Some of you might remember when we looked atΒ Officer Next DoorΒ (which I loved) … well, now we get book two and it looks to be a scorcher!
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Officer Out of Uniform
Lock and Key, #2
by Ranae Rose
Publication Date: September 19th
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Blurb:
The only thing better than a man in uniform is aΒ man out of uniform. Sasha has never been moreΒ certain of anything in her life, and sheβs neverΒ wanted anyone more than she wants OfficerΒ Henry Dryden. Tall, tough and battle-scarred, heβsΒ the first man to capture not just her eye, but herΒ heart. With curves and the confidence to use them, itβs not hard to attract his attention, or get him to breakΒ out those cuffs and keys. But for the first time, getting exactly what she wants feels dangerously likeΒ risking it all.
Thereβs no question about the one thing Henry wants most when it comes to Sasha: toΒ protect her. After their coastal North Carolina community is sent a message via the brutal murder of theΒ prison warden, no one is safe. Henry canβt afford to be distracted by things like the all-consuming desireΒ Sasha inspires. Thereβll be time for that later … if he can keep her from getting caught in the crossfire of aΒ killerβs revenge scheme. Haunted by the ghosts of his past, heβll do anything to avoid being the only oneΒ to walk out of a war zone alive again. The way forward is clear: stop the convict whoβs hunting officers inΒ Riley County, and keep Sasha safe … or die trying.
AmazonΒ |Β B&NΒ |Β iBooksΒ |Β KoboΒ |Β Goodreads
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Author Info:
Ranae Rose is the best-selling author of more than twentyΒ adult romances and counting. Originally from Maryland, she grew up the daughter of a US Marine and always wanted to be a writer. Today she lives on the US East Coast with her man in uniform, young children, German Shepherd dogs and overflowing bookshelves.
Her love affair with the romance genre began as a teen when a classmate handed her a romance comic book. Instantly hooked, she read them during class behind her textbooks and under her desk. She hasnβt looked back since.
When sheβs not writing or reading, she enjoys things like good coffee, travel and fitness β especially pursuing her elusive goal of getting her husband to tap out on the jiu jitsu mats (no luck so far).
WebsiteΒ |Β BlogΒ |Β TwitterΒ |Β FacebookΒ |Β Goodreads
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(Ya’ll, I’m sharing the mild excerpt here but I read the explicit one …Β whew! Β I’m so ready to get my hands onΒ this one.)
Excerpt:
Sasha was glued to the TV when someone knocked on the door, nearly sending her intoΒ cardiac arrest.
In a move straight from some sort of slapstick comedy, she slipped right off the edge ofΒ her seat and flopped onto the carpet, as graceful as a fish out of water.
Oh, God. Who could possibly be knocking?
She glanced frantically toward the nearest window and the dusky evening beyond itsΒ pane. It was late in the day and she had no plans. After restraining herself from rushing toΒ Henryβs and talking to her mom, sheβd settled in for a little TV.
Which had turned into watching the news, which had scared the hell out of her.
What if there was a murderer at her door? Sure, it might be a dramatic conclusion toΒ jump to, but then again… Cypress was a small town, and one thing was for sure: a murdererΒ was out there somewhere. As much as sheβd like to think she was just being paranoid, sheΒ knew Kerry or Alicia wouldβve called before coming over.
Sasha rolled, her gaze darting toward the kitchen as she pushed herself up. When sheΒ stood, her heart was speeding and her legs were a little shaky. When another knock cameΒ at the door, she wanted to throw herself down on the floor again, where it would be harderΒ for anyone to peek in at her through the windows.
Why, God why, had she ever rented a first floor apartment?
Shaking her head, she took a deep breath and darted out of the living room. Luckily forΒ her β and unfortunately for any serial killers β she knew her way around a kitchen. In fact,Β sheβd be willing to bet that few people in Riley County were more skilled with a knife thanΒ she was.
Without skipping a beat, she grabbed her Shun Premier chefβs knife. It was so sharp,Β you could practically cut yourself by just glancing at it. Great for use on both meat andΒ vegetables β even ripe ones β it was without a doubt the most dangerous item in her home.
She gripped it with her right hand and grabbed her favorite 12β stainless steel skillet withΒ her left, just in case. She could use it as a bludgeon, or a shield if needed.
Armed with some of her most treasured tools, she approached the front door andΒ rocked up onto her tiptoes, peeking through the peep hole. What she saw took her breathΒ away, and she nearly dropped the knife onto her vulnerable bare toes.
βHenry!β she breathed a moment later, tucking the skillet under her arm andΒ wrenching the door open. βItβs just you!β
He stood on her doorstep with a dozen red roses. His grey eyes widened. βYou wereΒ expecting someone else? I hope…β
She became conscious once again of her death-grip on the Shunβs handle. βI wasΒ worried you might be a serial killer. Have you seen the news?β
He frowned and cast a quick glance over his shoulder. βCan I come in?β
βSure.β
He stepped inside quickly, closing and locking her door before she could even blink.
A little of the tension seemed to go out of his shoulders once he had the locked door at hisΒ back, but not much. He laid the roses down on the counter, but not before Sasha saw thatΒ his knuckles were white against the floristβs cellophane wrapper.
βIf you saw the news, why did you answer the door?β he asked.
βBecause it was you, of course. I looked through the peep hole.β
He nodded toward her hands. βThe fact that you picked up weapons makes it look likeΒ you were considering opening the door even if it wasnβt someone you knew.β
βWell… Maybe. I wasnβt going to just ignore it. It would be rude not to at least see whoΒ was there.β
Henry frowned. βBeing a nice person can get you killed. In a situation like this,Β politeness is just stupidity.β He was in full-on Grumpy Bear mode now, growling andΒ frowning like he had his own personal storm cloud hanging over his head. βWhatβs worse βΒ someoneβs feelings getting hurt, or you actually getting hurt?β
Apparently it was a rhetorical question. He strode purposefully across the room, toΒ the windows. The muscles in his arms rippled as he yanked the kitchen curtains shut, thenΒ moved on to the living room, where he did the same. He seemed to have forgotten all aboutΒ the bouquet of red roses heβd brought with him.
βUh, Henry?β She laid her weapons down on the counter.
He turned to face her. βWhereβs your bedroom? The curtains shouldnβt be open in thereΒ either.β
Sasha tipped her head toward the short hallway. βOn the left.β
He made a beeline for her room, and she followed him. βAre you going to fill me in onΒ why youβre closing all my curtains?β
βSo no one can see inside.β
He sounded serious, but she wriggled her eyebrows anyway. βI take it this means youΒ have something really wild planned for us.β
*****
Giveaway:
18K white gold plated handcuff and key necklace
(+Lock and Key swag)
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/5440a354168/
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Romantic Reads and Such 