Brushed by Betrayal by L.A. Sartor

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Book 2 in the Kahuna Group Series
By L.A. Sartor

You all have probably heard the author’s tale of manuscripts sitting in a drawer, never seeing the light of day? Well it’s true. Sometimes a book we pour our heart, tears and sweat into just don’t work…for whatever reason.

Brushed By Betrayal was originally titled Betrayal of the Trust, and was one of those books. It had won many awards, even snagged the attention of some agents. But nothing came of those queries, awards and interviews. It sat in my filing cabinet for a long, long time.

But it nagged at me. “Rewrite me.”

So eventually I did, but it was a chore, moments of complete chaos, despair and then
pure joy when my story idea, the filmstrip in my head came together.

I had new technology to work with for my characters (ditched the fax machine and other
stuff), as did my art forger. While the essence of Jade and Malcolm remained, much of
their journey to find the killer changed…for the better.

I hope you enjoy Brushed By Betrayal, and the fun part is, as with all my series,
characters from prior books make their appearance.

 

“You’re next and the circle will be complete.”

Jade Laurent, art expert and owner of the prestigious Laurent Art Brokers in Boulder,
Colorado, is mourning the one-year anniversary of her father’s death when a close
associate is killed and that chilling message for Jade is found by his body.

Private Investigator Malcolm Talbot is coming off his latest grueling case when he
receives a request that he cannot refuse. To discover who’s put Jade’s life in jeopardy.
The problem is that Jade refuses to stand by idly and let him do his job.

The last thing Malcolm needs is an amateur getting in the way and maybe getting dead.
The last thing Jade needs is a professional who can’t find an ounce of compassion for
her need to be involved.

While matching wits with a killer who is always one step ahead, dark secrets are
revealed, putting everything Jade has believed in at risk.

If you like nail biting suspense, complicated mysteries, and characters who find their
soul mates, then you’ll love L.A. Sartor’s newest story, Brushed By Betrayal.

Buy it today to find new characters to love and revisit old friends from Dare to Believe. 

 

 

About the Author:

 

I started writing as a child, really. A few things happened on the way to becoming a published author …specifically, a junior high school teacher who told me I couldn’t write because I didn’t want to study … urk …grammar.

That English teacher stopped my writing for years. But the muse couldn’t be denied, and eventually I wrote, a lot, some of it award winning. However, I wasn’t really making a career from any of this.

My husband told me repeatedly that independent publishing was becoming a valid way to publish a novel. I didn’t believe him even after he showed me several Wall Street Journal articles. I thought indie meant vanity press.

I couldn’t have been more wrong.

I started pursuing this direction seriously, hit the keyboard, learned a litany of new things and published my first novel. My second book became a bestseller, and I’m absolutely on the right course in my life. Email me at Leslie@LeslieSartor.com. I’d love to hear from you. My website is www.lesliesartor.com. My books are there as well as a signup for my mailing list. You can also find me on social media at the following places: twitter | facebook | facebook author | blog | bookbub | goodreads | pinterest | instagram |youtube

 

Read an Excerpt from Topaz: Book 3 Ladies of the Night Series by Taylor Lee

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Praise for Topaz …
Book 3 in Taylor Lee’s NEW Sexy Suspense Collection: Ladies of the Night.

“USA Today best-selling author Taylor Lee breaks new ground with Topaz, the third book in Lee’s provocative new series, Ladies of the Night. The Ladies are covert agents in a secretive, off the grid security organization. Highly trained fighters, they’re as gorgeous as they are dangerous to the evil men they’re hired to bring to justice. The only thing these formidable women are NOT is “ladies.”
Maya Taveras, Code Name: Topaz, is a mixed-race Zoe Saldana look-a-like. As mysterious as her heritage, Topaz is the obvious choice to infiltrate the South American Cartel that is at the top of the DEA’s most wanted list. Former Col. Grayson Webb, now covert Agent Webb, joins Topaz to infiltrate down the formidable organization known for its gratuitous violence. Not surprisingly, Webb fall for his partner, the sultry Topaz. To his chagrin, he finds himself competing for her attention with the devastatingly handsome Cartel leader they are out to capture. A roller-coaster of a ride rife with violence, sexual attraction and unexpected rivalries make this stormy tale a page turner from the first page to the last.

Love Kaylea Cross's heart pounding romantic military thrillers? Sylvia Day’s and Maya Banks red hot sexy heroes, feisty heroines and high adrenaline action? Fern Michael’s compelling characters? Grab Topaz and prepare to be addicted.

