Title: Living In Your Hell (Shattered Lives #5)
Author: Barb Shuler
Genre: Suspense/Thriller
Design by: MadHat Books
Photography: Lindee Robinson Photography
Models: Garrett Pentecost & Daria Rottenburke
I'll give my last breath to keep her safe.
Shelby
Having faith in human beings isn't something I grant easily.
My childhood was filled with yelling, anger, and beatings so bad I feared I would die. My Papa was my savior. He saved me from the beatings and hate, filling my life with love and happiness. He made sure I got the best education possible, and I was able to follow in his footsteps.
Now, being back home - with a past like mine - my nightmares are coming back. The flesh and blood kind.
Charlie
As a Sheriff's deputy, I've seen many things. I've had to handle some stuff that would make a saint roll over in his grave. Yet, I never give up. I wear my badge as a statement. I fight for those who can't fight for themselves. When the woman I love is put in danger, and my world starts falling into disarray, there is only one thing to do. Take a stand and fight for her - with her even.
No one from her past is going to take her from me. She's my forever and I plan to do everything I can to keep her that way.
Having faith in human beings isn't something I grant easily.
My childhood was filled with yelling, anger, and beatings so bad I feared I would die. My Papa was my savior. He saved me from the beatings and hate, filling my life with love and happiness. He made sure I got the best education possible, and I was able to follow in his footsteps.
Now, being back home - with a past like mine - my nightmares are coming back. The flesh and blood kind.
Charlie
As a Sheriff's deputy, I've seen many things. I've had to handle some stuff that would make a saint roll over in his grave. Yet, I never give up. I wear my badge as a statement. I fight for those who can't fight for themselves. When the woman I love is put in danger, and my world starts falling into disarray, there is only one thing to do. Take a stand and fight for her - with her even.
No one from her past is going to take her from me. She's my forever and I plan to do everything I can to keep her that way.
I can't help but grin while walking up the stairs to the back of Doc’s house . I took a deep breath, moved my hand behind me and rang the doorbell. The moment the door came open I felt my heart start to race. Standing before me was an angel, right down to her white strappy sandals. I leaned in and kissed her blushing cheeks and pulled the flowers from behind my back and presented them to her with a small bow.
“My lady,” I said with a wink before straightening back up. The giggle that escaped her made me grin so big. Was I cheesy? As a fucking heart attack, but only for my girl. I'd do anything to make her smile like she is now.
“Good Sir,” she said, her eyes sparkling as she gave a little bow.
“Shall we depart, my fair maiden?” I asked as I held my arm out for her. I heard chuckling from inside and Shelby cut her eyes at Doc when he came up and took the flowers from her.
“I'll put these in water for you. Now, go on and have fun with your beau.” Her grin grew as she hugged his neck.
“Night, Papa,” she said, wrapping her arm around mine.
“Night, Doc.”
“Goodnight, sweet pea. Night, Charles,” he said, giving me that look. I chuckled a little nervously as we walked down the stairs. I leaned in and kissed her cheek, inhaling the sweet scent that was Shelby Grant.
“Ready for our night out?” I asked, my brow raised as we made it to my car. Her eyes lit up when she saw my 1965 Pontiac GTO. I was a bike man, nothing beat my Harley, but my car, this was my baby. Dad and I had rebuilt her from frame on up. Piece by piece. Our blood, sweat and even some tears went into this beauty. She was painted black, black leather inside and a lot of attitude came from her powerful engine. She was almost as sassy as Shelby.
“Hmm… I love this car,” she nodded and turned to give me a sultry look.
I moved closer to her and pressed her back against the door. “I know you do, baby,” I said before leaning down to capture her mouth with mine.
My kiss was demanding and I only pulled back when she moaned. If she kept that up I wasn't going to be responsible for what happened. Her hands moved to my chest and I couldn't hold back my grin as she shifted on her feet.
“We should go…” she whispered.
“Back to my place or to dinner?” I asked, smirking.
