Blog Tour: Crystal Kingdom by Amanda Hocking- Author Interview

I'm super excited to be taking part in the Australian Blog Tour for Crystal Kingdom by Amanda Hocking, the third and final book in the Kanin trilogy thanks to Pan Macmillan Australia! I recently read the whole series in anticipation of the tour and absolutely loved it! Yesterday I shared my review of Crystal Kingdom and today I'm chatting with Amanda Hocking herself :)

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Hi Amanda and thanks so much for taking the time to chat with me and answer a few questions I have. I’m very excited to be a part of the Australian Blog tour for Crystal Kingdom, the third and final book in your Kanin Chronicles and I’m very excited to be talking to you today.

First off, congrats on Crystal Kingdom’s upcoming release! I can only imagine how busy it must get for you when a new story is about to be released out into the world. Is it still something that gets you wildly excited, or are you a bit used to it how having released a few books already?
I still get excited. Releasing the final a book in a series – like Crystal Kingdom – is always the most nerve-wracking. I’ve spent several books building it up and getting readers excited, and I’m always terrified I’m going to let them down with the ending. So far, the reader response for Crystal Kingdom has been some of the best I’ve ever gotten, so that’s very exciting for me.

I’m gonna be honest, I was a latecomer to your Switched series and now the Kanin Chronicles, but boy do I love them! How does the ongoing reader response make you feel? Even now, you must get new fans like myself who find unexpected gems in your books……
I wrote Switched six or seven years ago, so it’s always fun to hear from people just diving into for the first time. I think sometimes, as a writer, I get so focused on release dates, and it’s easy to forget that books have an eternal shelf-life. It’s crazy to think that people might still be picking up one of my books for the first time, ten or twenty years from now.

For those who haven’t read the Kanin books yet, tell us a little bit about your heroine Bryn.
Bryn is strong, but she has a huge chip on her shoulder. She’s of mixed heritage in a kingdom that all about lineage and the hierarchy that comes with that. She refused to let anything stand in the way of her goals, sometimes her detriment. Since she has spent so much of her life being shut out by the society she loves, she has a hard time letting people in. But she does, she is fiercely loyal and will do anything to protect those she cares about.

All your covers are so incredibly stunning, from pretty much all your books, self-published or professionally published. How much say do you have, if any, in choosing the covers?
It varies. Sometimes I know exactly what I want on a book cover. Like for Tidal, the third book in the Watersong quartet, I knew exactly what I wanted, and that’s how the cover looks. But for the Kanin Chronicles, I really didn’t have any idea. I did give them descriptions of Bryn and suggestions for her clothing, but that was about it. The rest was the art department at St. Martin’s, and when they showed me the covers for the first time, I was like, “These are perfect. I love them.”

Though I was new to your Trylle world not so long ago, I have read your Watersong Quartet and I have to ask…what do you think would happen if Wendy, Bryn, Harper and Gemma ever met? Would the girls get along?
That’s interesting. I think they would mostly get along. Gemma is the youngest – and the wildest, so she’d probably get annoyed with everyone else bossing her around. But I think that Harper and Wendy would definitely bond over feeling like they have to be responsible for everyone. Bryn is slow to warm up to people, but I think she’d like them.

If you could meet anyone, living or dead, real or fiction, who would you want to meet and why?
Jim Henson. He’s my hero. Not just because of the creatures he creates or the imagination he inspires, but the way he lived his life. He understood the importance of kindness and silliness, and that’s something that I have to remind myself of all the time, especially when I’m stressed out. Being nice and having fun are important, too.

I know for a lot of authors their books are like their children, but do you have a favourite by any chance? One that has special meaning over the others?
My favourite book is usually the one I’ve just finished writing. As an author, I constantly strive to improve myself and my writing, and I always hope that each book I write is better than my last. But I would say that I do feel particularly proud of Crystal Kingdom. I took some risks I normally shied away from, and I am very happy with how the book turned out.

Who has been the biggest inspiration in your life? Both as an author and as a person….
I would say Jim Henson and my grandma. My grandma was British, and she had the quickest wit. She was so funny and so full of love, and that is something that I strive for. Even though Jim Henson wasn’t exactly an author (he wrote mostly for television and film), his creativity and the worlds he created are constant inspiration to me.