Excerpt:

Maya glanced at the time on her phone.  It was now one minute later than it was the last time she looked.  She chided herself knowing the real reason she’d reached for her mobile, again. She hoped that maybe when she looked at it this time, the message that had shattered her composure, sent it into orbit, would be gone. That it would have been a mere figment of her overactive imagination. Unfortunately, the curt message signed by Colonel Webb, “I’ll be at your place in ten minutes,” had been confirmed by the call from her uncle warning her to expect Grayson Webb at any minute.  Ian had added in a strained voice that that her visitor knew her story.  Maya just bet he did.  Likely every ugly detail of it.

For a brief moment Maya allowed herself to be angry. Dammit, who did these men think they were?  Why hadn’t her uncle held his ground?  Let her tell Col. Webb what he needed to know when she felt good and ready to tell him—if ever. For that matter, why did Agent Webb have to know all the gory details of her past?  Why couldn’t he just follow orders like subordinates were supposed to?  Like her students and her research assistants did. 

When she opened her door, Maya’s resolve sizzled like an ice cube tossed into a bed of hot coals.  It didn’t just melt—it evaporated.  Which, she consoled herself, shouldn’t surprise her.  After all, when was the last time a six foot four, towering hulk of muscle and masculinity had stood in her doorway, glowering at her?

Maya hated that her voice shook, but she couldn’t keep it from quavering. 

“Uh, good evening, Col. Webb.  Won’t you.…” She caught herself, annoyed that she’d called him by his officer rank instead of just calling him Gray.  She quickly recovered and said firmly, “Please.  Come in.”

Grayson studied her for a long moment and then smiled ever so slightly.

“That is precisely what I intend to do, Doctor Taveras.”

With that confident rejoinder he walked past her, closing the door behind him.  Turning back, he leaned over and locked the door.  At her surprised start, he said,   “Habit.  One you should develop, Maya, now that you’ve decided you want to add ‘secret agent’ to your curriculum vitae.”

“I… I’m sorry.  All I have is wine, but I do have red if you prefer.  Actually I think I may have bourbon or something in the kitchen if… if you want something harder…”

She was gratified to see that at least he wasn’t laughing outright, but the twinkle in those dastardly blue eyes was apparent.

Grayson smiled at her and said easily, “No, the Gavi will be a nice change from the bottles of expensive scotch that your uncle and I put away in under two hours.”

Turning away she did her best to open the wine without mangling the cork and managed not to break one of the wine glasses as she filled them.  She poured in more of the fragrant liquid than was considered appropriate, but she knew that she was going to need the fortifying power of the alcohol to deal with this overbearing man.  She didn’t want to have to get up again and refill her glass, making her look like a lush as well as a nervous nellie.

Walking over to the sofa, Maya put one glass on the far edge of the table in front of him, not wanting to get close enough to hand it to him.  She started toward the occasional chair across the room, but his low command stopped her.

“Uh, uh, Doc.  Not there.  Here.”

To her horror she saw that he was pointing to the sofa cushion adjacent to his, indicating--no ordering--her to sit there, next to him.

“I… I prefer to sit in that chair. I… I don’t want--”

He cut her off.

“Sorry, Dr. Taveras. I’m not here to discuss your wants or even your needs.  No, Doctor, this isn’t one of your classrooms, or even one of your high level consultations where you wow your audience with your expertise.  Au contraire.  Tonight we’re going to discuss my world and why you think you can sashay your perky ass into it--and not get yourself and the rest of us killed in the process.”

Gray’s lip curled up in a slight sneer as he took the glass of wine out of her hand and put it on the table beside his own.  Tapping the cushion next to his, he said softly, “Now for the last time, Maya, please park that curvy little ass of yours here. Right next to me. Unless, Doc, you’d prefer that I put you on my lap.”

Read an Excerpt from TARA (The Trouble Sisters Saga Book 2) by Taylor Lee

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She’s a brash newspaper editor and declared environmental activist. He’s an arrogant land developer. A broken elevator forces them to confront each other not as diehard adversaries but as a man and a woman.

Tara, the oldest of the Trouble sisters, is as outspoken as she is beautiful. Proud to be known by her critics as a rabble rouser, Tara even goes so far as to equate Griffin Blacks’ proposed development with rape of her pristine county.

An up from the bootstraps developer, Griffin Black is proud of his innovative developments. Earning kudos from Native American leaders to corporate and government leaders, Black doesn’t suffer fools or critics gladly. Especially a gorgeous women he’s more interested in courting than confronting.

