Title: Claim Me (Capture Me, #3) Author: Anna Zaires Release Date: June 14, 2016 Genre: Dark Romance Blurb She’s on the run. Yulia Tzakova’s freedom comes at a heavy price. Her former captor dominates her dreams, and survival consumes her waking moments. She may have escaped, but she’s far from safe. In the shadowy world of spies and betrayal, nothing is what it seems. He’s obsessed with getting her back. Lucas Kent’s rage knows no bounds. The danger of his job occupies his days, but hunting down Yulia is what he lives for. When he finds her, she’ll never escape again. He’ll do whatever it takes to keep her. Note: This is a LONG novel that concludes Lucas & Yulia’s story.Purchase Claim Me Today! Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon Canada | Amazon AU Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Google Play | Kobo Capture Me (Capture Me, #1) Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Google Play | Kobo She fears him from the first moment she sees him. Yulia Tzakova is no stranger to dangerous men. She grew up with them. She survived them. But when she meets Lucas Kent, she knows the hard ex-soldier may be the most dangerous of them all. One night—that’s all it should be. A chance to make up for a failed assignment and get information on Kent’s arms dealer boss. When his plane goes down, it should be the end. Instead, it's just the beginning. He wants her from the first moment he sees her. Lucas Kent has always liked leggy blondes, and Yulia Tzakova is as beautiful as they come. The Russian interpreter might’ve tried to seduce his boss, but she ends up in Lucas’s bed—and he has every intention of seeing her there again. Then his plane goes down, and he learns the truth. She betrayed him. Now she will pay. Bind Me (Capture Me, #2) Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Google Play | Kobo He’s determined to break her. For Lucas Kent, his new prisoner is a maddening contradiction: compliant yet defiant, fragile yet strong. He needs to uncover her secrets, but doing so may ruin everything. His obsession could destroy her. She’s determined to escape. For Yulia Tzakova, her captor is the man of both her dreams and her nightmares: tender one moment, cruel the next. She can’t let him crack her, but resisting him may leave her broken. A moment of weakness could cost her everything.About the Author Anna Zaires fell in love with books at the age of five, when her grandmother taught her to read. She wrote her first story shortly thereafter. Since then, she has always lived partially in a fantasy world where the only limits were those of her imagination. Currently residing in Florida, Anna is happily married to Dima Zales (a science fiction and fantasy author) and closely collaborates with him on all their works. After graduating from the University of Chicago with a degree in Economics, Anna spent eight years on Wall Street analyzing stocks and writing research reports. In 2013, she became a full-time author, pursuing her lifelong dream of writing romance novels. Dima Zales is the love of her life and a huge inspiration in all aspects of her writing. Every book Anna writes is a product of their unique collaborative process. In addition to reading and writing, Anna enjoys drinking tea (coconut oolong, anyone?), watching addictive TV shows, and discussing book ideas during long walks with her amazing husband. She loves hearing from her readers, so please don't hesitate to contact her through her website or connect with her on Facebook, where she hangs out way too often. Also, please visit her husband and collaborator, Dima Zales, at www.dimazales.com and check out their fantasy & science fiction books.Connect with Anna Facebook | Goodreads | Website | Twitter
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The Montgomery Ink Series continues with INK ENDURING by Carrie Ann Ryan, available now! Three lives. Two Second Chances. One Redemption.About INK ENDURING The Montgomery Ink series continues with a forbidden love between three friends and a past that they can’t escape. Jake Gallagher knew from the moment he saw Maya that she was the one for him—it had the same breath-taking intensity as when he’d first set eyes on Border. Only life never turns out the way one plans, and now he’s falling for someone else...or at least he thinks he is. Maya Montgomery never should have looked past the friendship she already had. Now that she has, she can’t stop thinking about Jake and what he means to her. When a mysterious stranger from Jake’s past shows up at their door, she’s forced to admit that if she doesn’t take the risk of a lifetime, she’ll regret it for the rest of her days. Border Gentry walked away without a second glance once because of what could happen if he let go, but now he’s back and ready to see what he’s missed. He’s