Beth Lawrence finally has her life back on track. A job she loves, a wealthy husband and a beautiful home are a far cry from the tragedy that struck when she was nineteen. But now that her past seems firmly behind her, an old flame walks back into her life. Bringing back painful memories of a time she’s worked hard to forget, reviving a passion she tried to bury years before.
Niall Joseph is an up-and-coming artist, recently returned from success in America. Volunteering to teach in an inner-city drug clinic, the last person he expects to see is the girl who broke his heart nine years earlier. Working closely together allows their old wounds to heal, forging a deeper connection between them. One that slowly starts to burn.
As she becomes tangled up with a neglected child and her drug-addict mother, Beth finds herself drawn to Niall. But neither of them can anticipate how hard it is to tread the thin line between friendship and desire.
Targeted Age Group:: 18+
What Inspired You to Write Your Book?
I wanted to write a book set in London, a city that I love. From the start I had the image of a girl meeting a boy in the rain, and the story grew from there. As the plot developed, I started to create characters that I loved, all leading to an explosive climax where a small girl’s life is changed forever. More than anything I wanted to show the development of the heroine from scared and afraid to being able to take control of her life, as well as helping others.
How Did You Come up With Your Characters?
The hero (Niall) and heroine (Beth) built up from the first scene. I started to think about how they got there and where they would go, and their histories slowly came to light. The supporting cast came from a variety of sources, including people I know and have met. Every single one of them has had their lives tainted in some way by addiction, whether they are addicts or family of addicts, and I wanted to show how this has a huge influence on the people they become.
Book Sample
“You’re wet.” He’s still staring at me.
Unlike the rest of my body, my throat is dry. I swallow hard. “It’s raining.”
“Your observational skills astound me.” There’s an Irish lilt to his voice that thrills. I try to imagine what it would sound like whispered in my ear. The thought makes me shiver.
“Are you cold?”
I shake my head and say “Yes” at the same time. I’m so mixed up by the drugs and his proximity it’s hard to think straight.
“Come here.” He opens up his arms. I hesitate for a moment before I step into them, feeling like the fly walking into the spider’s parlour. A moment later, all rational thought disappears as his strong arms wrap around my waist, pulling me against his chest. He presses his face against my wet hair and takes a deep breath. “You smell like rain.”
Silence surrounds us as I look up at him. His pupils are dull and unfocused. He’s much higher than I am. Soaring.
“You smell like weed.”
“You want some?”
Taking the joint from him, I raise it to my mouth. Though I try to pull away as I inhale, his arms tighten around me. I feel like I’m made of gas. Melting around him. Into him.
“What’s your name?”
“Beth.”
“Are you a student here?”
His question makes me roll my eyes. I’ve been following him and his friends around like a devoted puppy for the best part of my first year. Not that he’s ever noticed. He’s always too busy. Painting. Smoking. Looking beautiful. He’s good at all these things. I know, I’ve studied him like he’s my favourite subject.
“Art History,” I say.
“One of the thinkers.” He gives me a smile. It’s wicked and dirty and makes me want to lick his lips. “Do you paint?”
“No.”
“Shame. Do you model?”
I blush at this one. “No.”
“You should. Come and model for me. I want to paint you.” His words slur but his voice is still seductive and lyrical. Somewhere, far beneath my high, I know he’s spinning me a line.
About the Author:
Carrie Elks lives near London, England and writes contemporary romance with a dash of intrigue. At the age of twenty-one she left college with a political science degree, a healthy overdraft and a soon-to-be husband. She loves to travel and meet new people, and has lived in the USA and Switzerland as well as the UK. An avid social networker, she tries to limit her Facebook and Twitter time to stolen moments between writing chapters. When she isn’t reading or writing, she can usually be found baking, drinking wine or working out how to combine the two.
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