Effortless With You Series
Lizzy Charles
Published by: Swoon Romance
Genres: Contemporary, Romance,
Genres: Contemporary, Romance,
Synopsis book 1 - Effortless WIth You
School is out and Lucy is ready for the perfect summer: lazy days at the pool, invitations to the most exclusive parties, and romantic dates with her hot new boyfriend. That is, until she lands in trouble one too many times and her parents issue the ultimate punishment: a summer job. Suddenly, the summer can’t end fast enough.
To make matters worse, the job is painting houses with Justin, the most popular, egotistical guy in school. Spending all summer with Justin might be other girls’ dreams, but definitely not Lucy’s. After all, Justin is cocky, annoying, and a jerk. So what if he’s the most beautiful jerk Lucy’s ever seen? Or that his grin makes her forget she’s mad at the world? Or that maybe, just maybe, there’s more to Justin than Lucy realizes. Only one thing is certain: it won’t be the summer she wanted, but it might be exactly the one she needs
Synopsis book 2 - Perfectly Messy
Popularity isn’t everything it’s cracked up to be. Justin Marshall knows this better than most. For the captain of the basketball team, small business owner, and son of Minnesota’s next governor, life can get pretty overwhelming. But Justin can handle anything as long as he has Lucy, the girl who fell for the man he’s trying to be.
But for Justin and Lucy, finding time together proves challenging. Stolen kisses and whispered promises just aren’t enough. That is, until scandalous photos of the couple are leaked to a press intent on creating a juicy scandal during Justin’s dad’s gubernatorial campaign. And when Lucy becomes fair play for the tabloids and gossip pages, Justin does the only thing he can to protect her: he breaks her heart.
For Lucy, junior year is everything she hoped it would be: new friends, second chances, and a boyfriend she can’t stop kissing. That is, until the boy she’s pretty sure she loves chooses the life his family wants for him, over her.
Now it’s up to Lucy to teach him what it really means to have everything. Because for Justin, being who everyone needs him to be just might cost him the one person he can’t live without
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Effortless With You Excerpt
Alex tugs on my arm. “Man, woman.Do you ever
have a normal day?” He pulls me into a hug before giving me his signature pat
on the back
I wonder the same thing
The wind picks up again. I jump at the sound of abandoned ladders crashing to the ground. The oak tree gives another protesting creak as its branches bend above us.
“Alright. Call it.” Justin yells. “Get your stuff and get home. Safely,” he adds.
Everyone breaks away from the huddle, grabbing everything in their path. I walk over to my ladder, grabbing its edge.My fingertips and palms protest in pain as I swing it up and over my shoulder. I search for my paint can, finding it in the daisies which are now splattered with white paint. The roof’s edge hangs above me where only moments before I’d been dangling.I can’t help but shudder at the what-ifs.
The oak tree makes a popping sound, jolting me out of my state of shock and awe. I readjust the ladder over my back. The ladder seems so much heavier than earlier that day. I watch the guys in the distance effortlessly throw their ladders and supplies into Justin’s truck bed.For the first time, I really do wish I was that large He-She-like creature that the senior girls called me. I could use the strength today.
I focus on Justin, climbing into the truck bed and surveying the supplies. The rest of the guys have taken refuge in their vehicles. Thankfully, the changing weather distracted everyone from my struggle. I don’t want any more attention.
I dig my feet into the ground, determined to get my ladder to the truck on my own. I refuse to be lame and leave it behind. But the oak tree urges me to with every creek. It doesn’t understand. I don’t always want to be the damsel in distress. I need to do this on my own.
I wonder the same thing
The wind picks up again. I jump at the sound of abandoned ladders crashing to the ground. The oak tree gives another protesting creak as its branches bend above us.
“Alright. Call it.” Justin yells. “Get your stuff and get home. Safely,” he adds.
Everyone breaks away from the huddle, grabbing everything in their path. I walk over to my ladder, grabbing its edge.My fingertips and palms protest in pain as I swing it up and over my shoulder. I search for my paint can, finding it in the daisies which are now splattered with white paint. The roof’s edge hangs above me where only moments before I’d been dangling.I can’t help but shudder at the what-ifs.
The oak tree makes a popping sound, jolting me out of my state of shock and awe. I readjust the ladder over my back. The ladder seems so much heavier than earlier that day. I watch the guys in the distance effortlessly throw their ladders and supplies into Justin’s truck bed.For the first time, I really do wish I was that large He-She-like creature that the senior girls called me. I could use the strength today.
I focus on Justin, climbing into the truck bed and surveying the supplies. The rest of the guys have taken refuge in their vehicles. Thankfully, the changing weather distracted everyone from my struggle. I don’t want any more attention.
I dig my feet into the ground, determined to get my ladder to the truck on my own. I refuse to be lame and leave it behind. But the oak tree urges me to with every creek. It doesn’t understand. I don’t always want to be the damsel in distress. I need to do this on my own.
