Category: Want

Happy Book Birthday~ Stephanie Lawton!

5/16/2013

Want has been such a hit with readers that they demanded a sequel. The characters in Want, Juli and Isaac were compelling which drew the readers into the characters' lives. Today, we are excited to present~ Need, A Want Companion Novel!

When a book is released, it's an exciting time for the author but more so for the readers who can't wait to find out what their favorite characters have been up to! Today our readers are going to delve into Isaac's life after walking away from Juli and learn more about the kind of person he is.

But WARNING~ Need isn't a YA novel. It features some grown up romance, steamy passion, and certainly a few kleenexes!

Isaac Laroche is cursed. All he wants to do is hide out and feel sorry for himself. Never mind that he got caught sleeping with his seventeen-year-old piano student, or that he abandoned her when the truth was exposed.

Isaac’s feisty high school sweetheart has different plans. Heather Swann has returned to their hometown of Mobile, Alabama, to regroup after breaking up with her troll of a fiancé. She’s restless and looking for a diversion, but she bites off more than she can chew when she sets her sights on rehabilitating Isaac with her unorthodox sexual, mental, and physical plans.

The two quickly reconnect, but their happiness is threatened by family secrets, old vendettas and the death of a beloved father-figure.

Can Heather handle Isaac’s baggage, or will her own come back to haunt them both?

Pick up your copy of this riveting tale today!

$14.99

$4.99

And don't forget to check out Inkspell's Free Reads for other short stories with Isaac, Heather and Juli.

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Eyecandy Monday: Isaac Laroche from Want by Stephanie Lawton

1/7/2013

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Isaac Laroche
Isaac is a cold, mercurial musician with a giant chip on his shoulder. He's also revered in the classical music community, extremely talented and intensely passionate. He likes keeping secrets and loves his mama. Once you get him to loosen up, he may reward you with a heart-stopping smile.

EXCERPT:The band tonight is the Cotton City Rollers. Although he also plays trombone, Lenny plays piano during the off-season, and he’s on a kick tonight. Everyone taps their toes, drums fingers on the tables, or waves invisible handkerchiefs in the air.

That includes Isaac Laroche, who beats the drum line on the brown bottle in his hand.

I’m so busted.

I slink down in my chair and cross my arms. I know it won’t help, but I do it anyway. Nothing to see here, folks. Just an underage girl on the wrong side of town.

No such luck. He spots me and heads over. He’s got on a gingham button-down shirt and bizarre surfer shorts with flip-flops. He’s accessorized by clutching a beer. This is certainly a different side of him.

“Isn’t this a school night, little girl?” He smirks. My first instinct is to beg him not to tell my parents. And cry. Instead, I try a different tactic.

“Aren’t you too old to talk to ‘little girls’ in a bar?” For effect, I twirl my hair around a finger. “Besides, it’s June, remember? No school?”

“Touché. Just didn’t expect to see you here, Miss Casquette. You sure you’re only seventeen?”

“I didn’t expect to see you here either, Mr. Laroche.” I uncross and cross my legs.

“Please, it’s Isaac. I’m not that old, and it sounds creepy coming from you. Especially in a place like this.” Amusement flickers in his eyes as he locks them on mine.

I hold my breath. He turns his head to watch the band. Even in the dim light, I see the muscles in his square jaw clench and relax. I follow the line down to his broad shoulders and that little curve that connects his shoulder to his chest. I can’t help but compare him to the boys at school. He’s even bigger than R.J., and older. He doesn’t look a thing like a stereotypical pianist. In fact, he looks like he could be the bouncer.

“Okay, Isaac, here’s a little secret.” I smile up at him, despite the unease that flops around in my stomach. “I come here to listen to Lenny, the guy on piano tonight. His band always plays at the Mystics’ balls.”

“I know.”

“Oh, right. Well, I love this stuff.” It’s the kind of music that’s best heard live because it changes every time it’s performed. It’s so different from what I play. I admire the musicians’ abandon and ability to improvise—two things I can’t do. “Most people—you know who I mean—don’t know about this place. So how come you’re here?”

He doesn’t answer. Instead, he lifts his chin toward the seat next to me. I give him my good-girl smile. He takes that as a green light and sits down, careful to leave a modest amount of space between us. I lick my lips, which have suddenly gone dry. This new tactic could get me in trouble.

He leans in close. “Can I tell you a secret?”

Oh, this is bad. This is very bad.

