| Copyright © 2008, Mary
Eason Reviews For IN THE ARMS OF THE ENEMY by Mary Eason 4 Stars! “In The Arms of the Enemy is a delightful read. Alex is Prince Charming! Kate is rather stubborn, and I found it out of character that she jumped into bed with him so quickly. On the whole this is a very good romance!” Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for ReviewYourBook.com “In the Arms of the Enemy is a book that keeps you turning pages. The tension and conflict is sustained throughout the story. Both characters are well developed. You understand the motives behind their actions. Alex is particularly well written, and while he starts out a bit nefarious, Ms. Eason redeems him. Kate has been hurt in a previous relationship and has no reason to trust men. When Alex enters her life, she takes a chance, but is later devastated when she believes he’s only using her. Alex has a huge challenge as he attempts to win her back. This is the second book I’ve read by Ms. Eason and was as enjoyable as the first. I highly recommend it!” Reviewed by Iris, The Long And Short Of It Reviews Sample Chapter For IN THE
ARMS OF THE ENEMY by Mary Eason
“Are you sure you don’t want me to stay and help you finish up here? It won’t kill me to skip one class, you know.” Brandy Richards slung her backpack over her shoulder and eyed, with concern, the stack of books that still needed putting. “Thanks, but no way, Brandy. You need this credit to graduate at the end of the year.” Kate Edwards placed the last of the latest self-help books on the display next to the register and turned to the younger woman. “Besides, this is your last class before finals. You can’t afford to miss tonight. Go to your class. I’ll finish up here.” Brandy had struggled with World History for weeks now, using every available minute to study. Luckily, the bookstore was unusually quiet this time of year due to the pre-holiday slump. “Okay, but promise you won’t stay too late? And don’t forget to lock the doors at six this time. You know how crazy this place gets after the sun goes down.” “Yes, Mother.” Kate smiled affectionately at her cousin’s concern before shooing her in the direction of the door. Of course, Brandy was right. The downtown Austin business district transformed itself at night, from the bustling financial center of the city to a twenty-something’s haven. Crowds of young people flocked to the bars and clubs along Six Street. Brandy hesitated for another moment before giving in. “Okay, I’m going but I’m calling the store when I get out of class and you’d better not still be here.” Kate hired her cousin to help at the bookstore part-time after her parents’ death, when Brandy seemed to be floundering. It wasn’t long before the girl excelled at the job. With Kate’s help, and thanks to Brandy’s excellent GPA average, she was able to enroll at the University of Texas, Kate’s alma mater. After a few bumps that first year, Brandy was back on track and scheduled to graduate with a degree in business at the end of the fall semester. “Go to class, Brandy, and stop worrying about me. I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself.” “Yeah, well it wouldn’t hurt you to have some fun every now and then, you know. When was the last time you didn’t put in fourteen hours a day at this place?” “Brandy,” Kate warned. She knew exactly where this conversation was going. Brandy loved the single life. She constantly invited Kate to go clubbing with her friends down on Six Street, but Kate always refused. She’d put those days behind her after college. When her last serious relationship ended in a bitter breakup, Kate decided she needed to take some time off from men as well. “Well, you know it wouldn’t hurt you to get laid.” “Brandy!” The last thing Kate wanted to get involved in right now was yet another discussion about her sex life, or more specifically her lack of sex life. “Will you let me worry about my love life for once? You just concentrate on passing that test so you can graduate and start working here full time, okay. Then I won’t need to work fourteen hour days.” “Whatever you say, Kate, but technically, you have to have a love life to worry about one,” Brandy retorted. She blew Kate a little kiss then made a hasty exit, before her cousin could manage even a single retort. Kate shook her head. Her cousin just refused to let up at times. Brandy meant well, but she just didn’t understand. Kate picked up the last remaining stack of books—a group of romance novels and eyed the couple on the cover with scorn. Yeah right. If men like that existed in the real world, then women wouldn’t need to read those novels. If I could find a man like that, I’d give up my self-imposed exile and sleep with him in a heartbeat. So far, she hadn’t found anything resembling Prince Charming in the men she’d dated in the past, certainly not in Seth Mathews. She’d been engaged to Seth for two months when she’d finally given in and had sex with him, which ultimately resulted in Kate’s self-imposed exile from dating entirely. After Seth got what he wanted from her, he’d quickly moved on to another woman. Seth was a lousy excuse for a man. And a cheat. Not to mention terrible in bed. But to Kate’s credit, her judgment had been impaired by all the lies Seth was so good at feeding her. She actually believed he meant it when he told her she was the only woman he ever wanted to make love with, until she’d discovered the truth. Thank goodness, Kate had her career at MONTGOMERY BOOKS to fulfill her. It was immensely challenging and she actually felt good about the work she was able to accomplish at the bookstore. She didn’t need a man to make her happy. And if she did, she’d find the perfect man in one of those romance novels the store carried. She could have all the pleasure without any of the pain. MONTGOMERY BOOKS had been part of the Congress Avenue