Saturday Blurbs – Partners: The Wrong Corpse

 Private Investigators Frankie Barker and Johanna Obrien take a case they feel will be a cinch to solve, before embarking on a much needed vacation. But the case turns out to be much more than they bargained for when Graham McHenry hires them to follow his beautiful, much younger wife Cassandra, whom he believes is having an affair. They find the information their client is seeking, but the next morning they learn the woman has been murdered. The time of death places Cassandra at a motel, at the same time they had been following her to her mansion. Now McHenry wants to know who killed his wife, and Frankie and Johanna are determined to find out who they were following!

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Saturday Blurbs – Love Unleashed

 Commitment

A near tragedy forces a woman to realize what's really important. 

Changes

A woman fears that her much younger partner will leave her for a younger woman. 

A Touch 

After a vicious disfiguring attack, will a young woman dare to come out of the shadows? 

The Warden

Who will be the warden's next chosen one?

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Saturday's Excerpt – Partners: Deception

"I can't believe how obnoxious that man is. How long has this been going on?" Johanna demanded.

Trey lowered his eyes. "Almost from the start. When I first met Kyle, he seemed okay and was polite. But it didn't take him long to change." He sighed wearily. "He doesn't care what he says or who he says it to. I've had some problems with some of my crew because of him. I've warned him to stay away from them, but for some odd reason he seems to think he can talk to them any way he wants."

Johanna's eyes narrowed. "What does Will say?" she asked. "You would think he would have thrown Kyle out."

"That's just it." He raised his eyes and met Johanna's. "He doesn't say anything no matter what Kyle says or does. I can't understand it," he said bitterly.

She hated the look of defeat in his eyes. "Let me help get dinner on the table." She hugged him. "Don't worry. Frankie and I will find out what Kyle's game is. We'll figure it out."

He frowned. "I just wish I knew what Will's game is. He's a stranger, like I never knew him at all."

Johanna picked up a large salad bowl. "Is it really that bad between you and Will, Trey?"

Trey's shoulders slumped. "Everything was perfect between us before Kyle arrived." He slowly shook his head. "Will is a different person around Kyle…someone I don't know. And frankly, someone I wouldn't care to know. It makes me question how much I really know about him."

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Saturday's Excerpt – Partners: Winds Of Fire

 Frankie pulled the car over to let two fire trucks with sirens blaring, roar past. 

"Another fire," Johanna said. "Too early for the elusive arsonist." 

Frankie grunted. "I hope they catch the bastard soon. Who knows where he'll strike next?" 

"No leads last I heard, but then I haven't really been keeping up with the news lately." 

Frankie glanced at her. "From what I've heard it's been only trash cans outside of commercial businesses that have closed for the night. No major damage except to the trash receptacles." 

"It doesn't make sense. People are still around the area shopping at some of the other merchants who are open later, but no one ever sees anything or anyone acting suspicious." 

"How many people are out back where the bins are usually located? Only an employee putting trash into a bin. So we can rule out an employee." Frankie speculated. "It's either a pyromaniac or someone looking for revenge." 

"It could be an employee who is a pyromaniac. If it's someone looking for revenge, then it's odd that he would have that many businesses to settle a score with. But then, who knows? Nothing about any crime is ever logical," Johanna said. "And neither are the criminals."

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Saturday's Excerpt – Partners: Beyond The Shadows

 "So, this Carson Fellows knows that now he'll be going back to prison for violating his parole once they catch him. Probably for life." She drew a shaky breath. "You want us to keep an eye open if he comes around this area? Is there any reason to think he would?" 

George rubbed his head again. It looked like the color was draining from his face right before her eyes. An eerie feeling crept up her spine. She sought to keep her composure, but it was quickly slipping away. Her palms began sweating. She glanced at Johanna. Johanna's eyes were frozen on George's face. 

"George," Johanna said weakly. "You didn't answer Frankie's question. Is there a reason Fellows would come to Charlestown?" 

George cast an uneasy look at Frankie. "Yes." He hesitated. "For you, Frankie."

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Saturday's Excerpt – Partners: Blinded By The Trees

"Oh, Frankie," Selma moaned, clutching her chest as Frankie walked her to the front of the tree. "How can a human being do that to another human being? What would possess someone to do something so horrifying?" 

"I don’t know, Mom," Frankie answered quietly. "I just don’t know." 

"If this is like some of the crimes you and Johanna had to respond to on the police force I don’t know how you stayed sane." She peered at Frankie. "How did you stomach it?" 

Frankie saw the tears glistening in her mother’s eyes. Her tender heart could never bear some of what they had witnessed. "Sometimes I don’t know how we did either, Mom." She looked toward the group. She never thought she’d see such a brutal murder in Charlestown.

