Jen Frederick's Blog, page 22

Charlotte Chronicles II

Charlotte Chronicles II

Nathan

The metal of Charlotte’s bed rattles as she is wheeled out of her room toward the operating theater. Her blue eyes look afraid, like the time she was eight and Nick and I were trying to get her to jump off the diving board into the pool. I finally walked out onto the board with her, held her hand and we jumped off the side together. No amount of hand holding is going to take that fear from her or from any of us.

For a moment after Charlotte is taken away, the room is silent. No soft words exchanged between mom and Aunt AM. No gruff low tones from Uncle Bo or dad.  No sounds from Nick’s Gameboy. It is eerie. Then Aunt AM begins sobbing and her cries are so awful that I have to leave the room. Then I have to leave the hallway but I can’t escape the sounds. They are embedded in my brain.  I sink down into a chair in the waiting room on the trauma floor and clutch my head in my hands. If I could rewind time, I think I’d never get up this morning.

I hear my Dad and then Bo enter the waiting room.

“The surgery may take a couple of hours, it may take longer. Why don’t you take Grace and the boys home and get some rest. We’ll call you as soon as she’s out.” Uncle Bo says.

Dad looks at Uncle Bo and then grabs him. The two stand there clutching each other and that’s all it takes for Nick to break.  Dad reaches out and the three of them huddle together. The only one I hear is Nick but Uncle Bo’s shoulders are heaving.

I walk in the opposite direction toward the windows. The air conditioning is leaving condensation on the window and the glass feels both cold and wet against my forehead. Outside the city is running like nothing out of the ordinary was happening, like two families aren’t breaking down inside this hospital. Like our whole future isn’t dependent on Charlotte making it out of surgery.

I’m not sure how long I stand there but I feel dazed when Dad places his hand on my shoulder.

“We’re going to go home for a bit.” Dad says, drawing me away from the window.

“Don’t want to,” I reply. I want to be here when Charlotte wakes up. She might need me.

“We need to take care of your mom.” Dad squeezes my shoulder.  I nodded because Dad isn’t asking. His tone is mild but when it came to taking care of mom, he wasn’t ever moved.

Home isn’t much better. The other side of the penthouse floor was silent and dark.  Mom starts crying in the car and hasn’t stopped. Dad carries her into the elevator and then down into their bedroom. Nick trails behind.

I stand in the entryway, unsure of what I should do.

Five minutes later, Dad came out looking like he’d aged about ten years in this one day. He dragged a hand through his hair. “Why don’t you go work out some of that energy,” he suggested.

That seemed like as good of an idea as any.  After changing into a pair of gym shorts and a sleeveless t shirt, I walked down the stairs into the private work out facility but stopped short when I saw the long padded mat that Charlotte used to practice her gymnastic moves.

Not gonna happen.

Working out in common gym. I texted my dad.

OK.

As I was boarding the elevator, the phone pinged again. Love you son.

x2 I responded.

The elevator stopped on the eleventh floor and Madeline Short got on. Madeline is a freshman at one of the city colleges. I don’t know her well but she was definitely in my mental spank bank. She’s got a tight body and tends to flirt with me just so she can make me blush or something. Like I’ve never had a girl before.

Madeline stands so close to me you’d think that there were dozens of others in the elevator car instead of just the two of us but I don’t move away because her body is warm and for the first time in hours, I feel like I’m thawing out. And when her arm brushes mine, I start getting hot.  The look in her eyes is an obvious invitation so when the elevator stops at the sixth floor, I don’t get off. And I don’t protest when she presses the close door button and I don’t say anything when she presses the button for her floor.

I follow her silently into her family apartment that is clearly empty.  She leads us confidently down the hall toward a bedroom. I don’t say anything when she pulls down my gym shorts or pushes the t shirt off my head. I’m afraid if I do talk the sounds of Aunt AM’s cries or my mother’s sobs will come back and I don’t want that. I don’t want to think at all.

When Madeline leads me to her bed, when she takes off her clothes, when we lie down together I shut down my brain and just concentrate on the physical feeling of release.

A chime from my phone wakes me out of a dose. I jerk upright and grab my phone.

