Blog Tour- Review, Excerpt & Giveaway: Freeing by E. K. Blair

Freeing by E.K. Blair

Release Date: September 13, 2013

Coming of Age

New Adult

Synopsis:

FREEING: a companion novel to the USA Today bestseller, Fading.

Knowing who you are and accepting who you are come at different prices.

Jase Kinrick grew up in your typical, all-American household. But after the death of his sister, his parents shut down, forcing him to deal with everything life throws his way alone. Terrified of the person he’s discovering himself to be, Jase has his way with every willing girl to try and rid himself of what he fears he is—gay.

Escaping California and moving to Seattle to attend the University of Washington, Jase frees himself to the reality that he likes men. Never staying with any guy long enough to get to know them, he doesn’t realize that he’s still hiding from who he is until he meets Mark. Scared of having real feelings for another guy stirs up the questions and fears he’s fought hard to bury.

To strip away the barriers to the heart of what is real, and to be okay with what lies underneath, will be Jase’s moment of truth. But he’ll need Mark to lead him there.

**THIS IS A FULL-LENGTH COMPANION NOVEL TO FADING**

Goodreads ~ Amazon

The author can be reached by:

Facebook ~ Twitter

My Thoughts:

This is my first m/m romance I have read and I must say it was great. In Fading, we meet Jase, Candace’s best friend; they are more than friends, they are family. Their own families have disowned them so they only had each other for the longest time. Freeing is in Jase’s POV and overlaps the events in Fading. We see Jase going through his own struggle and journey on accepting himself for who he is.

Jase grew up in California and moved to Seattle because he wanted to escape his home life. He knew he was gay in high school even though he slept with a lot of girls; he couldn’t admit it to himself and thought something was wrong with him. After his sister’s death, his parents shut down, so he didn’t have anyone he could talk to. In Seattle, Jase is still at war with himself because he admits to himself that he is gay but afraid of what people might think. It is only when he meets Candace that he can tell someone who he truly is. Even then, he is still not completely comfortable with it. He has hookups with men but never a real relationship. It is not until he meets Mark that everything changes for him.

I love how E.K. Blair writes about taboo subjects but make it bearable and not so taboo for the reader. With Fading, I was bawling my eyes in the aftermath of Candace getting raped and in Freeing, reading Jase prospective on things I think I cried even harder. The emotion the author puts behind every word is magnificent and a real talent. Not many writers can do that. I was awed when I first read Fading and I am still in awe because Ms. Blair makes you care about things or situations where you might not have cared before. While reading I put myself in Jase’s shoes, through finding out about the rape of his friend/family member, I would be angry as well if that happened to one of my close friends. I think it is a very hard situation, being supportive for your friend/family member and also knowing who did it and not being able to do anything about it.

I think that Mark is exactly what Jase needed to start accepting himself for who he is. I really liked Mark. I think it was awesome how he stepped in and helped take care of Candace. It shows the kind of person he is.

I think many people would be surprised by how the author writes this m/m romance. She will have you caring about the characters no matter your opinion on the subject. For me, this is 2 for 2 for E.K. Blair’s books; I am excited about what she writes in the future. I will gladly read it!

My Rating: 

5 out of 5 stars

Excerpt:

Everything tunnels: my hearing, my vision. My heart thuds. Hard. I drop my head in my hands, and the tears just spill out. Allie continues to talk, but I’ve already heard all my soul can handle at this point. This girl is my fuckin’ heart, and I’m terrified to see what’s left of it.

I turn to look at the nurse when she hands me a tissue, but I don’t reach out to take it. I just look at her with no words.

“I’m so sorry. You can utilize this room for as long as you need, but it’s not going to be good for her to see you so upset. You need to be strong for her right now.”

I nod my head. She’s right. I’ve got to pull my shit together. I finally take the tissue from her hand. I could sit here and cry for the rest of my life if I allowed myself, but I need to see her. So that’s what I tell the nurse. “I need to see her.”

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Waiting on Wednesday (25)

Uninvited by Sophie Jordan

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This books sounds very intriguing. I have not read anything by Sophie Jordan yet but I'm sure this book will be good. I also love the cover.

Expected Publication Date: January 28, 2014

Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads)

The Scarlet Letter meets Minority Report in bestselling author Sophie Jordan's chilling new novel about a teenage girl who is ostracized when her genetic test proves she's destined to become a murderer.

When Davy Hamilton's tests come back positive for Homicidal Tendency Syndrome (HTS)-aka the kill gene-she loses everything. Her boyfriend ditches her, her parents are scared of her, and she can forget about her bright future at Juilliard. Davy doesn't feel any different, but genes don't lie. One day she will kill someone.

