Book Review for Arsen by Mia Asher

ARSEN

by MIA ASHER

One glance was all it took…

I'm a cheater.
I'm a liar.
My whole life is a mess.

I love a man.
No, I love two men…
I think.

One makes love to me. The other sets me on fire.
One is my rock. The other is my kryptonite.

I'm broken, lost, and disgusted with myself.

But I can't stop. This is my story.
My broken love story.

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REVIEW: ~ SIX STARS! ~

Originally posted in April 2014

As I sit down to write this, my head is still spinning. Seriously…..like, I can’t even begin to explain to you what this book did to me. I will certainly TRY, but the depth of my emotion and shock and wow cannot be conveyed in a suitable manner. I will just put it out there…..my review will NOT do this book justice. You know what the crazy part is? THIS WAS HER DEBUT NOVEL!!! It’s not often a book can bring out such deep emotion…..DEEEEP emotion. Yes, we feel emotions while reading a book, but magnify all your emotions by 100 and you might tip the iceberg at that point. Might. This book went into the pits and pulled it all out. I want to tell you everything and watch you read it. I want to be there for you to talk to and I want to hear your thoughts…..I want to relive this story over and over and over again. I want to unread it and read it again. The roller coaster, the ups and downs, the pain and heartache, the joy and elation…..I want it all again. I have NEVER felt this with another book. Ever.

*shaking my head* -- STILL

Cathy and Ben are soul mates. They were made only for each other. They were the loves of each other’s lives. Sure, we see this often…..but the way this relationship started out, it was the most perfect beginning for their relationship. The moment they met, there was something that was definitely pulling them together. It was an intense attraction….an immediate attraction. Her beauty, inside and out, captured Ben and he was smitten. Their love was what fairytales were made of. They loved with all they had…..with everything in them. They had fun and they were hot together.

“Um, Cathy…if you start kissing my neck like that, there is a 110% chance that I’m going to jump you like a fucking starved man and rip this pretty little thing you have on.” ~Ben

Arsen doesn’t have to work for anything….he has the looks to bed any woman he wants, he has the family money to do whatever he wants and he has the attitude to not give a fuck. And that is Arsen. He will do anything to get what he wants…..always has, always will. He knows how to take care of a woman….and does a fine job of it, until he finds a new toy. He is just a young, carefree, sexy as hell man.

His smile is electrifying. His smile frightens me. His smile hypnotizes me.

Sadly, Cathy was breaking down, slowly but surely. We start to see her become very bitter, very spiteful and very angry. She was falling into a deep depression from something that SHE had no control over, yet it was controlling her…..and it was tearing her apart. I ached for her….I wanted to comfort her. But, I also found myself wanting to shake her and ask her ‘What the Hell!!??’ She has this amazing husband that would crawl to the ends of the earth and back, just to do anything and everything for her….but she was pulling away. Arsen was there to pick her up…..he was there as her ‘friend’. However, his definition of friend and her definition of friend did not match up. Not one bit. I felt like someone that was watching something sooooo good, but I couldn’t look away. I knew it was wrong but it felt so right. I just wanted to watch what happened and how it all went down…..but covering one eye, shaking my head. I was so engrossed in this book…so wrapped up. It seriously jacked me up.

William Shakespeare said that the eyes are the windows to your soul. When our eyes connect, I see danger, and maybe something exciting. Something forbidden. Some basic instinct in me instantly recognizes that this man doesn’t make love to a woman.
He fucks her.

Arsen and Cathy meld together really well. They are connected immediately….there is no get-to-know-you period. It is immediate. Their sexcapades are definitely ones for the record books. He woke her up….he set her on fire and made her feel alive, from the inside out. He turned her OUT! Thinking about their intimate times…..they are HOT. Scorching hot…..so very sexy and delicious and demanding and on FIRE. OMG. Just thinking about what he did and how she felt….I felt it too. I’m tellin’ ya. Eff’n HOT!!!!

So many warring thoughts are running through my head; fear, dislike, shock, but the voice that is the loudest is lust. ~Cathy

There is a fine line that is toed on in this book….and the innocence and the salaciousness of this book is mixed so very well, you are literally shaking your head. What started out as something so trivial and innocent (so the wrong word, but so very true), turned into something so magnanimous and so powerful, it destroyed lives.

Now, reading their stories, Mia did a phenomenal job making you FEEL the elation, the pain, the happiness, the sorrow, the giddiness, the aching, ALL of it, plus the raw sexual tension between these lovers. I didn’t read it….I felt it. I felt it ALL. I am ruined. RUINED. I will forever be comparing angsty, sexually tensioned, emotionally driven stories to this one. My heart shattered on so many different levels…..to try to explain it to someone who hasn’t read it is attempting the impossible. I am so very glad I had a friend that I was messaging the entire time I read this book. I needed that lifeline….someone to work out my feelings with, someone who had already been thrown against the proverbial wall and was back up again, able to discuss it with me. I am on a mission to have people read this. This was raw. This was gritty. This was real and this broke me…..and I don’t think I want to be fixed. This was perfection in a book.

