Title: River Road (Tortured Souls #3)
Author: R.C. Matthews
Genre: Gothic Romance
Release Date: November 6, 2017
Hosted by: Buoni Amici Press, LLC.
When a pirate and voodoo priestess must lift a deadly curse on those they love, do they dare let a relationship blossom amid danger? River Road is the gothically satisfying end to this fan-favorite series!
Charles Moore relishes his dangerous life as the pirate Hatchet, since manning a clipper ship keeps his mind off the role he played in the brutal Civil War. But now an ancient curse has killed two of his loves, and he can’t ignore the whispers that New Orleans’s Voodoo Queen, Marie Laveau herself, has hexed his family.
Creole widow Hope Leblonc bristles under the city’s Black Codes that have stripped her of so many freedoms and forced her practice of voodoo underground. When Hatchet treats her like the respectable woman she is, she offers him a deal: she’ll lift the curse if he’ll steal back a family relic she needs to become a mambo in her religion.
But they’re both holding secrets that endanger their lives. When ghosts from the past exact revenge for the skeletons in the Moore family closet, they reveal a connection between Hope and Hatchet that makes the curse more powerful than ever. Will they discover that love is worth the risk in time to survive the coming darkness?
NOTE: This can be read as a standalone book.
“Twenty dollars,” he mused, picking up the rag doll from the chair where he deposited it earlier. “What can you tell me about this?”
She snatched the doll from his grasp. “Where did you find this?”
“I’m paying you,” he said, folding his arms over his chest. “I’ll share information on a need-to-know basis.”
Worry lines gathered at the crook of her nose. “You angered someone else as well. Kalfu is the petro spirit of the crossroads. With the proper ritual and offerings, he’ll unlock the doors to the underworld and allow the crossing of bad fortune to an enemy.”
Dammit. His sister’s instincts were dead-on, but he would deal with that later. Right now, he planned to earn his money’s worth from the Widow Leblonc. She didn’t offer him sex but something even better.
He pointed to the table. “Can you tell me if I’m cursed, using one of those bone readings?”
“Why do you think you’re cursed?”
Yanking at one sleeve, he fastened the buttons at his wrist. “Need-to-know basis. If true, can you break the curse? With a ritual? Drums, candles, and the like.”
Her hand shot out, and she grabbed his other wrist, twisting it to expose the inside of his forearm, where the wings of two swallows were interlaced in an intricate tattoo.
“You’re a pirate. Of course, you answer to Hatchet,” she said, dropping her hold as though he were a leper. “I should’ve realized it earlier.”
He lifted one eyebrow. “Why do you care? I thought your issue was with white men.”
She stalked closer and pressed her forefinger into his chest. “Yesterday morning, an ancient voodoo relic belonging to my family was stolen by a band of pirates. Today, a pirate shows up asking if I can rid him of a curse.”
“Pure coincidence.”
“Get out of my house and don’t come back unless you bring my asson!” she shouted, stomping to the door. “Or I’ll put a hex on you myself.”
“I don’t have your bloody relic,” he said, grabbing his jacket. “Your biggest mistake was trusting your precious cargo to the captain of The Angelica.”
She gasped, her face a mask of horror. “How do you know that?”
“Because I saw you speaking with Captain Corbin on the forecastle deck. Rule number one: never trust a pirate.”
“Well, you’re a pirate,” she spat. “If I discover you lied to me, I’m coming after you. There are ways to find out!”
He snorted with laughter. “Good luck finding me.”
R.C. Matthews is the author of contemporary and historical romances featuring bold, sassy heroines and magnetic alpha heroes. Warning! The chemistry between her characters is off the charts hot, so read at your own risk. She resides in the Midwest and is surrounded by men: her husband and three sons. During her free time you’ll find her watching The Walking Dead, reading a fabulous book or hanging out with her family.
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