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<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nPublisher: Black Rose Writing\u00a0 Description of the book: <\/em><\/strong>Charley Byrne isn\u2019t really living. At age 29, she hunkers down in her apartment above the bookstore she manages, afraid of a 7-year curse. Then quirky activist Xander Wallace lures her out of social exile with the prospect of friendship and romance. Charley joins Xander\u2019s circle of friends diverse in their heritage, race, gender and sexual orientation. She thrives, even leaving her comfort zone to join protests in a city struggling with social justice ills.<\/p>\n But the new friendships bring back-to-back betrayals that threaten the bookstore\u2014Charley\u2019s haven\u2014and propel her into a dangerous depression. Can her friends save the store? And Charley?<\/p>\n Extract:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Buwan took another plug from a beer bottle encased in a twisted brown bag. \u201cDo you think we look like old winos?\u201d About the author:<\/em><\/strong> S.M. Stevens began writing fiction during back-to-back health crises: a shattered pelvis and ovarian cancer. She writes contemporary novels and short stories designed to make readers laugh, cry and think. In addition to her focus on adult fiction, she has published novels for Young Adult and Middle Grade readers. She lives in New Hampshire.<\/p>\n Website\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0\/\u00a0Facebook<\/a>\u00a0\/\u00a0Twitter<\/a>\u00a0\/\u00a0Instagram\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0\/\u00a0LinkedIn\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0\/\u00a0Goodreads<\/a><\/p>\n *-the price was taken from Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com on the current date. The price might change at the time of your purchase. The links used in this post for book purchases are affiliates.<\/p>\n \t\t\t<\/p>\n
ISBN13: 978-1685134471
Genre: General Fiction
Release date: 17 07 2024
Price*: Kindle \u00a35.99 (GBP)\/ \u00a0Paperback \u00a315.37 (GBP)
Kindle $6.99 (USD)\/ Paperback\u00a0$19.95 (USD)
Pages: ~ 391
You can get this book here:
Amazon UK<\/a>
Amazon US<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
Through the dimming light of early dusk, Xander studied his friend, the green-slatted park bench on which they lounged, and the block-wide mini-park around them. Car engines revved as the traffic light in the road opposite them changed. Two teenage girls walking the diagonal pathway through the park stared at Xander and giggled.
\u201cApparently not yet. Give us a few years.\u201d He drained his last beer, took Bu\u2019s now-empty bottle and put all six beside the trash bin for an enterprising youth or needy adult to return for the deposits.
Bu stood and clapped his hands once. \u201cLiquid dinner complete. Ready to head intown for the protest?\u201d
Xander measured his long strides to match Buwan\u2019s shorter paces.
\u201cHow\u2019s Charley?\u201d Bu asked.
Xander sighed. \u201cExtremely distraught. She called in sick and I passed the bulk of the day with her.\u201d He belched and his head spun a touch, making him lament his deteriorating ability to tolerate alcohol. \u201cCan I confess something?\u201d
\u201cShoot.\u201d
Xander ran a hand through his mop of hair. \u201cI realized something today. While I love Charley desperately, I\u2019m not in love with her. I\u2019m sure you think that makes me despicable. I would have to agree. But as with Sunny, I entered the liaison out of a perhaps misguided belief that she needed me.\u201d Xander waited for a retort that never came.
Bu appeared to consult his feet for a few strides before speaking. \u201cXander, there are two kinds of people in the world: Those who seek the love they need, and those who seek people they think need them.\u201d
\u201cHm. Thanks, I think.\u201d
Bu continued. \u201cWanting to help people doesn\u2019t make you bad. But don\u2019t forget to think about what you need.\u201d
Xander stopped, placed his hands in a prayer position and bowed. \u201cI remain in awe of your benevolence and perspicacity, Moon Boy.\u201d
The comment, or maybe the three beers they\u2019d each consumed in half an hour, threw them into fits of laughter.
Xander pointed at a hole-in-the-wall liquor store. \u201cWe have some time. Let\u2019s stop in here.\u201d
Bu pulled a silver flask from the side pocket of his army-green cargo pants and grinned, his eyebrows twitching evilly. \u201cNo need.\u201d
Xander returned the grin. \u201cWhiskey?\u201d
\u201cTequila. No limes or salt, but it\u2019s a good one so that shouldn\u2019t matter.\u201d
Xander reached for the flask. \u201cLimes and salt are for the weak. Me thinks I\u2019m a little tanked already, but it\u2019s not like I\u2019m organizing the protest or anything.\u201d He hiccupped.
Bu bounced gently at the knees as if to a dance beat in his head. \u201cAlcohol doesn\u2019t affect me. I\u2019ll be designated walker.\u201d As he spoke, his eyes skittered from Xander to nearby pedestrians to the pewter clouds dotting the evening sky.
Xander drank from the flask, wiped his hand across his mouth, and resumed walking. \u201cYou must be fueled by adrenaline, Bu. I relate entirely though. Protests fire me up as well. And tonight\u2019s going to be colossal. I feel it.\u201d
\u201cTonight, we are supermen!\u201d Bu yelled, stepping into the street, arms up, making an approaching car honk as it zipped around him. Bu stepped back onto the curb.
Xander laughed nervously. \u201cWhoa, dude, we\u2019re not actually invincible.\u201d
Bu eyed his friend. \u201cDon\u2019t you ever play chicken with cars? It makes you feel totally alive. Try it.\u201d
\u201cNo thanks. My self-destructive tendencies revolve around romantic liaisons entered for the wrong reasons and a pathological need to represent at every protest or rally within a hundred-mile radius.\u201d
\u201cLoser,\u201d Bu joked. \u201cWatch.\u201d
He eyed the line of traffic headed their way as the light turned green. He darted in front of a maroon SUV and vaulted onto the median strip as the SUV swerved, its front wheel scraping the curb on the right. \u201cAsshole!\u201d yelled the driver, waving his fist out his window.
Xander pocketed the flask and crossed during a lull in traffic, holding his breath against the gray exhaust lingering behind the last car. He grabbed Bu\u2019s arm, hiccups gone. \u201cI\u2019m escorting you to the subway station. Stay with, please.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/bbookinspector.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/sms3.jpg?w=663\")
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