October 6, 2021 – Book Review Virginia Lee Blog

Title: Forever Drew

Series: Broken Point #4

Author: A.K. Steel

Genre: Contemporary Romantic Suspense

Cover Design: Opium House Creatives

Photo: Michelle Lancaster

Model: Tommy Pearce

Release Date: October 22, 2021

BLURB

I write fairytales, but I certainly don’t live in one.

A long time ago I met my knight in shining armour. The dreamy Drew Walker. Drew showed up in the right place at the right time to free me from my train wreck of a life. I was stripping at a local club, on the run from my ex-boyfriend, a thug for one of Sydney’s largest criminal empires.

I fell for him quickly, but the timing wasn’t right and tragedy struck, destroying our chances of finding happiness together. We parted ways, and I thought that would be the end.

Five years later, across the busy room of a local bar our eyes lock. He smiles, flashing his cheeky charismatic dimples and it’s like no time has passed. Except we’re both different now. He has found fame as Australia’s sexy bad-boy pro surfer, and I’m just a humble librarian with big dreams of being an author.

Could this be our second chance at happiness together? Or are too many ghosts from the past still haunting us to ever really be able to hold onto the love we have for each other?

Is the past lost to me forever, or could Drew be my happily ever after?

*Content warning: contains elements of violence and sexual abuse.

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EXCERPT

I take another sip of my coffee and almost spit it straight back out when I see him standing right in front of the window where we’re sitting. Cheeky, dimply grin and all. I cough to stop myself from choking.

“Are you alright?” asks Mia, giving me a concerned look.

I nod my head, turning away from the window. “Yeah, sorry, just went down the wrong way.” I try to catch my breath.

“Yeah, or it’s because you just spotted that sexy son of a bitch you were with last night.” She hits me on the arm.

“No, that’s not it.” I shake my head, trying to look extra convincing.

“Oh, good, because he’s coming our way.” She smirks. She is loving watching me squirm. She knows how terrible I am with guys. “Lucky you look extra hot today in that cute outfit.”

I look down at what I’m wearing. Oh, hell no. I’m sitting here in just my fitted shorts and sports top. I was so hot after class I didn’t even throw on my jacket. I look around for my zip-up hoody, but I must have left it in the studio. Damn it.

“Jenna,” comes his familiar deep voice.

I swivel in my chair to face him. He is as hot as ever in a pale blue T-shirt and faded jeans. How can he make something so simple look so unbelievably gorgeous? “Drew.” I offer a small smile. I feel so awkward today. I have lost all my courage now that I’m sober.

He looks between me and Mia. “Sorry, this is a friend of mine, Mia. She owns the dance studio where I teach a class.” He raises a brow in my direction and holds out his hand for her to shake.

“Hi, Drew, aren’t you just yummy,” she says.

Oh, my God, she didn’t just say that. I shake my head at her.

“Hi, nice to meet you, Mia.” He smiles, removing his hand from her grip. He’s being all charming. He knows he’s hot. He probably gets that kind of reaction all the time.

I narrow my eyes at her, giving her the signal not to say anything to embarrass me in front of him any further. She is so forward, she and Penny would get on like crazy; glad they’ve never met, that would be all too much. “Mia,” I growl at her.

She shrugs it off. “What, he is.” She pats the empty seat between us. “You should join us, Drew. Jenna was just telling me all about last night. What are the chances of you running into each other twice in two days? This must be fate. Do you believe in fate, Drew?” She tilts her head, waiting for his response.

I give her a filthy look. Why did she just say that?

He looks uncomfortable, and of course he is. Who wouldn’t be right now? I know I am. “Yeah, I’m not sure about fate, but it’s pleasantly unexpected,” he says, his eyes dropping to me again. The way he looks at me has my lady parts throbbing with desire. I want to taste what he has to offer so badly.

