The HBS Author's Spotlight SHOWCASES Alexa Padgett's New Book: An Artifact of Death.
Author Alexa Padgett is a USA Today Bestseller of contemporary romance, mystery and urban fantasy. Alexa uses the pen name J. J. Cagney for her A Reverend Cici Gurule Mystery Series.
An Artifact of Death
A Reverend Cici Gurule Mystery Book 3
Author: Alexa Padgett
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A botched execution. A reverend on the run. Can she solve the mystery before she’s caught in the crosshairs?
Reverend Cici Gurule went to the sacred Chaco Canyon in search of a sign. She’s been offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in a megachurch, but taking the position would mean abandoning her Southwestern home and the man she’s grown to love as much more than a friend. She’s so caught up in her thoughts that she doesn’t realize when she stumbles upon a group of heavily armed operatives on the verge of an execution.
Soon, Cici’s dodging bullets and scaling mesas with the mysterious man she saved from certain death. With a little help from her twin sister’s ghost and restless ancestral spirits, they venture deeper into the maze-like rocky terrain. But her new companion’s deadly aim makes her wonder if she can afford to trust his side of the story.
To make it out of the canyon alive, Cici must unearth the true story behind the man and a sacred Navajo artifact before the next bloodshed on sacred ground is hers.
Excerpt from An Artifact of Death
This is one of my favorite scenes early in the book. The spy Anton Vasiliev has hopped into Cici’s car, and she’s driving them away from the Bratva (Russian mafia) who are following them.
Cici gripped the steering wheel so tightly her whole hands turned white and vibrated against the stiff leather. She shot down the road, hoping against hope this madness would stop.
Mr. Vasiliev sighed as the engine revved even louder in protest.
“Because you are now an accessory to my…let’s call it an investigation. And, though us being shot at should make this apparent, today, in case you were under some false pretenses, I managed to royally piss off the Russians I was supposed to be gathering intel on.”
“No way. I don’t want to be involved.” Cici struggled to maintain some semblance of rhythmic breathing. Between the mad dash to her car and the hyperventilating realities Mr. Vasiliev threw out there, Cici half expected to pass out and blow her car into a fiery crash before they made it out of the national park.
At least that would be less painful than what the men now following them seemed to have in mind for this man. And her.
She glanced over, trying to take in as much of him as possible while maintaining the necessary focus on the road. Mr. Vasiliev was attractive. His light brown hair lay smooth against his skull in a conservative cut. Slashes of dark brown brows sat over deep-seated, always-roving coffee-brown eyes. Strong jaw, stern lips.
“Get out of my car,” Cici said. Though it was a half-hearted attempt—more of a hope he had a better plan than sticking close to her. No way Cici would permit the man to get shot.
“Wouldn’t do me any good to leave now,” Mr. Vasiliev said, his voice calm and much too reasonable considering the direness of their lives’ current trajectory. “Would do you less. I’ve been with you. Best I can do now is make sure you stay alive. Because my…well, I guess we can call them associates will not allow you to live. They’ll worry I gave you something or told you something.”
“But you didn’t.”
Mr. Vasiliev shrugged. “Men of that caliber won’t take the chance.”
Author Genre: Mystery, Romance, Fantasy
Website: Alexa Padgett
Author's Blog: J. J. Cagney
J. J. Cagney Facebook
Twitter: @AlexaPadgett
E-Mail: info@jjcagney.com
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Amazon Author Profile
Author Description: J. J. Cagney is the mystery/thriller pen name of USA Today bestselling author Alexa Padgett. Her debut mystery, A Pilgrimage of Death, was named to Kirkus Reviews’ 100 Best Books of 2018 and Goodreads Best Mysteries of the 2010s.
Cagney holds a bachelor’s in international marketing and spent part of her twenties as the marketing director for an elite sports management firm. And, yes, she did her requisite stint with a dotcom back in the early 2000s, first as a marketing coordinator and then as a content manager. She’s penned work for a variety of websites and magazines, and she worked as a literary agent for Irene Webb Literary.
She lives in northern New Mexico with her husband, children, about a million fish, and their Great Pyrenees, Ash. Kirkus Reviews called Cagney’s latest mystery, An Artifact of Death, “An exhilarating entry in a thoroughly enjoyable series.”
