The Natural History of Us: Review, Excerpt and Exclusive Recipe!!

Rachel Harris' THE NATURAL HISTORY OF US is already getting swoons from readers everywhere! We can’t wait for you to get your hands on it. Known for her sweet romances, Rachel's THE NATURAL HISTORY OF US, is no different! Check out everything we have for you on this amazing title and then go grab your copy today. Justin and Peyton’s story is sure to put a smile on your face and keep you turning pages long into the night!

   

About THE NATURAL HISTORY OF US:

One class assignment. One second chance at love. The school player is all in. Now he needs to win back the sweet commitment girl who's forever owned his heart.

Justin Carter has a secret. He's not the total player Fairfield Academy believes him to be. Not really. In fact, he used to be a one-woman guy...and his feelings for her never went away. Too bad he broke her heart three years ago and made sure to ruin any chance she'd ever forgive him.

Peyton Williams is a liar. She pretends to be whole, counting down the days until graduation and helping her parents at the family ranch. But the truth is, she's done everything she can to get over Justin, and salvation is just around the corner. With graduation one short month away, she'll soon break free from the painful memories and start her life fresh. Of course, she has to get through working with him on one last assignment first.

For Justin, nothing ever felt as right as being with Peyton, and now that fate's given him a shot at redemption, he's determined to make the most of it. And for Peyton...well, Justin Carter has always been her kryptonite.

My Thoughts:

I'm a sucker for second-chance-at-love stories, and this one doesn't disappoint.

Justin and Peyton used to be in love, once upon a time back in freshman year. And they still are. But it's a secret. So secret that they haven't even told each other. But now they're partners for a school project, and Justin finally has a chance to make up for his freshman-year mistakes and win Peyton back.

Justin won me over from the very first chapter, and even though I totally understood why Peyton didn't trust him with her heart, I was absolutely cheering for them to reconcile. Which is saying a lot, if you know me. I've never been a fan of "the bad boy" as a love interest (give me the nice guy any day!) so I'll admit that I wasn't 100% certain I'd be able to love this match-up. But Rachel Harris is a master of character development, and it was obvious right from the start that Justin wasn't really the player everyone at Fairfield Academy thought he was. But his secret nice guy status was obvious in a way that didn't have me rolling my eyes or feeling like he was a cliche. And I could honestly cheer for this not-a-bad-boy-at-all to win back his true love.

At the same time, I wanted to be best friends with Peyton. I could totally relate to her side of the story too, and I absolutely understood why she wouldn't want to trust Justin's intentions after all this time. As much as I wanted them to get together again, I never felt like the conflict was drawn out artificially.

I loved the first book in this series (THE FINE ART OF PRETENDING), and I swooned over THE NATURAL HISTORY OF US. I just wish I could fast forward through time, because I don't want to wait to read more about the kids from Fairfield Academy!

Order THE NATURAL HISTORY OF US Today!

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    Trust me. You want this book! Here's an excerpt to prove it:

Dropping my arm, Aly slides over to the goods. “Justin put me in charge of all things snackage this weekend since it’s my thing, and I want you both to give me your honest opinion.” She selects two giant squares and sets them each on a napkin. “Tell me if they’re too bold or too much.”

“I feel like those two words will never apply to chocolate anything,” I confess and accept the gift of fudgy goodness.

The brownie is moist, that’s obvious just from looking at it, and when I lift it to my mouth my fingers sink into the soft texture. My taste buds prep themselves for a happy dance. Then the rich scent of cocoa hits my senses and I close my eyes in bliss.

“Holy crap!”

A surprising burst of orange hits my tongue and I moan, taking another bite, hoping my sprung-open eyes tell Aly everything she needs to know, because I refuse to stop eating for something as silly as words. Seriously. Roll out a sleeping bag, call it a day, I’m good to go camping in the kitchen.

“You like it?”

I exaggerate a head nod, and Aly bounces on her sneakers. “Really? See, normally, I’m a brownie purist. Cookies, cupcakes, tarts; I go wild with those, but brownies are my religion. But the other day I saw a recipe on Pinterest and it sparked my imagination.” She raises an eyebrow and says, “That site is addictive… for realz.”

“They’re incredible,” I mumble, mouth filled with orange-flavored chocolate. “What’s in here? How did you get it to taste like this? I swear it looks like a normal brownie.”

Aly leans in with wide eyes. “The secret is orange marmalade. Fun, right?”

I nod my agreement and gather every possible crumb, pressing my fingertip into the moist morsels and licking without shame. I consider tonguing my napkin, too, but decide that may be too weird, so instead I break the edge off Cade’s remaining sliver and smile around my bite. He laughs and hands the whole thing over, blowing me a kiss.

He’s good people. 

Aly watches our exchange with happy yet curious eyes, and I can’t help wondering how much she knows. She and Justin parted as friends, surprising since other than me, I never knew him to have friends who are girls. 

“These are delicious,” Cade tells her, and she smiles in gratitude.

“Thanks. When you have a wicked sweet tooth, you learn how to bake pretty quickly.”

