Nicole Fontane thought her demons were buried deep enough. She was wrong.
After barely escaping the blood bath of the Harvest ritual, Nicole and her vigilante compatriots learn that there are others practicing blood magick on Tulare Island.
Hired to rid the island of the remaining blood magick users, Nicole and her allies come face to face with The Better Day Church and the mysterious Young Family, whose nefarious behavior is well known on the island. The murky organization stirs old memories of a cult buried deep in the Louisiana bayou—flickers of Nicole’s traumatic past and the altar she barely escaped.
But when Nicole receives an invitation to the Young family’s private residence to attend a secret meeting with The Daughters of the Vine—an elusive sect of women led by Gavina Young—she knows there is no escaping her fraught history with cults.
The invite is clearly a trap, but it’s also an opportunity to take down the church. Nicole soon learns that the sickness lurking behind the walls of the Young family’s manor runs far deeper than the banal allure of blood magick. The church’s matriarch harbors a predatory interest in Nicole’s power—barely disguising her desire to harness it.
Nicole must unravel the mysteries of her newfound abilities, or her first job may be her last. Worst of all, she may end up on the altar again.
My name is Carla Vonzale Lewis and I like my martinis shaken… never stirred.
Carla was born in Georgia, but please don’t mistake her for a Georgia peach. She’s more like a prickly pear. Speaking of being born, someone asked her recently if she remembered her birth. And she had to say, “Yes, I do remember that handsy doctor pulling me out into the cold. Right Bastard!!!”
Despite being born in the South, she grew up in California. Every once in a great while she gets to experience all four seasons. But mostly, it’s just heat.
When not writing, Carla enjoys reading, binge watching shows on Netflix, and trying to convince her husband that getting a dog is a wonderful idea.
And one day, she will discover how many licks it actually takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop.
Title: #Blayde Author: Even Monroe Series: Rich City Boys #4 Genre: Contemporary Romance
Control is something I exercise all day, every day, in my job and personal life.
My walls have been up for years, and it’s taking its toll.
Will I ever find someone I can be myself with?
Blayde has moved up the ranks in the police force in record time due, in part, to his dedication and focus on the job. His precision and cool head leave most in awe of him, but behind the uniform and tall walls lurks a man at war with his desires and baser instincts.
Victoria knows a lot about desire, anticipation, excitement, and seduction. Despite a disastrous first meeting, there’s definitely a spark between her and Blayde, but can she break her way through the steel fence around him?
And if she does, will she be able to cope with what she finds? Or will she be biting off way more than she can chew?
Smoothing a hand over my skirt and taking a deep breath, I step back and open the door wide. Light from the store hits his face, and I get my first proper look at Officer Sexy. He’s a freaking hunk, like movie-star-cop-hunk. Wow, he really is in the right profession. I bet he makes a fortune with tips and everything. He couldn’t look the part more. The uniform is perfect, the way he stands and the air about him, it’s so commanding.
And his face. Panty-melting good looks—dark blond hair, firm lips, and a jawline I want to run my tongue over. Finishing my appraisal of him, I meet his eyes, and that’s the end of me. I’m done.
This is the moment I decide. I truly know that I must have this woman. My reservations and self-preservation desert me, and I can’t think of a single reason not to pursue this woman to the ends of the earth. She pushes my buttons like nobody ever has, and when I withdrew, she fired up like a hellcat.
She wants this. She wants me.
“Take it off,” I say, motioning to her with my chin. I want her standing in the middle of my bedroom completely naked.
“Sorry?” “You heard me. Take it off,” I growl. Even to my own ears, my voice is gruff and harsh. She moistens her lips with her tongue and swallows. There’s nowhere to hide, no room for being a bit coy or for shyness.
As an affiliate at retail sites, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases. See my disclosure for more details.
Three Reasons You Should Read This Small Town Contemporary Romance:
Accidentally Perfect by Marissa Clarke is a great story with happy endings all over the place in just the right ways. Even the characters I never expected to see get one.
