Part 42 (2/2)

Because even when someone is gone, they still live on inside you. And I promised Joey that I would go out and live my life, achieve my dreams, and for him I will. Because I am Laila Nixon and I'm going to be okay.

Acknowledgments.

This story came to me after numerous conversations with my daughters. Gidget and Peese inspire me every day; without them, I wouldn't be the person I am. Thank you, my beautiful angels, for pus.h.i.+ng me to write this story. I love you girls so very much.

With the help of beta readers like Kimberly Stedronsky, Sarahbeth Caplin Stoneburner, Lisa Karafa, Kari Gardner, Alisha Brown, and RoseAnn Rapp - Finding Laila, found its voice. Thank you all for believing in this story and making me smile with your feedback.

I have a wonderful group of critique partners who help keep me sane. They are intelligent, talented, kind, amazing and strong women, and I am always learning something new. For the last year, they have helped me improve and grow and I am eternally grateful to have them in my life. A skype date is in order. Soon.

Stacey Lynn, A. Meredith Walters and Claire C. Riley, I can't thank you enough for reading this, loving Laila and the boys, and giving me ways to tweak their story. You made me smile - and cringe - with your notes and I wouldn't have it any other way. Your honesty and suggestions are something I actually look forward to reading.

This year brought many personal introductions, and these writers have shared, listened, and become my friends. Penny Reid, Lori Otto, Kahlen Aymes, Erin Noelle, Kayla Rob.i.+.c.haux, Sierra Cartwright, Jessica Prince, and the others I have met and will meet, thank you for your friends.h.i.+p and kind hearts.

Amy Queau, meeting you was simply amazing, and I'm so thankful to have you and your encouragement. Goose, Kimotherapy - my wifey - what can I say? It feels like I've known you forever, and I'm so blessed to have you in my corner. Sharing like minds is something I have come to expect and yet, still laugh when it happens. Lisa, my friend and confidant, I'm so glad I got to hug you and hang out, but mostly to show me what I already knew - that you are special.

Kathryn Falk - my mentor, friend and neighbor, thank you for allowing me into your world. You brought three ladies into my life that make me smile every week, and I look forward to it. Kayla, Erin, and Sierra thank you for your unconditional support and encouragement.

A special thank you to bloggers whose love of books and willingness to share that love with others helps so many of us. Southern Belle Book Blog, Penny for My Thoughts Book Blog, Saucy Books, Wicked Women Book Blog, Falling in Fall, Nerdy Book Freak, The Book h.o.a.rders, A Pair of Okies, Confessions of an Unsuspected Bookworm, Reading Past My Bedtime, Typical Distractions, YA Book Madness, We Like it Big Book Blog, We Stole Your Book Boyfriend, Once Upon a Crush, Jodie's Wine List, A Literary Perusal, Fiction Fangirls, s.e.xy Bibliophiles, Sugar & Spice Book Reviews, Thoughts of an Avid Reader, and all the other bloggers who have helped share Finding Laila, thank you.

And to the wonderful people read this story and helped make the to the finish line: Daiana, Gina, Kristy and the members of my street team - thank you for all of your support and the things to you do help me out. It is so much appreciated.

To my mom and dad, thank you for believing in me and what I love to do. I swear; I'm a d.a.m.n lucky girl to have you both. And to my wonderful husband, thank you for supporting me, encouraging me and loving me and all my crazy. You are my best friend and most important member of my barmy, and I know G.o.d had a plan when he brought you into my life. I love you so very much.

Finally, to the readers who have supported me and read my stories: you will never know how much your kind words, and enthusiasm have meant to me. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

Writing Laila's story was truly a joy - every second of it.

About the Author.

T.K. Rapp is a Texas girl born and raised. She earned a B.A. in Journalism from Texas A&M and it was there that she met the love of her life. He had a contract with the U.S. Navy that would take them across both coasts, and ultimately land them back home in Texas.

Upon finally settling in Texas, T.K. worked as a graphic designer and photographer for the family business that her mom started years earlier. She was able to infuse her creativity and pa.s.sion, into something she enjoyed, but something was still missing. There was a voice in the back of her head that told her to write, so write, she did. And, somewhere on an external hard drive, are several stories she started and never finished.

Now at home, raising her two daughters, T.K. has more time to do the things she loves, which includes photography and writing. When she's not doing one of those, she can be found with her family, which keeps her busy. She enjoys watching her kids in their various sporting activities (i.e. doing the soccer mom thing), having Sunday breakfast at her parent's house, singing out loud and out of key or dancing like a fool. She loves raunchy humor, gossip blogs and a good book.

Visit T.K. Rapp online:.

FACEBOOK.

TWITTER.

GOODREADS.

GOOGLE+.

T.K.RAPP'S WEBSITE.

MODEST VIEW BLOG.

If you enjoyed this book, check out the others by T.K. Rapp:.

Being There.

Mine to Lose.

Mine to Steal.

Turn the page for an excerpt from.

Reclaiming the Sand by A. Meredith Walters.

From the New York Times & USA Today bestselling author of Find You in the Dark and Bad Rep comes Reclaiming the Sand, the bestselling story of love and forgiveness and the importance of letting go of a painful past. The sequel, Chasing the Tide, is available NOW!

Reclaiming the Sand.

By A. Meredith Walters.

Bully and victim.

Tormenter and tormented.

Villain and hero.

Ellie McCallum was a bully. No connection to anyone or anything. A sad and lonely existence for a young woman who had come to expect nothing more for herself. Her only happiness coming from making others miserable.

Particularly Freaky Flynn.

Flynn Hendrick lived a life completely disconnected even as he struggled to become something more than that boy with Asperger's. He was taunted and teased, bearing the brunt of systematic and calculated cruelty, ultimately culminating in a catastrophic turn of events that brought Ellie and Flynn's worlds cras.h.i.+ng down.

But then Flynn and Ellie grew up.

And moved on.

Until years later when their paths unexpectedly cross again and the bully and the freak are face to face once more.

When labels come to define you, finding yourself feels impossible. Particularly for two people disconnected from the world who inexplicably find a connection in each other.

And out of the wreckage of their tragic beginnings, an unlikely love story unfolds.

But a painful past doesn't always want to let go. And old wounds are never truly healed...and sometimes the further you try to run from yourself the closer you come to who you really are.

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