Title: The Spy Who Was Out Cold
Author: Marilyn Barr
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Book Blurb:
Ito may call Katya his umnyashka, but this clever telepath has made a catastrophic mistake. When Sergei assassinated their captors, Katya assumed she and Ito would escape with him. Following her heart, Katya rejected Sergei’s offer of freedom for Ito’s promise of love as he worked his way up to mob boss. Fifteen years later, Katya has traded her metal cage for an endless string of hotel rooms with no hope of escape until Sergei steps into her life with a second chance.
Sergei thought he could forgive himself for his crimes as a teen cage fighter if he rescued enough kids from similar situations. Now he doubts it, but the institute won’t surrender its most effective vigilante to his dreams of retirement. With a prayer to his spirit guardians, Sergei vows this rescue will be his last…one way or the other.
Sergei’s final mission squeezes him between the loyalty to his childhood comrades and the hope of a simple life. Is Katya part of Ito’s expansion into human trafficking, an innocent in need of rescue, or possibly the one who will share his new life? Will Katya choose redemption, or will her wicked programming jeopardize the mission and Sergei’s life?
Excerpt:
Katya? Katya, are you still in my head?
Yes. Her mental voice is small. Her body curls into a ball, her face hidden in her arms. If we had pillows and blankets, she would be beneath them. The desire to provide them for her surges in my chest with a ferocity that threatens to burn me. Katya has always been Ito’s treasure. She only has eyes for him, right?
Can I rescue you? I mean… I know what Ito said, but…if I get out, will a trip to find you be wasted?
Yes.
What? Was that a yes, you will leave with me, or yes, my trip will be a waste of freedom? Please tell me you want a chance to live outside of these bars.
Sergei, I’m not leaving Ito behind.
We can go to the authorities. We can shut down Scorpion’s Beak around Ito and collect him from the rubble. Give me a chance.
Katya’s fingertips poke through the metal grating between us. When they brush my shoulder, I flinch to the opposite corner. As much as she needs the contact, I’m not the man to provide it. Unfortunately, Ito’s back it to her so he doesn’t see her need.
I can’t, Sergei. The authorities are bought as I was bought from my mother. I wasn’t snatched like you, and neither was Ito. We belong to them through a bill of sale. Save yourself. You don’t belong here.
And you do?
I’m broken—
So am I.
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What I love most about the holiday season:
My favorite part of the holiday season are the Christmas lights. I grew up a few miles from the Columbus Zoo (Ohio) where they have the largest light show in the nation. With all the animals asleep in their indoor enclosures, the outdoor areas would be transformed into winter scenes made of lights. As zoo members, my family would wander around for hours surrounded by lights.
Even though we have since moved from Ohio, my husband still indulges my love of lights. We love the outdoor Christmas light display by the Indianapolis Art Museum and the traveling lantern exhibits (formerly at the Louisville Zoo.) Last month (June 2022) my family traveled to the Nashville Zoo to see their after-dark laser light exhibit.
Why is your featured book a must-read to get you in the holiday mood?
The Spy Who Was Out Cold is a gift to my fans. Those who read The Spy Who Loved My Russian Tea Cakes before release fell in love with Sergei the Spiritual Spy. They wanted more books with him and were curious as to how he ended up in a coma in a nursing home in Ohio when he is defecting as a Russian spy.
The Spy Who Was Out Cold is his backstory and answers all the questions those early readers had about Sergei. From the Christmas pool party to the Christmas Coffee drinks on the beach, I tried to add as many unconventional Christmas traditions as my readers could submit through my newsletter. I dare you to find all twenty-seven unconventional Christmas traditions in The Spy Who Was Out Cold.
Giveaway –
One lucky reader will win a $75 Amazon gift card.
Open internationally. You must have a valid Amazon US or Amazon Canada account to win.
Runs July 1 – 31
Drawing will be held on August 1.
Author Biography:
Marilyn Barr currently resides in the wilds of Kentucky with her husband, son, and rescue cats. She has a diverse background containing experiences as a child prodigy turned medical school reject, published microbiologist, special education/inclusion science teacher, homeschool mother of a savant, certified spiritual/energy healer, and advocate for the autistic community. This puts her in the position to bring tales containing heroes who are regular people with different ability levels and body types, in a light where they are powerful, lovable, and appreciated.
When engaging with the real world, she is collecting characters, empty coffee cups, and unused homeschool curricula. She is a sucker (haha) for cheesy horror movies, Italian food, punk music, black cats, bad puns, and all things witchy.
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