Margo Bond Collins's Blog, page 94
September 19, 2014
Stuck in a Good Book Blog Hop ~ My Favorite Indie Authors
Welcome to the Stuck in a Good Book Blog Hop, hosted by Stuck in Books and I am a Reader, Not a Writer!
For my post today, I’m sharing some of my favorite indie authors’ books, and you can enter to win an ebook copy of my forthcoming book, Sanguinary.
So be sure to check out the books below, tell me about your favorite indie author or book (it’s an entry in the Rafflecopter), enter to win, and HOP to the rest of the participating blogs!
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I grew up in a world of magic. By the time I was ten I understood nature, talked to the trees, and listened to the wind. When the kingdom of men conquered my town, I was murdered by one of my own—the betrayer of my kind. But I didn’t stay dead.
I woke to find myself in a strange new world called Los Angeles. The only keys to the life I remembered were my father’s ring, my unique abilities, and the onslaught of demons that seemed hell-bent on finding me. Now I must learn who I really am, protect my friends, get the girl, and find my way back to my beloved hometown of Orenda.
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Contingency (A Sage Hannigan Time Warper Novel Book 1)
Chira Kelly thought she didn’t need anyone…until she met Ben.
Because of one ugly rumor, Chira lives as an outcast at her school. Which is fine with her, because she works better alone. Always has, always will. And at least she has her one and only true friend, Tasha. When Tasha insists that they join a group to visit a possibly haunted abandoned old schoolhouse, she’s wary, but joins her friend. Because of that decision, their lives are in jeopardy as a malevolent spirit targets the group. Tragedies and accidents pick them off one by one, and Chira finds herself drawn to the one person who can see the truth. But can he protect her?
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Sanguinary (Night Shift Book 1)
Fall Into Romance Blog Hop ~ Taming the Country Star ~ #HopsWithHeart
Hi, everyone! Welcome to the Fall into Romance Blog Hop, hosted by Hops with Heart!
For this hop, I am featuring my book Taming the Country Star, and giving away an ebook copy of a new release from Entangled Publishing. There’s also a hop-wide grand prize of a $75 Amazon gift card! So check out the excerpt from Taming the Country Star, tell me what you like best about romance novels (it’s an entry on the Rafflecopter!), enter to win my prize, enter to win the grand prize, then HOP to the rest of the entries!
Taming the Country Star: A Hometown Heroes Novella (Entangled Bliss)
Spotlight On: Take Me On, by Katie McGarry
Take Me On (Pushing the Limits #4)
by Katie McGarry
Release Date: 05/27/14
Harlequin Teen
Summary from Goodreads:
Acclaimed author Katie McGarry returns with the knockout new story of two high school seniors who are
about to learn what winning really means.
Champion kickboxer Haley swore she’d never set foot in the ring again after one tragic night. But then the guy she can’t stop thinking about accepts a mixed martial arts fight in her honor. Suddenly, Haley has to train West Young. All attitude, West is everything Haley promised herself she’d stay away from. Yet he won’t last five seconds in the ring without her help.
West is keeping a big secret from Haley. About who he really is. But helping her-fighting for her-is a shot at redemption. Especially since it’s his fault his family is falling apart. He can’t change the past, but maybe he can change Haley’s future.
Hayley and West have agreed to keep their relationship strictly in the ring. But as an unexpected bond forms between them and attraction mocks their best intentions, they’ll face their darkest fears and discover love is worth fighting for.
Bonus novella included: Crossing the Line.
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EXCERPT
I’M USED TO PEOPLE TALKING, saying words aloud to prove they know more than me, that they’re better than me. But they’re just words. Syllables strung together between breaths to fill uncomfortable silences.
Meaningless words.
Haley, on the other hand, speaks volumes with a touch. The way her hand clutches mine, it rips out my heart and tosses it onto a platter.
This moment, it’s too raw. It’s too real. And the instinct is to snatch my hand back and slam the door shut on the sharing, but the other part of me—the part that feels as if my remaining sanity is a gift on the verge of being returned—it clings to her.
