Everything in Duke Grayson’s life was all he could ever ask
for: A loving family, loyal friends, a beautiful girlfriend, and a scholarship to his top choice college.
It’s his senior year of high school, and all he needs is to focus on his grades, lacrosse, and keeping
his girlfriend happy. That is until Raya walks into his life. From the moment they meet, Duke is drawn to
her, not only for her natural beauty and her stunning crystal blue eyes, but because he’s aware
there’s more to this girl than just his alluring pull to her. He senses secrecy and
fear.
Throughout the year, their bond grows stronger, and his feelings for
her become undeniable. Just when he is about to express his love, tragedy strikes and Raya
disappears.
For six years, Duke is tortured by his struggles, as he’s unable
to find her and blames himself for failing to protect her. Until the day, she’s found, and
he’s given a second chance. Will Duke become her beacon of hope and make her see that
it’s the little things that make life worthwhile? Can Raya overcome her fears and fight against the
terrors that haunt her? Or will her dark and torturous past be too much for her to battle
against?
*Warning: This book contains some disturbing situations, strong
language and sexual content. Suited for 18 years and over.*
I hear a whisper come up from behind me, “So, how’s
your first party?” I know that voice anywhere. I turn around to find Duke smiling at
me.
“It’s great! I’m having so much
fun!”
“I’m glad. You’ve danced with Taylor all night.
Usually he doesn’t dance at parties, so that was surprising.”
I glance towards Taylor who’s across the room, talking to
Adam. “Oh well. He’s a good dance partner.”
“Wanna bet?” Duke grabs my hand and leads me onto
the dance floor just in time for a new song to start. The speakers start to play “Timber” by
Pitbull and the crowd goes wild as people begin to flood the dance area. My heart literally stops beating
and I swear I can’t even breathe, I’m so freaking nervous. I notice that my hand fits so
perfectly in Duke’s hand.
The crowd is so packed together that Duke and I are forced to dance
closely; maybe a little too close. As the song starts, he sings the lyrics and we begin to groove to the
music.
I laugh out loud and raise my hands above my head and sing along
with him. The crowd is compact and everyone’s bodies continuously bump into one another.
Duke looks at me and places his hand on my lower back. A shocking jolt of electricity flows through his
touch and my eyes widen. He immediately removes his hand from my back and instead keeps his hand
by his side. I can still feel the heat flow, where his hand was placed, and I miss it being there. We
continue dancing as I give him a reassuring smile. He winks and continues to sing and twirls me
around.
I bob my head to the beat and shake my body with every fiber I
have. As we dance together, I no longer pay attention to what’s around me. It’s as if Duke
and I are the only ones dancing and as I stare at him, I get lost in the wonder of what could be. Someone
from behind me pushes me forward and I fall against Duke’s strong and broad chest as he
catches me. We stare into each other’s eyes for a brief moment before he breaks the contact
and helps me stand on my own.
“You alright?”
I laugh nervously, “Yea sorry. Just crowded, that’s
all.”
The song ends and the crowd begins to clear leaving only a few
stragglers. Duke looks at his watch. “It’s getting late. We should get
going.”
“Ok. I have to use the restroom
first.”
After I use the restroom, Duke finds Melanie among the crowd and
we say our goodbyes. Taylor tells me he will call soon and he hugs me and kisses me on the cheek. As we
pull up to my driveway, Melanie asks, “So, was it a night to remember?” I smile and catch
Duke looking at me through the rearview mirror, “Yes, yes it
was.”
Little Things was a love story like no other, this story starts off as something innocent with young love and detours into a wicked turn that will seriously have you say OMG WTF! I would give this book a 5 star! Parts of this book had me sobbing and parts had me wanting to break through my kindle and strangle the bad guys. This book isn't for the faint of hearts.. be warned if you don't like to read about violent situations DO NOT read this book. If you are like me and it makes you cringe but you can handle it because it sets the scene of the book then YOU should buy it now!
Raya has led a hard life, she lives with her mother and abusive step father and they are constantly moving. She finds herself once again starting a new school and a new life, but what she finds at this school will change her life forever. Duke is the first person she talks to at her new school and she instantly feels a spark but one problem he has a GF so she has to settle for friends only. She decides its better that way because her step father is strict and wouldn't let her date anyway. When her mother lets her go to prom because her step dad is out town Raya is overjoyed, and at prom Duke finally breaks it off with his GF and confesses his feelings for Raya. But with joy will come consequences and Raya will be in the fight of her life just because she spent one magical night with Duke.
There are some many things that happen after that tragic night that will send Raya's life into a tailspin that she leaves it all behind...but that was her mistake she left Duke and her friends thinking she would be safe and boy oh boy was she wrong.... She is living a new hell and for the first time in her life would rather be dead than where she is. Will Duke give up on Raya or will he finally be the one to save her from her hell?
HOLY mother of stories... you will not expect anything that happens in this book and it will get so twisted your going to think am I still reading the same story I started with!!! Just hang on to your kindles cause you will want to chuck it across the room and have some tissues because you will need them too! There is a second book in this series called Little Moments and I can't wait for it to come out!
After you took her from me, everything changed. I knew my life
would never be the same, and it wasn't. But just because I was isolated, trapped, and afraid, I
never gave up. I kept on fighting. You thought you could control me, but you were
wrong.
There’s one thing that you could never take from me; HOPE.
And with that, I overcame the struggles and the despair. I battled against my inner demons and
confronted the tortures that surrounded me. And here I am today;
free.
And now, it’s you that’s confined. You cannot escape;
you cannot win. There’s no one to help you now. Everyone sees you for what you truly are; a
monster.
I’m not afraid of you anymore. I will start a new life; one that
you cannot control. And as I take steps toward a new beginning, I won’t ever look
back.
Madison Street was born in New York City and was raised in the
Bronx, where she resided until she was 17 years old. After 9/11, Madison joined the United States Navy
to serve her country.
During the deployments, Madison constantly wrote short stories and
she discovered her passion for writing. You will find Madison always on the computer, whether
she's on Facebook, designing websites, messing with Photoshop, or writing for her
blog.
Besides writing, her second passion is music and dance. Even though
she's a terrible singer, she’ll still belt it out in the shower, especially if the song is her jam!
She currently resides in Virginia with her husband of 8 years, 2 children, a dog, and a cat. She is so
excited to start this amazing journey and is honored to be part of such a compassionate and loving
community.
