Title: Something
Like This
Author: Eileen
Cruz Coleman
Genre: New Adult
Romance
Twenty-three-year old Jadie Santiago has a secret.
One morning on her way to work she stops to offer a homeless man a bottle of water. As she meets the man's eyes, Jadie instantly recognizes they belong to her father, whom she hasn't seen since she was sixteen. Unable to accept the truth of her encounter, Jadie flees, hoping eventually to forget the experience and continue leading a normal life.
But then she meets Reece, an aspiring writer with a mysterious past who is set on capturing Jadie's affection. Jadie wants nothing more than to give her heart to Reece, but her broken past and crippling secret keep her from surrendering it to him fully.
Things won't come easy to Jadie as she fights for her place in the world, but there is strength in her, and she is determined never to stop struggling for what so many others have: love, happiness, and a sense of belonging.
Author Bio
Eileen Cruz
Coleman was born in Washington, D.C. to an immigrant El Salvadoran mother and a
Puerto Rican father. She is a graduate of the University of Maryland with a
degree in History. Her short stories have appeared in numerous literary
journals both online and in print. She lives in Maryland with her husband and
two children.
Links
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/something-like-this-eileen-cruz-coleman/1121692575?ean=2940151732604&itm=1&usri=2940151732604
Apple Store: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id982813309
Website: http://www.eileencruzcoleman.com
Book
Excerpts
Excerpt
One
Both Grace and Lisa were standing in
the foyer when I pushed our apartment door open. Lisa was dressed in yoga
pants, a white t-shirt and purple socks, her long hair tied in a side braided
ponytail. Grace on the other hand, was all dolled up and I do mean dolled up,
hair in big curls, liquid eye liner, fake eyelashes, pink lipstick, three-inch
heels and a hell of a black tight dress. The girl looked like she was going out
on the town and meant to get noticed every step of the way.
“What are you two crazies doing?” I
asked, placing my keys on a hook.
“Waiting for you. We heard you opening
the door,” Grace said.
“And you felt you had to greet me in
the foyer?”
“We got excited and thought,” Lisa
peeked over my shoulder, “Reece was with you.”
I moved past them and set the grocery bag
on the kitchen counter. “So, you thought Reece might be with me and you decided
to act like crazy people and attack him the minute he came in, is that it?” I
was absolutely tickled that they were excited to meet Reece. They were exactly
what I needed at that moment. My thoughts were still on
my father. But, I welcomed a
distraction, even if I knew it was only temporary.
“I told you we were being stupid,”
Grace said to Lisa.
“I’m not the one who got all dressed up,” Lisa
said to Grace.
Grace puckered her lips. “I can’t help
it if I’m gorgeous. Admit you want to kiss me?”
“Ooh, baby, yes, you figured me out,”
Lisa said.
Grace took Lisa’s hand. “I knew it.
You’re in love with me.”
“You got me,” Lisa said, kissing
Grace’s hand.
“All righty pair of nut jobs, I get
it, you’re both excited. Just don’t embarrass me, okay?”
Lisa looked at Grace. “Shall we try
and behave?”
Grace stuck out her tongue. “Only
because we love her.”
I reached into the bag and pulled out
a couple of plantains.
“What are those?” Grace asked.
Waving them in front of her, I said,
“These, my dear roommates, are platanos, also known as plantains.”
Grace took one from me. “They look
like bananas.”
“Well, they’re not. I’m going to slice
them up and fry them.”
Lisa grimaced. “Hmm, I have dinner in
the oven. We’re having salmon. And a salad and garlic bread.”
“Perfecto. Plantains go perfect
with fish. Trust me, okay?”
“If you say so,” Lisa said.
“Trust me, you’ll like them.”
“And if I don’t, can I give my share
to Grace?”
“Oh for the love of God, fine, you
don’t have to eat them if you don’t want.”
“Hooray. But, you know I still love
you, right?” Lisa asked.
“Yeah, yeah.”
“I, for one, plan on loving them,”
Grace chimed in with a big grin.
“Good. Now, Reece will be here soon. I
have to change and then fry these things up.”
“You going to get into something
sexy?” Grace asked.
I looked her up and down. “And compete
with you?”
She lit up. “I just wanted to look
nice.”
I kissed her on the cheek. “And you look
beautiful.”
“You really think so?”
“Yes, gorgeous and stunning. You
trying to steal Reece from me?” I asked.
Grace was a sweet little girl inside
who wanted so badly to be loved and told she was beautiful. I didn’t feel
threatened because I knew her heart was good.
“Never,” she said.
And I believed her.
“Okay, well, stay here and don’t let
Lisa throw away my plantains. I’m going to go change.”
“Got it,” she said, taking hold of
both plantains.
“Whatever,” Lisa shouted as she headed toward the living room.
“Grace doesn’t scare me.”
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