Reviews:

~ Catherine Chernow knows how to write a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The plot is exciting with lots of surprises and excitement. She writes characters that leap off the pages. A heroine who is both vulnerable but who wants to be assured and strong. A hero, wow, a hero who is hard and cold at first, but who is so luscious the reader can't help but fall in love with Alex. His seduction methods will get the reader burning along with Grace. Ms. Chernow sensually explores feelings, smells and tastes that will have the reader wanting to try it all out herself. The dialogue is smart and snappy, and secondary characters give the story depth to the story. I loved reading this story, it excited all my senses in every way. I was hooked the moment Grace walked in on Max's dead body. Ms Chernos is an excellent writer and the reader would do well to pick up all her books. - Valerie, Love Romances and More. Read full review here

~ I just loved this contemporary thriller from Ms. Chernow. I was thoroughly entertained and sitting on the edge of my seat throughout the entire story. My heart was racing as I was reading the action scenes and I found myself quickly flipping the pages as fast as I could just to see what happened next. I felt bad for Grace because although she was making quite a bit of money, she seemed lonely and extremely empty inside. She was in a volatile situation that was catching up with her quite quickly. I'm definitely adding this one to my library and I assure you that if you pick this one up, you won't be disappointed. Ms. Chernow has amazing writing talent. - - Diana, Night Owl Romance. Read full review here

Excerpt:

Grace heard the crunch of something beneath her feet. It felt like…shells.

Where in hell had they taken her?

Her heart started to pound, her pulse raced as she walked, sandwiched once more between Moira and that goon, Carson.

Soon, the pitch of the ground changed. Grace walked up something that felt like and sounded like wood beneath her feet. The hollow sound drifted by her ears each time her foot hit what felt like wooden slats. A tangy, salty odour drifted by her nose.

Then she heard the cry of a gull, felt the breeze kick up…

A cold chill wind.

“Here we are,” Moira removed Grace's blindfold.

She swayed for just a second as her eyes got used to the bright sunshine and the sight of the large boat bobbing up and down in water. She lifted a hand to shield her eyes from the bright summer sun and saw a man's tall form take shape on deck.

The cool wind blew in her face, tickling the hairs around her cheeks as it lifted the ends, the strands teasing her chin as they whipped around her mouth. The cool breeze caressed her bare arms and legs, tickling her bare toes as they peeked out through her sandals.

The man on deck stood in the sun, like a golden warrior, his pale, wheat-coloured hair shining. His eyes, those silvery, icy eyes bored through her.

Alex.

The black-suited goons who sat in the front of the sedan, the driver and his pal, exited the car and stood a few feet behind Grace, Moira and Carson. Grace thought about turning and running, but they trapped her from behind.

While Alex and the boat blocked her from the front.

She glanced at the murky water by the dock.

“I wouldn't if I were you,” Alex called from the deck of the boat. “It's cold and…not the cleanest water around.” He folded his arms across his broad chest, widening his stance as he stood on the deck, his body swaying in rhythm with the boat.

Grace's eyes followed his every move, her stomach rolling each time the boat swayed one way then the other, the water reaching up just a bit to lap around the hull.

“Bring her to me,” his deep voice rang out.

Shit! He looked formidable and forbidding, a tall golden Viking.

“No.” Grace shook her head, her body following suit as tremors took hold. Her knees felt like jelly. “I'm not doing this.”

Moira gripped her arm. “Don't make this difficult, Grace.”

“Let go of me!” Grace tried to squirm away, but Moira's grip remained like iron around her arm.

She struggled while Moira and Carson dragged her up the wooden deck and onto the boat. Alex didn't move but continued to watch her with those cool gray eyes.

Grace's chest heaved. “You sick bastard. What do you think you're doing? Kidnapping me?”

Alex nodded at Moira and Carson. “Leave. We'll be fine.”

Grace turned to see Moira staring at her, a look akin to envy on her face. Her eyes seemed wide and dreamy, her mouth curved into a wry little smile.

Shit. They were all crazy!

“Go put that life jacket on,” he commanded, giving Grace a hard stare. “The one next to that chair.” He nodded towards a small, white table and two chairs sitting on the deck. A bright orange life preserver lay on a box next to them.

