Surpise Release!! Throttled Review & Giveaway

Get ready for the thrill of two wheels and a second chance love story! THROTTLED by Elizabeth Lee is LIVE!

THROTTLED (A Wild Riders Novel #1) by Elizabeth Lee

NA Contemporary Romance

Goodreads

PURCHASE LINKS

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1hnnGuR
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1JDlcDI

B&N, iTunes, and Kobo: Coming Soon!

Blurb:
Reid Travers knows how to win. Becoming Motocross royalty was always the plan, and he was willing to make sacrifices along the way to reach his goal. Sacrifices he thought he could live with until he returned to the small town where he grew up and learned to ride, and, more importantly, where he fell in love.

When fate sends Nora Bennett back into his life, he takes one look at her and realizes that he made a huge mistake breaking up with her five years ago. Now, he'll do whatever it takes to win her back. As Reid sets out to earn her forgiveness and convince her that the guy she's dating is not the one for her, Nora finds herself torn between what her head is telling her and what her heart wants.

It's a race he never expected to be in, for a girl he can't stand to lose again.

EXCERPT

Reid Travers had grown up. He had always been attractive, but time and professional racing had done something to his features and body that he should have thanked the good Lord every day for. His jawline and nose seemed more chiseled. His eyes wiser and brighter. Well-worn jeans hung around his hips, the waistband sitting just below a set of abs that had me thinking all kinds of things—none of which had anything to do with a real estate transaction. While my stomach was a knot of nervousness, below that something inside of me was coiling so tightly that the possibility of shooting straight into the sky seemed feasible. Especially if he kept looking at me the way he was. His brown eyes were locked on mine and I was helpless to look away. “Nora Bennett,” he said as he closed the distance between us. He ran his hand down his jawline, the days’ worth of stubble only adding to his new all-grown-up appeal. “How are you?”

“Fine,” I answered softly as he reached out. The second his hand touched my arm, I knew I was in trouble—his rough, calloused fingertips met my smooth skin and it was like striking a match.

Globug's Review

Prepare yourself. The prologue will grab your attention and drag down into a filthy minded gutter and you will be so happy to be there until you realize the object of Reid's affection is not a woman. Typical man! 

I found myself loving Reid right from the start. His parents had given up just about everything to help him reach for his dream of being a pro in the Motocross racing world. Now that his dream has been realized he's back in his hometown to give back to his parents all that they sacrificed for him. He brought along his brother Hoyt, best friend Brett, and of course their prize dirt bikes. 

Seven years is a long time for Nora Bennett to stew over being dumped when Reid left to follow his dreams. After all, they had planned to reach for the dream together but they were only teenagers. I couldn't find fault in Reid's decision and I understood why Nora would be hurt but the author drops a real bomb on us that explains why Nora's heart was wounded deeper than he could ever have imagined. Now Nora has moved on with her love life and career or at least she thought she had until Reid shows up on the scene. 

Reid has gotten comfortable being a champion and now he's determined to win back his first and only love. I was so disappointed in Nora when her current boyfriend's history is revealed. Reid takes several opportunities to school the ass-hat. Ultimately I loved Nora's character as well once she opened up with Reid about what happened after he left. He reminds her of their happy times and that they have a chance to start living the future they had once dreamed of having.

 I have to say I also fall in love with the supporting characters. Nora's sister and Brett have me anxious to see if the author has something magical for them in the future. The release of this second chance romance from Elizabeth Lee came as a surprise but it's no surprise that I LOVED it.

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About the Author:

When I'm not writing or playing the part of wife and mom, you can find me dancing back-up for Beyonce, singing back-up for Miranda, or sunning myself on the beach with a drink in hand. Here's the thing about being born and raised in a small town--you have a very vivid imagination! Now, I channel it all to create stories where the girl always ends up with the right guy, first kisses are magical, and a happy ending is just that!

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NEW RELEASE: Spend The Night by Elizabeth Lee

Title: Spend The Night

Author: Elizabeth Lee

The Hotel Collection Serial:  3 episodes

Spend the Night – Episode 1

Welcome to The Wellesley-Crawford...
Hannah Wellesley has spent her entire life running the halls of her family-owned hotel, the infamous and opulent Wellesley-Crawford. Noted as one of the city's richest, most luxurious hotels in Chicago, the WC is what Hannah has devoted her life and career to.

