Title: Maybe This Time Author: Chantal Fernando Genre: New Adult Release Date: October 14, 2013 Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18375518-maybe-this-time?ac=1 
SynopsisMoving in with my half-brother Xander, I had no idea what to expect. But nothing could have prepared me for this. My brother’s friends are wild, protective, secretive, always around. And drop dead gorgeous. Out of all of them, there's something about Reid Knox. Brooding, temperamental, guarded… And I want him more than anything I have ever wanted in my life. Buy the BookAmazon US - http://amzn.to/1bWdhlY Amazon UK - http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00FVFLLBQ 
About the Author Chantal Fernando is 26, a mother of three beautiful little boys and lives in Western Australia. Chase is her debut novel, followed by Kade, Ryder, James and Maybe This Time. She is currently working on a few other projects. Giveaway a Rafflecopter giveaway 
My heart stopped and suddenly it was hard to breathe. His voice always had that effect on me. It was like poison slowly running through my veins killing me bit by bit. Like a drug that I couldn't get enough of even though I was almost down to my last breath.
Jace took a step forward and grabbed my hand. He slowly trailed his fingers over my face and backed me into the wall. My heart stopped again if that was even possible. "You can't leave," he whispered. "I need you." His warm breath kissed my lips as he bit his bottom lip and placed both of his hands around my face. They were warm and soft to the touch. Too big for my fragile face, although I wanted to bury myself in them. "Breathe. There is no one here but the two of us. Breathe," he whispered.
Avery Hale had spent her whole childhood abused by her drunken, hopped-up parents. Broken from a lifetime of hate and pain she grew up realizing that trust and love just didn't exist. Not in her world at least.
After turning the age of eighteen, she packed up and moved far away determined to escape her hurtful past and start a new life. Once on her own she comes to the conclusion that the emptiness still exist. Doing what she had to to survive she found herself mixed up in exotic dancing and meaningless sexual relationships unable to feel anything, for anyone. She was sure that her life was worthless and there was nothing left for her. Or, she thought.
After meeting a beautiful stranger, jace, her life suddenly is turned upside down. Everything that she truly believed suddenly gets questioned and then she is left to figure out if there is really more to her than she could ever have imagined. Jace, having some secrets of his own puts the pain of his own past behind to do what he can to help Avery. Can the love of another broken person be enough to help Avery, or is she already too far gone?
Avery's life is pulled in many directions as she tries to find herself, and not everyone and thing is what they seem to be in this story of love, trust and opening up. Finding herself and learning to love herself might just be the hardest thing she's ever had to do. - Click here to buy on Amazon - Victoria Ashley is an author from Rockford, IL. She wrote her first novel in 2011 after finding an app on her phone that allowed writers to upload their own work. After finding her passion in writing she then moved on to publish her first novel Wake Up Call, which has been viewed over thirteen million times and plans to continue working hard to publish more in the near future. She’s a sucker for tattooed bad boys that are just understood and would spend all day reading books about them if she had the chance. She also enjoys watching her favorite shows The Vampire Diaries, Dexter and True Blood. A Chicken and Ranch addict.
The Rebel Walking Series continues with Taron and Ivy's story, Heaven Sent. The explosive chemistry that these two share ignites a relationship of epic proportions.
He has been dubbed 'the panty stealer', but Taron Walker has his eyes set on the beautiful, full of life, Ivy Adams. Ivy doesn't usually put up with the player type, yet there is something about Taron that has her intrigued. Taron must leave to go on tour with Rebel Walking and Ivy will be left to face serious struggles on her own. Will she reach out to Taron for help, or will she push him away? Can these two find happiness in each other's arms, or will they tear each other's world apart?
Hilary Storm lives with her high school sweetheart and three children in Enid, Oklahoma. She drives her husband crazy talking about book characters everyday like they are real people. She graduated from Southwestern Oklahoma State University with an MBA in Accounting and has a full time job as an accountant. Her passions include being a mom, writing, reading, photography, music, mocha coffee, and spending time with friends and family. She is the author of the Amazon Best Selling 'Rebel Walking' series. Book one: 'In a Heartbeat' was released June 2013, Book two: 'Heaven Sent' was just released in September 2013.
To the outside world, Jordan Burke appears to have the perfect life. A fulfilling career, family and great friends, but looks can be deceiving. Events from her childhood, and a painful secret, keep Jordan isolated and unwilling to commit to any man. For her, every relationship comes with its own expiration date.