I swallow the lump in my throat. Sure, it must be my turn to talk. I have no idea how long I have been just staring at him, probably with my mouth open, drooling. “I’m sure Drew has better things to do with his afternoon than listen to you jibber jabber on about nonsense.”

His eyes roam up my body slowly; he’s taking in every inch of me. I’m sure he’s probably wondering why I’m half naked, sitting in a coffee shop. Why didn’t I bring my jacket? “That’s okay, I have nothing on for a bit, I’ll just go order. I’d love to hear your opinion on fate, Mia.” He walks to the counter and places an order.

I hit Mia on the arm. “Why did you do that to me?” I cry dramatically.

“Oh, come on, you two are adorable. I’m just helping my shy little friend finally get lucky after all these years. You can thank me later.”

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AUTHOR BIO

I’m a contemporary romance author my novels feature swoony men, twists and turns and always a happily ever after.

I’m a busy mother of three pre-teens, who lives on the beautiful South Coast of New South Wales, Australia. I have always been a creative soul, with a background in fashion design, interior decoration, and floristry. I currently run a business as a wedding florist and stylist, but have always had a love for reading romance novels, something about how the story can transport you to another world entirely.

So in 2020 I decided to jot down some of my own ideas for romance stories, always with a happily ever after of course, and from that came my debut novel Always Fraser. From that moment I haven’t looked back, writing has become a part of me. I have a long list of stories plotted and I look forward to being able to share all my stories with you soon. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I loved writing them, xx

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Fortune & Despair 2 by Sarah Stein

October 6, 2021October 6, 2021 Book Review Virginia Lee Blog

💥 NOW AVAILABLE💥

Sarah Stein is back with standalone nonfiction poetry book, Fortune & Despair! This is a continuation of Volume 1. Amazon: https://amzn.to/3turdOL

Author: #SarahStein

Cover Design: Stacker Designs

Release Day: October 6, 2021

Blurb:

Fortune & Despair allows the reader to take a walk inside my mind as I reveal my life’s journey through poetry. The collection is a continuation of Volume 1. It introduces fortune, which takes you along the path of good times until they aren’t good. It then dips into Despair, allowing the reader to take a sneak peek of my brain while experiencing rough times that are emotionally draining. I firmly believe you can’t experience the good without the bad, and vice versa.

#fortuneanddespair #volumetwo #sarahstein #poetry #poems #book #collection #nonfiction #KU #kindleunlimited #KU #kindleunlimited #readercommunity #mustread

**WARNING: Mature Content, Nonfiction. Add to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58947231-fortune-despair

AUTHOR LINKS Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorsarahstein/ Website: https://sarahsteinauthor.wordpress.com/ Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/256144.Sarah_Stein Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorsarahstein/ Amazon Page: amazon.com/author/sarah_stein Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/authorsarahstein

Cover Reveal

Sealed by Laura Pavlov

October 6, 2021October 6, 2021 Book Review Virginia Lee Blog

Title: Sealed

Series: Willow Springs #4

Author: Laura Pavlov

Genre: Fake Relationship Romance

Cover Design: Sarah Hansen, Okay Creations

Release Date: October 28, 2021

BLURB

Roman Amato is perfect on paper.

Sexy and broody and arrogant.

He’s a divorced single father, so he’s completely off-limits.

I’m not looking for anything other than a hot date to take to my sister’s wedding.

I have something he needs, and he has something I need.

The fake dating gods have shined down on both of us.

We write up a contract so everything is aboveboard.

Signed, sealed and soon-to-be delivered.

Rule number three is written in all caps…

NO CATCHING FEELINGS.

It couldn’t be more basic.

I pride myself on staying in control.

But from the moment I slip onto the back of his bike, I enter a gray area.

I despise gray areas.

This is supposed to be temporary.

Temporary is my specialty.

But Roman Amato makes it easy to want forever.

