Painted Memories Book Blitz

Title: Painted Memories

Author: Loni Flowers

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance           

Publisher: Self-published

Date of Publication: January 21^st, 2013

Format: E-book & Paperback

Page Length: 334

Word Count: 95,000₊

Buy Links:

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Blurb/Book Description:

 I’ve come to realize how much life can change with circumstance. One moment I was a happy sixteen year old girl with a great brother, Jesse, who I adored.

Then Jesse died.

No matter how much I wished it had been me in the accident, wishing will never change what happened. Five years later, my father’s eyes are still filled with hate and regret whenever he looks at me. I haven’t forgotten my mistake, but I’ve accepted it.

My father has not.He may always see me as a failure, but I’m determined to make a fresh start in a new town where love promises to be more generous than the scorn I've left in my father's eyes. With any luck, maybe some distance will make him see me as his daughter again. Until then I’ll find my own way.

It’s what Jesse would want.

Painted Memories is an original, contemporary romance about love, loss, and recovering from tragedy. Its characters are real. Between humor and heartbreak, it’s funny, touching, and full of redemption.

Excerpt:

When I pulled into the parking lot this morning, I caught Drew's eye, but looked away before he could approach me. Later, when I walked through the halls during a class change, I turned a corner and ran into him... literally. My heel slipped on a wet spot and Drew instinctively grabbed my waist to keep me upright.

“I'm sorry,” I said as I pulled myself together. The words nearly stuck in my throat when a smile spread over his lips. I couldn't look away, remembering how soft they felt against mine. Then I thought about the note he taped to my door and the ChapStick and I pushed away from him. 

Drew dropped his hands from my waist. “Are you all right?”

“I'm fine. Thank you.” I walked around him and didn't look back. He made me nervous and flustered and I couldn't talk to him right then.

Later, I sat at my desk with my eyes glazed over as I attempted to grade the papers in front of me. Since I had free time while the kids went to music, then lunch, I tried, but I couldn't seem to reel my thoughts in long enough to concentrate. The conversation between Andrea and me the day before, and seeing Drew earlier that morning stayed in the forefront of my mind. Ever since seeing him, I couldn't get the events of Saturday out of my head, or what they might mean for the future, if anything at all. I doodled on a piece of paper while my mind wandered. There was something about him that was different than any other men I’ve dated. The way he spoke to me, soft and caring. I doodled a small heart on my paper. Then there was the way he held my face in his hands... heart... the way his lips brushed mine... heart... how he teased my lip with the tip of his tongue... heart. What the crap was I thinking?

“Hey there, whatcha doing?”

I nearly jumped out of my chair at the sound of his voice. Drew was standing in front of me and I quickly swept the papers into a pile. “Oh hey, just grading papers.”

He looked down, “Huh... you put hearts on their papers instead of smiley faces?”

“I like to mix things up.” Lie, total lie. Thank God I wasn't doodling his name across the page like I did back in middle school. “Did you need something?” I asked casually.

“I was getting ready to head out to lunch and thought I'd see if you wanted to come. Maybe we could try that place you were raving about this weekend?”

“I can't. I didn't bring my ChapStick today,” I said sarcastically before getting up and walking to the chalkboard to wipe it clean.

“Oh, I take it my comment wasn't that funny then? Did you get my note?”

I whirled on him. “No, it wasn't funny. It embarrassed me and it wasn't necessary. And no, I didn't read the note. I wasn’t in the mood for another smart comment.”

“I didn't mean for it to come out the way it did. Knowing you were going out with him may have made me a tiny bit jealous.” He looked down at the floor briefly before looking back at me. “And it wasn't a smart comment.”

I lowered my tone. “Making you jealous was never my intention. I told you I wasn't dating anyone seriously, and that goes for you too. Like I said, I'm not settling. If you can't handle that, then it’s best we stick to being friends, if you can handle that.”

Drew closed the few feet between us and stood in front of me. His hands were in his khaki pockets. His navy pinstriped shirt was ironed to crisp perfection, setting off his broad shoulders. Amusement played in his eyes as he considered what I said.

“Yes, I clearly remember our conversation.” He took a step forward while I took a step back. “I'll still be jealous.” He took another step.

“I want to make sure you know that you can date whomever you want, but I'm not giving up.”

Another step.

“I really do like you, Lilly. But being 'just friends' is not what I'm interested in. So if you’re not the slightest bit interested in me, tell me now.”

Another step.

My back hit the chalkboard and Drew was inches away. I could feel my heart rate picking up as his eyes drifted to my chest, briefly catching the increased rise and fall. He wasn't going to sit idly by, waiting for me to come to him. I couldn’t deny that it thrilled a part of me.

I nearly whispered my words when I spoke. “I don't know what I want yet. I'm still trying to figure that out.” He intimidated me, making me think and taking me off guard, all at once. It freaking turned me on and I was trying my best to hide it. Eating lunch with him now would be too much.  “I've got a lot of work to catch up on. I'll have to pass on lunch today.”

He studied me another minute, his gaze moving from my eyes to my lips. “Fine. Another time then?” He lifted his hand and brushed a loose hair behind my ear. His thumb swept across my jaw and stopped on my chin.

The breath I was holding escaped me and all I could do was nod in agreement.

“Good. Until then...” Drew leaned in, his thumb brushing over my lower lip and I wanted him to kiss me. To press me against the chalkboard with his body against mine, his hands around my waist… I didn't care who might walk by and see us. I wanted his lips on mine.

“You should read the note,” he said. Without another word, his hand dropped from my face and he was out the door. 

Author Bio:                

Loni Flowers lives in Eastern North Carolina with her husband; two wild toddlers, who never slow down for a second; and three couch-potato dogs, who only raise an eye when foods around. She spends her days working a full-time professional job and her nights writing... if she's not playing on the internet.
Besides her family, reading and writing are her passions. Contemporary romance is her writing genre of choice, but she's not opposed to writing something different should an excellent idea strike.

Some of Loni's favorite authors include: L.J. Kentowski, Stefne Miller, Cassandra Clare, J.K. Rowling, Karen Marie Moning, and Nicholas Sparks... just to name a few.

Published in 2012, Taking Chances was her debut novel.