Sarina Bowen's Blog, page 36

If you haven't read Autoboyography by Christina Lauren, I don't know what you're doing with your life

I will confess that I was afraid to read this book, because I'd been waiting for it since it was announced in Publishers Weekly. This one just pushes all my buttons. YA? Check. Terrific and unique LGBTQ conflict? Check. Pushing back on oppressive religious beliefs? Check. Excellent research? Comparison to Rainbow Rowell and Becky Albertalli? Check check check. 

My expectations were sky high. And I was not disappointed. Not even a little! I bought this at the hotel as a reward for surviving the hectic five days in France.

 























 

Do you think I heeded this advice? Nope. I finished it before we even cleared UK airspace because A) travel delays and B) I GOBBLED IT DOWN. Seriously. This book didn't stand a chance. It's so swoony and perfect. The writing is flawless. I loved Tanner on page one and I wanted to give Sebastian a crushing hug. 

And because this is a Christina Lauren book, the chemistry is perfection. It carries terrific sexual tension without ever stepping beyond the boundaries of YA. They don't even need on-screen sex to make this a sexy read. Even if you usually choose more erotic books, you won't be disappointed. 

The writing is flawless. Flawless! Go. Run. Get it from Amazon or another vendor, or ask your library to carry it on Overdrive. 

 

One more (important!) thing about Bountiful!

Yesterday I announced this book and sent the manuscript off to my trusty editor, Edie Danford. Today she sent me a message asking why on earth my description for Bountiful doesn't mention that Dave is a Brooklyn Bruisers hockey player?

Right. Whoops!  *taps microphone*

Dave Beringer, Zara's hero in True North 4, is a veteran forward for the Bruisers! He is a walk-on character in all three Bruisers books. If you missed him, that's because he didn't say much. But! The fun here is that Castro, Silas, Leo and Doulie all show up in this new book. 

There. I also added "hockey star" to his description on the vendor sites, and they should update shortly!

Bountiful arrives October 20 at: Amazon | iBooks | Kobo | Nook | Google 

Announcing: Bountiful, True North #4

No last names. No life stories. Those were the rules. 

Once upon a time a cocky, copper-haired tourist sauntered into Zara’s bar. And even though she knew better, Zara indulged in a cure for the small-town blues. It was supposed to be an uncomplicated fling—a few sizzling weeks before he went back to his life, and she moved on. 

Until an accidental pregnancy changed her life. 

Two years later, she’s made peace with the notion that Dave No-Last-Name will never be found. Until one summer day when he walks into her coffee shop, leveling her with the same hot smile that always renders her defenseless.

Dave Beringer has never forgotten the intense month he spent with prickly Zara. Their nights together were the first true intimacy he’d ever experienced. But the discovery of his child is the shock of a lifetime, and his ugly past puts relationships and family out of reach.

Or does it? Vermont’s countryside has a way of nurturing even tortured souls. The fields and the orchards—and hard won love—are Bountiful.

At Amazon | iBooks | Kobo | Nook | Google 

Have a free book on me!

Coming In From the Cold by Sarina Bowen is currently free on all platforms in most territories

I'm celebrating the publication of the audio book with free ebooks all around! You can find it here:

➜ Amazon: http://geni.us/CIFTCAmz 

➜ iBooks: http://geni.us/CIFTCibooks 

➜ B&N: http://geni.us/CIFTCnook 

➜ Kobo: http://geni.us/CIFTCkobo 

➜ Google: http://geni.us/CIFTCgoogle 

Don't miss this excerpt from Temporary!

Grace

“Holy cannoli,” I said, completely forgetting myself as I opened the double doors to Jack Walker’s apartment Monday morning.

“What’s wrong?” my friend said in my ear.

Jasmine had called me as I left the offices of Walker Holdings, the keys to Jack Walker’s apartment burning a hole in my pocket. We’d spent the last twenty minutes catching up on each other’s lives while I walked uptown.

“This apartment I’m supposed to be inventorying. It’s unbelievable.” I took in the foyer with wide eyes.

I’d been prepared for something lavish, because the Walkers had buckets of money. But this...this was beyond lavish. And I was only in the foyer.

The floor beneath my feet was polished stone, but it was the wall in front of me that had blown me away. It was covered in vividly colored giant artificial flowers, so thickly applied the wall beneath was completely hidden. A riot of bright oranges, deep cobalt blues, and the occasional sunburst of yellow, the colorful backdrop was the perfect foil for the snow-white sculpture displayed in front of it—an intricately executed, scaled-down statue of a horse and rider.

