Blog on the Run: Going Down

NEW RELEASE | MAKING UP by Helena Hunting

Hi there! Thanks for joining me in the release of MAKING UP, a new romantic comedy by Helena Hunting and a new installment in the Shacking Up series. Are you ready?

Blurb:

Cosy Felton is great at her job—she knows just how to handle the awkwardness that comes with working at an adult toy store. So when the hottest guy she’s ever seen walks into the shop looking completely overwhelmed, she’s more than happy to turn on the charm and help him purchase all of the items on his list.

Griffin Mills is using his business trip in Las Vegas as a chance to escape the broken pieces of his life in New York City. The last thing he wants is to be put in charge of buying gag gifts for his friend’s bachelor party. Despite being totally out of his element, and mortified by the whole experience, Griffin is pleasantly surprised when he finds himself attracted to the sales girl that helped him.

As skeptical as Cosy may be of Griffin’s motivations, there’s something about him that intrigues her. But sometimes what happens in Vegas doesn’t always stay in Vegas and when real life gets in the way, all bets are off. Filled with hilariously awkward situations and enough sexual chemistry to power Sin City, Making Up is the next standalone in the Shacking Up world.

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Amazon US | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | Amazon AU

Apple Books | NOOK | Kobo | Google Play

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My review:

It's safe to say I love this series. Even tough, it would be more accurate to say I adore Helena Hunting's books. The Shacking Up world is filled with crazy, fun, sexy and loving characters, and this book was no different.

Romantic comedies have a way to make you feel good, to lift your spirits and turn your day in something better, and that's what I look on a book. To disconnect from real life and lose myself in the story while smiling. Cosy and Griffin hit it up since the first chapter.

Cosy works in a sex shop, and Griffin was the mysterious man in a suit who entered that store to buy son toys, allegedly for a bachelor party. Their exchanges made me laugh, and every time ever since they were close to each other I found myself rooting for them.

If you're looking for a good book to spend your day, to take with you to the pool or the beach, to fall in love and have fun, this is the one. You can go wrong with Helena Hunting's writing. She never disappoints.

I loved Griffin's story, and I also loved Cosy. They were just perfect! Making Up will steal your heart, seduce you and entertain you. It was so easy to fall in love with these characters. Now I can't wait to read the next installment in this wonderful series.

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, by Miriam Meza

COVER REVEAL | HANDLE WITH CARE by Helena Hunting

Hi there!! Thanks for joining me in the cover reveal for Helena Hunting's upcoming book in the Shaking Up World!

By now you may already know how much I love this author. I discovered her a looong time ago through a guy called Hayden, and later I fell in love with her Pucked series. After that I've read every single book she has published, and let me tell you. She never let me down.

Now it's time for me to share with you some details about HANDLE WITH CARE, so scroll down and take a look.

Title: HANDLE WITH CARE

Release Date: August 27th, 2019

Hero: Lincoln Moorehead

Need a refresher as to who the heck Lincoln is inside The Shacking Up World?

Lincoln is Armstrong Moorehead's older brother. You don't get to meet him directly in any of the previous books, but he's mentioned in Hooking Up.

You may remember Armstrong as the douchey ex-fiance/husband of Amalie Whitfield's in Shacking Up and her very short term husband in Hooking Up. Their marriage last all of 12 hours since Armstrong go caught cheating on Amalie during their wedding reception. Super classy right? Imagine what it would be like to be his brother.

Blurb/Summary: To be Announced--Myself and my team at SMP are working on this, so once we have it ready to go we'll share it with you! I have an excerpt for you to share with the cover in the meantime.

PREORDER LINKS

AMAZON US | AMAZON CA | AMAZON UK |

iBooks | NOOK | Kobo | Google Play → TBA

Mass Market Paperback Preorder

Amazon | B&N | Chapters | Indie Bound | BAM

Add it to Goodreads → http://bit.ly/GRHandleWChh

EXCERPT

NOTE: This is an unedited excerpt and is subject to change.

I’m startled out of my thoughts when my brother jumps up and shouts a bunch of profane nonsense, hands flailing like he’s trying to swim on land, or approximate the chicken dance while on an LSD trip.

“You can’t do this! It’s absolute bullshit!” Armstrong yells.

I look around the table, trying to piece together what I missed.

“I’m sorry, Armstrong. I know this is a shock, but we feel it’s in the company’s best interest to put Lincoln at the helm during this transitional stage,” G-mom says firmly.

At the helm? I look to G-mom who’s busy not looking at me.

Armstrong jabs at finger at himself. “But I’m the one who’s put in all the time here! I deserve to run the company! Lincoln doesn’t know the first thing about Moorehead. All he knows how to do is dig wells and forage for food in the wilderness. How are those valuable assets here?” He turns his attention to our mother. “Did you know about this? How can you let this happen? Look at him. How can that be the face of our company? He looks like he crawled out of a gutter and mugged a twenty-year-old college kid on a bender. How is this better for our bottom line?”

