Broken Chords by Rachel Lynne

About the Book

 

When jealousy amps up to murder
rock and roll on the high seas hits a sour note!

Nine days floating through paradise? Free? Who wouldn't jump at the chance?

Chef Tina Crawford has avoided her rock star father for years—too many bad memories. To cope with her demons, Tina lives her life in a whirlwind of booze and bars but, when her plans to become a partner in the Cosmic Café are derailed unless she sobers up, Tina must find a way to bury the hatchet with her father.

An invitation to accompany the band on a rock-and-roll-themed cruise seems like the perfect opportunity to bury the past, only no one mentioned an ex-lover and his fiancé and a predator from her past were included, no extra charge!

Stuck at sea with a series of questionable accidents and a nasty murder, Tina must navigate a minefield of emotional obstacles and stadium-sized egos in order to stop a killer before she ends up in Davy Jones’ locker.

If you like strong, flawed, and snarky women, a dash of romance, and a generous helping of suspense, you'll love Broken Chords!

~~ Amazon ~~


Excerpt

Feeling like the hounds of hell were nipping my heels, I rushed through the door and straight into a wall of warm muscle. 

“Ooomph,”

“Whoa, where’s the fire?”  

I tried to stop, but momentum was not my friend and my sudden reverse didn’t suit my high-heeled boots. My ankle twisted as one boot lost its heel.

My savior clasped my upper arms, steadying me as I leaned over, unzipping my vintage treasures. “Crap, they’re ruined!” I slid them off and looked up. The thanks died on my lips. “Ian?”

“Tina?”  

I closed my eyes and gulped. Really, what gods had I ticked off? Not only did I get close quarters with my estranged father, but the universe had seen fit to put my biggest fear and loathing in the form of Ricky Warner into the mix and now, now I got to run into my ex, who I had never wanted to be an ex, lover.

I forced a smile I was far from feeling. “Ian, um, what a surprise!”

A lopsided grin stretched across his handsome face. “Surprise is an understatement.” He shook his head, “What are the odds?”

I snorted. The way my luck was running, I wouldn’t even hazard a guess. Wishing the deck would split apart and devour me, I tried for casual and uninterested. “So, yeah, incredible, running into you, literally!”

He smiled, flashing the dimple that I adored. “How long has it been? A year, year and a half?”

Two years, four months, six days, and a handful of hours … but who was counting?

My hands started to shake. I couldn’t do this. The shock of the slime ball Warner and now Ian … I forced words past the lump that was starting to clog my throat. “Uh yeah … look, it was nice seeing you again, but I’ve got to-”

“Ian, are you not going to introduce me?

My gaze flew to the short brunette with bright red stiletto nails clinging to Ian’s arm like a limpet. My eyebrows rose. Oh yes? Did I also get an ex-lover’s girlfriend? Why yes, it appeared that I was to have that privilege. How did that saying about karma go?

“Uh …Tina this is, uh …”  

The woman huffed and nudged Ian aside as she thrust her hand towards me. “I’m Doctor Judith Fogarty, Ian’s fiancée, and you are?”

Her words slammed into me like a sledgehammer. My stomach rolled and my heart started pounding again; I didn’t need this! My face felt hot, and I fidgeted under the woman’s stare. “Uh, I’m uh …” I forced my brain to function even though most of it was in shock. “Tina, um Tina Crawford.”

I glanced at Ian. He was staring at his fiancée. I frowned; Ian’s mouth was hanging open as if he was shocked, and he was glaring at her. I heard him say something to her then he turned to me and flashed a tense smile. “Uh, we aren’t, there’s been no discussion about getting married.”

The doctor huffed and glared at Ian. I shook my head, whatever was going on with Ian and his whatever she was, it was no concern of mine. That ship had sailed regardless of my heart’s continued ache… I bit my lip and tried to force down the tears that were threatening to fall.

Too many emotions, too many old memories, and too many tangled cords of broken relationships were tugging at me and all I wanted to do was escape; To curl into a fetal position, preferably with a bottle of bourbon, and block out the whole terrible, no good, very bad day.


About the Author

*Sweet Tea & Live Oaks heavy with Spanish Moss.

*A warm breeze rustling the Spartina. Now, add a cozy little murder & a dash of mayhem.

I write cozy coastal mysteries to die for ...

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