Author Spotlight: Brittney Sahin
Sizzling & Suspenseful Romance
When I was just a wee-baby romance reader, still testing the waters of what I liked, and scared to step out of the pool I was already in, I read and reread the same 6 books over and over for 3 months. They were paranormal romances—cyborgs and shifters—and I felt comfortable there because I was still getting used to romance novels and they were at least in the wheelhouse of the sci-fi and fantasy novels I read before venturing into Romancelandia.
One morning, I opened my Kindle and there was an ad for The Real Deal by Brittney Sahin. I’m not sure what drew me to it, to look it up on Amazon and read the blurb, but when I noticed it was book three in a series, I dug a little deeper. Dropping into the reviews of On the Edge (Book 1 in the Dublin Nights series) I started to notice the same phrases showing up in a ton of reviews: “my new favorite series”, “one of my favorite authors,” “can’t wait for the next one,” “I couldn’t put it down.” … well, you get the idea. And as I read the blurbs and reviews for the other books in the series, I became more and more convinced this was a series I absolutely needed to read. I binged the books that were already out (books 1-4), then reread them. And I think I reread The Real Deal a third time. Because, Sebastian.
But my binge wasn’t over, because then I discovered the rest of Brittney’s backlist, and whoa! Talk about your deep dive into amazingness… there I went. I binged Stealth Ops next, then the Hidden Truths series, then the Becoming Us duet. I think I actually read them in reverse order of when Brittney actually wrote the series. Ooops. I devoured her backlist. I was obsessed and impressed.
When I found out Brittney had a Facebook group, I jumped in. It was the first reader group I joined on Facebook. Finding a group of people as excited about Brittney’s books as I was- pretty freaking fantastic. I was still getting my feet wet in the romance novel community, so I did a lot of lurking. Taking it all in. Learning the terminology, and learning that I wasn’t alone in my appreciation of the books, characters, and author. We all love the intricate plot twists, the emotional connections to the characters, the fast-paced action, and the way each book in the series built on the one before. And her books have just the right amount of steam to enhance the storyline, elevate your heart rate, and paint a picture of the depth of love the characters found in each other.
Brittney’s books were my gateway to Romantic Suspense (RS)- probably my favorite romantic genre to read. Because of her books, I searched out other RS authors and found Samantha Cole, Jemma Westbrook (Janice Whiteaker), April Wilson, and Nicole Snow.
The most wonderful thing about this bookish journey has been the connections I’ve made with the authors I love. Brittney has always been active in her groups, responsive to questions, and interactive with conversations in the comments. Her Q&As after her books release are always fun and give a ton of insight into Brittney’s writing style, methods, habits, and even her life. Seeing an author you love as “a person, just like me” brought another level of clarity as well. It’s a delicate balance for authors with an on-line presence. Brittney takes the connections with her readers seriously and it translates to an accessible author who really appreciates her readers.
Last year I got a look behind the scenes at Brittney’s writing process, and yeah, it pretty well blew my mind. It also caused a pretty intense fangirl moment for me. Brittney uses a team editing approach because her books are intense and intricate, and the series element creates continuity layers that require keen eyes and memories. Early last year (2022) I got to be part of that team, working on The Guarded One. Squeeee!!! I know, right??? And what an awesome experience it was. Working with the team elevated my editor game. Seeing how other editors work, and working alongside them, was like a little masterclass. Working with one of my favorite authors, yeah, pretty incredible. I was telling The Hubster about it and he said I was acting like I’d just been called up from the minors. Lol. Kinda did feel that way. Knowing an author I have admired and fangirled for two years values my input is a pretty incredible feeling. So, yeah… Wow!
When Brittney’s editing team retired after The Guarded One, I stepped into the chief editor role for her and have been working with her on her independently published novels since then. And it is still an awesome experience every time. Watching her work a plot, subplot, characters, intrigue—all the details—into an intense, passionate, comprehensive story is a thrill all on its own. Helping bring it to readers still gives me chills and a very happy heart. Getting to know Brittney as a compassionate, kind, talented, human has been truly remarkable.
As much as we’ve worked together, and as often as we chat about bookish and family things, I’ve still not had the chance to meet Brittney in person. Well, that’s all going to change in April of 2024 when Brittney joins us at Charm City Romanticon. I am seriously looking forward to wrapping her in a big hug. Not just because she’s a stellar human and I’ll be so incredibly excited to meet her, but because it’s one of the best ways I know to express my gratitude for what her books, her group, and she personally and professionally has brought to my life.
Just the facts:
First book I read by Brittney: On the Edge, Dublin Nights Book 1
What I love most about her books: Intricate suspenseful plots, swoony heroes, badass heroines
Fave book by Brittney: The Wanted One, Falcon Falls book 5
Fave character: Sebastian Renaud from The Real Deal, Dublin Nights book 3
Fave cover: The Inside Man, Dublin Nights Book 4
You can get all of her books on Amazon
Check out her recommended reading order here: https://brittneysahin.com/reading-guide/
If you are not ready for a full back-list binge, I recommend reading the Stealth Ops, Dublin Nights, and Falcon Falls series in publication order because of cross-overs later in Stealth Ops/ Dublin Nights. Falcon Falls starts after the last Stealth Ops novel and is interconnected with the Stealth Ops series.
You can find Brittney on social media here:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorbrittneysahin
Main reader group (Brittney’s Book Babes): https://www.facebook.com/groups/368748623520440
Dublin Nights Spoiler Room: https://www.facebook.com/groups/465053827443550
Stealth Ops Spoiler Room: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1037954806399994
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brittneysahin/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brittneysahin
