If you’re into audiobooks, the first two books in my Men of Steele series—BLIND FURY and BLIND AMBITION—are now available in audio, exclusively at Scribd!
I’ve been waiting years to make this happen, and I’m hoping to get the rest of the series in audio at some point. Fingers crossed they do well and I have more good news soon. 🤞🏻
Are you a Kobo fan? (If you’re not, go get the app, it’s great.) I’m honoring my awesome dad on Father’s Day by putting my only “dad book” BLIND JUSTICE on sale at Kobo for $2.99 through the 19th. Get your copy for the weekend!
A sexy bodyguard. A high-maintenance city girl. Sometimes opposites attract…a killer.
Actually, the hero, Jeff, is more than just a bodyguard, he’s a former combat weatherman, part of the Air Force’s special operations. If you’re a sucker for a badass hot guy with brains who’s also a really good dad, pick up BLIND JUSTICE today!
Blind Justice is out now! Tara Fujimoto has patiently waited—along with you—while four other couples found love. Now, it’s her turn.
She and Jeff Patarava might be opposites in all the obvious ways—he’s outdoorsy and is happiest in the mountains, she likes the city bustle and looking her best—but they’re a perfect match in every way that counts.
Here’s what early readers are saying:
“A suspenseful dual thread story that keeps you on the edge of your seat.” ~Cindy, on Goodreads
“An emotional rollercoaster of a story.” ~Caroline, on Amazon
“Blind Justice is another five star Men of Steele book. There is a swoon-worthy hero trying to do what’s best for those he loves and a strong heroine who is equally prepared to do whatever it takes to get the job done.” ~ Nan, on Goodreads/Amazon
Want to read an excerpt or learn more? Check out the Blind Justice page.
If you're ready to start reading, get your copy in ebook or paperback from your favorite retailer today.
P.S. To celebrate Blind Justice’s release, the ebook of Blind Ambition (Men of Steele #2) is on sale for $1.99 through the end of the month. And Blind Fury (Men of Steele #1) is always free. If you want to go back and catch up on the series, now’s your chance.
Tara Fujimoto's story is almost here! She's played an integral role in every Men of Steele book since she first got into trouble in Blind Fury (Book 1), so I'm excited to have found her perfect match in Jeff Patarava, a former Air Force Combat Weatherman (yes, it's a real special operations role).
He craves the outdoors. She's a hardcore city girl. Sometimes opposites attract…a killer.
And then it gets hot. 🔥
When Tara Fujimoto’s quest to avenge her sister’s death makes her a target, a sexy security specialist steps in to watch her back, but his quiet appeal threatens her carefully guarded heart. Can she resist their lightning-hot attraction, and stay alive long enough to expose her enemy?
Former military special operator Jeff Patarava has good reasons to keep his distance from his impossibly perfect coworker, but when her life is threatened, his resolve is shot to hell. Forced into close proximity, sparks fly as he learns she’s far more than her flawless appearance suggests. Now, he’ll put everything on the line to keep her alive.
Preorder Blind Justice today from your favorite retailer!
A sexy bodyguard. A high-maintenance city girl. Sometimes opposites attract…a killer.
When Tara Fujimoto’s quest to avenge her sister’s death makes her a target, a sexy security specialist steps in to watch her back, but his quiet appeal threatens her carefully guarded heart. Can she resist their lightning-hot attraction, and stay alive long enough to expose her enemy?
Former military special operator Jeff Patarava has good reasons to keep his distance from his impossibly perfect coworker, but when her life is threatened, his resolve is shot to hell. Forced into close proximity, sparks fly as he learns she’s far more than her flawless appearance suggests. Now, he’ll put everything on the line to keep her alive.
Special Operations Weather Team Airmen like Jeff Patarava are a blend of air commando and meteorologist, trained to covertly enter hostile or denied territory to assess the terrain and weather in support of other special operations teams. Pretty cool, right?
