| Muse It Up Publishing – Pre-Order (Release 4/26/13) | Mike Arsuaga on Amazon |

Jess Moore’s life careens toward mortal danger—can a beautiful lycan, a beloved mentor, and a piece of paper save her?

BLURB:

A CLOSE-KNIT FAMILY

Jess Moore grew up in a time of decline, the result of poor economic, fiscal, and environmental choices, topped off by a worldwide pandemic. The collapse of society as she knew it left intrusive government in the name of security as the price of maintaining a threadbare prosperity. Despite a lost love and a failed marriage, Jess counts herself lucky to have the strength and support of a loving family. To escape the oppression, her mother and grandmother move to Greece, leaving her behind to settle matters and follow. When the emigration laws change, Jess finds herself trapped stateside.

A LOVER RETURNS

With the help of Patti Redman, her mentor, Jess starts a career with Homeland Security. On an undercover background investigation for Patti, Jess discovers written evidence of a black ops group at the highest levels of the department. When Tom Redman, Jess’ lost love, returns, he lands in the middle of a growing web of conspiracy and danger as the evidence she uncovered nears public disclosure.

One by one, witnesses are systematically eliminated. The next bullet is aimed at Jess. The only solution is flight to the safety of her loving family in Greece, but have the lovers waited too long to plan their escape?

*~*

Excerpt:

Tom repossessed my hand and we all walked through the gate. I told Roger to go on ahead while I spoke with Tom.

“Roger seems like a decent fellow.”

I looked up at him trying to get a read on how he’d changed in ten years. His flirtation with longer hair styles hadn’t lasted. The tow-headed Marine regulation haircut returned. The wide-shouldered, athletic build had added substance. The sharp angles of his face weren’t so boyishly cut anymore. The glow of youth may not have radiated from him as in years past, but when he looked at me I realized time and life had made the frosty blue eyes wiser in some subtle way.

“Tom, I have to tell you something. Patti loves you very much and needs you now more than ever. Even if you don’t love her, try to put your feelings aside for her sake.”

I waited for a reaction. Tom shifted the weight of the sea bag to another part of his shoulder and continued processing what I’d said.

I gave him a minute more and launched into my pitch. Walking next to him in the motionless chill of the gathering night, I told him all I knew there was to tell on the subject of the diminutive woman with the soulful eyes and pleasant V-shaped smile. “Your mom dedicated herself to excellence and took the time to give me my life back.” Remembering what Dante said about making amends, forgiveness and reconciliation, I spoke from my heart. “No matter what happened in the past between the both of you, the future offers a chance to make things right.”

After a long silence, he said, “I believe you’re correct, Jess. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have come back.”

We didn’t speak anymore. In the darkness, I walked beside Tom toward my house, the winter air, cold and dry all around us, listening to the sound of our breathing and footsteps in the silence.

*~*

Bio:

Born and raised raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, Mike completed careers in the United States Navy Submarine Force and the Transportation Security Administration. Although his careers have taken him all over the world, he now lives in Orlando, Florida with wife and Editor in Chief Cynthia, daughter Jennifer, granddaughter Larrna and partner in crime Thumper, a Yorkshire terrier.

Mike’s extensive travels took him throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, the Caribbean, and the Middle East which provide accurate and vivid settings for all his stories. Although Mars figures prominently in at least one installment of The Progeny of Evolution series, he hasn’t been there yet. The trip is prominent on his “bucket” list.

The Progeny of Evolution series, presently seven books published by Muse It Up Publishing, tell of the deep love between two special beings as they shepherd lycans and vampires, The Others, in their ascent from Creation’s vilest expression toward becoming the noblest. A pilot script for a TV series based on the books is under consideration by Amazon studios. A paranormal romantic thriller short story, from Boroughs Publishing Group, titled Of Jasmine and Pomegranate has been well received.

Mike and Cynthia have co-written two books published by Secret Cravings Publishing. Top Dog and Love and Death in the Big Easy chronicle the story of a special shape shifter. Instead of transforming into a large fierce animal, he becomes an eight pound Yorkshire terrier. While not much good in a scrap, he can go places the big guys can’t and he’s irresistible to women. Currently, they are in the process of adapting the first book into a screenplay for motion pictures or a television series.

Mike’s website is http://mikearsuaga.weebly.com. Other social media sites are Twitter.com/Leondegranz, www.facebook.com/mike.arsuaga1 .