Connecting
Strangers
Discovering
Emily Series, Book
1
by Rachel
Carrington
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Date of Publication: July 21,
2014
Word Count: ~67,000
Cover Artist: Elaina Lee of For
the Muse Designs
Book Description:
Getting close is dangerous…
He’s too close, and I start to
fidget, needing to keep my hands busy so they won’t grab hold of his shirt.
Because that’s what they want to do. Draw him closer. So I can Inhale his
scent. Taste his skin.
I didn’t run because I was in an
abusive relationship; I ran because my soul was being crushed. I’d forgotten
how to live, how to be happy. Running out of gas in a small town, I catch the
eye of the local sheriff when the very last thing I want is to come under the
scrutiny of the police. I left my boyfriend with blood on my hands, and I know
as soon as the wound heals he’ll come looking for me.
Adam Madison draws me to him so
easily I can’t even pretend to fight. And the closer we get, the more
combustible we become. I’ve never
experienced such passion or power. My need is as great as his, but I’m sure
he’ll walk away from me once he knows my secret. No other man would stay.
I’ve had enough complications in
my life. I’m not looking for more, and that’s exactly what Adam is—a sexy,
magnetic complication with secrets of his own. And with my ex on the hunt, I
can’t risk bringing him down with me. But he won’t leave…even when vengeance
could kill us both.
Excerpt:
I close my eyes
and slowly squeeze the trigger. The shot sounds so loud I jump backwards. But
the bullet hits its mark, tearing a hole through Mark's shoulder. With a curse,
he falls to the ground. I know I haven't killed him because he's making so much
noise and trying to scramble to his feet. So I snag the keys from the hook by the
back door and run.
He'll come after
me which means I don’t have much time to get a head start. The mud tries to
suck my shoes off, but I clench my toes while Mark’s promise bounces around
inside my head.
You’ll always be
mine.
At the time, I
thought it was romantic, but I was only eighteen. What the hell did I know? It
didn’t take me long to learn it meant Mark doesn't take no for an answer. In
high school, his determination was a compliment. Nowadays, it would get him
arrested...if we didn't live in a town that worshipped him.
Shaking so hard,
I have a hard time jabbing the key in the ignition. Relief floods through me
when I can finally start the 2000 Volvo my grandmother got me when I graduated
from high school seven years ago.
As I gun the
engine, I see Mark's reflection in my rearview mirror. He's made it to his
feet, and though blood is dripping down the front of his shirt, he’s running
after me.
The Volvo kicks
up plenty of dust and gravel when I stomp on the accelerator, showering Mark
with enough pebbles to bring him to a halt. His loud curses follow me down the
old, dirt road where our clapboard home sits. It’s the one his daddy built us
once he knew Mark wouldn’t be leaving town anytime soon.
Staying in rural
Broomtown, Kentucky definitely hadn't been my choice. That had been all Mark.
After my parents died, I wanted to get as far away as possible to start our
lives fresh, but Mark, well, he figured since he was going to be trapped in a
dead end job once his dreams of playing football were over, he might as well do
it around family.
I keep looking
in my mirror to make sure he isn't following me, and I don't dare relax until I
make it to the highway. Even then, the trembling continues.
Ten miles down
the road, I realize I left my purse on the kitchen counter, and I have no money
and less than a half a tank of gas. In a car that chugs gas like this one, that
isn’t going to get me very far. But anywhere is better than Broomtown with
Mark.
A tear trickles
down my cheek, and I swipe it away. No more tears. I have cried enough for him.
When I was still young and foolish, I thought Mark and I would be together
forever. I know now that forever can be a hell of a long time when the love of
your life morphs into a raving lunatic.
My heart aches
when I think about what we had once. We were the love story everyone dreams
about. Me, the head cheerleader, and Mark, the captain of the football team. I
still remember the night the Broomtown Broncs won the state championship. No
one thought a team from the sticks could win such an important title. Mark had
carried me on his shoulder through the cheers and the drums. Then he had to go
and do something stupid for a senior prank that changed everything.
I switch on the
radio to drown out the memories, but they've always been louder. The thump of
the wheels hitting pavement releases some of the pressure in my chest, and my
shoulders begin to relax. I might not be free of Mark forever, but tonight I
wouldn't have to listen to his drunken complaints.
