Book Title: Devil's Cove
Author: R.C. Matthews
Genre: Gothic Romance
Release Date: August 28, 2016
Hosted by: Book Enthusiast Promotions
Devil's Cove cowers in the dark shadows of an abandoned manor, shrouded in horror and spoken of only in the faintest of whispers.
Captain Devlin Limmerick knows its secrets, keeps them hidden with his own. Feared as ‘The Devil’ on the high seas, he is lured to the manor by an unquenchable thirst for revenge. It is a thirst matched only by his hunger for the powerful medium he has coerced to aid him. Her presence at the manor invites strange, inexplicable happenings, forcing him to believe nothing is as dead as it seems. Especially his heart.
Blinded from youth and touched with an ability to communicate beyond the grave, Grace has been both feared and revered by the uneasy town folk. Yet she is powerless against the unrest brewing within the manor walls and finds herself wickedly drawn to the Devil's darkness. Still, she refuses to sacrifice her soul to set Devlin's unspeakable plans in motion.
In the throes of passion and danger, their skills will be tested beyond any foe they've ever fought, and not a single soul is safe. The only way out is deep within ... if they dare to believe.
Emma placed a hand on her shoulder and gave a reassuring squeeze. “I’ve prepared a nice bath for you. The captain thought it might soothe your aching muscles. Perhaps the hot water will bring some of the color back into your cheeks. You’re still awfully pale. Let me help you in the tub, and then I’ll return in a while with your breakfast. How does that sound?”
Grace stood, and this time the groan that erupted from her was a result of the pain coursing through her. Every muscle in her body burned from the simple movement, as if she had exercised for hours on end the day before.
“That would be lovely,” she said, allowing Emma to pull her nightgown over her head and lead her to the bathtub.
Grace slipped her toe into the water and sighed, then followed with her entire body. The moment she settled against the back, a waft of lavender filled her nostrils. A bar of soap was thrust into her left hand and a cloth into her right.
“You can wash at your leisure,” Emma said, the sound of her feet bustling around the room. “And I’ll bring rosemary tea to rinse out your hair.”
The door snapped shut, and Grace relaxed her shoulders, letting the hot water seep into her sore muscles. Every minute or so, she stretched out her legs and enjoyed the waves of hot water rippling over her skin. When the ache in her muscles subsided, she rubbed the bar of soap into the washcloth and ran it along the length of her arm.
The doorknob rattled, startling Grace. “Back so soon, Emma? I haven’t even washed yet.”
“Would you care for help?” a woman asked, her voice close and oddly familiar.
Grace pulled her legs to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. “Excuse me, but who are you?” The undeniable scent of rosewater permeated the air, reminding her of the first morning, when she’d sniffed the warm sheets. And against her will, the smell aroused evocative feelings in her that were better left to her dreams. Shame flooded her chest, and she buried her face against her shoulder. “Please ask Emma to return.”
A light scraping sounded against the wooden floor, back and forth, back and forth. She recognized it immediately, and chills raced up her spine, despite the warmth of the water surrounding her. She clasped her hands even tighter about her legs, drawing into herself.
“Don’t be afraid,” the woman said, her words a soft hiss. “My name is Josephine. I won’t hurt you, my sweet.”
Grace’s stomach lurched as she fought to control the trembling spreading through her limbs. Good Lord, she was going to die. She wanted to scream, but she found herself incapable, held in a trancelike state of ineptitude.
R.C. Matthews was raised in the Metro-Detroit area along with three sisters and a brother by deaf parents. Her father is a voracious reader and that gene lives on in all of his children. Now the reading gene is sprouting in her own two sons who love to read J.K. Rowling, Rick Riordan and may others. She enjoys traveling with her family (loving husband, two sons and a stepson), reading, down-hill skiing and playing board games with her family.
No comments:
Post a Comment