Archive for the ‘Action’ Category

VortexOfDesire_FB_Banner

FRONTBOOKPAPER_NO SHADOW

Title: Vortex of Desire

Genre: Science Fiction, Scifi Romance, Fantasy

Publisher: Black Velvet Seductions

Release Date: October 26, 2023

Authors:

Alice Renaud,  Angella O’Hanlon, Angelika Devlyn, Deborah Kelsey Lazaroff, Eileen Troemel, F. Burn, Nancy Golinski, Zia Westfield, Virginia Wallace, S.K. White, Viola Russell, Patricia Elliott

Blurb:

Vortex of Desire is Black Velvet Seductions’ latest Sci-fi Romance Anthology.

It contains an amazing group of authors who journey beyond space and time to prove love has no boundaries.

Join us as we venture into perilous worlds and explore hidden desires which lie beyond the wormhole; or discover a torrent of adventures here on earth and experience love that will not be denied.

Whether it’s a trek through the stars or an escape into new realities close to home, Vortex of Desire has something for everyone: mystery, humor, sweet to spicy romances, adventure and suspense.

These diverse writers will transport you to new realms and introduce you to intriguing life forms, aliens, exotic creatures, mad scientists, and monsters.

Buckle up and get ready to experience the twists and turns of Vortex of Desire.

We hope you enjoy the voyage.

Preorder / Buy Link

 https://amzn.to/41ro29P

TABLETFRONT

Story Blurbs:

Westfield 

Repo My Heart

Zia Westfield

Blurb

Accused of selling company secrets, Kira Rikiyama begins a new career as a repo agent. But when her old flame tracks her down asking for help to rescue a trapped research team, she’ll have to put her heart and her life on the line. Jace Beaumont let Kira get away from him once. Now that she’s back in his life, can he persuade her that she’s the only woman in the universe for him?

Tagline

A feisty repo agent teams up with her take charge ex-lover on a risky rescue mission that puts everything on the line!

*****

Burn

Moon Colony

F Burn

Blurb

Raven is an inmate sentenced to mining rare earth minerals in a colony based on the Moon. She dreams of escaping and returning to Earth, but her plans are turned upside down when she falls for Fox, an attractive young guard. After she reveals her plan to him and her friend, Dahlia, disaster strikes in the mining tunnels. Fueled by grief, Raven is even more determined to escape. It’s a matter of life and death…

Tagline

It’s a matter of life and death…

*****

stardust 3

Stardust

S.K. White

Blurb

After Roger survives a tragic accident, Liddy keeps vigil at her critically injured twin brother’s side. While sitting beside Roger, she notices strange and unexplained things that cause her to question her vision. Meanwhile… Ethan Hunter has a secret. Will Liddy ever figure out the marshal’s secret, or will it remain hidden forever?

Tagline

Galactic Marshal Ethan Hunter tracks an escaped prisoner hiding on earth and discovers an irresistible woman who could change his life forever. Will Ethan stay or go?

*****

Troemel

Eden Dome

Eileen Troemel

Blurb

Brenna must escape or submit to the rules of Eden Dome. Supervisor Mallow attempts to force her to be with him. He intends to teach her how to be submissive. Brenna has no intention of following the rule but she’s held back by her love for one person, Jet. He’s her only friend and the only one she wants to be with.

Jet has loved Brenna since he was ten though he’s never told her. The Dome rules forbid mixing between males and females until after a female has produced two children by different male. Jet will not let harm come to Brenna. But the only way to protect her may be deadly.

If Jet and Brenna defy the rules of Eden Dome, will they survive the outside world? Or is it as toxic as the elders say?

Tag line

Conform or leave. Brenna and Jet must choose.

*****

O'Hanllon

The Grey Mission

Angella O’Hanlon

Blurb

In the distant future, technology has evolved by leaps and bounds. Space exploration and colonization is now the norm, Earth equipped with an agency and crew for these missions.

