Spotlight & Giveaway: The Comeback Summer by Ali Brady

Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author Ali Brady to HJ!

Hi Ali and welcome to HJ! We’re so excited to chat with you about your new release, The Comeback Summer!

 
We’re so excited to tell you about our book!
 

Please summarize the book for the readers here:

Sisters Libby and Hannah are trying to save their late grandmother’s PR agency by wooing a potential big client—an eccentric self-help guru named Lou. In order to win Lou’s business, the sisters must take one of her “Crush Your Comfort Zone” challenges. Hannah (who has social anxiety) must go on 12 first dates with 12 strangers and Libby (who is allergic to exercise) must train for and compete in a public, athletic activity. The sisters help each other through their challenges—but things get complicated when Hannah’s first love tries to win her back, and Libby falls for one of the guys she’s supposed to be setting up for her sister. Can they save their company, and more importantly, their relationship?
 

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

From Libby, who isn’t happy about Hannah’s first love returning to her life after dumping her five years ago: I’ll never understand the fascination with second-chance love stories. If the relationship didn’t work out the first time, why would the second time be any different?

Please share a few Fun facts about this book…

The initial spark was a conversation we had about our sisters–we each have a younger sister, and they both happen to be named Elizabeth. We were discussing the complicated feelings that can happen between sisters, and how you can get stuck in your older sister/younger sister roles even as you both become adults. From there, we began brainstorming two sisters who are very close–maybe a little too close–and discussing ways we could push them outside their comfortable sibling roles to become the people they need to be. We knew that their respective love stories would have a big impact on their character development, too, and we had a great time creating two new swoony book boyfriends.

What first attracts your Hero to the Heroine and vice versa?

There are two love stories in The Comeback Summer (one for each sister). Hannah met Josh when they were thirteen years old and they became best friends when he visited her in the hospital room after she had her appendix removed. They share a love of true crime, running, and Tim Burton movies–and of course, a long history together until Josh broke her heart when they were seniors in college. Now Josh has to convince Hannah to give him a second chance, and Hannah has to convince herself she can trust him again.

Libby meets Adam on a dating app and they instantly hit it off, bantering and chatting easily–the only problem is that Libby is supposed to be setting Adam up with her sister, and Adam thinks he’s chatting with Hannah. Eventually, Libby and Adam do meet in real life, which is when the complications start because she’s also chatting with him on the app as Hannah. Libby is attracted to Adam’s sense of humor, his loyalty to his family, and his kindness, but also knows that integrity and honesty are important to him, so she soon realizes that she’s caught herself in a mess of her own making!

Did any scene have you blushing, crying or laughing while writing it? And Why?

Alison is a big blusher when it comes to writing steamy scenes. She usually sends Bradeigh a message when her characters are about to “do the deed” and Bradeigh sends encouraging (read: steamy) GIFs and memes. Here’s a little snippet from a scene where her character Libby pushes herself to go outside her comfort zone and lets herself be (mostly) vulnerable with her crush.

“Hey,” Adam says, brushing his lips against mine as his hand slides down my hip, slipping off my skirt. “Where’d you go?”

“I’m here,” I say, but in my mind, I slip into my imagination, into the skin of someone else, an amalgamation of all my favorite romance heroines, full of confidence, eyes on the future and the pages ahead.

“Stay with me,” Adam says. His kiss relaxes me, and when I feel him start to slip down my underwear, I don’t tense up, and when he looks up at me, I smile and nod, urging him on.

I’ve never felt more naked, not just physically, but emotionally. The guys I’ve slept with in the past made me feel like I was the means to an end. They wanted to have sex, and I was there and willing.

But here with Adam, the way he keeps checking in on me…it feels like he wants to get closer to me. To connect with me. And I want that, too.

Readers should read this book….

if they love sisterhood, summer in the city (especially Chicago), character growth, second chance romance and new romance!

What are you currently working on? What other releases do you have in the works?

We’re currently working on our third book, which will be coming out summer 2024, called CAMP PEOPLE. It’s about two women who were best friends throughout their childhood at summer camp, but drifted apart as adults. They reunite to put on an adults-only summer camp at the site of their beloved childhood camp for one last summer before it closes. There’s tons of nostalgia, female friendship, and of course, each woman has her own romance.
 

Thanks for blogging at HJ!

