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I am really excited to tell you about an innovative new contest platform for both readers and writers. Laura Fabiani of iRead Book Tours is now a proud sponsor for World’s Best Story!

More and more authors and writers are discovering the power of readers. Books are written for the reader audience, so why not have a say in telling others we think a writer’s story has blockbuster potential? That’s what World’s Best Story allows you to do.

World’s Best Story was launched at BookExpo America on May 28. It’s the first social contest to reward readers and writers with exclusive partner prizes. So what does this mean for you?

If you are a writer:

1. Submit your story. Entering is free and the entry period ends Aug 12.
2. Prizes include publishing contracts, celebrity master classes, trademark and IP protection, book tours, big box retail distribution, PR and marketing support and more!
3. Top ten finalists and grand prize winner will be announced at the Toronto International Book Fair on November 15, 2014.

If you are a reader:

1. You get the chance to be the judge, discover new stories and win great prizes.
2. When you sign up to become a member, you automatically get $10 to spend at Beyond the Rack. Signing up is easy, requiring only your name and email.
3. When you rate and vote you’ll get a chance to win cool prizes, and the grand prize package includes a $2000 shopping spree at Beyond the Rack!

So how can you help us spread the word? There are several ways:

• Write a post about it and you can enter in a giveaway for a $20 Amazon gift card and one of 6 $25 Beyond the Rack Gift Cards
• Add the World’s Best Story logo on your blog with a link back to their site.
• If you are an iRead tour host, your post will count toward your incentive program if you do the above.
• If you are not yet an iRead tour host, join and you will qualify for the incentive program
• Tell all your readers about WBS through social media networking.

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THANK YOU!

Janette Rallison is one of my favorite authors! I consider myself one of her original fans. I read Deep Blue Eyes and Other Lies back in junior high in 1996. I’m pretty sure I’ve read all of her books, and if I haven’t I will change that shortly. When I saw the book tour for Janette’s latest book I signed up before I even read the synopsis. If my four boys play peacefully long enough I’ll finish it today. Son of war, Daughter of Chaos is another great book to add to your bookshelves.

Son of War, Daughter of Chaos

Aislynn is accustomed to watching for the enemy. Her parents instructed her from the time she was young to look for the signs: people with greater than normal strength, eyes that can glow green, and have the ability to jump long distances. Over the years, Aislynn has come to view her parents’ fears as quirks—things that get in the way of having a normal high school life.

When Aislynn’s mother dies under suspicious conditions, her father doubles his restrictions. But all his precautions can’t stop the boy with glowing green eyes from finding Aislynn. She realizes too late she’s been drafted into an ancient Egyptian war, whether she’s prepared or not.

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Blog Tour Schedule

Author Janette Rallison

Janette Rallison is old. Don’t ask how old, because it isn’t polite. Let’s just say she’s older than she’d like to be and leave it at that.

Janette lives in Chandler, Arizona with her husband, five children and enough cats to classify her as “an eccentric cat lady.” She did not do this on purpose. (The cats, that is; she had the children on purpose.) Every single one of the felines showed up on its own and refuses to leave. Not even the family’s fearless little Westie dog can drive them off.

Since Janette has five children and deadlines to write books, she doesn’t have much time left over for hobbies. But since this is the internet and you can’t actually check up to see if anything on this site is true, let’s just say she enjoys dancing, scuba diving, horse back riding and long talks with Orlando Bloom. (Well, I never said he answers back.)

Website * Facebook * Twitter

Blast Giveaway

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 8/17/14

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the publisher. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

(CLICK Rafflecopter LINK BELOW TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY!)

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BOOKS BY JANETTE RALLISON
As an Amazon Affiliate I receive a small portion of sales when you click then make a purchase from Amazon links on my blog.

Let the Sky Fall (Sky Fall #1) by Shannon Messenger. 2013. Simon Pulse. Goodreads.

Vane Weston should have died in the category-five tornado that killed his parents. Instead, he woke up in a pile of rubble with no memories of his past – except one: a beautiful, dark-haired girl standing in the winds. She swept through his dreams ever since, and he clings to the hope that she’s real.

