HARLEY I sport a track record of falling for the wrong men. But a monk? Yup, he takes the cake. Loneliness has driven me to make poor decisions in the past, like dating a detective who turned out to be a killer. Now my ex is after me because I saw too much. A monastery is the last place I expect to find refuge, let alone in the arms of a monk about to become a priest. But Brother Samuel—formerly Kingsley Grady, son of billionaires—is bent on keeping me safe. Even when I decide to dig into my ex’s dark secret. KINGSLEY The forbidden fruit tastes sweet—until you reap the consequences. When a woman scrambles over the walls of Saint James Monastery in the dead of night, I vow to protect her. A dicey move, considering Harley Raines is a vortex of allure and danger. One weak moment spirals into a cycle of sin and crushing guilt. Though I’m steeled for repercussions, they prove far worse than expected. And then Harley’s ex unleashes his revenge on us for meddling in his affairs. But what if the abyss is the place where I can finally grasp the fullness of God’s mercy? Desert Thorns is a daring Christian contemporary romance about forbidden love, sexual immorality from a Biblical viewpoint, and God's mercy—with an edge of suspense. Author's Note: While Desert Thorns is a fade-to-black romance without explicit content, it is intended for readers 18+ due to mature themes. Content warnings will be available under "Read sample" once the book is published.