Friday, November 29, 2013

Review: Working It by Kendall Ryan



A story of heart-stopping, toe-curling passion by the New York Times bestselling author of Hard to Love, Resisting Her, and The Impact of You.

Emmy Clarke is out of her depth in New York City’s fashion world, but when she lands a job as an assistant at a modeling agency it seems like the perfect mix of business and pleasure. Working under the notorious Fiona Stone is a nightmare, but there’s one distinct perk: ogling the ridiculously hot male models who parade through the office—particularly rising star Ben Shaw.

Ben is everything Emmy’s not: exquisitely gorgeous, highly paid, and well-traveled. He’s also got more issues than Vogue. Emmy looks after Ben on photo shoots, but she refuses to become another one of his lusting groupies. Ben finds Emmy’s refreshingly real attitude to be surprisingly attractive.

Against a backdrop of the most fashionable cities in the world, casual flirting turns into an illicit affair, but when Ben’s twisted past is revealed, and the bitter Fiona catches wind of their relationship, their careers and hearts are threatened.

Note: This book is intended for mature audiences. It contains sexual encounters and graphic language, including a m/f/m encounter.


Available on...






This book was mmm, mmm good! I ate this book up from page one until the last page.

This is my first Kendall Ryan novel and I loved it so much that when I was done I went on a rampage purchasing all her other books available now. I have no idea what it was to be completely honest, but I am not obsessed with this story and cannot wait for the continuation.

If you’re a fan of Abbi Glines then Working It is definitely a book you want to pick up.

One of the things I loved most about Working It is that it starts off like any other romance novel and then about four chapters in it took me completely by surprise. I was not expecting it to go in the direction that it did. I was blushing and laughing out loud so much that my husband asked me what was I reading that had me giggling like a five year old?

Working It is steamy at a level TEN. I don’t normally read books where there is a lot of sexy times in it. Sometimes it can be overly done and ends up ruining a book for me. You won’t find that in Working It. It has humor, drama, and so much more in between. I loved the inner dialogue whenever Emmy and Ben found themselves in certain situations. Their reactions and thoughts were very similar to mine. It would definitely be something I would say or think. Because of this I found the characters believable. Not every situation, but we’ve all been there and done that at some point.

The only issue I had with this book were the last couple of chapters. The wedge that is put between the two main characters was not believable enough for me. I also felt that Emmy needed to be a little strong with it came to Ben. It was just too easy for her to forgive. I won’t giveaway any spoilers, but this took away a little from the story for me.

But Despite that, I still love this story and the characters and look forward to the sequel. I cannot wait to dive into Kendall Ryan’s other books. I recommend this story. Especially to readers who love a steamy romance with a little bit of everything in it.


A little sneak peek...


















Monday, November 25, 2013

#BlueLines by Toni Aleo Release Party & Review Giveaway!

Hey GCReaders!




By now I am sure you all know that I’ve been helping author Toni Aleo spread the word about her upcoming release, BLUE LINES.

I absolutely love this book and cannot wait for you all to read it. This book is Contemporary Romance and definitely for the ages of 18 and over.

The author has put together yet again another promotional event and needs your help!

On December 9th through December 18th Toni Aleo is hosting a special giveaway for those who share their review on any of the following website:
  • Your Blog
  • Amazon
  • GoodReads
  • BookLikes
  • Barnes and Noble
And any other website you could think of! J

For each place you share your review you gain 5 entries into an awesome giveaway!

Giveaway Details:

1st place - 4 signed copies of Toni Aleo’s previous books
  • Taking Shots
  • Trying to Score
  • Empty Net
  • Let it be Me.

2nd place – A $25 Gift Card – winner’s choice

3rd place – A swag pack with a $5 Gift Card



You will also be able to gain extra entries for tweeting, and sharing your review on Facebook.

This contest is only open for two weeks. It all kicks off December 9th, and ends December 18th.

We know that not all reviews can be positive, but we ask that if you are going to enter with a negative review that it is not bashing in any way to the authors writing or the author personally. We understand that everyone has different likes. If you do not like the book, that is fine. Express your feelings, just please, we ask that you do not bash.

There is no sign up form for this event as it is not an actual review tour. 

The rafflecopter will be available on December 9th and can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/events/713838408628068/ where Toni Aleo will also be answering questions, hosting more giveaways, and lots more!