Sheets of rain pour from the sky. The sound is
near deafening. I readjust my grip on the metal. My palm stings as if glass has
cut me. The ladder slips through my palms, crashing on the sidewalk below.
I bend over, determined to do something right. Surprisingly, the ladder lifts with ease. I look up as Justin takes it from me, swinging it over his shoulder. He pushes me in front of him toward the truck.
Damn. I’m sick of being so hopeless and weak.
Boom.A cannon of thunder.
Justin throws the ladder in the tuck bed and pulls me around to the front. I reach up, grabbing the door’s handle only to be rewarded with pain shooting through my palms. Red blood drips down the side of Justin’s white truck.
Justin gasps as he reaches past me and grabs the handle, opening the door and lifting me onto the seat. White pellets fall on Justin’s shoulders and it’s like I’m stuck in a popcorn maker. Justin stands outside, oblivious to the hail and rain. He turns over my palms, searching for the cause of the blood. I look at my hands with the same curiosity.
My fingertips are scrapped and raw, already swollen and bleeding. Large calluses have been ripped from my palms. Small holes weep blood in their place. Two deep cuts are positioned on my right palm where blood seeps freely.
Justin removes his hands from mine.He takes off his shirt, pressing the wet cloth into my palms. I close my hands around it and focus on the white fabric changing red. The shirt stings but I hold it tightly. It’s a good distraction from Justin’s abs. The door shuts and a moment later the other opens. Justin slides in next to me.
He grabs my wrists, pulling my hands back in his. “Lucy, crap.” Water drips down my face. I am pretty sure it isn’t from tears. At least, I hope not.
The sirens blare and the wind gusts pick up. Justin swears, dropping my hands, turning the ignition and throwing the truck into reverse. The radio broadcast continues, “Severe Thunderstorm Warning In Effect.”
“Thunderstorm warning? Look outside.” Justin shouts at the radio. I glance through my window. Clouds swirl above us as Justin speeds away from the neighborhood. He pulls onto the highway. We’re flying with a few other cars at over eighty miles per hour.
“That’s a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Hennepin County.” The radio voice reiterates. A siren blares from the radio. “Update: Tornado Watch in effect for West Hennepin County.” I roll down the window for a clear view at the sky. The clouds drop lower, spinning in opposite directions above us. “Justin, the clouds…” Cars stop and drivers run down into the ditch.
The truck screeches to a halt with them. I turn, fumbling with the door’s latch. “Forget it,” Justin shouts over the wind. A bush blows past my window as he pulls me over his lap with one arm. He throws the door open, pushing me out of the truck and into the ditch.
Justin shoves me against the ground. I duck, covering the back of my head like they taught me in elementary school. I feel more pressure over my head as Justin’s body presses over me. Two women scream as the sound of a train approaches. Cars scrape against the pavement and smash into one another. Justin’s lies next to me, one hand over my head. The train drowns all noises.
I hold my breath.
I bend over, determined to do something right. Surprisingly, the ladder lifts with ease. I look up as Justin takes it from me, swinging it over his shoulder. He pushes me in front of him toward the truck.
Damn. I’m sick of being so hopeless and weak.
Boom.A cannon of thunder.
Justin throws the ladder in the tuck bed and pulls me around to the front. I reach up, grabbing the door’s handle only to be rewarded with pain shooting through my palms. Red blood drips down the side of Justin’s white truck.
Justin gasps as he reaches past me and grabs the handle, opening the door and lifting me onto the seat. White pellets fall on Justin’s shoulders and it’s like I’m stuck in a popcorn maker. Justin stands outside, oblivious to the hail and rain. He turns over my palms, searching for the cause of the blood. I look at my hands with the same curiosity.
My fingertips are scrapped and raw, already swollen and bleeding. Large calluses have been ripped from my palms. Small holes weep blood in their place. Two deep cuts are positioned on my right palm where blood seeps freely.
Justin removes his hands from mine.He takes off his shirt, pressing the wet cloth into my palms. I close my hands around it and focus on the white fabric changing red. The shirt stings but I hold it tightly. It’s a good distraction from Justin’s abs. The door shuts and a moment later the other opens. Justin slides in next to me.
He grabs my wrists, pulling my hands back in his. “Lucy, crap.” Water drips down my face. I am pretty sure it isn’t from tears. At least, I hope not.
The sirens blare and the wind gusts pick up. Justin swears, dropping my hands, turning the ignition and throwing the truck into reverse. The radio broadcast continues, “Severe Thunderstorm Warning In Effect.”
“Thunderstorm warning? Look outside.” Justin shouts at the radio. I glance through my window. Clouds swirl above us as Justin speeds away from the neighborhood. He pulls onto the highway. We’re flying with a few other cars at over eighty miles per hour.