Only Sean, a fellow HTS carrier, can relate to her new life. Davy wants to trust him; maybe he's not as dangerous as he seems. Or maybe Davy is just as deadly.

The first in a two-book series, Uninvited tackles intriguing questions about free will, identity, and human nature. Steeped in New York Times bestselling author Sophie Jordan's trademark mix of gripping action and breathless romance, this suspenseful tale is perfect for fans of James Patterson, Michelle Hodkin, and Lisa McMann.

Add to Goodreads

Raquel

xoxo

Stacking the Shelves (21)

Welcome to this week's Stacking the Shelves by Tynga`s Reviews. It is about adding books to my shelves I received during the past week whether it is physical or virtual.

Bought from Amazon:

Dreamless (Starcrossed #2) by Josephine Angelini

Goddess (Starcrossed #3) by Josephine Angelini

I read Dreamless this week and I am almost done Goddess. I was not impressed with Dreamless though. I am loving Goddess, I am so sad this series has to end. What is everyone else reading???

Raquel

xoxo

Blog Tour, Interview and Giveaway: By Blood by Tracy E. Banghart

By Blood by Tracy E. Banghart 

Series: By Blood #1 

Publication date: February 18th 2013

Genre: YA Paranormal

Synopsis:
For 17-year-old Emma Wong, spending a summer in England should be a dream come true. Gorgeous scenery? Check. Lots of hot guys with accents? Yes, please.

Throw in an estranged mom, annoying new stepdad, and drooling baby half-brother, and it’s a disaster even her favorite cherry red leather jacket can’t fix. Even worse, there’s (hot) live-in research assistant Josh to contend with. The only thing more embarrassing than drunk-kissing him hours after they meet? Knowing he’ll be witness to her family’s dysfunction all. summer. long.

But when Emma meets a mysterious girl who happens to be a Druid, her vacation suddenly promises to be far more intriguing than she anticipated. Powerful rituals, new friends, an intoxicating sense of freedom...and Simon, the sexy foreign stranger she was hoping for. It’s all a perfect distraction from dirty diapers and awkward family dinners.

Trouble is, intriguing doesn’t often mean simple. And Emma is about to discover just how not simple her life really is.

By Blood is a novel about the ways that blood can bind us to others – or tear us apart.

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Author Bio:

Tracy E. Banghart is a cheesy movie–loving, fantasy football–playing (go Ravens!), globe-trotting Army wife who began “practicing” her craft at the age of five, when she wrote her first story. She loves visiting the international friends she met while pursuing her MA in Publishing and spends a portion of every summer at her family’s cabin in Canada, where she finds inspiration and lots of time to relax on the dock. She lives with her husband, son, two lazy dogs and one ornery cat. When not writing or spending time with her family, she is on a mission to bake the perfect cupcake.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

1.       What inspired you to write By Blood?

Emma's character first appeared as a supporting player in Moon Child, and as soon as she appeared, I just knew she needed her own story. She's feisty, dramatic, tough…but also really vulnerable. At the time, I was also feeling homesick for England (I went to grad school there) so I thought - wham! How about I ship Emma off to Oxford with her estranged Mom? Bet that'd be fun! ;-)

2.       What books have influenced your life most?

The Blue Sword, by Robin McKinley; On Fortune's Wheel, by Cynthia Voigt. For Writers Only, by Sophie Burham. Also, A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. As a young adult, I read A LOT…and frequently re-read my favorites. I think that's one reason I prefer to write young adult…I remember those books having such an impact on me. It might sound weird, but I think I figured out the kind of person I wanted to be through the strong, adventurous heroines of my favorite books, like those of Robin McKinley and Cynthia Voigt.

3.       What was the hardest part of writing this book?

Because I couldn't travel to England while I was writing, I had to rely on my memories, as well as Google Maps! Sometimes that would sap my writing momentum a little, trying to get all the geographical details right.

4.        If you could change ONE thing about your novel, what would it be?  Why?

Ooh…interesting question. I'd say probably the second line of the book. Emma has a thought about trying to keep her little brother quiet…it's a sentence I wrote a number of years ago now, before I had my son (who's 10 months, about the age of Fermin)…and now that I AM a mom, it seems so violent! I wondered if I should change it, but I ultimately decided not to. It's a split-second thought Emma has, one that she has NO intention of acting on, and I think it really speaks to both her mindset/inexperience with children as well as her frustration with this fussy, screaming baby on a plane. I mean - we've all felt that frustration, right? Still…every time I read it now I think of my adorable little son and it really bothers me. Emma would NOT be my choice for a babysitter! ;)

5.        Can you give us an interesting fun fact or a few about By Blood?

The house Emma lives in for the summer is the same I stayed in when I lived there - and yes, I had the same closet-sized room (seriously, it was REALLY small).

