February 21, 2012
Digital Novella
Murder She Writes Press
ISBN-10: 061560479X
ISBN-13: 978-0615604794
Genre: Contemporary
Guns and Roses
Featuring Sylvia's novelette, Blood and Roses
When insurance investigator Anastasia Miller sets out to retrieve the rose-hued pink diamonds stolen in a recent heist, she finds herself working alongside former flame, deputy U.S. Marshal Jake Monroe—the man she loved enough to leave behind.
Murder She Writes presents a one-of-a-kind romantic suspense anthology with ten all-new, never-before-published short stories and novellas that promise thrills, chills, romance, intrigue, passion, danger, murder...and love. Penned by New York Times and award winning authors, some stories in this exclusive collection will make you laugh out loud while others will force you to sleep with the lights on.
Dead Flowers by Lori Armstrong
Cynical, bad girl PI Julie Collins isn't the hearts and flowers type, especially not after she's spent the last few weeks spying on cheating spouses. So when Julie suspects her man, Martinez, may be stepping out on her, she sees red and decides to take matters into her own hands. Let's just hope Cupid's Bow gets to Martinez before Julie does.
Above Reproach by Allison Brennan
Sex crimes detective Selena Black knows high-powered government attorney Greg Keller is the River City Rapist; proving it is another matter. Keller enjoys the cat and mouse game with the blonde detective, and makes sure she knows she's exactly his type. As every possible avenue of investigation is shut down by the courts or her boss, Selena realizes that if someone doesn't do something to stop Keller, more women will suffer–and she may be next.
The Housewife Assassin's Bloody Valentine by Josie Bown
What is CIA contract assassin Donna Stone's idea of a Valentine's Day getaway? Certainly not orchestrating a jailbreak out of a Mexican prison for a notorious drug lord. But because he has intel as to the whereabouts of an international terrorist organization planning a Valentine's massacre, there will be no intimate dinner for two or couples massage for Donna and her ops leader, Jack Craig. Just plenty of sun, surf, submarines, sharks... oh yeah, and sex.
Bobbie Faye's Whacked Out, No Good, Really Sucky, Hot Mess of a Wedding by Toni McGee Causey
Bobbie Faye Sumrall, Cajun Contraband Days Queen, gun expert, and ultimate professional in being in the wrong place at the wrong time, absolutely positively does not want to go through with the ridiculous wedding that Trevor's forcing her to agree to, but she soon finds out she has more important things to worry about–like surviving the plot to make her disappear when she's set up as a fall guy for the theft of a priceless religious icon. And that's the good news.
Nightfall by Laura Griffin
Stranded on an icy road as darkness falls, Holly Henriksen knows she is in trouble. A charming stranger stops to help and Holly decides to trust him, but soon finds out he is harboring a deadly secret.
King of Hearts: a Rough Riders short story by Lorelei James
Deputy Cam McKay is devastated after dealing with a Valentine's Day murder/suicide in his small county. Will allowing his family to see the dark past that haunts him, help heal him?
A Punishing Night by Sophie Littlefield
Detective Joe Bashir returns to his alma mater to investigate the stabbing death of a male college student. Rumors of date rape and fraternity hazing complicate a sensitive case as Joe tries to balance the demands of the investigation with caring for his elderly father. Help – and possibly romance – come from an unexpected source.
Pick Your Poison: A Bullet Catcher Novella by Roxanne St. Claire
Benjamin Youngblood's only chance to prove he's worthy of being a Bullet Catcher is to find and stop an assassin. On probation from the elite security force, Ben has to rely on instinct and brains... and one feisty flower farmer. When Callie Parrish discovers her entire crop of rare black roses has been stolen, she'd partner with the devil himself to recoup her loss. It doesn't take her long to realize she's done just that... and the road to hell is paved with poisonous petals and deadly kisses.
Rebel Rose by Karin Tabke
For Detective Cash Cantrell, hunting down a University serial killer is as routine as strapping on his gun each morning. Until he comes face to face with meddlesome coed, Rebel Yell Culpepper. He doesn't know if he should arrest her or kiss her, but one thing Cash knows for sure, Rebel is key to finding the murderer, and the killer knows it too...
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Ana’s breath caught and her heartbeat accelerated with a mixture of surprise and guilt.
The deputy was a tall and leanly built man with cool blue eyes and a firm mouth. His chiseled face was impassive and his arms casually crossed. His long legs were braced slightly apart, anchoring him to the asphalt as he assessed her from head to toe from beneath the brim of his hat.
“Deputy,” she greeted him, regaining her composure.
“Anastasia.” His voice was whisky-rough and it spoke her name like a caress. “What brings you back?”
“Pit stop during a work assignment.” She shoved her free hand into her pocket to hide how it trembled. Wondering if he had more news than Tilly did, she asked, “How’s Eric?”