“Let me guess—gold stuff everywhere? Velvet? Lots of faux-ye-olde-worlde family portraits?” Jasmine said.

“No. It’s beautiful. There’s an installation in the foyer, a whole wall of flowers. Like Eloise Corr Danch…” It hit me that this was an Eloise Corr Danch installation.

Which was when I realized this project I’d landed was going to be Big. Really Big.

“Must be arty rich then, not tacky rich,” Jasmine said knowledgeably. The only child of two high-flying lawyers, she was well placed to categorize the many permutations of wealth.

My heels tapped against the floor as I ventured further into the apartment, and even though I was braced for more fabulousness, what I glimpsed through the doorway to my left made me literally gape.

“Oh my God,” I breathed as I stepped into what was the most incredible room I’d ever seen.

“What? Tell me what’s going on,” Jasmine complained. “You’re practically having an orgasm. I need details.”

I didn’t know where to begin. The view? The ceiling? The fireplace?

“You’d have an orgasm, too. Make mine a double. This living room is freaking amazeballs. The ceiling has to be twenty, maybe twenty-four feet high. And it’s painted in hazy blues and yellows…like the Chagall at the Opera Garnier in Paris.” Jasmine and I had taken art history together our first year of design school, so I knew she’d understand the reference.

“And there are windows—huge, kick-ass windows that go the whole height of the room, and the view… God, Jazzy, I don’t even know how to describe the view. The whole of the city laid out in front of you. And there’s this fireplace, so big you could probably fit my entire apartment inside it, made out of some sort of old stone with amazing carved pillars… And there’s art everywhere. Beautiful, amazing multimedia.”

“Oh baby, yes!” Jasmine shouted. “Talk artsy to me.”

I tilted my head back as I described the room, taking in the stunning ceiling, the suspended star-shaped sculptures hanging in front of the window, the many prints and paintings on the walls.

When I dropped my gaze I realized there was a big armchair in the corner of the room, angled to face the view—and that a man was sitting right there, in the chair.

A beautiful man. And he was watching me.

“Fuck,” I yelped, leaping backward, one hand clutched to my chest like a damsel in distress.

“Let me guess—live panther, chained in the corner?” Jasmine asked.

“I have to go,” I said, not taking my eyes off the man in the armchair. He lifted one eyebrow in a silent expression of curiosity. “I’ll call you later, okay?”

“At least tell me if there’s a panther or not,” Jasmine said.

“No panther. I have to go.”

It wasn’t until I ended the call that I realized I’d made a mistake—because if you’re confronted with a strange man in the apartment of a rich dead man, being on the phone to someone who knows where you are is probably a good idea.

“Don’t let me interrupt your next orgasm,” he said, the last word drawn out and lazy. And holy fuck—that accent. Australian, if my startled brain wasn’t too confused to hear him properly. His words had an easy lilt, but the tone of his voice was rich and smoky.

“Who—who are you?” I asked, embarrassed to hear the crack of fear in my voice.

“I think that’s my line,” he said.

For a long moment we just stared at each other. I took in his dark hair and the angle of his rugged cheekbones. He had two days’ worth of scruff on his jaw, his whiskers roughening up an otherwise perfect face. He was a few years older than me, maybe late twenties, early thirties, with blue eyes.

And, me being me, I noticed that he wore an expensive button-down shirt—a finely threaded jacquard pattern with a spread collar. Tom Ford maybe. Or Zegna.

I couldn’t tell how tall he was because he was sitting down, but he was clearly in shape, with broad shoulders and long, muscular legs that were stretched in front of him with relaxed abandon.

His eyes weren’t relaxed, though. They were watching me with sharp, assessing interest...

Get Temporary wherever books are sold: Amazon | iBooks | Kobo | Nook

Women's Fiction for Romance Lovers

As you know, I love my romance. But reading out of genre is also exciting! Women's fiction is often romantic, but you have the added zing of not knowing whether it works out or not. Also, the storylines aren't quite as linear. The secondary characters see more action, and that can be so much fun. I offer you some of my recent favorites! Not only are they great, but if your heart craves romance, there's a little something in each of these to scratch that itch. ;)

If you click on the picture, you'll arrive at a vendor page.

The Almost Sisters: A Novel

By Joshilyn Jackson

This one is so good, it's a hang-up-your-skates kind of read. Meaning that I'm so in awe of Ms. Jackson's ability to capture the human experience that I feel unworthy. Don't let the staid cover fool you. This is a wickedly funny romp with an unexpected romance. It's GREAT. Read it. (Click the photo for more.)