Major Collins is assigned to what he thinks is a routine colonization of Mars, attending a quick briefing with the Admiral before he’s to board the ship. He assumes everything is business as usual, but things take a turn when the Admiral insists on Collins signing a confidentiality agreement before the briefing has even begun…

The real reason behind the mission is far more disturbing than Collins originally wagered. His crew is not to know the details, even his pretty second in command, Illyana Petrovich, who Collins finds more than intriguing, especially as he spends more time with her.

As their journey begins, their mission is plagued with complications, though this does nothing to distract Collins from his budding desire for the redheaded Commander, the real purpose of their mission also hanging over his head.

It becomes apparent that nothing about this mission is routine and danger lurks even in the deepest corners of space.

Tagline

The mission is confidential, but what of his budding desire?

*****

Renaud

Somewhere with Trees

Alice Renaud

Blurb

Eric is an Admiral in the Interstellar Fleet, and a war hero, but he’s had enough of the sea. He intends to spend his retirement on a peaceful planet covered with forests. But when the trees turn out to be intelligent and telepathic, and they put him in touch with Jacinta, his long lost ex-girlfriend, he is forced to confront his past and the consequences of his actions. Can he find a way to atone for past mistakes, and get a second chance at love?

Tagline

Can alien telepathic trees bring healing and a second chance at love to a war-weary veteran?

*****

Prince Arawn and the Dawn

Viola Russell

Blurb

Arawn, the Teufelian Prince of Tyre, is a trained warrior and heir apparent to his mother, Queen Tishlyn. Unlike most of his race, he feels pity and compassion for those deemed inferior. When he commits an act of mercy on a female of an enslaved people, Arawn displeases his mother and is banished to earth, stripped of his Teufelian form. His mission is to seduce Dawn, the pure daughter of an evil dictator who rules over the country that was the United States. Through her, he is to gain her father’s trust, and convince him to make war on a defenseless country. Arawn is unprepared for the young woman’s beauty, her natural grace, and her kindness. He soon feels desire and burning love for Dawn, qualities absent from his own kind, but loving her would mean permanent banishment from his galaxy, his own race, and his privileged life. If he does not fulfill his mother’s command that he wreak havoc on earth, he will lose everything he has ever known.

Tagline

Love or Cruelty – not a simple choice for Prince Arawn

*****

Her Blue Treasure

Patricia Elliott

Blurb

Jasmine Waters isn’t new to the dating game, but she put it on the back burner after her last ex wound up in jail. Much to her displeasure, she quickly finds herself coerced into attending a dating event on planet Tangonope by her good friend Clara.

When the event goes awry and people go missing,

Jasmine must work together with a fellow attendee named Roanru Kestus to solve the mystery. As they work together, attraction sparks between them, but will they be able to find their way to a happily ever after or will the secrets Roanru is hiding get in the way?

Tagline

When Jasmine’s friend goes missing and secrets come calling, Jasmine must make a decision whether Roanru is friend or foe.

*****

Talitha

Virginia Wallace

Blurb

Near the end of the eighteenth century, a ship’s captain named Robert Walton penned a series of letters to his sister. Through those letters, he told the grisly tale of an evil scientist who chose to play God—Victor Frankenstein,the fiend who created a monster.

It is anyone’s guess as to how the mewling novelist Mary Shelley came to be in possession of these letters, but she nevertheless published them as her own ‘fiction.’ In so doing, she inadvertently destroyed the life of one Agatha DeLacey.

Now Agatha is sailing the high seas, safely hidden behind the pseudonym ‘Talitha de Morte.’ Only once did she ever encounter Frankenstein’s monster, but that encounter left her forever scarred. Should she ever meet him again, well … she carries a dagger strapped to her thigh, ready, and waiting. Creating a future—or finding love—in such a state of perpetual wariness seems almost impossible.

Almost …

Tagline

Frankenstein’s monster chased her to the very ends of the earth …

*****

GolinskiHumanity

Nancy Golinski

Blurb

With Earth crumbling around her, Skye is suddenly thrust into a new world.  As part of an immortal team tasked with saving humanity, she must struggle to hide her skills, keep her wits about her, and not fall in love with soulmate, Jack.  Will she succeed?  More importantly, will she finally believe in something she gave up on years ago?

