lot to ask, but could you come down to my parents’ house for just a few minutes?” When her jaw dropped, he added, “They’re really old-fashioned. If they think I’ve had a one-night stand, they’ll be so disappointed in me.” Panic forced his rusty brain wheels into motion. “Please, Rosie, just let them think we’re dating for now. Later, I’ll tell them we broke up.”

Rosie nibbled her bottom lip, a distractingly sexy gesture. Finally, she sighed. “Well, I guess I’m partly to blame for this mess. If a few dumplings will get you out of it, I’m game.”

 

About the Author        

Ever since her first kiss, Sadira’s been spinning steamy tales in her head. After leaving her teaching career in Germany, she finally tried her hand at writing one. Now she’s a happy citizen of Romancelandia, penning contemporary romance from her new home in Washington State, U.S.A. When not writing, which is seldom, she explores the Pacific Northwest with her charming husband, enjoys the local music scene, plays darts (pretty well), plays guitar (badly), and gobbles all the books. Visit Sadira at www.sadirastone.com.

 

SPEED ROUND FOR A LITTLE ADDED FUN

Favorite movie: Sense & Sensibility—the one with Alan Rickman as Colonel Brandon.
Favorite book: Impossible to pick just one.
Last book read: Roan Parrish’s Riven, a m/m rock star romance.

Worst date ever: a boring party

Your character’s worst date ever: his cousin’s wedding
Favorite color: teal
Stilettos or flipflops or sneakers: flipflops
Coffee or tea: Coffee
Ebook or audiobook or paperback: Yes.
Pencil or pen: pencil

Favorite song: I Am What I Am

Streak or not: Sure!

Favorite dessert: apple pie

Favorite junk food: Cheese & crackers

Favorite thing to do to relax: Reading!

Champagne or gin: Gin

Paranormal or Historical: Historical

Wonder Woman or Top Model: Wonder Woman

Favorite TV show: Great British Baking Show

Hot or cold: cold

POV: Alternating 3rd

I’d die if I didn’t have: coffee

Review or Not: Yes if I liked the book.

 

Sadira’s Socials and Contacts 

I’d love to hear from you! Please visit me on all the socials.

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Buy links

Universal Book Link: https://books2read.com/u/m0wjvP

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08WLKB3S8

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/opposites-ignite-sadira-stone/1138878794?ean=2940162422211

Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/opposites-ignite/id1554956375