Title: The Butterfly Project
Author: Emma Scott
Release Date: Tuesday, February 28, 2017
Tagline: "Where you are is home..."
Links:
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2lkj8ZY
Amazon Universal: myBook.to/TheButterflyProject
The Butterfly Project Blurb:
"Where you are is home..."
At age fourteen, Zelda Rossi witnessed the unthinkable, and has spent the last ten years
hardening her heart against the guilt and grief. She channels her pain into her art: a dystopian
graphic novel where vigilantes travel back in time to stop heinous crimes—like child
abduction—before they happen. Zelda pitches her graphic novel to several big-time comic book
publishers in New York City, only to have her hopes crash and burn. Circumstances leave her
stranded in an unfamiliar city, and in an embarrassing moment of weakness, she meets a guarded
young man with a past he’d do anything to change...
Beckett Copeland spent two years in prison for armed robbery, and is now struggling to keep his
head above water. A bike messenger by day, he speeds around New York City, riding fast and
hard but going nowhere, his criminal record holding him back almost as much as the guilt of his
crime.
Zelda and Beckett form a grudging alliance of survival, and in between their stubborn clash of
wills, they slowly begin to provide each other with the warmth of forgiveness, healing, and
maybe even love. But when Zelda and Beckett come face to face with their pasts, they must
choose to hold on to the guilt and regret that bind them, or let go and open their hearts for a shot
at happiness.
The Butterfly Project is a novel that reveals the power of forgiveness, and how even the smallest
decisions of the heart can—like the flutter of a butterfly’s wings—create currents that strengthen
into gale winds, altering the course of a life forever.
The Butterfly Project Excerpt:
“Why do you stay if it’s so hard to live here?” I asked.
Beckett took a drag from his cigarette, as if he were buying time before answering.
“Brooklyn, born and raised,” he said finally, still not looking at me. “Where else would I go
anyway? Different city, same struggle.” He finally brought his gaze to mine. “So you’re getting
out?”
“On the bus, tomorrow,” I said. “I can’t stay. I was here for a job interview—sort of—and it fell
through.”
“What was the job?”
“You’ll think it’s stupid.”
“Yeah, I probably will.” His smile was dry.
I laughed a little. “Smartass. I draw graphic novels.”
He stared at me blankly.
“Long-form comic books that tell one continuous story,” I said.
“Like The Walking Dead?”
“Exactly. I have one mocked up and I came here to pitch it to a few publishers. They all rejected
me. Well, one half-rejected me, but it doesn’t matter. I can’t stay in the city long enough to make
any changes, and I wouldn’t know what changes to make if I could.”
Beckett studied the cigarette between his fingers. “Why can’t you stay?”
“Where do I start?” I ground out my cigarette under my boot heel. “My poor planning? My
dwindling funds? The fact I was robbed today? Or that I was naively hopeful the publishers
would adore my work and sign me on the spot? Take your pick.”
Beckett shook his head, his mouth turned down in his grimace. “Wait, go back. You were
robbed?”
I nodded and waved away the last of the smoke, wishing my failure could be as easily dissipated.
“I came here like a wide-eyed twit with a dream, and I crashed and burned.”
“You tried. That’s more than most people do.”
“Tried and failed.”
“So try again.”
“I wish,” I said, letting my gaze roam over the dingy back alley. “I feel like I’m so close to
breaking through. That last publisher gave me some hope. If I could pull a few weeks out of my
ass, I’d have a chance. But it’s impossible. I have to go back to Nevada.”
“You don’t have friends or family nearby?”
Yes, and only two hours by train.
“No,” I said, and decided I’d said enough to a total stranger. The last thing I needed was the
terrible homesickness to well up again. I stood and brushed off the ass of my pants. “Anyway, it
is what it is. Thanks for the smoke.”
“Were you hurt?”
I turned, glanced down at Beckett. “What?”
“You said you were robbed,” he said, his voice low, his eyes holding mine as if he were forcing
himself to hear this. “Did they hurt you?”
“No, I… No. I wasn’t there. It was a break-in.”
He leaned against the wall and his sigh plumed out in front of him in the cold air. It sounded
relieved. “I’m sorry, Zelda.”
I frowned. “Not your fault. Like I said, the city kicked my ass. The sooner I get the hell out of
here, the better for
all involved.”
Beckett ground out his smoke and got to his feet. He was at least six-two, yet it didn’t feel
imposing to stand in his shadow. It felt…
Safe. I feel safe with him.
