Whirlwind by Lea Hart (VBB, excerpt, and GIVEAWAY) GFT

Whirlwind

by Lea Hart



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GENRE: Contemporary Romance

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BLURB:

Sara Montgomery is being targeted by one of the United States’ most feared organized crime groups. What options does she have when the Outfit decides they want to bring her in? Will the FBI provide enough protection or will she need more?

Grady Merrick is a partner in the Florida office of SAI and discovers the threat and knows he has no choice but to protect his neighbor. His sexy, beautiful neighbor. This is one assignment he’s going to enjoy.

Watch what happens when two people find themselves in the throes of a violent and destructive force. Will they survive the events or be caught in the whirlwind?

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EXCERPT


“Why didn’t you say something? You could’ve given me a heads-up,” he replied.

“I’ve spoken less than a dozen words to you over the last year. I wasn’t about to come over and have that be our first conversation. I figured you knew and didn’t care.”

Agnes shushed them from the other side of the couch. “You two be quiet. I can’t hear anything.”

“Turn up your hearing aid,” Sara called out.

Grady sat back and wondered when his life had started to go down the toilet. Being notorious was never something he thought would happen. And yet, here it was. The show finally caught his attention when all three ladies sighed and clapped their hands. “What just happened?”

“The one she’s interested in confessed he’s falling for her. They just kissed for the first time,” Sara responded.

“Don’t get too excited,” Gladys said. “She doesn’t end up with him. I checked out the website with all the spoilers, and she doesn’t choose him.”

“Don’t tell us any more. I want to be surprised,” Sara responded.

“You know this is a scripted show. None of this is real,” Grady whispered.

“That kiss he just gave her was about as real as things get. Trust me…I know.”

That was a fairly cryptic comment. He studied her for a moment and remembered what Dane had said about her having a lot on her plate. It was time to get to know his neighbor and see what she was all about. It seemed fair, since she’d been in the front row of the freak show that had been his life for the last several months. Plus, she smelled good. Grinning, he settled back and watched the show. If he’d been a betting man, he would have placed money on Sara not having an ounce of drama in her life. He moved his arm along the back of the couch and looked forward to spending time with the girl next door.


Buy Links:

Amazon
Barnes & Noble

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:



I live in Southern California and write stories about sassy, smart women and the alpha men who fall for them. When I'm not writing, I take care of my daughters and try to take long walks. I believe in the power of a big glass of wine, the right pair of shoes, and a big dose of sarcasm.


Keep in Touch:

Leahartauthor.com
Twitter
Facebook


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GIVEAWAY



a Rafflecopter giveaway


The tour dates can be found here




 

Intuition by Anna Durand (spotlight, excerpt, review, and GIVEAWAY)

Intuition

by Anna Durand

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GENRE: paranormal romance

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BLURB:


Torn apart by their haunted pasts, Grace Powell and her fiancé David Ransom are struggling to reclaim their passionate bond and build a normal life — one without danger and paranormal powers. But David can't renounce his obsession with hunting down Karl Tesler, who abducts and tortures psychics. David endured Tesler's tactics himself, but despite what Grace believes, he's not out for revenge.

Tesler covets her unprecedented abilities and her mysterious connection to a source of limitless psychic power. David will do anything — even abandon and lie to her — to protect Grace from Tesler.

With a psychic stalker on her trail, Grace charges into a desperate mission to uncover the truth about David's obsession. But Tesler's agents are closing in on her, and a terrifying new enemy is rising…

As events drive Grace and David toward a battle of epic proportions, they must risk everything — their relationship, their lives, and even their souls — to defeat an enemy who wields unspeakable psychic power.

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EXCERPT:

With the revolver in hand, she sprinted out of the bedroom, down the hallway, through the kitchen, and into the living room. Vacant. All vacant. She rushed back to the bedroom and dug through the closet, scoured the dresser, even dropped onto her belly to investigate the space under the bed. No cameras. No stealthy intruders. Not a damn thing. Which left her with one unthinkable possibility.

