If You Only Knew
Prerna Pickett
Published by: Swoon Reads
Publication date: February 11th 2020
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance
A boy recently released from jail and the daughter of a prosecutor fall for each other against the odds in this YA novel.
Corey has just been released from jail, and all he wants is a new beginning. But when his former gang comes knocking, Corey agrees to vandalize the home of Kent Hopper, the prosecutor who put him away.
To erase the guilt she carries from getting away with a crime, Tessa spends most of her nights riding her motorcycle. When she catches Corey destroying her father’s car, she doesn’t see a criminal: She sees a way to finally right her own wrongs. So instead of turning Corey over to the police, she convinces her father to give Corey a second chance.
As Tessa and Corey spend more time with each other, it becomes difficult to ignore the pull between them. But they’re both keeping secrets, and when those secrets come to light, they’ll each have to face their demons in order to have a future together.
Excerpt:
Dad’s hands were in fists by his side. I could sense
the rage building inside of him. He flared his nostrils.
“Why?” he
said through clenched teeth, stepping toward Corey.
My heart
started to kick harder, and I dropped my arms to my sides, preparing myself for
his next move.
Corey
shrugged. “Because I was angry. Because I felt like it.”
There was no resolve behind his words. Dad flew
across the space between them and grabbed Corey by the collar, startling both
of us. “Do you have any idea the kind of danger you put my daughter in?”
“Dad!” I tried to deter him from the direction he
headed. Which was straight to Pissed- Off Town, one exit away from I’m- Going-
to- Kill- You Ville.
“Tell me who else was involved.” Corey’s face
flushed red, his eyes contained a panic I’d seen a few times in my life. All
from boys who’d come over to pick me up for a date. Fear. He looked so scared
and young. He was simply a boy. A boy dumb enough to return to the scene of the
crime. I shook my head and tried to get rid of those thoughts. Corey should be
scared after what he did.
“Dad.” I lifted my hand and placed it on his
shoulder. “Calm down.” Beneath my fingers, the tension in Dad’s body flexed in
his muscles.
“No, he needs to answer the question first.”
Everything he’d kept in the last forty- eight hours slowly came undone, all the
frustration and anger and hurt.
“Dad,
please,” I pleaded. But he wasn’t listening. “You have to. He’s never going to
talk when you’re attempting to kill him. You’re going to give yourself another
heart attack.” The panic in my voice shook through the grasp I had on it as I
whispered in a harsh tone.
Dad turned to me, his face softening. His body
relaxed, and I removed my hand from his shoulder. “Is this how you pay me for
back what I did for you?” Dad’s body sagged in defeat. “Destroy my home, my
sense of security, put my daughter at risk? You better tell me about the others
before I take you down.” And there it was. Dad and his threats were as familiar
as the freckles on my left forearm. The guy stood up, his eyes roamed my face
in a flash, then went back to Dad’s. What was he doing here? Why wasn’t he at
home?
~~~
Author Bio:
I’m a wife, mom, writer, reader. Lover of foods, beaches, the ocean, shoes, starry nights. Sometimes I pretend like I’m good at drawing.
Thanks for being on the tour! :)
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