I would like to welcome, Kyra Lennon, to Write with Fey! Take it away, Kyra!
Thank you SO much, Chrys, for letting me hijack your blog!
This is a small snippet from the mid-point of Sidelined, at the height of Bree’s confusion about her life, and her marriage – right before everything takes a dramatic, horrible turn!
Genie’s was my favourite place to hang out. Since it was close to Freya’s apartment, she and I often went there for drinks after work, or before going out to a club. The bar was casual, mostly filled with surfers and sun worshippers so it didn’t require any kind of dress code. In fact, if you wore more than a bikini in there during the day, people stared because you’d overdressed.
Taylor and I grabbed our drinks; coke for her, juice for me. I desperately wanted a cocktail but I wasn’t so good at handling my drink yet. Even though I was totally pissed with Jude for being so dismissive about my day, I’d dragged Taylor along. I figured I should show some level of responsibility. On the other hand, alcohol would have helped lessen my guilt about being with her.
Genie’s wasn’t too busy and we easily found a place to sit. Right by the door so I could get away if I needed to.
Taylor stared at me across the table, turning her coke glass around in her hands. “Why the sudden change of heart about hanging out with me?”
I'd never seen her looking so unsure. Like I was the one to worry about. I'd always been kind to her, even slightly more than everyone else after what she did. I suppose when someone has an ulterior motive for every action it's easy to think everyone else does the same. Not me. I'm a what-you-see-is-what-you-get kind of girl and I assumed everyone else to be the same, which was the reason she'd found it so easy to play me in the first place.
“I haven't had a change of heart. I'm here because I had to get away from Jude and you hadn't left yet. Plus, doing something I shouldn't seemed like a really good idea.”
The tiniest smile showed on her face. “Good to know you haven't totally turned into a goody-goody without my influence.”
I poked out my tongue at her, crossing my eyes; the most immature gesture I'd used since the last time I'd seen her.
Taylor burst out laughing. “I missed you, Bree.”
“Let's not get too sentimental. I haven't decided how long I'm staying.”
Taylor reached across the table and touched my hand. “Bree, come on. I know what I did, okay? I messed up. How am I supposed to fix this if you don't give me a chance?”
She was doing that thing. The thing that made me forget how much of a monster she'd been. It must have been some kind of witchcraft because every time she did it – and I'd never even figured out what “it” was – I mellowed a little. I'd already established the puppy dog eyes didn't work but something about her always won me over, even if just a little bit.
“Let's see how things go, okay?”
Taylor nodded then took a sip of her drink. “So, why don't you start by telling me what's new with you?”
Before my brain had a chance to think, I launched into an explanation of my desire to be a make-up artist, and how Jude hated the idea and refused to let me explore the one thing I'd ever wanted to do. How could I stop myself? The argument was fresh in my mind, and Taylor had asked. Even if she wasn't being completely genuine, what was the worst she could do with this information? Tell him what I'd said? Tell our friends? Okay, well, that would suck. It sucked that I confided in her before confiding in Leah and Freya but they both had so many other things going on. They didn't need me bringing them down. Taylor thrived on other people’s unhappiness – she was the perfect solution.
“I'm just so tired,” I finished, heaving out a sigh. “When I told Jesse, he was so supportive, but my own husband? He-”
“Hold on.” Taylor held up her hands. “You mentioned Jesse a couple times. What's going on?”
My head dropped to one side, eyeing her with confusion. “What do you mean? He's a friend.”
“Right, but I didn't realise you were so close.”
“Well, it's only been since he's been off work. I've had more time than anyone else to go visit him.” I shrugged. “He's easy to talk to.”
Even as I said the words, they sounded false. Jesse meant more to me every time I saw him, every time he allowed me to be myself without questioning my every move. He’d been my lifeline in a way, and he probably didn’t even realise. And it wasn’t just him. I loved his parents and his sister, too. The Shaws had become the family I’d never really had. I’d started to suffocate and Jesse gave me a place where I could breathe.
“Bree,” Taylor said, gently. More gentle than she’d ever sounded before. “You don’t think I understand? Hello, I dated Jesse! If anyone can understand someone falling for him, it’s me.”
You didn’t fall for him. You used him.
Blurb:
At the age of twenty-one, Bree Collinson has more than she ever dreamed of. A handsome husband, a fancy house, and more shoes than Carrie Bradshaw and Imelda Marcos combined. But having everything handed to her isn’t the way Bree wants to live the rest of her life. When an idea to better herself pops into her head, she doesn’t expect her husband to question her, and keep her tied by her apron strings to the kitchen.
