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For a Limited Time Only: Buy Signed Books Here!

Hello friends!

It’s been a while, and I’d love to catch up (and will do so at the end of this post), but I’m going to get right to the point first: I’ve had lots of people ask me recently if they could buy signed books, but I was in the middle of selling my house, and then moving, and there just wasn’t a great time. But I’m happy to report I’m all moved in (haha, that sounds like a Rusk title) to a little duplex in north Austin with room for my office (and a guest bedroom so I can make Jay Crownover visit me).

So I can finally do what I’ve been promising to do “soon” :

OPEN ORDERS FOR SIGNED/PERSONALIZED BOOKS!
AND IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS!

Here are the details:

Orders will be fulfilled on a first come, first serve basis. Some titles I have in large supply, others I only have 20-30 copies. I can always order more books if something you want is unavailable, BUT… that process can be slow, so I definitely cannot guarantee holiday delivery on anything I don’t already have in my house (or my storage unit, LOL).

The Good News: I have a LARGE amount of ROAR hardbacks. The hardback edition of Roar went out of print in 2017, so these are getting harder to find. Luckily, I bought A LOT of them before the publisher got rid of them (do some googling if you want to know what happens to books that go out of print. It is a very, very sad topic for book lovers). So, if you want a ROAR hardback, this is your best bet. I do have some Roar paperbacks as well.

I have a decent amount of most of my romance titles from the Losing It and Rusk University series (though I have less available of Faking It).

I have a moderate amount of RAGE hardbacks, and also RAGE paperbacks.

I have nothing for REIGN, before anyone asks. Sorry friends.

Inspire— I have the fewest of this paranormal romance due to Sherlock’s decision to treat a stack of them like a fire hydrant. But I do have a few copies of both the original cover and the current cover.

The Novellas: I have a few copies of each of the Losing It Novellas as well: Keeping Her and Seeking Her. A small number, but I do have them.

There will also be a spot on the order for you to ask for anything aside from these main books – things like international editions, arcs, specific swag items, replacement dust jackets, etc. We’ll then email you to discuss whether we have what you’re interested in, and how to go about adding it to your order.

SO HOW DO I ORDER?

You can submit your order via this google form. We’ll need your name, mailing address, email address, and the books you’d like to purchase, along with any order notes (including personalizations). Please read the form carefully. You can email coracarmack@gmail.com with the subject: BOOK ORDER HELP if you have any questions. But again, keep in mind that orders will be on a first come, first serve basis.

THE WINDOW FOR BOOK ORDERS ENDS AT 11:59 PM (CST) ON NOVEMBER 30TH.
I know this is a short amount of time, but if I’m going to get everything signed and shipped in time for the holidays, it’s got to be quick. I promise I’ll do this again someday after I’ve released another book or two!

Now on to the big question I know everybody always has:
WHAT’S THE SHIPPING SITUATION?

(The shipping situation in my WIP is that I’m currently shipping one character with like 3 other characters, and I can’t choose. Nor do I even know if there will be room for this in the book, but yeah I’m doing it anyway).

The shipping situation for ordering books from this post is as follows:

For US Residents:
You will have a choice between
– A flat rate padded envelope, which holds approximately 2-4 books depending on size and costs $8.40
OR
-A medium-sized flat rate box, which is big enough to hold one of every book I’ve written with room to spare and costs $15.05. If you choose the medium box, but have extra room, I’ll try to fill it up with some extra swag or goodies. 🙂

Both of these options include fast delivery times of 1-3 business days and insurance. Please note: this does NOT include the time it will take for us to process your order, send you a Paypal invoice, collect payment, sign the book(s), and package them up to be mailed. You will be notified when your package has been put in the mail.

If you are interested in Media mail, you may email us separately and we can send you an invoice with the media mail price. This will be significantly cheaper, but cannot be guaranteed for delivery before the holidays. And I should warn you that some people find their media mail packages don’t arrive in the best shape. Insurance is also not included with Media Mail. BUT… I use it often. So if you don’t care when your book arrives, it’s a valid option.

For International Residents:
We WILL ship internationally, but prices vary by country and can be expensive. If you are an international reader, check “international shipping” on your order form and be certain we have your correct mailing address. We can then send you a quote for what your shipping would be. Or if you would like to estimate it yourself, you can use the Retail Postage Price Calculator on the US Postal Service website and get an estimate from my zip code (78758) to your zip code before ordering.

 

And that’s it! Get your orders in fast if there’s a book you really want, in case we run out. <3

 

And if you stuck around this long, it’s probably because you want to know what I’m doing with my life and my books. As I mentioned, I just moved into a new place. I’ll miss my old house by the lake, but this place is much closer into town, which is better with my health conditions. I don’t have to drive so much. It’s also a bit smaller and easier to take care of, but still with plenty of space for me and my office and the pets. Obviously, I’m deep in covid-misery with the rest of you. I’m considered fairly high risk, so I’ve been very cautious since pretty much January of this year.

As for writing, I’m still working on Reign. There’s a lot of story to wrap up in one final book, and I lost my editor to covid-layoffs, and life has been crazy. But I’m excited for this final installment in Aurora’s story. After Reign is done and put to bed, my plan is to return to my New Adult contemporary romances for a while. I’m feeling much better in terms of my health, but a lot has changed about me and my brain and my process in the last few years. High fantasy perhaps wasn’t the easiest battlefield to do all that learning and adjusting on. So, I’m looking forward to writing some contemporary projects where hopefully I’ll find it easier to develop a routine and perhaps gain at least a little bit of my old speed back. But all that being said, you guys know I still love fantasy and pararnormal everything. So I doubt it will be long before I’m diving back into those realms.

Thank you all for your love and care and encouragement through the last few years. Thank you for following me as I jumped genres and as my life turned upside down. Thank you all for being such wonderful readers and helping me to do what I love the most.

More soon! I feel like 2021 is going to be a good year!

So you want to join the RAGE Street Team….

Friends! It’s been so long!

It’s been a crazy last two years for me. Publishing ROAR was the fulfillment of a long-time dream for me. I’ve been a published romance author since 2012, but in many ways that was a happy accident. I had never actually written a contemporary romance until I wrote the one that blew up and gave me the beautiful career I have today (Thanks Bliss and Garrick, oh and Angry cat Hamlet)! Prior to that, all my unpublished writing had been fantasy or paranormal or supernatural in some way. That was my first writing dream– to write  complex worlds and plots of magic and intrigue with unexpected twists and reveals (and kissing, ALWAYS KISSING). Writing and publishing ROAR was such an exhilarating and exciting journey, but if you’ve kept up with me online, you might know that around the same time that dream came true, other parts of my life started to fall apart. I had been having a variety of unexplained health issues for years, but around the time I was working on edits for ROAR, I saw a dramatic increase in the intensity of those problems. It was not until a few months after the release of the book that I found the root of those issues when I was diagnosed epilepsy in October 2017. What followed was a hectic, scary, and grueling year + of experimenting with medications (most of which did not work or made things worse), and during that time my mind was so fragmented from seizures and fogged by medication, that not only could I not write, I could barely even understand the world I had created and the words that I had already written.

I felt like I had lost myself. And I was not sure I would ever find the old me again.

After a brief hospitalization, lots of doctor’s visits, a full pharmacy of meds, ongoing therapy, and a tremendous amount of support from my family, friends, and my publishing team, I’m clawing my way back, not to the old me, but to someone stronger, who has walked through that storm and made it out the other side.

