TJ (Sins of the Father: Evil Dead MC 3) by Nicole James-review

TJ (Sins of the Father: Evil Dead MC-Second Generation 3) by Nicole James-review tour

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GOODREADS LINK: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/201746674-tj

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 29, 2024

TJ—
The beautiful tattoo artist told me to leave her alone after what I thought was an amazing night together.
Maybe she was just trying to get her bad boy fill.
Wouldn’t be the first time a woman threw herself at me because I was a member of the Evil Dead MC, the baddest motorcycle club in California.
Still, I can’t get her out of mind. I need answers, but what I find has my blood running cold.

Gigi—
The gorgeous biker crushed my heart when he left without a word.
So when he shows up as my knight in shining armor to rescue me from my abuser, I don’t trust him.
I don’t want to owe him anything, but he’s the only one who can protect me from the danger I’ve found myself in.
When I find out I’m also carrying his baby, I have to decide if I can trust him with the truth and with my heart.
A one-night stand, secret pregnancy, MC romance!

•••••

REVIEW:TJ: SINS OF THE FATHER is the third instalment in Nicole James’ contemporary, adult EVIL DEAD MC: SECOND GENERATION erotic, MC romance series-a spin off set in the author’s EVIL DEAD MC world, focusing on the next generation of bikers. This is twenty-three year old, tattoo artist Gigi O’Rourke, and MC member TJ Austin’s story line. TJ is the son of Evil Dead MC president Cole Austin, and his wife Angel. TJ can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from three first person perspectives (TJ, Gigi, Tick) TJ focuses on the acrimonious relationship between our story line couple. Several weeks earlier, Evil Dead MC president Cole Austin, and his brothers took TJ, Billy and Marcus on a run to get their membership tattoos wherein TJ would meet his future in tattoo artist Gigi O’Rourke. A one-night stand ensued in which Gigi believed TJ ghosted, and in the aftermath, our heroine ran away with someone else. Desperate to locate his daughter, Jameson O’Rourke called the Evil Dead MC for help, and TJ would discover that all was not well with the woman with whom he would fall in love. What ensues is the second chance (of a sorts) between Gigi and TJ, and the potential fall-out as the past refuses to let go, taking aim at our story line heroine.

The world building focuses on the search and rescue of Gigi O’Rourke, the secrets that are about to change their lives, and the potential for war with a rival MC.

The relationship between Gigi and TJ begins as a one-night stand in which both believe the other ghosted and ran.TJ thought Gigi may have been the one woman to capture his heart, and Gigi was led to believe that TJ was a biker who used and abused the people in their lives. Gigi’s time with TJ and the Evil Dead MC would prove that everything she was told had been predicated upon a lie, a lie that pulled the couple apart. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate.

We are introduced to Gigi’s father, tattoo artist Jameson O’Rourke, uncles Liam and Max, as well as Billy, Marcus; new recruits Brayden, Rafe and Kyle; and several members of the Evil Dead MC-Cole, Crash, Red Dog, Shades, Green, Wolf, and Jake. The requisite evil has many faces.

TJ: SINS OF THE FATHER is a story of secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, misunderstanding and interference, family and friendships, relationships and love. The premise is edgy, captivating and dramatic; the romance is seductive; the characters are determined, dynamic and energetic.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews

Marcus
Billy

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Nicole James is a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author who loves writing about hot alpha men who’ll do anything for the women they love! Her stories are filled with struggle, conflict and real human emotion. She is the author of the Evil Dead MC series, the Brothers Ink Tattoo series and more.

Nicole loves to hear from her readers! You can contact her via e-mail, her website contact form or on her social media accounts.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authornicolejames
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Nicole_James1
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authornicolejames
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/nicole-james
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6571986.Nicole_James

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LOVE AND VIOLENCE (Sins of the Father 1) by Jade Marshall & Lila Fox

LOVE AND VIOLENCE (Sins of the Father 1) by Jade Marshall and Lila Fox-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 13, 2023

The Esposito crime family and the Fallen Legion MC have been at war for as long as anyone can remember. Violence and bloodshed are all that anyone has ever known. But a run-in between the perfect mafia princess and the psychotic club enforcer is about to change all that.

Fate has given them a chance at happiness outside of their families, but nothing is ever as simple as it sounds. These mates will have to end the war, survive trials and tribulations, and find a way to get their loved ones on board before they can live out their happily ever after.

