Beyond Power by Connie Mann – Spotlight and Giveaway

Long and Short Reviews welcomes Connie Mann who is celebrating the recent release of Beyond Power, the second book in her Florida Wildlife Warriors series. Enter the Rafflecopter at the end of the post for a chance to win Beyond Risk, the first book in the series.

If you dare venture beyond Disney’s magic and Miami’s high-rises, you’ll find yourself in Florida’s untamed wilderness…

When your heart’s involved…
A bush pilot and officer for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Josh Tanner is one of the tough cops needed to manage the rugged areas of Florida. And the minute he finds Delilah Atwood deep in the woods without a good explanation, he knows something is very wrong…

All the stakes are raised…
Delilah barely escaped her ultra-fundamental militia family years ago. Now she’s back to save her sixteen-year-old sister, and no government man is going to stop her. Josh isn’t going to stand by and watch Delilah risk her life, but unless he can get her to trust him, she may end up being the militia’s next victim.

Enjoy an Excerpt

I think I’m nearby. Shine a flashlight, call my name, I’ll find you.

Josh’s text sent a surge of relief through Delilah, and she sagged against the tree, eyes closed. “Oh thank God.” Seconds later, panic hit. Worried he would give up and leave before he found her, she scrambled to her feet, wincing as she accidentally put weight on her left foot. One hand braced against the tree trunk, she shouted his name, waving her flashlight over her head like a shipwreck survivor who’d finally spotted a Coast Guard vessel.

When he raced into the clearing, Delilah launched herself into his arms. He stumbled back a few steps before he caught his balance, wrapping her tightly in his arms, murmuring, “I’ve got you. I’ve got you.”

She pulled back to see his face, and suddenly, her lips met his—or his met hers, she couldn’t tell which—and they were kissing with the kind of desperation reserved for real shipwreck survivors. The kiss went on and on, sensations rushing over her faster than she could sort them out. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer still, nuzzling his neck, sighing as he murmured in her hair and placed soft kisses along her jaw. His grip shifted, and she realized her legs were wrapped around his waist after she’d climbed him like a tree. His hands cupped her bottom, and when she crossed her ankles to get closer still, she winced in pain.

The moment shattered, and he slowly pulled back. She blinked, dazed and not at all sure she wanted the kiss to end. His eyes said he felt the same, but even so, reason had reasserted itself. He brushed her lips once more, then steadied her as she unwrapped her legs and lowered them to the ground. She winced again when her injured ankle touched down. His grip on her waist tightened. “Easy. Go slow.”

With infinite care, he maneuvered her down against the tree, then crouched beside her. He ran his flashlight over her with crisp efficiency before he set it off to the side so it wouldn’t blind them. His touch was gentle as he tipped her head up so he could see her face. “Are you okay? Which ankle?”

She met his concerned gaze. “Left one. And I’m fine. Nothing much injured except my pride.” She couldn’t believe she’d launched herself at him. “Sorry I, ah, overreacted.”

One side of his mouth curved upward. “The forest can be unsettling at night.” Then his grin widened. “But feel free to overreact anytime you want.”

They grinned at each other like idiots for a minute before she remembered she had to keep her distance. But dang, the man could kiss. He removed her boot, and the sharp pain jerked her back to the present. He ran his big hands from her calf all the way to her toes, then carefully rotated her ankle, and she bit her lip to keep from crying out. When he was done, he gently slid her foot back into the boot, tucking the laces inside rather than tying them, since it was already starting to swell.

“The good news is I don’t think it’s broken.” He sent her the lopsided smile that turned her insides to mush. “The bad news is that I don’t think you’re going to be able to walk on it.”

“How far away is your truck?” she asked.

“Not too far if you have two good legs.” He stood and held out his hands to help her to her feet. The moment she was upright, he pulled her into his arms and wrapped her securely against his hard chest again. “I’m so glad you weren’t hurt worse.”

He kissed her again, gently this time, and Delilah slid into the kiss like a warm bath. She absorbed the strength of his arms around her and the beat of his heart thundering against her chest, feeling cherished and protected in a way she never had before. Slowly, reluctantly, she pulled back, and their eyes met and held, awareness buzzing between them like an electrical current. The heat in his eyes sent a low hum through her body. It buzzed through her a split second before he slapped at a mosquito on her cheek. She yelped in surprise, and he grinned. “Sorry. Bloodthirsty little buggers. Let’s get out of here.”

