I have another giveaway. But first let me tell about Mercy Amare’s debut.
Don’t Tell
by Mercy Amare
ADD To Goodreads
When people look at Lucy, they see a beautiful, vivacious girl.
But it’s just a mask she wears. A mask to hide her pain, like the long sleeves and make-up she wears to hide the bruises.
Bruises left by Charles, her father.
It hadn’t always been like this. They’d been happy once, when her mother was still alive. Now, Charles is a mean, abusive drunk and he blames Lucy for her mother’s death. After all, she was on her way to pick up Lucy when the drunk driver smashed into her car, killing her.
Now everything is wrong. Her self-esteem is shattered and she’s afraid to trust anyone. The only one she let’s past her defensive walls is Tess, her best friend since grade school. But even Tess doesn’t know her secret.
Lucy’s never had a boyfriend, never been in love, but she yearns for it. If only she could be like a normal teen-age girl.
If there is anyone she could tell her secret to, it would be Ian. But as much as she likes him, she can’t bring herself to tell him the truth.
Ian’s the pastor’s son, captain of the football team, and every girl at school is crushing on him. He also has a secret. He’s been in love with Lucy since the first time they met. They were four years old and she kissed him on the cheek.
He’s seen her bruises, old ones and new ones. Someone she’s close to is abusing her, but Ian’s not sure if it’s her dad.
Should he tell someone? Wouldn’t that be betraying Lucy’s trust.
My heart went out to Lucy. She had her good days, especially when she was with Tess or Ian. She could almost believe everything was normal, was as it should be. Then the memories would sneak up on her, never letting her forget.
Then there’s Ian. He’s in a difficult situation. I’m sure teenagers have been in Ian’s and Lucy’s shoes. I wish it wasn’t so.
As for Charles. It’s sad and ironic that he becomes an abusive drunk. After all, a drunk driver was the cause of all his anguish. Instead of grieving and healing with his daughter, he uses the very thing that caused all this to numb his pain.
It’s very hard to feel sorry for a drunk. Everything about them can be so repulsive.
The author knows how to write about a tough subject and writing this story from Lucy’s and Ian’s points of view enables you to see how abuse has many victims, like ripples in a pond.
Having Lucy refer to her father as Charles shows how she doesn’t recognize him as her father any longer. She doesn’t know this monster.
I really enjoyed reading about the budding romance between Lucy and Ian. It had me smiling and remembering the sweetness and intensity of first love. I was really pulling for these two and was happy that Lucy had someone on her side.
I usually avoid reading about abuse, but I’m glad I read Don’t Tell. Mercy Amare showed me why someone wouldn’t or couldn’t tell anyone about being abused, and she told it in an entertaining and enlightening manner. While this is a story of darkness, there is also light, the shining light of love, friendship, hope and letting go!
Giveaway
The author has offered 5 e-books to give away.
Easy to enter. Just leave your email address and answer this question. “If a friend told you a secret and made you promise not to tell, would you break that promise if their health or life was at risk, even if it meant you might lose their friendship?”
Giveaway ends December 22nd.
Merry Christmas and Good Luck!
About the author
I write YA contemporary fiction books. I have a slight addiction to NOS. My guilty pleasure is Pretty Little Liars.
Here are a few cool things about Mercy Amare:
1. I am very musically talented. I can play the guitar, bass, and drums. I also sing.
2. I got started writing at a very young age (2nd grade, I think)… My writing career started out with writing songs.
3. I am addicted to the energy drink, NOS. It’s amazing. But I only like the NOS in a blue can. Purple, green, and red? GAG.
4. My favorite color is pink. Pink is happy.
5. I’m very clumsy. I fall down a lot, and I always have. If it’s raining, I stay inside. (Me + slippery ground = bad).
6. I love to do zumba with my best friends, however, I suck at it.
7. I love books. Especially books in a series.
8. Vampires are awesome. Seriously. I love vampire books, shows, movies, etc. They’re all awesome.
9. I’ve had a LOT of jobs in my life. (Most ALL of them very crappy). Writing is the first thing I’ve found that actually makes me happy. So, I’m going to go for it, and hope I don’t fail.
10. My hair is naturally red (and curly). I love red hair. If you have red hair, you rock 🙂
Author contacts
To purchase Don’t Tell, click on the cover.
Merry Christmas To You And Yours From FUONLYKNEW!
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If my friend was in danger and speaking up would protect them, of course I’d tell! But I would probably put it off for as long as possible and give them the chance to do something on their own until it got to the point where I thought I needed to intervene. Either way, I can’t say I’d enjoy it. 🙁
emwheatley@netzero.net
I knew this would be a difficult question. I’d have to step in and do something. That’s what friends do.
I would put it off too, but I’m sure I would tell. What is the secret worth if they were dead?
Amen, Sherry!
Exactly what I think!
I know I harp on about book covers a lot, but they really are a big factor in drawing attention to a book and this one is great. I’d love to be musically talented!
It is eye catching isn’t it. Makes you read on to find out what the story is about.
I would tell. I don’t think I could live with myself knowing that she was being hurt. I’d rather have her mad at me for the rest of our lives but knowing she was alive and well then have to go see her at a hospital or at her grave because inevitably that would happen.
Oh and here’s my email: funsiized08@gmail.com
I’d tell too. Like you said, there’s no rosy outcome to abuse.
That would be a difficult situation, but I would tell the secret if it would save my friend’s life. To care about someone, to me, means that their needs come before mine. Someday I would hope that the friend would see that I truly cared about her and made the decision to tell for her good.
janna@jannashay.com
I think a friend would eventually see the situation for what it was. It might take a while.
I would tell a secret if my friend’s life or heath is in danger. autumnflwer6ATaolDOTcom
Hurt feelings I can take if it means my friend is safe.
Yes, I would have to tell. It would feel as though that person put their life in my hands. And I personally could not bare with the thought of their possible death being something I could have and should have prevented.
There is a time to speak and a time to be quiet.
This is a time to S P E A K!
Amen!!!
I would tell. Better to live with an angry friend than no friend at all and have tons of guilt.
I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night worrying about what could be happening at that very moment.
Congrats on the book! I guess I’d tell.
bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com
It would be for the best if it meant she would be safe from harm.
Thanks for the great post and interview.
Thank you Sherry!
I’ll break the promise, sorry.
reviewing.shelf@gmail.com
Me too.
Yes, I’ll definitely break that promise. What use will friendship be if she dies..
ashima_gemini@yahoo.co.in
I know what you mean.
I definitely would tell… ONLY because how good of friend am I if I don’t care enough to help save my friend? Logically, it seems the right thing to do. Thanks, Emily guido.emily@gmail.com
There really is only one answer!
This is a no brainer. The answer is Yes.
penumbrareads(at)gmail(dot)com
Easier than some of the questions I’ve asked! lol
I think a friend would understand a betrayal of trust if and when it’s done to protect him/her. Sometimes a friend has to put the heart of a relationship before issues of confidence, and speak out to prevent bad things from happening. I would tell to protect and to save a friend, absolutely. He/she could get angry with me, but at least there would be someone to argue with.
-Susan-
susan.laine@hotmail.com
Truer words……..:)
Yes. A good friend tells you for a reason. They know you well enough to know exactly what you would do. The right thing. Sdkurstedt@carilionclinic.org
I like that. Hadn’t look at it that way!
The answer is yes, of course, for me, keeping my friends friendship wouldn’t be worth it if she got injured or worse because of secrets I kept that I should have told.
That’s what friends do. Look out for each other.
I used to teach a Violence Intervention Group for men convicted of domestic abuse, so I would definitely tell, no question. I’ve seen firsthand what happens when it’s kept secret, as some of the men in my group had been abusing their wives/girlfriends/sisters/daughters for years before someone finally stepped up, whether it was the victim or someone else. ksk8172@ego.thechicagoschool.edu
You must have heard some sad stories. You were brave to interact with these men. I don’t know if I could distance myself from their crimes.
It was pretty difficult at times. Especially with the ones who abused their children, because I was only 22 at the time, and a lot of them looked at me as if I was a child, so that was hard.
I absolutely would! Their well being is worth more than them being mad at me. I would hope if we were really good friends that eventually they would forgive me and realize that I did it because I loved and cared about them.
Thank you for the giveaway!
kindlemom1 at hotmail.com
True friends can survive a lot.
I would tell. I love my friends and would do anything for them, but I wouldn’t keep a secret that would bring harm to themselves. Hopefully they would come to the conclusion that I did it out of love and forgive me. If they didn’t I would at least still know that they were alive and well.
sweetypetey2004@yahoo.com
With you on this. I can take their anger if it means they’re safe and sound.
Yes,I’d definitely tell although I wouldn’t enjoy doing so.
nbookaholic(AT)gmail(DOT)com
It would be hard to do, but I wouldn’t hesitate.
That’s a really hard question. If my friend was abusive situation & ask me not to tell I don’t think I I would but in tell me I think she’s asking for help so I would try to encourage her to do the right thing and tell an authority figure that could help. If she didn’t I couldn’t stand by and watch her be hurt I would make her come live with me.
Lori529@Comcast.net
It could be a cry for help.
I find usually when someone tells something that personal it is a cry tor help.I’ve seen what happened when someone didn’t tell what was confided in them and i think it was a cry for help.my friend commited suicide but the person he told never told until after it was too late. That I’d tell someone immediately if i didnt no
what to do.
I’d step in. no doubt about it. If I lose a friendship, it’s fine. I atleast would know that I did the right thing.
What else could you do? A friend could not stand by and do nothing.
I would rather risk our friendship than risk my friend’s well being. 🙂
Ditto. You can work on the friendship damage after they are safe.
I would tell. Definitely. Lorielle11@gmail.com Thanks for the giveaway, btw. And Merry Christmas.
There really is no other answer:) Merry Christmas to you too! Hope santa is good to you:)
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Gdlpgiron@yahoo.com is my email. Yes I would break that promise because if something bad would happen to her i wouldn’t be able to live with myself, even if it meant losing her. I want everyone around me to be happy and healthy