Wednesday, December 30, 2015

'The Confession: A True Story' by Prakash



Teenage, the time of life that is recognized by disorientation and discovery often drives one into going about finding thrill and adventure in life, sometimes resorting to the wrongs. The conscience however refuses to give up on the good old learning at just the price of thrill and adventure.

'The Confession' is one such story straight from the memories of my good old days in Amravati.

It is about an untold incident Ameet and I experienced.
It is about the mischief that gave us the thrill.
It is about the bad conscience that forced us into confessing.

Hope you enjoy the story as much as I did while putting it into words.


http://amzn.to/1YT10Si


About the author:

This is my debut novel. It is a true story based on an incident from my own life. A mischief me and my friend did, and a confession we made.

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

'The Crystal Snowflake' by Leigh Gillery


Blurb:

For the past eleven years, Elena has called a different realm home, a realm void of magic. Facing her 18th birthday, she's an unpopular wallflower, plagued by dreams of a beautiful woman much like her, and voices crying for help in the dark.

When Kellan, the gorgeous stranger with enchanting green eyes and almost medieval clothing, claims to know the answers to her questions, Elena's world is turned upside-down. How could she possibly believe his fanciful tale of wizards, elves and fairies? Is she really a princess like Kellan says she is? Could the answers she seeks lead her back home to a magical kingdom and the evil Queen she was shielded from?


http://amzn.to/1mo10NL


Author bio:

Leigh Gillery loves to write young adult fiction and will be releasing more in the future, including dystopian romance and more fantasy. She lives in Texarkana with her boyfriend and their dog.

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

'Puzzle Trees' by Thom Mark Shepard


A high school freshman grapples with change, loss, and little green monsters.

Countless vampire and zombie novels have been published for young adults, but Puzzle Trees uniquely explores the impact of horror entertainment upon one vulnerable high school freshman.

The Story

High school freshman Joe Sheffield has only recently begun to control his obsession with all things grim and gruesome. But when two of his best friends move away, and his last best friend gravitates toward a new set of friends, Joe feels his dark fantasies and phobias returning with a vengeance, even as he is drawn to Gina, a mysterious bird-like classmate with her own dark secret.
While searching for his principal's kitten, Joe discovers that several cats have disappeared within a single day from his principal's neighborhood. Unable to accept a more rational explanation, he comes to believe that predatory green primates have moved among the "puzzle trees," those decaying woods that lie between his principal's house and his own. When Theo, his skeptical but equally troubled half-brother, pays Joe a surprise visit, they go hunting for these possibly real, possibly imaginary creatures. Their astonishing discovery opens the door to a deeper mystery, one with potentially tragic consequences, which Joe must face alone.


http://amzn.to/1QFfUfQ


From the author:

"I am a librarian who has worked several years in public television, specializing in digital preservation. An earlier version of Puzzle Trees, titled The Green Apettes was a semi-finalist in the Amazon Young Adult contest, as well as a finalist in the Leapfrog Press Fiction Contest (Children's/Young Adult). I have won the Ellis Literary Award for Short Fiction, and have received a Pushcart Prize nomination."

Monday, December 21, 2015

'Supernatural Hero' by Eran Gadot Illustrations by Salit Krac



Description:

Beverly Hills Book Awards 2014 - Winner
Reader's Favorite Book contest 2014 - Silver
Medal IPPY Book Awards 2014 - Bronze
Medal Purple Dragonfly Book Awards 2014 - Honorable Mention
Indie Excellence Book Awards 2014 - Finalist
London Book Festival 2013 - Honorable Mention
Readers' Favorite: Book Reviews and Award Contest /Mamta Madhavan


5/5 review!"Supernatural Hero (Action & Adventure) (Comics & Graphic Novels) by Eran Gadot is a story that children can relate to easily. Andy is the typical nerd you will come across in your class. He is in grade six, skinny, wears glasses, and then falls in love with Zoe, the prettiest girl in his class. The twist in the story happens when Andy's grandfather dies and turns into a ghost. Now Andy has the power of seeing ghosts and communicating with them. He decides to use that power to the fullest. The paranormal activities make Andy a supernatural hero and the book is about the transformation of nerd Andy into a supernatural hero.

