Kim Cox Books | Kim's Musings

Book Description

At thirty, Jenny Morgan’s biological clock is ticking. But as a fashion magazine CEO with a busy schedule and no significant other, her wish is unlikely to come true. When her father receives a terminal diagnosis, he wants a grandchild before he dies. With her religious beliefs, a sperm donor isn’t an alternative. Jenny’s only option is her single co-worker and best friend, Trevor Drake. Can she really trust him to be a good husband?

Trevor has loved Jenny since college, but she only sees him as a friend with no ambition. After he finds out her predicament, he proposes and sets out to prove he can provide everything she needs. Jenny is determined to have a prenuptial agreement with an “out” clause after one year. Can he convince Jenny of his love by then?

As if they don’t have enough on their plate, someone at the magazine is out to sabotage their marriage, their impending parenthood, and the magazine. Jenny is nearly killed in one such attempt. Can Jenny and Trevor work together to uncover their common enemy?

Hi! I’ve re-released, Suspicious Minds. This was my first ever published book. I’d worked on it for at least five long years, and it’s near and dear to my heart. It was revised about once a year and contains, along with the words, much blood, sweat, and tears. The story started out as a short story and end up a novel, and it started out as a mystery and ended up a romantic suspense. Changing genres took one revision all of its own. The story already had a lot of romance in it, so it was only practical that I change the genre once I learned about romantic suspense.

I cut off the beginning at least twice, probably more. It was rejected a few times before it was accepted by a publisher. I was lucky enough to get a big house editor’s opinion before the last rewrite, and she told me the reason why it had most likely been rejected, and I’m forever grateful for her opinion and expertise. What it boiled down to, I had to kill off one of the major characters because he was taking the story away from the main characters, Ryan and Natalie. Well, that just wouldn’t do and he had to go. I could see clearly see what she’d meant once I followed her advice which took another major revision. Over half the book had to be rewritten almost from scratch.

I’m also thankful to my critique partners for struggling through rewrite after rewrite with me. They are some of the best friends I’ve had. They can attest to my hardheadedness. I never give up when I want something, and I definitely wanted to see this book published. I couldn’t leave it alone until it was as good as I could get it.

Suspicious Minds’ re-release price will be $1 off at $2.99 for the first week and then the price goes up to $3.99 on March 14, 2016. That’s still a little more than $3 off the previous Amazon price. It will also be available on Kindle Unlimited. Here’s a taste.

Suspicious Minds Blurb

Betrayal, Revenge, and Hidden Identity

In the city of Boston lies a story of revenge and hidden identity. Ryan Donatelli, posing as Thomas Randolph, sets out to avenge his sister’s death, even if it means using Sam Southard’s daughter to do it. After all, Ryan is sure Sam’s responsible.

Natalie Southard is determined to keep her family business out of the hands of known crime boss, Nick DeMarco. After her father is killed, Natalie and Ryan are forced to run for their lives. But, will they live long enough for their hearts to heal once everything is revealed?

Purchase on Kindle worldwide.

Excerpt

PROLOGUE

“Is that her?” Detective Walsh asked, talking around the wad of gum in his mouth.

Ryan Donatelli tugged at the neck of his old football jersey while he looked everywhere but at the body on the steel examination table. The morgue walls were closing in on him. “I don’t know.” Even to him, his voice sounded tinny, far off. “Shelley’s small, but this woman seems much smaller. It’s hard to say.” The obvious resemblance struck him, but he looked for any reason he could to deny it.

“Dehydration, from the burns,” the gray-haired coroner said. “It changes the facial appearance.”

Ryan glanced up and noticed the older man’s immense nose and his astonishing resemblance to the comedian and singer, Jimmy Durante.

The detective shrugged. “Well, if you can’t be sure, I guess we’ll just have to . . . wait a minute! What about this?” Walsh removed a small envelope from his jacket pocket and extracted a plastic bag containing a necklace that had been tagged for evidence.

Ryan’s stomach spasmed. Acid scorched his throat. Every conscious thought screamed denial, yet his trembling hand reached for the bag. Under the fluorescent lights, the ruby pendant glowed like a hot ember. He squeezed it in his palm, trying to feel its pulsing warmth–like the warmth of Shelley’s smile.

Oh, God! It was as cold as the body on the table.

“You okay?” The detective’s voice was muffled.

Ryan wanted to laugh at the stupidity of the question, but at this moment, mirth was a foreign emotion to him. With his index finger, he traced the outline of the small stone before turning it over to read the inscription he knew he would find. Unshed tears blurred his vision, but there it was. Happy B-day, Love, R.

“It’s Shelley,” he said and turned away. He could no longer deny the evident truth, or hang onto the tiniest thread of hope that this was a terrible mistake.

Sweet, stubborn Shelley, his baby sister. She’d never argue politics, movies or anything mundane as the weather again. Shelley loved to challenge him. She’d made him think in new ways and consider new options. What would he do without her?

Purchase on Kindle worldwide.