RAGE was a product of that process. It’s a book about a fighter, dealing with a changed world in the best ways she knows how. It’s about surviving and learning to thrive in a life that looks different than what you had imagined for yourself. It’s about hope and love and companionship blooming in even the darkest of situations.

I am excited (and nervous) to share this book with the world. But before it is released wide on August 27th, there will be opportunities for some readers (especially booksellers, librarians, bloggers, bookstagrammers, booktubers, etc) to read the book early as an Advanced Reader Copy (aka ARC). The e-arc is available to request now on Netgalley, in fact.

But if you loved ROAR…

Like… loved it so much that you’re dying a little inside waiting for RAGE…

I have an opportunity you might be interested in!

JOIN THE RAGE STREET TEAM!

 

MORE ABOUT THE BOOK:

All Aurora Pavan ever wanted was a choice, to control her own life. Now she’s got more choices than she can handle.

Princess or adventurer.
Duty or freedom.
Her Kingdom or the Stormhunter she loves.

If she knows anything, it’s that choices have consequences— like the storm now tangled with her heart, the alarming disappearance of her mother and friend, and the fall of her kingdom to the Locke family. To set things right, she joins a growing revolution on the streets of Pavan. She puts her knowledge of the palace to use to aid the rebellion, but the Lockes aren’t the only sinister thing plaguing Pavan. The Rage season is at it’s peak and not a day passes without the skies raining down destruction. But these storms seem… different than any she’s ever encountered. They churn with a darkness that frightens her, and attack with a will like she’s never seen.

This feels like more than Rage.
It feels like war.

Pre-order Rage through your local bookstore or at these online retailers:

WHAT IS A STREET TEAM?

For me? A street team is like my book’s family. A street team helps promote a book both before and after release. Often, this is done is small ways like:

  • Adding  or recommending the book on Goodreads
  • Requesting your local library order the book
  • Sharing your love and excitement on social media and with friends and family
  • Pre-ordering the book if you are able from your local bookstore or from any online retailer of your choice

Most of these things can be done by anyone, of course. And trust me, any author will GREATLY appreciate your doing them. But by organizing a street team, readers can often join together with the author and publisher and do even more to help a book. They can participate in marketing plans like excerpt reveals, interviews, Instagram challenges, Twitter chats, and more. They can get creative and be inspired by the book. My past street teams have even organized cool marketing ideas of their own (because they’re fabulous). We hope that the team will be a place that book lovers can use their creativity and skills and excitement to support RAGE and also have a lot of fun!

WHAT DO YOU GET IN RETURN?

As a former book blogger, I know that your time is valuable, and you have a great many choices on how to spend your free hours. Being on a street team IS a time commitment. But I hope several things will make that commitment worth it. First, I try as hard as I can to make my street teams a community. I started my first street team back in early 2014, and I am still in close contact with many members, and I am blessed to count many of them as good friends. We’ll spend a lot of time talking about RAGE, but we’ll also talk about other books we love. We’ll talk about life, and we’ll lean on each other, and I hope you will make many new friends. As a member of the team, you’ll get exclusive sneak peeks at RAGE (and even book three as I work). You’ll also learn behind the scenes info and fun facts that no one else knows, read deleted scenes, have access to private team giveaways and chats with me, and you’ll get first dibs on ARCS*.

*Depending on the size of the team, it may not be possible to guarantee every member a print or e-ARC, but being a Street Team Member definitely gives you the best chance at reading the book early. We will also do our best to organize the team so that those who participate and put in their time are rewarded.

HOW DO I APPLY?

This is the simple part. In previous years, if you applied to my team, you might remember it as a bit of a bloodbath. We typically had hundreds of applications and had to cut it down significantly. The largest team we ever had was 50 people, and even that was BRUTAL to narrow down. The good news is… we are choosing a SIGNIFICANTLY larger team this year. This means we’ll have to adjust some things, and we will be changing up some aspects of our format. For example, we’ll be using a newsletter as our primary form of communication this year, as opposed to the private Facebook group we used in years past (don’t worry, we’ll keep the FB group as a hangout). To that end, this year’s application is a little less intense. But we still want to get to know you, so we have some questions we would like you to answer. You just need to fill out the form below.

APPLICATIONS ARE DUE BY MAY 5TH.

Seriously. May 5th. That’s the end date. So tell everyone you know who might be interested.  

APPLY NOW. *

*Applications do not guarantee acceptance onto the team. But as I mentioned, we’re trying to open up and involve more people this year, so the odds are definitely MUCH MORE in your favor. 🙂 And as always, I try to choose my teams with an eye to harmony and passion and a balance of skillsets and interests. I’m not looking at your follower count as the bottom line.

If you are interested in knowing more about the Street Team, I will be chatting Live on Instagram this Sunday at 6pm CDT (7pm EDT) with a longtime member of my street team and my good friend, Megan from Novel Grounds. We’ll talk about past street teams, what will be different this time, and because Megan is one of the lucky few who has already read RAGE, you can bet we’ll be talking about that! So make sure you are following me on Instagram (@CoraCarmack) and come hang out on Sunday! I made sure it did not interfere with Game of Thrones. Haha.

And now for the FIRST EVER RAGE ARC GIVEAWAY!!!!

This giveaway is open internationally, and also closes on MAY 5TH, just like the street team applications. There are multiple ways to enter, and you can enter once a day for several of them. Also, have a picture of the pretties.

So I hope you get lucky! Click here to enter.* 

*Puppy Sherlock not included in giveaway.

 

Thanks for reading! And I cannot wait for you all to dive back into the Stormheart Universe with me!

With all my Awkward <3,

Cora

 

P.S. For those awaiting news on other books, I’m sorry I don’t have any specifics on that front. As I mentioned at the beginning, I got very far behind on both book things and life during my health struggles over the last few years. I am improving, but during all that time, my to-do list kept piling up. I’m chipping away and hopeful I’ll have news later this year, but this is definitely a race that will need to be slow and steady in order to maintain the progress I’ve made. As always, I appreciate your patience.

The One Celebrating My 5 Year #Coraversary!

In October 2012, I took a risk.

In October 2012, I self-published a book that was unlike anything I’d ever written before.

What followed was a whirlwhind of change that happened very, very fast. My life quite literally changed overnight. My first book published in the middle of the month. I signed with my agent a week later. We sold to a publisher shortly thereafter. October 2012 was the beginning of a really incredible journey.

And now, in October 2017, I’m celebrating FIVE YEARS of being a published author.

Five years! That’s crazy! And incredible. And humbling. It’s been a wild ride, but so fulfilling, and it wouldn’t be possible without each and every one of you. You guys are the reason I’m able to do what I love, and I am so eternally grateful. I truly believe I have some of the most compassionate, thoughtful, and hilarious readers. At signings, I meet so many genuinely amazing and interesting people. It’s why I get in trouble for talking too much. You’re all just too freaking cool. I can never adequately express how thankful I am for every step of we’ve taken on this journey together. One thing is always true of life and art– change is the only constant. And it is with that in mind that I move into the next part of this adventure. Things in my life are changing. Publishing is ever changing. And as always, my interest lies in stories about change. Characters becoming who they are meant to be. Girls making waves. Boys being (emotionally) brave. Things might be a little slower around here these days, but my heart is bigger than ever. Stick around. I might need your help with a tempest or two.  😉
AN NOW FOR A GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Five years.
Ten books.
FOR YOU!