Audra is real, but she isn’t human. She’s a sylph, an air elemental who can walk on the wind, translate its alluring songs, even twist it into a weapon. She’s also a guardian – Vane’s guardian – and has sworn an oath to protect him at all costs.

When a hasty mistake reveals their location to the enemy who murdered both their families, Audra has just days to help Vane unlock his memories. And as the storm winds gather, Audra and Vane start to realize that the greatest danger might not be the warriors coming to destroy them, but the forbidden romance growing between them.

Let the Sky Fall is a contemporary fantasy romance that will make you wish you could fly.

This was a really fun read that took me into a new world of fantasy elements. Van thought he lived a normal high school life until Audra started showing up. Audra was broken, and Vane was hilarious. They made the perfect pair. The sexual tension was goooood.

I was frustrated with parts of the story because I was inpatient to find out what was going on, but by the end I was satisfied enough. I had an issue with a little part of the back story, but it was tiny compared to how much I enjoyed this book.

If you like young adult fantasy romance then Let the Sky Fall is the book for you.

Content Ratings: highlight between ( ) for details
Sexual: mild ( kissing, teenage boy thoughts )
Language: mild ( some h*** and d*** )
Violence: moderate ( murder, fighting, injury )

BOOKS BY SHANNON MESSENGER
As an Amazon Affiliate I receive a small portion of sales when you click then make a purchase from Amazon links on my blog.

Remnants: Season of Wonder (The Remnants #1) by Lisa T. Bergren. April 8, 2014. Blink. Goodreads.

Andriana is a Remnant, one of the gifted teens born on the seventh day during the seventy-seventh Harvest after the Great War, and destined to act as humanity’s last shield against the horrors that now plague those who remain.

After years of training in stealth and warfare, Andriana and her Knight protector, Ronan, are finally ready to answer the Call and begin the life they were designed for. But as they embark with the other Remnants on the first of their assignments, they quickly discover that the world beyond their protected Valley home is more dangerous than they imagined.

The Sons of Sheol will stop at nothing to prevent Dri and Ronan from rescuing anyone sympathetic to the Remnants’ cause. And as the Remnants attempt to battle the demonic forces, other enemies close in. Dangers intensify, but so do Dri’s feelings for Ronan–the one emotion she is not meant to feel. In the midst of their mission, Andriana must find a way to master her feelings, or risk compromising everything.

Remnants isn’t the kind of book meant to finish in a day. The world building is so rich you’ll want a few days to read it and take it all in. Enjoy your time spent in Dri’s world.

Dri is a tough character, strong and brave. She tries not to let anything distract her from her mission and responsibility as a Remnant. Ronan is wonderful and supportive. I love watching a forbidden romance blossom. Since he’s her knight and she’s a Remnant there should be no romance going on. It’s amazing how making eye contact with the right guy can make a girl’s heart speed up. I’m looking forward to reading the next books in this series to find out what happens!!

If you love fantasy, dystopian, or young adult fiction then you’ll enjoy Remnants.

Content Ratings: highlight between ( ) for details
Sexual: mild ( thoughts but not detailed, kissing )
Language: none
Violence: moderate ( fighting, injuries, blood, death, mention of sex slavery )

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher. I am not paid for my reviews. My reviews are solely my opinion.

BOOKS BY LISA T BERGREN
As an Amazon Affiliate I receive a small portion of sales when you click then make a purchase from Amazon links on my blog.

Split Second (Pivot Point #2) by Kasie West. February 2014. Harper Teen. Goodreads. Book 1: Pivot Point.

Life can change in a split second.

Addie hardly recognizes her life since her parents divorced. Her boyfriend used her. Her best friend betrayed her. She can’t believe this is the future she chose. On top of that, her ability is acting up. She’s always been able to Search the future when presented with a choice. Now she can manipulate and slow down time, too . . . but not without a price.

