Promo Tour + Author Interview & Giveaway: Hothouse Flower by Krista & Becca Ritchie

Hothouse Flower Tour Banner
Click the banner to follow the tour!

First off, I want to say that I am so incredibly happy to be a part of the Hothouse Flower promo tour! Hothouse Flower is out in just NINE more days–can you believe it? It seems so soon and yet so far away… But seriously, in just NINE more days, we FINALLY get to have Ryke and Daisy’s story in our hands. God, I cannot wait!!

And if you don’t know who Ryke and Daisy are, they’re characters from the Addicted series by Krista & Becca Ritchie (you can see the recommended reading order below the interview). The Addicted series is seriously one of my all-time FAVORITES! If I could make everyone read it, I would. 🙂 But today, I get to have the amazing author duo here on the blog! Krista & Becca are twin authors and simply ah-mazing! So read on for my interview with K & B, and don’t forget to enter the fabulous giveaway from them!

Author Interview: Krista & Becca Ritchie

Hothouse Flower is COMING SOON!! Can you tell us if we have anything to look forward to like *cough* another lap dance *cough*?

Krista: Oh gosh, how do I answer this without spoilers? It’s so difficult, lol! There’s not another lap dance. I don’t think we would be able to write anything that tops Connor Cobalt’s epic lap dance. But there are some scenes that may make you gasp. It’s all very Ryke and Daisy. Obviously, I’m not very good at this, lol. *looks to Becca*

Becca: Flirtiness! There is flirting to be had. Maybe even flirting on motorcycles. Maybe even MORE!

One of my favorite, favorite Ryke quotes that just stuck out to me was one from Kiss the Sky– “For as much as I give Ryke a hard time, I can’t imagine another person with a kinder soul.” Because underneath all those ‘fucks’ and middle fingers, Ryke truly does have a beautiful heart. In the Bonus Material, we learn that he can also understand French. I love that Ryke has so much hidden depth to him–it makes him all the more amazing and attractive. Did you two always plan for Ryke to be ‘more than meets the eye’? And just how much do we learn about the Ryke underneath the harsh exterior?

Krista: I love that quote as well! It truly sums up Ryke’s character. He’s a nice guy but he doesn’t allow people to see that part of him. We usually don’t plan our character’s personalities out to that extent. They’re just something that develops when we start giving them backstories.

Becca: You will definitely get inside his head and see that his intentions are good ones, even if they come across harsh. Connor peeled back those layers in Kiss the Sky, and it’ll be nice for everyone to see all of Ryke Meadows in Hothouse Flower 😉

I looove the pictures you have on your Pinterest! And your Q&A’s on Tumblr… and your Twitter, Facebook, and everywhere else you two show up! But how on earth do you have time to do all that AND write the most incredible books ever?

Krista: Thank you! I’m pretty obsessed with pinning, so Pinterest is a dangerous place for me. I’d like to say that we’re magical and have found magic hours in the day that other people don’t have, but really we’re always working. Between social media and writing and promoting our books, we work 7 days a week, 12 hours a day. It’s not an exaggeration. But it’s what we love and it’s our dream to have this career, so we’ll happily put in the hours. We wouldn’t want to do anything else. And talking to everyone on social media sites is less like work and more like our fun time anyway 😉

Becca: We do love it, and we’ll eventually slow down, I’m sure. But not yet 🙂

One of the most heartbreaking scenes for me to read was when Ryke found out about what his mother did to Lily. What were the most heartbreaking scenes for you two to write? 

Krista: Oh yeah, that one was rough to write! I think the ending for Addicted to You was probably the most heartbreaking for me. Lo is such a tortured soul, so to see him break down and then have to leave Lily at the end of the book was really hard. But it was something that had to be done.

Becca: I agree with Krista. I think I was crying when it was my turn to work on the scene where Lo finds out the truth. But Ryke finding out about his mom was nearly as painful. I love that moment at the end where it’s a role reversal of sorts, and in that moment, Lo had to be strong for Ryke. There are also quite a few heartbreaking scenes in Hothouse Flower that had me all choked up.

What’s the weirdest/funniest thing you’ve ever had to look up for your books?

