Category: Writing

Cover Love: Breaking Chance

On By Kim KnoxIn Breaking Chance, Covers, Samhain Publishing, Writing3 Comments

I’ve had to sit on this cover for weeks…but now here it is:

Blurb for Breaking Chance:

What a girl wants—and what a girl needs—are sometimes two different things…

For Melissa “Lucky” Chance, another stretch in Ganymede’s ice prison is nothing new. The flash-freeze that’s supposed to destroy her will only leaves her with an insatiable desire for the first hot body she lays eyes on. Except this time, she faces a death sentence. Her only hope of escape lies with the man known as The Butcher.

John Ramius understands the logic behind his conviction as a criminally insane mass murderer. No man should have been able to slaughter over fifty men in as many minutes, but no one sees the underlying curse that compels him to sense—and fulfill—someone’s deepest need. Chance’s skill will free him to kill the Sun-King; he will find no rest until he does.

As they run from the forces of the Jovian colonies, Ramius finds himself temporarily sidetracked, not only by Chance’s relentless desire, but by her underlying, unspoken need. Ignoring it—or his own compulsion to do every wicked thing to her imaginable—is not an option.

Only after all their defenses are stripped away do they discover that their meeting wasn’t by chance. Someone is manipulating them both, and the only way out is the path to their destruction…

Warning: This book contains explicit sex, thieves, murderers, a sentient ship and a hero who will give you exactly what you need. Not responsible for reader’s sudden compulsion to jump significant other’s bones.

FREE Kindle Title: Weaving Words

On By Kim KnoxIn Free Read, Kindle Free Read, Samhain Publishing, Weaving Words, Writing

Yep, I have a free title up for the next fortnight on Kindle.  15-28 December to be exact 😀

Amazon Kindle Link On this page is a link to downloading a Kindle App to your PC and iPhone/iPod Touch too

Easy part of his day? Resurrecting the dead. Hard part? Keeping them alive.

Kaede is a witch whose family has been bound to a powerful House for over a thousand years. And he hates it. Despite the fact that his lord, Tarou, murdered his mother, Kaede is sworn never to harm the man who could kill him with just seven words. Now he’s been commanded to use his unique powers to resurrect Tarou’s wife from the dead, and he has no choice but to comply. Things go horribly wrong when he accidentally pulls the wrong soul back. Now it’s not just his own life he must try to save.

Vara’s day couldn’t get much more bizarre. One moment she-s a captain in the Temple Guard. The next, she finds herself transported into a world of magic and witches-and stuffed into the body of a lord’s wife. Unwillingly plunged into middle of a deadly power struggle, the only one Vara can turn to is Kaede, the witch responsible for dragging her into this alien world. A witch she finds far too attractive…

Warning: This book contains the following; magic, witches and more body-swapping than is safely sane.

And Mrs Giggles said about it: ‘Weaving Words is easily one of the most interesting short stories I’ve read in a while and I love it. I love the ghoulish way the magic works in that setting and I love the story. I love the way things turn out.’

It appears to be free to the US only, btw…

Warflesh ~ available now!

On By Kim KnoxIn Ellora's Cave, Warflesh, Writing

warflesh_msrFina Brodie is warflesh. Enhanced by her government to bring ultimate pleasure, her negotiation skills secure anything her superiors want. The choice of pleasure she offers has always been hers. Until now. She’s not meeting Kian, Lord of the Tir, to negotiate for their mysterious spice-water. She’s payment.

And she’s not alone in bringing pleasure to the mysterious Tir leader. The man Kian has chosen to join them in the very sexual, very public spring festival has long headed her “never ever” list. Add the spice-water, which is rocket fuel to her already highly evolved libido, and it makes her reactions to Jonathon Raegh all the more dangerous.

But the Tir have a hidden agenda, and as the aphrodisiac qualities of the spice-water ignite long-suppressed lusts, all is revealed to Kian, Fina and Jon in the heat and passion of the arena.

Reader Advisory: Let there be no confusion. The spring festival is a sexual feast between two incredibly sexy men and one very lucky woman. Get the ice water ready!

