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Author Interview: Felicia Grossman | Romacne Thursdays

Author Interview: Felicia Grossman | Romacne Thursdays

November 5, 2020 Posted by angelreads Author Interviews, Romance Thursdays No Comments

On this week’s Romance Thursdays I have the lovely Felicia Grossman. You can also check out last weeks interview with Michelle Major where we talked about small-town romances and more. 

Romance Thursdays is a feature that spotlights romance authors to highlight how amazing the romance writing community is. Each week I’m will be interviewing a different romance author from across subgenres as well as both traditionally and self-published. I want to share their experience writing romance and why they love it so much. While also focusing on their writing and books. 

Felicia Grossman is the author of The Truitts series, which includes Appetites & Vices and Dalliances & Devotion. I adored reading these two and you can check out my reviews of the first and second book now. Grossman has also written a novella The Sweet Spot, that features in the Love All Year: A Holidays Anthology. Now let’s get into the interview. 

Hi Felicia, and welcome to Angel Reads. For those that haven’t read anything by you yet. Tell us a little about yourself and your books?

Hey! Thank you so, so, much for having me! I’m originally from Wilmington, Delaware. I’m a romance author. I am also a lawyer -some of the time. I primarily write historically set romances (though I have a short in an anthology called Love All Year that is contemporary). My first series, the Truitt Series was set in the area I grew up. It’s multigenerational (the couple in the first book are the parents of one of the leads in the second) which was both fun and kind of challenging to write. 

Why did you start writing romance novels? Is there anything in particular that drew you to it over other genres?

My grandparents owned a news store in Atlantic City where they sold genre fiction on wire racks and I loved looking at the romance covers when I was little. My grandmother was also a huge romance reader because she wanted that guaranteed happy ending and wasn’t going to waste time on a book without one. I think the first romances I read were those I found lying around their house. And when I started writing, I only wanted to write happy endings so here we are. 

The Truitt’s series stands out against other historical romances because of the setting and characters. Why did you choose to set the series in the US? 

 I’m Jewish and American and write primarily Jewish main characters. So while my family wasn’t necessarily in the U.S. during the periods I write about, the experience I wrote in those first two books is culturally similar to my own. 

I’d argue that the American Jewish experience is unique and fundamentally different than even that of Jews in other former British colonies in that it is almost completely inorganic, i.e., the community and its structures developed in accordance with a very specific vision and strategy created by the leadership at the time. I say this because those early leaders wrote a lot of essays and letters about exactly what they were doing and why. 

This was possible due to emerging European philosophy of the time, the extremely small size of the initial Jewish community in the U.S., and the specific political outlook of the non-Jewish leadership in early days of the United States. Thus, there’s a lot of really explicit material to use when writing the experience and, honestly, as I said before, it’s much more similar to my own current experience than anything happening anywhere else in the world at the time, including in England.

Also, with the U.S., I don’t have the problem where I have to mentally think about the couple and their family leaving within two generations to ensure their later survival. But that’s another story. 

What is your favourite thing about romance as a genre? Why do you like reading and writing it?

I’m definitely an “HEA” person. I like being able to read a book, fall in love with the characters, and see them happy in the end. It’s just satisfying. One of the most challenging but best things about writing romance is discovering what that HEA looks like for each specific, unique, set of main characters. That’s part of the adventure, not just the journey but creating the right destination for them (especially as they often don’t know what it looks like in the beginning either).

Historical romance is a major sub-genre of romance. What drew you to it over subgenres of romance? 

The dresses (I’m only half-joking, there is no one who loves a fancy dress as I do. I started dreaming about prom at like five–not the dance, not the date, the outfit). And you know, I also was a history major. 

What are some of your favourite tropes that you like reading and writing in the romance genre?

I had this discussion the other day and it’s pretty clear that I love to write limited relationships. I like to have characters who think they know exactly what they want, negotiate it perfectly, and then spend the book realizing they need something else entirely and have to figure out how to grow and change so they can have it. It’s kind of my thing.

