Blog Tour: THE BEST GOODBYE by ABBI GLINES + Giveaway

THE BEST GOODBYE

ABBI GLINES

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Abbi Glines comes the next sizzling novel in the Rosemary Beach series, featuring well-known playboy and Blaire’s half brother, Captain.

“The look on Rose’s face had screamed that she was hiding something. Hell, she’d practically run away from me. There was something to that. I knew there was . . . “

After ten years in the employ of a mysterious crime boss, River “Captain” Kipling is ready to leave his sordid past—and his cover occupation as an upscale restaurateur—behind him. The only thing standing in the way of his “retirement” is his commitment to launch a new restaurant in the resort town of Rosemary Beach. With his sister, Blaire, nearby, Captain can delay his dream of running a humble bar on the waterfront, but the unwanted attentions of his head server, Elle, have him itching to get out.

Until he notices Rose Henderson, the new server at the restaurant. All he knows about the pretty redhead with the cute glasses is that she’s a hardworking single mom from Oklahoma. But there’s something overly familiar about her laugh…something strange about the way she looks at Captain…

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Abbi Glines is the New York Times, USA TODAY, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Rosemary Beach, Field Party, Sea Breeze, Vincent Boys, and Existence series. A devoted book lover, Abbi lives with her family in Alabama. She maintains a Twitter addiction at @AbbiGlines and can also be found at Facebook.com/AbbiGlinesAuthor and AbbiGlines.com.

FIND ABBI ONLINE:

Website: www.AbbiGlines.com

Facebook: Facebook.com/AbbiGlinesAuthor

Twitter: @AbbiGlines

Instagram: @AbbiGlines

THE BEST GOODBYE by Abbi Glines

Atria Books | 256 pages | ISBN 9781501115318, $16.00 | December 1, 2015 | eBook ISBN: 9781501115387, $7.99

ORDER YOUR COPY!

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1Rw8JUc

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Google Play: http://bit.ly/1Nq9M9s

IndieBound: http://bit.ly/1hsHixt

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Kobo: http://bit.ly/1PjXzm2

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REVIEW

4 STARS

I'm a little unsure on my feelings towards this book. I remember my excitement when I got the email about the book because I've been waiting for Captain's book. I loved the book, but also had some mixed emotions. I was frustrated at the back story of Rose and Captain. I got confused on more then one occasion and had to go back to re-read what was really happening. However, once the frustration passed, I was very pleased. I like that this book wasn't all sex. Rose and Captain really built up a relationship - I especially loved the arguing in the beginning. I liked that Rose refused to take crap from Captain.

Franny was a nice add in, I liked her character. She kind of reminded me of Micah from Abbi's other series, Sea Breeze. The story was steady, and didn't lead to constant breaking up (a trend appearing in many new adult novels nowadays). The build of the relationship was well done, it was a fun read. I really liked to be able to go back and read about Captain when he was fifteen, it's fun to see how different people are, and the way Abbi really puts in character development was genius.

Again, as I say in many other review for this series, I love the Rosemary Beach series, and am sad that there will only be one more continuing novel. I love the setting and the characters, and will be sad to let them go soon. I hated Captain in the beginning of When You're Back, and ended up really liking him in this book. I was expecting some like, but I really love Rose and Captain together.

NOVEMBER 9 by COLLEEN HOOVER **Review Tour + Giveaway**

Release date: November 10th 2015

NOVEMBER NINE

BY COLLEEN HOOVER

"November 9 is yet another breathtaking novel by Colleen Hoover that's full of blushing, gushing, and heartache. I loved every page and breathed in every beautiful word."
—Anna Todd, Author of the After series

Visit www.November9book.com for teasers, tour dates and more.

ABOUT NOVEMBER NINE:

Fallon meets Ben, an aspiring novelist, the day of her scheduled cross-country move. Their untimely attraction leads them to spend Fallon’s last day in L.A. together, and her eventful life becomes the creative inspiration Ben has always sought for his novel. Over time and amidst the various relationships and tribulations of their own separate lives, they continue to meet on the same date every year. Until one day Fallon becomes unsure if Ben has been telling her the truth or fabricating a perfect reality for the sake of the ultimate plot twist.

