Release Week Blitz (Excerpt and Giveaway): All Played Out by Cora Carmack

I know that you're all groaning and thinking, "Not another damn post about All Played Out!" But yes, this is another damn post about All Played Out! I'm so astoundingly in love with this book and I want to spread the joy, especially since it comes out TODAY.

So welcome to another damn post about All Played Out.

We are absolutely thrilled to bring you the Release Week Blitz for Cora Carmack's ALL PLAYED OUT! ALL PLAYED OUT is a New Adult Contemporary Romance and is the 3rd book in the Rusk University Series, published by William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins.

Amazon ** Barnes & Noble ** iBooks

About ALL PLAYED OUT:
First person in her family to go to college? CHECK.
Straight A’s? CHECK.
On track to graduate early? CHECK.
Social life? …..yeah, about that….
With just a few weeks until she graduates, Antonella DeLuca’s beginning to worry that maybe she hasn’t had the full college experience. (Okay... Scratch that. She knows she hasn't had the full college experience).
So Nell does what a smart, dedicated girl like herself does best. She makes a "to do" list of normal college activities.
Item #1? Hook up with a jock.
Rusk University wide receiver Mateo Torres practically wrote the playbook for normal college living. When he’s not on the field, he excels at partying, girls, and more partying. As long as he keeps things light and easy, it's impossible to get hurt... again. But something about the quiet, shy, sexy-as-hell Nell gets under his skin, and when he learns about her list, he makes it his mission to help her complete it.
Torres is the definition of confident (And sexy. And wild), and he opens up a side of Nell that she's never known. But as they begin to check off each crazy, exciting, normal item, Nell finds that her frivolous list leads to something more serious than she bargained for. And while Torres is used to taking risks on the field, he has to decide if he's willing to take the chance when it's more than just a game.
Together they will have to decide if what they have is just part of the experiment or a chance at something real.

And don’t miss the first two books in the Rusk University Series…

ALL LINED UP, Book 1

Amazon ** Barnes and Noble ** iBooks

ALL BROKE DOWN, Book 2

Amazon ** Barnes and Noble ** iBooks

For more of what’s next in The Rusk University Series, go here!

 

Add Book 4, ALL CLOSED OFF, to your Goodreads now!

 

About Cora Carmack:

Cora Carmack is a twenty-something writer who likes to write about twenty-something characters. She's done a multitude of things in her life-- boring jobs (like working retail), Fun jobs (like working in a theatre), stressful jobs (like teaching), and dream jobs (like writing). She enjoys placing her characters in the most awkward situations possible, and then trying to help them get a boyfriend out of it. Awkward people need love, too. Her first book, LOSING IT, was a New York Times and USA Today bestseller.

Website ** Twitter ** Facebook ** Author Goodreads ** ALL PLAYED OUT Goodreads

You can enter an awesome giveaway here:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can read a delicious excerpt here:

Excerpt

Dallas and Dylan toss the disk back and forth a few times, and I groan when Carson and Silas make no effort to intercept or knock down the pass. I’m pretty sure it’s a distraction, so I stick tight to Brookes, and I notice Ryan edging closer to me, too. He must have the same idea.

Next thing I know, Dallas has sent the disk soaring over our heads, and when I look, Nell is standing alone, completely unguarded in the end zone.

She’s holding her hands out and staring at the disk like it’s a missile instead of a piece of plastic. I take off toward her in case she misses it. I want to grab the disk and get it back into play as soon as I can.

As I sprint, the disk slips right through her grasping fingers and nails her in the chest. She gasps; no doubt the air was knocked out of her. The disk ricochets, and if I dive I might can manage to catch it, but I can’t quite drag my eyes away from her chest. Her tits are practically spilling out of the top of the tiny tank she’s wearing. I’d had a front-row seat earlier with my arm around her. Now she’s clutching at herself in pain, but all I can see are her smooth, delicate arms pressed against the curve of her breasts, pushing them even higher.

I should look away before something very unfortunate occurs in my baggy gym shorts, but now I’m picturing that shy girl loosening up beneath me. It’s too easy to take those wide eyes she gave me when I draped my arm around her and imagine them in the low light of my room, her head on my pillow and her legs spread wide.

She makes a soft whimpering noise, and now the rest of my senses join the fantasy, and I think of how she would feel, taste, sound. I wonder just how low I could get her inhibitions. Enough to say my name? To scream it?

“Damn,” I groan, and try to clear my head. “You all right?”

She looks up at me, still clutching at her chest, and pink spreads over her cheeks. She doesn’t say anything.

“Okay,” I say. “There is honestly no way to ask this without sounding like a pig, so I’m not even gonna try. And really, in these situations, I find you might as well go balls to the wall and throw it all out there. So … at the risk of getting slapped, how are your tits?” I think about offering to check them out for her, but I figure that’s probably taking it a step too far.

Her mouth presses into a firm straight line. “It wasn’t my ...” She trails off.

“Tits,” I finish for her. “You have them. You can say the word.”

“It hit me in the collarbone, not the breasts.”

Breasts. I raise an eyebrow, and she rolls her eyes.

I take a step forward and say, “Let me see.”

“Absolutely not.”

I take another step, until my shadow falls over her, and take hold of one wrist. “As you pointed out, you weren’t hit in thebreasts. Just let me have a look. With the right strength and good wind, a disk can go as fast as twenty miles per hour. I’ve seen them break fingers and noses.”

“Dude, Torres!” Silas shouts behind me. “What are you waiting for? Grab the disk and let’s go!”

Hesitating, I ask, “You wanna take a break? Catch your breath and let me see it?”

She shakes her head stubbornly. “I don’t want the game to stop because of me.”

