Category Archives: Contests & Giveaways
Sealed with a Curse Giveaway!
Our friends at Signet Eclipse have offered us a giveaway copy of Sealed with a Curse. This is the first book in a delightfully entertaining new paranormal series about four sisters who received a backfired curse that gave them special powers.
Since we can’t run a Rafflecopter giveaway here, hit this link to go to my EBookObsessed Book Reviews Facebook page and go to the Rafflecopter widget on the top of the page: EBookobsessed Book Reviews. (It’s already a chore right? Sorry!)
Leaving a comment below is part of the way to earn points so make sure to leave a comment before you leave. Just tell us: What is your favorite supernatural: Vampires, Werewolves or Witches?
Giveaway open to U.S. residents only. 18 years and older please. Giveaway ends Friday, January 11th.
Mystic and Mayhem Book #2 Giveaway Special
Congratulations to our winner Tina B.
Author A.J. Myer and Parasite Publishing asked us to share the news that Book #2 of the Mystic and Mayhem series is being released tomorrow, December 15th. Book #1 was very entertaining and I am looking forward to seeing what happens next. It is published under the catagory of Young Adult, but you don’t need to be a teen to enjoy this great story. We were left at the end with a hint at Book #2 and we met several characters in Book #1 that we didn’t spend enough time with, and they were so interesting that I know that they have to see more of them in future stories.
A.J. and Parasite have offered us a great giveaway — a really nice messenger bag (which would be great to hold your e-reader) as well as your choice of Book #1 Something Witchy or Book #2 Something Wicked. Just let us know if you would like Book #1 or Book #2.
See our review for Book #1 – Something Witchy or the blub below for information on Book #2. Sorry I don’t have a review ready for you, but I’m a little behind. Damn Christmas cookies! 
Something Wicked
*Something Wicked** (Book Two in the Mystics & Mayhem series) Blurb*:
Welcome back to the World of Weird! I’m Ember Blaylock, and I’ll be your guide through this treacherous—sometimes downright deadly—world I call my own. Because if you thought our last trek through my reality was a rollercoaster ride, you ain’t seen nothing yet.
I thought I was going to get my life back. I swore off all things witchy. I lied to everyone I cared about. I was even dealing with the nightmares that plagued me every night—souvenirs of my first foray through this not-so-wonderful world of mine. Seriously, if the World of Weird doesn’t leave you with your fair share of issues, nothing will. I really thought I could go back to being a normal senior in high school.
I was *so *wrong.
Between my doubts about giving my heart to my vampire boyfriend, uncovering a whole new set of secrets and lies, and seeing my old friend Jack every time I turned around, there was nothing ‘normal’ about my life.
And if that wasn’t enough to keep a girl on her toes, Moonlight, Missouri just got its very own serial killer. A real psycho who seems to think it’s fun to turn his victims into Ember clones—and this creeper isn’t working alone. He’s got help. The witchy kind. Sucks to be me, huh?
And you thought just surviving *high school* was tough…
UStarNovels
Does your husband think he’s Sherlock Holmes? Is your son just like Tom Sawyer? Have you ever wanted to be debauched by Mr. Darcy? I was. Naughty me. 
I was contacted recently by the nice people at UStarNovels asking if I would be interested in reviewing one of their personalized novels. After looking through their selection of both classic titles and some naughtier choices, I decided on an eBook version of Pride and Prejudice and Debauchery. I was curious to see if they could spice of this classic story without become obscene. Unlike my recent read of Jane Eyre Laid Bare, I was pleasantly surprised at this re-imagined classic.
As far as the novel itself, it was a well written twist on the original story, mostly adding daydreams and fantasies…I mean, come on, Mr. Darcy’s a guy. You know he was admiring more than just her fine eyes–or in my story, my fine eyes. *he,he* In my copy, the only character I changed was Elizabeth to myself and left all the other characters alone. So it was fun to find myself staring in one of my favorite novels and being chased by Mr. Darcy. If I had any critique, it would be that Elizabeth (me–slut that I am) does leave the realm of fantasy and gives in to Mr. Wickham which does negate the whole “my sister shamed the family by running off with Wickham” after Wickham has Elizabeth (me) bent over a table, and it was in especially poor taste since this is after reading Darcy’s letter pointed out what a evil bastard Wickham is. I should be ashamed of myself.
I also requested a copy of the eBook Blood Lust and can’t even tell you what my husband and I were doing on the island with the vampires without blushing. My husband did ask if I pictured him while I was reading, and I assured him that I did, but he look remarkably like the new star of the CW show Arrow, Stephen Amell, abs and all, and I look, as I always do, just like Angelina Jolie.
I plan on surprising my four sisters-in-law this Christmas with their own version of Little Women, which I hopefully haven’t blown just now by putting that down in my blog.
My only disappointment, being a big eBook reader, is that all of the eBook choices are the racier novels and the classic books choices must be in print form.
So maybe your favorite matchmaker would like to star as Emma Woodhouse, or those newlyweds in your family would enjoy starring as those great lovers, Romeo and Juliet. A great introduction to reading for the younger crowd may be your daughter staring as Alice in Alice in Wonderland or your son joining the lost boys in Neverland as either John, Michael or better yet, as Peter Pan.
Take a look at their list of available titles at their website UStarNovels.com. I think this would make a thoughtful gift for your favorite reader this holiday season.
Paperback orders take approximately 7-10 days with eBook purchases taking about 24 hours. So you want to get your holiday orders in soon. Answers to the most common questions can be found here FAQS.
UStarNovels has generously offered a Coupon Code for our friends to use for a 20 percent discount on any order. Just enter DCOBSESSED.
Our giveaway winner was Lysette. Enjoy!
Nowhere to Run by Nancy Bush
We are giving away a copy of Nowhere to Run, courtesy of Kensington Books. Giveway ends Friday, August 10th. 18 years and older. Open to U.S. and Canada residents.
ORDER A COPY: Nowhere to Run
Publisher: Zebra
Publishing Date: July 31, 2012
Paperback: 376 pages
Rating: 5 stars
Some Secrets Will Follow You To Your Grave…
When Liv Dugan ducks out of work for lunch, it’s just an ordinary day. When she returns, she stumbles onto a massacre. All her colleagues at Zuma Software have been shot. Only luck has left Liv unscathed, and that might be running out.Liv suspects the shootings are tied to her past–and to the package she recently received from her long-dead adoptive mother. Sensing she’s being followed, Liv jumps into a stranger’s car and orders him to drive. Her “hostage” complies, listening carefully as her story unwinds. Skeptical at first, he ultimately begins to believe all Liv’s fears are justified.
Together, Liv and her unlikely confidant try to uncover the truth about her adoptive family, her birth parents, and her troubled childhood. Because somewhere in Liv’s past is a secret worth killing for, and a nightmare she can never outrun.
In a word…thrilling. I am not going to write too much on this book since this was actually a great murder mystery and I don’t want to leak ANYTHING.
It has been some time since I have actually had real hard-to-put-down thriller. Most times I will guess within the first 100 pages where the plot is going, but this one really kept me wanting to read more. There was just enough romance to sweeten the story and bond our main characters. (So the men can read it too)
The worst part of this book was the fact that I zipped through the first 200 pages, but when the clock struck midnight and I still have 178 pages left, I had to give it up for the night. Like I am going to sleep with a good book running through my head. Ugh!!
If you like an engrossing murder mystery, I HIGHLY recommend picking up Nowhere to Run. I put in a request for an ARC of the 2nd book Nowhere to Hide which comes out August 31st, as soon as I finished this one. Really looking forward to it.
Received ARC from Kensington Books. Thank you.
To be entered in our giveaway, just tell us your favorite mystery author.
Favorite Scene:
Tried hard to find a good scene which didn’t give anything away…
“I don’t know why I’m doing this,” she muttered, more to herself than him.
“You can still get out of this,” he said after a moment. “No harm, no foul. And, if you’re as innocent as you claim–” he started to suggest.
“If?” she cut in.
“–then you should contact the police right now. Let them take care of this. They’re good at it.”
She shook her head in disbelief. “I can’t even make you believe me!”
“I believe you. I do”
“Oh, bullshit.”
“I believe you think someone’s after you, and that’s why we’re here now,” he corrected himself. “You might even be right. The police could help you. Or, if you’d let me, I could help you.”
“You could help me,” she said without inflection. “And why would you do that?”
“Because I think you need help.”
“You’re not a very good liar, Auggie.”
“I’m a very good liar,” he disagreed with an edge, as if it were a matter of pride. “But I’m not lying to you.”
“What kind of name is Auggie anyway? A nickname? Is it short for something?”
His lips compressed. “Are you going to untie me? Take me to the bathroom?”
She pulled the .38 from her backpack, looked at it a moment, then walked his way. He leaned back at the sight of the gun, but she merely lay back on the counter before untying his chair from the oven handle. When she released his feet, she quickly stepped back, snatching up the gun again and leveling it at him. His hands were still tied behind his back and he gave her a look that said she was half-crazy if she thought he was a threat. She felt dark amusement at that but held it inside. After a moment, she undid the twine wrapped around his hands, then, sweeping up the gun again once he was completely free, he eyed her thoughtfully. “You’re not going to shoot me.”
“I don’t want to,” she said.
“You won’t.”
He sounded so positive it rankled her.
Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness
Our giveaway winner was Amy! Enjoy!
ORDER A COPY: Shadow of Night: A Novel
Publisher: Viking Books
Publishing Date: July 10, 2012
Paperback: 592 pages
Rating: 5 Stars
Deborah Harkness exploded onto the literary scene with her debut novel, A Discovery of Witches, Book One of the magical All Souls Trilogy and an international publishing phenomenon. The novel introduced Diana Bishop, Oxford scholar and reluctant witch, and the handsome geneticist and vampire Matthew Clairmont; together they found themselves at the center of a supernatural battle over an enchanted manuscript known as Ashmole 782.
Now, picking up from A Discovery of Witches’ cliffhanger ending, Shadow of Night plunges Diana and Matthew into Elizabethan London, a world of spies, subterfuge, and a coterie of Matthew’s old friends, the mysterious School of Night that includes Christopher Marlowe and Walter Raleigh. Here, Diana must locate a witch to tutor her in magic, Matthew is forced to confront a past he thought he had put to rest, and the mystery of Ashmole 782 deepens.
In the first book of the All Soul’s Trilogy, A Discovery of Witches, Deborah Harkess introduces us to Diane Bishop, historian and witch, Matthew Clairmont, scientist and vampire, and the mysterious, bespelled manuscript known as Ashmole 782 which Diana accidentally calls from the library archives. In this first novel, we watched the romance grow between Diana and Matthew, a romance which is forbidden by a centuries-old covenant; and we saw the growing contingent of creatures, including demons, vampires and witches, who will work together, if necessary, for force Diana to reclaim the manuscript from the archives. As the danger to Diana grows, Matthew and Diana devise a plan to thwart those who want to use Ashmole 782 for darker purposes.
Shadow of Night is the exhilarating continuation of the All Souls trilogy, and we follow Matthew and Diana in their endeavor to discover the secrets of Ashmole 782. Their plan is simple: Timewalk back to 1591; find Ashmole 782 before it becomes bespelled; and find Diana a tutor to help her control her magic. In and out. No problems. Hmmm. Sadly, Matthew and Diana have laid out the plans to achieve their goals without working out the small details of time travel.
Matthew, being a 1,500 year old vampire, is welcomed back by his friends at the Old Lodge and quickly acclimates to his past life, but our modern day heroine sticks out like the only warmblood at the a vampire ball. It is not just her modern day feminist views, or being an educated woman or speaking her mind. Everything about Diana stands out and screams, “I’m not from around here,” from her mannerisms to her accent and speech patterns. She will need more than just new clothes in order to move around Elizabethan England.
More importantly, the dangers to Matthew and Diana don’t decrease by leaving their own time period but simply, the names of their enemies change. Their relationship is no more acceptable in 1591 as it was in 2010. The covenant still exists against the fraternizing of creatures and a vampire and witch going about Town together draws unwanted eyes. With every creature in 1591 London whispering about the strange witch with Matthew de Clarmont, it won’t be long before the Congregation locates them. It is not just the Congregation that will be seeking them out, the witches have felt the arrival of the latent power that Diana holds within her, and the vampires and demons are watching too. Matthew and Diana are quickly accumulating some powerful enemies in the past.
They have also miscalculated the fact that in 1591 witch trials in Scotland are increasing and with more and more witches being persecuted and burned at the stake, the witches throughout Europe are increasingly fearful of openly discussing their magic and are not only weary of Diana who is a stranger with powerful magic, but of Matthew, who is a dangerous and powerful vampire in this time period. It quickly becomes clear to them that their plan to find a witch to help teach Diana to control her magic will not be so simple a feat to accomplish.
Finally, it is not just those outside of their lives that a cause for concern. When you are a 1,500 year old vampire, there are many secrets that you believe you have left buried in the past and taking a trip to that past brings them all to life for your new wife.
What an incredible continuation of the story! We meet some interesting new characters (both heroes and villains) in this story, most of whom we will need to leave behind in the past (but not all!). But it does make me realize I might not be so interested in a brooding, sexy vampire boyfriend full of centuries of secrets after all, although we do come to understand Matthew a lot better, including his brooding and what’s behind his apparent mood-swings. Matthew and Diana do work through their issues and form a true and strong bond by the end of the story.
If you haven’t read A Discovery of Witches, I don’t recommend you try and jump in here. But don’t be intimidated by the almost 600 pages. It was a quick read and such an intriguing story that you will catch up quickly.
By the way Ms. Harkness, the people over at Viking said it was okay for you to call me to talk about your outline for the final novel. Really!! I swear!! They said, “Of course, we have no problem with her telling you what’s going to happen next.” …or something like that. It might have been “No way in Hell!”, but you know how cell phones break up. So we’ll just go with they’re okay with it. So if you could just let me know what’s gonna happen–or Hey, let’s just save you some time, I know you are busy, you know you can just shoot me an e-mail with a rough draft of the next book. That would be fine. I don’t think they’d have a problem with that. I’m sure of it.
(BOO!!!! I HATE WAITING!!)
Received ARC from Viking Books. Thank you.
See our review of A Discovery of Witches
To be entered for our giveaway, just tell us what magic power you would want as a powerful witch.
Thank you to Viking Books for the giveaway
Favorite Scene:
“It’s not easy for vampires to live among warmbloods, Diana. Without an emotional bond, warmbloods are nothing more than a source of nourishment. No vampire, however civilized and well mannered, can remain in close proximity to one without feeling the urge to feed on them.” His breath was cool against my neck, tickling the sensitive spot where Miriam had used her blood to heal the wound Matthew had made there.
“You don’t seem to want to feed on me.” There had been no indication that Matthew wrestled with such an urge, and he had flatly refused his father’s suggestions that he take my blood.
“I can manage my cravings far better than when we first met. Now my desire for your blood is not so much about nourishment as control. To feed from you would primarily be an assertion of dominance now that we’re mated.”
“And we have sex for that,” I said matter-of-factly. Matthew was a generous and creative lover, but he definitely considered the bedroom his domain.
“Excuse me?” he said, his eyebrows drawn in a scowl.
“Sex and dominance. It’s what modern humans think vampire relationships are all about,” I said. “Their stories are full of crazed alpha-male vampires throwing women over their shoulders before dragging them off for dinner and a date.”
“Dinner and a date?” Matthew was aghast. “Do you mean…?”
“Uh-huh. You should see what Sarah’s friends in the Madison coven read. Vampire meets girl, girl is shocked to find out there really are vampires. The sex, blood, and overprotective behavior all come quickly thereafter. Some of it is pretty explicit.” I paused. “There’s no time for bundling, that’s for sure. I don’t remember much poetry or dancing either.”
Matthew swore. “No wonder your aunt wanted to know if I was hungry.”
“You really should read this stuff, if only to see what humans think. It’s a public-relations nightmare. Far worse than what witches have to overcome.” I turned around to face him. “You’d be surprised how many women seem to want a vampire boyfriend anyway, though.”
“What if their vampire boyfriends were to behave like callous bastards in the street and threaten starving orphans?”
“Most fictional vampires have hearts of gold, barring the occasional jealous rage and consequent dismemberment.” I smoothed the hair away from his eyes.
“I can’t believe we’re having this conversation,” Matthew said.
“Why? Vampires read books about witches. The fact that Kit’s Doctor Fautus is pure fantasy doesn’t stop you from enjoying a good supernatural yarn.”
“Yes, but all that manhandling and then making love…” Matthew shook his head.
“You’ve manhandled me, as you so charmingly put it. I seem to recall being hoisted into your arms at Sept-Tours on more than one occasion,” I pointed out.
“Only when you were injured!” Matthew said indignantly. “Or tired.”
“Or when you wanted me in one spot and I was in another. Or when the horse was too tall, or the bed was too high, or the seas were too rough. Honestly, Matthew. You have a selective memory when it suits you. As for making love, it’s not always the tender act that you describe. Not in the books I’ve seen. Sometimes it’s just a good, hard—”
Before I could finish my sentence, a tall, handsome vampire flung me over his shoulder.
“We will continue this conversation in private.”
“Help! I think my husband is a vampire!” I laughed and pounded on the backs of his thighs.
“Be quiet,” he growled. “Or you’ll have Mistress Hawley to contend with.”
“If I were a human woman and not a witch, that growly sound you just made would make me swoon. I’d be all yours, and you could have your way with me.” I giggled.
“You’re already all mine,” Matthew reminded me, depositing me on the bed. “I’m changing this ridiculous plot, by the way. In the interests of originality—not to mention verisimilitude—we’re skipping dinner and moving right on to the date.”
No Strings Attached Blog Hop
This giveaway is closed. Our winner was Amanda J. Congratulations.
We are participating in the I am a reader, not a Writer No Strings Attached Blog Hop.
All you need to do to be entered is leave your name and a contact e-mail so that we can contact the winner. No need to sign up for our blog (unless you would like to). This giveaway runs from 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday April 17th, until Midnight on Sunday, April 22nd.
We will be giving away an eBook copy of any book of your choice (up to $10 value). You will simply need to have an Amazon or B&N account so we can send same to you.
Go to the host site I am a reader, not a writer for more blogs participating in this No Strings Attached Blog Hop and see what goodies they are offering in this giveaway.
Untouched by Sara Humphreys
We are giving away a signed copy of Untouched. Just leave a comment below to be entered into our drawing. Drawing ends Friday, April 13th.
18 years or older. US or Canada residents only.
ORDER A COPY: Untouched (The Amoveo Legend)
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Publishing Date: April 3, 2012
Paperback: 320 pages
Rating: 4 stars
The Amoveo are shape-shifting animal clans who live secretly among humans and must find their pre-destined soul mate while avoiding the enemy that seeks to destroy them all.
Beautiful plus-size model Kerry Smithson appears to have it all, but inside she harbors a crippling secret and avoids all physical contact. Until she encounters gorgeous Dante Coltari, an Amoveo shifter. In her, he believes he has finally found his life mate. But how does he convince her…and keep her safe?
In the world created by Sara Humphreys, shapeshifters live quietly among us. They are the Amoveo and there are ten clans, including lions, tigers, panthers, cheetahs, coyotes, foxes, bears, eagles, gyrfalcon, and the wolf clan.
Kerry Smithson is a beautiful supermodel, but beneath the beauty hides a torturous secret. She is an empath and touching not only brings her great pain, but causes her to get flashes into the dark secrets hidden in the souls of those she touches. She has lived with this curse all her life and it has alienated her from even her adoptive parents, who could not touch her without her screaming in agony. What she doesn’t know yet is that she is also a half-breed; one of her natural parents was Amoveo.
Dante Coltari is the head of Inferno Securities, and he is also Amoveo, a member of the fox clan. He knew from the moment he met Kerry that she was meant to be his life mate. Now he must protect her from threats both from humans and from other Amoveo, neither of which want a further mixing of the bloodlines.
I was very intrigued by this story since I read those few pages at the end of Unleashed. I could only image that life as an empathy is very difficult and lonely one if you cannot touch another person and I was curious how Sara would tackle this in her book.
Once again the characters were well written and the story drew me in right from the beginning. I admit I started doubting the allegiances of some of the major characters (someone had inside information) and I no longer trusted anyone. I wasn’t sure who our antagonist was until the final reveal. She really kept me guessing. This was definitely a very enjoyable story, and I am looking forward to William’s story in the Fall.
Received ARC from netgalley.com courtesy of the publisher.
See my interview with Sara Humphreys for more information on this series.
Favorite Scene:
He knew that he needed to show her she was not alone.
“This is not going to work if you’re going to ogle me like that.” She straightened her back and stuck her nose in the air. “Stop staring. It’s bad manners,” she said briskly, while she flipped through the in-flight magazine.
“I’m sorry if I’ve made you uncomfortable,” he said softly.
She made a short scoffing sound. “Listen.” She shifted her body so they were now face-to-face. Her dark chocolate eyes narrowed with gritty determination. “I get stared at all day long by total strangers. The last thing I need is my bodyguard, or whatever you are, to be undressing me with your eyes. So why don’t you do us both a favor and keep your big eyes to yourself. Okay?” She smiled tightly and crossed her arms under her breast, which only served to accentuate her spectacular cleavage.
“I wasn’t undressing you with my eyes or anything else for that matter.” He leaned in closer with only the armrest between them. Her eyes widened, and her warm breath puffed across his cheek. Dante lowered his voice so only she would hear him. “Believe me, princess,” he said with a smile. “When I undress you, I’ll do it the old-fashioned way, with my hands.” He winked.
Kerry’s visibly shocked face reddened at his suggestion. “Just who the hell do you think you are?”
A long lock of ebony hair fell across her forehead, and Dante knew it was now or never. Before she could stop him he reached up, gently swept the hair from her face, and tucked it behind her ear. The pads of his fingers softly grazed the alabaster skin at her temple and skimmed along the top of her perfectly formed ears. The skin-to-skin contact may have been brief, but Dante knew the impact would have much longer lasting ramifications.
He sat back in his seat slowly and kept his gaze locked on her startled face. Kerry’s body had gone completely still, but he sensed her heart beating wildly beneath the surface. Her confused eyes searched his for answers, and all he wanted to do was touch her again, gather her in his arms, and tell her it was going to be okay. His heart ached as ripples of confusion flowed from her body, and one large tear rolled down her face.
“You tell me, princess,” he whispered. “Who am I?”
Fever by Joan Swan
Our winner was Andrea G. Please stop back and let us know how you enjoyed the story.
Thank you to Kensington books for our giveaway!
ORDER A COPY: Fever
Publisher: Kensington/Brava
Publishing Date: March 1, 2012
Paperback: 342 Pages
Rating: 5 stars
When Dr. Alyssa Foster is taken hostage by a prison inmate, she knows she’s in deep trouble. Not just because Teague Creek is desperate for freedom, but because the moment his fingers brush against her skin, Alyssa feels a razor-sharp pang of need…
A man with a life sentence has nothing to lose. At least Teague doesn’t, until his escape plan develops a fatal flaw: Alyssa. On the run from both the law and deadly undercover operatives, he can only give her lies, but every heated kiss tells him the fire between them could be just as devastating as the flames that changed him forever.
Teague Creek has spent 3 years in prison for a murder he didn’t commit. Someone wants to keep Creek buried away along with the secret of his special abilities and how he came by them. Teague is now out of appeals and desperate for a way out of prison. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and if Teague doesn’t try to escape now, they’ll throw him back into that cell and throw away the key.
Dr. Alyssa Foster thought she was just in the wrong place at the wrong time when she was kidnapped by Creek in his desperate attempt to escape prison. Until the moment that she realizes he grabbed the wrong woman. If she tells him who she is, will he let her go home or will he simply eliminate the liability?
Teague’s plans aren’t going as smoothly has he hoped and it starts to get more complicated when he realizes he wants to keep his strong willed and brave captive. Things start to heat up between Teague and Alyssa once she realizes he is not the dangerous criminal she first thought, and she’ll do whatever she can to help him clear his name.
Can they figure out who is framing Creek before it is too late because once they are found, someone will make sure that Creek is finally silenced permanently.
I have been hearing a lot of buzz about this book for the last few months and now that I have read it, I understand what all the hoopla was about. Not only is Teague the perfect hero, strong, thoughtful, protective and sexy, but Alyssa is a heroine that isn’t going to take shit from anyone, not even desperate criminals escaping from prison.
On top of the awesome characters, this story hits the ground running (literally—prison break remember) and it just doesn’t stop ‘til you hit the last page, and it has everything: desperate criminals, kidnapping, gang members, cops, FBI, knife fights, gun fights, fires…even wolves (but not the werewolf kind).
Definitely pick this up and make sure you have plenty of time to read since the worst thing was trying to pick a place to stop and go to sleep. (Really??…I don’t care what time it is…we’re on the run!!! Damn job!)
Received ARC courtesy of Kensington Books. Thank you!
Favorite Scene:
“Goddammit.” Creek dropped two armfuls of supplies on the floor and kicked the door closed. “Can’t you hold still or shut up for one minute?”
Alyssa recoiled as Creek picked up the receiver and slammed it back onto the base, then raked his fingers across his head and paced. She watched every step her emotions toggling between fear, anger, guilt, frustration and empathy.
Without warning, Creek swung around and approached her. In automatic defense, Alyssa’s hand came up. But he didn’t strike. He released the cuff around the lamp and pulled her into the bathroom. Her heart rate spiked again as his angry gaze scoured the small space. With a hand on her shoulder, he pushed her to sit on the closed toilet lid and dragged the free cuff below the sink. The ratchet of metal signaled its closure around an exposed drainpipe.
“What are you doing?” She twisted her wrist against the metal, trying to position her body to alleviate the strain on her side.
Creek stripped off his shirt, balled it up and chucked it into the corner, then pushed the curtain aside on the shower/tub combination and bent to flip on the faucet. The muscles beneath his skin flexed and rolled. That’s when a fresh form of anxiety wedged in. She couldn’t sit here and watch him get naked and shower. She really couldn’t.
“I can’t sit like this,” she complained, hoping to play on the sympathies she’d seen. “It hurts my side.”
Without acknowledging her, he moved his hands to his waist, unbuttoned and unzipped his jeans and shucked them so fast Alyssa didn’t have time to look away. And, okay, yeah, maybe she could sit here and watch after all.
He wore burgundy boxer briefs that clung to his muscular ass. He was tan everywhere but for a pale line mid thigh where he’d obviously worn shorts. She could swear every muscle was outlined in perfect relief. Her gaze traveled over the lines and dips and swells and curves. God, he was beautiful.
A beautiful, racist, murdering, escaped convict.
Alyssa grimaced. Before he took off his underwear and Alyssa lost her last shred of human decency and ogled the beautiful, racist, murdering, escaped convict, she laid her elbow on the edge of the sink and pressed her eyes to her forearm. “Why couldn’t you just leave me in the other room?”
Her only answer came in the swoosh of the plastic slides on the shower curtain rod as he closed the drape.
Alyssa stayed there, resting her head on her arm, for what seemed like endless minutes. Without any immediate threat, her adrenaline flagged. When her butt went numb and her arms tingled from lack of blood supply, she finally raised her head. Steam filled the room, creating ethereal clouds she could barely see through.
Searching for Creek behind the frosted shower curtain, she discovered him sitting on the tub floor, knees drawn up to his chest, arms wrapped around his legs, head bent.
She’d seen many a broken man in her line of work—the distraught father, the grieving husband, the heartsick son—and the man behind that curtain had all the signs of a broken man.
