Juliet
Braddock
Author
WRAPPED
Book
Two, Manhattan Bound Series
By
Juliet Braddock
Sweeping
through the glitz and glamour of New York’s high society and the
drama unfolding in the dressing rooms of Broadway, WRAPPED,
by Juliet Braddock, continues the journey of a young theatrical
publicist’s foray into submission under the tutelage of a
dashingly dark star of the stage. WRAPPED
—the much anticipated sequel to Braddock’s critically acclaimed
erotic romance WEAKENED—is
the second
book in
The
Manhattan Bound Series.
When
Drew McKenzie presents Maxine Kirk with an ultimatum, challenging
her to engage in his wanton brand of desire, she readily embraces
her awakening hunger for a lifestyle that defies her perceptions of
romance.
Entranced
by Drew’s charming appeal and by his sensual assault to her
senses, Maxine clamors to discover every nuance of this new
relationship, ravenous to explore verboten fantasies that seem
possible to fulfill only with Drew.
Along
the way, he introduces her to his glamorous world of wealth and
celebrity—where lavish galas and luxurious gifts are the norm—and
entices her into his realm of control with his tender mode of
domination.
All
the while, however, they both grapple with painful emotions brought
about by the extenuating circumstances of their separate pasts.
While
Drew remains both confident and conscientious in his parlay of power
over Maxine, his own tragic secret lurks in every shadow upon his
path in life. Behind the façade of his stage persona and the
origin of old Manhattan society, he struggles to hide the
unforgiving reality he faced as a child.
Just
as Maxine finds the strength to conquer her own torment with Drew’s
patience and guidance leading her toward closure, terrifying truths
begin to chip away at the surface of his composure.
As
the nightmarish details of Drew’s unimaginable life emerge, he
fears that this new world he’d begun to build with Maxine will
crumble around him.
As
Maxine finds herself embroiled in the battle to save Drew’s
tortured soul from the atrocities that continue to stalk his every
move, two lost souls struggling to find comfort and completion
converge.
However,
as Drew opens his heart to Maxine’s unwavering support, he
questions his own bravery, wondering if she’ll take a bow and make
her exit…or if she’ll stick around for the encore?
WRAPPED,
the second novel in Juliet Braddock’s “Manhattan Bound” series
of four books, is available on Amazon for $2.99 USD.
EXCERPT
“Excuse me, Kind Sir,” Maxine's shy voice echoed softly as she poked just her head out of the bedroom door. “Would you please help a girl out with her dress?”
Drew had been fussing with his bowtie in the standing mirror in the hallway and straightening his cufflinks when she called. The sweetness of her expression resounded against his ears, as he pulled in a deep breath, anticipating this moment he'd been longing for all afternoon. At last his little one was ready for the ball...
On the other side of the door, Maxine had been in panic mode, carefully applying her make-up and struggling to make sure that every last hair was in place and perfectly pinned. Drew had offered to hire someone to do her hair and make-up to alleviate some of her stress, but Maxine insisted on handling every last brush stroke herself.
When Drew finally opened the door, he stopped—dead in his tracks as if trapped within the frame. His lips parted; his eyes softened as they cast upon Maxine.
Arms wrapped around her chest to hold the bodice in place while she waited for his assistance, Maxine couldn't help but to do a bit of staring herself. He looked so stunningly handsome in his simple black tux and tie, his hair—for once—in perfect place as if he were on stage, she mused to herself. The last time she’d seen him in a tux was on television at the Tony Awards. How times had changed…
Yet self-doubts began to surface. So typically Maxine, she fretted, wondering against his scrutiny if she looked appropriate—if she could actually play the role of date to Drew McKenzie that evening, if she truly measured up to the standards required for being there at his side and on his arm.
However, his gaze upon her left her slightly trembling in its wake. She'd wound her shiny locks into a French twist with tiny auburn ringlets playing so delicately around her face. The teal silk of the gown silhouetted every last curve of her body that he knew so well. Dangling and sparkling, the emerald earrings truly did accentuate the beauty of her honest green eyes. She’d even gained some weight, which pleased him to no end. He was simply elated to see a happy—healthier—Maxine standing before him, with a timid confidence that he found so endearing.
By the time he smiled at long last, his silence had nearly killed her.
“Little one...oh, my sweet little one...” His stride was slow, closing the distance between them. “What the hell does a man say to the most beautiful woman in the world?”
Juliet
Braddock
Biography
Juliet
Braddock’s first efforts in creative writing came long before she
learned to put crayon to paper. In fact, she began spinning stories
in her head nearly as soon as she could form complete sentences. As
long as she can remember, she’d always created sagas about
imaginary friends, family members and pop culture icons, and kept
everyone around her entertained with her witty—but often very
tall—tales.
For
her sixth Christmas, Juliet’s mother got her a child’s
typewriter to preserve all of those creative thoughts filling her
head, but she quickly switched to ball point pens and notebooks when
the ribbon ran dry.
Most
of Juliet’s early attempts at writing romance focused on members
of Duran Duran and Spandau Ballet or young leading men on Broadway.
However, as she matured as a writer, she decided that it was just as
much fun to create her own romantic heroes and heroines.
At
an early age, she also developed a love for big cities, and the
tallest of skyscrapers were never high enough for her. Juliet’s
wanderlust would eventually lure her to New York, a city she often
visited during her formative years, and her love affair with
Manhattan began. She’d promised herself that one day she would
return for good.
Juliet’s
passion for writing and for big cities converged, and after
graduating with a degree in Journalism, she decided to set out on a
journey to find her heart…just where she’d left it.
A
week after her college graduation, Juliet made the big move from a
small town to New York City, where she has made her home ever since.
In
between building a career in communications and writing on the side,
she’s indulged in international travel, theater and art. A wine
and food buff, she’s by no means a connoisseur, but she can give a
few good restaurant recommendations if you’re in the city.
“There’s
something so inspiring about living in a city like New York that’s
so rich in culture and so very vibrant. Every neighborhood has its
own story to tell,” Juliet says. “I often do my best plotting
on the subway, just observing the lives unfolding around me. New
York truly has a billion stories nestled between the skyscrapers.”
A
proud Manhattanite, Juliet couldn’t live anywhere else—except
for Paris, perhaps—and is a gushing cat-mom to a Russian Blue mix
who was rescued as a kitten from the streets of Brooklyn.
PRAISE
for WEAKENED
from
around the web
“Juliet
pulled me into this story right from the word ‘go.’ She wove a
tale that's both believable and inventive, leaving you in love and
weak in the knees. There is so much passion in her words, and care
taken with the characters and story descriptions. I cannot say
enough good things about this book.”
“The
writing style is witty and literate, with crackling dialogue. Drew
and Maxine are fully realized sympathetic characters and there's an
interesting cast of friends and colleagues who I'm eager to read
more of in the next book in the Manhattan Bound series.”
“Love,
love, LOVED this book and can't wait for the next one! Drew
couldn't be a more perfect Dom, he's patient, kind…but so dominant
Alpha you can't help but drool over him.”
“These
characters are so well suited for each other you can't help but
cheer for them, because the author leaves you craving and wanting
more. The glitz and the glam of New York is the perfect setting for
this beautiful well written story.
“In
love with Maxine and Drew already, two characters silently suffering
but putting on a brave face for the world. They are both flawed and
beautiful, these characters have the makings of a wonderful love
story. I couldn't stop reading this and can't wait for the next
installment.”
“The
words are so well written and the budding relationship between
Maxine and Drew is beautiful.
I
can't wait until the next book to see where she takes them.”
“The
chemistry between Max and Drew is off the charts!”
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