It is a very entertaining theme where one can relate to Andy and his nerdy behavior, which sees him being the butt of many jokes in class. The transformation of this nerdy boy is done very well and the change is fluid. It is the type of story that kids will find fascinating. The black and white sketches are beautiful and they give an individuality to the characters and the scenes. The manner in which Andy handles the situations in his life is noteworthy.

The theme covers everything that is part of a child's life: parents, school, friends, bullies, pretty girl, and much more. It is an entertaining read with a relatable character and exciting adventures that make it a fast paced story. Now from the nerd that he was, will this supernatural hero get the girl?"


Buy links




Tuesday, December 15, 2015

'The Download' by Ann Strawn



Em and her friends are all ready to start high school. One of only two African Americans in her class, shy Em just wants to find her niche without making waves. Before freshman year is over she finds herself at the source of a technological tsunami.

The unwitting recipient of a mysterious app, Em starts getting text messages from guardian angels. She wants to fit in and tries to keep her gift secret. But the texts keep gettting more serious. When "mom" and "cancer" come up in the same text Em must decide if she can, or even wants, to control such powerful technology.



http://amzn.to/1NRkXH9


About the author:

Ann Strawn lives in Renton Washington with her husband, two daughters and ruling Boston terrier. Teens are her favorite kind of people, which works well when you teach middle school. She considers her job total immersion training for writing about kids, technology and social media.

Cell phones and texting are absolute essentials in a kid's world. Kind of like body parts but much more important. Ann wrote The Download to open a window into this reality and add a twist. If an angel wanted a word, why not through that tiny glowing screen?

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

'A Rebel Star' by Alyssa Rae



Living atop the richest oil fields in Nigeria, the Ogoni people have battled for their rights against their own government and the greedy oil companies determined to take their lands. Chasing the secrets of her mother's past, Marienela leaves her privileged life in London to visit the Ogoni villages. There she will witness the destruction of the environment caused by none other than the oil company her father controls. She will meet rebels and soldiers. Writers and fighters. Face violence and corruption. And, through it all she will have to choose. Will Marienla return to the comfort and safety of her London home, or will she become…

A Rebel Star


http://amzn.to/1O4Ttda


Author bio:

Alyssa Rae was born in Massachussetts and currently resides in a small town in North Carolina. She is a devoted and enthusiastic reader, writer, and movie goer. Her debut novel, A Lions Pride, was published in early 2013. A Rebel Star is her second novel with many more projects soon to follow. 

Visit her online:

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

#99cent sale! 'Disappeared' The Complete Series by Bronwyn Kienapple


Blurb: 

England, 1813. Lady Theodosia stumbles into a different universe—an astonishing, mystical forest where half-beings roam the ruins of an unknown civilization and a growing mist is preparing to destroy it forever. Torn between her family and the man she meets there, Ahuil, Theodosia is haunted by a question she cannot shake: in the face of terrible danger, how much is she willing to risk for love?

Read an excerpt:
Prologue 
Fireflies flickered in the darkness like sputtering candles. The man slept deeply in the treetops, unaware of anything but the sweetness of his dreams. Great clouds of mist swept along the ground, rolling in like a silent storm. The fog did not rise to his level, so he was unaware of its chill. 
The man turned over under his quilts, smiling reflexively in his sleep. Far away, at the fringes of his world, a wall of mist quivered and pushed in. Another inch of his world swallowed. How sweet is the sleep of innocence when we can block out the worst of existence for a brief moment.

The mist paused on the ground under his tree as if listening. It gathered around the trunk and tried to rise but something pushed it back down. It shimmered with deep frustration and then, unable to do anything else, it crept on. 
Not today. But soon.

Buy links


Bio:

Bronwyn Kienapple is a Canadian writer and former publishing professional who quit her job to travel the world and write full time.

A constant traveler and reader, Bronwyn dreams of living among the rice paddies of Bali or taking the Trans-Siberian Railway across Russia. Her favorite books include The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Wintergirls, Fear of Flying, and anything by Mary Karr.


Visit Bronwyn's Amazon author page.

Saturday, October 31, 2015

Happy Halloween! The Monsterjunkies graphic novel is here!


ITS HALLOWEEN!!!!!!!

~ NEW Digital Color YA GRAPHIC NOVEL ~ CHECK IT OUT on Amazon ~

A new experience to read books on your kindle How cool is that!
It's about a Gothic family that takes care of exotic and mystical animals and keeps them safe from the world filled with non-believers.

