Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Jigsaw by Stella Barcelona (spotlight, excerpt, review and GIVEAWAY) GFT



by Stella Barcelona

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GENRE: Romantic Suspense/Thriller

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BLURB:

Foraging the cyber-world for puzzle pieces…

Zeus Hernandez, a Black Raven partner, is pulled away from a top-secret project to be the personal bodyguard to lawyer Samantha Fairfax. Terrorists have rendered the future frightening and uncertain, but Zeus and Samantha’s past makes two things crystal clear: she’ll be furious to see him and he can’t refuse the job.

Sorting pieces as stakes rise…

Danger surrounds the International Terrorism Tribunal, a court convened to combat terrorism. Samantha is thrust into the limelight when her mentor dies as the trial convenes in Paris, France. Her role requires steadfast focus and nerves of steel. She’s determined to do her job and move her life ahead, according to plan…without Zeus. He’s determined she’ll reconsider.

Completing the puzzle as their worlds collide…

As personal drama escalates behind closed doors, terrorists take aim at an Achilles’ heel that is capable of crippling Zeus, Samantha, and Black Raven. While forcing puzzle pieces to click into place, a personal reckoning looms for these two strong-willed people. There’s no denying they might be better off apart…but they fit together so well.

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EXCERPT




He was breathing heavily, as though he’d just stepped off the treadmill. So was she. He’d showered just a couple of hours earlier, when they’d come in from the trial. The scent of fresh soap mixed with his musky male, woodsy scent. His body, already warm from the run, was getting hotter. Desire had her knees and arms trembling, and deep inside her internal muscles pulsed with need.

He groaned, pulling her closer, pressing her body flat against him.

With the very last of her willpower, in a throaty voice that didn’t sound to her own ears anything like herself, she said, “Just so you’re clear. Nothing is happening here but sex, and it has nothing to do with what happened before. We’re not going to have that conversation. Ever.”

“Believe what you want to believe,” he muttered, as his lips touched hers. “Just so you’re clear, I’d prefer to clear the air now. And we will go ther—”

“Forget it.”

“Give me a second,” he said, separating from her, turning, and walking away. He went into his bedroom, and reappeared before she caught her breath. He had a condom packet in his hand.

“Sex was a foregone conclusion on this job?”

Serious black eyes glanced at her with a complex look swirling with undercurrents that she couldn’t decipher. “If this were just a job, I wouldn’t be here.”

“I’m on the pill,” she said, a fact that had been sufficient for him before.

“Learned the hard way that the pill isn’t foolproof,” he said with a frown, “and I’d still prefer to clear the air first. By talking.”

She stepped closer to him, stood on tiptoes, and whispered, before their lips met, “Not sure the air will ever be clear and don’t want to waste time talking.” Before he could grab her arms, she gripped the waistband of his shorts and yanked them down.

His mouth found hers as she wrapped her hand around him. Pressing herself against his abdomen, she felt him shudder as she ran her fingers down the taut flesh of his erection.

Now. Please. Persuade me I’ve been wrong. Prove my memory distorted reality. Show me you’re really not the best.


Buy Link:



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AUTHOR Bio and Links:


Stella Barcelona has always had an active imagination, a tendency to daydream, and a passion for reading romance, mysteries, and thrillers. She has found an outlet for all of these aspects of herself by writing romantic thrillers.

In her day-to-day life, Stella is a lawyer and works for a court in New Orleans. She lives minutes from the French Quarter, with her husband of seventeen years and two adorable papillons who believe they are princesses. She is a member of Romance Writers of America and the Southern Louisiana Chapter of the Romance Writers of America. Her first novel, DECEIVED, was inspired by New Orleans, its unique citizens, and the city’s World War II-era history. Her second novel, SHADOWS, began her Black Raven series.

She is currently working on her fourth novel, CONCIERGE, another Black Raven novel, which will be released in 2017.


Website
Facebook




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GIVEAWAY



a Rafflecopter giveaway The tour dates can be found here

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My review:

4.5 out of 5 stars



Jigsaw by Stella Barcelona is part of the ‘Black Raven’ series and explores the functioning of the International Terrorist Tribunal when it has to deal with a rash of terrorist attacks and endeavors to link it with the greatly feared Maximov organization.  Samantha (Sam) Dixon Fairfax is tasked with the prestigious, and ultimately, dangerous, role of serving on the Amicus Curiae team but the biggest challenge she faces is dealing with Jesus (Zeus) Hernandez and keep him from breaking her heart again. Zeus utilizes his formidable skills and highly elite team to keep Sam alive, but only he can fight the most important personal battle of his life…if he can stay alive long enough to make his case.


This contemporary romantic suspense story is an exciting and spellbinding tale of terrorism, politics, and global cooperation with a delicious counterpoint of lost love and dedication to ethics and the requirements of the job, no matter how unpalatable. I love the intense characterization, the political chess game and legal maneuvering, and the beautiful devotion displayed by Zeus. There are some elements that aren’t as cleared up as I would have liked about the way things turn out but I certainly enjoyed the ‘aww’ moments and the breathless anticipation as the danger ramped up. Those who are squeamish should be advised that there is graphic violence and those who are impatient should be warned there are definitely crossed wires and frustrating lack of communication. The overall story is wonderfully crisp and covers a multitude of locations and challenges and provides a look at some of the other intriguing Black Raven folks, with cameos by the primaries from the prior book. This series is a thought-provoking and thrilling read thus far and I definitely look forward to reading more about the sexy and extremely capable members of Black Raven.