I turn around and shout back to Silas, “Nell and I are taking a break. You guys keep playing with eight.”

Taking her elbow, I pull her off the field toward the picnic tables. She protests, but only mildly, and she still has one hand pressed just above her cleavage. And looking down at her, I can see moisture clinging to long lashes at the corner of her eye.

I sit her down so that her back is to the field, and go down on one knee in front of her. She’s so small that it puts us eye level, and I say softly, “Move your hand.”

“It’s fine,” she says. “Just give me a couple seconds, and I’ll be fine.”

You don’t grow up with five sisters without learning that sometimes with women, words are pointless. I reach out and move her hand myself, pulling it away from her chest. The skin just below her collarbone is an angry red, and the disk scraped through a couple layers of skin. Not enough to bleed, but I bet it hurts. “Tell me how it feels. Still a sharp pain? Or more of an ache?”

Her eyebrows slant over her pretty brown eyes. “The pain was sharp and steady for approximately thirty seconds, but now it kind of stings.”

“Like a slap,” I say.

She gives a short laugh, her shoulders bouncing once before she stills in what I’m guessing is pain. “I can’t say I know what that feels like. Though I’m not surprised it’s a sensation you’re familiar with.”

I shrug. “I don’t believe in censoring my thoughts. Some people just aren’t as fond of freedom of speech as I am.”

She shakes her head, and I think she’s trying not to smile.

I reach up my left hand and as lightly as possible run my thumb over the red mark. She sucks in a breath and I ask, “Hurts to the touch?”

“Um.” She swallows and blinks a few times.

“Does it hurt a lot?”

I brush my thumb over her skin again, even lighter this time, wondering if the Frisbee could have hit hard enough to crack something. There’s already a purpling around the center that tells me it’s going to bruise pretty good.

She swallows, and my eyes are drawn to the graceful slope of her neck, up to a small chin and full lips. And it hits me then … why this girl caught my eye from the moment she walked toward our group, why I can’t drag my eyes or my hand away from her now.

She reminds me of Lina.

And the memory of the only girl I’ve ever loved packs a punch so hard that it’s my turn to raise a hand to my chest to soothe an all-too-familiar ache.

And you can read some delicious quotes here to tide you over until you buy it (YOU CAN OFFICIALLY BUY IT NOW):

Now please go buy the book because you will not regret it and you'll fall in love with Nell and Mateo and everyone needs a little heart pounding heart-eyed swooning in their life

Blog Tour (Excerpt and Giveaway): All Played Out by Cora Carmack

I'm so excited to be hosting a stop on the All Played Out blog tour! I've got an excerpt, a review, AND a giveaway for you guys so enjoy!

We are absolutely thrilled to bring you the Review & Excerpt Tour for Cora Carmack’s ALL PLAYED OUT! ALL PLAYED OUT is a New Adult Contemporary Romance and is the 3rd book in the Rusk University Series, published by William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins.

Amazon ** Barnes & Noble ** iTunes

This tour will include reviews, an excerpt, and a giveaway, so keep reading!!

About ALL PLAYED OUT:

First person in her family to go to college? CHECK.
Straight A’s? CHECK.
On track to graduate early? CHECK.
Social life? …..yeah, about that….

With just a few weeks until she graduates, Antonella DeLuca’s beginning to worry that maybe she hasn’t had the full college experience. (Okay… Scratch that. She knows she hasn’t had the full college experience).

So Nell does what a smart, dedicated girl like herself does best. She makes a “to do” list of normal college activities.

Item #1? Hook up with a jock.

Rusk University wide receiver Mateo Torres practically wrote the playbook for normal college living. When he’s not on the field, he excels at partying, girls, and more partying. As long as he keeps things light and easy, it’s impossible to get hurt… again. But something about the quiet, shy, sexy-as-hell Nell gets under his skin, and when he learns about her list, he makes it his mission to help her complete it.

Torres is the definition of confident (And sexy. And wild), and he opens up a side of Nell that she’s never known. But as they begin to check off each crazy, exciting, normal item, Nell finds that her frivolous list leads to something more serious than she bargained for. And while Torres is used to taking risks on the field, he has to decide if he’s willing to take the chance when it’s more than just a game.

Together they will have to decide if what they have is just part of the experiment or a chance at something real.

Lucky for you guys, I've got an excerpt to post! Get ready for a taste of Torres and Nell:

Excerpt
The door opens, and my stomach dips at the sight of Nell’s bleary eyes and rumpled hair. She squints at me, and then winces at the sunlight, instinctively taking a step back into the house.
I step in after her without waiting for an invitation, and shut the door firmly behind me.
“I brought coffee,” I say, lifting the tray up into her line of sight.
“Shhh!” She holds one hand up to me and the other to her forehead.
“I think,” she says, her voice raspy, “there’s a herd of elephants in my head.”
“Welcome to the world of hangovers, sweetheart.”
She blinks at me, then says matter-of-factly, “I’m going back to bed.”
She shuffles down the hallway, and I follow her, still holding the coffee carrier and resisting the urge to laugh. Then she swings her bedroom door wide, and doesn’t bother to close it before tumbling headlong into her bed. Again, I take that as permission, closing the door in case Dylan comes home unexpectedly.
Before Nell can slip back into sleep, I force the coffee into her hand.
“Drink a little of this,” I tell her. “It’ll help clear up the headache and nausea.” She doesn’t look like she believes me, but she takes a sip anyway. “Aspirin will help, too, if you have some.”
“Bathroom,” she says, and I go out to the hallway bathroom. I find a bottle in the second cabinet I open.
When I return to her room, she asks, “You find it?”
“I did. Right next to your box of tampons. The things I endure for you, woman.” She rolls her eyes and takes the aspirin, and she drinks about half the coffee before placing the cup on the nightstand and sinking back against her pillows. She must be feeling better because she finally asks the question I’d expected to hear the second she opened the door. “What are you doing here?”
I shrug, toe off my sneakers, and throw myself down on the covers on the other side of her bed. She groans when the mattress bounces, but other than that doesn’t complain.
“I knew you’d be miserable this morning ...”
“And you decided that was something you needed to see?”
“I decided I could be of some help. I’ve had more than my fair share of hangovers. When that coffee kicks in all the way, we’ll get you showered and dressed, and then we’ll go out for some greasy breakfast. You’ll be good as new in no time.”
“You’ve done this more than once? Are you crazy? I never want to drink again.”
“Everybody says that. If you don’t, you’re not doing it right.”
“I don’t feel like I did anything right.”
“You checked another thing off your list, didn’t you?”
She throws an arm over her eyes in lieu of an answer, and after a minute or so of silence, she asks, “Why are you really here?”
“I told you, I—”
“If you feel sorry for me because of what happened last night or what I said, don’t. Please. I’d really rather you just leave.”
“I can’t do that. Sorry.”
“Why?”
“Because last time I let you get away from me, you called some giant ginger-bearded monster to get you drunk, and look how well that turned out. Face it. You need me.”
She makes a groan that sounds vaguely laughlike. “Matt is not a monster.”
“We’ll agree to disagree.”
She sighs, and rolls on her side to face me. I suck in a breath because even hungover, she’s beautiful. And that fiery, challenging look in her eyes always goes straight to my cock.
“And if I had wanted to call you?” she asks. “I don’t have your number.”
“You could have just thought of me. I would have known and come running. I’m practically a superhero in that regard.”
“Riiight.”
“Why so disbelieving? Unless you thought of me, and it didn’t work? Were you thinking of me last night, girl genius?”
“Not even a little bit.”
“I thought about you. Even during the game last night when I should have been concentrating on not getting my ass kicked, you kept popping up. I think I might be addicted to you, Antonella De Luca.”
“How do you know my full name?”
“I might have done a little snooping last night while you were out of it. So you were valedictorian in high school, huh?”
“Just how much snooping did you do?”
“Relax. Your list is safe. I promised I wouldn’t read it, and I didn’t.” My eyes drop to her lips, which she keeps pressing together in what I assume is nervousness. “It was tempting, though.”
All of her is tempting, and I should probably get out of this bed right now before I drag her beneath me and remind myself just what her skin tastes like.
Regretfully, I pull myself up to a sitting position and say, “All right, sweetheart. Go shower so we can get breakfast. Unless you need assistance, then I’d be happy to—”
She cuts me off. “No. No, I think I can handle that alone.”
“Pity,” I say. “Well, I’ll be here waiting in your bed in case you change your mind.”
She stands up and faces me, still all cute and rumpled from sleep. “You are so ...” She trails off, and shakes her head, turning for the door instead.
As she heads for the bathroom, I call out, “I’m so what? Charming? Devastatingly handsome?”
“You so better be in the living room by the time I’m done with my shower.”
Damn. I’d been looking forward to seeing her in a towel.
Next time.

I was actually lucky enough to get my hands on this beauty before the release date. I reviewed it way back when (March, actually...) and here's a little teaser:

Review
I know I say this every time, but nonetheless... Cora Carmack strikes again. I'll admit that I am not a football fan, yet somehow each installation of the Rusk University novels leaves me wanting to scream "Bleed Rusk Red!" off the rooftops. I know it's a fictional school, but damn, do I want to go to Rusk.
I think that one of the greatest things about the Rusk novels is that no couple is the same. Carson and Dallas, Silas and Dylan, Mateo and Nell: they're all different people with different dynamics. I love that. Each book is a new adventure, a new story. Not only was All Played Out's story new, but it really struck a cord with me.

You can read the rest of the review here!

And don’t miss the first two books in the Rusk University Series…

ALL LINED UP, Book 1

Amazon ** Barnes and Noble ** iTunes

ALL BROKE DOWN, Book 2

Amazon ** Barnes and Noble ** iTunes

For more of what’s next in The Rusk University Series, go here!

Add Book 4, ALL CLOSED OFF, to your Goodreads now!

About Cora Carmack:

Cora Carmack is a twenty-something New York Times bestselling author who likes to write about twenty-something characters. She's done a multitude of things in her life-- boring jobs (like working retail), Fun jobs (like working in a theatre), stressful jobs (like teaching), and dream jobs (like writing). She now splits her time between Austin, TX and New York City and spends her days writing, traveling, and spending way too much time on the internet. In her books, you can expect to find humor, heart, and a whole lot of awkward. Because let’s face it . . . awkward people need love, too.

And just a little more Torres/Nell love to tide you over...

Website ** Twitter ** Facebook ** Author Goodreads ** ALL PLAYED OUT Goodreads

You can also enter here for a great giveaway! Free Cora Carmack books: you know you want them!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Check out more of the tour--read different reviews as they pop up each day! They'll all be different, but they'll have one thing in common: they'll be gushing about this amazing book.

