Grace Under Fire is out!

 

Grace Under Fire

Jerri Drennen

Crimson Rosebud

Release Date: 11-18-2009  

 

Since her husband’s death, Grace Diaglo has been sleepwalking through life. That is, until her husband’s ex-partner shows up just in time to become her impromptu bodyguard when a peeping Tom is spotted outside her bathroom window. Grace isn’t sure who she’s more afraid of, the man trying to see her naked or the one she’s started picturing that way.

 

Ex-Chicago cop, Cord Rawlings, intends to find his partner’s killer. What he doesn’t count on is an intense attraction to the dead man’s wife or the corruption a probe into his friend’s death uncovers-an investigation that has the pair dodging bullets to stay alive. Will he be able to keep Grace safe or have they become the targets of the last person either of them suspected?

 

Excerpt

 Cord Rawlings lifted the bottle of whiskey to his lips and drained the last drops. He wouldn’t say he was drunk, just numb. He’d spent all evening in Rockford, Illinois, holed up in a room at a roadside motel, drinking, and still felt no better than he had before he’d opened the bottle.

Would the painful memories ever fade—as the face of his partner, Vincent Diaglo, had?

He forced himself to swallow past the burning in his throat as he slammed his fist into the lumpy mattress.

Contempt for himself consumed him.

Vince had died because of him. He should have been in the car that exploded, not his partner. Now all Cord saw when he thought about his friend was his charred remains—not the strong, dedicated cop he’d been.

Inside, Cord was dead too. Probably wouldn’t fear dying because he’d been lifeless inside for a long time.

Maybe he should just end it all. Right here, right now.

He shook his head. That would be taking the coward’s way out. No way could he do that.

He sent the empty bottle into the air. It landed with a dull thud onto the carpet.

Vincent would have been disgusted with what he’d become, and that bothered Cord more than anything. Vince and his wife had been like family to him.

God, he could still see Grace’s pale, tear-streaked face at the funeral as the graveside attendants lowered the shiny silver casket into the ground, her hands white-knuckling the American flag that had draped it only moments before.

He hadn’t been able to face her that day. Guilt had eaten at him with a vengeance. So he’d watched from a distance, afraid she’d blame him for not being there to save her husband—to save the only friend he’d ever had.

The morning of the funeral, he’d pictured Grace’s misty green eyes filled with loathing, eyes that had haunted him from the moment he’d met her, and known facing her would be impossible. Burying his partner and losing her respect, all in the same day. No way could he have dealt with that. He’d chosen not to confront her.

Instead, he’d run away and buried himself in a bottle.

Shaking off his alcohol-induced buzz, Cord forced the images from his mind. He refused to think about Grace any longer. Every time he did, his stomach knotted. What he needed was another bottle of whiskey. Maybe then he’d pass out.

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Struggling to get my hero right.

It’s weird but usually I have trouble with my female characters but with this book, Sloan is coming along nicely. Greer is giving me trouble. I guess because he’s not your typical hero, having just been released from prison. He’s having a tough time staying on the staight-and-narrow since he can’t find a job and is running out of money. I think I’ve got a plan for him, but I don’t want him to come across as completely irredeemable. Though, I do want to see how far I can go without that happening.  Hopefully I can get through this first chapter and get to their first meeting, which will be fun since Sloan is going to break-up his first chance at getting nookie after 6 years in prison. Needless to say he isn’t happy about the interruption, especially when she accuses him of stealing a precious stone. I know if I can get past this first chapter I’ll be okay. Wish me luck.

Have a wonderful Sunday!

Jerri

 

A new book in the works!

So, I had no motivation to write and then I got an e-mail about an anthology at The Wild Rose Press. They wanted a romantic suspense centered around a blue Diamond. I got to thinking about this and it really snowballed into a storyline that I now have an outline for. Tentitive title Diamond in the Rough.

Hero:  Greer Beranger–diamond expert and ex-Jewel thief.

This is my image of him. 

Heroine: Sloan McKendrics–precious stones investigator for the Jax Insurance Company.

Question? What do you think about heroes who are really considered anti-heroes? Can you overlook a criminal past if the story is compelling enough? I’d love to hear what you think about this as a writer or a reader.

Jerri