To prove her father’s innocent of treason, she’ll have to face a killer--and risk everything ...
When journalist Jessie Kegan’s father is accused of espionage and treason, Jessie has no doubt the man she looked up to her entire life is innocent. Worse yet, before Colonel Kegan can stand trial, he’s found dead of a heart attack…but Jessie knows it was murder. Forcing down her grief, she’s determined to use her investigative skills and resources to clear her father’s name. But going after the truth means Jessie soon finds herself in the crosshairs of a killer who wants that truth to stay buried with her father.
Protecting Jessie Kegan is a job bodyguard Brandon Garrett can’t refuse. Jessie isn’t just a client at Maximum Security—she’s the sister of his best friend, Danny, killed in Afghanistan. With dangerous forces gunning for Jessie from every angle, keeping her safe will mean keeping her close and Bran finds their mutual attraction growing, though being Danny’s sister puts Jessie out of bounds.
With their backs against the wall, Jessie and Bran will have to risk everything to expose her father’s killer—before his legacy dies with his daughter.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt:
Bran leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on her face. “So...no husband. No serious boyfriend, either?”
“No. Listen, if you’re finished with the third degree, I’m going to bed. It’s been a rough day.”
His gaze sharpened. “Sorry,” he said, not looking sorry at all and even more curious than before--unfortunately. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
“What time?” she managed to ask calmly.
“We leave at six.”
“I’ll be ready. Good night, Bran. And thanks again. I really appreciate your help.”
Bran casually nodded, but his beautiful blue eyes never strayed as she turned and walked away. She shouldn’t have let his questions get to her. It was a dead giveaway to a guy as smart as Brandon that there was more to the story than she was willing to tell.
Far more.
She thought of the man whose brutality had changed her life. Jordan Duran, Jordy, the man who was currently serving a ten-year prison sentence. She didn’t like to think about him. She refused to let him control any more of her life than he already had. As she had learned to do, she pushed his image from her mind and just thanked God she was still alive.
Yawning, she packed up the computer so she would be ready to travel in the morning and headed to bed. After the drama of the day--being followed from the airport, shot at, meeting Brandon Garrett and his friends, and escaping a possible tail, she should have been exhausted, and she was. Still, she couldn’t seem to fall asleep.
Every time she started to drift away, she saw Bran’s perceptive blue eyes and wondered what he thought of her. Wondered if he found her attractive. It had been months since she had been interested in a man. After Jordy, none of her attempts at a normal relationship had worked out and eventually she had just given up.
But Bran intrigued her. Both his physical beauty and his mind. She also knew that getting involved with Bran on a personal level was a terrible idea. He was exactly the heartbreaker Danny had warned her about. He was also ex-military, an adrenaline junkie who loved to be in the middle of the action. Guys like that never changed. Just as before, her judgment sucked.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
New York Times bestselling author Kat Martin is a graduate of the University of California at Santa Barbara where she majored in Anthropology and also studied History. Currently residing in Missoula, Montana with her Western-author husband, L. J. Martin, Kat has written sixty-five Historical and Contemporary Romantic Suspense novels. More than sixteen million copies of her books are in print and she has been published in twenty foreign countries. Kat is currently at work on her next Romantic Suspense.
Leah and Sasha are 17-year-old friends who had been close to one another since elementary school, but as the summer approaches they find their friendship tested in ways they never anticipated.
Following graduation, Sasha’s privileged life and perception of the world around her is suddenly altered when an old childhood friend persuades her to join in a campaign against an injustice after his best friend is killed by a cop.
But joining the protest has unforeseen consequences for Sasha, distancing her from Leah, who becomes jealous of Sasha’s new friends and finds herself on the opposing side, protesting alongside her group of new white friends.
As the tension mounts between the two bitterly opposed factions, a tragedy strikes and threatens to make Sasha and Leah enemies. Can they find a way to resolve their differences, putting them to the side and learn to accept each other’s viewpoints? Or is their long friendship finished for good?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt:
Going home wasn’t an option, and Ricardo had been making this so easy for me. I missed his friendship so much. We laughed and talked about things I liked to talk about, and so much more. Yes, we flirted, but we didn’t overstep any boundaries. Leo and I were no more, so technically I wasn’t cheating on anyone.
