Sunday, May 31, 2015
Friday, May 22, 2015
Book Blitz: Sky High by C.J. Lake
AUTHOR BIO:
(No author photo available)
C.J. Lake is a storyteller who is passionate about art, surfing, and skiing/snowboarding. Residing near the coast of Massachusetts, C.J. is currently working on a new book. Readers can get in touch via email (writercjlake@gmail.com) or follow C.J. on Twitter @brightbluesurf.
EXCERPT
“Hmm, is there a
deep-seated reason for your pessimism about guys?”
“No comment.”
“Ah, so there is a
reason,” Jamie said.
“It’s a long
story,” Sky said with finality, effectively shutting down the topic.
“I see,” Jamie
commented, nodding.
“You couldn’t
possibly,” she challenged.
“Okay, I don’t see
everything,” he admitted casually, “but I get the general picture. You’re the girl your friends are always
trying to set up—but you hate every guy, right?”
“No, not at all,”
Sky insisted. How did he know? “Though my
friends do claim that I’m too picky. But
really, I’m not!”
“Ah, so you’re one
of those too-picky girls.”
“I’m not!” she yelped,
a grin fighting to break through. “The
thing is, I know what I want and I don’t want to settle.”
“So, what do you
want then?” he asked her pointedly.
“I’d just like
someone normal and appealing and fun,” Sky said. “But, you know, smart and interesting and
actually honest. He has to be employed,”
she continued, thinking about it, “and preferably not a felon.”
“So is that it?”
Jamie said, as he chomped on a steak fry.
“Is that the whole list? Or is
there more?”
“Um…yes, I’m sure
there’s more.”
“Of course there
is!”
Giggling, Sky
said, “Hey, I like to be thorough. Did I
mention employed?”
“Yes.”
“Intelligent?”
“Yes, you said
that one, too.”
“Oh! I know.
Insightful. Considerate. Funny without being a clown, and ambitious
without being a showoff. I’d also like
him not to be a total horndog.”
At that, Jamie
froze. “Excuse me?”
Sky’s eyes roamed
around Jamie’s kitchen in a way that was deliberately casual, as she explained,
“I just don’t want someone who is totally obsessed with sex, that’s all.”
He set down his
steak fry, assessing her. “Just to
clarify here…you are looking for a guy,
right?”
“Yes. Why?”
He shrugged. “Just checking. Wasn’t sure there for a second.”
“See, but that’s
the whole problem,” Sky blurted, thinking about the past—even though she
really, truly, deeply did not want to, “guys can fool you.”
“How?” Jamie asked
curiously.
“They…they can
have a dark side,” was all she said. “Of
course they don’t show it until it’s too late.
You know, sometimes I just don’t feel like putting in the effort to meet
a new guy, because how can I know he’s not really a total A-hole?”
“You can’t,” Jamie
admitted. “At first. But I could help you with that.”
Sky’s brows
pinched as she studied him. “Help me
how?”
“All right, Sky,”
Jamie said, sounding confident, and pushed aside his plate. “I’m going to do you a personal favor. You can thank me later. Or now—your call.”
Squinting at him,
Sky said, “What are you talking about?”
“I’ll help you filter
out the losers right away.”
“How?”
“Simple. I’m a guy myself. I know what other guys are about. Just the way you girls all understand each
other—but guys don’t understand girls very well at all. Am I right?”
“Yes,” she
agreed. “But…how would this work?”
“How about
this? If I run into you while you’re out
on one of your blind dates, I’ll let you know my read on the guy. Right then and there. We’ll need some sort of signal, of course.”
“Hmm…I’m tempted
to go along with this,” Sky said thoughtfully.
“But I’m skeptical.”
“Of course you
are,” Jamie said, nonplussed. “You’re a cynic. Let me help you.”
She gave a laugh
and rolled her eyes. “Fine, so is this a
pass/fail type of thing?”
“Pass/fail, yes,
that’s a good idea,” Jamie agreed.
“And what kind of
signal should we use? It would have to
be really subtle, of course.”
“Let’s keep it
simple,” Jamie suggested. “Thumbs down
means dump him. Thumbs up means hump
him.”
“That’s
disgusting.”
Jamie laughed out
loud. “I’m kidding.”
Shaking her head,
Sky laughed, too. Then said: “Why would
you even want to help me with my dating life anyway?”
“Why not?” Jamie
replied. “You’re helping me, right?” he
said, motioning to the plant on the windowsill.
“We’ll call it even.”
***
EXCERPT 2:
“Why are you so
pissed?”
Jamie spared her a
cold glance over his shoulder. For a
fleeting moment, she thought he might deny his anger or talk around it, but
instead he muttered, “You know why.”
Sucking in a
breath, Sky hesitated. For a long
moment, she watched him picking up weights and stacking them (loudly), feeling
like she had a wad of cotton in her throat.