Enter the rafflecopter below for a chance to win a SIGNED FULL SET of my books – Losing It, Faking It, Finding It, Keeping Her, Seeking Her, All Lined Up, All Broke Down, All Played Out, Inspire, and Roar!
(You can also enter on Goodreads for a chance to win a signed copy of All Broke Down AND a signed copy of Roar!)

 

 

Another Unfortunate Announcement

Hello friends!

2017 has been a doozy of a year so far. I’ve experienced some amazing things— like the release of my first YA book— something I’ve been dreaming about for more than a decade. I got to travel around Europe with my person, Jay Crownover. I’ve met amazing, supportive readers at signings all over. But despite all those good things, it’s been a year of struggle. A year of both physical and mental health issues. A year when my anxiety became something I could no longer manage alone. A year when my depression reached depths that I’ve never had to face. Some days I feel normal. Some days I feel like the old me— passionate and eager and ready to take on the world. Other days it takes everything in me to get out of bed. The thing that has suffered the worst in this struggle is my writing. Writing has always been the thing that came naturally to me, the way I made sense of the world. Now I spend my days battling a voice inside me that says I’m no longer capable of finishing a book. You’d think that would be an easy fear to brush under the rug for someone who has already written ten books. But it’s not. For the first time in my life, I’m second guessing my ability to write, second-guessing every word I put on the page. It’s something I’m dealing with. I’m managing it in the best way I can, trying to challenge myself, but also be compassionate toward myself when I need it. Unfortunately, there’s no quick fix for a situation like this. And while I’ve had to slow down, the world has kept moving at its usual rapid pace. Deadlines keep coming, responsibilities must still be addressed, and hard choices have to be made.

I know that you guys have waited an incredibly long time for All Closed Off. And there is literally nothing I want more than to get that book in your hands. You cannot imagine how much I have beaten myself up over the long wait for this book. If I could give it to you right now, I would. But it’s not ready (because I’m not ready). So, unfortunately, it will not be releasing July 18th. I don’t know when it will be releasing because as I said, the world keeps moving. And while All Closed Off will be self-published, which allows me a certain degree of flexibility, other parts of my career are not so flexible. And as I struggle to get back into a healthy routine, I must prioritize the work for which I am contracted.

So here’s what I can promise you: I’m hard at work on the sequel to Roar. Stella and Ryan are constantly in my thoughts, and I work on them every chance I get. As soon as All Closed Off is ready, I’ll put it out into the world. I will do everything I can to make you wait as little as possible. And for every person who has waited this long, who has emailed and tweeted and messaged and yearned for Stella’s story—I appreciate you more than I can possibly put into words. There has been many an anxiety-filled moment when your little check ins and messages have kept me from giving in to frustration and despair. So all I can really do at this point is say thank you. And I’m sorry. And I hope someday I can make this up to you.

An Unfortunate Announcement

Since the moment I first conceived of Stella’s story, I knew it was going to be important. Certainly one of the most important things I’ll ever write. I knew there were going to be some moments that were harder to write than others. I knew it was going to push me physically, emotionally, and mentally in ways I hadn’t been pushed before (and it most assuredly has). But I also knew it was a story that I had to tell. That I HAVE to tell. And I am so eager to share that story with you. But I have to beg your forgiveness, because as our set release day approaches, deep in my gut, I know… Stella’s story isn’t ready yet.

To be honest with you, I could rush and put out Stella’s story on May 1st as originally planned. In fact, I had every intention of doing just that until yesterday. But it would kill me to have any regrets about Stella’s book. And I fear I would have regrets if we followed through with publication. I’d have that feeling (as I do now) that something isn’t right yet. And you all deserve better than that. You’ve waited this long, and I want to make sure the story you get is my best work. And frankly, Stella’s story deserves better than that. Because Stella’s story is the story of 1 in 6 women. That’s 1 in 6 of us, ladies. Stella’s story could be your sister’s, or your best friend’s, or your mom’s, or your teacher’s, or…yours. And because of that, the importance of getting Stella’s story correct is bigger than a release date.

So it is with regret that I tell you that ALL CLOSED OFF’s release date is being pushed to July 18th. I know this will sadden or frustrate some of you who have been patiently waiting for this book. And I know it’s farther away than you expected, but it’s the best my schedule would allow in the coming months. This was an incredibly difficult decision to make. In all honesty, I’ve been physically ill over it. I hate that I’m having to do this. But I must treat myself with at least as much compassion as I would treat others, as I hope I’ve treated Stella. I want you to have this book in your hands as soon as possible. I want that more than you all could possibly know. But more than that, I want you to have the right book in your hands. The one that does justice to the bold, beautiful, brave person that is Stella Santos.  I hope you can understand and will grant me just a little more patience. Thank you for sticking with me this long. There is no word big enough to encompass my gratitude.

Love,

Cora

The One with the ROAR Street Team and a Giveaway!

If you’ve been wondering what my Street Team selection process looks like, here’s a brief overview:

1. When I open my computer and see all the amazing applications:

 

2. When I settle in to read those amazing applications and realize just how many there are:

3. When I realize I have to start making cuts

4. When I can’t make any more decisions because EVERY. SINGLE. APPLICATION. is amazing and it’s time to call in reinforcements

 

5. When my publicity team swoops in and helps make the final choices for me

Before anything else, I have to say THANK YOU to every single person who applied. I cannot even begin to describe how encouraging and exciting and absolutely humbling it is every time I do this. As I read through the applications, I felt your joy and your excitement for this book. That alone means everything to me. I’ve literally been happy crying all week. But more than that, so many of you have been with me through every book, and your willingness to jump into this new terrain with me is just so amazing. Many of you were names I recognize from social media or book signings or from stalking your bookstagrams. The first day I started going through the applications, I actually had two different maybe categories, because the idea of saying no to anyone was so painful, I was trying to avoid it as long as possible. But in the end, we had to cut well over 50% of the applications. Please know that if you didn’t make the list, it’s not because you’re not awesome or because your application was lacking in anyway. In the end, there were literally dozens of maybes that I would have quite gladly bumped up to the team if we’d had the space. But as I mentioned in my post on application day, we came to our decisions in array of different ways. We were looking for people with a variety of interests and skills and backgrounds. Some team members have big followings, some are just getting started and are hungry to dive in. Some live on the internet, and some talk books in the real world as librarians or teachers. Some people are artistic and others are super organized. We turned away a lot of really talented people not because we didn’t want them, but because we felt like we already had some avenues and skills well covered. So your presence or absence on our final list is in a no way a reflection of you and your worth to the book community. As a former book blogger (and former teacher), I know very well just how much work you all put in. I know the passion and heart you pour into this community, and I know it sometimes comes with very little acknowledgement or thanks. But if there’s one thing I’m certain of after visiting all your pages and sites, it’s that you all do incredible work, and readers and authors both are lucky to have you!

So all that being said, please know how grateful I am for your interest. All of your applications were such a balm to my soul, and I do hope you will keep in touch.

 

Now, without any further ado, I am absolutely thrilled to announce (in alphabetical order) the members of the Roar Street Team!