Buy link and Excerpt

Excerpt Monday: Satin Spar

On By Kim KnoxIn Excerpt Monday, Satin Spar, Writing9 Comments

Once a month, a bunch of authors get together and post excerpts from published books, contracted work or works in progress, and link to each other. You don’t have to be published to participate–just an writer with an excerpt you’d like to share. For more info on how to participate, head over to the Excerpt Monday site! or site! or click on the banner above.

Blurb

Scar’s marbled skin and stunted tail aren’t all that make her stand out. Her Caraniae DNA has a strange effect on the male of the species, which makes her career as a pilot perfect. The less interaction she has with people–with men–the better. She won’t risk her wayward pheromones bonding her forever to one man.

Then there’s her boss’s new bodyguard, Anthony Tyler. The pure-human is tight-lipped about his sketchy past. He also seems determined to work her prehensile tail off.

Once imprisoned and drummed out of the Corps for conduct unbecoming, Tyler is intrigued with his ship’s unheard-of, human-Caraniae hybrid. He spent his career fighting her kind, but when a message from home throws Scar into a tailspin, he finds himself drawn to help her in any way he can. Even if it means risking life and limb to help her sweat out her anger.

Their sparring session turns into something else. Something wildly sexual. Something so wrong as to be suicidal–if Scar’s father discovers she’s bonded with anyone other than the husband he’s forcing her to marry…

Warning: This book contains violence, nekkid wrestling and hot, alien-human naughtiness.

Satin Spar
(c) Kim Knox 2009
Buy Link

“What do you want me to do?”

She smiled that wicked Caraniae smile. Her strong thighs gripped him and before he knew exactly how, he was on his back. Surprise had worked his grip free and now she pinned his arms to the cool sand. “You disobeyed orders. How?”

“That’s not what I thought you’d ask.”

She smirked. “Satisfy my curiosity first.”

Time for the sanitised truth, the woman was half-Caraniae after all. “There was a suspected nest. We went in.” The Corps had ordered an atrocity at Vistern Ridge. With the end of the war, they’d buried that order and his career. Tyler pushed back the memories; they were a part of his old life. “I refused to authorise the clean up.”

“And that’s a euphemism for…?”

The muscles in his jaw tightened. “It’s not open for discussion.”

Scar leaned forward, pressing deliciously along his erection. Her mouth hovered over his, her lips almost touching. Just a simple tilt of his head would– “Want to discuss it now?”

“Why are you pressing this?”

“What? This?” And she shifted her hips in a slow slide that had him involuntarily thrusting up to meet her. “So…why are you here, Tyler?”

She was still asking him questions. Why the hell was she still asking him questions? “Scar…?”

“Rochester told you who my stepfather is, didn’t he?”

Tyler held down a curse. Sparring with her would’ve seemed natural. Throwing her on her back and offering her whatever she wanted…yes, didn’t he look obvious now? “He mentioned it in passing.”

Scar’s expression was unreadable as she sat up. The friction made him wince. His erection mocked him. “And you just thought you’d drop by, say hello, curry favour?” She wiggled and he sucked in a breath. “Offer me this?”

“That wasn’t planned.”

Her mouth twisted and there was a hardness to her eyes, hiding…what? He wanted to label it nerves, but that would be crazy.

“An unexpected bonus?”

“Scar…”

She leapt up with an unnatural agility and offered her hand. “Let me try not to kill you.”

Tyler grabbed her hand and she pulled him effortlessly to his feet. “Suddenly this is not a good idea.”

“Really?”

Tyler shucked off his jacket and threw it beyond the edge of the arena. His fingers moved to his shirt and stopped. What was he doing? A fight felt more real, more immediate to him when air brushed his skin. But now, that would be so very wrong. He kicked off his boots and pulled at his socks instead. His toes curled into the warming sand.

“Finished?” Scar lifted an eyebrow. “Can we fight now?”

“Impatient for me to beat you?”

She burst forward, but he stopped her attempt to grab him, blocking her with a palm-strike. Dropping, she tried to strike him. Another block. She swung around and struck out again. She was quick, fast and strong. It was fun to play with her–

“You’re grinning. Think this is funny?” She growled and his balls tightened.

He staggered at the kick to his shin. She leapt, crashing him to the sand, and ripped at his shirt. She nipped at his neck with her teeth and Tyler’s vision blurred. Blood raced south. Her scent burned through him and he tugged at her undershirt, the thin cotton tearing across her back.