Can Ben’s relationship with Fallon—and simultaneously his novel—be considered a love story if it ends in heartbreak?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Colleen Hoover is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Slammed, This Girl, Point of Retreat, Hopeless, Losing Hope, Finding Cinderella, Maybe Someday, Ugly Love, Maybe Not, and Confess. She lives in Texas with her husband and their three boys.

FIND COLLEEN ONLINE: 

Website: www.ColleenHoover.com

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/ColleenHoover

Twitter: @ColleenHoover

Instagram: @ColleenHoover

ORDER NOVEMBER 9:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1PmSQxx
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1gYxxak
Blio: http://bit.ly/1HXMX4j
Books-a-Million: http://bit.ly/1WGKE0y
iBooks: http://apple.co/1lQ7wAQ
Indiebound: http://bit.ly/1NHeBaQ

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1JsTJq0

Google: http://bit.ly/1LmJfc3
Nook: http://bit.ly/1J5pQsC

Don’t miss Colleen on tour for NOVEMBER 9:

DALLAS, TX
Monday, November 9^th
HALF PRICE BOOKS
10:00 PM
5803 E Northwest Hwy
Dallas, TX  75231
www.hpb.com
RSVP and details: https://www.facebook.com/events/571747856307832/

CINCINNATI, OH
Tuesday, November 10^th
JOSEPH-BETH BOOKSELLERS
7:00 PM
2692 Madison Road
Cincinnati, OH 45208
www.josephbeth.com
RSVP and details: https://www.facebook.com/events/910564405703742/

CHICAGO, IL
Wednesday, November 11^th
ANDERSON'S BOOKSHOP
7:00 PM
26 S. La Grange Rd.
La Grange, IL 60525
www.andersonsbookshop.com
RSVP and details: https://www.facebook.com/events/877624532344894/

RIDGEWOOD, NJ
Thursday, November 12th
BOOK ENDS
7:00 PM
211 E. Ridgewood Avenue
Ridgewood, NJ 07450
www.book-ends.com
RSVP and details: https://www.facebook.com/events/176661676006949/

WHITE PLAINS, NY
Friday, November 13^th
BARNES & NOBLE #2202
7:00 PM
230 Main Street
White Plains, NY 10601
www.barnesandnoble.com
RSVP and details: https://www.facebook.com/events/760158847428849/

MIAMI, FL
Saturday, November 14^th
BOOKS & BOOKS
5:00 PM
265 Aragon Avenue
Coral Gables, FL 33134
www.booksandbooks.com
RSVP and details: https://www.facebook.com/events/903716756377916/

BOSTON, MA
Sunday, November 15^th

BROOKLINE BOOKSMITH

5:00 PM

279 Harvard St

Brookline, MA  02446
www.brooklinebooksmith.com
RSVP and details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1484734548495141/

LOS ANGELES, CA
Tuesday, November 17^th
CHEVALIER'S BOOKS
7:00 PM
126 N. Larchmont Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90004
www.chevaliersbooks.com
RSVP and details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1008186655868793/

AUSTIN, TX
Tuesday, December 8th
BOOK PEOPLE
7:00 PM
603 N. Lamar Blvd
Austin, TX 78703
512-472-5050
http://www.bookpeople.com/
RSVP and details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1642732965964748/

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Review: Game of Thrones (A Song of Fire and Ice #1) by George R. R. Martin

Summers span decades. Winter can last a lifetime. And the struggle for the Iron Throne has begun.

As Warden of the north, Lord Eddard Stark counts it a curse when King Robert bestows on him the office of the Hand. His honour weighs him down at court where a true man does what he will, not what he must ...and a dead enemy is a thing of beauty.

The old gods have no power in the south, Stark's family is split and there is treachery at court. Worse, the vengeance-mad heir of the deposed Dragon King has grown to maturity in exile in the Free Cities. He claims the Iron Throne.