Grace's eyes grew wide. No, she wouldn't go——not willingly. If he wanted to see just how much of a pain in the ass she could be…

She pushed past Alex and made her way to the railing near the table and chairs. Placing her foot on the chair, Grace took hold of the railing, pushing her body up and over the smooth wood.

The next thing she felt was something hard snake around her waist. Alex had her in a vice grip, pulling her away from the railing. He lifted her high in the air, carrying her like a football, tucking her flailing body to his side.

Grace kicked her feet but soon tired when she realised she couldn't kick—or pummel—any part of him, her hands and feet kept hitting the empty space in front of her.

Moira and her pals fled. Grace watched as they hightailed it back to the sedan, her sideways view of their retreating, black-suited backs the last thing she saw before Alex spoke again.

“I'll put you down, if you promise to behave.”

Grace heard the sedan's engine start, saw the car pull away. She watched until it was a speck on the horizon.

She screamed, the sound loud and piercing.

“Go on. Scream your head off. No one can hear you.”

Grace glanced up to see that not another boat was in sight. Not one person. Only the gulls overhead, their cry sad and lonely.

Grace flailed wildly, arching her back, her arms and legs swinging wide.

“Stop it!” Alex growled. When she didn't heed him, he lifted her, placing one muscled arm beneath her knees, shifting her so that her back lay against his other arm.

She continued to resist, doing her best to fight him, reaching up to pummel his chest and shoulders.

That didn't faze him either.

In a last ditch attempt, she reached up and bit his shoulder.

That did the trick.

She heard his cry of pain right before her bottom connected with the floor of the boat. Grace scrambled to her feet and made a beeline for the steps. She had her foot on the first tread when she felt something snag the waistband of her shorts.

Grace spun around, so much that her head swam. Alex's tight face and stormy, icy gray eyes met her line of vision. This time, he bent his tall frame and dug his shoulder into her belly, the breath leaving her lungs on a loud whoosh.

He carried her like a sack of flour, up the steps, and inside a small room. She heard the bleep-bleep of sonar then the engine roared to life.

Tears leaked from her eyes.

He put her down on her feet but didn't bother to steady her when she swayed.

Then she heard a loud click, saw the sun glint off something metallic.

Handcuffs!

Alex held a pair of sheepskin lined handcuffs in his hands. He grabbed hold of her right wrist, placing the handcuff across it, closing it with the same loud click she heard seconds before. Then he shackled her to a small railing next to her.

He leaned down until they were nose-to-nose, his cool, minty breath swirling over her face, his breathing ragged.

Well, at least she wore him out…a bit.

It was a small comfort.

She tugged on the handcuff, pulling and twisting her wrist.

“Just stop, Grace.” Alex sunk into a chair next to her. “You'll hurt yourself.” He reached up, snagging her free hand, but Grace leaned down, her teeth sinking into the back of his hand.

“Ow!” He shook his injured hand, his face a mask of anger.

Grace shrank back as he towered over her. “You bite me again, and by God I'll…”

“You sick, perverted, bastard!” she snarled. “Is this how you get your kicks? At least the men I slept with treated me with respect.” She lashed out with her free hand, hitting his chest, once twice, three times. Her palm stung, and her eyes filled with tears.

“Oh right. Sure. They treated you with lots of respect.” He snorted.

“You're damn right they did,” her voice broke. She was tired, so tired. The side of her neck began to throb. “They didn't abduct me to get their rocks off.”

He sighed. “The last thing I care about right now are my…rocks.” One corner of Alex's mouth twitched.

“Don't you dare laugh, you son of a bitch.” She didn't realise she cried until he reached out to wipe the wetness from her cheeks. His caress sent a little zing of electricity through her body. Christ, she had to be more tired than she thought…and in more pain than she thought if his unwanted touch felt that good.

“Grace,” he uttered her name, his voice thick. “Give over. You'll be safe here with me.”

“You said a safe house! You said…”

“This is. It's just on water.” He grinned, unrepentant. “It's not a prison.”

