ARC Review: The Map To You by Lindy Zart

The Map to You

Author: Lindy Zart
Publisher: Lyrical Shine
Pages: Kindle Edition, 198 pages
Genre: NA
Release Date: November 28th 2017

Summary:

They both had secrets that could drive people apart—or bring them together forever . . .

Keeping his inner demons at bay means Blake Malone has more than enough trouble on his plate. He doesn’t need any extra complications. But that’s exactly what he gets when, on his way to North Dakota, he leaves his truck unattended—and returns to find a beautiful woman sleeping in the front seat.

Opal Allen seems to have a knack for attracting trouble. Which is why she isn’t about to tell her new road trip companion the real reason she needs to hightail it out of town. But Blake has a way of seeing right through her, which is both terrifying and exhilarating. Now her biggest problem is figuring out how to resist their undeniable attraction. Because once this road trip is over, she plans on never seeing Blake again.

But the best adventures don’t go according to plan.

Review:
OMG! This was so amazing! Heart breaking, shattering really but so so beautiful!

Zart slowly sneaked her way into my heart, then bit by bit dismantled it until it was a shattered mess on the floor. Then she went about to put it back together again, she added a little joy, quirk and a whole lot of hope to it. My heart sores.

I think this is one of the most touching books I read in 2017. Even if at first glance it just looks like a quirky, off-beat romance, somehow it was much more, for me at least.

Blake , who we met in Roomies, is a perfectly flawed male lead. He seems like a tough, difficult guy at first, but quickly we get to discover he is really generous. I could totally relate to Blake and loved his POV. Not because I had any kind of issues that he faced growing up, but because I got his bond with his grandfather and I can relate to the feeling down. Also let's face it I am "mrs. sunshine" lol. Grumpy and scary to approach at first, but a big old marshmallow if you dare to overlook it. I got his fears and his struggles, felt his worries and hopes. One of the best male leads I had the pleasure to read in a long long time
Opal is quirky and off beat. Again extremely well written. It took me a bit longer to relate to her. Partly because she was so mysterious about stuff, partly because she is rather opposite to me. A beautifully strong female lead, with passion and talent I could only dream of. I was awed by her braveness and heartbroken over her lostness. (is that even a word?) Her tendencies to spin stories was kinda off putting - as a character trait- but I found it beyond entertaining.
The support cast is brilliant. Vibrant characters that set off the lead. It was really fun to see Graham and Kennedy from Blakes POV. And let me tell you, they so different from how I remember them. I love how Zart made them look fluffy and slightly wacko in Blake's eyes. I love even more how he ends up admitting, that they are quirky but not completly insane. With that one gets to see the Graham and Kennedy I grew to love in Roomies.
Now let me assure you, while this is a spin-off from Roomies, you don't have to read it. This works perfectly as a stand-alone. If you however read Roomies; this isn't another take of it. It is much darker and has little to do with Roomies- other than, the writing style and humor.

This is written beautifully. So many interesting moments of insight. So many moments that made me laugh, plenty of moments that seared themselves into my heart. All wrapped up in Zart's fun to the point writing style. I am definitely a fan of Zart's prose. So poignant yet easy going. I can't wait for her next book!

About 3/4 of the plot is set only over a few days. So this is kinda super fast. But funny enough it's not totally insta. I got the connection between Opal and Blake, it made sense. Perfectly so. Though I wish Zart would have explored their chemistry a little more.
I absolutely love the end. L.O.V.E it. It's kinda open-ended, but not. It is at a point of beginning, the end of a chapter. Just.. sigh. Love it.
The banter between Blake and Opal is another favorite about the book.

All of this is fun. But the thing I loved most? The underlying message.
The characters are flawed. They are even pretty broken. They have a terrible past. But they make peace with it. Even more they work towards who they want to be. They hope.
And that's what growing up is for me. Letting go of the past, letting go of what everyone expects from you and decided what or who you want to be. Moving towards that step by step, driven by hope and helped by loved ones.
It is the most exciting view of life if you ask me. The most hopeful. To be who you want to be, for yourself. Taking that leap and that responsibility that's adulting, if you ask me, not paying your bills.
It gives one an unlimited amount of possibilities and the acceptance of who you are. Facing yourself, will make you face, what you were in your past. Examining your demons- whatever they are and most importantly gives us the power to letting go of them. It has been one of the most crucial discovery in my adulthood and Zart putting it into novel form, touched my heart.