I knot my fingers with Haley’s and turn my head so I’m focusing out the driver’s side window—away from her. If I look at Haley, I’m terrified of what I might say, what I might feel. And fuck me, I’ve already said too much.
If she understands this, being without a home, will she understand the rejection? Will she understand the devastation that everything you have ever loved doesn’t love you in return? And because I can’t face those fears, I’m unable to face Haley.
She squeezes once and it’s like her voice caresses my mind: I’m here. I get it.
I squeeze back.
Seconds pass into moments. Moments into minutes. No words. No meaningless conversation. No eye contact. Just our hands combined.
My throat swells. Haley’s the only string holding me together.
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Available from:
Books in the series:
(covers linked to Goodreads)
About the Author
KATIE MCGARRY was a teenager during the age of grunge and boy bands and remembers those years as the best and worst of her life. She is a lover of music, happy endings, and reality television, and is a secret University of Kentucky basketball fan.
Katie would love to hear from her readers. Contact her via her website, katielmcgarry.com, follow her on Twitter @KatieMcGarry, or become a fan on Facebook and Goodreads.
Author Links:
GIVEAWAY:
September 18, 2014
Spotlight On: Life Lived Twice by Sherrie Wouters
IFB is hosting the promo event for Sherrie Wouters’ debut fantasy novel. Continue below for an excerpt & giveaway.
Release date: June 6th 2014
Purchase: Amazon
Synopsis via Goodreads:
Some promises are made to last forever … What if you fell in love with a stranger … but that stranger had come from your past, a past you never knew existed until the moment your eyes met?
When Tess Winters locks eyes with a stranger at an airport bookstore, it ignites a feeling of passion somewhere deep inside her that she can’t explain. Although the encounter is innocent and brief, the intensity of it lingers, leaving her overwhelmed by a yearning for the mystery man now consuming her every thought.
Struggling to break the powerful hold he has over her heart, Tess starts to experience strange but familiar dreams…dreams from the turn of the twentieth century of the charming Mr Addison Taylor.
As her dreams start to materialize into reality, and past and present begin to blur, Tess is forced to put the pieces of a forgotten time together, and soon discovers that love isn’t the only thing that can find you after an eternity. Captivating, mysterious, and romantic, Life Lived Twice will leave you wondering whether love is so powerful it could last more than a lifetime.
EXCERPT
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By the time I’d examined his tanned calves, the masculinity of his skin was lingering in the air between us. He smelt sensational, and I found myself uncontrollably breathing in as I rose.
Now curious to see more, I kept going. But as I began to move, an odd sensation of warmth radiating from him came over me; it was almost like an invisible hand caressing my skin. My heart fluttered at the idea of it, and suddenly blood was rushing to all the wrong places as I felt an unexpected thrill of anticipation.
After tracing his body all the way up to his chest, my wandering eyes didn’t seem to want to stop, and they were soon up to his neck and following the stubble along his jaw, right up to his light brown hair. And then he spoke. The sound of his voice jolted me from my daydream and pulled my gaze to his.
“Addison!” I gasped as our eyes collided. From the moment the name left my lips, my eyes widened … stared … and became lost in his. As a rush of airy weightlessness floated me from the floor, suddenly everything felt more enhanced, more real, like something inside me had suddenly woken up. It was an intoxicating feeling and the longer I stood entranced, the further his beautiful blue eyes reached into mine. Somehow they were knocking on the door to my heart, stirring something so powerful it made me want to cry and laugh at the same time and, for a brief second, there was something in his eyes that made me feel complete.
Suddenly his brows squeezed then softened. “Ah … um … sorry about the electric shock.” He smiled. “But who’s Addison?”
My throat tightened as warmth flushed my cheeks. Who the hell was Addison?
Embarrassment pulled my eyes from his. “Oh,” I said, choking on my words, “Um … ah … no … I don’t know anyone called Addison … I mean, um … ”
“Oh!” He smiled cheekily as he leaned towards me and whispered. “You sounded so convinced I was him … I thought for a second I could be. I mean, if you wanted me to be.”
