Book Review of Finding Trust – Book 1
Centre Games Series
Sponsored by Innovative Book Tours
Welcome to Books, Books, and More Books. I am pleased to share my review of this book
with you. Thank you for visiting and
please come again.
Blurb
:
Finding
Trust – Book 1 Centre Games Series Brayden and Rihanna He’s hot, sexy, and
leads a double life. Sometimes in the limelight, mostly in the shadows. Brayden
James holds fast to a secret that’s more than his to share. She’s a singularly
focused veterinarian out for a rare night of fun with friends, at a New Year’s
Eve rock concert. Going home with the lead guitarist was furthest thing from
Rihanna Mason’s mind when the night began. When Rihanna inadvertently becomes
the target of a deadly terrorist plot using the Hendra virus as a biological
weapon, Brayden is forced to reveal his other life. His job is to keep her safe
and together they must stop the terrorists before it’s too late. But what
happens when she becomes more to him than just the assignment? Will the secret
he cannot disclose ultimately prove too much for Rihanna’s fragile trust in
relationships? Or will he finally break through the double brick walls around
her heart, where every other man has failed?
About the
Author:
I recently
discovered those school vocational assessments are really interesting and
probably correct! Who would have thought, hey? You see, I clearly remember
taking one of those in Year 11 (for my US friends, I think that equates to
junior year in high school). Anyway, semantics. Well, the results came back
indicating that I should pursue a career in writing and something else. What
that something else was I can’t remember but the writing thing stuck in my
mind. Sure, I’d always liked English and had already developed a ravenous
appetite for romance novels by the age of sixteen—but who becomes a writer
straight out of school? So to cut a long story short, I went to Uni and studied
Business and ended up managing large-scale IT projects shortly after. I can’t
complain: it’s been a great career. I’ve done some awesome projects and met
some incredible people and I won’t be giving it up anytime soon. Anyway, I’ve
messed around with a couple of “secret” novels over the years and I finally
decided to get serious and finish one. Hence “Finding Trust” came about. And
about twenty years later, I’ve finally proved a vocational assessment correct,
because I love writing! As to some other stuff about me: I live on the Gold
Coast, Australia. I love spending time with my family and friends. When I’m not
sitting behind a screen playing with IT or writing, you might find me down the
beach playing in the waves on a Jet Ski or a bogey board (both are uber cool).
When the weather turns a bit cooler (doesn’t really happen on the Gold Coast),
we like to head for the snow. I’ve discovered I have two kids who are kamikaze
skiers—they must take after their father. He’s always at me to “release the
handbrake.” Apparently I’d ski so much better. I call it a healthy
understanding of self-preservation and gravity! I like to think I can fit in a
few workouts and martial arts classes each week. This tends to be a figment of
my imagination more than reality, unfortunately. I am trying to remedy this,
but those damn characters just keep demanding to have their stories told and,
well, there’s always another good book to read! I hope you enjoy mine. Please
drop me a line. I’m active on Facebook, Twitter, and via email
Natalie@nataliegayle.com.au. I’d love to know what you think of my books and
well, let’s be truthful—I love talking about books, whether they’re mine or
someone else’s. Fiction is just so much more fun than reality!!! Happy Reading
Natalie Gayle
Contacts:
ONLINE LINKS:
·
Website www.nataliegayle.com
·
Blog
http://www.nataliegayle.com/blog/
BUY NOW LINK:
Excerpt:
Chapter Four
If the upper
level of the hospital was a cyclone centre, the lower lab was ground zero. A
quick scan of his senses told him that the floor was safe. He turned and
gathered her into his arms, as she sobbed silently into his shoulder.
“It’s okay,
sweetheart, we’ll sort this out.”
She wanted to
believe him; she really did. But how did you even begin to replace the
equipment, the effort, or restore order to the chaos that had now invaded their
life’s work?
“Rihanna, can
you tell me where you kept the virus?” His senses could detect a very faint
hint but not in enough concentration to be the real deal.
She pointed at a
stainless steel cabinet that was open. “The virus samples were kept in special
containers, kind of like the ones you would have seen radioactive material kept
in. They’re all gone.”
“How many were
there?” he asked.
“There were six
containers, all with various levels of virus intensity.”
“Well, I kind of
went home with someone…”
He bit his cheek
to stop from laughing. He dared a sideways glance at her. She was looking out
the window, obviously struggling with deciding just how much to say. Her right
hand was viciously tugging at a lock of her hair, clearly uncertain about what
to tell her friend.
“No way—not that
guy from Steel?”
“Yep, the one
and the same.”
Hah—he loved it;
Rihanna sounded almost smug. Clearly Jazz’s reaction had given her immediate
confidence in the situation.
“Oh, this is
just too much. Where are you now?”
“At his place.”
Rihanna’s ear was immediately assaulted with high-pitched squealing.
He was glad she
was turned the other way or she would have seen him visibly flinch at the
horrible noise.
“You lucky
thing, you. He is sooooo hot. Is he as good in bed as he is in the looks
department?”
“Ah ha.”
“Oh, I get it,
he’s right near.”
“Yep and we
would prefer that you don’t tell anyone about this.”
“Does that imply
you are staying there for a bit?”
“Something like
that.”
“You can’t just
say that and not tell me what you mean.”
“Exactly that.
We just want a few days alone to see how things go.”
“Oh, you are
sooo bad and sooo lucky and I am sooo jealous.”
Rihanna looked up and realized that while she had been talking, Brayden had
stopped the car in the garage and was waiting for her to finish her call.
“Ah, Jazz, I
have to go. I’ve just got to go do something.”
“Yeah, I bet.
More like someone. Call me tomorrow. I live for details, you know that.”