Krista: You know, when we wrote Addicted to You we were using our campus’ internet at our University and I was so paranoid that some IT student behind a desk was looking at everything I was searching. My history was littered with sites about sex addiction. But I don’t know if I really have a funny search.  Most of my searches are usually for places if they’re not about sex addiction. Like Acapulco, Mexico and stuff like that. I’m sure Becca has a better story.

Becca: Ummm, I remember when I was researching things for Kiss the Sky, I wanted Rose to say that she was so angry that she could kill a group of pandas, but she wouldn’t say a “group” she would say the actual term. You know like a “pride” of lions. Or a “litter” of kittens. So I searched for what a group of pandas would be called. I was so saddened by the answer that I Tweeted about it!

Krista & Becca funny

Apparently Pandas don’t group together. They’re loners!

I’ve always wondered–why make Ricochet and Thrive optional to read? Why make the series 3 books with 2 full-length companions and not 5 books total? I always tell everyone not to skip Ricochet, even though they can!

Krista: This a great question! And I think a lot of people are curious about it. We actually have two reasons.

1. Ricochet was always intended to be a novella (but it ended up being longer). We hate when the main male characters leave in second books. Edward left in New Moon. Kaidan left in Sweet Peril. There are plenty more examples, and we don’t like it. But Lo had to leave for rehab and we felt like we couldn’t skip over Lily’s journey during that time. So we wanted Ricochet to be optional for those who don’t like it when the male lead leaves.

2. We’re not that popular. Not everyone will read all of the books in our series. Not everyone will want to. Especially since we’re not Abbi Glines or Jennifer L. Armentrout. A 7 book series is a huge commitment for readers, and we knew that by making some of our books optional, it would be easier for some to jump into the series.

Becca: The second point Krista made is very important to us. We’re still new authors, and some people may be afraid to take a chance on our books. We never want this series to seem too overwhelming or daunting, and we’re definitely trying our hardest to show that you can jump in at certain points. For instance, you can JUST read Kiss the Sky and Hothouse Flower if you want. If you’re the type of reader who doesn’t like to commit to a new author, this may be a good place for you to start. Now, die-hard Addicted series fans will disagree and say to read the whole series from the beginning, but it really just depends on what type of reader you are.

I’ve heard that you two are working on other books not related to the Addicted series! (YES!! *pumps fist*) Do you have any news you could share about them? (I’m seriously a fan for life–I’ll read anything and everything you two write!)

Krista: Thanks, that means so much! And I wish we had some teaser or news, but it’s all hush-hush. We’re working on two new series right now. All I can say is that one of them is going to be called the “Like Us” series.

Becca: I’m really excited that we’re going to be able to work on books outside of the series (as well as continuing the Addicted series with Thrive and Addicted After All!) It’ll be fun to give all of you a whole new world *cue Aladdin music*

And lastly, 5 words to describe Hothouse Flower?

Krista: Illicit, fun, thrilling, sexy, surprises

Becca: Can I give 5 words too or is that cheating? Oh well, I’m doing it! WILD, HOT, DARING, FEAR, FORBIDDEN

Thank you, thank you, thank you, Krista and Becca!! You two are the best! 🙂

K&B: Aw, thank you for having us on your blog!! ❤ ❤

Hothouse Flower by Krista & Becca Ritchie

Title: Hothouse Flower
Author: Krista & Becca Ritchie
Series: Calloway Sisters #2 (Spin-Off of the Addicted series)
(full reading order below)
Pub Date: March 28th, 2014
Add to Goodreads

Ryke Meadows, meet Daisy Calloway … she’s all grown up.

Twenty-five-year-old Ryke Meadows knows he’s hard to love. With a billion-dollar inheritance, a track-star resume, and an alpha-male personality—he redefines the term likable asshole. But he’s not living to make friends. Or enemies. He just wants to free climb three of the toughest mountains in Yosemite without drama or interruption.

And then he receives a distressed call from a girl in Paris—a girl that he has never been allowed to have.

