(Book Excerpt and GIVEAWAY!) Honest Love, by CM Hutton

Title: Honest Love
Author: CM Hutton
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Starting over was never easy for anyone.
I’d heard the stories over and over.
But after the hell my ex-husband had put me through over the last year, over the last twenty years…well, I was ready to move on, repair what was left of my shattered heart and find someone to share my life with—someone who would put me first.
I deserved it. I’d done my time being in her shadow, being a cheap understudy, always second. For. All. Those. Years.
Never again.
Our move to San Diego provided a fresh start, a new place away from all the hurt and memories. Life as a single mom to three teenagers had its' challenges, but we were adjusting and my kids were doing well.
It was time to focus on my happiness, for once. I had a huge capacity to love and I wanted to share my love with a man that respected it, accepted it and gave it in return.
It was just a matter of time before he found me and showed me what true, honest love was all about.

Amazon | B&N

Claire

Every now and then, during his session, I’d notice an odd glance or two from him, but ignored it. I didn’t want his negative shit adding to my own. This was my job. I was his physical therapist, not his friend or counselor, and this job was what would keep me going while I learned to wrap my head around my new life. 

Derek didn’t say much. He grunted a few times when I pushed him harder, but other than that, nothing.

It wasn’t until we were just about done and I was giving him our customary mini relaxation massage, that I took the opportunity to really take a good look at him. Derek removed his shirt as he laid face down on the massage table in my therapy room and an involuntary gasp escaped from me. 

Wasn’t expecting that.  

Most patients didn’t remove their clothing as these massages were only meant to relieve the tension built up in the body as a result of the stress from working an injury.  He’d apparently heard me because a small, stupid grin turned up on one corner of his mouth. I ignored him.

He was tall and lean, not too bulky, and his skin was tan and smooth…defined. I noticed a few tattoos on his ribs. I’d never been much on body ink, but it was sexy on Derek and I couldn’t stop staring at it as I slowly rubbed the tension from his neck and shoulders. 

Yeah, you could say I was attracted to him. 

___________________________________________

Derek

Claire seemed nice. Actually she seemed like she probably wouldn’t take any crap from me. And I didn’t think she knew who I was…always a good thing. 

She was good at her job. I had a feeling I’d be back on the truck soon. My life as a firefighter was about all I had to keep my mind occupied. Football used to do that for me. 

Nothing but tainted memories now.

I shook my head, brushed off my thoughts and focused more on my new therapist. I’d asked her a few questions, which she answered willingly. I was curious about Claire, but my pissy mood made my questions come out way too harsh and nasty.

I just hoped I could stop staring at her. She was shorter than me. Maybe 5’5” with beautiful blonde hair and amazing brown eyes. Not who I would typically pay attention to, but what the hell did I know? The only girl I’d ever loved was Claire’s complete opposite with dark brown hair, blue eyes and really tall.  She’d also ripped my heart out and practically ate the damn thing right in front of me. 

Maybe Claire was just what I needed. 

But first, I had to find out more about her past and what lead her to San Diego.

CM Hutton is a wife, a mom of three, a friend, an aunt, a sister, a daughter, and a teacher. She lives near Austin, Texas with her family and loves to read and travel.

Her first novel, Paradise Taken, is a highly emotional book based on true events.  Its sequel, Saving Us, was released in February 2014.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

(Book Highlight) Full Moon, by Jordan Deen

Title: Full Moon
Author: Jordan Deen

Series: The Crescent #3

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal

You know her story. You know her painful initiation into the werewolf world and you’ve seen her struggle to find the truth.

Now, Lacey Quinn is ready for the war to be over. Are you?

Lacey has been used, lied to and cheated out of the only thing she ever wanted: independence. Struggling with her newfound knowledge of being pack leader, Alex coming back into her life and the kidnapping of Lily’s mate—Matt—Lacey is faced with one of the biggest decisions of her life: fight or flight. While she knows running from the war will risk many lives, but staying means she would never have the life she wants and quite possibly never know a world without werewolves, witches and war.

Sometimes doing the right thing isn’t always the first or most obvious choice. Lacey Quinn is about to challenge what everyone thinks is the right thing to do. Unfortunately for her, most will not agree with her decision or the painful outcome.