Is there any way for love to flourish where death thrives? Or will it all be over before it even begins?

••••••

REVIEW: LOVE AND VIOLENCE is the first instalment in the contemporary, adult SINS OF THE FATHER erotic, paranormal, MC/Mafia romance series. This is panther shifter Draven West aka Psych, and cougar shifter Aryanna Esposito’s story line.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise including graphic violence, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Psych and Aryanna) LOVE AND VIOLENCE follows the fated relationship between is panther shifter Draven West aka Psych, and cougar shifter Aryanna Esposito. Draven West aka Psych is a member of the Fallen Legion MC, and the MC are enemies of the Esposito Crime Family but to Draven’s surprise he will find his fated mate in the guise of Mafia princess Aryanna Esposito, but Draven and Aryanna are not the only shifters to find their fate with the declared enemy, and a potential war may end them all.

The relationship between Aryanna and Draven is one of fated mates. Draven knows immediately Aryanna is the one but the sins of the father run dangerous and deep, and both must be prepared to sacrifice for love and honor. The $ex scenes are limited but passionate.

We are introduced to several member of the Fallen Legion MC including Draven’s sister Rylee, as well as Aryanna’s brother, and the new head of the Esposito family Dominico.

LOVE AND VIOLENCE is a fated mates story of insta-lust to love, power and control, vengeance and acceptance. The fast paced premise is entertaining; the romance is limited to fate; the characters are desperate and determined.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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Sins of the Father/Sinners and Saints by Nikki Landis-review tour

Sins of the Father/Sinners and Saints (Ravage Riders MC 1 & 2) by Nikki Landis-review tour

SINS OF THE FATHER
Ravage Riders MC 1
by Nikki Landis
Re-Release Date: March 25, 2022
Genre: adult, contemporary, MC, dark, erotic romance

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Welcome to Providence, where the Ravage Riders reign.
Edge, the son of the former VP for the Ravage Riders, is a broken, bitter man. He’s lost the only woman he ever loved, locked away in prison for a bar fight that escalated because of his temper. After three years, he’s finally returning home, but things aren’t the same. His father lives in exile, banished for crimes that nearly tore the club apart. Now, an imposter sits on the throne as president, and Edge swears his vengeance.

There’s a war brewing with the Riders’ rival Satan’s Outlaws, and the picturesque, friendly city of Providence is now the center of a bloody turf war. The local police don’t want to see their town corrupted by outlaw bikers, but the feud growing between the two clubs is reaching a boiling point.

Then there’s Rae, the sweet, pretty girl that Edge grew up with and the one person not tainted by his life in the club. Three years of regret and loss kept them separated, and now she’s buried in Witness Protection. Edge is determined to find Rae, even if he has to lie, cheat, steal, or kill to make it happen.

He’ll do anything to keep Rae, his brothers in the club, and the town safe, but the threat they’re under collides with the past. Edge is forced to seek answers about his father’s past sins, but if he isn’t careful, Edge might end up right back behind bars, and that’s something he can’t allow.

•••••••

REVIEW: SINS OF THE FATHER is the first instalment in Nikki Landis’ contemporary, adult RAVAGE RIDERS MC slightly paranormal, MC romance series. This is Peter ‘Edge’ Ravage, and Rae Stenson’s story line.

WARNING: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from three first person perspectives (Edge, Rae, RJ) using present day and memories from the past, covering approximately three years, SINS OF THE FATHER focuses on the romance and relationship between Peter ‘Edge’ Ravage, and Rae Stenson. Since he was ten years old, Peter ‘Edge’ Ravage has been in love with best friend Rae Stenson but at eighteen years of age, Peter was prospecting with the Ravage Riders MC, and the fall-out of the war with a rival MC was about to affect his relationship with our story line heroine. A series of threats against Rae Stenson meant Peter and his friends and fellow prospects were constantly on the defensive when it came to the woman he loves, a woman whose naivety was about to threaten everyone she loved. What ensues is the ongoing relationship, friendship and building love between Peter and Rae, and the potential fall-out when sins from the past demand vengeance in the present time.

