Showing posts with label The Songs Series. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Songs Series. Show all posts

Friday, April 12, 2019

"The Songs That Brought Me Back" by Mylissa Demeyere


EXCERPT
The Songs That Brought Me Back
(The Songs Series Book 2)
by Mylissa Demeyere

The Songs That Brought Me Back (The Songs Series Book 2)  by Mylissa Demeyere

The Songs That Brought Me Back is the second book in The Songs Series by Mylissa Demeyere. You can read an excerpt below. Make sure you grab your copy ON SALE for only $0.99 to 15 April.


Also available : The Songs of You and Me (ON SALE for $0.99 to 12 April; read my blog post).

The Songs of You and Me by Mylissa Demeyere

Description
Have you ever made a mistake? One so monumental you lost everything? I did, and I hate myself for it! All I want to do is close my eyes, and let the darkness consume me. Make it all go away. The end.
Ainsley is drowning in the depth of her despair. One wrong decision left her alone, with only regret as her constant companion. To escape it all, she makes another choice. One she hopes will end everything. Instead, she’s thrown into a whole new world filled with opportunities she doesn’t believe she deserves.
Ethan gives the appearance of breezing through life. But underneath his bright facade, he’s scarred by loss. When fate leads him into Ainsley’s world at the exact moment she needs someone the most, he can’t ignore the chance to right the wrongs of his past.
Ainsley and Ethan will struggle to help each other heal and start anew.
They’ll learn that the secret to conquering their pain lies within their power, if only they can do it together.
Always together.
Sometimes the ending is really the beginning.

Book Video


Excerpt
ETHAN
The song changed, and a fast, hypnotic rhythm I recognized from the radio blasted through the place. I held onto Ainsley and started swaying to the beat. For me, this was second nature, but Ainsley felt stiff and unwilling to move along with the sway of the music. I got closer to her and held her near.
“You’re overthinking this.” I felt her shiver and saw goose bumps break out on the bare skin at her shoulder. I leaned in closer and dropped a soft kiss there, feeling her lean in even closer and shudder once more. I liked it.
I released our intertwined fingers and ran my hands up her arms, loving the way her body responded to my touch. The people around us bumped and swung on the dance floor, completely oblivious to the spark and heat building between us. My hands traveled down her back and held onto her hips. “Feel the beat.” My voice came out husky, affected by her so close to me. I moved her gently to the rhythm of the music and felt her body respond to my ministrations. I fought off the shivers coursing through my own body, feeling her pressed up to me like this. And like a light switch being turned on, she reciprocated. Her hips joined me, her arms wrapped around my neck, and her eyes found mine and held my gaze. She was locked in rhythm with me, our bodies moving in total sync with the music, rocking to a perfect beat, unaware of anything around us. Focused solely on each other. There wasn’t a more perfect moment. Staring down at her, I felt my heart beat faster. I knew I loved this woman in my arms. I felt the cord that was wrapped around us tug us closer together. I leaned in the last leg of the distance and pressed my lips to hers. All the fire I had experienced paled in comparison to what I felt when I pressed my mouth to hers. Fireworks exploded. Her lips weren’t unfamiliar to me. But that first kiss had been all about showing her I cared. That I was there to take care of her. This was all my bottled up want, need, and love that came bursting out to the surface in a hot melding of two people meeting each other in a searing kiss. Ainsley must have felt the buildup. She met me with as much passion, opening up to me in complete acceptance. Our tongues tangled, and I pulled her closer, needing to feel her flush against me. How I had craved this for so long. I felt her hand flatten against my chest, and my muscles responded to her touch. My whole body was on fire, craving her touch.
 [Want more? Click below to read a longer excerpt.]


