BLURB:
Ellie is hardly the most sought after
girl at Noble High, so she is completely surprised when the boy most
likely to become prom king asks her out. Her short-lived glee quickly
turns to panic as she admits to herself that she doesn’t know the
first thing about dating.
After a fair amount of wheedling, she
convinces her best friend and hockey star, Alec, to tutor her in the
ways of love. Only once things start, she finds she knows even less
than first suspected. Dating is full of more codes and unspoken rules
than she ever imagined.
Even more difficult is the effort not
to cross lines with Alec. Every lesson brings her closer and closer
to the boy next door whom she’s never had a romantic thought about
before in her life. Each caress and playful scenario has Ellie
wishing more for her best friend’s affection than the boy he’s
teaching her to woo.
Excerpt:
Ellie walked to her front door with her
arm tucked into Alec’s. “This actually was a really fun night,”
she reluctantly admitted. “I had my doubts, but date Alec is
actually an okay guy.”
“You had doubts?” His tone was
light and playful as he led her up the front walk. “You should have
known I’m quite the catch way before now. I don’t know why it
took you so long to figure it out.”
She shrugged a shoulder. “Oh, I don’t
know. Could it be the usual behavior I see from you?” She poked him
accusingly in the ribs. “Spraying me with your garden hose,
burping, leaving your dirty gym shorts on your bedroom floor for
weeks on end, and the many other boy faux pas you commit.”
“Dating Alec and hanging out at home
Alec are like two different men.” He winked. “You’re one of the
rare people who have ever gotten to see both sides of the coin. In
fact, you might be the only one.”
She nodded with an affectionate smile.
“No one knows you like I do.”
“No one,” he agreed.
As she reached the first step of the
porch Alec tugged her hand to pull her to a stop. As she spun to face
him, the question died in her throat when he cupped her face in his
hands and pressed his lips to hers.
The kiss caught her by surprise. It
came so suddenly that she didn’t have time to worry over what to do
or how to react. She simply melted against him with a content sigh.
Alec swept her hair back from her face
and deepened the kiss. His body moved forward to brush ever so gently
along the front of hers.
This was unlike any kiss she’d ever
experienced before. The few attempts she’d made of it in the past
had been anything but spectacular. An awkward brush of lips. A quick,
shy peck. This was…ethereal. This was what it was like to really be
kissed.
Just when she thought it couldn’t get
any better, he nudged her lips apart. His tongue grazed ever so
gently across her bottom lip before flicking up to caress her own.
Her heart nearly stopped as she leaned
closer to him, wanting more.
And just as suddenly, he pulled back.
He took a few steps backward with an amused chuckle. “Very good. Do
that Saturday and Jake will be putty.” He shoved his hands deep
into the pockets of his slacks and bobbed his head in farewell. “I’ll
see you Monday for the game?”
Ellie felt as if her brain had been
fried. She couldn’t think. She couldn’t breathe. She just stared
at him feeling numb. Yet warmth was radiating through her chest, and
she felt as if her skin was electrically charged. Knowing she needed
to respond, she forced her head to nod. “Y…yeah. I’ll see you
Monday.”
“See ya Monday.” With that, he
turned and sauntered down the driveway to head to his own home.
She watched him retreat and tried to
convince her heart to…stop…whatever it was it was doing. He’d
kissed her. So what? It hadn’t meant anything. To either of
them….right?
And now, for an interview with the author!
tell me about yourself, and your
writing.
Hello! My name is Melissa and I am the
author of the Dating Tutor. I live near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with
my husband Jeremy and my son Marshall.
How long have you been writing? How
many published books do you have, and what genres?
Writing has been a passion of mine
since I was a little girl. I wrote my first short story in the second
grade and got to attend a workshop with children’s author Colleen
O’Shaughnessy McKenna when I was in fifth grade. I recently
received my certificate in Novel Writing from the London School of
Journalism. I have one young adult novel under the name of Melissa
Frost. Under the name Melissa Hosack, I have quite a number of
paranormal romances published.
Do you write in multiple genres or
just one? If just one, do you ever consider straying outside your
genre?
I’ve written in multiple genres,
though my favorite is paranormal romance.
Are you a plotter or do you write from
the seat of your pants?