The relationship between Peter aka Edge and Rae is one of childhood best friends in which Rae is naïve to her best friend’s emotions, feelings, and his obvious connections to one of the local MCs. There is plenty of back ground information regarding three families destroyed by betrayal, vengeance, secrets and lust, and in this, the next generations is about to pay for sins of the past. Not only has Peter fallen in love with his best friend, but so too, has someone else, who is willing to step aside, and watch from the sidelines. The $ex scenes are limited but passionate.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful and energetic secondary and supporting characters including several members from the Ravage Riders MC, and the Satan’s Outlaw MC. We are introduced to Peter’s best friend RJ, as well as Jake and Hayley; Rae’s mother Sarah, her step-father Charlies, and her sister Leah; Pete’s father Mack, and Club VP turned President Rafe.

SINS OF THE FATHER is a story of betrayal and vengeance, power and control, love and friendships, obsession and hate. The very slight paranormal , character driven premise is entertaining and engaging; the romance is young and passionate; the characters are determined and dynamic.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

_________

SINNERS AND SAINTS
Ravage Riders 2
by Nikki Landis
Re-Release Date: August 26, 2022
Genre: adult, contemporary, MC, dark, erotic romance

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

ABOUT THE BOOK:

I’d do anything for my club.

The Ravage Riders are my family. They welcomed me in, gave me a safe place to crash away from the horrors and abuse I endured, and my best friend Edge is as close to me as a brother. Nothin’ ever came between us until Rae. We both fell hard. She chose him. I was left standing alone.

I swore I wouldn’t love again. I told myself no other woman could ever be as perfect as Rae. And then, a social worker with good intentions and a perfect smile showed up at the door. Her curvy figure snagged my attention, and then her sultry voice. Cara charmed me from the first word she spoke.

Girls like her don’t fall for guys like me. She’s practically a saint. Cara takes care of kids and the elderly and donates time to a homeless shelter. I swear there’s a bright gold halo over her head. I’m a born sinner. A biker, an outlaw. I ride a Harley and don’t care about obeying the law. The thoughts in my head are downright wicked, and with every fantasy that pops in there, I want to act them out with her.

Deadly secrets emerge along with lies, deceit, and a ruthless ex plotting against the Riders. When Cara’s life is threatened, my protective instincts kick in. She’s mine. No one is tearing us apart. This sinner will unleash hell to protect his saint. And I won’t stop until she’s back in my arms where she belongs.

•••••••

REVIEW: SINNERS & SAINTS is the second instalment (and novella) in Nikki Landis’ contemporary adult RAVAGE RIDERS erotic, MC, slightly paranormal, romance series focusing on the Ravage Riders MC (RRMC). This is social worker Cara, and Ravage Riders MC treasurer RJ’s story line. SINNERS & SAINTS can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary.

WARNING: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from several first person perspectives including RJ, Cara, Edge, Rae and Mack, SINNERS & SAINTS focuses on the building relationship between RJ and Cara. Cara is a social worker at Leah’s school. Leah is the younger sister to Rae (Sins of the Father) but Leah is struggling and the teacher has called in help from our story line heroine. Cara never expected to come face to face with her future in the guise of Ravage Riders MC treasurer RJ, a man whose life she would save a few days later. The Ravage Riders MC are facing a possible war with the Satan’s Outlaw MC, and Cara will be caught in the middle when the time comes to settle a score. What ensues is the quick building relationship between Cara and RJ, and the potential fall-out when Cara is used as a pawn in an effort to draw out the Ravage Riders MC.

The relationship between Cara and RJ is one of immediate attraction but Cara is currently involved with someone else, a man whose illegal activities are about to affect the RRMC. RJ has been in love with his best friend’s ol’lady for as long as he can remember but meeting Cara stirs something deep and permanent for our story line hero. The $ex scenes are limited but passionate and intense.

There is another large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters many of whom we have met in the previous instalment. Mack has regained control over the position of President, his son Edge is now the VP, and the struggling SAA Valan has fallen for a woman who is about to fall for someone else. We are introduced to Cara’s sister Charlotte, and Cara’s so one to be ex-fiance Maxwell Foreman.

SINNERS & SAINTS is a story of power and control, abuse and shame, betrayal and vengeance, acceptance and love. The fast paced premise is engaging and action packed; the romance is quick and captivating; the characters are energetic and charismatic.