Maybe she should call the police.

What for? They couldn't help her with this kind of problem.

"You belong with me."

She jumped. Her head smacked into the bed frame. She clutched the gun tighter. Where had the voice come from?

No, no, no, not again. Nausea swelled in her stomach, bile rising high in her throat. The voice did not originate in this room, or from outside. The source was much, much closer. Someone rammed the words into her mind.

A psychic intruder just hacked her brain.

Buy Links

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
iBooks
Google Play
Kobo
AllRomance
Smashwords

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Anna Durand is an award-winning writer, a freelance librarian, and an audiobook addict. She specializes in steamy romances featuring spunky heroines and hunky heroes, in settings as diverse as modern Chicago and the fairy realm. Her romances have to date won eight awards and her novel Intuition was a 2016 RONE Award nominee, while her short story Tempted by a Kiss was a finalist in The Romance Reviews 2016 Readers' Choice Awards. In her previous life as a librarian, she haunted the stacks of public libraries but never met any hot vampires hunting for magical books.

Website
Spunk & Hunks blog
Twitter
Facebook
Goodreads
Google+
Pinterest
Amazon Author Page

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GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The tour dates can be found here

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My review:

3.75 out of 5 stars

Intuition by Anna Durand is Book Two of the ‘Psychic Crossroads’ series and centers on the ongoing struggle waged by psychics Grace Powell and David Ransom against the evil Karl Tesler and his ilk. The fear of their abilities and temptation of the Golden Power adds to the complications of the fight, and the difficulty of distinguishing friend from foe may make the horrible visions Grace is seeing come all too true.


This intriguing paranormal story features psychics with a myriad of talents but evidently a dearth of training in the use or extent of these remarkable abilities. I think I was a little handicapped by not having read the first story in the series, so the fears and conflicts being experienced by both Grace and David were a bit confusing to figure out at first. I am fascinated by the idea of psychic phenomena, and it was fun to see some of the mind powers being utilized in the story but I thought there was somewhat of a comic book quality to some of the events with the evil villain (or villains) threatening or using torture and mayhem on victims who are erratic in both their ability to use their powers as well as their recuperative powers or lack thereof.

The connection between the main characters was lovely, although a little frustrating as they were still working out the parameters of their relationship even though they were already engaged, but it was nice to watch them learn to accept each other for who they were and grow as a couple. I think this story will be enjoyed by those who like the excitement and suspense of paranormal stories with megalomaniacs who are being opposed by a loyal but not well-trained group who must find a way to access their powers and work together.

A copy of this title was provided to me for review

The Gift - The Chronicles of Tucker Littlefield by Tegon Maus (Spotlight, excerpt, review, and GIVEAWAY) GFT

The Gift - The Chronicles of Tucker Littlefield

by Tegon Maus

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GENRE: Fantasy Action / Adventure

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BLURB:


Tucker Littlefield is a liar, a thief, a con-man. In an attempt to take advantage of a party thrown by the King, he becomes involved in the kidnapping of the King’s niece, Elizabeth. Injured, he is saved by a shaman who turns Tucker into a Soul Bearer who is enslaved by its power, compelled to devour the souls of the dead. "I am Tucker Littlefield. Know all that I say now is true-spoken.”


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EXCERPT


In his right hand, he held a bent stick. He waved it at the dog and grunted at it to frighten it away. Lifting his head high, he sniffed at the air and turned slowly.

"Norha. Where there is one, there is three," Bowen whispered.

We sat motionless for what seemed like forever, watching the creature with the stick. The dog made a wide circle around him, no bark, and no sound. The man refused to make eye contact with it, pretending it wasn't there.

He kicked at the dirt, searching for what? At last, he bent to pick something up. He held it in a clenched fist over his head and howled. From about his waist he took an object, tied to a piece of sinew. As he spun it, a deep, low throng, something akin to a roar arose, filling the air.

