Maya Cross's Blog - Posts Tagged "maya-cross"
Unlocked Release Date
Well, after a lot of umming and ahhing, I've settled on a final release date for the final book in The Alpha Group. Unlocked will be coming to you on August 18th. I know this is a few weeks later than I initially indicated, and I know that sucks a lot, but as much as I want you all to have your copies ASAP, it's for the best.
When I started writing this series, I made myself a promise I'd be as transparent as possible with you all. I know the structure is a bit unorthodox (long novellas with cliffhangers) which I've blogged about before, and I wanted to make sure everyone knew what they were getting into. That meant posting how many parts there were, their titles, and some projected release dates.
Unfortunately, to put it simply, I overestimated myself. I'm still very new to all of this, and I was just so keen to get the conclusion to everyone that I set myself a deadline that left me no wiggle room at all. In retrospect, two months between books was always verging on too ambitious. The second part of the series flowed out of me fairly easily, and if I'd been able to maintaing that pace I'd have been okay, but the third has been much tougher. There's more elements to juggle and I've hit a few brick walls, and couple that with some personal issues that slowed me down, and it means I can't quite hit the July date I wanted. I could try and rush it out the door, but you, me, and the story all deserve better than that.
I'm super sorry to let you down. I feel awful. I hate not being able to keep my word. Hopefully you can all forgive me. It's only a few weeks extra! I will make it up to you with an awesome release day giveaway, and lots of teasers in the interim =)
When I started writing this series, I made myself a promise I'd be as transparent as possible with you all. I know the structure is a bit unorthodox (long novellas with cliffhangers) which I've blogged about before, and I wanted to make sure everyone knew what they were getting into. That meant posting how many parts there were, their titles, and some projected release dates.
Unfortunately, to put it simply, I overestimated myself. I'm still very new to all of this, and I was just so keen to get the conclusion to everyone that I set myself a deadline that left me no wiggle room at all. In retrospect, two months between books was always verging on too ambitious. The second part of the series flowed out of me fairly easily, and if I'd been able to maintaing that pace I'd have been okay, but the third has been much tougher. There's more elements to juggle and I've hit a few brick walls, and couple that with some personal issues that slowed me down, and it means I can't quite hit the July date I wanted. I could try and rush it out the door, but you, me, and the story all deserve better than that.
I'm super sorry to let you down. I feel awful. I hate not being able to keep my word. Hopefully you can all forgive me. It's only a few weeks extra! I will make it up to you with an awesome release day giveaway, and lots of teasers in the interim =)
Unlocked Teaser
And finally, I have a teaser for you all! This is the first scene in the book that's written from Sebastian's POV, since I know you're all itching to get into his head I will post some shorter picture teasers throughout the next few weeks, and there will be another excerpt accompanying the cover reveal, which is on August 1st.
Enjoy!
I hadn’t expected Sophia to sleep at all, not after what she’d been through. Trauma like that can ruin a person. But somehow she’d drifted off. I had no idea where she found the strength to be that tough. She never ceased to amaze me.
For a while I lay there, trying to get some rest myself, but the events of the last two days had thrown my whole world into chaos. It was all happening again. The fact that I’d averted the worst case didn’t make the situation any better. I should never have let it get to this point, but I was weak, and it had nearly cost the woman I love her life. How the hell could I sleep knowing that?
To make matters worse, even now, I was still incapable of staying away. She was as secure here as anywhere, but the moment she’d left my sight, I began to feel agitated. I still hadn’t managed to shed the mindless terror that had seized me when I first heard she’d been taken. The urge to go to her, to simply hold her and never let go, had been almost overpowering.
I’d tried to distract myself. There was certainly no shortage of work to be done — most of my colleagues were holed up together in the board room, planning things until well into the night — but I was useless there. My mind only wanted to focus on one thing, and soon, I found myself propped up against the wall outside her room, nursing several fingers of scotch in a heavy crystal tumbler. I didn’t know why, but just being close to her helped. I made myself vow not to enter. It had taken an immense level of control to cut her off the first time, and every moment in her presence stretched my willpower just a little more. I would keep her safe and solve all this, and then when it was over, I’d let her go again. It was the only way.
But the moment I heard her sobbing through the door, all sense of self-control fled. Before I knew it, I was on my feet, and then in her bed. I expected her to fight, after all, I had to be the last person she wanted to see, but she didn’t. Instead she just burrowed into me without a word. I hated how perfect that felt, the way her body fitted like a missing puzzle piece against mine. I didn’t understand how such simple contact could make my heart sing so easily, but it did.
