New Release ~ Imperfect Princess ~ by ~ Sonya Jesus

New Release Tour for Imperfect Princess by Sonya Jesus

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Imperfect hearts never fall apart in IMPERFECT PRINCESS by Sonya Jesus. This emotional fairytale retelling about an imperfect girl and her scars will chill you in this modern version of The Snow Queen. Fans of the friends to lovers trope will devour this coming of age, new adult romance. The first book in the Modern Princess Collection is now LIVE!

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It started with fire.

Not the kind that burns inside you and melts your heart into a mess of happy feelings. A real one. One that rips through wood and disintegrates brick and bone, leaving ashes and orphans in its wake.

Death would have saved me from a rocky family life. There would be no cigarette burns on the soles of my feet, no vicious words engraved in my mind, and no Kai Madison. The friend who saw past the scars and offered me pennies for my secrets. The guy who stole my heart with a single kiss in the middle of a rose garden on a snowy winter.

Nothing would have been easier to leave behind—to vanish from—but for the past four years, I’ve been isolated from the world, living in a hospital room and helping the Feds build a case against my foster-dad. Now I’m free and willing to risk my life to see him again.

There’s only one problem. I’m no longer imperfect. I have the same heart, but a different face.

Excerpt

“You know you can tell me anything, right?”

“What do I have to tell?” My body aches in protest, reminding me of the many secrets hidden just underneath the layers of cloth, and the many more beneath the layers of skin. What good does voicing truths do? A shared burden is still heavy, and I like feeling weightless in his presence.

“Everything…” He slips closer, breaths landing on my trembling lips. His thick blond lashes flutter, and in that same exact instant, our lips touch. And touch again.

Silk and smooth. Like melting ice.

They glide over mine, as though one year of life has blessed him with skill, my inexperience clearly evident in my ragged breaths. But he doesn’t seem to mind. When he tears his lips from mine, his hand falls to my chin, and he tilts it upward to face him. “You’re so different, Thorn.” Hovering his lips a couple inches away from mine, he whispers, “Be careful with the Del Rios. They aren’t who you think they are.”

About Sonya

Sonya’s a nerd—a cool nerd—who loves science, books, make-up and unicorns. She even has unicorn slippers and unicorn plushes adorn her office. It’s not obsession (or so she says), it’s simply an ode to her imaginative side.

She believes in fairytales and in the beautiful things a mind can conjure. She’s a firm believer of empowering the crazy fictional ideas, putting them down on paper (figurative paper because she’s not a fan of writing in notebooks), and letting them flourish into a story. Sometimes that story is about psychos and murders.

Don’t believe me? Ask her in any of her social media. She’s all about those connections.

“There’s so much potential in a dream, not exploring it seems like such a waste of something absolutely beautiful.”

About the Modern Princess Collection

Once upon a kiss, a modern romance becomes a fairytale.

The prestigious Camelot University comes fully equipped with elitist guys, a castle, and a Glass Ball, but these self-proclaimed princesses don’t need crowns to prove their worth. They’ve taken love and life into their own hands and written their own fairytale.

Follow seven of your favorite fairytale heroines as they find their happily ever after, in these standalone, contemporary romance novels. The ladies of Cam U are a dangerous combination of cute and badass, full of attitude and imperfections, and an innocence only fairytales can convey.

Want to keep up with all the Modern Princess Collection news? LIKE the Rewritten Fairytales Facebook page!

~*~*~

This promotional event is brought to you by Forever Write PR.

New Release ~ Of The Blood ~ by ~ Cameo Renae

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One malicious prince. Two rival kingdoms. And an innocent girl caught in the crossfire.

Raised in a war-ravaged continent, temptation comes to Calla Caldwell in the form of a charming and mysterious stranger. Giving in to his intimate seduction, her world is forever changed by a single bite.

Calla quickly learns the handsome stranger is vampire prince, Trystan Vladu. His bite was an attempt to claim and save her from a plot of vengeance generations in the making. However, the claws of that ancient vendetta are scraping ever closer.

