Title: Secret Maneuvers
Series: Ex Ops - Book #1
Author: Jessie Lane
Format: eBook
Expected Publication Date: June 15, 2013
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance
Blurb:
Some mistakes from the past haunt us forever... unless fate steps in with a second chance.
One 'dear John' letter haunts Bobby Baker's every living moment. It’s the letter he stupidly wrote to his high school sweetheart, Belle, right after he left to join the Army. The letter that he told her that he wasn't so sure if they were ready for forever yet. But before he can let her know that the letter, and his second thoughts, are nothing but a mistake, she up and disappears from the small Georgia town they were both raised in.
Fifteen years later, Belle unknowingly walks back into Bobby's life when her job as an ATF Agent forces her to work with a group of men secretly headed by the CIA to help her track down whoever is involved in funneling black market weapons to a drug cartel in Mexico.
Bobby will use this mission to try and soothe Belle's hurt feelings while proving to her that their love is still meant for forever. He'll use every dirty trick he's learned since he joined the Army to maneuver her back into his life for the long haul. But Belle's not making it easy as she keeps him at arm's length in the hopes that mistakes of her own never come to light.
Secret Maneuvers –
Release day – June 15, 2013
Goodreads page: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14741886-secret-maneuvers
Secret Maneuvers Two Chapter Excerpt
Page: http://jessielanebooks.com/ex-ops-series/secret-maneuvers-1/excerpt-2/
Secret Maneuvers Playlist Page: http://jessielanebooks.com/ex-ops-series/secret-maneuvers-1/sm-playlist/
Prize Information
- Secret Maneuvers ebook
- Custom designed bag
- Custom designed dog tags
- $50 Gift Card to Amazon or Barnes and Noble
- REV IT UP by Julie Ann Walker
- IN THE AIR TONIGHT by Stephanie Tyler
- FREE FALL by Catherine Mann
- Catherine Mann bookmark
a Rafflecopter giveaway
About the Author
Jessie Lane is the writing team of Crystal
Leo and Melissa Pahl. The two sisters-in-law share a passionate love of naughty
romance, cliff hanging suspense, and out-of-this-world characters that demand
your attention, or
threaten to slap you around until you do pay attention to
them. Because really, it is ALL about the characters. (They're kind of
megalomaniacs - but don't tell them that we said that.)
If
she didn’t stop flailing around like this, she was going to fall and hurt
herself. “Stay still and calm down.”
Ignoring
me, she continued waving her arms around. “Don’t you get it? We’ve been over
for fifteen years!”
Her
body tipped dangerously the other way and, for a second, I thought for sure she
was going to go head first into the wall now, instead of the carpet. The
thought of her accidentally hurting herself was driving me crazy. I ground out
between my teeth, “Calm down and give me your attention, dammit.”
Instead
of doing as I asked, she screeched, “What in the world do you think we need to
talk about?”
I
grabbed her by the hips to keep her from falling on her ass. The gesture
clearly wasn’t appreciated since she started trying to pry my hands off her.
Ignoring her attempts to remove me, I pulled her closer until we were only an
inch apart and she had no choice except to look me in the face.
The
pupils were dilated in those big, beautiful, green eyes of hers. She was panting
and clearly more nervous than outraged. Most of all, she was vulnerable and doing her best to hide it. What she didn’t understand, yet, was that I had no intentions of hurting that vulnerable side of her. I wanted to do the exact opposite. I wanted to protect it and her, so that nothing could ever hurt her again the way I had.
and clearly more nervous than outraged. Most of all, she was vulnerable and doing her best to hide it. What she didn’t understand, yet, was that I had no intentions of hurting that vulnerable side of her. I wanted to do the exact opposite. I wanted to protect it and her, so that nothing could ever hurt her again the way I had.
“Do
I have your attention now?”
Eyes
wide, she nodded.
“Good,
now listen closely because this is important and I want to make sure that it
penetrates somewhere through that thick skull of yours. We were never over,
Belle, not as far as I’m concerned. Maybe on hold until I found you again, but
never really over. I’ve been looking for you since the day you left Sylvania so
I could tell you that
I fucked up. I should have never sent you that letter.”
I fucked up. I should have never sent you that letter.”
Belle’s
breathing was ragged now. Eyes watery, threatening tears at any given second.
Still, she didn’t say a word.
“Do
you understand what I’m trying to tell you, baby? I’m trying to say I’m sorry.
I was so fucking stupid and I will go to my grave regretting how badly I hurt
you, but I didn’t just hurt you, I hurt us both. I’ve been walking around all
these years in pain with what feels like these chunks of my soul missing.
Moving through life with a heart that felt as if it wasn’t actually beating and
how could it? It wasn’t possible because everything that was ever good about me
was missing and it was missing because I didn’t have you.”
What was the
first romance novel you read that made an impression on you?
Crystal: Oy. I’ve read close to a thousand books
since starting to read the romance genre around four years ago, so it’s hard to
remember exactly which one it was. I want to say it was the Black Dagger
Brotherhood by J.R. Ward. If it wasn’t that, then I think it was the Sookie
Stackhouse Series by Charlaine Harris. One of those series got me hooked on
reading romance in general and I’ve been devouring books ever since.
