A cold playboy in need of a fiancee.A sweet photographer in need of a job.
A proposal that would last a lifetime.
Eric Jansen was aware of his reputation. As a stoic widower with a mysterious past, work was his only solace...until his investors threaten to end the deal. With a new luxury hotel and housing development for underprivileged families on the line in scenic Rio de Janeiro, the beautiful new photographer, Jayla Mitchelson, is perfect for the job. She may also be the perfect woman to claim his heart.
Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in A Sunrise in Rio?
Sure! Jayla Mitchelson is an optimistic, driven, eager photographer who gets the chance of a lifetime to do a job in Rio, thanks to her mentor, Donna. That puts her in contact with Eric Jansen, a wealthy businessman looking to build some developments in Brazil, but he needs to impress the investors. Eric has some secrets that keep him closed off and a bit stoic, but Jayla naturally loosens him up a little! Honestly, one of the fave things I loved writing was their banter and their moments where they tease each other and just have fun. In some scenes, Jayla shares her love for photography, and Eric really sees how much of her passion shines through her work and admires her for it. I’m hoping their quiet scenes together really make the journey of their relationship fun to follow.
How did you come up with the concept and characters for the book?
I usually get inspired by movies I see, and I saw one that was popular when I was younger that definitely wasn’t wholesome, but it was shot so beautifully with an amazing soundtrack. It had scenes of Brazil that really made the location stay in my head, and I wanted to write my own story with a female lead who looked more like me, who gets whisked away by her mentor and falls for the stoic businessman. The story came alive from there. An early iteration had open-door love scenes, but I felt like the story worked better when the sensuality was more understated yet apparent in the characters’ everyday interactions rather than for love scenes. This version is for the clean and wholesome fans but definitely leans into the chemistry, tension, and yearning between Jayla and Eric.
What did you enjoy most about writing this book?
Besides the character interactions, I loved the research. I knew a little bit about Brazil and Rio itself going in, but I wanted to make sure I brought it to life the best way I could next to visiting, which sadly wasn’t possible at the time I wrote this. I watched a ton of videos, studied some of the cuisine, the city, and culture, and it was like taking a mini vacation in my head. I hope it’s the same for readers. :-)
If your book had a candle, what scent would it be?
Copacabana Sunrise for sure. I think it would have notes of white sandy beaches, cool ocean waves, and tropical sunsets. Maybe with a little Bergamot undertone.
Jayla stared at him, stunned. “Did you just say fiancée? As in…engaged?” The word echoed in her mind, making her frown as if she hadn’t heard it right. “I thought you needed a date.”
Eric slipped a hand into his pocket. “It’s a bit more complicated than that. Our potential investor values traditional family structures. He believes an engagement would, let’s say, enhance our credibility.”
Jayla’s shock turned into something sharper. Oh, so her photography skills didn’t matter? Was she just supposed to play dress-up and pretend to be in love with Mr. Perfect? “You can’t be serious.”
Eric watched her pace. “It would help me greatly.”
“For your little charade?” Jayla’s voice grew louder. “Is that why you hired me? To be nothing more than your arm candy?”
Eric closed his eyes a moment before he shook his head. “No, Jayla, it’s not like that.”
She stopped pacing, arms crossed. “Then why bring me down here? Why go through this phony interview process, checking out my site and bringing me–” She gasped. “Is that why you took me to breakfast? The sightseeing? Was that part of softening me up?”
“Jayla—”
She glanced back at the huge building. “If I say no, are you going to, what, chop me up and hide me in the building?” She began rummaging through her camera bag. “Look, buddy. I got Mace, and I will not hesitate to use it. I don’t care how many yachts you own.”
Eric froze mid-step toward her, then covered his mouth. His shoulders started shaking, and before Jayla could react, he doubled over, laughing uncontrollably.
“What—” Jayla’s indignation mixed with confusion. “What is so funny?”
He couldn’t even answer, leaning against a nearby lamppost for support as he laughed.
Jayla watched him, arms crossed, trying to maintain her anger.
But as Eric continued laughing with his eyes sparkling with tears, something shifted inside her. This wasn’t the composed CEO showing off his engaging smile. This was just Eric. Just a man finding genuine humor in her conspiracy theory.
“Oh, Jayla.” He finally managed to stop laughing, wiping a tear from the corner of his eye. “I’m sorry, but that was not the reaction I was expecting.”
She raised her hands, still stunned. “Well, what exactly were you expecting, Eric? You bring me out here, make this grand gesture, and then—”
“It sounds insane, I know,” he interrupted. “But hear me out. This deal is critical to my company. And I need someone who isn’t part of the usual circle, someone who won’t leak it to the press or get too involved. Someone I can trust to keep their distance while we manage these investors.” He watched her for a moment. “And when it’s done, we go our separate ways. But in the meantime,” his tone shifted slightly, “since we’ll be working together for the next few months, why not...”
He let the sentence linger.
“I’ll pay you twenty-five thousand dollars per workday. Seem reasonable?”
Her mouth fell open. Had she heard him right? Twenty-five thousand per day?
“Eric, I—”
“Think about it,” he said quickly, holding up a hand. “Don’t answer yet. Sleep on it. I know it’s a lot to process, but honestly, Jayla, it would mean a great deal to me… to us both. We wouldn’t have to see each other outside of a set plan, anyway. The meetings, the photo opportunities, that’s it. Your time is your own.”
Jayla nodded slowly. She didn’t even want to think of what Donna would say if she mentioned this. It sounded crazy. And the crazier fact was… she started considering it.
“I’ll think about it.”
Author of clean, cozy reads about love and romance, Rachel Matthews is a wife, daughter, crocheter, artist, and dreamer all rolled into one. She's dreamed of writing ever since she was little and now enjoys penning them for readers all around the world. Part mermaid and part stuffed animal wrangler, she currently lives in San Diego where she is fighting an addiction to the beach while enjoying free time with her own romantic hero husband.
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I liked the excerpt.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for posting! I hope your readers enjoy the book. :-)
ReplyDeleteI would enjoy reading this one. Sounds great.
ReplyDeleteI like the descriptions of the protagonists.
ReplyDelete