inspirational suspense

Friends, enemies, and second chances

January 28, 2021 By Barbara Leave a Comment

It’s almost Valentine’s and everyone needs a good book to read with their chocolate hearts. So, I’ve put the last book in the Second Chances series on sale for the sweet price of 99¢ thru V Day.

Trial by Fire has something for every Inspirational suspense lover. Hunky FBI men, a handsome, protective boyfriend, a couple of girlfriends who tend to get themselves in trouble, exciting suspense and danger, and an evil enemy who seeks revenge at any cost. All you have to do is supply the chocolate to nibble on while reading.

If you haven’t read the first two books in the series, Running Home and Alias Raven Black, I suggest starting there first.

If you’ve read any of my books, I would truly appreciate it if you would leave a short review at the store where it was purchased. That would be awesomely helpful. Indie authors need word-of-mouth sharing more than most and that is the best way to spread the news to encourage others to try my books.

Willow recommends and gives 4 paws up for the Second Chances series!

I hope you have a lovely Valentine’s Day with or without chocolate, but always with books!

Please leave a comment and let me know what you think, what you’re reading right now, or just to say hello! Thanks for stopping!

Barbara is the author of The Fredrickson Winery Novels, the Double Barrel Mysteries, the Second Chances series, and more. She lives in Minnesota because she can’t afford Hawaii.

Celebrate! TRIAL BY FIRE has been released!

October 28, 2018 By Barbara Leave a Comment

Today’s the day! TRIAL BY FIRE’s official release day!

Run, don’t walk to buy your #kindle copy of book three in the Second Chances series here, TRIAL BY FIRE! (also available in paperback HERE )

Ivy and Brenna have gone through some rough times in the past, but now they both have so much more to lose. With Lionel and Ace seeking to exact revenge on the two of them and anybody they love, they must find a way to keep their families protected while staying one step ahead of their pursuers.

~If you haven’t yet read the first two Second Chances books, RUNNING HOME and ALIAS RAVEN BLACK, you better pick up your copies of those first.

The Second Chances series is inspirational romantic suspense with kick!

Check out the blurbs below:

RUNNING HOME

Ivy’s husband has always been a cheat and a liar, but when he gets caught up in a game of espionage he flees the country with his latest bimbo, and Ivy has finally had enough. She packs up the kids and moves back to her hometown to escape the fallout. Trouble is – her problems don’t stay behind in California, but follow her all the way to Omaha, Nebraska.

The FBI is tracking her every move, hoping she’ll lead them to her fugitive husband, while evil men threaten her family’s safety if she doesn’t give them what they want.

Agent Samson Sinclair is assigned to keep an eye on Ivy. He is her only ally against threats and suspicions that come from every side. But can he keep their relationship professional when he finds himself falling for the woman he’s supposed to be protecting?

Ivy’s attempt to assemble the broken pieces of her life may prove harder than she anticipated. Especially on her own. When the past intrudes on the present Ivy is forced to deal with why she ran from God in the first place and whether faith, once lost, can ever really be found again.

ALIAS RAVEN BLACK

Brenna has lived most of her life just left of the right side of the law. While on vacation at a secluded ski resort, her past finally catches up with her. Her father, who she hasn’t seen since she ran away at sixteen, suddenly wants to reconcile.
Before she can make sense of that overture, the FBI whisk her off to Minneapolis. In exchange for a clean slate, she is recruited to work as a mole in the home of known mobster and suspected drug lord, Anthony Giordano. Under the alias, Raven Black, she becomes nanny to Giordano’s children.
Brenna’s hands are full just learning to mother two spoiled kids, while her main objective, finding information that would put their father away for life, remains elusively out of reach.
Will the secrets she discovers bring absolution from the past she’s tried so hard to leave behind or simply tear her heart in two?

Thanks for stopping! I hope you enjoy TRIAL BY FIRE. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Have you read the other two? What character in this series is your favorite? Are you excited to find out what has happened to Ivy and Brenna since they last met?

~Barbara

Shop while you Read!

November 1, 2015 By Barbara 2 Comments

The FALL BOOK BASH continues! November is already here and if you’re like me, you haven’t even begun to think about Christmas presents. Have I got some stocking stuffers for you!

Books, books, and more books! And what better way to find a great book than by reading a few excerpts. Pull up a chair and jump right in! Don’t forget to check out the last four Fall Book Bash blog post book excerpts as well.