“Ah, so that’s what you want to play.” Her lips brushed against his throat, searing the words into his skin.

His hands slid down her spine and found her tail curling tight around his right wrist. It squeezed hard. “Scar…” He couldn’t help the low, warning snarl. “This is not playing fair.”

She lifted her head and grinned at him. “I want to fight, not fuck, Tyler.”

She whipped free of him, standing back, her body loose and ready to attack him again. Tyler rolled to his feet and tried to keep his eyes off her small, firm and now very exposed breasts. Fire flickered under his skin and the only thought that consumed him was his need to get her shorts off. Some insane voice in the back of his head screamed that she had to be naked. And so should he.

“Shall we make this interesting?”

Her green eyes narrowed as she edged around him, matching his movements. “Interesting, how?”

“You take a fall, you lose clothing.”

Scar stared down at her body. She looked back up at him from under her lashes, her eyebrow lifting. “I only have these. You have trousers and underwear. What say we make it even first?”

Tyler paused, to give the illusion that he was reluctant. But that small voice wanted his fingers to fly. His mouth pursed. “Fine.” And his trousers pooled at his feet. He threw them and both of their shredded shirts out of the arena. “Happy?”

Her smile was wicked. “When you’re on your back, I will be.”

His cock twitched. Her scent drifted above the sterile odour of the filtered air and the dryness of the sand, something sweet and intoxicating. His chest tightened. He wanted her–

Scar’s foot connected with his knee and he grunted. Muscle instinct took over and he grabbed her arm, yanking her forward and kicking out her legs. She thumped into the sand, face down. Tyler straddled her thighs. “One for me, I think,” he murmured. His fingers slid down her spine, easing over her ribs until he reached her hips. He hooked a finger into her shorts and twanged them.

“Okay, you got this one,” she muttered and he was certain there was a curse mixed in under her breath. “But after I get you…” her head turned and bright green eyes speared him, “…and I will, then the one who beats the other into submission is the winner. Agreed?”

“Agreed,” Tyler murmured. “Now I take my reward.”

—————————————-

Thanks for reading!

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Note: I have not personally screened the Excerpt Monday excerpts. Please heed the ratings and be aware that the links may contain material that is not typical of my site.
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Loose ID Hot Hooks Contest

On By Kim KnoxIn Loose ID, Touch of a Dragon, Writing

I made the Top Ten for this Loose ID contest on Sunday!  Yes, I’m late in posting.  It’s Twitter’s fault.  I definitely blog less now that I use that, lol

So, this is the hook and 250 that got me enough votes to send me to the next round. I’ve sent in the first thousand words of Touch of a Dragon. I’m not certain whether it’ll be an in-house choice of the Top Five or readers will again get to decide, but I should know whether I made it to the next stage by 19 November.

Story Hook for Touch of a Dragon
“Do you want to live?”

Half dead and under a heap of rubble, Leona Munro isn’t going to turn down that offer. Yet accepting, spins her life out of control. She is the Chosen and what that means no one will say.

Thrown into the world of magic she secretly craves, Leona must find the strength to survive. Too many people want to use what she is to their own advantage in the war between technology and magic. She can trust no one…least of all the sinfully attractive Samuel Blake.

First 250:
“Do you want to live?”

What the hell…?

I focused on the brown hand thrust into my face, held onto it like a lifeline. Everything else around me was a scorched blur. My heart beat hard and pain rode through my flesh. Did I want to live? Where was I? What had happened? Panic bubbled and words burst out. “What sort of insane question is that?” I choked and agony shot over my skull.

“Make a choice.”

I breathed slow, wanting to ease the fear, the pain enveloping me and refocused on the man’s hand, on the ring on his third finger. Heavy, white gold and ornate, it gleamed against his smooth, brown skin. Something about it itched, tugging at my memory, but my dull brain couldn’t help me remember. I concentrated on his question instead. Letting out a slow breath, my throat hurt. “Choice?”

More sensation worked its way through my fogged brain, breaking the pounding pain beating against my skull. Flagstones scraped against my cheek, my jaw. Cold air brushed against my skin and the thin taste of smoke, brick dust, the river’s damp air slid into my lungs. I swallowed and blood and grit thickened in my mouth. All right, I was lying down outside somewhere. Which made no sense. I’d been what…heading into work? And then what? Collapsed, passed out? Now some freak with insane questions had found me. Always my luck.

