Blessed Fate blog tour: excerpt, review and giveaway
First we participated in the tour for Blessed Tragedy last month, this month we are part of the tour for the second book in this series, Blessed Fate. Welcome to our stop. We have a spotlight, excerpt and our review. Thanks for coming by, now let's meet Colton!
Blessed Fate (Blessed Tragedy #2) by H.B. Heinzer
New Adult contemporary romance*eBook
Published June 11th 2013
Colton Bradford never believed in love at first sight. And then, Rain Maxwell walked through his buddy's front door. He knew there was something special underneath the shy, guarded exterior and was determined to find out what it was.
The problem? Rain had devised her own set of life rules and “Never get involved with a band mate” was right near the top of that list. She allowed Colton into her heart as one of her closest friends, but pushed him away at the mention of anything more.
When tragedy strikes Rain's personal life, Colton is determined to be there for her in whatever way she'll allow. Will she finally open up to him and consider taking things to the next level? Will Colton's ways of trying to bury his feelings for Rain in the past ruin the possibility of a future for them?
Excerpt (warning: language):
“So, did you really think I was screwing your girl?” Garrett made no attempt to look at me as he asked the question.
“Screwing? No.” It was the truth. In my drunken haze, I might have said shit to that effect, but I knew better than that. When I was sober, it was more seeing them share a closeness that she didn't show many people that upset me.
“But?” He asked, the expression on his face tightening as he waited for my answer.
My head fell back against the chair. I was fairly certain I would be explaining that particular incident when I was ninety and living in a nursing home. “Look, you know Rain. She doesn't open up to people. Our manager, who I will admit is a raging bitch and would love nothing more than to see Rain pushed out of the band, somehow got her hands on pictures of the two of you from the last time she was back here. She looked happy; it's pretty obvious you two are close. I guess I just got upset because in our world, I'm about the only person she feels comfortable enough with to look at the way she looked at you. And seeing as I've waited five years to be with her, it pissed me off.”
Garrett nodded, seeming to understand where I was coming from. “Okay, and the thing with your drummer?” I should have known better than to think she had held anything back from this guy. She told me on more than one occasion that he was her go-to guy, her person, now that they were talking again.
“I plead the fifth of alcohol,” I deadpanned. Bad joke, yes, but I had never been known for being appropriate. “Seriously, I was sloppy drunk by the time she got back from having a long-ass talk with Jon. It was the same day I got the pictures. I kinda lost it at that point.”
It felt necessary to give this guy whatever answers he wanted. From watching him and Rain throughout the night, she was right; I had nothing to be worried about. I was the expert at knowing what her friend-zone looked like, and he was planted deeper in it than I'd ever been.
“You're going push her away if you keep that shit up. You know that, right?” I felt like I was in some alternate reality; the guy I had thought was moving in on my girl was now giving me advice on dealing with her.
“Think I already did that,” I sighed. I felt my eyes closing, over a week of tossing and turning at night was catching up with me.
“Nah, she's pissed, sure, but you haven't pushed her away totally. Trust me, if you had you wouldn't be here right now.” Garrett drained his beer and tossed the empty into the small bin along the rail. “I'm gonna head out. Do you have a problem with me riding out with her brothers to catch the show?”
After emptying my own beer, I stood and offered my hand to help him up from his chair. “No, I think she'd really like that. And now that I'm not being an asshat, you're actually an alright guy.”
“Cool. I'm going to head up and say goodnight to Maddie if she's still awake.” I followed him upstairs, hoping she would see that we were getting along now.
“So, did you really think I was screwing your girl?” Garrett made no attempt to look at me as he asked the question.
“Screwing? No.” It was the truth. In my drunken haze, I might have said shit to that effect, but I knew better than that. When I was sober, it was more seeing them share a closeness that she didn't show many people that upset me.
“But?” He asked, the expression on his face tightening as he waited for my answer.
