Sublime Karma
by
Peyton Garver
YA Romance
YA Romance
When Brie’s stepfather moves the family for what he calls a new beginning, it’s not the new beginning the beautiful, yet guarded, senior would have hoped for. Brie is instantly targeted by jealous girls at her new school, and the only available seat on her bus is next to the school’s star wide receiver, Jake, who for some reason, finds her offensive. After a humiliating article and picture of Brie is posted in the online school journal, a demon she thought she’d overcome resurfaces, and her life unravels. A newly compassionate Jake has finally taken an interest in her, but can Brie learn to trust her heart, or will she miss out on the best thing that ever happened to her?
Jake
has his own secrets and has built his own walls, but eventually his
curiosity about the new girl gets the best of him. Unfortunately, now
there is competition: the captain of her cross-country team. Jake’s
romantic histories with the girl next door and the school’s queen
bee, adds tension to a simmering tempest when all he wants is Brie.
Is he strong enough to help the one he loves weave sense into her
crumbling new reality while overcoming his own tainted past?
**FREE
Dec 16-18!!**
SNEAK PEEK
The bus snaked its way through the country roads and then
to the lavish development that backed up to the woods behind
his house. Upperclassmen from this neighborhood had their
own cars. This bus collected the underclassmen: those few
who weren’t chauffeured to school, as minions of the privileged.
to the lavish development that backed up to the woods behind
his house. Upperclassmen from this neighborhood had their
own cars. This bus collected the underclassmen: those few
who weren’t chauffeured to school, as minions of the privileged.
Jake leaned back in his seat and folded his arms across his
chest, not looking at the kids coming down the aisle. None
dared to ask if they could sit in the empty space next to him.
They’d sit three to a seat rather than make that request. Just the
way he wanted it.
chest, not looking at the kids coming down the aisle. None
dared to ask if they could sit in the empty space next to him.
They’d sit three to a seat rather than make that request. Just the
way he wanted it.
The over-filled bus pulled to a stop midway down Belmont Circle.
New stop? Jake looked out his window at the estate with a circular
drive. Huh. It finally sold. He watched as a single figure headed
toward the bus. What, so now they get door-to-door service? He
rolled his eyes.
New stop? Jake looked out his window at the estate with a circular
drive. Huh. It finally sold. He watched as a single figure headed
toward the bus. What, so now they get door-to-door service? He
rolled his eyes.
Seconds later, she stood in the aisle waiting. From his seat, his
eyes skimmed up passed her faded jeans and plain, loose
sweater, and his breath caught in his throat. Her long blond
hair was pulled to the side in a loose braid. Her face? Ethereal.
But then, his flustered gaze became an annoyed glare.
eyes skimmed up passed her faded jeans and plain, loose
sweater, and his breath caught in his throat. Her long blond
hair was pulled to the side in a loose braid. Her face? Ethereal.
But then, his flustered gaze became an annoyed glare.
Her bleak gray eyes seemed to look right through him before
they darted to the space next to him. Did she even register
his indignation? She must have. Yet, she stood there in the aisle
twisting the loose adjustment strap on her backpack tightly
around her fingers.
they darted to the space next to him. Did she even register
his indignation? She must have. Yet, she stood there in the aisle
twisting the loose adjustment strap on her backpack tightly
around her fingers.
“May I sit here?” her meek voice broke the silence that had
fallen around them.
fallen around them.
Noticing the hush of conversation, Jake’s eyes skimmed the
crowded bus. There was no doubt he and this new girl had an
audience. Not something he relished.
crowded bus. There was no doubt he and this new girl had an
audience. Not something he relished.
His eyes swept back to her. He could tell she was nervous. He
heard it in her quavering voice and saw it in the way she avoided
his eyes. He could just say no. But so long as she was standing,
the bus wouldn’t budge.
heard it in her quavering voice and saw it in the way she avoided
his eyes. He could just say no. But so long as she was standing,
the bus wouldn’t budge.
Peyton is a secondary ed teacher in Maryland and an author of young adult fiction. Her newest novel, Sublime Karma, is an edgy contemporary YA story with diverse characters that addresses real teen issues such as fitting in, cliques, bullying, self harm, and suicide. Sublime Karma has themes that may not be appropriate for tweens and younger teens.
The
Sublime Karma manuscript won third place in the Young Adult category
of 2015 Lone Star Writing Contest - Northwest Houston Romance Writers
of America.
Follow
the tour HERE
for exclusive content and a giveaway!