She made it. She’s asking for you.

I can’t get dressed fast enough.  My motions must have awakened Madeline or maybe she was awake all along. I don’t really care.  I’ve got to get to the hospital.

“Hey, where are you going? I told you my parents are gone.”

“Gotta run.” My mouth feels dry and my throat is sore like all the tears I’ve suppressed were like shards of glass that scraped my insides raw as they traveled from my eye sockets into my stomach.

Madeline leans toward  me and hooks a finger through the waistband of my shorts. “What’s your rush? I’m ready for round three if you are.”

I can’t even stand to have her touch my clothes but my dad would kill me if he knew I was rude to a woman, particularly one I’d just been intimate with.

“I’m sorry,” I give her a tight smile, “family thing.”

She shrugs and ten minutes ago, the lift of her naked breast would’ve gotten me hard and I’d have fallen on her. Now I’ve only got Charlotte on my mind and the two of them together in my head is making me sick.

“I’ll call,” I say and then pulled on my t shirt and grab up my socks and shoes. I don’t look back even when she calls my name out in a bewildered fashion.  I can’t tell her Charlotte’s situation. It’s a family thing.

By the time I get to the hospital, my clothes are back together and I’m winded.  I run to the door and dad is standing there looking grim.  I falter. “Did she,” I’m afraid to finish the sentence.

“She’s fine. A fighter.” Dad says with approval. I move toward the entrance and he stops me. I hear him inhale and then he pushes me back. I strain against him but my seventeen year old body isn’t strong enough to overtake him. Dad was a professional fighter back in the day and he’s still as strong as hell now.  I’m proud to be his son but right now I’m confused as to why he’s keeping me from Charlotte.

“Sorry, hoss, I can’t let you go in there stinking like sex and perfume. You’d embarrass your mother, piss off your Uncle Bo and break Charlotte’s heart. AnnMarie’ll have your nuts on a platter.”

I flush and turn away, embarrassed of my behavior. Dad grabs my head and brings me close to him.

“This is going to be a tough. Loving people is hard.” He looks hard at me. “Are you strong enough to see it through?”

“I am.” I say and straighten. “Sorry, Dad. Won’t happen again.” And it won’t. I’d apologize to Madeline at my first opportunity but Charlotte was meant to be mine.  I knew it when she was born. Nick was her brother but I was her protector. I’d let her down this time, but never again.

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Charlotte Chronicles, Part I

Charlotte Chronicles

You asked for more and I couldn’t stop thinking about Nathan and Charlotte.  I’m going to TRY to offer up a short snippet of their story once a week.  If you don’t know who Charlotte and Nathan are, you need to read the free epilogue to Unspoken.  Or not.

Charlotte

Today is a no good, very bad, wholly rotten day. In the annals (had to look that up) of bad days, this has to be on the top. Nick’s sitting by the window and won’t look at me. Nathan’s in the corner, glowering as if somehow this is all my fault. Mom is trying not to cry and Dad is pacing like a lunatic.

And my head hurts so bad. The doctor says that tonight’s surgery will help alleviate the pressure from the tumor that’s taken up residence in the back of my skull. No one knows what will happen next. Although my mom has said that I probably won’t be able to do gymnastics anymore but that maybe I could join the dance team. FML. Like I would ever.

Later, after everyone is gone but Nick we’ll look up medulloblastoma and find out what the real details are. None of the adults are going to give it to me straight. Even the doctors talk in quiet tones to my parents in the corner. I’m the patient, I wanted to yell at them, but I can’t yell because even speaking is too painful right now. But I’m glaring. My eyes are shouting at them. Unfortunately no one but Nathan is even looking at me right now.

Nathan who thinks I must’ve done something to create this tumor in my head and ruin his day because he can’t stop glowering at me. His face looks thunderous like he’d like to squeeze my head until the tumor pops out like a zit. I’d like that too. But at least he’s looking at me unlike everyone else.

Nathan.

Worst. Fucking. Day. Ever.

