Finding London (Flawed Heart #1) (32 page)

I just love this story! I hope you all enjoyed it, too. I love the characters. They are all so interesting to me and were fun to write. I wanted to write a story that had two differently flawed characters falling in love. Though dissimilar from each other in many ways, London and Loïc are just two people trying to figure out who they want to be in this world. Both are a big change to what my usual hero and heroine are like, and I adore them.

The next two novels in this series are going to give you all sorts of feels! I’m excited to see what you all think as you read them.

It is so crazy to me that I am publishing my sixth book, and what makes it more surreal is the fact that I’m doing it as a full-time writer! This is no longer my hobby but my legit job—the best job. I never thought I would be sitting here, saying this, yet here I am, people! Amazing. Dreams do come true! :) What a gift. ♥

I want to thank my readers so very much. Thank you for reading my stories and loving my words! I wouldn’t be living this dream without you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

In every one of my acknowledgment sections, I get quite wordy when expressing my love to all the amazing people in my life. I am so fortunate to have this life I’ve been given. I have a wonderful husband, healthy and happy children, an astonishing extended family, the best mother in the world, and friends who would do anything for me. I am so blessed and grateful to be surrounded by so much love that I want to shout it from the rooftops.

A special shout-out will always go to my siblings, who were my first soul mates. You will find them in every story I write because so much of what I know of love has come from them. One of my biggest wishes for my children is that they will always love each other unconditionally and fiercely, the way my siblings and I love each other.

There is a core group of people who go above and beyond in helping me with my books—most of whom, I didn’t know prior to becoming a part of this crazy book world—and I am so thankful.

To my beta readers and proofreaders—Gayla, Nicole, Amy, Tammi, Elle, Heather, Terri, and Angela—You all are so awesome. Seriously, each of you is a gift, and you have helped me in invaluable different ways. I love you all so much. XOXO

Angela, my cupcake—I’ve said it before, and I will say it again. I love you big time, like hard-core, intense love! I am counting down the days until we meet in person! I can’t thank you enough for all you do for me on a daily basis! I am so truly blessed to know you. ♥

Gayla—Thank you for taking time out of your busy life to help me, no matter what I need. You are so smart and talented. You are a blessing, and I love you more than I could ever express.

Nicole, my BBWFL—You are my biggest supporter and ally in this crazy book world. You will always get the credit for starting it all. Our mutual love of books and our late-night chats reignited my dream to write. None of my books would be the same without your input. Your friendship means the world to me. Love you forever.

Tammi—I’ve said it before, and I will say it again. I will forever continue to write as long as you continue to read because your feedback alone is enough.
You get me
. Thank you for being you because you are perfect. I live for your comments and feedback. Not only do you fill my heart with so much gratitude, but you also make me a better writer. *Tight Hugs* I freaking love you!

Amy, my BBFFL—What can I say that I haven’t already said? You know how much I love you! I have cherished your support from the beginning. Six novels later, you continue to bless me with your feedback and support. You get me and my writing. You make my books better. You are one of the kindest and most supportive people I know. I love you to pieces! <3

Terri—I’m still so grateful that I met you and thankful that you continue to beta! You know exactly how to make my work better. Thank you for your honest feedback. You are such a kind, smart, and giving person. I hope you know that, now that I’ve found you, I’m not going to let you go! :) XO

Elle—I love you for so many reasons! I especially love how you make me laugh when I need it! Thank you for loving and supporting me. You are such a good person. Thank you for all you do to help me! I am so grateful. ♥

To my cover artist, Regina Wamba from Mae I Design and Photography—Thank you! Your work inspires me. You are a true artist, and I am so grateful to now have six of your covers. People do judge a book by its cover, so thank you for making mine
gorgeous
! XO

To my editor and interior designer, Jovana Shirley from Unforeseen Editing—You are, simply put, the best. Your talent, professionalism, and the care you take with my novels are worth way more than I could ever afford to pay you. Finding you was a true gift, one that I hope to always have on this journey. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for not only making my words pretty, but for also making the interior of the book beautiful. Thank you for always fitting me in! I am so grateful for you and everything you have done to make this book the best it can be. XOXO

Lastly, to the bloggers—Oh my God! I love you! Since releasing
Forever Baby
, I have gotten to know many of you through Facebook. Out of the kindness of your hearts, so many of you have reached out and helped me promote my books. There are seriously great people in this blogger community, and I am humbled by your support. Truly, thank you! Because of you, indie authors get their stories out. Thank you for supporting all authors and the great stories they write.

