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It seemed only natural to nickname them the ‘Onslow Boys’. Every time they swaggered in the front door of the Onslow Hotel after a hard week’s work, their laughter was loud and genuine as they settled onto their bar stools. I peeked through the restaurant partition, a flimsy divider between my world and theirs. I couldn’t help but smile whenever I saw them, saw him ... Toby Morrison.

Quiet seventeen-year-old Tess doesn’t relish the thought of a summertime job. She wants nothing more than to forget the past haunts of high school and have fun with her best friends before the dreaded Year Twelve begins.

To Tess, summer is when everything happens: riding bikes down to the lake, watching the fireworks at the Onslow Show and water bomb fights at the sweltering Sunday markets.

How did she let her friends talk her into working?

After first-shift disasters, rude, wealthy tourists and a taunting ex-boyfriend, Tess is convinced nothing good can come of working her summer away. However, Tess finds unlikely allies in a group of locals dubbed ‘The Onslow Boys’, who are old enough to drive cars, drink beer and not worry about curfews. Tess’s summer of working expands her world with a series of first times with new friends, forbidden love and heartbreaking chaos.

All with the one boy she has never been able to forget.
It will be a summer she will always remember. 

Overall Thoughts:

Such a nice, pleasant, and fiery read that realistically chronicles a humanistic change of an awkward girl to an self-assured woman!

The Boys of Summer is about 17-year-old girl named Tess, who has spent her entire junior year of high school as being this shy, nervous, sheepish teenager. Once summer arrives, she's anxious to simply hang out with her two best friends, Ellie and Adam, at the lake, riding their bicycles, or laying out in the welcoming sun. Unfortunately for her, both of her friends have planned something completely different this time around; instead of lounging around, they've decided to get summer jobs at the Onslow Hotel, much to Tess's dismay. After some much-practiced puppy dog eyes and insistent begging, they are able to convince her to step outside of her comfort zone and attempt to try to have fun in an alien environment for once in her life, as an inexperienced employee.

At first, Tess feels like a total fish out of water, but as time progresses, she's able to finally find a certain rhyme and rhythm to her new day-to-day activities that she's never really known before. Suddenly, she finds herself laughing a little more freely; talking with less censorship; and... loving with no restraints. Little does she know, this will become the best summer of her entire life filled with action, thrills, and romance that will force her to abandon her wallflower-tendencies in pursuit of living life to the fullest!

What I liked about this book:

The very first thing I noticed about this book was the fact that the author really captured the voice of a timid, bashful teenager. Instead of some annoyingly false representation of teenagers that was concocted by an adult attempting to capture our feelings, I felt that Duggan's perception and voice was accurate and spot-on.

Also, I found myself really relating to Tess, on a personal level. I've definitely always been the more introverted and passive person that preferred to stay in the background, so it was nice to see Tess be the exact same way.

What I disliked about this book:

During the beginning and middle of the book, there are some instances in which you may or may not completely understand the character's motives, feelings, and/or decisions as much as you'd like. But I'm glad to say that the ending reveals all the answers to the questions you may (or may not) have while reading. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but just so you are aware: Your inquiries will be properly answered in due time.

Verdict:

I definitely recommend this book if you're looking for a sweet yet passionate adult romance!

An Endless Summer (Summer, #2) is the next book in this series!

4 TARGETS!

Feature & Follow is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee's View and Alison Can Read!

Q: What is your guilty pleasure as far as reading? Is it a genre, or is it a certain type of book?

I don't really have many guilty pleasures pertaining to books - thankfully - but I will say that the ONLY time I do feel guilt (more like utter shamefulness) is if I'm reading a particularly romantic scene while being out in public. If the scene is especially *clears throat* passionate and I'm in some place like school... I feel like the most awkward person in the world. And the bad part about it is the fact that I don't stop reading; I refuse to do so. I'll continue reading about these "suggestive" situations right in the middle of class, and then it feels like everyone suddenly becomes so interested in what you're reading, i.e. PARANOIA SUCKS!

Leave a link to your post and I'll be sure to stop by and follow!

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue--Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is--she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are--and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series--dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

Overall Thoughts:
This was an absolutely phenomenal, exhilarating, passion-driven read! The action was so expansive and consuming! The characters were complex and multidimensional! The plot was utterly unparalleled and unrivaled!

Divergent is a dystopian novel that centers around a sixteen year old girl named Beatrice "Tris" Prior. In her world, the society is divided into five distinct types of factions or specific communities, each with a particular virtue that is championed the most over the others. Abnegation (the group Beatrice belongs to) advocates selflessness - believing that greed causes nothing but grievances; Candor supports honesty - knowing that lies and deceit will only bring heartache; Amity upholds harmonious virtues - sustaining the fact that aggression is superfluous; Erudite found righteousness in reason - favoring the thought that ignorance caused unnecessary jeopardy; and the Dauntless encourages courageousness - envisioning a world in which fearlessness ceased most problems.

All of Beatrice's life, she has had to maintain a sort-of mundane existence that didn't involve indulgences, self-related thoughts and action, or even mirrors to look at her own reflection. Due to rules in her own Abnegation faction, she was forced to adorn only gray-colored clothing and was reprimanded whenever she outwardly spoke her mind.

Each year, all sixteen-year-olds are required to partake in an aptitude test that will selectively choose which faction they belong in based on a series of situations. When Beatrice undergoes it, she discovers that her results are inconclusive, and that she is apart of a special breed of people called "Divergent". Though she isn't completely aware of what that entails, she does know that she is given the heart-wrenching choice of choosing to stay with her family and faction in Abnegation or branching out to a faction where her real heart and emotions are pulling her... especially with a war brewing.

What I liked about this book:
This book leaves an infinite impression on you well after you have finished it. Beatrice was a main character that didn't annoy you or cause you to become enraged; instead, you wanted to totally cheer her on!

What I found so enticing about her is the fact that she goes through a metamorphosis throughout the duration of the novel. In the beginning, Beatrice is seen as an obedient, docile, little girl who obviously has an opinion, as well as the urge to voice it, but refrains from doing so. By the end of the novel, she is the most opinionated, strong, tenacious girl ever! Readers are able to appreciate, respect, and understand the shift in her persona because it was so absolutely realistic and almost natural in a way.

Also, the action... astounding. Exceptional. Brilliant! There was a bit of romance in this book, which I thoroughly enjoyed, and I am elated to say that I felt it to be a happy and convincing addition to the plot as oppose to some unnecessary attachment.

