Reckless in his youth, Shaun MacGregor was never one to care about what people thought of him. But then he returned to the small coalmining town of Ashland, Pennsylvania after serving eight years in prison, and had a literal run-in with town socialite, Maria Bellicia. One night with Maria leads Shaun on a turbulent path to confront all the layers of his destructive past, and face all of the pain, guilt and regret that comes along with it. Each layer that Maria helps peel away reveals yet another adversary and complication that Shaun must either run away from, or fight against. As Shaun struggles to make the right decisions that will finally allow him peace of mind and approval as a citizen of Ashland, Shaun is catapulted to an ultimate crossroad where he must face the biggest obstacle of his life: flee Ashland once and for all, or stay and fight for the only woman who has shown him true love and acceptance.

Word Count: 123,245

Category(s): Sensual Romance

EXCERPT:

The small metal slot of his confinement cell slid open to a sliver of light. “MacGregor, you’re gonna rot in there or what? You, my Irish friend need to rethink your attitude about playing nice with others,” the guard noted with a smirk. Shaun squinted at the light that pushed from the outside, but he could only see eyes that looked in on him with mockery. Silence filled the small, dark room where he had been placed after slamming another inmate’s head onto the dining hall table. Fortunately, the metal table surface had come in handy, considering the man had threatened Shaun for the last time. Shaun hadn’t given the man a chance to find him alone in some secluded area. Sure, Shaun had been out of control, but he felt vindicated. He was mad at the world. Although being in prison for killing Matt had been entirely justified, he would gladly serve his time for what he had done, but he would no longer put up with the aggression of other inmates.

He sat on the mattress, then leaned back against the concrete wall. He rubbed the back of his neck. Counting his meals so far meant that Shaun had only been in solitary confinement for three days. Strangely, the three days of quietness here and what was meant as punishment, now only seemed like relief. He could think here, but unfortunately that time was spent in other memories of that one day he tended to relive again and again.

A key at his cell door told him that the guard had been giving him a rash of shit and that he would very soon join the general prison population. He had been in Frackville Prison for just under two years, and yes, there were still eight more years to go, and he had been in and out of solitary confinement more times than he cared to remember. He knew his life had to change. He was tired of fighting everyone and everything.