Title: ACT OF SURVIVAL, Book 4 The Second Chances Series
Author: Marsha R. West
Genre: Second Chance Romantic Suspense/Later in Life Romance
Book Blurb:
Encouraged by her friends to protect herself, Kim Mason Dennison is determined to divorce her abusive husband. Cooper Wray, an attorney, , assures Kim that her husband, Hunter, can’t keep the proceedings from moving forward because Texas is a no-fault divorce state. But why is Hunter doing everything he can to stop the divorce? And will that even include murder?
Excerpt:
Kim reeled backward and lost her balance. Her middle exploded with pain from the force of her husband’s blow. Her head shattered with agony when she fell and hit the coffee table. Hunter delivered his punch to her midsection with deliberate accuracy to avoid injuries showing up. He hadn’t counted on her hitting her head.
“Damn. You can’t even fall right. But we will not get a divorce. Get that out of your mind, and don’t mention such a stupid idea again.” Hunter turned and stormed from the living room. The sound of the door slamming told Kim he’d exited the house.
“Oh,” Kim moaned, grasping her head. Her fingers came away covered with blood. The room spun, and her stomach heaved. She couldn’t lie here and let the housekeeper find her, but damn, standing might take more strength than she had now. Slowly she rolled to her side and closed her eyes for a moment to stop her head from spinning. She must’ve passed out.
“Mrs. Dennison, are you all right? Did you fall again?” The words came from far away, but appeared to be from the housekeeper, Nora Jean. A hand brushed across Kim’s head. “Oh, God. You’re bleeding. I’ll call an ambulance.”
Kim couldn’t let her bring in anyone else. “No, I’ll be fine. Please, help me stand.” Nora Jean took both Kim’s hands and hefted her upright. She stumbled to the leather sofa and sank into the soft plushy cushions Hunter loved, and she hated. “Let me sit here for a few moments.”
“I’ll get you an ice pack for your head.” She hurried out of the den. The solicitous woman didn’t really work for Kim. She worked for Mrs. Dennison, her mother-in-law who’d hired her.
Thank God, Kim didn’t have any Junior League meetings on the calendar for this afternoon. She was a sustainer now, not attending everything, but keeping her hand in and helping when needed. Today, Kim couldn’t have pulled herself together enough to go. Her stomach clenched, and she feared she’d throw up, which would only make her head hurt worse.
Kim had wanted out of her sham of a marriage for a long time, but until her parents were killed last year in a senseless accident while riding in the Wichita Falls Retirement Center van, she couldn’t figure out how it was possible to get away from Hunter. She needed his money to help support them in the center, which they could never afford on their own. Kim had no money in her own name, only what Hunter chose to give her. And he only gave it to her to make sure she lived up to the standards of his family. He and his mother had decorated and redecorated the house to their tastes, never considering her or what she wanted.
Her parents had been excited about the trip from Wichita Falls to see the special exhibit at a museum in Dallas. Then an idiot ran a red light and broadsided the van from the retirement center killing her parents and injuring several others. Their deaths had crushed Kim. She loved having them live nearby, so she could drop in to see them whenever she wanted. After the accident, it was like her life was over.
Even then, she struggled to find the courage to stand up to Hunter. If she hadn’t talked with her camp friends about it when they visited Devon’s house last fall in Dallas, she’d never have taken steps to end the marriage. Devon gave Kim the name of a divorce lawyer in Wichita Falls who could help her, but she hadn’t found the courage to contact him yet. She kept hoping Hunter would stop. But he hadn’t.
Buy Links:
99 Cent Sale Aug. 7-14
What makes your featured book a must-read?
I wrote this book about an abusive spouse to encourage others in similar situations to take steps to protect themselves. There is always a way out. Don’t let anyone do anything to your body or your mind that makes you uncomfortable. There are organizations, groups, churches, friends, family who want to help you. And just like all my books, ACT OF SURVIVAL has a happily ever after. 😊
Here's the link for help Domestic Violence Support | National Domestic Violence Hotline (thehotline.org) or call 1-800-799-SAFE
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Winner will be drawn on August 15, 2024.
Author Biography:
A retired elementary school principal, a former school board member, and theatre arts teacher, Marsha R. West writes Romance, Suspense, and Second Chances. Experience Required. She lives in Texas with her supportive lawyer husband and Charley, a deaf, Chihuahua/Jack Russell Terrier. Their two daughters presented them with three delightful grandchildren all who live nearby.
The theme of Marsha’s books is always second chances, and she even has a four-part series titled The Second Chances Series. DETERMINED, her eleventh book releases this fall. The Heroines and Heroes in her books are in their 40s and 50s with their parents and children often playing supporting roles.
Her husband picked up a plaque for her on one of their several trips to Maine that states exactly her belief in Happily Ever Afters. Everything will be all right in the end. If it’s not all right, it’s not the end.
She’s a member of North Texas Romance Writers, Texas Authors Institute, the WORD BY WORD Blog & Marketing for Romance Writers. She writes a monthly newsletter where she routinely gives away an e-book to some lucky commenter. Marsha loves making presentations to groups and has taught several Silver Frogs classes on Indie Publishing for Texas Christian University. Her e-books can be found on all sites. Print books are also at Texas Authors Bookstore and Amazon.
Social Media Links:
Blurbs for each of her books with links can be found on her website www.marsharwest.com Where you can also sign up for her NEWSLETTER MRW Press LLC (list-manage.com)
Contact her at marsha@marsharwest.com , and follow her on…
https://www.twitter.com/Marsharwest @Marsharwest
Thanks for hosting me here. I've already found some good books. :)
Thank you, Marsha, for sharing your book sale in our Mystery and Suspense Bookish Event!