THE HUNT IS NOW OVER!
THE WINNER OF MY PRIZE WILL BE ANNOUNCED HERE ON TUESDAY
GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE WHO ENTERED.
AND THANK YOU ALL FOR STOPPING BUY.
I’m so excited to be hosting Katie Fox author of MOMENT OF WEAKNESS for this Team Green stop of the New Adult Scavenger Hunt! You’re going to love her exclusive material!
This bi-annual event was inspired as a way to give
readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite
authors…and a chance to win some awesome prizes! At this hunt, you not only get
access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt.
Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize–one lucky winner will receive
one book from each author on the hunt in my team! But play fast:
this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 72
hours!
Go to the New Adult Scavenger Hunt page to
find out details about the hunt. There are THREE contests
going on simultaneously, and you can enter one or all! I am a part of Team Green–but there is also
an orange team and a purple team for a chance to win a whole different set of
books!
If you’d like to find out more about the hunt, see links to all
the authors participating, and see the full list of prizes up for grabs, go to the New Adult Scavenger Hunt page.
***THE SCAVENGER HUNT***
Directions: Below, you’ll notice that I’ve listed
my lucky book number (read carefully and you’ll find it). Collect
the lucky book numbers of all the authors on Team Green, and then add them up (don’t worry,
you can use a calculator!).
Entry Form: Once you’ve added up all the numbers, make
sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for
the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.
Rules: Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a
parent or guardian’s permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize,
you must submit the completed entry form by Oct. 30st, at 12
PM Eastern Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without
contact information will not be considered. Winners will be announced Nov. 2nd.
Also there is another giveaway to enter that is exclusive to this blog (more information below).
Also there is another giveaway to enter that is exclusive to this blog (more information below).
LET THE HUNT BEGIN!
MOMENT OF
WEAKNESS
An Embracing Moments Novel
Book # 1
Twenty-year-old
Julia Parker has the ideal life. She comes from a wealthy family, has the
perfect boyfriend, and plans to spend the summer in Europe. However, nothing is
ever what it seems. It has been thirteen years since her mother's unexpected
death, and the pain she still feels is something she keeps hidden beneath the
surface.
But for the
second time in her life, everything's about to change.
After
discovering her roommate and boyfriend having an affair, she's forced to spend
the summer at home. Only she won't be alone. Recent events have caused an
increase in security, and her personal detail is nothing like she expected.
At
twenty-five, Roman Hayes is one of the youngest in his field. His only focus is
his assignment. But when a moment of weakness between him and Julia lead to
several more, they are both left to question what is happening between them.
Julia soon learns Roman may just hold the answers to the very questions she's
spent her entire life asking. But when all is revealed will she be able to
handle the truth? More importantly, can she find it in her heart to still love
the one person she thought she knew?
~EXCLUSIVE CONTENT~
~~~~
Chapter 1
Emery
A few
seconds. The tear of an envelope. Unfolding of paper. That’s all it would take
to know if the last four years of hard work, late night study sessions, and
having little-to-no social life had finally paid off. A light breeze whirled in
the air, and as I reached up to brush away the few strands of hair that had
blown into my face, I stared down at the bright white envelope sitting on my
lap. Its thickness was similar to the other acceptance letters I had received,
but what did I know? I let out a quick breath and picked it up, running my
fingers along its fine edges, further examining it.
“It’s
not going to open itself, ya know.”
“I
know,” I mumbled, dragging my gaze from the envelope to my best friend. Her
long blonde hair fell like a curtain around her as she pushed off her toes,
scooting onto the stone wall beside me.
Shelly
and I had been best friends since middle school, and she knew better than
anyone that this letter meant so much more than what university I would be
attending. It was my ticket out of here. My chance at living a life that didn’t
consist of cleaning tables at the local diner or getting up at three a.m. to
deliver the morning newspaper. Not that there was anything wrong with those
types of jobs. I knew a lot of people who worked hard to make sure there was a
roof over their families’ heads. Those jobs were what put food on those
families’ tables—put food on our own table.
But I
wanted so much more than that.
I
wanted to travel. Wanted to experience the bright lights of the city at night
and the taste of fine cuisine. Most of all, I wanted to feel like my life had
purpose, and as long as I was living in Hickory Falls, none of that was going
to happen.
“I can
open it for you if you want,” Shelly offered, pulling me from my thoughts.
My
shoulders dropped, and a huff of air left my chest in the form of a heavy sigh.
“No. I don’t …”
I was
getting ready to tell her I didn’t think so, but hell, I already had the letter
for three days.
It was
time.
“Actually,
yeah, I think I will have you open it.”
I held
the envelope between us, my fingers shaking from my out of control nerves.
Shelly reached down to grab it, and as she did, it disappeared from my hands. I
instantly recognized the hands that snatched it up, because it was the same set
of hands—with the long fingers and callused palms—that I had embarrassingly
fantasized about a time or two … or ten.
“What’s
this?”
The
familiar deep voice rang through the air, and the little hairs on the back of
my neck rose as I sprung to my feet.
