Rome. Jay Crownover

      

      ROME

      Jay Crownover

      Copyright

      Published by HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd

      77–85 Fulham Palace Road

      Hammersmith, London W6 8JB

       www.harpercollins.co.uk

      First published in Great Britain by Harper 2014

      Copyright © Jennifer M Voorhees 2014

      Cover layout design © HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd 2014

      Cover photograph © Noll Images/Plainpicture

      Jennifer M Voorhees asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

      A catalogue copy of this book is available from the British Library.

      This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

      All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins.

      Source ISBN: 9780007536337

      Ebook Edition © January 2014 ISBN: 9780007536320

      Version: 2014-06-30

       Dedicated to all the men and women who are serving or have served our country in any branch of the armed forces. Thank you for your service. Also to the families, friends, and loved ones who love and support their service members while they are near, far, and everywhere in between.

      Table of Contents

       Cover

       Title Page

       Copyright

       Dedication

Introduction

Chapter 1: Cora, the Fourth of July

Chapter 2: Rome

Chapter 3: Cora

Chapter 4: Rome

Chapter 5: Cora

       Chapter 6: Rome

       Chapter 7: Cora

       Chapter 8: Rome

       Chapter 9: Cora

       Chapter 10: Rome

       Chapter 11: Cora

       Chapter 12: Rome

       Chapter 13: Cora

       Chapter 14: Rome

       Chapter 15: Cora

       Chapter 16: Rome

       Chapter 17: Cora

       Chapter 18: Rome

       Chapter 19: Cora

       Epilogue: Thanksgiving

       Rome’s Playlist

       Cora’s Playlist

       Acknowledgments

       Keep reading for more from Jay Crownover

       About the Author

       Also by Author

       About the Publisher

       INTRODUCTION

      First of all, I want to say that I have nothing but respect and admiration for the men and women of our armed forces. I think it is admirable to choose to serve for the good of others. It’s selfless, heroic, and all-around commendable.

      I live near Fort Carson, in a town that is full of men and women on active duty. My grandfather was in the army, which led to my mom being taken all over the world when she was young. My cousin served overseas in the army and he is a delightful, truly wonderful young man who did not come back entirely unaffected by his experience. My most recent job was at a bar located near a university here in town that served as the unofficial hangout of a group of ex-soldiers who were all back in school on the GI Bill, building their postservice life. I’ve heard the stories, good and bad. Seen the highs and lows that getting out of the service can bring. That being said, Rome is in no way meant to be a portrait, in a generalized or documentary way, of the kinds of lives these military people lead.

      Rome is a man on a journey, just like we all are, and he’s only trying to do the best he can. Any liberties I have taken with the truth are my own doing and only designed to develop his character and tell his tale.

      Thank you all and happy reading!!!

      Jay

       CHAPTER