Showing posts with label moving forward. Show all posts
Showing posts with label moving forward. Show all posts


From all of us here in The Book Avenue, we would like to thank Erika Taylor for trusting us with her blog tour, to all the bloggers who willingly participated, and to all our followers and readers who continuously support all our tours and events. For those who missed the posts, we have gathered together all the activities done during the tour for your reference. here are the links! Untill our next tour!



March 21
Momma's Books -Playlist
Literati Literature Lovers - Author Interview


March 22
The Book Avenue - Prologue and Book Trailer
Love N. Books - Review


March 23
Wolfel's World of Books - Interview with Jesika & Review
Kindlehooked -Review


March 24
Book Addict Mumma -Interview with Derek and Review


March 25
Book Boyfriend Reviews -Review


March 26
I Love Indie Books - Excerpt and Review
Sugar and Spice Book Reviews -Review


March 27
Shh Mom's Reading - Excerpt & Review
Romantic Reading Escapes -Review
Reviews by Tammy and Kim -Review


GIVEAWAY WINNERS







Jesika Reynolds’ heart was left broken one year ago when her husband died, leaving her and her son alone in this world. Slowly, she started putting the pieces back together of her life. Knowing that she may never open herself up to love again. That was until the day Derek came into the picture.

Why does this gorgeous stranger seem to care so much, so suddenly?

Derek Jordan's charm drew her in with an instant connection, and familiarity that helps her feel at ease. Her heart is falling at his feet, but as their relationship grows, so does a secret from both of their pasts that neither saw coming. One by one, the threads slowly start to unravel.

Can their newly sought love stand up against the secrets that life is unlocking to their pasts? Or can they decide together that moving forward and forgetting the past is the only option for them to find true happiness?

Prologue 

*Jake* 

I was born into the Silver Platter type of lifestyle. The good life as most people would call it was always at my fingertips. My mother, being the single rich mom that she was, was hardly ever around. She wasn’t cut out for having kids or being any sort of positive role model. In fact, she always had my daily activities so mapped out that it would be damn near impossible to ever interfere with anything she had going on. As a child, I knew my mom loved me, but also knew she just didn’t know how to show it; or more like she didn’t care to show it. Being the only parental influence I had around, she was the one I really looked up to. She dated a lot of men and called it being social; I called it being a hussy. I was around her enough to know how she was willing to do anything to get her way and keep working her way up the social ladder. I know you can’t always blame the way you are based on how you were brought up, but in my case I do. 

Amateur MMA fighting had become a welcomed outlet in my tightly put together life. It wasn’t that I had a temper, well not much of one. It was purely just a much needed release for me. Stepping into that ring always held such an unpredictable outcome; it was the unknown that I craved. There were no guarantees that once I was on the other side of that tightly pulled elastic that I’d come out a winner or come out with my ass beat. Either or, it never really mattered to me. Whether it was my fist connecting or my face being connected with, I’d never felt more alive in all my life. That was until Jesika came into the picture. 

I knew she was special, that there was something different about her. I knew without a shadow of a doubt that she was unlike any of the girls that had ever crossed my path. And more than anything, I knew I didn’t deserve her . . .but that didn’t stop me. I was a selfish prick who was always willing to do anything to get what he wanted; obviously a trait I picked up from my mother. Jesika had instantly become my obsession and I didn’t bat a fucking eye at pushing away who ever I needed to win her over and keep her put. 

Looking back now, I regret so much. I hurt people like I didn’t have a fucking conscience. Who am I kidding? I pretty much didn’t back then. But now, I’d give anything to go back and fix it all. Shit’s about to hit the fan and there is not a damn thing I can do about it. I hate not having control of the situation or knowing what the outcome holds. Tonight might be the last time I’m able to hold my wife. I tried turning my mind off while we were out; making sure I savored every kiss, held her hand a little longer than normal, put as many smiles on her face as possible and made her laugh every chance I could. Now as I watch her sleep on our way home, I can’t help the few tears threatening to fall down my face. I have everything I need or could ever want in the seat right next to me, and I had to fuck it up. Everyone makes mistakes; some are bigger than others and hold graver consequences. Mine was one of the big ones. 

I can’t take back what I did, or the man it’s going to paint me out to be. Glancing over at Jesika who is now lightly snoring I catch something running towards the road. I instantly slam on the brakes, but it does no good. That damn deer has everyone swerving and slamming on their brakes all at once. The feeling I’ve had all night of knowing I was about to lose my family is ringing loud and clear in my head right now. I know I’ve lost it all as I watch the cars that are unable to stop come closer and closer to my side of the car. I silently send up a prayer that Jesika makes it. My son needs his mother, and I can’t stand the idea of him losing both of us tonight. I silently pray that she is able to forgive me one day and move forward from this. I grab her hand telling her I love her as the deafening screeching of brakes and metal crunching takes over all my thoughts.









Erika Taylor was born into the army lifestyle as an only child. Being the only child, she learned to keep herself entertained by unleashing her inner tomboy. Fishing, navigating through the woods and tree climbing were a few of her favorite escapes as a child along with her fast growing love of video games. While she is still a down home girl at heart, she grew to love music and left the wildness behind. She is a devoted lover of music and a closet groupie. Genre of choice is always rock but she has been known to kick it old school from time to time and jam to the 90s greatest hits. Her passion for music fueled her imagination and she has since found at age twenty-nine that she loves to read. While reading didn’t seem to interest her growing up you will almost always find her with her nose in a book nowadays. Erika is currently a native to Oklahoma where she lives with her husband and five small children that they have combined between the two of them. She admits to loving caramel frappe’s, getting her hair done, Ace Ventura When Nature Calls and candy of choice being Airheads. She blames The Hunger Games book series for her newly formed addiction to reading, which has since brought on her desire to write. She is currently working on her debut novel “Moving Forward” set to release May 3rd, 2013. 






We are delighted to host the first ever blog tour of Erika Taylor 
for her debut novel Moving Forward set to release 
on March 23rd, 2013.

Hope to see you there!

here are the participating blogs:

March 21

March 22

March 23

March 24

March 25

March 26

March 27


We, at the Book Avenue is really excited to be part of this cover reveal. I mean, just look at the cover and you'll definitely know the reason why. We also have a teaser for Moving Forward and some giveaways! Exciting!  Thanks to Erika Taylor for trusting us to host it. Make sure to put it in your TBR list and mark your calendar for the release on 23rd March 2013.




AUTHOR LINKS:
Twitter: @ErikaTaylor01


COVER ARTIST:
Brett Fabrizio



BLURB
Jesika Reynolds’ heart was left broken one year ago when her husband died, leaving her and her son alone in this world. Slowly, she started putting the pieces back together of her life. Knowing that she may never open herself up to love again. That was until the day Derek came into the picture.

Why does this gorgeous stranger seem to care so much, so suddenly?

Derek Jordan's charm drew her in with an instant connection, and familiarity that helps her feel at ease. Her heart is falling at his feet, but as their relationship grows, so does a secret from both of their pasts that neither saw coming. One by one, the threads slowly start to unravel.

Can their newly sought love stand up against the secrets that life is unlocking to their pasts? Or can they decide together that moving forward and forgetting the past is the only option for them to find true happiness?


ABOUT the AUTHOR
Erika Taylor was born into the army lifestyle as an only child. Being the only child, she learned to keep herself entertained by unleashing her inner tomboy. Fishing, navigating through the woods and tree climbing were a few of her favorite escapes as a child along with her fast growing love of video games. While she is still a down home girl at heart, she grew to love music and left the wildness behind. She is a devoted lover of music and a closet groupie. Genre of choice is always rock but she has been known to kick it old school from time to time and jam to the 90s greatest hits. Her passion for music fueled her imagination and she has since found at age twenty-nine that she loves to read. While reading didn’t seem to interest her growing up you will almost always find her with her nose in a book nowadays. Erika is currently a native to Oklahoma where she lives with her husband and five small children that they have combined between the two of them. She admits to loving caramel frappe’s, getting her hair done, Ace Ventura When Nature Calls and candy of choice being Airheads. She blames The Hunger Games book series for her newly formed addiction to reading, which has since brought on her desire to write. She is currently working on her debut novel “Moving Forward” set to release March 23, 2013.

TEASER

*Jesika*

Let me start off by saying, I love my bestie Mallory all the time but sometimes… I really, really love her. She always knows how to pick my spirits up, or how to get me to do something I think is completely crazy, but is actually so needed. So, with that being said, the fact I haven’t seen Derek in four days sucks. No, scratch that, it completely blows.
    
Admitting that I actually have a crush on someone is still hard to admit to myself. It almost feels like I’m cheating on Jake. The fact that I’m thinking about seeing Derek more than thinking about how much I miss Jake is making me feel somewhat guilt ridden. Then again, I also know that it is something I need, I know I will never forget Jake…no matter who is in my life but that doesn’t make it any easier. I’m kinda confused by these sudden feelings I’m having for someone who is practically a stranger.
    
When I get home after being thoroughly disappointed again that there was no Derek at the school, I feel like I’m about to Hulk out. Maybe it’s the way he left me Friday night…a little worked up, hot and bothered, moisten between my legs…freaking feeling like a lioness in heat.

He’s a freaking tease. He did this to me on purpose.
    
I walk into my room and on my bed is a little purple with yellow polka dots gift bag with a card sticking out. I take the card out and it reads ‘Thinking of You in Your Time of Need’ on the front.
“Humph….” I say to no one in the room. I open the card and read it aloud. “Hey Jes! I know you’d never buy this for yourself, but trust me when I say, you need it! Seriously, I am your Best Friend. Love ya, Mal.”
    
I dump the bag over and pull the pink tissue paper away. “What the hell is that?” I say, again to no one. I pick it up and I swear I’m holding a bedazzled tampon holder. It’s small, fits in my hand and it’s slightly bigger than a lipstick holder. I go to open it and the damn thing starts buzzing and shaking in my hand. I drop it.

Holy shit!
    
Mallory bought me a battery operated toy. I start laughing thinking about our conversation after the concert. She was so right, I would never buy myself a battery operated toy or any kind of sex toy.

For the last year, sex has been the last thing on my mind. The fact that I’m now experiencing some signs of sexual tension makes me blush as the butterflies start to flap around because I know damn well who is responsible for these reincarnated feelings.

GIVEAWAY