What’s funny is that I hate this trope in books. Love takes work and commitment. You can’t know just by looking at someone that you’re meant to be. You have to get to know them. Find out if they are a good person. What do you have in common? Can you build a life with them? All those fun things we like reading in romance novels – well, that I do, as least.
However, when I met the person I eventually married, I had this moment of knowing. I was absolutely sure we were going to end up together, even though they were dating someone else at the time. (At this writing we’ve been married for 18 years, lol.)
So I guess I kind of do believe in love at first sight?
We know what you like to write, but what do you like to read in your free time, and why?
If you could see the towering pile of books behind me from my TBR pile you’d know why I dissolved into hysterical laughter at this question.
I have so many books waiting to be read, and the genres range from romance to suspense to epic fantasy, to writing craft books. The short answer is that I like to read a lot in a variety of genres. I enjoy experiencing new things, but I also like the comfort of a reliable re-read.
What was the hardest part of writing this book?
The hardest part was really figuring out Enzo’s character. Finn was easy. He showed up in my brain fully formed and ready to go. But Enzo was a bit more difficult to figure out. He’s in a different place in his life than Finn, and I really had to dig deep and understand why Enzo loves his art so much, and how he and Finn are so good together.
What was your first published work? Tell me a little about it.
I’ll go with my first novel here, since I know I had some short stories published before it, but I can’t really recall which one of those came first.
My first book was Angel 1089, which was published by Samhain in 2010. I now own the rights, so it’s still available although the publisher no longer exists.
This book I wrote with more heart than craft. I didn’t have an outline, just a vague idea of a plan. It was really my developmental editor at Samhain (Sasha Knight) who helped me get that book into shape. I still think you can see my obvious love for the world and characters in it.
It’s a sci-fi m/m romance involving a man and a cybernetic angel (a human transformed with technology). It’s technically age-gap, because the angel is oh about 200 years older than the human. It’s got found family and banter, the usual trademarks of my fiction.
Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?
I no longer read book reviews. I did early on in my career, because I really wanted to know what readers thought. But I’ve come to a place where I believe reviews are for other readers, and not meant for me.
What I do appreciate are those readers who have reached out to me via email or Facebook to let me know they’ve loved my books. Those messages are so valuable to me. I treasure them more than anything.
What are you working on now, and when can we expect it?
I am currently working on an m/m speculative romance, a book I’m describing as Bourne Identity meets the X-Men. It was really fun to write, and my critique group loves it – although they’ve pointed out some things I’ll need to fix in the next draft. It’s got age-gap, amnesia, and super powers!
I’m hoping to release it in 2024, depending on how well revisions go and my editors’ schedules.
Finn’s love stories always end in death.
He’s made millions writing as author Morgan Heart and his fans can’t get enough of his tragic love stories. But a bad breakup results in a killer case of writer’s block, and Finn needs to try something drastic to fix it, like. . .going to a coffee shop to write. There’s got to be a reason it’s a cliche, and in his world, cliches sell.
He shouldn’t be flirting with the hot, younger barista. He shouldn’t be using said beautiful barista as another character to kill off in his new book. And he sure as hell shouldn’t be getting his heart involved, especially since he’s still keeping his real identity secret.
Working at his aunt’s coffee shop is a temporary thing. . . that’s been going on for eight years now. One day soon Enzo is finally going to make it big with his art and move on. But when Finn walks into the cafe – confident, mature, put together, everything Enzo is not – he can’t help developing a huge crush, even if Finn is a customer.
As their relationship deepens, Finn’s deceptions and Enzo’s insecurities threaten to undermine everything they are starting to build together. If they can each confront their inner demons, then Finn might be writing a happy ending for the first time in his life.
Better Latte Than Never is an m/m age gap, coffee shop romance featuring a slow burn attraction that grows steamier than an espresso machine.
Warnings: Mention of partner betrayal, death of character’s parents in the past
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Enzo downed his cake and tossed the plate into the trash. He should really square up with his aunt before she left for the day. Still. What if the guy left before Enzo could say anything? He’d make his rounds with the regulars after, but right now, Enzo couldn’t contain his curiosity about the stranger.
He threw on his apron and sauntered over to the corner where the stranger sat half-hidden behind a laptop. If this went wrong, Enzo could claim he’d come over to offer a refill. Not to, you know, see if the guy’s smoldering look when Enzo had walked in the door meant anything.
“Hey.” Enzo cleared his throat. “Thanks for coming to my birthday party.”
The guy looked up from his computer, those gorgeous eyes moving slowly upward in a way that made Enzo want to blush. His jaw was straight and covered with a smattering of stubble. Enzo wanted to rub his hands along it and enjoy the feel of the soft roughness against his fingertips…and in other places. There was an adorable sprinkle of freckles across his sloped nose. But his lips—perfect and pink and a bit too full for a man—were what made Enzo’s thoughts move straight into the gutter.
“It was my pleasure. Enzo, right? I’m Finn.” He held out his hand.
Enzo took it, squeezing tightly. Finn had a firm handshake, but his palm was soft and warm against Enzo’s. When he pulled away, Enzo curled his hand into a fist, wanting to savor that feeling.
“Finn? Is that a nickname?”
“It’s short for Finnegan.”
“Ah, a nice Italian name.” Enzo grinned and, happily, Finn laughed at his joke.
“What brings you to our cafe?” He winced at how terrible that sounded. Apparently Enzo completely forgot how to flirt when it was a customer he thought was hot. He could charm the old ladies like nobody’s business, but a cute guy? Nope.
Finn nodded at his laptop. “Came for the Wi-Fi and stayed for the coffee. And then the surprise party.”
He picked up his fork and stabbed the last piece of cake left on his plate. “This cake is amazing.”
“Everything my aunt bakes is amazing.” Enzo watched the bit of chocolate make its way to Finn’s mouth and the sensual way his lips closed around the metal of the fork. That shouldn’t be turning Enzo on right now, but God, if he didn’t want to follow that piece of cake with his own tongue against Finn’s lips.
“So what do you make that’s amazing?” Finn asked with a wink, and that was when Enzo knew they were in business, or at least on the same wavelength.
He could feel the blush creeping up his cheeks. “I don’t bake, but I do brew a mean cup of espresso.” “I’d love to have a taste.”
“You’ve got—” Enzo gestured to his own face. A smear of chocolate had found its way to Finn’s chin.
“Here.” He picked up a napkin from the table and brushed it away.
Finn took the napkin, his fingers tangling with Enzo’s for a moment. His eyes were smoldering. “Thank you.”
CC Bridges spent her childhood visiting other worlds in books, comics, and the starship Enterprise. It’s no surprise that she ended up a librarian, being surrounded by the books she loves so much. She writes about amazing worlds with honorable heroes. Her hobbies include paying money to get locked in a room for an hour so she can solve puzzles to escape, along with the aforementioned reading. She lives with her husband and son on the Jersey Shore. She is currently pursuing an MFA from Southern New Hampshire University
Author Website: https://www.ccbridges.net
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