Frat Girl by Kiley Roache

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For Cassandra Davis, the F-word is fraternity—specifically Delta Tau Chi, a house on probation and on the verge of being banned from campus. Accused of offensive, sexist behavior, they have one year to clean up their act. For the DTC brothers, the F-word is feminist—the type of person who writes articles in the school paper about why they should lose their home.

With one shot at a scholarship to attend the university of her dreams, Cassie pitches a research project: to pledge Delta Tau Chi and provide proof of their misogynistic behavior. They’re frat boys. She knows exactly what to expect once she gets there. Exposing them should be a piece of cake.

But the boys of Delta Tau Chi have their own agenda, and fellow pledge Jordan Louis is certainly more than the tank top wearing “bro” Cassie expected to find. With her heart and her future tangled in the web of her own making, Cassie is forced to realize that the F-word might not be as simple as she thought after all.

Source: advance e-galley provided in exchange for an honest review


Now, it's been a few years since I was in college and the college I went to didn't have fraternities or sororities so I've never got the allure of them. However, the title to Kiley Roache's debut had me doing a double-take. That her heroine, a self-professed feminist was willing to go undercover and pledge for a fraternity had me simultaneously going, "You crazy, girl!" and "Please be careful!" Yeah, I just had to read this one.

Cassie comes up with this research idea because she needs to win a scholarship to attend the school of her dreams. Her interest in gender studies and her defiance of gender stereotypes makes joining a frat the perfect opportunity to study several issues. What she doesn't bank on though is how much her experience within the frat would challenge her initial thoughts about Greek life and affect her findings.

The research process doesn't go as smoothly as she hopes since she has to work in secrecy. Therefore, no one can know what she's up to and some of her actions tend to rub some new friends the wrong way. While she's hoping to get inside the frat house culture, some folks think she's either hurting women's causes or doing this as some kind of attention-getting stunt. Dealing with the skepticism and negative fallout make this an isolating experience though she manages to keep her chin up. And the surprise is that despite some rough patches, she does end up befriending a few of the guys in the frat and through their interactions she gains a different perspective on the issues she's trying to bring to light. The funniest, laugh-out-loud moment comes when Cassie conducts a sex-ed lesson to the frat brothers. Holy cow, I could not stop laughing! It makes you realize how much misinformation is out there so kudos to Cassie for taking that on. 

I thought Frat Girl was entertaining  with Cassie being a delightful character whose strength is shown through her confidence and her conviction to see something through to the end. It does attempt to tackle some of the currently relevant issues - perceptions about men's sexuality vs women's sexuality, misconceptions about feminism, bullying and hazing - just to name a few, but holds back from delving too deep, otherwise the tone of the book would be completely different. If anything it serves up several talking points for continued thought and discussion which I sincerely hope it does. I also can't wait to read more from Kiley Roache in the future!

~ Bel

I'm so happy to share an interview that Kiley graciously did with us. Keep an eye out for more good things to come from this talented young writer!

Photo source: kileyroache.com

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Congratulations on FRAT GIRL! You’re a rock star to write and publish a book while still at university. How long had the idea been simmering in your mind?

Thank you so much! I wrote the first draft of the book after my freshman year of college. Although I did not personally join a frat, the emotional truth of the book was inspired by the things I felt and experienced throughout my freshman year. The idea first sparked when one of my friends bet me $50 to go with them to fraternity rush. For weeks after that conversation, I wondered what this experience would be like—for the first woman to join such an organization. I thought it might crystalize a lot of the experiences that my friends and I had our freshman year.

After writing countless articles for the likes of Huffpost, San Francisco Chronicle, The Mash, just to name a few, what was the transition to writing a book like? How did it change your writing approach?

Well, I had been writing “books”—50 page Microsoft Word documents on my pink laptop—since the seventh grade, even before I worked as a reporter. So writing fiction has been in my life for a while. However, there were definitely unique challenges to writing a full novel for the first time.  It is easy to be excited about an idea at the beginning, but to make sure that premise and that character are well developed enough that they can take you through an entire story with a satisfying end, is definitely a different kind of challenge. However, I found that when it did come together, it was quite magical. I wrote the first manuscript I ever completed while I was in high school, and I often ended up writing well into the night, until 2 or 3 am, after doing homework until midnight. It was hard work for sure, but it was also one of the most rewarding experiences.

In the book, Cassie joins the frat in order to study the culture of sexism and misogyny up close. She steps into it with definite views but periodically finds those views challenged, demonstrating that it’s not as clear cut as initially thought. Is that how you felt as you developed the story?

I think that throughout the process, I wanted the characters to meet people who challenged each other’s views. For young men like Duncan, Bambi, Jordan and Peter this means understanding the perspectives of women, and how they might experience fraternity houses, campus, and the world differently. For Cassie, her fundamental belief in feminism, in equality among the sexes, remains steadfast. She does however, encounter women who define what feminism looks like in a different way than she does, which challenges the details, but not the core, of her views. I definitely think this mirrored my experience during college, as I lived in dorms with people of various perspectives and backgrounds, and saw my own beliefs challenged and further developed through the conversations I had.