She squirmed, pulling on the handcuff.

He walked over to her and grabbed her free hand in a gentle yet inexorable grip, pulling her until she lay flush against him. His body felt good—too good—like his touch. Big, warm…solid. Fatigue washed over her. Grace wanted to sink against him, to “give over” like he said.

She heard the click of the lock in the handcuff, felt him ease it from her wrist. He reached down and grasped her head between his large hands and kissed her on the mouth, a mere whisper, a bare caress of her lips. Grace stood there, motionless, as his lips played with hers. Alex's mouth felt warm, soft, his lips silky smooth. His minty breath tickled her nostrils, the heady scent filling her with restless urgency. She clutched his shirtfront, swaying into him. He released her face, winding his arm around her back, his muscled forearm supporting her body as he tilted her head back into the crook of his arm and kissed the breath from her lungs.

Grace's head swam again, but this time, she blamed her hormones. Alex trailed a path of fiery kisses across her cheek, down her jaw, ending right behind her ear. Then he lifted his head to study her face for a moment before he swooped down to capture her lips with his.

Her body burned with need. No man ever kissed her like this—not her loser of a husband, none of the men she “facilitated”. In fact, none of those men she “facilitated” kissed her… ever .

When she felt his cock swell in response, she pushed away. “Don't do that again,” she spat.

He raised one wheat-coloured brow. “Didn't you enjoy it?”

She shook her head no, but she couldn't say the word.

“You enjoyed it…a lot. And so did I.”

Grace trailed a finger across his chin, revelling in the smooth feel. Standing on her tip-toes, she grabbed hold of his shirtfront. “Now do you want to fuck?” she purred in his ear.

He wound his arm around her waist and tugged her close, his lean, golden face in hers. “Don't talk that way.”

She squirmed. “Why? Isn't that what you want?”

“I…yes…”

Grace pushed at his chest. “All men want that.”

He shook his head. “No, Grace, that's not all men want.”

She snorted. “Like you're different. You're not, you're…”

“I want passion.”

She stood stock still.

“I want you to want me as much as I want you.”

Grace swallowed back her surprise and fear. “Like I'll ever want you.”

He smiled and tucked some of her hair behind one ear. The brush of his fingers against her lobe rained shivers down her spine. “Is that a challenge?” he asked, his voice deep and languid.

“I'll never give in to you.”

“Wanna bet?”

She narrowed her eyes. “You're crazy.”

“Maybe,” he toyed with a few strands of her hair, sticking his nose into the strands. “See? Even the smell of your hair drives me wild, Grace. My senses are heightened when I'm around you.”

“You're out of your mind.”

“Perhaps I am. Let's see how long you can resist, Grace, let's see if I can't arouse your senses and make you want me.”

Shit! He was crazy.

His face turned serious, every line, every angle intensified as he cupped her face in his hands again and kissed her lips. “Are you up to the challenge?”

Grace took a deep breath, her thoughts in a wild jumble. She had been with hundreds of men. She could handle Alex.

“Well?” he raised a brow. “Afraid? I promise you'll be safe, Grace. You have my word.”

Safe? Sure, he'd keep her safe.

But she'd have to guard her heart, for this side of Alex was something new…different…

Exciting.

“Grace?” He bent his head and gazed into her eyes. “You won't regret it.”

She was already. “Yes,” slipped from her mouth. “You're on.”

He grinned. “Let the games begin.”

Alex gunned the engine and drove the boat out to sea.

Grace sank into a chair and watched him, her eyes never leaving his tall, confident form. He handled the boat with ease, like he had handled her.

Her shoulders slumped. Soon, the rocking of the boat made her eyes grow heavy, her body limp. Grace tucked her feet under her bottom, pillowing her head against her arm, careful not to lay on her right side, where a bandage covered the wound on her neck.

For how long she slept, she didn't know…

And when she woke, she was in a bed, the slow rocking of Alex's boat breaking her sleep. She propped her body up on her left elbow and gazed out the porthole at the sea.

The water looked blue, calm…serene.

She inhaled the tangy, salty sea air and stretched.

When she looked down, she was totally nude.

That's when she screamed…again.