All the pubs, museums, cookie shops, etc., are all real places with their real names except for the Wisteria Cafe. It's a real place, but I couldn't remember the name or find it online, so I made one up!

And, here's a juicy one….Simon looks exactly like a guy I had a crush on in grad school. But don't tell him I said that! ;-) (this was pre-hubby and baby, of course!)

6.        And now, before you go, how about a snippet from By Blood that is meant to intrigue and tantalize us:

Here you go! :-)

Caught up in the moment, I ran my hands down his chest, over the smooth, slightly damp cotton of his shirt, and pulled him closer. I felt him resist, just for a second, and then his hands slid to my back and suddenly we were pressed tight against each other.

The heat, the sweat, the pounding music throbbing in my veins—I felt about thirty seconds away from bursting into flame.

The music changed to a swing number all technoed out. Josh’s hands dropped to his sides and he stepped away. Oh come on. What had I done this time?

But instead of running off, he grabbed my hand and spun me out, laughing. I twirled, skirt fanning, and bumped into another warm body.

Simon.

Somehow, suddenly, his arms were locked around me, and I was no longer holding Josh’s hand. We were almost the same height so he didn’t have to lean down to bring his lips to my ear. “Meet us Wednesday night,” he said, his breath cool against my hot skin. He held me but didn’t move to the music; it felt strange, like we were hugging in the middle of the dance floor. But I didn’t pull away.

“Meet you where? For what?” I asked, a little breathlessly.

“Come to the Wisteria. Eight o’clock. And wear white.”

“A Druid ritual?” I thought of the girls dancing in a circle, arms entwined. The freedom in Ash’s eyes.

“Do you want to see what we’re all about?”

I stared into his shadowed eyes, his face close enough to kiss. I could feel his body from my knees to my breasts. His arms tightened, like he wanted me there, close to him.

“Definitely,” I replied, heart pounding.

Book 2 : Moon Child is also available:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Waiting on Wednesday (24)

Pawn (The Blackcoat Rebellion #1) by Aimee Carter

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Sorry I have been MIA on doing these posts but I have been trying to figure some stuff out and it has kept me preoccupied. Any-who,  from the moment I read the synopsis for this book I was intrigued by it. It looks like it is going to be another winner for Aimee Carter. I absolutely loved her Goddess Test series and I know I will enjoy this one as well.

Expected Publication Date: November 23, 2013

Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads)

For Kitty Doe, it seems like an easy choice. She can either spend her life as a III in misery, looked down upon by the higher ranks and forced to leave the people she loves, or she can become a VII and join the most powerful family in the country.

If she says yes, Kitty will be Masked—surgically transformed into Lila Hart, the Prime Minister's niece, who died under mysterious circumstances. As a member of the Hart family, she will be famous. She will be adored. And for the first time, she will matter.

There's only one catch. She must also stop the rebellion that Lila secretly fostered, the same one that got her killed …and one Kitty believes in. Faced with threats, conspiracies and a life that's not her own, she must decide which path to choose—and learn how to become more than a pawn in a twisted game she's only beginning to understand.

Previously titled Masked.

Add to Goodreads

Raquel

xoxo

Cover Reveal: Panic by J.A. Huss

Panic by J.A. Huss 
(Rook and Ronin #3) 
Publication date: October 24, 2013
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult

Synopsis:
Rook is chasing her dream—film school and a chance at a life beyond the one she left behind six months ago. But before she can become the girl she wants to be, she must deal with the girl she left behind.

Ronin is also chasing his dream—a family of his own and a life away from erotic modeling. And he too, has a past he’s trying to forget. A past that makes Rook question everything about their life together.

Lies, secrets, and shocking truths will rock the foundation Rook and Ronin have built. Can they put the past behind them and move forward together? Or is this just another too good to be true relationship that will crash and burn in the end?

Book Trailer~ Panic Goodreads ~ Tragic Goodreads ~ Manic Goodreads ~ Tragic Amazon ~ Manic Amazon

Author Bio:

J. A. Huss likes to write new adult books that make you think and keep you guessing. Her favorite genre to read is space opera, but since practically no one reads those books, she writes new adult science fiction, paranormal romance, contemporary romance, urban fantasy, and books about Junco (who refuses to be saddled with a label).

