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#SampleSunday | A Snippet From ‘Blur’
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Another game of Gin with drinks of the same name.
“Five…four…three…two,” Jade rapped along with the song before she flashed an Ace of Hearts, the final card in her grip, then slammed it down to win her third hand in a row. “One, run, ya done when I see…you…”
Kyle smirked as she celebrated. “All that and you ain’t nowhere, playa,” he said casually as he calculated the score and raised the notepad so she could see for herself. “I’m still up forty…but keep dancin’.”
Jade stopped and frowned.
“Your deal. Just make sure you don’t give me what I need to get this last seventy or this game is over.” Kyle sat back and watched as she snatched the cards, stacked them up and began to shuffle. “But I must say that I appreciate how you don’t let all those L’s get you down, baby. Didn’t expect you to catch up this quick either…then again, you do tend to take these bitches down to the wire—”
“Cut,” Jade snapped, narrowing her eyes.
“My pleasure.” He cut the deck and nodded for her to proceed. “Run it.”
Jade tossed cards back and forth between them as they continued talking shit.
Just like old times.
This was exactly what she was hoping for on the way to his house…a chance to press the reset button on their friendship and get back to whom they’ve always been—two homies stretched out with nothing but dap, digs, drinks and no drama between them.
They were still avoiding what happened the other night and Jade was completely okay with dodging that conversation because it was the last thing she wanted to talk about…
And because it never should’ve have happened.
‘BECAUSE MY HEART SAID SO’
Available Now on Amazon & Barnes & Noble.
‘Acceptable Losses’ by Nia Forrester
‘Blind Expectations’ by Jacinta Howard
‘Blackbirds’ by Lily Java
‘Blur’ by Rae Lamar
#TeaserTuesday | A Snippet From ‘Blur’
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“I told Mark. Confessed the whole thing before I left.”
“See, that’s what I don’t understand,” Kyle replied, shaking his head. “After all he’s done, you didn’t owe him shit.”
“I didn’t want him to find out from someone else. Mark wasn’t perfect by a long shot, but that doesn’t mean that he deserved what I did. No one deserves that.”
“No one except you, right?”
Jade cringed at his tone…and the truth. “Well, what does it matter now? That’s all behind me. I’m moving on.” With a glint in her eyes, she grinned. “And you’re gonna help me.”
“Yeah?” Kyle narrowed his eyes. “How so?”
“By being my Fuck It Coach.”
Leaning back against the booth, Kyle remained quiet. A full minute passed as he considered her request. “Nah,” he concluded. “You be fightin’ the fuck it.”
“That was then.” Adjusting her posture, Jade lifted her chin and held his gaze. “C’mon man…I’m ready now. I promise you I can do this. I have to.” She sighed and looked down as her bravado deflated. “I need to move on. Please.”
When Kyle cursed under his breath, Jade looked up to see his shoulders sag in defeat.
“So that’s a yes?” She smiled, doing her best not to show all of her teeth. “You’ll be my Fuck It Coach?”
“Not to my level, but okay,” Kyle clarified quickly. “I’ll coach to a level that works for you.”
Unable to contain her excitement any longer, Jade clapped her hands then clasped them together before she propped her chin on her fists. “Okay, Coach…where do we start?”
“First off, I need you to be for real about this.”
She nodded eagerly and waited for further instructions.
“Next, shield up.” Kyle pinned her with a serious look. “You are the gatekeeper through which all fucks must pass. No gives unless it’s worthy.” He narrowed his eyes. “This ain’t a game, J-Dub. Stay woke.”
“For real?” She snickered until his frown killed her amusement. “Wow. You’re really serious, huh?”
“Dead ass.”
“Okay, okay. I just never heard it that way before, so my bad…I’m listening now. For real, for real.” Forcing herself to keep a straight face, Jade acknowledged the gravity of Kyle’s directive with a curt nod. “What do I need to do first?”
“You need to focus on you,” Kyle stated plainly. “Then, find something legitimate to give your fucks to.”
Now it was Jade’s turn to frown.
“Let’s break this down,” he continued, bracing his elbows on the table. “It’s all about the anatomy of a thing.” Kyle saw the hint of a smile tease Jade’s lips and paused. When her face was straight and she appeared focused once again, he continued. “From this point forward, it’s critical for you to understand that fucks are life. Why? Because a fuck equals time plus energy…with said energy being body, emotions, mind, and spirit.”
Confused but intrigued, Jade bit her lip and nodded hesitantly. “Oh…kay?”
“Fucks are also like coins,” Kyle explained. “And coins are…”
When she realized he was asking her a question, Jade’s eyes searched her surroundings before she finally met his gaze. “Currency?”
“Exactly. Currency that must be invested wisely and is too valuable to be wasted…because fucks equal…”
“Time plus energy,” Jade answered confidently. “So…basically, I should stop wasting my time and energy on things and people?”
“Unrealistic.” Kyle watched as her face fell at his sharp rebuttal. “We’re human,” he quickly added. “We can’t completely check out on things and people because we need things and people. So what I’m saying is…since fucks have to be given, it’s your job to make sure to only give them to legit things and worthy people.”
“Oh,” she replied, still unsure. “That makes sense.”
Watching her wrestle with his words, Kyle’s eyes softened. “Look, I know it’s hard for you to really process all this because, deep down, you’re a sweetheart, Jade. Always have been. It’s your nature to give; it’s who you are and there’s nothing wrong with that. I’d just like to see you become more selective about who and what you give a fuck about…because everybody and everything don’t deserve it.”
She smiled. “I can do that.”
“You know how they say don’t waste words on people who deserve your silence? Same applies for fucks.” Kyle relaxed against the booth, stretching his long legs underneath the table. “So…rule number one?”
Recognizing his prompt, Jade leaned forward to reply. “Don’t waste your fucks on people who don’t deserve…” Her eyes fell to the table as she searched for the correct response. At a loss, she finally looked up and waited for a hint.
“You, Jade,” he said as she stared at him in surprise. “Your smile, your wit, your beauty, your humor, your warmth, your charm, your affection, your generosity, your loyalty, your heart—stop wasting your fucks on things that don’t really matter and people who don’t deserve you.”
‘BECAUSE MY HEART SAID SO’ is available now on Amazon & Barnes & Noble.
About This Weekend . . .
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Y’all. I’m EXHAUSTED… but in a great way. My weekend has been craaazy; the entire week, actually. I enjoyed every moment of it though — the great discussions with the participants in the classes I facilitated during the week, the release of ‘Because My Heart Said So’, celebrating a friend’s birthday, Father’s Day with my family, out watching Game 7 of the NBA Finals… yeah, great times! But I have to say that the Indie Love In The A Soiree at the Riverside EpiCenter on Saturday was definitely EPIC! 😀
Jos-Renee Marks, you are a jewel! ❤ Thank you so much for having the vision and the heart to bring it to life for all of us! And to every soul who had a hand in the soiree's execution…y'all are the best!
To everyone who traveled long and short distances, THANK YOU for all the love, encouragement and support! My favorite part of the event was the opportunity to see and talk to FB friends in person for a little while — y'all are amazing people and fun, fun, fun! I appreciate you more than you will ever know. ❤ To those I met for the first time, thanks so much for chatting with me and giving me a chance… let's stay connected! 🙂
To my fellow authors, I FINALLY got to meet y'all in person too! lol Know that y'all are incredible and that I truly respect your pen game and who you are. All the very best to all of you, always! ❤
And now I hear that there will be a repeat of this next year?! YES… can't wait!
I'll post pictures on my Facebook author/book page at some point but, right now, I need to catch a few hours before I get back into my 9-to-5 grind mode. You already know how painful waking up is about to be for me! lol
G’night!
Check Out the Playlist for ‘BECAUSE MY HEART SAID SO’!
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***BECAUSE MY HEART SAID SO’ PLAYLIST | CLICK HERE TO VIEW & LISTEN NOW***
#MusicMonday with #4Writers4Love
Nia, Jacinta, Lily and I have created a playlist for each story in the collection — music that inspired us as we wrote. Listen now… listen as you read… listen after… but, most of all, enjoy! ❤
‘BECAUSE MY HEART SAID SO’
A Friends-To-Lovers Collection
By Nia Forrester, Jacinta Howard, Lily Java & Rae Lamar
Pre-Order ‘BECAUSE MY HEART SAID SO’ On Amazon
Check Out My New Fan Page!
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So I don’t know why I waited so long to this but better late than never, right?
http://www.facebook.com/RaeLamarBooks 👀
Check it out… I hope you “Like” it. 🙂
#SampleSunday | Because My Heart Said So
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Hey, y’all… exciting news! 😀
Because we love you… Because My Heart Said So is now available to PRE-ORDER on Amazon at the special low price of $3.99 for a limited time! This upcoming Friends-To-Lovers Collection by Nia Forrester, Jacinta Howard, Lily Java and yours truly is set to release June 15. Until then, I’m excited to share the blurb and an excerpt from my story, Blur.
About Blur by Rae Lamar
Jade Warner is back home. The bad part? Starting over. The best part? Reconnecting with Kyle Malone. Picking up where they left off years ago, it feels just like old times…except for the mutual attraction and questionable feelings, which are all brand new. For Jade and Kyle, it’s unthinkable to hook up given the history of their fail-safe friendship, but anything can happen when you live under the same roof…
Excerpt from Blur
Kyle eased to a stop behind the car in his driveway. After memorizing every single detail including its license plate, he cut the lights and killed the engine.
What should have been an all-nighter ended up being a lot shorter once another photographer arrived at the site. Kyle had called Freddie to step in and take over, having full confidence that he would finish it off beautifully now that the client’s complaints had been mitigated by Kyle’s ability to quickly relocate to an ideal setting. In record time, they arrived at the studio owned by a close friend who didn’t hesitate to offer it up to the group as a favor to Kyle.
It had all been resolved in less than two hours.
On his way home, Kyle refused to think about why he had been so quick to remove himself from the chaotic scene. Any other night, he would’ve had no problem taking over and finishing the shoot himself. That’s why he’d received the call in the first place; the enraged client had fired the contracted photographer due to creative differences. With time ticking away, the remaining staff scrambled to figure out what to do next until several of the models on set announced their collective recommendation.
They all wanted Kyle Malone.
But Kyle wanted to get back home to Jade.
When he arrived on set, Kyle immediately voiced his gratitude for the glowing endorsement, assessed the scene and got to work. This was his element; he naturally thrived in tense, tumultuous environments.
But this time, it felt…different.
Dismissing the internal disruption, he did his best to push through it but the night’s chaos soon brought clarity. Before he could question his decision, Kyle chatted with the models, strategized with the client, made some calls and found a way to fully satisfy everyone involved before rushing back to his car.
Rushing back home to Jade.
Kyle pressed a button above his head to active the garage door, still staring at the unfamiliar car in his driveway. After sitting quietly for a few seconds, he got out and stalked toward the front entrance of his house. Just as he arrived, the door swung open to reveal the profile of an anxious Jade, who was too busy frantically waving her hand to rush the owner of the unfamiliar car through the entryway to notice Kyle watching her every move. When she finally shifted her gaze to find Kyle staring back at her, Jade’s eyes widened in surprise.
Kyle shifted his gaze to the man standing behind her.
“Kyle,” Jade said in a shaky voice. “Umm, hey… you’re back pretty early…”
“Kyle? So you’re the big brother Jade talks so much about.” Stepping through the doorway, the man looked Kyle in the eye and extended his hand. “What’s up, man…I’m Daryl.”
The look Kyle gave him was lethal.
Jade glanced at Daryl and smiled in apology. “Maybe you should go. I’ll call you later.”
Daryl hesitated, causing Kyle to take a step forward and Jade to nod anxiously for him to leave. Shrugging, Daryl mumbled goodnight and walked away.
“I’m really sorry about that,” Jade said to Kyle after Daryl was out of earshot. She attempted a genuine smile…and failed. “How’d the shoot turn out—”
“Hey!” Daryl yelled from the driveway. “I’m blocked in!”
Jade looked past Kyle to see Daryl standing with his arms spread. She pressed her lips together and reluctantly lifted her eyes to Kyle’s in a silent plea to move his car so Daryl could leave. When he didn’t budge, she sighed. “Kyle, please—”
“Who the fuck is dude, Jade?” Kyle finally asked in a low voice as he pinned her with a steely glare. “And what the fuck is he doing in my fucking house?”
Because My Heart Said So… pre-order your copy TODAY!
Because My Heart Said So . . . Coming June 15!
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A Novella Collection from Nia Forrester, Jacinta Howard, Lily Java & Rae Lamar – Coming June 15, 2016!
Click the link below to join our group for exclusive content, giveaways & more!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/BecauseMyHeartSaidSo/
BMHSS
Because My Heart Said So . . . A Friends-to-Lovers Collection — June 2016!
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At the start of the year, I set a goal…do more. Lofty, right? Yeah. I didn’t attempt a concrete plan; all I knew was that I wanted to push myself in a way I hadn’t before, to move the needle. To grow. Little did I know that I’d soon get a chance to do just that. An invitation to collaborate with a few of my favorite writers in a project that I can honestly say was all kinds of creative fun. And here’s the cool part – not only did I get to work with Nia, Jacinta and Lily, but I also got to know them better…and myself too.
So I can’t begin to explain my excitement about the release of Because My Heart Said So… in June! Yes, it’s a collection of friends-to-lovers stories, but it’s also a beautiful blend of voices that complement each other in a pretty great way. It’s what I hope that readers will enjoy most about what we’ve done with this project– four authors, four stories, for love… punctuated by a genuine respect and appreciation for our craft and each other.
For the next few weeks, we’re going to showcase this “beautiful blend” in our group on Facebook. From teasers and excerpts to music and giveaways, we’re going to celebrate all the way to release day and then celebrate some more after that. I hope you join us – Because My Heart Said So Facebook Group – it’s going be a blast!
#4Writers4Love | Because My Heart Said So . . .
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#4Writers4Love COMING JUNE 2016.
A new Friends-to-Lovers Collection from Nia Forrester, Jacinta Howard, Lily Java & Rae Lamar. 😀
FINDING KENNEDY by Jacinta Howard
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Today, Author Jacinta Howard is stopping by to share an excerpt from Book 2 in The Prototype Series — Finding Kennedy! This highly-anticipated release arrives May 20th, so be sure to add Finding Kennedy on Goodreads.
In the meantime, discover The Prototype in Book 1 — Happiness In Jersey. I fell in love with Jersey and Zay (#JerZay), and I’m sure you’ll love their story as much as I do.
Now back to Finding Kennedy…enjoy this excerpt introducing Kennedy and Travis. Happy Reading! 
EXCERPT
We rode for what felt like forever. Until my mind quieted. Until the noise in my head was less than a hum. Until the vibrations of the bike were even with my breaths.
We pulled up to a place that sort of looked like a small house that’d been gutted and turned into a storefront. The entire street was lined with quaint buildings like it. It smelled like fall– crisp and clean. “Evan’s” was written on the sign that hung just over the front door.
“Where are we?” I asked once I’d pulled my helmet off, smoothing my braid, which was hanging over one shoulder. My body was still humming, coming down from the high of our ride. I was still seated on his bike and watched as Travis removed his helmet, raking his fingers through his hair.
“In Allen, just outside Dallas. I wanted a beignet and some wings,” he said, nodding toward front door of Evan’s as he climbed off.
A small smile touched his lips, and he helped me off the bike. “Was the ride too much?” he asked, watching as I stretched my arms above my head.
“It was perfect.”
He smiled, brushing a loose strand of hair behind my ear.
“This place is owned by a cat named Evan from back home,” Travis explained, as I looked around. “It’s pretty low key,” he offered, reading my expression. “And it’s old school, so no TVs.”
I looked down at my boots.
“I gotta warn you though, dude is a little… off.”
“Off?” I met his eyes again, grinning.
“Last time I was in here, he was trying to tell me that world is actually flat. Like, he argued me down about it. Got all animated and shit, talking about how Antarctica is really an ice wall.”
I laughed and he shook his head, his dimple showing as he chuckled.
“Why does he think the earth is flat?”
“Your guess is good as mine. I tried to follow what the hell he was talking about– something about gravity being an illusion, and the earth really being a disc.”
I laughed, eyeing him. He smiled and grabbed my hand, interlacing our fingers as we walked together toward the entrance.
“I kept thinking he was gonna laugh, but it never came,” he continued. “All he kept saying was ‘stay woke.’” He widened his eyes, looking like a zombie, and I laughed.
“And you still come here?” I asked as we paused in front of the door.
“You know how hard it is to find a good beignet in Texas?” He raised his brows.
“But beignets and wings?”
He nodded his gaze sweeping over me, landing on my boots. He grinned then met my eyes again.
“My taste is particular.”
“Guilty pleasure?”
“Nah,” he said, his eyes turning serious despite the playful grin on his face. “I don’t believe in that. You should never feel guilty for enjoying what brings you pleasure.”
A half hour later, we were seated at one of the plush booths, and I was completely in love. Evan’s was the coolest place I’d ever been—part restaurant, part bookstore, part record store. It smelled like vinyl and sugar. I chewed slowly, smiling at Travis who was watching me intently, waiting for my response since I’d told him I’d never actually had a beignet.
“So what’s the word, baby doll?”
I swallowed, relishing the sweetness of the pastry, and grinned.
“Yum.”
He laughed, stuffing the last of his into his mouth. Sly Stone’s “Just Like a Baby” played from the speakers, the lazy groove filling the space, seeping into my bones, relaxing me. Or maybe that was just Travis’s energy. I’d expected this day to be like last year, unbearable, too drenched in reality. But I felt almost… dreamlike. The sadness, the ache was still there, but it was hazy instead of overpowering. I could breathe with Travis.
BOOK BLURB
When Kennedy James unexpectedly shows up at her grandma’s house in Tyler, Texas, no one knows what to make of her arrival—including her. The only thing Kennedy does know is that something in her life has to change, and it needs to happen right now. She’s been numb for much too long.
Then she meets Travis Broussard, the perceptively cool guitarist of the indie soul band, The Prototype. The timing couldn’t be worse, but their attraction is instant, magnetic, and at times overwhelming, causing Kennedy to question if it’s possible to feel too much.
As Kennedy attempts to embark on a new path, she finds herself at a crossroads. But if she chooses to follow her heart, is she prepared to deal with what she might find?
FINDING KENNEDY | View the book trailer
CONNECT WITH JACINTA HOWARD
Website & Blog | Amazon Author Page
Jacinta Howard is the author of women’s and new adult fiction. Since 2014, she’s released four novels, including the well-received Love Always Series. The first book in the series, Better Than Okay, was nominated for a 2015 RONE Award. She also released the USA TODAY Must-Read Romance, Happiness in Jersey, which the publication calls “full of flavor, while offering a mix of life lessons to ponder long after reading.”
Rae Lamar 