First Came You
Fate series #0.5
Faith Andrews
Genre: New Adult
Publication Date: May 5, 2015
First comes a nickel,
Then comes a shove,
Then comes loss only conquered by his love.
This is the story of my first true love. The story of how the boy next door protected me, became my best friend, stole my heart, and rescued me from my darkest despair.
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Do you ever wonder how to write a well written novella? Well, Faith Andrews’ First Came You is a prime of example of what you SHOULD do. This short story is a very powerful and well written novella. It has everything you want for a good read and packs a punch in such a small amount of words! This is actually the first thing by Faith I have ever read… *hangs head in shame* I know that is insane since she is one of my favorite Indie Authors- she is fun to socialize with and shoot the breeze with on social media but for whatever some reason, even though I own her books, I have not had the time to sit down and read. Needless to say, that will be remedied ASAP! I cannot believe what I have been missing. This lady can write!!
First Came You is a beautiful story of one of the most beautiful and sacred kinds of love: a love that is so rare and beautiful- one that grows from childhood friends to hero worship to head over heels forever. It is deep in a sense that the other person knows every crevice of your soul. That is the connection we have the pleasure of reading as we watch Tommy and Gabriella grow up together. These two are meant to be together and there is never a moment of doubt in that thought despite their situations and harsh realities.
This book is brimming with emotion. The thing that blows my mind is that Faith can take so many heavy and harsh realities of life, some that other writers tend to struggle with, and bring it into the story in perfect balance. The things that happen and the time that passes could overwhelm the reader and the story, but instead the pace is perfect and the emotion is authentic. You feel Gabriella and Tommy’s pain through the ups and downs of life, something that tugs on the reader’s heartstrings, yet you never feel like you are overwhelmed with too much.
This novella is fantastic. It has meat on the bones, and emotions that will speak to your heart. This love story is stunning in its beauty, hardship, and authenticity. Watching these two grow up and fall in love was wonderful and a story that I will read again and again!
Tommy
Loss. The recurring theme of the last few months.
First it was her parents—my second parents. They treated me like their own even if they had their doubts about my not-so-pure feelings towards their young daughter. Their death crushed me. I couldn’t let Gabriella see it because I had to be her rock. But my heart still clenches tight with hurt when I think about Mr. and Mrs. Rossi no longer living on this planet.
Then came the slow and gradual loss of the girl who means more to me than anything. I watched as all happiness and joy disappeared from her life with that one single phone call. She hasn’t been the same. She’s so distant and cold. Not just to me—to Gina too. We talk about it all the time. How much we miss the old spunky, vibrant Gabby. How we worry about her. How we have to let her go through the grieving process in her own way.
That part’s the worst because I can’t fucking stand watching her push me away. She’s dying inside—broken—and all I want to do is piece her back together. But she won’t let me. She won’t let me do what I know I can. So I bite my tongue and take my anger out on the basketball court or the boxing bag. Seeing me angry won’t send her running back into my arms.
But tonight? This rejection is the worse loss yet.
I’ve managed to smother her—her words—by caring for her. My selfish need to keep her close and protect her have caused her to let me go. For the first time in my life, I understand the pain of a broken heart. She’s the only girl who’s ever owned it, and without her I’m not whole.
When I get back to my house, head hung low like a beaten dog, I toss the red box on the table and watch it skid in my father’s direction.
“You were right. Happy?” I growl.
Swallowing back his beer, he arches a brow. “Told you so.”
Three words I never like hearing—especially from my smug asshole of a father. Instead of pounding my fists into his gray-bearded face, I turn my back to start off to my bedroom. I can make better use of my time by packing.
My old man stops me with a gruff, patronizing laugh. “Boy, your need to fix things don’t work on the unfixable. She’s damaged goods. Don’t waste your time.”
I suck in a deep breath, and tighten my fists so hard my nails dig into my palms. Do not deck your father, Tommy. He’s not worth it. Turning to face him, I stare hard into his bloodshot eyes. “You don’t know shit about me and Gabriella. And I would never give up on her because she’s not a waste of anything. And maybe it seems like things are dark right now, but there’s nothing damaged about the beautiful girl she is and the incredible woman I know she’ll become.”
He takes another pull of his beer, slamming the empty bottle down on the table. “Suit yourself. Throw your life away before it’s even begun.”
Rushing toward the table, I get within inches of his face and growl, “Just because you’re unhappy with the way your life turned out doesn’t mean you have to take it out on me. Stay the hell out of it and save your misconstrued sense of wisdom to yourself. I’ve never needed it before and I don’t count on needing it ever again.”
I stalk off to my room, grumbling under my breath. He’s a misery. Has been for as long as I can remember, and the fact I’m doing things he never could at my age makes him resent his own flesh and blood and the struggles of being a lesser man. And my poor mother is just a naïve victim to his shit.
I’m over it.
I can’t wait to get the fuck out of here. Away from their scrutiny, away from their disapproval. My parents never appreciated my passion for Gabriella and our future. They always told me I was being stupid with my heart by giving it away too soon. They didn’t want to accept that I’d found a kind of love in Gabriella and her family that I lacked here. My parents are decent people, just not loving people. The Rossi’s gave me more.
As I toss shit haphazardly into boxes, I replay so many Gabriella memories in my head with tears burning at the back of my eyes. The beginning—when we were kids and would laugh all day while we played man hunt in the scorching summer sun. The middle—when I admired Gabriella as she grew into a beautiful girl with curves that made my mouth water and lips that made my dick think things it shouldn’t be thinking at that age. The end—is this the fucking end?
To celebrate the release of First Came You, Faith is hosting a fun giveaway! Enter this Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win a signed set of books First Came You and Feel Again! Just click the link above and follow the instructions for your chance to win! Don’t miss our on your chance. Good luck!
Feel Again (Fate Series #1) … Only $.99 on Amazon
A dare.
A dying wish.
Fate…
After years of loneliness, widowed Gabriella is ready to fill the void—as long as she doesn’t have to give her heart to another man.
Caleb’s screwed himself right into a dead-end existence. Faced with an ultimatum, he’s hell-bound on changing his reckless ways.
A chance meeting has these two instantly attracted to one another, but when their paths cross again—this time as professor and student—the roles reverse on Professor Edwards as Caleb teaches her how to feel again.
