WHISPERED TRUTHS (Truths) by Anne Mercier ♥ Cover Reveal

Title:Whispered Truths (Truths, #1)

Author: Anne Mercier

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: June 11, 2014

Synopsis

Myah

My life literally changed in the blink of an eye. I was happy, I was whole… and then my father died. Since then I haven’t been the same. I’ve been battling inner demons as well as the ones on the outside–my mother the evilest of them all. It’s time to take control of my life and Kyle Cooper makes me believe that I can.

Kyle

I’ve been half in love with Myah Wilks for as long as I can remember. She’s short and sassy–or she was until tragedy struck. Changes in her life left an opening for me, the one I’ve been waiting for and I’m jumping–with both feet. This amazing girl has more fight in her pinky than most people do in their whole body… she just needs to be reminded. She also needs to purge those demons and let her secrets go. Maybe, just maybe, she’ll let me in and trust me with her whispered truths.

About The Author

I was born and raised in Wisconsin and still live here today with my two sons and puppy. (Though one day soon I hope to move to southern California!)

I’m an avid reader who gets inspired by reading the stories from my favorite authors as well as listening to various types of music. I am a huge fan of music, chocolate, fruit, desserts, autumn, M. Shadows, Avenged Sevenfold, and Milo Ventimiglia. Through my books, I am proudly creating new Avenged Sevenfold and Milo Ventimiglia fans one reader at a time.

I absolutely love interacting with readers and invite you to contact me any time via email: Anne@AnneMercierAuthor.com.

“The best part of being an author, to me, is being able to take the reader to that one place they long to go when they need to escape reality. Knowing I can do that, for even one reader, makes what I do worthwhile.” ~ Anne Mercier

Hugs and love,

Anne xoxo

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SKYSCRAPERS & CAMELOT (Renovate) by Mindy A. Carter ♥ Cover Reveal

Title: Skyscrapers & Camelot (Renovate, #1)

Author: Mindy A. Carter

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: August 3, 2015

Cover Design: Sara Eirew Photographer

Synopsis

Keegan was my world since I was six years old. When he walked out of my life, I was certain I would never see him again. He broke my heart, but truthfully I only have myself to blame. Now I’m looking into his incredibly beautiful blue eyes. He came back into my life as quickly as he left. Both of us have changed over the years, but I can’t imagine living another day without him.

My name is Aimee, and this is the story of how I lost and found my best friend and love of my life. The journey may be tough but there is no denying that Keegan, and I were destined to be together. He rescued me the day we met and had always been my prince charming. One thing I’m sure of, I’m not letting my happily ever after get away this time.

Excerpt

“Don’t you have a date to get back to? I’m sure you would rather annoy her.”

He laughs at me. I’m starting to get angry with him. Why can’t he ignore me like he’s done the past eight years? I was fine before he came back into my life. I want to return to my mundane Keegan-less existence.

“Do you mean Gretchen? You know she’s my assistant, and she attends these things with me time to time.” he answers.

I look at him dumbfounded, “You’re kidding. Right?”

“No, we’re just friends, actually have been since college.”

Did he say since college? What the what?

“Since you two are such great friends then you don’t need me, do you?” I bark at him.

“Aimee, I’ve needed you since the day we met. You should realize that by now.”

Now this conversation is ticking me off. I’m losing my carefully composed patience.

“Wow, what a load of crap. I’m not playing these games with you Keegan; I’m not a child anymore, and I know exactly what this is” – I wave my hands between us –“You couldn’t just leave me alone. You left me, Keegan, without an explanation. It’s been eight years and suddenly you need me. Where were you when I needed you? I’m not the girl I was before you left. I’m stronger, and you know what, I don’t need you. Do me a favor and pretend I don’t exist. You’ve had plenty of practice, so I’m sure it won’t be too hard.” My breathing is hard, he’s staring at me and I swear I see a hint of desire in his blue eyes.

“There’s that fire I’ve missed.”

I let out a laugh. “If you’ll excuse me, the air in here is stifling.”

I turn and walk away towards a set of French doors that lead to the outside terrace. My breathing is fast and the confrontation with him is making me tremble.

