Casey Peeler's Blog, page 51
July 20, 2013
What makes your <3 by Faith Sullivan
Book Synopsis:
Katie and Adam are afraid of love.
She carries the scars of a first kiss gone terribly wrong.
He uproots his life to flee the stinging betrayal of an ex.
When trust is no longer an option, all romance is suspect.
As a young paramedic, Adam rescues people for a living but cannot save himself. Katie, just out of high school, struggles with a tortured home life she cannot escape.
Everything changes when Katie hops into the front seat of Adam’s ambulance. Overwhelmed by what they are feeling, neither possess the confidence to make the first move. They walk away from each other, full of regret.
To find her, Adam risks his future. To be with him, Katie sacrifices her security.
Little do they know, what little time they do have, is being measured by a heartbeat that is slowly dying out.
My Thoughts
This book was exactly what I needed… how many of you have a grandparent that means the world to you? How many of you have lost a person that has had your back since before you existed? What happens when they are gone? What happens when your grandmother is no longer there to protect you from your father?
When Katie and her grandmother are in a car accident, they are rescued by the local EMT’s, what Katie doesn’t know that Adam, the EMT, is her heartbeat.
Personally this book spoke volumes to me, my Pawpaw is my life, he’s one that I speak to are see every day & have since the day I was born, and currently he is coming to his final days. He will be 97 next Saturday. When I began this book and Katie and her grandmother had an accident, all I could do was think about him and our relationship. Katie and her grandmother are like my Pawpaw and I. The only difference is that I have great parents unlike Katie.
Katie is a dreamer, especially when it comes to guys. She knows she can’t get close to them, so she doesn’t. That is until she meets Adam. He has been burned by his ex, and is trying to make something of himself. What he doesn’t know is that he is exactly what Katie needs.
Adam is defiantly not an alpha male like in some books, he’s not even the guy you had a crush on in middle school. He’s just an average guy… really tall, but just a guy. What is different about him is his ability help others, and what he does for Katie is above any other character I have read so far.
This book was fabulous! I started it and couldn’t put it down. It will have you thinking none stop about the people in your life, what is important, and what makes your heartbeat?
More about Faith Sullivan:
New Adult author of: HEARTBEAT, COME WHAT MAY (HEARTBEAT #2), TAKE ME NOW and UNEXPECTED
Read my Blog.
Follow me on Twitter.
Buy Hearbeat on Amazon & Barnes & Noble
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17208265-heartbeat
July 18, 2013
<3
ABOUT PLAYING WITH HER HEART:
When you’re acting the role of a lifetime, how can you know if love is real—or all just a part of the show?
Twenty-three year old rising theatre star Jill McCormick has built a life out of pretending. Pretending she’s happy, pretending her long-distance crushes add up to something real, pretending she’s not haunted by the dark secret that shattered her world six years ago. Cast in her first Broadway show, she desperately needs to keep her façade intact, but that’s before she comes face to face with her devastating new boss…
Hot-shot director Davis Milo knows the first rule of directing: never fall for your leading lady. Captivated by Jill’s raw talent, he fights his feelings, but watching Jill on-stage with another man is more than his jealous streak can take. Keeping things professional isn’t an option. He wants all of her.
Soon the ingénue and her director are staying late in the empty theatre, their private rehearsals spiraling into new, forbidden territory. Caught up between fiction and reality, Jill struggles to find the truth in all their staged kisses. But how can she be sure that what she feels is real, and not a part of the play? And when two people spend their lives pretending, what happens after the final curtain falls?
EXCERPT:
He glances down at the black pumps. “Nice shoes.”
As I follow his eyes, I realize my hand is on his shirt, my fingers
fisted around the cloth, clutching it. I should let go. But I don’t.
Because I can’t help but notice he has that clean and freshly showered
smell that makes any woman want to lean in and lick a guy’s neck.
Close her eyes. Inhale, and trail a tongue all the way to his
earlobe, enjoying the sound of a low groan.
“Nice shirt,” I say softly, running my index finger across one smooth
button. Then I look up to find him staring down at me. His dark blue
eyes aren’t cold anymore. They’re not keeping me at bay. Instead,
they’re heated, searching mine.
It’s hypnotic the way he looks at me. Completely hypnotic, as the
room goes quiet, the air between us charged.