“I’ll keep yours if you keep mine.”

Wait, did I just say that out loud?

“Fair enough.” He stares off again, listening to Lenny’s solo.

I can almost hear the little angel on my left shoulder do battle with the devil on my right. If I keep this up, I’ll be schizophrenic. Which, when you consider my family, is a definite possibility.

Go ahead and flirt. You’re in a bar. The rules don’t apply here. And he stared at you. Stared! You could totally score an older guy.

Oh, shut up. He’s not into you. Just look at yourself. How could he be? He’s just buzzed. Plus, he’s Mr. Cline’s nephew. It’d be like making out with Mr. Cline.

I choke on my drink.

He still stares at the band, thank goodness, caught up in the bluesy riffs that float on the smoky air. His eyes are darker tonight, almost charcoal in the dim light from the stage. There are lines just forming at the corners of his eyes and deep concentration grooves between his brows, like he scowls too often.

He takes a sudden swig of his beer, and I’m jolted out of my reverie as though I’ve gotten caught red-handed. As though he felt me studying his profile. I’m surprised at his next words.

“My secret is that I used to come here when I was your age, too. Got tired of the canon stuff and wanted to see how the other half played, so to speak. That’s why I minored in Jazz Studies.” He snickers. “Although I did sneak a few beers now and then, unlike you and your…” He waves toward my drink.

“Coke.” Gulp.

“Ah. Can I get you another?”

“Thanks, but no. I have to get back before Mama comes home.”

“Aw, leaving so soon? Mean to tell me your mama doesn’t let you sneak out to bars and talk to older men? Can’t imagine why.” He winks.

I seriously forget to breathe. Relax, it’s the beer talking.

I punch him in the shoulder.

“Hey, you promised to keep that a secret. I know you’ve been in Boston for a while, but you’re back in ’Bama now.” I channel Vivien Leigh and give him my best Southern belle. “You’re bound by a code of honor to keep your word.”

No matter where you end up in life or how long you’re gone, if you’re from south of the Mason-Dixon Line, the code of the Southern Gentleman is in effect. And the minute you violate it, your mama will know by some Southern sixth sense.

“Yes, ma’am. Nothing short of a voodoo curse could get me to spill it.” He places his hand over his heart. “Hey, did you drive here?”

Do not get in his car. Do not get in his car. Do not--

“No, I took the bus. There’s a stop a few blocks down from the back door of the studio. Mama checks the hood of my car to see if it’s warm.”

“Jeez. Doesn’t she trust you?” His question is like a bucket of cold water.

I look away. No, she doesn’t trust me. She--

The waitress comes by to collect my empty glass. I dig into my purse to find my wallet but hesitate, distracted by the other contents. They’ve been rearranged. Again. I push that realization aside and flick open my wallet to get a couple of dollars. By then, Isaac’s beat me to it.

“Said it yourself, I’m back in ’Bama now. It’d be rude not to pay for your Coke since I invited myself over to your table.” When I protest, he puts up a hand. “Besides, your daddy pays me enough to teach you. I can spare a couple of dollars.”

“Fair enough. That’s kind of you, Isaac.”

He puts down a tip for the waitress and stands, stretching his large frame. “Think I’ll go now, too. Have to meet with the maestro tomorrow morning.” He rolls his eyes.

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Eyecandy Monday: Dave Gaston in Want by Stephanie Lawton

10/8/2012

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DAVE GASTON
Dave loves to think he's every woman's dream. He likes nighttime walks on the beach (no, really), making people laugh, and is fiercely loyal to those he loves. He knows his way around a kitchen, gives great foot massages and has a never-ending repertoire of dirty jokes. He has a weak spot for beer and redheads.

Excerpt:

“Sorry. Should take this.” He turns to go outside, but it looks like monsoon season. “Yeah, man?”

I can’t play, so I begin marking up the sheet music. Whoever put in the recommended fingerings is an idiot.

“Wow. Okay. No, that’d be great. Any time, you know that. Uh, yeah, she’s right here.”

At that, my ears perk up. I glance at Isaac, who’s looking at me through narrowed eyes.

“Don’t think that’s a good idea.”

A man’s voice booms from Isaac’s phone so loud I can hear it across the room. “Hah! You are so full of shit! She doesn’t exist!” Isaac rolls his eyes and holds out the phone.

“I’m so sorry. My friend needs to talk to you. I’m not responsible for anything he says.”

“Uh, okay.” His phone smells like aftershave. “Hello?”

