Collateral Damage is Out Now!
Hello again!
I have a few special things to tell you about this time around. First, I’m thrilled to announce the release of the final Bagram Special Ops book. Honor and Liam’s story is full of emotional angst and heartbreak, and I was glad to give them another shot at a happy ending together. I hope you’ll enjoy their story, as well as seeing the Bagram crew brought together one last time. I’ll admit, I’m sad to say goodbye to these guys!
Pride tore them apart…Warrant Officer Honor Girard made the worst mistake of her life in walking away from the man she promised to marry—and she knows it. An attack on base unexpectedly pushes them together and in the aftermath she realizes she can’t let him go a second time. Only he’s not willing to let her back in. After orders send her back stateside she realizes she’s probably lost him forever. It will take either a miracle to bring them back together—or a life-altering tragedy.
Only forgiveness can bring them back together.
Major Liam Magrath lives his life on the edge, flying dangerous missions with the Army’s elite Night Stalkers. Since losing Honor he’s been totally focused on his career, his missions and the welfare of his crew. Then she’s suddenly thrust back into his life and tells him the last thing he expects to hear: she wants another chance. Losing her once was hard enough—giving her another shot isn’t an option. He’s determined to keep his heart walled off from the only woman he’s ever loved, until a catastrophic terrorist attack on American soil changes everything. Now that he’s finally made up his mind to go after her, however, it may be too late. Liam is determined to fight for her at all costs—but first they’ll have to fight for their lives in a disastrous attack that hits far too close to home.
Buy Links:
Excerpt:
Freshly showered and changed into her nightwear, Honor settled on her bunk to read a while. Footsteps outside alerted her that her solitude was about to be interrupted so she set down her e-reader and looked at the plywood door, expecting to see either Ace or their new roomie, Barb, come in.
The door slid open and she stared in shock as Liam walked in instead.
He shut it tight behind him, his green eyes locked on her. Honor stood slowly, aware of her heart pounding in the sudden silence. He looked tired but too sexy for words standing there in his desert camo pants and light tan T-shirt that hugged his muscular chest and upper arms. A slight shadow of stubble covered his jaw.
He raked that intense green gaze over her, taking in the Night Stalkers T-shirt he’d given her when they’d been together. Maybe she’d been stupid to keep it but when she wore it she felt less alone and it helped her remember all the good times when they’d been together.
Liam’s eyes stopped at her breasts, where the font read Death Waits in the Dark above the Night Stalker logo. Her nipples tightened instantly against the soft cotton as heat punched through her.
Crossing her arms over her breasts, she found her voice. “What are you doing here?”
His gaze shifted to hers. “Heard you’re going back stateside soon.”
“Yeah.” And? She felt vulnerable as hell standing there in nothing but his shirt and a pair of sleep shorts. Then realization dawned and she narrowed her eyes. “Did you set this up with Ace?”
Looking totally unapologetic, he nodded.
Honor didn’t understand. “Why?”
“Wanted to see you.”
Arms still clamped across her chest, she cocked her head, refusing to allow herself to feel hopeful. Didn’t matter how much she felt or how much she still wanted him, because she couldn’t have him. “Why’s that?”
He didn’t answer, only stared at her with those hungry green eyes.
Her belly flipped as she imagined them on her bunk, his hard body on top of hers as he pinned her to the bed. Irritated, she scowled at him and raised her chin. She didn’t have time for games. “Seriously, what do you want, Liam?” Why show up here, now, when there was nothing left to say and she was leaving in two days?
Rather than answer, he reached out one hand to snag a chair set against the wall and slid the top of its back beneath the door handle, barricading the door. She tore her gaze from the powerful muscles shifting in his arms and chest to find him watching her with that hot, piercing stare.
His expression was hungry. Predatory.
“Closure,” he rasped out.
*end excerpt*
Second, if you haven’t already read my Hostage Rescue Team Series, the first three books (Marked, Targeted and Hunted) are now available in a box set.
Buy Links:Next up are two box set collaborations I’m part of. The first is Heroes In Uniform, a set of 11 romantic suspense books by a powerhouse lineup of talented authors I’m excited to be included in. My contribution is Danger Close (Bagram Special Ops #4), and there are two brand new books included in the set. It’s up for pre-order right now and will release June 9th.