“Why, Mr. McKenna, are you trying to get into my unmentionables?” Her lips curved at the corners and I leaned in, my lips brushing hers slightly. My body pushed against hers and I know she felt my answer before I could speak it.
“Always,” I said before I once again captured her mouth in a searing kiss. I pulled back when we needed air and kissed her nose. “But, I'd like to wine you and dine you before I feast on you.”
“Damn, I love when you say things like that,” she said, a grin playing at her lips. “Let's go have dinner then.” She stepped into me and I opened her door.
Once she was settled I got in myself and we headed up the road. I had everything planned out for us tonight. A picnic dinner was waiting for us down at the park. I'd had help with the prep work, and by now the boys and Lana should be cleaning up and leaving the food in the heated bags for us.
When we pulled in I caught sight of Derek’s Jeep leaving out the other entrance. I parked under the trees and walked around to help Shelby out. The water trickled from the fountain and the nightlife was making itself known. I took her hand and led her over to the beautiful quilt on the soft grass.
“My lady, please kick off your sandals and join me,” I said as I kicked my shoes off. Her grin was so big. I knew she would love a picnic, even at night.
I sat down facing her after she picked a spot. I gave her a wink before I opened the bag closest to us. I pulled out the small tray of cheese and crackers, and then the tray with the fruit. I grabbed the other bag and smirked as I pulled the still warm tray of mini smokies and meatballs. They each had toothpicks in them to make eating easy.
“Your feast awaits, my lady,” I said with the slightest of bows. She giggled and I looked up as she shifted. Her lips met mine and then she was popping a meatball into her mouth. A minute later she sighed.
“You, kind sir, are truly too sweet,” she said with a flourish of her southern accent. I groaned internally as she bat her lashes, her hand going to her chest.
“I do aim to please,” I said.
Shattered Lives Series
Genre: Dark Suspense/Thriller ~ Romantic Suspense
~ My Own Nightmare ~
Amazon
~ Somewhere I Belong ~
Amazon
~ Shatter Me Whole ~
Amazon
~ Sparks of Deception ~
Amazon
*
The Cowboy Way Series
Genre: Cowboy Contemporary Romance
~ Wrangled By Love ~
Amazon
*
~ A Rescue Series Novella ~
Genre: Romantic Suspense
~ A Marshall’s Courage ~
Amazon
*
~ Primal Darkness ~
Genre: Dark Paranormal Romantic Thriller
Amazon
**Each book in these series’s can be read as a stand alone
**All of the above books are available in KU
*
~ Dirty Fairy Tales Anthology ~
Genre: Erotic - PNR - Fantasy
Amazon
*All ebook sales go to help the Autism Society of SW Florida.
~Meet Barb Shuler~
I’m a Carolina Girl by right and a Texan by birth. Best of both worlds. I have the brass sass to keep up with my Texas sized temper. Living and working in both states i’ve learned a lot about hard work, adapting to your surroundings and making the best of the path that you have been led down. My grandma Dollie once told me I would know what I was meant to do when it happened. She was right, as always.
As with most book lovers, I am an avid reader. Reading has always been a hobby - a passion, really and a way to get lost in other people’s lives, their drama and other worlds. It’s a private movie in your imagination that you get to cast and navigate through, at your own pace. Reading helps to expand the perimeters of one's mind. That is what got me into writing. Writing has been something that I have done since I was a kid. If I had paper, I was writing. Nine out of ten times it made no sense but what are words if they are not to be used to your advantage? Words are a part of us all. Why not use them, right?
During the day I work as a ‘desk jockey’ and help the residents of my county navigate themselves around our little, but not too little country town. By night I am either blogging with my best friends, doing PA work for some of my favorite authors or fighting with the voices in my head. They can be stubborn at times. It’s a blessing and I am cherishing every moment. Tomorrow is never guaranteed so I want to make sure I live the day as fully as possible. For what is my creation, can become someone else's treasure.
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