I hear footsteps behind me and know he’s followed.

Without turning to face him I ask, “why can’t you just leave me be?”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t Aimee. I want to fix this between us,” he admits.

“You’ve ignored me all week. I get that you’re busy and important and all . . . ”

He smirks at me, “you think I’m important?”

“Hello? This is all for you. Everyone is here for you,” I say.

“And I’m only here for you.” He closes the distance, and my heart plummets. I’m on the verge of tears. What the hell is he saying?

“What?”

“You. I’m here for you. I miss you Aimee.”

I can’t hold back the tears any longer and my eyes start to water. Keegan steps even closer and grabs my face in both hands, taking his thumbs and wiping away my tears.

“Don’t cry. I’m here for you and nothing else. I only care about you.” He says looking into my eyes.

He closes the remaining distance and brushes his thumb along my lower lip and my legs lose all feeling. I may just pass out from his touch. He says he’s here for me and I can’t help but melt in his arms. Staring at me, he says, “I’ve wanted to do this again for eight years.”

His lips drop to mine and I close my eyes relishing the moment. I can taste the scotch on his lips and it’s divine. I pray he doesn’t hear my heart pounding. He kisses me slowly, his lips soft and tender. He let’s go of my face and pushes me against the railing behind me. His body is hard against mine and I feel his warmth. I deepen the kiss and wrap my arms around his neck. Our lips move together feverishly and I’m in heaven. Too soon he breaks the kiss and I whimper at the loss. He places his forehead against mine as both of us try to catch our breath.

“I’m here for you.” He whispers and I nod at him, holding him close, not wanting to lose this feeling.

Unedited Excerpt Skyscrapers & Camelot 2015

About The Author

Mindy has been in love with love, as long as she can remember. As a child, you could find Mindy engrossed in fairytale books and dreaming of her happily ever after. She was lucky enough to find her prince charming and lives in Ohio with him and her four precocious children.

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One To Chase (One to Hold) By Tia Louise ♥ Cover Reveal

An ALL-NEW Stand-Alone novel from Bestselling Author Tia Louise!

ONE TO CHASE (One to Hold, #7)

By Tia Louise

Cover Design by Steven Novak, www.novakillustration.com

Photography by Perrywinkle Photography, www.Perrywinklephotography.com

Everywhere June 25!!!

Blurb

Amy Knight, meet Marcus Merritt.

Patrick’s ambitious, over-achieving little sister has just landed an interview with one of the top law firms in Chicago.

The only problem is the sexy, high-powered attorney interviewing her is the same green-eyed player she hooked up with after a certain wedding in Wilmington. He’s also Elaine’s older brother. Is this even legal?!

Complications everywhere, and the more they run, the less it’s clear who’s chasing whom.

A STAND-ALONE, ONE TO HOLD NOVEL. Adult Contemporary Romance: Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18. #SexyLawyer

Pre-order NOW on iTunes

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* * *

Exclusive Excerpt

ONE TO CHASE By Tia Louise

*unedited draft; subject to change*

Amy

Everything freezes, including my breath.

I’m pretty sure the shiny brass desk clock on his stupidly large desk even stops ticking.

“What the fuck?” The man, who is most definitely not Edward Merritt, hisses softly.

Years of practice keep me from completely losing it in that moment. I cross my legs and channel all the Gwyneth Paltrow-cool hammered into me from finishing school.

“It’s… You’re…” The Man from Wilmington extends his phone toward me, but he must not’ve had a good grip. It slips like a bar of soap from his hand and arcs through the air straight into my lap.

Thank God for small mercies. I’m snort a laugh, which cuts the tension at once.

“You’re welcome.” With a teasing smile I lift the small black device and place it on the desktop in front of me.

Going forward, I will never forget his response. It’s splendid in its precision. I can’t help but admire his control. Marcus Merritt sits in his leather-studded chair, and his face transforms into a mask of professionalism.

The slightest smile curves the side of his mouth, and a tingle moves across my stomach. “Good catch,” he says.

“It’s not every day I have expensive technology lobbed at me.”

