Published October 14th, 2013
Description:
Betrayal and loss have changed Emily Riddle in ways she never thought would have been possible. With a death wish guiding her every move, she's willing to compromise her morals, ethics, and instincts to bring the men who've broken her heart to justice... even if that means living a life underground, being someone she's not, and pretending to respect the very men she's positioning herself to take down.
As soon as she teams up with the district attorney, Tope Bryson, and agrees to be a member of his covert operation, she returns to the commune and convinces the patriarchal leaders she is the most qualified person to take on roles traditionally assigned to men. Desperate and without options, Owen, the commune's leader and Emily's father, agrees to a temporary change.
Emily takes full advantage of the opportunity and quickly proves to him - much to her brothers' dismay - that he can't live without having her in those critical roles and that she may be the best candidate for his 'next in command'.
She and Tope quickly realize that the men of the commune consider a woman who threatens the good ole boy system that's been in place for decades public enemy number one. Determined to protect Emily from her brothers, Tope plants an undercover officer and charismatic law student, Noah Babineaux, in the commune. Neither Tope nor Emily is prepared for the attention Noah pays Emily.
With a nothing else matters attitude, Emily focuses on her underground mission and pushes her hate, anger, grief, and... blossoming feelings down until they threaten to explode from the inside and tear her apart. It's a race against the clock to get the evidence necessary (and ultimately the retaliation Emily craves) before a life of submissive brutality - or sibling jealousy - kills her.
EXCERPT:
There's nothing left beyond revenge.
Ripping me from my thoughts, Owen takes one final step and is just centimeters away from Sheila's face. In response, Sheila stands firm, refusing to back down. Owen points his finger in her face. Sheila may be quiet and she may be calm, but she's not okay with what Owen does to her. She wasn't raised in the commune and hasn't been taught to fear him. She lives in a world where she, a woman, has the exact same rights as Owen, a man. She doesn't flinch or cower, and her strength is courageous in my eyes. I want—from the tip of my toes to the top of my head—to emulate her.
I know if Owen turns around and sees the smirk on my face, I'll be beaten with a razor whip. Still, I can't stop myself.
"I'll tell you what. I'm gonna let her stay here one more goddamned night. Tomorrow, I'm comin' up here with my attorney. If your doctors won't release her and let her come home with me, I'll have him file the paperwork to have her released. You ain't doin' nothin' for her here that we can't do for her at home."
As soon as I see Sheila's shoulders droop, I know Owen has outplayed her. When Owen comes to the hospital tomorrow with his attorney, Caleb Preston, I'll be going back to the commune. The smirk on my face is instantly wiped away.
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Book #1
Emily Riddle has lived her entire life inside a patriarchal commune led by her father. There are many rules, but the most important one, 'keep it in the commune', is the most difficult for her to follow... especially since the only people willing to champion her cause live on the outside.
When Emily learns her father has promised her to Lorenzo, a perverted man who has plans for her that extend well beyond marriage and kids, she rebels. Regardless of the consequences, she refuses to marry someone who'd rather beat her than caress her.
A day of hooky that starts out as a tiny act of defiance - sneaking out of the commune for a swim - turns into a day filled with hope. After spending time with Levi, a man camping near the lake, she finds what true romance looks like and catches a glimpse into a future that's filled with love and admiration rather than hate and submission.
That tiny peek is enough to change the course of Emily's existence and makes it nearly impossible for her to go back to the commune and pretend she'll ever be able to tolerate the life chosen for her instead of the life she longs for. One that includes Levi.
Fighting to escape the commune, its leaders, and her fiancé proves to be more dangerous than Emily expected. The secrets she knows, as the leader's daughter, will either follow her to the grave or send her - and Levi - there.
About the author:
T. R. Graves, the author of The Warrior Series and The Secrets Series and The Underwater Series, is a 2012 NaNoWriMo Winner.
She lives along the Texas coast with her husband. Together, they raise T. R.'s beta reading daughter and their football-loving son. Besides being blessed with a supportive family, she counts her career as a registered nurse in not-for-profit hospitals high on her list of fulfilling accomplishments.
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