My head fell back against the chair. I was fairly certain I would be explaining that particular incident when I was ninety and living in a nursing home. “Look, you know Rain. She doesn't open up to people. Our manager, who I will admit is a raging bitch and would love nothing more than to see Rain pushed out of the band, somehow got her hands on pictures of the two of you from the last time she was back here. She looked happy; it's pretty obvious you two are close. I guess I just got upset because in our world, I'm about the only person she feels comfortable enough with to look at the way she looked at you. And seeing as I've waited five years to be with her, it pissed me off.”
Garrett nodded, seeming to understand where I was coming from. “Okay, and the thing with your drummer?” I should have known better than to think she had held anything back from this guy. She told me on more than one occasion that he was her go-to guy, her person, now that they were talking again.
“I plead the fifth of alcohol,” I deadpanned. Bad joke, yes, but I had never been known for being appropriate. “Seriously, I was sloppy drunk by the time she got back from having a long-ass talk with Jon. It was the same day I got the pictures. I kinda lost it at that point.”
It felt necessary to give this guy whatever answers he wanted. From watching him and Rain throughout the night, she was right; I had nothing to be worried about. I was the expert at knowing what her friend-zone looked like, and he was planted deeper in it than I'd ever been.
“You're going push her away if you keep that shit up. You know that, right?” I felt like I was in some alternate reality; the guy I had thought was moving in on my girl was now giving me advice on dealing with her.
“Think I already did that,” I sighed. I felt my eyes closing, over a week of tossing and turning at night was catching up with me.
“Nah, she's pissed, sure, but you haven't pushed her away totally. Trust me, if you had you wouldn't be here right now.” Garrett drained his beer and tossed the empty into the small bin along the rail. “I'm gonna head out. Do you have a problem with me riding out with her brothers to catch the show?”
After emptying my own beer, I stood and offered my hand to help him up from his chair. “No, I think she'd really like that. And now that I'm not being an asshat, you're actually an alright guy.”
“Cool. I'm going to head up and say goodnight to Maddie if she's still awake.” I followed him upstairs, hoping she would see that we were getting along now.
The problem? Rain had devised her own set of life rules and “Never get involved with a band mate” was right near the top of that list. She allowed Colton into her heart as one of her closest friends, but pushed him away at the mention of anything more.
When tragedy strikes Rain's personal life, Colton is determined to be there for her in whatever way she'll allow. Will she finally open up to him and consider taking things to the next level? Will Colton's ways of trying to bury his feelings for Rain in the past ruin the possibility of a future for them?
Purchase your copy:
Excerpt (warning: language):
“So, did you really think I was screwing your girl?” Garrett made no attempt to look at me as he asked the question.
“Screwing? No.” It was the truth. In my drunken haze, I might have said shit to that effect, but I knew better than that. When I was sober, it was more seeing them share a closeness that she didn't show many people that upset me.
“But?” He asked, the expression on his face tightening as he waited for my answer.
My head fell back against the chair. I was fairly certain I would be explaining that particular incident when I was ninety and living in a nursing home. “Look, you know Rain. She doesn't open up to people. Our manager, who I will admit is a raging bitch and would love nothing more than to see Rain pushed out of the band, somehow got her hands on pictures of the two of you from the last time she was back here. She looked happy; it's pretty obvious you two are close. I guess I just got upset because in our world, I'm about the only person she feels comfortable enough with to look at the way she looked at you. And seeing as I've waited five years to be with her, it pissed me off.”
Garrett nodded, seeming to understand where I was coming from. “Okay, and the thing with your drummer?” I should have known better than to think she had held anything back from this guy. She told me on more than one occasion that he was her go-to guy, her person, now that they were talking again.
“I plead the fifth of alcohol,” I deadpanned. Bad joke, yes, but I had never been known for being appropriate. “Seriously, I was sloppy drunk by the time she got back from having a long-ass talk with Jon. It was the same day I got the pictures. I kinda lost it at that point.”
It felt necessary to give this guy whatever answers he wanted. From watching him and Rain throughout the night, she was right; I had nothing to be worried about. I was the expert at knowing what her friend-zone looked like, and he was planted deeper in it than I'd ever been.
“You're going push her away if you keep that shit up. You know that, right?” I felt like I was in some alternate reality; the guy I had thought was moving in on my girl was now giving me advice on dealing with her.
“Think I already did that,” I sighed. I felt my eyes closing, over a week of tossing and turning at night was catching up with me.
“Nah, she's pissed, sure, but you haven't pushed her away totally. Trust me, if you had you wouldn't be here right now.” Garrett drained his beer and tossed the empty into the small bin along the rail. “I'm gonna head out. Do you have a problem with me riding out with her brothers to catch the show?”
After emptying my own beer, I stood and offered my hand to help him up from his chair. “No, I think she'd really like that. And now that I'm not being an asshat, you're actually an alright guy.”
“Cool. I'm going to head up and say goodnight to Maddie if she's still awake.” I followed him upstairs, hoping she would see that we were getting along now.
“So, did you really think I was screwing your girl?” Garrett made no attempt to look at me as he asked the question.
“Screwing? No.” It was the truth. In my drunken haze, I might have said shit to that effect, but I knew better than that. When I was sober, it was more seeing them share a closeness that she didn't show many people that upset me.
“But?” He asked, the expression on his face tightening as he waited for my answer.
My head fell back against the chair. I was fairly certain I would be explaining that particular incident when I was ninety and living in a nursing home. “Look, you know Rain. She doesn't open up to people. Our manager, who I will admit is a raging bitch and would love nothing more than to see Rain pushed out of the band, somehow got her hands on pictures of the two of you from the last time she was back here. She looked happy; it's pretty obvious you two are close. I guess I just got upset because in our world, I'm about the only person she feels comfortable enough with to look at the way she looked at you. And seeing as I've waited five years to be with her, it pissed me off.”
Garrett nodded, seeming to understand where I was coming from. “Okay, and the thing with your drummer?” I should have known better than to think she had held anything back from this guy. She told me on more than one occasion that he was her go-to guy, her person, now that they were talking again.
“I plead the fifth of alcohol,” I deadpanned. Bad joke, yes, but I had never been known for being appropriate. “Seriously, I was sloppy drunk by the time she got back from having a long-ass talk with Jon. It was the same day I got the pictures. I kinda lost it at that point.”
It felt necessary to give this guy whatever answers he wanted. From watching him and Rain throughout the night, she was right; I had nothing to be worried about. I was the expert at knowing what her friend-zone looked like, and he was planted deeper in it than I'd ever been.
“You're going push her away if you keep that shit up. You know that, right?” I felt like I was in some alternate reality; the guy I had thought was moving in on my girl was now giving me advice on dealing with her.
“Think I already did that,” I sighed. I felt my eyes closing, over a week of tossing and turning at night was catching up with me.
“Nah, she's pissed, sure, but you haven't pushed her away totally. Trust me, if you had you wouldn't be here right now.” Garrett drained his beer and tossed the empty into the small bin along the rail. “I'm gonna head out. Do you have a problem with me riding out with her brothers to catch the show?”
After emptying my own beer, I stood and offered my hand to help him up from his chair. “No, I think she'd really like that. And now that I'm not being an asshat, you're actually an alright guy.”
“Cool. I'm going to head up and say goodnight to Maddie if she's still awake.” I followed him upstairs, hoping she would see that we were getting along now.
About the author:
The first “official” writing I did was as a fifteen year old high school sophomore. My dad was part of an APAzine and, for whatever reason, I started guest writing on his zine. That led to me getting a zine of my own in the Turbo Charged Party Animal APA. Rope the Moon (named after the John Michael Montgomery song and a nod to my dad’s influence on me) was the ramblings of a child in a world of adults.
I was held to a high standard because most of the contributors were my dad’s age. They were somewhat hesitant to allow a kid in, but they voted me in after those guest contributions. To this day, I feel blessed to consider some of those members friends.
Sometime after high school, life got in the way of my dreams. They keyboard was dusty. Looking back, that’s also when I felt my most restless. After my daughter was born, I started my first blog, More Than Mom, as a way to vent about my struggle to hold onto the identity I’d owned for 27 years.