When Addie’s dad invites her to spend her winter break with him, she jumps at the chance to escape into the Norm world of Dallas, Texas. There she meets the handsome and achingly familiar Trevor. He’s a virtual stranger to her, so why does her heart do a funny flip every time she sees him? But after witnessing secrets that were supposed to stay hidden, Trevor quickly seems more suspicious of Addie than interested in her. And she has an inexplicable desire to change that.

Meanwhile, her best friend, Laila, has a secret of her own: she can restore Addie’s memories . . . once she learns how. But there are powerful people who don’t want to see this happen. Desperate, Laila tries to manipulate Connor, a brooding bad boy from school—but he seems to be the only boy in the Compound immune to her charms. And the only one who can help her.

As Addie and Laila frantically attempt to retrieve the lost memories, Addie must piece together a world she thought she knew before she loses the love she nearly forgot . . . and a future that could change everything.

Oh boy this was good! Pivot Point left me hanging so I was so happy to dive right in to Split Second.

This time we got deeper into Laila’s story. We still saw the continuation of Addie’s story, but it was so interesting to get into Laila’s life. The best friend relationship between Addie and Laila was so fun. They had me laughing out loud with their antics. The boys were great of course too, but I’ll let you get to know them yourself when you read these books.

Split Second was the perfect ending to this amazing young adult dualogy. I think that’s the name for a two book series. 😉

Content Ratings: highlight between ( ) for details
Sexual: mild ( kissing )
Language: none
Violence: none

BOOKS BY KASIE WEST
As an Amazon Affiliate I receive a small portion of sales when you click then make a purchase from Amazon links on my blog.

Pivot Point (Pivot Point #1) by Kasie West. February 2013. Harper Teen. Goodreads.

Knowing the outcome doesn’t always make a choice easier . . .Addison Coleman’s life is one big “What if?” As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It’s the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie’s parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with—her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the “Norms,” or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it’s not.

In one potential future, Addie is adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in school—but she never wanted to be a quarterback’s girlfriend. When Addie’s father is asked to consult on a murder in the Compound, she’s unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which reality she’s willing to live through . . . and who she can’t live without.

The more I think about it, the more amazing this book becomes. I read this a few months ago and forgot to review it!

The premise of the book is so unique. Addie lives in a hidden city in America full of people with special abilities. They aren’t wizards or anything but more like epic humans. When Addie has a decision to make she can Search and see the outcome of both options. The cool thing is when she does a Search she thinks she is living through the two options for days or weeks when in reality she’s only sitting in her bedroom for a few minutes or seconds. I don’t know if that made any sense. It’s awesome so just read it yourself to find out.

There was definitely some romance involved that made the story so good. I loved the mentions of Texas, especially Dallas area, and the high school football games. Go team!

Pivot Point is for those who enjoy YA contemporary fiction with a sci-fi twist. There are only two books in the series so go check out Split Second. You’ll love it too.

Content Ratings: highlight between ( ) for details
Sexual: mild ( kissing )
Language: none
Violence: mild ( abuse )

BOOKS BY KASIE WEST
As an Amazon Affiliate I receive a small portion of sales when you click then make a purchase from Amazon links on my blog.

Defiance (Defiance #1) by C.J. Redwine. August 2012. Balzer & Bray. Goodreads.

Within the walls of Baalboden, beneath the shadow of the city’s brutal leader, Rachel Adams has a secret. While other girls sew dresses, host dinner parties, and obey their male Protectors, Rachel knows how to survive in the wilderness and deftly wield a sword. When her father, Jared, fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector, her father’s apprentice, Logan–the same boy Rachel declared her love for two years ago, and the same boy who handed her heart right back to her. Left with nothing but fierce belief in her father’s survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself. But treason against the Commander carries a heavy price, and what awaits her in the Wasteland could destroy her.

At nineteen, Logan McEntire is many things. Orphan. Outcast. Inventor. As apprentice to the city’s top courier, Logan is focused on learning his trade so he can escape the tyranny of Baalboden. But his plan never included being responsible for his mentor’s impulsive daughter. Logan is determined to protect her, but when his escape plan goes wrong and Rachel pays the price, he realizes he has more at stake than disappointing Jared.

