New Adult Contemporary Romance

Date Published: June 2, 2015

Jesse Tyler is the perfect mix of sweet prince and bad boy…

He is also my best friend—and I’m hopelessly in love with him.

Unfortunately he didn’t feel the same way about me, and to make matters worse, he moved away in the middle of our senior year, completely cutting me off.

Now after a few years (and did I mention a new guy?) I am hit with the biggest bombshell of all—Jesse is moving back to town!

I know I should be happy, but I can’t help but feel a bit nervous about our reunion, especially since I never once stopped loving him.

Will things be weird between us?

Will we struggle to reconnect?

But even more importantly…

Will he finally feel the same way about me?

EXCERPT!!!!!

“So, I was thinking we can go out to Carbanaro’s tomorrow night,” Ethan said coyly.
“Are you kidding me? That place is expensive!” I exclaimed with a mouth full of food. Apparently, I had lost all sense of table manners, but of course Ethan was nice enough not to care.
“Well, it’ll be our fourth date and I was thinking—”
“Oh! I didn’t know anybody else was in here,” a voice exclaimed. I looked up to see Jesse’s shocked face. He glanced between me and Ethan and then back again.
“It’s okay, man. Just having lunch with Rocky.” Ethan reached out and tapped my arm.
Jesse’s lips tightened. “I see.”
Ethan smiled warmly, seemingly oblivious to Jesse’s judging eyes. “Are you new here? I haven’t seen you before.”
I cleared my throat, nearly choking on a piece of lettuce. “Ethan, this is my old friend, Jesse. He just started working for us yesterday.” I paused and glanced back up at Jesse, who had backed his way over to the old fridge in the corner of the break room. “Jesse, this is Ethan. He’s…uh….we…uh…”
Ethan stiffened slightly, but never lost the smile on his face. “No labels.”
“No labels,” Jesse repeated. He opened the fridge and grabbed a dirtied insulated lunch bag. Realizing he had no choice but to eat with us, I quickly began chomping down my salad. Anything to hurry lunch along.
“Old friends, huh?” Ethan glanced between the two of us. “How long have you known each other?”
Jesse answered for me. “We’ve been friends since we were fourteen.”
“Wow, almost ten years. That’s impressive!” Ethan’s eyes widened in appreciation.
“We lost touch a few years back,” I corrected, stabbing into yet another cucumber. I kept my eyes focused on my half-eaten salad and didn’t notice Jesse quickly making an exit.
“Where are you heading off to? You can eat with us,” Ethan offered.
I lifted my head and realized Jesse was already making his way towards the door. He paused sheepishly and shook his head. “No offense, but I’m a bit of introvert. I need my lunch break to regroup…alone.”
“Understood, my man.”
Introvert? Since when?
“Are you sure you aren’t just sneaking out to take a smoke?” I asked doubtfully.
Jesse shook his head, but kept his expression cold. “I quit a long time ago.”
He stopped smoking too?
Ethan turned back towards me. “So, Carbanaro’s? Tomorrow evening?”
“Uh, sure,” I replied absently. “Why not?”

CHARACTER INTERVIEW!!!

Friendship Counselor: First, let me thank you for coming to this session. I know it’s not usually easy to ask for help.
Rocky: Well, I figured our friendship—if we can even call it that—needs a breath of fresh air.
Jesse: Fresh air? Seriously? Anything’s better than being poked and prodded about my life.
Rocky: *drops jaw* Jesse, don’t how old are you? Don’t be rude.
Jesse: Sorry, I’m just not comfortable with these sorts of things.
Friendship Counselor: Don’t worry about it. Well, let’s start off with something easy. Please introduce yourselves and tell us a little about you.
Rocky and Jesse glance at each other.
Rocky: I’ll go first. Um, my name is Raquel Rossi—
Jesse: You mean, Rocky
Rocky: Don’t interrupt. *Shakes head* But yes, I also go by Rocky—loved ones call me Rocky—I’m twenty-three years old and work at my family’s store.
Counselor glances at Jesse.
Jesse: Oh! My turn already? Well, let’s see. I’m Jesse—also twenty-three—I came back to take care of my sick mom and now I also work at her family’s store.
Friendship Counselor: So you both spend a lot of time together.
Both nod.
Friendship Counselor: Do you see this as helping your relationship? Or is the time together hurting it?
Rocky: *laughs* There’s nothing to hurt! He stopped talking to me about four years ago and honestly, I don’t know why.
Jesse: Sometimes you just grow up, Rocky. You see things for what they really are instead of the sugar coated fantasy—
Rocky: Sugar coated? What the hell are you talking about?
Jesse: What did you say about interrupting?
Friendship Counselor: Well, it looks like we’re getting somewhere. Um, Jesse can you explain what ‘reality’ is to you
Jesse: I’m not comfortable enough to say
Rocky: Really? You’re going to pull that card
Jesse: What do you want from me Rocky?
Rocky: I…
Friendship Counselor: Is it possible there’s something else going on here? Any romantic feelings between you two?
*Silence*

Thanks to her Mom’s unwavering devotion to read a bedtime story to her every single night throughout her childhood years, S. BRIONES LIM’s love for books began before she could even speak.