I was beyond honored when Rachel asked me to be Aly's kitchen stunt double - to create not just one, but TWO fabulous brownie recipes for Aly to bake in this chapter of THE NATURAL HISTORY OF US. And they really are as delicious as Peyton describes them. Here is the recipe for the Dark Chocolate Orange Brownies, so you can make them yourself. (It's a perfect treat to serve when your book club reads THE NATURAL HISTORY OF US!)

Dark Chocolate Orange Brownies: Aly's recipe from THE NATURAL HISTORY OF US

You can order a signed and/or personalized copy of THE NATURAL HISTORY OF US now through April 8^th HERE! (That's TOMORROW!! Don't miss out!)

And if you haven't read it yet, go grab a copy of Rachel Harris’s

  THE FINE ART OF PRETENDING!

You don't have to read the first book in order to enjoy THE NATURAL HISTORY OF US, but if you haven't already read THE FINE ART OF PRETENDING, you absolutely should. I loved that one too! I absolutely want to be best friends with Aly, and I'm so glad she was back for THE NATURAL HISTORY OF US! And if you liked the brownie recipe from THE NATURAL HISTORY OF US, check out the Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffles recipe I created for THE FINE ART OF PRETENDING! 

About Rachel Harris: New York Times bestselling author Rachel Harris writes humorous love stories about sassy girls-next-door and the hot guys that make them swoon. Vibrant settings, witty banter, and strong relationships are a staple in each of her books…and kissing. Lots of kissing. An admitted Diet Mountain Dew addict and homeschool mom, she gets through each day by laughing at herself, hugging her kids, and watching way too much Food Network with her husband. She writes young adult, new adult, and adult romances, and LOVES talking with readers!    

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Rachel Harris’s THE NATURAL HISTORY OF US– Review & Excerpt Tour Schedule:

March 28^th

For the Love of Books & Alcohol – Excerpt

A Leisure Moment – Review

SnoopyDoo's Book Reviews – Excerpt

Home.Love.Books. – Review

My Nook, Books & More – Excerpt

Swoony Boys Podcast – Review & Excerpt

JOJO THE BOOKAHOLIC – Excerpt

March 29^th

A Crave For Books – Review

Becky on Books – Review & Excerpt

Angel Reads – Review

Girl with a Pen and a Dream – Excerpt

Lovin' Los Libros – Review & Excerpt

I Read Indie – Excerpt

The Phantom Paragrapher – Review

March 30^th

Bookish Things & More – Review & Excerpt

Stuck In Books – Review & Excerpt

Reading Adventurously – Review & Excerpt

Typical Distractions – Review & Excerpt

Crazii Bitches Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

What Is That Book About – Excerpt

March 31^st

Dazzled by Books – Review & Excerpt

Kindle and Me – Review & Excerpt

The Cover Contessa – Review & Excerpt

Book Groupies – Excerpt

We All Make Mistakes in Books – Review & Excerpt

The Bibliophile Confessions – Review & Excerpt

Ticket To Anywhere – Review & Excerpt

April 1^st

Bookaholics Reading Haven – Review & Excerpt

Books Eater – Review & Excerpt

SprinkleofBooks – Excerpt

Melena's Reviews – Review & Excerpt

Ficwishes – Review & Excerpt

Gaga Over Books – Review & Excerpt

My fictional escape – Review & Excerpt

April 2^nd

Collector of book boyfriends – Excerpt

Caitlin Audet – Excerpt

Andi's ABCs – Review

My Slanted Bookish Ramblings – Review

A Dream Within A Dream – Excerpt

Defiantly Deviant – Review

Book Briefs – Review

April 3^rd

The Romance Reviews – Review

Cheyanne Young – Review & Excerpt

Adventures in Writing – Excerpt

Reading Between the Wines Book Club – Review

Short and Sassy Book Blurbs – Review & Excerpt

Ashleyz Wonderland – Excerpt

Blogging For The Love Of Authors And Their Books – Review & Excerpt

April 4^th

The bookworms obsession blog – Review

Bookaholics Not-So-Anonymous – Review & Excerpt

Addicted to Books – Review & Excerpt

Bookish Escapes – Review & Excerpt

Adventures of a Book Junkie – Review & Excerpt

The Bookish Thought – Review

Tween 2 Teen Book Reviews – Review & Excerpt

April 5^th

Book it – Review & Excerpt

Julie Antonovich Reece – Excerpt

Book Junkie: Not-So-Anonymous – Review & Excerpt

YA Book Madness – Excerpt

The Book Hammock – Review & Excerpt

A Full Bookshelf – Review

April 6^th

Books and Boys Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

Reading Is My Bliss – Review

Behind Closed Covers – Review & Excerpt

Jackie's Book World – Review

The Procrastinator's Corner – Review & Excerpt

KatyaRath – Review

The book slayer77 – Review

April 7^th

Southern Vixens Book Obsessions – Excerpt

The Lovely Books – Review

thebookdragon – Review & Excerpt

Aira Reads – Review

Reviews from the Heart – Review & Excerpt

Literary Misfit – Review & Excerpt

Love & Life & Learning – Review & Excerpt

April 8^th

Alpha Book Club – Excerpt

Crawling Over the Pages – Review

Three chicks and their books – Review & Excerpt

Reviews By Rah – Review & Excerpt

All For Love of the Word – Excerpt

Library of a Book Witch – Review & Excerpt

The Bookmark Blog – Review & Excerpt

 

Giant Valentine's Day eBook Giveaway!