“That’s a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Hennepin County.” The radio voice reiterates. A siren blares from the radio. “Update: Tornado Watch in effect for West Hennepin County.” I roll down the window for a clear view at the sky. The clouds drop lower, spinning in opposite directions above us. “Justin, the clouds…” Cars stop and drivers run down into the ditch.
The truck screeches to a halt with them. I turn, fumbling with the door’s latch. “Forget it,” Justin shouts over the wind. A bush blows past my window as he pulls me over his lap with one arm. He throws the door open, pushing me out of the truck and into the ditch.
Justin shoves me against the ground. I duck, covering the back of my head like they taught me in elementary school. I feel more pressure over my head as Justin’s body presses over me. Two women scream as the sound of a train approaches. Cars scrape against the pavement and smash into one another. Justin’s lies next to me, one hand over my head. The train drowns all noises.
I hold my breath.
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Guest Post
The Kiss that Changed My Soul
Thank you so much for having me on your blog! I'm so excited that Effortless With You is once again on sale!
After writing a great handful of kissing scenes, I thought it was finally time to spill about my own kiss that changed my world. Let me bring you back almost thirteen years, to my sixteenth summer. You see, I had a crush on this guy. … Wait, who am I kidding? It was the guy! This is the guy who could open his mouth and sing a few notes and seriously have girls buckling at the knee and lining up for his autograph after shows. I am not over exaggerating. Girls would line up! Right in front of me.
I, however, was not one of those girls. You see, I was his friend. * sigh * That’s right, a friend. We were too chummy for me to actually ask for his autograph, even though I totally wanted one. But I did ask him to sing for me, a lot.
You see, I fell for the high school rock star. Hook. Line. Sinker. I was gone. But it was safe to like him. He was dating an upper classmen. He was so out of my league, with his gorgeous green eyes, dark hair, and five o’clock shadow (a bit Justin-esque in coloring, to be honest). He was mature and one of the smartest guys in school.
He was the best crush to have because there was no way on Earth that he would ever consider me that way. I was his friend--- the girl who sat next to him in US History. The girl who kept his secret for a full week after that upper classmen broke up with him before word got out to the rest of the school. The girl who so desperately wanted to hug him when his heart broke, but couldn’t because she was afraid if she did that she wouldn’t be able to let him go.
Then suddenly, things changed. I was the girl he offered to drive home from school. When he called me for the first time, I was the girl who hung up on him. I can’t tell you how many fake phone calls I’d gotten from other guys pretending to be him as “pranks.”
But then he called back. “No really. It’s me. Do you want to go grocery shopping?”
That’s right folks. He asked me out to the grocery store.
Suddenly, I became the girl he invited over to his house. The girl he took to grab Chinese food (Confession: I’m actually extraordinarily gifted at convincing people to bring me Chinese food so this wasn’t completely out of the ordinary). And then, somehow, I was the girl sitting next to him on the couch, many months after his huge break up.
My heart seared, wondering how I’d ever endure another minute of just being friends. But then voices came from above, urging us to kiss. Angels? Nope. The two guys in our class that absolutely hated one another actually worked together to make this the most embarrassing moment, ever.
So I looked at him. He looked at me. I laughed. Then suddenly, our legs were touching. Touching people! And then his nose bumped my cheek and he moved in for the kiss.
Oh my goodness, that kiss rocked my soul. His lips touched mine and I changed. We both changed. Bonded and ready to face what life would throw our way, no matter how complex or hard it got. All sealed in that first kiss while the two enemies cheered down through the vents above. (I assume they must have had eyes on the situation from somewhere, which is absolutely mortifying now that I think about it.)
Anyway, that’s the type of kissing I like to write about. The type that matters to the soul. You’ll find kisses like that in Effortless With You and it's sequel, Perfectly Messy. There’s one in particular that rocks me to my core!
Now if you will please excuse me, I need to go ask that guy for his autograph. I still don’t have one. … Unless you count the one on our marriage certificate. Yeah. I’d say that counts. ☺
Interested in Lizzy Charles' novels Effortless With You and Perfectly Messy? They are available on Amazon, Nook, iBooks, and most ebook readers. Prefer a book you can actually hold in your hand and smell? Both novels are available in print via Amazon and available to order through many local bookstores if you ask. :)
AUTHOR BIO
Lizzy Charles lives in the Twin Cities and is a graduate of the University of Minnesota. When she isn’t raising her three children or caring for premature and sick babies as a neonatal intensive care nurse, she’s seeking refuge with her laptop, sparkling water, and dark chocolate. She married her high school sweetheart, a swoon-worthy musician, so it’s no surprise she’s fallen in love with writing contemporary YA romance novels.
Author links
I love the guest post! Thank you for sharing it :)
ReplyDeletethanks for the chance!!!!
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