George R. R. Martin
George R. R. Martin was born September 20, 1948, in Bayonne, New Jersey. His father was Raymond Collins Martin, a longshoreman, and his mother was Margaret Brady Martin. He has two sisters, Darleen Martin Lapinski and Janet Martin Patten. 

Martin attended Mary Jane Donohoe School and Marist High School. He began writing very young, selling monster stories to other neighborhood children for pennies, dramatic readings included. Later he became a comic book fan and collector in high school, and began to write fiction for comic fanzines (amateur fan magazines). Martin's first professional sale was made in 1970 at age 21: "The Hero," sold to Galaxy, published in February, 1971 issue. Other sales followed. 

In 1970 Martin received a B.S. in Journalism from Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, graduating summa cum laude. He went on to complete a M.S. in Journalism in 1971, also from Northwestern. 

As a conscientious objector, Martin did alternative service 1972-1974 with VISTA, attached to Cook County Legal Assistance Foundation. He also directed chess tournaments for the Continental Chess Association from 1973-1976, and was a Journalism instructor at Clarke College, Dubuque, Iowa, from 1976-1978. He wrote part-time throughout the 1970s while working as a VISTA Volunteer, chess director, and teacher. 

In 1975 he married Gale Burnick. They divorced in 1979, with no children. Martin became a full-time writer in 1979. He was writer-in-residence at Clarke College from 1978-79. 

Moving on to Hollywood, Martin signed on as a story editor for Twilight Zone at CBS Television in 1986. In 1987 Martin became an Executive Story Consultant for Beauty and the Beast at CBS. In 1988 he became a Producer for Beauty and the Beast, then in 1989 moved up to Co-Supervising Producer. He was Executive Producer for Doorways, a pilot which he wrote for Columbia Pictures Television, which was filmed during 1992-93. 

Martin's present home is Santa Fe, New Mexico. He is a member of Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America (he was South-Central Regional Director 1977-1979, and Vice President 1996-1998), and of Writers' Guild of America, West.

REVIEW

3-SNOW-stars

I originally wanted to read this series through the TV show. I never watched it, but my sister did. She was always trying to get me to watch it, but I refused because I always said "I want to read the book". Well Sydney, I finally did.



There will be slight spoilers in this review.

I was intrigued by the idea of this book and got really excited because I thought this series was finished. I thought it was six books long and I, for some reason, though that A Dance with Dragons was the final book. But now that I see that it's not I'm nervous. People are saying that George R. R. Martin takes really long to write these (which is understandable due to the length and depth of the novel), but I don't want to be 55 when I finish this series. So now I'm trying to take my time in reading the rest of the series.

My favourite character was Arya; she reminded me most of myself, especially when I was around her age. Very curious and a tomboy. Her journey was most exciting to me; she had sword lessons, she was very close with Jon, and she found a secret escape route of the castle. I must say I was angered with her ending in the book because it was so abrupt and even so we hardly got any of her POV through the book. But she was fascinating enough to keep me excited for her chapter.



I also really loved Jon Snow; I will admit that that was influenced by the show's actor, but can you blame me?


(No, he is not the little man with the bow and arrow)

He was most honourable and I really did feel sorry for him being born a bastard. I felt Jon and Arya deserved to be part of house Winterfell most due to their honourability and love of their family. Even though Jon was a bastard, he was still around Robb, Arya, and Bran a lot. They all seemed to love having him around but Catelyn wouldn't accept that. Oh no, not someone who might actually be better then her own children. Gosh, Catelyn bothered me the most in this novel. She had to be one of the most hated people I've ever read in a book. Remember when she told Jon he should be in Bran's place (dying and paralyzed)? It really should have been her.

Since I've finished explaining the characters I liked, I thought I should really mention Tyrion.