What I disliked about this book:
Absolutely nothing at all.

Verdict:
One of my favorite books for this year so far!

Insurgent (Divergent, #2) is the next book in this series and I need it asap!

5 TARGETS!

There’s something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.

Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price’s attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah. He’s the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.

Even Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce – he goes out of his way to make that very clear. But she can’t let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, Luce has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret...even if it kills her.

Dangerously exciting and darkly romantic, FALLEN is a page-turning thriller and the ultimate love story.

Overall Thoughts:
This book had some exciting elements and characters to it, but I found the hype surrounding this book to have surpassed my overall enjoyment of it.

Fallen begins with a 17-year-old girl named Lucinda 'Luce' Price who recently transferred to a reform school named Sword and Cross, where she's been sent due to an incidental fire that killed an innocent person. Once there, she instantly befriends an eccentrically dark girl named Arriane Alter, who has a mysterious scar that runs along her neck and face. Among the other people that she encounters was a rebel-without-a-cause type of guy named Cameron Briel. His dark wardrobe and intimidating appearance is offset by his laid-back, almost-friendly personality, which gives him a highly popular title at the boarding school. As soon as he spots Luce, he begins his romantic quest to seduce her, but his advances go unnoticed once she lays her eyes on another enigmatic boy.

While touring the grounds of the school, Luce spots an almost inhumanly attractive boy who goes by the name of Daniel Grigori. His dark, piercing eyes always seem to focus on her whenever she least expects it, and for some reason, it seems as if Lucinda has known him before. Something inside of her is yelling out that she's extremely familiar with this beautiful conundrum, and that he once had wings...

What I liked about this book:
First off, the cover page is absolutely stunning! I am a total sucker for attractive covers, so I really appreciate the effort. Now to cover what's inside of the book... the entire plot was unique and novel. I'm usually that type of person that can guess the outcome of the story line, but this story surprised and impressed me by it's originality.

What I disliked about this book:
The ending of the book was a bit too revealing and too climactic for me. A lot of information was revealed towards the end, and I became overwhelmed by how much was discovered that it was slightly unbelievable. In a nutshell, the amount of information that was unveiled at one time made the story implausible and hard to follow.

Verdict:
This book kind of disappointed me because I expected it to be amazing due to all of the hype surrounding it. Simply put, I didn't enjoy it as much as I imagined I would.

Torment (Fallen, #2) is the next book in this series. *Sighs dreamily* Gosh, the cover is so alluring...

3 TARGETS!

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade—a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls.

Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they’ve closed tight. And every 30 days a new boy has been delivered in the lift.

Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up—the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers.
Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind.

Overall Thoughts:
This book fully restored my faith in reading and ended my treacherous reading slump!

The Maze Runner begins with a teenage boy named Thomas, who finds himself inside of a dim, steel box with absolutely no recollection of where he is and most importantly, who he is. Much to his surprise, a rag-tag group of male teenagers rescue him from his momentary prison. They inform Thomas that he has become the newest inhabitant to a world called The Glade; and that he shouldn't feel different because they never remembered much of anything other than their names either. Like anyone, he finds himself completely discombobulated and confused, and ends up showering the boys with questions about himself, but no one is able to answer him.

In time, Thomas learns the day-to-day activities of the Glade and that it is run and occupied only by teenage boys. The sole purpose for the Gladers is to solve and escape the deadly, forever-alternating Maze that completely surrounds their little haven. The only problem is that these ugly, lethal creatures named Grievers constantly stalk the Maze, killing anyone who dares to cross their path. It's been 2 years in counting and the Gladers have yet to figure their way out.

Then, something totally miraculous happens. Just one day after Thomas arrives, The Glade is sent something it's never even seen before - a beautiful girl. For some mind-blowing reason, Thomas has an instant connection with the girl and recognizes her from somewhere. And then things start falling apart...

What I liked about this book:
The plot was one-of-a-kind! It was completely brilliant and fast-paced! I love that a boy was the main character because most Young Adult novels solely focus on girl main characters. This is the kind of book that will completely take over any and every thought you have while reading it and well after you are done with it.

Every single character was dynamic and seemed to be able to tell you a story of their own, not just Thomas. Speaking of him, it was important that the readers be able to connect and understand Thomas because we were seeing everything through his eyes, and I did just that. Thomas had amazing qualities that make people automatically gravitate towards him like his strength, boldness, craftiness. But he also had realistic qualities like nervousness, fright, and eagerness.

What I disliked about this book:
I do not have The Scorch Trials (Maze Runner, #2) yet :(

Verdict:
This book made Dystopian novels my favorites to read!

5 TARGETS!

Set in New York and Paris amid the glamorous and competitive worlds of art and real estate, Scorpio Rising takes the reader from the late 1940s to the 1960s through the tumultuous lives of its heroes.

There is Alex Ivanov, the son of a Russian immigrant and part-time prostitute. He yearns to escape his sordid life and achieve fame and fortune. His dreams of becoming a world-class builder are met with countless obstacles, yet he perseveres in the hope of someday receiving the recognition he craves.

Half a world away, Brigitte Dartois is an abused teenager who runs into the arms of a benefactor with an agenda all his own. When she finds out that her boss has an ulterior motive, she flees again, determined to earn her living through her art. This career brings her fame, but also the unwanted attention of her early abuser.

Monique Domovitch’s debut novel, Scorpio Rising, is a compelling tale filled with finely etched characters and a superb understanding of the power of ambition. Scorpio Rising promises to resonate with all who once had a dream.

Overall Thoughts:

This scrumptious blend of cultures and times formed an engrossing read!

Scorpio Rising begins with a brief glimpse into Alex Ivanov's life. He is the son of a Russian immigrant and prostitute who grew up outside of Manhattan, New York. Needless to say, he was never handed anything in life; he constantly had to pick and save for everything that he acquired, which made him tough. As time progressed, Alex learned that he wanted to be the absolute best at whatever he chose to do. He wanted to command respect from any person he came across, and wouldn't settle for anything less than that.

Brigitte Dartois' life is no walk in the park either. She, on the other hand, grew up in Paris to a jealous mother and a loving father. When said father passes away at thirteen, Brigitte feels disheartened when her mother quickly remarries. Her life becomes even more desperate when her new step-father starts to rape and threaten her behind her mother's back. One day, her mother discovers her husband in bed with her daughter and quickly chooses his side, ultimately kicking her daughter out on the streets with absolutely nothing.