“Sorry. Strenuous call.”

“Opposing counsel?”

“Dry cleaners. They keep breaking my buttons.”

My lips tighten against another laugh, and I fight every urge humming under my skin. Damn him for being as witty as he is attractive.

“You are not Edward Merritt.” It’s a nice, orienting statement.

“Edward is my father.” His brows knit over green-hazel eyes as he looks down at his desk. “Who the fuck is Amalie Knight?”

“My mother was going through a French phase.” I give him a teasing wink, and his eyes flick away from mine fast. If he weren’t so composed, I might take that to mean something.

“So Amy is short for Amalie?”

“Patrick couldn’t say Amalie when he was a little boy.”

His eyebrows rise and he leans back nodding. “Right. Patrick… and Stuart’s little sister.”

His playfulness shuts down, and I refuse to let disappointment rise in my chest. So we have a nice, teasing banter to go with our blazing-hot hook-up sex. I will not be hopping out of any frying pans into any fires. My moment with this “Man in Wilmington” will remain precisely that. A moment. In Wilmington.

Lightening my tone, I force a bright smile and lay it all out there. “My mother and your sister think you can introduce me to all the right people in Chicago.”

“I doubt you need my help with that.” His eyes don’t meet mine. In fact it seems he’s avoiding my eyes now.

“I don’t, but it means a lot to them.”

That makes him look up, but only to my neck. “You’re looking for something in marketing?”

“Yes.” I swipe the screen on my phone. “Give me your number, and I’ll send you my resume. I have a finance degree from Cornell, but I minored in marketing. One of my graduate projects was a rollout for a software design company located in Ithaca. My team won an ADDY for it.”

He leans forward and reaches across the desk. “It’s probably easier if I enter my number.”

His white cuff ends just above his large hand. Neatly trimmed nails… My lip involuntarily catches in my teeth at the memory of those fingers clutching my bare ass, those large hands pulling me against his rock-hard cock, driving deep between my thighs. My back slammed against the wall, his groan in my ear as he came. Shit.

“Sure.” I blink fast, dismissing that red-hot memory as I pass my brushed-gold phone to him. “I’ve opened Messenger. Just enter your number, and I’ll send it to you.”

“We don’t have a full-time PR function in our office.” His voice is apologetic.

“Most smaller firms don’t. It’s a contract service.”

He passes the device back, watching our hands. Our fingers brush lightly, and I swear to god it sparks. Get it together, Amy.

Looking down, I see the digits and debate whether to save them. It’s a recipe for trouble, but I do it. Then I attach my resume and hit send.

“You’ve got it now.” I lift my chin, and… eye contact.

Shit on a stick. He was right in avoiding it. Looking into his smoky hazel gaze, I see all my naughty thoughts reflected right back at me.

“It’s probably best we don’t work together anyway.” Why did I say that?

An eyebrow arches, and that damn sexy grin is back. “Really? How come.” He thinks he’s got me.

“Nepotism.” He can’t honestly think I would grow up in the house of alphas I did and be weak.

“I think we’d have to be related to be accused of nepotism.”

“We practically are. I mean, with Elaine and Patrick and all.”

“My sister, your brother. There’s no relation between us.”

“I suppose that’s a good thing.” Damn my mouth. Standing, I decide it’s time for me to get out of here before I say anything else. “I know you’re busy. Thanks for taking the time to meet with me.”

“I’ll give you a call if I hear anything.” He stands just as fast. “And maybe I’ll see you around.”

My eyes sweep his too-large office as I think. “It seems likely our paths will cross.”

* * *

Meet Marcus & Amy for FREE Today!

RUNAWAY

A One to Chase short prequel.

Just in from Paris…

Just in from Chicago…

Neither Marcus Merritt nor Amy Knight are up for a wedding, especially when it drags one of them back home to old memories and the other to a life left far behind.

A random hook-up seems like a good distraction—it is a wedding after all. Isn’t everyone supposed to hook up?

The latest Merritt-Knight pairing starts off with a bang, but neither party knows where this random is going to lead.

Due to strong language and sexual content, “Runaway” is intended for readers 18 and older only.

