Giveaway and Interview: Heartbeat and Unexpected by Faith Sullivan

Heartbeat by Faith Sullivan

Katie and Adam are afraid of love.
She carries the scars of a first kiss gone terribly wrong.
He uproots his life to flee the stinging betrayal of an ex.
When trust is no longer an option, all romance is suspect.
As a young paramedic, Adam rescues people for a living but cannot save himself. Katie, just out of high school, struggles with a tortured home life she cannot escape.
Everything changes when Katie hops into the front seat of Adam's ambulance. Overwhelmed by what they are feeling, neither possess the confidence to make the first move. They walk away from each other, full of regret.
To find her, Adam risks his future. To be with him, Katie sacrifices her security.
Little do they know, what little time they do have, is being measured by a heartbeat that is slowly dying out.

Unexpected by Faith Sullivan

September 11, 2001.
A day that forever changes the destiny of college overachiever, Michelle Rhodes.
Shattered, confused and alone, no one understands the trauma consuming her until she meets Connor Donnelly.
A native New Yorker, he believes he can aid in getting her life back on track. But what if he's even more broken inside?
Offering her a chance at a fresh start, Connor convinces Michelle to move in with him. Hiring her to waitress at his bar, their mutual attraction only complicates matters.
As more details surrounding Connor's past emerge, Michelle uncovers the full magnitude of the loss he's trying to hide. Refusing to let her feelings for him hinder his recovery, she makes a decision that winds up hurting them both.
By sacrificing her heart, Michelle thinks she is helping Connor come to terms with his grief. Little does she know, Connor is gambling everything for the sake of having a future with her.
What happens is truly unexpected

Blog: http://faithsullivanwrites.blogspot.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/_FaithSullivan_

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6878936.Faith_Sullivan

Amazon (HEARTBEAT): http://www.amazon.com/Heartbeat-ebook/dp/B00B4Y9296

Amazon (UNEXPECTED): http://www.amazon.com/Unexpected-ebook/dp/B00C112I7O

--The Twitter version: tell us about your book in 140 characters or less.

Boy meets girl in the aftermath of 9/11

--How did you get the idea for the story?

I was in New York City of 9/11. The opening chapters are based on my personal experience.

--Which character would you most/least like to have dinner with?

I would love to have dinner from beyond the grave with Danny because he sounds like such a great guy.

--Do you have any other works in progress? Any teasers or release dates?

Yes, I am working on book two of the HEARTBEAT series entitled COME WHAT MAY to be released June 2013.

Here is a rough, unedited teaser from Chapter One:

Breathe, damn it. Breathe.

            I continue the compressions on her chest, but she’s not responding. I can’t let this happen. I can’t let her die.

            1…2…3…

            My lips are on hers, but they’re ice cold. A shiver runs through me when I realize she’s already gone. She’s not coming back. I’m trying to resusitate a corpse.

            All I can hear is a woman wailing behind me. I squint against the flashing lights of the ambulance cutting through the snowfall. I cradle the dead girl in my arms, and I know that I’ve failed her.

            Stroking her damp hair, I whisper in her ear, “I’m sorry,” over and over again. Relaxing my hold, I caress her face. Out of the corner of my eye, I see a body bag being prepared. Oh God, no…

            Her head is on my knee, and her eyelids are blue. Praying for a miracle, I will her eyes to open. And then all of a sudden, they do.

            Trapping me with her gaze, she utters the word I know is coming.

            “Adam?”

--What book(s) is your book’s “cousin”? (Similar kind of read, set-up or style)

I have two bookish fairy godmothers - authors Kelly Hashway and Victoria H. Smith. If you like fast-paced, emotional reads like the LOVE ALL series (Young Adult contemporary romance) and THE SPACE BETWEEN (New Adult multicultural contemporary romance), I think you’ll like what I have to offer.

--What are some of your favorite books? Do you still have much time to read?

I love New Adult contemporary romances, and I always carve time out of my day to indulge in one. I’m a fan of EASY by Tammara Webber and CAUGHT UP IN US by Lauren Blakely.


--Do you need anything to write (music, coffee, etc)? Are there any songs on your playlist- songs that inspired you or that were playing while you wrote?

I hope you enjoy listening to the songs that inspired me while writing UNEXPECTED. It's time to step into the wayback machine and return to the years 2001 and 2002.

Fallin'

Alicia Keys

Sometimes I love ya

Sometimes you make me blue

Sometimes I feel good

At times I feel used

Loving you darling

Makes me so confused

I think the lyrics are a perfect fit for Chapter 7 when Michelle is contemplating what might happen between her and Connor.

