The Fear of Falling by Amanda Cowen Blitz & Giveaway

The Fear of Falling 

Amanda Cowen 

Publication date: August 22nd 2018

Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

When Ella Jones’ twenty-first birthday ends with a bang – literally – she never imagined it would be with her best friend since freshman year, Ryan Owen.

A year later, after their so called “mistake”, they’re still best friends and about to rock their Senior year at the University of San Francisco. But when Ryan returns from spending a summer in Australia and brings back a friend, Liam George, who takes an immediate liking to Ella, Ryan starts to question the Aussie’s intentions with his best friend. The trouble is, Ryan has a girlfriend of his own, and Ella and Ryan swore they would never cross that line again – until they do.

They try not to let their second slip up affect their friendship, but when Spring Break forces them to vacation under the same roof; and Ryan’s ex walks back into his life, Ella is shocked by a fierce stab of possessiveness. And when Ella continues to see Liam, Ryan finds himself plagued by unfamiliar jealousy. With their friendship strained for the first time, Ella and Ryan face an alarming truth: Maybe they can’t be just friends. Maybe they are falling faster than expected. And maybe, deep down, they want to.

Goodreads

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EXCERPT:

The airport isn’t busy with people coming and going, instead it’s uncharacteristically quiet for a Friday night as I watch the fading sunset through the windows. With each minute that passes the airport grows quieter, and I eventually sense his presence as he slides into the empty seat beside me and bumps his shoulder with mine.

“Holy Hipster.” He beams at me, eyes lit with bliss. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you wear a pair of ripped jeans or with such straight long hair covered by a beanie hat.”

“Hey, buddy. Nice to see you too.” I say biting back a laugh. Of course, he noticed I made few personal adjustments over the summer. One of them being I grew my hair past my shoulders to about mid back and yes, I bought a beanie hat. I also bought two pairs of ripped jeans, which I realize is totally out of character, but Jonathon told me my butt looked fantastic in jeans so I bought them. “Is this your annoying way of telling me how good I look?”

He laughs. “Aw I missed you, Jonesy.” He doesn’t shy away from his proclamation when I look over at him. After a pause with strange, mutual inspection, he asks, “Did you pierce your nose too?”

I nod. “Yes. I did.” When he makes a face I playfully shove him. “Don’t pretend you don’t like it.”

“I leave you for one summer and suddenly you’re wearing beanie hats, probably bicycling all over San Francisco, and I bet you’re even putting avocado on everything.”

“Hey I may be borderline hipster, but you look like a homeless person.” I say abruptly, playfully teasing him right back. “Your skin is brown and leathery from the sun… and seriously why is your hair so long and stringy?”

“It’s beach hair.”

Laughing I continue, “You also have the worst beard.”

He looks at my eyes, my cheeks, my lips for a long moment before meeting my eyes again. “Aw just admit you love my new Zen appearance just as much as I love you as a hipster.”

“Never.”

He grins over at me. “Come on Jonesy, time to give your best bud a hug.”

He wraps his arms around me and holds me close. He smells like the ocean and peppermint toothpaste. I hug him back and realize how much I missed him too. I missed his incessant need to tease me, our friendly banter and his warm embrace. It feels like forever since we’ve seen each other and I don’t want to ever let go. That is until he playfully starts to rub his beard all over my face. It itches against my skin and I wrestle against him to break free, both of us laughing.

And it’s when he pulls away from our hug that I meet the eyes of a guy approaching Ryan with a tray of coffee in hand. He appears to be a few years older than we are and tall, with light blonde hair and bright blue mischievous eyes. He has a well maintained beard framing his full lips. He’s watching us and smiling. He doesn’t look away when our eyes meet. If anything, his smile gets bigger.

He nudges Ryan in the back. “Here, mate. Your coffee.”

Wait…was that an Australian accent too? My goodness this guy is drool worthy.

Ryan stands to greet him. “Thanks bud.”

The blonde stranger smiles down at me. “I got one for you too…Jonesy right?” What he says makes me draw back and look over at Ryan to assess his reaction. “You like two milk, no sugar?”

“I’m sorry, do I know you?”

Ryan laughs and drapes his arm around my shoulder. “Jonesy this is Liam George. We worked together on the farm. He’s going to be crashing with me Jayce and Kale for a while.”

Oh. Liam continues to watch me with an amused grin.