Daisy Calloway is eighteen. Finally. With her newfound independence, she can say goodbye to her overbearing mother and continue her modeling career. Next stop, Paris. Fashion Week begins with a bang, and Daisy uncovers the ugly reality of the industry. She wants to prove to her family that she can live on her own, but when everything spirals out of control, she turns to Ryke to keep her secrets.

As Daisy struggles to make sense of this new world and her freedom, she pushes the limits and fearlessly rides the edge. Ryke knows there’s deep hurt beneath every impulsive action. He must keep up with Daisy, and if he lets her go, her favorite motto—“live as if you’ll die today”—may just come true.

New Adult Romance: recommended for readers 18+ for mature content

***Authors’ Note***
Hothouse Flower is a spin-off of the Addicted series. Kiss the Sky is required before reading, and we strongly recommend reading the Addicted series before this spin-off.

Purchase:
EbookPaperback

Reading Order: Addicted series

Addicted to You by Krista & Becca Ritchie Ricochet by Krista & Becca Ritchie Addicted for Now by Krista & Becca Ritchie
Kiss the Sky by Krista & Becca Ritchie Hothouse Flower by Krista & Becca Ritchie Thrive by Krista & Becca Ritchie
Addicted After All by Krista & Becca Ritchie Fuel the Fire by Krista & Becca Ritchie Long Way Down by Krista & Becca Ritchie

#1 ~ Addicted to You: My ReviewEbookPaperbackGoodreads
#1.5 ~ Ricochet: My ReviewEbookPaperbackGoodreads
#2 ~ Addicted for Now: My ReviewEbookPaperbackGoodreads
Calloway Sisters #1 ~ Kiss the Sky: My ReviewEbookPaperbackGoodreads
Calloway Sisters #2 ~ Hothouse Flower: EbookPaperbackGoodreads
#2.5 ~ Thrive: My ReviewEbookPaperbackGoodreads
#3 ~ Addicted After All: EbookPaperbackGoodreads
Calloway Sisters #3 ~ Fuel the Fire: Goodreads (2015)
Calloway Sisters #4 ~ Long Way Down: Goodreads (2015)

about the authors

Krista & Becca Ritchie

Krista & Becca Ritchie write New Adult books that make you cringe, gasp, and go ooh-la-la. (If you do that sort of thing.) They are currently working on the spin-offs and final books in the Addicted series. Connect with them on twitter and their website: kbritchie.com

Twitter • Website • Facebook • Tumblr • Pinterest
Krista Goodreads • Becca Goodreads

giveaway

$15 Amazon Gift Card & 3 Kindle Ebooks of Hothouse Flower
**open internationally**

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Release Day Launch + Excerpt: Tied With Me by Kristen Proby

Tied With Me RDL Banner

We are thrilled that Kristen Proby’s TIED WITH ME has been released!! TIED WITH ME is a sexy Contemporary Erotic Romance novel and is the sixth book in Kristen’s With Me in Seattle Series.

Tied with Me by Kristen Proby

Tied With Me by Kristen Proby
Series: With Me in Seattle #6 (full reading order below)
Release Date: March 18th 2014
Add to Goodreads

A man whose lifestyle is so different from her own…

Nic Dalton’s cupcake bakery is thriving. She serves both rock stars and locals alike, content with her growing business. But one adventurous night out with her best friend, Bailey, turns her life upside down. She meets a handsome stranger who makes her skin sizzle and her heart race. Their one night together is explosive and unexpected, but when he has to suddenly leave without taking her phone number, Nic resigns herself to never seeing him again.

…What will it take to trust and submit to his every desire?

Matt Montgomery is one of Seattle’s finest. He works hard, loves and protects his family fiercely, and is loyal almost to a fault.

And he has a penchant for bondage.

Matt enjoys the way a woman looks wrapped up in his ropes, and makes no apologies for his preferences. When he meets Nic at a fetish festival, the small, beautiful woman catches his eye, drawing him to her. His one night with her was everything he’s ever looked for in a partner, but is cut short because of a family emergency. Even before he sees her again weeks later, he knows he’ll never get her out of his system.

And he’ll do whatever it takes to make her his.