I got this book immediately after it came out….so I have had it for a while. I finally read it. I would like to say that I wished I read it sooner. But then again, I am glad it took me this long because I read this book at the most opportune time for me, and I was allowed to let this book sit and percolate within me. I was able to just absorb the words in this book, soak them in. I was able to feel the pain and love and every other emotion you can possibly imagine. I have no words…..no words. And for the record, Mia has planted herself on my “no questions asked, purchase any book she writes” list. Because, if she can do THAT with her first book…..imagine what she can do as she lets more stories flow. I may love Mia. I’ll get back to you on that.

This book had EVERY single thing I love in a really good book: angst, hot alpha(s), undying love, love triangle and true to life, REAL emotion.

6 Mind blowing, heart wrenching, nail biting stars.

~BEE

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~MEET MIA ASHER~

My name is Mia Asher.

I'm a writer, a hopeless romantic, a wanderer, a dreamer, a cynic, and a believer. 

And, oh yes...I might be a bit crazy, but who isn't?

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Book Review and SIGNED PAPERBACK Giveaway for The Finish Line by Kate Stewart

THE FINISH LINE

by KATE STEWART

Secrets and Lies...

I’ve lived the entirety of my life wrapped up in subterfuge for one purpose—revenge.

Through the years, I lived more as an enigma than a man.

For so long, I denied I had a beating heart of my own.

Until her. Until she unearthed the starving vessel inside, forced me to acknowledge it, forced me to understand that
I’m capable of bleeding the same as any other.

For that, we paid. We're still paying.

Yet, she demands it still, the useless heart of the ruthless thief and shameless villain she fell for. My fear is, I’m no
longer that man.

With the lies I’ve told, the life I’ve led, my mistakes are beginning to catch up with me, day by day, one by one.

This is my last chance, and I have no intention of losing her again, but as the deception of my past starts to unravel
and close in, shedding my humanity may be the only thing that can save us both.

Maybe it’s already too late.

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REVIEW: 5 STARS
"Fate threw me the cards while Karma had its wicked way with me."

I think the truest test of wonder and amazement that comes with finding a book that kidnaps you emotionally and possesses you mentally is the kind that you become infatuated with. The kind you are thinking about days, weeks, even months after you've finished - to the point of shutting out the world around you just to revel in it. This book was that one for me. 

Stewart proved just how fluent in lust, desire, and craving she is when it came to His love for her. He wouldn't walk away, but I also don't think he could have walked away. Cecilia was his world, the very breath he needed in order to survive. I loved the heaviness of his devotion to her because you could feel it with every turn of the page. I honestly don't think he would have made it without her.... the all consuming, clawing need he had for her was undeniable. But I also know that she had to weigh the drama he was going to cause vs the problems he was going to fix. That juxtaposition alone gave me pause for thought, so I can only imagine the turmoil he caused Cecilia to ponder. 

This book had the type of drama that provided character growth and realization, not just story building and recovery. There were a whole bunch of backstories that were clarified and given the closure they needed.....or more specifically, I needed. I really liked that side of this one. A lot of thought provoking decisions and actions were made showing the natural progression and growth of not only the characters themselves, but the instrumental understanding of the plot that played out in the background of the first two books. It felt seamless jumping from the first two books into this one - that was just supposed to be an extended epilogue. All of the sudden I found myself caught up in their world all over again, reliving the emotions of the past while trying to lay the framework for the future. 

"You always did love the taste of the tears you cause."

He was nothing but strength and conviction personified....He was all man and that gave me the chills. His love was never tested to the point of walking away. He knew his truth and maintained it throughout the last two books and I never once saw it waver. The grit. The reason. The unfathomable need to possess another's heart was something beyond compare and HE did that. HE showed that. HE proved that. 

"Trying to reason with love is fucking pointless."

I loved that we were mostly in his head. This was His admission. His realization. And with that, literally everything and everyone - every scenario was tied together. This was nothing short of brilliant. This is the kind of book you finish and then close it only to stare at the wall, trying to make sense of everything you just read. While Stewart broke things down and cleared things up, the enormity of the confessions encompassed within these pages was outright mind numbing. The fact that we saw vulnerability on both sides of the spectrum alone allows for much needed discussion. Of which, I cannot wait to have.

"No matter how we came to be, we were and still are."