What’s next for you now that the Kanin Chronicles have concluded? Any hints as to what reading brilliance we can expect next?
The next book I have coming out is Freeks. It’s a standalone YA paranormal romance novel set in the 1980s that follows a travelling sideshow. I pitched it as Pretty in Pink meets The Lost Boys (minus the vampires). It should be out sometime in 2016.

6 Quick Questions:
1. Summer or Winter? Winter
2. Cats or Dogs? Both?
3. Favourite movie? Labyrinth or The Dark Knight
4. Lucky number? 13
5. Favourite ice-cream flavour? Vanilla
6. Physical books or Ebooks? Physical books, preferably paperbacks

Thanks again for taking the time to answer my questions Amanda. I’ve loved reading the Kanin Chronicles and can’t wait to read whatever you release next!
Thank you for having me :)  

 

With help from the Trylle clan, Bryn tries to clear her name and discover who was really responsible for the Skojare King's murder.

Then, while she's still trying to make sense of it all, Ridley tracks her down while she's on the run for a crime she didn't commit. He refuses to abandon her, so she finally decides that she wants to be with him and that they do belong together. Together, they return to the Kanin capital and rally other trackers and the King's Guard to defend their kingdom from the villain within. But in the process, Bryn learns a startling truth about her former enemy. Brynn's loyalty is still to her kingdom, but will she be rewarded with a place in the royal guard -- and who will ultimately win her heart?

Add on Goodreads or check out my 5 star review!

Purchase:

Bookworld | The Nile | The Book Depository | Amazon

Amanda Hocking is a lifelong Minnesotan obsessed with Batman and Jim Henson. In between watching cooking shows, taking care of her menagerie of pets, and drinking too much Red Bull Zero, she writes young adult urban fantasy and paranormal romance.

Her New York Times best-selling series the Trylle Trilogy has been optioned for films. She has published fifteen novels, including the Hollows and the Watersong series. Frostfire and Ice Kissed - the first two books in her newest trilogy, The Kanin Chronicles - are out now, and the final book Crystal Kingdom will be out August 4, 2015.

Visit Amanda:

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram

I want to say a big thank you to Alana and the team at Pan Macmillan Australia for putting this tour together and Amanda Hocking for chatting with me today. Crystal Kingdom and the rest of the Kanin Chronicles are available now, online and in all good bookstores! Be sure you snag your copy--you won't me sorry!

 

Book Shelf: Crystal Kingdom (Kanin Chronicles #3) by Amanda Hocking

Bryn must decide: follow her head or her heart.

Thrown into a world of suspense and intrigue, Bryn now has to fight to clear her name. But she's not alone. With help from the Trylle - including Finn Holmes - she's on a quest to discover the truth.

With her life and her world on the line, will Bryn be able to risk it all?

More info on Goodreads......



Review:

Crystal Kingdom marks the third and final book in Amanda Hocking’s Kanin Chronicles and is a fast paced, heart-pounding and exciting way to end what has been a sensational series!

After the heartbreaking death of her friend Kasper in Ice Kissed, Bryn Aven is on the run. Having been blamed for his murder alongside the Skojare Prince and branded a traitor, Bryn is facing charges of treason should she return to Doldastam. Teaming up with Konstantin Black in an unexpected alliance, Bryn soon begins digging into her Queen’s past when tragedy strikes the Kanin royal family and Queen Mina takes control of the kingdom. The malicious and deceptive nature of the Queen push Bryn and those she knows to take drastic chances, even if it means going to war against the Kanin people, practically guaranteeing that not everyone Bryn loves will make it out alive…..

Having now read Amanda Hocking’s Trylle series, Kanin Chronicles and half of her Watersong quartet, I can easily say that the Kanin Chronicles is without a doubt my favourite! I fell in love with Bryn and all her friends quite quickly in the first book and over the course of the other two, only came to be more invested in their journey, lives and actions with the turn of every page. Crystal Kingdom is well written, detailed and incredibly fast paced. It sees Bryn make some real discoveries, with the mystery behind Queen Mina’s actions finally revealed. It’s an emotional read with Bryn having to make tough decisions, and not everyone we know and love are guaranteed to make it out alive. 