My mother clasps her hands in front of her. “I’m sorry, Armstrong, but this decision wasn’t mine to make. I know this is hard for you, but your grandmother and fath—”

Armstrong stomps his foot, exactly as a toddler would. “The company is mine! Lincoln can’t have it!”

I raise a hand, half to quiet my brother and also to find out what the freaking deal is. “Whoa, let’s back this bus up. Can someone explain what’s going on?”

“You’ve been appointed as the CEO of Moorehead Media, according to the will,” Christophe—no R, because that would make it far too pedestrian a name—my father’s lawyer says.

I’m working on trying to remain calm as I address my grandmother. “You didn’t say anything about me being CEO. You said you needed my help.”

“Running the company, yes,” she says through a practiced, stiff smile.

It’s her warning face, but seriously, when she said she needed my help for a few months I figured it meant I’d be keeping Armstrong in line while she sorted out who was going to take over the company, which I realize now was a stupid assumption.

“I didn’t think that meant CEO. How am I going to run a company with this dickhead on staff?” I motion to my brother.

“The name calling is unnecessary,” G-mom replies.

“Lincoln’s not even part of this family! He hasn’t attended one event in the past five years except for Dad’s funeral. He didn’t bother coming to my wedding and now he’s going to run the company? How is that fair?”

I snort. “Your wedding was an expensive joke.”

He crosses his arms over his chest. “I was set up. Amalie had cold feet and made me out to look like the bad guy.”

The woman beside him shoots him disgusted look.

Armstrong clears his throat and tugs at his collar. “My wedding is not the real issue. The point is that you’ve never involved yourself in any part of this family and now you think you can come in and take over. I will not stand by and let this happen!” He keeps jabbing his finger at me, as if he’s engaged in a finger sword fight.

I lean back in my chair and lace my fingers behind my neck. Armstrong has always been reactive. And self-absorbed. For a while it seemed like he finally had it together—back when he was engaged. But ever since that fiasco of a wedding he seems to have come completely unglued. Again. But worse this time. “Someone needs a timeout.”

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, by Miriam Meza

In #NewRelease, Contemporary Romance

Q&A | Let's talk about SHACKING UP with Helena Hunting

Hi, everyone!! Today I'm sharing with you a few questions Helena Hunting answered about her book SHACKING UP, recently published as a Mass Market Paperback.

Have you read it? Probably you'll want to after reading her answers. Take a look!

Q: Bancroft’s exotic pets in Shacking Up are interesting, like the tarantula and ferret. Why those pets in particular?

A: I felt non-traditional pets would make the most sense in this story, especially Franny the ferret because they’re illegal to own in NYC. Ferrets are adorable (and a little stinky) and very much like dogs in the way they play and need your attention and your affection. They also fit into very tight spaces and are incredibly mischievous, making her so much fun to write. Tiny the tarantula is another unconventional pet, particularly since so many people are spider averse, which gave me great material to work with when Bane introduces Ruby to his pets.

Q: What was your favorite scene you wrote, and why?

A: My favourite scene in Shacking Up is when Bane picks Ruby up from work and they finally have the confrontation we’ve all been waiting for. It’s the build up to that moment, the back and forth, the banter, the tension: it all just comes crashing down around them. Bane succumbs to this very alpha behavior and Ruby, being Ruby, calls him right out on it, so we get to witness their verbal spar until they finally give in to each other.

Q: Do you find parts of yourself coming out in any of the characters?

A: I think it’s impossible not to write elements of myself into my characters because they’re a product of my mind. I identify with Ruby’s desire to make it on her own and not rely on anyone for help.

Q: When working on a manuscript, is it easy for you to keep separate ideas for other projects, or what strategies do you use to stay focused?

A: Most of the time I can keep story ideas separate from each other without too much difficulty. I generally write a single book at a time, however, if I get a story idea for a side character in the project I’m working on, I’ll open a new document and jot down some notes so I don’t lose the train of thought before I go back to the original project.

Q: Is there any story about how you came up with the names “Ruby” and “Bancroft?”

A: Bancroft’s name actually came from an incident in my previous profession. Some police officers were visiting (not for anything criminal, which I realize would make this story even more exciting) and this giant of an officer in full uniform including kevlar vest walks into the office. He was so tall he almost had to duck to make it through the doorway. He was incredibly imposing and he clearly picked the right profession based on his size alone. He proceeds to smile all friendly like and introduced himself as Bancroft, so thinking I was being witty, I introduced myself by my last name. He explained that Bancroft was his first name. Embarrassment aside, that name stuck with me and eventually I found the perfect character to use it with.