The Volvo's lone
headlight illuminates the long, winding road ahead then bounces off the side of
a white car heading in the opposite direction. I wish I could stop the person,
warn them where there going. That road dead-ends in Broomtown. Hopefully, the
driver doesn’t have plans to stay long. It’s the kind of place that sucks you
in and while you’re there, it drains your soul a little piece at a time until
you’re moving in slow motion. Just putting one foot in front of the other.
My hand smells
like gun powder, and though I wipe them one at a time on my jeans, the smell
won’t go away. I still see the blood, too, even though none of it got on me.
There’d been a lot of it, though. If I hadn’t seen Mark get up and walk with my
own two eyes, I would be worried I’d killed him.
As much as I
want to get away from Mark, I couldn’t kill him. It’s certainly not that I love
him anymore, but taking a human life just isn’t in me. Hell, taking any life.
Mark and his best friend always made fun of me when I wanted to set the mice
free from the traps rather than kill them. Mark had better be glad that’s the
type of person I am.
Static replaces the low, monotonous voice of
the town’s only radio broadcaster. I switch off the sound, and a flash of blue
catches my eye in the rearview. I lift my gaze, and my stomach sinks. A cop is
behind me, and the blue lights insist I pull over.
Damnit. With one
hand, I direct the car over to the side of the road while I reach for my purse
that isn't on the passenger seat where I always drop it. Then I remember I left
the house without anything but my clothes and keys. Double damn.
I hear the
squawk of the cop's radio as he approaches the side of my car. His long, black
flashlight taps against the driver's window, and I sigh, knowing the only way
out of this is to tell the truth...well, some of it anyway.
Blinking rapidly
against the glare of the light, I press the button to lower my window. My gaze
tilts upwards and connects with hazel eyes. A sinfully handsome face causes my
breath to stall in my chest. The man standing outside the window of my Volvo is
a cop, and I should give him the proper respect, but finding my voice proves
impossible.
The darkness
doesn't allow me much of a view, but it's enough to make my nerves dance. I
glance at his full lips and realize they're moving. He's talking to me, and I
blink several times in an attempt to regroup. My hand fumbles on the seat next
to me.
"I-I'm
sorry, Officer. I left my purse at home. I do have a driver's license and
insurance, but I was in a hurry. I didn't even think about it, honestly."
I babble on for a few more seconds until the cop interrupts in deep, throaty
bass.
"Have you
been drinking?" He shines the flashlight into the interior, and the beam
slides over my denim-clad legs before sliding up my thin t-shirt. I hadn’t had the time to grab a coat, and as
cold as it is outside, it’s no wonder my outfit looks suspicious. His gaze
pierces mine again while he waits for my answer.
I attempt to
swallow, but the lump in my throat is the victor. "No, I haven't."
But I don't blame him for asking.
"Would you
step out of the car, please?" He opens the door and takes a step back to
give me room.
Trembling, I
follow his command, closing the door behind me so I can lean against the
coldness of the steel. A gust of frigid wind lifts the hair off the nape of my
neck, and the trembles segue to shivers.
The officer
drags his gaze back to the interior of my car before fixing it on me again.
He’s staring at me, and I don’t like it. I’ve had just about enough of me treating
me like I’m a piece of meat. Of course, now isn’t the time to get defensive.
Instead, I return his stare, but I have to look up, way up, to face him.
"Do you mind telling me why you stopped me?" I silently congratulate
myself on the composed question.
He juts his chin
toward the front of the Volvo. "You have a headlight out."
If only he could
see how relieved I am…Something as simple as a headlight, I can deal with.
"Oh, that. Yes, I know. I've been meaning to fix it, but it just keeps
slipping my mind. I'm sorry." I lift my shoulders in an apologetic manner,
but the stern look on the cop's face remains.
"What's
your name?" The look on his face dares me to lie.
"Emily.
Emily Murdoch." I accept the challenge by using my mother’s maiden name
which is also my middle name.
"Where do
you live, Miss Murdoch?"
Shit. The last
thing I want is for him to know my real name. Living in Broomtown has taught me
that cops cannot be trusted. As gorgeous as this one is, I still won’t let my
guard down. I paste an easygoing smile on my face and lie again. "Juniper
Springs."
His eyebrows
lift, and my heart pounds. Did I say something wrong? Can he tell I'm lying
now? "Really?"
I stick to my
story, replying with only a stiff nod.
"You mind
if I take a look inside your car?"
“Not at all.” I
move away from the door and wave my hand as though granting entrance to my
minions. What else am I supposed to do? If I said no, he’d have come up with a
reason to arrest me. That’s what all cops do.
