Roxanne Rhoads's Blog, page 121
August 3, 2021
A Bewitching Tuesday
Playlist- Baited by Jennifer Dean #YAParanormalRomance #YAPNR #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/SyeZ50FJiZr
In the Garden with Lisa Beth Darling #InTheGarden #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/n7ex50FJiYt
Spotlight & Excerpt: Wicked Darkness + Giveaway #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/wHMa50FJjsn
The Light Through the Pouring Rain by James Ruvalcaba #LoveAndLoss #RealLifeRomance #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/k2IX50FJjpu
Tour Stop: Cold Queen by K Webster - Excerpt - Review - Giveaway! #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/DCJB50FJj4B
The First Sin (South of Eden) by Lisa Beth Darling - Contemporary Fiction - Lucifer Returns to Eden #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/KWpX50FJjei
Spotlight & Excerpt: Baited, by Jennifer Dean #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/6Enu50FJj0Q
There's Only A Few Spots Left- Sign Up Now for the 2021 Bewitching Book Tours Haunted Halloween Spooktacular
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#BookPromo #AuthorPromo #SignUpsOpen
INTERVIEW - FANTASY - WICKED DARKNESS (The Goddess Incarnate, #2) by B.L. Callaghan #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/7B0m50FIr2D
INTERVIEW WITH LISA BETH DARLING (The First Sin) #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/I7ng50FIr02
INTERVIEW - THRILLER SUSPENSE - SAVE MY HEART by Kristi Jun #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/gjSr50FIqXS
Blog Tour: Review – Save My Heart by Kristi Jun #bewitchigbooktours http://ow.ly/XXNm50FIqW8
Playlist- Baited by Jennifer Dean #YAParanormalRomance #YAPNR
Baited Playlist
1. Water Rising-Hayden Panettiere2. Happy Birthday-The Beatles3. Losing My Religion-REM4. Maybe-Ingrid Michaelson5. 1,2,3,4 Plain White Ts6. What I’ve Done-Linkin Park7. The Scientist-Coldpay8. Better in Time- Leona Lewis9. Every Breath You Take-The Police10. Thank You-Dido11. Papercut-Linkin Park12. If I Die Young-The Band Perry13. Time is Running Out-Muse14. How to Save a Life-The Fray15. Do You Realize??-The Flaming Lips16. Leave Out the Rest-Linkin Park17. I Will Possess Your Heart-Death Cab Cutie18. Uninvited-Alanis Morsette19. Love is a Stranger-Eurythmics20. Everybody Lost Somebody-Bleachers21. Going Under-Evanescence22. Secrets-One Republic23. In the End-Linkin Park
BaitedBound Series Book ThreeJennifer Dean
Genre: YA Paranormal RomancePublisher: Little Fish PublishingDate of Publication: August 3, 2021ASIN: B093DT23XSNumber of pages: 230Word Count: 52,000
Book Description:
Normal seniors worry about if they will get rejected from their dream school, what they are going to wear to their last prom, or if it’s possible to stay close with the friends they grew up with after high school.
But Emma Morgan has come to learn that normality is a thing of the past.
Especially when her eighteenth birthday is a mere reminder of the newly accepted deal she has made to lure a vengeful immortal named Thomas back into Alexander territory. A plan that will certainly make the humans of her world safer but comes with the risk of not living to see graduation.
Amazon Books2Read
Excerpt:
Despite the coldness of my tone, I heard a few light chuckles around the room. My gaze shifted to the ground before I dared to look back up at the many bright, expectant eyes surrounding me.
“I know I can’t do much, but I can do this.”
“Are you sure?”
I turned back to Liam as I heard the concern in his voice. I imagined that if the roles were reversed, I would carry the same worry for him.
“Yes,” I said, squeezing his hand to convey my assurance.
Once again, I turned my body to face Jane, bouncing my eyes up with a readied stare.
“What do I have to do?”
“I need you to know that what I’m asking comes with risk.”
“I understand.”
“No, you don’t,” Sean said. “By risk, she means you’re willing to accept that this help may come at the cost of losing your life.”
