Lead Counsel

Attorney Elisa Gonzalez is happy working behind the scenes while still having time for a life. All that changes when her firm takes on a major case and Parker Jones, powerhouse litigator and her law school crush, is named lead counsel. 2019 Romance Writers of America® RITA® Finalist Lead Counsel was previously published in The Boss of Her: Romance Novellas (Bold Strokes Books, 2018). Special Agent Luce Hansen's Thanksgiving vacation with her new lover, forensic pathologist Harper Bennett, is cut short when she's tasked with recapturing Deadeye, a vicious serial predator who has escaped custody. The timing couldn't be worse, especially when Bennett seems to be struggling with the realities of Hansen's work and questioning whether she's willing to risk building a life with a woman who puts work first, even when the job puts her in the line of fire. Hansen can't put aside the chase even with her relationship on shaky ground. On the anniversary of Deadeye's first kill, two brothers are shot while jogging along a quiet country road. Before Deadeye can claim another victim, Hansen and her team must track a killer who has proven to be an expert at hiding in plain sight. The stakes, both professional and personal, get even higher when Hansen is cut off from her team in rural Ohio and must fight for her very survival. As Bennett frantically searches for clues to Hansen's disappearance, Deadeye's hunt draws ever closer to home. Special Agent Luce Hansens Thanksgiving vacation with her new lover, forensic pathologist Harper Bennett, is cut short when shes tasked to recapture Deadeye, a vicious serial predator who has escaped custody. The timing couldnt be worse, especially when Bennett seems to be struggling with the realities of Hansens work and questioning whether shes willing to risk building a life with a woman who puts work first, even when the job puts her in the line of fire. Hansen cant put aside the chase even with her relationship on shaky ground when, on the anniversary of Deadeyes first kill, two brothers are shot while jogging along a quiet country road. Before Deadeye can claim another victim, Hansen and her team must track a killer who has proven to be an expert at hiding in plain sight. The stakes, both professional and personal, get even higher when Hansen is cut off from her team in rural Ohio and must fight for her very survive. As Bennett frantically searches for clues to Hansens disappearance, Deadeyes hunt draws ever closer to home. "Boston beat cop Aspen Wolfe gets the surprise of her life when she learns she's a shapeshifter. Her abilities awaken as a ruthless regime unleashes its troops to eradicate the shapeshifter population. Forced to run or be hunted, Aspen meets Dr. Tora Madigan -- a beautiful and resourceful shapeshifter who oversees an underground sanctuary. Her attraction to Tora is a welcome distraction, but the fierce lioness plays hard to get. Together they discover that Aspen is a powerful shapeshifter thought to be extinct. Her existence gives shapeshifters everywhere a fighting chance. But there's one small problem: she doesn't even know how to shift. With no one else up for the job, Tora agrees to train her. Aspen soon finds herself leading a group of extraordinary shapeshifters who are willing to risk everything to save their species. When the sanctuary is targeted for annihilation, she must come up with a game plan. Fast"--Back cover Romance novelist Jackie Mitchell has built a life that works: few responsibilities, friends that know shes far from outgoing, and sex whenever she needs it. She has her past, but she doesnt think about it. Ever. All that changes when she finds the child she gave up for adoption standing on the doorstep. Now sixteen years old, Beth Weber is resourceful, a blossoming artist, and a spitting image of her birth mom. To say Jackie is stunned is the understatement of the year. When Jackie meets Beths adoptive mom, Susan, theyre immediately attracted to each other, but theres no way Jackie is getting involved with a married woman, especially Beths mom. But when Susan and Beth need a place to stay and end up back on Jackies doorstep, their lives change forever. Will these three women who share a past and face an uncertain future be able to forge a life of love together? Cover Artist: Melody Pond Genres: Contemporary / Romance Cullen Matthew is strong, steady, and dependable. She has the perfect life and a perfect woman to share it with. Her dreams come tumbling down when Cullen is blindsided by her girlfriend Sara's arrest and she learns their whole relationship may have been a lie. Still, she