"Deceitful Truths" by Maggie Thom

EXCERPT and GIVEAWAY

Deceitful Truths
(Caspian Wine Book 2)

by Maggie Thom

Deceitful Truths is the second book in Maggie Thom's Caspian Wine series. Also available: Captured Lies (see my blog post).

Deceitful Truths is currently on tour with Reading Addiction Book Tours. The tour stops here today for an excerpt and a giveaway. Please be sure to visit the other tour stops as well.

For another book by Maggie Thom, check out my blog post on Tainted Waters.

Description

He created a legacy that no one could imagine…

Tarin has lost a week of her life. She doesn't know what happened but not long after she returns to work she is suspended from her job. Confused and pregnant, she quits and agrees to marry Stephen, only to be thrown into a whole new nightmare. Desperate, she grabs her son and moves across the country to get away from her abusive husband and to avoid her unforgiving father. Thrilled at getting the Tech assistant job at Knights Associates, not only will she be helping them solve cyber crimes but she'll be able to use their connections and resources to solve her own mystery. Who stole a week of her life? And will they return to steal the secret she is now protecting?

Graham and his partner Guy can't keep up with the demand. They are being flooded with requests at Knights Associates, where they offer a combined service of private investigator and that of solving cyber crimes. It appears that someone wants to get their attention, not only have they been hacked but Guy's family business, Caspian Winery, seems to be under attack as well. Hiring an assistant seems to be the answer but when Graham discovers she's been accessing their high-security accounts, he decides the cause of their predicament might be closer than he thought. Is their new assistant behind the problems they're having? If she's so innocent, why is someone after her?

Tarin and Graham discover that although they don't trust each other, they are forced to work together to solve several seemingly unrelated crimes that may lead to one disastrous conclusion. Can they figure it all out before Tarin's nightmare plays out? Before an eighty-year-old woman pays with her life? Or before Tarin learns a truth that may seal her fate, a truth that will keep her and Graham apart, a truth that neither one of them may be able to forgive or forget...

Excerpt

Unloading, she hauled as much as she could and headed out into the hallway, once she'd checked to make sure there was no one there. She grabbed Chance's free hand, his other one was hugging his big green rabbit.

The trip down in the elevator to the garage was uneventful but it didn't ease her nerves or stop her from feeling there was someone watching her. Once the doors opened she walked quickly across the underground parkade, her heels clicking loudly, making her wince at the noise. Once at Stephen's Mercedes which she was borrowing, she stuffed all she'd hauled down into the trunk and was just closing the lid when the guard came by.

"Mrs. Roth. How are you today?"

"Tarin, please. I'm good Dale and you?" During one of their many chats, he'd told her he'd been the guard there for over ten years. He was a bit of a gruff old guy but he'd taken a liking to her. The one time he'd seen her with a bruise on her forehead, he hadn't said anything but he'd let her know he didn't believe it was from a cupboard door. Which had been the truth, she just wasn't sure herself it hadn't been deliberate on Stephen's part. Since then Dale had checked on her regularly and hinted many times that if she ever needed a place just for a short vacation, he had the best place for her. She knew he meant with him and his wife.

"Good. Good. The missus wants me to go on a cruise but I'm not sure I have the legs to be at sea for a week. I like solid ground under my feet. She's trying to get me into retirement mode. I'm done in a couple of months."

She laughed. "Oh but it'll be fun. You probably stop at a lot of islands and get off the ship, right?"

"Yes but we have to get to them islands first." He smiled at her. "Anyway can I help you? I saw you were packing a lot of stuff. I'd be more than happy to help you bring it down."

She tried hard not to react but she knew she hadn't succeeded when the color bleached out of her face and she saw his look of concern.

"Are you all right?"

"Yeah. Yeah. Just have a few things to do. Thanks but I... uh... don't need help. I'm good. But thanks."

"Hungry. Hungry," Chance who had hidden behind her leg chanted just loud enough for her to hear.

"I know, love. We just have to go up and get a few more things and then we'll go out for breakfast, okay?"

"Now, Mommy. Now."

"How did his birthday turn out?"

