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.
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:
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
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GIVEAWAY
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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.)
(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.)