been on the road a long time and has seen things no man should ever see, yet once he rediscovers the broody Jake and meets the inked and fierce Maya, they’re like a balm to his soul and he realizes what path his future should take. It will take more than sizzling chemistry and a heat that never dies for the three of them to overcome their pasts. And when someone from the outside wants to stand in their way, it’s not only their hearts on the line…but also their lives.Add it to your Goodreads list here! Get your hands on INK ENDURING: Amazon | iBooks | Barnes and Noble | Kobo | Google Play Want to Win?Want to win a $25 Amazon giftcard? Enter via the Rafflecopter below!a Rafflecopter giveawayRead the first chapter of INK ENDURING here!About Carrie Ann RyanNew York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Carrie Ann Ryan never thought she’d be a writer. Not really. No, she loved math and science and even went on to graduate school in chemistry. Yes, she read as a kid and devoured teen fiction and Harry Potter, but it wasn’t until someone handed her a romance book in her late teens that she realized that there was something out there just for her. When another author suggested she use the voices in her head for good and not evil, The Redwood Pack and all her other stories were born. Carrie Ann is a bestselling author of over twenty novels and novellas and has so much more on her mind (and on her spreadsheets *grins*) that she isn’t planning on giving up her dream anytime soon.Website | Twitter | Facebook | Newsletter | Instagram | Tumblr | Pinterest Love, Alchemy
-- EXCERPT: Cooper’s fingers dug into her arm with bruising force, leaving Davey no choice but to defend herself. Punching out with the heel of her free hand, she struck him in the nose. Rearing back in pain, he immediately let go and she struggled to keep her footing. Recovering, Cooper snarled and lunged to retaliate. Davey scrambled but wasn’t fast enough to escape his reach. And then suddenly she didn’t have to. A dark figure stepped into Cooper’s path, and seconds later, Cooper was on the ground bleeding and wearing a dazed look. He wouldn’t be getting up anytime soon. Deeply shaken, Davey opened her mouth to thank her rescuer, but he had already gone. Swallowed up by the dancing mass of sweaty teenagers. Davey wanted to be home at once. All she could think of was cuddling with Hogan while reading him a bedtime story before tucking him in. She ran outside, yanking a hoodie over her head to protect against the chill. Gulping in the misty fresh air, she calmed down enough to slow to a stroll and began what would be a long walk home. But there he was. It hadn’t been her imagination. Remington stood on the shadowy road, blocking Davey’s path. She stopped several yards from his position. A safe distance away, she hoped. “What do you want?” His reply was so low she could barely make it out. “I needed to be sure.” Davey’s heart was thudding out of her chest. Had he seen her dealing? “About what?” “That you were okay.” “Oh.” She hadn’t expected that. “If you were so worried, why didn’t you stick around?” “The directive tonight was recon only.” Remington took a step closer. “I think I may have compromised it by causing a scene.” Weirdo alarm bells ringing at full volume, Davey took two steps back. “I’m sorry saving my ass messed up your mission. Thanks anyway.” Going in the other direction would get her away from him but also make the trek home thirty minutes longer. It really didn’t seem like a bad trade off. “What did that guy want from you?” “It’s none of your business.” Davey quickly started walking. Remington followed. “You could have been hurt.” “Again, none of your business.” She doubled her stride, but he kept pace effortlessly. Forging ahead for about fifty feet, Davey stopped. “What the hell are you doing?” “I’m escorting you home.” Flabbergasted, her mouth opened and shut. “Why?” she finally asked. Remington watched her for a quiet moment. His features were oddly attractive in the glow of the streetlights. “I swore to serve and protect. It’s my job to keep you safe.” Unconvinced, she gestured toward the house where the party raged on. “So a cop is going to show up and escort every one of those kids home too?” “No.” She folded her arms. “Then why are you following me?” Remington shifted. “I don’t know.” It wasn’t really an answer, but the way he spoke, as well as the manner of his movements, made the words seem true. Plus, Remington hadn’t appeared comfortable admitting them. “What’s your name?” “Officer Remington.” “Well, I don’t like cops. Give me something else to call you.” “Like what?” Davey rolled her eyes. “Like your first name.” “Oh.” Remington smiled. The expression transformed his features, and she thought he should do it more often. “Ethan.” “Okay, Ethan. Walk me home.”