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Saturday's Excerpt – Partners: The Other Woman

 Johanna’s complexion paled when she saw the woman. She looked anxiously at her mother.

Gracelyn sat stony faced as she met Johanna’s eyes. "Johanna, I’m sure you two have a lot to talk about."

"You two know each other?" Frankie’s eyes clouded as she wondered what the connection was between Johanna and the blonde. Johanna looked deeply distressed and her eyes flashed angrily as she made her way over to where Frankie still stood in the doorway. She slipped her arm through Frankie’s.

Johanna cleared her throat. "Frankie, this is Gretchen Wyler. We knew each other years ago in California."

"Now, Jo, we were much more than just friends," Gretchen cooed as her eyes swept appreciatively over Johanna then settled on Frankie. "We’ve already met. I thought you were Jo’s secretary," she said, annoyed. "You didn’t tell me differently."

"I had no reason to," Frankie replied smugly. "Now what are you doing at my home this time of night?"

"I’m here to talk to Jo. This matter doesn’t concern you." She turned her attention back to Johanna. " I want to hire you, Jo. I ran into your mother a few weeks ago and she told me you’re a private investigator now."

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Saturday's Excerpt – Partners: The Wrong Corpse

 The women watched as the Porsche’s driver side door opened and Cassandra stepped out. She quietly closed the door behind her, then pushed the remote to lock the car. Johanna snapped a few discreet pictures. Cassandra’s blonde hair glistened in the motel’s overhead lights. She wore a tight, short, red dress, which showed off her curvy well-endowed body. Her spike heels made clicking sounds on the pavement as she headed toward the far end of the motel then turned the corner.

"She looks more like a hooker than the heiress to the Reynolds’ fortune, and the wife of a wealthy financial advisor," Frankie observed as she pulled out of the parking space and drove in the opposite direction to the back of the motel. Cassandra wasn’t in sight.

"I wonder where she went," Johanna said. "It couldn’t have been too far." She squinted as she read the sign. "These rooms in the back are equipped with kitchenettes, an extra room, and are available for long-term lease."

"Sounds almost like a small studio apartment." Frankie parked the car and turned off the ignition. "McHenry said she’s typically gone for hours at a time."

"He also said besides visiting a ‘friend’, she tells him she’s going to Riley’s Gym for a workout," Johanna interjected.

Frankie lifted an eyebrow. "Well, I’ll bet she’s getting a workout all right." She took a pen flashlight and shined it on her notes. "We should talk to the manager of Riley’s Gym to see if she does indeed go there. They’d have a record if she has a membership."

"She could just be telling McHenry that."

"Why? I mean if she wanted out of her marriage, why not get a divorce? She’s rich. And face it; he’s old enough to be her father. He’s not very good looking either." She made a face. "Maybe she’s getting a little from some hot stud to fortify herself before climbing into bed with him every night."

Johanna was thoughtful for a minute. "Could be. Maybe she doesn’t want the publicity and cost of a messy divorce. So she has a fling with no strings attached."

A door two spaces from where they were parked opened. Cassandra slipped outside. Frankie and Johanna scrunched down in their seats. Johanna angled the camera and snapped a picture before

Cassandra turned and disappeared around the building. 

"She parks out front when it would make more sense for her to park back here where no one can see her car. Face it, a Porsche is going to stand out in a place like this."

"If she’s hiding her whereabouts she’s not doing a very good job of it," Johanna said.

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Saturday Blurbs – Love Unleashed

 Commitment

A near tragedy forces a woman to realize what's really important. 

Changes

A woman fears that her much younger partner will leave her for a younger woman. 

A Touch 

After a vicious disfiguring attack, will a young woman dare to come out of the shadows? 

The Warden

Who will be the warden's next chosen one?  

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Saturday's Excerpt – Partners: Deception

 

"What makes you think he's hiding anything?"

"Just a hunch. I've got an idea. Let's arrange a private meeting with Trey without Will." 

"Why?" Johanna pursed her lips. "Trey only asked for a background check. We'll do a more thorough search later. If Kyle has any kind of criminal record, we'll delve deeper into it."

Frankie's eyes clouded. "Something doesn't add up. Kyle's too young to have held that many jobs. I need to find out if he left these jobs of his own accord or was fired."

"In any case, he was obviously bonded so I doubt there was anything sinister going on." She smiled. "I think you're looking for something that doesn't exist. This is just a simple request like hundreds of other background searches we've done for our clients."

Frankie was silent for a minute before responding. "Or maybe Kyle Martin is covering his tracks. Maybe that's why he's keeping a low profile as far as any social media is concerned."