My face shot back to his, words jamming in my throat as I stared. Who was this guy, this stranger? In just a few seconds he’d turned my soul inside out, and now he was charming me with his words as well.
As his lips rose into a smile, I couldn’t help but smile back. But panic quickly returned to my constricted throat as that name re-entered my head.
Suddenly aware of the warmth still creeping across my face, I managed to pull my eyes from his again and divert my gaze. Addison, Addison, who the hell was Addison? I couldn’t budge the name from my thoughts.
As I stood fidgeting, I could feel him staring, waiting for me to say something, anything. After taking a breath, I shifted my gaze and we locked eyes again as I spoke. “Um,” I said, swallowing hard, “I must be mistaken … sorry.”
About the AuthorSherrie Wouters is a thirty something flame haired chick who accidentally wrote a book and is now an author. A qualified Homeoeopath and Kinesiologist, Sherrie lives in country Victoria, Australia with her husband, and two daughters. She is currently working on the sequel to Life Lived Twice.
WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK
Cover Reveal: The Ghost of You, by Amanda Burckhard
The Ghost of You
by Amanda
Burckhard
Release Date: 12/30/14
Swoon Romance
Summary from Goodreads:
Emmy has everything
she’s ever wanted: a hot boyfriend she adores, great friends, a promising
future, and even a well-connected family. But one night rips it all away.
A car accident
shatters her world, claiming the lives of her twin brother and her best friend.
In the wake of the accident, her friends drift away, her family falls apart,
and her boyfriend cheats.
The grief is more than
she can handle, so she finds escape at the bottom of a bottle of painkillers.
Taking the pills makes her brother alive again, if only in her head. Seeing and
talking to her brother as if he were still alive is the only thing that keeps
her going. Until Logan King moves to town.
Logan sees past the
mask of pristine popularity she wears in public and he’s the only one who can
tell she hasn’t moved on. His uncanny ability to read her forces her to open up
and she starts to fall for him, no matter how unwilling she is to admit it. But
Emmy isn’t the only one keeping secrets and when a close brush with death
sparks events that bring everything to light, Emmy will have to decide what’s
more important: learning how to forgive and move on, or holding onto the pills
and the ghost of her past.
About the Author
Amanda Burckhard grew up exploring bat caves and hunting for dinosaur
bones in the Black Hills of South Dakota. When she wasn’t crossing paths with
mountain lions, she was making up stories and devouring books at the library.
Although, she still does that.
Amanda loves to travel and cross out things on her adrenaline packed
bucket list. Some of the things she’s been able to cross out include see an
active volcano erupt, ride a gondola in Venice, and pet a tiger.
She currently lives in North Sioux City, South Dakota and works as a
microbiologist by day. Some of her obsessions include comic book movies, hot
chocolate, sushi, sunshine, and Doctor Who.
Author Links:
Spotlight On: The Fall, by Stephen Cost
Title: The Fall
Author: Stephen Cost
Publication: September 16th, 2014
For thousands of years, Death walked behind the dark veil of the living, waiting to ferry the dead. That is, until the day that Death took a life for pleasure rather than duty. On that day, the first Reaper fell to Earth. Now, Reapers live among us, craving the taste of death, forcing them to kill to satisfy their immortal hunger.
Giles Reid fell more than 300 years ago starving for the taste of death, only to find himself drowning in a sea of the living and blinded by a hunger that forces him to kill. In the centuries since his fall he has tried to be more human, desperate to live a life that makes up for what he is and the wrong he has done. Driven by his guilt over killing, he has chosen to feed only on evil; humans that have never been a threat to him but who are always a danger to others. That is, until the day he tries to feed on a human as strong, fast and cunning as himself; a human who, it turns out, has been hunting him. Now he is being pursued by the very evil he has fed on for centuries, embroiled in a deadly cat-and-mouse game, where friends and other Reapers connected to him are simply pawns on a chessboard waiting to be sacrificed. Giles is left with a choice, save the life of the women he loves, the daughter of his mentor, or betray her for his own survival.
