Combining heart-soaring contemporary romance with heart-pounding suspense is a trademark of New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lori Ryan—and in her novel Ever Hopeful she delivers spectacularly on both counts.
Two-months pregnant and trapped in a violent marriage, Laura Kensington realizes that her ruthless and powerful in-laws will never let her go, even after the strange sudden death of her abusive husband. Fleeing far away to the Texas ranch of Cade Bishop, a strong yet tender man who believes in second chances, Laura finds herself irresistibly drawn to Cade’s gentle passion and giving heart. But there is no escaping the shadows of her past and soon danger re-enters her world, pulling Laura into a deadly web of lies, betrayals, and murder. And only Cade Bishop’s quiet strength and unwavering love can set her free.
Laura laid her hand in his, so big and strong and protective. She tried to ignore the way that hand made her feel, the way his warm strength caused her body to thrum with electricity. He tugged her out the back of the barn and around to one side where the Jeep she’d seen many times was parked.
“Shane was going to show you this later, but this is probably a better time,” he said, opening the door and reaching into the glove box. Cade pulled out a set of keys and turned to sit on the seat of the car, long legs hanging over the edge. He pulled Laura into him so that she stood with one of her legs brushing his. They’d never stood this close – this intimately. He’d always kept his distance. But, now there was a closeness she hadn’t dared to crave for more than three years.
Cade held out the keys to her and pointed out the key to the Jeep. He looked her dead in the eye when he spoke and she could see how much he meant the words he was saying. “This is always in here. If anything happens, if you even think someone is coming or you see anything
suspicious, I want you to take the Jeep.”
Laura opened her mouth to object, but he cut her off. “Take it Laura. You need to have a way to get to safety if anything happens and I’m not here to protect you.”
Her heart flinched at the thought that he would want to protect her. And, at the thought that maybe he couldn’t. She nodded at him.
Cade took out another key, looped on a chain, and held it up to her. It was a smaller key, brass with a number on the side. He leaned back into the car and drew a piece of paper out of the glove box.
“This is the key to a bus station locker. Shane had some business in Johnson City a few days ago. He went to the bus station there and put ten thousand dollars in cash in a locker. This locker,” he said showing her the key and then the paper.
“There are directions to the bus locker here. There are also times and meeting places.”
Laura looked at the paper.
Noon, two days after you run: Baird Diner in Searcy, Arkansas.
Noon, four days after you run: Casey’s Barbeque, Springfield, Tennessee.
The list went on specifying ten separate meeting locations. Laura looked up at Cade, unable to speak.
“If you have to run and I can’t go with you, this is where I’ll meet you when it’s safe. If I’m not there, it means it’s not safe for me to come and get you yet, so you keep moving and get to the next meeting spot. If you get to the end, go back and start over at the top of the list. I’ll be there for you as soon as it’s safe. I promise you that, Laura. This is your running plan. This is what you do if you have to run.”
Ever Hopeful will be priced at 99 cents for the first two weeks!
Price increases to 2.99 on February 10th
Amazon/Amazon UK/B&N/Kobo
Lori Ryan is a NY Times and USA Today bestselling author who writes contemporary romance with a twist of suspense. She lives with an extremely understanding husband, two wonderful children, two mostly behaved dogs, and a lone little cat in Austin, Texas. It’s a bit of a zoo, but she wouldn’t change a thing.
Lori published her first novel in April of 2013 and has written three more books since then. Each of Lori’s books have made their way to the Amazon bestseller list and she quickly climbed the Amazon bestselling author list, as well. In November, 2013, Lori and a group of romantic suspense authors landed on the USA Today and NY Times bestseller lists with an anthology only eight months after the release of Lori’s first book.
Lori loves to connect with her readers. Follow her on Facebook or Twitter or subscribe to her blog. Oh, and if you’ve read Lori’s books and loved them, please consider leaving a review on Amazon.com or with the retailer of your choice. Writers live and die by their reviews and Lori promises to do a happy dance around her office every time you write one!
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1 comment:
Thanks for the awesome giveaway. I would love to read this book. Sounds very good. Tore923@aol.com
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