It's almost Valentine's Day, and love is in the air.
And what better way to celebrate than with a boatload of fabulous books? Some of my favorite authors and I want to give you a present this Valentine's Day! Scroll down to the Rafflecopter form at the bottom of this post to enter one of TWO big bundles of eBooks.

There's a YA bundle:

 including TWELVE STEPS (my own debut novel), EFFORTLESS WITH YOU and BRING THE RAIN by Lizzy Charles, DON'T FALL by Rachel Schieffelbein, ROAD TO SOMEWHERE by Kelly Lynn & Jenny S. Morris, SECRET CATCH by Cassie Mae and Jessica Salyer, HOME IS WHERE YOU ARE by Tessa Marie, and FRACTION OF STONE by Kelley Lynn

... and an NA/Adult romance bundle:

THE REAL THING by Cassie Mae, EYES TURNED SKYWARD and FULL MEASURES by Rebecca Yarros, DEFYING REASON by Elizabeth Seckman, LOVE AND CUPCAKES by Susan Bishop Crispell, OVER THE OCEAN by Georgia St. Mane, and SING FOR ME by Gracie Madison


You definitely want to enter this giveaway!! I can personally recommend DON'T FALL, EFFORTLESS WITH YOU, and LOVE AND CUPCAKES, as I've read and adored each of these books. (Obviously, I also personally recommend TWELVE STEPS.) Most of the other books in these bundles have been on my personal "to read" list for a while. I'm already jealous of the lucky winners!! (I can't wait to read Lizzy Charles' newest book: BRING THE RAIN, and I've adored everything I've read so far from Cassie Mae.) 

Update!! I got to read an advance copy of BRING THE RAIN, and it was amazing! My review is on Goodreads here.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

(Note: Rafflecopter is a little quirky, and it kind of looks like this form is only for the YA bundle ... but if you click the little arrow under the prize information, you'll see that it's also an entry form for the NA/Adult prize package.) 

I'm a Pitch Wars Mentor Again!

I'm so excited to be a mentor for 
Pitch Wars again this year!
(looking for YA this time around)

Last year was so much fun! I got to mentor three fabulous middle grade writers as they polished and perfected their manuscripts, in addition to all of the other amazing writers I met through the process, who I still count among my dear friends. If for no other reason, the lasting connections we make are the best reason for participating in online pitch contests like Pitch Wars.

So why do you want me as your 

Pitch Wars Mentor?

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books a Million | iBooks | Kobo

I write in all age categories of children’s literature, from Picture Books to Young Adult, so I can bring a unique perspective to the process that other mentors may not have.  My debut novel, a Young Adult contemporary romance called TWELVE STEPS, released on 25 March 2014, and reviews have been great so far. Last October, I caught my amazing agent, Jessica Sinsheimer's attention with my middle grade novel, LETTERS FROM HEAVEN, and I also write picture books. 

Want to learn more about me? I have a list of links to recent interviews on my About Me page. Also, in case you missed it, last March I got to participate in a great online panel about being an introvert vs. being an extrovert in the publishing world, with Elizabeth Flora Ross and two of my favorite literary agents, Jessica Sinsheimer and Connor Goldsmith. (Jessica is one of the agents for Pitch Wars again this year, so this video interview is a great way to get to know her as well!)

 Through contests like Pitch Wars and connections I've made on Twitter, I've also helped dozens of writers with polishing their queries and manuscripts, 

See? It's official. I'm awesome. ;)

and many of them have gone on to find success in the query trenches and in online pitch contests like this one. In fact, one of my critique partners had an extremely popular pitch in last September’s Pitch Madness contest, spurring a bidding war between agents, which later led to not only an agent success story, but a three book deal! Another critique partner just signed with an agent (and I have no doubt her fabulous book will be snapped up soon.) And just a few weeks ago, one of my other critique partners announced her own two-book deal.

Even Brenda Drake, the contest queen herself, thinks I'm pretty awesome. (See? I have proof!)

Now, I'm not necessarily saying that choosing you as your mentor will guarantee amazing things will happen to you ... I'll just let the results speak for themselves. *winks*

So now that we've established the fact that you want ME to be your Pitch Wars Mentor, you're probably wondering what types of manuscripts I'm looking for, right?

This year, I'm a mentor for Young Adult! 

Specifically, I'm hoping to find:

*  YA Contemporary Romance -- This is my absolute favorite (as you probably guessed, based on my own books). I love a good "fluff" book (sometimes, cotton candy is exactly what the doctor ordered, after all), but I also adore a book that can balance romance and bigger issues in a hopeful, upbeat way. A couple of my recent favorites are THE BREAK-UP ARTIST by Philip Siegel and the CAMP BOYFRIEND series by J.K. Rock.

* Retellings -- I'm a sucker for taking well-known stories, like fairy tales, folk tales or titles from classic literature and giving them a new, fresh twist. Some YA favorites recently are DON'T FALL by Rachel Schieffelbein and OLIVIA TWISTED by Vivi Barnes

* Science Fiction -- I've always loved Isaac Asimov. In fact, I try to read his "Nightfall" collection of short stories at least once every couple of years. And I absolutely loved CINDER by Marissa Meyer. I'd love to find something with a similar feel. (I'm a little burned out on dystopian books these days. If your sci-fi story has a dystopian feel to it, I may not be the mentor for you.)