When the sparks inevitably fly, Tara discovers that the man she is falling for is as complicated as he is compelling. When Griffin is the prime suspect in a vicious murder, the two passionate lovers acknowledge that even as powerful as they are, they may not survive this crisis.

Tara, the second book in The Trouble Sisters steamy romantic suspense series is for discriminating readers who insist on great characters and a spellbinding story that also includes HOT romance. If you like smart, complicated characters, and scorching passion, then you'll love Taylor Lee’s sizzling thrill-ride.

Buy Tara today and prepare to be wowed! 

Excerpt:

“I have a question for you, Mr. Black. Why did you decide to come to Cochise County to build your development? Did you run out of pristine land to rape in Colorado?”

Griffin Black turned to see the source of the insulting inquiry, but before he could respond, Mayor Watcher, his florid face flushing a dangerous shade of purple, leapt in front of him.

Glaring at the woman who’d stepped toward them as they entered the lobby of the Whispering Pines Motel, the mayor made an obvious effort to respond in a jovial tone. “Now, now, Tara, there’s no need to be nasty. We don’t want our special guests to think that Sierra Vista is a backwater, inhospitable city, now do we, missy?” Glancing at the uniformed men standing off to the side of the room, he added ominously, “Besides, Tara, this is a private party. Please don’t make me ask these officers to—”

Cutting off the mayor’s threat with a dismissive wave of her hand, the young woman said coolly, “As you know, Mayor Watcher, my name is Tara Trouble. When you refer to me, please call me by my correct name.” Turning from the flushed mayor, she pinned a hard gaze on Griffin. “May I presume, Mr. Black, that you are capable of answering my question and do not require assistance from our obsequious mayor to respond?” Ignoring the mayor’s outraged gasp, she nodded to the officers, who were making an effort to contain their amusement, and addressed the fulminating mayor with a flippant shrug. “And, Mayor Watcher, I’ll take my chances with the representatives of the Cochise County sheriff’s office. The last time I checked, we have freedom of speech in Cochise County, and I presume I won’t be arrested for exercising that right.”

Griffin Black stepped forward and put up his hand, stopping the bristling mayor’s stuttering response. Turning the full force of his narrowed gaze on the tall, blonde woman who was meeting his gaze with a frown of her own, he said pleasantly, “That was a challenging question you asked, Ms. Trouble.” He allowed his lips to quirk up in a momentary grin, but seeing her chin rise a good two inches and her frown deepen, he decided that humor was not going to defuse this standoff. Instead, not hiding his displeasure, he added carefully, “Ignoring the hostile tone of your inquiry, let me simply say that I don’t accept the premise of your question.”

Turning to the group of clearly embarrassed local dignitaries, he motioned toward the private dining room. “Please, gentlemen, my team and I are understandably hungry after our flight. I’m eager to take advantage of your hospitality and the opportunity to tell you more about our plans for Shadow Peaks, the name we gave to the innovative development we are planning to build in your impressive county.”

As he ushered the chagrined welcoming committee into the dining room, he murmured to Magnus Armstrong, his second-in-command, “Find out who the fuck she is and how she got into this private meeting.”

Armstrong snorted. “Unfortunately, I already know who she is and you will soon. She happens to be a rabid environmental activist who puts the Earth Liberation Front to shame. As she indicated, she equates land development with rape.” He met Griffin’s frown and added, “Oh, and among her other credentials, she’s the hard-driving editor of the Sierra Vista Gazette. Which, as you will discover, is as close to a Greenpeace rag as you’re likely to find in this otherwise conservative Old West world we’ve ventured into. And incidentally, the only newspaper in this outback county.”

Obviously seeing Griffin’s annoyance, Magnus blew out a guffaw that might have been a laugh but was mirthless at best. “You may have noticed that she wasn’t intimidated by us and that the uniforms on the sidelines didn’t rankle her either. That might be because, as the obsequious little mayor—as she rightly called him—indicated, her name is Tara Trouble. In addition to living up to that apropos moniker, you should know that her father is Titus Theseus Trouble, sheriff of Cochise County and as formidable a lawman as you and I are likely to tangle with.”

Read an Excerpt from Roses After Midnight by Linda Wisdom

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When the “Prince Charming” rapist struck again, Detective Celeste Bradshaw went undercover to smoke out the criminal who believed he was romancing his victims and always left a red rose. But this by-the-book cop never thought she would fall for her ‘boss’...devilishly good looking café owner Luc Dante. Yet as she closed in on her suspect, the danger drove her right into Luc’s protective arms.

