Saturday, August 31, 2013

Stacking the Shelves #35



Stacking The Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews in which we share the books we are adding to our shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

 
Hey peeps, it’s Stacking the Shelves time again. I've decided to start doing STS every week again. If we do a monthly one the post are too long and I usually wait till the last minute do put them together. It's less work doing weekly ones. I'm not going to put everything we've got in this one, but I'll put most the the stuff. :D Also don't forget to show us some love by leaving us a comment and leaving a link to your STS. Read on peeps, read on!!!!!


Tiffany’s Stack

Won: Books/Swag


 Swaggity Swag!!!!!!

 A Cursed Embraced by Cecy Robson
I didn't win both of these. I was out of town when I won these and sent them to Ryan's house and Cecy sent Ryan a copy as well. Cecy is full of Awesomeness!!!!!




 The Man of My Dreams by Gladys Quintal
The Do Over by A.L. Zaun
 Thanks Gladys and A.L.!!!!!!!!!!!


The Light Tamer by Devyn Dawson
Won over @Devyn's Facebook page. THANKS Devyn!

 The Candidates by Inara Scott
The Marked by Inara Scott
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi
Much Thanks to Kimberly@The Windy Pages
Buried in Books







Bought:

 Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder
Identical by Ellen Hopkins
Forever by Maggie Stiefvater
Changeling by Philippa Gregory
The Ghost and the Goth by Stacy Kade



Storm by Brigid Kemmerer
Ryan and I both bought a copy. :D

 Dead and Loving It by Mary-Janice Davidson
Would-Be Witch by Kimberly Frost
The Good, The Dead, and the Undead by Kim Harrison
The Outlaw Demon Wails by Kim Harrison




Ryan's  Stack

Won: Books/Swag


Tragic by J.A. Huss


SIGNED!!!!!

SWAG!!!!!!!!!!!

Darkness Unmasked by Keri Arthur
Fiery Edge of Steel by Jill Archer
Tales of Majipoor by Robert Silverberg
Walking in the Midst of Fire by Thomas E. Sniegoski
I Saw your Future and He's Not It by  Lousie Helene



Shadows of Falling Night by S.M. Stirling
Year of the Demon by Steve Bein
Generation V by M.L. Brennan
Blood Oranges by Kathleen Tierney



Between by Kerry Schafer
Alchemystic by Anton Strout
The Look of Love by Bella Andre
One Grave at a Time by Jeaniene Frost





























Bought:

 The Onion Girl by Charles De Lint
Evermore by Alyson Noel
Blade of Fire by Stuart Hill
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
Whitefire by Fern Michaels 
Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles



Aleron by Kane
School's Out Forever by James Patterson
The Truth About Love by Stephanie Laurens
Blood Vines by Erica Spindler
Touch a Dark Wolf by Jennifer St. Giles
Open Season by Linda Howard
Blind Spot by Nancy Bush
Beyond the Night by Joss Ware
The Bride Thief by Jacquie D'Alessandro


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Friday, August 30, 2013


Aberrant (Aberrant )
Release Date: 04/17/13

Summary from Goodreads:
In the future Dystopian society of Cabal, the government instills equality for all and offers its citizens the perfect system. There is food, shelter and jobs for everyone. The one requirement is to follow the rules without question, including the government's match in marriage and "The Day of the Chosen", a lottery that randomly selects families to conceive children as natural means hasn't existed in generations. Following her eighteenth birthday, Olivia Parker accepts her requirement to marry her childhood best friend, Joshua Warren, and is eager to start her work assignment and new life when it all comes abruptly to an end as she's arrested and thrown in prison. The only crime committed, her existence. Olivia is unlike the rest of the world born not from "The Day of the Chosen." The truth haunts the government and puts her life in grave danger as one simple fact would destroy the perfect system.

With Joshua's help, Olivia breaks free of prison and is forced on the run. Together they set out to find the promised rebel town in search of a new home and new life together. Their situation seems less than promising as they reach the town of Haven. New rules and customs must be adhered to in order to stay. Leaving would mean most certain death in the large expanse of the Gravelands. Time is running out as the government mounts an attack to destroy Olivia and bury her secret with her. Thrown into a world unlike their own, they must quickly adapt to survive.


