***COVER REVEAL*** Riley Rhea - Remember Love

Title: Remember Love

Author: Riley Rhea

Release Date: October 2013

Cover Design: Melissa Gill @ MGBookCovers

~Remember Love Synopsis~

They say you can never go home again. Brenna James is about to finish her final year of college when a visit home could change everything. Fate was pushing her towards her childhood best friend, Tucker, leaving Brenna no other option than to remember memories from a time once forgotten. Can Tucker slip himself into her heart? Will he be able to show her his feelings? The biggest question is, can Tucker help Brenna remember love?

Author Bio

Riley Rhea is your typical country girl, born and raised in the Bluegrass. In

the last 30 something years, she has successfully brought into this world 3

children, which may or not be claimed by her, depending on their behavior.

Riley enjoys reading, spending time on the farm and quiet afternoons when

those who call her mom leave the house. Riley also loves country music

and drools over Luke Bryan. Riley’s biggest fears are crickets and banks.

Not just an avid reader, Riley is an active blogger and reviews many books

during the span of a week when she isn’t writing about her loveable and

sexy country boys.

She’s always had a background in writing, her mother being an author, and

one day, out of the blue, 2 characters popped into her head and wouldn’t

shut up. After some advice from a good friend, Remember Love was born.

Thank you all for taking time to get to know Riley a little better. You can

always find her on Facebook if y’all want to chat a little more.

<3 Riley Rhea

Stalker Links:

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/RileyRheaAuthor

Blog:

www.rileyrhea.com

Goodreads:

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18305015-remember-love?from_search=true

Secrets of a Hart - CHECK THIS OUT!!

Amazon Buy Link

Barnes & Noble * Smashwords

Blurb:

Five years ago, Kendall Hart’s life changed forever. A tragedy forced her to grow up fast and become a responsible adult overnight while her friends were still enjoying high school. She lives and breathes work leaving no time for a social life and her circle of friends is small. She has no room for complications in her life…then Tristan walks in.

Tristan O’Neal is forced to return home when his father becomes terminally ill. Taking care of his parents, dealing with an irresponsible brother, and starting a new job bring challenges to his life. Starting a relationship is the last thing on his mind but when sees Kendall, he finds himself drawn to her...she is so familiar. 

Tristan is what Kendall has always wanted but life isn’t always fair. Sometimes you have to let go of the one person you’ve always loved in order to protect them. Will Tristan be able to break through the wall she’s built around her heart or will Kendall’s secrets consume her and destroy their chance at a life together?

Author Links

Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads

Bio:

Elizabeth James is the author of the Design Series. She writes contemporary romance set in her native North Carolina. A life-long reader, she began writing a novel at age fifteen, put it away with no hopes of publication, but now has realized her dream as an adult. Inspired by several bestselling authors she began working as a beta reader and her passion for writing once again surfaced. She embarked on a journey to see if she could complete a novel and Love by Design was born. With warm reception to her first novel she is now making this crazy world a part of her life. Elizabeth believes you're never too late in life to realize your dreams and this has opened up a new world of adventures and meeting new people which she loves to do. Elizabeth lives in North Carolina with her husband and their dogs. She enjoys traveling, exploring North Carolina, and spending time with her friends.

UnAttainable by Madeline Sheehan ***ASHLEY'S REVIEW**

This will be censored for GR and Amazon, BUT you guys deserve to see how I REALLY feel!!

Well, where does one start when reviewing a Madeline Sheehan novel?  No really, where do I start?  I guess we can start with thanking Madeline and all the girls that support this amazing author, no matter what.

“Name’s Gail, honey, but you can call me Slitty.  You wanna find out why?”

This is when I knew I was hooked.  It’s one thing for an author to give a shout out in their acknowledgements to their readers and their HUGE fans, but to name a character after them?  Come on now, how can you not LOVE Madeline?

All of Madeline’s books have this way of sucking you in and taking you on a ride you will never forget.  I especially loved UnAttainable because it took on the lives of 4 separate characters with a few of our past favorites all rolled into one amazing book.  I’m tellin ya, a ride you will never forget.  Oh, you don’t want to take a ride?

“Now, get in the car before I call Deuce and he makes you sit in the corner for acting like a douchebag!”