Rating: 

Blog Tour: Beard Science by Penny Reid

Beard Science

Author: Penny Reid
Publisher: Cipher-Naught
Series: October 11th 2016
Pages: Paperback, 384 pages
Genre: Romance
Release Date: October 11th 2016

Summary:

Everyone in Green Valley, Tennessee knows that the six bearded Winston brothers have been imbued with an unfair share of charm and charisma… and are prone to mischief.

Make a deal with the devil and you might get what you want, but will it be what you need?

Jennifer Sylvester wants one thing, and that one thing is NOT to be Tennessee’s reigning Banana Cake Queen. Ever the perpetual good girl and obedient daughter, Jennifer is buckling under the weight of her social media celebrity, her mother’s ambitions, and her father’s puritanical mandates. Jennifer is officially desperate.
And desperate times call for Cletus Winston.

Cletus Winston is a puzzle wrapped in a mystery covered in conundrum sauce, and now he’s in a pickle. Despite being convinced of his own omniscience, extortion by the exalted Banana Cake Queen of Green Valley has taken him completely by surprise. So… what’s a maniacal mastermind to do?

Likely, the last thing you expect.

‘Beard Science’ is the third book in the Winston Brothers series, is a full-length romantic comedy novel, and can be read as a standalone

Amazon US ⎮ Amazon UK ⎮ Amazon CA ⎮ Amazon AU ⎮ iBooks ⎮ Kobo ⎮ Nook ⎮ Googleplay ⎮ Smashwords ⎮Goodreads ⎮ 

About Penny Reid

SEX! It all started with sex, between my parents. Personally I don’t like thinking about it, but whatever works for you is a-ok with me. No judgment. The sex happened in California and much of my life also occurred in that state until I moved from the land of nuts (almonds), wine, silicon… boobs, and heavy traffic to the southeast US. Like most writers I like to write, but let’s get back to sex. Eventually I married and gave birth to 2 small people-children (boy-6, girl-4 as of this writing).

By day I’m a biomedical researcher with focus on rare diseases. By night I’m a knitter, sewer, lino block carver, fabric printer, soap maker, and general crafter. By the wee hours of the morning or when I’m intoxicated I love to listen to the voices in my head and let them tell me stories. I hope you enjoy their stories.

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Review:


I keep trying to review this book, only to come up with- astounding speechlessness.
Mind you this is not because I don't have anything to say. NOT at all. I don't know where to start, nor do I know how to write this review without it become a rampling fangirling mess...
So after a ridiculous amount of trials, that all completely failed. I have decided to go about this the scientific way. I am a scientist after all. I shall structure this properly. Go about it very scholarly. Add my fangirling at the end AND most importantly: I will try and keep my rambling to an absolute minimum
Okay here it goes:

CRITICALLY

story line 

A slow smoldering (and o boy does it smolder!) romance between two unlikely love matches, who discover that sometimes what you think is the right thing for you, isn't really what you really want or need.
It's quirky, swooning and fabulous cute & fluffy with a good splash of real and lots of heart. Just like we all have gotten to expect from Reid

writing style 

I have read everything Reid has published so far. And I find myself re-reading her novels, which if you know me, you know MEANS something. I rarely re-read. Too many books on my TBR. I not only re-read Reids books, I adore them. That should be enough of an explanations, that I utterly adore her writing style. It's funny, clever and to the point. Yet it also beautiful, sensual and moving. Beard Science is one of her best to date, in my opinion, when it comes to prose.

