Author Guest Post
What Inspired Me To Write My Book
Okay, so here's the background, let me get right to the good stuff! So many people, especially my friends and family always ask me the same question when they see what my book is about – “Is this real?” The answer simply is “No it isn’t.” But what is true is that when I started writing BETWEEN FRIENDS, my inspiration came from my real group of friends (5 guys and 5 girls that I have been friends with since the 9th grade) and subsequently their personalities are meshed into each and every single one of my characters.
The idea for my novel hit me one night when I was lying in bed and of course trying to fall asleep. I hate how inspiration strikes me at the most inopportune times - but nonetheless, it is when this story came to me. My real male best friend Eli had just told me that night, that he asked his longtime girlfriend to marry him. Even though our friendship had never left the “friend-zone”, I couldn’t help but question what life would have been like if we had ever “hooked up”.
Suddenly the wheels started turning in my head and I thought, “Hmmm… wouldn’t that be an interesting story, to write about a friendship that actually did cross that line.” So, even though that night, I tried to get back to sleep, the story and the characters just wouldn't keep quiet! So I sprung out of bed, (my husband asked me what the hell I was doing), I hoped on my Mac and outlined my novel and finally managed to fall asleep into the wee hours of the night with a gigantic smile plastered on my face.
About The Author
Amanda loves to hear from her readers! You can contact her via her website, www.amandacowen.com, become a fan on Facebook, follow her on Goodreads, or visit her blog.
AUTHOR WEBSITE
GOODREADS
Between Friends by Amanda Cowen ~ Virtual Book Tour Page: Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours
Book Review
Between Friends by Amanda Cowen
Publisher: Independent Self Publishing
Publication Date: March 22, 2013
Format: eBook - 233 pages / Kindle - 508 KB
ASIN: B00BZAAY5K
Genre: Chick Lit / Contemporary Romance / Women's Fiction
BUY THE BOOK: Between Friends
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours.
Book Description:
When neurotically challenged and unlucky in love Megan Daniels is propositioned by her life-long friend Ben Romano with a coin toss (heads, they sleep together, tails, they don’t) the night before they are about to attend a destination wedding, she drunkenly accepts his challenge. But when Megan wakes up the next morning with a bad hang-over and Ben in her bed, she is more than mortified. It isn’t until the tropical heat begins to ignite emotions Megan never believed or thought she could possibly have, when she starts to question if risking their friendship is the answer to finding true love.
A cute and contemporary debut novel, BETWEEN FRIENDS faces one girl's struggle between the fine lines of friendship and love and the risk of opening up her heart to the possibility of forever.
Book Excerpt:
Ben firmly places his keys into the ignition. He switches the car into reverse, and checks the rear-view mirror. He drapes his muscular arm across the back of my seat and glances over his shoulder before he starts to back up. I feel a tingling sensation spread all over my body, and I can’t resist him anymore. I am totally turned on by his shy and uncertain behavior and it makes me want him more than ever.
“Stop the car.” I shout.
Ben slams on the breaks.
“What is it?” he asks turning white.
“Park the car and turn it off.” I command.
Ben does exactly what I say, when something inside me snaps and climbs across the seat to straddle him. Both his hands find my hips as I passionately kiss him, smelling his intoxicatingly natural scent, mixed in with what I am guessing to be an SPF15. Ben moans and kisses me back running his hands up my sides, and massaging his fingers through my hair.
“You scared me.” Ben pants pulling me into him, and kissing down my neck.
I groan, “I’m sorry. I just need you inside me right now.”
He lets out a chuckle and grabs onto my chin, forcing his lips back onto mine, “You can have me any way you want, Megs.”
And even though we are completely cramped and my back is pressed up against the steering wheel, I don’t care. Right now, I can’t get enough of him. He reaches around behind me and unclips my bra then yanks its out from under my shirt. His sucks on my bottom lip and whispers “Get in the back. Now.” and waits for me to scurry off his erection pressing through his shorts. Seconds later, we are like two high school kids making out in the back seat of a car that doesn’t belong to either of us.
“Stop the car.” I shout.
Ben slams on the breaks.
“What is it?” he asks turning white.
“Park the car and turn it off.” I command.