Lillian is more than a workaholic – she eats, breaths, and sleeps her job. And watching her learn there’s more to life (and work won’t completely collapse without her) was a lot of fun.
The handful of houses that make up Blink, Maine are charming (but on the verge of running down), and you can see the spark come back to the place as the chapters go on.
Workaholic Lillian Mahoney has given everything to her job. The hugely popular lifestyle show she helped create monopolizes her time, energy, creativity, and anything remotely resembling a life. But all it takes is the show’s womanizing, egomaniac star throwing a massive hissy on live TV to utterly implode Lillian’s career in a New York minute.
Now Lillian’s hiding out in the gorgeous and completely unknown seaside village of Blink, Maine. Out of gas. A stolen wallet. A broken heel. And worse, she’s somehow managed to completely piss off the town’s resident hunk, Caleb Wright. She’ll show that hot, grumpy single father exactly what she’s made of.
But Blink isn’t quite what Lillian expects—and neither is Caleb…or his feisty teen daughter she can’t help but love. And while her entire life and career are in shreds, Lillian might just discover what happens when she gives her bad first impression a second chance…
The characters in Accidentally Perfect by Marissa Clarke had me from the very beginning. Even the annoying co-worker that screws up everything – ya, I loved him too. He was the unexpected star of the book. But not so much of a star that he takes away from Lillian and Caleb’s romance.
Lillian’s introduction to Blink, Maine, was not the best. And it set up the one conflict I just didn’t quite believe. Caleb instantly dislikes Lillian, and even though the author tried to explain why – it just didn’t add up to me. It set up the whole “I can never trust a person like that” trope, but the mistrust seemed very misplaced. I just didn’t get it.
The residents of Blink were a good mix of people. A few that you would expect to see in a small-town romance, but there were also a few fresh personalities and family histories. They were a diverse mix and seemed to genuinely care for and look out for each other. And they welcome Lillian into their community, and she finds her way to contribute and help make Blink a better place.
As a person that reads both open and closed-door romances, it didn’t even occur to me that this was closed-door until it was all over. There is so much passion and so many sparks flying between these two, that I don’t think anyone will be disappointed. This was a fantastic story, with lots of great characters and plots that I really enjoyed.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
Title: Mermaid of Sicily Author: Jincey Lumpkin Genre: Fantasy Romance
The glamorous Gia Acquaviva struggles to maintain her freedom and hold onto her business empire. A Sicilian mob boss nips at her tail, hoping to lure her into his sick fantasies. Meanwhile, the global media hunts Gia, attempting to hold her accountable for a string of murders. Can the world’s most famous mermaid escape their net, or will she be caught?
Dive into the extremely glamorous life of Gia Acquaviva, an ultra-rich Venetian mogul with a portfolio of clubs and casinos around the globe. Gia harbors dark secrets––and an underwater graveyard filled with the bones of her former lovers.
Her family’s roots descend from the mythological sirens of ancient Greece, but she’s taken every precaution to protect her anonymity and the existence of other mermaids. Gia lures in men with a beguiling façade, but inside lurks a deeply troubled soul, severely damaged by a mysterious past.
Fans of Killing Eve and Big Little Lies will love Mermaid of Sicily, a sexy psychological thriller with lush fantasy elements. The chic mystery and European hot spots of Patricia Highsmith’s The Talented Mr. Ripley with a juicy splash of the lavish lifestyle in E. L. James’s 50 Shades series. This is not the Little Mermaid you grew up with. Gia’s out for blood
Gia arrived at the base of the Eiffel Tower in disguise. An auburn wig, a pair of large sunglasses, and a wooly cap hid her identity. She approached the brown awning of the Jules Verne restaurant with supreme caution, hyper vigilant of her surroundings and potential threats. It was then that she was met at the front door by two of Q’s men.
“Are you here for Signor Mosca?” one asked.
“Unfortunately,” Gia chirped, sarcasm thick in her voice.
“This way.”
As they entered the restaurant, Gia discovered that Q had paid enough money to clear the place out completely.
How much had that set him back?
