Guess what is LIVE!!! Yes, that is right… Selling Satisfaction has gone live on Amazon! It is selling for $2.99… or free for KU users!
It’s Cover Reveal day…
Though some have seen this cover already, it’s time to make it official. We are pleased to introduce you to Learning to Fly. The debut novel of author, Lauren Firminger.
#CoverReveal #Pre-order #LearningToFly #LaurenFirminger
Learning To Fly
Pages ~ 196
Published By ~ Lauren Firminger
Estimated Publishing Date ~ 4/16/16
Genre ~ New Adult; Romance
Cover Designed by ~ MadHat Covers (http://madhatcovers.com/)
~Blurb~
Maddison was just your average Aussie girl. Raised by her uncle when her mum and dad died, she worked, hung out with her friends and had a boyfriend she loved. Or so she thought. When she found her boyfriend had been cheating on her with her best friend, Maddie decided it was time for a change. She quit her job and started working on a plan to travel.
Enter Morgan Young.
Morgan Young is a Country Superstar and rising higher. He always knew what he wanted and went for it. Maddie was no exception.
What happens when this Aussie meets a country superstar? Secrets revealed and sparks will fly. Will Maddie get her happily ever after or is she destined to fall.
~Goodreads~ https://www.goodreads.com/book/learning-to-fly
~Pre-Order~
iBooks
US ~ https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/learning-to-fly
AU ~ https://itunes.apple.com/au/book/learning-to-fly
~Excerpt~
“As flattering as that is I think I am better off behind the camera.” I pressed a kiss to his cheek and heard commotion behind us and saw Lucas stumbling out the door closely followed by a laughing Danno. “Daniel? Did you just shove Lucas out the door?” He gave me a sly grin. “Of course.” I laughed and shook my head. “Daniel? Why are you shoving Lucas out the door?”
“Because Maddison, he wasn’t moving fast enough for me.” Lucas responded by punching him in the arm.
“No, he wanted to come and intrude so he can hear ya sing. I was trying to stop the damn heffa but he took a running start on me.” I snorted.
“Daniel, you break anything in this house and I am going to make you hurt.” It was his turn to snort.
“Bring it on princess. A baby could hit harder than you!” I looked to Morgan who bit back a laugh and my attention turned back to Daniel.
“Who said anything about hitting you?” I gave him my best sweet smile and his face sobered up. When he turned to look at Morgan and Lucas, they both lost their composure and burst out laughing.
“And we are going to fall over laughing when she makes you cry from kicking you so hard.”
~Author Bio~
Lauren Firminger grew up in a small country town only a couple hours away from where she currently resides in Sydney, Australia.
During high school, Lauren fell in love with books and reading, and like most, was a Potter-head then turned Twi-Hard, Vampire Academy soon followed by the Mortal Instruments.
However, it wasn’t until she got her hands on Sylvia Day’s Crossfire Series that Lauren fell in love with reading again. Soon after, her new writing journey began, bringing her to her official debut release of Learning to Fly.
~Author Links~
Website ~ http://laurenfirminger.weebly.com/
Facebook ~ https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLaurenFirminger/
Goodreads ~ https://www.goodreads.com/author/Lauren_Firminger
Instagram ~ https://www.instagram.com/laurenfirminger/
Will you be in Sydney in 2017? You can find Lauren and many other amazing authors at the “Books by the Bridge” author event. You can find more information on their Facebook page. > https://www.facebook.com/booksbythebridgeauthorevent
Love, Chloe
ღ ღ ღ ღ ღ
Synopsis:
Chloe Madison. That’s me. A former NYU princess who just fell from grace, right off my pampered Manhattan throne and onto the unforgiving steps of Nicole Brantley, socialite and queen bitch. Now, I walk her dog and mix her smoothies. Try to navigate my own problems while fixing all of hers.
I want what every New York girl wants. A career, an apartment, and true love, preferably in a smoking hot package.
It turns out I’ll have to fight for all of it.
Purchase your copy of Love, Chloe today!