At the end of the day, the best part is, this was all extra. It was a book that was a filling-in-the-blanks kind of read with insight into a past that determined the man I fell in love with throughout these last two books. This last book was the literal icing on the cake. The perfect topper for the series - an unexpected yet delicious ending. Kate Stewart provided an intricate world full of intrigue and mystery with plenty of twists to keep my head spinning and my heart lurching. Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.

This series will sit on my signed shelf. 

This series will forever sit on my favorites list. 

This series will not leave me for quite some time, if ever. 

It's going to hurt walking away from these characters and this world - I think that's why I haven't yet said goodbye in my heart. I'm not sure I'll recover...

"Faite pour moi." Made for me.

~BEE

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"Her pleasure is mine, and without it, I'm not the same man."

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"Maybe for now, I should just listen to the voice of reason in my head, instead of the addict in my heart."

 

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"I don't know how to measure love in totality."

~MEET KATE STEWART~

Kate Stewart lives in Charleston, S.C. with her husband, Nick, and her naughty beagle, Sadie. A native of Dallas, Kate moved to Charleston three weeks after her first visit, dropping her career of 8 years, and declaring it her creative muse. Kate pens messy, sexy, angst-filled contemporary romance as well as romantic comedy and erotic suspense because it's what she loves as a reader. A lover of all things '80s and '90s, especially John Hughes films and rap, she dabbles a little in photography, can knit a simple stitch scarf for necessity only and does a horrible job of playing the ukulele. Aside from running a mile without collapsing, traveling is the only other must on her bucket list. On occasion, she does very well at vodka.

~CONNECT WITH KATE~

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Book Review for Forevermore by Alex Grayson

FOREVERMORE

by ALEX GRAYSON

From USA Today Bestselling Author, Alex Grayson, comes an emotionally captivating love story that rivals time....

Everything has a reason for being, and you are mine. Without you, there is no me.

Every love story has a beginning.

Some are dark and painful.

Some are bright and beautiful.

And for some, fate intervenes, setting two people on the right path.

Our love has no ending. It's forevermore and everlasting.

This is our story.

Forevermore is a prequel novella to Everlast and is the beginning of Lincoln and Molly's story. It does end on a cliffhanger. The conclusion to their story is in Everlast, which releases February 23rd.

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REVIEW: I might die before the sequel comes out.....

"She can't hide forever. I'll find her. I always will."

My FIRST book - well, novella, by Alex Grayson and I am literally hanging on by a very thin thread!!! Forevermore is a prequel novella that leads up to Everlast (full length book) and is Lincoln and Molly's beginning. While I'm desperately awaiting this next book, I would be remiss if I didn't explain why reading this novella is a must - especially if you are a first-timer to Ms Grayson like myself. My biggest joy is finding a new voice to read. One I can follow easily and recommend excitedly. Ms. Grayson's writing was very chill - very descriptive and enticing, which made it very easy to immerse myself into a created world full of fantastic love between two undeniable hearts. Falling in love with Lincoln and Molly couldn't have been any more natural than it was and that's exactly what I love to read. However, I can say that I might be dying a slow and very painful death from that cliffhanger....

I would like to ask, what did I just read? But I know that would be a stupid question, because I know exactly what I just read. I read a beautiful love story filled with joy and ease, one with laughter and naiveté, one full of smiles and beauty. I met two amazing characters that fell in love as elementary school best friends who meandered through the most perfect and natural growth of a friendship that had no other option but to deliver a love so deep and inspiring that I couldn't turn away from it. But, I am sad now because I was also left on a massive cliffhanger....

The slow and organic growth of not only Lincoln and Molly maturing in a world surrounded by love and innocence, but also the love that developed and flourished in this story, was probably one of the easiest ones I've ever read. I wasn't tripping over the words or getting caught up with minor details because there was no fluff. It was honest, pure, emotion driven storytelling that had me turning the pages eagerly anticipating what was going to happen next. It possessed a love that grew exponentially over minimal pages - which I find very fascinating because a lot of the time, novellas are too short and hard to get into with actual emotional depth. But, for someone that loves the angst and buildup of a book, the wait for Everlast may feel like the longest month ever because of that devastating cliffhanger....

I am very excited about finding a new author to stalk, which leaves me with a slight problem because while my damaged little angst-seeking heart was literally scared to turn each page for the dreaded ohmygosh moment, I wouldn't give up that little bit of anxiety I got as I read this one. I loved clinging to the words that carried me throughout this story - but I hated anticipating it. HA! I know....pot/kettle. But, the biggest fear is the wait for Everlast because I'm not sure I will survive being left on a massive cliffhanger....

The magnitude of the desperation I'm feeling about needing Everlast should tell you either a.) I'm a wimp or b.) I don't do cliffhangers very well or c.) All of the above. Yeah, if you picked C, we may know each other very well. If you didn't pick it, well you can guess based on your options just how comfortably I'm handling this heartbreaking cliffhanger....

