Sunday, August 3, 2014

Promises Hurt by Elle Brooks ***Rafflecopter***



Published August 2, 2014

Synopsis



I wasn't planning on falling for Ethan Jamison, hell I wasn't planning on our paths ever crossing. He’s the most popular guy at school and a complete player. Me; I’m the perpetual good girl, trying to carry out one last request. But when you make a promise, how far do you go to see it through?
~ Blair


It’s a running joke that I’m a terrible liar, if only people knew the truth. My whole life has been spent making excuses and deflecting questions. I was pretty good at it until Blair Thomas entered my world. She saw through the mask that everyone is so willing to accept. She makes me want to tell her all my secrets, but can she promise to keep them?
~ Ethan


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Excerpt



I look down at my cell and it’s 4:54pm. No sign of Ethan. No text to explain. What a douche. I mean, okay so I needed to be here anyway to collect books, but that’s not the point. He didn't know that. I can’t stand people that make plans and then break them without warning. It takes two seconds to send a text.

I’m packing up my things when Ethan Jamison barges through the library doors. He’s panting like he’s out of breath and his eyes are frantically scanning the almost empty room. Then they land on me. I stand completely frozen, mouth gaping like a total moron. Of freakingcourse it has to be that Ethan. He makes his way over, and the sound of his boots echoing through the otherwise silent room awakens me from my dumbstruck state. Emily’s letter flashes in my mind and I feel instantly embarrassed. Like, somehow he knows about it, which of course, he can’t, but I’m still panicking.

He stops a few feet short of my table and looks a little unsure. This isn't the cocky Ethan Jamison that struts around school thinking he’s god’s gift. It’s thrown me a little.

“Hey, um…I’m Ethan,” he says, looking down at me. He lays his guitar case down at his feet and then adjusts his backpack on his shoulders. “Are you the tutor, I mean, sorry…are you Blair?”

I never realized how tall he actually is up close and personal. I’ve seen him play at a gig for about two seconds once, but he was on a stage, so of course he’s gonna look taller than everyone else. Emily and I have only stalked him at a distance. His blue eyes are boring into mine and I'm just standing there. Staring. Like an idiot. He shifts his weight and I realize he’s asked me a question. I still haven't replied. Shit.

“Er…yeah, I’m Blair, nice to meet you. I was just about to go, I thought you weren't coming. You’re late.” The last part comes out all pissy like I'm mad at him.

An amused grin starts to form; his mouth pulling up slightly at one side and the boy has dimples—real life honest-to-god dimples.

I shake my head and practically bark out, “I’ve been waiting for you for almost a half hour. If you’re gonna be late when we meet, you could at least give me a heads up?” Oh my god, why the hell am I telling him off?

His smile widens and he’s not even trying to look sorry. He drops his backpack on the table and takes a seat.

“Yeah, I had practice and it ran over. Steve has a no phone rule, so it’s kinda hard to let you know when I don't have my cell.”

Steve is the music professor; he’s got the new age hippy vibe going on and makes all his students call him by his first name. I pull my chair back out and take a seat. “Okay. Well, um, let’s just get started then.”

I look up and his eyes are zeroed in on my chest. What a complete douche, he’s already ogling my boobs. I cough twice and raise my eyebrows in a ‘what the hell, my eyes are up here’ stare, and his cheeks immediately redden.

“Shit, no, I wasn't checking you out! I mean…um, I wasn't staring at your…fuck, well I kinda was but I mean, shit; I was just trying to read what your shirt says.”


Holy crap, this guy’s more awkward than I am.





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Reviewed by Karen Lee

When Blair’s best friend, and really only true friend, dies of leukemia at 17, she leaves behind a letter to those close to her. Avoiding the note for several months, knowing once she opens it, her friend Emily is truly never coming back, she slowly tears it open. Inside is a heartfelt letter of how much their friendship meant to her and a bucket list that she wrote out but wasn’t able to finish. She asks her friend to finish the list as a way of remembering her. The list has what some people would probably put on their lists. Visiting places far from home and experiences she wished she had enough time to experience for herself. With tears in her eyes how can she refuse to try to finish her friend’s bucket list in her honor and memory?

Blair is a quiet and great student. When her math professor asks her to tutor a student who is failing a math class, she accepts the assignment for extra credit. When he shows up in the library, it is the arrogant, but super cute guitarist of a local band, Ethan. He is her new “student” to tutor. To make matters even more uncomfortable, he is the one guy Emily was in love with and his name is mentioned on her bucket list. How will she survive this tutoring assignment, especially when Ethan is nothing like his public persona? He is kind, sweet and funny and Blair finds herself falling for him. What is she doing? She is riddled with guilt over wanting to be with Emily’s crush and what her heart is telling her. How can she fight this attraction when he says he has feelings for her too? Does she break it off, finish the bucket list for her friend or follow what her heart is telling her to do?

Great book and Ethan is a super cute BBF. The story makes you feel like you are back in high school and all that goes with it, for better or worse. The ending was a bit shocking, but leaves you looking forward to the next book. 4.5 stars


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@peruseprincess @Ellebrooksautho

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