Bryn has been such a great character since the very first novel and I’m glad Amanda Hocking has still managed to grow her as an individual whilst still keeping her in many ways the same headstrong, fighting and brave young woman we first met in Frostfire. Hocking has put Bryn through a lot over the course of this series and while she doesn’t so much as thrive she certainly manages to hold her own. Honestly, Bryn is seriously kick-ass and I love that she’s capable, independent and has plenty of personality. Bryn is the kind of heroine you can easily get behind in these kinds of fantasy novels! 

I’ve enjoyed getting to know many of the other characters in the series and am going to miss them. Bryn for obvious reasons, but also Ridley, Konstantin, Ember, Tilda, Linus, Bryn’s parents, Queen Linnea and others…..They’ve been wonderful to follow and I’ve enjoyed seeing their different dynamics and interactions within the story. Konstantin himself actually became one of my favourites despite his rocky history and I was glad to see him redeem himself somewhat in Crystal Kingdom.

There’s so much going on within Crystal Kingdom. I loved stepping out of the Kanin world and exploring some of the other tribes. The Omte and Skojare were very interesting and I would love to read more about Queen Linnea and King Mikko of the Skojare if that was ever possible in the future!

Richly described, set and paced, Crystal Kingdom was a worthy conclusion to what has been a wonderful series. Amanda Hocking brings to all to a thrilling close that sees the story end, not without consequences and loss, but also with endless hope…..

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by Pan Macmillan Australia (Thank you Alana!)
Format: Paperback
Buy it: Bookworld | The Nile | The Book Depository | Amazon
My Recommendation: If you enjoy fantasy and faerie tales, this series is for you!
Cover: I think it's very pretty, although it's not my favorite of the trilogy....
Will I read sequel/continue with series: This is the final book obviously, but I would love to read more of the Kanin/Tryle world if ever possible!

Waiting on Wednesday #105

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking The Spine where you can spotlight an upcoming release that you're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm waiting on.....

 

The Great Huntby Wendy Higgins

Releases on: March 8th 2016

Add on Goodreads!

 

Kill the beast. Win the girl.

A strange beast stirs fear in the kingdom of Lochlanach, terrorizing towns with its brutality and hunger. In an act of desperation, a proclamation is sent to all of Eurona—kill the creature and win the ultimate prize: the daughter of King Lochson’s hand in marriage.

Princess Aerity understands her duty to the kingdom though it pains her to imagine marrying a stranger. It would be foolish to set her sights on any particular man in the great hunt, but when a brooding local hunter, Paxton Seabolt, catches her attention, there’s no denying the unspoken lure between them…or his mysterious resentment.

Paxton is not keen on marriage. Nor does he care much for spoiled royals and their arcane laws. He’s determined to keep his focus on the task at hand—ridding the kingdom of the beast and protecting his family—yet Princess Aerity continues to challenge his notions with her unpredictability and charm. But as past secrets collide with present desires, dire choices threaten everything Paxton holds dear.

Inspired by the Grimm Brothers’ tale, “The Singing Bone,” New York Times bestselling author Wendy Higgins delivers a dark fantasy filled with rugged hunters, romantic tension, outlawed magic, and a princess willing to risk all to save her people.

 

Thoughts:

Though I haven't read by Wendy Higgins yet, I'm quite impressed by the sound of this. Fantasy will always catch me and this story sounds like it could be super good. Can't wait to get to know Aerity and Paxton. Oh, plus it's inspired by a Grimm Brothers tale! I love the Grimm fairytales!

 

What do you think of The Great Hunt? Is it something YOU would read?

And what are you waiting on this week?

 

 

Book Shelf: The Potion Diaries (Potion #1) by Amy Alward

When the Princess of Nova accidentally poisons herself with a love potion meant for her crush, she falls crown-over-heels in love with her own reflection. Oops. A nationwide hunt is called to find the cure, with competitors travelling the world for the rarest ingredients, deep in magical forests and frozen tundras, facing death at every turn.

