DEA Agent Maggie Holt knows about Hell...
After eighteen months undercover in a Mexican cartel, Maggie is broken. The kickass agent she once was, is gone, leaving her riddled with guilt and nightmares. Forced to take paid leave, Maggie accepts the offer of a vacation on the ranch of the man who’d rescued her from an almost certain death.
Frank Stein knows the signs of PTSD, he’d suffered the symptoms himself as Chief Petty Officer of SEAL Team Five. Honorably retired from duty, Frank has found peace at the family ranch and hopes it will do the same for Magdalena. Ever since he’d first met her when she was interrogating his buddy, Jared, Frank has been fascinated by the raven-haired beauty and wants the chance to see where their relationship could go.
Adam O’Connor is Maggie’s partner. He knows her. He loved her once and could again, if she’d let him in. But he’s also angry she took the chances she did by going undercover against orders. And now, things are different. She’s different.
When a right-wing militia group infiltrates the area, will DEA Agent Maggie Holt, her partner, Adam O’Connor, and ex-SEAL Chief Frank Stein be able to set aside their differences to stop them before someone dies? And who will Maggie choose, the handsome cowboy, or her charismatic DEA partner?
Desperate to break what felt like an awkward silence, she gestured toward the sparkling constellations over their heads. “Do you study the stars, Mr. Stein? You have quite the view out here.” Maybe not as reach-out-and-touch them as she’d felt on that mesa in Mexico, but a hell of a lot safer. The melancholy that was never very far away filled her chest, a black cloud covering the silvery moon. Her best friend was buried on that hill, a victim of the monster who’d ruined the lives of countless women.
“Not really. My brother and I got into it some as kids but then he… disappeared and I kind of lost heart.” Frank’s voice flowed over her like a warm breeze, dispersing the darkness of her thoughts.
“I’m sorry,” she murmured. “I think I remember reading something about that in your file—the part that wasn’t confidential anyway.” She smiled.
He nodded. “It happened a long time ago. We’ve accepted it, though that’s not to say we’ve stopped looking. Hope lives on, you know?”
Yeah, she did.
The only thing that kept her alive through those hellish months with Chenglei and his band of assholes was hope.
Well, that and a craving for revenge.
“I imagine you’ve exhausted official channels. Have you looked into private investigators?”
He shifted, stretching long jean-clad legs and crossing his ankles, revealing scuffed cowboy boots. The old chair creaked, protesting his movements.
“We tried every avenue there was, but it did no good. He’d vanished.” Frank’s voice was matter-of-fact, but his tone revealed how much the loss of his brother still affected him.
The sad truth was there were thousands just like Cameron Stein—young men and women dissatisfied with their lives who think the grass will be greener on the other side and instead learn, more often than not and sometimes with fatal consequences, that running away is not the answer.
There probably wasn’t a lot she could do, but Maggie wanted to help this family to at least find some closure. Maybe she could pull a few strings within the agency and see what popped. Off the record, of course.
She glanced through the window into the soft vignette-like lighting of the kitchen. Frank’s mom had risen to clear the table, her hands grasping the platter of decimated turkey as she laughed at something the ranch foreman had said, affection apparent on both their faces. Emily leaned down to give him a kiss and he took advantage of the moment to pull her onto his lap. Maggie looked away, her heart pinching.
That kind of relationship was as far away as the moon for her. Even before her captivity, Maggie’s main focus had been career-orientated. Adam blamed himself for their break-up, but truthfully, she just wasn’t a good bet.
“I’m not promising anything, but I can check a couple of things when I get back to work. Sometimes, time can uncover secrets from the past.”