I press my teeth against my lips, and I think, but I’m not entirely
sure, because thought has vanished, that I nod briefly, almost as if
I’m giving him permission. Then he bends towards me, and my breath
catches. Before I even process rationally what’s happening, his lips
are on mine, and my pulse is racing. It’s a barely there kiss, just
him brushing his soft lips against mine, but I want more. So I pull
him closer and deepen the kiss. He groans, and then suddenly his hands
are in my hair, and he’s twining his fingers through my long, blond
strands, and tugging me close. I thought I was leading this kiss, but
I’m not anymore, because he’s claiming me, tracing his tongue across
my top lip, then nipping at the bottom lip, then kissing me so deeply
and with so much heat that I shudder. That only makes him kiss me
harder, and everything else falls away because this is a kiss I can
feel in every single cell in my body. Deep, and fevered and
possessive.
It makes me feel things I’m not supposed to want.
My heart pounds wildly as he presses closer, so dangerously near to
me that I want him to slam me against him. Let him touch me all over.
His lips own me, his hands want to know me, and I swear I might
combust from this kind of electric contact.
He breaks the kiss and I’m not honestly sure where I am anymore. Or
who I am. I look at him, at Davis, but everything is so hazy right
now, that I don’t know what to say. I don’t think he does either,
because he doesn’t speak for a moment. He shakes his head, and
swallows, collecting himself. As if he doesn’t know how that happened
either.
“I’m sorry,” he says, then steps back, pushing his hand roughly
through his hair. He looks away from me, staring at some distant point
on the wall. “That was a mistake,” he says quietly.
ABOUT LAUREN BLAKELY:
Lauren Blakely is an unabashed fan of clever jokes, toast, and good guys in novels. Like the heroine in CAUGHT UP IN US, she thinks life should be filled with movie kisses and coffee drinks. Lauren lives in California with her husband and children, and spends her days writing both true stories and make-believe ones.
Links:
Website: http://www.laurenblakely.com/
Blog: http://laurenblakelybooks.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaurenBlakelyBooks
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LaurenBlakely3
PLAYING WITH HER HEART Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17452343-playing-with-her-heart
Lauren Blakely Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6860216.Lauren_Blakely
Forgiven by Rebecca Brooke
SYNOPSIS
What happens when one moment changes the course of your entire life? Do you sit back and accept it, or fight to live the life you choose? Caleb Jacobs has a past that has haunted him for two years. Knowing he can never forgive himself for the events that led to his departure, Caleb chooses to live a quiet life—concentrating on school, sports, and shots. But when he is paired with Angie for a history project he realizes that no matter how much you try to hide from your past, one way or another it will find you.
Angelina Powers knows what she wants from life. Growing up with only an alcoholic father for company, Angie learned early on in life that you can only count on yourself. But that doesn’t stop her wishing for her white knight. She’s confident, happy and focused…until she meets Caleb. So how will she feel when her potential white knight turns out to be more of a black shadow?
Follow Rebecca
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads
Author Bio
Rebecca Brooke grew up in the shore towns
of South Jersey. She loves to hit the beach, but always with her kindle on
hand. She is married to the most wonderful man, who puts up with all of her
craziness. Together they have two beautiful children who keep her on her toes.
When she isn’t writing or reading (which is very rarely) she loves to bake and
watch episodes of Shameless and True Blood.
July 17, 2013
——->This Heart of Mine by Amanda Bennett <———-
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Heart-Mine-Raine-Series-ebook/dp/B00DVAY1YW/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1373524844&sr=8-3-fkmr0&keywords=this+heart+of+mine+amanda+Bennett
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1115994864?ean=2940148292388
My Thoughts
Let me start by saying that if you haven’t read the Raine Series Books #1 & 2… you should have 1-clicked a long time ago! I’ve been trying to come up with how huge of a fan I am of Amanda Bennett… when I looked it up in the thesaurus this is what I came up with… I am a whale of an oversized, hefty, jumbo, super colossal, chock-full, larger than life, monster fan! I am so glad to say that I can count on her for anything when it comes to advice in the writing/blogging world! She is an author that I respect more than anything. With that being said, here are my thoughts on This Heart of Mine (Raine #3)
This series in itself has pulled at my heart in so many ways. From book 1, I fell in love with Kayla and Madision, their friends, families, pasts, present, and hope to be future. When book #2 ended… I was left with so many apprehensions about what was to come for their future. I just knew they have to make it, but with their pasts… I just didn’t know!