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. — Combat weathermen participate in training exercises. (USAF Courtesy photo)
Jeff's motor home is similar to the one in this stock photo.
Not fun, but important facts:
Child pornography is devastating to its victims. Want to help? The Innocent Justice Foundation, lists actions steps that one can take to stop child pornography. In addition, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children offers tons of information on child safety, and operates a Cyber Tipline for reporting information you may have about a child being exploited online.
If you think someone you know is considering suicide, encourage them to get help or call a lifeline. (And if it’s you, please talk to someone in person or on the phone who can help. The world needs you.) In the U.S., call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (800-273-8255) to reach a trained counselor. Use that same number and press “1” to reach the Veterans Crisis Line. The Mayo Clinic has more suggestions for how to help in their article entitled “Suicide: What to do when someone is suicidal.”
Excerpt
CHAPTER ONE
“Unbutton your top a little more,” Mars said, flipping his dark blond hair out of his eyes as he adjusted a setting on an enormous camera.
Tara Fujimoto hesitated. Aided by her underdeveloped stature and a heavy hand with some black eyeliner, she had convinced him she was a naive teenager, but her reluctance was all too real.
“Do you really want to be a model?” the photographer asked with a sigh.
She nodded and forced an earnest smile. “More than anything.”
“Then trust me to know what will make you a star.” He stalked across the light-filled DC loft, his face intent. “If you’re not comfortable with your body, you’ll never make it in this industry.” Grabbing her shirt, he jerked open the remaining buttons one by one.
She gasped when his fingers brushed the tops of her breasts as he spread the cloth wide to reveal her black bra.
“Hey.” She shoved his hands away. “I can do it.” For Emily.
If this were a real photo shoot, she would walk out now. Nobody should have to put up with this predator’s shit for even a minute. But this wasn’t about Tara. It was about her sister. About revenge on the man who’d driven Emily to take her own life. About protecting other girls from this vile man who preyed on their hopes and dreams.
Unlike when Emily had been at his mercy, all Tara had to do if she needed help was utter “I want to leave,” and one of Steele’s security specialists would ride to the rescue.
Mars narrowed his blue eyes and shook his head. “With that attitude, you’re not going to get very far.” He reached forward and unbuttoned the top of her jeans and dropped the zipper.
Tara jumped back, her heart pounding for escape. “Stop.”
“Don’t be a child. This is how the industry works. If it’s not me, it’ll be someone else.” Instead of retreating, Mars backed her into the wall and caged her with his hands. “I can make or break you in this world, Tara,” he said, his voice low and husky. “You’re a pretty girl, but I can make you beautiful. Who do you think catapulted Karina Hempstead and Ivy Tanaka to stardom?” His steely blue gaze met hers as he gave her an oily smile. “Me.” He ran the tip of his finger down her sternum.
Tara steeled herself against the nausea climbing her throat.
He leaned in. “Do you know how I get a girl to look her best on film?” he asked, his breath hot on her neck.
“No.” She cringed at how weak she sounded, even if it fit the role.
He flicked open the clasp at the front of her bra, sliding it and her shirt off her shoulders before she realized what was happening.
She flinched and pushed at his chest. “Stop.”
He grabbed her wrists and pressed them to the wall, holding her hostage for his lecherous perusal far too easily. “Every woman is more beautiful after a good fucking. It’s my secret to success.”
Twisting against his hold, she aimed a knee toward his groin.
Mars laughed and easily dodged. “Ah, now you’re getting feisty.” His face darkened. “I like it.”
“I’ve changed my mind. I want to leave.”
“Come on, Tara. I’ll be good to you.” He pressed his thigh between her legs, pinning her to the wall. “You’re going to look amazing. Just surrender to the process and I promise you’ll be an even bigger star than Ivy.”
Her chest tightened. Too much could happen before Jeff intervened. She needed to get free of Mars now.