Keeping one of her hands in his, he turned his back and crouched. “Climb on. I’ll carry you back to my truck.”

Delilah was shaking her head no before he finished speaking. “You can’t carry me. I’m way too heavy.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Are you doubting my manly strength?”

The absurdity surprised a laugh out of her. “I would never doubt your manly strength, Officer Tanner.”

“Then climb on, and let’s get out of here already.” He crouched lower. “And stop calling me Officer Tanner.”

Since she didn’t have much choice at this point, Delilah gingerly climbed on. He scooped her up, piggyback style, and set off into the forest. He spun her around a few times as he walked, singing an off-key version of the seven dwarves song. “Heigh-ho, heigh-ho, it’s through the woods we go,” then he whistled the rest, making up words here and there.

Delilah laughed and attempted, badly, to sing along, appreciating his attempt to distract her from her throbbing ankle. She took her cue from him and decided to enjoy the ride, the feel of her arms wrapped around his neck, his rock-hard arms supporting her as he strolled through the forest as though she weighed nothing. She was used to thinking her way through life, but with Josh, she was learning to simply enjoy the moment.

***

Excerpted from Beyond Power by Connie Mann. © 2020 by Connie Mann. Used with permission of the publisher, Sourcebooks Casablanca, an imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author: CONNIE MANN is a licensed boat captain. When she’s not dreaming up plotlines, you’ll find “Captain Connie” on the waterways, introducing boatloads of schoolchildren to their first alligator. She and her husband live in central Florida just a stone’s throw from Ocala National Forest.

https://www.conniemann.com/

Buy the book at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iBooks, Kobo, Bookshop, or BAM

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Beyond Risk by Connie Mann – Spotlight and Giveaway


Long and Short Reviews welcomes Connie Mann who is celebrating the upcoming release of Beyond Risk, the first book in her Florida Wildlife Warriors series. Enter the Rafflecopter at the end of the post for a chance to win a copy of the book.

The river runs wild

Former Fish & Wildlife Officer Charlotte “Charlee” Tanner still carries the guilt of a tragic drowning accident that occurred on her watch. She hoped moving back home to the wilds of central Florida would provide a safe haven-until she learns the death was no accident, and she’s the intended target.

But no wilder than their passion

Tough and decisive, Lieutenant Hunter Boudreau loves his new job as a law enforcement officer with the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission. Charlee is his best friend, so when she comes under fire, he’s not letting her out of his sight until the killer is caught. But Charlee won’t sit by and let anyone else die for her.

As danger closes in and Charlee and Hunter’s attraction threatens to consume them, Charlee has to decide if she can trust Hunter. And to save Charlee, Hunter will have to trust her, too.

Enjoy an Excerpt

Charlee set her paddle across her kayak and ignored the fine trembling in her hands. Even though no wind churned the placid Ocklawaha River and the cypress trees shading the banks stood still in the warm sunlight, she couldn’t settle. She pulled out her smartphone and checked the radar yet again. A scan of the cloudless sky above the tree canopy confirmed there were no storms in the area. She sighed and glanced at the time. Only one eternal hour before she could get off the river.

She heard a bark of laughter and looked around. As usual by this point in the trip, the teens had started getting restless. Troy and Wyatt stood in their kayaks, while Luke filmed them falling in slow motion.

“Enough, y’all,” Charlee called, and all eyes turned in her direction.

“Quit trying to be somebody, Wyatt. Geez, you’re nothing but a total dweeb,” Brittany sneered.

Charlee looked in Paul’s direction, surprised again that he didn’t put a stop to his daughter’s name-calling. Charlee and her brothers had always ragged on each other, but it was never this mean-spirited.

When Paul turned his back on the group and glided away, Wyatt hung his head. Charlee paddled in the boy’s direction, pushing aside how much he reminded her of JJ. She couldn’t, wouldn’t, think about last year. Right now was what mattered. “Just ignore her, Wyatt,” she said quietly. “You’re not the dweeb, she is.”

That got a sideways smile from the teen, and Charlee smiled back. “For a guy who’s never been in a kayak before, it looks like you’re enjoying yourself.”

Smiling shyly, Wyatt nodded. “It’s pretty awesome out here. I can’t believe this is, like, your job.”

