Chick Lit

I found this story of two dogs on Facebook."Both at separate times walk into the same room. One comes out wagging his tail, while the other comes out growling. A woman watching this goes into the room to see what could possibly make one dog so happy and the other so mad. To her surprise, she finds a room filled with mirrors. The happy dog found a thousand happy dogs looking back at him, while the angry dog saw only angry dogs growling back at him. What you see in the world around you is a reflection of who you are." KikiKiki was startled by the mirrored closet wall when we moved here, but she soon approached it, plopped on her side, extended her paw behind the open door, and looked at me as if to say, "See, I know there's no cat behind here." After that, Kiki would occasionally stare at herself in the closet mirror from where she slept on my bed, but most of the time she ignored it.SammySammy still fights the cat in her mirror. She usually pauses to get up her courage before entering her room (she and Donna share the other bedroom in our apartment), then Sammy either marches past "that other cat" without looking or stops to hiss and growl at it. Sometimes she stands on her hind legs to do battle. She obviously can't stand that other cat."What you see in the world around you is a reflection of who you are." The last sentence in the story adds a new thought. Mirrors reflect who we are, but so does the world. Now I must ask myself, what do I need to change to make my world a better place?

Hello Internet! Today I am part of the cover reveal for Leigh T. Moore's next book in her Dragonfly series, Undertow. This cover makes me think of summer and long for a time when I could just spend my days on the beach. Well, in the shade on the beach as being part albino (Irish, English & Polish DNA) the sun and I don't really get along. What do you think of this cover? About UNDERTOW: Book #2 in the DRAGONFLY series, coming July 18, 2013! "Falling in love will pull you under..." Three friends, three dreams. One of them will end up dead. Two will be forever shattered. Recovering from her broken heart, Anna decides to spend the semester break diving into the three journals Bill Kyser gave her to read--the journals that hold the secret and that Bill says will help her understand his need for silence. But the more Anna learns about the tragic events behind the powerful developer’s seclusion, the more she’s convinced silence is a mistake. Anna has to decide if she’ll keep the secrets or tell him the truth about a past that’s been buried for decades. The only problem is the more she knows, the more Anna realizes either choice could cost her the boy she's starting to love. About Leigh T. Moore: Leigh Talbert Moore is the author of the popular young adult romantic comedy The Truth About Faking, its companion The Truth About Letting Go, and the mature YA/new adult romantic suspense novel Rouge, a Quarter Finalist in the 2013 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award. She is an award-winning journalist and editor, who has also worked in marketing and public relations for many years. Her writing has appeared in newspapers and magazines across the southeast and Midwest U.S., and she runs the popular writing-craft blog That’s Write. A southern ex-pat and beach bum, she currently lives with her husband, two young children, and one grumpy cat in the Midwest. Connect online: Facebook | Amazon Author page | Twitter | Tumblr | Goodreads Read excerpts of her books on Wattpad and Figment!

I fell in love with the title of Lian Dolan's sophomore novel the moment I read it in the email pitch. Then I read on to find out there was Shakespeare. It was a done deal at that point. Honestly, all you have to do is dangle a little Shakespeare in front of me and I am on board. This was my first encounter with Ms. Dolan's work. I had never heard of either of her novels before, and I have to say that ratcheted up my anticipation a bit. It's summer. And I am in the mood to be entertained. By all means, bring on the new-to-me contemporary fiction with a side of Shakespeare and a touch of romance on the side! As far as covers go, I really like these sort of retro chick lit covers both Elizabeth the First Wife and Helen of Pasadena have going on. The're attractive and light, perfect to slip in your bag and pull out as needed on a sunny summer afternoon.Elizabeth Lancaster has made her peace with her past. What's done is done. She divorced her movie star husband when he cheated on her approximately two seconds in to their ill-fated marriage, and she is now (years down the road) happily installed teaching literature at Pasadena City College. So her ex-husband was her first, possibly final love. So her father is a Nobel Prize-winning scientist she hasn't really talked to in ages. So her mother is the most exhausting of perfectionists. So what? Life is simple. And uncomplicated. And . . . nice. But then her ex walks into her classroom, with that same charming smile and those same alluring shared memories, and tries to talk her into accompanying him to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival to spend her summer making sure he doesn't fall on his face doing live theater for the first time in a decade. And she's really not going to go. She isn't. But it would be live theater, A Midsummer Night's Dream no less. It would mean being a part of a serious production. Elizabeth's life has become just small enough that, in the end, she can't quite resist FX's offer. And so against the better judgement of pretty much every sane adult in her life, she heads off to Ashland and that adventure she's been looking for.What a smart, thoroughly enjoyable read! In the same vein as Liza Palmer's Seeing Me Naked and Liane Moriarty's What Alice Forgot, Lian Dolan weaves together a lovely mosaic of a woman in need of inspiration and revival, of complex and family dynamics that reach into the daily moments of her life, of new possibilities and old mistakes. Elizabeth herself is extremely likable. The history and the current status of her relationship with FX are both presented in a way that reveals two very young, very human people who fell apart but who remain lodestones, of a sort, in each other's lives. I like that no one in the story is demonized, that Elizabeth is allowed to work out her feelings for her ex at the same time as she hesitantly embarks on a somewhat unexpected long-distance relationship with the man running her brother-in-law's political campaign. I enjoyed watching both arcs unfold simultaneously, the one bittersweet, the other exciting in its newness. Elizabeth's nighttime Skypes with the man squatting in her home for the length of the campaign were both humorous and charming. You can't help but root for them. Add to that Elizabeth's hilarious modernized Shakespearean dating advice, and you have the elements of a very good time indeed. Having attended regional Shakespeare festivals in the past, I thoroughly enjoyed Dolan's portrayal of Ashland and the antics of the colorful cast and crew of this racy adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream. Elizabeth's family, from her overbearing mother to her seemingly perfect and driven sisters, provided an excellent backdrop for her professional and personal quandaries. I finished Elizabeth the First Wife in two satisfying sessions and will be checking out Helen of Pasadena soon.BuyLinkageDazzled by Books - "Cute, fun, romantic, and witty."

Rating: 3/5 Publisher: Five Star Sleuths Publish Date: March 15, 2013 Origins: From Publisher for Review Format: Trade Paperback Order Links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble Synopsis: WHAT IS THIS BOOK ABOUT?The year is 1923, and Richard Wikki, a former detective from Scotland Yard and now a professor at the prestigious Yale University in New Haven, CT, misses his days of crime solving. Maize Judson has enrolled at Yale with hopes of becoming an investigative journalist. When Maize and her friend find a skeleton buried in the sand at the beach with a mysterious amulet wrapped around its fingers, she and Richard set out to solve a murder. But Richard soon finds himself following well-planted illusionary clues, and as he continues to investigate, a series of events shake the depths of his philosophical, religious and spiritual beliefs, as well as his perspective on life... forever.WHAT MAKES THIS BOOK UNIQUE?Although a fictional mystery, The Ivy League Chronicles: 9 Squares by E.K. Prescott, Ph.D., is filled with historical facts and events that were very real in New Haven, CT in the 1920's. The book explores the truths about the ruling class of the United States and gives the reader a sense that there is a lot more to the world than what is actually seen. Prescott brilliantly weaves together the threads of New World Order, metaphysics, witchcraft, conspiracy, and good and evil into this first installment of The Ivy League Chronicles series. Review: Richard Wikki, a former Scotland Yard detective and current professor at Yale is drawn into an ancient mystery by Maize Judson, a budding investigative journalist. When Maize and her friend discover a skeleton, Maize takes an amulet which was buried with the body and this kicks off the descent into the web of intrigue for both Maize and Wikki. Set in the 1920s, ‘The Ivy League Chronicles: 9 Squares’ takes you into a world you never imagined. ‘The Ivy League Chronicles: 9 Squares’ blends secret societies, metaphysics, occultism, politics, mystery, and intrigue. I liked the story, but I wish there was more character development and linear plot. There seemed to have been forgotten pieces of the puzzle and a lot of loose ends. I wish we were given more history about some of the mystical and secret society aspects introduced. I am interested to see where this series will go and if the author will close some of the loose ends. The Ivy League Chronicles series: 9 Squares (1) Author Goodreads Author Twitter The Ivy League Chronicles Author Facebook

Greetings and Salutations Internet! Once again I am happy to work with InkSlinger PR and bring you a fabulous guest post from a new author with a book that sounds pretty darn good if you ask me. As always, when asked about hosting a guest post I love to hear about a books setting. Why did an author chose to set a book in small town America when they could have chosen Eastern Mongolia or the restaurant at the end of the universe? Authors have so many options in front of them when they sit down in front of a blank computer screen. Hopefully, you like hearing all these stories as much as I do. How did you choose your setting for One Tiny Secret and why? Well, I’ve always been slightly obsessed with small towns, suburbs, and college towns that are located in the North-East. I especially love these areas during the fall (hands down my favorite season) because the leaves change color, the temperature actually drops (unlike in Florida, where I live), and the decorations are out of control. Halloween is actually my favorite holiday, which is the very one that One Tiny Secret’s story revolves around. I’ve always envied people who get to experience the fall up North. When I was finally able to visit some Northern states two years ago in October, I fell in love with fall even more than I could have ever imagined. So, when I started to write One Tiny Secret I knew I wanted to not only have it take place during this season (particularly during Halloween), but I also wanted the setting to be a small town like I just mentioned above. I did go back and forth on whether or not to make the story take place in an actual locale/town or to make one up, but I ultimately decided to go with the latter. Creating a place from scratch, but have it still grounded in reality by making it resemble many of the small college towns in North America, was a lot of fun. This allowed me to mold Holden Ridge into whatever kind of place that I wanted it to be, instead of operating within the confines of a “real” town that already exists. Since One Tiny Secret is a mystery/thriller, I knew immediately that a small college town would be the perfect setting for the story. I love the idea of taking a place that might normally be viewed as “safe” and “secluded” from danger, but then introduce a crazy murder mystery scenario and see how everything plays out. Also, having a sheriff’s department that hasn’t dealt with crime on a scale that the town of Holden Ridge sees was fun to play around with. I also decided to have some of the characters attend the local college, Blackburn University, and to have some of the characters be seniors at the high school. My intention with this book was to write a YA/NA cross-over novel, and by having characters that represent both genres in the story, I feel I’ve achieved this goal. I really enjoyed going back and forth between the high school, Dani’s house, her job at the town’s bookstore (which would all be considered young adult genre territory), and the college housing, along with a couple of local bars (which would be considered more new adult genre territory). The setting of a book is always very important to me. It’s actually so important to me, that I treat it like a main character in the novel. I try to write what I know, or what I know I love, and I LOVE everything about One Tiny Secret (I may be a little partial about this though). This book represents my love of many things, but in terms of setting, that means small towns like Holden Ridge, the fall, and the North-East. ONE TINY SECRET Synopsis: **Mature Content Warning** Recommended for 17+ due to language, violence, and sexual content. Just one tiny secret has the potential to ruin everything. Being the daughter of the sheriff in a small town like Holden Ridge means that eighteen-year-old Danielle “Dani” Marks’ life is under constant surveillance. She’s made a habit of staying under the radar by being a floater among

Looking for an action-packed dystopian that's different than what's already out there? You'd do well to pick up PROXY then. The synopsis: Knox was born into one of the City's wealthiest families. A Patron, he has everything a boy could possibly want—the latest tech, the coolest clothes, and a Proxy to take all his punishments. When Knox breaks a vase, Syd is beaten. When Knox plays a practical joke, Syd is forced to haul rocks. And when Knox crashes a car, killing one of his friends, Syd is branded and sentenced to death. Syd is a Proxy. His life is not his own. Then again, neither is Knox’s. Knox and Syd have more in common than either would guess. So when Knox and Syd realize that the only way to beat the system is to save each other, they flee. Yet Knox’s father is no ordinary Patron, and Syd is no ordinary Proxy. The ensuing cross-country chase will uncover a secret society of rebels, test both boys’ resolve, and shine a blinding light onto a world of those who owe and those who pay. Some debts, it turns out, cannot be repaid.My thoughts:It's sorta funny that I read this right after putting up my post about animal death in fiction, because PROXY kills off a bunch of zoo animals and some poor horses. I was able to keep reading though, because although the animal death wasn't entirely justified, it was understandable in the context of the brutal setting. The action flows really well and Syd is relatable and someone worth rooting for.Even if I didn't 100% buy it from a characterization standpoint, the ending is a great example of poetic justice and sets up some interesting questions for the sequel.And now, here's the author to talk about the book!Proxy excerpt: “‘…why else do you think I hired you?’‘Because I have small hands and I don’t steal.’‘These things are all true,’ Mr. Baram answered. ‘But that doesn’t make them my reasons. Perhaps not even I know my reasons.’‘I’m sure your reasons are as noble as your visage.’ Sydney joked.‘My visage, eh?’ Mr. Baram chuckled. ‘You’ve been reading through my library.’‘You should password protect better if you don’t want readers.’‘Oh, I want readers, my boy.’ Mr. Baram sighed. ‘A world of readers, I want, and yet, all I have is you. You want information, mere data, just like everyone else. That’s not reading. Wisdom? Inspiration? Phfft! Their time has passed, eh?’ He waved his hand in the air. ‘You cannot nourish the soul with data!’” – page 35, PROXYAlex London on the best aspect of the society in Proxy: I suppose the technology they have in Proxy is pretty great, but it is also that technology that isolates people from each other and from the context in which they live. If you can afford it, you can do or get or be anything you want anytime you want it. Some might say that kind of freedom is ideal. There are no laws-- only corporate regulations, agreements and contracts. It's an entirely free market, where you get whatever you can pay for...and nothing more. None of this sounds very good does it? I suppose the good side of that is, that in that society you are free to be awful and to exploit your neighbors and abuse your proxies--no laws will stop you--but you are also free to be kind, to be generous, to be a boon to those less fortunate than you. Of course, one of my main characters chooses to be like that and one most decidedly doesn't, but they are both free to change. Exploring that, how much of what they think and know comes from the society around them and how much they can defy its expectations is the crux of the Syd and Knox’s journey. I suppose that's true of everyone growing up, in a bleak imaginary future, or now, in our society, in our time. We all have to decide who the best version of ourselves is and how much we are willing to do to become it. So the best aspect of the world of Proxy? The people in it, just like our world. About Alex London: Alex London writes book for adults, children and teens. At one time a journalist who traveled the world reporting from confli

DUEL WITH THE DEVIL The True Story of How Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr Teamed Up to Take on America's First Sensational Murder MysteryBY PAUL COLLINS ABOUT THE BOOK:Duel with the Devil is acclaimed historian Paul Collins’ remarkable true account of a stunning turn-of-the-19th century murder and the trial that ensued – a showdown in which iconic political rivals Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr joined forces to make sure justice was done. Still our nation’s longest running “cold case,” the mystery of Elma Sands finally comes to a close with this book, which delivers the first substantial break in the case in over 200 years. In the closing days of 1799, the United States was still a young republic. Waging a fierce battle for its uncertain future were two political parties: the well-moneyed Federalists, led by Alexander Hamilton, and the populist Republicans, led by Aaron Burr. The two finest lawyers in New York, Burr and Hamilton were bitter rivals both in and out of the courtroom, and as the next election approached—with Manhattan likely to be the swing district on which the presidency would hinge—their animosity reached a crescendo. Central to their dispute was the Manhattan water supply, which Burr saw not just as an opportunity to help a city devastated by epidemics but as a chance to heal his battered finances. But everything changed when Elma Sands, a beautiful young Quaker woman, was found dead in Burr's newly constructed Manhattan Well. The horrific crime quickly gripped the nation, and before long accusations settled on one of Elma’s suitors, handsome young carpenter Levi Weeks. As the enraged city demanded a noose be draped around the accused murderer’s neck, the only question seemed to be whether Levi would make it to trial or be lynched first. The young man’s only hope was to hire a legal dream team. And thus it was that New York’s most bitter political rivals and greatest attorneys did the unthinkable—they teamed up. At once an absorbing legal thriller and an expertly crafted portrait of the United States in the time of the Founding Fathers, Duel with the Devil is a masterpiece of narrative nonfiction. ABOUT THE AUTHOR:PAUL COLLINS is the author of eight books. An assistant professor of English in the MFA program at Portland State University, Collins is the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship and the founding editor of the Collins Library imprint of McSweeney's Books. His work has appeared in Slate, New Scientist, and the New York Times, and he is regularly featured on NPR's Weekend Edition as their "literary detective." To read more about Author Paul Collins, visit his website "Bio" HERE. PRAISE FOR DUEL WITH THE DEVIL:“Lively, immediate and dishy in the style of a top-notch tabloid columnist…fizzes with the energy and irreverence of an infant republic…Collins provides a saucy breakdown of the twisty and interlocking interests behind Weeks’ case. This is New York politics in all its gritty glory.”– Salon“Collins not only skillfully squeezes the maximum juice out the combined history and mystery of his story, but may even have solved the crime.” – Christian Science Monitor“NPR's "literary detective" once again applies his skills as a historian to a now obscure crime that was a cause celebre in its day…Using the court transcript as a primary source, Collins makes the most of the inherent drama of the case, and goes one step further to unearth convincing proof of the identity of the real killer.”--Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)“This tautly constructed narrative, infused with period atmosphere, holds the reader’s attention…Collins delivers fine true-crime verisimilitude.”--Booklist“The author’s New York is a fascinating place [and] once the trial begins, the narrative truly takes off, as Collins reveals the immense talents of the three attorneys…A rousing tale of the longest murder trial to that date in Manhattan…the author’s conjecture as to the true vill

Reviewed by Lauren Cannavino Eleanor Amore has a promising life ahead of her on paper. She attends Yale, has a famous mother, a chance to study abroad in Florence and a great boyfriend. Underneath that picture perfect life lies so much more. Eleanor, or Elly as she is affectionately called, has a baby on the way with that very perfect boyfriend who happens to abuse her, her mother is dramatic and detached and she quickly learns that life and people are not always what they seem. When Elly decides to leave the life she has somehow stumbled into and doesn’t exactly belong to and head to the Bronx to stay with her mother Carmen’s estranged family, the Amore women, the novel takes a magical turn. Carmen doesn’t speak to or of the Amore women to Elly. It also comes out that Elly has no memory of her early years whatsoever. When she arrives in the Bronx, she is hit hard with immediate love, fleeting memories that remain just out of reach of her grasp and magic. Elly soon sees that this isn’t a typical house and the women who inhabit it are not typical women. The Amore women that Elly moves in with are Mimi, Itsy and Fee, each a bit eccentric, wise and full of their own quirks. Her three family members have been waiting for and expecting her return, as has the handsome neighbor Anthony who Elly met as a child but is part of her hazy memories. The longer that Elly is in the Bronx, her memory begins to unfold and her own skills at “the Sight” begin to improve. As memories of Amore family secrets and tragedies begin to spill out and her family history takes shape, Elly is further reminded of how nothing in life is often what it seems. This realization also encompasses Elly herself and as the action and mystery picks up in the book, so much truth is pushed to the surface.Suzanne Palmieri blends the characters past with the present effortlessly and the result is a clear, fun and interesting read. Even though The Witch of Little Italy is a perfect, light beach read, the material is heartfelt, introspective and interesting. The magical elements of the book are not too far fetched to be relatable, and the magic adds a certain something to the text rather than becoming the main focus. I also enjoyed how the chapters were broken down into character viewpoints; it provided for a fresh prospective to the story, but also organized and outlined the plot. Emotions run rampant, yet contained, in Palmieri’s book, and each emotion, good or bad, lays the groundwork for growth and revelation for Elly who is truly a character that the reader can get behind from start to finish. Rating: ★★★★☆ Lauren Cannavino is a graduate student, freelance writer, wine lover, and avid reader. Random musings can be found over at www.goldiesays.com. Review copy was provided free of any obligation by St. Martin’s Griffin. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received. Pin It

Title: The Beautiful and the Cursed Author: Page Morgan Publisher: Delacorte Press Series: The Dispossesed #1 Other Reviews for This Author: None Typing out the title of this book makes me think of a soap opera akin to Dark Shadows, but with the potential for non-vampire centered angst. This book's also gotten a slew of good reviews from readers whose opinions end up being similar to mine, at least when it comes to paranormal YA novels. As if there weren't enough reasons for me to read this thing, it also manages to be a historical paranormal story set in near-turn-of-the-century Paris. There are also gargoyles. Sexy gargoyles. We're not talking the ones from the old Disney cartoon - we're talking monsters that are also really hot, brooding, etc. It's like someone burrowed into my head and created a paranormal book based on the various bookish soft spots that I have. All it needs is a well-developed LGBTQ character in the mix and it would probably be perfect for me. But, it's also a book with commercial smarts to it that either the author or the publisher was aware of, and I think that's why this book will continue to have pretty strong amounts of success. London society is far from pleased with Ingrid Waverly. Despite being from a highly influential family, Ingrid's latest scandal has guaranteed that she can never show her face there again. Not that it would matter now that her lifelong best friend has gotten engaged to the guy that Ingrid has fallen hopelessly in love with. It's far too convenient that Ingrid's family is collectively moving to Paris in order for their mother to set up an art gallery; Ingrid's twin brother, the incorrigible rake of the family, scouted out a building with the perfect amount of gothic ambiance that would also provide the family with suitable living conditions. Sans one political father, the Waverly women - Ingrid, her mother, and Gabby, her younger sister - meet Ingrid's brother in Paris. At least, they're supposed to meet Ingrid's brother in Paris. Grayson Waverly is found to be missing as soon as the family arrives. The various servants that work in the gothic house, while concerned for the employer that they've come to like, believe that he may simply be rebelling and doing what's expected of a young rake in a new, lively city. Despite this explanation, the Waverly family knows that something is up. Ingrid and Gabby are both intent on finding out what happened to their brother. They scrounge together some information on local book shops that he might have frequented as a voracious reader and set off in the hopes of finding him. The search for Grayson is only the beginning of a series of terrifying events. Ingrid comes face-to-face with a living, breathing gargoyle that is beautiful within its gray rock skin and defined features. The strange thing is that the gargoyle has a humanoid nature to it. Ingrid and Gabby also become embroiled in a society whose goal is to eradicate demons, demons that gargoyles - beings known as the Dispossessed - also battle on the Paris rues under the lamplight. Meanwhile, Grayson is captured by one of these demons and taken to a place where he can only wait and pray that he will return to his family just the way he left them. Page Morgan's The Beautiful and the Cursed is like an amazing lovechild of Kady Cross's The Girl in the Steel Corset, Amy Plum's Die For Me, and a few other popular YA series that have gotten solid readerships over the years. One would think that a book reminding you of such a mashup of other books would be a bad thing, but I think this one uses the best of each of the mentioned books to its advantage while adding its own flair that separates Morgan's voice from Plum's and Cross's. It's a debut novel that has a heap of potential with commercial readers as well as more avid paranormal readers that have been around the block a few times - and it will manage to ensnare historical readers

Today Chick Loves Lit welcomes K.A. Tucker’s ONE TINY LIE! Because I love to read excerpts so I can get a feel for the author’s writing, I am very excited to offer you an excerpt of her new book! “Look, about Saturday night… Can we just pretend it never happened?” he asks, sliding his hands into his pockets. My mouth drops for a second as my brain replays those words. The words I’ve been playing over and over in my own head for the last three days. Can I? I’d like to. It would make it easier if I could just press a Delete button on all the images that still blaze in my head, making me suddenly blush and lose focus on…everything. “Sure,” I say with a smile. “Well . . . as long as we can get my sister and Reagan to pretend as well.” One arm lifts to rub the back of his head, pulling his shirt tighter against his chest, enough that I can see the curves. The ones I had my hands all over. “Yeah, well, I figure your sister can’t cause too much trouble, being from out of town.” “No, she can’t,” I agree. She can just randomly text me pictures of a chubby bald man holding a tattoo gun to your ass, like she did yesterday. I promptly erased it, but I’m sure that’s not the last of them. “And Reagan won’t say a word,” I hear Ashton say. Dropping his arm to his side, he looks off in the distance, muttering more to himself, “She’s good like that.” “Okay, great, well . . .” Maybe I can just put all this behind me and get back to being me. Livie Cleary. Future doctor. Good girl. Ashton looks back at my face, his eyes dropping to my lips for a second, likely because I’m chewing on the bottom one so much I’m about to gnaw it off. I feel as though I should say something more. “I hardly remember it, so . . .” I let my voice drift off as I deliver that lie with a degree of coolness that surprises me. And impresses me. His head tilts to the side and he looks off again, as if deep in thought. Then an amused grin touches his lips. “I’ve never had a girl tell me that before.” A tiny smile tugs at the corner of my mouth as I look down to study his sneakers, feeling like I’ve finally scored a point. Livie: one. Mortifying conversation: a million. “I guess there’s a first time for everything.” His low, throaty laugh pulls my attention back up to see twinkling eyes. He’s shaking his head as if thinking of a private joke. “What?” “Nothing. It’s just . . .” There’s a pause, as though he’s not sure whether he should say it or not. In the end, he decides to, delivering my pinnacle of humiliation with a wide grin. “You had a lot of firsts that night, Irish. You kept pointing each one out.” I can’t keep the strangled sound from escaping, as if I’m dying. Which I might be, given my heart just stopped beating. I don’t know whether my arms slackened or I actually threw them in the air to cover my gasp, but somehow I’ve lost the death grip I had on my textbooks. They end up scattered all over the grass. Right next to the last shred of my dignity. I practically collapse to collect my books as I rack my brain. The problem is, I don’t remember talking to Ashton a whole lot. And I certainly don’t remember pointing out all my— That stupid vault opens up in my brain, just enough to let another explicit memory slip out. A flash of that brick wall against my back and Ashton against my front and my legs wrapped around his waist and him pressing against me. And me, whispering in his ear that I’ve never felt that before and how it’s harder than I thought it would be… “Ohmigod,” I moan, clutching my stomach. I’m sure I’m going to be sick. I’m going to become an exhibitionist vomiter. About One Tiny Lie: Livie has always been the stable one of the two Cleary sisters, handling her parents’ tragic death and Kacey’s self-destructive phase with strength and maturity. But underneath that exterior is a little girl hanging onto the last words her father ever spoke to her. “Make me proud,” he had said. She promised she would…and she’s done her best over th