Contrition by Lee Strauss
(Perception #3)
Publication date: September 26th 2013
Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult
Synopsis:
Zoe, Noah and the other plane crash survivors are stranded in the Arizona desert.
They all have secrets,
and reasons to hide.
But they’re not alone.
Cyborg soldiers.
War.
Humans and humanoids.
Who can be trusted?
Zoe’s life is in danger.
Noah must make an impossible choice.
Will their love survive their brokenness?
Will the world as they know it end before they can find out?
Excerpt
But Taylor wasn’t an idiot. He moved to catch my eyes. “It’s
lonely here, Zoe. Mary’s hot and all, especially with her badass gig going
on—you know, when she’s not laid out with busted ribs—but she’s not like us.”
Not like us. Taylor
was the only other GAP here. His parents had had him genetically altered before
they’d died in a car crash. Before they’d had a chance to have the procedure
done to his sister. Before he and Hannah had been adopted by cult relatives.
“I think we need more than just that in common to make
something work,” I said. I’d had a GAP boyfriend before, and that relationship
had been a disaster on so many levels.
“Okay, like what?” Taylor smirked. “Physical attraction?
Check. Intelligence compatibility? Check. Marooned on a desert rock? Check.”
I smiled. Taylor was right about all those things. I did find
him attractive and intelligent. It was what had gotten me into trouble at the
commune. All that and his charisma had charmed me into kissing him.
It was the kiss of death for my tenuous relationship with
Noah. I’d apologized a million times since and had done everything short of
begging Noah to let me back in. Actually, I had begged. He’d stubbornly
insisted that his lack of GAP status was reason enough for us to stay apart.
That and the fact that he no longer trusted me. Or trusted in
my memories of him. Memories lost prior to our stint at the commune, thanks to
dear ol’ Grandpa V, who’d stolen them from me.
Taylor wasn’t wrong, though. Sharing GAP status did mean
something. I wouldn’t have to worry about him cutting out on me because of
that, using it as an excuse to leave. To stay away. I longed for a commitment
that went beyond just looking out for my physical safety. And he was charming
and cute.
But I couldn’t deny what my heart wanted and right now it
wanted Noah Brody.
Taylor could read the conflict on my face. “Come on, Zoe.
Don’t waste time waiting for him. He’s moved on.”
My heart stopped when he said that. The truth hurt. He might
or might not have moved on to Mary, but it was pretty obvious he wanted to move
on from me. I pinched my eyes shut, but a lone tear escaped. Taylor’s finger
ran along my cheek, scooping it up. I gasped at his gentle touch. I might be
pining for Noah, but I couldn’t deny that I also had feelings for Taylor Blake.
Taylor’s mouth moved to my ear, and I trembled when his hot
breath caressed my neck.
“He’s not worth it.”
Noah’s voice chimed in. “Am I interrupting?”
Lee Strauss writes historical and science fiction/romance for upper YA and adult readers. She also writes light and fun stuff under the name Elle Strauss. To find out more about Lee and her books check out her facebook page. Follow her on Twitter https://twitter.com/elle_strauss to find out about new releases sign up for her newsletter at www.ellestraussbooks.com
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I love perception and looking forward to the next one!
ReplyDeleteI haven't begun this series yet, but it does sound great.
ReplyDelete