See My Review for this #MustRead Here!!

The sound of children laughing and shuffling down the hallway Friday morning is my cue to silence my phone.

I tuck it into my top drawer for the day and reach for my coffee, stealing a few more sips before the craziness of the day ensues.

I found the Schoenbach obituary—if you can call it that—earlier this morning. The funeral home posted it sometime last night.

Her name was Larissa Cleary-Schoenbach, and she was twenty-seven when she passed. It mentioned no family, no cause of death, no photograph. Nothing more than a birthdate and a single line about a private sunrise memorial service tomorrow morning and the words INVITATION ONLY in bold red letters. All caps.

I spent a few minutes Googling “Larissa Cleary-Schoenbach” earlier this morning. But I couldn’t find a thing.

No social media.

No LinkedIn.

No archived newspaper articles of any kind.

No graduation archives; high school, college or otherwise.

It’s as if this woman never existed.

“Good morning, good morning!” I take my place at the front of the room, grinning and waving and trying to psych them up for the day. Fridays are hard. The kids are exhausted, attention spans are waning. My students hang their jackets and bags on their hooks and then make their way to their assigned square on the rug. “Happy Friday!”

I maintain the smile on my face, sing our morning song, and begin the day’s lesson, but today I can’t help but feel like I’m merely going through the motions. My mind is fixated on that man from the bar last night—and the mystery woman he’s burying.

With the hyphenated name and similar age, it’s fair to assume she was his wife.

At first I thought it seemed odd that she’d have a private sunrise memorial service, but maybe sunrises were her thing? And maybe her passing was so tragic and unspeakable that all he wants is to protect her privacy?

By the time the kids head out for first recess ninety minutes later, I’ve concocted a beautiful love story for the two of them. I’ve imagined a passionate, love-at-first-sight romance.

Trips to Paris.

A sunset proposal.

Slow dances in empty bars.

Lazy Sunday afternoons sipping tea and trading poetry.

Saturday strolls in Lincoln Park.

New Year’s Eve kisses on snowy hotel balconies, her lashes covered in snowflakes as he wraps her tight to keep her warm.

In my heart of hearts, I want to believe he was beautifully, wonderfully kind to her.

That he loved her more than anything in the entire world.

That her death shattered his heart into a million, irreparable pieces.

I want to believe that that was the cause of his cruelty last night.

That he’s simply angry at the world for taking the love of his life away from him.

Death and loss can do a number on you. It can change your entire personality if you let it. Some of my darkest days came in the months following Trevor’s passing.

I want to believe Bennett has friends and family getting him through this, but last night, Eduardo mentioned that when Bennett stops in, he never talks to anyone—which leads me to assume he only comes solo.

Maybe he’s painfully private?

Maybe she was his entire world? All he had?

Maybe they’d had a falling out and weren’t speaking when she died?

The kids return from recess, peeling out of their scarves and gloves, cheeks flushed and eyes wet from the cold. Making my way to the front of the classroom to start the next lesson, I decide to do what Trevor would do if here were still here: I give the cruel stranger from last night the benefit of the doubt.

And then I carry on with my day.

See My Review Below!!!

REBEL SOUL by LK Farlow
Release Date: January 23rd

Add to Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48662068

AVAILABLE NOW!!
FREE in Kindle Unlimited!
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2sqoyKT
Universal Link: mybook.to/rebelsoullkf

Blurb:
West Larson comes from old money—the kind of wealth that comes with expectations steeped in archaic traditions. So, it’s not surprising when he learns the conditions of his trust fund: produce an heir before he turns twenty-five.

Enter Stacia Kellan. Her lowkey personality makes her the perfect baby mama…without the drama. And thanks to her wild-ass hair, colorful tattoos, and smart mouth, she’s exactly the kind of girl his parents would never approve of. Add in the fact that she’s a total smokeshow…knocking her up certainly wouldn’t be a hardship.

Stacia lives her life fast and loud. The idea of settling down isn’t on her radar. So, when her long-time friend asks her to have his baby, her immediate answer is a big, fat hell-to-the-no. Seriously, is he crazy?

West pulls out all the stops in wooing her and with every heated encounter, Stacia finds herself falling a little more for his charm and wit. Oh, and his forearms…yum.

Obligations. Lust. Friendship. Love.

The lines begin to blur as emotions enter the equation and besides, everyone knows you can’t deny your rebel soul.