She wasn’t sure what to say or how to play this; she only knew that she
needed Jamie to be her friend again—and so much more than that—and she wasn’t
going to insult his intelligence by playing dumb.
“Look, I didn’t
even want to go on that date,” she
told him, still talking to his back. “It
was a last-minute favor to Alison—she begged me!” Wordlessly, Jamie stacked two more weights,
then scooped up a dumbbell.
Frustrated, Sky
said, “Look, she begged me as a personal favor to go out with him.”
With his back
still to her, he said, “Yeah, did she beg you to bring the guy back home with
you, too?”
Sky winced at
that. “The date didn’t mean anything,
Jamie.”
God, he was being
difficult. Was he going to make her say
it first? Didn’t he know how scary that
was?
Suddenly he whipped
his head around, as if a thought had just occurred to him. “Wait—is he downstairs right now?
Waiting for you?”
“No!” Sky nearly
yelped. “No, he’s not there. He left.”
“Ah,” Jamie said
with a nod. “So that’s why you’re
here. Let me guess: you want my opinion
now.”
“No,” Sky began,
shaking her head, “that’s not—”
“Well,” Jamie
declared, “my opinion is that this is bullshit.”
Stunned, Sky just
blinked at him for a second. “Exactly
which part?” she asked, confused.
“This whole thing
with you and me,” he stated bluntly.
“And I’m done with it.”
For a terrifying
second, Sky panicked. How was he “done”
with it? With her? “What does that mean?” she said, trying to
keep her voice from betraying what a hot mess of emotions she was right now.
Jamie started
walking toward her, his eyes burning with anger. “It means: I don’t want to be your friend and
I don’t want to hear about these guys anymore.”
“That’s what I’m
trying to—”
“What do you even
need my input for anyway?” Jamie continued brusquely, and Sky’s breath hitched
in her throat. She’d never seen him this
angry (and was it wrong that it was turning her on?) “You’re a grown woman,” he practically barked
at her, stopping his processional about five feet away from her. “You go be with whoever you want to be
with.”
Nodding, Sky felt
her adrenaline rise. “Fine, I will. In fact, that’s exactly what I’m going to do,” she promised, walking closer to
him. If he was missing her meaning, he
certainly wouldn’t be missing it for long...
Thursday, May 21, 2015
Book Blitz: Summer Fire Anthology
Love when it’s hot? So do romance writers. Especially when we’re writing about gritty alphas, angsty bad boys, sizzling attraction, and unrequited passion.
So loosen your buttons, turn the fan to oscillate and join us for this steamy, groundbreaking bundle of summer tales that are hot hot hot.
ALL THE AMAZING AUTHORS:
Gennita Low
Stacey Mosteller
R.J. Lewis
L. Wilder
Victoria Danann
Kym Grosso
Cat Miller
Mimi Barbour
Clarissa Wild
Teresa Gabelman
Linda Barlow
Helen Scott Taylor
Victoria James
Mona Risk
Patrice Wilton
Joan Reeves
Danielle Jamie
Terri Marie
Lorhainne Eckhart
Brandy L. Rivers
Nicole Blanchard
Chapter 1 - Excerpt
Remi Calder saw Eadan Fleming for the first time on
the day he moved into her apartment building.
While he helped the movers carry in some of his boxes, she
hid behind the foyer’s largest plant, completely in awe. The muscles stored in
that man’s six-foot frame were purely mouth-watering, a vision not soon
forgotten. In fact, she was in such a state that had she been wearing a
pacemaker it would have seized up.
Though she’d just passed her twenty-eighth birthday, the
gratifying sight left her gaping like a love-starved groupie.
The fellow wore his well-washed jeans and plaid shirt as if
it were a posh outfit from the elite tailors down the street. Yummy! His
hair was fashioned in that short style that many business men wore today, a
thick auburn mass curling in the heat.
Just then, he bent over to pick up a crate and her mouth
dried up, her heart beat in triple time and the black turtleneck sweater which
she thought slimmed her down suddenly choked her. With her tongue glued to the
top of her mouth, she didn’t see the other fellow who was approaching from
behind.
“He’s something else, eh, lass?”
First she jumped. Then she yelped. And just when she thought
things couldn’t get any worse, her camouflaging foliage tipped over and flopped
on the floor with a loud thud, leaving her totally exposed. Oh, lawdie!
The noise alerted the man she’d been spying on and he turned
her way to see what had caused the commotion. Embarrassed beyond words, Remi
knew he was still watching as she tried to upright the damn tree. Not once, oh
no; it took her three tries as the blasted bush seemed to have a mind of its
own. Finally the man who’d caused the uproar came to her rescue and put it back
in place.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.” The knowing gleam
in his eyes made her blush. This bloke reminded her of her brother, a
down-to-earth tease who loved to catch her in uncomfortable situations. Since
she seemed to be cursed with clumsiness, he ragged on her a lot.