Although Alex and Brigitte's lives have been extremely rocky since birth, neither of them will except their fates lying down. They both achieved the drive and determination that can take a person far in whatever they choose to do. So what happens when these two power beings come across one another...

What I liked about this book:

The different cultures, the flow of the plot, and the passion from the characters all made this novel stand out to me! It was easy to become engaged once you started reading it, which is a necessity for people like me who have short attention spans.

Also, I think what stuck with me the most was Alex and Brigitte's desperation. They had both suffered from completely tragic lifestyles that can utterly break a person, but it seemed like they would use that to fuel their passion to succeed.

What I disliked about this book:

There wasn't a particular thing I disliked about this book. I will say that there are some casual sexual descriptions in this novel that may not be for everyone, so read at your own discretion.

Verdict:

This book left off with a huge cliffhanger, so I'm eagerly awaiting the next book in the series!

4 TARGETS!

Feature & Follow is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee's View and Alison Can Read!

Q: When you step out of your USUAL genre what do you like to read? Best books in that genre?

I don't have a specific genre that I always go to because I'll read anything and everything that is interesting to me. It just depends on my mood. I will say that I started out reading mostly Young Adult and have since, branched out to adult urban fantasy and paranormal romance, some historical fiction, and contemporary. Some of my favorites are: 

 

Leave your link in the comments section and I'll be sure to stop by and follow :)

Taylor Caldwell can't decide if she wants to kiss her new college roommate or punch him.

On the one hand, Hunter Zaccadelli is a handsome, blue-eyed bundle of charm. On the other, he's a tattooed, guitar-playing bundle of bad boy. Maybe that's why Taylor's afraid of falling in love with him, or anyone else. She doesn't want to get burned, and even though her other roommates adore him, she wants him gone before it's too late.

Hunter himself has been been burned before, but the fact that Taylor calls him out on his crap and has the sexiest laugh ever make him decide maybe love isn't a lost cause. They make a bet: if she can convince him she truly loves or hates him, he'll leave the apartment--and leave her alone. The problem is, the more time they spend together, the less she hates him, and the more she moves toward love.

But when the man who holds the key to Taylor's fear of giving up her heart resurfaces and threatens to wreck everything, she has to decide: trust Hunter with her greatest secret, or do everything in her power to win that bet and drive him away forever.

Overall Thoughts:

This was a very likable and fun read with a few dramatic twists.

My Favorite Mistake begins with 19-year-old Taylor Caldwell starting her sophomore year at the University of Maine. When one of her roommates withdraws, she and her other two house mates - Darah and Renee - put out a call for another. The last person they expect to come knocking on their door is outspoken, unreserved, tattoo-having, 20-year-old Hunter Zaccadelli. Taylor is taken aback by his dominant male presence and blunt mouth, and instantly dislikes him. Hunter makes a bet with Taylor that will result in him leaving the apartment permanently: Make him believe that she either truly hates him or truly loves him... and he'll be out of her life forever.

Although Taylor sees this bet as an easy win because she detested him when she first met him, it doesn't end up working out that way. Her two other roommates automatically take to him, and in due time, so does she. Sadly, her damaged past has caused her to become a colder, more reserved version of her childhood-self, and makes her wary of people who could quite possibly hurt her again... that includes Hunter.

What I liked about this book:

This was an effortless read that was really easy to get into and stay into. Hunter was my favorite character because he was very static, but in a good way. He comes into the dorm with a charismatic and optimistic persona and leaves being that exact same way - he was a constant in Taylor's life.

What I disliked about this book:

I felt like the climax parts of the story were slightly anticlimactic. When the points in the story that the author had been building up to, finally come, they're simply glanced over and briefed, and then the story continues on to something else.

Verdict:

Although this story had a few obstacles, it was still a very undemanding and pleasant story that also maintained some emotional points that balanced it out well.

3 1/2 TARGETS!

Feature & Follow is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee's View and Alison Can Read!

Q: What hyped up book was worth all the fuss?

I'm sure these answers are going to pop up a lot:
Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire and Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead!

First, lets talk about Beautiful Disaster. Literally, everyone and their mothers were posting about this book. Curiosity got the best of me and I'm so happy that it did! This was my favorite book of the year and has become one of my favorites of all time! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK!  People usually either have a love/hate relationship with it, but take the chance and you may just love it like me!

Now, the Vampire Academy series. I read this series for the first time a couple of years ago and became so completely absorbed in its world! I understand that vampire books are not for everyone, but I personally don't mind them, especially ones that are as action-packed as Vampire Academy. Once again, I TOTALLY RECOMMEND THEM!

Dirty Little Secret is a weekly meme hosted by Under the Covers. Every Thursday we get to know other bloggers & our readers more intimately by asking them questions, hoping to reveal their dirty little secrets.

Q: What's your favorite place to read?

The place I read the most is definitely my bed. Nothing can compare to getting all snug and comfy in a big, clean bed with a slight chill in the air, causing you to burrow yourself further into the blankets... Best. Feeling. Ever. I do sometimes fall asleep as I'm reading my book in bed, but hey I do it with a content smile on my face :) One place I never read for long periods of time in is my living room, only because I tend to become weird as I'm reading (Ex. reading certain parts out loud - with feeling - as if I'm in the book; squealing loudly when something epic just happened) and I don't want my family members to disown me because of my strangeness :P

A thought-provoking and exciting start to a riveting new dystopian trilogy for fans of The Hunger Games.

As an obedient orphan of the U.N.A. (the super-country that was once Mexico, the U.S., and Canada), Alenna learned at an early age to blend in and be quiet—having your parents taken by the police will do that to a girl. But Alenna can’t help but stand out when she fails a test that all sixteen-year-olds have to take: The test says she has a high capacity for brutal violence, and so she is sent to The Wheel, an island where all would-be criminals end up.

The life expectancy of prisoners on The Wheel is just two years, but with dirty, violent, and chaotic conditions, the time seems a lot longer as Alenna is forced to deal with civil wars for land ownership and machines that snatch kids out of their makeshift homes. Desperate, she and the other prisoners concoct a potentially fatal plan to flee the island. Survival may seem impossible, but Alenna is determined to achieve it anyway.

Overall Thoughts:

This is the kind of book that completely encases you in it's world and has no mercy until the absolute last page. I was totally entranced!