All Played Out Review/Excerpt Tour

May 7

BookAngelBooktopia-Review & Excerpt
Book Vigilante Reviews-Review & Excerpt
DanaSquare-Review & Excerpt
Britt’s Book & Life Blog-Review & Excerpt
Love at First Page-Review & Excerpt
LuloFangirl-Review & Excerpt
Red Hot + Blue Reads-Review & Excerpt
The Book Hammock-Review & Excerpt
WanderLust Book Reviews-Review & Excerpt

May 8

Ali’s Reviews & More-Review & Excerpt
Bloggers[Heart]Books-Review & Excerpt
BookCrushin-Review & Excerpt
Fictitious Delicious-Review & Excerpt
Kindle and Me-Review & Excerpt
NC 2 DC-Review
Sanaa’s Book Blog-Review & Excerpt
The Reading Realm-Review & Excerpt

May 9

Addicted to Books-Review & Excerpt
Booklovers For Life-Excerpt
Crazy Chaotic Book Babes-Review
Musings of the Book-a-holic Fairies, inc.-Review & Excerpt
Confessions of a Y.A. and N.A. Book Addict-Review & Excerpt
Short and Sassy Book Blurbs-Review & Excerpt
This Wacky Momma Reads-Review & Excerpt
Winter Haven Books-Review

May 10

Anatea’s Bookshelf-Review & Excerpt
BookStacked Blog-Review & Excerpt
Stacks Waiting-Excerpt
Behind Closed Covers-Review & Excerpt
buttermybooks-Review & Excerpt
Random Book Muses-Review
One Guy’s Guide to Good Reads-Review & Excerpt
Ticket to Anywhere-Excerpt
What a Nerd Girl Says-Review & Excerpt

May 11

Always YA At Heart-Review & Excerpt
Book Briefs-Review
Girl Meets Books-Excerpt
Books by Migs-Review & Excerpt
Kimberlyfaye Reads-Excerpt
Prisoners of Print-Review & Excerpt
Snuggling On The Sofa-Review
Travels N Reads-Review & Excerpt
Words With Sarah-Review & Excerpt

May 12

Book Labyrinth-Review & Excerpt
FMR Book Grind-Review
Margay Leah Justice-Review & Excerpt
New Adult Addiction-Excerpt
Reviews by Tammy & Kim-Review & Excerpt
Tar Heel Bibliobabe-Review
Vi3tbabe-Review & Excerpt

May 13

Babbling Chatter Reads-Review
Book Sojourner-Review & Excerpt
Bridger Bitches Book Blog-Review & Excerpt
Grown Up Book Reviews-Review & Excerpt
Read Between the Books-Review & Excerpt
Reese’s Review-Review & Excerpt
What Sarah Read-Review & Excerpt
Romance Addict Book Blog-Review & Excerpt
Reading is Sexy-Review & Excerpt

May 14

Bibliobelles-Review & Excerpt
Book Butterfly in Dreamland-Review
Hopeless Book Lovers-Review & Excerpt
jordansbookreviews-Excerpt
Nomi’s Paranormal Palace-Review
Ripe For Reader-Review & Excerpt
The Secret Life of a Bookworm-Review & Excerpt
Stay Bookish-Review & Excerpt
Never Judge A Book By It’s Covers-Review & Excerpt

May 15

Book Bitches Blog-Review & Excerpt
Books and Swoons-Review and Excerpt
Jen in Bookland-Review & Excerpt
I Dare You To Read-Review & Excerpt
Lost in Lit-Review & Excerpt
Zili in the Sky-Review & Excerpt
The Slanted Bookshelf-Review & Excerpt
Stuck in Books-Review & Excerpt

May 16

Closet Geeks and Slow Mo-Review & Excerpt
Dark Obsession Chronicles-Review & Excerpt
Making It Happen-Review & Excerpt
Mia’s Point of View-Review & Excerpt
In Clouds of Pages-Review & Excerpt
That Book Life-Review & Excerpt
The Book Belles-Review
Stuck in YA Books-Review
A Bookish Escape-Review

Book Reveal: All Closed Off by Cora Carmack

I'm sure that many of you have noticed my undying admiration for an author by the name of Cora Carmack. I've read and reviewed nearly all of her books, and I also possess an unhealthy obsession with her fictional university. Because of this infinite love for both Cora and her Rusk University series, I am endlessly pleased to help her announce the release of the fourth book in her series!

Those of you who have read her previous books... we're finally getting Stella's story. We've asked and asked and asked, and we're finally receiving what we so desire. Stella's book will be called All Closed Off. Of course, I'm absolutely shaking with the need to hear about Stella and Ryan. However, this book will be more than just a romance. This novel is already very close to my heart because of what Stella went through at the end of All Broke Down. I don't want to spoil, but I will, for the sake of what I have to say.

Rape is a serious and important issue that needs to be talked about. Rape is ingrained in the fabric of our culture and society. We normalize it and brush it off and blame the victim and allow perpetrators to walk away. We mis-define it, teaching young girls that it doesn't count if you're drunk or it doesn't count if you led him on or it doesn't count if he was your friend. We narrow down the scope of what rape is: you can't be raped if you're a male, you can't be raped if you didn't actually say "No," you can't be raped if you have a lot of sex. We make people doubt that they were raped, make them hide in on themselves, make them avoid getting help. We teach children "don't get raped" instead of "don't rape." We blame clothes for the actions of people. Everything in our culture favors the perpetrator.

This has to stop. One of the best ways to start this cultural turnaround is by talking about it. By educating people and making people more aware of the struggles that our society places on a victim. We unfortunately live in a society that continues to assault the victim by failing to provide comfort, assistance, and justice. This book will be a fantastic way to take a big leap in a long battle. I'm insanely proud of Cora Carmack for taking this topic on and for giving victims of rape everywhere a voice.

So without further ado, here are some words from Cora herself.

HERE’S THE SCOOP!

Fans of Cora Carmack’s Rusk University, we have a SUPER exciting announcement:

ALL CLOSED OFF, Book 4 in the Rusk University Series, is coming!!!

Check out this message from Cora!