* I’m an incurable optimist, so I prefer stories with an upbeat outlook. If you write super-dark, serious books, I’m probably not the mentor for you. To be clear, I don’t shy away from serious issues, but I love to laugh. And if you can make me laugh and cry in the same manuscript, you’re golden.

No matter what the genre or plot, I’m looking for strong characters, a great story, and a unique voice. If your YA manuscript fits the bill, you definitely want me as your mentor. :)

If I'm not the mentor for you, there are many other fabulous mentors to choose from. Even more than last year!

Mister Linky's Magical Widgets -- Easy-Linky widget will appear right here!
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More details about Pitch Wars here, and 
you can find a list of this year's participating agents here.

Twelve Days of TWELVE STEPS #3: Thank You!

My daughter decided that, since my book is called TWELVE STEPS, we absolutely have to do something to celebrate the release for each of the twelve days leading up to the big day. So of course, we have lots of fun family celebrations planned, all linking to our favorite scenes and the lines that make us grin. However, as we were planning our activities, we realized that most of our celebrations only make sense if you've read the book. And we didn't want to spoil the surprise of our favorite scenes by explaining all of the inside jokes. But of course, we wanted to include all of you too!

So each day for the twelve days leading up to March 25, we'll be sharing non-spoilery favorite quotes with a new teaser graphic every day. And each day, I'll share something special and book-related with you as well: recipes, sneak peeks, giveaways and more!

Writing TWELVE STEPS was so much fun! I loved stepping into Andi's shoes and becoming the girl I kind of always wanted to be when I was in high school, even if it was only for a few hours each day. Andi is spunky and fun. She knows exactly what she wants, and she's not afraid to go for it. And I'd like to think that getting to know her a bit has helped me to develop those qualities, at least to some extent, in myself.

But the best part about writing this book was hiding real people and places in the story. I wanted to send out a massive thank-you to all of the people who have influenced me over the years, who helped me become the writer I am in so many little ways. But to truly acknowledge everyone, my formal acknowledgements pages would have been longer than the book itself. So I slipped these awesome and amazing people into the story instead. Maybe by naming a character after them. Or by throwing in a reference to some of the real-life mischief we got into back in the day.

Still, some of you may not realize, even in a close reading of TWELVE STEPS, that you are woven into the story.

In my original draft, for example, I named characters after every single one of my nieces and nephews. Not all of those scenes made it through to the final draft, but I still smile each time I read the finished story, knowing that these characters exist in Andi's world. (To my nieces and nephews who don't find their names on these pages: Rest assured. I have other stories waiting to be born.And many characters who need names!)

And then, there's the boy who inspired Nick Carver, my absolute favorite minor character in TWELVE STEPS. I had a crush on this boy for years, but I never worked up the courage to tell him. I had so many crushes back in high school (I used to keep a running list of at least ten boys, so I'd never have to worry about being crushed by my crush!), but this boy was special. He had a lot of admirers. Almost every girl I knew had a crush on him at one point or another, and I didn't want to be just a part of the crowd. So I never wrote his name on my official list, and I almost never mentioned him in my diary. But I totally floated through the day every single time he said hi to me in the halls.

And no, I'm not going to reveal his name here either. But I will share a story, and maybe this boy will read it someday and remember the moment, and then he'll know he was important to me.

When I was in ninth grade, my family moved across the state, from Rock Springs, Wyoming to Cheyenne. I'd had very few close friends in Rock Springs, and because I was painfully shy, I was certain I wouldn't make any friends in my new hometown. And even though some amazing people welcomed me with open arms and pulled me into the social scene at Carey Jr. High (Thank you, Monica, Amy, Jason, Jon, Sean, Bryan, Scott, Christy and Jenni!), I still felt like no one ever noticed me personally. I was certain that, when my group of outgoing and amazing friends weren't around, I simply faded into the background as the invisible girl.

Then, midway through the year, we had a giant writing project in our English literature class. And our teacher announced that on the day we were to present our papers to the class, we could bring in treats to share and make a party of it.

I passed around a plate of my favorite double chocolate chip cookies, and sat nervously in a circle on the floor with the rest of my class. Of course, the teacher called on me first to read my essay. And I thought I might hyperventilate, as every set of eyes watched me read. But then this boy, who was sitting directly across from me in the circle, smiled at me, and he looked like he was genuinely interested in what I had to say. So I ignored everyone else and read my essay just to him. And I made it through.

He asked questions. He pointed out the sections that he really liked in my essay. Others joined in the discussion, and I felt, for the first time, like people really noticed me for who I am, and not just for the friends I hid behind.

Then, other people read their essays, and the class discussion moved on. But this boy kept smiling at me every time our eyes met across the circle. And he interrupted several other people to ask "Can someone pass me another one of Veronica's cookies?" until the teacher finally got frustrated and gave him the rest of the plate.

