Release Day Blitz & Giveaway 

Finding You

by
Elizabeth Lee

Age Group: NA

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: October 21, 2014

~ Synopsis ~

Being the wild child has worked for Mallory Vandaveer for most of her life. She's the good time girl, up for anything--and everyone in her small town knows it. But when her sister came home after years of being away, long hidden secrets came out.

Turns out, Mallory isn't who she thought she was. And now everything starts to feel like a lie. In order to figure out who she is she'll have to set out on a journey to find the one man who holds the answers.

Everett Boone is in hiding. Hiding from his past and the press and the demands of a career he put on hold after tragedy struck. When a young woman with secrets of her own blows into town and rents the apartment next to his, he'll have to face the past he was trying to escape in order to understand his feelings for her.

They'll both have to dig deep inside themselves to discover whether or not they're capable of being enough for one another.  Finding the person you're meant to love isn't the problem. Sometimes the hardest person to find is yourself.

 ~ Add to Goodreads ~

~ Excerpt ~

Looking around my small apartment at all the boxes I had to unpack and thinking of the chores that needed to be done to make this place comfortable—at least as comfortable as possible given the constant ball of nerves I'd be while this whole mess played out—I sighed.  I'd managed to get the bed made and a few of my clothes hung up in the closet after Cole left.  The rest could wait until tomorrow; I needed a good night's sleep and a clear head.

I flipped off the lamp next to my bed and snuggled down in the sheets that still smelled like home.  Like that undeniable, comforting, wrap-you-in-a-hug smell of home and I loved it.  Gave me a little relief to know that I still had at least a little part of my life from before the Vince bombshell was dropped on me and exploded my seemingly charmed life.  Sure Robert Vandaveer was a shitty dad, but at least I knew he was.  I'd accepted his flaws.  I hated them, but I accepted them. Vince was a complete mystery.  A few photos and old stories my mom had told me weren't enough to really know him.  His flaws may have been worse than Vandaveer's.

Just as I was about to drift off, dreams of small town peacefulness beckoning, a loud crash startled me.  Popping up like I'd just been shot, I clasped my hands over my chest and felt my heart beating.  I could hear it.  Or at least I thought I could.  It took me a few seconds to realize that the chaotic thumping I thought was my heart was actually a drumbeat coming through the brick wall that separated my apartment from Boone's.

Son of a bitch.

Not only was I living next door to a paranoid jerk, he was also apparently moonlighting as a drummer.  A cheesy wedding band drummer at that.  Playing some easy listening, soft rock bullshit that I'd only heard during a bad 80s movie montage.

I climbed out of bed and stomped my way over to beat down Boone's door and give him a piece of my mind.  Just as I was about to walk down the stairs and do just that, I realized that with the way the music was blaring there was no way he'd hear me knocking on the outside door.  My eyes shot to the window and the fire escape.  I'd explored it a little earlier when I was moving stuff in, but I hadn't ventured out onto it yet.  Looked sturdy enough.  Didn't fire escapes have to be safety rated?  I sure hoped so.   All I knew for sure was that it stretched across to Boone's apartment windows.

As I shimmied out the window and felt the cool metal grates beneath my bare feet, I was fuming.  I steadied my hands on the railing with a firm grip and tugged to see if they were secure.  A little loose, but it seemed strong enough—probably the last person to die on a fire escape's exact thoughts.  Holding my breath, I continued across.  The fact that he'd woken me up was one thing, but for me to have to risk my life to yell at him about it... He'd crossed the don't-fuck-with-Mallory line.  Or was it the don't-fuck-with-Molly line? Whatever it was, he'd crossed it.

I peered through his windows, the sounds of his drumming along to the music vibrating the panes of glass that stood between us, I readied my fist to knock—no, to pound.  Just as I was about to make contact, my eyes registered how much he was zoned in and playing the rhythm of the next song that began blaring through his speakers. 

Hello, drummer boy.

