Dark Paradise (34 page)

I am grateful to the many people who have helped me along the way. Without your support, I would not be seeing a lifelong dream come true. My love and gratitude goes to my family, whose unwavering support inspired me. Nate, my soul mate, thank you for talking me off of the ledge whenever I wanted to quit and for keeping me supplied with chocolate and peach tea. Kierstan and Maxwell, Mama could not have done this without your patience and love. You inspire me every day. Dreams are attainable when your loved ones believe in you. Never give up. To my parents and, later, my in-laws, you cultivated a love of reading and writing in your children and grandchildren. Thank you for that gift. To my supportive siblings, I love you.

To my amazing agent, Kathleen Rushall, you are my champion, a friend, and the Ned Stark of my heart. You never gave up hope and found us the perfect home in Grand Central Publishing. To my amazing editors, Alex Logan and Erica Warren, I appreciate the opportunity that you have given me. You amaze me with your questions, your insight, and your willingness to push me to be the best that I can be. My gratitude to Madeleine Colavita and the extraordinary Grand Central team, who work so hard behind the scenes to make their authors feel special and wonderful.

A special shout-out goes to the amazing folks at AQC, especially the Speculative Fiction group. I found you when I needed you the most. Thank you to my amazing critique partners. Kate Evangelista, you were the first person other than family to read my work. Thank you for letting me know that I didn't completely suck at writing and for being a mentor, a friend, and a psychic twin. You taught me how to grow in my craft, supported me when I thought all was lost, and cheered me on when things went well. Carla Rehse and Sarah Gagnon, my writing sisters, the two of you mean the world to me. We've been through the thick of it, and we've come out stronger. Thanks for reading my rough first chapters and making them shine. Donald McFatridge, King of Echoes, thanks for getting my twisted sense of humor by being even more twisted. You're the funniest man I know. Michelle Hauck, Queen of Plotholes, thank you for catching my dangling threads. Without you nothing in this story would make a lick of sense.

Thank you to my awesome betas, Joyce Alton, Jennifer Troemner, Diana Robicheaux, Debra Kopfer, Jordan Adams, Jason Peridon, Kierstan Sandro, Bessie Slaton, Jonathan Allen, Christine Berman, and Margaret Fortune. You all rock! I couldn't have done this without you and so many others from AQC.

To my wonderful friends and coworkers at BCP, thank you for listening to my crazy ideas. You supported me when I only thought of this as an unattainable dream. I appreciate each and every one of you.

And most of all, to the readers of this book, thank you. If this novel allowed you to escape for a single second from the troubles of your daily life, then I truly have attained my dream. This novel was a labor of love, and I appreciate you allowing me to share it with you.

A
NGIE
S
ANDRO
was born at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. Within six weeks, she began the first of eleven relocations throughout the United States, Spain, and Guam before the age of eighteen.

Friends were left behind. The only constants in her life were her family and the books she shipped wherever she went. Traveling the world inspired her imagination and allowed her to create her own imaginary friends. Visits to her father's family in Louisiana inspired this story.

Angie now lives in Northern California with her husband, two children, and an overweight Labrador.

 

 

 

 

 

Nova Reed used to have dreams of becoming a famous drummer, of marrying her true love. But all of that was taken away in an instant. Now she's getting by as best she can, though sometimes that means doing things the old Nova would never do. Things that are slowly eating away at her spirit. Every day blends into the next…until she meets Quinton Carter. His intense, honey-brown eyes instantly draw her in, and he looks just about as broken as she feels inside.

Quinton once got a second chance at life—but he doesn't want it. The tattoos on his chest are a constant reminder of what he's done, what he's lost. He's sworn to never allow happiness into his life…but then beautiful, sweet Nova makes him smile. He knows he's too damaged to get close to her, yet she's the only one who can make him feel alive again. Quinton will have to decide: Does he deserve to start over? Or should he pay for his past forever?

 

 

Reya Sinclair is the last person a man sees before he dies. As a Redeemer, she offers the soon-to-be-departed one last chance to atone for their sins. It's a painful job, but it's her only shot to secure her own salvation. She won't let anyone stand in her way—not even a ruggedly sexy cop hot on her trail. Bound by her duty, Reya must shake him before he ruins her…but her heart can't seem to let him go.

Detective Thane Driscoll has watched too many criminals get away. The man who murdered his father was no exception. Now Thane carries out his own brand of justice, even if it means compromising his soul. When a string of deaths leads him to a beautiful woman in black, he discovers there's more to his father's murder than meets the eye.

As fate brings them closer together, Thane discovers that only Reya's touch can calm his rage. Racing to uncover an evil plot, they must fight together to stop the coming storm. But when the time comes, can Reya sacrifice her own redemption to save Thane?

 

 

One year ago, Ellie made the mistake of a lifetime: She fell in love with a man who is a bitter enemy of her people. A Red Dragon shifter, the handsome Kirin was at once forbidden and irresistible. Now Ellie's mother has disappeared and everyone, including Ellie, believes that Kirin is responsible. His dangerous secret endangers her mother and makes Ellie lose faith in love forever…

Summoned home when his own father goes missing, Kirin must track down the very man who cost him his chance at happiness. When he discovers that Ellie's father has vanished as well, Kirin knows that he and Ellie must combine his Dragon power with her magick to find the ones they loved and lost.

But as they feel their old desires flare up again, can their burning passion overcome their past—or the danger that the future holds?

 

 

Grace King fell in love with Jax Anderson, her big brother's best friend, when she was six years old. Eleven-year-old Jax came to her rescue when some older boys were bullying her, becoming Grace's knight in scuffed-up sneakers on the spot.

Eighteen years later, Jax is the town sheriff and Grace is the head baker at her grandmother's café. They are all grown up—and still pretending there's nothing between them. But when a heated argument at the Sleepy Sheep bar turns into a heated make-out session, the days of denying their attraction are over.

Now the whole town is buzzing about Jax and Grace, and not all the buzz is good. Grace's family is no stranger to scandal, and when a new secret about her parents is revealed, not even Jax can protect her. As the rumors and accusations fly, can they hold on to their new relationship?