Tour!! A Review of Standing By by Claudia Y. Burgoa + Author Interview

Standing By (A Knight's Tale #2) by Claudia Y. Burgoa

Genre: New Adult (Contemporary Romance)
Date Published: September 23, 2014
Publisher: Self

Mitch Knight

1. Loves a good challenge

2. Never turns his back on a dare

3. Loves to create nicknames

4. Nobody cooks better than him

5. Doesn’t believe in love

When Parker Welsh sells Mitch Knight his organic restaurant, Willows, he not only gives Mitch ownership; but everything entangled with it. Including the annoying pastry chef who supplies the muffins and cupcakes. 

Hayley Roth-Welsh

1. Loves To-Do Lists and Five-Year Plans

2. Has her dream job of baking sweets

3. Always tries to make others happy

4. Never seems to succeed with her family

5. Is still a virgin, waiting for love

Hayley played by her mother’s rules for the first eighteen years of her life, instead of heading to college as her family expected, she rebelled and opened a bakery, Pieces of Heaven. Her family expects her to fail and head back to school and their wish may come true once Parker sells his restaurant to the handsome, arrogant Mitchel Knight. It’s either join forces with him or lose her dream.

Standing By is the second book in the A Knight's Story series by Claudia Y. Burgoa. Like the first book, I absolutely love the Knight brothers. Mitch is no exception. I don't think there were ever two more stubborn people than Mitch and Hayley, and now they've met their match in each other. They butt heads from the start, and it is so funny to watch. I really feel for Hayley. She got the short straw in the family department. I really don't understand why her entire family treats her like crap. It didn't make sense to me. They are pretty useless and made me so mad many times. I don't know why Hayley puts up with them. At first, Mitch probably seems like more of the same to Hayley, but slowly they start to get to know each other. They were cute together. I love bantering, and there was a bunch of it between these two. Standing By had some unexpected drama mixed in with the humor, and I was pretty entertained from start to finish. I love getting to know each brother more and more in each book.

The ARC of Standing By by Claudia Y. Burgoa was kindly provided to me by RockStarLit PR for review. The opinions are my own.

Hayley

“I received the email. Now go and change,” Mitch barks, as he closes his phone.

I just emailed him my end of the year numbers and for the next two weeks he’ll come daily to observe and analyze what we need to take the next step—or so he says. I’m weary about his recommendations-no-I fear that he’ll say this is a lost cause.

“Change?” My forehead automatically becomes a frown. “You said wear comfortable clothes, these are my comfortable clothes.”

I point at my Nirvana T-shirt, then my shorts and finally my flat thong sandals.

“Should I switch my thongs for tennis shoes?”

“I really didn’t need to know that you’re wearing a thong, unless you’re willing to show I point at the shoes.

“Thong sandals, you, idiot.” Then I head for my satchel purse and walk to the door.

“Ready.”

“You’re wearing a t-shirt of a band from last century, and... can you wear something less, Today is laundry day and these are the only clean items I found.”

“As I said, these are my comfy clothes. No, I won’t choose another outfit. Unless of course, we’re heading to have tea with the queen, then I’ll think about changing my attire.

What’s the plan?”

“Tea with the queen, what does that mean?”

“Mom’s motto. Every morning, you need to dress as if you’re going to have tea with the queen.” I did it for eighteen years, even when she was out of the country with Dad but after I left her controlling grasp, I made sure to wear what I liked. “For Mom specifically it means wearing famous designer’s clothing with high heels and a gallon of her expensive perfume.”

“Can you wear something in between?”

“Yes, but I choose not to.” I respond with a sweetly tone, open the door and wait for him to follow so I can lock the door. “Are we leaving? Because as you know, my bed time is seven and we don’t have much left... unless you need a refresher on how to tell time.”

“You can be obnoxious, Miss Hayley Mae Roth-Welsh.” He heads outside.

“One of my charms.” I stick my tongue out before locking the door behind him.

How did you come up with the idea for this story?
I have this obsession about the different types of OCD, and as I’ve research about it, I found out several ways some of this perfectionists take the edge away. Hayley is a perfectionist that tries to make lists and followed them to the T. As my character came to life, I realized she’d be the perfect match for Mitchel Knight. The spontaneous, challenge lover, teaser of the Knight Brothers. 

Where do you find your inspiration? 
By observing my surroundings, the everyday life. 

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing? 
Follow an order, my mind thinks faster than my fingers can type... I have to make sure that I don’t scramble the words while writing a sentence, scramble scenes while writing the chapters and scramble the chapters as I write the whole. 

What are your current projects?
Where do I start...?
At the moment I have a couple of MS on the works. 

•One is a contemporary romance with a hint of 80’s, famous parents and lots of secrets involved. My plan is to release at the end of this year.

•The third book of A Knight’s Tale... Liam’s story, his love interest... there’s a hint on Standing By ;) Planning on releasing it early 2015.

Also, I have the outline for a New Adult book with a different genre...

•Nix Terra. A sci-fi book which should made its appearance early 2015 too. 

There are a few others swirling around my head, like a spin-off Standing by—The Welsh family saga?

Tell us about your first book. What would readers find different about the first one and your most recent published work? 
First and most, Where Life Takes You is in one word, Drama, while Standing By has a fun, light hearted touch to it. I also want to think that the readers will find a degree of maturity on my writing from WLTY to Standing By. A growth so to speak.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp? 
Definitely, always remember that everyone struggles in one way or another, and that even the most put together person can be a total mess on the inside.