Forcing herself to relax, she widened her eyes. “Bigger than Ivy?” she asked in a breathy voice.
Mars gave her a triumphant smile, as if he’d hooked her. Is that how it had happened with the other girls? Had they given in, thinking sex with this man was a necessary evil for the career they craved, or had they fought the whole time like Emily?
Adrenaline pummeled her veins. Her stomach churned. No matter how it went down, none of them should’ve had to suffer this asshole’s revolting touch.
“Much bigger.” He leaned back and gave her a quick once-over. “Your breasts are small, but you’re not built like a boy.” He released his hold and slid his hands down her arms, his gaze following his progress.
Tara swallowed against the bile rising in her throat. Don’t panic. Jeff’s on his way. Not bothering to suppress a shiver, she waited until Mars smoothed rough fingers over her collarbone and squeezed her breasts.
Then she punched him square in the throat.
“I told you to stop, asshole.”
As Mars staggered back, his eyes and mouth open in shock, the door flew open with a bang.
A scowling Jeff rushed in, his hands fisted, face red. “Tara?” His eyes widened at the sight of her half naked before he averted his gaze.
She crossed her arms over her chest, her left hand throbbing from the punch. Her body started to shake and she had an overwhelming sensation of falling apart, turning to rubble.
“You okay?” Jeff asked, not looking directly at her.
“Fine.” Or, she would be once she was dressed and the bastard eyeballing Jeff with a healthy and advisable dose of fear was in police custody.
“What about your hand?”
“I’m fine.” She’d ice it later.
“Turn around and take a seat,” Jeff told Mars, straightening to his full height of six-four. He wasn’t as beefy as Dan or Kurt, but his size and obvious strength could still intimidate.
Manhandling and threats were off the table—they didn’t want to give Mars’s lawyers any ammunition—but the shorter, thinner photographer must have decided he didn’t stand a chance against Jeff, because he followed orders without protest.
Grabbing her bra and shirt from the floor, Tara quickly dressed, not bothering to tuck anything in. She snagged her pea coat from the coatrack and shrugged into the thick wool, glad for the additional barrier from the men to whom she’d already bared too much.
She rummaged through her purse with trembling hands, located her cell phone, and dialed. Keeping her gaze firmly on the floor while one arm encircled her waist, she said, “Yes, I’d like to report an assault.”
Sometimes, we have to let go of our expectations. Of life, of others, and of ourselves.
Okay, well, we don’t have to, but we’ll probably be really unhappy…
I got a good reminder of this last week when I had a couple of trusted writer friends read my upcoming book. While they had good things to say, they also made some valid points about things that need to be fixed.
What? Now? But, but…this book is supposed to come out on May 13th. I already had it edited, got the cover designed, had the proofreader scheduled, and…well, everything.
But what’s more important, speed or quality? For me, there’s no question. Quality trumps speed.
So I had to let go of my plan and adjust my expectations. The book needs more work, simple as that.
I’m incredibly thankful to my (honest) friends for bringing the story’s issues to my attention. (Funny how you sometimes can’t see these things until someone points them out to you, and then you think, “Duh.”) I’d rather have it be my friends/beta readers than my paying readers!
To those of you who were looking forward to reading Blind Justice in May, thank you, I love you, and I’m sorry. I hope when you finally read it, you’ll think it was worth a few more months’ wait. I sincerely believe the book will be much stronger.
And I’ve learned something about myself. I will continue to strive for better books at a faster pace, but I need to honor my process and be true to my characters and their stories. There are authors out there who can produce a book every two to three months. I applaud them!
At this point in time, I’m not one of them.
I’m trying to let go of unrealistic expectations—both in my personal and professional life—and focus on creating the best books I can. I know that little spot at the base of my neck that carries all of my tension will thank me. 😉
Has anything forced you to let go of your expectations? Please share!
Photo credit: By U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Apprentice Eric Cutright (Public domain), via Wikimedia Commons
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