Connie Flynn
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Publisher: CKF Enterprises
ASIN: B00H0R8AFS
Number of pages: 280
Word Count: 61,000
Cover Artist: Carol Webb
HYPERLINK "http://www.amazon.com/Know-When-Run-Romantic-Suspense-ebook/dp/B00H0R8AFS" Amazon
Book Description:
She woke up one morning on a Mississippi riverboat casino with a huge headache and no clue to who she was.
With the help of new friends she rebuilt her life. Now, nearly two years later, a tall dark man with killer good looks comes after her. A bounty hunter, who claims she killed her father then ran out on her bail. She says he's got the wrong woman. He says she's guilty as sin. One of them is right . . .
Suddenly so many people are after her, she can't tell the good guys from the bad guys. But one thing she can do is KNOW WHEN TO RUN.
EXCERPT : KNOW WHEN TO RUN by Connie Flynn
Gabe came upon Ky be attacked by a man wearing a stocking mask and rescued her, although according to her she already had the situation under control. According to Gabe, she'd have gotten worse than a bruise on the forehead if he hadn't come along. The conversation takes place on one of the higher decks of the riverboat casino and Ky wants him to accompany her to the boat's security office.
"Back to my question," she demanded. "Why were you following me?"
"Truth?" He spread his arms as she widened the distance between them "I noticed you in the casino . . . and when I saw it was you walking by, I kinda, well, I’m a sucker for redheads and I wanted to see if we could share a drink, maybe get acquainted. Then that guy attacked you."
It was actually the truth and with some luck, his klutzy 'aw shucks' approach might get him in her good graces. Not that he should be spending his time this way when his fugitive was on the loose.
He was met with a long silence.
"About the state trooper's office," she finally said.
"When?"
"Now."
"Sure, Red," he said. "My pleasure." Not that he meant it, but this stand-off wouldn't be over until he agreed.
"Oh, good." She smiled and dropped the gun into a purse so frivolous and silly it made the goofy derringer look substantial then tugged lightly at the torn sleeve of her sequined top. "I’ll need to explain this."
"And probably the plume," he offered.
"Is it bad?"
He grimaced. "Looks like the wrong end of a slaughtered clown turkey."
"Charming." She sounded sad. Gabe didn't have the heart to tell her that the blow to her forehead was going to turn purple then green in a few days, so he directed his eyes to her blouse, grazing a rhinestone name tag pinned to her collar.
Ky.
Oh, dang. This was the man he'd been looking for.
"Ky Taylor?" he asked.
"Yes."
"I've been hunting for you."
"I was told someone was asking. What do you want?" Unfriendliness crept back into her tone.
Should he risk the truth a second time? Gabe figured maybe, maybe not. Best to play it by ear. "It wasn't you, or not you, precisely. I've been tracking down relatives of an Evansville businessman who passed away last year." He laughed lightly, because this part was true. "I thought Ky Taylor was a man. Obviously you aren—"
"Obviously. Besides, I don’t have any family. So obviously you've got the wrong person, mist—" She touched her bump and flinched. "What's your name?"
He gave a business card. "Call me McGregor."
"And you're looking for me because . . .?"
"I'm looking for heirs and was told you might know someone named Kathleen Templeton. There's a reward for information that leads to finding her. Can you help me?"
"I’m asking the questions," Ky reminded him sharply. "Such as how—"
A muffled pop interrupted her. A nearby pillar spewed splinters.
"Down!" McGregor pushed Ky to the deck and flattened his body on top of hers.
"Get off me, get off!" Ky pounded his back. What the hell was he doing? Her shoulder smarted from the impact of the fall. Her tote had flown from her forearm, sliding out of reach. With a groan, she tried to shove McGregor away so she could reclaim it.
Another pop. More splinters.
Was someone throwing stuff at them?
"Down! Stay down!" McGregor hissed.
"My tote. . . Why won't– "
"Someone. Is. Shooting. At. Us."
