Tag Archives: Kaylea Cross

Spotlight – Lethal Protector

28 Thursday Jan 2021

Posted by in Blog Tour, Sneak Peek

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Cross has made a name for herself in romantic suspense and her newest series is getting a whole lot of 5 star reviews on Goodreads.

*****

Lethal Protector

Rifle Creek series

by Kaylea Cross

Blurb:

She unknowingly threatens his control.

Single mom Tala Baldwin is no stranger to sacrifice. After losing her leg while serving her country, she’s now training to become a competitive biathlete. With her daughter off to college, she’s able to shoot for her dream of making the national masters team. Even her Christmas break in Rifle Creek doesn’t slow her down. She’s asked her trusted friend Braxton to help her train—all while trying to pretend she doesn’t ache for him. Braxton was there for her during the darkest day of her life and he’s been there for her since…but only as a friend. In fact, he seems more determined than ever to hold her at arm’s length—until a deadly blizzard traps them in the mountains with a wanted killer hot on their trail. Now Tala once again finds her life in his hands as they face the lethal threats together.

Now he’s at his breaking point.

Sgt. Braxton Hillard is a master sniper, renowned for his ability to operate without emotion. Except with Tala. She’s all he’s ever wanted—but can’t have. For four long years he’s kept his distance. She’s way too good for him and she would realize that if he ever made a move. But the attraction between them is too powerful to deny, and once she makes it clear she wants him, he can’t keep his distance any longer. As they fight to survive in the mountains, all bets are off. Braxton is ready to sacrifice everything to protect the woman he loves—even his own life.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3cbUvv2

Kobo: https://bit.ly/3c8srsb

Apple: http://apple.co/2Mss68T

Nook: https://bit.ly/367vA7Z

*****

Excerpt:

Tala stopped, looking up at him, her pulse skipping at the focused look on his face. She couldn’t read his expression but his stare was intense. As if he had something important on his mind that he needed to tell her.

“Is…everything okay?” she asked slowly.

He shifted his feet but didn’t answer, and his hesitation worried her.

“Brax? Is something wrong?”

He glanced away, ran a hand over his jaw, then focused on her again. “What you said earlier. About me being part of the family.” His voice was low, taut, the muscles in his jaw and shoulders tight.

She frantically tried to gather her scattered thoughts, wondering what had upset him. “What about it?”

“Is that how you see me? As family?”

Something in his tone, in the silent tension coming from him, gave her pause and warned her to phrase her answer carefully. Especially when she took into account the things he’d said earlier. Was he hinting that…

Voicing her feelings aloud made her feel incredibly vulnerable, but she needed to be honest right now, because this would change everything, one way or the other.

Holding his gaze, she drew a steadying breath before answering. “If you’re asking if I think of you in a brotherly way, then… No.” Not even a little.

He stilled, his gaze sharpening, the leap of heat of that dark stare sending a ripple of shock—and hope—through her. “So how do you think of me?”

She looked away, fighting a blush as her discomfort level skyrocketed. She didn’t want to make a fool of herself or be humiliated if he didn’t reciprocate her feelings. “I…”

“Tal. Look at me.”

She did, and felt herself drowning in those deep brown eyes, all the feelings she’d repressed for years suddenly rushing to the surface.

“Say it,” he rasped out.

I’ve wanted you forever.

The unspoken words got tangled on the tip of her tongue. But she couldn’t look away. Couldn’t drag her eyes from his, her pulse pounding in her ears as she waited for him to say something. Do something to put her out of her misery.

He took two steps toward her, stopping inches from her boots to reach both arms past her. He leaned in to cage her against the truck doorway with his big body, his hands on either side of her head, the muscles in his arms, shoulder and jaw standing out.

And his eyes. The sudden, volcanic heat in them made the breath stall in her lungs.

Shock punched through her, followed by a wave of molten desire as she stared up at him, his face mere inches from hers. She had to be reading this wrong. Had to be, because he was staring at her like he wanted to devour her and was struggling to hold back.

“Tal.” His voice was low, his taut expression making her heart thud against her ribs. He’d only ever looked at her like this in her dreams.

“What?” she whispered back, anticipation and need swirling inside her.

Touch me. Oh, God, touch me…

*****

Author Info:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kaylea Cross writes edge-of-your-seat military romantic suspense. Her work has won many awards, including the Daphne du Maurier Award of Excellence. A Registered Massage Therapist by trade, Kaylea is also an avid gardener, artist, Civil War buff, Special Ops aficionado, belly dance enthusiast and former nationally-carded softball pitcher. She lives in Vancouver, BC with her husband and family.