She has an undergraduate degree in horses, (yes, really–Thank you, Colorado State University) and a master’s degree in forensic toxicology from the University of Florida. She used to have a job driving around Colorado doing pretty much nothing but shooting the breeze with farmers, but now she just writes, runs the New Adult Addiction and Clean Teen Reads Book Blogs, and runs an online science classroom for homeschoolers.

Author Links:

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Stacking the Shelves (20)

Welcome to this week's Stacking the Shelves by Tynga`s Reviews. It is about adding books to my shelves I received during the past week whether it is physical or virtual.

Bought from Amazon:

Origin by Jennifer L. Armentrout

The Crown of Embers (The Girl of Fire & Thorns #2) by Rae Carson

Ruin by Rachel Van Dyken

I am so happy I got all these books and I am excited to start reading them. Right now, I am reading Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini and I am really enjoying it. I hope everyone has a good week.

Raquel

xoxoxo

Blog Tour: Imperfectly Perfect by A.E. Woodward

Imperfectly Perfect by A.E. Woodward  

Series: A Series of Imperfections #1

Publication date: June 19th 2013

Genre: Adult/17+ Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

Emma, Tyler and Shane have been best friends since they were kids. Along with their college addition, Rob, the four friends have an exciting life in NYC. In fact, Emma Sloan appears to have it all.

Despite being happy with her current situation, a big family announcement leaves Emma questioning whether she is truly content with her life. With her thirtieth birthday fast approaching she vows to find her ‘perfect’ man any way she can. But Emma will soon discover that the path of true love never runs smoothly and that sometimes, instead of chasing love, you have to wait for love to find you…

Goodreads ~ Amazon

Author Bio:

A.E. Woodward lives in Vacationland with her husband and two children.  Between her day job and the pursuance of a master’s degree, she wrote her first novel.  Her novel Imperfectly Perfect, will be the first book in A Series of Imperfections.

Goodreads ~ Facebook

My Thoughts:

Imperfectly Perfect was a light read focused on a woman’s journey, changing her life to find her perfect person. We start off with Emma living with ‘her boys’, care free. When Emma is told some news about her sister, she is forced to re-examine everything she thought made her happy.

I really liked this book. I found that I could really identify with Emma as I am currently going through some of the same issues as her. Emma is smart and successful but I didn’t really like her calling women bimbos by just looking at them with basically no justification.

I have to say what made the book for me, was the boys: Shane, Tyler and Rob. I wish I had guy friends like them. No matter what, they have each other’s back through thick and thin. They also provided a lot of comic relief which definitely made the book all that more enjoyable.

The author’s writing style was extremely easy to read and I found that it flowed really well. I finished the last half of the book in one sitting because the writing style was so pleasant and of course I wanted to know what was going to happen.
I really liked how the book played on the ‘perfect’ factor. Instead of finding the perfect person (this person doesn’t exist), you have to find the perfect person for you. This is a motto I have had had for myself for many years, something I always tell my friends.

I also really liked that the book was both in Emma’s and Shane’s POV. You found out a lot about what Shane went through when they weren’t speaking. I felt bad for the guy but I thought he could of spoke up sooner about his feelings for Emma; it definitely could have saved a lot of heartache for the both of them.

I am definitely looking forward to reading the other books in the series which will feature the other boys.

My Rating:

4 out of 5 stars

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Top Tens & Giveaway: Spring Training by Parker Kincade

Follow the tour here!

For baseball superstar Garrett Donovan, his contract with the New York Empire baseball team meant he’d finally have the means to secure a future for his family. He should focus on that…not on the sassy, beautiful Jessa Montgomery — or what she looks like naked. Getting involved with the daughter of the Empire’s owner would be career suicide. Jessa is a distraction he can’t afford.
Her father had warned her never to get involved with his athletes, so his request that she keep an eye on his new star player came straight out of left field. The last thing Jessa needs is another spoiled, egotistical ball player to deal with. But Garrett is none of those things. His no-nonsense attitude and smooth Southern charm make her blood burn and her knees weak. Giving into temptation, she is consumed by the pleasure she finds in Garrett’s arms.
Jessa wants to protect his career. Garrett won’t let anything get in the way of their passion.
A passion that could cost him everything.

Amazon | B&N | All Romance eBooks

________________________________________________________

About Parker

Parker Kincade is an award-winning erotic romance author of The Martin Family Series. Her first novel, One Night Stand, won the category of Best Erotic Romance in the Celtic Hearts Romance Writers Golden Claddagh contest and was named finalist in the Romance Writers of America/Passionate Ink Stroke of Midnight contest.