The next entry in the Charlotte Chronicles will be released via the newsletter later this morning. Newsletter sign up is in the sidebard —->

Cover Reveal SignUp & other details

I’ve mentioned that I’m working on a sekret project, right? The Rock Stars of Romance are hosting a cover reveal tour.  You can sign up for this tour here. It’s for October 7, 2012, which I know is kind of late in the game but we’d love to have you.  You can see by the form it’s a collaboration between myself and a USA Today Bestselling author of billionaires and shapeshifters. There aren’t any paranormal creatures in Last Hit, but you may consider the hero out of this world.  The story is darker and sexier than I’ve ever done. I hope you guys enjoy it.

In Unspoken news, I am thrilled beyond words to announce that the book made it on to the USA Today Bestseller list at 93!  I can safely say that I never, ever expected this to happen.  Thank you so much for your support everyone.

I’ve had some marvelous reviews trickle in since the end of the blog tour.

Kaetrin from Kaetrin’s Musings gave Unspoken a B+.  This is a pretty big deal because Undeclared was a bit problematic for Kaetrin. Reading that I improved enough even into the B range for her was a triumph.

This one was for me, a much stronger book. The plotting was tighter and more cohesive…  There were more of the things I liked in the first book (much more) and less of the things I didn’t like (much less).  If the first book was a bit of a mixed bag, this book was a bag of goodness.

The Long and Short Reviews gave it  five stars:

The inevitable love affair between these two is both heart wrenching and sensitive. Bo has learned to respect and adore AM… it made me sigh when he fell for her completely.

Romantic Book Affairs was in agreement with Kaetrin and  gave it a B+ rating. (She also left the review at Amazon, thank you!)

This book has some deep emotional moments, but it’s also wonderfully funny. Between the mayonnaise experiment and Bo’s most embarrassing story, I was laughing non-stop. The playful sparring between AM and Bo is laced with sharp, sarcastic humor and dipped in sexual tension – fantastic combination.

I’m deep into my secret project but also working on Woodlands #3 as well as the promised Novella! Thank you again everyone for all your support!  It made a difference.

Goodbye Sweet Tour

My blog tour ended with a wonderful conclusion yesterday.  Thank you to Julie at ATOMR for putting this all together for me.

Yesterday I visited a Diary of a Book Addict posted the covers and blurbs for both books as did Shh Moms Reading.

Laurie T at Reader Girls Blog felt that the harassment and gossip suffered by AnnMarie at college was a tad unrealistic.  Realism is important for readers. If you don’t deliver a story that they feel could actually happen, even if it is a paranormal, I think you lose them.  Completely understandable.

Shannon at Cocktails and Books (she obviously knows the right way to read) enjoyed the snarky exchanges between the characters:

I really enjoy this series.  Jen Fredricks has created a cast of characters that are funny, snarky with the perfect mix of emotional issues.  I can’t wait for more from the Woodland gang.

Ramblings from This Book Chick shared that she was slightly frustrated with the lack of resolution about the parentals:

But then as we get to the end of the book, nothing is ever mentioned again and we are left wondering if Bo and his mother have spoken and possibly started a reconciliation or whether or not AM’s mother will leave Roger and/or stop relying on him for support. I just wish that some of these things would have been given some kind of resolution.

In all, it was great experience and I appreciate everyone giving Unspoken a chance. I’m really proud of it and I’m so thrilled that people are responding to it.

I’m working hard on new projects and I’ve updated the Tentative Schedule to reflect that. My goal is to get the epilogue to you all as soon as possible. Right now it’s kind of dirty. Like NC17 dirty. I’m not sure if it is even appropriate! I’ll have to reflect on this.

I’m thinking my secret project is affecting all of my writing.

Tentative Release Schedule

REVISED as of Sept. 21, 2013.

I’ve mocked up the tentative release schedule for the remainder of the Woodlands novels.  It takes me about three months to write the basic bones of the book and then I have two months to push the book through the editing, rewriting, copyediting, and proofing stage.

December 2, 2013:  Super sekrit project
December 20, 2013: Christmas Novella featuring Grace and Noah. Will be sold in anthology with two other authors.
January 20, 2014:  Someone’s book


June 16, 2014: Unsung, Adam’s book
November 17, 2014: Undone, Mal’s book
April 21, 2015: Final Woodlands book unless some other character pops their head up and demands there own book.