And it's such a silly, little thing. This boy liked the cookies I baked for an English literature class back in 9th grade, and it made me feel so important and worthwhile that to this day, every time I'm feeling down, I'll bake cookies or some other decadent dessert and give it to someone else for an instant mood lift. And each time, I remember that moment when I felt invisible, and that one special boy noticed me. He became Nick Carver, the "super-hot fairy godfather, changing Cinderella's ragged self-esteem into a beautiful ego made of awesome."

To that boy, if you read this: Thank you!

Previous | Next

Twelve Days of TWELVE STEPS #5: An Exclusive Excerpt!

My daughter decided that, since my book is called TWELVE STEPS, we absolutely have to do something to celebrate the release for each of the twelve days leading up to the big day. So of course, we have lots of fun family celebrations planned, all linking to our favorite scenes and the lines that make us grin. However, as we were planning our activities, we realized that most of our celebrations only make sense if you've read the book. And we didn't want to spoil the surprise of our favorite scenes by explaining all of the inside jokes. But of course, we wanted to include all of you too!

So each day for the twelve days leading up to March 25, we'll be sharing non-spoilery favorite quotes with a new teaser graphic every day. And each day, I'll share something special and book-related with you as well: recipes, sneak peeks, giveaways and more!

You can pre-order TWELVE STEPS on Amazon and iTunes now, and they'll be delivered automatically to your reading device on March 25th. (For those of you with a Nook, TWELVE STEPS isn't yet up on Barnes and Noble, but I'll be sure to post a link as soon as it's available. Only five more days!!) But you don't have to wait another five days to meet Andi, because today, I'm sharing the first chapter of TWELVE STEPS with you!

Chapter One
There should be a support group for kids with perfect siblings. Something like AlaTeen, but without the drug talk. We could sit around and chat about how our flawless family members are systematically destroying our lives.

“Hello, my name is Andrea Andersen, and I am a second-class sibling.” And if my sister weren’t so freakishly perfect, I wouldn’t still be grounded.

I grab the last handful of hangers out of my closet and hurl the clothes onto the growing pile on my bed. It’s not like one little D in biology would have ruined my life. My A-plus in history should have balanced it out.

After more than a week of serious butt kissing, I almost convinced Mom to ease up on my sentence, but then Laina piped up with “maybe if you stopped skipping class, you wouldn’t be failing.”

Well, maybe if Mr. Keeler didn’t always compare me with Laina, I wouldn’t need to ditch.

I throw my shoes, one by one, into the middle of my bedroom floor. I’m so not in the mood to sort through my clothes for Laina’s annual clothing drive.

I ignore a sharp knock, but Mom opens my door anyway. “Jarod’s here,” she says. “You can talk for ten minutes.”

I scramble to my feet, smoothing my clothes and yanking my hair into a loose bun.

Jarod never comes over for just me. Even when I used to help him run lines for the school play, he always made sure Laina would be around. I’ve always been an excuse for him to drool over the Princess of Perfection. Even though I was friends with Jarod first, my sister was the one he noticed.

But I’ve been grounded for nearly two weeks. Maybe he’s missed me.

“Are you sure he wanted me?” I ask. “Not Laina?”

Mom sighs and looks at me like I’m stupid. “He said it was important. And your ten minutes start now.” She pushes a button to start the stopwatch feature on her phone and stalks off toward her bedroom.

I scurry in the opposite direction, grateful for once that Mom plays favorites. She wouldn’t give me even ten minutes for anyone other than Jarod.

Ironically, I might have had a real chance with him if it weren't for mom's lopsided angel food cake and Mrs. Johnson's extra crispy brownies at the Much Ado About Nothing cast reception.

Jarod and I were extras together in the community theater production, back in the summer before Jarod and Laina started junior high. We bonded over a mutual love of Shakespeare, and I was almost sure he liked me, too.

But then my sister decided to watch my rehearsals.

The minute Laina walked into the auditorium with her tight tops, short skirts and newly-sprouted boobs, Jarod totally forgot I was alive. He got so distracted watching her that the director had to give Jarod’s one line to another actor.

When our mothers bonded over their failed desserts, Mrs. Johnson mentioned Jarod’s “little crush,” and Mom flew into full-on matchmaker mode. She pushed Laina into Jarod’s life every chance she could get, even convincing the Johnsons to start attending worship services with us on Sundays, “so the kids could get to know each other better.”

Laina and Jarod have been practically joined at the hip ever since.

For the past six years, I’ve been nothing but Laina’s freckled and awkward, metal-mouthed, frizzy-haired, little sister. And even though I ditched the braces last fall and I finally figured out how to use a straightening iron on my hair without frying the ends, I didn’t think Jarod would ever see me as anything more than Laina’s little sister.

But this time, he’s here for me.

At the end of the hall, I stop to gather my composure and plan my approach. I pull a few strands of hair out of my bun to frame my face and check my reflection in the mirror hanging in the middle of some old family photos. Quickly flipping through a catalog of emotions, I decide my safest bet is to appear slightly bored, yet curious. Jarod would totally shut down if I came on too strong.

Mom only gave me ten minutes to work my magic. I can’t blow this by getting all squealy and excited.

Thomas Jefferson once said, “Nothing gives a person so much advantage over another as to remain always cool and unruffled under all circumstances.” And I need every advantage I can get.

