FFBC: Welcome to the club, The Next Together (The Next Together #1) by Lauren James

The Next Together (The Next Together #1)
by Lauren James
Publisher: Walker
Release Date: September 3rd 2015

Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Historial Fiction, Contemporary, Fantasy, Time Travel

Synopsis:

How many times can you lose the person you love? 

Katherine and Matthew are destined to be born again and again, century after century. Each time, their presence changes history for the better, and each time, they fall hopelessly in love, only to be tragically separated. 

Spanning the Crimean War, the Siege of Carlisle and the near-future of 2019 and 2039 they find themselves sacrificing their lives to save the world. But why do they keep coming back? What else must they achieve before they can be left to live and love in peace? 

Maybe the next together will be different...

A powerful and epic debut novel for teenagers about time-travel, fate and the timelessness of first love. The Next Together is told through a mixture of regular prose, diary entries, letters, "original" historical documents, news reports and internet articles.

Hello Lauren! Welcome to the FFBC ! We are super excited to have you in our FFBC tours!

Thank you so much for having me, it’s been a lot of fun so far!

Could you tell our Book Addicts a little bit about The Next Together?

The Next Together is what I like to call a “reincarnation romance”. It follows the various lives of Katherine and Matthew as they meet and fall in love throughout history. There are timelines in the recent future and distant past, and each time a mysterious being is tracking Kate and Matt’s relationship, and making sure they fall in love and save the world in every life….

If you had to pick 1 adjective to describe Katherine and Matthew what would you choose?

For Katherine: sassy and for Matthew: cautious. 

How did you come up with the story? Did you find inspiration in any other story/movie/show and how has this affected your writing? 

It was inspired by time travel romances like Outlander and The Time Traveler’s Wife. I really wanted to write a book which combine my love for Jane Austen with my equal enjoyment of Doctor Who. I started writing by making a huge list of all the things I love reading most, and tried to combine them all into one storyline. It was quite challenging, but very satisfying!

What is your favorite quote from the book?

“Matthew was hers, had apparently always been hers, and now he was gone. How many times had they done this dance, this horrific, beautiful dance through time?”

Is there a specific scene that you had the most fun to write?

There’s a very flirty carriage ride near the start of the book, in the 1745 timeline, which I adored writing. It’s full of unresolved sexual tension and intrigue, and it was the very first thing I wrote which clicked for me. At that point it really felt like writing was something that I could do properly instead of just as a hobby. 

Was there anything you had to research or this book, that you would be worried if someone found in your browser history?

HAH. Yes. I end up googling lots of suspicious murder-related things which give me a moment’s pause - just yesterday I was trying to find out the best place to stab someone! Totally innocently, of course. 

I think being an author is the best excuse ever for collecting weird knowledge. 

What authors are auto-buys for you? 

Neil Gaiman, Rainbow Rowell, Sarah Waters, Susannah Clarke and Maggie Stiefvater. 

What you would you say is harder to write: The first sentence of a story or the last?

The first. Although I heard a great tip that the every first and last sentence should be in iambic pentameter, to really make the words slip off the tongue. 

What do you find yourself fangirl-ing over?

Recently people have starting writing fanfiction and making gifsets about The Next Together, and I’ve never been as excited about anything in my life. It’s so bizarre and wonderful that something I created exists in other people’s heads too, and they love Kate and Matt as much as I do. 

What is your favorite snack/drink to eat when you read? 

I chew peppermint gum and drink Earl Grey tea - though not usually at the same time!

Favorite book of 2015 thus far?

The most recent in The Raven Boys series by Maggie Stiefvater, Blue Lily, Lily Blue. Excellent world building, slow burn diverse relationships, and a hot like burning male lead in Gansey. What more could you want? 

If you could pick one author dead or alive to have a drink with who would you choose and why?

Douglas Adams. I’d love to hand him an iPad and see his face! He’s also the funniest and most brilliant writer, and I’ve adored his work since I was young. 

Thank you so much for everything, Lauren!

Thank YOU <3

Follow the The Next Together by Lauren James Blog Tour and don't miss anything! Click on the banner to see the tour schedule.

Lauren James is a scientist by day, writer by early hours of the morning. She graduated in 2014 with a first class Masters degree in Natural Sciences from the University of Nottingham, where she studied Chemistry and Physics. 

She now lives in the village of Berkswell in the UK.

You can find her on Twitter at @Lauren_E_James, which she mainly uses to fancast actors as her characters and panic about all of the overly ambitious plans she has for her PhD, or her website at http://lauren-e-james.tumblr.com. 

She likes strong, intelligent women, Dylan O’Brien, and things with plants on them. These are her favourite books: http://www.myindependentbookshop.co.uk/Laurenelizjames.