Praise for the Book
“A heartfelt romance with a powerful message about the sanctity of human life. If you’ve ever simply needed a friend, The Songs That Brought Me Back will resonate – and leave you thankful for the people in your life.” ~ Taylor Dean, author of I’m With You and Chasing Fireflies
“Another remarkable read by Mylissa Demeyere. Ethan and Ainsley had me laughing and crying as they face their own demons and fall in love while doing it. This book adds even more depth as it confronts suicide head on. Suicide has become an epidemic that some are afraid to address; Demeyere brings it to light from both the victims and the survivors giving us insight on the struggles of so many. It does not disappoint and I, again, am excited to see what comes next from this talented writer.” ~ Amazon Reviewer
“A beautiful sequel to The Songs of You and Me that cleverly illustrates that there are always two sides to every story and that it is never too late for love to overcome any challenge.” ~ Amazon Reviewer
“This poignant redemption story about second chances and forgiveness yanked my emotions all over the place. I cried, I yearned, I hoped. A beautiful story about what true love is and does.” ~ Charissa Stastny, author of Between Hope and the Highway and The Ruled Out Romance Series
“Beautifully raw and emotional, and full of exquisitely swoony moments, this story hooked me from beginning to end (I read it in one sitting). I couldn't put it down! The characters are rock solid, imperfectly perfect (especially Ethan), and the magnetic chemistry was mesmerizing.” ~ Katie from Katie’s Clean Book Collection
“Second chances are a powerful thing and in this novel we see how redemption and starting over can bring light back into ones soul.” ~ Sheila from Why Not Because I Said So Blog


Playlist


About the Author
Mylissa Demeyere
Mylissa Demeyere was born in Belgium and resides in the beautiful city of Ghent. She lives in a somewhat organized home with her four beautiful children and the love of her life. If she isn’t working, she’s writing, running, reading, or enjoying time with her kids, who are growing up way too fast.
The Songs That Brought Me Back is the sequel to The Songs of You and Me, with the third book releasing in the middle of 2019.






Links
Amazon (Kindle Unlimited)

Featured in this post:




Thursday, April 11, 2019

"The Songs of You and Me" by Mylissa Demeyere


REVIEW AND EXCERPT
The Songs of You and Me
(The Songs Series Book 1)
by Mylissa Demeyere

The Songs of You and Me (The Songs Series Book 1) by Mylissa Demeyere

The Songs of You and Me is the first book in The Songs Series by Mylissa Demeyere. You can read my review and an excerpt below. Make sure your grab your copy ON SALE for only $0.99 to 12 April.


Also available: The Songs That Brought Me Back (ON SALE for $0.99 12-15 April).

The Songs That Brought Me Back by Mylissa Demeyere

Description
A second chance at first love.
Jane Hartford fell head over heels for Jackson at the tender age of fifteen. She spent most of high school pining for him, until she realized he wasn’t going to see her as anything more than his baby sister’s best friend. Now she finds herself single with a daughter, a broken heart, and songs that remind her of a long lost love.
Jackson Wright is a man living with regret. His biggest one, never acting on his feelings for Jane. When he returns to Bellebrook, the town they grew up in, he literally runs into her and his world gets tossed upside down and sideways.
This time, Jackson isn’t willing to give up. With a meddling sister eager to push both of them together, he believes things might actually work out. That is, if they can overcome the heavy baggage they both carry. Follow Jackson and Jane as they revisit their past, figuring out what went wrong so long ago.
Will they learn they have the power to make things right in the present?

Book Video


Excerpt
Jane (15 years old)
“What was so funny back there?” He asked as his pen stalled.
“Huh?” I pretended not to know what he was talking about as I paged through the book in front of me.
“You know what I mean.” He pushed the subject a little harder.
“Oh, you know the effect you have on the female student body, Jackson. You don’t need me to spell it out for you.”
“Do I now?” He wagged his brows.
“Seriously, you know you’re the popular jock and you actually have half a brain. It’s a rare phenomenon as opposed to the others on the team that only have the looks but are so lacking in other areas.”
“Half a brain?” He looked genuinely insulted. Poor guy. I was sure he got enough of girls stroking his ego, he didn’t need me to help in that department.
“Yes, half a brain. Need I remind you, I’m a freshman helping out a senior with his English paper?”
His smug smile faltered, and his left eyebrow scrunched up. I guess I just took this guy down a notch or two. “I didn’t think so,” I continued. “You’re going to attract fans anywhere you go.”
“Are you a fan, Jane?”
I felt the color rise in my cheeks. His comment hit a little too close to home.
“You’re feeling pretty good about yourself right now, aren’t you? Do you want me to bring you a mirror and give you a moment alone?” I managed to divert the attention from me and set him straight.
“Never mind, I’m good. Let’s get to work.”
[Want more? Click below to read a longer excerpt.]


