Reality Bites! Let's Get Lost!: Blog Tour Promo & Giveaway: Before the Storm by Sarah Dosher

Before the Storm (Storms of Life Series, Book #2)

By: Sarah Dosher

Goodreads Link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17786233-before-the-storm

This is not a simple story of first loves, this is an emotional yet touching look at life and how the smallest decisions can shape futures.

What you think you know can change before your eyes. Fathers abuse, mothers deceive, best friends betray, sisters dismiss, love controls, and anger consumes.

After graduating from high school, Easton Grace knows exactly what he wants and how to get it. His goal for the summer includes two things: avoiding his father’s wrath and protecting his sister. His carefully laid plans are quickly changed when a girl comes to town causing him to lose his tight grasp of control on everything, including himself.

Following years of sorrow, Taylor Monaco returns to a town she never wanted to see again but will forever call home. Her life was eternally changed by the people in this town, especially one boy. Her heart desires someone she’s not sure her soul can handle.

Can Easton and Taylor find their path before it’s too late - before the storm?

A kiss that is never tasted, is forever and ever wasted.

—Billie Holiday

Past…

I walked through the field until I was near the barn and I could hear Dean and Lily.

“So you never have?” Dean asked her.

“No, have you?” she asked.

“Yes, but it didn’t mean anything.”

I stopped outside the barn and peeked between two loose boards. Lily was sitting on a hay bale, and Dean was standing right in front of her. He reached up to push her hair out of her face, then stuck a sunflower behind her ear. I watched as he slowly leaned in and put his lips on hers.

I immediately ran around the corner and into the barn.

“What are you doing?” I shouted.

They jerked apart and looked at me, but neither spoke.

“You kissed my sister!” I snapped at Dean.

“Umm, I…uh, we…”

“You do not kiss my sister.” I grabbed Lily by the arm and pulled her behind me.

“We were just kidding around, Easton,” Lily said from behind me. “I’ve never kissed a boy before, so Dean showed me.”

I turned around and glared at her.

“You don’t need to know how to kiss a boy.”

“Calm down. All her friends had, but she hadn’t. No big deal.”

“It is a big deal to me. Keep your lips to yourself, okay?”

“Okay.” He laughed.

“We’re going home,” I said and led Lily from the barn.

Before we were through the barn door, I saw Dean wink at Lily, and she blew him a kiss.

“Oh, come on. I totally saw that. Stop it, you’re weirding me out.”

“Hey, wait. Was that movie good? I wanted to watch it with you!” Dean yelled as we walked toward home.

“Yeah, the movies real good. Not scary at all, so you can watch it all by yourself tonight after Grandma Violet goes to bed.” I laughed to myself.

Unedited Deleted scene

Sometime between Chapter 15 and Chapter 19 - Before the Storm

Easton

Present…

I finally got away from my sister’s watchful eye. I didn’t have anywhere I needed to be today and even more importantly there wasn’t anywhere I wanted to be. I wanted a break, a timeout from life. Everything was spinning out of control because they were all losing their minds…or I was losing my mind, I wasn’t exactly sure.

I heard footsteps approaching in the dry sand of Sunflower beach.

"What in the hell are you doing here?” I yelled at Dean.

“Well I assume the same thing you’re doing here – trying to get away from you and everyone else.”

I didn’t respond I just glared at him.

“Lily’s upset.” He said like I didn’t know my own sister was unhappy and that we were the cause.

“I know! What did you say to her?” I demanded.

“I told her what you wanted me to, I told her we were done and we could never be.” He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. “Isn’t that what you wanted?”

“No, that’s not what I wanted. I wanted you to stay away from her in the first place. Stay away from her until you grow up enough to deserve her.” I stood from my place on the rock and moved toward him. “Why would you think you could be with Lily when you were just messing with that red head? Are you trying to hurt her?”

“I didn’t do anything with Mindi. Not that I expect you to believe me, but it’s the truth. You’re determined to turn me into the bad guy and I think you’re doing a good job at it.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I snapped.

“The harder you push the more you hurt her, not me.”