*WARNING: This letter contains spoilers for All Broke Down. If you haven't yet read that book, read at your own peril.*

*SECOND WARNING: this letter talks about fictional characters as if they are real people. Sorry I'm not sorry.*

*THIRD WARNING: The letter below broaches a serious topic that could be a trigger for some people*

Hello beloved readers!

The first person who read one of my Rusk University books was my older sister. I gave her All Lined Up when I finished, and her first question was "Are Ryan and Stella going to be together?"

At the time, I told her no. I had plans for both of them that included their own storylines. I thought they were too much alike. They'd make great friends. They might even hook-up, but in the end... I couldn't envision anything serious for them. So I actually rewrote some of their scenes trying to make that aspect of their connection more obvious. And still, when All Lined Up released, amidst the chatter about sweet Carson and sassy Dallas, I had people asking if Stella and Ryan were next. I denied it again (and again and again).

But sometimes in writing, the stars align and a character will become bigger and more real than you could have possibly imagined. It's a wonderful experience, but in Stella's case it was also incredibly heartbreaking. While I was writing All Broke Down, the news was inundated with information about the Steubenville rape trial and other tragedies and injustices like it. Tragedies where women have been violated first by an attacker, then by judgmental and hateful people, and finally by a justice system that repeatedly fails survivors of sexual assault. Having grown up in Texas, where too often football stars are treated like gods and can get away with just about anything, it hit particularly close to home. And since All Broke Down featured a passionate activist heroine, I felt compelled to reference this chronic dark underbelly of elite sports.

I can remember vividly sitting on my couch, brainstorming how I would incorporate such an event into the book. I had thought the assault would happen to an unknown character, and maybe I would focus on the way it divided the team and the school and the town. But like I said... Sometimes a character will become bigger and more human than I anticipated. And it sounds crazy, but in my mind, I felt Stella push her way forward and say, "Mine. This is my story." I immediately began to cry. Sob, really. Because I loved her as a character. She was hilarious and strong and didn't take crap from anyone. She was everything I always hope to be. And I didn't want her to go through that. Even as I cried, my brain began to tell me that it made sense. Stella was vibrant and enjoyed a wild party. She was not afraid of her sexuality, and she had no problem with casual sex. She was the kind of girl that probably had a reputation. The kind of girl who could be heinously and violently taken advantage of, and people would STILL blame her. Because she was in the wrong place, wearing the wrong clothes, behaving in the wrong way. But just because it COULD happen to her, didn't mean I wanted it to. But once again, Stella was there in my head saying, "Someone needs to tell this story. And I'm strong enough to do it. Let me." And when Stella chose her story, she also chose the man I'd been adamant wasn't right for her. Because as it turns out... Those two characters who I thought were too alike aren't so alike anymore. And Stella needs Ryan to help her hold on to that vibrant and strong girl she was before.

So I let go of all the plans I had for her, and allowed her to tell me her story, which is about more than just sexual assault. It's about the aftermath. Depression. Shame. Guilt. Anger. Injustice. Victim-blaming. Slut-shaming. It's about the way that kind of event can change everything-- how you relate to people, how you think, how you dream, how you love. It's about the way the rest of the world moves on to the next big tragedy, and you're still left holding the broken pieces of who you used to be, with no idea how to put them together again or even if you want to. It will be the most difficult story I ever tell. And the most important. Because it’s a story that belongs not just to Stella, but to millions of people around the world. It’s a story that belongs to a new person every 107 seconds*. And that’s just in the United States. Think about that for a moment. 107 seconds. Stella’s story won’t be any easier to read than it will be to write. But I hope you’ll help me drag this story into the light.

So now I’ll step off my soapbox and just tell you about the book…



ALL CLOSED OFF:

Stella Santos is fine.

Maybe something terrible happened to her that she can’t even remember. And maybe it drives her crazy when her friends treat her like she’s on the verge of breaking because of it. Maybe it feels even worse when they do what she asks and pretend that it never happened at all. And maybe she’s been getting harassing emails and messages for months from people who don’t even know her, but hate her all the same.

But none of that matters because she’s just fine.

For Ryan Blake, Stella was always that girl. Vibrant and hilarious and beautiful. He wanted her as his best friend. His more than friends. His everything and anything that she would give him. Which these days is a whole lot of nothing. She gets angry when he’s there. Angry when he’s not there. Angry when he tries to talk and when he doesn’t.

When Stella devises an unconventional art project for one of her classes all about exploring intimacy—between both friends and strangers—Ryan finds himself stepping in as guinea pig after one of her subjects bails. What was supposed to be an objective and artistic look at emotion and secrets and sex suddenly becomes much more personal. When he hits it off with another girl from the project, Stella will have to decide if she’s willing to do more than make art about intimacy. To keep him, she’ll have to open up and let herself be the one thing she swore she’d never be again.

Vulnerable.

*****

ALL CLOSED OFF will be releasing sometime in early 2016. I don't have a date yet for several reasons. The first and most important, is that I want to do this story justice. And as such, I have no intentions of rushing the process. Secondly, I'll be returning to indie publishing for the remainder of the Rusk series. As you can probably tell, this story means a great deal to me. And by having the ultimate control over everything from timing to editing to price, I'll be able to ensure that I'm able to create exactly the story I envision. Unfortunately, that means you won't be seeing the paperback of ALL CLOSED OFF on the shelves in most stores. Nor is it currently available for pre-order. But I hope you'll add the book on goodreads, follow me on social media, and/or join my newsletter. I promise to shout it all over the place when I have a set release date or pre-order links.

Thank you for listening as I told you the evolution of Stella's story. When it's finished, I hope you will feel as passionately about it as I do.