My sister loves him in the show (I swear, his hair gets better), and thought I might take a liking to him as well. I really don't know how I felt about him. He was funny enough, and I enjoyed his banter with others. He was also most smart and it was nice to hear about how Jamie really cared about him. Even thought Tyrion was an imp, he still had feelings, but he told Jon Snow to wear your flaws as armour and that seems like a great way to think of things. Plus he reminded me a lot of Gregory House when he was begging to keep his "pets", which were actually the people he picked up along the way on his journey. Which humoured me because of this picture:



Daenerys is a character I keep forgetting was even there because of the fact that all the stories intertwine with one another except for Dany's. The reader will see Tyrion in Jon's POV and Catelyn in Eddard's and so on. I felt pretty neutral about Dany, didn't feel any immediate love for her. She was just an okay character for me. I didn't like how she kept trying to command her khalesar to follow her even though she wasn't a khal. I get that she was his khalessi, but they need to move on. And little did she realize, but after khal Drogo died, she pretty much became her brother, Viseryes.



Sansa was just a pain in the butt; she was constantly blaming everything on everyone else. And stop with the Joffrey obsession! She didn't know him, not one ounce, and he was her "prince". Oh my prince this, my prince that. *shudders* It was real annoying after about three times of hearing it from her. She was ridiculous, but not the way George R. R. Martin wrote her; I'm glad he wrote her this way so that I could hate on her, like I do with her mom, Catelyn.

Bran was a character I enjoyed reading about because he wasn't always complain constantly and he enjoyed climbing (at least when he could). However, I was really sad that there wasn't a POV for Robb; I think I may have preferred that to Bran or even Sansa. I really hope that Bran remembers about Cersei and Jamie because that secret died with Ned.

Ah, Ned. He was another character that I enjoyed reading, however his POV came up too much for me. I feel that I may of loved Arya the most because her POV was like a rare sight. Ned was enjoyable to read most of the time, but sometimes I found myself having to re-read a paragraph of Ned's because the following paragraph didn't make sense. However, that's expected in a book as long as this one.

The Lannisters where annoying people as well (aside from Tyrion), but I must say that I need to applaud Cersei. She is very smart when she's on her own and can get herself out of a tight situation. I actually wanted a POV for Cersei as well as Jamie. However, I find it appalling that they sleep together because "they're twins". Ew, just no. But for some reason I found that I liked Jamie, even a little bit. So that may be why I like the Lannisters a little.



All in all, the story was great and I do plan on reading the second hopefully this September or October. Side note: the actors chosen to play each character in the show were greatly chosen.

Review: Outlander (Outlander #1) by Diana Gabaldon

The year is 1945. Claire Randall, a former combat nurse, is just back from the war and reunited with her husband on a second honeymoon when she walks through a standing stone in one of the ancient circles that dot the British Isles. Suddenly she is a Sassenach—an “outlander”—in a Scotland torn by war and raiding border clans in the year of Our Lord...1743.

Hurled back in time by forces she cannot understand, Claire is catapulted into the intrigues of lairds and spies that may threaten her life, and shatter her heart. For here James Fraser, a gallant young Scots warrior, shows her a love so absolute that Claire becomes a woman torn between fidelity and desire—and between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives.


Diana Gabaldon

Diana Jean Gabaldon Watkins grew up in Flagstaff, Arizona and is of Mexican-American and English descent. She has earned three degrees: a B.S. in Zoology, a M.S. in Marine Biology, and a Ph.D in Ecology.

She currently lives in Scottsdale, Arizona.
WEBSITE

REVIEW

4 stars

I knew the inevitable was slowly creeping up on me. Yes, I've been putting off this review; I loved this book and I already know that I can't really put into words why I loved it or how much, but I will definitely try.

This book has turned into a TV series that plays on Starz/Showtime. I've gotten a lot of questions if I'm going to watch the TV series or not, but I don't think I will. I've had the same situation come upon me with Game of Thrones and like I've already told others, I prefer books. I like the fact that with books, you can imagine each character as you want to. I imagined Claire much different from the TV series, but Jamie is perfect in the TV series. It's a spitting image of how I imagined him.



