Title: Scorn of Secrets Author: B. Truly Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Romance
I must keep it locked away—the memory of my darkest secret….
When the rising tides of my life peak, I’m left struggling with the currents of the storm. The first dilemma is my dad’s gambling debt. Mama bounces back quickly from the ramifications it causes. She proves this by getting a new man. Her Rico Suave is just the tip of the iceberg—she moves us across state to live with him and his two sons.
My outgoing, older sister fits right in—she’s the total opposite of me. I am Madison Guillory, the shy, quiet type. Taught to make the best of even the worst situations, I contemplate giving my new family a chance.
Living with my future stepbrothers is interesting, to say the least. They’re like night and day. I have more in common with the laid-back brother, and we become instant friends. I’m adjusting to Taylor High, and the arrogant brother is even starting to grow on me. Maybe everything will work out after all.
My life finally seems to be falling into place until a dreadful night shatters my dreams. My world is flipped upside down because of the consequences I must now bear.
The memories of that night lurk in the shadows to torment me. If I think of what happened, I’ll succumb to my fear. His face has scorned me. No one will believe me if I confess, not even my own sister. I hold the key to my darkest secret, desperate to keep it locked away.
The trip to the airport terminal is rimmed in silence. Gigi is driving us. She’s been supportive, saying encouraging words like, “it will all work out” and “everything happens for a reason.”Deep down, I don’t think Gigi is thrilled about us leaving. But she probably feels it’s not a bad idea for us to get out of town, worried about the robbery and how my father was murdered.
The airport is busy, and it takes a while to check in. Gigi waits with us until they announce its time for us to board our plane. Gigi hugs Tanya first, then she embraces Mama, who pats her back awkwardly. Charlotte has never been the touchy type—Regan being the exception these days. She is all over him whenever they’re together.
Gigi hugs me next. “Take care of yourself, Madison.”
“I’m going miss you, Gigi.”
“I’ll miss you, too, dear. Just be yourself and everything will be fine.” Her lips curve upward, not reaching her eyes. “It won’t be as bad as you think. Just remember life is what you make of it.”
Gigi has always taught me to roll with the punches. “I’ll try to make the best of it.”
“That’s the spirit. Call me when you get settled.”
I wave good-bye, then head to the check-in line to board.
Our seats are all together. Mama and Tanya are out like a light not long after we take off. My mind is too busy to sleep. I ponder on my new life. A new home, father figure and, basically, stepbrothers. Ugh! Everything is so foreign and causes my stomach to roil. Staring out the window, I study the white puffs of vapor. Clouds can form countless shapes. There are so many possibilities. I imagine them to be what my life could be if my father hadn’t died and I got to stay in Baton Rouge. The thoughts keep my mind off what’s to come, imagining my life turning out with a happy ending.
My daydream is a fantasy and reality sets in when the plane starts to land.
B. Truly has wanted to be an author since she was fifteen years old. She is grateful to have accomplished this dream. B. Truly has very vivid dreams and a wild imagination. She likes to read, watch tons of TV shows, and movies. She’s addicted to romance and gets a thrill out of suspense and sci-fi. She writes young adult, new adult, and adult romance, sci-fi, dystopian, and paranormal genres.
B. Truly likes to explore conflicted plots of romance with thrilling twists. She also loves creating impossible situations for her characters to grow from and try to overcome.
B. Truly has three wonderful children, and a husband who defines the person that she is today. She works full-time as an Ultrasound technologist in Houston, Texas.
The Witches of Vegas are back, and their lives will never be the same again.
A year has passed since The Witches of Vegas saved the city from the evil Wiccan vampire, Valeria. Since then, the show has hit an all-time high. So has the romance between teen witch Isis Rivera and teenage magician, Zack Galloway.
Things couldn’t be any better for them until Isis develops seizures that cause her power to spiral out of control. Fires and earthquakes are just the beginning of the chaos caused by the misfired witchcraft. Unable to find a cure, Isis’ family journeys to New Salem, a fabled village of witches which may or may not even exist. Meanwhile, Zack ends up face to face with the only being who may have a cure…Valeria. But does he dare pay her price?
“I’d like a mimosa.” Isis glanced over at Zack’s tilted head. “I’ve always wanted to try one.”
The bartender snorted. “I’m going to need to see I.D. for that.”
Isis had learned a lot about her connection to the planet’s energy and how to manipulate it. Her mom and Sacha trained her on moving objects while her dad taught her how to create illusions. Dad also knew how to use his connection to force hypnotic suggestions into people’s minds. Although he hadn’t yet taught that skill to Isis, she had seen him do it more than a few times. It basically ran on the same principle as all the other reality-manipulating powers of a witch. Time to put it to the test.
Isis reached into her pocketbook and pulled out her hotel room keycard. She looked the bartender directly in the eyes. “I am showing you my I.D. and it says I am old enough to drink an alcoholic beverage.” She focused her thoughts on the bartender’s mind. “You see my picture and my age at twenty-one. Now that you have seen my age, you can place a mimosa on the counter for me to try.”
The bartender laughed. “That was cute. Two club sodas coming up.” She reached under the counter and placed two bottles in front of Isis and Zack. “That’ll be eight bucks. You can leave it on the counter.” She then moved onto another group of customers.
“Well, damn.” Isis shook her head. “That didn’t work out at all. I guess hypnosis just isn’t my thing.”
Isis held out her open palm, pointed at the club sodas. One bottle glided across the countertop to her hand like a piece of metal being pulled to a magnet. At least that ability was still working.