Paperbacks on:

Amazon | CreateSpace

* * *

About the Author

Tia Louise is the Amazon and International Bestselling author of the ONE TO HOLD series.

From “Readers’ Choice” nominations, to picking up USA Today “Happily Ever After” nods, to winning a 2014 “Lady Boner Award” (LOL!), nothing makes her happier than communicating with fans and weaving new tales into the Alexander-Knight world of stories.

A former journalist, Louise lives in the center of the USA with her lovely family and one grumpy cat. There, she dreams up stories she hopes are engaging, hot, and sexy, and that cause readers rethink common public locations…

SIGNED COPIES: http://smarturl.it/SignedPBs

Connect with Tia

Get a FREE Bonus Scene from One to Love, and never miss a New Release! Sign up for Tia’s Book News: http://eepurl.com/Lcmv1

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*Max 6 messages per month; HELP for help; STOP to cancel; Text and Data rates may apply. Privacy policy available, allnightreads@gmail.com.

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Books by Tia Louise

One to Hold (Derek & Melissa), 2013 – FREE as an eBook!

Amazon | B&N

One to Keep (Patrick & Elaine), 2014

Amazon | B&N

One to Protect (Derek & Melissa), 2014

Amazon | B&N

One to Love (Kenny & Slayde), 2014

Amazon | B&N

One to Leave (Stuart & Mariska), Dec. 29, 2014

Amazon | B&N

One to Save (Derek & Melissa), March 26, 2015

Amazon | B&N

One to Chase (Amy & Marcus), coming June 2015!

The One to Hold series is…

“Believable, sassy, sexy, and smart.” –Wicked Women Book Blog

“Great plot and good twists… An overall fantastic series, highly recommend!” –Midwest Book Lover’s Blog

“All kinds of wonderful!” –USA Today Review

Skilled By S. Reynolds ♥ Secret Cover Reveal

Skilled by S. Reynolds

Available for individual purchase June 3, 2015

He’s Armed…She’s Dangerous

Chloe Justice grew up on American soil and in Old World China. When she witnesses her best friend’s murder, her life takes a drastic turn. Chloe dedicates her life to tracking her friend’s killer, and honing her own skills.

Detective Demin Delandre’ is having zero luck closing the homicide cases crossing his desk. When he unexpectedly stumbles upon the first and only piece of evidence in one of his cases, his ethics and heart are at odds.

—

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THE EMANCIPATION OF LOVE (Monster) by Mary E. Palmerin

Title: THE EMANCIPATION OF LOVE (Monster, #2)

Author: Mary E. Palmerin

Genre: Dark Erotic Romance

Release Date: June 26, 2015

Model, Stephen Hughes-Landers

Photographer, Shauna Kruse

Cover Designer, Kelsey Keeton

Blurb

I am a monster. A sexual deviant. A gorger for pain. I am Worthless William Welch.

But I am hers…

Ten years since Welch has seen Gwendolyn he finds himself in Portland, the same city they were supposed to live together; just two bloody lovers against the ghastly ways of the world. But that isn’t how their story would pan out and Welch troubles himself everyday with memoirs of the only one that will have his heart.

His sweet, sweet girl. Fiery Gwendolyn is gone and he is alone with nothing to occupy him except memories.

As he tries to grasp onto the recollections while simultaneously forgetting the pain he was bathed in for so long, he searches for a woman that will give him the agony he so desperately craves. You know what they say… be careful what you wish for.

As Welch pushes an unlikely woman to the brink, he is surprised at her eagerness as she gives him what he longs for. Punishment, pain, and pleasure. He becomes enveloped by the demons of his past, the torment of his current, and the ghost in his mind that he refuses to part from.

Reverted back to the dysfunctional little boy who obeys, Welch finds himself in a disastrous cycle while the edge of goodness is within reach. Will it be too late for him to find love before he breaks himself down to a point of no return?

**Graphic content warning including sexual degradation, emotional abuse, adult situations, and unconventional sexual practices that are intended for mature audiences only. Not suitable for readers under the age of eighteen. Reader discretion is highly advised.***

Gwendolyn vs. the Band of Barren Hearts (Monster, #1)

Amazon

Monsters. They don’t hide in your nightmares. They steal you away from the good life and prevent you from living your dreams.

