“Minus the clothes,” I murmured against his lips.
He chuckled and held the back of my head, deepening the kiss and giving my senses a small preview of things to come.
I gripped his curls and rocked against him, enjoying the sheer pleasure of making out in the middle of the day. I had to go get my friend, but five minutes playing “tongue twister” with my man was exactly what newlyweds were supposed to do.
And that’s what Justin and I were.
Newlyweds.
We’d had a two-night honeymoon in Paris then flew home to LA to start afresh in a marriage that neither of us was willing to give up on.
*****
Thank you so much for reading Rough Water. If you’ve enjoyed it and would like to show me some support, please consider leaving an honest review.
KEEP READING TO FIND OUT ABOUT THE NEXT SONGBIRD NOVEL…
The next Songbird Novel belongs to:
Jane & Harry
GERONIMO
Due for release in summer 2016
Jane is on a mission of self-discovery. Having lost the love of her life in a horrific motorcycle accident on their wedding day, she’s been a shell of the woman she once was. Learning to live without Blake is going to take more than just waking up each morning. So, she leaves for England to return to the place it all ended, in the hopes of figuring out how to negotiate life on her own. What she doesn’t expect is to meet Harry Tindal, and for the hunky Brit to present her with a surprising proposition.
Harry never intended to approach the red-haired beauty when she stepped into the pub, but the music drew his feet her way. Before he knew it, he’d struck up a conversation with the fascinating woman, only to discover they were on similar missions. Trying to escape his painful past, Harry decides to step out of his comfort zone and invite Jane to join him for a fortnight of no regrets.
“No sex. No histories. No awkward conversations. Just two people living life to the max for two weeks. Then we say adios, thanks for a good time, and go our separate ways.”
Jane can’t resist, and the couple embarks on a journey of faith that soon turns into something neither of them expected. As hearts unfurl, truths rise to the surface and the couple must decide if they’re able to risk love once more and hand their hearts to someone new.
**SPECIAL OFFER**
If you’d like to receive two digital Songbird Novels for free—Fever and Home—plus some extra bonuses for newsletter subscribers only (including an exclusive Chaos novella), you can follow this link to find out more:
MELISSA PEARL’S SONGBIRD NOVELS
MELISSA PEARL’S SONGBIRD NOVELS
THE SONGBIRD NOVELS CAN BE PURCHASED ON AMAZON
FEVER
Ella & Cole’s story
BULLETPROOF
Morgan & Sean’s story
EVERYTHING
Jody & Leo’s story
HOME
Josh & Rachel’s story
TRUE LOVE
Jimmy & Nessa’s story
TROUBLEMAKER
Marcus and Kelly’s story
NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR
This has been a tough story to write. Heartache hurts, and broken love can be one of the hardest things to overcome. Sarah and Justin’s story is soaked in sadness. I cried many tears while writing it.
So, why did I want to write such a book? Why explore such a sensitive topic?
I guess I wanted to unpack the idea that love doesn’t need to be perfect to work…and that good things can come out of bad situations.
Sorrow can teach us so much. It’s certainly taught me a thing or two. And I always find it so amazing how bright the light can be after you’ve waded through the darkness. Suffering makes us appreciate the good times that much more.
Thank you for sticking with Justin and Sarah, for not giving up when things looked so hopeless for them. Thank you for giving them time to work through their pain, for walking with them as they forgave each other…and themselves. I wanted this story to be about overcoming our deepest fears and choosing to become the kind of person we want to be.
Sometimes love does need to be a choice.
I hope this book has touched you in some way…tugged on your heartstrings just a little. It’s such a privilege to write these Songbird novels. Thank you for letting me explore the complexities of love…and allowing me to accompany these journeys with songs that have touched my heart.
xx
Melissa
Keep reading for the playlist and the link to find it on Spotify.
ROUGH WATER SOUNDTRACK
(Please note: The songs listed below are not always the original versions, but the ones I chose to listen to while constructing this book. The songs are listed in the order they appear.)