And since Good Choice Reading is hosting the Facebook chat, we have a couple of our own giveaways that we will be hosting. ;)



Don’t miss out on Toni Aleo’s giveaway happening right now. Details can be found here: http://www.goodchoicereading.com/2013/11/author-toni-aleo-answers-your-questions.html

So mark your calendars! 

December 9th is party day!!!








Saturday, November 23, 2013

99 cent box sets, on sale now!


The Ultimate Romance Box - 6 best-selling authors

~ For a limited time - 6 books - only 99 cents ~

Prepare for the ultimate wild ride, whether you're looking for a charming hero, a smokin' hot rancher, sexy tycoons, unconditional love, family drama, or the politics of a forced marriage, heart-stopping and heart-melting romance sweeps across continents and history and waits for you inside.

THE FORGOTTEN CHILD by Lorhainne Eckhart: How do you tell a man there is something wrong with his child? A romance as vast as the western setting: can unconditional love between a man and a woman, a man and his son, and a woman and a little boy who she grows to love survive a bitter ex-wife?

THE SURROGATE'S SECRET by Mimi Barbour: Forced marriage, surrogate twins and disturbing secrets make this romance challenging from Washington, DC to Santiago, Chile.

OCEANS BETWEEN US by Helen Scott Taylor: A wealthy Italian celebrity falls for a penniless guesthouse cook. Commitments and continents conspire to keep them apart.

NEIGHBORS AND MORE by Mona Risk: In the Blue Waves High Rise where so many neighbors live too close for comfort, Dante, the handsome Sicilian lawyer, and Alexa, the wealthy young divorcée, try to hide their idyllic romance. When a neighbor drowns in the Jacuzzi, life will forever change in the Blue Waves.

HEARTS AND CROWNS by Anna Markland: Once bitten...twice shy. Can love overcome hatred and bitterness in this sensuous historical romance?

KISS ME, DANCER by Alicia Street: A roller coaster of a romance between a woman about to lose her dream and an arrogant trucking mogul with the means to save it. A dance instructor, a divorced dad, and the little boy who needs them both.




The Ultimate Romantic Suspense Box - 8 best-selling authors

~ For a limited time - 8 books - only 99 cents ~

Prepare for the ultimate wild ride, whether you're looking for fiery undercover agents, sexy detectives, spunky bounty hunters, or shattered athletes, there's a sizzling suspense or humorous foray into the world of kink waiting inside.

RED ROCK RISES by Taylor Lee: No one messes with Red Rock, a fiery former undercover agent, as tough as she is beautiful-- until she meets the handsome Police Chief.

ROLL THE DICE by Mimi Barbour: A feisty, smart woman detective who every other cop respects and protects; a classy, purse carrying cowboy who's a man's man and a woman's dream; a sick rapist they both want captured...or dead!

COURAGE DARES by Nancy Radke: Mary prays for courage to overcome her tragic past and finds her answer in the dangerous present. A non-stop thriller set in the Cascade Mountains of Washington State. 

KNOWING VERA by Rachelle Ayala: Vera's father killed Zach's mother long ago. Can Zach look past Vera's dark family history and help her dodge a killer while learning to live as an amputee? Knowing Vera is a suspenseful, cross-cultural romance mixing an unsolved murder, adventure, and hot, steamy love scenes.

DARK POWERS by Rebecca York: Can his dark powers save her sister's life? Their uneasy working relationship flares into hot passion as they navigate the dangerous waters of a beach town where nothing is as it seems.

BOOM! LISTEN TO YOUR HEART by Roxanne Rogerson: A humorous foray into the world of kink.

TRUSTING EVIL by Mary Leo: She witnessed what was touted as the Crime of the Century---the murder of eight student nurses in South Chicago---and it nearly destroyed her until one man rescued her damaged heart. 

THE HUNTRESS by Dorothy McFalls: Spunky bounty hunter Vega Brookes meets her match when she hunts down a dangerous ex-special forces officer accused of murder.





The Ultimate Mystery Thriller Horror Box - 7 best-selling & award-winning authors

~ For a limited time - 7 books - only 99 cents ~

Prepare for the ultimate wild ride, whether you're looking for ghostly or sexy detectives, family and military dramas, mind-twisting space opera, or a fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat, crime-thriller, there's a sizzling suspense, dramatic mystery, or a shattering dark fantasy waiting inside.

