Under a Million Stars
Author: Rita Branches
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Release Date: August 8th, 2016
Book Description:
Can a beating heart bleed from the shattered pieces?
Her heart cracked when her best friend walked away; it completely shattered when she lost her family in a tragic accident.
Now orphaned at seventeen, Charlotte Peterson is forced to live with her former best friend, Jacob Parker. Charlie, a talented pianist, desperately wants their loving friendship back, but something is holding Jake back. The more she spirals into the darkness of depression, the more she needs him.
Jacob vowed to stay away from her—no matter how much he still loved her. Armed with secrets that would have destroyed both of their families, he chose to end their friendship and walk away, which nearly killed him. As he watches the girl he once knew begin to fade away, however, he realizes that their relationship is more important than the truth he's hiding.
Now it's up to Jacob to put the pieces of Charlie's broken heart back together—even if it means revealing the secrets he so desperately wants to protect her from.
Will Jacob find a way to bring back the carefree, talented girl he once knew, or is it too late for both of them?
*It's a Stand-alone*
I wanted to keep my distance, but speaking about the past wasn’t going to bring me that much-needed peace. It would just open old wounds, instead. I got up from Charlie’s bed and went to the bathroom to take a shower. I hadn’t gone running since before Christmas, and my body would resent me the next time I ran, but I could feel the energy pumping in my veins.
Charlie was getting dressed when I went back to her room. She was just in her underwear, with her back to me. I should’ve just turned away and left—she hadn’t noticed my presence—and I felt like a prick for being there that long. When I heard my parents’ door opening, though, I made up my mind: I jumped into the room and closed the door behind me, startling Charlie.
She tried to cover her body with the shirt in her hand, but she didn’t have much success.
“Sorry,” I whispered, turning momentarily to the door.
She didn’t answer me, and we froze, looking at each other. My feet moved without command to bring us closer, and her fists clenched her shirt as she still tried to cover her body.
It wasn’t the first time I’d seen her in only her underwear, even after we’d broken the friendship. The time I’d taken her away from Tyler the night they’d broken up poped into my head; her bra had been black and silky. This time, it was plain white, but it didn’t diminish—not even by a fraction—her sensuality. Even so pale and skinny, she was still the most gorgeous girl I’d ever met.
Her eyes darted everywhere but my face, but she didn’t utter a word to send me away. I should have been stronger than this. One minute, the resolution of staying away was cemented in my head, and the next, she took my breath away and my brain turned to mush. She would end any man’s resolve to stay away, though.
My hand darted forward, and I stood, watching it trail a path between her shoulder and the sensitive skin under her ear, as if I were an outsider without any control over my own body. That was the only explanation for me to step even closer and glue her chest to mine. I inhaled the sweet aroma from her hair, and she whimpered under my touch, closing her eyes and exposing her neck to my touch.
About the Author
Hi! I'm Rita Branches. I was born and raised in in Portugal and I'm going to independently publish my debut novel in the Spring of 2016, Painting Sky.
I am so happy that you decided to take a look at my work.
Little bit about myself: along with being a writer, I am also a landscape architect. I started writing to bring 'to life' the stories that my mind created.
I LOVE to read. It was and always will be my passion.
Author: Rita Branches
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Release Date: August 8th, 2016
Book Description:
Can a beating heart bleed from the shattered pieces?
Her heart cracked when her best friend walked away; it completely shattered when she lost her family in a tragic accident.
Now orphaned at seventeen, Charlotte Peterson is forced to live with her former best friend, Jacob Parker. Charlie, a talented pianist, desperately wants their loving friendship back, but something is holding Jake back. The more she spirals into the darkness of depression, the more she needs him.
Jacob vowed to stay away from her—no matter how much he still loved her. Armed with secrets that would have destroyed both of their families, he chose to end their friendship and walk away, which nearly killed him. As he watches the girl he once knew begin to fade away, however, he realizes that their relationship is more important than the truth he's hiding.
Now it's up to Jacob to put the pieces of Charlie's broken heart back together—even if it means revealing the secrets he so desperately wants to protect her from.
Will Jacob find a way to bring back the carefree, talented girl he once knew, or is it too late for both of them?
*It's a Stand-alone*
Buy Links:
EXCERPT
I
felt her stir beside me before I opened my eyes. Last night, a huge
weight had left my shoulders. Knowing I hurt her so much that she’d felt
the need to punch me was painful, though—not physically, but it’d
twisted my heart. If the roles were reversed, I would have been very
upset. When Kylie told me what Charlie had done months ago, I had felt
so helpless. I still felt helpless, when it came to her.
