Blog Tour: Excerpt + #Giveaway: Never Gonna Tell by Sarah M. Ross

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My name is Reagan Wilcox: high school senior by day, kick-ass investigative journalist by night. I’ve always loved observing people—especially when they think no one is paying attention.

 

I thought I was ready to cover any story. Work any angle.

 

Nothing could have prepared me for what happened that night. I wasn’t ready for what I saw. And I certainly wasn’t ready for him.

 

I always knew I’d write the headlines. Now, I just might become one.

 

 

 

 

Excerpt

 

 

Marco looks down at his hands before replying softly, “It’s been taken care of.”

“What does that mean?” I press.

He stands, his temper flaring. “It means just what I said.”

I shrink back on the couch, suddenly not so confident that he’s not here to hurt me after all.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have yelled.” Marco takes a tentative step, coming to a stop in front of me. He drops down, his legs bracing mine as he grabs my hands, rubbing soothing circles between my thumb and forefinger like he did in the alley. It’s sensual and nerve-wracking at the same time, and I simultaneously fight the urge to pull him closer and push him away.

His icy blue eyes lock with mine, and I couldn’t look away if I tried. “Look, Reagan, I’m sorry. I’m sorry that you got mixed up in this whole thing. I’m sorry you had to witness what you did. I’m sorry my family is so royally screwed up that I had to play any part in it at all, even if I didn’t want to. I hate that you’re afraid of me, and that you’ll never be able to look at me like you did last week. Because, trust me, I want that more than you could know.”

He pauses, his eyes closing briefly as he leans in closer, the stubble on his chin rubbing my cheek as his lips hover at my ear. I hold my breath, anxiously awaiting whatever happens next. His eyes remain closed as he softly whispers, “I promise you, Reagan, you’re going to be okay. I won’t let anything happen to you. My family will never find out, and I won’t let them do anything to you. You have my word.”

I lean forward, allowing another brief moment of contact before he pulls away, dropping his hands from mine and lifting his own toward my face, but stopping before he touches my cheek. Just as quickly, he stands and heads for the front door. His hand is already on the knob as I squeak out, “What am I supposed to do now?”

Marco pauses, turning back to face me. “You don’t have to do anything. I’m going to take care of it. Take care of everything. Just … just don’t do anything for now. I’ll be in touch.”

I don’t get a chance to reply before he’s gone. The entire morning has been a roller coaster of emotions, and I am left wondering if I should trust my gut and go to the police, or trust Marco and keep quiet.

 

 

     

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

 

Sarah started her obsession with reading at an early age, often sneaking BabySitter Club and Nancy Drew books into math class. She would read any book she could get her hands on. Her love of reading quickly evolved into a love of writing and stories began to pour out of her.

She grew up in Pittsburgh, graduated from The University of Pittsburgh with a degree in English, and taught 8th graders to love reading as much as she does for several years. Sarah will always be a proud member of the Steelers' Nation, but couldn't take the cold and moved her frozen tush to Florida where she now lives with her family and two cats. You will find her now with her trusty Kindle in hand and toes in the sand!

Sarah's debut novel, AWAKEN, released in January, 2012. Other novels include AVENGE, ATONE, ECHO OF AN EARTH ANGEL, and INHALE EXHALE. 

 

 

Website | Twitter| Facebook | Author Goodreads | NEVER GONNA TELL Goodreads

 

 

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

 

 

March 18

Love Between the Sheets-Dream Cast

March 19

TSK TSK What to Read-Guest Post

March 20

Book Addict Mumma-Excerpt

March 21

Jenuine Cupcakes-Playlist

March 22

Book Boyfriend Reviews-Guest Post

March 23

Roxy’s Reviews-Excerpt

March 24

Books Books Books-Guest Post

March 25

The Cover Contessa-Excerpt

March 26

A Literary Perusal-Guest Post

March 27

Stuck in YA Books-Excerpt

 

 

 

Release Day Launch: Excerpt + #Giveaway: Never Gonna Tell by Sarah M. Ross + Limited time #99cents #SALE!!

