Wrecked by J.B. Salsbury
About the Author
New York Times bestselling author J. B. Salsbury spends her days lost in a world of budding romance and impossible obstacles. Her love of good storytelling led her to earn a degree in Media Communications. Since 2013 she has published seven bestselling novels and won a RONE Award. J. B. Salsbury lives with her husband and two kids in Phoenix, Arizona.
Visit her at www.jbsalsbury.com, find her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/JBSalsburybooks and on Twitter @JBSalsbury.
Immerse yourself in J. B. Salsbury’s deeply emotional, addictive love stories:
‘Heartwarming, raw, and sexy. J. B. Salsbury did an amazing job on this one! With pacing so intense, it knocked me off my feet’ Tijan, New York Times bestselling author ‘A brilliantly constructed romantic thriller you’ll devour in one sitting! The perfect amount of sexual tension and sweetness rolled up with my favorite of all: a dangerously hot alpha male, makes this one addictive read!’ Elizabeth Reyes, USA Today bestselling author ‘Wow! My head is spinning and my heart is rejoicing. Sweet, tender, unexpected, heartbreaking, and so beautifully healing. It’s like nothing I’ve ever read before’ Mia Sheridan, New York Times bestselling author ‘J. B. Salsbury crafts a masterful romance with Split. It grabbed me by the throat and punched me in the heart’ Claudia Conner, New York Times bestselling author ‘Plenty of secrets, jaw-dropping moments and raw emotion makes this one unforgettable read’ RT Book Reviews
‘This book had my heart racing. Emotional, intense, and highly addictive. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough’ J. Daniels, New York Times bestselling author ‘An addicting, wild ride of epic proportions that will stay with you long after you’ve reached the end’ Harper Sloan, New York Times bestselling author
‘Visceral. Addictive. Out of this world intense. A roller-coaster ride from start to end, Split will take your breath away’ Katy Evans, New York Times bestselling author ‘Riveting and heartbreaking, Split is a must read and one of my favorites of 2016’ Rebecca Shea, New York Times bestselling author
‘A powerful punch of deep emotion, sexy characters, and ingenious writing—this is the book you’ve been waiting for’ Pam Godwin, New York Times bestselling author
‘5 stars! Highly recommend! I went into Split completely blind and at first had no idea what to expect. But then the book swept me away’ Pepper Winters, New York Times bestselling author ‘This is a page-turner read so give yourself plenty of time to finish this book in one sitting’ Heroes and Heartbreakers
‘I loved this book! Once I started reading, I was hooked! It was a sexy, edgy, and refreshingly unique romance! Definitely a new favorite!’ Aestas Book Blog
By J. B. Salsbury
Split
Wrecked
About the Book
When you can’t trust yourself, how can you ask anyone else to?
It’s been months since Aden Colt left the Army, and still the memories haunt him. When he moved into a tiny boat off the California coast, he thought he’d found the perfect place to escape life. Then Sawyer shows up and turns his simple life upside down.
Beautiful and sophisticated, she seems out of place in this laid-back beach town. Something is pushing her to experience everything she can – including Aden. But as much as he wants her, starting a relationship with Sawyer puts them both at risk. For Aden, the past doesn’t stay there; it shows up unexpectedly, uncontrollably, and doesn’t care whose life it wrecks.
He’s not like other guys . . . Don’t miss J. B. Salsbury’s unique and explosive romance, Split, out now.
To my brother Bo.
Your contagious love of the ocean and unwavering love for me inspired this story.
Acknowledgments
I want to start with a heartfelt thank-you to God for giving me the ability to tell stories.
Thank you to my husband and two beautiful daughters for their support during the long writing days, the weekends away, and the nights I’m promoting. It is your love that inspires me.
To my parents, thank you for your constant support. And Dad, thank you for reading every single book I publish. It means so much to me.
A huge thank-you to my big brother Bo for answering all my questions about deep-sea fishing. This book wouldn’t be what it is without your wisdom, experience, and guidance. You were also the inspiration behind Celia and Sawyer’s undying love for each other, having taught me from a young age what it means to love your sibling unconditionally, support them through life’s trials, and always be available. Love you, bro. PS: Skim the dirty parts, m’kay?
I’d like to thank Amanda, her husband, Ryan, and her brother Cody for helping me with the military research. The firsthand knowledge you provided was invaluable.
Thank you to the amazingly talented Claudia Connor for reading for me and for always pushing me to write better. More importantly, thank you for your friendship. Love you, D.
To my editors Megha Parekh and Amy Pierpont, as well as everyone at Forever Romance and Eternal, and my agent MacKenzie Fraser-Bub, thank you for believing in me and my stories.
All my love goes out to the members of JB’s Fun Cage, the bloggers, and all the readers who have supported me through the years. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you.
I want to give a special heartfelt thank-you to all the men, women, and families of the United States Armed Forces who have sacrificed and continue to sacrifice more than we will ever understand. Words would never be enough to show my gratitude for your service and your sacrifice. From the depths of my soul . . . I thank you.
PROLOGUE
ADEN
Three months ago . . .
“Hey, Sarge, can I have a word?”
With my ass on a cot and doubled over lacing up my boots, I avoid looking at LaRoy. If I make eye contact he’ll only take that as an invitation to air his concerns. The same bullshit concerns he’s been airing for the last few weeks. “Not now, Private.”
His boot steps close in, signaling he’s not going to let this shit go. “Colt.”
With a final tug on my shoestrings, I push up to stand and face my brother-in-arms head-on. “As long as we’ve been fighting side by side, how many times have I let you down?”
The trained Special Forces soldier in him stiffens his spine and snaps back a quick “Not once, sir,” but his wary expression betrays his strength, showing the worry of a friend.
“Grant, I said this before and I’ll say it again.” I strap on my gear while I continue. “You have nothing to worry about. The United States government gave us a job, to train Iraqi forces so that they can defend themselves against ISIL. We’ve done that, and we have a formidable team to show for it.”