Sometimes, love means death.

PRE-ORDER:

AMAZON | B&N

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Just please stop…, I said one last time as the ribbons encircled my wrists and my ankles and started pulling in opposite directions. There would be no end to the suffering until there was an end to me. The only way to stop the pain was to let myself go. To let it overtake me and to be one with the pain. I released the tension in each of my muscles and loosened my balled up fists. If I was going to die now, it would be on my own terms. As soon as the realization had registered in my mind, the onyx prisoner twisted onto itself and around me to squeeze my stomach and my ribs. It was determined to kill me and to make me suffer while it was doing it. I couldn’t fight back. I wouldn’t fight back. It was futile. I remained limp and it seemed to only further anger my captor.

            The next thing I knew, I was upside down and the ground was racing quickly towards my face. The shackles around my wrist were released and I was again screaming for my freedom. My arms flailed and hopes for developing an ability to fly rushed through my mind. If only I could fly… then my head hit the ground.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Jordan Deen is an Award-Winning Young Adult and New Adult Author from East St. Louis, Illinois. Her debut novel, THE CRESCENT was a 2010 Reader's Favorite Award Winner. Her second novel, HALF MOON released in 2011. BREAKING LAUREN is her third novel and was a finalist in the Texas Literary Awards. The sequel, LOSING LAUREN was released on 12/5/2013.

She can usually be found curled up in her favorite chair with a book or her laptop. She is the proud mother of one crazy little boy and an even crazier teacup Yorkie.

Jordan is Indie published, as well as traditionally published with Black Rose Writing.
'Life is about the journey...'

Website | Twitter | Facebook

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Watching and Fearing, Part I

Women are taught -- at a very young age -- to recognize the signs of interest from the opposite sex.

Before we even enter elementary school, we're told to ignore the boys who pull our hair and tease us:

"They like you, and that's just how boys show it."

(Never mind the fact that they are in our personal space and bothering us.)

When we get older, however, we're taught to fear an unknown "them" whose only intentions are to harm us: we shouldn't walk the 500-foot path through the trees separating the house from the school; we're not supposed to look at men or boys for too long because they might think it's an invitation; we need to dress to a certain standard so as not to draw unwanted attention to ourselves.  And on and on it goes.

So we learn.  We watch.  We see the lingering stares from the corners of our eyes and do our best to ignore them.  We practice walking with our shoulders back and our heads up in order to feign confidence and strength.

"Walk with a purpose and you won't get attacked; as long as you don't look vulnerable, you're safe."

(Never mind the fact that carrying our keys in between our fingers to defend ourselves probably won't make much of a difference.)

On one hand, we're learning how to protect ourselves and and to avoid being noticed.  On the other, we're learning from our peers, from celebrities and the media, and sometimes our own parents that we need to be skinny, cute, and fashionable in order to get a boyfriend.  We need to be skinny, cute, and fashionable in order to be popular.  We need to be skinny, cute, and fashionable in order to be relevant.

It's an interesting dichotomy.

We watch.  We see the boys staring at us; watch their heads turn.  We hear he wolf whistles; the cat calls.  We see the lewd gestures; the mimicking of sexual acts.  This is our success.  Skinny, cute, fashionable.  This is us being relevant.  Even if it makes us feel dirty inside.

"Boys will be boys."

(But we don't respond.  Because we're not stupid: we don't want to be attacked.)

As adults, we realize the bullshit of what we learned growing up.  But it's too late.  20-something years later, and it's all we know: if we're not skinny, if we're not cute, if we're not fashionable...what are we?

Irrelevant. 

It is so ingrained into our entire beings that it defines us.

A few days ago, I realized that this is my biggest fear: becoming irrelevant.  Whether it's at work, at home, or within the community, the mere thought of not being needed or valued scares the ever-loving shit out of me.  It makes me feel weak, undesirable, and unintelligent.  It strikes at the core of who I am and fucks with my psyche.  If I am irrelevant, why am I here?




I have more to say on this subject, but an overwhelming sense of sadness is preventing me from continuing right now.