Blog Tour: Third Debt by Pepper Winters - Sneak Peek & Giveaway!

Blurb

“She healed me. She broke me. I set her free. But we are in this together. We will end this together. The rules of this ancient game can’t be broken.”

Nila Weaver no longer recognises herself. She’s left her lover, her courage, and her promise. Two debts down. Too many to go.

Jethro Hawk no longer recognises himself. He’s embraced what he always ran from, and now faces punishment far greater than he feared.

It’s almost time. It’s demanding to be paid.

The Third Debt will be the ultimate test... 

 More Jethro & Nila?  Yes Please!

IT’S LIVE!

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1DZbZEV

iBooks: http://bit.ly/1ufkO3z

Nook: http://bit.ly/1DZctL0

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1xgCSvb

Google Play: http://bit.ly/1DglADL

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HOW HAD THIS happened?

Where did it all go so wrong?

Jethro was supposed to love me. I was supposed to love him.

Yet he’d given me over to his family. He’d bound the ropes, blindfolded my eyes, and gifted me to his kin.

“Know what time it is, Nila Weaver?” Daniel breathed in my ear.

I jerked away. The restraints around my body meant I couldn’t run, couldn’t fight; I couldn’t even see.

Oh, God.

Please don’t let them do this.

I wanted to scream for Jethro to save me. I wanted him to put an end to this and claim me once and for all. Didn’t our connection mean anything?

You know it’s all different now.

Ever since I’d returned to Hawksridge Hall, things had been different—horribly, horribly different.

The fire crackled in the billiards room where the Hawk men had been playing poker. The air was hot and muggy and laced with cognac fumes.

Tonight, I’d had plans to end whatever changed between Jethro and me forever.

But now…those plans had changed.

Kestrel ran his fingers over my collar. “Relax, little Weaver. It will all be over soon.”

Cut chuckled. “Yes, soon you can go to sleep and pretend none of this happened.”

My ears strained for one other voice. The voice of the man who controlled my heart even though he’d thrown it back in my face.

But only silence greeted me.

Daniel snickered, licking my cheek. “Time to pay, Weaver.”

Someone clapped and in a voice full of darkness and doom said, “It’s time for the Third Debt.”

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I shook my head, my heart smarting with pain. “What happened to you?” I reached for him, wanting to clutch his forearm and reassure myself that our bond was still there.

With a sneer, he sidestepped, staying out of reach. “What happened to me?” Smiling coldly, he made me seem as if I were some idiot child asking for the universe’s secrets. “I got better. That’s what happened to me.”

“I don’t—I don’t understand. You weren’t ill.”

“You wouldn’t understand. No one can understand another’s problems. All you need to know is that I’m cured and I won’t make the same mistakes again.”

I took a step back, goosebumps scattering over my body. “Don’t say that. I’m in love with you. Something like that cannot be undone—”

“Love is a chemical imbalance, Ms. Weaver. I am no longer imbalanced.” He came closer. “Don’t get cold feet on your invitation. You promised you would come, and you don’t want to give me a reason to punish you so soon…do you?”

My skin pinpricked with panic. That sentence should’ve dripped with eroticism. But it wasn’t. It was cold…lifeless…like him.

Snapping his fingers, Jethro held out his hand. He kept his digits curled slightly so I couldn’t see the tattoo marks on the tips. “Come. I want to be back at Hawksridge before sunrise.”

​​

Nila dropped the jumper onto the desk, cupping her breasts. “Does this count as acceptable to you?”

I couldn’t breathe.

Everything I’d been running from made my head pound, my cock beg, and the drugs in my system to fucking disintegrate.

What was it about her? Why did she have this control over me? And why was I utterly, ridiculously helpless around her?

God fucking help me.

Didn’t she know the more she antagonised me and made me slip, the more likely Cut would give her to Daniel and fucking slaughter me in my sleep? I wanted to strike her—hammer the precariousness of our situation home.

“Why did you bring me here?” she murmured, skirting the desk.

I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the hard pinpricks on her chest. She couldn’t be cold—not in this furnace. That meant she was turned on.

My mind instantly went to one question. Is she wet?

“Kes told you. Our secrets are now yours.”

“I don’t think that’s the only reason.” Closing the distance, she licked her bottom lip. “I think you wanted me off the estate, so you could have me without anyone seeing.” Her voice layered with sex and invitation. “You wanted me away from the cameras, so you could drop the act and show me the truth.”