People waited months for a reservation—it couldn’t have been easy to compensate all those angry patrons overnight. The men escorted Gia into the glass elevator. As it rose, they passed through level after level of the brown iron that Mr. Eiffel had twisted himself.
The men took Gia all the way to a table that was situated in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows.
“Thank you gentlemen,” Q said, patting them on the back. “I have asked the chef to set up a table for the two of you in the kitchen. Please enjoy your meal. We will come to you when we are ready to go.”
He shuffled toward Gia and took her hand in his. Gia resisted the urge to pull away, her stomach lurched in revulsion to his touch.
“Signorina Acquaviva, I have been looking forward to spending time with you since we met in Athens…”
JINCEY LUMPKIN is a writer and creative director in Luxury Beauty. She is the author of the Mermaid of Venice fantasy thriller series. Recognized as a thought leader on women and culture, Jincey has written more than 50 columns for the Huffington Post and Playboy. She headlined Sex Week at Harvard and gave an infamous TEDx talk, “Are Robots the Future of Sex?” She has been profiled by Dateline NBC, Vice, and GQ, among others. Out Magazine listed her in its “OUT 100”, naming her as one of the world’s most influential LGBTQ+ people, alongside celebrities like Laverne Cox and Ricky Martin.
A wolf on the edge, deadly shifter political games, and an unexpected attraction.
Sloane Wyman is haunted by her past and she’ll let nothing get in the way of her future. She’s vowed to defend her pack as long as there is breath in her lungs.
Benedict MacKinnon can’t trust the beast within. Not since it burst forth and nearly cost him everything. But, when his brother and mate are accused of murder, he’s willing to put everything on the line. Benedict must stand before the Supreme Council in their defense, even if it costs him his life and future.
Lying and scheming enemies eager to see him spiral out of control test his resolve at every turn. Sloane, as his back-up, is more of a hindrance than a help thanks to the unwanted primal attraction that leaves his inner wolf rumbling.
As they become targets in a game they don’t know the rules, and the clock ticks down on their deadline, can they outsmart their enemies? Will they allow themselves to unite via the mate bond? Or will their attempts to save those they love meet a bloody end?
A warm breeze coasted across her coat, ruffling the fur and teasing her nose with a scent that was unfamiliar with just a hint of marshmallow and fire. Since tonight was the formal mating ceremony between Kane and Sheridan, several wolves had traveled here from the outer dens to pay their respects and swear their oaths to their second-in-command, the Alpha-Heir and his mate, a tradition of the Pack. Kane had wanted to keep the ceremony simple, especially since it was also the first night they would see if Sheridan could shift, but tradition had to be adhered to. They might be a progressive Pack in many ways, but they followed their history and took comfort in it.
Now, Sloane had to figure out whether the scent she was smelling emanated from one of their own or someone using the influx of strange wolves as a cover to sneak into their borders and create havoc.
She crouched low and stalked across the forest floor, avoiding leaves and twigs where she could, staying silent and cautious while extending her senses to determine whether she was alone or if someone else lurked in the shadows. The moon was full and high in the sky, the bright beams penetrating the forest in areas, like a spotlight on a theater stage, yet leaving shadows and darkness in other spots, easy places for a wolf or other shifter to hide, especially one who might know the area. And, as Sloane had recently discovered to her chagrin, just being a member of the Pack didn’t mean you were a friend.
The bonfire scent teased her nose again and her memory. How the hell did she know it? It wasn’t from an enforcer or one of the soldiers—the only ones who should be out this far this evening. The rest of the Pack should be close to the center of the den or on the hunt, especially in this time of turmoil for their own safety. She paused, crouching next to a copse of oak trees and gazed out over the small watering hole, trying not to remember the last time she had been there, or who she had been with.
The scent faded, and she ventured forward a couple of steps, her gaze scanning the area around her, but there was nothing around. She let out a huff of annoyance and slowly straightened. She must have been mistaken.
At that moment, she was hit from the side by a heavy body that felt like a solid mass of concrete falling on her, knocking her on her side. She rolled as she had been taught, intending to come up fighting, but the wolf followed her down, pinning her to the forest floor. The male wolf pinned her, his mass much bigger and heavier than her, and settled over her.