Melissa: I’m actually still a newbie in the romance
genre. I would have to say Lori Foster’s Jude’s Law.
What is your
writing environment?
Crystal: In my dream world my writing environment
is quiet with a zen like calmness. There are no distractions and I’m sitting
somewhere beautiful like the beach. In reality my writing environment includes
two little girls whose favorite phrase seems to be, “MOM! My sister said
_____!” Thankfully reality also comes with music and headphones.
Melissa: My music blaring in the background or on
my headphones. I need to tune out the hubby and his video games. But I would love
a Chaise lounge with soft pillows, a chenille throw and the dog at my feet.*hint, hint Hubby*
One of your
favorite quotes.
Crystal: "Every woman is a rebel, and usually
in wild revolt against herself." – Oscar Wilde
Top
three things on your bucket list.
Crystal: 1) Go swimming with sharks
(in the safety of a cage because I’m only slightly crazy).
2) Go on a vacation to some place
overseas. Ireland, Greece, Rome… somewhere!
3) To hit the NY Times Bestseller
list. Even if I only do it once in my life, it’s a dream of mine I’d love to
achieve.
Melissa: 1) Swimming with dolphins.
2) Watch the Pipe Masters tournament
live in Hawaii. (I love surfing and staring at the guys in their board shorts.
Yummy.)
3) Indoor Skydiving.
What is your
favorite scene in your new release?
Crystal: My favorite scene of Secret Maneuvers
involves the hero’s best friend, Declan, his flooded house from busted pipes, a
shop vac, and some very interesting dialogue. *cheeky grins*
Melissa: I remember when you first sent me that
scene. LOL! I about peed myself I was laughing so hard. I do believe I spit my
drink all over the table when I read the first few lines. I think one of my
favorite scenes in the book was when Annabelle started sharing some
embarrassing memories of Bobby from high school to the guys on the Ex Ops Team.
There’s two of those particular scenes one that involves Bobby sleeping in
nothing but his boxers with a beach ball underneath a trailer, and another
where Bobby had to complete his high school football hazing. Each of them were
inspired by something my brother did before he met Crystal.
What’s your
favorite body part of the opposite sex?
Crystal: I’m not allowed to pick the whole body?
*pouts* My favorite body part on a man is a toss-up between a gorgeous pair of
eyes or a nice muscular back. Yum.
Melissa: The V! Love me some hips. Nah, actually I
love watching the muscles in a man’s back move. *drools*
Hey, baby!
What’s your sign?
Crystal: *bats eyelashes* I’m an Aquarius. This
means I will not hesitate to pour my glass of water all over your head if you
get on my nerves. *snickers*
Melissa: Oh
man. Mines gonna bite me in the ass I just know it hoss.*shakes her head at
Crystal* I’m a Virgo.
What’s an
absolute no-no in a relationship?
Crystal: Cheating. Relationships rarely survive
after a significant other cheats.
Melissa: Lying. Be honest from the get go and man
up if you get caught.
How did you
meet your significant other?
Crystal: Oh my. I fell into one of those tropes
that are popular in romance. Actually a trope with a twist. I met my husband
while I was dating one of his best friends. Not only were they best friends,
but they were also roommates, and I lived with both of them for a short period
of time. And no, there was no cheating done on my part. As if that isn’t
awkward enough, the man I was dating when I met my husband was also one of my
very close friend’s brothers. I did a triple trope! I see a story in my future…
Melissa: We actually worked together when we were
teenagers and it just blossomed from a friendship and we’ve been together for
over 13 years now.
What’s your idea of a perfect date?
Do you
believe in love at first sight?
Crystal: Yes. Unfortunately it doesn’t happen for
everyone though. In a perfect world, I think it would.
Melissa: Sometimes. Gotta have that spark.
Boxers
or Briefs?
Crystal: HELLO… boxer briefs. It’s the
ultimate solution. And the most drool worthy.
Melissa: Commando!
Alpha
or Beta?
Crystal: Alpha. With my personality I’d run
right over a Beta.
Melissa: Alpha. I need someone to keep me in
line.
Planner
or Panster?
Crystal: Before kids, I was a Panster. Now
that I have my two girls, totally a Planner.
Melissa: Both.
White wine or red?
Crystal: White wine. A good German to be specific.
Melissa: White
Coffee or tea?
Crystal: Coffee. It is the elixir of the Gods.
Melissa: Coffee IV.
Vanilla or
chocolate?
Crystal: Chocolate! Gimme the chocolate now and nobody
gets hurt!
Melissa: Ohhh Chocolate.
Laptop
or desktop?
Crystal: I’m a recent laptop conversion. My laptop is my precioussss…
Melissa: I have a laptop but it’s hooked up to another
monitor so now I have two! Multitask!
Beach
or mountains?
Crystal: Beach. The mountains are glorious, but anytime
I’m at a beach my soul feels like its home.
Melissa: Definitely the beach. Love the ocean.
Winter
or summer?
Crystal: Summer. I live in tank tops, jeans, and bare
feet. That’s the good life!
Melissa: Summer please!
Spotlight
or In the Shadows?
Crystal: Shadows. I’m a people watcher. I’m also a tad
bit shy.
Melissa: A little bit of both.
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