Ali Kiki
Alyssa Susanna
Ana Rodriguez
Ashlei Davison
Ashley St-Pierre
Ashley Williams
Austine Decker
Beth Edwards
Brie Wood
Caitlin Christensen
Carmina “Mina” Divinagracia
Casey Marie Sennett
Emilie Couture
Emily Miller
Fallon Vaughn
Genesis Reyes
Heather Pigg
Jamie Arkin
Jamie Schmitt
Jessica Ramirez
Kailey (@living.through.books)
Katie Anderson
Katie Stutz
Kayla Ritenour
Kelly Nagy
Kierstan Seimer
Krista Davis
Kristen Chandler
Liz Hollendonner
Lori Wilt
Mary Hinson
Megan Gallt
Michelle Adams
Mikee Andrea Quiambao
Milana Madzarac
Morgan Bermann
Nathalie Pierre
Nicole Thompson
Pavan Hansra
Rachel Micallef
Rachel Spencer
Renery Gatpayat
Riley Marie
Sara Santana
Sarah Fletcher
Stephanie Gibson
Stephanie Plotkin
Summer Webb
Sydney Laws
Talina Roma

 

YAYYYYYY!!! CONGRATULATIONS to everyone selected! I can’t wait to spend the next several months with y’all! And I especially can’t wait to usher ROAR into the world with you guys beside me.

If you were selected for the Roar Street Team, you’ll be getting an email from me early next week with more information. We’ll also be sending eARCs out via NetGalley (with print ARCS to follow once we’ve got all the fun swag ready to go too). If you have a dedicated NetGalley email address that is different than the address provided in your application, please send that information to my amazing publicist Diana at diana.griffin@tor.com.

Now….for everyone else: How about a giveaway???

I just happen to have some extra Roar ARCs lying around, so here’s what we’re going to do! I’m going to choose one winner from the remaining street team applications to win a signed ARC. You don’t need to enter, you already did that by filling out the application. Just keep an eye on your email today to see if you win.

And I’m giving away a second ARC on the rafflecopter below that is eligible for ANYONE to win! Both giveaways are open internationally.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And finally, make sure you pre-order your copy of Roar on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or iBooks – I can’t wait to share it with you!

Love and hugs,
Cora

The One Where You Can Apply for the ROAR Street Team!

So you might have heard about a book that I’ve been working on…a book that I’ve been wanting to write for almost a decade…a book that I am so excited (and so nervous) to share with you!
I spent years and years in the YA community as a reader and a blogger. The first book I ever finished was YA fantasy. The next few books I started were all YA too. In fact, the first time I ever wrote anything that didn’t involve fantasy elements, it was a little book now called Losing It that totally flipped my world upside down. I’ve had a wonderful few years writing quirky  New Adult romance (and I’m still going to be doing plenty of that, no worries), but the itch to write fantasy again has been plaguing me for years now. And on June 13th, my dream of writing a YA high fantasy will come true with the release of ROAR, the first book in the Stealing Storms series. For my romance readers unsure about YA and fantasy– give it a shot. There’s a hot (and possibly evil) prince, a bad ass storm hunter who looks great in leather, a princess in disguise, and a really fun and ferocious cast of characters. Plus lots of angsty sexual tension and kissing and swoony stuff. You know I wouldn’t leave that out. 🙂
Here’s a little more about the book:
roar-by-cora-carmack

In a land ruled and shaped by violent magical storms, power lies with those who control them.

Aurora Pavan comes from one of the oldest Stormling families in existence. Long ago, the ungifted pledged fealty and service to her family in exchange for safe haven, and a kingdom was carved out from the wildlands and sustained by magic capable of repelling the world’s deadliest foes. As the sole heir of Pavan, Aurora’s been groomed to be the perfect queen. She’s intelligent and brave and honorable. But she’s yet to show any trace of the magic she’ll need to protect her people.

To keep her secret and save her crown, Aurora’s mother arranges for her to marry a dark and brooding Stormling prince from another kingdom. At first, the prince seems like the perfect solution to all her problems. He’ll guarantee her spot as the next queen and be the champion her people need to remain safe. But the more secrets Aurora uncovers about him, the more a future with him frightens her. When she dons a disguise and sneaks out of the palace one night to spy on him, she stumbles upon a black market dealing in the very thing she lacks—storm magic. And the people selling it? They’re not Stormlings. They’re storm hunters.

Legend says that her ancestors first gained their magic by facing a storm and stealing part of its essence. And when a handsome young storm hunter reveals he was born without magic, but possesses it now, Aurora realizes there’s a third option for her future besides ruin or marriage. 

She might not have magic now, but she can steal it if she’s brave enough. 

Challenge a tempest. Survive it. And you become its master.

This book would not have happened without the support of so many people – my editor, my agent, my publicist, my assistant – but most importantly, this book would not have happened without YOU. You guys are the driving force, the source of encouragement when things get tough, and a fount of such contagious energy and excitement. For the past five years, y’all have been helping me follow my dream, and I hope you’ll want to live out another dream with me as I venture into new territory. If you do…

CALLING ALL READERS, BLOGGERS, AND JUST GENERALLY AWESOME PEOPLE!
I want YOU on the Roar Street Team! Yes, you!
Okay, but what’s a street team? I’m so glad you asked!
A street team is the ultimate set of super readers. I’m looking for people who love my books and my characters, and are excited and eager for my next fictional journey! A street team helps spread the word about an author’s books– online, in person, and IN SPACE (when possible). The Rusk University Street Team (aka “The Carmcats”) was absolutely invaluable to me during the lead up and release weeks of All Lined Up, All Broke Down, and All Played Out. Like, if the most valuable player gets the MVP award, my street team would get the MVT award. (Can we make that a thing?)
The former teams have done everything from making graphics, hosting giveaways, brainstorming marketing ideas, and spreading the word about my books like a plague (a plague of AWESOMENESS). They went above and beyond to host release day Facebook parties, and basically kept me from losing my mind during a (very exciting, but still very) stressful time. And…they’re just awesome people. Funny, kind, intelligent, generous people that I am so blessed to have in my life. Seriously… I cannot sing their praises enough. And as I venture into YA for the first time, I’m going to need people like that even more than before. If you’re especially stoked about the idea of me writing fantasy romance, that’s even better!
It’s a big time commitment to be part of this street team (not just because you’ll be helping me, but also because our exclusive street team Facebook group is an incredibly fun place to hang out and ignore the rest of the world). Within the street team, you’ll be divided up in small groups where you’ll work together to earn cool prizes and extras. So if you’re applying, please be certain you have the time to devote to the team and your group. 

Here’s what’s in it for you:

  • Every member of the ROAR Street Team will receive a print ARC. You’ll be able to hold Roar in your own hands way before anyone else!
  • Exclusive giveaways ONLY for street team members. Swag, signed copies, and other special stuff. Your odds of winning are MUCH better than when competing with the masses.
  • Exclusive content and news. When a new book is releasing or I’m writing a new project, you guys will be the first to hear about it! You’ll also be the first people I torture tease with excerpts!
  • Swag for you! Swag for your friends! Swag for strangers you bombard on the street!
  • Every active street team member’s name will appear in the acknowledgments of a future book. Show all your friends how important and beloved you are! Plus, I sometimes steal names when I’m creating characters. In fact, I got Roar’s last name, Pavan, from a street team member! :)
  • Membership in the exclusive street team Facebook group! Here you can chat with other team members, brainstorm promotional ideas, and hang out with me! I’ll pop in for exclusive street team chats and hang outs…okay, and probably spend some time procrastinating, too.  Not to mention I might pick your brain about books and characters you’d like to see. Or vent to you about my love life. All possibilities. ;)
As a street team member, there’s lots of things you can do to help my books succeed. You don’t have to do them all…at least not at the same time. And this is far from an all-inclusive list, but rather some suggestions to give you an idea of how we might need you to promote Roar.

