Silent Memory
Kiss Carson
Author Bio
Kiss Carson has always loved stories that whisk her away from the real world and dump her right in the middle of a once in a lifetime adventure. Danger and love always seem to go hand in hand, along with a little bit of fantasy or paranormal. She lives in Queensland, Australia, with her husband, three children, grandaughter, grandson, two cats and a feisty cockatiel called Charlie. Ms Carson has published several romance books both novel length, and novellas, and is currently working on a series of romance novels about five brothers and their time-traveler love interests.
Description
Fortune Storm is a murderer, but she can’t remember whom she murdered. In fact, she can’t remember much at all. When she wakes one morning in the care of the handsome Phoenix Storm, her heart believes she knows him but the only emotion she feels is fear.
As time moves on Fortune’s memories reveal a passionate liaison, and a marriage she would rather forget. But her mind is weak, her memories confused. Which man loves her, and which man is the monster? Only when she dispels the ghosts in her heart will the truth be revealed and her life changed forever.
Book excerpt
Deep blue drapes flowed from the bed’s tester, gold thread of the embroidered roses frayed slightly. Like the main attraction of a circus sideshow, the curtains hid her from the outside world. When the curtains parted would the gathered crowd scowl and shake their heads in disgust? Daylight peeked through the cracks between the drapes encouraging her to swallow her woes and face her plight with head held high. The sun always shone, whether on clear days, or those days when snow clouds congested to dampen the sun’s bright glow.
Fortune Storm. The year was 1899. She knew her name, and that she was a murderer, but little more. Fortune groaned and covered her head with a pillow concealing all but spirals of chestnut hair splayed on the bed. Murder wasn’t a sought after talent London Society actively pursued. Muted male voices from within the room penetrated the pillow. Violet eyes quickly opened and she stilled to listen.
“The symptoms you describe; inability to breathe, exhaustion and fainting all direct my diagnosis to neurasthenia. Electrotherapy may be the best treatment.”
“That is an educated diagnosis, Doctor Cainbridge, however Fortune suffers from no more than fright. Neurasthenia is a little beyond her loss of memory.”
Fortune silently thanked the owner of the deep voice for disagreeing with the doctor’s diagnosis. Electrotherapy wasn’t a cure, it was torture and she’d heard dozens of horrendous stories.
“Then Mrs Storm needs to rest,” the doctor replied. “I shall return in a few days to check on her progress.”
“Allow me to accompany you down stairs.”
“No, no. I shall see myself out. I trust you will attend to Mrs Storm’s recuperation.”
“I will, doctor. Again, thank you for coming so quickly.”
Doctor Cainbridge’s footfalls faded, and then the drapes rustled as they opened. The bed dipped as though someone sat beside her. Fortune held her breath, her slender body coiled and ready to react if touched.
“I thought you would never wake. Midday has long passed.”
“I seek sanctuary,” Fortune replied, her voice husky and strained.
“From whom?”
Fortune didn’t answer at once, the question not quite as simple as she first thought. “From myself,” she finally said, her voice muffled by the pillow over her face.
“Perhaps that is part of your problem,” the deep voice replied.
In one swift movement the pillow was removed from her head. Fortune blinked against the sudden brightness, and for a long time she looked at the man; the firm set of his jaw, intense grey eyes and deep auburn hair.
“Fortune, my name is Phoenix. Do you remember me?”
Slowly, she shook her head.
Disappointment deepened the creases around his eyes. “I know your husband,” he told her. “I know what took place. I cared for you when all seemed lost.”
“My husband…?” Fortune attempted to conjure forth her husband’s face but only Phoenix’s features filled her mind. Had she killed her husband?
Author Website
http://kisscarson.blogspot.com