Laura Howard: June 2014

6/14/14

Broken Angel Trilogy by L.G. Castillo


Today I'm welcoming author L.G. Castillo to my blog. I love the covers of her Broken Angel Trilogy, don't you?

L.G. would love to give a set of all three e-books to one lucky winner! All you have to do is leave a comment with your name and email address. Oh, and make sure you stop by her Facebook page to say hello!


 

Kindle |  Nook |  iTunes |  Kobo
Decades after being banished from Heaven for saving a life he shouldn’t have, Lash is given a chance to redeem himself. His mission: protect Naomi Duran, a young woman who has lost faith in herself. The assignment proves to be anything but simple when his superiors, the Archangels, withhold key information    about Naomi and refuse to restore Lash’s powers. When an unexpected source reveals centuries-old secrets, his trust is shaken to the core, and he begins to doubt those whom he had once considered to be his greatest allies. 

Determined to avoid anything that would risk his chances of returning to Heaven, Lash struggles with the greatest obstacle of all—his growing feelings for Naomi. But when her life is threatened by an unknown source, Lash questions the wisdom of the Archangels and his ability to keep her safe. 

Soon, Lash will have to choose where to place his faith—in the home he has fought so hard to regain or in the forbidden love he can’t bear to lose.


Kindle  |  Nook |  iTunes |  Kobo


There's a Spanish proverb that says, "From the thorn and the pain, a flower is born." Naomi Duran never really understood what that meant until she became an archangel.

Finally reunited with the love of her life, Naomi thought she had everlasting love and happiness in Heaven. Even with the rebellious Lash by her side, she learns that life as an archangel isn't easy. 

When secrets of the past are finally revealed, tempers flare, brother is pitted against brother, and Naomi and Lash face the greatest threat to their relationship: choosing among love, family, or duty.
Kindle |  Nook  |  iTunes |  Kobo

Lash remembered what Naomi's grandmother once told him long ago: "There is always light where there is love."


He kept those words close to his heart because they meant that the love between him and Naomi was destined. With the binding ceremony behind them, Lash and Naomi have even more questions about their past lives as memories resurface and they discover that they were kept apart by the one person they had thought was their greatest ally--Archangel Raphael. When the other archangels finally reveal the mystery of their ancient past, they uncover a story of lust, envy, betrayal, loss and descent into darkness.

In the wake of these revelations, will love be enough to keep their family together?






Author Bio
L.G. Castillo is an experienced author who has published her psychological research in several professional journals and books. She is a licensed psychologist and currently works as a professor at Texas A&M University. The Broken Angel Trilogy is her first venture into publishing genre fiction and has sold over 36,000 copies in its first year of publication.







Don't forget to leave a comment for a chance at the Broken Angel Trilogy!


6/13/14

COVER REVEAL: Sanctum by Cameo Renae


Title: Sanctum (The After Light Saga #2)
Author: Cameo Renae
Genre: YA Post-Apocalyptic/Dystopian
Publisher: CHBB
Cover Design: Regina Wamba at Mae I Design Photography
                            Hosted by: Lady Amber's Tours



Blurb: 
The Arvy threat worsens each day. They continue to destroy the hive’s vital fuel resources, leaving us with one option— evacuate to the largest government bunker, located in South Dakota. The injured hive members are moved as first priority, but a disastrous event occurs on the way to our drop-off zone. We find ourselves in a ghost town, surrounded by spiteful, revenge filled Arvies. Chaos ensues and our death toll rises. Just when we think the end has come, unsuspected help arrives. We are rescued and brought to an underground bunker. They call it Sanctum. With no way of reaching outside help, we must depend on each other to reach our pick-up zone, thirty miles away. If we don’t make it in time, we will be left for dead.

Time is ticking. My name is Abigail Park. I am a survivor.


