Not sure if you heard, but tomorrow is an exciting day. Austin Michaels makes his splash in the world, along with the adorable Alessandra D’Angeli, feisty Cat Crawford, and Italian hottie Lucas Cappelli.
I’ve been waiting for this day for almost a year. Wow, it’s really been almost a year since My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century was released. And as excited as I was for my debut, that was nothing in comparison to my giddiness over A Tale of Two Centuries!
Maybe it’s because this is now my third release (my adult debut, Taste the Heat, released last month) and I’m getting more used to this.
Maybe it’s because I have such a wonderful, supportive fan base and street team, and they make me smile every day.
And maybe…just maybe…it’s because I sorta/kinda/okay definitely have a book crush on the infuriatingly arrogant with hidden depths surfer, Austin Michaels.
First, before I get into more excitement, I want to give you a heads up about a Twitter Contest I’m doing today for a SIGNED PAPERBACK of A Tale of Two Centuries.
One. More. Day! Time to celebrate: Retweet & enter to win a *signed* paperback of ATOTC! Winner at 8 pm CST #Austin pic.twitter.com/3eS7bsRie7
— Rachel Harris (@RachelHarrisYA) August 5, 2013
Yep, one more day and this baby hits shelves…and today, I’ve been blessed by so many wonderful reviews to share with you as part of the blog tour
- Loving Los Libros TOTALLY made my day with her 5 out of 5 stars review, saying, “So: let me simplify this for you. Rachel writes it? I read it. End of story. Hands down. It could be about alligators in Taiwan falling in love with monks. If she wrote it- I’d read it.”
- Seeing Night Book Reviews gives A Tale of Two Centuries 4 1/2 out of 5 stars, saying, “I couldn’t put this book down!” Check out the full review & enter to win the huge prize pack!
- Christina with Ensconced in YA (who is hosting my Twitter party on August 20th at 7pm CST) just posted a 5 star review on Goodreads, saying, “Everyone needs to read this book and will continue smiling after it’s finished for a long time.”
- And finally, for your viewing pleasure, the first challenge post from Flirt Squad member Maliha on her casting choices for Austin, along with an adorable blushing story. Trust me, you want to gawk at these guys! (*grin*)
Now, why does Austin make ME Blush??
There are many snippets I could share, scenes where he is exasperating and arrogant, teasing and playful, or even vulnerable and surprisingly sweet. Or, I could share a full on kissy scene (there are several yummy ones to choose from!). But the snippet below always makes my tummy do crazy things, and this gives you a good idea of why Austin Michaels makes me blush.
Austin interrupts my somewhat dark and profound introspection by dipping his forehead to touch mine. And just like that, all thoughts are whisked away and my senses are filled with the scent of mint.
With our gazes connected, we share a breath, one now sharpened with the same sting of awareness from the beach. My pulse quickens with the realization that this does not feel like rejection…this feels like desire.
And I’m so ready to experience another one of Austin’s kisses that I almost explode from the anticipation.
His darkened gaze drops to my mouth for a long moment and the skin around it prickles to life, already tasting him. But instead of lowering his head and capturing my lips, he looks into my eyes. The fullness of my yet unspoken affection reflects back at me.
Then, with eyes so dark they blend into the night, Austin whispers, “I do see the real you, Alessandra.” He smiles. “And I think I’m falling for the girl I see.”
I can’t wait for you to read A Tale of Two Centuries and share what scenes make YOU blush! Are YOU ready for Austin??
