Spotlight: The Lock Box by Parker Adams

When an army-vet-turned-safecracker is forcibly recruited to be part of a dangerous heist, she’ll need all her skills to get out alive in this fast-paced thriller perfect for fans of Jeffery Deaver and P. J. Tracy.

Nearly a decade after getting chased out of the Army for fighting back against abuse, Monna Locke’s skill and discretion have made her the go-to safecracker for Los Angeles clients who need vaults opened and no questions asked. When a lawyer hires her to retrieve a box from his client’s mansion, it seems like an easy payday–until she opens the safe and is immediately attacked by heavily-armed men.

Locke barely escapes and returns to her isolated cabin only to find the client waiting in her home, threatening what she holds most dear: her son, Evan. After being knocked unconscious, she wakes up across the country, trapped in her own personal nightmare: she and Evan will be held captive until she helps a seedy crew pull off a seemingly impossible heist.

Forced to practice breaking into the most impenetrable safe ever designed, Locke bides her time and eyes her escape routes. She knows there’s no way to finish the job she’s been forced into, but it’s either crack the lock, or lose everything.

Excerpt

Seeing the guns changed everything. 

The mansion, so open and airy, seemed to shrink around Lock’s shoulders. The balcony might as well have been a balance beam. Although a million thoughts collided in her head, including whether the gunmen had already seen her through the glass, her overriding concern was that she was cornered. To have any chance of escaping—to have any options at all—she needed to get back downstairs. 

Her rubber soles gripped the stone floor tightly as she took off in a dead sprint. 

After three steps, though, she heard the front door’s familiar beep-and-swish. At the noise, Lock dropped to the floor. 

It had been a long time since she’d practiced a combat fall. Her drill sergeants from Basic would not have been pleased at the result. The hard stuff in her bag—the crowbar, the other tools—hit first. Not only did they make a hefty clunk, her ribs and stomach came crashing down on top of them. 

Lock bit her lip to stifle a groan from the impact. 

A tiny sound leaked out. 

Had the gunmen heard? 

As seconds ticked by and no one sprayed bullets in her direction, it seemed maybe they hadn’t.

The arch at the end of the balcony loomed a couple feet away. Close enough, Lock could reach out, curl her fingers around the corner of the wall, and pull herself to it. But while part of her wanted to do just that, a voice inside warned to check the door first. 

Lock hauled herself up onto her elbows and combat crawled to the base of the railing. Below, the four gunmen had fanned into a semicircle. Communicating with hand signals, they were advancing steadily into the house, the nearest ones passing under the balcony and out of view. 

Her head whipped back toward the stairs. Although they seemed tantalizingly close, she knew she couldn’t make it. 

She needed someplace to hide. Fast. 

Her eyes slid to the double doors she’d bypassed earlier. Like all the others in the house, they were wood-framed, with a frosted glass panel in the middle. In her mind, Lock imagined a sprawling king-sized bed and huge, walk-in closet inside. But the truth was, she had no idea what lay behind the darkened glass, whether that room would provide any kind of shelter at all. 

Worse, it stood alone at the top of the stairs. 

The first place the gunmen would check. 

And a complete dead-end. 

Lock gathered her feet beneath her, then spun back toward the office. With the gunmen below, she didn’t run, exactly—she couldn’t risk her boots clonking against the balcony. Instead, she rose up on the balls of her feet and used long, slow strides to cover as much ground as possible. 

Avoiding the office, she made for the rooms she’d seen farther down the balcony. Now that she focused on them, she counted three doors, two singles on the left and a double set at the very end on the right. 

She stopped at the first single door. Although no one should have been inside, she caught herself checking the glass inset anyway.

Dark and still.

As Lock reached for the handle, she cocked an ear back over her shoulder. Not a peep from below. These guys were dead quiet—more noise came from her chest, where her heart was pounding, than from downstairs. 

Lock put steady pressure on the handle bar until it started to turn. The clock in her head screamed that she’d already taken too long, that the gunmen would be sneaking up behind her any second. Out of nowhere, though, one of The Mule’s sayings from high school echoed in her ears: go quickly, but don’t hurry. 

Once she felt the latch release from the frame, she eased the door inward. Slowly, smoothly—she couldn’t afford any creaks or groans. After slipping through the opening, she eased it back closed. 

The interior handle included a simple twist-lock, and she considered turning it to slow down the gunmen. 

But a locked door in an otherwise-empty house would be a dead giveaway. Emphasis on the dead. These guys would simply shoot out the glass, unlock the door, and finish her off if one of their bullets hadn’t done the job already.