THE MOSCOW AFFAIR by Taylor Lee : A dangerously elegant man and a beautiful feisty young woman, take on the evils of the international sex trade while exploring a passionate world of their own.

REVERSION: THE INEVITABLE HORROR by J Thorn: In a forest littered with caution tape and artifacts of the deceased, Samuel must outrun the ominous cloud eating away at reality. As the dying world collapses upon itself, he has to find a way to escape the Reversion.

HONOR CODE by Cathy Perkins: In a small southern town where everyone knows each other's business, veteran detective Larry Robbins must untangle conflicting motives and hidden agendas to bring a elderly widower home alive.

KILL TO INHERIT by Nolan Radke: Will a second murder help the ghost detective unlock the mystery behind his own? 

COOL HEAT by Richter Watkins: She was the woman they couldn't kill and he couldn't resist.

IN SEARCH OF THE SACRED WORD by Thomas Morrissey: Jeremy Storyteller died and came back. But he didn't come back alone.

RESISTANCE by David Weisman: a mind twisting space opera


Highlight hosted by Good Choice Reading Blog Tours

Friday, November 22, 2013

Book Highlight & Giveaway: Deep Blue Secret by Christie Anderson


Title: Deep Blue Secret by Christie Anderson
Genre: Young Adult

A sweet, mysterious teen romance with a refreshing fantasy twist. California teen Sadie James thinks her life couldn't get any better. She has great friends, an energetic mother she adores, and the beach practically in her own backyard. But her carefree life is turned upside down when she's rescued by a mysterious and strangely familiar boy who won't even tell her his name. Each time the boy appears, Sadie's unexplainable attraction to him deepens along with her need to unravel his secrets. The boy is there to protect her, but as wonderful and exciting as it might be to have an irresistible boy with crystal green eyes protecting her every move, every minute of the day...why does Sadie need one? As Sadie finds answers, she realizes her life isn't as perfect as she thought. Not only is she caught in a world of dangerous secret agents she never knew existed, but it turns out her true identity may be the greatest secret of all.



Deep Blue Secret is available free!

 Amazon  |   Barnes and Noble   |  iTunes  |  Kobo  |  Smashwords


I moved near him and his hand guided me in front of the bench, but I turned to face him instead of sitting down. He immediately shifted back, pulling slightly away. I wasn’t sure if it was the bump on my head suddenly clouding my thoughts, or the romance of being swept away and rescued by a gorgeous, mysterious boy, or this little ache in my heart of forgotten memories and dreams, but something deep inside me drew me towards him.

I wanted to reach out and hold him, but I held the feelings back, unsure if I should act on them. Instead, I stood there unmoving, still gazing up at him. He was tall compared to most high school boys I knew. I searched his face for any sign of reciprocation and moved closer. This time he didn’t move away.


“Thank you again,” I said softly, looking up at him through my lashes.


There was a long, heavy pause as I waited breathlessly for his response. His glowing eyes met mine, and their radiance hypnotized me. I could see nothing else.


Then I felt it again, the unexplainable connection between us. Time slowed around us like a force field pulling us together. I had no desire to resist it; I let the feelings draw me in, and I inched forward, wishing for his lips on mine. His hand lifted gently to my waist, sending a thrill through me in every direction. Never before had I felt the desire to kiss someone so fervently, the divine first kiss I had always dreamed of.


There was no trace of resistance left on his face. He leaned into me and my heart raced. Our faces grew slowly together as I looked from his dazzling eyes to his inviting lips.




CHRISTIE ANDERSON grew up in Southern California and goes back to visit every year. She is a graduate of Brigham Young University and recently moved to Colorado with her husband. Visit her web site at www.christieanderson.org


Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads





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Book Highlight hosted by Good Choice Reading Promotions 


Thursday, November 21, 2013

Book Highlight & Giveaway: Lost and Found by Lorhainne Eckhart!

Title: Lost and Found
Author: Lorhainne Eckhart
Genre: Romantic Suspense

A hit and run, a deserted country road—a parent's worst nightmare.

On a warm fall morning in Gardiner, Washington, Richard and Maggie celebrate happy couple Sam and Marcie's return. What happens next changes their lives forever: After a hit and run on a deserted country road, Richard and Maggie suffer a parent's worst nightmare.