“Oh, don’t apologise. I was just, ah…checking if the
umm…soil was dry. You know, if the plant needed water. I do that from time to
time. Otherwise they die.” Running out of inane blather, Remi shrugged,
reddened and hunched her shoulders.
By this time, the hunky eyeful had finished loading the
elevator and turned politely. “Were you wanting to use this lift?”
Remi glanced at her annoying friend and raised her chin.
Then she stepped out from behind the plant, knocking against it once again.
Turning in time, she saw it being caught and pretended it had nothing to do
with her.
Sauntering toward the elevator, Remi hoped like hell that
the run in her left legging hadn’t travelled around to the front of her leg.
She approached and saw him waiting for her from inside the open doors.
“Hi,” she stuttered slightly. “Are –are you moving in
today?” The first two fingers of the hand behind her back slowly crossed over
each other.
“Yes, I bought a flat on the ninth floor – 906. It’s a great
building and close to the city center. I was lucky it came up for sale. What floor
did you want?” His finger still hovered over the panel of numbers.
Remi’s eyes were glued to his muscled chest, imagination
going wild. “Sorry, I’m so sorry. I’m on the eight - eighth. Thank you.”
He grinned at her bumbling and then looked into her eyes,
and she saw a sincere, friendly smile. One that had her instinctively smiling
back. She watched his eyes widen and his glance sharpen. Lowering her lashes,
she hid her shyness.
To break the tension, she said, “It’s a good place to live.
I’ve been here for four years. In fact, I’m right underneath you.” She glanced
up at him and saw his right eyebrow arch and his head cock to the side. The
chuckle snorted from behind reminded her that the tease still lurked.
Darn—her mouth was getting in the way of her brain again.
Would she never learn? “I mean
that I’m in 806, directly beneath 906, one floor down.” To cover up the fact
that she’d been staring at him like an eager, tail-wagging puppy, she fixed her
purse strap and moved forward.
“That’s nice.” He had a distinctive half-grin hovering over
his mouth that reminded her instantly of the famous, cocky Elvis smile that had
fascinated female hearts all over the world.
“Graeme, are you coming with this load?”
Her antagonist ambled toward the lift and shook his head. “I
think it’s a bit over-crowded already, bro. Best you just send it back down for
me.” He winked at Remi, and her heart sank to the floor. The beast knew she’d
been spying and thought it gave him some power over her. Well, she’d let him
know she wasn’t someone to trifle with. Pushing her heavy curls back over her
shoulder, she sent him a haughty grimace. Sure enough, just when she wanted to
create an uncaring attitude, her watch caught in the strands of her hair. The
last thing she saw as the elevator doors closed was the silly fool’s grin.
Because of all the cartons and boxes jammed in, she’d had to
squeeze into the idol’s personal space. Now, she had her arm trapped, snared by
her hair. Even though Mr. Handsome had moved aside to let her proceed into the
corner, she hadn’t gotten that far. Brushing against him was unavoidable. But
stumbling? The man wouldn’t know that being in close proximity with any male
could cause her feet to forget how to walk, or her mind to become too befuddled
to remember.
“So you like this building?” he asked, making polite
conversation.
“Yes. Very much.” She pretended to be smoothing her hair,
rather than yanking away at it.
His gaze followed her hand and his grin widened. “Then I’ve
made a good choice.”
Nodding, she answered. “Most of the people here are very
nice.” She stared up at the flashing numbers on the control panel, praying they
would pass by quickly. She’d never felt so uncomfortable in all her life. From
the first day she’d moved into the building, this elevator had been the bane of
her existence. Who would be so foolish as to install a lift with mirrored
walls? Maybe a masochist! Every time she rode in the silly thing, she was
forced to see her overlarge self—the one she disliked to such an extent that
she’d habitually close her eyes—and cuss the building’s designer.
“Here, would you like me to help you get free?” He pointed
at her problem and lifted his hands in a gesture of waiting.
Forcing her stare away from the ceiling, she sighed and gave
up the attempt at pretending. “Would you mind? I seem to have hooked my hair on
my watch.”
“Not at all.” Since they were in close proximity, he didn’t
have to move, just lift his hands and untwist the curl from around the watch’s
fancy silver bracelet.
Remi did everything she could not to faint. First she bit
her lip, then clenched her free hand to stop it from reaching. Trying not to
stare at his muscular throat and the coating of sweat that glistened, she
closed her eyes. But his warm breath, enhanced by the hint of coffee, bewitched
her senses. Everything stopped—the elevator, his hands and then her heartbeat.
“There. You’re loose.” He stepped back and grabbed a small
suitcase just in time to jam it into the door to keep it open. “By the way, my
name is Eadan Fleming. I’ve just moved to London from Edinburgh.” With his head
angled to the side, he waited while she desperately tried to overcome her
muddled senses.
