Teaser #3 from ONLY BETWEEN US

EEK. ONLY BETWEEN US comes out on Tuesday, 9/3/13--and it will spend a very limited time at $.99! I have one more teaser for you, but first, here's the description:

Last semester, Romy escaped from an abusive relationship with the guy she’d thought was the man of her dreams. This semester she’s putting herself back together, determined to reclaim her passion for art and for life. When she signs up for a painting class at the local art co-op, the possibility of passion becomes very real -- in the form of her teacher, Caleb. Both mysterious and seriously hot, Caleb bares his soul on his canvases, and Romy’s fascinated by what she sees.

Caleb is just trying to keep his head above water. Caring for his traumatized, unstable sister is getting harder every day, and his paintings are so dark and bleak that no one is buying. Teaching classes at the co-op is no longer enough, and now he’s going to have to sell more than just his art to the wealthy, sex-starved women in his classes. But when Romy comes along, she makes everything more complicated. She sees the truth in his paintings -- a truth no one else has realized, until now.

Romy and Caleb might have a real shot together -- one that could heal them both. But when ghosts from their pasts re-emerge, determined to keep them apart, will they be strong enough to hold on to each other?

If you're read the other two teasers (which can be found here and here), you see what they think of each other. So ... what could possibly keep these two apart? Several things, actually, but I'll give you a taste of one of them here ... (oh, and pardon the strong language. This is from Caleb's POV, and ... he does that sometimes):

"I wake with a start, nerves jangling. Tense and sweating, I hold my breath. Creak. My stomach turns and I taste bile. Slowly, I sit up and push the sheet aside. I check my phone—3:00 a.m. I stumbled in an hour ago and fell right into bed. I was having a dream. A nightmare, really, the one I have every night. I relax a little and start to lie back.

Creak. No. Not a nightmare. It’s him. He’s here. Did Katie let him in? Why the hell would she ever do that? My bare feet hit the floor and I’m up. I won’t let this happen again. I’ll kill him if I have to.

I’m in the hallway and prowling toward Katie’s bedroom when I catch myself.

What the fuck am I doing?

I force myself to a stop, bracing my hands on the dingy walls. I suck in a long, unsteady breath as my heart punches against my ribs. We’re safe here. It’s only Katie and me. I’m not a kid anymore, and neither is she.

Just in case, I creep to the door of her room and peek in. My sister’s breathing is slow and heavy. She shifts, turning over. Creak. It’s the springs of her bed. Nothing more. I pivot on my heel and lean back against the wall, listening to her sleep. She seems so peaceful, so calm. I wonder what her dreams are like. She won’t tell me. I’m the last person she would tell."

ONLY BETWEEN US will be available for download in just four days ...

Nice and Hot Men of NA: Cade from Faking It

Another week, another hot-but-gentle hero. When I first announced my quest to find these gentlemen of NA, some of you suggested Cora Carmack's work. I loved Losing It--I read it while Hurricane Sandy raged outside, and barely even noticed when the power went out. I recently read her second book, Faking It, and loved it just as much! In fact, I enjoyed these books to such an extent that you can find mention of them in ONLY BETWEEN US!

Ah, Cade. He had his heart broken by Bliss in Losing It, and this book starts with him trying to pick up the pieces. He lost out to the BRITISH guy, and yet he's still trying to be a friend to Garrick and Bliss, even though it hurts him. He is, as his heroine, Max, calls him, a "Golden Boy." He's a genuinely good guy, like the polar opposite of a douchebag. Max, therefore, initially has the incorrect impression that he's bland.

I think this is actually an assumption that many readers make when they hear that a hero is "nice," or isn't an alpha male. They perhaps draw the conclusion that he is without edge, without intrigue or strength or spice. As if the quality of being snarky is what makes a guy interesting. Bleh.

This is why I loved Cade, and how Cora Carmack showed his perspective. I loved that when Cade gets pissed off, his anger is not expressed through cruelty or temper tantrums. He can be forceful, for sure, but he always has this underlying gentleness and control over himself. And he's rock-steady when it comes to being there for the girl he loves, even if it hurts him. That's the epitome of an excellent romance hero, in my opinion.

Cade falls into the category of just-plain-nice. He doesn't have the deep, dark secrets or soul-deep emotional wounds that characterize the damaged-yet-nice heroes like Lucas from Easy or Drew from One Week Girlfriend. That doesn't make him any less compelling, though, especially because he's paired up with a woman who is a perfect match for him.

Have you read Faking It? Do you agree with me about Cade? Any other reading recommendations for me?

SPIRAL is $.99!

My second book, Only Between Us, comes out on 9/3, but as we head into the holiday weekend, I wanted to tell you that SPIRAL, my first book, is only $.99 on Amazon!

Spiral covers some difficult topics, but I've been so grateful for the response readers have had. It's less a light romance and more an intense love story, about hanging tough when life spirals out of control. Oh, but with plenty of sexytimes. :)

Nessa Cavanaugh, psychology student, knows how to stay on an even keel. Despite the urging of her mother and her academic advisor to get a life and have some fun, “all work and no play” sums up her plan to survive her grueling internship year at a children's hospital. She doesn't want to end up like her father, whose constant ups and downs broke her family, and avoiding unnecessary emotional entanglements is a must.

