Covers & Excerpt
by Cara Marsi
Redemption Book Three
Danger and desire brew a volatile mix as two wounded souls fight to stay alive and find love. Anita Santisi is an independent, successful businesswoman with a wounded heart. And some very bad people after her. Break-ins, home invasions, and attempted abductions have turned her comfortable life dangerous. Can she trust her mysterious, sexy new neighbor, Luke Corrado, or is he behind the criminal acts?
Special Agent Luke Corrado carries his guilt like a loaded Glock. A woman he loved was murdered because of him. Now, on a new undercover assignment to protect Anita Santisi, he’s determined to redeem himself. What he doesn’t expect is that Anita will tempt him to let down the barriers around his heart.
As Anita and Luke find themselves in ever-increasing danger, they must fight to stay alive. Will they open their hearts to each other before it’s too late?
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Content/Theme(s): Contemporary, FBI Special Agent
Release Date: September 30, 2014
Publisher: The Painted Lady Press
Giveaway, More on Series, Excerpt & More
Luke’s Temptation Purchase links:Amazon Smashwords iTunes Kobo B&N
“Why the heck did I buy so many Christmas gifts?” she muttered. But she knew. She loved buying baby clothes and toys for her cousins’ babies. And as honorary aunt, it was her duty to spoil them.
She got to her front door and let out a small cry. Her insides shook. The packages fell from her hands to land in a pile by her feet. Her front door hung open on its hinges with a huge hole at the bottom as if someone had kicked it in with heavy boots.
She did a quick scan of the area. No one else was around. Forcing air into lungs that felt ready to burst, she turned and ran down the steps, stumbling in her haste. Grabbing the handrail, she caught herself. On unsteady legs, she gripped the railing and hurried the rest of the way down. Near the bottom, she lost her balance and almost fell, but strong arms grabbed her and kept her upright.
“What’s wrong?” a male voice asked.
She screamed and tore loose from the stranger. When she looked up into deep brown eyes, almost black in their intensity, her heart rate kicked up a notch. Had he been walking along the sidewalk, or did he follow her from her house?
Gulping breaths, she backed away. Her attention on the stranger, she pulled her phone out of her purse. With shaking fingers, she dialed 911. When the operator answered, Anita said, “My home’s been broken into. The intruder might still be inside.”
With a promise the police were on their way and an admonition from the operator not to go into her house, Anita disconnected. Still clutching her phone, she put more distance between her and the tall stranger.
“Your house was broken into?” he asked. “I’m sorry. I’ll stay with you and wait for the police.”
“They’ll be here any minute. I’m fine now. You can leave.” She licked her lips, and not taking her eyes off the stranger, she fished in her purse for her car’s remote. It had a panic button. If he dared move toward her, she’d set it off.
He nodded toward the adjoining condos. “I don’t see how I can leave since I live here.”
She swallowed. “Live here?”
“I’m your new neighbor. I thought this was a safe neighborhood.”
“Neighbor?” Trying to wrap her mind around that surprising information, words failed her and she could only continue to stare up at him. Her loft, in a restored warehouse, was one of two condos that shared a common wall. Each had a private entrance, the doors a few feet from each other. The loft next to hers had stood empty the past year since the owner transferred to Japan for his work. She’d heard someone rented it recently.
Her alleged new neighbor furrowed his brow. “You okay?”
Fairly sure he wasn’t her intruder or an ax murderer, Anita still had to be cautious. She put her finger over the panic button on her remote.
“I’m Luke Corrado.” He held out his hand. “This is a hell of a way to meet.”
“It sure is. I’m Anita Santisi.” She decided caution trumped politeness and didn’t take the proffered hand. Still on guard in case he made a movement toward her, she looked more closely at him. He was easy on the eyes, with his short black hair and those dark eyes that watched her as if he thought her the most fascinating woman he’d ever met. She’d noticed a dimple in his cheek when he smiled. Nice lips, not too thin, not too full, just right for kissing. Smooth olive skin stretched taut over high cheekbones, inviting her to touch.
“Like what you see?” he asked, showing that dimple again.
Heat suffused her face. He might be eye candy, but he was arrogant. Anita didn’t tolerate arrogant men. And she still didn’t trust him. She sent him a look she’d perfected, one that usually sent grown men scrambling for cover. Apparently, it wasn’t sending this man anywhere. He looked contrite, or tried to look contrite.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “That didn’t come out right. I sounded like a jerk.”
“Yeah, you did.”
He gave her that dimpled smile that made warmth swirl through her despite her anxiety and the late November chill.
His magnetism tempted her to scan the rest of him. His black leather jacket and black sweater didn’t disguise the width of his shoulders or the breadth of his chest. Close-fitting jeans hugged long legs that seemed to go on forever. All in all, one hot package.
“Let’s start over. I’m your new neighbor, Luke Corrado.”
Before she could respond, lights flashed in the darkness as three police cars pulled up to the curb.
