MAKING UP BLOG TOUR
Making Up by Helena
Hunting
Synopsis:
A new standalone, laugh-out-loud romantic comedy by New
York Times bestselling author Helena Hunting.
Cosy Felton is great at her job—she knows just how to handle
the awkwardness that comes with working at an adult toy store. So when the
hottest guy she’s ever seen walks into the shop looking completely overwhelmed,
she’s more than happy to turn on the charm and help him purchase all of the
items on his list.
Griffin Mills is using his business trip in Las Vegas as a
chance to escape the broken pieces of his life in New York City. The last thing
he wants is to be put in charge of buying gag gifts for his friend’s bachelor
party. Despite being totally out of his element, and mortified by the whole
experience, Griffin is pleasantly surprised when he finds himself attracted to
the sales girl that helped him.
As skeptical as Cosy may be of Griffin’s motivations, there’s
something about him that intrigues her. But sometimes what happens in Vegas
doesn’t always stay in Vegas and when real life gets in the way, all bets are
off. Filled with hilariously awkward situations and enough sexual chemistry to
power Sin City, Making Up is the next standalone in the
Shacking Up world.
Bio:
New York Times and USA Today bestselling
author of PUCKED, Helena Hunting lives on the outskirts of Toronto with her
incredibly tolerant family and two moderately intolerant cats. She's writes contemporary
romance ranging from new adult angst to romantic sports comedy.
Buy-Book Link: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250253378
Excerpt:
We’re a couple of minutes away from my apartment,
which also means we’re almost at the end of our date. End-of-date protocol
often means a goodnight kiss.
And I’ve eaten onions. Lots of them. What the hell was
I thinking? I feel around in my shorts pocket, hoping I have a random stick of
gum. I find a tiny square packet and pull it out, along with an old tissue. I
shove that back in my pocket and sigh with relief as I carefully open the Listerine
Pocketpak. There’s one strip left. I pop it in my mouth, wishing I had water
since my mouth is dry and I’m suddenly super nervous.
Griffin pulls up in front of my apartment building. I
swallow a bunch of times, trying to get the strip to dissolve on my tongue and
glance out the tinted window, seeing it from his perspective. I don’t live in a
bad part of town, but I sure as hell wouldn’t leave this car sitting out here
for any length of time unless I wanted it keyed or stripped down.
Griffin shifts into park and turns to me, one hand
resting on the back of my seat near the headrest. “I had a great time, Cosy.”
“Me too, thanks for dinner.” I tried to fork over my
share, but he was quick on the credit card draw.
“It was my pleasure.” He leans in the tiniest bit, a
nonverbal cue that he’s going in for a kiss.
I mirror the movement, giving him the go ahead. My
stomach flutters in anticipation. I exhale slowly through my nose. Even though
the Listerine strip should be doing its job to mask the onions, I don’t want to
ruin the moment by breathing that in his face.
His fingertips skim my jaw, and I close my eyes. And
then his lips brush my cheek. I wait for them to move a couple of inches to the
right, but after what feels like a lot of seconds—and is probably only a few—I
crack a lid.
Griffin is still close, a wry smile on his lips and a
smolder in his eyes.
“Seriously, that’s it? A kiss on the cheek?”
His smile widens, making his eyes crinkle at the
corners. He’s nothing like the guys I usually end up on dates with. College
boys don’t take things slow. If I were out with one of the guys from school,
I’d be sitting in a beat-up Civic with some stupid music playing, and he’d be
all over me with his tongue halfway down my throat, copping a feel.
“I thought all the onions you ate were the equivalent
to garlic for vampires.” Griffin fingers my hair near my shoulder. I’d really
like him to finger something else. Wait. I mean I’d like to feel his hands on
me. Not in my pants. Okay, maybe I’d like them in my pants, but not after date
number one.
“I wasn’t thinking, and I really like onions. A lot.
In hindsight, it’s not a great date food. I feel kinda dumb. And I guess at
first I wasn’t so sure about you. How was I supposed to know you’d actually be
kind of normalish?”
“Normalish?”
“Well, you drink club soda on purpose, so you can’t be
all there.” I tap his temple.
Griffin circles my wrist with his fingers and drops
his head, lips brushing over my knuckle. “We can’t all be perfect, now, can
we?”
“I suppose not, and perfect is boring.”
“That it is.” He hums against my skin, and I feel it
through my entire body. “I would like to try that kiss again, if you’re still
interested.”
Review:
Totally loved Cosy and her character. She knows what she wants when she wants it and she won't take any crap. When Griffin walks into the sex toy shop she works at she can't help but notice how attracted she is to him, however she has rules NO DATING CUSTOMERS. Her rules have always worked for her until Griffin breaks her down. Griffin wasn't looking for love or dating, but he can't stop thinking about Cosy and her bright light. When he asks her out he doesn't imagine how things will progress. However his past comes back to bite him. Will he loose Cosy forever for his past? Or can they work through it and show each other what love really is?
Helena Hunting Blog Tour Q&A MAKING UP
1. What inspired you to
write Making Up?
I’d introduced Griffin in the
previous Shacking Up Series novels, Shacking Up and Hooking Up—he was a bit of
a mystery for readers because he was talked about, but not really present. I
had a very clear picture in my mind of who he was, and the kind of woman who
would end up being the perfect fit for him, and it was not his fiancé from the
previous books.
2. Introduce us to your
main characters!