Imagining a burst of hot metal spraying toward her, Lock retreated a step. Thankfully, the room was dark—no skylight here—and she didn’t cast a shadow on the door’s glass inset. When she turned into the heart of the room, she found it filled with fancy, white furniture: a four-poster bed, a desk, and a dresser. 

The bed seemed to be her best hope, but a quick flip of the skirt showed its frame was solid all the way to the floor. 

No hiding underneath.

Buy on Amazon | Hardcover | Bookshop.org

About the Author

Parker Adams is the pen name for bestselling thriller writer Joseph Reid. The son of a Navy helicopter pilot, Reid chased great white sharks as a marine biologist before becoming a patent lawyer who litigates multi-million-dollar cases for high-tech companies. A graduate of Duke University and the University of Notre Dame, he lives in San Diego with his wife and children.

Spotlight: Forgotten Sisters by Cynthia Pelayo

A city’s haunted history and fairy-tale horrors converge for two women in an addictive novel of psychological suspense by a multiple Bram Stoker Award–nominated author.

Sisters Anna and Jennie live in a historic bungalow on the Chicago River. They’re tethered to a disquieting past, and with nowhere else to go, nothing can part them from their family home. Not the maddening creaks and disembodied voices that rattle the old walls. Not the inexplicable drownings in the area, or the increasing number of bodies that float by Anna’s window.

To stave off loneliness, Anna has a podcast, spinning ghostly tales of Chicago’s tragic history. But when Anna captures the attention of an ardent male listener, she awakens to the possibilities of a world outside.

Buy on Amazon Kindle | Audible | Paperback

About the Author

Cynthia Pelayo is a Bram Stoker Award® winning and International Latino Book Award winning author and poet. She is the author of Children of Chicago, The Shoemaker’s Magician, Loteria, Santa Muerte, The Missing, and Poems of My Night, all of which have been nominated for International Latino Book Awards. Poems of My Night was also nominated for an Elgin Award. Her collection of poetry, Into the Forest and All the Way Through explores true crime, that of the epidemic of missing and murdered women in the United States. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, a Master of Science in Marketing, a Master of Fine Arts in Writing, and is a Doctoral Candidate in Business Psychology. Cynthia was raised in inner city Chicago, where she lives with her husband and children. 

To learn more about her visit: www.cinapelayo.com and follow her on Instagram @cynthiapelayoauthor and TikTok @cynthiapelayoauthor

Spotlight: Hathor and the Prince by J. J. McAvoy

Series: Book 3: The DuBells

Category: Historical Romance | Regency Romance

Hathor Du Bell is on her own path to find love in the third installment of J. J. McAvoy’s Regency romance series, following Aphrodite and the Duke and Verity and the Forbidden Suitor.

Hathor Du Bell has always fought to break free from the shadow left by her revered older sister, Aphrodite. It has been two years since Hathor’s debut, and while Aphrodite has married a duke and become a duchess, Hathor has been left with the ton’s most mediocre suitors. With the London season coming to a close, Hathor’s anxieties reach a peak. Will she be the only Du Bell unable to find her perfect match?

Then Hathor’s wildest dream comes true when the queen announces she’ll be presenting her nephew, Prince Wilhelm Augustus Karl Von Edward of Malrovia, during the weeklong society event at the Du Bells’ Belclere Castle. But the dream quickly crumbles when Hathor comes face-to-face with the prince, and he is nothing like she imagined.

As a flirtatious rivalry sparks a genuine romance, Hathor fights to make a name of her own despite society’s expectations of her. Amidst the grand balls and growing feelings, the final events of the season promise to be the most romantic and shocking of them all.

Buy on Amazon Kindle | Audible | Paperback | Bookshop.org

Spotlight: The Helping Heart by Annie M. Ballard

(Sisters of Stella Mare, #4)
Publication date: March 15th 2024
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Women’s Fiction

Synopsis:

Helen comes home and everything should be wonderful. Even if she’s returning due to a divorce. But there is more…

The Madison sisters, once close, are suddenly alienated as oldest Helen returns to Stella Mare. Her desire to help everyone includes keeping them at a distance, so her own secrets stay private. Her plan backfires, making her persona non grata and upsetting her father. To keep the peace with Dad, she suggests a group activity: the four sisters will hike the Fundy Footpath, an iconic and challenging backpacking trip along the Bay of Fundy. Why not? They’re young, they’re strong, and besides, they’re Madisons.

Despite each sister’s reservations, the desire to reconnect pulls them into this adventure. The hike is arduous and not for the faint of heart. Daunting cliffs, deep forests, rushing rivers and unpredictable tides accompany the gorgeous views, stunning sunrises, and the sheer power of nature. The challenges, though shared, fracture things further, and even Helen’s campfire confession doesn’t heal the breach. But when crisis happens, Helen is called to rise to the occasion and be the sister they need her to be.