Alex Garza has lived in the shadow of his brother’s fame for most of his life. He's an outcast in his own family and never able to put his own needs first. When his brother gives up his career to settle down, Alex is forced to reevaluate his life plans too. Over the past year, his friendship with Jordan has developed into a source of comfort. Now that he has the time to devote to a relationship, can he convince her to take a chance on love or will their painful pasts and a tragic event destroy their future?
Alice Montalvo-Tribue lives with her husband and daughter in New Jersey. She has a bachelors degree in communications and is currently working on her masters degree. She spends most of her free time reading, writing, and when the weather permits lounging out on a beach.
Lovely Megan Madden has lost her faith in men. But this has not kept her from the joy of her best friend's upcoming wedding. While in London shopping for the big event, Megan's life takes a surprising turn when a quick drink brings changes to her life she never saw coming. Join in the roller coaster of emotions Megan must endure as she attempts to regain her TRUST.</ span>
Who knew a quiet drink could change your life? Trust - Trailer About L Chapman L. Chapman was born in and continues to live in North Yorkshire, United Kingdom. She has spent most of her life helping others. At one time, a DJ for a special needs club. Blending her love of helping others and her love of children, L dreams to one day own and operate a childcare nursery that will help mainstream special needs children with others. In the rare ...times that L. is not working to help others or maniacally writing, she enjoys making a mess of things while creating beautifully detailed greeting cards. She spends time relaxing with family, friends, and good books. L. loves to travel and has been to many places in the United Kingdom; her favorite places all involve the ocean. She hopes to one day share a kiss with her happily-ever-after in the romantic shadow of the Eiffel Tower. Should she ever get over her fear of flying, those kisses may be shared in the shadows of the Egyptian Pyramids.
Ever the fussy eater, L. has never once tasted peanut butter, and she despises coffee. If you should feel the need to bribe her, it is suggested that you bring chocolate, as that is one of her known weaknesses. Synopsis graphic designed by Perfect Pear Creative Trust cover designed by Indie Pixel Studio Facebook Cover designed by Book Addict Mumma Trust - Goodreads Buy Trust Jenny has always wanted a fairytale life: the perfect house, her own Prince Charming and the wedding to go with it.
After a five year engagement Jenny and her fiancé Rich are counting down to the "Big Day"...
And lets not forget one hell of a Hen Party For Jenny her life as the perfect wife is all she has ever wanted but secrets are never far away...
Will Jenny make it to her own fairytale wedding...
All will be revealed in "Veiled" EXCERPT from Veiled</ span>
I made a speech prior to booking the wedding date that there would be no sex the week be-fore we got married. I wanted our wedding night to be special. Now, I think I will be strug-gling with this decision. I plan to make sure I get plenty before our wedding weeks begins. I am wearing Rich's favorite little black halter dress that barely covers my bum and shows just enough of my cheeks to drive him wild. He loves it. I have been a little bit naughty. Okay, very naughty. I am not wearing underwear and have added my black stilettos. Perfect. My hair is down, exactly the way he likes it, and no makeup. This is how my baby likes to see me. "Honey, I'm home," Rich yells as he comes through the door, looking all hot and sweaty from his run. He always goes for a three to five mile run after work. He is a fitness freak some-times, so I would love for him to take a day off from running once in a while. "Hi," I say leaning against the doorway in a suggestive manner, my arm above my head in the full-on come and get me pose. "Oh. Wow, are you trying to kill me, Jen?" He winks. "Never." I giggle, hoping I am killing him. I plan to make that man work his ass off after dinner. "Quick shower and I am all yours, baby girl," he says, placing a little peck on my lips before smacking my bum and running up the stairs. Rich began calling me baby girl the second time we saw each other. I can't help but blush when he says it, even after all this time together. I sit myself on a bar stool in the kitchen and wait for him. He is only gone for five minutes be-cause he takes quick showers when I am not with him. If I didn't have a nice meal planned, I would join him. I might take him for another one later. "I am back, baby girl," Rich announces as he walks into the kitchen wearing only black trousers. His bare chest on full display and his perfect back sparkling from the water that is left on him. His hair is also wet. He looks so fuckable. Food first. We need to eat first I try to convince myself.</ span>  a Rafflecopter giveaway
From the NYT & USA Today Bestselling romance author, a sizzling and addictive story of a woman with a broken past and the man who can't fight his attraction to her...