My family is what keeps my heart beating, and my world a happy place to be. I love reading great books that whisk me away from reality, even if for a little while. :) Writing is my passion. I love creating new worlds and new characters, and taking wondrous adventures with them. In My Dreams & Hidden Wings were both recently published through Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing. Descent (A Hidden Wings novella) will be released May 15, 2013, and Broken Wings (Book 2 in the Hidden Wings Series) will be released June 1, 2013. One day I will find my magic wardrobe, and ride away on my magical unicorn... ♥ Until then... I'll keep writing! ;)

Follow Cameo on: Facebook * Blog * Website * Twitter

6/11/14

Crimson Fire by Bella Harte

Title: Crimson Fire ~ Book II ~ The Seraphoenix Saga
Author: Bella Harte
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
Tour Host: Lady Amber's Tours 
Cover Artist: Jessica Allain Art




Book Blurb:
It was meant to be fixed… her destiny back on track, how wrong could she be…

Just when Scarlett thought everything was back to normal, well as normal as life can be with a posse of Seraphoenix Angel Guardians looking out for you.  She wakes to find her life plunged into a whole new nightmare, where time itself has changed and she appears to be the only one aware of it.

In this new reality everything has altered, Leo and the Seraphoenix are missing.  Even her parents are different, as they turn against her when she is unexpectedly framed for things she didn't do.  To make matters worse she is unceremoniously shipped off to a supposed reform school for out of control teens in the wilds of ‘god-knows-where’ escorted by someone she recognises and really wished she didn’t.

Nothing is what it seems at the new school and the pupils are less than hospitable.  Scarlett finds herself in one deadly situation after another at the mercy of all those around her, and there is no-one she can trust with her secret.

Can Scarlett escape the menacing clutches of evil in this new reality?

Will Leo come to her rescue?

********

Book Buy link:
Amazon Universal Buy Link:  myBook.to/CrimsonFire


Author Bio:
Bella Harte has been writing for well over a decade, and completed several novels before deciding to go in a whole new direction and write for the Young Adult genre. 

Aside from writing, Bella has also worked as a fashion designer and interior designer. She lives in a quiet part of rural England with her gorgeous husband, who doesn't mind in the slightest if she vanishes for hours at a time into her writing cave.

Author Links:
Blog: www.bellaharte.blogspot.co.uk
Website: www.bellaharte.wix.com/author
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BellaHarteBooks
Twitter: www.twitter.com/BellaHarteBooks @BellaHarteBooks

Give-Away: 
The give-away runs from the until June14th 

Up for grabs: 
 1 x Gorgeous Sparkly Silver Feather Pendant & Chain ~
 1 x £10 Amazon Giftcard (UK only) ~
 1 x $10 Amazon Giftcard (USA only) ~ 
 4 x Gorgeous Silver Feather & Crystal Charm Bracelets ~ 
 4 x Fabulous Silver Feather & Crystal Bookmarks ~ 
 4 x Fantastic Silver Feather & Crystal Phone Charms ~
 4 x Funky Silver Feather & Crystal Handbag Charms ~ 
 4 x Crimson Fire Ebooks





a Rafflecopter giveaway 


Heart & Soul by Lee Strauss

AVAILABLE July 7th! 
Contemporary Romance
Heart & Soul
By Lee Strauss



She's heartbroken. He's heartless.

Gabriele Baumann-Smith is deliriously in love with her young husband Lennon.

Except, it turns out that Lennon Smith isn't his real name. In fact, he's full of secrets: a cottage on the southern British coast, an old girlfriend and... an identical twin brother.

Callum Jones—not his real name—can't believe his brother's widow came to England. He'd warned Mick—Lennon—that an inheritance could put the girl's life in danger, and he was right.

“Mrs. Smith” is the last thing Callum needs to worry about right now. She's beautiful, sure, takes his breath away at times. But when she looks at him, who does she see?

Gabriele's heart is battered and bruised. Can one brother fix what the other left behind? And will they live long enough to find out?

About The Minstrel Series:

Every love story needs a song.

The Minstrel Series is a collection of contemporary romance novels set in the singer/songwriter world. The books are companion novels, with shared settings and characters, but each is a complete stand-alone story with a HEA (happily ever after) and no cliffhangers!

The books include MP3 links to original music by talented Indie Artists, so you can hear the characters sing!

Books in the Minstrel Series can be read in any order, but are best enjoyed in sequence.

#1 - Sun & Moon (digital versions Free everywhere!)


#2 - Flesh & Bone


#3 - Heart & Soul (July 7th!)


- Peace & Goodwill (Christmas Novella coming fall of 2014)

http://theminstrelseries.blogspot.com





Lee Strauss is the author of The Minstrel Series (contemporary romance), The Perception Series (young adult dystopian) and young adult historical fiction. She is the married mother of four grown children, three boys and a girl, and divides her time between British Columbia, Canada and Dresden, Germany. When she's not writing or reading she likes to cycle, hike and do yoga. She enjoys traveling (but not jet lag :0), soy lattes, red wine and dark chocolate.

