Breathless Ink » YA romance

Leigh T. Moore’s DRAGONFLY series

becca — Tue, 05 Aug 2014 11:52:22 +0000

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Books currently in the series: Dragonfly, Undertow, Watercolor, Mosaic

Want to hear my thoughts on the series?

Anna Sanders expected an anonymous (and uneventful) senior year until she crossed paths with rich-and-sexy Jack Kyser and his twin sister Lucy.

Pulling Anna into their extravagant lifestyle on the Gulf Coast, Lucy pushed her outside her comfort zone and Jack showed her feelings she’s never experienced… Until he mysteriously withdrew.

Anna turned to her internship at the city paper and to her old attraction for Julian, a handsome local artist and rising star, for distraction. But both led to her discovery of a decades-old secret closely guarded by the twins’ distant, single father.

It’s a secret that could cost her the boy she loves and permanently change all their lives.

Falling in love will pull you under…

-Bill Kyser has a plan to take the sandy farms of his hometown and turn them into a world-class tourist destination–and become a billionaire in the process.
-Alexandra “Lexy” LaSalle has a plan to change her life by becoming a world-famous artist.
-Meg Weaver has a plan to hold onto Bill no matter what she has to do.

Three friends, three dreams. One fatal decision will change all their lives forever.

In Dragonfly, Bill Kyser gave Anna the three journals that held the story behind the powerful developer’s seclusion and the damaged lives of his family members.

Anna hopes to find a way for Julian to know the truth, but as she digs deeper into the tragic events of the past, she realizes silence could be the only option.

Now she’s in an alliance with the man she formerly feared. And if Julian finds out what she knows, she could lose for good the boy she’s starting to love.

Love is stronger than distance…

Finishing senior year is supposed to be the best time in a person’s life.
Finishing senior year as Julian’s girlfriend should’ve been the icing on the cake.
Knowing the secret that could change everything for him is the only thing threatening to spoil it all.
Until Jack returns.

Anna and Julian are together at last, and it’s as hot and happy as they knew it would be. The only problem is The Secret.

And Jack.

But while Anna is determined to fight for the guy she loves, she could still lose Julian when he discovers the truth she’s been helping to hide.

The future never goes as planned.
People are never what they seem.
Time changes everything.

So you want to know what happened to Anna and Julian? Well, listen up, because I’ve got the whole scoop. I’m Jules, btw, and I am an artist, as you already know if you’ve read Watercolor. What you might not know is I inherited my mother’s cute little newsy nose, thank you very much.

It’s high school reunion time, and everyone’s coming back to Fairview—everyone who’s not already there, mind you. What went wrong, who’s fault it was, and why the heck nobody knew about me… it’s all coming out.

Long-distance relationships rarely last, and a lot of water has passed under that bridge. Big Secrets will be exposed, and in the end we’ll know if that old saying is true: Love is stronger than time.

“The books are most successful and most compelling when Moore brings the tension”

My favorite of the series was the first installment, Dragonfly. While some say love triangles have been overdone in YA romance, Anna’s attraction to Jack is believable as she struggles with her growing love for her friend Julian. There’s tension and palpable desire here that I miss in the rest of the series.

Overall, I love the premise of these books: a long-kept secret held by one generation spills over into their children’s lives, wreaking havoc with their loves and their futures. Much of the parents’ generation’s story is told through the contrivance of three diaries, and too often, they read as a contrivance. In Undertow, It’s hard to imagine anyone actually writing, as one does, “My mother, Mrs. Georgiana Weaver, is on practically every volunteer board and committee in South County.That’s because my daddy, Dr. John Weaver, is the best surgeon at the hospital in Fairview, and he’s a founding member of the hospital expansion committee.” This information needed to be conveyed, but no one is likely to write like this about themselves in a document ostensibly for and about themselves, so it feels a little clunky. Despite this style problem, the older characters’ stories are realistic and credible, and though the same story is told three times, it doesn’t seem too repetitive. A greater distinction between narrative voices would have made this aspect even more successful. I really like Julian and his mom. Those are people I would like to know IRL

In Watercolor, a new character seems to emerge out of nowhere and it’s difficult at first to accept that his story is as important as it is to the characters who had never mentioned him before or seemed to take an interest in the issue (don’t want to give too much away here) but it sets up events for later books. The Julian-Anna-Jack triangle pretty much dies here and I miss it. I didn’t exactly understand why Julian and Anna split up for a period, or why any of the adults would have let Anna in on such intimate details of their lives, but as a reader you just have to accept that premise. However, I wish some of the big events had been “written bigger” and some of the smaller ones had been skipped or minimized (it seems that finally learning who your father is, for example, should be a little more world-shattering than it is here).

