Collision Control (Crossing Forces #4)
by C.A. Szarek
Published October 3rd 2014 by Totally Bound
Synopsis:
*can be read as a standalone
A one night stand can't possibly mean forever…
Detective Jared Manning met his match at a bar. After a night of passion, she sneaks out of his bed without so much as a note. Problem is, now he can’t find her.
Kindergarten teacher Melody Nash doesn’t do one night stands. Embarrassment gets the best of her and she lies about her name.
When they collide at her school, Mel resists his pull. She won’t risk her heart on the obvious playboy, even though she can’t stop thinking about the night in his arms.
Stress engulfs both Jared’s personal and professional life. His brother is at the centre of the joint case he and his partner are working in cooperation with FBI. He puts his job on the line when he fails to share his blood relation—a complication he doesn’t need, considering the FBI agent on the case is convinced his brother killed her fiancé.
Balance is the name of the game. Can Jared save his brother and convince Mel they’re meant to be together?
Reader advisory: This book contains references to past sexual abuse and rape that happened when the character was a child.
BuyLinks:
Amazon US / B&N / iTunes
Review
I was given book for honest review. Detective Jared never imagined he would be doing what he’s doing on the job or on a more private matter. But he finds himself stressing over both. His case has him nervous and confused and his one night stand with the kindergarten teacher Mel won’t stay out of his thoughts. Hot tempered, snappy, fun, sneaky, intriguing courtship.
EXCERPT
Val pushed
the passenger door open from the driver’s side, flashing a grin. “Slut puppy
taxi at your beck and call. No charge for the first ride. Congrats on the end
of a loooooooooong drought! Step on up.”
Mel glared
and stalked to the car, ignoring her bare feet.
“Oh. My.
God. You look like you’re having a walk of shame. Wasn’t it good? That guy is
smokin’.”
“Shut. Up.”
Mel climbed into Val’s Jeep. She slammed the door and snapped her seat belt on.
“Hey, now.
Don’t take your bad sex life out on my baby. Least you got some.”
She
reclined in the bucket seat and closed her eyes. Can’t believe I’m gonna say this. “It wasn’t bad. It was…awesome.”
“Then
what’s with the ’tude? And where the hell
is my other shoe?”
“I couldn’t
find it.” Mel flashed her friend a sheepish smile.
Val frowned
and tapped on the overhead light. “Dude, those are my Louies!”
“Val,
seriously. I don’t think I can take you without caffeine.”
“Mel,
seriously. They were expensive.”
“I’ll buy
you another pair.”
“What is wrong with you?” Val frowned. “You
should be relaxed if your new friend is good in bed.”
“I’m fine,
but thanks.”
“I have a
better idea than buying me new shoes.”
“What’s
that?” Mel arched an eyebrow.
“Go back
upstairs, get his number and tell him you want to see him again. After all, if
you got laid on the first date, the second one’s gotta be awesome. Oh, and you
can get my damn shoe.”
“No.”
Val’s blue
eyes narrowed. “I will totally kick your ass if you’re going to let that piece
of shit David ruin a perfectly good romp with the hottest guy that’s ever given
either of us the time of day.”
Mel bit her
bottom lip.
Right.
Like
beautiful Val, naturally blonde, big blue eyes, five foot seven, real double Ds and
one-hundred-twenty-five pounds soakin’ wet couldn’t get a guy like Jared to
give her a second glance.
Mel didn’t
know what to say, so she looked out the window.
“That’s it,
isn’t it?” Val demanded, finally pulling out of the parking lot of Jared’s
apartment complex.
Her best
friend’s tirade against her ex continued down Main Street.
“No. It’s
not David,” Mel said. It was only half
David, but she wouldn’t admit it aloud.
Val snapped
her mouth shut and stopped at a red light. “Then what is it? I know seeing him
at school was more than a shocker, but I’m sure Jared helped. There’s something
wrong in your head if he didn’t.”
