I’m sure you’ve all heard of Under Pressure from Lauren Ashley by now, right? Her debut is a sports romance featuring a fake-relationship with the MC’s secret teenage crush!

Scroll down for an exclusive excerpt, a mini-interview as well as a giveaway for an amazon gift card and one of three ecopies of Under Pressure!

Rookie quarterback, Drew Carmichael, is under pressure like never before.

When Drew abruptly and unexpectedly comes out of the closet, his life is upended. The media is hounding him. Fans and haters are scrutinizing him nonstop. Worst of all, team management is wary of him, unsure if he’s worth all the hassle.

He’ll do anything to stay on his homestate’s NFL team, including pretending to be in a serious and committed relationship. The only problem is his fake boyfriend is Scott Hunter-the irresistible pop-country music star and his secret teenage crush.

Scott Hunter is used to being under pressure. He’s dealt with it his whole life, handling it all with grace and an unwavering smile on his face.

When his manager presents him with the long-awaited opportunity to come out of the closet, he jumps on it, no questions asked. Pretending to be Drew Carmichael’s boyfriend should be easy. Simple. Fun.

He never expected or wanted to start caring about the golden boy of football. That’s definitely not part of the plan. Neither is fooling around with him on a football field…

Touchdown. 

Goodreads | Amazon US | Universal Link
Release Date: October 8th

Content Warnings: Brief mentions of religious upbringing/unsupportive parents, past sibling death from car accident

Drew’s P.O.V.

“Hey. Long time no see,” Scott jokes as I step into the kitchen, flashing me a half-grin.

He’s leaning against the kitchen counter, wearing yesterday’s jeans, completely bare-chested.

Damn, what a sight.

“Hey. Good morning,” I greet, walking over and taking a seat on one of the bar stools across from him.

“Sorry if I woke you up. I made a quick run to pick up some breakfast essentials.”

“You definitely didn’t wake me up,” I assure him. “I’m a notoriously deep sleeper. I could probably sleep through a thunderstorm.”

“I’m the exact opposite, but it doesn’t really matter since I don’t sleep much. I basically run on naps and endless cups of coffee,” he tells me.

That definitely explains why I woke up on the living room floor by myself. I wasn’t planning on bringing it up or asking him about it, but I did wonder. I honestly assumed he had just up and left me. Finding him in my kitchen was a pretty big surprise. A good one, no doubt, but a surprise nonetheless.

“I can’t decide if that’s crazy or impressive. I’ve seen your tour schedules. They’re way longer than my football seasons. All that traveling must get exhausting after a while.”

“You’ve seen my tour schedules?” he asks, eyebrows arched in amusement, and I belatedly realize that I just not-so-subtly admitted to being a fan of his.

Fuck.

“My sister is a big fan of yours.” It’s a little white lie, but I regret the words as soon as they’re out of my mouth. “And so am I,” I add, fessing up.

Don’t fucking blush, I order myself, he’s a talented musician. He has millions of fans. It isn’t that big of a deal.

“Well, I did always say that I was open to dating a fan.”

How long have you been writing?
LA: I’ve been writing and brainstorming story ideas since elementary school!

How do you handle writer’s block?
LA: Writer’s block is something that I still struggle with. I try not to let it discourage me and remind myself that even the best, most successful authors get writer’s block.

What are the tools of the trade?
LA: WiFi/Internet, Vellum (lifesaver!), pen and paper, iPhone notes section

What is the future for the characters? Will there be a sequel?
LA: Under Pressure is the first book in a trilogy. While the second book will feature a different couple, Drew and Scott will definitely make appearances!

If your book was to be made into a movie, who are the celebrities that would star in it?
LA: Drew – Tyler Hoechlin, Scott – Garrett Hedlund

How many plot ideas are just waiting to be written? Can you tell us about one?
LA: Way too many to count! I don’t have much of a plot worked out yet, but it involves bodyguards and politicians

What is your favorite book when you were a kid?
LA: Harry Potter! It’s still my favorite book now as an adult.

Five fun facts about you.
LA:

1. I still have two baby teeth
2. I used to be trilingual when I was a kid,
3. I collect Harry Potter books (I have 9 different copies of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone),
4. I went abroad for the first time when I was 26 years old,
5. When I was a kid I collected all six of the Gold-Plated Cards from Burger King (I still have them!)

What is your social media poison of choice?
LA: Without a doubt Instagram! Such a great source of inspiration for pretty much all things (writing, photography, fashion, travel, etc.)

 

You can win:
1x $25 Amazon Gift Card
1 of 3 e-copies of Under Pressure!
(click the graphic to get to the rafflecopter!)

Lauren Ashley discovered her love for books at an early age. She is a hopeless romantic at heart and believes that everyone deserves their happily ever after. An East Coast native hailing from the Tri-State area, Lauren hates the cold weather, but loves her chunky sweaters and cups of coffee. When she’s not writing, she can be found traveling, binge-watching TV, spending time with loved ones, and obsessing over all things Harry Potter.

Instagram | Twitter | Goodreads

Genre: Contemporary Orientation: Gay Pairing: M/M Self Published Tag: Celebrity / Famous Person Tag: Guest Post Tag: Part of a series Tag: Pretend Relationship Tag: Rockstar/Musician Tag: Sports Lauren Ashley Love and Football series Under Pressure