Title: Sweet Soul
Series: Sweet Home #4
Author: Tillie Cole
Genre: Contemporary, New Adult
Release date: 15th December 2015
Blurb
One shy lost soul.
One
silent lonely heart.
One love to save them both.
Life has never been easy for twenty-year-old
Levi Carillo. The youngest of the Carillo boys, Levi is nothing like his older
brothers. He isn’t dark in looks or intimidating to everyone he meets. In fact,
he’s quite the opposite. Haunted by a crippling shyness and the tragic events
of his past, Levi spends his days with his head buried in his books, or
training hard for his college football team. Too timid to talk to girls, Levi
stays as far away as possible and completely on his own… until he saves the
life of a troubled pretty blonde, a troubled pretty blonde that might just be
the exception to his rule.
Elsie Hall is homeless. Or at least that’s
all anyone ever sees. Everyday is a fight for survival on the cold streets of
Seattle, everyday a struggle to find food and keep warm. Alone in life—a life
that’s dangerous and cruel—her will to keep going is an ever-losing battle. In
her world of silence, Elsie has given up hope that her life will contain
anything but constant struggle and pain… until the beautiful boy she has
severely wronged comes to her rescue at precisely the right time.
New Adult novel—contains sexual situations
and mature topics. Suited for ages 18 and up.
Excerpt
“It’s me, I’m back,” I said loudly as I approached, trying not to startle her. The girl didn’t move, and for a minute, pure panic surged through my veins that something was very wrong.
But when my feet stopped before her, she jumped, a hoarse cry leaping from her throat. I stepped back, as those huge blue eyes fixed on mine. Her breathing was erratic. Droplets of sweat ran down her cheeks.
“Sorry, I called out that it was me. You didn’t hear.”
The girl weakly pulled the scarf off her neck, the skin underneath flushed and red. When she looked at my handful of goods her eyes widened. Taking it as my chance to explain, I crouched down and held out the coffee with cream and sugar. The girl’s brow furrowed, causing me to prompt, “It’s for you.”
She swallowed, and my cheeks heated with nervousness at the look of sheer gratitude on her face. Clearly seeing I wasn’t lying, she fought to straighten her weak body and sat further up against the wall. I resisted the urge to help her as she fought for breath. But I stayed back. She’d just been attacked. She didn’t want my touch, even if it was kindly meant.
The girl’s hand lifted up. I thought she was taking the coffee, until her hand landed on her large hood and she slowly pulled it back to reveal her face.
She kept her eyes downcast and ran her tongue over her broken lips. My breathing was held captive in my throat, until she looked up and I released the pent up breath. I could see that she wasn’t as young as she looked. Something in her eyes told me she was near my age, which I quickly realized would make it almost impossible to get her help. She wasn’t underage. I couldn’t make her go anywhere she didn’t want to.
The silence between us became thick and stagnant. I pushed the cup forward to her hand. The girl, regarding the cup like it was a lifeline, slowly reached out and took in her frail grasp. For a moment I thought she might drop the large cup and I steadied the bottom so it didn’t spill.
As my hand balanced the coffee, I could feel the magnitude of her trembling. Placing my coffee down on the ground, I shuffled forward helping her bring the coffee to her lips. As the first taste of the liquid hit her lips, her eyes closed and she took in a stuttered labored breath.
“You okay?” I asked quietly. The girl opened her eyes. Her head tipped to the side, studying my face. She hadn’t heard me. Clearing my throat again, I repeated, “Are you okay?”
The girl watched my lips, and flickering her focus back on my eyes, she gently nodded her head. Helping her rest the coffee on her bent knee, I leaned back, then passed over the bag of food. I realized that she was intently watching my mouth as I lifted the bag and deliberately said, “Sandwiches and cookies.” My cheeks blazed under her attention, and my stomach tightened with nerves. This was the most I’d ever spoken to a girl in my life, and it seemed that she was even more introverted than me.
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About the Author
Amazon & USA Today Best Selling Author, Tillie Cole is
a Northern girl through and through. She originates from a place called
Teesside on that little but awesomely sunny (okay I exaggerate) Isle called
Great Britain. She was brought up surrounded by her English rose mother — a
farmer’s daughter, her crazy Scottish father,
a savagely sarcastic sister and a multitude of rescue animals and horses.
Giveaway
Tillie is giving away a Kindle Fire