Tagline

An out-of-this-world romance.

*****

Devlyn 3

Cosmic Connection

Angelika Devlyn

Blurb

In a future where Earth is uninhabitable and humanity survives in biodomes, Aurora is a brilliant scientist working tirelessly to save her people from extinction. She’s used to being in control, but in her quiet moments, she yearns for something more. That’s where Leo comes in. He’s the perfect alien boyfriend she’s created in her imagination, and with him, she can let go of all her inhibitions.

As Aurora’s passion grows, her connection to Leo becomes more real than ever before. With each electric touch and pulsating sensation, she realizes that her imaginary lover might not be so imaginary after all. But when she finally meets Leo, she must navigate the challenges of their vastly different worlds and the secrets that threaten to tear them apart.

Cosmic Connection is a thrilling and steamy adventure that will take you to the furthest reaches of the galaxy and beyond. Join Aurora as she embarks on a cosmic journey to explore the vast depths of the universe, where she discovers the pleasures of letting go and giving in to the unknown. Follow her as she learns to surrender to her innermost yearnings, and discovers a world of ecstasy and fulfillment beyond her wildest dreams. Get ready for a wild ride that will leave you breathless and yearning for more.

Tagline

Explore the depths of the universe with Aurora and Leo in Cosmic Connection – where love transcends time and space!

*****

LazaroffAurelian Bliss

Deborah Kelsey Lazaroff

Blurb

What happens when sex between humans is outlawed except for breeding? Along come the Aurelians, an alien race that feeds off sexual contact! Centers are set up across the globe, and the problem seems solved, but then our heroine falls in love with her Aurelian, and he with her! Can they find happiness together?

Tagline

Imagine the perfect lover—but he happens to be an alien!

 VortexOfDesire_FB_Banner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

★✩★ FREE! ★✩★

Right in time for Halloween, you can now download

STORM by GIULIA LAGOMARSINO for #FREE for 4 days!

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Amazon CA

Amazon AU

Blurb:

Storm
I had one job, get Jessica “Rabbit” Finley to sell her property to Reed Security. I could do that. I was Army Strong. Hell, I took down bad guys for a living. I could handle this sexy vixen. No problem. Except, she’s a little crazy. She thinks that there are ghosts on her property, and she has the men at Reed Security believing her too. But then I found out her history and it had me wondering…. Was she really crazy?

Jessica
I’ve never known who I really am. My family history has been contorted into something that I can only hope to unravel in my lifetime. But then I got a clue that led me to buy this creepy insane asylum. I was told there were answers here and I’m finding them, along with ghosts that still haunt this estate. There’s an upside, though. There’s a sexy man here to keep me company. But the closer I get to finding my answers, the closer I get to being locked up in the asylum myself.

Trailer:

https://youtu.be/DqeErd8A9J8

Title: Torch
Author: Tricia Copeland
Genre: YA Dystopian Action/Adventure
Cover Designer: Daryl A. McCool of d.a.m. Cool Graphics, Superior, CO
Publisher: true bird publishing llc
Editor: Tia Silverthorne Bach of Indie Books Gone Wild
Proofreader: Jennifer Oberth also of Indie Books Gone Wild
Formatting: Jo Michaels of Indie Books Gone Wild
Publication Date: April 28th, 2020
Blurb:
They can save the human race. To do it, they must take down their own government…
Sixteen-year-old Jema is on the run. Branded a traitor for trying to share a DNA-based cure for a lethal contagion, she and her friends are hunted by forces loyal to her sinister uncle. And unless they force him to release the formula, she fears a worldwide war to claim the antigen.
Forced to fight like soldiers in the desolate desert, Jema learns there could be sympathizers who will support a coup. But with only scavenged food and fading hope, she and her small group of grimly determined teens face a deadly trek across dangerous territory.
Can Jema get the cure in the public domain before the planet descends into bloodshed and chaos?
Torch is the second book in the thrilling Lovelock YA dystopian science fiction series. If you like intense action, courage under pressure, and races against time, then you’ll love Tricia Copeland’s fast-paced novel.
Buy Torch to battle for humanity’s survival today!
Pre-Order Buy Link:
An avid runner and Georgia native, Tricia now lives with her family and four-legged friends in Colorado. She believes that magic infuses every aspect of our lives, whether it is the magic of falling in love, discovering a new passion, a beautiful sunset, or a book that transports us to another world. You can find all her titles from contemporary romance and fantasy, to dystopian fiction at http://www.triciacopeland.com.
Author Links:
Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/3doJwfO
Pre-Order Buy Link:

FINAL CHANCE

How You Can Save the World and Enter to Win a $175 Prize Pack!

“If you like action-packed adventure books that will keep you reading well into the wee hours, I would recommend The Secret of the Lost Pharaoh.”
–Jennly Reads

message from the author

To celebrate the release of my second action adventure The Secret of the Lost Pharaoh, I’m offering up my largest prize pack to date! But, first let me tell you about the book…

When it came to writing The Secret of the Lost Pharaoh, I wanted to create a story in the same vein as City of Gold, maintaining what reviewers described as “a fast-paced action adventure” that is “akin to an Indiana Jones story set in modern times.” So in this second installment, archaeologist and adventurer Matthew Connor and his two closest friends set off for Egypt to save the world. I even splashed in a bit of the police action my readers know and love.

“Why does the world need saving?” you may ask, possibly skeptical. Well, an old friend and colleague of Matthew’s has discovered ancient hieroglyphics that hint at the whereabouts of an ancient Egyptian tomb and a mysterious treasure that is said to contain the knowledge of the universe. Beyond that, it can grant humans the ability to traverse Heaven and Earth, and it bestows whoever possesses it with great wealth and wisdom. Now, imagine something like that falling into the hands of terrorists or world powers set on domination… Needless to say, it could lead to global annihilation!

My hope is that The Secret of the Lost Pharaoh will provide readers with a thrill ride that digs into the depths of human nature when one is tempted by power. But if you’re looking for a slow build, this isn’t the book for you. Readers are immediately thrown into the heat of Egypt’s Western Desert, where Matthew’s friend Alexandria Leonard is about to make a life-altering discovery.

c56c8-excerpt

Here’s a snippet from the prologue of The Secret of the Lost Pharaoh (Matthew Connor Adventure series):

The sun had barely broken the horizon, but Alex was wide-awake and strapped into her safety harness. She had dreamed of this moment her entire life, and now that it was becoming reality, she could hardly believe it. Here she was at the age of forty and leading her first archaeological dig in Egypt’s Western Desert. Even more incredible was the fact that she and her team were on the brink of a monumental discovery.

They had detected a manmade tunnel that ran thirty-five feet beneath the ground and over 3,600 feet to the east. Where the tunnel ended, there was in a large open space that the ground-penetrating radar couldn’t identify.

Alex stood at the opening of the hole with her site foreman, Jeff Webb; a hieroglyphics expert named Jasper Blair; and two of four laborers, Seth and Timal. They would be responsible for lowering her down.

She took a deep breath, preparing her mind for the descent and the cramped space. Her team had only dug out a well of about four feet in diameter. The position she was in when she went down would be the way she’d stay, as there would be no room to flip over.

She wiped the back of her arm across her forehead to wick away the sweat that kept dripping down her face. She pinched her eyes shut, wishing she had her favorite blue sweatband from high school, when wearing one had been all the rage—back around the time when belonging to a Tape of the Month Club was the thing to do.

She let her long, blond hair down from the ponytail she’d had it in and redid it, tighter this time, pulling it into a messy bun. Back home in northern Michigan, she rarely put her hair up, reserving that for times when she was focused on her work or studies, but in this part of the world, she often wore it up. Even a warm breeze on the back of her neck was better than none at all.