GIVEAWAY! The Exiled Seven
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo -- EXCERPT: If you will, please imagine the tallest and most beautifully handsome man you can, the complete and perfect embodiment of classic male beauty, charm, and chivalry. Now—cast this image far from your mind. For this tale is not about him. Many of such tales have already been told, and to tell yet another would be a great disservice to the other heroes of the world. The hero around whom this tale revolves—and a hero I assure you he was, even if your faith may waver during the events that follow—was a hero of a different sort. Though it would be altogether unfair to say that he did not entirely look the part. He was as handsome as dwarfs come. Strong, in both physique and demeanor, and clearly one who commanded respect. But his jaw-length, dark blonde hair, the color of wet straw, and not even five-foot stature are not what you and I are accustomed to seeing in our mind’s eye when we think of the heroes of tall tales. Nor his slightly crooked nose or angular jawline, for that matter. What about his personality, you ask? For, of course, looks are not all that matter in a champion. And I applaud your depth of character. But sadly, I must disappoint you and your commendable optimism. For this hero was not charming, or dashing, or gallant, or really very pleasant in any way at all. In fact, he could be downright unpleasant to be around when in one of his all-too-frequent foul dispositions. And unfortunately, it is in such a disposition that we find Alariq as we join his story. As disagreeable as Alariq was, I am sure you will find his demeanor quite understandable. You see, his story is an unfortunate one. We find him, and his six loyal companions, banished from their city-state, Alariq for a crime he did not commit, and the others for their loyalty to him and their faith in his innocence. Seven dwarfs they were, exiled and alone. GIVEAWAY!
Title: Backfire
Series: A Vigilantes Novel
Author: Keri Lake
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance - Standalone
Release Date: June 9, 2016 Cover Design: Hang Le Image Credit: Eric Battershell Photography Cover Model: Johnny Kane
No matter how unbreakable he may seem, every man has a weakness.
A year ago, my home became a bloodstained crime scene. That night marked the beginning of my hell—the same night I was tortured by my enemies and tossed into an underground prison to die.
They failed. I survived.
Now that I’m free, only one motive burns in my soul: revenge.
Lucky for me, they think Jase Hawkins is dead. Maybe I am. I’ve got nothing but a cold, merciless rage, and Black Betty, the sharp steel blade that never leaves my side.
Then she drifts into my life.
Lucia wants answers—so much so, she’s willing to fall into the darkness where my enemies lie in wait, to kill her for what she knows.
Or to take her for the depraved fantasies her body alone can rouse in a man’s mind.
Me? I want her for the fire in her touch that feeds my addiction, forces me to feel what has become numb, but my appetite for bloodshed runs deeper than flesh.
For my own sanity, I’ve vowed to stay away from her. Because she’s my only weakness, an obsession that leaves me craving more—one that could make even the most steadfast plan backfire.
Keri Lake is a married mother of two living in Michigan. By day, she tries to make use of the degrees she’s earned in science. By night, she writes dark contemporary and paranormal romance. Though novels tend to be her focus, she also writes short stories and flash fiction on the many occasions when distraction sucks her in to the Land of Shiny Things.
She loves hearing from readers …
by Janeal Falor Genre: YA Fantasy Release Date: June 6th 2016 Summary:
Elven princess Arabella is set to marry the human Prince Phillip but her countrymen do not hesitate to express their anger with her parents' attempt to improve relations with the humans. With death threats plaguing her, Arabella is forced into hiding.
When her sanctuary is usurped by pirates, Arabella goes on the run with humans who vow to help and keep her safe. She finds herself drawn to one of the humans, the dashing Robert, who steals her heart.
Arabella would like nothing more than time to get to know Robert better, but with pirates attacking and her wedding date approaching, time is one thing she doesn't have. Arabella's on a flight for her life and must reconcile with the truthâshe can never be with the one she wants.
If only her heart would agree.
Excerpt
My hand brushes his.
I should pull away. I will pull away.
Only, before I can do so, he leans closer.
My breath becomes shallow and catches in my throat. A flame kindles in my heart. Itâs small at first, but then bursts into a blaze coursing through my body. I tilt my face toward his, and time ceases to exist as Iâm aware of nothing but him.