This Heart of Mine is written from both the POV of Kayla & Madision, picks up exactly where it should, and ends where I wanted it too… I would have been happy to keep it going though 
There could be 20 in this series and I wouldn’t get enough! Honestly, this series, is one that I just love. I felt connected to the characters, their upbringing , their outlook on life, and what they had planned for their future… even if it doesn’t happen as planned.
There isn’t one concept/thought/event within this book that has let me down. In fact, I just kept being surprised… more than I was in book #2… I had a feel that certain events were going to take place, but not in book #3. In fact, since I knew this was probably the last in this series… I savored every word of it and took extra long to read it.
So, if you are into a country romance with a cowboy, pretty girl, and roller coaster ride along the way then The Raine Series by Amanda Bennett is for you! 1-click it today!
Excerpt for This Heart of Mine (book 3 Raine Series)
A stray tear rolled down my cheek and landed on my shirt as the weight of his words settled into my chest. He was right, about everything. I have always questioned myself because of my mother. I had always felt less than a person and never felt worthy of anybody’s love, let alone a poor helpless child. What if I turn out to be exactly like my mother? I now had a better understanding as to how Madison has felt his whole life.
I quietly turned on my heel, making my way back outside and onto the porch. I looked out over the expansive land wondering how this all was supposed to work out for us. We couldn’t live at our grandparents for the rest of our lives. We needed a plan. One that would work for both of us.
Character Fun Facts:
Kayla:
- She only own 2 pairs of shoes besides her boots
- She likes UFC
- Her favorite football team is the San Francisco 49ers
- Loves starburst jelly beans
- allergic to chocolate
Cami:
- Loves to talk
- Is very OCD
- She has no filter: TMI to the max
- Terrified of birds
- Will randomly start doing cheers from high school
Madison
- Can play the guitar and drums as well as sing
- Rarely wears underwear
- Hates to workout
- Hates cake
- Doesn’t like to wear shorts
Glenn
- Afraid of spiders
- Gets stage fright before every show
- Favorite beer is corona
- Addicted to coffee
- He doesn’t like any of his food to touch on the plate
Playlist For This Heart of Mine:
http://open.spotify.com/user/1248504174/playlist/2BowLZrvbiEZxok7U44HYT
Fun Facts about Amanda Bennett:
- Used to want to be a stand up comic
- I have a major foot phobia
- Deathly afraid of spiders
- Obsessed with reality tv
- I never chew gum
- Addicted to anything Guess brand
- favorite color is black and pink
- absolutely love jewelry but only wear my wedding ring
- Can pick up a softball with my toes
- Can write with my toes
- Favorite drink is coffee and grape soda (crush brand only)
- Am lactose intolerant but I eat lots of dairy with the help of lactaid
Happy Release Day Tara Simone! Vacationista is LIVE!!
Vacationista by Tara Simone
A broken heart. A ticket to paradise. A resort full of honeymooners …
the last thing newly single Patience De La Rosa needs if she’s to find a candidate for a casual rebound.
Her luggage catching a flight to Mauritius instead of Maui doesn’t help matters and a maxed out credit
card doesn’t buy a girl a fresh pair of panties. Then there’s the annoying weird guy, the one who’s married
to his laptop, sitting beside her at the pool.
Odds for a fling improve when three single, sexy and willing candidates cross her path. Though
Patience’s luggage may be M.I.A., her breakup baggage crossed the Pacific with her. Will Patience cast it
aside, throw caution to the tropical winds and indulge in island debauchery? Or will a tea leaf reader’s
prediction about her romantic excursions come true in unexpected ways?
“Vacationista is a sparkling romantic-comedy gem with one of the wittiest
heroines I have read in ages! Full of zingy one-liners, clever quips and
some of the best dialogue ever!” -NYT and USA Today Bestselling Author Lauren Blakely
![Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000448_00020]](http://hardcovertherapy.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/vc_displaycopy.jpg)
Excerpt from Vacationista by Tara Simone
The hotel phone rings and shakes me from my rage. Please let it be good news. Please let my luggage be here. I am so sick of wearing this peach tank top, what I wouldn’t do for a basic cotton tee. I cannot believe this shirt was ever my favorite. I answer the phone.