“I apologize for running out of the meeting the other day, but it was too much information for me to process. I went on a scavenger hunt on the Internet to find out more of what happened to Mitchell.”
“This really has your attention.”
“Yeah, at Chester the kids are different. Either the kids have cars or we aren’t allowed to walk home for safety reasons. But literally almost everyone has their own car.”
“Why did you stop coming over to play when we were kids?”
I hesitated; when me and Leah became friends, I made her my focus.
“I guess things changed for me, but I do miss our friendship. We grew apart because of the different schools we attended.”
I missed out on so much throughout the years. I threw our friendship away, but fate brought us together again.
“I should be headed home because it’s almost time for dinner, so I’ll see you later.”
“Why don’t you take my number, just in case you want to call me some time,” he said.
“Sure.”
I walked home, dragging my legs from Ricardo’s house. I couldn’t get my mind off of him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Kimberley is a professional early childhood educator. She was born in the small town of Saint George, South Carolina, on September 12, 1982. Graduated from Woodland High School in 2000, Benedict College in 2004 with B.S., Child & Family Development, and from Ashford University in 2013 with a Masters in Early Childhood Education.
After receiving her education and being a military spouse, she held several jobs as a preschool teacher and a preschool director, but she wanted to her education to use by writing children’s books. She wrote her first book in college for her children’s literature course. She has self-published several children books on Amazon.
Currently, she is branching off into writing fiction YA, NA, and A novels on issues in society. She loves writing and would not change it for nothing in this world She is now published by Rhetoric Askew. Kimberley is the author of Our Friendship Matters.
Cybercrime doesn’t talk. It creeps in and destroys lives right under Gillian’s nose when a cryptojacking scheme lands her boss, Pinkie, in jail. Gillian had just started over with a new career, boyfriend, and confidence after escaping a vicious murder investigation that shattered her ability to trust. Then Pinkie’s arrest leaves her struggling to run his two bars while also unraveling the conspiracy.
Gillian will not let her mentor and friend go down for something he didn’t do. Neither will Jon, the most talented musician on the bar’s stage and the perfect boyfriend...until his good fortune sends her reeling. Gillian forces herself to trust the cops, people who hurt her, and known criminals. Will it be enough to free Pinkie and save her life?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt:
Chapter 21 excerpt
Six months ago, I slipped away from Boston for a few days for job interviews in Dallas. My ex never knew. The trip was only a month away from my finals and also the last time he could threaten me, in person at least.
I’ve come so far since then. Taking the bartending job was a blessing and a curse. It’s how I met Jon but also where I saw Bobby die. It led me to Pinkie and my new career but almost got me killed. It’s been difficult, especially when things got so dark. I never meant to get in so deep, trying to find Bobby’s murderer.
Karma’s been on my side the whole way.
Chapter 21 excerpt
“Gillian, please listen carefully. He said this guy’s in some bad stuff. Way worse than Kyle or Bobby or even the guy who snatched you from the parking garage before they nailed Kyle for Bobby’s murder. He says this guy will do anything to get what he wants.”
I gulp down what feels like a grapefruit. It’s déjà vu from before with the heat cranked up from hot to scorching. Didn’t I learn last time?
My Thoughts: My first book from this author and I think this series will be a winner!I immediately adored Gillian and love her character! The storyline was engaging and something that peaked my interest and I felt the author did a great job with it as it was a fast paced moving read which I enjoy very much!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Addison Brae lives in Dallas, Texas on the edge of downtown. As a child, she was constantly in trouble for hiding under the bed to read when she was supposed to be napping. She has been writing since childhood starting with diaries, letters and short stories. She continues today with articles, video scripts and other content as an independent marketing consultant.
When she’s not writing, Addison spends her time traveling the world, collecting interesting cocktail recipes and hosting parties. She’s still addicted to reading and enjoys jogging in her neighborhood park, sipping red wine, binge-watching TV series, vintage clothing and hanging out with her artistic other half and their neurotic cat Lucy.
Addison writes new adult and adult romantic suspense and young adult contemporary fiction. She is a member of International Thriller Writers, Romance Writers of America, RWA Kiss of Death chapter, Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and Writers’ League of Texas.