Now, a year later, Maggie McCafferty struggles to put her life back together ... hiding her pain with outrageous behavior and a secret she’s unwilling to share until her friends step in and her strong-willed husband sets out to bring her home the only way he knows how. Just as Maggie begins to trust again, Dan McKenzie calls after disappearing for over a year. But now he’s back, and instead of coming clean with the truth of their involvement, Richard digs himself in deeper, with mounting debts and a partner who refuses to buy him out—secrets shared only with Dan. However, one night, a mysterious 911 caller witnesses a fight and sees Richard shooting Dan. When the police arrive at the deserted construction site, the only evidence of a crime is a pool of blood and a surveillance video.

Under mounting pressure from the police, Richard is arrested and interrogated—but fiery, secretive Richard is adamant he was home all night. In a bizarre twist of fate, Sam, Marcie, and Diane work against the clock and wonder how well they really know their evasive friend. With Maggie by his side, Richard stands by his innocence. The trouble is, if Richard didn’t do it, where is Dan? And who is the mysterious 911 caller?







2012 was an amazing year in the publishing world for me, and it started with The Forgotten Child, which landed on the Amazon bestseller list for western romance and romance series. 2013 has seen me posted in the top 100 authors on Amazon for romantic suspense, mystery/thrillers, and police procedurals.

Where did it all begin? In 2008, I published my first novel, The Captain’s Lady, a contemporary military romance, through The Wild Rose Press. I’ve since received the rights back from my publisher, and I rewrote the book and republished it with a brand new title, Saved.

I write edgy romantic suspense (Walk the Right Road Series), western romance (Finding Love ~ The Outsider Series), and young adult mystery, and I warn my readers to expect the unexpected. I’m a mother of three children and we live on a small island in the Pacific Northwest. I encourage you to contact me by email; I do answer every email I receive.

Stay tuned. There is more to come from the Walk the Right Road Series and Finding Love ~ The Outsider Series, as well as a brand new western romance series coming later this fall, The One.

And to my readers and all of you who have shared my stories with your family and friends, a big, heartfelt thank-you.




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Monday, November 18, 2013

Release Day Blast: Severed Colours by Dawna Raver {Teaser & Giveaway}



The epic continues…

Quinn Sinclair trusted Arik Morgaine until he betrayed her. Scared and alone, she finds herself delivered into the hands of the evil Morgana le Fay. When Quinn discovers Morgana's plans are beyond demented and seriously depraved—making life with the Changeling seem like a day at the beach—she wonders if death is a better option?

Arik Morgaine vowed he'd save Quinn no matter the price. When his well thought out plans go terribly awry, a desperate and heartbroken Arik is forced to beg the cruel Triarchia for help. Unwilling to go on without his Ă„lskling, he answers a question that irrevocably alters their lives.

Can Arik and Quinn find a way back to each other, or will the price of saving her rip them apart forever?




Teaser

Large, purpose-driven hands caressed Quinn’s side, pulling her into him. His front to her back, their bodies fit together perfectly. Two separate individuals with jagged edges, that when put together, became a smooth, complete whole.
Ă„lskling.” His voice in her ear came as smooth as melted chocolate. Warm, soft lips lavished kisses down her neck. She responded to his touch, pushing back into his hard body, closing the small gaps that kept them from being together.
She started to turn over to face him, his name hovering on her lips. “Arik.”
Quinn opened her eyes and hugged herself. She was alone. The dream or the vision, and its all too real images, wrenched at her broken heart.
Why Arik? Why did you do this to me? To us?”




Get your copy today!



Giveaway


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Sunday, November 17, 2013

Book Blast: A Little Too Much by Lisa Desrochers {Giveaway}




Mundie Girls Tours / Mundie Moms Blog Tours for Lisa Desrochers's newest release, A LITTLE TOO MUCH! Lisa Desrochers's new release is an adult title and will be featured on a variety of adult book review blogs through this week. Each stop on the tour will either feature a review of the book, host an author interview, excerpt from the book, and includes a giveaway! 



