First Came You by Faith Andrew

Cover Design by Najla Qamber Designs

 

Synopsis

First comes a nickel,
Then comes a shove,

Then comes loss only conquered by his love.

This is the story of my first true love. The story of how the boy next door protected me, became my best friend, stole my heart, and rescued me from my darkest despair.

 

Excerpt

“Tommy, my mother’s going to kill me if I don’t make curfew! I have to go. We have to stop.” God, his lips. The way he kisses that spot behind my ear, making my knees go all jelly. And his hands—his strong, skilled, wandering hands—they’re cupping my ass, pulling me closer to his body. His very stimulated, very rigid, body. Mmm, he’s delicious and tempting, and I want him so bad. I’m this close to giving in to his devilish ways—this freaking close—but . . .

Not tonight.

Not when the clock is ticking and my mother’s waiting for me on the couch to get my Daisy Duke wearing ass home.

“Please, baby, five more minutes? I’ll walk you home. Your mom loves me, she’ll understand.” He’s persistent, like always, but even with his soft lips trailing those sensuous kisses along my collarbone while his hands explore all the sensitized triggers of my body that awaken like live-wires underneath his expert touch . . .

“Nope! We have to stop!” I’m panting with desire and frustration and oh, God, do I want him. Willpower, Gabriella! Sometimes it’s damn near impossible to muster while entranced by such passionate efforts, but I’ve used it for years, and I’m not giving up now.

“She’s not going to love you when she sees this on my neck!” I pull away from his embrace and point to the purple hickey he gave me the night before. “Tommy, that woman inspects my body like I’m part of a prison strip search. How am I going to hide this one, you animal?”

Laughing that gruff, contagious laugh that I can feel in my toes, Tommy exaggerates a growl, accentuating his r’s. “You make me an animal. It’s all your fault. Those shorts, those tanned mile-long legs. Your father let you go out of the house looking like that?”

“Not exactly. I have my sweats in my bag. I told them you, me, Maria, and Crystal were watching a movie in your basement. I hate lying to them all the time. They’re going to wind up finding out their sixteen-year-old daughter is fooling around with the hot older guy next door. And when they do—”

“My ass is grass.”

“And your balls will belong to Papa Rossi. We have to tell them. Ease them into it. If we show them we can be mature about this, that it’s just a little crush and then slowly ease them into us dating . . . I think they’ll approve.”

“Yeah, okay, Gabriella. You and I both know this is not some little crush. This is a lifelong love affair, whether they want to believe it or not. You’ve wanted me since you knew what love was, ain’t that the truth?” His arms are back where they belong: around my waist, holding me close.

“And you’ve wanted me before it was morally acceptable, so let’s not go there, dude. We get it, our friends get it, but our parents are another story. Dad grills Gina about being boy crazy all the time and she’s almost graduated from college! He and Mom were married fresh out of high school. He doesn’t want that for his daughters. He wants a better, more modern future and I can’t disappoint him, Tommy. As much as I love you, as much as I’ve promised my future to you, I have to show them we can have it all.” Same story, different day. “I’m not allowed to date until I’m sixteen. Those are the rules.”

“Newsflash! Guess how old you are, Gabby?”

I’m not an idiot. I know how old I am. I’m just chicken. The wrath of my over-protective, off-the-boat father is something I’d rather put off a while longer. Promises, promises—I think I’ve made more than I can keep.

Sensing my discomfort with the topic we’ve beaten to a dead horse repeatedly, Tommy relents, showing his sweet compassion. “We’ll have it all one day and I can’t wait to give it to you.” He kisses my forehead, reassuring me. “Sixteen or sixty, this is right. It was not a coincidence that your family moved onto this block all those years ago—it was fate. You were meant for me, I was meant for you, and we have those two punks, Sasha and Seth to thank for picking up where fate left off.”

Allowing the calm I always feel in Tommy’s arms to surge my senses, I laugh. “I actually feel some sort of weird loyalty to those two brats. We may have to name our firstborn after one of them.” I pull out of our embrace to rummage through my bag for the sweats I’d left the house in.

