Two New Releases From Prism Book Group!
A SHAMEFUL SECRET
Jenna Ryan has a secret she plans to take to the grave, but the arrival of Matt Watson on her doorstep threatens to reveal that secret. There’s no way Jenna will fulfill Matt’s request, because doing so would threaten the fragile world she’s built.
A DUTY TO FULFILL
Matt Watson grew up idolizing his uncle. But as he endeavors to fulfill his uncle’s last request, Matt reveals a secret he wishes he’d never uncovered. How can a man Matt idolized have committed such an appalling act?
THE CAPTIVE BIRD
Jenna Ryan has created a safe haven in the north Georgia town of Walnut Hill. The victim of a devastating crime, she’s established a new life where she’s loved and admired. But her house of cards will crash around her unless she does the one thing she thinks is impossible – forgive the man who hurt her.
TEASER:
“Would you like anything more to eat?”
“No, thanks.”
They’d run out of things to say, and the way she fidgeted in her chair told Matt that awkwardness was quickly replacing amiability. He searched for another safe topic, but before he could settle on one, Jenna spoke.
“You know, Matt, over the years I’ve learned how to make polite conversation and, if need be, I can do this for at least another hour. But if it’s all the same to you, I’d appreciate it if you’d tell me why you’re here.”
Matt chuckled softly. He hated artifice of any kind, and Jenna’s directness was as refreshing as the autumn breeze. He turned his chair away from the table and stretched his legs, relaxing for the first time that day. “Uncle Frank has terminal cancer. He asked me to find you and Helen because he wants you to visit him.”
A subtle shift in Jenna’s attitude passed through her body. Matt would have missed it had he not been watching for her reaction. Where politeness had been only a few seconds earlier, caution now narrowed her eyes.
“Why does he want to see me?”
Hadn’t Matt made that clear? “About a year ago, Frank was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He came to me for advice and I worked with his oncologist to find a treatment that would help. We’ve tried everything, even the experimental procedures, but nothing’s worked. He’s in the last stage now.”
“Yes, I understand, but why does he want to see me?”
“Oh. Well…actually…I don’t know why.”
“I’ll be right back.” She reentered the house, her shoulders straight and her steps measured, as though she carried an invisible weight.
What had happened? Minutes earlier, they’d been laughing, but at the mention of his uncle, Jenna’s quick smile had dissolved into tight lips and a guarded expression. He’d done something wrong, said something that had cooled her friendly warmth and silenced her laugh.
Had learning of Frank’s illness affected her so strongly?
Matt didn’t hear her return and her voice startled him when she spoke. “I won’t see Frank, but you can give him this message.”
Matt took the light-green envelope from her hand and examined it. There was nothing written on it, not even Frank’s name.
“If that’s all,” Jenna said as she moved toward the porch steps, “I really need to finish my yard work before it gets dark.”
No two ways about it—Matt was being dismissed.
Jenna glanced back at Matt, obviously waiting for him to get the hint. He rose from his chair and joined her on the steps.
“It was nice to see you,” she said as she escorted Matt to the gate. “I’m glad to learn you’re doing so well.”
When he realized they’d reverted to polite chitchat, Matt’s heart sank a few inches. “It was nice to see you, too.”
She opened the gate and Matt automatically walked through. Without another word, she hurried up the walkway and vaulted the porch steps.
The screen door flew open and she shut the heavy front door behind her. Although Matt couldn’t hear them, he imagined the sound of several deadbolts sliding into place. He stood on the sidewalk, staring at the closed doors as though they held a clue about what had just happened. At the mention of Uncle Frank, warm, polite Jenna had transformed into a threatened sentry at the castle’s gates.
He turned the unsealed envelope in his fingers. Perhaps it held an explanation for Jenna’s behavior. But the note was for Frank.
Matt had two choices. He could argue with himself and then open the envelope, or he could let the inevitable happen.
He loosened the flap and slid out a note card.
A single line of precise handwriting appeared on the paper.
I never told.