Unfortunately I had some of the first book spoiled for me but it didn't stop me from really liking the book! It was like a big adventure and I really enjoyed the journey. Claire was a complicated character whom I disliked in the beginning; it wasn't that she was a bad character I just thought she was really boring. To be honest, I actually can hardly remember any of the beginning with Frank. Frank, who? Oh yeah, Frank, the guy you wouldn't shut up about. Honestly when I saw the picture of Frank online, all I could think is he dulls in comparison to Jamie. Seriously, who would you pick?



My favourite part of the book was when Jamie went "for a swim". He was trying to get the wheel to turn at his old home and ended up losing his red shorts. I found that humorous.



Obviously no one likes Captain Randall (or Blackjack, whatever you want to call him), but I especially disliked Laoghaire because of her... thing with Jamie. She frustrated me thinking they had this "special thing". However, I was extremely pleased when she saw Jamie carrying Claire, as well as when Claire told Jamie that he could be with whomever he wanted. He got so possessive and that pleased me even more.



I feel like it's important to discuss the "BDSM" or lack thereof in the book. I've seen multiple reviews comparing Jamie to Christian Grey and his "ways". First of all, this book is NOT sexist. Might I remind you of the era of the book? Way back when, women were punished for not listening. Men were too, differently then women were. This book does NOT have BDSM in it either. There's a scene when Claire is spanked, big whoop. It wasn't meant to be a sexual encounter; yes, Jamie was turned on. That doesn't mean that Christian Grey is a reincarnation of him. Most men would be turned on by doing something of this to their wife/fiancee/girlfriend. You know why? Men are visual and primal creatures. When they do something like this, it's something only they get to do/see. Outlander should not be thought of as demeaning or sexist.



I'm not trying to say that if you didn't like this book you're wrong, I'm just placing my opinion; I wouldn't call this book sexist because a lot of what happened in this book, happened in this era. Back then, it wasn't a big surprise if a prisoner was raped or beat. You would hope it wasn't happening today, but it does still happen, just not as common.



Anyway, moreover to the point of the review: I enjoyed this book. BUT... the beginning was a little slow for my taste. I had a difficult time reading the first 30 or so pages. I actually started this book about a month or two before I actually got into the book, and the reason I stopped was because I couldn't understand what was "so desirable" about this book. It bored me, and there were multiple times through the book that I had to go back and re-read a paragraph. However, you can expect that in a book as long as this one. That's the reason for four stars.

Honestly, I'm not going to be that person to say "everyone read this". It's certainly not for everyone, and I didn't even think I'd enjoy it myself. However, I have a Sydney to keep pushing it on me (thank you Syd). Anyway, if you like romance I recommend it. You might find you like the past times, you might not. But whatever you do, try your best to get past the first 50 or so pages because it's worth it.

Review Tour: PULLED UNDER by Sarah Darlington

Pulled Under by Sarah Darlington

Synopsis:
man-child. noun.
: a grown man who is very immature, therefor considered a man-child

manwhore. noun.
: a promiscuous man who has no regard for his sexual partners or the emotional value of his relationships

Rhett Morgan couldn't have been more wrong for me. The guy drank beer in the shower, for crying out loud. He had no prospects for the future, had slept with half the women in our beach town of Kill Devil Hills, and had no desire to change his manwhore ways.

And when Ben Turner, the guy I had loved from afar for the past four years, died and I couldn't get over his death, I desperately needed a distraction. A distraction like Rhett. So I used him for a one-night stand. Because, after all, that's the only thing a guy like Rhett is good for...right?

***New Adult Romance. This novel is the third book in the Kill Devil Hills series, however it can be read as a standalone. Recommended for 18+

PURCHASE NOW:

Amazon ~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon AU ~ Amazon CA

***FREE on Kindle Unlimited!***

$0.99 for release day!

Excerpt:

Sucking in a breath, I took him in. Rhett was good-looking in the completely opposite way of Ben. Ben had been handsome in a clean-cut, manicured way. Then there was Rhett…who looked like he could have been a construction worker or a firefighter…or maybe a male stripper dressed up as a construction worker or a firefighter. He was lean, muscular, tan, rugged, and the very sight of him, even from a distance, brought heat to my cheeks.