I wanted to keep my distance, but speaking about the past wasn’t going to bring me that much-needed peace. It would just open old wounds, instead. I got up from Charlie’s bed and went to the bathroom to take a shower. I hadn’t gone running since before Christmas, and my body would resent me the next time I ran, but I could feel the energy pumping in my veins.
Charlie was getting dressed when I went back to her room. She was just in her underwear, with her back to me. I should’ve just turned away and left—she hadn’t noticed my presence—and I felt like a prick for being there that long. When I heard my parents’ door opening, though, I made up my mind: I jumped into the room and closed the door behind me, startling Charlie.
She tried to cover her body with the shirt in her hand, but she didn’t have much success.
“Sorry,” I whispered, turning momentarily to the door.
She didn’t answer me, and we froze, looking at each other. My feet moved without command to bring us closer, and her fists clenched her shirt as she still tried to cover her body.
It wasn’t the first time I’d seen her in only her underwear, even after we’d broken the friendship. The time I’d taken her away from Tyler the night they’d broken up poped into my head; her bra had been black and silky. This time, it was plain white, but it didn’t diminish—not even by a fraction—her sensuality. Even so pale and skinny, she was still the most gorgeous girl I’d ever met.
Her eyes darted everywhere but my face, but she didn’t utter a word to send me away. I should have been stronger than this. One minute, the resolution of staying away was cemented in my head, and the next, she took my breath away and my brain turned to mush. She would end any man’s resolve to stay away, though.
My hand darted forward, and I stood, watching it trail a path between her shoulder and the sensitive skin under her ear, as if I were an outsider without any control over my own body. That was the only explanation for me to step even closer and glue her chest to mine. I inhaled the sweet aroma from her hair, and she whimpered under my touch, closing her eyes and exposing her neck to my touch.
Hi! I'm Rita Branches. I was born and raised in in Portugal and I'm going to independently publish my debut novel in the Spring of 2016, Painting Sky.
I am so happy that you decided to take a look at my work.
Little bit about myself: along with being a writer, I am also a landscape architect. I started writing to bring 'to life' the stories that my mind created.
I LOVE to read. It was and always will be my passion.
Author Links:
Blog Tour Organised by:
Congrats on the tour and thanks for the chance to win :)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the excerpt, giveaway and congrats on your new release.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely beautiful cover, I love it! Thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteI look forward to reading this book!
ReplyDeleteThis books looks Great Heartbreaking but good
ReplyDeleteSounds great,thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI love the blurb. Sorry to sound judgmental, but the cover and name are so much like Amy A Bartol's Kricket series I was afraid that it would also be a similar kind of story. I'm glad to say that it sound different and very good.
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds like it has a beautiful and emotional story. I think the cover is absolutely lovely... great design! :)
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the excerpt, thank you.
ReplyDeleteOh, do I love secrets. They make me try to figure out the 5 "W's" and 1 "H"(Who, What, When, Where, Why and How.) this looks like a sensuous story.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good read. Thank you for the giveaway!
ReplyDeletewhat a pretty cover
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good read!
ReplyDeleteCover is great and book sounds great!
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds great! I absolutely love the cover!
ReplyDeleteA wonderful excerpt thank you.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your book's release and good luck on the tour!
ReplyDeleteLooks great, thank you.
ReplyDeleteLove the cover and it sounds like a great read.
ReplyDeletei like that the book deals with depression
ReplyDeleteI definitely need to read this, I want to know the secret he's carrying.
ReplyDeleteThe book description and excerpt sounds intriguing. Thanks for sharing. Love the cover too.
ReplyDeleteThe books reviewed on this site all look so interesting and like good reads. I just don't have enough time in the day to read them all. That is my only problem.
ReplyDeleteLoved the excerpt! This sounds like a great book :)
ReplyDeleteThe cover is beautiful! Love it!
ReplyDeleteThat is one of the most beautiful covers I have seen. Love it. And the book sounds great!
ReplyDeleteLooks great, thank you.
ReplyDeleteI would love to read more to find out what becomes of her and Jacob!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful cover. I can't wait to read this
ReplyDeleteThe sounds like making the best of a tragedy.
ReplyDeleteThe cover is beautiful and the story sounds interesting. Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI like the cover and description of the book! Charlotte sounds like a very good character!
ReplyDeleteIntriguing blurb. Not sure I really like the cover. But does look like an interesting read. The gc will come in handy. Thank you. Della at deepotter@peoplepc.com
ReplyDeleteThis book is "my cup of tea", looking forward to reading it!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the book description and excerpt - gorgeous cover, too!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI would really like to read this book!
I would love to thank you so much for featuring the Under a Million Stars by Rita Branches Blog Tour Promo & Giveaway. giveaway. I look forward to following your reviews in the future.
ReplyDelete