Author's Book List
A Heritage of Death
- A Reverend Cici Gurule Mystery Book 2An unconventional woman. A brutal murder. To solve the case, one woman will look for help from beyond the grave…
Cici Gurule wants to pretend her dream is nothing more than a meaningless nightmare. But the bruised and bloodied woman looked alarmingly like her. When a baby turns up on her porch--a baby who was reported missing days before--evidence points to a connection with the woman in Cici's dream, and she can no longer ignore the nighttime vision. Cici and Detective Sam Chastain struggle to follow the garbled evidence, but the killer scores his victim first. Worse, a message pinned to the victim's blouse states, "You're next."
Now, it’s a race against the clock to keep the baby safe and find the murderer before his trail goes cold. Cici's only chance to solve this mystery, before she becomes the next victim, means choosing between her faith and believing a message left by her ghostly twin.
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A Pilgrimage to Death
- A Reverend Cici Gurule Mystery Book 1When Cici discovers a body in the forest, she's shocked to realize the victim's wounds are identical to the ones that killed her sister a year ago. Now she's embroiled in the takedown of a massive criminal operation, and the stakes couldn't be higher…
Someone murdered her sister. And shot her dog. The killer won't stop until she's dead, too.
Cici finds a dead body while hiking in the Santa Fe National Forest. The situation deteriorates when she discovers the victim bears similar stab wounds to those that ended her twin sister's life a year ago.
Then, her identical twin sister infiltrates her dreams.
All of a sudden, Cici and her dogs must dodge arrows, bullets, and even a demon truck—all while she grapples with the knowledge that her sister was on the trail of a deep-rooted criminal operation. Worse, her twin's death was much more sinister than a random act of violence.
Now, as she follows the clues her sister drops in her dreams, the criminals want Cici out of the way. Permanently.
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Identical Death
- A Reverend Cici Gurule Mystery Book 0***This is a short story prequel companion to the first novel A Pilgrimage to Death.***
Few people ever experienced a connection like Reverend Cici Gurule had with her sister. The women weren't just twins; they were identical.
Yes, were.
Cici knew the exact moment her sister had died because Cici had passed out in her apartment. She'd swear until the day she died her sister said her name in a soft, broken voice as her own mind had switched off.
Now, Cici must learn to live without her sister . . . and deal with a cold trail and unsolved murder.
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Deep in the Heart
- An Austin After Dark Book Book 1Two strong, battle-scarred people grapple with how to make a relationship work in the forceful first Austin After Dark contemporary. - BookLife
She's mending guitars and her life.
Jenna Olsen isn't sure she'll ever escape her past. Becoming a skilled guitar craftsperson helped with the anxiety, but she dreams of the day when she can trust again. When an up-and-coming country star asks for a custom guitar in an impossible time-frame, Jenna falls for the challenge.
He's focused on music to help forget the war.
Camden Grace's music and fans help him cope with the physical wounds he sustained in Iraq. But he's haunted by his fractured family history. When an angry outburst leaves an expensive guitar shattered, he doesn't expect to find a strong-willed woman whose struggle echoes his own.
Will creating a new instrument turn their romance into a smash hit? As the instrument and their feelings start to come together, a dangerous would-be flame attempts to sabotage their relationship. The jealous rival could kill more than their careers if Jenna and Camden can't rise above the rage to heal their hearts forever.
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A Moonlit Serenade
- Seattle Sound Series Book 8The sound he can’t forget…
Ryn
I’ve suffered my share of heartache, and I’m not eager to risk a silly crush on an arrogant, unavailable rock star. Jake’s band is one of the hottest acts in the world, but for a woman who’s already lost it all (that’s me), celebrity drama holds no appeal. The man himself, though, is harder to turn away…
Jake
I fell in love with her voice first. But trying to recruit the mysterious girl-next-door music teacher, Ryn Hudson, to work on my solo album is proving harder than I imagined. She’s prickly, defensive, wounded, and stubborn. And I’m in serious danger of falling in love with the rest of her, too…
As the holiday season takes over chilly Seattle, we see that something between us glows warmer than twinkle lights. But even if we can stop our doubts, close our eyes, and believe in magic, the pressures of my fame and Ryn’s past can’t just be wished away…
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When We Fell Down
- Seattle Sound Series Book 7Love played false...
