Book Review of Finding Trust – Book 1 Centre Games Series

Book Review of  Finding Trust – Book 1

     Centre Games Series

Sponsored by Innovative Book Tours

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Blurb : 

Finding Trust – Book 1 Centre Games Series Brayden and Rihanna He’s hot, sexy, and leads a double life. Sometimes in the limelight, mostly in the shadows. Brayden James holds fast to a secret that’s more than his to share. She’s a singularly focused veterinarian out for a rare night of fun with friends, at a New Year’s Eve rock concert. Going home with the lead guitarist was furthest thing from Rihanna Mason’s mind when the night began. When Rihanna inadvertently becomes the target of a deadly terrorist plot using the Hendra virus as a biological weapon, Brayden is forced to reveal his other life. His job is to keep her safe and together they must stop the terrorists before it’s too late. But what happens when she becomes more to him than just the assignment? Will the secret he cannot disclose ultimately prove too much for Rihanna’s fragile trust in relationships? Or will he finally break through the double brick walls around her heart, where every other man has failed?

About the Author:

I recently discovered those school vocational assessments are really interesting and probably correct! Who would have thought, hey? You see, I clearly remember taking one of those in Year 11 (for my US friends, I think that equates to junior year in high school). Anyway, semantics. Well, the results came back indicating that I should pursue a career in writing and something else. What that something else was I can’t remember but the writing thing stuck in my mind. Sure, I’d always liked English and had already developed a ravenous appetite for romance novels by the age of sixteen—but who becomes a writer straight out of school? So to cut a long story short, I went to Uni and studied Business and ended up managing large-scale IT projects shortly after. I can’t complain: it’s been a great career. I’ve done some awesome projects and met some incredible people and I won’t be giving it up anytime soon. Anyway, I’ve messed around with a couple of “secret” novels over the years and I finally decided to get serious and finish one. Hence “Finding Trust” came about. And about twenty years later, I’ve finally proved a vocational assessment correct, because I love writing! As to some other stuff about me: I live on the Gold Coast, Australia. I love spending time with my family and friends. When I’m not sitting behind a screen playing with IT or writing, you might find me down the beach playing in the waves on a Jet Ski or a bogey board (both are uber cool). When the weather turns a bit cooler (doesn’t really happen on the Gold Coast), we like to head for the snow. I’ve discovered I have two kids who are kamikaze skiers—they must take after their father. He’s always at me to “release the handbrake.” Apparently I’d ski so much better. I call it a healthy understanding of self-preservation and gravity! I like to think I can fit in a few workouts and martial arts classes each week. This tends to be a figment of my imagination more than reality, unfortunately. I am trying to remedy this, but those damn characters just keep demanding to have their stories told and, well, there’s always another good book to read! I hope you enjoy mine. Please drop me a line. I’m active on Facebook, Twitter, and via email Natalie@nataliegayle.com.au. I’d love to know what you think of my books and well, let’s be truthful—I love talking about books, whether they’re mine or someone else’s. Fiction is just so much more fun than reality!!! Happy Reading Natalie Gayle

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Excerpt:

 Chapter Four

If the upper level of the hospital was a cyclone centre, the lower lab was ground zero. A quick scan of his senses told him that the floor was safe. He turned and gathered her into his arms, as she sobbed silently into his shoulder.

“It’s okay, sweetheart, we’ll sort this out.”

She wanted to believe him; she really did. But how did you even begin to replace the equipment, the effort, or restore order to the chaos that had now invaded their life’s work?

“Rihanna, can you tell me where you kept the virus?” His senses could detect a very faint hint but not in enough concentration to be the real deal.

She pointed at a stainless steel cabinet that was open. “The virus samples were kept in special containers, kind of like the ones you would have seen radioactive material kept in. They’re all gone.”

“How many were there?” he asked.

“There were six containers, all with various levels of virus intensity.”

“Well, I kind of went home with someone…”

He bit his cheek to stop from laughing. He dared a sideways glance at her. She was looking out the window, obviously struggling with deciding just how much to say. Her right hand was viciously tugging at a lock of her hair, clearly uncertain about what to tell her friend.

“No way—not that guy from Steel?”

“Yep, the one and the same.”

Hah—he loved it; Rihanna sounded almost smug. Clearly Jazz’s reaction had given her immediate confidence in the situation.

“Oh, this is just too much. Where are you now?”

“At his place.” Rihanna’s ear was immediately assaulted with high-pitched squealing.

He was glad she was turned the other way or she would have seen him visibly flinch at the horrible noise.

“You lucky thing, you. He is sooooo hot. Is he as good in bed as he is in the looks department?”

“Ah ha.”

“Oh, I get it, he’s right near.”

“Yep and we would prefer that you don’t tell anyone about this.”

“Does that imply you are staying there for a bit?”

“Something like that.”

“You can’t just say that and not tell me what you mean.”

“Exactly that. We just want a few days alone to see how things go.”

“Oh, you are sooo bad and sooo lucky and I am sooo jealous.”
Rihanna looked up and realized that while she had been talking, Brayden had stopped the car in the garage and was waiting for her to finish her call.

“Ah, Jazz, I have to go. I’ve just got to go do something.”

“Yeah, I bet. More like someone. Call me tomorrow. I live for details, you know that.”