Thrust into a new nightmare by the Prince of the corrupt kingdom of Morbeth, Calla is captured, tortured, and starved in the dank confines of his dungeon. While in captivity, she takes part in a séance with a witch of light where she contacts a departed relative—a Princess of Incendia—who bequeaths a gift to Calla that will tip the scales of good and evil . . . if she can learn to harness it.

With a dark tapestry of secrets, lies, and murder unraveling around her, Calla must learn to embrace the power roiling through her veins, or be snuffed out by the strangling fist of a malevolent darkness.

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Enter the release day giveaway here!

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Read the first chapter here!

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I woke to see a pitch-black sky. No, it wasn’t the sky. It was a cave where the air was stagnant and smelled of brine and rotted seaweed.

I was lying on a bed of sand. And there was sand on the entire floor around me.

Was this purgatory?

“Ah, the Sea Star awakens,” a rich voice spoke off to my side.

I rolled my head to the side and watched a young man, perhaps early twenties, step out of the shadows. He was over six feet, but his eyes . . . they were lambent, a mesmerizing icy blue. He was handsome, with a sharp nose and jaw, with full lips that were curled slightly upward. Light silvery-blue hair fell to his shoulders. He was shirtless, muscular abs, pecks, and biceps glistened on sun-kissed skin in the light of a nearby fire.

“Who are you?” I questioned, my voice a bit hoarse.

He stepped closer, muscular arms crossing over his tanned chest. “I’m Kai. And you are lucky I happened to be passing by. I sensed your energy and by chance, saw your body splash into the sea.”

I scanned the area and realized we weren’t in a cave. The walls surrounding us were transparent. They were made of water. It was a dome, maybe twenty feet in height and width. And if I looked hard enough, I could see things—sea creatures—swimming around us.

♦ ♦ ♦

RELEASE DAY PARTY: May 15 2-10 PM

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I was born in San Francisco, raised in Maui, Hawaii, and now reside with my husband in Las Vegas.

I am a dreamer and caffeine addict who loves to laugh and loves to read to escape reality.

One of my greatest satisfactions is creating fantasy worlds filled with adventure and romance.

It is the love and incredible support of my family and fans that keeps me going.

One day I hope to uncover my magic wardrobe and ride away on a unicorn. Until then . . . I’ll keep writing!

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Excerpt Reveal ~ Catch Me When I Fall ~ by ~ A.L. Jackson

Catch Me When I Fall

A Falling Stars stand-alone romance from A.L. Jackson

Coming June 1st

“Royce,” she begged.

All it took was my name raking up her throat for me to completely lose it. No control left.

Fuck it.

Only thing that mattered was getting closer.

I lifted her from the ground, one arm around the small of her back and the other wrapped up in her hair. I pulled her to my hungry mouth, kissing her wild, lips and tongues and teeth.

Cherry coated her sweet tongue, and need thrummed her heart into a fury.

“You were right, what you said. You were right,” she whispered frantically. “I want you to take away the pain. Take it . . . just for a little while. Just for tonight.”

Fuck.

I was a bastard.

A monster.

But I couldn’t stop.

I let my lips travel over her jaw and tumble down her throat, both my hands holding her by the face. The girl’s head rocked back on the wall where we were right out in the open, gasping and panting for air as I devoured her sweet flesh.

The girl completely surrendered.

Shit.

This was bad. So bad.

I ripped myself back, which was a goddamn travesty in itself. “We have to get out of here. Right fucking now.”

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A.L. Jackson is the New York Times & USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary romance. She writes emotional, sexy, heart-filled stories about boys who usually like to be a little bit bad.

Her bestselling series include THE REGRET SERIES, CLOSER TO YOU, BLEEDING STARS, FIGHT FOR ME, CONFESSIONS OF THE HEART, and FALLING STARS novels. Watch out for her upcoming stand-alone, CATCH ME WHEN I FALL, releasing June 1st.

If she’s not writing, you can find her hanging out by the pool with her family, sipping cocktails with her friends, or of course with her nose buried in a book.

Be sure not to miss new releases and sales from A.L. Jackson – Sign up to receive her newsletter http://smarturl.it/NewsFromALJackson or text “aljackson” to 33222 to receive short but sweet updates on all the important news.

Connect with A.L.

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Cover Reveal ~ Wrong Text, Right Love ~ by ~ Claudia Burgoa

Wrong Text, Right Love

by Claudia Burgoa

Romantic Comedy

Cover by: Hang Le

Release Day: June 11th, 2020

USA TODAY Bestselling Author Claudia Burgoa presents an engaging love story full of mistaken identity, drunk texts, and hysterical mishaps.

Sex talk is my job. I’m an influencer. I run a popular blog where I give all kinds of dating tips, and girls all over the world thank me for helping them with their love lives.
I wish I could follow my own advice because my love life is totally dead. I just drunk texted my ex-boyfriend… except, I didn’t. That text ended up going to someone else.
Oops.
This new relationship is almost picture-perfect, just like my online life. I guess I give good…text.
He doesn’t have to put up with my colorful personality–as my hot next-door neighbor describes me. Or my messy schedule.
This long-distance relationship is the best thing that’s happened to me and I plan to keep it that way.
Until we agree to meet up, and I’m freaking out.
When he meets the real me, will he hate me forever?
Or will we be one day telling our grandkids about that wrong text, right love?

***

Wrong Text, Right Love is a cute rom-com of two secret lovers who prepare to risk it all for love. Claudia Burgoa brings the flirty fun in this cozy novel of risking it all for romance.

Pre-Order at a special price of 2.99

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New Release ~ A New Paige ~ by ~ Zara Teleg

Title: A New Paige

Series: Stained Souls MC

Author: Zara Teleg

Genre: MC Romance

Release Date: May 14, 2020

Cover Design: Zara Teleg & Les

Would you risk losing the ones you love if it meant finally finding out the truth?

Paige

After being kidnapped and nearly killed by a sadistic drug lord, I discovered a startling secret, and I can’t let it go. I was forced to move to small-town Sugar Maple. Kai, the hot-as-hell biker who rescued me, is now my new landlord and makes me feel safe. No matter how attracted I am to him, I won’t let his womanizing ways distract me. No one, including my friends and family, can stop me from seeking the truth. The rabbit hole seems endless, and the dangers are real. I may not like what I find in Pandora’s box, but I refuse to let anyone control my life again.

Kai

My life in the MC has been one big party, just the way I like it. I have been burned once—never again. Saving Paige woke a part of me I thought was long dead. One look into those violet eyes and I knew I could never let anyone hurt her again. Now the tempting little spitfire is up to something and I am going to find out what before she gets herself into trouble. Being her resident babysitter was not what I had in mind, but the closer we become, the harder the attraction is to ignore. She’s off-limits and all I can think about. The Stained Souls will have my head if I go there, but she may be worth the risk. Will she be my downfall or my salvation?

A New Paige is a stand-alone. It is Book 2 of the Stained Souls MC series and is enhanced by reading Book 1, Consumed by Rage.

A New Paige is not your typical MC romance. It is a slow-burn written for those who want all the brotherhood, love, loyalty, angst, suspense, and sexy alpha males challenged by strong, sassy women that make a story you won’t forget! It is not insta-love or erotica.

A New Paige is for readers 18+ as it contains adult content.

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Prologue

Paige

Icy hands grasped my shoulders and ankles as I was lifted onto another surface. Fighting the sedation, I pried my eyes open as much as I could. The images were fuzzy, and voices unfamiliar. My vision was blurred, and I couldn’t focus. My head spun like a Tilt-a-Whirl.

“Sir, was she conscious when you arrived on the scene?”

The ground rumbled beneath me as I was being wheeled.

“She’s been in and out,” a man’s panicked voice replied.

“Sir, you can meet us at the hospital.”

“No, I’m not leaving her.” His voice was stern as his hand grabbed mine.