The primal look in his eyes.  The controlled movement of the muscles in his toned arms as he played.  The sheen of sweat that slicked his shirtless body and made the six-pack he'd been hiding practically glisten with an invitation to be licked.  I drew my bottom lip between my teeth and stared.  

Why did he have to be such a dick?  He seemed stressed out and pissed off.  I was pretty sure it had to do with the mysterious death he'd spouted off about yesterday.  I had no idea what he'd been through, but I just didn't see the point in being miserable all the time.  Life was meant to be lived.  To have fun.  Maybe my sister was right about him needing someone like me to put him in a good mood.  I had it on good authority that I was a pretty good roll in the hay.  Maybe one wild night was just what he needed. 

~ Links to Buy ~
Amazon ** Amazon UK
Barnes & Noble ** iTunes

Companion Novel to Finding Me........ 

Escaping Me 

Age Group: NA

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Published: July 30, 2013

~ Synopsis ~

All she wanted to do was forget. Forget the memory of walking in on her boyfriend in the middle of, well, another girl. Forget how she had her entire life planned out. And, forget about being perfect all the time. Unfortunately, she was Whitney Vandaveer and despite the fact that she moved to the middle of nowhere – she couldn't.

He always knew he would never be more than nothing. No job, no money, no future. Cole Pritchett had accepted the fact that he would always be the screw up and he was okay with it. Until he met her.

Here's the thing they quickly found out – sometimes we all need a little help escaping who we think we are.

~ Add to Goodreads ~

Amazon ** Barnes & Noble

~ About the Author ~

Born and raised in the middle of a Midwestern cornfield (not literally, that would be weird), I’ve spent my entire life imagining stories. Stories where the right guy always gets the right girl, first kisses are as magical as they are on the big screen and anything is completely possible if you believe.

Although this journey began years ago, it recently took on a whole new life. After years of devouring hundreds of Romance, YA and New Adult novels, I had an epiphany... I should write a book. And I did it!

If I’m not reading, writing, enjoying drinks with my amazing group of girlfriends or chasing around a sarcastically funny kid, I’m probably watching television shows that were created for teenagers, while my husband teases that I’m too old to watch them.

~ Connect with Elizabeth ~

Facebook ** Twitter ** Website

~ A Rafflecopter Giveaway ~

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Cover Reveal

Finding You

by
Elizabeth Lee

Age Group: NA

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: October 7, 2014

~ Synopsis ~

Being the wild child has worked for Mallory Vandaveer for most of her life. She's the good time girl, up for anything--and everyone in her small town knows it. But when her sister came home after years of being away, long hidden secrets came out.

Turns out, Mallory isn't who she thought she was. And now everything starts to feel like a lie. In order to figure out who she is she'll have to set out on a journey to find the one man who holds the answers.

Everett Boone is in hiding. Hiding from his past and the press and the demands of a career he put on hold after tragedy struck. When a young woman with secrets of her own blows into town and rents the apartment next to his, he'll have to face the past he was trying to escape in order to understand his feelings for her.

They'll both have to dig deep inside themselves to discover whether or not they're capable of being enough for one another.  Finding the person you're meant to love isn't the problem. Sometimes the hardest person to find is yourself.

 ~ Add to Goodreads ~

~ Excerpt ~

“Looks like she's back,” Vince said as we pulled back up to the shop the next afternoon.  He pointed at the two trucks parked along the street.  She waved at us from the bed of one of the trucks as she she handed down boxes to someone.  Her hair was pulled up into a ponytail that barely brushed her shoulders as she turned her head to talk to whoever was helping her move in.  Why did she have to be so damn cute?  Couldn't have been a dude or some homely girl that moved in next me, could it?  That would have been asking the universe to cut me a fucking break and that had never been the case before.  Why would it start now?

“Looks like she is,” I breathed.  A part of me was kind of hoping that she wouldn't come back. Another part, the one that hoped she did, was taking notes on how great she looked as we approached.  She smiled that excited, nervous grin that she had when Vince told her she could have the apartment. She had a certain look about her that reminded me of Audrey.  The Audrey from before we hit it big.  The one that just wanted to grab life by the horns.  The one that didn't let the pressure get to her.  Like the old Audrey, she hadn't yet been tainted.  She was naïve and unassuming, at least from where I was standing.