Fuck.

I cleared my throat. “What truth?”

“That all of this is a lie. That you’re still the man I fell for—playing the same game you said you were sick of before I left.”

Shaking my head, I tried to clear my thoughts. “You’re once again delusional.” Swallowing hard, I ordered, “Go down to the sorting floor. I have a meeting to take care of—”

“No,” she breathed. “I’m not going anywhere until you stop being an asshole and show me the real you.” Closing the final distance, she stood beside me, crackling with mischief and lust. Locking eyes, she undid the button and zipper of her jeans. “Don’t hide from me, Jethro. I can’t stay strong if you cut me out.”

My legs bunched to push the swivel chair backward. One heave and I could launch myself free and run from her web. But somehow, I couldn’t. I remained tethered in place; breathing fast, fear swamping my lungs.

She grabbed my wrist. “Don’t fight it. You can’t fight the inevitable.” Without a word, she pressed my hand into her trousers.

Series Reading Order

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Debt Inheritance (Indebted #1) FREE

Amazon: http://amzn.to/17UZImo

iBooks: http://bit.ly/1BjoFUA

Nook: http://bit.ly/1Cl8rau

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1zoFkFL

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1xIW5Vt

First Debt (Indebted #2)

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1BjpblH

iBooks: http://bit.ly/1sMEyQo

Nook: http://bit.ly/10PcYWi

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1qmB3d7

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/15ijHdF

Second Debt (Indebted #3)

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1aOEW95

iBooks: http://bit.ly/1ufkO3z

Nook: http://bit.ly/1yqRa2R

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1xgCSvb

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1BRsIGR

Third Debt (Indebted #4)

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1DZbZEV

iBooks: http://bit.ly/1ufkO3z

Nook: http://bit.ly/1DZctL0

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1xgCSvb

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1BRsIGR

PREORDER Fourth Debt (Indebted #5) NOW

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1Dl6Lji

Nook: http://bit.ly/1J5pDUA

iBooks: http://bit.ly/1BjoFUA

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1zoFkFL

About the Author:

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Pepper Winters wears many roles. Some of them include writer, reader, sometimes wife. She loves dark, taboo stories that twist with your head. The more tortured the hero, the better, and she constantly thinks up ways to break and fix her characters. Oh, and sex... her books have sex.

She loves to travel and has an amazing, fabulous hubby who puts up with her love affair with her book boyfriends.

Her Dark Erotica books include:

Tears of Tess (Monsters in the Dark #1)

Quintessentially Q (Monsters in the Dark #2) 

Her Grey Romance books include:

Destroyed

STALK Pepper:

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Website | Pinterest | Facebook | Twitter | Blog | Goodreads

Review: Friction (Station 32 #2) by Jamie Magee

Having the wrong things in common with the right girl at the wrong time has always been a tragic issue for Easton Ballantine. At least it was when it came to Georgia Armstrong.

Georgia Armstrong’s nomadic life had left her worn and lacking the desire to attach to anyone or anything. She’d been burned and felt the coldness of loss and was content to drift at will until she found a reason to stay.

Broken roads and bad decisions, which led to right ones, were the demons in both their past—choices that would either draw them together, or rip them apart

My Opinion: 

4 broken stars. 

This is the second book in the Station 32 series. This book was a mix of anger and love and overall the results of making bad decision thinking thing would be better that way. That doesn’t mean the decisions couldn’t lead to something good.

I really liked the book.

Easton Ballantine is in sorrow. Feeling the pain of losing someone, that played a huge role in his life. And in that moment, Georgia was there for him. Feeling the same loss, but someone in that moment, Easton was more fragile. Georgia, somehow, managed to feel easier with Easton. Easton makes her pain go away, makes it fade, and they spent a good night beside the other giving Georgia hopes that everything would be okay.

And then Easton just crushed it to pieces.

“I tend to attract the broken.”
“I’m not broken,” Easton snapped in a hiss of words. 

This is where the book lost me a little. It was like a, “OMG I LOVED THAT” moment, and then there was the reminder that even when Easton had a rough life, but had good friend and family to move forward, he still had trust issues with Georgia. I understand why, I just think they both were so perfectly imperfect, that for me there was no reason of why he should feel like that, and more with Georgia’s actions. Yeah, she have some fear as well, this is risky and new to both of them!! And like people say, sometimes actions speak more than words.