To save the woman he loves, Giles will have to be the monster he is.
Purchase:
Amazon | B&N | Kobo
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Excerpt
“By the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing; so on the seventh day He rested from all His work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it He rested from all the work of creating that He had done.” The day that is the basis for The Fourth Commandment. (Genesis 2:2-3)
The following text was found in 1947 in a synagogue in Cairo, Egypt and rejected by the Church as heresy.
“By the seventh day God had created all life and the Earth, but He knew life could not exist without death and so Death was born to provide passage for his Children of Earth to his Kingdom of Heaven. This, he completed before the setting of the sun on the seventh day and so He rested from all His work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on this day He celebrated his creation of life and Death, He rested from all the work of creating that He had done. (Geniza fragments, found Cairo, Egypt, 1947)
“Death is the beginning of immortality”
– Maximilien Robespierre, July 26, 1794
1
Martins
People say they love the smell of fresh cut daisies, but I far prefer the scent of what pushes them up, the dead. You see, death has a scent all to itself, slightly tangy and bitter, pleasing and calming on the palate. Sure there are other aromas I love too, not just that of death, which can chase the chill from my heart, or would, if I had a heart; at least one that could beat and warm the night’s cold from my blood.
Every day I crave the smell of death and evil, I have since my birth. But living in a sea of flesh and blood, I have developed an appreciation for other human and earthly scents; Like the ocean, its sea salt assaulting my senses with a clean, pure bouquet, quite unmatched by anything manufactured. Or the first morning smell of fresh-cut, wet grass and, of course, women. Women smell so much sweeter than men. They, over the millenniums, have refined their scents out of necessity as much as pleasure, each expertly adapting their sultry, seductive and secret combinations of body lotions and perfumes. Honing this craft throughout the ages, to tempt and seduce men out of their minds.
But these are not the only olfactory delights to curl my toes and tickle my senses. For nothing—not the tangy stench of death, nor the sweet scent of a woman—compares to the most inspired aroma of all. Coffee. Nothing in my three-hundred-plus years of experience has compared. Sure, coffee itself has evolved, from non-filtered to filtered, from espresso to cappuccinos, and now from mochas to Frappuccinos, but the essence is the same. The intoxicating sweetness, the mild-to-bitter flavors that leave you wanting more—needing more.
You see, that’s my drug. Some people need cocaine, others heroin, and some crave cigars or alcohol. I, on the other hand, have the most decadent, refined and expensive vice of all. And it’s because of this little addiction—or weakness—that I can be found most nights here, sitting on the dimly-lit, damp, covered balcony of Martin’s Books and Coffee.
I sip my overpriced drug while the not-so-distant smell of the ocean creeps its way through the maze and tangled web of Seattle’s wet streets. The cars filing by below enhance the scent of the ocean sitting not too far from here, as the sound of their tires splashing through wet, potholed roads echoes that of the rush of a wave over a rock and the sound of ocean spray.
On most days, Martin’s tends to be a good place to relax. One of the few independently-owned book stores left in Seattle, the atmosphere here is calming and the lighting muted. Not so dark that you cannot read a book and enjoy your coffee, but just dim enough so that someone of my, let us say fair complexion, can go unnoticed by the everyday person stopping by for a fix and a good book.
The décor is modern contemporary, although the designer clearly relied far too much on his collection of old IKEA catalogs, with a thousand shades of tans and browns with brushed steel accents scattered throughout, for effect. I do think that they might have gone a little overboard with the alternating redwood and pine floor boards. The effect is still pleasantly calming if not somewhat dull.
So, why so critical, you may ask? It’s an occupational hazard, I’m afraid. We all, Reapers and humans alike, must have a day job and mine happens to be that of a wine critic. The crème de la crème of critics, although, truth-be-told, I’m not a big fan of wine. However, I have been gifted with a palate most French chefs would give their sous chef’s right hand for. Not their own hand, of course. No French chef I have ever met, and I have met more than my fair share, would ever think of giving that much for their craft.
