My newest title, Portrait of Obsession, is now available for free on Books by Liz. You can get it by clicking on the picture above or by clicking on the title below the picture.
Ethan Lucas sees the portrait above a poker table on the River Goddess. In an attempt to win the portrait of the lovely woman he feels drawn to, he gambles with the sternwheeler’s owner, Frank Bower. Not only does he win the portrait, however, he also wins the riverboat.
When Blythe Bouvier boards the boat a few years later, Ethan realizes he’s seen her before–in the portrait hanging in his office. Blythe greets him, but he grumbles in return. Given his size and initial attitude, she avoids him. One night, she meets another man who offers to help her get away from Ethan. To her surprise, the man kisses her, and Ethan bursts forward to attack the man. Blythe disappears while Ethan engages with the man. Dismayed, Ethan discovers she’s gone.
Despite Blythe’s efforts to stay away from him, they meet, and he offers to show her the portrait in his office so she can understand why he has been wanting to find her. Although attracted to him, Blythe fears getting to know him better, especially upon learning that he’s married. Ethan, though, insists he’s not–but he also admits to lying. Therefore, Blythe doesn’t believe that he’s single.
After he beds her for the first time, Blythe goes missing. Ethan believes she jumped overboard and died. He goes into mourning, drinking heavily to forget his guilt and grief. Neither his friend Jennings nor his “wife” Naomi can console him.
Over time, they become closer and Ethan learns of Blythe’s search for her grandparents. Ethan convinces her that the portrait “Angel” could be her grandmother. When Naomi, with whom Blythe is friends, dies in a tragic accident reminiscent of Blythe’s disappearance. Blythe struggles to remain emotionally distant while comforting Ethan.
At one port, they stop to search for Blythe’s grandfather, who sent a letter and indicates he lives in that town. While there, Blythe realizes that her grandfather, Francois Bouvier and Frank Bower are the same person. They find his family, but he died shortly after Ethan won the River Goddess. They decide to go on to New Orleans, Louisiana, hoping to find her grandmother still alive. To Blythe’s delight, they find her, although she within days of dying. Blythe spends the remainder of her grandmother’s life at her bedside.
After several proposals, Blythe finally accepts Ethan’s proposal. Why now? He finally told her that he loves her. Once married, they begin to build a life together in the city where she found her extended family.