THRIVE Blog Tour: Loren Hale Interview & Giveaway!

***twirls through the interwebz** It's almost here, you guys!!

If you've been following this blog for a while you may have noticed that I'm a smidge obsessed with THE ADDICTED SERIES by Krista and Becca Ritchie. You know. Just. A. Little. And the next book in the series, THRIVE, will be available in 8 agonizingly long days! So I'm thrilled to celebrate along with these incredilby kickass New Adult authors by participating in their blog tour. Today I'm going to be "interviewing" antihero and hearthrob Loren Hale, who has had me fascinated from the very first book. But first, a little about Krista and Becca and their soon (but not soon enough) to be born book baby!

Title: Thrive

Authors: Krista and Becca Ritchie

Series: Addicted #2.5

Pub Date: July 18^th, 2014

Two years will change them forever.

Click HERE to add to Goodreads!

When rumors spread like wildfire—like having three-ways with her boyfriend’s rock climbing brother—Lily Calloway spirals into a dark place. Her bedroom. Loren Hale is more confident and determined to keep their sex life private, even from their friends, and he helps Lily in the only way he knows how. But how much love is too much?

Their lives are filmed, watched, and criticized. And through it all, Lily and Loren have to face enemies they never thought they’d see, demons they don’t know if they should bury, and setbacks they didn’t think they’d meet. Not this soon.

And one rumor could be too much for them to handle. It will test their greatest limitations, and if they don’t hold onto each other, someone is going to drown.

A full-length New Adult Romance that bridges the gap between the second and third books. Thrive must be read before Addicted After All if you have not read the Calloway Sisters spin-off 

Hi Lo, welcome to the blog. I interviewed your brother a couple months ago, not sure if he mentioned it?

Yeah he mentioned it. He said it wasn’t hard, which is why I’m here. *slouches in chair* I’m not going to be surprised if he lied to me though.

*Dannie resists urge to invite Lo to lay down on the couch.* I’m a little different than most interviewers, because I’m also a therapist. So you can just let me know if you want to keep any of this *confidential.* Okay?

*flashes half-smile* Great.

Tell us about yourself in [exactly] five words:

Never up to par. *pauses and glares* That was four words, wasn’t it?

It was, but I'll let it slide this time. What did you want to be when you grew up when you were 5? 10? 15? 20? And now?

*sighs heavily and scratches his head* I don’t know *brows furrow as he thinks hard* *shakes head* I don’t know.

Well, regardless, it sounds like you're finding your niche in your new business. Tell us a little about your work? How are you enjoying publishing? What’s the weirdest pitch/query you’ve received so far?

It’s stressful, but better than working at my father’s company. I enjoy it enough. Weirdest pitch...maybe not a pitch but Halway Comics is sent unsolicited manuscripts all the time. I received this one comic with panels and panels of Lil and me, kissing and…other things. *smiles at the memory* she loved it, and I think she stole it from my stack of manuscripts. *shakes head* it’s verging on porn, of us, so I need to find it.

Ruh roh. Good luck with that. If you had a magic wand and could change any three things about your life, what would they be? (Stop focusing on the word “wand”, that’s Lily’s job.)

*leg jostles and glances at phone* I wouldn’t be an addict. Lily wouldn’t be an addict. And my brother would’ve grown up with me, instead of alone.

I'd imagine that last bit is something Ryke has wished for, too. What is your best hidden talent?

Pleasing a sex addict *smiles* but then again, everyone knows about that now. Thanks Celebrity Crush.

What would you consider your greatest accomplishment?

Getting sober for myself, and for Lil.

A huge accomplishment! What’s your favorite thing about Lily?

*his lips rise as he begins to smile* Her heart.

Least favorite thing?

Tabloids can ruin her day.

                                                  

It's gotta be tough, dealing with the onslaught of trash like that when you have no control over it. But now there’s talk that you guys might be doing a reality show in the coming months. How are you feeling about that?

We’re doing this for Rose’s fashion career, and we’ve all agreed to support her. How I’m feeling about it doesn’t matter.

What is each of your costars’ greatest strengths?

*rushes through them quickly, slouching further*

Ryke: being there for people, even guys like me who give him a hard time.

Connor: he’s great at everything.

Rose: she’s the best sister to Lily, always supportive, even when she’s being a bitch.

Daisy: she’s always in a good mood.

Lily: *pauses for a second* her greatest strength is probably putting up with me when I was a complete idiot.

What’s your greatest strength?

The ability to discern that I may not have a greatest strength. Thanks. *sighs and tries to re-answer without being an asshole* Lily would say that I haven’t tapped into my superpowers yet, or that maybe my greatest strength  is right in front of me, and I just can’t see it.

I think she might be right. As an addictions counselor, I know how tough (but rewarding) it can be to stay sober, especially when you get swept up in negative self-talk. How do you talk yourself away from the bar in those moments?

I think about what I’ll lose if I go in there. *nods to himself as he stares faraway at the ground* I know there may be a day when that doesn’t stop me.

What’s the best part of being sober?

Being able to be the kinda guy that Lily deserves, being there for her before anything else.

You have one day left to live. How do you spend it?

With Lily. I just would want to be with her.

And now, on to my traditional questions, stolen from James Lipton. There’s only one rule—no Phone-a-Friend-ing in Connor. Ryke already used that trick on me last time.

Damn.

What is your favorite word?

Iconoclast

What is your least favorite word?

Relapse

What turns you on?

Geekiness

What turns you off?

Betrayal

What sound or noise do you love?

Lily’s voice.

What sound or noise do you hate?

My voice.

What profession would you most like to attempt?

None. I’d probably fuck it up.

*Sigh* *Resists urge to hug Lo.* What profession would you least like to attempt?

Working for Rose Calloway. That would be my hell.

If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear G-d say when you arrive at the pearly gates?

He’d most likely tell me: “Turn back around, there’s been a mix up.”

I don't believe that for even one second. Thanks so much for letting me pick your brain today, Lo. It's an honor and I wish you all the best with your sobriety, the comic business, and the reality show! 

About the Authors

Krista and Becca Ritchie are identical twins. They write New Adult books that make you cringe, gasp, and go ooh-la-la. (If you do that sort of thing.) They are currently working on the spin-offs and final books in the Addicted series. Connect with them on twitter and their website: kbritchie.com 

I can't say enough how excited I am to get my grabby hands on this title. You can check out more of the THRIVE tour here and don't forget to add it to your Goodreads! I'll edit this post with buy links on the 18th! Thanks for including me in the tour, Krista and Becca! Wishing you all the book sales!! Don't forget to check out the giveaway below!

GIVEAWAY

*Kindle Paperwhite

*3 Signed Paperbacks of THRIVE

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And don't forget to vote for Lo in the #NACrushTourney14! Click the banner below for more info!