Twenty-three year old rising theater star Jill McCormick has built a life out of pretending. Pretending she's happy, pretending she's not haunted by the dark secret that shattered her world six years ago. But then she comes face to face with her new director - sexy, sophisticated, possessive, allalpha Davis Milo. He tries to resist the actress he's cast, but the attraction between them is too powerful, and soon their private rehearsals spiral into new, forbidden territory. The passionate connection, the intense chemistry is undeniable, and it hits them anywhere, and everywhere - in the theater, on the piano, in the limo, in the restaurant...But the tragedy in Jill's past
stands between them. Davis has walls too, so they can either face their fears
together, or risk the deepest love and greatest passion either has ever felt... Explanation from Lauren: This deleted scene takes place in chapter 15 prior to the Jill
and Davis’ second private rehearsal, which will be more familiar to readers as before the “piano scene.” I had originally written this scene where Jill rehearses with Patrick, and Davis’ reaction to it. But I then decided that I’d rather show Jill and Davis rehearsing. Plus, I felt readers already knew and understood the depths of Davis’ jealousy at this point and that the additional scene showing it wasn’t necessary. I also nixed it because I decided that Patrick was not falling in love with Jill, as Davis surmises from this scene. But, just for fun, here it is from the cutting room floor!!!
xoxo
Lauren
Thirty minutes later, I am coiled full of tension from watching Patrick run his hands
through Jill’s hair, from the way she responds, leaning her head back into him, from
how she breathily whispers one of the last lines in the scene, “it feels so good,” her microphone taking the words on a trip around the whole theater, up to the proscenium arch and two boxes and back. “End scene,” Shannon calls out.
I run a hand across my chin roughly. Steel myself, then stand up, walk to the edge of the stage, place a palm against the floorboards as Jill and Patrick look at me expectantly.
“That’s a great start. Now, Patrick what I want you to work on next is really capturing the change in Paolo. This scene is the moment when he starts to soften around her. When he shifts from being the hard ass teacher and into the tender lover he will become. Look for those moments in between the words,” I say, giving him the full, honest truth of what his performance needs, even though if pains every bone in my body to instruct him like this.
He nods several times, taking it in. He’s a pro, and I know he’ll knock this scene out of the park as he always does. He doesn’t command his name on the marquee for nothing. The man can sell tickets for a reason.
Then I turn to Jill. She’s nibbling on her lower lip nervously. She stops when she meets my gaze. I do my best to give away nothing as I talk to her. “For Ava, I really see this moment as the one when it clicks for her. That she’s been confused and unsure for so long about Paolo. Is he just the professor? Is he merely a difficult teacher? Or is there something more? But then they are in the studio working and her hair is a mess and full of paint, and her hands are covered in it, and this is when she understands not only that he has feelings for her, but that she’s falling hard for him too.”
“Thank you. That makes sense,” she says, like a good student.
“Are we going okay on the blocking?” Patrick asks. “It’s a little unformed at this point.”
“You’re doing fine. We’ll get it finalized soon. For now, run it again,” I say, and I return to my seat, feeling absolutely spent from having to tell the two of them to show me more of them falling in love.
Another rounds later, they’re closer to nailing it, and I’m sure I’ll knock the punching bag from its chains the next time I’m at the gym. When Patrick asks to do the scene one final time, I’m about to explode with a resounding “No.” Instead, I keep it all inside, as I manage through gritted teeth, “Of course let’s get it right.”
I watch one final time, even though it’s fucking eating away at me to see him touch her. Before he even starts the scene, he looks at her with softness in his yes, and I know he’s starting to fall for her too. That he’s not merely acting. That he’s only playing a part. The two are starting to blend, and this is why actors all over the world fall for actors. This is why you hear stories of movie set romances, because they aren’t stories. They’re true. There is little, I imagine, more intoxicating than pretending to be in love with someone. After a while, reality and fiction bleed over, and you fall in love for real.
When the scene ends, the stage manager calls take five and Patrick tucks a strand of her hair behind her ear, flashing her that matinee idol smile of his that melts women. I swallow, close my eyes, clench my fists. Selfishly, I had hoped it would all be
unrequited. I had hoped it was a one-way thing on her part. But that was stupid of me. I’m falling for her, and he is too. Lauren Blakely writes sexy contemporary romance novels with heat, heart and humor, and her books have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, Amazon, Barnes and Noble and iBooks bestseller lists. Like the heroine in PLAYING WITH HER HEART, she thinks life should be filled with love, passion, and dreams come true. Lauren lives in California with her husband, children, and dogs. Her novels include Caught Up In Us, Pretending He's Mine, Playing With Her Heart, and Trophy Husband.
18+ New Adult romance
You met them in Forget Me Not. Now, hear Jack’s story.
Plagued by a dark past, Jack sees college as a way out. Desperate to escape the area where he grew up, the people who know his secrets, and his own family, he
deals with his problems through alcohol and sex.
