Monday Morsels: Romantic Suspense with Connie Vines

We're highlighting the authors of Love, Forever, a sampler of first chapters of books written by eleven authors of different genres but each one a romance. This week, say "Hi!" to author Connie Vines.

Brede

Rodeo Romance Book 2

by Connie Vines

Audralynn Maddox heard her own soft cry, but the pain exploding inside her head made everything else surreal, distanced somehow by the realization that someone had made a mistake.

A terrible mistake.

He caught her wrists, pinning them behind her and shoved her, face first, against the van. “Nobody double crosses J.B., bitch. Nobody!”

His attack had come so unexpectedly that Audralynn hadn’t seen his face. His voice didn’t sound familiar, yet she delved into the depths of her subconscious, trying to pin a name to the voice. She jerked and heaved against his grip, trying to gain her freedom, but he was far too strong.

“I don’t know any J.B.,” she whimpered. She wanted to scream the words, but her head pounded. Tears of pain stung her eyes and ran down her cheeks.

He laughed. The hateful sound mocked her growing terror. Her pitiful struggles only increased his cruelty, but she dared not stop. “Thought you could go back on the bargain, did you? We’ve been watching your place. Your friend didn’t want to cooperate, either. Too bad she put up such a fight.”

“Vikki? What did you do to Vikki?”

He shoved her face against the door. “She didn’t cooperate. Stupid bitch. I only wanted the photos.”

The man’s hot, rancid breath assaulted her senses as he grabbed her by the shoulders to still her struggles. “Now, you’re a smart little piece,” he hissed. “Don’t cause me any more trouble and maybe I’ll let you go. Where’d you stash the photos?”

“Photos? I don’t know what you’re talking about!” She wept with rage and renewed her struggles until she jerked one hand free.

“Don’t lie to me. I know you have them!”

The coarse fabric of his denim shirt rasped against her silk blouse and bile burned Audralynn’s throat. She jerked her face away from him and tried to focus her thoughts. The warehouse district was deserted this time of night. Audralynn knew she had to keep her wits about her if she wanted to escape.

“Let me go,” she pleaded, her heart battering against her ribcage. “I won’t tell anyone what you did.”

He laughed again—a sick, hollow sound.

Using her free hand, she struggled to turn around and face her attacker.

A heavy, knitted ski mask covered his features, but Audralynn could see his smile. That’s when she knew he’d killed Vikki.

And he was going to kill her too.

Desperation added strength to her efforts. Whirling around at the same moment he stepped back to open the door to the gray van, she grabbed at the ski mask and raked her fingernails across his neck.

He lunged for her. She kicked him in the shin and smashed her booted foot against his kneecap. He cried out.

She turned to run, but he grabbed a handful of her hair and thrust her into the van. Before she could recover, he jumped inside, shoving her to the metal floor. He slammed the door shut and was on top of her before she could scramble away.

She screamed.

She screamed while he bound her.

She screamed while he backhanded her.

She screamed and screamed until he knocked her unconscious.

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Trouble is something hard-edged rancher, Brede Kristensen, knows all about. A widower with a rambunctious young daughter, a ranch to run and an ornery cook who has just runoff, Brede doesn’t need another problem. Yet in the midst of a violent storm, he finds an injured woman. The beautiful woman can’t recall her name or her past, but Brede vows to protect her from harm. What he hadn’t bargained for was her laughter and gentleness finding a way into the lonely corners of his heart.

If you enjoy the Caroline Fyffe Colorado Hearts series you're going to fall in love with Brede.

Beaten and left for dead, Amberlynn Maddox has no memory of her past. Accepting Brede’s offer as temporary ranch cook, the woman, now called Kate, discovers the sexy rancher with his protective nature and sizzling kisses has claimed her heart. When a madman discovers Amberlynn’s hiding place, no one is safe from harm: not Brede, his young daughter—or Amberlynn herself!


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