Even Roses Have Thorns
by
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After lunch that Saturday Lori agreed to meet Brad for a walk around the grounds. As Lori rounded the edge of the swimming pool she could just make out the top of Brad’s dark head as he slowly moved down the sloping incline of the lawn toward the boathouse. Lori had no warning at all! Suddenly there was a sharp pain in her side as someone rushed her from behind. The next thing she knew she was thrown completely off balance falling straight down into the deepest part of the swimming pool. There was only time for one loud scream before the abrupt coldness of the water splashed over her and she was sinking to the bottom of the deep water, sprawling awkwardly. Luckily even in her terror, she had enough foresight to hold her breath as she moved her arms and legs back and forth in a seesaw fashion. Finally when she thought her lungs would surely burst from the lack of air, her head bobbed to the surface of the pool; she sputtered in protest. She could taste the bitterness of the chlorine before she began to sink once more. She fought to keep her head above water and for one precious moment she was able to take a deep breath of air before sinking underneath the cold blanket of water once again. Holding her breath Lori frantically fought off the crippling confines of the water as fiercely as if she was fighting off an attacker. When she thought she was surely gone, she rose to the surface of the water once more as she tried to move her arms and legs toward the edge of the pool the way she’d watched swimmers do but her limbs and her body would not obey her. A lot of things flashed through her mind during those next few seconds when she realized that she was drowning and there was absolutely nothing she could do about it! She screamed out in panic once again before the water closed over her head. She was only about four feet from the edge of the pool and certain safety but for Lori, it could have been miles. That short distance was as impossible to maneuver as if she was in the middle of the Cape Fear River down the hill at the bottom of the property. She knew that it was hopeless; she was too cold and frightened to make her arms and legs hold her up on the surface of the water. She knew despairingly that her life was over! Excruciating pain swept over her chest from holding her breath so long; the pain also rushed to her head as the chlorine water choked her, burning her eyes. She closed her eyelids as she drifted back down to the bottom of the pool. Suddenly someone’s arms grabbed her, pulling her off the bottom. Miraculously, her head was soon above water and as she choked, gasping for breath, she found that she could even open her eyes as strong, masculine arms encircled her shoulders, pulling her to the side of the pool. Brad lifted her up in his arms then Steve bent near the edge of the pool as he helped Brad pull her out of the water onto the cement. She was crying and choking as she spit out water then clawed the wet hair out of her eyes.
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About the Book
Lori Lowell is a spirited young lady trying to escape an unhappy love affair when she accepts a new position as assistant editor for Mr. Bradford Brasington, owner of Brasington Press, a publishing company in Southport, NC. She previously worked as a reporter in the small daily newspaper in her hometown of Laurinburg, but without much chance for advancement, she came to the coast—only to become involved in a new love affair with Mr. Brasington’s son, Brad, who also lives in this house, which is enshrouded by murder and mystery. Lori’s own life is suddenly in danger; at first, they were just harmless pranks spurred by jealousy but then become much more destructive. Her possessions are searched, some of her things maliciously destroyed, and a harsh note appears on her mirror ordering her to “Get Out.” Then important business papers disappear from Mr. Brasington’s desk just after Lori finished typing them . . . and a new mystery manuscript under review for possible publishing also disappears under her watch. Mr. Brasington’s sister, Vi Stewart, is killed; and Lori, who cannot swim, also ends up floundering in the pool. When she is trapped inside a burning building, she realizes that the murder will not rest until she has also been destroyed.
About the Author
Sylvia majored in Journalism in college but quickly changed to Creative Writing. She tried for 30 years to reach a publisher but was unsuccessful until 2008 when WHEELS OF DANGER was published by Authorhouse. Since then she has had more books published and this novel with be #11. Sylvia worked in Home Health for 29 years and retired in 2006 to keep two grandchildren and to write full time. Sylvia and CL were married for 40 years before his death in 2009. They have three sons, Chuck, Chris and Kevin and three daughters (not in-law) and ten grandchildren. Donovan is the oldest; Claire is 12, Chaz is 11, Lance is 10, Sherry is 10, Emma is 7, Eli is 6, Liam is 5, Bella is 3 and Kellen was born on 12/10/14. Sylvia loves to travel and spend time with her family. She is an avid reader and loves all kinds of puzzles.