"Roar of the Bear," Bowen whispered, nodding toward the man and his signal.

We sank lower into our hiding. Just as he had predicted two more of the Norha appeared from the trees. They sniffed at the air just as the first had done and turned suspiciously. Satisfied, they inspected his find. He held out his hand to them as they spoke in low grunting tones to one another. I didn't understand their language but apparently Bowen could. His body stiffened.

I tried to divide my attention between the three and the look now spread over his face. He pressed his hand to my shoulder, pushing me lower, indicating I should stay hidden.

"Each is blaming the other, they're looking, they're looking for Elizabeth," he whispered, getting up.

Something was moving toward me through the underbrush. I held my breath and pushed as low as I could. It was Enon's dog, Noget.

He snuffled his way to me and leaned against me, protecting me with his body just as Bowen had before disappearing into the trees.
Buy links:

Amazon link
Barnes & Noble
Tirgearr Publishing


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AUTHOR Bio and Links:


I was raised pretty much the same as everyone else... devoted mother, strict father and all the imaginary friends I could conjure. Not that I wasn't friendly, I just wasn't "people orientated". Maybe I lived in my head way more than I should have, maybe not. I liked machines more than people, at least I did until I met my wife.

The first thing I can remember writing was for her. For the life of me I can't remember what it was about... something about dust bunnies under the bed and monsters in my closet. It must have been pretty good because she married me shortly after that. I spent a good number of years chasing other dreams before I got back to writing.

It wasn't a deliberate conscious thought it was more of a stepping stone. My wife and I had joined a dream interpret group and we were encouraged to write down our dreams as they occurred. "Be as detailed as you can," we were told.

I was thrilled. If there is one thing I enjoy it's making people believe me and I like to exaggerate. Not a big exaggeration or an outright lie mine you, just a little step out of sync, just enough so you couldn't be sure if it were true or not. When I write, I always write with the effort of "it could happen" very much in mind and nothing, I guarantee you, nothing, makes me happier.



Publisher's author site

YouTube video

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GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The tour dates can be found here


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My review:

3.5 out of 5 stars

The Gift by Tegon Maus is the first story in the ‘Chronicles of Tucker Littlefield’ series. Tucker is swept into a series of very challenging experiences that are set into motion by the kidnapping of the king’s niece. A combination of mystic experiences and the challenge of overcoming a plethora of foes with arcane powers and evil intentions force Tucker to reluctantly accept the burdens placed upon him while he struggles to not only rescue the king’s niece but stay alive long enough to do so.

This fantasy tale is filled with action and adventure with plenty of imaginative creatures and exciting and oftentimes gory battles. Things were a bit hard to follow and the sequence of events is somewhat chaotic, in my opinion, and at first I thought that I had started with a sequel instead of the beginning of the series. There are fun elements, including the way the narrative starts and the way it ends, and memorable characters such as the very perceptive dog, with magic and mysticism sprinkled in, but I wonder whether a glossary that listed key characters and cultures would make it easier to understand the reasons behind some of the conflicts and quests. I had trouble establishing a rapport with any of the characters and I think this is because the action is so frenetic, I never got an idea of who the characters really were. Hopefully, subsequent stories will begin to untangle some of the ongoing threads while continuing to showcase the fertile imagination of this author.

A copy of this title was provided to me for review

 

J. Kenner, Catherine Bybee, and Jill Shalvis at The Ripped Bodice

There is a lovely new store in Culver City, CA called The Ripped Bodice.

It is the only all-romance bookstore in the country, according to its publicity, and has wonderful ambiance and a fantastic collection of books to browse through. Thus far, there have been several lovely events held there, and on September 24, 2016 there was a signing by three authors!  If you're in the Los Angeles area, I recommend that you join their newsletter list so you can attend wonderful events like this and drool over (I mean, meet) some of your favorite authors.

