She can’t turn her
back on her team, though. They’ve been through too much together. The more
Sadie tries to help, the more she suspects she might be the target of the con
this time. With forces conspiring against her, the outcome of her
decisions, both past and present, weigh heavily and make her question the
choices she made leading to this point.
When their mutual
enemy is found dead, alliances are tested, and wits are matched as the race to
the truth reveals who can be trusted and who is running their final con.
Murderous
CONsequences
A Sadie Sabatini Mystery Book 1
Sadie Sabatini thinks of herself
as a modern-day Robin Hood who uses her gift as a skilled con artist to help
those who have nowhere else to turn. Leading this life is rewarding, but the
number of enemies are piling up. Sadie decides to lay low and start over with a
new (and legitimate business) in the small town of Wilson, Texas, situated on a
small peninsula in beautiful Lake Amore.
Trouble is never far behind
though and her past catches up to her in a big way when a friend of a former
mark threatens blackmail for his silence. When he turns up dead and Sadie is
the prime suspect, she realizes this time she must protect herself. Her skills
prove helpful as she digs deeper into the web of revenge, blackmail, and
secrets to discover she’s not the only one with a past to hide.
As the threats mount, Sadie
knows she’s closing in on the truth. She now worries that the few new friends
she’s made in town are in danger because of her. With time running out, can she
protect those around her and find the real killer before this new chapter in
her life is conned out of a happy ending?
Amazon * Apple * Google * Smashwords
* Books2Read
* Bookbub * Goodreads
I grabbed my laptop and returned to the counter. Since Kelsey didn’t want to talk about the election now, I wouldn’t bother her. I was curious, though, about the candidates. The seats being voted on were currently occupied by Jim Bob (JB) Nester, Alan Knightly, and Ted Birmingham. Ted was the only one not running for re-election. I was a little surprised by this. When it came to the Birminghams and their legacy, both influence and power were important. Since Ted typically did what his father wanted, I had no doubt it was Robert’s idea.
Next, I wanted to take a look at the candidates running to occupy those seats. “Hey, Tessa is running.”
Kelsey looked my way and grinned. “I knew you’d do some research before Sunday.”
I shrugged. “The Boy Scouts and I have that in common–always be prepared. I’ve visited her shop, Tessa’s Treats, many times.”
“She will be a great asset to the board, for sure. One vote down, two to go.” She winked.
Next up was Karen Bizzy, the “Karen” to beat out all other “Karens.” She had definitive plans for the town of Wilson, very few of which I supported. Denise McDowell and Jackie Price were also vying for a seat. I wasn’t sure either was truly qualified, but out of the two, I knew Denise better. Her motivations, at least, were easier to understand. Jackie, on the other hand, was still a mystery.
Since I was familiar with them, I hadn’t selected the hyperlink under their name to see the bio and picture. The new guy, Miles Gentry, needed additional research. I hovered over the blue letters that contained his name and hit enter.
As his picture appeared on a new page, my heart stopped beating for a moment. His hair might no longer be black, and contacts had replaced his glasses, but the face struck a familiar chord from my past. This man was not Miles Gentry. No, I’d recognize the smug look on his narrow face anywhere. This was none other than Miles Grant, a former pharmaceutical executive my team brought down about a year ago due to his use of experimental pesticides which poisoned the workers in the field. He had also skimmed money from the company to fund other experimental programs. In sum, he was a bad actor who had either learned his lesson and was starting a new life, or he had moved from California to Texas to start a new venture where no one knew him or his reputation. At least, he would think no one knew him.
Either way, I didn’t trust him. My gut was rarely, if ever, wrong. Right now, it was screaming at me that his presence in Wilson spelled bad news for the unsuspecting people of this town. Deep down, I also knew it wouldn’t be long before our paths crossed, which undoubtedly would mean nothing but trouble for me.
Tell us about a favorite character from a book:
It’s really hard to pick just one favorite. Obviously, my main characters hold a special place in my heart, but the role of supporting actor or actress can be just as important to a story. I mean imagine Cagney without Lacey (and if you don’t get that reference, I’ll try Batman without Robin or Dory without Nemo 😊) You get the idea. In my romance series, of course, I loved the main couple, but Annie (Daniel’s daughter) was a favorite of mine. I don’t have many children in my stories, but the creation of Annie and the role she played in the life of her father and, subsequently, in Melody’s life, warmed my heart.
In the Danger Cove series, I would have to say Abe was a favorite character. The wisdom he shared with the younger generation and the way he looked after them meant a lot to me. It also didn’t hurt that my inspiration for what he looked like was Sir Patrick Stewart (who I could look at all day LOL) might have influenced my decision to pick him as a favorite.
In the new series, it’s too hard to pick a favorite just yet LOL Of course, I adore Kelsey and the friendship she and Sadie are forming. Estelle “EZ” Zimmerman makes me smile and I love her grit and determination to lead the life she’s chosen with no apologies. And, of course, Emerson holds a special place as a special kid who the whole town has taken under his wing.
I always enjoy hearing who the reader pick as their favorite and why too!!
Described by those who know her
best as perky, quirky and effervescent, USA Today Best-Selling author Nicole
Leiren likes to have fun — in life, with her characters and, of course, her
readers. She admits to being sassy (just ask her mother!) and inspiration for
her characters are drawn from the real-world heroes and heroines she meets
while traversing the country.
Nicole enjoys sharing the love,
laughter, mystery, and occasionally a touch of the mayhem she forces her
characters to endure—all for the reader’s pleasure! Her real-world heroes and
heroines will keep you turning the pages until you reach the whodunit or
happily ever after (usually both!)
Website
* Facebook * X
* Instagram * Bookbub
* Amazon * Goodreads
