KAREN’S KILLER BOOK BENCH: Welcome to Karen’s Killer Book Bench, where readers can discover talented new authors and take a peek inside their wonderful books. This is not an age-filtered site, so all book peeks are PG-13 or better. Come back and visit often. Happy reading!

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BETRAYED
Sheppard & Sons Investigations Book 4
BY EVELINE ROSE

BLURB

Sometimes, taking a risk is the only way to mend a broken heart.

Emily ~

When I moved back home after leaving my abusive boyfriend, I didn’t think I’d ever trust another man again. I scoffed when my over-protective big brother insisted on hiring his best friend’s security company. I didn’t want a bodyguard. And the last thing I needed was to fall for the gorgeous, by-the-books man being paid to protect me.

Jamie ~

I’d always thought being a cop meant I could protect the people I loved. But it didn’t, and after failing to save my wife I turned in my badge. Starting a personal protection and PI business not only helped me find my purpose again, it kept me too busy to feel. Then my best friend called–his sister was in trouble. I wasn’t ready to risk my heart again, but before long I couldn’t deny my feelings. Feelings that would challenge a lifelong friendship and test my ability to do my job.

When Emily comes home to find her worst nightmare standing in her kitchen, she regrets not taking the threat seriously. Will Jamie get there in time to save her? And will their love be strong enough to overcome their fears?

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BETRAYED
Sheppard & Sons Investigations Book 4
BY EVELINE ROSE

Excerpt

The bar stool felt harder than I remembered as I waited for Chris. We used to be regulars here, and we’d chosen it out of nostalgia rather than any real desire to hang out in a loud sports bar. Looking forward to the evening, I’d arrived early. A night out with my best friend was exactly what I needed to get out of the funk I’d been in for the last week.

It’d been great seeing Chris at the ribbon cutting ceremony, but we didn’t have time to talk, so I was happy he could get away for a few hours tonight. It’d been too long since we’d last seen each other, and it’d be nice to catch up. I was busy with SSI; and my goddaughter, Zoe, had him and Vicky burning the candle at both ends. I made a mental note to plan a day we could all get together. I could use a day with them—Zoe’s laughter was the best anti-depressant. Thinking of Chris’s family reminded me I wanted to ask him about Emily, he’d seemed off when Jack asked about her at the opening.

When I saw Chris, I waved him over. We shook hands and hugged, patting each other on the back, the way men do. “It’s good to see you, man. How’s dad-life treating you?”

“Good, other than the sleepless nights and non-stop dirty diapers.” Chris’s laugh made it obvious he was loving every minute of it. “How about you? How’s the new place working out for SSI?”

After Isabelle’s death, I turned in my badge and started Sheppard & Sons Investigations, a personal protection and investigation company, with my dad and brother, Jack. It wasn’t easy for Dad and I to give up the badge, we were third generation cops, but it was the right decision for both of us. We were still serving our community, but we didn’t have to wait for the 9-1-1 call to help them. We could offer protection before the crime was committed, and didn’t have to deal with the bureaucracy or red tape of law enforcement.

“It’s great. We’ve grown a lot in the last year, and we’ll be hiring another full-time person sooner rather than later.” I waved the bartender over. “Let me buy you a beer.”

“Thanks. Is it cool if we grab a high top instead of sitting at the bar?”

The change in Chris’s tone caught my attention. “Yeah, no problem.”

After we sat down, I asked Chris what was going on. He made a joke that I never missed anything, “Must be a cop thing.” But his laugh sounded forced.

“It is.” It was also a best friend thing. “Spill it.”

“You remember my sister, Emily?”

I raised an eyebrow. Of course I did. She was the awkward teenager in braces who wanted to tag along everywhere we went. She and Jack were about the same age and were both sophomores when Chris and I were seniors. I’d only seen her a few times since graduating. The last had been at Isabelle’s funeral, but I’d been so consumed with grief I barely remembered talking to her.

“She’s in trouble, and I could use your expertise.”

My back stiffened. It had to be bad if he needed my kind of expertise. “What kind of trouble?”

About Author Eveline Rose…

Links to Eveline’s websites, blogs, books, #ad etc.:

Amazon Kindle: https://mybook.to/BEATEN_SSI2

Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/3Er3Uzp