This is a story that sounds incredibly entertaining because of the Heroine’s voice that’s very clear even in the synopsis. Also, I had the pleasure to talk a little with her, and she’s seriously amazing.
Keep on reading, and you’ll see.
The book is Becker Circle by Addison Brae, a new adults, contemporary suspense romance.
Synopsis: Where no one has to be a victim and everyone deserves a second chance. Will Gillian find hers?
My first and only boyfriend believed I was too gutless to leave. He was dead wrong. My name’s Gillian, and I graduated Harvard early and left his hot temper and everyone else behind for Dallas. Determined to make it on my own, I land a second job bartending at the neighborhood pub smack in drama central where most every jerk in the neighborhood hits on me—at a huge price.
A week into the job, the neighborhood’s very popular drug dealer falls to his death a few feet from the table I’m serving. The cops say suicide, but the hot guitar player in the house band and I suspect foul play, and I intend to prove it. We dig deeper, grow closer, and make a shocking discovery. We know the murderer.
Book trailer: https://youtu.be/WcHmOXoiJSI
Buy links: Amazon US, Amazon UK, Smashwords, iTunes, Kobo, B&N Nook
There we go! Meet Gillian, and her imperfect fresh start in Becker Circle.
Hi Gillian, and thank you for being here with us. Tell us about you.
I’m Gillian Davis, I’m 21 my birthday is September 21, barely a Virgo, and my hometown is Sugar Creek, Missouri, outside of St. Louis
I have a new degree. Dream CPA job. There’s so much I want to experience and a giant past to forget including my ex-boyfriend’s control and hot temper. He never thought I’d leave. It’s my fresh start across the country in Dallas with my own apartment in Becker Circle, the area everyone says is the “it” place to live. After a week, boredom makes me do something else I’ve never done—go to a bar alone. “New Girl” must be stamped across my forehead because every guy in the George & Dragon interviews me like I’m a contestant on The Bachelor. Here are some of the questions I’ve gotten really good at answering.
Are you happy with your life?
I’m lucky to have a second chance. I worked really hard to graduate Harvard a semester early. Here in Dallas, I have a good salary, better weather, and a fresh start. This is how I usually answer since I don’t really know people here yet. I never talk about the real reasons I’m happy to be anywhere but in Boston or at home—Mom’s death, and then losing Dad to the bottle and never wanting to go back to that tiny town. Then there’s what Charles did on my last birthday and Boston not being big enough for both of us even though I miss Lauren like crazy.
Do you miss being a kid and having to do this adulting thing?
I love being on my own. It’s hard sometimes, but it’s lots better than being at home with my dad right now making excuses for him when he passes out every night. I did learn to make a pretty mean Old Fashioned when I was 11 after making them for him every day after Mom got so sick. I’ll forever miss how there was always music in the house. My mom especially loved bands and used to take me to concerts. One of the last things we did together before she got so sick was go to a Queen concert—and I loved it. I had no idea our time together would be so short afterwards.
What do you do?
I’m an accountant by day and bartender at night. I graduated Harvard and am studying to take the certified public accountant exams. I’m so determined to prove to myself and everyone who doubts me that I can make it on my own, so I got a second job bartending at Becker Circle’s neighborhood pub. It’s a job I never imagined an accountant would have—and like so much.
What are your thoughts on love?
I’m sure love exists, but I haven’t found it yet. I just got out of a bad relationship and I’m not ready to be a couple again. Bringing up the memories of my starting-over-after-a-bad-relationship saga typically kills a conversation with someone you just met. If no one here knows my past, it will be easier to forget.
Everyone around here has tattoos. What and where is yours?
Wow. No one’s ever asked me that before. I have a teddy bear about the size of a postage stamp that most people will never see. I never share that it’s what my ex gave me for my twenty-first birthday last year. One of the many reminders I’d like to forget.
What would you change about yourself?
I always ask myself how someone so smart can be so stupid—especially with guys. I’ve got book smarts, but my ex always doubted my common sense. Every day here I’m getting more street wise. I’ve screwed up, but I always own up and I won’t do it twice. I never want to repeat the mistake I made getting with my ex.
What’s in your refrigerator right now?
What, like food? I have some half and half for my coffee, leftover takeout, OJ and a couple of partial containers of soup. I think.
What are you most afraid of?
Being controlled and stuck in a bad place. My abusive ex controlled me and I got out. Alcohol controls my dad, and I can’t save him. I never again want to feel trapped.
What’s the hardest thing about moving to Dallas?
Before I got the job at the pub, it was hard to meet fun people to hang out with. The people I work with are older and have kids or their idea of fun is networking happy hours with other accountants. Now I know Becker Circle has more drama than the Kardashians, and most every jerk in the neighborhood hits on me. Without my sense of humor and best friend back in Boston I’d have no self-respect left. Lots of people look totally together from the outside, but they’re not. They only want to party. It’s part of what makes up Becker Circle.
What do you like about Becker Circle?
It’s cool to be able to walk to work and to restaurants. We have a great park, but mostly it’s the interesting people. When I’m walking in the neighborhood now I see people I know. They’ve made me feel welcomed here. And since I met Jon? He makes me want to stay here forever.
Thank you for coming by, Gillian!
Excerpt
I peek back at my butt in these loose-fitting jeans and all I see is sad. Remembering what my new boss said about better tips if I wear something a little sexy, I button a plaid shirt halfway up to show a little, glance in the mirror and fasten one more. I’m nothing like my curvy new next door neighbor in that dress.
Even though I had to borrow a can opener from her to eat lunch today, I’m prepared with every bartender’s necessity. A good bar blade. I dig out the still shiny one I used to open bottles during my forty-two days of bartending at the place on Harvard Square back in Boston before Connor made me quit and stick it in my back pocket so I don’t look like a total rookie. With the scarf Lauren gave me for Christmas tucked inside my jacket, I message her before I talk myself out of it. “First night. Wish me luck!”
Mixers and whisky brands and vodka flavors run through my head on the short walk to the first shift of my new night job. My jacket shields me from the cold as I step through the circles of light shining on the dark red brick sidewalk. A couple jogs by totally into one another, and three guys who were probably high school stars toss a football near the fountain yelling back for not doing it right. What am I doing? Am I invisible? Everyone’s with someone just like I was. Taking the CPA job in Dallas seemed like such a great idea. It’s where no one knows me. Away from Connor. Before he had a chance to break me.
Rule one of my new life – forget about what already happened. Period.
You can catch the Autor on her website:
Website: www.addisonbrae.com
MacKade ~ V.V. Strange 