Today is the cover reveal for Summer Haikus by SJ Pajonas. This cover reveal is organized by Lola’s Blog Tours.
Summer Haikus (Happily Ever Asia)
by SJ Pajonas
Genre: Contemporary Romance/ Multicultural Romance
Age category: New Adult
Release Date: August 6, 2015
Blurb:
“When it comes to fight or flight, I always choose to run like hell.โIsa planned the perfect summer:
Tokyo and the Summer Olympics โ check.
Helping her best friend prepare for the marathon โ check.
Forgetting she’s in love with Masa โ double check.But when Isa’s mother is hospitalized, she has to abandon her summer plans to run the family’s Tokyo business. Masaโs offer to help makes it impossible for Isa to ignore him โ and the firecracker kiss they shared half a world away. Everyone expects the world of her, but the pressure to please them all is as oppressive as the Tokyo summer heat. The simplest answer to all her problems? Run.
You can find Summer Haikus on Goodreads
Excerpt:
I walk out onto the front lawn and take another deep breath. Itโs a beautiful night in East Lansing. The sky is clear, stars twinkling, and an almost full moon hangs not far above the tree line. I took an Astronomy 101 class last fall, and Iโve been in love with the stars ever since. When I was still trying to decide on my major, I considered astronomy. I thought maybe I was destined to study the stars, what with Halley being named after a famous astronomer and my love of nighttime, but I donโt want to do that for a living, just like I donโt want to be an engineer either. I breathe deep one more time, and the fresh air sobers me a little, so I reach into my pocket for my phone and text Halley.
โMasa showed up and I had to run. Canโt do that. Heading home. Check on me in 30,โ I type and wait for her reply while watching the masses of people walking the streets. This is the last chance to party before summer tears groups apart. I wonder if I can walk back to my dorm with someone else.
My phone buzzes in my hand. โOk. Promise. Sorry about Masa.โ
โWhatever,โ I say at my phone.
โIsa! Wait up!โ I freeze before slowly turning back to the house. Masa comes bounding out the front door, running up to me. โLet me walk you home. Youโve had too much to drink.โ
โItโs okay.โ I wave at him and turn to go. โIโm sure I can find someone to walk me whoโs already going that way.โ
โNo, please,โ he says, lunging forward and grabbing for me. โI want to make sure you make it home all right.โ The heat of his hand on my arm stops my breathing. I would give anything to slip my hand into his and walk home with him by my side. I catch my breath in a gasp, and he lets go, shoving his hands in his pockets.
โFine. Letโs go.โ I walk in front of him for a bit, texting Halley again. โCouldnโt ditch Masa. Heโs walking me home,โ I type to her.
โGood,โ she replies and adds in a kissing smiley face. There are days when I want to strangle her.
Masa eventually walks beside me and holds my waist when I trip over cracks in the pavement. I twist away from him and put a few inches between us to steady my beating heart.
He clears his throat. โSo, have you heard any more about the apartment youโre staying in in Tokyo?โ
โYeah, itโs in Akasaka. Your dadโs apartment is there, right?โ
โYep. Akasaka is a business district and close to Tokyo Station, Shinjuku, and the Imperial Palace. Youโll love it.โ
A warm breeze blows my hair into my face, so I tuck it behind my ears. I went easy on my hair today, letting it be wavy instead of straightening it, but I took the time to put on makeup and even eyeliner. Iโm getting better at the cat eye, thanks to the beauty vlogs I follow.
โIโve mapped out ten running routes for when we get there. I want to make sure sheโs acclimatized before the Games start. I have three routes with hills, three flat ones, and four combinations. I think itโs enough. I hope itโs enough. Maybe I should make more.โ
โIโm sure itโs fine, Isa. Itโs probably overkill already.โ
โYouโre right, of course. Youโre always right.โ
โI canโt believe youโre still watching Lost,โ Masa says, laughing, as I weave around a group of people walking against us on the sidewalk.
โI never watched it the first time around, and we already watched Battlestar Galactica and Breaking Bad together this year.โ
Masa tips his head and stares at the ground. โI miss those Friday nights already.โ
These statements are the confusing part of my relationship with Masa. He seems to enjoy spending time with me, and weโve even slept in the same bed with each other before, but heโs never once shown any romantic interest in me.
What if I told him how I feel? The timing is perfect, right before the summer. If he feels the same way, I can convince him to come to Tokyo with me. Weโd figure things out together while exploring the city and attending the Olympics. I smile, imagining the two of us doing all the things I planned together instead of me doing them alone.
โWhat are you smiling about?โ Masa asks, as we cross over Harrison and Michigan Ave. Only a few more minutes till home.
I wipe the stupid smile off my face and frown. โNothing.โ I lengthen my stride until Iโm right outside my dorm. The parking lot is quiet, and itโs still early enough for me to use my swipe card at the far end door instead of entering through the lobby.
…
About the Author:
Stephanie (S. J.) is a writer, knitter, amateur astrologer, Capricorn, and Japanophile. She loves foxes, owls, sushi, yoga pants, Evernote, and black tea. When sheโs not writing, sheโs thinking about writing or spending time outside, unless itโs winter. She hates winter. Someday sheโll own a house in both hemispheres so she can avoid the season entirely. Sheโs a mom to two great kids and lives with her husband and family outside NYC. They have no pets. Yet. When it comes to her work, expect the unexpected. She doesnโt write anything typical.
You can find and contact SJ Pajonas here:
– Website
– Facebook
– Twitter
– Goodreads
– Pinterest
– Instagram
– Tumblr
– Youtube
– Wattpad
– Amazon Profile
– Newsletter
Thank you so much for sharing the SUMMER HAIKUS cover today!
S. J. Pajonas recently posted…SUMMER HAIKUS Cover Reveal!
You’re welcome SJ. Best of luck with the release.
Siobhan Davis recently posted…Cover Reveal: Summer Haikus by SJ Pajonas