It’s honking huge giveaway time. HUGE. Forty copies of Erin McCarthy’s Hot Finish between Smart Bitches and Dear Author because Jane and I, we loved this book. Oh, my gosh, I re-read the series so I could enjoy this book more. I’ve got twenty copies here to give away, and the book isn’t out until 3 August.
This is part one of our Save the Contemporary campaign for Hot Finish. It’s in mass market, unlike the previous first releases in the series which were in trade (although they are now re-released in mass market). In the week leading up to the August release date, we will be giving away an iPod Touch to anyone who spreads the good word about Contemporaries and Hot Finish.
So why should you want this book? Well, Cindy Hwang describes HOT FINISH by Erin McCarthy thusly:
I love love love Erin’s smart, sexy Fast Track contemporary romance series, and from the moment she introduced Suzanne and Ryder in the first book, FLAT-OUT SEXY, I knew their romance would be something special. And it absolutely is—Suzanne and Ryder have a sexual chemistry together that practically leaps off the page, and what’s so wonderful is how funny they are together too. If you love second chance romances, you’ll love HOT FINISH!
What I liked about this book, I have listed in numerical order:
- Suzanne is courageous and scared, brave and gutsy and vulnerable and determined.
- Ryder wants Suzanne back, bad. And he’s not an ass about it.
- It is HOT. SERIOUSLY. Fan ye yourself hot.
- I laughed so hard I spit my gum out. In public. It was disgraceful. The opening chapters alone hurt my abs.
Want to read it a month early?
Leave a comment and tell me: what’s one unforgettable thing you never thought you’d get, that you worked your ass off to achieve? I’ll select 20 winners and books shall be yours. You have 24 hours.
Standard disclaimer: I’m not being compensated for this giveaway. I do not have a thing to do with hot studs who drive cars fast except for my husband. Machine wash with like colors. Close cover before striking. Shake well. Ribbed for your pleasure. Standard penalties for early withdrawal.
@ERINT Congrats. I know a little about what you have gone through.
Today. I got through today. I am a camp counselor at a camp for children with special needs. This is my fifth summer at the camp and the majority of my time has been working with children “mainstreamed” into the other JCC camps for their typically developing peers. I have dealt with god-awful days before, but this summer has been the most difficult and I am only three weeks in.
This summer I am working with two campers, both boys and going into the fourth grade. Camper A has difficulty when rules are not followed and is working to remember to only worry about himself and to let the counselors worry about the other campers. Because of this, he is seen by some of the other campers as being bossy and they don’t want to play with him. Also, he takes offense at every little incident, often refusing to believe, or unable to understand, that accidents are not a personal affront to him. When he feels he has been wronged, he believes that he can retaliate and do something not nice to whomever made him mad. Then he is upset when he, too, gets into trouble. In addition to this, he is extremely afraid of bees and will get uber scared if he thinks he sees one, which happens more than often because he thinks everything that flies is a bee (“If you ignore the bee they might think you are being rude and sting you”—an example of how his mind works with rules, and his fear of bees).
He is vocal in his dislike, repeating constantly that he is scared, which has lead to teasing, especially by camper B who has recently been put on a behaviour plan and is working on not teasing. Camper B tries to remove himself from situations with A but his method of this is to say that he is ignoring A, which makes A mad because he feels he is being slighted and B is being mean to him. Just today I explained to him that B walking away and physically removing himself so he can keep himself under control and so he will not get in trouble.
I work at a day camp and the campers—both typically developing children and those with special needs—are bussed to the camp grounds 45 minutes away. Today on the bus, after leaving about 10 minutes late, the campers decided it was the day to sing annoying songs. About half of the bus sang a song about pickles to the tune of the hokey-pokey (put your right pickle in) and the other half decided to retaliate by singing the song that gets on everybody’s nerves. To top this singing conglomeration off, a few counselors decided to try to annoy the campers by singing the ABC’s. With all three songs going, I had a headache before I even got to camp.
