Two Hearts, One Soul Duet
by London Saint James
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Reading Order
Part 1 ~ Always
Part 2 ~ Forever & Always
Always
Winter Perri never truly understood love until she met Austin Carlyle—the man who would rock her world to its foundations and give her something to believe in. But the night before they were to be married, the fairytale shattered.
Thirteen years later Winter is pulled out of her seclusion only to have a painful past confront her, and when it does, she’s left questioning reality, because the impossible is looking back at her with the face of a destroying angel, and piercing eyes in too familiar shades of blue.
 |
Excerpt
Ms.
Cynthia Fines and Mr. Scott Linton Perri
request the honor of your presence at the marriage of
their daughter
Winter Shae Perri
to
Austin Wells Carlyle
son of
Dr. Wells Bennett Carlyle and Dr. Judith Carroll Carlyle
Saturday, the 20th of December at eleven in the morning
Saint Thomas Church
Fifth Avenue, New York
request the honor of your presence at the marriage of
their daughter
Winter Shae Perri
to
Austin Wells Carlyle
son of
Dr. Wells Bennett Carlyle and Dr. Judith Carroll Carlyle
Saturday, the 20th of December at eleven in the morning
Saint Thomas Church
Fifth Avenue, New York
The invitations read in elegant, black script.
I’d graduated from college and just turned twenty-two. Austin was twenty-three. And yes, in just a few weeks, we were having a wedding.
Sitting on the third finger of my left hand stood a three-carat ring with three square-cut diamonds encased by emeralds, with more diamonds embedded in the band. It was more money than should have been spent, but Austin said it was a diamond for every year we had been together and the emeralds matched the color of my eyes.
Who could argue with that?
The night Austin proposed to me was not only a surprise but one of the best nights of my life. He’d taken me to the East Village Theater—something not out of the ordinary—we’d been there many times before. In fact, it was the place he took me on our third date.
What was out of the ordinary? The place was vacant.
Walking in the dim light down the long aisle, passing row after row of empty seats, I glanced up at Austin. “There’s no one here.”
He smiled down at me. “I know.”
“What’s going on?”
As though I’d asked the magic question, one beam of streaming light hit a gold-encrusted table up on the darkened stage and glittered.
I focused on the table. It was part of a stage set I’d seen once, sitting in Juliet’s bedroom when Romeo entered in through her window.
“Is this your way of telling me you’re the lead in a new Romeo and Juliet play?”
Austin chuckled but didn’t answer as he led me up on the stage and over to the table.
On top sat a single pink rose with a dazzling ring shimmering in the light that had been tied to the long green stem with a red silk ribbon.
My hand went to my mouth.
I was speechless and more than likely wide-eyed when Austin picked up the rose, untied the ribbon, took the ring into his hand, bent down upon one knee, then handed me the flower.
With shaking hands I took it.
He quoted a scene from Romeo and Juliet, only he’d said my name not Juliet’s as the sun.
Taking my left hand in his, Austin looked up at me from beneath his long, black lashes with eyes the color of sapphires. “Winter. I’m in love with you. I cannot imagine one day without you in my life, so I was hoping you would do me the honor of becoming my wife. Will you marry me?”
Reacting to the moment, my eyes began to overflow with tears. They streamed down my cheeks, dripped off my chin, and hit my hand in his in a sprinkle of abundant joy.
“Yes,” I said.
Austin placed the ring on my finger and kissed it. “I love you.”
He returned to his feet, his face beaming as I sniffled out, “I-I love you, too.”
I’d graduated from college and just turned twenty-two. Austin was twenty-three. And yes, in just a few weeks, we were having a wedding.
Sitting on the third finger of my left hand stood a three-carat ring with three square-cut diamonds encased by emeralds, with more diamonds embedded in the band. It was more money than should have been spent, but Austin said it was a diamond for every year we had been together and the emeralds matched the color of my eyes.
Who could argue with that?
The night Austin proposed to me was not only a surprise but one of the best nights of my life. He’d taken me to the East Village Theater—something not out of the ordinary—we’d been there many times before. In fact, it was the place he took me on our third date.
What was out of the ordinary? The place was vacant.
Walking in the dim light down the long aisle, passing row after row of empty seats, I glanced up at Austin. “There’s no one here.”
He smiled down at me. “I know.”
“What’s going on?”
