Title: Let Life Happen
Author: Jaqueline Snowe
Genre: New Adult Romance
Book Blurb:
The campus flirt and the bartender with a chip on her shoulder should result in disaster, right? Jenna Smithson and Aiden Chad agree to disagree on just about everything—everything except for their mutual annoyance of each other. They both agree on that. A whole lot. Jenna works at a campus bar and knows exactly the kind of guy Aiden is, and Aiden… well he can charm just about anyone. Except her. So when they get paired up for a project, it’s a forced truce. They both have too much to lose and getting the grade is more important than their dislike for each other. Her sassy attitude is the perfect match for his confidence and humor and both like having the last word. No matter what. But long nights, a friendship they neither expected, and a slow transition from enemies to something more has two people question everything.
Excerpt:
“Welcome back, class. Hope everyone had a good summer break. I’m Professor Jackson, and today we’re going to cover the syllabus and expectations as well as get you paired up for the semester.”
I shoved my work shit into my backpack as Professor Jackson introduced himself and began to explain the class. “To make things easier for the class, I assigned you lab partners randomly. Don’t groan or complain. Sometimes in life you don’t get a choice. These will be your partners for the duration of the semester.”
I closed my eyes and held my breath as I waited to hear who I’d be stuck with for the semester. I silently prayed it wasn’t Aiden.
“Jenna Smithson and Aiden Chad.”
As soon as I heard the second name, I groaned. I glanced over at him and saw him looking at me with a wide smile. Then he winked. My eyes closed. My stomach dropped. And I sent another silent prayer to keep my temper down.
“Okay, class. Go ahead and move toward one of the benches and get acquainted with your lab partners. I’ll give you five minutes before I jump into the syllabus.”
I picked up my bag and headed toward the table off to the side, as directed, and noticed multiple girls glaring at me. I would’ve gladly traded partners with any of them.
“What’s up, Jenna? Good to see you again.” Aiden threw his bag on the ground and propped himself on his elbow, casually pushing back his hair. His leg was practically touching mine. His muscular thighs were annoyingly distracting.
“Yeah, what are the odds of this happening?” I mumbled sarcastically.
He gave me an odd look before taking out his laptop. Of course it was a top-of-the-line Apple. Mine had some purple duct tape on it, but it worked just fine. His lips twitched when he saw me take it out, but he didn’t say a word. It was a good thing he didn’t, because I was already on edge. I was looking for a fight, as my grandpa would say.
“All right, guys. I don’t want to keep you too long on our first day, but you all need to do a small genetics lab by Wednesday. Here are the requirements, and this’ll be a nice test to see how the class will work for the semester. If you have any questions, I’ll be here for the next hour.”
I eyed Aiden from the side and saw him texting. Anger swarmed through me again. I was disappointed. He had to plan parties and buy beer and get drunk. Okay, I was stereotyping him, but I didn’t care. I always got stuck doing the majority of the work, and I was used to it. I would do more of the work because I needed the A. I went to the front and got the assignment and dug out my journal.
“So how you want to split this up?” he asked and shoved his phone into his bag. He looked at me expectantly, and I tilted my head.
“Oh, you’re planning on doing part of the work?” I deadpanned.
He laughed, and I was drawn to the sound but immediately shut down all emotion. “Yeah, why wouldn’t I?”
“Uh, I just…” I stammered. “Assumed you might not help?” It sounded like a question, and his mouth tilted up on one side.
“You know what they say about assuming, right? Makes an ass out of you and me. Hmm…I wouldn’t mind seeing your ass.”
“Oh my God. You’re not a real person. No one says that,” I ridiculed him.
“You’d be surprised how often it works for me,” he replied. He shrugged and continued. “Honestly, I love this shit and need to get good grades, so if anything, I should be the one concerned. I mean, you’re a short little thing. Can you even use a microscope?”
“Oh, hell no.” I knew he was kidding. He nudged his shoulder into mine as if we were buddies or something. We weren’t. “This is going to be a long semester,” I grumbled.
“Was that in response to me loving this class or needing to get good grades? Because, really, you shouldn’t judge me before you know me.” He lowered his voice, and my lady parts woke from hibernation.
“Touché.” I gave him a pointed look.
He stood. He was a foot taller than me, so when I was sitting down, he towered over me. He bent down, stopping right in front of my face. “Jenna, you were the one to judge me first. You did at the bar. Now here.” He held my stare for a minute before he broke the spell. “I’ll go get the microscope.”
“You’re infuriating. I don’t know how we’re going to get through this semester.” I threw up my hands in defeat and smacked my head on the table as he walked toward the other side of the classroom. I hated he was right. I did judge him. I wasn’t far off, but still. I hated admitting I was wrong.
Buy Links:
Amazon: amzn.to/2VqPUL8
What’s your favorite way to combat stress?
Before having a kiddo, I would battle stress by escaping into a book, sometimes an old favorite or other times a new one. I would sit and devour the book all in one-sitting, only getting up to grab more snacks. When I became an author, the escape part shifted to creating my own worlds of characters with their own issues, goals, and desires. So now it’s a mixture between the two. If I feel my creative well is drying up, I try to read three books before writing again and it helps so much with my flow.
But having a kiddo changed everything! I still try to read and write but only when he’s sleeping. A huge stress release is picking him up with his cute baby smell and playing with him or walking outside. Everything else disappears when I snuggle him.
Why is your featured book a stress busting read?
Let Life Happen is the perfect escape into a world of energetic and colorful characters. It is all about befriending people despite bad first impressions, finding your family, and enjoying life. Jenna is sassy AF and a bartender busting her ass to pay her way through school where Aiden is cocky, charismatic and trying to figure out his own path. It is a slow burn, enemies to friends, to something more between two people who come from very different backgrounds. The story is a love-letter to Phoenix and mentions some of my favorite places in the city that I fell in love with when I moved here.
Giveaway:
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Open internationally.
Runs May 1 – June 3.
Drawing will be held on June 4.
Author Biography:
Jaqueline Snowe is an avid sports fan, writer of steamy, sports romances with characters who probably swear and feel too much. She lives in Phoenix where the dry heat really isn’t that bad. She’s a new mom to a sweet baby boy and addicted to coffee, pop-tarts, and chocolate.
Social Media Links:
Twitter: www.twitter.com/jaquelinesnowe
Facebook: www.facebook.com/jaquelinesnowe
Instagram: www.instagram.com/jaquelinesnowe
Website: www.jaquelinesnowe.com