 

 

We are thrilled to bring you the Release Day Launch for Sarah M. Ross's NEVER GONNA TELL! NEVER GONNA TELL is a standalone young adult romantic suspense that will Knock. Your. Socks. Off!

 

NEVER GONNA TELL is on sale for only $.99 for a limited time so grab your copy today!!!

 

Amazon ** Barnes & Noble ** iTunes ** Kobo

My name is Reagan Wilcox: high school senior by day, kick-ass investigative journalist by night. I’ve always loved observing people—especially when they think no one is paying attention.

 

I thought I was ready to cover any story. Work any angle.

 

Nothing could have prepared me for what happened that night. I wasn’t ready for what I saw. And I certainly wasn’t ready for him.

 

I always knew I’d write the headlines. Now, I just might become one.

 

 

 

Release Day Excerpt

THE CHURCH BELLS from St. Agnes Church chime, letting me know I have a half hour before Dad calls the National Guard out for me. Hmm, maybe enough time to head to the Shake Shack and get a frozen salted caramel hot chocolate—my new favorite addiction.

Gravel crunches under my feet as I cross the parking lot toward my car. As I dig through my backpack searching for my car keys, a yelp rings out in the distance. Pausing, I stand still and listen for the sound again. Was an animal hurt somewhere, maybe? The noise was muffled and not close by, so I can’t make out the source. The last bell chimes, reminding me I should hurry home, but the reporter in me won’t let me leave without checking. I wait a few minutes to see if I hear it again, scanning the area for the source.
Across the street, dark shadows fill the doorways of the now-closed shops that line the main road, setting my nerves on edge. The voice in my head nags that this is how horror movies begin, but I shake off the ridiculous thought. Horror movies aren’t real. The idea of scooping a story before anyone else—that’s a real possibility. Nothing moves except for the leaves as the breeze picks up. Just as I’m ready to give up, I hear the noise again, this time followed by what sounds like shuffling feet—like something sliding through gravel.
“What in the world was that?” I mutter. The sounds together don’t make any sense. If it was an animal yelping, what was that other noise? Had someone maybe captured an animal in a trap? This is rural Tennessee, so it wouldn’t surprise me. Everyone around here is well-versed in hunting, starting in elementary school.
My naturally inquisitive mind begins imagining several scenarios, and I can’t walk away. Not until I know. Lord knows if I just get in my car and leave, I’ll be up all night thinking about how I might’ve missed out on a story. Bye bye, scholarship.
I sigh, shoving my overflowing backpack in the passenger seat before slamming the car door as I head toward the source of the noise. I make my way toward the river, cutting through an alleyway. The single streetlight flickers, barely illuminating the area and making it feel even more desolate out here. Ominous, almost. I can’t help thinking that with my luck, it’ll end up being a skunk that sprays me for trying to help.
The alley is more of a narrow path between buildings, not even wide enough for a car to fit through. Overflowing dumpsters from surrounding businesses line one side while the other is a dirty brick wall covered in graffiti. If this were Baltimore, I might have been more cautious, but while Hope Mills isn’t Pleasantville by any means, I don’t feel afraid, only curious.
“Get your hands off me, you son of a bitch. You’re never going to get away with this!” a man growls in the distance, the final word echoing off the water.
I whip my head around, barely missing smacking it on an underhang promoting JT’s Soul Food Buffet. Okay, that definitely wasn’t an animal.

 

     

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

 

Sarah started her obsession with reading at an early age, often sneaking BabySitter Club and Nancy Drew books into math class. She would read any book she could get her hands on. Her love of reading quickly evolved into a love of writing and stories began to pour out of her.

She grew up in Pittsburgh, graduated from The University of Pittsburgh with a degree in English, and taught 8th graders to love reading as much as she does for several years. Sarah will always be a proud member of the Steelers' Nation, but couldn't take the cold and moved her frozen tush to Florida where she now lives with her family and two cats. You will find her now with her trusty Kindle in hand and toes in the sand!

Sarah's debut novel, AWAKEN, released in January, 2012. Other novels include AVENGE, ATONE, ECHO OF AN EARTH ANGEL, and INHALE EXHALE. 

