As we say goodbye to LoDo, the Saints of Denver, and more than 11 stories worth of brutal turmoil and the happiest of happy endings, we are happy to share this exclusive excerpt from Jay Crownover’s ‘Salvaged.’

If you haven’t already had a chance to check out our review of Salvaged, you can do so here. We are more than happy with the beautiful ending that Jay Crownover gave to our favorite Denver family.

Check out this exclusive excerpt and grab your copy of Salvaged from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or find it at an indie bookstore near you.

Exclusive excerpt from ‘Salvaged’

Still holding my phone, I called my sister before I realized my finger touched her name. She picked up on the first ring and I wasn’t surprised that she sounded overjoyed to hear from me. I’d put Salem through the ringer over the last few years, but each day I got closer to closing that gap I’d allowed the men in my life to wedge between us. At the time I didn’t realize isolating me from the person that loved me the most was a way for them to maintain control but I saw it so clearly now.

After returning her greeting, I blurted out, “I asked Wheeler to kiss me tonight” with no preamble or warning.
She gasped and I heard something clatter. I realized it was the phone a second later as she screamed, “Oh my God,” but the sound was muffled and sounded like it was coming from miles away.

“You kissed, Wheeler, as in the guy who just canceled his wedding to a raging she-beast?”

Her voice was shrill, so I had to hold the phone away from my ear. “Um…yeah.”

She let out a breath and I could picture her chewing on her lip and pacing in circles as she continued to fire off questions. “When did you start seeing him? How long has this been going on? Are you ready to date? You know he has a baby on the way with his ex, right?” She took a breath and let it out slowly. “Are you okay?”

I shook my arms free from my jacket and let it fall in the center of the floor. Tonight was the kind of night that made me wish I drank. I didn’t touch anything that had the ability to lower my defenses or inhibitions. I’d done a good job of being an easy target most of my life, and I learned early on to avoid anything that made going in for the kill easier. I threw myself on the couch and stared unseeingly at my ugly popcorn ceiling.

“I’m fine, or I will be.” That was the mantra that kept me going when giving up felt a million times easier.
She sighed and her voice was breathless with something I hadn’t heard her direct toward me in a very long time…hope. “You wanted him to kiss you?”

Grouchily I snapped, “Yes. That’s why I feel like I’m losing my mind. I haven’t wanted anything to do with anyone in months and months and the first guy I find myself attracted to is in the middle of a horrible breakup and impending fatherhood. When am I going to learn?” She laughed a little, which made me even more annoyed. “I don’t see what’s funny about this situation, Salem.”

She paused and when she spoke her voice was think with emotion. “I’m laughing so I don’t cry.”

About the Author: Jay Crownover

Jay Crownover is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Marked Men, The Point, and the Saints of Denver series. Like her characters, she is a big fan of tattoos. She loves music and wishes she could be a rock star, but since she has no aptitude for singing or instrument playing, she’ll settle for writing stories with interesting characters that make the reader feel something. She lives in Colorado with her dogs.