Mosaic takes us years into the future and shows us how the younger generation seems to repeat the mistakes of their parents. A new narrator emerges and I found her somewhat forced, especially in her British-isms. Lines like “I read your sodding private blog, Mum. I know he was shagging some chav named Renee, and that’s why you left. He’s not just a wanker, he’s a sodding git” sound like a parody.

Overall, the books are most successful and most compelling when Moore brings the tension, as in this scene from Undertow:

I kissed him back. Our lips parted, and it was like

a sip of cool water after a long day in the hot sun. Such a relief.

He moved closer to kiss the side of my face, my neck and my hair. I

tightened my arms around him, resting my head on his shoulder and

inhaling deeply.

So sweet, so sad. I wished with everything in

me there was a way to change things. And when I opened my eyes,

there she was.

Meg was standing motionless in the backlight

of the hallway watching us.

My eyes flew wide as I pushed Bill away.

“Meg! It’s not what you think.”

She didn’t move, and even in the backlight I

could see the betrayal on her face, her body trembling. I took two

steps toward her, and she backed away.

“Meg…”

I could barely whisper her name as I

took another step. She turned and ran, and I stopped at at the door,

trying to catch my breath, reeling from the shock.

Nonetheless, these books would make some great beach reading, especially since many of the most enjoyable scenes take place on Gulf beaches. Moore really takes you there with excellent sensory details. As a beach girl myself, I wanted to join them.

And I really, really want a dragonfly ring. You will, too, after reading these.

Note: These books are a little steamy, so they’re definitely upper YA fare and could also be considered NA as the characters go off to college and even adult/parenthood.

Check out the series on Goodreads, Smashwords, and Amazon.

Meet Leigh T. Moore and her DRAGONFLY series!

becca — Mon, 04 Aug 2014 18:21:13 +0000

Title: Dragonfly series

Author: Leigh T Moore

Series: Dragonfly

Published by: Amazon digital services

Date published: June 4, 2103

Genres: contemporary

Book Length: approximately 260 pages each

Steam Rating: upper YA/NA levels of steam here

Main Characters: Anna, Jack, and Julian

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Check out the review of the series in the post below

Check out the review of the entire series in tomorrow’s post!

Leigh Talbert Moore is the author of the popular young adult romantic comedy The Truth About Faking, its companion, The Truth About Letting Go, which is a Top 5 Finalist in the 2013 “Best Indie Book Awards,” sponsored by The Kindle Book Review; the romantic-suspense novel Rouge, which was a Quarter Finalist in the 2013 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards; and the Dragonfly series, a new contemporary YA to new adult romantic saga.

A southern expat and beach bum (and ex-journalist and editor), Leigh lives with her husband and two young children in a landlocked location. To compensate, she conjures new worlds, characters, and situations while playing chauffeur, chaperon, group activity leader, and referee.

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Leigh graciously agreed to play “My Life in Song Titles” with me! And she has some excellent answers, as you can see. She gets super extra bonus points from my daughter for mentioning Ariana Grande’s “Problem”. You’re just going to have to read the series to get the joke on this one.

What song describes a typical day in your life (as a writer or “civilian”)?

My husband says “The Loneliness of the Middle Distance Runner” by Belle and Sebastian. I’m not sure what that says about me—LOL! I’d say “She Works Hard for the Money,” by Donna Summer.

What would be Anna’s theme song? What would be yours?

This summer’s pick hit “Problem” by Arianna Grande. She would do a long-distance dedication to Jack on that one—Haha! Mine would be… umm… The Loneliness of a Middle Distance runner? BAH!!! Just kidding. It would definitely be “Just Keep Swimming” from Finding Nemo… is that even a real song.

What song describes the best advice you ever received?

This is advice I actually GIVE new and fellow writers all the time: “Just Keep Swimming.” I know. I already said that.

If you weren’t a writer what would your dream job be (in song, of course)?

Umm… “Wichita Lineman” by Glenn Campbell—omg… just kidding! Sadly I don’t have any other dream jobs. That was of my dad’s favorite songs, though. Maybe I could be a Rhinestone Cowgirl?