Also, don't forget the InD'Scribe Conference October 6-9, 2016 in Burbank! Right now it looks like you can print up a pass for free to meet authors and get your books signed in the signing room, but you need to do that soon!




I'm pretty inept at playing with pictures, so I will do a separate post later to share how beautiful the store is, but for now...here are pictures of J. Kenner, Catherine Bybee, and Jill Shalvis!

J. Kenner, Catherine Bybee, and Jill Shalvis

Jill Shalvis, who thinks my name is ALF, lol

Catherine Bybee

J. Kenner, with Catherine trying to decide whether she wants to photobomb or not, lol

The authors and one of the proprietresses, participating in a FB interview

I have no idea whether this will actually work, but this is (hopefully) a recording of a couple of the interview questions

Once a Soldier by Mary Jo Putney (review)

Once a Soldier
by Mary Jo Putney


Amazon link


My review:

4.5 out of 5 stars
 
Once a Soldier by Mary Jo Putney is the first book in the ‘Rogues Redeemed’ series and centers around Will Masterson, a man caught in the vicious events of war, who makes a pact with an eclectic group of fellow prisoners that changes his attitude toward life. A chance assignment to accompany a group of soldiers to their tiny country of San Gabriel allows him to encounter the remarkable Athena Markham, who has been pivotal in helping Princess Sofia, the ruler of San Gabriel, defend the beleaguered country. Romances bloom amid the uncertainties of battle despite the apparent unsuitability of the connections. Some fights are well worth the prize, and Will and his friend Justin are determined to be victorious…no matter how great the odds against them.


This historical romance features my favorite kind of lead characters…capable ones who are not defined by gender. I love that Athena is comfortable defending herself, decisive, and intrepid, and the action and adventure that permeate this tale kept me enthralled from beginning to end. The eventful introduction of Will Masterson and his life-changing interlude with fellow prisoners slated for a horrible fate was a nice way to introduce the series and give a thumbnail sketch of the characters who undoubtedly will each have a time in the spotlight. 

I really enjoyed the pragmatic nature of the characters in this story, who see things that need to be done and find a way to do them. The primary and secondary romances distract a little from each other and I thought the one was settled a little too pat, but I enjoyed watching the evolution of the relationships and the struggle between following society’s dictates and the desire to accede to the heart’s wishes. I was entertained that both hero and heroine were larger than life (literally as well as figuratively) and I appreciate that the negatives of war and its impact on the commoners who are eking out a living were aptly portrayed. This was a great introduction to a new series, and although I thought some threads were tied up a little too easily, I still thought this was an entertaining story and I look forward to reading about the other rogues.


A copy of this title was provided to me for review, a version of which was submitted to Night Owl Reviews

 

Branded by Candace Havens (spotllight and excerpt) NEW ADULT title

Branded

by

 Candace Havens
New Adult title

Release Date: September 19, 2016

Genre: New Adult

 

Blurb:

I have my hands full taking care of my little sister and covering for my uncle as ranch foreman. The last thing I need is a Texas princess like Callie Llewellyn getting up in my business and messing with my head.

All I can think of is getting up close and personal with those curves of hers. And being on the edge of discovery makes our quick-and-dirty encounters twice as hot. And that’s all they are—quick and dirty—there’s nothing deeper going on here.
There’s only one rule to keeping my job and a roof over my sister’s head: stay away from the boss’s granddaughter. But I’m not always great at following the rules.
 

Excerpt:

Damn. She was beautiful. I hadn’t expected that. When she’d fallen against me, her body had been soft in all the right places. And that strawberry smell from her hair was fucking sweet, and those tits...they were real. A lot of the women around town had fake ones. But I’d always been fond of the natural kind, no matter the size.

She sat there next to me on the golf cart as we made the long drive back to the house, and all I could think about was what it would be like to be skin to skin with her.

Off-limits.