“Need some help?” Vince offered up about the time I saw her helper step out from behind the truck.  He was around the same height as me, which is where our similarities ended.  This guy had muscles in places I didn't even know were possible, and I was an athlete.  On top of those muscles he had tattoos and a look on his face that said “back the fuck off.”  Or he did when he was looking at me anyway.  Judging from his appearance, I guessed I wouldn't have to worry about him recognizing me.  He didn't look like an avid golf fan.  No, this guy was country, not country club.  All the more reason for me to keep my distance from her.  The last thing I wanted to deal with was an overprotective boyfriend.

When he turned his attention to Vince his demeanor seemed to change.

“I think we've only got it, but thank you,” he said politely.  “I do have one favor to ask though,” he added, looking up at my new neighbor who appeared to be concerned with the next words that were going to come out of his mouth.

“Sure,” Vince answered, resting his arms on the back of the truck.

“Keep an eye on my girl here,” he nodded up at her.  “She tends leap before she looks, if you know what I mean.”

“I do not,” she spouted.  “I'll be just fine.  I'm a big girl.”  The way she popped her hand up on her hip and practically stomped her foot caused everyone of us to crack a smile.  She hopped down out of the back of the truck and shut the tailgate.  “Thanks for your offer, Vince, but this is the last load to go upstairs.  Come on, Cole,” she urged, seeming to have better places to be.

“Vince, was it?” Cole extended his hand.  “Nice to meet you.”

“You too,” Vince replied.  “We'll keep an eye on her.”  Cole nodded, pleased with Vince's words.

“Didn't catch your name,” he said turning to me. 

“Boone,” I replied, thrusting my hand out to meet his.  I wasn't scared of this guy.  Sure, he could have probably kicked my ass all over the street, but he had no reason to worry about me.  I wasn't interested in his girl.

“Not going to have to worry about you getting her into any trouble, am I?”  He raised up, his broad shoulders casting a shadow over me.  His hand squeezed around mine in warning.

“Nope,” I said, matching the pressure of his grip.  “Not going to have to worry about me at all.”  I feel myself rising up to gain an inch on him.  “If she's getting into any trouble she'll be doing it all on her own.”  Which I didn't doubt.  As sweet and naïve as she appeared, I could tell from our brief encounter that she was a spitfire.  Cole didn't need to worry about me one bit, but he moved toward me nonetheless. This guy wanted to stand toe-to-toe, I was game.  It'd been a while since I felt an adrenaline rush.  I used to get them all the time—teeing off on the first hole of a major, sinking a putt to seal a double birdie.  This was a different kind of rush, but I'd take it.  It was good to feel something other than guilt for once.

“Good.” He finally broke the tension with a chuckle.  “I'll see ya around, Boone.”

“Yep.” Guess he'd be back to visit.

Companion Novel to Finding Me........ 

Escaping Me 

Age Group: NA

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Published: July 30, 2013

~ Synopsis ~

All she wanted to do was forget. Forget the memory of walking in on her boyfriend in the middle of, well, another girl. Forget how she had her entire life planned out. And, forget about being perfect all the time. Unfortunately, she was Whitney Vandaveer and despite the fact that she moved to the middle of nowhere – she couldn't.

He always knew he would never be more than nothing. No job, no money, no future. Cole Pritchett had accepted the fact that he would always be the screw up and he was okay with it. Until he met her.

Here's the thing they quickly found out – sometimes we all need a little help escaping who we think we are.

~ Add to Goodreads ~

Amazon ** Barnes & Noble

~ About the Author ~

Born and raised in the middle of a Midwestern cornfield (not literally, that would be weird), I’ve spent my entire life imagining stories. Stories where the right guy always gets the right girl, first kisses are as magical as they are on the big screen and anything is completely possible if you believe.