“Hello?”
“I need help,” a voice mumbles.
“Who is this?”
“The albino guy with the sunburn.”
“It’s six o’clock in the morning. How did you know I was awake?”
“I didn’t. I need help.”
Huey’s room is actually one of twelve cottages that sit on a small cliff beyond the pool area looking out over the ocean. I use the term cottage loosely. Each one looks to be twice the size of the cottage I shared with Dan in Encanto. Floor to ceiling walls of privacy glass provide an unobstructed view of the ocean. Under a faux thatched roof is a private lanai with hammocks and patio furniture straight from the pages of a design magazine. The door to his unit is unlocked just as he said it would be.
If the outside was impressive, the inside is jaw dropping amazing.
This is ridiculous.
The furniture is several notches above what was in Ted’s room. Really fluffy, deep cushioned cream colored sofas and chairs that I just want to jump onto and crawl up in.
“Huey?” I call out. “I’m here.”
His voice calls out from another area of the house. “I’m in the bathtub.”
Hmmm. Generally if a man calls me to the bathtub I know what to expect. But this is Huey, and even though he is calling me to the bathtub, I don’t expect him to have any ulterior motives. Because it’s Huey. He’s not manipulative. I walk past the living room and through the sliding pocket doors that lead to the bedroom. To my left, a door is half open. I approach it carefully and stand just outside it without looking in.
“What can I do to help?”
“Come in.”
“If you’re in the tub, I’d rather not.”
“Have you never seen a man naked? Or are you just afraid you’ll be so overwhelmed by my sex god physique that you will jump me.”
“The latter.”
“I thought so. That is why everything provocative is covered. You will be safe in my presence.”
I take him at his word and poke my head around the door. The tub is huge. HUGE. It’s one of those Jacuzzi tubs built for two. Huey is in it. His man parts are indeed covered from view by lots of bubbles and a tray that stretches across the width of the tub, on which sits his laptop. This is not surprising to me. What is surprising to me is that he is submerged in water and bubbles the color of dirt.
“Why is the water brown?”
“It’s tea.” He fishes around in the water and holds up three tea bags. “There are a hundred tea bags in here.”
“Why?”
“Because Google said so.”
“For the burn?”
“Yes.”
“Where’d you get the tea bags?”
“Room service.”
“So you called me because what? You need cream and sugar?”
“If I wasn’t in so much pain I’d laugh at your witty observation. But not right now.”
“Fair enough. How can I help?”
“I can’t type. My arms hurt too much to type any longer. And I have to get this done. I need you to type for me.”
“I’m not getting in the tub.”
“I wasn’t asking you to. Though now that you mentioned it, that could be interesting, the tub is built for two.”
“Is it? I hadn’t noticed.”
“Best you not get in, you won’t be able to keep your hands off me. You can sit there and type.” He points to an area of the bathroom out of my view. I step further inside the bathroom. There are two white chaises, just as fluffy as the sofa in the living room.
“There is a living room in your bathroom,” I say. “I can’t fit a towel rack in my bathroom. And you have chaises in your bathroom.”
“Technically, it’s not my bathroom. And if you help me I will buy you a towel rack that fits in your bathroom.”
“Okay, Huey, I’ll type for you under two conditions.”
“And they are?”
“One, I get to order breakfast.”
“For someone so thin, you do eat a lot. The room service menu is on the desk in the bedroom.”
“And two, I’m out of here at ten to sit by the pool.”
“Do you realize you continue to put yourself in grave danger?”
“Of what?”
“M-E-L-A-N-O-M-A”
“Wow. You can spell big words. Impressive.”
“I mean it. Why do you worship the sun? Don’t you know it’s bad for you?”
“I’m twenty-six. I am allowed a vice or two. You’re like thirty-two going on sixty. Would you relax a little?”
“I did relax. With you. In the pool. And look what happened.”
“Okay, if you’re trying to make me feel guilty −,”
“I am.”
“It’s working. I’m going to go order breakfast, want anything?”
“Orange juice.”
“Really or are you being facetious?”
“Orange juice and the buckwheat pancakes with chocolate chips and maple syrup, please.”