Where is your favorite place in the whole world?

The beach. But unfortunately there’s not a “The Beach” song that I can think of other than “Kokomo” by the Beach Boys, and I hate that song… Maybe “Wipeout” would be better?

from Dragonfly:

A half-step, and I was in his arms. A glint of blue and his mouth covered mine. I trembled as his hands traveled up the sides of my dress to my shoulders, then lightly cupped my cheeks.

His lips moved to the corner of my mouth, then my jaw, and a tiny noise slipped from my throat. I was tense and electric, and all I could think of were his soft lips touching me, my fingers exploring his hard stomach through the thin cotton shirt he wore.

His mouth traveled to my ear, where he kissed me lightly before whispering, “Let’s sit.”

Taking my hand, he sat in the sand and pulled me onto his lap, and I watched as he unbuttoned his shirt, revealing his lined chest. Then he took my hands and placed my palms flat on his warm skin. Gorgeous.

“Now you,” he said, and his arms circled to my back. I was breathing fast as he slid my zipper down, and my straps fell to the sides. My head was so light, I could barely breathe. This was all new to me, and there was no way I was stopping it. My shoulders shook, and I looked down.

“Are you afraid?” he whispered.

I shook my head no, lying. He cupped my chin, tilting my face up, and looked into my eyes. The breeze blew his golden hair around his cheeks, and I was convinced this was what an angel looked like.

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Don’t forget! Come back tomorrow and check out the review and more on the Dragonfly series!

Release Day for Stacey Nash’s FORGET ME NOT

becca — Fri, 01 Aug 2014 11:47:11 +0000

Title: FORGET ME NOT (Book One)

Author: Stacey Nash

Series: The Collective

Published by: Harper Collins

Date published: August 1, 2014

Genres: speculative fiction

Book Length: 277 pages

Main Characters: Annamae and Jax

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Anamae is drawn into a world which shatters everything she knew to be true.

Since her mother vanished nine years ago, Anamae and her father have shared a quiet life. But when Anamae discovers a brooch identical to her mother’s favorite pendant, she unknowingly invites a slew of trouble into their world. They’re not just jewellery, they’re part of a highly developed technology capable of cloaking the human form. Triggering the jewellery’s power attracts the attention of a secret society determined to confiscate the device – and silence everyone who is aware of its existence. Anamae knows too much, and now she’s Enemy Number One.

She’s forced to leave her father behind when she’s taken in by a group determined to keep her safe. Here Anamae searches for answers about this hidden world. With her father kidnapped and her own life on the line, Anamae must decide if saving her dad is worth risking her new friends’ lives. No matter what she does, somebody is going to get hurt.

Stacey Nash writes adventure filled stories for Young Adults in the Science Fiction and Fantasy genres. When her head isn’t stuck in a fictional world, she calls the Hunter Valley of New South Wales home. It is an area nestled between mountains and vineyards, full of history and culture that all comes together to create an abundance of writing inspiration. Stacey loves nothing more than writing when inspiration strikes.

Note: this interview with Jax and Annamae appeared on my blog, Stephanie Wardrop, YA Author:

While I don’t want to give TOO much away (because you’ll want to read it for yourself), I had the honor of chatting with two of the main characters, Mae and Jax, and I’d like you to meet them, as well. When I asked them how they met, I could tell right away theirs was an unusual (and pretty enviable) relationship:

Anamae glances toward Jax. “He teleported into my bedroom, scared the life out of me and left again all in a matter of minutes. Most terrifying experience of my life.”

“I saved your ass, cupcake. Damsel in distress.” He winks at her. “Yeah, that was her and I was the knight.”

“All lies, Jax. I had everything under control and you’re no knight.”

He smirks.

I didn’t want to give too much away but wondered when they first noticed a change in feelings toward one another. Mae did not mince words:

“At first he was an ass—”

“You thought I was pretty hot right from the start, I could tell.”

Anamae punches him in the arm. “You’re full of yourself; which is exactly why I didn’t like you. Not until I pried underneath this…” She waves her hand toward him. “…whole bad boy act you’ve got going on.”

“Whatever, cupcake.” He raises an eyebrow. “I liked her from the first time I saw her, she’s beautiful, and smart, and…”

“And what?” Mae smiles.

“Nothing.”

Wanting to see how cute this could get, I asked them, “If you had one word (and one word only) to describe each other, what would that word be and why?”