Lee also writes younger YA fantasy as Elle Strauss.

WEBSITEFACEBOOKTWITTERTUMBLRGOODREADS

6/10/14

Stone of Thieves by Diane J Reed



Stone of Thieves: Book 2 Robbin' Hearts
Author: Diane J Reed
Genre: Magical New Adult Romance 




Blurb:

The Stone of Thieves . . . for centuries its magnetic draw has twisted the hearts of ambitious men and women with the promise of power, passion, and intrigue until it fell into the hands of unlikely thieves Robin and her boyfriend Creek. But can they steal their destiny away from the curse that pursues this magnificent ruby heart? As the stone begins to spread its sorcery, Robin races to find her long-lost mother in Italy in the hopes of discovering the truth about her unique gypsy heritage and the ruby heart that is rumored to steal souls. Yet when the desire for this stone by powerful members of her family threatens their very lives, Creek decides to take matters into his own hands to protect Robin, his greatest treasure of all . . .


Also check out Robin in the Hood: Book 1 in the Robbin' Hearts Series

Blurb:

Robin McArthur never dreamed her family would go broke—or that she'd start robbing banks to provide for those she loves and wants to protect. Along the way, she falls for Creek, her bad-boy partner in crime who teaches her far more than she ever dreamed about matters of the heart. But can love heal the cracks in Robin's soul after she learns the truth about her family's dark secrets? Once Robin becomes an outlaw with Creek, it's impossible to hide from reality anymore, and their lives transform into a sensual and magical adventure as they uncover the mysteries of what it means to find your true identity—and to fall in love . . .

About Diane:

Diane J. Reed has a Ph.D. in English and a lifelong passion for books—both popular, forgotten and literary—as long as they touch her soul and make her want to tuck them under her pillow at night to remember them in her dreams. She writes novels that are infused with enchantment, where characters dare to break through boundaries and believe in true love. She also has a soft spot for artisans and outlaws of the heart, those who burn brightly to live each day as a gift—because it is! In addition, Diane J. Reed has conducted 13 interviews with the cast of the hit TV show Once Upon a Time. Feel free to visit Diane J. Reed's website at www.banditsranch.com to share your love of books and the whispers of your spirit.

Author Website: www.banditsranch.com
Author Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/BanditsRanch?focus_composer=true
Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5430216.Diane_J_Reed
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Diane-J.-Reed/e/B0071FXGOE/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1400770049&sr=8-1

6/9/14

COVER REVEAL: Girls on Fire, A Dauntless Collection

What happens when you bring together 10 award-winning, critically acclaimed authors? 





The GIRLS ON FIRE boxed set, coming on June 16! 



Here's a little about each of the stories included in Girls on Fire:

WITCH FALL – Amber Argyle
High Fantasy

Supreme in their dominion over seasons, storms, and sea, the witches have forgotten the unmatched destructiveness of mankind. And among the weapons men seek are the magical songs of the witches. Born of witches but raised among their enemies, Lilette searches for a way to heal the rift between mankind and the witches. But it may be too late to save either. For if there is one thing Lilette has come to know for certain, it’s that all things fall.

ETERNAL STARLING – Angela Corbett
Paranormal Romance

For centuries, Alex Night and Emil Stone have yearned for Evie Starling. When both men claim to be her soul mate and tell her about an unbelievable past, Evie learns that she’s not the person she thought she was, and her soul is about to become the rope in an eternal tug-of-war.

AWAKENING – Christy Dorrity
Fantasy

When an ancient curse threatens McKayla McCleery's family, she must decide what in her life is real and what is fantasy. Based in Celtic mythology, Awakening is a gripping young adult fantasy that is rife with magic, romance, and mystery.

INEVITABLE – Tamara Hart Heiner
Suspense

Visions of death plague Jayne, who thinks watching her sister die is the worst that could happen to her. But when she witnesses a murder, Jayne realizes that the next death she sees might be her own.

WATCHED – Cindy M. Hogan
Romantic Suspense

Change. She longed for it.
A murder. She will never be the same.