All my best,

Cora Carmack



*Statistic from RAINN (Rape, Abuse, Incest National Network)

And an opportunity to add your voice to Stella’s…

Stella’s experience is only one story of many. She was with someone she trusted when it happened, and the only memories she has are pieced together from her own blurred recollections and the things people have told her. Not everyone’s experience with sexual assault is the same. Each person reacts, copes, and overcomes differently. And while this book is about one specific character’s journey, I would like to tell as many sides of this story as possible. As Stella grapples with her thoughts and emotions she’ll be searching for advice, for comfort, for a place where people understand her and can identify with what she’s experiencing. There will be room for truth within the fiction, and if you’d like that truth to be yours, this is your chance.

If you have a story like Stella’s, and you want your voice to be heard….

If there’s something you wish more people understood about what you’ve gone through….

If there’s something you’d like to tell people struggling with a story like yours…

I’d like to give you the opportunity to add your voice to Stella’s. Use the hashtag #WhenItHappened and let your voice be heard on your own by posting on your own social media, or if you’d rather I share your words fill out this google document and tell me your story. You can fill out this form anonymously or not. I’d like to begin this discussion now because April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. But my hope is to include as many stories as possible within the book itself.

So many have stories of #WhenItHappened. Your voice and your story deserve to be heard. I’m listening.

#WhenItHappened Google Form: http://goo.gl/forms/4VRjWgZYSW



ABOUT Cora Carmack:
Cora Carmack is a twenty-something New York Times bestselling author who likes to write about twenty-something characters. She's done a multitude of things in her life-- boring jobs (like working retail), Fun jobs (like working in a theatre), stressful jobs (like teaching), and dream jobs (like writing). She now splits her time between Austin, TX and New York City and spends her days writing, traveling, and spending way too much time on the internet. In her books, you can expect to find humor, heart, and a whole lot of awkward. Because let’s face it . . . awkward people need love, too.





And this is Nichol again. I'm not sure how many of you have read this far, but I just wanted to include more statistics. I actually did nearly a year long research paper on rape culture and the need for better education about sexual assault last year. So I have plenty of statistics that I'd like to share with you guys. If you have any questions about sources, let me know and I can let you know where the statistic is from.

• 1 in 7 women and 1 in 33 men in the United States have experienced an attempted or completed rape in their lives.
• FBI reports estimate that a woman's chance of being raped in a year is 1 in 1,100, though that doesn't account for underreporting.
• The American Psychological Association estimated that, in reality, women have a 1 in 55 chance of being raped.

• 60% of adolescent males in th United States found it acceptable to force sex on a girl in one or more situations.
• 66% of boys and 57% of boys accept rape if the victim already got the perpetrator sexually excited.

• 54% of all female victims were reaped before the age of 18.
• 22% of rapes that occur before the age of 18 are also before the age of 12.
• 1 in 4 female college students experience a rape or attempted rape.
• 90% of rapes on campuses are acquaintance rapes (by someone who the victim is familiar with).
• Less than 5% of college rape victims come forward about the rape.
• 84% of women do not report their rapes to the police. 

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"Top Ten" Tuesday: Top Ten All Time Favorite Authors

Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

Each week, The Broke and Bookish host the Top Ten Tuesday discussion. They provide a bookish prompt and  other bloggers are welcome to share their "Top Ten" in the specific topic!

Today is a Tuesday, which means it's time for a Top Ten! Today's topic is "All Time Favorite Authors."

If I'm completely honest, I spent a solid ten (ha, top ten) minutes perusing my bookshelves, trying to make the difficult decision of which ten authors were my favorites. I love so many amazing authors, and I appreciate every single writer out there who shares their words with the world. However, after much deliberating, I settled on my top ten. In no particular order, I present you with my literary idols!

Cora Carmack

1. Cora Carmack
Those of you who have actually read my blog (and my reviews) understand how boundless my love for Cora Carmack is. It's safe to say that she is currently the top of the top; she's truly my favorite author right now. I actually met her at Apollycon in February 2015, where I also won an ARC of her upcoming book All Played Out (to be published on May 12)! I just about cried. I've reread each of her books at least once, and I've embarrassingly reread each of her Rusk University novels at least 5 times each. It never ceases to amaze me how Cora captures the voices of her characters. I never get sick of reading anything that comes out of her head. She's also super sweet on social media. I love her to bits!

Katie McGarry

2. Katie McGarry
Katie, Katie, Katie... I got to meet Katie at Apollycon this year as well, and she is so lovely! Crash Into You remains one of my favorite books (in addition to Take Me On). I love the complexity in her novels and the way that they all connect together. It is truly an art! I am on the edge of my seat waiting for Nowhere But Here. Katie has a way of creating relationships that no one expects. She brings "opposites attract" to a whole new level, and it's beautiful. The couples that she writes have the best balance and really bring out the best in each other. Not only that, but both her novels and her characters are so unique. Each person she brings to life on the page has so much depth. She's amazing!

Jennifer L. Armentrout

3. Jennifer L. Armentrout
I've actually met Jennifer twice, both of which were just fantastic! She's so genuine and fun. But to be completely honest, Jennifer is an anomaly. She cranks out books like a mad woman. That alone deserves an award. And they're actually quality books--she has both quantity and quality! She must have sold her soul to the devil. The Lux series remains one of my favorites to this day. She knows how to write chemistry and hot boys like it's nobody's business. I haven't read all of her books (a totally daunting task considering she's written what seems like hundreds), but I know that she spans across genres. She's written adult, science fiction, mystery, thriller, realistic fiction, new adult, young adult, just about everything. Honestly one of my all time favorites.