 

 

Website | Twitter| Facebook | Author Goodreads | NEVER GONNA TELL Goodreads

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cover Reveal: Never Gonna Tell by Sarah M. Ross

 

Spilling her secrets could prove to be a fatal mistake...but this cover sure isn't!

 

We are so excited to bring you the Cover Reveal for Sarah M. Ross' NEVER GONNA TELL!

 

NEVER GONNA TELL is a Young Adult Romantic Suspense scheduled for release March 17th!!

 

   

 

 

 

PROLOGUE

 

 

NOTHING BUT BLACKNESS surrounds me. I can’t move. Why can’t I move? A shiver runs through me, both from fear and the cold of the ground below me. The air is stale and smells like the earth as I try to take a deep breath. I instantly know I’m inside of something, or maybe under something. “Hello?” I call, my voice shaking and barely above a whisper. No one answers. I try again, a little louder, as I fight back tears. The only sound I hear is my heart pounding in my tightened chest, the noise filling my head. Thump, thump. Thump, thump. Thump, thump.

I blink, my eyes adjusting to the darkness, but still I can’t see a thing. Pain radiates through my arm and head, but fear pulses stronger. The air around me grows thick and heavy. Sweat trickles down my face. My clammy hand trembles like a leaf in the wind as I stretch forward, feeling for something—anything. “Calm down,” I command my nerves. “It’s going to be okay.” But even I don’t believe my lies.

I move, just an inch, to test my arm. The pain is still throbbing, but it’s manageable enough to try to get out from … wherever I am. Taking another stale breath, my right hand reaches out and connects with something hard and scratchy. Wood? It’s all around me, maybe a foot or so away. I push against it as hard as I can with one hand, but it doesn’t budge.

I’m trapped. I can’t move and I want to scream. It’s bubbling up inside, but I quash it back down. Screaming will only let them know I’m awake. That I’m alive. Panic begs to take over, to take control, but I need to get out of here before that happens. I want to take a deep breath, but can’t. There isn’t any to fill my lungs. But there has to be air coming from somewhere or I’d be dead by now, I remind myself. And that’s all I need. I focus on keeping my breathing even, counting each breath. After reaching thirty, I reach up again, trailing the tips of my fingers along the wood, hoping to find a handle or knob, but there is only a large, flat, solid piece of wood.

This is it. My worst fear is coming to life. Everything I worked for, everything I sacrificed, was for naught. My mom and dad’s faces pop into my mind as tears well in my eyes. I was so stupid. So foolish to think that I was doing the right thing. Now look where that’s gotten me.

I’m going to die tonight. I’m sure of that now. All because I vowed that I was never gonna tell.

 

My name is Reagan Wilcox: high school senior by day, kick-ass investigative journalist by night. I’ve always loved observing people—especially when they think no one is paying attention.

I thought I was ready to cover any story. Work any angle.

Nothing could have prepared me for what happened that night. I wasn’t ready for what I saw. And I certainly wasn’t ready for him.

I always knew I’d write the headlines. Now, I just might become one.

 

NEVER GONNA TELL will be $.99 for preorder and a limited time only.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00TYWKUNW

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

 

Sarah started her obsession with reading at an early age, often sneaking BabySitter Club and Nancy Drew books into math class. She would read any book she could get her hands on. Her love of reading quickly evolved into a love of writing and stories began to pour out of her.

She grew up in Pittsburgh, graduated from The University of Pittsburgh with a degree in English, and taught 8th graders to love reading as much as she does for several years. Sarah will always be a proud member of the Steelers' Nation, but couldn't take the cold and moved her frozen tush to Florida where she now lives with her family and two cats. You will find her now with her trusty Kindle in hand and toes in the sand!

Sarah's debut novel, AWAKEN, released in January, 2012. Other novels include AVENGE, ATONE, ECHO OF AN EARTH ANGEL, and INHALE EXHALE.  

 

 

Website | Twitter| Facebook | Author Goodreads | NEVER GONNA TELL Goodreads