Ben does exactly what I say, when something inside me snaps and climbs across the seat to straddle him. Both his hands find my hips as I passionately kiss him, smelling his intoxicatingly natural scent, mixed in with what I am guessing to be an SPF15. Ben moans and kisses me back running his hands up my sides, and massaging his fingers through my hair.
“You scared me.” Ben pants pulling me into him, and kissing down my neck.
I groan, “I’m sorry. I just need you inside me right now.”
He lets out a chuckle and grabs onto my chin, forcing his lips back onto mine, “You can have me any way you want, Megs.”
And even though we are completely cramped and my back is pressed up against the steering wheel, I don’t care. Right now, I can’t get enough of him. He reaches around behind me and unclips my bra then yanks its out from under my shirt. His sucks on my bottom lip and whispers “Get in the back. Now.” and waits for me to scurry off his erection pressing through his shorts. Seconds later, we are like two high school kids making out in the back seat of a car that doesn’t belong to either of us.
My Book Review:
Can longtime friends become lovers?
Megan Daniels and Ben Romano have been longtime friends since high school. The night before they were to leave for their best friends' destination wedding in Costa Rica, a drunken night spent in a bar together has Ben challenging Megan to a coin toss to decide if they sleep with each other. With one flip of a coin, Megan and Ben cross the line of friendship and take a gamble on love. The aftereffects of their night together leaves Megan in angst and struggling over what they have done, questioning if their night together was a meaningless drunken one night stand, or if it could turn into something more. What should they do now that the lines between friends and lovers has been crossed?
Between Friends is a sweet tale about two longtime friends who discover that they have feelings for each other that goes beyond the bonds of friendship. In her debut novel, author Amanda Cowen weaves an entertaining romantic tale written in the first person narrative and set in the picturesque island setting of Costa Rica, that takes the reader along for the ride on Megan and Ben's complicated journey of discovering their feelings for each other and taking their relationship to the next level.
This lighthearted fun story is filled with humor, drama, miscommunications, misunderstandings and steamy sex scenes. I loved the chemistry between Megan and Ben, I enjoyed how they explored their feelings, and how they dealt with their insecurities as their relationship developed during the time they spent at the destination wedding of their best friends Jessica and Michael. I loved the flashbacks to their past that gave the reader a hint that Ben had always harbored an interest in Megan while she was completely oblivious to his true feelings.
While the storyline can be viewed as predictable, I thought that there were enough twists and turns that kept me interested. I couldn't help but cheer on Megan and Ben as they searched to find a balance in their relationship. The only thing about this story that annoyed me was Megan's overbearing and bitchy friends: bridezilla Jessica, Michelle and Stephanie. These three annoying women and Megan's passivity towards their treatment of her had me gritting my teeth, with friends like that, who needs enemies? Besides that small annoyance, I thought that Between Friends was an enjoyable romantic tale that has a satisfying happy ending. It is a perfect light story for a summer afternoon at the beach.
RATING: 4 STARS ****
Virtual Book Tour Contest Giveaway
Win A $20 Amazon Gift Card
Contest Dates: July 29 - Aug 19, 2013
Everyone who leaves a comment on Between Friends by Amanda Cowen ~ Virtual Book Tour Page: Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours will be entered to win a $20 Amazon gift card! Anyone who purchases their copy of Between Friends before August 19 and sends their receipt to Samantha@ChickLitPlus.com, will get five bonus entries.
Virtual Book Tour Schedule
Tour Schedule:
July 31 – Chick Lit Goddess – Review & Guest Post
August 1 – Books Etc – Review
August 6 – Samantha March – Q&A & Excerpt
August 8 – Storm Goddess Book Reviews – Review & Q&A
August 9 – Deb Deb Reviews – Novel Spotlight & Excerpt
August 13 - PeaceLove Books – Review & Guest Post
August 14 – Thirty Mommy – Review & Guest Post
August 15 – Chick Lit Plus – Review
August 16 – Jersey Girl Book Reviews – Review, Guest Post & Excerpt
August 19 – Karma For Life Chick- Review
Thanks so much for being in the tour!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading this book, it was a fun read. Thank you for the opportunity to host the virtual book tour event.
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