Tarin smiled. Dale had bought him a present since he'd been born. She wondered who'd be there to give him a present when he turned three. "He loved it. Thank you so much for the car, he barely puts it down. He plays with it all the time." She didn't know how to tell him his gift was the only one that hadn't come from her. Stephen hadn't wanted any other kids over. Not that she knew any, anyway.

Praise for the Book

"This book is even more captivating than her first two! Maggie really knows how to weave a tale and to draw the reader in. I loved the intrigue and how you really never knew who was behind it all until the very end!" ~ peace51965

"Maggie Thom’s talent for mixing mystery, intrigue and romance becomes a masterpiece begging to be read..." ~ Dii at Tome Tender

"Captivating and intense. Full of twists and turns." ~ Read Your Writes Book Reviews

About the Author

Award winning author Maggie Thom took the challenge and leapt off, leaving a fulltime, twenty year career in management, to write full time. Her first suspense/thriller book, Captured Lies (October 2012), won Book of the Month through LAS Reviews (February 2014). Her second novel, Tainted Waters (April 2013), went on to win 2013 Suspense and Thriller Book of the Year through Turning the Pages Magazine. She published her third novel, Deceitful Truths (The Caspian Wine Series Book 2), March 2014.

An avid reader and writer her whole life, she decided to break the monotony of wishing to be an author by making it happen. She is a wholehearted nature lover and likes nothing better than to take a book, hike to a remote spot by a river or waterfalls, and read. Married to her best friend, she is learning that humor, love, and patience help her navigate her way through her twins’ teen years. Her motto: Escape to read and read to escape.

Giveaway

Enter the tour-wide giveaway for a chance to win some great prizes.

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Links

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Amazon UK

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Smashwords

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"Captured Lies" by Maggie Thom

EXCERPT and GIVEAWAY

Captured Lies
(Caspian Wine Book 1)

by Maggie Thom

Captured Lies is the first book in Maggie Thom's Caspian Wine series. Also available: Deceitful Truths.

Captured Lies is currently on tour with Reading Addiction Book Tours. The tour stops here today for an excerpt and a giveaway. Please be sure to visit the other tour stops as well.

For another book by Maggie Thom, check out my blog post on Tainted Waters.

Description

She was kidnapped not once but twice and now someone wants her dead because of it ...

Her life was a lie!

Bailey knew her upbringing wasn’t normal but she’s worked hard to stabilize her life. At 29, she finally has a good business, a stable home; her life is miles from that of her childhood. Then suddenly her mother dies, leaving a gaping hole and a discovery that they may not even be related. If Guy, the private investigator is to be believed, her life is a lie. Using the skills she learned on the streets, Bailey travels back through a sketchy and dangerous past, to find answers. Dodging bullets, staying ahead of those who want her dead and convincing Guy she can do it alone, are making it difficult to discover not only the secrets of her mother’s past but that of a family claiming she is theirs.

Everyone seems to have a story ... but who’s telling the truth? And who wants her dead? Is Guy part of the solution? Or part of the problem? To discover the facts, she’ll have to untangle a web of deceit, lies, and secrets, dating back over thirty years.

But can she do it in time...

Excerpt

The phone rang.

The incessant thumping continued.

He swung his legs out of bed, ignoring the phone, dragged his hand over his face and stood up.

“Mr. Lund, open this door. It’s me, Bailey Saunders. I need to talk to you. I need to talk to you about my mom. I think she knew stuff. Important stuff. Stuff that could get one killed.” Her voice drifted in, through his open second story window.

He jerked upright, frozen for a moment before sinking weakly to the bed. Realizing his wife wasn’t complaining about the noise, he rose and walked across the hall to her bedroom. He briefly knocked before opening her door. In that moment, it dawned on him that she was at her sister’s for the weekend. Overcome with relief, he walked back to his room and slumped against the door frame.

“Open up. Please! This is important.”

He went into his bathroom, grabbed his robe and tied it around him. Annoyed at not having the opportunity to at least get dressed, he took his time, going down the stairs. He schooled his face into one of concern, before pulling open the door.

“Miss Saunders, please don’t take this wrong but call me in the morning and I’d be more than happy to make an appointment with you, to discuss whatever is causing you so much distress.” His white knuckles clung to the back of the door, while he smiled at her reassuringly.