I’ve got an interesting character that popped up at the end of Bo’s book and I might write his novel after Mal’s book.  You’ll have to tell me, after you read Unspoken, whether you think this character deserves his own book. 

Bo’s book will be at the editor’s desk on Monday so we are closing in his release.  The Rock Stars of Romance will have an exclusive teaser and photo collage on the 18th.

Day Six, Am I counting right?

This is the last day of my blog tour.  Or tomorrow is.  I’ve added a bunch of new blogs to my list of places to visit for ideas on what to buy. There’s always something new at these sites. So what was going on today?

First up is Jenee’s Book Blog. She reviewed Unspoken. Jenee’s review answers a question that many readers have asked.  This is a stand alone novel with no cliffhanger.

This is a story about finding love where you least expect it. It was sweet and challenging all at the same time. Both characters were completely different and going through their own problems when they met. Although this is the second book in the series, it can be read as a stand alone. There are no cliffhangers.

Nick’s Book Blog points out that sometimes AnnMarie’s actions (or non action) were frustrating but understandable.  He also loved Bo. But who doesn’t?  He said it was a book that spread a positive message.

The romance in Unspoken was beautifully paced. Bo and AM definitely had an attraction to each other since the first page, but they really got to know each other an emotional level before they dived into a romantic relationship. I liked the slow pace of their relationship and I liked how despite how hard Bo tried to pursue AM, she didn’t give in easily.

Time out for a minute. I actually love reading reviews with critique. Even though I can’t write Unspoken, I can see where the flaws in the book are and try to avoid them in the future.

Lisa from A Life Bound by Books promises that she is going  stalk me. I’m holding you to that, Lisa.  She also appreciated the humor in the book.

I also loved the experiment that Bo and AM do to the guys at Bo’s house and thought it was a crack up. That’s another thing about this title that even with some of the heavy issues there were some light hearted moments and even moments like the experiment that had me laughing out loud and rolling my eyes. Seriously entertaining and then some!

Even though Unspoken is a stand alone, Ava at Book Nerds Anonymous  appreciated the progression of characters from one book to another.

I enjoyed this instalment of the Woodlands series, it was great to see the progression from book one to this book. The character development was richer and the plot line went deeper. It is a great New Adult romance about finding that one true person that can handle your demons as well as their own. Also did I mention Bo was hot  because a smart, ex marine/fighter, yeah he’s got it all going on!

Speaking of critique, Bridger Bitches Books Blog‘s Harper wasn’t thrilled with the nickname. It was after the AM radio. If you noticed, AnnMarie’s IM handle is when the radio was invented.  But I liked this critique because it makes me more sensitive to the issue of nicknames.  She had a great point that labels are meaningful, even nicknames.

Labels are some thing Bo and AnnMarie are both very familiar with. Bo handles them a little better than AnnMarie, and Bo has this pull to AnnMarie that makes him want to help her get passed the labels and make her feel like those labels don’t make her who she is especially if they are not true. Just rumors, a game of telephone that people like to play and add or take away whatever they want to the rumor.

Louisa has great taste and not just because she loved Unspoken but because in the early inception of this blog I used the exact same theme. HIGH FIVE Louisa.

Beautiful, endearing, and a solid read. That is how I would describe Unspoken in short succinct words. This book was a fantastic read that I would gladly pick up again.

Shelley and Courtney at MustReadBooksorDie did another conversational review. I know I said I loved them yesterday but they are so much fun to read. Maybe it’s because two people are expressing pleasure over the book. (Is this like a menage?)  Shelley and Courtney loved the friendship aspect in Unspoken. I’m happy for Unspoken to be the meat in the awesome reviewer sandwich.

I say this every other review, but I truly LOVE a series with an amazingly awesome group of friends. Bo, Noah, Mal, Finn, Adam, and now Gray are their own version of a Hot Bunch and I can’t wait to see them all get their girls! Love them. Love, Love, Love them.

Lori at She Reads New Adult is going to throw down for Bo too.

I loved the chemistry between Bo and AnnMarie. I mean seriously? I would love my very own little stud muffin like Bo.