Parker lives in the southern United States with her husband, children and beloved boxer sidekick. She loves reading, playing golf, spending time with her family and friends, ice cream from the ice cream truck, taking her dog to the park and watching old musicals.  

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Group Blog

_________________________________________________________

Top Tens

Parker and Garrett Top Ten: Baseball Movies

In honor of my latest release, Spring Training, I decided to come up with a list of my favorite baseball movies … and I’ve enlisted the help of Garrett Donovan, current badass rookie for the New York Empire ball club, and Spring Training’s leading man.

I want you all to know that Garrett and I had a blast arguing about which movies to list, but we both agree that Field of Dreams is our favorite. Garrett because he loves baseball, and me because I have a thing for Kevin Costner.

Here they are! Parker and Garrett’s Top Ten Baseball Movies

1. Field of Dreams

2. Bull Durham

3. Moneyball

4. The Sandlot

5. For Love of the Game

6. The Pride of the Yankees

7. Major League

8. Summer Catch (Garrett wants it on the record that he DIDN’T vote for this movie…)

9. A League of Their Own (…or this one)

10. Eight Men Out

Do you have a favorite baseball movie?

Until next time!

~Parker and Garrett

_________________________________________________________

GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Stacking the Shelves (19)

Welcome to this week's Stacking the Shelves by Tynga`s Reviews. It is about adding books to my shelves I received during the past week whether it is physical or virtual.

Bought from Chapters/Indigo:

Release Me (Stark #1) by J. Kenner

Claim Me (Stark #2) by J. Kenner

Complete Me (Stark #3) by J. Kenner

Received for Review:

Freeing (Fading #1.5) by E.K. Blair

The Stark trilogy books were on sale so I decided to get them. I have read the first book Release Me so far and it is really good. I am now reading Claim Me and I am really enjoying it. My review for Release Me will be up on the blog in the next couple of weeks.  

I also got Freeing for review. I read Fading which is the first book and it was amazing. I am looking forward to reading Freeing. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Raquel 

xoxo

Character Interview & Giveaway- Stay With Me by Elyssa Patrick

Book Title: Stay With Me (With Me #1)

Author: Elyssa Patrick

Release Date: August 30th, 2013

Genre: New Adult/Contemporary Romance

Book Description 

With one look, I’m his . . .

With one touch, he’s mine . . .

With one kiss, it changes everything between us . . .

I’ve been famous since I can remember. Singing, acting, dancing—I’ve done it all. The tabloids cover my every move, but I don’t want that anymore. I want to be normal, whatever that is.

When I leave Hollywood for college in Vermont, I’m on my own for the first time in my life. This is my chance to figure out who I am and what I want in life.

But it’s a lot harder than I expected. I can’t escape my image. Classes are difficult, and I’m struggling. And then there’s Caleb Fox.

Sexy, intriguing Caleb Fox.

Caleb is the one man who doesn’t want to use me. He breaks down my walls. He challenges me. He wants me. And I just don’t know if I can give him the same—or if he’ll stick around when he finds out my shameful secret that the tabloids haven’t managed to uncover.

Dating him is risky enough, but loving him could break me.


Character Interview:

Raquel: Thank you both Hailey and Caleb for interviewing with me today. I really appreciate it!

Hailey: No problem 

Caleb: It's our pleasure

Raquel: For my readers, please state your full name: 

Hailey: Hailey Bloom 

Caleb: Caleb Fox

Raquel: What is your backgrounds? 

Hailey: Former rock star, actress—I was raised in Hollywood and was famous since I was a baby. My mother, Lorraine, was my manager and controlled everything. 

Caleb: I had a pretty typical background—I grew up where I was born (Burlington), went to school, my parents are still married, and I have four younger sisters.

Raquel: What is your place of birth?

Hailey: Little Hope, Kentucky (town is a made up name on author end) 

Caleb: Burlington, Vermont

Raquel: Do you have any siblings?

Hailey: None 

Caleb: I have four younger sisters: Daphne (18), Phoebe (15), Rhea (12), and Persephone “Percy” (8).

Raquel: What are your views on dating or marriage?

Haliey and Caleb: We both would like to get married someday.

Raquel: What do you most admire about the other? 

Hailey: His eyes. Loyalty. Kindness. And his big heart. 

Caleb: Her eyes, her smile, her strength, and courage. 

Raquel: What, if anything, would you like to change about the other? 

Hailey: Nothing

Caleb: Nothing

Raquel: Good answer!

Raquel: What are your greatest fears? 

Hailey: That I won’t be happy, or accepted or loved for who I am. 