“He’s right,” Jane said. “I’m prepared to risk your life if it ultimately means bringing an end to Thomas.”
“Well…at least you’re honest,” I said with uneasiness.
“I may be a bitch but at least I’m an honest one,” Jane said.
It was hard to not find humor in her words, as if she were reading the tagline from a movie written about her.
“Look, as much as your presence annoys me, I don’t wish to see your death. But I need you to know that this plan is about commitment. That goes for me as well. I’ll need to play my part just as much as you will yours. At times, you may even question my loyalty. However, we must rely on trust because it’s all we’ll have until we see this through.”
“So, you’re saying it’s going to get worse before it gets better.”
It wasn’t a question but a realization of the danger I was agreeing to dive into.
“Yes. This isn’t going to be easy. He’ll be seeking every opportunity for revenge for Liam’s betrayal. A revenge that will create a blood trail straight to you. One that could lead to your death.”
I caught sight of Mary’s bright stare across the room. Her first words to me echoed in my mind. Being with Liam means you will always be a target.
I bit my lip with squinted eyes of confusion as I looked back at Jane. Before I could speak, my brother’s outburst interrupted me.“You want us to just sit back and leave her for him like some immortal bait?”
Sean’s voice cracked with incredulity.
“He has to believe he has the upper hand. The only way that can happen is if you play your parts in leaving her vulnerable. From the moment I leave this house, you must portray a belief that the threat is gone.”
“By leaving her to be killed!”
Jane closed her eyes in frustration before turning to face Sean. Her neck stiffened with impatience but she paused in speaking, as if waiting to gain the composure that one needed when speaking to a petulant child.
“Thomas is a sadistic prick who likes to play games. His immediate goal won’t be to kill her but to show Liam and you that he can if he chooses to. You have to make it seem as if he’s in control. Being overprotective isn’t an option, Sean.”
“I understand what you’re saying and I even agree with your theory but as her brother, I can’t just…”
Sean shook his head, clearly hoping to distract himself from the images circling his mind before turning a newly placed anger on Liam.
“You’re ok with this?”
“Of course not,” Liam said with an offended grimace. “I hate the idea of her being in any kind of harm’s way. But she’s going to do it whether I’m okay with this or not.”
As Sean rolled his eyes, Liam continued with a small grin, as if the behavior only proved his point.
“You only disrespect her by not allowing her to make this choice. So, regardless of your inability to accept it, I’ll stand by whatever she decides.”
“Thank you,” I said.
It was all I had time to say before a thud caused me to snap my neck back around. Sean stood facing the wall with his palms flat against it. He refused to look at anyone behind him. My eyes traveled up to a spot near his left hand, where I saw a deep hole the size of his fist.
The tension in the room lingered as I met his gaze. I had barely blinked before he moved to a kneeling position in front of me, his hands reaching out to hold mine with comforting warmth.
“Please don’t do this. I know you hate me and that’s fine. Hate me all you want. But please don’t make me have to risk your life this way. You don’t have to do this.”
I looked into his pleading eyes, knowing that even with my anger I could never hate him. I paused, squeezing his fingers without breaking his bright golden gaze. “No, I don’t have to do this but I want to do this.”He lowered his head in defeat before rising back to his feet and turning his attention to Jane. He remained silent, his body tense as he resignedly stood and walked back toward Grace.
“I’m short on time so I must leave you all,” Jane said. Then she looked at me. “I hope you survive this, Emma, I really do. But if fate has other plans, please know your sacrifice will have been an honorable one.”
“Thank you,” I said.
I reached for Liam’s hand as Jane nodded with appreciation before she looked toward the leader of the Alexanders. Patrick gave one subtle nod of approval. It was enough verbal communication for Jane to begin walking backward in farewell.
“Good luck.”
About the Author: Jennifer has studied Creative Writing and Literature and lives in Nashville, Tennessee.