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COMING SOON

Releasing January 27

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AUTHOR BIO

Laura Pavlov writes sweet and sexy contemporary romance that will make you both laugh and cry. She is happily married to her college sweetheart, mom to two awesome almost-grown kids, and dog-whisperer to a couple crazy yorkies. Laura resides in Las Vegas where she is living her own happily ever after.

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Glamor Girl

October 6, 2021October 4, 2021 Book Review Virginia Lee Blog

Historical Fiction

Date Published: 10-06-2021

Publisher: Indies United

Escaping from her childhood, Sheela, flees her aunt’s motel where she is forced to work as a cleaning maid and provide ‘favors’ for wealthy guests and winds up in Miami in Kit Malone’s fancy brothel. Beautiful and stately, Sheela becomes a high-class prostitute, a millionaire’s mistress and a Billy Rose showgirl. When she meets the love of her life in Manhattan, the charming but naïve Julius Clark, life blossoms into something both frightening and titillating. But when Sheela gives birth to her daughter, Fanny, it is this shadowy and stormy relationship that alters the course of both of their destinies and defines their future.

About the Author

Vera Jane Cook was born in New York City and has been a city girl ever since. As an only child, she turned to reading novels at an early age and was deeply influenced by an eclectic group of authors. Before Jane became a writer, she worked in the professional theatre and appeared on television, in regional theatre, film and off Broadway.

At the age of fifty Jane began to write novels. Some of her titles include Dancing Backward in Paradise, winner of an Eric Hoffer Award for publishing excellence and an Indie Excellence Award for notable new fiction, 2007. The Story of Sassy Sweetwater and Dancing Backward in Paradise received 5 Star ForeWord Clarion Reviews and The Story of Sassy Sweetwater was named a finalist for the ForeWord Book of the Year Awards. She has published in ESL Magazine, Christopher Street Magazine and has written early childhood curriculum for Weekly Reader and McGraw Hill.

Jane still lives on the upper west side of Manhattan right near Riverside Park where she takes her delightful dogs for a jog, Peanut and Carly. She comes home to her spouse of thirty years and her two cats, Sassy and Sweetie Pie.

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Book Tour

Pixies in the Mist Virtual Book Tour

October 6, 2021October 4, 2021 Book Review Virginia Lee Blog

Fantasy

Date Published: 10-05-2021

Publisher: Cinnabar Moth

Jake had drifted to Japan without any serious intent, and it was going… okay. He had made friends in the local Salsa community, his Japanese was improving, but for Jake the familiar feeling that had dogged him most of his life—that something special should be happening—had struck again.

Kenneth had been assigned to Japan by the pixie queen years ago, which is just enough time for a pixie to get bored and complacent while keeping tabs on the local talent. Most humans had no magic, and most magical humans didn’t know it was their power that made their food taste better, their paintings more vibrant, or people like them more.

When the two met, the spark in Jake gave Kenneth’s role a new urgency. Jake didn’t just have magic, he had a wild and unpredictable kind seen only once in a generation. How could Kenneth keep Jake’s magic from falling into enemy hands? Kill him? Recruit him? Somehow keep him ignorant?

Jake’s magic had quietly led him to Japan, subtly influencing every choice in his life. That something special Jake had been waiting for was about to happen, ensuring his and Kenneth’s lives would never be boring again.

About The Author

Rasta Musick spent the first 12 years of his life in California before moving to Japan with his family. After graduating from college with a Bachelor’s in economics at the age of 16, he spent the years after learning Japanese and working. Having spent more than half his life in Japan, he’s confident that it’s his home.

With many different hobbies, chief of them being Latin dance, he keeps himself physically active as well as mentally active as much as he can. The Latin dance community in Japan is alive and, surprisingly, quite large.

Rasta has lupus and hereditary coproporphyria. Given their complicated nature, he’s had to learn a lot to adapt and manage them. The process also taught him a lot about managing other aspects of his life, and all of this influences his writing.

