Dark Obsession: It's Time to Get in Trouble! Silas Is Here, Ladies!

Jiminy Fucking Cricket!

We are extremely excited to bring you the Release Day Launch for Cora Carmack's ALL BROKE DOWN!! ALL BROKE DOWN is a New Adult Contemporary Romance novel being published by HarperCollins, and it is the 2^ndbook in The Rusk University Series.
*Alana does the hula dance*

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About ALL BROKE DOWN: In this second book in New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Cora Carmack’s New Adult, Texas-set Rusk University series, which began with All Lined Up, a young woman discovers that you can’t only fight for what you believe in . . . sometimes you have to fight for what you love.

Dylan fights for lost causes. Probably because she used to be one.

Environmental issues, civil rights, corrupt corporations, and politicians—you name it, she’s probably been involved in a protest. When her latest cause lands her in jail overnight, she meets Silas Moore. He’s in for a different kind of fighting. And though he’s arrogant and infuriating, she can’t help being fascinated with him. Yet another lost cause.

Football and trouble are the only things that have ever come naturally to Silas. And it’s trouble that lands him in a cell next to do-gooder Dylan. He’s met girls like her before—fixers, he calls them, desperate to heal the damage and make him into their ideal boyfriend. But he doesn’t think he’s broken, and he definitely doesn’t need a girlfriend trying to change him. Until, that is, his anger issues and rash decisions threaten the only thing he really cares about, his spot on the Rusk University football team. Dylan might just be the perfect girl to help.

Because Silas Moore needs some fixing after all.

Excerpt:
I think I get it then. That decision I saw in her eyes back in the kitchen. That’s what this, what I’m about for her, too. I’m just another part of whatever rebellion she started earlier today. About doing what she wants, not what’s expected of her.
“We’re not talking about me, though,” she says. “So you went to meet your friend, and then what happened?”
     She keeps her eyes down as she picks up the gauze and begins winding it snugly around the knuckles of one hand, and then the other.
     “He said the wrong thing.”
     “Which was?”
“Dylan.” Now it’s her that’s pushing too hard. I didn’t want to talk about things with my friends, and I won’t talk about them with her, either, no matter how gorgeous she is.
“I’ll guess. You were mad about what he did, and he wasn’t sorry.”
“This isn’t middle school, Pickle. He didn’t hurt my feelings. He said some shit he had no business saying, and it pissed me off. The end.”
     “But you don’t think some of that anger stems from what you feel is a betrayal of your friendship?”
     She finishes taping down the last of the gauze, but doesn’t let go of my hand.
“I think you’re analyzing me again. Making things more complicated than they are.”
“And I think you’re just a guy who doesn’t like to admit he has feelings.” She drags out the word, teasing me with some goofy smile on her face. I turn my hand over so I can clutch her wrist. I curlmy other bandaged hand around her waist and pull her closer.
“I feel plenty of things.”
   The teasing stops. She swallows.
“I wasn’t talking about that kind of feeling.”
     With her standing and me sitting, I’m eye level with her chest. I see the sharp rise and fall as she sucks in a breath. I want her in my lap again, straddling me this time.
     “Doesn’t mean we can’t talk about that kind of feeling. Or experiment with it.”
“Is that Stella girl an ex?”
   I cough, surprised. My throat twists uncomfortably, and it takes me a couple of solid breaths to get a hold on myself.
       “Ah, no. Stella and I have never dated.”
       “Have you—”
       “Do you ever run out of questions?”
   “Not ever.” She turns playful again, and I’m done doing this the careful way. If she wants a rebellion, I’ll be the one to give it to her. I want her against me, and I’m tired of waiting.
        I pull her forward, insinuating my knees between hers, and her body naturally follows, settling across my thighs. Her lips part, but she catches herself before she gasps this time. I keep her steady with my hands at her waist and say, “I’ll make you a deal. A question for a kiss.”
       Tentatively, she lays her palms against my shoulders. They rest there, her grip light and casual. She ponders my offer for a moment, and it drives me mad that she can do that while our hips are inches away from alignment.
       “Okay then. Are you—”
   I cut her off. “Not so fast, Dylan Brenner. I’ve already answered one question. We’ve got to settle up first.”
       I wrap her braid around my hand like I’ve been waiting to do all night, and I use it to pull her head back just enough that I can crush my mouth against hers.

"He ruined me."

Ladies and gents, this sums up my review in a nice little nutshell quote. What didn't I love about this book? *crickets chirping in the background* I adored this installment of the Rusk University series. I sucked it down like a tall glass of sweet iced tea on a hot day.

Silas, Silas, Silas. What are we going to do with you, Silas? You've dethroned all book boyfriends that came before you. Now, if you've read book one, All Lined Up, you may be thinking, "But wait, Silas is a douchecanoe." He hasn't made the best life choices; he doesn't have much in monetary goods, one second panties are being thrown across the room at him (pretty close at least) and the next moment Silas is nearing a new low of getting arrested. Oh, yeah, and did I mention mommy issues? I know, you're thinking, "Alana, you're not really making the best case here for Silas. I thought there was swoon, not ass." I was there with you at the beginning. Hot and swagger can only take you so far... but there is more to this amazing, steamy bad boy with a heart of gold that wants to please that just melts my heart. How can you not fall for Silas? I'm telling you now, resistance is futile. Just stop looking for a cure, and accept that you will be overcome by the Silas Virus. Not to mention the things he did to my lady-bits. And his mouth *swoon* the things that it says, and does. If I was a more innocent reader, I'd be blushing something fierce. He is a silver-tongued devil that can corrupt me any day.

Dylan, she was just this subtle awkward mess - just enough to be genuinely that quirky but not stretching into absurdity; she and I would SO be friends. She's totally my kind of people, except for that whole fighting over Silas thing. Hmmm... Well, that aside, I just liked plain liked her. You know how there are some books where the female protagonist makes you just want to roll your eyes... none of that here. Instead, it's more of a cheerleader chant *Get in trouble, Pickle* - I've never wanted to see a good girl go bad more than I did in this book. And can I get some applause that Dylan has the balls to hold her own again Silas. She doesn't roll over and play dead and let life just go by, and I totally love Dylan for that.

Cora Carmack nails those angsty facets of life that face college students. There is very little sugar coating; well, maybe an extra helping of Silas coating but we are not going to complain about that. It's not as light and bubbly a title compared to the first book; there is some stark, ugly realities and they deserve to be brought into the light. What else can you expect from college? I know I had many a fun college adventure back in the day, but that's a whole other story.

It's probably Cora's raciest title yet, and also my new favorite. I think the steam and the comedic moments really provide an excellent foil for those dark themes and events. It's not for the faint of heart, but more than worth the effort. That banter and those sparks that fly between Dylan and Silas just light up the pages and give me a warm glow. I've highlighted like pages and pages and pages of quotes, and I am so keen on sinking my teeth into the audio book when it comes out!

Now is the part where I must disclose that I did receive an ARC from William Morrow via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

(Special secret: you might just recognize a passing name in the book. *shhhh*)

And don’t forget to grab your copy of ALL LINED UP Today!

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About Cora Carmack: Cora Carmack is a twenty-something writer who likes to write about twenty-something characters. She's done a multitude of things in her life-- boring jobs (like working retail), Fun jobs (like working in a theatre), stressful jobs (like teaching), and dream jobs (like writing). She enjoys placing her characters in the most awkward situations possible, and then trying to help them get a boyfriend out of it. Awkward people need love, too. Her first book, LOSING IT, was a New York Times and USA Today bestseller.