Then she (literally) runs into Dr. Aron Lindstrom in the middle of her disastrous first day on the job. The attraction is instant—and terrifying. Nessa knows she should stay away—especially when she finds out he has a reputation for being a player—but Aron is brilliant, intense, and as sexy as they come. When he challenges her to take a chance on him, her plans to stay focused on work start to crumble.

But what begins as passion takes on a dangerous edge, becoming an emotional roller coaster that’s frighteningly familiar. As things spiral out of control, Nessa must decide whether she should hold on for the ride or run … even if it means leaving her heart behind.

Teaser #2 from ONLY BETWEEN US

I talk a lot about "nice and hot" heroes in NA, and that's because I adore a truly gentle guy. I confess, though, I also love a damaged guy, one with a bit of an edge. Caleb definitely falls into the nice-yet-damaged category, and it's exactly what Romy needs. Here's an excerpt from her POV:

"One minute, we were talking about painting, and the next, he was right there, close enough for me to see the tiny spot on his jaw where he nicked himself shaving, close enough for me to see his pulse beating in the hollow of his throat.

Part of me wanted to crawl into his lap and put my mouth on his. Caleb is undeniably hot, but there’s also something about him that’s vulnerable. It’s like that part of him was calling out to me, begging me to look. Begging me to touch. Like his paintings.

Another part of me wanted to run. Alone, in a park, with a man I don’t know very well. The first time I’ve been that close to a guy in months. Not since Alex, in January, not since that night when everything exploded after weeks of agonizing simmering.

Then Caleb touched me, and it was so gentle that it melted me. His fingers smelled of turpentine and soap—he’d been painting this afternoon, maybe this evening. His skin was warm and rough and my body responded instantly. Just like that, my fears winked out and disappeared, replaced by a restless hunger. We’d been talking about sensation, about how people lose the ability to embrace something for the sheer joy of it without thinking it to death, and that’s what I wanted.

I have a right to this, I’d thought to myself. It’s time for me to experience something for my own pleasure and for no other reason. And as soon as Caleb’s fingertips slid over my skin, I knew he could give that to me."

There you go! For a teaser from Caleb's POV that I posted earlier this week, look here. If you want to read a bit more about the story behind the cover (designed by the fabulous Jennifer Rush) and hear a little more about Romy and Caleb, check out my guest posts here and here at Books Over Boys.

And here's a chance to win a copy of the book before it comes out on 9/3/13:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Teaser #1 from ONLY BETWEEN US (win it before it comes out!)

ONLY BETWEEN US comes out two weeks from TODAY! I can't wait to share Romy and Caleb's story with you guys.

If you're wondering, as is the case with all my books, ONLY BETWEEN US is a standalone story (no cliffhanger! Yay!) with an HEA.

Here's the blurb:

Last semester, Romy escaped from an abusive relationship with the guy she’d thought was the man of her dreams. This semester she’s putting herself back together, determined to reclaim her passion for art and for life. When she signs up for a painting class at the local art co-op, the possibility of passion becomes very real -- in the form of her teacher, Caleb. Both mysterious and seriously hot, Caleb bares his soul on his canvases, and Romy’s fascinated by what she sees.

Caleb is just trying to keep his head above water. Caring for his traumatized, unstable sister is getting harder every day, and his paintings are so dark and bleak that no one is buying. Teaching classes at the co-op is no longer enough, and now he’s going to have to sell more than just his art to the wealthy, sex-starved women in his classes. But when Romy comes along, she makes everything more complicated. She sees the truth in his paintings -- a truth no one else has realized, until now.

Romy and Caleb might have a real shot together -- one that could heal them both. But when ghosts from their pasts re-emerge, determined to keep them apart, will they be strong enough to hold on to each other

And here is a little teaser! It's from Caleb's POV:

"Romy’s destroying me, pure and simple. She’s twisting me up and tearing me apart, and it’s not even hard for her. She does it with a single look, a stroke of her fingers, a few words—kiss me again—finishing me off with the taste of her mouth, the softness of her lips, her sweet, breathless sigh against my ear. She has no idea how powerful she is, how much harder she’s going to make things for me. But I crave her more than I’ve craved anything in a long time, and for once, I want to have something just for me."

 

 

There you have it! If you'd like to add OBU to your to-read shelf, go here.

If you're a blogger and are interested in an e-ARC, please contact me at milaferrerabooks (at) gmail.

And if you'd like to enter for a chance to win an ebook, here you go:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Nice and Hot Men of NA: Matt from Flat-Out Love

Here we are again in my never-ending pursuit of the perfect non-alpha hero. Of course there's nothing wrong with a good alpha, but I've noticed a trend toward heroes who skip past alpha right into scaryland. I can't help my tastes, and also, I'm a mental health professional, so I don't find it romantic to read about relationship dynamics that, to me, seem to have potential for abuse in the future.