And her brother was A.W.E.S.O.M.E

“Friction is good?”
“Makes fire,” he said with wink. 

However, I loved the fact that they weren’t perfect. A little messy. They were normal people, no totally alpha male I-do-everything-right (even when I loved them). But I like that they felt real, the struggle and the twist the story kept revealing were awesome. Totally unexpected, especially the end. And I think it was one of my favorite parts of the whole book!!

But after all, can they put their fears aside? Their feelings would make the move forward or backwards? Can they take a chance, and just enjoy the friction between them?

If you want to know, then you gotta read it. (: 

*Recieved an ARC by NetGalley in exchage of an honest review* 

Excerpt Reveal & Review: Third Debt (Indebted #4) Pepper Winters

More Jethro & Nila?  Yes Please!

IT’S LIVE!

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1DZbZEV

iBooks: http://bit.ly/1ufkO3z

Nook: http://bit.ly/1DZctL0

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1xgCSvb

Google Play: http://bit.ly/1DglADL

Sneak Peek Excerpt 

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I MEANT WHAT I said before.

I meant it with every bone in my body.

Someone has to die.

I still stood by that conclusion. Only, I’d hoped it wouldn’t be me.

Too bad wishes never come true.

I’d always wondered what it would feel like. How I would react, knowing that I’d failed. I’d lain awake so many nights trying to imagine how I would behave when my father finally had enough. I’d scared myself shitless fearing I wouldn’t be strong enough, brave enough, to face the consequences I’d lived with all my life.

But none of that mattered now. I’d done what I swore never to do and revealed myself. My father knew there was no changing me—he would come for me.

But so fucking what?

She’s safe.

That was all I needed to focus on.

I’d done my utmost to be the perfect son, but I’d been fighting an unwinnable battle. No matter how much I wished I could be like them—I wasn’t. And it was pointless to keep fighting.

Not anymore.  I’m done. 

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Blurb

“She healed me. She broke me. I set her free. But we are in this together. We will end this together. The rules of this ancient game can’t be broken.”

Nila Weaver no longer recognises herself. She’s left her lover, her courage, and her promise. Two debts down. Too many to go.

Jethro Hawk no longer recognises himself. He’s embraced what he always ran from, and now faces punishment far greater than he feared.

It’s almost time. It’s demanding to be paid.

The Third Debt will be the ultimate test... 

Series Reading Order

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​​

Debt Inheritance (Indebted #1)

                      FREE

Amazon: http://amzn.to/17UZImo

iBooks: http://bit.ly/1BjoFUA

Nook: http://bit.ly/1Cl8rau

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1zoFkFL

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1xIW5Vt

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 First Debt (Indebted #2)

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1BjpblH

iBooks: http://bit.ly/1sMEyQo

Nook: http://bit.ly/10PcYWi

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1qmB3d7

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/15ijHdF

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Second Debt (Indebted #3)

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1aOEW95

iBooks: http://bit.ly/1ufkO3z

Nook: http://bit.ly/1yqRa2R

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1xgCSvb

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1BRsIGR

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Third Debt (Indebted #4)

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1DZbZEV

iBooks: http://bit.ly/1ufkO3z

Nook: http://bit.ly/1DZctL0

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1xgCSvb

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1BRsIGR

PREORDER Fourth Debt (Indebted #5) NOW

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1Dl6Lji

Nook: http://bit.ly/1J5pDUA

iBooks: http://bit.ly/1BjoFUA

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1zoFkFL

My Review:

5 broken stars. 

An ARC was kindly provided by TSOR in exchange of an honest review. (:

What

Was

This? 

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 Third Debt is the four book in the Indebted series… it’s the continuation of Jethro and Nila’s story… is the freaking insanity in my head. I can’t even start to tell how good is the book, because the words are just all over the place. Wow, Pepper. Just when you think something and there is no other possible way to make things work through all the love and pain, it happens, Third Debt is what happens. 

