Illusions
(In the Arms of the Law, Book 1)
It's all found within The Arms of the Law...
EXCERPT #1:
Trenton ’s finest P.I. had become the
city’s favorite after his first vision had saved the Walker
EXCERPT #2:
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Author: Kacey Hammell
Publisher: Decadent Publishing
Length: 45,000 Words
Sub-Genres: Contemporary, Erotic, Paranormal, Suspense
Protection. Adventure. Love.
It's all found within The Arms of the Law...
Detective Isabella Knowles, a
tough-as-nails cop, lives by the law, and knows what she wants out of life. And
it doesn't include marriage or all that comes with it. Everything
Isabella has ever known seems like an illusion when a new relationship
makes her feel more alive than ever before. She isn’t happy about it
and fights it every step of the way.
Burned by his fiancé years ago,
seer and P.I., Brady Jacobs never wants another commitment in his life.
But his bachelorhood and heart are threatened when he has one of his
visions and see a killer striking too close to the woman he has recently
come to love.
Danger lurks close to home and
neither Brady nor Isabella like that they can’t control every
situation…especially matters of the heart.
REVIEW
Everyone will tell you: "you can’t judge a book by its cover" but I have to tell you that I usually do! When I am picking up a book, even if it is one that was a recommended read, I look at the cover and decide if it is even worth my time to flip it over and read the blurb. There is just so much to read that I feel like I have every right to be picky – so I am. Illusions was no different. I looked at the cover and thought - the guy is hot and she looks like she doesn’t take any shit. This is probably a great action book. I read the blurb and bingo – I am right J!
Brady is a hot ex-military PI and Isabella is a tough as they come detective. Throw in a murder that needs to be solved and this becomes a definite read. But this is just Book One in The Arms of the Law series and author Kacey Hammell is setting the stage for more to come. I myself am looking forward to Connor’s book – hint – hint! If you like action mixed in with your romance, this series is for you!
RATING: 3 ½ chocolate dipped strawberries. Keep writing Kacey!!!!!!!!!!
-Shari, Ndulgent Blogger
EXCERPT #1:
“What’s this? A party and no one told me?”
At the newest addition to the conversation, Isabella’s pulse accelerated
double-time. She looked toward the door
Man, I don’t need this today.
Brady Jacobs walked—no, sauntered—into
the office and heading toward Ethan, spared her not a glance.
Black denim jeans encased his firm, shapely ass like a second skin and a
black T-shirt with sleeves rolled over his beautiful biceps. He looked good
enough to eat. A flood of heat coursed through her body. Brady was a man who
was confident in himself and when he entered the room, there was a ripple
effect. Everyone sat up to take notice of him and women practically swooned,
eager to catch his eye. But Brady rarely gave any one woman the time of day. He
was adamant about keeping his personal life private, and his no-commitment rule
was always in full force. Something he was always upfront about with the
ladies.
“Hey, pal. Great game this morning.” Brady slapped Ethan on the back.
“Shit, Jacobs. You kicked my ass and then some.” Ethan chuckled. “My head
just wasn’t in it today.” Isabella could see Ethan’s gaze move again toward the
newspaper on Alicia’s desk.
If it wouldn’t be obvious, I’d snatch it and run to burn it.
“Morning, Ms. Alicia. How’s my sugar-girl today?” Brady headed over to
Alicia’s desk, ruffling her hair as he stepped behind her, as if she were his
little sister.
Leave it to Brady. Always make the ladies feel special.
“Get lost, Jacobs. I’m sick of seeing you around here,” Alicia said flippantly.
She must really be pissed about the photo. Isabella let out a frustrated
sigh, causing three sets of eyes to look her way.
“Morning, Brady.” Isabella smiled, hoping she looked like a woman with
not a care in the world. “What brings you to the precinct this early in the
morning?”
Brady’s gaze held hers for seconds longer than she would have liked.
“Actually, I came to see Alicia. I need to go over the Vaughn case with
her. I had another vision last night.” He spoke without hesitation.
Within hours, an Amber Alert had been called and hundreds of citizens and
every cop available had combed the Walkers’ woods, looking for the boys. After
six hours without success, exhaustion had set in with many of the volunteers.
Everyone had worked tirelessly, but when there seemed to be no hope in sight,
Brady showed up, at a frantic near-run, and charged into the woods. Within
thirty minutes, he came back out with a boy tucked under each arm.
Only after the Walkers had been calmed, the boys tucked into bed, did
Isabella and Connor question Brady. With much resistance, Brady confessed to
his ESP, the visions that had begun during his stint in the Marines.
Most times, out of nowhere—Brady could be sleeping, driving, taking a
shower—and a vision would claim him. In the eight years since the Walker
While he didn’t have visions for every beating, murder, kidnapping, or
mugging in New Jersey
With each high-profile case solved successfully, Trenton
No one thought anything unkind about him or his visions.
It made his P.I. business a huge success and he took it all in stride.
Isabella admired him for it.
“Damn, Brady. Why didn’t you call me immediately?” Alicia growled in a
disgruntled voice.