Enter Samantha Kemi - an ordinary girl with an extraordinary talent. Sam's family were once the most respected alchemists in the kingdom, but they've fallen on hard times, and winning the hunt would save their reputation. But can Sam really compete with the dazzling powers of the ZoroAster megapharma company? Just how close is Sam willing to get to Zain Aster, her dashing former classmate and enemy, in the meantime?

And just to add to the pressure, this quest is ALL OVER social media. And the world news.

No big deal, then.

More info on Goodreads......


Review:

The Potion Diaries is a unique debut novel by Amy Alward that weaves adventure and magic together with a hint of romance in a fairy-tale like manner that mingles with modern technology to create a tale perfect for fans of The Princess Diaries and fantasy lovers alike. 

Introducing readers to the fictional kingdom of Nova, The Potion Diaries follows Samantha Kemi, a member of a once renowned family of alchemists who has the opportunity to redeem her family’s good name and fortune when Nova’s princess Evelyn accidently ingests a love potion she made that was not intended for her. In order to save their beloved princess, the King and Queen of Nova call a Wilde Hunt, a dangerous quest where alchemists from all over the kingdom set out to gather ingredients to recreate and cure the princess of the love potion that ails her. With Evelyn getting worse with every passing moment, Sam’s talent for mixing potions sees her journey all over the world to collect the ingredients needed for the cure. Danger, deception and possibly even love await her if she has the courage to do what others can’t.

I want to be honest here, while I genuinely liked The Potion Diaries, it didn’t blow me away like I had thought it might heading into the story. I still found Amy Alward’s debut a fun, enjoyable and easy read. It had all the elements I enjoy within a YA fantasy and I do look forward to reading more of the series as the stories are released.

Amy Always has created a very interesting world within The Potion Diaries. It’s a delightful blend of the everyday modern world, magic and fairy tale elements. Aspects of technology, social media and science blend together with traditional medicine, potion mixing and magic during the story to help create an almost fairy tale aura surrounding the story. Different creatures, abilities and settings create a beguiling world where I honestly didn’t know what would happen next. 

My issue with The Potion Diaries was that I felt it was missing something; something I just couldn’t name and still can’t put my finger on. That extra something that makes you sit back and really take stock of a story. I loved the concept, thought the execution was pretty good and enjoyed the characters, but I just wasn’t completely won over at the same time. I’m looking forward to reading more and seeing what happens next, but I still felt The Potion Diaries was missing that something extra that could have taken it from being a nice read to the next level.

Our main character was someone I did like and I think she fit the story well. She had a nice blend of fire and vulnerabilities and came across as a really normal teenager amidst this magical world. The vision she had for her family was lovely and I liked that she wanted to improve their lives. The fact that she cared deeply about them resonated with me. 

Sam is joined by a nice supporting cast of characters. Amy Alward writes Sam’s family and friends with just enough personality and depth to get the story that added extra life. Admittedly I wasn’t won over by Zain and his romance with Sam. I think they have potential and were sweet, but I don’t feel them as a couple yet. I’m hoping Alward plans to explore them more in future novels though as I am hoping that will change.

On the whole, The Potion Diaries was a good debut novel and definitely worth a read if you want something different than a lot of typical fantasy out there. Amy Alward sets up an intriguing world that houses a lot of possibilities and with a sequel promised, I’m interested to see what Amy Alward has in store next. 

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by Simon & Schuster (Thanks guys!)
Format: Paperback ARC
Buy it: Bookworld | The Nile | The Book Depository | Amazon
My Recommendation: Fans of fantasy with a modern twist will enjoy this.
Cover: I'm not really a fan of this cover. It looks corny.
Will I read sequel/continue with series: Yes, I would like to read more.....

Free Ebooks

Hi guys and happy Monday!

I hope you're all ready for a new week :) And to start it, here's some new freebie's for you!

 

Hope you snagged something new :)

Book Shelf: Broken Skies (Broken Skies #1) by Theresa Kay

Thirty years ago, civilization collapsed. Few survived.
Ten years ago, the aliens arrived…and stayed.
One year ago, I killed two men and went a little crazy.
Today, the aliens took my brother and I will do anything to get him back.