Is there a character in FRAT GIRL that you can relate to, and one that you’d like to know better?

In many ways I can relate to Cassie, particularly because my freshman year of college I had a group of friends, the majority of which were men. So a lot of the situations Cassie is in are things I have experienced as well. One of my best guy friends really did run across campus when a boy I was seeing was mean to me. I also relate a lot to Ben or “Bambi” as he is called for much of the book, since I was very focused and serious in high school, and had not really been to a party until college.

One character I’d like to get to know better is Peter. I don’t want to spoil, but there is a lot we learn about Peter at the end, and I’d be curious to explore further how his friendship with Cassie would develop.

How are you going to celebrate your book’s release?

The day of my release I primarily celebrated on the internet, and received so many kind messages from friends and the YA community. A week after the book came out, I had an event right near Stanford’s campus at Kepler’s Books, and a bunch of my friends attended, which was really great.

Okay, now we’re going to have some fun. The Bibliojunkies motto is “books, boys, pie” so with that in mind: 

Which do you prefer: E-reader or a physical book? And is there a book that you had to have on both platforms?

I am definitely am a physical books person, although I have had an e-reader before. I read Cassandra Clare’s City of Bones for the first time on Kindle, and then just had to buy it to complete the set when I read all the other books in the series in paperback. 

One Direction is mentioned in your book a couple of times… so who’s your favourite?

Oh wow that is a great question. I have to say Harry.

And if he showed up at your door, what dessert would he bring for you?

An even better question! I would say chocolate lava cake J.

A Wolf Like Me (Thomas Spell #1) by Andy Fitz

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A midnight ritual by a secret society in the English Countryside nearly costs Thomas Spell his life. He returns home to Chicago to find that he carries within himself something unspeakable - a condition for which he believes there is no cure, until he meets Penelope, a beautiful and brilliant pre-med student determined to heal him. But The Brotherhood searches for him still, convinced that he holds the key to an unimaginable power. As his life begins to spiral out of control, Thomas is forced to confront his own past, as well as the dark forces closing in on him and everything he holds dear.

While travelling through France, eighteen year old Thomas awakens from a bad dream one fateful night go walking through the quiet streets in Paris. He happens across a man and a young lady engaged in a conversation that looks slightly odd to him. Through his haze he thinks he sees something unnatural but can't trust himself to know whether it's real or not. Celeste, the beguiling young lady he noticed and couldn't take his eyes off of, introduces herself to him and the two embark on a crazy alcohol and lust-filled jaunt for the next few weeks which is great for a horny teenager. Things are going seemingly well when out of nowhere, her attitude shifts and she insists that they must travel to England. Little could Thomas know that his life would forever be changed by the events to come. Whatever happened that night did its damage and left its mark on him. Five years later and back in America, Thomas who now goes by Ben is staying under the radar. Too bad those weirdos he encountered didn't get that memo, and things seem to be getting worse. Whatever happened that changed him seems to be growing stronger and he feels his control slipping away. He does have two friends - Penelope and Eric - who are in on his secret and doing everything they can to find a cure and protect him. Unfortunately, he attracts trouble and he doesn't have an inkling why people are after him which leads him into a spiral, battling demons on many fronts: guilt, his nightmarish relationship with his father and the fact that the monster within him wants out.

A Wolf Like Me is suspenseful and loaded with action. It's even funny despite its overall dark premise thanks to some whimsical elements that lighten the mood. Thomas is a self-deprecating, reluctant hero constantly in turmoil, at odds with himself and the entire world it seems like, but by the end he comes to the conclusion that embracing everything about himself - the good, the bad the monster - is what will save what means anything to him. AWLM takes place mostly in Chicago where we see a different side of the city that goes unnoticed. It's a gritty backdrop against which Thomas battles it out. I don't get around to reading paranormal too often but with a title that reminds me of the song by TV On The Radio (look it up, it's awesome) and the Chicago connection, I couldn't resist and I wound up thoroughly enjoying myself!

~ Bel


I'm so happy to introduce debut author, Andy Fitz, who has kindly taken time out to answer a few questions about the book and writing in general. 

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Hi Andy! Let me start by congratulating you on your debut. How did it feel to finally hit “publish”? Did you celebrate?

Thank you, and yes it did! To quote Richard Bach, “A professional writer is an amateur who didn’t quit.” I wrote the first scene for A Wolf Like Me in a Chicago coffee shop over 8 years ago, and in no conceivable universe did I envision that the entire process would take this long. That said, I don’t think it could have happened any other way, because I had to grow and develop as a writer and there are no shortcuts on that path – at least not for me.

I read that the idea for A WOLF LIKE ME came to you while you were in a creative writing class. I’m sure you have plenty of ideas so please share with us how this one stuck and became what it is.