The Forsaken is about 16 year old Alenna Shawcross, who has everything ripped away from her at only 10 years old when her parents are stolen away right in front of her, by the government: The U.N.A - or United Northern Alliance. The U.N.A is the super-country consisting of the old United States, Mexico, and Canada. Afterwards, Alenna is forced to grow up as an orphan until she has to take the GPPT test, or the Government Personality Profile Test. The GPPT test is administered to all juniors in high school, and predicts if a person has an inclination to do criminal activity. If you pass, you continue on with life as a docile follower of the tyrannical government; if you fail, you are marked as an "Unanchored Soul" and shipped to a desolate prison island called Prison Island Alpha, later known to it's inhabitants as "The Wheel", where the life-expectancy is only 18 years old.

After taking the test, Alenna is absolutely shocked to find herself waking up on Prison Island Alpha with no recollection of how she got there and no idea of how to survive. But she finds purpose on the island when she learns that both of her parents have been former inhabitants of Island Alpha, and have sent messages to her years ago. While Alenna looks for answers to her past, she must also: learn to adapt to the barbaric lifestyle of the island, try to dodge it's deadlier populace, and think of a way off - all without running the risk of falling in love...

What I liked about this book:

The Forsaken has been compared to The Hunger Games and I can see why. It was absolutely riveting! The action was a 10! The plot development was a 10! The characters were detailed and complex! I like that Stasse explained everything early on, about the government and the island, but she still left some surprises for the reader as well!

Alenna was an amazing main character! At first, I was afraid she would crumble under the weight of the island, and become weak and feeble but boy, was I wrong! By the end, she nearly transforms into a strong, confident, and beautiful warrior! I was proud, to say the least.

The uniqueness of the plot has me wanting to crawl into Stasse's mind just to see what I'd find in there. It was such an expansive idea - sending exiled teenagers to a prison island with no rules, ways of life, OR technology/advancements - but Stasse made it work in every single way!

What I disliked about this book:

There was a tiny bit of insta-love between Alenna and Liam but I didn't mind at all! It was still romantic as ever, and I still swooned!

Verdict:

Please read this book if you love action, romance, or just simply getting lost in amazing books! It will not disappoint!

I will be anxiously anticipating the next book in this series, The Uprising!

5 TARGETS!

When Logan Langly backed out of getting the Mark and went on the run, no one thought he could survive on his own. Without the Mark, you can't buy food, bot to the doctor, or use a tablet-you aren't even a citizen.
But when he discovers that his sister is being held in a mysterious hidden prison named Acheron, Logan risks everything to travel through and underground network of the Markless to rescue her. Logan arrives only to find that Acheron holds more secrets than anyone could have guessed and that all his careful planning is worthless against a government that will do anything to gain absolute control. It seems there is only one place to turn. But can a banned book with whisper-this pages and warnings about the real meaning of the Mark really hold the Answer?

Overall Thoughts:
This book picks up right where Swipe left off and doesn't disappoint!

Sneak is still centered on the very young Logan Langly who becomes a lot more active in this installment. At the end of Swipe, Logan has decided not to get the Mark on his 13th birthday and ran away from the Center. He finds out that his older sister, Lily, the one who disappeared 5 years prior, was still very much alive and living in a secret prison. Despite the obvious risks, Logan travels alone in search of her...

What I liked about this book:
This was such an easy read to get lost in! My favorite thing about this novel is that even though Logan is a relatively young boy, he has so much drive and passion that can instantly be felt through the pages! It was easy to see how much love he still had for his sister, even after so many years had passed. *Tear*

Because this is a "on the run" novel, twists and turns are slightly necessary and honestly, there are some major surprises that the reader does not expect at all, which is good! Plus, the cover is absolutely epic!

What I disliked about this book:
There's a switch in point of view in each chapter which I didn't like all too much but it wasn't that big of a deal. I definitely preferred the 3rd person point of view in Swipe though.

Verdict:
Easily enjoyable read and definitely recommend to anyone looking for a good dyspotian novel!

Immortality can be a bitch…

Tamara has lived nearly two thousand years, trapped by a spell of her own creation. Hunted by her enemy and former lover, she knows there is only one man strong enough to release her from the curse. But will Cain honor her death wish, or keep her for himself, whatever the cost?

Two ancient souls. Two weary fighters, torn between love and hate, forced to decide if the other could be worth living for.

Book Info: 

Buy Link Page

Excerpt: 