“Give in to this, Nic. Let me prove to you that I will be one of the best decisions you ever make.” –Matt Montgomery

Buy Links:
Amazon Ebook • Amazon Paperback • Kobo

Excerpt

I grin and offer her a fresh bottle of water, which she accepts, unscrews the cap and takes a sip.

Fuck, she has beautiful lips. Lips that look amazing wrapped around the head of my cock.

“It’s not a crime to belong to a gym,” I reply.

My gym?”

“Do you own it?” I ask with a grin.

She laughs and shakes her head. “No.”

“It’s not far from my apartment, and it’s convenient to work, too, so here I am.”

She nods and glances down, not sure what to say next.

“The cake was delicious today,” I comment casually, giving her the opportunity to talk about her work.

“Oh, good!” She grins and joins me as I walk toward the smoothie bar, pull out a chair for her to drop into at one of the tiny two-person tables and sit opposite her. “I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

“You do good work. Leo and Sam are always talking about your cupcakes.”

“Leo and Sam keep me in business, I swear.” She laughs, sending electricity down my spine. “They’re very good customers.”

I nod, watching her.

“I like your shorter hair,” I murmur and reach out to brush the ends with my finger, enjoying the softness.

“Most men like long hair,” she replies softly.

“I like long hair, too. You look beautiful in both.”

She frowns and glances away from me.

“Why did you cut your hair, Nic?”

She shrugs and won’t meet my gaze. “It was time for a change.”

“Try again,” I reply.

She turns her eyes to mine and squares her shoulders, firms her chin. “It was time for a change.”

That’s a lie.

I cross my arms over my naked chest and drag my finger over my lip, watching her squirm.

She isn’t a good liar.

Good.

“Okay.”

She sighs, relieved, before I continue.

“For now.”

She scowls at me, making me laugh. “Friends don’t lie to each other, little one. The sooner you remember that, the better.”

“You’ve known me for three minutes, Matt. Don’t assume you know all there is to know about me.”

“You know what they say about assuming,” I murmur with a grin.

“Well, you are an ass,” she replies and then giggles.

I lean in and rest my mouth next to her ear. “This ass would love to smack your pretty little ass until it glows,” I whisper so only she can hear.

Reading Order: With Me in Seattle series

Come Away With Me by Kristen Proby Under the Mistletoe With Me by Kristen Proby Fight With Me by Kristen Proby
Play With Me by Kristen Proby
 Rock With Me by Kristen Proby Safe With Me by Kristen Proby Tied with Me by Kristen Proby

#1 ~ Come Away With Me: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#1.5 ~ Under the Mistletoe With Me: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#2 ~ Fight With Me: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#3 ~ Play With Me: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#4 ~ Rock With Me: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#5 ~ Safe With Me: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#6 ~ Tied With Me: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads

about the author

Kristen Proby

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Kristen Proby is the author of the bestselling With Me In Seattle series. She has a passion for a good love story and strong characters who love humor and have a strong sense of loyalty and family. Her men are the alpha type; fiercely protective and a bit bossy, and her ladies are fun, strong, and not afraid to stand up for themselves.

Kristen spends her days with her muse in the Pacific Northwest. She enjoys coffee, chocolate and sunshine. And naps.

Website • Twitter • Facebook • Goodreads

giveaway

–3 ecopies of TIED WITH ME for 3 winners

a Rafflecopter giveaway

InkSlinger PR Blogger Button

Release Event + Excerpt & Giveaway: Frenched by Melanie Harlow

RELEASE EVENT
FRENCHED
By Melanie Harlow

Frenched by Melanie Harlow

Release: March 18, 2014
A  Sexy Adult Contemporary Romance
Add to Goodreads

Mia Devine plans over-the-top weddings for a living. So when it comes to her own nuptials, she spares no expense—hand engraved invitations, Vera Wang gown, luxury honeymoon in France. And since her fiancé is Tucker Branch, playboy heir and notorious flirt, local media is obsessed with every little detail.

Which is why it really sucks when he jilts her a week before the wedding.

Mortified, Mia wants nothing more than to crawl under her newly monogrammed sheets and plan a funeral for her dignity, right after blabbing to the world how fitting it is that Tucker will inherit a bolt and screw company, because that’s all he wants to do—screw, and bolt. And he doesn’t do either with much finesse.