Caleb: That I’ll end up alone.

Raquel: I totally understand that.

Raquel: What drew you to the other? 

Hailey: there was just something about him. I can’t even describe it. There felt like we were meant to be together on that deck that night. 

Caleb: Totally what she said. I just felt sparks when she stepped onto the deck that night.

Raquel: What is the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to you? 

Hailey: um, I’m sure you’ve heard or read all that by now. 

Caleb: no comment.

Raquel: That's true, Hailey, my bad.

Raquel: You are the kind of person who: 

Hailey: I will go after something, no matter how scared I am. 

Caleb: will always be there for someone I love.

Raquel: Awwww, Caleb

Raquel: If you could do one thing and succeed at it, what would it be: 

Hailey: to have a really happy life full of love.

Caleb: Same as what Hailey said 

Raquel: (To Hailey and Caleb) I hope to see you both back here soon!

Raquel: (To readers): Make sure and buy your copy of Stay With Me to learn more about Hailey and Caleb.

Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ Nook ~ iTunes ~ ARE ~ Kobo ~ Smashwords

Author Bio:

Elyssa Patrick writes sexy, emotional contemporary romances and New Adult. She is currently working on her next novel.

Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Trailer:

Organized by: 

Book Crush http://bookcrushbookreviews.com

Book Blitz & Giveaway- Don't Make Me Beautiful by Elle Casey

Release date: August 31st 2013

Self-Published

Synopsis via Goodreads:
A ROMANTIC SUSPENSE NOVEL. No one knew a woman lived there or that she even existed. A monster, living in darkness...

At twenty-six, Nicole doesn't even look human anymore. The beast made sure of that. So she hides. A monster consigned to a life of fear and solitude. This is all she deserves, she is quite sure of that.

And then one day out of the blue, the autographed baseball caught by Brian Jensen at the latest Marlins game enters her prison and manages to turn her world completely upside down.

Temptation comes in the form of pity at first, and then perhaps something more.

Does she dare to believe the things she's told, that this is not the life she was meant to live? That being a monster is not her forever-fate? And will she be willing to risk everything, to reach out and accept the helping hands around her? She knows only too well that hands can hurt. Finding out whether they can also heal is a risky proposition, especially when the beast is still out there. Looking for her.

**This story was inspired by true events. If you liked the movie "Sleeping With the Enemy", then you might like this story too. CONTENT WARNING: Violence, foul language, and adult situations. Not meant for younger readers.**

About the Author:

New York Times Best-Selling author Elle Casey is an American girl living in southern France with her husband, three children, and several furry creatures. She writes in a variety of genre including YA Fantasy, YA Action/Adventure, New Adult Romance, and Adult Contemporary Romance. She's a little on the wild side, usually busy making people laugh, and always in the mood for adventure. There's not much in this world that she loves more than reader interaction, so feel free to drop her a line.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads ~ Wattpad

Excerpt:

Liam’s mother reverses out of the driveway, their young son strapped into the back seat and waving like a maniac out his window. “Bye, Dad! See ya later!”

“Bye, Li-Li! See ya Wednesday!”

“I’ll bring him back before school,” his ex-wife says. “I have early meetings.”

“Sounds good,” says Brian, still waving to his son. He waits until he’s out of Liam’s sight before he puts his hand down. It’s nice to be alone for a few days, but he already feels the pangs of missing his child creeping in.

Standing in the driveway, Brian considers his next move. There’s an antique armoire in his workshop that needs a final coat of stain and then some clear-coat to protect it. It took a week to repair and refinish, but he scheduled two. He could do something else if he wanted to…

It can wait. The issue of the monster lady is weighing too heavily on his mind to let it go. Ignoring the warning bells going off in his head, he walks to the bottom of the driveway and turns left to go down the street.

“What am I doing?” he mumbles under his breath. “The guy obviously doesn’t like visitors.” The fact that the guy also looks like a Bantam rooster spoiling for a fight is not making Brian’s misgivings any fewer.

“Hey there, Brian. Going for a walk on this fine morning?” Ethel, his next-door neighbor is out trimming her bushes again. They don’t need trimming; they’re just a prop to give her a reason to be standing outside, waiting for passersby.

Brian waves. “Yep. Just getting some fresh air, I guess. Seemed like a good idea.”

“Little Liam gone for the week?”