“Welcome. I’m Remi Calder. I hope you’re happy here.”
“I’m sure I will be.” He stepped aside to give her room to
exit and then waited.
Would she look very foolish backing out? Stupid, silly
tights. She did so anyway, wanting to escape the awkwardness as quickly as
she could. Besides, using this method of fleeing, her backside, being overly
large and not her best feature, wouldn’t be something he’d have to witness
waddling away from him.
At the exact moment she decided to bolt, the golf clubs
leaning against the elevator wall decided to fall over. Without his quickness
in reaching for her, she would have fallen too. As his arms encircled her full
figure, she couldn’t help but breathe in his cologne. It smelled of the wind on
top of a snowy mountain peak, fresh and clean. The scent shot straight to her
already heightened senses and left her reeling.
“Are you alright?” He sounded as if he really cared.
No! I want to disappear – now. “I’m so clumsy, I’m sorry. I hope your clubs are okay, and
that I didn’t break them.”
Now why would she say something so silly? Why in the world did her brain always go on a retreat at
the moment when she needed it most?
“Can I help you to your place? You’re shaking.”
“I’m fine. Really. Welcome to the building. And if you need
any sugar, you know where to find me.” Oh, no! Remi groaned her dismay.
By now she didn’t care what part of her anatomy he saw; she just had to make
good her escape.
She bolted for her place, and while searching for her keys,
she dropped her handbag. Finally she had the door opened and turned to wave him
on his way. Off-balance and in too much if a hurry, she accidently stumbled
over the purse. He watched her until she was on her knees inside her entrance
and she knew that all he saw were her arms reaching into the hallway to snatch
her fallen articles.
Remi, you fool. If you need any sugar? For heaven’s sake,
what were you thinking? No wonder the daft man was grinning like a teenager
after his first beerCover Reveal: Tarnished by Kate Jarvik Birch
Tarnished (Perfected #2)
Release Date: 2015
Entangled Teen
Summary from Goodreads:
Freedom
comes at a cost...
Ella
was genetically engineered to be the perfect pet—graceful,
demure...and kept. In a daring move, she escaped her captivity and took
refuge in Canada. But while she can think and act as she pleases, the life of a
liberated pet is just as confining as the Congressman’s gilded cage. Her escape
started a revolution, but she’s trapped, unable to get back to Penn—the boy she
loves—or help the girls who need her.
Back
in the United States, pets are turning up dead. With help from
a very unexpected source, Ella slips deep into the dangerous black
market, posing as a tarnished pet available to buy or sell. If she's lucky,
she'll be able to rescue Penn and expose the truth about the breeding program.
If she fails, Ella will pay not only with her life, but the lives of everyone
she's tried to save...

“Compelling, imaginative, and unique. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough!”
— Mary Lindsey, author of Shattered SoulsBuy Links:
Amazon * Barnes & Noble
About the Author:
Kate Jarvik Birch is a visual artist, author, playwright, daydreamer, and professional procrastinator. As a child, she wanted to grow up to be either a unicorn or mermaid. Luckily, being a writer turned out to be just as magical. Her essays and short stories have been published in literary journals including Indiana Review and Saint Ann’s Review. She lives in Salt Lake City, Utah with her husband and three kids. To learn more visit www.katejarvikbirch.com
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Cover Reveal: Alexa Crushed by T.R. Cupak
Alexa Crushed by T.R. Cupak
(Alexa Crushed #1)
Publication date: May 20th 2015
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance
Synopsis:
Alexa Morgan lost her mother when she was two. At eighteen, her father and stepmother died when a devastating earthquake hit the Bay Area. Only one person has remained a constant in her life: Devin.
Devin has been Alexa’s best friend since childhood. The two are inseparable—or they were until Devin declared his love for her at sixteen. When Alexa can offer him only friendship in return, Devin retreats, brokenhearted.
Alexa, on the other hand, longs for Ethan, the boy next door. Four years older than her, and with an ever-changing roster of girlfriends, Ethan is everything Devin isn’t: wild, sensual, and unpredictable.
In the aftermath of the deadly earthquake, Ethan makes his move on Alexa, who reciprocates in a confused whirl of grief and desire. When Ethan leaves town shortly after, Devin comes back into Alexa’s life, offering support and expecting nothing in return.
Alexa begins to see the advantages of Devin’s quiet, stable love. But just as her feelings for her old friend begin to blossom, Ethan returns. Now Alexa must choose—the perfect boyfriend or the wild, thrilling bad boy. It’s a choice that changes her life forever.
Devin has been Alexa’s best friend since childhood. The two are inseparable—or they were until Devin declared his love for her at sixteen. When Alexa can offer him only friendship in return, Devin retreats, brokenhearted.
