Recently, I did a series of excerpts from some of
the author’s books who’re in a box collection with me and I was utterly astounded at how much interest those posts garnered.
the author’s books who’re in a box collection with me and I was utterly astounded at how much interest those posts garnered.
I started thinking that maybe I should share an excerpt from one of my books and see if the readers enjoy it in the same way.
So…here’s the first chapter of Special Agent Maximilian, my latest book.
Excerpt:
Chapter
One
One
From the corner of his eye, Nik saw the redhead
approaching, hair flying, face full of anger. He managed to duck in time to
elude the fist aimed at his face, but the one that plowed into his belly caught
him off guard.
approaching, hair flying, face full of anger. He managed to duck in time to
elude the fist aimed at his face, but the one that plowed into his belly caught
him off guard.
“Maximilian Foster! Where the hell have you been?
I’ve searched high and low for your sorry ass for more’n a month. Everyone
thinks you’re dead. And where do I find you? Sauntering in the French market as
if you haven’t a care in the world.”
I’ve searched high and low for your sorry ass for more’n a month. Everyone
thinks you’re dead. And where do I find you? Sauntering in the French market as
if you haven’t a care in the world.”
Imprisoning her wrists before she did major damage
seemed to be the most intelligent thing for Nik to do, but he hadn’t realized
her skill. In seconds, she had him pinned to the wall of the shop next to where
he stood—not wanting to hurt her, he’d let it happen.
seemed to be the most intelligent thing for Nik to do, but he hadn’t realized
her skill. In seconds, she had him pinned to the wall of the shop next to where
he stood—not wanting to hurt her, he’d let it happen.
“Lady, what the hell is wrong with you?” He stamped
down on his rising frustration. What’s going on with this crazy dame?
down on his rising frustration. What’s going on with this crazy dame?
“What’s wrong with me? What’s wrong with… are you
kidding me? We’re partners, or have you forgotten that insignificant detail,
and that it used to mean something?”
kidding me? We’re partners, or have you forgotten that insignificant detail,
and that it used to mean something?”
Ah! So this was Max’s partner, Maya Barnes. Now what
the hell was he going to do? Recently, he’d made the decision to fake being his
twin, pretend he was Max Foster. But maybe he’d gone and spoiled the chance.
Thinking quickly, he attempted to recover lost ground.
the hell was he going to do? Recently, he’d made the decision to fake being his
twin, pretend he was Max Foster. But maybe he’d gone and spoiled the chance.
Thinking quickly, he attempted to recover lost ground.
“Maya? I’m sorry… I–I don’t remember. I don’t
remember anything. I’ve been wandering around here praying something would be
familiar. I’m sorry, I…” He choked on the word sorry since it wasn’t a word he
was familiar with, but he knew his brother used it a lot. That stupid word,
along with his twin’s winning smile, had no doubt gotten Max out of a lot of
scrapes.
remember anything. I’ve been wandering around here praying something would be
familiar. I’m sorry, I…” He choked on the word sorry since it wasn’t a word he
was familiar with, but he knew his brother used it a lot. That stupid word,
along with his twin’s winning smile, had no doubt gotten Max out of a lot of
scrapes.
“Dammit, Max, don’t try using that idiotic grin on
me. You know it doesn’t work. We’ve been hunting for you for weeks. One day you
were there and the next you’d disappeared. I figured the Mosleys had gotten you
once you’d let it out that we were on to them.”
me. You know it doesn’t work. We’ve been hunting for you for weeks. One day you
were there and the next you’d disappeared. I figured the Mosleys had gotten you
once you’d let it out that we were on to them.”
Mosleys? She had it half right. They had been after
Max, and in the end had put a hit on him. Only they weren’t a local gang as the
department thought. It went a lot deeper than just New Orleans bad boys.
Seemingly, Max had clued into their operation, which had led back to Los
Angeles. And it hadn’t only been drugs. Nope! Things had gone deeper and
dirtier than even he’d suspected.
Max, and in the end had put a hit on him. Only they weren’t a local gang as the
department thought. It went a lot deeper than just New Orleans bad boys.
Seemingly, Max had clued into their operation, which had led back to Los
Angeles. And it hadn’t only been drugs. Nope! Things had gone deeper and
dirtier than even he’d suspected.
Nik pretended a weakness he didn’t feel and let his
body slouch to the side. At first her green sparklers flared with suspicion,
then softness flooded her expression and she supported rather than shoved.
body slouch to the side. At first her green sparklers flared with suspicion,
then softness flooded her expression and she supported rather than shoved.
“Oh God, Max. I’m sorry. You really are in a bad
way, aren’t you? Come on, let me help you. We’ll grab a cup of coffee and you
can tell me what happened.”
way, aren’t you? Come on, let me help you. We’ll grab a cup of coffee and you
can tell me what happened.”
Playing this
lady while she was pissed hadn’t bothered Nik whatsoever, but lying to her when
those big eyes plied him with an affectionate pity was another thing altogether.