Breanna Casey has only ever wanted two things in life: to race and to get the hell out of Arkadia, Texas. Stifled beneath her family's turbo-charged reputation, she's got her thumb firmly on the self-destruct button. A night of hyper-driven racing and rebellion leads to a one night stand with the one guy who knows how to press all her buttons: Noah McKay.
Torn apart by the toll of his high-intensity enlistment in the Marines and guilt-ridden by what he's seen, Noah McKay left the military to find peace. A chance encounter sends him working for the parents of a raven-haired Amazon goddess with a tongue that cuts sharper than any knife. Quiet is the last thing he'll get.
Finally, she gets her chance. Calloway Racing wants her to drive for them. But that's not all they want. A good friend of her father's, Calloway insists she take Noah along for the ride. Suddenly, her dreams are feeling more like a nightmare. Will they be able to help each other, maybe even find love, when living life full tilt boogie?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt:
The tent was suddenly far too small and suffocating. Abruptly the song changed again. Silently I thanked the DJ for offering me a reprieve. To keep from smothering in Vic’s good intentions, I pulled away and sought refuge with what was left of my cake.
Let’s face it, going back to the table was an epic mistake.
With Vic and Cara on the dance floor and Isaac MIA, that left a surly Noah McKay as the only
occupant. And I’d walked straight to him, ready for a fight.
“What’s your deal?” I shot as I tucked my purple skirt beneath my ass and sat down—hard.
He opened his mouth and his tongue slipped out and across his bottom lip, then he took seduction a step further and pulled the shiny, succulent flesh between his teeth.
“Sweet baby Jesus.” I pushed the cake away and let my forehead drop to the table. I couldn’t live like this. I was vastly inexperienced in such things—no matter
how much swagger I put on.
He laughed. “My deal? I don’t know whether to throttle you or kiss you.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Award nominated author of Two Hearts, One Stone and the Arkadia Fast Series, Leslie Scott has been writing stories for as long as she can remember. The happier the ending, the better. Currently, she lives and writes amidst her own happily ever after with her soul mate, son, and domestic zoo.
A medical doctor educated in the United States, passionate and fierce Liz Taimanglo must now fulfill her promise and return to her island home. Liz makes the long flight across the US and the North Pacific Ocean to Guam, uncertain of what her future holds. Heading into the epicenter of her family and prime typhoon season for the Mariana Islands chain, the disquiet of her heart threatens to do more damage than any typhoon might inflict on Guam. Little does Liz know, the man featured in the newspaper would indeed unleash delicious torment rivaling even a Category 5 super typhoon.
Manny Artero is adamant about fighting for his island, his culture, and the rights of Guam’s Chamorro people, after having been fired from his teaching job. That is, until Liz walks up to him with her machete-wielding eyes and her undying respect for the American military. Manny had vowed never to risk his heart again and to become a more vocal activist, but this woman threatens to challenge all his intentions about love and life on Guam. Brushing off the safer choice, he plots a series of surprises to change her mind.
For Liz, becoming a doctor of medicine was supposed to be the right path, but her universe imploded when her training failed to save the life of the most important person in her world. Though a former US Marine, Manny could no longer accept the loss of land, rights, and freedom that Chamorros continue to suffer in their own homeland. Helpless against the strengthening attraction between them, Liz and Manny must face not only their opposing political views, but the storms stirring in their hearts and the very land upon which they stand.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt:
Liz stared at his hand as he held it out. His laughter fueled her desire. He was standing close enough that all she needed to do was take one step toward him. I want to kiss you. The ache between her thighs surged. She’d been fighting it off all day. And now that they were alone. What’s wrong with me?
“Elizabeth.”
He had moved even closer. I haven’t had sex in forever, that’s what’s wrong. He was too close. Her forearms rested on his pecs, and the rhythm of his chest rising and falling glued her against him. His arousal grew on her belly. Lips. Lips were so close she could see . . . Ah. He tasted of burnt sugar. Coconut. Smelled of barbecue. The strength of his hands seared through her T-shirt. Reserved yet wanting. His tongue, giving and taking. Manny’s breath was as erratic as her own. Lord help me. The nipping of his teeth on her lips. His arms flexing tighter around her rib cage and shoulder. Just this once. I want this. I need this. No, no. You can’t. He won’t . . . Naughty and nice struggled within her. The dance of their tongues, the heat of their arousals, the tensing of their muscles. He didn’t seem to mind. The memories resurfaced. Of distaste. Confusion. Rejection. Of him. Stop. The disgust in his eyes, even years past, was so visible. She pushed against Manny’s chest and untangled her tongue from his.