Prologue 123 A.D. A hidden cavern near the waters of the Blue Grotto in Italy. Tamar shivered with her twelve companions. They were about to attempt their most daring incantation. An opening at the top of the cavern allowed the light from the full moon to shine down on them, illuminating their secret gathering and adding its own power to the unfolding ritual. Salt water splashed on her from a waterfall in the nearby pool. They’d searched for the water of immortality, a legend that had spread since before her birth. Far and wide, people had spoken of water that could make a person eternal and young. But it wasn’t the water that conferred immortality. It was the creatures that lived inside the water. They were transparent and hard to see, with spongy tops and long tendrils on the bottom that could sting if you got too close. They didn’t die. Instead, they could age backward, reaching the end of their life, and then, without dying, start over again. “We’ll freeze to death if you don’t hurry.” Tamar glared at the man in the middle of the circle. The irony of freezing to death while seeking immortality caused her to stifle a dark laugh. “The potion must be altered with other ingredients unless you want to come back as a newborn each time. You’ll find that frustrating,” Jacob said. He was their leader and the best with potions. Tamar made a face, but huddled closer to her sister, Naomi, for warmth. A circle of salt had been poured around them. Candles were already lit. A large stone had become a makeshift table upon which the coven leader worked. The sea creatures had been pulverized and added to an iron pot. He poured the herbal infusions into the potion. Jacob passed a sharp knife to the person on his left. “Each of us must contribute blood to the potion or it will fail. The magic is in this creature, but they have no blood. Our blood must bond with this animal if we hope to succeed.” “Are you sure that’s necessary?” Naomi asked. Tamar nodded her agreement. Cutting themselves and mixing their blood seemed extreme. What would be the consequences of linking together eternally? “I am sure,” Jacob said, losing patience with their squeamishness. Magic like this had a price, and they all knew it. But the consequences always showed themselves when it was too late. One by one they sliced the center of their palms with the ritual knife and added their blood. Jacob stirred the concoction with a wooden spoon; it smelled like death. When he was finished, he dipped a silver goblet into the brew. “We each drink and then we chant,” he said, passing the goblet. Tamar couldn’t help feeling pride at the chant she’d written. When they’d all drunk, they clasped hands and turned their faces up to the moonlight. The cavern echoed their words back to them. “Da immortalitatem. Renatus sine oblitus. Numquam moriens. Da immortalitatem. Renatus sine oblitus. Numquam moriens...” And then they all died. Tamar jolted as oxygen flooded into her body. Something felt very strange. Had the spell worked? She glanced around at her companions, each of them coming back to life one by one. “We’re all children.” Chapter One Golatha Falls, Georgia. The Present. Tam perched on the bar stool in her kitchen, still as death. Her third cup of Earl Grey tea cooled on the counter, ignored. Normally the warm brew calmed her nerves, but nothing would comfort her today. She’d read her tarot cards, tea leaves, and scried with a bowl of water and sea salt. Everything she tried gave her the same morbid story. The death card glared back at her, mocking, and though she’d told many others—sometimes truthfully, sometimes not so much—that the death card didn’t always mean death, she knew this card said her number was up. Jack—as Jacob was called now—was back, and he was after her. She fought to keep the tremor out of her hand as she raised the tea to her lips. He wouldn’t offer her a quick death. It would involve a cold stone slab, bleeding to death, and having vital organs removed. Ritualistic, because ritual was how you got the most effect out of stealing a fellow magic user’s power. Tam had considered herself a cycler since the night she was reborn in that cavern nearly two thousand years ago. True to Jack’s word, each time they died, they came right back in their own younger body, looking for all the world to be about twelve years old—an inconvenience to say the least. Tam had been shuffled from orphanage to orphanage each time she began a new life cycle. This last time she’d gotten lucky and been adopted by a well-to-do family who had taken her in and put her through a good school. The thought was nice, though pointless, given how many times she’d already suffered through school. Cyclers kept their memories, their sense of continuity. They were effectively immortal, just like the rare breed of jellyfish they’d discovered so long ago. Jack had only been actively hunting the other cyclers for a few centuries. He’d gone power hungry, convinced he could stop the cycle altogether and achieve true immortality by draining the power of his coven. Magic users aged differently—the more magic, the longer they could live. But it wasn’t just that. She knew him. He had an angle—something more than a personal quest for immortality. If murder was his new hobby, his purpose for gaining all that power couldn’t be good. If he was going to get her anyway, suicide seemed the smarter option. It would free her to be reborn the normal way and keep her safe from a more brutal death at Jack’s hands. But it wasn’t so simple. There were two ways she could die for real—and two ways only: at the hands of another cycler, or through magical means by a very old preternatural being, such as a demon or vampire at least a few thousand years old. Those were hard to come by, and their killing methods were usually too creative for Tam’s taste. She wanted to break the cycle, not be tortured. Either way, she’d managed, through this latest cycle, to stifle the suicidal urge. Until now. The image of the demon she’d chosen formed in her mind. Cain. The very first incubus. If he couldn’t kill her, nobody could. And he hated her. It should be simple enough to get him to agree, assuming she could find him. She’d dropped him in front of his badass pals a couple of times already with energy balls. He was probably plotting her death at this very moment. Anna might know where to find him, since she was mated to a demon, but Tam hadn’t seen her best friend in three months. It wasn’t as if Tam had directions to the demon portals or a way to get through to their dimension even if she did. If Anna surfaced in the human dimension, Tam could do a spell to locate her, but who could say when that would happen? And would it be before Jack reached her? Deep in her gut, she knew she was going to die—either by Cain’s hand or by Jack’s. As arrogant as the bastard was, Cain’s methods would at least be pleasurable. Bleeding out and organ removal versus orgasms. Gee, how do I decide? They both sound so glamorous and exciting. *** Cain snarled as he passed through the portal point into Cary Town, Washington. The filmy dimensional doorway shimmered and then fizzled out of existence as he moved through the forest away from it. He couldn’t believe he’d allowed himself to be summoned by the vampire king. Half-breeds. He’d thought his business with Anthony was finished when Cain had delivered his don’t mess with us again or there will be a war speech the last time they’d met. But now there was a bigger evil brewing, something that risked the living standards of all the factions—and possibly their lives. Even his newly turned succubus and her werewolf mate would be at the meeting, which was going to be awkward to say the least, given that they all hated Anthony. And the feeling was mutual. How this was going to go with everybody in one room, he couldn’t say. Officially, the werewolf pack was banished from Cary Town. If someone saw them slinking through the night to Anthony’s penthouse, things would get entertaining. The demon nodded at the guardian in the lobby of the Cary Town Luxury Apartments. This meeting was being kept on the down-low. The Preternatural Council had been shut out. Even most of the vampire king’s coven didn’t know he was fraternizing with the enemy and holding a secret meeting in his former penthouse residence. Cain stepped onto the elevator and pulled out the key he’d been given to gain access to the sixth floor. The door at the end of the hall was answered by a vampire who looked more like a butler. “They’re on the roof by the pool, sir.” Cain took the stairs two at a time. His presence announced itself as the metal door clanged against the brick. All eyes went to him, and he smirked. “Well, well, looks like the gang’s all here.” And what a motley crew they were. Anthony stood at one end of the table beside an overhead projector and portable screen that had been plugged into an outlet embedded in the brick. At the table were several familiar faces. Beside Anthony was his human mate, Charlee. Coming around the table was Cain’s brother, Luc, and his annoying mate, Anna. Then there was Jane, the new succubus who was mated to Cole, the Cary Town werewolf pack alpha. The rest, he didn’t know. “You’re late,” Anthony said, bristling. “We’ve been waiting, and Charlotte needs her rest. The baby takes a lot out of her.” Cain’s eyes cut to the vampire’s mate. She was so pregnant she’d pop any day now. If this meeting was about her and her spawn, heads were going to roll. If he didn’t care about a half-breed, he sure as hell didn’t care about a quarter-breed. “I was detained. These things happen. Lovely little school teacher. I made some third graders very happy today. Or they’ll be happy tomorrow, anyway.” Cole growled from his seat beside Jane. “You killed a woman, you mean.” Cain chuckled. “My god, man, what is it with you and this obsession with killing? Which one of us is the demon? Perhaps amongst your kind third graders are happy when their teacher dies. She’s… just a little spent. She’ll have to take a sick day tomorrow.” He dropped into a chair at the end of the table where he could most easily glare at and annoy Anthony. Since