Liz at Sinfully Sexy Books called Bo sex on a stick.

There was actually much more show in Unspoken instead of so much tell (Undeclared) where that aspect was concerned, and that made for a huge improvement in my mind.  So, Bo was a fighter, but, ahem, wow, he was also quite a lover!  That boy was sex on a freaking stick!!  Even aside from his hotness factor, though, Bo was amazing with Ann Marie (AM).  He was a wonderful friend, protector, cheerleader, and all around good guy with her.

Autumn from The Autumn Review appreciated the characters.

As I said before, the characters made this book special for me. Frederick’s strength is her characterization. They are complex, sexy, likable, and relatable. I can’t wait to see what happens next in the series! If you’re looking for a new NA series to start, definitely check this one out!

Sarah at Book She Reads is helping readers rediscover Undeclared.

What got me hooked on this book the most was how hard Noah starts to fight for Grace and prove to her she is the one for him. He has his reasons for staying away for the last two years. He knows that she will ‘test’ him and he is ready and willing to do whatever it takes to get her to see just how much she means to him. I loved it, I love Noah, and Grace is a girl I could see myself being friends with.

RoloPoloBookBlog also reviewed Undeclared and she, like so many, love the letters shared between Noah and Grace.

 Beginning with page one is one of my favorite aspects of Undeclared, the letters between Grace and Noah.  At the beginning of most of the chapters there is a letter from one to the other which really helps the reader understand just how well the two knew one another before the great disappearance.  The letters also helped me connect to both characters and better understand how the past so greatly impacted the present.

Let’s end with a picture, shall we? Victoria Shriver tweeted this picture as her “BO”.

@JenSFred “Randolph men were born w/something that drew women in Maybe “lured” better word” Im lined hook & sunk w/Bo pic.twitter.com/zSmyPCrS6u

— Victoria Shriver (@vshriver303) September 20, 2013

 

Saturday, Sept. 21:

A Diary Of A Book Addict
Cocktails and Bookd
Ramblings From This Chick
Reader Girls
Shh Moms Reading
whirlwindbooks
Alphas Authors & Books Oh My
Faerie Tale Books – Review Undeclared
Falling In Fall – Review Undeclared

Day Five, it’s still selling!

I’m so amazed that people are still buying Unspoken.  It’s like the little book that could.  Please envision the little train here.   One of the marvelous readers of Unspoken is a photographer. I asked if I could share a photo she took today and she said yes.  Fall is here!

 

Today around the blog tour we visited some fabulous places.

Michelle and Pepper at All Romance Reviews did this fantastic conversational review of the book and there are so many great moments throughout the review that it’s hard to pick the perfect one to extract so you might just want to go over and read it all.  But one part I did like was the discussion about the male POV in the book.  I have a super sekret project I’m working on kind of related to this so it was fun to see them pick this as one element that they really enjoyed.

PEPPER: Like, he was so unapologetic. I highlighted so much of his inner monologue. I have to put out there that JenFreds dude POV is killer. Like some of the best I have read. I love me some dual POVs, but some authors can’t get the guy to be “a guy” as well as others. And there was some hilarious shit in this book.

“I’d shove their dicks so far up their assholes that they’d only be able to fuck themselves for the next four years.” – Bo

See, what she did there?? Hilarious and so dude-like!!

MICHELLE: I totally agree. I just think Jen just knows how to write her ass off. She’s really good and writes in a way where every detail is important but it’s never too much. Sometimes I skim books because I just feel like I don’t need all of the extra details and they don’t capture me but I never have to do that with Jen’s books.

Anyway, totally fun (and it has gifs).

SBBookLover Reviews says that her fanning and swooning is at Defcon 1.

Oh Jesus, Bo is even sweeter and hotter than I anticipated :D

The dears at SMIBookClub actually reviewed me last year and I’m thrilled to be back on their page.

This is one of those books where I just need to let it out (sorry, J) SQUEEEEEEEEE! I LOVED this book. Seriously. So. Freaking. Much. I was a huge fan of UNDECLARED and was thrilled that Bo would be getting his own story but I wasn’t expecting to LOVE it more than I did the first book.

Thank you Heather! Up next is Gabic who reviewed Undeclared. Gabic also has a post about “A Death-Struck Year”, a book set in 1918. How fascinating!

Undeclared is an adorable story about a former Marine and the girl he writes to the whole time he’s deployed. These two are strangers when Grace sends her first letter as an English project. But it becomes more than homework. They fall in love over four years high school and deployment. But that’s all ruined when Noah pushes her away when he gets out. He’s a mess and doesn’t want to put that on her.

Laurie’s Thoughts and Reviews hosted some of my favorite quotes from the book.

KV Loves Books also reviewed Undeclared and liked the old fashioned touch of the letters Noah and Grace exchanged.

Although there are many books on the shelves now which use the medium of email or text to begin romances I love the fact that Jen Frederick’s protagonists begin their relationship through old-fashioned letter-writing. The letters which we read within the book are mainly Noah’s and the reveal the realities of war and his part as a Marine, which is something he is reluctant to impart to Grace face to face.

Chelsea wrote this amazing review for Unspoken. She liked it so much she went back and read Undeclared!  Chelsea has reviews and giveaways for books like Nicole Williams Finders Keepers and Heather Hildenbrand A Risk Worth Taking.  Check her out.

Lately, I have felt a little burnt out on new adult/contemporary novels which is a travesty for me because that is what I love to read. I have read so many insta-love and undeveloped books lately that I feel like it has been affecting my perspective on all books in this genre. Unspoken broke the spell. I freaking loved this book. I started it kind of late at night and I had to force myself to put down the kindle and go to bed since I had to work the next day. This was truly a fabulously refreshing read for me.

I wanted to share a couple more things unrelated to the blog tour.  Shirley Frances left me an amazing review on Amazon.  The last I checked it was the most helpful. Thank you Shirley. I loved reading that!  You can check out her blog here.

Kylie Scott tweeted that she enjoyed my book.  This was a cool moment for me because I’ve totally read and enjoyed her books.  If you haven’t read Lick, you are missing out. It’s this emotional love story featuring a rock and roll star and the woman he married one night in Vegas. I can’t wait to read the rest of the band’s stories.

The blog tour has only tour more days left but I’m not done here. I’ve got some exciting stuff to share with all of you after the blog tour is over – about the next Woodlands book, about the Christmas Novella, about a super sekrit project so stick around!

 

Friday, Sept. 20:

Jenee’s Book Blog
Nick’s Book Blog
A Life Bound By Books
Book Nerds Anonymous
bridger bitches book blog
Louisa’s Reviews
mustreadbooksordie
She Reads New Adult
Sinfully Sexy Book Reviews
The Autumn Review
{Books She Reads} – Review Undeclared
Abigail Books Addiction -Review Undeclared
RoloPoloBookBlog – Review Undeclared

Day Four: You guys are so awesome

So last night I blogged that I would write and release a 10,000 word epilogue featuring Bo and AnnMarie if I broke the top 100.  And this morning, sometime around 10 AM, you all made it happen. As I write this Unspoken is 80.  I’m overwhelmed.  But I’m also about keeping my promises so I started writing.

 

If you’ve read Unspoken, you’ll know that Bo makes a reference to visiting AnnMarie at work.  I’m going write that scene.  If you can’t envision it, then head over to SwoonWorthy Books for an 18+ picture. Yes, picture.  I blushed and wiped the sweat from my forehead.

After visiting Ena at SwoonWorthy, you can head to PJs.  At A Novel Affair, PJ writes

This book had the perfect everything – characters, sexiness, drama, depth, emotion, and my favorite – comic relief! I loved Bo and AM each individually, and together, they make a great couple… one of my new favorites for sure.

Then you HAVE to head to Book Freak. She made some beautiful graphic cards for Undeclared. I love, love, love that people are rediscovering this book.

 

The flirtyreader wrote reviews of both Undeclared and Unspoken.  She loved them both but appreciated that there was no insta-love:

What’s hot is that they become friends first. Albeit with strong sexual chemistry. AM is reluctant to get into a relationship with another Central guy and Bo for the first time in his life wants to become more than just another guy to AM.

