Spotlight & Giveaway: Cross Her Heart by Melinda Leigh

Posted April 20th, 2020 by in Blog, Spotlight / 35 comments

Today, HJ is pleased to share with you Melinda Leigh’s new release: Cross Her Heart

 

Spotlight&Giveaway

 

A homicide detective’s violent family history repeats itself in #1 Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Melinda Leigh’s novel of murder, secrets, and retribution.

For more than twenty-five years, Philadelphia homicide detective Bree Taggert has tucked away the nightmarish childhood memories of her parents’ murder-suicide…Until her younger sister, Erin, is killed in a crime that echoes that tragic night: innocent witnesses and a stormy marriage that ended in gunfire. There’s just one chilling difference. Erin’s husband, Justin, has vanished.
 
Bree knows how explosive the line between love and hate can be, yet the evidence against her troubled brother-in-law isn’t adding up. Teaming up with Justin’s old friend, former sheriff’s investigator and K-9 handler Matt Flynn, Bree vows to uncover the secrets of her sister’s life and death, as she promised Erin’s children.
 
But as her investigation unfolds, the danger hits close to home. Once again, Bree’s family is caught in a death grip. And this time, it could be fatal for her.

 

Enjoy an exclusive excerpt from Cross Her Heart 

“I want to find Justin. I don’t think he killed Erin.” Matt could think of no scenario in which
Justin would harm his wife—or anyone else. Justin’s nature was not violent.
“The significant other is always the primary suspect. Statistically, there’s a good chance he’s guilty,” she challenged. “My father killed my mother.”
“I know,” Matt agreed. “But Justin isn’t your father, and Erin wasn’t your mother.”
“You’re right.” She lifted her coat from the back of the kitchen chair. “But the facts remain the same, and Justin looks damned guilty.”
He blocked her path to the door.
Irritation crossed her face and one eyebrow arched.
“Do you want him to be guilty?” he asked.
She exhaled and met his gaze. The thing he’d liked best about her was her no-bullshit attitude.
She did not play games.
“No,” she said. “The kids already lost their mom. Knowing their stepdad killed her would make matters even worse for them.”
He’d expected her to be honest and direct, but her answer surprised him. “I’m not sure the chief deputy will look for other suspects.”
“He won’t find what he isn’t looking for,” Bree finished.
“I think we should work together.” He held up a hand. “Let me explain. You would put Justin at the top of your suspect list. I’d put him at the bottom. We both want to solve your sister’s murder. You know your sister and your family. I’ve known Justin since grade school, and I have the local connections.”
Plus, he had absolutely no doubt Bree would be working the case, and he didn’t like the idea of her chasing a killer alone. She could be the best homicide detective in the world, but she needed someone to watch her back. As did Matt. She was also smart and, he suspected, very good at her job.
She squinted at him. “You want to find Justin before the sheriff’s department does. Are you afraid they’ll shoot him?”
They shot me, so yeah.
But he chose his words carefully. “I want to know the truth.”
Her lips pursed. “So, our goal is the same, but our motivations conflict.”
“Yes. We balance each other, and our chances of success are better if we put our heads together.”
She snorted. “That makes sense in a weird way.”
“So, you’ll work with me?”
“I’ll think about it.”

Excerpt. ©Melinda Leigh. Posted by arrangement with the publisher. All rights reserved.
 
 

Giveaway: A copy of CROSS HER HEART with a signed bookplate. The giveaway is open internationally.

 

To enter Giveaway: Please complete the Rafflecopter form and post a comment to this Q: What did you think of the excerpt spotlighted here? Leave a comment with your thoughts on the book…

 
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Meet the Author:

#1 Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Melinda Leigh is a fully recovered banker. After joining Romance Writers of America, she decided writing was more fun than analyzing financial statements. Melinda’s debut novel, She Can Run, was nominated for Best First Novel by the International Thriller Writers. She’s also garnered Golden Leaf and Silver Falchion Awards, along with two nominations for a RITA and three Daphne du Maurier Awards. Her other novels include She Can Tell, She Can Scream, She Can Hide, She Can Kill, Midnight Exposure, Midnight Sacrifice, Midnight Betrayal, Midnight Obsession, Hour of Need, Minutes to Kill, Seconds to Live, Say You’re Sorry, Her Last Goodbye, Bones Don’t Lie, What I’ve Done, Secrets Never Die, and Save Your Breath. She holds a second-degree black belt in Kenpo karate, has taught women’s self-defense, and lives in a messy house with her family and a small herd of rescue pets. For more information, visit www.melindaleigh.com.

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35 Responses to “Spotlight & Giveaway: Cross Her Heart by Melinda Leigh”

  1. erahime

    That the couple need to solve the mystery stat.

    Thanks for the excerpt, HJ!

  2. Diana Hardt

    I liked the synopsis and excerpt. It sounds like a really interesting book, very intriguing. Thank you for sharing.

  9. hartfiction

    The excerpt pulled me in quickly! Both Bree and Matt are shaped by their pasts, and will make a great team in search of the truth. I really hope Justin didn’t do it.

  16. Kathleen Bylsma

    Always better to have more than one set of eyes, regardless of emotions/POV on situation

  22. joab4424

    This book sounds exciting. I like that Bree is not only smart but good at her job. But I especially like that Matt knows that!

  24. Karina Angeles

    Loved it! Great honest banter between Bree and Matt. Can’t wait to read how they work together.

  25. Kay Garrett

    Love the cover! Can’t wait for the opportunity to read this book on my TBR list. The excerpt just made we want to read it more.
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

  31. Patricia B.

    Thank you for the excerpt. It sets up the initial relationship between the two main characters. It outlines what the “problem” is and how they will be approaching it. It sounds like this will be an excellent and suspenseful read.

  32. laurieg72

    I like the interplay. I think they will make a great team as they struggle to find Justin before the police capture him. Exciting, intriguing, interesting! Lots of chemistry!