Readers—You can connect with me on several places, and I would love to hear from you.

Find me on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/EllieWadeAuthor

Find me on Twitter:
@authorelliewade

Visit my website:
www.elliewade.com

Remember, the greatest gift you can give an author is a review. If you feel so inclined, please leave a review on the various retailer sites. It doesn’t have to be fancy. A couple of sentences would be awesome!

I could honestly write a whole book about everyone in this world whom I am thankful for. I am blessed in so many ways, and I am beyond grateful for this beautiful life. XOXO

Forever,

Ellie ♥

Ellie Wade resides in southeast Michigan with her husband, three young children, and two dogs. She has a master’s in education from Eastern Michigan University, and she is a huge University of Michigan sports fan. She loves the beauty of her home state, especially the lakes and the gorgeous autumn weather. When she is not writing, she is reading, snuggling up with her kids, or spending time with family and friends. She loves traveling and exploring new places with her family.

Copyright © 2015 by Ellie Wade

All rights reserved.

Cover Designer: Regina Wamba, Mae I Design

Editor and Interior Designer: Jovana Shirley, Unforeseen Editing,
www.unforeseenediting.com

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the author, except
for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Visit my website at
www.elliewade.com

 To my mother, who has always been my biggest fan.
Thank you for loving and supporting me. You taught me to value myself at an early age. Because of you, I’ve always had the courage to be myself, to fight for my dreams, and to live a meaningful life. I love you.
♥

Here’s the thing. Life happens. What does that even mean? Well, it means just that.

Life.

Literally.

Just.

Happens.

It is in constant motion, going on, no matter the circumstances and regardless of the outcomes. Sometimes, things happen the way we want them to, and sometimes, they don’t.

In actuality, we have little control over how things turn out in the end. It is impossible to know how the choices we make will change the course of our future, how a small break from a relationship might seal our fate, or how an inconsequential choice over something we deem temporary could become permanent.

You see, every action has a reaction, and that reaction has another, and so on and on. Therefore, once that action is put out into the universe, we have no control over the infinite amount of reactions that might occur, forever changing the future.

I don’t know if I believe in soul mates, but I do know that someone is out there for everyone.

There is one person who fits so perfectly in my life, someone I love unconditionally—someone who makes me laugh until I cry, and someone who I’m so attracted to that my blood will race through my veins at his every touch.

Okay, that sounds a lot like the definition of a soul mate, so maybe I do believe in it. Perhaps though, people can have more than one, but I don’t.

I have one, and his name is Jax Porter.

I have known Jax my whole life, and by extension, I have loved him with every breath I’ve taken throughout my entire existence. Our mothers have been best friends, and Jax and I were born a mere month apart. Ever since we could communicate through slobbery gurgles, we have been put in the position to be inseparable best friends.

So, one might think our story is sealed, our fate written.

Unfortunately, that’s not how it works. Through this experience of life, we have many choices to make, and each one will lead us down another path.

I find myself at a destination that I never imagined, and to be honest, I am terrified of it.

Yet here I am.

Now, I have to figure out where to go from here.

Age Twelve

I turn my face, laughing, as a gush of water collides with my cheek. Wiping the wet drops from my eyes, I see Jax surfacing from his recent cannonball.

“That was a big one, right?” His smile is wide with enthusiasm.

“Yeah, it was okay,” I tease. “I bet mine will be bigger!”

I swim toward the ladder of our pool, taking note that the normally bright blue liner underneath the rippling water is taking on more of a greenish hue than normal. I love our pool in the humid Michigan summers, but I hate cleaning it. I sigh inwardly, remembering that it’s my week to vacuum the pool.
Yuck
. Maybe I can bribe my younger sister, Keeley, to do it for me. She is usually pretty easy to win over. Admittedly, she sucks slightly more than I do when it comes to cleaning our algae-happy pool, so perhaps that isn’t such a good idea.

“Sure,
Little
. Give it your best shot!” Jax grins as he flexes his arm muscles, displaying his manly biceps.

I grab on to the ladder and pull myself up, shaking my head, with a big grin spread across my face. He always makes me laugh. He has been my best friend for as long as I can remember.

Our mothers have been best friends since they were young. They grew up as next-door neighbors, and because they were each the only child in their families, they were more like sisters. They were each pregnant at the same time with Jax and me. So, we have been thrown together since we were born—or at least a month after I was born since I am a month older than Jax.