You don't
want to miss the conclusion to
Katie and Will's story.
Never Let
You Go by Monica Murphy is NOW LIVE!
Blurb
The second novel in this darkly sexy
contemporary series from bestselling author Monica Murphy wraps up an
emotionally powerful two-part tale of forbidden love.
The truth hurts, they say—and my pain cuts deep. While I
was falling for Ethan, he was deceiving me the entire time. He held a huge
secret, protected by his lies. When I discovered what he was hiding, the truth
shook my world, threatening to ruin us forever. Ruin me. But I soon realized
that what we share can’t be destroyed.
The connection between us is too strong. It always has
been. I can’t deny him any longer. And I can’t deny my truth: I’m in love with
Ethan.
I don’t want to let him go.
While we’re trying our best to make this relationship
work, other forces are fighting against us. My family, who wants to keep me
safe. The media obsessed with my tragic past. The public that feeds off of it.
Even Ethan’s father—the man who nearly destroyed me all those years ago. He’s
doing his best to finish the job.
Despite my love for Ethan, the doubts creep in, clouding
my mind. Is he worth the pain? Will our love survive, or will we have no choice
but to end it—end us—once and for all?
Excerpt
“Maybe I care,” she retorts. “Think about what
this will do to us.”
“What
could it do? Force us to admit that yes, we’re in a relationship now? What’s
wrong with that?”
“This
so-called relationship only happened because you sought me out and then lied to
me!” Her voice is shrill, her eyes wild, and she visibly shakes. She’s angry.
At me.
“I never
meant—” I clamp my lips shut when I see her hostile expression. She looks ready
to pounce. Christ, maybe she’s right. Maybe we shouldn’t have met today. Our
hurt feelings are still too close to the surface, too raw and painful.
“Do you
really think meeting me today was a mistake?” I need to know her answer, though
I might not like it.
Katie
watches me, pressing her lips together. I wait for her response, air lodged in
my throat, my heart tripping over itself in my chest. I feel like it’s all come
down to this.
“This won’t work,” she whispers.
“What
won’t?”
“Us. The
two of us . . . together. We need to accept it.” Her face almost crumples but
she somehow keeps it together, all while she slaughters my heart with her
words. “We shouldn’t be seen together in public. If anyone recognizes us, it
will become this—thing, and soon the media will be talking. About us and our
sick relationship. And I don’t want that. I don’t think you do either.”
My spine
stiffens involuntarily and I slowly back away from her, holding my hands up in
front of me in pure defensive mode. As if my position can ward o the blow only
her words can deliver.
I thought
my father knew how to pack a punch, saying just the right thing to make me
internally bleed. A few choice words from Katie Watts and I feel like I’m near
death.
“You want
me gone? I’m gone,” I tell her, but I don’t budge. I’m hoping she’ll stop me.
Despite the pain she’s causing, I don’t want to walk away from her. Even though
it feels like my heart is about to crack into a million tiny pieces. I swear
she already broke my heart when she first found out who I really was and ran,
exiting my life like she was never in it.
Now she
doesn’t want to be seen with me in public. Doesn’t want Lisa to know. The
rational side of my brain understands why she might feel that way. But the
irrational side, the emotional side, is screaming in agony over her rejection,
demanding that I hurt her back.
My
vengeful side makes me think of my father.
I rub a
hand across my chest to ease the radiating ache, but it doesn’t help. The way
Katie watches me isn’t helping either.
“It’s for
the best,” she whispers. “The minute she spots us, she’ll tell . . . everyone.
And then we’re in trouble. They’ll twist our relationship into this weird, sick
thing, and I can’t. I can’t bear it, Ethan. I’ve already suffered through too
much and so have you. This—we’re not worth it.”
My mouth
drops open. We’re not worth it? She’s the only person in my life who’s worth
anything.
“I’m—I’m
sorry.” The choked words leave her and I can’t say anything in return.
She turns
and leaves, her steps hurried, her at black shoes slapping against the pavement
as she scurries away. I watch her go, don’t stop her, don’t say her name. I
don’t do a damn thing, as if I’m paralyzed, and I wonder for one crazy moment
if I might be.
But I’m
not. I’m just struck numb by her words, by her worry. She’s right. I know she’s
right. The media will turn our relationship into a train wreck, and with good
reason.
We are a train wreck. We shouldn’t have
happened, but we did. No one else knows what it’s like to be me. No one
under-stands what we went through together except her and me. But she has
walked away from me yet again. Practically ran, and I did nothing about it.
Breathing
deep, I tell myself to stay strong. Either this will work or it won’t—but I
want it to. I’m desperate to keep that connection between us.
Yet I
need to understand and respect her feelings. Forgive her for walking away from
me so easily. It’s damn hard. That tiny, vulnerable part buried deep within me,
that little boy who never felt wanted, the one who spent his entire life moving
through it essentially alone . . .
He is
devastated.
Never Tear Us Apart
Book One
About the Author
New
York Times, USA Today and international bestselling author Monica Murphy is a
native Californian who lives in the foothills below Yosemite with her husband
and three children. She’s a workaholic who loves her job. When she’s not busy
writing, she also loves to read and travel with her family. She writes new
adult and contemporary romance and is published with Bantam and Avon. She also
writes romance as USA Today bestselling author Karen Erickson.
Representation:
All questions regarding subsidiary rights for any of her books and inquiries
regarding foreign translation should be directed to her agent Kimberly Whalen.
GIVEAWAY
Signed Paperback of
Never Let You Go
$25 Amazon Gift Card
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