Have you ever participated in a scavenger hunt? It’s a game, a way to pass the time – right? Riley Rawlings grew up participating in scavenger hunts. It was her family’s favorite game.
Now, Riley is all grown up, and the scavenger hunt she currently finds herself embroiled in isn’t just a game with a pretty trinket awarded to the winner.
This time everything is on the line. Her mother’s legacy, secrets from the past, discovering who is a friend and who is foe, and even her life.
Instead of including a short excerpt here, I’ve added a link for you to download the first four chapters of Salvaging Truth.
Salvaging Truth has made its debut. Book Viral book reviews awarded it 5 stars. There’s nothing more thrilling than to read a glowing review on a book that you poured hours, weeks, months, and in this case, over a year’s worth of writing into creating. If you like romantic suspense with ex-SEALs, corporate corruption, and international espionage, I hope you’ll give Salvaging Truth a try.
Book Blurb:
Most parents leave you a house, a car, or money when they die. Riley’s mom left her a treasure hunt with a mysterious payoff. Now everyone seems to want a piece of Riley and her inheritance: the university, the military, mega corporations, and Russian spies.
Riley needs help to solve her mother’s murder, and Dagger Easton’s salvage and investigation company comes to her rescue. Retired SEAL, private eye, and leader of a diving and salvage team, Dagger promises to protect Riley with his life. But as the value of her mother’s research becomes clear, Riley begins to believe there’s no one she can trust—not with her life, her heart, or her mother’s legacy.
And the frosting on top? Tonight we’ll be celebrating my birthday on a twilight dinner cruise off the coast of Oahu. I finally get the chance to explore the island I’ve only visited between the pages of my stories.
To read more about my research and fact-gathering process and view the Salvaging Truth book trailer, click on the links below:
I have found that many people believe writing fiction stories are less complicated because there’s no research involved. My writing process always begins with a single idea, one that inevitably leads me to research. Not only before I write the first sentence of my first draft, but continuously throughout my manuscript. Salvaging Truth is a prime example. I came up with an idea – one that I verified had yet to be viable-today. Then I added ex-SEAL team salvage divers, which also lead to interacting with the Coast Guard. If you’ve read my previous post, Fact or Fiction?...Both! You will discover how I accumulated and verified the details with regards to the military.
My fictional romantic suspense, with a few roots in real life, will hit the cyber-shelves on January 31st. Here’s your first look at what you will find between the pages.
Book Excerpt:
As she approached Sheridan Enterprises, the flag flying was at half-staff. Her vision misted as she fought back tears.
More than five hours had passed since Riley first listened to the voicemail. She pulled into the first open spot and killed her engine. Clutching the steering wheel with both hands, she dropped her head against it, closed her eyes, and struggled to steady her breathing as she replayed her mother’s call over and over in her mind.
Her mom was a seasoned diver and an excellent swimmer. Riley was sure she would be found—she just had to be.
Riley couldn’t begin to fathom how she would live if Mom wasn’t a phone call away.
There was a sharp rap on the window, making her jump. Wayne Samuels stood next to her door, arms crossed and staring down at her.
“Wayne, you scared the life out of me,” Riley said as she rolled down her window.
“What are you doing here, Riley? Didn’t my assistant assure you I’d keep you updated? There’s no news and I have a million things to do today. Our missing research vessel has left me with an unending list. The insurance company has already contacted the office. How the hell did they find out already? What are you doing here, don’t you have classes?”
She put her hand on the door handle, but Wayne refused to move out of the way. “Mom is not only your employee, she’s your friend. You don’t seem too upset about her disappearance.”
He sucked in a breath and sighed heavily as he let it out. “Of course I’m upset. You’re right, she is my friend. But she’s not the only one missing, nor my only friend on board.” He tried to appear sympathetic, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “There are eighteen other employees missing and eighteen families demanding information. And that’s to say nothing about the media firestorm this accident will cause for the company.” Wayne finally stepped back from her car.
Riley changed her mind; Wayne sounded plenty upset…about all the work that just landed on his desk. How could he be so self-centered?
“Now, tell me what exactly is being done.” Riley demanded.
“All the appropriate steps have been taken.” Wayne assured her. “The Coast Guard has been notified of the missing ship and the search is underway. We’re doing everything possible to locate the ship. There’s nothing here for you to do. Go teach your classes.”
“I have no intention of teaching today. My mother is on your missing ship. My assistant is filling in for me. I intend to remain here until I have answers.”
“I told you—” His body stiffened as he leaned closer with a warning glower.
Refusing to let him intimidate her, she lifted her chin and glared back at him.
“I heard you,” she snapped.
“Well, hell…fine. I don’t have the time to argue with you any longer. I’m on the way to my office. Let’s go.” He turned and walked away at a brisk clip, leaving Riley hurrying to catch up.
“Hold the elevator,” Samuels bellowed, as his heels snapped smartly across the gleaming marble floor of the spacious lobby. He stepped directly into the center of the elevator, forcing people towards the walls.
The doors closed directly behind Riley as she rushed in after him.
“Morning, Mr. Samuels,” Kathy, his secretary, greeted him as they exited the elevator. “Good morning, Ms. Rawlings.” Kathy handed Samuels a cup of coffee and cocked her eyebrows in Riley’s direction in a silent question.
Riley shook her head. Her stomach was still churning. Now it felt like a volcano ready to erupt. What she wouldn’t give for a fistful of antacids.
“I’m so sorry about your mother’s ship. I’m sure she’ll be fine, just fine.” Kathy reached out and patted Riley on her arm. “Mr. Eastin arrived early,” Kathy said. “He’s waiting in your office.”