In person you can…

  • Talk the books up and share promo material with friends, family, co-workers, and book clubs. You can even drop off promo materials at bookstores, libraries, coffee shops, etc. 
  • Buy Roar the first week of release, which helps it get more visibility, thereby selling more books
  • Ask your local library to order Roar or any of my other books. Give the librarians the title, name and publisher of each book. In the same vein, ask your local bookstore to stock my books if they don’t already. 

Online you can…

  • Share your (honest) review/rating of the book via Amazon, iBooks, BN.com, and Goodreads. I can’t even begin to express how big a deal this is in terms of discoverability for new books. 
  • Share interviews, reviews, cover reveals, and other promotional events across your social media and online platforms (Blogs, Tumblr, Instagram, Twitter, etc)
  • Spread the word about my books to your online friends and followers. 
  • “Like” my books and me on Amazon.com & BN.com
  • Like, Retweet, and Share whenever/whatever you can!
  • Recommend Roar on Goodreads and elsewhere. As readers, you wield so much influence. And every little bit helps! 
  • Participate in online Publicity and Marketing campaigns (Blog tours, FB parties, cover reveals, etc).

You must fill out the application below by Friday, February 10th at 11:59pm (CST) to be considered. By requiring people to apply rather than just join a Facebook group, we get to know people better. We’ve been able to foster a sense of family within the group. We talk about much more than my books. We talk about other books we love. We talk about our lives– the good and the bad. We talk about the delirious and weird things that come up when we’re all staying up way too late. This time around we’ll be picking a bigger team than usual because we really want to go all out with Roar. I know that some of you have applied for my Rusk teams, maybe multiple times, and not made the cut. Believe me when I say that choosing these street teams are the HARDEST thing I have to do as an author. I always reach a point where I can’t narrow it down anymore because I love everyone, and I have to bring in other people from my publicity team to help make the final few decisions. And those decisions are often very strategic – we try to diversify the team as much as possible and make sure we’re choosing people with a variety of strengths and assets and interests. What that means is you don’t necessarily have to have the biggest blog or the most popular Instagram. We’re concerned with your enthusiasm and willingness to participate, not just your follower count. Your statistics are not the end all and be all here. So please don’t let the stress of filling out an application get to you. Just be yourself and tell us what you love.

That being said, depending on the number of applications, there may be some that don’t make the team. But please know that I appreciate each and every one of you, and am so grateful to everyone who cares enough to fill out the application and put themselves out there. You are incredible.
So how do you apply?Fill out the form below (or click HERE) by Friday, February 10th at 11:59pm (CST). Just tell us anything you think might be relevant. We don’t mind if you ramble. 😉

As a thank you for reading all this and considering applying, here’s a quick teaser featuring that aforementioned badass storm hunter….Locke sighed. It was well past time to start training her for real. Clearly, she would not be scared off by a little hard work as he had hoped.He stowed the maps back in the Rock, and then set off toward Roar’s shoddily constructed tent. The thing stood haphazardly, leaning with the wind, but true to her stubbornness, she had refused to let anyone help her set it up.

He lifted the tent flap carefully, and called into the dark space, “Rise and shine, princess.”

Locke heard the shuffling of blankets, and a grumbled, “I will murder you.”

He fought a smile and crooned, “Come on, princess. Don’t make me drag you out of there. I guarantee I’ll enjoy it entirely too much.”

He narrowly dodged a waterskin she tossed through the open flap of her tent, but he heard her moving around. She was always a little grumpy in the mornings, and it entertained him to no end.

“You know storms wait for no one. They come when you’re sleeping or sore or tired, and those not strong enough to outrun them are those that don’t survive.”

“I’m coming. Calm your skies, hunter.”

He dropped the tent flap and walked several paces away to wait. When she climbed out of the tent, he lost his train of thought completely. Her hair was mussed and wild, and her mouth open in a yawn. She wore a large linen tunic that swallowed her slim form, hanging down to mid-thigh. Beneath it her legs were bare, the light of the moon cast- ing them in a soft glow. The sight burned into his brain, never to be forgotten.

*smooshes you all*
<3 Cora

The One with the LOSING IT Announcement + Giveaway! (Plus a life update)

Have you ever wished that Losing It could be made into a movie or a TV show? If so, you aren’t alone – I get questions all the time asking if we’ll ever see Bliss and Garrick on the screen. And now I can finally say….MAYBE!!

 

We’ve optioned the Losing It series to Canvas Media Studios for development as a digital series (You can read the exclusive announcement in Variety)! I love the idea of a digital series, since I watch all of my TV online anyway, and binge-watching is pretty much my favorite hobby. Of course, these are still early days, and there are no guarantees, but it’s an AWESOME first step! I hope you’re as excited as I am by the prospect of seeing our favorite awkward heroine and British professor brought to life. Just for reference… my level of excitement is currently here:

I don’t have a ton of information to share so far, but I CAN tell you a little bit more about Canvas Media Studios. It’s an innovative digital studio launched by two-time Emmy Award winning creator Bernie Su and David Tochterman focused on developing scripted multi-platform entertainment franchises and headquartered in LA.  Here are the bios for the founders:

Bernie Su is a creator, writer, director and producer known for interactive and transmedia storytelling. Past projects include the Emmy winning LIZZIE BENNET DIARIES and EMMA APPROVED, and FRANKENSTEIN MD for PBS.  He was named VideoInk’s Creator of the Year in 2014.

(If you’ve never seen LIZZIE BENNET DIARIES… It’s on Youtube, and it’s a retelling of Pride & Prejudice. It’s amazing. GO FORTH AND WATCH. I think you’ll learn pretty quickly why Bernie is SUCH a good fit for Losing It and our awkward girl Bliss. He even read and loved the entire series! Wouldn’t it be amazing to have the entire series done?!)

David Tochterman is a veteran executive and producer with a record of developing award-winning digital and television properties.  He has most recently been a digital strategy consultant for PBS, ABC and Starz.  He launched the digital media division of Innovative Artists, led the television division of Will Smith’s Overbrook Entertainment and was a SVP of the television powerhouse Carsey Werner Company.

As I said, these are still early days. And I’m sure you guys all know that many, many books get optioned for film and TV that never actually make it to the screen. So if you (like me) would love to see the Losing It series come to life on your screens, the best thing you can do is be excited (LOUDLY). Tell your friends. Share this news. If there’s anyone you know who hasn’t met the swoon-worthy hotness that is Garrick Taylor, now is the perfect time to introduce them. The more buzz that is generated about this project, the better chance we have of it becoming a reality! So if you wanted to consider sharing this article with your family and friends and strangers in the street, I’d really appreciate it. 😀

This seems like as good a time as any to go ahead and point out that typically authors have very little control over things like casting. So while you guys can fancast to your heart’s content, please know that A. That is a long ways away. And B. Completely outside my control. And C. I love you.

