Shadows of grey (and Giveaway) Silver Heart by Victoria Green

Description:

There comes a moment in everyone’s life when they must decide which road leads to personal happiness. For Dylan Silver, this is that moment…

For the past twenty-two-years, Dylan has been living in her parents' carefully crafted world, always putting her own dreams on hold to play the role of a dutiful daughter.

So when her best friend coaxes her into a winter getaway to a mountain cabin, she sees it as a chance to forget about the responsibilities waiting for her at home. At least for a little while.

But then her past catches up to her—in the form of sexy snowboarder, Sawyer Carter.

Six years ago, Dylan bid goodbye to the only boy she ever truly loved. Now he's standing right in front of her, bringing up bittersweet memories and igniting suppressed desires as he dares her to be the person she has always wanted to be.

Dylan and Sawyer’s unexpected meeting is a second chance, but will a girl who doesn't believe in fate and taking risks be able to overcome her fears of losing control and finally embrace the life she desperately wants?

Only one thing is certain: after a week in Whistler, Dylan's world will never be the same.

Top 10 List 

Happiness - and unhappiness for that matter - isn’t black and white. 

Happiness transcends time and place, shape and size. 

• Everyone in the world—no matter who they are, what they look like, where they live, how much or how little money they make, how healthy or unhealthy they are—is capable of both happiness and unhappiness. 

Happiness is internal. 

• Our society is so focused on outer appearance. Whether it be our looks, the size of our house/wallet, or all the shiny “swag” we like to show off on Instagram, many people equate happiness levels with how we look and how many flashy things we own. The media often makes us think that being good-looking, rich, and living a life of luxury will automatically make us happy. But those means do not guarantee happiness. True happiness is only achieved when a person is happy on the inside through their mindset, actions, and outlook on life. 

But also external. 

• That being said, a strong support system (someone you can talk to who actually listens and cares) is essential for achieving happiness. A meaningful, fulfilled life in which one is surrounded by friends and family they can count on will often aid in enriching someone’s happiness levels. 

You can’t force happiness. 

• This is one that I still struggle with. There are many studies that show that positive thinking influences happiness. While it may not cause happiness, there is a strong relation between being an optimist in the face of hardship and happiness. However, it’s easier said than done. For me, being happy means working on myself every day and striving to be a good person devoid of negative thoughts, jealousy of others who “have it better”, and anger toward uncontrollable events. 

Happiness can be deceiving. 

• Just because someone is at the top of their career, surrounded by adoring friends, swimming in a pool full of cash, and smiling in a picture doesn’t mean they are truly happy. 

Different people face hardships in different ways. 

• The same negative event (getting laid off, illness, etc.) has a varied effect on people. Something that may shake someone to the core and instill a sense of unhappiness within them could be handled completely differently by someone else. 

An event that breaks someone can make someone else stronger. 

• We don’t know what kind of amazing feats we’re capable of until we’re put to the test and facing obstacles head-on. Sometimes, a negative event can actually make us happier in the end by showing us the truly important things in life. 

Money does not equal happiness. 

• Sure, money can buy luxury, but true friendships, good health, and positive personalities aren’t for sale. 

Neither does love. 

• You have to love yourself first to be able to love someone else. Just because you finally get together with your “One True Love” doesn’t mean that you’ll be happy. A good, supportive partner can obviously increase potential for happiness within a person, but it’s hard to fix one area in life that needs fixing with something (or someone) else. Chances are that the honeymoon phase will eventually wear off and you’ll be left feeling unfulfilled yet again. 

Sometimes it’s okay to be “unhappy”. 

• Key word: “sometimes”. If you’re a person who is genuinely happy 24/7, I applaud you. And this is one of those rare times that I think it would be okay for me to admit complete and utter jealousy. Because, the truth is, it’s very difficult and rare to always be happy. Life is hard, no matter who you are and where you live. It’s only natural to experience its ups and downs and recognize that not every single second of every day will be perfect. However, it’s important to be able to seek out the light even in dark places.

TOUR SCHEDULE

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About the author:

Victoria Green is a New Adult author who enjoys writing about unspoken love and second chances. She’s a travel junkie and a huge photography enthusiast. Her experience growing up in a war-torn country has helped teach her the importance of living life to the fullest and appreciating every single day. She believes in true love, good chocolate, and great books. She lives in Canada with her high school sweetheart (though he’s graduated to a fiancé now) and their pack of puppies, and also writes Young Adult novels under a different name.

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