What secret is Jenna keeping? Buy today! Available through:
AMAZON
BARNES AND NOBLE
ALL ROMANCE EBOOKS
SMASHWORDS
COFFEE TIME ROMANCE
Lynn thought putting distance between herself and her mother was healthy. Then she met Greg. He not only understands the meaning of running away from his problems, he's about to give her a painful lesson on the subject.
TEASER:
Lynn grinned to herself, anticipating his pleasure about the brownies, as she pulled them out of the oven. She’d checked ten times to make sure she hadn’t burned them. When she took them out, a toothpick inserted in the center assured her they were moist and chewy.
In the morning, she wrapped them in foil and set off for work. She skidded to a halt at the doorway of Greg’s classroom. Nothing had prepared her for the sight that met her eyes.
Josie sat facing Greg, perched on his desk. Tears glistened in her luminous eyes as Lynn overheard her say, “I’ve never been so hurt. A stranger comes along and everything changes. I know flirting when I see it.”
“It’s your imagination.” He leaned forward, shamefully composed from where he sat in one of his student’s chairs.
Josie sniffed. “I see all the help she’s being given. It’s not just because she’s new on the job.”
Lynn’s mouth went dry. She took a step backwards. The last thing she wanted was to intrude upon this intimate scene. She longed to disappear into the floor, along with the brownies, which suddenly seemed to weigh fifty pounds.
Her heart filled with anger at this stab of betrayal. Apparently, Greg thrived on breaking women’s hearts. Well, she had news for him. He wouldn’t get a chance with hers.
She turned to leave. Making the brownies had been a silly idea.
She heard Greg say, “Lynn, did you want something?”
He sounded friendly.
She backed away from the door. She didn’t want anything from him—not now, not ever! She would stay as far away from Greg Martin as physically possible, which would be difficult since they worked together.
“I only came by to say, ‘Hi’,” she called over her shoulder.
“I’ll be by your room later to drop off some extra pencils and glue,” he answered.
Lynn set her teeth. If he did, he wouldn’t find a warm welcome. She could never be serious about a man who toyed with women’s feelings.
She hid the brownies in the top drawer of her desk, shutting them in with a thump, and wishing she could shut Greg out of her life as easily.
In the morning, she wrapped them in foil and set off for work. She skidded to a halt at the doorway of Greg’s classroom. Nothing had prepared her for the sight that met her eyes.
Josie sat facing Greg, perched on his desk. Tears glistened in her luminous eyes as Lynn overheard her say, “I’ve never been so hurt. A stranger comes along and everything changes. I know flirting when I see it.”
“It’s your imagination.” He leaned forward, shamefully composed from where he sat in one of his student’s chairs.
Josie sniffed. “I see all the help she’s being given. It’s not just because she’s new on the job.”
Lynn’s mouth went dry. She took a step backwards. The last thing she wanted was to intrude upon this intimate scene. She longed to disappear into the floor, along with the brownies, which suddenly seemed to weigh fifty pounds.
Her heart filled with anger at this stab of betrayal. Apparently, Greg thrived on breaking women’s hearts. Well, she had news for him. He wouldn’t get a chance with hers.
She turned to leave. Making the brownies had been a silly idea.
She heard Greg say, “Lynn, did you want something?”
He sounded friendly.
She backed away from the door. She didn’t want anything from him—not now, not ever! She would stay as far away from Greg Martin as physically possible, which would be difficult since they worked together.
“I only came by to say, ‘Hi’,” she called over her shoulder.
“I’ll be by your room later to drop off some extra pencils and glue,” he answered.
Lynn set her teeth. If he did, he wouldn’t find a warm welcome. She could never be serious about a man who toyed with women’s feelings.
She hid the brownies in the top drawer of her desk, shutting them in with a thump, and wishing she could shut Greg out of her life as easily.
Is Greg really such a bad guy? Buy today! Available through:
AMAZON
BARNES AND NOBLE
ALL ROMANCE EBOOKS
SMASHWORDS
COFFEE TIME ROMANCE
www.prismbookgroup.com
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