In reading, I love enemies-to-lovers even though it is so hard to execute well. I have a thing for the “bad boy with a heart of gold.” I’m allegedly descended from several so it might be genetic. And I tend to like plots that border on “banana-pants.” I grew up with a father who loved opera so I’m willing to full-on Barber of Seville and Die Fledermaus level of silliness. 

 Who are some of your favourite romance authors? Who inspired you to write?

Okay, so I’ll stick just to Histrom or we’ll be here forever: Beverly Jenkins is a complete inspiration. Her stories are amazing but the way she builds her communities and threads in social history that makes her stories so rich is just unparalleled. Joanna Shupe is another writer who is extraordinarily deft and clever with her use of history. Eva Leigh makes me laugh like no one else. Sarah McLean is amazing at writing couples that bring out the best in each other. Rose Lerner is so meticulous and her tone and mood are so unique and lovely and melancholy and delicate–and while that will never be me (I’m like the opposite), it’s just beautiful to read. 

What are some of the ways that you think we can start overcoming the stigma of romance novels?  

Um…if you know, tell me, because my own mother and sister are super literary snobs (though to be fair to them, the snobbery isn’t limited to romance, they turn their noses up at mysteries, thrillers, and sci-fi so…). In all seriousness, I think the more readers discuss romance novels, both favourably and critically, in honest, forthright, and interesting ways, the less stigma there will be. Some of the discussions around the genre are brilliant and fascinating and especially the work reviewers and bloggers are doing, truly engaging in the genre in serious ways, is what makes readers–new and old– excited and interested. Us authors just have to produce work that lives up to that responsibility. 

Thank you so much for coming by Angel Reads. It was lovely having you here. And I can’t wait to read more of your books!

*** 

If you haven’t checked out Felicia Grossman’s books yet and love historical romance, then get on it, they are fantastic. I hope that you enjoyed this weeks interview and join me again next week with a new author. 

If there is an author that you would like to see featured here, please do let me know and I will try my best. If you are a romance author and would like to be apart of Romance Thursdays, don’t hesitate to message me. 

Have you read any books from Felicia Grossman before? Are you excited for more Romance Thursday posts? Let’s Chat! 

About the Author 

Felicia Grossman is the author of American historical romance novels Appetites & Vices and Dalliances & Devotion, as well as the contemporary novella The Sweet Spot. A Delaware native, she now lives in the midwest for her family and two dogs. When not writing romance, she enjoys eclairs, cannolis, and Sondheim musicals.

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Website 

 

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April was a very good reading month for me, especi April was a very good reading month for me, especially after last month. I had some really fantastic reads in April. I did do a lot of re-reading this month but I had such blast. I re-read Caught Up and Play Along and the first 4 books in the Ironside Academy series. 📚

I read some books that I’ve been waiting for including the new book from Kels and Denise Stone, as well as the new Tessa Hale. ✨

Overall it was such a good month, lots of binge reading series and starting on some new authors. I’m so excited to see what May brings. 🖤

What was your favourite book that you read in April? 

🏷️ 
#romancebooks #bookstagram  #romancereads #angelreads #bookblogger #spicybooks #romancereader #romance #smut #recentreads #aprilreads #aprilwrapup
IT’S RACE WEEK! 🏎️ If you didn’t know al IT’S RACE WEEK! 🏎️

If you didn’t know already I love F1, have ever since I was younger and decided that this year it would be fun to combined my love for F1 and reading together. 📚

After a week off we are back at it. We are in Miami this week’s and things are only just heating up. This week I’m reading Falling Off the Cliff  Kanitha P.

…

Formula 1 legend in the making and rising star Thiago Valencia is chasing redemption as well as his second World Champion title. With a tarnished reputation and an undetermined future in F1 that hangs by a terribly loose thread, he can’t afford to lose his seat. Thiago is ready to do anything to redeem himself and erase his past mistakes. When a mysterious woman intrudes on his private party in Monte Carlo, he is certain the universe has brought his polar opposite into his life as salvation. He is sunshine, she is moonlight; he is a bright star and she is a moonbeam.

