Omega by Steve Aoki feat. Dan Sena and Missy Palmer
Waiting in Vain by Bob Marley
In Your Eyes (Stripped Version) by Sara Bareilles
Heal Over by KT Tunstall
Comfortable (Live Version) by John Mayer
Only Exception by Paramore
Last of Days by A Fine Frenzy
Stubborn Love by The Lumineers
If It Kills Me (Casa Nova Sessions) by Jason Mraz
Breakeven by The Script
Wait by M83
Listen to the playlist on YouTube.
“Relentless”
We kissed under the trees
And talked about missing things
I wish I could’ve held you in
Held in the heat of your breath
Held onto you and I at our best
Memories chain me here
Holding my heart prisoner
Alone in this hotel room now
Can’t stop dreaming of your kiss
Tomorrow I’ll regret this
Your love is relentless
Holding me still
Relentlessly dreaming
Breaking my will
I wish you’d come with me
Leave it behind
Just pack up your things and
Say you’ll be mine
You said you would miss us
Didn’t know you could bluff
Are you moving on already?
Sleeping in someone else’s bed
Fucking with someone else’s head
I’m sinking, sinking
You’ve got my love and my time
I’ve got nothing, nothing
Relentless love and heartache are mine
You’ve got me, got me
But I can’t make this call just to find
You don’t want me
“Sleepyhead”
Feels so wrong to want this
You look so broken there
A flicker in the mist
As tired as the air
Your head upon the pillow
It’s time to bury bones
Outside a whispering willow
The limbs fall like stones
So frightened of the dark
You’re my sleepyhead
Hiding with the stars
Put your dreams to bed
My sleepyhead.
You’re my sleepyhead.
With eyes full of shadow
And a mouth full of glass
Gasps come so hollow
Your lips taste like ash
Don’t waste your hours
Your time don’t come cheap
Don’t fall apart, baby
Just fall asleep
And I don’t know why I can’t kill this doubt
But I promise I’ll put your pain to rest
If it means I never sleep again.
Acknowledgements
I’ve been writing books for longer than I care to admit, but I’ve never had more people to thank than now. This book was my brainchild, but it was birthed through the labor of many selfless souls.
Special thanks go to my old and new beta readers: Kristin Shaw, Jordana Rodriguez, Michael Finn, Sarah Rabe, Carissa Andrews, Kim Box Person, and Sheri Zilinskas. Extra special thanks go to Sarah Rabe who fact-checked me on some important details about the foster care system. Your willingness to share your personal experience added so much depth to Claire’s character and I am just so proud of the woman and friend you have become. Michael and Sheri: What can I say other than you two are what the crazy person who invented beta readers intended. There are no words to adequately describe how grateful I am for your feedback.
So much gratitude and awe go to the magnificent Sarah Hansen at Okay Creations. Your professionalism made this experience painless. Your talent made this cover relentlessly breathtaking.
An enormous thank you goes out to all the book bloggers and reviewers who offered their time and expertise to assist with this book release, especially Karen Anderson at Book Crush Book Reviews. You are all so friggin’ amazing. Your support of indie authors, not just me, is awe-inspiring. I hope I wasn’t too difficult to work with.
There are no words to express my gratitude to the many friends and family members who offered their support in so many ways during the writing of this book. You are all saints for putting up with my disappearing acts, the lack of home-cooked food, having to repeat your sentences two and three times, and my endless pleas for feedback.
And a huge thank you to all the readers who contacted me during the months I was writing Relentless. Your enthusiasm and kindness motivated me to get through one of the most hectic deadlines of my career. Your support has made my childhood dream of being a professional author a reality! I love you all so much and hope you all continue to get in touch with me often.