THE FORGOTTEN ONES – Laura Howard
Fantasy

Allison O'Malley's plan is to go to grad school so she can get a good job and take care of her schizophrenic mother. She has carefully closed herself off from everything else, including a relationship with Ethan, who she's been in love with for as long as she can remember. 

What is definitely not part of the plan is the return of her long-lost father, who claims he can bring Allison's mother back from the dark place her mind has gone. Allison doesn't trust her father, so why would she believe his fairy tale about a long forgotten Irish people, the Tuatha de Danaan? But truths have a way of revealing themselves. Secrets will eventually surface. And Allison must learn to set aside her plan and work with her father if there is even a small chance it could restore her mother's sanity.

ELEMENTAL HUNGER – Elana Johnson
Futuristic Fantasy

Sixteen-year-old Gabriella Kilpatrick can shoot fire from her hands, which would be great if she didn’t get blamed for a blazing inferno that kills 17 schoolmates. Gabby will have to learn who she can trust, how to control her own power, and most of all, how to lead a Council of Elementals, most of whom have more control over their power than she does. If she can’t, she’ll find herself just like those 17 schoolmates: burned and six feet under.

THE FAERIE GUARDIAN – Rachel Morgan
Fantasy

Kickbutt faerie Violet is about to graduate as the top guardian trainee of her class, but when an assignment goes wrong and the human boy she’s meant to be protecting follows her back into the fae realm, a dangerous plot is set in motion.

PERCEPTION – Lee Strauss
Dystopian/Romance

Eternal Life is to Die For.

A spoiled genetically altered girl needs the help of a jaded “natural” boy to find her missing brother.

INTRINSICAL – Lani Woodland
Paranormal

The gene that allows the women in Yara’s family to see and communicate with spirits seems to have passed her over. Until the night she rescues a local hottie from an attacking ghost. Her act of heroism attracts the attention of the evil spirit, and she finds herself entrenched in the middle of a sixty-year-old curse that haunts the school, threatening her own life as well as that of her friends.

Publication date: June 16, 2014
Price: 99 cents for 10 amazing YA novels!

Links:


About the Authors:
Follow each author’s link to learn more about them and their books.

Lani Woodland

6/8/14

Brightest Kind of Darkness by P.T. Michelle

Please help me welcome P.T. Michelle to my blog today! Make sure you stick around and leave a comment, because P.T. has a fabulous giveaway to share!

Trusting Your Gut

Three years ago, after a few NY publishing houses had seen my YA/New Adult crossover series BRIGHTEST KIND OF DARKNESS, my agent said that I should shelve it and work on something new. "But, but,” my inner-self said. “I love this story. I believe it can find an audience.” And so I embarked on the crazy journey of Indie publishing BKoD. And wow, readers liked it! They really, really liked Ethan and Nara’s story. I went on to release a lot more books. I have really enjoyed all aspects of Indie publishing, the main one being: Control. I love that! So the moral of this very brief story is…trust your gut. If you believe you can succeed, then get out there and work hard. It can happen! :)

In celebration of the release of the latest book in my BRIGHTEST KIND OF DARKNESS series, I’m giving away an eBook copy of LUCID (Book 2 in either ePub or mobi format) to a winner. I hope you’ll like my PTMichelleAuthor page and also, also be sure to let me know what you like about reading YA/New Adult books in the comments below. A winner will be chosen on Monday evening at 6pm EST. :)

 FYI, you can currently get BRIGHTEST KIND OF DARKNESS (Book 1) and ETHAN (prequel) FREE on all outlets, so grab them up. :) AMAZON link to P.T. Michelle’s books. 

And here are a couple of teasers from the BRIGHTEST KIND OF DARKNESS series!


Ethan&Nara

Ethan&Nara2  
P.T. Michelle's Bio About P.T. MICHELLE P.T. Michelle is the author of the young adult series BRIGHTEST KIND OF DARKNESS. She keeps a spiral notepad with her at all times, even on her nightstand. When P.T. isn’t writing, she can usually be found reading or taking pictures of landscapes, sunsets and anything beautiful or odd in nature.

  LINKS:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest | Newsletter

6/7/14

The Lark Trilogy by Erica Cope

The Lark Trilogy by Erica Cope 

Genre: YA Fantasy/Paranormal 

Want to win a Paperback copy of Lark (Book 1)? Leave a comment with your email and which cover is your favorite?




Book 1: Lark

 The last time she checked, Mia Carrington was pretty sure that she was a normal girl with a completely ordinary life.