My uncle had told me two things when I took over as temporary ranch foreman for him. The first was not to fuck around with the boss’s granddaughter. The second was if I even looked at Callie Llewellyn cross-eyed, I’d get my ass kicked. That was a joke, since he’d been in the hospital at the time and was still in recovery from his leg being crushed by a tractor. Now, if that had been my dad, the joke would have

been a threat, one he would follow up on. I had the fucking scars to prove it.

I was here to do a job, to help my uncle, and take care of my sister. That meant leaving the princess alone. And that was okay, since I wasn’t much for relationships or anything much more than one-night stands. I had a list of women in Amarillo I’d never call back on my phone. Someday, I’d get around to deleting them. Anything more than once and they tended to get clingy.

She might think I’m an asshole, but I answered to her grandfather, not her. Best to keep my distance. Her grandparents had been talking about her arrival for weeks, like it was the second coming of Christ.

“I can’t wait for you to meet her,” Mrs. Llewellyn had said. “She’s a sweetheart and absolutely brilliant. Someday, she’ll take over the empire. We’ve been grooming her since she was a babe.”

I couldn’t imagine being groomed for anything. My sister and I grew up hard. We lived day to day. Things were good right now, but one wrong move, and we’d be out on the streets.

No way would I jeopardize my family’s future for a piece of ass, didn’t matter how fucking hot it was.

Amazon buy link

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Author Bio: Bestselling author Candace Havens has published more than 25 books. Her novels have received nominations for the RITA's, Holt Medallion, Write Touch Reader Awards and National Readers Choice Awards. She is a Barbara Wilson Award winner. She is the author of the biography “Joss Whedon: The Genius Behind Buffy” and a contributor to several anthologies. She is also one of the nation's leading entertainment journalists and has interviewed countless celebrities from George Clooney to Chris Pratt. Her entertainment columns are syndicated by FYI Television, Inc.

Candace also runs a free online writing workshop for more than 2000 writers, and teaches comprehensive writing classes. She does film reviews with Hawkeye in the Morning on 96.3 KSCS, and is a former President of the Television Critics Association.

Author Email
Author Website
Author Blog
Author Twitter: @candacehavens
Author Facebook
Author Goodreads
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The Chevalier by Philippa Lodge (VBB, excerpt, and GIVEAWAY) GFT

The Chevalier

by Philippa Lodge

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GENRE: Historical Romance

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BLURB:

Emmanuel, Chevalier de Cantière, youngest son of a baron, is happiest raising horses far from his complicated family. When news comes his mother is deathly ill, he races to her side only to find she has apparently recovered and moved on, leaving behind her companion, Catherine.

Catherine de Fouet blends into the background, saving up so she’ll never have to wait on waspish, scheming old ladies like the baronesse again. She has no interest in a resentful gentleman, estranged from his mother, no matter how broad his shoulders or intriguing the wounded soul behind his handsome face. She just needs someone to escort her back to Versailles.

But Catherine is suspected of poisoning the baronesse. She rebuffs a pushy courtier who tries to use blackmail to make her his mistress, and her reputation hangs by a thread.

The chevalier wants more than anything to protect this woman whose prickly exterior hides sweetness and passion. They need his family to help him through court intrigues—almost as much as they need each other.



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EXCERPT

“Mademoiselle?”

She shook her head slightly.

He walked to her, but she turned her face from him. “Catherine?” he said, his voice softer. His heart clenched. “Are you ill?”

She shook her head and lifted her handkerchief to her face with a trembling hand.

He knelt beside her and took her free hand. She froze. He pressed her hand between his, wanting to kiss it, but not sure she would allow it. “Was it d’Oronte?”

She sniffed. “Yes. No.”

“What did he do?” Manu released her hand. “I will call him out.”

“No!” She finally looked at him, her eyes red-rimmed and her face pale but her usual glare in place.

She sniffed and looked down at her hands.

“What can I do?”