Then his jaws closed over her throat, and she stilled.
Sabrina Silvers began her writing career dreaming of elves, orcs, and hobbits in the fantasy section of her local library, looking in wardrobes for Narnia and Aslan, and hunting for gnomes in the forest. To her dismay, she never found any of them except between the pages of her books. So, she had to go out and create them for herself, leading to her lifelong love of reading and writing and dreaming about adventures, fantasy creatures and love in fantasy lands! She divides her time between writing sexy contemporary romances under a different pen name, reading, knitting and being owned by a very spoiled cocker spaniel who does not share her love of fantasy creatures.
Leigha — To say my dad is overprotective is too mild a description. Add in all my honorary uncles in the Dixie Reapers MC and going on dates is next to impossible. So when Lyssa invites me to visit her at the Reckless Kings in Tennessee, I jump at the chance. Maybe I can finally experience life a little. I know my family goes after bad men, the kind who hurt women and kids. I never counted on becoming a victim myself. The biker who comes to my rescue is… scary. Hot. And all alpha. He’s exactly what I need!
Cyclops — My stint in the military left me a parting gift. Scar tissue that not only left me blind in that eye, but makes the damn thing look spooky as fuck. I’m used to people staring. Mostly. Then my brothers had to stick me with the road name Cyclops. They’re not funny, even if they think they are. Uncle Sam may no longer find me fit for duty, but it doesn’t mean I’m useless. When I hear a scream, I don’t hesitate. Thought I was saving a girl. Turns out she’s a woman — and one I shouldn’t touch. The daughter of a Dixie Reaper, she’s her daddy’s little angel… and damn if I’m not tempted to lure her to the dark side and get her a little dirty.
WARNING: Cyclops is part of the Reckless Kings MC series. It contains an age-gap relationship of more than 10 years, violence, bad language, and adult situations. Some readers may find the subject matter difficult to read. But there’s a guaranteed happily-ever-after, no cheating, and no cliffhanger!
“Beast knows you’re here with me,” Cyclops said. “I told him I’d take you to my place when we left. That’s, of course, if you want to go there. Or I can lead the way to Beast’s house. Entirely up to you.”
“I’m curious about something,” I said. He motioned for me to continue. “You’ve seen how everyone treats me. Lyssa’s call is the least of it. I’m twenty and they act like I’m a teenager. There’s no freedom for me at home, and it looks like it will be the same here. I’d thought Lyssa would be enough of a buffer I could live a little, even if it was only for a few days.”
“You plan on going home that soon?” he asked.
“I don’t know.” I looked down at my coffee for a moment, gathering my thoughts. “I wanted a taste of freedom, the chance to be myself without worrying I’d have a bodyguard breathing down my neck, or half the club trying to scare off men. I haven’t even been here a day and my family keeps texting and calling. Lyssa is checking up on me, and I just…”
“Feel caged?” he asked.
I nodded. “Exactly. It’s like I’m a prisoner. How am I supposed to figure out who I am if no one will let me do anything? I get it. My dad lost his wife long before he met Mom. Add in all the darkness he’s seen as part of the Dixie Reapers, and now he’s terrified something will happen to us. But living in constant fear isn’t living at all.”
He smiled. “Seems like you have it figured out. Mostly. Beast thinks your dad will show up in the next day or so. I’m not sure how much freedom you’ll have when that happens.”
Naturally. I should have known better. The moment my dad found out where I’d gone, he’d probably started planning to come collect me, like a wayward child or pet. If I went back home with him, I’d die a virgin. There was no way he’d let me out of his sight anytime soon. I loved him. More than my next breath. But being Preacher’s daughter had a downside. It meant being smothered with worry and affection. My mom loved how protective my dad was, and I could understand. Being his daughter, it was different.
“Why did you want me to go to your house? If my dad is on his way, I’ll be going back home soon. He won’t let me stay.”
Cyclops folded his arms and studied me. “I think there are a few things for us to discuss. This café isn’t the right place for that type of conversation.”