Anamae leans back on the couch. “Annoying.”

“You love it.”

Their gazes meet, and their smiles grow.

“Mae’s strong. She’s got an inner strength that I admire. She doesn’t care what anyone thinks; she’ll fight for what she believes regardless.”

You guys, Stacey’s given us almost all of chapter one here! Enjoy:

It’s not getting any easier to tell my mother what’s happened, what she’s missed, what’s been going on in my life. It’s not getting any easier to survive each day without her. It’s not getting any easier to think of her and not cry. Elbow on my writing desk and chin cupped in my hand, I stare at the yellow notepaper. The lines across it are as empty as my pounding head. The spot where the tip of my favorite pen touches is marked by a growing dot, evidence that there are no right words.

It’s sure as heck not getting any easier.

Hoping to find inspiration, I glance at the photo waiting to be slipped into the envelope with this letter. Normally I put aside a nature shot for her, but this one’s a ‘selfie’ of me and Will. His sandy hair looks kind of messy the way it falls into his bright eyes, and his arm, resting over my shoulders so naturally, pulls us close together. Our grins say more than words ever can.

Twirling the pen between my fingers, I gaze out the window at the soft autumn afternoon and daydream about what to write. A distant clang like metal against metal sounds from outside. Will must be at it again. I shoot up, lean over the desk, and raise the window, letting a rush of warm air brush my face.

His jean clad legs stick out from under the hood of a beat-up car parked in their yard.

That car is like a full time job, he works on it so often now. He backs out and hoists a motor, or something, onto his shoulder, lifting like it weighs no more than his kid sister. He looks up, catches me watching him, and grins. I wave and, with a sigh, plonk back into the chair, dropping my gaze to the blank sheet in front of me. I really want to write her.

For nine years I’ve been writing these letters and placing them in my top drawer with a photo. It’s become a yearly tradition. At least if we ever find Mom, she’ll know what my life’s been like.

Nothing comes to me. None of the thoughts ambling through my mind are quite right, so I drop the pen, pinch my lips together, and tap my fingers on the desk in a sharp rhythm that cuts through my aching head. I need the right words.

I last saw her on an ordinary March school day the year I was eight. She packed my lunch, gave me a kiss on the cheek, and waved goodbye. I climbed into the bus. As she stood on the curb, she didn’t look happy or sad, scared or frightened—just the same as any other day.

Heaviness squeezes my chest and makes each inhalation of breath hurt. I’ve played that day back in my mind over and over, analyzed every detail: her wave, her smile, her words, her haunted look.

Did she know it was goodbye?

Not knowing leaves a complete emptiness inside me. Knowing if she’s alive or dead, or why she hasn’t come back would make it so much easier. Especially since Dad barely mentions her anymore, and no matter how many times I turn her photos around, they continue to spin and face the wall. I guess it’s just too hard for him.

I shake my head in an effort to expel the memories, but it’s no use. The lines on the paper blur, my eyes slide shut, and it hurts too much. I can’t do this right now. Grabbing my camera off the desk, I slam the window shut and run down the stairs, shouting to Dad, “I’ll be back for dinner.”

“Wait. Can you grab milk?”

He walks out of the kitchen, a five dollar bill pinched between his fingers. I pluck it from his outstretched hand and turn to leave, but his hand closes over my shoulder, spinning me around. “Everything okay?”

I close my eyes and expel a long breath. He won’t want to hear it, so there’s no point sharing. “I miss her, too.”

He pulls me into his chest, and it’s too much. Tears roll down my cheeks, and I throw my arms around him, holding him as tight as I can while he runs a hand over my head. “Sweetheart.”

I cling to him. “It’s just…”

“I know.”

He holds me for a long time, until my tears stop. When I pull away, I rub the telltale streaks from my cheeks, and shove the money in my pocket. “Milk, right?”

He nods, and I turn for the door. “Anamae,” he says, “I love you, kid.”

A weak smile raises my lips. “Love you, too.”

Outside, I head straight to the white picket fence separating our yard from Will’s. He’s been my best friend since he moved here in the sixth grade, and I’m so grateful his parents decided quiet suburbia was a better place to live than the inner city. I slap my hands onto the flat tips and stretch over, calling, “Will.”

He peers around the corner of the house, and the sight of his smile is enough to rattle this awful mood.

“Sure. Two minutes.”