Although this journey began years ago, it recently took on a whole new life. After years of devouring hundreds of Romance, YA and New Adult novels, I had an epiphany... I should write a book. And I did it!

If I’m not reading, writing, enjoying drinks with my amazing group of girlfriends or chasing around a sarcastically funny kid, I’m probably watching television shows that were created for teenagers, while my husband teases that I’m too old to watch them.

~ Connect with Elizabeth ~

Facebook ** Twitter ** Website

Release Day Blitz & Giveaway

Where There’s Smoke

by
Elizabeth Lee

Genre: New Adult, Romantic Suspense
Release Date: May 20, 2014

~ Synopsis ~

There is something to be said for letting go. Ryland Roberts knows that better than anyone. He'd let go of his ambitions, of his family and—most of all—of her. He'd perfected the art of putting his past behind him and accepted the fact that the town he wanted to leave in his rearview was the place where he was going to live out his days. But sometimes the past doesn't just go away. Sometimes it comes back to haunt you.

Piper Jameson convinced herself that she left for all the right reasons. She'd saved people by leaving—made sure that they weren't tainted by her rebellious ways. When her little sister asks her to come home and say goodbye to their ailing mother, she's forced to see that things aren't always as they seem. The people who she'd left behind might not have been saved at all.

In the amount of time it takes a bullet to travel from point A to point B, Piper and Ryland will have to put their feelings for each other aside and make a choice. Forced on the run with Piper's sister, they begin to understand that the future they thought was gone was never really lost.

~ Add to Goodreads ~
 ~ Excerpt ~ 

I stretched my arm out and placed a hand on the cool concrete, the grit and dirt sticking to my palm.  Such a contrast to the warmth I felt with Ryland firmly pressed up against me.  The curves of my backside fit perfectly against his long, lean frame, our skin heating up the chill around us. 

The fall weather had descended upon our small Midwestern town almost overnight.  It seemed like only a week or two ago we had been wearing shorts and flip-flops.  Now it was jeans and jackets.  Well, actually, now it was nothing.

I felt my cheeks heat as I thought about what we had just done.  I wasn't embarrassed.  Far from it.  In fact, I'd never felt more sure about anything in my entire life as I was about what had just happened with Ry.

“That was incredible,” he whispered against my neck as he traced lazy circles on my shoulder with his fingertips.

“Yeah,” I breathed, rolling onto my back to look up at him.  The soft glow of an outdoor utility light crept through the open side of the airplane hangar, barely lighting up the space.  “Never imagined our first time being on a blanket spread out on a cold, hard floor, but I would do it again in a heartbeat.”

“Me too. Let’s get on that then,” he said with a wicked grin before he pressed his lips to mine.  Propping himself on one arm—his hand resting against the side of his head—he snaked his free hand under one of the flannel blankets he'd commandeered from an airplane parked beside us. 

I liked this side of him.  The side that wasn't perfect and calculated.  The side that just did, said, and felt what he wanted.  He was literally feeling his way up my body—his hands smooth and rough all at the same time—sending all of my teenage hormones spiraling out of control.  We were living in the moment, which was exactly where I preferred to be.

“You know how much I love you, right?” His face became very serious, almost concerned.  

“I wanted tonight to be special.  I thought we'd go back to my house after we looked at the planes.  My parents are gone and...”  He was back in his head, thinking about his meticulously thought-out evening.  Doubting his ability to be perfect.  He did this sometimes—overanalyzed things.  “It didn't go exactly as I planned, but—”

“It was perfect,” I assured him. “Plans, schmans.”  I pulled his face to mine, giggling, my lips barely grazing his.  “And I love you, too.”

That was the thing about Ryland—I saw a side of him that no one else saw.  I could probably say the same for him about me.  Until him, I’d never felt like I was going to amount to much, but he believed in me, even when I didn't—which was most of the time.  When I was with him, I didn't feel like I needed to do everything in my power to piss people off.  He made me want to stay in this Godforsaken town with a family that ignored my existence.  They ignored it until I did something wrong—which was about ninety percent of the time.  Then my stepfather made sure to let me just how worthless I was. 