About The Book


In the follow-up to Lisa Desrochers' explosive new adult novel A Little Too Far, Alessandro Moretti must face the life he escaped and the girl he left behind.
Twenty-two-year-old Hilary McIntyre would like nothing more than to forget her past. As a teenager abandoned to the system, she faced some pretty dark times. But now that's all behind her. Hilary has her life on track, and there's no way she'll head down that road again.
Until Alessandro Moretti—the one person who can make her remember—shows up on her doorstep. He's even more devastatingly gorgeous than before, and he's much too close for comfort. Worse, he sees right through the walls she's built over these last eight years, right into her heart and the secrets she's guarding.
As Hilary finds herself falling back in love with the man who, as a boy, both saved and destroyed her, she must decide: Past or future? Truth or lies?
By: Lisa Desrochers
Published by: William Morrow
Released on: November 12th, 2013
Read more about the book HERE
Buy the book from: AmazonBarnes & Noble | iTunes



About the Author

Lisa Desrochers lives in northern California with her husband, two very busy daughters, and Shini the tarantula. If you'd told her five years ago she'd write a book, she'd have laughed in your face. As it turns out, she'd owe you an apology. Writing has become an addiction for Lisa and A Little Too Far, courtesy of HarperCollins, is her first novel for adults. She is also the author of the young adult Personal Demons trilogy from Macmillan. When she's not writing, she's reading, and she adores stories that take her to new places, and then take her by surprise.

Visit Lisa via her: Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook 


The Giveaway
Thank you to Lisa, we have an awesome giveaway fans following the tour will want to enter to win! Two winners will get six signed NA or YA books plus swag, and two winners will get a silver butterfly pendant and swag. (4 winners total) Signed books by Katy Evans, K.A. Tucker, J. Lynn, Cora Carmack, Victoria Scott, Jay Crownover, Sophie Jordan and Lisa, herself.


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Friday, November 15, 2013

Blog Tour: Foreplay by Sophie Jordan {Interview & Giveaway}


Welcome to the Forgiving Lies by Molly McAdams & Foreplay by Sophie Jordan blog tour, hosted by Mundie Mom Blog Tours & the Mundie Girl Blog Tour site. 



FOREPLAY:
Before she goes after the life she’s always wanted, she’s about to find the one she needs.

Pepper has been hopelessly in love with her best friend’s brother, Hunter, for like ever. He’s the key to everything she’s always craved: security, stability, family. But she needs Hunter to notice her as more than just a friend. Even though she’s kissed exactly one guy, she has just the plan to go from novice to rock star in the bedroom-take a few pointers from someone who knows what he’s doing.

Her college roommates have the perfect teacher in mind. But bartender Reece is nothing like the player Pepper expects. Yes, he’s beyond gorgeous, but he’s also dangerous, deep-with a troubled past. Soon what started as lessons in attraction are turning both their worlds around, and showing just what can happen when you go past foreplay and get to what’s real…

Pre-Order it from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Add it to Goodreads



Als Script Regular



- How would you describe your upcoming/new release in 5 words or less?
Sexy, fun, emotional, hot but also ... relatable

. - Which of your characters would you be friends with?
Hm. Pepper in Foreplay. She's low-maintenance and easy to be around. She'll watch a movie with you or shop or get a pedi. She's down to earth and also probably one of the most honest people you'll ever meet.

- Which character is the most challenging to write?
Right now, it's Emerson in TEASE. She's a tricky character because she's not all she appears to be. Not only is she fooling others ... she's fooling herself.

- What's one of your favorite lines or scenes from your book?
In Foreplay, there's a scene where Reece takes Pepper's cell phone from her, types on it, tosses it aside. I LOVE this scene. It's sexy as hell. Especially when the scene ends with Reece's dialogue: "That you're staying the night with me."

I'm sharing this out of context, but you'll have to read it for yourself to see if you agree with me or not. :)

- How do you overcome writer's block?
Write ... lol...

- What are your “must have” items when writing?
Hm. Lattes.

- Where's your favorite place to write?
Coffee shops.

- Which character was the most fun for you to write?
Pepper. It was just fun to write a college-set contemporary. It was like revisiting my college years, which was a great time in my life. Pepper was a fun mix of me and all my college friends. ;)

- What is one thing your main character Pepper has taught you?
To never give up ... to persevere.

- If you could insert one of your favorite fictional characters into your book, who would that be and why?
Probably Mr. Darcy. He's all hot, stoic and misunderstood but noble to the core. Um. But then he would end up being the hero because what guy could compete with him, right?






Als Script Regular




Sophie Jordan


Sophie Jordan took her adolescent daydreaming one step further and penned her first historical romance in the back of her high school Spanish class. This passion led her to pursue a degree in English and History.

A brief stint in law school taught her that case law was not nearly as interesting as literature - teaching English seemed the natural recourse. After several years teaching high school students to love Antigone, Sophie resigned with the birth of her first child and decided it was time to pursue the long-held dream of writing.