“I am telling you, Alicia. I had to get the whole thing in order before
contacting you.” Brady shook his head and headed for the window overlooking West Street
“Well? What have you got for me?” Alicia demanded.
With a chuckle, Brady turned back to Alicia. “Impatient damn woman,
aren’t you? Just like your cousin. Always impatient for more.”
Isabella felt her cheeks burn and prayed Brady wasn’t being an ass on
purpose to start further questions running through Alicia’s mind. She didn’t
need them from her.
“If people would deliver, Brady, I wouldn’t need more,” Isabella declared
with some satisfaction. His eyes turned a darker grey than their normal silver
color.
Don’t mess me
with me and think you’ll win, big guy.
EXCERPT #2:
Knowing she would soon run out of time before his arrival, and getting
more aroused by the second, Isabella hurriedly reached for her bath sponge.
Soaping it up, she cleansed her body with an eagerness she was growing
accustomed to feeling whenever she had plans to see him.
Sponging all suds from her clean body, Isabella pulled the plug in the
drain, and stood in the tub, reaching for a thick, blue towel from the shelf.
She rubbed vigorously at her body, drying it, and reached for the
strawberry body lotion that went with her bubble bath. She poured a generous
amount into her palm, rubbing her hands together to coat them in the sweet
smell. Then she smoothed it over her arms, her breasts, stomach, and legs. The
scent of strawberries made her smile.
Humming Destiny’s Child’s ancient hit Soldier to herself, Isabella
wondered how many more minutes she’d have to wait before her soldier made an
appearance.
She recapped the body lotion and tucked the towel loosely around her once
again. Her heart skipped a beat when she heard the sound of the front door
closing.
She hazarded a glance in the mirror. With the mussed, damp tendrils of
hair around her shoulders, the towel haphazardly wrapped around her, she looked
like a woman eager for a man’s—her man’s—touch.
The sound of a boot hitting the floor with a thud caused her to smile,
and she moved to the doorway of the bathroom.
Hearing another boot drop and the sound of heavy breathing, Isabella
peered into the hallway. When he finally came into view, she was already
breathless, even though she had been expecting him.
Dressed in his usual black denim, form-fitting jeans, and dark hair damp
as if he too had taken a few moments to clean up, he was a sight to behold.
Isabella’s heart thudded rapidly and her legs threatened to give out. She
noticed his leather jacket, undone, over a naked torso. Obviously his
zealousness to be with her had him forgetting a few things.
There they were. The abs, the washboard stomach had her literally
teetering on the edge of orgasm already—and he hadn’t even touched her.
Finally lifting her gaze to his face, his smoldering silver-gray eyes
captured hers. She had to lean against the doorjamb for support.
He always made her speechless. His beauty, his charm oozed from him with
no effort at all. How she had gone so long, so many years as friends with him
and never really noticed him in such a way before? Some detective she was, not
seeing what was directly in front of her.
As he moved toward her, his pace slowed, as if he knew the effect he was
having on her and wanted her to crave him more desperately than ever. His face
broke into a sinful grin, telling her he knew exactly what he was playing at.
Never one to let anyone, least of all this man, have the upper hand,
Isabella let go of the towel she was still holding around her. It slithered
downed her body, pooling at her feet. Noting his small stumble mid-stride, she
relished the power she had over him.
Naked and confident, she smiled at the man she needed to feel against
her. Desperate to have his hands on her, she called to him.
“Brady….”
BUY LINKS:
CONTEST ALERT!
SIMPLY BECOME A FOLLOWER & COMMENT to WIN an "Author Goodie Pack" that includes a pen, magnets, and winner's choice of one Decadent Publishing eBook. CONTEST closes March 23, 11:59 pm.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Canadian-born author, Kacey Hammell is a self-proclaimed book-a-holic,
who began reading romances at a young age and became easily addicted. As
a Mom of three, Kacey has made certain that each of her children know the value
of the written word and the adventures they could escape on by becoming
book-a-holics in their own right.
A
decade ago, while working for multiple review sites, Kacey quickly discovered
that she was developing the writing bug. Thanks to the encouragement of her own
beloved hero husband, she decided to try her hand at writing.
With a
love of contemporary settings, modern day romances and the happily ever after,
as well as the excitement of suspense, Kacey creates stories in genres she’s
familiar with and that she loves most. She also loves vampires who nibble the
necks of the heroines, ghosts who can't leave a loved one, shape-shifters who
are sexier than hell and the thought of her very own werewolf or were-cat to
tame makes her tremble!
CONTACT LINKS:
Thank you so much, Rebecca!!
ReplyDeleteConnor's book hmmm? Book 2 is in edits now -- which features Alicia & Cole -- and I hadn't decided yet who would get book 3 ... you've given me some food for thought :D
Of course, when you meet new characters in book 2 -- you might change your mind!! *wink*
Thanks for the enthusiastic review. Glad you love the book and the cover. I love it too. The cover fit the characters to a T.
You rock. Thanks