Mockingbird’s Cry: Hera Force Series #1 by Winter Austin | Excerpt, Review, & Giveaway
A book blog tour from Goddess Fish Promotions.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and Marianne & Judy at Goddess Fish for providing me with the information for this tour.
Book Details
Mockingbird's Cry by Winter Austin Series: Hera Force: #1
Published by Tirgearr Publishing on 08/10/2021
Genres: Action & Adventure, Fiction, Military, Fiction / Romance / Suspense, Romantic Suspense, Suspense
Format: eBook
Pages: 190
Five years ago, Josephine "Mockingbird" Caruso belonged to an all-female black-ops military group named Hera Force—a team tasked with bringing down terrorists like the enigma dubbed the Chessmaster. But the faceless criminal mastermind had other plans and single-handily destroyed the operation, ruining the women’s military careers and their lives.
Ex-Delta Force operative Detective Lincoln Sullivan reports to the scene of a mass-murder, learning all too quickly he knows the victims. The killer has left behind a deadly missive just for him: Find the Mockingbird or more will die.
Lincoln flies to New Orleans where Jo lives with her twin brother. Lincoln and Jo had once been co-operatives and lovers, however, the fallout from Hera Force's destruction left what little relationship they had in tatters. Jo has no desire to work with Lincoln again, but the threat to her life and the remaining two operatives, Nadia “Phoenix” Roth and Jade “Dragon” Delacour, force her hand.
The four former teammates are thrust together once more. There are unknown forces moving in the background and an old enemy is about to return with a vengeance.
Tensions between the ex-lovers come to a head when Lincoln learns his partner is an Army agent working under Hera Force’s top general, a man who's not all that he seems. With each step Lincoln and Jo take, they are met with death and destruction. Buried lies and half-truths begin to unravel Jo’s shaky trust in Lincoln until all is brought to light.
When the killer strikes, Jo is faced with a hard choice, be the leader she was born to be, or lose Lincoln forever.
Source: Goddess Fish Promotions, Received from the author or publisher for review.
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Purchase Links for Mockingbird’s Cry
Smashwords Tirgearr Publishing
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Excerpt from Mockingbird’s Cry
Together, they entered the second room. Lincoln froze at the sight awaiting them. Five old men in various states of undress surrounded a scarred and battered poker table. Presiding over the whole affair, and with a lit cigar clenched between her teeth, was the grand queen herself.
“Jo! What a surprise.” Amazingly, Nadia was still fully clothed. Her once platinum-blond hair was streaked with shades of blue, pink, and purple, reminding Lincoln of a My Little Pony.
“Nadia, mind if we interrupt?” Jo asked.
Nadia removed the cigar, puffed out a cloud of smoke, and set the stub in an ashtray. “Sure, why not.” She spoke to the men in rapid Cajun French.
Lincoln leaned close to Jo’s ear. “When did she learn that?”
“She probably didn’t.”
“What do you mean?”
Jo peered over her shoulder. “Her TBI did that. It did something to her brain to make her speak new languages she’d never learned before.”
“Wait, what?”
“It’s hard to explain,” Jo said.
As a former CIA black ops assassin, Nadia had a long list of languages she spoke fluently. She had been a veritable Rosetta Stone. But with her injury from the IED, Lincoln figured she’d lost some of those skills. Never in a million years would he have guessed she’d gain more. Guilt twinged inside his chest. If he’d been a better friend, and kept track of Nadia after her release from the hospital, he would have known this. He’d been too wrapped up in his own shit, and losing Jo, he forgot about everyone else.
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My thoughts on Mockingbird’s Cry
Mockingbird’s Cry will grab you on the opening page and not let go.
This military romance ratchets the intrigue and suspense up to impressive heights from the first chapter. Although I had just met the four members of Hera Force, I instantly bonded with them. The chemistry between all four exudes electricity. Whether it’s love, hate, or distrust, you can’t deny the bond between the members of this former military team.
The author gently drops hints of the past like the snowflakes that so mesmerize Jo. She adds layer upon layer of mystery until everyone becomes a suspect. The story’s pace is intense, the collateral damage body count is high, and you need to pay attention not to miss anything.
I recommend Mockingbird’s Cry to everyone needing a fast, furious, intense, entertaining tale to occupy their mind.
5 of 5 Stars for book one of Winter Austin’s latest series. I’ll be watching for book two!
I received a copy of the book for the tour. This review is my honest, unbiased opinion.
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About Winter Austin
Winter Austin perpetually answers the question: “were you born in the winter?” with a flat “nope,” but believe her, there is a story behind her name.
A lifelong Mid-West gal with strong ties to the agriculture world, Winter grew up listening to the
captivating stories told by relatives around a table or a campfire.
As a published author, she
learned her glass-half-empty personality makes for a perfect suspense/thriller writer. Taking her ability to verbally spin a vivid and detailed story, Winter translated that into writing deadly romantic suspense, mysteries, and thrillers.
When she’s not slaving away at the computer, you can find Winter supporting her daughter in cattle shows, seeing her three sons off into the wide-wide world, loving on her fur babies, prodding her teacher husband, and nagging at her flock of hens to stay in the coop or the dogs will get them.
She is the author of ten novels, with more on the way./
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Giveaway!
Winter Austin will be awarding an e-copy of the book to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
Visit more stops on the tour for extra chances to win!
Full Tour Schedule:
October 18: The Reading Addict
October 25: Gina Rae Mitchell
November 1: The Avid Reader
November 1: The Faerie Review
November 8: Harlie’s Books
November 8: Fabulous and Brunette
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Easy Amazon Links
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[…] might also enjoy my review of Mockingbird’s Cry, Book One of Hera […]
I really like the cover and the excerpt.
Thank you for the awesome review and for hosting.
Thanks for hosting!