She goes to high school, has a crush on the gorgeous and mysterious new boy in town, and has strange dreams that she can’t help but feel are real somehow.

Okay, so maybe she’s not all that normal after all.

A freak accident changes Mia’s life forever when she is thrown into another world and left to deal with the revelation that she is the daughter of the King of the Light Elves. Throw in an ominous prophecy predicting that Mia will break a curse unleashing the Dark Elves on the world and well, things don’t look too good.

There is danger lurking at every corner in this strange world and Mia isn’t sure who she can trust…
The only thing she is certain of is that the Dark Elves know about her, and they will stop at nothing until they have her.

Book 2: In the Shadows

 Mia Carrington is struggling to come to terms with the fact that she killed a man, while trying to find a balance between her role as the Princess of the Light Elves and attempting to lead the life of a normal human teenager.

Too bad her dual life doesn't come with an instruction manual.

Just when she thinks that fate can't throw anything else at her, the Duchess Isobel is found on the brink of death and Mia’s boyfriend Jacoby is the only suspect.

Despite the suspicion surrounding him, Mia is sure of the innocence of the boy she loves and she is determined to prove it no matter the risk.

The problem is, the one thing that can save Isobel and clear Jacoby can only be found in the shadows of the Underworld.

Oh boy.




Book 3: Like the Dawn


Mia Carrington has finally done the very thing she was destined to do all along—she's broken the curse on the Dark Elves.

In order to make up for her mistake, Mia has chosen to make the ultimate sacrifice: her mortal life. The Dark Elves are now wreaking havoc on the mortal world while the Light Elves are trying to gain alliances.

It seems now that Dugan has come into full power, nobody is brave enough to help defeat him, and the kingdom of Álfheimr cannot do it alone. It's up to Mia to try to persuade the other kingdoms, Raumelfr and Gautelfr, to join in their fight. Only they seem more concerned with frivolous matters—like who will rule beside Mia when she becomes Queen.

Now that she has taken her place as King Alberico's rightful heir, there is no shortage of suitors seeking her hand. But her heart already belongs to somebody, despite the fact that she believes her choice has separated them forever.

Mia has made her decision to be immortal and there's no turning back now, but every choice has its consequence and, like the dawn must fade into dusk, every beginning has to come to an end.






About Erica:


 Erica Cope lives in Missouri with her husband and their three children. She has been writing short stories and poetry since she was a child, though Lark is her first novel.
She enjoys knitting, pretending she knows how to play her guitar, and reading pretty much anything you put in front of her.

You can find Erica on Facebook, Twitter  and www.ericacope.com


6/6/14

Unstoppable by SR Johannes

Title: Unstoppable
Author: S. R. Johannes
Genre: Young Adult
Publication: June 3, 2014





After everything that has happened, Grace moves to the Everglades to live with her grandmother, Birdee, and hang out with old man Rex, Birdee's "friend with benefits". Grace quickly befriends Dylan, Rex's nephew, and Dylan's girlfriend, Sadie, who is a die-hard teen activist. Sadie spends her time leading protests against the roadside zoos that run rampant in Florida with a total disregard for animals or the flimsy law.

One day while out in the marshes of the Everglades, Grace and her friends rescue an abused—and endangered—Florida panther. She and Birdee spend time rehabilitating the animal. But when the panther runs off, Grace follows it toUncle Bob's, a large roadside zoo they all have been protesting. One that is illegally filled with a variety of endangered and exotic animals. Before she can rescue the panther, she and her friends are kidnapped by the ruthless owner and dragged deep into the Everglades for a hunting challenge.

Only this time, Grace is the prey.

During a sick game of cat and mouse, Grace and her friends are offered one chance at survival, but only if they reach civilization before being caught. With a small head start and very little supplies, only time and skill stand between the hunter and the hunted. But out in the Everglades, there may be more dangers than Grace realizes.

Against all odds, Grace must make it out alive and win, or everything she holds dear could be lost.


Purchase:


Other books in the Nature of Grace series:


Untraceable
Book #1


Uncontrollable
Book #2


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

About the Author

S.R. Johannes is the award-winning author of the Amazon bestselling thriller series, the Nature of Grace (Untraceable and Uncontrollable). Unstoppable (book 3) is scheduled for May/June 2014. S.R. Johannes is currently repped by Lara Perkins at ABLA. For foreign rights on the Nature of Grace series, contact Jennifer Custer at AM Heath (London).

