Title: DETERMINED: A Second Chance Romantic Suspense
Author: Marsha R. West
Genre: Later in Life Romantic Suspense
Book Blurb:
Divorced, fifty-seven-year-old real estate developer Hollister Grant (Holly) and her sisters Lee, an interior designer, and Kay, an artist, are determined to use the trust fund their parents set up for them to build a tiny home project for people who’ve recently been homeless, honoring an aunt who found herself in that situation.
Barrett Armstrong, president of a nearby homeowner association doesn’t want “those people” living across from his fifty + neighborhood, and he will do anything to prevent the land’s development. Anything. Even murder.
Dan Morgan, Holly’s long-time friend and lawyer, wants to continue to work with Holly on this project which he believes in as he serves on the board of the Homeless Coalition, but he realizes his feelings for the woman are moving past friendship. Dan fears because of her past experiences as an abused spouse she isn’t ready for a change in their relationship. And she might not ever be. Should he remain silent to maintain their friendship or risk everything for the chance of real love? When danger strikes, will he be able to keep her safe?
Watch the trailer: https://youtu.be/UB40vwfuAHc
Excerpt:
“I’m getting the wine bottle. We need a refill.” Lee rose.
Bam! They all jumped.
Lee screamed as she reached for her shoulder. Her scream curdled Holly’s blood.
Lee slumped to the floor.
Two heartbeats later, Holly sprang toward Kay, who’d risen. “Get down!” Get down!” She cradled Lee in her arms. Holly prided herself on being good in a crisis, her emotions shutting down, and her critical mind kicking into control. She needed that ability right now.
“What’s going on, Holly? Was Lee shot? Is she okay?” Kay’s voice trembled.
“I don’t know. It’s a lot of blood. Stay down but call 911 and then call Dan.” Holly tugged a cloth napkin from the table and thrust it against the wound on her sister’s shoulder. Lee moaned. That’s good, isn’t it? Holly mumbled a prayer. “Please let her be all right. Please let her be all right.”
“My sister’s been shot,” Kay said to the 911 operator and gave the address. Then she used Holly’s phone to call Dan.
After what seemed forever, Holly heard sirens in the distance.
“Holly, they’re sending the EMTs, and Dan should be here soon after them.”
“Hang in there, Lee. Help is on the way.” Holly added another napkin when the first one became soaked with her sister’s blood.
Pounding from the front of the house sent Kay crawling toward the front door. She returned, followed by officers with guns drawn. The EMTs rushed in. They pushed Holly out of the way and began to treat Lee.
“Is she on any blood thinners?”
“No.” Holly managed to respond though her voice trembled. “She’s the healthiest one of us. I can’t believe this happened. Will she be all right?”
“Ma’am. I’m Officer Kent. Can we get you all inside? Can you move your patient?”
The EMT nodded and lifted Lee onto a gurney and rolled her inside.
“Please identify yourselves,” the officer said to Holly and Kay. He had his notebook out.
Holly did, proud her voice didn’t quiver much. “Can we go with our sister?”
“You can follow her, but I need details from you first. Do either of you have a weapon?”
Kay shook her head but glanced at Holly.
“I do, and when it was required, I had a concealed handgun permit.”
“Can you get the weapon for me?”
Holly nodded and hurried into her bedroom. Did he suspect she had shot Lee? Holly returned carrying the gun. “Here you go.” She handed it to him butt first.
The officer smelled the barrel of the gun and emptied the bullets from the magazine before handing it back to her. “Is there any reason someone would want to hurt your sister?”
“No.” Holly and Kay both shook their heads. Holly set her gun on the coffee table.
“Other officers are checking out the area now to try to find the person who shot her and to make sure the area is safe.”
Holly and Kay stood with their arms around each other when a disturbance at the front of the house got their attention.
“Let me in. I’m Holly Grant’s lawyer, Daniel Morgan.”
Holly left Kay and rushed to Dan as he entered the living area. “Thank heavens you’re here.”
“Tell me what happened.” Dan took her in his arms, drawing her close. One hand made comforting circles on her back.
Holly pulled in several deep breaths, drew back, and explained. “We were eating supper on the patio. Lee got up to get the bottle of wine, and we all heard a loud sound, and she yelled. Blood flowed from her shoulder, and she fell. Kay and I got on the ground, and she called 911 and you while I put pressure on Lee’s wound. The EMTs have taken Lee to the hospital.” Holly gasped for air. She had spewed out the story in one breath. Her legs wouldn’t have held her if Dan hadn’t kept an arm around her. She held out a hand to Kay who came and joined them.
“We need to go to see how Lee is.” Kay’s voice wavered.
Dan raised his voice. “Officer, can I take Holly and Kay to see their sister? I can assure you they are not going anywhere.”
“Yes, I’ll have an officer escort you outside since we’re not sure if the shooter is gone or still around. Ms. Grant, we’ll be in touch.”
“Thank you. Dan, let me wash my hands and change my clothes.”
“Sure.”
When she reached her bathroom, the image in the mirror drew her up short. Blood covered her shirt. She pulled off her bloody clothes and dropped them in the tub. She stepped into her walk-in closet and pulled out a purple short-sleeved T-shirt and a clean pair of black slacks. Found a pair of slide-on sandals and sped back to the living room where she found more officers had arrived. George Sanderson, who acted as the mayor of their little community, had pushed his way in. “My gosh, Holly. What’s going on? Is everyone all right?”
Holly briefly explained what had happened. “We’re on our way to the hospital. Can you lock up for me when the police finish up here?”
“Sure. You go on. Don’t worry.”
The police officer stopped her before they left. “Can I have your phone numbers?”
They all complied, leaving the chaos behind, not knowing what chaos lay ahead.
Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):
Universal Link https://books2read.com/u/bxAVzD
Author Biography:
I’m a retired elementary school principal, a former school board member, and theatre arts teacher, and write Romance, Suspense, and Second Chances. Experience Required. I live in Texas with my supportive lawyer husband and Charley, a deaf, Chihuahua/Jack Russell Terrier. Our two daughters presented us with three delightful grandchildren all who live nearby.
The theme of my eight books is always second chances. I even named my four-part series The Second Chances Series. I believe in Happily Ever Afters. My husband picked up a plaque for me on one of our several trips to Maine that states my philosophy exactly. Everything will be all right in the end. If it’s not all right, it’s not the end. The Heroines and Heroes in my books range in age from 40 to late 50s and their parents and children often playing supporting roles.
I am a member of North Texas Romance Writers, Texas Authors Institute, and the WORD BY WORD Blog. I send out a monthly newsletter and give away an e-book to some lucky commenter. I enjoy making presentations to groups, and several times, I’ve taught a Silver Frogs class on Indie Publishing for Texas Christian University. My books can be found on AMAZON, B & N, KOBO, and iTunes. Print books are also at Books2Read and Amazon.
I’ve contributed to ROMANCE & MYSTERY AUTHORS ON WRITING, edited by JQ. Rose. Also, in 2018, I had a short story, “The Colonel & Her Major” published in my writing chapter’s anthology, LONE STAR LOVE. In 2024, my short story, “Survival” was published in the in the 9th anthology “Short Stories by Texas Authors.”
Social Media Links:
Blurbs for each of my books with links can be found on my website www.marsharwest.com where you can also sign up for my NEWSLETTER https://bit.ly/47tZzoX
Contact me at marsha@marsharwest.com , and follow me on… https://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn
https://www.twitter.com/Marsharwest @Marsharwest
Word By Word Blog at www.sisterhoodofsuspense.sordpress.com/blog/
Amazon Author page https://amzn.to/456bBUy