Roaring Waters by C.J. Baty Blog Tour, Excerpt, Review & Giveaway!

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Hi guys, we have C.J. Baty popping in today with her new release Roaring Waves, we have a great excerpt, my review and a fantastic giveaway so check out the post and click that giveaway link! <3 ~Pixie~

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Roaring Waters

(The Warfield Hotel Mysteries 03)
by

C.J. Baty

Damien Fitzgerald has lived through hell and is determined to never let anyone get close to him again. A fervent reporter, he throws his life into his work and doesn’t care whose toes he steps on. But someone else does. He’s got a stalker, and the messages are growing increasingly threatening. He turns to his best friend, Justin Warfield and his lover, Private Investigator Marcus Drummond. Seems like a good idea until Robert Wyler becomes part of the package.

Robert Wyler, the manager of the bar at the Warfield Inn, has always been misunderstood. Sure he takes care of his body, wears his hair long and likes tatts, but that doesn’t mean he’s domineering. A cold exterior hides the more passionate man inside. Men like Damien Fitzgerald get on his nerves. Too good looking. Too arrogant. But when Justin and Marcus needed his help to guard the man from a stalker, Robert couldn’t say no.

Damien and Robert have a history. Whenever they are near each other sparks fly. Can Damien and Robert get past their prejudices to find the real men hiding underneath. Will they find love before the stalker gets to Damien and their chance at happiness is destroyed forever…

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Excerpt!

Prologue

“Damien? Damien, what’s wrong?”

Looking up, Damien saw the concern on his assistant’s face. His mind returned to something other than the message on the phone at which he’d been staring.

Tony Majors was a cute kid. He was in his late twenties, so Damien should probably stop thinking he was so young. That was the problem with these texts. They caused him to lose total concentration and focus.

The threatening text Damien was reading was like all the others he’d received over the last two months, but this one was worse. Darker and more menacing. Whoever was sending these was growing angrier.

“It’s nothing. Tell me again what you found on that bastard Wilson.”

Tony eyed him and sighed. Damien’s change of subject did the trick. Tony had worked with him long enough to know not to push him too far.

“I located two more condos—one in Palm Beach and one on Treasure Island.” Tony read through his notes. “That makes six properties, I’ve been able to verify. He’s got a good network going. Each dummy company is attached to another, and no mortgages on any of the properties.”

“Damn. He sure seems to have a lot of money for someone who works on the city council for a little town the size of Dalton.” Damien smiled at Tony. He did good work.

Tony was one of thirty who had applied for the job of Damien’s assistant six months ago. Tony’s detail on the research assignment Damien had given the group was amazing. Research. It was vital to his job and he needed someone who got into the dark corners where information was hiding. Tony did more work than any of the others. He was the youngest of the applicants. The added fact that he was gay with a feminine edge had tugged at Damien’s heart, as well.

Damien knew how hard it had been for him to be taken seriously as a journalist when he first started out. He refused to hide who he was. He worked his ass off to show he was a damn fine journalist. The leading editor at the Atlanta Herald had given him a chance. It hadn’t been easy, but he was now the number one byline for the newspaper and his stories had proven his worth.

“So, what else should I be looking for?” Tony asked, grabbing a pen off the desk. He prepared to add to his notes.

“Go back over the bank accounts and see if you can connect them.” Damien held up his hand before Tony spoke. “Do it again. It won’t hurt, and maybe you missed something the first three times.”

Tony huffed as he wrote, causing Damien to chuckle. He needed to gather his own notes, tossed across the desk, before he headed home for the evening. After separating the papers and placing them in individual folders, he added them to his briefcase. Behind him, he could hear the computer keys clicking as Tony typed.

Damien’s phone pinged again. Another damn text message. Searching through the previous calls, he saw it was the same number as before. He didn’t bother to read it. Instead, he peeked over his shoulder to find Tony staring at him.

“I’ve got an appointment. I’m not sure when I’ll be back in the office.” Damien packed his laptop into his bag, along with the folders.

“Should I text when—”

“No!” He hadn’t meant to shout. “Sorry.” He ran his hands through his hair, sighed, then added, “Email me. That will be fine.”

“Damien, something is going on. Can’t you tell me? I’m here for you,” Tony said as he laid a hand on Damien’s arm and squeezed.

Damien stared at the hand for a moment, then removed his arm as gently as possible from Tony’s grasp. He reminded himself, Not a kid.

“It’s nothing. I’ll contact you in a day or two.”

Damien grabbed his jacket from the back of the door and slipped it on. He picked up his laptop bag and opened the office door. Tony stopped him before he escaped.

