Hi and welcome! Today, i’m delighted to have a nibble of a wonderful book from my friend Lynn Lorenz! It’s called Locke and Blade and it (re)releases August 5th! Lynn has always been one of the biggest influences on my writing. She inspired me to write before i ever met her, and today, I’m honored to call her friend.
If you’d like to enter to WIN a copy of the book, please EMAIL LYNN:
[email protected] Subject: Locke and Blade Contest
BLURB:
When Locke and Blade must work together to solve crimes, but will dislike turn to attraction in the heat of fighting their enemies?
Christopher Locke is a man with a tarnished reputation. When he’s transferred to Waterford Station to serve as inspector, he meets Jonathan Blade, his new partner. Jonathan thinks Christopher is a brute. Chris thinks Jonathan is a snob. Both think the other is more than attractive, which might be more dangerous than the enemies they must face.
BUY IT!
https://www.amazon.com/Locke-Blade-Waterford-Patrol-Book-ebook/dp/B01JGPV5J4
EXCERPT!
“Best make haste, m’lord.” Badger grinned up at him. “Chief likes his men to be prompt.”
Locke nodded, faced the mirror on the door and exhaled. His hair, wild as the windswept heathers, would have to do. He’d never been able to tame it, so he’d kept it shorter than most men wore their hair.
“You look right fit and trimmed out, sir.” Badger gave him a wink.
Locke shook his head. “Thank you, Badger.”
He left his room and traced his steps back along the hall, trotted down the stairs, and then took the hall to the left.
The first room he came to belonged to Chief Inspector Marcus Wilson.
Locke knocked on the doorframe.
“Enter!” A deep voice came through the door.
Locke opened the door and stepped inside. The office was larger than it looked from the outside. To the left, a fireplace burned, flanked by tall bookcases filled to overflowing with beautifully bound tomes.
Across from the door, behind the large wooden desk, sat Chief Inspector Wilson, one hand holding open a ledger, the other balancing a quill pen. He motioned to a pair of simple, yet elegant chairs.
“Take a seat, Locke.” Then he bowed his head and continued to write.
Locke sat, knees together, feet flat on the floor, back stiff, head up, as he’d been trained. He’d sit there until spoken to, even if it took all day and all night.
At last, Wilson looked up. “Papers.” He held out his hand.
Locke retrieved his papers and handed them over, expecting to have a vigorous interview, a search for the real story behind the vague words. He’d answer truthfully, if he had to, if Wilson insisted. Lying to a superior officer wasn’t done and he wasn’t that sort of man, no matter what the rumors hinted at.
Wilson opened them, scanned them then put them down.
“Clean slate, eh? Better for all of us, don’t you think?”
Locke sat back. “Uh, yes, sir.” What else could he possibly say? He should leap for joy, thrilled the chief hadn’t held his feet to the fire, threatened him or worse.
“Good.” Wilson clapped his hands and the pressure in the small room changed.
Zephyr appeared. “Sir?”
“Bring Inspector Blade here.” Wilson opened a drawer, shoved the papers into it and shut it.
The elf vanished, with only a slight vibration in the air to mark his going.
“How do you find your room?” Wilson asked, dragging Locke’s attention back to him. “As good as your former station?”
“Aye, it’s fine.” He smiled and nodded. “Much like my old one, sir.”
“You know the schedule. Meals at morn, noon and evening, with a late meal served as needed after ten o’clock. Have you met Badger?” Locke nodded. “Good man, that one.” Wilson touched his temple. “He’ll take good care of you.”
“Thank you.” Locke didn’t know what to say. His old chief had never been this talkative, or concerned with whether Locke was getting on or not.
A rap at the door.
“Enter.”
A tall, slender man entered, dressed in the inspector’s black uniform, silver crossed wands pinned on his collar, signaling his rank. Remarkably handsome, in that upper class way people from good family and money have, with straight, shoulder-length, light brown hair, almost the color of honey. Locke thought of how it might shine in the sunlight.
“Chief?” The inspector gave Locke a quick once over, then focused on Wilson.
“This is Inspector Christopher Locke. Locke, this is Inspector Jonathan Blade, my second-in-command.”
The two men eyed each other, sizing up and judging. Blade’s deep brown eyes narrowed. “Did you say, Locke?”
“Aye.” Locke gave a slow nod, bracing for what was to come.
Blade turned to Wilson. “Was no one else available, sir?”
Wilson’s bushy gray eyebrows shot upward. “Blade, really. Not the best way to get on with your new partner.” He sat back and steepled his fingers, grinning.
Blade took a step back. “Partner?” He glared at Locke, then put his fists on Wilson’s desk and leaned forward. “By the One God, I won’t! Do you know what they say about him? Why he had to leave his last station?”
Locke’s belly rolled and he prayed to the One God. Please don’t let him say it aloud. Spare me some dignity.
Wilson held up his hand. “Silence.” Spoken in almost a whisper, but Blade shut his mouth with a snap at the single word. “I have been informed of everything concerning Inspector Locke. You will treat him with the respect due his rank, Blade, or he’ll be wearing your stripes and sitting on my right at table.”
Thanks so much fro coming by and don’t forget to enter by emailing Lynn. ; )