When he first sees Lily, she’s the epitome of everything he hates. Yet something about her makes Jack rethink everything he knows and assumes about other people. Now, with the help of his best friend and lover, Jack has to decide if he wants to pursue something that he knows will only end badly.
Can Lily be one of the few people who can see Jack for who he really is – or will his darkness be too much for her to handle? Sarah Daltry writes erotica and romance that ranges from sweet to steamy. She moves around a lot and has trouble committing to things. Lily of the Valley is her third full length novel, although she also has several story collections and two novellas available. Her other novels are Forget Me Not, the story that tells Lily’s version of events, and Bitter Fruits, which was available shortly, but is now in the contract phase with a major publisher. When Sarah isn’t writing, she tends to waste a lot of time checking Facebook for pictures of cats, shooting virtual zombies, and simply staring out the window. Top Video Games...
1. Borderlands 1 and 2
2. Fallout 3
3. Persona series
4. Silent Hill series
5. Final Fantasy series
6. Skyrim
7. Dragon Age series
8. Mass Effect series
9. Fable series
10. Bioshock series 11. Magic: The Gathering
12. Perfect Dark
13. Heavy Rain
14. LA Noire
15. Catherine
16. Zuma Top 10 Bad Boys... 1. Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights
2. Jake Barnes from The Sun Also Rises
3. Will from Infernal Devices
4. Lord Byron
5. The Scarecrow in Batman Begins
6. Lucifer from Supernatural
7. Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice
8. James Dean
9. Damon from Vampire Diaries
10. V from V for Vendetta
Social Links .... Facebook - Twitter - Goodreads Author - Pinterest - Tumblr
At work, though, the people are real. Both the customers and the staff. During the busy times, we get more douchebags, mostly my classmates who probably should be in the library and not eating a hangover away. Mal is also on this morning. He’s a recovering alcoholic, a total asshole to nearly everyone, and an incredibly shitty employee in a lot of ways. But the dude can cook and when I walk in a couple minutes late with no explanation, Mal just shrugs and hands me an order.
“Big parties last night?”
“Huge party. I spent the night reading Dostoevsky.”
“He a scientist?” Mal flips over the largest slab of ham I have ever seen. For all the sort of dive element of this place, the food is still fucking great.
“Yeah, something like that.”
“Eh. Never cared for all that mumbo jumbo. Don’t know any of it and I’m doing just fine.”
That’s something else I admire about Mal. By no one’s standards is he doing just fine. He has a tendency to fall off the wagon as soon as he approaches his ten month anniversary – which he has been doing for likely longer than I have been alive. He’s been married and divorced five times. He has three kids who don’t speak to him. Finally, he only eats the food from the café and he lives in a motel out by the prison. Oh – and he works as a short order cook in a shitty café.
But in his mind, life is just fine. Sometimes, I think I need to get a hold of whatever it is that keeps him from losing his shit.
We settle into our routine, since there is little Mal and I can talk about. I can’t discuss
Raskolnikov’s character traits and Mal simply has nothing to say. So we cook in silence, but it’s comfortable. After everything I have been through, I feel a strange affinity for this place. Even thinking about leaving when I eventually get the hell out of town makes me a little sad. I hate that it makes me sad. I want to leave with no connections, with no strings.
I go to stick an order on the counter for Liz when I see her. Strawberries. She’s with some dude, who is basically what I pictured when she mentioned her boyfriend. Broad, tan, blond, and eating like a fucking pig. I don’t know what they’re talking about and I can’t see her face, but he loves her. It’s immediately recognizable and I hate him for it. I don’t even know why I hate him for it, since at least maybe he’s not as much of a dick as I would have expected. If we had been placing bets, I would have gone with the safe assumption he had something else on the side to make up for having such a sweet and pure girlfriend. I wonder if maybe she isn’t as innocent as she looks. The thought makes me horny again. I don’t get what is so damn attractive about this typical girl, but something makes me want to taste every inch of her skin.
 Patch Up by Stephanie Witter
Genre: Contemporary New Adult novel
with a slow building romance.
Date of Publication: 16 Sep, 2013
Number of pages: 260 pages
Due to some shocking scenes, this novel is not intended for readers under 18.
Skye followed her long time boyfriend to Seattle for their first year of college, but he dumped her after only a week. The relationship brought only pain and destruction in Skye's life, and yet, she can't bring herself to open up and live her life.
"What if I am already broken into pieces?"
She hates to be touched, hiding under her oversized shirts and behind her wild frizzy hair. Even her bubbly roommate can't reach her. And yet ...
"I'm the guy who knows how you can hurt so much that your insides feel like they're cut and bleeding."
