Weakened
Manhattan Bound Series #1
Synopsis
Against
the glittering backdrop of New York City, budding theatrical publicist
Maxine Kirk, fresh off the bus from a small Pennsylvania town, stumbles
into the arms of her beloved teenage crush, unleashing desires that she
never imagined.
Enter
Drew McKenzie, a rising star on Broadway with dashing looks and talent
to match, who masquerades behind the characters he portrays.
Instantly,
Maxine finds herself lured into Drew’s high society world only to
uncover a complicated man beneath the glitz and glamour of his public
persona. As soon as the curtain falls, Drew sheds his stage costumes to
reveal a daring Dominant side.
Titillated
by his enigmatic life, Maxine clamors to discover a surreptitious and
possibly perilous affair with Drew, all the while questioning her own
preconceived notions on romance.
Secrets
surface, revealing haunting truths that test both Maxine and Drew of
their own intentions. But in this high-stakes game of trust, only the
strongest survive.
Excerpt
“A...s-small
town—right outside Pittsburgh,” she managed. She had to gather her
thoughts. She couldn't stutter her way through an entire conversation
with this man all night. Already, she could sense that he was the type
who would remind her of her jitters later, and Maxine certainly didn't
want this silly evening to haunt her at work.
“What brought you to the big city?” he questioned her.
Purposefully,
she stopped herself before she answered him and took in a deep breath.
“I’ve always been in love with New York,” she explained, thoughtfully
choosing her words. “The theater…the vibrancy…the never ending sense
that there’s always something to do or someone to see…”
“Quite a culture shock for a small-town girl, isn’t it?” he asked, his tone softening a bit.
“I’ve been visiting for well over a decade,” she continued and flashed him a weak smile. “I knew what I was getting into.”
“You sure about that?” Now his eyes were teasing. “There’s always some element of surprise living here.”
“You
grew up here?” she asked, knowing he had. She could recite his entire
Wikipedia entry, which didn't say much about his personal life other
than he was born and raised in Manhattan to an exceedingly wealthy
family of Scotch-Irish immigrants. His ancestors built their fortune as
early merchants in New York and went on to create one of the
longest-standing, upscale department store chains in the United States.
“I
did,” he said so very simply. “The city is under my skin an in my
blood. And just like everyone else, I bitch and complain…but I couldn’t
live anywhere else.”
All
the while, as they carried on with an air of civility, Maxine couldn't
ignore those burgeoning feelings—those sensations—that seemed to set her
senses fluttering. The intake of his breath and the gentle patter of
his voice soothed her. That fresh scent of him, bathed in Clive
Christian cologne, tickled her nose, intoxicating her with a blend of
citrus and spice—even though she didn't know Clive Christian from
Christian Slater. While he stood so close, he managed to refrain from
touching her—even with the slightest of movements—and she
tingled…shocked by her ache for his caress.
Maxine
couldn't even recall their conversation as it was happening. Drew had
managed to send her off to some surreal spot from which she really
wasn't too keen to return. Although she attempted to remind herself that
she wasn't the only woman he'd engaged with that evening, she enjoyed
this stilted repartee between them.
As
they stood alone together against the backdrop of Manhattan's
brilliance, it remained questionable whether he would even remember her
in the morning, and she knew the chances were slim to none. However, she
decided to indulge in these unexpected seconds of undivided attention
in which he indulged her fully.
Releasing
his hands from the bannister, he took a step back but then dared to
reach out and stroke the backs of his fingers to her cheek. Maxine was
certain that he could feel the heat rising from her skin, but she
chuckled softly over the tickle of his touch. Again, he seemed to be
surveying her, interviewing her for the next round of she knew not what.
“You have all the basics down,” he began. “Smart, well-rounded. Pretty…”
“Pretty?” she nearly choked. No one—aside from her parents and Ben—ever complimented her in such a way.
“Are you arguing with me?” he inquired with an air of displeasure.
Hold it together here, Maxine, she coached herself. “It’s in the eye of the beholder, I suppose.”
“We
can discuss that a little later…” he said, just as Maxine felt one huge
drop of rain plunk down upon her, right in the middle of her forehead,
as she looked up into Drew’s eyes.
Just her damn luck, the rain poured forth from the sky!