Join the Monsterjunkie teenage family members Crow and Indigo as they confront a town's harsh bullying and find the courage to overcome their by throwing open the gates to their unique home and private sanctuary to their menagerie of protected, exotic and non existing legendary creatures.


http://amzn.to/1RF2sEX


Monday, October 26, 2015

'Twisted Proposal' by M.V. Miles


Blurb:

Jail is the last place fifteen-year-old Addison Solomon expected to wind up when she ran away. Not that this is a big surprise; her life has been on a downward slide since her drug-addicted aunt died, leaving her alone and penniless.

When her long-lost father appears, whisking her away with him to his mansion and second family in sunny California, Addison soon discovers that her new wealthy relatives are not exactly people she should trust. It seems that "daddy" has special plans for her--all in the name of financial gain.

Thrown into a world of betrayal, corruption, and manipulation, Addison struggles to navigate a path to safety and a home of her own. But with her father’s constant surveillance, it makes leaving quite a task.


http://amzn.to/1kHnbhc




About the author:

M.V. Miles works and lives in the Mid-west. Enjoys reading, watching movies, and writing. Her books are twisted in all the right ways. So give it a try if you like books that are far from the beaten track.

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

'Marvin's Curse' by Debra J. Edwards


Blurb:

After losing his dad, 17 year old Marvin finds he can see and talk to the dead, an inherited 'gift'. Bonus, you might think, but Marvin hates it believing it to be a curse. It makes him different and he just wants to be 'normal'. But normal has taken a very long holiday...



http://amzn.to/1jkQTrZ

About the author:

Originally from London, Debbie now lives in a disused quarry in Norfolk with her husband and boisterous staffy, Buster. As a former teacher, she is now able to devote more her time to writing. Any spare time is used for Spanish lessons and seeing the world, preferably by train.

Sunday, October 11, 2015

'Destiny's Road (Destiny Saga I)' by T. Starnes


Blurb:

A sci-fi coming of age story. Caspian Grey's life was already pretty weird, and then he started high school. He must cope with the bizarre changes in his life while trying to find the family he always wanted.


http://amzn.to/1VMOLoD


Author Bio:

A freelance writing living in Texas, T. Starnes has a love for books of all types, but preferably sci-fi, mystery and the occasional history.

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

#FREE until 10/9 'Sanctuary' by Pauline Creeden

sanctuary book bub

SanctuaryeBookLeft Behind for the Hunger Games Generation


In a heart-racing thriller described as Falling Skies meets The Walking Dead, Jennie struggles to find a safe place for what's left of her family. But it seems as though there is no place sacred, no place secure. First the aliens attacked the sun, making it dimmer, weaker, and half what it used to be. Then they attacked the water supply, killing one-third of Earth's population with a bitter contaminate. And when they unleash a new terror on humankind, the victims will wish for death, but will not find it…

When the world shatters to pieces around her, will Jennie find the strength she needs to keep going?



Buy on Audible / Amazon (Free until 10/9)/ Paperback



Pauline CreedenPauline Creeden


Pauline Creeden is a horse trainer from Virginia, but writing is her therapy. In her fiction, she creates worlds that are both familiar and strange, often pulling the veil between dimensions. She becomes the main character in each of her stories, and because she has ADD, she will get bored if she pretends to be one person for too long.

Follow Pauline Creeden: Website | Facebook | Twitter

'The Sword of Telemon (The Orfeo Saga Book One)' by Murray Lee Eiland, Jr.


Blurb:

A young Achaean prince (from northern ancient Greece) is captured in a raid. His younger brother Orfeo, and a group of warriors are sent on a mission to look for him. Telemon, a legendary warrior, and Zurga, an elderly wanderer, are soon joined by Clarice, a girl who is a master of disguise. To their dismay they find that the kidnapped prince has been made a galley slave and that the maritime power of Thera plans to conquer the entire Mediterranean. Can they avert disaster?