The first thing I hear when I got to the group table was A yelling at me that another camper, one not prone to violence, had slapped him. The morning went on in a similar vein and within the first 15 minutes I had to call my director over to help me control the situation that had morphed from this initial incident to a retaliation fest involving half of the group.
I have had difficult days before; my first year i had no experience working with children with special needs and on the second day of work I was thrown into a group as a mainstream counselor and had two first graders to work with. However, by mid-morning today, I was about to sit down and cry from frustration. I didn’t. I have very supportive supervisors, who have all worked with children who have special needs and, with their help, I made it through the remainder of my 10 hr workday.
I’ve read almost every comment, and all I can say is WOW! Aren’t you something?! It honestly gives me renewed hope and excitement reading about the great women out there.
In my 20’s I pulled myself out of an abusive marriage and a rough job (working as an exercise rider and groom at the racetrack), found work, went back to college, graduated and found a job. I married a wonderful man and 26 years and five children later, he continues to be my best friend and biggest fan. We’ve both worked hard to make this marriage to be a real partnership, and we’ve succeeded.
I’m loving the comments and want to give everyone a big high five for working so darn hard on their goals.
I worked so darn hard to finish high school in country Victoria and get into RMIT Uni in Melbourne. (Australia, not the one in Florida, apparently)
Worked darn hard to get a job after uni. Worked darn hard to afford our wedding. Got kicked in the teeth with health problems. Worked darn hard to have a child (if you ever want to feel like you have absolutely no control over your life, give infertility a waltz around the block). Worked extra darn hard for 13 years to get a book deal. It’s all been very, very hard work. If it wasn’t, I don’t think I’d value the results so much.
And the harder I work, the ‘luckier’ I get. Another thing? I am really, really, really enjoying the results of all this hard work because I know I’ve earned it. The hard way! 🙂
Phew, what a marathon some of us have been on!
My college education! I’ve always wanted to be a writer, and I’ve always wanted to be the first in my family to graduate from college. 4 years and a half manuscript of a romance novel later, and I can’t believe how far I’ve come thanks to Valpo – and the wonderful man who rocked my world from the very first semester there. It’s funny how many blessings we all have if we give the world our all (and occasionally a middle finger! :))…
I loved reading the comments. I love that the intensity and variety shows that you really, really can’t stereotype the people who read romance novels!
I’m a National Board Certified Teacher in English. It was the hardest, most absorbing, most time consuming thing I’ve ever done (way harder than getting my MSEd was)—and the best professional development I’ll probably ever do. And I’m so proud of myself for making it in one year. I always put those initials after my name on professional communication, even though most people won’t know what it means. *I* know what it means.
Wow. We are an amazing community of women! Look at what everyone has accomplished!!
For me, I’ve worked my butt off to raise two children into respectful, talented, bright, handsome young men. And I work my butt off every day of my marriage. To be a good wife, to enjoy every minute we have together, and to provde a good example for my kids who will soon be going off into the world on their own.
Oh, and to have a good time doing it all. Now that’s an achievement!
I know this may not seem like a lot to other people, but to me, it completely changed my life (as trite as that sounds). When I was a high school senior, I took an American Government class, and the first week of class, I was forced to participate in a debate, which I stuttered and shook my way through. I became so flustered, I turned bright red and prayed that I would faint just to get out of it. I spent the rest of the year making notecards, studying every night, and trying to forget that embarrassing first week. At the end of the year, I received the Government Student of the Year award, and when I asked my teacher about it, he said that I worked hard and earned it. It never occurred to me that I was even a contender. I left high school knowing what I wanted to do, all from that one award I didn’t think I deserved.
I’m 8th in a lineup of 9 children…I was the first child to attend college. As I was growing up, many people in my culture believed that college education was a waste of time and money that could be better used to earn money. I argued and cajoled my parents to give me a chance to continue schooling after h.s. which I funded, tuition et al and living expenses, throughout all five years.