What a book. Since the star it was a huge rollercoaster, messing with your feelings. Sometimes you want to strangle the characters and the others just cheering “Yeah, that’s it”. The book is INTENSE and very POWERFULL. In my opinion you can’t compare this one to the three before. It is just so not fair. I loved everything about this one, like an addiction from which you can’t escape. Literally I read it in college while I was in class and people saw me gasping loudly because I just couldn’t stay quiet. I don’t even remember what the classes were about! lol

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So, from now if you haven’t read the three ones before, go read it before you read this!!! It maybe, would probably have some spoilers from them.
Every one of the past books ended in such cliffhangers, finally brought in this, and I finally understood why…

At the end of Second Debt Jethro and Nila were separated, by force, of course. And this book just enlightens all the emotions of their twisted relationship. How they are the complement for each other and without the other one the crisis starts developing slowly forming jut the exact amount of pressure and anxious.

Nila was forced to leave Jethro and go home with V (her brother). Finally “leaving” the darkness and surviving. Meanwhile Jehtro was drowning SWIDT<- ;), and there was nothing Nila could do about it. I thought that something in particular was going to happen and when they were in that moment it just BAM, a different twist happen and I didn’t even blink once. I was so surprise with what was happening. And then this goes on and on.

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In this book you can notice that Nila is the true heroine. She stands out no matter form what point you see it. The decision she makes, some people may call it stupid, and I would call them brave. I don’t think anyone would just do that. Exposing herself to every bit of… them. She is way more confident and she truly believes in what she does. When she has some encounters with Jethro, physically and mentally, she is prepared to fight –tough not with punches or something like that, not yet anyways-, but she doesn’t take sh*t from Jethro. And less form Cut or Daniel. 

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 Jeto was my rollercoaster. He was the one that drive me mad, and made me want to punch the near pillow I had –which was none since I was in a chair in my classroom-, and sometime I just wanted to be there for him and hug him like if he was my teddy bear –a very sexily scariest one. I understood why... <- not telling folks, you have to read to know it, but that doesn’t mean I approved it. Or that my mind wasn’t searching for different ways to make everything go away. But, of course, there was some point where Jethro existence swallows me into this dark and broken world. And I was like OMG! WHAT? I can't.... wait... WHAT?

And just outside from what Jethro/Nila story is. Kestrel was someone who I thought I would never like, having in mind that after all he still being part of the Hawks’s sick vengeance against the Weavers for their past sins, which they even didn’t know existed! I didn’t LOVED him completely, but his role had this powerful impact on me, that I just had to give him some credit, a LOT, for what he is and do. Even when he wasn’t the principal character I think he won a little piece of our hearts. And okay, I loved him a little. But then there was this Oh-my-god-I-can-not-believe-that-happened-just-right-there moment.

Cut and Daniel, god, do I have to talk about them? I just want them bleeding. Dead. Nothing less. Their minds are so dark and so sick, but at the same time they are the one who brings some action to the book, without their “things” the book would have gone plain, so it’s a bitter feeling.

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 THE END WAS THE X FACTOR. I knew it! I knew it! I knew it! Something was up. I can’t say anything about it because you simply HAVE to read it. Those little evil minds won’t be happy with anything slipping through their fingers. I just hope that karma really exists for them and she would come to bit them right on the ass. Although my theater history professor says: “People would show you happy endings, because that’s what people want to see, but it’s not what it really is. Life is ugly”.

So I can NOT wait until Fourth Debt, and if the rumors of being better that this is true, then I just don’t know what more could possibly happen.

Pepper Winters is the master genius in this. And she won’t let you come away without a messed up brain; in a twisted good way. So we can of need Four Debt sooner, right? Jaja Well, I think all the wait is worth it. It’s a book you totally have to read, and so far, one of the best I have read this year.It's a MUST READ. So go you grab yours!! You will not regret it.

About the Author:

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Pepper Winters wears many roles. Some of them include writer, reader, sometimes wife. She loves dark, taboo stories that twist with your head. The more tortured the hero, the better, and she constantly thinks up ways to break and fix her characters. Oh, and sex... her books have sex.

She loves to travel and has an amazing, fabulous hubby who puts up with her love affair with her book boyfriends.

Her Dark Erotica books include:

Tears of Tess (Monsters in the Dark #1)

Quintessentially Q (Monsters in the Dark #2)

Her Grey Romance books include:

Destroyed

STALK PEPPER

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Website | Pinterest | Facebook | Twitter | Blog | Goodreads

Thanks to:

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Review: The Final Temptation by KC Lynn

KAYLA~ He moved in next door to me, all bronzed skin and lean muscle, with a panty dropping smile that could make any girl weep with need. He set my body and teenage hormones on fire for three years. THREE LONG YEARS. 

