Surviving Silas Thomas by M. J. Padgett

It was the best summer of her life… and then it ended.

In high school, Ella Marshall lost her mother and her best friend on the same night. The little town of Coldstone Creek did its best to help her family move on, but Ella slipped deeper into depression with each passing day. At prom, Ella’s dreary existence was turned on its head by none other than the school’s resident jokester.
Silas Thomas knows a thing or two about being the outcast. He spent much of his youth making life difficult for his parents, but when a practical joke at prom went sideways, and Silas found himself on the run from the police, he fell head first into Ella’s lap…literally. She was the only thing between him and a stint in community service, so she covered for him.
They instantly connected, and an epic summer romance ensued. The only problem? Just when Ella was ready to tell Silas she’d fallen in love with him, he disappeared without a word.
Three long years pass until she sees him again, but when Silas strolls into the county library as her new tutoring pupil, those old feelings come to life again. When the truth of Silas’ departure comes to light, everything changes and Ella finds that forgiveness and patience are two things they both need.

Surviving Silas Thomas is a second-chance, it was always you, sweet new adult romance with swoony kisses, everyday faith in action, and a side of comedy.