Thursday, November 1, 2012

When We Collide Release Party!

Welcome to the When We Collide Release Party!

Today we are celebrating with the best selling author A.L. Jackson on the release of her third novel. 

Join us throughout the day for excerpts, giveaways, and all kinds of fun!









Excerpt 2

Laughter was his call, lost somewhere deep in the forest. The wind came fierce, blew across William’s face, stung as he lumbered through the desolate play yard.

William tripped into the jumbled wood. 
A flash of blond hair. 

“Bet you can’t find me.” The boy giggled and ran. 

Fear surged and twisted in William’s gut, pushed him forward. 

“Wait,” William called, stretching his hand out in the child’s direction. Please. 

He peeked out from behind a tree, the boy with William’s face. 

The child was on the move again, hiding, laughing, stirring the unknown anxiety into a frenzy that beat like a drum against William’s chest.

Please, wait.

The laughter dimmed and waned. The boy’s sudden fear hit William like a knife to the chest. Somewhere in the deepest recesses, far beyond his reach, William heard him scream. 



Synopsis
From the bestselling author of Pulled and Take This Regret comes a gripping new tale of loss and love.
William has spent six years running from his past and the last eight months trying to rid his mind of the dreams that increasingly haunt his nights. Trapped in a world of false ambitions and feigned affections, William knows he’s reached a breaking point and something’s going to give.
Maggie had lived her entire life without hope until one man showed her what it meant to be loved. He’d been her light in a lifetime of darkness. Six years ago, that darkness stole him away. Without him, she’s surrendered herself to an existence she doesn’t know how to escape.
When the family William left behind is struck by tragedy, he is called back to the one place he’s sworn to never return to again. 
In a moment that will change his life forever, William comes face to face with the girl who, with one look, captured his heart. He is unable to ignore the buried desires and the hope for the future they’d once believed they’d have. 
Now William is ready to fight to take back what had been stolen from him six years before.
But he never imagined what that fight might cost him.  
A.L. Jackson gives you an intimate look into the lives of a family bound by an unseen connection in this contemporary romance with a supernatural twist. 





A.L. Jackson first found a love for writing during her days as a young mother and college student.  She filled the journals she carried with short stories and poems used as an emotional outlet for the difficulties and joys she found in day-to-day life.

Years later, she shared a short story she’d been working on with her two closest friends and, with their encouragement, this story became her first full length novel. A.L. now spends her days writing in Southern Arizona where she lives with her husband and three beautiful children. Her favorite pastime is spending time with the ones she loves. 



Enter to Win the A.L. Jackson Prize Pack!



a Rafflecopter giveaway


Excerpt 1


I slumped to the damp, dirty ground and listened to the indistinct sounds coming from inside. Only a patchy lawn and rickety door separated me from the girl, who, without even knowing it, had captured me the moment I’d seen her. For two hours, I just sat there, lost in thoughts and memories.

I jumped to my feet in a race of nerves when the handle rattled and the back door swung open. 

Over her shoulder, Maggie called, “See you tomorrow.”

She stepped out and turned around to click the door shut, jiggling the handle to be sure it was locked. I watched her slow, as if suddenly overwhelmed, feet chained to the ground. She stood with her back to me, one hand flat on the door, her head hung and body still.

I wanted to know what she was thinking almost as badly as I wanted to touch her.

From the cover of the trees, I slowly approached. Each cautious footstep I took brought her closer to me. I knew she felt me, knew she sensed my presence in the way she tensed. She sucked in air and dropped her arms to her sides.

She never turned around, only waited.

A foot away, I stopped. Her body rose and fell in sync with mine, her short, gasping breaths matching the jagged ones I forced in and out of my lungs. Strands of auburn ruffled in the breeze and brushed across my face, the sweetness of Maggie filling my nose and overpowering my senses. My fingers twitched forward, remembering just how soft that auburn was when I wove my fingers through it.

God, I wanted her. 

The shiver that rolled through Maggie was palpable even to me.
I wound my arms around her and pulled her flush, my palms flat on her stomach. 

Cheek to cheek. Skin to skin. 

I burned. 

I ran my nose up her jaw and whispered in her ear, “I don’t know how to stop loving you.”

Maggie trembled in my hold. A small cry erupted from her mouth as she covered my hands with hers and flattened her body against mine. Her head tilted away to bring us closer, her neck exposed. 

I buried my face in the snowy flesh. My arms tightened around her as every nerve came alive. They’d lain dormant for so long, it almost hurt. Repressing a groan in the haven of her neck, I pressed my lips against her skin. 

Maggie whimpered my name. 

The last shred of control I had slipped. 

In a flurry of movement, I spun her around and pushed her against the door. My mouth met hers, fevered and impatient. I buried my hands in the auburn locks I’d so desperately longed to touch. I wound them through my fingers, tugged her closer, kissed her deeper. 

Her mouth opened on a shuddered moan. It was almost a sob. I devoured it. A long-suppressed sob of my own bubbled up somewhere in my consciousness and lodged as a weighted mass in my throat. 

I loved this girl so much. Too much. 

“Maggie…oh God…Maggie,” I mumbled between my desperate play to consume her, to fill up this hole she’d left when she’d broken our hearts. It only expanded when tears spilled from her eyes and over my hands, and for the shortest second, she gave in and kissed me back.

Cupping her face, I pulled away and stared down at her. Her eyes were all brown misery and love and shame, and the most wistful of smiles hinted on her swollen lips. Timid fingertips traced my face, as if to remember—to memorize—something to take with her when she walked away. Chills followed in their wake, an aching loss across my skin, torment I didn’t think I’d survive. Her touch spoke of it—of giving in and letting go—but her eyes were so sad, I knew she never would.