And, finally, there are only a few days remaining for you to buy the Fearless anthology, where 100% of the royalties go to the charity VetSports, helping wounded combat veterans.What am I working on next? Schroder’s story–HRT book #5 :). Hope to release it in late summer.
Happy reading, everyone, and thank you so much!
Kaylea
Hunted is Here!!!
I’m so thrilled to announce that Hunted is now live! This third installment of myHostage Rescue Team Series is my favorite so far and I just completely fell in love with the hard-edged, remote Bauer, so I hope you will too.
Blurb:She’s the one woman he can’t have.
Past experience has taught FBI Special Agent Clay Bauer not to trust his judgment when it comes to the opposite sex, yet despite his jaded outlook there’s one woman he can’t get out of his head—and she’s off limits. They’re opposites in every way but Zoe’s gotten deep under his skin and when she’s drawn into a dangerous situation against a faceless enemy he steps in to help protect her. Then she disappears without a trace and the loss leaves him reeling. Now he’ll do whatever it takes to bring her back alive.
By the time he realizes what she means to him it could be too late.
Former family lawyer Zoe Renard has been through her own heartbreak but she can’t ignore the magnetic pull between her and Clay. When he comes to New Orleans for a conference, it’s the perfect opportunity for her to see if there might be something real between them. Just as desire ignites into something more powerful than either of them imagined, she’s targeted by a madman bent on revenge. With her life on the line, it’s a race for Clay and his teammates to find her and save her from certain death.
Excerpt:
Decision made, he crossed to the slider and gripped the handle. Zoe’s head jerked up when he began to slide it open. She shut the laptop and set it aside as he stepped out. It only took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the darkness, broken by the faint glow of a streetlamp across from her building. Now he heard the quiet sounds of jazz floating from down the block, people talking as they passed by on the sidewalk beneath her balcony.
“Couldn’t sleep, or did I wake you up?” she whispered, scooting aside to make room for him.
Clay lowered himself onto the daybed beside her, momentarily distracted when the hem of the robe rode up her thighs as she bent her legs and tucked her feet beneath her. Can’t sleep because I want to be buried inside you.
“What are you doing working at this time of night?” he asked instead, reaching out to tuck a lock of silky hair behind her ear. His fingers slid through the strands in a caress far gentler than he was feeling at the moment, when all he wanted was to pin her flat on this bed and devour her, inch by inch. Another scene from one of her books popped into his head. The one where the hero had surprised the heroine from behind one night, pinning her down and taking her right there out on the lawn, where anyone might see them.
The balcony wasn’t a lawn, but the scene was hot and gave him ideas. Zoe pinned beneath him on the daybed, naked and wet for him, fighting to stay quiet while he made her come. He was rock hard at the thought.
Zoe stilled at the contact and stared at him questioningly. Thunder rolled faintly in the distance, the air suddenly feeling heavier. “Couldn’t sleep, and I like working in the middle of the night anyway. It’s quiet, the moon’s out and there’s something magical and sensual about sitting out here creating worlds and characters while jazz music floats up from down the street.”
There was something magical and sensual going on here, yeah, but it had nothing to do with the city or its music.
He let his fingertips trail along the side of her face as he lowered his hand. Her skin was so soft, just touching her like that made him hard all over. He caught her quiet indrawn breath, noted the way her nipples hardened against the satiny fabric of the robe and knew she was naked underneath.
Clay looked up into her eyes, saw the pupils expand in the faint lamplight. In the sudden stillness the air around them seemed to crackle with latent energy.
Clay gripped the edge of the quilt she’d spread onto the bed to keep from touching her again. “Tell me no, Zoe.” His voice was deeper than normal, raspy, but he couldn’t control it or the desire streaking through him.
She licked her lips, leaving them shiny in the soft light, making him want to taste those tempting curves. “Why? Because you turned me down earlier?”
He should get a damn medal for that. “Because you’re supposed to be off limits.”
Her chin came up, a defiant expression on her face that only made the desire flare hotter. He loved that she didn’t back down from his direct challenge. He got the feeling Zoe didn’t back down from anything. “Says who?”