ANYWAY, I want to tell you about another book with a NICE GUY hero that I just read and loved. You may have already read it, because it is a best seller. Sometimes I'm a little slow on the uptake, and it takes me a while to read super-popular books. When I do, I always approach with caution, wondering if the book is really worth all the raves. I've been disappointed before.

And so it was that I began Jessica Park's Flat-Out Love with supreme caution. But the concern had evaporated within a few pages, because I was laughing about burritos. This book just made me smile. It was lovely and witty and clever and quirky, confidently written and absolutely fascinating.

Also, there was Matt.

Matt is a very unusual romance lead--he's the nerdy, super-smart, not exceptionally good-looking guy. The one who keeps to himself. He's so buttoned-down that Julie, the heroine, simply can't read him. Jessica Park did such a fabulous job restraining his character and keeping him from showing his cards until just the right time. I loved it because I think Matt is really a realistic guy. Apart from the astronomically high IQ, I mean.

Matt is unselfish and giving, but not in an effusive, emotional way. He is principally concerned with the well-being of his younger sister, Celeste (also a solidly awesome character). He's dependable and calm, but he has an edge to him. He's utterly fierce when it comes to protecting his family. He's no alpha, but he's really strong in a way that I think is more real than a lot of romance heroes. He's more complicated, less likely to give you exactly what you expect. Because Ms. Park was so masterful in her portrayal of him, when he finally shows his vulnerability, it's heartbreaking and powerful.

I expected to like this book, but I didn't expect to love it, let alone REALLY LOVE it. I haven't read anything else like it, and I'm so glad Ms. Park believed in her book and took the path she did to get it to readers. Matt falls into the category of damaged-yet-nice, but he's unique and almost makes me want to put him in a separate category all his own. If you haven't yet read this book and you're looking for something different from the usual fare, you must check out FLAT-OUT LOVE (which happens to be $1.99 at the moment).

What do you think? Have you read this book? Do you agree with me about Matt? Any other reading recommendations for me? (And if you're wondering, yes, Flat-Out Matt is now on my Kindle, because I can't say NO to more Matt!)

Nice and Hot Men of NA: Nate from Picture Perfect

Here I am again! I'm working through my reading list of "nice" NA heroes, and today I've got a great one for you: Nate from Alessandra Thomas's Picture Perfect.

Unlike so many of our NA heroes, Nate isn't really tortured or wounded. Sure, he's got his own story, and it's not all sunshine and rainbows, but he's pretty much got it together and knows what he likes--including Cat Mitchell, his heroine.

Nate is easygoing, and though he can be fierce in defense and support of Cat, he isn't overbearing or disempowering. Just as an example, when he confronts a dude who's wronged Cat, he doesn't immediately jump to using his fists. I think some women like the idea of a guy who's going to throw down on their behalf, but I personally like a man whose responses in an emotional situation are powered more by his prefrontal cortex than his amygdala.

Whew. Just got a little nerdy there. Sorry.

If you like a hero who's nice with capital N (oh ... also, with washboard abs, amazing thighs, a rock-hard chest, and phenomenal stamina), who is a terrific cook and thinks his heroine is the most breathtakingly beautiful thing on two legs, then Nate is the guy for you, and Picture Perfect is definitely one I'd recommend! I so enjoyed this book.

Have you read Picture Perfect? Do you agree with me about Nate? Any other recommendations for my reading list?

Nice and Hot Men of NA: Drew Callahan of One Week Girlfriend and Second Chance Boyfriend

A few weeks ago I posted about wanting recommendations for NA books with heroes who weren't controlling alpha males, and I got so many great suggestions that I think I must have bought at least ten books that day. I'm slowly working my way through them, and I'll post about them as I go!

Today I wanted to feature Drew Callahan, the hero in Monica Murphy's One Week Girlfriend and Second Change Boyfriend. I read these books back to back, and it was so much fun.

So, Drew. He's interesting. As Fable (his heroine) describes him--"he's fucked up." He's one of those damaged nice guys that I love. At the beginning of OWG, he's pretty closed off as a result of things that have happened to him in the past, but little Miss Fable (whom I also adored) cracks him open.

He could so easily have been one of those raging alphas. I mean, he's a football player. He's wealthy. He's a star in his small college town. People know his name and recognize his face (which is, of course, gorgeous). He can have any girl he wants. Ms. Murphy totally could have been excused for making him a drug-abusing womanizer.

I'm really glad she took a different path.

Drew stays away from girls. He doesn't party and drink. Emotionally, he's a bit of a wreck, but he's desperate to keep control of himself. He's sweet and poetic and wants to have a close relationship with his father. And once he's able to sort out his feelings for Fable, he's on a mission to do right by her.

He's not perfect. He has some seriously jealous and possessive impulses, especially in book two. However, what I liked is that he realized they were problematic and tried to deal with himself, because he respected Fable and her independence.

Drew has all the requisite qualities of a swoony hero. And for those of us who love our guys on the gentle-yet-fierce side, he makes for an excellent read, especially if you like a side of vulnerability along with your sexy entrée. He's earned himself a place on my NICE AND HOT MEN OF NA page.

Have you read One Week Girlfriend and Second Chance Boyfriend? Do you agree with me about Drew? Any other recommendations you'd like to offer?