Blurb:
THE WAY WE BURN
M. Leighton
Irresistible attraction. Unimaginable danger.
I knew from the moment Noah Williamson walked into the diner that he was haunted—deeply haunted—but I couldn’t resist the lure of him. He was gorgeous and fascinating and mysterious, and like a delicate moth to a brilliant blue flame, I was drawn to him. Drawn to his fire.
But if I’d known about his job, about what happened to his wife, I’d have run the other way. Before I got caught up in the red-hot blaze of his life. Before everything in my world got burned to the ground.
It’s too late to run now. I hesitated and that was it. I fell. I fell for him before I knew there was danger in loving him.
Noah once told me that this is the way we burn—together or not at all. At the time, I didn’t know what that meant.
Now I do.
The Way We Burn is a love story…with a kicker! Suspense, chemistry, and twists galore, I can’t wait for you to jump in! But don’t be afraid. This is a stand alone VERY romantic story with a VERY satisfying ending. I promise:) xoxo M
LINKS:
Amazon US
CHAPTER ONE
NOAH
Maryland, eighteen months ago
“Mind going over the story with me one more time?”
I stare at the detective. I see the disdain in his eyes. I see the disbelief. He came here with his mind made up. I’m suspect number one and we both know it. What we both don’t know is that I did nothing to my wife. I would never hurt her. I don’t think I could even if I had to, even if she was trying to hurt me. She is the only woman I’ve ever loved, the only person whose happiness means more to me than my own.
Except for our daughter.
Her happiness would’ve meant more to me than my own, too.
Would’ve.
Past tense.
Grief slices through my chest like a scalpel. Clean. Neat. Surgical. Like someone is cutting out my heart.
Five months ago, we lost our daughter. And now I’ve lost Carly. How the hell is a man supposed to live through something like this? A child. Then a spouse. This is the shit nightmares are made of.
And I would know. I’ve seen nightmares. Up close. Personal. The kind that sink their teeth in and leave marks. Wounds. Scars.
Sweat beads on my upper lip. I’ve never felt such an intense sense of loss, so much pain. So much helpless, hopeless agony.
A few months ago, I’d have said a person couldn’t bear hurt like this. I’d have said the human body couldn’t take it.
But I’d have been wrong.
It can.
I’m proof. I’m still alive, still standing. Damned if I know how, but I am. Even when I’d rather not be, I am. And now, on top of everything else, I’m being questioned like a felon. I’m the primary suspect in my wife’s disappearance, and every second they spend focusing on me is another second she’s further from being found.
But there’s nothing I can do to change that. It’s Basic Detecting 101. The husband is suspect numero uno. Why? Because it usually is the husband. I know that. I also know there will be no convincing them otherwise.
Maybe if I could split my chest wide open, they’d believe me. Maybe if they could see what I’m feeling, see the bruised and bleeding thing that used to be my heart, they’d understand. Maybe if they could physically see what this is doing to me, they’d look beyond the obvious. But outside of that, there’s nothing I can say to make them understand. That’s why there’s an edge to my voice when I answer this asshole’s questions. I may not be able to change it, but I sure as hell don’t have to like it.
“It’s not a ‘story’, Detective. It’s the truth. Carly left for work Tuesday morning at seven. She said she had an early meeting. I texted her at lunch to see if she needed me to bring anything from the store. She didn’t answer. I haven’t seen or heard from her since that morning. And that was almost sixty hours ago.”
Sixty hours. That’s twelve hours after “we’ve got a good chance of finding her”, and twelve hours before “hope for the best, but expect the worst.” The window is closing.
“Had you two fought before she left?”
There’s a dull throb just above the bridge of my nose. I pinch it between my index finger and thumb. “No, we hadn’t fought. We don’t fight anymore. At all. I told you we’ve both been recovering from…from…”
I can’t make the words come out. They’re stuck in my throat like tar—black and sticky and foreign. Bitter.
“The death of your daughter. Right, right. I feel you,” he placates, making more notes on his pad. “But they never recovered her body, isn’t that right, Mr. Williamson?”
My eyes snap up to his. Surely to God he’s not insinuating…
Zero to sixty in one second. In one sentence. That’s how long it takes my blood to come to a hard boil. Like lava down a mountainside, it rushes through my veins in a thick, hot river, destroying trees and grass and flowers and life as it goes. Killing off a little more of what was left of me.
I take a deep breath, striving for cool. Or even tepid. Anything but the blazing rage that’s pumping through me.