Not to mention, the man was like catnip. The bar area was packed with hungry felines on the prowl. He moved fast, making drinks, smiling at the women he served, and embodying every frat-boy (minus the frat) image I could conjure in my mind. The memory of him from when I was sixteen wasn’t something easily forgotten, and a tingle touched my lips as my mind replayed the kiss we’d once shared.

Still…he wasn’t Ben.

Sadness washed over me like a bucket of ice water. I shook off the feeling. Rhett had made me feel better once before, and I had no reason to doubt the same thing couldn’t work for me a second time. The only difference now was, I wanted to take it to the next level. I wanted to give up my virginity to him…tonight. No point in saving myself for someone who wasn’t alive anymore.

“Holy shit,” I said aloud. Breaking my eyes away from Rhett, I brought my attention back to the table and to my drink. Feeling like I was buried ten feet deep in teenage hormones, grief, and God knows what else, I removed the straw, as it was only slowing me down, and I finished the remainder of my drink in a giant swallow. The alcohol burned going down, and I grimaced. “That man is not for the faint of heart,” I mumbled to myself as I set down a now empty glass. “And neither is my plan for him tonight.”

Kimberly sighed. “The teacher in me probably should warn you that this is a bad idea,” she said, shaking her head. “But the girlfriend in me is going to do the opposite.” She leaned closer and her face turned very sincere. “You deserve this—to be young and stupid and go for something you want. All we have is the present moment. The past is gone, and the future isn’t guaranteed. So have a little fun. Knock that boy off his feet.”

For the first time in a long time, I laughed. “He’s not going to remember me.”

She shrugged. “So what. Make a new memory.”

Convinced, though I’d made up my mind hours before coming here tonight, I stood up ready to go talk to Rhett, ready for whatever to happen.

Kimberly’s eyes went wide. “Yes,” she whispered. “You can do this.”

“I need to know something,” I said, lingering by the table. “Are you sure you’re okay with this? I kind of got the impression that you might have liked Rhett when you went to high school with him. I could find someone else—”

“No. Rhett is perfect for this. Sure, I had a crush on him like everyone else in high school, but that was ages ago. I’m with Cody now. I love Cody. I don’t need a man-child like Rhett, that’s for damn certain.” She smirked at me. “But you go get your man-child, honey. He should be fun for one night.”

“Fine.” Laughing, I left Kimberly. I’d lied to her a second ago. If she’d said no about Rhett than I wouldn’t be attempting this with someone random. Only Rhett would do.

Feeling surprisingly confident, I approached the bar. I wore a short beach dress that buttoned in the front and showed off my long legs. My platinum hair was curled in big waves, beauty pageant worthy, and it fell just past my shoulders. I’d even broken out the high heels for this. No matter who I was on the inside, outwardly I wasn’t the nerdy girl with glasses anymore.

There was exactly one open seat. Setting my purse on top of the bar, I sat down. I unbuttoned one more button on my cotton dress and waited to be noticed. Rhett’s back was to me so he wasn’t noticing anything.

Five minutes passed and nothing happened. I unbuttoned another button, but changed my mind and redid it when the older man sitting beside me started staring at my chest and winking at me between sips of his whiskey.

Oh God. My confidence began to falter.

The bar was chaos, with only two bartenders working, and they both struggled to keep up with their demand. Rhett moved more quickly than the girl working, but he worked the opposite end from where I sat and had yet to even glance in my direction. I realized I was crazy-pants for thinking I could just walk over here and he'd suddenly see me, remember me, and we'd have some magical repeat moment of the one we had shared years ago.

Yeah, not happening.

Another woman already had Rhett’s undivided attention. Brunette. Older than me. Ruby red lips with a leopard print bikini on under a sheer cover up. She was, without a doubt, a sure thing. Between every drink he poured, he'd return to her for a brief moment of flirting. I couldn't hear what they were saying, but the chemistry between them was enough to let me know that I had a better chance at winning the lottery tonight than ending up in his bed.