Ella
It’s just before Christmas, and I’m pregnant, heartbroken, and miserable. My husband Simon hasn’t been home in months. There are photos of him snuggled up with his publicist. And that’s the best part of my December. Just before the holiday break, I’m served with divorce papers at work.
Simon
As my life with Ella disintegrates, my music career finally commands the admiration and cash I always desired. But my son believes the rumors circulating, and Ella refuses to even see me, thanks to those divorce papers I never intended to send. Ella’s annual trip to visit her parents in England couldn’t have come at a worse time…
I have until Christmas to discover the truth about who wants to end my marriage and win my wife back. But there’s more to Ella’s life than me. For our love to last, I’ll have to learn her heart all over again.
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Striker's Waltz
- Seattle Sound Series Book 6Risking it all…
Preslee
Thanks to my violent ex, I haven’t felt safe enough to date in six years. When I volunteer at a soccer camp with Matteo Cruz, star and international sex symbol, I can’t deny my attraction. Teo is driven, patient, kind—and his butt is on seventy-foot billboards. Maybe I can risk trusting again, if only for one night…
Matteo
Battling a career-ending injury, I have one chance left to chase the elusive World Cup I’ve sought since I was twelve. I can’t afford to be distracted by a fling. Especially not with pretty, talented Preslee, with her watchful eyes and sudden laugh. She’s been hurt before, badly I’d bet. But the more I see her, the harder it is to stay away…
Our growing need can’t be ignored, but as our relationship goes public, her ex storms back into her life and, now, the backlash could cost me more than just my career…
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From the First
- Seattle Sound Series Book 5When sudden impacts change life’s trajectory...
Evie
The accident knocked my life apart. My body will recover, but when I look at the orphaned girl from the other vehicle, I get lost in memories of my own awful time in the foster system. I refuse to let little Paige go through that nightmare.
Kai
I have frontman good looks, I'm the lead singer of a chart-climbing band, and I have cash to burn. My life is a twenty-two year old's dream. But fame and fortune don’t quiet the demons of my past. And now, shy, sultry Evie gives me something better to desire…
When the girl in Evie's custody faces crisis, we have one reckless shot to take Paige's future into our hands: get married, and fast. Evie and I can keep Paige safe while we sate the lust that taunts us. All minus any messy feelings.
But racing from the truth may lead to a larger crash…
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Many Sounds of Silence
- Seattle Sound Series Book 4A Dangerous Hope...
Abbi
I can't remember the night that produced a brutal set of photos the media and former college “friends” won’t let me forget. No matter what I do, I can’t escape the shame and harassment… or the threat of more degradation to come.
Clay
I grew up in the spotlight, thanks to my famous father. I know what it's like to be surrounded by phonies who will betray you for their personal gain. From the moment I see Abbi, I can’t stop thinking about her. I’m not the relationship type, but she needs a boyfriend to help fend off the gossip, and I can play one for the press to help protect her from the vicious comments…
There’s nothing made up about the desire sizzling between us, and I really want to explore it. But a bond built on fear and faking it can’t possibly lead to happy endings…
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Hold You Close
- Seattle Sound Series Book 3Running from the truth...
Mila
The crunch of steel stole the baby I'd always wanted. It also left my career derailed and my body scarred, thanks to a stalker no one believes in. And Murphy Etsam, the man I thought would love me forever, shot to international rock stardom on the pure fury of the song he wrote when I ran away in an effort to save his life. I just want to talk to him one last time so I can finally let go of the pain in my past…
Murphy
One glimpse of Mila in the crowd, and I know the year of drowning myself in booze, fame, and other women hasn’t erased one molecule of my passion for lovely, maddening woman who left me without a word. When Mila’s stalker attacks, I'm forced to face the trauma and misunderstanding that wrenched us apart—and to battle the chemistry that still surges between us.
There’s no going back to what we had before. I know that.
But I also know I can never let her go again.
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Between Breaths
- Seattle Sound Series Book 2Out of heartbreak comes hope...