“Nothing.”

Frustrated, he stood and threw his hands up. “I will kill him.”

“You will not.”

“What did he do?”

“You are not my father. Or my brother. Or even my cousin.”

“I’m not your husband or lover, either, but I won’t let that idiot do anything to you.”

She stared at him for several tense seconds, her surprise overwhelming her other emotions. Her expression crumpled, and she covered her eyes with her handkerchief.

He went back down on one knee and took her hand again.






Links in the US

The Wild Rose Press
Amazon
Kobo
Barnes & Noble

Outside the US:

Amazon CA
Amazon UK
Amazon FR
Amazon DE
Amazon AU


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AUTHOR Bio and Links:


Philippa Lodge has a hundred stories in her head and a social media addiction. She writes historical romance set in Louis XIV’s France (sometimes with the king himself!); New Adult romantic women’s fiction-type stories set in small-town, small-college, modern America; and contemporary romance with nerdy beta heroes and cranky heroines whose pasts can be healed with the love of a good man. She lives with one husband, two cats, and three kids in the inland valley of California.

Facebook
Twitter
Website
Blog
Goodreads




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a Rafflecopter giveaway

The tour dates can be found here

In the Line of Duty by Carolyn Arnold (excerpt, review and GIVEAWAY) GFT

In the Line of Duty

by Carolyn Arnold

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GENRE: Mystery

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BLURB:

Her fellow officer has made the ultimate sacrifice, and Detective Madison Knight may have to lay it all on the line to bring his killer to justice. But with leads pointing in several directions, she has to narrow them down—and quickly—if she’s going to solve the case before anyone else gets hurt, including herself.

***

He devoted his life to seeking justice. But would she get any for him?

It was an ordinary day for police officer Barry Weir. It was the end of shift, he was tired, and he just wanted to get home to his wife and kids. But someone had other plans for him—shooting him down and forcing him to make the ultimate sacrifice.

When news of Weir’s murder reaches the precinct, it leaves Detective Madison Knight and every cop in the Stiles PD itching for revenge. It cuts Madison’s boyfriend, colleague, and Weir’s childhood friend, Troy Matthews, deepest of all, driving him away from everyone he loves, just when they need one another the most.

With evidence pointing to a gang-related drive-by, Madison and her team investigate the town’s seedy underbelly in search of justice for their fallen brother. But the deeper they dig, the more convoluted the case becomes. Now they need to figure out if this was a random shooting as part of a gang initiation, a straight-up hate crime, or a targeted kill. But with the Stiles PD under attack, they have to do it fast…before more people pay with their lives.

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EXCERPT from Chapter 3:

In the hallway, Troy leaned against a wall and waited as the ringtone drilled into his ear.

Answer the damn phone…

“You’ve reached the voice mail for Chief Fletcher…”

He hung up and redialed. She should be back from her vacation by now. What time had she said her flight was getting in?

Someone picked up on the other end of the line. “Chief Fletcher here.” She sounded groggy, as if he’d woken her up.

“Where are you?” he rushed out.

“Hotel near the airport. We just got in. What’s going on?”

“Something has happened.” The words came out soft-spoken and dry.

“That doesn’t sound good.” He could imagine his sister sitting up in bed and turning on the light on her night table.

“It’s Barry…” His throat constricted. This would be his first time verbalizing what had happened.

His sister’s voice was gentle and caring. “What about Barry?”

“He’s dead.” He delivered the news directly, unable to water it down no matter how much it hurt.

“What? How?” she asked, her tone switching quickly to one of shock.

“He was shot this morning while on duty.” He got through telling her the basics, the facts draining so much from him.

“Wake up, Robert,” his sister said distantly. He heard his brother-in-law moan in the background.

“We’re leaving now. I’ll be in as soon as possible. Has there been a briefing yet?”

“In ten minutes.”

“Has the shooter been caught?”

