ALEX
ALEX
Dianne Hartsock
GENRE: psychological thriller
Alex is twenty and confused. He always is. The world presses on him with its horrors and pain, with scintillating auras that bewilder his eyes and drive the migraines deeper. He hears the cries of the children, sees the brutal images of tortured victims. He feels out of control and his mind slips…
Severely abused as a child, he is left with horrible scars on his body and even worse scars within his mind. Even though it puts him in danger, he’s compelled to help those who call to him. He’s driven, motivated by his visions to rescue them and hopefully uncover the killer. When he can, he helps the police; yet some detectives suspect he’s involved. Often, Alex finds himself alone and afraid in a world he doesn’t always understand.
Enjoy an Exclusive Excerpt:
When Beckett entered the room, Alex stared unwittingly at the angry swirls of purple and blue radiating from him. His thoughts became entangled in a web with the doctor’s own. He saw the images of a tiny girl with enormous blue eyes and a bleeding heart.
“Megan,” he whispered, tears in his eyes for the little girl on the cold table.
Beckett gave him a piercing look but said nothing. Alex quickly pushed the images from his mind as Jane introduced them. “Alex, Adam Beckett is the doctor who took care of you in the hospital.”
Alex shook his hand, noting various instruments poking from his lab coat. “Thank you.”
Beckett brushed that aside. “You’re looking good.” He pulled a stethoscope from a pocket. “Mind if I do a quick examination?”
Jane waved them toward the other room. “You can use the couch while I finish making breakfast.”
Alex led the doctor to the living room and sat on the edge of the couch. Beckett casually checked his pulse.
“How are you feeling?”
Alex shifted uncomfortably. “Okay. Tired, I guess.”
Beckett chuckled. “Just breathe naturally.” He placed a stethoscope to Alex’s chest and back. “Your lungs sound clear, which was my main concern. Do you have an appetite?” He grinned when Alex nodded. “I’d say you’re out of danger then. Although a few hours in the sun may do you some good. Have your breakfast first.”
He flashed a light in Alex’s eyes. “How did you know about Megan?”
Alex sat back on the couch with a closed expression.
“You can trust me. I know that’s a lot to ask, since we’ve just met, but I’d like you to trust me as your doctor. I think I can help you, but I need to know a few things first.”
Alex studied the doctor’s eyes and the aura of white and pale blue surrounding him; a collection of light very much like Jane’s. The vivid colors were gone. “You were thinking of her when you came in.”
“You can read minds?”
“No. But if someone has a strong emotion, sometimes it jumps to me and I see it.” He rubbed his forehead. “I don’t know why.”
“Did you ever tell your mother?”
Alex stared at him. It wasn’t fair that the doctor knew Alex’s life story, but Alex knew nothing about his. “I never thought to tell her.” He laughed uncomfortably. “I thought everyone could see them.”
“What about your friends? Didn’t they tell you differently?”
Alex shrugged and closed off again, picking at a loose thread on a throw pillow to avoid meeting Beckett’s eyes.
Beckett stood. “I’ll see if Jane’s done with breakfast.”
About the Author:
Dianne grew up in one of the older homes in the middle of Los Angeles, a place of hardwood floors and secret closets and back staircases. A house where ghosts lurk in the basement and the faces in the paintings watch you walk up the front stairs. Rooms where you keep the closet doors closed tight at night. It’s where her love of the mysterious and wonderful came from. Dianne is the author of m/m romance, paranormal/suspense, fantasy adventure, the occasional thriller, and anything else that comes to mind.
She now lives in the beautiful Willamette Valley of Oregon with her incredibly patient husband, who puts up with the endless hours she spends hunched over the keyboard letting her characters play. Dianne says Oregon’s raindrops are the perfect setting in which to write. There’s something about being cooped up in the house with a fire crackling on the hearth and a cup of hot coffee in her hands, which kindles her imagination.
Currently, Dianne works as a floral designer in a locally-owned gift shop. Which is the perfect job for her. When not writing, she can express herself through the rich colors and textures of flowers and foliage.
Blog: https://diannehartsock.wordpress.com/
FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/diannehartsock
FaceBook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/diannehartsockbooks
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4850270.Dianne_Hartsock
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diannehartsock/
BUY LINKS:
JMS Books: https://www.jms-books.com/dianne-hartsock-c-224_445/alex-p-4993.html
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/alex-dianne-hartsock/1104468927?ean=9781685506599
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/alex-76
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1519070
GIVEAWAY
The author will award a $15 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thank you so much for hosting today!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Mary, for hosting my Alex today!
ReplyDeleteMy absolute favorite genre! Cannot wait to read this one.
ReplyDeleteYou made my day! Thank you so much for stopping in. Who is your favorite thriller writer? Mine is Dean Koontz
DeleteSounds like a good thriller.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Marcy! Nice to see you here.
DeleteSounds like a really interesting story.
ReplyDeleteBeen a while since i read a pysch thriller (mostly watch them).. this one intrigues me!!
ReplyDeleteSeems exciting, I like the excerpt with the conversation between the characters.
ReplyDeleteSounds interesting! Thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteI grew up in haunted houses... I was more fascinated than scared. How was it for you?
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a great novel. Thanks for hosting.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed the excerpt
ReplyDeleteFloral designing sounds fun
ReplyDeleteAlex is an interesting character. He’s perfect for a crime thriller.
ReplyDelete