I walk into the living room and manage not to trip over my own feet when Jarod smiles at me. “Hey,” I say in my best casual voice. “What’s up?”

Jarod takes a step toward me and looks over my shoulder. “Your mom isn’t going to come in here, is she? This is kind of private.” He’s close enough that I can feel his warm breath on my cheek.

I shiver and shove my hands into my pockets, so he won’t see them shaking. It would be so easy to turn my head just a fraction of an inch and kiss him, but Jarod’s kind of a traditionalist. I have to let him make the first move, or I risk scaring him off.

“No, I have at least eight more minutes before the warden sends me back to solitary confinement.” I move to the couch and collapse onto the soft cushions. Hugging one of mom’s giant throw pillows to my chest, I take a deep breath to slow my pulse and calm my quivering nerves.

His mouth curls up into a slow, sexy grin and I have to look away. I concentrate on separating the strands of fringe along the edge of the throw pillow as he crosses the room. Anything to distract myself.

Jarod stands over me and pulls on one of my loose curls. “Did I catch you in the middle of a nap?” he asks. “You look a little out of it.” I’m suddenly ultra-conscious of my rumpled sweats. I wish I’d taken time to change into something sexier.

I ditch the pillow and resist the urge to fix my hair. I have to be cool and unruffled. “Nope. Just rockin’ the can’t-leave-the-house casual look today. And you’re stalling.” I pat the cushion beside me. “What do you need?”

Jarod perches on the opposite edge of the couch and clasps his hands in his lap. A second later, he stands up again. A slow blush creeps across his cheeks, and he wipes his palms on his jeans. He runs his fingers through his dark hair, and then he sits down, a few inches closer to me.

I wait while he picks at an imaginary speck of lint on the couch cushion between us. I’ve never seen him so nervous. Not even around Laina.

I lick my lips. I’m not going to kiss him first, but it doesn’t hurt to be ready.

“I need you,” he finally says, reaching out to take my hand and gazing into my eyes.

This is the point where I usually wake up. I pinch my arm hard enough to leave an angry, red welt, but Jarod is still here, still smiling at me, still waiting for me to say something.

Oh, crap, he’s waiting for me to say something.

I take a deep breath to calm the miniature acrobats practicing backflips in my stomach. But Jarod is tracing lazy circles on the back of my hand with his thumb, and there’s no calming my bubbling insides. He leans closer, and the smell of his watermelon-mint gum mixed with the musky scent of his cologne is nearly enough to drive me over the edge.

I pull back a bit. Not enough so I’ll seem uninterested, but enough that he’ll have to put in some effort when he decides to go for it. “You do?” My casual voice is gone, replaced by a nervous squeak.

“I do.” He smiles and releases my hand. “I’ve tried everything, but Laina still won’t go out with me.”

“Yeah,” I say, leaning in to seal his confession with a kiss. I can’t believe Jarod Johnson wants me. He needs me. He—Wait, what?

“Thanks, Andi. You’re a great friend. I knew I could count on you to talk to her for me.” He hugs me and then slumps against the back of the couch with a grin.

I want to slap that smile right off his face. To scream and cry and beg him to love me. But of course, I won’t. This isn’t some cheesy soap opera. Real life takes finesse. Now, more than ever, I have to remain unruffled and in control. Because Laina’s had Jarod on a string for six years.

She’s had her chance with him.

I yawn and peel myself off the couch, stretching slowly. “Yeah, well, if that’s all you need, I guess I’d better get back to my room. I’m pretty sure my ten minutes are up.” I saunter out of the room, careful not to let any kind of emotion show.

I totally need a twelve-step program.

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Twelve Days of TWELVE STEPS #6

My daughter decided that, since my book is called TWELVE STEPS, we absolutely have to do something to celebrate the release for each of the twelve days leading up to the big day. So of course, we have lots of fun family celebrations planned, all linking to our favorite scenes and the lines that make us grin. However, as we were planning our activities, we realized that most of our celebrations only make sense if you've read the book. And we didn't want to spoil the surprise of our favorite scenes by explaining all of the inside jokes. But of course, we wanted to include all of you too!

So each day for the twelve days leading up to March 25, we'll be sharing non-spoilery favorite quotes with a new teaser graphic every day. And each day, I'll share something special and book-related with you as well: recipes, sneak peeks, giveaways and more!

Today, I'll be chatting about TWELVE STEPS and running a series of giveaways on Twitter. Up for grabs: swag packages, a signed print of the picture my husband drew of Andi, and maybe a surprise or two! Follow me (@vbartles) and the hashtag #12D12S for little bits of trivia and chances to win throughout the day!

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Twelve Days of TWELVE STEPS #7: Exclusive Sneak Peek at My Teen Diary!

My daughter decided that, since my book is called TWELVE STEPS, we absolutely have to do something to celebrate the release for each of the twelve days leading up to the big day. So of course, we have lots of fun family celebrations planned, all linking to our favorite scenes and the lines that make us grin. However, as we were planning our activities, we realized that most of our celebrations only make sense if you've read the book. And we didn't want to spoil the surprise of our favorite scenes by explaining all of the inside jokes. But of course, we wanted to include all of you too!