“Good thing you skipped the second course last night,” Jeff teased her.

Not that size was an issue for either of them. She was lean and athletic, and while Jeff had a solid build, he was trim with narrow shoulders.

“Same goes for you,” she tossed back with a smile. She’d known him for years and worked on several digs with him. He’d been the one who had removed two of the stone bricks from the tunnel’s ceiling to create the small opening through which they could descend. He’d been down there to set up a radio module and transmitting antenna that enabled communication between whoever was underground and whoever was on the surface.

Jeff moved behind her and tightened her harness. “Ah!” She sucked air in through gritted teeth. “Maybe just leave enough room for me to breathe.”

He loosened the restraints slightly. “Good?”

She managed to slip her fingers between the straps and her rib cage. “It’ll do.”

He turned to face her again. “Here’s your radio.” Jeff handed her an earpiece that worked with the radio he’d put in place.

“Talk into it for me,” he told her.

She tapped a button on the earpiece and said, “Hello, hello, hello.” She smirked at her mock echo.

Jeff laughed. “I heard you loud and clear. In surround sound, actually. All right, one more thing.” He popped a miner hat on her head, and she fastened the chin strap. “I think it’s best if we lower you feetfirst so that you can be positioned upright in the tunnel.” Jeff’s demeanor became serious.

Alex nodded and looked down again. It was a good thing that she wasn’t claustrophobic or afraid of being suspended by a rope and lowered helplessly into the ground. And while she might not battle with many fears, part of her was as terrified as she was excited about the prospect of setting foot where no one—besides Jeff briefly—had likely been in thousands of years. But this was just meant to be a brief look-see, and she’d be going solo. When she set out in earnest to explore the tunnel, she’d take members of her team with her.

She reached for the gold chain around her neck and pinched the tiny pendant that dangled from it. The Eye of Horus, also known as the Eye of Ra, was an ancient Egyptian symbol of protection. Out here in the desert, she needed all the help she could get. She kissed it and tucked it back beneath her shirt.

“Are you ready?” Jeff asked.

She met Jeff’s eyes and flicked on the headlamp. “I’m ready.”

Jeff pulled an LED flare from his back pocket, turned it on, and tossed it into the hole. Watching the light descend emphasized just how far down it was to the tunnel.

Once it hit the ground, Jeff rolled his hand toward Seth and Timal. “You heard her. Down she goes.”

More sweat dripped from her brow, and she wiped her forehead again. And things were just heating up out here—if you could call already being a hundred degrees “just heating up.” As it was, waves of heat were cutting through the air like ribbons on the horizon, and it was only eight o’clock in the morning.

She looked around at her crew, steadying her thoughts and locking on to her resolve to make history. Great men and women made a habit of stepping outside their comfort zones, living on the edge, and testing out unchartered waters. And she wanted to be among them, to make a difference in the world by unearthing what remained of long gone great empires. Sometimes that required delving into the unknown.

She shook her fanciful musings aside. After all, they may not have discovered anything more than an empty tunnel.

She sat on the ledge, dangling her legs inside the hole. She tugged on the rope secured to her harness, which was connected to a rigging system that Seth and Timal would use to lower her. She glanced at Seth and Timal, confident in their abilities to guide her safely down and back up again. And with one more look at Jeff, she pushed off, letting herself become suspended.

Her heart thumped against her rib cage as she was lowered. She reached out and touched the makeshift walls that her men had put in place to prevent a cave-in. Her fingertips brushed against some sand, and it was slightly cool to the touch, but the air around her was still hot. A few of the granules sprinkled down the shaft.

About six feet beneath the ground, she felt incredibly alone. Although, it was also quiet and peaceful.

As Jeff’s form continued to become smaller above her and the space she was in became more shadowed, brief apprehension lanced through her. But the allure of what lie ahead silenced her anxiety.

If you can take the heat, grab your hat and sunscreen and strap yourself in for an unforgettable adventure. Order your copy of The Secret of the Lost Pharaoh today.

