Book Blitz + Giveaway: Barren (Barren) by Elizabeth Miceli

Barren (Barren)
by Elizabeth Miceli
Publisher: Swoon Romance
Release date: October 6th 2015
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult


Synopsis:

I cried, praying for him to finish. I closed my eyes and tried to envision myself somewhere else… somewhere where I was happy. I thought of my family all piled around our tree on Christmas morning. I thought of singing with my band. I thought of Caitlin and me baking cookies and watching movies together. But after just a few seconds of pretending, Mike would hit me or thrust deeper and I would be back in reality. I was being raped. I was all alone. I was the damsel in distress. And there was no one there to save me.

Seventeen-year-old Stacey Lorenzo’s poor self-esteem has always consumed her. When her significant weight loss leaves her still feeling powerless- and with an eating disorder- she turns to partying to cope. This only makes matters worse because at a party she is raped, which leaves her psyche at an all-time low. Stacey drugs, cuts, and hooks up with countless guys in an attempt to find herself. But if Stacey doesn’t find a way to face her demons and overcome her fears, she might find herself in a hole so dark, even love won’t be able to pull her out.

            “What about those?” he asked, walking toward me. He had on all his clothes now, and he pointed to the thin, red scars running over the surface of my stomach.

            “I … ” I started, trying to find a good excuse. I was still fucked up. The words wouldn’t come to me. “I don’t know,” was all I could come up with. His face seemed pained at first, truly upset, but then his emotion changed to anger and his frown hardened into a thin line.

 “That’s such a fucking lie.”

            “I’m not lying,” I whispered. I didn’t like when he got angry with me in general, but now that Mike had happened, guys getting angry made me fear for my safety. Guys could hurt me.

            “Yes, you are,” he said, his face red.

            “Stop, Devan,” I said, hoping to God he’d drop the subject. For Christ’s sake, if I wanted to talk to him, I would have already.

            “Why are you cutting yourself?” he asked, coming closer to me. He was holding me now. His protective arms were around my shoulders. He was the man. I was the little girl.

            “Back off, Devan.” I spoke into his chest.

            “It’s about that guy, isn’t it?” he asked, looking down at me. “You’re cutting because that guy raped you.”

Elizabeth hails from the smallest state with the biggest heart. She started off at The University of Akron and then transferred to the University of Rhode Island. She is a double major in both Psychology and Human Development and Family Studies. Although she loves writing- she also has a passion for helping others which is why she is studying to become a sex therapist/couples counselor. Elizabeth loves spending time with her family and friends, singing, eating everything Italian, and baking cookies. She is “in love with love” which is probably why the driving force in almost everything she writes is romance. When she’s not getting lost in her characters she can be found waiting for her prince charming in her North Kingstown, Rhode Island home.

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