So each day for the twelve days leading up to March 25, we'll be sharing non-spoilery favorite quotes with a new teaser graphic every day. And each day, I'll share something special and book-related with you as well: recipes, sneak peeks, giveaways and more!

They always say you should write what you know. I don't know who "they" are, but I must admit, I had a ton of fun fitting in snippets of real life as I was writing TWELVE STEPS. I thought about sharing with you a page from my actual teenage diary that directly inspired a scene in TWELVE STEPS, but there were so many identifying phrases that I thought it might embarrass the real people involved in the making of that scene, so I'll leave you to guess and to wonder which TWELVE STEPS scene was inspired by real-life events. (There may or may not be more than one.)

A couple of weeks ago, in a discussion among members of Rachel Harris' Flirt Squad (of which I'm a proud member!), I mentioned that I always had a list of current crushes, so I wouldn't have to focus my full attention on any one boy. (It was safer that way. If my crush turned out to be a jerk, I could simply remove him from my list, and I had nine others ready to take his place in my heart.) So today,  I'll share this peek at another page of my teenage diary (names changed to protect the innocent). Boy #3 and Boy #4 both make appearances in TWELVE STEPS. Think you'll be able to figure out who they are?

In case you can't read my messy handwriting, it says:

"Well, it's April Fool's Day (& sister's birthday). How thrilling. I feel like crying for some reason. Last night at work, Boy #1 looked very, quite gorgeous! I never got to talk to him, but I'm just about positive he was watching me. Every time I glanced in his direction, he was looking straight at me, & he'd smile & raise his eyebrows or wave or something. 

"And Boy #2 was being a sweetie too. (He got purple contacts, & his eyes look cool! Thought I'd mention it, even though it's way off the subject.) In fact, everyone was being really nice to me last night. Cool, huh?

"I'm obsessed with Boy #3 since Saturday. I keep seeing the scene when he 1st asked me to dance, over & over again in my mind. I can hardly think of anyone or anything but Boy #3. I still do love Boy #4, & I think about him often, & I miss being able to see him so much. But I'm not (& never was) "obsessed" with him this way! I admit, I do get a little "obsessed" whenever he's mad at me, but not this bad! And I'm never "obsessed" this way. Sure, I love Boy #4, but like a brother or a close friend. I don't love Boy #3, or even claim to. He just drives me crazy, & for some reason, I can't stop thinking about him!"

Pure poetry, right? Is it any wonder I became an author, when even my private diaries were so well-written? ;)

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Twelve Days of TWELVE STEPS: #11

My daughter decided that, since my book is called TWELVE STEPS, we absolutely have to do something to celebrate the release for each of the twelve days leading up to the big day. So of course, we have lots of fun family celebrations planned, all linking to our favorite scenes and the lines that make us grin. However, as we were planning our activities, we realized that most of our celebrations only make sense if you've read the book. And we didn't want to spoil the surprise of our favorite scenes by explaining all of the inside jokes. But of course, we wanted to include all of you too!

So each day for the next twelve days, we'll be sharing non-spoilery favorite quotes with a new teaser graphic every day. And each day, I'll share something special and book-related with you as well: recipes, sneak peeks, giveaways and more!

Today, Dee Romito is unveiling my official TWELVE STEPS book trailers on her blog! Pop on over to see not one but TWO great trailers put together by a couple of the best teen readers I know. (I may be a bit biased.) And then go vote for your favorite trailer in the ABC Public Library Teen Tech Week Book Trailer Contest (voting open until 5pm Mountain Time today)!


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Last Minute Call for Help

I posted the link on Twitter and Facebook, but I thought I'd put the call for help out here as well. I'm finishing up the absolute final revisions on TWELVE STEPS before it goes to press tomorrow, but there's one detail I've been trying to figure out for months unsuccessfully. Should Jarod Johnson, the boy Andi's been crushing on for years, have brown or blond hair?

Voting closes at 10pm EST tonight (21 Feb 2014). Please click this link and cast your vote!

Book Review + Giveaway: CAMP BOYFRIEND by J.K. Rock

Camp Boyfriend (Camp Boyfriend #1) by JK Rock
Young Adult Contemporary Romance

I recently participated in the cover reveal and book blitz for CAMP CHRISTMAS (#1.5 in J.K. Rock's Camp Boyfriend series), and I realized that I never posted a review for the book that started it all: CAMP BOYFRIEND.

Cover Reveal: TWELVE STEPS by Veronica Bartles (That's Me!!!)

I'm so excited to share the beautiful cover for my debut novel, TWELVE STEPS, with you!!

Back to School Romance Tour: THE FUNERAL SINGER by Linda Budzinski and HOW TO DATE A NERD by Cassie Mae

I'm so excited to be a part of the Swoon Romance Back to School blog hop!! This tour features two amazing books: 

 The Funeral Singer by Linda Budzinski 

and How to Date a Nerd by Cassie Mae

The Funeral Singer by Linda Budzinski:

Find it on Goodreads / Amazon 

Being a funeral singer was a dead-end job until it led her to him ...

Seventeen-year-old Melanie Martin has witnessed her share of lame eulogies and uninspired epitaphs while singing part-time at her dad's funeral home. She's determined to be more than a funeral singer, more than just somebody's "beloved wife" or "loving mother." 

