Title: Country Roads
Author: Grea Warner
Genre: Women’s Fiction/Contemporary Romance
Book Blurb:
A young woman content with her solitary life.
A rising country music star.
They were friends once …until their lives took them down separate roads.
Now, years later, when a child volunteers his uncle to sing for a fundraiser, Lara Faulkner realizes it is none other than her college pal, Finn Murphy. As the two get a chance to reconnect, Lara reveals to a compassionate Finn details of her shocking past and the traumatic decision she had to make.
Through trust and love, the bond between Finn and Lara deepens as the country singer manages to get an emotionally scarred Lara to let down her self-proclaimed walls. But will secrets, lies, and tragedy cause a bumpy detour on their road to complete happiness?
Finalist in the 2019 Stiletto Awards for Women’s Fiction, fall in love with COUNTRY ROADS!
Excerpt:
It was when I was looking at the board listing the arrivals and departures and thinking my nerves were too shot to even sit and wait, that I heard my name. It wasn’t loud. In fact, it was a bit winded. But I knew the voice well. Despite there being a number of people swarming around that area, I saw Finn instantly. He was a good few feet away. His head was shaking ever so slightly as he was pleading me with my eyes to come to him.
When I didn’t move, he looked around. I knew he didn’t want to be recognized. There were times when he didn’t mind it as much, but this…this certainly wasn’t one of them. And he didn’t have on any type of clothing that could be used as a disguise—not a ball cap, hoodie, or even glasses. Standing there in the brown suit he had worn to the party, it was probably close to a sure bet that someone would identify him.
But I guess he was willing to take that risk, because he walked toward me. I knew then that it was inevitable that we were going to talk. I certainly wasn’t going to take off running in my decorative heels and cocktail dress, after all.
“What? Where are you going?” His eyes swept repeatedly across mine.
“Home.” I kept it simple.
“Why? No. Lar, please…please don’t leave.” There was a bit of panic when he said that last word. Before I could think any more about it, he said, “I’m sorry. I told you I hate those gigs. But it’s a necessary evil.” He spoke of the label’s party. “You should have just told me.”
He reached his hand out for mine, but I instantly retracted. I didn’t want to feel his touch. I didn’t want to be confused.
His look of concern upon the rejection heightened. “I don’t get…Is this about the PDA thing?”
If only it was about the fact that he didn’t kiss me in front of that room of fake music know-it-alls at the party. I could have dealt with that. I understood that. It was, unfortunately, so much bigger.
“No. I just don’t fit in there. I don’t belong. If that is your world—if you are one of those beautiful people whose only concerns are themselves and….” I could feel myself starting to get revved up, so I aborted the rest of my words.
Finn shot a good look around the terminal. I could feel his anxiety. It was definitely because of my leaving, but it was also because of the risk of being recognized. I could sense it, because I was feeling it too.
“Can we do this somewhere a little quieter?” he asked slowly.
I glanced at the board again. I was going to miss the train, but there were plenty of others running through the evening. I did need to talk to him. He deserved to know what had made our night—everything—strike a bad chord. So, I began to walk in silence. And, keeping his recognizable face down, Finn matched my strides, walking right alongside of me.
When we found a corridor where the shops were closed and no one else was around, he was the first to speak. “What’s going on, Lara? What happened?”
“I don’t think this,” I looked back and forth quickly between the two of us. “is going to work.”
“Jesus! Tell me what’s going on!” His booming, piercing voice made me physically jump. Noting, he took a huge breath and exhaled, then spoke softer but with even greater concern. “Sorry. Talk to me. Please. You know you can…”
Buy Links:
On sale for a limited time!
What’s your favorite way to combat stress?
Writing and music are my go-tos for almost everything! If I’m happy or sad or, most definitely, stressed, I find myself writing or listening to tunes. They both offer me a momentary escape from whatever is troubling my heart or mind.
I am also very fortunate to have family and close friends who, at a moment’s notice, will offer an ear and a hand if I need it.
Of course, there’s chocolate and carbs, too!
Why is your featured book a stress busting read?
If you want to let everything go and escape stress for a while, then a book series is perfect! It allows you to keep dreaming and feeling and wanting more as you follow the characters’ lives. Country Roads is like your favorite TV drama series come to the page.
The thing I hear most from readers is how realistic the characters are and how emotional their tale is. Tearjerker is mentioned a lot. And what greater way to let go of stress than a good cry.
And…another stress relief? The entire e-book series is now on sale for a limited time!
Giveaway:
Enter to win a $50 Amazon (US) or Barnes and Noble Gift Card
Enter to win a $50 Amazon (US) or Barnes and Noble Gift Card
Enter to win a $25 Amazon (US) or Barnes and Noble Gift Card
Enter to win a $15 Amazon (US) or Barnes and Noble Gift Card
Enter to win a $10 Amazon (US) or Barnes and Noble Gift Card
Open internationally.
Runs May 1 – June 3.
Drawing will be held on June 4.
Author Biography:
There really wasn’t any other path. Grea Warner knew from a young age that she wanted to write. She was born to write. First it was in diaries with little metal keys and in written tales that she slipped to friends in study hall. School newspapers, a college television drama, and the soap opera world were next. After producing and writing a local show, she decided to delve into the world of the novelist. When her fingers aren’t tapping out her latest book filled with angst and romance, Grea can be found hiking the trails or jamming to her favorite country artists on the radio.
Social Media Links:
Website: http://greawarner.com/
Twitter: @grea_warner
Instagram: greawarner
BookBub: @GreaWarner
GoodReads: Grea Warner
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Grea-Warner
YouTube trailer link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrz9DjROoIM