The Heartbeat Journal
by Ellen Cummins
Genre: Contemporary Romance/ Romantic Suspense
When fate slams two suffering souls together, can love help heal them?
Everly Afton, a romance novelist, is haunted by the memory and spirit of her brother Evan, whose suicide she blames on her father. Her broken home leaves her craving a healthy love. At twenty-seven she thought she'd be married with a family, but her boyfriend Jake's cheating ways has her rethinking her future.
After they break up, she visits the garden center for some flower therapy and is approached by Ben Colt, who strikes up a conversation about the hummingbird that fluttered in front of her face, and speaks of myths and angels. Everything about him is delicious, from his scent to his muscular body to his expressive brown eyes.
When Everly discovers she's being stalked, she's surprised when Ben is the detective assigned to her case. He's determined to see to her safety. But he has a painful secret of his own—a powerful revelation that leaves him vulnerable and her willing to soothe him in any way possible.
Everly's journal, a link to all things spiritual, helps to bring her universe together with his, and they collide in a storm of danger, passion, and truths that could change a person's life forever.
Content Warning: contains sensual sex scenes and some violence
~Excerpt~
She saw her hotel just a block away. Almost there. The garden in front of it, full of green things and flowers, looked just a little looming in the misty darkness. Too many hidden places. She quickened her pace as she approached it.
Something moved near a tree inside the garden. Maybe it was just a shadow.
Her legs, wobbly now, took on a life of their own and the stride of a lady in heels had left six paces behind her. The shadow moved with a quickness, and she dumped her leftovers and bolted up the stairs, pulling herself by the rails and hurdling two steps at a time. Footsteps followed her. She scrambled through her wallet to find her card-key and nearly dropped it. Her key wasn't there.
"No, no, no!" She panicked. The clanging of her heart in her throat almost made her wretch. The heavy bread, butter, and wine sloshed around in her stomach like a boat lost in a storm.
"Your key, my lady." A deep voice came from behind her and something plastic brushed over her cheek, sending a rash of shivers through her. She slumped against the door.
He had her inside the door in two beats. Handfuls of her hair dropped to the floor as he threw her onto the bed, climbed on top of her, and slammed his hand over her mouth.
"Did you think I was done with you, Miss Afton?" It was the same man who had attacked her before, but he looked more disheveled than ever—his hair was longer and his beard had taken over his face. "If you even try to scream I will slit your throat from ear to ear. Your breath won't even have time to reach that supple little mouth." He clicked open a switchblade and ran its tip over her quivering lips.
A swift urge to knee him swept over her, but then her life flashed before her eyes. Her bunny, her mom, Corrine. The life she'd made for herself writing about love and war and how love would survive it all. Her brother would want her to fight for her life, but if that meant dying then how could she? She squeezed her eyes shut and pictured his face and prayed.
Get me outta this one, twerp. I really need you.
A flurry of noises exploded around her. Splintering wood, the rush of the wind, and the man's body being torn away from her while his knife chinked a chunk of wood out of the floor—and the sound of air leaving his throat.
Buy Links: Beachwalk Press Amazon Barnes & Noble
~About the Author~
Ellen Cummins, a writer of fantasy fiction and paranormal romance, has been obsessed with anything that makes her heart flutter. From vampires and monsters to regular humans, she loves to write about extraordinary beings that bring a level of something good, even though the odds are stacked against. Shortly after contracting three paranormal stories, she began to dip her toe in the "sexy" pool and soon found herself taking a full-on swim, writing her spiciest love story yet.
Born and raised in central California, she spent her summers climbing trees and chasing adventures, be it a rock concert, a hike through desert trails, or taking in the latest thriller. Having her breath snatched away by an unexpected twist has always been her favorite thing and that's what prompted her to start writing her own stories.
She wears many hats as a manicurist, retail sales associate, wife, mother of three beautiful children, and just recently was involved in her county's first collaborative novel Ashes in a Teardrop. Her obsession to have her stories see the light of day has been a driving force—and to see the faces of her characters on a book cover is a dream come true.
Author Links: Site Facebook Twitter
~Giveaway~
~Giveaway~
Ellen Cummins is giving away a copy of the Heartbeat Journal to one lucky winner.
For a chance to win please fill out the rafflecopter below.
Link to a Spotlight on Shades of Rose: http://shadesofrosemedia.com/the-heartbeat-journal-by-ellen-cummins/
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