This is a ride all romance fans need to take.  It isn’t for the weak at heart or those who want cupcakes and rainbows in their stories.

“Her only boyfriend to date, a millionaire with a kink fetish who favored cream-colored cable knit sweaters..”

This isn’t that kind of book.  This is what real life looks like.  Nobody has the perfect marriage, perfect boyfriend, perfect job.  Shit happens and life is messy.  That’s why the Un series is so special to me.  No sugar coating.  No bullshit.  Just real.

“You wanna test that theory, you crazy fucking bitch?”

Well, yes.  Yes the hell I do.  Let’s look at Dirty.  I could not help but love him and his twisted as shit mind.  Here you have a man, a man who just wants to be like the other dudes, but is so fucked in the head, he can’t make himself fit into the “normalcy” that we all crave, even if we say we don’t.  Ellie is just a regular ole girl, wanting to fit into a job description, yet the one thing holding her back, is the one thing she can’t control.  Sound familiar friends? 

“Where in the motherfucking-shit-fucking-hell-fucking bullshit had that come from?”

That was me, yanno, showing you one of my new favorite couples in the Un series!!  Onto, another favorite.  Tegan and Cage.  How the hell do I describe these two?  You know that Eminem song, “When a tornado meets a volcano” line.  Yeah, that’s it.  These two are either going to make it or they are going to kill each other in the process. 

Cage – the horny, next in line to the throne, spitting image of his daddy and pain in my ass Cage effing West .. What does Tegan say?  Oh yeah, “a waste of a big dick and a pretty face”.  How can one not love this chick.  

Tegan the smart ass, never shuts her mouth, too good for the rest, loud mouthed bitch GAWD I loved her!!  She has loved Cage since they were kids and just as soon as Cage starts to show her a little attention, she freaks.  And why does she freak?  Uhhh yeah, her worst nightmare coming true.

“pregnant with a little biker baby that, knowing my luck, would be a boy who’d look just like his father, become a biker just like his father, and break a million hearts… just like his father”

Looks like we share the same damn fears, Tegan. 

We get a little Deuce and Eva in UnAttainable which was nice, until it wasn’t.  If Deuce were here, I would have punched him in the neck for some shit.

“Where the fuck is the Patron?”

I needed a drink.  BAD.

But this book was totally amazing.  These are just a few of my favorite quotes.  UnAttainable made me angry, happy, sad, depressed and like Madeline was writing my life story.  Babe, you did good and it’s not reeled the hell in.  It all boils down to one thing and this is how you get through it.

“You love the man, you love the life”

Thank you for this story Madeline.  I can’t wait to get more.  You are so very talented and each time I read something new, written by you, I get a new understanding into why you are so amazing and why you have such a strong following. 

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.  In a non cable knit sweater kinda way, you feel me?

PS – Dear Batman

“Don’t let that one catch you stickin’ your shit where it don’t belong.  She’s damn crazy and she’ll fuckin’ shoot your ass.”

<3 Ashley with 2 Chicks and a Blog

***SAVE ME FROM ME RELEASE***

Release Day: December 13, 2013

Synopsis:

Dani refuses to lose another parent due to her absence from their life. After pulling herself back together following the death of her father, she moves back to her childhood town to live with her mom. She’s slowly pulled back into the lifestyle she worked so hard to get away from ten years ago. She accepts that this is the life she has always been destined to live. Getting a job at the store down the road and hooking back up with her first love Gage, seems to be the logical way to go…that is until Holden Reynolds shows up in town. Now that Holden is finally back home from the Navy he plans on following in his father’s footsteps. Still trying to move on from the one woman who had his heart, he busies himself in work and returning to the country boy lifestyle he’s always loved. The best way to get over someone is to get under someone, right? That’s his mindset as he travels town to town with his job perfectly content with being a rambling man…that is until he meets Danielle Brooks. When Dani isn't leaving and Holden isn't staying will they be able to keep themselves from getting too attached? Or will they be just what each other needs to cut all the strings that have them bound? "You can’t save me from me, Holden.” –Dani.”  