My wife deserves all the credit for this, as she signed me up for a class at the Writer’s Loft in the City. Once a week I would sit with a dozen other hopeful writers in the finished attic of a 3-story Victorian in the Lakeview neighborhood and just write and drink coffee and talk about books. It was wonderful. We were encouraged to write about anything and everything, and on a couple of occasions I found myself writing a short scene with a werewolf. Each scene had an authentic energy to it and it just seemed to spill onto the paper. So, I suppose the general idea for my book arose from the ease and pure creative pleasure that I got from writing about it.

Your hero, Ben Ramsey is a bit of a mess – aside from the whole being a werewolf thing. He seems to have a knack for getting himself into trouble but also his history with his father is something that still affects him deeply. What was it like creating his character?

To go back to the creative writing class, one of the most important things that the teacher, Jerry Cleaver, taught me is that having a likable main character is not important. What matters ultimately, is whether the reader identifies with him or her. As a reader, I prefer flawed characters as I find them to be more relatable and less predictable. As a writer, it also affords me greater artistic license to develop their various hang-ups and shortcomings, and to reveal to my readers what makes them human. Ben is deeply flawed, but he is a decent person in spite of it, and I think as human beings, we can all relate to that, either within ourselves or with someone we care about.

One of the things I enjoyed about AWLM is that it’s set in Chicago and I got to learn of some areas that I didn’t know existed e.g. Hegewisch Marsh.  Were there any other details you discovered about Chicago that surprised you?

I love Chicago and called it home for 17 years. I am an urban planner by trade and I’ve always been especially fascinated with cities and urban environments. The Marsh was fun to incorporate into the story, because it is so un-urban, and speaks to Chicago’s primordial origins as a vast swampy expanse. I am continually amazed at the City’s capacity to surprise me – to reveal something that I hadn’t discovered before, even when it’s been there right in front me the whole time. Like the tiny overgrown lawn of a bungalow that I passed everyday on my way to the coffee shop to write. One day I glanced over and saw that it held an old crumbling stone gargoyle, which gave me the idea for Ben’s ability to converse with spirits.

How is your experience with your first book helping you as you write your sequel? And are you working on any other books as well?

It’s a completely different experience now that the first book is written. I feel as though I am reuniting with old friends to begin another grand adventure. The creative process is addictive and it frees you to just get as much as you can from your imagination onto the paper. The editing and rewriting is where the hard, unglamorous work of writing happens – but that comes later! I also have the skeleton of a more traditional epic fantasy novel sketched out, but that will likely be a side project for another day as I work on the sequel to A Wolf Like Me.

Okay, “rapid fire” questions here:

Favorite book as a kid.

Tough one, but the first chapter book that hooked me was Abel’s Island by William Steig. I love that book.

Book you disliked in high school that you’d try as an adult.

I’m terrible with the Classics: probably Crime and Punishment by Dostoyevsky

Author with whom you’d love to have a beer.

Ian Fleming

Thanks Andy!

Thank you!!

All right folks, A Wolf Like Me is available now and you can find it here:

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Worth the Wait (Kingston Ale House #3) by A.J. Pine

* * * 3/4

I like to think of myself as a man of pleasure…

I enjoy a good pint of ale, being in the arms of a beautiful woman, and living by my own rules. The only thing I try to avoid? Commitment. And I’ve got a three-year success rate to prove it.

I wasn’t planning on Grace—the beautiful, funny, totally off-limits massage therapist who keeps popping up in my life. She’s on a six-month mission to rid her life of toxins. No alcohol. No red meat. And, yeah, no men. I’m talking full-on man cleanse.

I know I should walk away, but I can’t…and the only way to keep her in my life is to live by her rules. I’ll need to prove to a woman who’s lost all trust in men that I’m worthy of her love. And do it all without so much as a single kiss.

The only problem? If I win, I’ll lose the one thing I swore I’d never give up. My heart.


Source: e-galley provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review


What happens when two people who were burned by their exes find themselves falling in love again? Do they jump in eyes closed? Or do they come up with some bizarre way of doing things to get around it? 

Both Jeremy and Grace have been busy nursing broken hearts. Their temporary solution is to give up on relationships. These days, Jeremy likes being unattached as he happily goes through a series of women. Grace has sworn off guys, at least for six months as part of a man-cleanse, an idea she got from a self-help book. Things become tricky after she and Jeremy meet in a rather intimate way (he's her massage client) and an undeniable attraction follows. It's so tempting to do something but unfortunately, it's a case of right place, wrong time. Jeremy surprises himself by wanting to be with Grace, telling her that he'll wait for her until she's done with her cleanse and done putting herself back together. Sounds like a plan they can agree on: friends first, then whatever next. But wait. More complications arise when Grace winds up as star of her own reality show based on her current six-month hiatus from dating. It's a too-good opportunity that she can't afford to miss out on for a number of reasons. So for now it becomes a much harder wait for them. Meddlesome exes aren't helpful either.