Fishing for weeds in the garden occupies the time while I wait. The Averys have the nicest yard on our street. A perfectly manicured lawn complete with stone statues and spiky plants in white pebble gardens. Will’s mom likes being fashionable and modern, obvious from the gravel now crunching under his feet. Appearances aren’t important. Sure it’s nice to look good, but it’s not the thing that matters most. That’s one of the things she just doesn’t get about me. I always wear faded jeans and comfy t-shirts, yet she constantly tries to dress me up. Make me look like a girl. Still, she’s been like a second mom to me. She even gave me The Talk. I just about died when I realized what was happening.

Will’s coming. “Hi, Mae.”

“Hey.” I grin. Love it when he shortens my name.

We stroll down our wide path and turn onto the next street. It’s only a few blocks from our street to a small cluster of shops. The short walk, fresh air, and Will’s banter help lighten my mood. The cafe comes into sight, and I grab his hand, dragging him across the road toward another storefront—an old shop. Aqua paint peels off the brick walls around huge glass windows, and two stories rise up above us. Like all the shops on this street, a big tin awning slants out over the pavement, and a balcony juts out above. Albert’s Second-Hand Treasures emblazons a window spanning the shop’s front. Through the window piles of odd stuff are visible, cluttering the inside. According to the kids at school, it’s evidence the old man who owns the store is a little unhinged, which earns this place the nickname, Crazy Al’s. But to me, it’s far more than that. ‘Crazy Al’s’ been a part of my life almost as long Will.

“Bet you can’t find the weirdest one today,” I say.

Will raises his brows and shoots me a look that says ‘you’re insane.’ “Really, this old game? I thought you wanted to get coffee.”

“Oh, come on. I need some childish fun.” I lean in toward him an smile. “Bet you can’t win.”

I also need to see Al, not to talk… just see him. His grandfatherly ways might make me feel better.

I drag Will toward the front door, and all the while he shakes his head and scuffs his heels. “Okay, but loser buys coffee,” he finally says, “and cake.”

He pushes me through the door, making the bell overhead jingle. As he heads toward a large table in the far corner of the shop, a small smile crosses my lips. Glancing toward the counter, I stop at a long bench and paw through ancient yellowing books and old jewelry scattering it in a disorganized mess. I’ve no idea how Al even knows what’s here.

Al raises his white-grey frizzy-haired head from the newspaper sprawled on the glass counter. His bushy eyebrows lift, and he throws me a warm smile which somehow makes me feel a little better.

Running my hand over the ‘treasures,’ I stop at a ceramic owl perched amongst the clutter on the table. When I turn it over in my hand, chubby little claws grip the sides of a skateboard. I hold it up so Will can see it. “Check this out.”

“A skating owl?” Will laughs. “I can top that.”

He holds up a book with the title Peanuts in Love. On the cover two peanuts hold hands, their cute little shell bodies in a sea of pink hearts.

“Not good enough.” I scan the table looking for something better and spot a pile of old movies scattered over the next table. I move them aside one by one, looking for a good title. Sunlight dances across the table and glints off something shiny. A blue flower with a yellow center. My heart jumps, the only part of me still moving. It can’t be. Surely Dad didn’t pawn it or give it to Al. He wouldn’t. He couldn’t. It can’t possibly have been made into something else.

A small noise of surprise escapes my lax mouth, and a memory flashes into my mind: the pendant lying on Mom’s pillow the day she disappeared.

Will chuckles from the corner. I drag my gaze away from the flower brooch to see a bright pink pith hat sitting atop his sandy head. He eyes my open palm, which now holds the brooch. “You call that weird?”

I run my fingers over the cool glazed metal, and a lump grows in my throat. “It’s the same as the forget-me-not pendant Mom always wore.”

Not missing a beat, he raises his voice toward the back of the shop. “How much?”

Al pauses in his perusal of the paper, two fingertips touching his tongue as if to dampen them as he flicks a page over. His bushy eyebrows lift, and he clears his throat.

“Gosh, lad, for that?” I hold up the brooch, and Al squints at it. “It’s for Mae?” He smiles at me.

“Yep.” Will pulls his wallet out, and empties the coins into his cupped hand.

“Nothing,” Al says, then flicks his gaze to me. “Tell your Dad poker’s on tomorrow night. All the boys are coming.”

I return his smile with a nod. “Sure thing, Al.”

