Kicking Sideways Blog Tour! (+$15 Amazon GC Giveaway!)

Title: Kicking Sideways

Author: Dina Keratsis

Series: N/A

Pages: 306

Date Published: 2015

Publisher: Createspace

Format: Kindle

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Source: Goddess Fish Blog Tours
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Synopsis:
Lucretia “Cree” Cabot spends her time saving everybody else to avoid facing her own haunted life. Between raising her younger brother and trying to open a women’s shelter, Cree has built an impenetrable wall around her heart. But when a tenant for Cliff Cottage appears at her door, he cracks her vigilantly controlled world, forcing her to look within to confront the emptiness inside.

Mike Sullivan, famous superhero artist, is searching for a peaceful summer break and a new perspective on life. A farm in sunny Santa Cruz seems like just the place. Looking to escape from his usual routine, he doesn’t count on falling for a woman who is as stubborn as the mule that lives in her barn. Yet beneath Cree’s prickly exterior, he finds a woman in pain—a woman with an immense capacity for love. Mike knows she is the only one for him, but will Cree find the courage to truly live and love before the best thing to walk into her life leaves her behind?

~Kicking Sideways 101~

by Dina Keratsis

If you ask me what Kicking Sideways is about, I could tell you it’s a boy-meet-girl-courtship tale, I could refer you to the book blurb, or I could explain the story behind the story. All of these perspectives are relevant, but never really capture the heart of the book, the story of Mike and Cree.

Cree Cabot’s purpose is to be useful to others, to be kind, to help, but her altruism is not authentic. She is reacting to her own broken past, her lack of childhood, and she refuses to let love, romantic or otherwise, into her life. She insists on depending only on herself. This is impossible, of course, and her effort to fight against natural connection only wears her down. 

Mike, on the other hand, accepts life as it comes. He abides life’s ups and downs because he is secure in his self-worth. Unlike most romance heroes, he has very little inner conflict. Losing Cree would devastate him but he knows he will survive and thrive. He is connected to himself and others in a way that will always ensure his happiness.

“We can find the internal resources to move towards a life that is meaningful and happy. The basis of that is this sense of genuine belonging, but unless we can get on that vibration of connection, of love, we’ll never ever achieve real happiness.”

Richard Gere said that. Yes, the Richard Gere, whose character in “Pretty Woman” struggled to discover this truth for himself.


This quote sums up the heart of “Kicking Sideways” and is, I think, the theme of most books, no matter the genre, because it’s the theme of humanity. Connection and love. I hope we all find that path. Luckily, we have books to light our journey. Happy reading to you all!

~Try an Excerpt!~

Cree looked at him blankly, her eyes a dull blade. “I just want it to be perfect for them. I want their bedrooms to be fresh and bright, not musty farmhouse wallpaper and someone else’s memories,” she despaired. “I want them to feel like they have a place to belong and start over.”

His heart tugged for her and fell just a little bit more in love with this practical woman who had enough poetry to want to save the world. He reached across the table and took her hand, tightened as she resisted, and was surprised when she succumbed.

“It’ll get done,” he whispered, giving her hand a little squeeze. “I promise.” Her hand melted in his and the burden dissolved from her face. She smiled tiredly before pulling her hand away to pick up a dish.

“Go hang out with your girlfriends for a couple of days.”

She looked down at the plate and walked to the sink.

“You do have some of those, don’t you?” he asked, suspicious.

“Not really,” she replied. “All my college friends moved away a few years ago and I haven’t met too many people around town.” Shrugging, she added, “I don’t mind when it comes down to it.”

“Cree likes to be alone,” Seth said. “She’s weird.”

“I’m one for haunting graveyards by myself as well. Nothing wrong with liking your own company, kid,” he said as an arm shot out and his hand caught Cree’s arm as she passed with another plate for the sink. “Nope,” he commanded. “Go sex wax your board or whatever you surfers do to prepare for a day with the sharks.” He took the plate from her as he released her wrist. “You’re taking tomorrow off.”

~Meet Dina!~ 

Dina Keratsis is an award-winning author of romance fiction in which all roads lead to illumination and magic is found in the mundane. A New England girl, she has a penchant for punk rock, Scottish tea rooms and a mad crush on Sirius Black. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband and two children.

 Dina will be awarding a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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