The Australian
Crime Royalty Romance #2
Lesley Young
Genre: Contemporary Romance 18+
Publication Date: March 27, 2015
Can be read as a stand-alone novel.
Charlie Sykes takes everything and everyone at face value and believes life would be a lot easier if everyone else did, too. Aussie Jace Knight, international hotelier and purported playboy, has never met anyone like the absurdly literal and obliviously beautiful American who applies for his personal assistant position. The trouble is, how do you pursue a woman whose definition of flirting comes straight out of the Merriam-Webster Dictionary? That, and he’s not the only one after Charlie. Seems Mr. Knight might not be a reformed criminal after all.
Soon, Charlie’s immersed in a whirlwind of international espionage that takes her from the hip streets of Sydney to the majestic Great Barrier Reef and the wild, desolate outback. A dangerous trap’s being set, but how will Charlie protect herself and prevent a tragic betrayal, when she can’t even sort out what her heart’s telling her?
You can purchase your copy of The Australian at Amazon today!
The Australian was a book that surprised me and left me wanting more. It was written like a intense romantic spy movie, one of my favorite kinds of movies, and plunges the reader into a world where you never truly know what is happening as you go along. The Australian presents two very different characters- Charlie, the naive yet brilliant woman and Jace, the alpha hotelier with a past as grey as they come. You put these two characters together, coupled with Jace’s past and present ventures, and it makes for quite an entertaining and adrenaline pumping story.
Let’s talk characters. Charlie is a very unusual heroine. She is very intelligent when it comes to certain areas but socially inept when it comes to human interactions. She struggles to understand the social cues and innuendos of the world around her, while attempting to find stability and purpose after her mother’s death. She is a strong woman yet completely vulnerable in what she does not understand. She is kind and honest to a fault. I loved her personality and how she both clashed and melded so well with Jace. Jace is the complete opposite of Charlie in practically every way. His history is shaded in grey, the epitome of a past that one would want to leave behind. He is a man full of honesty yet an enigma as to what his motives are. He is not only stunningly handsome; he is also cunning, always thinking ahead to what is coming. These two should not work but in this story, complete opposites most certainly do attract. Jace brings out the passion and emotion from deep within Charlie. Charlie brings out the good and hope in Jace. They click well and that makes this story great.
Espionage is always a fun theme and this book has it in spades. All throughout this story, as the reader, you are questioning who is good and the hidden motives of basically every character involved in the story. It is fascinating to see how Charlie is swept away in a world that she knows nothing about and then lengths both Charlie and Jace will go to protect the ones they love. This story has it’s slow and sensual moments, but there is a great deal of adrenaline pumping scenes that will leave you on the edge of your seat!
The Australian was a great book full of excitement, second chances, and intrigue. I am excited to see what more Lesley Young has in store for the Crime Royalty Romance series! If you are a fan of high adrenaline stories, hot romances, and when opposites attract then this book is right up your alley! Make sure to check it out.
Fun Facts About The Australian from Lesley Young
Check out some fun facts and tidbits from Lesley Young about her book, The Australian!
First three opening lines of my book. . . .
I glanced at the time on my cell phone and frowned. My temp agency had notified me of this job prospect at the last minute, yet I had managed to arrive within sixty seconds of the appointed time, during Sydney’s rush-hour traffic no less. Meanwhile, I glanced at the closed door several feet from where I sat; the employer was unable to stay on schedule posing a mere series of interview questions. Vexing.
How I wrote this book. . .
-It took me two months, and I was so caught up in the story I would forget to pay bills, call friends, meet deadlines…kind of like when you read a really good book!
-I listened to Big Sugar’s If I Had My Way over 500 times while writing this novel.
If I had to summarize the book for the readers here…
A twist on a coming of age love story (Charlie Sykes is a late-starter!).
What the characters are like. . .
Charlie Sykes is a highly intelligent 24-year-old who makes her first illogical decision when she moves down under to start life over after her mother dies. She’s naive, but only because she sees the world extremely literal. Her ability to suss out the truth in every situation puts people on edge. When she lets down her guard, she’s vulnerable, intensely sensitive and utterly optimistic.
Jace Knight is a powerful hotelier who built up his empire on criminal foundations. And while his moral code is questionable, his honor is not. All he’s ever wanted is a good life. He’s brilliantly manipulative, but also vibrant, and young at heart.
What’s surprising about my characters .. .
I’m a bit of a pantser so no one was more surprised than me when a slightly autistic heroine came out of me. I’d never watched the TV show Bones before but someone mentioned Charlie reminded them of that show’s main character.
What scene makes me laugh out loud every time I read it. . .
In this one scene, Charlie has to drive a car at gunpoint, but she’s still taking driving lessons (and hasn’t even made it out of the parking lot yet). The man holding her at gunpoint is unprepared for just how bad a driver she is. Something about this scene makes me laugh every time I read it. I’m smiling right now! Sharing the scene won’t do it justice here, because you have to get to know Charlie first for it to work.
If my book was optioned for a movie, I would use the following scene for the audition.
In this scene, Charlie asks Jace if he is involved with any criminal activity. It’s pivotal because they’re both laying everything on the line.
“Look me in the eye.”
I did as he asked.
“Now ask me.”
“Are you,” I caught my breath, “involved in criminal activities?” I sounded very quiet. Not myself.
I felt a burn in my nose, and my eyes grew blurry. He blew air out of his nose and stepped closer, but I stepped back, needing space to stay the course.
“Don’t,” I said.
“Don’t what?” he asked, tenderly.
I flashed on him again, surprised. His face had grown lighter, calmer . . . maybe as he took in my sadness. He had uncrossed his arms, and tilted his head to the side.
No. I knew what he was trying to do.
“Seduce the truth away,” I answered, remembering how he had reassured me in Port Douglas with physical affection.
His mouth popped open.
“I deserve better.”
He flinched, and, after a moment, glanced away.
The one piece of advice I’d give my characters. . . .
Don’t make assumptions. Both my characters are so sure of themselves, they miss big problems staring straight at them.
To celebrate the blog tour of The Australian, Lesley Young is hosting a giveaway! Enter this Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win a $25.00 USD Amazon Gift Card. All you have to do it follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter to be entered to win! Good luck.
Lesley Young is an award-winning journalist by day and a compulsive romance novelist by night. Her most recent series—Crime Royalty Romance—features unforgettable heroines who fall in love with dangerous men while on adventures abroad. Her fast-paced novels are rich with intricate plots, sizzling romance and gripping character development. You’ll root for her characters from page one!