SPOTLIGHT - CONTEMPORARY - THE MAN BEFORE YOU: Grand Mesa Men Prequel by Shalana Battles

The Man Before You

Grand Mesa Men Prequel

by Shalana Battles

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Time may not actually heal all wounds, but love just might.

Eloise's husband was dead and she wished she were too. She quit going to work, refused to answer her phone or her front door, and shut out the people who cared about her. She felt imprisoned by her tainted memories, but couldn't escape her own home or recliner, because she had to focus on breathing.

Six days after she buried her husband, Jack pounded on Eloise's door. Jack, a man she hadn't seen or spoken to in over a decade. Jack, the only man including her husband, who Eloise felt truly knew her.

Jack's life hadn't been without its fair share of loss. Breaking contact after Eloise's marriage had seemed the best thing for them, but regret tortured Jack when Eloise swung open her door and he saw the shell of the woman he once loved.

Eloise pushed Jack away ten years ago and never expected him to come back into her life. She hated herself for wanting Jack to stay, but she couldn't help but remember the love they once shared and the life that they could've had—or the life they could have now.

The longer Jack stayed, the more he realized Eloise blamed herself for not being there when her husband died. Jack wanted a second chance, but Eloise didn't think she deserved one. Eloise wanted to find herself, but wasn't sure she could while dealing with grief, Jack's deployments, PTSD, and a universe that seemed determined to keep them apart.

A Second Chance Standalone Romance

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Shalana Battles is a YA/Adult writer who tells stories about love…sometimes with witches and ghosts. Her debut novel, SOUL JUMPER released October, 6, 2020. Be the first to hear about upcoming projects and book updates by signing up for her newsletter below!

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BOOK BLITZ w/EXCERPT - CONTEMPORARY - THE MAN BEFORE YOU by Shalana Battles

The Man Before You

by Shalana Battles

Publication date: February 9th 2021

Genres: Adult, Romance

BLURB

Time may not actually heal all wounds, but love just might.

Eloise’s husband was dead and she wished she were too. She quit going to work, refused to answer her phone or her front door, and shut out the people who cared about her. She felt imprisoned by her tainted memories, but couldn’t escape her own home or recliner, because she had to focus on breathing.

Six days after she buried her husband, Jack pounded on Eloise’s door. Jack, a man she hadn’t seen or spoken to in over a decade. Jack, the only man including her husband, who Eloise felt truly knew her.

Jack’s life hadn’t been without its fair share of loss. Breaking contact after Eloise’s marriage had seemed the best thing for them, but regret tortured Jack when Eloise swung open her door and he saw the shell of the woman he once loved.

Eloise pushed Jack away ten years ago and never expected him to come back into her life. She hated herself for wanting Jack to stay, but she couldn’t help but remember the love they once shared and the life that they could’ve had—or the life they could have now.

The longer Jack stayed, the more he realized Eloise blamed herself for not being there when her husband died. Jack wanted a second chance, but Eloise didn’t think she deserved one. Eloise wanted to find herself, but wasn’t sure she could while dealing with grief, Jack’s deployments, PTSD, and a universe that seemed determined to keep them apart.

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EXCERPT:

Eloise switched on the television. She didn’t remember the last time she ate or showered and had no desire to start functioning again. She pulled the blanket up around her neck as the doorbell rang. Rossi jumped up and started barking. Eloise placed her hand on top of Rossi’s head. Whoever it was could leave their “I’m sorry” and their stupid-ass lasagna tray on the porch and leave. Eloise turned up the volume and ignored the knocking that followed the doorbell. Rossi stayed standing, but quiet.

“Eloise! Open the door, please. I know you’re home.” The voice was followed by more pounding and Eloise clicked the remote volume up three more notches.

Maybe one of the neighbors will call the police and complain, she thought.

“Eloise, it’s Jack.” The noise stopped and she felt as though the wind had been permanently knocked out of her. She froze, waiting to see if the silence would stay. It didn’t.

“Eloise, open the damn door.” The male voice roared through the entryway and Eloise’s breath hitched. It couldn’t be him. She hadn’t heard that voice in ten years and yet the sound of it made her feel like she’d never gone without it.