Website: http://kayleacross.com/v2/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KayleaCrossAuthor/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kayleacross

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaylea_cross_author/

Newsletter: http://kayleacross.com/v2/newsletter/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2902054.Kaylea_Cross

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2V6iyQs

Bookbub: http://bit.ly/KayleaCrossBB

~

 

Spotlight – Lethal Temptation

29 Tuesday Sep 2020

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Who needs a new distraction from 2020? Kaylea Cross has a new one and she never fails to keep me on the edge of my seat.

*****

Lethal Temptation

Rifle Creek series

by Kaylea Cross

Blurb:

She’s got her guard up.

Detective Avery Dahl finally has her life back on track after a painful divorce. She’s not going to risk her heart again, especially to a sexy veteran with heartbreak written all over him. Due to extenuating circumstances at an upcoming family wedding, she reluctantly agrees to bring him as her fake boyfriend—and soon realizes her mistake. Because Mason is as lethal with seduction as he is with a weapon, and keeps pushing her boundaries until her carefully constructed walls begin to crumble. Her instinct is to push him away, but when a mysterious enemy targets her, Avery has a choice to make. Face it alone, or take a risk and let him in.

He’s determined to get past it.

After a horrific accident ended his military career, Mason Gallant has struggled to fit into the civilian world. Now that he and his buddies are opening a business together in Rifle Creek, he’s finally found his footing again. But he never counted on meeting a woman like Avery. He can’t stop thinking about her, so when she needs help, he steps up. Except posing as her boyfriend makes things even worse—because he soon realizes he wants way more than just her body. Now that he’s seen the caring, sensual woman inside the tough cop, he wants to protect her from whoever is threatening her. As the attraction between them heats up, the danger escalates. Mason must prove to her that she can trust him with her heart as well as her life—or risk losing her to the bullet of a stone-cold killer.

Add it to your TBR Pile: http://bit.ly/33NHyj0

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Ec1QMn

Kobo: https://bit.ly/2E2L16H

Apple: https://apple.co/2YlCAKn

Nook: https://bit.ly/32beuTJ

*****

Author Info:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kaylea Cross writes edge-of-your-seat military romantic suspense. Her work has won many awards, including the Daphne du Maurier Award of Excellence. A Registered Massage Therapist by trade, Kaylea is also an avid gardener, artist, Civil War buff, Special Ops aficionado, belly dance enthusiast and former nationally-carded softball pitcher. She lives in Vancouver, BC with her husband and family.

Website: http://kayleacross.com/v2/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KayleaCrossAuthor/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kayleacross

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaylea_cross_author/

Newsletter: http://kayleacross.com/v2/newsletter/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2902054.Kaylea_Cross

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2V6iyQs

Bookbub: http://bit.ly/KayleaCrossBB

*****

Book Review – Lethal Edge

03 Monday Aug 2020

Posted by in Blog Tour, Book Review

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Who likes a little tension mixed in with their love story?

*****

Lethal Edge

Rifle Creek series

by Kaylea Cross

Blurb:

A diehard romantic looking to start over in a small town.

Dr. Nina Benitez might be an astrophysicist and a scientist down to her bones, but she also believes in true love and happily ever after—and won’t settle for anything less. After a rocky end to her first semester teaching at the University of Montana, she’s looking forward to a new school year and a fresh start in the small town of Rifle Creek. When she meets her roommate’s work partner, a sexy, hard-edged detective, Nina is immediately intrigued. However, it’s soon clear they’re like oil and water. But when she’s confronted by the painful past event she wanted to forget, she faces an even greater danger. A predator is bent on silencing her forever, and Nina’s only hope of survival is the unattainable man who’s captured her heart.

A cynical cop determined to guard his heart.

Tate Baldwin has dedicated his life to serving and protecting, first in the military, and now as a detective in Rifle Creek. Badly burned by his last relationship, he isn’t looking to get involved with anyone, especially a brilliant college professor who seems to have her head in the clouds. Yet even Tate can’t deny the attraction between them that soon grows into something more. And when a secret from her past triggers a lethal threat, Tate will risk everything to stand between her and the monster who wants her dead.

Nook: https://bit.ly/32YGyvD

*****

Review:

When I see Cross’s name, I know I’m going to get a good romantic thriller and she didn’t fail me. Even though the romance between Tate and Nina is the main plotline, she successfully weaves in the villain into the story in a way that doesn’t take away from either. We get just enough of his POV and his impact on the main characters that when the climax comes we’re ready to see him get his comeuppance. Which comes with a nice amount of nail-biting moments.

