ONE DAY REMAINING

Tomorrow marks the release of my third book and the second in the Virginia Justice series, Marked by the Mob . Remember FBI agents Douglas Fairbanks and Sara Deckker from book one ( Serial Games )? This is their story.



My writing style has changed over the year since I wrote Serial Games , and I hope it shows in Marked .  This time I decided to write a beta hero (Doug) and a not so nice woman who uses men for her own gain (Sara). Doug is insecure and Sara has some dark issues she'll have to overcome by story's end. It's been a thing of late--writing darker stories.



Meet the cast:






Special Agent Douglas Fairbanks (aka Jesse Williams) Oh, so pensive. Thinking about Sara?






Special Agent Sara Deckker (aka Charlotte Sullivan) Tears in her eyes? She's had a lot to deal with.







Recognize these two actors? :-)




Blurb




FBI Agent Sara Deckker returns to the home she abandoned more than ten years ago, at the request of her father -- a man she loathes. Dying of cancer, Jim Deckker is on the run from a criminal family who wants his testimony silenced. Knowing he has little time left, he wants to reconcile with the daughter he failed to protect, in hopes of being forgiven. 

Agent Douglas Fairbanks is the son of a criminal. Fighting for respect his whole life, Doug is now the lead agent on a case where the crimes are not unlike those committed by his father. This is his chance to prove he's a man of integrity and gain the respect he feels he deserves. Protecting Jim Deckker means being in close contact with the one woman who never gave him a chance. The Deckkers hold a terrible family secret--learning it could shatter everything.




A Christian interracial romantic suspense.




Excerpt














"If they
saw us go over the edge, they may see an opportunity to finish us off. Or, they
may think we're good as dead and keep going."

"Did you
get a good look at them? Oh!" she exclaimed after landing flush against
his chest.

He held her to
him to steady her and heat shot through his entire body. Her face softened as
her eyes remained glued to his. The earlier flush in her cheeks returned and a
soft pink traveled to her hairline and down her neck. She was warm too.

Doug answered
her question with a slow shake of his head. He broke eye contact and focused on
her lips. She had a small, yet curvy mouth -- a breath away. The overwhelming
urge to kiss her was back and in an overturned vehicle on the side of a wooded
hill, with windows shot out by a couple of thugs, they both stood alive and
reasonably well and he wanted nothing more than to feel her lips -- if only
once.

He forced his
eyes up. Hers were filled with fear -- true fear, and it stunned him. What was
she afraid of? Other than his sister, Sara was the most confident woman he'd
ever known. Nothing seemed to shake her and her walls were formidable;
impenetrable. But here she was, wrapped in his arms, pink from a lovely blush,
her eyes wide with the knowledge of his thoughts.

Doug weighed his
options. If he kissed her -- well, they'd both enjoy it. If he didn't kiss her,
he might never have another chance and then he'd regret the missed opportunity
for the rest of his life. Doug swallowed. Sara neither tried to escape nor
voice her dissent. Did she want the kiss? She needed to be kissed. He could
wipe away all of that pent-up frustration and anger--

"I hear
sirens," she whispered, still making no move to retreat from his embrace.
Doug forced his ears to concentrate on any
sound other than the beat of his own heart. Sirens. It was now or never. He
licked his lips.









Cover









Now, I'm well aware of what some of you may say about the cover. I understand. The powers that be decided not to give me a couple. It's my hope that you'll enjoy the story anyway. There is a treat for you--a cameo of sorts, and you'll get to meet two new characters that may get a story of their own. :-)




If you haven't read Serial Games , then hurry! Marked by the Mob releases November 1st!