“Nice to meet you. My actual name is Ella.” I say and take the coffee from him. “Jonesy is what Ryan likes to call me.”

With a smirk, he shakes my hand. “Well Ella, it’s nice to finally meet you. Ryan has told me a lot about you.”

“Has he now?” I detect a hint of blush on Ryan’s cheeks.

“One thing he neglected to tell me though was how beautiful you are,” Liam gives me a wink from one of his clear baby blues. “I love your nose ring.”

Ryan shifts his gaze curiously between us.

I place my palm on Liam’s chest. “Aw that’s so kind of you to say.” He puffs out his chest clearly enjoying my advances. “And I must say, I do love your beard. So well maintained.”

“We should probably head over to baggage claim – “Ryan cuts in, muscling his way between me and Liam as he rolls his carry-on behind him. Liam shrugs and we follow Ryan as he leads the way.

Author Bio:

Amanda Cowen can be found eating cupcakes, singing off-key, or watching a good RomCom when she isn't trapped on her computer writing stories. She is an "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" fanatic, a hater of roller-coasters and a country music junkie. She lives in Thunder Bay, ON where the summers are short and the winters are long.

Amanda would love to hear from her readers. Become a fan on Facebook, follow her on Instagram @authoramandacowen, or follow her on Goodreads.

Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram

GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tainted by Amanda Cowen Blitz & Giveaway

Tainted

Amanda Cowen 

(Wyatt #1)

Publication date: June 22nd 2018

Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

Rhys Wyatt is as arrogant as he is beautiful, and Ivy Bishop has been infatuated with him forever. The night Ivy makes her move, it ends horribly, leaving her utterly heartbroken.

Three years later, Ivy is dating Blaine Wyatt; Rhys’s loving and tender younger brother. With Rhys and their past somewhat out of her mind, everything about her relationship with Blaine seems perfect. But when Blaine leaves Ivy alone all summer; neither of them anticipated Rhys to return, or him and Ivy to be stuck living under the same roof…

Rhys never believed Ivy would be all grown up and everything he’s ever wanted – gorgeous, perfectly alluring, and an infuriatingly tempting beauty he has to keep his hands off of. But the more they try to resist each other, the more intense their urges become, until one night changes everything, and Wyatt brothers will never be the same.

Goodreads / Amazon

—

EXCERPT:

IVY

I pushed open the front door, tossed my keys onto the entryway table and flicked on a light switch.

“Where were you?”

I let out a shrill scream and whipped around, even though I immediately recognized his smooth deep voice. Rhys sat on a bench along the opposite wall leaning back, legs apart and spread, with his muscular arms crossed in front of his chest. My green eyes locked with his blue ones, but his bare chest had my gaze slowly creeping below his neckline. My eyes travelled downwards to see tattooed forearms, a pair of gray sweat pants hanging loosely around his hips, and finally his bare feet.

I pressed my palms down on the table behind me to keep from melting to the floor. “What the hell are you still doing here?” I sputtered.

An amused grin curled on his lips, but he didn’t budge as if he were inviting me to straddle his open legs. “Where were you?” he repeated.

“Why are you sitting here in the dark?” I shot back, even though my voice was shaky.

“Do you always answer a question with a question?” He stroked the five o’clock shadow grown in around his lips with his thumb and index finger. He slouched down further on the bench like he was getting comfy.

“No, not always.” I said, finally able to gain my composure.

“Come on Ivy, don’t make me ask you again.” His smug smile made want to whip off one of Missy’s cowboy boots I was wearing and chuck it at him.

He slowly uncrossed his arms and pressed his palms flat against the bench beneath him on either side of long muscular legs. He leaned forward and tilted his head to the side with a cocky grin. “Your shift must have ended at least three hours ago.”

I just stood still welling up with irritation. What the hell was he still doing here? He bit down on his bottom lip and tucked his shoulder length hair behind his ears. Even though he looked scruffy and older, he still had the same boyish good looks I remembered falling in love with. His new appearance suited him better than his once clean-shaven face hidden under a baseball cap.

“It’s none of your business.” I pulled off my boots in case I really did need them for ammo.

“When my brother’s girlfriend gets dropped off by Charlie three hours after her shift ended, I think it’s more than my business. Especially when she stumbles in wearing the world’s shortest skirt.” Rhys’s gaze trailed up my legs as he rose to his feet. He was much taller than I remembered, and I had to tilt my chin upwards to meet his stare.