character building 

Now. I will try really hard to remind objective. Which is really hard, when you feel like you actually know all the characters, when they feel so real. That in itself, tell you how I feel about the character building, I guess.
Cletus was one of my favorite characters, right from his first appearance in Beauty and the Mustache. I completely and utterly fell in love with him from the get go. So I started this book feeling divided. Because I had this HUGE expectations. First I couldn't wait to read Cletus' story but what if he wouldn't live up to my expectations?! After I finished I felt divided because, Cletus' story was over. BUT Reid managed to not only meet my expectations, nope, she exceeded fare beyond them.
Cletus, who was a little bit of an enigma, but to whom I felt kinship somehow, now feels real, I feel like I understand him, the different layers that make him tick and yet to my utter delight, he still is a little bit of an enigma. Just like a real close friend would be. Reid's character building here is basically genius.
Jennifer has very little in common with me. Except our mutual love of baking (small batches, and her love in the food theory came straight out of my heart!!). Otherwise I found myself watching her with interest, getting to know a her, exploring who she was and who she became. I really couldn't relate to her relationship with her parents. BUT and here, comes again, why I love this book so much, while her character is alien to mine, I like her, I care for her and in the end absolutely adored her. I enjoyed discovering who she was and watch her grow.
As I said I couldn't relate to her relationship with her parents. And here is my biggest complaint about the book. And when I say biggest it's the only thing I didn't like much while I was reading. I found the parents too much. I felt like it was exaggerated. I couldn't believe that there were people out there, who treated family like that... and yet I love where Reid went with them. I reconciled myself that while a bit strong, it has aspects that could be real. Then I ended up reading so many readers review, where they said, they had similar issues like Jen. THIS just breaks my heart. I love how Reid responded to it. AND I found myself realising that I was wrong. Just lucky enough to have been surrounded by people who accepted who I was and supported me in my choices.
The support cast is awesome sauce. Though I wish there was more of the rest of the Winstons. Because really.. I adore the entire bunch!


EMOTIONALLY

I am moved and excited - yet astounded by this novel. I found myself pondering over it on many occasions since I read it. When I finished it I was sad, because I didn't want it to end. Yet I am excited about Billy's story, can't wait to get my hands on it. And then again I am worried about one of my series coming soon to an end... it will be too soon.
Straight after reading I rated this 4.5 Stars... yet a couple of weeks in.. it is 5 stars. Because as time progressed I discovered how much I really love it, how deeply it touched me... and how amazing this really is. I will not go into my feeling of kinship for Cletus, or how much I adore Duane.. how I feel kinda ridiculous about how much I care about them. How well written they all are.. But rather let me try and explain how much I have to come to admire Reid. I honestly have a total girl crush on her. She is not only a talented story teller, she is witty and clever- and she does geeky beyond well! -but she also has insight and heart. If I had any stalker tendencies.. I'd totally become her main stalker. The good news is she is in luck, I ain't a stalker, I just fangirl. And I promised to keep that at a minimum. (I am trying!) So I will just say, this book is the reason to why I love romance books. This book epitomises why Reid is not only one of my favorite authors but is someone I greatly admire. I love how she supports girl power and encourages individuality. Which is evident in her Facebook group and while I'm at it, I love the Sharks of awesome!


OVERALL

One of the best releases in 2016.
It's fun, swoony cute & fluffy. One of those books you can't put down and leaves you happy, yet wanting more.
One of my favorite books. ever.

Rating: 

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Review: How to Keep Rolling After a Fall by Karole Cozzo

How to Keep Rolling After a Fall

Author: Karole Cozzo
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Pages: Paperback, 272 pages
Genre: Young Adult
Release Date: August 2nd 2016

Summary:

After a cyber bullying incident turns her life upside down, a handsome wheelchair rugby player shows a former mean girl that everyone deserves a second chance.

The party was at her house. The photos were posted to her Facebook account. That's all the evidence anyone needed to condemn Nikki Baylor for a cyberbullying incident that humiliated a classmate and nearly resulted in the girl's suicide. Now Nikki's been expelled from her old school, her friends have abandoned her, and even her own parents can't look her in the eye. With her plans for the future all but destroyed, Nikki resigns herself to being the girl everyone hates - almost as much as she hates herself. But then Nikki meets Pax, a spirited wheelchair rugby player who knows what it's like when one mistake completely shatters your life. Refusing to judge her because of her past, he shows her that everyone deserves a second chance... and everyone deserves to be loved.

Review:

I have to admit, that I kept delaying reading How to Keep Rolling after a Fall. Retrospectively I am not really sure why.
Actually, I do know. Honestly I knew that potentially this could be beyond disappointing. I loved the blurb. And how pretty is the cover?
But it's safe to say- ˆlooks at her rating - it didn't disappoint.
When I finally did start reading, I had decided to go into this with an open mind and little expectations.
Well, while that did work, it was actually not necessary.
HTKRAAF was written entirely from Nikki's POV and Cozzo throws the reader right into the deep end.
This picks up after Nikki's epic mess-up and just moments before she meets Pax.And let me tell, I was emotionally invested right from the beginning.Which is to be credited to two things: Writing style and character building.
The writing is easy yet has depth and huge amounts of insight.