Reformed rebel Luc couldn’t believe he could fall for a cop when they were always his enemy. Celeste got under his skin like no one else, and soon their attraction exploded into a passion neither could deny. But her commitment to her job drove Luc away just when he was faced with a deception that would set his entire world upside down. A betrayal that could cost him the woman he loves. Could he overcome his dark fears in time to save Celeste from becoming Prince Charming’s latest victim?

Prologue

 

Nancy couldn't stop smiling. For once, Gary had actually listened to her!

Earlier that evening, she'd come home, once again furious with her boyfriend for caring more about spending time at The End Zone sports bar watching football instead of spending time with her. Even after she'd warned him at lunch the other day that she was sick and tired of his wanting to be with his friends more than he wanted to be with her. How could he tell her she was important to him, then go off with his idiot friends who only cared about getting blind drunk?

She'd come back to their apartment with her mind firmly made up. As far as she was concerned, the man was out of second chances.

She wasn't sure what later woke her out of her light sleep. She'd been about to scream when a hand gently covered her mouth.

"Let me show you how I really feel about you," a man had whispered against her ear.

Then he had backed up his words with deeds. And such wonderful deeds they were.

To keep with the mystery, he'd covered her eyes with a silk scarf, insisted on the lights remaining off, kept his voice at a whisper and, afterwards, had drawn her a bath and even washed her hair before carrying her back to bed. Afterwards, he'd left as silently as he arrived. She couldn't understand why he insisted on the mystery, but she wasn't about to complain as long as Gary was finally concentrating on her!

Now she lay there feeling sated and exhilarated from the incredible night her boyfriend  had given her.

Her smile widened when she heard the door open and close.

Gary's back, she thought to herself as she sat up and switched on the lamp by the bed. She even thought about returning the favor.

Bumps against a wall heralded Gary's arrival before he finally lurched his way into the bedroom. The yeasty smell of beer surrounded him.

His face was slack and eyes glassy from too much alcohol.

"I'm sorry, baby, I'll make it up to you, I promise," he slurred. Unable to hold his balance, he fell onto the bed in a drunken heap and promptly passed out.

 

"Do you care to tell me what Luc Dante has to do with Prince Charming, Bradshaw?"

The growled demand was enough to make anyone quaver with fear. Chief of Detectives Sam Adams was an imposing man. A former marine with a bite to match his bark, he was known to take no prisoners and suffer no idiots. And that was if he was in a good mood.

Oddly, Detective Celeste Bradshaw never felt any fear of the man. But she still did her best to never cross him.

Right now, she was working on perhaps two hours sleep, five cups of coffee that had turned to acid in her stomach and a cinnamon muffin consumed hours ago. In other words, her nerves were humming.

"Lieutenant, Parker and I have come up with a common thread we've recently discovered in the Prince Charming case."

The man considered her with a decided lack of expression. She didn't think she'd ever seen him smile. Rumor in the station was that if the man smiled, you knew you were in deep trouble.

"So you're saying Luc Dante is that thread?" he asked. "You do realize you're talking about the man whose restaurant held a private dinner for the mayor and the city council last night during the time the last rape occurred?"

Celeste lowered her voice. "Yes, sir, I do. But one thing the victims had in common was the fact they had all recently dined at Dante's Cafe."

"A lot of people eat there. Hell, I do," he pointed out. "Are you saying you think Dante is Prince Charming?" he said between clenched teeth, glowering at her.

She kept her courage before her like a shield as she faced him. "No, sir, we don't think he's the rapist. But we do feel there could be a connection between the restaurant and the rapes."

Sam still regarded her with a stem gaze. "And Parker agrees with all this?"

"I agree with Bradshaw," Dylan Parker said, walking up to them. "When last night's victim recounted her schedule for the past few days, she mentioned she and her boyfriend having lunch at Dante's Cafe a couple days ago. We called Mr. Dante this morning and asked him if he'd come by the station."

"When you don't consider a man a suspect, you don't have him come to the station for any kind of questioning." The lieutenant did not look happy.

"There's more involved than just that," Celeste replied. "We're hoping he'll be willing to help us."

The lieutenant cocked his head as he listened to her plan. He finally nodded. "If you screw up, it will all be on your head." With that, he walked off.

Dylan shook his head. "Well, that was heartwarming," he muttered. "Nothing like getting that warm and fuzzy feeling from your boss." He glanced at his partner. "Ready to play cop?" He gestured to the closed door to their right.

She nodded as she picked up her notes. "Let's do it."

Celeste opened the door and stopped short. Ohmigod!