ღ ღ ღ ღ ღ
Read the first TWO chapters for FREE on http://www.ReadChloe.com
Join: Love, Chloe Facebook Page
ღ ღ ღ ღ ღ
═══ EVENTS FOR LOVE, CHLOE RELEASE ═══
MARCH 14 – 21: Goodreads Buddy Read Event
• • •
TUESDAY MARCH 15: Goodreads Party
Time of Party #1: 1 – 2 PM EST
Time of Party #2: 10 – 11 PM EST
Link to join Parties: https://goo.gl/Btqbc3
• • •
TUESDAY MARCH 22: Release Party:
Party on Authors FB like page
Event is from 9-10:30 PM EST
• • •
WEDNESDAY MARCH 23:
All DAY Instagram Giveaway
https://www.instagram.com/alessandratorre4/ | @AlessandraTorre4
• • •
TUESDAY MARCH 24:
Twitter Party 10:30 – Midnight EST @ ReadAlessandra
Use #ReadChloe to participate
ღ ღ ღ ღ ღ
Alessandra Torre is an award-winning New York Times bestselling author of twelve novels. Her books focus on romance and suspense, all with a strong undercurrent of sexuality. Torre has been featured in such publications as Elle and Elle UK, Dirty Sexy Funny with Jenny McCarthy, as well as guest blogged for the Huffington Post and RT Book Reviews. She was also the Bedroom Blogger for Cosmopolitan.com.
You can learn more about Alessandra on her website at http://www.alessandratorre.com, or you can find her on Twitter (@ReadAlessandra) or Facebook.
Newsletter: http://www.nextnovel.com
ღ ღ ღ ღ ღ
RELEASE BLITZ
Title: Undone Volumes 1 & 2
Series: Beg for It
Author: Callie Harper
Genre: Hot Contemporary/New Adult Romance
Release Date: March 14, 2016
BLURB
Undone Volume 1
Take one bad boy rock god. Mix slowly with one wholesome librarian. Add a dash of paparazzi, a twist of scandal, and you won’t believe how good this dish tastes.
Ash
It’s pretty easy being a rock god. Party. Perform. P*ssy. Repeat. I’m 26 and it’s worked for me for years. Until I was caught ripping out the heart of America’s Sweetheart in a video gone viral. Now #HatePlayerAsh is trending on Twitter, she’s writing a song about how much I suck and I’m in desperate need image rehab, fast.
Good thing paparazzi chased me into that library. Had I not ducked under that desk I never would have found myself next to the long, sexy legs and disapproving gaze of Anika Ivanov. In my world of use and get used, she’s a unicorn. A kind, 24-year-old, hard-working, family-oriented children’s librarian. My agent agrees, she’s the one to set everything right. All she needs to do is fake a month-long public romance, let the world see me fall hard for her, then dump me in a brutal, public display. It’s genius.
Now I just have to convince her to agree. And convince myself that the only reason I want to spend the month with her is to improve my image. It’s not her full, luscious lips or her soft, seductive laugh or those fantasies I keep having of tying her down to my bed as I make her quiver and pant and call out my name.
Ana
Ash Black. In my library. Under my desk. It’s hard to believe it happened. I’ve listened to his voice so many times, my favorite soundtrack as I walk the streets of New York. My secret bad boy crush, the smoldering, shirtless star of the tabloids, all muscles and tattoos. Then one day he shows up and kisses me in my break room.
What’s even crazier is how he wants me to spend the next month. At his shows in L.A., San Francisco and Vegas, candlelight dinners in New York and Paris. He wants the world to believe he’s fallen in love. With me.
I’ve got to say no. He’s a walking disaster with a dirty mouth and wicked hands that melt my panties right off of me. This month would take everything in my well-ordered, neat little life and shake it up like a snowglobe.
Then why am I so tempted to say yes?
Undone Volume 2
It’s image rehab, plain and simple. A month of fake romance to convince the press that bad boy rocker Ash Black has fallen for a good girl librarian. It should be easy. It’s anything but.
Ash
New York City. Vegas. Paris. A whirlwind tour for our whirlwind romance, every step, smile and kiss photographed from every angle. It’s all going according to plan, rehabbing my bad boy rock star image by falling hard for a sweet, wholesome librarian.
There are all kinds of reasons to keep my hands off her. The no-sex clause in our contract. Paparazzi around every corner. She doesn’t trust me because she thinks I’m a player, and she’s right.
But I’m done playing by the rules. I’m rock star Ash Black and I’ve never been good at doing what other people tell me. I’m done mugging for the cameras.