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Release Blitz

LOCO

October 6, 2021October 4, 2021 Book Review Virginia Lee Blog

Desert Rebels MC book 6

Romantic Suspense

Date Published: 10/6/21

Known as the MC’s man-whore Loco wears the title proudly. He’s living the life, and has all the pussy he wants until a poolside goddess with copper hair and curves for days catches his eye. Their attraction is instant and off the charts and one night in Millie’s bed shows him that sex with the right woman could cure him of his roaming ways. Will he be able to change for her?

Excerpt
Loco and Millie’s first meeting.

Holy shit! As soon as my eyes lit on the stunning redhead, I fucking wanted her. And when she cast those mesmerizing green eyes on me, I knew the attraction went both ways. She tried to hide it, but the color flushing her pretty round cheeks, and the way she parted those full, kissable lips as if she were surprised by her reaction to me, revealed the truth.

And being the man-whore that I was, my dick stood up and took notice.

I was suddenly glad that I’d accompanied Frenchie to see his new woman, Lissa. I’d barely taken the time to admire her obvious attributes, nor the tiny blonde sitting next to her. I couldn’t drag my fucking gaze off the curvy siren with them. She had tits that made my palms itch with the need to get a hold of them. My other hand clenched with the thought of grasping her by all that wild hair and then taking her mouth in a kiss that would stake my claim.

Claim? Fuck no!

I couldn’t believe the shit that was going through my head. I was the club man-whore, and I had a reputation to uphold. Club bitches were already complaining that my brothers were deserting them for permanent pussy, and I’d sworn it wasn’t going to happen to me. Nope. No way was I giving up free and easy pussy with no strings attached for any single woman. No matter how fucking enticing she was.

“Heard you were going to be spending some time at the pool,” I heard Frenchie say in his thick accent.

All at once I had three beautiful women looking at me. “Got a swim invite,” I added. A laugh burst out of the red-headed goddess before she could stifle it behind her hand.

I stared down at her, willing my dick to behave even though I knew that it was too late. My eyes kept going back to the huge, beautiful tits spilling out of her top. “Got something to say, darlin’?”

I could tell that she was slightly embarrassed and shy. “I’m sorry, it’s just that you don’t look like you’re prepared to go swimming. I mean . . . ” Her voice trailed off as she gestured towards the clothes I was wearing with an up-and-down motion of her hand.

I looked her over with growing trepidation. Christ. It wasn’t new for me to want a woman as soon as I met her, but I couldn’t remember wanting to fuck one as badly as I wanted to fuck her. She was wearing shorts, and I wondered what she had on underneath them. A sexy thong tucked between the juicy cheeks of her ass, or something that left it to the imagination?

The silence reminded me that she was waiting for a response. “Darlin’, I’m always prepared.” I kept my eyes on her as I slowly peeled off my clothes until I got down to my boxer briefs. “Just be glad I’m wearing underwear today; I usually go commando.”

About the Author

Tory Richards is an Amazon bestselling author in erotic romance and romantic suspense categories. Born in Maine, she’s lived most of her life in Florida where she went to school, married, and raised her daughter. She’s retired from Disney and spends her time with family and friends, traveling, and writing.

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Release Boost

Discovered by Dawson Dare

October 6, 2021October 6, 2021 Book Review Virginia Lee Blog

Title: Discovered

Series: Found #1

Author: Dawson Dare

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Release Date: September 30, 2021

BLURB

Kelly grew up knowing she was different, special, always wondering why she stood out from others. She never expected to be held hostage and tortured to uncover secrets she doesn’t know exist.

Noah grew up knowing he was different, special, but his adopted family kept this a closely guarded secret. Now a highly decorated naval officer who leads a special operations force, his job is to find Kelly and bring her home alive.

When Kelly and Noah meet, heat builds as their shared past begins to slowly come into focus. Powers they never knew existed, burst forth as their passion blazes. As they try to unravel the secrets of their past, evil continues to stalk them. Will their newfound psychic abilities be enough to keep them alive?

