Book of the Month Blog: Walk on the Wild Side by Natalie Anderson

Introducing our Fantastic Book of the Month guest blog post which makes brilliant reading whether you've experienced RIVA yet or are yet to have the pleasure...

I’m thrilled that Walk on the Wild Side has been selected as the book of the month for February and it’s so exciting to be part of the new Riva series. I love writing contemporary, sassy stories that feature strong characters, not to mention some high octane sex!

In Walk on the Wild Side, Jack and Kelsi come to their afternoon of play from two very different angles – Kelsi wants to let herself succumb to fantasy for once (and honestly, Jack is Mr Walking, Talking Fantasy Incarnate). Knowing there can (apparently) be nothing more than the one afternoon between them suits Kelsi perfectly. Jack is far more used to success with the opposite sex – he’s used to getting the women he wants. It only takes one look for him to know he wants the unusual creature that is Kelsi and he knows exactly how to seduce her – not that she makes it that difficult for him!

But then, naturally, things do become difficult. Hedonism does have a price I guess! I wanted to play with the ‘accidental pregnancy’ storyline – neither of these characters were going to be conventional in their approach to dealing with their ‘problem’. I knew they would think about all their options, and then come up with some kind of scheme they could both live with – or think that they could live with. But things never do play out as easily as all that...

I really enjoyed discovering these two – Kelsi, all wrapped up in her crazy outfits and mad coloured contact lenses was vulnerable and prickly but also far stronger than she initially appeared. I had a ball surfing on the web to see just how crazy her coloured contacts could be. I liked the mirror ones best – freaky!

But the best part of researching this story was Jack and his daredevil snowboarding streak...

I watched way too many clips of the ‘flying tomato’ (aka world snowboarding and skateboarding champ, Shaun White) - and lots of clips from the X Games, and the entire segment where Red Bull sponsored the US snowboarding team and built a brand new half-pipe in some remote mountain and they had to be helicoptered in... it was so very awesome. I used to ski when I was a child – pointing my skis straight down the mountain and going for it in that fearless way that kids do before they develop a sense of their own mortality. But when I hit my late teens I came over all fearful and haven’t been up the mountains nearly so much in recent years.

But extreme sports athletes intrigue me. I wanted to understand the fascination – the motivation. Why do these men and women want to push themselves to the edge to such a degree? Why do they have this drive to flip themselves right over it? I watched interviews with some of the world’s best. It was no hardship because I have to admit, those guys (and girls) are just too cool – literally. I enjoyed this peek into their lifestyle, their lingo, their love for all things new and boundary bending. There’s something so seductive about the rejection of convention, the refusal to conform and most inspiringly, that refusal to be limited – damn gravity! There’s also something seductive about someone so driven to do something beyond anyone’s best – although that does bring challenges of its own.

It’s Jack’s aura of freedom that destroys the last hint of Kelsi’s cautiousness, and it is his untamed quality, that fearlessness that seduces her completely. For someone so naturally self-protective, his carefree, ‘take no prisoners’ attitude was impossible to say no to. I have to admit he seduced me too. And then, what helps turn seduction into lasting love? Honour.

So have you ever met someone determined to achieve something that’s never yet been achieved? Were there sacrifices made and was the attempt of success worth it? Was it inspirational or heartbreaking or both?

And what about an untamed lover – have you ever been fascinated by a freedom-loving boy who refused to be bound by the norm? How did it work out?

Thanks so much for stopping by and I do hope you enjoy Jack and Kelsi’s story!
With very best wishes,

Natalie 

http://millsandboon.co.uk/books/Riva/Walk-on-the-Wild-Side-.htm