Smoke and Ashes
Montana Heroes Series
Book One
Danica Winters
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Harlequin Intrigue
Date of Publication: May 1, 2016
ISBN: Paperback: 9780373699070
eBook: 9781488005572
Large Print: 9780373749614
ASIN: B015MO3ZV4
Number of pages: 224
Word Count: 50-55k
Cover Artist: Harlequin Intrigue
Book Description:
Montana's bravest…and hottest
With a mysterious arsonist on the loose in Missoula, fire inspector Kevin Jensen saves more than Heather Sampson's house. The sexy single father rescues her from an abusive marriage—and discovers his own past failures don't have to rule his life. Especially when sparks between him and Heather ignite irresistible desire.
But who's the arsonist? Why target Heather? What's his shocking motive? When Heather faces off with him in a brutal attack, she needs her "white knight" as much as he needs her. Both have looked into their souls and risked their broken hearts for each other. Now Kevin will have to risk his life and his heart.
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Prologue
He looked down at
Heather Sampson as he pulled the matchbox from his pocket. The box dropped from
his hand, spilling matches on her bedroom floor in a heap of deadly promise.
Crouching down, he scooped them back into the container, careful to move
quietly, afraid that at any second she would awaken and find him standing over
her.
Her eyes were
closed and her lips slightly parted, as if she waited for a kiss from her
Prince Charming. She should have known better. There was no such thing as
Prince Charming. There were only toads and a precious few men like him—men who
worked to make everything just.
The sad truth was
that there was no justice in marriage—at least not in any of the marriages he
had witnessed. No. Marriage was one lie after another. One hurt feeling masked
with a fake smile, only to have another lie strip it away. It was an endless
cycle of pain.
What was the
point? What was it all for?
As far as he could
tell, it was for nothing more than ego and some idealistic hope that if they
acted happy, if they faked it well enough, maybe they could finally believe it
themselves.
He was here to
make her a martyr, not that she would understand, but this was his chance to
show her and the world what her marriage truly was—nothing more than smoke and
ashes. A fire that had yet to burn itself out. But at last the time had come.
The hour was here for him to stoke the flames and let them consume every crumb
of her failing marriage.
The inferno could
have it all.
He walked out of
her bedroom and made his way downstairs, where the glorious scent of gasoline
filled the space. Unlike the others, Heather’s house would go up in a flash. In
one giant fireball the whole charade would be over—the secrets, the lies, the
fake smiles and hurt feelings. It would all be gone, and all her pain could be
for a higher purpose.
The night air blew
into the house, diluting the gas’s perfume. He made sure to leave the door open
as he stepped out and walked toward the garage. A puddle of gas sat on the
sidewalk, just waiting for him.
He struck the
match.
It was so much
easier this way.
The fire’s smoke
curled skyward, creating a trail that led to the heavens. If he had his way,
life would be better and she would be free.
Snippet:
“Are you sure that it’s okay if I stay, Kevin? “I can go. I’m sure that I can stay with—” She stopped before she said Brittany. Her only other friend didn’t have a place in her life for Heather’s mess. She had her hands full dealing with the fire at her house. “I can stay at a hotel or something.” “You’re not staying at a hotel.” Kevin set her bag next to the wall, but his movements were awkward and tight. “You’re welcome to stay here as long as you need.” “Kevin, I… Thank you.” She didn’t know what to say. Thank you just didn’t seem like enough when what she really wanted to say was that he was part of the reason she had the strength to leave. He had shown her there could be more in the world. That there could be something besides heartbreak and the constant thoughts that she could be doing something more to make someone else happy, even if that meant being miserable in her own skin. Kevin had saved her life and he probably didn’t even realize it.
Snippet:
“Are you sure that it’s okay if I stay, Kevin? “I can go. I’m sure that I can stay with—” She stopped before she said Brittany. Her only other friend didn’t have a place in her life for Heather’s mess. She had her hands full dealing with the fire at her house. “I can stay at a hotel or something.” “You’re not staying at a hotel.” Kevin set her bag next to the wall, but his movements were awkward and tight. “You’re welcome to stay here as long as you need.” “Kevin, I… Thank you.” She didn’t know what to say. Thank you just didn’t seem like enough when what she really wanted to say was that he was part of the reason she had the strength to leave. He had shown her there could be more in the world. That there could be something besides heartbreak and the constant thoughts that she could be doing something more to make someone else happy, even if that meant being miserable in her own skin. Kevin had saved her life and he probably didn’t even realize it.
About the Author:
Danica Winters is an Amazon bestselling author who has won multiple awards for writing books that grip readers with their ability to drive emotion through suspense and occasionally a touch of magic. Most recently, Danica was the winner of the Paranormal Romance Guild’s Paranormal Romantic Suspense Book of the Year Award and Chanticleer Media’s Paranormal Book of the Year for her novel Montana Mustangs. She is currently the finalist for the Chatelaine Award.
When she’s not working, she can be found in the wilds of Montana testing her patience while she tries to understand the allure of various crafts (quilting, pottery, and painting are not her thing). She always believes the cup is neither half full nor half empty, but it better be filled with wine.
Danica Winters is represented by Nicole Resciniti and Lane Heymont of the Seymour Agency.
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