The character building is what makes this an absolute must read.
Over the course of the book all characters evolve, we see different sides to a story and Nikki does do a lot of growing up.
The support cast, just like the two MCs, have layers and depth to them. I felt I understood the parents, I got to know the friends and I felt a strong connection to the MCs and could identify with them.

The plot is well paced. The story well told. I really enjoyed a different kind of romance.
Essentially this a coming of age story with a unique romance. It feels realistic and yet it is super cute.
The thing that makes this stand out though:
Cozzo managed to tackle some serious issues without sounding preachy. We see the result of bullying. We see friendships form and fall apart.
We see young people mess up and the effects of their carelessness. In this case they have some devastating consequences. It's definitely something that gives food for thought, but it isn't depressing. Not at all. Cozzo takes those devastating consequences and makes it a story of hope, friendships and expansion. Honestly the way this was done touched me deeply. I was a 17yr old who managed to have some pretty epic mess ups- simply because I didn't think things through, just like Nikki at times (I would have never gone along with the cyber bullying, but I manage some other retrospectively stupid things)- so I found myself in a situation, where I had lost the trust and felt alone, but also not sure how I could fix it. And then I have a friend, who had an accident at the pool and ended up in a wheelchair. Pax really reminded me of him!
So for me Cozzo got so much, so right!

A Story that moved me, that is full of hope, heartbreak and laughter and that reminded me of the important things in life
And yes, we all get second chances, we decided what we do with them!
Simply put: A wonderful book

Rating: 

(c

Blog Tour: Thicker Than Water by Brigid Kemmerer

Thicker Than Water

Author: Brigid Kemmerer
Publisher: Kensington Books
Pages: Paperback, 322 pages
Genre: PNR, YA
Release Date: December 29th 2015

Summary:

On his own

Thomas Bellweather hasn’t been in town long. Just long enough for his newlywed mother to be murdered, and for his new stepdad’s cop colleagues to decide Thomas is the primary suspect.

Not that there’s any evidence. But before Thomas got to Garretts Mill there had just been one other murder in twenty years.

The only person who believes him is Charlotte Rooker, little sister to three cops and, with her soft hands and sweet curves, straight-up dangerous to Thomas. Her best friend was the other murder vic. And she’d like a couple answers.

Answers that could get them both killed, and reveal a truth Thomas would die to keep hidden…

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About the Author

Brigid Kemmerer was born in Omaha, Nebraska, though her parents quickly moved her all over the United States, from the desert in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to the lakeside in Cleveland, Ohio, and several stops in between, eventually settling near Annapolis, Maryland. Brigid started writing in high school, and her first real “novel” was about four vampire brothers causing a ruckus in the suburbs. Those four brothers are the same boys living in the pages of The Elemental Series, so Brigid likes to say she’s had four teenage boys taking up space in her head for the last seventeen years. (Though sometimes that just makes her sound nuts.)

Brigid writes anywhere she can find a place to sit down (and she’s embarrassed to say a great many pages of The Elemental Series were written while sitting on the floor in the basement of a hotel while she was attending a writers’ conference). Most writers enjoy peace and quiet while writing, but Brigid prefers pandemonium. A good thing, considering she has three boys in the house, ranging in age from an infant to a teenager.

While writing STORM, it’s ironic to note that Brigid’s personal life was plagued by water problems: her basement flooded three times, her roof leaked, her kitchen faucet broke, causing the cabinet underneath to be destroyed by water, the wall in her son’s room had to be torn down because water had crept into the wall, and her bedroom wall recently developed a minor leak. Considering SPARK, book 2 in the series, is about the brother who controls fire, Brigid is currently making sure all the smoke detectors in her house have batteries.
Brigid loves hearing from people, and she probably won’t refer to herself in the third person like this if you actually correspond with her. She has a smartphone surgically attached to her person nearby at all times, and email is the best way to reach her. Her email address is brigidmary@gmail.com.


Author Links:

Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook

Review:

My Initial Reaction :
HUH!???
No way no way! WTH?
You can't do this! You can't leave me hanging like THAT!
Is there another book? When is it coming out??