That’s where 17-year-old Gwendolyn Fitzpatrick found herself; surrounded by wicked fiends after everything she thought she had was gone in the blink of an eye. She was shuffled away with one bag of memories miles away to a pair of foster parents that hardly had her best interests at hand. Forced to obey and listen to her caregiver’s commands, Gwendolyn buries her old self and focuses on the pain to become one of them.

A monster herself to seek vengeance.

While yearning for her teeming point to come, Gwendolyn starts to connect with another 17-year-old foster boy living with her who calls himself Welch. Just when Gwendolyn starts to feel faith splice its way through the venom of pain, the connection she has with Welch is put in jeopardy as the harshness gets worse with each passing day.

Will the two tattered spirits make it out alive?

About the Author

Mary E. Palmerin is 27 years old and resides in Indiana. She is married, has two small boys and usually has her nose in a good book when she isn’t writing. She has been writing since she was a young girl, scribbling fairy tales down on notebook paper, creating poetry through her teen years, and many shorts in between, all of which she has kept. Mary enjoys telling tales that are both raw and real, seeing it as a gift to be able to evoke various emotions from her readers.

She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, traveling, anything outdoors, relaxing by the pool with a good piece of literature, red wine, coffee, tattoos, and HEA!

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Burning Ember By Darby Briar ♥ Cover Reveal

Title: Burning Ember

Author: Darby Briar

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: July 2015

Cover Design: Romantic Book Affairs

Photographer: Perrywinkle Photography

Synopsis

The last thing she needs after running from one monster is to land in the lair of the Devil.

Twenty-one year old Ember flees her past with soot on her face, ash in her hair, and a promise. She’ll never let another man take away her freedom and treat her like she means nothing.

But that is exactly what Maverick Gunn, leader of the notorious Harbinger’s of Chaos Motorcycle Club seeks to do from the moment his lethal gaze locks on her. He burns her with every look. Every touch. Every word.

Ember’s only hope is to convince him she’s nothing like the woman who blackened his soul before he drags her down into the darkness with him.

About The Author

From an early age I was obsessed with fiction, bad boys, and love stories. Over the years, my passion for those three things has never died. I can’t pass up a good paranormal, and God knows I cannot NOT look when a hot guy crosses my path (purely innocent ogling I assure you), and as far as my obsession with love stories goes…well…it’s stronger than ever.

I write what I’m passionate about and right now, that’s leather cut wearing bikers and the women who turn their heads.

Along with being a writer, I work full time, and I’m a wife to an extremely supportive husband, and a mother to three high-spirited kids. I’ve lived in Utah nearly all my life except for 2 1/2 years where we lived in the Land of Enchantment, otherwise known as New Mexico. Which is where my HOC’s call home.

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Red Nights By Shari J, Ryan ♥ Cover Reveal

I’m Felicity Stone, a twenty-five-year-old with my whole life ahead of me. Well, until recently.

I didn’t do it. Why would they think I did? Why would I want my twin brother dead? Why is everyone looking at me like I’m a criminal?

Well, everyone except him… Hayes Peyton, the charmingly beautiful stranger I met in the park at midnight—a totally legitimate place to meet the man of my dreams. Plus, he knows I’m innocent.

Believing him is easy. So very easy. Maybe too easy?

But when you hear things like: ‘All good is laced with some bad, and everything you think is the truth—is nothing more than a blatant lie,’ it makes you question reality.

In Shari J. Ryan’s latest Romantic Suspense, Red Nights, you wonder how dark your world can get before all you see is red.

Shari J. Ryan is an Amazon Top 100 Bestselling author, a Barnes & Noble Top 10 Bestselling author, and an iBookstore #1 Bestselling author. She hails from Central Massachusetts where she lives with her husband and two lively little boys. Shari has always had an active imagination and enjoys losing herself in the fictional worlds she creates. When Shari isn’t writing, she can usually be found cleaning toys up off the floor.