“I was at an employee bonfire behind the bunkhouse. I wanted to leave, so Charlie offered to drive me to the ranch. If I would’ve known you were still here, I would’ve rather slept in a dumpster than be graced with your presence.” I spun around to separate myself from his intense stare and headed off in the direction of the guest bedroom.

Who the hell did Rhys Wyatt think he was talking to me like that?

Rhys’s hand closed around my elbow, and my body trembled at his touch. I wasn’t expecting every tiny hair to stand on edge when his warm fingers melted into my skin but they did.

“No one knows I’m back in Moose Creek, and I’d like to keep it that way… for now.” Rhys’s voice lowered to a murmur. He gently tugged my backside against his hard groin and whispered in my ear. “Trust me. I don’t want to be here anymore than I want your little body floating around and bumping into me every which way I turn. When you walked in on me last night -” He stopped from continuing his sentence and paused. He let out a warm tense breath and growled against my ear. “This situation isn’t ideal for either of us. So keep your distance and don’t you dare tell anyone I’m back.”

I sucked a sharp breath. It felt like my knees were about to buckle. How could I let my body react to him like this?

“What are you hiding from?” I asked through clenched teeth.

Rhys released my elbow from his death grip. “I’m not hiding.”

I slowly turned around and watched his smooth muscular back arch as he ran both his hands through his brown hair. His chest was so defined that I wanted to reach out and trace my fingers around his prefect pecks. His eyes fell closed and he let out an angry noise from his throat.

“I’m not leaving, Ivy. I’m staying in Moose Creek for the summer and I’m living at the ranch. I’d really appreciate you keeping my presence to yourself right now. That means not telling Blaine either. I don’t need anyone asking questions, especially not Blaine.” When his eyes finally opened they softened. Rhys slowly moved his bare feet across the hardwood floors and I stood frozen in place, mesmerized by his tight body stalking in my direction. He stopped inches in front of me and ran a hand through his thick dark hair. “Do you understand?” he asked.

I nodded. “Understood.”

“Thank you.”

I stood speechless for a moment until he lifted his eyes to meet mine. I expected them to be filled with a proud and pompous smile, but there was something vulnerable in them that I had never seen in him before. His chest rose up and down and his lips stayed slightly parted.

“Goodnight Ivy,” he whispered and disappeared down the hallway.

Author Bio:

Amanda Cowen can be found eating cupcakes, singing off-key, or watching a good RomCom when she isn't trapped on her computer writing stories. She is an "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" fanatic, a hater of roller-coasters and a country music junkie. She lives in Thunder Bay, ON where the summers are short and the winters are long.

Amanda would love to hear from her readers. Become a fan on Facebook, follow her on Instagram @authoramandacowen, or follow her on Goodreads.

Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram

GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tainted by Amanda Cowen Blitz & Giveaway

Tainted

Amanda Cowen

(Wyatt #1)

Publication date: June 22nd 2018

Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

Rhys Wyatt is as arrogant as he is beautiful, and Ivy Bishop has been infatuated with him forever. The night Ivy makes her move, it ends horribly, leaving her utterly heartbroken.

Three years later, Ivy is dating Blaine Wyatt; Rhys’s loving and tender younger brother. With Rhys and their past somewhat out of her mind, everything about her relationship with Blaine seems perfect. But when Blaine leaves Ivy alone all summer; neither of them anticipated Rhys to return, or him and Ivy to be stuck living under the same roof…

Rhys never believed Ivy would be all grown up and everything he’s ever wanted – gorgeous, perfectly alluring, and an infuriatingly tempting beauty he has to keep his hands off of. But the more they try to resist each other, the more intense their urges become, until one night changes everything, and Wyatt brothers will never be the same.

Goodreads / Amazon

—

EXCERPT:

IVY

I pushed open the front door, tossed my keys onto the entryway table and flicked on a light switch.

“Where were you?”

I let out a shrill scream and whipped around, even though I immediately recognized his smooth deep voice. Rhys sat on a bench along the opposite wall leaning back, legs apart and spread, with his muscular arms crossed in front of his chest. My green eyes locked with his blue ones, but his bare chest had my gaze slowly creeping below his neckline. My eyes travelled downwards to see tattooed forearms, a pair of gray sweat pants hanging loosely around his hips, and finally his bare feet.

