Fall Weather, Hot Chocolate, and COLORS LIKE MEMORIES

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

Major, major thanks to Leandra Wallace and Kelly Hashway for hosting the first of my paperback posts this last Friday! Amazing women, blogs, and books. Go check them out!! :)

The weather is fast getting very, very fall-like here, which I both love for the amazing colors, and kind of hate for it not being warm (I'm a warm-weather fiend, I'll admit it). But, the turning colors always make me think of two things: the first is Colors Like Memories, because it takes place in the fall and the weather reminds me how much I love Julia, Edison and Derek. Can't help it--they hold a special place in my heart :)

And, hey, paperbacks are up for preorder here! Or on Amazon here! (Woot woot!)

The other thing it reminds me of is hot chocolate. (I just did a search for how many times I've mentioned my obsession on my blog...it's a lot. Sorry, I'm addicted. I don't do coffee or much tea, so this is my drug drink of choice.) I thought I'd share two of my favorite recipes here, for two very different styles of hot chocolate. I pretty much avoid packet hot chocolate at all costs, so these do take a touch more work. But if you're looking for a treat, these are SO much tastier!!

So, here's my go-to Columbian hot chocolate recipe. Yes, it calls for cheese. Yes, you should totally try it! It's amazing! (It's like the perfect salty-sweet combo.) I know it sounds random, but seriously, it's good. Promise.

2 cups whole milk
4oz bittersweet chocolate (at least 60% cacao--I usually do more, because I like my chocolate bitter)
2 Tbsp brown sugar
Pinch of ground cardamon
Pinch of ground chipotle chile
1/2 pinch ground cayenne pepper
1/2 pinch salt
2 oz white farmer's cheese or other grilling cheese

Heat milk (don't boil!) and mix in ingredients until smooth. Makes 2 servings. Add cheese once you have it in cups and drop it in. Let it melt a little, then eat with a spoon. Yum!!

While I was in Spain last year, I became a little addicted to Spanish hot chocolate. I've searched for a good recipe now that I'm home, and I've found a few pretty decent ones. They're not quite as good, but they'll do :) These should be eaten with churros if at all possible!

2 cups milk
3oz baking chocolate
1/2 cup sugar (to taste--I use a little less)
1/2 tsp corn starch

Whisk corn starch into milk and heat, then stir in chocolate to melt. Serve hot :)

Are you brave enough to try either of these? :)

And, there's this going on, in case you missed it:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Cover Reveal: RUN FOR THE ROSES by Rachel Schieffelbein

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

Run for the Roses

by Rachel Schieffelbein

Release Date: 11/2013

by Swoon Romance

Summary from Goodreads:
Abigail Conrad has spent her whole life training for one goal: to win the roses at the Arabian Youth Nationals. She’s given up friends, a social life, and doesn’t have time to even think about guys -- much less date!

Now that she’s headed off to college in the fall, it’s her last chance to be a Youth National Champion, and she won’t let anything distract her from that dream.

Except maybe Chase, the older brother of Abigail's biggest rival. He’s charming, funny, and possibly Abigail's biggest problem. How can she focus on riding when her mind keeps wandering to Chase’s green eyes and confident smile?

With her dream on the line, Abigail had better learn to fight her growing attraction to Chase, or she might end up losing the roses and the guy.

Please help Swoon Romance decide which cover to use by voting below:

About the Author

Rachel grew up in a tiny town in Minnesota. She still lives there, with her husband and their four kids. She coaches high school speech and theater, rides Arabian horses, reads as much as she can, and writes stories.

Author Links:

   

Cover Reveal Organized by:

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After Reading: MOUNTAINS BEYOND MOUNTAINS by Tracy Kidder

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

At the center of Mountains Beyond Mountains stands Paul Farmer. Doctor, Harvard professor, renowned infectious-disease specialist, anthropologist, the recipient of a MacArthur “genius” grant, world-class Robin Hood, Farmer was brought up in a bus and on a boat, and in medical school found his life’s calling: to diagnose and cure infectious diseases and to bring the lifesaving tools of modern medicine to those who need them most. This magnificent book shows how radical change can be fostered in situations that seem insurmountable, and it also shows how a meaningful life can be created, as Farmer—brilliant, charismatic, charming, both a leader in international health and a doctor who finds time to make house calls in Boston and the mountains of Haiti—blasts through convention to get results. 

Mountains Beyond Mountains takes us from Harvard to Haiti, Peru, Cuba, and Russia as Farmer changes minds and practices through his dedication to the philosophy that "the only real nation is humanity" - a philosophy that is embodied in the small public charity he founded, Partners In Health. He enlists the help of the Gates Foundation, George Soros, the U.N.’s World Health Organization, and others in his quest to cure the world. At the heart of this book is the example of a life based on hope, and on an understanding of the truth of the Haitian proverb “Beyond mountains there are mountains”: as you solve one problem, another problem presents itself, and so you go on and try to solve that one too. 

I don't generally review the non-fiction I read here, though every once in a while I have to share a title :) This one especially, mainly because it needs a warning label: "Beware, those who read this will seriously wonder what they're doing with their life and want to take a more active role in helping others." I'm not kidding. 

My hubby came across this book years ago and after reading it, promptly purchased it for most of the members of my family (I have a *lot* of health professionals in my family...I'm the odd woman out). I've had this on my list for ages, but it wasn't until Kidder was scheduled to speak here at U Montana that I picked it up. And absolutely loved it. It was, well, inspiring. Dr. Paul Farmer is an incredibly individual who has views on public health that make a whole lot of sense. And the fact is, more really could be done. Lots and lots more. The stories in the book pack an emotional punch, but also show what a difference a small group of dedicated individuals can do. I loved Kidder's take on things, and he did a wonderful job of describing Farmer, the work in Haiti and on international health, and generally wrote one of the most inspiring books I've read in a long time. If you haven't read this, definitely pick it up :)

What is the most inspiring book you've ever read?

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Sweet 'n Steamy Blog Tour: Guest Post by Kara Leigh Miller & Sharon Kleve

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

It's always fun to be able to host other awesome authors here! Be sure to say hello in the comments! :)

Author Relations

By

Kara Leigh Miller & Sharon Kleve

Okay, get your minds out of the gutters. When we say author relations, we most certainly don’t mean the sexually physical kind, so let’s get that out of the way right now ;)

Nope. We’re talking about the professional kind of relations.

Being an author is one of the most rewarding jobs in the world – and yes, it is a job, not a hobby. Writing is a lot of work, hard work. But, in the end, when you see your name in print and you get that first email from a fan (who isn’t your mom) gushing about how much they loved your book and your characters, you forget all about the blood, sweat, and tears you poured into the story. You simply enjoy the fruits of your labor. Being an author is also one of the oddest jobs in the world, too.

Think about it for a moment: your co-workers (a.k.a other authors), the people you’re competing with for readers & sales are also the first people you turn to when you need help and support.

Yeah, we know….odd. But somehow, it works!

The author community – especially the romance author community – is the kindest, most welcoming group of people we’ve ever had the pleasure of encountering. Your new book is being released and you need help promoting it? You bet your butt your author friends will be there to help. Your book has been nominated for an award? Guess who will form 90% of the line to sign up and vote? That’s right – your fellow authors. Got a really harsh review that makes you want to scream and draw blood? Bet you know who will be there to calm you down and tell you that everything will be okay, that the reviewer has no idea what he/she is talking about, and that your book is literary brilliance. That’s right – your group of new best friends!

Why, you ask, is the publishing world not filled with jealous, selfish people who want to be the best? Well, there are probably authors out there that look out for number one and to hell with everyone else. But, we’ve learned that’s a rare thing.

There are thousands upon thousands of books published each year. Could you imagine standing alone against all those competitors? We sure couldn’t. So, don’t be afraid to ask your author friends for help, and never be afraid to step up and offer your help to them. Remember, this is a two way street.

Bottom line: It’s nice to know that people have your back and the camaraderie found in this profession is unparalleled to anything you’ll find anywhere else – except maybe the armed forces, but that’s like comparing apples and bananas and one of the golden rules when writing is to never mix your metaphors.  

Book Title: Jilted
Author: Kara Leigh Miller
Publisher: Books to Go Now
Genre: Erotic Contemporary Romance
Release Date: 9.15.2013
Length: 49K
Heat Rating: Hot

Book Blurb:

Amy and Brett have been friends since they were kids; and their friendship has withstood the test of time. But can it withstand Brett's fiancée, Vanessa?

Brett Hudson has often wondered what it would be like to be more than Amy's friend, but when he's chosen as the newest professional dancer on Dancing with the Stars, he meets Vanessa, one of the shows costume designers and it's a whirlwind romance that ends in a wedding proposal. As the big day draws closer, Brett begins to think that marrying Vanessa might be a bad idea. She wants him to give up Amy. Completely. Will he give up his best friend for the woman he's supposed to marry?

Amy King is heartbroken to learn that Brett is marrying another woman. But, when Brett is jilted at the altar, he begs Amy to go on his honeymoon with him. A week on a tropical island with her best friend, the man she's fantasized about for years is a dream come true for Amy. But when Brett suggests crossing the line from friends to lovers, Amy is reluctant. Will she risk years of friendship for one night of passion?

Buy Links:

Amazon: Barnes & Noble

Excerpt:

"It's because you go for the wrong type of guy," Brett said matter-of-factly, pouring a third shot down his throat. "Those muscle bound jocks are all bark and no bite. They look good on the outside, but they're a mess on the inside."

Amy threw a piece of ice at him and laughed. "And the goody two shoes, school teacher types you date are much better?"

"Nope." He grinned. "Which is why we're both still single."

She sighed. "Yeah, so much for my dream of having kids."

"You're young. I'm sure you'll find someone." He drank his last shot and chased it with his beer.

"I'm thirty, Brett. By the time I find a man, date him, and get married, I'll be an old hag with no viable eggs."

The thought of Amy finding a man to marry and have kids with didn't sit well with him. He couldn't stomach the thought of losing her. "I'll tell you what." He leaned across the table and pointed at her. "Three years from now, if neither of us are married, I'll marry you and give you as many babies as you want." Brett's words were slurred. Yup. He was definitely drunk. He wouldn't have made that proposition otherwise.

"Yeah right." Amy rolled her eyes. "You and me? That would be like fucking my brother. Thanks, but no thanks."

He flinched at her words. "You think of me as your brother?" That bothered him a lot more than it should, especially considering he'd never once thought of her as a sister.

She shrugged. "We're best friends. How else would I think of you?" Amy glanced away, and then set her gaze on him again. "Why? How do you think of me?"

Oh shit! He hadn't expected the conversation to backfire on him like that. What was he supposed to tell her? That he thought of her as a best friend that he wanted to fuck? No, he definitely couldn't tell her that. "As a friend, I guess. I don't know. It's not like I sit around and think about how I should think of you. You're Amy."

"And you're drunk."

"Maybe a little." He grinned. "So, do we have a deal or what?"

Author Bio:

Kara is a multi-published romance author who dabbles in young adult, new adult, paranormal, and contemporary romances. However, her genre of choice will always be erotic romance. She's a member of the CNY Writers Haven and the Romance Writers of America. Writing is her passion and she loves to share her knowledge and enthusiasm with her fellow authors and her fans.

Today, Kara resides in Upstate New York with her husband, five kids, three cats, and two dogs. When she's not reading or writing, she's spending time with her family and friends.

Nothing excites Kara more than hearing from her fans. So, send her a note. She'll go total fan girl over it!

Social Media Links:

Website/Blog: www.karaleighmiller.com
Email: karaleighmiller@yahoo.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/KaraLeighMiller
Twitter: www.twitter.com/KaraLeighMille1
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/KaraLeighMiller 

Book Title: Halo's Wish
Author: Sharon Kleve
Publisher: Books to Go Now
Genre: Sweet Contemporary Christmas Romance
Release Date: 9.15.2013
Length: 11K
Heat Rating: Sweet

Book Blurb:

Halo Ann Carlyle wishes for a home, family, and a boat-load of pets. What she gets is a bruised hip, a lump on the head, a broken ankle, and her new yellow Honda Civic is demolished.

 Rich McFarland, a sexy veterinarian, keeps showing up in the most unexpected places, promising everything she's ever wanted.

 Halo believes she only has time to pursue her career as a pet detective and must ignore her growing attraction to achieve her dreams.

 Will Halo trust her heart, and find a way to get both for Christmas?

Buy Links:
Amazon: Barnes & Noble

Excerpt:

She'd just placed another call through to Pemsky's office, which went straight to his voicemail, when the office door opened. Halo smiled and looked up into dreamy, gold-flecked green eyes, short sandy brown hair, a slight cleft chin, and full lips set in a hard line. Even with the stern look he had on his face, her hormones jumped into overdrive.

Mr. Dreamy cleared his throat—she must've been staring. In her most professional voice she said, "Good morning. How may I help you?"

He removed a piece of paper from his shirt pocket and unfolded the sheet.

"I was parked in front of the Beacon Hill Ale House and my driver's side mirror was sideswiped by one of Pemsky's Security's SUV's Friday night."

Halo loved the Beacon Hill Ale House. Every Saturday night the Ale House allowed local bands to jam together. That's where she'd met her last loser boyfriend. She'd had a lot of loser boyfriends. She's currently on a hiatus from dating, but she wouldn't mind jumping back into the dating game for this dream-boat.

He handed her the piece of paper.

"I wasn't able to get a look at the driver, but I got the license plate number of the vehicle that hit my car and drove away."

He emphasized the last part.

"I'm very sorry about your car. I'm sure Mr. Pemsky will be happy to cover the damage." Halo checked the company log and Pemsky's name popped up as the driver—she gulped.

Author Bio:

Sharon Kleve was born and raised in Washington and currently lives on the Olympic Peninsula with her husband.

Sharon is a writer of paranormal and contemporary romance. She loves romance. She loves reading romance, living romance, and especially loves writing about romance. She gets no greater feeling than watching her characters come alive in each other's arms. Most of all, she loves giving her characters the happily ever after they deserve—with a few bumps and bruises along the way.

One of her favorite things to do is picking up a new book and sinking into the story, immersing herself in the emotions between the characters. She hopes to inspire her readers the same way her favorite authors have inspired her.

When not writing, she can usually be found either curled up in her recliner with her cat and a good book, or in the kitchen baking sourdough bread or bagels.

Social Media Links:
Email: sharon.kleve@yahoo.com
Blog: http://authorsharonkleve.blogspot.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sharonrkleve
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SharonKleve
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5399389.Sharon_Kleve
Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/sharon-kleve/56/ab/691/

Rafflecopter Giveaway Info:

Prizes:

• One (1) Winner will receive a $25 gift card to a book seller of their choice
• One (1) Winner will receive Kara Leigh Miller's complete backlist, which includes five novellas and two full-length books
• One (1) Winner will receive Sharon Kleve's complete backlist, which includes six books
• Three (3) Winners will receive a signed paperback copy of Kara Leigh Miller's, Death of a Waterfall
• Three (3) Winners will receive a signed paperback copy of Sharon Kleve's, Love Crazed

HTML Code:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Direct Link:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/ODg1YzliOTNiYjk5ZGU2MzdiMTM3MWMwMjg1ODM1OjE4/

Legal Information:

- Entering this contest means you have read, understood, and agree with all rules and regulations stated.

- Entrants must be 18 or older (or age of majority in your country) to enter and to win.

- No purchase necessary.

- Void where prohibited.

- All stated rules are subject to change without notification or reason given.

- Chances of winning vary widely based on the number of entries received.

- Prize is as stated. No substitutions or exchanges.

- Contest host/organizer is not responsible to misrepresented/mis-typed email addresses, spam filters, mailer demons, and other internet wackiness that may crop up at the time of winner notification.

- Winners are final.

- Contest Starts 00:01EST September 15, 2013 and Ends 12:59EST October 16, 2013 and open to International participants.

- Winners will be notified via email, Twitter, or Facebook no later than 12:00EST October 18, 2013

-Respond by date to collect prize is 14 days from notification date.

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Five on a Friday

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

I'm fairly certain I'm not the only one rejoicing that it's Friday, right? :) Anyone have awesome plans for the weekend (so I can live vicariously through you?). So, because it's Friday and I'm feeling a little lazy, here's my five:

1. I've started book #4 of the Sary Society series. Oh, this book is going to be crazy to write! You'll be seeing some characters from previous books, including Ari, Tom, Julia, and Edison, Gabby and Jassen (who are featured in book #3) and a few new ones. So far it's being told from Marcus' point of view, and he's got some interesting secrets to tell.
• And if you ever wondered if Julia and Edison ended up together, well that might just come to light here!
2. I'm slightly obsessed with all things pumpkin. I LOVE pumpkin flavor and have been attempting not to make all the recipes I keep seeing on Pinterest. Granted, I broke down last weekend and made muffins. They were tasty. And lasted about an hour.
3. The weather is getting cooler, which means hot chocolate season is nearing!! This is the only thing I am excited about regarding the coming winter. Because otherwise, I know it's going to suck. I needs to move to warmer climes. This Cali girl doesn't do snow.
4. Paperback book stuff is coming along. Slower than a herd of turtles, but coming. A MASSIVE thank you to all who signed up to help me out with some book blasting. I'll be in touch pronto, just waiting for things to actually get finished!
5. I'm giving a midterm today. This is both exhausting, and also kind of fun. Some part of me loves to dole out a little work to my students, because it means I don't have to lecture for the day :)

Loving this! Makes me think of Colors Like Memories :)

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Guest Post by Sandra Miller: 8 Tips for Self-Editing

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

Hi everyone! I have an incredibly helpful guest post for everyone today! Shout out in the comments with your most useful self-editing tool :)

Make the self-editing process easier through eight tips

If you are a writer who skips the self-editing process, you should know that editing is the key factor that separates good writers from mediocre ones. If you are writing for a publishing house or a magazine, you certainly have a professional editor to do this job for you, but if you are an aspiring writer and you’re working all by yourself, then you will need to do the editing on your own.

Editing other people’s work is a challenge; editing your own writing goes beyond your imagination of hard work. However, our simple tips will help you go through the process more easily and successfully.

1. Just write first. Editing comes later.

The most important thing to remember is to finish your writing before you start editing it. If you stop to edit while you are writing, you will never finish the piece. You can make a break and correct a typo you noticed in the previous sentence, and it is fine to restart a sentence when you know it doesn’t sound well. However, you mustn’t keep making one step forward and two steps back. If writing without editing is a real struggle for you, you should try using Write or Die by Dr Wicked – an application that will force you to continue writing by punishing you every time you become distracted.

2. Step away from your work

It is very important to let your work sit and step away from it before you start with the self-editing process. If you are a blogger, you can give a few hours or a day for the short piece to sit. However, if you have just finished writing an entire novel, you need to put it aside for a week or two and, if possible, stop thinking about it. This will allow you to have a fresh impression when you come back to the writing. You will easily spot the parts that don’t fit, as well as the inconsistent characterization and minor holes in the plot.   

3. Change the format

If you turn your words into another format, you will spot the mistakes or problems more easily. Printing out a blog post or transferring your novel onto an e-reader will let you see your work with a reader’s eyes. If you only take a look at your writing in its published form, everything will become clearer and easier to fix.

4. Start with the content and structure

One of the worst self-editing mistakes you could make is starting by polishing up each sentence, every phrase and word, and cut out the unnecessary parts of the material later. Editing the big picture first is much more efficient. You should start by cutting out unnecessary sections or chapters, adding the missing information and revising the sections or scenes that require radical improvements. You can start digging down into the individual words and sentences after that.

5. Lower the word count by 10%

It’s no secret that writers tend to over-write. This is why it’s important that you cut out 10% of the word count once you are happy with the big picture. Unnecessary words only weaken the story and your argument, which is why you need to get rid of them. If you find that the same point has been repeated several times throughout the piece – it’s probably unnecessary and your reader would be annoyed by the repetitiveness. Cut out all unnecessary adjectives and wishy-washy phrases and you’ll end up having a much cleaner piece that will be easier to read. 

6. The spell check is great, but it’s not all-mighty

You should never forget to run your work through a spelling and grammar checker. However, you should not rely on this tool completely because it can’t catch every mistake. For example, homophones often go through this process unnoticed, but your readers will surely notice them. You need to use your eyes too

7. Read the piece backwards

This is a strange technique, but it makes the tough self-editing process easier. It is a trick that will help you notice the small mistakes that were sliding past you. If you’re not used to this way of proofreading, you can read the piece really slowly. This can be done by increasing the font size, which will prevent you from seeing too many words on your screen at a time.

8. Know when you are finished

When you start editing and perfecting your own work, you could fall into a never-ending cycle of rewriting some parts and then changing them back. You should know when you are done and stop the process at some point. You cannot achieve perfection, so remember that a published piece is always better than a manuscript that sits on your computer forever.     

Sandra Miller is freelance short story author and graduate of Literature from the NYU, where she wrote for the students journal and tutored students in writing. She recommends authors use professional editing services Help.Plagtracker. Now she is writing her first YA novel.

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After Reading: The Luxen Series (books 0.5-4) by Jennifer Armentrout

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

So, this series thus far includes:
Book 0.5: Shadows
Book 1: Obsidian
Book 2: Onyx
Book 3: Opal
Book 4: Origin

All the links above should take you to Goodreads for more info on each of the books, but posting the individual blurbs was taking too much space :)

So, some of you may have seen my swooning this summer over Deamon over on twitter. I'll admit, I was totally sucked into this series and read all of the books over about a week's time. (Thank heavens for summer break and being able to do awesome things like that!) So, yeah, definitely loved these books. Origin released almost a month ago and I really had been looking forward to it. It was a fun read, but I did feel that Armentrout's biggest strength--which I feel is her un-put-down-able pacing--was lacking in this one. I could set my kindle aside if need be and didn't feel like I was totally immersed in the world. Though, certain events that took place in Vegas had me totally freaking out (and can I just say, I'm not a fan of Vegas, so a little destruction there kind of made me happy...yeah, that's wrong, I know, but still). I'm still impatiently waiting for the last book, but I hope the pacing picks back up.

Overall, I have referred to this series when recommending it as Twilight with a female MC that has a backbone and aliens instead of vampires. Really, there are a TON of corollaries. As it, it started blowing my mind once I got to really studying it. But, to be fair, Deamon is amazing, and I much prefer his and Katie's relationship, as I think it's a helluva lot healthier.

Anyhow, I could spend ages talking about these books. So, sing it out in the comments: read these? Liked them? Want to have hot alien mojo with Deamon read the last book? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

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Flash Fiction: Restitution

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

Happy Friday everyone!! What's everyone planning for the weekend? Something fun I hope! So, I don't really have a post for today, so I thought I'd share something I wrote for the writers group I run here at the local library. Our group decided to do a little flash fiction on a random word (we ended up with Restitution thanks to a word generator) and I loved the different responses we had! So fun. This is mine, for a little bit of randomness for Friday:

Restitution

The keys bit into my hand I gripped them so hard.

“Return the keys,” I parroted, unable to keep the whine from my voice. “Return them and make sure you say you’re sorry.”

Too bad I wasn’t sorry. How could I be? But there wasn’t much of a choice when it came to dealing with him. It was either do what he said…or the consequences were unimaginable.

He’d known, of course, that I didn’t want to do it. His eyes sad and mouth pulled taught was supposed to make me feel bad. It worked.

The walk to the door was short. The grass brown. The house emitting a smell like mold and dryer sheets. Keeping my feet moving forward felt like moving up a steep incline.

How had that car come from this house? The car had been perfect. Cherry red, leather seats, the kind of Mustang that had seen loving care. Nothing that nice came from behind the peeling paint of this door.

Still, I had to do this. There would be hell to pay if I didn’t.

My knuckles bit the door three times. Inside, someone shuffled closer. The click and slide of locks finally revealed the pinched face of a young man.

“I’m supposed to return these.” I held the keys up and they clinked from my fingers. The bare rabbit’s foot hung with them.

If only the thing had brought me luck.

“But—”

“I’m sorry about the car,” I cut him off. “I didn’t mean for that to happen.”

Without allowing him to say anything more, I shoved the keys into his hand. The path away from his house blurred with how fast I ran.

My heart picked up with every step I took. I’d given the keys back. I’d done my part. “Restitution,” I muttered.

The empty lot choked with weeds allowed me to get off the sidewalk. Someone might see me, and after what happened, I couldn’t let that happen. Kicking an empty beer car brought a little comfort as I moved deeper into the tangled mess of vegetation.

He waited for me. I could sense him before I rounded the faint path into the clearing.

“You did it?”

“I’m sure you already know the answer to that.” I slumped onto a log next to the fire pit. “What other penance do you have in store?”

His grin blinded me, too white and too perfect. “Do you think you’ve done enough after last night?”

I swallowed. Last night. The twist of metal. The other car. It had been my fault. But hadn’t I already paid the price?

“You’ll never be able to cover the price of this,” he said, his grin tipping into maniacal territory.

A shiver traced down my spine. He said something very different before. “I thought—”

“There are many things you might think. And you’d be dead wrong.” His little pun amused him. “Especially if you think you know who I am.”

His features twisted from perfect to something much worse. I gripped my knees too tight. “Oh, hell.”

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