In less than three years, her first book, Once Upon A Wedding Night, a 2006 Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Nominee for Best First Historical, hit book shelves. Her second novel, Too Wicked To Tame, released in March 2007 with a bang, landing on the USA Today Bestseller's List

Follow Sophie via: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads


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Thursday, November 14, 2013

Book Highlight & #Giveaway: The Wedding by Lorhainne Eckhart!

The Wedding by Lorhainne Eckhart
Genre: Adult Romance

A man who’s always planned everything, and a woman who’s struggled alone—The Wedding will change their lives forever.

Candy McCrae has everything she could ever want, and she’s about to marry the one man she’s always loved. He has money, he’s powerful, he’s drop-dead gorgeous, and he has a very close, attentive family with babies, nieces, and nephews running everywhere. For the first time, Candy has someone making decisions for her. So why is she so nervous?

Candy is the one woman Neil has always wanted, a woman who doesn’t care about flash and glitter and status, and he can’t get her to the altar fast enough. He has plans for his bride-to-be. He wants a family, lots of children, and for her to be a part of his world, with all its money, power, and million-dollar deals. He’ll look after her so she’ll never have to struggle again, and he’s planned and organized everything.

She goes along with it until the wedding, when she takes Neil’s hand to be his wife, and what she’s refused to share will change their lives forever.…




2012 was an amazing year in the publishing world for me, and it started with The Forgotten Child, which landed on the Amazon bestseller list for western romance and romance series. 2013 has seen me posted in the top 100 authors on Amazon for romantic suspense, mystery/thrillers, and police procedurals.

Where did it all begin? In 2008, I published my first novel, The Captain’s Lady, a contemporary military romance, through The Wild Rose Press. I’ve since received the rights back from my publisher, and I rewrote the book and republished it with a brand new title, Saved.

I write edgy romantic suspense (Walk the Right Road Series), western romance (Finding Love ~ The Outsider Series), and young adult mystery, and I warn my readers to expect the unexpected. I’m a mother of three children and we live on a small island in the Pacific Northwest. I encourage you to contact me by email; I do answer every email I receive.

Stay tuned. There is more to come from the Walk the Right Road Series and Finding Love ~ The Outsider Series, as well as a brand new western romance series coming later this fall, The One.

And to my readers and all of you who have shared my stories with your family and friends, a big, heartfelt thank-you.


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Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Book Highlight: The Art of Letting Go by Anna Bloom!

The Art of Letting Go by Anna Bloom
New Adult Contemporary Romance
393 pages; Published September 25th, 2013

One year. One woman. One Diary. One question: can you ever stop history from repeating itself and if you could what would you do to stop it?

When Lilah McCannon realises at the age of twenty-five that history is going to repeat itself and she is going to become her mother—bored, drunk and wearing a twinset—there is only one thing to do: take drastic action.

Turning her back on her old life, Lilah’s plan is to enrol at university, get a degree and prove she is a grown-up.

As plans go, it is a good one. There are rules to follow: no alcohol, no cigarettes, no boys and no going home. But when Lilah meets the lead singer of a local band and finds herself unexpectedly falling in love, she realises her rules are not going to be the only things hard to keep.

With the academic year slipping by too quickly, Lilah faces a barrage of new challenges: will she ever make it up the Library stairs without having a heart attack? Can she handle a day on campus without drinking vodka? Will she ever manage to read a history book without falling asleep? And most importantly, can she become the grown-up that she desperately wants to be.

With her head and her heart pulling her in different directions can Lilah learn the hardest lesson that her first year of university has to teach her: The Art of Letting Go?





16th September
  
6.00 a.m.
  