♥ COMING DECEMBER 13, 2013♥

 

About Erika:

Facebook ♥ Twitter ♥ Goodreads Being born an "Army Brat", Erika Ashby has been residing in Oklahoma the last 10 years finally putting an end to the nomad tendencies she had grown accustomed to. She's a happily married woman who has 5 kids between her and her husband. She has an insane passion for music and embraces her Inner Groupie any chance she has. It wasn't until the age of 29 that she realized she also had a hidden passion for reading; before then she claimed to have hated it. Six months after unlocking that deep desire she never knew she held, she turned the key to another chapter of her life which has become the desire to write. And the rest is still history in the making. Book Trailer:

Teaser:

 

Chapter 1:

Dani Who would have thought at twenty-nine years of age this is where I'd be in life? I sure as shit didn't. I didn't expect to lose my dad six months ago and in return lose everything I had going for me. I was a daddy’s girl. The moment he died a piece of me went with him. I was left to pick up the life he had left behind — what little pieces there was left of it. I used that excuse right there to cease what life I had going before to a halt. I left everything to move back into the house my dad left me and my brother TJ — it was a couple towns over from where we grew up; a town he moved to once him and my mom got divorced. Maybe I thought I'd feel closer to him somehow by being surrounded by his stuff. Hell, that's exactly what I thought. But it had the reverse effect. Not only did I feel furthest away from him living in his empty house surrounded by everything him, I felt furthest away from myself. Not only did I lose my dad, I was starting to lose me. I knew my dad would be pissed that I was drowning in sorrow. If he was here he'd say, "Dani Jo, what the hell baby girl. Don't you dare sit around this house letting your life fall to shit. I damn well raised you better than that! Now get the hell up and go get your life back." Knowing that my dad would want me to let go of the pieces I lost of him and pick up mine instead, I moved back to the small town I graduated from. The town I love to hate. The town with stupid drama filled bitches and home to some of my bestest friends. The town with guys you'd love to hate and ones you will always love....and hate. The town where lots of hoes hated me because I didn't put up with their shit. I was the girl that could put a tramp in her place in no time. Not trying to say I was a badass, but I was a badass. Hell, I’m still a badass if I do say so myself. Growing up around my rowdy older brothers and sister, I had no choice but to be tough. I was definitely thankful for my Chuck Norris like skills in high school. Being in Oklahoma, we had some tough as shit Indian chicks that all the bitches were scared of. Everyone except me. Having no job, no money, or a place to stay my only option was going back and living with my mom. Doesn’t sound too bad, right? Wrong, maybe if my mom didn’t let my tweaking ass half-siblings reside there whenever they damn well pleased, then it wouldn’t be a bad set up. Billy and Brandy have always been mooches; must be something they inherited from their own father — maybe the drug habit runs in the blood too. I don’t know if mom is flat out stupid and doesn’t see that they’re doped up, or just turns a blind eye at them afraid to confront the truth. As if hiding the reality of the situation makes it okay. Maybe overlooking that there is an existing problem that needs tending to is much easier than dealing with the repercussion of bringing it up. I hate how they use her, and she just fucking lets them. You try telling her to kick their asses out and she just says, “Now Dani, they have nowhere to go. Just like you.” Rub that salt a little deeper. Just like I need another fucking reminder of how my life has gone to shit. But damn, it’s not like I’m trying to suck the life out of my mom by using her. Seeing the way they run all over her, I realize I’m the only one who truly has her back. I wasn’t there for my dad when he needed me most. Not that he would have admitted he needed me, but damn maybe if I wouldn’t have run off. I could have been around more to make sure he kept his health in check at least. Maybe he would have made some appointments to get the slight pains he was having in his chest checked out. But no, I wasn’t around as much as I should have been, and all his damn “friends” just played it off to stress or muscle spasms. Isn’t your heart a fucking muscle? Yah, that’s what I thought. So, here I am now, living with my mom back in my old room taking a vow to never drop the ball with her as I feel I did with my dad. I’ve accepted the fate that I’m destined to live out — my life in this shitty town. I got to live a good ten years away, and like a vacuum I was sucked back in. I don’t even think about the what if’s anymore. All they do is set you up for failure. They have you always wanting and wishing for more out of life. If you’re always wanting more, you can never be content with what you have. I gave up the good life when my father lost his. This is what my life is now. I’d like to say that I’m just temporarily putting my desires on the back burner until I get my shit together or I know for a fact that my mom will be fine without me around, but that’s not true. Hell, she’s been fine the whole time I’ve been gone, and while I had my breakdown after dad died, but now that I get a firsthand experience to the shit she deals with on a daily basis I’ll be damned if I leave her to deal with it alone. She won’t speak her mind, so I’ll do it for her even if it means more countless fights with my dope whore of a sister. The sister who runs off for days at a time leaving her kids with us to take care of. I’ve been so close to calling Department of Human Services on her nappy ass, but every time I do, my mom begs me not to. Why the fuck does she care what happens to her, the bitch needs to go to jail before I end up going for beating some sense into her ass. As if that is actually possible; it would have happened already. We literally fight at least once a week. She’s losing her touch I have to say. I’m sure it’s