“I’m sorry,” Liz said, standing a foot from him, trying to tame that side of her. “I shouldn’t have kissed you. I was overwhelmed with this place.” She gestured with both hands in midair. “It’s beautiful, and romantic. This isn’t like me.” Liar.
My Thoughts: First off that cover is to die for amazing! AndOh I loved Stormed! The setting was described so beautifully I almost could
just reach out and experience the culture for myself while the romance
was a bit complicated just as I had imagined it would be. I used to
would have shied away from historical type romances but now am lured to
them. I guess my tastes just keep evolving which is a great thing
because I would have hated to of missed out on this gem!
I was given a copy in exchange for an honest review.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Born and raised on Guam, Paula Quinene continues to take pride in her Chamorro heritage. The Chamorros are the native people of Guam and the Mariana Islands. Paula, like many of her fellow islanders, left home to pursue a higher education. A resident of North Carolina since 2000, Paula’s homesickness has resulted in her Guam cookbooks, A Taste of Guam and Remember Guam, and her Guam romance novels, Conquered and Stormed.
Follow Paula’s Guam food and romance novel antics here:
When editor Sugar Calloway and baker Dixie Spicer went into business creating cookbooks, they found a sideline as amateur sleuths. Now a bitter family grudge could leave a fatal aftertaste…
At Sugar & Spice Community Cookbooks, the friends and business partners have secured a tasty new commission: producing a cookbook for the Arbor family. The Arbors have made their fortune in quiches, and Sugar and Spice have been invited to a weekend gathering where all the siblings, along with crusty matriarch Marta, will be in attendance. But it’s soon clear that this trip will come with a hefty slice of drama.
Theo, the only grandson, arrives with his flaky fiancée, Collette, who quickly stirs up trouble . . . and is found dead the next day. As the investigation unfolds, secrets—and recipes—are shared, and Sugar and Spice realize just how messy and murderous the situation may be. As another family member falls ill, can they solve the case without getting egg on their faces . . .and a target on their backs?
* Includes delicious recipes! *
Excerpt
“Quiche me, you fool.”
The demand was followed by hoots of laughter as the sister—Jezzie, I think her name was—leaned into her spouse for a smooch. He hesitated but obliged.
I smiled at the boisterous group who clearly shared some inside joke about quiche and kissing. The warmth of the table and the sibling love melted my heart like butter on a biscuit. Taking a sip of water, I glanced over at Dixie, who sat across from me at the huge oak table.
She rolled her eyes.
“What?” I mouthed.
Dixie shrugged. Jezzie had perhaps a teensy bit too much wine, but still: When did my best friend and business partner get so darn stuffy? Maybe it was the inside-joke part that she found off-putting.
But we did know quiche was the family’s stock-in-trade, so it wasn’t that much of a stretch to figure out the expression had something to do with the Arbor family’s food business. After all, that was why we were here.
About Mary Lee Ashford
Mary Lee Ashford is a lifelong bibliophile, and avid reader, and supporter of public libraries.
In addition to writing the Sugar and Spice series for Kensington Books, she also writes as half of the writing team of Sparkle Abbey, author of the national bestselling Pampered Pets mystery series from Bell Bridge Books.
Prior to publishing Mary Lee won first place in the Daphne du Maurier contest, sponsored by the Kiss of Death chapter of RWA, and was a finalist in Murder in the Grove’s mystery contest, as well as Killer Nashville’s Claymore Dagger contest.
Mary Lee has a passionate interest in creativity and teaches a university-level course in Creative Management to MPA candidates, as well as presenting workshops and blogging about creativity.
She currently resides in the midwest with her husband, Tim, and cat, Zoey. Her delights are reading and enjoying her two sons and daughters-in-law, and six grandchildren.