Holy shit! My head.
There are no words.
Just pain. Pounding. Pounding, pain.
Why? Oh why? Oh why?
Oh yes, that’s right. Champagne, Tequila, Beer, Wine.
That would do it.
Oh, God, the pain!
Water would be very good right now, but water means keeping my eyes open and using my legs, and I know that is going to hurt even more. Too much too cope with.
My mouth feels like the Sahara with no oasis in sight. I would do anything for an Oasis right now, or an Evian. Who am I kidding? I would do anything for tap water right now.
I wonder if I can crawl myself to the bathroom and just lay in the bath with my mouth positioned under the tap for an hour.
I wonder if the other girls got home okay?
I cannot for the life of me remember anything. I have just woken up in my bed. I am just thankful that it is my bed.
Wait a minute. How did I even get home?
I have no recollection of the walk across campus or the however many flights of stairs it is to the dorm, and I most certainly do not remember entering my room and getting into bed.
Shit.
I am definitely in my room, so that is good. My unpacked boxes are still scattered around and I can see remnants of last night’s whirlwind dress-up scattered where I left them.
Wish I had not bothered.
I have just peeked under the duvet. I am also dressed, which I am pleased about, considering.
As slowly as I can manage without causing my brain to bleed or eyeballs to fall out, I sit up. I need to get out of the tangle of silk dress and cotton sheets, which are cutting off the blood supply to my legs.
Honest to god, I think my brain may be about to explode. There is a searing pain above my right eye, and a steady banging located in the back of my skull. It may be my brain attempting an escape.
Okay. That’s strange. There are three bottles of water lined up in a row next to my neatly placed shoes. Where the hell did they come from? Meredith, perhaps?
Nope. It's no good. I need to lie down again. I sat up way too soon.
  
The Fresher’s Ball
  
7.00 a.m.
OH, FUCK! Oh no, no, no, no, no.
I can’t believe it! I have woken up and can now remember the Fresher’s Ball, in all its high-definition 3D glory.
This is all I can remember of how I broke every single one of my Uni rules. I am going to write it down and then I am going to forget about it until the day I die, which may very well be later today.
The Fresher’s Ball completely rocks, but this may be because I break the ‘No Drinking’ rule by consuming:
   
Half a bottle of champagne
Three tequila shots
Three bottles of beer
Three glasses of water (to keep a balance)
Two glasses of wine
  
Note to self: This amount of alcohol causes significant pain and memory misplacement.
   
Halfway through the evening, the room is spinning in an alarming fashion and I am using the wall as a support. I would like to move away from it and dance with my roommates, but I am scared that: A. My legs will fall off, or B. I will be sick. So instead I just stand and lean, sipping some more water.
The live band is great, though unfortunately I have to look at them through one eye. If I open both eyes, everything gets a bit blurry.
The lead singer is damn hot: tall and slim with a shock of dark hair and flashing blue eyes that I can see all the way over from my safety spot against the wall.
Ha ha! If I open both eyes there are two of him!
One eye, one singer. Two eyes, two singers. One eye, one singer. Two eyes, two singers.
I think he may be glancing in my direction, but cannot be sure. Maybe he is just working out if he needs to get someone to call an ambulance for me.
Oh no! I probably look like I am winking at him. I am such an idiot!
I decide to head back to the bar and get another bottle of water. Without a backwards glance at the stage—let’s be honest I am in no condition to be glancing anywhere—I make my way to the bar. Froebel college is an old mansion house made up of a rabbit warren of rooms that I stumble my way through until I find where they have hidden the bar. Once there, I attempt to communicate with the barman for a bottle of overpriced water.
Sipping my drink, I turn from the bar, but someone is blocking my path back to the exit. I look up and see a pair of blue eyes twinkling down at me.
Ah, pretty, blue sparkly eyes like the sky at midday. I appear to be completely at a loss for words. Again.
A dark head lowers to examine me closer.
“Ben,” he introduces, holding his hand out to me, his blue eyes crinkling.
On closer inspection, I see they are surrounded by the cutest freckles I have ever seen.
“Lilah,” I respond, taking his hand. I don’t shake it, I just hold it.
That is so not cool.
I hope I am not still looking through just one eye. “You’re the singer guy, right?” At least my tongue still works.
He flashes me a wicked smirk. “Singer guy, I am,” he replies, his hand still holding mine.
I have no urge to move away.
“You’re the girl in the knock out white dress,” he adds.
I have nothing to say to this, but he laughs all the same.
“Would you like to go outside for some fresh air?” he asks, leaning forward slightly and talking right into my ear. His warm breath sends shivers down my arm and various other places.
“I should find my friends,” I say. I don’t want to. I want to follow the blues outside, but there is a teeny tiny part of my inebriated brain that knows this may be a bad idea.
“Come on, Lilah.” He tugs at my hand, and my willpower crumbles like a sandcastle in the tide and I follow him without a second thought.
  