The butterflies returned, flapping around my stomach. “Something we can’t talk about here?”
He glanced around before meeting my gaze again. “I guess we could, but I wouldn’t recommend it. Do you trust me?”
I nodded. He’d saved me, and even if he hadn’t, since he belonged to the Reckless Kings, that was good enough for me. I knew Beast didn’t keep traitors around, or evil men. Since he’d spoken to Beast, and the President was aware we were at the café together, it had to mean Beast trusted him.
“Then follow me to the compound. We’ll go straight to my house and discuss your options. Beast knows where to find you, and he’ll hold Lyssa back. But, kitten, it’s not a horrible thing to have people love you so much they worry. I know it seems like the end of the world, and I’d imagine it’s more than a little frustrating, but your parents only want to keep you safe. Nothing wrong with that.”
“I know. It’s overwhelming and tiresome, but I understand why they do it. Doesn’t make it any more tolerable.” I smiled. “Lead the way. I’d love to hear those options.”
Harley Wylde is the International Bestselling Author of the Dixie Reapers MC, Devil’s Boneyard MC, and Hades Abyss MC series. When Harley’s writing, her motto is the hotter the better — off the charts sex, commanding men, and the women who can’t deny them. If you want men who talk dirty, are sexy as hell, and take what they want, then you’ve come to the right place. She doesn’t shy away from the dangers and nastiness in the world, bringing those realities to the pages of her books, but always gives her characters a happily-ever-after and makes sure the bad guys get what they deserve.
The times Harley isn’t writing, she’s thinking up naughty things to do to her husband, drinking copious amounts of Starbucks, and reading. She loves to read and devours a book a day, sometimes more. She’s also fond of TV shows and movies from the 1980’s, as well as paranormal shows from the 1990’s to today, even though she’d much rather be reading or writing.
You can find out more about Harley or enter her monthly giveaway on her website. Be sure to join her newsletter while you’re there to learn more about discounts, signing events, and other goodies!
When former Army Major Cameron Taylor comes home a hero from his deployment in the Middle East his scars run deep – both physically and emotionally. But he’s starting over, running a luxury hotel with his best friends. And Lucy Goodwin, apparently…his high school sweetheart who he’s never quite managed to forget.
There’s only one reason Lucy’s been engaged – and walked away – three times and now he’s standing right in front of her. Cameron Taylor is the man she’s never stopped loving, even when he left her “for her own good” all those years ago. There was nothing good about it, that’s for sure. Just like there’d be nothing good about trying to break down Cameron’s walls now. But that doesn’t mean she’s not tempted to try…
Claire Marti is an award winning and USA Today Bestselling author of swoonworthy Contemporary Romance novels set in Southern California, including the Pacific Vista Ranch series and the spin-off California Suits series. She lives in San Diego with her husband, silly dog, and two clever cats.
Claire started writing stories as soon as she was old enough to pick up pencil and paper. After graduating from the University of Virginia with a BA in English Literature, Claire was sidetracked by other careers, including practicing law, selling software for legal publishers, and managing a non-profit animal rescue for a Hollywood actress.
When Claire’s not writing, she’s teaching yoga. You can find her sixty+ online classes on the international website www.yogadownload.com. A breast cancer survivor, Claire is a sought-after speaker on the power of yoga and meditation. She’s been published in numerous magazines with articles on wellness and is the author of a memoir, Come Ride with Me Along the Big C, on her experience beating breast cancer.
Title: Red Author: Cambria Hebert Series: House of Misfits #3 Genre: MM Contemporary Fairy Tale Romance
Once upon a time…
An orphaned boy runs away, knowing he is better off in solitude than in the company of those with whom he does not belong. However, Little Red is not meant to be alone, his crimson halo a calling card to those far and wide. And so off he goes… into the woods to attract the eye of a wicked wolf.
Better to see you with. Better to hear you with. Better to taste you with.