“Damien, what about the story on Moses Lee? Do you want me to continue with the research on that one?”

Damien froze. God, he hated the sound of that man’s name. “No. Let it go for now.”

He walked through the door and out of the office building.

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About C.J.!

CJ Baty bio picC.J. Baty lives in southwest Ohio. Her heart, however, lives in the mountains of Tennessee where she hopes to retire some day. The mountains have always provided her with inspiration and a soothing balm to the stresses of everyday life.

The dream of writing her own stories started in high school but was left on the back burner of life until her son introduced her to fan fiction and encouraged her to give it a try. She found that her passion for telling a story was still there and writing them down to share with others was much more thrilling than she had ever expected.

She has a loving and supportive family who don’t mind fixing their own meals when she is in the middle of a story, and a network of friends who have encouraged and cheered her on in her quest of being an author.

One thing she has learned from life and she is often heard to say is: “You are never too old to follow your dream!”

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Giveaway!

Win an ebook of Drifting Sands & Crashing Waves

(Just click the link below)

C.J. Baty Rafflecopter giveaway!

(Ends 8th August 2017)

Review

C.J. Baty - Roaring Waters CoverTitle: Roaring Waters

Series: The Warfield Hotel Mysteries 03

Author: C.J. Baty

Genre: Contemporary, Mystery

Length: Novel (275pgs)

ISBN: B073ZFHBDQ

Publisher: C.J. Baty (24th July 2017)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 4 ½ Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Damien Fitzgerald has lived through hell and is determined to never let anyone get close to him again. A fervent reporter, he throws his life into his work and doesn’t care whose toes he steps on. But someone else does. He’s got a stalker, and the messages are growing increasingly threatening. He turns to his best friend, Justin Warfield and his lover, Private Investigator Marcus Drummond. Seems like a good idea until Robert Wyler becomes part of the package.

Robert Wyler, the manager of the bar at the Warfield Inn, has always been misunderstood. Sure he takes care of his body, wears his hair long and likes tatts, but that doesn’t mean he’s domineering. A cold exterior hides the more passionate man inside. Men like Damien Fitzgerald get on his nerves. Too good looking. Too arrogant. But when Justin and Marcus needed his help to guard the man from a stalker, Robert couldn’t say no.

Damien and Robert have a history. Whenever they are near each other sparks fly. Can Damien and Robert get past their prejudices to find the real men hiding underneath. Will they find love before the stalker gets to Damien and their chance at happiness is destroyed forever…

Purchase Link: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon DE

Review: This story is part of a series but can be read as a standalone.

Damien has a problem, someone seems to be stalking him and he’s not sure who it is. In Damien’s line of work he’s made a lot of enemies and a personal one he daren’t even think of, but as the messages get more threatening he turns to Marcus for help. As Marcus investigates who is after Damien he insists that Damien stay at the Warfield Hotel where Damien meets bar manager Robert a man who Damien can’t help but provoke.

Robert might be big, strong and covered in tattoo’s but he’s not interested in dominating anyone, tired of being mistaken for a Dom he stays clear of relationships but Marcus and Justin’s friend sneaks under his skin, especially when Robert has to talk Damien down from a panic attack. Asked to help keep Damien safe Robert can’t refuse but Damien doesn’t make it easy.

I have to admit to not having read either Drifting Sands or Crashing Waves and while there are mentions of what has happened in previous books it doesn’t have an impact on reading this book as a standalone… although it has made me extra curious about the previous stories which I’ll be reading very soon.

Damien comes across as a bit of a control freak at first until you learn his backstory and then you understand his need to be in control of everything he does. Robert seems to be a gentle man for all his size and strength; he has a heart of gold and will help any of his friends if he can. When these two are together sparks fly with both of them needling the other without them at first recognising their attraction to each other. The relationship between them is a slow progress throughout the story with the danger to Damien taking precedent and damn it’s a dozy of a danger.

This is a great story that has you hooked from the first pages, Damien’s fear jumps out at you from the pages and his bewilderment and then denial of the situation speaks clearly of a man hoping the truth is something very different than what it is. Robert’s patience and understanding is amazing to see, these two guys need each other desperately they just need to get to the same page.

The mystery and danger that stalks Damien is slightly chilling and if you’ve ever had a stalker you’ll know what I mean. C.J. Baty has woven the danger perfectly and while you have a clue as to who is involved it’s a bit of a shock to find out the extent of one person in particular’s involvement. I will give a warning to those who have been victims of domestic violence and abuse that there are some flash backs that may cause distress.

I have to recommend this to those who love mystery and danger, a brilliant storyline, two men finding love during a tense and difficult time and a wonderful happy ending.

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