To find out more about her and her novels you can visit:
www.jenniferdean.net
https://twitter.com/msjenniferdean
https://www.instagram.com/msjenniferdean/
https://www.facebook.com/JenniferDeanOfficial/
Afterlife by Jessica Samuels #NewAdult #PNR
AfterlifeVampire Witch Book TwoJessica Samuels
Genre: New Adult Paranormal Romance, NA PNRDate of Publication: June 6th, 2021 ISBN: 979-8516421037ASIN: B096TH65ZFNumber of pages: 116Word Count: 34,057
Cover Artist: Rebecacovers
Tagline: A Witch goes after the person who made her mom sick,
Book Description:
What would you do when the fate of a realm lies on your shoulders?
Lilly finds herself in pure chaos while the realm gets corrupted by evil. Only a few months ago her mother passed away and on top of that Agatha, the new leader of the coven made it her goal to harass her for her ancestry.
Unable to stand up to these challenges, she lets herself get consumed by her grief til the day her father gives her a new purpose - to retrieve the magic stones so she can save the realm of the ever consuming evil. Her vampire soulmate Malachi stands by her side while she learns the shocking truth about her mother’s death.
Excerpt
“Hi, Lilly,” Dad said interrupting me from my thoughts and a tall figured followed close behind him. Oh my God was he cute! His reddish brown hair, hanging loose down his shoulders, made the red in his eyes seem even more intense, I could see it even from this far away.
He was so sexy no one else even compared to him, and the moment he smiled my heart melted.
The tense set of my dad’s wide shoulders told me he was frustrated. He sat down swiped a hand though his slicked back hair and pinned me there with a flash of his blue eyes.
He wore the family uniform we all wear for meetings which is his black shirt and black jeans in combat boots. He sat down across from me and the sexy dude sat next to him.
“Hey Lilly.” He turned to the sexy dude and swiped a hand towards me. “Malachi Drake this is my daughter.”
“Hi,” I swiped my hand on my pants and extend it. Malachi shaked it.
“It is nice to meet the beautiful Lilly Ravenson,” he said.
I loved him already, he was polite.
“He is here to be your bodyguard.” Dad said shocking me.
“What? Why?”
Dad looked at me, "So some stuff has happened in the coven. And one of the leaders are trying to take over all the Vampire covens. Things are so strained they are going after hybrids and anyone not pure Vampire. We need to keep you safe and the person next to me to do it is Malachi Drake. He is your Protector anyway and the one who is supposed to keep watch. He will be by your side always and with time all yours."
“Wow,” I said.
“He came to me recently since he has been trying to find you to keep you safe, and there is a lot of stuff happening behind the scenes everywhere. Even when you moved away from the coven you were in danger. Especially the moment Agatha and the dumb warlock ghosted you. Agatha bullied you to break you and turn you evil or worse kill you. I’m glad you got away from that. You don’t deserve the shit she put you through. I was talking to other Vampire covens and Witch ones. The evil is spreading so fast that it is overtaking the good ones.”
“I knew there was something going on there I mean someone was stealing from my blood stash and there were tints of black in people’s magic. It was starting to take over mine,” I said.
Dad looked at the menu, “There is something I want you to drink only exclusive to here, and it will help control the alcohol stuff and get rid of the remnants of the black magic.”
He scanned the menu, “Found it. Waitress.”
The waitress zoomed here instantly and looked at my dad. “Do you need something, sir?”
He smiled, “Get my daughter the purifying blood drink. We need it stat.”She smiled, “Coming right up.” And she went to get it and came back a few minutes later and put down blood drink in a black wine glass. I drank it down and it was healing everything, and the remnants of the black went away.
I smiled, “That helped greatly. I feel way better now and mentally better, too.”
I've only heard of Protectors in legends. They are for the VampireWitches. Guardians. And they are also their soulmates too their perfect half who will never leave. And he is really sexy, too. There is definitely something there.
He smiled, “Good, and it means you finally have your Protector by your side. There is something we can do to stop the evil.”
About the Author:Jessica Samuels is an author who writes young adult and new adult paranormal romance. When she isn't writing about vampires, werewolves, witches and angels she is watching stream, reading and playing video games with friends to pass the time.