I want to address the slight paranormal aspect to the story line premise. The inclusion is very limited and feels unnecessary (so far), and is never truly explained. I am hoping the author soon ‘fleshes’ out the paranormal existence, if only for an explanation as to what is happening and why.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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Nikki Landis is the USA Today & International Bestselling, Multi-Award-Winning Author of over 50 romance novels in the MC, reverse harem, paranormal, dystopian, and science fiction genres. Her books feature deadly reapers, dark alpha heroes, protective shifters, and seductive vampires along with the feisty, independent women they love. There’s heart-throbbing action on every page as well as fated mates and soul bonds deep enough to fulfill every desire.

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Sins of the Father / Liar, Liar (McIntire County 3 & 4) by Winter Austin-Reviews and Excerpts

Sins of the Father / Liar, Liar (McIntire County #3 & 4) by Winter Austin-Reviews and Excerpts

McIntire County 3 & 4

5 out of 5 for this reader folks .. for both books!

This is a double review for the next two books in Winter Austin’s “McIntire County” series. As expected by the experience I had with the first two books, I was very pleased that once again another slam dunk was written. You will find a contemporary story line with serious suspense, intrigue, romance, incredible detail and mystery. So yup, just about everything but the kitchen sink. I was completely captivated from the beginning, and that carried throughout the entire story. Very addicted read.

Let’s move on to the reviews!:)

Liar, LiarLIAR, LIAR
McIntire County #4
by Winter Austin
Release Date: October 30, 2017
Genre:adult, contemporary, romantic, suspense

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 30, 2017

A cowboy sheriff and a by-the-book FBI agent team up to to solve a string of murders and arson in this satisfying, slow-burning McIntire County series finale.

Returning to Eider, Iowa, wasn’t in FBI agent Liza Bartholomew’s game plan, but when word reaches her that an elusive scam artist she’s been tracking for years was spotted there, she heads south. Vengeance for his victims and her career are on the line, and she won’t rest until justice is served.

However, Eider’s sheriff makes for one big roadblock. Between the fallout over his recent close re-election, two gruesome homicides, a rash of arsons, and personal grief weighing on his soul, the last thing Shane Hamilton has time for is a determined FBI agent in his county.

But when it becomes evident that the crime wave and her case are intertwined, Shane makes a bold move that flies in the face of his longstanding vow: He gets close to Liza to share professional and personal secrets.

As the body count mounts, Liza and Shane find themselves and everyone they love in the immediate crosshairs. What will they sacrifice to stop the cold-blooded killer in time?

••••••••••

REVIEW:Liza Bartholomew is our main lady character of this book and she was absolutely incredible. She is a federal agent, determined to solve a case, beautiful and not quite emotionally available. She has returned to town to close a chapter of her life and start a new one that focuses on her family. This case however keeps digging its claws into Liza and pulling her deep into an abyss she is not sure she can come back from.

Shane Hamilton has had enough of you know what hitting the fan with regards to his town. So much has happened over the past few years and Shane is the not so lucky sheriff to have to investigate and relive all these crimes. He also has a heavy heart and is trying to heal from a loss when that troublemaker of an FBI agent decides to cross his path. There is no doubting the attraction he feels towards her, but truth be told, he just wants to give her the best helping hand possible and move on. Working such hard crimes together, it is not long before Liza and Shane start to realize that they are each others rock and soon to be lover. So much danger surrounds them however, and so much is complicated, it is doubtful they can come out of it undamaged .. let alone in love.

So not giving away much of the story beyond that, but I will tell you if you like a good mystery and a serious side of romance then this is a great series for you. Many twists and turns, heart pounding moments, lust, angst, love and undiscovered truths will be experienced here. I strongly recommend that you read ALL the books in order as many characters return and we get glimpses of their pasts and why they are the way they are. Winter does do a great job however, of making sure a synopsis is given in each novel of the the story previously laid out .. so I suppose you could read it as a stand alone … but NAH! LOL

Fantastic series Winter Austin and I eagerly anticipate your next one.

HAPPY READING! 🙂

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Atonement
Born to Die
Sins of the Father
Liar Liar

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Rachel T.

