Labels

Monday, May 21, 2018

Tears of the Fallen by K.M. Hager


Tears
of the Fallen
by
K.M. Hager

Genre:
Paranormal Fantasy Romance

Amy
Coleman on a mission to find her son, the only problem was–up until
two days ago she never knew she had a child. 



Life
for Amy is not worth living anymore. She was brutally attacked, and
that nightmare of an abandoned child is seeping into her reality.
There is only one person who can stop her mission for death, a fallen
Angel by the name of Stephen. However, what Amy doesn't realise is
falling helplessly in love with this Angel will just lead her down a
dark and deadly path and right smack in the middle of an Angelic
War. 


After
spending seven years on a self-destructive path of abuse, she will
start to unravel the secrets and lies of that awful night she was
attacked sending her world upside down. When Amy uncovers what really
attacked her that night, she will also have to face the painful
reality that she is a mother because of it. 

The
Angels try with Heavenly influence to blocking any memory from her,
she still must find her son before her attacker Solas does and
sacrifices him in a bid to open the gates of purgatory.






Excerpt


It’s only when we get to meet death personally and stare into its darkness that we
will ever really feel the raw emotion and fear that the darkness brings in the last
fleeting moments of our lives. We all think about it and sense when it’s coming.
But like most unpleasant thoughts, we disregard it, choosing to ignore the
niggling doubts our instincts are so desperately trying to warn us about.
So when I walked home that night and took my usual route across the isolated
beach, I felt danger was coming. My body tried to warn me that something
wasn’t right.
Why didn’t I listen to it?
The hairs on the back of my neck began to stand up in protest. Fear travelled
through my veins and pumped its poisonous venom straight into my heart. The
panicked beats of my heart drowned out the sounds of the crashing waves as
they pounded the shore. I was too late. I was nearly at the other end, and it would
have been quicker to keep moving.
The clouds were closing over me, and the sun was far out into the distance,
ready to rest its tired head for the night. There would be no point in turning back
now. So I lunged forward toward the exit. I desperately tried to get to the stairs
so I could take the last step from the cold, wet sand and onto the familiar stone
of safety. But as I placed my left foot on the step and relaxed my body, I felt a
sharp pain at the side of my head. A strong, cruel grip wrapped itself around the
top of my arm, and my feet left the safety of the ground. I flew across the sand
through the cold air and landed directly on a rock. The pain was crippling and
rendered me semi-unconscious. I was unable to focus on any object or stand up
and run from whatever force of nature had tried to take my life. I lay there for a
minute and tried, frantically, to muster the energy so I could escape the situation.
I needed to get home. The blood from my head trickled down the side of my
face, and I needed help. My eyes tried to adjust back into focus and looked for
someone to come to my aid, but I could see no one.
As I lay on the dampness of the sand, I looked into the night sky. I watched
with panic as dark shadows emerged and hovered over me as if they were lost
souls that danced over my vulnerable body. At that moment, everything stood
still. Time and existence froze as I looked upon the lost souls that waited eagerly
to take my life. A life I hadn’t yet lived. I was only sixteen, and there was so
much left to do: finish my exams and smoke weed. Kiss Peter Jackson, the high
school hunk. Or even make love.
Then all my thoughts were gone. All that was left was acceptance that it was
my time. There was no way out of it, so I closed my eyes and accepted my fate.
“Oh, come on. It’s no fun if your eyes are closed.” I jumped. My heart leapt
straight out of my chest and slammed back inside me.
I looked up toward the shadows that had formed a ring around me. They
danced delicately over my body, and in the centre was darkness, a shadow that
had crept out from the night and lingered over me. A dark energy had my wrists
and pinned me to the ground, leaving me paralysed. I stared up at the silhouette,
and I watched with terror as the monster shifted, forcing an impression of a
human face while he tried to form in our realm. My alternate perception showed
me his true form.
His head shook erratically from side to side. He had me distracted. Within an
instant, he had successfully transcended and he was sitting down on top of me.
All I could see was his deep, penetrating eyes. They seemed almost hypnotic, but
were filled with sin. They were soulless and without a touch of humanity. He
was the Devil on his darkest day.


K.M.Hager
lives in Devon with her family. When she's not being a mother or a
referee to her two children, she tries to get on writing her Tears of
the Fallen series.





Follow
the tour HERE
for exclusive content and a giveaway!




