KAREN’S KILLER BOOK BENCH: Welcome to Karen’s Killer Book Bench, where readers can discover talented new authors and take a peek inside their wonderful books. This is not an age-filtered site, so all book peeks are PG-13 or better. Come back and visit often. Happy reading!

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DETERMINED
A Second Chance Romantic Suspense
BY MARSHA R. WEST

BLURB

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Holly and Kay stood with their arms around each other when a disturbance at the front of the house got their attention.

“Let me in. I’m Holly Grant’s lawyer, Daniel Morgan.”

Holly left Kay and rushed to Dan as he entered the living area. “Thank heavens you’re here.”

“Tell me what happened.” Dan took her in his arms, drawing her close. One hand made comforting circles on her back.

Holly pulled in several deep breaths, drew back, and explained. “We were eating supper on the patio. Lee got up to get the bottle of wine, and we all heard a loud sound, and she yelled. Blood flowed from her shoulder, and she fell. Kay and I got on the ground, and she called 911 and you while I put pressure on Lee’s wound. The EMTs have taken Lee to the hospital.” Holly gasped for air. She had spewed out the story in one breath. Her legs wouldn’t have held her if Dan hadn’t kept an arm around her. She held out a hand to Kay who came and joined them.

“We need to go to see how Lee is.” Kay’s voice wavered.

Dan raised his voice. “Officer, can I take Holly and Kay to see their sister? I can assure you they are not going anywhere.”

“Yes, I’ll have an officer escort you outside since we’re not sure if the shooter is gone or still around. Ms. Grant, we’ll be in touch.”

“Thank you. Dan, let me wash my hands and change my clothes.” 

“Sure.”

When she reached her bathroom, the image in the mirror drew her up short. Blood covered her shirt. She pulled off her bloody clothes and dropped them in the tub. She stepped into her walk-in closet and pulled out a purple short-sleeved T-shirt and a clean pair of black slacks. Found a pair of slide-on sandals and sped back to the living room where she found more officers had arrived. George Sanderson, who acted as the mayor of their little community, had pushed his way in. “My gosh, Holly. What’s going on? Is everyone all right?”

Holly briefly explained what had happened. “We’re on our way to the hospital. Can you lock up for me when the police finish up here?”

“Sure. You go on. Don’t worry.”

The police officer stopped her before they left. “Can I have your phone numbers?” 

They all complied, leaving the chaos behind, not knowing what chaos lay ahead.

About Author Marsha R. West…

I’m a retired elementary school principal, a former school board member, and theatre arts teacher, and write Romance, Suspense, and Second Chances. Experience Required. I live in Texas with my supportive lawyer husband and Charley, a deaf, Chihuahua/Jack Russell Terrier. Our two daughters presented us with three delightful grandchildren all who live nearby. 

The theme of my eleven books is always second chances. I even named my four-part series The Second Chances Series. I believe in Happily Ever Afters. My husband picked up a plaque for me on one of our several trips to Maine that states my philosophy exactly. Everything will be all right in the end. If it’s not all right, it’s not the end. The Heroines and Heroes in my books range in age from 40 to late 50s and their parents and children often playing supporting roles. 

I am a member of North Texas Romance Writers, Texas Authors Institute, and the WORD BY WORD Blog. I send out a monthly newsletter and give away an e-book to some lucky commenter.  I enjoy making presentations to groups, and several times I’ve taught a Silver Frogs class on Indie Publishing for Texas Christian University. My books can be found on AMAZON, B & N, KOBO, and iTunes. Print books are also at Books2Read and Amazon.

I’ve contributed to ROMANCE & MYSTERY AUTHORS ON WRITING, edited by JQ. Rose. Also, in 2018, I had a short story, “The Colonel & Her Major” published in my writing chapter’s anthology, LONE STAR LOVE.  In 2024, my short story, “Survival” was published in the in the 9^th anthology SHORT STORIES BY TEXAS AUTHORS. 

Links to Marsha’s websites, blogs, books, #ad etc.:

Amazon Kindle: https://amzn.to/3YuQ6uR

Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/4farixx

Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/bxAVzD

Blurbs for each of Marsha’s books with links can be found on her website www.marsharwest.com where you can also sign up for her NEWSLETTER https://bit.ly/47tZzoX

Contact her at marsha@marsharwest.com , and follow her on… https://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn

https://www.facebook.com/MarshaRWestfans

https://www.twitter.com/Marsharwest  @Marsharwest

https://www.instagram.com/marsharwest

Word By Word Blog at www.sisterhoodofsuspense.sordpress.com/blog/

Marsha R. West (Author of Vermont Escape) | Goodreads

Marsha R. West Books – BookBub

Amazon Author page https://amzn.to/456bBUy