Finding Sam by Taylor Lavati

Title:  Finding Sam (A Reliant Love #2) 

Author: Taylor Lavati 

Book Tour: September 21 - October 2 

Genre: New Adult Dark Romance 

Hosted by: S.B.B. Promotions

Sometimes, the past isn’t supposed to be forgotten.

Sam is convinced he’s cursed. Everything he touches dies. He leaves his past behind and travels across the country, hoping the distance will save the loved ones he’s left.  When his car breaks down, he becomes stranded, finding comfort in a stray dog.

Despite the fact that he refuses to build any relationships, the people of Sterling, Colorado wiggle their way into his heart. His adopted dog, Lucky, shows him he can handle responsibility. His new boss, Lenny, shows him he has purpose. His neighbor, Izzy, shows him he’s capable of love again. But can Sam find happiness after he’s lost it all?

Finding Sam, the sequel to the bestselling novel of addiction and attraction, A Reliant Love, is a tale of redemption, acceptance, and finding yourself.

 ~ Excerpt One ~

“Oh.” I look up to see a dog’s droopy cheeks lift up as its tongue spills out the side of his mouth, his large teeth, white and jagged. A dribble of saliva falls onto my bare stomach. Gag. “What do you want?” I hold my hands up in surrender. I don’t want the big guy to attack me. Although he doesn’t look scary or threatening, he must weigh a hundred pounds at least. He has smooth brown hair that lays down across his forehead. A dusting of white blazes across his chest and toes. He’s cute. I tentatively brush my hand along his neck since he seems nice enough. I feel around for a tag or chip or anything to identify him, but there’s no collar.

“Where’s your owner?” I glance up and down the highway, but barely any cars pass. What the hell is a dog doing out here? He lowers his head into my hand and puts all his weight on me, begging for attention. I crack a smile. “You’re a good boy, huh?” I run my hand across his flabby cheek, keeping my movements soft. I don’t want to rattle him. This guy could definitely eat me.

I pull my hand back, but he leans forward, nudging me with his snout. I wrinkle my nose. Needy little fucker. I lean back against the car tire. The dog follows me as I lean back and plops his body beside me, sitting upright. Well he is definitely a she. I can see that loud and clear now.

“Sorry, girl. You’re just a big brute, aren’t you?” As if understanding my words, she widens her big brown eyes and nudges me again, this time my cheek while wagging her tail. I laugh as I pull out my pack of reds and light a cigarette. She lies down and rests her long head across my hurt knee.

~ Excerpt 2 ~

“I shouldn’t be here,” I mutter under my breath.

“Like in this town or here in the kitchen with me?” She quirks her head to the side and crosses her arms over her chest. It’s defensive, but not, at the same time. More likely a precautionary arm cross.

“Both.”

“Do you not like me? I know I can talk a lot, and I’m trying hard to be positive in this awkward situation. Sometimes it’s just one comment too much that can set someone off. I’m sure you can tell, but I’m normally really upbeat and positive.” She nods like a hundred times.

“Why?”

“Anything can happen at anytime, so you have to live every day like it’s your last. That guy just pisses me off.” She shakes her head, dragging in a loud breath.

“Listen, I’m not begging you to like me,” she says as she slams the refrigerator door shut. “It’s just that you’re new around here, and I saw you as a clean slate. I just want to be friends, so if you have a girlfriend, that’s fine.” She steps forward and grabs my forearm. I stare down at where our bare flesh connects. “Seriously, I’m not a relationship person. I don’t believe in relationships, but I do respect them. I’d never step on another girl’s toes. I just want to be friends.”

“I’m leaving the second my car is fixed.” My words ring with finality. Her hand falls from me as she steps backwards towards the fridge like I slapped her.

~ Excerpt 3 ~

When we get outside, I light my cigarette and lean against the fencing that’s falling apart. I guess I should add that to the list on the yellow, lined piece of paper next. One swift wind and the entire thing would collapse. Izzy stands so close to me that my smoke blows across her face in the cool breeze.

“Sorry, I’ll move over.”

“No, don’t. I like the smell.” She shuts her eyes and pulls in a breath full of second-hand smoke.

“Do you smoke?” I ask as I take another drag.

“I used to. Not anymore, though. I just eat a shit ton of food to make up for the urges.” She giggles and breathes in the smoke. She walks to the side of the building and leans against the stairwell.

She looks over at me with questions in her wide eyes.

“You’re going to make me answer even though it makes me uncomfortable? That’s not very nice.”

“Nobody said I was nice. I said welcoming.” She winks at me. My stomach flips. “Get to your two truths and a lie. Come on.” She whines and the tone her voice takes on reminds me instantly of Nat. I push the thought into the depths of my mind and pretend the deja vu never happened.

It’s the first time I ignore something good about Nat.

“My favorite place is a lake; I hate spaghetti; I destroy everything I touch.”

~ Excerpt 4 ~

“Do you feel it?” Her eyes dip low. Her breath skates across my face. My heart murmurs, my body trembles. I’m shaking my head because she can’t know how much I feel when she’s near. Or how much she affects me. I’ve felt this before, with Sarah and Nat. And it scared me just as much then.

She places her hand on my chest, out feet swishing past the others as we both tread. “Let me in, Sam. I can help you. I know it. Just trust me, and let go.” I know she can feel my stupid heart racing. My nervousness is transparent.

Her fingers brush down my jaw. They trail their way around my neck. I pull in a breath, hoping to calm down, but it doesn’t work. Her fingertips send hot pulses through my body. I only see Izzy right now. I only care about her happiness.

Her lips come down on mine and I’m shocked to reality. “What are you doing?” My voice comes out harsh as I push her away. “You can’t kiss me!”

I dive under the water and swim towards the shore like I’m competing in a one hundred meter dash. I’ll walk all the way back to the shop if I have to. I can’t be near her. Not right now. Maybe not ever. How dare she try to kiss me after what I’ve told her? All the warnings?

Trust her? What a fucking joke. She just broke any trust we had built. She ruined what we could have had. I thought we’d be friends, but now I just…can’t. Not after I felt her lips against mine.

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~ A Reliant Love ~

Nathalie Carter wants one thing: independence. She has paid her dues by living at home under her parents’ watchful eyes, earning grades to give her a ticket out and joining clubs she had no interest in to get into college.

She plans to experience things she believes every new adult should—from falling in love to playing beer pong and pulling an all-nighter to skipping class because she’s too hungover. But nothing ever seems to go as planned, and she gets pulled into a world she never imagined existed.

Samuel Torrington’s past refuses to release him from its vise-like grip; but he has a plan, and once his senior year of college is over, he can finally move away and start anew. His addictions help him get through day-to-day life, but he’s constantly battling darker demons.

Fate brings the two together, and chance takes them on a roller coaster ride that neither would dare hop off. Within destiny’s grasp, they realize there are two things impossible to fight—addiction and attraction.

Taylor Lavati is a twenty-something year old author residing in a small town in Connecticut with her husband and dog. She writes both Young Adult and New Adult with ranging genres from fantasy, A Curse Books trilogy, to dark romance, A Reliant Love. Romance with a bit of CHAOS. Find out more at taylorlavati.com

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