Bleeding
Hearts by Dana Louise Provo
Finding love is difficult,
especially when it tries to kill you.
Bleeding Hearts is a new adult,
romantic suspense traditionally published by Clean Reads. Orphaned at an early
age, now twenty-four-year-old Camryn Lucks is ready to commit to find that
special someone, and so accepts a date from a charming, gallant, handsome
stranger. The last thing she imagines after accepting that first date with
Carson would actually be the beginning of her worst nightmare.
Red roses, a reminder of her
parents' killer, soon become an emblem of horror for Cami as one by one, those
closest to her fall victim to a serial killer. Cami becomes an obsession for
Carson, the man she had finally allowed herself to love. Not only is he vying
for her heart, but also her life.
Finding herself in a whirlwind of
torments shadowed by the blood-colored bloom, Cami finds solace in Isaac, a
neighboring police officer. She’s desperate to escape the haunting memories,
but she must revisit them in order to catch her would-be killer. Living life in
constant fear has driven Cami to second-guess every choice she makes. Will the
police catch the illusive murderer, or will Cami be forced to face him once
again?
Purchase the eBook of Bleeding Hearts below!
Short Excerpt from Chapter One
My arm
trembles as I grip the cool handle of my pistol, keeping a firm grasp to ensure
it doesn’t slip out of my sweaty hand. It usually stands sentry in my left
nightstand to scare the nightmares away. But this isn’t a dream. The room is
dark and hides the face of the man whose intent is to kill me. But I know who he
is. A metallic taste fills my mouth; I want to gag. My blood drips off the
blade in his hand in slow, steady beats on the carpet. My arms shake as I lift
the barrel and point it in his direction. He doesn't move. His heavy breaths
alert me to the meager distance between us.
We’re at a
stalemate.
A soft glow
from the lamppost just outside my window casts a sliver of light on his face.
His dark, beady eyes that I have grown to know rake over my body like I'm
another one of his many victims. He lifts the edges of his mouth into a smile.
My heart plunges into my stomach. I know what that sinister expression means,
and I think back to all the times he had looked at me like that before. I had
been so blind.
Before I
react he lunges at me, grabbing onto my waist and twisting me to the ground. I
shriek as my head slams against the bed frame. Black spots flood my vision. I
squeeze my hand only to find it empty. My gun is gone. The sound of the knife
clattering on the floor gives me slight hope. Not much though. He climbs up my
body trying to pin my arms to the floor. I thrash my fists around, desperate to
knock him off.
“Get off!” I
scream, pulling on his shirt and kicking him off balance. Wrapping his hands
around my arms, my attacker cuts off the circulation of blood. Rug burns flare
across my skin as he drags me across the carpet. He closes his hands around my
neck, shutting off my air supply. I pull at his hands but it's no use; he has
always been stronger than me. My pulse drums a frantic beat in my ears. The air
slowly leaks out from my lungs, killing any hope I may have left. I search for
the gun around the room; it may be my only savior now.
"Why
are you doing this?" I struggle to get the words out. He squints his dark
eyes. I'm wondering if there might be a chance that he will stop this madness.
I am wrong.
"It'll
be over soon, sweetheart." His hands again tighten around my neck,
blocking the air from entering my lungs.
Dana Provo has always loved books
and reads everything from young adult fantasy to adult historical romances.
When she’s not reading or writing her next novel, Dana can be found riding her
horses and getting ready for competition. Dana lives with her husband and two
house plants in Richmond, Virginia.
Follow Dana on Social Media