Read an Chapter 1:
Faint sounds seemed to mingle with the breeze, as they came first as distant whispers and then in wave-like gusts, now louder or softer, resounding along the valley walls and over the hilltops, carrying both a pleasant reminder of spring-awakened splendor and a sense of unease. Subtly the day’s stillness dissolved into disarray, as the restful rippling of the clear mountain stream now found counterpoint in the echoes of a great bronze bell, erupting in a voice of gentleness and power. A sense of alarm arose, and faint cries of assembly carried from the valley, where men ran to join the commotion around the king’s great tent. 
Orfeo had been sitting on a flat rock overlooking the encampment when he recognized that something had gone wrong. Raising himself more in disbelief than concern - as though his repose on the meadow and the bleating of his small goat flock made mockery of the frantic shouts below - he fastened his sandals and bounded from stone to stone toward the path and then raced in long loping strides down the hill. The goats could look after themselves until he found them later. When King Kiros summoned his people neither kinsmen nor retainers delayed, and now the mounting noise from below gave further spur for haste.

As he entered the encampment Orfeo heard first the clatter of swords in preparation for use before isolated words gave him a glimpse of what had happened. “A raid,” he heard repeated. Someone must have seen danger approaching, and the image brought with it a vision of the Hannae from the north, galloping on their small, swift horses, bringing fire and pillage in their wake. Once as a boy Orfeo had cowered in a thicket of juniper as the swordsmen had stood their ground against invaders and had finally driven them off. Now he was ready to stand with the others, still a boy, perhaps, at sixteen summers, but able to wield a sword and hold his place in the line. He ran toward his father’s tent, dodging nimbly among the assembling warriors. The bell now sounded at close quarters and sent a chill of excitement through the crowd. Standing on his platform before the great tent stood the king with raised arms. Three armed men had pushed before him with weary movements, as if they had run a greater distance than the others and had already encountered the enemy. 
“What news do you bring?” asked the king. 
“We were too late,” gasped the leader, Tyron, falling to his knees in shame and frustration. 
“They reached the ship before us and sailed.” He was trying to catch his breath. “They jeered at us as we reached the shore.” He held his weapon’s hilt in smoldering rage. 
“Then they are captive,” said the king as if the admission robbed him of all inner peace. “My oldest son, Herron, and three companions were attacked today and seized by raiders.”

Those in the crowd who had not already heard the news reacted both with shame and anger.
“It was a slave ship of Tyrian merchants,” added Tyron. “They landed several raiding parties, and they took captives among the men of Ikea to the south.” 
“Herron must be returned,” said the king with a voice more focused upon a course of action. 
“We must rescue or ransom my son from the slavers.”

http://amzn.to/1N0wW37


About the author:
My name is Murray Eiland Jr. I was born in 1936 and attended UCLA, UC Berkeley and UCSF (MD, 1961). I worked at Napa State Hospital from 1965-2000, and then at Contra Costa County Mental Health Clinic from 2000-2011. I continue to work for the court as a forensic psychiatrist as well as consult. I am happy that I have helped many people. 

In my free time I became interested in Oriental rugs. With my brother (who is still in the business) I opened a rug store. I wrote several books on oriental rugs, most recently with my son, who is an archaeologist. I have always been interested in ancient cultures, and during my travels to collect rugs I visited many areas of great antiquity. It was this experience which promoted me to write the Orfeo Saga. My foray into the private investigator genre was stimulated by my time in Los Angeles.

Monday, September 28, 2015

#FREE read! 'Fierceberry: Family Honor' by Moda Mahones


Blurb:

Based on a true Teen Romance story inspired from an On-line Fashion Store:

Leaving the security of your small town is a challenge that many young women face just about every day throughout the US and that challenge hasn’t gotten any easier even today.

Meet Carmela Vandale, an 18 year old girl who is about to graduate high school and will have to face that same challenge, or does she?

Carmela’s choices seem so much tougher when she must choose between honoring her mother’s wishes to stay in her secure small Indiana town or to follow her heart on the role of a dice challenges of starting a new life in Miami with her successful pastry chef fiancé.

It’s not a simple choice for a small town girl when you factor in her sick father, an over protective mother, a strained relationship with her distant fiancé, college choices, the unknowns of a new big city along with a shrinking window of time to decide.

Carmela may just find the choice to leave her small town too much with only the letters from her fiancé and orders from a Florida based Fashion Store called Fierce Berry keeping her desire to leave alive. Will Carmela finally decide to leave or will she let the love of her life go to appease her mother’s demands? How much time will her fiancé give her to make up her mind before he decides to move on?