This was such a cute story to dive into about two young people wrestling with their feelings and gradually blurring the line between friends and lovers. These are characters becoming more self-aware and truthful about what they want. It's about taking another leap of faith despite the fact that things went badly before. And even though they're trying hard to behave themselves, they do manage to find loopholes, and those are always so fun! It was nice to see the rest of the Kingston Ale House gang again especially since there's guaranteed fun when they're around. One can almost envy this close-knit circle of friends who go way back. As for me, I get to live vicariously through these young friends living it up in Chicago. 

Here's the best reason to read A.J. Pine: for the happy vibes that will inevitably wash over you. Who doesn't love a story about falling in love again after what seems like devastating heartbreak? A happily-ever-after is a nice place to go after it's all said and done. So do yourself a favour and check out the Kingston Ale House series and read WORTH THE WAIT!

~ Bel



Hey Readers, A.J. Pine was sweet enough to do an interview with us about the Kingston Ale House series. Check it out!

A.J. Pine (photo: Goodreads profile)

Congratulations on how well the Kingston Ale House series has done! The series is set

around a micro-brewery – it was the central focus of book 1 (THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY). What inspired this setting?

Is I like beer a good enough answer? Ha. Just kidding. I mean, I do like beer. But there’s more to it than that.

I have this theory that most things in my life are six degrees of separation from the show, Friends. And The Kingston Ale House series is perfect proof. I have great friends from high school and college, but I always wished I had a core group like Ross, Rachel, Chandler, Monica, Joey, and Phoebe—friends who started and ended their days together, hanging at Central Perk, who were basically each other’s second family. That’s where the Kingston crew came from. Jamie, Brynn, Holly, Annie, and Jeremy are the core group. All have known each other since high school, and all ended up back in the city after college. Wes (THREE SIMPLE WORDS) was part of that group but left for a number of years before coming back. Will (our sexy British single dad from SIX MONTH RULE) and Grace (our quirky massage therapist on a sex cleanse in WORTH THE WAIT) are the only two outsiders but were both lovingly welcomed into the fold. In a sense, Kingston Ale House is Central Perk, just with beer!

As you sat down to write, did you have any idea about how the subsequent books would evolve?

I had to give my editor a short description of all four books so she knew I had planned stories for each. And books one, two, and three all went according to plan. But Jeremy was a HUGE surprise. He was not the planned hero for book four. At this point I don’t even remember what book four was supposed to be. All I know is that as soon as Jeremy returned in book two and I got to know him better, I couldn’t get him out of my head.  I quickly thought of the best conflict for my commitment-shy player—a woman who had sworn off sex. I emailed my editor while writing book two and said, “Jeremy has to be the hero for book four. Here’s his story. What do you think?” I think it’s safe to say that she agreed with me. ☺

How much fun was it for you to base the series in Chicago?

It was so fun but also made me nostalgic for my twenties when I was spending my weekends in Lincoln Park! I love getting to give shouts to my favorite Chicago staples like Lou Malnati’s Pizza (the best deep dish pizza…no contest), the Chicago White Sox (my dad is a die-hard Sox fan), and also the Cubs.

I know they’re all your babies and it’s hard to choose but is there a character that is your favourite or that you feel an affinity with?

Oooh, this is hard (twss?). Annie (THREE SIMPLE WORDS) is probably the heroine who is most like me because she is a bookshop owner and romance blogger. We’re a bit of a bookish pair. She’s all about the happily ever after, and I loved that she never lost hope that hers was out there.

The heroes were all super fun to write. Like I said, Jeremy was a force of nature, demanding his own book, and I loved that about him. But I think my favorite hero to write was Will from book two because he was British. And a single dad. And the combination of his accent and his love for his little girl was just enough to bump him to the top of my list. But I really do love all my babies.

Finally we're going to ask about things related to our motto: books, boys pie. Is there a book from high school that you didn’t like that you’d consider reading again?

Honestly, I can’t remember the ones I didn’t like, but I can remember the one I did. The Great Gatsby. It’s the only book I’ve reread since high school simply because I wanted to. I was a high school English teacher for 13 years and definitely have a new appreciation for canon literature, but Gatsby is one that stuck with me.

What’s your favourite dessert? We’re thinking bribery material here ;)

I will never say no to crème brulee.

And which male celebrities do you picture as your characters from KAH: Jamie, Will, Wes and Jeremy?

I’m not saying I’ve thought about this in great detail or that I fan cast my heroes while I’m writing, but I’m not saying I don’t either. I might even have links for each one of the pic that looks how I picture them. LOL.

Jamie Kingston: Chace Crawford…with a baseball hat.

Will Evans: A cross between Henry Cavill and Theo James…because how can I be expected to choose?

Wes Hartley: Wait…I never cast him! Um…how about Jared Padalecki? Post GG. Definitely Supernatural Jared.

Jeremy Denning: Even though I say in the book he looks like a younger Michael Fassbender, there is this model, Ken Bek, who I just learned about from the RED HOT 2017 calendar (of which I’m giving away a copy on my author page along with other fun prizes). He could SO be Jeremy.