Giveaway: A paperback copy of The Comeback Summer

To enter Giveaway: Please complete the Rafflecopter form and Post a comment to this Q: Would you join a program to help you crush a comfort zone, and if so, what comfort zone do you need help crushing?

 
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Excerpt from The Comeback Summer:

Context: Josh and Hannah both have dates with other people later that night , but they met beforehand for a quick drink. Unfortunately, they got caught in the rain, so they’re using a room at the hotel to get cleaned up in…

As soon as I open the door, it hits me like the steam billowing out: Josh is behind that white shower curtain. Naked. An image flashes through my mind of us in the shower of his freshman dorm, giggling and kissing as we soaped each other up, Josh’s hands on my body, sliding down between my—

Stop it. Friends don’t picture friends naked.

“Can you hand me the shampoo?” Josh sticks his arm out of the curtain, his hand outstretched.
Swallowing, I step toward him and place the small bottles in his hand. I intend to step away quickly, but…I don’t. Something unexpected shivers down my legs. Pure, old-fashioned lust.

“You know,” Josh says, “we could save water if you joined me.”

My breath catches. “I don’t—”

“I’m kidding.”

But is he? He’s still reaching his hand out, like an invitation.

My impulse is to laugh and step away, go back out to the room and wait until it’s my turn to shower. Say goodbye and meet my date. Spend the rest of the night imagining Josh with a beautiful woman in an evening gown. Maybe kissing her goodnight. Maybe more than that. That’s the easy choice, the comfortable choice. But aren’t I supposed to be pushing the boundaries of my comfort zone?

Never mind that I am absolutely burning with desire to see Josh naked.

Taking a deep breath, I drop my robe, and step into the shower. The first thing I see, coming into view in the steamy air between us, is Josh’s face. Dark, wet hair falling across his forehead, a shocked expression in his eyes.

“Hannah…”

“Just conserving water,” I say.

“Of course,” he says, his voice faint.

My eyes drip down the length of his body, and the sight unleashes a whirlwind of memories. I know the exact place on his chest where my head will fit, the ticklish areas on his ribcage, the angle of his jaw where he loves to be kissed. But there’s a scar on his collarbone that I’ve never seen before, and he’s muscular and tan and so damn masculine it makes me ache between my legs. Familiar and new, all at the same time.

And also. He’s getting hard.

Quickly, I lift my eyes back up to his face. His cheeks are flushed.

“Don’t mind that,” he says, giving an awkward laugh. “It’s an involuntary response.”

“Of course.”

I need to distract myself, so I turn to face the water spray, grab the washcloth, and rub the soap against it, making a lather. Robotically, I wash my arms, trying to forget that Josh is inches behind me and maybe still has an erection and probably is staring at my back side. My only thought now is to get this over with as soon as possible.

When I try to reach my back, Josh says, “Can I help?”

I stiffen. “Sure.”

He takes the washcloth and rubs it across my shoulder blades, down my spine. All I feel is the gentle scrub of cloth against me, not his hand, and in this position—still facing the spray, with Josh behind me—I can almost pretend like he’s not there. I take the shampoo, lather it into my hair, then close my eyes and rinse under the water.

“You’re beautiful,” he says, so quietly that it’s almost like he’s talking to himself.

I go still.

“I knew you were beautiful,” he goes on. “I remember it well. But my memories didn’t do you justice. Not even close.”

His hands rest on my shoulders, his fingers slippery and wet, sending shivers down my arms.

“I need to confess something,” he says. “About what I’ve been doing this summer.”

“Okay?” I’m not sure where he’s going with this.

“I’m trying to win you back,” he whispers, and presses his lips to the curve of my neck.

Warmth spreads down my body, lighting me up like a candle.

“Oh,” I say faintly. “Why?”

He slides his hands down my arms until they reach my hands, and he threads our fingers together. He doesn’t bring his body against mine—there are still several inches between us—and judging by his shallow breathing, there’s a reason for that. A big, thick, hard reason.

“Why?” he repeats, sighing. “Because you’re the standard.”

“What does that mean?”

“You are the standard by which I measure every other woman I’ve ever met. Not just women—everyone, period. Does this person make me happy like Hannah Freedman? Is this person as interesting as Hannah Freedman? Can I be myself around this person, like I could with Hannah Freedman? Everyone gets measured against you.”

“And how do they measure?”