In that time he became a cop- Officer Sexy as I liked to call him- and every time I pushed, he retreated. But I knew he felt it, I saw it in the way he looked at me. So one night I set my plan in motion and upped my game. I finally reeled the sexy bastard in, and he didn’t know what hit him.

COOPER~ She tempted me with her smart mouth and tight body for three painful years. I took an oath to uphold the law and honor it, which she made almost impossible not to break. But when the day finally came, I made her pay, every beautiful inch of her. She might drive me crazy and be the biggest pain in the ass, but she’s my pain in the ass. And I’ll spend everyday for the rest of my life making sure she never forgets who she belongs to.

***

You asked for our story and now we are going to give it to you. Cooper and I are not only going to share our special day with you, but we are going to take you back to a time that was frustrating, sexy, explosive and downright beautiful. Here is our story, from beginning to… forever.

________

This is a Novella with an HEA and is told in dual POV. It is the last book to the Men Of Honor Series. Although you don’t have to read every book in the series, I strongly recommend that the first book, Fighting Temptation, should be read prior to Kayla and Cooper’s story in order to understand many aspects of this book.

WARNING~ Due to mature subject matter, such as explicit sexual situations and coarse language, this story is not suitable for anyone under the age of eighteen.

My Opinion:

*Won an ARC during the cover reveal party in facebook*

5 my-woman-beat-the-shit-out-of-my-car- Stars!! 

As I watched him that day, I told myself I was going to marry him. I didn’t care what it took, I was going to make it happen. 

Woooo. I think I may start saying, that book was the SH*T! Of course, in a very good way. She done it again. It was so much more that what I was expecting. Fun, sassy, emotional and with a cherry on top full of love.

I had my doubts, because I don’t like books that have a lot of flashbacks, and I didn’t know if it was going to be since Kayla & Cooper met, or in the present. But, oh my God, (Can I continue fangirling?) I LOVED Kayla’s flashback I didn’t want it to end. 

The Final Temptation is the 4th and last book from the Men of Honor Series. For the people who have not read it, each book is a stand alone, however, if you want to understand a lot better Kayla & Cooper’s story you may want/need to read the first one, Fighting Temptation. 

First, then cover was totally Kayl’s style, and it was so well written. I like to mark phrases and passages that really stood to me and have a lot of meaning, when I went to check those so I can write my review I was shaken at how much I had. Then I started reading it, so I can pick the best ones, but I can’t!!! K. C. did a gorgeous job in the book. Literally, all that came out of their mouths, and every thought they thought was special. I laugh so hard at some parts, tears were spilled down my cheeks and I couldn’t help it.

Kayla is officially one of my favorite’s heroines. She is pretty, caring, sincere, loyal and sassy. She comes from a good family, not wealthy talking. Her parents love her with all their heart and raised her good. Kayla has been in love with Cooper since she had fourteen years old and he moved to the house next door. She does everything she can to gain some attention, even being a lot of sassy face to face, or hot tub to window… But Cooper never showed interest on Kayla, which I understand was frustrating, and even more with the fact that the bitch Brittany had something to do with it.I'll just say it, you really have to read to understand.

Anyone remember that chick? Well I did. I may hate that name for the rest of my life. I was conflicted, because Brittany had some relevant part in the story. Like, it has to be her? My eyes have to deal with her again? But well, then I thought: Its better this way, if K. C. had added another bitch to the stories, which means more problems, I may have lose it. 

Tough, I liked how Kayla managed it. With a little bit of fun and a little bit of sincere remorseful. Not the typically cat fights women usually do. Another reason why Kayla it’s the best.

Holy freaking guacamole. Cooper is the alpha-male-dirty-talking cop kind of guy.And he really knows how to dirty talk. I was so surprise with this. His words seemed so erotic and meaningful at the same time I think my brain had several orgasms reading it. He is protective, a lot, and demanding, a hole of lot more. Cooper moved to the house next door from Kayla. And since then he has been followed by the ghost of a desire that makes him go crazy but can’t do anything about it, he has his reasons, even Kayla understand those. 