Does music play any type of role in your writing? 
It’s a huge part of my first drafts I like to listen mostly to Alternative-Indie music. Upbeat with angsty lyrics my favorite.

Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your life?
Not really... *mommy issues * she coughs. 

I guess a few scenes, a few behaviors from my characters have a few similarities with real life. After all, the Knight family is based on my favorite aunt and her awesome family. 

What books have influenced your life most?
The Alchemist, By Paulo Coelho 

Are there any new authors that have grasp your interest?
There are so many... a few that are new to me but have been around for awhile. 
Katie Oliver, Kennedy Ryan, Sarah Boucher, Jaycee Ford... so many 

Can you share a little of your current work with us?
“My twin is being a pain in the ass; therefore, I’m entitled to be one too. As for leaving for only one day, I’m actually leaving for his bachelor party. I won’t be back until Sunday night or Monday. Will you miss me?”

“No.” I take a side step to look at his face.

“At least do something fun for once in your life, Hayley.”

“You know,” I tell him, deciding to give my weekend a chance. “I will have fun. Tonight I’ll map out a plan to enjoy a relaxing, fun weekend outside of New York.”

“Where are you going?”

“That’s for me to know and for you to never find out,” I beam, thinking about buying a few things for the trip. Perhaps even a new outfit and some killer sandals—with a heel. “Who knows, perhaps next Monday you’ll find a new and improved Hayley.”

We both laugh at the same time.

“If it’s not on the To-Do List, it won’t happen.”

“Or in my five-year plan,” I remind him. “Now, let me toss this dough away. It’s already crusty and will end up tasting like crap since you won’t be here to coach me.”

“I’m curious to know what this life change will be,” he snickers. “A new pen? No, I got it, a new notebook.”

“A new partner because you’re a nightmare.”

“If you replace me, Muffet, I’ll make your life miserable.”

“And what you’re doing right now is...” I wait for him to finish my sentence but instead he kisses my cheek.

“If you really go out of town, stay safe, kid. Call me if you need me.”

I watch him leave and wonder what it is that I can do in Vegas that’ll be fun and perhaps life changing. Get kicked out of the casino for counting cards or thrown into jail. Yeah, those are about the only things I would end up doing. I can always lose my virginity to some anonymous hot guy.”

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
Thank you for giving my books a chance, I hope you enjoy them. 

Do you have a special time to write? How is your day structured writing-wise?
I answer emails and work the so called day job during the morning. Once I’m done, I dedicate an hour or two to my writing and then around 8ish when things are calm at home, I deep into the writing for a scene or a chapter... perhaps two. 

Why did you choose to write [genre] stories? 
About romance, I like everyone to have an HEA, New Adult... I think is that age when you’re discovering and shedding that cocoon to become an adult. There’s still innocence, you make so many mistakes and you feel as you can take over the world or that the world is too heavy to continue. 

What is for you the perfect book hero?
Smart-Intelligent, geek-y compassionate, with flaws, honest, sweet, faithful, and intense. Oh yeah, and with a sense of humor. 

When you start a book, do you already have the whole story in your head or is it built progressively?
I have the overall story, how it began and how it’ll end it’s a matter of filling up the blanks to get from point A to Z.

When and why did you begin writing?
I’ve always had that creative spark to make up stories. I wrote down a few of those, however the bug of sharing them with other—publishing, bit me seven years ago.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
Seven years ago, when I finished my first manuscript. That one that no one ever, ever will read ;)

List three books you have recently read and would recommend. 
Adultery by Paulo Coelho

It’s in his Kiss by Jill Shalvis

Where Yesterday Lives by Karen Kingsbury

Tell us something that people would be surprised you know how to do. 
I’m ambidextrous and I can eat a pound of chocolates in less than thirty minutes. Chocolates for demonstration accepted at any time 

Will you write more about these characters? 

Yes, a little... I want to write a novella about them. I love this couple in particular and would love to do a brief: Where are they now.

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A Knight's Story Series

Tell us about your first book in the series. What would readers find different about the first one and your most recent published work? 
The first one introduces the entire Knight family, part of their personalities and their interactions; while Standing By focuses more in Mitch and Hayley... we still have the family involved but we concentrate on our MCs

How hard has it been for you, research-wise, to bring this series to life? 
Not hard, Google is a great source and then there’s book about everything from psychological help to cookbooks 

Did you always planned to write Hayley’s story? 
Part of it, how she handled being the daughter of the other woman and the baby of the so called family; and how it impacts that kid as they grow up. 

How would you describe this series to someone who has not read any of the books but is intrigued by the concept.
It’s a series about three fun, handsome, successful brothers that have the Knight in Shiny armor complex and love to challenge each other.

Check out my reviews of a couple other books by Claudia Y. Burgoa!

Claudia lives in Colorado with her family and three dogs. Two beagles who believe they are human, and a bichon who thinks she’s a beagle. While managing life, she works as a CFO at a small IT Company. She’s a dreamer who enjoys music, laughter and a good story.
To learn more about Claudia Y. Burgoa and her books, visit her website.You can also find her on Goodreads, Pinterest, Facebook, and Twitter.