This book was previously released by Caitlyn O’Leary as “Revealed”, it has been substantially re-edited and has additional content.

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Dawson Dare’s biggest dream since she was a little girl was to be an author. She read anything she could get her hands on, including her parent’s World Book encyclopedia set. As she grew up, she had many jobs, she delivered pizzas and newspapers, worked at a fast food joint, made some money umpiring baseball and softball games, was a secretary, typesetter, artist, worked overseas, was a sales rep, recruiter, marketing AVP, project manager and is now finally an author. It took her long enough to get here, and she’s enjoying every minute of it.

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Cover Reveal

The bareback Cowboy (Southern Hearts Club, #4) By Melanie Munton

October 6, 2021October 4, 2021 Book Review Virginia Lee Blog

Title: The Bareback Cowboy (Southern Hearts Club, #4) Author: Melanie Munton Genre: Romantic Comedy Release Date: November 23, 2021 Cover Designer: L.J. Anderson at Mayhem Cover Creations Hosted by: Buoni Amici Press, LLC.

He might be one of the best riders in the world,

but she’ll give him the buck of his life.

WOULD YOU RATHER… Go through your entire life without ever falling in love?

OR… Have a rough-and-tumble cowboy stomp all over your heart with his sharpened spurs before riding off into the sunset like John f***ing Wayne?

Yeah, that happened. And frankly, I knew better. All cowboys are trouble. I’ve grown up around them my entire life, so I know how they operate. I’ve broken some of the toughest horses in the business. But for some reason, I found this thoroughbred impossible to resist.

A lot of good it did me too. Nothing but tears and comfort eating in the aftermath.

Suddenly, after a year away with no phone calls or texts to show for it, he’s back. He thinks we can pick up where we left off. But I’ve got news for him: His eight seconds with me are already up.

Little do I know, there’s a reason why he’s come back. And it’s the absolute last thing I expect.

“You’re not Quinn Prescott.”

My arm drops. I’m not even sure how to react to that, let alone what to say. My inner brilliance comes up with, “I’m not? Then maybe I should call the DMV and tell them they made a mistake on my ID.”

His frown only deepens. “I don’t hire minors. Even if you’re legal to work, wages get muddy with minors and it’s not worth navigating.”

Uh…minor?

Cut him.

Is he actually serious? Sure, I’m short. Barely 5’1”. And yeah, I’m pretty small and petite. Always have been. I was teased relentlessly about it in grade school because I always looked years younger than everyone else in my class. Among their many nicknames for me, I think their favorite was “Pipsqueak Prescott.”

But a minor?

This dude must be trippin’ off gin and juice.

“I’m twenty-four,” I state very clearly and a little impatiently.

His expression clears…and there it is. However he was struggling to see me before, he’s somehow figured it out and is now looking at me like he suddenly has free rein to do so. As if he’s actually letting himself really look now.

“I’ve heard that Morty and Quinn Prescott are some of the best horse trainers around,” he says dubiously. “And that you, in particular, have tempered some of the most unmanageable mounts. They say you have a gift.”

My chest swells with enormous pride at the compliment and at the knowledge that influential individuals in our field are actually touting our expertise. But it’s the tone with which he says all of it that rankles on my already prickly nerves.

Disbelief.

I huff, planting my hands on my hips. “What exactly were you expecting? A two-hundred-pound cowhand with a sailor’s mouth and a wad of dip in her lip?”

I immediately realize I shouldn’t have said that. Because he seems to take it as an invitation to conduct a more thorough inspection of my body. From the top of my shoulder-length brown hair and diamond stud nose ring, to the tank top and untucked flannel shirt, to the denim shorts, and finally, to my lace-up, calf-high combat boots.