When Mel's impromptu rendition of "Amazing Grace" at a local rock star's graveside service goes viral on YouTube, she becomes an Internet sensation, gains thousands of fans and followers, and snags a hot rock star boyfriend--Zed Logan, bass player for The Grime. 

But instant fame isn’t easy—and neither is love. Especially when Mel realizes she’s falling for another guy—one who may just want her heart more than her voice…


My thoughts:


Painfully shy, but afraid she'll die unnoticed, Mel is only ever comfortable when she loses herself in her music, whether she's singing at a funeral or in the school choir. But when that singing gets her noticed by the rock icon she's been crushing on for years, she doesn't know how to handle the instant fame. But this is more than a book about stepping out of the shadows into fame and fortune. Melanie has to find a new way of defining herself and her relationships with friends and family. And I absolutely adored her best friends, Lana and Pete. (I'd love to read a sequel about one of them!)

Okay, so I admit, I signed up to read an advance copy of THE FUNERAL SINGER mainly because I really wanted to participate in the blog tour for HOW TO DATE A NERD, and the tour was running together for both titles. I was never the girl who had celebrity crushes and dreams of becoming a rock star (well, except for that one year when my sister, cousins and I decided we'd be the next big girl group and spent a whole day dreaming about it before we fought over who would be the lead singer or some such nonsense). I wasn't sure if I'd connect with Melanie's story. Of course, I didn't realize that THE FUNERAL SINGER is so much more than the cliched, overnight sensation Cinderella story. It's about friendships and finding yourself, second (and third) chances,  and becoming the amazing person you were destined to be, even when the path is totally terrifying.

Find Lina Budzinski on Twitter / Facebook / Blog / Swoon Romance Author Page

About the Author

Linda Acorn Budzinski decided in the second grade that she wanted to be a “Paperback Writer,” just like in the Beatles song. She majored in journalism in college and now works in marketing and communications. She spent 18 years at a trade association in the funeral service industry, where she discovered that funeral directors are some of the bravest and most compassionate people on earth. Linda lives in Northern Virginia with her husband, Joe, and their chihuahua, Demitria. She has two step-daughters, Eris and Sarah. THE FUNERAL SINGER is her debut novel. She is represented by Andrea Somberg of Harvey Klinger Inc.

How to Date a Nerd by Cassie Mae 

Find it on Goodreads / Amazon

Zoe has a great pair of legs, perky boobs, and wears exactly what she needs to show it all off. She works hard for the easy sleazy ‘you only wish you were me’ reputation, burying who she really is—an all-out nerd.

The only time Zoe gets to be herself is when she hides under her comforter to read X-Men comics, sending jealousy stabs at everyone who attends Comic-Con. Keeping up her popular rep is too important, and she’s so damn insecure to care about the consequences. But when Zoe’s sister takes her car for a ‘crash and burn into a tree’ joyride, her parents get her a replacement. A manual. Something she doesn’t know how to operate, but her next door neighbor Zak sure as heck does.

Zak’s a geek to the core, shunned by everyone in school for playing Dungeons and Dragons at lunch and wearing “Use the Force” t-shirts. And Zoe’s got it bad for the boy. Only Zak doesn’t want Popular Zoe. He wants Geek Zoe.

She has to shove her insecurities and the fear of dropping a few rungs on the social ladder aside to prove to Zak who she really is and who she wants to be… if she can figure it out herselfto get it -- and her -- in the process.

My thoughts:

Zoe and her next-door-neighbor Zak were bullied and teased in middle school. They bonded over comic books and video games and all things nerdy, and they were total best friends. But when Zoe had a chance to change her image and her reputation before starting high school, she jumped at it. And for the past few years, she's been "popular Zoe" - the girl who prefers mini skirts to mini figs and who would never be caught dead playing Dungeons and Dragons. The girl who hangs out at the mall with her friends and would never admit to knowing the names of all the X-men. The girl who has to pretend she's not still head-over-heels in love with her former best friend.

My heart ached for Zoe, I loved her like crazy, and I wanted to slap some sense into her all at once. And Zak!! *swoon* You know I love the good guys. My heart flutters for a nice boy who treats a girl with respect and who's more interested in her happiness than his own pleasure. Zak is a classic knight-in-shining-armor. Of course he's not perfect (perfect is beyond boring), but my heart skipped a beat every time he came rushing to Zoe's rescue.

I received the review copy for this book while I was on vacation (at the beach) with my family, and I spent an entire afternoon reading instead of playing in the ocean, because I just had to know what happened next! I can't wait for Cassie's next book!!

Find Cassie Mae on Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest / Blog / Swoon Romance Author Page

About the Author

Cassie Mae is a nerd to the core from Utah, who likes to write about other nerds who find love. Her angel children and perfect husband fan her and feed her grapes while she clacks away on the keyboard. Then she wakes up from that dream world and manages to get a few words on the computer while the house explodes around her. When she’s not writing, she’s spending time with the youth in her community as a volleyball and basketball coach, or searching the house desperately for chocolate.

Cassie Mae is an Amazon.com bestselling author of the teen contemporary romance novel REASONS I FELL FOR THE FUNNY FAT FRIEND, which she self-published. In addition to publishing with Swoon Romance, she is published by Random House Flirt.