Today we’re giving away one e-copy of Evidence of Love by Elisabeth Rose. Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter.
She survived years as a gangland wife, sacrificing everything to the family. But now they’re threatening the one thing that she will never, ever give up — her child.
When Maja’s abusive gang boss husband Tony is murdered, she takes the opportunity to flee, change her name, and leave her criminal family and her past behind. As Lara Moore, she and her toddler son Petey live quietly in suburban Sydney. Then, one act of kindness threatens to reveal her secrets and unravel the threads of her new life. But Detective Nick is dedicated and determined, the antithesis of everything she was brought up to believe about the police. Slowly, Maja finds herself drawn out of her shell and into his protective embrace.
Investigating Detective Nick Lawson doesn’t know what it is about the prickly, reclusive young
mother that attracts and intrigues him, but as the facts about her crime-steeped family emerge, Nick doubts whether his career would survive this relationship, even if she were interested.
Then, to Lara’s horror, her past meets her present, and thoughts of love and a future are lost as the fight for her child begins.
Excerpt:
No sign of Branko but he couldn’t be far behind her. He wouldn’t know she didn’t have a car so he may not try to follow. Was she panicking unnecessarily? But she couldn’t let him know where she lived. If he discovered that she’d have to sell up and move. Go to another city. Start again. If she had to, she would.
A white car slowed beside her and a voice called through the open passenger window, ‘Get in.’
Lara paused for a split second then flung the door open and collapsed into the front seat.
Nick accelerated. Lara turned for a quick look back and saw Branko, hands on hips, staring at the traffic. Had he seen her?
‘Care to tell me what that was about?’ Nick didn’t sound angry, more curious.
‘No.’ She closed her eyes, head back. ‘Not yet.’
‘Seatbelt,’ he said.
She clipped it obediently. ‘Thanks.’
‘No worries.’
‘Where are we going? Hairdresser?’
‘No. Home. I…fibbed.’ She bit her lip, hesitated. ‘I don’t want him to know where I live.’
‘He doesn’t know?’
‘No. No-one does. From before.’
‘Your family?’
She nodded. ‘I had to get away.’ She owed him at least that much information but he’d have to be satisfied with a crumb.
‘Okay. What about your bike?’
‘I’ll bus over tomorrow and get it.’
He didn’t ask any more questions. The lights were red at Parramatta Road.
‘Are you taking me to the police station?’ Lara asked. ‘Do I really need to make another statement?’
‘No. I fibbed,’ he said.Nick took a circuitous route to Lara’s house, checking the rear-view mirror constantly to see if they were followed. He pulled up in the driveway, positive no-one had been on their tail. Lara sat in silence beside him. The incident had obviously shaken her, frightened her more than she cared to admit to him, but from that first moment he knew she was in trouble. No way was he walking away and leaving her at the mercy of that scumbag, old friend or not.
‘All clear,’ he said.
Lara exhaled heavily. She unclipped her seatbelt then suddenly leaned across and pressed soft lips against his cheek for the briefest of moments. ‘Thank you,’ she murmured.
Before he could react or recover the door closed and she was gone, leaving a waft of perfume and the memory of her lips to tease him.
Giveaway: Use the Rafflecpoter widget below to enter to win a digital copy of Evidence of Love.
About the Author:
Elisabeth Rose lives in Australia’s capital, Canberra. She completed a performance degree on clarinet, travelled Europe with her musician husband and returned to Canberra to raise two children. Twenty years ago she began practising Tai Chi and now teaches classes in that as well as teaching and playing clarinet. Reading has been a life long love, writing romance a more recent delight.
Visit her at: http://www.elisabethrose.com.au/
Evidence of Love is available now. You can buy it here or here in e-format.