 | What readers are saying: Great book! This is a suspense/romance that will keep you on your toes as well as touch your heart! Barb Jacquie Biggar has a wonderful gift for writing hot and extremely likable military men! by Jacqui Nelson A woman and child in danger teaches Nick life is worth living. ALL SHE WANTS IS TO LIVE HER LIFE Abused, Sara Sheridan finds the courage to escape her husband. She has no interest in getting mixed up with another alpha, attitude-laden male. Especially with her ex hot on her trail. ALL HE CRAVES IS PEACE AND QUIET Marine, Nick Kelley prefers solitude, away from the memories haunting him. So what is it about his reticent neighbor and her child that tempts him to give it up? UNTIL LOVE GETS IN THE WAY Nick and Sara’s growing attraction leads them down a dangerous path as her ex-husband closes in on the new life she’s made for her daughter and threatens to blow it all apart. |
 | Is it too late for second chances? If you like Military Romance, Wounded Warrior Romance, Contemporary Romance, or Romantic Suspense, this is a sure to be a story you will love from USA Today Bestselling Author Jacquie Biggar. Jared Martin left Tidal Falls a hotheaded youth. Eight years in the military has turned him into a cynical, disillusioned man. Then he returns home to find out he's a father. When an old enemy follows and causes mayhem in the small town, can Jared overcome the odds to protect the woman he's always loved and the child he never knew? Or is it be too late for them to have a second chance? |
 | What readers are saying: Coming home has never been sweeter! Jacqui Nelson What a captivating story. Twilight's Encore is the third book of Wounded Hearts series. This is Ty's and Katy's story, i have to say what a beautiful story!!! Nicole- Reading Alley One man's betrayal will seal another's fate. Ty Garrett fell in love with Katy Fowler as a young adult. Her father’s betrayal yanks the couple apart, and Ty turns bitter. After a decade away, Katy returns to Tidal Falls with plans to get married in her family's theatre. But she never expected to run into Ty Garrett, the boy she'd never forgotten. When a series of sabotages wreak havoc on the theatre and danger threatens Katy's life, can Ty save her and win back her love, or is it too late for these star-crossed lovers? If you like Military Romance, Wounded Warrior Romance, Contemporary Romance, or Romantic Suspense, this is a sure to be a story you will love from USA Today Bestselling Author Jacquie Biggar. |
 | When a jaded sheriff is drawn to an exasperating woman in trouble, anything can happen Jack Garrett has been stung by love in the past, but he can't deny his attraction to the new receptionist, Laurel Thomas. When trouble comes to Tidal Falls, Jack worries that Laurel Thomas is in over her head. Laurel loves her dysfunctional family, but dreams of a place to call home. Just as she settles into a new life, her old one catches up to her and delivers chaos to the town. Can these two strong personalities find a way to trust in each other enough to give love a second chance? *Warning: This book contains romance, Christmas decorations, thieves, kisses, a cute kitten, and a happily ever after. Read at your own risk! |
 | Mitch Taylor and Rebecca Sorenson share a secret. Rebecca’s job as secretary of Cascade Elementary, the same school she attended as a child, is rewarding. She has a great group of friends, many of whom are married now. And if sometimes she wished it were her up there in that sparkling white dress… Except, wait—she did get to wear bridal white. Granted, it was a slinky party dress and the justice of the peace was Elvis in a gold lame jacket, but still, the deed was done. She’d tied the knot. Mitch Taylor doesn’t do regrets. It would be a waste of energy bemoaning the mistakes he’d made in his life. The end of his promising football career taught him nothing in life was a guarantee. Like love. What were the chances two people from the same po-dunk town in Washington would end up together in a nightclub in Las Vegas? A few too many drinks later, a hasty ceremony performed by the king of rock ‘n’ roll, and they’d been hitched. The night that followed lived on in his dreams, but when he’d woken the next morning she was gone. Can these two mismatched lovers find a way past their mistakes, or will they keep their lonely hearts forever guarded? |
 | DEA Special Agent Maggie Holt is fierce, smart, beautiful-- and in over her head. Maggie has been working undercover 15 months when she is taken by Chinese-Mexican cartel leader, Chenglei. She tries to escape with 8 other women and is captured and brutally punished. Adam O'Connor is angry and frustrated. It's his fault his partner, and one-time lover, is missing and no matter how many leads he chases, they don't bring Maggie home. An unexpected break in the case sends Adam south to Texas. His old SEAL Team Chief, Frank Stein, offers his home and his help in the search effort. Will these two strong men find Maggie? And will their decades old friendship be destroyed by their love for the same woman? Read the exciting continuation of the Wounded Hearts Saga today! Related subjects include: mysteries, women sleuths, murder mystery series, whodunit mysteries (whodunnit), amateur sleuth books, book club recommendations, police procedural, crime fiction. |
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Thank you for the wonderful post highlighting my new release and the Wounded Hearts series!
ReplyDeleteThe entire series sounds great! I apppreciated the excerpt of The Seal's Temptation!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Glenda! I hope you give the books a try :)
Deletesounds so good.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sunshine (I love your name!)
DeleteI liked it!
ReplyDeleteNice post thankks for sharing
ReplyDelete