A Pound of Flesh (A Pound of Flesh #1)

BOOK: A Pound of Flesh (A Pound of Flesh #1)
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Copyright © 2015 Sophie Louise Jackson

Cover photograph © Wallenrock/Shutterstock.com.

Cover design by isitdesign.co.uk

The right of Sophie Jackson to be identified as the Author of the Work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

Extract from
A Farewell To Arms
copyright © 1929 Ernest Hemingway,

first published by Sribner.

Published by arrangement with Gallery Books,

a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

First published as an Ebook in Great Britain in 2015

by HEADLINE ETERNAL

An imprint of HEADLINE PUBLISHING GROUP

Apart from any use permitted under UK copyright law, this publication may only be reproduced, stored, or transmitted, in
any form, or by any means, with prior permission in writing of the publishers or, in the case of reprographic production, in
accordance with the terms of licences issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency.

All characters in this publication are fictitious
and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead,
is purely coincidental.

Cataloguing in Publication Data is
available from the British Library

eISBN 978 1 4722 2464 4

HEADLINE PUBLISHING GROUP

An Hachette UK Company

Carmelite House

50 Victoria Embankment

London EC4Y 0DZ

www.headlineeternal.com

www.headline.co.uk

www.hachette.co.uk

Contents

Title Page

Copyright Page

About the Author

Praise for Sophie Jackson

By Sophie Jackson

About the Book

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Epilogue

A sneak peek of
An Ounce of Hope

Find out more about Headline Eternal

About the Author

Sophie Jackson is an English teacher from Chorley. Although she read and wrote furiously as a child, she first started writing as an adult, to scratch the creative itch, for the website FanFiction.net, after reading the
Twilight
series in 2008. She wrote and posted a number of
Twilight
fanfics, chapter by chapter, and built up an impressive readership.

For more information, visit Sophie’s website
www.sophiejacksonauthor.com
, and find her on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/SophieJacksonRomance
and on Twitter
@sophiejax
.

Prepare to fall for the powerful storytelling of Sophie Jackson:

‘[Sophie] writes the type of stories today’s reader wants: beautifully created characters filled with emotion, and a storyline that sticks with you long after you turn the last page’ Tara Sue Me,
New York Times
bestselling author of the
Submissive
series


A Pound of Flesh
is an intriguing tale of acceptance, and understanding, and finding love in unexpected circumstances. What sets it apart from others is the way Sophie weaves storylines to build suspense before everything ultimately comes together, leaving the reader guessing and gasping until the very end’ J. M. Darhower

‘This forbidden love story is rife with danger and will impart that feeling of sneaking risqué books under the bedcovers with a flashlight and staying up past your bedtime to finish an amazing story. Jackson convinces readers that love can be found in the most unlikely places and situations. This one is entirely heartfelt, hot and should be the very next book on your TBR list’
Romantic Times

By Sophie Jackson

A Pound of Flesh Series

A Pound of Flesh

Love and Always (e-novella)

An Ounce of Hope

About the Book

Can true love heal the deepest scars?

Wes Carter

Dangerous, brooding and behind bars, Carter’s emotional scars are as permanent as the ink on his skin.

Kat Lane

Vibrant and gutsy, Kat chooses to become a prison tutor in tribute to her father whose murder haunts her.

Although worlds apart, when their eyes meet, Carter and Kat’s searing attraction is instant.

As teacher and student, any relationship is against every rule.

But although their love is forbidden, it won’t be denied …

For Mum. I am forever in your debt.

Acknowledgments

This book would never have existed without many people’s love, support, and encouragement.

Firstly, thank you to my family, especially my mum who, despite her eye-rolling at my ever-changing obsessions, became my own personal cheerleader during this whole process. From when it all went wrong and I thought this book was never going to happen to when it finally became right and I was neck deep in edits with the end seemingly so far away, she was always there calming me down, pulling me through, telling me that
of course
I could do it. You’re my hero and always will be. I love you.

Sally, Rhian, Babs, Irene, Nicki, Caro, Sash, and Lisa, the original PAW Princesses. Who would have thought it? Your continued support throughout this entire journey, from your patience with my tri-monthly (sometimes longer) chapter posts, our read-along Skype sessions, our Manchester meet-up to the announcement that
PoF
was going to be published, will forever be invaluable to me. You are all wonderful women and friends, and I am truly blessed to have you in my life.

To my amazing friends and my incredible online family: Steph, my workout queen, Kim, my lobster, Afiyah, my Minion twin, Lauren, my Stucky lover, Tara Sue Me, for your invaluable advice and support, J M Darhower for your inspiring words, Liv, Laura, Rose—I could go on and on. I am insanely lucky to say that there are too many of you to mention. Your unrivaled excitement made the hard parts of this so much more bearable and the good parts so damned enjoyable. To every reader, reviewer, blogger, manip maker, banner maker, to every voter of every fandom award, to every hugger, texter, caller, and tweeter, you are all of you awesome and my love for you is immeasurable. You are the reason this is happening. Thank you for accepting my crazy fixations and for having so much belief in this and in me. Thank you for putting up with the good, the bad, and the ugly. I am proud and privileged to know each and every one of you. Lettuce spoon.

To my beautiful Pennsylvanian soul mate, Rachel. My original cherub. It seems like only yesterday that I sat down at your computer and wrote the prologue to
PoF
. Who knew, huh? We’ve come a long way, baby, and my love for you is still as strong as it was when you sent me that first online review. Your creative talents and your sunshine personality are so precious to me. You’re a truly wonderful friend, your family is beautiful, and I can’t wait to spend more laughter-filled summers with all of you.

To my superstar agent, Lorella Belli, the hardest working person in the literary world! What a journey it’s been. Never once did you let me get downhearted when things looked bleak, never once did you lose hope when I was ready to throw in the towel. You are the most inspiring of people. I am in awe of your faith and fight, and I know without either this book would still be just a dream. Thank you so much for everything you have done and continue to do for
PoF
and me. I am beyond grateful. And to my U.S. co-agent, Louise Fury. Your love for the characters of this story will forever make me smile. You rock. Thank you for being the most awesome of sidekicks.

To my fabulously fabulous editor, Micki Nuding, who’s put up with so much from me! You have the patience of a saint, woman. And to all the team at S & S and Gallery Books: Thank you for taking a chance on me and my story, and for making my dream a reality.

To Emily, for all of your work and enthusiasm, I thank you muchly.

Special thanks to Kate and Jo from Headline Eternal who not only have awesome taste in restaurants, but have also been amazingly patient with me, my technical ineptitude, and graciously answered the innumerable questions I’ve fired at them during this whole process. Thanks, ladies. You’re fab. And to the rest of the team at Headline Eternal, thank you for all your hard work and for giving me this opportunity. It means more than I can say.

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