The tall, handsome, and tattooed TA in her psychology class changes everything when he literally collides with her and confronts her. For the first time in a long time, she wants to try and open up to this guy whose dark, intense eyes can't hide his own pain despite his dazzling smile getting to her.
However, just when she's starting to live again, her ex-boyfriend comes back, breaking her time and time again, making it all the more complicated.
She wants to fight for herself and for this building thing with the TA, even when he pushes her away, but can two broken people patch each other up?"I never thought colliding with someone could change lives, but it is possible." Stephanie Witter is a French dreamer. She started English at three and fell in love with the language. Always with a book - or two - close by, she soon started reading in English when she couldn't wait to see Harry Potter translated in French. After a while, reading wasn't enough and she started writing young adult and new adult contemporary novels always filled with drama. Now she hopes to translate English novels in her mother tongue as her everyday job. By My Side is her debut novel.
Release Date - December 13,2013 Add to Goodreads Dani refuses to lose another parent due to her absence from their life. After pulling herself back together following thedeath of her father, she moves back to her childhood town to live with her mom. She’s slowly pulled back into the lifestyle she worked so hard to get away from ten years ago. She accepts that this is the life she has always been destined to live. Getting a job at the store down the road and hooking back up with her first love Gage, seems to be the logical way to go…that is until Holden Reynolds shows up in town.
Now that Holden is finally back home from the Navy he plans on following in his father’s footsteps. Still trying to move on from the one woman who had his heart, he busies himself in work and returning to the country boy lifestyle he’s always loved. The best way to get over someone is to get under someone, right? That’s his mindset as he travels town to town with his job perfectly content with being a rambling man…that is until he meets Danielle Brooks.
When Dani isn't leaving and Holden isn't staying will they be able to keep themselves from getting too attached? Or will they be just what each other needs to cut all the strings that have them bound?
“You can’t save me from me, Holden.” –Dani  Being born an "Army Brat", Erika Ashby has been residing in Oklahoma the last 10 years finally putting an end to the nomad tendencies she had grown accustomed to. She's a happily married woman who has 5 kids between her and her husband. She has an insane passion for music and embraces her Inner Groupie any chance she has. It wasn't until the age of 29 that she realized she also had a hidden passion for reading; before then she claimed to have hated it. Six months after unlocking that deep desire she never knew she held, she turned the key to another chapter of her life which has become the desire to write. And the rest is still history in the making.
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- Chapter 1 -
Dani Who would have thought at twenty-nine years of age this is where I'd be in life? I sure as shit didn't. I didn't expect to lose my dad six months ago and in return lose everything I had going for me. I was a daddy’s girl. The moment he died a piece of me went with him. I was left to pick up the life he had left behind — what little pieces there was left of it. I used that excuse right there to cease what life I had going before to a halt. I left everything to move back into the house my dad left me and my brother TJ — it was a couple towns over from where we grew up; a town he moved to once him and my mom got divorced. Maybe I thought I'd feel closer to him somehow by being surrounded by his stuff. Hell, that's exactly what I thought. But it had the reverse effect. Not only did I feel furthest away from him living in his empty house surrounded by everything him, I felt furthest away from myself. Not only did I lose my dad, I was starting to lose me. I knew my dad would be pissed that I was drowning in sorrow. If he was here he'd say, "Dani Jo, what the hell baby girl. Don't you dare sit around this house letting your life fall to shit. I damn well raised you better than that! Now get the hell up and go get your life back." Knowing that my dad would want me to let go of the pieces I lost of him and pick up mine instead, I moved back to the small town I graduated from. The town I love to hate. The town with stupid drama filled bitches and home to some of my bestest friends. The town with guys you'd love to hate and ones you will always love....and hate. The town where lots of hoes hated me because I didn't put up with their shit. I was the girl that could put a tramp in her place in no time. Not trying to say I was a badass, but I was a badass. Hell, I’m still a badass if I do say so myself. Growing up around my rowdy older brothers and sister, I had no choice but to be tough. I was definitely thankful for my Chuck Norris like skills in high school. Being in Oklahoma, we had some tough as shit Indian chicks that all the bitches were scared of. Everyone except me. Having no job, no money, or a place to stay my only option was going back and living with my mom. Doesn’t sound too bad, right? Wrong, maybe if my mom didn’t let my tweaking ass half-siblings reside there whenever they damn well pleased, then