At his sister’s question, his insides pulsed with adrenaline and determination. No matter what it took from him, he would find Barry’s killer.

“Troy? Has the shooter been caught?” she repeated, a subtle beep in the background of the line.

“Not yet.”

Another beep. “Someone’s calling. I better let you go.” Her voice was withdrawn, and Troy imagined her pulling her phone out to consult the caller ID. “It’s Winston. See you soon.” His sister hung up before he could say anything else. He put his phone away, the ache in his chest now almost unbearable.

Buy links

Amazon  

Barnes & Noble

Apple iBooks

Kobo

Google Play

Website with buy links

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

CAROLYN ARNOLD is an international best-selling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has four continuing fiction series—Detective Madison Knight, Brandon Fisher FBI, McKinley Mysteries, and Matthew Connor Adventures—and has written nearly thirty books. Her genre diversity offers her readers everything from cozy to hard-boiled mysteries, and thrillers to action adventures.

Both her female detective and FBI profiler series have been praised by those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining, leading her to adopt the trademark: POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT™.

Carolyn was born in a small town and enjoys spending time outdoors, but she also loves the lights of a big city. Grounded by her roots and lifted by her dreams, her overactive imagination insists that she tell her stories. Her intention is to touch the hearts of millions with her books, to entertain, inspire, and empower.

She currently lives just west of Toronto with her husband and beagle and is a member of Crime Writers of Canada.

Connect with CAROLYN ARNOLD Online:

Website

Twitter

Facebook

And don’t forget to sign up for her newsletter for up-to-date information on release and special offers.

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GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

The tour dates can be found here

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My review:

4 stars

In the Line of Duty by Carolyn Arnold is part of the ‘Detective Madison Knight’ series.

Searching for the reasons why fellow officer Barry Weir was gunned down, the entire force is reeling but Officer Troy Matthews’ rejection of his lover, Detective Madison Knight, adds another layer to the pain and disbelief they both share. Investigating the heinous crimes leads Madison to examine her personal life and to reassess what is important, but will her revelations be too late?

This is a sobering and intriguing look at an investigation that is all too pertinent to officers who risk their lives every day. This was an up-close and authentic-feeling look at the process of dealing with the fatality of a fellow officer and the impact that reverberates through the entire team. The exhaustion and negative emotions that must be dealt with are vividly portrayed, as is the painstaking effort that goes into an investigation. At times it seemed that events were proceeding very ponderously but ultimately the exciting climax provided both revelations and a satisfying conclusion. I think this story will be appreciated by those who would like an in-depth look at the workings of a police force as well as those who enjoy an urban mystery.

A copy of this title was provided to me for review

The General's Wife by Sara R. Turnquist (VBT, guest post, excerpt, and GIVEAWAY) GFT

I have the pleasure of sharing a guest post by author Sara R. Turnquist, who shares...

RESEARCH FOR WRITERS: THE JOYS AND THE FRUSTRATIONS

by Sara R. Turnquist

I am currently working on the sequel to my debut novel, The Lady Bornekova. In fact, I am away on a long weekend to get some serious work done on the manuscript. A place where I am free from my normal distractions of life. And I am LOVING it. But this book is requiring a LOT of research. I may be the odd ball, or maybe I'm like every other Historical Fiction writer, I have a love-hate relationship with research. Here's why:

LOVE IT:

The Learning. You learn so many cool things when you research. Plot lines, story lines, and interesting characters come to light when you do your research. Believe me, truth is stranger than fiction sometimes (and can be far more interesting). ESPECIALLY when these interesting tidbits are woven into fiction. Then you've got the potential for something amazing!

The Depth of Knowledge. One of the things that most Historical Fiction writers who really know how to research well (I do not count myself among them - I'm still new at this, I'm just sharing my knowledge), will encourage you to look for books on your subject. (As opposed to simply research for that one tidbit of information that you need.) Why? Because you don't know what you don't know. What do I mean by that? Well, there are those interesting twists, plots, and characters that you may not know about that happened/existed during that time period that would be pure gold in your story that you wouldn't think to look up. And you'll never know about them unless you read up about that time period or subject.