And now she slept. I couldn’t help but run my eyes over her again. Truth be told, I’d barely been able to stop staring since the moment I entered the room. She looked so fucking beautiful lying there, her face utterly peaceful, her curves perfectly accentuated by the thin cotton sheet. She’d taken the T-shirt I left her, but not the pants, and now in the throws of sleep she’d managed to knock part of the cover free, exposing one delicate hip. It was a tiny thing, the barest hint of pale skin and black cloth, but the sight took my breath away nonetheless. I felt impossibly low ogling her after everything I’d put her through, but I was powerless to do anything else. Her body was like a drug, fire in my veins. I knew how that hip would feel if only I’d reach out and touch it. I had every inch of her body charted in my head; so perfectly soft, so perfectly feminine.
I had to pull myself together.
Ripping my gaze free, I eased my arm out from under her. I’d done what I came to do. She was resting. There was no reason for me to stay.
She stirred briefly, and I came within a hair’s breadth of pulling her back against me once more, but after a few moments she settled. Taking one last look, I moved quietly out into the corridor and resumed my watch. I’d be there if she needed me, but anything beyond that was too hard. There was no happy ending here, and letting myself think otherwise would only destroy me more.
Enjoy!
I hadn’t expected Sophia to sleep at all, not after what she’d been through. Trauma like that can ruin a person. But somehow she’d drifted off. I had no idea where she found the strength to be that tough. She never ceased to amaze me.
For a while I lay there, trying to get some rest myself, but the events of the last two days had thrown my whole world into chaos. It was all happening again. The fact that I’d averted the worst case didn’t make the situation any better. I should never have let it get to this point, but I was weak, and it had nearly cost the woman I love her life. How the hell could I sleep knowing that?
To make matters worse, even now, I was still incapable of staying away. She was as secure here as anywhere, but the moment she’d left my sight, I began to feel agitated. I still hadn’t managed to shed the mindless terror that had seized me when I first heard she’d been taken. The urge to go to her, to simply hold her and never let go, had been almost overpowering.
I’d tried to distract myself. There was certainly no shortage of work to be done — most of my colleagues were holed up together in the board room, planning things until well into the night — but I was useless there. My mind only wanted to focus on one thing, and soon, I found myself propped up against the wall outside her room, nursing several fingers of scotch in a heavy crystal tumbler. I didn’t know why, but just being close to her helped. I made myself vow not to enter. It had taken an immense level of control to cut her off the first time, and every moment in her presence stretched my willpower just a little more. I would keep her safe and solve all this, and then when it was over, I’d let her go again. It was the only way.
But the moment I heard her sobbing through the door, all sense of self-control fled. Before I knew it, I was on my feet, and then in her bed. I expected her to fight, after all, I had to be the last person she wanted to see, but she didn’t. Instead she just burrowed into me without a word. I hated how perfect that felt, the way her body fitted like a missing puzzle piece against mine. I didn’t understand how such simple contact could make my heart sing so easily, but it did.
And now she slept. I couldn’t help but run my eyes over her again. Truth be told, I’d barely been able to stop staring since the moment I entered the room. She looked so fucking beautiful lying there, her face utterly peaceful, her curves perfectly accentuated by the thin cotton sheet. She’d taken the T-shirt I left her, but not the pants, and now in the throws of sleep she’d managed to knock part of the cover free, exposing one delicate hip. It was a tiny thing, the barest hint of pale skin and black cloth, but the sight took my breath away nonetheless. I felt impossibly low ogling her after everything I’d put her through, but I was powerless to do anything else. Her body was like a drug, fire in my veins. I knew how that hip would feel if only I’d reach out and touch it. I had every inch of her body charted in my head; so perfectly soft, so perfectly feminine.
I had to pull myself together.
Ripping my gaze free, I eased my arm out from under her. I’d done what I came to do. She was resting. There was no reason for me to stay.
She stirred briefly, and I came within a hair’s breadth of pulling her back against me once more, but after a few moments she settled. Taking one last look, I moved quietly out into the corridor and resumed my watch. I’d be there if she needed me, but anything beyond that was too hard. There was no happy ending here, and letting myself think otherwise would only destroy me more.
Unlocked has been released! (Links inside)
Unlocked Has Been Released! (Links inside)
Posted by Maya Cross in Uncategorized
I am very happy to announce that Unlocked, the final book in the Alpha Group trilogy, is now available on every major retailer except Apple (which will take some time, unfortunately). Amazon is currently being a pain and not letting people search for the book, so you’re better off going straight from the link below.
Thank you all so much for your support. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Please share this and help spread the word.
Amazon US – http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E...
Amazon UK – http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...
Nook – http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/unloc...
Kobo – http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Unlock...
Posted by Maya Cross in Uncategorized
I am very happy to announce that Unlocked, the final book in the Alpha Group trilogy, is now available on every major retailer except Apple (which will take some time, unfortunately). Amazon is currently being a pain and not letting people search for the book, so you’re better off going straight from the link below.
Thank you all so much for your support. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Please share this and help spread the word.
Amazon US – http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E...
Amazon UK – http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...
Nook – http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/unloc...
Kobo – http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Unlock...