Sarah Dessen

4. Sarah Dessen
Who doesn't love Sarah Dessen? She's absolutely iconic! I genuinely believe that Sarah Dessen was the Judy Blume of my generation. She writes those iconic teen love stories, those innocent and fresh-faced romances. However, she also writes novels that deal with abuse, teen pregnancy, friendship, eating disorders, and more. All of her books leave you feeling like something huge just happened. You just witnessed something big. My favorites are The Truth About Forever and Lock and Key, though I've read just about a dozen of her books. I've also recently reread some of them, and they bring me back to my early teens, when I was just discovering the absolute joys of reading. Sarah Dessen will always have a special place in my heart.

Melissa Landers

5. Melissa Landers
I still don't think that I'll ever get over Alienated. I'm typically not a huge science fiction girl, but that book got me good. Melissa so exquisitely built the world, the setting, and the characters. It never ceases to amaze me. I still haven't had the chance to read Invaded but it's at the top of my TBR list, as soon as I get a spare moment. I just love how Melissa flooded you with information without making you feel like she was flooding you with information. That takes real talent! Not to mention how wonderfully the relationship was written; it was one of the few literary relationships that I felt developed smoothly and naturally. Melissa is fantastic!

Jennifer Niven

6. Jennifer Niven
Everyone who read my review of All the Bright Places knows just how much I am in awe of Jennifer Niven. I met her at the NoVaTeen Book Festival in March 2015, and I genuinely teared up. I wouldn't let her talk to me about the book because I was actually on the brink of tears. A few seconds of discussion and I probably would've broken down in a puddle of sobs. It's amazing when words can have that much of an impact on a reader. Jennifer just has this way of conveying emotion and stringing sentences together that makes your soul ache. I've only read All the Bright Places by her, but it affected me enough to earn her a spot on my all time favorite list.

Veronica Roth

7. Veronica Roth
Yep, I'll be that cliche teen reader and declare Veronica Roth in my top ten. I know Divergent is mainstream now, but that doesn't change my love for the book. I say book because Insurgent grated my nerves and Allegiant killed me. Nonetheless, I truly admire Veronica. Not only is she massively successful, but she's also crazy young! She is honestly my career goal. Additionally, though Allegiant broke my heart, I respect Veronica Roth for her choice. It wasn't a happy ending, but it was an impressive ending. I also respect her for the way that she brought the series together. The world was intriguing and the explanation was fascinating. She truly made a new name for young adult literature everywhere. Because of this, I have reread Divergent alone just about six times, oops!

Richelle Mead

8. Richelle Mead
Richelle Mead is another author that inducted me into the realm of reading. The Vampire Academy series is probably one of my guiltiest pleasures. I've read the entire series twice or thrice. Richelle created the most intricate and fascinating creatures in those books. The Moroi, Strigoi, and Dhampir are the most interesting vampires I've ever encountered. In a world full of vampire books, it's impressive when someone actually manages to develop a unique take on the mythology. The relationships are fantastic, the friendships are inspiring, and the characters are insanely entertaining. Rose is one of my young adult idols. Fiercely protective of her friends, infinitely sarcastic, and endlessly tough... I wish I could be more like her! I haven't had the chance to read the spin-off series yet, but I've heard nothing but good things.

Michelle Hodkin

9. Michelle Hodkin
Michelle Hodkin is on this list because I have a never-ending admiration for mystery writers. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is quite honestly a work of art. I've explained in my review how it's just one of those books that leaves you whispering to an empty house with your mind blown. Anyone who manages to do that earns my endless respect. I just love how Michelle sucks you in. She throws you into the book and rattles you so that you can't even tell which side is up. That takes talent. Unfortunately, this is another case of "Nichol only read the first book." I read The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer way back when it first came out and never got around to reading the next installments. However, I've heard that they're just as amazing as the first novel.

10. Becca Fitzpatrick
I actually put Becca Fitzpatrick on this list for Black Ice, not the Hush, Hush series. I read Hush, Hush ages ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. However, I didn't fall for Becca until I read Black Ice. I just found that book so astoundingly fascinating. The whole concept captivated me and it was so well done. The mystery resonated with me, just as Michelle Hodkin's talent in mystery did. I loved the romance and how it flowed naturally; both characters had reservations and it wasn't insta-love. The entire novel was just so impressive, so unique, and so well-done! It earned Becca a spot on this list for sure.


So there you have it! Those are my top ten all time favorite authors. I hope you enjoyed this extremely excessive post. Now tell me: who are your top ten all time favorites?

Thanks for reading! And I'm sorry I've been MIA for the last few weeks. I've been crazy busy preparing for AP exams and the next steps for college. Thanks to everyone who stuck with me.

Happy Tuesday!

All Played Out by Cora Carmack

Title: All Played Out
Author: Cora Carmack
Format I Read: ARC
Pages: 320
Genres: Romance, Realistic Fiction, New Adult
Release Date: May 12, 2015
Stars: 5
Goodreads Link

Since I first saw this cover (eep!), I've been calculating just who I have to kill to get a copy of it before May 12. Fortunately, no deaths were necessary. When I attended Apollycon, I was graced with an Advanced Reader Copy after a raffle. Cue the screaming and crying.

I know I say this every time, but nonetheless... Cora Carmack strikes again. I'll admit that I am not a football fan, yet somehow each installation of the Rusk University novels leaves me wanting to scream "Bleed Rusk Red!" off the rooftops. I know it's a fictional school, but damn, do I want to go to Rusk.

I think that one of the greatest things about the Rusk novels is that no couple is the same. Carson and Dallas, Silas and Dylan, Mateo and Nell: they're all different people with different dynamics. I love that. Each book is a new adventure, a new story. Not only was All Played Out's story new, but it really struck a cord with me.