FREE at these online retailers:




About the author:

Moda Mahones is a former model, author and entrepreneur, owner of the Fierce Berry Fashion store who loves to listen to the stories her fashion sense has inspired in her customers. She lives in the Tampa Bay area, but has customers and fans from around the world.

"Years in the fashion business have taught me that the best stories don’t come from where we think they should come from but from the hearts and experiences of the dedicated customers."

Friday, July 31, 2015

'The Homecoming Masquerade' by Spencer Baum


Blurb: 

In a posh suburb of the nation’s capital, at the most exclusive high school in the world, the vampires who secretly run the government have created a game for America’s daughters of privilege. Show up to Homecoming in a black dress and you’ve entered yourself in a contest where the winner becomes a vampire, and the loser becomes the winner’s first victim.

Buy links

Author bio: 

Spencer Baum is the author of 7 novels, the voice of two popular podcast audiobooks, and the author of the transmedia sci-fi series The Tetradome Run.

He lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico with his wife and three children.

Friday, July 10, 2015

Read an excerpt from 'Catchpenny (Part 1: Wicked Lover)' by Sarah Wathen & Win a copy!


Check out the first book in this serial novel, including an excerpt below! And then stay tuned for more!


Blurb:

Have you ever wondered about that girl at the edge of the crowd? The one who has dark, bushy hair that hides her eyes while she's reading, but tight shirts that don't even try to hide the size of her breasts? You've heard the rumors, you know the rude nicknames, and you wonder what she really does when she's not in school. She never comes to parties and she lives in a neighborhood where nice girls never venture. Everyone tries to ignore her...but there is something about her that's impossible to ignore. Especially for the star quarterback, apparently. Because he just asked her to the Homecoming dance, after dumping the head cheerleader.

Catchpenny tells the story from the eyes of "that girl," and Wicked Lover is just the beginning of this coming of age serial novel. The small town minds of Shirley County have underestimated Meg Shannon for too long. She’s even more fun than she is trouble…but maybe she has finally met her match.






Read an excerpt:

“Careful, you’re really close to the edge.”
I shot him a look full of arrogance. Valley boys visited the mountains, but they never played there. “Please.”
A narrow column of rock jutted up from the valley, separated from the main cliff by about two feet. We had always called it the exclamation point (or just “the point” for short) when I was a kid, because that’s exactly what it looked like. It was the first and smallest of the buttes, as the valley below met the canyons, and the mountains on either side squeezed the land into a bottleneck, with violent rapids rushing below. The point was wide enough for a couple people to sit on, maybe four people to stand on carefully. I hopped out onto the column of stone, my bare toes gripping the stone when I landed, steady and sure. I’d done it a million times. I focused on the moon; it looked as big as a planet about to crash right into the earth. A yellow sphere of Swiss cheese, in planetary proportions.
“The wolves will be out in force tonight,” I said, then threw my head back in a long howl. A prompt response echoed in the distance, the owner of which was more likely a hound dog hunting with his master than a roaming wolf. I laughed and looked back to see my date turning green behind me. “Don’t worry, I’ve got good balance—my mom says I’ve always been a mountain goat.”
He shook his head, sizing me up from the rear. “More like a mountain lion. Please come back, though.”
He held out his hand, obviously closer to the rim than he was comfortable with, but I ignored it. I turned back to the moon. “It’s not full yet.”
“Looks pretty full to me.”
“No, it’s still waxing. It’ll be full tomorrow.”
“Want to bet?” He stuck his hand out further, daring me to accept a shake on it.
“Okay. I know I’m right.”
The instant my hand made contact with his, his grip turned to iron and he yanked me towards himself, off the point and across the chasm. I crashed into his chest and he moved backwards with me—solid, not stumbling. His arms wrapped around my shoulders like steel girders, his body immovable and his face unflinching.
“You’re dangerous,” he mumbled, eyes blazing.
I tried to say, “You should talk,” but I’d somehow lost my voice.
“Away from the sheer drop.”
“Okay.” I nodded, glad to finally produce a sound with my startled vocal chords. I let him thread his fingers through mine, and he led me back to the car.
In the safety of the limo, he lounged back onto the seat, his eyes smoldering as he watched me. I settled myself opposite, arranging the beads of my cocktail dress and fluffing my curls, not really sure what had just occurred between us. Maybe he was angry with me; he sure looked it. I said, as innocently as I could manage, “Are you afraid of heights?”
“Afraid of having to dive off a cliff to catch you, maybe.”
I snorted. “Right.”
“Reckless,” he sighed, shaking his head.
“Sorry…”
“Sorry? You’re not like any girl I’ve ever met, Meg. It’s a lot to take in, but there’s no reason to be sorry.”
I fumbled with my beads a little more, unsure of how to proceed. I felt the car start to roll and I looked up in reaction, to see a door in the ceiling just over Tristan’s head. I had an idea. “Hey, we can get a perfect view of the moon from in here. That’s a sunroof, right?”
He looked above his head and his expression cooled. “Actually, I’ve been wanting to try that ever since I first got in.”
“You mean...ejector seat?” I met his spreading grin and he nodded, then reached over to push a button by his armrest. The window in the ceiling slid open and Tristan grabbed my hand, pulling me over to crouch with him on the seat below the skylight.
“Ejector seat!” we yelled together, springing up through the open roof, him laughing and me cheering like a five-year-old. The sky spread over us like velvet lavender, a blanket of winking stars around the glowing lunar orb. It felt so close I wanted to reach up and touch it—moments like that are the closest I ever get to church.