Okay okay. Let me calm down. I mean this is me freaking out because I want MORE.
This has Kemmerer written all over it: Fabulous Character building, interesting paranormal side track and the feels.... yeah THE FEELS... seriously don't ask me how she does it, but she does get exactly the reaction she wants from me, every freakn time. Maybe she is a bit like Tom? creepy really. Or maybe she is really good at writing? Well, she is a magician with words that's for sure.
And yet again the plot? There is so little we have been given. So so so little. And though the end is not technically a cliffy- it leaves you hanging. I just know I want more. Wait that's not right. I NEED MORE...

Now that I did have a while to think about it and calm down, there are two things that still stand out:

• First: I want need more! I can't wait to get my hands on the next book- there will be another book right? Because if not... it would be rather an unsatisfying experience, actually.

• Second: This has Kemmerer's MO written all over it. So if you a fan; you going to love this.  

This is well written. Just like one would expect from Kemmerer. It's a total rollercoaster of emotions. She made me gasp and had me devastated with the flick of her pen. She is queen of the Feels and Thicker Than Water just cemented this. Absolutely.

What it however also confirmed? She writes character driven novels. Not a bad thing by all means. The plot is just like in her previous books- rather on the thin side. If I would have to write a summary of the plot- I could do it in 3 sentences flat. Not an issue for me. I love character driven novels. The had several twists and turns but not many took me by surprise. I anticipated them. Still doesn't mean I didn't react. I knew that it was coming, but I still was devastated, excited or whatever rise Kemmerer wanted, which is why I liked this so much.

Kemmerer totally excels in character building. In fact the characters are so complex, I found myself surprised by some of them, rather than their actions. Kemmerer had me thinking I mapped out who is who only to change the ballgame halfway through. It made me reassess everything. I mean EVERYTHING. And that? Is feakn' amazing!
As I said, I want more. I want to know where they go from here. I need to work out who really is a villain, who is actually a victim- who is ok.. There is so much grey here, I still am working it all out.
While I found Thomas quite difficult to connect to- all that anger and confusion for the first bit of the book, I ended up totally feeling with him. I was distraught for him. I totally got where he was and why he was doing what he was doing. Not only that, I agree with his actions at the end.
Charlotte is strong, surprisingly so. And I adored her from the beginning. Then I found myself being worried that it was all a ruse, hoping she wasn't wrong. Felt her heartbreak and her hopes.
I want more of Charlotte and Thomas, but not only them. I feel there are so many stories behind her brothers, her family... Just like I said, Kemmerer wove complex surprising characters- not just the two MCs but also each and everyone in the support cast. I understood where Charlotte's family was coming from.

The world building is an amazing backdrop to the entire thing. It's neat and very clever. Sorta in the same token as Kemmerer's previous series. So paranormal elements that are interesting. But we've been given just bits and pieces- so I feel like I only got an idea behind something immense. I want more. But it's not like I didn't get enough. Kemmerer did a good job at giving me the scraps at the right moment, opening the paranormal aspects just when it was needed... Simply: Brilliant.

The only little warning to caution: This doesn't end in a total cliffy but it's open ended. I need more closure. Hence my utter hope that there will be several more books...

Another awesome book- hopefully series- by the master of character-driven awesomeness!
Absolute MUST READ!




Rating: 

(click on the name for reviews of this geek)

Excerpt:

I don’t know what I’m doing here. When we moved in with Stan, I left my friends three hours away. Now we’re way on the south side of Salisbury, in the middle of nowhere, at this frigging church with death scenes embedded in the walls and a bazillion cops who are all here for him, not her. I yank at the collar of my shirt and feel someone watching me.

At first I think of the guy with the cell phone, but when I glance across the parking lot, he’s gone. It’s a girl in a purple dress. She stands with an older woman, and by older I mean that there’s a chance her wrinkled skin might give up the fight and slide the rest of the way down her body. Ol’ Wrinkly is wearing an honest-to-god navy blue hat with a veil. She looks emotional while she talks to Stan, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue.

What a joke. If she knew my mother, she didn’t know her well. I’ve never seen her before.

I’ve never seen the girl before either, but since she’s looking at me, I look back at her. She’s got to be about my age. Thick, curly caramel hair, skin too pale for summertime, dark framed glasses, curves in all the right places. She’d be a challenge to sketch, because the tiny waist and the curves would make her look like a superhero comic, especially with that rack.