I have always enjoyed Ms. Hilderbrand's style, and this new one was no exception. With a great premise, and terrific page-turning pace, you won't be disappointed. Also, it covers the Zeitgeist of Nantucket and the Vineyard even more thoroughly than her other books. So fun! (Click photo for more.)

The Identicals: A Novel

By Elin Hilderbrand





















The Forever Summer

By Jamie Brenner

I picked this up when I was supposed to be doing something else. And then couldn't put it down! Lots of family drama and twisty secrets. Loved it!

Click the cover for more info.

I read this when it first came out and then re-read recently. I'd forgotten how sexy it was. Rawrrr! And a great yarn, too. Ghosts aren't usually my thing but they are amazing here. The, uh, living don't do so poorly either. (Rawrrr!)

Click the cover for more.

Evenfall

By Liz Michalski





















The Husband's Secret

By Liane Moriarty

Ms. Moriarty always delivers, and this one is no different! I am in awe of the way she does redemption. And she has this way of selling you a crazy plot, because she's so wise and observant you'll take everything she gives you as the gospel. Excellent stuff, here!

(Click on the cover for more info.)

That's all for now! Thank you for indulging me! 

I suppose I should go back to my own manuscript now. Sigh...

It's coming soon!

➜ Amazon: http://geni.us/TEMamazon 

➜ iBooks: http://geni.us/TEMibooks 

➜ B&N: http://geni.us/TEMnook 

➜ Kobo: http://geni.us/TEMkobo 

Temporary is up for Pre-Order!

ComingSept 12!

At Amazon | iBooks | Kobo | Nook

The most beautiful man I've ever seen is the same one who can ruin everything.
The first time I lay eyes on Callan Walker, I know he’ll be trouble. With his smug grin, hot Aussie accent and thousand dollar shoes, he’s just the kind of rich guy who always gets what he wants. 
And he wants two things: a night of sin, and my cooperation as he outmaneuvers his powerful mother to take control of his uncle’s estate.
I can’t afford either one. I’m the only thing standing between my little sister and the foster care system. He may have money and charm on his side, but I have something even more powerful -- pure desperation. This temp job at his mother’s company can become a full time job for me. It has to. 
But when Callan’s eyes rake over my body, sometimes I forget my obligations. His piercing gaze finds the fun, optimistic girl I used to be and not the tired person I’ve become.
And it works--if only for a moment. Our night together was a mistake. I can't afford to get sucked into his high-powered family’s treachery. But the closer I get to Callan, the more layers I find beneath those expensive clothes. Though I can’t forget this is temporary. He’s temporary. I have too much to lose. 
Too bad my foolish heart didn’t get the memo...

At Amazon | iBooks | Kobo | Nook

More MM Recs (Summer 2017 edition!)

The cover gods have smiled on Annabeth Albert this year. :)

It's been a while since I made a nice list of recommendations. (Sorry!) You can find my other two lists of smart LGBT reads here and here.

One big discovery I made this year was Avon Gale's hockey romances, starting with Breakaway. Then I quickly glommed all five in this series. Her ability to write quirky characters that just leap off the page gives me writer envy.

Another hockey MM that's well written is Winging It by Ashlyn Kane & Morgan James.

And don't miss Santino Hassell's first sports romance! Illegal Contact is a new summer release. Grumpy gay football player vs. cute PA hot-mess-guy. It's awesome.

I also read my first two by Tara Lain, and my favorite was The Knight of Ocean Avenue. And Cowboys Don't Come Out was also moving.

Hot cowboys in love, anyone? You shouldn't miss the Ember Peak books by Edie Danford. It's a trilogy about the same cowboy couple, which is hard to pull off. But she nails it! Start with Tru Smoke and take it from there!

And I just loved Bad Judgment by Sidney Bell. It's MM suspense, and so twisty and turny! Gah.

And, finally, the Out of Uniform series by Annabeth Albert is fab. My favorite is On Point, the third one. It's a really moving friends-to-lovers story with great tension!

Today is the day!

Hello Forever is here! Just $3.99 at an e-tailer near you. Or order a signed copy of the paperback.

➜ Amazon: http://geni.us/HFzon 

➜ iBooks: http://geni.us/HFibooks 

➜ B&N: http://geni.us/HFnook 

➜ Kobo: http://geni.us/HFkobo