Exclusive cover reveal and excerpt from A. Meredith Walters

For weeks, Paste BN and New York Times bestselling author A. Meredith Walters has been telling us to #KeepTheSecret, taunting us with delicious, enticing bits of her newest upcoming book whose title too was kept hidden. I'm happy to reveal the novel is entitled The Contradiction of Solitude, and I'm even happier to show you the striking, haunting cover (to see a larger version, click on the blue arrow in the lower right corner of the image). Plus, I have an exclusive excerpt to share, which gives us a much-awaited glimpse into this romantic suspense novel rife with turmoil, torment and, you guessed it, … more secrets!

The novel's release date is to be announced, and A. Meredith Walters is sure to disclose that with us soon … we hope! In the meanwhile, enjoy this chilling excerpt from The Contradiction of Solitude.

Excerpt

Remember. Just remember.

Blank faces. Blurred images. My mind was reeling with unknown torments.

The panic, the distress, it was bittersweet on my tongue and I swallowed it down like honey.

Sitting alone in the darkened car. I was cold. So cold. I couldn't feel my extremities. My toes were blocks of ice. I didn't know how long I had been there only that I wasn't supposed to move. Minutes. Hours maybe.

But I had to stay where I was. I was supposed to listen.

But I didn't listen. I opened the door. I took a step out into the freezing night. Darkness pressed around me like a vise and I couldn't breathe.

The blackness.

The emptiness.

I couldn't remember.

I stared out of my living room window, waiting for him. For Elian. Hoping for and dreading the moment when he'd pull up in front of my apartment. I was torn with twisted contradiction.

Loving and hating. Soft and hard. Relaxed and rigid.

I dug my fingers into the window sash, nails breaking against wood. Blood wet on my skin.

Remember.

Memories were demons. They kept me trapped. They would set me free. But I didn't trust the raging beast inside with the truth.

It devoured honesty. It lived on guile. It thrived on wicked deception.

My head ached as my mind reeled. Too much. Not enough. I wasn't here.

I was there.

The house sat off in the distance. A tomb…waiting. The grass, heavy with frost, scraped my ankles. Wrapping harsh, unyielding hands around vulnerable flesh.

"Stay here, Layna." His voice rang with clear intent only minutes earlier, just before he left me alone. In the car. To wait. His stern words brooked no argument.

I never defied him. So why was I now throwing self-preservation to the wind?

The house beckoned.

The blackness.

The emptiness.

I couldn't remember.

My head was heavy. And then I saw it. Headlights in the distance and I knew it was him. Elian. My heart beat became a waltz in my chest. Pitter. Patter. Rat-a-tat-tat.

I curled bloodied fingers into my palm. My nails tattered and ruined. Elian was almost here.

I was falling ...

The car parked and I could see him outside the window in the cold, dark night. I knew Dancing Green Eyes, my Elian, was searching. Always searching.

For me.

But I wasn't here. I was gone. Somewhere else.

Waiting...

I approached the house and the first thing I noticed was the noise.

Scratching and clawing. Breathy, aching silence punctuated by frantic movements.

I grabbed the doorknob and froze, scared to go inside. Because when I did, everything would change. There would be no going back.

Scratch. Scratch. Groan.

The sounds were icepicks to my eardrums.

The blackness.

The emptiness.

I couldn't remember.

I watched Elian get out of his car and for the briefest of moments I was happy. I smiled. True and genuine. My heart wanted to dance right out of my chest and into his arms.

Remember.

My bloodied fingers curled into fists and smashed through the window. Glass splintering. Raining to my feet. Pain. Agony. Relief.

About A. Meredith Walters

The New York Times and Paste BN bestselling author of contemporary and paranormal romance including The Find You in the Dark and Bad Rep series as well as the upcoming stand-alone romance Reclaiming the Sand and a dark New Adult series for Gallery Books.

A. Meredith spent 10 years as a counselor for at-risk teens and children, first working at a domestic violence/sexual assault program and then later a program for children with severe emotional and mental health issues. Her former clients and their stories continue to influence every aspect of her writing.

When not writing (or being tortured with all manner of beauty products at the hand of her very imaginative and extremely girly daughter), she is eating chocolate, watching reality television that could rot your brain and reading a smutty novel or two.

Find out more about A. Meredith at ameredithwalters.com.

Vilma Gonzalez is a blogger, reader, marketer, wife and mom. She has an insatiable appetite for happily ever afters and a deep love of the written word. You can find more about her and read full book reviews at Vilma's Book Blog. Please e-mail Vilma at loveinsuspense@gmail.com about content related to this column. Due to the volume of mail, e-mails may not be answered personally, but all will be read.