Her Dark Soul: A *very* sneaky peek *grin*

On By Kim KnoxIn Excerpt Monday, Her Dark Soul, Wips, Writing8 Comments

Excerpt Monday LogoOnce a month, a bunch of authors get together and post excerpts from published books, contracted work or works in progress, and link to each other. You=2 0don’t have to be published to participate–just an writer with an excerpt you’d like to share. For more info on how to participate, head over to the Excerpt Monday site! or click on the banner above.

This is still very much a wip.  It’s unedited and still unfinished, with probably about another 20-25k to go.  I’m playing with fantasy again.  I’ve not done that for a long time.  It’s fun.

Her Dark Soul

(c) 2009 Kim Knox

A tall man, as tall as the eunuch priests was a dark shadow in the high archway.  Ash bit her lip.  He stood straight, his outline against the brightness lean and strong.  An old man the goddess had smiled on?  Was that…

All thought wiped away as he strode towards them and Ash sucked in a quick breath.  The first thought that burned back into her brain was that he wasn’t old.  Far from it.  She willed her mouth shut, because she wanted to let it gape and simply hang there.  Marek the custodian was a man in his prime, with an angled, male face browned by the sun.  His eyes and thick hair were the same colour, as dark as shadow, matching his heavy wool cloak and solid leather boots.  Tavio’s memory paled beside Marek’s beauty and Ash’s face reddened as she felt the unexpected heavy pull of need low in her flesh.

“Marek.”  Nelek hustled forward and gave him a short bow.  Marek returned it with a fluid, physical grace that had Ash’s heart beating hard.  “Everything is prepared.”

Marek’s dark gaze moved away from the First Priest to slide over her, impersonal, assessing and Ash couldn’t help herself, she held her breath.  “Nothing was said about a ward.”  His voice was as dark, as strong as the rest of him and undercut with a hint of anger.  “This changes everything, Nelek.”

“The goddess has spoken.”  Nelek’s light voice sounded pleasant, reasonable, but Ash knew him.  He had risen to his high position for a reason.  Very few got the best of the First Priest of the goddess Fausta.  “And the emperor has placed his seal upon this action.”

A muscle jumped in Marek’s lean jaw and his gaze, which had never left her, narrowed.  Her stomach turned over at the flare of bitter anger burning in him.  “Show me.”

“Marek, you doubt—“

“Show me.”

The words were a low growl that lifted the hairs on the back of Ash’s neck and tingled down her spine.  Her birthmark burned and the unexpected reaction forced her to bit at her cheek to keep back her gasp.

Nelek clicked his fingers at one of the slaves.  The man gave the priest a quick nod and ran back through the smaller door into the priests’ compound.  Within moments, he returned with a scroll, around which curved the blood red and gold of the emperor’s seal.  Marek took it, broke the seal and scanned the contents.  He frowned.

He smacked the scroll back into the slave’s open palm and moved past Nelek.  Ash’s heart hammered as he approached her.  He stopped close enough for her to breathe in his scent, a mix of leather, unknown spices and male skin.  He leaned in.  She willed her spine straight, though her fingers crushed the leather strap of her satchel as his mouth hovered over hers.

“Marek!”

Ash ignored Nelek’s shrill voice.  Marek’s dark eyes speared her, and she almost lost herself in their endlessness.  Her lips parted and she tasted his breath, sweet, hot and the temptation of his mouth flared Ash’s body with desire.  The need to tease her tongue over his full bottom lip, to see if could possibly taste as good as he did in her wildly spinning imagination drove heat hard through her flesh, tightened her breasts.  She ached to press herself against the lean hardness of his body, for him to—

“And this is the best ward you have?”  His words spoken against her skin, his lips catching hers in a light caress, broke a gasp from her.  “I could bend her over and fuck her right here.”

Ash’s cheeks flamed and she staggered back from him, her spine hitting the cool stone of the atrium wall.

Marek lifted an eyebrow and his eyes gleamed, his gaze roaming over her body as hot and sharp as any of the slaves who had watched her.  “Yank up your robe.”