She must have seen him drive by. She sees everything that happens on this street. “Just for a few days. He’ll be back on Wednesday.” Brian keeps walking, although slower. If he stops, he’ll be stuck there for an hour and probably end up in her kitchen having an iced tea. She’s the nicest, most talkative neighbor he’s ever had. He doesn’t usually mind it; in fact, he’s happy to indulge in a neighborly chat now and again - it’s why he moved to this area - but today, he’s on a mission and he doesn’t have time for gossip or an hour-long discussion about the upcoming weather and whether Mrs. Grandston down the street will ever start recycling.

“Tell him to stop by and see me when he gets home,” she says, poking her clippers vaguely in Brian’s direction. “I bought some new cookies at the store and I think he’s going to like them. He’s my official cookie taster.”

“I’ll tell him. He’ll be really happy to hear that.”

She waves with a gloved hand as he reaches the far side of her property line, and he waves back.

Maybe I should ask Ethel about the guy around the corner. Brian’s not sure that Ethel knows anything beyond the business of those living on Lodi Street. She stays pretty close to home, taking care of her husband who’s slowly going downhill with dementia. Brian’s not looking forward to the day she’ll have to put him in a nursing home. He has a feeling it will take the spark from her, and she’s fun just the way she is, even if she is a little nosy.

The house comes into view. As he gets closer, he sees that the window is still broken, but now there’s a piece of cardboard taped over it. The house is still, with no sign that anyone’s home. The large black truck that was in the driveway last night isn’t there. Maybe it’s in the garage.

Brian walks up to the porch, taking the steps slowly as he looks around. He’s not sure what he’s looking for, but everything seems to be in order.

“What the hell am I doing here?” he whispers to himself. What am I going to say if that guy comes to the door again? I’ll ask him for the bill, that’s it. Tell him I want to pay right away. Be a good neighbor. Brian shakes his head at his ridiculous thoughts. He already told the guy to leave the bill in his box. Showing up again and ringing the bell when the sign on it says not to feels almost like harassment. He looks at the sign again, reading the heavy scrawl.

DO NOT RING BELL. DO NOT KNOCK. WE DON’T TAKE VISITORS.

Brian frowns. He can’t get past the feeling that it’s just a weird thing to do, to put a sign up like that warning people away. It’s like something he would have done as a kid on a clubhouse to keep other kids from discovering his secret hiding place. It’s so ridiculous it almost begs people to discover whatever it is he’s keeping inside.

Brian laughs nervously at himself. Don’t be stupid. You’re a grown man and so is he. This is his house. If you trespass he can shoot your stupid ass.

Brian steps back away from the door, prepared to leave and never come back. But then the sound of his son’s voice and the vision of him standing on their own front porch the night before comes back to him. “She’s not sick, Dad. She’s just really ugly.”

Brian doesn’t want to see a really ugly woman. That’s not what’s motivating him to stand her on this porch and risk pissing off this neighbor. It’s just that … he’s a math guy. Brian has always been strong in math, from the time he was Liam’s age. He uses it every day with his work at restoring furniture, both in the actual hands-on stuff and the figuring he has to do later when he does his billing. Everything always has to add up in his world, and this situation with the monster lady? It wasn’t adding up.

Brian glances over at the cardboard covering the hole. Maybe I’ll just take a look at the damage and make a call to a glass company myself. Then I can go get some cash out of the bank and be ready to pay the guy when he gives me the bill.

Brian takes a few tentative steps down the porch towards the front window. A car comes down the street and he freezes, waiting until it’s a few doors down before continuing. Once in front of the window, he looks around the neighborhood. No one is outside, and he sees no faces in any other windows. These people need an Ethel.

Turning to look at the cardboard, he notices it’s stuck to the still intact frame with duct tape. “That’s going to be a problem when the sun melts that adhesive onto the PVC,” he says out loud. He runs his finger along the edge, hoping he can find a loose spot so he can pry up the cardboard a little to see the actual damage. It’s stuck on too tight, though.

His eyes roam up. A set of white, gauzy curtains are right in front of him, obscuring his view of the house’s interior. This house has the same basic layout as his, so he knows there’s a large living room of sorts on the other side of the glass. He wonders what the woman was doing when the ball came through her window. Was she sitting in the living room reading a book? Was she in the kitchen making cookies?

He blinks his eyes a few times as they adjust to looking through the white curtain. There’s a couch in the center of the wall facing him with side chairs on its left and right, its dark, burry contours getting clearer the longer he stares. A small coffee table rests in the middle of the conversation area. His eyes roam the walls, wondering what the pictures in frames look like. It’s too difficult to see. He steps back and stands straighter, embarrassed when he realizes he’s being worse than Ethel, staring into people’s houses like this.