Alexa, on the other hand, longs for Ethan, the boy next door. Four years older than her, and with an ever-changing roster of girlfriends, Ethan is everything Devin isn’t: wild, sensual, and unpredictable.
In the aftermath of the deadly earthquake, Ethan makes his move on Alexa, who reciprocates in a confused whirl of grief and desire. When Ethan leaves town shortly after, Devin comes back into Alexa’s life, offering support and expecting nothing in return.
Alexa begins to see the advantages of Devin’s quiet, stable love. But just as her feelings for her old friend begin to blossom, Ethan returns. Now Alexa must choose—the perfect boyfriend or the wild, thrilling bad boy. It’s a choice that changes her life forever.
AUTHOR BIO:
T.R. Cupak was born and raised in the suburbs of a Bay Area city in California. She was the closet nerd who hid her love of reading and writing short stories and poetry when she was younger. Back then it wasn’t considered cool to be into those types of activities for pleasure, whereas today you have TV shows, movies and books that glamourize that being a nerd is actually cool.
T. lives in a quiet, little, country town south of where she grew up. She is happily married to an amazing man who supports her in everything she does and spoils her rotten. They have a crazy little Shih Tzu named Harley. He's their fur-baby and even though he’s a pain in the arse most days, they love the little guy. She has an obsession with cars, especially fast ones. She enjoys her music louder than anyone should. Admittedly it’s to drown out hearing her own singing voice, or lack thereof. When she’s not at work or busy writing you can find her curled up reading a book on her Kindle with a glass of wine or Dirty Shirley.
T. lost touch with her creative side and stepped off the path of all things written in her early twenties. Six years ago, her passion for reading was rekindled. She began to utilize reading as a way to escape everyday chaos. Late 2013 she began journal writing. After a couple of months of journaling T. realized that this form of writing wasn't keeping her interest nor was it helping her to relax. After that realization settled in she changed the direction of her writing. Her creative aspirations were flowing once again and she happily embraced it. As her fingers started to dance across her keyboard she began to see her fictional characters begin to breathe life. Writing was only supposed to be a way for the new author to relax, but a story was born and T.R. Cupak is excited to be releasing her self-published debut novel, Alexa Crushed.
T. lives in a quiet, little, country town south of where she grew up. She is happily married to an amazing man who supports her in everything she does and spoils her rotten. They have a crazy little Shih Tzu named Harley. He's their fur-baby and even though he’s a pain in the arse most days, they love the little guy. She has an obsession with cars, especially fast ones. She enjoys her music louder than anyone should. Admittedly it’s to drown out hearing her own singing voice, or lack thereof. When she’s not at work or busy writing you can find her curled up reading a book on her Kindle with a glass of wine or Dirty Shirley.
T. lost touch with her creative side and stepped off the path of all things written in her early twenties. Six years ago, her passion for reading was rekindled. She began to utilize reading as a way to escape everyday chaos. Late 2013 she began journal writing. After a couple of months of journaling T. realized that this form of writing wasn't keeping her interest nor was it helping her to relax. After that realization settled in she changed the direction of her writing. Her creative aspirations were flowing once again and she happily embraced it. As her fingers started to dance across her keyboard she began to see her fictional characters begin to breathe life. Writing was only supposed to be a way for the new author to relax, but a story was born and T.R. Cupak is excited to be releasing her self-published debut novel, Alexa Crushed.
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
Book Blitz: Once in a Blue Moon by Amie Stuart
Once in a Blue Moon by Amie Stuart
Publication date: May 19th 2015
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Synopsis:
At eighteen, Ty Boudreaux married his high school sweetheart and planned to live happily ever after on the family ranch. But after twelve years in a volatile, one-sided marriage, this gentle cowboy is struggling to put his life back together.
At eighteen, Bettina Blanchard’s goal in life had been to shake the dust of Bluebonnet, Texas off her heels, and with her baby sister now safely in college, that dream is within her grasp. But underneath Bad Betti’s tough exterior beats the heart of a woman with hopes and dreams, and she’s loved Ty almost as long as he loved his ex-wife.
When fate drops Ty in her lap, one night of passion leaves them dealing with a pregnancy and a marriage both have reservations about. Can a girl from the wrong side of the tracks and Bluebonnet’s favorite son find common ground outside the bedroom? Despite the interfering in-laws, a jealous baby sister and a holiday no one wants to remember, Betti and Ty discover that even though their happily ever after doesn’t come easy, anything worth having is worth working for.
At eighteen, Bettina Blanchard’s goal in life had been to shake the dust of Bluebonnet, Texas off her heels, and with her baby sister now safely in college, that dream is within her grasp. But underneath Bad Betti’s tough exterior beats the heart of a woman with hopes and dreams, and she’s loved Ty almost as long as he loved his ex-wife.
