When university student Iris meets the handsome and rebellious Dean Westbourne at a friend’s house party she thinks it’s just a coincidence that they both get along so well.
By accepting a ride home from Dean, Iris sets into motion a series of chance meetings until Dean suggests they take it further. He’ll take her on sixteen dates before their graduation day. Sixteen dates in the space of four months? Sounds possible.
But Iris and Dean both come from very bad homes and a wise man once said that the course of true love isn’t easy. . . especially not when your alcoholic parents are trying to ruin your already difficult life.
Will Iris and Dean let their parents interfere and come between them? What will happen after these sixteen dates? Will they have a future together? And will that future be a happy one?
Extract
The moment she hears the familiar sound of the Plymouth Fury driving down the road she feels her heart leap, and just as soon as he’s parked in front of the building and got out of the driver’s seat, she runs down to him and falls into his open arms. He hugs her tightly before he asks her again if she’s alright.
‘You’re not hurt, are you?’ he asks, immediately pulling back to check her face for any cuts or bruises with concerned eyes.
Iris shakes her head numbly. ‘I just want to get away from here,’ she mutters. ‘I need to. . . just for a while.’ Her voice sounds rough and hoarse from forcing back the sobs that are aching to break free.
‘Okay. . . okay, baby,’ he says softly as he opens the passenger side door for her, and lets her slide inside without asking her any questions.
They drive for what seems like miles until Dean pulls into an empty parking space facing the park and turns off the engine. The two of them sit together in silence in the dark car for a long while until Iris finally finds her voice to speak.
‘My mum slapped me,’ she says, her voice resonating a little in the quiet car. It continues to resonate as she goes on to tell him what happened and he looks a little horrified once she’s finished.
‘Shit. . .’ he mutters as she takes a deep calming breath, if only to stop her emotions from getting the better of her.
Thank you, Andrea Officer and Love Books Group
About the author
As someone who grew up reading any book she could get her hands on it wasn’t long until Andrea realised she wanted to be an author. She’s been writing stories since she was in school and over the many years has developed her craft into what it is today.
After studying journalism at university she found her inspiration to become a writer and her debut novel “Who We Are” tries to answer one important question- can someone who’s been a criminal for nearly his whole life turn his life around and be seen as the hero he wants to be?
Author Link
https://andreasbeyondthebook.blogspot.com/
Book Link
B for Bookreview 