I Will Not Talk to Boys . . . Much
  
Hold on a minute. It gets worse.
Outside, he takes a crumpled packet of cigarettes out of his jeans pocket. I cannot help but focus on his hand sliding into the tight space of his dark blue jeans.
I am a dirty pervert.
He offers me one, and I automatically accept.
Well, that is a pile of Crap!
I have broken all four of my cardinal rules within twenty-four hours of starting Uni.
Well done, Delilah! I offer myself an imaginary clap on the back.
“I wasn’t winking at you, by the way.” I assure him.
“What?”
“Um, nothing.”
“So you here as a guest or a student?” he asks, leaning in and lighting my ciggie for me.
“Student,” I reply, attempting not to slur.
He lifts an eyebrow at this.
“Yes, I know I am old!” I retort. I should just walk away but my legs are not responding to any command my brain makes. Apart from the one that instructs me to stand there like a dick.
“Hardly.” The blues hold mine.
“Twenty-five is pretty old compared to all the spring chickens in there.” I motion my head to the hall behind me full of dancing teenagers.
Motioning of head is not such a great idea. My vision is about 5 seconds behind.
“I’m twenty-five,” blue-eyed Ben informs me.
“Oh.”
“So what are you studying?”
He is standing really close, very close indeed. I seem to be staring at his lips as he speaks, they are all I can focus on. Everything else is blurred or doubled.
I take a long drag of my cigarette.
“History,” I tell him, waiting for the laugh. None comes. “So, have you been with the band long?”
“Ten years.”
“Wow! That’s a long time.” It really is.
“Yeah, I guess.” He throws his cigarette away and I follow suit. He still does not move away from me. This guy obviously does not follow the rules of etiquette regarding personal space.
 “You don’t recognise me, do you?”
Of all the questions I am expecting, this one is not it. “No. Should I?”
“I played at a Christmas party last year. You were there.”
I stare at the blues as he speaks; they are a little mesmerising. Let’s just hope I have my mouth closed.
I remember the band now, and I vaguely remember him. Well, not him exactly, but something about the colour blue. John had been a complete arsehole that evening, not leaving me alone for a minute. It had been suffocating and in the end we had left early. The evening was so bad I have forced myself to never think about it again.
“Sorry,” I offer. I kind of am.
“I think I prefer the white dress to the red.”
What?! He can remember the dress I was wearing nine months ago! I am about to say something . . . anything . . .
Then he is kissing me: his mouth warm and firm on mine.
WHAT ON EARTH AM I DOING?
It should be strange, but it is not as strange as you’d think. I automatically lean in and slide my hands into his black hair, pulling him down closer. His hand grazes down my back and over my left butt cheek. I am not complaining though. Nope, no complaints here. None at all.
Just like that my knees start to go. His arms slide around me holding me up and I think he may be chuckling, but I am not sure. It is hard to hear anything above the roaring in my ears.
This is the point I realise I am going to be sick all over a complete stranger I have just snogged.
“I think I should help you home,” he says into my ear.
“What? No way! If you think I am going to let you take me home so I will have sex with you, you’re sorely mistaken! I am not some gir—” My words are cut off by his lips. I try to protest but soon give up. It is not the most convincing protest I have ever made. I have protested more over cold toast.
“I am not taking you home so I can take advantage of you,” he says after finally pulling away so I can gasp a breath.
“You are really rather drunk and I think you should let me help you home,” he continues, a smile playing on his lips. He is probably right.
I can barely stand up, though I am not sure if that is through lack of oxygen whilst kissing or from too much booze.
“Besides,” he says with a twinkle of blues, “when I do have sex with you, I would rather you were a little more sober.”
I start to protest again but his arms lift me up and throw me over his shoulder in a very unflattering fireman lift.
“Where do you live, Lilah?” he asks.
He is never going to know, so I tell him, just so he has to admit he does not have a clue.
To my immense surprise he just starts striding off across campus.
I try to think of ways to get down, but in the end just give up and stare at his rather tidy arse as my eyesight starts to go black.
  
This is all I remember.
So kill me now.
I can’t believe that I got drunk enough to snog a stranger, even a hot one. What a complete bloody idiot. I may never, ever leave this room again. Ever.
I am going back to sleep. Hopefully when I wake up I will realise that this has all been a hideous nightmare.




Anna Bloom is a contemporary romance writer who writes about life as it happens. Combining a busy schedule of looking after two small children whilst working in a local school and completing The Uni Files series she also spends a lot of time imagining kissing hot guys – all in the name of her art.





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