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$50 #Giveaway Decide to Live by Shirley Anne Edwards @ShirlAwriter @XpressoTours Ends 3.4

February 20, 2021 By Mary 53 Comments



Decide to Live
Shirley Anne Edwards
(Finding the Strength, #3)
Publication date: February 14th 2021
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

When it hurts too much to live, how does one find the strength to stay alive and find hope again?

Reiko Nakano has a charmed life. Not only does the twenty-three-old come from a life of luxury because of her celebrity parents and supermodel sister, she’s best friends with the biggest brother and sister pop duo in the world- Gio and Gem Grove. But what the public assumes is wrong different because of what Reiko suffers in private. She feels she’s an outcast in her own family because of her ptosis and her social anxiety. She then makes the biggest mistake of her life and tries to turn her lifelong crush on Gio into something more. His cruel rejection after she lets him take her virginity leaves her heartbroken.

Reiko hides in the least likely of places- the small town of Albee, Pennsylvania. There she enjoys her anonymity and enrolls in summer classes at Maison University. She hopes she can fit in as a student, but life continues to play tricks on her when she’s hit in the face by a football from one of the most popular boys on campus, Will Forest. But this accidental but memorial meeting will help heal her fragile emotions because Will shows her how special she is to those she meets, including him.

She isn’t sure what to make of Will. He’s too nice and sweet, and treats her like gold. She accepts his attempts at romance even though it’s only temporary. But as the summer flies by, she doesn’t want to give Will up, who doesn’t know the truth about her “vacation”. And when Gio arrives in town, and threatens to out Reiko, she has some hard choices to make. Does she come clean to Will so she can decide to finally live on her own terms and embrace the amazing woman Will thinks her to be?

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play

—

EXCERPT:

It had been a long time since I’d felt like I belonged somewhere or with someone. I had found that at Maison. I felt the same with Dad when he let me tag along to one of his classes or read chapters of a new book he was in the middle of writing. He was the only one I wanted to call to tell him about my summer plans. Aya would be happy for me, but she didn’t share our love for books and learning, not that my older sister was uneducated by any means. She had different pursuits and hobbies, like Mom. She had a bond with Mom, whereas mine was with Dad.

A small black dog ran by me, chased by a woman. The sight made me snicker. I checked around to see if there were any other dogs, an odd thing to see at a college. The only interesting interaction was a few guys playing football a few feet away. I wanted to soak in the atmosphere a little longer. Then I would call Dad and tell him my news. Trying to figure out the time difference in Paris, I walked forward, realizing too late I was in the path of the football game. Someone shouted— “Look out!” As I turned, a football hit the side of my neck, near my shoulder. I fell and landed on the ground.

The sun above blinded me as I tried to bring the world into focus. Soon, a group of men surrounded me, blocking out the light. One knelt next to me and boosted me up, keeping his arm on my back.

“My glasses?” I searched the area even though everything was blurry.

“I found them.” He pressed them into my hand. “Are you okay? Do you need a doctor? Should we call 911?”

I slid my glasses on and shook my head. “I was just startled.”

When I was able to see again, the guy who still supported me helped me stand. I should have noticed he wasn’t wearing a T-shirt. It was stuck in the back of his shorts, leaving his chest bare. What I did notice first was his chunky black-framed glasses and short yet spikey blond hair. He also had too many freckles across his nose and cheeks.

“You’re wearing glasses also.” I blinked, amazed by how cute he was wearing horn-rimmed glasses, and because of the deep lines around his mouth because of his smile.

“A few other guys on campus wear glasses, but they don’t look as good as I do.” He scooped up the football and tossed it to someone. “I’m going to take a break to make sure the young lady here is okay.”

Young lady? I kicked the grass. Shoot! My paperwork had scattered.

“I’m fine, I think, but my papers aren’t.” I bent to retrieve the wrinkled documents.

By the time I’d found most of them, he had put on his T-shirt. He held the brochure, and, as I rose, he flipped through it. “You’re a new student here?”

“Just for the summer.” I held my hand out for the booklet.

He paused as if he wanted to say something but instead gave me the booklet.

“Thanks.” I took my time putting the book and papers in my tote bag, expecting him to leave. But he still stood there.

For some reason, I wasn’t as uncomfortable as I usually was when I met new people. Our awkward introduction resulting from the football to my face should have made me look in the other direction. But he acted…considerate? Or maybe compassionate was a better word?