“People who care about you.” Tuck, for one, and that should be enough. Clay was sure Celida would have said something to warn her off him too.
Zoe studied him for a moment while the heat built inside him, wanting to be unleashed. “What about you? Do you care about me?” she asked softly.
He did. More than he’d ever expected to. “Yeah.” And even though that meant he should get up and walk away, he couldn’t help but reach out a hand to touch the stubborn point of her chin, rub his thumb lightly across her full lower lip. “And so you need to tell me no, right now, before I do something you might regret later.”
She inched closer, leaning forward at the waist, and the combined lust and anticipation in her gaze made him bite back a groan. Her whisper was seductive as hell. “I’m not going to regret it.”
Clay heard as much as felt his control snap.
*end excerpt*
I can’t wait for you to red Zoe and Bauer’s story!
Right now I’m hard at work on book #4, Disavowed, which features the HRT commanding officer, Matt DeLuca. I’m hoping for a January release. After that, I’m going to write a story for Honor and Liam, the 5th couple in my Bagram Special Ops Series. I hope you guys are as excited as I am!
Happy reading,
Kaylea
Get Ready For Hunted
Book 3 in the Hostage Rescue Team series is coming out in just two weeks!!! I hope you’re as excited for Bauer’s story as I am. I loved writing this one, especially because he’s SO intense and pairing him with Zoe was delicious fun. Yum.
Blurb:She’s the one woman he can’t have.
Past experience has taught FBI Special Agent Clay Bauer not to trust his judgment when it comes to the opposite sex, yet despite his jaded outlook there’s one woman he can’t get out of his head—and she’s off limits. They’re opposites in every way but Zoe’s gotten deep under his skin and when she’s drawn into a dangerous situation against a faceless enemy he steps in to help protect her. Then she disappears without a trace and the loss leaves him reeling. Now he’ll do whatever it takes to bring her back alive.
By the time he realizes what she means to him it could be too late.
Former family lawyer Zoe Renard has been through her own heartbreak but she can’t ignore the magnetic pull between her and Clay. When he comes to New Orleans for a conference, it’s the perfect opportunity for her to see if there might be something real between them. Just as desire ignites into something more powerful than either of them imagined, she’s targeted by a madman bent on revenge. With her life on the line, it’s a race for Clay and his teammates to find her and save her from certain death.
Excerpt:
Decision made, he crossed to the slider and gripped the handle. Zoe’s head jerked up when he began to slide it open. She shut the laptop and set it aside as he stepped out. It only took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the darkness, broken by the faint glow of a streetlamp across from her building. Now he heard the quiet sounds of jazz floating from down the block, people talking as they passed by on the sidewalk beneath her balcony.
“Couldn’t sleep, or did I wake you up?” she whispered, scooting aside to make room for him.
Clay lowered himself onto the daybed beside her, momentarily distracted when the hem of the robe rode up her thighs as she bent her legs and tucked her feet beneath her. Can’t sleep because I want to be buried inside you.
“What are you doing working at this time of night?” he asked instead, reaching out to tuck a lock of silky hair behind her ear. His fingers slid through the strands in a caress far gentler than he was feeling at the moment, when all he wanted was to pin her flat on this bed and devour her, inch by inch. Another scene from one of her books popped into his head. The one where the hero had surprised the heroine from behind one night, pinning her down and taking her right there out on the lawn, where anyone might see them.
The balcony wasn’t a lawn, but the scene was hot and gave him ideas. Zoe pinned beneath him on the daybed, naked and wet for him, fighting to stay quiet while he made her come. He was rock hard at the thought.
Zoe stilled at the contact and stared at him questioningly. Thunder rolled faintly in the distance, the air suddenly feeling heavier. “Couldn’t sleep, and I like working in the middle of the night anyway. It’s quiet, the moon’s out and there’s something magical and sensual about sitting out here creating worlds and characters while jazz music floats up from down the street.”
There was something magical and sensual going on here, yeah, but it had nothing to do with the city or its music.