Despite the fact that I first sat a horse at three years old and have grown up in the rodeo business, cowboy boots have never been my thing. They aren’t a prerequisite to being an expert horsewoman, thank you very much. I just feel more comfortable this way.

“The combat boots were a shock,” he eventually says after his gaze once again finds mine.

The urge to grin hits me, but I instantly quash it. Something still has me on the defensive with this cowboy. Then again, I’m always on the defensive. With almost everyone. I can never seem to turn it off.

And something tells me that with this guy, I’m going to have to keep my back up.

Because if I so much as blink, he might try to get me on my back.

Melanie grew up in a small town in the Midwest. After marrying her husband, she decided she wanted to try coastal life because why not? A few months later, they moved to North Carolina where she discovered her passion for writing, and they never looked back. They are now enjoying life with their beautiful daughter in Savannah, GA and loving every minute with their little Georgia peach.

Melanie’s other passion is traveling and seeing the world. With anthropology degrees under their belts, she and her husband have made it their goal in life to see as many archaeological sites around the world as possible.

She has a horrible food addiction to pasta and candy (not together…ew). And she gets sad when her wine rack is empty.

At the end of the day, she is a true romantic at heart. She loves writing the cheesy and corny of romantic comedies, and the sassy and sexy of suspense. She aims to make her readers swoon, laugh out loud, maybe sweat a little, and above all, fall in love.

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YOU’LL BE FINE – JEN MICHALSKI

October 6, 2021October 23, 2021 Book Review Virginia Lee Blog

BOOK BLAST

Book Title: You’ll Be Fine

Author: Jen Michalski

Publisher: NineStar Press

Cover Artist: Natasha Snow

Release Date: August 2, 2021

Genres: Contemporary F/F Romance, Family comedy, trans character

Tropes: Comedy of errors, love triangle

Theme: Forgiveness

Heat Rating: 2 flames

Length: 77 900 words/ 343 pages

It is a standalone book and does not end on a cliffhanger.

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Second chances don’t mean repeating the same mistakes

Blurb

After Alex’s mother passes away, Alex takes leave from her job as a writer for a lifestyle magazine to return home to Maryland and join her brother Owen, a study in failure to launch, in sorting out their mother’s whimsical, often self-destructive, life.

While home, Alex plans to profile Juliette Sprigg, an Eastern Shore restaurant owner and celebrity chef in the making who Alex secretly dated in high school. And when Alex enlists the help of Carolyn, the editor of the local newspaper, in finding a photographer for the article’s photo shoot, Alex struggles with the deepening, tender relationship that blossoms between them as well.

To complicate matters, Alex and Owen’s “Aunt” Johanna, who has transitioned to a woman, offers to come from Seattle to help with arrangements, and all hell breaks loose when she announces she is actually Alex and Owen’s long-estranged father. Can Alex accept her mother and father for who they are, rather than who she hoped they would be? And can Alex apply the same philosophy to herself?

“An enjoyable story about an adult trying to grow up.” – Kirkus Reviews

Excerpt

The last time she’d seen Juliette was high school graduation. They hadn’t spoken for weeks, and their last names—Sprigg and Maas—ensured they’d be nowhere near each other in the audience of graduating seniors. Alex had told Owen and her mother to meet her in the parking lot after the ceremony. She had no intention of lingering in the high school gym, drinking fruit punch and eating sheet cake emblazoned with GO SENIORS and CONGRATULATIONS with the other kids who’d treated her like she was some highly contagious lesbian fungus.

She’d gotten through the first row of cars and spotted her mother in the fourth row, near the exit, leaning against their Subaru. Her mother wore Ray Bans and a black fedora, her arms crossed like she was the third Blues Brother or had materialized from some mid-80s new wave music video. As Alex raised her hand to wave to her, she felt another hand on her shoulder.

“Alex.” It was Juliette’s mother, Barbara Sprigg. She wore a floral print dress with a ruffled collar. A small crucifix hugged her thick neck. Her hair was red like Juliette’s but her face ruddier, plastered with freckles. She smiled. “You’re in a hurry! Congratulations!”