“Mr. Reid, would you like another?”
The sound of her sing-song voice pulls me back to the moment, temporarily suspending my hazy, drug-induced stupor.
The question comes from Sarah, one of my favorite wait-persons here at Martin’s. Yes, I said wait-persons. Living—if you can call what I do living—in a world of political correctness, I’ve learned it is no longer appropriate to refer to someone as a ‘waitress’. That would be such denigration. Sarah is just the typical twenty-something coffee house wait-person who can be seen in any of the hundred or so coffee houses that pepper the Seattle Landscape—not Sarah herself, of course, but the type. Tall, but not too tall, with long blonde hair. A lightly tanned complexion and the body, a perfectly sculpted masterpiece. I’m not sure about the other Sarahs out there, but my Sarah has one defining attribute that I find hard to resist, her smell. The bouquet that wafts around her is subtle and ambiguous, what is that? Lavender with a hint of vanilla and cinnamon, perhaps?
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Trailer
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About Stephen
Stephen Cost was born in Wexford Ireland and raised in a small seaside town not far from Dublin. From a young age he would spin dark tales and write them down for his own amusement. At the age of 13 he moved from his home in Ireland to America and his love of dark American cinema took root.
He passes his free time, when not writing, by reading horror and fantasy genre novels in addition to watching science fiction and horror movies.
He graduated from University with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Sociology. A computer engineer by trade, he specializes in integrated system services and uses the knowledge gained from his degree to write emotionally captivating urban fiction.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
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Giveaway
Hosted by Good Choice Reading Blog Tours
September 17, 2014
My Thunderclap Campaign for the Sanguinary Release Party: http://thndr.it/1u0OZPU
Hey, y’all!
I’m trying out a Thunderclap promotion and I need help!
To participate, all you have to do is agree to let Thunderclap post my message ONCE on your social media. The message is an invitation to the Sanguinary release party on Facebook. I need 100 people to agree in order for the message to run.
Here’s a link to the Thunderclap campaign: http://thndr.it/1u0OZPU
September 16, 2014
Cover Reveal: PLACE BEYOND by Laura Howard
Title: A Place Beyond
Author: Laura Howard
Series: The Danaan Trilogy #3
Genre: New Adult, Fantasy
The time has come. Allison’s quest to save her mother from Aoife’s wicked enchantment will test everything she believes in.
Who is trustworthy in the land of the Fair Folk, the Tuatha de Danaan? It’s up to Allison, along with her ragtag host of allies, to unravel the truth.
Journey along and discover the power of love and duty as Allison faces the most difficult trial of her life.
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About Laura
Laura Howard lives in New Hampshire with her husband and four children. Her obsession with books began at the age of 6 when she got her first library card. Nancy Drew, Sweet Valley High and other girly novels were routinely devoured in single sittings. Books took a backseat to diapers when she had her first child. It wasn’t until the release of a little novel called Twilight, 8 years later, that she rediscovered her love of fiction. Soon after, her own characters began to make themselves known. The Forgotten Ones is her first published novel.
Goodreads | Website | Twitter | Facebook
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Hosted by Good Choice Reading Blog Tours
Spotlight On: Finding Mr. Darcy by Erin Butler
Finding Mr. Darcy: High School Edition
by Erin Butler
Release Date: 09/16/14
Summary from Goodreads:
Sixteen-year-old Liza Johnson takes fangirl to a whole new level of crazy when she decides to take dating advice from her literary hero: Jane Austen.
With the help of her best friends, Liza sheds her ancient-speak and complete Austen wardrobe for something a bit more modern in an attempt at finding her very own Mr. Darcy.
Enter Will, the new kid and Liza’s Darcy incarnate. Add her BFF’s ex to mix and the sexy Brit who kisses with an accent, and Liza is in trouble.
So, what’s a girl to do? Without her mom to go to relationship advice, Liza turns to the only person she can truly trust with matters of the heart via her mother’s copy of COMPLETED WORKS OF JANE AUSTEN.