The Bunny Trails. Piggybacking on my previous point, bunny trails can lead you to a gold mine of information if you are prudent with your time and focus. Otherwise, they can be a time drain.

HATE IT:

The Time Drain. Right now I would just love to sit down and crank out this book, but that's not possible. There is a lot of research between me and the end of this manuscript: research I did beforehand and research I’m doing as I'm writing. This is not a negative thing. Research sparks your storyline, but as you write, it can spark a direction to your research as well. But, no matter how you slice it, research takes time and effort. And it's time and effort I would rather put into writing most of the time.

The Bunny Trails. I know what you're thinking. "Hey, that's not right! You put this in both categories!" That's because it belongs in both categories. Remember how I said bunny trails could be a time drain? They can be. And they can lead you nowhere. That's the down side.

Sometimes...and I'm just going to say it...it can be boring. Can't believe I said it, can you? Don't get me wrong. I LOVE history. And I love learning new things. But I am not one for learning more about the nuances of battles and war. Well, this sequel takes place during the first part of the Hussite WARS. So, guess what I'm doing a ton of research on? You got it - battles, war, and the like. Not the most interesting thing I've ever researched. But there are gems to be found. The fact that this misfit army made up of farmers and working class laborers overcame such odds against well-trained armies. Amazing. And it really happened.

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The General's Wife

by Sara R. Turnquist

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GENRE: Historical Romance

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BLURB:

“Go home!” Ismene is speechless as she reads those words written in blood on the walls of her new home. The young, raven-haired Grecian beauty had traveled all the way from her homeland to marry the Pharaoh’s top general. But she never expected this. The hatred of the Alexandrian mob for their Greek rulers is right in front of her. It is the first of many threats she will receive.

Things are escalating out of control. Damaged crops and horses turned loose at night are one thing. But when Ismene receives a death threat, it becomes clear that there is a spy within her own household. She would turn to her husband to deal with this issue, except he left for battle by order of the Pharaoh. Not knowing whom to trust, she fears for her safety as well as the entire ruling class of Egypt.

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EXCERPT

Once they were alone, he gathered Ismene into his arms. “Love, are you truly all right?”

“I am.” She sighed, closing her eyes and just breathing in the scent of him. “Now.”

He kissed the top of her head and rubbed her back. When he closed his eyes he could still see the scene that he had come upon when he had found her on the balcony, and his blood ran hot. He forced his mind back to the present.

“I have a surprise for you.”

“Truly?”

“I thought I might read to you.”

“Oh?” She pulled back to look into his face. “That is a pleasant surprise. I think, sir, that you have found my weakness.”

“I think you know mine too, milady.” He said, drawing her in for an intimate kiss.


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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Sara is originally from middle TN. After a short stint in Memphis, where she earned a degree in Biology and began a career as both a Zoo Educator and a Sleep Technician, she then followed a dream to work for a large zoo in Orlando, FL as an Educator. Once she and her husband started their family, they moved back to Tennessee. Sara and her husband now enjoy a full life with their three beautiful and very active children. Sara enjoys many creative outlets – singing, piano, drawing, drama, and organizing anything. And even though she has enjoyed her career as a Zoo Educator, Sara's great love of the written word continued to draw her to write. She has always been an avid reader and, for many years, has been what she terms a “closet writer”. Her travels and love of history have served to inspire her to write Historical Fiction. Sara has made several trips overseas to the Czech Republic. Her time among the Czech people and the landscapes of the country inspired her and greatly influenced her work on her debut novel, The Lady Bornekova, set in Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic. Sara is also a member of the ACFW.


How to reach me:


Website/URL
Twitter: @sarat1701
Facebook: Sara R. Turnquist, Author -
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