Some secrets should never be kept…
Growing up in the servants’ quarters at Haven Hill, Claire Brown was a poor outcast, living in a world of money and privilege. Her only solace was best friend, Alice Sinclair, and secret desire, Jackson Montgomery. Rich and connected, they were perfect in every way and perfect for each other.
Still, Claire was foolish enough to fall in love with Jackson, and desperate enough to hide it. When Alice found out, there was a terrible accident that left her in a coma. Jackson disappeared, leaving New Haven without even saying good-bye.
Ten years later, Claire has managed to build a life without them. So when Jackson calls out of nowhere to say Alice is awake, Claire’s first thought is Thank God. Her second? I’m screwed. Lusting after Jackson destroyed her. It’s nothing compared to what she’s hiding now.
But nothing stays hidden forever.
Reawakened Secrets is part one of Jackson and Claire’s story.
Part 2, Reawakened Sins and Part 3, Reawakened Seduction will be released early next year. To be the first to get information on deals, teasers, excerpts, bonus scenes and release dates, connect with the author on Facebook, Twitter, or Goodreads.
It was my first day off in weeks, and I decided to celebrate with spring cleaning. I slid on a tattered pair of sweats and a t-shirt and went in search of supplies. I turned on the radio and started singing along with the ridiculous lyrics.
“Womanizer, womanizer, oh!”
Inexplicably happy, I danced around the house. Doing my best impression of a brunette Britney Spears, I dusted the knickknacks. This is the life a twenty-seven-year-old is supposed to have, I thought, moving on to scrub the patio windows. Enjoy it while you can. Tomorrow, it’s back to reality. The phone rang, and I rushed to turn down the radio. Still breathless from my workout, I answered the phone.
“Brown residence. You’re interrupting my day off, so make it good.”
“Claire?”
It had been ten years, but I knew the sound of his voice instantly. It washed over me, robbing me of what little breath I had left. My chest constricted, as though I had fallen - hard, knocking the wind out of me. I pressed my hand there, curling my fingers into the fabric of my shirt and pulled in an unsteady breath to speak. But no sound could work its way through the constricting lump in my throat.
“Claire, are you there? It’s Jackson... Jackson Montgomery.”
Taking a shaky breath, I clutched the phone tighter. “Yeah,” I managed to squeak.
“I’m sorry for calling you this way,” his honeyed voice continued. “It’s about Alice.”
I sank into the nearest chair, afraid my wobbling knees would send me crashing to the floor. My insides turned into a churning jumble of panic and dread.
“Jack, please, tell me she’s okay,” I whispered.
“Don’t worry, it’s good news. Alice is awake. Now that she’s recovering, the only thing she’s asked for is you.”
Limp with relief, I slumped into the chair, my heart pounding against my ribs. He waited for a response, but I struggled just to process his words.
“I know it’s a shock after all this time, but she’s asking for you,” Jackson persisted. He could have just as easily been telling me the sky was blue. It filled me with irrational hatred, despair and absolute humiliation. How dare he sound so calm and sure while my world was crumbling around me. “And Claire, she, uh... doesn’t remember anything.”
I choked out a few gasps of air. “Where is she?” I managed to force through the stranglehold of emotions closing my throat and burning my eyes.
My name is Mari Denae
I am a married mother of three and publishing my first novel is a dream come true. As the nerd that went to bed with a flash light to read the books I swiped from my mom’s room, I have always been an avid book lover. My favorites are hot, alpha male heroes (think Kristen Ashley), suspenseful, romantic thrillers (think Sandra Brown) and poignant, sweet love stories (think Abbi Glines or Colleen Hoover). My plan was always to be a writer of some sort, but somehow real life responsibilities got in the way. Now, I am an accountant with a night time writing obsession.
One Saturday afternoon, I took my girls to see the latest teenage movie. Four days later, I had read all four Twilight books. I was inspired by the innocent romance and ‘Edward Cullen’ (don’t judge). Once I found my way to Fifty Shades of Grey, I was a complete goner. All my spare time was spent reading, writing or blogging. After version one million, five hundred and fifty five of my series Reawakened , I’m finally ready to share it and hope that someone enjoys reading the story as much as I have enjoyed writing it. This one’s for my mother. I hope she’s looking down proud because I finally finished what I started.
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