Title: Shanghai Connection (Book #2)
Author: Carol Henry
Genre: Contemporary Romantic Suspense
Book Blurb:
After the tragic loss of her child and a messy divorce, Brooke Stevens jumps at the opportunity for a fresh start as a researcher in China. But when she witnesses a murder, she becomes the killer's next target--and only a handsome American stranger stands between her and deadly peril.
Ex-military commando Jackson Taylor isn't ready to settle down and take over the family tea business, but when he learns someone is using the plantation to smuggle Chinese antiquities into America, he vows to investigate. In Shanghai, Jackson stumbles across a murder and is pulled into the danger pursuing fascinating Brooke Stevens.
Together, they uncover an intricate smuggling ring and evade kidnappers, but their growing attraction is impossible to deny. Will myths, dragons, and mystical warnings keep them apart? Or can they make a Shanghai connection?
Excerpt:
Ready to return to the cave, gravel slid out from under Brook’s feet; she skidded right along with it. Anticipating landing on her butt and sliding down the side of the mountain on the slippery excuse of a rain jacket, her astonished scream was short lived as a hand grabbed her arm and yanked her upright. The flashlight went flying. Startled, but glad Jackson had come to her rescue, Brooke turned, expecting to be enfolded in warm, welcoming arms. This time she let out a blood-curdling scream when she looked up and discovered it wasn’t Jackson Taylor who had rescued her.
The pudgy, rough calloused hand that had held on to her in a vice like grip, swung her around in one swift movement and clamped a hand over her mouth to keep her from calling out. Her first thought had been surprise, then anger as she’d been hauled up and over wet shoulders.
A greasy, sweaty odor from her captor’s hand filled her nose. Her stomach clenched, and she swallowed back the bile. She kicked out and pummeled her assailant’s back, but it had no effect on him. He continued walking down the mountainside with quick, confident strides. He treated her as if she were no heavier than a feather-tic pillow.
Her abductor mumbled under his breath in Chinese. She might not understand every word he uttered, but she’d picked up a few cuss words during her stay in Shanghai, and she was sure she heard several choice words now. He was sure-footed and agile for his bulky stature, not missing a step, or slowing down. The man was in a hurry to get to wherever they were going.
Not good.
Brooke pounded her fists on his back only to have him shake her legs and grip them tighter in an effort to make her stop. He cussed some more, she was sure. Her stomach churned. The blood rushed to her head. Tears sprang to her eyes. She had to remain clearheaded and think. Figure out how to escape this man’s hold—without Jackson’s help this time.
Her assignment with Wild and Wonderful had wrought nothing but disaster. So far, she’d
witnessed a murder, been caught on fire, hit her head on a temple bench, been involved in a car
chase, crashed over an embankment, stranded along the river, was thrown over the shoulders of some ugly thug who hadn’t washed in months, and was being kidnapped. She was on her own in the middle of China.
And only God knew where.
And, where was the man who had said he would keep her safe? Where? Snuggled up in that piece of tinsel he’d said would keep them warm all night long? Had he even missed her yet?
Oh, God. Had they captured him as well? Was he okay?
The sound of the rain hitting against the river grew louder, the pungent odor of wet earth and rotted plants filled her lungs. Did her captor plan to throw her in the Yangtze? Feed her to the Great Golden Dragon?
Hold her under until she drowned?
She wasn’t ready to die.
She screamed for him to put her down. He didn’t release her. His footsteps quickened instead.
“Let me down you big buffoon. Let go of me,” she yelled.
Something swiped against her soaked body and she swatted it away. When it hit her once more, she recognized it as the man’s long braid. She grabbed hold of it and yanked hard.
Again, the Chinese expletives.
The man lost his footing, but regained his equilibrium and kept going. The scent of churned dirty river water grew heavier. Oh, dear Lord. She was about to die in China’s
biggest dragon of all. The Yangtze!
Madam Choy was right.
Grandma Dee Dee was right.
Beware the dragon!
Buy Links:
The Wild Rose Press: https://www.thewildrosepress.com/authors/carol-henry
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/%22Carol%20Henry%22?Ntk=P_key_Contributor_List&Ns=P_Sales_Rank&Ntx=mode+matchall
Why is your featured book a must-read?
Shanghai Connection’s hero and heroine have plenty of edge-of-the-seat thrills at every twist and turn of this page-turner as they try to outrun a murderer and smuggler. Both the mystery and relationship of the characters are engaging as they meld into the descriptions of their setting along the Yangtze River—the Golden Dragon. This fast-paced romantic suspense adventure brings a lot of action intertwined with the culture to light as the characters dodge one dangerous episode after another, and learning to trust one another along the way. Have you ever had a tealeaf reading by a Chinese Expert in the field? Brooke has. Check it out.
Giveaway –
Enter to win an e-book bundle of all 66 books featured in the Backlist Bonanza:
Open Internationally.
Runs August 25 – 31, 2020.
Winner will be drawn on September 7, 2020.
Author Biography:
Carol Henry is an award winning and #1 Amazon Best Selling author who writes contemporary romance, as well as Destination: Romance—Exotic, Romantic Suspense Adventures. Carol lives with her husband in the beautiful New York State Finger Lakes area where they are surrounded by family, friends, and wildlife. World travelers, Carol writes about her international adventures for major cruise lines' deluxe in-cabin books and magazines, and takes pleasure in sharing her adventures with her readers in her ‘Connection’ series. A local NYS historian, Carol has written several books on her town's history. For more information visit her website at: http://www.carolhenry.org
Social Media Links:
Website: www.carolhenry.org
Twitter: https://twitter.com/carolannhenry