The one scenario that always sticks in my mind was when I was younger. When I was 10, I wanted to go to Space Camp. My parents said they would pay for my plane ticket (from CA to FL) but I had to pay for the camp myself. I still remember the cost – I had to raise $425. When you are 10 and get no allowance and really no money from your family, its a big amount. I knew that my family recycled cans and we got money for it. So, I sent flyers to all my neighbors (about 6 blocks of people) and asked them to leave their cans out for me on Sat mornings so that I could collect them and save money for Space Camp. This was before the city had recycling cans so people were happy to help me and the environment. Well, after about 1 1/2 years of collecitng cans every Sat morning I earned anough money and was able to go to Space Camp – still one of the highlights from my childhood made all the sweeter by the work required!
Leaving one job for another which gave me more money, and more valuable experience, which eventually lead me back to my previous employer where I negotiated for yet more money and better benefits!
After getting out of a very abusive situation, i worked hard in school because i wanted to go to college. I graduated at the top of my class and with a part-time job and a scholarship, was able to fulfill my dream.
Umm… I can’t answer this question. I have a scary personality type that almost completely lacks self doubt so there has never been anything I thought I wouldn’t achieve. Unless it’s everything – I never thought I’d achieve everything I wanted to do, but so far I have. Thanks to almost always working my a$$ off in two jobs (even while doing my graduate study), I have been able to do everything I want – studying, travelling, living overseas in different countries, buying my apartment. So maybe I can answer this question!
After I graduated high school at 16, I was attending a vocational college for Criminal Justice. I worked my A** off and became both Captain (despite glares from my male classmates) and President (despite glares from my male classmates) during my second year.
Even more surprising, I not only earned a GOLD medal at the state competition, but a BRONZE medal at the national competition. Thanks to graduating early, I wasn’t allowed to compete against students my age, but rather competed against actual police officers and law enforcement officials mostly double my age. To say that I placed 3rd in the nation at 17 years old against real cops was definitely surprising!! (And it was nice to wave my medal at the male nay-sayers in my class…haha).
I really want this book!!
“I Was A Really Good Mom Before I Had Kids.” I’ve never read that book, but the title sums me up in a nutshell. I worked—and still am working, every day—my ass off to be a good parent to my two toddlers, a good partner to my hubby, and a balanced person overall. I feel inadequate in a million ways, every day. But occasionally questions like this make me look back and see how far I’ve come, how much patience and love I’ve been able to find inside myself, and then I cut myself some slack.
I worked my butt off trying to to make it and finish college- which I did! My family came over from Vietnam and no of them ever went to school so when I graduated high school and college, It was a first in our family. It might not sound like a big deal but when you see your mama cry for the first time in your life, it’s a huge accomplishment and knowing she is proud and loves you-even if you never heard the words “I love you” from your mama ever in your life. Thanks!
bar exam, I had never really studied before that, it was nuts. weeks of studying for hours and hours, I thought my brain might melt.
I remember in a college history class being really frustrated about a term paper. I didn’t get off to a good start and ended up scrapping what I’d written. The final paper turned out really well and earned me a good grade. It was even used as an example of a well-written paper, which surprised and pleased me.
Losing 90 pounds and keeping it off for 3 years so far. Actually, the losing it part was not super hard, it’s the keeping it off that requires constant vigilance.
I always read tons of books, both growing up and as an adult, and for years I kept telling myself that I could write a book if I really wanted to. Overcoming my fear of failure and actually putting pen to paper was terrifying. I’m happy to say, I started writing at age 38 and I published my first book at age 39. I’m now within throwing distance of 40 and halfway through my next book. I didn’t know nearly as much about writing as I thought I did. The learning curve was and still is huge! I did and am still working my butt off to make this a full time passion that pays.
I worked my ass off to get a baby – the hormones, the scans, the blood tests (OMG the amount of blood tests I had, I have track marks on my arm!), the procedures, the hot flashes, the teariness – seriously my husband deserves an award for putting up with me. Luckily I managed it and I have a happy 7 year old son to prove it. For some it comes easy – for me? Super hard work. But totally worth it.
