Spirit and Secrets — Emma Brown

Claire has just arrived in the big, bustling city of Boston to pursue her Master's degree. As an Idaho native, Claire finds the city to be both welcoming and overwhelming, all at once. She's naive in the ways of love and sex, and has much to learn of both worlds. One day, Claire is walking home when she passes by a house fire at a South End brownstone. A crowd has gathered around the house as it burns. As Claire starts to leave, she notices a handsome, mysterious man leaving the scene quickly. He carries an old and decidedly shabby suitcase. Two big men in black suddenly brush past Claire and chase the odd man. He drops his suitcase as he starts to run, fleeing for his life. Claire is left holding the suitcase and a big mystery. Who was the man with the suitcase? Why was she so drawn to him? Who were the men chasing him? How did she get involved in such a mystery? As her loneliness as an Idaho transplant in the big city grows, Claire starts to investigate. Claire finds herself entangled in a web of mystery and seduction as the man with the suitcase turns out to be something quite different from any man Claire had ever known before. Will she get caught up in passion and desire? Will she survive this spicy, but potentially deadly mystery?