Armed with Grandma’s Bible and a teaspoon, taking out the man paid to kill her had been easier than playing dead for twenty-five years. Sending a hitman without proper reconnaissance was someone’s first mistake. Going after the rest of her family, the second. Expecting her to lie down and take it was their last.
True McLaren appreciates the simple things in life. Coffee, gelato, cooking, a well-balanced blade, and music. When a man lets himself into her home for a deadly purpose, he activates survival protocols the McLarens have honed to perfection over the last two decades. What none of the family planned on was the complication wearing the badge.
Sergeant Dante Parisi has seen a lot of things between his multiple tours as part of an elite team of Marines and his time with the police department. It takes a lot to rattle him. When he encounters the tiny redhead with a feisty air about her, something in him shifts. Seeing the damage she inflicted on a man twice her size is almost as impressive as her big blue eyes and the size of her unruly red curls. Then she says something that brings out every ounce of his protective nature, entwining their fates forever.
As True and Dante grow closer, the search for answers uncovers unexpected revelations that no one is prepared for. The pressure intensifies as the threat expands to those being held on another continent, leaving True to open lines of communication that have long been closed. Time is running out, forcing a plan of attack that will neutralize a deadly threat both at home and overseas before more people get caught in the crossfire.
True Beginnings is the suspense-filled first book in the True McLaren Action & Adventure Series.
“True McLaren is a helluva character! Fast-paced, witty, and kind of addictive! Looking forward to more from this author and more of True’s story!”
S. Anne– United States
“True Beginnings captures a well-written female protagonist in a genre that is lacking these action-packed heroines. Non-traditional crossovers can be challenging as well. But as a first book in a series, this Action-Thriller Romance knocks it out of the park.”
Ricardo Montecristo– United States
“A trio combination of romance, action & thriller makes it unpredictable and an interesting read for this well written piece.”
Corns Elba- United Kingdom
“This book is a blast. Great storyline and characters, the dialogue and inner monologue are fabulous, this book has everything. Lots of romantic nuance and energy, it’s just wonderfully done.”
Amazon Customer, Unites States
“An enthralling romantic thriller that left me utterly spellbound from start to finish. With a narrative that effortlessly weaves together passion, suspense, and unexpected twists, this book is an absolute page-turner that will keep you guessing until the very end.”
A Ryan- United States
“This novel is an absolute treasure, a delightful treat for those on the lookout for an enthralling love story seasoned with a pinch of enigma and suspense. For anyone yearning for that perfect fusion of passion, intrigue, and unforeseen turns, this book is an absolute essential.”
Gabriel Gonzalo- Canada
“A captivating mix of romance, suspense, and action that hooks you from the very first page. This is a remarkable debut, unfolding the thrilling tale of a young woman who’s anything but ordinary. The narrative is fast-paced and engaging, making it impossible to put down.
Kiran- United States
“Non-stop ride of action, fun, romance and thriller. Quite a blend!”
David Weller- United Kingdom
Excerpt from “True Beginnings” True McLaren Series-Book One
I sipped my coffee, channeling innocence successfully, I hoped. Okay, so it wasn’t like I had anything to feel guilty about. That asshole was the one who broke into my private space and threatened me with his damn knife. It wasn’t my fault he came under-prepared.
My house has an open floor plan, with a dining and living room combo flowing into the kitchen and a breakfast nook off to one side. I tried to see it as Parisi would, noting the broken vase, glass, and trampled flowers littering the area between the living room and dining room table. He couldn’t have missed the other items strewn about either: giant Bible, empty ice cream container, napkin ring holder, and cloth napkin. He wasn’t blind, and since I geared my house towards clean lines, the few everyday items that could be weapons would not catch the casual observer’s attention. I knew that for a fact because I had placed these types of weapons in each room for that reason alone. I also felt it in my best interest to avoid discussion of weapons overall, since I had more of them secreted throughout the house. That would only bring about more questions. Rattan under the edge of the couch or an ice pick along the frame of a painting would be impossible to rationalize.
Parisi looked at me, holding my gaze with an unspoken challenge. I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was keeping in and remained silent, studying him. Yep, not a man to take hidden objects of destruction casually. His voice startled me.
“Did you throw the vase at him before or after you grabbed your knife?”
Seriously? Our eyes locked once again, and I made sure he knew I was unhappy at his assumption. Calm. Stay frosty. Exhaling, I answered him. “He threw the vase at me when I took his knife away from him for the last time. Again, I only had the spoon and empty gelato container. As you can see, I don’t normally keep much in the way of knick-knacks, so there wasn’t a lot to grab.” I felt righteous until I saw the small dimple appear as he kept a smile from escaping. Damn. Baited. Call me cautiously impressed.
“He brought only the knife.”
It was a statement, not a question, so I remained silent and paid attention this time.
“What did you do when he came at you?” He asked, struggling to piece it together, perhaps more out of curiosity than anything else.
Carefully, I considered my response. Unfortunately, Parisi was as sharp as he was hot, so he would see through any BS I tried to baffle him with. Probably better to be mostly transparent, concentrate on sharp, and ignore the spicy part.
“Look, Sergeant Parisi, he threatened me with the knife and said he was going to cut the sheep off me. Then he smiled before I threw the ice cream container at his face, evading his first attempt at a grab. He laughed until I used my foot to yank his knee. That’s when he got a little angry.” My jaw clenched. “I grabbed a napkin from the dining room table and caught his hand.” Knowing this part was a little tricky, I hesitated. “I may have broken a few fingers with the napkin ring holder to encourage him to loosen his grip and drop the blade.” Stopping, I glanced at Hottie, unsure about continuing, but he waited patiently.
I gave in and let it out. “He dropped the weapon when his fingers snapped. Hairy was pretty pissed at that point and started detailing what he and his knife were going to do to me in some unfriendly terms. When he bum rushed me to get the blade, I had to use the spoon. He didn’t leave me with any other options.” I snuck a quick glance, forcing my hands to remain calm and unmoving next to my cup. “After, he still refused to let go of the knife, just screamed at me and kept jabbing at the air. Every time I asked him to drop it and lay down on the floor, he would jab again, so I grabbed his arm to take it. That was when he tried to hit me with his unencumbered hand while stabbing at the same time. Being visually impaired, his depth perception was off, so he got himself through the palm as you saw.” I was running out of steam and Parisi kept staring at me with an unreadable expression. Hopefully, he didn’t think I was a total freak of nature.
“I believe you’re almost done. I’m curious how he ended up by the door if you can finish?”
When he asked like that, sexy, deep voice all growly, why yes, yes, I could. One thing I needed to emphasize was that at no point was I out of control, regardless of the situation, and here was my chance. “Next, he tried to throw the vase at me but ended up dropping it on the wind up before running through the shattered glass to get away. I didn’t have any shoes on, so I grabbed the Bible and threw it at him. That’s when he finally went down. I didn’t want him to get away because I needed to know who sent him.”
The minute the words were out of my mouth, I tried to retract them, knowing I was done. So damn close. I froze, hoping that by staying still, he would forget I was there. It was futile and about as logical as closing my eyes to make it all disappear. Desperate times and all.
He narrowed his eyes, which were focused on me and my discomfort. We both knew I had said something out of the ordinary.
“Why would you think someone sent him?” His voice was deadly calm.
I remained silent, thinking. I didn’t know him. Was he trustworthy?