Raised in Southern California, Author S. Briones Lim initially dreamt of becoming an artist and/ or Book Author. A Psychology Degree (Summa cum Laude), a stint in Art School, and a career in Advertising/Media later, she is finally delving back into her first love – books. As a self- renowned bookworm, S. Briones Lim’s love for books has inspired her to pen her own novels and hopes her readers will fall in love with her stories as much as she enjoyed writing them.

Author of the Amazon Bestselling novel, Caught Inside, S. Briones Lim’s other obsessions include time with family, POPCORN, watching movies and her dogs, Tobi and Roscoe. She currently lives on the East Coast with her husband and continues to write every day.

Contact Information

Website: sbrioneslimauthor.wordpress.com

Facebook: facebook.com/sbrioneslim and facebook.com/authorsbrioneslim

Twitter: @sbrioneslim

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7155647.S_Briones_Lim

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/S.-Briones-Lim/e/B00DQCOM12/

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Today is the bonus reveal for LOVING EDEN, the sequel to KISSING EDEN by T.A. Foster! It features an interview with the characters. This is a New Adult contemporary romance. This title will be released on September 25th.

GOODREADS

Have you ever thought of packing up everything you own and moving halfway across the country? I’m talking about leaving your entire life behind—friends, family, school—with no turning back. No? Me either, but that was before a week of spring break changed my life forever. Before I did something I never thought I’d do at twenty-two. Before I fell in love with Grey. Sometimes happily ever after isn’t always what you think it will be.

Interview with Grey and Eden

When we last saw you two, Grey had made a trip to North Carolina to deliver a lost suitcase. What have you two been up to since then? Eden: I graduated from Carolina in May and then spent the summer in Chapel Hill with Taylor. Grey: Same ole, same ole for me. Just been working at the Palm Palace, trying to keep the summer guests happy. No summer trips across state lines? Eden: After Grey’s visit we talked on the phone all the time. Hours everyday. Grey: And texted. Eden: Right, and texted, but once we made the decision I was moving to South Padre, there was just too much to do to get ready to squeeze in a trip. And how did that decision happen? Eden, did Grey ask you to move? Eden: I think we realized right away that we aren’t the kind of couple who handles long distance well. I wanted to be with him all the time. The timing is actually perfect. I just graduated and I hadn’t found a job yet, so it made the most sense that I go to Texas. Besides, I love it. I couldn’t ask Grey to give up the Palm and move to North Carolina. Grey: Yeah, I did ask her, but it was a mutual decision. We both wanted that from the beginning. And she’s completely right. We work best when we’re together. All of that sounds intense. When is the big move? Eden: Well, I had to finish out my lease and then my parents insisted I spend some time with them before moving. So, I’ll be headed to Texas the first part of September. Grey, are you flying up to help Eden move? Grey: I wish, but she wants to do it on her own. I’ll be getting things ready for her to move down. Eden: It’s not that I don’t want Grey on the trip, but it’s important to me I do this on my own. I hope that makes sense. Of course my parents think I’m crazy. Moving in together is never an easy adjustment. Any last minute jitters before the big move? Grey: Absolutely none. Eden: Aww, that’s sweet. I’m a little worried about where I’m going to fit all my clothes and shoes, but I think we can figure something out. Grey: Darlin’, you don’t have to worry about that. I have a surprise planned. Eden: Surprise? You have to tell me now. Did you add another closet in your room? Grey: You’ll see when you get to Padre.

Sounds like you two have a lot of exciting things ahead of you. Good luck on the move!

-----------------

Previous book in the series.

KISSING EDEN - AVAILABLE NOW!

Purchase KISSING EDEN from...

Amazon | B&N | Smashworks | iTunes

T.A. Foster's Bio: T.A. Foster once spent a monthlong spring break on South Padre Island, where she soaked in the Texas sun, beach, and learned what real Texas country music is. Sometimes fiction does spring from reality. She grew up catching rays and chasing waves along the North Carolina Outer Banks and now resides in the state with her adventurous pilot husband, two children, and two canine kiddos. T.A. has an undergraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a graduate degree in Educational Psychology from Texas A&M University. When she’s not chasing her two-legged and four-legged children or trying to escape for date night, you can find her reading, writing, or planning her next beach trip.