My own breathing matches the rapid rise and fall of his chest. I can't help but take him in, from his chiseled jaw line all the way to his distinguished brow. From his angular nose to a small scar above his mouthâa sharp line that cuts across a portion of his upper right lip. I'd noticed it before, but never paid much attention to it.
Now it consumes me. My fingers want to touch it. My lips want to brush against it.
We stay locked in a halfway almost-there-but-not-quite kiss. With his strong arms, he pulls me in closer. The warmth of his body fills me, fighting against the chill in the air. His lips hover just above mine. He reaches up and strokes my face.
As we gaze into each other's eyes, I melt into him, losing myself. The spell I cast on my eyes falters, and they change to their true hue.
Stiffing a cry of pain, I bend my head down and reactivate the spell. My eyes fill with tears from the stinging, but they'll no longer appear as my own. The crushing ache is much worse in my chest, though I can't tell if itâs from not kissing him or almost doing so.
About the Author
Amazon best selling author Janeal Falor lives in Utah with her husband and three children. In her non-writing time she teaches her kids to make silly faces, cooks whatever strikes her fancy, and attempts to cultivate a garden even when half the things she plants die. When it's time for a break she can be found taking a scenic drive with her family or drinking hot chocolate.
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Coming June 18th Add to your Goodreads shelf now. Retiring from the military was the right decision for Beckett Fitzgerald. He’s landed the girl of his dreams, the ring is on her finger and the only other mission he’s interested in is putting a baby in Promise’s belly by the time they get back from the honeymoon. Simple, right? Swept off her feet by Beckett, with his scarred face and Monet blue eyes, Promise is finally learning that true love isn’t just for fairy tales. With her brother finally free from the horrors of foster care and her own personal hero hell-bent on teaching her all the magical ways her body belongs to him, her once-in-a-lifetime feels so real. But, before their honeymoon suitcases are packed, a knock on the door and a best friend’s betrayal threaten to tear them apart. Beckett will cross oceans and leave a path of destruction behind to protect what is his, but when promises are broken, and the truth is revealed, will their all-consuming love be enough to carry them through? Author’s Note: You receive both books! Cherish is the conclusion to the best-selling, Promise which is also included here as free bonus content so you can read Beckett & Promise’s story from beginning to end. This book will give you a sweet happily ever after, an insatiable head-over-heels in love alpha hero, panty melting yumminess and no cheating. God, Beck, please, that’s enough, I can’t cum anymore—” My voice breaks and cracks when I try to say his name one last time. As soon as the words leave my lips, I know it’s a mistake. Beckett halts his movements for a moment and I can almost hear the cogs whirring inside his head. His eyes raise to look at me, and I realize I’ve just challenged him. “We’ll see about that, babe.” He smiles before he attacks me again. One finger, then two push deep inside me, slipping easily in and out with the slick juice he’s created between my legs. I can feel it running down the insides of my thighs, pooling on the white duvet below my butt. The tension between us tangles until it’s like we’ve melded together. My pleasure is his pleasure. He moans into my folds, sounding lost in the moment, just like me. I look down just as he looks up. This is the moment that always slays me. Seeing the desire in his face. His desire to watch me; to know he’s giving me pleasure is enough to push me over the edge again. The tension gathers low. I keep my eyes on his as he locks them onto mine. His tongue spins around my clit. Then down. Then back. Fingers moving faster and faster, ramming in my cunt until the tingling tightness starts. The last thing I see before my eyes close is the hint of his smile. A flash of that chipped front tooth and then I’m lost again in a climax that jerks my thighs together, slapping and trapping his face between my legs. I make sounds I’ve never made before. Like an animal in the midst of some perfect torment, a sensual pain that elevates me to something above this plane of existence. I lose complete control over my muscles. My body jerks and my hips gyrate on his face. My fingers pull at his hair and my brain completely shuts off. Just the way he planned. I feel the vibration of his words as he growls into my body. I cum on his face. “My pussy. My cum. My good girl.” He talks into me like this often. At first it felt strange. He’s talking into my pussy. But Beckett is so unflinchingly confident. So unaffected. So completely alive in every moment. I