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Blog Tour with Review, Deleted Scene & Giveaway: RIVAL (FALL AWAY #2) by Penelope Douglas

September 9, 2014

Title: Rival (Fall Away, #2)
Author: Penelope Douglas
Genre: NA | Contemporary Romance
Release Date: August 26, 2014
Tour Hosted by: As the Pages Turn
Synopsis

From the New Adult sensation and New York Times bestselling author of Until You

Madoc and Fallon. Two estranged teenagers playing games that push the boundaries between love and war…

She’s back.

For the three years she’s been away at boarding school, there was no word from her. Back when we lived in the same house, she used to cut me down during the day and then leave her door open for me at night.

I was stupid then, but now I’m ready to beat her at her own game…

I’m back.

Three years and I can tell he still wants me, even if he acts like he’s better than me.

But I won’t be scared away. Or pushed down. I’ll call his bluff and fight back. That’s what he wants, right? As long as I keep my guard up, he’ll never know how much he affects me….

Amazon | Amazon UK | B&N | iTunes | Kobo

RivalTease #7

~ My Review ~ 

I am a huge fan of Penelope Douglas and her books are perfection to me. I was absolutely enthralled by Madoc and Fallon, I had always LOVED Madoc and was thrilled he was getting his own story. In Rival, the author deals with lots of emotion, heavy subjects and the pain of tragedy but she always throws in a little humor to lighten things up a bit. Madoc and Fallon have a forbidden love but the way the author tells their story, you fell nothing but empathy and love for them.

I absolutely love these characters, and how the author never disappoints with the steam and chemistry factor. Her writing is honest, elegant and blunt, and never filters out the harsh reality of life with hearts-and-butterflies. Madoc and Fallon have had some terrible things happen in their lives but they still turn out to be honest and good young adults. This series is one of my favorites and I highly recommend that you start with Bully, which is one of my all-time favorite books.

Tate and Jared do get an appearance here, as well as Jax, who is getting his own book soon (yay!). But Madoc and Fallon are the focus and they are fantastic characters. I love Madoc’s hot, tough-guy exterior and Fallon’s off-beat personality. Of course, they are are hiding their pain and they must work through lots of miscommunication before we get to their very satisfying conclusion.

I absolutely loved this book and can’t wait for Jax’s story!

(*ARC provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.)

~ Rival – Excerpt ~ 

Reaching around, he twisted my chin towards the mirror, and I sucked in a breath. “What do you see?!” he shouted.

“You and me!” I blurted out. “Madoc and Fallon!”

My heart was racing.

I looked at him through the mirror. I sat on one side of his lap, so he could see from the other side, and we stared at each other, my chest rising and falling more urgently.

“That’s not what I see,” he said in a low voice. “Those names mean nothing to me. They’re simple and empty. When I’m with you, I don’t see the daughter of a gold digging bitch and an Irish drug lord or the son of a crooked lawyer and a vegan Barbie.”

I almost wanted to laugh. Madoc had an ironic way of looking at the world.

But he wasn’t smiling. He was scowling. He was dead serious, and I knew from experience that his genuine moments were few and far between.

He reached up, threading one hand into my hair while the other hand rested on the chair.

“I see everything I want for as long as I can have it,” he continued. “I see a woman that wears the cutest little scowl like she’s two years old and was just told she couldn’t have candy. I see a guy that went and got an apadravya piercing, because he wanted to live in her world for even a little while.”

I closed my eyes. Don’t do this to me, Madoc. Please.
~ DELETED SCENE – MADOC’S FLASHBACK ~ 

“Fallon” I call quietly, inching into her room.
She’s sitting on her bed, leaning back against the headboard and knees pulled up. The room is dark, except for the small light that glows from the nightstand. I can see her eyes pop up from the book she’s reading.
“I…I um…” I stutter, feeling like a complete idiot Why the hell did I come here? She’s ignored me completely since we had sex last week. I haven’t stopped thinking about it, though.
“What do you want, Madoc?” Her sharp tone cuts my confidence, and I almost turn and dive out of the room.
But I can’t. I’ve been driving myself nuts all week trying to not stare at her, trying not to look for her in the halls at school, trying not to think about how much I want her.
I need to know.
“You.” I swallow and hold my head up. “I want you.”
She drops her knees and folds her legs cross-legged. “So you think I’m a slut, then? Just like my mother, Madoc?” She reminds me of my horrible words to her.
“Jesus, no.” I walk towards the end of the bed. “I didn’t mean that. I know you were a virgin…like me.”
I see her eyebrows rise in surprise.
“I just…,” I continue. “I just can’t stop thinking about it. I can’t stop thinking about you.”
She looks down and slowly slides the book off of her lap and onto the bed.
She’s thinking. With Fallon, that can be bad. But she hasn’t kicked me out, either. I round the end of her bed to stand at her side.
“Did you like it?” I ask.
She peers up at me, her voice softer. “I thought you were just drunk or pissed off. I didn’t think you meant to…” she trails off, shaking her head.
Whipping off the covers, she swings her legs over the edge of the bed and looks up at me. “You’ve always insulted me, Madoc,” she accuses.
I kneel down, my jeans rubbing between her legs.
“I’m an idiot. You’re beautiful, and I don’t know how I didn’t see it.”
Her pursed lips are angry. “You just want me, because I’m here. You think because we did it once, I won’t say no.”
“You can say no.” I plant both of my hands on the bed on either side of her, and she stared at my bare chest. “You can lock the door, and I’ll never come in again. I just can’t stop thinking about you. I love the piercings. They turn me on. I love that you don’t dress like a girlie girl. I like that no one else gets to see what I saw. Tell me you liked it, Fallon.” I search her eyes.
Please don’t say no. Please tell me I can touch you, I want to scream. The room is quiet except for the light hum of the AC coming through the vents. She breathes and searches her lap for answers she already has. She wants me, too.
If she didn’t, she’d have kicked me out already.
Her tight green tank top and sleep shorts are within my touch. I can barely breath, knowing that in a moment she’ll either tell me to get out or she’ll let me feel her again.
After a moment, she tugs at the hem of my gray T-shirt. “This doesn’t mean we have to hang out, does it? Because I still hate your music and your friends.”
Joy grips my chest, spreading like a forest fire throughout my body. I lean into her neck and kiss.
“Just at night,” I whisper.

