AN ACT OF COURAGE
Release Date March 19, 2017
Series Acts of Honor
Genre Romantic Suspense
Tropes Second chance, protective alpha, tortured hero, sweet heroine, cute kids, found family.
She’s the light from his past.
He’s the one her heart has always longed for.
Trained by the best, Christopher Walker has fought hard for his country and even harder to forget the only girl he’s ever loved. He spent countless nights submerged in death and destruction only to find himself clinging to the memories of her when the darkness crept in.
When her life is threatened, Christopher will stop at nothing to protect her. Even if it means having to confront his past.
Alissa Malone never thought she would find herself face-to-face again with the only boy she’s ever loved. But she soon realizes Christopher is not the same man he once was.
His touch is still electrifying—his voice still earth shattering. But there’s a darkness about him that wasn’t there before. A pain he harbors so deep that she can feel it all the way to her soul.
One fateful moment destroyed his very existence, and only one person will be able to make him realize that what he considers an act of dishonor was truly an act of courage.
This is book four in the Acts of Honor series. It can be read as a standalone. However, it's highly recommend that you at least read Resisting Temptation, the third book in the Men of Honor series since this is where these characters story began.
If you love steamy, emotional Romantic Suspense stories with protective alpha males and sweet heroines who will stop at nothing to find their happily-ever-after, then this series is for you.
CONTENT WARNING Please be advised that this story deals with sensitive subject matters but is written delicately. Sensitive subjects could include abuse, torture, sexual assault, and the death of a loved one. None of these are romanticized nor overly descriptive, but reader discretion is still advised.
EXCERPT He sits on the front porch, shrouded in darkness. His broad shoulders are slumped, head hanging in defeat. I start forward, his pain calling to me. My hand rests on the screen door before I push it open. The squeak alerts him of my presence but he doesn’t look back at me, not even when I come to stand next to him. “Don't come too close.” His voice is gruff, every word bleeding with agony. “Why?” He finally lifts his head, revealing the shame and despair he tries so desperately to hide. "Because I'll end up dragging you into this hell with me.” Tears burn the back of my throat as I move to kneel in front of him, my hand going to the side of his face. “You don't need to drag me. I’ll follow you. I'll always follow you.” His eyes fall to the steps, my words only adding to the agony etched on his face. “Christopher, please look at me.” Cupping his face, I lift his tormented eyes back to mine. “It's okay,” I tell him gently. “It's okay to hurt.” His jaw flexes, chest heaving as he desperately tries to hold in his pain. “Even heroes have the right to bleed,” I whisper. A cold darkness fills his eyes, a shield of armor locking down around him. “I’m no hero, Alissa. I’m the fucking enemy.” His words burn inside of my heart, but not nearly as much as his belief in them. “No,” I choke out. “I’ll never believe it. You’re too good. You have too much good inside of you.” He shakes his head, refusing to hear my words. “Talk to me. Please. I love you. I want to help you.” Unshed tears brim in his haunted eyes, his broken soul reflecting back at me. “You’re in love with a monster.” My heart shatters, and the sob I’ve been trying to hold back explodes past my lips. I throw my arms around his neck, trying to hold his broken pieces together, not knowing how to make this better for him.
ALSO IN THIS SERIES