it wouldn’t be a bad set up. Billy and Brandy have always been mooches; must be something they inherited from their own father — maybe the drug habit runs in the blood too. I don’t know if mom is flat out stupid and doesn’t see that they’re doped up, or just turns a blind eye at them afraid to confront the truth. As if hiding the reality of the situation makes it okay. Maybe overlooking that there is an existing problem that needs tending to is much easier than dealing with the repercussion of bringing it up. I hate how they use her, and she just fucking lets them. You try telling her to kick their asses out and she just says, “Now Dani, they have nowhere to go. Just like you.” Rub that salt a little deeper. Just like I need another fucking reminder of how my life has gone to shit. But damn, it’s not like I’m trying to suck the life out of my mom by using her. Seeing the way they run all over her, I realize I’m the only one who truly has her back. I wasn’t there for my dad when he needed me most. Not that he would have admitted he needed me, but damn maybe if I wouldn’t have run off. I could have been around more to make sure he kept his health in check at least. Maybe he would have made some appointments to get the slight pains he was having in his chest checked out. But no, I wasn’t around as much as I should have been, and all his damn “friends” just played it off to stress or muscle spasms. Isn’t your heart a fucking muscle? Yah, that’s what I thought. So, here I am now, living with my mom back in my old room taking a vow to never drop the ball with her as I feel I did with my dad. I’ve accepted the fate that I’m destined to live out — my life in this shitty town. I got to live a good ten years away, and like a vacuum I was sucked back in. I don’t even think about the what if’s anymore. All they do is set you up for failure. They have you always wanting and wishing for more out of life. If you’re always wanting more, you can never be content with what you have. I gave up the good life when my father lost his. This is what my life is now. I’d like to say that I’m just temporarily putting my desires on the back burner until I get my shit together or I know for a fact that my mom will be fine without me around, but that’s not true. Hell, she’s been fine the whole time I’ve been gone, and while I had my breakdown after dad died, but now that I get a firsthand experience to the shit she deals with on a daily basis I’ll be damned if I leave her to deal with it alone. She won’t speak her mind, so I’ll do it for her even if it means more countless fights with my dope whore of a sister. The sister who runs off for days at a time leaving her kids with us to take care of. I’ve been so close to calling Department of Human Services on her nappy ass, but every time I do, my mom begs me not to. Why the fuck does she care what happens to her, the bitch needs to go to jail before I end up going for beating some sense into her ass. As if that is actually possible; it would have happened already. We literally fight at least once a week. She’s losing her touch I have to say. I’m sure it’s the drugs. All they’re good at is making her run her mouth faster than normal, but her reflexes are sloppy these days. She’s up to no good tonight bitching at my mom and I can already tell it’s not going to end well. The bitch doesn’t know how to watch her damn mouth. It’s called respect. There was a song about it. She’s yelling, “Why the hell won’t you let me borrow your damn car? I need to go to the store, it’s not like you need it,” to our mother at the top of her lungs. Nobody yells at my momma…nobody. “You better watch how you talk to mom Brandy. I’m only gonna warn your ass once.” She walks up to me acting like she’s going to bow up to me, “Oh yah Dani? Whatcha gonna do to me lil sis.” She laughs the words out like she actually thinks I won’t keep my word. Oh boy I’m about to get in a fight I can feel it. When she is like this the only way to shut her up is to put her in her place and the only way to put her in her place is with my fist. I sigh, “Do you really want to find out? It always ends the same with your bloody ass on the floor crying. Is that the look you’re going for tonight?” I turn to walk away hoping I had made my point which apparently I didn’t because the trick actually pulls me back by my fucking ponytail. When the hell did she become a coward? Oh wait, it’s nothing new. I can’t help but fall to the ground with the sudden yankage of my hair and she is instantly hovering over me yelling and trying to punch me through my arms that I’m using to protect my face. “Who the hell is on the ground now bitch? It’s not a fucking good look on you either. I don’t know who the fuck you think you are just showing back up here out of the blue thinking you can take over. We’ve been fucking handling shit just fine without your too good ass here.” That was all the motivation I needed. If she would have been smart she would have sat down on me, but since she didn’t I’m able to hike my leg back as much as possible between us and with all my might I kick the shit out of my evil sister. I can’t help the laugh that escapes my bloody lip as I watch her sail across the living room. “Ha! You didn’t expect that did you bitch? If you ever lay a fucking finger on my again I’ll make sure you die with your trusty needle in your arm. Same goes with the way you talk to our mom. You will treat her with nothing but respect. You know how easy it’d be for me to call up