Excerpt Blitz: Leave A Mark

This book may be unsuitable for people under 17 years of age due to its use of sexual content, drug and alcohol use, and/or violence.

Leave a Mark by Stephanie Fournet
Published by Smashwords Edition on April 28th 2016
Format: eBook
Goodreads

Dyed, pierced, and covered in tattoos, Wren Blanchard is the exact opposite of everything Dr. Lee Hawthorne thought he wanted.

His residency is almost finished. With the perfect job, the beautiful house, and the polished girlfriend, he knows he should be happy, yet he isn't.

But once Wren lands in his ER with her sharp tongue and artist’s soul, she leaves a mark on him that just won’t fade.

Wren knows the good doctor is way out of her league. To people like him, she's a circus freak. Besides, she's not the type to get hung up on guys, especially ones with midnight blue eyes—ones who know all about antiques, crack bad jokes, and love Joss Whedon.

No. She doesn't need that.

After all, she has friends, a psychotic cat, and a promising career as one of the best tattoo artists in town. And it’s enough.

Really, it is.

Or it would be if Lee weren’t there every time she turned around.

One kiss seals their fate.

Their attraction is undeniable--but Wren’s past is full of ghosts. Is their bond strong enough for a solid future? Or will their new relationship crumble beneath the weight of all she carries?

Every once in awhile I like to jump on tour with a new novel coming out from authors I’ve never heard of in attempt to broaden my blog’s scope and my own personal horizons. I really love promoting authors who are up-and-coming in their genres and adding their books to my TBR list to check out myself. I definitely think Leave a Mark sounds like a cute novel with great promise. Don’t believe me? Read an except and be the judge. Also, Jen Halligan PR kindly provided an International Giveaway for a $25 Amazon Giftcard!

Much thanks to Jen Halligan PR for brining this book to my attention!

Excerpt from Leave a Mark

She studied him for a moment. “Are you still in your residency?”

The question surprised him. “Yes. Is it that obvious?”

Her startled laughter was the only answer he needed. And Lee wanted to hear it

again — even if she laughed at him.

“I mean, I’m licensed. It’s not like I just have my learner’s permit or anything.” It was

a bad joke. An awful joke, but it worked because she kept laughing. Her laughter was

a mix of high and low notes, like a handbell choir. And like music, he could feel it in

his chest.

“That’s not what I meant,” she said, her smile untamed. “You just look really young,

and I’ve heard that residents have — like — negative time.”

He gave her a helpless grin. “Negative time. That’s about right. Who told you that?”

Her smile demurred. “One of my clients.”

“One of your clients is a resident?” His curiosity pounced. Did he know someone

who was secretly covered in Wren’s work?

“Who?”

She shook her head, but her smile never failed. “I don’t tat and tell. Tattooing is very

personal. If someone wants you to see their work, you’ll see it. But I don’t talk about

my clients.”

Even though he was the one asking, Lee liked that she wouldn’t answer. “You don’t

talk about them at all?”

Wren raised and dropped her right shoulder in a half shrug, but she still smiled at

him. “Well, I don’t identify them.” Her voice softened, but Lee thought he heard a

touch of pride. “I’ll talk about the artwork, or I’ll retell a funny story someone told

me while I worked on them, but I don’t go around talking about who was in my

parlor.”

“That’s cool,” he managed, even though it was more than cool. After seeing her

artwork on the walls of her apartment, he already respected her as a professional,

but she clearly had integrity on top of talent. He wanted to know more, but more

than anything, Lee wanted her to keep talking. “What kind of tats did you do today?”

Her smile grew, and again her cheeks colored. He found his eye drawn to the

translucent skin below her cheekbones. Wren’s fair complexion was an alluring

contrast to her black and blue hair, but when she blushed, Lee found it impossible to

look away.

“Well, let’s see…” Her green eyes swiveled to the ceiling as she recounted. “I did a

fleur-de-lis for this girl who turned eighteen today. I inked a Captain America shield

on this guy’s bicep—”

Lee laughed, not so much about the tattoo choice, but at the look of amusement in

her eyes.

“Yeah, he was definitely an Avengers fan… Um…” She paused to tally on

her fingers. “…I touched up a Celtic knot for a lady, and I worked on a larger piece

for one of my regulars.”

“What was it?” Lee asked, intrigued with the way her face softened when she

thought about her work.

“Oh, it’s a dragon. Pretty big.” Wren drew a serpentine shape across her chest. “A

piece like that needs to be worked on in stages, so we did some of the shading

today.”

He had more questions. He could have stood there listening to her all night, but the

rational part of his brain told him to give it a rest. They were in the middle of the

grocery store. If he wanted to talk to her more, he should ask her out for coffee.

But you can’t ask her out. You’re seeing someone.

“You’re really talented. I’m sure you stay pretty busy. You seem…” He couldn’t find

the words for what he wanted to say. He wanted to tell her that she seemed like the

kind of person he could talk to — listen to — for hours. And that he would’ve liked

the chance. That she was special, and he knew it. “…you seem perfect — I mean…

you are unique.”

He didn’t question why she stared at him with unblinking eyes. What the hell had he

just said? She was perfect? Who talked like that?

But in the seconds after he’d blurted out the words, he watched her eyes light with a

smile — a surprised and genuine smile, and he realized he didn’t regret the words at

all.

“Um… thank you?” What had been pink on her cheeks was now scarlet, and Lee

thought he might have turned a little pink, too.

“I should let you get back to your shopping,” he said, clearing his throat. He didn’t

want to walk away. Maybe if he just stood there, she’d leave first, and he’d be able to

watch her go.

“Yeah…” She didn’t move.

Neither of them moved.

“…yeah, I should go.”

“It was great running into you,” he said in a rush. “I’m glad you are feeling better.”

“It was nice running into you, too, Dr.—”

“Lee,” he interjected.

She bit her lip and smiled. “Lee,” she said with a nod. “It was so nice, Lee.”

It was selfish. He’d made her say his name and, again, as he knew he would, he felt a

stirring — like fingers running down his sternum. He’d never liked the sound of his

name so much.

“Wren,” he said with a nod, liking the feel of her name on his tongue even more.

“Goodnight.” She turned and left him.

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