"Shooting? I didn't hear—"
"The gun has a silencer." He put a finger over his lips. "I don't think the gunman can see us down here."
He lifted his head.
Whup. Whup. Whup. The railing above them creaked and groaned.
Ky inched into a crawling position and couldn't resist stretching her neck for a peek. She caught a quick glimpse of a head and arm, then another shot hit the rail.
"Head down!" McGregor's voice was harsh, but the hand guiding her along the rail was gentle.
"Wish you'd let me get my tote," Ky grumbled. "The derringer's in there."
"Lot of good two bullets will do." McGregor inclined his head toward the entrance some fifty feet away. "When we get even with the door, make a run for it. Don't forget to stay low."
He reached up, apparently checking on the gunman, who was behind them now.
Whup, whup, whup, whup! Wood chips danced on the sleek deck. Ky glanced over her shoulder and saw a man in a hoodie creeping toward them. He raised his arm and let off another volley of bullets. Wood fragments peppered Ky's arms and legs. She tried hard, very hard, not to–"
Whup, whup, whup.
She shrieked.
With no warning, McGregor rocked off his knees onto his heels, swept her up from the deck, and lunged to his feet. Before she knew what happened, he dumped her overboard, then leaped in after her.
"Waaaait . . ." she wailed, as the river came rushing up. "I don't think I know how to–"
Her last word was lost in the muddy depths of the mighty Mississippi.
Cold and heavy with silt, the water swallowed Ky like a whale. She'd drown, she just knew she would drown. Feet kicking hard, arms frantically windmilling, chest burning, she aimed upward toward the light. Somehow she broke through the surface, still kicking and flailing, gasping for air.
"— swim," she sputtered.
Then McGregor had her. "You're okay, you're okay."
Award-winning, bestselling author Connie Flynn writes both long and short fiction and is published in multiple genres, including paranormal romance, romantic comedy, mystery and suspense and contemporary fantasy/sci-fi. She lives in Arizona on a lush green park where she walks her dog and escapes from the hot desert sun. Her latest release is the twists-and-turns romantic suspense, KNOW WHEN TO RUN.
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MY REVIEW OF KNOW WHEN TO RUN BY CONNIE FLYNN Know when to Run by Connie Flynn is a 2013 publication. I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Gabe McGregor a bail bondman has got to find a murder suspect accused of killing her father. If he doesn't find her his business is sunk. When his former brother in law comes in with a tip about the woman's whereabouts, Gabe takes off in a last ditch effort to save his business.
Ky is working on a riverboat casino, lying low in case her abusive ex were to locate her. She gets an urgent warning from her friend Rosie that a man has been asking questions about her . But, Gabe McGregor still manages to catch her, throwing all she knows, which isn't alot, into question. You see, Ky has no memory of her life before her friend Rosie found her nearly beaten to death and nursed her back to health. She doesn't remember her ex-husband or their life together. But, when Gabe tells her she's the daughter of a ruthless banker and is wanted for his murder, Ky refuses to accept that. She may not know who she is, but she does know she isn't capable of murder.
Gabe isn't sure what or who to believe. He wants to believe the attractive red head that calls herself Ky. But, there are things she says that causes him to doubt her alledged memory loss. It also appears that the law isn't the only one interested in Ky and both she and Gabe appear to be on someone's radar. Ky doesn't know what's going on, but the woman they claim she is was a lot different from who she really is. Gabe and Ky are hot then cold. One minute he believes her and wants to protect her and the next minute he is supsicious again. For Ky, it's mind numbing to think she could be this "Kathleen" everyone is talking about. Is it possible that there is a case of mistaken identity? Could the sweet, damaged, and shy Ky be a ruthless martial arts expert and a cold blooded killer?
This very fast paced romantic suspence thriller started off with a bang and never lost momentum. From start to finish the author kept us on the edge of seats with explosions, fights, twist and turns, and hot romance. Once you start reading this one you will not be able to put it down. As explosive as it is, it is also a really tender story that shows that love may really be the all powerful thing so many scoff at.
This one is an A.