 


 

And a quick life update:

You might have seen this post in January about some health issues I was having that have put some severe delays on my publishing and writing schedule. I am afraid that I still don’t have any news for you about release dates. Nor do I have any concrete news about a diagnosis. I was pretty vague then because I had hoped that I would have answers soon and would be able to come back and give a more comprehensive answer about what is going on in my life. Clearly that is not the case, so here is what I can tell you. Primarily, the issues I’ve been experiencing are vision related, which is why they’ve affected my writing schedule so drastically. I have unexplained central vision loss and distortion in my left eye, along with double vision in both eyes, and stubborn, long-lasting headaches. The good news is after a battery of tests on my eyes, they’ve not found any sign of degenerative eye diseases. So the next step was to look to my brain. I had an MRI and MRA, both of which came back clear– also good news. So the final hypothesis from my doctor was that I had increased intracranial pressure that was putting pressure on my optic nerves causing the vision issues and headaches. To confirm that hypothesis, I had a lumbar puncture (aka spinal tap), which unfortunately (or fortunately… I don’t really know any more) came back showing a normal pressure, complicating that theory. So, I’m still in limbo. I wish that I could offer a more concrete answer with regards to release dates. At the moment, I’m just taking things a day at a time. But at least we all have the possibility of a real life Garrick (sort of) to cheer us up, right? 🙂

 

Speaking of Garrick cheering us up…how about a little giveaway?? One lucky winner will receive a SIGNED copy of Losing It, and three runners up will get swag packs! Enter for your chance to win here:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

All of the awkward <3,

Cora

The One with ANOTHER Rediscovered Bliss and Garrick Scene!

My lovely readers!

I get asked again and again to write more for Garrick and Bliss, and while that’s not currently in my plans…

TODAY YOU’RE IN LUCK. While in the process of cleaning out my email inbox (which is a terrifying place), I came across this bonus scene that I’d COMPLETELY forgotten I had written! It was originally sent out as a bonus incentive for people who pre-orderd All Lined Up, so you might have read it a couple of years ago – but I wanted to share it with everyone. 🙂

This takes place some time after the events of Keeping Her, and is unedited – so my apologies for any mistakes. 🙂 Enjoy!


 

Of Mishaps and Moms
A Garrick/Bliss Bonus scene

Bliss

I dropped the fake smile from my face and escaped into the oversized dressing room with Kelsey.

“I swear to God,” I whispered. “I’d rather spend the day with Prince Joffrey than deal with one more hour of my mother and Garrick’s mother in the same room.”

Kelsey laughed. “Dude. Those women could make that crazy bastard curl into the fetal position and weep.”

“Right?!”

I sank onto a frilly little settee in a bridal shop that was painfully overpriced and opulent. Neither set of parents seemed to understand that Garrick and I didn’t need to be in more debt than we already were. My mom refused to accept that the both of us would continue on in theatre. It baffled her that we would spend our lives on careers that had very little chance of advancement or a decent paycheck.

“You okay?” Kelsey asked. “You look like you’re two seconds away from meltdown.”

I scrubbed my hands over my face and sighed. “If I were a superstitious person, I would say that the world really doesn’t want me and Garrick to get married.”

Kelsey rolled her eyes and eased herself onto the love-seat across from me. Only three months pregnant, and she was already walking like someone had shoved a bowling ball up… well, somewhere bowling balls should not be shoved.

If you had asked me a year ago, I would have told you I couldn’t ever picture Kelsey being pregnant. Now I know that was because I never pictured her pregnant and scowling.

“Bullshit.” She shifted, grimacing as she tried to get comfortable. “You’ve had the longest effing engagement in the history of the world. So, you’ve definitely thought this all the way through. That guy would move freaking mountains for you. You’re so perfect together that I could vomit. Or maybe that’s the morning sickness. Hard to tell.”

I threw my hands up. “There’s a typo on our invitations! You can’t tell me that’s not the worst wedding fail possible.”

She shrugged. “One measly letter.”

“It says we’re engaged to be marred!”

“Yeah. Okay. So that’s kind of bad. But now you’re trying on your dress, and it’s going to be awesome, and everything else won’t matter.”

“But—“

“Don’t make me boob punch you. I have very little patience these days. We’ll do those shabby chic handmade invites you found on Pinterest. Garrick and I will run mom-interference. Everything will work out.”

“When did you get to be so positive?”

She thought for a moment. “Is it cheesy if I say I found myself?”

I raised my eyebrows and said, “Yes, it is.”

“Fine. Then I got my shit together. And Jackson helps. But don’t you dare tell him that, his head is big enough already.”

I laughed. “That sounds more like you.”

She gestured for me to stand up. “You just shut up and concentrate on looking gorgeous.”

“Let me just add gorgeous to my to-do list right quick.”

“Boob punch. It’s coming if you’re not careful.”

“Fine.”

I stood, and she slowly did the same.

“Is it really that bad?” I asked, eyeing her slightly rounded stomach.

“There’s something growing inside me that has more control over my stomach and bladder than I do. What do you think?”

“You’re happy though, right? You and Jackson? I know it wasn’t planned but you’re…”

“We’re happy.” One side of her mouth lifted in a reluctant smile. “Scared shitless. But very happy.”

And that was all the reprieve we got as the door opened, and the seamstress bustled in with both mothers hot on her heels.

Kelsey went off to run interference as promised, and I focused on the seamstress as she retrieved my dress. It was the one thing about all this planning mess that had gone unequivocally right. It was this gorgeous mix of vintage and modern. The bodice was a slim-fit with boning like a corset. It wasn’t just for support though. They’d stitched it so you could see the vertical lines, and they flowed with the body.  The bottom of the dress was made up of gorgeous pieces of chiffon of varying lengths, and they softened the effect of the very structured top.

In all, it felt like the perfect choice for me.

The seamstress was a petite Asian woman, and by her expression, she had about as much patience for the moms as I did.

“You ready?” She asked, stepping away from where my mother was clucking about how she still couldn’t believe I’d chosen such a simple dress.

To me, it was anything but simple. But I guess for Mom, anything without a massively poofy skirt or long train wasn’t good enough.

“I mean,” My mother said as I stepped behind the screen to change into the lacy, itchy undergarments. “It’s a lovely dress. Don’t get me wrong. But it more like a nice dress you’d wear to a party or a special occasion. Not a wedding dress.”

It was also one of the only affordable dresses in this place she’d insisted on taking me to.

“Mom, we’ve been over this. Those other dresses just aren’t me. This one is perfect.”

“Perfect certainly isn’t the world I’d use, but I suppose if you’re happy…”

I was pretty sure the end of that sentence was supposed to be then I’m happy, but she didn’t say it. And she sure as hell didn’t look it.

Garrick’s mom was looking between the two of us with an almost gleeful smile. In the beginning, that woman had terrified me. Still does, really. But then we kind of hit it off and worked some things out. But she despised my mother, so she was happiest when the two of us were at odds. Which was a lot these days.

I called out to the seamstress, “I’m ready.”

She handed the dress over to me, and I slipped it over my head. All the little pieces of chiffon got bunched and stuck as I pulled it down, so I stepped out from behind the screen to get some help. Kelsey worked on pulling all the pieces of chiffon loose so they hung properly while I slipped my arms through the tiny straps. The seamstress stepped around me to start zipping up the bodice while Kelsey finished. She got it halfway done before the metal whine of the zipper began to slow and then stopped all together.

There was an ominous pause, and then she pulled on each side of the top, smooshing my breasts tightly against the bodice, and trying again.

She got another inch or so, but I could feel her straining behind me, and the pinch of the boning around my waist.

Mom stepped up to help, and the first thing out of her mouth was “My goodness, Bliss. What have you been eating since your last fitting?”

Under my breath, I mumbled, “My feelings.”

Kelsey was below me, still adjusting chiffon, and she snickered.

Mom helped her pull, and together they zipped the dress up all the way, until I felt like one deep breath might do the whole thing in.

Mom sighed. “That’s not going to work. Bliss, really. What have you been eating?”

“I don’t know. Stuff.”