DHS on you? I got that shit on speed dial just for special occasions such as this.” She grabs her wrist and whines at me, “You broke my damn wrist. I’m calling the cops.” I laugh as I come out of the bathroom from cleaning my bloodied lip. I grab my purse and keys sitting on the ground next to the couch. “Okay well good luck with that. Go ahead and let them know that you’re coming down and we got into a fight because you didn’t have a ride to go get your next fix. I’m sure they’ll love to hear all about it.” I walk into the kitchen to where mom is making herself a new pot of coffee. She does this at night because being a mother to a bunch of heathens, she likes to make sure she’s up and around if any of them need her in the late hours. Her back is towards me as she just stands there watching the coffee drip into the pot. It smells so good I debate on having a cup with her, but I know I need to get away from this house, from my siblings. “Mom,” I lightly say as I reach for her shoulder. She jumps. Great, I scared my mom. “Sorry about that. I hate how she treats you. I hate how they both treat you. I can’t just sit around and say nothing.” She turns around fully to face me, grabbing both of my shoulders, “I know Dani Jo, but you can’t protect me. I understand that losing your dad has made you feel like you have to protect your loved ones, but no matter how hard you try, things happen that you have no control over. I just want you to be happy and get your life back honey.” She raises up to kiss me since I’m a good four inches taller than her. “I’m gonna go stay the night with TJ.” I give her a weak smile and she just nods. I pay no mind to my crazy ass sister yelling at me on my way out the door. If I let her get to me I’ll end up finishing what she started, and might really end up in jail. Sometimes it’s better to just shut people off even when it’s so damn hard. I jump into my truck that my dad left for me and crank the engine. It’s loud and rumbles to life beneath me. My dad had a lift kit installed knowing that I have always wanted a jacked up truck. I feel so delicate in it; the way I sit so high above everyone else is a feeling that I love. I pull out my phone and call TJ. Unlike my other two siblings, he’s got his shit together. Hell, unlike me as well. TJ is my go to man whenever I’m down. The only man I can count on now since our dad died. Anytime I need him, he’s by my side no questions asked…and tonight I’m desperate for his company. “Dannnnnniiiii Jo,” He drags out my name, “What’s happening sister?” I hear the loud music in the background and have a pretty good clue where he is. “Depending on if you’re back home, I’m heading your way.” He’s got a really good job these days working out of state. I miss having him closer to me, but unlike me, the way he deals with things is by getting away. And since he lives in our dad’s old house, it’s easier for him to travel around. Everyone deals with pain differently. I’m still trying to figure out the best way for me. “Yeah I’m home. Go ahead and meet us at the bar.” “Be there in forty-five.” I put my truck in drive and head for tonight’s distraction from reality. Holden All I’ve ever wanted is a fucking break. A fucking break from life and all the mundane shit it entails. I’d like to say I’ve been living life for me the last ten years, but I’m the only one who knows that’s the furthest thing from the truth. Maybe I was until my cousin ended up with my best friend who I was secretly in love with. The cousin who pushed me away after graduation because he obviously felt I was a threat. Call it what you will, but that’s when I started pushing my wants to a place of inexistence. What I wanted didn’t matter anymore. Did I want to join the Navy soon after graduation…was that ever a life goal or plan I had had? No flipping way. I was strongly encouraged to book it out of town and I gladly did since I wasn’t too sure how my heart would handle being rubbed in to the joyful couple’s happiness. I had doubts that my cousin would be good enough for Jesika. I had thought no one would be good enough for her…except me that is. Ten years ago I scrammed and got lost just like I was told to and two years ago I returned. I returned knowing my cousin wasn’t around to keep me from the one woman I had ever loved. It was pretty fucking wrong on my part to think I could come swooping back in after he died and pick up where me and her left off and tell her my feelings, but she had already moved on anyways. Lucky bastard. But honestly I couldn’t be happier with her choice because through all the bull shit, Jesika will always be one of my closest friends and I want what’s best for her even if it isn’t me. But whatever, I’m done living in the past. I’d like to say I’m living for me now, but that’s not the fullest truth either. Working for my dad has never been a dream of mine. It was a dream of his and like a genie his wish was finally granted. Yeah the money’s good and the work is hard, but it’s not me. An oilfield worker/pipeliner or whatever job title I have for the day is not what I want for the rest of my life, even if it’s what my dad wants to leave for me one day. No, this is temporary. This is what I do for now, until I find something else. Until something comes to me that I can’t shake. When that day comes I’ll be screaming Hallelujah and hopefully booking it with the whole father/son relationship still fully intact. Later, Pops. So here I am now driving me and my new buddy to our next destination…our