the drugs. All they’re good at is making her run her mouth faster than normal, but her reflexes are sloppy these days. She’s up to no good tonight bitching at my mom and I can already tell it’s not going to end well. The bitch doesn’t know how to watch her damn mouth. It’s called respect. There was a song about it. She’s yelling, “Why the hell won’t you let me borrow your damn car? I need to go to the store, it’s not like you need it,” to our mother at the top of her lungs. Nobody yells at my momma…nobody. “You better watch how you talk to mom Brandy. I’m only gonna warn your ass once.” She walks up to me acting like she’s going to bow up to me, “Oh yah Dani? Whatcha gonna do to me lil sis.” She laughs the words out like she actually thinks I won’t keep my word. Oh boy I’m about to get in a fight I can feel it. When she is like this the only way to shut her up is to put her in her place and the only way to put her in her place is with my fist. I sigh, “Do you really want to find out? It always ends the same with your bloody ass on the floor crying. Is that the look you’re going for tonight?” I turn to walk away hoping I had made my point which apparently I didn’t because the trick actually pulls me back by my fucking ponytail. When the hell did she become a coward? Oh wait, it’s nothing new. I can’t help but fall to the ground with the sudden yankage of my hair and she is instantly hovering over me yelling and trying to punch me through my arms that I’m using to protect my face. “Who the hell is on the ground now bitch? It’s not a fucking good look on you either. I don’t know who the fuck you think you are just showing back up here out of the blue thinking you can take over. We’ve been fucking handling shit just fine without your too good ass here.” That was all the motivation I needed. If she would have been smart she would have sat down on me, but since she didn’t I’m able to hike my leg back as much as possible between us and with all my might I kick the shit out of my evil sister. I can’t help the laugh that escapes my bloody lip as I watch her sail across the living room. “Ha! You didn’t expect that did you bitch? If you ever lay a fucking finger on my again I’ll make sure you die with your trusty needle in your arm. Same goes with the way you talk to our mom. You will treat her with nothing but respect. You know how easy it’d be for me to call up DHS on you? I got that shit on speed dial just for special occasions such as this.” She grabs her wrist and whines at me, “You broke my damn wrist. I’m calling the cops.” I laugh as I come out of the bathroom from cleaning my bloodied lip. I grab my purse and keys sitting on the ground next to the couch. “Okay well good luck with that. Go ahead and let them know that you’re coming down and we got into a fight because you didn’t have a ride to go get your next fix. I’m sure they’ll love to hear all about it.” I walk into the kitchen to where mom is making herself a new pot of coffee. She does this at night because being a mother to a bunch of heathens, she likes to make sure she’s up and around if any of them need her in the late hours. Her back is towards me as she just stands there watching the coffee drip into the pot. It smells so good I debate on having a cup with her, but I know I need to get away from this house, from my siblings. “Mom,” I lightly say as I reach for her shoulder. She jumps. Great, I scared my mom. “Sorry about that. I hate how she treats you. I hate how they both treat you. I can’t just sit around and say nothing.” She turns around fully to face me, grabbing both of my shoulders, “I know Dani Jo, but you can’t protect me. I understand that losing your dad has made you feel like you have to protect your loved ones, but no matter how hard you try, things happen that you have no control over. I just want you to be happy and get your life back honey.” She raises up to kiss me since I’m a good four inches taller than her. “I’m gonna go stay the night with TJ.” I give her a weak smile and she just nods. I pay no mind to my crazy ass sister yelling at me on my way out the door. If I let her get to me I’ll end up finishing what she started, and might really end up in jail. Sometimes it’s better to just shut people off even when it’s so damn hard. I jump into my truck that my dad left for me and crank the engine. It’s loud and rumbles to life beneath me. My dad had a lift kit installed knowing that I have always wanted a jacked up truck. I feel so delicate in it; the way I sit so high above everyone else is a feeling that I love. I pull out my phone and call TJ. Unlike my other two siblings, he’s got his shit together. Hell, unlike me as well. TJ is my go to man whenever I’m down. The only man I can count on now since our dad died. Anytime I need him, he’s by my side no questions asked…and tonight I’m desperate for his company. “Dannnnnniiiii Jo,” He drags out my name, “What’s happening sister?” I hear the loud music in the background and have a pretty good clue where he is. “Depending on if you’re back home, I’m heading your way.” He’s got a really good job these days working out of state. I miss having him closer to me, but unlike me, the way he deals with things is by getting away. And since he lives in our dad’s old house, it’s easier for him to travel around. Everyone deals with pain differently. I’m still trying to figure out the best way for me. “Yeah I’m home. Go ahead and meet us at the bar.” “Be there in forty-five.” I put my truck in drive and head for tonight’s distraction from reality. Holden All I’ve ever wanted is a fucking break. A fucking break from life and all the mundane shit it entails. I’d like to say I’ve been living life for me the last ten years, but I’m the only one who knows that’s the furthest thing from the truth. Maybe I was until my cousin ended up with my best friend who I was secretly in love with. The cousin who pushed me away after graduation because he obviously felt I was a threat. Call it what you will, but that’s when I started pushing my wants to a place of inexistence. What I wanted didn’t matter anymore. Did I want to join the Navy soon after graduation…was that ever a life goal or plan I had had? No flipping way. I was strongly