New York Times bestselling author Heather Graham has teamed up with celebrated actor and celebrity icon Chad Michael Murray to weave a tale of passion and danger in the captivating thriller suspense, American Drifter . A young veteran of the US Army, River Roulet is struggling to shake the horrors of his past. War is behind him, but the memories remain. Desperate to distract himself from the images haunting him daily, River abandons the world he knows and flees to the country he’s always dreamed of visiting: Brazil. Rio de Janeiro is everything he hoped for and more. In the lead-up to Carnaval, the city is alight with music, energy, and life. With a few friends at his side, River seems to be pulling his life together at last. Then he meets the enchanting Natal, an impassioned journalist and free spirit―who lives with the gangster that rules much of Rio. As their romance blossoms, River and Natal flee together into the interior of Brazil, where they are pursued by the sadistic drug lord, Tio Amato, and his men. When River is forced to kill one of those men, the chase becomes even deadlier. Not only is the powerful drug boss after them, the Brazilian government is on their trail as well. Will the two lovers escape―and will River ever be free of the bloody memories that haunt him? Veteran River Roulet, who is returning home after a stint in the U.S. Army, wants to escape the horrors that he witnessed. He flees to Rio de Janeiro, where he works hard to get his life back in order. He falls in love with a beautiful girl named Natal. She lives with a gangster, Tio Amato, who has a stranglehold on much of the country. In order to protect himself, River is forced to kill one of Amato's men. Now a hunted man, River must protect himself and Natal. The authors offer plenty of romance and intrigue but also draw attention to mental health issues among veterans and others who have experienced extremely stressful situations. The narrative is straightforward, and readers will be eager to find out the truth about River. VERDICT Fans of romance, immersed in action and suspense with an unexpected twist, will appreciate this book.—Karen Alexander, Lake Fenton High School, Linden, MI HEATHER GRAHAM is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. She majored in theater arts at the University of South Florida. Her first book was with Dell, and since then, she has written over one hundred novels and novellas including suspense, historical romance, vampire fiction, time travel, occult and Christmas family fare. Her titles include Phantom Evil, Ghost Walk, and Heart of Evil . She has been honored with awards from Walden Books, B. Dalton, Georgia Romance Writers, Affaire de Coeur, RT Book Reviews, and more. CHAD MICHAEL MURRAY has showcased his talents on television and the silver screen for more than a decade, including the star role in the western film, Outlaws & Angels. Additional film credits include Left Behind (with Nicholas Cage) , A Cinderella Story (opposite Hilary Duff), and the critically acclaimed Fruitvale Station . Television credits include Gilmore Girls, Dawson's Creek , and an iconic starring role on the CW's One Tree Hill , as well as appearances in Agent Carter and FOX’s Scream Queens. In addition to his acting work, Murray is active in charities for children and teens, supporting Buffalo’s Hunter’s Hope Foundation, Falling Whistles, and the Elizabeth Pediatric Aids Foundation. American Drifter is his debut novel.