66 comments:

  1. Whoop! Happy launch day, AL! Hope it goes fantastically well and the party looks rocking! Have fun and best wishes from this side of the pond. XX

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  2. Happy Release Day! I just love this cover. This is a new to me author, but I am super excited to learn more :) Have a great day!

    Liz

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  3. Have a great release day. The Mistaken sounds like a fascinating read. Lots of action and suspense in a world where few people go.
    Thanks for the wonderful giveaway too!

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  4. Congrats!!! Happy Release day!!!!!

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  5. Congrats!!! I can't wait to read this one! Pulled and Take This Regret are amazing stories that sucked me in. I have both a few times!

    carrollfamily02@gmail.com

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    1. Thanks so much TwiMom!! I hope you enjoy this one too <3

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  6. Yay! Congrats, A.L. It's a beauty!

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  7. Congratulations AL on your big day! Loved the first two - am sure this one will be fantastic too! Whoop it up girl and have a brilliant launch day!!

    P.S. I want to win bookmarks!

    Mandy xx

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    1. haha ~ You want some bookmarks huh?! Love it! We're having a blast over here! Thank you!

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  8. Happy release day! Congratulations! Looking forward to reading the new book.

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    1. Thank you so much Karen! I really hope you enjoy it!

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  9. Congratulations. Sounds very mysterious and suspenseful. Love the cover, too, Sooz

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  10. Congrats! Loved Pulled and Take This Regret. Actually started reading When We Collide last night and so far it is fantastic.

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    1. Yay ~ Thank you tons Gindy! I'm so happy to hear you're enjoying it!

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  11. I am so excited to read When We Collide! 2 Chapters in and LOVING it!

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    1. Thank's Rosalind! <3 Can't wait to hear what you think of it!

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  12. CONGRATS!
    I'm looking forward to diving head first into WHEN WE COLLIDE. I'm so thrilled for you, A.L. And, the cover is easily one of my favs. EVER.

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    1. awww Thank you Wendy! I absolutely love the cover too! I hope you enjoy it!

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  13. Congrats on the new release!! I absolutely ADORE your writing! Take This Regret is one of my favorite books in the world and I'm 70% into When We Collide and know its going to make that list as well. You have a beautiful gift for pulling strong emotions out of your readers through your writing. Please never ever stop writing these gorgeous books <3

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    1. That makes my heart smile Aestas. I'm so thankful you enjoy my books so much <3

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  14. AL, I'm so excited for you! And all this love, are you overwhelmed yet? :)
    I bought my copy this morning and I'm looking forward to a weekend of reading!

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    1. Oh gosh Dana ~ You don't even know! I just keep saying "oh my gosh oh my gosh" My heart is full!

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  15. I cannot WAIT to read When We Collide!!!!

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    1. Thank you so much for celebrating with us Tamrom!!

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  16. I cannot wait to read this------i LOVED the other two books!!!

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    1. Tammy ~ Thank you so much! I really hope you love this one as much!

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  17. Congratulations Amy! You know I loved all three, but this one was the best.

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    1. Thank you so much for all your support Teresa! It means so much to me! You were one of my first reviewers ever, and I love that we've become friends <3

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  18. This is so exciting! :D Congratulations!

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    1. Thanks so much Carrie ~ We're having so so so much fun (as Katie refills my chip bowl LOL)

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  19. Can't wait to read it!

    Book Worm Brandy

    bookwormbrandy.blogspot.com

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    1. Can't wait to hear what you think Brandy! Thank you so much for stopping by!

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  20. Love your books. Can't wait to read this new one!

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    1. Thank you so much Joanne! I really hope you enjoy this one as much <3 I really appreciate you coming by to celebrate with us!

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  21. That cover is amazing my favourite yet <3 <3

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    1. I love it too Hazel! I can't tell between Pulled & When We Collide!!

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  22. I love the excerpt!

    carrollfamily02@gmail.com

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    1. You're the winner Carroll!!! Email us at winner@sapphirestarpublishing.com with what email you'd like your gift send to!

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  23. Congrats and have a great release day!!! So exciting and your cover art looks fantastic!

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  24. What an amazing day it's turning out to be! Sending hugs and waves from the UK and raising my glass to toast you - you are one amazing author! Lxx

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    1. *Lifts my glass* Thank you so much Linn!!! We've had so much fun!

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  25. Hi, can't wait to read it, I ordered the first two the other week too, Best wishes, hope you're enjoying the day. It looks like a great party.

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    1. Can't wait to see what you think Jane! Thank you for all your support! We've had so much fun and plan on celebrating into the night!

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  26. Have a wonderful wonder day!

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    1. I am, thank you so much Stephanie! I really appreciate you stopping by!

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  27. Congrats!!!I can't wait to read this book! Sounds so good :)
    bmurphy_lucky@yahoo.com

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  28. Happy Release day! (your covers are awesome, by the way!)

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    1. Thank you so much Rhoda!! We're having a blast! Setting up for round 2!

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    1. LOL ~ Thanks Liz ~ I'e had the most awesome day!

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  30. I'm so thankful that you decided to become a writer because I have to say you have really made my list of Top Autors to read ASAP. Congratulations on launch of When We Collide.

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  31. Sadly I haven't read When We Collide but hopefully I'll get the chance to read it soon! <3

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  32. I love the cover though, it's really interesting and something I'd love to have on my shelf. All three covers are gorgeous!!

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  33. What a fabulous prize pack! I love all of these books unconditionally. I have all 3 on my kindle but would much prefer to have the paperbacks. Congratulations on all of your success! Looking forward to reading Lost To You.

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  34. Al, I am really happy for you. Best of luck truly! I haven't read any of your books yet, but they are definitely on my TBR list now. You go!

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  35. Too bad I'm late for the giveaway but this book and cover looks awesome! (:

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