by Gina Azzi
My throat dries as she turns her attention to our goddaughter and spins a squealing Maddie in a circle before placing her on her feet.
Zoe wraps an arm around Charlie’s waist and Eli presses a kiss to her cheek and she beams. Caught up in her homecoming, she gives off the same genuine energy, the same warmth, from years ago but with a sophistication that’s new.
The Christmas lights twinkle around her, laughter rings out, and I try to get my bearings as an unexpected wave of emotion swells inside of me.
Nostalgia.
Charlie is home. And it feels…right.
“Welcome home, Charlie,” I manage to say as she glances up.
Her gaze connects with mine and even though her expression never slips, her eyes darken, azure like the sea.
Energy zaps between us as she offers me a quick hug, the scent of her perfume, so familiar it causes my lungs to ache, wrapping around us. “Thanks, Ev. It’s good to be back.”
I nod as she steps away. Ollie and Maddie overwhelm her immediately, pulling her into the living room.
“I can’t wait to see your tree!” Charlie exclaims.
“We have hot chocolate too,” Maddie informs her seriously.
“And marshmallows,” Ollie adds, the excitement in his tone reminding me of when he was younger.
Zoe trails after them.
I suck in a deep inhale as Eli’s hand comes down on my shoulder. “She’s back.”
I nod. “She’s different.”
“She grew up,” my brother explains like it’s the most obvious thing in the world. “You okay?”
I nod again, not voicing how not okay I am.
Eli chuckles, muttering under his breath. He leaves me in the foyer, staring after the whirlwind I was once too scared to be swept up in. Now, I wonder how different things would be if I gave in then.
Would I be as happy as Eli? As content as Zoe? As sure of myself as Charlie?
Would I be the family man I always thought I’d become instead of a guy who can’t seem to get out of his own damn way?
Are you ready for this second chance romance? Preorder Healing My Heart now!
Or read Eli and Zoe’s story from the start in Broken Lies!
Also by Gina Azzi
The Regretful Lies Duet:
Broken Lies
Twisted Truths
Spinoff:
Saving My Soul (Coming September 16)
Healing My Heart (Charlie’s Story - 2020)
The Kane Brothers Series:
Rescuing Broken (Jax’s Story)
Recovering Beauty (Carter’s Story)
Reclaiming Brave (Denver’s Story)
My Christmas Wish
(A Kane Family Christmas
+ One Last Chance FREE prequel)
Finding Love in Scotland Series:
My Christmas Wish
(A Kane Family Christmas
+ One Last Chance FREE prequel)
One Last Chance (Daisy + Finn’s Story)
This Time Around (Aaron’s Story)
One Great Love (Lachlan’s Novella)
The College Pact Series:
The Last First Game (Lila’s Story)
Kiss Me Goodnight in Rome (Mia’s Story)
All the While (Maura’s Story)
Me + You (Emma’s Story)
Young Adult Standalone:
Corner of Ocean and Bay
Acknowledgments
Thank you so much for reading Saving My Soul! I’ve been smitten with Connor Scott and his history with Harlow since I first wrote about them in Broken Lies. Their story stuck with me and I truly loved writing this book!
As always, this book never would have made it to publication without the help and support of so many wonderful souls.
To Becca Mysoor - Working with you is a game changer. I value every single suggestion and note you mark in my manuscript and can’t thank you enough for how much time you spend discussing my characters with me. Or offering feedback on cover designs. Or picking apart my blurbs. I adore you and am so thankful for your guidance and friendship!
To Patrick Hodges - All the thanks for your editing expertise, your fantastic one-liner inputs, and your friendship. I love chatting plot twists with you!
To Virginia Tesi Carey — Thank you for your keen eye and for fixing all my mistakes! I loved working with you!
To Regina Wamba - I LOVE THE ANGST IN THIS COVER! Thank you for creating so many beautiful concepts for me to choose from! It’s the best tough decision to make!
To MPP - Your friendship is one of the best outcomes of this whole writing thing. I adore working with you and love our chats!
To Candi Kane PR - a gazillion thank yous! Thank you for organizing all the promo for Saving My Soul. Your passion for the book world is inspiring.
To all the bloggers, bookstagrammars, and readers - your support means the world to me. Thank you for taking a chance on me and the love stories I write. Thank you for supporting my crazy dream come true.
To Tony - these past six months have been a wild ride! There’s no one I’d rather be quarantined with than you and our babies. Thank you for always putting my goals and dreams on equal footing with yours and constantly restructuring your schedule so I can write and you can dad. I love you. To my babies — Aiva, Rome, and Luna — you’re my world and the best part of every. single. thing.
Happy Reading!
XO,
Gina
About the Author
Gina Azzi writes New Adult and Contemporary Romance with swoony, sincere characters experiencing real life love, friendships, and challenges. She is the author of The Regret Duet, Finding Love in Scotland Series, The Kane Brothers Series, The College Pact Series, and Corner of Ocean and Bay. All of her books can be read as stand-alones.
A Jersey girl at heart, Gina has spent her twenties traveling the world, living and working abroad, before settling down in Ontario, Canada with her husband and three children. She's a voracious reader, daydreamer, and coffee enthusiast who loves meeting new people. Say hey to her on social media or through www.ginaazzi.com.
For more information, connect with Gina at:
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @gina_azzi
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Website: www.ginaazzi.com
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