Today, author Tammy A. Doherty is sharing an excerpt from her romantic/suspense novel, SHE’S MINE. This is the first book in Tammy’s new inspirational series, The Mystique of Naultag. Tammy also has an inspirational western series you should check out. (the 1st book is Free) You can find it here.

~~~

SHE’S MINE (Excerpt):

The note was taped to her front door, just as before. Remember where you belong. Jealousy enrages. No mercy will be shown when I take revenge. Fear sent an icy current down Caitlin’s spine, radiating out to her fingertips. She stepped back inside, locking the door.

No one was out there. Not now. Sometime during the night, while she slept unaware, the vicious note had been placed on the heavy wooden door, inside the screen door. Who hated her so much? Marci Coffey? Maybe, but Marci didn’t seem like the type to leave notes. She worked in more devious ways. Besides, Marci had no reason to be jealous.

Janelle, warning her to stay away from Scott? Twelve years of friendship and not one sign of jealousy. Until Saturday. Yet, Janelle hadn’t said she didn’t trust her. Caitlin had assumed the implication.

This note resembled the first one. Thick black marker, bold handwriting. The question of where she belonged.

Adam. “Stay with me Caitlin. We belong together.”

It hadn’t been her imagination playing tricks on Saturday. He was here. Why? She told him she wasn’t interested. Made it quite clear. And though he knew she was moving, she’d never told him to where. Had she?

Tears dripped onto the paper. Get a grip, Caitlin. Call Eric. He’ll know what to do. A police presence should scare off Adam. Just like in Lynn, when her roommate had called the police to complain about Adam sitting out front in his car, all night.

The trembling inside stilled as she looked up Eric’s number. He’d do something to help. She hesitated. What if Marci answered? Maybe Caitlin should call him at the police station since it was official business. Asking for Eric might start a rumor. If Marci found out, she’d have fuel for her anger, even if it was imagined fuel. Talking to someone else and saying she suspected Marci…wouldn’t that get Eric in trouble? Telling a complete stranger about Adam was out of the question. She hadn’t even been able to bring herself to talk with Janelle about the incident.

Caitlin set the cordless phone down on the desk. She couldn’t call anyone. Lord, how could you let this happen? I thought you’re supposed to watch over me and keep me safe?

* * *

Sean stared at the weather report on television. Eighty percent chance of rain today. Twenty percent chance of Caitlin wanting to see me again. Worse if she realized he’d followed her yesterday, even if it was only as far as the emergency room entrance.

Did the doctor prescribe something for her pain? He could call, offer to help change her bandage. What was the worst that could happen?

This was the worst. Caitlin stuck in his thoughts. She wasn’t the first woman he found attractive. Although, since breaking up with Melissa there hadn’t been anyone serious.

Beautiful, flawless Melissa. She wore her wealth with charm and grace, exuding sophistication. And she’d chosen Sean to be at her side. All he had to do was let Melissa mold him into her vision of perfection. She picked out his suits, introduced him to the right people, planned his future. She had painted an exquisite picture in his dreams. But that’s all it had been, a dream. When he had refused to turn the campground into house lots, her anger boiled over.

“Do you know how much that real estate is worth? I deserve that money.” Her face had bloomed red beneath layers of makeup as her voice rose. “After all I’ve done. You were just a dumb hick when we met. Now look at you. Mingling with the crème de la crème. Dining at the poshest restaurants. A position with one of the best firms on Wall Street. I made you who you are today. You owe me.”

Melissa used her father’s money and name to get what she wanted but it wasn’t enough. She needed a husband who could support her opulent way of life. She only saw him as a tool for maintaining her bank account. She was in love with his earning potential. And she was his stepping-stone. He’d been attracted to her family’s money. Her prestige. Her lifestyle. They used one another. The only difference, Melissa did it consciously. Sean had fooled himself into believing he was in love.

Why was he letting a woman monopolize his thoughts and dreams again?

Caitlin was beautiful, but it went beyond that. She didn’t flaunt her father’s wealth and fame. The farm could be sold off as building lots for a great deal of money. Instead, she’d moved into the house, keeping it in the family. She looked comfortable and at ease here in Naultag. Like she belonged.

She had backbone and nerve but got scared of imaginary monsters. She didn’t want anyone’s help, yet managed to get stuck in an unlocked basement. When she interacted with the Bartlett twins she’d let down the bristly facade. Warmth infused her voice, reflected in her eyes.

Who was crazier—a woman who sees imaginary monsters or the man who wanted to vanquish them for her?

~~~

Find Tammy’s books here:

Amazon/Kindle Barnes & Noble (for print book)

