Release Date: July 10, 2019
Cover Design: Amy Queau - QDesign
Trailer: https://youtu.be/GUQfvx3kluc
Synopsis
Wedding photographer Holly Freeman holds her camera up to act as a mask; blocking the world from seeing the vulnerability she never quite let go of. She still feels she owes a debt for the second chance at life she’s more than repaid.
One perfect shot...
Firefighter Joseph Bianco lost love in a way that left deep emotional wounds. There’s no place for a personal life between the fires he fights every day and the bitterness he holds back at night.
Scars heal...
As their worlds collide, they want nothing more than friendship. But it’s not long before Holly and Joe both realize they are not truly living despite the lies they tell themselves.
Will these friends-to-lovers be able to battle their pasts to find the love they deserve?
Goodreads
Excerpt
“Well, I’m sorry we ended up at such a crappy movie,” I declare as we make our way to his Explorer.
“I’m not.”
Surprised, I stop in my tracks. “What?”
Hooking an arm over my shoulder, he guides me out of the line of traffic. “That was the most fun I’ve had…” He freezes.
This time it’s me who turns toward him. Laying a hand on his chest, I tilt my head to the side. “Joe?”
He shakes his head.
Intuitively, I know this is something enormous. Hesitantly, I offer, “I’m here for you if you want to talk.” I go to move away, but he holds me close.
His voice takes on a faraway cast when he admits, “I promised to love one person forever.”
My heart breaks for him. “I know.”
“So, what does it say about me when I was just about to tell you I had more fun in that stupid movie than I ever had. Ever,” he adds with emphasis. “What does that say about the kind of man I am, Holly?” Pain radiates from every pore of his body into mine.
Since we’ve become friends, Joe’s opened up to me about his lingering emotions for Mary, so I understand how much pain this is causing him. I close my eyes, praying for the right words. “Maybe what it means is that your ‘ever’ is divided into the life you had with Mary and the life you’ve had since.” He goes to open his mouth, but I gently lay my finger across it. “Sometimes, I get lonely thinking of a person I’ve never met. I can’t even imagine having met them and lost them.” Stepping back, I squeeze his arm. “Don’t hide your grief, Joe. Not with me.”
His eyes drag over my face while my words—I hope—penetrate. He lets out a ragged breath. “I must seem so stupid.”
“Did you suddenly turn into a superhuman somewhere along the way? Why don’t you get to feel your aches and pains the way the rest of the world does?”
“I don’t know. Maybe because I feel like I have to be strong for everyone, especially Grace?”
I shake my head. “You have a right to be a man, Joe, before everything else. And trust me, the pain isn’t going to go away. It just dulls to remind you that you can survive anything, even the most horrific nightmares life can throw at you.”
Stepping closer he says, “I thought you said you’d never fallen in love.”
I nod. “I haven’t. That doesn’t mean I haven’t felt agony.” Turning away, I walk the few steps until I reach the passenger side of his SUV. “Come on. If we don’t head out now, we’ll be late.”
I hear the locks beep, and I open the door. Joe climbs in on the other side. Settling myself in the vehicle, I pay careful attention to fastening my seat belt when Joe lays his hand on mine. I lift my head to find his inches from my own.
“This friendship isn’t one-sided, Holly. I’m here if you need me.” Squeezing my hand, he lets it go before starting the ignition.
Joe, if I told you about my past, there’d be no friendship left, I think sadly. But all I do is settle back in the seat as we listen to Ed Sheeran on our way back to Collyer.
Available Now
Free to Dream - Book 1
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Free to Rejoice - Book 3
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Free to Breathe - Book 4
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Free to Believe - Book 5
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Giveaway
One of Five ARC's for Free to Live
About the Author
Tracey Jerald knew she was meant to be a writer when she would re-write the ending of books in her head on her bike when she was a young girl growing up in southern Connecticut. It wasn't long before she was typing alternate endings and extended epilogues "just for fun".
After college in Florida, where she obtained a degree in Criminal Justice swearing she saw things she'll never quite believe and never quite forget, Tracey traded the world of law and order for IT.
Her work for a world-wide internet startup transferred her to Northern Virginia where she met her husband in what many call their own happily ever after. They have one son.
When she's not busy with her family or writing, Tracey can be found in her home in north Florida drinking coffee, reading, training for a runDisney event, or feeding her addiction to HGTV.
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