I love managing Red Light Lingerie, a sexy boutique in Dallas. I get to spend my days talking to people about bedroom wear, sex toys, and enhancement lotions for all occasions. But by far, my favorite erotic job perk is my sexy British boss, Maxwell Penn.
Max is a Matthew McConaughey look-alike who’s equal parts dreamboat and domineering pain in the neck, and I regularly fluctuate between “I want to bed him” and “I want to strangle him.” But still, yum.
The paradigm of our relationship, however, changes irrevocably when a lingerie designer, a friend of Max’s from Britain, comes to town, and I have to stand in for a no-show lingerie model. Before I can say G-string, I find myself sandwiched between Max and his dark-n-sexy friend.
I’d be in total heaven if it weren’t for the guilt swirling in Max’s blue eyes. I have no idea why it’s there, but I’m bound and determined to find out.
Publisher’s Note: This book contains descriptions of consensual activities, including eroticism and discipline. If you object to these elements, please do not read this book.
Jealousy’s a real bitch, but so is his ex-girlfriend.
Maxwell Penn is my lover, my boss, and my Dom. He pushes me emotionally as well as sexually, in all the ways a girl should be pushed by the man she loves. Sure, some days, I still swing back and forth between wanting to strangle him and wanting to straddle him, but I wouldn’t give him up for the world. Oh, did I mention there’s talk of him taking me to a Swingers’ Ball at a local BDSM club?
So yeah, our relationship is positively sizzling. At least, it is until Boudoir Fashion Week, when Max’s college girlfriend explodes back into his life, and everything goes south. Giselle Dubois is tall, svelte, and so stunning that I feel the need to wear sunglasses whenever she’s around.
As she uses her sensuality and intimate knowledge of Max’s past, Giselle embarks on a mission of manipulation to acquire something Max “took” from her years ago, but it’s not just knowledge of Max’s past she has in her arsenal. She knows my past. My family’s secrets. The dark stain that has marred my family since I was a child. But Giselle isn’t the only threat facing us. There is another monster in our midst, one far more cunning and deadly.
Publisher’s Note: This love story contains elements of power exchange, multiple partners, a vindictive ex-girlfriend, and explicitly described sensual encounters. If these offend you, please do not purchase this book.
Brandi Evans was raised by a caravan of traveling Gypsies. She spent her days learning the ways of her people and her nights lost in legends as old as time. Okay, not really, but that’s way more interesting than the truth!
In reality, Brandi grew up the oldest child of an ordinary family. Grade school, middle school, high school. Nothing extraordinary happened until she left the nest. She joined the military, went to college, got married, and became a mom. And somewhere along the way, she discovered she liked to read—and write!—stories hot enough to melt eReaders.
Today we have author Beth D. Carter visiting. Welcome!
What would you like to tell readers about yourself?
* I hate washing dishes but I love cooking. I hate washing clothes but I love wearing them. I try to write characters who aren’t cookie cutters, ones who are full of angst but where love redeems them. I push myself to write complicated situations that I have no idea how to resolve, forcing me to think outside the box. I hate people who don’t pick up their dog’s crap in public places and I really hate people who are rude and condescending. I especially hate discrimination in all and every form. The perfect birthday presents are gift certificates to bookstores. And I love to hear from readers. I’m really easy to find on Facebook or Twitter.
What would you like to tell readers about yourself? Originally from Missouri, I live in Las Vegas, Nevada. By day I’m a pharmacy tech and by night I try to tap out some words on a page.
What book are you going to tell us about today? Is it part of a series? If so, what’s the order the books should be read in? My book, Untraceable, is the second book in the World of Danger series. The first is titled Invincible and I have a third planned for 2020.
How’d you/your muse come up with this story? That’s a funny story. I had originally wrote the beginning of it for a different series, but that never really got off the ground. It was supposed to an A-Team storyline, with four mercenaries kicked out of the Army and now fight for the innocent. Only I never really connected with the characters I had in mind. Luckily, I never got rid of it, and shifted those characters into this series, and this time…it worked!
Describe the hero in five words. JD Harlan the Second is: focused, hardheaded, secretive, born leader
Describe the heroine in five words. Mae Sawyer is: bookworm, unexciting, ordinary, very adaptable
Who’s your favorite character in the book & why? Mae, because she’s me. I hope to many readers she’s very relatable because she has no other special ability than the memory of the books she’s read.
What’s your favorite line in the story? I have a few favorites in this story. Here’s one section I think is pretty funny: * “Why don’t you stay here while I-” * A second later she had latched onto his arm. “No way. Where you go I go.” * He tried to extract his arm, but she held fast, like a boa constrictor strangling its prey. “Mae. Let me go.” * “No way, Jose. Haven’t you ever watched horror movies? The girl left behind always dies.”
