NOTE: THIS IS NIA’S DEBUT WORK. ALSO, THE BOOK IS AVAILABLE FOR FREE ON AMAZON THE WEEK OF THE TOUR ONLY.
$25 Amazon gift card to one randomly drawn commenter. Make sure you leave a comment and your email address. Good Luck!
THE LAST STRAW
By
Nia Simone
BLURB:
Ally Tobin left New York after one too many bad dates, determined to rebuild a stable life and career as a private investigator in Silicon Valley. But when the man she knew as one name walks into her office with another, will her curiosity once again lead her to risk her heart?
The last thing Special Agent Jared Green needs is “security risk” stamped on the resume of his latest undercover identity. Especially by the woman his job forced him to leave in New York without any explanation. She may threaten his cover, but it’s his heart on the line.
He’s good at playing a part. She’s good at catching a fake. Can they trust enough to give love another chance?
EXCERPT:
He sauntered through the door, a white, button- down shirt tucked into belted khakis. When his dark gaze found her, he stopped. Stared. Her throat dried and a rustling motion stirred in her abdomen.
“Hi. I’m Darren Ray.”
Keep your cool, she commanded herself, standing and reaching across the desk. His hand was rough.
She yanked her hand back and waved at the chair. “Please, have a seat.” He waited for her to sit before settling in the visitor’s chair. “So, Darren, according to this, you’re being considered for a programmer position in the IT department. Tell me about your background.”
A professional mask settled over his features. “As you can see on my résumé, I have several years of consulting experience.”
“Tell me something about your experience as a mechanic.” Working on his prized old Mustang had been a favorite hobby.
The corner of his mouth twitched. “What do you mean? That’s not in my résumé.”
“You don’t have the hands of a programmer. More of a mechanic.” Oh, his hands.
“Okay, you got me.” He was going to confess. This should be good. “When I’m not programming computers I’m working on my car.”
“And what were you doing in New York City?”
He reached across her desk for a piece of paper, plucked a pen from its stand and scrawled something. When she took the note their fingers brushed. Meet me for dinner at Pico’s at 7. I’ll explain everything. Can’t talk here.
Review:
Yes, I got the book free and read it. I’m a book nerd, I guess. While the book is shortish (around 50 pages), I loved it. The dialogue is crisp, taunt and in some place down right snarky. Ally is my kind of heroine: strong, sexy, intelligent and can put a man in his place without him even knowing it until its too late. 🙂
Jared is all kinds of smexy but he truly is a alpha without a clue when it comes to women. Plus, he actually has a beating heart and it beats for Ally. Plain and simple, he fell in love with her a year ago and not realizing that he would have a second chance with her, he didn’t want to mess it up again.
Again, for such a short story, Ms. Simone packs a punch. Her dialogue is crisp, the story flows like a river and while there is only one smexy scene, she makes great use of all the senses. I’m selfish but I would like see more of Jared and Ally. They have great chemistry and I could see all kinds of possibilites with more adventures between the two of them.
Ms. Simone has written a great debut story and I look forward to reading more from her and you should, too. 🙂
Nia Simone grew up on the side of a ski slope in Squaw Valley, USA. Later, while learning the craft of story writing, she worked in nonprofit and then high-tech.
The best part of working in the computer field was meeting her husband. He took up skiing and she helped him document his computer inventions! They live in “Silicon Valley” in California where their favorite thing to do is cook together for friends. Nia’s specialties are dessert and veggies while her husband’s are entrees and sourdough bread.
Their only pet at the moment is the sourdough starter, which lives in the fridge and requires bi-weekly feeding.
Nia blogs every day about travel, food, writing, books, skiing and photography at niasimoneauthor.com (where she won the Versatile Blogger Award and Inspiring Blogger Award).
Buy link: The Last Straw (http://amzn.to/164srhC)
Website: niasimone.intuitwebsites.com
Facebook: facebook.com/niasimoneauthor
Twitter: @niasimone4
Sounds good. Thanks.
magic5905 at embarqmail dot com
I love PI stories. When you have a PI story mixed with an automatic sexy deception it’s got to be good. I enjoyed the excerpt. Thanks so much for sharing.
Congrats and looks like a great book
Forgot my email jeann830@yahoo.com
Looks good , I can’t wait to read it
Thanks, Jessica!
I really want to read this book. It sounds very good. Thanks for the giveaway.
Thanks, Victoria!
Great review from Harlie. Congratulations on your debut and thanks for the freebie. I grabbed my copy.
catherinelee100 at gmail dot com
Thanks, Catherine!
The book sounds fun. Thanks for the giveaway!
The internet completely changed the scope of my reading, not so much from reviews, but from authors groups I joined where lots of different authors books are discussed and recommended.
Sounds like a great read!!
Thanks for the chance to win!
natasha_donohoo_8 at hotmail dot com
GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR BOOK AND THANKS FOR THE GIVEAWAY! calicolady60@hotmail.com
Thanks, Shelley! Good luck with the raffle!
Hi Nia!
Congratulations on your first book! I don’t need to enter the contest because I already have it in my Kindle and gobbled it up in one sitting. 🙂
When it comes to finding books/new authors, I rely on word of mouth more than anything else nowadays. I do have a local BN, but since I got my Kindle I buy almost exclusively from Amazon (they do make it super easy) and/or directly from publishers like WRP.
Isabel
Hi, Isabel! I’m glad you liked the book. I find your response very interesting. I love to observe how we are changing some ways and keeping some the same. A different delivery model, but still reading romance and still relying on word of mouth.
Thank you, Harlie’s Books, for hosting me on my blog tour!! And thank all of you who have commented already and taken a chance on reading The Last Straw. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. These characters definitely wanted their story told.
I enjoy interacting with and learning from readers, and today I’m posing a question for those of you who might want a prompt to lure you into posting a comment.
How has the Internet changed your reading habits? For example, do you read more reviews? Share your favorite reads with others? Have you expanded what kinds of books you try because of others’ recommendations?
Thanks for reading, and good luck in the raffle!
Nia
You are more than welcome and again…CONGRATULATIONS on the debut. I loved it!
Harlie
Wow, Harlie. Thank you so much!
Loved the excerpt….got the book and can’t wait to start reading it!
Hi Kp,
Thank you! Enjoy, and good luck in the raffle.
Nia
You definitely hooked me with the excerpt and I just downloaded The Last Straw! I must admit that it reminded me of the first “Stephanie Plum” books I read so many years ago and am going to check out Nia’s website and see what she has planned next!
Hi Jeanne,
Your comment thrills me. I love Janet Evanovich. I like humor and try to get keep that lighter tone in my books.
Nia
Thanks for the excerpt!
Janhvi
justjanhvi at gmail dot com
I will be picking this one up. 🙂
Great review and excerpt!
Thank you for sharing.
Trb0917 at gmail dot com
I enjoyed the excerpt thank you.
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Thanks for hosting!
Looking forward to reading your book! Congrats!
huhgestw@yahoo.com