EXCERPT and GIVEAWAY
Everything I Knew to be True
by Rayna York
Everything I Knew to be True by Rayna York is currently on tour with YA Bound 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
It was never easy for Cassie and her mother, struggling to make ends meet in their tiny apartment in The Bronx, but they had each other and that was enough. When her mother dies suddenly from an aggressive form of cancer, Cassie is forced to finish high school in California while living with the wealthy family of her mother's closest friend - a woman she never knew existed.
All the changes she’s faced - living with the Stanton’s in their massive house, their insanely good-looking son from across the hall, the new school filled with rich brats that stare at her like she crawled up out of the sewer - that was all do-able. It’s what happens next that shakes her to the core.
Deep, emotional situations mixed with lighthearted banter. Everything I Knew to be True will have you riding the twists and turns to the very end.
Warning: Although this book is classified as Young Adult, it is recommended for mature readers due to explicit language.
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Excerpt
“Cassie?” Cody rubs my back softly.
“Whaaa?” My room is dark. “What time is it?” I open and close my eyes a couple of times, trying to get them to work. “I must have fallen asleep.” I turn over and sit up.
“It’s around six. Mom was wondering if you want to help with the lobsters. It’s a New Year’s Eve tradition.”
“Uhhh, yeah, sure. I just need to wake up a bit.”
He leans in and places a warm, seductive kiss on my lips.
“Okay. That’ll do it,” I laugh.
“Come on,” he says pulling on my hand, half dragging me out of bed.
“Okay, okay. I’m coming.”
“I’ve got her!” he yells down the hall.
“Oh, good,” Jeff says, clapping his hands together as we near the kitchen. “You’re in for a treat.”
“Cody said something about helping with lobsters?”
Roxanne holds up a live lobster. “That’s right!” She wiggles it side to side, making it dance.
I chuckle nervously. “Okaaay?”
“Come around here.” Jeff motions for us to join him. He hands Cody a lobster, then extends one out to me.
I look at him like, are you serious?
“Oh, don’t be such a girl,” Cody teases.
I take the writhing creature, its leg flexing like a giant spider. “This is so disgusting,” I squeal. “Take it, take it.” I try to hand it off to Jeff, then Cody. They both extend their lobster toward me, indicating their hands are full.
“It’s okay,” Jeff says. “You’ll get rid of it soon enough. Okay, everybody ready?”
“For what?” I dare to ask.
“For hypnotizing them,” Jeff says, like this is the most normal thing ever.
“Ex-cuuuze me?”
“You can’t just throw them into a boiling pot of boiling water—they’ll scream,” Roxanne explains.
“Oh my god! Who are you people?”
They all laugh at me.
“Just put the lobster on its head like this.” Roxanne flips hers upside down on the newspaper, standing it up on its head, then proceeds to rub its tail from body to tip.
“You have got to be kidding me.”
“Stop being such a wuss,” Cody says. “Just do it!”
I glare at him as I flip my lobster on its head, its rubber band clasped claws lay splayed out on the newspaper, like, help me—its little legs flailing in midair. “This is disgusting.” My face scrunches up as I shudder, completely repulsed. With one finger, I rub its tail as shown, while keeping my distance. The lobster calms down.
“Time to put them in,” Jeff says, walking over to the stove. He lifts the lid off of a large pot of boiling water and gently sets his in.
“What? No! This is horrible! It’s totally inhumane! I can’t kill the thing after I’ve bonded with it!”
Cody gives me a sideways glance and smirks as he dumps his in, followed by Roxanne.
“It’s going to die anyway,” Jeff says sympathetically. “It’s been out of water, and it’s not like you can go throw it back in the ocean.”
“You’ve eaten lobster before,” Cody says. “How do you think it ends up hot on your table?”
“This is rich people food. I’ve never had it before.”
Jeff and Roxanne exchange a look like, we’re a bunch of insensitive shmucks.
“Sorry,” I say. “I didn’t mean to be a jerk. I’m sure it will be good.”
“Do you want me to put it in the pot for you?” Jeff asks.
“Yeah, I don’t think I can do it.”
I hand Ed over to him. Yes . . . I’ve already named him.
He places him in, putting the lid on the big pot, sealing Ed’s fate.
I look at the pot sadly. Cody puts an arm around my shoulder, squeezing me to him. “Come on, killer. Let’s go set the table.”
I look at him, horrified. He laughs his head off, then dodges the punch I throw before running out of the kitchen.
“Not funny,” I yell.
[Want more? Click below to read a longer excerpt.]
Praise for the Book
“This book was a great read, filled with endearing characters and some you would like to hate. My daughter suggested that I read it because she loved it so much. It has everything to draw you into the unfolding life of a young teenager who has to cope with the death of her mother and live with strangers. Cassie discovers that the mother she knew and loved had a secret past that brought up mixed emotions and feelings of betrayal. The twists and turns of unexpected circumstances, kept me interested, especially when she was so determined to right a wrong that put her life in danger. There is so much more that I would like to rave about, but I don’t want to spoil it for you.” ~ Laura L Whittemore
“While typically reading non-fiction books, I thoroughly enjoyed the character development and enticing storyline that consistently had me turning pages until the very end. Would highly recommend to all young adults and anyone beyond!” ~ Connor Clouston
About the Author
Rayna York grew up with hippie parents that liked to adventure, so being the new kid was always a challenge. Where change was the norm, books were her constant - a way to escape. As an adult, many careers came and went, but writing has always been her passion. Everything I Knew to be True is her first published novel.
Giveaway
Enter the tour-wide giveaway for a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card.
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