Samuels threw his secretary a smoldering glare. “What have I told you about allowing people in my office unattended?” Samuels snapped.
“I didn’t think it would be a problem. He asked where he could sit to make phone calls. I thought he might like some privacy.”
Samuels ignored Kathy as he opened the door to his office. Riley followed. An imposing man sat in one of the high-backed guest chairs, head down, typing away on his tablet. His sable hair appeared nearly black, a riot of wavy layers, tight on the sides and back, longer and almost curly on top.
“Eastin,” Samuels said.
The man looked up, his magnetic topaz-colored eyes skimming over Samuels and locking onto Riley’s. “Hope you don’t mind. My day started at the crack of dawn. I finished my prior work early and decided to come straight here rather than return to my office.” His gaze never wavered. “You look like your mother.”
“Dagger Eastin, this is Riley Rawlings,” Samuels said as he walked to his desk and sat in his chair. “We’re planning on hiring Mr. Eastin’s company as our investigators for our missing research vessel.”
“Are you referring to the sunken vessel the Coast Guard is currently involved with?” Dagger asked.
“Yes,” Samuels said.
“Then I’m afraid my company will have to pass on your offer.”
“Excuse me. Aren’t you a salvage and investigation company?” Samuels frowned.
“We are, yes. However, we’ve already been contracted by San Diego Police Department to assist them in this investigation.”
“What! Why is the SDPD already involved? Whatever caused our ship to sink, it was an accident.”
Corralling Kenzie, book four of Winters Sisters series, was my first win in the Chanticleers International book awards. Corralling Kenzie won Paranormal in 2016. I wrote the first draft of this book during NANO. I've yet to repeat that feat.
Excerpt:
Kenzie was closing the distance to the horse when something
shot past her face. A blur of motion off to her left and something huge knocked
her to the ground. A massive body crushed her into the mud and knocked the air
out of her lungs. Her instincts kicked in and she thrashed her arms and kicked
her legs. Nearly breathless, she refused to give in and continued squirming and
trying to get away.
“Stop struggling,” growled the strange man. “Kenzie. Stop.
I’m trying to keep you from getting shot or worse—killed,” he hissed.
She froze at the use of her name. Who was this man and how
did she know him? She got a glimpse of light brown hair. She’d never seen him
before in her life, and yet something tugged at her deepest memories.
The stranger jumped up, yanking Kenzie with him.
“This way,” he commanded.
“I’m not going anywhere with you!”
Another bullet whizzed past her shoulder.
“We don’t have time for this. You need to do what I say, if
you want to live to see tomorrow.”
“How do I know this person is shooting at me? I have no idea
who you are and for all I know, they’re really trying to shoot you.”
He started to run and dragged her along with him. “Answer me
this. Do you really think I would try and rescue you, if I was the one being
shot at? Sane people would put as much distance between themselves and the
shooter, the hell with any bystanders.”
He picked Kenzie up, threw her over his shoulder, and took
off at an inhuman pace. He dropped down a shallow ridge and laid her down
beside him. She attempted to get up and he yanked her back down.
“What the hell are you doing? Are you trying to get yourself killed?”
the man snarled.
“Listen, buster, for all I know, you’re trying to kill me,
too.”
“Jesus, you are as stubborn as you always were. I’m not the
one trying to hurt you.”
She rubbed at her sore arm.
“Sorry about your arm. You were being bullheaded. Don’t you
know who I am?”
She squinted and studied him. The planes of his face, the
shape of his grey eyes, they reminded her of—Father.
No, that’s impossible. It can’t be, can it? “Marcus?”
“Yes,” he replied. His features remained stoic.
“It can’t be. Where were you all these years? Why haven’t
you contacted me? Why didn’t you come home? Mom and Dad said you were dead!”
I'm excited to be working on book five in this series and plan to release it later this year.
I'm currently in edits for book one in my new romantic suspense three book series: Salvaging Truth, Hunters & Seekers series.
2017 flew by and 2018
has barreled in like a freight train. It seems like each year slips by faster
and faster. But, don’t forget, it’s important for us to slow down, relax, and take
some time for ourselves. I think one of the best ways to unwind is - pick up a
book, turn on some music, and cuddle in your favorite chair.
This is my first blog, and I’m super excited to be
here. I’d like to help you take some time away from your fast-paced life, and
introduce my books to you. I write romantic suspense and romantic suspense with
supernatural elements. I also write novellas in contemporary romance - usually
with a touch of suspense.
The
Winters Sisters is a romantic suspense and supernatural
series. Chasing Victory is book one.
Everybody’s chasing Victory: a power-hungry scientist, a corrupt
conglomerate, and her own government.
Victory Winters is on the run. A world-renowned
geneticist, her mission involves conquering disease and improving quality of
life. But a co-worker has been murdered, putting Victory and her mission in
danger. Chasing her are all sorts of men who want to recruit and control her,
manipulating her genetic secrets and research for their own corrupt purposes.
Naval officer Tristan Farraday is undercover
investigating Biotec, a conglomerate that trumpets a better tomorrow in its
bright, shiny annual reports. But Tristan’s bosses suspect that beneath
Biotec’s carefully-managed exterior lies more than simple violations of a few
experimental protocols.
Farraday is following a trail of murder,
kidnapping, and blackmail. The trail leads him to Victory, who has been forced
into Biotec’s world. Can Tristan chase down the truth and win the race for
Victory?
If you go over to my website and sign up for my
newsletter, you’ll receive a copy of Chasing
Victory as my thank you for signing up.