A Witch's Journey The Lobster Cove Series By: Tena Stetler

Author: Tena Stetler

Narrators: Kate Tyler

Series: Lobster Cove, Book 1

Length: 9 hours 47 minutes

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Released: Oct. 19, 2017

Genre: Paranormal Romance


Pepper McKay comes from a long line of powerful witches. Unfortunately, magic brings her nothing but trouble. She learned the love of wildlife rescue and rehab from her Aunt Ashling. After graduating from college, Pepper works for Salem Wildlife Sanctuary and lives from paycheck to paycheck until she inherits the McKay property in Lobster Cove. With the family land and resources, she dares to dream of starting her own wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center.

Lathen Quartz, a former Navy SEAL turned handyman maintains the enchanted McKay property for the McKay estate. But someone is trying to steal the McKay magic. Lathen offers to help Pepper achieve her life-long dream of building a wildlife center. During the long hours spent together on the project, their mutual attraction can’t be denied. But each harbors a deep, dark secret. Will they overcome their demons and give love a chance?




Best-selling author, Tena Stetler, has an over-active imagination and writes award-winning paranormal romance novels. She wrote her first vampire romance as a tween, to the chagrin of her mother and the delight of her friends. Colorado is home; shared with her husband of many moons, a brilliant Chow, a spoiled parrot and a forty-five-year-old box turtle.

Her books tell stories of magical kick-ass women and mystical alpha males that dare to love them. Well, okay there are a few companion animals to round out the tales. Travel and adventure flourish in her novels. Any summer evening, you can find her curled up in front of a crackling fire with a good book, a glass of raspberry iced tea and a bowl of popcorn.

WebsiteTwitterFacebookGoodreads

Narrator Bio


Kate Tyler is an audiobook narrator and producer with several published audiobooks available on Audible, iTunes and Amazon. A background in drama and a successful career in voiceover, Kate lives with her family in San Diego and enjoys swimming, running, cycling and stand up paddleboard.

WebsiteTwitterFacebookInstagram

My review: 3 1/2 *
A Witch's Journey is book one in Tena Stetler's new series The Lobster Cove Series. The book to me was a sweet paranormal romance. It basically focuses on the main characters budding romance. If you want sweet and romance based this is a good book. With a witch and a shifter I figured there would be more magic going on. The blurb to the book really made it sound like this book would be action packed. Sadly it was not.

Pepper Mckay is from a long line of witches. Her Aunt passed away a few years ago and left everything to Pepper once her partner Colleen either moves or passes away. Colleen has decided to move closer to her family and ends the life contract. So Pepper at a very low point in her life receives her inheritance.

Pepper loads up and moves to Lobster Cove Maine. She decides to turn the land into a wildlife center. This is when she meets Navy Seal Lathan. He is the town handyman and also a Wolf Shifter. At the minute he cannot shift due to an injury  during his military service.

Pepper and Lathan very quickly let their mutual attraction for each other turn into a serious romance.

There are a few times during the book I thought things were going to get moving, but those things were handled very calmly and easily and did not jump the story into gear for me. I like a little mystery, I like a lot of paranormal, I like some romance, but I love some heart pounding moments, this book just didn't have that. I guess it would be a good story for a lazy day or before bed.


    I did listen to the audiobook. It is narrated by Kate Tyler. I have to admit the story may of been a bit better with a different narrator. I prefer narrators to had more depth to the characters and even the story parts. Kate would at times read..one..word..at..a..time. I really did not care for her male character voices at all either.


    I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Kate Tyler. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.