~ Buy books 1 & 2 of the Fall Away series ~ 
Bully (Fall Away, #1) – Buy Links:
Amazon | Amazon UK | B&N | iTunes | Kobo

Until You (Fall Away, #1.5) – Buy Links:
Amazon | Amazon UK | B&N | iTunes | Kobo
~ About Penelope ~

Penelope Douglas is a writer in Las Vegas. Born in Dubuque, Iowa, she is the oldest of five children. Penelope attended the University of Northern Iowa, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, because her father told her to “just get the degree!” She then earned a Masters of Science in Education at Loyola University in New Orleans, because she hated Public Administration. One night, she got tipsy and told the bouncer at the bar where she worked that his son was hot, and three years later they were married. To the son, not the bouncer. They have spawn, but just one. A daughter named Aydan. Penelope loves sweets, The Originals, and she shops at Target almost daily.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads
Follow the tour for more reviews, excerpts, character QA, author QA, guest post…etc! You can find the schedule HERE.

~ Giveaway ~

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Categories : 4.5 Stars, Blog Tour, Giveaway, New Adult Contemporary Tagged : 4.5 stars, Deleted Scene, Excerpt, Fallon, Madoc, Penelope Douglas, Reviews, Rival

RELEASE BLITZ and GIVEAWAY: RIVAL (Fall Away, #2) by Penelope Douglas

August 27, 2014

Title: Rival (Fall Away, #2)
Author: Penelope Douglas
Genre: NA | Contemporary Romance
Release Date: August 26, 2014
Synopsis

From the New Adult sensation and New York Times bestselling author of Until You
Madoc and Fallon. Two estranged teenagers playing games that push the boundaries between love and war…

She’s back.

For the three years she’s been away at boarding school, there was no word from her. Back when we lived in the same house, she used to cut me down during the day and then leave her door open for me at night.

I was stupid then, but now I’m ready to beat her at her own game…

I’m back.

Three years and I can tell he still wants me, even if he acts like he’s better than me.

But I won’t be scared away. Or pushed down. I’ll call his bluff and fight back. That’s what he wants, right? As long as I keep my guard up, he’ll never know how much he affects me….

