Altered Beginnings
Destiny Booze
The headline in the small town newspaper read Young Woman Missing, Presumed Dead or Worse.
Leigh Lawson returned to Nags Head, North Carolina after four years with a huge shock. That big and bold headline was about her! Everyone thought she was dead!
The truth was that she was doing well. While gone, she had gotten clean from drugs and worked hard to get her bachelor’s degree in engineering. With her life back on track, she returns home in hope that she will receive a warm welcome. Instead, she gets the townsfolks' disdain.
Everyone hates her, everyone except Jason Altarez, an ambitious and resilient reporter with his sights locked on Leigh. He chases her with oozing charm and romance, but does he really want her or is he after his next story?
Leigh’s life soon spirals out of control when the police recruit her for an undercover assignment. They want her to go back to the life of her troubled teenage years, back into the drugs, and help them to bring the local drug supplier to conviction. It may be Leigh’s only chance to redeem herself with her family and friends. If she can complete this one assignment, the town will forgive her. The only problem is that she needs to figure out how to stay alive in the process…
Jason is her continuous partner through it all, proving his dedication to her as he struggles to keep her safe. Leigh wants to believe he is a man of his word. She wants to believe that her heart isn’t completely foolish for falling for him, especially when she discovers evidence that Jason may be working for the very drug dealer that Leigh is trying to have arrested. Will he betray her in the end or will he demonstrate the most romantic notion of all – that love at first sight truly exists?
Book Review/s to share: Comment/review =Leigh left her foster home and never looked back until she received an invitation to her best friend’s college graduation party. It is not until she attends the party that Leigh learns she is infamous for her disappearance, earning scorn from her step-brother and most of the town.
Jason is a reporter and feels there is a story about the beautiful woman who re-appeared and shocked the town. Soon though, he learns that not only is Leigh an interesting story, but she is in danger from a drug dealer and the police.
In the horrific world of child abuse, drug dealing, and small town "good ole boy“ politics, Leigh doesn't know who, if anyone, she can count on. While she feels for Jason, he may the biggest threat around her.
Leigh is fascinating, and Jason is intriguing as the intrepid journalist. The friendship she has with her brother and former best friend give the tale a warmth that the extremely serious mystery needs. The drugs, prostitution, and violence can be harsh, but the players' concern for others keeps the story encouraging. The dialogue is well done, and relatively clean for a book dealing with violence. While the bad guy is known early, the reasons are worth waiting for. Leigh's interaction
with the villain and the police require a logic jump, but this is a very interesting book. The dual love stories added to the book and were a perfect platform for changing loyalties. The sequel is set up well, without being flagrant. I look forward to reading it when it comes out.
–Anya
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More
Rating: 4 Cups
Comment/review = This was an action packed romance novel. I loved the interaction of the characters. I am looking forward to the next book.
–Nancy M. Ingraham
Comment/review = The book keep me wanting to come back for more. It was very hard to put down. very exciting and excellent to read. The author is great. I hope to see more of her books
–Teresa21
Comment/review = What a book. This is a 220 some page book that was packed with information, drama, romance, etc. It only took me a couple of days of reading and that is with interruptions. The writer doesn’t give you a lot of unnecessary information. She makes all the necessary information available in short and sweet words. The characters and traits were right on the mark. For a short book there was a jam pack excitement and thriller.
–smd_569
Comment/review = This was really a fantastic book. Others that I have shared the book with just can't say enough good things. One friend bought the book to take on vacation for a "beach read" but couldn't wait after she read the first page and read the whole book before even leaving for vacation...said she just couldn't put the book down. Good work Destiny.
–Becky Booze
Email to share: destinybooze@gmail.com
State: Virginia
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