It’s too bad Austen’s heroines have never played Spin the Bottle or Seven Minutes in Heaven. Liza’s determined to find her true Austen-esque happy ending, but if she can’t trust herself instead of books, she just might end up in her own tragic love story.
Get your copy:
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Excerpt
Buzzing.
I heard it as I moved closer. Each step raised the tiny hairs all over my body until I tingled. I fought the urge to turn around, but Janie would kill me. Again.
The humming pitched higher. My heart detonated in my chest. Just around the corner and…I was there.
Lunch.
I tugged my backpack tighter and held the straps out in front so I felt the security of it on my back. The monkeys were crazy today, jumping, screaming, laughing. All of them, the Geeks, Preps, Loners, Freaks, Smarties, Drama-Ramas, and Jockheads—all high—all with serious issues of ADHD and all put on this earth at the same time, designated to this lunchroom at this very minute, to bug the crap out of me.
My skin itched.
I skirted into the room a little more. Just in time to catch this little, lovely, mind-blowing comment from Christopher Kronin, Head Jock. “Hey man, did you check out Miranda today? I swear I saw some cleeeeeavage!” Or, as I like to call him, Head Tool in the Jerkoff Parade.
Wow. I’m sure that’ll be on our next science quiz. Question 22: Was or was not Miranda Ames displaying her cleavage last Wednesday? Trick Question! Correct answer: When isn’t Miranda Ames displaying massive amounts of cleavage?
DingDingDing. Insert cheeky, red makeupy, overenthusiastic host face. “My god, Liza Johnson, you are the smartest thing since sliced bread.” Insert my feigned embarrassment and tiny Miss America wave. “Thank you. Thank you.”
I smirked, wishing I’d saved that one for Janie. Too late. They never came out the same when spoken out loud. If Janie lived in my head with me, it would make things so much easier.
A tap on my shoulder brought me back to reality. I turned and looked down into the eyes of the mind-blower himself. “Um hello, freak? Why are you standing in the middle of the lunchroom smiling to yourself? You’re not about to go all Carrie on us, are you?” When was Christopher going to give it up already? I hadn’t said anything yet about his side escapades. He laughed his big, jock laugh. One of those mocking ones that really made your hand ball up into a fist and fantasize about your knuckles leaving pretty pink marks on his face.
Instead, I said, “Um, s-sorry,” and skittered away. I picked up the pace; dodged monkeys who already carried empty trays, and scanned heads for streaks of pink before they decided to fling their own feces at one another.
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About the Author
Erin Butler is lucky enough to have two jobs she truly loves. As a librarian, she gets to work with books all day long, and as an author, Erin uses her active imagination to write the kinds of books she enjoys reading. Young Adult and New Adult books are her favorites, but she especially loves the ones with kissing scenes.
Erin lives in Central New York with her very understanding husband, a stepson, and doggie BFF, Maxie. She prefers to spend her time indoors reading and writing, but will venture out for chocolate and sunshine. She is the author of BLOOD HEX, a YA paranormal, HOW WE LIVED, a contemporary New Adult novel, and FINDING MR. DARCY: HIGH SCHOOL EDITION, a contemporary YA.
Author Links:
GIVEAWAY:
Spotlight On: Louder Than Words, by Iris St. Clair
Louder Than Words
by Iris St. Clair
Release Date: 09/16/14
Swoon Romance
Summary from Goodreads:
Disappointment has been on speed dial in Ellen Grayson’s life lately. Her
dad died, her mom numbs the grief with drugs and alcohol, and her so-called
friends have slowly abandoned her.
Trusting a popular teacher with her troubles should have been safe and
should NOT have led to an unwelcome seduction attempt that made her desperate
to escape the final moments of Junior year. Lesson learned. Best to keep all
the sordid details to herself and trust no one.