As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can’t be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making.

So I started this post back in the middle of March! Then life happened, a brain tumor was found, you know that kind of thing. Anyway, hopefully this review can make a little bit of sense.

I loved this book! It was exciting with action and enough romance to make me keep turning the page. Action romance books are my favorite. Defiance was mostly dystopian with a fantasy creature involved.

Speaking of which let’s talk about the villains. There were two. One was a man on a power trip and the other was a murderous creature. Both brought a certain fear to the read that kept things interesting and intense.

The city of Baalboden was very Medieval like with the women being forced to have a protector if they ever wanted to be in public. Rachel was unique in the fact that she was a trained fighter because of her dad. She was so smart too, though sometimes impulsive. To counteract her impulsiveness we had Logan. He was super smart and strong but also a thinker and planner. I won’t talk anymore about their relationship because it was fun to see how they got along or really didn’t.

Defiance is a must read for Young Adult readers who love adventure and romance stories. The 2nd book, Deception, is already out. Deliverance, book 3, releases August 26, 2014.

Content Ratings: highlight between ( ) for details
Sexual: mild ( kissing )
Language: none
Violence: moderate ( death, torture, blood, fighting, fantasy creature )

I received this book through Goodreads First Reads. I am not paid for my reviews. My reviews are solely my opinion.

BOOKS BY C.J. REDWINE
As an Amazon Affiliate I receive a small portion of sales when you click then make a purchase from Amazon links on my blog.

Divergent the MOVIE. 2014. DivergentTheMovie.com.

DIVERGENT is a thrilling action-adventure film set in a world where people are divided into distinct factions based on human virtues. Tris Prior (Shailene Woodley) is warned she is Divergent and will never fit into any one group. When she discovers a conspiracy by a faction leader (Kate Winslet)to destroy all Divergents, Tris must learn to trust in the mysterious Four (Theo James) and together they must find out what makes being Divergent so dangerous before it’s too late. Based on the best-selling book series by Veronica Roth.

I saw Divergent in theaters twice the first weekend it released and loved it! My book club friends and I went to the first showing. The release date was March 21st, but there was an 8pm showing the night before. It was so fun to go with my girl friends. Then I went that weekend on a date with my husband since he’s read all the books too.

When watching movies made from books I go with the mindset of seeing the characters I love come to life. I don’t get too worked up about ways the movie deviates from the book. But with that being said, Divergent stayed very true to the book and especially the characters which I appreciate as a book lover.

Veronica Roth made a brief appearance. It was fun to recognize her and think, “hey, I know her!” Shailene Woodley made the perfect Tris. When I saw the previews I wasn’t sold at first, but after seeing the movie I couldn’t imagine anyone else playing Tris. From the first time I saw Theo James in the trailers I thought he was perfect to play Four. Wow. He was perfect. I think he now has millions of teenage girl fans . . . any age female fan actually. 😉

I’m sorry this is such a late post, but if Divergent is still showing in your area go see it! If you loved the book you’ll love the movie.

Content Ratings: highlight between ( ) for details
Sexual: mild ( kissing )
Language: mild but I didn’t keep track ( some d*** and h*** I think )
Violence: moderate ( physical combat with training, blood, injuries, murder, guns, knives )

BOOKS BY VERONICA ROTH
As an Amazon Affiliate I receive a small portion of sales when you click then make a purchase from Amazon links on my blog.
 

Dear Book Friends,

I’m sorry for the dramatic title, but I wanted to get your attention so that you could be updated in my life.

How It All Went Down
On April 6th, the day after I turned 30, I got really sick. After being sick all day I woke up that evening feeling better. Turning on my phone I saw a few unread emails. Still feeling exhausted I opened the emails and found I couldn’t understand the words. I knew the letter names and sounds, but I couldn’t comprehend the word! It was crazy! Let me tell you, English is a difficult language. Sounding out words does not work AT ALL. Honestly looking back I think I was too tired to worry long before falling asleep.