Many thanks again to A.J. for spending time with us! Get your copy of WORTH THE WAIT out now!

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Books

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Bittersweet (True North #1) by Sarina Bowen & Interview

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Source: advance e-galley provided by the author

The new series is set in Vermont. True North is populated by the tough, outdoorsy mountain men that populate the Green Mountain State. They raise cows and they grow apples. They chop a lot of wood, especially when they need to blow off steam. (Beards are optional but encouraged.)

If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the orchard.

The last person Griffin Shipley expects to find stuck in a ditch on his Vermont country road is his ex-hookup. Five years ago they’d shared a couple of steamy nights together. But that was a lifetime ago.

At twenty-seven, Griff is now the accidental patriarch of his family farm. Even his enormous shoulders feel the strain of supporting his mother, three siblings and a dotty grandfather. He doesn’t have time for the sorority girl who’s shown up expecting to buy his harvest at half price.

Vermont was never in Audrey Kidder’s travel plans. Neither was Griff Shipley. But she needs a second chance with the restaurant conglomerate employing her. Okay—a fifth chance. And no self-righteous lumbersexual farmer will stand in her way.

They’re adversaries. They want entirely different things from life. Too bad their sexual chemistry is as hot as Audrey’s top secret enchilada sauce, and then some.

Source: advance e-galley provided by the author

Firstly, I want to thank Sarina Bowen for getting me out of my reading funk. I’d picked up three other books in the last three weeks and haven’t been able to concentrate on any of them until I started Bittersweet. Secondly, holy hell is Bittersweet not one of the sexiest reads I’ve read lately! I mean, wow! I’m so eloquent, aren’t I?

The True North series is a departure from Bowen's sports-centric novels, and it’s a breath of fresh air. Set in a very picturesque Vermont, Bittersweet focuses on Griff a former football player drafted by the NFL who gives it all up to run his family’s farm after his father unexpectedly passes away. Not once did I get a sense of bitterness from his perspective as he seemed genuinely content with his lot in life. Let me rephrase. He finds joy and purpose in running the farm but does stress about maintaining it and supporting his family and employees. Audrey, on the contrary, who has dreams of becoming a chef and owning her own restaurant, is slaving away for some restaurant corporation that doesn’t utilize her amazing culinary skills. Instead, they send her on an assignment to negotiate food supply prices with farmers in the Vermont area. This is how she and Griff, two people with a brief history, meet again.

Normally, instant physical attraction is a tricky thing to write and make believable. In this scenario, since they already share a past, it’s easy to accept that Audrey and Griff gravitate towards each other instantly. And oh boy is it hot! I also like how different and similar the two of them are. They have this effortless connection between them that makes it fun to see where they’re headed. With regards to their communication, this is more grown up fare than that of the Ivy League series. This couple is slightly older, out in the world working diligently because so much is dependent on them being successful at their chosen vocation. Griff at this point is on steadier ground. What Audrey goes through as she finds her footing is a struggle that most of us can understand. There’s also much more at play here other their incredible chemistry. It’s also about family and what true support system means. The warm fuzzies I got from them is another reason why I enjoyed this book. Surrounded by his welcoming family and farmhands, Audrey yearns to have something akin to that for herself.

Bowen is a talented writer. The story flows effortlessly and her stories in general are simply enjoyable to read. That's why she's one of those writers where I don't even think twice about grabbing her books. If you ever wanted to have an idea about farming, Bowen has done the research for you. From milking cows, to picking apples to creating cider, every day is interesting and productive. It definitely gave me better perspective on what a farmer’s typical day might be. Bigger than that, with all the talk of cider-making and what seemed like the endless varieties of apples, Bowen had me craving apples! She also made me want to give up bacon briefly (about five minutes – let’s not get crazy here). Anyway, I think Bittersweet, featuring the gorgeous East Coast region, is an inspiring start to her brand new series. I’m ready for more!

~ Bel

INTERVIEW WITH SARINA BOWEN

Sarina is such a sweetheart and made some time to answer a few questions for us, about Bittersweet and other random topics. Read on!

1. With the True North series, you're shifting away from a focus on sports to a focus on a different kind of culture in Vermont. How did the idea come to you and what was it like to make that shift?

I love athletes, but I'm surrounded by the coolest, hippest innovative farmers, and I thought it would be fantastic to explore their world. You know what? I think I love guys who work with their hands. And Griff is an ex-football player, because I couldn't help myself.

2. What fun things did you discover as you researched about running a farm and brewing cider?

That making cider is so much fun! Cidermakers use some really crazy apples, ones that you wouldn't want to eat straight. They taste so bad they're called "spitters" because people spit them out. Also? Making hard cider is harder than making beer, but takes less energy. So it's both tasty and eco friendly.

3. You're working on a few series concurrently - True North, Brooklyn Bruisers, Him (with Elle Kennedy) - so how do you manage your time and keep track of multiple plots? And how does that work when you're writing with another author?

Elle and I have to work together in schedule gaps. It isn't easy. We're both horribly over-scheduled right now and hoping that changes next year.

