*~*Love Notes: Austin to Frankie – Hated by Christine Manzari*~*
***This book can be read as a standalone***
Frankie DiGorgio has returned home for the summer to fix up and sell the home she grew up in. But when Frankie discovers Austin Stone is also back home and right next door, her summer suddenly seems more exciting than the motocross tracks she races on.
Four years ago, Austin was her best friend. Her first love. The only boy who saw more than just her rough edges.
But Austin left Frankie behind to perform in Las Vegas with his brother Dallas after winning Rising Stars. And Frankie didn’t wait around for him. Instead, she disappeared with no explanation and she hasn’t spoken to Austin since then.
Austin hates Frankie now.
Unfortunately, they’re next door neighbors again and Frankie and Austin can’t avoid each other anymore. With little more than bitterness, heartbreak, and secrets between them, they soon find themselves reverting to their childhood habits—prank wars. As Frankie and Austin’s past is put back together and old feelings resurface, they discover it’s a fine line between love and hate.
And the secrets Frankie has kept could cross the line right into hate.
Check out the other books in the Hearts of Stone Series!
If you ask the confident and snarky skater girl, and she’s in the mood to share, she’ll tell you her name is Cat. She might even tell you that she’s hooked on graffiti, 80s movies, and having fun—the riskier the better. Cat will share a good time with you, but she won’t ever trust you enough to share her heart. It’s protected by secrets and she’d like to keep it that way.
Cat knows one thing for certain: Love isn’t really her thing.
If you ask the confident and rich pretty boy, he might tell you his name is Huck. He might even tell you he loves a challenge and is used to getting his way. He won’t tell you that his life is a mess because he risked his heart by trusting the wrong girl. Huck is ready for a change, he just wasn’t ready to get hooked on someone like Cat.
Huck knows one thing for certain: Love hasn’t done him any favors, but Cat just might be worth the risk.
Cat and Huck think a one-night stand seems harmless, but when all the little secrets they didn’t share turn out to be toxic truths, they realize how easily a one-night stand (or a few) could ruin everything.
The thing is, you can be ruined in more than one way. Once you’re HOOKED, what wouldn’t you risk for the chance at more?
**This book can be read as a standalone**
For aspiring journalist Harlow Ransom, life is just a well-oiled machine, and if she plans well, all things will go accordingly. And that is exactly why Harlow lives her life by perfectly polished to-do lists that she refuses to stray from—even when she’s celebrating her 21st birthday in Sin City.
1. Visit the Boom Boom Blues Lounge
2. See the water show at the BellagioThings can’t possibly go askew if she crosses things off her list one by one. But after a night of celebrating leads to waking up in bed with a sexy stranger and a ring on her finger, Harlow realizes that in no point in time did she ever have “Get Married” on her trusty to-do list. Yet that’s exactly what she did.
Professional snowboarder Trace Stone loves a good challenge—he’s all about the win. And this time, he’s going to find a way to win over the feisty, meticulous Harlow. The wedding may have been spontaneous and impulsive, but when he said “forever,” he meant it. Now, the only thing he wants on Harlow’s to-do list is him—from this day forward.
OMG I love Austin’s Note SO much!
Keep reading to see the full Love Note!
Dear Frankie,
It’s a fine line between love and hate, but just so we’re clear, I never hated you. Not even close. I hated that you left. I hated that you broke both of our hearts. I even hated music for making me feel like I had to make a choice between my brother’s dreams and my own. And I hated that you didn’t feel like you could be a part of that choice. But you? I never hated you. I loved you from the moment I set eyes on you, crooked pigtails and all. That has never changed.
Okay, maybe that’s not true. We’ve changed so I guess our love had to as well, but it’s only changed for the better. It’s bigger. Deeper. Your love digs into my soul like a river forming a canyon that only you can fill. And you fill it with all of the best things…nights made of kisses, days made of laughter, and Moxie who was made from the best of both of us. I love you more today than I did yesterday and I don’t know who I’d be without that love. It’s the blade that cuts away all the rotten parts and molds me into the man I want to be.
I heard it once said that music is the only real magic in life, but I’m inclined to think anyone who really believes that has never been in love. Or maybe it’s just that you are my music. You are the score that is written on my heart and the lyrics that speak to my soul. You are my muse, my music, my magic. My everything. And I want you to be my future.
As much as I know how much you love all this touchy feely stuff, I need to address a little gift you left for me last night. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you get all the touching and feeling you can handle later tonight. But right now I know you’re waiting patiently for my response. To be honest, I’m a little disappointed. An airhorn duct taped under my chair? Not bad, Francesca, but you’re losing your touch. I’m sure my reaction was satisfying, but I know you. You want more. You’ve always wanted more from me. That’s why you started this prank war and that’s why I want to give you all the more you can handle.
So here’s your more. There are 100 balloons in our bedroom. One of them contains the question I’ve been dying to ask you since the first time you let me steal a kiss. I know you’ve hated balloons since that time you watched IT with Paulie and he woke you up in the middle of the night after he’d filled your bedroom with red balloons. But I also know you’ll love this question. So suck it up, Frankie. Pop the balloons so I can pop the question, because I can’t wait to get down on my knees for you…in every way.
Forever yours in love and war,
Austin
The first thing Christine does when she’s getting ready to read a book is to crack the spine in at least five places. She wholeheartedly believes there is no place as comfy as the pages of a well-worn book. She’s addicted to buying books, reading books, and writing books. Books, books, books. She also has a weakness for adventure, inappropriate humor, and coke (the caffeine-laden bubbly kind). Christine is from Forest Hill, Maryland where she lives with her husband, three kids, and her library of ugly spine books.
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