The basic premise is that Nell is a die-hard student. She's the first in her family to attend college and she's studying biomedical engineering (talk about intense). She's spent the first three years of her college career pushing herself to succeed. On track to graduate early, she suddenly realizes that succeeding may not be everything it's cracked up to be. College isn't just a place for education; it's a place for experience. And Nell has had 0 experiences. Insert Mateo Torres. Mateo is the joker of the football team, the carefree partier. The most common description is "flashy and shameless." After he learns of Nell's "College Bucket List," he vows to help her get through all of her firsts. However, Mateo isn't the shallow flirt that he seems to be. It turns out that he's got an ex haunting him, and Nell just might be the cure to help him move on. Cue classic college experiences, off-the-charts chemistry, and a little exploration.

As someone who will be going to college next year, someone who is hoping to get a BA in three years, someone who has always put studying above all else, I identified with Nell. I identified with her internal struggle, her constant questioning of her capabilities when it came to relationships. Is she even capable of love? Is she just too analytical? Is she destined to be married to her work? That resonated with me.

At first, I didn't really like Nell. She was just too stereotypical. Too "nerdy." It felt like Ms. Carmack was trying too hard to make her the typical girl genius. But as the book went on, she grew on me. She loosened up and she became more real, which I think was the whole point. She didn't start living until Mateo broke her out of her shell. And even though Nell didn't seem quite real at the beginning, the relationship always felt real. Despite their differences, Nell and Mateo just fit. Brookes even says, "I literally have no clue how you and Nell work. None" (ARC 229). I don't quite know either. But they just do. Nell is the brains and the rational; Mateo is the heart and the fun. Together, they blend and Nell becomes a little bit of the heart and Mateo becomes a little bit of the brains, and they balance. It just works.

So I reiterate: Cora Carmack strikes again. All Played Out did not disappoint, which was impressive considering the insanely high expectations I had for this book. Definitely worth 5 stars. Everyone should buy it ASAP (March 12 cannot come sooner)!

Now I'm just eagerly awaiting Stella's story!

Also, side note: we get to see Dylan/Silas and Dallas/Carson being all cute and coupley. Totally adorable!

Inspire by Cora Carmack

Title: Inspire
Author: Cora Carmack
Format I Read: Kindle
Pages: 284
Genres: Romance, Fantasy, New Adult
Release Date: December 15, 2014
Stars: 3
Goodreads Link

I'd have to say that Inspire fell in the middle of the pack for Ms. Carmack this time. I love the Rusk University novels. Losing It and Faking It were meh for me. Inspire was just about in the middle.

I loved the concept. Kalli, the main character, is really Kalliope, the muse. She needs to inspire to survive. If she doesn't assist artists by bleeding out her inspiration, she will go mad. She struggles to live a normal life. And then she meets Wilder. She believes him to be a rational business man, someone who won't be endangered by her inspiration. Because too much inspiration can lead some people to insanity. Greatness is dangerous, which she had to learn the hard way. Kalli struggles to juggle her life without dropping any of the pieces. But is it possible for a muse to be normal?

The mythology was super fascinating. Ms. Carmack definitely did her research! The plot was impressive. Nonetheless, the book fell a little flat. Kalli was just a little too much for me. Her struggle and her insanity at times were a bit too overwhelming. Wilder was all things smolder and kind. He was the bad boy under the good boy facade. As much as I loved Kalli, I felt like Wilder who was the character who shined. He had more depth and complexity, in my opinion. I loved his character, though he did get a bit wishy-washy at the end.

Which brings me to the end. I didn't like it, but I kind of did at the same time. It was very abrupt and ended as a huge cliffhanger. I felt like the entire novel built up to something, some resolution, and suddenly "JUST KIDDING. BAM." It was disarming, to say the least. But I'm still interested, so I guess that says something.

So I'm torn with this novel. I'll definitely read the next installment because I'm dying of suspense. But the plot was just a little spotty and it kept tugging me back and forth. Kalli was a little too on edge for me. However, I'm still impressed. Ms. Carmack strikes again!

All Broke Down by Cora Carmack

Title: All Broke Down
Author: Cora Carmack
Format I Read: Kindle
Pages: 368
Genres: Romance, Realistic Fiction, New Adult
Release Date: October 28, 2014
Stars: 5
Goodreads Link

Ms. Carmack does it again. Absolutely nails it. This story, a standalone in the Rusk University saga, is similar to All Lined Up, but different. Yes, there's football. Yes, there's hot guys. Yes, there's steamy romance. But Silas definitely isn't Carson.

Silas, a football player from not-so-pleasant beginnings, feels doomed to fail. Dylan, a student who is just trying to make a difference in the world while still playing the perfect daughter, is tasked with "fixing him." After a few unfortunate events, Silas realizes that his dream and his life is about to slip out of his fingers. So he recruits Dylan to help. However, we soon realize that Silas can help Dylan just as much she can help him.

If you're ready to swoon every other page, then please dive right into this novel. Dylan and Silas have the kind of chemistry that can start a fire. The story has all of the best characteristics of romance. The good girl "tames" the bad boy, but not really. It has that typical feel, but Dylan isn't really a good girl and Silas isn't really a bad boy. They're both so much more than the stereotype. Not only that, but Dylan never truly tames Silas. That's not what this is about. Silas can't be tamed, and he'll always be the dirty, wild boy that he is. But Dylan makes him better, and they complement each other.

This book is definitely dirtier than All Lined Up, but that's fitting considering the differences between Silas and Carson. So yes, the two novels are different. But one thing they have in common?

They're both books that I've read numerous times and will continue to read again and again. Ms. Carmack strikes again, everyone!