What the hell was he to do now?
lady while she was pissed hadn’t bothered Nik whatsoever, but lying to her when
those big eyes plied him with an affectionate pity was another thing altogether.
What the hell was he to do now?
“I don’t really want coffee, Maya. Maybe I could
just come to the office.”
just come to the office.”
Not taking his refusal seriously, Maya wrapped her
arm around his body, clamped her fingers on his wrist and half dragged him
through the open doors to a nearby table at Café du Monde. She led him to a
seat and sat across from him. “Don’t be silly, you love coffee. Look, you’re a
rotten son-of-a-bitch, but I’m glad to see you. I couldn’t believe you’d leave
me high and dry, worrying myself sick about what could have happened. Now it
all makes sense.”
arm around his body, clamped her fingers on his wrist and half dragged him
through the open doors to a nearby table at Café du Monde. She led him to a
seat and sat across from him. “Don’t be silly, you love coffee. Look, you’re a
rotten son-of-a-bitch, but I’m glad to see you. I couldn’t believe you’d leave
me high and dry, worrying myself sick about what could have happened. Now it
all makes sense.”
Shaking his head, not understanding her logic, he
just stared at her and waited. No doubt she’d enlighten him as to what she
meant. He must have shown his lack of understanding because she assumed a
disgusted look. “Stop being so dense! You might be a philandering S.O.B. and an
unmitigated snob, but I’d never have believed you would treat me so shabbily. I
guess I’m relieved to see I was right.”
just stared at her and waited. No doubt she’d enlighten him as to what she
meant. He must have shown his lack of understanding because she assumed a
disgusted look. “Stop being so dense! You might be a philandering S.O.B. and an
unmitigated snob, but I’d never have believed you would treat me so shabbily. I
guess I’m relieved to see I was right.”
“You’re relieved to know I can’t remember anything?
That I woke up in the ditch with a lump the size of an extra-large egg on the
back of my head? God save me from trying to analyze the labyrinth of a female’s
mind.”
That I woke up in the ditch with a lump the size of an extra-large egg on the
back of my head? God save me from trying to analyze the labyrinth of a female’s
mind.”
Maya sat with her mouth open; her eyes focused and
didn’t utter a word. With a laser-like gaze, she drilled every spot of his face
and then shook her head. “Even dressed like an army store reject, I’d swear you
were Special Agent Maximilian Foster. Then you say something and I have to
admit to having huge doubts. And just so you know, Max’d die before appearing
in public looking like G.I. Joe.”
didn’t utter a word. With a laser-like gaze, she drilled every spot of his face
and then shook her head. “Even dressed like an army store reject, I’d swear you
were Special Agent Maximilian Foster. Then you say something and I have to
admit to having huge doubts. And just so you know, Max’d die before appearing
in public looking like G.I. Joe.”
Nik had seconds to decide his future. To make up his
mind if he was serious about going after the people who’d beaten his brother
and left him broken, covered in blood and lying in a ditch. Guessing there had
never really been a choice, he replied softly, “I’m sorry, Maya. You’re the
first person I’ve remembered, even remotely. That is, I know your name, but
that’s about it. You have to believe me when I tell you that I can’t remember
anything after being struck. My own clothes were covered in blood and I got
these cheap. After all, I only had ten bucks in my pocket—no wallet, no I.D.
I’m a mess, and I guess I need your help.” Instinctively, watching the caring
flood her face, he reached out his hand and she grasped his fingers and
squeezed. Hard.
mind if he was serious about going after the people who’d beaten his brother
and left him broken, covered in blood and lying in a ditch. Guessing there had
never really been a choice, he replied softly, “I’m sorry, Maya. You’re the
first person I’ve remembered, even remotely. That is, I know your name, but
that’s about it. You have to believe me when I tell you that I can’t remember
anything after being struck. My own clothes were covered in blood and I got
these cheap. After all, I only had ten bucks in my pocket—no wallet, no I.D.
I’m a mess, and I guess I need your help.” Instinctively, watching the caring
flood her face, he reached out his hand and she grasped his fingers and
squeezed. Hard.
Her eyes, piercing green shards, speared him. “You
lying piece of shit. I don’t know what your game is but you aren’t, and never
could be, Max. Now who the hell are you and what’s going on?”
lying piece of shit. I don’t know what your game is but you aren’t, and never
could be, Max. Now who the hell are you and what’s going on?”
One of my favorite reviews!!!
Special Agent Maximilian is a must read, a Five star plus read By Chrissybear77 on August 27, 2015
I always enjoy Mimi Barbour book’s her writing is always so good. Her books are always a hit and this one was another Hit. There is allot of humor and suspense, keep you on your toes till the end…. WOW this book is so GOOD. Special Agent Maximilian is a must read…..
I really wish I could give it more then five stars…. Get it today…
*****
I just gotta ask? Do you put excerpts of your own work on your blogs???
~*~*~*~
No, but maybe I should be 🙂 Great excerpt, Mimi, your books rock!
Thanks, Jacquie. I was pleasantly surprised at how many hits those posts received. I guess readers really do like a little window into our characters world to whet their appetites. 🙂