EXCERPT and GIVEAWAY
Cascading Petals
by Jane C. Brady
Cascading Petals by Jane C. Brady is currently on tour with Xpresso Book Tours. The tour stops here today for an excerpt and a giveaway. Please be sure to visit the other tour stops as well.
Description
Despite the years of bullying in school, Jewel Hart has remained sweet and kind. She has it all - a great life, a great family, and beauty - but she has never been able to obtain the one thing she wants - to belong.
When Jewel meets Kaiden Carter, a good-looking, charming new student at York Mills High, things start to look up. On the surface, he is perfect, but Jewel can’t shake the feeling that everything is not as it seems.
When the devastation of the rising suicides in her school hits too close to home and drives Jewel into a deep despair, she clings to Kaiden’s strength to find her way back. Through the pain and fear surrounding her, she finds hope and the will to go on. But just as she picks herself up, tragedy strikes again, threatening to steal her last glimmer of hope. How will she go on? Can she ever find her place in the world?
Book Video
Excerpt
“Kai?” she said one night as I lay on the couch, trying to block out my worries by distracting myself with an episode of Gotham.
“Yes?”
“I’m sorry, baby.” Tears glistened in her eyes. Guilt consumed her, and she evaded my gaze. “I’m sorry for the burden I’ve placed on you. I can’t seem to live without him. He’s been part of my life since we were children. I know in my head I have to overcome this and go on for you. I’ve always considered myself a strong woman, but now I realize he was my strength and my rock. Together we were a team.”
I stared at the TV, listening to her fidget while she waited for my reply. The TV screen faded as I considered her words. Finally, I looked at her and through gritted teeth asked, “Do you think it’s all peachy from where I’m sitting? I’m the kid, Mom, but I’m the one picking up the pieces. Am I not part of the team?”
“You were. You are.” She buried her face in her hands and wept.
I wanted her to snap the hell out of it. At that moment, I couldn’t stand the sounds of her sobs. Bitterness ate at me.
“Please, Kaiden. Don’t turn on me. I’ll try. I promise I will.”
I didn’t want to push her back to where she had been a few months ago. Fear of being without both my parents tortured me. That night, I decided to bury my feelings and the memories of my dad. Thinking of him had been too hard for us. I made a choice to be the strength he’d once been for her. In doing so, I stopped living the life of a teen.
[Want more? Click below to read a longer excerpt.]
Praise for the Book
“Heartbreaking and gritty and raw. I recommend for fans of literary YA fiction who like John Green, 13 Reasons Why, Mean Girls, etc.” ~ Jenna Brewster-Indie Book Reviewers
“Cascading Petals by Jane C. Brady was simply amazing. I finished it a few days ago and am still digesting it. I haven’t read anything like that in a long time, if ever. I found Brady’s narrative voice to be so engaging and authentic.” ~ Karen Matthews-Indie Book Reviewers
“I thought the author’s narrative prose was some of the best and most authentic I’ve read in a while, the way she brought the scenes to life, and the attention to personal details that gave these characters and each of their individual stories genuine authenticity. I was mesmerized by the world Jane C. Brady created and the characters, one so realistic and authentic, tragic and flawed… yet strong.” ~ Darla Ortiz
About the Author
Jane lives life to the full because she doesn’t want to wake up twenty years from now regretting all the things she didn’t do. She’s an avid traveler who also loves throwing elaborate dinner parties where she wows her guests with gourmet meals. Jane has a passion for writing, interior design, history, movies, board games, and fitness. In her quest for an exciting life, however, she now draws the line at zip-lining, which she experienced in Costa Rica. Never again!
Jane comes from a family of six sisters and lived in a Tennessee plantation house for several years while growing up. She now lives in Western Canada but dreams of owning a vacation home in South Carolina. She lives with her husband (her high school sweetheart), two teenagers, and two dogs. When she grows up, she’d like to be her brilliant sixteen-year-old daughter (minus the mood swings).
Giveaway
Enter the tour-wide giveaway for a chance to win a Kindle Fire HD 32gb plus a signed copy of Cascading Petals by Jane C. Brady (US/Canada/UK only).
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