merchants for more than thirty years. Kate had worked for Elise Montgomery throughout high school and college. Once she graduated from the University of Texas, she’d begun managing the store after Elise’s husband James passed away and the older woman decided to retire three years earlier. Someday, Kate hoped to buy the store. She wanted to wait until she’d saved enough money for a down payment. With any luck, and if the business continued to grow, she’d have enough money to make an offer next year. At twenty-five, Kate was proud of what she’d done with the store since becoming manager. When she’d first started, the financial records were in the red. Now, thanks to her insight, the business had been running in the black for over a year. If only she could accomplish the same in her personal life. She placed the remaining books on the cart and moved to the romance section. With any luck, she’d finish by eight, and then she’d go home to her one true love: Earl, the little mutt Kate found digging in the garbage bin behind the store a few years back. Earl turned out to be the best male companion she’d ever known. He didn’t care what she watched on TV and he didn’t hog the covers. As far as Kate was concerned, Earl was the perfect male specimen. Kate grabbed a rubber band from the counter and twisted her shoulder-length, golden brown curls into a knot at the top of her head to keep them out of her eyes. Retrieving the stepladder she used to reach the higher shelves from the storeroom, she slipped out of her three-inch pumps. At five-foot two, Kate needed those three inches just to put her on equal ground with most people. But they were terribly uncomfortable and downright dangerous when it came to climbing up and down a stepladder. Once the last book was in place, Kate leaned back to survey her handiwork. She prided herself in having each group of books lined up just right. Her full attention was on the task at hand. Kate didn’t hear the little bell above the door at all. She wasn’t aware of anyone else being in the store until he spoke. “...Whatever You Desire?” an incredibly sexy male voice asked with just a hint of amusement. “I beg your pardon?” Kate
spun around on the ladder, surprised to find the voice came attached
to one unbelievably attractive male, who just happened to be standing
next to her. Taken off guard, her bare foot slipped on the ladder. Before
she could steady herself, she was tumbling backwards and right into
the arms of the owner of that very sexy voice. The moment Kate’s eyes collided with the most amazing ice-blue ones she’d ever seen, her breath caught in the back of her throat. Two very strong, very capable arms held her close and not exactly in the I’ve just met you kind of way either, if the pressure of his hands were any indication. One rested beneath her breast, while the other held her just above her knees. A thousand different responses popped into her head but all she could think about was the cover of that blasted romance book. Wasn’t the hero holding the heroine in just the same manner? Don’t think about that now... “I don’t think I’ve ever had this type of an effect on a woman before.” He grinned back at her. “This must be a sign.” The warmth in his eyes melted the ice away. Left breathless by her plunge into shame and pretty much speechless by the man holding her a little too intimately, Kate took her moment of silence to get a better look at him. He was stunning—gorgeous, well, if you could actually use those words to describe a male, and he was definitely all male. His dark brown hair swept back from a smooth forehead. He had the perfect nose, amazingly full lips that literally begged for kissing, and two matching dimples. Kate couldn’t keep from returning his contagious smile. But when his arms tightened around her body, her smile disappeared completely. Suddenly she became aware of her skirt slowly creeping up her thigh to reveal quite a bit of leg, which he’d clearly spotted as well. Kate cursed the warm color spreading across her face, betraying her obvious embarrassment. “A sign?” she repeated before her voice disappeared entirely when he tugged her skirt back down. “Yes, don’t you believe in signs?” I do now! Kate thought but had the foresight not to say those things out loud. As a young girl, Kate had once been a hopeless romantic. She loved to read and devoured tons of those sappy old romance stories because they gave her hope. Maybe there was such a thing as two people being happy in love. Unfortunately, real life wasn’t anything like those romance novels. It was a hard lesson to learn, but one Kate knew by heart. “Um, you can put me down now,” she told the handsome man holding her. His arms tightened around her in response. She waited for him to let her go. He didn’t. “Are you sure? I mean, maybe you hurt yourself in the fall?” Kate stared back at him as if he’d suddenly grown two heads. But she did her best to keep her jaw dropping any further when his smile widened at her expression and the dimples made another appearance. “Yes, I’m positive, but thank you. I’m fine, really,” she added when he made no move to put her down. “So, could you please put me down, Mr.—” She didn’t even know his name and already her thoughts were heading in directions her self-imposed exile from men wouldn’t allow. It didn’t help that he looked as if he’d just stepped off the cover of one of those romance novels. Or out of bed... “Alex. Alex Bradshaw,” he said slowly and waited for some response from her. It was almost as if he expected her to recognize the name. No, there was no way she’d ever met this man before. She’d definitely remember him. “But you can call me Alex.” “Thank you, Alex.” Kate found her voice again. “That’s very kind of you, but I’m fine.” Reluctantly he set her on her feet but didn’t let her go. Instead, his hands circled her waist, inching her closer. |