Craves The Angst: BOOK BLITZ with GUEST POST and GIVEAWAY - ALEXA LOVED (Alexa #2) by T.R. Cupak:

TITLE: Alexa Loved
SERIES: Alexa
SERIES PLACEMENT: #2
AUTHOR: T.R. Cupak
AGE GROUP: New Adult
GENRE: Contemporary Romance
RELEASE DATE: October 16, 2016
PUBLISHER: T.R. Cupak
PAGES: Approx. 180
BLITZ COORDINATED BY:
Xpresso Book Tours

BOOK BLURB:
After her parents died during her senior year of high school, Alexa Morgan is completely alone in the world—except for her best-friend-turned-boyfriend Devin, identical twins Becca and Jessa, and Sebastian, a mysterious associate of her father’s.

Upon graduation, Alexa wants nothing more than to move on with her life, go to college, and forget all the hard and hurtful things from her tragic past. But when her first love, Ethan, shows up at her graduation—it kicks off a whirlwind of events that threatens the good and stable things she’s worked so hard to achieve.

Ethan and Alexa shared one night of passion before he disappeared, leaving her bewildered and confused. But now he’s back, declaring that he loves her and that the only reason he left was to protect her from his malicious stepmother, Olivia.

In her heart, Alexa knows she loves Devin, but her attraction to Ethan is so strong she can’t help but be drawn in by their shared chemistry. Meanwhile, the threat of Olivia lurks around the edges, casting a menacing shadow over everything and everyone Alexa loves.

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EXCERPT and GUEST POST

Although it feels like time has completely stopped it most definitely has not. I am completely oblivious to how long Ethan and I have been standing outside my hotel room when we are startled apart by the sound of a very pissed off, deep, familiar voice.

“What the fuck is going on, Lexi?” Devin’s heated voice booms through the open hallway making me cringe and my body turn to stone at the sound. I’m still partially wrapped up in Ethan’s arms but when I finally detangle myself completely out of his hold, I step to the side of him so I can see Devin. I get a pretty good view of him too since he’s standing only a few feet behind Ethan with hate evident in his normally kind eyes. I know shock is all over my face as I stare at Devin as if he’s just a figment of my imagination. Ethan hasn’t moved a muscle. His back is to his enemy yet he chooses to stay facing me. It takes another few seconds before I finally take notice to what Devin is wearing. He has on running shorts and running shoes. His body is glistening with sweat and his face is red as if he was actually outside running in the Miami heat.

What the hell? My emotions are all over the place. Confused, scared, hurt, happy. I swear on my parent’s urns that Devin was just in bed with the twins. How is he standing here like he was actually out for a run and why can’t I find my damned voice to ask that very question? Suddenly I hear the twins’ door to their room open. I turn my attention behind me just as a random guy, who looks like he could be Devin’s fraternal twin brother or doppelganger, exits the twins’ room. My mind automatically fishes for the memory of my conversation with Jesse. Once I replay what he had said privately plus all of the banter with his buddies, I can see how a drunken person could mistake Mr. Random for Devin. The twins’ guest is wearing gray boardshorts and flips flops and steps out carrying his black T-shirt in his hand. He stops when he sees the three of us standing here. I’m sure we’re quite the sight to see. Me, with red watery eyes and airplane stale clothes, Ethan who has not moved but his irritation is quite evident, and Devin who looks as if he is ready to kill Ethan. The stranger who appears to be very much hung over but oozes sexual satisfaction gives us a half smile, says “Hey” to Devin, and inches past the soon-to-be war zone towards the elevator. It’s usually females you see doing the walk of shame but this morning it’s this wonderful guy, this wonderful guy who isn’t Devin. Shit. Devin.

“Answer me, Alexa.” Devin’s voice is seething and it makes me snap my head back around to face him. I glance briefly at Ethan and I see his eyes are screwed shut, jaw tense, the vein in his neck is pulsing, and his fists are clenched at his sides. Well shit. I can’t explain this because I don’t fully understand it all myself. I look back to Devin who is staring at me with so much anger and hurt that it takes my breath away.

Devin takes two steps closer and Ethan’s eyes snap open. Before either one can do anything I step between both of them. I’ve been in this position once before and just like the last time I have no idea what I could or would do if these two decided to throw down. I take another step towards Devin. He just stares down at me waiting for his answer.

My voice is quiet when I finally speak to him. “Devin, I can explain part of this but I can’t explain Ethan being here because I don’t have that answer-yet.”

“Do you think I’m fucking stupid, Lexi?” There is so much pain evident in his voice that my tears start to spill again.

“No, Devin. I don’t think you’re stupid. Can we please go into our room and talk privately?” I know I sound pathetic but that’s probably because I am. I just want to be alone with Devin and figure out this craziness.

Just when I think Devin is going to concede and go into our room with me I feel one of Ethan’s hands settle on my hip and that one tiny gesture sends Devin flying over the proverbial edge. Everything happens so fast that all I feel is my body being shoved out of the way like I’m a ragdoll. I trip over my bags and my head slams against a solid surface and everything goes black.

---- GUEST POST ----

Perks to being a writer:
Since I am still getting my feet wet with writing and everything else that goes with publishing a book I’m still trying to figure out the actual perks. For a self-published Indie author such as myself, one of the perks that I am enjoying is that I set my own deadlines. I don’t have someone barking at me to hurry up and finish a project. When a writer is rushed you will only get subpar creativity from them, which in turn disappoints the fans. We rely on you to fall in love with our stories that we write and I am thankful that I don’t have to worry about publisher deadlines, just my own. Which, by the way, the fans are my most favorite perk to writing. I have been accepted as an author and that is a great feeling. Also, the people I have met (readers, bloggers and fellow authors) during this first year of my journey have been absolutely remarkable. I have made some amazing friends and a few that I can even call extended family.

A perk that I have yet to enjoy but will soon, is traveling for my writing. A lot of authors that I admire have traveled the world for research and book signings. I cannot wait to join that crowd. This year I will get my feet wet with my first signing in Mississippi, at Booking in Biloxi. I’m still holding my breath and keeping my fingers crossed that an opening will become available for the San Francisco Golden Gate Author Event (even though it’s in my backyard) in June but my last stop for the year will be Nashville for the Authors at the Opry. I will be attending Love N Vegas as a fan but hey, it’s Vegas, a bunch of fabulous authors and it’s VEGAS! I am an avid reader as well, so meeting authors I have read or finding new ones to read goes hand in hand with the traveling perk. And yes, I may actually fangirl and embarrass myself but we are all there for the same reason. We LOVE books.

Lastly, a very personal perk to being a writer is that it’s my escape from my every day chaos. I find salvation in writing someone else’s story for others to read. It fills me with a sense of accomplishment and when people actually get attached to my words and characters I just can’t help but to happy dance with giddy excitement.

Thank you to my fans and to those who will become my fans. You make writing worth all the craziness that comes with it.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR...

T. R. Cupak was born and raised in the California Bay Area. She now lives in a quiet town south of where she grew up with her husband and their shih tzu Harley. She is obsessed with cars, especially fast ones, and enjoys her music louder than anyone should. When she's not at work or busy writing, you can find her curled up, reading and enjoying a fabulous glass of wine or a Dirty Shirley.

Despite her lifelong love of literature, Cupak lost touch with her creative side in her early twenties. Her passion for reading was rekindled six years ago, however, and in 2013 she started journaling. This practice helped Cupak hone her creative aspirations, and soon she saw her characters come to life. She has rediscovered her passion for storytelling and wants to share her words with everyone who wants to read them.

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