~Synopsis~
After getting involved with Dylan, the bad
boy of the Dixon High Swim team, Charley decides to stay close to home for
college. It’s just safer that way. Later, she realizes it’s a mistake, just
like dating Dylan. She decides to put the past behind her and leave the small
hick town of Grassy Pond. There is only one problem; she makes this decision
three weeks before the fall semester begins.
Charley packs up her Honda and heads to
Southern College. On the morning she’s about to leave, Cash walks back into her
life. He has been her best friend since they were four and is the only one who
knows the REAL Charley. She leaves her farm in Grassy Pond with all kinds of
“what if” questions.
Charley decides to live her college career to
the fullest. She finds a great group of friends, joins the swim team, and meets
a guy named Joe. He’s got eyes that make ya wanna melt!
At
college, she encounters a new problem. Charley has been away from home for only
forty-eight hours before she breaks the two promises she made to herself. Will
she be able to overcome her past? Find new love? What will happen with Cash now
that he is back in her life? Will she find what she is wanting in Jackalope
Joe? How will her first semester of college end? Joe, Cash, or alone?
~Purchase Links~
~Excerpt~
As we make our way to the door, Georgia slips on the
gravel. She starts laughing and the rest
of us do as well once we help her up.
“Y’all, I think the ground and curbs are out to get
me. I mean they come out of
nowhere. The next thing I know, I’m on
my ass again!” Georgia is a hoot. She always makes light of situations.
Hank’s Tavern is not exactly what I pictured. It’s an old, worn down, wooden shed. There are five parking spaces in front of the
restaurant section of the place. The
rest of the parking is located across the road in a gravel lot. It’s gravel, no pavement anywhere. The bouncers are dressed in jeans and Hank’s
Tavern t-shirts that fit just a little snug around their arms showing off their
muscles. They ask for our IDs, take a
brief glance, and in we go. I will have
to say, the guys don’t get in quite as easy.
They get patted down and driver’s license checked. Sometimes it pays to be a female.
We enter through another set of glass doors and
immediately cigarette smoke and stale beer hit my nostrils. The room is open except for a few pool tables
and the bar. It is dark, lights are
flashing, and the music is bumping. We
do exactly what any group of girls would do, walk straight to the
restroom. You have got to kidding
me! No door really! There is no freakin’ door on the last stall. After taking a few minutes to get over the
negative stall door and freshen up, we walk out and head straight to the dance
floor.
I have to say that this is exactly redneck meets ghetto
fabulous. Whoever thought a place like
this would play Mystikal, Dr. Dre, Lil Wayne, throw in a little “Downtown” by
Lady A and Old Crow Medicine Show? We
have the best time just dancing in a big group.
I notice Crystal and Lucas on the floor; she smiles and waves before
continuing to do things she should be embarrassed to be doing in public. I am so thankful that I don’t have to deal
with that in my room. That is one
benefit to her dating a Resident Assistant… he has his own room.
By midnight, Hank’s is packed. I decide to grab a bottle of water, and as
I’m about to pay, I hear that oh so sexy voice.
“I got that.”
“It’s okay, Joe. I
got it.”
“No, I insist. I
was an ass earlier. I didn’t mean to
make you feel bad. It’s the least I can
do.”
“Damn straight!
I’m proud of who I am and where I’m from. I just hate when damn Yankees come down here
and then try to make us look like hicks.
You don’t like the way we live, then don’t cross the Mason-Dixon,” I say
as playful as possible. It did tick me
off earlier, but I don’t want him to think I’m a bitch.
“I swear I won’t do it again, and nobody is gonna pick on
you eating squirrel but me,” he says with a smile.
“Okay, I’ll give ya that.”
“So Squirrel, you wanna dance?”
“Mr. Scaredy Cat, I’d love to.” He takes the water bottle from me and leads
me to the dance floor.
~Excerpt~
Hey, Char, while Cash ain’t in here. Where the hell am I staying tonight? I mean, I don’t want to intrude on y’all.”
“Piper, you can stay in there because you know as well as
I do nothing is going to happen.” She
looks at me like whatever.
About that time Cash opens the truck door and climbs
in. We make our way to campus, up the
stoop, and into Kluft. I am exhausted
and need a shower to recoup before Hank’s tonight. As we reach the top step, I can hear
Caroline, Tori, Georgia, Jenny, Anna, and Cassie in hall. They are singing to “Thrift Shop”blaring over
the radio and dancing like fools in the hallway.
Cash glances at me, “Oh lawd, what have I got myself
into?” I just shrug my shoulders and
pull him down the hall. All the girls
take their turn putting moves on him, and of course, Anna has something to say. “Hey, Cowboy, I ain’t ever rode a cowboy
before.” With a wink Cash answers back,
“Sorry, Sweetheart, but I ain’t a cowboy.
I’m a homegrown country boy that only has eyes for one little lady,” as
he stares into my blue eyes.
~About the Author~
Casey Peeler grew up and still lives in North
Carolina with her husband and daughter. Her first passion is teaching students
with special needs. Over the years, she found her way to relax was in a good
book.
After reading Their Eyes Were Watching God
by Zora Neal Hurston her senior year of high school and multiple Nicholas
Sparks’ novels, she found a hidden love and appreciation for reading.
Casey is an avid reader, blogger (Hardcover
Therapy,) and now author. No Turning Back (Full Circle #1) is her
debut novel releasing September 30th. Finding
Charley (Full Circle #2) will release spring 2014.
Her goal is to one day be an author who is
recognized nationwide like Jamie McGuire, Colleen Hoover, Tiffany King, and
Amanda Bennett.
When Casey isn’t reading, you can find her
listening to country music, spending the day at the lake, being a wife and
dance mom, and spending time with friends and family
Her perfect day consists of water, sand
between her toes, a cold beverage, and a great book!
~Giveaway~
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