I want her alone, all to myself, where the only rules are the ones I dictate. When it’s just us, there’ll be nothing fake about her begging me to let her come. I’m a musician, baby, and believe me, I’m going to savor the sound of her every pant, gasp and moan.
Ana
It’s just a show, a month-long façade. I need to keep my head in the game, my heart under wraps and my body out of reach of his wickedly talented hands.
He’s not making it easy for me. Every time I watch him perform, I go weak in the knees. Every time he romances me over a candlelight dinner, I melt. And the few moments he’s caught me alone, he’s started a fire in me unlike anything I’ve ever felt before. It’s roaring, licking, burning me up.
I’m not good at pretending. And with the heat he’s building in me, I’m not sure how long I’m going to last. One month can feel like forever when you’re so close to exactly what you want but not allowed to touch it. Sooner or later, a girl has to reach out and touch.
NOTE: Undone is a three-volume hot adult romance. It’s the second story in the Beg for It series about the dominant, alpha males in Ash’s family and the strong, sexy women who make them finally meet their match.
GOODREADS LINKS:
Undone Volume 1: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29069438-undone-volume-1
Undone Volume 2: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29069441-undone-volume-2
PURCHASE LINKS
Undone Volume 1
Undone Volume 2
EXCERPT – from Undone Volume 1
I pulled against my wrist restraints, panting as his tongue trailed a slow, teasing path down my stomach. A moan escaped my lips. I needed to touch him, fist my fingers in his thick, jet-black hair and dig my nails into his broad, muscular shoulders. But I couldn’t even see him. He’d blindfolded me. Twisting my head to the side, I could still picture him, tattoos licking along his bicep. The ridges of his abs, the start of his V.
“Please!” I couldn’t help but cry out. I needed more, needed his tongue lower, needed to be set free so I could at least touch myself if not him. He’d worked me up into such a frenzy. With a low, satisfied growl deep in his chest, he dipped his tongue in a lazy circle around my belly button. He insisted on having me his way, tormenting every inch of me until I begged for it.
“Ash!” I strained against my ties, spread-eagle on the king-size bed, but he’d fastened them well. All I succeeded in doing was arching up my back, further offering my naked breasts up for his pleasure.
He chuckled, deep and wicked, tracing my curves with his hand. “You like being tied up, don’t you, my Anika?” His fingers melted me as he stroked my limbs, up my side, along the swell of my breast. He paused and I held my breath, wondering what he might do next, feeling a throb deep in my pussy, drawing more slick sweetness from my core. The anticipation, the submission, it made me crazy.
But he kept on going, up past my breast, along my collarbone, up my arm to circle my restraints. He drew my attention to his control, how he had me tied up, exactly where he wanted me.
“I knew you’d like it,” he murmured. “You’re so beautiful, laid out here for me.”
I panted like an animal and swallowed hard. A sliver of my mind still reared up in shock at what I was doing, what I was letting him do to me. Willingly turning myself over to him in complete submission. I’d never done anything like it before, letting someone tie me up. I’d thought about it, even touched myself fantasizing about it late at night. But never in my bland, boring, good girl what-passed-for-a-sex-life had I ever done anything like it.
Turned out that getting snowed in at a cabin in the mountains with Ash Black, the sexiest, hottest rock god on the planet brought out the naughty side in me.
A month ago, I never would have believed any of this would happen. Sure, I’d fantasized about the lead singer of my favorite band. Plenty of times. But I wasn’t alone in that. Ash Black had been on the cover of People magazine as sexiest man alive the last two years in a row. I think he’d starred in more than a few late-night fantasies.
But even my fantasies hadn’t taken me this far. A month ago, I never could have imagined this scene. I wouldn’t have recognized the naked woman, bound and blindfolded on the bed, writhing and whimpering beneath Ash’s large, powerful body.
Suddenly, I felt wet heat on my aching, erect nipple. I cried out as he sucked me, licked me, pleasure rocketing directly to my sex.
“You need this, Ana. Don’t you?” he whispered, husky. I could feel his stubble, rough along my soft breast as he circled my nipple, slowly, teasing me again.
“Yes!” I cried out. “Please!” I begged for release, not from bondage, but from the intensity of the building, cresting orgasm I could feel quivering up inside of me. I needed to let it out, and I needed him to free it from me.
