Author Spotlight: Melissa Rolka

We're so excited to spotlight author Melissa Rolka this week.  Her first book, The Perfect Distraction, released in October of last year and we loved it so much we put it on our Top 20 books of 2013 list.

For me, I really felt like coming across Melissa and her first book was like finding a diamond in the rough.  I had been in a book slump for what felt like forever.  Keeping up a blog requires you to do a good bit of reading, which both of us love, but it also means you read lots and lots of books.  Some of them are great, some of them are good and some are just okay.  When I picked up The Perfect Distraction I was in a slump of having read book after book whose stories I felt were in the pretty good to okay range, but in the end didn't really "stick with me."  However, when you come across one you cannot get off your mind, even months after you've read it, then I have to say it's a pretty awesome story written by a pretty talented author!  

When I started The Perfect Distraction I had no idea it was actually going to completely distract me from everything else!  This book and author totally sucked me in and once I started I didn't put it down until the end.  I don't know if it was one thing alone or a combination of great writing, awesome characters, good plot and a heartwarming and very sweet love story. - To see the rest of our 4.5 star review click here.

Melissa Rolka grew up in the Chicagoland area all of her childhood and has always had a love of writing. She started by keeping a journal at a young age and then in high school she started writing poetry. A couple poems were published anonymously. Then in college she majored in Philosophy, which required lots and lots of writing. After graduating from Marquette University she traveled west to Los Angeles. There she worked for the Writers Guild of America and found herself submerged in the writers world. She worked on small writings, but never pursued them. On the side she became involved with a small theater group. Eventually she made her way back to the Midwest, where her heart belongs, and worked in business for several years. She found love, got married and has two beautiful children. Being at home has allowed her to keep following her love of reading and writing.The Perfect Distraction is her first full length novel. A second continuation of this story is in the works with hopes for a third. When Melissa is not writing she is caring for, playing with and loving her two kids. In between taking care of her family and writing she almost always has her nose buried in her Kindle.   

Connect with Melissa - Facebook, Goodreads, The Perfect Distraction Group

The Perfect Distraction

Amazon
B&N

When Katherine “Kate” leaves for her freshmen year at college, a grounded and stable piece of her is missing.  She pushes away the ghosts of her past, determined to start her college life single, carefree and distracted. 

Throughout high school Kate was reserved and shy, with little experience.  Now, on her own, with little holding her back, Kate is ready to branch out.  She bonds with a tight knit group of friends and even starts casually dating.  What starts out as innocent flirting on the tennis courts slowly turns into a friendship and eventually something more complex.  Reed comes into her life giving her the distraction she craves more than anything; but is she ready to give her heart away so easily?

Things get complicated when Kate’s ex-boyfriend and first love continues to pursue her.  Kyle deeply regrets breaking her heart when he left for college the year before and is now on a mission to reclaim her.  Kyle’s persistence and relentlessness is nothing short of obsessive.  He will stop at nothing to win her back and prove his love.

Kate finds herself torn between her past and the unknown of the future.  Her determination to stay distracted may just be her downfall or the beginning of something new and wonderful.  

The Perfect Distraction is a bargain at only $2.99, take it from us...one-click this book now and get it read before the sequel, The Perfect Emotion, releases at the end of the month!!! 

The Perfect Emotion

Goodreads

The story of Kate, Kyle and Reed continues in this second novel of The Perfect Series.

Kate (Katherine) Monroe is finally coming to heads with the decisions she’s made in the past to keep herself distracted at any cost. Learning to move on and forward with the conflicts in her life is harder than she expects though. With Kyle continuing to attempt reconciliation and Kate’s mom back at home, avoiding and running are no longer an option.

All along Kate’s mind and heart are consumed with Reed, but she fights to push her feelings and desires to the side. Despite the obvious pull and connection she has with Reed she finds it difficult to let him in… and trust in herself. However, Reed’s perseverance and patience never wavers and eventually he uses the one thing that had always brought them together… tennis.

As Reed and Kate begin to embark on a new relationship they face the past and the present head on. Along the way, new challenges and emotions arise testing the direction of their future together.

Can Kate forgive herself and trust Reed in order to latch onto the one emotion she needs most… love?