Tammy and Kim’s blog had lovely things to say about Unspoken.

It is a story of facing your fears, opening up, moving forward and finding a true connection. It was painful and hard to take at times, but sweet and heart felt at others. It had a good message about overcoming bullying. I really felt for AM and for Bo in this one. They both had a lot to overcome and deal with and it affected how they viewed themselves and others.

A Passion for Reading hosted my thoughts about AnnMarie who is currently my favorite heroine although the one I’m currently writing is pretty awesome too.

Mean Girls Luv Books are claiming Bo as their own. I’m sorry other bloggers.

It’s MY Beauregard “Bo” Randolph’s alpha tendencies, gentle heart and broken past that had me turning page after page.  It was the strength, love and endurance of AnneMarie “AM” West that lent a harmony to her and Bo’s story as they navigated the muddy waters of their haunted pasts, which guided their presents.

I held a flash giveaway over at my Facebook page and asked what character from the Woodlands interests them the most.  Many many wanted to read about Ryan and Ellie.  I don’t have time before the end of 2013 to write that novella, but I’m intrigued by it.  I said on Twitter that if I made it to the top 10, I’d give some real thought to it.  I don’t know, readers, could that happen?

Tomorrow’s blog tour schedule (Thursday, Sept. 19):

Above Average Below Special
All Romance Reviews
SBookLover Reviews
SMIBookClub
Gabic Reads – Review Undeclared
Laurie’s Thoughts and Reviews – Author’s Favorite Quotes
All in One Place
Starbucks & Books Obsession

Day Three, It’s Hump Day

Today is Day Three of the Unspoken blog tour. I’ve had a wonderful time reading reviewers’ thoughts on the book. Unspoken is doing even better than Undeclared and I’m really overwhelmed by the love and support from readers and bloggers everywhere.  If I crack the top 10 at B&N or the top 100 at Amazon, I’m going to write an extended epilogue of Bo and AnnMarie including an office scene.  For those who’ve read Unspoken, you know what I refer to.

Wednesday, Sept. 18:

A Novel Affair [book blog]
Mean Girls Luv Books
Reviews by Tammy and Kim
Swoon Worthy Books (they are going to have pictures!!)
Book Freak – Review Undeclared
The Flirty Reader – Review Undeclared
Peace, Love, Books – Author’s Take on AnnMarie

Today’s visits included Book Nerd who said that she loved the dual points of views and the secondary characters.  Book Nerd also hosted a release day blitz for 3 AM Kisses by Addison Moore.

That is one benefit of reading a series with each book following a different set of characters from the same social circle, we get little tastes of all of them in all the stories and it gives the author that extra motivation to create depth with secondary characters as well as the main. This would definitely fall under the New Adult category, I would officially classify it as SUPER HOT!

Christine at She Book Blogs thought Unspoken was a sweet book.  Christine is also hosting a giveaway for “Gallagher’s Choice” by: MK McClintock.

I liked that a friendship first which developed before the couple professed their love for eachother. The plot came at a good pace that allowed the characters to grow with what was happening in the story. Some scenes were so well written while others I thought could have been executed better.

Love N Books, the wrangler of cover models, admitted that Bo has displaced Noah for hottest Woodlands guy.  (I’m paraphrasing here) You’ll want to make the stop just for the sidebar eye candy.

I love how Bo and AM come together.  It’s nothing really strong at first – just friends and building on that.  Yes, they are physically attracted to another but their friendship and trust in another is key.  It’s just a natural progression and so beautiful!!

Made For You Book reviews enjoyed this follow up to Noah and Grace’s romance.  She is also hosting the Perfect Regret tour by A. Meredith Walters.

I really enjoyed the first book in the Woodland’s Series and the second one didn’t disappoint. Jen provides us with a unique and captivating story that has you hooked from the first page. It has just enough angst and romance to keep the reader captivated until the very end.

Random Jen d Smidt (who obviously has one of the best names ever) loves Bo and AnnMarie together. Jen has a cover reveal for  A Step Away (Wanderer Series #2) by Jocelyn Stover. (There is something neat going on at all these blogs).

