Amanda Ashley - Hold Back the Dawn

Hold Back the Dawn — read online for free the complete book (whole text) full work

Below is the text of the book, divided by pages. System saving the place of the last page read, allows you to conveniently read the book "Hold Back the Dawn" online for free, without having to search again every time where you left off. Put a bookmark, and you can go to the page where you finished reading at any time.

Light

Font size:

↓

↑

Georgia Tahoma Arial Verdana

Reset

Interval:

↓

↑

Bookmark:

Make

1234567...60

Table of Contents

Other titles available by Amanda Ashley

A WHISPER OF ETERNITY

AFTER SUNDOWN

DEAD PERFECT

DEAD SEXY

DESIRE AFTER DARK

NIGHTS KISS

NIGHTS MASTER

NIGHTS PLEASURE

NIGHTS TOUCH

NIGHTS MISTRESS

NIGHTS PROMISE

NIGHTS SURRENDER

IMMORTAL SINS

EVERLASTING KISS

EVERLASTING DESIRE

BOUND BY NIGHT

BOUND BY BLOOD

HIS DARK EMBRACE

DESIRE THE NIGHT

BENEATH A MIDNIGHT MOON

AS TWILIGHT FALLS

TWILIGHT DREAMS

TWILIGHT DESIRES

BEAUTYS BEAST

A FIRE IN THE BLOOD

Published by Kensington Publishing Corporation

A BOUT THE A UTHOR

Amanda Ashley is one of those rare birdsa California native. Shes lived in Southern California her whole life and, except for the earthquakes, she loves it. She shares a home with her husband, as well as an adorable Pomeranian named Lady, a wild house sparrow named Tweety, and a tortoise who remains nameless.

Amanda and her alter ego, Madeline, have written over 80 books and short stories. Not bad for someone who started writing just for the fun of it. Her books have made the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists. You can get a sneak peek at her next book on her website www.AmandaAshley.com .

Epilogue

Eighteen Months Later

Roan sprawled in his favorite chair in the parlor, his gaze resting on the painting of Kathryn in her wedding gown that hung over the mantel. Much had happened since that night. He had feared that, as time passed, his bride would grow to hate being a vampire. Though she never spoke of it, he knew there were times when it grieved her that she would never have children, but those times had grown fewer as the year went by. She had redecorated the manor from top to bottom and when that was done, she had insisted on a new barn for Bianca, and then his lovely wife had decided she wanted to raise horses.

To that end, they had built three enclosed paddocks in addition to the new barn, bought a blooded stud horse, a pair of quality mares, and hired Conal Matheson, Kathryns former riding instructor, to run the operation.

And life was good. After the wedding, Victoria had decided to remain in the new house and had asked Nan to stay with her. To everyones surprise, Victoria ran into a man she had known years ago. A widower now, John Kent had recently moved to Newberry Township. He and Victoria had met by chance in church one Sunday morning. A few months later, they had announced their engagement. And three months after that, they were married.

Mrs. Shumway had elected to return to the manor. Though Roan and Kathryn had no need for a cook, she took care of the housekeeping duties and ran whatever errands needed to be taken care of during the day. He and Kathryn had another surprise when they discovered that Conal Matheson was courting Mrs. Shumway. Six months later, the two were married.

Roan grinned at the memory. They made an unlikely couple, but you had only to see them together to know they were very much in love. Conal moved into the manor after the wedding. There was, after all, plenty of room.

Roan glanced over his shoulder at the sound of Kathryns footsteps. As always, his heart lifted at the sight of her.

Alighting on his lap, she asked, Did you miss me?

I always do.

Mama sends her love. You wont believe this, but shes pregnant!

Roan lifted one brow.

Im as surprised as you are, Kathryn muttered with a shake of her head. Surprised and shocked. I never thought about my mothers age, but she told me she was only sixteen when I was born.

Making her thirty-seven, he said. Not a vast age for child-bearing.

Just think, Kathryn exclaimed, eyes sparkling. Well have a baby in the family!

Roan nodded. Perhaps this would ease her longing for a child of her own.

I always wanted siblings. I used to ask Mama for a baby sister every Christmas. She always promised me one, Kathryn said, grinning. It certainly took her long enough.

Are you happy, Kat? He knew she loved him, but the fear that one day she would leave him lurked like a dark shadow in the recesses of his mind.

Yes, of course. She kissed him. Why are you asking at this late date?

Youre not sorry you married me?

Brow furrowed, she asked, What is it, Roan? Whats bothering you?

I know how much you wanted a family. How it must hurt, knowing your mother is with child and that you...

She cupped his face in her hands. Oh, Roan, I wouldnt trade what we have for all the babies in the world, she said fervently. Dont you know that? I love you more every day. She grinned at him. And now I can enjoy all the fun of loving a baby with none of the work or the responsibility. What could be better?

Cradling her to his chest, he kissed her long and hard. I love you, Kathryn Marie Winterbourne Cabrera, he declared, and whisking her up the stairs to the master bedroom, he made slow, sweet love to her until the sun came up.

Chapter One

1867
Newberry Township

The Mothers of Mercy Hospital was located in what had once been a fashionable part of the town. Age had whittled it down, leaving the place looking as old and worn-out as the dilapidated manor houses that surrounded it. Most of the well-to-do folk had fled the area during an outbreak of the plague some two hundred years ago, though a handful of the wealthy landownerstoo stubborn to move onremained on their estates, closer to what was left of the town.

Roan Cabrera paused on the weed-strewn dirt road that led to the entrance. The air was fetid with the stench of horse droppings, rot, and despair. He didnt know which was worse, the stink outside, or the smell of disease and death that permeated the very walls of the hospital.

Materializing on the third floor, he ghosted past the nurse on duty, unseen, then continued down the hallway until he came to the room at the end of the corridor. A woman lay unmoving on the narrow bed. Maura Singleterry, age twenty-eight, had been badly beaten and left for dead on the side of the road. She was a pretty womanor she had been. Now, her cheeks were sunken, her eyes shadowed, her hair limp and lackluster. Trapped in a coma for the last three weeks, her prognosis was bleak at best.

Next page

1234567...60

Light

Font size:

↓

↑

Georgia Tahoma Arial Verdana

Reset

Interval:

↓

↑

Bookmark:

Make

Similar books «Hold Back the Dawn»

Look at similar books to Hold Back the Dawn. We have selected literature similar in name and meaning in the hope of providing readers with more options to find new, interesting, not yet read works.

Kristen Ashley

Creed

Amanda Horking Hocking

My Blood Approves

Amanda Ashley

Midnight Pleasures

Amanda Quick

Scandal

Dr Amanda Brown

The Prison Doctor: Women Inside

Heather Roan Robbins

Everyday Palmistry: The key to character is in your hands

Ashley

Music of the Soul

Ashley Jackson

Ashley Jackson: The Yorkshire Artist: A Lifetime of Inspiration Captured in Watercolour

Kristen Ashley

Heaven and Hell

Amanda Ashley

Everlasting Kiss

Amanda Ashley

Immortal Sins

Amanda Ashley

Everlasting Desire

Discussion, reviews of the book Hold Back the Dawn and just readers' own opinions. Leave your comments, write what you think about the work, its meaning or the main characters. Specify what exactly you liked and what you didn't like, and why you think so.