Website: http://jessicasamuelsauthor.com
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/cB3xtr
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jessica_SWriter
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorjessicasamuels
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1645531765720503/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOovDZqjxKmWPF9vxO5Qgow
August 2, 2021
The First Sin (South of Eden) by Lisa Beth Darling #ContemporaryFiction #Lucifer
The First Sin (South of Eden)Lisa Beth Darling
Genre: Contemporary FictionPublisher: Moon Mistress PublishingDate of Publication: 7/31/2021ASIN: B096QZF49QNumber of pages: 340Word Count: 135,000Cover Artist: Lisa Beth Darling
Tagline: Lucifer Returns to Eden
Book Description:
Lucifer is unceremoniously yanked out of Hell by his Father so he can return to his old job in the Garden of Eden. When he arrives, broken, battered, and bleeding, he falls into the arms of Eve who is unsure about seeing her old lover again as are the people now living in a dying paradise.
Tasked with returning the Sacred Trees of Life and Knowledge to flourishing bounty once more, Lucifer struggles to learn his new place in his old home. Yet, he hasn't been placed there solely to tend the Garden. His son, Cain, is on the way with murder and destruction on his mind.
Having lived, cursed by God, for eons, Cain Enoch has made quite a name for himself and amassed a fortune that would make even his Grandfather envious and with it he'll stop at nothing to find Eden and destroy. Why? So he can finally die even though it means taking the Earth, Heaven, and Hell with him.
Purchase Signed Limited Edition Hardcovers
Excerpt:
"My Father said there was no money in Art," she huffed and took a long swallow from her glass, "he insisted I get a real job."
"Dads," Cain said in a dreamy tone as he looked at a painting of a garden. Something about it called to him. It was so real he thought he could almost smell the patch of honeysuckle as it radiated its sweetness under that bright summer sun. Something about it seemed familiar but he couldn’t pin it down. "They can be real assholes." He finished his glass and slipped his arm around her waist when he heard her start to choke. "You ok?"
"Fine," she stammered even as she blushed. "You’re so right, real assholes," she agreed getting her reaction under control, "but they’re not here now."
"Thank God for that," he said with more grimace than smile.
"Yeah," she sighed and drank down the last of her glass, "more?"
Cain, who normally had such sharp ears and was such an excellent judge of people, was still so captured by the painting that he missed the whole thing. Instead he pointed at it and asked, "Where is this?"
Jesse didn't miss a beat even as her breath caught in her chest, "Devil's Hop Yard, it's a park in Connecticut." She stopped for a second as she took him in and then casually asked, "Do you like it?"
"Devil's Hop Yard," he repeated still a distant tone as he stared at it. Cain had been all over the world several hundred times and the name seemed familiar but he couldn't say he'd ever been there.
"Earth to Cain," Jesse chuckled as she snapped her fingers in front of his glassy eyes.
"Hello?"
That brought him back around and he tried to cover the moment with a laugh, "Sorry. Yeah, I love it, it's beautiful, it's like, like, I've been there before." He reached out to touch it but she grabbed his wrist.
"Nope, no touch, we do not put our greasy finger prints on the paint," she said with a serious grin.
"Oh, yeah, right," he muttered as he felt her leading him away from the artwork that he just couldn't take his eyes from until she fully pointed him towards the second hand couched with their thick blankets and the burning hearth next to them. "More wine?" He asked trying to force himself the rest of the way out of his daze.
"There's a delayed echo in here," she cooed as she plopped down on one of the couches and held up her empty glass. Silently she cursed herself for displaying that painting. She never intended for him to see it and convinced herself he never would. Even if he did, it was just a painting. In the end, her pride won out and she felt it was too good not to put on the wall of her little Art Studio.
"What about those?" Cain asked as he filled their glasses and pointed off to one corner where canvases were standing back to front. "What's over there?"
"Oh, God, no," she moaned. "Those are not for viewing." She laughed. "They're just, well, one day I'll just paint over them."
"Temperamental artist, I see," he grinned and settled in next to her.