On the Eighteenth of May by Jordan R. Samuel ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GENRE: Romance ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ BLURB:
On the evening of the eighteenth of May, a young woman named Cass walks alone into a small village with the intent to stay for exactly one year. Cass soon meets two precocious children, a caring and generous business owner, and the Chief of Police from the neighboring town. Family and loss are parts of many of their stories, and while these people, as well as others, attempt to know and help her, the history and troubled memories of what led Cass to this place begin to gradually unfold. As the potential for love and the pathway for healing become clearer, the date of departure approaches. Cass and those around her will be forced to decide how forcefully they are willing to hold on: to the past, to the pain, and to the person.
On the Eighteenth of May is the story of the people and events that are interwoven throughout Cass’s journey and her life. It is a story that examines the true test of strength in the deepest depths of sorrow, as felt by the human heart. It is a story that explores the perceived helplessness of those within the support structure, and the extent to which those we love can hinder or accelerate the healing process. Finally, it is a story that reminds us of the overwhelming power of comforting influences in all of our lives, as our human souls struggle, against all odds, to survive.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt:
She then noticed a clearing ahead, on the right, amongst the never-ending curtains of forestry that lined the road. She passed a particularly massive tree, with huge limbs and large leaves, and then caught sight of a splotch of white. It was a house, sitting alone atop a small hill and gleaming subtly in the muted moonlight. It looked abandoned and quiet, even starkly quiet compared to the vast silence around it. There was a dark bridge that led over the river and merged into a long winding driveway that led to the house. She glanced back up, and she knew…
This house is the most peaceful…in this place.
She took out the single piece of paper and pen from her backpack. Over the span of a few rushed moments she sketched out the little she could see under the growing canopy of darkness. She wanted to draw the house right away, for there was no predicting what awaited her tomorrow or whether she would actually even see this house again. She had not found it to live in it, or even to visit it. She needed only to know that it existed. She would have the drawing as a reminder. A reminder that there was peace, and it was here.
Upon completion of the drawing, which she determined was a fairly accurate depiction, she folded and tucked the paper safely into the right pocket of her shorts while advancing further into the town in whose borders she was now fully immersed. She did so in full darkness, with no visible creature in sight and no available lodging to be seen. She saw a playground ahead and finally allowed herself to accept the weariness that had been gradually creeping into her mind and joints. Her last memories of the day were a slide, the sound of crickets, and a makeshift backpack pillow.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From the Author:
On the Eighteenth of May…How it all got started.
I have never before, in my entire life, tried writing fiction. As
a professional educator, and now a university professor, I have spent a great
deal of my life writing academic pieces. I have published many peer-reviewed
articles and chapters in various journals and books and have very recently
published a handbook on research regarding effective online course design. I
had always hoped to write a novel, but had never quite made or found the time.
In early 2019, I was busy working on two research articles for my
university, which both happened to fall during a very sad time in my life. Not
to go into too much detail, but one of my family members was very ill, and was
lost and hurting and struggling. And I realized at that period just how sad I
was, over the whole situation . . . over my lack of ability to help in some
meaningful way and over my complete uselessness to make things better. And so,
one day I opened my laptop, but instead of working on the research articles
(like I was SUPPOSED to be doing), I started writing a story. A story filled
with sadness. A story filled with love.
I absolutely love
romance novels, the sweet, simple kind that pack a little mystery and have
characters that I want to root for. This was some of the early feedback I got
from the first reviews that were posted when my novel was first published –
that the characters were people that readers could see as their friends or
neighbors, and that, indeed, many were characters they wanted to root for.
With this
being my first novel, several ideas combined at once, from different personal
experiences or interests. First, as stated earlier, I was going through a
particularly sad time in my life when this novel was first conceptualized, so
that was one impetus for some of the particularly sad themes in the novel.
While the story in the novel in no way reflects the actual situation I was
experiencing with my family member, the mood
of the novel certainly does. In addition, I have visited the Blue Ridge
mountain region of North Carolina on many occasions, and have found that there
are few places on earth quite as lovely as the Chimney Rock and Lake Lure
areas, so the setting of the novel, for me, was an easy choice. Many of the
ideas for the most stunning scenes of the novel (yes, for those of you who have
read the novel, I’m talking about Chapters 27 and 30) were inspired by the
beautiful history and stories of the Cherokee Nation. Their legacy and lore is
a key part of the love story that unfolds On the Eighteenth of May.