She tilted her head sideways and stared at him for a full minute before addressing him. “You’ve known my mom a long time.”

His mind quickly reviewed the odds that answering that would backfire on him. “Y-yes.”

She moved a little closer. “A very long time.”

The way she said it, sent shivers up his spine and his bowels to almost empty. He stepped back and started to close the door. “Really. Call me in the morning. We can go down memory—”

She shoved him back and slammed the door behind her. Leaning against it she stared at him. “Let me tell you something about myself, Mr. Lund. I’m a very good judge of character. I know that when a man is sugary sweet to you that he wants something, usually it’s to steal you blind. I know that when a man puts his hand on the thigh of an eight year old…” She stared pointedly at him.

He gulped. How could she know? She had the picture. He should have told Payme to remove the problem, not follow it.

Praise for the Book

"This is a story that when you start to read it you don’t want to put it down until you finish it." ~ Cindy's Reviews

"Captured Lies is a very edge of your seat sort of book... I was totally enthralled with this book..." ~ Tammy's Tea Time

"Maggie Thom has a hidden gem with Captured Lies!... Like an onion, each layer of this action-packed tale becomes more involved, more wickedly deceitful and more dangerous..." ~ Tome Tender

"Captured Lies is an outstanding book and it was a book I couldn't put down..." ~ Dee Sauter (Moderator Linda Howard Book Junkies)

About the Author

Award winning author Maggie Thom took the challenge and leapt off, leaving a fulltime, twenty year career in management, to write full time. Her first suspense/thriller book, Captured Lies (October 2012), won Book of the Month through LAS Reviews (February 2014). Her second novel, Tainted Waters (April 2013), went on to win 2013 Suspense and Thriller Book of the Year through Turning the Pages Magazine. She published her third novel, Deceitful Truths (The Caspian Wine Series Book 2), March 2014.

An avid reader and writer her whole life, she decided to break the monotony of wishing to be an author by making it happen. She is a wholehearted nature lover and likes nothing better than to take a book, hike to a remote spot by a river or waterfalls, and read. Married to her best friend, she is learning that humor, love, and patience help her navigate her way through her twins’ teen years. Her motto: Escape to read and read to escape.

Giveaway

Enter the tour-wide giveaway for a chance to win some great prizes.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Links

Add to Goodreads

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Barnes & Noble

iTunes

Kobo

Smashwords

Amazon US author page

Amazon UK author page

Barnes & Noble author page

Smashwords author page

Blog

Facebook

Goodreads

Google+

Pinterest

Twitter @maggiethom2

Website

YouTube

"Tainted Waters" by Maggie Thom

INTERVIEW and GIVEAWAY

Tainted Waters

by Maggie Thom

Tainted Waters is currently on tour with Reading Addiction Book Tours. The tour stops here today for my interview with the author and a giveaway. Please be sure to visit the other tour stops as well.

Description

He didn’t commit suicide but who’s going to believe her ...

Frustrated at being fired from her latest job and overwhelmed by her consolatory family, Sam decides to move to the family’s cabin at the lake. A place she hasn’t been since her dad committed suicide there, twenty years before. Or did he? Snooping is something she’s good at but someone seems to be taking offense to her looking too closely at what has been happening at the lake. What she discovers is shocking. Now she must uncover what’s real and what’s not. All that she learned growing up, may be false.

Keegan, who has recently moved to the area to finish his latest book, is also trying to find out if his grandfather, who’d passed away ten years before, died of natural causes or was murdered? The descendants of the four families, who own the land around the lagoon, are dying off.

Since Sam and Keegan are the only ones questioning the deaths, they find themselves working together to seek the truth. Are people being murdered? Who would benefit from their deaths? Why would there be barricades and armed guards at the north end of the lake? To stay alive, Sam and Keegan must find the answers and convince others, before more people are killed ... including them.

Book Video

Excerpt

         “Don’t do it. Please don’t do it,” she begged him.

         “I have to. Do you really think I like this anymore than you do? I hate it but I want her to have a life. A good life. I want her to live.” He punched the wall grunting in pain. Cradling his hand, he turned to face her.