“Give it
back, Tyler.”
Tyler
darted through the front door of the aging trailer I called home, leaving it to
sway open on its rusty old hinges, and I followed after him, my blood pumping
hot and fast as I heard Shelly’s giggle behind me. I stomped up the single metal
step, not caring that the door was still hanging wide open or the fact that it
was creaking as if it was about to fall off. I almost hoped it would; would
serve my brother right for not fixing it two months ago like I told him to.
Huffing
air from my nose, I stepped inside, and the second I did, I froze.
Tyler
stood in the kitchen, his bare chest on full display as he pulled the last
bottle of blue Gatorade from the fridge. His black basketball shorts hung
incredibly low on his waist, and when he turned toward me, I couldn’t stop
staring at the deep cut of muscle decorating either side of his hips.
Prick.
Yeah. I
said it. Or thought it, rather. Tyler
knew how good he looked and now he was just using it to his advantage. Forcing
my eyes away from his waist, I gritted my teeth and steeled my tone. “Give it
back.”
The
order came out sounding desperate and weak. Definitely not the affirmative tone
I was trying to deliver. The corner of his lips kicked up, and a playful grin
spread across his face.
“Oh,
you mean this?” he teased, holding up the white envelope that determined my
entire future. “You’re going to have to ask a lot nicer than that, Em.”
My
cheeks heated, and I wasn’t sure if it was because of frustration or because he
was standing half-naked before me. There was no denying it. Tyler was most
definitely fine male material. His dark brown hair was cut close on the sides
of his head, longer on top, and beautiful pigments of ink covered the right
side of his tightly defined chest, spreading across his shoulder and down his
muscular arm. A lean waist and fine ass— which I had caught myself staring at
on occasion— completed the Tyler Bennett package.
Determined
not to let him affect me, I stomped toward him, attempting to take back my
letter and a sliver of my dignity. As soon as I reached him, he shot his arm
up, holding the envelope above his head.
“Damn
it, Tyler,” I shouted, pushing off my toes, trying to reach it. Could he
seriously be anymore immature? “Would you give it back to me!”
A deep
laugh rumbled his chest, the sound of it angering and exciting me all at the
same time. God, I hated him. Hated the way he teased me, and the way my heart
seemed to speed up and slow down whenever he was near. Hated the way he
constantly treated me like I was just his best friend’s little sister. Most of
all, I hated knowing he would never see me as anything more than that … because
that’s exactly what I was.
Realizing
my current tactics were failing miserably, I opted for a different approach. My
fingers curled into a tight fist, and I pulled back, getting ready to throw all
one-hundred and ten-pounds of my body weight into a punch that probably
wouldn’t even phase him. I threw my fist forward, and before my brain had a
chance to fully process what had happened, my back was pressing against the
cool metal of the refrigerator door.
Tyler
stood in front of me, his fingers wrapped around my wrist in a firm, yet gentle
hold, which he had conveniently pinned above my head.
Intense,
dark brown eyes found mine.
“What’s
so important about this letter?” His warm breath fanned my lips as he spoke,
causing a wave of tingles to creep across my cheeks and down my neck.
I held
his stare, my mouth pulled tight, my throat suddenly drier than the Sahara
Desert.
“Hey,
Em?”
Shelly’s
voice echoed against the walls of the trailer, and I followed the sound,
glancing at the head full of blonde hair peeking around the doorframe. It took
her a moment, but when she finally caught sight of me, her eyes lit up.
“I, uh,
I have to go,” she said, quickly. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow, okay?” Not
bothering to wait for a response, she threw me a quick wave and vanished out
the door.
Traitor.
Well,
there went my chance at discovering where I would be spending the next four
years of my life. There was no way I’d be able to gather enough courage to open
the letter on my own. If I could have, it would have been done by now.
Figures
the moment Shelly saw us, especially in the current position we were in, she’d
bail. She was well aware of the feelings I had developed for Tyler and was
constantly encouraging me to tell him, but that was so not happening—like ever.
Bringing
my gaze back to Tyler’s, I attempted to swallow around the desert that had
overtaken my throat.
Tyler
moved in closer, his hard chest brushing against mine as he breathed in my ear.
“Now, where were we?”
My
mouth fell open to shoot off a snarky reply, but the wave of heat racing down
my arm had somehow affected my ability to speak. The rough pad of Tyler’s thumb
slid across my wrist, moving in slow circles against my skin, and my pulse
changed from a steady beat to an out-of-control throb.
“The
letter,” I whispered, thankful I had at least managed to find my voice.
I’m
guessing Tyler hadn’t bothered to look at the envelope in the time that he had
had it, because the moment he flipped it around, his eyes widened.
“Holy
shit, Em! Is this what I think it is?”
Swallowing
hard, I nodded.
“Why
haven’t you opened this?” His expression changed as his eyes searched mine. A
fine crease formed on his forehead, and his brows narrowed. “What are you
waiting for?”
I
shrugged, capturing my bottom lip between my teeth and holding it there. I
eventually released it, along with a sigh. “I don’t know.”