The hotel’s Annual Masquerade Gala is the event of the year, but this year Hannah’s evening involves more than just handing out masks. After a mysterious rendezvous in a secluded stairwell with an irresistible and unidentifiable man, Hannah becomes consumed with discovering the identity of her masked lover. Just as she’s about to give up the search, two men blow back into her life with drastically different intentions. They both have secrets and uncovering them will lead Hannah down a darkly dangerous path.

Drawn to both of the intriguing bachelors, she’ll have to determine which one is after her heart and which one plans to do her deadly harm before it’s too late.

 Purchase Links:

Amazon   Barnes & Noble

Globug's Review

Consider me hooked. The first episode of The Hotel Collection starts with a bang. Like a literal bang, up against the wall, with a mysterious stranger. The prologue gives you a taste of the sexy I can only hope continues in the following episodes.

Hannah is extremely hard working and driven as she prepares to take her rightful place as the next COO of her family's hugely successful hotel. To say she could use a night of stress relief and just letting go of her inhibitions is an understatement. She never expected to be consumed so completely by one encounter with a stranger. Too bad her mystery man hit it and quit it. Eight months later and she's ready to give up hope that destiny dick is ever coming back. 

Then two guys show up that could potentially solve the mystery. Carter is a chef that Hannah met that night eight months ago. Now he's back and working in her Hotel. She hasn't seen Trenton Crawford in ten years but now he's back and looking to take her job as COO. The author includes the POV from "HIM". It adds a really cool suspense factor to the story. You don't know the identity of "HIM" or if he has the best of intentions for Hannah. I have a few ideas about who this guy will turn out to be but honestly with the way it's written there is no clear answer to his identity. It could be either Carter or Trenton. I guess it could even be someone we haven't met in the story yet. I really like both guys but I feel like I know more about Trenton. He and Hannah have a lot of history together and I'd love to see them together but there are a couple of moments where something seems a little off with him. The suspense is perfectly miserable. I'm left dying to read the next episode

 Author Bio & Links

 
When I'm not writing or playing the part of wife and mother, you can find me dancing back-up for Beyonce, singing back-up for Miranda, or sunning myself on the beach with a drink in hand. Here's the thing about being born and raised in a small town—you have a very vivid imagination! Now, I channel it all to create stories where the girl always ends up with the right guy, first kisses are magical, and a happy ending is just that!    

 Links: 

 Facebook  Twitter  Website  Author Goodreads  Novel Goodreads

 

Release Day Blast: Path Of Destruction (Broken Heartland #2) by E. Lee & Caisey Quinn {Excerpt + Giveaway}

We would love for you to join us in celebrating the release of PATH OF DESTRUCTION by E. Lee and C. Quinn!

Title: Path of Destruction (Broken Heartland #2)

Author: E. Lee and C. Quinn

Age Group: Upper YA/NA

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: December 24, 2014

Goodreads

Amazon

Synopsis 

They ignored the warning signs and it cost them everything... 

At the end of a life-changing summer a devastating tornado hit the small town of Hope’s Grove, Oklahoma.

While the brick suburban mansions of Summit Bluffs saw very little damage, their occupants weren’t so lucky. As the members of both communities struggle to put the pieces of their lives back together, lies will be told, truths will be revealed, and nothing will ever be the same. The road to recovery is long and paved with past hurts and future heartbreaks.

They ignored the warning signs, and one of them didn’t make it out alive. The four that remain know they’d be crazy to think the storms are actually over.. 

Because it’s just when you think you’re safe that you find yourself right in the path of destruction.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT & GIVEAWAY: PATH OF DESTRUCTION {BROKEN HEARTLAND #2) BY E. LEE & CAISEY QUINN

Authors Elizabeth Lee and Caisey Quinn are so excited to finally be able to share with you the cover, synopsis, and official release date for Path of Destruction, book two in the Broken Heartland series!

Title: Path of Destruction (Broken Heartland #2)

Author: E. Lee and C. Quinn

Age Group: Upper YA/NA

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: December 24, 2014

PRE-ORDER Link Coming Soon!

Synopsis 

They ignored the warning signs and it cost them everything... 

At the end of a life-changing summer a devastating tornado hit the small town of Hope’s Grove, Oklahoma.

While the brick suburban mansions of Summit Bluffs saw very little damage, their occupants weren’t so lucky. As the members of both communities struggle to put the pieces of their lives back together, lies will be told, truths will be revealed, and nothing will ever be the same. The road to recovery is long and paved with past hurts and future heartbreaks.