You guys!!! I am yelling, emphatically suggesting: 

Read

This

Novella

But just remember, there is a massive cliffhanger...

Now, I realize that I might sound like I'm obsessing over a cliffhanger but that's because I am. Because I was left on a cliffhanger and I might be dying...

Did I mention there was a cliffhanger? No? Let me remind you: I'm dangling. Because there is a massive cliffhanger...

"Already as close as two people our age could be. What we are is so much more than best friends, or boyfriend and girlfriend. We're two pieces of a whole."

~BEE

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EVERLAST

by ALEX GRAYSON

From USA Today Bestselling Author, Alex Grayson, comes an emotionally captivating love story that rivals time....

I met him when I was eight and he saved me from the bullies on the school playground.

The next day, he called me his girl.

When we were thirteen, we began to look at each other differently.

At fourteen, we shared our first kiss.

We were sixteen the first time we mad

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~MEET ALEX GRAYSON~

Alex Grayson is a USA Today bestselling author of heart pounding, emotionally gripping contemporary romances including the Jaded Series, the Consumed Series, the Hell Night Series, and multiple standalone novels. Her passion for books was reignited by a gift from her sister-in-law. After spending several years as a devoted reader and blogger, Alex decided to write and independently publish her first novel in 2014 (an endeavor that took a little longer than expected). The rest, as they say, is history.

Originally a southern girl, Alex now lives in Ohio with her husband, daughter, three cats and one dog. She loves the color blue, homemade lasagna, casually browsing real estate, and interacting with her readers. Visit her website, www.alexgraysonbooks.com, or find her on social media!

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Book Review and Giveaway for Wrecked Palace by Catherine Cowles

WRECKED PALACE

by CATHERINE COWLES

One night was all it took for everything to change.

From college student to guardian in a single breath.

My siblings became my world.

No time for date nights or romantic dreams.

I traded quiet weekends for sleepless nights.

Giving my all to make sure they were cared for.

But Griffin had a brokenness that called to me—one that mirrored my own.

Gruff and just a little bit reckless.

He was the last thing I needed. But everything I wanted.

Only someone isn’t happy about this new life I’m building.

Deciding to set fire to everything I hold close.

And when the smoke clears, there might be only ashes left behind…

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REVIEW: 4.5 STARS

"Tell me the good things."

There’s something to be said about the first book of the year to give you the butterflies and the giggly smiles. That one that pulls at your heartstrings because you can only imagine the pain the characters have been through, only to be rewarded with a book-worthy HEA sent by Catherine Cowles. Cheesy? Maybe, but this girl can write! This book was that book for me. I honestly needed this book. I had wanted it for so long, but I didn't realize how badly I needed it, so by the time I settled into it - it did wonders for my mental self. I'm always inside my own head, so escaping into a book has always been a nice getaway for me. This one provided all that and more.

Cowles is a real energizing writer. She's proven time and again her ability to not only facilitate a great storyline, but emote it exceptionally well. I got caught up - completely enamored with her characters, her plot, and even the drama. It all meshed well for me in this one, working in tandem with each factor. After meeting Griffin at the end of PERFECT WRECKAGE and how he entered the storyline, I knew this book was going to have me on the edge of my seat while I read it. 

I know I’m always screaming about the love a man has for his woman being my favorite part or reading romance. A good love story cannot be a true love story without a man that makes me weak in the knees. Griffin was all that and more. He was protective and a perfect gentleman, standing up when needed and providing a silent strength when warranted. He was literally perfect. I fell hard in love with him. The realization of the true feelings these two had for one another was a slow process, but an emotional one. When I can feel the emotions I’m reading, that’s the best part. That’s an author that’s really in touch with their story - so much so that they’re bleeding those emotions directly onto the page. Cowles delivered that effortlessly, yet again.

Griffin and Caelyn's gradual wander through their friendship and the actual culmination of their relationship was uncovered organically. This was the perfect example of a slow burn. I liked the way they tip-toed around everything and almost reluctantly but enthusiastically made their way towards each other. It was a slow dance, for sure. It wasn't forced by any means, given the time this book traversed, so it flowed really well and accounted for the drive of their feelings and how it affected their decisions. 

ONE struggle: I did feel like I struggled somewhat with Caelyn's jealousy for what she longed for in regards to her relationship. I know that sounds harsh to say but as much as she talked about it, it was bothersome for me. I think mainly because in setting up her desires, it felt repetitive and unnecessary, but also that she almost held it against the ones she loved - but I know she wasn't really. I don't know. I know she wasn't....but it felt like she was. *wrings hands* I struggled. Ugh. I'm sorry. Sorry. *hides* We knew her end goal. We knew where her loyalty lay. She had an amazing amount of responsibility, so looking forward to the one true love she knew was out there was the entire goal of the book. And Griffin answered that call so amazingly well. They suited each other. They were ideal for each other. Their need to take things at their own pace set the tone for the book perfectly well.

