Showing results by author "C.W. Farnsworth" in All Categories

It's hard to forget your past when you're staring at it. That's the conclusion Emma Watkins arrives at when she returns to Hayden, Maine—population 2,253; now 2,254—for the first time in nine years. When she sees him for the first time in nine years. When that word leaves his mouth. Buttercup. A pretty nickname in an ugly tone. A term of endearment time twisted into an insult. A taunt that nothing has been forgiven—or forgotten. She's back to sever ties. Break promises. Keep secrets. All easier said than done. The memories she left behind aren't all bad . . . more like mostly good.

When people choose to leave, you should let them. That’s a lesson Lyla Peterson has learned over and over again. Abandoned more than once, her focus is on ensuring her son never experiences that familiar sting, not on lingering questions from the pain-filled past. Until the opportunity arises to seek elusive answers, and Lyla seizes it, opening old wounds and revealing dangerous secrets. He chose to leave. She should have let him.

A reality television dating show was never part of my post-college plan. Nearly broke, unemployed, recently dumped me let my best friend Haley decide it should be. We all have rough patches, right? When nothing sounds better than snuggling on the couch in your favorite sweats, inhaling chocolate? Well, I've signed up for the glamorous version. Designer dresses. Poolside lounge chair. Open bar. Unfortunately, my free vacation takes a turn from mildly humiliating to full-on mortification when the identity of the man I'm meant to woo is revealed.

Losing isn't a trait anyone looks for in a quarterback, and I never won when it mattered. Arlington University was supposed to be a fresh start. But infamy isn't easily forgotten—especially when everyone knows my twin sister is dating my biggest rival. Constant reminders of their relationship have me on edge about Alleghany. Spending a weekend sleeping across the hall from Natalie Jacobs doesn't help. The popular, pretty blonde didn't just celebrate each of my defeats—she literally led the cheer against me.

She's been part of my life since we were kids. The girl who grew up across the street. The responsible, straight-A student destined for success. My little sister's best friend. Nothing like my reckless, impulsive self. But Cassia Nolan has always been my calm in the midst of chaos. All that centers me, besides basketball. I fought falling for her; it happened anyway. Growing older is supposed to involve getting wiser. But me? I keep making the same mistakes. And when the start of our senior year of college reveals some shocking truths, our relationship looks more fragile than ever.