They ignored the warning signs, and one of them didn’t make it out alive. The four that remain know they’d be crazy to think the storms are actually over.. 

Because it’s just when you think you’re safe that you find yourself right in the path of destruction.

FINDING YOU Release Day!!! {Excerpt & Giveaway}

We're celebrating the release of FINDING YOU by Elizabeth Lee! Check out the excerpt below and fall in love with Boone! #BooneSwoon

Title: Finding You

Author: Elizabeth Lee

Age Group: NA

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Scheduled to Release: October 7, 2013

Goodreads

Description:

Being the wild child has worked for Mallory Vandaveer for most of her life. She’s the good time girl, up for anything–and everyone in her small town knows it. But when her sister came home after years of being away, long hidden secrets came out. Turns out, Mallory isn’t who she thought she was. And now everything starts to feel like a lie. In order to figure out who she is she’ll have to set out on a journey to find the one man who holds the answers.

Everett Boone is in hiding. Hiding from his past and the press and the demands of a career he put on hold after tragedy struck. When a young woman with secrets of her own blows into town and rents the apartment next to his, he’ll have to face the past he was trying to escape in order to understand his feelings for her.

They’ll both have to dig deep inside themselves to discover whether or not they’re capable of being enough for one another. Finding the person you’re meant to love isn’t the problem. Sometimes the hardest person to find is yourself.

EXCERPT

Looking around my small apartment at all the boxes I had to unpack and thinking of the chores that needed to be done to make this place comfortable—at least as comfortable as possible given the constant ball of nerves I'd be while this whole mess played out—I sighed.  I'd managed to get the bed made and a few of my clothes hung up in the closet after Cole left.  The rest could wait until tomorrow; I needed a good night's sleep and a clear head.

I flipped off the lamp next to my bed and snuggled down in the sheets that still smelled like home.  Like that undeniable, comforting, wrap-you-in-a-hug smell of home and I loved it.  Gave me a little relief to know that I still had at least a little part of my life from before the Vince bombshell was dropped on me and exploded my seemingly charmed life.  Sure Robert Vandaveer was a shitty dad, but at least I knew he was.  I'd accepted his flaws.  I hated them, but I accepted them. Vince was a complete mystery.  A few photos and old stories my mom had told me weren't enough to really know him.  His flaws may have been worse than Vandaveer's.

Just as I was about to drift off, dreams of small town peacefulness beckoning, a loud crash startled me.  Popping up like I'd just been shot, I clasped my hands over my chest and felt my heart beating.  I could hear it.  Or at least I thought I could.  It took me a few seconds to realize that the chaotic thumping I thought was my heart was actually a drumbeat coming through the brick wall that separated my apartment from Boone's.

Son of a bitch.

Not only was I living next door to a paranoid jerk, he was also apparently moonlighting as a drummer.  A cheesy wedding band drummer at that.  Playing some easy listening, soft rock bullshit that I'd only heard during a bad 80s movie montage.

I climbed out of bed and stomped my way over to beat down Boone's door and give him a piece of my mind.  Just as I was about to walk down the stairs and do just that, I realized that with the way the music was blaring there was no way he'd hear me knocking on the outside door.  My eyes shot to the window and the fire escape.  I'd explored it a little earlier when I was moving stuff in, but I hadn't ventured out onto it yet.  Looked sturdy enough.  Didn't fire escapes have to be safety rated?  I sure hoped so.   All I knew for sure was that it stretched across to Boone's apartment windows.

As I shimmied out the window and felt the cool metal grates beneath my bare feet, I was fuming.  I steadied my hands on the railing with a firm grip and tugged to see if they were secure.  A little loose, but it seemed strong enough—probably the last person to die on a fire escape's exact thoughts.  Holding my breath, I continued across.  The fact that he'd woken me up was one thing, but for me to have to risk my life to yell at him about it... He'd crossed the don't-fuck-with-Mallory line.  Or was it the don't-fuck-with-Molly line? Whatever it was, he'd crossed it.

I peered through his windows, the sounds of his drumming along to the music vibrating the panes of glass that stood between us, I readied my fist to knock—no, to pound.  Just as I was about to make contact, my eyes registered how much he was zoned in and playing the rhythm of the next song that began blaring through his speakers. 

Hello, drummer boy.