“Do you know how to get back to wherever you’re staying?” he asked.
“The same way I got here, only in reverse,” I said, covering my unsettling thoughts with
sarcasm.
Because that was safe for me.
Shanda's Review - 5 stars
Zelda Rossi has moved to New York hoping to get her graphic novel off the ground. As soon as she arrives she meets with publishers and is rejected. The last publisher tells her to find the “heart” of the story and bring it back to her. But sadly Zelda is running out of money and decides she may have to return to Las Vegas. Her hopes are dwindling fast until she meets Beckett.
Beckett Copeland made a terrible mistake in his past. The guilt is keeping him from fully living. He is basically living a half-life, going through the motions, and trying to keep his head above water. This changes when Zelda comes into the restaurant he works at. They have a brief conversation but it was a connection. Zelda returns the next day when she gets a crazy idea to move in with Beckett to help him with rent. This buys her time to finish her graphic novel and after some hesitation Beckett agrees. Just to note: If you are a book boyfriend hoarder then Beckett will be on your list. He is amazing.
I adored these two. I won’t tell you their back stories but they were so well written. Bravo to Emma Scott for the depth she gave these two. I loved Beckett’s honesty with Zelda about his past. He didn’t have a choice because he had other people to answer to; but it was still refreshing. The author doesn’t do silly tropes or characters that don’t communicate. These characters are raw and beautiful. Zelda and Beckett are both carrying pain from tragic pasts. I loved that Zelda could see the good in Beckett right away and trusted him with her heart. I am not talking about insta-love or romantic love. These two weren’t ready for this. This was Zelda sharing her soul with someone she knew would handle her with care. I think Beckett felt the same as he started to share with Zelda and could see some hope. These characters were so real. They built an honest relationship. It was real love. It was pure love. Their pain is deep but through each other they start to heal. Zelda was an amazing heroine. If she sees the good in you then she won’t give up until you see it too. She was so strong even though her pain was suffocating her.
This is the first book I have read by Emma Scott and it won’t be my last. When you read as much as I do all romance books start to feel the same. There is something so satisfying about starting a book and you know from chapter one that the story will be magic. This is a beautiful story about hope, regret, guilt, and forgiveness. I don’t feel like my review can do this book justice so all I can say is pick this book up. You won’t regret it.
P.S. I would like to note that the graphic art prior to some of the chapters was one of the coolest things I have seen. It added another layer and brought more life to the story. Well done!
Shanda's Review - 5 stars
Zelda Rossi has moved to New York hoping to get her graphic novel off the ground. As soon as she arrives she meets with publishers and is rejected. The last publisher tells her to find the “heart” of the story and bring it back to her. But sadly Zelda is running out of money and decides she may have to return to Las Vegas. Her hopes are dwindling fast until she meets Beckett.
Beckett Copeland made a terrible mistake in his past. The guilt is keeping him from fully living. He is basically living a half-life, going through the motions, and trying to keep his head above water. This changes when Zelda comes into the restaurant he works at. They have a brief conversation but it was a connection. Zelda returns the next day when she gets a crazy idea to move in with Beckett to help him with rent. This buys her time to finish her graphic novel and after some hesitation Beckett agrees. Just to note: If you are a book boyfriend hoarder then Beckett will be on your list. He is amazing.
I adored these two. I won’t tell you their back stories but they were so well written. Bravo to Emma Scott for the depth she gave these two. I loved Beckett’s honesty with Zelda about his past. He didn’t have a choice because he had other people to answer to; but it was still refreshing. The author doesn’t do silly tropes or characters that don’t communicate. These characters are raw and beautiful. Zelda and Beckett are both carrying pain from tragic pasts. I loved that Zelda could see the good in Beckett right away and trusted him with her heart. I am not talking about insta-love or romantic love. These two weren’t ready for this. This was Zelda sharing her soul with someone she knew would handle her with care. I think Beckett felt the same as he started to share with Zelda and could see some hope. These characters were so real. They built an honest relationship. It was real love. It was pure love. Their pain is deep but through each other they start to heal. Zelda was an amazing heroine. If she sees the good in you then she won’t give up until you see it too. She was so strong even though her pain was suffocating her.
This is the first book I have read by Emma Scott and it won’t be my last. When you read as much as I do all romance books start to feel the same. There is something so satisfying about starting a book and you know from chapter one that the story will be magic. This is a beautiful story about hope, regret, guilt, and forgiveness. I don’t feel like my review can do this book justice so all I can say is pick this book up. You won’t regret it.
P.S. I would like to note that the graphic art prior to some of the chapters was one of the coolest things I have seen. It added another layer and brought more life to the story. Well done!
Amy's Review - 5 stars
Zelda Rossi and Beckett Copeland are both filled with regret in regards to their past. Zelda can't help but feel guilty for her sister's abduction; Beckett can't forgive himself for the one instant that has changed his future forever. Their story is about regret, love, redemption, healing...and most of all learning to forgive yourself and letting the past go.
Zelda meets Beckett after her graphic novel is turned down for publication; she's set on going back to Las Vegas, but a wrench is thrown in that plan and she decides to stay in New York City, if she can get Beckett to agree to her plan. Beckett is going to be short on his rent, and doesn't know how he's going to keep going. Zelda makes a proposition to Beckett...become roommates...she'll help him make rent and he'll give her a place to crash.
Along the way, Zelda explains why her novel was rejected and Beckett gives her some ideas on how it might be improved. At first Zelda is resistant, but then she sees that Beckett's idea might just be the way to move her graphic novel forward and recruits him to help her and basically become her partner in the process. I loved that Zelda was willing to trust such a big part of herself with him, it took a lot of courage on her part. I also loves that Zelda sees beyond Beckett's past to see the man that he truly is. She doesn't care that he's a felon and she sees all the goodness that he has to offer. I liked that Beckett didn't try to sugarcoat his mistakes with Zelda; he let her see how his decision effected him both emotionally and and mentally. The letters he wrote to Mrs. J were heartfelt and full of the regret; and I appreciate that he didn't ask for something he felt he wasn't worthy of.
I liked that Zelda and Beckett truly started out as friends, despite their obvious attraction for one another. They're both fearful of screwing up their friendship, so neither acts upon their feelings....at least for a while. When their chemistry finally explodes, it's wonderful. They don't look back and decide that maybe they're both allowed this happiness, despite their inability to let go of their pasts. I loved the closure they both got in the end, and the different ways it was achieved.
This was the first novel I've read by the author, but I'll definitely be going back to read her other works.
Zelda meets Beckett after her graphic novel is turned down for publication; she's set on going back to Las Vegas, but a wrench is thrown in that plan and she decides to stay in New York City, if she can get Beckett to agree to her plan. Beckett is going to be short on his rent, and doesn't know how he's going to keep going. Zelda makes a proposition to Beckett...become roommates...she'll help him make rent and he'll give her a place to crash.
Along the way, Zelda explains why her novel was rejected and Beckett gives her some ideas on how it might be improved. At first Zelda is resistant, but then she sees that Beckett's idea might just be the way to move her graphic novel forward and recruits him to help her and basically become her partner in the process. I loved that Zelda was willing to trust such a big part of herself with him, it took a lot of courage on her part. I also loves that Zelda sees beyond Beckett's past to see the man that he truly is. She doesn't care that he's a felon and she sees all the goodness that he has to offer. I liked that Beckett didn't try to sugarcoat his mistakes with Zelda; he let her see how his decision effected him both emotionally and and mentally. The letters he wrote to Mrs. J were heartfelt and full of the regret; and I appreciate that he didn't ask for something he felt he wasn't worthy of.
I liked that Zelda and Beckett truly started out as friends, despite their obvious attraction for one another. They're both fearful of screwing up their friendship, so neither acts upon their feelings....at least for a while. When their chemistry finally explodes, it's wonderful. They don't look back and decide that maybe they're both allowed this happiness, despite their inability to let go of their pasts. I loved the closure they both got in the end, and the different ways it was achieved.
This was the first novel I've read by the author, but I'll definitely be going back to read her other works.
Author Bio:
Emma Scott writes romances with flawed characters, characters with artistic hearts: builders,
poets, and writers of various makes and models. Emma loves to write book lovers; those who
have found refuge, companionship, and escape in books, much as we all do in real life. She digs
realism, honesty, authenticity in storytelling. She also loves to write about enduring love, souldeep
love, in as real a setting as possible, but with big smooshy HEAs. Emma believes in
diversity, open-mindedness, and inclusion. She adores sweetness mixed with steam, love
conquering all, and above all, hope. Love always wins.
Where to find Emma:
Website: www.emmascott.net
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmmaScottwrites
Twitter: @EmmaS_writes
Instagram: @EmmaScottWrites
Amazon: http://bit.ly/EmmaScott
Signed Copy of The Butterfly Project & $15 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway:
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