Eloise stood and wrapped the blanket around herself tighter, hoping it would magically become a shield. She debated not opening the door, but if Jack was anything like he used to be, he wouldn’t go away. Eloise would probably leave a month from now and find he’d been living on her porch. Rossi rose with Eloise and matched her stride. Eloise took a quick glance in the mirror hanging in her entryway, knowing full well she could pass for a person who’d been sleeping behind a dumpster, and then swung the door open.

Jack. A man Eloise hadn’t seen or spoken to in ten years. He straightened from his leaning position over her window. He stood too tall, too straight. His feet spread apart too evenly. Rossi moved to place her body between Eloise and Jack, shifting her gaze from Eloise to Jack.

“Eloise.” One word, then Jack snapped his mouth shut. Eloise closed her eyes and waited for him to look her over. She knew he would. “I wish there was something to say, but I know nothing will make this any easier.” Jack’s voice was this cross between being out of breath and a whisper, and Eloise wondered where the screaming madman he was a second ago went.

“Why are you even here?” Eloise noted Jack locking his fingers in front of his waist. He looked different and exactly the same.

 

Author Info

Shalana Battles is a YA/Adult writer who tells stories about love...sometimes with witches and ghosts. Her debut novel, SOUL JUMPER is coming out October, 6, 2020. Be the first to hear about upcoming projects and book updates by signing up for her newsletter below!

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BOOK BLITZ w/EXCERPT - YA PNR - SOUL JUMPER by Shalana Battles

Soul Jumper

by Shalana Battles

Publication date: October 6th 2020

Genres: Paranormal, Romance, Young Adult

BLURB

I wasn’t supposed to find Selexah in this life.

Timing is one of the weirdest things in the world. Some people are like magnets. Their chemistry is undeniable. The ones who look at each other in a way every person on the planet prays someone will look at them. There are two people, who clearly have a connection, but for a reason secret to everyone except the universe, they can’t be together. Maybe it’s because one of them is interested when the other is not. Maybe in the instant that the person who was interested first gives up, the other decides to start holding on. Maybe it’s a physical distance between two locations. Maybe it’s not being single at the same time. I doubt, however, that anyone has ever thought, before today, that maybe, it’s because one of them is dead.

And, I am dead.

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From now until October 31st the author will donate $1 of every paperback sold to The Women’s Coalition Against Violence and Exploitation for domestic violence awareness month!

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EXCERPT:

Danny and I lie motionless. The thin bed presses against his back and I wish I could sit up without the action resulting in people talking to me. At some point I’ll have to think of something to say. For now, I’ll rest. Throughout the day, different people come in to see Danny. It’s always the same. People are so happy when someone doesn’t die. I had someone to mourn my death, but those memories always seem just out of reach.

I wonder sometimes if people are ever not happy when someone lives. It sounds a bit morbid, but there are people who truly want to die. I think their families must feel that. They must know somewhere deep down that they’d be better off. Maybe they’re sick and dying, the inevitable being prolonged. Or, maybe they’re mentally ill. Maybe they struggle and fight every day to wake up, go through the motions, and are just looking for some peace. I don’t think any parent wants to outlive their child. I don’t think any person wishes death on someone they love. But, after all my Jumping, and all the thoughts I’ve read, I can’t help but believe that there are circumstances when death is the best choice. When “I’m so happy you’re alive” is a lie, and both parties know it.

That’s not Danny’s case. He’s just a boy, barely nine years old, with a lifetime ahead of him. He has plenty of people who love him and will care for him. He has people to ensure he keeps living, keeps dreaming, and keeps moving forward.

“What happened?” Finally, I speak. If I’m ever going to get Danny out of this joint, I’ll have to talk. Maybe I can get him out before I give his body back, and he can completely skip the hospital. That’d be a nice gift. He can wake up in his own bed. The worst part will be having to be told again that his parents are dead. He won’t remember when he’s told now, because his grandpa will actually be telling me. The people in his life will chalk it up to shock and retell him the story, never knowing that two days from now will be the first time Danny truly hears the story of how he lost his parents and almost his life.

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Author Info

Shalana Battles is a YA/Adult writer who tells stories about love...sometimes with witches and ghosts. Her debut novel, SOUL JUMPER is coming out October, 6, 2020. Be the first to hear about upcoming projects and book updates by signing up for her newsletter below!

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Youtube

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