Available from:
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About the Author
Ruth Silver first began writing poetry as a teenager and reading heaps of fan fiction in her free time. She has written under three unique pseudo names and penned well over a hundred stories.

She attended Northern Illinois University in 2001 and graduated with a Bachelor's in Communication. While in college she spent much of her free time writing with friends she met online and penning her first novel, "Deuces are Wild", which she self-published in 2004. Her favorite class was Creative Writing senior year where she often handed in assignments longer than the professor required because she loved to write and always wanted to finish her stories.


Her love of writing, led her on an adventure in 2007 to Melbourne, Australia. Silver enjoys reading YA novels and sharing her favorite books with other readers. She runs her own book blog and also enjoys photography and traveling.

Her favorite YA genre is a mix of Dystopian & Fantasy which is evident in the upcoming release of her latest book, Aberrant. Slated for release April 2013 by Lazy Day Publishing, it is the first in a trilogy.
***Author Links***
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***GIVEAWAY***
1 signed paperback of Aberrant (US only)
3 scrabble tile necklace charms & signed bookmark (INT)
3 bottlecap keychains & signed bookmark (INT)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Blitz Organized by:

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{Cover Reveal} Embracing Death by D.T. Dyllin





embracing_death_final 

Title: Embracing Death
Author: D.T. Dyllin
Series: The Death Trilogy #2
Genre: Erotic Paranormal Romance
Expected publication: November 2013 by Dragonfairy Press

Blurb:

All of Samantha Bevan’s memories have been returned to her. But instead of bringing her peace, they’ve only brought her more turmoil. She now recalls the dark addiction to feeling other people’s deaths and every day is a struggle to control her urges. At least she has Austin to help her… or does she? Samantha will discover that even with her memories, she doesn’t know the truth of her past, and those secrets may prove detrimental to her and everyone she loves. Will she be able to unravel the mystery of who’s been pulling her strings before it’s too late? Or will Austin be the one to suffer from her mistakes?


About the Author
  
Cynical-Optimist. Chocolate-holic. Sarcasm Addict. Paranormal Believer. Self-Imposed Insomniac. Sci-Fi Geek. Animal Lover. Writer…are just a few words to describe D.T. Dyllin. She was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and now lives in Nashville, Tennessee with her husband and two very spoiled GSDs.

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Thursday, August 29, 2013

Don't Make Me Beautiful by Elle Casey Blitz!










BLURB:

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.**


 



 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?”









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.






GIVEAWAY TIME!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway



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Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Cry Me A River by Devyn Dawson Blog Hop {Excerpt+Giveaway}



RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY 
LISTED BELOW EXCERPT

Cry Me a River
by Devyn Dawson
Contemporary Romance


***MATURE CONTENT WARNING**** 
This book is intended for 17+ due to language, sexual situations, and drug references 

Caide thought he had a handle on his life...until he realized he doesn't.

He's 23, a professional chef, has his own TV show, a house at the beach, and a beautiful daughter; who can ask for more? That was his question until his ex-girlfriend (and mother to his child) dies from an accidental overdose. Caide is thrust into the courts and they order him to go to Al Anon meetings and parenting classes.

He has a foul mouth and bad attitude about being forced to go to a support group when he doesn't have a problem. He has a few drinks before he goes to Al Anon and comes face to face with River Murphy, the pretty group leader. She seems all together and doesn't fall for his gritty attitude like other girls do. One night, he finds her after being roofied in a bar, he takes her home to make sure she's okay. The next thing they know, River's life is being turned upside down and she doesn't know why. Caide steps in and the two find themselves in the middle of trying to repair their broken hearts.


Clean version excerpt.

Chapter One

We loved with a love
That was more than love
Edgar Allan Poe

August 7

My mind is wandering as the priest walks up and down the aisle swinging back and forth an elaborate incense burner.  The scent reminds me of the last time I was in church; it had to have been at least three years ago. I don’t go to church because it isn’t my thing to sit next to liars, the same people who I’ve seen in the bars, or wasted at the beach.  Not much gets past people in our little town, Emerald Isle, North Carolina, population 3800.  Most homes along the 14 miles of coastal Emerald Isle, are rental vacation property.  The tenants only rent the beach houses for a week, just long enough to party, make false promises and move on to the next.  Someone coughing brought my thoughts back to the here and now.  Right now, I’m in church with a massive headache and a hard-on.

