Title: Country Roads
Author: Grea Warner
Genre: Women’s Fiction/Contemporary Romance
Book Blurb:
A young woman content with her solitary life.
A rising country music star.
They were friends once … until their lives took them down separate roads.
Now, years later, when a child volunteers his uncle to sing for a fundraiser, Lara Faulkner realizes it is none other than her college pal, Finn Murphy. As the two get a chance to reconnect, Lara reveals to a compassionate Finn details of her shocking past and the traumatic decision she had to make.
Through trust and love, the bond between Finn and Lara deepens as the country singer manages to get an emotionally scarred Lara to let down her self-proclaimed walls. But will secrets, lies, and tragedy cause a bumpy detour on their road to complete happiness?
Emotional, dramatic, heartwarming… fall in love with COUNTRY ROADS – the first in a continuing series by author Grea Warner.
Excerpt:
I didn’t try to make conversation with the driver through the dirty, thick, clear plastic barrier separating the front from the back of the car. And I ignored the annoying mini-television broadcasting some obnoxious, loud commercial. I instead looked at the red flashing monitor announcing the increasing price of the ride. It seemed to be thumping as hard and as fast as my heart. And the hole in the seat next to me, exposing loose dirty white cushion stuffing, mimicked how torn up I was. I didn’t want to go, but I needed to go. I knew it. I just needed to accept it.
Knowing that if I let one teardrop fall or answered the repetitive calls flooding my phone from Finn, that I would fall apart, I remained stoic during that ride. Upon arrival, I paid the driver and went into the terminal that was busy— but not to the extent of its usual reputation. I had done this route plenty of times over the years, so I moved in “Lara autopilot” as I bought my ticket and started toward the seating area. It was a good thing I didn’t need to concentrate since my mind certainly wasn’t into thinking beyond the basics.
I only had a few minutes to wait until it was time to board. So I briefly browsed the covers of the magazines at a newsstand shop and opted not to get anything to eat or drink. I hadn’t eaten much at the party, but, regardless, I wasn’t at all hungry.
It was when I was looking at the board listing the arrivals and departures and thinking my nerves were too shot to even sit and wait, that I heard my name. It wasn’t loud. In fact, it was a bit winded. But I knew the voice well. Despite there being a number of people swarming around that area, I saw Finn instantly. He was a good few feet away. His head was shaking ever so slightly as he was pleading me with my eyes to come to him.
When I didn’t move, he looked around. I knew he didn’t want to be recognized. There were times when he didn’t mind it as much, but this…this certainly wasn’t one of them. And he didn’t have on any type of clothing that could be used as a disguise —not a ball cap, hoodie, or even glasses. Standing there in the brown suit he had worn to the party, it was probably close to a sure bet that someone would identify him.
But I guess he was willing to take that risk, because he walked toward me. I knew then that it was inevitable that we were going to talk. I certainly wasn’t going to take off running in my decorative heels and cocktail dress, after all.
“What? Where are you going?” His eyes swept repeatedly across mine.
“Home.” I kept it simple.
“Why? No. Lar, please…please don’t leave.” There was a bit of panic when he said that last word. Before I could think any more about it, he said, “I’m sorry. I told you I hate those gigs. But it’s a necessary evil.” He spoke of the label’s party. “You should have just told me.”
He reached his hand out for mine, but I instantly retracted. I didn’t want to feel his touch. I didn’t want to be confused.
His look of concern, upon the rejection, heightened. “I don’t get…Is this about the PDA thing?”
If only it was about the fact that he didn’t kiss me in front of that room of fake music know-it-alls at the party. I could have dealt with that. I understood that. It was, unfortunately, so much bigger.
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Grab your copy for only 99 cents for a very limited time!
What makes your featured book a must-read?
With social distancing leaving us with more time on our hands, it is the perfect time to start a book series. COUNTRY ROADS is the first in a continuing series that follows Lara’s journey as she unburdens her past and experiences the emotional highs and lows that come from love and loss. If you like character-driven TV dramas that are both realistic and tearjerkers, this series is a must read. A perfect book club selection with discussion questions on my author website, COUNTRY ROADS was a finalist in the women’s fiction category for two international book awards. And best yet, it is being offered at a special sale price for a limited time!
Giveaway – Enter to win an e-book bundle of all 46 books featured in the Book Series Starter Bookish Event: https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/92db775093 Open Internationally. Runs January 12 – January 21, 2021. Winner will be drawn on January 22, 2021.
Author Biography:
There really wasn’t any other path. Grea Warner knew from a young age that she wanted to write. She was born to write. First it was in diaries with little metal keys and in written tales that she slipped to friends in study hall. School newspapers, a college television drama, and the soap opera world were next. After producing and writing a TV show, she began her newest adventure – life as a novelist. When her fingers aren’t tapping out her latest book filled with angst and drama, Grea can be found hiking the trails or jamming to her favorite country artists on the radio.
Social Media Links:
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/grea_warner
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greawarner/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grea.warner.7
Website: http://greawarner.com/