Bonus Content
Bloodvines
San Francisco, California
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
1:05 A.M.
Ex- husbands were like bad pennies, Alexandra Clarkson thought, arching her back as a wave of plea sure washed over her. They kept coming back. At least hers did. And she, horny, idealistic idiot, kept opening the doorÑ and jumping into the sack with him.
But damn, he knew just the right things to say. And do. She moaned and rubbed herself against his hand. Yes, just the right things.
She wrapped her legs around him, urging him on as he slipped into her. She let her mind wander as sensation rippled over her. Suddenly, a series of
images raced into her head, strobe lightÐ like, one after another: A robed figure, face obscured by a hood; flickering candles, smoke curling upward; naked bodies, writhing together.
A faceless baby, screaming.
Alex froze, passion obliterated by fear. On top of her, her ex rocked, moaning, seemingly oblivious to the fact she was no longer participating in the act.
Fear became panic. She couldn’t breathe. He was crushing her. A primal, thundering beat filled her head. With it the certainty she was going to die.
She wedged her hands under his chest and pushed. “Stop. Don’t.” She meant to scream the words; they came out a choked whisper.
He didn’t stop. She struggled then, pummeling his back with her fists. “Get . . . off . . . me!” The last came out as a shout.
“What the fuД He rolled onto his back, breathing heavily. “Shit, Alex. What’s your problem?
Trembling violently, she sat up, pulling her knees to her chest. “My problem is you, obviously. Go away.”
“Gladly, schizo.” He climbed off the bed, grabbed his clothes and looked back at her. “You’re one freaky chick, you know that?”
She was. Alex dropped her head to her drawn- up knees and closed her eyes. Dear Jesus, what just happened?
The bathroom door slammed shut and she drew a shuddering breath. What was her problem? Yes, he’d showed up at her door. But she’d invited him in to her home and bed.
Why did she keep making a monumental mess of . . . everything?
Light sliced across the bed as Tim emerged from the bathroom. She lifted her head. He stood in the rectangle of light, a dark silhouette. She didn’t
blame him for being pissed.
“I don’t know what . . . I’m sorry,” she said softly. “I feel like an idiot.”
“Are you okay?”
Was she?, she wondered, even as she nodded.
“Is there anything I can do to help you?”
Yeah. Change her life. Fill the empty places. Turn her into an ordinary Jane who had a settled, ordinary life.
She wished he could do that for her. The desire had no doubt played a part in her marrying him.
Unfortunately, no one could change her life but her.
“Afraid not. Thanks for the offer anyway.”
“This mistake was mine,” he said, crossing to the bed. “I’ll take the credit.”
“Booty call gone bad,” she murmured, looking up at him. “I warn you, it’s going on your permanent record.”
“We’ll make this divorce work, I promise.
Copyright © 2010 by Erica Spindler
Blood Vines
In Erica Spindler’s Blood Vines, Alex Owens gets the first clue to her forgotten past when her mentally fragile mother commits suicide. By her side is an article about an infant’s remains unearthed in California’s wine country that sends Alex racing to Sonoma with renewed hope. But when Detective Daniel Reed seems surprised she doesn’t recall their childhood friendship or, more startling, her brother’s disappearance, Alex begins to recover bits and pieces of lost memories in unsettling dreams, while the whole picture remains a blur. It takes a series of ritualistic murders that send shock waves through the hostile-to-Alex town to remind her, at last, of the terrible truth about the single night of horror that changed her life forever.
Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: St. Martins Press, LLC ( February 10, 2010 )
Item #: 33-1573
ISBN: 9780312363925
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 8.25 x 0.84 inches
Product Weight: 14.0 ounces
Good Read
September 03, 2010
Enjoyed this book
Reviewer: Sandra
Good Read
July 15, 2010
This was an entertaining story set in the Napa/Sonoma wine country. The setting really made the story special and I was quite interested in the wine caves. A good beach read.
Reviewer: Susan J
READ THIS BOOK!
May 27, 2010
I have read almost all of Erica Spindler's books and must say that this book, Blood Vines, is by far the best of the best! I loved it and never got tired of reading it, not once.
Reviewer: Michele
Ridiculous Storyline
May 27, 2010
The first Erica Spindler book I read was "See Jane Die", which I enjoyed. Then "Copycat", which was so bad I vowed never to read her again, which I haven't, and really don't know why I decided to buy "Blood Vines". It was an incredibly stupid "who-done-it" kind of book, and the storyline was soooo stupid. This has definitely renewed my thinking of "don't read her again". Maybe my mistake was reading this book after reading a Karen Slaughter novel...
Reviewer: Bettyjo
new author for me
May 14, 2010
I have never read this author before but I will look for her from now on...this story was great! Caught me and held me from page 1...can't wait to read her again.
Reviewer: Dp
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