The primal look in his eyes.  The controlled movement of the muscles in his toned arms as he played.  The sheen of sweat that slicked his shirtless body and made the six-pack he'd been hiding practically glisten with an invitation to be licked.  I drew my bottom lip between my teeth and stared. 

Why did he have to be such a dick?  He seemed stressed out and pissed off.  I was pretty sure it had to do with the mysterious death he'd spouted off about yesterday.  I had no idea what he'd been through, but I just didn't see the point in being miserable all the time.  Life was meant to be lived.  To have fun.  Maybe my sister was right about him needing someone like me to put him in a good mood.  I had it on good authority that I was a pretty good roll in the hay.  Maybe one wild night was just what he needed. 

GIVEAWAY

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Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/NGE1MDEyNTkzNmEzMjcwYWY1N2NlODA1YWVlMmE3OjQyMA==/

Title: Escaping Me

Author: Elizabeth Lee

Age Group: NA

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Published: July 30, 2013

Goodreads

Description:

All she wanted to do was forget. Forget the memory of walking in on her boyfriend in the middle of, well, another girl. Forget how she had her entire life planned out. And, forget about being perfect all the time. Unfortunately, she was Whitney Vandaveer and despite the fact that she moved to the middle of nowhere – she couldn't.

He always knew he would never be more than nothing. No job, no money, no future. Cole Pritchett had accepted the fact that he would always be the screw up and he was okay with it. Until he met her.

Here's the thing they quickly found out – sometimes we all need a little help escaping who we think we are.

Author Bio:

Born and raised in the middle of a Midwestern cornfield (not literally, that would be weird), I’ve spent my entire life imagining stories. Stories where the right guy always gets the right girl, first kisses are as magical as they are on the big screen and anything is completely possible if you believe.

Although this journey began years ago, it recently took on a whole new life. After years of devouring hundreds of Romance, YA and New Adult novels, I had an epiphany... I should write a book. And I did it!

If I’m not reading, writing, enjoying drinks with my amazing group of girlfriends or chasing around a sarcastically funny kid, I’m probably watching television shows that were created for teenagers, while my husband teases that I’m too old to watch them.

Connect with Elizabeth:

Facebook | Twitter | Website

Pre- Release Blast: Finding You by Elizabeth Lee {Excerpt + Giveaway}

We're getting ready for the release of FINDING YOU by Elizabeth Lee! Check out the excerpt below and fall in love with Boone! #BooneSwoon

Title: Finding You

Author: Elizabeth Lee

Age Group: NA

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Scheduled to Release: October 7, 2013

Goodreads

Description:

Being the wild child has worked for Mallory Vandaveer for most of her life. She’s the good time girl, up for anything–and everyone in her small town knows it. But when her sister came home after years of being away, long hidden secrets came out. Turns out, Mallory isn’t who she thought she was. And now everything starts to feel like a lie. In order to figure out who she is she’ll have to set out on a journey to find the one man who holds the answers.

Everett Boone is in hiding. Hiding from his past and the press and the demands of a career he put on hold after tragedy struck. When a young woman with secrets of her own blows into town and rents the apartment next to his, he’ll have to face the past he was trying to escape in order to understand his feelings for her.

They’ll both have to dig deep inside themselves to discover whether or not they’re capable of being enough for one another. Finding the person you’re meant to love isn’t the problem. Sometimes the hardest person to find is yourself.

Cover Reveal **FINDING YOU** by Elizabeth Lee

We are so excited to share the cover for Finding You, from Elizabeth Lee, along with an excerpt. Take a look at the cover and excerpt, and be sure to let us know what you think!

Title: Finding You

Author: Elizabeth Lee

Age Group: NA

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Scheduled to Release: October 7, 2013

Goodreads

Be sure to sign up for all the Finding You events here!

Being the wild child has worked for Mallory Vandaveer for most of her life. She's the good time girl, up for anything--and everyone in her small town knows it. But when her sister came home after years of being away, long hidden secrets came out.

Turns out, Mallory isn't who she thought she was. And now everything starts to feel like a lie. In order to figure out who she is she'll have to set out on a journey to find the one man who holds the answers.

Everett Boone is in hiding. Hiding from his past and the press and the demands of a career he put on hold after tragedy struck. When a young woman with secrets of her own blows into town and rents the apartment next to his, he'll have to face the past he was trying to escape in order to understand his feelings for her.

They'll both have to dig deep inside themselves to discover whether or not they're capable of being enough for one another.  Finding the person you're meant to love isn't the problem. Sometimes the hardest person to find is yourself.

