Thursday, July 26, 2018

#BlogTour - Groupie by @DeniseJaden

Title: Groupie
Author: Denise Jaden
Genre: YA Contemporary (with romantic suspense elements)
Publication Date: July 16th, 2018
Blurb:
Kass, never in a million years, would have pictured herself as someone’s groupie, but when Eli and his band score a spot on the hot new reality TV show, Hold That Note, she decides to surprise him in L.A… and hopefully win back his heart.
Denise Jaden’s novels have been shortlisted or received awards through the Romance Writers of America, Inspy, and SCBWI. The first draft of her debut novel, Losing Faith, was written in 21 days during NaNoWriMo 2007 and she loves talking with writers and students alike about her Just-Get-To-The-End fast-drafting process. Jaden’s other young adult novels include Never Enough, Foreign Exchange, A Christmas Kerril,  and Avalanche. Her non-fiction books for writers include, Writing with a Heavy Heart, Fast Fiction, and Story Sparks. In her spare time, she homeschools her son, acts with the Vancouver film industry, and dances with a Polynesian dance troupe. Find out more at denisejaden.com.
Author Links:
Buy Links:
Bonus Track (Free): https://amzn.to/2msNkn5
Paparazzi (Pre-Order): https://amzn.to/2JyvWX7
Rockstar (Pre-Order): https://amzn.to/2LviFjE
As we enter the massive hotel lobby, the hotel manager greets us, and instructs us to pack up.
“The studio is moving you to a suite.”
I raise my eyebrows at Jeff as the manager hands us four new key cards.
“Room 1182.” He smiles and holds a hand out to me. “And may I be the first at the Hyatt to offer my congratulations.”
After he shakes all of our hands, I grin, stupefied, as we make our way to the elevator.
“I wonder what perks we get if we make it through next week,” Jeff says.
“We’ll make it through next week,” Sebastian tells him, always the optimist. “Eli can bring the high. Right, dude?” He nudges my shoulder.
I nod, but can’t bring myself to answer.
We pack up in a flurry of bags and clothes and toiletries. I grab everyone’s toothpaste and toothbrushes from the bathroom sink, figuring we’ll sort them out upstairs. Sebastian and Jeff grab their still open duffel bags and head for the door.
“We’re gonna check out the new digs.” Jeff is already halfway to the elevator.
I’m eager to see it too, but if I know Jeff and Sebastian, they won’t bother coming back down once they’re comfortable in our new suite, and there’s still a lot of stuff left behind. I find shoes in the closet that aren’t mine and a watch in the night stand drawer.
Sonny crouches to roll the sleeping bag he’d prepared for himself on the floor. I fold my clothes so they won’t wrinkle too badly and place them gently into my bag.
When I’m done with my clothes, I head to do a last check of the bathroom while Sonny double-checks under the beds. A knock sounds at the door, probably housekeeping, coming to see if we’re out yet.
“Can you let them know we’ll be done in five,” I call to Sonny.
He grunts out a yes. As I’m leaning over the tub to grab Sebastian’s shampoo bottle, he calls out, “Uh, Eli…?”
I roll my eyes. Even though Sonny’s a year older than both Sebastian and I, he seems the least schooled in life experience.
“Just tell them…” I say as I come out of the bathroom.
And then I promptly drop Sebastian’s shampoo bottle. I don’t even notice if it opens or splatters onto the carpet.
“Kass?”
I blink twice and then I’m barreling toward her, wrapping her in my arms. It takes me several seconds to realize she’s truly, actually here, another several seconds to realize Sonny’s trying to get my attention and ask if it’s OK if he heads upstairs.
“Yeah, go, go,” I say, waving him with the hand on Kass’s back.
She pulls away. “What?”
“No, not you.” I pull her back into me. “Definitely not you.”
We stand there in the open doorway, holding each other. Her heart beats rapidly against my chest, and it might be a minute later, or it might be an hour when it starts to slow.
“You came,” I say, eventually.
“Yup,” she replies in her tough voice, and maybe it’s my need to balance her out, but my reply comes back velvety soft.
“I’m glad you came,” I tell her. “I’ve missed you.”
“Mmm,” she replies, which I’m well aware is the closest thing I’ll ever get to “I’ve missed you too, Eli.”

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