Spotlight & Giveaway: If You Never Come Back by Sarah Smith

Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author Sarah Smith to HJ!

Hi Sarah and welcome to HJ! We’re so excited to chat with you about your new release, If You Never Come Back!

 
Hey! Thank you so much for having me!!
 

To start off, can you please tell us a little bit about this book?:

IF YOU NEVER COME BACK is a second chance romance between Shay, a bartender who dreams of becoming an artist, and Wes, a hunky hiker. They meet on Valentine’s Day at Shay’s bar when they both partake a totally random–and totally sexy–dare. Sparks fly and they have a whirlwind romance…until Wes’s past tears them apart. He comes crawling back to Shay months later, determined to win her back, but she’s hell bent on never letting him in her heart again.
 

Please share your favorite lines or quote(s) from this book:

He scrapes his teeth against my shoulder, and I groan. Tilting his head, he leans his mouth to my ear. “You have me, Shay. Every last part of me.”

What inspired this book?

The music video for the Dan + Shay song “Tequila” completely inspired me! First of all, I adore that song. And second, it’s a gorgeous video that told such a beautiful love story that takes place in a snowy mountain town. After the first time I watched it, I felt so inspired to write my own take on a love story set in the mountains. And as an nod to the video, I named my main character Shay and I made tequila their favorite drink to drink as a couple…and their drink of choice when they’re broken up and missing each other.

How did you ‘get to know’ your main characters? Did they ever surprise you?

Since Shay is an artist, I chatted with a couple of artist friends of mine to get a feel for what it’s like to be that kind of creative person. I hike a lot in my spare time, so I put that part of me into Wes’s character. I honestly felt so connected to both and so in control of the story arc that nothing really felt like a surprise. I was more excited to tell their story and get them through all the angsty and sad moments so I could give them the HEA they deserved.

What was your favorite scene to write?

I adored writing their meet-cute. It involves a Valentine’s Day dare at a bar…and a very sexy slap. Here’s a snippet:

I rest my palm on his left cheek and it’s like my entire hand catches fire. Wes’s body is a special kind of warm. The type of warm that makes me want to curl into him and nuzzle his chest, just to see if every other part of him is as deliciously hot as his face.

He leans his face closer. “Just like that. But harder.”

What was the most difficult scene to write?

The dark moment was really difficult to write, mostly because it’s just so sad…Shay and Wes hit a breaking point in their relationship and call it quits. Hurtful words are exchanged…and even though it’s all fake, it’s just a story, these characters aren’t real, the moment was so raw and emotional, it was difficult for me because I could feel the pain as I wrote it.

Would you say this book showcases your writing style or is it a departure for you?

I’d say both! It’s a romance, which is what I always write. But I normally write novel-length works and since IF YOU NEVER COME BACK is a novella, it was a fun change to write something shorter. I had to hit all the major romance plot points in a shorter length, which really sped things up. It was exciting to try something new.

What do you want people to take away from reading this book?

I hope that when people read this second chance romance, it gives them a whole new view on second chances. We all make mistakes, say mean things, or hurt the ones we love. It’s difficult to think you can come back from that. But I hope that my novella shows that even when you mess up, you can still make things right. You just have to be willing to work on changing yourself for the better and making things right with the person you hurt. We can all grow and be better people if we want to and are willing to put in the work.

What are you currently working on? What other releases do you have planned?

My next book is titled SIMMER DOWN and is out soon! Oct. 13!! It’s a multi-cultural romcom set in Maui between food truck rivals. The main character runs a Filipino food truck with her mom and the love interest runs a British food truck with his brother. This was so fun to write and is really close to my heart. I can’t wait for you guys to read it! And I’m currently writing a romcom tentatively titled ON LOCATION about two warring crew members on an outdoor TV show whose frustration with each other quickly turns to attraction. That comes out 2021!

Thanks for blogging at HJ!

Giveaway: I’m so excited to announced that I’m giving away a paperback of IF YOU NEVER COME BACK! *This is an international giveaway so it’s open to everyone as long as they’re willing to give me their mailing address

To enter Giveaway: Please complete the Rafflecopter form and Post a comment to this Q: What are some of your favorite second chance romances?