4. In the Ivy League series, all your female characters are strong and there's always a theme of personal empowerment. You continue that in Bittersweet with Audrey, a character who's struggling but has grit. How much did you enjoy writing her?

She was fun and wonderfully imperfect. But she never lost her true sense of self, and she refused to compromise. I loved her.

Now here's the part of the interview where we like to have fun. Our motto at Bibliojunkies is "books, boys, pie". With that being said ...

5. Do you remember the book that completely blew you away as a kid? 

A Wrinkle in Time

6. What's your absolute favourite dessert and with which male celebrity would you share it? 

Huh. Okay. Sour cherry pie. Jaromir Jagr. Because I'm so impressed that this 44-year-old is still killing it in hockey. He's interesting and he totally deserves pie.

Bounce by Noelle August Blog Tour - Excerpt, Interview & Giveaway!!!

Synopsis: This final chapter in the fun and steamy New Adult trilogy by Noelle August (authors Veronica Rossi and Lorin Oberweger) features two aspiring musicians who must choose between their careers…and their sizzling attraction for each other. Playing the occasional club gig just isn’t cutting it for twenty-two-year-old cellist Skyler Canby, who’s trying to support herself and her mother back home in Kentucky. Persuaded by her best friend Beth to accompany her on an audition for the first feature film launched by Blackwood Entertainment, she figures why not? Beth’s a shoe-in for the lead, but maybe Skyler’s newly dyed pink hair will help her stand out enough to score a small speaking part. Never in her wildest dreams does Skyler imagine she’ll land the lead role or that she’ll have her shoes knocked off her feet by the kiss her audition partner, Grey Blackwood, plants on her—a kiss that feels very real and not at all “acted. ” After throwing a party that causes thousands of dollars of damage to his older brother’s home, reckless musician Grey Blackwood gets roped into working off his debt on the set of his CEO brother’s newest project. Grey spends his days fetching coffee and doing odd jobs around the studio, but he lives for nights when he performs with his band. He knows if he can stay focused, success as a singer is just around the corner. But that’s tough with a distracting pink-haired girl occupying his every waking thought. Skyler and Grey have every reason to resist each other. But, like a song neither of them can get out of their minds, they have no choice but to go where the music takes them. 

BOUNCE

—a Boomerang novel—

By Noelle August

Two aspiring musicians must choose between their careers…and their sizzling attraction for each other in the final Boomerang novel.

Skyler's Point-of-View

Chapter 20

Good lord in a basket, it’s him all right. Grey. Illuminated by the golden lights coming on along Venice Boulevard. With suds and water sluicing off his ridiculously ripped body, cascading from his massive tattooed biceps, running down his taut muscled abdomen. His swimsuit sags dangerously low, clinging to his sturdy thighs, making, um, everything, pretty evident.

And evidently pretty impressive.

Probably, this would be a good time to actually speak some words, but even in a town full of hot, hot people, this is kind of stratospheric.

“Yep, it’s me.” Grey reaches back to turn off the shower, which breaks the spell, so I can at least avert my gaze like a decent person. Then he rubs a towel vigorously over his gleaming body and tucks it around his waist.

He has a strange look on his face—peevish, embarrassed, and it feels suddenly like we’re intruding on something. Or maybe it’s just me. I think about that moment in my trailer. His fingers on my skin. My wanting and not knowing what to want.

“Uh, so, what are you up to?” I ask in an effort to win the prize for most obvious question ever. “I mean, I can see what you were up to.” Seriously, Sky? “But, uh, were you just in the water? What brings you out here?”

“I’m crashing nearby. At the garage where my band rehearses.”

“Really?” asks Mia. “Why?”

Grey looks from me to Mia and then back to me, weighing something. Maybe whether or not he can trust us. He’s got this hot, coiled energy all the time, like he’s always holding back. Like he’s an animal caged inside a human body.

“Just staying there for a few weeks.”

“Because of your mom?” I ask. It was obvious from their interaction on set that there’s some bad blood there, though compared to my mom, she seems kind and thoughtful, whip-smart and curious without being overbearing. Which makes sense, given her offspring.

Then I remember that Grey’s not really her offspring. He said “stepmother,” and the way he said it really answers my question.

Which is good, because he doesn’t actually answer it. Instead, he gathers up his stuff—surfboard, wetsuit—and gives us a grin. “I gotta head out,” he says, as though nothing’s hanging there between us. He looks away for a second, following the path of a guy in an Obama mask as he weaves his way up the boardwalk on a ribbon-festooned unicycle. “Told some friends I’d hook up with them tonight.”

“Wait,” says Mia. “So, you’re just sleeping in a garage? Like on an air-mattress or something?”

Grey shrugs. “A couch. It’s okay.”

“And taking freezing cold showers out on the beach? That doesn’t sound great, does it, Sky?”

“No, it doesn’t,” I say, but I’m afraid of where she’s going with this.

“Can’t you stay at a hotel or something?”