To learn more, visit her at, www.sharijryan.com.

Damaged by Avelyn Paige ♥ Cover Reveal

Saints and Sinners Book Promotions is proud to present a debut novel by debut author Avelyn Paige!!

Evie Carter has faced
trials and tribulations her entire life. Her teenage years have been ripped
away from her as she battles cancer. Just when things can’t get any worse, her
doctor delivers the news that it’s finally time to make a life or death
decision. Her options are limited and come with deadly consequences. The
miracle drug that is meant to save her life changes her on a cellular level.
She might not be damaged anymore, but she might just be damned in her new life.

Avelyn Paige is a born and raised Indiana girl. She may be a
Hoosier by birth, but she’s a Boilermaker by choice! Avelyn lives in rural
Indiana with her pastor husband, 2 spoiled cats, and one very odd looking
dog. She’s an oncology research
scientist by day and a writer and book review blogger by night. She enjoys
reading anything she can get her hands, baking, and spending time with her
friends and family.

Never ending on ever writing her own book, the idea behind
the Damaged series came to her on a drive to work early one morning thinking
about her father who’d recently passed away. His strength during his cancer and
rare blood disease battle inspired Avelyn to do something she’s never thought
about before. She’s excited to see where this wild ride takes her.

Find Avelyn on Facebook!!

Homewrecker by Cat Mason & Kathryn Kiden ♥ Cover Reveal

Title: HOMEWRECKER

Authors: Cat Mason & Kathryn Kiden

Genre: Taboo Contemporary Romance

Release Date: MAY 29, 2015

Cover Model: Harper Sloan

Photographer: Perrywinkle Photography

Publisher: Fidem Publishing

Blurb

My name is Kennedy Brooks and you’re not going to like me. Chances are you may even hate me, and that’s okay, there are times I do too.

I had choices, we all do, the ones that I made changed everything.

Before I knew it, the lines of right and wrong began to blur and I was consumed so deeply that I couldn’t see a way out even if I wanted to.

The path I chose is not for the faint of heart, it isn’t always sweet, but it’s real.

What happens when all the things you have always wanted suddenly aren’t all you want anymore? What do you do when the forbidden screams your name and both parts of your life become as vital as the air you breathe?

You make a choice.

This is my story.

About the Authors

Cat Mason is thirty years old and a mother to three children. She was born and raised in Granite City, Illinois which is just across the Mississippi river from St. Louis, Missouri. She currently lives in Virginia with her husband and children. Previously publishing Contemporary Romance under her real name, until she decided to lose the filter and let it all hang out. When she isn’t writing, she is reading or spending time with her friends and family.

Facebook | Goodreads

Kathryn Kiden is the author of Where Words Fail (book 1 in the Save Me Series), Freeing Tuesday (book 2 in the Save Me Series) and Hate Me Today (book 3 in the Save Me Series)

Facebook | Goodreads

Finding Me By Mariah Dietz ♥ Cover Reveal

Title: Finding Me (His, #3)

Author: Mariah Dietz

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: June 1, 2015

Synopsis

I came here to escape. Leave the debris and avoid the inevitable truths.

Things are better.

Worse.

Different.

I’m finding me, but in the process I fear I’m forgetting those I have left, and the ones who have left me. Maybe I’m losing who I was.

Can I forget my past and move forward?

Can I forget him?

Excerpt

My eyes fly open and my mind feels alert. Normally nightmares wake me up like this, but this time, nothing is haunting me.

I look around the dark living room, feeling my heart race, and then realize what woke me up. A loud train of curses followed by a whine and a scratching at the door makes my heart squeeze. I sit up slightly, my eyes and ears desperately seeking the night for the confirmation that I’m not dreaming. A scraping against the lock sends my heart rate to unhealthy levels as my eyes widen and my muscles tense. When I hear the key turn, I drop back to the couch, squeezing my eyes shut and trying to bury my face in my pillow, behind a wall of my hair as I try to make my breathing sound normal.