When her friends convince her that bitter tastes better when it’s drowned in Bordeaux, she grits her teeth and packs her bags, determined to make the best of a week in Paris alone.

She never planned on meeting Lucas Fournier.

The free-spirited musician’s scruffy good looks and less-than-sympathetic ear annoy her at first, but when she takes him up on his offer to show her around the city, she discovers that the romance of Paris isn’t just a myth.

Nor is the simultaneous O.

The last thing Mia needs is another doomed love affair, but since she only has a week, she figures she might as well enjoy La Vie en O with Lucas while she can. But each day—and night—with him is better than the last, and suddenly her heart is telling her this is more than a rebound fling.

Is it just the seduction of Paris…or could this be the real thing?

Buy Links:
Amazon • Barnes and Noble

Frenched Teaser

Excerpt

Mia and Lucas Meet

“You hate flying, yet you want to get on another plane first thing in the morning?”

“I have to.”

“No, you don’t.”

Shaking my head, I insisted, “Yes, I do. You don’t understand.”

“Sure I do. Your fiancé called off the wedding and you’re angry and sad or whatever because you’re getting close to your marriage deadline or whatever, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a good time here. You came all this way, even though you hate to fly. There must have been a reason.”

Oh, yeah. That’s why I was annoyed with him.

Aggravated anew, I sat taller on my seat. “The reason was that I’ve always wanted to see Paris. It’s been a dream of mine since I was a kid. I had every day planned out, I knew exactly what we would do, the things we would see. And I thought I could handle it on my own, but now that I’m here, I can’t, OK? I can’t handle all the love and romance and fucking happiness all around me when I was supposed to be here on my honeymoon! It isn’t fair!” My voice was rising and several people glanced my way, especially since I thumped my hand on the bar with my last word. But how dare he ruin my buzz and the tenuous peace I’d made with myself about going home!

He shrugged. “Lots of things in life aren’t fair. Doesn’t matter what city you’re in.”

I rolled my eyes as all the attitude progress I’d made during my second glass of wine came undone. “Spare me the platitudes. I’ve heard a boatload of them in the week since I was unceremoniously dumped—via text message, mind you—seven days before my goddamn wedding.”

Lucas regarded me carefully. “You’ve got a problem.”

Brilliant, this asshole. “Yes. My problem is that I’m on my honeymoon, alone.”

“That’s not your problem.”

My jaw fell open. Who the hell was he to tell me what my problem was? He went on before I could protest.

“Your problem is that you thought things were going to be one way and they’re not. You’re not even telling me you miss the guy who was supposed to be here with you. You just don’t want to be here alone because that wasn’t the plan.”

“That is not what I said!”

He laughed. “That’s exactly what you said.”

“Well…” I flapped my hands. “That’s not what I meant. I’m flustered. And drunk.”

“So you do miss him? Because I don’t see a heartbroken girl here in front of me. I see someone who’s angry that her relationship ended badly mostly because it ruined an idea she had about the perfect life. And she flew all the way here, but even Paris isn’t enough to distract her from the fact she didn’t get exactly what she wanted when she wanted it.”

“It was more than an idea! It was real. At least, it felt real…most of the time.” My spine curled as the fight left my body. Even my voice weakened. “But what do I know?”

He spoke softer too. “Want to know what I think?”

“No.”

He held up his hands. “Fair enough.”

I put my credit card on the bar. “I want to pay my bill and leave.”

“The wine is on the house.”

“Because you feel sorry for me?” I snapped. God, Mia, just shut up. Why I was letting this guy get to me, I had no idea. Wasn’t I in this bar because I felt sorry for myself?

He hesitated before answering. “Yes. Originally, I felt sorry for you because some asshole treated you wrong. But now that I know a little more, I think he did you a big favor. Now I feel sorry for you because you’re going to let one bad day ruin a dream that you’ve had for such a long time. You know, if you leave tomorrow, I bet you never come back. I bet you’ll always think of Paris as a miserable, lonely place.”

I opened my mouth to argue and then closed it. Was he right? Was I letting one bad day speak louder than a lifetime of dreaming about Paris?