Two strides and he was almost pressed against her.  His male scent, the strength of his body pulsed through her, bringing with it a raw panic and a mortifying need.  They’d said he wouldn’t want this, that the custodian would protect her.  His lips teased the shell of her ear and liquid fire flickered low in her belly.

“Want me to breach you, ward?”

Ash cried out as he cupped her, his fingers pressing against the hot, aching flesh between her thighs.  “All right, let’s give the eunuch a show.”

“Marek!”

Nelek tugged at his arm, but Ash knew it was as if the first priest tugged at iron and Marek shoved the priest away.  His finger curled and the sudden sharp flare of almost overwhelming pleasure arched her into him.  “Are you a ward?”

He growled the words against her lips and the ache for him to kiss her, the surge of unknown heat tearing up through her flesh made her heart pound.  She didn’t want to talk, she wanted to taste him, thread her fingers through his thick hair and crush his mouth to hers.

“Are you?”  His finger pressed a slow circle into her flesh and she had to grab at his shoulders, her breath little more than pants.  “Show me.  Show us all.”

Thanks for reading!

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Note: I have not personally screened these excerpts. Please heed the ratings and be aware that the links may contain material that is not typical of my site.
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Warflesh has a release date

On By Kim KnoxIn Warflesh, Writing1 Comment

Warflesh has a release date: 13 November 2009

I think that’s my last release for this year! lolol I’ve had a crop, more than I ever thought I’d have, so I’m very happy 🙂

Consort
Flesh and Shadows
Demonic Attraction
Dark Host
Chosen One
Ruthless Beauty
Satin Spar (20 October)
…and Warflesh.

Now I have to start to fill up next year… 😉 I have these so far:

Breaking Chance (March)
Emergence (June)

Her Dark Soul is at 33k. I stalled at the beginning of the week, got slapped about the head by a couple of plot bunnies, had family things, Ruthless Beauty released and I’ve sort of flitted. So today, I have to see whether a demon sub is viable and get back to Her Dark Soul at the weekend.

Excerpt Monday: Warflesh – sneak peek

On By Kim KnoxIn Ellora's Cave, Excerpt Monday, Warflesh, Writing12 Comments

Once a month, a bunch of authors get together and post excerpts from published books, contracted work or works in progress, and link to each other. You don’t have to be published to participate–just an writer with an excerpt you’d like to share. For more info on how to participate, head over to the Excerpt Monday site! or click on the banner above.

WARFLESH – by Kim Knox

Here’s a sneaky peek at my latest novella for Ellora’s Cave. No date yet, it hasn’t been edited and I think it’s only me, my editor… and now you who’ve read this… *grin*

Short blurb

The emperor of the Hatrailt is old, dying and he needs spice-water to stay alive.  He will sacrifice almost anything to get it…and that includes Fina Brodie

Fina is warflesh.  Enhanced by her government to bring ultimate pleasure, her negotiation skills secure anything her superiors want.  The choice of pleasure she offers has always been hers.  Until now.  She’s not meeting Kian, Lord of the Tir,  with her guard, Jon Raegh, to negotiate .  She–they’re–payment.

Excerpt

The warm scent of his skin taunted her and she focused on every breath.  She had to, because the need to surge forward and take his luscious mouth consumed her.  “This is a part of the mission, Jon.  We drink the water and we…resist.”

“Resist?”

Her flesh tightened at the promise in his question.  He moved closer, his hands sliding over the smooth leather of the seat, bringing his tempting mouth so much closer to hers.  She swallowed and couldn’t stop her instinct to lift her face to his.  “As I said—”

“I could take you right here, right now and no one would have to know.”

Jon’s warm breath brushed over her lips and she groaned.  It had nothing to do with her reawakened longing for him.  Nothing at all.  Her years of training had evaporated under the force of a too pretty face and an alien drink.  “Captain…”

“This isn’t whatever the hell was in that water.”  He fixed his gaze on her mouth and her lips parted involuntarily.  “Had a senior Captain not been on the deck, I would’ve pushed you up against the hull of this transport and fucked you.”  His thumb traced over her jaw, her chin, the contract electric.  “You wanted that.  You want me.”