~ Blurb ~
* Mae Sawyer has a huge crush on her boss, JD Harlan, but he doesn’t even know she exists. She blends into the background of her data entry job, living for glimpses of him walking through the office. Then one night, everything changes. While working late, she’s caught up in a plot to kidnap him…and gets taken as well. * They wake up in an underground bunker. No electricity. No way to be traced. Alone, they have to rely on each other to stay strong until their captor decides their fate. Danger lurks outside the bunker, waiting for a moment of vengeance.
~ Excerpt ~
* “Everything was well planned,” he muttered, coming to a stop in front of her. She lifted her head to look up at him. “Except it was set up for one person. You were unexpected, which makes me wonder why they took you instead of leaving you behind.” * “Sympathy, of course,” she said immediately. “Collateral damage. You won’t do anything to escape if it means leaving me behind. Clearly I’m not made for hiking through a proverbial jungle so I’m your weakest link.” * He looked her over, from head to toe. She wore comfortable business attire complete with sensible, low-heeled pumps. Definitely not made for a quick get-a-way if it came to that. But something earnest in her eyes caught his attention…a spark of fierceness that her drab clothing and persona tried to hide. A little voice in his head told him there was a lot more to Mae Sawyer. * “I disagree with that,” he said thoughtfully. “You are not the weak link here.” * She smiled and placed a hand on his arm, staring up at him with those remarkable eyes that managed punch him in his chest. Big. Brown. Absolutely guileless. When had he ever met a woman whose thoughts were reflected in her eyes? Unexpectedly, desire slammed into his gut and he had an urge to lean down and kiss her. He wanted to know if she tasted as sweet as she looked, which boggled his mind. He tended to date women who knew the score. Females who didn’t expect anything more than a good dinner and good sex. Long nights at the office, even longer nights on assignment, and a constant threat of danger hanging over his head tended to be isolating. His lifestyle and work commitments didn’t allow for relationships…or emotions, and he instinctively knew Mae wasn’t the love-em-and-leave-em type of woman. * So instead of doing want he wanted, which was kissing her until they were both senseless, he took a few steps away from her and took a deep breath to get his hormones under control. He had to force his mind into thinking like a security analyst again.
Now available: the chilling start to the high-octane, can’t-put-it-down Leine Basso thriller series.
A deadly assassin. A perpetual target. A double-cross she never saw coming…
They say the truth will set you free, but what if it kills you first?
Leine eliminates terrorists for a living. After a routine assassination almost gets her killed, she chalks it up to a fluke. Her lover and fellow assassin, Carlos, has another idea altogether. He thinks their boss is setting them up for a fall.
When Carlos goes missing and a bombing thwarts another mission, Leine suspects the stakes are far higher than she could ever imagine, and wonders if the man in charge might have it in for her after all.
If you like no-nonsense heroines, page-turning plots, and twists you won’t see coming, then you’ll love D.V. Berkom’s tension-filled series.
Download A Killing Truth to find out how the story began…
“[Leine Basso] is a sassy, kick-arse, no-nonsense, I’ll-eat-your-balls-for-breakfast type of woman. She simply rocks. Berkom’s books are ones when you almost forget to breathe. They’re fast-paced, taut with tension and sheer joy from start to finish.” ~ Cath’n’Kindle Book Reviews
“[A Killing Truth] introduces one of modern fiction’s deadliest heroes…” ~ Reviewer Charles A. Ray
“This is my third Leine Basso, and like the others, the action never lets up. Leine is the female Jack Reacher only she does it all without being 6’5″ and weighing 265 pounds, so that makes her more incredible. If you like page-turners, you’ll love this book.” ~ Polly Iyer, bestselling suspense author
“A Killing Truth would make an excellent introduction to D.V. Berkom’s writing…she’s one of my favorites… love how she just puts you right in the pages and you just don’t want to end.” ~ Hornfan2
“The Leine Basso series by DV Berkom is jam-packed with action and adventure and Leine Basso is one bad*** protagonist…” ~ Fundinmental Book Reviews
“As someone who has read all of the other current Leine Basso books first, I can say that A Killing Truth had me in suspense the entire time.” ~ Maranda, Amazon Reviewer
“Non-stop twists and turns. An excellent thriller that pits Leine against not only international criminals but her own boss.” ~ USMC-Mike
“What the world needs now is more female characters like bad ass Leine Basso. Bought the trio of books that follow this one because of how much I enjoyed the plot and twists along the way.” ~ shzann
A former assassin is drawn into the twisted game of a serial killer who may be a grisly remnant from her past.
What happens when a reality show turns deadly?