encouraged to book it out of town and I gladly did since I wasn’t too sure how my heart would handle being rubbed in to the joyful couple’s happiness. I had doubts that my cousin would be good enough for Jesika. I had thought no one would be good enough for her…except me that is. Ten years ago I scrammed and got lost just like I was told to and two years ago I returned. I returned knowing my cousin wasn’t around to keep me from the one woman I had ever loved. It was pretty fucking wrong on my part to think I could come swooping back in after he died and pick up where me and her left off and tell her my feelings, but she had already moved on anyways. Lucky bastard. But honestly I couldn’t be happier with her choice because through all the bull shit, Jesika will always be one of my closest friends and I want what’s best for her even if it isn’t me. But whatever, I’m done living in the past. I’d like to say I’m living for me now, but that’s not the fullest truth either. Working for my dad has never been a dream of mine. It was a dream of his and like a genie his wish was finally granted. Yeah the money’s good and the work is hard, but it’s not me. An oilfield worker/pipeliner or whatever job title I have for the day is not what I want for the rest of my life, even if it’s what my dad wants to leave for me one day. No, this is temporary. This is what I do for now, until I find something else. Until something comes to me that I can’t shake. When that day comes I’ll be screaming Hallelujah and hopefully booking it with the whole father/son relationship still fully intact. Later, Pops. So here I am now driving me and my new buddy to our next destination…our new home for a while since this is a big job we’re headed to. He’s definitely not the best driving companion to have. He won’t stay up for shit and on top of that he snores. I can’t even drown him out with the damn radio and I sure as hell can’t get much thinking done with the croaking noises coming out of his mouth. It seriously sounds like he inhaled a frog and it’s lodged in his throat. I pull into some dinky Motel 6 and throw the truck in park. It’s not like hotel options are grand in the towns we end up working in and it’s not like our weekly per diem pays us enough to live like rock stars either. I smack Rusty’s arm startling him awake before I open my door to get out. “Wake up you snorin’ bastard. You’re damn lucky I didn’t have a pillow or anything else to suffocate your ass with.” “Quit trying to play tough, Holden. You like me too much to kill me.” “More like I like freedom too much.” I tease. “Ha! And you call this freedom?” He’s got me there. “Close enough. Plus, I don’t have to worry about dropping the soap with you around.” I joke. “You are damn fucking straight about that brother. Your asshole is safe around me.” You see my buddy here is a bit on the homophobic side. I don’t know why and I don’t really care to know. It’s not like he gets hit on by guys. Hell, I’m better looking than him and I don’t either. The truth is gay guys aren’t just going to walk up to you and try to get you naked. Sometimes small town mentalities make people think all crazy — damn bible-belter’s. But just like I don’t judge gays, I’m not judging my new buddy. It’s much easier to just be easy going. I’m not one to run towards conflict and in fact I usually try to re-direct it. It’s not because I’m a pussy and can’t deal, it’s just because I’ve always tried to be the peacemaker. Which is mostly why I’m even here today. We make our way into our room and I throw my bag on the floor next to my bed and fall back first onto my bed. It’s stiff as a three day old carcass. What I’d give for a soft damn bed and a non-scratchy comforter. I swear these things feel like a mixture between wool and a brillo pad. “You’d think these places could at least afford mattresses that don’t feel like they are filled with center blocks and blankets that won’t exfoliate you while you sleep.” “What I wonder is how do you even know what exfoliate is?” Rusty laughs. “I mean, I have three sisters and had no choice but to learn about all the foo foo shit they do, but you, you’re an only child, right?” He asks. “Dude, you don’t have to be a fucking chick to know about stuff chicks do. I’m sure plenty of guys actually do exfoliate.” “Yeah and I’m sure they tan and get pedicures as well while totally defiling their man card.” “There are plenty of straight guys that care that much about their appearances too, you know?” “Yeah, I’m starting to think you’re one of those guys.” He teases as he throws his pillow at me. “Fuck you man.” I toss it back nailing him in the face. “Nice arm, bro. And you said you never played any sports.” “Besides in my backyard with my cousin, I never did.” I remember playing catch with Jake when he’d come over. He was desperate for the companionship since he never got it at home. We both got to experience different aspects at each other’s houses growing up. It was kind of like living the best of both worlds. I’d go over to his house and be in video game heaven, and he’d come to mine and be in outdoor country boy heaven. “Anyways, what are we doing tonight?” I ask. “I guess we can drive around and look for a bar. I wouldn’t mind getting fucking laid tonight.” I really wouldn’t mind either. It’s been a good minute. When I first took off on the road I went a little crazy with it. Trying to get Jesika and the past years outta my mind. Out of sight, out of mind, right? Wrong. I’m slowly realizing sleazing around doesn’t help you get over people or circumstances, it’s time that does. Does that mean I don’t still sleep around and get any when the getting is good? No. I’m a fucking man. And usually a horny one at that. I’m not fucking stupid though and I always play it safe, but it doesn’t’ mean I can’t have fun. “Okay, get ready and we’ll grab something to eat first and then see what this town has to offer.” “Now that’s what I’m talking about. Let’s see what kind of pussy this town has to offer.” He waggles his brows at me. “Dude, I was talking about food and drinks. But you’re a crazy fuck, so pussy probably fits under that category for you.” “Damn straight. It’s a fucking meal and beverage all in itself.”    