    • How did you wind up narrating audiobooks? Was it always your goal or was it something you stumbled into by chance?
      • Great question! My son, Drew, was 15 and ½ last summer. That’s a tough age for a kid entering summer because it’s a little too young for a summer job, and a little too old for a summer camp. We wanted to come up with something that we could do together during the summer to keep him busy, that would be fun and interactive, where he could earn a little side-money and something that might look good on a college resume! We searched Google for something he could do and among the suggestions we found narrating audiobooks. Since he and I both have a background in stage theater and improv, we thought it might be fun. I’m an avid audiobook listener and thought it would be fun! We ordered some equipment online and it came on a Saturday from Amazon. Drew had everything set up that night and we were off and running the next day, auditioning for books!
    • A lot of narrators seem to have a background in theatre. Is that something you think is essential to a successful narration career?
      • Yeah, that’s what most people think. Yes, I’m in theater and so is my son. It definitely helps, but it’s absolutely not essential. Since I’ve been in this world, I’ve gotten to know a lot of narrators and many of them would describe themselves as introverts. I’m an extrovert so I found that funny. But when you think about it, you’re all alone in a small room when you work, so it works well for people who are naturally introverted. Kind of cool, right?
    • Are you an audiobook listener? What about the audiobook format appeals to you?
      • Oh yes. I love audiobooks. I listen every week if not every day to something awesome on audio. I re-listen to stuff. I even follow a few narrators when I really like their voice. If I love a voice, I’ll check out everything they’ve done and if it appeals to me, I’ll grab it. I travel a lot for business and pleasure and I listen in the car, on trains, on airplanes and so on. I definitely listen when I’m working out. Nothing can make five miles go faster than a few good chapters of a zombie thriller!
    • Is there a particular genre you feel unsuited for? Have you ever declined a project because you didn’t think you were right for it?
      • So, yes. I’ve declined projects. Most people think it’s all acting, but there are some things I just don’t want to narrate because I just don’t believe in them. If there is a self-help book that gives advice I just disagree with, I’d turn it down. Narrating self-help is different from acting in that it’s your voice trying to convince someone of something. If you don’t believe it yourself, you’ve got two problems. One, you won’t like saying it. Two, it will come through as fake to the listener. All bad outcomes. So it’s best they find someone else. That could be true for other narrators with other touchy subjects like politics or religion too.
    • How closely do you prefer to work with authors?
      • I like to get to know the authors and what they are looking for. It’s the dream in their head we’re trying to make happen, so I want to try to get as close to that as possible. And, selfishly, I’m a sucker for applause and encouragement. So if my author loves my voice and they are telling me how much they enjoy how I’m doing a certain character, that’s a huge bonus for me. I love working with an author who is not shy in telling me when they are loving what I bring to the book!
    • Has anyone ever recognized you from your voice?
      • Um. No. A big no on that one. I guess it could happen, but I’ve actually gifted some of my audiobooks to friends and family and they’re like: “Are you sure that’s really you?” I think they mean it as a compliment, but with family you never can tell!
    • Have there been any characters that you really connected with?
      • Oh sure! You spend a lot of time with a book and voicing the characters. So a lot of what you bring to it is your own personality. It happens more often than not that you are feeling the emotions right along with the character. In Witchs’ Journey there were some exciting parts and some scary parts and some dreamy parts. You end up feeling all of those as you bring voices alive.
    • Do you read reviews for your audiobooks?
      • Absolutely! Reviews can be very important for the success of an audiobook. I encourage listeners to leave reviews. Whenever I see a book with one or two reviews I check out the reviewers page. Does it have one review or many? If there’s only one review, I tend to wonder if it was just the author’s mom who wrote something nice. Reviews from reviewers who read 30+ books a year are key. They really know what they like and the reviews are more deep than “I liked it a lot.” It’s been fun to get reviews that say things like: “I will definitely listen to Kate Tyler again!” That way I know I’ve done my job right.
    • What type of the review comments do you find most constructive?
      • I like reading reviews that give a taste of the story. Some sort of recap of what they thought the book was about. Once they’ve done that, then I want to see their impressions about how well the story was put together, and how well the narrator did the voices or characterizations.
    • Who is your “dream author” that you would like to record for?
      • Well, gee, I’d say Brene Brown, because I love her, but she usually does her own stuff which makes a lot of sense. If you know her, you know you want to hear her voice reading her material. And she’s very captivating to listen to. Not all authors can read their own material, but she is very talented and makes the book come alive.
    • What do you say to those who view listening to audiobooks as “cheating” or as inferior to “real reading”?
      • Oh, no. I think listening is equally as valuable as page turning. In fact, there are statistics that show that people who buy a book has about a 10% chance of reading it cover to cover. Audiobook listeners generally listen end to end about 80% of the time. If your goal is to get your story or message into a person, audiobook wins hands down. Not only that, page-turners are usually different people than listeners. If you want to reach a larger audience, you have to consider that. Making it available in different formats makes it accessible to a larger group of people. And after all, isn’t that the point?
    Top 10 List
    Narrator Kate Tyler's Top 10 Books She Heard Last Year
    1. Rejection Proof​ by Jia Jang, Narrated by Mike Chamberlain

    In a few words​: A business-focused book with a happy ending

    2. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms​ by George R R Martin, Narrated by Harry Lloyd

    In a few words:​ Harry has an AMAZING voice!!