Isolated and unsure who to turn to, Bree finds herself falling back into a dangerous friendship, and developing feelings for the only person who really listens to her. Torn between her loyalty to her husband and her attraction to a man who has the perfect family she always wanted, she has some tough choices to make.
While Bree tries to figure out what she wants, a tragedy rocks the Westberg Warriors, triggering some dark memories, and pushing her to take a look at what’s really important.
About the Author:
Kyra is a self-confessed book-a-holic, and has been since she first learned to read. When she's not reading, you'll usually find her hanging out in coffee shops with her trusty laptop and/or her friends, or girling it up at the nearest shopping mall.
Kyra grew up on the South Coast of England and refuses to move away from the seaside which provides massive inspiration for her novels. Her debut novel, Game On (New Adult Contemporary Romance), was released in July 2012, and she scored her first Amazon Top 20 listing with her New Adult novella, If I Let You Go.
Thank you SO much, Chrys, for letting me hijack your blog!
This is a small snippet from the mid-point of Sidelined, at the height of Bree’s confusion about her life, and her marriage – right before everything takes a dramatic, horrible turn!
***
Genie’s was my favourite place to hang out. Since it was close to Freya’s apartment, she and I often went there for drinks after work, or before going out to a club. The bar was casual, mostly filled with surfers and sun worshippers so it didn’t require any kind of dress code. In fact, if you wore more than a bikini in there during the day, people stared because you’d overdressed.
Taylor and I grabbed our drinks; coke for her, juice for me. I desperately wanted a cocktail but I wasn’t so good at handling my drink yet. Even though I was totally pissed with Jude for being so dismissive about my day, I’d dragged Taylor along. I figured I should show some level of responsibility. On the other hand, alcohol would have helped lessen my guilt about being with her.
Genie’s wasn’t too busy and we easily found a place to sit. Right by the door so I could get away if I needed to.
Taylor stared at me across the table, turning her coke glass around in her hands. “Why the sudden change of heart about hanging out with me?”
I'd never seen her looking so unsure. Like I was the one to worry about. I'd always been kind to her, even slightly more than everyone else after what she did. I suppose when someone has an ulterior motive for every action it's easy to think everyone else does the same. Not me. I'm a what-you-see-is-what-you-get kind of girl and I assumed everyone else to be the same, which was the reason she'd found it so easy to play me in the first place.
“I haven't had a change of heart. I'm here because I had to get away from Jude and you hadn't left yet. Plus, doing something I shouldn't seemed like a really good idea.”
The tiniest smile showed on her face. “Good to know you haven't totally turned into a goody-goody without my influence.”
I poked out my tongue at her, crossing my eyes; the most immature gesture I'd used since the last time I'd seen her.
Taylor burst out laughing. “I missed you, Bree.”
“Let's not get too sentimental. I haven't decided how long I'm staying.”
Taylor reached across the table and touched my hand. “Bree, come on. I know what I did, okay? I messed up. How am I supposed to fix this if you don't give me a chance?”
She was doing that thing. The thing that made me forget how much of a monster she'd been. It must have been some kind of witchcraft because every time she did it – and I'd never even figured out what “it” was – I mellowed a little. I'd already established the puppy dog eyes didn't work but something about her always won me over, even if just a little bit.
“Let's see how things go, okay?”
Taylor nodded then took a sip of her drink. “So, why don't you start by telling me what's new with you?”
Before my brain had a chance to think, I launched into an explanation of my desire to be a make-up artist, and how Jude hated the idea and refused to let me explore the one thing I'd ever wanted to do. How could I stop myself? The argument was fresh in my mind, and Taylor had asked. Even if she wasn't being completely genuine, what was the worst she could do with this information? Tell him what I'd said? Tell our friends? Okay, well, that would suck. It sucked that I confided in her before confiding in Leah and Freya but they both had so many other things going on. They didn't need me bringing them down. Taylor thrived on other people’s unhappiness – she was the perfect solution.
“I'm just so tired,” I finished, heaving out a sigh. “When I told Jesse, he was so supportive, but my own husband? He-”
“Hold on.” Taylor held up her hands. “You mentioned Jesse a couple times. What's going on?”
My head dropped to one side, eyeing her with confusion. “What do you mean? He's a friend.”
“Right, but I didn't realise you were so close.”
“Well, it's only been since he's been off work. I've had more time than anyone else to go visit him.” I shrugged. “He's easy to talk to.”
Even as I said the words, they sounded false. Jesse meant more to me every time I saw him, every time he allowed me to be myself without questioning my every move. He’d been my lifeline in a way, and he probably didn’t even realise. And it wasn’t just him. I loved his parents and his sister, too. The Shaws had become the family I’d never really had. I’d started to suffocate and Jesse gave me a place where I could breathe.