In seventeen-year-old Jax Mitchell's world, humans are nearly extinct and alien settlers have arrived.

Until recently, the E’rikon have remained segregated in their city and ignored the few humans who have tried to engage them… but now they have taken Jax’s brother. To rescue him, she forms an uneasy alliance with a teenage E’rikon left stranded in the woods. She agrees to guide him to the city if he sneaks her past the human-proof barrier. Too bad it’s not that simple.

Jax, who cannot stand to be touched, finds that she’s drawn to the alien boy with bright green hair and jewel-like scales on his back. And he’s equally affected by her, the courageous redhead with haunted eyes. But she doesn’t know the alien’s true motives and he has no idea that she is much more than she seems.

With the aliens and the humans at odds, the connection forming between the two teens has consequences. What started off as a rescue mission sets a chain of events in motion which threatens not only the remaining humans and the growing alien society, but Earth itself.

More info on Goodreads.....


Review:

Broken Skies by Theresa Kay is a sensationally written and addictive adventure that is the Lux series by Jennifer L. Armentrout meets the War of the Worlds. Fast paced, romantic and filled with delectable tension, Broken Skies is near impossible to put down!

Heading into Broken Skies I really unprepared by the intensity in which I would find myself absolutely entranced by this story. The passion, drive and fire within our main character wove together with a tension filled romance that built and built and a fast paced storyline that had me desperate to keep reading. As someone always reading a paperback book and an ebook at the same time, I found myself spurning my other [pretty awesome] in favour of Broken Skies because it was simply that good.

Broken Skies introduces readers to a dystopian style world where decades before civilization was left a shell of its former self during a collapse of society. Shortly after, Earth was invaded by aliens known as E’rikon who took over the major cities and forced the surviving humans to flee. Now, thirty years later Broken Skies follows seventeen year old Jax, a traumatised and guarded young woman whose brother is taken prisoner by the E’rikon. With the help of a beguiling and often annoying E’rikon named Lir, Jax sets out to rescue him whatever the cost and manages to discover along the way that sometimes the enemy isn’t who you expect and discovering the truth may be harder than she ever thought……

The world Theresa Kay has created within Broken Skies is very War of the World meets Lux by Jennifer L. Armentrout, an extremely popular book in its own right, however Broken Skies has its very own unique feel and storyline. Kay’s writing is solid and her characterisation was wonderful. The lead was strong and the storyline entertaining. It made you want to keep reading, because you had to know how Jax was going to save her brother. Not to mention the developing relationship between Jax and Lir that was incredibly addictive.

Our main character and protagonist Jax is a bit of a fragile young thing but boy does she have fire! She’s tenacious and willing to fight for those she loves, even if she comes off as vulnerable too. From the beginning of Broken Skies, author Theresa Kay makes it quite clear something very horrible has happened to Jax in the past and as such, Jax bears the emotional scars of this event; something that affects her often throughout the story. And yet, she still remains feisty and quite kick-ass. I actually liked the blend of vulnerability and capable firecracker--honestly this girl is someone you will absolutely LOVE! I know I did.

The fast paced storyline within Broken Skies was really hard not to love. I already find myself seriously invested in Jax’s story and her world. I want to learn more about the E’rikon and exactly what Jax is. The relationship that developed between Jax and Lir was addictive to read about and I gobbled up every interaction, shared moment and passionate discovery between them. Lir was a fantastic character in his own right and together with Jax managed to suck me in, hook, line and sinker.

The dialogue within Broken Skies is sharp and the interactions between Jax and Lir was so, so sweet. They were fierce together and burned and developed so wonderfully. It’s pretty obvious when Jax and Lir set out on their mission what they’re going to mean to one another, but that didn’t mean I didn’t enjoy every smouldering glance, unexpected flutter and heart pounding moment Lir brought out in Jax.

Theresa Kay races Broken Skies to a stunning conclusion. There’s betrayals, revelations and secrets revealed. I’m still extremely eager to know more about the E’irkon world, their politics and the growing war between them and the humans. Loyalties aren’t what they seem and with this chapter in this exciting new series coming to a close, I’m practically salivating to get my hands on the next novel so I can join Jax and Lir once again!

