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Synopsis
Five years ago, Kendall Hart’s life changed forever. A tragedy forced her to grow up fast
and become a responsible adult overnight while her friends were still enjoying
high school. She lives and breathes work leaving no time for a social life and
her circle of friends is small. She has no room for complications in her
life…then Tristan walks in.
Tristan O’Neal is forced to return home when his father becomes terminally ill. Taking care of his parents, dealing with an irresponsible brother, and starting a new job bring challenges to his life. Starting a relationship is the last thing on his mind but when sees Kendall, he finds himself drawn to her...she is so familiar.
Tristan is what Kendall has always wanted but life isn’t always fair. Sometimes you have to let go of the one person you’ve always loved in order to protect them. Will Tristan be able to break through the wall she’s built around her heart or will Kendall’s secrets consume her and destroy their chance at a life together?
Tristan O’Neal is forced to return home when his father becomes terminally ill. Taking care of his parents, dealing with an irresponsible brother, and starting a new job bring challenges to his life. Starting a relationship is the last thing on his mind but when sees Kendall, he finds himself drawn to her...she is so familiar.
Tristan is what Kendall has always wanted but life isn’t always fair. Sometimes you have to let go of the one person you’ve always loved in order to protect them. Will Tristan be able to break through the wall she’s built around her heart or will Kendall’s secrets consume her and destroy their chance at a life together?
Excerpt
I heard the sirens wailing as I came through the woods. My heart
beat a little faster as I realized they were headed toward my end of the
street. I sped up but stayed close to the edge of the woods so no one would see
me. I certainly didn’t need to get caught when I should’ve been at home in bed.
Suddenly, I caught a whiff of smoke and could hear the crackle of fire. As I
cleared the tree line, I could see the flames leaping toward the sky and I
instantly felt tears spring to my eyes. It was my house! I could barely breathe
as my heart hammered in my chest like thunder. Running toward the house, I saw
huge hoses snaking across the lawn all pointed toward the upper bedroom
windows. My eyes scanned the crowd of people lined up on the sidewalk and I saw
my neighbors but no one from my family. With legs feeling like lead, I sprinted
toward the back door but a fireman, who was rounding the side of the house with
an axe thrown across his shoulder, saw me and intercepted my attempt to go in.
I screamed but with no sound. Fighting him by scratching and clawing, I managed
to break free but soon another strong pair of arms wrapped around me like a
vise. Tears streaming down my face, I finally managed to scream out, “My
family! They’re in there! Help them!” I heard one of the firemen call on his
radio to alert the others about possible victims and hearing that word caused
me to collapse against the man holding me. There was a buzzing in my ears, my
tongue felt tingly, then I spiraled into darkness.
“Noooo!” I cried as I thrashed around in my bed, sweat beading
on my forehead, damp sheets tangling around my legs. It was that nightmare
again, inspired by my own horrible reality. I could feel every emotion, smell
every smell, just as if I was there that night almost five years ago. My heart
was pounding, my mouth dry as I lay there panting as if I’d just run the same
distance I did that night. With a trembling hand, I wiped my tear-dampened
cheeks then reached over to click on the lamp beside my bed to chase away the
darkness for at least a few minutes. After my eyes adjusted to the brightness,
I could see the tiny tattoo on my wrist. Laying back against my pillow, I
traced it with my finger remembering every moment of pain the day I’d gotten it
done. The pain I’d felt in my skin couldn’t erase the emptiness in my heart but
would be a constant reminder of my loss and guilt. Turning my head, I glanced
over at my nightstand and my eyes locked on the simple silver frame that held
the only salvageable photo of my family. A fireman had retrieved it from the
rubble. It was water-damaged and scorched on the edges but was the most
precious thing to me. It was the only physical proof they’d been alive once and
that we’d been a happy family.
Jenn's Review
Secrets of a Hart starts out with Kendall Hart having a
nightmare. She’s reliving the night when she lost everything she knew. She’s on
her own, with her best friend Averi by her side. And, she runs the bookstore in
the small town she lives in and has for the last several years. She’s grown up
to be a beautiful woman from the skinny, awkward girl she used to be.
When Kendall was a freshman and even more awkward; she fell
in love with a boy. He, Tristan, didn’t know it though. She hung with the wrong
crowd and what began as a night hanging with friends at the beach turned into a
nightmare that Kendall had to live for years to come.
That’s what secrets do, ya know? They grow and pollute us.
And there is someone who knows the truth. In this case, an old friend of
Kendall’s shared this secret. Sebastian made it his life’s ambition to keep her
on a tight leash. She was constantly looking over her shoulder.
One night on the beach, Kendall caught the attention of
Tristan but she left before he could talk to her. He had no idea who she was
and that they had gone to school together. I loved watching him getting to know
Kendall. He knew there was something special about her and he was determined to
do everything in his power to find out what that was.
But lurking outside, Sebastian didn’t like that she had
someone new in her life. Kendall has a decision to make and whether or not she
does what Sebastian says, someone is going to get hurt.
I really enjoyed this story! I’ve decided that I need to
slow down my reading, because it ended way before I wanted it to! I am already
looking forward to what’s next in the series. 4 out of 5 stars for me!!
About the Author
Elizabeth James is the author of the Design Series. She writes
contemporary romance set in her native North Carolina. A life-long reader, she
began writing a novel at age fifteen, put it away with no hopes of publication,
but now has realized her dream as an adult. Inspired by several bestselling
authors she began working as a beta reader and her passion for writing once
again surfaced. She embarked on a journey to see if she could complete a novel
and Love by Design was born. With warm reception to her first novel she is now
making this crazy world a part of her life. Elizabeth believes you're never too
late in life to realize your dreams and this has opened up a new world of
adventures and meeting new people which she loves to do. Elizabeth lives in
North Carolina with her husband and their dogs. She enjoys traveling, exploring
North Carolina, and spending time with her friends.
Author links: www.facebook.com/elizabethjamesauthor
twitter: @ejamesauthor
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