His words reminded her of Hunter’s earlier encouragement to enjoy herself and made her grimace. She wanted to be glad she was out here, but she couldn’t, not anymore.

“Brittany! Brittany! Where are you?” Luke called.

Charlee’s head snapped around at the panic in the boy’s voice. Three quick strokes had her alongside Luke, who held on to an empty kayak. Wyatt pulled up right behind her.

“What happened?” Charlee asked as she slipped off her life jacket, voice calm. She pushed everything aside and focused on the boy, trying to ease his panic.

“Brittany said she dropped her phone and dove down to get it. But she didn’t come up, so Troy went in after her.”

Paul rammed his kayak into the others as he paddled over, eyes wild as he stripped off his life jacket. “Where’s Brittany?”

“We don’t know.” Luke’s eyes were miserable. “Troy dove in after her.”

Charlee eyed the life jackets both teens had left behind, and she turned to Paul. “Is Brittany a good swimmer?”

“I don’t know! Maybe. She used to be.”

Charlee turned to Wyatt, who shrugged, eyes wide and panicked. She turned to Luke. “What about Troy?” He nodded, and she heard a splash as Paul dove in after Brittany.

Seconds later, Troy popped to the surface. “I can’t find her!”

She glanced at all three boys, expression stern. “Stay here. I’ll get her.” She waited until they all nodded, and then dove into the river, straining to see through the tea-colored water. It was clear but brown from tannic acid.

She spun in a circle, waving her arms and legs as she turned, trying to connect with Brittany. She counted the seconds in her head as she expanded the search area, reaching wider, deeper. Come on, come on. Where are you?

A suffocating sense of déjà vu wanted to paralyze her, take her back to that day at the shoals, but she shoved it aside. If she let herself go there—for even one second—she wouldn’t be able to function. Just find Brittany.

She dove deeper. Yes. There. She reached a flailing arm and tried to pull Brittany up with her, but the girl wouldn’t budge. Was she stuck? Charlee felt her way down the girl’s torso and legs, finally realizing her foot was wedged under a log. She tugged and tugged, her lungs screaming for air, but she couldn’t pull Brittany free.

A flash of movement caught her peripheral vision, and suddenly, something grabbed her ankle in a viselike grip, clamped tight, and tried to drag her downriver. Her brain shouted alligator, but she didn’t feel teeth, just an unbreakable hold she couldn’t escape even though she kicked with all her strength. No. No. No. Let go.

Frantic, Charlee kept kicking with both legs, desperate to free herself. If she didn’t get more air, quickly, she and Brittany would both drown.

She finally broke free, sent up a quick prayer of thanks, and latched on to Brittany’s arm. She fought the current as she felt her way down Brittany’s body to find the submerged tree that trapped her. Charlee braced her feet against the trunk and pushed with everything
she had. She managed to move it just far enough to slip Brittany’s foot free.

Lungs screaming for air, Charlee grabbed the girl to guide her to the surface, but Brittany just floated in the water. Another wave of panic clawed at Charlee’s throat. Not again. Not again. Not again.

She grabbed Brittany around the waist and used her legs to propel them to the surface. Once they popped up, Charlee spun Brittany face up so she could get air while she towed the girl to shore.

Her feet touched the bottom near the banks, and she staggered through the mud until she found solid footing near a fallen cypress tree, then stood, pulling Brittany up with her. She had to get the girl up on shore, start CPR.

As she straightened, the water around her suddenly exploded, and she heard several loud bangs in rapid succession. Water splashed her face, momentarily disorienting her. But then the noise registered.

Someone was shooting at them!

About the Author: Connie Mann is a licensed boat captain and loves writing romantic suspense stories set in Florida’s small towns and unspoiled wilderness. She is the author of Beyond Risk, (Florida Wildlife Warriors #1), the Safe Harbor series (Tangled Lies, Hidden Threat, Deadly Melody), as well as Angel Falls and Trapped! She has lived in seven different states but this weather wimp has happily called Central Florida home for more than twenty years.

When she’s not dreaming up plotlines, you’ll find “Captain Connie” on the Silver River, introducing boats full of schoolchildren to their first alligator. She is also passionate about helping women and children in developing countries break the poverty cycle and build a better future for themselves and their families. Besides boating, she and her husband enjoy hanging out with their grown children and extended family and planning their next adventure.

Website

Buy the book at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iTunes, Indiebound, or Walmart.

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