Her throat tightened, the thud of her heart too loud in her ears.  This wasn’t the Jon she knew. No, the spice-water had him in its grip.  The painful memory from the darkened alley reared again, of how she had witnessed the heat die in his eyes.  She’d thought to grab her chance after he’d been called up to the Antilles Squadron as she was unlikely ever to see him again.  But Jon had pushed her away, stood back and coolly said he was sorry for giving her the wrong impression.  The memory pricked at her growing need.  Seven years and the pain of his rejection still twisted her insides.  His desire for her was false.  And it stabbed at her, more than his disinterest ever could.

She forced out her answer.  “No.  It never occurred to me.”

“Liar.”

Fina straightened, her fingers pressing the cup hard into her palm.  She needed something to distract her, but even the pain of the cold metal into her skin didn’t work.  “I don’t appreciate being called a liar, Captain Raegh.”

His eyebrow lifted.  “I could use my mouth for things other than accusation.”

“Our orders are to drink only.”

“Really?”  His thumb drew light across her bottom lip and the simple touch pulsed hot under her skin.  Her tongue tip flicked against his thumb tip and he sucked in a quick, harsh breath.  “Why?”

“Orders are orders.”

His thumb slipped away, but his fingers splayed over her cheek, her neck, tangled in her hair.  His lips almost, almost brushed hers.  It forced her heart into her throat and she couldn’t breathe.  “You’re an ambassador.”

“Today.  Most other days, I’m a grunt.”  And that was an unwanted truth.  She had no power, no say in her mission.  She pulled in air and his breath mixed with hers, sweet, wanted and her spine arched, closing the millimetres that separated their mouths.  Her lips touched his and her chest hitched.  Jon’s fingers curled in her hair and his slow tasting of her upper lip, the light graze of his teeth pulled a low moan from her.  “We…shouldn’t.”

“Who’s to know?”

The question sank through her and the little cup in her hand bit hard into her palm as she squeezed it.  “Lord Kian would…”  His tongue teased over her lip and she tilted her head, drawing them closer until her mouth covered his.

Fina closed her eyes and listened to the wild beat of her heart.  What the hell was happening?  How could a simple, almost chaste kiss have her blood pounding and her flesh tight?  And a kiss would hardly be considered a breach of his orders.  Wouldn’t it?  It had to be, because she couldn’t pull away.

The thought of pushing for more peaked her nipples. Jon.  This was Jonathon Raegh, a man she had ached for.  She teased her tongue against his and his fingers curled, fisted into her hair, his moan mixing with hers.  Damn, he tasted…incredible.  Just sweet and hot and unlike any man in her long, long career.  Fina deepened the kiss and it was just a kiss, nothing more. Harmless.  Innocent.  She broke her grip away from the cup to trace light fingertips along his smooth, warm jaw, to ease into his hair and urge him closer, harder.

“This is resistance?”

His question, rushed, wild burned through her and she took his mouth again.  Couldn’t help herself.  His taste was addictive.  Just a kiss.  Harmless.  But not innocent.  Not this time.

Thanks for reading!

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Note: I have not personally screened these excerpts. Please heed the ratings and be aware that the links may contain material that is not typical of my site.

Sold! Breaking Chance to Samhain

On By Kim KnoxIn Chance, Writing2 Comments

I sold Breaking Chance, a SF Romance, to Samhain. *bounce*
The contract is signed and made official 😀  Here’s the unofficial blurb. It has a release date set for Feb 2010

For Melissa ‘Lucky’ Chance, another stretch in Ganymede’s ice-prison would be a breeze. Too bad the judge deciding her fate has other ideas. He needs to make an example and she’s it. With a death sentence on her head, her only chance of escape lies with the man known as the Butcher.

John Ramius, infamous as the Butcher, is an Earth-augmented human. He’s also, under Jovian law, a convicted mass murderer and criminally insane. But is he really? Her government lies. She doesn’t know what to believe. Her doubt should mean she shouldn’t find him so attractive, but hell, her life is crazy. Since when could she resist a beautiful man? And he promises to be…wicked.

Even as they try to escape the forces of Jovian colonies, Ramius will let nothing stand in the way of his imperative, the need that drives him. He has to kill the Jovian leader, the Sun-King. He can’t find rest until he does.

Now Chance is wrapped up in old murders, old lies. And her growing need for Ramius may not be something she can survive.