“I do. Bye,
Jazzy.”
Rihanna disconnected
the call and slowly turned to face Brayden; judging by the look on his face, he
had heard at least some of Jazz’s comments. Oh God, what’s he going to think?
He leaned over
the console and gently wrapped his hand behind her head and drew her into his
kiss. His lips were warm and soft against hers and her heart immediately began
to race as he slowly slid his tongue over her bottom lip, deepening the kiss as
he sought entry into her mouth. At his mercy, she wrapped her arms around his
shoulders and pulled him in tighter to her body. Her breasts brushed teasingly
against the planes of his chest and her nipples immediately pebbled and began
to pulse with the intense heat that was building between them.
He explored her
mouth with a thoroughness that was unhurried and totally erotic. His kiss was
taking them higher and higher. Ohhh, she needed his hands on her anywhere,
everywhere. And almost on cue, he removed his hand from the nape of her neck
but rather than to move it somewhere more interesting, he gently pulled back
from her, breaking the connection.
The electricity
between them was almost visible, a current stretching between the two
conductors. Their gazes connected and he smiled that cheeky grin that was oh so
Brayden.
“Wow, that was
hot, babe.”
She lowered her
gaze, embarrassed by how direct his comment was.
“Well, Minky, I
thought I’d just make sure you had some accurate material to discuss with Jazz
tomorrow. Methinks you told a few little fibs, although I have to say I like
the sound of where you were heading with your thoughts.”
“Well, I kind of
went home with someone…”
He bit his cheek
to stop from laughing. He dared a sideways glance at her. She was looking out
the window, obviously struggling with deciding just how much to say. Her right
hand was viciously tugging at a lock of her hair, clearly uncertain about what
to tell her friend.
“No way—not that
guy from Steel?”
“Yep, the one
and the same.”
Hah—he loved it;
Rihanna sounded almost smug. Clearly Jazz’s reaction had given her immediate
confidence in the situation.
“Oh, this is
just too much. Where are you now?”
“At his place.”
Rihanna’s ear was immediately assaulted with high-pitched squealing.
He was glad she
was turned the other way or she would have seen him visibly flinch at the horrible
noise.
“You lucky
thing, you. He is sooooo hot. Is he as good in bed as he is in the looks
department?”
“Ah ha.”
“Oh, I get it,
he’s right near.”
“Yep and we
would prefer that you don’t tell anyone about this.”
“Does that imply
you are staying there for a bit?”
“Something like
that.”
“You can’t just
say that and not tell me what you mean.”
“Exactly that.
We just want a few days alone to see how things go.”
“Oh, you are
sooo bad and sooo lucky and I am sooo jealous.”
Rihanna looked up and realized that while she had been talking, Brayden had
stopped the car in the garage and was waiting for her to finish her call.
“Ah, Jazz, I
have to go. I’ve just got to go do something.”
“Yeah, I bet.
More like someone. Call me tomorrow. I live for details, you know that.”
“I do. Bye,
Jazzy.”
Rihanna
disconnected the call and slowly turned to face Brayden; judging by the look on
his face, he had heard at least some of Jazz’s comments. Oh God, what’s he
going to think?
He leaned over
the console and gently wrapped his hand behind her head and drew her into his
kiss. His lips were warm and soft against hers and her heart immediately began
to race as he slowly slid his tongue over her bottom lip, deepening the kiss as
he sought entry into her mouth. At his mercy, she wrapped her arms around his
shoulders and pulled him in tighter to her body. Her breasts brushed teasingly
against the planes of his chest and her nipples immediately pebbled and began
to pulse with the intense heat that was building between them.
He explored her
mouth with a thoroughness that was unhurried and totally erotic. His kiss was
taking them higher and higher. Ohhh, she needed his hands on her anywhere,
everywhere. And almost on cue, he removed his hand from the nape of her neck
but rather than to move it somewhere more interesting, he gently pulled back
from her, breaking the connection.
The electricity
between them was almost visible, a current stretching between the two
conductors. Their gazes connected and he smiled that cheeky grin that was oh so
Brayden.
“Wow, that was
hot, babe.”
She lowered her
gaze, embarrassed by how direct his comment was.
“Well, Minky, I
thought I’d just make sure you had some accurate material to discuss with Jazz
tomorrow. Methinks you told a few little fibs, although I have to say I like
the sound of where you were heading with your thoughts.”
“So let’s go
inside. I have to make some calls to my team. You can go relax in the spa with
a glass of wine and I’ll join you in a little while.” He was building the
anticipation to the main event. They both knew it. He leaned forward again and
gently pressed his lips to her forehead. He could tell from her silence and the
tension in her body that what was happening between them was causing nearly as
much stress as the situation with the virus and her father.
“Let’s just see
what happens. We’ll both know when the time is right.” With that, he turned,
helped her out of the car and inside the house.
That was the
problem…the waiting might just kill her.
Review
So when
I read the overview of this book I was thinking western romance, but yowza this
one is so much more than that. There is
mystery, intrigue, romance, hot steamy love scenes, a bit of the paranormal for
those who prefer the fantasy, and true love (insert happy sigh here).
I love
that she gets a nickname because … nope not telling. You’ll have to read why her nickname is Minky
for yourself. Anyway the good doctor is
in danger, but it may not just be from the people who want to kidnap or kill
her. The real danger might be to her
heart and she’s not sure it’s worth the risk.
Love,
love, love the story. Can’t wait to read
more from the series. This is definitely
a keeper. I give this story 4.5 out of 5
clouds.
This
product or book may have been distributed for review; this in no way affects my
opinions or reviews.
Blurb
: 
.jpg)
