The news article that inspired the series (and blog tour dates)

May 2, 2013  | Writing Stuff  | (1)

Yesterday I kicked off a blog tour.  I love blogs because they are constantly feeding our obsession with books. Without bloggers, I’m not sure I would know what book to read next. I really rely on these folks to give me the scoop on the best new releases and the best books I’ve been missing. It’s truly an honor to be hosted.  On the tour, I’ll be giving away ebooks, print books, swag AND a grand prize of an iPad Mini!

This is the entire tour schedule:

Wednesday May 1, 2013

Sugar and Spice –  http://sugarandspiceandeverythingnaughty.blogspot.com

Deep South Book Reviews –  www.deepsouthbookreviews.com

Swept Away By Romance –   www.sweptawaybyromance.blogspot.com

Swoon Worthy Books –   www.swoonworthybooks.com

Thursday May 2, 2013

Book Reader Chronicles – www.bookreaderchronicles.com

Books Books Books Blog –  www.booksbooksbooksblog.wordpress.com

Kindlehooked –  http://kindlehooked.blogspot.com/

Friday May 3, 2013

Books, Babes and Cheap Cabernet  http://bbcc1113.blogspot.com

Becca the Bibliophile –  http://beccathebibliophile.blogspot.com

Reality Bites! Let’s Get Lost –  http://realitybites-letsgetlost.blogspot.com

#Book Nerd –   http://booknerdash.blogspot.com

Saturday May 4, 2013

Love N Books –   www.lovenbooks.com

Amber’s Reading Room –  http://ambersreadingroom.com

Bridger Bitches Book Blog –  www.bridgerbitchesbookblog.com

She Book Blogs – http://www.shebookblogs.com/

Sunday May 5, 2013

Romance Addict Book Blog – www.romanceaddictbookblog.com

Devoured Words – http://devouredwordsbookblog.blogspot.ca

Book Nerds Anonymous –   http://avasmith.org

Monday May 6, 2013

The Book Hookers –  www.thebookhookers.com

The Book Whisperer –  www.book-whisperer.blogspot.com

Whoyoucallinabookwhore –  http://whoyoucallinabookwhore.wordpress.com

Tuesday May 7, 2013

Wolfel’s World of Books – www.wolfelsworldofbooks.com

Book Crush – http://bookcrushbookreviews.com

Anna’s Romantic Reads –  http://annasromanticreads.com

Wednesday May 8, 2013

Reviews by Tammy and Kim – http://tammyandkimreviews.blogspot.com

Shh Moms Reading –  www.shhmomsreading.com

Into the Night Book Reviews – http://intothenightbookreviews.blogspot.com

So a few years ago, during the economic down turn, there was an article in the New York Times about how these luxurious houses were being rented for pittances by college students.

Here in Merced, a city in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley and one of the country’s hardest hit by home foreclosures, the downturn in the real estate market has presented an unusual housing opportunity for thousands of college students. Facing a shortage of dorm space, they are moving into hundreds of luxurious homes in overbuilt planned communities.

Forget the off-to-college checklist of yesteryear (bedside lamp, laundry bag, under-the-bed storage trays). This is “Animal House” 2011.

Double-height Great Room? Check.

Five bedrooms? Check.

Chandeliers? Check.

Then there are the three-car garages, wall-to-wall carpeting, whirlpool baths, granite kitchen countertops, walk-in closets and inviting gas fireplaces.

Is this not a fantastic basis for a story? When I was inspired to write this series, I knew I had to use this. Bo and Noah come to live with Finn, Adam, and Mal in a house in a made up exclusive neighborhood called “The Woodlands”. (I had originally named it “Canyon Hills” but someone said it sounded to close to the show “The Hills”)

Is there a newspaper article or television news story that you thought “hey, that would make a great story”? Tomorrow, I’ll post a few pictures of what I think the house in The Woodlands looks like.