Destiny takes the wheel, steering Kamari into Thiago’s orbit, but her open disdain and closely guarded heart warn her to stay away. Enchanted by her charms, Thiago is intent on melting her freezing barriers and tearing down the walls shielding her heart.

When Kamari agrees to help him save his future by being his fake girlfriend, the unexpected happens, triggered by a game of lies, secrets and desire.

As they plunge towards the finish line, the race veers offtrack and neither of them are ready to fall off the cliff.
… 

How Race Week Reads Will Work 

On Monday of race week I’ll announce the book I’ll be reading for the week, then throughout the week I’ll be posting stories and my thoughts. And then on Sunday, race day my review and final thoughts will go up.

🏷️ 
#romancebooks #bookstagram  #romancereads #angelreads #bookblogger #spicybooks #romancereader #romance #f1 #formula1 #ausgp #raceweekreads #f1romance #sportsromance #fallingoffthecliff #kanithap #fullthrottle
A little late but I am finally getting to share Ra A little late but I am finally getting to share Race 5’s Race Week Reads review. This week I read, Downforce (Pit Lane #1) by Hannah Lily.

🏎️ Review 🏎️

I had so much fun reading this book. I knew I was in for a ride as soon as I started Downforce. It was entertaining, fun, and I just had a good time reading it. And while it does explore some heavy topics, I don’t think it took away from the fun nature of the book.

Right from the start, we can see the tension between F1 Presenter, Olivia Fraser and F1 Driver, Jonah Scott. And while silly at times, it was fun seeing them interact together. Both really didn’t like each other. They both had said things about and to one another that sometimes it caused chaos. And I was here for it.

I did find that at times, just silly things happened. I am not a massive rom-com reader, and there was a lot of falling into one another, and arguments stemmed from nothing. This is honestly just because I don’t like these types of scenes, but it didn’t really make me dislike the book at all.

I loved the whole road trip aspect of the book, it’s different from other F1 books I’ve read so far this year and just made for some interesting banter and lust. I do wish that the road trip was a little longer than it was because I did feel like the romance moved pretty quickly here, but again, it didn’t really affect how much I was enjoying the book.

The romance was this combination of being slow burn and full of angst right at the start, to the road trip happening and then bam. But I loved it, though. The banter between Olivia and Jonah was fantastic. I loved seeing them grow not only with one another but with themselves as well.

Overall, I had a great time reading Downforce and will be continuing the series for sure when the other books come out. The romance was angsty and just felt right. The found family aspect really worked well here, and the F1 aspects were pretty okay. Not the best I’ve seen, but not the worst either. If you are looking for a fun read that has a great romance and a little rom-comy, then pick this one up.
I’ve already had a pretty amazing reading year. I’ve already had a pretty amazing reading year. There have been so many books that I have enjoyed but there are some that I have just loved. 🖤

I didn’t realise before I put this post together that all of these books are from authors I’ve read and loved before. There hasn’t been a Rebecca Yarros book that I haven’t rated under 4 Stars. Elsie Silver is just making me love everything that she writes. Wild and Wrangled may be my favourite in the series. 📖

Three rereads also made it to this list. Binding 13 still makes me gasp and smile all at the same time. And Caught Up and Play Along just hit every time. 📚

I’ve honestly had a great year so far and since making this post a few more books I’ve read I’ve ended up loving. It’s going to be hard to pick my favourites at the end of the year that is for sure. ✨

What books have you loved reading this year? Are any books that made my list on yours? Let me know! 

🏷️ 
#romancebooks #bookstagram  #romancereads #angelreads #bookblogger #spicybooks #romancereader #romance #smut #recentreads #2025favourites #onyxstorm #wildside  #binding13 #caughtup #wildandwrangled
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