The Medici Protectorate Series

Thank you, Craig, for letting me visit today. Hi, Craig’s followers! Stick around, because not only is Story Empire giving away prizes during this tour, at the end of this post, I’m going to have a deal for you, too.

So, how many of you remember bookmobiles from your childhood? I have fond memories of library time in elementary school, when once a month the bookmobile would drive in, and instead of us going to the library, we’d get to go out to the playground, look through the wonderful selection of books that rolled up to our door, and make selections that we otherwise wouldn’t have access to.

Other kids looked forward to recess or gym class. I looked forward to music, art, and library time. Particularly Bookmobile Day.
I’ve always had an affinity for the arts, and that hasn’t changed. Even my career finds me working with words, graphics, and sometimes music (when I create book trailers).

Isn’t it great that we had such resources as kids? Why not as adults, too?

As you may already know, we Story Empire authors have decided to restore the bookmobile concept. We’re all taking our work and going on the road, traveling to different sites and letting readers see a new and different selection of fiction—the Story Empire Roadshow.

To that end, today I’d like to introduce you to my Medici Protectorate series. This series is dear to me for many reasons, and I’m happy to get to take it on tour this week.

Today, I’m sharing covers, blurbs, teasers, and excerpts from the first two novels (Bleeding Heart and Mind Control), and as a bonus, a never-before-seen first look at an excerpt from the soon-to-be-released Body Armor. (Note: The following teasers and excerpts contain innuendo and rough language. Reader discretion is advised.)

Bleeding Heart Blurb:
Francesca discovers she is the secret legacy of the Medici, prophesied to return Italy to its former glory. Targeted for assassination and ignorant of her enemy’s identity, she is forced under the protection of Gianni, a warrior destined to defend her. As their worlds collide in passion and violence, Gianni will need to conquer his demons in time to save them both.

Bleeding Heart Excerpt:
After a quick check of all the offices and locks, the building was closed and the alarms set for the evening. Gianni settled Franki in his car and turned to Coz and Nico. “Go stake out the restaurant. Make sure the girls are okay. I’m taking Franki back to our place for a while.”

“Do you think Mike’ll be okay with that?” Nico asked.

“Do you think I care? I need some time with her where we can just… be.”

“We’ll be quiet when we get back.”

“I hope I can say the same.” They laughed as Coz and Nico headed off to Vinnie’s car.

Gianni joined Franki in his. “Before we go anywhere, let’s just enjoy the view of the city for a minute,” she said.

“It is stunning at night.” He took her hand in his and played with her fingers. He looked out over the vista of the city, its lights reflecting off the three rivers winding past it. Stunning, but it paled in comparison to her.

Mind Control Blurb:
Vinnie Falco copes with his own identity issues while he struggles to protect the one prophesized Medici descendant, Jo Notaro, who refuses to embrace her heritage. He and the Brotherhood race across the globe with the charges they’re sworn to protect to discover who plots to destroy them. Both Vinnie and Jo use past hurts as emotional shields. With lives in peril, can they find the strength to overcome their tragic pasts?

Mind Control Excerpt:
Before he turned to begin work, their gazes locked. Light from the chandelier bathed one side of his face, turning his olive skin a radiant bronze in the glow. Shadows darkened the other side, his high cheekbones and strong jawline hidden from the only illumination in the room. He was light and dark, good and bad, angel and demon.

Which side would he choose to show her if she stepped closer?

Which side did she want to meet?

He wiped the area and handed the items back to her. His hands lingered a bit before releasing the bottle and rag to her. When their fingers touched, she knew the next part would be the hardest for her to get through.

Back at the collection of items she’d gotten out, she grabbed the epoxy putty. “This has to be kneaded until it’s soft and malleable.” She started squeezing it between her fingers.

“Soft wasn’t exactly what I had in mind,” he said. He reached over and interlaced his fingers with hers, working the putty with her. The heat of his hands quickly warmed the putty, preparing it for application. Even when it was ready, he didn’t stop.

“We only have a three-minute window,” she managed to get out between shallow breaths.

“I’m going to need much longer than three minutes.”

Body Armor Excerpt:
“Don, it’s almost three-thirty. As it is, we’ll probably get busted coming in.”

“Then we might as well have a good reason. Like retrieving Mama.”

“But I don’t know if she’s even there. It’s better if I come back.”

“We don’t have time for that. And I’m not getting in that car until you swear we’re going to get her.”

A little deception never hurt anyone. Not when it was for her own good. “Fine. Get in the car.”

“If you don’t turn around and head back the way we came, I’ll jump out and walk there. I’ll go right up to a guard or knock on the damn door.”

“Why do you have to be so stubborn?”

“Why do you?” She glared at him.

“You’re incorrigible.”

“And you’re wasting time.”

He growled. When she recoiled, he softened his voice. A little. “Get in the damn car, Donni.”

“Are we going to get Mama?”

“I’ll see what I can do. Get in the fucking car.”

She gave him a sweet smile and walked around the hood of the SUV.
They were so screwed.

He got in and started the engine. “You sure about this? It’ll be dangerous. Next to impossible.”

“I’m sure.”

Nico shook his head and pulled onto the road. As he drove around the boulder, he noticed five sets of bright eyes staring at them from a thick outcropping of overgrowth.

Wolves.

***

Thanks again, Craig, for hosting me here today. It’s a pleasure to be here. And thanks to the rest of you for indulging me while I shared this brief look at some of my work. As a thank you, I’m offering one commenter a free eBook of their choosing, not just from the Medici Protectorate series (although you can choose one of those), but from any of my works (the complete list can be found by clicking here). Another commenter (US only) will be sent a Medici Protectorate bookmark. Good luck!

Oh, one more thing I should mention. This week only, Bleeding Heart is discounted to $.99 and Mind Control to $1.99. Click the links for purchase information.

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