Tide of Lies #newrelease

Life has a way of putting amazing people in our . . . well . . . life. When I met Sarah Ballance, we were pregnant and due around the same time. Then I began writing, and realized she was a writer as well. There are few people who can claim responsibility for molding the mechanics of my words on paper. Actually, there is only one person who can claim responsibility for that, and that person is Sarah Ballance.

She is an amazing writer, mother, friend, cake baker (I had to mention that), and I'm sure her husband would admit she's a pretty amazing wife. So, if you don't know Sarah, you should get to know her. If you do know her, you're lucky.

And today she's here to tell us about her new book!

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This week I'm celebrating the release of my new romantic suspense, TIDE OF LIES. For the most part I've kept my clothes on, but the day isn't over yet, so consider yourself warned, LOL.

Truth is, this is a big deal because TIDE OF LIES has been a long time coming. It started with the idea for FAMILIAR LIGHT, a story I was supposed to keep to 10k.  However, my muse is about as stubborn as my husband *might* think I am (ahem), and not surprisingly it refused to be contained. My subsequent frenzied writing streak for a second book was met with unending delays (<slight exaggeration) but now it's all *so* totally worthwhile. I have a shiny new *published* copy of TIDE OF LIES, which, although it continues the action from FAMILIAR LIGHT, is a complete stand-alone story. If you want to see the LIGHT (ha!) it's on sale for just $1.50 from Noble Romance. If not, your journey starts here. Shall we?

TIDE OF LIES | blurb

A devastating secret. A shocking betrayal. A deadly obsession.

Haunted by three unsolved murders, Detective Holden Whitlow is stunned when his cold case takes a heated turn. Julia Cohen, his ex-lover, is back in town, and in the face of a brutal attack she’s ready to run. No matter how tightly she holds her secrets, for Holden, turning away from the woman he’s spent a decade trying to forget isn’t any more an option than walking away from his job . . . even when it threatens to cost Julia her life.

Julia is still reeling from a past she can’t bear to face. When she becomes the target of a killer, fate throws her back into Holden’s arms, but she’s yet to recover from a truth that has stripped her of everything—and everyone—she loves. Will she tell him the secret that will destroy him, or will her lie destroy them both?

TIDE OF LIES | excerpt

Julia Cohen. The name wasn't familiar, but the nagging feeling Holden should know it tailed him all the way to the hospital. The unease kept him company in the otherwise empty elevator where he now stood, thumbs hooked in his pockets with his fingers tapping his thighs. The numbers above the doors lit in rapid succession before landing on six with a quiet ping.

Julia . . . Julia . . . .

The doors slid open to reveal a bustling nurses' station. Ahead, a uniformed officer leaned against the wall, saving Holden the trouble of asking directions. He flashed his badge to the desk nurse and made his way down the hall, sidestepping an elderly woman in a wheelchair and food cart with a stack of covered dishes. The smell of the waiting dinners made his stomach rumble, reminding him he'd skipped lunch.

His stride faltered as he neared the room. He should have stopped for an update on Ms. Cohen's condition. Now, thanks to his bull-nosed curiosity, he had no idea what to expect. With a nod to the officer, Holden knocked lightly on the door, and then waited a few seconds before letting himself in.

Afternoon sunlight bathed the room in an earthy glow, casting a deep shadow over her face and masking her identity from him. His only clue was the shape of the blankets draped over her, which suggested her frame was slight, her height petite. Lacking anything else to go on, Holden took her name for another spin. Julia . . . .

"You cut your hair," she said.

Startled, Holden drew his hand to his head, his palm pressing the soft spikes aside.

Quiet laughter met his ears. "You didn't know?"

Holden squirmed inside, feeling every bit the schmuck for not recognizing her, though she clearly felt she knew him. But her voice . . . it might have been familiar if not for the dry, raspy undertones—a beating could do that to a person, though. Damn. His victim knew him—or thought she did—and he hadn't a clue who she was. After the trio of murders hit Barrier Shoals, he'd had plenty of cameras shoved in his face. Was she one of those so-called murder groupies? Either way, she had the advantage. If he could only see her . . . he struggled with the urge to turn on the overhead light, eliminating the shadows. Grasping, he tried to remember when he'd last made a change to his hair.

Seventeen. Right before his first semester of college, his mom pleaded with him to ditch the shaggy surfer cut—something to do with the world not taking him seriously with his hair in his face. She equated grooming with respectability, and Holden had fast learned the fine art of choosing his battles. Maybe that's why he felt for the kid standing in his socks at the crime scene—Holden had been there and done a little too much of that.

But choosing battles wasn't the only thing Holden had done that summer.

He'd been engaged . . . .

Recognition slammed into him.

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And no, Julia was *not* his fiancée! LOL. There's a whole lot more to the story, and if you want to check it out you can read the first chapter in its entirely for free (no registration required) on Noble's website. 

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Now let me tell you guys, I've read FAMILIAR LIGHT and most of TIDE OF LIES (Miss Sarah wanted to drive me absolutely insane). These books are amazing. She is truly a talented writer!

What are you waiting for? 

OH! LINKS! ;-)

TIDE OF LIES: https://www.nobleromance.com/Books/409/Tide-of-Lies

FAMILIAR LIGHT: https://www.nobleromance.com/Books/344/Familiar-Light

SARAH BALLANCE | bio & links

Sarah and her husband of what he refers to as "many long, long years" live on the mid-Atlantic coast with their six young children, all of whom are perfectly adorable when they're asleep.  A full time homeschooling mom, she often jokes she writes to be around people who will listen to her, but her characters aren't much better than her kids.  Fortunately her husband is in her corner. Quite supportive of her writing career, he's generously offered to help her research "the good parts."  She's never had to ask twice.

Weekly gift card giveaways @ http://sarahballance.wordpress.com/