He shakes his head. “Money’s a little tight right now. I’m giving Adam almost every penny to pay him back for the house, and I don’t really have…” Again, he goes silent, and I can feel, literally, the tension of him wanting to talk, wanting to say more to someone. Needing it.

“Why don’t you come stay at our place?” Mia blurts. We have that in common. The blurting thing. “I mean, I’m just about all moved out, so there’s room.”

Ay, dios. No. No.

But I can’t say anything. I can’t tell my best friend, who knows I’m talking to Brooks, starting to maybe, sort of, think about where that could go, that having Grey in my apartment, so close all the time, is a very dangerous, very bad idea.

Grey shakes his head. “Nah, I appreciate it, but I’m cool here. I promise. Thanks, though.” He takes a few steps toward a squat gray building with weather-beaten shutters and a tiny, shed-like garage in the back. “I’ll see you guys tomorrow.”

“Hang on,” says Mia, pulling me along. She gives me a look, tipping her head in his direction, like she’s tapping me in for the debate. “You’re cool with it, right, Sky?”

“Of course.” Not. In no way. “But it seems like he’s got it under control here. So, if—”

My words disappear, though, because Grey’s pulled up the garage door, the muscles of his broad back and shoulders shifting smoothly as he thrusts the door up along its rusting track.

“See?” he says, pointing to a lumpy white couch sporting what looks like a half-century’s worth of mystery stains—a perfect complement to the funk of beer and weed and sweat potent enough to make my eyes water. “Perfectly fine, right?”

But, like me, he’s lousy at hiding his feelings. Even turned away to shove some empty beer cans into a garbage bag, his body language tells me everything.

He doesn’t want to be here in this musty space, crowded with furniture and audio equipment, the only natural light coming in from the tiny half-moon windows set into the garage door, which faces a dim alleyway.

“You should come stay with us,” I say, surprising the hell out of us both. “I mean, this is…”

“It’s fine,” Grey insists. “I don’t need much, and I’m hardly ever here.”

I think how different he is from Brooks, who says what he means, tells you—without hesitation—what he wants.

“Come on,” says Mia.

“Seriously,” he tells us. “It’s really nice of you to ask, but I’m fine. I can’t afford—”

“I paid up on the place through the end of the lease,” Mia says. “You can just chip in on food and utilities. I’m sure you can manage that, right? It’s only for a few weeks. And you’d be rooming with two awesome, super hot girls. How can you say no to that?”

He looks at me, and I can see he’s worried about the same things I am. Rooming together. Being too close, constantly one second away from making a really dumb choice. He’s young and too reckless for me. And a musician, on top of it all. He’s everything I don’t need sharing my space.

But something tugs at me, makes me put all of those concerns aside. I see it in his smoke-gray eyes, which are so alive, so deep and full of thoughts. Some pain or fear lives there. Something that makes it so hard for him to accept. To take a simple kindness. It’s not just about me but about trusting. Anything.

Seeing that, I can’t let him spend another night in this crappy place. Just…alone.

“You should come home with us,” I say. “It will be…a lot better than this, I promise.”

NOELLE AUGUST INTERVIEW

1          

T     This is the third and FINAL novel! Any insight you can provide our aspiring writers on how to approach a final novel in a trilogy?

Lorin: I think Veronica’s the perfect person to comment on this because she’s worked on both a trilogy with a complete arc spread over three novels AND a series with three companion novels.

From my perspective, though, I wanted to make sure readers had some sense of where the protagonists from the other stories (Mia, Ethan, Alison, and Adam) ended up, as well as to show some progression in the world of Boomerang, which focused first on the website and eventually on the expansion into movies.

Veronica: Approach the final novel in a trilogy with plenty of wine and a good sense of humor! Kidding aside, it’s been the most enjoyable book for me to write, twice now. Middle books, however…Not fun.

2.       How does Skyler and Grey’s relationship differ from any of those we have seen in the series thus far?

Lorin:  For me, one of the ways their relationship differs is that they’re both a bit more raw, a bit less self-assured than Mia, Ethan, Adam, and Alison (though of course, those characters have their vulnerabilities, as well).

Beyond that, they’re also separated more for psychological/emotional reasons than for logistical reasons (e.g., Ethan and Mia were forbidden to date due to company policy). They’re both passionate about the same thing—music—and both figuring out how to juggle life and love and family commitments. I feel like they’re both rougher in some ways than our other characters and also more tender, which makes putting them together really exciting!

Veronica: As the youngest hero we’ve had in the books, Grey brings a visceral quality. It’s just part of his nature. He’s unstudied. Rough, as Lorin says. He says what’s on his mind and feels what he feels, and everybody just needs to deal with it. I loved seeing how that worked with Skyler, who’s this dynamic, sweet, wise girl. I won’t say much more about how they interact, so as to not spoil the fun, but they had mad chemistry. So great together.

3.       What does the New Adult genre mean to you? Any favorite authors/books that you’ve been reading?

Lorin:  For me, it’s about capturing that really exciting, tumultuous, fraught, complex time when people are making their first real steps into adulthood, into the world of meaningful work, meaningful love and/or sex, adult dynamics with family, etc.  