Excerpt

“Looks like she's back,” Vince said as we pulled back up to the shop the next afternoon.  He pointed at the two trucks parked along the street.  She waved at us from the bed of one of the trucks as she she handed down boxes to someone.  Her hair was pulled up into a ponytail that barely brushed her shoulders as she turned her head to talk to whoever was helping her move in.  Why did she have to be so damn cute?  Couldn't have been a dude or some homely girl that moved in next me, could it?  That would have been asking the universe to cut me a fucking break and that had never been the case before.  Why would it start now?

“Looks like she is,” I breathed.  A part of me was kind of hoping that she wouldn't come back. Another part, the one that hoped she did, was taking notes on how great she looked as we approached.  She smiled that excited, nervous grin that she had when Vince told her she could have the apartment. She had a certain look about her that reminded me of Audrey.  The Audrey from before we hit it big.  The one that just wanted to grab life by the horns.  The one that didn't let the pressure get to her.  Like the old Audrey, she hadn't yet been tainted.  She was naïve and unassuming, at least from where I was standing.

“Need some help?” Vince offered up about the time I saw her helper step out from behind the truck.  He was around the same height as me, which is where our similarities ended.  This guy had muscles in places I didn't even know were possible, and I was an athlete.  On top of those muscles he had tattoos and a look on his face that said “back the fuck off.”  Or he did when he was looking at me anyway.  Judging from his appearance, I guessed I wouldn't have to worry about him recognizing me.  He didn't look like an avid golf fan.  No, this guy was country, not country club.  All the more reason for me to keep my distance from her.  The last thing I wanted to deal with was an overprotective boyfriend.

When he turned his attention to Vince his demeanor seemed to change.

“I think we've only got it, but thank you,” he said politely.  “I do have one favor to ask though,” he added, looking up at my new neighbor who appeared to be concerned with the next words that were going to come out of his mouth.

“Sure,” Vince answered, resting his arms on the back of the truck.

“Keep an eye on my girl here,” he nodded up at her.  “She tends leap before she looks, if you know what I mean.”

“I do not,” she spouted.  “I'll be just fine.  I'm a big girl.”  The way she popped her hand up on her hip and practically stomped her foot caused everyone of us to crack a smile.  She hopped down out of the back of the truck and shut the tailgate.  “Thanks for your offer, Vince, but this is the last load to go upstairs.  Come on, Cole,” she urged, seeming to have better places to be.

“Vince, was it?” Cole extended his hand.  “Nice to meet you.”

“You too,” Vince replied.  “We'll keep an eye on her.”  Cole nodded, pleased with Vince's words.

“Didn't catch your name,” he said turning to me. 

“Boone,” I replied, thrusting my hand out to meet his.  I wasn't scared of this guy.  Sure, he could have probably kicked my ass all over the street, but he had no reason to worry about me.  I wasn't interested in his girl.

“Not going to have to worry about you getting her into any trouble, am I?”  He raised up, his broad shoulders casting a shadow over me.  His hand squeezed around mine in warning.

“Nope,” I said, matching the pressure of his grip.  “Not going to have to worry about me at all.”  I feel myself rising up to gain an inch on him.  “If she's getting into any trouble she'll be doing it all on her own.”  Which I didn't doubt.  As sweet and naïve as she appeared, I could tell from our brief encounter that she was a spitfire.  Cole didn't need to worry about me one bit, but he moved toward me nonetheless. This guy wanted to stand toe-to-toe, I was game.  It'd been a while since I felt an adrenaline rush.  I used to get them all the time—teeing off on the first hole of a major, sinking a putt to seal a double birdie.  This was a different kind of rush, but I'd take it.  It was good to feel something other than guilt for once.

“Good.” He finally broke the tension with a chuckle.  “I'll see ya around, Boone.”

“Yep.” Guess he'd be back to visit. 

Escaping Me, a companion to Finding You

Title: Escaping Me

Author: Elizabeth Lee

Age Group: NA

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Published: July 30, 2013

Goodreads  | Amazon  |  BN

All she wanted to do was forget. Forget the memory of walking in on her boyfriend in the middle of, well, another girl. Forget how she had her entire life planned out. And, forget about being perfect all the time. Unfortunately, she was Whitney Vandaveer and despite the fact that she moved to the middle of nowhere – she couldn't.