The characters were so good, and so well written. The kids were super cute. The plot played out and was easily followed. I mean, the story is still sitting with me and I'm still smiling thinking about it - and that is what drives my excitement most of all.

I LOVED THIS BOOK. I LOVED GRIFFIN SO SO MUCH. I LOVED CAELYN AND THE KIDS. I LOVED THIS BOOK SO SO SO MUCH!! Yes, I am shouting. Yes, I am excited. Yes, I can't wait for everyone to read this. Such a great, feel-good, smile inducing book - it check all the boxes for me. SO good.

Catherine Cowles is a must read - a guaranteed great read. She incorporates love, life and laughter into every book with a good dose of emotions and suspense. I really enjoy her writing and have read every single one of her books, but this one has to be my favorite one so far. Favorite. I am looking forward to Shay's story in RECKLESS REFUGE, her next release in this standalone series. 

"Everything I see in you challenges me to do better."

~BEE

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~MEET CATHERINE COWLES~

Writer of words. Drinker of Diet Cokes. Lover of all things cute and furry, especially her dog. Catherine has had her nose in a book since the time she could read and finally decided to write down some of her own stories. When she's not writing she can be found exploring her home state of Oregon, listening to true crime podcasts, or searching for her next book boyfriend.

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Excerpt for Wrecked Palace by Catherine Cowles

Prologue

Caelyn

PAST

The sound of a phone ringing pulled me out of a deep sleep. I groaned and blinked against the darkness. The only light in the room came from the glow-in-the-dark stars peppered all over my dorm room ceiling. I fumbled around on my nightstand, trying to find the ringing device.

“Turn off your freaking phone before I toss it out the window,” Bell called from across the room. Our other roommate, Kenna, let out a mumbled moan.

“I’m trying.” My fingers found the charger cord, and I tugged the phone onto my bed. Glancing at the screen, my chest squeezed. 1:13 a.m., and Will was calling. I hurried to hit accept. “Will? What’s wrong?”

I’d given my little brother a phone before I left for college. I kept the low-budget mobile topped up with minutes because I needed a way to get in touch with my siblings, and for them to be able to reach me. Our house phone hadn’t worked in years, and my parents weren’t exactly keen on us kids using their cells.

“I don’t know what to do—”

Will’s voice was cut off by a cry. Sobs that could only be coming from my one-year-old sister, Mia, sounded over the line, followed by someone pounding on a door. “You owe me a fucking score, asshole. I paid. Give me my shit!”

I sucked in a sharp breath. “What’s going on? Where are you guys?”

“I’m in the girls’ room. I put a dresser in front of the door, but there’s a guy in the house. He won’t leave.”

The light flicked on, and Bell and Kenna were by my side in a flash, hearing the distress in my voice. I motioned for Bell to grab her phone. “Where are Mom and Dad?”

“They’re not here. They haven’t been in days.”

More pounding cut in. “Give me my fucking score or I’ll gut you when I get in there.”

My heart hammered against my ribs in a painful rhythm. “Bell, call the sheriff. Someone’s in the house. Will has himself barricaded with the girls in their room.”

Bell blanched but immediately began dialing. As soon as someone picked up, she started recounting the situation. Kenna eased down next to me on the bed and rubbed my back.

I turned my attention back to Will. “Stay calm, buddy. The police are on their way.” But how long would it take for them to get there? Our small island off the coast of Washington state didn’t have its own dedicated police force. We shared access to a sheriff’s department with the rest of the chain of islands. That meant in an emergency like this one, deputies had to take a boat before they got onto the island.

“I’m scared.”

The tremble in Will’s voice broke something deep inside me. “It’s going to be okay. I’m with you.” More pounding rang out in the background, and Mia started crying harder. “Is Ava holding Mia?”

“Yeah, I put them in the closet.”

My hand fisted in my sheets. My ten-year-old little brother was savvy enough to know he needed to hide his little sisters away. What the hell had my parents been doing since I left for my junior year four months ago? “You’re so smart, Will. And so freaking brave. What’s in front of the door again?”

“I pushed the dresser and then a bed.”

“That’s great. That will keep him out.”

“I hope so.”

God, I did, too. If something happened to my tiny terrors…I tried to force out the horrendous images taking over my mind.

Bell waved a hand at me. “There are two deputies already on Anchor. They’re heading to your place now.”