I don’t know why he makes me chuckle but he does. He’s so formal and offbeat at the same time. I’m fairly certain he would have been the kid in my high school who had been tormented by the cool crowd. If I had known him then, I probably would have dismissed him, just as I did the first day at the pool. But in his own odd way, he’s kind of cool and fun and funny.
“Hello,” I say into the room phone, “I’d like to place an order please.”
“Yes, Mrs. Anders, what can we get you?”
Why does everyone here think I’m married? Oh, right, because everyone here except me is part of a couple.
I hate this place.
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorTaraSimone
https://twitter.com/TaraSimone1
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18134833-vacationista
~Fun in the Sun Giveaway~
From Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorTaraSimone
Giveway to celebrate release of Vacationista!http://amzn.com/B00DYUDWZ8 In Savannah today, I picked up a fabulous summer tote bag worthy of a Vacationista, it is going to be FILLED with romance novels, including mine. Winner chosen on 7/26. To enter, Like my page AND share this post. Winner will be chosen at random. If winner is from outside the 48 contiguous US states, you will instead receive a $25 Amazon gift card. Want to see what the tote bag in the photo looks like? Share this post!
I’ll be posting more teasers about the gift bag in coming days…
I chose a Spartina 449 tote to celebrate/mark my vacation in the South.
July 16, 2013
The future is now…
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/prophecy-of-solstices-end-diantha-jones/1116050182?ean=2940148440819
Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00DXO6IZ6
Book Description
Publication Date: February 28, 2012
Revised and Re-edited January 2013
She has a destiny so great that even the gods fear her.
Constant hallucinations and the frequent conversations with the voices in her head, have earned eighteen-year-old Chloe Clever the not-so-coveted title of “Whack Job” in her home town of Adel, Georgia. With the onslaught of prescription medications and therapists threatening to push her over the edge, she wishes for a life far away from the one she has, a life where she is destined to be more than the butt of everyone’s jokes and mockery.
Be careful what you wish for has never rung more true.
After living through an attack from her worst nightmare, she awakens to find herself far from home, surrounded by glorious riches and servants…and a few demigods who enjoy killing things. Upon learning that her favorite rockstar is an Olympian god, she is thrust into her new life as the Oracle of Delphi, the prophesier of the future, and the great Pythia that the gods have been anxiously awaiting to arrive for centuries. Setting out to fulfill the prophecy she has been given and to keep her family safe from a demigod Princess that wants her dead, Chloe learns of how great she is to become, all the while fighting mythical monsters, evading divine assassins and trying to outwit the ever-cunning Greek gods who harbor secrets of their own. In the hopes of discovering the Most Beautiful and the truth of her destiny, she strives to uncover the mysteries of the demigod Prince who has sworn to protect her with his life…and threatens to win her heart in the process.
My Thoughts
If you love Greek mythology meets present day… You will love this book! Imagine that everyone around you thinks your a freak, crazy, or just strange. People are there and then disappear, voices are in your head, and then you realize you are special. That is the Oracle of Delphi.
I love a book that’s fantasy/paranormal/outta this world. This one def is, but yet you are still connected to the real world.
This book is very well written and the language used is easy to follow… Even with my southern dialect. I liked how you got a basis of the mythology before the story really takes place… This way you understand all the characters that are involved. I
Biography and Links
Diantha Jones was born the day thousands of turkeys sacrificed their lives to fill millions of American bellies on November 22 which also happened to be Thanksgiving Day (Her mother says she owes her a turkey). She is a Journalism graduate who wants to be a career novelist (of books, not Facebook posts). When not writing or working, she is reading on her Nook, being hypnotized by Netflix or on a mission to procure french fries.The Oracle of Delphi fantasy series is her first series. She is also the author of Mythos: Stories from Olympus, a companion series, and there is another fantasy series in the works. She also writes (new) adult fantasy/paranormal romance under the name A. Star. Invasion (An Alien Romance) is her first title released under this pen name. Future releases under A. Star include, the Love & Steampunk series, the Purr, Inc. stories, and more.
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon | Pinterest | DJ’s Book Corner
Email Diantha Jones at: theauthor (at) diantha-jones (dot) com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~Diantha’s Books
The Oracle of Delphi Series
Click the link above to visit the series page for synopsis’ and reviews.