Chocolate. Lots of chocolate.

“Are you pregnant?” Mom’s voice was stern, accusatory.

“No!”

“You’re certain?” Garrick’s mother asked, one sculpted eyebrow raised. She’d seen me through one pregnancy scare when we visited London. She was going to think I was a hot mess if I had another.
“Yes, I’m certain.”

Mom rounded me to look me in the eye. “If you’re pregnant, we’ll need to move up the wedding. No daughter of mine is having a child outside of wedlock.” She belatedly glanced at Kelsey who’d moved back to the love-seat and offered an unfeeling smile.  “No offense, sweetheart.”

Kelsey raised her hands in a shrug and said, “None taken.”

I would have been absolutely livid, in fact, I was livid for my friend. But Kelsey wasn’t bothered in the least.

“I’m not pregnant, Mom. Not that it would be a bad thing if I was. I’ve just been stressed. I’ll cut back, and everything will be fine.”

Mom hummed and said quietly, “It certainly wouldn’t kill you to eat a little healthier.” I closed my eyes and resisted the urge to lash out. She gestured for me to step up on the round platform they use to fit and hem the dress. I made eye contact with Kelsey, and she gave me a reassuring grin accompanied by a supportive eye roll.

I took the seamstresses hand, and she helped me step up onto the platform. Garrick’s mother placed a pair of heels in front of me, and I slipped them on. A piece of chiffon got stuck in the left heel, and I reached down to pull it loose.

Then like it was happening in slow motion. I felt movement at the back of my dress, a rush of air, and then the loud ripping sound seemed to follow behind a second later.

Everyone started yelling and rushing around. And I just froze, half bent over, my eyes screwed shut and my bottom lip pinned harshly between my teeth.

Surely not. It can’t be. I barely bent over at all. It’s not like I’ve gained THAT much weight.

But I couldn’t deny the brush of air across my lower back that should not have been possible in this corseted gown.

I would have stayed bent like that forever, trying to convince myself that this was another one of those wedding-themed nightmares that had been plaguing my sleep, but Mom gripped my arm and forced me to stand up right.

Her first words?

“If you had bought that princess dress that I liked we wouldn’t be having this problem.”

And that was the final straw for me.

“Out!” I yelled. “Get out! All of you. Go!”

Garrick’s mom looked pleased by my show of strength, but not impressed enough to move.

“Bliss, really,” Mom said. “We don’t need your dramatics.”

I picked up my skirts to keep from causing another wardrobe disaster, then I stepped off the platform and bolted for the bathroom in the corner. My hands were sweaty and slipped on the ornate knob, but I could hear my mother coming after me, so I focused enough to push the door open and slam myself inside.

Then I gave in to the inclination I’d been having from the moment I heard my perfect dress rip, and I screamed.

The screaming only lasted a few seconds though. Then the crying set in.

#

I wouldn’t open the door for anyone. Certainly not my mother. So when the door creaked open about half an hour later, I was shocked out of my depressed stupor. There, peeking into the room, was Garrick. It took his eyes a few moments to find me where I was sprawled on the floor.

Garrick took in my prone form, and a smile stole across his face for a few seconds before disappearing for another serious expression. With his mouth in a thin line, he raised an eyebrow and said, “Nice dress.”

Normally, I wouldn’t have let a single inch of this dress touch the floor of a bathroom, but this place was nicer than my apartment. And the floor was carpeted in the sitting area, so I figured I was okay.
But it occurred to me then that Garrick wasn’t supposed to see me in this dress. It was bad luck, and we definitely didn’t need any more bad luck.

The logical thing would have been to tell him as much. But I wasn’t much for logic at the moment, so instead I rolled over like hiding the bulk of the dress would help, all while screaming at him to get out.

He didn’t.

He closed the door behind him, and I heard the soft fall of his footsteps across the carpet.

“You need to get up, love.”

“No. I don’t. I need to lay here and not think about everything that has gone wrong. And probably will go wrong. That or I need to get really, really drunk. Maybe I could get really, really drunk right here.”
“While we’ve had many a good experience in bathrooms, this one isn’t ours. Come on. Let me take you home.”

I didn’t remember that the back of my pretty, perfect dress was a ripped mess until Garrick knelt beside me and ran a finger down my revealed spine.

That’s when I started crying again.

I knew even as it was happening that I was a blubbering, unattractive mess. I knew I sounded pitiful and whiny, but I just couldn’t help it. When you love someone, everything about life should get easier. All we wanted was each other, so the rest of this stuff shouldn’t matter, but what did it say about us that we couldn’t even get married without a disaster? What did it say about me? Would my whole life be this way? Every big moment? Would I get arrested on our honeymoon? Give birth to my first child in the cab on the way to the airport?

How long would Garrick stick around for that?

His palm flattened against my lower back, and suddenly it was too hard to breathe. I needed this ruined dress off of me. I needed it gone. I needed to be away from this place with no talk of dresses or invitations or flowers or vows. I needed everything to be how it had been before.

I sat up, hiccuping out words from between sobs, and it took a few moments before Garrick seemed to understand what I wanted. I pulled the straps off my shoulders and started grappling with the zipper at the back, but the dress had ripped right next to it, so I had trouble getting the leverage to unzip it.

I pulled too hard, and I heard another rip, and I couldn’t even form words anymore.

Garrick’s hands caught mine, and with our fingers laced together, he sat down behind me, wrapping both of our arms around my middle, trapping me against his body.

“If you’ll calm down for me, I’ll help you take the dress off. Then we’ll give it to the seamstress, and she can fix it.”

“It’s ruined.”

“It’s not.”

“How do you know? You don’t know anything about wedding dresses!”

“I know that if this one is ruined, we’ll get another just like it.”

“We can’t afford that.”

“We’ll manage.”

“Stop being so nice to me. I’m going to ruin our wedding.”

Garrick chuckled and dipped his head to press a kiss to my shoulder. “The only way you could ruin our wedding was if you didn’t show up. Whatever else happens that day won’t matter. As long as you walk down that aisle and stand with me.”

“What if I trip down the aisle?”

“Then I’ll make sure to trip down the aisle on our way out so we’re even.”

I laughed in spite of myself.

I hated that this kept happening. I was always the one falling apart, and he was always the one putting things back together. That was another thing that couldn’t last. I had to learn to hold my own in this relationship. I had to be better.

“I’m sorry,” I said.

He hummed, bending his head and grazing his cheek along the slow of my shoulder.

“What are you sorry for?”

“For being such a mess. For making you come out here to deal with me.”

“You know that’s not a hardship, right? I like dealing with you.”

As if punctuating his point, his hands released mine to trail up my sides, tracing the lines of stitching on my dress.

“Now you do,” I mumbled.

“Hey.” He caught my chin, and pulled me to face him. “None of that. If you want to doubt something… doubt the fish at the rehearsal dinner, doubt whether Rowland and Graham will be able to hold their liquor during the festivities, doubt our mothers’ abilities to stick to friendly conversation. Don’t doubt us. We’re beyond that, you and I. You keep acting as if I don’t know who you are. That I’m going to wake up one day, and decide these little mishaps aren’t worth all the rest. But you have to remember… I love you. Mishaps included. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have made it past the imaginary cat.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t say you’re sorry. Just kiss me instead. Every time you feel like apologizing. Let that be the first rule of our marriage.”

I sniffed. “Sounds like a pretty good rule.”

“Indeed, it does.”

“What happens if I’m really sorry?”

