About the Book
Title: Canopy
Author: Liz Faraim
Series Title: A Vivian Chastain Novel
Number in Series: #1
Publisher: NineStar Press
Release Date: Monday, October 26 2020
ISBN: 978-1-64890-121-8
Price: 5.99
Length: 72,119 words
Cover Artist: Natasha Snow
Genres: Contemporary fiction, LGBTQ, crime/thriller,
Pairings: Not a romance, but pairings are FF
LGBTQ+ Identities: lesbian, gay, trans, poly
Keywords/Categories: Contemporary, crime/thriller, lesbian, polyamory, ex-military, bartender, drugs/alcohol abuse, PTSD. lesbian, gay, trans, poly, queer, LGBTQ, crime, thriller, contemporary
Warnings: This book contains sexually explicit material which is only suitable for mature readers, graphic violence, self-harm, abuse of a child by a parent, abuse by a sibling, alcohol abuse, and PTSD
Synopsis
Vivian Chastain is an adrenaline addicted veteran transitioning to civilian life in Sacramento, California. She settles into a new routine while she finishes up college and works as a bartender, covering up her intense anxiety with fake bravado and swagger. All Vivian wants is peace and quiet, but her whole trajectory changes when she stumbles upon a heinous crime in progress, and has to fight for her life to get away.
While recovering from the fight, she falls in love with someone who is tall in stature but short on emotional intelligence, and this toxic union provides Vivian the relationship that she thinks she needs. Given Vivian’s insecurities and traumatic past, she clings to the relationship even while it destroys her.
Prone to fits of rage, the spiraling of Vivian’s temper creates a turning point for her as she looks within to find the peace she seeks.
Vivian’s alcoholic brother and emotionally devoid mother serve as frequent thorns in her side, prompting her turbulent history to often bubble up to the surface. The bubbling turns to a rolling boil when Vivian’s brother lands himself in jail for drunken indiscretions, and not long afterward her partner is arrested for something so atrocious Vivian cannot even fathom it. She is left pondering whether or not to believe that the person she loves could have committed such an inexcusable crime.
Vivian’s relationships are strained to their breaking points as she continues to seek balance. She turns to her best friend for support, only to be left empty handed and alone until she finds comradery and care from the last person she would have thought.
Excerpt
There’s a lot of excitement prior to a book release, and there is also a lot to do to prepare. Writing, for many, is an endless cycle of creativity and self-doubt. So when it comes time to choose a few excerpts of your work to share to garner interest in your new book, hopefully you’re not in the self-doubt part of your creative cycle. Can you take one guess what phase I am in?
Anyway, I am so happy that Canopy has been released out into the wild at last, and wanted to share some of the story with you. Canopy is told from the perspective of Vivian, who is a queer veteran with PTSD who works as a bartender and is trying to adjust to civilian life. She seeks out adrenaline rushes and has a quick temper.
In this scene Vivian is having a conversation with her partner Ang about a recent altercation with Vivian’s stalker.
***
“But seriously, I’ve been watching that red bump on your forehead swell and turn purple since I got here. Your arms are full of road rash, and you’ve been bleeding through your pants.”
“Where?”
“There—” She pointed to my shin.
“Oh. That,” I said, shrugging my shoulders. “I took a tumble during my trail run this morning. And I also ran into my pal Crystal.”
Ang narrowed her eyes.
“When?” she asked and immediately went into hypervigilant mode, scanning the tree line. She got up, unlocked her glovebox, and pulled out her ankle holster. She strapped it on adeptly and joined me back on the tailgate.
“This morning on the trail. I knew someone had been tailing me, so I made it really easy for them. More predictable for me that way too. Crystal walked up on me. We had a chat. We tussled a bit. Then I left. And I fell on my way back down the mountain.”
I stopped, took a deep breath, and looked into Ang’s eyes for a moment. She held my gaze and hesitated, then asked, “Is Crystal in any kind of condition to get herself back down off that trail?”
I bristled and bit back my temper.
“I didn’t kill her, if that’s what you’re asking,” I said, looking down at my hands nestled in my lap. The knuckles on my right hand were red and swollen from punching Crystal.
“No, no, that’s not what I was implying. Really. It’s just…” Ang paused, choosing her words carefully. “It’s just, look, I know you are very capable of taking care of yourself, and that you’ll defend yourself, when needed.”
“Do you not trust my judgment?” I peered up from my hands and saw that look on Ang’s face. Like she wanted to backpedal and take it all back. I kept going, letting her off the hook.
“Look. I disabled her just enough so that I could safely make it back down off that ridgeline without having to watch my back too much. And before you say anything, no, I am not calling Sergeant Brickhouse. At least, not yet. She’ll be fine. Clearly, she is fine, she managed to track me here and stab my truck!”
Purchase Links
Giveaway
Liz is giving away a $20 Amazon gift card with this tour.
About the Author
Liz Faraim is a recovering workaholic who has mastered multi-tasking, including balancing a day job, solo parenting, writing, and finding some semblance of a social life. In past lives she has been a soldier, a bartender, a shoe salesperson, an assistant museum curator, and even a driving instructor.
Liz writes contemporary fiction that highlights queer characters and often includes complex polyamorous relationships. Her writing has a hefty dose of soul searching and emotional turmoil while also taking the reader on fun adventures. She loves spending time in nature and does her best to share nature with her readers.
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