Briar
I just escaped a job and relationship that nearly crushed me. Crawling out of the wreckage of my previous life, I'm finished with caution. I want sexy, vibrant Hayden, and I'm going to take him. For as long as I can…
Hayden
It doesn’t matter that I'm the backbone of Australia’s hottest international rock group—here, watching my estranged mother die, I'm more alone than ever. Meeting long-legged, perceptive Briar Moore, I know she can help fill the hole in my heart...
These few, intense days change us forever. A connection this fierce should burn out as fast as it ignited, but we can't stop thinking about what could have been…
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Sweet Solace
- Seattle Sound Series Book 1Betrayal Broke Them Once...
We can't afford to indulge in this attraction, but our connection burns too brightly to ignore.
Dahlia
My husband was the second man who betrayed my trust when he left me alone to raise my daughter. Asher was the first. I found solace from both in my novels, writing about the hero I'd lost. But in those bestselling books, Asher-I mean my hero-didn't shatter my heart the way he had in real life.
Asher
There were so many things I couldn't say to Dahlia when she was seventeen. But I've never forgotten the only girl I ever loved. My voice and song-writing talent made me star. Fame extracted its price. Now I have another chance-the chance to restore her faith in love. The chance to find it for myself.
I'm not letting Dahlia go now that I have her in my arms again.
Perfect for fans of the Kendall Ryan, Carly Phillips, and A. L. Jackson, Sweet Solace and its sequels take readers on an emotional, sexy journey of hot men and their feisty women who are transformed by courage, self-sacrifice, and love.
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Moonshine Eyes
- A Seattle Sound Novella Book 1Sometimes, one glimpse is all it takes to fall in love…
Seth
I came to Barcelona to find a genuine connection with my rock star father who took off a decade prior. But when I catch the eye of a stunning girl across Avenida Diagonal, my plans to hang out with my dad go straight out the window of her tour bus…
Ramona
After a family secret sent my engagement crashing to the ground, I fled Milan. The moment I spot Seth, I feel more alive than I ever did with my fiancé. Seth makes me happy, but the life I left behind is with my family, and I can make it safe.
Should I retreat, or risk my heart again by taking that terrifying leap into love?
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The Curse of Kuskurza
- The Echo Series Book 3An ancient prophecy. A battle of the gods. And a woman torn between duty and her heart…
Daughter of a god, hunted by his enemies, Echo Ruiz embarks on a perilous journey through the Southwest’s spiritual underbelly to discover an unknown evil determined to take over the world. With only her newfound and capricious powers—and a misfit band of spirits, demons and her lying BFF—Echo must choose between rescuing Zeke from a vengeful deity or finding the key to close the gates of the underworld. But her choice may unlock an even greater threat…her father.
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The Magician's Ruins
- The Echo Series Book 2She's the hope of the world … or its destruction.
The portals to the underworld are unguarded, and demons roam free in the Southwest. To return the world to balance Echo Maria Ruiz must survive enough trials to meet with the Magician in his ruined city and learn the secrets he holds. Secrets like the location of her best friend.
Alone and unprepared, Echo must trust Honani, her spirit guardian, and Zeke, the handsome, mysterious warrior who carries her on the back of his motorcycle, battling demons and monsters at her side. In her darkest moments in the Magician’s ruins, Echo discovers betrayal lurks, and her warrior may not be her hero after all.
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The Spirit Seducer
- The Echo Series Book 1The dream comes every night: A warrior clad in leather and wielding a spear, fighting off demons with the heads of jackrabbits and pumas. Defending her. Echo Ruiz knows it’s ridiculous. There’s no one in Santa Fe less likely to need defending. Thanks to the migraines, she’s confined to her mother’s house. Her Native American Studies classes are online, and she hasn’t made a new friend in a decade.
Until her twenty-first birthday party, when trickster Coyote himself shows up. An hour later, Echo is on the run from the power-hungry god. Her headaches are gone. Her mother is a hostage, and she’s been thrust into a mirror-world of deadly loveliness to fight or die.
Her dream warrior? He’s as real as the sweat on her skin. His name is Zeke, and he remembers a lot more about Echo than she does about him. So does her best friend, Layla, who has secrets Echo’s never guessed.
But if Echo wants to defeat Coyote—if she wants to survive—she’ll have to discover the way herself. Because that’s one ending the legends have never told…
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Author Recommended by: HBSystems Publications
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Indie Author’s Corner
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