**GIVEAWAY** Mirage by Ashley Suzanne

Ashley is doing a giveaway this weekend .. Just to say thank you to her readers for reading and loving Mirage as much as she does.

She's making corrections over this weekend, SO be sure to enter the giveaway.

SMOOCHES

a Rafflecopter giveaway

***PROMO POST*** Love In Between by Sandi Lynn

A Little About Sandi Lynn author of Love In Between:

I am the New York Times & USA Today bestselling author of Forever Black, Forever You and the highly anticipated release of the final book in the trilogy, Forever Us. I am the mother of three teenage girls, two cats and two sassy dogs. I love being a full-time writer and spend my days writing. I have a shopping addiction and a severe caffeine addiction. You can usuallyfind me hanging out at the local Starbucks (with my laptop) and shopping in my favorite store, Sephora. I love meeting and connecting with new people, so come find me at:

www.facebook.com/Sandi.Lynn.Author

www.authorsandilynn.com

https://twitter.com/SandilynnWriter

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6089757.Sandi_Lynn

SYNOPSIS:

My name is Lily Gilmore, and I was supposed to be getting married today. That was until I found my fiancé having sex with my sister in the church moments before I was supposed to walk down the aisle. I grew up with a father who was a womanizer and cheated on my mother every moment he had the chance. He would even stoop as low as to take me and my sister with him on his trysts when we were younger. Cheating was all I grew up with, and I vowed never to live the life my mother did. After finding my fiancé and my sister together, I moved from Seattle to Santa Monica to start a new life of independence and to focus on my passion for photography, man-free.