 
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Excerpt from If You Never Come Back:

“Someone order a slap?” I ask.

I’m met with soft cheers and fist pumps. This time when I stare at my intended target, something resembling my heart pounds in my chest. I shove away the fleeting giddiness. It’s probably the prospect of touching another human being that’s sending me into a tizzy. It’s been a handful of months since my last date. My last kiss? Months on top of months.

Wes looks up at me, his eyes bright with an undefinable allure I’ve never seen in anyone else. Their rich hue cuts deep. I wonder if it’s possible to freefall into someone’s eyes. I give myself a mental smack against the head. He’s an attractive man. That’s it. Must stop acting like a giddy teenager.

“I’m not going to do this standing up while you’re sitting down,” I say. “It feels weirdly domineering.”

“Fair enough.” He stands up, zero evidence of tension on his gorgeous mug. His display of pure ease is in direct opposition to the Ferris wheel of nerves swirling through me.

At full height standing in front of me, I have to tilt my head back to keep my gaze fixed on him. I’d put him a touch above six feet tall.

“Ready?” I ask.

He nods, his eyes never leaving me. One side of his mouth quirks into a half-smile. “Make it good. We’ve got an audience.”

Judging by how the background chatter has softened to whispers, the entire bar is staring at us.

I raise my hand. This handsome stranger with smoky-brown magnets for eyes, this guy named Wes who I feel inexplicably drawn to, doesn’t even flinch. Instead, he lets his half-smile widen into a proper full one. That flash of pearly white kills me. I’m about to smack this drop-dead gorgeous man in the face.

I swallow. I rest my palm on his left cheek and it’s like my entire hand catches fire. Wes’s body is a special kind of warm. The type of warm that makes me want to curl into him and nuzzle his chest, just to see if every other part of him is as deliciously hot as his face.

He leans his face closer. “Just like that. But harder.”

On the scale of epic slaps, the one I deliver to Wes’s face wouldn’t even register. It’s nothing like those dramatic ones in the movies. The only reason anyone could hear the noise was because the entire bar fell to a self-imposed hush. I didn’t have the nerve to pull off anything more than a half-hearted smack. But when my hand falls from his face to my side, the entire bar erupts in cheers and whistles.

The sound barely registers against my eardrums. Instead, all I can focus on is Wes’s face. For a split second when my hand made contact with his cheek, he closed his eyes. His smile dropped. But a beat later, he opened his eyes and flashed another heart-melting grin at me, as if I had kissed him instead of struck him.

Against the backdrop of applause in the bar, Wes bows to our audience. When he gestures toward me, I do the same. With everyone turning back to their own tables and conversations, I pivot toward the bar.

“Hey,” Wes says from behind me.

I turn around to see his outstretched hand in front of him, that killer smile still on display. “Hell of a way to spend Valentine’s Day, right? Thanks for the slap…”

I shake his hand. “Shay,” I say, biting back a grin of my own. “My pleasure.”

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
 
 

Book Info:

I hate Valentine’s Day for one reason and one reason only: Wes Paulsen.

He came into my life like a wrecking ball one year ago today. After an incredible night together, we were inseparable for months. I’d never been happier in a relationship–neither had he. We were just starting to build a life together when everything changed…

Turns out Wes was hiding things from me–big things. I wanted to work through it, but he walked out, never giving me–never giving us a chance. I didn’t know how I’d be able to get over him, but I threw myself into my art. After months of working nonstop to escape the memories of Wes, my career’s finally taking off and what do you know–Wes walked back into my life. Once again on Valentine’s Day.

One year to the day that we met.

I’ve spent six months hardening my heart. It should be easy to reject him, to tell him I’ve moved on. But he’s doing everything–and more–to win me back. He’s being the boyfriend I’ve always wanted. It’ll take everything in me to resist him–I’m not even sure if I can. But I’ll sure as hell try.

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Meet the Author:

Sarah Smith is a copywriter-turned-author who wants to make the world a lovelier place, one kissing story at a time. Her love of romance began when she was eight and she discovered her auntie’s stash of romance novels. She’s been hooked ever since. When she’s not writing, you can find her hiking, eating chocolate, and perfecting her lumpia recipe. She lives in Bend, Oregon, with her husband and adorable cat Salem.
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