This title was provided to me for review

(p.s. Those with eagle eyes will realize I corrected a couple of things...that's what happens when I finish my review in the wee hours of the morning...I make all kinds of weird errors!  My apologies to the author for misspelling Amicus Curiae.)

56 comments:

  1. Thanks for the chance at winning, you're awesome! Enjoy your day and have fun!

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    1. Good luck JR, happy that you dropped in, hope you have a wonderful rest of the week as well!

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  2. Thank you for hosting and reviewing Jigsaw! I appreciate the chance to meet your readers. I'll check in later this evening to see if anyone posted a question. In the meantime, everyone - have a nice day!

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    1. I was thrilled to see "Jigsaw" offered for review, as I knew that I was in for a treat, and you did not disappoint. Good luck with the tour and the release, and thank you for taking the time to interact with my visitors.

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  3. Congrats on the tour and thanks for the chance to win :)

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  4. Thank you for your open and honest review! My question for Miss Barcelona is, how long (on average) does it take you to write a book?

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    1. Hi - It really depends on the book! I'm not sure I have an average. I'd say anywhere from 9 months to a year, then add time for editing on top of that.

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    2. You are quite welcome, clojo. Thank you for taking the time to come by and read it, and for the question for the author!

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  5. thanks you for sharing the book with us, I'm always looking for a new read.

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    1. I hope you do decide to read one of my books. If you do, thank you!

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    2. It's a great series, DanieX...and I've enjoyed every book I have read by this author thus far. I hope you give her a try. Thanks for popping in!

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  6. Thanks for the review!

    --Trix

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    1. You are welcome, Trix. Thanks for coming by!

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  7. Great review, sounds like a good read.

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    1. Thank you for the compliment, Rita. I love romantic suspense and this story definitely fit the bill. I hope you get a chance to read it!

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  8. Which one of your characters are you most like?

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    1. Becky - None of them! Then again, maybe there is a bit of me in each one of them. I plead the Fifth Amendment on this one!

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    2. Ooh, nice question, Becky! Thanks for the visit (and, nice evasion Stella!)

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  9. Thanks for the giveaway; I like the excerpt. :)

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    1. Glad you like it, Cali. Thanks for dropping by!

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  10. Great review! I can't wait to check this one out myself, thanks for sharing :)

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    1. I hope you do check it out, and if/when you do, I hope that you enjoy it! In the meantime, happy reading!

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    2. Thanks so much, Victoria! I appreciate you coming by and reading it.

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  11. Replies
    1. Thank you for the compliment, Mary. Great to see you!

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  12. Good morning and thank you for brimging us this great giveaway

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  13. I'm back and hoping you're not getting tired of hearing from me. I DO appreciate the opportunity to win this giveaway, Thank You!

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    1. I don't get tired of hearing from you, I appreciate you taking the time to come by! I hope you are doing well in the giveaways...I am incurable about entering contests, lol.

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  14. Replies
    1. Happy to share, thanks for taking the time to read it, Samantha!

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  15. It's Friday! We made it through another week and looking forward to the weekend. Have a great day and thanks for the giveaway

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  16. Everyone have a terrific Sunday and thank you for this giveaway

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  17. Hey! Hope you have a good Monday and thank you for the chance at winning.

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  18. Have a Happy Tuesday and thank you for the opportunity at winning!

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  19. Happy Hump Day! Time is flying by but wanting to say thank you for the giveaway

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  20. Good Morning! I am back to say thank you once again for the chance to win.

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  21. It's that day so many of us look forward to...Friday! Have a good one and thank you for the chance at winning

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  22. I will be working all weekend but wishing you all a terrific one. Thanks once again for the great giveaway

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  23. Thanks so much for all the work you put into bringing us such great giveaways. Have an awesome Sunday and Thank You!

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  24. Happy Monday and thank you once again for a terrific giveaway.

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  25. Rainy morning here in Michigan. Hope your day is bright and sunny! Thanks again for a great giveaway

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  26. This book is "my cup of tea", looking forward to reading it!

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  27. Happy Wednesday! Thanks so much for the terrific giveaway and all the work put into bringing it to us. Not sure if you all are appreciated as you should be because from what I read, it is very time consuming and a lot of work put into doing this for us. Thank you so much!

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  28. Have a great day and thank you for the great giveaway

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  29. Happy Friday and stopping by to say thank you for giving us this opportunity to win

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  30. Thanks again for the chance to win and have a great weekend!

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  31. Enjoy this beautiful Sunday morning and thank you for the opportunity to win this giveaway.

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  32. Thank you for the terrific giveaway. I appreciate the chance at winning.

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  33. Good Morning! Enjoy your Tuesday (thought all morning it was Wednesday) and thank you for this opportunity to win

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  34. Good Afternoon! Stopping by to once again thank you for the great giveaway.

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