When fate drops Ty in her lap, one night of passion leaves them dealing with a pregnancy and a marriage both have reservations about. Can a girl from the wrong side of the tracks and Bluebonnet’s favorite son find common ground outside the bedroom? Despite the interfering in-laws, a jealous baby sister and a holiday no one wants to remember, Betti and Ty discover that even though their happily ever after doesn’t come easy, anything worth having is worth working for.
AUTHOR BIO:
Amie Stuart is the last of a dying breed, a native Texan, and still makes her home there, where cowboys and music (her other two loves) abound. Growing up, she wanted to be a lawyer and a psychologist. No doubt the shrinks would have a field day with her head, but she's seen the error of her ways and considers all those other jobs 'research' for the writing gig.
She's a multiple contest finalist as well as a trained contest judge and is affectionately know as The Terminator by her critique partners. She's written as CELIA STUART for Black Lace Books, & Liquid Silver Books, and as AMIE STUART for Kensington Aphrodisia, she has a short story (PEACHES 'N CREAM) in Zane's CARMEL FLAVA 2, and launched Cobblestone Press's short erotica line,Wicked in 2007.
She's a multiple contest finalist as well as a trained contest judge and is affectionately know as The Terminator by her critique partners. She's written as CELIA STUART for Black Lace Books, & Liquid Silver Books, and as AMIE STUART for Kensington Aphrodisia, she has a short story (PEACHES 'N CREAM) in Zane's CARMEL FLAVA 2, and launched Cobblestone Press's short erotica line,Wicked in 2007.
EXCERPT
The days and weeks after my
run-ins with Rhea and Ty floated by in a haze of tears, ice cream and anything
else I could shove in my mouth. I’d never in my life been so in the dumps over
a man but repeated self-scoldings and peptalks did no good.
I had come to think of my life in
terms of BT—before Ty and AT—after Ty.
The first few weeks AT, I’d
alternated between nausea and binge eating. Definitely not like me; however,
I’d never had my heart well and truly broken before. Squashed and beaten like a
flower in a South Texas flash flood. This was
unquestionably new territory for me and at first, I allowed myself to mope,
eat, and cry. But things didn’t seem to improve. No matter how hard I tried, I
couldn’t pull myself out of my funk, and continued eating and crying...and
sleeping. I was depressed.
My depression lifted at the
oddest incident. But even that didn’t last long. The week after I blacked
Rhea’s eye I came home to find my grass had been cut. Totally not out of the
ordinary since I paid my neighbor’s sons to cut and bag for me. The Jackson brothers—a couple
of twelve year old, fair-haired imps were always looking to make a dime.
About time, too. They were a week
past due.
On my way to work the next
morning I stuffed an envelope with their pay in the mailbox, figuring their
mother would give it to them. And a couple weeks later we repeated our song and
dance.
Late in August, just before
school started, their mom, who was the source of their blonde hair and always
looked frazzled, showed up on my doorstep with both envelopes. And that’s when I got tickled.
"Betti, I’m sorry to bother
you, but I found these in my mail."
"Oh Bev, that was for the
boys mowing my grass. I hadn’t seen you around, so I just left their money in
your mailbox."
"Well, see now, that’s the
thing. The boys left July 1 to go spend the rest of the summer with their daddy
up in Wichita Falls .
Then my mama got sick a week later, and I’ve been in Alabama . Sally Truesdale’s been collecting
all my mail and watering my yard. I just got back last week, and I’m still
trying to set my house straight."
"So, who cut my grass?"
Frowning, I stepped out on my porch and looked around. Like the mysterious
grass cutter would still be nearby.
"I have no clue, but Sally
did mention she’d seen Ty Boudreaux pass through here quite a bit lately."
What in the hell was Sally
Truesdale smoking? Bev wasn’t one to gossip...but she was a woman. And Sally
was always in the know. We eyed each
other in the porch light, both of us fully aware my response would be reported
to Sally and then repeated all over town.
"Why in the world would Ty Boudreaux come
around here?" Least said; least
spread was my motto. "This isn’t his side of town." I put on my
best "I have no clue," frown and crossed my arms. Thank God it was
dark out.
"She said she saw him more
than once." Bev could fish ‘till the cows came home. "I hear he’s
been having a lot of trouble since Rhea up and left him."
My lips were sealed.
But if Sally had seen him, then
who else had? No way was I going to try and find out first-hand what Sally
knew, or worse, canvas the neighbors to find out if anyone had actually seen Ty mowing my grass. And honestly,
why would he?
Mowing a woman’s grass while she wasn’t home had to be
the most insane thing I’ve ever heard of. Right?
Monday, May 18, 2015
Blog Tour: Confessions of a Virgin Sex Columnist! by Kay Marie
Release Date:
05/18/15
From bestselling author Kaitlyn Davis,
writing as Kay Marie, comes a new adult romantic comedy about a girl who'll
soon discover that some secrets can't be kept forever, especially those of the
heart.