“Take care, Mae.” He doesn’t mention today’s Mom’s anniversary—the day she disappeared, but he doesn’t have to. Even though he never knew her, I’ve always suspected it’s why he took me and Dad under his wing. Especially after Nan died; her death upended the last slither of normalcy we had.

“No refunds….” Al says.

“Without magic,” I chime in on his usual farewell. No wonder people think he’s crazy, since he’s always saying stupid things. A sign hangs on the wall above the counter mimicking his words. No refunds without magic.

We walk out the door, and the bell jingles. “You owe me cake,” Will says.

“I do not. The brooch won.”

“No way, the peanuts definitely—”

“The peanuts did not beat the skating owl,” I say, and we both laugh.

I want to go home. I want to go straight to mom’s pendant. I want to compare it to this brooch, but I promised Will cake and coffee. He’d understand, but it wouldn’t be fair after dragging him out here. Although it makes me a little impatient, I’ll wait.

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PLUS: Join Stacey and me Friday, August 1st at 8:30 PM EST for a Facebook release day bash! She’ll be chatting, introducing you to some author friends (like moi) and giving away some bling. I can’t promise you Mae’s mom’s pendant, but some pretty cool stuff.

Find us here

Review: THE GEOGRAPHY OF YOU AND ME, Jennifer E. Smith

becca — Tue, 22 Jul 2014 12:19:16 +0000

Title: The Geography of You and Me

Author: Jennifer E. Smith

Published by: Poppy

Date published: April 5, 2014

Genres: contemporary romance

Book Length: 352 pages

Steam Rating: sweet

Main Characters: Owen and Lucy

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Owen and Lucy share a similar sense of humor and the joy they feel in each other’s company radiates off the pages.

Lucy and Owen meet when they’re stuck in an elevator in their New York City apartment building during a citywide blackout. They’re drawn to one another but circumstances pull them a continent apart. Can love survive if it hasn’t had a chance to develop past one wonderful night on a Manhattan rooftop?

THE COUPLE: Lucy is a loner and a bookworm. Since she’s happy with her books and roaming Manhattan solo and is used to being alone as her parents travel a great deal, she’s surprised that she wants to spend time with Owen despite having just met him. Owen is more mysterious; he and his father are both rootless after the death of Owen’s mother. But Owen and Lucy share a similar sense of humor and the joy they feel in each other’s company radiates off the pages.

OVERALL: I’m a big fan of Smith’s The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight and This is What Happy Looks Like. I was more immediately pulled into those stories than this one, probably because Smith set herself such a difficult task: showing us two people falling in love when they go pages and pages – most of the book – without seeing each other or even writing to one another. I have to admit that I wanted more dialogue between Owen and Lucy, more chances for them to interact, even though I get that the whole point is that they’ve been separated. Still, I found the charming Scot who Lucy dates when she’s living in Edinburgh at least as attractive as Owen, which diminishes the idea that Owen and Lucy’s love was meant to be. But when Owen and Lucy are together, you want them to remain that way.

SMOOCH METER: 3 smooches (I know it’s the exact opposite of the point of this book, but I wanted more Owen and Lucy together. I wanted to see their love develop).

He couldn’t find the words. And so instead they just stood there, regarding each other silently, the room suddenly a quiet as the elevator had been, as comfortable as the kitchen floor, as remote as the roof. Because that’s what happened when you were with someone like that: the world shrank to just the right size. It molded itself to fit only the two of you, and nothing more.

Have you ever had a long-distance love affair or flirtation? Anything you can share with us?

Interview with THE 99 DAYS OF LANEY MACGUIRE’s Rachel Bateman

becca — Sat, 05 Jul 2014 11:32:19 +0000

Title:99 DAYS OF LANEY MACGUIRE

Author: Rachel Bateman

Published by: Metamorphosis Books

Date published: October 22, 2013

Genres:contemporary

Book Length: 322 pages

Steam Rating: sweet

Main Characters: Laney and Weston

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Laney can’t wait to spend the summer at her father’s lake resort. It’s a place where time stands still and nothing ever changes – the perfect thing for Laney after the year she just had. But when she gets there, she discovers the lodge isn’t quite as unchanging as she once thought.

Some of the differences are good, like Rory’s new look; some are bad, like whatever secret Karissa is keeping. And then some things are just confusing, like Weston.