“So do you feel like a rebel?” I asked.  “This being your first breaking and entering and all.” 

It had been his idea to sneak on to the airfield—something that was much more in my wheelhouse than his.  I was the one who usually threw caution to the wind.  He was the good boy.  The straight-A student.  The doting son.

“Oh yeah.” He laughed. “I'm a regular badass.  Nothing like walking through an open gate to an abandoned shed.”  He cast his arm out sarcastically in the vacant space above our heads.  Nothing but sheet metal and wooden beams.  A handful of airplanes were parked around us with a smattering of fuel cans, tools, and parachutes hanging from the walls.  “I'm not sure we actually broke into anything.  More like casually strolled in.”

We lived in a town where people left their front doors unlocked.  The kind of town where everyone knew everyone and all of their business.  Truitville. It was a place with a minimal crime rate.  I think that night, that's what we’d both thought: What's the worst that could happen?

“So what's next then, Clyde?  Wanna rob a bank?”

~ Links to Buy ~
Amazon ** Amazon UK 
Barnes & Noble 
~ About the Author ~

When I'm not writing or playing the part of wife and mother, you can find me dancing back-up for Beyonce, singing back-up for Miranda, or sunning myself on the beach with a drink in hand.  Here's the thing about being born and raised in a small town—you have a very vivid imagination!  Now, I channel it all to create stories where the girl always ends up with the right guy, first kisses are magical, and a happy ending is just that!

 ~ Connect with Elizabeth ~

Facebook ** Twitter ** Website ** Goodreads 

~ A Rafflecopter Giveaway ~

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~ Release Blitz Review & Giveaway ~
Shattered
by
Elizabeth Lee

 ~ Synopsis ~

Alyssa Boyd had big plans. Big plans that included getting the hell out of the little town she’d grown up in with her two best friends. When she decided it was time to let one of them know her true feelings for him; a change of plans resulted in a tragic turn of events. Now, Alyssa is left alone to find her way out of the darkness that an untimely death has left in its wake.

Jesse Vaughn was never good at letting people in. He’d learned a long time ago that it’s easier that way because people leave, or, unfortunately, die. The one person he wanted to let in doesn’t want him anymore. The only problem is he can’t stop thinking about her. Jesse returns to the childhood home he left behind with one goal in mind… to convince her that they should be together. 

When Jesse finds Alyssa she’s not the same girl he left behind. She’s wild, reckless and hell-bent on not giving Jesse a second chance. Lucky for Jesse, his stubborn streak has always been a mile-wide and he’s not about to give up on her.

When your life has been shattered can you really pick up all the pieces and move on?

~ Add to Goodreads ~

~ Excerpt ~

“Yep.” Hap nodded with a confirming smile. January’s expression matched her boyfriend’s. They were excited about the possible reunion of Jesse and me. January knew everything that almost happened, so it went without saying that Hap was clued in. I hated to break it to them, but this wasn’t going to be the happily ever after that they’d hoped for. As much as I wanted to run up, wrap my arms around his neck and tell him how much I’d missed him, I couldn’t fight the dormant anger that I’d let be suppressed by the sadness and guilt. He left me. It was bad enough that Garrett was gone, but that wasn’t his choice. Jesse had left because he wanted to. I brought my hands up and covered my face, hoping he would walk back out the door before I had to face him.

“Hey, Lyss.” The tone of his voice was hesitant, surely he knew I was in shock to see him. “How are you?” It was hard to tell if he meant, “How are you? It’s been nine months since I last saw you.” or “How are you after getting completely shit-faced last night?” Just hearing his deep, raspy voice sent a ripple across my skin. I really thought he was gone.

