by Cheryl Harper
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** ONLY $.99 on Amazon right now**
(and while you're there, I'd love it if you vote a 'like' on my review if you feel so inclined)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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.
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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
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.