“Detective, I’m a patient man. I work for the FBI, so I understand how this process works. I also understand that I’m at the top of your list of suspects, so I get it. I get it. But let me make one thing crystal clear.” I take a step forward. “My daughter was killed. My child is dead. So while I have agreed to jump through all your hoops, make no mistake. My tolerance has its limits and you are dangerously close to finding out what happens when my patience runs out. I’ve got nothing left to lose. Not one thing, so wiping the floor with your smug ass might actually improve my situation. You feel that?” The last is hissed through teeth clenched so tight my jaws ache. I’m practically spitting down into his face, my chest close enough to bump his if I take a deep enough breath.
I can tell by the set of his lips and the narrowing of his eyes that I’ve pissed him off. But I can also tell that he’s not fool enough to press me one more inch right now. Not one more. It’s there in the way his pupils swell. It’s there in the way his nostrils flare. He won’t push me. He’s smarter than that.
My daughter is dead.
My wife is missing.
There’s nothing left. Nothing that matters. There’s nothing they can take from me or threaten me with. Surely this pathetic lackey knows what I know from years and years of experience—men like me are unpredictable.
Unpredictable and dangerous.
First off, I want to thank Michelle for reaching out and asking me to read this book before she even sent it out to bloggers to review. I am humbled that she would trust me and my opinion enough to ask this of me.
The Way We Burn is a book unlike any of Michelle’s previous work and I know that she took a risk not only writing this but choosing to release it. I am beyond thrilled that she took this leap and wrote a truly amazing story that will leave you gasping.
This review will be extremely vague because this is another book that you need to go into it blind; no preconceived ideas, notions or expectations. Without the risk of sound too cheesy, this book will burn you from inside out (ok, so it was cheesy but it is so true!!)
“When we jump, we risk falling. But we also risk flying.”
Noah is very desolate and sad man. His life changed many years ago in ways we can never imagine. Through it all, he chose to never give up in his pursuit of justice.
He’s recently found himself far away from what he used to call his home. He frequents a diner daily at the exact same time without fail, all because of one woman, Poppy. He has no idea why, but he is drawn to her like a moth to flame. But he says nothing to her except his exact order each day.
Poppy and the rest of the patrons and workers at the diner don’t know much about Noah, except his name. The know when to expect, what he orders and where he sits every day. But she too is inexplicably drawn to him. Aside from his handsome, rugged looks, she sees something more in him.
They never speak more to each other aside from his order each day, until one day he asks her out to dinner. And from there, the story of Noah and Poppy unfold in ways I never anticipated.
“This is the way we burn, baby. We burn together, or not at all. I’m in this forever.”
Michelle delivers a gripping, intense and twisted story of true love that knows no end. It is told from both POV’s and that is what makes this book even more riveting and intriguing. It’s not your typical romance story. Your heart will beat with every word that is written. Michelle takes you a journey with an ending that you won’t see coming.
This book and these characters will resound with me for years to come. Bravo, Michelle.
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What readers are saying:
“A smart psychological thriller with a heart stopper of a twist… M. Leighton is on fire!” –Addison Moor, NYT Bestselling Author
“…delivers an unforgettable, heart-pounding story that will leave you thinking about it for weeks after you finish.” –Courtney Cole, NYT Bestselling Author
“Brilliant. Just brilliant.” –Stephanie, Stephanie’s Book Reports
“What an epic mindf***!!” –Maria, Literati Literature Lovers
“Enthralling. Captivating. Jaw-dropping suspense.” –Courtney, Read-Love-Blog
“Hands down one of the best romantic suspense books I’ve read this year!” Angie, Liezel and Angie’s Book Blog
“Michelle Leighton takes her writing to a whole new level. This book was riveting.” Michell
“Michelle Leighton throws one curve ball after another in this fascinating romantic suspense.” – Nadine, Nadine Bookaholic
“…brilliantly executed.” — Kat, Kitty Kat’s Crazy About Books
“I want to write an amazing review that gets across to you how epic this story is… Once you start reading, you won’t be able to let go…ever. This story will stay with you.” –Rosa, iScream Books Blog
“This story was unlike any other and is possibly one of the best I have ever read.” –Natalie, Literary Epic
“This book just claimed the #1 spot for my 2018 Booklist.” — We Review Books
“A fantastic journey that Michelle Leighton has penned with such ease it should really be a sin!! Trust me….add this one to your MUST READ list today!!” –Julie, Little Read Riding Hood
“Insanely awesome! Seriously amazing. I have one of the best book hangovers!” –We Do What We Want Book Reviews
Awesome review and excerpt court!! Shared on all my socials!!