My name is
Skylar Quinn, I just moved to New York with my best friend Bridget, and I have
a confession. Well, more than one. Okay, quite a few really. Fine, here goes!
Confession #1: I'm a sex columnist. Hold on, that's not really the confession. You see, I'm sort of a virgin...sex columnist.
Confession #2: I'm in love with Bridget's older brother, Oliver. No—I was. No—I am. Wait, was? Am? Crap.
Confession #3: I've been avoiding Oliver for four years. Or I was until today, because he just moved in. Yes, you read that correctly. He's my new roommate. So that night we've both been pretending never happened, well, we might not be able to keep it a secret any longer.
And trust me, this is only the beginning.
Confession #1: I'm a sex columnist. Hold on, that's not really the confession. You see, I'm sort of a virgin...sex columnist.
Confession #2: I'm in love with Bridget's older brother, Oliver. No—I was. No—I am. Wait, was? Am? Crap.
Confession #3: I've been avoiding Oliver for four years. Or I was until today, because he just moved in. Yes, you read that correctly. He's my new roommate. So that night we've both been pretending never happened, well, we might not be able to keep it a secret any longer.
And trust me, this is only the beginning.
Character
Spotlight – Skylar Quinn!
Name: Skylar
Quinn – Skye to her friends, and well, anyone else who wants!
Occupation:
Newspaper assistant and reluctant sex columnist…
Who Is She?
Skylar is the main character of Confessions
of a Virgin Sex Columnist! —the story is told in her first person
narration. She’s a virgin, a sex columnist, and is, well, pretty much totally
anxious about the whole thing. Throw in the secret crush on her best friend’s
brother, who also happens to be her new roommate, and you might understand her
frequent heart palpitations :)
Loves: Ollie! No,
wait…she used to. She still does? Well, you guys can decide because Skye and I
sure can’t! Other loves include coffee, desserts, sugary things in general,
reading by the windowsill while it rains, cheesy love scenes, and writing of
course—especially when said writing doesn’t include fabricating sexual
scenarios for her column.
Hates: High
heels, hitting on guys, the never-ending embarrassing moments that seem to
plague her life, lying in general (yeah, I see the irony here), and, what did I
forget? Oh, right. Ollie!
Guilty Pleasures:
Reality television binge watching sessions with Bridget, and, um, secretly
watching Ollie flex his biceps out of the corner of her eye!
If you want to read
the rest of my character spotlights, just keep following the tour :)
You can visit my
pinterest board now for all of the character images and the original websites
where I found them! Thank you!
Pinterest link: https://www.pinterest.com/kdavisbooks/confessions-of-a-virgin-sex-columnist-character-in/
Author
Bio:
Bestselling author Kaitlyn Davis writes young adult
fantasy novels under the name Kaitlyn Davis and contemporary romance novels
under the name Kay Marie.
Always blessed with an overactive imagination, Kaitlyn has been writing ever since she picked up her first crayon and is overjoyed to share her work with the world. When she's not daydreaming, typing stories, or getting lost in fictional worlds, Kaitlyn can be found indulging in some puppy videos, watching a little too much television, or spending time with her family. If you have any questions for her--about her books, about scheduling an event, or just in general--you may contact her at: KaitlynDavisBooks@gmail.com
To stay up-to-date with all of Kaitlyn's new releases, sign up for her new release newsletter here: TinyLetter.com/KaitlynDavisBooks
Always blessed with an overactive imagination, Kaitlyn has been writing ever since she picked up her first crayon and is overjoyed to share her work with the world. When she's not daydreaming, typing stories, or getting lost in fictional worlds, Kaitlyn can be found indulging in some puppy videos, watching a little too much television, or spending time with her family. If you have any questions for her--about her books, about scheduling an event, or just in general--you may contact her at: KaitlynDavisBooks@gmail.com
To stay up-to-date with all of Kaitlyn's new releases, sign up for her new release newsletter here: TinyLetter.com/KaitlynDavisBooks
Author
Links:
Book Blitz: #Selfie by Cambria Hebert
Series: Hashtag Series #4
Release date: May 18, 2015
Genre: New adult college romance
Author: Cambria Hebert
Format: Ebook and Paperback
It’s all about the #Selfie.
She was the one girl I never wanted.
Until I had her.
One night.
One mistake.
Something we both wanted to forget.
I got rid of the proof. The one piece of evidence that could remind us both.
At least, I thought I did.
When it shows up on the school Buzzfeed, rumors fly. Friendships are tested and the feels get real.
I don’t do relationships. I don’t open my heart.
Especially for a girl everyone knows I hate.
What happens during spring break, stays in spring break.
Until it follows you home.
She was the one girl I never wanted.
Until I had her.
One night.