Amazon US | Amazon International | Barnes & Noble | Apple iBooks | Kobo | Google Play

contest

Save-the-World Contest Details

What’s at stake?

$175 USD prize pack!

The winner will save the world by:

  • Saying goodbye to plastic bags with an environmentally friendly grocery tote.

  • By exchanging their plastic water bottles with an environmentally friendly stainless-steel water bottle.
  • By foregoing the paper cup and opting for an environmentally friendly stainless-steel travel mug.

They’ll also receive:

  • A premium square keychain

  • A signed hardcover copy of The Secret of the Lost Pharaoh
  • The ability to name a character in one of Carolyn’s upcoming books!

Contest Deadline:

Sunday, April 22nd.

How to Enter:

  1. Buy The Secret of the Lost Pharaohin e-book before April 22nd.

  2. In the Table of Contents, you’ll see a chapter entitled “SAVE THE WORLD GIVEAWAY.”
  3. Click the “SAVE THE WORLD GIVEAWAY” chapter link, and there you’ll find the link to the entry form.
  4. Complete the form by April 22nd and you’re entered.

The winner will be selected randomly on April 23rd and notified by Hibbert & Stiles Publishing via email by May 1st and contacted for their shipping information.

Share the release and contest with others by supporting Carolyn’s ThunderClap campaign found here.
Follow The Secret of the Lost Pharaoh Facebook event to keep current on the latest news, excerpts, and given more opportunities to win!

32357-additionalbooks

Action-adventure books for the mystery lover. Does treasure hunting excite you? What about the thought of traveling the globe and exploring remote regions to uncover legends that the world has all but forgotten? If so, strap yourself in for an adventure with modern-day archaeologist Matthew Connor and his two closest friends. Indiana Jones meets the twenty-first century.

This is the perfect book series for fans of Indiana Jones, Lara Croft, National Treasure, and The Relic Hunter.

Other Books in the Series:

City of Gold

ad6f3-authorinfo

Carolyn Arnold is an international bestselling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has four continuing fiction series and has written nearly thirty books. Both her female detective and FBI profiler series have been praised by those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining, leading her to adopt the trademark, POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT™.

Connect with CAROLYN ARNOLD Online:

Website | Twitter | Facebook

And don’t forget to sign up for her newsletter for up-to-date information on release and special offers at CarolynArnold.net/Newsletters.

How You Can Save the World and Enter to Win a $175 Prize Pack!

“If you like action-packed adventure books that will keep you reading well into the wee hours, I would recommend The Secret of the Lost Pharaoh.”
–Jennly Reads

message from the author

To celebrate the release of my second action adventure The Secret of the Lost Pharaoh, I’m offering up my largest prize pack to date! But, first let me tell you about the book

When it came to writing The Secret of the Lost Pharaoh, I wanted to create a story in the same vein as City of Gold, maintaining what reviewers described as “a fast-paced action adventure” that is “akin to an Indiana Jones story set in modern times.” So in this second installment, archaeologist and adventurer Matthew Connor and his two closest friends set off for Egypt to save the world. I even splashed in a bit of the police action my readers know and love.

“Why does the world need saving?” you may ask, possibly skeptical. Well, an old friend and colleague of Matthew’s has discovered ancient hieroglyphics that hint at the whereabouts of an ancient Egyptian tomb and a mysterious treasure that is said to contain the knowledge of the universe. Beyond that, it can grant humans the ability to traverse Heaven and Earth, and it bestows whoever possesses it with great wealth and wisdom. Now, imagine something like that falling into the hands of terrorists or world powers set on domination… Needless to say, it could lead to global annihilation!

My hope is that The Secret of the Lost Pharaoh will provide readers with a thrill ride that digs into the depths of human nature when one is tempted by power. But if you’re looking for a slow build, this isn’t the book for you. Readers are immediately thrown into the heat of Egypt’s Western Desert, where Matthew’s friend Alexandria Leonard is about to make a life-altering discovery.

