5-Star Reader Reviews for No Sudden Moves
ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS EVER!!! You could actually feel the fear from Karri through the whole book. Loved the way it ended and how real it truly felt. (Ellla Lathrop, Amazon reader)
THIS BOOK IS A PAGE TURNER FROM BEGINNING TO END! This is a very, very good book! I was sucked into this story from the first sentence. Watching Karri trying to keep everyone happy, and the sense of menace permeating her home and life was frightening. Watching the way an abuser twists and justifies everything he does was horrifying! I thought I knew what was going to happen but I was wrong! I loved being wrong! The twists and turns were unexpected and exciting. I loved how Karri managed to find the strenghth she needed. I loved Gabriel's determination to fix everything. Terrific read. (Diane Darcy, Author of She Owns the Knight)
THIS BOOK IS A PAGE TURNER FROM BEGINNING TO END! This is a very, very good book! I was sucked into this story from the first sentence. Watching Karri trying to keep everyone happy, and the sense of menace permeating her home and life was frightening. Watching the way an abuser twists and justifies everything he does was horrifying! I thought I knew what was going to happen but I was wrong! I loved being wrong! The twists and turns were unexpected and exciting. I loved how Karri managed to find the strenghth she needed. I loved Gabriel's determination to fix everything. Terrific read. (Diane Darcy, Author of She Owns the Knight)
Excerpt from No Sudden Moves
CHAPTER ONE
"SHUT YOUR UGLY TRAP, GEORGIA!"
At the sound of her father-in-law's angry voice, Karri O'Brien spun from the heart-shaped arch she'd set up in the family room. They were fighting. Today. Guests would be arriving for their thirty-fifth anniversary party in less than thirty minutes, and they were fighting.
And Steve still wasn't here to help. He'd promised he'd be home over an hour ago, at six-thirty. And here she was, handling everything. His parents, his party, his promises--all somehow her problem.
A door slammed upstairs, and Karri could hear heavy footsteps coming down the stairs. Georgia's voice whined, "Thomas, please don't go.”
A loud slam came from the front of the house. Great. He'd left. Now what? How horrible for Georgia, and how embarrassing to let the guests in with only one-half of a happy couple standing under the arch.
Taking a deep sigh to calm her nerves and slow her racing pulse, Karri stepped around the corner. Through the long side-window on the front door, she could see Thomas storming across the lawn and down the street. With his bad heart, he really shouldn't throw tantrums like these.
Turning, she could see Georgia at the top of the stairs, her dark eyes accentuated in her ashen face. Karri repressed another sigh. Why did they have to fight today? And why couldn't they have stayed in a hotel so they could fight in private? Why did Steve's entire family expect Karri to handle everything?
And why did Thomas's influence have to bring out the worst in everyone? Especially Steve.
While Karri climbed the stairs, Georgia didn't move, didn't cry, almost didn't blink. Finally, she whispered, "He left."
Karri put her hand on her mother-in-law's arm to comfort her, and said words she didn't entirely believe. "He'll be back."
Georgia looked down at the floor. "I'm sorry, Karri. You've gone to so much trouble for this party and now it's ruined."
Feeling guilty about her own resentments, Karri rushed to reassure the other woman. "Don't you worry about me. He'll be back.” He'd better be. Or she'd kill him herself for ruining this party Steve wanted so much and she'd spent so much time preparing for. "You go finish putting on your makeup.”
Georgia smiled tremulously. "All right.”
Karri walked with Georgia as far as the bathroom. Karri had to check what effect Thomas's angry words had had on her children.
Mason sat quietly atop the counter while Natalie tried to comb his hair. They looked up at her, concern on their faces.
Mason frowned. "Grandpa's mad at Grandma.”
"I know, sweetheart. But after he walks around he'll be nicer to her.” Karri hoped he'd be back. And that he would indeed be nicer when he returned. She picked up a tiny piece of tissue that had evaded her earlier cleaning and tossed it in the trash can. "Are you ready yet?"
"I just need to get my shoes on.” Mason said. "Mom, why didn't we get to go swimming today?”
"Because of the party, silly," Natalie spoke up. "And you don't have to swim every single day, you know.”
Only seven, Natalie had been crushed to hear she wouldn't be allowed to wear makeup tonight. But she had everything else any self-respecting princess might need--fancy dress, delicate shoes, beaded headpiece entwined around and restraining her black curls. She twirled in the tiny space until her lacy dress floated up above her knees. "See, I'm ready."
With her hair pulled up and back, Natalie looked like her father tonight. Steve wouldn't be pleased. He liked to pretend Glen had never been part of her life. And he practically hadn't. When she'd announced her pregnancy six years into their marriage, he'd been gone by the weekend. She counted herself lucky he'd never tried to contact Natalie, and luckier still to find another man who would treat Natalie as his own daughter.
"You've done your hair beautifully, sweetheart, but, here, let me pull a few curls out to frame your face.”
Natalie pouted, but she stood quietly while Karri freed a few strands from the headpiece. As the curls circled Natalie's dainty face, the resemblance to Glen faded. Good.