         “But we don’t know for sure that she needs this. Just wait.” She could barely contain the soft sobs.

         “Wait until what? The Doctor says oops we can put her on a waiting list but it could be years. You can check your family but oh yeah, we really can’t. We don’t have any options. I know it’s not the conventional route–”

         She snorted. “Oh, my god. Please tell me you know how dangerous this is?”

         He reached for her hand, squeezing it. “I do. I know... it’s not safe. But I have to do this. I love her as much as you do. She’s mine in every way that counts. If we follow the rules, we may lose her. You know that she’ll be put way down on the list for a transplant. If they’ll even put her on it. She’s not considered a good candidate. She’s disabled so why would they even care.”

         “It’s not fair.”

          “I know. I have to do what I think is right. I don’t want to lose her.”

         Sobbing, she turned and ran from the room, her body convulsing with the depth of her pain. He hated that he had to hurt her but it just strengthened his resolve that if he didn’t do something soon, it might be too late. Picking up his cell, he checked for the number he’d recorded in his contacts. The reality of what he was doing was overwhelming. It took him a minute to calm his nerves before he could hit call. The phone rang four times before he was given a voice mail message.

         “Leave your name and number. I’ll call you.”

      Even though it was one of those recorded standard phone company recordings, a chill descended through his body sending out tentacles that wrapped themselves so deep, they felt like they’d settled into the marrow of his bones. Knowing he was dealing with the black market which meant some unsavory people, he hesitated only a second before leaving the required information. Clicking off his cell, he went to set it down, only to find his hands were shaking so bad that it slipped out of his fingers, clanking onto the counter. His first thought was that he’d destroyed it and would never have to use it again. It wasn’t his everyday phone it was one that was pay as you go. He’d bought it specifically for this purpose. Maybe he’d watched too much TV but the less information that he had to give them, the more he felt in control. Tentatively picking it up, he flipped it open. The screen lit up immediately. It still worked.

         “You’re in this now,” he whispered softly.

Praise for the Book

Book of the Year 2013 - Suspense and Thriller ~ Turning the Pages Magazine

"I LOVED this book! It was fast paced and had me gripped from the start ... And talk about twists! Just when I thought I knew where this story was leading ... Bang! ... Plot twist! ..." ~ Orchard Book Club

"... Exciting story, loved the beginning introduction to Sam. She is a firecracker and had me chuckling ... Another wonderful read from Maggie Thom ..." ~ Musing from an Addicted Reader

"... the book will truly keep you on the edge of your seat unable to pry yourself from it ... Maggie brilliantly creates suspense and the atmosphere of unease ..." ~ The Most Happy Reader

"... What makes Tainted Waters by Maggie Thom stick out from the crowd is that you really don’t know exactly what you’re getting into ..." ~ The Queen of All She Reads

"... Thom’s book was like one of my Nana’s triple layered chocolate cakes, impossible to walk away from without licking the plate ..." ~ Author Jeanne Marie

Interview With the Author

Hi Maggie, thanks for joining me today to discuss your book, Tainted Waters.

For what age group do you recommend your book?

I think my books are best read by adults but they are okay for teenagers. There are some tough subjects but nothing graphic.

What sparked the idea for this book?

Would you believe a bad camping trip? We had gone to this lake that appeared to be quiet, a great lake to canoe on. It seemed perfect. And it was during the day, we had lots of fun playing in the water, hiking, just being out in nature. Exhausted we were in bed probably by 10:00pm only to be woken up at about midnight by these big trucks driving up and down the road all night. And then we could hear the sound of a big plant about a mile or so away. Needless to say we didn't get much sleep. Tired and a little ticked in the morning, my overactive mind started to think, what if those trucks were hauling something other than water. Then some other ideas started coming to mind, particularly a documentary on human organ trafficking I had watched, and Tainted Waters was the result.

Which comes first? The character's story or the idea for the novel?

For Tainted Waters it was definitely the idea for the novel. That's not always the case, it truly varies for each book I write.

What was the hardest part to write in this book?

I think a scene where Keegan and Sam have been caught by the bad guys and Sam learns what is really going on at the end of the lake. And she realizes how serious these guys are when she sees how badly they've beaten Keegan.