I looked up to see him standing beside our table. He looked the same. He’d let his hair grow out, just a little bit longer, but it was same jet-black color and messy tousled look I remembered. The glow of his suntanned skin led me to believe that he’d been hiding out somewhere sunny as opposed to what I’d assumed, which was that he must have crawled under a rock and died, or fell off the face of the earth. Why else would he have just completely disappeared from my life? Everything that had happened the night of Garrett’s accident flashed in my mind. I couldn’t even begin to form a complete sentence. Instead, I pushed out of the booth and looked directly in the eyes I’d tried to forget.

“Don’t,” was all I could come up with before I ran out of the diner.

“Alyssa, please.” He followed me out the door. “Can’t we just talk?”

“No!” I yelled out, not breaking my stride as I walked across the street.

His hands stopped mine before I could pull the car door open and escape. The contact of our skin sent a shock up my arm. “Please.” I turned to see the desperation in his eyes. He pulled his lip between his teeth and brushed a stray hair from my cheek. His hand rested on my cheek. I caught myself turning my face into his strong, warm hand and quickly pulled away. As much as I wanted to fight it, everything that I’d felt for him was still there. I still wanted him to touch me. To kiss me. The guilt and anger that accompanied the desire was too much.

“I can’t do this, Jesse.” I pulled my face from his and quickly sunk behind the wheel of my car. I drove away, leaving him alone on the street.

I wasn’t ready to talk to him. To ask him the string of questions that had been running through my head for months. To explain my erratic behavior the night before. I wasn’t ready for any of it. So, I did the only thing I could think of to avoid the entire situation. I went home, opened the desk drawer and retrieved my new foolproof method of not dealing with it.

~ Links to Buy ~

Amazon ** Amazon UK ** Barnes & Noble

~Review~

This book is the perfect example as to why I appreciate an author giving a book an updated look.  Had it not been for the re-reveal this book would have fallen off my radar.  So glad it didn’t!  This was a heart felt story about finding your way back from heartbreak.  How do you survive when you feel like part of you is gone and you blame yourself?

Garrett, Alyssa and Jesse…pretty much inseparable since the 7^th grade.  That’s just about how long Jesse has admired Alyssa from afar.  Garrett’s prodding for Jesse to make his move over the years has just become the norm.  Till the day that he finally decides to make his move.  That day changed everything and shattered life as they had known it.

How do you comeback from the “3 muskateers” to flying solo?  Gone in an instant is one friend, gone in the next is the one you need to make it through.  Alyssa carries so much guilt about the day that changed her life almost a year later.  Medication, liquor and avoidance are the only escape.  Until Jesse returns.

Jesse has spent the time away thinking of Alyssa daily…his return to the town that broke him is not an easy one but his is back for one thing and one thing only….Alyssa.  Will all of the unspoken feelings be what makes them whole again? Can Jesse and Alyssa find what they lost and make a life together? 

I freaking loved Jesse!!! He could ride into town and be my knight in shining armor any day.  I could understand his need to do things on his own.  He was forced to take care of himself since he was a child. Learning not to depend on others since his parents floated in and out of his childhood, their needs and wants taking priority over Jesse and his sister’s.

I understood Alyssa’s pain.  Having lost more friends than I care to count throughout high school I can relate to the pain, sense of loss and journey to find out who you are without this person in your life.  Her frustration and anger toward Jesse too was understandable but I was pulling for the love conquers all card.   Secrets that are revealed throughout the story soften my opinion of Alyssa’s parents but not by much.

If you are looking for a quick, enjoyable read about surviving heartbreak, go grab Shattered and take the ride. If this is your first read from Elizabeth Lee, it will not be your last. 

~ Rating ~


~ About the Author ~

When I'm not writing or playing the part of wife and mother, you can find me dancing back-up for Beyonce, singing back-up for Miranda, or sunning myself on the beach with a drink in hand.  Here's the thing about being born and raised in a small town—you have a very vivid imagination!  Now, I channel it all to create stories where the girl always ends up with the right guy, first kisses are magical, and a happy ending is just that!

 ~ Connect with Elizabeth ~

Facebook ** Twitter ** Website ** Goodreads 

~ A Rafflecopter Giveaway ~
a Rafflecopter giveaway