Returning to Stella Mare was hard. Regaining her place in the family was harder. Come home to Stella Mare with Helen, as she, Rett, Evie and Dorie learn once again how to be sisters.

Excerpt

“Time to burn some of those calories,” Helen called out. “Let’s get going.”

Evie cast her a curious gaze. “Is there something we’re hurrying for? You should let us know, Helen.”

She narrowed her eyes. “We need to get going. We’re like sitting ducks here.”

Rett laughed. “We’re nobody’s target. We started early, we already did the tidal crossings, so we are not worried about tides right now, and we have time to take a break if somebody is vomiting. Really.”

Helen shook her head and walked away toward the tree line. Where was that wolf? And why couldn’t her sisters take direction?

Annoyed, she kept gazing into the woods, though she kept an ear tuned toward the conversations behind her. Soon enough, everybody got ready to go again, and Evie called to her. “We’re all set, Helen.” She huffed a little as she headed back, chin held high.

Evie started off beside Dorie, the two easily chatting. Rett waited for Helen. “Tone it down a bit,” she advised.

“Are you bitching about me, too?” Helen snapped.

“Like that,” Rett said noncommittally. “Take it down a notch.”

“You’re so helpful,” she sniped. “Like anybody even notices me.”

“Everybody notices you.” Rett’s tone was correcting. “Especially when you’re being a royal pain in the neck. Tone it down. Nobody’s here to make a fool of you.”

Helen, shocked, took the impact of those words on her chest. Nobody’s here to make a fool of you. She had nothing to say.

Rett nudged her with an elbow. “Come on. Let’s make it a good day for a hike.”

She nodded tightly and followed.

Hiking made her brain run faster. Rett’s words rang in her memory. Nobody’s here to make a fool of you, Helen.

I don’t need anyone to do that. I’ve done it myself, more than once. A lot more than once.

Despite her tired body, her mind was super-charged as thoughts, memories and feelings flooded her. She couldn’t outrace them, and even the challenging terrain didn’t distract her, though after a series of switchbacks, landing at the brook felt like an accomplishment. Or at least a break from her thoughts.

Buy on Amazon Kindle | Paperback

About the Author

Annie M. Ballard writes about women and family ties in the small villages that feel like home. With one foot in the Canadian Maritimes and the other in New England, she digs deep into the lives of her characters. When she’s not writing, she’s happily baking, gardening, powerlifting and trying to make friends with every dog in her neighbourhood.

Annie’s stories include strong women living real lives, good men trying to do better, and always a happy ending.

Connect:
https://anniemballard.com/
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/annie-m-ballard
https://www.instagram.com/anniemballard/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100071779791861
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21745788.Annie_M_Ballard

Spotlight: Love Me Never by Lizzie James

They say never mix business with pleasure.

When Brooke Michaelson decides to come home to London, she had no idea that short visit would involve taking over her family’s business. When her father appoints her as the acting CEO, her troubles only just begin.

Now she has to learn how to run a business, be the perfect daughter, get her brother working and try to avoid the newest distraction in her life.

Her competitor and business rival: Ryan King.

When Ryan sets his sights on Brooke Michaelson, he has no idea just how badly this one woman will mess his life up.

He is a player and whatever he wants, he always gets.

Brooke Michaelson just didn’t know it.

Buy on Amazon Kindle | Paperback

About the Author

Lizzie James is a USAT Bestselling Author that lives in the valleys of South Wales, UK with her family.

Working full time for her local authority keeps her busy but her free time is spent in her favourite pursuits of writing, reading, listening to music and travelling.

She is passionate about her writing and cooperatively works with a team of authors to support her fellow indie authors.

She writes contemporary romance and MM romances. Don't ask her to pick a favourite genre because she will read anything.

Connect:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorlizziejames 

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/lizziejames86 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/lizzie_james86 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lizziejames86 

Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/lizziesromanceaddicts/ 

Spotlight: Handsome Devil by Delaney Diamond

(Quicksand, #7)
Publication date: February 29th 2024
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Synopsis:

They might both get what they want in this marriage of convenience—if they don’t kill each other first.

Annabelle Buchanan waltzes into Dante Escarra’s office with a singular goal—to persuade him to accept her audacious one-year marriage proposal. Her objective? Taking control of her father’s real estate empire. But Dante is her ex-husband, and their past is littered with hurt and anger.

