Impossible Choice by Sybil Bartel Series: Unchecked #2
Publisher: Carina Press (HQN) on August 31, 2015
Genres: Contemporary Romance, New Adult
Pages: 280
Purchase: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads
Book two of Unchecked
After her parents were murdered, Layna Blair spent three years on the run—until Marine Sergeant Blaze Johnson stepped in and saved her. With him, Layna knew safety for the first time…but two weeks after shipping out for another tour in Afghanistan, Blaze comes home early.
When Layna sees the jagged wounds covering his body, every truth she thought she knew is destroyed. Blaze is distant and angry and though her heart is shattered, Layna desperately tries to keep their relationship together in the face of another tragedy. When the tenuous bonds holding them together are ripped apart by a revenge-hungry maniac, Layna must trust her survival instinct and bury her past for good.
But the enemy is two steps ahead, and before she can take action, Layna’s hand is forced by his deadly demands—save herself or save the man who risked his life for her freedom. Blaze saved her once. This time it’s her turn to protect him.
Excerpt
His intense gaze fixed on mine, he held out his hand but he didn’t say anything.
I slipped my fingers into his and the heat that shot up my arm and spread through me settled in like a low, constant pulse of awareness that made everything inside me tingle. I looked up and was startled to see him frowning. “What’s wrong?”
The crease in his brow went deeper and the seriousness in his eyes twisted like hesitation. “Not one thing.”
His words not matching his expression, he looked distracted, bordering on nervous. But that was impossible. Blaze Johnson didn’t get nervous, ever.
“Blaze?”
He brought my hand to his lips and gently kissed me. “My Layna,” he whispered.
My heart melted. “I love you.”
The soft smile that barely touched the corners of his mouth was his only response. A few months ago, the gesture and lack of words would have eaten at me. Tonight? I understood the intimacy. I knew I was seeing a smile that no one else in the world ever saw. I knew the twist of those lips and quiet reverence was a promise of what would come later when we were behind closed doors. I knew his silence meant he was comfortable enough to let his body language speak for him. I knew this because he’d taught me how to pay attention.
Blaze led us to the elevator and we silently waited. When we stepped into the small space, the atmosphere swelled with his presence and the butterflies came swarming back, swirling with a heady tension I’d become addicted to. The memory of his body earlier today over me, in me, it made desire coil hot and urgent in my blood.
Breathless, I cleared my throat. “Where are we going for dinner?”
His thumb slowly dragged across the back of my hand like he knew my every desire-laced thought but when his eyes traveled from my face to my dress. His features became hauntingly stern. “Not far,” the gentle cadence of his voice at odds with his expression.
“Is everything alright?”
The elevator doors slid open but instead of walking out, Blaze turned and cupped my face. His eyebrows drew tight. “I want tonight to be perfect for you. If it’s not what you want, you tell me. Understand?” His expression, his voice, they were so fierce, he looked angry.
The butterflies in my stomach became sharp angles and something close to panic seeped in. “What do you mean?”
“This is your choice, Layna. Remember that.”
Giveaway
Enter to win ebook 1 of the series, Impossible Promise. Open Internationally. Ends Sept 18th
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Abigail
sounds awesome!
sherry fundin
I don’t care so much about the cover, but I do like the dock teaser. 🙂 Have a great weekend, Jennifer.
Jennifer Bielman
I thought the teaser was pretty good too.
kindlemom1
Thanks for sharing this, it looks like it will be a hot read!
Jennifer Bielman
🙂 Happy you enjoyed it.
andrea heltsley books
This book sounds great! Thanks for sharing and thanks for the giveaway! <3
Jennifer Bielman
Good luck!
Braine Talk Supe
Okay, that’s a good excerpt, very tender and earnest.
Happy long weekend!
Jennifer Bielman
Loved the excerpt.
Christy
Nice excerpt. Sounds like it might me a angsty type of read, which I don’t mind.
Jennifer Bielman
I can do angsty read from time to time.
kimbacaffeinate
Yeah, that excerpt hooked me 🙂
Jennifer Bielman
hehe, I knew it.
anna (herding cats & burning soup)
Hmm I love contemporary. Looks like one that would be right up my alley.
Jennifer Bielman
Awesome! 🙂
Jaclyn Canada
Not my genre, but it definitely has me wondering why he’s so intense. Great excerpt!
Jennifer Bielman
I know! I thought the same thing.