*Review* Alexa Crushed & Alexa Loved by TR Cupak

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I'm combining reviews for the next book, as it's a close knit series.. We're focusing on the Alexa series by TR Cupak.

This series was amazing! YA/NA isn't normally my preferred genre but the Alexa series kept me glued to each page, non-stop! Ms Cupak does an excellent job portraying Alexa's character.. You can literally feel the emotion pouring off the pages! Alexa is a beautiful young lady who's gone through more than her fair share of heartbreak & she's also slowly realizing that she is caught between her affection for Devin & her developing feelings for Ethan... Ms Cupak takes us through the twists & turns in Alexa's world & she does it all with class!

If you're a fan of contemporary New Adult romance, this is one series you don't want to miss!!

Platinum gives the Alexa Series & TR Cupak:

FIVE PLATINUM RINGS!!

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Alexa Crushed blurb:

Alexa Morgan lost her mother when she was two. At eighteen, her father and stepmother died when a devastating earthquake hit the Bay Area. Only one person has remained a constant in her life: Devin.

Devin has been Alexa’s best friend since childhood. The two are inseparable—or they were until Devin declared his love for her at sixteen. When Alexa can offer him only friendship in return, Devin retreats, brokenhearted.

Alexa, on the other hand, longs for Ethan, the boy next door. Four years older than her, and with an ever-changing roster of girlfriends, Ethan is everything Devin isn’t: wild, sensual, and unpredictable.

In the aftermath of the deadly earthquake, Ethan makes his move on Alexa, who reciprocates in a confused whirl of grief and desire. When Ethan leaves town the next day, Devin comes back into Alexa’s life, offering support and expecting nothing in return.

Alexa begins to see the advantages of Devin’s quiet, stable love. Can she get past the friendship hang-up while trying to forget bad boy Ethan? It’s a choice that changes her life forever.

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Alexa Loved blurb:

After her parents died during her senior year of high school, Alexa Morgan is completely alone in the world—except for her best-friend-turned-boyfriend Devin, identical twins Becca and Jessa, and Sebastian, a mysterious associate of her father’s. 

Upon graduation, Alexa wants nothing more than to move on with her life, go to college, and forget all the hard and hurtful things from her tragic past. But when her first love, Ethan, shows up on her doorstep—the night before she’s supposed to meet Devin in Miami—it kicks off a whirlwind of events that threatens the good and stable things she’s worked so hard to achieve. 

Ethan and Alexa shared one night of passion before he disappeared, leaving her bewildered and confused. But now he’s back, declaring that he loves her and that the only reason he left was to protect her from his malicious stepmother, Olivia. 

In her heart, Alexa knows she loves Devin, but her attraction to Ethan is so strong she can’t help but be drawn in by their shared chemistry. Meanwhile, the threat of Olivia lurks around the edges, casting a menacing shadow over everything and everyone Alexa loves.

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~~ALEXA CRUSHED ON AMAZON~~

~~ALEXA LOVED ON AMAZON~~

~~TR CUPAK'S FACEBOOK AUTHOR FAN PAGE~~

**AUTHOR FEATURE** Leslie McKelvey

 

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Our next author feature is for the extraordinary Ms Leslie McKelvey! Leslie writes romantic suspense & her "Accidental Encounters" series is fantastic! Please welcome her to the blog! 

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1) Why did you decide to start writing?

• I don't remember when I decided to start writing. I just know that once I learned to write, I started writing stories. I had all these people and places in my head, which was noisy, so I put them on paper. That helped quiet my brain some, but new people and stories just appeared to take place of the old ones.
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• 2) Do you think authors can succeed in multiple genres or should they stick with a single genre?

  
  

  

  I think authors can succeed in multiple genres if they have the aptitude. I have written romance (contemporary and historical), sci-fi, fantasy, post-apocalyptic, but all of them have a romance theme throughout. For me it's not the main thread that changes, just the setting and language (they didn't use contractions in 13th century Scotland). If you have a firm grasp of writing mechanics and a clear vision, tell the story and worry about what genre it falls into later.
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  3) What do you feel is the biggest reward to you with writing?

  
  

  PEACE, at least temporary peace. After I finished Accidental Affair, Bear started whispering in my ear. Then he started talking. Then yelling. When all that failed, he shut down my muse until I told his story. Characters can be so temperamental! Oh, and being able to say, "I'm an author" is kind of cool, too!
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• 4) Who are some of your favorite authors & why?

  
  

  

  Favorite authors. Hmm, that's like asking me my favorite ice cream. It depends on my mood. I love Dean Koontz (his descriptive abilities are second to NONE), Catherine Coulter (her older works), Kathleen Woodiwiss, and then there are the classics like Austen, Melville, Hawthorne, and who could forget Shakespeare? Yes, I'm a book nerd.

  wink emoticon
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• 5) What are the biggest hurdles to overcome as an author?