I can tell when the door is opened by the click of Zeus’s nails against the hardwood floors growing closer to me. His voice is hushed as he calls out to Zeus, making my entire body pulse with familiarity and nerves. Zeus’s heavy breathing grows until he places his front paws on the couch in front of me and begins bathing me in heavy kisses. There’s no way to try and pretend I’m sleeping through this. I’ll drown first. Plus my need to see him is outweighing my fears.

I sit up and wipe a hand down my face while searching the dark living room for him as Zeus pushes closer to me, whimpering with anticipation and what can only be described as unleashed excitement.

Then he appears in front of the coffee table. It’s too dark to make out much of him, but every fiber of my being feels some sort of response, verifying that it’s him. Elation and fear, mixed with rage and jealousy, are topped with curiosity and pain. It’s a confounding and stifling overabundance of emotions that has my eyes staring wide at him, soaking up every last detail that I can manage in the dim light while Zeus works to climb higher on the couch, hovering over me.

Max stares back at me and although it’s too dark to see the blueness of his eyes, I can see the fierceness in them. He looks pissed. No relief, no happiness like Zeus, just anger.

“Zeus,” he calls again in a tone I’ve rarely heard.

“It’s alright. He can stay.” Thankfully my voice barely comes out above a whisper because my emotions are shooting through me like vinegar when it meets baking soda—unsteady.

He stares at me, and like a geyser, unspoken words flood my mind. “Hey, Max.”

He must be just as shocked as I am that I was able to speak those words because as soon as his name leaves my lips, he turns and ascends the stairs without responding. His bedroom door slams and then silence rings in my ears.

I catch a movement out of the corner of my eye and turn to see Landon in the hallway, running a hand over his jaw, wearing only a pair of gym shorts. His head turns from the stairs to me, and then he silently walks to the couch.

“He’s …”

“It’s okay,” I say when the rest of his words don’t seem to find their way out. “This is his house too.”

“He’s not mad at you.”

I turn to look at him in obvious disbelief. Anyone would have been able to see that Max was mad at me. His reaction wasn’t shocking exactly. Max lost one of his best friends, just like I had. There have been days that I have felt really angry over the whole situation too. Angry that I didn’t know how to communicate my feelings, and angry about the way he dealt with my insecurities. I still struggle with being angry over removing myself and moving to Delaware because I thought it would be the right decision for me.

Kitty and I have discussed my tendency to run from awkward situations; she’s the one who provided me with the new term “remove myself from.” It sounds a lot better than fleeing, but I had fled, and I know it. I can give a hundred reasons why for each time too, rationalizing each situation until I’m nearly positive it was the right decision—but I can never make it to one hundred percent. That small bubble of resistance and doubt always prevents me from being able to allow the memories to finally be discarded, and then it begins spreading, eating the conviction one doubt at a time.

About The Author

Mariah Dietz lives in Eastern Washington with her husband and two sons that are the axis of her crazy and wonderful world.

Mariah grew up in a tiny town outside of Portland, Oregon where she spent the majority of her time immersed in the pages of books that she both read and created.

She has a love for all things that include her sons, good coffee, books, travel, and dark chocolate. She also has a deep passion for the stories she writes, and hopes readers enjoy the journeys she takes them on, as much as she loves creating them.

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Blazinbear's Book Blog

A Good Book and a comfy chair is all a girl really needs!

Cover Reveal

WHISPERED TRUTHS (Truths) by Anne Mercier ♥ Cover Reveal

SKYSCRAPERS & CAMELOT (Renovate) by Mindy A. Carter ♥ Cover Reveal

One To Chase (One to Hold) By Tia Louise ♥ Cover Reveal

THE EMANCIPATION OF LOVE (Monster) by Mary E. Palmerin

Red Nights By Shari J, Ryan ♥ Cover Reveal

Damaged by Avelyn Paige ♥ Cover Reveal

Saints and Sinners Book Promotions is proud to present a debut novel by debut author Avelyn Paige!!

Homewrecker by Cat Mason & Kathryn Kiden ♥ Cover Reveal

Finding Me By Mariah Dietz ♥ Cover Reveal

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Saints and Sinners Book Promotions is proud to present a debut novel by debut author Avelyn Paige!!

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