He let his fingertips trail along the side of her face as he lowered his hand. Her skin was so soft, just touching her like that made him hard all over. He caught her quiet indrawn breath, noted the way her nipples hardened against the satiny fabric of the robe and knew she was naked underneath.
Clay looked up into her eyes, saw the pupils expand in the faint lamplight. In the sudden stillness the air around them seemed to crackle with latent energy.
Clay gripped the edge of the quilt she’d spread onto the bed to keep from touching her again. “Tell me no, Zoe.” His voice was deeper than normal, raspy, but he couldn’t control it or the desire streaking through him.
She licked her lips, leaving them shiny in the soft light, making him want to taste those tempting curves. “Why? Because you turned me down earlier?”
He should get a fucking medal for that. “Because you’re supposed to be off limits.”
Her chin came up, a defiant expression on her face that only made the desire flare hotter. He loved that she didn’t back down from his direct challenge. He got the feeling Zoe didn’t back down from anything. “Says who?”
“People who care about you.” Tuck, for one, and that should be enough. Clay was sure Celida would have said something to warn her off him too.
Zoe studied him for a moment while the heat built inside him, wanting to be unleashed. “What about you? Do you care about me?” she asked softly.
He did. More than he’d ever expected to. “Yeah.” And even though that meant he should get up and walk away, he couldn’t help but reach out a hand to touch the stubborn point of her chin, rub his thumb lightly across her full lower lip. “And so you need to tell me no, right now, before I do something you might regret later.”
She inched closer, leaning forward at the waist, and the combined lust and anticipation in her gaze made him bite back a groan. Her whisper was seductive as hell. “I’m not going to regret it.”
Clay heard as much as felt his control snap.
*end excerpt*
Targeted is Here!
Woohoo!!! Targeted (Hostage Rescue Team Series #2) is now live at all the vendors, in digital and in print, just in time for the long weekend. I can’t wait for you to read Tuck and Celida’s story!
If you’re interested, I’ll be doing some giveaways on my Facebook page today and tomorrow to celebrate.
Blurb:
After an attack on the job that nearly killed her, Special Agent Celida Morales is determined to salvage her reputation in the FBI and get back to the career she loves. Domestic terrorism has left its mark on her—literally—and now she’s more determined than ever to leave her mark on it. But when a hostage situation takes an unexpected turn she’s confronted with the realization that she may not only lose the hostages, but also the only man she’s lost her heart to.
Hostage Rescue Team assault team leader Brad Tucker has always wanted Celida but professional conduct and her unwillingness to commit stood in the way. For more than a year he’s been juggling the increasing demands of his job and personal life, but after Celida was almost killed, none of those reasons matter anymore. Tuck knows it’s time to claim her and he’s ready to lay it all on the line. Then an op turns deadly and it’s a race to bring down a well-trained enemy bent on settling an old score, a man who doesn’t care how many innocent people get in his way.
Tuck kept his eyes locked with hers, his resolve clear in his expression and in his body language. “The day you were wounded it scared the hell out of me that I’d almost lost you. You matter to me. Always have. I want you. To be with you.”
Every nerve ending in Celida’s body lit up, a wave of heat flooding her so fast that for a moment it felt like she was drowning. She couldn’t believe he’d just admitted all that without being under torture. Though knowing Tuck, his training and experience in the years he’d spent in Delta, even torture wouldn’t have made him say it if he didn’t want to.
His gaze sharpened, heated. “I mean for more than sex, darlin’.”
“How much more?” she managed to get out, loving everything about this conversation but balking at the thought of being locked into something she wasn’t ready for.
His gaze never wavered from hers. “As much as you’ll give me.”
“Okay.” It came out all breathy and soft, but it was the best she could manage when drawing in oxygen seemed impossible. She was on her feet without realizing it, already reaching for him when he held out a hand to stop her. She froze, looked at him questioningly.
She heard the warning note in his voice, knew it likely was because he knew she didn’t do long-term, but it barely registered above the territorial vibe he was giving off.
His expression relaxed at her answer, the tension in his shoulders easing. Without a word he took the remaining step to close the distance between them and took her face in his hands. Such a powerful man, yet capable of such gentleness too. The tender, possessive gesture nearly undid her.
Happy reading,
Kaylea