I don’t know what’s going on between us. I’m definitely attracted to him, but he’s infuriating. He’s certainly going to great lengths to help me out, but does he see me as a charity project or is he into me? 

The Game of Love

Santana featuring Michelle Branch

Tell me just what you want me to be

One kiss and boom you're the only one for me

So please tell me why don't you come around no more

Cause right now I'm crying outside the door of your candy store

In Chapter 8, Connor is giving Michelle mixed signals while showing her around their upstairs living quarters.

Is he encouraging me to date other guys? Is he really not interested in me at all? He runs so hot and cold. One minute, there’s this amazing chemistry and the next he’s so aloof, like he could care less. I thought I’d be a mess about coming back to the city, but I think I’m going to mess over him.

Wherever You Will Go

The Calling

And maybe, I'll find out

A way to make it back someday

To watch you, to guide you

Through the darkest of your days

Connor's invitation throws Michelle off balance in Chapter 5. She's confused not knowing what's motivating him to reach out to her.

Taking one last hit, he tosses what’s left of the cigarette, putting it out with his boot. Placing his hands on his knees, he glances at me over his shoulder. “Michelle, I think it’s time you came back to New York with me.”

A Thousand Miles

Vanessa Carlton

Making my way downtown

Walking fast

Faces passed

And I'm home bound

Michelle is pissed at Connor as she walks home from the subway in Chapter 35. Earlier, he abandoned her in a restaurant in Midtown after she exposed a secret he was trying to hide.

Gingerly, I step on a grate in the sidewalk. These sandals have a wedge so I make it across, but not before a current of exhaust hits me in the face. The humid blast reminds me why I love living in New York City in the summer.

Superman (It's Not Easy)

Five for Fighting

It may sound absurd: but don't be naive

Even heroes have the right to bleed

I may be disturbed: but won't you concede

Even heroes have the right to dream

It's not easy to be me 

In Chapter 15, Michelle is quick to judge Connor while talking with Miguel. He tries to set her straight hinting that there might be more going on than she realizes.

“Nice meeting you, Michelle. You’re a great addition to the place.” 

“My boss doesn’t seem to think so.” 

“Connor? Trust me. You wouldn’t be here if he didn’t want you here. He just has a lot on his mind.” 

Miguel’s remark floors me. Connor has a lot on his mind? Like what? Who he’s sleeping with tonight?

U Got It Bad

Usher

When you feel it in your body

You found somebody who makes you change your ways

After her first night as a waitress, Michelle finds it hard to resist her attraction to Connor. In Chapter 11, the two of them unwind with some tequila shots.

With his hands splayed across the glass, I can’t help but notice how broad his shoulders are. I sit back and prop my feet up on the adjacent stool, taking him in.

No More Drama

Mary J. Blige

Ooooh, it feels so good

When you let go

Avoid these drama in your life

Now you're free from all the pain

Free from all the games

Free from all the stress

So buy your happiness

After a tumultuous couple of months following 9/11, Michelle starts to ease into her new life at Donnelly's Pub. In Chapter 9, she feels things are finally starting to turn around for her.

But there’s a hopeful flutter in my heart that wasn’t there when I walked into a NYU classroom for the first time. For some reason, this just feels right.

The Rising

Bruce Springsteen

Can't see nothin' in front of me

Can't see nothin' coming up behind

I make my way through this darkness

I can't feel nothing but this chain that binds me

Lost track of how far I've gone

How far I've gone

In Chapter 6, Connor utters these words to Michelle beautifully summing up how they're connected through their pain.

“And why do you care about what happens to me?” I ask, raising my eyes to his. 

“Because I was there that day, and so were you.”

--If you could have any superpower what would you choose?

To never hurt anyone’s feelings by saying something stupid.

--What is one thing you would tell your 15 year old self?

You are much smarter than me.

--Is there anything else you want to add or say to your readers?

Thanks for taking a chance on me.

Lightning round: this or that?

Vanilla or chocolate? 

Vanilla

Edward or Jacob?

Edward

Hockey or soccer?

Hockey

Ebook or paper?

Ebook

Salty or sweet?

Salty

Beach or mountains?

Beach

Phone call or email?

Email

Early bird or night owl?

Night owl

Dog or cat?

Dog

Messy or neat?

Neat

Ninjas or pirates?

Pirates

- one gifted Kindle ebook of HEARTBEAT and one gifted Kindle ebook of UNEXPECTED open internationally
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-Ends on 6/30/2013 11:59 pm EST
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