find it beautiful now, and it makes me feel incredibly cherished. Besides, it just feels good. Those low baritone vibrations spoken into my soaking girl parts are not without their own sort of tingle. My eyes begin to focus as he crawls up on top of me. I turn to melted butter at the mere sight of his magnificence. My hands were born to be on his body. I love the contrast of his smooth, soft skin over a hardness that radiates pure physical power. The way the burned skin feels slick, different from the rest. He is a man in ways I didn’t understand until I met him. Power does not come from bravado nor arrogance nor boisterous frat boy stupidity. Beckett is power. A true, masculine power that is as loud as it is silent. His calm, unflappable countenance draws me to him like light into dark. I want to tuck myself under his wings, to crawl inside him and feel the peace that he brings me. His body bridges over me. My hands draw up from his shoulders. I feel the movement of each tendon under sweat slick skin as the head of his enormous cock presses upward between my legs. “Open,” he demands. “Spread your legs, babe. Open those knees and show me what’s mine. Only mine.” I do as I’m told, the tingling tightening into a knot in my core as he rears back, licks his lips and shakes his head, looking at my open snatch. “That’s my horny cunt, isn’t it?” He licks his lips and waits for my nod. “That’s right.” He sinks two fingers into my dripping opening in one solid movement and brings them, soaking wet, to his lips. “You’ll never get wet for anyone but me. Only me.” I lay open for him, and after a long silence he shifts down lower. I raise my own body, wanting him inside me even after he’s made me cum at least four times with his mouth. Wanting him fully. Completely. His brow knits together as he brings his face down to mine. I feel the warmth of his breath on my lips before he takes my mouth. Tasting my own arousal on him makes my belly flutter. I let out a whimper into our kiss. He pulls back, his face intense, those eyes that could melt candles lock onto mine and my hands cradle his cheeks while his cock dances at my opening. I want him inside me, more than I want my next breath. But somehow he holds steady, watching me. “What? Please. I want you, now.” I whine and wiggle my hips up toward him but he counters backward and I whimper in frustration. I smell the hint of his clean aftershave as he brings his lips down to my ear. “Do you have any idea how much I love you?” He pushes forward. The first brush of his cock sends electricity pulsating over my skin. I draw in a sharp breath and he glides inside, spreading me, pushing his cock slowly where I want all of him right now. “How much?” I mutter as he draws back, making me gasp. How can a body crave something so deeply? I don't just want his cock inside of me. I feel like I may die if I don't get it. He’s playing with me. “I love you past the stars. Out there in the universe where there is no time, no measure of things in this world. I love you in a way that no one else on this earth can. Not in this life and not after.” Dani Wyatt loves her alpha men; make them military, cowboys, MMA -- any uber alpha with a wicked possessive streak and an insatiable libido. Receive a free exclusive unpublished title when you join Dani's private readers group for updates, free chapters and discounts. She's a 40 something regular lady who just happens to love badass alpha males who pull your hair and love their women with a lethal passion. When she's not writing (which is not often) she is probably laughing about some irony (like A-1 Steak Sauce is vegan), riding her horse, wondering why The Walking Dead can't have a new episode every night, or looking cross-eyed at some piece of technology sent to ruin her day.
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On The Edge
Adironack Pack Series #3
by K.C. Stewart
Publication Date: June 27, 2016
Cover Designer: Mayhem Cover Creations
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Amazon US - http://amzn.to/1VFSbxC
Amazon UK - https://goo.gl/XKphgr
Amazon CA - https://goo.gl/K3qbm8
Over The Line (Adironack Pack #0.5)
Too Far Gone (Adironack Pack #1)
In Pursuit (Adironack Pack #1.5)
K.C. Stewart is the self published author of the Hailey Holloway series and most recently, the Adirondack Pack series. All her life she had fantasized and day dreamed on a regular basis but it wasn’t until she began writing flash fiction and that she made those fantasies a reality. Now she has graduated to novels but still dabbles in the occasional flash fiction and short story. Because of her love for reading and the written word, K.C. is currently continuing her education at Clarion University for Library Science. When she isn’t taking photographs, studying or writing, she is supporting a very real gummy bear habit. Currently, she lives with her boyfriend, german shepherd and cats in central Pennsylvania.