Weston, her mysterious new co-worker, who is the cause of so many of the changes Laney hates. She wants to despise him, but she can’t deny the attraction she feels, nor the desire she has to be around the one person who didn’t know her before the summer – the one person she doesn’t have to pretend for.

from her website:

The Official-ish Bio:

Rachel Bateman is a writer and editor who spends too much time thinking she can out bake the Cake Boss. (Spoiler: She can’t.) She lives in the middle of Montana, despite living in the south (usually on a beach) in her head. Rachel is the owner of Metamorphosis Books, an author services company offering edits and formatting/interior layout for independent authors. When not writing, editing, or reading books, she can be found playing with her husband, young son, and small zoo of pets.

The Significantly Less-Official Bio:

I was born in Great Falls, Montana, to an accountant mother and postal worker father. Being blessed with an overactive imagination (or what some would call craziness), I started writing at a young age. My first book – written when I was seven – was based on the horror movie The Blob. And when I say inspired, I mean it was pretty much a novelization of the movie. Don’t worry, my writing has gotten significantly better (and more original) since then.

After high school, I led a nomadic life, living in Idaho, Hawai’i, and North Carolina before making my way back to Montana, where I now live with my geeky farmer husband, super awesome son, and adorable (but annoying) pets.

RACHEL AGREED TO PLAY MY LIFE IN SONG TITLES. She gets bonus points for including David Bowie AND sharing one of her own personal alpacas with us:)

1. If you couldn’t be a writer what else would you do?

I would be on oceanographer. It’s something I’ve dreamed up since I was about twelve years old. I had a plan for that; life laughed at that plan and I ended up doing something completely different. Something I LOVE, but still…I dream of the ocean. And live in the middle of Montana – because that makes sense.

2. What is your favorite thing to have by your side as you read or write (a stiff drink?cat? llama?) (This isn’t a song title, obviously, but I find this question hilarious because this is how I sometimes work:

So now the real answer…) I’m kind of boring. All I really NEED is some water. If I have that, I’m good to go. Of course, I also always like a little of this: Look how young they all look in the first season! And, if I’m not in the mood for vampires (but when am I not in the mood for SPIKE?) I switch to this: DON’T JUDGE.

3. What do you have in common with Laney? What do you wish you had in common with her? Okay, so it has nothing to do with SALT LAKE, but Seeley Lake, where 99 Days of Laney MacGuire takes place, is a real place. It’s my favorite place. Just like Laney, I go every summer and have since I was a kid. Unlike Laney, I only get to stay for a week instead of the whole summer – I wish I could go for the full summer! As far as what I wish we had in common? Well… Laney loves running. I wish I loved running. I used to enjoy it, and I want to get back to that point again. But oh my gosh it’s killing me right now!

4. What would be the theme song for the book and why? 99 Days of Laney MacGuire is a romance, yes, but at it’s core, it is more about Laney learning to accept the changes in her life. Also, Bowie. Any excuse to include some Bowie.

5. What’s your idea of the perfect of the perfect romantic evening? So I’m a nerd. I do like the more traditional romantic things – I do! But really, some of my favorite nights are when my husband and I just hang out playing Yahtzee or Carcassonne or Trivial Pursuit. I really love board games, and I love playing them with someone I love.

Ripples pulsated against me, the tiniest change in movement, and I sensed he was behind me before I could actually feel him. Then, there he was, his hands resting gently on my hips below the water. I mentally braced myself for the involuntary tensing. It would come eventually; it did every time a man touched me. Except, I remembered, on the walk home. Not with Weston. Heat from his hands spread through my body, and a need built deep within me. So foreign, yet so familiar at the same time. The pull below my navel brought back sensations I thought I would never feel again. For the first time since that night, I felt fully like myself again.

I turned in his hands to face him. His eyes were slightly unfocused, and he wore a grin that barely pulled his lips up on one side of his mouth, but his desire was clear. Alcohol still warmed my veins, encouraging me as I let myself relax into him. I could let down my guard, follow my instincts and urges again. Right?

His lips had been chilled by the air, and were cold when they touched mine, ever so lightly, but they warmed up quickly when I pressed my mouth against his in return. He slipped one hand off my hip and wrapped his arm around my back, pulling my body against his. God, I fit in there so well. Urgently, but still gently, he pushed my mouth open with his own. His tongue played against mine, and desire roiled beneath the surface.

