We all have secrets.
Secrets well buried.
Until we find the one soul who makes the burden of such
secrets just that little bit easier to bear.
Lexington
"Lexi" Hart is a senior at the University of Alabama. Surrounded by
her best friends, her loving family and having fulfilled her life-long dream of
making the Crimson Tide cheer squad, everything is going exactly as she always
dreamed it would. But beneath her happy exterior, demons lurk, threatening to
jeopardize everything Lexi has worked to achieve.
When
events in her life become too much to cope with, Lexi finds herself spiraling
down into the realm of her biggest fear. Lexi falls hard, victim once again to
the only thing that can destroy her and, on the way, finds herself falling
straight into the dangerous tattooed arms of a guy from the wrong side of the
tracks.
Austin
Carillo, starting Wide Receiver for the Alabama Crimson Tide, must get picked
in this year's NFL draft. He needs it. His brothers need it. Most importantly,
his mother desperately needs it. Brought up in a world where the poor are
forgotten, the sick are left to fend for themselves and no hero miraculously
appears to pull you out of hell, Austin had no other choice but to make a
living on the wrong side of the law—until football offered Austin the break to
get his life back on track.
But
when a family tragedy drags him back into the clutches of the gang he believed
he had left far behind, Austin finds himself falling. Falling back into
criminal ways and falling deep into a suffocating darkness. Until a troubled
yet kindred spirit stumbles across his path, where Austin quickly finds he is
falling for a young woman—a young woman who might just have the power to save
him from his worst enemy: himself.
Can
two troubled souls find a lasting peace together? Or will they finally succumb to the demons threatening
to destroy them?
New Adult/Contemporary Romance novel—contains adult content,
sexual situations and mature topics. Suited for ages 17 and up.
First off let me say that if you are going to read it PLEASE for the love of all that is holy, read the authors message at the beginning of the book. If you do not do this you may not understand Lexi's character. Lexi is a troubled soul. She has a disorder and no I will not tell you what it is. But I felt for her in so many ways that it broke my heart.
Austin sweet, sweet Austin. I think I just feel in love with him. His life is nothing like it would seem. For a star receiver and one of Rome's closest friends sense childhood you would think that he has it together. Well that is not the case. His mother is very ill, dying of a disease that has taken over her body, a brother that is in the worst gang in there area. Another little brother that is just getting started on the wrong path. A gang that he once belonged to. He got out thanks to his older brother Axle but I would not really say what his brother did to get him out was a good thing. That was a BAD thing. Very bad.
As far as Lexi goes, this is one troubled girl who lives with a sickness that she can not escape. She tries with all that can to live with it but it is very exhausting. She meets Austin in a not so good situation that puts her at risk. He scares her and yet for a girl that has never been kissed or around boys she is also drawn to him.
All the time Austin sat there stargazing, I studied him. He was truly breathtaking. From his dark Italian features to his intricate body canvas of ink... his wide array of piercings to his prominent black ear gauges. They were my favorite. I don't know why, but I'd always had a thing for gauges on a guy. I'd always preferred the dark, tortured souls, I guess. Maybe like attracts like?
You will learn right from the start what Lexi's illness is as well and from the very start I just wanted to protect her. Tell her that she is beautiful and strong and all those things that she does not see. She has good parents that love her and her friends really do care about her. She has all these people around her that love her.
Once Lexi and Austin start to hang out thanks to Rome and Molly, they slowly see that they need one another in a way that they can not explain. They have an understanding and give each other the boundaries they have. They respect each other when one will not share the secrets of their past.
"Tears this time ran down my cheeks, and Austin lifted his head, his face full with awe. "No, thank you Pix. Thank you for being so special to be with a goddamn fuck-up like me. I have no idea why you were brought into my life, but I thank God everyday."
After all they have gone through to be together things will tear them apart. This is the part that I will not go into so just read and please, please hold on. This story will break your heart. Austin has the weight of his world on his shoulders, everything comes crashing down on him and he has to make choices that are not good. Choices that will put him and those he loves at risk. So hold on tight.
Lastly I would like to say to Tillie, you are a strong woman for writing this story. I am awe with you and what you have overcome. This story you wrote, will forever stay with me. Thank you for giving us part of your story in this beautiful story named Sweet Fall.
EXCERPT
Crickets chirped outside, and every fifteen minutes, the sound of the campus cops’ radios filled the house. They were doing their rounds—just like good little bitches of the dean—the light from their flashlights illuminating the room, except here behind the couch, where we had our own little pocket of protection.
Hours and hours passed in silence, and I lay on my back just staring once more at the stars through the skylight, the sky brightening with the rising dawn, the dark room now lightened by a hazy orange glow.
I heard Lexi sigh beside me, and I asked, “What do think of when you look up at the stars?”
I caught Lexi’s head tilt to the side and her eyes narrowed in scrutiny.
Minutes passed as she stared silently at the night sky. “Sometimes I wonder what they must make of our world,” she whispered quietly. I didn’t think she’d respond. “Do we fascinate them or disgust them? Do they look down on us the same way we look up at them and wonder what we’re thinking too? Do they see all our problems? Watch our sorrowful excuses for lives with a growing sense of pity? Or do they envy us for just having a life, good or bad?”
Her response surprised me. Sorrowful excuses for lives?
“Ever look at them and feel inferior, feel small?” I added, really wanting to hear her answer.
Lexi fidgeted beside me, lifting her hands to create a frame with her fingers, her left eye closed as she studied Orion’s Belt like she was looking through a telescope. But her hands abruptly lowered and laid flat to her stomach, a guttering expression on her face. “I don’t need to look up at the stars to feel inferior, Austin. All I have to do is open my eyes and look at myself in the mirror.”
My attention snapped to her and a strange feeling rolled my stomach—sympathy?
Lexi yawned beside me and her eyelids began to droop, but she fought to stay awake, never taking her eyes off the stars. I couldn’t stop watching her. Something about her intrigued me. Or maybe it was the fact that she knew about me, about who I was, that drew me to her. I didn’t have to pretend just for right here, right now.
“Go to sleep,” I said after her third consecutive yawn, and she focused on me once more. She was making me fuckin’ tired, and I needed to stay alert.
Lexi simply shook her head and wrapped her arms around her chest, fighting off another yawn.
Damn stubborn chick.
“Lexi, go to fuckin’ sleep. We’re gonna be here all night anyway,” I ordered, and I watched her tired eyes widen.
“Are you gonna sleep?” she asked, and I frowned. Why the fuck did that matter?
“Probably, at some point,” I replied and shrugged my shoulders.
“Okay, then. But…” Her lips pursed in tension. “But please don’t touch me. I… can’t be touched… I’ll stay here hidden, just… don’t touch me.”
“I won’t,” I said vehemently through gritted teeth. Did she think I was gonna grope her in her sleep or some shit? What the hell did she think of me?
Lexi’s eyes closed and, within seconds, she was out, all curled up in the fetal position on the hardwood floor. She looked like a fallen, broken pixie.
I don’t know why I said it, but I leaned down and whispered, “This isn’t who I am, Lexi. I’m not the cold, unfeeling dick you think I am. I just wanted you to know that about me.”
As far as Lexi goes, this is one troubled girl who lives with a sickness that she can not escape. She tries with all that can to live with it but it is very exhausting. She meets Austin in a not so good situation that puts her at risk. He scares her and yet for a girl that has never been kissed or around boys she is also drawn to him.
All the time Austin sat there stargazing, I studied him. He was truly breathtaking. From his dark Italian features to his intricate body canvas of ink... his wide array of piercings to his prominent black ear gauges. They were my favorite. I don't know why, but I'd always had a thing for gauges on a guy. I'd always preferred the dark, tortured souls, I guess. Maybe like attracts like?
You will learn right from the start what Lexi's illness is as well and from the very start I just wanted to protect her. Tell her that she is beautiful and strong and all those things that she does not see. She has good parents that love her and her friends really do care about her. She has all these people around her that love her.
Once Lexi and Austin start to hang out thanks to Rome and Molly, they slowly see that they need one another in a way that they can not explain. They have an understanding and give each other the boundaries they have. They respect each other when one will not share the secrets of their past.
"Tears this time ran down my cheeks, and Austin lifted his head, his face full with awe. "No, thank you Pix. Thank you for being so special to be with a goddamn fuck-up like me. I have no idea why you were brought into my life, but I thank God everyday."
After all they have gone through to be together things will tear them apart. This is the part that I will not go into so just read and please, please hold on. This story will break your heart. Austin has the weight of his world on his shoulders, everything comes crashing down on him and he has to make choices that are not good. Choices that will put him and those he loves at risk. So hold on tight.
Lastly I would like to say to Tillie, you are a strong woman for writing this story. I am awe with you and what you have overcome. This story you wrote, will forever stay with me. Thank you for giving us part of your story in this beautiful story named Sweet Fall.
EXCERPT
Crickets chirped outside, and every fifteen minutes, the sound of the campus cops’ radios filled the house. They were doing their rounds—just like good little bitches of the dean—the light from their flashlights illuminating the room, except here behind the couch, where we had our own little pocket of protection.
Hours and hours passed in silence, and I lay on my back just staring once more at the stars through the skylight, the sky brightening with the rising dawn, the dark room now lightened by a hazy orange glow.
I heard Lexi sigh beside me, and I asked, “What do think of when you look up at the stars?”
I caught Lexi’s head tilt to the side and her eyes narrowed in scrutiny.
Minutes passed as she stared silently at the night sky. “Sometimes I wonder what they must make of our world,” she whispered quietly. I didn’t think she’d respond. “Do we fascinate them or disgust them? Do they look down on us the same way we look up at them and wonder what we’re thinking too? Do they see all our problems? Watch our sorrowful excuses for lives with a growing sense of pity? Or do they envy us for just having a life, good or bad?”
Her response surprised me. Sorrowful excuses for lives?
“Ever look at them and feel inferior, feel small?” I added, really wanting to hear her answer.
Lexi fidgeted beside me, lifting her hands to create a frame with her fingers, her left eye closed as she studied Orion’s Belt like she was looking through a telescope. But her hands abruptly lowered and laid flat to her stomach, a guttering expression on her face. “I don’t need to look up at the stars to feel inferior, Austin. All I have to do is open my eyes and look at myself in the mirror.”
My attention snapped to her and a strange feeling rolled my stomach—sympathy?
Lexi yawned beside me and her eyelids began to droop, but she fought to stay awake, never taking her eyes off the stars. I couldn’t stop watching her. Something about her intrigued me. Or maybe it was the fact that she knew about me, about who I was, that drew me to her. I didn’t have to pretend just for right here, right now.
“Go to sleep,” I said after her third consecutive yawn, and she focused on me once more. She was making me fuckin’ tired, and I needed to stay alert.
Lexi simply shook her head and wrapped her arms around her chest, fighting off another yawn.
Damn stubborn chick.
“Lexi, go to fuckin’ sleep. We’re gonna be here all night anyway,” I ordered, and I watched her tired eyes widen.
“Are you gonna sleep?” she asked, and I frowned. Why the fuck did that matter?
“Probably, at some point,” I replied and shrugged my shoulders.
“Okay, then. But…” Her lips pursed in tension. “But please don’t touch me. I… can’t be touched… I’ll stay here hidden, just… don’t touch me.”
“I won’t,” I said vehemently through gritted teeth. Did she think I was gonna grope her in her sleep or some shit? What the hell did she think of me?
Lexi’s eyes closed and, within seconds, she was out, all curled up in the fetal position on the hardwood floor. She looked like a fallen, broken pixie.
I don’t know why I said it, but I leaned down and whispered, “This isn’t who I am, Lexi. I’m not the cold, unfeeling dick you think I am. I just wanted you to know that about me.”
Tillie Cole is a Northern girl through and
through. She originates from a place called Teesside on that little but
awesomely sunny (okay I exaggerate) Isle called Great Britain. She was brought
up surrounded by her English rose mother -- a farmer's daughter, her crazy
Scottish father, a savagely sarcastic sister and a multitude of rescue animals
and horses.
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B&N - http://bit.ly/1pBlLUX
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Kobo - http://bit.ly/1omDyKf
Amazon US
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