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Wednesday, July 31, 2013

The Redemption of Callie & Kayden - Jessica Sorensen



From the New York Times bestselling author of The Coincidence of Callie & Kayden comes an emotional new story about two troubled souls sharing one all-encompassing love . . . 


THE REDEMPTION OF CALLIE & KAYDEN

The dark secret Kayden has kept hidden for years is finally out. Worse, he's facing charges for battery. The only way to clear his name is for Callie to speak up-something he'll never ask her to do. Instead, he'll do whatever he must to protect her . . . even if it means letting go of the only girl he's ever loved.


Callie knows Kayden is going back to his dark place and desperately wants to save him. But that means facing her greatest fear and admitting her own painful secrets aloud. The thought of breaking her silence terrifies her-but not as much as the thought of losing Kayden forever.



Deep in her heart, Callie knows the time has come for her and Kayden to forget the pain of the past. With the help of her friends Seth and Luke she makes a plan to show Kayden the life they could have. But can she convince him they can make a fresh start together-or is she already too late?








  
TEASER


“I think you’re going back a little too far,” Luke argues as he reaches over me and flips open the glove box. It’s early in the morning, the sun is kissing the iced land, and the highway is a hazard from last night’s storm so we have to drive slowly. “Back to the 8-track era.”
Seth slaps his hand away from the glove box and Luke looks at me in disbelief, but I just laugh. “No, 8-tracks were still in play in the eighties.”
“Early eighties,” Luke corrects. “They faded out by mid-decade.”
I laugh because their fighting over something so ridiculous and I’m tired and nervous and my head’s in a very strange place. “You guys are fighting like an old married couple.” As soon as I say it, I want to take it back, because I’m not sure how Luke will take it.
When I look at Luke, he seems perfectly fine. He shrugs and then sticks his hand into the glove box and pulls out a tape labeled Let’s Get High. “Whatever,” he says and then feeds the tape player the tape. “As long as I’m the guy in the relationship it’s all good.”
Seth rolls his eyes. “Whatever, you’d totally be my bitch and you know it.”
That’s it. I can’t hold it in any longer. My body falls forward as I cover my mouth and my shoulders shake as I laugh into my hand. “Oh my God, I can’t believe you just said that.”
“Yes, you can,” Seth says as he pats my back. “I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t say the first thing that pops into my head.”
He’s right. Seth is blunt and funny and totally says whatever the hell he wants. And I love him for it. I sit up, wiping the tears from my eyes and then give him a quick kiss on the cheek. “Thank you for making me smile,” I say.
He grins. “Anytime sweetheart.”
Luke shakes his head, but there’s a grin on his face so I know he’s not offend. I like Luke. He’s not judgmental and he seems accepting.  I almost lean over to hug him and then realize how weird it is because it doesn’t freak me out. What does that mean? Crap. What does that mean?
“Come On Eilleen” by Dexy’s Midnight Runners blast out from the speakers.
“This is so eighties,” Seth says as he begins snapping his fingers and bobbing his head. He really starts to get into it, shaking his hips and shimmying frontward and backward. “Come one, Callie, you know you want to dance. It’ll make you smile even more.”
I shake my head, but grin from ear-to-ear. “No way.”
Cold air fills the cab and seconds later the smell of cigarette smoke overlaps it. Seth keeps dancing as he reaches into the pocket of his hoodie and takes out is pack of cigarettes. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see Luke bobbing his head as he sucks on the end of his cigarette and takes a long drag, then puffs it out. Seth starts shaking his hips crazily as he flicks the end of his lighter and puts it up to the tip of the cigarette. The paper curls in and turns black as he takes a long drag. The car starts rocking as the chorus comes on and both the guys really start getting into it. My lungs burn against the smoke and the cold air chills my skin. I experience almost every single detail of the moment and I decide to experience it all.
“Oh fine, what the hell.” I start lifting my shoulders up and down to the rhythm and Seth grins at me.
“That’s my girl,” he says and blows out a breath of smoke.
We both start doing this funny jiving thing with our hands and Luke laughs as he cranks up the music. When the chorus hits again we all take a deep breath and belt out the lyrics at the top of our lungs. I raise my hands up in the air above my head and shut my eyes. It’ll be all right. It’ll be all right. Kayden will be alright.
Because I’m here, dancing, smiling, and sitting between two guys. And if that can happen then anything’s possible.

Monday, July 1, 2013

Untimely Release Day Blitz

Title: An Untimely Romance
Author: J & L Wells
Genre: New Adult, Time Travel Romance
Blitz Host: Lady Amber's Tours

 
Synopsis:
Heather Richardson is a seventeen-year-old British girl whose life quickly becomes an emotional roller coaster when she meets Ruben Brown, a controlling twenty-four-year-old man who works for her father at Freesdon Manor. As much as Heather wants to love Ruben, the cracks in their relationship begin to show as her eighteenth birthday draws nigh.

 

In a surprising turn of events Heather is confronted by Frank, an intriguing man from a past that dates back to the nineteenth century. His untimely presence changes everything.

 

When she’s thrown back in time by an unrelenting force, Heather realizes that her life is not what it appears to be. Her future has already been written, and it seems she cannot escape her fate, a fate determined by a love lost long ago. In her struggle to find herself, Heather must chose her destiny amidst a dangerous love triangle, vengeful lovers, and passions controlled by the hands of time.

