Blog Tour: Just Destiny by Theresa Rizzo

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Book summary:

What would you do if your whole world fell apart?Jenny Harrison made some poor choices in the past, but marrying Gabe was the best thing she’d ever done. They had the perfect marriage, until a tragic accident leaves Gabe brain dead and her world in ruins.Devastated by grief, she decides to preserve the best of their love by conceiving his child, but Gabe’s family is adamantly opposed, even willing to chance exposing long-held family secrets to stop her. Caught in a web of twisted motives and contentious legal issues, Jenny turns to best friend and attorney, Steve Grant. Steve wants to help Jenny, but he has reservations and secrets of his own. When something so private and simple turns public and complicated, will Jenny relent? What is Steve willing to sacrifice to help Jenny?

Interview

Hello Theresa. Welcome to Ja čitam, a ti?. I'm really happy to have you here today and I have some questions for you so shall we start.

Thank you so much for the warm welcome, Tanja.

1. Firstly can you tell us more about the book Just Destiny? Its genre and whom do you think the book might appeal the most?

Just Destiny is classified as women's fiction. It's a love story wrapped in suspenseful courtroom drama. It’s about a grieving young woman, willing to risk embarrassment and possibly revealing long-held family secrets in court, for the right to conceive her dead husband’s baby, and her lawyer, best friend’s struggle to help her, despite his reservations. 

This story will appeal to fans of courtroom dramas, love stories, people who appreaciate an emotional read, and a romance with a little more –romance plus--if you will.  Fans of Nicholas Sparks, Jodi Picoult, and Kristin Hannah will likely appreciate this story.

2. In the story some let’s say controversial subject are tackled. Which aspect of it was hardest to write about?

The controversial issues brought out in the story are: organ donation, a woman wanting to conceive her dead husband's baby, artificial insemination, and the big secret twist near the end I don't want to give away. 

The hardest part, for me, was presenting these issues in a non-bias way. It's not my job to be the moral compass of the world. I don't want to tell readers what they should think about any of these issues, I just want them TO think about them, to understand and respect how another could make the choices they did.

I think people as a whole tend to be too judgmental and until one has «walked in the other's shoes» one doesn't REALLY know what that person is going through.

3. In your book Just Destiny one of the great aspects was the whole spectra of different characters. Which one of them is closest to you?

There are bits and pieces of me in all of the characters. As a woman who married my high school sweetheart 30 years ago and as a mother of four, I can sympathesize with Jenny. I gave Steve one of my worst nightmares—had him fall in love with his best friend's wife. I don't really believe you get to pick who you love—you get to chose any ACTIONS you make based on those feelings, but feelings are not logical and they are powerful.

4. I’ve noticed that you had to do a lot of research for this book. What was the hardest to tackle?

I only write books that fascinate me, so there wasn't anything difficult about the  research. The research was fun.

5. Your books are contemporary novels. Are contemporary stories your favorite to read as well? And could you list some of your favorite reads or authors?

I probably read more outside my genre than within.  I love romance of all kind, historical, contemporary, western, fantasy, romantic suspense. . . I read suspense. I enjoy YA—I think The Hunger Games series was brilliant. Harry Potter, naturally. There are too many favorite authors to name them all.

6. What is your next project? Can you tell us something about it?

In the fall I’ll put out my next book, The Lives Between Us, which is book dealing with love, loss, revenge, and making hard choices. Here’s the description:

Grieving the loss of her beloved niece, reporter Skylar Kendall plots revenge on the US Senator who opposed life-saving stem cell research and therapy. She becomes romantically involved with his best friend, putting her in the perfect position to tear the senator's world apart when tragedy strikes.  Only, she hadn’t counted on falling in love.

Sen. Hastings's tragedy would absolutely make Skylar’s career and satisfy her thirst for revenge, but can she betray her new love and friends?

7. I tend to finish my interviews with author's favorite quote or message for my readers. So can you share yours?

"You will find true success in those efforts that captivate your heart and soul. Belief fuels passion and passion rarely fails." Unknown

Thank you very much for the interview. It was a pleasure having you here.

Thank you, Tanja!

About the author

Theresa Rizzo is an award-winning author who writes emotional stories that explore the complexity of relationships and families through real-life trials. Born and raised in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, she currently lives outside of Boulder, Colorado with her husband of thirty years. She’s raised four wonderful children who are now scattered across the country.

Theresa’s debut book, He Belongs to Me was a finalist in the General Fiction Category of The 2013 USA Best Book Awards!  Her second book, Just Destiny, will be released March 31, 2014.

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Until the next time,