“But I’d also bet you’re stronger than you think.”

I met his eyes, and they were serious. Was he right? I’d known coming here wouldn’t be easy, but I’d gotten on that plane. Cocking my head, I asked, “Were you a psych major or something?”

He grinned. “Double major—music and psychology. Graduate degree in psych. Look, I know we just met, and I do tend to analyze people and open my big mouth when I should probably just keep my opinion to myself. But when you walked in here alone and looked around, I thought, There is a woman who knows what she wants. That confidence is sexy.”

“But I’m not confident.” The words came out like a whimper as I stared down at my left hand, where my ring used to be. I wondered where it was now—I’d thrown it in the toilet, but Coco had rescued it.

“Yes, you are. You’re just a little scared right now.”

Exhaling, I looked up at him through my lashes. “You argue with everything I say. It’s really annoying.”

“Sorry. Let me make it up to you.”

“How?”

He thought for a moment. “Well, let’s make a deal. You agree to give Paris one more day, and I’ll agree to spend the day being your tour guide—no psycho-analysis, I promise. If you’re still miserable even when you have a friend by your side, you can grab a flight home the next day. I’ll even call the airline for you.”

“A friend, huh?”

“You think about it.” He moved down the bar to fill drink orders, and I checked out his ass again.

It really was cute.

about the author

Melanie Harlow likes her martinis dry, her lipstick red, and her history with the naughty bits left in. I write New Adult historical and contemporary stories.

Website • Facebook • Twitter • Goodreads

giveaway

–(1) Signed Print Copy of FRENCHED and Swag – US

a Rafflecopter giveaway

AToMR PRomotions logo

Release Day Launch + Excerpt & Giveaway: Unconditional by Melody Grace

Unconditional RDL Banner

We are extremely excited that Melody Grace’s UNCONDITIONAL is now available!!  UNCONDITIONAL is a contemporary romance, and it is the most heart-wrenching and latest novel in The Beachwood Bay Series.

Unconditional by Melody Grace

Unconditional by Melody Grace
Series: Beachwood Bay #3 (full reading order below)
Release date: March 18th, 2014
Add to Goodreads

Fall in love with Beachwood Bay in Melody Grace’s USA Today and internationally bestselling series!

“I’ve spent my whole life chasing perfection: perfect looks, perfect man, perfect home. But in one brutal moment, I realized it was all just a beautiful lie…”

Carina MacKenzie is fleeing from her past. Picking up the wreckage of her shattered dreams, she seeks comfort in the only place she’s ever felt safe: Beachwood Bay.

Garrett Sawyer isn’t looking to be anyone’s savior. Scarred by old betrayals, he’s sworn never to put his heart on the line again — especially not for a damaged, high-maintenance girl like Carina. But passion knows no logic, and soon, their reckless chemistry is making him forget his bitter vows.

Two damaged hearts. The hope of true love. As their passion blazes out of control, Carina and Garrett struggle to escape their legacies of hurt. But can you ever outrun the past? And when everything is on the line, can they trust enough to build a love that’s unconditional?

*This book contains adult situations and explicit content. 17+*

Purchase:
iTunes

Unconditional RDL Teaser

Excerpt

A noise comes. A shadow rears up in the dark. I scream.

“What the hell?”

Panic claws my chest and I scream again, reaching blindly for something to fight him off. Squatters and junkies and all kinds of dangerous men fill my mind as my hand closes around something solid on the hall table and I swing with everything I’ve got.

“Goddamn!” The figure reels back, stumbling against the wall.

“Get away from me!” I cry, shaking. My heart is racing so fast I think it might beat right out of my chest. I grip the object in my hand tighter. “Don’t touch me!”

“I’m not trying to touch you!” The man roars, angry. “I just want to know what you’re doing breaking into my goddamn house!”

The light flips on. I reel back, blinded by the sudden glare, but as the daze clears and my eyes flick back into focus, I see the man in front of me for the first time.

I stop breathing.

