Happy Monday, reader-friends!
I don't know about you, but I'm feeling spring on the way... #eeep!
I'll get to this
HUGE GIVEAWAY in a second, but first...
You hear me talk a lot about my
fab cover designer and
amazing writer-friend
Jolene Perry...
Well, Jolene is a "hybrid" author, meaning she has both self-published and traditionally published books.
And they're all amazing...
go to her website (link) right now and pick one to read.
I'll wait.
...
Which one did you pick?
J/k... Jolene's newest book
The Summer I Found You is published by Albert Whitman Teen, and it is as gorgeous as it is breathtaking...
AND!!! I'm so excited because we have Jolene herself here today to tell you about it!!!
Take it away, Jo~
All the Swoony Stuff
by Jolene Perry
So. When I'm making the rounds and doing a million blog posts to spread over the internet, I get to be supah specific.
All they have in common is that they're less than perfect. And all they're looking for is the perfect distraction.
Kate had the perfect boyfriend--until he dumped her. It couldn't have come at a worse time: ever since she found out she has diabetes, she's been trying to cope. She just wants to feel normal again.
Aidan planned on being a lifer in the Army and went to Afghanistan straight out of high school. Now he's the guy with one arm and nothing is the same as it was before. He wishes he could forget.
When Kate and Aidan meet, things couldn't be more awkward. Neither wants to get attached, and they both could use some fun. But what if they need each other more than they realize?
First off from Kate...
Now that I’ve leaned over, the warmth of him hits me, and we’re close. Really close. Aidan’s breath hits my face, and I slide my arms over his toned stomach and down his muscular arm to get my arms around the baby. And for the first time, I’m touching a guy who I’d really, really like to see with his shirt off. Our eyes catch, and his breath blows across my face.
Whoa. Butterflies are running circuits through my insides, over a guy who’s two years older, and only wants to hang with me so I can babysit with him.
What’s wrong with me? I’m like all hormonal or something. Even making out with Shelton didn’t make me all breathless like this. I scoop up the bundled baby, and lay him down in his bed, relieved I didn’t break him or wake him or something.
I back away from the crib and run into the stomach and chest I was just thinking about...
And then from Aidan...
I open my mouth to argue, but I suddenly feel pretty dumb for not thinking about it earlier. And I’m completely distracted by how her hand feels on my chest. As her hand slides down, her eyes follow, and I want for her to have wanted to touch me way more than I should.
All I hear is my breathing and I’m still staring at her hand, which is now nearly to the top of my jeans.
She drops her arm, and steps around me leaving me feeling very on edge, and maybe a bit like I want her to touch me that way again. I go around the front of the car and climb into the driver’s seat—still feeling the heat from her touch. I have no idea if I’m thrilled or terrified that I said yes to going with her tonight. Kate isn’t like Georgia, my Air Force girl. It wouldn’t be a hook-up once in a while kind of thing. Nerves start to press in.
I settle into the seat, and the car takes over my thoughts. I love this car. I run my hand over the top of the steering wheel a few times.
“When you’re done fondling your vehicle, I need you to show me how to shift.”
I chuckle, and turn as sideways as I can, pushing the clutch in with my left foot.
“Put your hand on the shift.”
She does. Her hair falls over her face a bit as she looks down, but I can still make out her dark eyes staring in concentration.
“Now you just follow the map on the top, you’ll feel a bump and then you’re in neutral, pull it back farther and you’ll be in second.”
She pulls down and the shifter goes slack in neutral. “Now what?” Her eyes are still focused on her hand.
“Pull back more and you’ll slide into second.”
She concentrates for a few moments, and jerks, but nothing happens. I scoot even farther sideways to put my left hand over hers. Our eyes catch. Okay. Breathe. This is just a girl. No big deal.
“Okay, first.” I move our hands into first. “Second.” I move our hands again. We go through all the gears a few times. My hand on hers. Me trying to keep my heart beating normal, trying to force my chest to relax. This is crazy. I’m just touching her hand.
And finally this from Aidan :-D
I don’t even have to look to know her cheeks are turning red,and that she probably just said something she didn’t mean to. This is when her bursts of honesty are really going to help. She leans forward until the top of her head is pressed into my chest, hiding. Her arms wrap around my sides, keeping us together.
“I can’t believe you just said that.” I kiss her softly on the temple, and run my hand slowly up and down her arm.
“Me either.”
I touch her chin until she lifts her head from my chest and looks back up at me. It’s stupid, but I want her to kiss me first this time. Like I want to make sure she really does want this as much as I do.
But now I wonder—what will she actually think about me only having one arm? What will happen when she accidentally runs her hand over where my arm should be? Will it matter? Will she care?
I’m actually relieved that my shoulder stump is against the seat. Out of reach.
She leans forward and our lips come together in a small soft kiss before pulling away. I kiss her back, but this time our kiss is deep enough that the electricity flies through my body sending tingles to my toes, fingertips, every piece, every part. All of it. And I should probably be thinking more, but it feels so good to not think, to just feel. I slide my arm around her waist, frustrated I don’t have more power to keep her close, and kiss her again.
~ ~ ~
So. Care to share any swoon-worthy books you've read lately? Because I'm always looking for a great love story...
~Jolene
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Now for the HUGE GIVEAWAY!
FIFTY of your favorite YA and NA authors will celebrate being Irish for a day and play on Pinterest. There will be more than 45 e-book giveaways!
Join the Facebook party HERE! and don't miss a thing!!!
Participating Authors:
Lila Felix A. W. Exley Melissa Pearl
Jessica Gibson Cindy M. Hogan Sarah Ashley Jones
Marie Landry Rachel Morgan Jennifer Snyder
Stacey Marie Brown Jessica Therrien D.L. Raver
Stacey Wallace Benefiel Marilyn Almodóvar Angee Taylor
A.O. Peart Devyn Dawson Rick Chiantaretto
Raine Thomas L.P. Dover Tamara Hart Heiner
Leigh T Moore Meradeth Houston Amber Argyle
Tawdra Kandle Carlyle Labuschagne Lisa Collicutt
Christy Dorrity Stephanie Fowers Kristina Renee
Faith McKay Charlotte Abel Jamie Ayres
A.M. Hargrove Charli Webb Amy Harmon
Alyssa Rose Ivy Kristie Cook Lani Woodland
T.M. Franklin Laura Howard Sharron Riddle
Eliza Tilton S. M. Boyce Bethany Lopez
Dawn Leigh L.A. Casey Emma Adams
Amber Garr Liz Long
a Rafflecopter giveaway
That's it for me, reader-friends!
Have a SUPER week~
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