loves Sara and believes she's innocent. Cullen isn't going to leave her when she's down. Julia Stansworth is the detective assigned to Sara's case. She knows Sara is not only a cocaine dealer but a murderer as well and is determined get justice for Sara's victim. Cullen can hardly believe how much Julia has changed. The girl she had a crush on in high school is investigating Sara for murder. Caught between the girlfriend she thought she loved and can no longer trust and the gorgeous detective who will stop at nothing to bring Sara down, Cullen learns that love doesn't always follow the letter of the law. World famous violinist Gail Owen is devastated after a car accident leaves her unable to play her beloved instrument. She withdraws from her privileged life to an old farmhouse in Rhode Island. Romi Shepherd is homeless in New York City and barely survives by singing for pennies in the subway. After being wrongfully arrested, she hitchhikes back to Rhode Island and, out of money and options, hides in a secret room in the house she grew up in, unaware that the new owner is about to move in permanently. When Gail discovers Romi has been living in her house, she is curiously drawn to the young woman. Romi is torn between feeling guilty for lying to Gail and enamored of her, and she fears the truth will set them on a path toward heartbreak. Cover Artist: Gun Brooke and Sheri Halal Genres: Contemporary / Romance Words: 67,500 "Romance novelist Jackie Mitchell has built a life that works: few responsibilities, friends that know she's far from outgoing, and sex whenever she needs it. She has her past, but she doesn't think about it. Ever. All that changes when she finds the child she gave up for adoption standing on the doorstep. Now sixteen years old, Beth Weber is resourceful, a blossoming young artist, and a spitting image of her birth mom. To say Jackie is stunned is the understatement of the year. When Jackie meets Beth's adoptive mom, Susan, they're immediately attracted to eath other, but there's no way Jackie is getting involved with a married woman, especially Beth's mom. But when Susan and Beth need a place to stay and end up back on Jackie's doorstep, their lives change forever."--Page 4 of cover After a startling discovery, Chloe Jensen embarks on a new life without her wife, Shay. When Shay realizes she's leaving, tragedy strikes. A car accident leaves Shay confused and vulnerable, and with no friends or family to care for her, Chloe feels obligated to stay until she recovers. Shay Buchanan can remember her whole life except for the past year. Everything seems to fit into place, but Chloe is distant, and Shay can't figure out why. Something is missing. As Chloe helps Shay recover, they become close again, working together to rebuild her memories. Except Shay doesn't remember what she did to break their marriage, and Chloe can't seem to forget. When their happiness is threatened, will they be able to forgive each other and give love a second chance? "World famous violinist Gail Owen is devastated after a car accident leaves her unable to play her beloved instrument. She withdraws from her privileged life to an old farmhouse in Rhode Island. Romi Shepherd is homeless in New York City and barely survives by singing for pennies in the subway. After being wrongfully arrested, she hitchhikes back to Rhode Island and, out of money and options, hides in a secret room in the house she grew up in, unaware that the new owner is about to move in permanently. When Gail discovers Romi has been living in her house, she is curiously drawn to the young woman. Romi is torn between feeling guilty for lying to Gail and enamored of her, and she fears the truth will set them on a path toward heartbreak."--Page 4 of cover For Frankie Strong, results mean more than sticking to the rules, until she runs heart-first into Evan Spears. US Marshal Evan Spears commands a federal task force of seasoned agents who track and capture dangerous fugitives around the world. When Evan is forced to take on DEA Agent Frankie Strong, a free spirit with unorthodox methods, she sees nothing but trouble for the team, the mission, and her future. Frankie just wants to locate the murder suspect and prove her worth, but Evan seems determined to block her. To catch the killer they must learn to work together, but their attraction blurs the lines between professional and personal. Stranded while hunting the serial predator Deadeye, Special Agent Luce Hansen fights for survival while her lover, forensic pathologist Harper Bennett, hunts for clues to Hansen's disappearance along the killer's trail