I jerk my eyes away. I shouldn’t be checking out a girl at my mother’s funeral. Mom would cuff me on the neck and tell me to behave myself.

But the girl peels away from the overwrought woman and heads my way. She’s wearing high-heeled sandals, and she stumbles a bit on the crooked pavement. The movement makes her hair sway, and she brushes it out of her eyes. I’m staring.

Then she’s in front of me, holding out a hand. “I don’t think we’ve met.”

I shake her hand, and it feels too formal, like I’m meeting a college recruiter. But I can play this game because it’s better than thinking about my mother rotting inside a wooden box. “We haven’t.”

“I’m Charlotte.”

“I’m Thomas.”

She doesn’t let go of my hand. “Tom?”

She could call me Princess Sparklepants if she wants. I couldn’t care less about my name at this point. “Whatever.”

She finally releases my hand. Her expression says she’s picked up on some of my tension. “Thomas, then. How do you know Stan? Is one of your parents on the force?”

Of course she thinks I’m here for him. No one in this place knows Mom.

I have to clear my throat, because my answer will embarrass this girl, but it’s not like I can lie about it. “He married my mother.”

Her face goes more pale, if that’s possible. I don’t like that. It reminds me of another pale face, which makes me start thinking about bruised necks again.

“It’s fine,” I say, even though it’s not. I try to keep the anger out of my voice, because she doesn’t deserve it. I don’t even know what good it’s doing me. My voice comes out all gravelly. “I’ve only lived here a few weeks. I don’t know anyone.”

“I’m so sorry,” she says softly.

What am I supposed to say to that? I don’t even know this girl. I find myself shrugging before realizing that makes me look indifferent. People are watching me again. The attention weighs on my shoulders. Do they know who I am, or are they wondering like Charlotte? Which would be better?

I’ve been quiet too long. My jaw feels tight. She reaches for my hand again. Her fingers are small and gentle and soft against my palm, such a contrast to the businesslike formality of her handshake. “You don’t need to stand here by yourself. Come meet my family—”

“I’m fine.” I hold fast, jerking my hand away from her. I can keep it together here, alone, by the wall, but I can’t take a dozen strangers talking at me.

“Okay,” she says softly.

I take a long breath, then blow it out through my teeth.

“Sorry,” I grit out.

We stand there in silence for a moment.

“Do you want me to get Stan?” she finally asks quietly. “You don’t seem . . .”

Her voice trails off, and I frown. “I don’t seem what?”

Again, my tone is rougher than she deserves, and she licks her lips, recalculating. Her spine straightens, but she doesn’t move away. “You don’t seem like you should be alone right now.”

Stan is thirty feet away, talking to two other guys in uniform. They’re doing the guy version of sympathy, clapping him on the shoulder.

I knew her longer, I want to shout.

Mom would shush me and tell me to be more respectful. I don’t miss her yet. It doesn’t even feel like she’s dead. It feels like she’s on vacation or something. I keep thinking I need to store all these thoughts and memories for later, when she gets back.

I look back at Charlotte. “No. Leave him.”

“Is anyone else here for you?”

I laugh humorlessly. “None of this is for me. I feel like I’m crashing a stranger’s funeral.” I sound like an angry freak, and I rub my hands down my face. “I don’t know anyone.”

Now I just sound pathetic.

“Is that your tie?” she says suddenly, and I realize she’s looking at my pocket. “Too hot?”

“I couldn’t tie it,” I admit without thinking, and then I feel like a real moron. What kind of guy can’t tie a tie? And then brings it with him, like he’s waiting for someone to get around to helping? I glance away, embarrassed. “She bought me the suit. Made a big deal about matching it—”

I have to stop talking. Pathetic has reached a new level. I want the anger back. Anger was better than this tight, choking feeling in my throat.

Charlotte tugs it out of my pocket and threads it between her fingers. “May I?”

It takes me a moment to figure out what she’s talking about. She’s too short to get the tie around my neck without my cooperation. I could refuse. I could grab the tie and shove it back in my pocket and send her scurrying back to her people.

But it’s a needed distraction, and I find myself ducking down, letting her loop it over my head, enjoying the soft feel of her fingers as she tucks it below the collar of my shirt. She’s close, and I catch her scent, something clean and citrusy.




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