Cain wasn’t killing him right now, annoying him would be the second best thing. He didn’t like that Anthony was in charge of this meeting. The vampire king was practically a child next to Cain’s eight thousand years. It should be seniority rule. The vampire cleared his throat. “Sitting next to you is Father Hadrian who is one of mine… And over here is our resident sorcerer, Dayne, and his lovely werecat, Greta.” Anthony leered at the brunette beside the sorcerer and Greta gripped Dayne’s hand tighter. “Therian, not werecat! You know I hate that term,” Greta hissed. “Whether you like it or not, it’s accurate.” “Really, Anthony?” Charlee said, an irritated expression on her face at her mate’s goading. The vampire chuckled. “What? Is it my fault your friend is so easy to mess with?” He took a clear plastic sheet with writing on it and placed it on the overhead projector. “I apologize for being so vague as to the purpose of this meeting. Half of you are officially enemies, but if I go to the Preternatural Council with this, my vampires will all know, and I’m not prepared for it to go public yet. We can go back to hating each other after we’ve eliminated the threat.” Anthony flipped on the light of the projector, and an electric buzz filled the silence. “I had this letter reproduced onto a transparency for our purposes. In case the context doesn’t spell it out to you, we’ve been contacted by Jack the Ripper. He’s still alive, and he’s one of us.” “You couldn’t just use a computer program?” the werewolf asked. Cole was the most tech-savvy of the group. “Don’t try, it won’t get you anywhere,” Charlee said. Dear Boss, I’m back. You didn’t take the threat seriously last time. Shame on you. Did you not understand my joke? It wasn’t for the common people. It was for the others. Was “from Hell” not a big enough clue? It’s where we all are, after all. When I’ve killed the other cyclers, I’ll change the world. There are 13 of us, a perfect coven. The first kill was an accident, the second an experiment. Whitechapel was only three. You were wrong. It wasn’t five. Those and others were copycats all wanting Ripper’s glory. Since then, there have been four more, but I’ve been quiet as a mouse, giggling at my funny little games. With you in power, I thought I’d make this interesting. Only three left to kill; catch me first or Hell is mine. Yours Truly, The Cycler Don’t mind the new trade name. The old one was stale, and this one will give you something new to chew on. A new mystery to solve. Do better this time. The stakes are higher now. P.S. Have fun when the human media gets this letter. I’ll give you a head start. Tick, tock. Cain read the letter on the projector once, twice, and then a third time. “Why did he send this to you? And addressed the same as the original letters? And what the fuck is a cycler?” Anthony seemed annoyed by Cain’s tone, but he answered anyway. “I believe I’ve met him before. At previous points in my history, I’ve chosen to blend with the humans, exploring various ways of living to satisfy my boredom. During the Whitechapel murders, I worked for the London police department under an assumed name. But a few decades before that, I owned a small fish shop. All my other employees called me by the name I was using at that time, except one. He just called me “Boss.” “There was something off about him. I suspected he was a magic user, but it was more than that. The way he gutted a fish… it was so clean. Surgical, almost. Even being a vampire, this guy gave me the creeps. But I never realized he knew I’d joined the London police or that the letters might be for me. He must have discovered what I was. He was playing games then; now I think he’s ready to end this. Which brings me to your other question. Does anybody besides Hadrian know what a cycler is?” There was a consensus of head shaking. “Father Hadrian, perhaps you could tell us about your experience.” The priest poured a glass of wine from a bottle on the table and took a leisurely sip. “When I was turned in 1955, my first meal was a blonde witch—maybe in her twenties. Her name was Tamara. I left her corpse and went to hunt for more. When I returned to the church, there was a young girl, maybe eleven or twelve or so with the same blonde hair and the same eyes, wearing the same dress as the woman I killed. She told me she was a cycler. She was powerfully magical, much more so than I thought even a woman in her twenties should be. Magic users do age differently, so I can’t be sure of her age before I killed her.” The hair on the back of Cain’s neck stood up. There were millions of women with that name, and probably plenty of blonde witches with it as well, but his experience with Tam had always been one of confusion over how she could take him down so easily with a flick of her wrist. The demon glanced at Anna, wondering if she’d made the connection, but the idea that Father Hadrian was speaking about the Tam they both knew hadn’t penetrated for Luc’s mate. “Anna, do you understand yet why this involves you?” Anthony asked. Her eyes widened but she maintained her denial. “No… I… Why would it involve me?” The vampire laughed and shook his head. “I forget how recently you were introduced to our world. Your friend has been keeping a monumental secret from you. Tam is the woman Father Hadrian met in the fifties.” “That’s not possible. I mean… we grew up together. Since we were kids…” “Since you were about twelve?” Anna shut her mouth and looked down at her hands. “That’s what I thought. She must have died and started a new life cycle right around that time. We’re still not sure exactly what that means.” The vampire king turned to the sorcerer and werecat. “Dayne, Greta, did you do the research I requested?” Dayne nodded. “I might have a theory. Since magic users are human, we’ve always been a wild card. Up until now, we’ve kept ourselves mostly secret from normal humans and considered ourselves part of the preternatural world, but if Jack gets enough power, he could sway magic users to his side. I think he wants to expose the preternaturals and fight. He’s absorbing power from his kills to make it easier.” Greta interrupted. “I don’t think anyone considered there could be magical and ritual significance to the way Jack the Ripper was killing. The killings got more complex, but if he was experimenting with the most potent methods for power absorption, that would happen. He could become unstoppable if he kills the other cyclers.” “He’ll also be a true immortal,” Dayne said. “The more power a magic user has, the more slowly they age. Considering the nature of what he is already, my suspicion is that he’d become unkillable. He wouldn’t have to start over in a younger human body like what Hadrian observed with Tamara.” Cain stared at the table. He squeezed his eyes shut as images flashed in his mind of Tam being ritualistically and gruesomely murdered. He didn’t know why it pissed him off so much. “Cain?” Anthony said. The demon looked up, startled at being included in the discussion. He tried to maintain a bored mask, but he couldn’t stop his hands from balling into fists or the heat from the glow in his eyes. “Yes?” “We need you to protect the witch in your dimension. It’s the only place we’re guaranteed she’ll be safe. This affects everybody. If he kills all the cyclers, and magic users come out of the closet, they’ll band together, which risks your demons as well.” Magic users were a demon’s one weakness. Demons were exempt from death and could heal any injury—true immortals, but they could still be trapped by a curse. They could still feel the weakness and suffering of starvation. They could still be hurt. All eyes were on him, waiting for his response. He didn’t know how he felt about the little blonde witch, but if anybody was killing her, it was going to be him, not some cheesy magical serial killer with a world domination plot, and not one of Anthony’s thugs, either. “I’ll protect her,” Cain said, avoiding eye contact with the others. This was killing the shit out of his reputation. There were dramatic gasps and whispering, but he ignored it. “Of course, killing her would be more expedient... if you could find a way to make her stay dead.” The vampire king’s tone was bland. “No!” Anna said. “Anthony!” Charlee said. “I said I’d protect her,” the demon snarled, finally meeting the eyes of everyone at the table. He dared them to start something with him. “We’ll also need you to get her to tell you everything about being a cycler. We still don’t understand how or why they exist or the extent of their powers,” Anthony said. Cain growled. “Watch yourself, half-breed. I could take you out without blinking. I’m sure you want to survive to be a daddy.” Charlee’s hand went protectively over her pregnant belly, as if the child were in danger instead of the cocky vampire standing beside the projector screen. Anthony glared. “Don’t forget, I have magic users in my employ. I have a coven of vampires that stretches across North America and contacts with vampire leaders all over the world. Our numbers are far greater than yours. Let’s not make this personal. We’ve got a bigger enemy to fight.” Cain was bored now. “Are we done here? I’ve got a witch to collect.” He stood, already turning toward the door. “Cain…” It was the first word Luc had spoken since Cain had arrived. “Take Anna with you. She knows where the witch lives.” That would make things easier. Luc’s mate recoiled, gripping tight to his arm. “What? No! Come with me,” she said. “I should stay for the rest of the meeting. My brother can’t harm you, remember? You can’t hold a solid form without me,” Luc said. When she’d given her soul and became a demon’s mate, she’d had to die first. It made her existence somewhat ghostly. Only her mate could give her a full, solid form. Gradually, she would gain the same powers as Luc, but it was a lengthy process—centuries. Anna looked from Cain to Luc a couple of times. She finally sighed and let go of her mate. Cain headed for the door. He didn’t bother waiting for her, assuming she’d follow. And if she didn’t, he’d just have to find the infuriating witch on his own.