“Or maybe your heart just wasn’t into committing a crime.” Zack reached for his bottle and picked it up off the counter.
“I’m sure you’re right.” Isis took a swig of the soda while staring off at the dance floor. “Still, I wonder why her blood tastes like syrup.”
“I’m sorry, what?” Zack’s face whipped her way. His eyes squinted.
“What?”
“Did you just say something about tasting the bartender’s blood?”
“Did I say that?” Isis honestly couldn’t remember those words coming out of her mouth, yet they sounded so familiar.
Zack stood from his bar stool and clenched her wrist. “Isis, are you all right?”
Isis stared at the strobe light above the dance floor. Somehow, it seemed brighter, or darker. Or… something. She could hear Zack shouting her name. It echoed as if they were on opposite ends of a tunnel. A striking pain crossed her chest. Everything around her blurred, just like when she’d teleport herself to a new location. But she was sure that wasn’t what was happening. She inhaled but couldn’t catch her breath. “Zack, I think I’m not…okay…” Did she say that out loud or did she think it? Isis couldn’t be sure.
Her attention turned back to the bar from the sound of one or both bottles exploding. Her forearm stung from a piece of glass piercing her skin. Zack called out her name. Then everything went dark.
Mark Rosendorf ‘s writing is based on the personalities and experiences he has come across throughout his life, coupled with his own wild “if only I could do that” imagination. He is the author of the young adult series, The Witches of Vegas. He is also credited with The Rasner Effect series, a suspense/thriller trilogy published between 2009 and 2012.
Born November, 25th, 1974, and raised in Queens New York, Mark holds a Master’s Degree from Long Island University’s Human Development and Leadership program. He is a licensed Guidance Counselor for the New York City Department of Education’s special education district. He began his counseling career in September, 2001. Prior to that, he worked in the hotel industry.
Mark has also moonlighted as a professional magician. Today, he teaches magic and Illusion to his students in order to teach teamwork while developing their confidence.
Having accomplished his goals of becoming an author, Mark decided on an early retirement from writing. Then, one night, at two a.m., a new and unique story shot into Mark’s brain like a lightning bolt, screaming for him to write it. Mark found himself spending several nights taking notes on the characters and their stories. That is how The Witches of Vegas series was born.
The Witches of Vegas placed second in the young adult category of The International Digital Awards. It was also named one of Shelf Unbound’s Notable Indy and received a five star rating from the prestigious InD’Tale Magazine.
Title: Wallflower Author: Cookie O’Gorman Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Romance
Wallflower (wohl-flou-erh): Identifier for someone who is shy and/or awkward. For reference, see Viola Kent.
Seventeen-year-old Viola Kent likes being invisible. Well, not literally, but she’s content being a loner, reading her books, and hanging out with the animals at the shelter. She just wants to keep her head down and get through her senior year at Durham High.
Driving Dare Frost to school every day wasn’t part of the plan.
And when Viola finds out her dad recruited Dare, his number one player, to be her friend?
Her inner Slytherin demands revenge.
The solution: Get Dare to be her fake boyfriend.
Convincing the star athlete to pretend is easier than she’d thought it would be. The hard part is protecting her heart. With every word, touch, and kiss, Viola’s feelings become more real.
The problem: Viola knows she’s falling for Dare—but he doesn’t believe in love.
This book features two sets of soulmates, one happy pooch named Hermione, so many sizzling kisses and answers the question:
Can a dork and a jock fake their way to true love?
This had to be a dream, I thought. Either that or a hallucination.
Standing in our driveway, leaning back against my little Honda, hands in his pockets like he was Jake Ryan from Sixteen Candles or something, was a guy who knew he looked good even in sweats and a hoodie.
Dare Frost.
His six-foot-three frame dwarfed my car. Dare was the last person I expected to see waiting outside my house on my last first day of high school. I was so surprised it took me a second to find my voice.
But Dare just cocked his head.
“Morning flower,” he said. “Better hurry or we’ll be late.”
I shook myself out of it. “Are you lost?”
“Nope, I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.”
“What are you even doing here?” I asked.
“Isn’t it obvious?” He held his hands out, a small smile playing on his lips. “I’m here to bum a ride to school. Speaking of, could you pop the locks?” Dare rubbed his hands together. “It’s a little chilly out here.”
I laughed, couldn’t help it. “Are you crazy? Dare, I’m not taking you to school.”
“Yes, you are.”
“No. I’m not.”
Dare shrugged. “Coach said you would.”
My jaw dropped. “He did what? When? Why?”
“That’s a lot of questions,” he said. “But yeah, your dad and I talked the other day after practice. He said you’d give me a ride because we live so close to each other. Said it would be no problem. I run by your house every morning anyway. Plus, my car’s in the shop for repairs.”
“Didn’t you just get that car?” I asked.
The question made Dare smile for some reason. “You keeping tabs on me, Vi?”
I choked. “What? No!” “Hey, no worries,” he said. “I’m not mad about it. A lot of girls do it. Just wasn’t aware you were one of them.”
Cookie O’Gorman writes YA & NA romance to give readers a taste of happily-ever-after. Small towns, quirky characters, and the awkward yet beautiful moments in life make up her books. Cookie also has a soft spot for nerds and ninjas. Her novels ADORKABLE, NINJA GIRL, The Unbelievable, Inconceivable, Unforeseeable Truth About Ethan Wilder, The Good Girl’s Guide to Being Bad and WALLFLOWER are out now! She is also the author of NA sports romance, The Best Mistake.