http://amzn.to/1LIEKHq

Author Bio

Sarah Wathen is an artist and an author. A painter at heart, she says, “Writing a book was my obvious next step, once I realized I’d been trying to tell stories with pictures for years. Painting with words is even more fun than painting with oil.” In 2012, she founded the independent publishing house, LayerCake Productions, specializing in the fun part of creative writing, like original artwork, video trailers, and musical soundtracks. She lives in Florida with her husband, son, and at least a dozen imaginary friends from her novels. Her characters are derived from the people and places that have influenced her own life, but the stories they live will take you places you have never imagined and won’t want to leave.

Links




https://open.spotify.com/track/5QSzzjhxaboo8cJEEPCnM9


On-demand T-shirts 



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

#Amish Romance: 'Sanctuary' by Sandy Goodridge


Blurb: 

When her two best friends are falling for Luke, the same man who stole her heart, can Olivia somehow manage to find happiness without losing her friends?

Olivia, Suzie and Sarah were the best of friends since they were
babies. They not only shared their most intimate thoughts and
feelings, they literally shared their dreams.

It seemed liked nothing could keep them apart from each other, until one day, a new Amish family moved into their community. And then they met Luke.

Will Luke choose Olivia and will they manage to get create a happy life together?

Or will Luke break her heart and tear the best friends apart?

As tensions are rising between Olivia and her friends, the looming
specter of Death and the Englischer world threatens a swift and
unfortunate conclusion. Can Olivia find enough light within her heart to cast away this darkness?

Come spend some time with the Amish in this story of friendship, love, loss and redemption.

http://amzn.to/1dFZAJI

Friday, July 3, 2015

'Catchpenny (Part 1: Wicked Lover)' by Sarah Wathen


Check out the first book in this serial novel, including an excerpt below! And then stay tuned for more!


Blurb:

Have you ever wondered about that girl at the edge of the crowd? The one who has dark, bushy hair that hides her eyes while she's reading, but tight shirts that don't even try to hide the size of her breasts? You've heard the rumors, you know the rude nicknames, and you wonder what she really does when she's not in school. She never comes to parties and she lives in a neighborhood where nice girls never venture. Everyone tries to ignore her...but there is something about her that's impossible to ignore. Especially for the star quarterback, apparently. Because he just asked her to the Homecoming dance, after dumping the head cheerleader.

Catchpenny tells the story from the eyes of "that girl," and Wicked Lover is just the beginning of this coming of age serial novel. The small town minds of Shirley County have underestimated Meg Shannon for too long. She’s even more fun than she is trouble…but maybe she has finally met her match.




