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. Excerpt: Black Raven was her grandfather’s go-to security company, and he’d already made the hiring call by the time he first told her his idea. With steadfast insistence, and continued reference to the horrors of terrorist acts that the ITT was examining, he’d worn her down in repeated phone calls. She’d given her grandfather one stipulation; she’d agree to Black Raven protection, but she did not want Jesus Hernandez to have anything to do with her on-site security detail. She didn’t want to see him or hear from him, and she damn well expected her grandfather to make this happen without it becoming an issue. Jesus Hernandez. Zeus to anyone who knew him. Once, years earlier, she’d known him well. Or so she’d thought. Turned out she hadn’t known him at all. She focused her gaze on the intricately cut crystal water pitcher that the waiter placed on the table. In the last twenty-four hours, she’d been too busy with work to worry about whether her grandfather had truly understood the gravity with which she’d made the stipulation. She hadn’t intended the demand as a request. She hadn’t intended it as something her grandfather could consider and reject. Now, with the hard knock marking the arrival of the private security company and the literal changing of the guard for the amicus team, her stomach twisted into a hard, nervous ball. Samuel knew the reasons why she didn’t want Zeus there. At least he knew some of the reasons why. Surely her grandfather had damn well listened to her? Knock. Knock. The email notification finally flashed that the message and the attachments were ‘sent.’ The cc copy that she’d sent to herself appeared in her inbox, with an accompanying ding, just as Lorenzo put a vase of fresh flowers on the worktable that he’d transformed into a dining table. “Done,” she said, shutting down her laptop and standing. “Thank you for all your hard work today.” As Lorenzo stepped away from the table, she said, “Lorenzo, the table is beautiful. Merci beaucoup.” Knock. Knock. Knock. She walked across the room as Charles signed for the room service. She opened the door. Zeus, arm lifted and fingers curled together as he prepared to rap on the door again, towered over her five seven by a good ten inches. Dropping his arm to his side, he gave her a cool nod, his brusque manner suggesting a nod was all that was needed to bridge the gap between his decision to leave her and the intervening seven years. “Hello, Sam.”
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Stella Barcelona has always had an active imagination, a tendency to daydream, and a passion for reading romance, mysteries, and thrillers. She has found an outlet for all of these aspects of herself by writing romantic thrillers. 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. www.stellabarcelona.com https://www.facebook.com/stellabarcelona
GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE
Stella will be awarding a $50 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2016/06/blurb-blitz-jigsaw-by-stella-barcelona.html
Marlow
7/15/2016 11:11:58 am
My pleasure
Mary Preston
7/15/2016 03:31:54 am
This sounds very exciting. LOVE the cover. 7/15/2016 06:27:05 am
Mary - Thank you! I have to admit I love the cover as well - the cover designer did a great job with it. 7/15/2016 06:28:42 am
Thank you for hosting Jigsaw. I'll check in this evening and see if anyone posted questions. Have a nice Friday, everyone.
Lisa Brown
7/15/2016 08:00:42 am
Congrats on the tour and I enjoyed the excerpt :)
Stella Barcelona
7/15/2016 07:09:35 pm
Lisa- thank you! Glad you enjoyed the Jigsaw excerpt!
Peggy
7/15/2016 08:56:41 am
Who are some of your favorite authors; what strikes you about their work?
Stella Barcelona
7/15/2016 07:13:30 pm
Peggy, I have too many favorite authors to name. I do love several romantic suspense authors --- Cherry Adair, Heather Graham, Jayne Ann Krantz, and Linda Howard, just to name a few. I find these authors have a way to keep the pacing fast, while building great relationships. I also love Stephen King, Dean Koontz, and Lee Child --- these aren't romantic suspense authors, but I love the thriller, suspense and mystery elements in their books.
Victoria
7/15/2016 11:03:08 am
I can't wait to read this one, thanks for sharing!
stella Barcelona
7/15/2016 07:14:30 pm
Victoria - thank you! I hope you do read Jigsaw and that you enjoy it.
James Robert
7/15/2016 12:57:44 pm
I missed a day but catching up and thanking you once again for the chance at winning.
stella Barcelona
7/15/2016 07:15:23 pm
James - you're welcome. Good luck!
Becky RIchardson
7/15/2016 01:53:11 pm
When did you decide to become a writer?
Stella Barcelona
7/15/2016 07:16:59 pm
I always wanted to be a writer, but I took a couple of detours before I made the dream come true. I became a teacher first, then a lawyer. Finally ---- I'm now an author. It was worth the wait!
Trix
7/15/2016 02:01:18 pm
Looks very intriguing!
stella Barcelona
7/15/2016 07:17:31 pm
Trix- Thank you!
clojo9372
7/15/2016 05:24:47 pm
Really enjoyed reading the excerpt. Thank you for sharing that. Have a great weekend! :)
stella Barcelona
7/15/2016 07:18:25 pm
Thank you! You have a nice weekend as well! 7/16/2016 06:27:20 am
The cover looks awesome and this is my favorite genre to read. Looks like a good one!
James Robert
7/16/2016 08:22:18 am
Have an awesome weekend and thanks for the opportunity to win your great giveaway
James Robert
7/17/2016 09:37:33 am
Thank you for the opportunity to win and have a blessed Sunday
Nikolina
7/18/2016 01:07:23 am
Happy to be a part of this tour, thank you for sharing!
James Robert
7/18/2016 03:42:24 am
Good morning and thank you once again for the chance to win
Cynthia Powers
7/25/2016 06:04:39 am
Sounds exciting! Just right to perk me up with this awful heat wave... Comments are closed.
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