Author Bio:

Zoe Winters writes quirky and sometimes dark paranormal romance (and dark fantasy). Her favorite colors are rainbow and clear. For updates on new releases and opportunities for contests/giveaways sign up for the newsletter by sending a blank email to: freekept@gmail.com (As a thank you, you’ll receive a free copy of the debut novella in the Preternaturals series: Kept.)

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An ancient prophecy warns of a girl destined to cause the extinction of the vampire race.

So when 17-year-old Axelia falls into a sacred well filled with blood and emerges a vampire, the immortal empire believes she is this legendary destroyer. Hunted by soldiers and mercenaries, Axelia and her reluctant ally, the vampire bladesmith Lucas, must battle to survive.

How will she convince the empire that she is just an innocent teenager-turned bloodsucker and not a creature of destruction? And if she cannot, can a vampire who is afraid of bugs summon the courage to fight a nation of immortals?

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Excerpt: 

A human girl will be re-born a vampire. She will shed the blood of all who walk in darkness and bring about the death of the entire vampire race.

—Ancient vampire prophecy

Chapter 1

The sun’s down. I am so dead.

I walked out of the bakery with a box of cannoli balanced in my hands and when I saw the dark sky, my smile faded. I shouldered my way through the crowds and rushed into a piazza. The clock on the church tower read 9:25 p.m. I rounded the fountain in the center of the square, my flip flops slapping at my heels. I shifted my box of pastries so that it was under my arm like a football and quickened my pace.

Sofia is going to kill me. When I left the house at 7:30 p.m., I had told her that I’d be only twenty minutes. But I’d lost track of time wandering the narrow cobblestone streets, snapping pictures. So far, I wasn’t being a good guest in her home. Two days ago, I had accidentally used dishwasher soap in her laundry machine, producing a titanic bubble bath. This was not the way to redeem myself.

A few people sat on the stone stairs around the fountain. A bearded man plucked at a guitar and nodded his head. A woman reclined against her boyfriend, her hands on his knees as if they were the arms of a chair.

One young man stood alone on the top of the stairs. His hands were in the pockets of a charcoal coat with an asymmetrical zipper that cut across his chest. His face was backlit against the street lamps, but I knew that he was staring at me. He had such rigid posture that nothing but his head moved as he watched me cross the square.

I dropped my gaze. The straps of my backpack dug into my shoulders and shifted my T-shirt. I tugged at the hem so that the Canadian flag was centered in the middle of my chest. He probably wants to rob me. My father had warned me about pickpockets in Rome. A few days before my trip, he had come into my room with a bulgy blue fanny pack: “To keep your valuables safe.”

From the corner of my eye I could still see the man’s face pointed in my direction, and I heard my best friend’s voice in my head. Zee, he’s checking you out. See if he’s hot. Ryka had encouraged me to have a summer fling. The only fling I’d ever had with a guy was when Felix Lewis flung me in the air during cheerleading tryouts. “Find someone and have fun,” but avoid the bad guys, she had said. She wanted me to keep my other valuables safe.

Pretending to look back at the clock, I glanced at the fountain. The guy was gone. I searched the piazza but didn’t see him. Too bad. He might have been cute. Would his trying to pick my back pocket count as second base?

I turned down a lane sandwiched between two square buildings and wove through a group of men in soccer jerseys. An old man in an undershirt and house slippers stood in the street with a dusty poodle, and I returned his sullen glare with a smile and a nod.

After walking several minutes, something seemed wrong. Okay, I remember passing this restaurant with the row of people eating on white linen tablecloths under white umbrellas. I remember this tight street with the parked cars on my left. But I don’t remember the street opening into a parking lot and this giant purple bush.

A mass of fuchsia flowers cascaded down the side of a building, like a purple monster arm, reaching for the ground with its branchy fingers. I would have remembered this. I doubled back through the dim streets but then couldn’t find my way to the piazza. Don’t panic.