Amazon | Amazon UK | B&N | iTunes | Kobo
♦ Rival – Excerpt ♦ 
Madoc jumped out of the car, not even caring to close the door behind him. “You stole my car?!” he shouted, peering down into the bowl.
With the headlights behind him, the area was well lit, and I tried to breath against the flutter in my chest.
He was here. We were alone. We were angry. Déjà vu. 
This is what I wanted. It’s what I’d planned.
But I turned my back on him anyway.  
I’d told myself time and again that I didn’t care what he thought of me. I didn’t want his heart after all. It wasn’t part of the equation. He didn’t need to love me or respect me for this to work. I would use him—get what I wanted—without worrying about whatever was in his head. It. Did. Not. Matter.
So why couldn’t I just draw him in like I’d planned? Why did I want to spit back? 
“I didn’t steal it. I borrowed it, Princess,” I shot back.
He jumped down into the bowl, his flip flops slapping against the wet cement. “Don’t touch my shit, Fallon!”
“Oh, but you got to come into my room last night and touch me? You don’t get to have everything, Madoc.”
He stopped a few feet from me, and I felt the walls of the bowl close in as he stared. I expected more yelling and insults, but he just stood there, looking like everything that could destroy me without even speaking. Looking like everything that nearly did destroy me.
He was still dressed in only his board shorts and flip flops. No shirt. I guess he would’ve left the house in a hurry if he was coming after me. He’d changed so much in the years I’d been gone. His shoulders and arms were works of art. Madoc always liked to work out, and it paid off. He had a build like a quarterback, and he was tall. I wished I didn’t feel the invisible cord pulling me to him, wanting to touch him again, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t. We always want what’s bad for us.
Madoc was hot. He knew it. And he knew everyone else knew it.
But what was underneath the blonde hair, boyish blue eyes, and toned body was bad. He was bad.
And someday, his looks would fade, and his wife would just have someone bad. I had to remind myself of that. There was nothing in him that I should want.      
The light rain blew around his face, and he blinked away the water dripping down his face. “You know? Whatever,” he sneered, looking like he was about to turn away. “I’m so over your bullshit, Fallon. I wish I knew what the hell you wanted from me.” His voice got stronger. “You act like everything’s fine around Addie and then you show up to my party dressed to impress down to your underwear around all of my friends, and then you bring up my party two years ago.” He got in my face. “What do you want from me?” His bellow reared up from deep inside of him. 
“Nothing!” I shouted, my eyes burning with anger. “I want nothing from you. Nothing ever again!”
He reared back just a little as if I’d surprised him.
“Again? Is that what this is about?” he asked. “Us fucking three years ago?”
Fucking. I averted my eyes.  
I’d rather shove a drumstick up my nose than let him see how that hurt. I wiped the water off my forehead and smoothed my hair over the top of my head.
“You know what?” He narrowed his eyes, speaking up before I got a chance. “You can go to hell, Fallon. I was sixteen, too. I was a virgin, same as you. You were all over me, too, and you know it. I didn’t force you! You didn’t have to go and complain to our parents. Jesus Christ!”
Huh?
He breathed hard and kept folding his lips between his teeth. “They treated me like I was pressuring you or some shit!” he shouted, throwing his hand out into the air. “You told them that I was forcing you?”
♦ Grab the rest of the series ♦ 
Bully (Fall Away, #1) – Buy Links:
Amazon | Amazon UK | B&N | iTunes | Kobo
Until You (Fall Away, #1.5) – Buy Links:
Amazon | Amazon UK | B&N | iTunes | Kobo
♦ About Penelope ♦
Penelope Douglas is a writer in Las Vegas. Born in Dubuque, Iowa, she is the oldest of five children. Penelope attended the University of Northern Iowa, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, because her father told her to “just get the degree!” She then earned a Masters of Science in Education at Loyola University in New Orleans, because she hated Public Administration. One night, she got tipsy and told the bouncer at the bar where she worked that his son was hot, and three years later they were married. To the son, not the bouncer. They have spawn, but just one. A daughter named Aydan. Penelope loves sweets, The Originals, and she shops at Target almost daily.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads
♦ Giveaway ♦

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Categories : Book Blitz, Book Launch, Giveaway, New Adult Contemporary Tagged : Excerpt, Fall Away, Giveaway, Madoc, Penelope Douglas, Rival

Cover Reveal and Giveaway: Rival (Fall Away #2) by Penelope Douglas

March 16, 2014

Title: Rival
Series: Fall Away, #2
Author: Penelope Douglas
Genre: NA / Contemporary Romance
Release Date: August 26, 2014
*Pre-order links*
Kindle I Nook I iTunes I Paperback

*Synopsis*

From the New Adult sensation and New York Times bestselling author of Until You

Madoc and Fallon. Two estranged teenagers playing games that push the boundaries between love and war…

She’s back.

For the three years she’s been away at boarding school, there was no word from her. Back when we lived in the same house, she used to cut me down during the day and then leave her door open for me at night.

I was stupid then, but now I’m ready to beat her at her own game…

I’m back.

Three years and I can tell he still wants me, even if he acts like he’s better than me.

But I won’t be scared away. Or pushed down. I’ll call his bluff and fight back. That’s what he wants, right? As long as I keep my guard up, he’ll never know how much he affects me….

*Purchase books 1 & 2 of the Fall Away series*
     
*Buy Links – Bully*
Amazon I Amazon UK I Barnes&Noble I iTunes I Kobo
*Buy Links – Until You*
Amazon I Amazon UK I Barnes&Noble I iTunes I Kobo

*About Penelope*
Penelope Douglas is a writer and teacher in Las Vegas. Born in Dubuque, Iowa, she is the oldest of five children. Penelope attended the University of Northern Iowa, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, because her father told her to “just get the degree!” She then earned a Masters of Science in Education at Loyola University in New Orleans, because she hated Public Administration. One night, she got tipsy and told the bouncer at the bar where she worked that his son was hot, and three years later they were married. To the son, not the bouncer. They have spawn, but just one. A daughter named Aydan. Penelope loves sweets, the show Sons of Anarchy, and she shops at Target almost daily.

*Connect with Penelope*
Website I Facebook I Twitter I Pinterest I Goodreads

*Giveaway*

(5) $10 GC from either Amazon or Barnes&Noble
(1) Signed set of Bully & Until You (original copy)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Categories : Giveaway, New Adult Contemporary Tagged : Fall Away Series, Penelope Douglas, Rival

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