Astoundingly, the woods are not a frightening place, and Little Red flourishes among the weeds and thorns until he isn’t so little anymore. And the wicked wolf he’s gone to catch? Well, this forest has more than one, and perversely, their snapping teeth and sharp claws make him feel at home. Years after walking into the woods, Red is expected to walk back out, carrying with him the head of the most dangerous predator.
But those who sent him into the forest failed to take into account that not everyone fears the bite of the big bad wolf. Some crave it…
Not even the noise-canceling headphones could drown out his shout. My fingers paused in flying over the keyboard but resumed when nothing else followed.
A moment later, he yelled again. I glanced up out of the blue-toned bubble the monitors always surrounded me with. He was not a peaceful sleeper. I normally ignored him, but tonight I couldn’t. Tonight he was annoying me more than usual.
Shoving back one side of the headphones, I listened anew.
“No,” he wailed, and something twisted in my gut.
I tossed the headphones onto my desk, moving out from behind my setup, adjusting the beanie I wore as I strode toward the bedroom. Pushing open the door without knocking, I folded my arms over my chest in the doorway.
“Hey,” I called.
He seemed too big for the bed as he thrashed around, breathing heavily and muttering too low for me to understand.
Sighing, I stepped into the dark room out of the light spilling in from the living room. His forehead was damp with a sheen of sweat, his messy dark hair matted in it.
“Wake up,” I intoned, still staring down.
His body stilled for a brief moment, making me think I’d managed to wake him. “I’m trying to work,” I bitched, turning away.
A keening sound filled the room, followed by a broken sob. Footsteps faltering, I turned back, realizing he was still trapped wherever he was. The pain etched in his features made my chest tight, and a sudden need to comfort had me leaning over him.
“Daeshim,” I called.
His face softened just a bit, and it made something inside me ease.
“Daeshim.” I called out to him again, this time reaching out to tap his cheek.
He moved so fast I didn’t even realize what was happening until I was on my back, pinned beneath him. The mattress was soft, but maybe it only felt that way because the body pinning me in place was rock hard.
“What the hell are you doing?” I grunted, trying to shove him off.
His eyes snapped open, but there was no one home. An uneasy feeling wormed around inside me, my fight-or-flight response coming in hot.
I shoved at his shoulders again, watching his face contort in menace. Daeshim was basically a gangster. A criminal and an asshole. He was also my roommate. I’d never been scared of him.
But as his hands shot out, locking around my neck to squeeze, fear bloomed.
I opened my mouth to yell at him, but all that came out was a strangled sound. Panic assaulted me, bursting over everything else and making me feel like I was fighting even though all my physical movements stopped.
Get it together! A voice demanded inside me, effectively stopping the absolute control of the panic.
Grunting, I twisted under him, but his weight pushed me harder into the bed.
Wheezing and eyes bulging, I grappled at his arms, digging my nails into them, trying to pry away his hands.
The set of his mouth was grim, and his eyes glittered with that creepy, empty, nobody’s-home look.
“Dae—” I wheezed, twisting and slapping his arm. “Daeshim.”
He blinked, and I was able to drag in some air before he started strangling me anew. He was in there.
I just have to—
The thought cut off as spots started to swim before my eyes. It was do or die. Literally.
Letting my body go lax under his, I put every last bit of effort into the fist I clenched at my side.
Then, just before this asshole overpowered me, I launched a right hook into the side of his head.
Cambria Hebert is an award winning, bestselling novelist of more than twenty books. She went to college for a bachelor’s degree, couldn’t pick a major, and ended up with a degree in cosmetology. So rest assured her characters will always have good hair.
Besides writing, Cambria loves a caramel latte, staying up late, sleeping in, and watching movies. She considers math human torture and has an irrational fear of chickens (yes, chickens). You can often find her running on the treadmill (she’d rather be eating a donut), painting her toenails (because she bites her fingernails), or walking her chorkie (the real boss of the house).
Cambria has written within the young adult and new adult genres, penning many paranormal and contemporary titles. Her favorite genre to read and write is romantic suspense. A few of her most recognized titles are: The Hashtag Series, Text, Torch, and Tattoo.