UK ONLY

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Blog Tour: No One's Surrender (Chadwell Hearts #3) by Kelly Walker

No One's Surrender (Chadwell Hearts #3)

by Kelly Walker

Release Date: December 29, 2014

Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

Chelsea Arnold is not a Chadwell, as her mother incessantly reminds her. 

And if she doesn’t learn to play the game, she’ll never see a dime of her new step-daddy’s money. So Chelsea puts on the act and dutifully follows the Chadwell family rules: everyone has to work in the family bar to learn life lessons. Little do they know, she already knows the biggest lesson of all: the best thing to be is underestimated. Then they’ll never see you coming. And in a few more weeks when she’s tucked enough cash away, she’ll be out of here, leaving her new family and her washed-up mother behind, because all Chelsea wants is freedom. Inheritance be damned.

But when her step-father learns he has a son he never knew about, it throws her plan off the tracks. While another son and an ex-wife sharing her husband’s affections are too much for Chelsea’s mother to handle and she heads for the hills, the rough around the edges Warren “Ware” Chadwell is enough to tempt Chelsea to stay. Despite the fact that all he has to offer is everything she’s determined to shy away from, the boy from the wrong side of the tracks knows how to push her buttons in all the right ways, no matter how wrong it is.

I couldn’t take it anymore. I had to break the tenderness of the moment, or I was going to forget myself. I mean really, could she be any more adorable? Somehow tonight has deviated from plan. I was thinking about one thing and one thing only when I followed her up those rickety ass steps. Sex. Hot, scorching, bad memory banishing sex.

And then she went all sweet, shy and sympathetic on me, actually worried about my lip. As if her nerves weren’t endearing enough, man… I don’t remember the last time someone looked at me with such care. It’s usually me doing the taking care of, and I definitely don’t like to be babied. I could have bent her over the counter right then and been done with all of this, but the uncertainty in her eyes snapped a leash around my neck, and suddenly instead of thinking of how fast could I bury myself in her, all I could see was a need to put her at ease.

Mission accomplished.

Now back to the regularly scheduled program. This commercial break has been brought to you by the letter B for bring on the booty call. I’ve got her thrown over my shoulder, caveman style, and I’m ready to get this show on the road. Following her directions, I open the second door on the left, finding a chalk gray bedroom. Chelsea squeals as I toss her from my shoulder into the center of the bed, then step back to admire the view. “Don’t move,” I demand.

Defiance flashes in her eyes. “And if I do?” She lifts herself up on her elbows.

I shrug as if it doesn’t matter. “Your loss.”

I can tell this throws her. She doesn’t have a quick remark ready. I both love and hate that smart mouth of hers. I wrench my t-shirt over my head and toss it to the side, trying not to wince as my shoulder protests, another by-product of the fight downstairs. Chelsea’s eyes gleam and she flicks her warm tongue over her lips as she drinks in the sight of my bare chest with a thirsty gaze. I don’t work out—I don’t have time—but hard work has it’s benefits. My grandparents have a small farm, and when I’m not there working the fields and the stock, I’m at my cousin’s auto shop downtown fixing cars. Neither are anything fancy, but they pay the bills, and keep me honest.

Now shirtless, I step to the bed and place each of my hands on one of Chelsea’s thighs, deftly spreading then. Her lips form a little O but she doesn’t speak. I get the impression she’s not used to having anyone take control with her, and that only excites me more. I know I don’t have much to offer a girl, just myself, so I’ve got to be good at it. If she’ll let me, I intend to rock her world and give her a night to remember, even if it’s only one. There wasn’t much free entertainment in my little town—just drinking and fucking—and as a result I’ve perfected both.

Her hands grip my shoulders for a brief moment, but I’m not having it. Pinning her body with my hips, her legs wide open beneath me, I wrap my hands around her wrists and press them to the bed above her head, resting my weight on my elbows so I don’t hurt her. “Do you trust me?”

“Fuck no. I don’t know you.”

Fair enough. She’s so much smarter than most women. “Do you trust that I can make you feel good?”

She huffs out a charged breath, then nods, her eyes wide with both wariness and wanting.

“Then let me. Let me control your pleasure and I promise you won’t regret it. For just tonight, put yourself entirely in my hands. Let me give you what you were craving when you invited me up here.”

It’s blatantly obvious the moment she accepts my proposition. The tension leaves her body and she melts beneath me. The heat between my dick and her core is already searing, and we’re both still clothed. Her legs spread more, inviting me in, surrendering.

Kelly Walker is a YA and NA author of several romantic titles, including the Souls of the Stones series. She has an unhealthy appreciation for chocolate, and a soft spot for rescued animals. Her best lessons on writing came from a lifetime of reading. She loves the fantastical, and the magical, and believes a captivating romance can be the most realistic magic of all. Kelly, her husband and her two children share their Virginia home with three dogs who walk her, and two cats who permit her to occasionally share their couch.