Griffin Mills is the oldest of the
three Mills brothers. At thirty-three he’s had several very long term relationships
and was formerly engaged, but that relationship went up in flames. He’s
gorgeous, smart, loves the numbers side of the family business he’s part of—a
chain of hotels he’s set to inherit with his brothers. Also, he’s a little
awkward, which I love, because there’s nothing quite like a hot guy who doesn’t
have all the lines and fumbles a bit when he’s dealing with someone he’s
attracted to. It makes for some hilarious banter with his love interest, Cosy
Felton. Our heroine is a twenty-two year old who has been a bit of a nomad for
most of her life, but is finally finishing school and happens to work at an
Adult Toy Store part time. It’s definitely not her favourite job, but it pays
the bills. She’s sassy, not much of a planner and definitely more than Griffin
bargained for.
3. Lots of aspiring
authors out there. Any advice for them?
Just
keep writing. Every day put words on the page and surround yourself with
positive people who are there to support you. Ask questions, join book groups,
be an avid reader and an observer.
4. How is Making Up different
from your other books?
Making Up has a trope I’ve never
really explored or played around with before, so it was a lot of fun to write.
While I’ve written age gaps before, it hasn’t been a key part of the storyline,
or had a significant impact on how the characters perceive the relationship.
Griffin and Cosy are from two very different worlds and balancing their
expectations and insecurities was one of my favourite parts of writing their
story. Making Up has my signature quirky, sassy heroines and I love writing
heroes that are sexy, yet a little awkward. While it’s a light read, there’s
some drama, and some heavy baggage, which I think grounds the story and
balances out the hilarity.
5. I know asking
someone’s all-time favorite book is a loaded question so what’s your current
favorite read?
I’ve been so lucky to read so many
amazing books this year but I’m going to go with Broken Knight by LJ Shen which
releases this August. I love YA/NA romance and angst, and she knows how to
deliver both flawlessly.
6. Alright, the ultimate
question: why should we read your book?
We all need a little escape from our
own realities once in a while and Making Up is a fun, sexy romance that’s
perfect for the summer. Also, Griffin is hot, and not particularly suave at
times. I think we can all appreciate a guy who doesn’t have all the lines,
especially if he looks like he should.
7. A famous movie producer
wants to make your books into movies and they want you to cast your
characters from Making Up. Which
actors/actresses make the cut?
This is always a fun question and
I’ll be 100% honest, I never actually look at actors prior to writing a story
because I generally have a picture of the character in my head. But, I went on
a Pinterest mission and Alex Morgan (she’s a soccer player, not an actress)
would make a fabulous Cosy if she suddenly switched career paths. Hailee
Steinfeld (Bumblebee) is super sassy, and could definitely play up the humor in
this story, so she would be a legitimate actress choice. Gabriel Macht has a
great smolder and can rock a seriously sexy suit, so I think he’d be great as
Griffin.
8. Favorite quote or
scene you wrote in Making Up?
Making Up is definitely
a rom-com with some incredibly hilarious moments, but Griffin has some heavy
baggage, which means there are also serious moments, and this is one of my
favourites: “Talk to me. Fall apart on me. Show me your weakness so I can give
you my strength.”
9.
What inspired you to
become a writer?
I’ve always loved to
write, but finding time was a challenge during university and then afterward I
was building a career and we renovated a house down to the studs—which takes up
a lot of time and doesn’t leave much of an opportunity for putting down words
(but it was an amazing experience). When I gave birth to my daughter she
struggled to sleep—or rather stay asleep—and that meant I spent a lot of time
awake in the middle of the night. So I started writing again during those late
nights, and finally penned my first full novel.
10.
What is a typical
writing day like?
I usually start with a
run and then copious amounts of coffee while I manage the administrative side
of things—ie emails, social media posts etc. But when I sit down to write I
have a playlist I put on repeat, more coffee, sparking water (so I can stay
hydrated) and my cat Pumpkin generally lies on top of my closed laptop and
supervises me for the day.
11.
Do you have any
interesting writing quirks or habits?
I listen to the same
playlist while I write a novel. So if it takes me two months, then I listen to
the same set of songs for two full months. I’ve destroyed A LOT of albums for
my husband over the past several years. I just need the background noise, and
listening to the radio or unfamiliar songs can be distracting.
12.
What has been one of the
most surprising things you’ve learned as a published author?
I’ve only been in the
industry for five years and there has been so much change, learning to adjust
and adapt and just staying true to your personal goal is really the most
important thing I’ve learned. I think when you start out there are just so many
unknowns, and taking risks can be scary, but if you don’t take those risks,
it’s hard to grow as an author.
13.
Can you tell us about
what’s coming up next after this for you writing wise?
I have one more book in
The Shacking Up Series, HANDLE WITH CARE, which releases at the end of August!
Griffin’s cousin and best friend, Lincoln Moorehead, is the hero and if you
didn’t know, he is also Armstrong’s brother. Lincoln is the polar opposite of
Armstrong so it was so fun to write. I can’t wait for people to meet Griffin
and Cosy and Lincoln and Wren.
14.
How can readers connect
with you online?
They can connect with me all over social media! (add links)
Instagram → http://instagram.com/helenahunting
Goodreads→ http://bit.ly/GoodReadsHH
NEWSLETTER → http://bit.ly/HelenaHnewsletter
Goodreads→ http://bit.ly/GoodReadsHH
NEWSLETTER → http://bit.ly/HelenaHnewsletter
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