Blog Tour: The Way It Hurts

The Way It Hurts by Patty Blount

From the award-winning author of Some Boys comes a new ripped-from-the-headlines story about the unthinking backlash of Twitter culture

There may be two sides to every story, but sometimes there’s only one way to set things right…

Music is Elijah’s life. His band plays loud and hard, and he’ll do anything to get them a big break. He needs that success to help take care of his sister, who has special needs. So he’d rather be practicing when his friends drag him to a musical in the next town…until the lead starts to sing.

Kristen dreams of a career on stage like her grandmother’s. She knows she needs an edge to get into a competitive theater program—and being the star in her high school musical isn’t going to cut it. The applause and the attention only encourage her to work harder.

Elijah can't take his eyes off of Kristen's performance, and he snaps a photo of her in costume that he posts online with a comment that everybody misunderstands. It goes viral. Suddenly, Elijah and Kristen are in a new spotlight as the online backlash spins out of control. And the consequences are bigger than they both could have ever imagined because these threats don’t stay online…they follow them into real life.

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PATTY BLOUNT grew up quiet and invisible in Queens, NY, but found her voice writing smart and strong characters willing to fight for what’s right. Today, she’s the award-winning author of edgy, emotional contemporary romance. Powered by way too much chocolate, Patty supports women’s rights by giving a voice to characters facing realistic situations like rape (SOME BOYS, 2014), bullying (SEND, 2012), and grief (NOTHING LEFT TO BURN, 2015). She enjoys hearing from her readers so visit her website or follow her on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. 

Find Patty Online

Website: http://www.pattyblount.com/

Twitter: @PattyBlount

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PattyBlountNovels/

Instagram: @Pattyblount3

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5344531.Patty_Blount

What's your favorite scene?

I have so many favorite scenes in this book, but I think my absolute favorite scene is when Elijah and Kristen share their first kiss. I began my writing career writing contemporary romance so I'm just a sucker for love scenes. 

Elijah's got swagger and attitude in truckloads but the truth is, he's kind of a jerk. Except around Kristen. Well, not always. Okay, sometimes, he's a jerk around her, too, but it's not on purpose.  

For her, he's willing to change, willing to let her see beneath the act and the pretense, even willing to let her hang out with his sister, who has special needs. But the one thing he's NOT willing to do is risk the friendship he and Kristen have developed by indulging in the wild attraction he has for her. And that's pretty much because he knows he's a jerk and just doesn't want her to think it, too. 

Elijah's true self emerges over the course of the story. Kristen sees how he is with his sister and when Etta, her grandmother, suffers a health crisis, Elijah is there for her every step of the way. There are a number of near-misses but the big kiss finally comes when Kristen stops waiting for Elijah to make a move and takes matters into her own hands.

Here it is:

Elijah took my hands. “Okay, look. Maybe you’re right. Maybe these people are taking this whole battle thing way too seriously. If you’re scared, then we’ll stop. No more posts except for appearance information.” 

“So no more battle of the sexes, no more make Kris scream?” 

He held up his hand. “Swear to God.” 

“Okay.” I sighed in relief. “You’d really do that?”

He leaned closer and repeated the vow. “I promise, Kris.” 

And just like that, I forgot why I was mad at him. I couldn’t talk, couldn’t breathe, couldn’t even blink because I was afraid he’d let go. This was the part of him I adored. I clung to him for a long moment, and when his gaze drifted to my mouth, I wondered if—hoped— prayed—he’d finally kiss me. 

And then, Etta’s voice suddenly spoke inside my head. “Well, my God, darling, it’s the twenty-first century. What on earth are you waiting for? You can kiss him.” 

I could. Yes. Yes, I could just lift my head and lean in and kiss Elijah Hamilton like it was a normal, ordinary occurrence. 

Right. Like kissing Elijah Hamilton would ever be ordinary? 

I’d watched him kiss that girl at the mall and was sure I’d memorized all the steps in his routine. He’d move in, grip my face between his hands, run his thumb along my jaw, and finally, glide his arm down around my body, pulling me against his own, all the while, peeking through his lashes to see if I enjoyed it. 

I wasn’t sure when I decided—or even what made me decide. I just touched my lips to his and waited. 

It took a second or two. But then there was a sudden, tiny squeak from him, and I felt the pulse in his wrist leap under my fingertips. And then, his hands were in my hair, angling my head just the way he liked it, his tongue brushing against mine, so soft it might have been my imagination... except imaginary kisses were never so intense. He kissed me like I was a song he wrote, lips wrapped around every word until it hummed with hidden meaning and promise, and his hands held me the way they held his guitar—like the music would stop if he let me go. 

To me, this is like a perfect kiss. I love how it’s everything she imagined it would be.

 That's a pretty good kiss! 

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