5ffe4-excerpt

Here’s a snippet from the prologue of The Secret of the Lost Pharaoh (Matthew Connor Adventure series):

The sun had barely broken the horizon, but Alex was wide-awake and strapped into her safety harness. She had dreamed of this moment her entire life, and now that it was becoming reality, she could hardly believe it. Here she was at the age of forty and leading her first archaeological dig in Egypt’s Western Desert. Even more incredible was the fact that she and her team were on the brink of a monumental discovery.

They had detected a manmade tunnel that ran thirty-five feet beneath the ground and over 3,600 feet to the east. Where the tunnel ended, there was in a large open space that the ground-penetrating radar couldn’t identify.

Alex stood at the opening of the hole with her site foreman, Jeff Webb; a hieroglyphics expert named Jasper Blair; and two of four laborers, Seth and Timal. They would be responsible for lowering her down.

She took a deep breath, preparing her mind for the descent and the cramped space. Her team had only dug out a well of about four feet in diameter. The position she was in when she went down would be the way she’d stay, as there would be no room to flip over.

She wiped the back of her arm across her forehead to wick away the sweat that kept dripping down her face. She pinched her eyes shut, wishing she had her favorite blue sweatband from high school, when wearing one had been all the rage—back around the time when belonging to a Tape of the Month Club was the thing to do.

She let her long, blond hair down from the ponytail she’d had it in and redid it, tighter this time, pulling it into a messy bun. Back home in northern Michigan, she rarely put her hair up, reserving that for times when she was focused on her work or studies, but in this part of the world, she often wore it up. Even a warm breeze on the back of her neck was better than none at all.

“Good thing you skipped the second course last night,” Jeff teased her.

Not that size was an issue for either of them. She was lean and athletic, and while Jeff had a solid build, he was trim with narrow shoulders.

“Same goes for you,” she tossed back with a smile. She’d known him for years and worked on several digs with him. He’d been the one who had removed two of the stone bricks from the tunnel’s ceiling to create the small opening through which they could descend. He’d been down there to set up a radio module and transmitting antenna that enabled communication between whoever was underground and whoever was on the surface.

Jeff moved behind her and tightened her harness. “Ah!” She sucked air in through gritted teeth. “Maybe just leave enough room for me to breathe.”

He loosened the restraints slightly. “Good?”

She managed to slip her fingers between the straps and her rib cage. “It’ll do.”

He turned to face her again. “Here’s your radio.” Jeff handed her an earpiece that worked with the radio he’d put in place.

“Talk into it for me,” he told her.

She tapped a button on the earpiece and said, “Hello, hello, hello.” She smirked at her mock echo.

Jeff laughed. “I heard you loud and clear. In surround sound, actually. All right, one more thing.” He popped a miner hat on her head, and she fastened the chin strap. “I think it’s best if we lower you feetfirst so that you can be positioned upright in the tunnel.” Jeff’s demeanor became serious.

Alex nodded and looked down again. It was a good thing that she wasn’t claustrophobic or afraid of being suspended by a rope and lowered helplessly into the ground. And while she might not battle with many fears, part of her was as terrified as she was excited about the prospect of setting foot where no one—besides Jeff briefly—had likely been in thousands of years. But this was just meant to be a brief look-see, and she’d be going solo. When she set out in earnest to explore the tunnel, she’d take members of her team with her.

She reached for the gold chain around her neck and pinched the tiny pendant that dangled from it. The Eye of Horus, also known as the Eye of Ra, was an ancient Egyptian symbol of protection. Out here in the desert, she needed all the help she could get. She kissed it and tucked it back beneath her shirt.

“Are you ready?” Jeff asked.

She met Jeff’s eyes and flicked on the headlamp. “I’m ready.”

Jeff pulled an LED flare from his back pocket, turned it on, and tossed it into the hole. Watching the light descend emphasized just how far down it was to the tunnel.

Once it hit the ground, Jeff rolled his hand toward Seth and Timal. “You heard her. Down she goes.”