Read an excerpt:

I opened up Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina, the pages blue after letting my closed eyes bake in the sun. I thumbed a few pages forward to see where the chapter ended, not really in the mood for reading, but always more comfortable to have a book in hand at lunchtime.
“Meg?”
He was standing just behind me, his head cocked to one side, looking over my shoulder at the Tolstoy. I gasped—I couldn’t help it.
“Hi, I’m Tristan.”
He was squinting into the sun, and it was hard to tell if he was smiling or frowning.
“Yeah, I know who you are.”
He shaded his eyes and laughed. Didn’t everyone know who he was? He was on the billboard in front of the football field, for god’s sake, his arm cocked back to throw a winning pass. Go Bobcatts!
“What are you reading?” His voice was soft and curious, with the hint of a Southern drawl that you didn’t hear in my neighborhood. High-class molasses. He squinted to read the pages I held open in my lap.
“Uh…” I faltered. The sun shone through his light irises like glass, shocking against his dark hair. His black polo shirt was gathered loosely around one hip, the hand in his pocket pushing it up casually over the waistband of his jeans. A slice of flesh was made visible. He stood in perfect contrapposto, bookbag slung over his shoulder like Michelangelo’s David holding the slingshot. I closed my book and tossed it onto the table, pretending not to notice how his jeans hung, low and delicious on slender hips. “Just something for English Lit.”
“How can you read out here? It’s so bright.”
Because I’d rather read a book than sit alone with no one talking to me. “I heard that people with light eyes have a harder time adjusting to bright light.”
“Really?”
He stepped closer to me, shifting his weight and putting his back to the sunlight. The color of his eyes reminded me of Halls Mentho-Lyptus cough drops after I’d sucked on one for a while and the zing got too strong to keep it in my mouth—icy blue and transparent.
“I don’t want to bother you or anything,” he said, dropping his voice lower, since we were face to face then. He smelled like soap and clean laundry, with something gritty underneath. Something undeniably male.
“No, I—” I cleared my throat. He was even better looking up close. “I’m not busy.”
He glanced back over his shoulder and the group of girls who had been watching suddenly picked up their conversation again, all of them talking at once and fumbling with their lunches. I was waiting with as much anticipation as they had been—why on earth was he talking to me?
“I’ll let you get back to your book, but I just wanted to ask you something.”
“Sure. What’s up?” Those eyes.
“Would you be my date for Homecoming this weekend?”
“Cough drop—” I spluttered.
“Huh?”
I slapped my chest and choked out a cough. “I mean…uh, the dance?”
“Yeah, the dance.”
“Wait. Don’t you have a girlfriend?” I wasn’t exactly buddies with anyone in the popular crowd at Andrew Jackson, nowhere close. But everyone knew that the star quarterback and the head cheerleader had been together since freshman year. Sugary sweet.
“No. I don’t have a girlfriend.” That smile again, but with an undercurrent in his voice.
The neighboring table had gone silent once more, the bombshell news of Tristan’s single status freezing them all mid-prattle.
“Absolutely.” I grinned over his shoulder—a present for our shocked audience.
“Absolutely, you’ll go with me?”
Did he really think I would say no? The curiosity itself was enough for me to agree.
“Sure. Why not?” I shrugged, like it was nothing to me. Yeah, right.
“Great. Okay, lemme just get your number...” He handed me his phone and I punched my number in, wondering what kind of psychedelic rabbit hole I had accidentally wandered through. Had somebody drugged my orange juice that morning? He took his phone back and saved, whispering, “Meg…Shannon,” as he typed. “Okay. Well, I’ll see you around, then?”
“Yeah, see ya.” I resisted the urge to bite down on my knuckles.
He winked at me and waved over his shoulder as he turned back to the courtyard entrance. His jeans looked even nicer from behind, snug around his well-shaped glutes and muscular thighs. “Bye, Meg.”
“Bye.”
I picked my book up again, refusing to gaze at his retreating form in concert with the other females. A wink, though. What did that mean? Maybe it was just the bright light on his Mentho-Lyptus eyes. I opened Anna Karenina again and pretended to concentrate for the rest of lunch. But I couldn’t read another word.



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Author Bio

Sarah Wathen is an artist and an author. A painter at heart, she says, “Writing a book was my obvious next step, once I realized I’d been trying to tell stories with pictures for years. Painting with words is even more fun than painting with oil.” In 2012, she founded the independent publishing house, LayerCake Productions, specializing in the fun part of creative writing, like original artwork, video trailers, and musical soundtracks. She lives in Florida with her husband, son, and at least a dozen imaginary friends from her novels. Her characters are derived from the people and places that have influenced her own life, but the stories they live will take you places you have never imagined and won’t want to leave.

Links




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