Relentless

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.