Dante never once contemplated reuniting with Annabelle, because she broke his heart and left him devastated years ago. But her offer is a tantalizing chance to add an iconic Houston building to his real estate portfolio—a prize he covets more than he’s willing to admit.

As they pursue their respective goals, the lines between business and heart blur. Can they make their marriage work the second time around, or will they both end up with broken hearts—again?

Excerpt

 “You came here for a reason. What do you want?”

“You should take a seat for this,” Annabelle said, waving toward his leather chair. She spoke in a lowered voice. Her seduction voice—low and throaty and bringing back memories that lashed his skin with heat. 

His eyes narrowed in distrust. “Why do I need to sit down?”

“I’m not sure you’ll like what I’m about to say.” She gave a careless, one-shoulder shrug. 

“Tell me so we can get this meeting over with, and I can go back to more important tasks, like practicing my golf swing.” He glanced at the Patel Philippe watch on his wrist. “You have sixty seconds to explain why you’re here, and then I’m calling security to escort you out.” 

She let out an exaggerated sigh. “Fine. I have a proposition for you.”

“I cannot wait to hear it,” Dante said in a dry voice. 

Another fake smile. “My father plans to step down as the CEO of Buchanan & Buchanan within the next few months.”

“Time is ticking. You have twenty-seven seconds.”

“Be patient, darling. I promise you’ll want to hear this,” she said, strolling over to the bar where he kept beverages for guests. She poured herself a glass of water and took a sip before turning to face him.

“Seventeen seconds.”

Annabelle arched an eyebrow. “When he steps down, he plans to recommend a merger to the board—a merger with his friend’s company, Strong Technology, Inc. They’re a privately owned firm specializing in smart home technology to modernize residential properties and make them more efficient. Daddy has threatened to go through with this merger for years.”

“What does that have to do with me?” Dante tapped his watch as a reminder. 

“Nothing, directly.” Annabelle finished the water and carefully placed the glass on a silver tray atop the bar. “Except for the proposition I mentioned. Instead of merging the companies and having Albert Strong take over as CEO, I want Daddy to recommend me as CEO to the board, but unfortunately, he won’t because of his traditional values.”

A brief flash of pain zipped across her eyes, so fast he almost missed the emotion. 

“That’s your problem. Again, what does your father’s decision have to do with me?”

She looked him squarely in the eyes. The haughty indifference disappeared, and a tough negotiator took its place. “My father admires and respects you. He thinks you’re a great businessman because of all you’ve accomplished in the ten years since our divorce. You’ve made quite a splash in the commercial real estate market. Therefore, my proposition is simple. I want to take over my father’s company, and I need you to help me make that happen. I’m proposing that you and I remarry.”

Dante cocked his head toward her in disbelief. “Excuse me, I misunderstood what you said. My English is not so good.”

“Your English is excellent. Probably better than mine at this point, so I know you understood perfectly what I said. I’m suggesting we get married again—a marriage of convenience, if you will. A mutually beneficial arrangement for both parties, you and me. My father will be happy to have you back in the family because he did like you, and now he has newfound respect for you thanks to all your accomplishments. Based on a conversation we had, I’m convinced he would recommend me for the CEO position if he thought you’d be involved in helping me with B&B, as needed. Our marriage would be temporary. Sometime after I take the reins of the company, you and I will have an amicable divorce. Not right away, of course. We want our reunion to be believable, but we simply split because we couldn’t make our marriage work for a second time.” 

Dante folded his arms over his chest. Unbelievable. 

“Your plan is to remarry and trick your father into believing you and I are happily married, so he will hand over the company to you when he steps down? That’s your plan?” 

She smiled brilliantly. “Yes.” 

“Ah querida, t’eres loca,” Dante said.

Then he burst out laughing.

Buy on Amazon Kindle | Paperback

About the Author

Delaney Diamond is the USA Today Bestselling Author of black romance and interracial romance in the contemporary romance and romantic suspense genres. She reads romance novels, mysteries, thrillers, and a fair amount of nonfiction. When she’s not busy reading or writing, she’s in the kitchen trying out new recipes, dining at one of her favorite restaurants, or traveling to an interesting locale. To get sneak peeks, notices of sale prices, and find out about new releases, visit her website and join her mailing list. Enjoy free stories on her website at www.delaneydiamond.com.

Connect:

Website: https://delaneydiamond.com/
Mailing list: http://bit.ly/DelDiam
Readers group: https://bit.ly/3sRgyh5
Facebook: facebook.com/delaneydiamond
Twitter: twitter.com/DelaneyDiamond
Pinterest: pinterest.com/delaneydiamond
Podcast: http://podcast.delaneydiamond.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/delaneydiamondbooks/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B004HU9G3G