new home for a while since this is a big job we’re headed to. He’s definitely not the best driving companion to have. He won’t stay up for shit and on top of that he snores. I can’t even drown him out with the damn radio and I sure as hell can’t get much thinking done with the croaking noises coming out of his mouth. It seriously sounds like he inhaled a frog and it’s lodged in his throat. I pull into some dinky Motel 6 and throw the truck in park. It’s not like hotel options are grand in the towns we end up working in and it’s not like our weekly per diem pays us enough to live like rock stars either. I smack Rusty’s arm startling him awake before I open my door to get out. “Wake up you snorin’ bastard. You’re damn lucky I didn’t have a pillow or anything else to suffocate your ass with.” “Quit trying to play tough, Holden. You like me too much to kill me.” “More like I like freedom too much.” I tease. “Ha! And you call this freedom?” He’s got me there. “Close enough. Plus, I don’t have to worry about dropping the soap with you around.” I joke. “You are damn fucking straight about that brother. Your asshole is safe around me.” You see my buddy here is a bit on the homophobic side. I don’t know why and I don’t really care to know. It’s not like he gets hit on by guys. Hell, I’m better looking than him and I don’t either. The truth is gay guys aren’t just going to walk up to you and try to get you naked. Sometimes small town mentalities make people think all crazy — damn bible-belter’s. But just like I don’t judge gays, I’m not judging my new buddy. It’s much easier to just be easy going. I’m not one to run towards conflict and in fact I usually try to re-direct it. It’s not because I’m a pussy and can’t deal, it’s just because I’ve always tried to be the peacemaker. Which is mostly why I’m even here today. We make our way into our room and I throw my bag on the floor next to my bed and fall back first onto my bed. It’s stiff as a three day old carcass. What I’d give for a soft damn bed and a non-scratchy comforter. I swear these things feel like a mixture between wool and a brillo pad. “You’d think these places could at least afford mattresses that don’t feel like they are filled with center blocks and blankets that won’t exfoliate you while you sleep.” “What I wonder is how do you even know what exfoliate is?” Rusty laughs. “I mean, I have three sisters and had no choice but to learn about all the foo foo shit they do, but you, you’re an only child, right?” He asks. “Dude, you don’t have to be a fucking chick to know about stuff chicks do. I’m sure plenty of guys actually do exfoliate.” “Yeah and I’m sure they tan and get pedicures as well while totally defiling their man card.” “There are plenty of straight guys that care that much about their appearances too, you know?” “Yeah, I’m starting to think you’re one of those guys.” He teases as he throws his pillow at me. “Fuck you man.” I toss it back nailing him in the face. “Nice arm, bro. And you said you never played any sports.” “Besides in my backyard with my cousin, I never did.” I remember playing catch with Jake when he’d come over. He was desperate for the companionship since he never got it at home. We both got to experience different aspects at each other’s houses growing up. It was kind of like living the best of both worlds. I’d go over to his house and be in video game heaven, and he’d come to mine and be in outdoor country boy heaven. “Anyways, what are we doing tonight?” I ask. “I guess we can drive around and look for a bar. I wouldn’t mind getting fucking laid tonight.” I really wouldn’t mind either. It’s been a good minute. When I first took off on the road I went a little crazy with it. Trying to get Jesika and the past years outta my mind. Out of sight, out of mind, right? Wrong. I’m slowly realizing sleazing around doesn’t help you get over people or circumstances, it’s time that does. Does that mean I don’t still sleep around and get any when the getting is good? No. I’m a fucking man. And usually a horny one at that. I’m not fucking stupid though and I always play it safe, but it doesn’t’ mean I can’t have fun. “Okay, get ready and we’ll grab something to eat first and then see what this town has to offer.” “Now that’s what I’m talking about. Let’s see what kind of pussy this town has to offer.” He waggles his brows at me. “Dude, I was talking about food and drinks. But you’re a crazy fuck, so pussy probably fits under that category for you.” “Damn straight. It’s a fucking meal and beverage all in itself.”
 Guarded by J.D. Rivera
_ Synopsis -
Vanessa Smith has her heart guarded. She’s been married to a man that sleeps around and has made her think she’s ugly and undeserving. Everything changes when she is knocked down by the famous basketball player, Jackson Berrios. A friendship ensues and everything she thought she knew about men turns out to be wrong.
Jackson Berrios was out for a run in a new city when he made contact with the beautiful Vanessa Smith. He instantly knew she was different from most girls but can he make her see that he’s different from her cheating husband?
- Meet the Author -
J.D. Rivera lives in Oklahoma with her husband and two boys. Her life consists of school projects, homework, cartoon shows, and little league sports. She loves Diet Mountain Dew, the OKC Thunder, costume jewelry, the beach, and reading.
Connect with J.D.
Facebook * Twitter * GoodReads * Web - Giveaway -
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