Praise for the Book
“A tender debut novel that will leave you remembering the sweet angst of first love. The Songs of You and Me is a charmer.” ~ Taylor Dean, author of I’m With You and Chasing Fireflies
“In this romantic debut about first love, second chances, Ms. DeMeyere weaves the past and present together in a way that brings the characters’ hearts to life as they heal from tragedies and struggle to move on in life. Sweet and heartwarming.” ~ Charissa Stastny, author of Between Hope and the Highway and the Rules out Romances Series
“A fun and enticing love story that combines the bitter with the sweet and keeps you laughing amidst the tears. You won’t want to miss this touching story that explores true love in all its depth and beauty.” ~ Aubrey, Amazon Reviewer
The Songs of You and Me pulled me in from page one. The characters came to life and I felt as if I was part of their story. I stayed up night after night fascinated with their personal and individual challenges. Their obstacles were relatable and tugged at my heart. I couldn’t wait to finish and yet I didn’t want it to end. As I read the last page, I was ecstatic to see what would come next from Mylissa Demeyere.” ~ Jamie, Amazon Reviewer


My Review
I bought this book from a bookstore.


By Lynda Dickson
Following her husband’s death, Jane returns to her home town to teach English at the local high school, prompted by her best friend Sarah, who is the vice-principal. Sarah’s brother Jackson has also just moved back to town to work on a building project at the school. Jane and Jackson have history, but the timing has never been quite right. Will these two get their second chance at love?
The story moves between the present day and the past (in italics) and is told from the points-of-view of Jane and Jackson (with one bit from Sarah’s POV). The writing is a bit plain and sometimes repetitive, with a few overused phrases, but the story is cute and the characters are likable.
In her “Word to the Reader” at the beginning of the book, the author states, “The whole idea for this book started out as a scene after listening to a song. Then I would listen to that song over and over and see more of the pieces fall into place. Soon, I had an entire playlist, with scenes mapped out, and a whole story ready to write.” I love that the chapter titles are hyperlinked to the songs on Spotify. However, I found it easier to make my own Spotify playlist. (The author has since made one herself - see below.) Because the book is set in two distinct times, the playlist would make more sense if the featured songs were from both eras (or, in the case of the flashbacks, at least songs that existed at the time).
There are a few editing issues: incorrect paragraphing in the dialogue; some awkward sentences; the Chapter 26 song link doesn’t work; Chapter 28 is in Sarah’s point of view, which is unnecessary and doesn’t fit in with the rest of the book; the Chapter 33 song link doesn’t link to the correct song. It also seems to take an unnecessarily long time to find out how Jane's husband David died.
These issues aside, this is an entertaining story that will have you rooting for two people who have each lost someone they love. Jackson’s ex-wife Ainsley features in the second book in this series.
Warnings: mild sexual references.

Some of My Favorite Lines
“I was a married woman. Just because my husband died didn’t make me available.”
“There’s more to life than just surviving.”
“He would end up breaking my heart, and he didn’t even know he was holding it in his hands.”
“If only there weren’t so many if only’s.”
“In my mind, this was still Jane Pierce, the girl I fell in love with all those years ago, not some dead man’s wife.”

