Shadows (Black Raven #1) by Stella Barcelona-Review, Guest Post & Giveaway

SHADOWS
Black Raven Series #1
by Stella Barcelona
Genre: adult, contemporary, romantic suspense
Release Date: April 7, 2015

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Cataclysm. Now. Run.

A cryptic, urgent text message turns the peaceful life Skye Barrows has created for herself and her sister into chaos. She must follow her father’s instructions to the letter, but Sebastian Connelly is blocking her way. Telling Sebastian what she must do is not an option.

What He Doesn’t Know Will Get Them All Killed

When a prison break in the midst of a security system upgrade threatens to destroy the reputation of Sebastian’s company, Black Raven Private Security Contractors, he goes on the hunt for escaped prisoner Richard Barrows – a delusional and paranoid computer software genius. Sebastian’s mission: find Richard Barrows and return him to prison, but stonewalled by Skye, who refuses to give him answers, and with the added complication of her special needs sister, Sebastian finds himself always a step or two behind vicious killers.

Nothing About This Case is Normal

For Sebastian, it should be simple, but this case will test him in ways he never imagined. As probing interrogation becomes urgent protection, the search for Barrows forces Sebastian and Skye into a murky world of shadows and illusions.

Review:

Shadows begins with Skye Barrows receiving a text message that she’d hoped down to her very soul that she would never receive. Once her father had gone to prison, she had created a new life for herself and her special needs sister, Spring. One where they had assumed names and had ceased to exist as the world knew them: daughters of the famous, or infamous depending on your take, Richard Barrows. When Skye receives the text, she knows she has 24 hours to get to their safe house to await further instructions from her father. But, as she and her sister stop by the coffee house that they owned to allow Spring to stick to the schedule that she thrived on, she had no idea the turn their lives would take that fateful day. Spring’s dog, Candy, ran into the street and was almost hit. And, when a stranger scooped Candy into his arms to deliver her back to her owners, Skye somehow knew that things may not be as they appeared.

Spring insists that the nice stranger come into their coffee shop for some coffee and samples of some new treats they were working on, so he obliges. Sebastian soon approaches Skye and reveals that he knows who she is and that he needs information in order to locate her father. She refuses to cooperate, of course, and Sebastian issues an ultimatum and leaves. However, when Sebastian and one of his agents drive by the girls’ home, he very soon realizes that they are not the only ones after Skye and her sister. As they arrive back at the coffee shop, things have gone to hell……and quick. Strangers are in the process of abducting the girls, and it takes some quick thinking on Sebastian’s part to take the bad guys down. Once he has gotten the girls out of danger, he immediately gets on the phone with Black Ravens headquarters and things start happening. Fast. He knows that he has his work cut out for him with Skye, as she is NOT forthcoming with any helpful information, and Spring is so fragile that she can’t offer any information either.

When a safe house is arranged by the U.S. Marshals, Sebastian is ready to hand the girls over, only to head straight into an ambush. As he flees with Skye and her sister, Skye has no idea who she can trust and Sebastian is bound and determined that she will trust him. As mayhem ensues, Skye will have to make the ultimate decision: trust no one as her father has always told her, or trust in the one man who seems to truly have their best interest at heart. Oh, what a hard decision it is.

Shadows is an awesome story with so many twists and turns, so much mystery and intrigue, that I found myself questioning everyone at one point or another. Skye is an endearing heroine, although a little naïve about the amount of danger she and her sister are in. Spring is number one on her list and she will risk everything to keep her safe. Sebastian, whom we met in Barcelona’s first novel, Deceived, is your typical alpha male who at first is just doing a job, that ultimately turns into a wonderful game of cat and mouse with not only the bad buys, but with his feelings about Skye. I really enjoyed their chemistry, but I have to tell you, that I can NOT wait to read more about the secondary characters. The interaction between Sebastian and his team was awesome and Barcelona did a great job building the world in which they operate. However, if I’m being honest, it was a little overwhelming at times with all of the technical jargon that we are privy to as the information is gone over numerous times and I found myself glazing over at certain points. But, I digress. If you are looking for a series full of mystery, intrigue, crooked politicians and hot special agents, this is definitely a series you’ll want to read. I am so so so looking forward to the next installment. Very well done, Stella Barcelona!!!