Seat of my pants! Definitely. I have a
blobby, vague idea and just roll with it.
What is a typical writing day like for
you?
I don’t really have a typical writing
day. With a three year old son, my writing happens sporadically. My
editing is done during his nap time, but the writing itself is hit
and miss. His desired schedule rules mine. Thus is the way of
motherhood. Playing Avengers with him comes first.
Who do you love to read? Favorite
authors, favorite books?
I am a sucker for series. If I love a
character, I can’t get enough of them. I’ve read so many, but
some of my favorites would be the Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer,
Mary Janice Davidson’s Undead series, George R. R. Martin’s Game
of Thrones series, Laurell K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake series, Katie
MacAllister’s Aisling Grey series…I could go on forever.
What is something you'd like to
accomplish in your writing career next year?
I am working on the third installment
of my Supernatural series and would really love to see that story
unfold over the coming year. I’ve also got a manuscript being
looked at by a publishing company that I would love to see get picked
up. Keep your fingers crossed for me!
If you could have one paranormal
ability, what would it be?
Immortality
If you could keep a mythical/
paranormal creature as a pet, what would you have?
A fairy…though that wouldn’t really
be a pet, would it? More like a pal.
Tell us a little about your latest
release.
The Dating Tutor
centers on Ellie Harper, a shy and somewhat awkward high school
student. Ellie is hardly the most sought after girl at Noble High, so
she is completely surprised when the boy most likely to become prom
king asks her out. Her short-lived glee quickly turns to panic as she
admits to herself that she doesn’t know the first thing about
dating.
After a fair amount of wheedling,
she convinces her best friend and hockey star, Alec, to tutor her in
the ways of love. Only once things start, she finds she knows even
less than first suspected. Dating is full of more codes and unspoken
rules than she ever imagined.
Even more difficult is the effort
not to cross lines with Alec. Every lesson brings her closer and
closer to the boy next door whom she’s never had a romantic thought
about before in her life. Each caress and playful scenario has Ellie
wishing more for her best friend’s affection than the boy he’s
teaching her to woo.
What is something that you absolutely
can't live without? (Other than family members)
My cell phone! It has become the modern
day, adult security blanket. You break down, no problem. Just call
home. You want to compare prices on something, just pull up the
internet. Want to invite someone out for dinner, shoot them a quick
text. It has given us everything at the touch of a button.
Could you ever co author a book with
someone? If so, who would you choose, and what would you write?
I could! Actually, I think it would be
very interesting to co-author a story. I think I would have to
choose my husband to write it with. He’s actually a talented writer
himself, and a joint project like that could only bring us closer…or
have us ready to strangle one another. Haha. Who knows?
If you could spend a day with anyone
from history, dead or alive, who would it be, and what would you do?
What would you ask them?
God, so I could get confirmation on
this whole religious thing so people could stop fighting over it.
What are some of your other hobbies
outside of writing?
I enjoy reading,
watching and playing sports, playing video games, relaxing and
watching television with my husband, going to amusement parks,
playing with my son, going out to dinner, and spending time with my
family. I just love to do things. Mini-golf, bowling, you name
it. I like staying active.
What is something you've always wanted
to do, but haven't done yet. Why not?
I would love to travel to Europe but
have never had the opportunity.
If you were on the staff to have a
book adapted to movie, what would you pick?
Seeing Anita Blake kick butt on the big
screen would be awesome, but seeing Betsy would be cool, too. It
would have to be one of those series. Anita Black or Mary Janice
Davidon’s Undead series.
What is a talent you wish you had, but
don't?
Being able to paint. My father is a
talented artist who has done a few things for my siblings and I. It
would be nice to stick a paint brush to a canvass and come away with
something beautiful that I could hang in my living room or pass down
to my own children.
Favorite color? Blue
Weather: Hot or cold? Hot
Favorite place to read? In a bubble
bath
Favorite meal Tacos
Favorite non-alcoholic drink.
Raspberry Iced Tea
If you could travel anywhere and do
anything, no limits or money holding you back, where would you go? I
would go to Europe or Australia. I love traveling, and there are so
many places I’ve yet to see. I would try out all the different
food, activities, and sights.
Find Melissa on Facebook: here
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