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Thursday, April 14, 2011

Charade of Hearts by Sharon Donovan

IT’S SHEER MAGIC!
IT’S SHEER SUSPENSE!
IT’S SHEER ROMANCE!
IT’S CHARADE OF HEARTS!
STARRING THE ONE AND ONLY OLIVER!

In a Jewel of the Night Mystery by The Wild Rose Press!


Blurb

While scuba diving off the coast of Diamond Head with her diving partner on a quest to find a family heirloom, underwater photographer Dominique St. John witnesses his brutal murder and photographs it, ensnaring her in a deadly jewel ring. And when the investigating officer turns out to be her partner’s identical twin, a man she knew nothing about, her life becomes a Charade of Hearts.

Welcome to the world of greed, intrigue, deception and murder. And at its core is a blue diamond worth millions.

As honest as his twin was corrupt, Honolulu Homicide Detective Oliver Carvalho must convince Dominique that her diving partner and best friend was a crook. In a race against time, Oliver must rescue Dominique from a ruthless killer. But his biggest challenge proves to be mending a broken heart torn by betrayal that can only be redeemed by love.


I am thrilled to announce the release of Charade of Hearts, the book you’ve all been waiting for. In my latest romantic suspense by The Wild Rose Press, our very own Oliver fights off the villain to save his lady love from harm’s way. With this handsome knight in shining armor in mind, I chose gorgeous Hawaii for the setting. Why Hawaii you ask? Because I vacationed in the beautiful tropical paradise once upon a time and fell in love with the miles of breathtaking beauty.

At night, velvety skies open into a kaleidoscope of shooting stars that glitter like diamonds. In the distance, the jagged peaks of Diamond Head shroud the island like an iron fortress. Frothy white waves gently lap ashore the shimmering white sand, while balmy palm trees sway lazily in the hibiscus-scented evenings. Myna birds whistle and love doves coo, their lyrical singing softly floating across warm sultry nights. The lush landscape encompassing the exotic island invoke a feeling of tropical relaxation. Truly paradise!

A huge fan of the original Hawaii Five-0, not to mention my massive crush on Jack Lord, you have no idea how I hoped and prayed for a glimpse of the hottie detective! When the pulsating theme song would start. They would flash several beach scenes, including native Hawaiians paddling outrigger canoes in the peaceful ocean waves, women wildly gyrating their hips to the hula, then end it when Jack Lord turned around and smiled. My heart be still!

As the best books written are those well researched, I knew that one day one of my books would feature the wild and majestic tropical isle of Hawaii as the setting. I walked along these miles of sugary white sands, swam in the ocean blue, sailed out to the desolate waters off the coast of Diamond Head where Dominique and Roberto scuba dive. And, just as I describe in Charade of Hearts, although the Pacific Ocean is peaceful, that far off shore, the waters are quite choppy and definitely rock the boat. Native Hawaiians warned of the nasty sea predators I use in my book. Tiger sharks swim in these off shore waters and are deadly man eaters. One of these killer sharks devours Roberto, Oliver’s evil twin brother in the opening scene. Creepy moray eels are a frightful sight, and the villain of the story, The Dragon, has one of these chilling snakes as a pet and sicks it on the lovely Dominique. Oliver to the rescue!

So when The Crimson line of The Wild Rose Press presented a challenge for the captivating Jewel of the Night, with the parameters being intrigue, romance, danger and suspense, the raw beauty of Hawaii came to mind for the setting, and sexy Oliver fit the bill for the hottie detective. I’ll leave you with an excerpt. Aloha!

Excerpt
With an abrupt bang, the line went dead. Dominique sat staring at the phone cord dangling in mid air, polarized. She felt the tremor from deep in her gut, rising high in her chest and through her throat. Her mouth was wide open but nothing came out. But when she heard a sharp wrap at the door, she erupted like a quaking volcano and let loose with a piercing wail that rattled the chandelier.

“Dominique, open up. It’s the police, Detective Oliver Carvalho. Let me in.”