“They come up short. Every time.” He kisses my neck again, making me shiver. “So, I realized: if I’m comparing everyone to Hannah Freedman, maybe I should go back and get the real thing. I know I don’t deserve another chance. But I’m asking for one anyway. Hannah, please. Let me prove I can be what you deserve.”

I’m alight with different feelings—my heart is aching, wanting him to pull me into a hug and hold me. But my body is on fire with lust, wanting him to push me against the wall and spread my legs and take me.

“Don’t decide right now,” he continues. “Take some time to think about it. I care too much about you to have a quickie and then go our separate ways tonight.”

I blink at him, startled. “Wait. We’re naked in the shower together and you’re telling me that you don’t want to have sex with me?”

He gives a pained laugh and glances down at himself. “I want to. Obviously. But I don’t want to steamroll you; you should decide what you want. If we’re going to do this, I want us both to be all in. Understand?”

“Yes. But—” I take a shaky breath. “But don’t make me walk out of here with nothing but words, Josh. Give me something to think about.”

He captures my mouth like he’s been craving this, like I’m the sweetest thing he’s ever tasted. A groan rumbles between us—from me or him or both of us, I have no idea—and memories crash over me in waves. The thousands of kisses we’ve shared, the familiar rhythm and slide of lips and tongues and mingled breaths. It’s a miracle. A blessed relief. Like climbing into your own bed after a journey away from home; like that first day of spring after a cold, dark winter. Josh’s soft, warm kisses alternate with deep, desperate strokes, and then he’s teasing me, his teeth nipping against my bottom lip.

I’m so lost in this kiss that I hardly notice his hands moving, running down my back. I wait for them to slide lower, but he stops at my waist. Then he runs his hands to my shoulders, down the sides of my ribs, skirting the edges of my breasts but not wrapping around to cup them. We make a perfect A-shape here in this shower—mouths touching, hands reaching, but the rest of our bodies separated, like we know if we get any closer, we won’t be able to stop.

It’s agonizing, being touched like this, his hands all over me but not going where I want them. I know why he’s holding back. If we’re going to do this, I want us both to be all in. And that’s smart, that’s the right thing to do, but my decision-making skills are fuzzy right now. Especially as I kiss his lush, warm mouth and run my hands across his shoulders, his back, dipping my fingers into the gulley of his spine—

There’s a knock and we jump apart.

“Laundry service!” a muffled voice calls.

“Just a moment,” Josh shouts. He gives me one last kiss, then steps past me, wrapping a towel around himself as he heads out to get our clothes.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
 
 

Book Info:

Two sisters have one summer to crush their comfort zones and save their grandmother’s legacy in this sweet, sexy, and heartfelt novel by Ali Brady, author of The Beach Trap.

Hannah and Libby need a miracle. The PR agency they inherited from their grandmother is losing clients left and right, and the sisters are devastated at the thought of closing. The situation seems hopeless—until in walks Lou, an eccentric self-help guru who is looking for a new PR agency. Her business could solve all their problems—but there’s a catch. Whoever works with Lou must complete a twelve-week challenge as part of her “Crush Your Comfort Zone” program.

Hannah, whose worst nightmare is making small talk with strangers, is challenged to go on twelve first dates. Libby, who once claimed to have period cramps for four weeks straight to get out of gym class, is challenged to compete in an obstacle course race. The challenges begin with Hannah helping Libby train and Libby managing the dating app on her sister’s behalf. They’re both making good progress—until Hannah’s first love rolls into town, and Libby accidentally falls for a guy she’s supposed to be setting up with her sister.

Things get even more complicated when secrets come to light, making the sisters question the one relationship they’ve always counted on: each other. With their company’s future on the line, they can’t afford to fail. But in trying to make a comeback to honor their grandmother, are they pushing themselves down the wrong path?
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Meet the Author:

Ali Brady is the pen name of writing BFFs Alison Hammer & Bradeigh Godfrey. Their debut novel, THE BEACH TRAP, was a best of summer pick by The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Parade Magazine and Katie Couric Media. Their second book together, THE COMEBACK SUMMER, is coming out May 9, 2023 from Berkley (PRH).
Alison lives in Chicago where she works as an SVP Creative Director for an advertising agency. She has no kids, pets or plants, but she does have two solo books, YOU AND ME AND US and LITTLE PIECES OF ME. Bradeigh lives in Utah with her husband, four children and dog. She works as a doctor, and is the author of the psychological thriller, IMPOSTER and THE FOLLOWERS.
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