A female voice called out, “Will,” and he waved but stayed with me. “Now you know my name. I’m Will, short for William.”

“I’m Reiko, and it’s not short for anything.” I glanced at the girl who‘d said his name. She was with two other girls, and they all looked identical—white girls with highlighted blonde hair and tight shirts and shorts. They were the type I would stay away from because they reminded me of Gem.

“I never heard that name before. It’s pretty.” He gave me another friendly smile.

“It has a few meanings.” The main meaning of my name meant beautiful, but I preferred wise. I left it unsaid because he would probably say I was beautiful in his flirty way, just to be nice.

“I’d love to know what your name means.” He tapped his fingers on his hips.

If I had better social skills, I would have teased him, extending our conversation. But with those girls waiting for him, one of whom might be his girlfriend, it was best I let him go.

“If we meet again, I might tell you.” I turned and walked away. It was better to cut him off and leave. The odds I would see him again were small since he was ending his semester and would return to wherever he lived for the summer.

As expected, he didn’t run after me or tell me to stay. I kept walking without turning around to check like the small voice in my head wanted me to do.

Author Bio:

Shirley Anne Edwards is a Northeast girl who first found her love for books when she read Nancy Drew’s The Secret of the Old Clock Tower at thirteen. Shirley found her love for writing at a very young age, and since then has let her imagination run wild by creating quirky characters and vast worlds in her head.

Shirley lives in New Jersey and works in the entertainment industry in New York City.

In the immortal words of Mark Twain: “Life is short, Break the Rules. Forgive quickly, Kiss SLOWLY. Love truly. Laugh uncontrollably and never regret ANYTHING that makes you smile.”

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

 

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Comments

  1. Jamie Martin says

    February 20, 2021 at 9:10 pm

    What’s yr advice for new writers?

    Reply
  2. Angela Saver says

    February 20, 2021 at 9:23 pm

    The cover looks great and the excerpt sounds great!

    Reply
  3. Judy Thomas says

    February 20, 2021 at 11:15 pm

    It sounds like a very emotional read. Thank you for sharing it.

    Reply
  4. Deborah D says

    February 20, 2021 at 11:52 pm

    How long was the writing process?

    Reply
  5. LeonieT says

    February 21, 2021 at 1:33 am

    Lovely cover!

    Reply
  6. Pat Lieberman says

    February 21, 2021 at 4:38 am

    What an interesting storyline.

    Reply
  7. Cathy French says

    February 21, 2021 at 5:51 am

    I love the premise for this story line. The excerpt was great.

    Reply
  8. Suzanne Greene says

    February 21, 2021 at 6:51 am

    I really liked the excerpt and the cover for this book; it looks very interesting.

    Reply
  9. Rita Wray says

    February 21, 2021 at 6:59 am

    Sounds like a good read.

    Reply
  10. Debbie P says

    February 21, 2021 at 7:03 am

    This sounds like a really good read!

    Reply
  11. shannon zeidan says

    February 21, 2021 at 7:28 am

    Wow! This sounds like such an amazing book! I can’t wait to read it.

    Reply
  12. wendy hutton says

    February 21, 2021 at 7:32 am

    sounds like an interesting book

    Reply
  13. Ellen Stafford says

    February 21, 2021 at 8:23 am

    Sounds like a great read!

    Reply
  14. molli taylor says

    February 21, 2021 at 9:23 am

    i am loving the cover!

    Reply
  15. paige chandler says

    February 21, 2021 at 9:24 am

    The excerpt is amazing. I hope my daughter never feels this way.

    Reply
  16. Kimberly R says

    February 21, 2021 at 9:56 am

    I like the set up for this story, I wish I had a better description of what she looks like it your eyes.

    Reply
  17. Betul says

    February 21, 2021 at 10:01 am

    This sounds really good!

    Reply
  18. Marcy Meyer says

    February 21, 2021 at 10:31 am

    The cover definitely catches the eye. Looks great.

    Reply
  19. Joy Avery says

    February 21, 2021 at 11:47 am

    Loved the excerpt! It sounds really good!

    Reply
  20. Susan Smith says

    February 21, 2021 at 11:55 am

    Sounds like a great book. I like the cover.

    Reply
  21. Shannon Citrino says

    February 21, 2021 at 12:09 pm

    Great cover art!!