When they finally collide –which is obvious to all who have read the books-it is THE collision. I liked when they took their time, not insta- anything. It wasn’t perfect, it was a bit ugly, painful —I felt what Kayla was feeling— and they had to learn how to keep moving forward and be patience without hurting themselves in the process. But then it became sweet. The books is FULL of surprises, so I would not write specific things, but let me say it was fan-f*cking-tastic. 

This book really shows how all the different stories come together. Since Jaxson the Hulk, to the sweet little Ruthie. I LOVE HER. And let’s rephrase it, not the books, but their friendship. Yes, sometime they can be a pain in the ass, but they love each other and have their backs. And the most important of this book is that it’s not over yet. With what happens in the book, not near, nop. Even K. C. promised me, -I have the screenshot K. C., now you are bounded to your readers more than ever LOL-. So, at the end, it’s recommendable? Hell to yes!! Go read it; it’s officially, one of the best series I have read in my life. So thank you, K. C.

Cora Carmack's Special Announcement

*WARNING: This letter contains spoilers for All Broke Down. If you haven't yet read that book, read at your own peril.

SECOND WARNING: this letter talks about fictional characters as if they are real people. Sorry I'm not sorry. 

THIRD WARNING: The letter below broaches a serious topic that could be a trigger for some people*

* * *

Hello beloved readers! 

The first person who read one of my Rusk University books was my older sister. I gave her All Lined Up when I finished, and her first question was "Are Ryan and Stella going to be together?" 

At the time, I told her no. I had plans for both of them that included their own storylines. I thought they were too much alike. They'd make great friends. They might even hook-up, but in the end... I couldn't envision anything serious for them. So I actually rewrote some of their scenes trying to make that aspect of their connection more obvious. And still, when All Lined Up released, amidst the chatter about sweet Carson and sassy Dallas, I had people asking if Stella and Ryan were next. I denied it again (and again and again). 

But sometimes in writing, the stars align and a character will become bigger and more real than you could have possibly imagined. It's a wonderful experience, but in Stella's case it was also incredibly heartbreaking. While I was writing All Broke Down, the news was inundated with information about the Steubenville rape trial and other tragedies and injustices like it. Tragedies where women have been violated first by an attacker, then by judgmental and hateful people, and finally by a justice system that repeatedly fails survivors of sexual assault. Having grown up in Texas, where too often football stars are treated like gods and can get away with just about anything, it hit particularly close to home. And since All Broke Down featured a passionate activist heroine, I felt compelled to reference this chronic dark underbelly of elite sports. 

I can remember vividly sitting on my couch, brainstorming how I would incorporate such an event into the book. I had thought the assault would happen to an unknown character, and maybe I would focus on the way it divided the team and the school and the town. But like I said... Sometimes a character will become bigger and more human than I anticipated. And it sounds crazy, but in my mind, I felt Stella push her way forward and say, "Mine. This is my story." I immediately began to cry. Sob, really. Because I loved her as a character. She was hilarious and strong and didn't take crap from anyone. She was everything I always hope to be. And I didn't want her to go through that. Even as I cried, my brain began to tell me that it made sense. Stella was vibrant and enjoyed a wild party. She was not afraid of her sexuality, and she had no problem with casual sex. She was the kind of girl that probably had a reputation. The kind of girl who could be heinously and violently taken advantage of, and people would STILL blame her. Because she was in the wrong place, wearing the wrong clothes, behaving in the wrong way. But just because it COULD happen to her, didn't mean I wanted it to. But once again, Stella was there in my head saying, "Someone needs to tell this story. And I'm strong enough to do it. Let me." And when Stella chose her story, she also chose the man I'd been adamant wasn't right for her. Because as it turns out... Those two characters who I thought were too alike aren't so alike anymore. And Stella needs Ryan to help her hold on to that vibrant and strong girl she was before. 

So I let go of all the plans I had for her, and allowed her to tell me her story, which is about more than just sexual assault. It's about the aftermath. Depression. Shame. Guilt. Anger. Injustice. Victim-blaming. Slut-shaming. It's about the way that kind of event can change everything-- how you relate to people, how you think, how you dream, how you love. It's about the way the rest of the world moves on to the next big tragedy, and you're still left holding the broken pieces of who you used to be, with no idea how to put them together again or even if you want to. It will be the most difficult story I ever tell. And the most important. Because it’s a story that belongs not just to Stella, but to millions of people around the world. It’s a story that belongs to a new person every 107 seconds*. And that’s just in the United States. Think about that for a moment. 107 seconds. Stella’s story won’t be any easier to read than it will be to write. But I hope you’ll help me drag this story into the light. 