 

Author Bio:
About J & L Wells: J & L Wells is a UK based mother daughter team, consisting of Laura and her mother Judith. Together, they write compelling fiction and are currently working on book 2 of the Untimely Romance series.

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Buy Links (If Available)



 

Excerpt:

Chapter One Ye Olde England

 “Oh, Mr Boswel,” Anna sighed awkwardly, biting her bottom lip as he gazed seductively into her eyes. She placed her small-gloved hand into his and he smiled, but no words passed between them. The heady concerto played by the musicians faded into insignificance, the guests and all their formalities forgotten in the moment. He led her into an open hallway towards the larger of two grand staircases. She could hardly breathe. His dark-brown eyes were hypnotic and with every gaze they burned into hers. His jet-black hair fell in soft waves around his shoulders, while small curls drifted onto his forehead, which he had a habit of flicking back to reveal his face. And oh, what a face, with his chiselled jawline, high cheekbones and overly full lips, perfect traits complemented by a rich olive skin tone and pretty, near perfect complexion.

Anna had waited so long for this moment. She felt her legs trembling beneath her, hoping upon hope that they wouldn’t give way. Upon reaching the first floor, guilt descended upon her. She knew what she was about to embark on was wrong and that she’d be judged, but on second glance down the stairs, across the hall and through the arched doorway, she saw that those in attendance at the masquerade ball danced on and drank merrily, oblivious to their departure.

She wasn’t allowed to linger for long, as Mr Boswel’s firm grip pulled her slightly off balance and she stumbled wearily. Aware that the hour was late, her gaze wandered briefly before coming to rest on the ornate grandfather clock in its regal attire, situated equidistantly between the two staircases, both hands sitting comfortably on the number one.

Mr Boswel’s eyes held a warm reassurance as he led her across the landing towards a large oak door. “After you, madam,” he gestured, opening the door.

“Thank y’ sir,” she uttered nervously.

Why me? Anna thought to herself as her conscience juggled with reality, still questioning why he had given her the time of day. With his good looks and his status, he really could have anybody he desired. On close inspection, Anna knew she was anything but beautiful; even as a child, her mother referred to her as plain. It wasn’t that she had a bad face, just not an overly pretty one; her eyes perhaps too small, their colour quite insignificant – somewhere between light blue and grey – and strawberry-blonde hair scraped back rather severely in a bun. There wasn’t anything dynamic about her features either; even her nose had a slight tilt to the left – a flaw nobody else would have picked up on.

Then the door closed behind them and they were alone at last, away from unwanted roving eyes. It was a moment she’d longed for, for what seemed like an eternity.

She found herself in a large bedchamber, a four-poster bed made from a deep rich wood taking centre stage, its precise carvings inlaid with gold leaf in large spirals. Warm red silk drapes, not quite scarlet, perhaps a shade or two deeper complemented the bed. The room exuded wealth, with its deep-mahogany furnishings, high walls and numerous gilt edged portraits.

Anna felt lost in her new surroundings.

“Well, Anna…”

She jumped, and her eyes were drawn once again towards the handsome Mr Boswel, who had already removed his shoes and was now reclined on the bed, propped up by two thick cotton bolsters. His long taupe waistcoat was draped untidily over a padded-back chair, and she watched tentatively as he started unbuttoning his linen shirt to reveal a toned physique.

“Join me,” he murmured, his voice soft and inviting.

Her heart was beating so heavily in her chest as she made her way over to the bed that she was sure he’d be able to hear. She was even tempted to hold her breath. He leaned his body forward towards hers as she sat nervously on the edge of the bed. She knew he was going to take her, and although she felt way out of her depth, she wanted him so very badly. He smelt so fine, his broad chest brushing against her arm; she could feel the soft hairs between his nipples, and then their hardness.

She was burning inside as he ran his fingers longingly over her body. She felt his breath, then his lips, tenderly at first as they began caressing the nape of her neck, and then with an urgency, a hunger, the tenderness turned to lust. Their lips met for the first time and he pulled her body roughly onto his, quickly loosening the bodice of her gown and starting to untie the lacings of her corset…

~•••~

“Anna,” he whispered, a husky lilt to his voice.

“Mr Boswel…” were the only words to leave her lips as they lay lost in the moment, wrapped in each other’s arms.

“Stay here with me tonight.”

“Sir, I’ll be tellin’ y’, I’m betrothed to another,” Anna replied, shedding tears of guilt while darting around the room, recovering her garments.

Mr Boswel sighed. “An unfortunate predicament in which you find yourself, my dear,” he said, lifting himself slightly and leaning the weight of his body on his elbows, looking at her earnestly while she dressed.

“Mr Boswel, yer reputation precedes ye.”

“Perhaps, Anna, but they are just empty conquests.”

“All but one, sir.” Anna paused, awaiting his response, but the words she longed for were not forthcoming.

“This I cannot deny, but I would be grateful if you were not to mention her name. She is now but a ghost from my past.”

“I must take yer leave, sir. I’ll be missed.” Fear grew in her voice. “Mr Boswel, I ain’t gonna live a life with ye as me guilty secret.”

 “Well, Anna, that’s all I have to offer you. At this present time you must be patient… I…”

Anna interrupted him before he could continue. “Please, sir, I beg of ye, say no more. I think it best I bid ye farewell.”

With that, she walked out of the room and out of his life, sure that he was watching until she closed the door.

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