He’s half-naked, that’s the first thing I notice. Jesus, his body is like nothing I’ve ever seen before: tanned bronze and chiselled like a Greek god, but not like the guys I’ve dated, all waxed and pumped from hours at a fancy gym. This guy is real, raw, all muscle and power, with web of dark tattoos snaking over the bicep of his right arm. I feel a flush roll through me, hot with prickling awareness, but I can’t look away as I take in his tight, sculpted six-pack abs, and the trail of dark hair leading down to the waistband of his navy briefs…

“Don’t mind me, darlin’.” his voice comes. “Any time you’re done looking…”

I snap my eyes up to his face, blushing. Then I look at him for real and it all clicks into place.

“Oh,” My heart clenches in my chest as I recognize him for the first time. “It’s you.”

Unshaven face. Messy mahogany bed-head hair. And a pair of stormy ocean-blue eyes scowling at me like I’m the last person on earth he wants to see.

And I can say, the feeling is entirely mutual.

“It’s me.” Garrett Sawyer agrees in a low, Southern drawl. He strides over and snatches the vase from my hand, setting it down on the table with a thud. “Now, you want to tell me what the hell you’re doing creeping around my house at three in the goddamn morning?”

Reading Order: Beachwood Bay series

Untouched by Melody Grace Unbroken by Melody Grace Untamed Hearts by Melody Grace
Unafraid by Melody Grace
 Unwrapped by Melody Grace Unconditional by Melody Grace

#0.5 ~ Untouched: Ebook • Goodreads
#1 ~ Unbroken: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#1.5 ~ Untamed Hearts: Ebook • Goodreads
#2 ~ Unafraid: Ebook • Goodreads
#2.5 ~ Unwrapped: Ebook • Goodreads
#3 ~ Unconditional: Goodreads

about the author

Melody Grace

Melody Grace is the USA Today bestselling author of UNBROKEN and UNTOUCHED. A small-town girl turned SoCal beach-lover, she spent years with her nose in a book before deciding it was time to write them for herself. She loves bad boys, good books, and pistachio-flavored ice-cream.

Website • Facebook • Twitter • Goodreads

giveaway

–an ecopy of UNCONDITIONAL and $20 Amazon Gift Card for 1 winner
–an ecopy of UNCONDITIONAL for 2 winners

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Release Day Launch + Excerpt & Giveaway: Reclaiming the Sand by A. Meredith Walters

Reclaiming the Sand tour blitz banner

Reclaiming the Sand by A. Meredith Walters is finally here!! This was a beautifully written book that I had the absolute pleasure of reading (read my review) so make sure to add this book to your TBR list! It’s definitely a must-read.

Reclaiming the Sand by A. Meredith Walters

Reclaiming the Sand by A. Meredith Walters
Release date: March 17th, 2014
Add to Goodreads

Bully and victim.
Tormenter and tormented.
Villain and hero.

Ellie McCallum was the bully. The Tormenter. The Villain. Taking what she wanted, stomping over anyone that got in her way. Feelings, futures, and relationships be damned. She felt no emotional connection to anyone or anything. A sad and lonely existence for a young woman who had come to expect nothing more for herself. Her only happiness coming from making others miserable.

Particularly Freaky Flynn.

Growing up, Flynn Hendrick was known only as “Freaky Flynn.” He lived a life completely disconnected even as he struggled to become something more than that boy with Asperger’s. He was taunted and teased, bearing the brunt of systematic and calculated cruelty, ultimately culminating in a catastrophic turn of events that brought Ellie and Flynn’s worlds crashing down.

But then Flynn and Ellie grew up.

And moved on.

Until years later when their paths unexpectedly cross again and the bully and the freak are face to face once more.

When labels come to define you, finding yourself feels impossible. Particularly for two people disconnected from the world who inexplicably find a connection in each other.

And out of the wreckage of their tragic beginnings, an unlikely love story unfolds.

But a painful past doesn’t always want to let go. And old wounds are never truly healed…and sometimes the farther you try to run from yourself the closer you come to who you really are.

Buy Links:
Amazon US • Amazon UK

Excerpt

“Flynn!” Dania called out, waving her arm over her head, trying to get his attention.  I didn’t want to look, but I couldn’t help it.

Flynn glanced our way and caught sight of Dania flinging her hand about.

