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Firelight

Page 32

by Kristen Callihan


  The Cove draws recently widowed Deborah Robinson into its embrace, offering a fresh start for herself, her teenaged son, and her daughter. Her grandmother’s ancestral home reaches out to her, filled with wonderful childhood memories that give Deborah the strength she needs to face her future.

  When Dr. Asa Monroe arrives at the Cove, he’s at a crossroads. The loss of his wife and young son in a tragic accident has devastated his world, sending him on a nomadic journey to find faith and meaning. And as he spends the winter on the Cove, he discovers a world of peace that has eluded him for more than a year. When he meets Deborah, he realizes not only that they are kindred spirits but that fate might grant him a second chance at love. When friendship gives way to passion, Deborah and Asa find their greatest challenge is hiding their love in a town where there is no such thing as a secret.

  The residents of the Cove are loving, wonderful, and quirky, just like the relatives we love even when they embarrass us at family reunions. So come on home and meet Asa, Deborah and her children, and a town full of unforgettable characters who will make you laugh, cry, and long for island living. Sit down with a glass of lemonade, put your feet up, and let life move a little slower. Enjoy the magnificent sunsets, the rattle of palmetto leaves in the breeze, and the mouthwatering aroma of lowcountry home cooking. If you listen carefully, you’ll even hear a few folks speak Gullah, a dialect that is a blend of English and African.

  And don’t forget to look for Angels Landing, the second novel in the Cavanaugh Island series, coming in the fall of 2012.

  Read, enjoy, and do let me hear from you!

  ralersbooks@aol.com

  www.rochellealers.com

  Praise for FIRELIGHT

  “A sizzling paranormal with dark history and explosive magic! Callihan is an impressive new talent.”

  —Larissa Ione, New York Times bestselling author of Immortal Rider

  “A dark, delicious tale of secrets, murder, and love, beautifully shrouded in the shadows of Victorian London.”

  —Hannah Howell, New York Times bestselling author of If He’s Dangerous

  “Inventive and adventurous with complex, witty characters, and snappy writing. Callihan will make you believe in the power of destiny and true love.”

  —Shana Abé, New York Times bestselling author of The Time Weaver

  “A sexy, resplendent debut with a deliciously tortured hero, an inventive supernatural mystery, and slow-building heat that simmers on each page. I can’t wait to see what Kristen Callihan comes up with next!”

  —Meljean Brook, New York Times bestselling author of The Iron Duke

  “A dazzling debut, sexy and thrilling. Callihan now has a place on my to-buy list.”

  —Anya Bast, New York Times bestselling author of Dark Enchantment

  “Utterly phenomenal! Sword fights, magic, a heroine with secret strengths, a hero with hidden vulnerability, and best of all, a true love that’s hot enough to burn the pages.”

  —Courtney Milan, New York Times bestselling author of Unraveled

  “A compelling and emotional page-turner that will have readers burning the midnight oil.”

  —Anna Campbell, award-winning author of Midnight’s Wild Passion

  “A fantastic debut that has everything I’m looking for in a story: compelling conflict, beautiful writing, gripping sexual tension, and strong, intelligent characters.”

  —Sherry Thomas, RITA Award–winning author of His at Night

  “Lush and imaginative, FIRELIGHT will sweep you away.”

  —Zoë Archer, award-winning author of Devil’s Kiss

  “Combines romance, wit, and suspense in a fabulous retelling of Beauty and the Beast… with a supernatural twist.”

  —Colleen Gleason, international bestselling author of The Gardella Vampire Chronicles

  “Passionate and romantic, beautifully written and dark.”

  —Elizabeth Amber, author of Bastian: The Lords of Satyr

  Contents

  Front Cover Image

  Welcome

  Dedication

  Acknowledgments

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-one

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Chapter Twenty-five

  Chapter Twenty-six

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  Chapter Twenty-nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-one

  Chapter Thirty-two

  Chapter Thirty-three

  Chapter Thirty-four

  Epilogue

  A Preview of Moonglow

  The Dish

  Praise for FIRELIGHT

  Copyright

  Copyright

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

  Copyright © 2012 by Kristen Callihan

  Excerpt from Moonglow © 2012 by Kristen Callihan

  All rights reserved. In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without the permission of the publisher is unlawful piracy and theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), prior written permission must be obtained by contacting the publisher at permissions@hbgusa.com. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.

  Forever

  Hachette Book Group

  237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017

  www.hachettebookgroup.com

  www.twitter.com/foreverromance

  First e-book edition: February 2012

  Forever is an imprint of Grand Central Publishing.

  The Forever name and logo are trademarks of Hachette Book Group, Inc.

  The publisher is not responsible for websites (or their content) that are not owned by the publisher.

  ISBN 978-1-455-51000-9

 

 

 


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