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Cover Reveal: No One's Surrender (Chadwell Hearts #3) by Kelly Walker

No One's Surrender (Chadwell Hearts #3)

by Kelly Walker

Release Date: December 29, 2014

Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

Chelsea Arnold is not a Chadwell, as her mother incessantly reminds her. 

And if she doesn’t learn to play the game, she’ll never see a dime of her new step-daddy’s money. So Chelsea puts on the act and dutifully follows the Chadwell family rules: everyone has to work in the family bar to learn life lessons. Little do they know, she already knows the biggest lesson of all: the best thing to be is underestimated. Then they’ll never see you coming. And in a few more weeks when she’s tucked enough cash away, she’ll be out of here, leaving her new family and her washed-up mother behind, because all Chelsea wants is freedom. Inheritance be damned.

But when her step-father learns he has a son he never knew about, it throws her plan off the tracks. While another son and an ex-wife sharing her husband’s affections are too much for Chelsea’s mother to handle and she heads for the hills, the rough around the edges Warren “Ware” Chadwell is enough to tempt Chelsea to stay. Despite the fact that all he has to offer is everything she’s determined to shy away from, the boy from the wrong side of the tracks knows how to push her buttons in all the right ways, no matter how wrong it is.

Ware’s voice is low and quiet, like he’s trying not to wake me if I’ve already fall asleep. “Chelsea? Can I come in?”

I hold my breath, trying to contain the sobs wracking my shoulders, hoping he’ll think I’m sleeping.

“I can hear you crying, so I know you’re not asleep.”

Fuck.

Footsteps tap softly toward the bed.

“I didn’t say you could come in.” I sniffle miserably.

The edge of the bed dips beneath Ware’s weight and his hand cups my shoulder. “You spend so much time taking care of everyone else, but who holds you when it’s your turn to fall down?”

“I’m more than capable of picking myself up.” My voice wobbles, undermining my words.

“I know you can, but that doesn’t mean that sometimes you don’t just want someone to take care of you, yeah?”

“Yeah,” I say so quietly it can hardly even be called a whisper. Before I even realize I’ve spoken out loud, Ware has scooped me up and he’s sliding beneath me, crushing me against his chest. I want to resist, because to say I’m conflicted about where he fits into everything would be a ginormous understatement. I’m still not sure if he’s the enemy, or a potential ally, but his warmth burns away my barriers, and the tears flow more freely. I go from steady tears and soft sobs to ugly crying without any preamble. My dam has broken and the raw emotion surges through.

I’m vaguely aware of Ware stroking my hair while his other arm around my waist keeps me glued to him. He hums softly, something soothing and serene, that sounds vaguely familiar. As he hums, he keeps stroking my hair and my body begins melting into him. Before I can ask him what he’s humming, he begins to softly sing and my heart stops. His voice is hauntingly beautiful, and I’m afraid to even breathe, afraid he’ll stop. It takes me a moment to place the song, but I think it’s Lullabye by Shaun Mullins. It’s haunting and sad and soulful all at once, sending a shiver up my spine from the chilling beauty of it.

His hand freezes and he pauses mid song. “Sorry, are you cold?” He tugs at the blanket, trying to pull it from underneath us.

“No. Not cold,” I say, lifting my head to peer up at him.

“Appalled by my singing then?” I know he knows differently by the way the corner of his lip quirks up as he teases me.

“That’s probably it.” More like amazed, or enraptured. I hear live artists singing at the bar downstairs almost every weekend, but it is never like hearing Ware sing. He wasn’t performing, or putting on a show. It was more like he was just letting his emotions come out through his voice, saying more than his words ever could. I feel safe, and cherished, and content. It makes no sense, but I’ve got no desire to question it tonight.

He gives me a knowing smile and I drop my head back against his chest. “Thanks,” I mumble against him.

“Don’t mention it. Sometimes we just need the connection of touching another human being. I think it’s ingrained in us from birth, yeah?”

“Yeah,” I say softly.

“I should probably head out to the couch though.” His voice is heavy with regret, and I wonder what’s going through his head. Does he regret comforting me, or does he regret not doing more?

My hand wraps around his arm, not wanting to let him go, but feeling silly at the thought of saying it. He seems to understand, and I don’t need to. We settle under the covers, curled tightly against each other and I fall asleep to the sound of Ware humming beside my ear.

Kelly Walker is a YA and NA author of several romantic titles, including the Souls of the Stones series. She has an unhealthy appreciation for chocolate, and a soft spot for rescued animals. Her best lessons on writing came from a lifetime of reading. She loves the fantastical, and the magical, and believes a captivating romance can be the most realistic magic of all. Kelly, her husband and her two children share their Virginia home with three dogs who walk her, and two cats who permit her to occasionally share their couch.

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