An excellent read and quite possibly an unexpected favourite of mine this year—I highly recommend you grab yourself a copy of Broken Skies ASAP, you won’t be sorry!

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by the author (Thank you Theresa!)
Format: Kindle ebook
Buy it: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository
My Recommendation: Fans of Lux series by Jennifer L. Armentrout will love this!
Cover: I actually think it's quite pretty and the model is how I picture Jax perfectly.
Will I read sequel/continue with series: YES!

Science Geek Appreciation Week: The Libby Garrett Intervention by Kelly Oram Sneak Peak

Well, here we are folks. The final day of Science Geek Appreciation Week. And what a week it's been! We've read all about The Avery Shaw Experiment, revealed the cover and got a few teasers from The Libby Garrett Intervention releasing this October, we've gotten up close and personal with Science Squad author Kelly Oram, and we've invaded Avery's and Grayson's privacy by reading their journals.

We've partied on Facebook with games, teasers, bonus material, and giveaways. (The party's still going on, so stop by the FACEBOOK EVENT and enter the giveaways before they're over.)

Hopefully you've all bought your copy of Avery at its Science Geek Appreciation price of just $0.99. I promise, it's worth the dollar!

Purchase:

Amazon | iBooks | Barnes & Nobles | Kobo

And, of course, (fingers crossed) you've preordered your copy of Libby at the early bird sale price of $2.99.

It seems there's only one thing left to do, and that would be get a nice good look at The Libby Garrett Intervention in this first-ever sneak peek!

Libby Garrett is addicted to Owen Jackson's hot lovin'. But the sexy, popular college basketball player doesn't appreciate all of Libby's awesomeness. He refuses to be exclusive or even admit to people that they're dating. The relationship is ruining Libby and she's the only one who can't see it.

When Libby's behavior spirals completely out of control, her best friend Avery Shaw and the rest of the Science Squad stage an intervention hoping to cure Libby of her harmful Owen addiction. They put her through her very own Twelve Step program—Owen's Anonymous—and recruit the help of a sexy, broody, hard-as-nails coffee man to be her official sponsor.

...

Adam Koepp has watched Libby Garrett for years. How could he not notice the sassy girl with the purple skateboard and helmet plastered with cat stickers? But in all the years he's crushed on her, Libby has failed to take notice of him. Why would she when he was just a nobody high school drop out who served her apple cider several times a week? Especially when she was hooking up with a guy like Owen Jackson—a guy with a college scholarship and more abs than Kyle Hamilton.

Adam finally gets the chance to meet Libby when his co-worker Avery Shaw recruits him to take Libby on the journey of a lifetime. With his ability to play Bad Cop and his experience with the Twelve Step program he's the perfect candidate to be Libby's sponsor. But will he be able to keep his personal feelings out of the matter and really help her the way she needs? And will Libby hate him when he forces her to take an honest look at herself?

(This excerpt hasn't been though it's final round of edits and is subject to change in the final draft.)

 

From The Libby Garrett Intervention......

“I love Avery, and I’m happy for her—she certainly deserves Grayson—but now her perception of reality is totally skewed. She thinks everyone has a fairy-tale ending coming to them. She doesn’t understand that most of us won’t be so lucky. Especially not someone like me.”

Adam kept his gaze on the window and let out a breath. “Someone like you?”

“Yeah, someone like me. Fat girls don’t exactly get a lot of love.”

He pulled his eyes away from the view to glare at me for that one. I wasn’t sure what his problem was. It’s not like my weight was a secret.

“Maybe I’m not three hundred pounds, but I’m definitely pushing it when I use the word chubby. In high school, that equates to being the fat girl, and, before you ask, I can’t just lose the weight. I have hypothyroidism. I was diagnosed when I was eleven because I became borderline diabetic. I’ve been on a strict diet and exercise program ever since so that I don’t develop more serious health problems. I’m actually in decent shape cardiovascularly speaking; I just can’t get rid of all the weight. This is as good as I will ever get.”

