Greek Gods Bearing Gifts by Cheryl Harper (Spotlight, excerpt, review and GIVEAWAY) GFT

Greek Gods Bearing Gifts

by Cheryl Harper

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BLURB:

Liberty Smith is certain putting two thieves in charge of a pawn shop is a terrible idea, even in Olympic View, tourist attraction and home to some people with unusual skills. Fresh out of prison, Liberty’s ready to go straight, all the way to Omaha if necessary, and take her baby brother Frank with her. Organizing the junk passing for inventory at Titan Pawn and the employees who aren’t all what they seem was never part of the plan.

Justin Barrett is a fine cop, just like his father before him. His only weak spot? The girl he put in prison who now has blood on her hands. Literally. To save pain-in-the-neck Frank and free Liberty to leave Olympic View, Justin joins a very strange mission. To 1983. With an odd watch and Liberty in the shortest red dress it’s been his pleasure to see.

Greek Gods Bearing Gifts is reunion-story, sexy paranormal romance (75,000 words) featuring the charming god of thieves, two people who never stopped loving, and the underworld’s all-you-can-eat rib buffet.

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EXCERPT

She paused in front of the vault door and paced back and forth in small loops. Her first glimpse inside convinced her that this was the one place in the shop that had ever been properly arranged and catalogued, something that appealed to her neatnik heart.

If she ever met the person responsible for this beacon of order, she’d shake his or her hand forcefully.

“What could it hurt to take a looksee?” The wispy memory of Hannah’s warning had been enough to stop her when she was worn out. That caution was way too weak to conquer boredom. Liberty pressed her thumb against the rose in the top right corner of the door.

There was no need to flip on lights. The room was brightly lit, clean, and seemed to be happy to see her.

“You’re losing it, Liberty.” And talking to yourself. Out loud. Again.

Before she took the monumental step, she glanced over her shoulder. Nope, still a mess. So she stepped right into the room. After the disconcerting dizziness settled, she studied the door. Instead of the chaotic jumble of abandoned electronics, all she could see was solid bronze. Her heart pounding as heat swept through her cheeks at the realization she might be locked in and completely vanish without even the rubble of televisions for a clue, she shoved on the door and stepped into the backroom of the pawnshop. Easy.

She braced her hands on her bare thighs and took slow, deep breaths until she could concentrate again. The faint headache and touch of nausea could be side effects of the panic attack or her talent, but she’d come this far. Running scared, this close to the valuables, would be an un-Smith thing to do.

Satisfied that nothing would keep her from leaving when she wanted and she could find her way home again, Liberty turned to the edge of the platform overlooking rows of shelving. She carefully held the handrail and stepped down to get closer.

If the pawnshop was arranged in rings of age, from newest to oldest, this place was not. Wrapping her arms tightly across her chest so that she wouldn’t inadvertently touch a thing, Liberty explored the first aisle. The inventory of a magical pawnshop should be all…old stuff. Antiquities that museums would pay gazillions for.

Her thief’s heart pinched at the concept of all that lovely money going unused.

Of course, there were antiquities. She stopped in front of part of a column. It was incomplete but the carvings had her convinced it came from prime Athens real estate. Old-school columns. The placard was printed in Greek, something she’d never learned to read or speak.

But right next to the column that did…something was an Oscar statue, engraved with the name Dwayne Johnson.

Liberty found it not surprising at all that The Rock might be part Greek god.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Whether she’s writing, reading, or checking the items off of her daily to-do list, small-town girl Cheryl Harper loves her romance mixed with a little laughter. When she’s not working, you will find her ignoring housework, cursing yard work, and spending way too much time with a television remote in her hand.

Website: http://CherylHarperBooks.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/CherylHarperRomance

Twitter: https://twitter.com/cherylharperbks

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/cherylharperbks

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6583365.Cheryl_Harper

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GIVEAWAY

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My review:

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4.5 out of 5 stars

Greek Gods Bearing Gifts by Cheryl Harper is the story of the Smith siblings, Liberty and Frank, who have a family tradition of theft and other

shady behaviors.  Justin Barrett has a checkered history with Liberty, not least because his career choice in law enforcement is diametrically opposed to the philosophy of the Smith family and their heritage as scions of Hermes, god of thieves and trickery.  Nevertheless, Justin has definite goals with respect to Liberty in mind, and if he has to suspend disbelief, travel through time, and help out a very odd pawn shop by bending the rules slightly to accomplish his goals, he’s willing.  Or is he?

This fun fantasy novel blends Greek mythology and elements of contemporary society in an imaginative tale that is filled with unexpected twists that do a great job of incorporating myth and reality.  The unconventional romance fits perfectly into the quirky sequence of events with the wonderfully odd characters who keep appearing.  I love the character Tim and the idea that not only are the gods of legend alive and well (and meddling as usual), but that there is an enforcement branch, called the Fourteen. 

The complicated relationship between the main characters is a wonderful combination of spice and frustration with a delightful connection between them, even as the characters are given depth by their past experiences, painful as they have been.  The author paints great word portraits that say so much in a pithy statement, e.g. “That made it a bigger mystery why he’d always made her clothes fall off.  Like some kind of weird allergy, everything she wore was suddenly too tight, too restrictive, wrong when he was around.” and “First, he’d made her love him. Then he’d put her in jail.”  Who could fail to be curious about how the relationship was going to develop after reading these sentences?  This is a refreshing and entertaining romp and I am terribly curious about what else will be uncovered in the wacky place called Titan Pawn, not to mention wondering about the rest of the mysterious team who works there.  I look forward to reading more tales in this deliciously entertaining series.

A copy of this title was provided to me for review purposes.