    3. The Power of Full Engagement​, by Tony Schwartz and Jim Loehr. Narrated by the same.

    In a few words: ​Awesome insights, but not all Authors should read their own books.

    4. Earning Without Being Employed​, by Jeff Evarts, Narrated by Luke Rounda

    In a few words:​ Wow! Great ideas! Include “Audiobook Narrator” in the next edition!

    5. How to Win Friends and Influence People​ by Dale Carnegie, narrated by Andrew MacMillan In a few words:​ A classic that is as true today as it was when it was written

    6. Daring Greatly​ by Brene’ Brown. Narrated by the same.

    In a few words:​Heart, tears, practical advice. Beautifully performed by Brene’.

    7. Castle of Wisardry​ by David Eddings, Narrated by Cameron Beierly

    In a few words:​ Read this series when I was a kid. Listened to it with my kids this year. They ate it up and begged for more.

    8. A Week in Winter​ by Maeve Binchy, Narrated by Rosalyn Landor

    In a few words:​ Who doesn’t love the intertwining vignettes of Maeve Binchy??

    9. Cannery Row​ by John Steinbeck, Narrated by Jerry Farden

    In a few words: ​A classic that doesn’t feel like a classic. Brought to life in audio.

    10. Wishful Drinking​ by Carrie Fisher, Narrated by the same

    In a few words:​ One of the few I read first and then listened to. Laugh out loud funny. My sides hurt just remembering.



    May 17th:




    May 18th:


    May 19th:


    May 20th:


    May 21st:



    May 22nd:


    May 23rd:



    ➜Sign up as a host here






    Everything Under the Sun by Jessica Redmerski





    Everything Under the Sun

    Jessica Redmerski


    Genre: Dystopian YA/NA Crossover






    Date of Publication: August 28, 2017



    ISBN: 1546413081
    ASIN: B074W372G6

    Number of pages: 657
    Word Count: 203K

    Cover Image by Perrywinkle Photography
    Cover Design by Okay Creations

    Tagline: Can love survive in such dark times, or is it fated to die with them?

    Book Description:

    Thais Fenwick was eleven-years-old when civilization fell, devastated by a virus that killed off the majority of the world’s population. For seven years, Thais and her family lived in a community of survivors deep in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains. But when her town is attacked by raiders, she and her blind sister are taken away to the East-Central Territory where she is destined to live the cruel and unjust kind of life her late mother warned her about.

    Atticus Hunt is a troubled soldier in Lexington City who has spent the past seven years trying to conform to the vicious nature of men in a post-apocalyptic society. He knows that in order to survive, he must abandon his morals and his conscience and become like those he is surrounded by. But when he meets Thais, morals and conscience win out over conformity, and he risks his rank and his life to help her. They escape the city and set out together on a long and perilous journey to find safety in Shreveport, Louisiana.

    Struggling to survive in a world without electricity, food, shelter, and clean water, Atticus and Thais shed their fear of growing too close, and they fall hopelessly in love. But can love survive in such dark times, or is it fated to die with them?


    Kindle     Paperback




    Excerpt
    2

    It
    wasn’t supposed to be this way. I was supposed to travel with him until he got
    me out of Lexington City and then I was to make a run for it, kill him if I had
    to—but I didn’t. I was supposed to stay with these people and leave Atticus to
    do what he wanted, go where he wanted, without me—but I couldn’t. I was
    supposed to be afraid of him not only because of the terrible man he was when I
    first laid eyes on him, but also because he was a man—but I wasn’t. I wasn’t afraid of him.
    I was
    afraid for him.
    I was
    afraid of being without him…
    “Thais?”
    I looked
    up; my bottom lip quivered.
    “I will
    wait for you,” I said, trying to be strong. I wiped my tears, swallowed hard
    and nodded.
    Atticus
    dashed outside, pushing the barn door out of his way. Seconds later he came
    back with the horse. He tossed the quilt we’d slept on the night in the barn,
    over the horse’s back. Then he went over to the backpacks, stepping around
    Rachel’s unconscious body, and shoved everything back inside. He helped my arms
    into the straps of the larger backpack.
    Fitting
    his hands on my hips, Atticus hoisted me up and set me on the horse; I grabbed
    a hold of the horse’s reins.
    “Stay
    out of sight of the house,” he said as he fitted the smaller backpack and his
    jacket between my legs. “And cut through the woods there”—he pointed toward the
    back of the barn—“that’s west; just keep as straight as you can in that
    direction, but don’t leave the woods.”
    I
    nodded.
    He
    walked with me outside the barn, stopped to look out at the flat land beyond
    the highway where those who were coming for us would likely be, and then led me
    around the barn. The deep woods beckoned me out ahead; I couldn’t help but feel
    intimidated by them, as if they were some kind of final leg of our journey—or
    the beginning of my journey alone.
    Steadying
    my breath, I looked down at Atticus once more, transfixed on his intense blue
    eyes, the sculpted shape and rough texture of his handsome face, and I couldn’t
    imagine at this point never seeing it again.
    “I’ll
    come for you,” he promised.