I pressed my palms down on the table behind me to keep from melting to the floor. “What the hell are you still doing here?” I sputtered.

An amused grin curled on his lips, but he didn’t budge as if he were inviting me to straddle his open legs. “Where were you?” he repeated.

“Why are you sitting here in the dark?” I shot back, even though my voice was shaky.

“Do you always answer a question with a question?” He stroked the five o’clock shadow grown in around his lips with his thumb and index finger. He slouched down further on the bench like he was getting comfy.

“No, not always.” I said, finally able to gain my composure.

“Come on Ivy, don’t make me ask you again.” His smug smile made want to whip off one of Missy’s cowboy boots I was wearing and chuck it at him.

He slowly uncrossed his arms and pressed his palms flat against the bench beneath him on either side of long muscular legs. He leaned forward and tilted his head to the side with a cocky grin. “Your shift must have ended at least three hours ago.”

I just stood still welling up with irritation. What the hell was he still doing here? He bit down on his bottom lip and tucked his shoulder length hair behind his ears. Even though he looked scruffy and older, he still had the same boyish good looks I remembered falling in love with. His new appearance suited him better than his once clean-shaven face hidden under a baseball cap.

“It’s none of your business.” I pulled off my boots in case I really did need them for ammo.

“When my brother’s girlfriend gets dropped off by Charlie three hours after her shift ended, I think it’s more than my business. Especially when she stumbles in wearing the world’s shortest skirt.” Rhys’s gaze trailed up my legs as he rose to his feet. He was much taller than I remembered, and I had to tilt my chin upwards to meet his stare.

“I was at an employee bonfire behind the bunkhouse. I wanted to leave, so Charlie offered to drive me to the ranch. If I would’ve known you were still here, I would’ve rather slept in a dumpster than be graced with your presence.” I spun around to separate myself from his intense stare and headed off in the direction of the guest bedroom.

Who the hell did Rhys Wyatt think he was talking to me like that?

Rhys’s hand closed around my elbow, and my body trembled at his touch. I wasn’t expecting every tiny hair to stand on edge when his warm fingers melted into my skin but they did.

“No one knows I’m back in Moose Creek, and I’d like to keep it that way… for now.” Rhys’s voice lowered to a murmur. He gently tugged my backside against his hard groin and whispered in my ear. “Trust me. I don’t want to be here anymore than I want your little body floating around and bumping into me every which way I turn. When you walked in on me last night -” He stopped from continuing his sentence and paused. He let out a warm tense breath and growled against my ear. “This situation isn’t ideal for either of us. So keep your distance and don’t you dare tell anyone I’m back.”

I sucked a sharp breath. It felt like my knees were about to buckle. How could I let my body react to him like this?

“What are you hiding from?” I asked through clenched teeth.

Rhys released my elbow from his death grip. “I’m not hiding.”

I slowly turned around and watched his smooth muscular back arch as he ran both his hands through his brown hair. His chest was so defined that I wanted to reach out and trace my fingers around his prefect pecks. His eyes fell closed and he let out an angry noise from his throat.

“I’m not leaving, Ivy. I’m staying in Moose Creek for the summer and I’m living at the ranch. I’d really appreciate you keeping my presence to yourself right now. That means not telling Blaine either. I don’t need anyone asking questions, especially not Blaine.” When his eyes finally opened they softened. Rhys slowly moved his bare feet across the hardwood floors and I stood frozen in place, mesmerized by his tight body stalking in my direction. He stopped inches in front of me and ran a hand through his thick dark hair. “Do you understand?” he asked.

I nodded. “Understood.”

“Thank you.”

I stood speechless for a moment until he lifted his eyes to meet mine. I expected them to be filled with a proud and pompous smile, but there was something vulnerable in them that I had never seen in him before. His chest rose up and down and his lips stayed slightly parted.

“Goodnight Ivy,” he whispered and disappeared down the hallway.

Author Bio:

Amanda Cowen can be found eating cupcakes, singing off-key, or watching a good RomCom when she isn't trapped on her computer writing stories. She is an "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" fanatic, a hater of roller-coasters and a country music junkie. She lives in Thunder Bay, ON where the summers are short and the winters are long.

Amanda would love to hear from her readers. Become a fan on Facebook, follow her on Instagram @authoramandacowen, or follow her on Goodreads.

Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram

GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway