Title: Love’s Secret Fire
Author: Rena Koontz
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Book Blurb:
The biggest story of reporter Valerie Daniels’s career could be the one that kills her. A part-time news reporter, Valerie is determined to prove her twin brother is not responsible for the rash of suspicious fires in Benton Falls, despite all the evidence that leads undercover investigator Adam Michaels to believe he’s caught his arsonist - Valerie’s brother.
Adam Michaels relies on the facts when he works a case but on this one, his instincts and his heart tell him there’s more behind this story. And there’s a lot more he wants to know about Valerie Daniels, a woman who makes no bones about the fact she doesn’t like him - or his suspicions about her brother.
Arson turns to murder and sparks fly between Adam and Valerie. But the real arsonist has his own ideas about the heat between these two. To defeat the killer and his deadly trap, they must learn to trust each other and fight for their lives.
Excerpt:
Sitting alone at the bar, Adam Michaels watched the couple. He’d recognized Valerie Daniels the minute she walked into the restaurant.
A group from her radio station had toured the agency last year and he’d noticed her then. Striking good looks, runner’s legs, and a killer smile that weakened his knees.
He’d tried flirting with her, but she blew him off by saying she’d call him. She never did. He became an avid listener to her morning radio show after that, despite being a devout country music fan.
Valerie rarely disclosed details about her personal life on the air. On the few occasions she mentioned a fun-filled weekend or wonderful dinner, he’d wondered about the man she likely spent it with. Her demeanor tonight, though, told him she wouldn’t be talking about this dinner date unless it was begrudgingly.
Observing body language was second nature to him, even when he wasn’t on duty or working undercover, and hers spoke volumes. She checked her watch every two or three minutes. She followed every new diner with her eyes, paying more attention to them than the man across from her. And whatever was on her plate had to be mush by now. She’d shoved it around enough with her silverware. Whoever this guy was, he’d struck out.
As Valerie and Mr. Loser walked out of the restaurant, Adam checked the time himself. He should probably hit the road, too. It hadn’t been that great a night for him either. Ending his latest relationship had been ugly, despite the public place he’d chosen to give her the news.
Asking that woman out had been a big mistake. He appreciated a woman who depended on him, but this one had been downright suffocating. He needed a clear head for the five o’clock meeting tomorrow morning with the brass.
Christ, who held meetings at five in the morning? It was a good thing they summoned his partner as well or he’d be worried his ass was in trouble again. Neither of them had a clue about the topic of the mandatory, top-secret session. He finished his beer, paid his tab and walked outside, turning up his jacket collar against the chilly night air.
For a restaurant as popular as this one, the poorly lit parking lot surprised him. He stepped carefully into a gravel area set apart from the main lot and designated for overflow cars, aware of crunching pebbles beneath his boots.
Several parking spots ahead, he noticed two outlines in the shadows. Were they making out in the parking lot? Not the most romantic spot, but his track record with women proved he didn’t know much about romance. He’d walk by as quietly as the stones beneath his feet would allow.
Then he heard the scream.
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What makes your featured book a must-read?
Love’s Secret Fire is loosely based on an actual arsonist out of control in a Pittsburgh suburb and one relentless reporter’s attempt to uncover the truth.
Giveaway –
Enter to win a $25 Amazon gift card:
Open Internationally.
Runs November 12 – November 21, 2024.
Winner will be drawn on November 22, 2024.
Author Biography:
Rena Koontz is an award-winning author who began her career as a newspaper journalist and was recognized by the Associated Press for excellence in reporting. She draws from her street experience to write award-winning, edge-of-your-seat suspense novels. She’s a multi-year award winner with the Florida Authors and Publishers Association. Rena writes about real events she covered as a news reporter in Pittsburgh, PA. and Cleveland, OH., weaving them into intriguing love stories. She never reveals where the facts stop and the fiction begins. Her passions are her husband and her dog. Not necessarily in that order.
Social Media Links:
Website: www.renakoontz.com
Facebook: Facebook.com/RenaKoontz
TikTok: Author_RenaKoontz
Instagram: @rena_koontz