As though I’d asked the magic question, one beam of streaming light hit a gold-encrusted table up on the darkened stage and glittered.
I focused on the table. It was part of a stage set I’d seen once, sitting in Juliet’s bedroom when Romeo entered in through her window.
“Is this your way of telling me you’re the lead in a new Romeo and Juliet play?”
Austin chuckled but didn’t answer as he led me up on the stage and over to the table.
On top sat a single pink rose with a dazzling ring shimmering in the light that had been tied to the long green stem with a red silk ribbon.
My hand went to my mouth.
I was speechless and more than likely wide-eyed when Austin picked up the rose, untied the ribbon, took the ring into his hand, bent down upon one knee, then handed me the flower.
With shaking hands I took it.
He quoted a scene from Romeo and Juliet, only he’d said my name not Juliet’s as the sun.
Taking my left hand in his, Austin looked up at me from beneath his long, black lashes with eyes the color of sapphires. “Winter. I’m in love with you. I cannot imagine one day without you in my life, so I was hoping you would do me the honor of becoming my wife. Will you marry me?”
Reacting to the moment, my eyes began to overflow with tears. They streamed down my cheeks, dripped off my chin, and hit my hand in his in a sprinkle of abundant joy.
“Yes,” I said.
Austin placed the ring on my finger and kissed it. “I love you.”
He returned to his feet, his face beaming as I sniffled out, “I-I love you, too.”
Buy Always Now
Amazon US | UK | CA
Read For Free with Kindle Unlimited
For a limited time only Always is on sale for $1.99
Read For Free with Kindle Unlimited
For a limited time only Always is on sale for $1.99
Always Audiobook
Written by: London Saint James
Narrated by: Tor Thom, Charley Ongel
Length: 11 hrs and 3 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date: 09-14-17
Publisher: London Saint James
Always Review
Winter Perri was living her life without really living, but all that changed when he came into her life. He loved her more than life itself and strives to show just how special she is, how beautiful she is, how loved she is every single day. He opened her eyes to a life full of hope, love, and dreams.
Everything was coming together just as he promised her it would and couldn't wait to start their life together as husband and wife.
But then her life gets turned upside and sends her into a tailspin. Finally like a part of her soul is forever gone, she leaves behind everything and starts a more secluded life. Life will never be the same but this change makes it somewhat more manageable.
When she receives an unexpected call, her life is about to be turned upside once again. Will she be able to handle this turn of events? Will this be just too much for her broken heart? Or can this be the one thing that will bring her broken pieces back together?
First off I must advise before you pick up Always you need to get a box or two of tissues.
Seriously, Always is a read that will make you smile, make you swoon, break your heart, and then slowly mend your heart and give you hope.
I love how Austin approached his relationship with Winter right from the start. His devotion to her is phenomenal and will make you weak in the knees. There really isn't anything he wouldn't do for her.
Winter is stunning and I really connected with her. She comes into herself under Austin's praise and support. What I love is that she is so much stronger then she believes she is. She's been through tough times and good, but survives is all.
The emotions that are filled in this read will take the reader on a journey that will take their breath away. I enjoy reading a story that will captivate you and stick with you long after you finish.
The ending is brilliant, Winter's past is standing in her front of her and it leaves you wondering what will happen next in Forever & Always.
So if you want a book that will leave you with a serious book hangover and reminds you to love your loved one today because you never know what tomorrow will bring, then I highly recommend you pick up Always.
Everything was coming together just as he promised her it would and couldn't wait to start their life together as husband and wife.
But then her life gets turned upside and sends her into a tailspin. Finally like a part of her soul is forever gone, she leaves behind everything and starts a more secluded life. Life will never be the same but this change makes it somewhat more manageable.
When she receives an unexpected call, her life is about to be turned upside once again. Will she be able to handle this turn of events? Will this be just too much for her broken heart? Or can this be the one thing that will bring her broken pieces back together?
First off I must advise before you pick up Always you need to get a box or two of tissues.
Seriously, Always is a read that will make you smile, make you swoon, break your heart, and then slowly mend your heart and give you hope.
I love how Austin approached his relationship with Winter right from the start. His devotion to her is phenomenal and will make you weak in the knees. There really isn't anything he wouldn't do for her.
Winter is stunning and I really connected with her. She comes into herself under Austin's praise and support. What I love is that she is so much stronger then she believes she is. She's been through tough times and good, but survives is all.
The emotions that are filled in this read will take the reader on a journey that will take their breath away. I enjoy reading a story that will captivate you and stick with you long after you finish.
The ending is brilliant, Winter's past is standing in her front of her and it leaves you wondering what will happen next in Forever & Always.
So if you want a book that will leave you with a serious book hangover and reminds you to love your loved one today because you never know what tomorrow will bring, then I highly recommend you pick up Always.
Forever & Always
With the media hell-bent on exposing Winter’s once private life, Cayden will do anything to protect her. But there’s more than just the voracious paparazzi conspiring against them.
Involved in an unprecedented web of strange events, and wound in a string of lies about to break with devastating consequences, Winter must battle ghosts from her past that threaten to harm the man she loves.
Faced with a choice she always knew would be inevitable, and a secret of her own, can the fairytale Winter’s been living with Cayden beat the odds of their reality and really come true?
 |
Excerpt
A breeze blew into the bedroom from the open balcony doors—crisp and
clean. The details of winter lingered with just a hint of spring to come,
giving the warm room a punch of coolness as early morning sun slanted across
the foot of the bed, highlighting the sheets in disarray.
My gaze shifted over to Cayden, sitting at the writing desk, phone in hand, speaking to someone about his upcoming film shoot. When his current film was done, he would be heading to Vancouver.
Would I be going? I didn’t know.
Leaning my hip against the doorjamb of the bathroom, I watched him, how his body moved—the muscles that flexed in his arm when he picked up a script from the desk. He was quietly confident, his movements fluid. No doubt, Cayden was something to watch even in such mundane things.
So very much like Austin.
Walking quietly out of the bathroom, I went to him, not wishing to disturb him, but desperately wanting to touch the man of my dreams. In many ways, he still seemed unreal to me, as if he were an optical phenomenon that could liquefy into hazy lines of heat and disappear.
With the phone to his ear, Cayden turned and looked at me, his sapphire gaze roaming from the hair piled in a messy bun atop my head, to my bubble-gum-pink-painted toenails before he smiled.
My heart thrummed.
Reaching out, he pulled me onto his lap where I willingly went, and picked up a pen from beside my laptop. Then, he crooked his head, holding the handset to the cordless in place against his shoulder to free his other hand and took a hold of mine.
Curious, I wondered what he was up to.
Cayden turned my hand over, palm side up. Swiped his fingers softly over my palm once. Wrote, I Love U, boldly across it. And then he curled my fingers closed, securing the words tight within the palm of my hand before he moved his hands from mine and took hold of the handset again.
My heart, not to mention my body, felt as if it would explode from the joy those three little words inspired. But the fact he wrote them, tattooed them onto my skin, was simply the sweetest thing he could have done.
“Go ahead and e-mail it. I’ll take a look,” he said to the person on the other end of the phone.
There was a pause. A buzzing followed by another pause.
“Sure. Not a problem,” Cayden replied, motioning for me to get up.
When I did, he adjusted the hard, straight-backed desk chair as well himself, and patted his lap.
Wearing nothing but a towel, I straddled him, chest to chest, and placed my arms around his strong shoulders. “Good?” I mouthed.
He winked his approval.
I played with the ends of his hair, feeling the impressive bulge beneath his designer sweatpants jerk against my bare core.
Blood raced through my veins with a start.
“Yes,” Cayden said into the phone. “I’m planning on it, but we can talk about that later.”
There was another pause, more humming sounds, then one of his hands went to my backside and squeezed. “Okay, thanks,” Cayden said.
He hadn’t been talking to me, but to whoever was on the phone.
“I will. Enjoy your breakfast.” He punched the end button and placed the handset into the receiver on the desk.
“I didn’t mean to disturb your call. I realize it was business,” I said.
“You can ‘disturb’ me anytime, baby.”
My gaze shifted over to Cayden, sitting at the writing desk, phone in hand, speaking to someone about his upcoming film shoot. When his current film was done, he would be heading to Vancouver.
Would I be going? I didn’t know.
Leaning my hip against the doorjamb of the bathroom, I watched him, how his body moved—the muscles that flexed in his arm when he picked up a script from the desk. He was quietly confident, his movements fluid. No doubt, Cayden was something to watch even in such mundane things.
So very much like Austin.
Walking quietly out of the bathroom, I went to him, not wishing to disturb him, but desperately wanting to touch the man of my dreams. In many ways, he still seemed unreal to me, as if he were an optical phenomenon that could liquefy into hazy lines of heat and disappear.
With the phone to his ear, Cayden turned and looked at me, his sapphire gaze roaming from the hair piled in a messy bun atop my head, to my bubble-gum-pink-painted toenails before he smiled.
My heart thrummed.
Reaching out, he pulled me onto his lap where I willingly went, and picked up a pen from beside my laptop. Then, he crooked his head, holding the handset to the cordless in place against his shoulder to free his other hand and took a hold of mine.
Curious, I wondered what he was up to.
Cayden turned my hand over, palm side up. Swiped his fingers softly over my palm once. Wrote, I Love U, boldly across it. And then he curled my fingers closed, securing the words tight within the palm of my hand before he moved his hands from mine and took hold of the handset again.
My heart, not to mention my body, felt as if it would explode from the joy those three little words inspired. But the fact he wrote them, tattooed them onto my skin, was simply the sweetest thing he could have done.
“Go ahead and e-mail it. I’ll take a look,” he said to the person on the other end of the phone.
There was a pause. A buzzing followed by another pause.
“Sure. Not a problem,” Cayden replied, motioning for me to get up.
When I did, he adjusted the hard, straight-backed desk chair as well himself, and patted his lap.
Wearing nothing but a towel, I straddled him, chest to chest, and placed my arms around his strong shoulders. “Good?” I mouthed.
He winked his approval.
I played with the ends of his hair, feeling the impressive bulge beneath his designer sweatpants jerk against my bare core.
Blood raced through my veins with a start.
“Yes,” Cayden said into the phone. “I’m planning on it, but we can talk about that later.”
There was another pause, more humming sounds, then one of his hands went to my backside and squeezed. “Okay, thanks,” Cayden said.
He hadn’t been talking to me, but to whoever was on the phone.
“I will. Enjoy your breakfast.” He punched the end button and placed the handset into the receiver on the desk.
“I didn’t mean to disturb your call. I realize it was business,” I said.
“You can ‘disturb’ me anytime, baby.”
Buy Forever & Always Now
Forever & Always Audiobook in currently in production and hoping to be released before too long.
Forever & Always Review
Wow! Wow! Wow!
Winter is embracing her new life and finding a way to make things work with Cayden. I love how Cayden does everything to prove to Winter that she is the center of his world. Despite all the pressure with his job, the fame, and the press, he always puts Winter first. Cayden is a hero you want to love over and over again.
I admire Winter's ability to embrace Cayden for himself and not just because of his resemblance to Austin. She may not want to be in the public eye, but she'll do anything to show Cayden just has much he means to her. Her willingness to walk away to protect him makes her a heroine you want to appreciate.
I enjoyed the dynamic between Cayden and Winter, it sizzles off the pages. I love how they love, it's deep, intense, pure, and completely delicious. And when it get hot... oh my goodness!
I loved this continuation of Winter's story and couldn't put it down. Her journey has many ups and downs but in the end you couldn't help but root for her to have her happily ever after.
Forever & Always is stunning conclusion to Winter's love story. Watching her through this journey is spellbinding and will tug at your heartstrings.
This is one duet that I would highly recommend. You'll laugh, cry, and swoon, and and leave you with a book hangover for days and believing in soul mates and love conquering all.
About London
London Saint James has lived in many places, but never felt “at home” until she met
the real-life man of her dreams and settled down in the beautiful Smoky
Mountains of Tennessee. London lives with her husband and their fat cat who
thinks he owns them.
As an award-winning, international bestselling author, London is living her childhood dream. She knew all the scribbling she did, that big imagination of hers, and all those clamoring characters running around in her head would pay off someday.
As an award-winning, international bestselling author, London is living her childhood dream. She knew all the scribbling she did, that big imagination of hers, and all those clamoring characters running around in her head would pay off someday.
A wonderful review. Thank you for posting, Liz! Have a fab weekend. 🌺🌺🌺
ReplyDeleteKay
Thank you so much, Liz for reading and reviewing my books. I am so happy you enjoyed the duet. And humbled by such lovely reviews. XoXo London
ReplyDelete