[ UPDATE: March 26, 2016 ]
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It’s always fun to champion indie reads, especially when they are written by Filipino authors (who are also your friends). Last Valentine’s Day, my friend Chi Yu Rodriguez released her debut romance novella, The ByeBye Bouquet, and I couldn’t be prouder. <3 Check it out below:
Every month for the past year, like clockwork, Meile Simon has gotten orders at her shop for the same type of bouquet, from the same guy, delivered to twelve different girls. By the third month, she starts to take note.
Warren Leigh likes women. He does. He knows there are too many beautiful women out there just waiting to be plucked by the right guy. But he firmly believes that personal relationships with them must have an expiration date.
When the girl who likes to watch flowers bloom encounters the guy who’s only in it while the fragrance lasts, curiosity gets the best of both of them.
In the midst of intermittent weather, will their connection blossom or wilt?
Click on the Read More button for a short excerpt off the novella and instructions on how to join the giveaway. Good luck, and please spread the word! ^_^
an excerpt from
The ByeBye Bouquet
Wait.
“I’m assuming things. It’s just a number. There’s nothing wrong with asking for someone’s number. People do that, right?” I stare and wait for my phone to answer me, but to no avail. It stays there in the palm of my hand, facing me, mocking me, and quietly calling me a weirdo.
I know I’m probably making too big of a deal out of this, but what can I do? He’s just some guy I vaguely met in a club. I don’t go out much, at all, to know exactly how these things normally work. I’d ask Rachel, but she’s already made herself pretty clear. She wants me to respond.
I don’t do that. What are you talking about? ◄
There, I’ve responded. In the dumbest way possible, but it’s still a response.
I don’t dwell on my regret and decide to leave my phone alone on the counter while I turn off the lights. I leave it on silent, facedown, and I ignore the faraway buzzing I hear when it vibrates.
After I make sure the back and workroom doors are locked, I throw my phone into my bag and hoist the strap over my shoulder. I remain in denial about the message notification I got ten minutes ago until I reach the stairs at the side of Hope’s Garden.
I feel myself get dumber by the minute when I decide to juggle finding my keys and pulling my phone out to look while walking up the stairs to my apartment.
►And here I thought you gave me a fake number. 😉
Hello again, Meile.
Wait, did I spell that correctly?
I throw my phone back into my bag while I struggle to open the door. My hands are shaking as if he was standing in front of me when I read that text. What the heck is it with this guy?
Suddenly I wish I have Chester with me to cuddle as I plop down on the couch and stare at my phone again.
Congratulations. You get a cookie for a good memory.◄
►Is that a figurative cookie or am I really going to get a cookie from you when we see each other again?
I don’t know how to bake. That would be a figurative cookie.◄
►That’s alright. I was never a huge fan of pastries anyway. I’ll take dinner though.
I don’t cook either, sorry.◄
►I was thinking more along the lines of can I take you to dinner sometime 😉
Having been caught in the spontaneous lie about my ability to cook, I don’t even notice the turn in the conversation until it’s too late.
He just asked me out.
I’ll get to reviewing this book soon, but for now here’s the thing I promised: a chance to win your very own copy of The ByeBye Bouquet!
A few reminders:
- This giveaway is open to PH and INTL participants, however;
- Paperback prize is for PH winner only, while the Kindle version may be won by either a PH or INTL participant.
Click on the image below to join the giveaway. You are allowed to cast an entry every day from today until March 25, 2016. Winners will be announced on March 26, 2016.