Determined to leave her old life behind, retired assassin Leine Basso accepts a job working security at one of television’s most popular reality shows, Serial Date. When a contestant is found dead in the prop closet, it appears the killer is one of the ‘bachelors’ on the show-
an ex-con billed as a serial killer- but the detective in charge of the case isn’t so sure.
When Leine’s estranged daughter is abducted by a man claiming to be the real killer, she’s forced to rely on old skills to find her. She soon realizes the murderer may be a grisly remnant from her past and she’ll need to use all of her cunning to stop him…
…and rescue her daughter.
If you like black humor, no-nonsense heroines, and heart-stopping action, you’ll love Serial Date. Download it today!
“If you like fast-paced action, great lead characters, and don’t mind a few F-bombs and the occasional gore, DV Berkom is the author for you.” ~ BloodWrites
“Serial Date has everything a mystery/thriller needs to be successful, fast-paced and action packed, strong and memorable characters and a story that will grab you from beginning to end…” ~ Confessions of a Reader
“Why should you read it? In a nutshell it’s a fast-paced, non-linear story with some creepy elements mashed together with a splash of romance and dark humour. What’s not to like?” ~ Indie eBooks
Dangerous obsessions take center stage when a former assassin and a homicide detective race against the clock to find a missing girl before she’s sold to the highest bidder.
Identified as a person of interest in three cold case murders she didn’t commit, and required to stay in L.A., retired assassin Leine Basso accepts a temporary position as a security specialist for A-list actor Miles Fournier. Soon, a woman contacts Miles, claiming to be his long-lost sister. Her twelve-year-old daughter, Mara, has been abducted and she’s desperate to get her back.
Leine learns from a contact that Mara escaped, but the traffickers are determined to track her down and deliver her to their powerful client. Running out of time, Leine must find Mara before they do, or she will be lost forever.
“…I was thrilled with this book. I did not want it to end. I was on the edge of my seat at the end! Seriously a nail-bitter!” ~ April Holgate, Amazon Top 50 Reviewer
“Tight dialogue and nonstop action marks a novel that establishes new benchmarks for action thrillers. This is a solid five-star novel that you won’t want to miss.” ~ Ray’s Ramblings
“An intelligent thriller worthy of the Big Screen…” ~ BloodWrites
A retired assassin is called in when a celebration south of the border turns into a nightmare.
Everything’s for sale…
Former assassin Leine Basso is hired by a wealthy Beverly Hills power couple to find their missing daughter, Elise, last seen partying with her boyfriend at a club in Tijuana. At first, police believe the two teenagers are the victims of a carjacking. But when Leine finds their missing vehicle with a mutilated body inside, and the local cartel warns her away, she knows if Elise isn’t already dead, she will be soon, or worse.
In the lethal world of organized crime, there’s always a worse.
As Leine races to uncover the reason behind Elise Bennett’s disappearance, she must also battle the powerful interests fighting to keep her from the truth.
Praise for the Leine Basso Thriller series:
“Now this, this is what thrillers are made of: grit, spunk, and no-nonsense unputdownability…Quite simply: Brilliant ” ~ Cath ‘n Kindle Book Reviews
“…Ms. Berkom gives us a badass heroine that’s fun to root for. Once Leine discovers what is happening, there is no stopping her…an edge of your seat thriller that delivers!” ~ Night Owl Reviews
“Without a doubt one of the most engaging, complex and enthralling mysteries that had me totally in its grip…” ~ Confessions of a Reader
“Taken fans will be overjoyed with this gritty thriller…following Basso as she works her tradecraft is a pleasure…” ~ BestThrillers.com
“A really exciting heroine for action thriller fans everywhere, but a long overdue tough and plausible literary role-model for women.” ~ Ajoobacats Book Reviews
An adventurous young backpacker, captured and sold. A black market merchant who will stop at nothing to amass the power he craves. The one woman who can stop him before he destroys everything…
Haunted by memories of an op gone bad, former assassin Leine Basso travels to Bangkok in search of a missing backpacker. With help from an old contact, she discovers the man responsible for the girl’s disappearance is connected to a violent Hong Kong triad and is the linchpin of an extensive trafficking network—both animal and human.
Making enemies isn’t new for Leine, but making one in the triad is—she soon finds herself a prisoner on board a cargo ship headed for sub-Saharan Africa. To ensure her survival and to continue her hunt for the missing girl, she must join forces with Derek, an ivory poacher who promises to help her.
Ready to stay up all night? Everybody’s favorite assassin is back with a vengeance in this high-octane, can’t-put-it-down espionage thriller.
Espionage. Deception. A nation on the brink of war…
Just when former assassin Leine Basso thinks she’s free from the business of death, a desperate call from a friend drags her back into the dark world of espionage and arms dealers.