  
  

  

  Biggest hurdles. OMG, time management for me. Some authors give themselves a daily writing goal, which is good, but my free-spirited writing muse HATES structure like that. Getting an agent is another one. I have three published books, two more contracted for publication, but can I get an agent? Hell to the NO. But, I'd have to say that getting one's work noticed is by far the biggest, hardest hurdle to overcome. With e-publishing, any hack can publish a book, even those who can't write a coherent sentence and have NO idea what punctuation, spelling, and grammar are. How does one stand out in a crowd of millions when all people base their book purchases on is a cover and a blurb? When I figure out how to get over THAT bar, I'll write a book about it and make millions. Or not....
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  6) Is there any advice that you can offer for new writers?

  
  

  My advice for new writers is DON'T GIVE UP and NEVER STOP WRITING. But, don't just write to write. Work on improving what you write and how you write. I guess then my REAL advice would be WORK TO BE BETTER, at everything, including life.
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  7) Tell us a few random personal things about yourself personal & professional!
• Random personal things...I don't know, I might scare some people, lol. I'm a US Navy veteran who was among the first groups of women to work the flight deck of an aircraft carrier. I am married to a cop (22 years), I have 3 sons (the oldest is a US Marine, the middle is a high-school senior and leaves for Marine Corps boot camp June 2016, and the youngest is only 12, so he has a few years yet to decide which branch of service, lol). I have extensive training and experience with firearms, including sniper and SWAT training, and knife-fighting. Professionally, I was Sales & Marketing coordinator at a boutique hotel in my home town of Santa Maria, CA, before I gave up all that glamour to be a domestic goddess (aka stay-at-home-mom). I have a BS in Business Management, and a PhD in sarcasm. I am a gun-toting, Constitution-loving, once-a-sailor-always-a-sailor gal who would rather wear my 5-11 tactical pants and combat boots than heels. My favorite perfume is the smell of gunpowder in the morning....
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• ~~CLICK HERE FOR LESLIE'S AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE~~

     ~~CLICK HERE FOR LESLIE'S FACEBOOK AUTHOR FAN PAGE~~

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**AUTHOR FEATURE** Melissa A Hanson

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Our latest author feature is with the lovely Ms Melissa A Hanson! Melissa is the author of the YA/NA Riverview series.. Show her some love! :)

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1) Why did you decide to start writing?

At the end of summer in 2010 I had just finished a set of books which I flew through in less than a week, by the time I finished the last page I just had this burning urge to write again.  I had done a lot of writing in high school, but nothing for almost twenty years. I couldn't get it out of my mind, it was there taunting me when I was driving, at work, laying in bed.  I tossed ideas around in my head for a few weeks and then one evening sitting on the couch watching TV I grabbed some paper and before I knew it the prologue was there on the paper.  A couple days later I had a rough draft for an ending and from that moment on it was something I knew had to be written. 

I spent almost every weekend for the next 6 months writing, not during the day, but usually in the middle of the night when the house was quiet, one chapter after the next unfolded.  I would sometimes formulate a rough outline ideas for what might come next, but for the most part all I can say is that it was an experience.   I would sit at my computer and the story just unfolded I don't know where it came from for the most part.  The images would come into my head, the words poured from inside through to my fingers as they flew across the keyboard.  Sometimes though I'd sit and write, then delete, write and then delete, but most of the story just came easily.  I remember sitting thinking, what is the character feeling right at this moment?  What do they see, hear, smell...and the words just came.  I remember thinking on several occasions, am I crazy??  Is the story any good? 

The few people I let read as I wrote were all encouraging, but I always wondered deep inside were they just being nice because they didn't want to hurt my feelings.  But I kept at it, and when I was done I went into editing, and had someone do my copy writing for me. But I designed everything, the cover, the text, the fonts, the format, everything.  I guess it is the designer in me that just wanted total control.  Seeing it out there and having others enjoy it and be touched has been one of the most exciting things for me.

The decision to write the second one was easier, it just took a couple of years before I could find the time to write out Mia's story. 

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2) Do you think authors can succeed in multiple genres or should they stick with a single genre?

I think that authors can write in different genres if that’s what they choose to do. The key is to be passionate and enjoy what you are writing about.

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3) What do you feel is the biggest reward to you with writing?

When I get messages from readers about how much my writing touched them or helped them through a tough time in their lives. 

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4) Who are some of your favorite authors & why?

There are so many, but the ones that hooked me on reading so many years ago are Mary Higgins Clark and Sidney Sheldon. I love reading Catherine Anderson, and Nora Roberts. I like how Catherine Anderson’s books are often stories of how a character pulls through a dark time or the main character might have a disability. More recently I’ve been introduced to some new authors through some of the great friends I’ve made on Instagram. Colleen Hoover is a relatively new author for me and the five novels of hers that I’ve read I’ve really enjoyed. Specifically “Ugly Love”, “Hopeless” and “Confess” I loved how she set up the story and tied things together. I like being surprised when reading a story and there were moments when I was shocked and I’ll admit shed some pretty ugly tears.  