About the Author: Lisa Beth Darling is 54 years-old, the mother of two adult daughters, grandmother to one, and wife to her husband, Roy, for the last 35 years. She lives and writes in her hometown of New London, CT.
Early influences were Stephen King, Mary Higgins Clark, Harold Robins, Jacqueline Susan and VC Andrews.
Her stories are filled with secrets, lust, betrayal, and sometimes rage, they may keep you awake into the wee hours of the morning cheering, weeping, and captured by suspense as our heroes and heroines have their love tested by demons who reside within and without.
In her spare time she enjoys gardening and photography as well as cooking and baking. She also enjoys helping other authors bring their works to the world stage.
Sign Up for Lisa’s Mailing List: https://bitly.com/
WebSite: http://www.lisabethdarling.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lbdarlingauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/darlingwrtr
Instagram: http://instagram.com/darlingwrtr
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Lisa-Beth-Darling/e/B002BMDA9I
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1577311.Lisa_Beth_Darling
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July 29, 2021
A Bewitching Thursday
10 Things You Didn’t Know About Lisa Beth Darling- Author Guest Blog #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/MyMH50FGb08
Author Interview - It Happened on Thunder Road Susan Antony #YAFantasyRomance #Paranormal #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/cOII50FGaVy
Author Interview - Wicked Darkness by B.L. Callaghan #Fantasy #AuthorInterview #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/aqyV50FGaUz
Blog Tour: Review & Giveaway – It Happened on Thunder Road by Susan Antony
https://iheartfictionalpeople.net/202...
Cold Queen by K Webster - Book Tour + Giveaway #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/YdUl50FGaTe
Wicked Darkness The Goddess Incarnate Book Two by B.L. Callaghan - Fantasy - Sometimes it isn’t only villains that crave the darkness.
https://jbbookworms.blogspot.com/2021...
Save My Heart by Kristi Jun
http://roxannerhoads.booklikes.com/po...
The First Sin (South of Eden) by Lisa Beth Darling Virtual Book Tour #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/Ymly50FGb16
Book Spotlight & #Giveaway ~ The Light Through the Pouring Rain by James Ruvalcaba @JamesMruvalcaba ~ Love and Loss, Romance #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/tyjv50FGb2p
There's Only A Few Spots Left- Sign Up Now for the 2021 Bewitching Book Tours Haunted Halloween Spooktacular
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SPOTLIGHT - NA PNR - AFTERLIFE (Vampire Witch, #2) by Jessica Samuels #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/P2BA50FGaRs
July 28, 2021
A Bewitching Wednesday
Author Interview- Save My Heart by Kristi Jun #RomanticSuspense #Thriller #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/mR0r50FFkWw
Cold Queen by K Webster #DarkFantasyRomance #Fantasy #Romance #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/VqYJ50FFkSG
Character Confession: Afterlife (Vampire Witch Book Two) by Jessica Samuels + excerpt #Afterlife #JessicaSamuels #PNR #NewAdult
http://www.ismellsheep.com/2021/07/ch...
The Light Through the Pouring Rain by James Ruvalcaba - Book Tour + Giveaway #bewitchingbooktours https://www.jazzybookreviews.com/2021...
The First Sin (South of Eden) by Lisa Beth Darling #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/iAWj50FFkYw
Hang on, baby, for the ride of your life.
It Happened on Thunder Road by Susan Antony
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The First Sin (South of Eden) [Book Tour] #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/VT1350FFkXy
Afterlife by Jessica Samuels Virtual Book Tour #bewitchingbooktours
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There's Only A Few Spots Left- Sign Up Now for the 2021 Bewitching Book Tours Haunted Halloween Spooktacular
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#BookPromo #AuthorPromo #SignUpsOpen
The Light Through the Pouring Rain by James Ruvalcaba
https://midnightmusingswithbertena.bl...
July 27, 2021
A Bewitching Tuesday
Character Confession: Afterlife (Vampire Witch Book Two) by Jessica Samuels + excerpt #Afterlife #JessicaSamuels #PNR #NewAdult
http://www.ismellsheep.com/2021/07/ch...