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Saturday's Excerpt – Partners: Winds Of Fire

 "All that money and she can't touch it," Johanna added. "That's not right, Alec." 

"No, it's not and that's why I can't afford to wait much longer. I think Thatcher's going to make a move soon." He paused. "So, you two are still on board after everything I've told you?" he asked studying them. 

"Of course, we are," Frankie answered. "We've already given Kendall a signed contract. We just needed to clarify with you that she is the real Kendall Bronson Longman. Now that we know she is, we're determined to do everything in our power to help her." 

"There is one other thing that doesn't make sense, Alec. Doesn't the way Kendall is dressed reflect poorly on Thatcher? Or is that part of his plan to use against her?" Johanna's eyes narrowed. "To be honest, she looked like a woman who lives on the streets. That's why we'd originally thought she may have stolen or found Kendall's wallet with her identity."

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Saturday's Excerpt – Partners: Beyond The Shadows

 Johanna shook her head. "Never saw him before." 

George eyed them carefully as they studied the pictures. "She wouldn't recognize him, Frankie, but you might." 

"Me?" She scrutinized the pictures again. "Is this what you dragged us down here so early for, George? To look at this picture?" She lifted an eyebrow as her eyes shifted from the picture to the sheriff. "I've never seen this man before. What makes you think I'd know him? What's he done?" She peered at him. "Is he connected to one of our cases?" 

George rubbed his jaw. "No." His features softened as he looked at the women. "You know I wouldn't have asked you two to come here if it wasn't important, Frankie." He shifted his heavy body in his large worn leather chair.

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Saturday's Excerpt – Partners: Blinded By The Trees

 "Be careful, Mom. What did you trip over?" Frankie’s eyes scanned the spot where Selma had tripped. "Looks like a broken branch," she said, bending down to pick it up to move it out of the way to prevent someone else from tripping. Her eye caught sight of something that looked like a boot lying in the snow. She moved to the back of the tree and squatted down to get a better look. She brushed the snow off the boot and discovered that it was a dark brown work style boot. As she continued brushing off the snow, she stopped suddenly. A chill ran up her spine. The boot was attached to a body. She immediately thought someone had suffered a heart attack while tree hunting. Surely if it were busy at the lot no one may have noticed especially since they had moved further down the lot beyond the usual assortment of trees.

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Saturday's Excerpt – 2 In 1: Partners

 Partners: The Wrong Corpse and Partners: The Other Woman In One Book

Partners: The Wrong Corpse 

"I take it you don't like him much," Johanna said. 

Mayna lowered her eyes and looked at the pen in her hand, then quickly set the pen down. "No. I don't. He thinks women should fawn all over him the minute he enters the room. If they don't, well let's just suffice it to say that he loves a challenge. He's the master of seduction," she replied bitterly. 

"How long did you date him?" Johanna asked, unexpectedly taking Mayna by surprise. 

Frankie watched the color creep into Mayna's cheeks. She loved watching Johanna work. She had a knack for sizing someone up and then subtly asking an unanticipated question and gauging the immediate reaction of her unsuspecting interviewee.

 Mayna's fingers became restless again and instead of picking the pen back up, she nervously fingered a pile of brochures stacked on the counter. A long tapered red fingernail looked like it would be pulled off if it got snagged in the pamphlets. "I got him the job here. What a mistake that turned out to be. We were together for almost two years and he led me to believe we were heading to something permanent." She raised her eyes slowly. 

Frankie noticed the tears peeking out behind Mayna's eyelids. "It's none of our business about the details of your relationship with Bunson. We're here to talk about Cassandra McHenry." 

Mayna cleared her throat. "She's the reason we broke up."

Partners: The Other Woman

Once inside the bedroom Frankie stripped off her clothes, then climbed into bed and huddled under the heavy blankets and comforter. The howling wind with its lonely desolate sound made her yearn for Johanna's warm body cuddled next to her. She bur-rowed even deeper under the covers. She hoped Johanna wouldn't be long. She yawned as her mind drifted over the odd events of the night until exhaustion overtook her and she eventually fell into a fitful sleep.

Two hours later she awakened when the bedroom door quietly opened and closed. She heard Johanna tiptoe into the darkened room and listened to the sounds of Johanna removing her clothes. A moment later Johanna slipped into bed and rolled onto her side pressing her body tightly against Frankie's back.

The heat from Johanna's body as her smooth skin touched Frankie's was overpowering. When Johanna wrapped her arms around her, Frankie murmured contentedly. She always had the feeling of peace and security when Johanna was next to her. 