S.R. Johannes is the YA advisor of ALLi and a winner of the 2012 IndieReader Discovery Awards (Young Adult category) as well as a Silver medalist (2nd place) in the IPPY awards for YA Fiction. She was also nominated for 2012 Georgia Author of the Year (Young Adult category), a Finalist in The Kindle Book Review’s Best Young Adult of 2012, and a YA Finalist in the US Book News Best Book of 2012.

After earning an MBA and working in corporate America doing marketing for over 15 years (Spanx and Good hair Products were my fav because of the perks :), S.R. Johannes traded in her expensive suits, high heels, and corporate lingo for a family, flip-flops, and her love of writing. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her dog, English-accented husband, and the huge imaginations of their little prince and princess, which she hopes- someday- will change the world.




6/5/14

COVER REVEAL Hidden Sins by Karice Bolton

Title: Hidden Sins 
Author: Karice Bolton
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release Date: June 10, 2014






Luke Fletcher asks himself one simple question. Is she worth dying for?
His answer is yes.
When Hannah Walker rolls into her new town on fumes, she doesn’t expect her past to catch up to her so quickly. But the moment her card is declined for a lousy cup of coffee, she realizes nowhere is safe, and her life on the run has just gotten more complex.
Luke Fletcher has made it his mission in life to protect. When he meets Hannah Walker, she makes it clear that his services aren’t needed and neither is he, but there’s something in her eyes that tells another story. Once he begins investigating the woman with many names, he realizes one thing is clear. Whoever, she’s running from won’t stop until she’s dead.
Determined to gain Hannah’s trust and break down her walls, Luke begins to share his own history, but where that leads could cost them more than their hearts as the sins of others threatens to destroy them both.

About Karice Bolton 

Karice lives in Washington with her wonderful husband, who also happens to be her high school sweetheart and their two cute English bulldogs! She enjoys reading, baking, and trying to be crafty on her off-hours. She's also a coffee, tea, and snow addict. If she could live somewhere that had the white stuff year-round, she probably would. She also loves chatting with her readers on Facebook!

6/4/14

A Summer For Love Blog Hop


Welcome to the Summer For Love Blog Hop put on by The Romance Troupe! 

I wanted to share a fun summer scene from my first novel, The Forgotten Ones. Read through and tell me in the comments what your favorite summer memory to win an ecopy of The Forgotten Ones, Book 1 in The Danaan Trilogy. Make sure to leave your email address so I can let you know if you win!



