Actin' Up with Books: CAMP FORGET-ME-NOT by J.K. Rock: Excerpt and Giveaway

Camp Forget-Me-Not

(Camp Boyfriend #3)

by J.K. Rock

Young Adult Contemporary Romance

Released October 7, 2014

Published by Spencer Hill Press

About the Book:

Playing it safe and fitting in may have rocketed Kayla West into the In crowd at Camp Juniper Point, but it's left her lonely. The only person she's ever been herself with was her former best friend, Nick, an outsider that pushed her to join the most popular girls cabin two years ago. Too bad being a Diva meant pressure to break up with Nick. Of course, Kayla had her reasons, but Nick can never know the real one. She always thought she'd forget him one day and move on. Until he returns to camp a super-hot Olympian snowboarder. Now, every girl wants him and Nick seems determined to show her what a mistake she made. Or at least, she thought that's what he wanted. But when Nick starts sending her private notes--just like he used to--she wonders what kind of game he's playing. Nick's attention is making it tougher to stay in the background and play in safe, forcing Kayla to make a decision--stay on the sidelines and get overlooked? Or take a chance on trusting Nick and, maybe... herself.

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EXCERPT

“I’m so sorry, Nick. I never meant for you to—”

His lips captured mine, cutting off the rest of what I needed to say with a tender, breathless kiss that left me lightheaded. The world around me seemed to sway, and I clung to him, needing the reassurance of his firm arms to tell me that this was real. Happening. Not a dream I’d wake up from when the alarm buzzed. No. The hard muscles beneath my fingertips responded to my touch, tightening as I traced the curve of his biceps.

“You’re so beautiful,” he murmured when he pulled away and gazed into my eyes, his pupils large and rimmed by hazel.

“So are you,” I whispered and pushed aside the dark hair that had fallen across his brow.

He captured my hand in his own and pressed a fierce kiss against my palm, his gaze never leaving mine. “I’ve wanted to kiss you. Since that night in the kitchen.” He laughed and looked down self-consciously. “Since we came here three years ago.”

“Me too.”

With a groan, he pulled me across his lap and kissed me again, and I’d never been so lost so fast. Pleasure at making up with Nick combined with all the years I’d missed him. It felt like I couldn’t kiss or pull him close enough.

His lips parted mine, the increased pressure delicious and frenzied. Tremors skimmed across my nerves, my body awash with sensation after sensation, each more incredible than the last. I stroked the side of his lean jaw and kissed him back. Every emotion I’d held back poured out of me, and I twisted closer to him, restless for more of him. We’d waited so long and now, after all this time, here we were—our bodies, minds, and hearts in perfect sync. Joy flooded me. We’d found our way back to each other at last.

“Kayla! Nick!”

Nick stopped at the sudden noise, his eyes meeting mine.

“It’s Josh.” In one swift motion, Nick had me off his lap and back beside him on the log.

“What?” It was the best I could manage. How the hell was Nick suddenly so in control? Thinking straight? Had he been as affected by our kiss as I was?

“It’s Josh. He’s coming to make sure we’re all right.” Nick pulled down my T-shirt so that it no longer revealed my stomach.

I shook my head to clear it. “And are we? All right?” Suddenly I had my doubts, given the way he’d shoved me aside the minute someone else could see us. My heart pounded so loud I could hardly hear anything else, but then, a crashing noise sounded nearby and I caught a glimpse of Josh’s blue shirt as he approached.

“You two okay?” called Josh.

Nick helped me to my feet, his touch feeling too light. Casual. The quick side-to-side and up-and down movement he gave my ankle, too impersonal. When I didn’t wince, he called, “We’re all right.”

And with that, he bounded into the forest, intercepting Josh before we were caught together. Or so I hoped. But a second later, laughter boomed and I cringed, imagining Nick joking with Josh about me. Bragging even. Had I been the object of Nick’s competitive side today? A challenge to win?

J. K. Rock is the pseudonym for YA writing partners - and sisters-in-law - Joanne & Karen Rock. Although they started out sharing an annual shopping trip, they ended up discussing their favorite films and books, joining the same book club and talking about writing... a lot. Their debut novel, Camp Boyfriend, is the first in a three-book series plotted during family pool parties. Their creative partnership is unique in that they enjoy passing a book back and forth, each adding a chapter and fine-tuning the chapter before. Years of friendship has yielded a shared voice and vision for their work that makes writing a pleasure.