“You can scream when you come, Ana,” he whispered, trailing his tongue down my stomach. Slowly, so slowly. I moaned, wishing I could move, wishing I could bring my sex up to him and make things happen faster. I’d never felt so desperate, so crazed. Sex before Ash had always been blah, mostly forgettable, slightly regrettable. It had never felt anything like this rush of a roller coaster ride, this wild, heady plunge straight into the unknown.
“It will be our little secret,” he continued, down now at my hips. Large fingers over my smooth skin, he worshipped my curves, feathering kisses down the insides of my thighs.
COMING SOON (Available for pre-order)
Undone Volume 3
ALSO AVAILABLE IN THE BEG FOR IT SERIES
Unleashed Volume 1
Unleashed Volume 2
Unleashed Volume 3
Unleashed Volume 4
AUTHOR BIO
Callie Harper writes contemporary romances so hot they may melt your eReader. You’ve been warned! She is powered by coffee, wickedly sexy bad boys, and all things funny, intentional or otherwise. She is the author of Off Limits and the Beg For It series which started with Unleashed, and now continues with Undone released in March 2016.
She lives in the gorgeous Bay Area with her family.
To get freebies and hear about new releases and sales, sign up for Callie’s newsletter at eepurl.com/bHtVnT
AUTHOR LINKS
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/callieharperbooks
Twitter: https://twitter.com/callieharperbks
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14684541.Callie_Harper
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/bHtVnT
GIVEAWAY
There is a giveaway for a $10 Amazon gift card
Rafflecopter Embed Code:
<a class=”rcptr” href=”http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/ba3ffd55937/” rel=”nofollow” data-raflid=”ba3ffd55937″ data-theme=”classic” data-template=”” id=”rcwidget_ff3h6t55″>a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js
Direct Link:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25095700-fly?from_search=true&search_version=service
Meet Colton Wade, FMX rider…
I’m just a small town guy who caught a lucky break. Now I’m living the dream, on the brink of high-flying super-stardom. But something’s missing.
That something is Taylor.
She’s my best friend. The one who makes me want to push harder and higher. The one I fall back on when shit gets tough. The one I’d give it all up for.
I’d do anything to protect her. To make her dreams come true too.
But a single night changes everything.
And now the one she needs protection from…is me.
Buy Links
Amazon http://smarturl.it/FlyAmzn
iBooks http://smarturl.it/FLYiBks
About the Author
Molly McLain lives in a tiny little town in Wisconsin with her husband, three kids, and a sassy dog. She loves fountain soda, jellybeans, Luke Bryan and Avenged Sevenfold, thunderstorms, and camping at quiet lakes. She’s been scribbling down love stories since she was old enough to dream about happily ever afters, and now she writes sexy, small town romance for real.
***Molly’s Mailing List: http://smarturl.it/MMMlngLst
***Molly’s Facebook Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1445076695726129
More contact info:
Website: http://www.mollymclain.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/mollymclainauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MollyMcLain
(¯`v´¯)
.`•.¸.•´ ★
¸.•´.•´¨) ¸.•¨)
(¸.•´(¸.•´ (¸.•¨¯`*Countdown to release day!
#JDLexx #Malediction #CrimsonConfessions #EroticSuspense #PreOrder #Countdown
Great journeys need not begin greatly.
They need only begin…
Are you ready?
Malediction 3.20.16
Pre-Order: http://goo.gl/Dko6Jc
Support the Thunderclap: https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/38361-release-day-malediction
STILETTO SECRETS
Fairy Tale Bastards #1
By Bella J
Release Date: 04/25/16
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Adult Fairy tale
Blurb
Nicholas Blake is your typical class A, rich bastard who loves getting what he wants. He’s spoiled, selfish and enjoys all the lavish pleasures life has to offer—especially those that involve women and getting naked. Nicholas’ life is just damn near perfect. But one night out on the town with his friends and everything changes. One encounter with a stripper in stilettos who fittingly calls herself Cinderella, and his life suddenly doesn’t seem so goddamn perfect anymore.
As if that isn’t enough, there’s also Emma, the new maid in his father’s mansion that immediately piques his curiosity with her sweet smile and blue-green eyes. He finds himself drawn to her and wants nothing more than to seduce her into his bed, to make her his. But he just can’t seem to stay away from the stripper that makes him burn in ways he never knew possible.