I took a mental inventory of the contents of my bag: a journal, my wallet, my passport, my digital camera, a bottle of water. Of course, I didn’t take the note card with Sofia’s address and phone number on it. It’s on my dresser. Of course, I didn’t take a map. I could see Sofia’s round face, scrunched with disapproval, the creases on her frowning forehead. I performed a frustrated pirouette.

“Come on,” I said, exasperated with myself.

“Excuse me?” A voice said behind me.

I spun around, and there he was in the middle of the road. The guy from the fountain. I recognized his jacket and his tall, stiff stance.

“Sorry. I was talking to myself,” I said.

He took a step toward me and his face shocked me. He had high cheek bones and clean-shaven, pale skin. His deep-set blue eyes were in shadow under thick, dark eyebrows, but they were luminous.

I realized then that I was staring with my mouth ajar.

“You’re American?” he asked in his Italian accent.

“No, I’m from Winnipeg. It’s in Canada,” I said, pointing to my T-shirt. I glanced away, feeling weird that I had just directed his attention to my chest.

He nodded. “You are on vacation?”

“I’m living here for two months studying Italian.”

“Well then, welcome to Italia,” he said, and his pale pink lips smiled. “Do you like it here?”

“I’ve only been here for about a week and I love it.”

“What do you love most?” The word, “lah-ve,” filled his mouth thickly.

“I love the architecture, the food,” I said. “If I could eat gelato every day for the rest of my life, I would.”

“Then you must be sweet.”

His smile widened and I felt embarrassed. To quash my anxiety, I thrust my hand at him. “I’m Zee,” I said.

He seemed startled, tucking in his dimpled chin to gaze at my hand. “Zee?”

“My name is Axelia but everybody calls me Zee.”

“Paolo,” he said.

He slipped his smooth, cool hand into mine. I gripped his palm and shook it vigorously.

“Eggs-ee-lee-ah?” he said, pronouncing every syllable of my name. “I like it.”

“Thanks. I like it too.  It’s spelled A-X-E-L-I-A; but the X is soft. Though I hated it when I was young. In kindergarten, someone spread a totally untrue rumor that ‘Zee likes pee,’ and then, you know, at recess, it was always ‘Zee likes pee, Zee likes pee.’”

I laughed and when he didn’t join me, I cleared my throat to silence myself. “And I have no clue why I told you that story, since we just met.”

Oh, Zee. Always babbling when you’re nervous.

He cocked his head and studied my face. “Zee, would you like to go with me for a gelato?” he asked.

Whoa. Is this beautiful guy asking me out? Ryka would be celebrating with corniness: “He doesn’t want to steal your wallet. He wants to steal your heart.”

“Uh, thank you, Paolo,” I said, relishing the opportunity to use his name. “But I actually need to get home.”

“Where do you live?”

“Good question. I mean, I’m not sure. I’m a bit lost,” I said with a shrug and something in between a grin and a grimace. “It’s on a narrow street around here. There’s a café on the street. There’s a pizzeria. I know—every narrow street has a café and a pizzeria. And I don’t have a map or an address. I might just have to live on the streets, survive on cannoli, and sing for coins.”

“You sing?”

“Yes but I’m sure people will pay me to stop.”

“Don’t worry,” he said. “I will help you.”

“Oh, I remember!” I exclaimed. “There’s a white church on my street.”

“Via della Scala has a white church,” he said. “And a café and a pizzeria.”

“Via della Scala, that’s it!” I said.

He put his hand over his heart and bowed slightly. “May I have the honor of walking you there, Zee?”

“That would be lovely.”

As we walked back to Sofia’s apartment, I chattered to fill the silence. I told him about the laundry fiasco and about my Japanese housemate, Miyuki. At one point, I realized that I was nervously swinging the box of cannoli while I walked. Paolo kept his eyes on me while I looked everywhere else. His suede coat sleeve would brush my bare arm, giving me goose bumps.

“How old are you?” I said.

“How old are you?”

“Seventeen.”

“Me too,” he replied.

“I start university in the fall. I’m going to take general arts courses for now because I’m not sure what field I’d like to get into. My father’s an aerospace engineer and my big sister is studying mechanical engineering. But I almost failed physics and math in high school. So for the safety of mankind, I don’t think I should get a job building anything. I love taking pictures so maybe I could be a photographer. What do you do?”

“I’m a student.”

“What are you studying?”

“I’m a student of life,” he said. He pursed his lips when he smiled.

Was that code for unemployed?

“I see,” I said, instead. “And what have you learned so far?”

“I’ve learned that treasures present themselves when you least expect them,” he said. “And you? What has your life taught you?”

“That I shouldn’t walk around without a map,” I said. “And that dish soap doesn’t go in washers. Actually, I’m here because I want more life experience. I feel like I’ve been pretty sheltered in Winnipeg.”

“I’ve never been there. Is it nice?”

“Yes, but it gets cold.”

“Cold doesn’t bother me.”

“This cold would. Our winters are brutal. It’s so cold sometimes that my eyes water and then my wet eyelashes freeze together.”

He chuckled. His teeth were small and perfect. For a moment, I imagined walking with him through these streets, laughing and holding hands. I imagined him teaching me Italian. I imagined him kissing me. Then I could add “kissed a hot guy” to my experiences, right after “traveled outside of Winnipeg.”

Suddenly I recognized the square planters in front of Sofia’s apartment farther down the street.

“Thank God, we’ve found it!” I blurted. Then I turned to Paolo. “I didn’t mean thank God because I don’t like your company. You’re wonderful company in fact.”

“I also enjoyed your company.”

“Thank you so much. I owe you my life for helping me get back to Sofia’s.”

One side of his lips curled up. “Then repay me,” he said.

“Okay.” I channeled Ryka’s boldness. “I could buy you a gelato?”

“Yes. Let’s meet tomorrow at nine fifteen.”

“Where?” I asked. I could feel my cheeks flushing.

“Right here,” he said, pointing to the pizzeria to his left.

“Done,” I said. “It was nice meeting you.”

“Goodnight, Zee.”

“Goodnight, Paolo.”

About the Author:

Wynne Channing

Wynne Channing is an award-winning national newspaper reporter and young adult novelist. She loves telling stories and as a journalist, she has interviewed everyone from Daniel Radcliffe and Hugh Jackman to the president of the Maldives and Duchess Sarah Ferguson. The closest she has come to interviewing a vampire is sitting down with True Blood's Alexander Skarsgard (he didn’t bite). She briefly considered calling her debut novel "Well" so then everyone would say: "Well written by Wynne Channing." 

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