“I’m sure we can come up with a few ideas.”

“And what if one of us is angry? Or sad? Or anything else?”

“Same rule applies.”

He pulled my chin forward, tipping my mouth up toward his, but I hesitated.

“My mom thinks I’m getting fat. And I couldn’t even bend over in my dress without ripping it.”

His big hands slid up to take hold of my ribcage. “You’re not fat, Bliss. And I for one happen to like your curves.”

“Curves is just a nice way to say I’ve gained weight.”

“You have gained weight.”

Punch to the solar plexus right there.

“And it looks good. I, for one, like the fuller look on you.” He trailed one finger along the top of my bodice, and the cleavage that it pushed up above the neckline. Had those gotten bigger too? He said, “Now stop worrying. That falls under marriage rule number one, too.”

This time when he tilted my chin up, I didn’t resist. He covered my lips with his, and I opened up to the taste of him. My stomach swooped the way it always seemed to when he kissed me. Never would I have thought that such an unsteady feeling would be the thing to ground me.

His fingers continued their light stroking over the top of my breasts. And slowly, his mouth teased mine until everything else disappeared. The ripped dress. The invitation mistakes. Even our mothers. And let me tell you, it takes quite a kiss to make those two fade into the background.

But I was soon to be Mrs. Garrick Taylor.

And yes, it was easy to get swept away with all the mishaps and the planning and the stress. But when he was in front of me, touching me, his forehead resting against mine… none of those other things had any kind of pull on me. Because the gravity I felt toward him would always be stronger.

With him, I’d always be stronger too.


 

Remember, you can read all of the Bliss and Garrick bonus scenes (as well as bonus content from my other books) on my Extras page!
In Awkward Love,
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The One with the Long Lost Garrick POV!

Remember way back in 2013, when I posted four scenes from Losing It written from Garrick’s point of view? (If you need to refresh your memory, you can check them out HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE!) Weeeeeeeell…as I was combing through my bottomless pit of an email inbox, I came across ANOTHER little Losing-It-From-Garrick’s-POV scene that I never posted. So here you go! Consider it a belated Christmas/holiday present. 🙂

This scene is from Chapter 23 of Losing It, and it’s unedited, so please excuse any mistakes.


The One About Sickness and Healing

I needed Spring Break like I need air. I just needed a week where I didn’t have to see Bliss everywhere I went, where I didn’t have to watch her pour her heart out on stage every night in rehearsals. where I could be miserable in peace.

But I had one more rehearsal to get through first. Then I would recharge for the week, power through the end of the semester, and move on.
I sighed. Why was that thought so depressing? I should have been happy to move past all of this.

With my keys in hand, I left my flat to head to rehearsal. I was running a bit behind, so I jogged out into the parking lot.

Bliss stood out in the middle of the driveway, directly in the road, and she was bundled up in sweaters like it was winter, rather than the end of March.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself.

“Bliss?”

She didn’t even react, but she did wobble on her feet, like the night I’d seen her drunk with her friends.

I called her name again. She shook her head, and then pressed her hands to her temples. She bent at the waist, and I watched her body begin to sag toward the ground.

I didn’t bother calling her name. I ran toward her, and wrapped an arm around her waist a second before her legs gave out completely.
“Bliss?”

She whimpered and kept reaching toward the ground. I pulled her up, cradling her in my arms. Her head lolled against her shoulder, and her normally lovely pale skin was missing her usual glow. Instead, it was a ghostly white. Even her lips were a pale purple. Every time she swallowed, her whole face contorted in pain. Tiny pools of tears grew at the corners of her eyes, and I was gutted just looking at her.

“You’re okay, love. I’ve got you. It’s okay.”

She snuggled deeper into my embrace, and I felt like I took my first real breath in weeks.

She didn’t stir when I reached her apartment and dug through her pockets for her keys. She lay, dead weight, in my arms, and panic coated my lungs.

I knew, logically, I knew it was mono. There were already half a dozen people out with it in the department. They had a fever for a bit, then they were really tired for even longer, and then they came back, slowly but surely. I knew there was nothing to worry about, but seeing her like this terrified me.

I wrestled the door open, and kicked it closed behind me. I ducked through the curtain into her bedroom and laid her carefully atop her bed. She moaned, but didn’t open her eyes.

My thoughts splintered and scattered all over the place, and I couldn’t make myself focus on anything but the way she wrapped her arms tightly around herself, like she was in so much pain.

I made myself stop and think. First things first, I need to let Eric know that she wasn’t going to be a rehearsal. And neither was I.

I couldn’t leave her. I wouldn’t.

I sent him a text, and then returned to Bliss.

Her eyes clenched shut, and her teeth clamped down on her bottom lip as she shivered.

I pulled the covers up to her neck, but her expression remained tense. I reached out and pulled her bottom lip from between her teeth. She made a humming noise, and I traced my thumb across her lip again.

God, I’d been so stupid. Touching her now, I couldn’t remember why I hadn’t spent every waking moment beating down her door asking for another chance.

My phone buzzed with a call from Eric. I explained what was going on. I lied and said I wasn’t feeling well either. I said I was going to get Bliss settled then go get some rest myself. He didn’t know exactly what to do for mono except to try to break her fever. He insisted that the hospital wasn’t necessary. Just to rest, and not to let her get too hot.

After I hung up, I heard Bliss mumble something, and then say louder, “Ow.”

I rushed to her side. One of her hands had crept out from beneath the covers, and I took it. “You’re okay, sweetheart. Everything’s going to be okay.”

She shivered, and I pressed my hand against her cheek.

She burned.

She made a noise in her throat and leaned into my hand.

“I don’t know what to do,” I said.

Emotion clogged my throat, and I just wanted to make it better. Her hand covered the back of mine, and she said, “More.”

There were so many things I’d done wrong since I’d moved back here, many of them to do with this beautiful woman, but I could never say no to her. Not even when she didn’t know what she was asking.

Okay.

Fever. I could do this.

She was wearing two sweaters over her t-shirt and jeans, so I slid those off of her as carefully as I could. I left the covers down by her waist, so that she wasn’t too covered up.

I stared at her for a minute, and then saw her shoulders and limbs begin to shake with the cold. A few tears streaked from her eyes and she whimpered. “Cold.”

She swallowed, and then pressed her head back into her pillow, grimacing.

“Please,” she said.

I didn’t know what was best. I didn’t want her to be too warm, but I couldn’t watch her shiver like that.

“I’m here, love. Hold on.”

Before I could second-guess my choice, I pulled my shirt over my head, and slid into bed next to her. I slid her toward me, and she melted into my chest. She gripped my back with weak fingers, and her cheek was blistering against my bare skin. Still, she shook, and I wrapped my arms around her to try and hold her still.

She sighed every time I pulled her closer and held her tighter, so I did just that. I whispered her name, and combed my fingers through her hair, and ran my hands over her over-heated skin.

“It’s going to be okay.”

I hoped that I sounded more confident than I felt. Finally, after nearly an hour, her shaking slowed and her breathing evened out. I pressed a kiss to her burning forehead and said, ‘I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.

She might hate me when she woke. Or worse, she might not care at all.

But every whimper out of her mouth wrung my heart out like a rag, and I knew that moving on from her wasn’t going to be easy.

More importantly, it wasn’t what I wanted.


EEEEEP!! Hope you enjoyed! It’s always fun to revisit Garrick and Bliss. Make sure you check out my extras page for lots of bonus content from all of my series!

In Awkward <3
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