Connect with Tammy: Facebook author page Amazon author page

~~~

Thanks for stopping! Have a question for Tammy or just want to say hi? Leave a comment!

Barbara

The Suspense is killing me!

October 24, 2015 By Barbara Leave a Comment

THE FALL BOOK BASH continues! Today I’m sharing an excerpt from my Inspirational suspense novel, ALIAS RAVEN BLACK. It is the 2nd book in the Second Chances Series, but it can be read as a stand-a-lone. There is also a bit of romance for you die-hard romantics, and plenty of suspense to keep you turning pages.

~~Brenna has gone undercover as Raven Black, taking a job as nanny to the children of a widowed mobster. Working for the FBI, she needs to find evidence that will put him away for good, but taking care of children is a lot harder than taking on a new identity, and kids aren’t nearly as easy to manipulate as she’d anticipated. Her role takes on a whole new level of danger when she discovers secrets about their mother that could get her killed. ~~

ALIAS RAVEN BLACK (excerpt)

She sat on the ground and loosened the laces of the skates she’d borrowed for the occasion. They had obviously belonged to Carlotta. Maria had dug them out of a closet along with her own. They were only a half size too big so she pulled on an extra pair of socks and slipped her feet in them. The laces were long and took some time to tie.

“I see you’ve kept your word to the children.”

Giordano’s voice startled her out of her reverie. He stood behind her, his arms crossed and a smug smile on his handsome face. He wore a soft brown leather jacket over a turtleneck sweater with tan cords and hiking boots. He looked like he’d stepped out of the pages of a department store catalogue. He reached down and gave her a hand up as she finished tying the skates.

“Thank you, Mr. Giordano,” she said and tried to balance on the blades.

“Call me Anthony.” He tucked a lock of her hair back inside her knit hat as she faced him. His touch was velvet smooth and she couldn’t help smiling.

“Anthony. It seems a bit strange,” she admitted.

“What? My name or calling me by it?” His teasing tone made him seem more human. He took her arm and helped her out on the ice. “Have you ever skated before?”

She shook her head. “Not on ice. But when I was a kid I did roller skate a couple times at the rink. Not enough to excel at it of course, just enough to learn I should take up skiing instead.”

He laughed, and the sound echoed across the pond. The children turned to stare at their father. “I find that hard to believe. You look as though you’d be good at whatever you set your heart on.”

“I guess that was the problem. I didn’t have my heart set on it. I do have a passion for skiing though and I admit that I excel at it,” she bragged. She pushed off and glided slowly forward. It was easier than roller-skating. The blades slid along the ice with little effort, unlike the old four wheels she remembered. She started to fall but caught her balance almost immediately and turned back with a self-satisfied grin. “I may be better at this than I thought.”

“Pride cometh before a fall,” he called out.

“Falling doesn’t take pride, just clumsiness.” With ever lengthening strokes, she glided across the width of the pond, confidence building as she kept her balance and remained steady on the blades. Nearing the edge she tried to turn and took the corner a little too fast, spun around and landed smack down on the ice. She heard a loud crack. Was it her head or the pond? She lay there for a few seconds trying to catch her breath and heard laughter around her.

“Miss Black, are you all right?” asked Rico. He stood over her wearing a wide grin. He put out his hand as though to help her up, but his father was already kneeling beside her.

“I see you’ve mastered ice skating as well.” He grasped her hands and pulled her to her feet. His laughter was an appealing sound on the morning air and Brenna, slightly embarrassed, smiled too. She tried to pull away but her skates began to slip and he pulled her back into his arms to steady her.

“Watch out, kids, Miss Black is on the ice,” he warned. His brown eyes were filled with laughter although he tried to sound serious.

“You should let her go, Daddy,” Maria admonished. “She needs to learn on her own.”

“Very wise advise, but I’m afraid if she falls again she’s going to be concussed and won’t be able to take care of you two. That would put me right back in the predicament I was in before she came.”

“You can let her go, Dad. I can teach her to skate.” Rico watched his father strangely as though he’d never seen him act playful.

“I’m really fine.” Brenna pushed against Anthony’s chest and tried to put some distance between them for the children’s sake. They seemed uncomfortable with the situation.

“If you’re sure.” His expression turned impassive, his eyes cold as the ice beneath them. He turned to go.

“Aren’t you going to skate, Daddy?” Maria called after him. She skated haltingly to his side and took his hand. “Watch me, Daddy. Rico showed me how to turn.” She skated a few yards away and took the turn but tripped herself up with her own skate and promptly fell to the ground. She looked up eagerly, hoping for a word of encouragement.

“Keep practicing!” he called out as he strode away. “If you can’t make a simple turn without falling, there is no sense in my wasting time standing around to watch.”

Brenna slid carefully to Maria’s side and dropped to the ice beside her. The little girl’s heart was breaking. She’d thought she was doing so well until Giordano had to burst her childish bubble. The man should be horsewhipped! Maria looked up, her eyes filled with tears.

“It’s all right, honey,” Brenna said. She swept her into her arms. “I think you did just great. And with a little more practice you’ll be flying around this pond like a pro.”

“I hate him,” Rico said. His hands were balled into fists inside his gloves and his jaw was rigid with anger. “Why does he always have to ruin everything?”

Brenna didn’t know what to say so she remained silent, watching Giordano’s retreating form. Rico skated off, taking his anger out on the ice. He skated fiercely, as though each stroke of his blades took him farther away from his father. Brenna knew exactly how that felt and wished she could take away the pain that lay beneath his anger. Instead, she watched him skate, hugging Maria tighter, and wondered if there were fathers in this world who really cared for their children.

~~~ Download your copy today! Or pick up a gift copy for a friend. Christmas is right around the corner… ~~~

RUNNING HOME ALIAS RAVEN BLACK