After a week of doctor visits, blood work, and an MRI the doctor found that I had a “mass” on the left side of my brain. After seeing two neurosurgeons I was told that I have a low grade glioma which is a slow growing tumor that starts and stays in the brain. It’s on the left side which is the side of my language comprehension. Surgery is a possibility in the future, but we want to avoid it as long as possibly since it’s on the left side and has the risk of affecting my ability to read and understand words. There are ways to avoid those risks so I’m not too worried.

Where Do I Go From Here?
My Neurosurgeon said that I can go back to living my normal life. It took almost two weeks for me to feel completely back to normal, but I really do feel fine now.

I will go back in for an MRI in July to see if the tumor has grown and at what rate. I’ll have a biopsy in the fall with a possible surgery to remove some of the tumor.

What Have I Learned?
I am so grateful for my health. Things could be so much worse. I could have continued to have brain splitting headaches, but I don’t. I could have continued to fall asleep exhausted all day, but I don’t.

I am grateful for reading! I don’t think I took it for granted, but I know that reading is a part of my life I never want to give up. Writing and editing my Young Adult novel is also a part of my life that brings me so much joy. I teared up when I opened my word document to do some edits after more than two weeks of not being able to. The tears told me that this wasn’t just a hobby it is my passion. I hope everyone has a passion in life.

The time between finding out I had a mass in my brain and that it wasn’t the killing kind of cancer I thought it was possible that I was dying. No one can know how they will react to that thought, and I hope you never will.

For me, I felt peace. I know that my Savior Jesus Christ lived and died for me and was resurrected. He lives and loves us! I felt joy knowing that Jesus and God my Heavenly Father would be waiting to greet me in Heaven. Have I lived a perfect life? Nope, not even close, but I repent daily for my daily mistakes and try to live as Christ would want me to.

With this peace of leaving the earth came the thought I didn’t want to yet. I want to be here with my husband and to raise my four boys! My boys are 7, 5, 3, and almost 1 years old. The time we spend on earth is so short in the eternal perspective, but I want to spend as much time as I can here to help my boys come to know their Savior too.

Have you ever heard the country song Live Like You Were Dying by Tim McGraw? The song is about a man who had cancer. I found myself singing part of the chorus multiple times throughout the day. (found at metrolyrics)
And I loved deeper
And I spoke sweeter
And I gave forgiveness I’d been denyin’
And he said, Someday I hope you get the chance
To live like you were dyin’

I hope you don’t have to live like you were dying to know what’s really important while we’re on the earth. The two things that stood out to me were to build a relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and to build loving relationships with our family and friends. We all have difficulties, and I hope I can always learn and grow stronger because of mine.

In Conclusion
This was long, but I wanted to share with you what’s going on so you can know why I might continue to only post sporadically. Blogging is not the most important thing, but I do still enjoy sharing my love of books with all of you.

Love,
Kathryn

P.S- If you are interested to learn more about my religious beliefs visit these websites: lds.org and mormon.org

I am so happy to be apart of the blog tour for Uncovering Cobbogoth by Hannah L. Clark. Visit the other TOUR STOPS!

Uncovering Cobbogoth (Cobbogoth #1) by Hannah L. Clark. May 13, 2014. Cedar Fort. Goodreads.

Norah Lukens needs to uncover the truth about the fabled lost city of Cobbogoth. After her archaeologist uncle’s murder, Norah is asked to translate his old research journal for evidence and discovers that his murder was a cover-up for something far more sinister.

When she turns to neighbor and only friend James Riley for help, she realizes that not only is their bitter- sweet past haunting her every step, but James is keeping dangerous secrets. Can Norah discover what they are before its too late to share her own.

This was a great book!!! Everyone go read it. . . right now. Uncovering Cobbogoth took my emotions on a roller coaster ride. I was happy, sad, heart-broken, excited, betrayed, scared, nervous, angry, ecstatic. Norah was fun to follow as she learned more about the Cobbogothians.

