Good morning, lovelies.
I've a little goodie for you all.
Susannah Hutchinson's debut novel releases next month, and you all get the chance to take a gander at the book's lovely cover.
Be sure to enter the giveaway for a chance to win a little prize pack.
Without further ado, here's the cover.
Enjoy!
Title: Never Too Late
Author: Susannah Hutchinson
Release Date: April 24, 2015
Publisher: Alegos Press
Genre: Thriller, Social Issues, Suspense
Book Description:
Sometimes, the right choice is the most difficult one to
make.
Tina Blythe has led a difficult life, working hard to make something of
herself. From the moment she met her future husband, she knew her happiness was
assured. Clive was the answer to her prayers, a dream she thought came true.
It doesn't take long for Clive to show his true colours, and her life takes an
unexpected turn. Her husband has turned into someone she barely recognises, a
mere shell of the man she married. Yearning for a fresh start, Tina is willing
to do anything to give meaning to the life she lives. She refuses to allow
herself to become a victim once again.
Determined to find a means to an end, she devises a plan that will help her
gain her freedom. She knows it will be difficult, but somehow, someway, Tina is
resolute. She will get past Clive’s harsh hold by any means necessary. Only
then will she be able to lead the life she’s always wanted.
(Purchase links are not
yet available.)
Excerpt:
Chapter 1
Tina squeezed
herself between several parked cars and stepped onto the pavement, jogging the
last hundred yards to her home. Hot and out of breath, she blotted her forehead
with the edge of her sleeve. The thought of what waited for her behind the
front door made her heart race. Her hands trembled as she reached into her
pocket for her keys. They slid through her fingers and hit the ground with a
loud chink.
Damn it! she thought, and bent down to
pick them up.
She rolled her
shoulders to ease the tension and slid the key into the lock, promptly letting
herself in. Her mouth grew dry as she set one foot on the doormat. There he
was, sitting at the bottom of the stairs, a position he assumed when things
didn’t go his way.
“You’re late. Where have you been?” Clive
asked, his hands locked together, elbows balanced on his knees.
Tina’s face paled
as she stared at him. “I’m only a little late. You know I’ve been to see Sam.”
She kicked off her
trainers and then remembered to place them neatly with the other shoes in the
rack.
Clive’s eyes
narrowed as he stared back at her. “You should have left earlier.”
“I got carried
away chatting.”
She hung her coat
on the hook and leant forward to peck her husband on the lips then stroked his
right cheek, hoping that it would ease the hostility between them.
He brushed her
hands away and said, “We said eleven
o’clock. You will not see her again. Do you hear me?”
“It’s only a few
minutes. Why do we have to go through this every time I see her?” she asked.
“You know she’s my oldest friend.”
Clive’s lips
thinned to a tight line. Her body tensed as the words left her mouth. He stood
and approached her, clutching her shoulders and pinning her against the wall.
“You won’t see her
again,” he repeated. “Is that clear?”
Tina’s cheeks
tingled as Clive’s breath puffed across her face as he spoke She cowered before
him, dreading what was to come.
“I–I’m sorry! I
didn’t mean to answer back. Please, let me go!”
Clive increased
the pressure upon her shoulders, his eyes boring deep into hers. “I’m not
making myself clear, am I?”
The scent of sour
milk and garlic invaded her nostrils as his breath blew across her cheek.
Tina’s spine pressed against the wall as she tried to back away from him to no
avail. Clive wrapped his hand around her throat, pushing her jawbone upwards.
His grip tightened, restricting her airflow. She slumped against the wall,
feeling a little woozy. Spittle oozed from the corners of her lips, dripping
onto his shirtsleeve. Incoherent nonsense came from her lips when she tried to
speak.
A searing pain
invaded her abdomen, causing her to double over. Through watery eyes, she
watched as Clive shook his hand and flexed his fingers. The smug look on his
face betrayed his enjoyment. A stream of urine slowly trickled down her thighs.
Tina clamped her legs together, hoping to shield the wetness that was now
seeping into her trousers from her husband’s view.
Her eyesight swam
and she soon rolled to the floor. Curled up in the corner, Tina wrapped her
arms around her middle. Her nostrils flared as she struggled to breathe, hoping
that it would cure the dizziness she now felt.
Clive stared down
at her and said, “You will not talk back to me again, bitch. Stop snivelling! I
hardly touched you.”
Cowering against the wall, Tina tried to
suppress her tears. She knew if she cried that it would fuel his anger.
“S–Sorry. I didn’t
mean . . . to . . . answer back.” She paused and looked at him from the corner
of her eye. “You’ve really hurt me this time!”
Using the telephone
table for balance, she stood on unsteady feet. Clive shook his head in
disapproval.
“You’ve pissed
yourself. Sort it out. It stinks.” He offered her a hand. “Come on. I’ll make
you a tea.”
Tina allowed him
to lead her through to the kitchen. He helped her into a chair near the table,
and set about in preparing a cup of tea. Her knuckles whitened to the point of
hurting as she clenched her fists across her lap. He flipped the switch on the
kettle. Neither of them spoke until he placed the cup in front of her.
“Thanks,” she
said, her voice barely a whisper.
Her throat felt
dry as her gaze landed on the cup. She reached for it, the heat of the
porcelain mug warming her palms.
“I’m going to
bed.” He smirked. “I want you up by midnight.”
She nodded, afraid
of looking up at him. “Yes, Darling. I’ll drink this and have a shower.”
About The Author:
Susannah Hutchinson was
born and raised in Sunderland in the North East of England. She spent most of
her childhood with either a book in her hand or riding horses. She moved to
Norfolk in 1990, where she now lives with her long-term partner, artist Gerald
Marsland.
Susannah turned to writing in the hopes that one day she
would find a publisher and embark on a successful career as an author. She’s
written several short stories and has one printed in a local magazine. Another
was accepted and read in a podcast in the USA. Her ambition is to become a
novelist.
At the age of 46, she has finished writing what will be her
soon-to-be released debut novel titled, Never
Too Late. Her genre of choice is Social Thriller. As well as entertaining
the reader, she tries to send out a message within her work, while bringing
social issues to the forefront of people’s minds. She is also a conservationist
and supports several animal charities. She enjoys traditional art, reading
almost any genre of books, and is very interested in Forensics and Psychology.
Social Media Links:
Author
Interview: https://authorsinterviews.wordpress.com/2014/03/27/here-is-my-interview-with-susannah-hutchinson
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