Interview with Susan Antony, author of It Happened on Thunder Road with #Giveaway
http://www.candrelsccc.craftylife.net...
Save My Heart by Kristi Jun [Book Tour] #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/I6B250FEt4L
It Happened on Thunder Road by Susan Antony #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/WuTh50FEt3o
Afterlife Vampire Witch Book Two by Jessica Samuels - New Adult Paranormal Romance, NA PNR - A Witch goes after the person who made her mom sick, #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/t08k50FEsYI
Creating an outline for your new novel: New mom edition- Guest Blog with E.C. Hinrichs https://creativelygreen.blogspot.com/...
It Happened on Thunder Road by Susan Antony [Book Tour] #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/26JF50FEt1S
Author Interview - Cold Queen by K Webster #DarkFantasyRomance #Fantasy #Romance #AuthorInterview #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/rAhE50FDACV
Poetry Corner with James Ruvalcaba #LoveAndLoss #RealLifeRomance #PoetryCorner #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/WH7i50FDAJx
INTERVIEW WITH JESSICA SAMUELS (AFTERLIFE) #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/lbBx50FDABs
There's Only A Few Spots Left- Sign Up Now for the 2021 Bewitching Book Tours Haunted Halloween Spooktacular
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#BookPromo #AuthorPromo #SignUpsOpen
July 26, 2021
A Bewitching Monday
Creating an outline for your new novel: New mom edition- Guest Blog with E.C. Hinrichs https://creativelygreen.blogspot.com/...
Author Interview - Cold Queen by K Webster #DarkFantasyRomance #Fantasy #Romance #AuthorInterview #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/rAhE50FDACV
Poetry Corner with James Ruvalcaba #LoveAndLoss #RealLifeRomance #PoetryCorner #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/WH7i50FDAJx
INTERVIEW WITH JESSICA SAMUELS (AFTERLIFE) #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/lbBx50FDABs
Save My Heart by Kristi Jun - Romantic Thriller/Romantic Suspense #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/ezcZ50FDAG3
Book Spotlight ~ There Will Be Blood: Trinity Smith, Book One by E.C Hinrichs ~ Supernatural Thriller, Paranormal Romance
#bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/J3ZK50FDANv
The Quantum of the Past: Redux! by Louis Corsair #DarkFantasy #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/nJVD50FDAKX
It Happened on Thunder Road Susan Antony #YAFantasyRomance #Paranormal #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/jRq450FDAEW
Book Spotlight ~ Afterlife: Vampire Witch, Book Two by Jessica Samuels @Jessica_SWriter ~ New Adult Paranormal Romance, NA PNR #bewitchingbooktours http://ow.ly/2dhK50FDAAd
A cruel, cold queen and a fearsome fiery king battle each other for both reign and their hearts. Frozen meets Game of Thrones… https://amzn.to/3qsaiel
#coldqueen #kwebster #darkfantasyromance #fantasyromance #gameofthrones #frozen #fairytaleretelling #darkromance
The Light Through the Pouring Rain by James Ruvalcaba #LoveAndLoss #RealLifeRomance
The Light Through the Pouring RainJames Ruvalcaba
Genre: Love and Loss, RomanceDate of Publication: 12/21/2020ISBN:979-8575160397ASIN: B08PF23TF1Number of pages:124Word Count: 28,000Cover Artist: Dar Albert
Tagline: A true story about a young couple's battle with cancer
Book Description:
An emotional page turner that gives a firsthand look into the lives of a young couple madly in love and eager to start their lives together, only to have it all halted by a cancer diagnosis.
With no clear road map on how to navigate their new normal, James and Anabel proceed into uncharted territory, hand-in-hand, with the love of their families and their faith in God to guide them.
Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/CSlRECKmS2Y
AmazonChapter 1: The first few months
It was April, and a couple months had passed by. At this point, everybody knew. Our friends and family knew and had been brainstorming on our game plan. Her first chemo session was April 2. Unfortunately, her family was not equipped to handle taking care of her. They had no experience with cancer and the pain that was upcoming. Unfortunately, my family and I had experience. Not that we wished we had, but it was an asset for this upcoming challenge. Cancer runs in our family. We’d lost our fair share of members, and the best place Anabel could recover was at our home. I had to talk to my family about the situation, and they agreed. My mom was the best man for the job. I couldn’t be more thankful for her. Mom was ready for the task at hand in a moment’s notice, without hesitation; she was the only one I could truly turn to in these times.Anabel had gotten situated in our home. She stayed in my room with my brother and me. Which was a challenge in itself, due to him enjoying his senior year of high school, coming in and out of the house, partying it up, and having his friends over. We managed to make the best of it. At times it could be unbearable and make Anabel and me crazy, but the care and love that my brother had for her made it easier for us. He would be a pain in the ass, but had a soft spot for Anabel and would regulate things when Anabel needed some time. This was a challenge for Anabel and me as well. This cancer had rushed a huge step in our relationship: we had finally moved in together. It wasn’t the circumstances that we had imagined or planned for, but we had to make it work.
We had spoken on what location we would like to live in and how Anabel didn’t care much for where and how much, but only if she could decorate for each holiday. That was her only stipulation. “James, I don’t care what you say, I’m gonna go all out every holiday, and you can’t say a damn thing to me.” It was adorable. It would put a smile to my face, because she made a point to say that as if it would be a deal breaker.
We had established our routine. She would wake up early, around eight a.m., have coffee with my grandma and her dog in the backyard, and reminisce about my grandma’s glory days as a caretaker. Then I would wake up around ten a.m. to “Good morning, Meez!” Anabel called me Meez because my little brother would call me Jamies, and if you say the second syllable of Jamies, it sounds like “Meez.” So she ran with it. We would eat breakfast together and follow that up with some episodes of The Office. Then I would go to the gym for a couple of hours then return to her to relax, watch TV or movies with her on her phone, then eat dinner. My Mom would make, and repeat. A very simple routine, but effective due to the fatigue she would be experiencing from chemotherapy.
It may seem like a very bland routine for a normal person, but it was what she wanted. April 2 was fast approaching. After a couple of weeks, it was finally here.
At this time, I was working with special needs kids as an instructional aide. My work schedule was eight thirty a.m. to three p.m., typical school hours. Thanks to my mom, I was able to have some sort of income to take care of Anabel’s needs when she needed something. It wasn’t much, but it was something. Prior to leaving work, I gave her a speech: “Chemo ain’t got shit on you. It chose the wrong person to fuck with.” I felt like I was giving a speech in 300. She was amped, we kissed each other goodbye, and I was off to work. Later on at work, I got a text from my mom sending me a picture of Anabel during chemo, and she was all smiles with a thumbs-up. She looked way happier than anybody in that situation could possibly be, but she felt in her heart that chemo didn’t have shit on her. That was partially my fault for the speech I gave her in the morning, but it was funny to see somebody actually believe the words you say and run with it. I cracked a smile, thinking, This girl.
I arrived home at three thirty. “Bells!”
“Yes, Meez?”
“How did it go?”
“It was a breeze.”
My mom explained the doctor’s orders and the game plan. Eight weeks of chemo, five days a week, which would be re-evaluated as needed until her tumor was small enough to do radiation, then surgery to remove it. We were all excited. The plan has been laid out, and with a plan that has a time frame, you are able to envision the light at the end of the tunnel, because the next day brings you that much closer to back to your normal life. Anabel and I smiled at each other with our eyes tearing up. We must’ve both been imagining our lives going back to normal.
About the Author:
Hello, I'm James Ruvalcaba. I began writing because I wanted to honor my fiancee Anabel's legacy and to be a testimony of God's goodness. On a personal level, I am a family man and hold them near and dear to me. I am a down to earth person that loves interactions and conversations. I believe the more we communicate the more we see the beauty of God's previous workings. Prior to being a writer, I worked with the special needs population for 10 years. I wanted to give back to the community and assist in achieving a higher quality of life as a tribute to my Sister who suffered from disabilities herself.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/james.ruvalcaba.39
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JamesMruvalcaba
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesmruvalcaba/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08PF23TF1
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