He ignored her and I had to chuckle at my friend’s agitation.

“He is so rude!” she complained.

Before I could stop her, Dania was up and out of the booth, heading toward Flynn.  I got to my feet and hurried behind her.  The last thing I wanted was for her to cause a scene.  She had a short fuse these days and Flynn and his perceived disrespect would definitely trigger it.

“Freaky!  It’s so good to see you again!  Isn’t it, Ells?” Dania said, winking at me and biting her bottom lip so she wouldn’t laugh.

I felt like I had jumped into a time machine and transported back seven years.  Dania hadn’t matured much in the years since graduation.  In fact, since her pregnancy, I felt as though she had backtracked to near infancy.

She was playing schoolyard mind games and I didn’t want anything to do with it.

“Come on Dania, Emily’s going to be bringing us our food soon,” I used my best no nonsense tone in hopes she would listen.

“I just wanted to talk to Freaky Flynn.  We used to be buddies right?” Dania slung her arm around Flynn’s waist and he stiffened instantly.

“Don’t touch me,” he demanded, moving out of her hold.

“Come on.  I just want a friendly hug.”  Dania reached for him again and he threw his arms out to stop her, knocking over a napkin dispenser, sending it crashing to the floor.

The diner became deathly quiet.  Everyone was watching their exchange with vivid interest.

“Dania, enough!” I said, gritting my teeth.  Flynn’s normally placid face looked almost panicked.  He hated being touched.  Everyone that had ever interacted with him knew that.  And Dania most definitely knew that.  What was she trying to do?  This seemed so juvenile and beneath someone who was five months pregnant.

“Come sit with us, Flynn.  Let’s talk for a while,” she said, her voice smooth as honey.

Flynn shook his head and took a step backwards.

“You don’t like me.  I don’t like you.  I won’t sit with you,” he said firmly and I was sort of proud of him.  He was standing up for himself in a way he never had as a teenager.

Life had clearly taught him some harsh lessons.  And I was sure that Dania and I had been his teachers.

Dania frowned, taken aback by his blunt candor.  She looked at me and I shrugged.  Then she laughed, a high trilling sound.

“Well you don’t need to be a dick about it,” she huffed.  But I knew she wasn’t finished.  Dania didn’t take rejection well.  And she took public embarrassment even worse.

“Hold on, you have a piece of lint,” she said and reached up to swipe her hands across his face in a long, exaggerated gesture.  Flynn flipped out.  He lunged backwards so quickly he tripped over his feet and crashed into a table behind him.

There was a collective gasp but tried to help him.  Dania cackled in delight, covering her mouth with her hands, her eyes bright with malicious glee.  Flynn sat up, looking shaken.  His eyes were wide and I could see his hands trembling.

“Stop laughing at me!” he yelled, which only made Dania laugh louder.  His face was flushed red and tears dripped down his cheeks.

For a moment I stood there frozen.  Once upon a time I would have egged Dania on. Adding to his abject humiliation.

Not this time.

“You heard him, Dania, shut the fuck up.”  Without waiting to hear any more of her hate I leaned down on my haunches in front of Flynn.  I didn’t reach out a hand to help him up.  I didn’t invade his personal space.  I kept a healthy distance between us but I did meet his eyes.

And he didn’t look away.

about the author

A. Meredith WaltersThe New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Contemporary and Paranormal romance including The Find You in the Dark series, Bad Rep and its upcoming sequel.

A. Meredith spent ten years as a counselor for at risk teens and children. First working at a Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault program and then later a program for children with severe emotional and mental health issues. Her former clients and their stories continue to influence every aspect of her writing.

When not writing (or being tortured with all manner of beauty products at the hand of her very imaginative and extremely girly 6 year old daughter), she is eating chocolate, watching reality television that could rot your brain and reading a smutty novel or two.

A. Meredith is represented by Michelle Johnson with the Inklings Literary Agency.

Goodreads • Twitter • Facebook

giveaway

— $50 Amazon giftcard
— $20 Amazon giftcard and signed paperback of Reclaiming the Sand
— $10 Amazon giftcard and ebook of Reclaiming the Sand

a Rafflecopter giveaway