“Not happening. When we have our precious little girls, they’ll have their mama’s beauty and their daddy’s stubbornness, and they will not be named after two kids who picked on you for the better part of your childhood. Little pricks. The thought of them still irritates me. I’m so glad they moved to Long Island—no man’s land—where they belong.”

“No man’s land? Your grandmother and uncle live there. It’s not exactly off the map.”

“It may as well be. I can’t remember the last time I saw either of them. My parents and their family drama—they exile anyone who doesn’t play by their ridiculous set of rules. But, whatever, my parents aren’t the issue right now, it’s yours I’m worried about.”

I glare at my watch, the second hand criticizing every move that isn’t in the direction toward my own house. “Yeah, I’m worried about them too, and how Mom’s going to react when I walk in five minutes late for the third time this week.”

“Come on,” Tommy huffs, finally relenting. “I’ll walk you home and get you out of trouble.”

“You? Get me out of trouble? You’re the one reason I’m always in trouble!” I should heed my own warning, be wary of the consequences of being young, foolish, and in love, but Tommy’s trouble is the kind every teenage girl would die for—dangerous in the sweetest way possible. Is it a sin to get a thrill from that danger? If so, I really don’t care. I’m not in training to be a nun, and you only live once. Tommy radiates life into me, the kind that makes me grateful for opening my eyes every morning. Life as Tommy’s girl—whether public knowledge or not—is the only kind of life I want.

Reading my mind the way he’s always been able to, he kisses my forehead and wraps an arm around my shoulders. “I’m the best kind of trouble and you know it.”

“That I do. Now take me home, my hero.” I’ve called him that since the day from hopscotch hell. It caught on and I never turned back. It’s the same with my feelings for him—those have been going strong for a long time now too. Devoted. Helplessly loyal. Faithful in every sense of the word.

 

 

About Faith Andrews

Faith Andrews lives in New York where she is happily married to her high school sweetheart. They have two beautiful daughters and a furry Yorkie son, Rocco. If she isn’t listening to Mumford and Sons or busy being a Dance Mom, her nose is in a book or her laptop. She’s a sucker for a happily ever after and believes her characters are out there living one somewhere . . .

 

Connect with Faith

Website / Facebook / Goodreads / Twitter

 

 

 

 

 

I am not Jewish, but when I was in Middle School and High School, my best friends were all Jewish boys.  I don’t know why, but that was that.  My mom always thought I would marry a nice Jewish boy.  I married a nice Italian/Maltese boy instead.  But I digress.  Since these friends were so close to me, I was fortunate to be included into many Passover Seders.  Matzo Ball Soup, Potato Latkas, Brisket….mmmmm   Oh and when I was older…alcohol.  

The name “Passover” derives from Moses’ promise that God would “pass over” the homes of Israelites on the evening when first born Egyptians were to be slain (Exodus 12:23). 

From my household to yours Happy Passover!!!

Did you know …

Autism now affects 1 in 68 children and 1 in 42 boys
Autism prevalence figures are growing
Autism is the fastest-growing developmental disorder in the U.S.
Autism costs a family $60,000 a year on average
Boys are nearly five times more likely than girls to have autism
There is no medical detection or cure for autism

It is true, people who are not touched by someone with Autism don’t understand. Fortunately, today is the beginning of Autism Awareness Month. I, along with many other people, will be filling you in on Autism. If you didn’t read my About Me page, or seen my Facebook page recently, I have a son who was officially diagnosed with ASD in first grade. What is ASD? According to Autism Speaks, “Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and autism are both general terms for a group of complex disorders of brain development. These disorders are characterized, in varying degrees, by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors. With the May 2013 publication of the DSM-5 diagnostic manual, all autism disorders were merged into one umbrella diagnosis of ASD. Previously, they were recognized as distinct subtypes, including autistic disorder, childhood disintegrative disorder, pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) and Asperger syndrome.

ASD can be associated with intellectual disability, difficulties in motor coordination and attention and physical health issues such as sleep and gastrointestinal disturbances. Some persons with ASD excel in visual skills, music, math and art.

Autism appears to have its roots in very early brain development. However, the most obvious signs of autism and symptoms of autism tend to emerge between 2 and 3 years of age.” That is why it is better to seek treatment for Autism at the earliest. Medical clinics like Novel Biome are known to have a team of dedicated medical professionals who can support children and families affected by autism. Furthermore, many believe that medical clinics like the one mentioned above can provide clinically proven and medically supervised Fecal Microbiota Transplant (FMT), which can improve the quality of lives of those affected by autism (and range of symptoms that come with being on the spectrum). However, treatment alone cannot help in curing Autism. Parents too play an important role. For example, parents of children with Autism have to learn as the child is learning too. There are many centres and experts that help with coaching kids with autism, that give parents an idea of how to understand their child’s condition.

I knew something was different with my son when he was about 3 or 4. Nursery school (pre-school) even noticed a difference. It took me 3-4 years to finally get my suspicions confirmed. You would never think anyone would be so happy to know their son had Autism, but I was. With that diagnosis, I knew now he would have access to many different classes and services within the school district. I always had the thought that the diagnosis isn’t the end, but the beginning for him.

Today he is a thriving 14 year old about to graduate middle school. He is in a 15:1 class (15 Students to one teacher) and has a 3:1 (1 aid to 3 children) aid. Having a child with ASD you learn a whole new lingo. I will not bore you with a vocabulary lesson, but I will clarify where I can. Nick’s class is the exact same class a “typical” child would go to. Same curriculum., however, modifications are made so that the kids learn to the best of their ability. I mean, Nick has never really done a full report like I did in school. They are too busy learning what is really important. Math (especially the evil common core crap) is hard. It takes some kids longer to learn than others. These classes are designed for that. But like I said they learn everything their peers do.

My son is in band, chorus and is on the school track teams. There is nothing my son can’t do that others can’t. Not every child of Autism has the same abilities. All I tell my son is that there is nothing he can’t do if he puts his mind to it. Like the graphic says, one description of a child with Autism is the same. They are unique. What works for one, may not for another. Many children with Autism have melt downs. Trust me, when you see it you will know it. Some are full out, some more subtle. I have one request though. If you see a child in full melt down in the middle of the store, trust me when I say the parent who is there knows what they are doing. Don’t add your two cents unless asked.

Have you noticed that my usual pink/purple font is absent from this post? That is because I am going blue for Autism.

Every April 2, Autism Speaks celebrates World Autism Awareness Day with a global autism awareness campaign called Light It Up Blue (#LIUB).

How to LIUB

In honor of people with autism worldwide, iconic landmarks, hotels, sporting venues, concert halls, museums, schools, universities, bridges, retail stores, and thousands of homes will light blue beginning on April 2!

Light Homes, Businesses, Schools, and Landmarks Blue

• Change outdoor or indoor white bulbs to blue bulbs.
• Tint windows with blue gel sheets

• Cover existing fixtures with blue gel filters

• Project the Autism Speaks puzzle piece or Light It Up Blue logo on walls or buildings

Wear Blue

• Ask family, friends, coworkers, and staff to wear blue (ties, scarfs, shirts, etc.)
• Supply Autism Speaks lapel pins, bracelets, or other blue accessories to wear during the month of April.

Post Blue

• Personalize your LIUB Selfie Sign to tell us where you Light It Up Blue
• Post your photos on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Instagram, or Flickr with the hashtag #LIUB to be a part of the global autism awareness movement!
• Turn your website blue with our Site It Up Blue kit or add the Light It Up Blue logo with a link to autismspeaks.org/liub
• Turn your Facebook or Twitter profile picture blue
• Tweet autism facts with the hashtag #LIUB

Raise Awareness with Blue

• Distribute information about autism, World Autism Awareness Day, and Light It Up Blue in your establishment, neighborhood, or company.
• Invite a local Autism Speaks representative to speak to your staff, school, or town about autism and the Light It Up Blue campaign.
• Reach out to local media to let the community know about your great work for the autism community and your support of autism.

Dear fellow authors, bloggers and interested parties,

Come join a group of romance writers, parents, other interested parties who want to help raise awareness of Autism Spectrum Disorders. We hope to share information about groups, support services and extend a hand to those families dealing with ASD. Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)… Romance Authors Unite: Bringing awareness out of the prehistoric times.

Want to help with the planning? Sign up for a takeover slot? Join this group, ~ Romance Authors Unite for ASD Awareness…

Beginning on April 2 we will begin sharing public service type posts. The event page will share at least one post per day throughout the month of April. The event will culminate with a big author-takeover event on May 2nd!

A month long push to raise awareness, and to help those families/caregivers affected by ASD locate
resources and information which will end with a FUN PG-13 party!

 

My Review

This book just simply rocks!!!  But that shouldn’t really surprise anyone who knows the wonderful Caitlyn O’Leary.   I can’t even tell you how often I bugged her for this book to be finished.  I am sure she hates me by now, but as long as she keeps writing books like this, I don’t care.

Seth left the love of his life for an assignment he thought would be over and done with in a few weeks.  He finds himself between a rock and a hard place almost a year later when he finds himself face to face with other Found.   They tell him that the love of his life, Annie, is there and helping him so that they end this forsaken life he is currently in.

I love Annie.  She will do anything for her daughter and for the man she loves.  She is more brave than I could ever be.  I admire and respect her immensely.  What she endures for the sake of love, is vile.  But if it wasn’t for her, he would still find himself FORSAKEN.

Synopsis

Caught Between Duty and Love…

Seth Natani is one of the DEA’s best operatives thanks to his “found” abilities, but he’s hanging on by a thread. It is thoughts of the love of his life keep him sane. In the meantime he finds solace in his dreams.

Clinging to Hope…

Parted from the man that means everything to her, Annie desperately holds onto the past that they shared, and prays for the day they can be reunited. In the meantime she finds solace in her dreams.

Where Dreams Are Real…

Night after night Seth and Annie cling to one another in their dreams, finding a passion that leaves them gloriously fulfilled in sleep, but achingly lonely upon waking. Just when Seth thinks his assignment is ending, it takes a turn for the worse when he finds out the people he is investigating are trafficking in young women. When Annie is taken, will Seth be able to save the woman he loves and make their dreams reality?

Links to Buy:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/19bXnDW
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/19bXnDW

Excerpt

“Stop.”

Thiago continued.

Seth grabbed Thiago’s forearm in a punishing grip, seconds away from breaking it.

“Let go,” Thiago said, through gritted teeth. “You forget yourself.”

“Until I say differently, she’s my property, or I leave now.” Seth was truly scared. Labado was a murdering sadist, and he might have pushed him too far, but he couldn’t ignore it for one more second. Labado stared at him and slowly let go of the whimpering girl. She dropped to the floor. Labado cradled his arm and toed her with his shoe.

“Is she the one?”

“How would I know, I haven’t seen the others,” Seth said in a calm voice.

“Anton, bring in the next sample,” he called out. Four more young women were brought in for Seth to view, all slightly older than the girl who remained silently crying on the floor at his feet.

After they all were standing in a row, Leslie turned to him. “Well?”

“And the one in the picture?”

“She’s not as docile, and she has bruising.”

Seth gave her a toothy smile. “So she has spirit and marks up well. Too bad you didn’t bring her.” He set down his drink and got up.

“She’s in the hall. Bring her in Anton.” He continued to stand. This was it, his palms were damp, and a bead of sweat trickled down his neck. The bastard was gripping Annie tightly by the scruff of her neck, forcing her into the room. Her face was mostly hidden by her hair. It was a trick he had seen her use many times to assess a situation without people being aware of what she was doing. Then like a laser, she saw the girl lying on the ground and she yanked out of the man’s hold and was on her knees in front of Labado, cradling the girl’s head in her lap.

“Oh, I like a woman who knows her place,” Labado crooned.

Why didn’t I break the fucker’s arm?

“What did you do to her?” Annie demanded, her head turning to Labado, as Leslie watched Seth. He looked at her, schooling his features, so he could survive the contempt he would see in his lover’s, his love’s face. But while her face was hard and cold her eyes held nothing but joy.

“She is not your business.”

“I’m making her my business.”

“You’re in no position to negotiate. You’re a captive. All but naked on the floor. Where is your leverage?”

“Apparently I’m a commodity of some value, or I wouldn’t be here.” She tossed her hair and looked at Labado. “I’m of value to him. I have leverage.” She helped the girl off the floor, murmuring softly to her. God, she was magnificent. He kept his face flat and raised an eyebrow at Labado.

“You seem taken.” Seth said stating the obvious.

“You don’t. I thought spirit and easily marked were two of your criteria.” Labado’s eyes followed Annie as she took the young girl to a sofa. Anton followed her with an amused expression on his face.

“I find myself drawn to both of them. They both have,” Seth paused, “certain qualities.”

“I am in complete agreement. I will take whichever one you pass up.”

“But you told me the other day your current mistress was to your liking.”

“A man can always make room for two women.” Labado licked his lips as he looked at the women/girls on the sofa. Seth looked at the four other women in the room. He wished a man could always make room for six. God, they had to stop this tonight, but it wasn’t going to happen. Could Kota and Nate somehow keep track of these four?

“I’m sorry. I really can’t decide. If you’re intent on taking one of these two, I’m going to have to go through with the divorce.” Labado pulled his gaze away from the sofa and stared incredulously at Seth.

“You are talking crazy. You have what you want. You just said so.”

“But you are intent on taking what I truly desire.” He watched as the sick bastard processed what he was saying. Leslie laughed.

“Well aren’t you just full of surprises. First you didn’t want any of the women I had to offer, and now you want two. But I thought you liked spirit, and one seems like a bit of a victim.”

“I like the dichotomy. But the point is moot.” He looked at the sofa and couldn’t see Annie’s face, her hair hid everything. He knew exactly what was going on in her mind, in her soul, because it mirrored his own heart. He had to pull this off.

 

Revealed, The Found, Book 1

 Synopsis

Tortured beyond Endurance…

Kelly Wachowski has no memory of her life before she was five. Despite being one of the ‘found’ children and her uncanny ability to assimilate languages, she’s managed to live a normal life for twenty years until the day she was kidnapped. Tortured beyond endurance she prayed for death while she dreamed of a boy long forgotten—Noah.

 

A Hero with a Secret…

Samson Noah Kukailimoku is another ‘found’ child. His existence was kept secret by the Polynesian family who adopted him. Now he’s a highly decorated naval officer, and part of an elite unit whose mission is to rescue children like Kelly. The closer he gets to finding her the more he connects to her and shares the pain of her torture and the dreams of their shared past.

A Love That Is More than a Dream…

After her rescue, Kelly is convinced she’s losing her mind as she experiences Noah’s life in a waking dream. Knowing she’s in danger, Noah must save Kelly from herself and those tracking her, moving Heaven and Earth to protect her. Linked by their past, danger and deception follow them everywhere. Together they discover a love and passion surpassing all of their dreams, but before they can have a future together they have to solve the mystery of their past.

AMAZON US: http://amzn.to/1A2CXcJ
AMAZON UK: http://tinyurl.com/jwyt9m6
KOBO: http://tinyurl.com/n5bogu9
GOOGLE: http://tinyurl.com/nwauhzk
ITUNES: http://tinyurl.com/mraps33Kelly

 

 

Author Bio

Caitlyn O’Leary was raised in a small town in the Pacific Northwest. She has always been an avid reader. Her earliest creative writing endeavors consisted of “ghost writing” exercises where she pretended to be her younger brothers and sister when she did their homework assignments.

Years in corporate America honed her ability to manipulate words by day and at night she read everything she could get her hands on, including many steamy romances.

Now happily married to her long, tall Texan and living in Southern California, Caitlyn has finally found the time to write erotic happily ever afters. She enjoys swimming, traveling, babysitting for her nieces and nephews, spending time with friends and family, and doing lots of “research” with her husband for upcoming novels.

Keep Up With Caitlyn O’Leary

Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/nuhvey2

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CaitlynOLearyNA

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Website: www.caitlynoleary.com

Email: [email protected]