Looking for an epic late summer read? Why not pick up a copy of Jean Marie Stanberry’s “Blood, Sweat and Fears”. This action packed drama has been racing up the Amazon charts and intriguing readers all over the world with it’s unique writing style and dual viewpoints.

We hope the following except will wet your appetite for all the intrigue this story induces. “Blood, Sweat and Fears is the first book in the “Heart of a Phoenix” series and it is available at Barnes and Noble and Amazon and on all major e-readers.

“Unfortunately, dinner that night turned out to be a complete fiasco. Alexander was seated with the “stars” at the front of the cafe, wedged between Marika and Maria Gastineau, an alcoholic, bulimic mess of a woman who seemed to have her heart set on seducing him.

Months ago he would have probably took her up on her sly invitation, but now she just didn’t appeal to him. She was French and quite beautiful, but Alexander had no desire to spend any time alone with Maria. She was the embodiment of the phrase “rode hard and put away wet”.

Jenna was seated in the back corner of the cramped cafe, seated between Adam and Luc Dupre. Luc Dupre had been invited to their party mainly because he was one of the sons of the man who owned the chain of hotels the company stayed in while they were in France.

Alexander was not happy about the seating arrangements. He just wanted to be near Jenna and he wanted Jenna far from Dupre. The man was way too good looking and he seemed to be quite infatuated with Jenna, which only made Alexander more restless and agitated.

Alexander almost growled when he snuck a look at them. That ass Dupre was busy flirting with his future fiancee. He resisted the urge to go back there and say something to him, he didn’t want to cause a scene their last night in Paris. It seemed to be fine, Jenna was conversing politely with him, but it was obvious she was not interested in Luc Dupre.

Alexander was relieved, but the next time his eyes drifted to their table in the back of the cafe, Dupre had moved his chair even closer to Jenna and he had his arm draped familiarly across the back of her chair.

Alexander took a slow deep breath in an effort to get his anger under control, this man had a lot of nerve! The more he watched them together the angrier he got. As the night went on, they seemed to be really hitting it off.

Finally, he could take it no more, his heart was aching. He loved Jenna, why was she laughing and smiling at Dupre? Why was she letting him sit so close? Why was she smiling into his eyes like that? He was obviously completely enchanted with her, but Jenna…Jenna was his! Alexander walked over to her table and slid up behind her chair.

“You look so beautiful tonight, I’ve missed you. Why don’t you ditch this loser and come find me later,” he whispered in her ear.

“I don’t think so,” snapped Jenna, flashing him a seething glare.

Alexander’s heart was suddenly filled with pain. Why was she acting like this? He flashed her a confident smile before he headed back to his own table, even though his heart suddenly felt like it had been trampled on. Adam and Dupre were both glaring at him.

“What did he say?” asked Adam.

“Nothing, he’s lost his freaking mind,” snapped Jenna, she was nervously watching Alexander walk away.

“Is he bothering you?” asked Luc Dupre, in his thick French accent.

“I’m not sure bothering is the correct word,” said Jenna, rolling her eyes.

Alexander didn’t hear what transpired after that, he was already too far away and the room was too loud with many conversations.  He didn’t care what Jenna said, he had already planted the seed in Dupre’s head that he had designs on Jenna.

He returned to his own table and sat down, Marika was already glaring at him with narrowed eyes,

“What are you planning with de slut?” she seethed.

“None of your business,” snapped Alexander, unable to take his eyes off the party at the table he had just left.

“I told you, she is trouble.  She is stupid, she will be pregnant the first time you do it and then you will be stuck.”

“That’s exactly what I’m counting on,” said Alexander, flashing her an evil smile.

“That is what you want, to get the little American slut pregnant?  Why?”

“Why not?  She is attractive and talented.  If we are even half as compatible in the bedroom as we are on the ice, I could have a new wife and a new partner.  God knows you and I are not compatible in the bedroom.”

“Sex in not everything, you and I are World Champions and Olympic gold medalists together, do you really want to ruin what the two of us have together?”

“I am not happy and I doubt you are happy either.  Why should we put off the inevitable when it is obvious we are not compatible?” said Alexander, shrugging slightly.

“You are a moron, it will not be the fairytale you think Alexander.  Jenna Bruce is nothing but a child and her family is a bigger mess than your own, do you really see any sort of a future with her?”

“Of course I do.  She may be young, but she is passionate, about her skating career and her life, we are perfect for each other,” said Alexander.

“If you feel that way you had better get in line, it looks as if the Frenchman is determined to have her first, and she seems much more receptive to him than she does to you,” said Marika, flashing him a mocking grin.

Alexander’s eyes drifted over to the table where Jenna sat with Luc Dupre.  Adam had given up and was talking to someone else.  But Dupre had moved in for the kill.  He had moved his body so close to Jenna’s their knees were touching.  Alexander’s face turned steely with anger as he saw Luc Dupre smiling into Jenna’s eyes.  She didn’t seem to mind his close proximity at all as he reached up and brushed a stray lock of hair off her face.

Alexander felt his heart constrict  with anger.  What was wrong with her?  She was actually flirting back.  He narrowed his eyes as he saw Jenna laughing at something Dupre had said and smiling into his eyes with adoration.

Marika laughed a loud, callous laugh when she saw Alexander’s angry expression.  “Well she might be pregnant by morning, but not with your baby I fear.”

“Shut up,” snapped Alexander, unable to take his eyes off the scene that was unfolding at the table across the cafe.

“My poor Alexander, I really feel for you.  I do believe she wants him as much as he wants her.  Oh look, he’s pouring her a glass of champagne, I believe her fate is sealed.  I guess you my dear, are just out of luck,” crooned Marika, flashing him a smug smile.

Alexander was completely consumed with a strange mixture of anger and desire.  It took every ounce of self restraint he had in his body to remain at his table and finish his dinner, when he really wanted to spirit Jenna out of that restaurant and get her far away from Luc Dupre.

You can learn more about Jean Marie Stanberry and all her books on her website, jeanstanberry.com and you can follow her on twitter at  @jeanstanberry