“Sucks you in on page one and doesn’t set you free until the end. Another sure-fire winner in a spectacular series.” ~ Tim Tigner, International Bestselling Author of the Kyle Achilles series
“D.V. Berkom has created one kick-ass heroine in Leine Basso–a woman who can do it all in the dog-kill-dog world of international espionage.” ~ J. Carson Black, New York Times Bestselling Author
“Warning: once started, The Last Deception is difficult to put down…[T]he globe-trotting Leine uncovers acts of international espionage that lead her on a desperate hunt for an elusive spy that could bring down the world.” ~ Midwest Book Review
A former assassin, battling her demons. A sinister enemy, determined to destroy her. A wily street kid caught in the middle.
Former assassin Leine Basso is fresh off an assignment rescuing an American teenager from a terrorist group in Libya when she thwarts the murder of a street kid in Tripoli. Leine agrees to help the girl, but must first visit a refugee camp to uncover the reason behind a rash of mysterious abductions.
Leaving the camp, Leine comes under a surprise attack–but only a handful of people knew her true mission. The more she discovers about the abductions, the more of a target she becomes, forcing her to revisit a dark and violent past she thought she’d left behind. But it’s easy–too easy to fall back into her old ways.
And that could get her killed.
Will Leine be able to survive a dark return?
If you like gritty, fast-paced, can’t-put-it-down thrillers with an action-packed story ripped from the headlines, then you’ll love Dark Return. Download your copy today!
Praise for Dark Return:
“I couldn’t put it down. My entire Saturday has been spent reading Dark Return.” ~ Sharon Simms
“One of the best reads to come out in this genre in quite awhile. You won’t want to put this book down.” ~ Yvonne Reddy
“Excellent. There is no other way to describe it. I read it in one go it was that good. Leine is one hell of a badass.” ~ Silver Surfer
“Dark Return was a thrill-a-minute, page-turning suspense that never lets up with action and intrigue. The author, DV Berkom, is a master when it comes to character development and the story line.” ~ Paula Lopez
“DV Berkom has honed her skills as writer to such a fine art that it is indeed very difficult to tear yourself away from any of her books.” ~ Manie Killian
“Fast paced and full of action, this book will keep you both entertained and intrigued from start to finish. Highly recommended!!” ~ Derek Williams
“This book will captivate you from the first paragraph to the last. It is full of action and non-stop adventure…” ~ txdoc
“Best book in the series, they just keep getting better and better!! Read them from the first in the series or just jump in here. Brilliant read.” ~ Sally Sanders
“Berkom has matured as a solid writer with similarities to Mark Greaney, Mark Dawson (John Milton series), and a whisper of Barry Eisler.” ~ Library Champion
Former assassin Leine Basso has severed ties with everyone she loves to keep them safe while she hunts for the ruthless terrorist, Salome. There are rumblings that the French-born assassin is planning another attack and Leine’s determined to stop her before it’s too late.
Can Leine thwart her plans, or will Salome’s own twisted vengeance mean the end for Leine and everyone she loves?
From London to Edinburgh to the City of Angels, Salome’s making a comeback—and that comeback includes killing Leine.
A kidnapped girl. A ruthless criminal who preys on the innocent. Two killers who will stop at nothing to bring him down.
Former assassin Leine Basso was supposed to be in sunny LA, watching the first class of operatives graduate from the new anti-trafficking academy. Instead, she’s in North Dakota in the middle of a brutal winter, helping old friend Derek van der Haar track down and eliminate a deadly group of criminals hell-bent on providing young girls to the highest bidder.
The closer Leine and Derek get to the organization, the more dangerous the mission becomes. Soon, it’s evident that the traffickers are playing for keeps—and don’t care who they kill.
In a story ripped from the headlines, Dakota Burn reveals the dark underbelly of the Bakken oil fields, where human life is a commodity and outlaws still rule.
If you enjoy books by Mark Dawson, Barry Eisler, and Mark Greaney, you’ll love D.V. Berkom. Download this gritty, action-packed thriller today!
DV Berkom is the USA Today bestselling author of two action-packed thriller series featuring strong female leads (Leine Basso and Kate Jones). Her love of creating resilient, kick-ass women characters stems from a lifelong addiction to reading spy novels, mysteries, and thrillers, and longing to find the female equivalent within those pages.
Raised in the Midwest, she earned a BA in political science and promptly moved to Mexico to live on a sailboat. Several years and many adventures later, she wrote her first novel and was hooked. The Kate Jones adventure thriller, Bad Spirits, was first published in 2010 as an online serial, and was immediately popular with Kindle and Nook fans. Dead of Winter, Death Rites, and Touring for Death soon followed before she began the far grittier Leine Basso thriller series in early 2012 with Serial Date.
DV currently lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, Mark, and several imaginary characters who like to tell her what to do.
Casey's Corner 