More sweat dripped from her brow, and she wiped her forehead again. And things were just heating up out here—if you could call already being a hundred degrees “just heating up.” As it was, waves of heat were cutting through the air like ribbons on the horizon, and it was only eight o’clock in the morning.

She looked around at her crew, steadying her thoughts and locking on to her resolve to make history. Great men and women made a habit of stepping outside their comfort zones, living on the edge, and testing out unchartered waters. And she wanted to be among them, to make a difference in the world by unearthing what remained of long gone great empires. Sometimes that required delving into the unknown.

She shook her fanciful musings aside. After all, they may not have discovered anything more than an empty tunnel.

She sat on the ledge, dangling her legs inside the hole. She tugged on the rope secured to her harness, which was connected to a rigging system that Seth and Timal would use to lower her. She glanced at Seth and Timal, confident in their abilities to guide her safely down and back up again. And with one more look at Jeff, she pushed off, letting herself become suspended.

Her heart thumped against her rib cage as she was lowered. She reached out and touched the makeshift walls that her men had put in place to prevent a cave-in. Her fingertips brushed against some sand, and it was slightly cool to the touch, but the air around her was still hot. A few of the granules sprinkled down the shaft.

About six feet beneath the ground, she felt incredibly alone. Although, it was also quiet and peaceful.

As Jeff’s form continued to become smaller above her and the space she was in became more shadowed, brief apprehension lanced through her. But the allure of what lie ahead silenced her anxiety.

If you can take the heat, grab your hat and sunscreen and strap yourself in for an unforgettable adventure. Order your copy of The Secret of the Lost Pharaoh today.

Amazon US | Amazon International | Barnes & Noble | Apple iBooks | Kobo | Google Play

contest

Save-the-World Contest Details

What’s at stake?

$175 USD prize pack!

The winner will save the world by:

  • Saying goodbye to plastic bags with an environmentally friendly grocery tote.

  • By exchanging their plastic water bottles with an environmentally friendly stainless-steel water bottle.
  • By foregoing the paper cup and opting for an environmentally friendly stainless-steel travel mug.

They’ll also receive:

  • A premium square keychain

  • A signed hardcover copy of The Secret of the Lost Pharaoh
  • The ability to name a character in one of Carolyn’s upcoming books!

Contest Deadline:

Sunday, April 22nd.

How to Enter:

  1. Buy The Secret of the Lost Pharaohin e-book before April 22nd.

  2. In the Table of Contents, you’ll see a chapter entitled “SAVE THE WORLD GIVEAWAY.”
  3. Click the “SAVE THE WORLD GIVEAWAY” chapter link, and there you’ll find the link to the entry form.
  4. Complete the form by April 22nd and you’re entered.

The winner will be selected randomly on April 23rd and notified by Hibbert & Stiles Publishing via email by May 1st and contacted for their shipping information.

Share the release and contest with others by supporting Carolyn’s ThunderClap campaign found here.

Follow The Secret of the Lost Pharaoh Facebook event to keep current on the latest news, excerpts, and given more opportunities to win!

Action-adventure books for the mystery lover. Does treasure hunting excite you? What about the thought of traveling the globe and exploring remote regions to uncover legends that the world has all but forgotten? If so, strap yourself in for an adventure with modern-day archaeologist Matthew Connor and his two closest friends. Indiana Jones meets the twenty-first century.

This is the perfect book series for fans of Indiana Jones, Lara Croft, National Treasure, and The Relic Hunter.

Other Books in the Series:

City of Gold

cad88-authorinfo

Carolyn Arnold is an international bestselling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has four continuing fiction series and has written nearly thirty books. Both her female detective and FBI profiler series have been praised by those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining, leading her to adopt the trademark, POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT™.

Connect with CAROLYN ARNOLD Online:

Website | Twitter | Facebook

And don’t forget to sign up for her newsletter for up-to-date information on release and special offers at CarolynArnold.net/Newsletters.