ANGEL
Performed by Casting Crowns
SHE’S GOT A WAY
YOUR BODY IS A WONDERLAND
Performed by John Mayer
ROUGH WATER
Performed by Travie McCoy and Jazon Mraz
I SEE YOU
Performed by Mika
GOOD GUYS
Performed by Mika
EMILY
Performed by Mika
GIRL PUT YOUR RECORDS ON
Performed by The Alley Cats
DON’T KNOW WHY
Performed by Norah Jones
WHERE I BELONG
Performed by Lindsey Ray
BULLETPROOF WEEKS
Performed by Matt Nathanson
HELLO
Performed by Adele
AIN’T NO SUNSHINE
Performed by Joan Osborne
I LOVE YOU ALWAYS FOREVER
Performed by Donna Lewis
THE BOOK OF LOVE
Performed by Gavin James
QUIET
Performed by Jason Mraz
I LOVE THE WAY YOU LOVE ME
Performed by Boyzone
WITHOUT YOU
Performed by Boyce Avenue
SAY SOMETHING
Performed by Pentatonix
NOT JUST YOU
Performed by Ebony Day
ONE CALL AWAY
Performed by Charlie Puth
DISTANCE
Performed by Christina Perri and Jason Mraz
CONFESSION
Performed by Florida Georgia Line
HAPPY ENDING
Performed by Mika
I WON’T GIVE UP
Performed by Jason Mraz
ALL ABOUT US
Performed by He Is We and Owl City
To enhance your reading experience, you can listen along to the playlist for ROUGH WATER on Spotify.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Creating a book is most definitely a group effort. I’d like to especially thank:
My critique readers: Cassie and Rae. This book was really hard to construct. Thank you so much for helping me get the story right.
My editor: Laurie. Once again, your edits and advice have been invaluable.
My proofreaders: I so appreciate your time and attention.
My advanced reading team: Thanks for the love. It means the world to me how much you enjoy the Songbird Novels.
My cover designer and photographer: Regina. This image is perfect…like you shot it just for this book. Thank you for once again creating magic.
My fellow writers: Inklings and Indie Inked. Thanks for your constant support and encouragement.
My fan club and readers: THANK YOU! I love and appreciate you guys so much.
My Mika buddy: Nadine - thank you for introducing me to this amazing artist…and thank you for being my singing buddy and kindred spirit. I love you.
My family: You are my constant source of love and encouragement. Thank you.
My savior: Thank you for choosing us. For sacrificing everything so we could glimpse how real and perfect your love is.
OTHER BOOKS BY MELISSA PEARL
The So
ngbird Novels
Fever — Bulletproof — Everything — Home — True Love — Troublemaker — Rough Water
Coming in summer 2016: Geronimo
The Space Between Heartbeats
Plus two novellas: The Space Before & The Space Beyond
The Fugitive Series
I Know Lucy — Set Me Free
The Masks Series
True Colors — Two-Faced— Snake Eyes — Poker Face
The Time Spirit Trilogy
Golden Blood — Black Blood — Pure Blood
The Elements Trilogy
Unknown — Unseen — Unleashed
The Mica & Lexy Series
Forbidden Territory—Forbidden Waters
Find out more on Melissa Pearl’s website: www.melissapearlauthor.com
ABOUT MELISSA PEARL
Melissa Pearl is a kiwi at heart but currently lives in Suzhou, China with her husband and two sons. She trained as an elementary school teacher but has always had a passion for writing and finally completed her first manuscript in 2003. She has been writing ever since, and the more she learns, the more she loves it.
She writes young adult and new adult fiction in a variety of romance genres—paranormal, fantasy, suspense, and contemporary. Her goal as a writer is to give readers the pleasure of escaping their everyday lives for a while and losing themselves in a journey…one that will make them laugh, cry, and swoon.
CONNECT WITH MELISSA PEARL
You can contact Melissa Pearl online:
Website:
http://www.melissapearlauthor.com/news
YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/user/melissapearlauthor
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/melissapearlauthor
Melissa Pearl Fan Club:
Melissa Pearl Fan Club on Facebook
Instagram:
https://instagram.com/melissapearlauthor/
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/MelissaPearlG
Pinterest:
http://www.pinterest.com/melissapearlg/
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Blurb & Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Epilogue
Note From The Author
Soundtrack
Acknowledgements
Other Books by Melissa Pearl
About Melissa Pearl
Connect with Melissa Pearl