“What can I get ya, babe? Piña Coladas are on special tonight—three dollars.”

It took me a moment to realize someone was speaking to me. I had Rhett blinders on and had completely missed the woman bartender who waited impatiently for me to acknowledge her. My eyes focused on her name tag—Luce. When I finally realized how incredibly rude I was being, she had already started walking away from me, shaking her head and huffing under her breath.

"Rhett," she hollered, as she motioned towards me. “Your customer.”

Oh shit!

At her words, Rhett glanced over his shoulder in my direction. He looked right through me as he called out, “One moment,” before returning to his brunette.

I wanted to run from the bar. My stomach felt queasy, and that vodka tonic threatened to come back up. “This was a stupid idea," I murmured to myself.

Rhett took his sweet-ass time finishing his conversation with the brunette before making his way toward me. It took him so damn long that by the time he came for my drink order, I no longer felt quite so nervous.

“Hello there, princess. What can I get for you?" he asked, smiling and cocking an eyebrow at me, charm oozing out of him. “Piña Coladas are on special tonight,” he told me, rubbing a hand over his closely shaved head and speaking fast. It was clear, even if he did it with a smile on his face, he was trying to hurry me into making a decision. “You look like a Piña Colada kind of girl. How ‘bout I get you one of those?”

He had a very nice smile, which he clearly used to his advantage. He did, after all, work for tips. But whether his charm and that smile were real or fake, they pissed me off. I was too much of a cynic, something I knew I’d picked up by being raised by my very straight-forward, realist of a brother, to put up with his bullshit.

“What the hell?” I snapped, my frustrations pouring out of me. “Do you all have a giant premade batch of Piña Colada that you need to sell before the end of the night? Because I happen to hate coconut.” I didn’t actually hate coconut. “Fifty percent of people hate coconut.” I made up that statistic. “If you’re going to offer something that half the population hates, you should at least have a second drink option on special as an alternative, otherwise you’re discriminating. Besides, do I look twenty-one? I’m eighteen—learn how to card.”

“Shit. You’re a cop.”

“No, I’m not a cop. I don’t even want a drink.” I started rummaging around in my purse for nothing in particular because I needed something to do with my hands. I was beyond annoyed and, frankly, a little hurt. “Can we pretend this conversation never happened? I would much rather keep my glorified memories intact. And—”

I stopped talking and digging when his fingers gently touched the underside of my chin. Swallowing, I looked up from my bag. Why the hell was he touching me?

“I know you," he whispered, the color draining from his face.

"No you don't," I said pulling away from his touch and standing from my seat.

"Yes, I do. You've changed, but those green eyes I haven’t forgotten.”

Everything slowed down. I stood there with my bag slung over my shoulder and my feet frozen to the floor. The noise of the chaotic bar faded into the background. He stared at me, and I stared at him. He recognized me, and with that recognition his whole demeanor changed. Sincerity, I suppose, was the difference I suddenly saw in him.

“You came back," he said after a moment, smiling.

This smile, I could tell, was genuine.

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Other novels in the Kill Devil Hills Series:

#1: KILL DEVIL HILLS
Noah is determined to escape his past and keep his life under control. Then he saves the life of his best friend’s little sister, Georgina Turner — who is battling her own demons. He can't get her out of his head, even if Georgina tears down the emotional walls he so carefully built.
Read chapter 1 and 2 here
Amazon ~ Amazon UK
**FREE on Kindle Unlimited**

#2: CHANGING TIDES
Ellie Turner is a lesbian. She knows who she is, loves who she is, and couldn’t care less what the rest of the world thinks of her. Then television star Nate West comes along. All thick muscle and alpha-male testosterone. When Ellie meets him on an airplane, he ignites something inside her she never knew existed.
Amazon ~ Amazon UK
**FREE on Kindle Unlimited**

About Sarah Darlington

Sarah Darlington, a New Adult and contemporary romance author, resides in Virginia with her husband, three-year old, and one more little one on the way. Best known for her Kill Devil Hills Series, she's also a former flight attendant, with a degree in school counseling, and harbors a huge passion for traveling. She's especially set on visiting all 50 states.