Book One
eBook: Amazon | Barnes&Noble
Paperback: Amazon
Goodreads
Book Two
eBook: Amazon | Barnes&Noble
Paperback: Amazon
Goodreads
Mythos, Book One (OOD #2.5)
Visit the series page
eBook: Amazon | Barnes&Noble
Paperback: Amazon
Goodreads
Book Three
eBook: Amazon | Barnes&Noble
Paperback: Amazon
Goodreads
The Unknowing Series
Unleash Coming Soon!
(Available in eBook only)
Unknowing: Amazon | Barnes&Noble
Unburden: Amazon | Barnes&Noble
Unchain: Amazon | Barnes&Noble
An Alien Romance by A. Star…
I did not want to come here. Earth is but a lifeless ball of matter. Yet, it is worth more than all the galaxies combined. These creatures, these hu-mans, are not worth the labor we exert keeping them alive. But we need them. And I need him. The hu-man who has turned me from my duties, has made me forget my purpose. Everything has changed now. And we are all going to die.
(Available in eBook only)
Amazon | Barnes&Noble
Oracle of Delphi Giveaway
Prizes are listed
Prophecy of the Author’s Genius Contest
Solve the prophecy, win a $25 Amazon Giftcard (must guess the classic book title and author)
Take Me Know by Faith Sullivan
Title: Take Me Now (Take Me Now, #1)
Author: Faith Sullivan
Expected release date: July 16, 2013
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Ebook available at:
Kindle ($2.99)
Come What May (Heartbeat #2)
Author Links:
Blog
http://faithsullivanwrites.blogspot.com/
Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Faith-Sullivan/e/B00B51HN0I/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
https://twitter.com/_faithsullivan_
Goodreads
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6878936.Faith_Sullivan
$25 Amazon gift card Rafflecopter Giveaway HTML Code:
July 15, 2013
The Never is FREE until the 20th!
The Never by Kristina Circelli
Genre: Fantasy for 18+
“Out of nothing, we create something.”
Arianna has spent her entire life being called a dreamer, an artist who created a world no one else can see. And for her entire life, she has taken the medication that keeps that world – and the one who brought her there – at bay.
Now an adult, Arianna reawakens that part of herself kept locked away in the darkest corners of her mind. When she hides her medicine from her fiancé’s ever-watchful eye, he returns – the shadow in the night who collects her for an adventure known only in her fantasies.
But something is different about this world called The Never. It is no longer the cheerful place filled with light and laughter that she knew as a child. Now, the sea creatures drag their visitors into the depths of murky waters. The natives battle to the death against the tribe of children. And the pirates, led by the feared captain called The Hunter, seek out Arianna for their own sinister plans.
As Arianna goes deeper into The Never, she discovers just what her connection to the land means – and must choose between her life rooted in reality, and the world where anything is possible.
The Never is currently FREE on Amazon, from now until the 20th!! Head over to Amazon to take advantage of the deal!
Chapter 4 – No Longer a Child
She saw him off, making earnest promises to always remember her medication, putting on the happiest face she could manage until his car disappeared down the driveway. Lily the puppy pulled on her new leash, eager to explore her surroundings. Although the sun was setting, Arianna allowed the dog to pull her into the woods, taking her on an evening stroll before they settled in for the night. Lily sniffed at the plants as she passed them, pouncing on flickering shadows and barking at nonexistent figures.
Arianna laughed softly as she watched the puppy play, giving her plenty of room on the leash to wander and explore. She’d always wanted a dog as a child, only to be told by her mother that animals were dirty and not meant to be kept as pets. The refusal only fueled her desire, as did the promises that maybe, if she was good and took her medicine, then a puppy would one day be hers to hold and cherish.
The sun slipped below the horizon, casting the woods in shadows. Arianna glanced over her shoulder and was comforted by the glow of lights in the cabin not too far in the distance. She tried not to wander too far from home at night, knowing what dangers lurked in a forest of heavy brush and wildlife. John didn’t like her strolling through the woods at dark – or during the day, for that matter – so she tried not to upset him by staying close to home.
“A gift of life, to keep death at bay.”
Arianna turned about, searching for the familiar voice. She saw only night and darkness instead. Her heart beat wildly, both at the surprise intrusion and the possibilities of what the voice’s return may mean. “What…what death?”
“Death of love, of heart, of soul.”