I gave her a tight nod. I wanted to feel relief, but I couldn’t. Not until I knew, with one hundred percent certainty, that the kids were okay. “Did you hear that? There are deputies coming now. They’re already on Anchor.”

Will sniffed. “Okay.” There was more yelling and pounding, then a cracking sound. “I think the door’s breaking.”

I squeezed my eyes closed, sending up a thousand silent prayers. “Get in the closet with Ava and Mia.”

“I can’t. I have to fight him if he gets in. I have my bat.”

My sweet, brave boy. Tears leaked from my eyes. “He’s not going to get in. Just hold on.”

Shouts sounded across the line. I heard someone yelling that they were from the sheriff’s department and to get down on the floor. There was more screaming and then a shot. The crack of the bullet was so loud, Kenna jerked beside me. All of my muscles locked. “Will, are you okay? What’s happening now?”

“I’m okay. I don’t know.”

“Will, it’s Deputy Raines. Are you okay in there?”

My shoulders sagged in relief. Will answered the deputy in a shaky voice. “We’re okay.”

I heard a door opening, and Mia’s cries got louder, but it was Ava who spoke. “I want Cae Cae.” The sound of her pleading shattered the last piece of my heart still holding itself together.

“I’m gonna be there soon, Ava.”

“Did you hear that, Avs? Caelyn’s coming soon.”

The deputy began speaking again. “We need to take the bad guy out to the patrol car. Then we’ll come back for you.”

“Okay.” Will’s voice sounded stronger now. “I have to move the furniture, Caelyn.”

“Don’t hang up!” I was desperate. This was my one lifeline to my siblings, and I couldn’t let it go. “Put the phone on speaker and lay it on the bed.”

“All right.” Something rustled, and then Will spoke again. “Can you hear me?”

“I can hear you.”

The sounds of furniture being pushed across the carpet, and Will grunting, came over the line. I held my breath until I heard a knock.

“It’s Deputy Raines. Can I come in?”

A door creaked in the background.

“Are you guys okay?” Deputy Raines asked.

“Yeah, we’re okay,” Will answered.

The slight tremor in his voice had me fisting the sheets even tighter. I never should’ve left Anchor. I should’ve simply found the cheapest apartment possible and worked at a bar or a restaurant on the island. But instead, I’d been selfish, desperate to use the scholarship I’d worked so hard for.

Ava’s voice cut into my thoughts. “Can you take us to Cae Cae?”

“Who’s Cae Cae?” Raines asked.

“My sister. She’s on the phone,” Will said.

“Is it all right if I talk to her?”

“Sure.”

The phone beeped as he took me off speakerphone. “Ms. O’Connor, we’ve got them. They look scared but are perfectly safe.”

I burst into tears. Through my sobs, I managed to get out, “Thank you. Thank you so much.”

“Of course. We’re going to take them to the sheriff’s station on Shelter.”

“Okay. I’m in Seattle. I go to college here. But I’m going to get over there as fast as I can. Will you take this phone so that you can update me if anything changes?”

“I’ll keep the phone with me. Take a deep breath. They’re going to be fine.”

But that wasn’t completely true. Sure, physically, they were okay. But emotionally? The kids were traumatized. And I didn’t know the first thing about how to heal those wounds. But like with everything else, I’d simply have to find a way. I just had to get to my siblings first.

***

“Cae Cae!”

Ava hurled herself at me as soon as I crossed the threshold of the staff lounge at the sheriff’s station. I caught her, lifting her into my arms and rocking her back and forth. “I’m here now. You’re okay.”

She pressed her little face into my neck. “I was so scared.”

I held her tighter against me as I squeezed my eyes closed. “I’m so sorry, Avs.” As her small body trembled against me, I vowed that she would never feel scared like that again.

I scanned the room, my gaze catching on Harriet, Kenna’s adoptive guardian. She’d been the one to arrange a boat for us from Seattle to Shelter Island and had immediately headed to the sheriff’s station herself. She rose, little Mia fast asleep in her arms.

I blinked back tears. “Thank you so much, Harriet. I don’t know what I would’ve done…”

“Oh, hush now. You know I’d do anything for you girls.”

Kenna crossed to the older woman, pressing a kiss to her cheek. “Thank you.”

“I’m happy to help however I can.”

“Where’s Will?” I asked.

Harriet inclined her head to the hallway. “Deputy Raines was getting him a soda and a snack. I think the adrenaline was wearing off. He was getting a little shaky.”

My eyes fell closed again as if I could will away the nightmare of the past few hours. I had so many questions, but I didn’t want to ask any of them in front of little ears. I pressed a kiss to Ava’s head. “Can you go to Bell? I want to find Will.”

Ava nodded and went easily into Bell’s arms. Bell snuggled her close. “I missed you like crazy.”

The small smile that Ava gave Bell had my shoulders easing a fraction. “I’ll be back in a minute.”