Adam pulled his eyes away from the window and shifted his entire body so that he was facing me. “You don’t think you’ll ever find someone that loves you because you’ll never be thin?”

I scoffed. “This is real life, not Hairspray. There is no Link Larkin out there waiting for me. Don’t even try to tell me that there is. You know there’s not. It’s a miracle Owen even gives me the time of day.”

After pulling the beanie off his head to rake his hand through his hair, Adam slumped in his seat and crossed his arms over his chest, glaring out the windshield. I didn’t understand the mood swing. He’d seemed pretty chill when I first picked him up. Now he was back to being that stick-up-the-butt grump I first met. “What about Owen?” he asked suddenly. “He doesn’t seem to mind your weight.”

“Ha!” I clenched my hands so tightly on the steering wheel that my knuckles turned white. I’d been telling myself that same thing for a year, but that didn’t make it true. “Of course he does. That’s the biggest problem we have. He acts the way he does with me because he’s embarrassed of my looks. I always knew that, but I told myself it didn’t matter, because even if he was ashamed of his feelings for me, at least he had them.”

Adam was appalled by my logic. “Are you serious? The guy is ashamed of you, and you don’t think that matters?”

A surge of anger pulsed through me, but I managed to keep hold of my temper.

“Of course it matters. Do you think I like that he won’t introduce me to any of his friends? I don’t. I hate it. He won’t even admit to Grayson that we’re dating. Do you know how that makes me feel?”

“Then why do you put up with it?”

“Because it’s better than nothing. Which is what I have without Owen. No one has ever wanted me before. At all. In any way. Owen can be a jerk, but I know at least part of him cares about me. It’s not like he hooks up with me because I’m his only option. The guy is gorgeous, popular, and athletic. He can be with anyone he wants, but he still chooses to be with me. He likes being with me. He’s not a total douche. He does appreciate my awesomeness. When we’re together and it’s just us, he can be so sweet. He makes me feel beautiful—desirable, special, wanted. I don’t get to feel like that any other time in my life, so I take the bad with the good.”

I couldn’t believe I was having such an intimate conversation with this odd stranger, but it was surprisingly nice to be completely honest for once. “I can’t say no to Owen because I know that if I say yes, I’ll get to feel those things. The bad stuff will disappear and I’ll feel amazing, at least for a little while. And I’m afraid that if I don’t come when he calls, he’ll find someone else. I’m sure he sees other girls at college. Yes, I hate that, but what other choice do I have? If I push him away, then I’m back to having nobody. Without Owen, I’m back to being a lonely, fat nerd. I don’t want to be alone for the rest of my life.”

The conversation died there.

I’d never been so honest with anyone before, not even Avery. I wasn’t sure how Adam got me to crack open like that, but I felt so exposed. I’d spent years building up the thickest skin a human being could possibly have, and somehow, in less than an hour, Adam broke right through all of my defenses. That scared me. Who was this guy? How did he get to me so easily?

Adam sat in silence on the other side of the car. I knew he was thinking about everything I’d just said. Knew he was putting it together with all the times we’d met so far, and forming a new opinion of me. I didn’t want to know what that might be.

I drove us through the winding mountains, paying more attention to my crappy thoughts and feelings than the road. We were lucky I didn’t send us plummeting over the side of the canyon to our deaths.

“Believe it or not, I understand how you feel,” Adam said, breaking the long silence with his soft voice. “I know exactly what it’s like to be so desperate for someone’s affection that you’d let them destroy you just to win their approval.”

My chest tightened at his admission. It made me crazy with curiosity. Who had he loved so much that he could sound as full of despair as he did now? There was truth in his words, and whatever truth it was, it had been devastating to him. Was there more to Avery asking him for help than just his ability to play Bad Cop? He said we had something in common, but I couldn’t understand how a guy like him could ever be an outcast the way I am.

“If you don’t let him go,” Adam said, pulling my attention back to the conversation, “he will destroy you eventually.”

I had no doubt he was speaking from experience, but I didn’t ask, and he didn’t elaborate. He left me alone after that, and we spent the rest of the drive in silence. It wasn’t until we reached the ski resort and climbed out of the Escalade that he finally said,
“You have to want it, Libby. Admitting that the relationship is unhealthy is a good start, but it isn’t enough. If you don’t genuinely want to give him up, then we’re wasting each other’s time.”