She took in a deep breath, grip tightening on the leash. She wanted to see the figure’s face, needed to see it. Lily sensed her new owner’s hesitation and barked once, taking a stance at her master’s feet. “Who are you?” Arianna asked, narrowing her eyes.
“You know who I am. You have known me since you were a child.”
“I knew a child as a child. You sound like a man.” She felt a brush of fingers against her neck, as though a hand was pulling her hair back. She turned but saw only empty air.
“I have watched you, Arianna of the Stars. I have watched you, dreamed with you, grown up with you.”
Lily pulled at the leash and scratched at Arianna’s ankles, eager to get away from whatever was agitating her master. Arianna let the leash slip through her fingers, not noticing the dog as she ran back for the cabin on four wobbly legs and waited on the back steps, whimpering quietly.
Free to wander on her own, the enraptured woman began to walk, slowly passing tree after tree. Her hands grazed over tree trunks, eyes grazed over leaves and shrubs. Moonlight streamed in through the canopy, creating a white glow that softened the night setting. “Who are you?” Her repeated question traveled a light breeze, laughter echoing back at her.
“I am the one you dream of, the one you seek.”
She saw something then, an outline moving through the trees. The figure was watching her, moving with her. If she looked hard enough, she could almost see a face, eyes. Not bright eyes, but seeking, piercing nonetheless. “Who are you?”
Those eyes, dark green and ever watchful, latched on to hers. They followed her as they walked, peering around leaf and branch, staring through the moonlight. “I am the dream. I am the reality,” he answered, voice like a secret spoken in hushed whispers. “I am the eternal. I am the forgotten.” They moved closer together in the woods, yet still at a distance. “I am the always. I am the never.”
Something inside her mind clicked. Arianna paused between two trees, one hand on either trunk. She knew that name. In the farthest corners of her mind, she remembered, and the memory hardened in her gut. Oh yes, she knew, and wished that her mind wasn’t suddenly filled with recollections of salted shores and pale pink skies. “You are not The Never. The Never left me. The Never forsook me. The Never forgot me.”
“No,” came the soothing, reassuring croon. “The Never did not forget you. The Never could not reach you, Arianna of the Stars.”
“Stop calling me that,” Arianna snapped, taking a step back. “Stop pretending to be him. Tell me who you are.”
“I have told you. You must believe me”
She heard the desperation in his request, but ignored it and instead slipped a hand in her pocket. “Have it your way. I know how to get rid of you.” She swallowed the blue pill and he reacted fast, exploding into her line of vision and grabbing her wrist.
“What was that?” he demanded. “What did you take?”
Unable to respond, Arianna simply stared up at him. This was not the boy the remembered, the boy who spoke to her as a child and led her on exciting other-worldly adventures. This was a man, perhaps a year older than her, perhaps even a year or two younger. There was something innocent about his forest green, almond-shaped eyes, and yet, something very sinister in the way he pressed his full lips together in a knowing smirk. His jawline was strong, as were his cheekbones, strong enough to take one of many hits she suspected he was used to enduring, and maybe even encouraged.
He was tan, the tan of a man who spent his days in the sun, with wild hair the color of the setting sun. For the briefest of moments she longed to run her fingers through those thick locks, which hung down to his ears in messy strands. Bamboo pieces decorated his ears, pierced through twice in each.
His clothing, if that’s what it could be called, matched his eyes. His torso was wrapped in a soft, thin shirt that clung to his skin, with wide straps that crisscrossed at his shoulders to reveal finely toned muscle. The deep green of a material Arianna didn’t recognize covered his legs with leaf-shaped designs, ending just below the knees. He was barefoot, which only added to his mysterious aura. Strapped around his waist was a leather belt, with a dagger sheathed at his side.
Boy had most certainly become man.
“What did you take?” he asked again when she only gazed at him. His grip tightened on her wrist, causing her to wince.
“Um…just, just my medicine.”
“Medicine.” He said the word quietly, as though trying to understand it. Then he took her by the shoulders, almost too urgently. “Medicine! You must never take it again.”
Her brow furrowed. “I have to. It keeps me well.”
“No. You must never take it, my Arianna. It is why I could not find you for so long, why we could not be together.”
Arianna hesitated, savoring the feel of his rough hands on her bare skin. She had never known this figure in her dreams as a man, and was fascinated by the creature he had become. “We…we had adventures together, as children?”