Playlist


About the Author
Mylissa Demeyere
Mylissa Demeyere was born in Belgium and resides in the beautiful city of Ghent. She lives in a somewhat organized home with her four beautiful children and the love of her life. If she isn’t working, she’s writing, running, reading, or enjoying time with her kids, who are growing up way too fast.
The Songs of You and Me is her debut novel, followed by the sequel The Songs That Brought Me Back.





Links
Amazon (Kindle Unlimited)

Featured in this post:




Monday, December 17, 2018

12 Days of Clean Romance featuring Mylissa Demeyere


EXCERPT and GIVEAWAY
The Songs That Brought Me Back
(The Songs Series Book 2)
by Mylissa Demeyere

The Songs That Brought Me Back (The Songs Series Book 2) by Mylissa Demeyere

During the month of December, we will be featuring 12 authors who write clean romance. Today we feature Mylissa Demeyere with The Songs That Brought Me Back. Also available in The Songs Series: The Songs of You and Me (read my blog post).

The Songs of You and Me by Mylissa Demeyere

This book blast and giveaway is hosted by I Am A Reader and Clean Wholesome Romance.


Description
Have you ever made a mistake? One so monumental you lost everything? I did, and I hate myself for it! All I want to do is close my eyes, and let the darkness consume me. Make it all go away. The end.
Ainsley is drowning in the depth of her despair. One wrong decision left her alone, with only regret as her constant companion. To escape it all, she makes another choice. One she hopes will end everything. Instead, she’s thrown into a whole new world filled with opportunities she doesn’t believe she deserves.
Ethan gives the appearance of breezing through life. But underneath his bright facade, he’s scarred by loss. When fate leads him into Ainsley’s world at the exact moment she needs someone the most, he can’t ignore the chance to right the wrongs of his past.
Ainsley and Ethan will struggle to help each other heal and start anew.
They’ll learn that the secret to conquering their pain lies within their power, if only they can do it together.
Always together.
Sometimes the ending is really the beginning.