Racing to the door, hands trembling as her fingers fumbled to undo the dead bolt, she flung the door open and thrust herself in the detective’s arms. Her voice came out in jumbled fragments. “He…the attacker…” she jabbed her forefinger over her shoulder toward the bedroom phone where the receiver dangled. “Said he’d call back…twenty four hours. Wants them, diamond and camera. Feed me to the sharks if I call the cops.” Her voice broke, tears streaming down her face and onto Oliver’s shirt collar. “He knows my name…saw me take pictures…he’s…”

“Easy,” Oliver’s muscular arms draped around her waist. Then he walked her backward to the bedroom, giving her a gentle shove onto the bed. Then he snatched up the receiver from the rug, clapped it to his ear. Lips puckered, he slammed it back into the cradle and stared at her.

His fiery gaze was scorching hot. A slow heat burned in her belly as his eyes rake her long, slender neck, stopping to linger on her exposed cleavage. Then lower still to her bare legs where the cherry red silk robe rode high on her upper thighs. Then that penetrating gaze seared into hers. His words came out, laced with enough heat to have her quaking at full throttle.

“Tell me what he said, word for word.”

Dominique licked her lips, reached for her cocktail. The ice cubes had melted and beads of moisture had seeped onto the teakwood night stand. She took a sip. “He told me he knew I had the diamond and he knew I took pictures. He said I had twenty-four hours to hand them over, that he’d be in touch. He said no cops…or…” her voice broke off, lips quivering. “He threatened to feed me to the sharks, said they were hungry. He said Roberto, he called him lover boy, just wet their appetite for dessert.”

The detective nodded, prodding her to go on. “What else?”

“Nothing, the line went dead. Then you knocked at the door. I thought it was him, the caller. I thought he came to…”

Detective Carvalho waved off what she was about to say. “I went to the Honolulu Clinic this morning because I had more questions. They informed me you’d been discharged and had been transported by taxi to this hotel.”

Dominique stared at the detective, mute. His eyes were identical to Roberto’s. It was disarming. How could she possibly accept the fact this man standing less than a foot away from her with desire burning in his eyes wasn’t Roberto? She couldn’t. Her mind refused to accept it. She had to send the signal to her brain because her heart sure wasn’t getting the message. But when his scorching gaze raked her body, evoking feelings in her Roberto never had, her breath caught in her throat. She wanted to reach for him, coil herself in his strong embrace, feel his heart beat with hers. And she wanted him to rip off her sexy lingerie and devour every inch of her body. She bit her lip, mortified. How could she be thinking about sex at a time like this? And why was Roberto’s twin brother stirring her blood to liquid heat with his burning gaze? Not once had Roberto evoked such feelings in her. She reached for her drink with such swiftness, she felt her silky lingerie slither past her shoulder and down her arm. And then

Charade of Hearts

Oliver’s story!

AVAILABLE NOW!

http://www.thewildrosepress.com/charade-of-hearts-p-4346.html


Sharon Donovan lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with her family. Prior to the loss of her vision, she was a legal secretary for the Court of Common Pleas where she prepared cases for judges in Domestic Relations. Painting was her passion. When she could no longer paint, she began attending creative writing classes and memoir workshops. After a long and winding road, a new dream arose. Today, instead of painting her pictures on canvas, Sharon paints her pictures with words.

Sharon writes stories of inspiration and suspense. She has certificates in business and medical transcription. Echo of a Raven, a narrative non-fiction about her struggles with diabetic retinopathy, received a CTRR award for outstanding writing, and The Claddagh Ring is a 2009 CAPA nominee for best inspirational of the year. Other books by Sharon Donovan are Mask of the Betrayer, Touched by an Angel, Lasting Love and Her Biggest Fan. Charade of Hearts is her latest romantic suspense. You can visit Sharon at http://www.sharonadonovan.com/ or write to her at: sharonad@comcast.net

Check out her blog where the one and only Oliver will mix your favorite cocktail with a wink and a smile!

http://sharondonovan.blogspot.com/

18 comments:

Mary Ricksen said...

I liked Hawaii 50 too!
The actor on the latest one is sooooo hot! but not as hot as your detective Oliver! Or do I have to use his last name? Can I still say Oliver? Yes?
Well congratulations Oliver, on being the hero of another wonderful gut stopper of a story by Sharon Donovan. Sell a million sweetie!
Because it's just that good a story and you will!!!!

Hywela Lyn said...