“Um…I think it’s time to…”
Lunging
forward and surreptitiously slipping his arms around her waist, he
pulled her close to him. Maxine didn't have time to think—to react—to
his quick and sleek move. All the while, she reveled in the slight knock
of his knees, the strength of his thighs, the feel of his chest pressed
against hers…
“It’s time to kiss you, Maxine…”
Wrapped
Manhattan Bound Series #2
Synopsis
Sweeping through the glitz and glamour of New York’s high society and the drama unfolding in the dressing rooms of Broadway, Wrapped, by Juliet Braddock,
continues the journey of a young theatrical publicist’s foray into
submission under the tutelage of a dashingly dark star of the stage. Wrapped—the much anticipated sequel to Braddock’s critically acclaimed erotic romance Weakened—is the second book in the Manhattan Bound series.
When
Drew McKenzie presents Maxine Kirk with an ultimatum, challenging her
to engage in his wanton brand of desire, she readily embraces her
awakening hunger for a lifestyle that defies her perceptions of romance.
Entranced
by Drew’s charming appeal and by his sensual assault to her senses,
Maxine clamors to discover every nuance of this new relationship,
ravenous to explore verboten fantasies that seem possible to fulfill
only with Drew.
Along
the way, he introduces her to his glamorous world of wealth and
celebrity—where lavish galas and luxurious gifts are the norm—and
entices her into his realm of control with his tender mode of
domination.
All
the while, however, they both grapple with painful emotions brought
about by the extenuating circumstances of their separate pasts.
While
Drew remains both confident and conscientious in his parlay of power
over Maxine, his own tragic secret lurks in every shadow upon his path
in life. Behind the façade of his stage persona and the origin of old
Manhattan society, he struggles to hide the unforgiving reality he faced
as a child.
Just
as Maxine finds the strength to conquer her own torment with Drew’s
patience and guidance leading her toward closure, terrifying truths
begin to chip away at the surface of his composure.
As
the nightmarish details of Drew’s unimaginable life emerge, he fears
that this new world he’d begun to build with Maxine will crumble around
him.
As
Maxine finds herself embroiled in the battle to save Drew’s tortured
soul from the atrocities that continue to stalk his every move, two lost
souls struggling to find comfort and completion converge.
However,
as Drew opens his heart to Maxine’s unwavering support, he questions
his own bravery, wondering if she’ll take a bow and make her exit…or if
she’ll stick around for the encore?
Excerpt
“Excuse
me, Kind Sir,” Maxine's shy voice echoed softly as she poked just her
head out of the bedroom door. “Would you please help a girl out with her
dress?”
Drew
had been fussing with his bowtie in the standing mirror in the hallway
and straightening his cufflinks when she called. The sweetness of her
expression resounded against his ears, as he pulled in a deep breath,
anticipating this moment he'd been longing for all afternoon. At last
his little one was ready for the ball...
On
the other side of the door, Maxine had been in panic mode, carefully
applying her make-up and struggling to make sure that every last hair
was in place and perfectly pinned. Drew had offered to hire someone to
do her hair and make-up to alleviate some of her stress, but Maxine
insisted on handling every last brush stroke herself.
When
Drew finally opened the door, he stopped—dead in his tracks as if
trapped within the frame. His lips parted; his eyes softened as they
cast upon Maxine.
Arms
wrapped around her chest to hold the bodice in place while she waited
for his assistance, Maxine couldn't help but to do a bit of staring
herself. He looked so stunningly handsome in his simple black tux and
tie, his hair—for once—in perfect place as if he were on stage, she
mused to herself. The last time she’d seen him in a tux was on
television at the Tony Awards. How times had changed…
Yet
self-doubts began to surface. So typically Maxine, she fretted,
wondering against his scrutiny if she looked appropriate—if she could
actually play the role of date to Drew McKenzie that evening, if she
truly measured up to the standards required for being there at his side
and on his arm.
However,
his gaze upon her left her slightly trembling in its wake. She'd wound
her shiny locks into a French twist with tiny auburn ringlets playing so
delicately around her face. The teal silk of the gown silhouetted every
last curve of her body that he knew so well. Dangling and sparkling,
the emerald earrings truly did accentuate the beauty of her honest green
eyes. She’d even gained some weight, which pleased him to no end. He
was simply elated to see a happy—healthier—Maxine standing before him,
with a timid confidence that he found so endearing.
By the time he smiled at long last, his silence had nearly killed her.
“Little one...oh, my sweet little one...”
His stride was slow, closing the distance between them. “What the hell
does a man say to the most beautiful woman in the world?”
Author Bio & Links
Juliet
Braddock loves eighties music, wine, food, theater and all things
French. When she’s not exploring the big cities of the world—most
notably Paris—she lives and writes in Manhattan, and is the proud cat
mom to a very spoiled Russian Blue rescue.