    Tearing
    my gaze from his, I faced forward and tightened my grip of the reins.
      
    About the Author:

    Jessica Redmerski is a New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, international bestseller, and award winner, who juggles several different genres. She began self-publishing in 2012, and later with the success of THE EDGE OF NEVER, signed on with Grand Central Publishing/Forever Romance. Her works have been translated into more than twenty languages.

    Jessica is a hybrid author who, in addition to working with a traditional publisher, also continues to self-publish. Her popular crime and suspense series, In the Company of Killers, has been optioned for television in the United States by actor and model William Levy, and a film exclusive to the Dominican Republic.

    She also writes as J.A. Redmerski.



    Twitter: https://twitter.com/JRedmerski

    Interview with Jessica Redmerski

    What inspired you to write EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN?

    Daryl and Beth on the television show The Walking Dead - If Beth had been just a little older, a relationship between them, forced by survival and the post-apocalyptic world they lived in, would have been sweet. But because that could never happen, I made it my duty to tell the love story inspired by them, that grew in my heart.

    Do you personally relate to either of the main characters in the book?


    I think so, yes. Thais and I want the same things in this world, so through her I’m expressing them the only way I know how.

    How do you plot your novels? Do you outline?

    I never outline because I like to let the story and the characters take me where they want to go. Some authors can outline very well and it works for them, but I can’t do it. It has always felt more natural to me to just go along for the ride and see where it takes me, kind of like in real life, I guess. Some scenes in my books were figured out ahead of time, but not ‘planned out’ ahead of time, and there’s a big difference. The only exception to this method is that I do always know my ending before I begin. (Except with my book DIRTY EDEN)

    Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you
    about their work?

    I don’t have a favorite – I have several! Anne Rice and Neil Gaiman I have admired for many years. I love Rice’s deep, descriptive style and Gaiman’s unique ideas. But I also love Paullina Simons and Cormac McCarthy – there are just so many! And, of course, there’s J.K. Rowling, but I don’t really have to name her, do I? Isn’t she everybody’s favorite by default? 😊

    How important is it to understand the basics of publishing before delving into selfpublishing?

    Writers need to understand that selfpublishing is not easy. Sure, you can write a book and upload it and start selling, but there is so much more to it than that. If a writer chooses to selfpublish they must commit to some hardcore selfpromoting and spending a lot of their own money (professional editing, giveaways, review copies, cover art, advertisements, etc.). Bypassing all of this stuff can leave your book buried beneath the avalanche of millions of other books competing for the same exposure.

    a Rafflecopter giveaway








    Simmer by Stephanie Rose

    Title: Simmer
    Author: Stephanie Rose
    Genre: Contemporary Romance
    Publication Date: May 16, 2018





    "Simmer is the perfect concoction of a sweet and savory romance that sizzles off the page." ~ Bestselling author, Faith Andrews

    "All the stars! This book is an absolute must read! Rose's amazing talent for storytelling and character development shine throughout this book." ~ NovelMomma

    "Simmer is poignant, passionate, and the kind of slow burn that will have you boiling over with excitement as you devour every last word." ~ Bestselling author, BL Berry


    Simmer (verb): to stew gently below or just at the boiling point; to be in a state of incipient development

    My life was always at a simmer… only stewing, never going anywhere. I was left to fend for myself when it came to affection or love, so I learned to go without.

    I refused to let them see how broken and lonely I was; it was much easier to hide behind a false reality. I didn't want anyone's pity. I didn't need it. Pity wouldn't put food on the table or keep a roof over our heads. That was all me.

    Now, I have a second chance at a dream long forgotten. It demands hard work and sacrifice—with absolutely no distractions. A recipe I already know all too well, raising a daughter on my own.

    Drew Kostas is everything I’ve ever wanted but couldn't let myself have. He’s younger, gorgeous, charming—and relentless. He sees beyond the hardened shell I’ve built to protect myself, coaxing out a softer me I don't recognize.

