Title: River Road
Series: Tortured Souls #3
Series: Tortured Souls #3
Author: R.C. Matthews
Genre: Standalone Historical Romance
with gothic elements
with gothic elements
Release Date: November 6, 2017
Blurb
When a pirate and
voodoo priestess must lift a deadly curse on those they love, do they dare let
a relationship blossom amid danger? River Road is the
gothically satisfying end to this fan-favorite series!
Charles Moore relishes his dangerous life as the pirate Hatchet, since manning
a clipper ship keeps his mind off the role he played in the brutal Civil War.
But now an ancient curse has killed two of his loves, and he can’t ignore the
whispers that New Orleans’s Voodoo Queen, Marie Laveau herself, has hexed his
family.
Creole widow Hope Leblonc bristles under the city’s Black Codes that have
stripped her of so many freedoms and forced her practice of voodoo underground.
When Hatchet treats her like the respectable woman she is, she offers him a
deal: she’ll lift the curse if he’ll steal back a family relic she needs to
become a mambo in her religion.
But they’re both holding secrets that endanger their lives. When ghosts from
the past exact revenge for the skeletons in the Moore family closet, they
reveal a connection between Hope and Hatchet that makes the curse more powerful
than ever. Will they discover that love is worth the risk in time to survive
the coming darkness?
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Excerpt
A spark
ignited in Hope’s eyes but not one of an amorous nature. Hatchet’s entire body
tensed under the weight of her glare. Was his suit truly so offensive? There
were moments when he would bet every last dime to his name that she desired
him. His offer relieved her of the guilt of bedding the enemy—a white man—and
turned it into a business deal. Couldn’t she embrace the brilliance of his
plan?
“I
should’ve known,” she muttered, untangling herself from his hold. She paced the
floor, a tiger caged and feral. “Is there an honorable bone in your body?”
Of course,
he had honor; perhaps even more than she. Her attempt at manipulating him with
that tarot card reading was not well done of her. Honor was a matter of
interpretation. She voiced a problem; he offered a solution. One that might be
enjoyable for both of them, if she wished. When cast in the proper light, his
proposal was almost noble.
“I’m your
knight in shining armor, placing myself in peril to serve you. Plenty of honor
in that.”
She halted
in midstride, rolling her eyes. “Only a pirate would flip this on its head.
You’re despicable for demanding this of me!”
Perhaps she
had a point. Stealing her ancient relic from his own father in exchange for one
night of pleasure was one of the most reprehensible bargains Hatchet had ever
struck. But he was damned to hell, and his loins ached to possess this woman.
He’d been aroused since the moment he strolled into her room. Bargaining for
the ritual to banish the curse would’ve been smarter, but the widow would
accept money for her voodoo services if and when the time came.
Besides,
Hope had accused him of thievery, and he was stretching his neck out for her,
whether he knew Isaac or not. Unearthing his father’s hiding spot wouldn’t be
easy. This was a business transaction, simply put. She didn’t have to agree to
his terms, and the longer she glared, the less likely it became that she would
concede.
Well, damn,
he’d mucked up his chances, yet again.
Author Bio
R.C. Matthews is the author of contemporary and historical
romances featuring bold, sassy heroines and magnetic alpha heroes. Warning! The
chemistry between her characters is off the charts hot, so read at your own
risk. She resides in the Midwest and is surrounded by men: her husband and
three sons. During her free time you'll find her watching The Walking Dead,
reading a fabulous book or hanging out with her family.
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