And,
of course, the novel has a tragic love story as a central theme. I tried to
write the two characters in the relationship with a little detail and a lot to
be imagined. I tried to help the reader in getting to know them better and
better as the story developed, but not giving away too much about how they
might react to a particular situation. And, of course, since the novel tells
the whole story through back and forth point of views (from each of them) we
get to see a lot more of what each one is thinking than the actual love
interest does. Hopefully, it makes for a captivating yet sad love story that will hold your
attention throughout.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Jordan R. Samuel is a former public school teacher and administrator who enjoys her current work as an Assistant Professor of Education. She spends her days with her husband and her three children as she teaches, studies and writes. She immensely enjoys travelling, and penned many parts of this particular story while relaxing in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina.
Wired by the FBI by Glenn Painter ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GENRE: Suspense, Thriller ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ BLURB:
Christian Romano lives his life as a con-artist, burglar, drug dealer, and a ladies' man, using his good looks to con wealthy women out of jewels and money. When he is arrested and jailed in one of the most violent jails in the U.S. (Cook County in Chicago), a steamy affair begins with a nympho female jail guard. When he loses control of the romance, Christian must end the affair by reporting her to Internal Affairs. It turns out that she is already under suspicion for supplying drugs to various gang members inside the jail. He has to decide if he is ""rogue"" enough to help set her up for arrest. Meanwhile, the FBI wants to recruit Christian to gather information against a sadist ex-cop, Scott Mason, who has been arrested for murder. The risk? Christian must wear a wire and testify. The reward? Witness protection for Christian and his girlfriend and a modification of his prison sentence. Will Christian risk his life for a chance at freedom? Will the female sheriff ""get even"" with him? Or will his life end at the hands of the jail's drug lords or a lunatic former cop?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt:
Something’s wrong, my intuition told me, as I stepped out of the stairwell and into the chaotic frenzy of the main hallway running under Division One of the Cook County jail.
Sergeant Ricky Walsh opened the heavy, rusted steel door leading to the death trap—that is A-B stairwell—then turned to me. “Romano, take the stairs down four flights to the bottom, I will meet you there.”
There are four sets of stairs that lead to the main boulevard on the first floor. They are legendary for the infamous men who have been butchered there, the bloodstained walls are a testament to the violence that is the norm in this building. As I begin my descent down the narrow and poorly lit stairwell, the thought hits me: At least half a dozen men have been stabbed in this exact place. The words taunt me as I step slowly down the stairs so that Walsh will have time to beat me to the first floor in the old, decrepit elevator.
When I finally make it down, I breathe a sigh of relief. But it is not Walsh waiting at the huge, steel door I am to exit. Instead of the old mick—who looked and walked like a bulldog with his perfectly groomed hair and mustache—it was one of the lackey guards. They would often hang out on the main floor waiting to proposition some poor woman coming to visit her man. I open the door and step through quickly, not wanting to arouse suspicion. But my heart hangs in my throat.
During my trip down the stairwell, the heavy steel recorder slid down my pant leg, stopping on top of my right foot. The ACE bandage, meant to hold it in place, was also dangling and ready to pop out for everyone to see. Panic set in as my mind processed a million thoughts, but I couldn’t break my stride.
It was common knowledge that this is where inmates often came out stabbing when sent to attack a guard by one of the gang bosses. Looking past the guard, I saw Sergeant Walsh bearing down on us as fast as his stubby legs would carry him.
“Hey Walsh,” I said, “the food poisoning is getting worse, I’m gonna puke all over this guy.”ng around to see what was going on. These guards tolerated zero bull, especially from a smart-ass like me.
I decided that it was quicker and easier to shove the recorder under the waistband of my jail pants and pray it would stay. After splashing water on my face, I poked my head out.
Walsh fell right in line with my cover. “We’re going to the hospital, come with me!” he bellowed.
I exited the closet, pushing the recorder into my torso as we walked past another guard. We traveled down the long hallway. Once we were far enough out of earshot, Walsh found an unoccupied attorney visiting room. As he opened the door, I scurried to the far corner.