One mistake.
Something we both wanted to forget.
I got rid of the proof. The one piece of evidence that could remind us both.
At least, I thought I did.
When it shows up on the school Buzzfeed, rumors fly. Friendships are tested and the feels get real.
I don’t do relationships. I don’t open my heart.
Especially for a girl everyone knows I hate.
What happens during spring break, stays in spring break.
Until it follows you home.
AUTHOR BIO:
Cambria Hebert is a bestselling novelist of more than twenty books. She went to college for a bachelor’s degree, couldn’t pick a major and ended up with a degree in cosmetology. So rest assured her characters will always have good hair. She currently resides in North Carolina with her children (human and furry) and her husband, who is a United States Marine.
Beside’s writing Cambria loves a caramel latte, staying up late, sleeping in and watching movies. She considers math human torture and has an irrational fear of chickens (yes, chickens). You can often find her running on the treadmill (she’d rather be eating a donut), painting her toenails (because she bites her fingernails), or walking her chorkie (because her dog runs her house).
Cambria has written within the young adult and new adult genres, penning many paranormal and contemporary titles. Her favorite genre to read and write is romantic suspense. A few of her most recognized titles are: Text, Torch, Tryst, Masquerade and Recalled.
You can find out more about Cambria and her titles by visiting her website
Beside’s writing Cambria loves a caramel latte, staying up late, sleeping in and watching movies. She considers math human torture and has an irrational fear of chickens (yes, chickens). You can often find her running on the treadmill (she’d rather be eating a donut), painting her toenails (because she bites her fingernails), or walking her chorkie (because her dog runs her house).
Cambria has written within the young adult and new adult genres, penning many paranormal and contemporary titles. Her favorite genre to read and write is romantic suspense. A few of her most recognized titles are: Text, Torch, Tryst, Masquerade and Recalled.
You can find out more about Cambria and her titles by visiting her website
Cambria Hebert owns and operates Cambria Hebert Books, LLC
EXCERPT
of #SELFIE
by Cambria
Hebert
I didn’t think.
I just reacted.
I leapt over the
railing with ease. The distance down and the uneven sand I would be landing on
didn’t even cross my mind.
It didn’t
matter.
I landed like a
cat, no trouble at all, and the second my feet hit the sand, I moved forward.
Ivy was almost beneath the deck, but not quite. Her back was to me and she was
sitting up, hunched forward over part of herself.
She was muttering
some pretty damn colorful curse words beneath her breath, and my face split
into a smile. “Another angry crab attack you?”
She stiffened
and looked over her shoulder. Long blond hair cascaded down her back and
partially over her shoulder, creating a waterfall around her.
God, she was
beautiful.
Wait. No. No,
she wasn’t.
I cleared my
throat.
“Braeden?” She
glanced up, surprised. “Did you jump down here?”
“Well, you
screamed like you might be dying,” I quipped.
“Hardly.” She
tried to roll her eyes, but it turned into a grimace. “I need a Band-Aid,” she
said pathetically.
I bit back a
smile and crouched down beside her. “Let me see.”
She leaned back
a little so her body wasn’t blocking my view. The movement brought her closer
against me, and the scent of cinnamon wrapped around me. My stomach muscles
tightened and I jerked slightly. There was no way she could have noticed, but
her head tilted back and her eyes found mine.
We stared at
each other for the span of a few heartbeats, neither of us moving or saying a
word until someone called down from above, wanting to know if we were okay.
I blinked,
bringing myself back from the edge—the edge I always seemed perched on around
her—and motioned for her to show me what was wrong.
She lifted her
foot into her lap, and I looked down.
I heard myself
mutter something, but I was back to not thinking again.
She had the cap
of a beer bottle sticking out of the bottom of her foot. Blood oozed out around
it and dripped into the sand.
I cradled her
foot in my hand and gently stroked my thumb along her heel. A shudder moved
through her, and I glanced up.
“Hurts, huh?” I
murmured.
She blinked.
“Uh…” She blinked again. “Yeah.”
Using one hand,
I reached around to the base of my neck and pulled my T-shirt up over my head.
I didn’t say anything when I reached for her again, and without any warning, I
yanked the cap free.
Her breath
hissed between her teeth and she smacked my arm.
“Hey!” I
snapped.
“That hurt!” she
yelled, but it came out more like a whimper.
I tossed the cap
over my shoulder and glanced back down. Fresh blood welled. “It’s over now,” I
said gently and used my shirt to wrap around her foot.
Once the shirt
was in place, I pressed her foot between my hands, applying a little pressure.
Really, I just
wasn’t ready to let go.
“Braeden?” Her
voice caressed me. Being down here mostly concealed by the deck in the cool
sand and low lighting brought back last night. It reminded me of the undeniable
electricity between us.
I thought for
sure it would be gone.
It was still
there.
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