Today we welcome Sarah Strohmeyer on our blog to feature her new YA book that was released this May, The Secret of Lily Graves. Scroll down to read an excerpt from the book and follow the tour courtesy of Pinoy Book Tours. Have fun!
Blurb: With the intrigue of Pretty Little Liars and plenty of romance, bestselling author Sarah Strohmeyer weaves a story of secrets and lies—set in a funeral parlor.
Growing up in a house of female morticians, Lily Graves knows all about buried secrets. She knows that perfect senior-class president Erin Donohue isn’t what she seems. She knows why Erin’s ex-boyfriend, hot football player Matt Houser, broke up with her. And she also knows that, even though she says she and Matt are just friends, there is something brewing between them—something Erin definitely did not like.
But secrets, even ones that are long buried, have a way of returning to haunt their keeper.
So when Erin is found dead the day after attacking Lily in a jealous rage, Lily's and Matt’s safe little lives, and the lives of everyone in their town of Potsdam, begin to unravel. And their relationship—which grew from innocent after-school tutoring sessions to late-night clandestine rendezvous—makes them both suspects.
As her world crumbles around her, Lily must figure out the difference between truth and deception, genuine love and a web of lies. And she must do it quickly, before the killer claims another victim.
Growing up in a house of female morticians, Lily Graves knows all about buried secrets. She knows that perfect senior-class president Erin Donohue isn’t what she seems. She knows why Erin’s ex-boyfriend, hot football player Matt Houser, broke up with her. And she also knows that, even though she says she and Matt are just friends, there is something brewing between them—something Erin definitely did not like.
But secrets, even ones that are long buried, have a way of returning to haunt their keeper.
So when Erin is found dead the day after attacking Lily in a jealous rage, Lily's and Matt’s safe little lives, and the lives of everyone in their town of Potsdam, begin to unravel. And their relationship—which grew from innocent after-school tutoring sessions to late-night clandestine rendezvous—makes them both suspects.
As her world crumbles around her, Lily must figure out the difference between truth and deception, genuine love and a web of lies. And she must do it quickly, before the killer claims another victim.
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Excerpt
“Well,
you know how guys are in their senior year,” I said, trying to be diplomatic.
“Got to spend their final semesters with their bros and all that.”
She
swung out her leg, blocking my path. “Um, I don’t think bros are the problem.
It’s more like the hos.” Her lips
twisted. “Or, to be more specific, one ho. You.”
I
sucked in a breath. “Actually, Matt and I. . .”
“Eh,
eh, eh.” She tick-tocked her finger. “Correction. There is no Matt and you.
Never has been. Never will be.”
I
bit my lip and remained still, staring at her outstretched leg. There were five
rows to go and I didn’t want to have to come back. But I also didn’t want to
get into a confrontation.
“Look,
Erin, I have to keep moving if I want to get this finished while there’s
daylight.”
I
attempted to sneak by, but she slid off the tombstone and blocked my way.
“You’re not going anywhere until we hash this out.”
The
caretaker was in the gatehouse watching the game on TV. My phone was locked in
my aunt’s car on the street. We were almost in the woods and it was beginning
to dawn on me that if something happened, no one would hearme scream.
She
took a step forward. I took a step back, my heel hitting the base of a
headstone. She was so close, I could smell her breath; it possessed an alarming
metallic odor.
“Come
on, Erin, cut it out.” I gave her a slight push, but she wouldn’t budge.
“You
tried to turn Matt against me.”
My
pulse had started to race. I was beginning to panic. “Excuse me,” I said,
shifting to the right.
Erin
shifted to her left. “When he realizes you told him a pack of lies, he’ll be
back.”
“And
I’m sure you’ll be very happy. Now, if you don’t mind. . .”
“I’m
the only one he’ll ever really love.”
If
I could just get to the gatehouse, I’d be safe. But the gatehouse was all the
way at the bottom of the cemetery road. At least I was in Doc Martens, while
Erin was in Frye boots with clunky heels. There was a chance.
And
then a gust of wind stirred up a curtain of leaves and I went for it, ducking
under her and running as fast as I could, leaving my bag of debris behind. The
road was in sight, when I stupidly slipped on the damp grass and stumbled.
It
was all she needed.
Erin
clamped onto my forearm and gave it a cruel twist, taking her hissy fit to a
whole new level. I whimpered as she hauled me upright, and I cursed. I did not
deserve this kind of abuse. Lots of girls had practically thrown themselves at
Matt. I’d merely been his friend. So why was he taking out her rage on me?
Author Bio
Sarah Strohmeyer is the award-winning, nationally bestselling author of fifteen novels one of which, THE CINDERELLA PACT, became a Lifetime Movie, LYING TO BE PERFECT.
Her first mystery, BUBBLES UNBOUND, won the Agatha Award and THE SLEEPING BEAUTY PROPOSAL was nominated for a prestigious RITA™. Her books have been translated into German, French, Italian, Turkish, Taiwanese and a bunch of others.
Her first young adult novel, SMART GIRLS GET WHAT THEY WANT, will be published by Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins, on June 26, 2012.
Follow her on these sites
Seems pretty good to me. Nice excerpt.
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