I inhaled the salty ocean air, and the lingering scent of suntan lotion filled my nose. The sun was searing my legs, and it was time for a break in the shade. My skin burned easily and although I had sunscreen on, I was already looking a little pink. I put my bookmark between the pages and attempted to brush some of the sand off of my legs as I stood. Lifting my arms, I stretched before retreating to the chair under my umbrella.
Down at the water, I could see Rachel with her arms wrapped around her middle, the wind whipping strands of dark hair into her face. She kept jumping and shrieking when Sean or Ethan stumbled on their boogie boards and splashed her. Ethan caught my gaze and motioned for me to come join them. I laughed as a wave collapsed on top of him and shook my head.
Settling into my spot, I took off my sunglasses and closed my eyes, listening to the sound of the gulls. I sighed contentedly. This wasn’t so bad.
A loud cawing interrupted my tranquil moment. I pried open an eye and looked at the kids building a sand castle next to our spot. There was a crow standing a few feet away, facing my direction. Weird. I’d never seen a crow at the beach before. Maybe there was a beached seal nearby.
I started to open my book up, but the hairs along the back of my neck stood up, and a funny feeling came over me, like I was being watched. I glanced around, and this time, the crow locked eyes with me. Something about its beady eyes made me shudder, and I turned away quickly.
On my other side, Nicole was just about done burying Jeff in the sand. All that was visible was his spiky brown hair and his Red Sox visor.
Just stay still for one more second, Jeff. I’ve got to get a picture,” Nicole begged as she grabbed her camera from her towel. She clicked a few times before the sand started to crack and crumble around him.
That’s it, let me out of here!” Jeff shouted. The sand broke apart around him, and he climbed out. Nicole yelped in surprise as he took off chasing her down to the water.
Come swim with us, Al!” Nicole yelled over her shoulder as she ran.
I shook my head with a smile. “I’m good,” I called out before reopening my book.
A few minutes later, I heard a quiet thud as Ethan dropped down to his knees on the blanket by my feet. He dug around the cooler and pulled out a soda.
Aren’t you having fun?” he asked breathlessly between gulps.
As a matter of fact, I am,” I replied, gesturing to the umbrella and my book.
Yeah? Whatcha reading?”
I felt a blush rise on my cheeks as I held the book out for him to see. I was reading Gone With The Wind. Again.
Ethan started laughing, nearly choking on his soda. “I imagined you up here reading The Guide to Modern Physics. I would’ve never guessed you were reading a romance novel!” He stretched himself out on the blanket and closed his eyes to the sun, his lips curved up in that mocking little smile. His dark hair was slicked back with water, and he was perfectly tanned. I couldn’t help noticing that his lashes were a thick, dark fringe. I forced myself to look away.
When I glanced back at him—I couldn’t help it—Rachel had snuck onto the blanket and gestured to me with her finger to her lips. She flopped down onto her stomach and began running a piece of ice that had fallen out of the cooler along Ethan’s chest, causing him to shout in surprise.
You’re going down!” he yelled before hauling Rachel up over his shoulder and running down to toss her, squealing, into the ocean.
I looked down to the water, wondering how Sean felt about Rachel’s not-so-subtle display. They had one of those on-again-off-again relationships. They were all friends, but her flirting with Ethan must have bothered him. If I wanted to be honest, it even bothered me.
I pushed all of Nicole’s friends out of my thoughts and tried to enjoy the rest of the day. When it was time to leave, I walked up the old wooden steps to the parking lot with my arms full of beach gear. The others were lagging behind, but I could still hear the sounds of their laughter and teasing.
If you’re going with Jeff, I am too,” I heard Rachel say to Nicole in her whiny voice.
Sweet! Shotgun in Al’s car,” Ethan yelled. A smile crept onto my face—Rachel would be disappointed that she wouldn’t get to cozy up next to him in the backseat. Good thing no one could see my face.
Damn, man, I was just going to say that!” Sean said, a thump following. I could only imagine from Ethan’s grunt that Sean had whacked him upside the head. I laughed to myself that both guys were so desperate to stay away from Rachel.
I opened the hatch and started loading it when Ethan gently pushed me aside. “I got this,” he said, winking at me as he hefted the cooler in.
Yeah, I wouldn’t want to break a nail,” I muttered, placing my bag in the back.
Ethan just laughed and shook his head.
Meet us at Nic’s!” Jeff shouted out his window before tearing out of the parking lot.
I started the car as Ethan and Sean piled in. As usual, Sean reached up front and ruffled my hair before settling in his seat. He grew up in the house on the other side of Nicole’s, and he’d always been nice to me, even if his sometimes-girlfriend was a jerk.
You coming over tonight?” Ethan asked as he flipped through the CD’s in my case.
Me?” I tried to swallow down the butterflies. “Are you kidding? My bed is already calling my name,” I replied, trying to keep an aloof tone.
Ethan shook his head and smirked, no doubt trying not to laugh at me. “We’re just going to be watching a movie.”
Didn’t your mother teach you not to beg, dude?” Sean asked, teasing. “You probably have a hot date, right Allie-O?” He shook my shoulder lightly. I smiled at the old nickname from the days when we used to play hide-and-seek in our neighborhood.
Yeah, a hot date with Rhett Butler,” Ethan said. I kept my eyes on the road, but I couldn’t help the smile that played on my lips.
Poor Ethan,” Sean said. “I think Rachel wants to snuggle with you tonight, pal.” He was laughing, but there was an edge to his voice. The idea of Rachel and Ethan together made my chest squeeze, too.
Ethan chuckled. “No, thanks. Rachel is all yours. She’s not my type.”
Since when do you have a type?” Sean asked, the tension lifting.
I’m twenty-three years old, man. Time to start thinking of the future.”
I nearly snorted soda out of my nose…until he slung his arm around the back of my chair. Then it was all I could do to keep the car on the road.

He had to know the way he affected me, how he got under my skin. Four years ago, in one of my weaker moments, I’d fallen for his charm. I couldn’t let that happen again. But the memory of that kiss still left me breathless.




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