The Jesus Freak Reader: Lee Strauss

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

East of Eden by Lee Strauss Book Blitz

East of Eden by Lee Strauss
Publication date: November 12th, 2013
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

Synopsis:

Regret is a formidable foe.

Eden Kelley is the primary caregiver for her mother who’s in the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s disease, and she’s only twenty-four. Not what she planned to do when she left her husband for a new start with her four-year-old daughter in tow. She’d hoped for free babysitting, but instead she found a mystery. The discovery of an erroneous marriage document leads to more questions, and unfortunately Eden can’t ask her mother for answers because she doesn’t remember.

Her mother’s antics drive her crazy, but Eden’s determined to make the best of it. That includes finding the exciting romantic adventure she’d dreamed about. But when trouble knocks, it’s her husband Cade who arrives to help. It’s awkward and tense. And Eden comes to one sure conclusion: leaving her handsome, caring husband was a huge mistake.

Her parents had a second chance at love? Would she and Cade get one, too?

Purchase:

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/376837

Excerpt:

She was a despicable woman! Eden had tolerated her mildly before, but now she despised her That smug expression of superiority, that flashy wool suit: you’d think she was a high and mighty lawyer instead of an ordinary secretary. Eden filled her glass, emptying the bottle of cheap red wine and clumsily set it back onto the coffee table.

She’d snatched Sophie away, en route to the airport, without even the slightest display of remorse or apology. Cade would be meeting them in Prince George. Eden pouted. That miserable hag would probably be with him.

“Oh, my sweet, little girl,” Eden moaned aloud. “I can’t believe I have to share you with her! This is going to be the most wretched Christmas of my entire life!” She lifted her glass to her mouth, slightly off target, and a dribble of red ran down her chin. She wiped it with the back of her hand.

“It’s just you and me, Mom,” she slurred, patting Lorraine on the arm. “Yup, just you and me. Me, the sorriest sample of humanity on the face of the earth, and you… forgive me, Mom, but I have to say it. You live on another planet entirely.” Hiccup.

Lorraine was dressed in her nightclothes with the bra strapped on over top. She grinned blissfully, her face dusted with the orange powder from the Cheezies she ate as they watched It’s a Wonderful Life. Eden, on the other hand, found nothing wonderful about it. Like a zombie, she sat on the couch with her glass of wine, a half-empty box of Kleenex, and a pile of dirty tissues. She’d shed no tears for Jimmy Stewart; at least things work out for him in the end. No, the tears were solely for her.

“Oh, Mom,” she moaned, and rested her head on her mother’s spindly shoulder. “What are we going to do? What’s to become of us?”

Her mother’s shoulder was too thin and bony to provide comfort. What she needed was a man’s shoulder: a firm, strong, muscular shoulder. Like Cade’s. She needed Cade’s shoulder! Her breath shuddered as she swallowed a sob and blew her nose again.

Oh, what had she done?

AUTHOR BIO:

Lee Strauss writes historical and science fiction/romance for upper YA and adult readers. She also writes light and fun stuff under the name Elle Strauss. To find out more about Lee and her books check out her facebook page. Follow her on Twitter https://twitter.com/elle_strauss to find out about new releases sign up for her newsletter at www.ellestraussbooks.com

Author Links:

Website: http://ellestraussbooks.blogspot.ca/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5227552.Elle_Strauss

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ElleStraussAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/elle_strauss

Grand prize giveaway

Prize (open to US/Can):

--A signed copy of East of Eden

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Contrition Book Blitz: Excerpt & Giveaway

Contrition by Lee Strauss

(Perception #3)

Publication date: September 26th 2013

Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult

Synopsis:

Zoe, Noah and the other plane crash survivors are stranded in the Arizona desert.

They all have secrets,

and reasons to hide.

But they’re not alone.

Cyborg soldiers.

War.

Humans and humanoids.

Who can be trusted?

Zoe’s life is in danger.

Noah must make an impossible choice.

Will their love survive their brokenness?

Will the world as they know it end before they can find out?

Purchase:

Click on book cover in the series to add to Goodreads:

Excerpt

But Taylor wasn’t an idiot. He moved to catch my eyes. “It’s lonely here, Zoe. Mary’s hot and all, especially with her badass gig going on—you know, when she’s not laid out with busted ribs—but she’s not like us.”
Not like us. Taylor was the only other GAP here. His parents had had him genetically altered before they’d died in a car crash. Before they’d had a chance to have the procedure done to his sister. Before he and Hannah had been adopted by cult relatives.
“I think we need more than just that in common to make something work,” I said. I’d had a GAP boyfriend before, and that relationship had been a disaster on so many levels.
“Okay, like what?” Taylor smirked. “Physical attraction? Check. Intelligence compatibility? Check. Marooned on a desert rock? Check.”
I smiled. Taylor was right about all those things. I did find him attractive and intelligent. It was what had gotten me into trouble at the commune. All that and his charisma had charmed me into kissing him.
It was the kiss of death for my tenuous relationship with Noah. I’d apologized a million times since and had done everything short of begging Noah to let me back in. Actually, I had begged. He’d stubbornly insisted that his lack of GAP status was reason enough for us to stay apart.
That and the fact that he no longer trusted me. Or trusted in my memories of him. Memories lost prior to our stint at the commune, thanks to dear ol’ Grandpa V, who’d stolen them from me.
Taylor wasn’t wrong, though. Sharing GAP status did mean something. I wouldn’t have to worry about him cutting out on me because of that, using it as an excuse to leave. To stay away. I longed for a commitment that went beyond just looking out for my physical safety. And he was charming and cute.
But I couldn’t deny what my heart wanted and right now it wanted Noah Brody.
Taylor could read the conflict on my face. “Come on, Zoe. Don’t waste time waiting for him. He’s moved on.”
My heart stopped when he said that. The truth hurt. He might or might not have moved on to Mary, but it was pretty obvious he wanted to move on from me. I pinched my eyes shut, but a lone tear escaped. Taylor’s finger ran along my cheek, scooping it up. I gasped at his gentle touch. I might be pining for Noah, but I couldn’t deny that I also had feelings for Taylor Blake.
Taylor’s mouth moved to my ear, and I trembled when his hot breath caressed my neck.
“He’s not worth it.”
Noah’s voice chimed in. “Am I interrupting?”