How do you hope this book affects its readers?

I hope that while someone is reading this story they feel like they are there with Sam, going through all that she is. I also want them so involved in the story they will try to figure out who is guilty and what exactly is going on. Once the reader is finished reading the story, I hope they feel like they have gone on one heck of a journey, without ever leaving their house (or wherever they are reading). J

How long did it take you to write this book?

It was written over a period of about nine months. It really only took about three months of writing but there were several rewrites, reading by the beta team, editing, rewrites and then it was finally ready to be published.

What is your writing routine?

What writing routine? J Again, for each book that I write, it is very different. Once I get into writing a book, I tend to spend several hours every day writing. I love to write first thing in the morning, but I don't always have that luxury.

How did you get your book published?

I independently published it.

What advice do you have for someone who would like to become a published writer?

Go for it. There are so many options open to you now. If you can find a traditional publisher and that feels right, then do it. If self- or indie-publishing feels right, then do it. The key is to follow your dream and get your work published. Writing is hard work, put the time in, get your story to where it is compelling, intriguing, and then publish it.

Great advice, Maggie. What do you like to do when you're not writing?

I love to read, hike, spend time with family and friends, kayak, be out in nature, bake ...

What does your family think of your writing?

They love it. They are so supportive of me and my writing. They help in whatever way they can, which sometimes is leaving me alone so I can write. J

Please tell us a bit about your childhood.

I grew up on a farm. I had several siblings so we were often outside playing or exploring the countryside. I loved it.

Did you like reading when you were a child?

I loved to read as a child. We were always going to the library to take out books.

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

At a young age. I don't know the actual age, but I know that when I was nine, I wrote my first novel, if it could be called that. J

Did your childhood experiences influence your writing?

I would think so. I can't imagine a writer who isn't. I think every experience in life affects a writer in how they write, what they write about, etc.

Which writers have influenced you the most?

Robert Ludlum and Sandra Brown are two that have, for sure. There are many, but these two stand out for me. Ludlum's stories introduced me to the concept of introducing many characters and adding in misleading information to take the reader on a convoluted journey. Sandra Brown wrote stories that crossed several genres and she also taught me about adding in twists and turns.

Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?

I do hear from my readers and I am truly humbled by them. One that contacted me recently, thanked me profusely and asked me to never stop writing. I often get asked how I come up with my stories, my characters, the ideas for the twists, that my stories are different, original, not cookie cutter... I love hearing from readers. They are truly what keep me writing.

Fantastic! What can we look forward to from you in the future?

I have two novels that I am currently working on - Deadly Ties and Split Seconds.

Deadly Ties - What connection could there be between a twenty year-old murder and a thirty year-old murder and a present day attack on Kyara's mother? Did her grandmother falsely go to jail for twenty-years?

Split Seconds - Twins sisters meet for the first time as adults and soon discover that someone has gone to great lengths to keep them apart and will even kill to ensure that continues. 

Thank you for taking the time to stop by today, Maggie. Best of luck with your future projects.

About the Author

Award winning author Maggie Thom took the challenge and leapt off, leaving a fulltime, twenty year career in management, to write full time. Her first suspense/thriller book, Captured Lies (October 2012), won Book of the Month through LAS Reviews (February 2014). Her second novel, Tainted Waters (April 2013), went on to win 2013 Suspense and Thriller Book of the Year through Turning the Pages Magazine. She published her third novel, Deceitful Truths (The Caspian Wine Series Book 2), March 2014.

An avid reader and writer her whole life, she decided to break the monotony of wishing to be an author by making it happen. She is a wholehearted nature lover and likes nothing better than to take a book, hike to a remote spot by a river or waterfalls, and read. Married to her best friend, she is learning that humor, love, and patience help her navigate her way through her twins’ teen years. Her motto: Escape to read and read to escape.

Giveaway

Enter the tour-wide giveaway for a chance to win some great prizes.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Links

Add to Goodreads

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Barnes & Noble

iTunes

Kobo

Smashwords

Amazon US author page

Amazon UK author page

Barnes & Noble author page

Smashwords author page

Blog

Facebook

Goodreads

Google+

Pinterest

Twitter @maggiethom2

Website