My damn BLANK doesn’t care where it is, church, school, sitting at Sunday brunch with my mother.  No, my BLANK pretty much has a mind of its own.  I take in a few deep breaths and remind myself why I’m here. 

My daughter is sitting with her grandparents on the front row.  Heather’s dad hates me for things I didn’t do.  Heather’s mom hates me because I walk the earth.  She’d sooner see me six feet under than anywhere near my daughter, Lucy Marie.  I look over to where they are sitting and Lucy’s standing up and pointing to the person in the pew behind her.  Her eyes are bright and her chubby cheeks jiggle when she bounces around.  My heart swells with love every time I look at her.  They don’t realize I’m here; I snuck in at the last minute.

Everyone stands and holds hands as the preacher prays.  The woman on my left has wiped her nose with a tissue for the last forty-five minutes.  That’s all I can think about, her snot rag.  Maybe I am a germ-a-phobe, but is it wrong to not want someone’s nasty germs all over my hand?  I have hand sanitizer in my pocket, which I’ll use as soon as we part ways.  Until I do, I’ll fixate on the fact, I have her snot all over my hand.  I try to focus on the preacher, my brain is telling me to get up and leave before anyone realizes I’m here, but I can’t.  I’m not leaving until I hold Lucy.  I haven’t seen her since the week of the Fourth of July.  Heather brought her over and wanted me to keep her for the night so she could go out and party.  She fell off the radar for five days.  Her parents came over looking for Lucy and acted as though I stole my own daughter.  They berated me because I didn’t call them right away.  At least I called them.  The minute her mom saw a few empty beer cans on my kitchen counter, she flew off the handle and started screaming at me.  Did she bother to remember I’m twenty-three and four beer cans doesn’t make for a drunken stupor.

Everyone stands and pew by pew we line up and walk to the front of the church.  My heart races, every step feels like I am one step closer to God and to reality.  I’ve never taken communion; it always scared me to eat the body of Christ.  When you’re a little kid, your thoughts are literal and I didn’t want to be a cannibal. 

There are two people ahead of me, my palms are sweaty.   I hear people whispering, I’m sure they’re pointing at me and calling me names.  “Caide is a douche”… “Caide is an alcoholic”… “Caide is a sinner”…  They’re probably not dropping the f-bomb in church, since they’re all perfect.

Someone nudges me from behind, “You’re next,” she whispers.

I turn and I swear my heart stops.  The white casket is perfect for Heather.  The lining of the casket is pastel pink satin and her blond hair is curled and cascades down over her breasts.  My heart suddenly starts and is pounding in my ears.  My throat closes up and for the first time since the day Lucy was born, my eyes fill with tears.  Heather is dressed in a pink floral dress with a little white sweater.  Lucy’s teddy bear is tucked up under her hand as well as a picture of the three of us when things were better.

My heart isn’t prepared for the pain, the complete and utter pain.  I’ve never been to a funeral before and now I’m sure I never want to go to one again.  Her face is peaceful, something it hasn’t been in months.  I know they covered her arms to hide her track-marks and the make-up covers the dark circles under her eyes.  We were in-love once upon a time.  She’s the mother of my daughter and she’s dead.  I can’t wrap my brain around it all, how could she do this?  How could she check out like that?  She was supposed to always be in my life, but I wanted her happy and healthy.  I shouldn’t have turned my back on her.  If only I had tried harder, she’d still be here.

Without thinking, I reach over and brush my hand across her cheek.  I almost came apart in front of everyone.  Her skin was so cold and hard, like a cement bench in the dead of winter.  “Oh baby-girl, what happened?  I’m so sorry….I’m so sorry….I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you.  Heather baby, you were going to get clean.  What happened?  How did it happen?”  I shake my head back and forth and I know my tears are dripping on her dress.  It was her present from me when she lost her pregnancy weight.  I bought the dress during my lunch break and gave it to her when I got home that night.  She put it on and danced around the house like a little girl in a new dress.  I loved her that night and we made love until we both were exhausted.  Now she’s dead and I’m alive.  I take a letter from my suit pocket and placed it next to her.  “I’ll always love you baby-girl.  Don’t worry about Lucy, I’ll take care of her and she’ll know how much you loved her.  I promise.”