“I do. Bye, Jazzy.”

Rihanna disconnected the call and slowly turned to face Brayden; judging by the look on his face, he had heard at least some of Jazz’s comments. Oh God, what’s he going to think?

He leaned over the console and gently wrapped his hand behind her head and drew her into his kiss. His lips were warm and soft against hers and her heart immediately began to race as he slowly slid his tongue over her bottom lip, deepening the kiss as he sought entry into her mouth. At his mercy, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and pulled him in tighter to her body. Her breasts brushed teasingly against the planes of his chest and her nipples immediately pebbled and began to pulse with the intense heat that was building between them.

He explored her mouth with a thoroughness that was unhurried and totally erotic. His kiss was taking them higher and higher. Ohhh, she needed his hands on her anywhere, everywhere. And almost on cue, he removed his hand from the nape of her neck but rather than to move it somewhere more interesting, he gently pulled back from her, breaking the connection.

The electricity between them was almost visible, a current stretching between the two conductors. Their gazes connected and he smiled that cheeky grin that was oh so Brayden.

“Wow, that was hot, babe.”

She lowered her gaze, embarrassed by how direct his comment was.

“Well, Minky, I thought I’d just make sure you had some accurate material to discuss with Jazz tomorrow. Methinks you told a few little fibs, although I have to say I like the sound of where you were heading with your thoughts.”

“Well, I kind of went home with someone…”

He bit his cheek to stop from laughing. He dared a sideways glance at her. She was looking out the window, obviously struggling with deciding just how much to say. Her right hand was viciously tugging at a lock of her hair, clearly uncertain about what to tell her friend.

“No way—not that guy from Steel?”

“Yep, the one and the same.”

Hah—he loved it; Rihanna sounded almost smug. Clearly Jazz’s reaction had given her immediate confidence in the situation.

“Oh, this is just too much. Where are you now?”

“At his place.” Rihanna’s ear was immediately assaulted with high-pitched squealing.

He was glad she was turned the other way or she would have seen him visibly flinch at the horrible noise.

“You lucky thing, you. He is sooooo hot. Is he as good in bed as he is in the looks department?”

“Ah ha.”

“Oh, I get it, he’s right near.”

“Yep and we would prefer that you don’t tell anyone about this.”

“Does that imply you are staying there for a bit?”

“Something like that.”

“You can’t just say that and not tell me what you mean.”

“Exactly that. We just want a few days alone to see how things go.”

“Oh, you are sooo bad and sooo lucky and I am sooo jealous.”
Rihanna looked up and realized that while she had been talking, Brayden had stopped the car in the garage and was waiting for her to finish her call.

“Ah, Jazz, I have to go. I’ve just got to go do something.”

“Yeah, I bet. More like someone. Call me tomorrow. I live for details, you know that.”

“I do. Bye, Jazzy.”

Rihanna disconnected the call and slowly turned to face Brayden; judging by the look on his face, he had heard at least some of Jazz’s comments. Oh God, what’s he going to think?

He leaned over the console and gently wrapped his hand behind her head and drew her into his kiss. His lips were warm and soft against hers and her heart immediately began to race as he slowly slid his tongue over her bottom lip, deepening the kiss as he sought entry into her mouth. At his mercy, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and pulled him in tighter to her body. Her breasts brushed teasingly against the planes of his chest and her nipples immediately pebbled and began to pulse with the intense heat that was building between them.

He explored her mouth with a thoroughness that was unhurried and totally erotic. His kiss was taking them higher and higher. Ohhh, she needed his hands on her anywhere, everywhere. And almost on cue, he removed his hand from the nape of her neck but rather than to move it somewhere more interesting, he gently pulled back from her, breaking the connection.

The electricity between them was almost visible, a current stretching between the two conductors. Their gazes connected and he smiled that cheeky grin that was oh so Brayden.

“Wow, that was hot, babe.”

She lowered her gaze, embarrassed by how direct his comment was.

“Well, Minky, I thought I’d just make sure you had some accurate material to discuss with Jazz tomorrow. Methinks you told a few little fibs, although I have to say I like the sound of where you were heading with your thoughts.”

“So let’s go inside. I have to make some calls to my team. You can go relax in the spa with a glass of wine and I’ll join you in a little while.” He was building the anticipation to the main event. They both knew it. He leaned forward again and gently pressed his lips to her forehead. He could tell from her silence and the tension in her body that what was happening between them was causing nearly as much stress as the situation with the virus and her father.

“Let’s just see what happens. We’ll both know when the time is right.” With that, he turned, helped her out of the car and inside the house.

That was the problem…the waiting might just kill her.

Review

So when I read the overview of this book I was thinking western romance, but yowza this one is so much more than that.  There is mystery, intrigue, romance, hot steamy love scenes, a bit of the paranormal for those who prefer the fantasy, and true love (insert happy sigh here).

I love that she gets a nickname because … nope not telling.  You’ll have to read why her nickname is Minky for yourself.  Anyway the good doctor is in danger, but it may not just be from the people who want to kidnap or kill her.  The real danger might be to her heart and she’s not sure it’s worth the risk.

Love, love, love the story.  Can’t wait to read more from the series.  This is definitely a keeper.  I give this story 4.5 out of 5 clouds.

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