IN THE CROSSFIRE (Circle of Justice #4) by L.P. Dover-Review, Excerpt & Giveaway tour
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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 4, 2019
Secrets.
Lies.
Betrayal.
Murder.
I’ve gotten away with it all, but that won’t last forever.
I’m Bryce Chandler, FBI agent and member of the Circle of Justice, a covert organization that metes out retribution to those who’ve escaped the system without punishment. For the last year I’ve been deep undercover, doing unspeakable things to secure my place in the mafia world. These days I barely recognize the man in the mirror, but Anthony Corsino is finally in my crosshairs.
He’s entrusted me with the one thing he loves most—his daughter, Layla. She was just another detail of the mission, until she was suddenly so much more. I never meant to fall for the enemy, but I couldn’t resist. I’m in too deep. My brothers are determined to get me out, but I can’t let them interfere. It’s my job to put down the target. However, when I do, I’ll lose the only woman I’ve ever loved and the only good thing left in my life. If I don’t, I’ll lose myself.
••••••••••
REVIEW: IN THE CROSSFIRE is the fourth instalment in L. P. Dover’s contemporary, adult CIRCLE OF JUSTICE romantic, suspense series focusing on an elite group of assassins who work for a secret government agency within the FBI known as the Circle of Justice. This is thirty-year old, FBI agent / assassin Bryce Chandler, and twenty-eight year old, attorney/mafia princess Layla Corsino’s story line. IN THE CROSSFIRE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous instalments is revealed where necessary. IN THE CROSSFIRE runs parallel to, and crosses over with some of the events in book three-AIM. CIRCLE OF JUSTICE is a spin off from the author’s ARMED AND DANGEROUS romantic, suspense series. Some of the characters (Logan and Kassidy, Micah Perry) cross-over for cohesion and familiarity.
SOME BACKGROUND: The Circle of Justice is an elite group of assassins, started by the infamous Glenn Chandler, owner of the multi-billion dollar Chandler Enterprises and former FBI agent, who target those who have escaped the system.
Told from dual first person perspectives (Bryce and Layla) IN THE CROSSFIRE follows Bryce Chandler as he must go undercover in an attempt to take down mafia boss Anthony Corsino but what Bryce never expected was to come face to face with his future in the guise of Anthony’s daughter Layla Corsino. When Layla’s uncle Michael is killed, and her own life is threated by a competing crime family, Anthony Corsino calls in a man he believes if connected to one of the most ruthless crime syndicates he could have imagined. Enter Bryce ‘Collman’ Chandler, the man with whom Layla will fall in love. What ensues is Bryce and Layla’s cross-country journey to protect our story line heroine, and the potential fall-out as Bryce’s true identity and assignment are about to be revealed.
Layla is a bit of a pampered princess who knows very little about her father’s life in the mob. Following the death of her mother, Layla has felt lonely and lost, even though she is surrounded by security twenty-four hours a day. Meeting Bryce ‘Collman’ found our heroine struggling between head and heart when Bryce waffles between hot and cold. Bryce Chandler knows better than to get involved with a potential mark but something about Layla Corsino draws Bryce lie a moth to a flame. Desperate to protect the woman with whom he will fall in love, Bryce pulls Layla into the protection of his family, and the protection of the Circle of Justice.
The relationship between Layla and Bryce is one of immediate attraction but an attraction tempered by Bryce’s assignment to take down our heroine’s father. When Bryce is offered a position within the Corsino family, he will find himself surrounded by the woman that calls to his heart. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including Bryce’s siblings: his twin Ian (Grace), Wade (Brina) and Reed Chandler, as well as their father Glenn; cousin Logan and Kassidy Chandler; and Micah Perry. We are introduced to Layla’s father Anthony Corsino, and her brother Dominic; uncle Michael Corsino; and several armed mafia security. The requisite evil has many faces including competing mobsters Cadoc and his son Julia Cartwright.
IN THE CROSSFIRE is a story of family, blood, betrayal and passion; secrets and lies, danger and sin. The character driven premise is fast paced, dramatic and intriguing; the characters are colorful, spirited and strong; the romance is sensual and intense. IN THE CROSSFIRE is a sexy and suspense filled story, sure to catch everyone’s attention.
Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Trigger
Target
AIM
In The Crossfire
Copy supplied for review
Reviewed by Sandy
The sound of a door slammed downstairs, so I took off out of her room. How the hell could I not see her on the cameras? I ran down the stairs and out the patio door. There were a line of trees blocking my sight of the driveway, but I could see the top edge of one of the open garage doors. As I drew closer, I could see her tossing her luggage in the back of a silver SUV. She’d changed out of her green sundress from earlier into a pair of jeans and a black T-shirt.
“Where do you think you’re going?” I called out as I stepped away from the trees. Layla jerked around, eyes blazing like fire as she grabbed the gun at her waistband and pointed it straight at me. I stopped and held up my hands. “Whoa. What the hell are you doing?”
“I’m leaving. And if you try to stop me, I’ll blow off your balls.”
Glancing down at her gun, I couldn’t help but notice how perfect her stance was. She looked like she knew what she was doing. “I don’t doubt it,” I replied cautiously. “Where’d you get the gun?”
Her eyes narrowed, but she kept the gun pointed at me. “My uncle.”
Still holding my hands in the air, I slowly took a step forward. “Did he teach you how to shoot as well?”
The muscles in her jaw tightened. “Yes. Believe it or not, I’m not the helpless princess everyone thinks I am.”
“I never said you were, Layla.” I nodded at the video camera just above the garage door. “How did you get out here without me seeing you?”
She lifted her chin, her lips tilting up in an evil grin. “You’re not the only one who knows how to manipulate a camera. How else was I supposed to sneak out as a teenager?”
Now I was impressed. “Guess we all have our secrets. Can anyone see us right now?”
She shook her head. “No.” I took another step closer, and her body tensed. “Dammit, Bryce, don’t test me. I already know my father told you to stop me. No matter what he says or what you do, I am going to get out of here.”
“And go where?” I asked. “To the city to find out the answers?”
“If that’s what it takes. I’m not returning until he tells me the truth.”
There was nothing but sheer determination in her eyes. The woman was so goddamned stubborn she’d get herself killed in the process. We were only about six feet apart, with the gun still pointed at my chest. There was only one thing left to do. I wasn’t about to underestimate her.
“What if I told you what you want to know?” I said, hoping she could see the truth in my eyes.
Her lips pursed. “Why should I believe you?”
“Because you said it yourself—you’re not going to stop until you find out the answers. This is the only way to keep you safe.” It was also the way to test her. I had to know how far her loyalty went with her father. It might be what I had to do to finish my mission. Anthony would surely try to come after me, but he’d have a hell of a time trying to find me.
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author L. P. Dover is a southern belle living in North Carolina with her husband and two beautiful girls. Before she began her literary journey she worked in periodontics, enjoying the wonderment of dental surgeries.
She loves to write, but she also loves to play tennis, go on mountain hikes and white water rafting, and has a passion for singing. Her two youngest fans expect a concert each and every night before bedtime, usually Christmas carols.
Dover has written countless novels, including her Forever Fae series, the Second Chances series, the Gloves Off series, the Armed & Dangerous series, the Royal Shifters series, the Society X series, the Circle of Justice series, and her standalone novel Love, Lies, and Deception. Her favorite genre to read and write is romantic suspense, but if she got to choose a setting in which to live, it would be with her faeries in the Land of the Fae.
L.P. Dover is represented by Marisa Corvisiero of Corvisiero Literary Agency and Italia Gandolfo of Gandolfo Helin & Fountain Literary Management for dramatic rights.
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