Synopsis
Going into the her second year of high school in the rural town of Laton, Reese was ready to come out of her shell, experience life with her best friends and find a way to tell Titus she wanted to be more than friends. When Josh, the new student, shows up on the first day and a whirlwind relationship starts between him and Reese, she was in her own world and barely noticed her friend spiraling downhill. The night Josh pushed her to far her best friend died, causing her own world to spiral.
Trying to move on from losing her best friend and ignore what Josh did to her, Reese pulls away from everyone. She had to overcome her fears and face her demons to be able to move forward.
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About Author
I'm a wife and mother of four. I
have been writing for as long as I can remember. I use to write fairy tales
when I was in grade school, but now I love writing about those tough high
school years and how one decision can change the course of your life.
Friendships, first loves and over coming the odds all interest me.
Three years ago, I decided life was too short to waste my stories by letting them collect dust on my shelves. I researched querying, took a few writing workshops and wrote the whole time. I first ventured away from what I normally wrote and tried a Paranormal Romance. That novel is tucked safely away. A year ago I chose to go back to my roots and write what I love - friendships, love and choices - how speaking out can save a life, maybe yours or a friends.
I talked to other authors and made wonderful friends. That's when I learned about self-publishing. I'm glad I followed through. I was so nervous to hit publish, but now I am grateful for the encouragement. It was the best decision I've ever made.
I'm usually in front of my
laptop. When I'm not writing I am either trying to catch up on a weeks worth of
laundry or on Facebook. I am a huge procrastinator. Usually close to a
deadline, you can find me actually cleaning house just so I don't have to hit
send. I think sending my books out to betas and my editor is the second
scariest thing in the world. I love Rockstars and PB&J sandwiches. (Not the
healthiest I know but it’s the fastest and it tastes good.)
I love meeting new people, find me on Facebook/deeavilaauthor
or Twitter @deeavilabooks.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeeAvilaAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/deeavilabooks
Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6894904.Dee_Avila
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Dee-Avila/e/B00FCE4ZUU/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
Review
Falling Behind’s one of those stories where you know by the
time it is over you’re more than likely going to be crying more than once.
Titus was faced with a decision of whether or not he should get involved with
his best friends personal lives, but he was stuck between a rock and a hard
place. He made a promise to one friend but how can he keep that promise when he
is falling for the next. This book had such a great meaning I think that not
too many girls today knows what being rape is & they believe that just
because you are in a relationship with someone that it’s ok. I commend Dee for
that, I really loved Titus he was such a gentleman. Great book, 4 stars review
all the way to the bank, I can’t wait to read more book written by Dee Avila,
she’s such a talented author.
Playlist (Reese's)
Excerpt
I
always thought I would end up with Candice. She was the girl everyone wanted to
be with and I was her best friend. Sure, we were boyfriend-girlfriend in
elementary school; but by fifth grade, we had become just friends. Good
friends. That’s when she introduced me to Reese. Reese was this shy little
girl. She’s still shy, if you didn’t know her; and I suppose that is why I
didn’t think things would happen as fast as they did between her and Josh.
Anyway,
the day Candice had made me promise to never date Reese, she also kissed me.
It
was one day last summer, she and Reese had one of their fights and Candice
asked me to go with her to Black Bridge.
“Come
on, Ty, there’s a train coming. Let’s hide by the track.” Candice’s eyes
sparkled with excitement. “It’s the best rush, come on.”
I’d
never been able to say no to Candice. After grabbing my shirt, we crawled up
the levee and headed down to the train tracks.
The
rusted metal bridge had braces every four feet, creating the perfect niche for
teenagers looking for an adrenaline rush to hide. “Let’s duck down into this
first niche,” I suggested.
“No
way. To get the full effect, you have to be in the middle.” She pulled me along
behind her to the center of the bridge. Smiling, she ducked down into the
alcove.
I
pushed back against the bridge wall and stared at the graffiti on the other
side. The newest was a funny fish with sharp teeth, signed SPAZ. Everyone left
their signature, here. Whether it was a gang sign, like F-14 for the Fresno
County Dogs, or just a name and date, it was immortalized in spray paint for
all to see.
I
leaned forward looking left and right for the train that Candice swore she
heard. It was coming from the south and I heard it before I felt the vibrations
or saw it. I hoped it would be an Amtrak. They were shorter. I took in a lung
full of air, wiping my sweaty palms on my shorts to hide my shaking.
Watching
Candice chew her upper lip and search the track, I knew this was her first
time. Screeching metal on metal and the
whirl of the train’s engine had her clutching my hand. My heart raced in panic,
my chest tightening.
Burying
her head in my shoulder, Candice said, “Hold me, I hate trains.”
Candice
had always been one to do overly stupid things—things that scared her, things
that made absolutely no sense, just to seem brave. I never completely
understood it.
A
Thunderous roar filled my ears as screeching metal grated on my every nerve.
Each one of them was alive and pulsing in rhythm with the train. I opened my
eyes to catch the tail end of the train pass by. Thank goodness, it was an
Amtrak. My shoulder was sore where Candice had dug her nails in deep.
“Candice,
we’re safe. Open your eyes.” I lifted her head, my finger on her chin. That was
when Candice kissed me. I expected it to send my head reeling and my heart
pounding, but it never happened. I didn’t feel a thing.
“Thanks
for keeping me safe.”
She
quickly jumped up and trotted down the tracks, heading home. Kissing her had
proven to me there were no longer any feelings other than friendship.
As
we headed home, Candice grabbed my hand, stopping not far from her house. “I
need to ask you something.” Her big hazel eyes searched mine as I nodded and
waited for her to continue.
“I
need you to promise me two things.”
“What?”
My brows pinched together in concern. I never knew what to expect from Candice.
“Promise
me you won’t tell Reese about our kiss, today,” she pleaded, dropping my hand
and holding hers together in front of her as if praying.
Nodding,
I said, “What else?”
“We’re
best friends. The three of us. I
think that.” She let out a long sigh and I rolled my eyes.
This
was not new news. We’ve all been friends for quite a while, now. What was she
getting at? “And?”
“And
I think it’s best if we promise to never date each other and you promise me
you’ll never date Reese.” She paused and I didn’t react or comment. If she didn’t want to date me, then why did
she just kiss me? We’re sophomores in high school, I don’t play little kid
games. Crossing my arms over my chest, I waited for her to continue. She
quickly spat out the rest of her reasoning.
“I need both of you. Neither of you realize how much I’m going to need
you this next year. And if you date, and I know you like her”—
My
eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Huh?”
“I
know you like her. I see the way you look at her. Watch her. I just need to
know that you won’t date her this year. Not yet. In case, if you break up and
never speak to each other again. I need you. I need you, both.”
“It’s
that important to you?”
Candice
nodded. “It is.”
“Why?”
Shaking
her head she answered, “It just is. Please Ty, please promise me.” Candice
blinked away the tears in her eyes and I wondered what had her so worried.
“I
promise.”
Thanks so much for joining my tour and the great review! <3
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