My name is Luke Matthews. About a year ago, I lost the love of my life, my fiancé, in a tragic car accident. There are no words that can describe how I’ve felt the past year. My life and all my dreams had died with her in the accident. I exist, and I play my guitar to try and ease the pain. My love was taken away, and I will never get that back.

What happens when the lives of two people who no longer believe in love are suddenly changed by fate?

LOVE IN BETWEEN TEASER ~ LUKE'S POV

I wanted us to make love for the right reasons. I didn’t want to be a one-night stand with her, and I’m sure she didn’t want to be one with me. I broke our kiss and looked at her. She had awoken something in me — something that’s been dead for a year.

“What have you done to me, Lily?” I asked her as I ran my fingers through her hair.

“The same thing you’ve done to me,” she responded.

“As much as I want you right now, I think we should wait.”

Lily looked at me and nodded her head. I pulled her into me and held her tight. “I’m scared. I don’t know where this is going. There’s so much I don’t know about you, and there’s so much you don’t know about me. I don’t want us to have sex on a whim and end up regretting it later. That’s not who I am, Lily, and I need you to trust me.”

She whispered in my ear. “I do trust you, and I agree with you.”

I tightened my arms around her. I thought she was perfect before, but now, she’s more than perfect. She got off of me and sat up on the couch. I sat up next to her and ran my finger along her shoulder, making small circles. “Will you go on a date with me tonight?”

AMAZON AND BUY LINKS!!

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17364677-love-in-between

http://www.amazon.com/Love-In-Between-ebook/dp/B00DMA6W16/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1376614036&sr=1-4

http://www.amazon.com/Love-In-Between-Sandi-Lynn/dp/1490943781/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1376614036&sr=1-4

Excerpt:

Opening the door to Lily’s apartment and stepping inside, I didn’t see her. I walked down the hall, stopped in the doorway of her bedroom, and stared at her laying on the bed all curled up. My heart broke seeing her like that. She must have heard me because she rolled over and tried to open her swollen eyes. As I walked over to her and sat on the edge of the bed, I pushed her hair behind her ear and leaned over, kissing her teary eye and moist cheek. She raised her arm up and looped it around my neck, bringing me closer as I buried my face deep into her.

“I’m so sorry for everything I said,” she began to cry.

“I’m sorry for not being here for you when you needed me, Lily.”

We laid there for a few moments in silence before I pulled back and looked at her. Her eyes were swollen and red. As I got up from the bed, she grabbed my hand, and I told her that I’d be right back. I walked to the bathroom and grabbed a wash cloth from under the sink. I ran the cloth under the warm water and folded it as I walked back to the bedroom. Gently wiping her face, the corners of her mouth turned up forming a small smile.

“That’s what I like to see.” I smiled back.

She sat up with her back against the headboard. I put the washcloth on the night stand and took both of her hands in mine, interlacing our fingers. “We need to talk, babe. You need to tell me what you’re feeling, where that last argument came from, and why you called me your father’s name. Because if we don’t, it’s going to happen again, and that’s not good for our relationship.”

I couldn’t stop thinking about Lily and our night together. I didn’t plan on making love to her quite yet, but she wanted me to, and who was I to deny her. I need to tell her about Callie and the accident. I was actually surprised she didn’t ask about my scar last night. My phone beeped with a reminder about the job I needed to do. I snapped out of my thoughts and back into reality; then I grabbed my tool box and headed upstairs to Mrs. Lopez’s apartment to fix her garbage disposal.

“You have that look, Luke,” Mrs. Lopez said.

“What look would that be, Mrs. Lopez?” I asked as I tightened the pipe under her kitchen sink.

“The look of love.”

