Summer's Sweet Embrace 

A sweet romance anthology

ebook, paperback

Roane Publishing

published August 19, 2015

 

my story: Ocean Dust

New Adult paranormal romance (clean)

 

Carly Dawson, 18, is facing her last summer before leaving for college, all alone. Still nursing a broken heart over the loss of her boyfriend, Chase Montgomery, she wants the next two months to be different. A shocking unexpected visitor one night just may offer Carly the excitement she seeks. Her only decision is whether or not to choose what this visitor offers her.

 

Excerpt:

The swing jerks me around and I become five years old again. My sandal soles scrape the ground, splashing dirt around the worn-out treads, a two-lane road for stomping feet. As my arms reach out sideways, enjoying twirling around, my finger presses my phone on. When I come to a complete stop and the last of the squeaking has faded away, I’m about to laugh at my childishness, but the sound gets jammed somewhere in my throat.

The camera app is open. Photo albums from months ago are displayed, their contents spread out like the keys of an accordion.

Selfies. Dates. School events. The school cafeteria. Shared lunches. Movies.

The pictures I didn’t have the heart to delete.

Laughing. Hugging. Holding hands. Making funny faces. Kissing.

My life with Chase.

I clasp my free hand across my mouth to keep in my sob while shutting it off. The really pissed off part of my subconscious surfaces. I resist the urge to toss my phone into the woods.

Get out of the past. It won’t bring him back.

The hairs on my back stand up.

Something is scratching at a tree. The sound reminds me of Mom’s cat, Butterball, when he scratches his post—except this is magnified about a thousand times. What kind of animal makes that much racket?

A large shadow emerges from the trees and moves quickly. Right toward me.

​

**Roane Publishing has closed its doors.** I will be revising, re-titling and releasing my story in 2021.