Social Media Links
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/kcstewartauthor/ Website - www.authorkcstewart.com
Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/kcstewart Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/k.c.stewart/ Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/kcstewartauthor/
by A.M. Griffin Genre: YA Dystopian Release date: June 7th 2016 Summary: In many ways, my life is complete, or as complete as it can be with aliens roaming Earth, killing and enslaving humans. Jason, my love, is by my side, and my friendship with Wade is back on track. Even better, it seems the threats of annihilation from the aliens have turned out to be nothing but hot air. Yet, despite the peace of our Arrowwood refuge, there is still a war waging outside, something Iâve tried not to think too much about. Just as Iâve ignored the fact that a sanctuary can also be a prison, or a tomb, we are forced to step out of safety and live or die, in dangerâs embrace.
Book One:
Against the Darkness (Cimmerian Moon #1)
by A.M. Griffin
Genre: YA Dystopian
Summary:
This one time, at band campâ¦aliens invaded earth. Sounds like a bad riff on an old joke, doesnât it? Unfortunately for me and my friends, itâs all too true. I thought a mess like this only happened in the movies but, as I watch the alien ships hovering over the major cities, I suddenly realize Iâm a thousand miles away from my Mom. From home. From safety. Darkness may have fallen over the world, but I wonât let it claim me. Iâll do anything I have to get back to Michigan. Yet nothing could prepare me for what we find on our trek north from Tallahassee. Thereâs hardly anything the aliens havenât bombed. Survival, at any cost, is the name of the game for the few people who havenât been killed or captured. As if trying to stay free and alive isnât enough, I think I just met the love of my life. And heâs just the kind of bad boy whoâll tear down the walls Iâve built around my heartâthen break it.
Book Two:
The Ashes That Remain (Cimmerian Moon #2)by A.M. Griffin Genre: YA Dystopian Summary: Weâre at war against the aliens that have invaded Earth, fighting the only way we canâby surviving. I have more than most people do, but although I know itâs stupid to hold on, I canât let go of what might have beenâcanât help dreaming of something more. No matter how I tell myself it would be easier to do what everyone else wants me to, thereâs a part of me that canât give in. Making the best of the situation is one thing. Settling, even to make other people happy, is something else. Then we hear the alien mother ships have disappeared. Of course we have to go and investigate. What we find lands us in a huge mess that we somehow have to clean up and, as our little enclave is rocked to the core with even more changes, Iâm learning a hard lesson. The more things changeâfor the better or the worseâthereâs no fighting human nature, and building on the ashes that remain will take everything we have. And maybe more.
About the Author
A.M. Griffin is a wife who rarely cooks, mother of three, dog owner (and sometimes dog owned), a daughter, sister, aunt and friend. Sheâs a hard worker whose two favorite outlets are reading and writing. She enjoys reading everything from mystery novels to historical romances and of course fantasy romance. She is a believer in the unbelievable, open to all possibilities from mermaids in our oceans and seas, angels in the skies and intelligent life forms in distant galaxies.
****WARNING**** KILLING THE SUN is a collaborative novel by K. Larsen and Mara White. KTS is not a ROMANCE KTS is not ROMANTIC This book features a non-linear time line, some violence as well as graphic sex. Do not read this book if you don’t like antiheroes. Do not read this book if sexual sadism makes you uncomfortable. Do not read this book if you don’t like dubious consent. Do not read this book if you are looking for a traditional HEA. Do not read this book if you like demure heroines and swashbuckling heroes. KTS is a serial novel that will come in three novellas released in rapid succession. If you choose to take this ride, please do so at your own risk. In Chickasaw County, Oklahoma, there is a manmade lake. There used to be a small, natural lake there filled with bass, crappie and bream. My grandfather would fish in those waters, wearing thigh-high waders alongside the tall wading birds poking around for fish eggs. It was rumored that the waters had healing powers, that the native people drank from the natural springs to heal ailments and to purify the spirit. As kids we swam there, even as the township enlarged the lake and pushed hard to attract campers and speed boaters, jet skiers and anglers, anything other than us local kids learning to do underwater handstands and doggy paddle. I was an okay swimmer, I guess, at least before I developed breasts, but Storm and Farren were champions, the very best. They were the strongest swimmers in the school district, and nobody could keep up with them. After the age of ten, I only entered the water in shorts and a T-shirt, no matter how hot the summer sun, no matter how