His concludes
his search quickly and straightens to face me. "It's too dangerous to be
driving these dark roads with only one headlight, Miss Murdoch. I suggest you
get it fixed first thing tomorrow morning." He switches off the
flashlight. "Drive safely."
I watch him walk
away while my legs threaten to collapse. Once back inside my car, I take in
great gulps of air and lean my head back against the rest. But something tells
me I shouldn't be relieved. The cop bought my story too easily. Which probably
means he didn't just find me by accident.
A sick feeling
settles in the pit of my stomach. Mark is already on the hunt.
Let's learn a little about Rachel Carrington:
What is your writing environment?
I write on my bed with my laptop, and I don’t usually start writing
until after eleven at night. As long as I have something to drink, I’m good to
go. This is my preferred way of writing, but I can generally write anywhere.
Who is your perfect hero and why?
I don’t have a perfect hero because I think perfection is boring. I
like heroes with flaws and scars. Even in my personal life, I don’t want a man
who is so intent on doing everything right that he isn’t focused on the big
picture and that’s just enjoying being with someone you love.
What authors have caught your interest lately and why?
I could write an entire post on this one,
but I really want to read the Charley Davidson series by Darynda Jones. I love
to laugh, and the excerpts alone have had me giggling. They are on my Goodreads
shelf right now.
Also, I’d never read
anything by Tess Geritsen before, either, but I’m absolutely addicted to
Rizzoli & Isles so now I have to read the books!
What type of book have you always wanted to write?
I want to write a book that resonates with
readers, that leaves them wanting to read more when the finish. If I’ve done
that, I’m happy. So I guess I could say the type of book I want to write is an
unforgettable one.
Top 3 things on your bucket list?
1. Meet Dean Cain (Pete Davenport on Hit The
Floor). I’ve been a fan girl for years and years.
2. Spend the night in The Manta Resort, which
is an underwater hotel, on Pemba Island.
3. Take a ride in a fighter jet.
Now ask me how many
of these I’ll actually do. :-D
How did you get the idea for this particular novel?
Unfortunately, domestic violence is
something that has been in my family so I’m all too familiar with it. I wanted
to write about not only the escape but the road to recovery. But I knew I also
wanted to do it in a way that didn’t just focus on the abuse. I wanted the
heroine to grow beyond the anger and to learn to live and love without being
scared of being hurt. So I created Emily. Though she’s terrified of what lies
behind her at first, she’s an overcomer, and I think the readers will see more
of that as the series continues.
What is your favorite scene in your new release?
This is a hard one because there were many
scenes, as I wrote them, that really flowed, and once I finished them, I didn’t
change a thing. If I thought long and hard about it, I guess I would say the
first jail scene. I don’t want to give any more than that away!
What are you working on now and when can we expect it to be
available?
I’m working on the sequel to
Connecting Strangers. It’s called Being Lovers. I’m not even a third of the way
through the book at present so I would safely say the book won’t be ready until
September at the absolute earliest. In the meantime, I have several other books
from my backlist that I will be releasing soon.
What do you like to do when you are not writing?
Create book videos. Read. Put together
jigsaw puzzles. Go the movies with my friends. Shop. Play tourist in my
hometown (historical Charleston, South Carolina). Drink coffee with my friends.
Talk on the phone. Create graphics for upcoming books. Watch series I’ve missed
on Netflix. Sing. Travel. And the list goes on.
What would you consider a perfect date?
A picnic on the beach in the evening just as the sun is setting.
What is one interesting fact about you that readers don’t
know?
I put so many facts about myself
on my website so it’s always interesting to come up with one that I haven’t
shared. I guess it would be that I don’t like to not know how to do something.
So I’ve taught myself, whether through trial and error, reading books, or
instructions from the Internet, how to do many, many things like build a
website, remove viruses from computers, create graphics, refinish furniture, etc.
As an example, this weekend, I had some plumbing issues in my house. I could
have waited to call a plumber on Monday. Instead, I researched the issues,
determined what I needed to do, and fixed the problem without the hefty bill!
I started writing years ago, and
my first attempt was a contemporary romance that will never see the light of
day. I think I may even have thrown it away by now. It was absolutely horrific
as I knew nothing about well…anything to do with writing.
After that, I started writing
fantasy romances about wizards and wizards, and once those took off, I segued
to paranormal romances (hello, vampires and ghosts) and romantic suspense.