The more he starts to care for Emma, the stronger his obsession grows for Cinderella.
Insane? Absolutely.
Twisted? Yes.
Completely screwed up? Hell yes.
A decision needs to be made; he needs to choose. But will Nicholas be able to make that choice when he finds himself all tangled up in a giant cluster of love, lust and stilettos?
ADD TO YOUR TBR LIST ON GOODREADS
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29401223-stiletto-secrets
Excerpt 1.
“Pick one.”
Nicholas jerked his head to the left in the direction from where the woman’s voice came, and noticed the dark-pink curtains.
“Pick one what?” He scanned the room.
“The shoes. Pick a pair,” a soft, sultry voice replied.
Then Nicholas noticed movement behind the curtain. Whoever it was dragged her hand along the fabric while leisurely pacing, apparently waiting for him to choose.
Instantly intrigued, he glanced at the cabinet and then back at the curtain. “You want me to choose a pair of shoes?”
“Yes, pick a pair and I will wear them.”
Nicholas felt a little tingle in the back of his neck when she spoke. He had only been in this room for five minutes and whoever was behind the curtain already had all his attention.
He moved a little closer to the curtain. “You know, a lot goes into choosing the right pair of shoes. For example, I’d need to know what you’re wearing first.” He tried to get a better look at the woman behind the curtain, but the fabric was just too damn dense for him to make out anything other than a silhouette.
“Why don’t you just pick a pair under the assumption that I’m not wearing anything,” she replied with soft, smoothly spoken words. Somehow it reminded him of melted chocolate.
“Why don’t you let me see for myself what you’re wearing?”
“That’s not how it works, Mr. Blake.”
The curtain swooshed a little as she moved behind it.
Nicholas turned to the glass cabinet with the shoes. How in God’s name was he supposed to choose? It was like telling a kid to choose one item in Willy Wonka’s candy factory. Im-fucking-possible.
After inspecting each pair, he finally opened the door and reached for a white pair of stilettos with a little diamond bow on top. A simple design, but it was the pair with the sharpest heel, and Nicholas loved those damn heels.
“So what do I do with these?” Nicholas inspected the shoes more closely.
And then a hand reached out from the other side of the curtain. Nicholas noticed the freshly manicured nails and beautiful dainty fingers. “Now you give them to me, and take a seat, Mr. Blake.”
Nicholas looked to the chair before handing her the shoes.
“On the table next to the chair you will see a pair of handcuffs and a blindfold. You need to sit down, lock one of the cuffs around your hand, put on the blindfold and then place both hands behind the back of the seat.”
Nicholas frowned. “Okay, I’m not sure I’m entirely comfortable with this. I thought this was a show. How am I supposed to enjoy the show if I can’t see anything?”
“Mr. Blake, I have three different types of shows I present. See, feel, and touch.”
“See, feel, and touch?” he mimed silently with his mouth.
“You can’t experience all at once.”
“Well, I’d sort of feel cheated then.”
“When you lose one of your senses, the other senses get heightened, Mr. Blake.”
Nicholas could not get over the beautiful sound of this woman’s voice. It was like her voice had a direct line straight down to his cock.
He started to leisurely pace around the room. “So I’m just curious, which show did my friends book me for?”
“Feel,” she replied.
Being the smart-ass that he was, Nicholas asked, “Isn’t that kind of the same thing as touch?”
“No, it’s not. With touch you would be allowed to use your hands, guided by me of course. With feel, you will only feel what I want you to feel.”
Okay, now he was really damn curious.
As he turned to the table and eyed the contents, he contemplated what his options were. Either he turned around now and then got labeled as a pussy by his friends, or he could put on the mask and the cuffs and see where this all went. But honestly, there was no way in hell he would be able to walk away now.
“What will it be, Mr. Blake?”
Nicholas shrugged and picked up the cuffs. “I guess we should get this show started then.”
