Survival Instinct
Instinct #3 By: Janie Crouch Releasing July 11, 2017 Self-Published
The voices in her head have decided to kill her.
Most people joke about hearing voices in their heads. For Chloe Jeffries, they’re real. And as the creative force behind one of the most popular shows on television, she has used the constant flood of voices in her mind to her advantage: fuel for entertainment. But now one of the voices has decided it wants Chloe all for itself. Ex-Special Forces soldier Shane Westman just wants to make it back to Wyoming to begin to heal from the horrors of war. The last thing he needs, even as a favor for a good friend, is to take on bodyguard duty of a flighty television writer. But once he does, he realizes there are threats at play he doesn’t understand. And the woman who has somehow begun to thaw his frozen heart is in desperate danger from a menace they can’t see, but is always close. The voice that will never allow Chloe to escape alive.
With escalating tension and palpable fear, the Survival Instinct takes the reader for a wild ride of paranormal abilities, the backstage drama of a television series, and an insistent, life-threatening, stalker hiding amongst the friendly faces.
Shane Westman is a troubled hero, the ex-Special Forces soldier lost his team in Afganistan and his will to fight in deadly battles. Shane was so easy to like, he is a solid man, trustworthy, kind and considerate. A man who takes a command of his surroundings, who is willing to risk his life to protect others. He has wrapped his heart with 'ice' to protect himself from feelings and hurt, something that has been a fault in his life before it turns into a blessing around Chloe Jeffries. Chloe is a feisty and sassy lady who can cuss like a sailor. One-third of the triplets with paranormal abilities, she can hear people's thoughts, an ability she has learned to take advantage of as the creative director of the hit paranormal television series. Until recently, when the voices took a disturbing route, and slowly but surely started to kill her with the intensity of the emotion behind them. Only around Shane does she find moments of peace, as his 'ice' wraps around her, and the cold quiet takes over Chloe's mind. I liked Chloe and Shane together, the connection between them is true, the chemistry is amazing. Shane understands her and her gift. He looks at her and sees his equal, there is nothing odd or weird about her voices to him. His practical way to see life and people give a sensible explanation to Chloe's gift, something that helped me as a non-paranormal fan to understand and accept it as well. The suspense part of the tale is focused on the investigation of the increasing death threats. The more information is gathered, the more tension is on the scenes, until the explosive, fierce, ending that makes you take notice. After the scene for the story is set, the pace of the tale picks up and delivers an entertaining, sharp, and intensive tale with tangible emotions raging in savage action and in enticing romance. ~ Four Spoons with a teaspoon on the side
Chloe Jeffries looked over at her creative team. The Days End team was tired. Worried. The stalker had seen to that. Not to mention all the new bodyguards had definitely put a damper on the creative energy usually surrounding the show. But the new guy coming in definitely wouldn’t.
“The studio is sending in a security expert to coordinate security around here and to investigate our friendly neighborhood stalker,” Chloe told them. “We’re supposed to give him access to anything he needs. I’ve been assured that he will fit in just fine and will not hamper our artistic energy in any way. We won’t even know he’s here.” “Like that guy walking towards us who definitely doesn’t scream I’m-a-Navy-SEAL or anything?” Travis’ eyebrow was raised so far it looked like it had found a new home in his hairline. Chloe stared at the man in question. Didn’t seem able to turn away from him even if she wanted to. His long legs were encased in perfectly creased khaki pants, a collared light blue shirt tucked in—also perfectly—at the waist. His broad shoulders were covered in a tailored suit jacket under which Chloe was willing to bet all of this year’s salary lay a shoulder holster for a gun. His posture screamed military. The way he carried himself — the set of his shoulders and lift of his chest. Alert. Deadly. Ready. But impressive as his body was, it was his face that drew her more. There was nothing pretty about him. His face was rugged to the point of being harsh. His jaw already holding some stubble even though it wasn’t even yet lunchtime. And she had no doubt Mr. Military Man had shaved this morning, unquestionably during his perfect morning routine. His dark hair was cut close to his head, as if he couldn’t quite decide whether to keep it military short or go for a more relaxed style. His eyes were hidden behind aviator sunglasses, but Chloe knew he saw everything. Knew he saw her and that if she stopped him right at this moment, blindfolded him and asked him to tell her where everyone was, he’d be able to do so with astounding accuracy, even though there were more than a dozen people milling around that he hadn’t looked at directly. This man was the epitome of cool, calm, and collected. She could feel the former radiating off him. Wanted to close her eyes and sink towards him. Her brain, always under such constant onslaught with the thoughts of others, and particularly the one voice that had been searing through her mind so agonizingly lately, wanted to bask in this man’s ice. Wanted to douse herself in it. But she couldn’t. Because while she had no doubt this man would be able to organize the hell out of security and unquestionably catch the stalker and freeze him with his ice-beams after leaping tall buildings in a single bound, there was no way he wasn’t going to hamper the creative energy of the set. Energy that Chloe relied on not only to make Day’s End the greatest show on television, but to keep her own sanity. He was already sucking in her energy and they hadn’t even spoken yet. Ten seconds later he was standing directly in front of Chloe with his perfect hair and jaw, perfect shirt tucked into his perfectly pressed pants. “I’m Shane Westman with the Linear Tactical. We’ve been hired for security,” he said, taking off his sunglasses. Chloe wasn’t a bit surprised to find he had perfectly icy blue eyes. “I need to know who’s in charge.” There was no way this Shane Westman could stay. No possibility Chloe could allow it. He was too perfect. Too distracting. Too everything. He may keep them safe from the stalker but who would keep her safe from him?
*100% of proceeds until July 16 goes to Cystic Fibrosis charities – with a special $0.99 price. Help us stomp CF! Plus, buy Survival Instinct before July 16 and get a free ebook by Janie not available anywhere else! More details here: http://www.janiecrouch.com/si-pp-0717
**Link to Free ebook offer with purchase: Free Protector’s Promise ebook with purchase of Survival Instinct: http://www.janiecrouch.com/si-pp-0717
Award-winning romantic suspense author and 2017 Romance Writers of America RITA finalist Janie Crouch recently relocated from Virginia to an American military base in Stuttgart, Germany with her hubby and four kids.
She loves travelling, adventure racing, and movies of all kinds. Author Links: WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS
1 Comment
Allisia with Tasty Book Tours
12/7/2017 15:08:55
Thank you for reviewing!
Reply
Leave a Reply. |