“Who are you?”

“Um, who are you?”

“I am every woman’s dream and what I want to know is: who are you; how old are you; and why Ike had the balls to tell me some little girl in Alabama plays Rachmaninoff better than me? And…go.”

“I’m seventeen. It’s not like I’m twelve.”

“Well then, that makes it much better. Totally trumps my Conservatory degrees. Please excuse me while I scrape my ego off the floor. I’m Dave, by the way. And you have a very sexy voice, anyone ever tell you that? Must be the accent.”

“Uh…”

“It’s okay. I often render women speechless. So, Sexy-and-Seventeen, what’s your actual name?”

“Julianne. Or Juli. Whatever.”

“Uh-huh. And now for the real question: Can you really play Rachmaninoff as well as Ike says?”

“I don’t—I don’t know. He said that?”

Isaac rubs his temples.

“He did. And I challenge you to a duel. Hear that sound? That’s me throwing my glove on the floor. I bite my thumb at you. It’s on, Julianne-or-Juli-whatever. Next time I’m in Mobile, it’s you and me in a classical music death match.”

I giggle.

“Too much?”

“A little.”

“Sorry. Nice talking to you, Juli. Can you put Ike back on?”

“Sure. Here.”

Isaac mouths sorry. “Are you done? We’re trying to rehearse here. Some of us take our music seriously. No. I’m hanging up. Later.”

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Special Offer: Today Only! Signed Paperback Copies of Want by Stephanie Lawton

8/31/2012

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Do you love having a paperback book in your hands? Do you
love the smell of a new book? Do you enjoy collecting signed books by your favorite authors?

Inkspell is offering signed copies of WANT for anyone who purchases a print copy of her book today on our store site. WANT is a story that will touch your heart and leave you breathless and wanting more! Due to the nature of the promotion, there will be a delay in the shipping.

Stop by to purchase your special signed book today! This is a limited time purchase so be sure to get your copy today! You know you want one! And at only $14.99, it's sure to be a collector's item!

http://www.inkspellpublishing.com/store.html

If you want to follow along with the twitter party and share the love, make sure you follow Stephanie Lawton on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/Steph_Lawton Don't forget to watch for and use the #Want hashtag! It's sure to be a rocking party!

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Eyecandy Monday: Julianne from Want by Stephanie Lawton

7/30/2012

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Because it takes a lot of work to make Mondays fun, we at Inkspell decided to start a new blog feature we like to call Eyecandy Monday. Each Monday we will feature the characters from one Inkspell novel and share with you all the fine details and tasty tidbits we can dig up about these
interesting and well written main characters.

Stepahie Lawton's book, Want, has captured the hearts of many readers. They love the spunky heroine and her passion for music. A few weeks ago we took at look at the two men, Dave and Isaac, who loved Juli. Do you have a favorite? I won't tell you mine! But this week, we are going to take a gander at the young woman who has both of them head over heels!

Character Name: Julianne (Juli) Casquette
Age: 17
Hair: red
Eyes: blue
Height: 5' 8"
Distinguishing features: Flaming red hair, tall athletic build; a bit of a walking contradiction
Most resembles: Model Ebba Zingmark (I think she may actually be the girl on
the cover)

Teaser: Juli's a tough nut to crack--she's both strong and frail, bold and shy, determined to get what she wants, yet gives up too easily. It takes a special guy to handle her and earning her trust isn't easy, but once she lets you in, she's loyal to a fault. Her stellar musical talent makes people respect her, but they're a little afraid to get too close. She loves her brother, dirty jokes and Rachmaninoff. She's drawn to people who challenge her and force her to reach higher, do better, dig deeper... just don't push her too far or you could do permanent damage.

And if you missed our Eyecandy Monday blog post where we took a deeper look at Dave and Isaac, you can find it HERE.

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Happy Book Birthday, Stephanie!

6/6/2012

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With such a gorgeous cover and super-awesome readers like you cooing about this amazing book, how better can a book birthday be? Well, it can be! Because we have 30% off on this awesome book exclusively at our website!!

And what does our book birthday girl, author Stephanie Lawton, feel on this special day? When asked, she says,
"Honestly, it feels like it's happening to someone else. It hasn't hit home yet. I'm sure that'll change now that Want is officially out in the world".

Of course Stephanie! We wish you all the best in your journey as a writer.