About the Author:
Bella J lives in Cape Town, South Africa with her husband, two kids, & chihuahua. Her love for writing started in eighth grade when she received her first writing assignment—which she flunked. But the positive side of her failure—her newly found passion for writing. The negative side—now she’s completely spaced out half of the time living in her little pretend world of romance, love, & insanely hot heroes
Get in Touch
www.bellajauthor.wix.com/sassy
Facebook:
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/BellaJ_Author
OTHER TITLES BY BELLA J
Resplendent Ruin (Resplendence #1)
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Resplendent-Ruin-Resplendence-Book-1-ebook/dp/B016TQFI00
Resplendent Rush (Resplendence #2)
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28018678-resplendent-rush
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Resplendent-Rush-Resplendence-Book-2-ebook/dp/B01AGZATK4
Resplendent Rage (Resplendence #3)
Release date: 03/28/16
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28693569-resplendent-rage
Pre-order link: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/resplendent-rage-j-bella/1123483698?ean=9781622103454
MARY ANNE EDWARDSDetective Charlie McClung no longer finds his job fulfilling and has given up finding that “someone” his granny promised he would find. So he leaves behind the big city and his close-knit family and takes a job in a small town police department in Georgia, resigned to live a quiet life in solitude.
Things change when he meets Marian Selby while investigating the mysterious death of her best friend. But Marian swore never to love again after the death of her husband 11 years ago. What seems to be a suicide turns into a tangled web of deceit, corruption, and complicated shadows.
Can the two of them come to grips with their feelings for each other before the killer closes in on them?
“Brilliant Disguise is first-rate mystery that harkens you back to the days of Agatha Christie. You’ll feel a sense of nostalgia as you immerse yourself in the story, investigating alongside Det. McClung and eagerly awaiting clues at every turn. It’s an edge-of-your-seat whodunit!” –Monique Michelle Mason, Author of Moving at the Speed of Single
Amazon – http://goo.gl/OaJGwc
Playlists
Brilliant Disguise – http://www.podsnack.com/mysterygal/a1um69np
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authormaryanneedwards
Website: http://maryanneedwards.com/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/maryanneedwards/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+MaryAnneEdwards/posts
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/maryanneedwards
Twitter: https://twitter.com/maedwards58
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Mary-Anne-Edwards/e/B00HZ28TIQ
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7791576.Mary_Anne_Edwards
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/mary-anne-edwards
Wiselike: https://wiselike.com/mary-anne-edwards
BOOK BLITZ
Title: Ugly
Author: Margaret McHeyzer
Genre: YA/NA
Release Date: October 26, 2015
BLURB
From New York Times bestselling author Margaret McHeyzer….
If I were dead, I wouldn’t be able to see.
If I were dead, I wouldn’t be able to feel.
If I were dead, he’d never raise his hand to me again.
If I were dead, his words wouldn’t cut as deep as they do.
If I were dead, I’d be beautiful and I wouldn’t be so…ugly.
I’m not dead…but I wish I was.
GOODREADS LINK: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25987654-ugly
BOOK TRAILER
Embed Code:
Direct Link: https://youtu.be/szh5JBd5fbs
PURCHASE LINKS
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1SaOmO3
iBooks: http://apple.co/1H0ng4g
EXCERPT
Prologue
It’s days like today I wish I was dead.
“Lily Anderson, you get your ugly ass out here right this minute. Don’t make me come after you,” Daddy screams.
He’s so angry. I knew the moment I heard him come home from work I was in for it. I was in my bedroom, lying on the floor trying to do my math. He slammed the front door so hard the windows in my room shook.
And then I knew, I knew I was in for it.
“Lily Anderson!” he yells again.
As soon as I heard him yell I ran to my hiding spot. I’m inside the closet in the hallway, wedged as far into the corner as I can get. Mom’s old coat hangs in front of me and I can still smell a faint waft of the perfume she used to wear.
“Lily Anderson!” he shouts. I can hear the anger in his voice and I can already feel the pain he’s going to inflict on me when he opens the closet door. I know what’s coming.
I close my eyes tight, scrunching them up so no light can seep through. I put my hands over my ears so I can’t hear him.
“I swear to God; if I have to find you, you will not sit for a month.”
My knees are folded into my chest. I’m trying to make myself small, invisible, so he forgets I’m here. I’m rocking myself, trying to block out what he’s saying.
School is safe. School is safe. School is safe. I keep repeating the mantra because in a few short hours I’ll be back at school. Maybe tomorrow I can go to the library after school, stay there until it closes and then sneak in after Dad’s passed out, because he’s had too much to drink.
It was never like this before. Ever.
I’m twelve years old and I can remember when Mom, Dad, and I were all happy. But that was years ago. It’s been a long time since there’s been any happiness in this house.