    Reply
  22. christina moore says

    February 21, 2021 at 12:29 pm

    The book sounds great, love the cover

    Reply
  23. Karen H says

    February 21, 2021 at 12:30 pm

    Sounds like a great story. Thanks for the giveaway too.

    Reply
  24. heather says

    February 21, 2021 at 12:53 pm

    This sounds like a great book and one I would enjoy reading.

    Reply
  25. heather says

    February 21, 2021 at 12:53 pm

    I follow on instagram as @oldblueeyes070

    Reply
  26. heather says

    February 21, 2021 at 12:54 pm

    I follow bookhounds.net on email.

    Reply
  27. shelly peterson says

    February 21, 2021 at 1:16 pm

    This sounds really good.

    Reply
  28. Dianne Casey says

    February 21, 2021 at 1:49 pm

    Sounds fascinating. Looking forward to reading the book.

    Reply
  29. Ann Fantom says

    February 21, 2021 at 3:56 pm

    I like the cover. It has very nice artwork.

    Reply
  30. Deb Pelletier says

    February 21, 2021 at 5:35 pm

    Nice book cover and the book sounds interesting.

    Reply
  31. Latifa Morrisette says

    February 21, 2021 at 6:02 pm

    Sounds like a good read.

    Reply
  32. Bonnie says

    February 21, 2021 at 7:03 pm

    What an interesting book! Great excerpt. I’d love to read more.

    Reply
  33. AuntySuzany says

    February 21, 2021 at 7:35 pm

    Great cover! Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
  34. David Hollingsworth says

    February 21, 2021 at 10:31 pm

    This sounds like an interesting story.

    Reply
  35. Cynthia C says

    February 22, 2021 at 9:00 am

    The excerpt is interesting. Thank you for sharing it.

    Reply
  36. Debbi Wellenstein says

    February 22, 2021 at 10:12 am

    Loved the excerpt. Thanks for the giveaway!

    Reply
  37. Darla Kidder says

    February 22, 2021 at 12:49 pm

    Would like to see this book made into a movie ?
    I would .

    Reply
  38. bn100 says

    February 22, 2021 at 9:05 pm

    interesting book

    Reply
  39. Pat Lieberman says

    February 23, 2021 at 4:42 am

    Sounds like a very interesting read.

    Reply
  40. Cali W. says

    February 23, 2021 at 2:54 pm

    Great excerpt and giveaway. 🙂

    Reply
  41. Barbara Montag says

    February 24, 2021 at 7:00 am

    I like the title subject and cover for this book.
    Looking forward to reading it.
    Thank you for sharing the review.

    Reply
  42. Bea LaRocca says

    February 24, 2021 at 2:10 pm

    I ove the cover, synopsis and excerpt, this sounds like a wonderfully angsty read and I am looking forward to it. Thank you for sharing the book and author details

    Reply
  43. Leela says

    February 24, 2021 at 6:23 pm

    It looks like a good read.

    Reply
  44. Cindy Merrill says

    February 27, 2021 at 6:45 am

    I really love the plot, very realistic and plausible! Interesting.

    Reply
  45. Terri Shaw says

    February 27, 2021 at 9:12 pm

    This sounds like a great read.

    Reply
  46. Barrie says

    February 28, 2021 at 12:30 pm

    The book sounds emotional but good. How long did it take you to write the book?

    Reply
  47. clynsg says

    March 1, 2021 at 12:55 pm

    I am always interested in learning about new books that I might want to read.

    Reply
  48. Amy says

    March 2, 2021 at 3:32 pm

    This great, new read reminds me of a modern day, female-led ‘Coming to America’. The imagery’s so vivid and the characters so richly detailed.

    Reply
  49. Amber Terry says

    March 3, 2021 at 1:40 am

    I love this excerpt a lot. The entire book sounds awesome.

    Reply
  50. Doreen says

    March 3, 2021 at 8:37 am

    The plot sounds really interesting! Congrats on its release!

    Reply
  51. christina moore says

    March 3, 2021 at 9:39 am

    Sounds like a great book

    Reply
  52. BILL HOFF says

    March 3, 2021 at 5:00 pm

    My daughter would enjoy this book.

    Reply
  53. SCOTT BRUNSKILL says

    March 3, 2021 at 7:54 pm

    Good excerpt and good cover too

    Reply

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