About LK Farlow:
LK Farlow (A.K.A Kate) is a small town girl with a love for words. She’s been writing stories for as long she can remember. A Southern girl through and through, Kate resides in beautiful, sunny LA–that’s Lower Alabama, y’all–with her amazing husband and three rambunctious children. When she’s not writing, you can find her snuggled up on the couch watching car shows while she crochets or with her nose in a book.

Connect with LK Farlow:
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/authorlkfarlow/
LK’s Darlings (Facebook Group): https://www.facebook.com/groups/lksdarlings/
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Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lk-farlow
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16630996.L_K_FarlowSubscribe to LK Farlow’s Newsletter: http://bit.ly/lkfinsider

My Review…

This is a firey story of Stacia and West and what wild ride it is!

Desperate times call for desperate decisions.  Some that crash and burn and some that turn out brilliantly.

Stacia is truly a rebel soul.  She is a spitfire that will do anything to help the ones that she loves.  She is determined and even when things in her world are rocked to her soul, she stays strong and holds to her core values.

West is also dealing with some big issues in his world.  He too is desperate for a solution and when his and Stacia’s world collide, sparks fly and chemistry is rampant! Once he realizes what he wants, he is adamant in making his dreams come true.  He is a swoony alpha that was just wowza!

If you are looking for a fast-paced love affair with twists and turns, look no further than this new story by Ms. Farlow! I couldn’t put it down until I was finished!

See My Review Below!!!

HOMETOWN HEARTLESS by Carrie Aarons
Release Date: January 23

AVAILABLE NOW!!
FREE in Kindle Unlimited!!
http://mybook.to/HometownHeartless

Add to Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49073316-hometown-heartless

Blurb:
One year ago, the boy next door was captured as a prisoner of war.

The boy whose window faces mine.
The backyard buddy who bandaged up my skinned knees.
The childhood crush that kept me up at night, wondering if he’d ever be my boyfriend.
The town hero I wrote endless letters to after he shipped out.
The green-eyed charmer who promised me a kiss the day I turned eighteen.

And now, he’s home.
But he didn’t come back as the boy I once knew.
He’s a man now, one with demons I can’t comprehend.
The damaged soldier keeps telling me I’m not his anymore.
That the war took him, turned him into someone unrecognizable.
What he hasn’t considered is that it took me, too.

He swears there is nothing left between us, that his heart died overseas. But with each look through our windows, we both know his lies are just that. With each fated meeting, the truth only becomes more evident.

Everett Brock occupies the shadows now.
And as much as I try to pull him into the light, it seems the switch is permanent.
What he doesn’t realize is that I’m willing to follow him into the darkness.

About the Author:
Author of romance novels such as The Tenth Girl and Privileged, Carrie Aarons writes books that are just as swoon-worthy as they are sarcastic. A former journalist, she prefers the love stories of her imagination, and the athleisure dress code, much better.

When she isn’t writing, Carrie is busy binging reality TV, having a love/hate relationship with cardio, and trying not to burn dinner. She’s a Jersey girl living in Texas with her husband, daughter and furry son.

Connect w/Carrie:
Website: https://www.authorcarrieaarons.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/carrieaarons
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/carriescharmers
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Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Carrie-Aarons/e/B011J4HWW4
Newsletter Signup: https://www.authorcarrieaarons.com/subscribe

My Review…

With my background, I have a soft spot in my heart for military romances.  I am a veteran and married to a retired combat veteran so I have a unique view and filter when it comes to them.

This is the story of Everett and Kennedy.  Now I will say that usually, YA/NA stories are not my first choice in reading, but the blurb really pulled at me and I am glad that I was able to read this!

Yes, the characters are young, however, the world experienced that Everett has really aged his soul, it made him grow up fast and left lasting scars that will follow him forever.  PTSD not only affects the person the trauma happened to but the people that are closest to him. It’s not a solitary disorder, it spreads it’s venom to family, friends, and love.

Kennedy is strong, even when she doesn’t feel like she is.  Her love for Everett is the light in the darkness.  Even when hurt, pride and misplaced feelings of protection come into play, Kennedy stays ever vigilant in her feelings for Everett. That’s what true love means, being there for the good times and the bad.

Thank you for writing about a subject that for too long has been either ignored or brushed under the rug. Thank you for being brave Ms. Aarons!