He smiled, gently brushing back a strand of her hair. “Yes, we did. You cannot remember them all now, but you will. Promise me you will not take your medicine again. Promise me, and I will return tomorrow to show you what you have forgotten. We will fly from this place, and have our adventures again.”
An internal alarm was triggered, a familiar word, a familiar worry. Arianna ignored it and smiled up at him just before he faded into the night. “I promise.”
A lover of the written word since the time she first picked up a pen, Kristina Circelli shares her passion for fiction in her multi-genre novels.
Circelli is the author of several fiction books, including The Sour Orange Derby, a young adult novel about family and childhood imagination steeped in southern traditions; Beyond the Western Sun, Walk the Red Road, and Into the Shadow Realm of The Whisper Legacy, which centers on Native American cultures and the legends that come to life in the spirit realm; and The Helping Hands, a book that follows a gang of friends who rescue abused children.
Currently, Circelli works as a copywriter, author, book editor, and creative writing professor at the University of North Florida, where she received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in English. She resides in Florida, with her husband and two kittens.
Wings by Elizabeth Richards
Today we are super excited to share the cover to WINGS, the third and final book in author’s Elizabeth Richard’s BLACK CITY series!
Check out this beauty!
Wings (Black City #3) by Elizabeth Richards
Get the first two books in the series!
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July 13, 2013
Life on the Edge a #NASW13 Review
Life on the Edge by Jennifer Comeaux
Book Description:
Nineteen-year-old Emily is new to pairs skating, but she and her partner Chris have a big dream-to be the first American team to win Olympic gold. Their young coach Sergei, who left Russia after a mysterious end to his skating career, believes they can break through and make history.
Emily and Chris are on track to be top contenders at the 2002 Winter Games. But when forbidden feelings spark between Emily and Sergei, broken trust and an unexpected enemy threaten to derail Emily’s dreams of gold.
My Thoughts
Guest Review by Chelly
4 Stars
Emily Butler didn’t always plan to skate pairs, but due to her increasing performance anxiety, she soon realized that having someone with her on the ice wouldn’t be such a bad idea. Now, with her partner Chris Grayden, she dreams of being the first American team to achieve Olympic Gold. As she spends more and more time with her coach, Sergei, both on and off the ice, can she stay focused and reach her goal? Or will the forbidden romance cost both of their careers?
I have read a lot of romances about athletes, but I do believe this is the first where the main athlete is female, and I loved it! I didn’t know a lot about the figure skating world before picking up this book, but thanks to the author’s extreme knowledge in the sport, I feel like I understand it so much better. Clearly, the author knew her stuff. She did a great job of explaining the trials and tribulations the skater’s went through, and you couldn’t help but share in the joy when they landed their jumps or finished clean routines. You really get a sense of what it’s like to be a champion skater and how hard you have to work, the pain you have to suffer through, to achieve the dream.
Even with all of the technical aspects of the sport explained, it didn’t get in the way of the romance. Emily and Chris’ coach, Sergei, is a young former World champion from Russia, whose skating career ended mysteriously, and he refuses to talk about why. He already spends a lot of time with Emily and Chris coaching them, but when he asks Emily to help him coach a younger couple, they start spending more and more time together both on the ice and off. As they start realizing their attraction to one another, they know the romance is off limits and could cost them their careers, but the attraction is undeniable. Is love worth the risk? If they do give it a go, what happens if anyone finds out?
Life On the Edge is a very sweet, clean, and wholesome story of young love, working hard to achieve your dreams, and standing tall for what you believe in. I would recommend it to both young and old readers looking for a light read with just enough angst to keep you wanting more.
About the Author:
Jennifer Comeaux earned a Master of Accounting from Tulane University and is a Certified Public Accountant in south Louisiana. While working in the corporate world, she sought a creative outlet and decided to put on paper a story that had played in her head for years. That story became Life on the Edge, her first published novel.
When not working or writing, she is an avid follower of the sport of figure skating, travelling to competitions around the country. Those experiences allow her to see a different side of the sport and serve as an inspiration for her writing. Jennifer is blessed with a wonderful family and many friends who have encouraged her to pursue her dream of being a published author.
Visit Jennifer at her blog: http://jennifercomeaux.blogspot.com
Facebook at Jennifer Comeaux Author
Twitter: @LadyWave4
Buy it on AMAZON
