Title Frozen Hearts
Author Judy Kentrus
Genre Romantic Suspense – Later-in-Life
Publisher Lady Kay Publishing
Book Blurb
How do you open your heart for a new love when it’s frozen? That’s the dilemma Margaret Taylor has been facing since losing her beloved husband.
She signs up with a tour group to take the dream vacation she and her husband planned to go on, a land and sea tour of Alaska. She’s earned the nickname “Formidable Margaret” during her ten years as a Judge. When she receives three life-threatening notes, her family urges her to cancel her vacation. She refuses.
Her much-needed vacation takes an unexpected turn when she recognizes an old friend. Why is Brent Saeger walking around free? He was sentenced to life in prison for murder.
Brent Saeger believes that life is guided by fate, and one should never do a “favor” because it comes with unexpected consequences. His favor for the CIA landed him in prison for murder. Fate had another undercover operative who proved Brent’s innocence at the right time and place.
Working for Adams Security and Investigations, he’s given a special assignment. Go undercover and protect the owner’s mother-in-law, Margaret Taylor. She’d be more receptive to meeting an “old friend” since they went to high school together. Fate once again sucker-punched him. Protect his Maggie May. That shouldn’t be a problem since his heart has been frozen since she fell in love with his best friend.
A romantic suspense with twists and turns that will keep you turning pages to the very end. Enjoy your trip to Alaska!
This book won the New Jersey Romance Writers Golden Leaf Award for the best Romantic Suspense Book.
Excerpt
Margaret tried to shake off the feeling of jet lag. It was time to meet the other people in the group she’d be spending the next two weeks with. Most of the tables in the banquet room were taken but she spied an open chair at a table that fronted a wall of windows. Beyond were snow-covered peaks and the Cook Inlet. She helped herself to a cup of coffee and a few cookies before sitting down.
She gave the men and women a little smile before making herself comfortable. From their accents, the two couples were from the southern part of the US. She introduced herself.
“Hi, I’m Margaret from Pennsylvania.”
“So nice to meet you, Margaret. I’m Dawn Judd, and this is my sister Myrtle. This is our dream vacation.”
The two couples didn’t introduce themselves but gave Margaret polite smiles.
“Everyone, can I have your attention?”
“I’m Carol Timmins, your tour guide for the next two weeks. “I’d like each of you to stand up and tell us your name, where you’re from, and a little about yourself. Let’s start with the table to my left.”
~~~
Brent shifted in his chair and listened to the conversation between the brother and sister sitting to the left of him. Across the table were two semiretired couples. Everyone gave off the “I’m on vacation” vibe. The trip was just starting, and he needed to stay on high alert. Any of these people could be a threat to Margaret’s well-being.
He was apprehensive of Margaret’s reaction to his presence and was trying to adjust to the fact that he’d been entrusted to keep safe the first woman he’d fallen in love with. All personal feelings need to be kept off the table.
Because of his dark glasses and baseball cap, Margaret hadn’t noticed him on the plane or the bus ride to the hotel. He sipped a little more of his ice water to clear the dryness in his throat before he stood up and introduced himself. Here goes nothing.
“Hi, I’m Brent, from Erie, Pennsylvania. I sell life insurance. Visiting Alaska is on my bucket list.” He sat back down and waited.
~~~
Margaret stared fixedly at the man who’d just introduced himself. It couldn’t be! He was years older, but the face was the same. Brent Saeger. His last name came to her as naturally as breathing.
He shouldn’t even be here. He’d been convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. How was it possible he was walking around free? She was torn between letting someone know he was a convicted killer and remaining silent.
She’d never forget the last thing he’d said to her. You broke my heart. Still wearing his cap and gown, he’d walked out of her life after high school graduation. He’d never even reached out to Norman, his best friend at the time. In a way, she couldn’t blame Brent. She’d fallen in love with his best friend.
Margaret, you’ve learned to hear both sides of an argument before you render judgment. Play it cool and find out what’s going on. She’d also be making a phone call to her daughter to request information on convicted murderer Brent Saeger.
She was so distracted that Margaret just now realized Dawn stood up and introduced herself and her sister Myrtle. They were schoolteachers from Topeka, Kansas. They fell in love with Alaska while watching the cable TV show Alaska State Troopers.
Now it was her turn. Don’t look at him. She drew in a deep breath and pasted on a smile.
“Hi, I’m Margaret. I’m from a small town outside of Pittsburgh. I’ve always wanted to visit Alaska.”
“And what do you do?” their tour director prodded.
Here goes nothing. “I’m gathering information for my next murder mystery book. I publish under a different name.”
Uncomfortable silence filled the room, and all eyes stared at her like she was an alien who’d just landed on Earth.
“A writer. That’s a very exciting profession,” Carol complimented, clearing her throat. “Will you actually write the book on the tour and possibly kill someone off?”
Margaret was already having second thoughts. Maybe she should’ve told them she was a judge, lawyer and mayor. “Considering I have an entire room of characters, I’ll definitely be making notes.” Margaret threw in a catty smile as an afterthought.
She couldn’t resist and made eye contact with Brent. He was grinning and winked. Damn, he knew she’d just lied.
“Are you really going to kill someone? I mean, on paper?” Dawn asked as soon as Margaret sat down.
“It’s all fiction, so you don’t have anything to worry about.”
Margaret needed to talk to her daughter before she confronted Brent Saeger. She tossed her napkin on the table and stood up. “I’ll see you in the morning. Have a good night.”
Rather than getting cornered on the elevator, she headed for the stairway at the end of the hall. Her room was on the tenth floor, so she had to walk down only six flights.
Her hurried footsteps echoed on the metal steps. Margaret, what are you afraid of? He’s only a former acquaintance. “You thought taking a vacation would be a change of pace, easy, uncomplicated. Robinson Crusoe, my ass,” she muttered. “Friday shows up, but he’s a convicted murderer walking around free.”
She’d gone down two floors when the sound of footsteps above her increased her anxiety. As soon as she closed the door, she flipped the locking device and drew in a few calming breaths. “You’re being ridiculous!”
She called Jessie but had to leave a message. To her frustration, Margaret then remembered it was the middle of the night on the East Coast.
The itinerary was sitting on the nightstand, and she glanced at the time they had to meet in the morning. Breakfast at 6 a.m. Bus leaves promptly at 7:30 a.m.
Six a.m.! Margaret hung her head. “This is a vacation?”
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Author Biography:
Hi, I’m Judy Kentrus. I write Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense, Sweet Romance, Rom-Com, Later-in-Life Romance, and Historical Romance.
I’ve always been a romantic at heart, and I married my high school sweetheart. I make my home in the Poconos of Pennsylvania. I’m a mom with two grown children who have given me six grandchildren.
We love to travel. Many of the places we’ve visited have inspired me to use them as a storyline. I never know what will give me inspiration, but my mind is always working.
When I’m not giving couples their happily-ever-after, you can find me in the kitchen, baking, especially cookies. I’ve been dubbed the cookie queen by my family and friends. You’ll find a new recipe every month on my website.
Want to find out more about my books and what’s coming? Be sure to sign up for my newsletter via my website. My stories are fun, sexy romances that will make you laugh, cry, and fall in love.
Social Media Links:
Website: https://www.judykentrus.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JudyKentrus
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/judykentrus/?hl=en