“Here.”
He held his hand out, offering me the letter. “Open it.”
Open it. As if it was that easy.
Nerves rose in my stomach as I stared down at his hand, and I shook my head, my
dark brown hair swaying with the movement. “I can’t.”
Tyler
continued to eye me curiously, his head tilted to the side. “Why?”
Why? I almost laughed. “Because I’m
afraid to, okay?”
“Four
years, Em.” His voice was soft, so matter-of-fact. Confusion hardened his
features, and as he slid his tongue along his lower lip, he seemed to be lost
in thought. “You’ve been waiting for this very moment for the past four years.
You’ve busted your ass—”
“That’s
exactly why I’m afraid!”
Tyler
stared at me, his eyes filled with an emotion I couldn’t decipher. Three days
ago, when I had pulled the letter from the mailbox, an anxious knot of worry
formed in the pit of my stomach. That same knot had finally exploded, twisting
itself around every nerve in my body, bringing with it an unsettling wave of
apprehension.
My head
dropped, my gaze briefly flicking to the linoleum floor, and then back up to
Tyler’s dark brown eyes. The look swirling behind them had my mouth parting. I
sucked in a sharp breath, and forced the words from the tip of my tongue, the
sound of my voice coming out as nothing more than a whisper. “I’m terrified I’m
going to open that letter and find out it was all for nothing.”
Without
warning, Tyler let go of the hold he had on my wrist and pushed off the
refrigerator. A whoosh of air left my lungs at the sudden distance between us,
and as my body mourned the loss of his closeness, panic crawled up my chest. I
stared at him, watching as his fingers moved quickly, sliding beneath the glued
seal of the envelope.
“What
are you doing?!” I attempted to reach forward and grab it from his hands.
He
dodged my grasp and started reading the letter out loud. “Dear, Emery
Whitmore.”
No. Oh, God no. “Please
stop,” I begged, my hands coming up to clasp my face, my heart thudding against
my ribs.
Tyler
didn’t stop.
He
continued reading, his deep voice washing out every other sound in the room.
“Congratulations!
The admission committee joins me in the most rewarding part of my job—offering you
admission to Stanford University.”
Tyler’s
eyes flew to mine, his set of full lips curving into a genuine smile that took
up half his face.
“You
have set yourself apart, and we are impressed and inspired by your passion,
determination, and your accomplishments. We acknowledge and celebrate all you
have worked for with the good news this letter brings.”
My
hands shook, and my heart pounded against my chest so fast it hurt. Tyler
dropped the letter, and as I watched it float to the floor, I felt his hands
move to my waist. His fingers gripped my hips, and as he swept me off my feet,
lifting me up and twirling me above his head, my vision blurred from the tears
welling in my eyes. The celebratory dance lasted two full spins before he was
lowering me back on my feet. My body slid against his, and my hands found their
way to his chest. The warmth of his skin tingled my fingers, causing them to
clench, and as he walked us backward, my ass collided with the hard edge of the
kitchen counter.
Strong
fingers curled around the back of my neck, grasping it in a gentle hold, and
the same rough-padded thumb that had created circles on my wrist was now
sweeping across my cheekbone. I had no idea what he was doing, but I didn’t
want him to stop.
Never
in a million years, did I want him to stop.
“You
did it,” he whispered, moving in closer, nearly eliminating the space between
us.
A hot tear skated down my
cheek, and Tyler smoothed it away. Tipping my head back, I glanced up at him
through tear-laced lashes, and that familiar feeling of not being able to
breathe whenever I looked at him, invaded my chest, stealing the air right from
my lungs.
“I knew you could do it.” His lips were so close I could
practically feel them. “I never doubted you, Em.”
~~~~
Author Bio
Katie Fox was born
in Florida and raised in Pennsylvania, where she still resides with her gamer
husband and four-year-old son. An avid reader, and hopeless romantic, she is a
sucker for a good love story. When not found with her nose buried in a book,
she's usually spending time with her family or in her writing cave, giving life
to the voices in her head.
Since a very young
age, writing has been her passion. Her works include, Moment of Weakness,
World of Darkness, and Whispers From The East, which was
co-written with author, Eleanor Lloyd-Jones.
* * *
I don’t know about you, but I’m adding MOMENT OF WEAKNESS to my must-read pile right away. It sounds
amazing.
Now to enter you need to know my lucky number! FIFTEEN..Add up all
the favorite numbers of the authors on Team Green and you’ll have the secret code to enter for the grand
prize!
AGAIN--MY NUMBER IS 15 (fifteen)
BUT BEFORE YOU CONTINUE ON YOUR QUEST!!!!
Leave a comment below and be entered to win your choice of a copy
of my novel A HOLD ON ME (Dark Heart
#1)! There will be only one winner, but it will be a signed paperback and will include a special handcrafted bookmark.
Or BEYOND YOUR TOUCH (Dark Heart #2)!
***CONTINUE
THE HUNT***
To keep going on the hunt, you need to check out the next
author, Sarah Zolton Arthur
GOOD
LUCK!!