Excerpt beige

Sober Saturday night number 836.
Sixteen years dry.
Enough time to move on, to forget what happened that night sixteen years ago. Yet the anniversary would roll around and he couldn’t stop the binge. Sipping on those memories, downing them one after another, drowning in them until he was drunk. Letting her take him to a dark place in his soul he could never purge. By dawn’s light, he was left wasted and broken, a shell of a man, lying on the floor. Another piece of his soul lost, buried with her in that cold, dark hole.
Shane Hamilton had lived in this hell for so long, it became a ritual. Every April he prepared for it, taking off the day of and the day after. Even during those bleak six years where he was dodging bullets and bombs, he was swirling in a black abyss. This year, the anniversary fell on Saturday.
Hands braced on the tile walls, he watched the water snake along his body and pool at his bare feet. No matter what effort he put in to cleansing his body, or mind and soul, the water never baptized him from his sins.
Twinkling under the harsh electric light, the slim, gold circle danced and twirled at the end of the silver chain. She had danced and twirled under the smoky haze of neon lights, laughing and flirting, making promises that were to never come true.
Shane gripped the diamond ring, ceasing its merry spin, and flattened it to his chest. The emergency room doctor had removed it from her finger and given it to Shane, pity gleaming in the man’s eyes. The doctor’s fingers were heavy as they pressed the ring into his palm; the memory of the band’s slick feel from the blood was branded into his palm. From then on, the ring dangled from a chain around his neck, settling in a place near his heart. A reminder of what he lost in a moment of stupidity.
The jangle of his phone drifted into the bathroom. In the last half hour, he’d heard it go off five times. Lifting his face to the spray of the shower, he commenced with continuing to ignore the persistent caller.
A thrumming ache wove through his muscles and seeped into his bones. Too many years on the rodeo circuit riding some of the rankest broncs and his multiple tours in the Sandbox had left behind a different kind of pain he easily remedied with a few aspirin. Though it was getting difficult to ease the hurt, especially after a night spent on a hardwood floor. Shane turned fifty next month, but felt all of seventy.
Finishing his poor man’s shower, he shut off the faucet and then stepped out of the stall. Once more the old-fashioned telephone ring of his cell phone reached him. Toweling off, he turned his back to the open door.
Sunday morning rays peeked through the gaping brown, plaid curtains. Before passing away, his mother had decorated her little haven with homey touches only a cowboy like himself would enjoy. She had done it because she missed her husband—who passed two years before she did—and for Shane, who was to inherit the family farm. His mother must have believed in her heart that he’d leave this world as a bachelor, never daring to step into that minefield of love again. In reverence to his saintly mother, Shane hadn’t changed a thing.
He wrapped the towel around his waist, and then staggered into his bedroom to dress.
Avoiding the bed with its twisted sheets, he pulled on a pair of jeans and skipped his duty shirt. Today was a dark blue, plaid shirt kind of day. Finger combing his tightly coiled hair, he stepped into his boots and carefully picked a path down the hall. Each step sent flares of pain up his spine. It might be time to consider taking up Doc Drummond on his offer to make an appointment with an arthritis specialist in Iowa City.
Shane removed the half-full coffee pot from the warmer and slowly poured a cup. Lifting the stout mug to his lips, he inhaled the aroma of dark roast and then sipped the strong brew. During his travels all over the world, Shane had fallen in love with Community coffee in Louisiana. He sniffed, reality punching him in the gut. Louisiana had been his little trick rider’s home state; Community had been her favorite coffee. And what she’d loved, he loved, too.
Today was going to be rough. He had to find a way to get past this.
Rummaging through the cabinets, he upended a box of Pop-Tarts and snatched a package. Tearing into the foil with his teeth, he grunted as he bit through both pastries. Almost fifty and still eating like a kid. If she could see him now, she’d probably laugh.
His phone went off like a banshee. Damn it to hell and back! He made a crooked path to the table where the infernal machine continued to squeal. Seven missed calls and eighteen text messages glared at him.
“Shit.” He stabbed a blunt finger at the speakerphone icon. “Murdoch, this better be damn important to interrupt me on my sabbatical.”
“How damn important is it to you that there’s a body in the river, boss?”


 

 

___________________

Sins of the FatherSINS OF THE FATHER
McIntire County #3
by Winter Austin
Release Date: December 2016
Genre:adult, contemporary, romantic, suspense

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 2016

Newly pinned deputy Jolie Murdoch’s first big job as a McIntire County deputy is to locate a missing girl. What Jolie doesn’t expect is to stumble upon a corpse–the girl’s father–with a prime suspect still hanging around. But why would local bartender Xavier Hartmann go off the deep end and bludgeon a man to death?