Favorite authors in NA: Too many! Sophie Jordan, Megan Erickson, Colleen Hoover, Abbi Glines. I don’t know if she’s really characterized this way, but I’m going to add Rainbow Rowell to the NA pantheon as well. Always great.

Veronica: All of the above for me, too. And Jennifer Armentrout (J. Lynn) is a favorite, Cora Carmack…the list really does go on. I’m also a huge fan of Sarah Maas, and I think you can make an argument that A COURT OF THORNS AND ROSES is NA paranormal fantasy. Also fabulous.

4.       Music and film play a big part in this one. What are some of your favorite artists and movies you’d love to share?

Lorin: Music: Right now, I’m listening to X Ambassadors, Jamie XX, Arcade Fire, Grouplove, Blur, Ed Sheeran, Elle King… I’ll stop myself here!

Movies: Oh, the agony of picking! Shawshank Redemption; Defending Your Life; Broadcast News; Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind; and, like Beth and Titus in the book, pretty much anything by Richard Linklater or Wes Anderson. Plus Pixar. Inside Out made me cry approximately 2,153 times.

Veronica: I struggle with this question too, because so many of my favorites are going to sound outdated, BUT: GLADIATOR, the BOURNE IDENTITY trilogy, SHINE, THE PRINCESS BRIDE. See? Not a lot of recent films here. I’m more a fan of television series these days. Can’t get enough of OUTLANDER or VIKINGS. I also just binge-watched PARKS AND RECREATION this month. Love that series. And I live with three males so if the television is on, it’s usually on a baseball or football game, which is great with me. Confession: I love sports. And I love books. Gasp! Shocking, right?

5.       Choosing between personal career success and love is a major challenge people struggle with every day, millennials especially because of the pressure of success these days. What are some of the issues Skyler and Grey (and even some of the other Boomerang characters!) go through that can help some of the readers realize what’s truly important?

Lorin: What stands out for me is that all the characters are working out how to balance their careers with not only their romantic lives but where they fit into their families, how their families add to, or detract from, their professional and creative desires, and what it means for them to go their own ways, in work and in love. There’s a point in which almost all of them have to get clear of family expectations or legacies and decide who they are and what they love, independent of all that.

Veronica: I think the answer is right there in your question. Each of our characters are trying to figure out what’s important. They’re asking themselves: What matters to me most? How do I want to spend my time? How do I want to start—and shape—my life?

6.       In my opinion, BOUNCE reads more of a standalone than the first two in the series! Any intention, or was that the way the book flowed?

Lorin:  Just the way the book flowed, though I think we hope they all stand alone pretty well!

Veronica: Perhaps this one feels more standalone because the setting moved away from the BOOMERANG offices a bit more than in the last two novels. We’re mostly on a movie set in this one. And, yeah. It wasn’t planned; it just happened!

7.       Did the long distance writing get any easier as each book went on? The writing is so seamless, it boggles my mind there were two brains at the helm of the manuscript!

Lorin: Aw, thanks! And yes, book three was a really fun and seamless experience. As seems to always be the case, book two is always the bear, and I think we’d both say that was the case. But I feel lucky to work with someone as dedicated and brilliant as Veronica. DEFINITELY makes it easy AND inspiring!

Veronica: Thanks, Lorin! And likewise! I felt like we found our groove early with this one. It was a blast to write. And, yes. All Book Twos involve some agony. It’s one of Nature’s Laws.

8.       We are tearfully saying goodbye to the Boomerang clan. What will you miss most about these characters, and series?

Lorin: Honestly, I think I’m in denial about this actually BEING the last book. Veronica and I have talked about other characters’ stories, so they’re living on in our imaginations and, who knows, may end up with works of their own someday! I would LOVE to know what kind of dude could make an honest woman of Cookie! ;-)

Veronica: Ha-ha. Cookie does deserve her own book, doesn’t she? I know I’ll miss all the main characters, and so many of the secondary characters, too. I love that we write about genuinely good people—who make mistakes, sure—but who are generally trying to do the right thing. No knock against the darker heroes and heroines out there, of course, but these stories have been a welcome source of cheer for me. I believe this world can always use more laughter, heart, and positivity.

9.       Dare we ask – any favorites?

Lorin: Cookie! She just cracks me up, and she’s so loyal to Adam. Also love Paolo and the gang from the Boomerang offices, plus Grey, Grey, Grey. Sigh…

Veronica: Grey. Mia. Cookie. Rhett… Geez. Is it fair to say I think I love them all?

About the Authors: Question: What do you get when friends pen a story with heart, plenty of laughs, and toe-curling kissing scenes? Answer: Noelle August, the pseudonym for renowned editor and award-winning writer Lorin Oberweger and New York Times bestselling YA author Veronica Rossi, the masterminds behind the Boomerang series. 

Connect with them: Website-Twitter-Facebook 

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