Synopsis
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 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.
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.
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.
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?
EXCERPT #2
Excerpt #1
“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.
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?”
EXCERPT #2
“Here?” Flabbergasted though she might be, Maxine entertained the thought rather
seriously. “In your dressing room?”
“Think we’d be the first?” he challenged. “You know, Maxine, I’m really worried about you.
Your submission training is just getting put on the back burner. You already have a tendency to
misbehave. Without constant and proper attention, I’m afraid I’m just going to have one huge
mess on my hands with you.”
“So...” No hiccups. No hiccups now! “So...you...it will be...for you...to train me...in your
dressing room?”
“You know, you’ve been terribly bad today, Maxine.”
“I was just...I—”
“Sit,” he cut her off and gestured toward the loveseat as he moved to take his own seat on the
overstuffed arm.
Slowly, Maxine made her way over, smiling curiously as she minded those cloudy blue eyes.
Yes, he did indeed have something in store for her that evening.
Again, Maxine looked around, unable to fight her own fascination with this side of his life.
At one time, not so very long ago, she’d fantasized about doing just this—having quick and
crazy sex with him at the theater. In fact, that was one of her go-to scenarios that she pulled
from the depths of her newly-discovered dirty mind lately.
“Given that we’re so limited on time these days, I will have to punish you whenever—and
wherever—we have the chance.”
“Uh-oh...” Maxine said, shifted in her seat, the leather squeaking against her skirt as she
moved. “I'm in trouble...”
“Big trouble...”
Buy Now
Meet the Author
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.
Stalker Links
No comments:
Post a Comment