I chuckled. “Is that so? How can you tell?”

“I can see it in your eyes. They have a new life about them. Who is she?”

I crawled out from under the sink and threw my wrench in the tool box. “I’m not in love, but I have met someone that I really like.” I smiled.

“Ah ha! I knew it!” she exclaimed. I sure hope it’s that cute little blonde that just moved in next door to you.”

“As a matter of fact, it is, and her name’s Lily,” I said as I took the bottle of water she held out me.

“I’m happy for you, Luke. I know you’ve had a rough year, and you deserve true happiness.”

I closed my tool box and picked it up from the floor. “Thanks for the water, Mrs. Lopez. Everything’s working perfectly now. Just call me if you need me,” I said as I walked out the door.

I walked back into my apartment, set my tool box down, then sat on the couch, looking at my phone. I missed Lily already. She’s always on my mind, and it’s driving me crazy, so I decided to send her a text message.

“How about dinner tonight at your place? We can cook together.”

“That sounds great! I don’t cook though.”

“I’ll teach you. We can go to the store together when you get home.”

“Alright, I can’t wait.”

“Me neither.”

As I was watching TV, and thinking about how slow the day was going, there was a knock on the door. As soon as I opened it, Lily threw her arms around me and kissed me. I pulled her into the apartment, kicked the door closed with the heel of my shoe, and pinned her up against the closet door as I kissed her passionately. After a moment, she broke our kiss and smiled at me.

“I missed you,” she said out of breath.

“I missed you too, and I couldn’t wait for you to get home,” I responded as my lips made their way behind her ear.

The door opened, and Sam walked in. “Really? You do know there’s a bedroom down that hall over there, right?” he said.

Lily and I laughed as I shook my head at Sam.

“Seriously, dude. I don’t want to come home and find the two of you having sex on the couch, because I may have to join in.”

I smacked him on the back of the head as I walked by. “That’s not even funny, bro,” I said as I pointed at him.

“Lily thinks it’s funny. Look at her; she’s laughing.”

“Babe, don’t humor him, please.”

Sam was laughing as he walked to his room.

“Are you ready to leave?” I asked as I walked over to her and ran the back of my hand softly across her cheek. She nodded her head, so we headed out the apartment and walked to the Jeep.

“What are we making?” Lily asked as I pushed the cart through the grocery store.

“I thought maybe we can cook some spaghetti with a homemade sauce, salad, and bread.”

“You make homemade sauce?”

“I sure do, and Charley loves it. My mom never cooked alone; she always made us cook as a family from the time we were six years old.”

Lily hooked her arm around mine and laid her head on my shoulder. “Your mom sounds amazing. My mom never cooked; she had her chef do all the cooking, and we rarely ate as a family.”

My heart ached for her when she told me that. I leaned over and kissed her head. “Come on, let’s get what we need and get out of here.”

We were walking through the store when I saw Bernie. “Hey, Luke,” he said as he looked at Lily.

“Hey, Bernie, how was Florida?” I asked him.

“Florida was great, and I’m getting closer to retirement. Who’s this beautiful woman on your arm, Luke?”

“This is Lily Gilmore. Lily, meet Bernie, the owner of Bernie’s Bar.”

Lily shook Bernie’s hand, and he smiled at her. “I’m going to take a stab in the dark here, but you wouldn’t happen to be Johnny Gilmore’s daughter, would you?”

Lily looked at him and smiled. “Yes, Johnny was my father.”

“I knew it!” Bernie exclaimed. “Look at you, all grown up. Your dad used to play in my bar when he was in Santa Monica, and he used to show me pictures of you. He was a brilliant musician; I’m sorry to hear about his death.”

“Thank you,” Lily said. “He was a great musician.”

“Hey, Luke, we need to sit down and discuss what you want to do with the bar. This last trip to Florida pushed me closer to selling, and the next time I go, I’m not coming back.”

“I know, and I have to give it some more thought. I’ll call you.”

“Don’t take too long, son, I have others who are interested. It was nice to meet you, Lily. Luke, I’ll talk to you soon,” he said as he walked away.

Lily looked at me as I sighed. “What was all that about?” she asked.

“We’ll talk about it over dinner,” I replied as we stepped into the checkout lane.