It’s then that something inside the house catches his eye. Brian stops moving for a moment as he focuses his attention on the dark shape on the floor. He steps closer to the window, going so far as to press his face up against the glass and cup his hands around his eyes, trying to see better. What is that? A carpet on the floor? No. It’s not a carpet. It’s too bulky. It looks like…

He bends down, a sense of urgency overtaking his good sense. He scratches desperately at the edge of the duct tape, finally getting a corner of it to peel away from the window frame. He draws it down, careful not to let it tear. Once it’s free on one side, he grabs the cardboard and pushes it sideways, like opening the cover of the book.

What the hell am I doing? This is nuts… He ignores his own concerns, needing more than anything else right now to just confirm that what he thinks he’s seeing on that floor is not what he’s seeing.

The hole in the window is finally revealed, and it’s big enough for his hand to fit through. Thank you, Liam. Never in his wildest dreams did he ever think he’d thank his son for breaking someone’s window.

Brian reaches through and grabs the curtains on the other side, using both hands to pull the bottom of them out through the hole. As soon as he has the entire bottom seam through the broken window, he lifts it up and looks into the small space that’s remaining. Now there are no curtains in the way and he can see into the living room as clear as if he were standing inside the house.

“Holy Mary mother of Jesus,” he whispers. He raises his voice. “Ma’am … ! Miss … ! Are you okay?”

There’s what he assumes to be a woman lying on the floor in the middle of the room. All he can see is the back of her head and blood on her one exposed hand. “Ma’am! Are you okay?!”

No response.

“Fuck!” he yells, hurriedly shoving the curtain back through the hole and pushing the cardboard into place. He cuts the back of his hand on the glass, but he ignores the blood, the pain, and everything else as he struggles to get his cell phone out of his front pocket.

“Nine-one-one, what’s your emergency?”

“Hello, this is Brian Jensen and I’m standing on the front porch of …” He leans out and looks at the number on the front of the house near the door, “…thirty-two Fresno Street, and there’s a woman inside her house who’s passed out and there’s blood. She needs an ambulance.”

“Are you the homeowner, sir?”

“No, I’m a neighbor. Can you please send someone quick? I’m afraid she might be … dead. I’m not sure. She’s not moving.”

“Can you check for a pulse?”

“No, I’m outside. But just wait a minute. I’m going in.”

“Sir, is there anyone else at the home?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Hold the line while I call the house,” the operator says.

Brian’s at the front door when the woman comes back on the line. “They don’t appear to have a home phone on record. Have you tried the doorbell?”

“No.” Brian realizes how ridiculous it is that he hasn’t bothered to do that first. Surely the guy who lives here needs to know his wife is passed out on the floor. She’s obviously sick. Maybe she hit her head or something when she fell.

Brian rings the doorbell several times and bangs on the door with his fist. “Is anyone home?!” he yells.

No one answers.

“I don’t think anyone’s home but her,” Brian says to the operator. He tries the handle, but the door is locked. “I’m going to see if they have another open door somewhere.”

“Sir, I don’t recommend you break into the home.”

“I hear ya, but I’m doing it anyway.”

Brian runs around to the back and tries the door he finds there. It’s locked up tight as well. “The back door’s locked too. I’m going back to the front.”

“The ambulance is on its way along with a police officer. Can you stay on scene until they arrive?”

“Of course.”

“Do you want me to stay on the line with you?”

“No. Thanks for your help.” Brian hangs up without waiting for a response.

Going back to the front, he scrambles to pull the cardboard off and the curtain through the hole again. He leaves blood on the curtains in his attempts to see inside.

“Ma’am, an ambulance is on its way, okay? Ma’am, can you hear me?”

He’s about to look away when he sees her first finger move. It’s just the slightest twitch, but he’s sure he saw it. “I see you moving! I know you’re alive! They’re coming, okay! They’re coming!”

A low moan comes from inside the house, from the woman. Brian’s breath catches in his throat as her hand moves again, this time to slide out across the carpet. It leaves a smear of blood behind.

She moans again, this time an agonizing sound that makes Brian’s skin crawl. “You’re going to be okay. I called nine-one-one.”

Her moaning turns to a strange keening, like a growl and a sob blended together into something almost animalistic. The sounds of a siren in the distance reach Brian’s ears. He’s frozen in place, holding up the curtains and peering inside, as her head slowly turns.

The ambulance turns into the driveway as her face comes into view. Brian needs only one second to take in the sight of the horror before him before the blood in his veins goes cold and the words fall out of his mouth unbidden.

“Oh my god … what happened to your face?”

You can buy this book from:

Amazon ~ iTunes ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Kobo

a Rafflecopter giveaway