“Bree,” Taylor said, gently. More gentle than she’d ever sounded before. “You don’t think I understand? Hello, I dated Jesse! If anyone can understand someone falling for him, it’s me.”
You didn’t fall for him. You used him.
At the age of twenty-one, Bree Collinson has more than she ever dreamed of. A handsome husband, a fancy house, and more shoes than Carrie Bradshaw and Imelda Marcos combined. But having everything handed to her isn’t the way Bree wants to live the rest of her life. When an idea to better herself pops into her head, she doesn’t expect her husband to question her, and keep her tied by her apron strings to the kitchen.
Isolated and unsure who to turn to, Bree finds herself falling back into a dangerous friendship, and developing feelings for the only person who really listens to her. Torn between her loyalty to her husband and her attraction to a man who has the perfect family she always wanted, she has some tough choices to make.
While Bree tries to figure out what she wants, a tragedy rocks the Westberg Warriors, triggering some dark memories, and pushing her to take a look at what’s really important.
Kyra is a self-confessed book-a-holic, and has been since she first learned to read. When she's not reading, you'll usually find her hanging out in coffee shops with her trusty laptop and/or her friends, or girling it up at the nearest shopping mall.
Kyra grew up on the South Coast of England and refuses to move away from the seaside which provides massive inspiration for her novels. Her debut novel, Game On (New Adult Contemporary Romance), was released in July 2012, and she scored her first Amazon Top 20 listing with her New Adult novella, If I Let You Go.
Please leave a comment for Kyra! :)
Thanks so much for being a part of the blog tour!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Kyra! I am happy to help! :D
DeleteGood luck with your book, Kyra. Love a woman finding her freedom and taking control of her life.
ReplyDeleteI love a woman like that, too. ;)
DeleteThanks for stopping by, Susan!
Thanks for the excerpt, Kyra. Glad you hijacked Chris' blog today. Good luck with your book.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad she hijacked my blog, too. :)
DeleteThanks for leaving Kyra a comment!
Nice to see you popping up on Chrys' blog today, Kyra. Hope the tour is going well.
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by for Kyra's blog tour, Suzanne!
DeleteThanks, Suzanne! It's going brilliantly so far!
DeleteA good hijack indeed took seed. Congrats on your book.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Pat! :)
DeleteThanks for leaving Kyra a comment!
Thanks!
DeleteCongrats, Kyra! I enjoyed the excerpt! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by for Kyra's blog tour! :)
DeleteThanks, Cherie! I;m glad you enjoyed it!
DeleteMakes me miss the beach! I love the kind of living where a bikini (though I never wear one!) is being over dressed. There is such a good attitude among beachers.
ReplyDeleteSo #3 on Crystal's blog isn't a lie. Darn! :P
DeleteSo true! Living by the beach is great - although it's not quite as exotic in the UK as it is in LA!
DeleteGrats Kyra! You're making quite the splash in the blogosphere.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Loni!
DeleteThanks for visiting Kyra's stop on my blog, Loni!
DeleteAhhh, I miss the days when I felt comfortable walking into the nearby beach bars in a bikini. That was many, many pounds ago. :-) Congrats on the tour, Kyra!
ReplyDeleteHee hee, I know the feeling!
DeleteThanks, Jocelyn!
You're braver than I, Jocelyn, because I never felt comfortable doing that! lol
DeleteLove this excerpt! Jesse is easy to fall for. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you! Yes, Jesse is a cutie pie!
DeleteI can't wait to read more about Jesse. ;)
DeleteCongrats to Kyra! Sidelined is an excellent read.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting Kyra's tour stop on my blog, Nick! :)
DeleteThanks for stopping by, Kelly!
ReplyDeleteNice to meet you Kyra and thanks for sharing your writing. I like that you describe yourself as a "bookaholic" as that seems to be a predominant characteristic in good writers. Best wishes with your writing.
ReplyDeleteThanks for leaving Kyra such a nice comment! :)
DeleteOoh! Now there's trouble. *gulp* This sounds like a great one, Kyra! Can't wait to read it.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to read it, too, Crystal. Thanks for commenting!
DeleteThis sounds like such a good book, Kyra. I wish you the best of luck with it! I can definitely relate to falling in the hands of a valuable friendship when one's current relationship is suffering. I'd be interested in seeing what develops with Bree and the decisions she is forced to make.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing, Chrys!
Thanks for leaving Kyra a lovely comment, Gina!
Delete