He always knew he would never be more than nothing. No job, no money, no future. Cole Pritchett had accepted the fact that he would always be the screw up and he was okay with it. Until he met her. Here's the thing they quickly found out – sometimes we all need a little help escaping who we think we are.

About Elizabeth Lee

Born and raised in the middle of a Midwestern cornfield (not literally, that would be weird), I’ve spent my entire life imagining stories. Stories where the right guy always gets the right girl, first kisses are as magical as they are on the big screen and anything is completely possible if you believe.

Although this journey began years ago, it recently took on a whole new life. After years of devouring hundreds of Romance, YA and New Adult novels, I had an epiphany... I should write a book. And I did it! If I’m not reading, writing, enjoying drinks with my amazing group of girlfriends or chasing around a sarcastically funny kid, I’m probably watching television shows that were created for teenagers, while my husband teases that I’m too old to watch them.

Connect with Elizabeth:

Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter

One Year Anniversary Sale Blitz & Excerpt: Escaping Me by Elizabeth Lee

SALE SALE SALE! Escaping Me by Elizabeth Lee is celebrating it's ONE YEAR BIRTHDAY!! WHOOHOO! In honor of such a momentous occasion the price has been dropped to just .99 CENTS!! Experience the love and romance between WHOLE (Whitney and Cole) today for less than a buck! -Hootie

Title: Escaping Me

Author: Elizabeth Lee

Age Group: NA

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Published: July 30, 2013

Description:

All she wanted to do was forget. Forget the memory of walking in on her boyfriend in the middle of, well, another girl. Forget how she had her entire life planned out. And, forget about being perfect all the time. Unfortunately, she was Whitney Vandaveer and despite the fact that she moved to the middle of nowhere – she couldn't.

He always knew he would never be more than nothing. No job, no money, no future. Cole Pritchett had accepted the fact that he would always be the screw up and he was okay with it. Until he met her.

Here's the thing they quickly found out – sometimes we all need a little help escaping who we think we are.

RELEASE DAY LAUNCH: WHERE THERE'S SMOKE BY ELIZABETH LEE {REVIEW + GIVEAWAY}

We are thrilled to celebrate the Release Day of Elizabeth Lee's New Adult Romantic Suspense novel WHERE THERE'S SMOKE!!! You don't want to miss it! 

   

About WHERE THERE’S SMOKE:  
There is something to be said for letting go. Ryland Roberts knows that better than anyone. He'd let go of his ambitions, of his family and—most of all—of her. He'd perfected the art of putting his past behind him and accepted the fact that the town he wanted to leave in his rearview was the place where he was going to live out his days. But sometimes the past doesn't just go away. Sometimes it comes back to haunt you. 

Piper Jameson convinced herself that she left for all the right reasons. She'd saved people by leaving—made sure that they weren't tainted by her rebellious ways. When her little sister asks her to come home and say goodbye to their ailing mother, she's forced to see that things aren't always as they seem. The people who she'd left behind might not have been saved at all. 

In the amount of time it takes a bullet to travel from point A to point B, Piper and Ryland will have to put their feelings for each other aside and make a choice. Forced on the run with Piper's sister, they begin to understand that the future they thought was gone was never really lost. 

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 Globug's Review

I remember my first love in high-school being a fierce love. But I also remember my feelings of insecurity being just as strong. I think that's why I relate to Piper Jameson. 

In high school Piper had a reputation of being a trouble maker.  Ryland saw more. He was drawn to her from the moment he laid eyes on her. Piper never expected to amount to much. Having a verbally abusive and controlling step father only made her feelings of inadequacy worse. Not to mention he practically ran the small town as Chief of police. There was no way she could ever imagine being what Ryland needed.

Ryland was smart and driven. He had dreams of college and a career. It didn't take long after he started spending time with Piper to help with her homework for him to realize his dreams had to include Piper. It didn't matter that the small town wouldn't understand their relationship. In one night they made promises of love and of a future together and then lost it all. 

It's true that people find it easier to believe the awful things others will say about you over the good. That was Piper's biggest mistake. Thinking the people she loved would be better off without her, her step father runs her out of town. Unfortunately it's what leads to the people she loves the most being hurt beyond her worst nightmare. 

After six years Piper returns home to say goodbye to her ailing mother only to find her first love never got to follow his dreams because he was trying to save her and her sister is hiding a dark secret. Though her step father gets what he deserves, Piper and Ryland have a lot to overcome before they can consider a future together. Piper still struggles with her self worth. Ryland is everything a girl could hope to find in a man. He loves Piper so completely but after being hurt so badly when she left town he has doubts about her feelings for him. They also make her sister Hadley's safety their first priority.

