Deal Sharing Aunt: The Beach Wife by Doug K. Pennington Excerpt & Trailer

Sunday, March 13, 2016

The Beach Wife by Doug K. Pennington Excerpt & Trailer

Book Title: The Beach Wife Author: Doug K. Pennington Genre: Romantic Suspense Release Date: March 14, 2016 Hosted by: Book Enthusiast Promotions

Kim feels trapped in a loveless marriage to a jealous, wealthy older man. He blames her for crippling him in an auto accident that he himself caused. Kim strives to make the marriage work, despite her husband’s blame, verbal abuse and bitterness. When she meets a wickedly handsome man on the beach, she fights not to want him, not to want a new life and not to fall in love. But Derek is seductive and irresistible—a former soldier who has recently come to town to start a landscaping business. Kim falls hard for him, and he becomes addicted to her. Although Kim wants a divorce, her husband finds out about their affair, and devises a plot to destroy them both. They must struggle to survive a web of lies, deceit and dangerous passion.

THE BEACH WIFE

by Doug K. Pennington

It was almost seven o’clock when Kim gathered up her towel and packed her beach bag. When she heard a barking dog, she turned sharply toward the sound, seeing a black Labrador galloping through the water, kicking up spray, lunging and seizing the stick between his teeth. He whirled and raced off toward his owner, the sexy man Kim had seen earlier. He had spotted her, and was now striding across the sand toward her. She stiffened, staring at him somberly, the late sun on his broad naked shoulders, his long hair wet and raked back from his forehead. Afraid he might pick up her vibes, she stood quickly and swung the strap of her beach bag over her shoulder. Tucking her head, she started across the sand toward the path, feeling his eyes on her back. And then he called to her. “Leaving so soon?” She stopped and turned, nervous now, pulling a loose strand of hair from her eyes, her mouth twitching as he approached. A late evening breeze stirred across them and then fell back to stillness. Her pulse quickened. He stopped within ten feet of her. “Did you get that dog yet?” She shook her head, pretending casualness, taken by his chiseled jaw and day-old shadow of beard. Taken by his tanned handsomeness. “No…” His dog rushed over to him, tongue swinging, dark eyes focused lustily on the stick the man was holding. The dog nudged the man’s hand with his nose. Kim looked at the dog and then at the man. “What’s your dog’s name?” “Colin.” “Colin. That’s an unusual name for a dog.” “He was named after a buddy of mine in Afghanistan. Colin Bates. He was a Royal Marine from just outside London. He was killed.” Kim stared, seeing sorrow, seeing speculative appraisal. The impact of him was astonishing. He stood a good 6 inches taller than Kim, who was 5 foot 9 in bare feet. She noticed the scar again and he followed her eyes. “I’m sorry,” she said. “You were there? Afghanistan?” Derek shrugged. “Yeah. Three tours.” Kim let that settle in. She turned her attention back to the dog. “Are you going to throw the stick?” she asked. The man smiled, cocked his arm and flung the stick far toward the sea. Their eyes met, his curious and cautious. Hers probing but nervous. “Do you have time for a walk?” he asked. “No, I don’t.” “Meeting someone?” he asked. “No.” “Something else to do?” “No.” “Don’t like dogs?” “No…” “Don’t like me?” Kim glanced away, forcing a laugh. “No.” “Do you ever say, yes?” The tension left her face. She smiled. “Yes.” “Can I take that ‘yes’ to mean you’ll go for a walk with me? An innocent walk, with a man and his dog? Yes?” Kim felt a little weak in the knees.

Doug K. Pennington has co-written many novels with his wife, under the pen name Elyse Douglas. Some of the novels include Wanting Rita, The Summer Diary, The Other Side of Summer and The Christmas Diary.

He has worked as a copywriter, a pianist, playing on cruise ships around the world, and as a manager for several graphics companies. Doug lives in New York City, with his wife, Elyse, and their cat, Eaton, who loves to take little sips from a good glass of Pinot Noir.