Ben and Riley in Until the Last Star Fades are one of my most favourite romance couples ever, and I’m so excited to share with you the NEW Love Hearts Special Edition, available NOW in paperback!
I am SO IN LOVE with this cover! The incredible Liz Parkes—yes, the same Liz Parkes who created the very first illustrated postcard of Riley and Ben in her shoebox-sized NYC apartment several years ago—created the cover of my dreams!
Ben and Riley are PERFECTION! I love how Riley is wearing Ben’s suit jacket and the silver puffin charm bracelet! I love the peek of Ben’s blue ghost Pac-Man tattoo and his leather bracelet! I love all the New York City details: the street pretzel, the taxi, the buildings in the background with the fire escape and brownstone stoop! The colours are so vivid and pop beautifully, and when you hold the paperback you’ll see more surprises on the spine and back cover!
I LOVE this story so much. Ben is extremely cheeky and British (born in Scotland), loves to bake and dance (but not at the same time), and is just trying to find his way in a world that hasn’t always been kind. When he crashes into Riley’s life, he disrupts everything, and nothing is ever the same. And hey, if you love New York City, this book is a love letter to the city that never sleeps.
I’m proud of Until the Last Star Fades and its dyslexia representation (Ben) and smiling depression representation (Riley — and also me). I’m also super fond of the special bond Riley has with her mom Maggie. In many ways, it mirrors mine with my own mum.
But wait there’s more!
In addition to the adorable cover, you’ll also receive my novella, Invisible String, which stars Riley’s best friend (and proud Scot) Piper Paisley! This short story was previously published in an anthology that’s no longer in print, so the Love Hearts Special Edition of Until the Last Star Fades is the only place you can find it.
Here’s the description for Until the Last Star Fades:
COULD YOU BE THE ONE WHO CHANGES EVERYTHING?
In her senior year at NYU, Riley Hope appears to be on top of the world. With a loving mother who makes Lorelai Gilmore look like a parenting slacker, ride-or-die friends, and a long-time boyfriend destined for the National Hockey League, she puts on a smile for the world. But behind it, she’s drowning. Racked with fears for the future, she battles to stay afloat amid life in the shadows of her mother’s heartbreaking illness.
And then, Ben Fagan comes crashing into her life. Twenty-three-years-old, British, and alone in the Big Apple after a disastrous pilot season in LA, the struggling actor is looking for an escape: booze, mischief, sex—minimum commitment, maximum fun—anything to avoid returning across the pond.
As they form an unlikely bond, Riley keeps her reality from Ben so that he remains a happy refuge. But how long can she hold back the truth…and is Ben keeping his own secrets, too?
From the award-winning author of THE CERTAINTY OF CHANCE, comes a bittersweet story about love, loss, sacrifice, and the life changing decisions we make.
(No AI was used in the creation of this book’s cover or its contents)
And the special edition is available now! Here are the purchase links:
Amazon US
Amazon Canada
Amazon UK
Barnes & Noble
Bookshop.org
The Ripped Bodice
Indigo
Tell your friends! Tell your book clubs! As an indie author, shares of this special edition cover on social media would be super appreciated, too!
FYI, the original paperback cover with the swoony photo of the kissing couple in Times Square is also available in ebook and paperback, so now you have a choice! The new illustrated cover is available in paperback only.
Happy reading!