Nina is a delightful character – a great mix of romantic and scholar. She sees the world with such wonder and fun, and is a good foil to Tate who has seen some of the darker side of life. Recently burned by a bad relationship, he’s not looking to get involved but Nina has a certain draw to her that he just can’t resist.

As much as I loved Nina (and wish I could be more like her), Tate did take a little more warming up to. I also feel like, for all his fighting getting involved, he moved pretty quickly into falling in love. I think that his attitude either needed to be a little less adamant or a little more time spent in the progression of their relationship.

Overall though, it was definitely a minor quibble that was easily overcome by the great characters, the enjoyable interactions between them, and the nicely developed suspense element. Cross also nicely sets up more stories in the series and I’m ready to see what she brings us next.

*****

Author Info:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kaylea Cross writes edge-of-your-seat military romantic suspense. Her work has won many awards, including the Daphne du Maurier Award of Excellence. A Registered Massage Therapist by trade, Kaylea is also an avid gardener, artist, Civil War buff, Special Ops aficionado, belly dance enthusiast and former nationally-carded softball pitcher. She lives in Vancouver, BC with her husband and family.

Website: http://kayleacross.com/v2/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KayleaCrossAuthor/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kayleacross

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaylea_cross_author/

Newsletter: http://kayleacross.com/v2/newsletter/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2902054.Kaylea_Cross

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2V6iyQs

Bookbub: http://bit.ly/KayleaCrossBB

*****

Spotlight – Rocky Ground

26 Tuesday Mar 2019

Posted by in Blog Tour, Sneak Peek

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Single mom meets sexy Scot … oh, yeah!

*****

Rocky Ground

A Crimson Point Novel

by Kaylea Cross

Blurb:

She’s been hurt too many times…

Single mom Tiana Fitzgerald has sworn off all romantic relationships to protect herself and her daughter. Her track record is disastrous and she’s done getting hurt. But a certain sexy Scotsman in Crimson Point has other ideas, and somehow manages to sneak past her defenses at every turn. As the hits keep coming and her life implodes, she begins to see he’s unlike any man she’s ever known. Now he’s become the greatest threat to her heart, because there’s no possible future for them. Not when he’s leaving the country in a few weeks. And when her worst fears are realized, she must risk everything by placing her trust in in his hands.

He’s determined to capture her heart.

Scotsman Aidan MacIntyre never saw the fiery, beautiful Tiana coming. The prickly redhead has gotten under his skin as badly as he wants to get under hers. But she’s determined to keep walls between them. Luckily the former Royal Marine doesn’t know how to give up. Someone from her past wants to hurt her, but Aidan will stand between her and any threat. He’ll stop at nothing to protect her and the little girl who have completely stolen his heart—and fight for them to have a future together.

Kindle https://amzn.to/2utzogE

Kobo https://bit.ly/2UWhDCe

Apple Books https://apple.co/2CC8xDz

Nook https://bit.ly/2UWXpZ8

Add to your Goodreads  https://bit.ly/2Tu7PxO

*****

Excerpt:

The molten hunger in his eyes sent a torrent of heat rushing through her body even as her old fears bubbled to the surface again. “Aidan…” she murmured, dropping her gaze to his chest.

She’d done it. Given her unspoken consent. Now her heart was trying to pound its way out of her chest.

His hand came up to stroke her hair away from her face. She leaned into his touch, craving more. Craving this wonderful, incredible man that for some reason wanted her in spite of all her imperfections.

Her heart beat an erratic rhythm against her ribs. She’d never experienced anything like this before. Not with this level of intensity. This was…something she’d only read about before. Was it because of everything they’d gone through together? Because she’d relied on him for survival?

His fingers stroked against her scalp in a drugging caress that had her eyelids drooping. “What are you so afraid of?”

She looked up at him again. God, he was beautiful. And strong. And brave.

He was also going to rip her heart out when he left.

It wasn’t easy to voice her insecurities aloud, but she felt comfortable with him. Close to him in a way she’d never felt with another man. “Of making another mistake. Of getting my heart broken again,” she whispered.

He cupped the side of her face to run his thumb over her cheekbone. “I’ll not hurt you, lass.”

Her insides squeezed at the tenderness in his voice, the yearning in his eyes. No, he wouldn’t hurt her intentionally. “But you’re leaving soon. In another few weeks.” That was going to leave a scar, no matter how gently the cut was made.

“Aye,” he agreed, his gaze locked with hers. “But I’m here now.”

His words reverberated in the deepest recesses of her heart. He was right here in front of her, and he wanted her.