    It doesn't matter how I melt in his presence when the heat between us threatens to boil over.

    That's the thing about heat. When it rises, everyone gets burned.

    Especially when they're foolish enough to fall in love.



    “Hey, Kostas!” A voice called out behind us. “Still coming here at the butt crack of dawn?” Chase ambled over to us. He was a grad student, too, but I only knew him through a friend of mine. “And you’ve got a pretty running partner now.”

    I didn’t like or dislike him, but his presence now made me bristle with irritation. I suspected it had something to do with how he brazenly eye fucked Sara as she leaned back on the bench.

    “I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Chase. Nice to meet you.” He extended a hand to Sara with a huge, shit-eating grin. I gripped the edge of the metal bench to fight the urge to ball my hands into fists and pummel them right in his face.

    “Sara.” She gripped his hand, and he didn’t let go as easily as he should have, or at least as easily as I thought he should have. He settled next to her, again too close for my comfort, and blood boiled in my veins. He was always on the creepy side, but I never wanted to kick the shit out of him for it before.

    “Are you one of Drew’s friends?” She squinted as she looked between us.

    “We were in a few classes last year.” I shrugged before standing. “And we were just on our way to breakfast, so if you’ll excuse us.” I grabbed her hand and yanked her off the bench harder than I’d meant to. Something inside me snapped and needed to get her away from this asshole as soon as possible.

    Maybe I didn’t accept being just friends with Sara as much as I let on. Maybe I hated that I had no claim or right to tell Chase or guys like him who approached her to back off. Maybe I wanted her to be mine—now. Not maybe at some unsure point in the unforeseeable future.

    “Are you all right?” Sara stilled and yanked back.

    “Fine,” I clipped, still irritated as fuck, and doing a shit job of hiding it. Her brows pinched in confusion, and I didn’t blame her. Sometimes, I wondered what the hell was wrong with me, too.

    We were supposed to be only friends, but I hadn’t so much as glanced in another woman’s direction since Sara stumbled into the lab that night. I’d go to the bar with the guys and the girls either wouldn’t be pretty enough or smart enough or something else enough. The problem, or my problem was, they weren’t Sara enough.

    Silence fell over us as we made our way to the diner on campus. It was only when I reached for the door that I realized I still held her hand in mine. I’d never dropped it, and she never pulled away. Now I was even more pissed at myself for wanting to make that simple gesture mean something between us.

    The waitress brought our menus over right after we were seated. The usual playfulness between us wasn’t there. The air that surrounded us was thick and uncomfortable. Shaking off what happened with Chase was harder than it should’ve been. He only shook her hand … and leered at her. I raked my hand through my hair as the thought pissed me off all over again. What would I do if a guy tried more than that? I’d end up in jail if I didn’t reel myself in.

    “Why do you waste your time, Drew?” Sara’s voice was small.

    I lifted my head to meet her pained stare. Her chocolate brown eyes bore into mine, half questioning, half exposed. I’d never seen her this vulnerable before.

    “Waste my time?”

    “You could spend time with anyone.Be with anyone … without issues and a ton of baggage. Someone your age. Someone who could keep up with you.” She put her head down and laughed.

    “But that someone wouldn’t be you.” Her eyes brightened right before they squeezed shut. I still wouldn’t push, but I was done lying to myself or her.

    “Drew, you’re a good guy. I’m holding you back, I can tell. I love hanging out with you, but I can’t ask you—”’

    “You never asked me to do anything. I love hanging out with you, too. I don’t know who convinced you that you were some kind of unwanted burden, but you’re not. Never. So, you’re not blowing me off, Caldwell. Nice try.” I let my lips curve up, hoping to draw out a smile.

    “You wanted to punch Chase, didn’t you?” The corners of her mouth twitched.

    “Maybe.” I shrugged, pretending to peruse the menu I’d seen a hundred times.

    She let out a heavy sigh as she opened the menu. “You’re a foolish man, Kostas.”

    Maybe I was a fool, but she was worth it. Sooner or later, I’d get her to believe that.






    Stephanie Rose grew up loving words and making up stories. Being able to share them with readers is her dream come true. This lifelong Bronx girl loves Starbucks, wine and 80s rock. Her voice often gets mistaken for a Mob Wives trailer. 

    She married her prom date and has a LEGO obsessed son. She believes there is nothing sexier than a good guy who loves with all his heart and has made it her mission to bring as many as she can to the page.






    HOSTED BY: