Susan Griscom's Blog, page 18

NEW RELEASE & AWESOME GIVEAWAY - DECLARATION by Rachael Wade

Join me in celebrating with Rachael Wade as she releases her New Adult novel, DECLARATION (Preseravation #3) and don't forget to enter the Rafflecopter below for some awesome prizes from Rachael. [image error]

TITLE: DECLARATIONAUTHOR: RACHAEL WADEGENRE: NEW ADULT CONTEMPORARYRELEASE DATE: October 15, 2013
SYNOPSIS -

Featuring characters from Love and Relativity, a Preservation Series Companion Novel

Carter Montgomery spent most of his life blending in, and he liked it that way. It was always better to be seen, not heard. And while a theatric streak and friendly demeanor might have fooled most people, he knew the truth—he was the shy one. The quiet kid most people forgot about. Some might have considered that a bad thing, but those people all wanted to be in the spotlight.

The only place Carter didn’t mind attention was on stage, with The Hellions. Once content in his comfort zone in Seattle, Washington, he only knew three things: confrontation was to be avoided, keeping the peace was priority, and the moment he lost Kate Parker to Professor Ryan Campbell, he had no clue what to do with his life. Playing gigs, working at Pike Place Market, and watching BBC after the love of his life sailed off into the sunset just wasn’t going to cut it anymore.

Desperate to escape his rut, he takes a cue from Kate and chooses a random place to relocate—a small island across the country, where no one knows his name and memories of unrequited love aren’t found at every turn. Just when he thinks he’s found the perfect place to unwind and sink back into the shadows, in bursts Whitney Sinclair, a saucy firecracker who loves life and refuses to settle for second best. Full of contagious energy, she dares him to be brave, convincing him that it might finally be time to tell the world what he wants.

It might be time to make a declaration.BUY LINKS

Amazon Barnes & Noble
Smashwords
iTunes

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Carter Montgomery Character Spotlight
Hometown: Seattle, WACelebrity look-a-likes: Joseph Gordon LevittMusicianSongwriterAnglophileSocially Awkward

Likes:
-           Ginger Spice-           BBC-           Sweaty rock and roll-           Spoiling Whitney-          Watching Whitney eat-          Watching Whitney belly dance-           …do you see a trend here?
Dislikes:
-           High School-           Big parties-           Flamingos-           The price of flights to England-           Waiting for the next season of Downton Abbey-           Dean’s singing
 Whitney SincEyes: GreenHair: BlackHometown: Sanibel Island, FLCelebrity look-a-likes: Mila Kunis and Vanessa HudgensFood enthusiastBook-a-holicMaid/ waitress/ studentBeach bum
Likes:
-        Music!!!-        Reading-        Belly dancing -        Trying new things (duh)-        Sparring with Jackson Taylor (I always win)-        Running the show, of course.-        Cleaning. *sings the Milkshake song* My kitchen floor is cleaner than yours…damn right, it’s better than yours
Dislikes:
-        Jackson Taylor-        Ex-boyfriends and almost/not-quite boyfriends-        Cages-        Boring menus-        Skimpy buffets-        Mundane routines

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Rachael Wade
Amazon Bestselling Author of Love and Relativity & The Preservation Series
Connect here:
Twitter @RachaelWade
Facebook Fan Page
GoodReads Author Page
LightsONoutreach.com
SOCIAL MEDIA -FacebookTwitter
GoodreadsBlog
GIVEAWAY
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A Treat For Kristy Haigwood

This is a short story I wrote several years ago that I wanted to share with my good author friend, Kristy Haigwood since we both have this undeniable love for the same man. Enjoy, Kristie. 
My Everlasting LoverBySusan Griscom
Milky clouds shielded most of the stars and shrouded the quiet street in eerie darkness, save for a few streetlights casting strobilus shapes of amber here and there along the way. No lights peered out from windows where children slept snuggled in their beds, where men and women lay tangled together among mounds of sheets and comforters, where Fido curled up on his little bed snoring. My vision of a happy home.
I considered where I was. Off the strip two blocks from Hollywood and Vine where lights still glistened and people still lingered from their night of cavorting from dance club to dance club, hoping to find that special someone, most of the time, just for the night. Did anyone ever find their true love in those sorts of places? I'd tried, gave it my all, but no matter how hard I tried, how pretty I made myself, or how sexy I felt, it was always the same old story. All they ever wanted was sex. One-night-stand-sex. I'd had enough.
This night would be my last time. I was tired of the needing, the pretending to be someone I didn’t want to be. And I was getting older. At twenty-five, I'd soon lose that youthful innocence most men seemed to be attracted to—I hated all those men. The ones who thought they were God's gift to women, telling us how much they wanted us and how beautiful we were. When all they ever wanted was to get their freaking rocks off. I was done. I needed an out. I needed to find my warrior, my knight.
I'm not sure how it all happened, really. I was walking and then I wasn't. The air around me hung still and thick, like stagnant pond water and every muscle in my body froze. I was unable to move. I remember thinking, this is weird, I should I be scared?
The shadow came out of nowhere, so fast, a blur. He must have been hiding behind a car parked along the road, or an overgrown bush on someone's front yard. I didn't even see his face. My hands instinctively went to his arms to fight him off. It was no use as his large, tight arms surrounded me, it was impossible to defend myself against such a robust, muscular build. Even with years of martial arts training, I was no match for his strength. I felt the prickles of his stubbles against my skin as his teeth sunk into my neck and I had no breath or desire to scream.
While he sucked, I remember thinking. This can't be happening. Vampires aren't real. They only exist in novels, a figment of some sick writer's imagination. Then, why? Why not? The concept must come from somewhere.
He didn't kill me. That he could have done so easily. Instead, he turned me. There is something to be said of that.
When he finished sucking, he lifted his head and smiled; that quirky little curve of his lips still amuses me. My blood dripped from his lips and he slid his fingernail along his bulging pectoral muscle where blood began to trickle out. With his hand tangled in the back of my hair he tugged my face to the oozing cut.
Everything makes perfect sense now. This must be why he'd never married. My creator, my everlasting lover. I say "Ha" to all those tabloids with their silly rumors of love and relationships. A different lover every other month they claimed. It seems like every time he makes a new movie the papers are paring him up with his new co-star. Well, I know the truth.
I wondered why he took me. I don't suppose it makes any difference now. Maybe he was lonely. Maybe he was tired of all the hopeless love affairs with starlet after starlet. He could have had his pick from any one of them. But he chose me.
As I sucked his blood to heal myself, I became stronger. More powerful than any amount of weight training could possibly offer. He was like a drug, my own private drug and I began to worship him. I wanted to be a part of him, wanted to be like him, and he was giving me everything I wanted.
And now with this power inside me, his gift to me, with his drive to kill to survive I will take my revenge on all those men who never bothered to give me a second glance. All those assholes that came to my bed only to leave in the middle of the night with promises of a phone call.
And so this is my life. The way, I guess, it should be, the way it should have always been. No more visions of children and puppy dogs snuggled on their beds.
You shouldn't fret for me, though. I may be his slave by blood. But I am his lover, his companion for life. I suppose if one is to be bitten by a vampire, they could do a lot worse than someone who once played a Spartan King. Now I am twenty-five forever and belong to Gerard Butler and lucky enough to walk that same street night after night, preying on those stupid jerks who thought they were so much better.

COVER REVEAL - Seizing Fate by Heather Van Fleet

Title: Seizing Fate
Blurb:And you thought Emmy’s life was a hot mess before…Jack’s gone off to Arizona with his brother, but for how long? Emmy doesn’t have a clue. In his place, though, is Zachary. The whiny, miserable, alpha wolf–boy who is more than ready to take on the duty of her mate/boyfriend — if she’d let him, that is. But the last thing Emmy wants is to deal with a boy who believes that the world should fall solely at his feet whenever he demands it.But hey, at least her step–douche is gone, and her life is back to an almost normal sense, right?Wrong again, Emmy’s life will never again be normal…With her Uncle Prick in town and her best friend acting as secretive as ever, Emmy finds new challenges to overcome — challenges that no seventeen–year–old girl should ever have to deal with. For one thing, what is up with her dream–liaison status anyway? What does it mean, really? And why does her little brother have to go through it too? And then there’s her mom. The lady is acting a tad bit odd, to put it nicely. After all these years, she finally wants to step up and be a parental figure? Heck no! Emmy’s definitely not copacetic with that idea. But with the bad, there’s got to be some good out there for her somewhere, right?Add in the wolves, witches, drama, and lots of kisses and you get Emmy the Extraordinaire, the girl with strawberry–colored hair, and a chip on her shoulder. She’s finally on her way to finding out what her life and her future both have in store for her, even if the road to getting there is nowhere near as easy as she hoped it would be. But Emmy is tough, and more than ready to take on life with her bare hands. It’s just too bad she’s madly, desperately, insanely in love with a boy who insists on making her life both a miserable hell and utter perfection at the same time.
Amazon buy link for Resisting Fate: http://www.amazon.com/Resisting-Fate-...
Goodreads link for Seizing Fate: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18... link for Resisting Fate: (Book one) http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17...About the author: Heather Van Fleet currently reside in northern Illinois, with her three little ladies, and fabulous hubby, and high school sweetheart, Chris. She’s a stay at home mom by day, and an avid and completely obsessive writer and reader by night.She’s always had a soft spot in her heart for books, and has been creating her own little stories since the age of seven. But she never really had the confidence or the time to actually sit down and really do something about it until her youngest daughter Isabella was born just two years ago. Bella, as well as her older sisters Kelsey and Emma, are and always will be her greatest inspirations.Links:
Website   Goodreads   Facebook

Excerpt:Pressure, fire, wetness, tongues — single words were all I could think as our mouths battled. God, I’d never been kissed like this before. Ever, and if we stopped, I’d die a happy woman from his lips touching mine alone. He tugged his hand into the back of my hair, pulling my chin upwards, yanking me towards him. I clawed at his shirt, ready to rip it from his massive body. I pulled at his jacket first, lowering it over his shoulders until it fell to the floor. The buttons jingled against the tile, scattering over our feet. Damn, if he didn’t care about his signature black coat falling apart, then I had to wonder what else I could get away with.

COVER REVEAL - THE FAWN by Susan Griscom

Title: The FawnAuthor: Susan GriscomGenre: New AdultPublisher: Amber Glow BooksRelease date: Winter/Spring 2014 Note: Contains strong language and violence.
Description:
After a not-so-wonderful young adulthood—shuffled from one foster home to another—Lena Benton had hoped marriage would be her ticket to happiness. Wedded a year after high school graduation, Lena was certain she’d found her knight. But when Troy Harington’s true colors surface shortly after their glorious day of elopement, things aren’t quite as rosy as Lena had envisioned. When an unforeseen event turns ugly, all she can do is ... run!
But does she run far enough?
Jackson Beaumont prides himself on being a nature-loving, guitar-strumming carefree sort of guy, known for his eagerness to help injured animals find their way back into the wild. When Lena Benton walks into his bar, he’s once again swept off his feet with concern and desire to help the wounded. Will he risk having his heart torn apart again when the memory of the fawn he rescued as a child resurfaces?
Add it to your to wish list on Goodreads.
Something about Susan
I grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania, spending most of my time daydreaming or playing around in the mud. I grew out of the mud play, well, most of the time, a good soak in the mud is always fun. I still daydream often and sometimes my daydreams interrupt my daydreams. So, I write to remember them. If I didn't write, I think my mind would explode from an overload of fantasy and weirdness. To the annoyance of my friends and family, my characters sometimes become a part of my world. During my childhood, I would frequently get in trouble in school for daydreaming. Eventually, my vivid imagination paid off and I had the privilege of writing and co-directing my sixth-grade class play--a dreadful disaster, though not from my writing, of course. I'm pretty sure it was the acting.
I enjoy writing about characters living in small quaint towns and sometimes they tend to lean toward the unusual and edgy.
My paranormal playing field delves into a different milieu, abandoning vampires and werewolves, but not discounting them. Someday I might like to write a novel about vamps and those furry creatures. But for now I like the bizarre mixed with romance. A strong hero or heroine confronted with extraordinary forces of nature, powers and capabilities gets my blood running hot as does a steamy contemporary romantic suspense. Author Links:
Website: http://susangriscom.com
Blog: http://swblog.susangriscom.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SusanGriscom
Facebook Author Page:http://www.facebook.com/SMGriscom
Facebook personal:   https://www.facebook.com/SusanGriscom1
Goodread: http://www.goodreads.com/SusanGriscom
Other works by Susan Griscom include:

Whisper Cape, book 1, a steamy paranormal romance trilogy.










Reflections, Whisper Cape book 2











A Secret Fate, Whisper Cape book 3 Releasing November, 2013








Allusive Aftershock a young adult contemporary/dystopian








Brief Interludes – a collection of short stories









Erotic Interludes – an anthology of two erotic tales.










Enter below for A Special Treat - A Giveaway of A Secret Fate, Whisper Cape book 3 when available.a Rafflecopter giveaway

Fall Into Romance Blog Hop

I'm all about romance. The third book in my Whisper Cape Trilogy, A Secret Fate, will be out soon and what better way to celebrate than to offer the first one as a prize for this hop? It is the last in the series and I'm going to miss Cael and Addie. They will always be my favorite characters. So, I'm giving away one e-book copy of Whisper Cape so one lucky person can have the chance to get to know Cael, Addison, and all the other characters in Whisper Cape. But that's not all...


Meet Paulie Bingham.

You can't help but love, Anne Carter's English rock star. He's in love with Kate, but he's gay. That's right. Anne has created an emotionally charged different type of love story that will keep you turning the pages with wonderfully lovable characters. I'm offering an e-book copy of Unmasking Paulie Bingham to one lucky winner.






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Be sure to visit the other blogs on the hop at TRR for more chances to win!

DOUBLE COVER REVEAL - Breaking Angelina & Taking Chances by Rita & T.J. Webb

Release days:Breaking Angelina - Nov 2013Taking Chances - Feb 2014




















Breaking Angelina
Powerless to silence the voices in her head, Angelina obeys their every command, even if it means ruining her college career, swindling money from her friends, or kidnapping and killing a siren so she can brew a love potion to ensnare the man she's crushed on since childhood.
The Hunter, a man-wolf-hawk chimera, drowns the memories of his murdered family in liquor. A tracker for hire, an honorable man who has misplaced his honor, a twisted soul with no heart left to care.
…until Angelina hires the Hunter to help her track down a siren and wakes him from his drunken stupor. What will it take to set them both free?

Taking Chances
Someone — or something — vandalized Jason's new shop. Smashed windows, a broken cash register, damaged merchandise are strewn across the floor, but the culprit left the money.
The evidence:  bloody bear prints larger than any bear Jason's seen, black ooze that can eat the flesh from bones, and a missing employee.
Bears don't wander into busy shopping districts, turn off security alarms, and break into stores. When more people go missing, Jason and Emma realize the cops aren't up to handling the situation.
Something’s going wrong in the paranormal world. Can Jason and Emma fix things before someone else gets hurt?
Links:Blog:  http://afantasyfiction.blogspot.com
Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/ritawebb
Twitter:  http://www.twitter.com/ritajwebb
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/RitaJWebb

Promo Blitz - The Woodlands by Lauren Nicole Taylor

Title:  The WoodlandsAuthor: Lauren Nicolle TaylorPublished: Clean Teen Publishing, August 30th, 2013Word Count:  approx. 92,000Genre:  YA Mature Dystopian RomanceContent Warning:  Non-graphic ViolenceRecommend Age:  14+







Synopsis: Rosa never thought she’d make it to sixteen... 
When being unique puts you in danger and speaking your mind can be punishable by death,  you might find yourself fighting to survive. Sixteen-year-old Rosa lives in one of the eight enclosed cities of The Woodlands. Where the lone survivors of a devastating race war have settled in the Russian wilderness because it’s the only scrap of land left habitable on the planet. In these circular cities, everyone must abide by the law or face harsh punishment. Rosa's inability to conform and obey the rules brands her a leper and no one wants to be within two feet of her, until she meets Joseph. He's blonde, fair-skinned, green-eyed, and the laid-back complete opposite of Rosa. She's never met anyone quite like him, and she knows that spells danger.

But differences weren't always a bad thing. People used to think being unique was one of the most treasured of traits to have. Now, the Superiors, who ruthlessly control the concrete cities with an iron fist, are obsessed with creating a 'raceless' race. They are convinced this is the only way to avoid another war. Any anomalies must be destroyed.

The Superiors are unstoppable and can do anything they want. After all, they are considered superheroes by the general public. But not everyone sees them this way. When they continue to abuse their power by collecting young girls for use in their secret, high-tech breeding program, they have no idea that one of those girls has somehow managed to make friends even she didn't know she had. And one man will stop at nothing to save her.Amazon | GoodReads
About the Author:Lauren Nicolle Taylor is a 33-year-old mother living in the tiny, lush town of Bridgewater on the other side of the world in Australia. She married her high school sweetheart and has three very boisterous and individual children. She earned a Bachelors degree in Health Sciences with Honours in Obstetrics and Gynecology and majored in Psychology while minoring in Contemporary Australian Writing.After a disastrous attempt to build her dream house that left her family homeless, She found herself inexplicably drawn to the computer. She started writing, not really knowing where it may lead but ended up, eight weeks later, with the rough draft of The Woodlands.

In 2013, Lauren Nicolle Taylor accepted a publishing contract with Clean Teen Publishing. Her first published novel, The Woodlands, was released on August 30, 2013. Currently, Lauren has finished her manuscript for the second book in the series titled: The Wall, as well as partially completed the third book in the series which at this time is unnamed.

Facebook | Twitter | Blog | Website | GoodReads

Clean Teen Publishing Links:Website  Blog  Facebook  Twitter
The Woodlands by Lauren Nicolle Taylor Excerpt :WASH AWAY
I don’t know how long I stayed there. I heard muffled voices—people moving around me, sharp rocks clunking dully together. Strong arms tried to pull me up from where I squatted, head between my knees, clinging to the rail. A baby cried. Someone punched the wall. I stayed there still. The light was touching my hands, bare-knuckle white. My body tensed. Someone was talking to me, but it was like I was underwater. His voice warbled and I couldn’t make sense of it. I was teetering on the edge of a precipice, wind in my hair, staring down into blackness. With all my courage, all my energy, I made the choice. I let go and I let myself fall, endlessly falling, cold air pulling my hair up over my head.One finger at a time, detached. Tick, tick, tick. Heavy cloth shrouded me. He picked me up in a blanket and walked outside. Silent. It was bright. I closed my eyes and focused on his footfalls on the solid earth. Thump, thump, thump. I felt us descending. I opened my eyes and it was cooler, darker. He lay me down gently, kissing me on the forehead. I felt numb with no senses, like there was a barrier between me and the outside world. He rolled my shirt up and pulled it over my head. The cotton stuck to my skin. Carefully, he used his hands to peel it away from my stomach and chest, push, pry, rip. A faint copper scent stung my nose. He stood me up, removed my boots and trousers, dunking everything in the shallow pond he had brought us to. I sat there. Blank. Cold. Watching the water change from clear to pink and then clear again as it washed away. Washed her away.He soaked a cloth in water, and begun carefully wiping the rust-colored blood from my body. I didn’t care anymore. I let him touch me, lifting my arms, turning my head, pulling my hair back and cleaning my neck. He did it all slowly and deliberately. There was no charge in his touch. This was a kindness to one who was broken. When he was done, he wrapped me in the blanket and propped me up against a tree trunk like a wooden puppet. I watched, disconnected, as he soaked my clothes and rinsed them until the water ran clear.
He gathered me up, in only my underclothes and a blanket, and slung my wet uniform over his shoulder, taking me back into the sunlight.

Giveaway Details: There is an international tour wide giveaway. Prize includes the following:GRAND PRIZE: A digital copy of The Woodlands, a Woodlands bookmark, a surprise Clean Teen Publishing swag gift and a Clean Teen Publishing digital book of the reader’s choosing.

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Coming up soon:This is going to be a great hop. I can't w...

Coming up soon:

This is going to be a great hop. I can't wait. I have some awesome prizes to offer, so stay tuned.

And always

RELEASE DAY BLITZ - BECOMING INVISIBLE by Tiffany Carmouche

TITLE: Becoming Invisible
AUTHOR: Tiffany Carmouche
GENRE: New Adult/Romance/Suspense/ Contemporary

Synopsis of Becoming Invisible
Becoming Invisible is the third book The Alaskan Heart Saga, a Contemporary New Adult Series about finding unexpected love and a woman’s fight for survival.
Passion. ..Obsession. ..Love…Loss.

When fire consumes the Carlisle’s home and an obsessed serial killer continues to hunt Nicole and her family, Dylan and Bradley realize the only way to keep them alive is to help them become… invisible.


The music behind Becoming Invisible
Music inspiration there is a lot of info on my music page :http://tiffanycarmouche.wix.com/author#!music_page/cx72
also 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLzpWqb3DOk Titaniumhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFGvmrJ5rjM Breathe
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4M7vTDKJbGU Kiss from a rose
Getting to know author Tiffany Carmouche ~

Which six words would you use to describe yourself?
Sassy, persistent, dreamer, romantic, spontaneous, too trusting (okay that is seven opps)
1.      Can you tell us a little about yourself?
Me? I’m a single mother... a survivor... a dreamer... a hopeless romantic... and an adventurer...

BIO:
Best Selling Author Tiffany Carmouche has been given the title, The Queen of The Cliffhanger and Best Unknown Author You Need to Discover. When Tiffany Carmouché is not writing suspenseful romance novels, you can find her sculpting, traveling, teaching, singing, dancing, escaping in music or enjoying her family.
From skydiving in Alaska to scuba diving in Hawaii, Carmouché has traveled the world seeking adventure and it is apparent in the books she writes. Her adventures include riding camels in Africa, swimming under the stars in Puerto Rico, dancing salsa in Ecuador, and walking the cobblestone roads of Assisi, Italy. She has also found fulfillment working with the disabled and orphans in Argentina and Mexico. Her most cherished moments, however, have been watching her two beautiful daughters grow and strive to accomplish their own dreams.
Despite all of these amazing experiences, she has survived many struggles. There was a time she felt defeated, but now she is recommitted to savoring experiences both in the novels she writes and in the life she lives each day. Her secret hope is that anyone who is struggling will realize there is a light at the end of the tunnel and no matter how hard the fight, no matter how many times they have been knocked down, it is always worth staggering up to their feet and learning to breathe again. Please visit my author page at https://www.facebook.com/TiffanyCarmo...

Where to stalk me in…in a good way.http://www.facebook.com/TiffanyCarmou... Facebook Author Pagehttp://www.amazon.com/Tiffany-Carmouc...http://tinyurl.com/cf2vvbt   Paperback  The Impostor, A Love Storyhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOaIEx... Fan made trailer  The Impostor http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28GnnF...  Fan made trailer Obsession and Sacrificehttp://www.facebook.com/TheImpostorFa... Fan Club Impostorhttp://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15...  Goodreadshttp://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16...    Goodreadshttp://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18...  Goodreadshttp://tinyurl.com/kttn9lt  Facebook Obsession fan pagehttp://www.tiffanycarmouche.com/ Websitehttp://www.tiffanycarmouche.com/#!buy...  Where to buy the books info linkhttps://twitter.com/tiffcarmouchehttp://tinyurl.com/mspxu9u  Amazon Author Pagehttp://www.amazon.com/Tiffany-Carmouc... Amazon author page

Do you have a story to tell? Have you ever thought about writing a novel? Tiffany Carmouche will be teaching the fall class 'It is Time for You to Tell Your Story' Registration for the fall workshop will be opening up soon. Limited spots. If you are interested in having information sent to you please email us at findingyouressence@yahoo.com

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Book Blitz - His Saving Grace by Heather Gray

Title: His Saving GraceAuthor: Heather Gray Published: Astraea Press, July 30th, 2013 Word Count: approx. 32,400 Genre: Regency Inspirational Romance


Synopsis:
Will she be able to save him from himself?

Grace finds herself wed to a man who loathes her. She is shunned and exiled to the farthest corner of the land. It wouldn't hurt so much if he hadn't once been her best friend.

Thomas became a duke long before he was ready. Now he can't go anywhere without women trying to entrap him into marriage. He expected better from his childhood friend.

How can friendship, let alone marriage, thrive in the face of bitterness, suspicion, and misunderstanding? 

What's to be done when the hurtful choices made in anger have lasting consequences?

It takes a special kind of person to see past the pain to the beauty that lies beyond…
Amazon| Barnes & Noble | GoodReads
Excerpt:Grace soaked in Thomas's warmth. She sighed into his waistcoat and said, "I appreciate the kind words, Thomas, but you shouldn't be in here alone with me. We both know that."

Thomas, his voice light, said, "It was in here with you or out there with the barracudas. I think I'm safer right where I am."

Grace didn't pull out of his comforting hug as she knew she ought to. Instead she said, "I've spent my whole life in Stafford Shire and have never even been to London before. All I'm asking for is one season. If I wait much longer, I'll be completely on the shelf, and no decent man will even consider marrying me. My father has doomed me to the life of being some man's courtesan!"

"You've been reading the newspaper again, haven't you?" She felt the warm rumble of his chuckle against her cheek. "You shouldn't even know words like that. If your parents knew you were reading those rags, they'd have your hide."

Grace's tears had quieted and were slowly being replaced by hiccups. Just as Thomas began to release her from his friendly hold, the library door opened with a loud bang.

"What the devil is going on in here?" demanded Lady Appleton.

Grace jumped out of Thomas's arms and said, "It's not what you th—ink." The hiccups were gaining momentum. "I was up—set. Thomas found me, and I was—crying. He was simply be—ing kind."

The skin on Lady Appleton's florid face jiggled as she shouted, "Not only are you in a room with a man unchaperoned, but you were in an embrace!" Her gown truly was the most awful color. It was somewhere between green and brown, like a plant that had withered and died. To make the ensemble worse, she looked as if she were wearing an entire peacock atop her piled hair.

Seeming to thrive on spectacle, Lady Appleton continued to bombast them with accusation, her voice growing toward a crescendo. "You've been ruined, young lady! There will have to be a wedding at once!" If volume were the stick by which such things were measured, Lady Appleton's screeching voice ensured that Grace would feel maximum shame.

"Th—at wasn't an embrace!"

By this time, several people had gathered in the hallway outside the library door. When Grace's father came on the scene, Thomas spoke directly to him, ignoring Lady Appleton. "I apologize for any misunderstanding. Gracie was crying. She was upset, might I add, by the cruel things you said to her. I'm nothing more than a childhood friend offering a bit of encouragement and reassuring her that her father is not the ogre he appears to be at present."

Grace had never heard Thomas's voice quite like this. The sharp edge of strong metal in it was unmistakable. This voice belonged to the Duke of Stafford, not her childhood friend Thomas.
About Heather:
Aside from her long-standing love affair with coffee, Heather’s greatest joys in life are her relationship with her Savior, her family, and writing.  Years ago, she decided it would be better to laugh than yell. Heather carries that theme over into her writing where she strives to create characters that experience both the highs and lows of life and, through it all, find a way to love God, embrace each day, and laugh out loud right along with her.
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