Any other arguments she had stored up vanished in the space of a single heartbeat. Before she could think herself out of it, she gave free rein to the need pulsing inside her, took his face in her hands and pulled him down to her waiting lips.

*****

Author Info:

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Kaylea Cross writes edge-of-your-seat military romantic suspense. Her work has won many awards, including the Daphne du Maurier Award of Excellence, and has been nominated multiple times for the National Readers’ Choice Awards. A Registered Massage Therapist by trade, Kaylea is also an avid gardener, artist, Civil War buff, Special Ops aficionado, belly dance enthusiast and former nationally-carded softball pitcher. She lives in Vancouver, BC with her husband and family. 

Website  http://kayleacross.com/v2/

Newsletter  http://kayleacross.com/v2/newsletter/

Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/KayleaCrossAuthor

Twitter  https://twitter.com/kayleacross

Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/kaylea_cross_author/

BookBub  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kaylea-cross

Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2902054.Kaylea_Cross

*****

Book Review – Buried Lies

28 Wednesday Nov 2018

Posted by in Blog Tour, Book Review, Contest

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Looking for a little more from your next love story?  Cross’s Crimson Point series definitely delivers!

*****

Buried Lies

A Crimson Point Novel

by Kaylea Cross

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Blurb:

She left her painful past behind.

Poppy Larsen is finally free. She moved to Crimson Point to make a new life for herself, full of bright possibilities. A whole new world awaits her, if she can find the courage to trust again—even her gorgeous neighbor, the town sheriff. But darkness lurks in the picturesque Oregon Coast town, concealing a deadly threat that’s closer than she ever imagined.

Now a killer is watching her from the shadows.

Sheriff Noah Buchanan can’t help but be intrigued by his new neighbor. She’s hard working, sexy as hell, and unlike most of the women in town, she hasn’t thrown herself at him. After it becomes clear that she plans to put down roots here, he finds himself falling more and more for Poppy and her big heart. When someone from her past tries to hurt her, it triggers all his protective instincts. But the real danger is hiding in plain sight. When the unthinkable happens, Noah is thrust into a race against time to save her before it’s too late.

Amazon US | Apple Books | Kobo | Nook

*****

Review:

This is my first by Cross (although it won’t be my last) and I found it to be a tad more romance than suspense, so keep that in mind when you pick it up.  Both parts, I felt, were handled well but if you go in thinking you’ll find an edge-of-your-seat nail-biter, you’ll be a bit disappointed.  Don’t get me wrong – I felt like the mystery worked really well, even if there are quite a few obvious false flags floating around, and I was definitely engrossed when things came to a head with the danger to Poppy.  It’s just that a good part of the beginning of the book is about her hesitation to get involved with Noah and how irresistible he is.

The dynamic among the friends is actually as appealing as the romance for me and I loved how easily they accepted Poppy into their group.  They are all just as honorable as Noah and, like him, care about the people and the town.  It makes it believable that Poppy starts to open up to them, especially Noah.  Cross does a good job of relating Poppy’s hesitancy in getting involved and, while she is a little reserved because of her past, she is also smart and hardworking.  Her appeal as a character makes it rewarding as she starts to trust the others.

While the suspense portion of the story isn’t that big, it is set up well and you get a good feel for the bad guy.  I wouldn’t say that I was sympathetic but I definitely understood where he came from and why he did the things he did.  You know that there is no way that Noah won’t save Poppy, but her experience so engrossing that it bothered me to even try to imagine what she went through.  I don’t think it will satisfy die-hard mystery or suspense readers but it does a great job of adding a little kick to the love story.

Not having read the first book, I’m not sure how well we are supposed to know Poppy and Noah coming into this story.  If it is anything like this book, which set up the next in the series quite nicely, I’m sure that returning readers had an opinion.  It didn’t take me long to get involved, though, so I’m sure you are just starting the series too.  (Being a new reader, I will admit that I felt really bad for Noah’s friend Carter and the troubles he’s experiencing because of the brain injury he suffered serving overseas.  I hate to think about how much I’d feel for him if I’d read both!  But that’s a thing for the next book 🙂 )

*****

Author Info:

NY Times and USA Today Bestselling author Kaylea Cross writes edge-of-your-seat military romantic suspense. Her work has won many awards, including the Daphne du Maurier Award of Excellence, and has been nominated multiple times for the National Readers’ Choice Awards. A Registered Massage Therapist by trade, Kaylea is also an avid gardener, artist, Civil War buff, Special Ops aficionado, belly dance enthusiast and former nationally-carded softball pitcher. She lives in Vancouver, BC with her husband and family.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

*****

Giveaway:

5 ecopies of BURIED LIES

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/4cf78adb735/

*****