About the Book
A recovering alcoholic, Jake Inman has found a new, healthier addiction: training for his successful triathlon career. But when his manager is murdered and beloved goddaughter kidnapped, another obsession takes hold: doing whatever it takes to find Brandon’s killer and keep Amy safe. Jake turns to a private investigator for help in solving the case, and though he finds temptation in her whiskey-colored eyes, he knows he must resist his attraction, or risk losing his heart.
After a devastating case, Winona Wall has turned her back on her skills as a private investigator, preferring a quiet life as a part-time bartender. That is, until Jake storms into the bar, demanding her help in tracking his missing godchild. Unable to resist Jake’s charm, she reluctantly agrees. But even after Amy is found unharmed, Jake insists Amy’s mother was more involved with her kidnapping than the police suspect. When the situation takes a turn for the worse, Winona must trust her instincts in order to save them all - and avoid falling in love.
Book Trailer - http://youtu.be/XitSokLHmDc
About the Author
During her senior year in high school, Angela Smith was dubbed most likely to write a novel, and that has been her dream ever since her mother read 'Brer Rabbit' to her and her sister so often that they were able to recite it back to each other before they learned to read. Ever since then, she hasn't stopped reading or writing. A certified paralegal, work gives her perfect fodder for her romantic suspense stories. When not caring for her small farm or spending time with her husband of two decades, she enjoys creating, reading, and dreaming of the places she’ll visit one day.
Website – http://www.loveisamystery.com
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/authorangelasmith
Twitter – http://twitter.com/angelaswriter
Excerpt from FINAL MEND
Jake Inman’s head was about to explode. His lungs ached. His limbs burned. The pressure of his body filled his ears with a dark, cavernous force, demanding attention, leaving him fearful this could be it. His last breath.
He sailed out of the water, captured a lungful of air, and dove under again. The tangle of water and elbows created a blender-like experience. Churning, gurgling, disturbing his equilibrium. Not long ago, this situation would have panicked him, but swimming with a group of triathletes fighting for the position he wanted forced him to move forward, stroke by stroke.
He no longer panicked, even when he couldn’t breathe. He knew it was only temporary, and he’d been through a hell of a lot worse. He’d learned to control his fear, letting the water soothe him as it slid across his skin.
A sliver of light penetrated the depth as he surfaced for another quick breath before diving underwater. He fought for control as he maintained a continuous flow of air supply, his arms gliding in swift forward motions as he focused on the swimmers around him.
He thought of yesterday, of Brandon and his concerns for Amy, but the image of the two people he loved most in the world held a dangerous distraction. Swimming took enough energy. During the most stressful events of his life, water relieved him of his pain. Not drugs, not alcohol, not women. Not anymore.
He could thank his cousin Brandon for that.
Which was why he was having such a hard time focusing today. Brandon was in trouble and when Brandon was in trouble, Jake was troubled. But Brandon had insisted Jake continue with his triathlons while he took care of everything.
Jake hoped everything would work out for the cousin who had helped him through the darkest part of his life. He knew Brandon was a good man, a good father, and the courts would have to see what a lousy mother Lillian was. She claimed Brandon was never home, didn’t have enough time to give his daughter a home she needed, and he was trying to prove the courts wrong. The courts had granted temporary custody to Lillian until the divorce, with Brandon having visitation every other weekend. This arrangement wouldn’t have been so bad if Lillian weren’t bat-shit crazy. But Lillian had never cared about her daughter until now, now when it might hurt Brandon or now when Lillian might get something out of it.
If Amy were old enough, it wouldn’t be a problem. She’d choose to live with Brandon and all would be fine. Jake knew Amy would be better off in foster care than with her own mother. But Amy was too young to know, too young to let her know, so Brandon continued to play nice while the court decided his seven-year-old daughter’s fate.
As he reached the end of his swim, Jake pulled himself out of the water and refocused. Time to change as quickly as possible, refuel, and head for his next meet with the bike. He loved the bike, the burning in his calves, the way the wind tore at him as he pedaled. But swimming was his favorite, and his most feared. When he jumped into the water, he faced his fears all over again.
And conquered them every time.
He rushed to his bike and noticed Shawn hovering nearby, waiting. Worry kinked his muscles. He controlled it with slow breaths. “Jake.” Shawn laid a hand on his shoulder. Jake tied his shoes and ignored Shawn.
“Jake.” He straightened, a shiver running through him at Shawn’s deadpan voice. “I’ve got to go. What is it?” Shawn had worked with Brandon’s management team for years, but Brandon was usually the one to accompany Jake on his meets. Shawn’s presence usually meant something wasn’t right. His job was mostly public relations, and he only attended meets when he had to make sure their athletes were making a good impression. As far as Jake knew, he hadn’t pissed anybody off.
Jake reached for his bike, but at this point he wasn’t sure he’d finish the race. He might just pedal to his truck, to Brandon and Amy.
“Amy is missing,” Shawn said.
Jake dropped his hand. Let his bike fall. Blood pounded to his head as he tried to absorb this news. He faced Shawn. No way could he have heard him right. “What?”
“She’s ... missing. Someone broke into their house—”
“Someone broke in?” Fear kept him grounded, preventing any action. He needed to reach Brandon as soon as possible. Send out search parties for Amy. No, they needed to go after Lillian. There was no break-in. Lillian had taken her own daughter. She had custody and still had taken her. Anything to hurt Brandon. Anything to make him look bad.
“Jake?” Frown lines cut into Shawn’s forehead.
No way would Jake calm down. Brandon needed him. Amy needed him. Shawn needed to get out of the way so he could go to them.
Shawn planted a palm on Jake’s chest when he tried to sidestep him. “Brandon is dead.”
Giveaway of Paperback or Ebook of FINAL MEND
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