I also write articles for various
magazines, including The Writer’s Journal, Writer’s Magazine, Writer’s Weekly,
Writing for Dollars, Absolute Write, Freelance Writing.com, and Funds for
Writers.
I’m fortunate to make my home in
historical Charleston, South Carolina. Beautiful city. Beautiful people. When
I’m not writing, I love to read, watch Bones, Castle, Blue Bloods, and Hawaii
Five-O, create videos, keep Target in business, play visitor in my city, and
drink lots of coffee.
My website: http://www.rachelcarrington.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorrachelcarrington
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/rcarrington2004
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/rcarrington2004
Wattpad: http://wattpad.com/RachelCarrington
Rachel would like to thank all of her
sponsors for contributing prizes to her blog tour for Connecting Strangers.
For a complete list of participating
authors and how to connect with them socially, please visit: http://www.rachelcarrington.com/blog/huge-shout-out-to-these-fabulous-authors
Tour
Giveaways:
$25 Amazon Card
E-copy of Dare to
Love by Carly Phillips
$15.00 Target gift
card
E-copy of The
Memory Child by Steena Holmes
Paris bath set from
Bath and Body Works by Lisa Renee Jones
Winner’s choice of
ebook from Mari Carr’s backlist
Prize pack of all
of Violet Duke’s books (Nice Girl trilogy, Nice Guy spin-off, and Love,
Chocolate and Beer)
$15 Amazon Gift
Card and Hands on with the CEO by Cathryn Fox www.cathrynfox.com
$25 Amazon Card and
e-copy of Crazy Love by Melanie Shawn www.melanieshawn.com
$15 gift card by
Rachel Van Dyken
10 copies of Entice
by Rachel Van Dyken
1 ecopy of Falling
Into Forever by Elena Aitken
1 ebook of Winter’s
Burn by Elena Aitken
$20 gift card to
Starbucks by Elena Aitken
An audio book of
Unexpected Gifts by Elena Aitken
2 signed ARCs of
Linger which releases in September by Lauren Hawkeye
2 signed copies of
Surrender to Temptation by Lauren Hawkeye
3 ebooks from C.J.
Carmichael’s Fox & Fisher Detective Agency trilogy
Original print by a
Charleston, SC artist
1 ebook of In the
Mirror by Kaira Rouda
1 ebook of All the
Difference by Kaira Rouda
1 ebook of Here,
Home, Hope by Kaira Rouda
Moonpie General
Store Moonpies and Candle
E-copy of Cria by
Suzanne Rock
Nina Lane’s trilogy
and $10 Amazon card.
Nina Lane’s trilogy
and $10 Amazon card
Print copy of
Forever Wicked by Shayla Black
$10 iTunes Gift Card
by Cari Quinn and a signed print copy of Seduced (US Only)
Ebook copy of
Seduced by Cari Quinn for international winner
One Copy of
Something True by Malia Mallory
One Copy of His
Need, Her Desire by Malia Mallory
$10 Amazon gift
certificate and an ebook copy of The Marriage Diaries by Erika Wilde
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Tour Schedule:
June 23 Character Interview
Eclipse Reviews
June 23 Spotlight
Book Liaison
June 24 Spotlight
Paranormal Book Club
June 25 Spotlight
3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too!
June 26 Spotlight
The Tome Gnome
June 27 Interview
A Writer's Mind
June 30 review
More Romance Please
July 1 Spotlight
Deal Sharing Aunt
July 2 Spotlight
Sapphyria's Book Reviews
July 3 Spotlight and review
The Book Review
July 4 Interview
The Creatively Green Write at Home Mom
July 7 Guest blog and review
Diaries of 2 Thick Chicks
July 8 Guest blog
Roxanne’s Realm
July 9 Spotlight
Black Lilac Kitty
July 10 Spotlight
Fang-tastic Books
July 11 Guest blog and review
Barb Taub
July 14 Spotlight
Writing from Corsets to Bustiers
July 15 Spotlight and review
Queen of the Night Reviews.
July 16 Spotlight
Kristy Centeno
July 17 Spotlight
Share My Destiny
July 18 Interview
Booklover Sue
July 18 Spotlight
Lisa’s World of Books
July 21 Interview
Pembroke Sinclair.
July 21 Guest blog
Darkest Cravings
Great interview - thanks for sharing. Sounds like a great book
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