Powerless (Finding Love Book 2)
Page 23
Without a word, Savannah turned around and wrapped her arms around Finley in what was their typical awkward hug fashion. Savannah had always been a hugger…Finley not so much, which never stopped Savannah from giving her friend the hug she thought she needed or deserved. This time though, Finley felt the need to wrap her arms around her best friend. Moving back to L.A. was going to be trying and not having Savannah there with her was going to be rough.
“I don’t want you to go.”
“I know, but I’m not going to be that far way, at least not most of the time and wherever we end up going for Liam’s job, I’ll send you postcards and pictures. No matter what, I’ll be back for the wedding too. This isn’t going to be goodbye.”
“I know, but I’m going to miss you.”
“I’ll be just a phone call away. You can call me whenever you want and I’ll do everything I can to answer, even when we’re in a completely different time zone. The only time I won’t answer is well…I won’t go into details, but I’m sure you can guess.”
Savannah laughed. “Probably the same reason I won’t answer when you call. You know what this means don’t you?”
“What?”
“Since you’re deserting me up here without a best friend, you’re going to have to make it up to me by introducing me to one of those Hollywood hotties you’re going to be surrounded by. I’m thinking Mr. Evans will do just fine.”
Finley laughed. “I’ll see what I can do.”
“I love you friend.”
“I love you too Savannah,” Finley said, tightening her arms around her friend just a little. “Now let’s get this show on the road. My man and I have a long drive ahead of us and we have lost time to make up for now that he’s been cleared for moderate physical activity.”
“Oh god…please tell me you don’t plan on christening this moving truck somehow.”
With a smile, Finley patted Savannah on the shoulder. “I guess I’ll just keep our travel plans to myself.”
With her friend sufficiently mortified, Finley was ready to finish packing the truck so they could officially start the trek to her new home. Although she was nervous, she wasn’t nearly as scared to move back as she had been when she left. Over the years, she’d grown and figured out who she really was and what she could be. Now she was headed back to the scene of some of the worst moments in her life, but she was bolstered by the love she felt for Liam and the love he felt for her.
She no longer felt powerless against her past or her future. Finally, for the first time in her life, Finley felt free.
Acknowledgements
When I published Restless back in 2015, I thought that was the most difficult thing I’d ever done. Putting my work out to be read by strangers, to be judged by strangers was scary as hell. That first book was my baby, but I knew immediately that I needed to make book two even better. When I started writing Powerless I realized that publishing book one was easy, writing book two was the difficult part. I struggled to find Finley’s voice and connect to her love interest. Then I started reading my reviews. I knew I’d get bad reviews, I was expecting at least a few, but I wasn’t prepared for how it made me feel.
I let the reviews and my struggles hold me back. I couldn’t write anything or bring myself to market Restless or myself as an author because I felt like a fraud. I spent a good portion of the last year stuck in my head. Eventually I shook it off and as I publish this book I have to thank not only all of the people that supported me and loved the first book, but also those that gave me constructive criticism in their reviews. I appreciate your words because I believe they’ve made me a better writer. Hopefully, it won’t take me another 17 months to publish the next book in the series.
Of course, I have to thank the Hansen clan, Lori, Randy, Desmond, Melissa and Izaiah for their support; I really wouldn’t have been able to do it without them. They are my inspiration and the ones that continue to fuel my drive to follow my dreams.
To Christina Ross, Sami Jacober and Taracina Zebley, thank you so much for your valuable feedback. Finley and Liam’s story is that much better because I have you in my corner giving me amazing advice about the storyline and the cover. Thanks for indulging my crazy over the last 17 months, I know it hasn’t been easy, but I appreciate it more than you will ever know.
To Alana Reeves and Jennifer Huntington, thank you for helping me find and decide on the sexy new cover for Powerless when the old one just wasn’t going to work anymore.
Other Books by Paris Hansen
Finding Love Series
Restless (Book 1) – Out Now
Powerless (Book 2) – Out Now
Speechless (Book 2.5) – Coming Soon
Breathless (Book 3) – Coming Soon
Priceless (Book 3.5) – Coming Soon
Timeless (Book 4) – Coming Soon
About the Author
Paris Hansen was born and raised in Seattle, Washington. She started telling stories at a young age, garnering invitations to writing conferences while in elementary school. Aside from a writer, she also aspired to be a lawyer and an actress as a child, but as a teenager realized she was far better behind the scenes than in front of a crowd. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with an emphasis in English from Washington State University in 2000.
When not writing, Paris devours as many books as she can get her hands on. After a long day at work, unwinding with a good book, a glass of wine and a decent TV show is her idea of a great evening.
She also loves cupcakes, sexy heroes and popcorn, but not always in that order.
To Contact Paris:
E-Mail: pa.hansen13@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorParisHansen/
Twitter: @ParisAja13