A NEW RELEASE! The Skeletons We Keep

Amazon.com reviewers say:

'A tense, emotionally charged domestic noir thriller that grips you from the first chapter.' - Brittany Sanders

'I would definitely recommend this for mystery or thriller readers.' - TV

'An emotional roller-coaster ride that you do not want to get off of.' - Bobbi Jo Wagner

Lauren and Kane each harbor a dark secret. One of them believes their secret is safely buried, but the other is very much aware their skeletons share the same closet.

After Lauren experiences a traumatic assault, she returns to her small hometown of Lamington, Massachusetts. Finding a job in a local bookstore, she meets the charming Kane, a security consultant, and an immediate attraction sparks between the two. As their relationship develops, she puts her past behind her and looks forward to the future.

When Lauren finds a box of Kane's hidden in the attic, long-buried memories are triggered. Faced with a discovery that makes her life a living nightmare and promises to destroy her hope of happiness, she takes matters into her own hands.

If you enjoy intricate, twisty plots, and relentless suspense, then you'll love this chilling exploration of unforeseen consequences. Buy The Secrets We Keep today and start reading a story you'll be unable put down.

20% OFF THIS MULTI-GENRE WOMEN'S FICTION BUNDLE: THE SKELETONS WE KEEP + ONE SUMMER IN MONTMARTRE + THE SERENDIPITY GAME. (This 20% discount bundle is offered at checkout and markdown price automatically applied.)

READ A SAMPLE

PROLOGUE

Lauren stared, transfixed by the message on her cell phone as the frenetic Friday lunchtime shoppers in Louisville's Central Mall swirled around her. She ignored the shiny shop windows, with their glaring displays that dared you to look away, the mishmash of voices from moms out shopping, office workers on lunch breaks, and students from the local high school. A gaggle of teenage girls, their piercing giggles ricocheting off the white-tiled walls, separated and flowed around her without a break, as if they were a river and she, a rock in their path, hindering their progress not the slightest.

The pressure in her chest increased, as did her heart rate, and the heat in her neck and cheeks intensified. She clenched her fists, knuckles whitening around the phone as she reread Tod's text. 'It's not you, it's me. We've had some great dates, Lauren, and you're great, but I'm looking for something more exciting than the girl next door.'

What irritated her, apart from the lack of originality in his choice of words, was that he had beaten her to it. They hadn't dated for long—a month, possibly a half-dozen dates—and while the scintillation of an initial attraction had drawn them together, any potential had soon withered. She'd prepared her own version of the it's-me-not-you speech, but would have waited for their date tonight and delivered it to him with a soft expression, fingers touching his arm, her tone regretful. Having perfected the art of droning on about himself, once he got going, crevices in the wall of his discourse were rare. She bristled. What did he mean by someone more exciting than the girl next door?

A man darted past, knocking her arm, startling her. She almost dropped her phone and turned to yell something after him, but all she could spot was a bobbing head of fair hair that disappeared into the crowd.

"Hey, you!" Maria tapped her on the shoulder.

Since leaving college and settling in Louisville, her co-worker had become a close friend. Lauren thrust the phone at Maria. "Check this out."

"It'd better be short, or else we'll have Humpty Dumpty on our asses."

"Oh, it's got that box ticked." Lauren watched Maria's mouth turn down at the corners as she scanned the message.

"Oh, babe. That's not cool. Why don't you come out with me and Ellie tonight? We're gonna hit a few bars, perhaps a club or two. You can have a blowout and forget that sad sack. What do you say? We'll turn Tod into a dot that you can lose in your rear-view mirror. Get it? Tod. Dot."

A snorting giggle burst from Lauren's mouth. "Yeah." She clapped her hands. "Smush! Gone."

"We'll swing past yours around eight. Okay?"

"Sure." She hugged Maria. "Thank you. You're a real friend."

"C'mon, let's move it before we lose our jobs."

Even after two months, Lauren was still high on the buzz of living in her own place in Louisville. In Stafford County's capital, she had a spacious studio apartment on the first floor of a three-story brownstone with an east-facing bay window. The view boasted a patch of lawn with picnic benches and backed onto a pathway that ran alongside Central Canal. Tenants could sit out on warm summer evenings, enjoy a barbecue, and people-watch as joggers and cyclists raced by, lone dog walkers strolled and laughing families chatted.

"Very Scandinavian," Maria had commented when she helped Lauren move in, her eyes approving as she scrutinized the white walls and baseboards in gray, the small kitchenette with a tiny cooker and fridge freezer, the reversible bookcase that housed a double Murphy bed. The wooden table, which seated two, served for eating, as well as a desk and her ironing board. Somehow, though, its pale wood surface attracted stray objects: bills and her current paperback. At the moment, it housed a lit candle, her makeup, an opened bottle of wine, and a half-empty glass of sparkling ruby liquid. She'd developed the habit of having a glass or two when applying her makeup, so her inhibitions were in neutral, if not deactivated, by the time she left the apartment.

Continue reading to discover Lauren's story...

The Skeletons We Keep is a suspense-filled domestic noir psychological thriller that reels you in and takes you on an emotional rollercoaster.

20% OFF THIS MULTI-GENRE WOMEN'S FICTION BUNDLE: THE SKELETONS WE KEEP + ONE SUMMER IN MONTMARTRE + THE SERENDIPITY GAME. (This 20% discount bundle is offered at checkout and markdown price automatically applied.)

KEEP READING!