I have no idea how long we stayed like that, intertwined in each other’s arms. The thrill of kissing Weston was even more intoxicating than the bottle Derek sent home with us. Each brush of his lips excited me more, setting my nerve endings on fire. The water caressed my skin, tickling my back, as we bobbed there in our own little world. I couldn’t get enough. I pressed myself tighter and tighter against his slick skin until the tingle in the pit of my stomach grew into a silent roar. Finally, there with Weston, I was alive again.

He stroked his hand along my back as he kissed me even more deeply. He traced the line of my shoulder blade and down my arm. Then he reached my wrist, and his mouth froze against my own. His fingers played against my scar. And as quickly as things built up, they fell down again. His hand on my wrist brought the last four months crashing back, and the intensity swelling within me died out instantly. I pulled back and swam off to join Karissa and Rory, leaving Weston standing chest-deep in the water. I turned once to see him still watching me, but he never made a move to follow.

Smart boy.

BONUS: Rachel’s dream cast when Hollywood comes calling:

One copy of the book with our prize pack!

Interview with TWELVE STEPS’ Veronica Bartles

becca — Fri, 04 Jul 2014 12:33:02 +0000

Title: Twelve Steps

Author: Veronica Bartles

Published by: Swoon Romance

Date published: May 20, 2014

Genres: contemporary

Book Length: 225 pages

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Sixteen-year-old Andi is tired of being a second-class sibling to perfect sister Laina. The only thing Andi’s sure she has going for her is her awesome hair. And even that is eclipsed by Laina’s perfect everything else.

When Andi’s crush asks her to fix him up with Laina, Andi decides enough is enough, and devises a twelve-step program to wrangle the spotlight away from Laina and get the guy.

Step 1: Admit she’s powerless to change her perfect sister, and accept that her life really, really sucks.

Step 4: Make a list of her good qualities. She MUST have more than just great hair, right?

Step 7: Demand attention for more than just the way she screws things up.

When a stolen kiss from her crush ends in disaster, Andi realizes that her twelve-step program isn’t working. Her prince isn’t as charming as she’d hoped, and the spotlight she’s been trying to steal isn’t the one she wants.

As Laina’s flawless façade begins to crumble, the sisters work together to find a spotlight big enough for both to shine.

Veronica Bartles grew up in Wyoming and currently lives in New Mexico with her husband and four children. As the second of eight children and the mother of four, Veronica Bartles is no stranger to the ups and downs of sibling relationships. She uses this insight to write stories about siblings who mostly love each other, even while they’re driving one another crazy. When Veronica’s not writing or lost in the pages of her newest favorite book, she enjoys creating delicious desserts, exploring new places, and knitting with recycled materials.

TWELVE STEPS is Veronica’s first novel.

Find Veronica on her website vbartles.com, Facebook, her blog, Twitter at @vbartles, Pinterest, Goodreads, and Tumblr.

Veronica agreed to play My Life in Movie Titles!

1. If you couldn’t be a writer what would you be?

I’d be Supergirl , and my secret identity would be a

Tangled , Clueless rich girl.

Or I’d just settle for being rich. I’d be The Happiest Millionaire ever.

2. What time period do you wish you could live in or at least visit?

I’d love to visit 1776 , to see the original Independence Day . But if I couldn’t do that, I’d just like to go Somewhere in Time . Maybe to the Ice Age or Back to the Future . I’d even like to revisit high school, if I didn’t have to deal with the Mean Girls .

3. In what ways are you like your main character? In what ways do you wish you were like your main character?

Like Andi, sometimes I need to Get a Clue . And sometimes, my daughter accuses me of acting like I’m 17 Again . Also, when I was in high school, I always felt like I’d never get A Cinderella Story of my own. (Luckily, I was wrong about that. I met my own Prince Charming, who is An Ideal Husband for me.)

But I wish I was Brave , like Andi, and that I could face life with No Reservations .

4. Where is your favorite place to read? To write?

I’m always reading or writing something, so Chances Are , you’ll always see me with a book or The Notebook I’m currently using to write whatever manuscript I’m working on. But of course I do have favorites. I love Oceans , and being out Where the Wild Things Are , so for the best inspiration, I like to head Into the Woods or relax on beautiful Beaches with a stack of books and my manuscript.

5. What is the best piece of advice you have ever received (about writing or anything in life)?

It’s a Wonderful Life – Always be grateful for the blessings and trials that come your way. And always remember that the biggest trials lead to the best blessings.

EXCERPT

A copy of Twelve Steps is one of the prizes in the YA package!