Excerpt
ETHAN
“FILL THESE OUT, PLEASE.” The nurse at the ER admin desk shoved a clipboard holding a stack of insurance forms into my hands. “Once we get your partner stabilized, I’ll go find out about sending you in to see her.” She gave me a curt nod and disappeared behind the desk.
What had I been thinking? I hadn’t been thinking. Not much beyond getting my neighbor here in time. I had been living next door to Ainsley for the last six months, ever since the construction on my house was completed. And I had noticed her from day one. Who wouldn’t, with her striking blue eyes, long blonde hair, and a body every man dreams of? But there was more. She had this frailty about her, if you looked close enough. And it drew me in, right from the start. But she never let me get further than a few pleasantries. Still, it didn’t stop me from trying. And I had tried to be her friend.
When I found her earlier today… I shuddered as the memory washed over me.
I clutched the letter in my hand, secretly happy I had an excuse to ring Ainsley’s doorbell. The mailman had messed up and I couldn’t let the opportunity slide, noting her car in the driveway.
Walking up to the door, I rolled my shoulders and took a deep breath, aiming for cool and suave, not flustered and eager like she had me feeling each time I caught a glimpse of her.
I rang the bell and turned to soak up the bright rays of sun, feeling my stomach knot as the anticipation rose. A few seconds passed, but no one came to open the door.
I turned to ring the bell again, sure she was home, when I stopped dead in my tracks, my hand still suspended in the air. My heart started pounding in my chest as the ground beneath me felt like it was moving.
“Ainsley! Ainsley!” I pounded on the door, her lifeless body sprawled on the floor in the hallway just visible through the sidelights. My palms felt moist as I fought against the rising panic.
“Ainsley!!” My voice was hoarse as I belted out her name over and over.
Instinct took over. I ran to the back door and found it unlocked. I hadn’t ever let myself in, but now wasn’t the time to worry about that.
“Ainsley!” I fell on my knees next to her, taking in the full scene. Her chest was barely moving, her lips a faint shade of blue. An empty pill bottle lay on the floor beside her. I picked it up, already sure of what was going on but needing to confirm it. Time seemed to stand still as I pieced it all together, but the loud, ringing sound in my ears forced me to move and get help.
“Ainsley, what have you done?” I cried as I slipped my phone out of my back pocket and called 911. I hoped I wasn’t too late, that we still had time.
“What happened?” One of the paramedics loaded her on a gurney while the other got to work checking her vitals. I rehashed all I knew, which wasn’t very much.
They loaded her in the ambulance, and after getting the right info about where they were taking her, I sped over to the hospital in record time.
“What’s your relationship to the patient?” The ER clerk typed in Ainsley’s name without making eye contact.
“I don’t see how that’s important now,” I growled.
“Only the next of kin can see the patient.” She looked up for the first time and took in my panicked state.
“I’m her…boyfriend.” Where did that come from? I didn’t even know her that well, but I couldn’t take it back now.
“I see.” The woman stared up at me over her wide-rimmed glasses, pausing as she studied me. Did she pick up on my hesitation? Did she detect the lie? “Please take a seat. I’ll have her paperwork ready in just a sec.”
I released the breath I held and dropped down in the vinyl seat, overcome by the events of the past hour.
I’d been waiting for over two hours, and I was frantic. I didn’t do so well in a hospital setting.
“Mr. Van Der Beek?” A doctor dressed in light blue scrubs walked into the waiting area. I stood up.
“Yes?” My heart beat double time, waiting for him to give me news on Ainsley.
“We were able to stabilize your girlfriend.” The word made me wince. The doctor luckily mistook it for the info he was delivering, and his expression softened, his eyes full of sympathy. “Ainsley experienced respiratory depression, and we needed to intubate her to ensure she was getting enough oxygen.”
I swallowed the bile rising in my throat and nodded my understanding.
“We’ll keep her in the ICU until she gains consciousness.”
“But she’s going to be okay?” I pleaded.
“We’ll know for sure tomorrow. I think you got to her in time.” He patted me on the shoulder and turned to leave but reconsidered. “Mr. Van Der Beek.” He stared into my eyes.
“Yes?” I felt the weight of the day settle on my shoulders.
“Your girlfriend is very sick. Even if she makes a full physical recovery, you have a long road ahead of you.”
I nodded, my eyes stinging. “Thank you, Doctor.” I sank onto one of the chairs lining the side of the waiting area. If anyone knew how long that road was, it was me.
[Want more? Click below to read a longer excerpt.]


Praise for the Book
“A heartfelt romance with a powerful message about the sanctity of human life. If you’ve ever simply needed a friend, The Songs That Brought Me Back will resonate – and leave you thankful for the people in your life.” ~ Taylor Dean, author of I’m With You and Chasing Fireflies
“Another remarkable read by Mylissa Demeyere. Ethan and Ainsley had me laughing and crying as they face their own demons and fall in love while doing it. This book adds even more depth as it confronts suicide head on. Suicide has become an epidemic that some are afraid to address; Demeyere brings it to light from both the victims and the survivors giving us insight on the struggles of so many. It does not disappoint and I, again, am excited to see what comes next from this talented writer.” ~ Amazon Reviewer
“A beautiful sequel to The Songs of You and Me that cleverly illustrates that there are always two sides to every story and that it is never too late for love to overcome any challenge.” ~ Amazon Reviewer
“This poignant redemption story about second chances and forgiveness yanked my emotions all over the place. I cried, I yearned, I hoped. A beautiful story about what true love is and does.” ~ Charissa Stastny, author of Between Hope and the Highway and The Ruled Out Romance Series


About the Author
Mylissa Demeyere
Mylissa Demeyere was born in Belgium and resides in the beautiful city of Ghent. She lives in a somewhat organized home with her four beautiful children and the love of her life. If she isn’t working, she’s writing, running, reading, or enjoying time with her kids, who are growing up way too fast.
The Songs That Brought Me Back is the sequel to The Songs of You and Me, with third book releasing in the middle of 2019.






Giveaway
Enter the blast-wide giveaway for a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card or PayPal cash.


Links