A former marine, Xavier is barely coping with a traumatic brain injury, and he has no memory of what happened at the crime scene. He came to Eider to confront his past, not get embroiled in a murder as the number one suspect. To make matters worse, as the mystery deepens, Xavier finds himself drawn to the reluctant deputy.

As Jolie fights against mounting pressure to get to the truth, she realizes there’s more to Xavier than meets the eye. But someone is lingering on the fringes, determined to put a stop to her investigation and Xavier’s freedom. Will Jolie do her sworn duty or buck the status quo to give her and Xavier’s newfound passion a chance?

••••••••••

REVIEW: Jolie Murdoch is our leading lady. She has just become a deputy and is eager to start the job on the right foot. She is green enough to follow the rules set out for her, but not to the detriment of an innocent man. She is smart, a little timid and completely dedicated to solving a case of missing girl. She has great gut instinct. When it starts to tell her something is wrong here, and the man suspected of a gruesome crime is actually innocent, she faces many road blocks in her quest to prove his innocence. One of the biggest roadblocks is the man suspected of these crimes … Xavier.

Xavier Hartmann is one hot mess. He is a former marine, reclusive, eager to right a wrong despite his severe memory loss, strong and very handsome. He is also guarding a serious secret. One he cannot jeopardize no matter what happens. Attraction is strong between Jolie and Xavier as is their difficulty to trust. So much is against these two it’s a wonder if they would make it at all.

 

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Rachel T

 

Excerpt

What had happened? Why was Xavier covered in blood and looming over a dead man? Why was Clint Kruger dead? Where was Clint’s daughter, Sarah? And was that a prosthetic in Xavier’s lap?
The unholy smell of decay hanging in the hot June air, making Jolie want to hurl her lunch, wasn’t helping her predicament.
Wait! He was missing a limb? Her stomach twisted in knots, sending a sour taste into her mouth. Oh, this was so wrong, on so many levels.
“Deputy, this … ” His raised, tattooed arms flopped down. “This looks exactly like you think it does.”
“What in God’s name happened?” she demanded.
“I don’t know.”
“What do you mean you don’t know? Clint Kruger is dead.”
“That’s who this is?” Xavier groaned, shaking his head back and forth, muttering, “No, no, no, no.”
Eyelids fluttering in rapid succession, and like a fish, her mouth open and closed. Had he seriously …? How could he not know who Clint Kruger was? Wasn’t Xavier one of many who knew that Sarah was missing and possibly with her estranged father? The news had been all over town for the last twenty-four hours, pictures of the two strung everywhere Sarah’s mother could post them.
“Xavier … ” Jolie approached him cautiously, that nagging voice in the back of her head telling her to draw her weapon, but she ushered the thought away. “If it was self-defense, I’ll understand, but how do you not know what happened?”
Tortured green-gray eyes stared back at her. “I can’t explain it.” The accent he’d done so well hiding leached into his voice in that statement.
She broke out in a sweat. Whoa, baby, she was in it deep. What was she going to do? This was like Ian all over again. She couldn’t screw this up, not like last time. She was a full-fledged deputy now; all eyes were on her, expecting her to botch another case, smearing the good name of Murdoch through the proverbial crap even more than Ian had.
Her radio squawked. “Murdoch, status?” It was Jennings, the currently acting dispatcher.
Xavier’s gaze bore into her as they stared at each other. Could she claim he was a killer, when, in fact, she hadn’t seen him actually kill Clint Kruger? But the evidence before her was damning, and the blood that splattered Xavier’s clothing certainly made him look suspicious.
Don’t do something stupid, Jolie.
“Murdoch, report.”
What should she do?
Sighing, Xavier positioned the prosthetic under his stump and put it on. “You do what you have to do, Deputy,” he said. Then, with an ease that surprised her, he hauled himself upright.
“You could leave. I could pretend I never saw you.” And that right there was how you screwed it all up.


 

About The author

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Winter Austin perpetually answers the question “were you born in the winter?” with a flat “nope.” Living in the middle of Nowheresville, Iowa, with her husband, four teenagers, and two crazy dogs, Winter is trying to juggle a job while writing deadly romantic thrillers.

 

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