Characters – they are great, both of them.  I love how you have both male and female characters in this book and they are both awesome.  Usually you have one really strong and the other not so much, but not in this book!  AnnMarie, “AM”, is amazing.  She’s skittish and brave at the same time, emotional inside but a stone cold exterior like nothing bothers her.  I think so many girls/women will identify with AM.  She is plagued by the aftermath of a decision she made and rumors that resulted from it.  I love that this is the story of AnnMarie and her learning to live again.  Bo is just like AnnMarie in many ways.  They both pretend, they both learn a lot through this journey.

Ellen at The Book Bellas admitted that Unspoken took her by surprise in a good way (oh and they have the cover and blurb for Kristen Ashley’s next book!!!!)

I was also thrilled with the development of AM’s character throughout Unspoken and was cheering for her by the end. There is the perfect amount of steam in Unspoken and characters that I grew to love. Add a great storyline to that mix, and you have a book that should not be missed. I can’t wait for more from Jen Frederick!!

Bibliowhore was afraid to read this book, or maybe nervous is the better term, because she wanted it to be as good as Undeclared.  She was thrilled by the story even though it was different from the first.  I understand. You have to earn the trust of readers and sometimes it takes several books. Thanks for sticking with me! There are reviews of both Undeclared and Unspoken at Bibliowhore’s site.

This is a follow-up to Undeclared following Bo and AM. I was blown away. This book is as enjoyable as Undeclared and it gave us a different perspective/different love story.

Thanks to the bloggers for making Day two special for me.

Day Two, Unspoken is traveling around the internet

Today I’ll be hosted by the following blogs:

#BookNerd
Christine’s Blog
Love N Books
Made For You Book Reviews
random jendsmit
The Biblio-Files
The Book Bellas

If you visited the tour sites yesterday, this is some of what you would’ve read:

From LovinLosLibros.  They also have a cover reveal of Nicole Chase’s cute self published book that was acquired by Avon.

Watching both AM and Bo confront their fears was one of my favorite things about this book. They empower one another and make each other stronger and I loved that. They are different in so many ways, but they really work together. When the other person builds you up, believes in you, strengthens you as an individual, chases the demons away, and loves you unconditionally- you know you’ve found your match. And AM found her match in Bo and vice versa.

BookAngelTopia reviewed both Undeclared and Unspoken.  Emma also hosted a spotlight for Melody Grace’s upcoming release.

Unspoken gives dynamic, charismatic characters that develop exponentially from the beginning to the end.

and

Undeclared is one of those books that sinks its claws into you from the very first page and doesn’t let go until you’ve turned the last page. To say that it is a compelling read is an understatement.

Brittany and Bianca had a nice spotlight of both books.

Hesperia said that Unspoken was a story of unconditional love. So true. Hesperia has a very neat looking rating system. You’ll have to check it out.

AM and Bo build a friendship that is leading to a love of a lifetime. But before they can move forward they have to get past the rumors, confront those standing in their way, and deal with their secrets. It is a love that is worth fighting for.

This book is beautifully written. Two young people find themselves and their own self worth. I highly recommend this book.

Meagan at Love Between the Sheets loved the banter and shared her appreciation for the dual point of view:

The way the story was written from alternating POV’s made me like the couple even more. We got to see how each character viewed their problems, as well as their attraction. It helped me connect with AM and Bo as a couple, as well as individually.

Brandelyn at Seductive Romance Reviews said that Bo left her begging for more. I had a hard time letting both Bo and AnnMarie go. I still want to write about them. They were such a fun couple.  Brandelyn also has a giveaway for a Melanie Dawn book.

Bo was everything I was looking for in a book boyfriend and then some. I am so glad he is not the hit and quit it kinda man I was thinking he was. His relationship with AM (Ann Marie) flourished throughout the novel and I found myself rooting for them.

Read This Heart That (what a great blog name) said that Unspoken was not your typical NA book.

Bo and AM are one of my favorite couples so far this year. Individually they’re so resilient and strong. And together? Man, oh man they could conquer anything they want. And anyone they want. Those two were as combustible as a gasoline and fire- which made for some steamy sexy time.

Brianna Lee Book Reviews hosted some extra facts about Bo.