Copy supplied by the author.

Reviewed by Vickie M.

Deceived
by Stella Barcelona
Release Date: May 1, 2014
Genre: adult, suspense,

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 1, 2014

Their destinies have been set in motion by their ancestors.

Taylor Marlowe Bartholomew carries three of the most notable names in New Orleans society. She hoped to forge her own path in the world as an Assistant District Attorney, but that dream is dying as obligations pull her into the family shipbuilding business. In Taylor’s final days in the DA’s office, she receives a murder assignment that could unravel her perception of reality.

Ghosts of the past shadow every step they take.

Brandon Morrissey is haunted by demons that force him to keep his life simple and detached. He pours all of his energy into his thriving legal practice, until, overnight, he becomes the single father of an infant. For the sake of his son’s future, Brandon searches for a killer and faces the truth about his family’s unfortunate past.

Together they have to find the truth…before it’s too late.

Someone is willing to kill to use the past for their own ends. Thrust together, Brandon and Taylor have different views of their families’ intersecting histories. As they confront a sea of uncertainty, one thing is sure…no one is safe until they discover where the truth lies.

••••••••••••••••••••••

“Keeping the Storyline Real – When Writing Escapism”

I truly love all the different aspects of writing my romantic thrillers – Deceived (2014), Shadows (2015), and my work in progress, Jigsaw. When writing, I try to keep the storyline real, while still writing escapism-a story that will take readers on a colorful and fast-paced journey where they are able to forget real life. I try to accomplish this goal by incorporating just enough research to make the premise—which becomes the backdrop for the romance—unique, but also readily identifiable.

I spend countless hours doing research for my writing, yet very little of my research material makes it to the page. Why? Because details slow the pace and take away from the real stars of the show–characters and plot. I put in only enough research so that the story has verisimilitude, or the quality of seeming real. An example from television is “Person of Interest.” The premise of the show is that an advanced surveillance machine exists that identifies people at risk for violent crimes. In real life, we know techno-surveillance is pervasive, so the premise is readily identifiable. The show doesn’t focus on how the machine works, and I don’t care about those details. The show works, for me, because of the unique premise, the well-developed characters, and the high-stakes action.

My books also have readily identifiable themes. Deceived is a present-day mystery that is loosely based upon World War II history in New Orleans. Shadows has a technology driven mystery. Deceived required historic research, while Shadows involved analyzing current headlines and issues involving cyber data collection and assimilation. For both stories, research helped to formulate plot and breathe real life into the story structure. However, Deceived isn’t about World War II and Shadows isn’t about the intricacies of data assimilation technology. Deceived is about Taylor Bartholomew and Brandon Morrissey–and how they’re caught in a web of lies told by their ancestors. Shadows is about Sebastian Connelly and Skye Barrows–and how they’re at odds with each other as Sebastian hunts for Skye’s father, a cyber genius who has escaped from prison.

My stories offer escapism, with a touch of reality. I hope you enjoy them!

Follow Stella:  Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook

Stella Barcelona, author of romantic suspense novels, has always had an active imagination, a tendency to daydream, and a passion for reading romance, mysteries, and thrillers. From her early days of reading, when she first escaped reality through the pages of a well-written novel, she knew that her daydreams needed an outlet, and she knew that her outlet would be writing.

In day to day life, Stella is a lawyer and works for a court in New Orleans, Louisiana. Currently, Stella lives minutes from the French Quarter, with her husband of sixteen years and two adorable papillons who believe that they are princesses. Stella loves to hear from readers on her Facebook page and can also be contacted through her website, www.stellabarcelona.com, where there’s information on appearances, her next release, and exciting contests that you won’t want to miss! While she doesn’t have a lot of free time with her legal and writing careers battling for her every minute, she does enjoy any chance she and her husband get to go out on their boat. In addition, she attends conferences, workshops, and retreats for writers. She is a member of Romance Writers of America and the Southern Louisiana Chapter of the Romance Writers of America.

Stella is graciously offering a signed, paper copy of SHADOWS and a $25 Amazon Gift Card to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe

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8. Giveaway open to USA only

9. Giveaway runs from May 29 to June 2, 2015