Matchmaker (Empire High #4) - Ivy Smoak Page 0,149
in Book 5, coming May 12, 2022. CLICK HERE to pre-order your copy!
We also need to talk about Tanner and Nigel. They might be two of my favorite characters that I’ve ever written… So I’m giving them an entire book! That’s right - TSSP is all about Tanner! And it’ll be available August 12, 2021. CLICK HERE to pre-order your copy and learn all of Tanner’s secrets!
While you wait, see what Matt was thinking when he first met Brooklyn back in high school. CLICK HERE to get your free copy of Matt’s point-of-view in Matthew Caldwell - The Untouchable.
The Untouchables. That’s what everyone called us. The nickname had followed us around since we were kids. I wasn’t sure who started it, but the premise behind it was simple. My friends and I could get away with murder. Literally. That’s what happens when your parents own the two biggest companies in Manhattan.
We were untouchable. And I was…sick of it. I was sick of the lies and the secrets. I was sick of the pedestal we had to stand on. And I was sick of the girls throwing themselves at my feet like I was some sort of god. I was tired of being untouchable. Especially when all I wanted was someone who would never belong in my world…
CLICK HERE to get your free copy!
Temptation
Matt was a naughty boy and had a crush on Penny. But let’s be honest…Penny was never going to turn her back on James. Not after everything Penny and James have had to go through to get their happily ever after.
CLICK HERE to start Penny and James’ love story. And unlike Empire High…that series is actually complete. So you can read straight through!
Shy student Penny Taylor always follows the rules. At least, that’s how it appears to her classmates. But she has one illicit secret – she’s fallen hard for her professor. And she’s pretty sure he’s fallen for her too.
Everyone loves Professor Hunter. He’s tall, dark, and handsome. And completely unobtainable. But it’s the secrets hiding behind his deep brown eyes that allures Penny. Secrets darker than she could ever imagine.
James Hunter gave up his billionaire lifestyle in NYC last year to become a professor. The easiest new rule to follow: don’t fraternize with the students. It’s easy to follow because he’s become quite the recluse in his new town – the only way he knows how to keep his secrets buried.
But he never expected to be teaching such a beautiful student. He has to resist her. He needs to walk away. Penny deserves better than a man with his demons. But she’s daring him to cross the line. And he’s never been one to resist temptation.
CLICK HERE to start reading in Kindle Unlimited!
A Note From Ivy
She’s alive, she’s alive!!!! But things are a little messy now, huh?
I always knew Brooklyn was alive. But I feel my characters’ emotions so intensely. So in my head, Brooklyn was dead the whole time until she reappeared. I cried during Kennedy’s last scene with Brooklyn in Book 3, because I knew what was coming. I cried in Matt’s last scene with her and throughout all of Matt’s perspective in Book 3. I was as devastated as you, I promise you that. I made myself believe she was dead in order to write the emotions as purely as I could. I felt that death. It was like losing my best friend. I was devastated and emotional and honestly, a little depressed after going through those emotions while writing book 3 and 4.
And then while I was feeling down…the hate mail started coming in. Hate mail for the ending of Book 3 came in droves via email, private messages, and social media posts. I’ve seen it in every way. So much hate. About how I’m a terrible person for that ending. How could I be so cruel? How could I think as a romance author I had the right to write such an ending? I was told to stay in my lane. I was told I was a monster. I was told I didn’t care about my fans. I was told no one would ever read a thing I wrote ever again. I was cursed at. Called names. Told that I was worse than Isabella – and no wonder I could write an evil character like that so easily. And I was told that I should be the one that was dead, not Brooklyn. I was told so many hateful, untrue things. I’m not going to lie, it’s hurt me.
And I had to bite my tongue. Because I knew Brooklyn was alive. But there was no way in hell I was going to ruin the surprise by telling the haters that.
And the hardest part of the last few months? I wrote about bullying in my dedication and author note in Book 2 of this series. About how destructive it is. At the essence of this whole series is the effects of bullying. Words hurt. People telling me I’m an awful human every day for the past 6 months has hurt me. I’m actually crying writing this because I’m so tired of the hate. I’m not naïve. I know the hate won’t stop now because a lot of readers will still stop after book 3 and never know the truth. But I’m hoping that sharing this story reminds us all that being cruel is never the answer. This whole series is a warning to not behave this way. And I’m horrified that so many people missed that pretty important message. But I’m also grateful that this happened. Because I don’t want anyone reading my books who thinks it’s okay to talk to another person that way.
*Takes a deep breath.* I no longer read hate mail. I delete it as soon as a message starts out negatively. Because as I said in my previous dedication, I won’t let anyone silence me. I will never stop writing. And for all those “fans” I lost over the “death” of Brooklyn….your loss. You’ll never get to see how amazing Brooklyn is as an adult. You’re the one missing out. Because Book 5 is going to be epic, I promise you that. And my true readers are reading this and hopefully knowing how much I love them. Because I do. I love you all so much!
And for all you wonderful readers, get ready for a bumpy ride. Because you know Book 5 is going to be a rollercoaster. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Join over 18,000 other readers in the Ivy Smoaksters facebook group for dream casting, fan theories, and live Q&As! It’s like one giant book club. But if you want to have your own book club…I have questions you can use!
Did you know that all of Ivy’s books are connected?