***
Her place was in shambles. The intruder or intruders had slit the cushions on her leather sofa and chairs in the living area and tossed the contents of her kitchen drawers and cabinets onto the tiled floor. Her bedroom was in worse shape. They’d torn off her bedclothes, shifted the mattress till it perched precariously on the bed, and emptied her bureau drawers and closet. Her shoeboxes were opened and her shoes tossed everywhere.
Fighting tears, Anita stood in her wrecked condo while the police dusted for fingerprints. They’d taken her statement, and now her new neighbor was in the kitchen giving his statement to the detective. He’d shown the police his key and identification proving he lived in the condo next door.
Needing the comforting presence of family, Anita had called her cousin Franco Callahan, owner of an international construction company. His wife, Jo Fortune, was a security expert who’d recently started her own firm with Harris, a former SEAL.
A commotion at the front door caught Anita’s attention. A burly cop standing guard attempted to keep Jo and Franco from entering.
“We’re family. Let us in,” Franco said as he pushed past the cop.
“It’s okay. Please let them in.” Anita rushed to the door.
“Anita, this is terrible.” Jo enfolded her in a bear hug.
Franco rubbed his hand up and down Anita’s back. “Are you okay?”
Anita nodded.
Jo released her and stepped back. “That’s the most important thing, that you’re okay.”
“What did they take?” Franco asked.
Anita balled her hands at her sides fighting for calm. “Nothing that I can tell yet.”
“Strange,” Franco said.
“I’ll get you some water.” Jo started for the kitchen, but stopped, her eyes wide, as Luke Corrado strode toward her.
He held a large glass filled with ice water. With a smile, he handed it to Anita. “Drink this. Are you feeling better?”
Anita nodded. “Thanks.” As if he held out a lifeline, she took the glass from him and wrapped her hands around it.
Luke, Jo and Franco stared at each other.
“Sorry,” Anita said. “Luke Corrado, my cousin Franco Callahan and his wife Jo Fortune Callahan.”
As Luke shook hands with Jo and Franco, Anita sipped the water. The cooling liquid wound its way smoothly down her throat. She wished it could cleanse the dirtiness she felt that someone had violated her house, had violated her.
Jo and Franco were quietly watching Luke.
“Luke rented the place next to mine.” Feeling uncomfortable at the continued silence from the others, Anita said, “Jo, you didn’t have to come with Franco. You need to stay home and rest.”
Franco put his arm around his wife. “Jo? Rest? Not my little dynamo.”
Jo patted her baby bump. “Not so little anymore.”
“But still beautiful.” He kissed her on the cheek.
A twinge of regret wound through Anita. She’d long ago given up the dream of finding love, of happily-ever-after. Once she thought she’d found it, but it had all been an illusion.
Luke stepped away from the group. “Now that your family’s here, I guess I’d better go.”
“Thanks for your help,” Anita said.
“Nice to meet you,” Jo and Franco said in unison as Luke headed toward the door.
~~~~~~
Luke’s Temptation Purchase links:
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by Cara Marsi
Redemption Book Two
Theme(s): Female Bodyguard, Rich Playboy
When a female bodyguard is hired to protect a rich playboy, she finds saving his life is easier than protecting her heart.
When the past and present collide...
Somebody wants rich playboy Franco Callahan dead. When security expert Josephine Fortune arrives on his doorstep thanks to his sister Doriana, Franco finds it hard to refuse. He's had a secret attraction for the diminutive bodyguard since they met at Doriana's wedding five years before.
But attraction is all it is. Combat boot-clad Jo is not the kind of woman Franco usually loves and leaves. Which makes the ruse that Jo is his new live-in girlfriend just that until Jo gets a makeover. Suddenly seduction is on his mind and Franco has all the time in the world to pursue it—and Jo.
Martial artist Jo can take down men twice her size without blinking, but Franco's appeal outmaneuvers her emotional defenses. Jo's tough exterior hides a dark past, and Franco seems determined to learn her every secret. But he has secrets of his own.
The more Franco gets to know Jo, the more he realizes he needs her in his life, and not as his bodyguard. But as the threats to Franco escalate, Jo must use every one of her combat skills to protect him.
Can Jo keep both Franco and her heart safe, or will they pay the ultimate price for love?
Franco’s Fortune Purchase links:
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by Cara Marsi
Redemption Book One
Content/Theme(s): Second Chances
He broke her heart once. Can he save her life now?
Doriana Callahan's life is unraveling. Someone is stalking her and sabotaging her father's company; her teenage son is rebelling; and Logan Tanner is back in town. For sixteen years she's kept an explosive secret from Logan, a secret he soon discovers.
Logan never belonged in Doriana's world, but a long time ago he allowed himself to dream of a future with her, until the awful night he was forced to run. Now he's back and he needs her forgiveness, but first he must forgive himself.
Despite the fact that Doriana kept the existence of his son from him, Logan vows to protect her. He races against time to stop the culprit threatening Doriana and works to forge a bond with his son.
Can the love and passion that still burn between Doriana and Logan overcome old lies and new dangers? The clock is ticking on a second chance at love.
Logan’s Redemption Purchase links:
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Ends December 10, 2014
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