So now I’ll step off my soapbox and just tell you about the book…

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ALL CLOSED OFF:

Stella Santos is fine. 

Maybe something terrible happened to her that she can’t even remember. And maybe it drives her crazy when her friends treat her like she’s on the verge of breaking because of it. Maybe it feels even worse when they do what she asks and pretend that it never happened at all. And maybe she’s been getting harassing emails and messages for months from people who don’t even know her, but hate her all the same. 

But none of that matters because she’s just fine. 

For Ryan Blake, Stella was always that girl. Vibrant and hilarious and beautiful. He wanted her as his best friend. His more than friends. His everything and anything that she would give him. Which these days is a whole lot of nothing. She gets angry when he’s there. Angry when he’s not there. Angry when he tries to talk and when he doesn’t.  

When Stella devises an unconventional art project for one of her classes all about exploring intimacy—between both friends and strangers—Ryan finds himself stepping in as guinea pig after one of her subjects bails. What was supposed to be an objective and artistic look at emotion and secrets and sex suddenly becomes much more personal. When he hits it off with another girl from the project, Stella will have to decide if she’s willing to do more than make art about intimacy. To keep him, she’ll have to open up and let herself be the one thing she swore she’d never be again. 

Vulnerable. 

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ALL CLOSED OFF will be releasing sometime in early 2016. I don't have a date yet for several reasons. The first and most important, is that I want to do this story justice. And as such, I have no intentions of rushing the process. Secondly, I'll be returning to indie publishing for the remainder of the Rusk series. As you can probably tell, this story means a great deal to me. And by having the ultimate control over everything from timing to editing to price, I'll be able to ensure that I'm able to create exactly the story I envision. Unfortunately, that means you won't be seeing the paperback of ALL CLOSED OFF on the shelves in most stores. Nor is it currently available for pre-order. But I hope you'll add the book on goodreads, follow me on social media, and/or join my newsletter. I promise to shout it all over the place when I have a set release date or pre-order links. 

Thank you for listening as I told you the evolution of Stella's story. When it's finished, I hope you will feel as passionately about it as I do. 

All my best, 

Cora Carmack 

*Statistic from RAINN (Rape, Abuse, Incest National Network)

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And an opportunity to add your voice to Stella’s….

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Stella’s experience is only one story of many. She was with someone she trusted when it happened, and the only memories she has are pieced together from her own blurred recollections and the things people have told her.  Not everyone’s experience with sexual assault is the same. Each person reacts, copes, and overcomes differently. And while this book is about one specific character’s journey, I would like to tell as many sides of this story as possible. As Stella grapples with her thoughts and emotions she’ll be searching for advice, for comfort, for a place where people understand her and can identify with what she’s experiencing. There will be room for truth within the fiction, and if you’d like that truth to be yours, this is your chance.

If you have a story like Stella’s, and you want your voice to be heard….

If there’s something you wish more people understood about what you’ve gone through….

If there’s something you’d like to tell people struggling with a story like yours…

I’d like to give you the opportunity to add your voice to Stella’s. Use the hashtag #WhenItHappened and let your voice be heard on your own by posting on your own social media, or if you’d rather I share your words fill out this google documentand tell me your story. You can fill out this form anonymously or not. I’d like to begin this discussion now because April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. But my hope is to include as many stories as possible within the book itself.

So many have stories of #WhenItHappened. Your voice and your story deserve to be heard. I’m listening.

#WhenItHappened Google Form: http://goo.gl/forms/4VRjWgZYSW

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ABOUT Cora Carmack:

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Cora Carmack is a twenty-something New York Times bestselling author who likes to write about twenty-something characters. She's done a multitude of things in her life-- boring jobs (like working retail), Fun jobs (like working in a theatre), stressful jobs (like teaching), and dream jobs (like writing). She now splits her time between Austin, TX and New York City and spends her days writing, traveling, and spending way too much time on the internet. In her books, you can expect to find humor, heart, and a whole lot of awkward. Because let’s face it . . . awkward people need love, too. 

Contact With Cora

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Thanks To:

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