Two years younger, Mason grinned mischievously. "I'm ready, too," he declared proudly. Yes, his shoes were on, his tiny suit looked adorable, and his tie cute. But his dark brown hair stood up in front from his habit of running his hand up the front of his hair.
"You look great, Mason. Except you need your hair combed."
"Aw, Mom, Natalie already did it."
"I know she did, but you already messed it up again. This time keep your hands off it, okay? Would you please help him again, Natalie?"
Natalie grinned. She loved playing mother to her little brother. "Sure.”
Mason continued to protest. "I look good already."
Karri moved into her bedroom. It was time for her to finish getting dressed.
She slipped her feet into her new royal blue pumps. They pinched her toes but they matched her dress exactly. She just hoped they wouldn't give her blisters by the end of the evening.
She glanced at the wall clock again. Three minutes since she'd checked the last time. Twenty minutes before the guests started arriving. Where was Steve? And where the heck was his father?
Taking a deep breath to relax, she carefully lifted the strand of pearls Steve had given her from the basket on top of the antique oak dresser.
Karri fastened the clasp behind her neck, then dropped her arms to her sides. Gazing into the mirror, she had to admit Steve'd been right when he insisted on buying this dress. It looked good on her. The deep royal blue brought out the blue in her eyes, and the light knit flattered her figure as it dropped to mid-calf.
Small consolation that she'd look nice when she let people in to find out Thomas had walked out.
Staring at herself in the mirror, the calm and quiet in the bedroom around her served as a serene contrast to Thomas's outburst. Looking at her like this, most people would probably say she had everything a woman could possibly want. But a glance at the clothes she'd neatly laid out for Steve on the bed over an hour ago told another story. She had everything--except a husband who came home when he promised. His work days seemed to grow longer with every passing week since they'd moved back, four months ago.
With a sigh, Karri tried to push aside her irritation. Something must have come up at the hospital. Something urgent or surely he'd be here by now.
She slipped a cameo broach halfway down the strand to clasp the pearls together the way Steve liked them. "Natalie, Mason, how are you doing?"
"Okay, Mom," Natalie called out.
Karri caught the sound of a car turning onto their street. Steve's Porsche had a very distinctive sound. He would have it no other way. Good. Let him track down his father.
As the car pulled into the driveway, Karri put her makeup away and checked the room one last time. It was neat and tidy enough to pass any inspection. The Porsche pulled into the garage, and moments later she heard the door slam, and then Steve's footsteps as he took the stairs two at a time.
He strode into the bedroom with both his tie and smile askew. "Hi, sweetheart. Sorry I'm so late. There was a wreck and I had to fill out a witness report. I hope you're not mad."
"I've been worried--"
"I know. But I'm here. I'll get ready and help you.” As he got close, she could see that although a smile sat on his lips, those lips were tight with anger.
"Was anyone hurt?”
"Not seriously, but I did have to set a woman's arm."
"Thank goodness you were there to help.” She drew in a deep breath. "Your father's gone--"
He swore. "I found the old man walking the streets and brought him home. What the crap did Mom do to upset him like that?”
She shrugged. "I'm just glad you found him.”
Steve rolled his neck back and around to relax himself. When he looked at her again, his smile had relaxed as well. Now it was his crooked smile, the one that always softened her.
Slowly she released the breath she hadn't been aware of holding.
"SHUT YOUR UGLY TRAP, GEORGIA!"
At the sound of her father-in-law's angry voice, Karri O'Brien spun from the heart-shaped arch she'd set up in the family room. They were fighting. Today. Guests would be arriving for their thirty-fifth anniversary party in less than thirty minutes, and they were fighting.
And Steve still wasn't here to help. He'd promised he'd be home over an hour ago, at six-thirty. And here she was, handling everything. His parents, his party, his promises--all somehow her problem.
A door slammed upstairs, and Karri could hear heavy footsteps coming down the stairs. Georgia's voice whined, "Thomas, please don't go.”
A loud slam came from the front of the house. Great. He'd left. Now what? How horrible for Georgia, and how embarrassing to let the guests in with only one-half of a happy couple standing under the arch.
Taking a deep sigh to calm her nerves and slow her racing pulse, Karri stepped around the corner. Through the long side-window on the front door, she could see Thomas storming across the lawn and down the street. With his bad heart, he really shouldn't throw tantrums like these.
Turning, she could see Georgia at the top of the stairs, her dark eyes accentuated in her ashen face. Karri repressed another sigh. Why did they have to fight today? And why couldn't they have stayed in a hotel so they could fight in private? Why did Steve's entire family expect Karri to handle everything?
And why did Thomas's influence have to bring out the worst in everyone? Especially Steve.
While Karri climbed the stairs, Georgia didn't move, didn't cry, almost didn't blink. Finally, she whispered, "He left."
Karri put her hand on her mother-in-law's arm to comfort her, and said words she didn't entirely believe. "He'll be back."
Georgia looked down at the floor. "I'm sorry, Karri. You've gone to so much trouble for this party and now it's ruined."
Feeling guilty about her own resentments, Karri rushed to reassure the other woman. "Don't you worry about me. He'll be back.” He'd better be. Or she'd kill him herself for ruining this party Steve wanted so much and she'd spent so much time preparing for. "You go finish putting on your makeup.”
Georgia smiled tremulously. "All right.”
Karri walked with Georgia as far as the bathroom. Karri had to check what effect Thomas's angry words had had on her children.
Mason sat quietly atop the counter while Natalie tried to comb his hair. They looked up at her, concern on their faces.
Mason frowned. "Grandpa's mad at Grandma.”
"I know, sweetheart. But after he walks around he'll be nicer to her.” Karri hoped he'd be back. And that he would indeed be nicer when he returned. She picked up a tiny piece of tissue that had evaded her earlier cleaning and tossed it in the trash can. "Are you ready yet?"
"I just need to get my shoes on.” Mason said. "Mom, why didn't we get to go swimming today?”
"Because of the party, silly," Natalie spoke up. "And you don't have to swim every single day, you know.”
Only seven, Natalie had been crushed to hear she wouldn't be allowed to wear makeup tonight. But she had everything else any self-respecting princess might need--fancy dress, delicate shoes, beaded headpiece entwined around and restraining her black curls. She twirled in the tiny space until her lacy dress floated up above her knees. "See, I'm ready."
With her hair pulled up and back, Natalie looked like her father tonight. Steve wouldn't be pleased. He liked to pretend Glen had never been part of her life. And he practically hadn't. When she'd announced her pregnancy six years into their marriage, he'd been gone by the weekend. She counted herself lucky he'd never tried to contact Natalie, and luckier still to find another man who would treat Natalie as his own daughter.
"You've done your hair beautifully, sweetheart, but, here, let me pull a few curls out to frame your face.”
Natalie pouted, but she stood quietly while Karri freed a few strands from the headpiece. As the curls circled Natalie's dainty face, the resemblance to Glen faded. Good.
Two years younger, Mason grinned mischievously. "I'm ready, too," he declared proudly. Yes, his shoes were on, his tiny suit looked adorable, and his tie cute. But his dark brown hair stood up in front from his habit of running his hand up the front of his hair.
"You look great, Mason. Except you need your hair combed."
"Aw, Mom, Natalie already did it."
"I know she did, but you already messed it up again. This time keep your hands off it, okay? Would you please help him again, Natalie?"
Natalie grinned. She loved playing mother to her little brother. "Sure.”
Mason continued to protest. "I look good already."
Karri moved into her bedroom. It was time for her to finish getting dressed.
She slipped her feet into her new royal blue pumps. They pinched her toes but they matched her dress exactly. She just hoped they wouldn't give her blisters by the end of the evening.
She glanced at the wall clock again. Three minutes since she'd checked the last time. Twenty minutes before the guests started arriving. Where was Steve? And where the heck was his father?
Taking a deep breath to relax, she carefully lifted the strand of pearls Steve had given her from the basket on top of the antique oak dresser.
Karri fastened the clasp behind her neck, then dropped her arms to her sides. Gazing into the mirror, she had to admit Steve'd been right when he insisted on buying this dress. It looked good on her. The deep royal blue brought out the blue in her eyes, and the light knit flattered her figure as it dropped to mid-calf.
Small consolation that she'd look nice when she let people in to find out Thomas had walked out.
Staring at herself in the mirror, the calm and quiet in the bedroom around her served as a serene contrast to Thomas's outburst. Looking at her like this, most people would probably say she had everything a woman could possibly want. But a glance at the clothes she'd neatly laid out for Steve on the bed over an hour ago told another story. She had everything--except a husband who came home when he promised. His work days seemed to grow longer with every passing week since they'd moved back, four months ago.
With a sigh, Karri tried to push aside her irritation. Something must have come up at the hospital. Something urgent or surely he'd be here by now.
She slipped a cameo broach halfway down the strand to clasp the pearls together the way Steve liked them. "Natalie, Mason, how are you doing?"
"Okay, Mom," Natalie called out.
Karri caught the sound of a car turning onto their street. Steve's Porsche had a very distinctive sound. He would have it no other way. Good. Let him track down his father.
As the car pulled into the driveway, Karri put her makeup away and checked the room one last time. It was neat and tidy enough to pass any inspection. The Porsche pulled into the garage, and moments later she heard the door slam, and then Steve's footsteps as he took the stairs two at a time.
He strode into the bedroom with both his tie and smile askew. "Hi, sweetheart. Sorry I'm so late. There was a wreck and I had to fill out a witness report. I hope you're not mad."
"I've been worried--"
"I know. But I'm here. I'll get ready and help you.” As he got close, she could see that although a smile sat on his lips, those lips were tight with anger.
"Was anyone hurt?”
"Not seriously, but I did have to set a woman's arm."
"Thank goodness you were there to help.” She drew in a deep breath. "Your father's gone--"
He swore. "I found the old man walking the streets and brought him home. What the crap did Mom do to upset him like that?”
She shrugged. "I'm just glad you found him.”
Steve rolled his neck back and around to relax himself. When he looked at her again, his smile had relaxed as well. Now it was his crooked smile, the one that always softened her.
Slowly she released the breath she hadn't been aware of holding.