few people were swimming or roaming the shore. I used to think I stopped wearing a bathing suit because I’d gotten my period or because my breasts were bigger than any other ten-year-old west of the Mississippi. Sometimes I speculated it was because of the murder, that stripping down in front of strangers, letting them really see me, had become nothing short of unbearable. I hated to be vulnerable. After they found the Dodge Dart, I realized that maybe it was just my subconscious calling to me. Avoid the lake, it’s a watery grave, a family crypt that is too saturated with history. It was the summer after I graduated high school that they found the Dart. Eight years were enough for the scandal to settle, even in a town like Sulphur; they’d put it to rest, especially after the murder/suicide on the campground out by the highway. Just some other drunk and homicidal idiots, but at least not from my family. The gossip had gotten quieter and quieter until it was barely more than a whisper from the grocery cart behind me in line at the store or the big-eared teenager handing out rental shoes at the bowling alley. I could see it in their eyes, but at least strangers had stopped asking. They’d stopped talking behind my back and, most importantly, stopped staring. Until that one hot July when they’d dredged both lakes, Veteran’s and Arbuckle, using up city money to elevate the dams and make improvements for tourism. I was in the trailer swatting flies and leafing through a Sears catalogue when Stacey Dobson rapped on the screen door, yelling, “Aimeee!” and got me tripping over chairs on my way to the door, convinced that a tornado must be tearing through. “They found your dad’s car! At the bottom of the lake!” Her cheeks were flushed pink from running in the stagnant heat, and circles of darker purple stained the armpits of her jumper. “What?” I asked. I remembered standing in the doorframe. I thought about his body on the floor, how his skin felt like wet plastic wrap over raw liver after all signs of life had left him. The look of death in his eyes was really the most sober I could remember ever seeing him. “The car was at the bottom of the lake! They drained it to widen the lakebed and there it was, sitting out in the middle.” “Was it empty?” I asked her, my eyes narrowing to take her in. She was nearsighted, the Dobson girl, and in all remedial classes at the high school. She was a few years older than me. As children we’d been amicable in a freeze tag, king of the mountain, Barbie-sharing sort of way, but after my dad died, I looked at everyone suspiciously, wondering what they could want from me. I would have no friends in this place. Stacey looked desperate and disheveled, sweat along her hairline, pinpoints of red starting to appear on her face. “Don’t know, they just brought in a tow truck to pull it out. You can only see the top of it.” “How do you know it’s my dad’s car?” The words felt sharp as they exited my mouth, like they had tines and were looking to plunge into any soft surface. Stacey’s chubby cheeks, the soft round of her gut. It had been a long time since I’d said my dad, words I typically avoided at all costs. “Divers,” Stacey said. Her eyes lit up like streetlights through a dismal fog. The lack of news in this town turned everyone into vultures for tragedy. “Let’s go,” I said. I jammed my keys in my pocket and threw my yellow and green windbreaker over my shoulder. Grabbing a pack of cigarettes and a lighter my mom had left on the counter, I switched off the light and promised myself that I wouldn’t stick around this damned town only to witness my own downfall. Damned if I’d let them all stand around defaming and slandering my family with not a one of us to hold them accountable for their local poison—a bitter mouthful of gossip. Show them that an Olsen, at least this Olsen, didn’t have mercy for anyone dumb enough to cross her. K. Larsen I am an avid reader, coffee drinker, and chocolate eater who loves writing. I received my B.A. from Simmons College-a while ago. I currently live with my daughter in Maine. I'm working on my sixth novel out later this year. I've published Tug Of War, Objective, Resistance, Saving Caroline, 30 Days, Committed and Dating Delaney. Enjoy! I love hearing from you so please feel free to contact me!
Author links Twitter Facebook Website Goodreads Amazon page Instagram Mara White Mara White is a contemporary romance and erotica writer who laces forbidden love stories with hard issues, such as race, gender and inequality. She holds an Ivy League degree but has also worked in more strip clubs than even she can remember. She is not a former Mexican telenovela star contrary to what the tabloids might say, but she is a former ballerina and will always remain one in her heart. She lives in NYC with her husband and two children and yes, when she’s not writing you can find her on the playground.
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About MeI'm a Texas gal with a wonderful husband, an amazing six year old son, and an adorable newborn baby boy! ArchivesCategories
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