Enter Rex Jacobi, a cocky boy, recently transplanted from New York City
and fellow summer camp employee. Though his quick wit and confidence draws her
in, she can’t let him get too close. And summer is just long enough and hot
enough to keep a boy like that at arm’s length.
But by the time Rex’s charm wears down her resistance, it’s too late.
He’s put Ellen on the “just friends” shelf and has shifted his
romantic attentions to the impossibly annoying and perky anti-Ellen. Even
worse, the teacher who tried to get her to sleep with him is still at it,
preying on other girls while Ellen struggles to come to terms with what
happened.
With her ability to trust as shaky as a chastity vow on prom night, Ellen
must decide if she has enough remaining courage to speak up about the
well-liked teacher and risk retribution, tell Rex how she really feels about
him and risk heartbreak, or hold all her secrets inside. After all, it’s the
only safe place she knows when the only thing louder than words is the fear of
being rejected.
Get your copy:
Louder Than Words Excerpt — “Tacos, Toilets and Douchebags”
A line three women deep greets me. Of course there’s no line for the men’s room. “Screw it,” I declare and pop inside. It’s a single-toilet bathroom with a lock. Who cares, other than that the hygienic conditions are worse than the ladies’ bathroom. I take my time placing three layers of toilet paper on the seat before using it. I scrub my hands extra thoroughly. After I’ve stalled long enough and no one has pounded on the door urging me to hurry up, I exit.
“Hello, Ellen.”
Mr. Hamer looms over me. He’s very tall and close enough that I can smell the beer on his breath. I don’t meet his eyes. I don’t want him to think a repeat of THE KISS is likely to happen, ever.
“Hi.”
“How are you?”
I can’t pass because he and the ladies’ bathroom line combined block my path. “I’m fine.” I can’t bring myself to ricochet the same pleasantry his way.
He gently takes my arm and backs up, pulling me past the ladies waiting but doesn’t release me. I should yank away but part of me warns that sudden movements would be bad.
When he’s effectively trapped me between him and the wall, he leans in and says, “I hope you aren’t beating yourself up over what happened. It was just one of those crazy things done in the heat of the moment that didn’t mean anything. Students often develop crushes on their teachers and sometimes they … act on those feelings.”
Wow. He’s trying to play me? Un-friggin-believable. I want to call him out, but he’s offering a return ticket to normalcy, the appearance of normalcy. As galling as his little fairy tale is, I take the ticket. “Right. Sure.”
“I hope there won’t be any lingering awkwardness. I want you to know I’ll respect your privacy, about what we discussed, you know,” he leans closer, “about your mother. That’s all.”
As he talks, I can see a ground of black pepper stuck between his teeth. I can’t tear my eyes away, until it occurs to me that I’m staring at his mouth.
“Uh, thanks. I appreciate that.”
God, why am I so lame? Why can’t I say what I mean? Why can’t I just open my mouth and say, “You kissed me, you asswipe. I didn’t, don’t, and have never had a crush on you.” Well, okay once upon a time I might have had a little crush on him. But not anymore, and it was never anything I would have acted upon. Ever. The curtain’s been ripped away and instead of Oz I see him for what he is: a douchebag. I just want to get my tacos and go home. I turn to walk away but he takes my arm again.
“It’s forgotten. Okay?” He smiles, but his eyes are two cold black pits.
About the Author
Iris St. Clair is the pen name for a long-suffering cubicle worker by day, a Walter Mitty-like dreamer by night. (Her alter ego Tatiana Ivanadance also choreographs gravity-defying routines in those fantasies, but that’s another bio.)
No matter what genre she writes, she prefers witty, insecure heroines and kind, persistent heroes able to break through to the gooey heart inside.
In high school she was voted most likely to win at Monopoly and Clue, but least likely to throw a ball anywhere near a target. Thank goodness writing requires less hand-eye coordination, punctuation errors notwithstanding.
Iris believes in the two-year “fish or cut bait” dating rule and has a 20+ year marriage and two teenaged sons as proof of concept. She lives, writes, dreams and dances in the rainy Portland, OR area.
Author Links:
GIVEAWAY:
