“Relatable,
funny, and charming, this gamingesque book delivers laughs and romance in a
warm, satisfying bundle.”
–Elly Blake, New York Times bestselling author of Frostblood
“Sexy and delicious.”
–Kristin Wright, author of Lying Beneath the Oaks
–Elly Blake, New York Times bestselling author of Frostblood
“Sexy and delicious.”
–Kristin Wright, author of Lying Beneath the Oaks
Title: Crushing It
Author: Lorelei Parker
Publisher: Kingston Publishing Company
Genre: Adult, Comedy, Romance
Release Date: 30th June 2020
BLURB supplied by Xpresso Book Tours
In life, as in
gaming, there’s a way around every obstacle . . .
To pitch her new
role-playing game at a European conference, developer Sierra Reid needs to
overcome her terror of public speaking. What better practice than competing in
a local bar’s diary slam, regaling an audience with old journal entries about
her completely humiliating college crush on gorgeous Tristan Spencer?
Until the moderator
says, “Next up, Tristan Spencer . . .”
Sierra is
mortified, but Tristan is flattered. Caught up in memories of her decade-old
obsession as they reconnect, Sierra tries to dismiss her growing qualms about
him. But it’s not so easy to ignore her deepening friendship with Alfie, the
cute, supportive bar owner. She and Alfie were college classmates too, and
little by little, Sierra is starting to wonder if she’s been focusing her moves
on the wrong target all along, misreading every player’s motivations.
Maybe the only
winning strategy is to start playing by her heart . . .
PURCHASE LINKS
EXCERPT
“Hmm.” She tapped her finger on her lips. “Everyone’s had
a crush on someone, right? It wouldn’t be the most embarrassing revelation in
the world. Could you find something like that?”
I thought about it. I really did not want to stand up in front of total
strangers—or worse, former classmates—and get laughed at, but Aida was right
that an admission of a decade-old crush on a boy in a college class wasn’t the
worst thing I might reveal. Besides, everyone had a crush on pretty boy Tristan
back in the day. That might work well for this kind of contest.
“Would that be enough to win the prize?” And a guaranteed trip to Germany.
“Why don’t we forget about the prize, okay? I’m more interested in helping
you work through your anxiety.”
Right. My forced therapy. “I just don’t see how muscling through one
reading will achieve that.”
She bit her lip. “Okay, so here’s the deal. It’s not a one-night contest.
It’s an elimination-style competition. Like American Idol.”
“Oh.” That changed things considerably. I just wanted the money, but I
couldn’t imagine doing this week after week. Staying home and playing Undertale on the
genocide route was sounding better and better.
Aida stood, one hand bracing her back. “Look. It’s right up the street.
Let’s just go check it out.”
When she left, I skimmed the journal, hunting for something safe and
boring. I didn’t believe reading something embarrassing was going to magically
cure me. Nor was I going to win a weeks-long contest. But as Mr. Shepherd, my
cross-country coach, used to say, “Running begins, not with the feet, but with the mind.” Maybe
just preparing to do the contest, imagining myself succeeding, would be
therapeutic on its own.
I took a deep breath and pretended I was actually going to go through with
it.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bouncing all over the north
throughout her childhood, Lorelei Parker grew up believing she was a Yankee.
However, raised by transplanted Alabamans, she was destined to eventually
wind up in the south. After graduating from Auburn University, she disappointed
her entire family by defecting to SEC rival University of Florida and
eventually settled as far north as central Virginia for grad school in French
literature. After a major career shift and a brief detour through New York
City, she now works as a computer programmer in Charlottesville. In her free
time, when she isn't playing video games, she writes contemporary romantic comedy.
AUTHOR LINKS
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