Shatter Me Whole
Shattered Lives Series # 3
Genre: Dark Suspense/Thriller
Publish Date: April 25, 2017
Cover
Design by: MadHat Books
Photography: Lindee Robinson Photography
Models: Travis Bendall & Haley Jordan
Family is supposed to be there to help you when you’re in need. Love you when you are feeling down. To show support. Yours might… mine shatters me.
My stepfather thinks he has a right to take our freedom, and our power from us. They all do.
I’m the rebel. I grew up knowing this was wrong. I will not live my life in fear any more. The pain has to stop. He has to be stopped. I am but one girl on a mission to get out of this place and be free.
Only problem is… I may not be strong enough to defeat him. When I come across something that could possibly end his reign, I'll use it. I would pay to see his world come crashing down around him....
Whether I survive it or not.
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Exclusive Excerpt:
When I turned out of the parking lot a breeze floated in carrying the scent of smoke with it. I wrinkled my nose and glanced around - seeing a dark cloud from behind me I whipped the car around, hit the button on my mic and called into dispatch.
“37041, 10-70 seems to be coming from the gas station or the motel, please advise. Over”
“10-69, 37041, no calls at this time. Copy?” Drew replied.
“10-4,” I said as I gunned the engine. I took the next corner and as soon as I was in sight of the gas station my heart stopped. It was up in flames. Not just little tiny flames. It was engulfed. I slammed on my brakes and jumped out the car, popping the trunk and grabbing my gear. I shoved my feet in the boots, yanked up my pants and flipped the suspenders around my shoulders before I hit the mic again.
“Dispatch, 37041, 10-78, the station is up in flames.”
I yanked my jacket on, securing it quickly before I pulled the hood on as a message came from dispatch, “37041, do not proceed until backup arrives. We’ve signaled the fire brigade. ETA three minutes. More back up in route as well.”
“10-74, there is one person for sure in there. I won’t let her die in there!”
“Jackson, they’ll be there in three minutes, don’t be a hero!” I heard Drew’s snarl come across the radio and I scoffed.
Three minutes in that inferno and the whole place would come crashing down. No way was I waiting. I knew it was against protocol, but fuck protocol. Kristol was in there. How did I know that? Easy, she wasn’t outside already. I’d been here not two hours ago and she’d been working alone as usual.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
I had no idea where she would be in there, that was the tricky part. I’d just have to do a grid pattern as best as I could. About the time I slid my helmet on the front window of the place blew. I ducked, but as soon as it was clear I took off running as fast as I could. I could barely see inside. The roar of the fire was deafening. I busted out the rest of the front window and made my way inside, calling out to Kristol. Thankfully it didn’t take but a few long strides before I found her.
“Jesus,” I heard her croke and the dog yap. I got her over my shoulder only to have her let out a heart stopping scream.
Shit.
“I’m sorry, baby, hold on. I got ya,” I had no time to second guess myself.
I was praying as I scooped the dog up that we made it out of here in one piece. Now, I had to worry about my actions hurting her more. The roof was caving in before I could get us out the door. There was a sharp pain that ran through me, Kristol let out a pained shriek and the dog yelped. Fucking fantastic. I made it out the door, only to collapse myself. I couldn’t breathe and somewhere in that mess I lost my fucking helmet. I cursed as I saw the others pull up. I covered her body and the dog as another piece of the building collapsed.
Within seconds there were hands grabbing at me and I was pulled off of her. It took me a few minutes to get my bearings as I was shoved down on the back of the fire truck.
“You idiot, I told you not to be a fucking hero. Asshole,” Drew mumbled on as he shoved an oxygen mask over my face. I gave him the middle finger and took in a deep breath. I heard Kristol’s dog yelp and I stood up, tossing the mask off as I moved around the truck. My shoulder was on fire but I didn’t care. I had to get to her.
“Someone get the fucking dog out of the way,” one of the new EMT’s yelled.
“Hold up, the dog stays with her,” I coughed out a breath and cursed myself for not grabbing the full mask before I went into that station. “He’s her emotional support dog. He’s in training.” Yeah, I was winging it, but I knew what he did for her. I didn’t give two fucks what they thought.
“Jackson Landry, get your ass back over here,” I again ignored my brother as I jogged to the ambulance and lifted Thor up into my arms. I hissed in pain and took a deep breath as I swayed slightly. “Man, you’re hurt,” I heard the concern in Drew’s voice.
“I’m going with her. I’ll get checked out after she does,” I said climbing up into the back of the ambulance. Thankfully Lufkin was only eighteen minutes away, ten or so the way these fellas drove. I held Thor, looking him over, wincing as he whined.
“I‘m sorry buddy, we’ll get you all patched up too. I promise,” I said soothing him and myself. It was a small cut, he’d be okay, it was Kristol I was worried about.
My Own Nightmare
Shattered Lives Series; Book 1
Genre: Dark Suspense/Thriller
Published: November 26, 2016
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**On Kindle Unlimited
Somewhere I Belong
Shattered Lives Series; Book 2
Genre: Suspense/Thriller
Published: February 28, 2017
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**On Kindle Unlimited
~Meet Barb Shuler~
I’m a Carolina Girl by right and a Texan by birth. Best of both worlds. I have the brass sass to keep up with my Texas sized temper. Living and working in both states I’ve learned a lot about hard work, adapting to your surroundings and making the best of the path that you have been led down. My grandma Dollie once told me I would know what I was meant to do when it happened. She was right, as always.
As with most book lovers, I am an avid reader. Reading has always been a hobby - a passion, really and a way to get lost in other people’s lives, their drama and other worlds. It’s a private movie in your imagination that you get to cast and navigate through, at your own pace. Reading helps to expand the perimeters of one's mind. That is what got me into writing. Writing has been something that I have done since I was a kid. If I had paper, I was writing. Nine out of ten times it made no sense but what are words if they are not to be used to your advantage? Words are a part of us all. Why not use them, right?
During the day I work as a ‘desk jockey’ and help the residents of my county navigate themselves around our little, but not too little country town. By night I am either blogging with my best friends, doing PA work for some of my favorite authors or fighting with the voices in my head. They can be stubborn at times. It’s a blessing and I am cherishing every moment. Tomorrow is never guaranteed so I want to make sure I live the day as fully as possible. For what is my creation, can become someone else's treasure.
~ Connect with Barb here ~
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