Hello Sharon and Anne

Oh I remember watching 'Hawaii Five-0 when I was knee high to a grasshopper (Not a lot bigger now, come to think of it!). I too fancied Jack Lord like mad!

I loved 'Charade of Hearts'. (Who wouldn't with a hero like Oliver?) Like all Sharon's books it's a real page-turner and an amazing edge of the seat read!

Bianca Swan said...

Sharon, this book has to be a winner with Oliver, Hawaii, the suspense and the romance. Can't wait to read it.

Toni V.S. said...

TWRP always has good authors, and Sharon Donovan always has good plots. Together, they make a great team!

Anne Patrick said...

Hi ladies!
Thanks so much for dropping by in support of Sharon and her new book.

Pat Dale said...

Hey Anne and Sharon! Yes, I also got to see Hawaii once upon a time. We were flying our ancient and battle-weary B-29's back from Japan after the Korean conflict. Landed at Hickam Field long enough for coffee and donuts, get refueled, and head for California. The amazing image of Diamond Head is still stuck in my head.
Perfect setting for your perfect story, Sharon. Thanks for sharing a bit of it with us today.

Pat Dale

Mona Risk said...

Hi Sharon, your story is so intriguing. Having been to Hawaii several times, I can well imagine your characters scubadiving in this beautiful setting. I am sure Charade of Hearts will be a big hit.

Destiny Booze, Novelist said...

Thumbs up for Hawaii! You can't go wrong there! I never watched the original Hawaii Five-O, but the new one is great!

Karen Michelle Nutt said...

I love Hawaii 50-- The new one. Alex O'loughlin is a cutie! He's my kind of hero. lol

Congratulations on you new release. It sounds fantastic!!

I wih you the best!

P.L. Parker said...

Book sounds terrific and I love the cover. I'm a Hawaii 50 fan as well, the new one is one of my favorite shows on TV right now. That lead actor is just too hot for us old ladies.

Caroline Clemmons said...

Loved Hawaii 50. Don't get to watch the new one because my husband HAS to see Castle, which I also enjoy. Best of luck with sales for all your releases!

Barbara Edwards said...

I visited Hawaii twice and both times hated to leave. i'm looking forward to reading your book.

Sharon Donovan said...

Hello Anne and a big thank you for another fabulous feature. You’re the best.

Hugs,

Sharon

Sharon Donovan said...

Mary, my dear sweet friend. Thank you for the flattering kudos about Charade of Hearts. I loved Hawaii and often reminisce about its tropical landscape and shimmering beaches. Ah if only I got to meet my heart be still Jack Lord! The new guy on Hawaii is a hottie but my heart will always be true to my Jack. Lordy oh Lordy what a man. Oliver is all smiles with your compliments. We both love you so.

Sharon Donovan said...

Lyn, sweet darling girl, thank you for such accolades, dear friend. I’m still knee high my own self. LOL But mmm the original Hawaii did something to me. When they played that theme song, flashed through the best shots of the island, then a close up when Jack Baby turned around and smiled so sexy…mmm…

Love you

Sharon Donovan said...

Hi Bianca, aren’t you sweet! Thank you so much. Yep, Oliver and a tropical paradise is the stuff dreams are made of…

Blush Toni! What a perfectly lovely compliment. You made my day!

Hi Dale, thanks for dropping in. Hawaii is a mystical place. You are so right about Diamond Head , hauntingly beautiful in its eerie stillness. I’ll never forget how it shrouds the island like an iron fortress, so dark and foreboding.

Sharon Donovan said...

Thanks Mona! Your words mean so much to me. Lucky you, being fortunate enough to go to the exotic island several times. Please tell me you got a glimpse of my JACK!!!

Thanks Destiny, how true! Can’t go wrong with Hawaii or Hawaii Five-O!

Thanks Karen. Hot men in Hawaii go together like soup and sandwich, the perfect combo.

Sharon Donovan said...

LOL Patsy, too funny. Never too old for a hottie. Thanks for the compliment on the cover. Rae Monet designed it as well as my website. She’s awesome.

Thanks so much Caroline. I’m not familiar with Castles but I love the title. Like a book cover, it draws one in.

Thanks Barbara! I’m amazed how many of us visited gorgeous Hawaii . Now come on, surely one of you spied my JACK!

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