“Thanks.” Alex glanced over Mrs. Sprigg’s shoulder, saw Juliette, still in her graduation gown, lagging behind with her father and little sister. “My mom is taking us out to dinner.”

“Oh, I won’t keep you.” Mrs. Sprigg said, clasping Alex’s forearm as she did so. “You haven’t been by the house for a long time—Juliette says you’ve been so busy getting ready for Swarthmore. I’m sure your mother is so proud.”

“Uh huh.” Alex nodded. “I know Juliette is excited to go to Eastern Shore State.”

“Well, she’s⎯” Mrs. Sprigg glanced over her shoulder, “never been much of the academic type. I’m just glad I taught her to bake.”

“It’s a shame they didn’t let you guys supply the cakes.” Juliette’s mother ran a bake shop in town. Even now, she smelled faintly of sugar and frosting.

“Well, they wanted some asinine discount,” Mrs. Sprigg snorted. “Because Juliette is a student. Fine, but a 50% discount?”

“It was very nice to talk to you.” Alex tugged her arm away gently. “But I’ve got to go.”

“Is everything okay at home now, dear?” Mrs. Sprigg looked in the direction of the Subaru.

“Yes, why?” Alex glanced at Juliette again, her dark red hair, the few strands that stuck to her lip gloss. Alex wondered if the lip gloss smelled like mint, or strawberry. She wondered how Juliette’s hair would feel splayed between her fingers at that moment.

“Okay. I’m glad.” Mrs. Sprigg nodded, and Alex wondered what Juliette had told her. There was a lot, she thought, she could tell Mrs. Sprigg about Juliette.

They embraced, a half, light, back-patting hug, their cheeks brushing.

“Stay away from my daughter,” Mrs. Sprigg murmured into Alex’s ear. Then, as if nothing happened, Mrs. Sprigg waved vigorously and went to join the rest of the Spriggs. Stunned, Alex watched them walk toward their Buick. Before they reached it, Juliette turned her head, her mouth parted, her eyes searching Alex’s. Alex wondered, for a moment, if she had been too hasty, too harsh, to Juliette, if there was something salvageable between them.

No, she decided. Her life after high school would be awesome, and she wouldn’t remember Juliette any more than their high school mascot or her mom’s boyfriend Lewis. She held up her hand to Juliette, as if to wave. Instead, she gave her the finger and joined Owen and her mother at the other side of the parking lot.

“Did you just flip someone off?” Her mother lowered her sunglasses. Her hazel eyes bored into Alex with an unwavering intensity of a gamma ray. “At graduation?”

“It was Juliette,” Alex murmured, shaking her head. In her new life, she would be more mature. She felt fears in her eyes. “I shouldn’t have. I just—”

“Are you kidding?” Her mother grabbed Alex by the shoulders and looked up at her. She grinned. Alex noted her mother had borrowed her lipstick. “I’m more proud of that than your stupid diploma.”

Her mother pulled a pack of Benson & Hedges out of her dark cotton blazer with the rolled-up sleeves and tapped out a cigarette.

“Smoke?” She held out the pack to Alex. “You’re almost eighteen.”

Alex shook her head. “I don’t want lung cancer.”

“Your choice.” Her mother shrugged, lighting hers. She took a drag, then exhaled with a flourish. “Welcome to adulthood.”

About the Author

Jen Michalski is the author of three novels, The Summer She Was Under Water, The Tide King (both Black Lawrence Press), and You’ll Be Fine (NineStar Press), a couplet of novellas entitled Could You Be With Her Now (Dzanc Books), and three collections of fiction. Her work has appeared in more than 100 publications, including Poets & Writers, The Washington Post, and the Literary Hub, and she’s been nominated for the Pushcart Prize six times. She lives in Carlsbad, California, with her partner and dog.