Blog Tour: Before You Go by Clare James (Excerpt + Giveaway)

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Title: Before You Go
Author: Clare James
Publication Date: March 30, 2013

Synopsis: Paralyzed by the past and terrified of the future, Tabitha Kelly is broken.
After a public sex scandal at her college, Tabby moves to a new city with a new school, convinced she can start over. But she soon realizes the changes are not enough. Tabby must take action to help her heal and move on from the past.

And though it sounds crazy, she believes a one-night stand is the best way to take back what’s hers. If she can choose where, when, and most importantly, who … maybe she can regain control.

First, she needs a willing participant.

She finds more than that when she meets Noah Adler.

Unfortunately, she can’t go through with it. And when she tries to forget about the plan—and the guy—it becomes impossible.

Noah quickly weaves his way into her new life and her heart. But as he comes dangerously close to discovering her secret, Tabby’s at risk of losing it all.

About the Author: Clare James spent her childhood writing, reading, and dancing. Not much has changed since then, except she can no longer get up on toe shoes like she once could. And don’t even ask her to go into the splits because she may never get back up. A new adult and contemporary romance writer, Clare loves a happy ending. She lives in Minneapolis with her two leading men—her husband and young son. BEFORE YOU GO is her debut new adult novel.

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Excerpt:

I need people, noise, distractions. I open the door to leave and bump into Jules.    

“Hey,” she says, gripping a cigarette with her lips. “We missed you at Sasha’s the other night. How’s the work at the paper going?”

“It’s going okay,” I tell her.

She raises an eyebrow, clearly not believing me.

“Well,” I admit. “It’d be better if our assy editor didn’t have such massive mood swings.”

“Yeah, I know,” she says. “He means well, but after freshman year, I don’t know.” She considers her words. “He became more…intense.”

“You seem to know a lot about him.”

“At one time, we were good friends.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, Foster too. We had some really good times.”

“What happened?” I ask, now curious.

“Lots of things.” She waves her hands. “We all just kind of drifted apart, I guess. Foster and I became our own island.” Jules is lost in thought for a moment.

“Can you elaborate?” My curiosity takes over my manners.

“It’s really not my story to tell, Tabby. But I can give you the dirt on the rest of the university populous.” She grins. “And there’s still time for a quick smoke break before poly sci. Are you in?”

“Sure,” I say, unable to turn away from her. And though I wish she’d tell me more about Noah, I kind of respect her more for her loyalty.

For the next seven minutes, I watch Jules blow smoke rings as she dishes out all the campus gossip. It’s funny. For a girl who seems so not into the college scene, she sure has her finger on the pulse.

The good news is: I think I might have a new friend.

The bad news is: I think she might be broken, too.

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-Kristen ♥