Well, before Mom died anyway, and not a day since.
Mom died when I was nine. I don’t remember much about her, except I remember her telling me how ugly I am. How life would be better if I was taken away from them. How I’ll never be anything, because I’m stupid and ugly.
Sometimes I dream happy things. Like me, Mom, Dad and a little blond-haired boy all going for a picnic. The sun beamed down on us as we played outside and laughed. We’d eat yummy sandwiches Mom made for us, and we’d drink homemade lemonade. We’d spend hours outside, laughing and talking and just having fun. Mom would tell me how pretty I am, and how much she loved me. She would play with my hair, braid it, and then we’d go and pick bright flowers to take home and put in a vase. Dad would smile and call us “his girls”, always kissing Mom and hugging me. Dad would put the little boy on his shoulders and run around the park, trying to catch the clouds.
I love those dreams, and I hold onto them; wishing they were real. But I’ve never had a mom like that, and my dad doesn’t talk much unless it’s with his fists, or to tell me how ugly and useless I am.
I feel him walking around the house. The floorboards creak and the vibrations from his footsteps come through the floor to where my bottom is. I close my eyes tighter and try and breathe as quietly as I can.
Please go away, Daddy. Please go away.
My heart is beating so fast. My hands are shaking and I’m trying really hard not to think about what’s going to happen the minute he opens the closet door.
Shhh, it’s so quiet. The only sound is my heart thrumming in my ears. Nothing else. Not a whisper, not a rattle…nothing.
Maybe Daddy’s left. Maybe he’s gone to the pub to have a few drinks. Maybe, just maybe, he’s left…forever.
I take a deep breath and just relax for a moment. My shoulders drop and I finally stop rocking.
Slowly I take my hands down from my ears, and I’m so happy because I can’t hear him yelling at me. I can’t hear him at all.
Gradually, I begin to unscrunch my eyes from the way I’ve tightly closed them. But something’s not right. There’s light coming into the closet.
I don’t even get a chance to open them fully before a rough hand reaches in, latches onto my ponytail and yanks.
“I told you it’d be worse for you if I had to find you,” Dad says, as he drags me out of the closet by my hair.
I’m desperately trying to hold onto my head so he doesn’t rip my hair out. My feet are trying to find traction on the dirty floorboards.
“Please, Daddy. Please. You’re hurting me,” I begin sobbing as I plead with him.
“Then your ugly ass should’ve come when I called you, you stupid bitch. You’re fucking worthless, you ugly idiot,” he says. But now his voice is calm as he continues to drag me toward the family room.
That’s when he’s most scary. When his voice is low and his eyes are filled with hate.
He throws me against the side of the sofa and takes a step back to look at me.
I look up and can see he’s the angriest I’ve ever seen him. “You dumb, ugly piece of shit,” he says, as he paces back and forth in front of me.
“Sorry, Daddy. Whatever I did, I’m so sorry.” I cower into myself, trying to make myself as small as possible.
“You’re just too fucking stupid, aren’t you?” he spits toward me as he brings his hand up to scratch at his chin.
“I’m sorry,” I say again. Tears are falling hot and fast down my cheeks. My head hurts from where he was pulling my hair, but I don’t dare try to rub the spot.
“You ugly fuck.” He kicks a boot into my leg.
The pain is instant and my leg feels like it’s shattered. “Please, Daddy,” I beg again, burying my face into my hands.
But ‘please’ never seems to work.
Nothing does.
I’ve just got to take the beatings, because that’s what stupid, ugly girls do.
AUTHOR BIO
There’s something about the written word that is pure magic.
Possibly it’s the fact there are 26 letters in the English alphabet, and they can create something so beautiful or so empowering they’re capable to change our lives.
How important is it that we break suit and stretch our minds?
I like to think of myself as ‘unique’. My stories aren’t for everyone, and sometimes I may push what you believe to be ‘normal’.
Normal is subjective.
I prefer to be known as a person who’s never been ‘bound by custom’ but is ‘unique by choice’.
I hope you do read and enjoy my stories.
AUTHOR LINKS
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authormargaretmcheyzer
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MargaretMAuthor
Website: http://mackandmilo.wix.com/margaretmcheyzer
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7084793.Margaret_McHeyzer
Book Review Virginia Lee Blog 
You must be logged in to post a comment.