GUEST POST and GIVEAWAY
Streets of Glass
by Michelle D. Argyle
Streets of Glass by Michelle D. Argyle is currently on tour with Silver Dagger Book Tours. The tour stops here today for a guest post by the author, an excerpt, and a giveaway. Please be sure to visit the other tour stops as well.
Description
Two sisters. One drug syndicate. An epic battle to the top.
Eighteen year-old Starry is destined to take over her father’s powerful drug syndicate. But when she finds out he has kept her only sister a secret from her, she can’t trust him anymore. Furious, Starry vows to find Emma, even though she knows her defiance could lead to losing the position she’s worked so hard to inherit.
But Emma isn’t quite the sister Starry hoped for. She’s a straight-laced good girl who wants nothing more than to take down the syndicate that destroyed her family. Starry, willing to do anything to secure her place in the syndicate, accepts her father’s ultimatum to kill Emma and everyone helping her. But the more Starry gets to know Emma, and the more secrets she uncovers, the more she questions whether the price of saving the syndicate is too high - even for someone as cold-blooded and vicious as Starry.
Excerpt
Rhys was silent and Starry looked up to see his eyes filled with empathy. It was then that she felt a few tears roll down her cheeks and she quickly swiped them away, irritated at the weakness they showed. It was the last thing she wanted Rhys to see.
He slid up so close to her that she could feel his breath on her face. “I’ll come with you,” he said, inching an arm around her to pull her closer. “I can see there’s no talking you out of this, and I can’t let you walk into it alone. I still think it’s beyond stupid.”
She didn’t have the will to pull away from him. He felt too good. He smelled too good. “You’ll do that?” she asked, leaning against him. His shirt smelled like Chinese food and the laundry detergent the cleaning service used to wash the sheets. Starry had been the one to schedule those services. She was the only one who managed this secret house. Her father entrusted that to her. He entrusted her with a lot of stuff, but she was about to go behind his back on this, and she wasn’t sure that was a bad thing. A lot of things were starting to fall apart for Starry, all thanks to Emma. She hoped she didn’t regret her decision when it came time to meet her face to face.
“Sure, I’ll do it,” Rhys answered softly, no trace of sarcasm in his voice. “If this is what it takes for you to realize how much I want to fix things with you. If Jack and his father have a problem with me coming along, we’ll figure out a solution—or we can make sure they don’t know I’m there.” He ran a finger down her neck, playing with a bit of hair that had fallen out of her ponytail.
And just like that, something inside of her broke. She wrapped her arms around him and buried her face against his chest. For a brief moment, she let herself want him, accept him, trust him. She squeezed him closer to her body, her breaths quick and soft as his warmth surrounded her. She wasn’t alone. She was connected, and it was a feeling she never wanted to lose. How could it last?
Her arms went slack and she pulled away a fraction of an inch. Accepting Rhys back into her life meant she’d always have something to lose. He made her weak in so many ways. Maybe he was worth it, even if his jumping at the chance to help her was a little suspect. She’d have to keep an eye on him.
“Okay,” she said, letting him go and backing away. She met his eyes and gave him a steely look. “Let’s do this.”
[Want more? Click below to read a longer excerpt.]
Praise for the Book
"I'm not a big reader of thrillers, but I love this author and knew I would love anything she writes so I picked it right up. And loved it! It was so different for me. A world I know nothing about, the drugs, crime, torture, evilness of it all was eye opening to me. I loved the characters and all throughout had no idea who I wanted to "win" so to speak. Who was good? Who was happy? Who would prevail? Needless to say it was fabulous and would make a really good, yet gorey movie." ~ Susan
"A fast paced read that takes you deep under into the world of a drug syndicate, two sisters who are destined to meet (but under dire circumstances),and add in a little bit of romance, and you have a first rate book! I thoroughly enjoyed this book: great characters, action, romance, and ... torture, yes torture! This book read like a movie...I was very into it and could visualize everything. Loved it and the plot. It brought out many emotions in me, even sadness. Well written and definitely kept me hanging on and wanting more. Totally would recommend this book!" ~ E Jacobson
"Wowza! The moment I started reading this book I could not put it down. Michelle D. Argyle has a wonderful writing style that just draws you in. Very fun book with lots of twists and turns! I didn't know what to expect. LOVED this book and I highly recommend it!" ~ Chelsey H.
"I absolutely LOVED this book! You are pulled in and wanting more within the first chapter of the book. I read the entire book within 24 hours because I couldn't put it down! This is a must read and is definitely on my favorite list of books!" ~ Amazon Customer
"Streets of Glass was an excellent read! Loved, loved, loved it! Michelle has a way of drawing you in from the very first line of the story and holding your attention to the very end. Her writing allows you to connect with each character, and you find yourself caught up in the story line. Can't wait to read more by this author!" ~ Lisa
Guest Post by the Author
Where Does Love Fit Into A Thriller?
As an author, I’ve found the best description of a thriller is when the characters or main cast of characters are in peril throughout the book, whether it be physical or emotional peril. If there’s not a constant, looming threat to the characters, the book will usually fall into the category of suspense, not thriller. What this means for a thriller is that it had better keep up the tension page after page. And if that’s the case, where does love fit in? Is there time for that? You bet there is!
I think the best thrillers combine a lot of different elements, but one of the best elements is a love plot. Nothing can up the ante for a character than the idea of losing a lover. Either that, or the possibility of a new romance about to blossom. In my novel, Streets of Glass, I have two main characters, both with love interests. My character Starry is quickly falling for the manager of a strip club (sketchy, I know ... but so is Starry), and my other main character Emma is quickly falling for the only person alive who will help her - a hot guy she meets in a dirty laundromat.
As the story progresses, so do these relationships. The danger rises with each turn of the plot, which also ups the tension of the relationships and whether or not our main characters are going end up happy and in love ... if they end up alive at all! I think that’s where love fits into a thriller - right in the middle of all the messy, dangerous things going on to threaten the main characters. What better place to really wring out the characters’ hearts and emotions than to throw love in there as well? More tension, more page-turning action!
About the Author
Michelle lives and writes in Utah, surrounded by the Rocky Mountains. She's a foodie and also adores anything Star Wars related. She loves to read and write books in the time she grabs between her sword-wielding husband and energetic daughter. She believes a simple life is the best life. Michelle mainly writes contemporary Young Adult and New Adult fiction, but occasionally branches into other genres.
Giveaway
Enter the tour-wide giveaway for a chance to win a paperback copy of Streets of Glass by Michelle D. Argyle or a $10 Amazon gift card.
Links
