Latitudes

By Renee Novelle

Skylar had spent her entire summer after college graduation in Key West for an internship at the Aquarium. And the experience had changed her in more ways than she’d realized. Gone was the sorority princess with materialistic ideals, and she was embracing the more authentic version of herself that was emerging in its place. Now, she wasn’t sure if she really wanted to return to the life she used to live, and to the fiancé who had already proven himself unfaithful to her.

Just a few days before she’s supposed to leave, Skylar meets Cooper – and the shy, rugged, gentle man is everything she never knew she needed. There’s no denying the connection between them, but is he enough of a reason for her stay? Can she be strong enough to give up the life she no longer wants to take a chance on the possibility of something better? Skylar discovers if she can give herself the latitude she needs to change her life, or if she’ll fall back into the rut of a predictable existence.

• Language: English
• Publisher: R.S. Novelle
• Release date: Jun 7, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311748324

Renee Novelle

Formerly a freelance journalist, Novelle has found placement of her pieces in both online and print publications since 2008. Additionally, she has written multiple screenplays, and contributed her writing to many non-profit and for profit organizations. She has launched several blogs over the years, which garnered international attention.In 2013, Novelle returned to her first love – fiction. Writing under the names Renee Novelle and R.S. Novelle, she has a publication schedule that includes Psychological Thrillers, Suspense, Paranormal Fiction, Contemporary Women’s fiction, Chick Lit, and New Adult.Though she received her Bachelor’s of Science in Communication, summa cum laude, she considers herself a constant student of the written word. She’s an avid reader, an enthusiastic quote poster, and rarely takes “no” as a final answer. She has an unhealthy obsession for theater, dance, music and art, and strongly believes that wine is simultaneously the beginning of, and resolution to, all of life’s problems. She believes in following dreams, and that in the end, you always end up where you're meant to be.You can find out more about her books and connect with her here:Website: www.RSNovelle.comGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/RSNovelleFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReneeNovelleTwitter: https://twitter.com/RS_Novelle

Book preview

Latitudes

By Renee’ Novelle

PUBLISHED BY:

R.S. Novelle on Smashwords

Copyright © 2014 by R.S. Novelle

SMASHWORDS EDITION

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof
 may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever 
without the written permission of the publisher 
except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

The purchaser of this book is subject to the condition that he/she shall in no way resell it, nor any part of it, nor make copies of it to distribute freely.

This book is a work of fiction. Any similarity between the characters and situations within its pages and places or persons, living or dead, is unintentional and co-incidental.

Cover design by April Cosimano

Find out more about this author, and any upcoming works, at the following sites:

Website: www.RSNovelle.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/RSNovelle

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReneeNovelle

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RS_Novelle

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

About the Author

Additional Titles

Chapter One

It was three o’clock in the afternoon, and it was raining. Again.

Not the kind of soft, gentle rain that follows a blazing hot summer day, or the kind that looks like little diamonds falling from the sky. It wasn’t the kind that makes you want to dance along the sidewalk and make out with someone you love. Or what Key West locals refer to as sun showers, that allows one to dart between shops and establishments without looking like a hot mess afterwards.

No, Skylar sighed as she leaned back in a low Adirondack style chair. This was the kind of rain that swallowed up the sun whole, blocking it out with black, angry looking clouds. The kind that practically shoots down from the sky in sheets of bullets, and drenches you to the bone just by looking at it – not to mention the sting as it ricochets off your body. This was the kind of rain that even waterproof mascara couldn’t hold up against, and the sweltering humidity that lingered was making it hard to breathe.

Skylar had learned the mascara trick the first day she’d arrived, and she hadn’t worn much makeup since.

Now a practical expert on such matters, she’d timed her morning dive to avoid the clockwork weather change. And with that out of the way, she could enjoy a margarita on the large porch of the rental house she’d shared with her friends over the summer. Which was all she’d planned to do on this rainy afternoon. Laughing a little as tourists scurried for their hotels, she remembered how betrayed she’d felt that first week on the little island – this was Florida still, after all. The Sunshine State. It wasn’t supposed to rain every day in paradise.

But now their internship with the conservation branch of the aquarium was over, and in just one short week, they’d all have to return home – back to their real lives. As she glanced down at the boulder of a diamond that was sitting on her left hand, a showpiece that had been more about the flashy statement than a real promise, she wondered what that life would look like. What it would feel like. If it would really make her happy. And already, she was starting to doubt the validity of some of the choices she’d made...

Stop raining yet? Zoe asked as her lanky frame burst through the screen door and plopped into one of the worn out, white chairs beside her friend. Skylar tucked her hand into her lap, a subconscious move to conceal what she’d been contemplating, then merely arched her brow in the direction of the rivers that had served as streets only a few hours earlier. Looking back toward her friend with the dark tanned skin and wild hair, she allowed her come to her own conclusions. Guess not. Zoe wisely decided, and Skylar passed her the margarita to take a sip and join in her delightful afternoon past time. It was pleasingly sweet with just the right amount of tangy mango, and Zoe puckered her lips in response. As she passed it back, Zoe tilted her head and narrowed