Sophomore Spotlight: Katie McGarry

I'm excited to introduce a brand new feature here on Read My Breath Away called "Sophomore Spotlight" where I plan on sharing info about exciting sophomore releases from authors you may already know and love.

I have a wonderful guest today to help me kick off this feature: Katie McGarry!

I'm sure many of you know Katie McGarry for her incredible debut novel, Pushing the Limits (for which I wrote a 5 star review here), but today we're talking about her follow-up companion novel, Dare You To.

To be published May 28, 2013
by Harlequin Teen

Goodreads Blurb:
Ryan lowers his lips to my ear. "Dance with me, Beth."

"No." I whisper the reply. I hate him and I hate myself for wanting him to touch me again....

"I dare you..."

If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom's freedom and her own happiness. That's how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn't want her and going to a school that doesn't understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does....

Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can't tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn't be less interested in him.

But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all....

I can't wait to read this one! Katie was kind enough to answer a few questions for me about Dare You To to help everyone get even more excited.

Welcome, Katie! Thank you so much for taking the time to answer some questions. To start off, describe your sophomore novel, DARE YOU TO, in 5 words or less.
K: Intense, romantic, gritty, hot, swoon-worthy!

I like the sound of that!
What made you want to share Beth's story with readers?
K: There’s a scene in PUSHING THE LIMITS where Noah walks into his foster parents’ house and finds Beth bleeding. Her mother’s boyfriend abused Beth when she tried to spend time with her Mom on her Mom’s birthday.
Beth was such a broken character in that scene, yet she was trying to be brave. It’s then that I knew there was so much more to her than the front she puts on for the world.
I knew then that Beth would be my next story.

Beth definitely interested me in PTL so I'm really looking forward to getting to know her better.
How did the journey for DARE YOU TO differ from that for your debut, PUSHING THE LIMITS?
K: The biggest difference in writing DARE YOU TO is that I had an editor to bounce ideas around with while I was writing the story. She was always there to help me if I found myself having a plot problem!

What is the best part of already having a book out in the world?
K: It’s cool to walk into a store and see PUSHING THE LIMITS on the shelf. I still have to pinch myself because I have a hard time believing it.

Can you share a favourite quote from DARE YOU TO?
K: “It’s our rain, Beth.” ~ Ryan

Aww! I can already tell that I'm going to love Ryan.
I am going to be mean and make you pick: Noah, Ryan, or Isaiah?
K: That’s like asking which of my children I love more. :)
I loved writing Noah’s intense love for his brothers and Echo.
I loved writing the poet that is Ryan.
I loved writing Isaiah’s loyalty and his need to protect the people he loves.
Sorry, can’t pick!

Okay, I guess that's fair :) It wasn't very nice of me to ask in the first place, was it?
What is the last book you read?
K: Just reread Trish Doller’s SOMETHING LIKE NORMAL. I just love that book!

Can you share anything about your next project, CRASH INTO YOU?
K: Expect some fast drag racing and hot kissing scenes!

Ooh, you have me excited for it already! Thanks again, Katie!

You should all be excited about Dare You To, especially if you loved Pushing the Limits! You can also find all things Katie McGarry, including info about a companion e-novella to PTL, Crossing the Line, on her website!

Thanks to Katie's generosity, I have one signed copy of Dare You To (with an awesome Pushing the Limits bookmark included) to give away to one US/Can follower!

Some Rules (aka the not so fun but important part):
~ This giveaway is open to residents of the US and Canada only.
~ No P.O. boxes.
~ Must be 13 or older to enter.
~ Winner will be chosen randomly and contacted via email. The winner has 48 hours to respond to my email, otherwise they forfeit their prize and I will choose another winner, who must abide by the same rules.
~ Neither Katie nor I are not responsible for lost or damaged packages.
~ No cheating! In this case, I have the right to disqualify entries as I see fit.
~ By entering the giveaway, you are agreeing to these rules.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway