Blitz+Excerpt+Giveaway: One, Two, Three

Title: One, Two, Three
Author: Elodie Nowodazkij

Publication date: June 26th 2014 

Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult

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Synopsis from Goodreads:

When seventeen-year-old Natalya’s dreams of being a ballerina are killed in a car accident along with her father, she must choose: shut down—like her mother—or open up to love.

Last year, Natalya was attending the School of Performing Arts in New York City. Last year, she was well on her way to becoming a professional ballerina. Last year, her father was still alive.

But a car crash changed all that—and Natalya can’t stop blaming herself. Now, she goes to a regular high school in New Jersey; lives with her onetime prima ballerina, now alcoholic mother; and has no hope of a dance career.

At her new school, however, sexy soccer player Antonio sees a brighter future for Natalya, or at least a more pleasant present, and his patient charms eventually draw her out of her shell.

But when upsetting secrets come to light and Tonio’s own problems draw her in, Natalya shuts down again, this time turning to alcohol herself.

Can Natalya learn to trust Antonio before she loses him—and destroys herself?

Excerpt

The shortcut to the lake from our home is a dirt road that isn’t well lit, but I know the way by heart. I hurry down the path, tuning my iPod to Chopin’s happier music. But I can’t drown out Mama’s voice. It resonates in my head. It’s my fault! I know she’s wrong because she’s not the one who killed him. I did. If only I didn’t get into an argument with him in the car. If only I had warned him about the truck. I bite back a sob and rip off my knee brace to walk even faster. At first, my knee is stiff, but at least I can extend my leg much better now. 

Seeing the lake calms me down, soothes me. This place is always crowded in the summer, but on this crisp September night, there’s no one. The lights surrounding the area flicker, the tall trees leave interesting shadows on the ground, and a discarded pink umbrella stands next to the bench by the grilling area. I turn up the volume of my iPod even more, settle on the bench, and search through my backpack. My pointes show the wear and tear of the last years, and no matter how much I scrub, there’s one smudge that doesn’t want to go away. 

Memories flash back when I slip them on: my father handing me a bouquet of lilies after each of my recitals, the crew from the School of Performing Arts sneaking out to get ice cream, the summers I spent on the raft at the lake with Becca and my babushka, the hours at the barre. 

Everything’s gone.

Dancing’s always been my escape from reality: from the fights my parents had more and more often, from my babushka passing away all alone at the hospital because no one told me she was sick, from my fears of letting anyone get really close. 

Dancing’s always been my future. 

Dancing’s always been who I am. So even if I can’t dance like I used to, even if I can’t put too much pressure on my knee, I’m convinced I’ll train my way back to the top, that I’ll show Dr. Gibson and the rest of them that they got it wrong, when they said it was very unlikely I would ever go back on stage. Juilliard postponed my audition and the director of the School of Performing Arts said he was holding a spot for me if I wanted to come back. If I could come back. 

I use the bench as my own personal barre, slowly bend my knees, keeping them over my toes. Grounding my heels on the ground, I stretch down as much as I can, but I don’t make it past a demi-plié. I warm up for ten minutes, losing myself in the familiar movements. The stars reflect on the water; it could be the perfect backdrop for a production of Swan Lake. I wish I could position myself for a grand jeté, feel the wind surround me as I fly into the air, but I know better than to jeopardize the progress I’ve made. The last time I tried, my kneecap almost snapped again. Both my knees were smashed in the car crash, but my pivot leg suffered the most.

I angle my feet for some small pas de bourrée. I go faster and faster, until I bump into a rock. Fear steals my breath away. I avoid landing on my leg and instead fall on my ass.

About the Author

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Elodie Nowodazkij was raised in a tiny village in France, where she could always be found a book in hand. At nineteen, she moved to the US, where she learned she'd never lose her French accent. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in Modern Language & Linguistics, and later earned master's degrees in German Cultural Studies and European Studies. Unbeknownst to her professors, she sometimes drafted stories in class. Now she lives in Germany with her husband and their cat (who doesn't seem to realize he's not human), and uses her commuting time to write the stories swirling in her head. She's also a serial smiley user.

Giveaway

Open to US/CAN

1 signed copy + $50 to either Amazon or B&N + $25 donation to the literacy project of their choice in donor.org

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Hi there! Thank you so much for considering to have your book featured on our blog!

Fathomless Reveries is co-owned by two bloggers, Pauline and Dyane. Some books may be reviewed by the both of us, and others by just one of us. This doesn't mean that we will always have the same opinions for the same books, though. Expect that there will be times wherein one of us will love the book, while the other won't really like it. It does happen. :)

We give out our honest reviews and do not sugarcoat our thoughts. However, a negative rating doesn't mean we suggest that people don't read the book anymore, nor is it an attack towards the author. Likewise, a positive review doesn't mean we'll love all books by the same author.

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We check our email almost everyday, so please expect a reply within a week at most. If you don't receive a reply within a week, it is most likely because you didn't read our review policy, follow the format provided below or the book is not within our taste. Although we are open to requests, we have the right to decline your offer. Please advise us if you don't want us to post a review of your book with a rating of under 3 stars. We are also open to featuring authors via guest posts and interviews. We love posting spotlights, whether they be cover reveals, blurbs, giveaways, playlists, or other fun stuff. We'd also love to join blog tours, so please do not hesitate to contact us! :D

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We mostly review YA/NA and Contemporary Romance books. If your book involves music, time travel and/or Greek mythology, it'll most likely get accepted, too. We also read a little bit of other genres, but we tend to be very picky when it comes to those, so send requests at your own risk! ;)

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Review: The Summer I Turned Pretty

Title: The Summer I Turned Pretty (Summer #1)
Author: Jenny Han
Publication Date: May 5, 2009
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary Romance

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Belly measures her life in summers. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad. They are the boys that Belly has known since her very first summer--they have been her brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one terrible and wonderful summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along.

My Thoughts

I decided to read this series because Jenny Han was coming here to the Philippines, but life happened, and I wasn’t able to go. Okay, college sucks. This is actually my first Jenny Han book, and I love it!

I don’t know how exactly this book makes me feel a lot of things, but I just know that I absolutely love this book. It made my heart skip a beat. I didn’t like Belly at first because she seemed so insecure and attention-loving. Not in the sense that she puts herself up in the spotlight, but she likes the people to be attentive and take notice of her. She most definitely didn’t want to get left out most of the time. Despite that I don’t usually like insecure people, I was okay with Belly. I actually liked her character, and felt connected to her.

For the first time ever, I really couldn’t choose a ship team. I don’t know if I’d go with Team Jeremiah or Team Conrad. The both of them are awesome in their own ways which make me feel like I’ll be okay with whoever Belly ends up with. I like how the two of them aren’t really catching up her attention, and they’re just friends, but you know that the feels are there.

For such a short book, there were so much feels. Not to mention that I’m in a beach resort island thingy, so it feels like I’m really with them. The setting is all so great! In all honesty, I couldn’t even find anything much to complain because everything is just beautiful. It is just perfect. This is a great summer read, and I recommend this to all young adult, contemporary romance readers. Go read it, now! :)

My Rating

{Blog Tour} Review+Giveaway: Breaking Fences

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Title: Breaking Fences (The Breaking Series, #2)

Author: Juliana Haygert 

Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance

Word Count: ~80,000

Release date: June 2014

Cover by Okay Creations

Amazon || B&N || Kobo || iBooks || Goodreads #1

Summary from Goodreads:

All Beatriz “Bia” Fernandes wants is to prove herself—to her family and friends—though it’s hard to prove anything with an overbearing father and three famous polo-playing older brothers. After her acceptance into college results in a heated family argument, the Brazilian girl leaves everything behind to find her own American dream.

College life away from home is perfect until the people she believes to be her friends turn on her. With lies and rumors threatening to suffocate her, Bia turns to her only freedom. Riding.

But one thing gets in the way of her escape. Garrett Blackwell and his bad cowboy attitude. Working at the ranch is his obligation, bugging Bia is his newfound hobby. His thick skin and easy grin don’t hide what Bia already knows—this misunderstood and lonely cowboy fights his own demons. Brushing horses’ coats and mucking out stalls shouldn’t be this sexy, and it isn’t long before he becomes a part of her distraction.

However, escaping won’t solve her problems, and it’s up to Bia to break down the fences around her and prove her strength—not to her family and friends, but to herself … and for Garrett. Because standing on her own doesn’t have to mean standing alone.

** Companion novel of Breaking the Reins. Can be read out of order.**

My Thoughts

When I finished reading the companion novel to this, Breaking the Reins, I was really damn amazed. It was so intense and beautiful, and because of it I was really excited to read Bia's point of view in Breaking Fences. I was not disappointed. Although I think I liked Breaking the Reins more than this, it is also beautiful in its own way.

Bia had both sides of her, the quiet and the outgoing one, and whichever personality she has to show, they are both equally awesome. She isn't a person who is so full of herself, instead, she is very down-to-earth and real to herself. There may have been times that she became someone who she's not, but I really loved her strong will and independence to be herself even though everything seems to be crashing down. She may have made a few mistakes and decisions, here and there, but she learned from it. She wasn't afraid to put herself out there and experiencing new things, and that's what really amazed me about her the most.

I also could feel that connection with Bia because I realized that in some ways, I am also like her, which made me appreciate her character even more. Reading her story has made me realize and open up to a whole new lot of possibilities, and hopefully, these can help me in my situations in the future.

I liked how Phoebe remained with Bia even though there were a lot of rumors that circulated about Bia, but aside from that, I didn't really like her. She didn't show some support system to Bia, and seemed to be always with her boyfriend. Not that I really expected her to do something big for Bia, but I couldn't really feel her friend-atmosphere, which kind of sucked. I really hoped that there was someone that Bia can turn to, and I think that would have made me love this novel even more.

Garrett was half-annoying and half-lovable, which made me didn't really love him so much as I did with other book boys. He has his own reasons for his actions, but it was annoying how he couldn’t explain himself, that’s why his actions always come across as something it’s not. But still, he has this charm that made me like him, either way. He is strong and independent, and I really admire those traits about him.

I really loved how Breaking Fences was about finding your true self and learning how to become someone you truly are. No pretences and no masks. Juliana Haygert has done it again; this novel is mind-blowing and beautiful, and I absolutely recommend reading this!

My Rating

About the Author

Website || Blog || Twitter || Facebook || Goodreads || Pinterest

New Adult author and contributor at NA Alley blog.

While Juliana Haygert dreams of being Wonder Woman, Buffy, or a blood elf shadow priest, she settles for the less exciting—but equally gratifying—life of a wife, mother, and author. Thousands of miles away from her former home in Brazil, she now resides in Connecticut and spends her days writing about kick-ass heroines and the heroes who drive them crazy.

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{Blog Tour} Review+Giveaway: Heart Shaped Rock

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Title: Heart Shaped Rock

Author: Laura Roppe

Release Date: May 2014

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Summary from Goodreads:

“If you liked the music collaboration of Maybe Someday, you’ve got to check out Heart Shaped Rock.” — New York Times best-selling author of Maybe Someday, Colleen Hoover

"Laura Roppé has written a moving and emotional novel of first love, accurately capturing the voice and mind of a dramatic and emotional sixteen year old girl caught in a maelstrom of grief and loss, love and heartbreak. And then there’s Dean…you'll just have to read the book, ‘cause I can't do him justice in a few short sentences.” –Jasinda Wilder, New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of Falling into You

Sometimes a shattered heart needs to sing to love again... Sixteen year old singer-songwriter Shaynee Sullivan hasn't so much as touched her guitar since her mom died six months ago. In fact, Shaynee hasn't felt like doing much of anything lately, except maybe playing Whack-a-Mole on her "emotionally intelligent" brother's head. But when she meets a gorgeous and surprising rocker named Dean, her shattered heart begins to mend... and then burst at the seams. Heart-wrenching, heart-warming, and sometimes even heart-racing, Heart Shaped Rock will leave you laughing through tears and rooting for love in all its forms.

Hear the original music performed in Heart Shaped Rock at www.LauraRoppe.com. All music available on iTunes.

My Thoughts

I actually decided to read this because I saw in Goodreads that Maybe Someday readers should also check this out, and I loved Maybe Someday so much. Not to mention that there’s also a music collaboration in this novel, so it was really a plus-plus for me. And I was not disappointed.

Right from the start, I could already feel all the potential this novel has, even though the novel has just begun. The feelings that Shaynee has over the death of her mother is so real. I could feel her grief and pain all across the pages of the book, and I simply found myself crying and crying and crying all night.

Even though I found myself being annoyed at Shaynee most of the time because she was so indecisive and immature, I really enjoyed reading this novel. Her grief has caused her to build up walls around her, and she seemed so close, that no one can even break the walls. The way she treated her brother, Lennox, made me really want to just pull her hair out, but as time went on, I really could understand why she was like that. I’m not saying it’s right, but I really can’t expect her to be the one who should be emotionally stable when she’s only sixteen. But what I really love about Shaynee is that she’d fight for anyone she really cares and loves about. Even though there may be a lot of times she may have hurt others, but she truly loves them.

Of all the characters, I think I love Tiffany, Shaynee’s best friend, the most. She is the best best friend you can ever have. Despite that she has her own emotions to deal with, she still manages to be that safety net and catch Shaynee, always. She was with Shaynee through thick and thin, even though it may have hurt her throughout the entire time.

Dean was amazing. For him to have that bad boy image, but he doesn’t really use it, was really awesome. He is so sweet, so loving and so good that it’d be really dumb to not choose him. Although this may be the case, I didn’t like how the romance development between him and Shaynee. Dean’s side was rather cute, but Shaynee’s? Not so much. It was like a love at first sight, and she was too obsessed with Dean that it was irritating.

Heart-Shaped Rock is a beautiful, heart-warming story of loss, grief, family, friendship, love and most importantly, life. Shaynee’s story revolved around the lesson: life doesn’t stop. We have to keep on moving. We don’t have to let go of things, but rather, we have to learn how to accept and live with them.

My Rating

Real rating: 4.5 stars

About the Author

Website || Goodreads || Twitter || Facebook

Laura Roppé is an award-winning singer/songwriter, author, audio book narrator, speaker, and former attorney from San Diego, California. In 2011, Billboard Magazine ranked her as Number Three on its chart of the Top 50 "uncharted" artists in the world. In May 2013, Laura began hosting Amazon's weekly podcast, "Kindle Love Stories," for people who love hearing about love stories, romance, and happily ever afters.

Her first book is the non-fiction memoir, Rocking the Pink. Her latest is a YA-teen romance novel entitled Heart Shaped Rock, featuring a soundtrack.

Giveaway

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Review: Thief

Title: Thief (Love Me With Lies #3)
Author: Tarryn Fisher
Publication Date: August 8, 2013
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Note to Self

Love is patient; love is kind.

Love doesn't boast or brag.

There's no arrogance in love;

it's never rude, crude, or indecent-it's not self absorbed.

Love isn't easily upset.

Love doesn't tally wrongs.

Love trusts, hopes, and endures no matter what.

Love will never become obsolete.

I'll fight for her.

Thief

Caleb Drake never got over his first love. Not when he got married. Not when she got married. When life suddenly comes full circle Caleb must decide how how far he is willing to go to get the aloof and alluring Olivia Kaspen back. But for every action in life there is a consequence, and soon Caleb finds out that sometimes love comes at an unbearably high price.

My Thoughts

I am so dumbstruck with this whole thing, that I can’t even put the book down. When I finished the book, I was blown away. Totally, utterly, speechless. I seriously don’t know what to write for this review, and honestly, I’m really trying to gather up my thoughts, to no success, because:

1. It’s just super duper intense and awesome, ohmygosh.
2. It was painfully beautiful.
3. I love everything.

She has the kind of love that can stain your soul, make you beg not to have one, just to escape the spell she’s put you under. I’ve tried to break myself of her over and over, but it’s pointless. I’ve got more of her in my veins than blood.

This was a helluvah roller coaster ride with Caleb and Olivia, but I loved everything. I was with them the entire time, and all the feelings were so raw that I could feel myself hurting, crying, laughing, smiling, and every single emotion out there. I love how Caleb didn’t love Olivia because she was perfect, rather, he loved her because of all her imperfections and flaws. He loved her anyway. I love how Caleb fought so hard and did everything for Olivia, and it seems like the whole world was telling them, you guys are meant to be.

I knew. You couldn’t get rid of the past. You couldn’t ignore it, or bury it, or throw it over the balcony. You just had to learn to live beside it. It had to peacefully co-exist with your present. If I could figure out how to do that, I could be okay.

Because of all the things happened between the two of them, it was so obvious that they were both so broken and jaded, but it was precisely because of that, that I can see how much they are perfect for each other. Their relationship had a lot of negativity and was mostly built on lies, but it was beautiful anyway. With all the years they spent apart from each other, they learned a lot from their past and their present, and I totally loved that.

Every page I turn, every word I read just strike me straight to the heart. All I can see are awesome pieces of thoughts, and Caleb. Of course, Caleb. (HAHA.) He just makes me swoon and squeal like a fangirl. I am just so in love with him right from the first book, The Opportunist, that he makes me wish I can find someone like him in the future.

Oh, for the record, this is the first series that I rated all books with five big stars, and I don’t think that is even enough for such a wonderful, awesome, amazing, *insert all the synonymous words in the world,* series. IT’S THAT AWESOME. Please, pretty please, with cherries on top, you have to read this book, NOW!

My Rating

Review: Dirty Red

Title: Dirty Red (Love Me With Lies #2)
Author: Tarryn Fisher
Publication Date: December 21, 2012
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Dear Opportunist, 

You thought you could take him from me, but you lost. Now, that he's mine I'll do anything to keep him. Do you doubt me? I have everything that was supposed to be yours. In case you were wondering; he doesn't ever think about you anymore. I won't let him go....ever. 

Dirty Red

Leah Smith finally has everything she has ever wanted. Except she doesn't. Her marriage feels more like a loan than a lifelong commitment, and the image she has worked so hard to build is fraying before her eyes. With a new role and a past full of secrets, Leah must decide how far she is willing to go to keep what she has stolen.

My Thoughts

I was excited to read the second book, but when I learned that it was about Leah, I didn’t know what to expect. I sure don’t want to read some book that revolves around a character I hate so much. I think that Dirty Red is unique, in the way that the main character is the antagonist. I don’t know if there are other books wherein the main character is the antagonist, but this is sure-heck my first time reading one.

I am astounded at how Tarryn Fisher has made me delve deeper into Leah’s story, no matter how much I hated her. I couldn’t stop turning the pages; I was intrigued with Leah’s story. As her past gets slowly revealed, it made me understand her more, on why she has become that kind of a person she is at present. It’s not an excuse for the person she has become, but somehow, this has made me feel a bit more sympathetic towards her (but I still hate her anyway.)

No matter what, I HATE LEAH. I want to kill heeeer! She’s such a bitch. She might be the bitchiest, most controlling and most manipulative person I’ve ever known. She’s a social climber, and everything. In short, she’s epitome of everything I’d hate in a person. She remained evil, which was great, not great because she was evil, but because it was realistic that way. I think I would have hated it more if she became a good person. People like her don’t change that easily.

Reading what Olivia is like from Leah’s perspective made me appreciate Olivia’s character even more (is that possible?) It made me see a lot of characteristics and personality that I wasn’t able to see in The Opportunist. I also loved Sam; I think he’s the only character that I liked in the book, but that’s alright though. I love all Sam-Leah conversations (hihi)

In the end, there were two thoughts that left a great impact to me:

1. You reap what you sow.
2. Karma is a bitch.

But I don’t think Leah realised that, which sucks. Realization is one thing, and becoming a person is one thing. I may not hope that Leah will change, but at the very least, I think at some point, I hoped that Leah would have realised her wrong ways.

I’m so excited for Thief, the third book, already because it’s in Caleb’s point of view! AAAHHH. I could already feel myself falling in love with it. This might just be the series wherein I’ll rate all books 5 perfect stars! It’s just that awesome. Please go grab a copy of The Opportunist already if you haven’t read it yet! ;)

My Rating

Blitz+Excerpt+Giveaway: More Than Music

Title: More Than Music (Chasing The Dream #1)
Author: Elizabeth Briggs 

Publication date: June 17th 2014 

Genres: Contemporary, New Adult

Amazon || B&N

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Music major Maddie Taylor seems to have her life all figured out. She’s just finished her junior year of college, has a summer internship lined up with the LA Philharmonic, and plans to go to grad school to write movie scores. Only her roommates know she practices guitar every night and secretly dreams of a louder life. But geeky girls like her don’t get to be rock stars.

Tattooed singer Jared Cross has a new girl every week, but when he catches Maddie playing one of his songs, she attracts his attention in an unexpected way. His band needs a fourth member for The Sound, a reality TV show competition—and he wants her. Though Maddie refuses to be another notch on Jared’s bedpost, she agrees to risk everything for the chance to be a rock star.

Once on the show, Maddie discovers there’s more to Jared behind his flirty smile, and with each performance their attraction becomes impossible to ignore. When the show pressures Jared to flaunt his player image, they’re forced to keep their relationship secret, but Maddie can’t help but want something real.

As the competition heats up, Jared will do whatever it takes for his band to win, and Maddie must decide if following her dream is worth losing her heart.

Excerpt

“I need your help,” Jared said, fixing an intense gaze on me. “We have a live audition tomorrow for The Sound. Problem is, our bassist quit last night, and we need a fourth member of the band.”

“What?” Was he saying what I thought he was saying? No. Impossible.

“I know—worst timing ever. Can you play bass by any chance?”

“No…”

His face fell for an instant, and some reckless part of me wanted to lie and say yes or promise him I’d learn. How hard could it be to learn the bass if I knew how to play guitar, right? Though I immediately realized how dumb that idea was because a) I could never learn bass in time for an audition tomorrow; b) I shouldn’t care about making Jared happy, even if his disappointed face broke my heart; and c) none of that mattered because he couldn’t possibly be asking me to join his band anyway.

“That’s okay,” he said. “I can play bass, and you can play guitar. It’ll work.” His smile lit up his face again, with a look that could charm any girl lucky enough to bask in it. Right now, that girl was me. “So what do you think?”

Jared was asking me—me—to play guitar in his band. In an audition on live TV. In front of four of the greatest musicians ever, plus millions of people at home. Mind. Blown. Somehow I’d been handed my secret dream on a silver platter. Next up, Jared would ask me out, too. Yeah, and then we’d ride off into the sunset on a rainbow unicorn with our million-dollar record deal.

“You want me to join your band?” I asked slowly, studying him for any sign that this was all a joke.

“Just for the audition. That should give us enough time to find another bass player to take Becca’s place.”

Ah, there was the catch. I would only play with them for one day, giving me a tiny taste of their lifestyle, and then they’d drop me as soon as the audition was over. No, better to never know what it would be like to play guitar on stage, to be part of a band, to make music with Jared and Kyle. Besides, I couldn’t play guitar in front of the world. Guitar was my secret, my fun escape, and nothing more. My internship started on Monday, and I needed to focus on that—not on silly dreams of being a rock star.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t.” I spun around and rushed toward the exit before he could respond. I didn’t want him to see my face and how much I desperately wanted to do it.

“Wait!” He ran after me, but I kept going, past other students who watched us with curiosity. “Maddie, wait!”

Damn his long legs. He caught up to me, practically jumping in front of me to stop me in my tracks. I kept my face glued to the floor, to the contrast of his black combat boots and my green Converse. I couldn’t look up at him or I’d be tempted to say yes to anything.

He lowered his voice. “Please, you’re the only person who can help us. You’re an amazing guitarist, and you already know our songs. We need you.”

I shook my head, looking anywhere but at him. Hearing him say he needed me with his whiskey-chocolate-sex voice made my legs a bit shaky, but what he was asking for? It was too much.

Jared got down on his knees, right in the middle of the hallway, and everyone stopped to watch us. He raised his hands like he was begging. “Please, this is our one chance, but without a fourth member, we can’t do it. You’re perfect and it’ll only be for a day, and then I’ll owe you. I’ll do anything you want.” He topped it off with a grin. “Help me, Maddie Taylor, you’re my only hope.”

Damn. How could I say no to a Star Wars reference from a hot guy on his knees? The word slipped out before I could stop it. “Okay.”

About the Author

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Elizabeth Briggs is a full-time geek who writes books for teens and adults. She plays the guitar, mentors at-risk teens, and volunteers with a dog rescue group. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and a pack of small, fluffy dogs.

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