Title: Leftover Girl
Author: C.C. Bolick
Genre: YA Mystery/Sci-fi
Book Blurb:
The truth will set you free… unless you’re Jes Delaney. Eleven years ago, Jes appeared barefoot in the headlights of an old Ford. A truck driven by a man who not only saved her life, but also adopted her. At fifteen, she can’t remember anything before that night. Her mom’s hometown seems like a safe place to hide. They’re like a normal family and Jes finally has friends. She even falls for a guy who likes her though he’s definitely off-limits. But it's all an illusion. The more Jes looks around, the more she thinks something is wrong with her. No one else dreams of spaceships or worries what might happen if people find out the truth. No one has to lie about who they really are. When Jes befriends a strange new student, she discovers he’s searching for a missing girl who might be her. Could she be this mystery girl, and what will it mean for the family determined to protect her?
Excerpt:
The water was everywhere.
I couldn’t breathe as I flailed my arms and choked. My heart raced as I sank under the dark surface.
Clawing at the dark liquid surrounding me, I fought the urge to cry out. A hand closed around my arm and I grabbed for the owner, but my fingers found only water. My chest felt as if it would explode.
“Stop fighting.”
The words echoed in my head. Clear and crisp, the words couldn’t have been said beneath the water.
“Take my hand,” the voice said, next to my ear.
In a rush of fear, I exhaled. “I can’t catch… I can’t—”
“Jes, you’re not drowning.”
I froze as I realized Mom gripped both of my wrists. The wall of water that surrounded me disappeared and my eyes adjusted to the shadowy room where I sat on the edge of the bed. With a sob, I collapsed against her and she wrapped her arms around me.
“Jes.” Mom rubbed my back. “You were dreaming.”
Next to me, Bailey slept with a pillow over her head as if nothing had happened.
“You didn’t wake her,” Mom said. “I don’t know how since you screamed.”
I pulled away from her and rubbed my arms. “I don’t know what happened.”
“A bad dream. From seeing the water at Angel’s house.”
“But why now? I haven’t had nightmares in years.”
“What do you remember?” she whispered.
“I was in water and couldn’t reach the surface. I was about to give up and breathe when you grabbed me.”
“How did you get in the water?”
I thought back to how the dream had started. “I can’t remember. It was just a nightmare.”
She watched me for several moments before standing. “Whatever happened was real, and it happened before me met. I can’t help you unless you tell me what happened. You’ve got to try harder to remember.”
Instead of answering, I pulled the sheet over my head. Remembering that water was the last thing I planned to do.
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What makes your featured book a must-read?
It’s teen drama mixed with aliens and powers, soft sci-fi that’s heavy on dialogue. Leftover Girl has a complex mystery plot that sets the stage for a series packed with twists and turns. Think you know who Jes really is? Keep reading…
Giveaway –
Enter to win a $20 Amazon gift card:
Open Internationally.
Runs September 12 – September 19, 2023.
Winner will be drawn on September 20, 2023.
Author Biography:
C.C. Bolick is an engineer by day and author by night who loves mixing sci-fi, fantasy, and paranormal. She writes young adult stories with twists you won't see coming and characters who deserve their happily ever after.
Readers who like stories set in the same universe should start with the Leftover Girl books, a mix of soft sci-fi and fantasy. Next is The Agency series with a paranormal/thriller story and then The Fear Chronicles. Each series builds on the last and some characters will cross to later books.
If you enjoy page-turning drama, family secrets, and a special power or two, her books might be for you.
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