“First of
all, finding out that the guy I thought was the love of my life not only left
me at the altar but also had been cheating
on me the last six years of our
relationship, and had a child with someone else and didn’t bother to tell me is
more than a shocker, Val. David Junior better
not end up in my class. I might kill a kid.”
Val
giggled.
“You’re
laughing?”
“I like you
riled up. I didn’t say you couldn’t be upset. That’s why I took you out last
night. Emily and Kara both agreed you needed out. And lo and behold, Mel got herself a new man!”
“I did
not.”
“Why not?
Damn, he’s hot.”
“Yeah. I
have eyes.”
“Hmmm. Lucky
ones. And lucky hands…and lucky everythings. You got to do a hell of a lot more
than look at him.”
Mel sighed
and shook her head. She loved Val to death, but her friend would never get it.
Val looked like someone Jared should be with. Mel didn’t. “I was going to ask you how much you paid him.”
Val’s head
shot around, and their eyes locked. “What’re you talking about?”
“He walked
up to me.”
“Right.”
“When I was
at a table with you, Em the hot redhead, and Kara the bad boy magnet.”
“Correction, I am the bad boy magnet.”
Mel glared
and Val smirked. “You know what I mean.”
“No,
actually I don’t.”
“You guys
are hot…and I’m…me.”
It was her
best friend’s turn to glare. “Melody Renee Nash. I am going to stop this car
and kick your ass. You are so stupid sometimes I wonder if you have mirrors in
your house. You’re flippin’ gorgeous.”
Mel rolled
her eyes. “I do have mirrors in my house. Which is my point.”
Val pulled
the Jeep into McAuley’s parking lot and shut it off. She grabbed both Mel’s
hands and squeezed, her blue eyes serious. “I love you. We’ve been through a
lot of shit together, but I hate what that son of a bitch did to you. And you
put up with it for way too long. I
thanked God the day he didn’t show to your wedding. I’m glad you didn’t marry him.”
Author Bio & Links
FUN FACTS
About me:
1.
I’m a huge nerd. I love Star Trek, Star
Wars and Japanese Manga
2.
I watch too much TV.
3.
I’ve been married almost ten years.
4.
I work two jobs—both with kids.
5.
I love to read almost as much as I love to
write.
6.
I’ve been writing since I was 8.
7.
I finished my first book when I was 17.
8.
I write different genres: Epic Fantasy
Romance, Romantic Suspense and Historical Fantasy. (also paranormal and YA, but
not published in those yet)
9.
I have two dogs and a cat.
10. I
am from Ohio, but I’ve been in Texas (and love it) for thirteen years.
11. I
write to rock music.
12. I
love cops, so they often star in my books. I have a bachelor’s degree in
Criminal Justice, so writing romantic suspense comes easily.
13. I
went to the police academy before I moved to Texas (I work in a court now,
though)
14. I
love dragons. (Wish I had one)
15. I
live on Facebook.
About Crossing Forces
1.
Crossing Forces will be 8-9 books when it’s
done.
2.
I know who the rest are about and will be
starting book 5 sooner than later.
3.
Cole Lucas (hero, Collision Force, Book
One) never goes away. I dream about him all the time. He demands to be in all
the other books. LOL.
4.
I had a crush on each and every one of my
heroes when I wrote their book.
5.
Antioch, Texas is a made up town.
6.
If Crossing Forces is ever made into a TV
show (Starz or HBO please) I want Alex O’Loughlin to play Cole Lucas.
7.
Calculated
Collision (Book Three) is the second best book I have ever
written.
8.
I have a friend who is a former FBI Agent
that helps me with my facts for the book.
9.
Jared, hero of Collision Control (Book Four) and his brother grew up in foster
care. I work in a Shelter for teens and my kids inspired that.
Previous books in the series
Collision Force #1
Chance Collision #2
Calculated Collision #3
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