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.
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.
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.
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.
Win a $50 Amazon or B&N gift card!
Congrats on the tour and thanks for the chance to win :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteThank you for hosting Jigsaw! I'll check in later today to see if anyone posts questions. In the meantime, have a nice Thursday, and good luck in the giveaway.
ReplyDeletegreat excerpt, thanks for Shari g with us!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading the excerpt. Thank you for sharing it with us! :)
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome!
DeleteTheir chemistry is palpable!
ReplyDeletevitajex(at)aol(Dot)com
Thanks - I loved writing Zeus and Samantha! Their relationship that happened seven years before Jigsaw started gave them a troubled dynamic that provided for a stormy relationship throughout the story.
DeleteGreat excerpt, I loved it! Thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteVictoria- You're welcome-I'm happy to hear that you enjoyed the excerpt!
DeleteLove romance!! What inspires you???
ReplyDeleteInspiration for my stories comes from different areas. In Deceived, my first novel, I was inspired by history and my hometown of New Orleans, Louisiana. In Shadows and Jigsaw, I was inspired (in part) by current events. I'm currently writing Concierge, which again returns to New Orleans, and it is inspired, in part, by the street scene here. Thanks for asking the question!
DeleteHow much research do you do?
ReplyDeleteThe amount of research varies with each story and the plot points.
DeleteLoved the excerpt. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sharon.
DeleteI liked the excerpt.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Rita.
DeleteWhat book took you the longest to write?
ReplyDeleteJean - Wow. That's a hard question, because I'm not really sure. As I sit here on this lovely, hot July evening, I will say that Jigsaw, perhaps because it is the most recent, seemed to take a little longer to write than Deceived and Shadows.
DeleteWhat book took you the longest to write?
ReplyDeleteThank you for the excerpt & giveaway.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Beth. Good luck in the giveaway!
DeleteI really loved the excerpt.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I hope that one day you decide to read my books!
DeleteThank you for the excerpt & giveaway.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Jolanda. Good luck in the giveaway!
DeleteAwesome giveaway, thanks so much for the chance to win
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome!
DeleteI loved the excerpt! Question: does your job as a lawyer and a lot of what you do often show up in your work? If so, I love seeing that kind of influence and how authors apply it to their work to give it more credibility for the realism. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Sabrina - Yes-my legal background does influence my stories and my characters. For example, in Jigsaw, the story involves a fictional court proceeding and the heroine is a lawyer. In Deceived, my debut novel, both the heroine and hero are lawyers, though their areas of expertise differ. Thank you for the question - I'm glad to hear you loved the excerpt!
DeleteThe future will be frightening and uncertain? Darn.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds awesome!
ReplyDeleteThis is a must-read!! Thank you for the reveal!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your new book! I can't wait to read more! Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI liked the excertp, thanks for sharing with us.
ReplyDeleteSounds exciting. Thanks for hosting.
ReplyDeleteAn offer he can't refuse? Count me in?
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the tour.
ReplyDeleteJigsaw sounds like an exciting read ♡ Thank you
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a great book. I love romantic books.
ReplyDeleteLoved the excerpt Rosanne rosans4@comcast.net
ReplyDeleteThank you for the excerpt and the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this interesting excerpt!
ReplyDeleteI love romantic thrillers-thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a suspenseful I would so enjoy.
ReplyDeletethank you
I like the cover of your book.
ReplyDeleteThe chemistry between the characters was beautiful. Enjoyed the excerpt!
ReplyDeleteThis is an action packed book - sure to keep me reading!
ReplyDeletethank you
Stopped to share your book and wish you a great week!
ReplyDeleteWhat an intriguing excerpt!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the excerpt - looks good!
ReplyDeleteWhat are your ambitions for your writing career?
ReplyDeleteThe excerpt was great-thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeletei would love to win the 50 amazon
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your weekend and thanks again for hosting. Shared!
ReplyDeleteTo Stella Barcelona: Thank you for all of your great writings, including Jigsaw. I cannot wait to read this, and keep up the good work in the future.
ReplyDeleteLeave a comment or ask the author a question.
ReplyDeleteI like to write in the nude (comment), how bout you (question)?