Let me say that mine is a continuous WIP. The thing i strive most is for happiness in my life as that reflects directly on my family too. I strongly believe that if I am happy I can face anything. Unfortunately it is extra hard for me since i have some bad lows. But as the song says – I Get Knocked down But I Get Up Again.
I love, love, love Erin McCarthy. Her books are great but she also makes me feel so good. She cannot write fast enough for me. it seems as if I have been waiting for Hot Finish forever. Cannot wait for her other books in the series too. i am so glad you loved this book. Definitely bodes well 🙂
I’ve been working hard all my life when I found out I can get easily addicted to anything, even reading where I’ll do nothing else but read, but the worst addiction is my shopping addiction I started when I met my husband at 16, he had one card it was a Famous Barr card and it happened to be my favorite store, He let me use it, They all assumed I was his wife, we did get married and by then I had over 20 credit cards, I was only 18 and saying yes to every card given to me in the mail. I was brought up by a mom who I realized might have had this problem too she bought the store for me since I was a baby. I guess I never knew it was wrong to have what you wanted. Finally in 2 yrs time I got us way into debt and I was 20 or 21, I did all the shopping but Jeff’s name was on all the cards I used. I didn’t even realize how bad it was until we seen someone about it. It would have been a good thing for Jeff to take the check book then but he didn’t Maybe because I like the control it gave me, I was able to do what my mom did and by Jeff everything and more of what he might want for Christmas, I’m talking over 30 gifts.
He took over the checkbook and checks when 7 years ago he went to the ATM and there was no money in there and I had no idea why because I hadn’t written a thing in the check book for 2 years. I wasn’t wildly spending anymore that had stopped it was really hard to do, but when I started reading books, Again I went overboard spending $300 a month on books he wasn’t happy with me all. So we compromised and I got to spend half that a month. I could live with that sometimes Like the past two months I’ve been spending my money on my husband like I use to, but this time it’s my money, for his birthday July 27th. It feels like old times. Except I’m under control not spending outside my budget he gave me. with a budget I do so much better, I think I’m cured. I know my mom was right away when my Dad died from brain cancer she needed to save every penny and she’s done so good I’m amazed at what she can save now. It was hard to stay on a budget, but I’m doing it and I’m proud of myself. Finally it took me 18 years to figure that out. But I did it. Being raised to have everything does awful thing to ones ideas when they go out on their own. But I’m finally there. I love to give, always have but we have to stick to a budget. I figured this out recently. My husband is saving more now than ever since is older brother almost died from a massive stroke and he seen what his wife went through with no health insurance and no money we were all helping them, he doesn’t want me left with nothing and not able to make it if something should happen to him. That’s one addiction I do have I’ve been addicted to Jeff since I was 16, I hope I never have to see what living w/o him would be like, I depend on him to much, and I love him so much. I look at it differently now he’s looking out for me again when he tells me to stop spending and when I’ve cut into the savings. So I understand now. I’m come so far with my spending habits, not it’s not a problem anymore. Thank goodness!
I work I don’t know how many hours for my final degree and there was a time I thought it would never ends…
I am still best friends with a girl I met in second grade. I never realized until recently what a great joy and blessing that is. It took understanding moreso than hard work but still a great feat.
Wow. What amazing comments! For me it’s two fold…being a law prof has always been a dream. I had a list of things that I wanted to do to help get me to a point where I’d be competitive and I managed to check them all off…including getting my masters of law thesis done and submitted JUST under the wire 🙂 Now, a couple of years later, at age 32, I get to spend the next year as a Visiting Professor at my alma mater and I couldn’t be more excited to have this opportunity!
Mine is a very recent achievement: I just bought a house! With the way house prices are going in Melbourne (UP UP UP UP UP), I really didn’t think I was going to get there. I’ve saved every cent I could (including pretty much eliminating book buying *sob*), I’ve been living with my parents to save on rent, and yet, it still seemed out of reach. But last weekend, it all fell into place and I bought a house.
A baby. It took us four tries, three miscarriages, a lot of pain, a heck lot of tears, but we managed it in the end! And she’s perfect, of course. 🙂