Website • Twitter • Facebook • Goodreads

INTERVIEW WITH SARAH

1.  What made you want to become a writer?

Twilight.  Something about Twilight inspired me.  It got me into reading again and it made me want to try to write.  I know there are a lot of Twilight haters out there, but the simple romance of Bella and Edward had a big impact on me.  

2.  What is your favorite/least favorite part about writing?

Favorite part: When the words are flowing and I'm in a writing groove.

Least favorite part: When I get stuck.  It happens from time to time, when I can't decide which direction to take my story.  I'll stress and write/rewrite, having the hardest time getting past a certain scene.  I always make it past those parts, I just hate the time I waste getting through them.  

3.  On average, how long does it take to write a book?

Four months!  Depends on the story though.

4.  Can you describe the basics to your writing process?

First, I come up with a basic concept.  Then I come up with the characters.  From there I just start writing.  I'll always have a general idea of how a book will end and some key scenes playing in my mind, but other than that I don't plan ahead.  It's better (for me) to let my characters surprise me and drive the story.

5.  Who is your favorite character from PULLED UNDER and why?

Rhett. I've been wanting to write Rhett's story since I wrote Kill Devil Hills. He's funny and lovable and deep down a romantic.

6.  What is your favorite scene from PULLED UNDER?

The bar scene where Sydney picks up Rhett for their 'one night stand.'

7.  Tell us about your cover art.  Who designed it? 

Sommer Stein of Perfect Pear Creative Covers designed it. (facebook.com/PPCCovers) I adore her covers, everyone of them, and she's done all of mine except for my first novel's cover.

9.  Excluding the characters from your own novel, who is your favorite book boyfriend? 

In the NA genre: Logan Reed.  (From Tammy Falkner's Tall, Tatted, and Tempting.)

YA: Jace Wayland 

Adult: Eric Northman

(Wow, didn't realize how much I liked blonds until just now.)

10.  How can we contact you to find out more about your books?

I have a website: sarahdarlingtonauthor.com

Or email me:  sarahdarlingtonauthor@gmail.com

11.  What can we expect from you in the future?

I have plans to write a 4th and final novel in the KILL DEVIL HILLS Series. It will be titled ADRIFT and it will be Ben's story. I may put writing it on hold for a little while because I have a YA story that I've been dying to write. I haven't decided yet though.

12.  Do you have any tips or advice for other writers?

Write everyday! If I can write a book, anyone can.  All it takes in practice, more practice, and a slightly obsessive personality.

GIVEAWAY: 5 ecopies of PULLED UNDER

Enter here!

REVIEW
5 stars

I received an ARC copy of this book from the author, in exchange for an honest review.

From book one, this is the guy I've been waiting to see! I love him so much, and from book one I needed Rhett, Rhett, Rhett. He's the manwhore (or man-child) of the series and believe me the wait was very much worth it. Rhett is introduced to Sydney when she was sixteen, and he was about twenty. The real story picks up about three or four years after their first meeting.

Sydney was a character I really enjoyed reading about and finding out about her past, but unfortunately she got under my skin maybe once or twice. Only because she kept saying she loved Ben so much, but she honestly hardly knew the guy. Now, this is more or so explained in the ending and it doesn't bother me so much anymore because of the explanation.

I fell in love and under this books spell the minute I picked it up. When I was reading it, time wasn't a thing. It was just Rhett and Sydney. Little did I realize that I'd stayed up unbelievably late reading. Thank goodness it's summer! If you asked me before I read this book my book boyfriends it'd be racking my brain, but now if you asked me Rhett would probably be one of the first names out of my mouth.

The story was fun because it was going on at the same time as book one and two. It filled in all the blanks from book one and two and when the book was done, I was satisfied. And also sad that it was over. The romance was basically one of my all time favourites. I can't even think of a flaw from the book (other then spelling, which is expected from self-publish).

If you love romance, please do yourself a favour and start this series.