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5) What are the biggest hurdles to overcome as an author?

For me it’s finding time to write and marketing. Getting the word out to the public.

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6) Is there any advice that you can offer for new writers?

Don’t give up. Read a lot. Find what people are reading that’s similar to the genre you want to write about. Read those and know what’s out there.

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7) Tell us a few random personal things about yourself personal & professional!

Some fun facts…My day job that pays the bills is not writing. Daily I’m an architect and I run my own company. I’ve been in the architecture field for almost 25 years. I love what I do. Architecture is like writing in some ways, you’re creating something and seeing it come to life. I’ve always enjoyed reading since I was in grade school. I read primarily on my iPhone and iPad with my kindle app. When I was in high school I was at a wedding where one of the guests had just won an Oscar and he had brought it and I got to hold it and have a picture of me holding it. I have two boys. I’ve recently accepted that I have a thing for pink, hot pink specifically. I had a fellow author that I met at a signing give me a free pair of Lularoe leggings, and umm.. I think I might be addicted. LOL. Seriously I’m seeing more and more authors and others start selling this clothing line and if you’ve never tried on a pair of their leggings they are the softest things 

EVER!! Mountain Dew is my all time favorite soda. I’m a vegetarian and have a weakness for all types of sweets. :)

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~~CLICK HERE FOR MELISSA'S AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE~~

~~CLICK HERE FOR MELISSA'S FACEBOOK AUTHOR PAGE~~

**AUTHOR FEATURE** TR Cupak

      

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We're doing our next author feature with the lovely TR Cupak, who is a contemporary & young adult/new adult romance writer. She currently has the Alexa series on her release list... Please show her some love! :)

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Author Q & A Questions

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1) Why did you decide to start writing? 

When I was younger I used to love to tell stories to anyone who would listen. Once I entered into elementary school I found a love for reading. I would devour books in one sitting. Roughly around junior high years I began to write short stories and poems, continuing to do so throughout high school. No, I don’t have anything from my childhood to share otherwise I would. In my twenties I disconnected from my love of the written word for a while. It was about six or seven years ago I rekindled my love of reading. I used reading as an outlet to escape everyday chaos. When reading was no longer enough to quiet the storm in my mind, someone suggested I try journaling. After a few months of journaling I realized I hated it. I wanted out of my mind, not in it. I grabbed my laptop and started to type out someone else’s life and before I knew it I had written an entire book. It was a surreal moment when I clicked “publish”. 

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2) Do you think authors can succeed in multiple genres or should they stick with a single genre? 

I think authors can succeed in multiple genres if they put their heart into what they are writing, do the research and try. Some just find their comfort zones and stay confined because they are afraid to venture outside of their safety net. Me, I want to try to write something other than new adult. That's why my WIP is dark erotica. I don't want to be known for just one genre. 

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3) What do you feel is the biggest reward to you with writing? 

My biggest reward is my fans, the readers. I never in my life thought I would have "fans" but when someone tells me that my story touched them or made them feel like they were a part of the story makes taking this journey worth it. I've made a new family and that to me is the best reward.

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4) Who are some of your favorite authors & why? 

K. Bromberg is my favorite author. Her stories captivated my heart and never let go. Other authors I admire would be CoHo, Abbi Glines and Jamie McGuire, just to name a few and that's because they gave me the inspiration to write my stories. 

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5) What are the biggest hurdles to overcome as an author? 

My biggest fear to overcome is rejection. I know I will never please everyone but those few negative reviews still sting. 

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6) Is there any advice that you can offer for new writers? 

No matter how much research you do, it will never prepare you for this journey. Do not let a few no's or bad reviews discourage you. If you believe in your writing then others will too. Be strong and always remain humbled. Your readers are your lifeline. 

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7) Tell us a few random personal things about yourself personal & professional!

1. I am my worse critic

2. My OCD & Type A personality are overwhelming although I'm working on getting them under control

3. I love with my whole heart. I don't believe in half love.

4. I have an addiction to nice pens and Victoria Secret panties (271 pairs....I just threw some away)

5. Since I turned 16 I've had (owned/leased) 30 vehicles (I get bored easy) & won't stop there 6. I never had that biological clock that ticked

8. I will always laugh at myself because I am a goober and proud of it

7. I was scared shitless to hit publish on Alexa Crushed but thank my lucky stars I did because I have extended my family with so many amazing people

9. I work a FT day job for one of the largest utilities companies in the US on the gas pipeline side.

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Many thanks to TR Cupak for dropping by to chat with us! You can find her info below..

~~TR CUPAK'S AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE~~

~~~TR CUPAK'S FACEBOOK FAN PAGE~~~