These two are constantly trying to put the other person first. They prove their love for one another over and over throughout the story. In the end they are finally able to put their love first and a happy ending is just the beginning of a dream future together. There's still so much of the story about Piper's little sister that will put cracks in your heart. I'm hoping in the next book titled There's Fire that Hadley will  find what she needs to heal the cracks in her heart.

WHERE THERE’S SMOKE Excerpt:

I stretched my arm out and placed a hand on the cool concrete, the grit and dirt sticking to my palm.  Such a contrast to the warmth I felt with Ryland firmly pressed up against me.  The curves of my backside fit perfectly against his long, lean frame, our skin heating up the chill around us. 

The fall weather had descended upon our small Midwestern town almost overnight.  It seemed like only a week or two ago we had been wearing shorts and flip-flops.  Now it was jeans and jackets.  Well, actually, now it was nothing.

I felt my cheeks heat as I thought about what we had just done.  I wasn't embarrassed.  Far from it.  In fact, I'd never felt more sure about anything in my entire life as I was about what had just happened with Ry.

“That was incredible,” he whispered against my neck as he traced lazy circles on my shoulder with his fingertips.

“Yeah,” I breathed, rolling onto my back to look up at him.  The soft glow of an outdoor utility light crept through the open side of the airplane hangar, barely lighting up the space.  “Never imagined our first time being on a blanket spread out on a cold, hard floor, but I would do it again in a heartbeat.”

“Me too. Let’s get on that then,” he said with a wicked grin before he pressed his lips to mine.  Propping himself on one arm—his hand resting against the side of his head—he snaked his free hand under one of the flannel blankets he'd commandeered from an airplane parked beside us. 

I liked this side of him.  The side that wasn't perfect and calculated.  The side that just did, said, and felt what he wanted.  He was literally feeling his way up my body—his hands smooth and rough all at the same time—sending all of my teenage hormones spiraling out of control.  We were living in the moment, which was exactly where I preferred to be.

“You know how much I love you, right?” His face became very serious, almost concerned.  

“I wanted tonight to be special.  I thought we'd go back to my house after we looked at the planes.  My parents are gone and...”  He was back in his head, thinking about his meticulously thought-out evening.  Doubting his ability to be perfect.  He did this sometimes—overanalyzed things.  “It didn't go exactly as I planned, but—”

“It was perfect,” I assured him. “Plans, schmans.”  I pulled his face to mine, giggling, my lips barely grazing his.  “And I love you, too.”

That was the thing about Ryland—I saw a side of him that no one else saw.  I could probably say the same for him about me.  Until him, I’d never felt like I was going to amount to much, but he believed in me, even when I didn't—which was most of the time.  When I was with him, I didn't feel like I needed to do everything in my power to piss people off.  He made me want to stay in this Godforsaken town with a family that ignored my existence.  They ignored it until I did something wrong—which was about ninety percent of the time.  Then my stepfather made sure to let me just how worthless I was. 

“So do you feel like a rebel?” I asked.  “This being your first breaking and entering and all.” 

It had been his idea to sneak on to the airfield—something that was much more in my wheelhouse than his.  I was the one who usually threw caution to the wind.  He was the good boy.  The straight-A student.  The doting son.

“Oh yeah.” He laughed. “I'm a regular badass.  Nothing like walking through an open gate to an abandoned shed.”  He cast his arm out sarcastically in the vacant space above our heads.  Nothing but sheet metal and wooden beams.  A handful of airplanes were parked around us with a smattering of fuel cans, tools, and parachutes hanging from the walls.  “I'm not sure we actually broke into anything.  More like casually strolled in.”

We lived in a town where people left their front doors unlocked.  The kind of town where everyone knew everyone and all of their business.  Truitville. It was a place with a minimal crime rate.  I think that night, that's what we’d both thought: What's the worst that could happen?

“So what's next then, Clyde?  Wanna rob a bank?”

About Elizabeth Lee:

When I'm not writing or playing the part of wife and mother, you can find me dancing back-up for Beyonce, singing back-up for Miranda, or sunning myself on the beach with a drink in hand. Here's the thing about being born and raised in a small town—you have a very vivid imagination! Now, I channel it all to create stories where the girl always ends up with the right guy, first kisses are magical, and a happy ending is just that!  

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