(Excerpt + Giveaway) 3volve by Josefina Gutierrez

Synopsis:

From author Josefina Gutierrez, of “The Shadow of Loss”, comes a new New-Adult contemporary love story.
I thought my life began when I graduated high school and moved far, far away—okay three hours away. But I was wrong. My life didn’t start until it almost ended.
I’m Cristal Escobedo, twenty-two years old and a former wild child who favors tequila far too much. But that all changed when life happened, and I ended up being responsible for my younger brothers. To top it all off, I think I’m falling in love with my best friend—dammit.
This is my not-so-happy story of how I grew up and got my shit together. My story isn’t filled with a bunch of pretty analogies or hyperboles. The people are real, the hurt is deep, and the love is complicated. People are flawed in the ways that matter; it’s what makes us human.

Excerpt

          I’ve never claimed to have it all together. I never knew what I wanted to be when I grew up. I was roaming through life high and excited for the unexpected. I love my family, my parents, my brothers, my friends, but their love was never enough to save me from myself. My self-destructive way, how I always kept ruining the best things I didn’t know I even had.

          My story isn’t filled with morality. It doesn’t have some intriguing message about love, and life. Shit, it’s a mess. I’m a mess. I’m not here to tell you what should be important—we all have different values. I’m not here to tell you about responsibility. Hell, if you finish reading my story and gain insight, then more power to you!

          I thought my life began when I graduated high school and moved far, far away—okay three hours away. But I was wrong. My life didn’t start until it almost ended.

          I’m Cristal Escobedo a twenty-two year old, former wild child, and this is my not-so-happy story of how I grew up and got my shit together. It isn’t filled with a bunch of pretty analogies or hyperboles. The people are real, the hurt runs deep, and the love is complicated. People are flawed in the ways that matter; it’s what makes us human. If you want a sugarcoated story, look to someone other than me.

Synopsis:

Evelyn Gonzalez keeps losing people, which is always hard, but has she lost something much more? Has she lost her soul? Evelyn has a nervous breakdown and is institutionalized, after months of sorrow and pain she is thrust back into the world. The world of teenage angst and Calculus. Can she trust people again? Especially after hurtful assumptions and judgments made her miss her junior year of high school. Evelyn is just trying to heal what she lost and graduate from high school.

Excerpt

          Ever heard the expression it all went down in a pile of flames? Well shit, I didn’t think life was going to get all literal about it.

          Now I am quietly tucked away between four white walls and a twin bed, where I can touch opposing walls with my index fingers. I have been stuck with my thoughts in this box for months. I have been cut off from the outside world, because I went crazy. My own sister, locked me up, but I don’t blame her—I really don’t. Olive was trying to help me when everyone else abandoned me. She writes me letters every week. I guess it is another way to anchor me to the living. It’s not like I don’t see her on visiting days, but like she says, “Letters are better for communicating, they force you to realize what is important.”

          “Miss Gonzalez, your sister has arrived. Please gather your personals and follow me,” the orderly tells me. She was nice, but firm. I’ve heard the opposite is usually true in these cases—so I was lucky. She introduced me to Stigmata.

          “Yes ma’am,” I say and walk over to the desk. I was only allowed the basics. I was stripped of all the vital things that would keep me informed or busy. I grab my small travel bag and my copy of Stigmata, which is on loan. Stigmata did for me what others could not. Some might have chosen an entirely different genre or novel, but it was never a matter of deciding, I knew. Institutionalization was a no brainer.

          I hand my personals to her and follow her to the front. I see her waiting for me. She was always the attractive one. She is pacing back and forth near the front desk. She doesn’t see me yet, but I wave anyway, hoping she can sense it. Her face looks swollen, she must have been crying. She also looks skinnier than our last visit. How is that possible? I saw her a few days ago. Tsk tsk, frozen dinners most likely.

          “Okay, Miss Gonzalez here are your items you brought in,” the orderly says. She hands me my old clothes, “You need to get changed.”

          “Yes ma’am,” I grab my clothes and change quickly. I want to leave. I need to leave. I will try harder. I know I can try harder. When I open the door, sure enough the orderly is waiting for me. “Follow me Miss Gonzalez,” she says and turns to leave. “Yes ma’am,” I follow her.

          She walks up to security. It is procedure upon discharge to get searched. They have my travel bag open and are rifling through my belongings. Opening caps and peering inside bottles. Why would someone smuggle something out of here? This seems unnecessary, but I go along with it. Besides I am supposed to be a reformed crazy person.

          “All clear,” he tells her, and she begins searching me. Yes, I smuggled something on my person when I was in the restroom stall. I desperately wanted that five year old edition of Times.

          After I am searched, I grab my personals and hand the book back to her, but she just shakes her head. “Miss Gonzalez I hope we don’t see you again. You keep that book. Remember to take deep breathes to calm yourself,” she gives me a genuine smile. You know those smiles where a person’s eyes crinkle, so you know it is real, then it hits me I won’t see her again—hopefully.

About the author:

Josefina Gutierrez is a Young Adult eBook author, who resides in San Antonio. Josefina writes Young Adult Multicultural, Sci-Fi, and Fantasy literature in her free time when she’s not embarking on adventures with her son and gnomes Fitzgerald and Bartholomew. Her current projects in the works are a Fantasy dystopian series, a Mystery-Thriller eBook, and New-Adult Contemporary Romance.

Author links:

Giveaway

[1.] 2 amazon gift cards of 20$ [2.] A designed box including: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan, a signed paperback of The shadow of Loss by Josefina Gutierrez, 2 Bookmarks, Silk decorative flowers, Photo frame and a Notebook Potpourri bag (US Only)

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