Price:
Print: $14.99
eBook: $4.99
Genre: Young Adult
Release Date: June 7th, 2012
Format: eBook and Paperback
Page: 318
Length: Super Novel
ISBN: eBook: 978-0-9850115-8-1
Paperback: 978-0-9850115-7-4

Julianne counts the days until she can pack her bags and leave her old-money, tradition-bound Southern town where appearance is everything and secrecy is a way of life. A piano virtuoso, she dreams of attending a prestigious music school in Boston. Failure is not an option, so she enlists the help of New England Conservatory graduate Isaac Laroche to help her.
She can’t understand why he suddenly gave up Boston’s music scene to return to the South. He doesn’t know her life depends on escaping it. Julianne must face down madness from without, just as it threatens from within. Isaac must resist an inappropriate attraction, but an indiscretion at a Mardi Gras ball—the pinnacle event for Mobile’s elite—forces their present wants and needs to collide with sins of the past.

Will Julianne accept the help she’s offered and get everything she ever wanted, or will she self-destruct and take Isaac down with her?

AMAZON

BARNES&NOBLE

KOBO

BOOK DEPOSITORY

ARe

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EyeCandy Monday: Meet Dave and Isaac from WANT by Stephanie Lawton

6/4/2012

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Because it take a lot of work to make Mondays fun, we at Inkspell decided to start a new blog feature we like to call Eyecandy Monday. Each Monday we will feature the characters from one Inkspell novel and share with you all the fine details and tasty tidbits we can dig up about these interesting and well written main characters.

Since WANT (by Stephanie Lawton) releases in just a few days, it was the perfect novel to start with. Not to mention, the YA release features not one, but two leading men. To my thinking, the perfect way to kick-start this new feature. You will have to let me know if you agree.

Character Name: Isaac Laroche
Age: 28
Hair: brown
Eyes: blue
Height: 6' 3"
Distinguishing features: Tall and well-built; doesn't look like a scrawny classical musician; moody and intense
Most resembles: Matt Bomer and Tom Welling's surly, Southern love child

Teaser: Isaac is a cold, mercurial musician with a giant chip on his shoulder. He's also revered in the classical music community, extremely talented and intensely passionate. He likes keeping secrets and loves his mama. Once you get him to loosen up, he may reward you with a heart-stopping smile.

Character Name: Dave Gaston
Age: 28
Hair: dark blond
Eyes: brown
Height: 5' 10"
Distinguishing features: spiked up blond hair, usually has a smile on his face; dresses like he's stuck in the Grungy '90s
Most resembles: South African actor Sean Else, add about 20 pounds (he has a fan page here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sean-Else-Fan-page/126045287415614#!/pages/Sean-Else-Fan-page/126045287415614)

Teaser: Dave loves to think he's every woman's dream. He likes nighttime walks on the beach (no, really), making people laugh, and is fiercely loyal to those he loves. He knows his way around a kitchen, gives great foot massages and has a never-ending repertoire of dirty jokes. He has a weak spot for beer and redheads.

Soooo, if given the choice between Issac and Dave, which would you pick for a first date? I know my answer, but I'll wait to share until I've seen a few others post their choices.

To learn more about WANT or the author, Stephanie Lawton, please visit either of the below links:
WANT Website
Stephanie Lawton's website

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Cover Reveal: Want by Stephanie Lawton!!

2/10/2012

4 Comments

The much awaited cover reveal of our first YA book, Want by Stephanie Lawton is here! You have travelled around the web trying to piece together the puzzle of this cover. The wait is finally over! Because ta-da!!

Forbidden fruit can be the sweetest—or the most dangerous.

Julianne counts the days until she can pack her bags and leave her old-money, tradition-bound Southern town where appearance is everything and secrecy is a way of life. A piano virtuoso, she dreams of attending a prestigious music school in Boston. Failure is not an option, so she enlists the help of New England Conservatory graduate Isaac Laroche to help her.
She can’t understand why he suddenly gave up Boston’s music scene to return to the South. He doesn’t know her life depends on escaping it. Julianne must face down madness from without, just as it threatens from within. Isaac must resist an inappropriate attraction, but an indiscretion at a Mardi Gras ball—the pinnacle event for Mobile’s elite—forces their present wants and needs to collide with sins of the past.

If you enjoyed Teach Me by R.A.Nelson or The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkins, you would love this book! Find more details of the book at GoodReads and Novel Novice which by the way is also the last stop for our cover reveal tour! The book releases on June 7th, 2012.

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