In 2006, I heard about NaNoWriMo for the first time. I jumped in with the enthusiasm of anyone who’s never tried to write a 50,000 word novel in a month. It was a damn good story. Did I mention I’d never written anything of that length before? Yeah, that’s important because it means I never lost a work in progress of that length before. It was November 14th and I was over 24,000 words when my hard drive failed. And with the loss of my manuscript, I lost the drive to write for a while.
In 2012, I attempted NaNoWriMo again, this time saving in so many places I’m sure I’ll be finding partial copies of Bent everywhere until the day I die. The thing they don’t tell you with NaNo? When you hit 50,000 words, that doesn’t mean you’re done writing! So, I kept writing until I was done. And then I edited. And edited some more. Deleted a bunch of scenes, added others in. Had some trusted friends and mentors read it and then tweaked it some more.
In January 2013, I made the single scariest click of my mouse that I will ever make. I published Bent. It’s been a whirlwind year and it keeps picking up pace but I’ve never before felt so blessed to be where I am!
I’d love to hear from you! Feel free to email me at hbheinzer@gmail.com with questions, comments or even a good joke!
You can follow the tour HERE.
In Blessed Tragedy (my review), we met Rain, the lead singer of a rock band, and learned her story. In Blessed Fate, we get to read about Rain's other half, Colton. This is HIS story and what a story it is! There were times when Rain's narration became too much for me with all the emotion she was dealing with (being Maddie at home, Rain on the road, her past). If I liked Colton in the first book, I loved him here. He filled in the holes from Rain's story and we gained the additional male perspective to offset Rain's version.
"As crazy as it might sound, I felt a connection to Rain from the moment she walked into Travis' apartment five years ago as a broken and scared girl who didn't trust anyone. Before I even knew her name, I wanted to protect her, make her feel safe, and teach her how to open up to people again."
Colton is a great guy. Yes, he's flawed. He drinks too much. Flies off the handle at times. Can be such a guy guy. But no one can say he doesn't have a huge heart and loves Rain unconditionally. He can't help his need to "fix" this broken young woman. He fell for her when she first walked in to meet the band. When he deals with Tanya during their trysts and her eventual blackmail, his thoughts still focus on how Rain will feel when she finds out. His love is selfless, his attraction undeniable, their chemistry touching and combustible (what a heady combination!) and his patience admirable. Rain was incredibly headstrong, naive when it came to understanding the depths of his emotion for her, and dedicated in her desire to keep the band her top priority and her recovery clean. As for her heart, who can resist Colton?
"By the time she finished telling me every messed up detail of her life from birth to nineteen, she started to drift off to sleep on my lap. I took her to her bedroom, laid her down and kissed her forehead before turning to leave.
If I had it bad for her before then, I knew I was done for that night. She was burning up with a fever, her face red and puffy from her cold, and she was still the most beautiful woman in the world to me."
H.B. Heinzer not only gives us the wrenching, emotional love story of Colton and Rain, she gives us the story of the band. Each character--from band mates Jon, Matt, Travis and the addition of Jared later on, besides Colton and Rain, every member is a part of this story (and the first). Including the other guys gives us a fuller perspective and there were moments when they made me laugh or smile. The author paints a realistic portrayal of life on the road and the transitions involved with such dynamic personalities.
I thought I knew the story behind Blessed Tragedy, but that was only the first book. Blessed Fate gives us the complete picture of a family of musicians, the special bond they share, the troubles they face, and the everlasting love between one determined guitarist and troubled singer. Recommended.
Rating: 4
Cover comment:
I love the new covers for this series. Hot!
Book source:
I received a promotional eBook from the author in return for my honest review during a blog tour.
What a great review! It sounds like a fascinating series.
ReplyDeleteWhat an exciting read BLESSED FATE is going to be. I enjoyed the excerpt thank you.
ReplyDeleteOh yeah... on my TBR list since 2 seconds ago :D Thank you for a great review!
ReplyDeleteNice review and excerpt
ReplyDelete