Jake’s lips pursed. He had a gorgeous mouth. Neither too full or too thin and perfectly sculpted. That mouth knew every inch of her body. She still had dreams about what he could do with it. “He headed down to Florida with your brother.”
She nodded and somehow refrained from shifting on her feet. “I never did like Florida. Too much humidity for me.”
“How long are you gonna be in town?”
“A few days, at most.”
He adjusted his weight, his body moving with sleek fluidity. “So why are we wasting time talking about nothing?”
She stared at him, absorbing everything about the man she’d left behind. He was harder than before. Bigger, too. He’d been twenty-two the last time she saw him. He was fully a man now, his frame filled out. The formidable strength of will he’d exuded as long as she’d known him hadn’t changed. “Are we supposed to be doing something else?”
“Getting to the point would be good. You staying with Tilly?”
“No.”
“You married?”
She shook her head. “You?”
“No. You’ll stay at my place, then.”
Heat shimmered through her, her pulse quickening. She hadn’t expected him to move so fast. If she was honest, she would admit that she’d been afraid he would brush her off, having long gotten over her. Worse, she’d wondered if he had a woman in his life, someone who had a normal family she could be proud of and he could be a part of.
“How’s your internet access?” She was thinking about how much closer she’d be to getting a bead on Eric if she was staying at Jake’s house. She would also be closer to Jake himself, the man she loved so much it was like an aching wound in her chest.
“Sweetheart,” he drawled, his gaze hot. “You really want to start out that way? I was planning on easing you back into it, but if you’re eager to be punished, you just let me know.”
Her body responded to the sensual threat with familiar alacrity. Jake had always been able to make her ready for him with just a look, because she knew exactly where that look would lead—to dark pleasure that took her to her limits. “I have to work, Jake. It was a valid question.”
“I’m not saying it wasn’t. Just that it’s insulting to imply that the quality of the Wi-Fi in my house has a damn thing to do with whether or not I’ll be nailing you into my mattress tonight.”
She winced inwardly. He’d always been raw and blunt when talking about sex, but there was an undercurrent of hurt anger to his words now and it broke her heart. Not that she could show it. Her sympathy wasn’t what he wanted or needed, and it wouldn’t be fair of her to give it anyway, considering she was the cause of his unhappiness.
“Well—” She cleared her throat. “Glad we cleared that up.”
His smile sent goose bumps racing across her skin. “I’m not as far outside of town as Tilly is. My internet is just fine.”
“Good. I’ll need it.”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a set of keys. “You know how to get there.”
Ana took them from him, swallowing hard at the sight of the keychain. It was a round piece of wood, a one-inch thick cross-section of a small branch. She’d made the thing as an assignment in woodworking class. On one side she’d burned the letters Jake + Ana surrounded by little decorative hearts and asterisks. The other side read Forever.
“I’ve got some business to take care of,” he said. “I’ll call you at the house to see if you’re up for dinner in town or if you’d like me to bring something home with me.”
“I could cook.”
“Could you now?” He grinned. “I’d like that.”
“Sure you would,” she said dryly. “You’re a man.”
Jake pulled a business card out and gave it to her. “That has my office’s number and my cell number on it. Call me if you need me for anything.”
She held his gaze. “Anything?”
“Been that way for twelve years now, Ana. Despite spending ten of those waiting for you to get your ass back here.”
Ana took a deep breath. He was everything she’d always wanted, but could never have. Lawmen and grifters didn’t mix. “I’m just passing through, Jake.”
“So you said.” He touched the brim of his hat. “See you later.”
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You just read an excerpt from "Blood and Roses," one of the stories in the Shadow Stalkers Mini-series. Check out these books that also contain stories in the Shadow Stalkers Mini-series:
- The Good, the Bad, and the Unread:
“Nobody does it like Sylvia Day. I especially love her heroes. I’m a sucker for an alpha hero, and Jake Monroe steals my heart completely when he’s faced with his heroine again after ten long years.” — March 2012 - Night Owl Reviews:
“I have to highly recommend this book. These are first class authors and it shows. The professionalism that comes through is terrific. Totally awesome is the best way to describe this collection.” — March 2012
Blogger and Reader Reviews
- "A Fresh Fiction Fresh Pick of the Day!" — Fresh Pick | GUNS AND ROSES by Laura Griffin, Allison Brennan, Lori G. Armstrong, Roxanne St. Claire, Karin Tabke
- "Overall this was a great diverse gathering of authors and stories. I enjoyed it immensely." — Seductive Musings Review: Guns and Roses: A Murder She Writes Anthology
- "This was the hottest story of the bunch, and even though it wasn't very long I think the story was developed very well." — Under the Covers Reviews: Guns and Roses Anthology