I headed back into the hallway, looking for any sign of the vending machines. After a couple of wrong turns, I spotted a head of floppy brown hair. “Will.”

His head snapped up at my voice, and he shoved the soda at a deputy who looked vaguely familiar. Will charged, hitting me with a force that had me stumbling back a step. When had he gotten so big? I wrapped my arms around him as more tears filled my eyes. “I love you.”

“Love you, too,” he whispered, a catch in his voice.

The deputy made his way over to us. “Hi, Ms. O’Connor. I’m Deputy Raines.”

“Please, call me Caelyn. Thank you for all you’ve done.”

“I’m happy to help.” A pained smile curved his lips. “The sheriff wants to chat with you whenever you’re ready.”

I wanted to chat with the sheriff, too. But first, I had a few questions for Will. I brushed the hair back from his eyes; he was in desperate need of a haircut. “When’s the last time you saw Mom and Dad?”

Will released me and winced. “On Friday.”

Blood roared in my ears. It was early Monday morning. “Why didn’t you call me?” I’d given Will the phone for a reason. Our parents had never been overly attentive. Why my mother hadn’t just gone on birth control, I’d never know, because she certainly wasn’t interested in raising her children. She did the bare minimum, which often consisted of a single bag of fast food for dinner and using the television as a babysitter. But they’d never left us alone for days on end before.

Will nibbled on his bottom lip. “I didn’t want you to come back from college.”

“Why not?” I couldn’t hide the hurt in my voice.

He squared his small shoulders. “You need to finish school and get a good job so you can get us out of there.”

“Oh, Will.” I pulled him into my arms, the tears I’d been trying so hard to hold back since I arrived at the station, sliding down my cheeks. I should’ve been embarrassed that this was all coming out in front of some deputy I barely knew, but I couldn’t find it in me to care. All I cared about was wrapping my tiny terrors up in hugs and taking them somewhere safe.

“What’s gonna happen to us?” Will whispered.

God, I wished I had an answer for that, but I knew I’d never let these kids go into foster care. “We’re going to figure it out together. But I’m not leaving you. You’re not alone.”

Will sagged against me. “I’m sorry I didn’t call. I should’ve when they started getting worse.”

I stiffened. “What do you mean getting worse?”

Will released me, looking from me to Raines and back again. “They’re doing drugs.”

My jaw tightened. My parents had always been heavy drinkers, and I knew my dad smoked pot, but I’d never seen any hints of anything harder. The fact that my ten-year-old little brother could see the signs of drug use and knew what it meant… It shattered what little naïve hope I had left that my parents would get their acts together. “You don’t have to go back there. Not ever again.” I turned to Deputy Raines. “Right?”

“Correct,” he agreed. “Child Protective Services has already been here. The children have been placed in Miss Harriet’s care until a more permanent decision can be made.”

The roaring in my ears quieted a fraction. Harriet was a godsend, a true angel. Not only had she taken in Kenna when she needed a place to live; now, she was giving us safe harbor, as well. “Thank you.”

I gave Will’s shoulder a squeeze. “Why don’t you go hang with the rest of the crew while I talk to the sheriff? I know Kenna and Bell want to see you.”

Will nodded stoically. “You’re not gonna leave, right?”

My heart clenched. “Not without you.”

“’Kay.” He headed down the hall towards the lounge.

I couldn’t bring myself to look away from his small form until he disappeared from sight. I inhaled deeply, steeling myself for what was to come. I turned back to Raines. “How bad was it?”

Raines grimaced. “House was a wreck. Everywhere but in the girls’ room. It looked like Will had been sleeping in there, too. He’d moved his mattress between Ava’s bed and the crib.” I was going to kill my parents. For what they’d put these kids through, the fires of hell would be too kind. “There wasn’t a lot of food left in the house either.”

I swallowed against the bile rising in my throat. “Please tell me that means they don’t have a chance in hell of getting these kids back.”

“It’s not gonna happen. The sheriff wants to fill you in on why exactly that’s the case.”

There was an ominous tone to Raines’ words that had my stomach twisting. “Lead the way.”

The deputy guided me down a maze of hallways before stopping in front of a door and knocking.

“Come in,” a gruff voice called.

Raines pushed the door open. “Sheriff, this is Caelyn O’Connor. Caelyn, this is Sheriff Spaulding.”

I stepped forward. “Nice to meet you, sir. Thank you for taking care of my brother and sisters.”

The man, who looked to be in his late fifties, inclined his head to a chair opposite his desk. “Have a seat.”

I did as instructed, and Deputy Raines took his leave. I couldn’t help twisting a loose thread on my jeans as Sheriff Spaulding took my measure, seeming to assess every weakness and flaw in a matter of seconds. “You’re in school at Seattle University.”

