A themed book tour through Prism Book Tours.
A Perfect Secret
(Rogue Hearts #3)
by Donna Hatch
Adult Historical Romance
Paperback, 348 Pages
December 14 2013
(Rogue Hearts #3)
by Donna Hatch
Adult Historical Romance
Paperback, 348 Pages
December 14 2013
Desperate to protect her father from trial and death, Genevieve breaks off her engagement with Christian Amesbury and marries a blackmailer. After a year of marriage, she flees her husband's violent domination only to have fate bring her back to Christian. Just when she thinks she's started a new life of safety and solitude, her husband tracks her down, stalks her, and threatens everyone she loves.
Still brokenhearted over Genevieve's betrayal a year ago, Christian can't believe she's come back into his life--and worse, that she's done it on the anniversary of his brother's death, a death that haunts him. Though tempted to throw her back into the river where he found her, he can't leave her at the mercy of the terrifying man she married.
When her husband torments Genevieve and puts his family in danger, Christian will do anything to protect those he loves...anything except give Genevieve another chance to break his heart.
Excerpt:
CHAPTER 1 (Cont’d)
All sound faded away
except for the wild pounding of Christian’s heart, and that terrible, terrible
scream. Christian reached the ground without knowing how he got there. Faintly
aware of searing pain in his hands, he collapsed on the ground beside Jason,
reaching for him but terrified to touch him. Dizzy and out of breath, he gulped
in air and the screaming stopped.
“Jason?” he rasped.
Other noises, other
shapes, swarmed around him in a fog of confusion, but his vision fixed on
Jason’s chest struggling to rise.
Christian put his
forehead on Jason’s brow and wrapped his arms around his brother. “Jason, wake
up. Open your eyes.”
Jason’s breathing
grew more labored. He made a terrible rattle, then fell silent. All motion in
Jason’s chest stopped. Christian’s own heart stopped. All the world stopped.
Someone peeled
Christian off Jason and shoved him away. Voices, frantic and shrill, poured in
all around him but he stood alone in a sea of horror. Adults shoved past him,
crowding around Jason’s motionless form. A dull roar built up in Christian’s
head drowning out everything but the image of Jason lying so still. Not moving.
Not breathing. Not living. Somewhere the far reaches of his mind registered the
knowledge that Jason would never open his eyes, never play, never laugh.
Someone shook
Christian so hard that he bit his tongue. “What happened?”
Christian pushed
back the suffocating fog. “He fell.” His voice sounded far away as if someone
else were talking through the other end of a hollow log. The truth wrenched out
of him. “I dared him to jump. And he fell.”
The ground had
rushed up then, smashed Christian in the face, and had hurled him into
darkness.
Another raindrop
fell, jarring Christian back to the present. A moment later, the soft ping of
raindrops pelted the roof of the crypt. Wiping his tears, he turned away, and
stopped up short. Grant, as silent and dark as a shadow, glowered at him from
the gate of the churchyard.
Christian glanced at
the family coach waiting on the side of the road. The sound of Mama’s weeping
scraped against him like sandpaper on bare skin. Father’s low voice as he tried
to console her burned like lemon juice on an open sore.
He’d done this. He’d
torn apart the family. It was his fault. Mama cried constantly and some days
didn’t get out of bed. Father never smiled. Two months later, Cole and Jared
left for the sea. Jason was gone forever. Grant never spoke to him, only shot
him murderous glares that left Christian constantly looking over his shoulder,
half expecting to see a knife plunging toward his back.
Christian squared
his shoulders and strode with dignity he didn’t feel past gravestones and
monuments. As he passed Grant at the gate, his brother spoke his first words to
Christian in three months.
“I wish you were the
one who had died.”
My passion for writing began at the tender age of 8 and I’ve been hooked ever since. Of course, I also wanted to be an actress and a ballerina, but one out of three isn’t bad, right?
In between caring for six children, (7 counting my husband), my day job, my free lance editing and copy writing, and my many volunteer positions, I manage to carve out time to indulge in my writing obsession. After all, it IS an obsession. My family is more patient and supportive than I deserve.
Tour-Wide Giveaway
- Grand Prize: $20 Amazon gift card and an ebook (INT) or print copy (US Only) of A Perfect Secret OR The Stranger She Married (winner's choice)
- 5 ebooks of A Perfect Secret
- Open Internationally
- Ends July 20th
I would like to life then; it would be interesting to live a simpler life.
ReplyDeleteI really don't think I would because I am afraid that I am too big a fan of technology and easier ways to accomplish everyday things in life!!
ReplyDeletehmmm it's hard to say, there are things i may like about it, but really i love my gadgets, and computer, boat, and being able to be loud and say what i want not be all prim and proper so i don't think so!! thanks for the giveaway book looks good
ReplyDeleteIt would be interesting to visit, but I'd miss my rights to direct my own live, my air conditioning and modern medicine.
ReplyDeleteprobably not
ReplyDeleteI a temporary, time travel sense sure, but not permanently. I like the simple life but there are ways of life I would miss.
ReplyDeleteI would love to but I will miss my smart phone :D
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't. I dont like to be bossed.
ReplyDelete