I wasn’t sure I’d ever fully want to give Owen up, but I didn’t want to let him keep using me, either. “What exactly are we doing with each other, anyway?” I asked as I led Adam through the parking lot toward the mountain. “How do you plan to help me?”

“Every twelve-step program is a journey. It’s actually a very spiritual experience for the person taking the steps. It requires a leap of faith. My job as your sponsor—so to say—is to take that leap with you and sort of guide you through the process. You’ll have to do all the work. I can’t take the steps for you, but I can show you the way. I’m here to hold your hand or give you a nudge when you need it, point you in the right direction if you can’t see clearly, and pick you up if you fall.”

We reached the base of the mountain and immediately hit a wall of people. The mountain was packed because it was the last weekend of the season, and it looked like the competition had also drawn quite a crowd as well.

I grabbed Adam’s hand tightly so that we wouldn’t get separated, and headed toward the halfpipe. Adam startled at my touch, but didn’t pull away. He looked down at our hands and then did that infuriatingly sexy thing where he raises one of his eyebrows at me, as if demanding an answer.

Man, he could be so hot when he wanted. If I weren’t in such a hurry, I’d have stayed locked in that challenging stare with him until the snow melted. Unfortunately, there was no time to explore the tension that sometimes ignited between us. I rolled my eyes at him, pretending I wasn’t the least bit excited to be touching him, and started tugging him through the spectators. “Gotta move your honeybuns, Coffee Man. We’re late.”

“You know,” he said lightly as he followed me through the crowd, “when I mentioned hand holding before, I was speaking metaphorically.”

“Well, that’s just too bad, because right now I need it in the literal sense. I don’t have time to lose you. It looks like they’ve already started, and I’ll be the worst daughter ever if I miss my dad’s first run.”
Adam chuckled. Then, a few seconds later he relaxed his grip, shifting his hand in mine so that our fingers laced together. There was something intimate in the casual way he clung to me as we walked. It was as if he weren’t hanging on for the purpose of staying together, but rather holding my hand simply for the pleasure of it. The way a boyfriend would. The way Owen had never done. The way no one had ever done.

It took everything in me not to stumble to a stop and gape at him. I glanced back as subtly as I could manage. He met my eyes, smiling as if he didn’t have a care in the world. As though holding my hand was something he did every day, something so natural he didn’t even have to think about it.

Don't you just want more? Aren't you dying for more? I know I am and I can't wait to read more!

 

 

Go back to the beginning:

When Avery Shaw’s heart is shattered by her life-long best friend, she chooses to deal with it the only way she knows how—scientifically.

The state science fair is coming up and Avery decides to use her broken heart as the topic of her experiment. She’s going to find the cure. By forcing herself to experience the seven stages of grief through a series of social tests, she believes she will be able to get over Aiden Kennedy and make herself ready to love again. But she can’t do this experiment alone, and her partner (ex partner!) is the one who broke her heart.

Avery finds the solution to her troubles in the form of Aiden’s older brother Grayson. The gorgeous womanizer is about to be kicked off the school basketball team for failing physics. He’s in need of a good tutor and some serious extra credit. But when Avery recruits the lovable Grayson to be her “objective outside observer,” she gets a whole lot more than she bargained for, because Grayson has a theory of his own: Avery doesn’t need to grieve. She needs to live. And if there’s one thing Grayson Kennedy is good at, it’s living life to the fullest.

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Kelly wrote her first novel at age fifteen--a fan fiction about her favorite music group, The Backstreet Boys, for which her family and friends still tease her. She's obsessed with reading, talks way too much, and likes to eat frosting by the spoonful. She lives outside of Phoenix, Arizona with her husband, four children, and her cat, Mr. Darcy. 


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a Rafflecopter giveaway Everything I've seen so far, and every excerpt, teaser and sneak peak only makes me soooooo excited to read The Libby Garrett Intervention! I loved Libby as Avery's saucy, tough as nails BFF and can't wait to see her front and center in her own story!