“The hallway is clear!” Walsh yelled.
I pulled the recorder from my waistband and looked at it with disdain. Then I wrapped it tight with the ACE bandage. Although the long recording wires had to be reconnected and it only took a few moments, it felt like forever.
Then it hit me: I’m wearing a wire against one of the most violent hitmen Chicago has ever known, and this prick had been a Chicago cop. He probably knows every person who works in this jail. Getting whacked in a place like this costs less than a carton of cigarettes. What the hell have I gotten myself into? But there was no backing out, and I still had to get back to my tier.
Walsh looked at me, his brow furrowed. He quietly asked, “You alright, kid?”
“I better be. I signed a deal with the devil, and it’s time to pay up.”
I drew in a deep breath as we headed to the hospital, so we could sign in and make it look legit.
How did my life get to this point? I wondered as I followed Walsh. Growing up in Chicago, I was exposed to police corruption, murder, drugs, gangsters, and sex, oh yes, lots and lots of sex.
I had no clue of what awaited me, but my unsavory legacy was about to go down in history like crap down a toilet.
My Thoughts: It was a bit hard for me to "get into" at first. It just wasn't one of those stories that grabbed me from the first few words I kind of had to get a feel for what was happening. I did enjoy the fact that it was loosly based on a true story because I love true crime stories which is one of the main reasons I wanted to give this a try but I still feel like I am riding the fence because I can't decide exactly how I truly do feel about the main character. On the one hand I feel like he got/was getting what he deserved but their were times during the story that I felt for him. Either way it was a great reading experience and I feel like most who love crime stories would enjoy it.
I was given a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
***Note from the Author***
Hello Readers!
Welcome to my 15-week book tour which starts on April 14th and concludes on July 30th.
This tour was planned before the onset of this terrible covid-19 virus which has invaded our world.I want to extend my deepest sympathy to everyone, especially those who have lost loved ones.
A donation from me will be going out immediately to the charity I have listed below and I will also be donating 25% of any royalties from the book which is featured on this tour, to the covid-19 Response Fund.This fund gives support to preparedness, containment, response and recovery activities. The 25% of royalties will be donated when I receive the final notification of number of books sold. I am also encouraging all authors to make some sort of donation to help with the recovery efforts.WE ARE ALL IN THIS FIGHT TOGETHER!
We all are wondering what the long-term impact this covid-19 virus will be to our communities and our livelihoods, Every American, as well as the companies that have worked very hard for every author have been affected, but I have faith that we will recover from this terrible pandemic if we all stick together and we all do our part – no matter how small.
I will also be donating, (over and above what Goddess/Fish is offering):
$100 Amazon Gift certificate to one randomly drawn commentator
$100 Amazon gift certificate to one randomly drawn host.
These drawings will be done via Rafflecopter that will be created by Goddess/Fish Promotions at the end of the tour.To all of my fellow-authors – please don’t forget our marketing representatives, book agents, reviewers,commentator’s, hosts,etc..who are probably working from home and trying to help us.
I will be posting all pertinent information on my web site www.gapainter.com
once the tour is over.The Gift Certificates will be mailed immediately after the tour is completed and the 25% will be posted once I receive Royalties resulting in the sale of all electronic and print versions of WIRED By The FBI.
I wish that I could do more, however, with every-one’s support, WE WILL BEAT THIS TERRIBLE SETBACK.
Thank you, god bless all of you and the United States of America.
Glenn Painter
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Glenn Painter is single and lives in Central Florida. He became interested in writing at an early age but did not make it his career until 2014 when he published his first book, Beyond the Sentence.
Glenn has written this story from the notes by the man who actually lived it. However, extensive research was also require in order to make the story factual.
Glenn has also founded a company, ‘Prisoner Civil Right Services.’ He is an advocate for incarcerated individuals who have had their rights violated. He is in constant contact with these individuals, their families and the council. Most of his stories are inspired by ‘factual events’ that have happened to these individuals. This makes his stories both fiction and non-fiction.
Glenn says that writing is very challenging, and you must love the trials and tribulations that come with it. He believes that patience, perseverance and determination are required essentials to see a book through to being published. The journey is just as important as the destination.
The Ultimate Betrayal
