Thursday, October 24, 2019

Autumn Countdown Blitz Day 4: The Hashtag Hunt by Kristina Seek



Kristina Seek's debut novel, The Hashtag Hunt, was published in 2018. She is a graduate of Queens College in Charlotte and a member of Romance Writers of America. In March of 2019, she quit her day job to focus on a career in writing.

Kristina lives in North Carolina with her husband and son. She cherishes time with her friends and family, loves traveling to new destinations, and plans to cross many other items off her bucket list. 

Visit www.KristinaSeek.com and sign up for her mailing list to receive updates and exclusive offers!



The only reason Lauren entered the Hashtag Hunt was for the $10,000 grand prize. She needed seed money for her startup, and it sounded easy enough: twelve hours to text twelve photos to someone called the Wizard. 

For hashtag number five, Lauren needs a #HottieInTheWild, and with the help of her best friend, Ivy, she finds the perfect subject. 

The only reason Brenner entered Barkley’s Pub was to have beers with Scott, an Army brother back in town. The reunion is interrupted when a woman is caught crouched in a dark corner, taking pictures of Brenner. 

Lauren explains, and though embarrassed, she accepts Scott and Brenner’s offer to help with hashtag number six.While hunting for hashtags, Lauren finds adventure and romance with her #Hottie, but she must stay focused to beat the clock and win the cash.




Snippet:

Scott opened Ivy’s door and leaned into the backseat of the cab. “Lauren, I know it’s not a shortcut if it takes twice as long to get there, but I’m going to need one more minute.”
“Take your time.” In the rearview mirror, Brenner saw Lauren smile as she turned her head to look out her window. “Make it count.”
Brenner and Lauren pretended they didn’t hear their friends’ first kiss or Scott’s words after it was over. “I don’t know where you came from, but now you’re here… God, Ivy. It’s like when stars are born after gravity and pressure squeeze atoms until they break apart, and suddenly there’s enough light and heat to sustain life.”
“I don’t follow, but you had me after ‘when stars are born.’”
“Look up at the stars for a second.”
Brenner knew Scott was talking to Ivy, but it didn’t stop him from looking at the night sky. He didn’t check to see, but he imagined Lauren was also gazing up out her window.
“Fast Astronomy 101 lesson: darkness can get so dense and deep it changes everything. Atoms. People. Families. Countries. With enough pressure, the only place energy can go is outward and upward.”
The truck was quiet for a moment before Ivy spoke. “I understand darkness and pressure changing things. But then where does the light come from?”
“Interstellar clouds. Watch this, guys.”
Brenner turned to watch Scott through Ivy’s door. A quick peek in his rearview mirror revealed Lauren had also turned to look. Scott pointed with his index finger and moved it in a full oval shape. “Let’s say the cloud starts off this big. It swirls around because of gravity.” Scott moved his finger, and the oval got smaller with each trip toward his shirt. “Gravity makes the cloud close in on itself as it turns.” The oval he was making became so small, only the tip of his finger twirled in a tight circle. “When it’s compact and dense enough, a nuclear reaction occurs.” Scott curled his finger into his palm and made a fist. “The reaction produces heat and light, and a star is born.” He popped his fist open and spread his fingers wide. “Basically like a furnace.”
Scott opened his door and sat in the passenger seat. When he fastened his seat belt, he looked at Brenner. “Wyatt said to follow this road until we reach the pond. There’ll be a fork in the road, and we go left.”
Brenner gave Scott the side-eye as he started the engine and put the truck in gear.
“What?” Scott shifted in his seat to face Brenner. “I am wooing my special lady friend. And it’s a solid metaphor if I do say so myself.” Scott twisted further to look at Ivy. “You liked it, right, Sweets?”
“Loved it. Nobody’s ever compared me to a nuclear reaction before.”
“Shameful.” Scott winked at Ivy. “And there’s more where that came from.”






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