“Yes, sir.”

“You working? Taking out loans?”

He must’ve known my parents weren’t helping me in any way. They’d just been happy to have one less mouth to feed. “I have a full academic scholarship. I work part-time to cover my room and board.”

Spaulding nodded, seeming pleased with my answer. “Your parents…”

“Are total and complete wastes of space?” I offered.

“I’m afraid it’s worse than that.”

I gripped the loose thread on my jeans tighter. “Will said he thought they were using drugs.”

“Your father has gotten mixed up with a bad crew. We had suspicions before, but tonight confirmed it. He’s dealing, and I’m not talking pot.”

The string popped off my jeans. “Dealing? He was bringing those people into the house? With the kids there?”

Sheriff Spaulding’s gaze hardened. “I’m afraid so. In and out of the house.”

“I’m going to kill him.”

“You’d have to find him first. And we can’t seem to do that.”

I stiffened. “What do you mean?”

Spaulding leaned back in his chair. “We found your mom holed up in a motel room, high as a kite, needle by the bed. But no sign of your dad.”

Needles. We weren’t even talking prescription pills. “I was home this summer. They were neglectful, yes, but Mom was still caring for Mia. They drank too much, but I saw no sign of drugs.”

“A lot can change in four months, Caelyn.”

Apparently, a whole life could fall apart. “What about the guy who broke in?”

Sheriff Spaulding laced his fingers together and rested his hands on his desk. “Dave Herbert. Arrested on a slew of charges. He won’t be breathing free for a few years, at least.”

It wasn’t enough. He’d scared my siblings to death, probably would’ve hurt them or worse. My stomach roiled at the thought.

“That’s not all,” Spaulding continued. “Your brother gave us a cell phone. I think he thought it might help us find your folks because it belonged to your dad. What was on that phone…it’s going to lead to a lot more arrests.”

“That’s good, right?” I wanted all of these assholes off the streets and far away from my family.

“It is good. But while all this is shaking out, I want you to be cautious.”

All of my muscles seemed to seize at once. “You think they’ll come after the kids?”

Spaulding’s jaw went hard. “I’d like to think not. But desperate people do stupid things. They could think going after the kids might shake your dad loose. Or that the kids know where your dad is. Miss Harriet has assured me that she has a state-of-the-art security system. I think you’ll be safe on her estate, but I want you to be careful when you’re out around town. Maybe give the kids’ schools a heads-up.”

My mind swam with all of the possible risks. I hated that we might bring trouble to Harriet’s door. But what other option did we have? “Thank you. We’ll be careful. Will you keep me up-to-date on the arrests?”

“I’ll keep you in the loop as much as possible.”

“I don’t need to know the ins and outs of the cases. I’d just like to know when I can take a deep breath again.”

Spaulding’s expression gentled. “I understand. We’re going to put Harriet’s estate and the kids’ schools on the drive-by loop so there will be a police presence. That should discourage anyone from doing something stupid.”

“Thank you.” It should’ve made me feel more at ease, but the fact that the sheriff thought it was necessary just ramped my anxiety up another level.

Unease slid over the sheriff’s features. “We’ll need Will to testify about the phone and the people he saw coming and going from the house. Possibly Ava, as well.”

“What? No. That can’t be safe.”

Spaulding met my gaze dead-on. “If we want this Herbert clown and your mother to get the maximum sentences, we need that testimony.”

I closed my eyes, letting my head fall forward. For Will, Ava, and Mia to be truly safe, to heal, anyone involved needed to go away for as long as possible. “They’ll testify.”

“Good—”

I held up a hand, cutting the sheriff off. “But I need you to do something for me in return.”

His eyes grew shrewd. “And what would that be?”

“Help me get custody of my siblings.”

ADD TO GOODREADS

WRECKED PALACE

by CATHERINE COWLES

One night was all it took for everything to change.

From college student to guardian in a single breath.

My siblings became my world.

No time for date nights or romantic dreams.

I traded quiet weekends for sleepless nights.

Giving my all to make sure they were cared for.

But Griffin had a brokenness that called to me—one that mirrored my own.

Gruff and just a little bit reckless.

He was the last thing I needed. But everything I wanted.

Only someone isn’t happy about this new life I’m building.

Deciding to set fire to everything I hold close.

And when the smoke clears, there might be only ashes left behind…

ADD TO GOODREADS

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~MEET CATHERINE COWLES~

Writer of words. Drinker of Diet Cokes. Lover of all things cute and furry, especially her dog. Catherine has had her nose in a book since the time she could read and finally decided to write down some of her own stories. When she's not writing she can be found exploring her home state of Oregon, listening to true crime podcasts, or searching for her next book boyfriend.

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