"Babe, I know you're not asleep," Johanna whispered close to her ear. She ran a hand over Frankie's bare shoulder. "I need you, Frankie, more now than I ever have. I'm so scared, baby. Please hold me." 

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Saturday's Excerpt – Partners: The Other Woman

 "Hello. Is Jo here?" the stranger asked, shaking snow from her unbuttoned long sleek black coat as she glanced disapprovingly around the office.

Frankie eyed the woman skeptically. She’d never heard anyone call Johanna ‘Jo’ before. Johanna hated to be called Jo, so she assumed the woman might be looking for someone else. "Do you mean Johanna Obrien?"

The blonde tossed her hair impatiently. "Of course. Who else would I mean? Is she here?" she snapped as her eyes drifted to the door leading to the storage area. "It’s urgent!"

"No. I’m sorry. She’s on vacation for the next two weeks. Maybe I can help you."

"I need to talk to Jo immediately. This doesn’t concern anyone else and I don’t care to discuss it with anyone other than Jo."

"If you’d like to stop back in a couple of weeks we’ll be happy to talk to you." Frankie moved to her desk, grabbed a business card and walked back to the woman. "You can call the office to set up an appointment."

"No. That won’t do," she replied irritably. "Give me a number where I can reach Jo immediately. I’m sure she has a cell phone. I can’t wait until she returns in a couple of weeks!"

Frankie’s jaw twitched as she fought to keep her temper under control. She kept her voice level as she looked at the woman. "If you call this number the call will be forwarded to her home phone. If it’s as urgent as you say, then I’m sure she’ll call you back immediately."

The blonde’s eyes narrowed. "I’m sure she won’t mind if you give me her private number. In fact, I can assure you that she’ll probably be pleased to see me." Her eyes swept distastefully over Frankie as they moved from Frankie’s red blouse, black leather jacket, tight black jeans and finally to her two-inch heeled bootclad feet before she raised them level to Frankie’s eyes again.

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Saturday's Excerpt – Partners: The Wrong Corpse

 Johanna leaned back in her soft leather chair and frowned at Frankie. "I don’t like him. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but there’s something off about him."

Frankie laughed. "You’ve read my mind. Great minds think alike."

"Ah, that’s why we work so well together." She glanced at the notes she’d taken. "So, any ideas? Or were you tuning him out? You seemed to be daydreaming."

"I can’t help myself when you’re dressed the way you are today. All I have to do is look at your legs and…well you know."

Johanna threw her head back and laughed. "I never dreamed I’d ever find someone who still turned me on as much as the day we first met."

Frankie grinned. "That’s what I was daydreaming about. It was torture waiting and hoping that you’d want me as much as I did you when we first met. I knew the first time we made love that I’d never get enough of you."

"That goes double for me, baby. So, where do you want to start with the Cassandra McHenry case?"

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Saturday Blurbs – 2 In 1 Partners

The first two books in the Partners series is included in one book.

In Partners: The Wrong Corpse,  Frankie and Johanna take a case they feel will be a cinch to solve, before embarking on a much--needed vacation. But the case turns out to be much more than they bargained for.

In Partners: The Other Woman, Private Investigators Johanna Obrien and Frankie Barker are planning a vacation with Johanna's visiting mother, Gracelyn, when a former lover of Johanna's shows up demanding that Johanna take her case. Johanna must come to terms with the demons from her past and a secret she has kept from Frankie for all these years. A secret that could ruin their relationship forever.

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Saturday Blurbs – Partners: Deception

In the sixth book of the Partners Series, Private Investigators Frankie Barker and Johanna Obrien uncover a sinister plot which could destroy their best friend, Trey Daniels. They are shocked to learn that Trey's partner, Will Benjamin, may be in on the scheme.

With the help of Sheriff George Ryker, they hatch a plan to bring the mastermind of the plot down, and try to find out what dark secrets Will might have in his past. As their investigation continues, they uncover an even more evil plot.

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Saturday Blurbs – Partners: Winds Of Fire

When an arsonist strikes Charlestown, in the fifth book in the Partners Series, Private Investigators Frankie Barker and Johanna Obrien discover some uncanny similarities to a case they've just begun investigating. As the fire investigation team unravels their own clues, everyone is suspect…including Frankie and Johanna.

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Saturday Blurbs – Partners: Beyond The Shadows

Private Investigator Frankie Barker's life is put in jeopardy when an ex-convict vows revenge on those he feels responsible for putting him in prison over thirty-five years ago. The problem is, she was a child at the time as were all the names on the list. As he eliminates the names on the list, the pressure is on to catch him before Frankie becomes his next victim.   

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