Friday, July 22, 2016

Blurb Blitz: Excerpt & Giveaway - Jigsaw by Stella Barcelona

 Jigsaw

by Stella Barcelona

GENRE: Romantic Suspense/Thriller

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BLURB:

Foraging the cyber-world for puzzle pieces…

Zeus Hernandez, a Black Raven partner, is pulled away from a top-secret project to be the personal bodyguard to lawyer Samantha Fairfax. Terrorists have rendered the future frightening and uncertain, but Zeus and Samantha’s past makes two things crystal clear: she’ll be furious to see him and he can’t refuse the job.

Sorting pieces as stakes rise…

Danger surrounds the International Terrorism Tribunal, a court convened to combat terrorism. Samantha is thrust into the limelight when her mentor dies as the trial convenes in Paris, France. Her role requires steadfast focus and nerves of steel. She’s determined to do her job and move her life ahead, according to plan…without Zeus. He’s determined she’ll reconsider.

Completing the puzzle as their worlds collide…

As personal drama escalates behind closed doors, terrorists take aim at an Achilles’ heel that is capable of crippling Zeus, Samantha, and Black Raven. While forcing puzzle pieces to click into place, a personal reckoning looms for these two strong-willed people. There’s no denying they might be better off apart…but they fit together so well.

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EXCERPT:

Black Raven was her grandfather’s go-to security company, and he’d already made the hiring call by the time he first told her his idea. With steadfast insistence, and continued reference to the horrors of terrorist acts that the ITT was examining, he’d worn her down in repeated phone calls. She’d given her grandfather one stipulation; she’d agree to Black Raven protection, but she did not want Jesus Hernandez to have anything to do with her on-site security detail. She didn’t want to see him or hear from him, and she damn well expected her grandfather to make this happen without it becoming an issue.

Jesus Hernandez.

Zeus to anyone who knew him.

Once, years earlier, she’d known him well. Or so she’d thought. Turned out she hadn’t known him at all. She focused her gaze on the intricately cut crystal water pitcher that the waiter placed on the table. In the last twenty-four hours, she’d been too busy with work to worry about whether her grandfather had truly understood the gravity with which she’d made the stipulation. She hadn’t intended the demand as a request. She hadn’t intended it as something her grandfather could consider and reject.

Now, with the hard knock marking the arrival of the private security company and the literal changing of the guard for the amicus team, her stomach twisted into a hard, nervous ball. Samuel knew the reasons why she didn’t want Zeus there. At least he knew some of the reasons why. Surely her grandfather had damn well listened to her?

Knock. Knock. The email notification finally flashed that the message and the attachments were ‘sent.’ The cc copy that she’d sent to herself appeared in her inbox, with an accompanying ding, just as Lorenzo put a vase of fresh flowers on the worktable that he’d transformed into a dining table.

“Done,” she said, shutting down her laptop and standing. “Thank you for all your hard work today.” As Lorenzo stepped away from the table, she said, “Lorenzo, the table is beautiful. Merci beaucoup.”

Knock. Knock. Knock.

She walked across the room as Charles signed for the room service. She opened the door. Zeus, arm lifted and fingers curled together as he prepared to rap on the door again, towered over her five seven by a good ten inches. Dropping his arm to his side, he gave her a cool nod, his brusque manner suggesting a nod was all that was needed to bridge the gap between his decision to leave her and the intervening seven years. “Hello, Sam.”

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Stella Barcelona has always had an active imagination, a tendency to daydream, and a passion for reading romance, mysteries, and thrillers.  She has found an outlet for all of these aspects of herself by writing romantic thrillers.

In her day-to-day life, Stella is a lawyer and works for a court in New Orleans. She lives minutes from the French Quarter, with her husband of seventeen years and two adorable papillons who believe they are princesses. She is a member of Romance Writers of America and the Southern Louisiana Chapter of the Romance Writers of America. Her first novel, DECEIVED, was inspired by New Orleans, its unique citizens, and the city’s World War II-era history. Her second novel, SHADOWS, began her Black Raven series.

She is currently working on her fourth novel, CONCIERGE, another Black Raven novel, which will be released in 2017.





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Buy Link:


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GIVEAWAY:

Stella will be awarding a $50 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.


35 comments:

  1. Booklover Sue - Thank you for hosting Jigsaw.
    Happy Friday, everyone. I'll check in later this evening to see if anyone posted a question. Good luck in the giveaway!

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  2. Thank you for sharing this great excerpt with us! I wish you a happy and healthy weekend! :)

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  3. This definitely sounds like my kind of book, those edge of your seat can't wait to turn the page kind! Can't wait to read it :)

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    1. Victoria - I certainly hope you do read Jigsaw one day! Let me know if Jigsaw and/or my other novels, Deceived and Shadows, fulfill your expectations. Thank you!

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  4. Good luck with the release!

    --Trix

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    1. Trix- thank you, and I wish you good luck on your endeavors.

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  5. Happy Friday! Thank you for the giveaway and chance at winning

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    1. Rita-Thank you. I'm glad you think so, and I hope you do give my novels a try one day.

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  7. This was a really great excerpt.

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  8. Congrats of the tour and thanks for the chance to win :)

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    1. Lisa- Thank you, and good luck in the giveaway!

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  9. What is the hardest about writing?

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    1. Hi Becky - that changes day by day, and with each story. Today my challenge will be focus, because I didn't start off at my usual 5 a.m. writing time, and now I'm distracted by all the things I need to do. I have to be in the writing chair by 2 p.m., and I will need to make those hours count - I'm usually able to focus intensely early in the morning. Mid-afternoon writing sessions require a different mindset. Thanks for the question!

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    1. Mary - you're welcome. Happy to provide the excerpt. Thank you for checking it out!

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  11. Wishing everyone an awesome Saturday. Enjoy your weekend and thanks for the giveaway!

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    1. James - Thanks for the good Saturday wish. Enjoy your weekend, and good luck in the giveaway.

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  12. What's the easiest thing about writing?

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  13. I love romantic suspense. Sounds like an interesting book.

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  14. Good Sunday Morning! Thanks once again for the opportunity to win and enjoy your day!

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  15. Congratulations on your book's release! Good luck on the tour and thank you for the awesome giveaway!

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  16. What is the best book that you have read recently? Thanks for the giveaway. I hope that I win. Bernie W BWallace1980(at)hotmail(d0t)com

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  17. What is the best book that you have read recently? Thanks for the giveaway. I hope that I win. Bernie W BWallace1980(at)hotmail(d0t)com

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  18. Sounds like a great read, hope I'll have a chance to read it soon!

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  19. Good Monday Morning, have a great day and thanks for the opportunity you have given us to win

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  20. Thanks so much for the terrific giveaway and al the work you have put into bringing it to us

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  21. I'm back saying thank you for the chance at winning this great giveaway

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  22. A bright good morning to you! I really appreciate you offering us this giveaway. Thanks and have an awesome day!

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  23. Hello! Stopping by and thanking you for the giveaway. Have yourself one terrific day!

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