Title: To the Breaking Pointe
Author: Cindy McDonald
Publisher: Acorn Book Services
Pages: 250
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Format: Paperback/Kindle
Purchase at AMAZONAuthor: Cindy McDonald
Publisher: Acorn Book Services
Pages: 250
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Format: Paperback/Kindle
Pushed to the breaking pointe!
The owner and director of the ballet company, Natalia Novikov, has a dark secret: her beloved ballet company is almost broke. Natalia forces her dancers to prostitute themselves to financial contributors at exclusive after-show parties. Silja has been exempt and kept in the dark about the parties—until an American financier offers to bail the failing ballet company out. His prerequisite: Silja must become his personal companion, live in his home, and fulfill his every desire. Against her will, Silja is taken to the American's mansion, but before she goes she manages to send a text to the only man who can save her, Grant: HELP!
Now Grant is on a mission to find his lost ballerina and rescue her from this powerful man's subjugation. He will do anything to get her out alive. If they survive, will he let her chasse out of his life again?
Book Excerpt:
“Where is Silja?” Ballard
Crafton asked Natalia as he searched the reception room in the basement of the
theatre. The room wasn’t particularly large, yet it was quite elegant with red
velvet swags hung in the archways, gilded crown moldings, and crystal
chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. A bar was set up in one corner while a
violinist played softly in another. The room was filled with men, a few older
women, and most of the dancers from the Novikov Ballet Company. Only one dancer
in particular was missing... Silja Ramsay.
Natalia picked up her glass of
wine from the bar. “Silja is not ready to attend our little soiree yet. She
hasn’t been informed of my... financial situation.”
Ballard pulled a bracelet from
his suit jacket. “Silja doesn’t like diamonds?” Natalia huffed at the sight of
the bracelet that she thought she had convinced Silja to keep. He continued,
“She had this returned to me by messenger this afternoon. Doesn’t she...don’t you
understand just how wealthy I am?”
Natalia took a sip of her
cabernet. “She still believes in love, Ballard—“
“I am in love with her!”
he bellowed.
Taken aback by the sudden
outburst, the crowd hushed, looking in their direction. Natalia forced a laugh,
waving her hands carelessly at the crowd. She spoke to them in Russian,
“Mingle, mingle, get to know our beautiful dancers.” With hesitant glances at
Ballard, the crowd returned to their conversations. The women in attendance ran
their hands up and down the male dancers’ muscled arms, while the men flirted
mercilessly with the ballerinas.
“You told me that she would be
here tonight, Natalia.” Ballard said, more hushed.
“As always, there are plenty of
lovely ballerinas here to choose from this evening, Ballard. Forget Silja for
now. I will keep working to make her come around. She still... how do you
say... pines for another.”
“Who?”
“I do not know this. Be
patient. Pick another for this evening. Here...” Natalia gestured to the
bartender. He retrieved a box from behind the bar. Natalia took the box and
offered it to Ballard. Lifting a brow, she said, “You may have first pick
tonight, yes?”
“No. I am tired of spending
time with ballerinas that I don’t want. I only fantasize that she is Silja. I
want Silja!” Ballard said.
Natalia set the box on the bar.
Slowly she dragged her gaze to meet his. He was like a spoiled child who had
not received the gift that he desired on Christmas morning. No, he was
worse—much worse. Finally she decided to put Ballard Crafton in his place. “I
am quite aware of what it is that you want, Ballard. But I must wonder...will
Silja meet the same fate as your other lovers?” His eyes widened in raw
indignation, except Natalia did not allow his glare to dissuade her. “The opera
singer from New York
Ballard’s hands curled into
fists of righteous agitation. The red flush started above the Armani tie that
he wore around his neck and crept to his cheeks. He spun on his heels and
marched out of the gathering.
Letting out a relieved breath,
Natalia looked into the box which was filled with pointe shoes. Each shoe had
the signature of the dancer from the Novikov Company to whom it had belonged.
Her nerves tightened the knot in her stomach and shame swelled in her chest.
She took another long drink of the wine, and then she managed a faux smile for
the crowd, who anxiously anticipated the beginning of the evening’s event.
Natalia called out in Russian,
“Who will be first to choose a pair of shoes tonight?” She held the box up
high, shaking it. “Edvar! Where is Edvar?”
From the far corner of the room
the ballet company’s dance instructor and choreographer, Edvar Kozlovski,
brushed his fingers through ballet dancer Dominik Potrovic’s hair. After a
whispered promise of return, he raised his hand calling back in their native
Russian, “Here I am! Are you ready, Natalia?”
The crowd buzzed with
excitement. The dancers exchanged nervous glances. All eyes were on Natalia.
She said, “Yes! Who is our highest bidder this evening? Who will get first pick
of the shoes?”
Edvar fished a paper from the
pocket of his jacket, and then he announced, “Ballard Crafton!”
Everyone searched the room
waiting for Ballard to come forward to choose a shoe for his evening of sultry
delight, with the ballerina whose name was on the shoe.
Natalia shook her head. “No. He
had to leave. Who is the second?”
Edvar squinted in a big show of
reading the next name on the list. He proclaimed, “Belsky!”
From the back of the crowd, a
tubby man merrily trotted forward to where Natalia stood. He could barely
contain his excitement. He danced in place from one foot to the other. The
ballerinas were now exchanging curled lips of derision hoping that he would not
pull their shoe from the box.
He wiggled his fingers in
anticipation of what lovely, well-toned ballerina would be his for the night.
Belsky reached into the box and snatched a pair of worn European pink pointe
shoes. The crowd tensed waiting for a name to be called as he handed the shoe
to Natalia.
“Anna Antkowiak!” Natalia
called out. The young girl from Poland
Locking eyes with the innocent
girl, Natalia crooked her index finger at the ballerina to come forward to
claim her date. Trepidation filled Anna’s face. Her stomach twisted into a tangle
of knots as she looked at the other dancers, who silently urged her to do as
Natalia requested. When Anna suddenly noticed the bulge in Belsky’s trousers,
she kept her head bowed, as she slowly crept through the crowd. Belsky grabbed
her by the hand to hurry her out the door.
Natalia clapped her hands.
“Another happy contributor to the Novikov Ballet Company! I’m sure Anna will
make his night!” She shook the box again. “Who will be next to choose, Edvar?”
For More Information
- To the Breaking Pointe is available at Amazon.
- Discuss this book at PUYB Virtual Book Club at Goodreads.
For twenty-six years Cindy’s life whirled around a song and a dance: she was a professional dancer/choreographer for most of her adult life and never gave much thought to a writing career until 2005. She often notes: Don’t ask me what happened, but suddenly I felt drawn to my computer to write about things I have experienced (greatly exaggerated upon of course—I’ve never been murdered!) with my husband’s Thoroughbreds and happenings at the racetrack. Viola! Cindy’s first book series, Unbridled, was born—there are four books to that series so far.
Cindy is a huge fan of romantic suspense series, and although she isn’t one to make New Year’s resolutions, on New Year’s Day 2013 she made a commitment to write one, Into the Crossfire is the first book for her new series, First Force.
People are always asking Cindy: do you miss dance? With a bitter sweet smile on her lips she tells them: Sometimes I do. I miss my students. I miss choreographing musicals, but I love my books, and I love sharing them with you.
Her latest book is the romantic suspense, To the Breaking Pointe.
For More Information
- Visit Cindy McDonald’s website.
- Connect with Cindy on Facebook and Twitter.
- Visit Cindy on YouTube.
- Contact Cindy.
Thank you for hosting!
Media Contact:
Dorothy Thompson
Pump Up Your Book
Email: thewriterslife@gmail.com
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