Someone clears their throat behind me and I take that as my time is up.  As I turn around I make eye contact with Heather’s mom.  She motions for me to come over to her.  Lucy sees me and her whole face lights up with excitement.  Her arms reach for me and I see how reluctant her grandma is to hand her over, but she knows Lucy loves me.

“Caide,” She says curtly.

“Darla, I’m sorry for your loss.”  What else could I say?

“I don’t want to discuss our differences today; right now we’re here to honor my daughter.  We’ll meet you in the lobby, please take Lucy with you.”  Her eyes are cold, her hands clenched together.  Darla’s in her early fifties but could pass for forty.  If I didn’t know her personally, I’d think she’s good looking.  Unlike Heather’s blond hair, Darla’s is short and dark auburn.  Darla and her husband, Alan, married right after high-school.  They went to college together and while they were still in school, Alan invested in a small company called Wal-Mart.  They made their money with blood, sweat and tears.  Alan is notorious for telling his rags to riches story to anyone who will listen.  Today, both of them look ten years older than they are. 

And like that, I have my daughter to myself for a few minutes.  She reaches for my face, placing both hands on my cheeks and leans forward, giving me the sloppiest kiss I’ve ever had.  I wrap my arms around her as tight as possible and tell her how much I’ve missed her.  Lucy is an eighteen month old firecracker.  She has deep dimples in her cheeks and bright blue eyes to go along with her dark red ringlets all around her head.  Heather and I thought she’d be bald forever, we actually asked the doctor if something was wrong with her.  He laughed it off and told us she was perfectly normal and right before her birthday, her hair started growing like crazy.  Memories like these make me realize that’s exactly what they’ll be forever and never again will we laugh about our little bald pumpkin. 

Heather and I were together until Lucy was almost six months old.  One day, I came home from work early to find her and the next door neighbor, Joan, snorting cocaine.  Neither of them realized I was there and after they did their line, they started to make out.  I was livid!  Thankfully, Lucy was asleep in her crib.  We fought about her bringing drugs into our house with our daughter in the next room.  She tried to rationalize that making out with another girl isn’t cheating, it’s a freebie.

 It was me who called Heather’s parents and asked if Heather and Lucy could move in with them.  I would have kept Lucy if my schedule wasn’t so unpredictable.  They agreed it would be easier for them to keep an eye on Heather if she were living with them.  We officially broke up about a month later.  She was doing harder drugs and her parents were with Lucy full-time.  I thought Heather would straighten up after she got the partying stage over with…she didn’t.

A heavy-set woman with big hair comes over to me in the lobby, telling me she is Aunt Josephine and she was asked to take Lucy back to the house.  I’ve met her before at a family function or two.  It’s time for Lucy to have a nap anyway.  She shouldn’t go to the graveside any more than I should.  I kissed her goodbye and promised her I’d give her a call tomorrow.  My parents are going to the graveside service; they weren’t able to get coverage at the restaurant to make it here in time.  I’ll text mom and tell her I’m going home, she’ll understand,.



About the Author Devyn Dawson


Devyn Dawson is the author of the best selling series; The Light Tamer Trilogy, The Legacy of Kilkenny Series, and new adult book Sapphire, A Werewolf Love Story. Her career has included working for Fortune 500 companies, grave decorating, and accounting. She enjoys spending her spare time riding on the back of her husband's motorcycle to the beautiful North Carolina beaches, or cuddling her new granddaughters. 

Devyn lives in New Bern, North Carolina (about 2 miles from Nicholas Sparks)with her husband of twenty years, two cats, three dogs, and two cockatiels (3 of her pets are named after vampires, Klaus, Bella, and LeStat).




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Cry Me a River by Devyn Dawson

Cry Me a River

by Devyn Dawson

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