I loved the mythical creatures. Some were awesome and amazing others were plain creepy and terrifying. Norah searched to learn more about herself and to keep herself and those she loved alive. Yes there’s a boy, his name is James. I won’t ruin your fun by giving any details away, but believe me you’ll enjoy it. And you will swoon.

Uncovering Cobbogoth was a fun and exciting read. I recommend it to those of you who love YA fiction and/or fantasy. I look forward to reading the other books in this series when they release.

Content Ratings: highlight between ( ) for details
Sexual: mild ( kissing )
Language: none
Violence: mild/moderate ( death, injury, blood )

I received the ARC eBook from Cedar Fort Publishing. I am not paid for my reviews. My reviews are solely my opinion.

BOOKS BY HANNAH L. CLARK
As an Amazon Affiliate I receive a small portion of sales when you click then make a purchase from Amazon links on my blog.

Hannah L. Clark lives with her husband and their son in the Rocky Mountains. She has always known she would be a storyteller. In 2006 she graduated from Utah Valley University with a bachelor’s degree in English, and immediately began writing Uncovering Cobbogoth.Hannah loves running, mythology, laughing, soulful bluegrass music, and growing things. Like her heroine, Norah, she is slightly inclined to believe that trees have souls.

To learn more about Hannah and the Cobbogoth series, visit http://www.cobbogoth.com.

NOW FOR A SWOONY EXCERPT!! ENJOY!

“Nor?” James rubbed the sleep from his eyes with the heel of his hand. One look at me, however, and he was wide awake. “What is it? Is it Gram?”

“No. No, not that,” I croaked, guilt rushing through me for causing him more worry.

The panic left his eyes, and he squinted at me.

I shuffled self-consciously. I knew I looked terrible. I’d been up crying half the night after my argument with Uncle Jack about James breaking my heart. Finally, I snuck out my window, climbed down my cherry tree, and headed to the fire station to see James.

“Hey, Riley! Cut the lights, man!”

James glanced back into the dark, communal bedroom where the rest of the night shift firefighters slept.

“Come here.” He took my hand, closed the bedroom door and, in stockinged feet, led me down the hall. A moment later, we were sitting side by side on the stairs. James still held my hand, and I hoped he’d never let go. I watched as he reached into his shirt pocket, fishing around until he found a piece of peppermint gum.

He offered me half. I shook my head, so he stuffed the whole thing in his mouth. Then he turned those kind, piercing eyes on me.

Growing warm under his gaze, I cleared my throat. “I-I’m so sorry to wake you up,” I started. “I hoped you’d still be awake. It’s just . . .”

James mindlessly ran his thumb in circles over my knuckles. I lost my train of thought. Blinking, I took a deep breath and plunged on. “My uncle . . . he wants me to stop spending time with you. I mean, I can still help with Gram and everything, he just doesn’t want us hanging out any other time.” I sucked in another unsteady breath. “But I—I can’t let that happen, James. You’re my only friend.”

James was quiet for what seemed like forever. I prayed he wouldn’t just shrug his broad shoulders and shuffle back to bed.

To my relief, he reached up, rumpling his chocolate curls with his free hand. “Did he give you a reason why?” he asked, avoiding my eyes. I shook my head. “I think he’s afraid you’ll end up hurting me—that you’ll break my heart. You know how protective he is.”

He was silent again, this time longer.

Stupid, Norah! Why had I come here? Why did I think James would even care about this—that it would upset him at all?

Finally, James let out his breath. And the next moment, he was pressing the back of my hand to his lips.

I swallowed my shock. I’d never imagined that his lips could be so warm and soft. The contact sent a shock straight to my heart.

“What do you think?” James mumbled a moment later, still contemplating my hand. “Do you think I could hurt you?”

I wanted to burst into tears all over again. “I don’t think, James, I know. But it would be worth it.”

James chuckled this time, resting his forehead against my temple. “Now that’s a compliment.”

I smiled. Having him so close—smelling the fresh peppermint on his breath—was a fierce mixture of agony and ecstasy. They were feelings I’d never imagined I could feel.

“I’d never hurt you, Nor,” James whispered at last, and his breath tickled my neck. “Not really.”