Cambria Hebert owns and operates Cambria Hebert Books, LLC.
Darkness lurks behind their gazes. There’s something sinister about their smiles. Their name incites fear in their enemies. They are the DeLucas, and there’s one word that describes them best. SAVAGE.
The men of the DeLuca family are proof that the more ruthless the savage, the harder they fall…in love.
Download this exclusive anthology featuring 20 BRAND NEW mafia romances to find out which DeLuca will make you fall in love. But first, you must ask yourself one question: Are you ready to give your heart to a savage?
Immerse yourself in this dangerously seductive collection that includes: *Arranged marriage *Friends to lovers *Enemies to lovers *Billionaire *Secret Baby *Second Chance *InstaLove *Second Chance *Grumpy Boss *BWWM *And more!
Title: Dear Isobel Author: Jinny Alexander Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Two marriages, a bucket full of dreams and a pile of broken hearts.
She’s not sharing her name. She’s been judged enough.
Once, she had it all: a supportive husband, lovely children, and a prestigious career revitalising failing businesses in the wake of Ireland’s recession.
When her friend Isobel suggested she take on a new job in their tiny rural community, she didn’t expect to fall in love.
Now she has become the other woman, the marriage wrecker, the cheat, and the betrayer.
When the illicit relationship ends, she’s stuck between the ruined affair and a crumbling marriage. Jobless and bereft, she must try to salvage what remains.
Will talking to Isobel help pick up the pieces or shatter their lives forever?
My tears anger her, she does not understand them. Nonetheless, it still catches me unawares, almost an entire week later, when I am the recipient of the emotional outburst bleeping into my inbox to inform me that my own emotional outbursts are unwelcome.
Dear Isobel,
Thank you for your emotional outburst to ask me not to have any emotional outbursts. It is good of you, as always, to tell me not to reply, just in case we begin an everlasting text conversation reminding each other not to have emotional outbursts.
Among the many things I cannot comprehend, I cannot comprehend her lack of understanding that this is an emotional time for me, as well as for her. How can she not understand I have lost the family I’ve known for the last four years and that her family have lost me? How can she not understand that for me to leave everything I ever wanted behind me, with the tears I shed on her doorstep, will undoubtedly make me cry and cry and cry? I know I am the cheater and not the cheated, but, at times like this, it still feels as if we have lost the same things, Isobel and me. I can still put myself in her shoes, so why can she no longer fit into mine? Her text is emotional, with misspellings and anger, and I can tell she has been drinking.
Dear Isobel,
You should hide your phone before you open wine.
There is an element of hypocrisy I must admit to, as I send this text with the uncomfortable knowledge that I, too, should hide my own wine, along with my phone.
Dear Isobel,
It is good of you to keep up this regular contact, approximately once weekly, I believe so far, to remind me not to have any contact with you. I appreciate it.
She clearly doesn’t realise I will think of her weekly even without her reminding me not to think of her. Daily, even. Hourly, in fact. I wonder will there ever come a time when she and Charles do not fill my thoughts in all my waking hours?
Dear Isobel,
Why don’t you realise that each time you contact me, it triggers a thousand memories, and I then spend far longer thinking of your husband than I was before your message came through?
Although I was pleased to have seen him, and to have spoken to him, while the girls had their lesson on that dark night, and to have remained calm and civil, I then go to bed thinking of him, and wishing it was not like this. I lie against my own husband—I drape my arms and legs around and across and over him—but it is not him I am thinking of as I fall asleep.
Dear Isobel,
Which of us is Charles thinking of as he lies next to you and falls asleep?
Jinny was first published in Horse and Pony magazine at the age of ten. She’s striving to achieve equal accolade now she’s (allegedly) a grown up. She secured a publishing deal in December 2020 and her first two novels will be released by Creative James Media in 2022.
Jinny teaches English as a foreign language to people all over the world, which gives her an endless source of new inspiration for stories. Her home for now is in rural Ireland, which she shares with her husband and far too many animals. Her two children have grown up and flown the nest – mostly. She quite likes to shut the door on them all and write.