“How are you related to the patient?”

“Um…she’s family.”

W-who? W-what’s happening?

“Fine, sir, you best come with us, then.”

Doors slammed and sirens blared as we started to move.

Where am I?

My eyelids were pulled up, a bright light was shined in one eye and then the other.

“Are you with us, sweetheart?”

“Paige, her name is Paige.”

A warm hand slid up and down my arm, comforting me, before holding my hand again.

“Are you with us, Paige?” My eyes opened to an EMT leaning over me.

“Yes.” It came out a raspy whisper.

My memory came rushing back.

“Where’s Ana?” Panicked, I tried to push my body up.

“Woah.” A gentle hand pressed me back to the gurney.

“You need to lie back and let us take care of you. We’ll be at the hospital soon.”

An uncomfortable squeezing was increasing against my bicep. The blood pressure monitor tightened as the air was pumped through.

“Ana,” I moaned.

“Your sister is gonna be alright,” warm breath whispered in my ear before giving my hand a small squeeze. His voice was soothing. It calmed the trauma that was running through my mind in waves.

She’s going to be alright.

I tried so hard to keep my eyes open. I needed to see his face. The man who saved me. Emerald eyes bore into mine with worry written across his fading face as the darkness took me back under.

“Paige, stay with me…”

Zara Teleg is an American slow-burn MC romance author who self-publishes under Free Spirit Indie Publishing. Her passion lies in writing tales of brotherhood, love, loyalty, angst, suspense, and sexy alpha males challenged by strong, sassy women.

Zara is a free spirit, who spends her days alternating between writing, cooking, and tending to her four-legged friends. Her love of animals has influenced her plant-based lifestyle. From the time she could walk, she brought home every stray she came across, wanting to keep them all. Her friends nicknamed her “Snow White” because she is slightly obsessed with feeding every hungry wild animal in her neighborhood.

She can often be found outside, reading or writing a slow-burn romance while blaring her favorite music under fairy lights, surrounded by plants, crystals, and wind chimes.

Zara lives with her husband of 24 years, their teenage daughter, spoiled pit bulls, and her very ornery cat. She spends weekends laughing on the Chesapeake Bay with her extremely loud Italian family! She dreams of moving to a warm place where she can walk barefoot and paddleboard with her pit bulls all year long.

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New Release ~ Winter’s Arrow ~ by ~ Lexi C. Foss

Title: Winter’s Arrow

Collection: Sinister Fairy Tales Collection

Author: Lexi C. Foss

Genre: Dark Fairy Tale Retrelling

Release Date: May 14, 2020

True love is a myth.

A trick.

A way to subdue the heroine and take everything from her.

Winter Snow

My “true love” conspired with my stepmother to have me killed and stole my throne.

But they failed.

I’ve been in hiding and refining my vengeance. I’m no longer the damsel they mistook me for once upon a time. I’m coming for them. And my kingdom, too.

Who needs dwarves when you have wolves?

Who needs blades when you have arrows?

My name used to be Snow. Now they call me the Winter’s Arrow. Because I’m here to destroy them all.

Kazek Flor

I’m not a prince but an Alpha. And I take what I want, when I want it. So when I found an Omega princess dying in the woods, I took her and made her mine.

I’ll train her. Embolden her. Help her seek the vengeance she is owed. Then, together, we’ll take down Winter Sector and the wicked Queen of Mirrors.

Run fast, little wolves.

Your former princess is about to rise with me by her side.

And we’re thirsting for your blood.

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“Help,” I begged. “Need… help.”
Kazek frowned at me. “You’re going into estrus, Snow. I’m planning to help you.”
I shook my head, a whine catching in my throat. He didn’t understand. “No knot.” I couldn’t accept it. This had to be part of Vanessa’s plan, to make an Alpha think he could fuck me fully.
She’d planned to entice Enrique with this spell, to force him to knot me.
That was what she’d meant by having methods to induce the sensations. She’d cast some wicked enchantment that convinced Alphas I could handle them in a rut.
Tears collected in my eyes.
I’d escaped her clutches, only to fall into the hands of someone so much worse—an Alpha driven by need.
She’d won.
After all that… she’d still won.
I crumpled against him, sobbing beneath the crushing emotions of betrayal and defeat. And worse, arousal.
Because I wanted him.

USA Today Bestselling Author Lexi C. Foss loves to play in dark worlds, especially the ones that bite. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband and their furry children. When not writing, she’s busy crossing items off her travel bucket list, or chasing eclipses around the globe. She’s quirky, consumes way too much coffee, and loves to swim.

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New Release ~ Guarding Georgia ~ by ~ Anna Brooks

Title: Guarding Georgia

Author: Anna Brooks

Genre: Romance Suspense

Release Date: May 12, 2020
Cover Design: Melissa Gill Designs

The one girl I could never have was the only one I ever wanted. She made it clear I was beneath her and she didn’t want my hands on her… until she needed them for protection.

And then she left.

Now ten years later, she’s back and looking for redemption. She thinks all she needs to do is aim her baby blues at me and tell me she’s sorry and I’ll forgive her for what she did.

Well, she’s right.

But her returning home comes with consequences, and this time, I’ll do more than protect her body. I’ll also guard her heart.

NOTE: Guarding Georgia is part of the Susan Stoker’s Special Forces World

The first time Anna tried to read a romance novel, her hair caught on fire when she leaned over a candle to sneak a peek at her mom’s Harlequin. She thinks being hit on the head with a shirtless Fabio until the smoke cleared is what sparked the flame for her love of romance.

Anna was born in Wisconsin, but currently lives in Texas with her husband and two boys. She writes sexy romance that always has a happy ending and loves bringing characters back for cameos. Less than six degrees of separation connects any of her novels.

When she’s not writing or reading, she’s watching reruns of her favorite romcoms, talking to her dog and cat like they’re human, eating carbs, or practicing hand lettering.

She loves to hear from readers and can be found on social media as @annabrooksauth everywhere.

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Cover Reveal ~ Where Loyalties Lie ~ by ~ Jill Ramsower

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Title: Where Loyalties Lie

Author: Jill Ramsower

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Release Day: July 15, 2020

Photographer: Rafa G. Catala

Model: Christian Perez

Designer: Jill Ramsower

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Tamir

My neighbors and students know me as a self-defense instructor.

Israeli ex-patriot. Former special forces. Retired soldier.

They see what I allow them to see.

Reality is far less attractive.

I still do the job that I love.

Something much uglier than teaching Krav Maga.

Only now, I work for myself instead of the government.

An independent contractor, if you will.

For those wealthy enough to hire me, my resume reads:

Israeli ex-patriot. Former special forces. Professional assassin.

Emily

There is absolutely nothing remarkable about me.

At least, that’s what my friends would say.

Waitress. Loner. Tequila connoisseur. Krav Maga student.

What they don’t know is an ugly secret forced me to abandon my past.

I left my family and everything I knew.

Hid myself away where no one would find me.

I thought I was safe. Untraceable.

I was wrong.

Now, there’s only one thing I can do if I want to stay alive.

Run.

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Enter the cover reveal giveaway here!

♦ ♦ ♦

Within a year of self-publishing her first book, Jill Ramsower quit her job as an attorney and dedicated her days to churning out romantic adventures. She likes to think of her books as contemporary romance with a touch of fantasy—at its core, her writing is about the connection between two people. Sometimes that connection involves a little magic…

With Jill’s books, you can count on confident heroines, plenty of steamy tension, and deliciously assertive leading men. There are no guarantees in life, but with her books, you know everything will work out in the end. However, a perfect ending would not be nearly as satisfying without a seemingly insurmountable challenge. Jill loves to add plenty of adversity in her stories, creating unforgettably dynamic characters and sneaky plot twists you will never see coming.

Jill is a Texan, born and raised. She manages the hectic social calendars for her three active children and occasionally spends an evening with her dashing husband. Aside from being an author and a mom, she’s a travel junkie and loves to read when she is not lost in her own stories.

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New Release & Review ~ The Rival Roomies ~ by ~ Piper Rayne

Release Date: May 12

I’ve loved him from afar.

Though most times he’s only a foot away.

I’m smart enough to know he’ll never be anyone’s forever.

He checks all the bad boy boxes.

Tattoos. Check.

Motorcycle. Check.

Chip on his shoulder. Check check.

If he wasn’t my neighbor and friend I may have thrown myself at him. Okay, yeah. I wouldn’t. Because guys like Dylan don’t want a woman who writes kid’s math textbooks under him in bed. Instead, I pathetically savor morsels of moments where I have his sole attention.

That was until his archenemy moved in with me. Now suddenly, Dylan’s moving in too and warning off the first guy in a long time who’s showing me interest. Could he finally see me as more than a friend, or am I just a prize to win and show off to his enemy?

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Oh I needed Rian’s story so much!! She has intrigued me since book 1! Which, how do you say her name – Ryan, Ree-Ann? I’ve said both in my head as I read but I couldn’t decided which it was. Tell me which you think it’s pronounced like. Or if you know.

Anyway, Rian and Dylan’s story really needs to be read after the other stories but definitely after book 2 since this book picks up immediately where 2 left off. I mean immediately. Well maybe a few days later but very soon after.

Dylan is an enigma, with his bad boy personality but he’s just so protective and sweet with Rian. And poor Rian, having a crush on Dylan for a WHILE – and him seeming to be ignorant of it.

I personally love the Piper Rayne series because you think you know a person by their presence in other books but then you find there is more to that character. I can’t wait for Jax now! I hope he becomes part of the “Crew”!

5 stars!

Meet Piper Rayne:

Piper Rayne, or Piper and Rayne, whichever you prefer because we’re not one author, we’re two. Yep, you get two USA Today Bestselling authors for the price of one. Our goal is to bring you romance stories that have “Heartwarming Humor With a Side of Sizzle” (okay…you caught us, that’s our tagline).

A little about us…. We both have kindle’s full of one-clickable books. We’re both married to husbands who drive us to drink. We’re both chauffeurs to our kids. Most of all, we love hot heroes and quirky heroines that make us laugh, and we hope you do, too.

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New Release ~ His Small-Town Girl ~ by ~ Lacy Williams

Title: His Small-Town Girl

Series: Sutter’s Hollow #1

Author: Lacy Williams

Genre: Sweet Romance

Release Date: May 12, 2020
Cover Design: Covers & Cupcakes

“This book touched me so much, especially with what is happening in the world right now. We NEED a book like this to restore our faith in humanity!” -Valri via Goodreads

“And ooh boy, The Moment. That was epic. Every girl needs a Cord (and a Moment) in her life.” -Meagan via Goodreads

“I can’t wait to read more in this delightful HEA romantic series!” -Julie via Goodreads

“A sweet and wholesome romance that touched my heart. Molly and Cord were the best example of what true love is.” -romancejunkie via Goodreads

She’s sweet and wholesome. And hiding something.

He’s back home, resurrecting old ghosts.

One of them is going to get hurt.

Molly arrives in Sutter’s Hollow out of gas and out of options. The rundown ranch seems like a perfect place to hide. Except the man who owns it seems just as dangerous as what’s chasing her.

Cord’s mantra growing up? Get out of Sutter’s Hollow. Now he’s back in town, but only long enough to get rid of his grandma’s ball and chain—the ranch. He doesn’t need a complication like Molly, who reminds him of an injured baby bird. He’s no protector. So why can’t he tell her to get lost?

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What was she going to do?

Molly caught her knuckle as she twisted the wrench on a nut that just wouldn’t give. She gritted her teeth as the skin scraped away. She sucked on the skin, the iron tang of blood settling on her tongue.

Questions bounced through her mind as a cold wind blew straight down the collar of her jacket.

Once she got the nut loosened, the dead alternator would lift out. Another hour, and she’d have the new one installed in its place.

And then what?

She’d promised Cord she’d get off his property. He’d been kind, letting her stay the past two nights. She’d repaid him by cooking some of Mama’s favorite meals, though she’d left him to eat in peace, staying in her room and strumming her guitar.

She hadn’t slept other than in snatches. She needed to get the fear under control. She couldn’t keep going like this.

She’d seen a random stranger walking down the street and panicked. A full blown attack, with the shakes and trouble breathing. In front of Cord, who obviously pitied her.

Pitied her, but wasn’t going to invite her to stay.

I’ll never let you go.

I’ll kill anybody you get close to.

Toby’s cutting voice had been bouncing through her brain ever since.

You’re mine.

She wasn’t his. Never had been.

But no matter how many times she repeated it to herself, his voice followed her.

She’d found a measure of safety on Cord’s land. It was quiet, peaceful. Maybe she could find someplace like it.

She tried to tell herself she would be fine.

But she didn’t believe it.

Footsteps crunched in the dried grasses, and she startled so badly that she dropped her wrench into the engine with a clang.

She might’ve uttered a cuss word under her breath as she retrieved it.

She shot a glance at Cord, approaching from the house, but he pretended he hadn’t seen her jump like a lunatic.

“Need some help?” He shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans. His flannel shirt was unbuttoned above a T-shirt that clung to his abs.

“No thanks.” She’d fight with this bolt a little more, and then she’d win. She’d do the next step and the next until the engine was rebuilt.

Too bad she didn’t have a manual for how to rebuild her life.

He shifted his feet. Opened his mouth. Shut it again. Then blurted, “Can you come inside for a minute? I wanna talk.”

“What’s there to talk about? I told you I’m getting ready to leave. You’ll have your solitude back.”

He mumbled something under his breath. When she shot him a look, he awarded her a tight smile. It was some improvement over his fierce frowns. What would it take to drag a real smile from him? “Please, will you come inside?”

The nut finally loosened, the tension giving away under the strain in her arm. “Fine,” she said.

It was the work of a few seconds to remove the nut and bolt, and then she lifted out the alternator and set it on the ground beside the truck. An empty spot was left behind in the truck’s engine.

That’s how she felt right now. There was a huge piece missing inside of her. She didn’t know how to get it back.

She wiped her grease-stained hands on a rag as she followed Cord to the house. In the kitchen, he motioned her to sit in one of the kitchen chairs. She crossed her arms and leaned against the counter instead.

He leveled a look on her. “You okay?”

She dropped her gaze to the floor. “I’m fine.”

She wasn’t fine. But he’d already seen her at her worst, and she didn’t want to face his pity again.

“Molly.”

She heard the skepticism in the single word. She turned away and started running water at the sink. She scrubbed her hands with the rough green bar of soap left there. And rinsed.

And then he was close behind her, reaching around her to turn off the water. Her body was betraying her again. It was awareness of him at her shoulder—not fear—that made her heart pound.

That and the sickening memory of Toby.

“I want to know what’s going on,” he said. The words emerged heavy, as if they’d cost him.

She squeezed her eyes closed.

He touched her, cupping one hand beneath her elbow.

And when she looked up at him again, something was burning behind his eyes. “I have to know. Did someone hurt you?”

She clutched the edge of the sink. “He tried.”

Lacy Williams wishes her writing career was more like what you see on Hallmark movies: dreamy brainstorming from a French chateau or a few minutes at the computer in a million-dollar New York City penthouse. In reality, she’s up before the sun, putting words on the page before her kids wake up for the day. Those early-morning and late-night writing sessions add up, and Lacy has published fifty books in almost a decade, first with a big five publisher and then as an indie author. When she needs to refill the well, you can find Lacy birdwatching, gardening, biking with the kiddos, or walking the dog. Find tons of bonus scenes and reader extras by becoming a VIP reader at www.lacywilliams.net/vip .

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