This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Claire Yezbak Fadden will be awarding a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
Julie Rafferty’s life-long dream is within her grasp. But just as the toy company she founded verges on becoming a multi-million-dollar enterprise, her husband abandons their marriage.
Trevor had no choice but to walk away from Julie. How else could he show his wife that the business was her priority, not him and their three children? His drastic stunt backfires though, jeopardizing the family business and seemingly pushes Julie into the arms of a younger man.
Just when Julie and Trevor find their way back to each other, a ruthless competitor escalates a bogus lawsuit. Together they plot to reclaim control of the toy company, only to uncover a shattering betrayal that puts them in unimaginable danger.
Can they overcome their dreadful mistake and reclaim the passion, trust and commitment that once drew them together? Or will the greed of an evil man irreparably destroy everything they hold dear?
Read an excerpt
Before Julie placed her purse on the desk, Leanne handed her three phone messages, two from Gary and one from a local reporter.
“Oh, and I thought you might want to read this,” Leanne handed over an article printed off the Internet. “After your meeting with Bennett Burnside, I remembered reading this from two years ago.”
The story recounted the case of a family from Georgia. The parents of a ten-year-old had won $100,000 in compensatory damages and $9.9 million in punitive damages in a lawsuit against MaxOut Toys. The suit claimed their son permanently lost partial use of his right hand after playing with BlastAway, a handheld video game manufactured by the start-up company. The article read in part:
“Because of their negligence, this young lad is unable to perform any of the normal activities a boy of ten would enjoy,” their attorney said, arguing that MaxOut management knew the dangers of overuse of their product and was required to provide consumer warnings. “Young Benji is now designated as a special needs student. On the Little League field, Benji can’t pitch, play first base, or even bat properly.”
Julie remembered Mort Gunther’s appeal to the ruling. An appellate court upheld the original judgment, forcing the fledgling toy manufacturer to file for bankruptcy.
Funny. She hadn’t seen Mort since he lost his company…until he introduced her to Bennett Burnside.
Leanne handed Julie a copy of another news item dated months later from the Global Business Briefs section of the Wall Street Journal, announcing Game Masters’ acquisition of bankrupt MaxOut Toys for an undisclosed amount.
An icy surge ran down Julie’s back. She set the papers on Leanne’s desk and clenched the journalist’s phone message in her hand.
Roberta Perkins, San Marcel Mercury News. Please call before 2:00 p.m.
Julie recognized the name and the same byline on the patent-infringement lawsuit article.
While placing the call, Julie licked her lips, a nervous habit she had since a child, waiting for the phone to connect.
“Ms. Rafferty, thank you for returning my call.” Roberta Perkins’s monotone voice replied. Julie pictured her more as a Helen Thomas-style journalist than a wide-eyed Lois Lane.
“An unnamed source on the San Marcel Narcotics Task Force claims the US attorney’s office is requesting a court order to confiscate your company files. Would you care to comment?”
Julie collapsed in her chair, her legs no longer able to support her. “What did you say?”
“Is FunWorks actually a front for money-laundering?”
“I don’t understand the question,” Julie said, her voice shaking.
“It’s the first step before the Narcotics Task Force initiates an investigation,” the reporter said in a matter-of-fact tone.
Nervous energy soared through Julie’s veins. “The Narcotics Task Force? What is this all about?”
“The task force received a tip that FunWorks launders money for drug traffickers.”
“What a ridiculous allegation.” Julie’s pulse quickened, and her hand flew to the silver crucifix dangling on a thin chain around her neck. She fingered the cross and took in a deep breath.
“May I quote you?”
“Quote me? For what?”
“For the article I’m working on. You did know you are under investigation?”
Julie didn’t respond.
“In my experience, allegations of federal law violations are taken very seriously by the United States Attorney, especially Del Evans’s office,” Roberta said, suddenly sounding supportive. “If I were you, I’d call my attorney.”
“I have no comment about the allegation,” Julie managed to say. “I will remind you, though, that a libel suit can be very expensive. In my experience, newspaper publishers fire irresponsible writers whose sloppy work costs them money.” Julie disconnected the call and threw the cordless phone across the room.
Now those jerks had gone too far.
She retrieved her phone.
Twenty minutes later, after waiting on hold, a clerk in US Attorney Del Evans’s office informed her that Mr. Evans was unable to take her call. The clerk couldn’t say anything about the allegations, but she confirmed that contacting a lawyer would be a good idea.
“How long do these investigations take?” Julie asked.
“Hard to say,” the droning voice replied. “Every case is unique. When it’s connected to money, sometimes the IRS and the DEA get involved.”
Julie held the phone receiver near her ear for a minute or two listening to the dial tone.
The IRS and the DEA?
Burnside wanted FunWorks so much, he sicced the Feds on me. Why? About the Author:When she’s not playing with her granddaughters, Pennsylvania native Claire Yezbak Fadden is writing contemporary women’s fiction. Her books feature strong women who overcome life’s challenges, always putting their families first.
There's a special spot in Claire's heart for carousel horses – quite possibly the result of watching “Mary Poppins” 13 times as a young girl. She loves butterflies, ladybugs and confetti! Just ask anyone who's received a birthday card from her.
The mother of three lives in Orange County, California with her husband, Nick and three spoiled dogs.
Claire’s work as an award-winning journalist, humor columnist and editor has appeared in more than 100 publications across the United States, Canada and Australia. Ribbon of Light is the third novel in her Begin Again series.
Buy Links: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GZTZK3T/ref=sr_1_1
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ribbon-of-light-claire-yezbak-fadden/1129446496
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/892576
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/ribbon-of-light
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41578682-ribbon-of-light
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/ribbon-of-light/id1434756246?mt=11
Follow Claire http://www.twitter.com/claireflaire
Email her at claire@clairefadden.com
Like her Facebook Fan Page https://www.facebook.com/claireyezbakfadden
Visit her at http://www.clairefadden.com
Join her mailing list: http://eepurl.com/cclBRv.
Woman@Heart Blog. https://clairextraordinaire.wordpress.com
a Rafflecopter giveaway
DON'T FORGET TO FOLLOW THE TOUR AND COMMENT
ON EACH STOP TO EARN MORE ENTRIES TO WIN!
October 22: Andi's Book Reviews
October 22: Mythical Books
October 23: Laurie's Thoughts and Reviews
October 23: Books,Dreams,Life
October 24: Readeropolis
October 24: Sharing Links and Wisdom
October 25: Edgar's Books
October 25: BooksChatter
October 26: It's Raining Books
October 26: Harlie's Books
October 29: Hope. Dreams. Life... Love
October 29: Jazzy Book Reviews
October 30: Wake Up Your Wild Side
October 30: Stormy Nights Reviewing & Bloggin'
October 31: Mixed Book Bag
November 1: Rainy Day Reviews
November 1: Welcome to My World of Dreams
November 2: Two Ends of the Pen
November 2: Notes From a Romantic's Heart
November 5: All the Ups and Downs
November 5: Fabulous and Brunette
November 6: Christine Young
November 6: Beyond Romance
November 7: The Avid Reader
November 7: Linda Nightingale...Musings
November 8: Bookaholic
November 8: T's Stuff
November 9: A Writer's Life
November 9: Independent Authors
November 12: Travel the Ages
November 12: The Tired Buyer
November 13: Straight From the Library
November 13: Lampshade Reader
November 14: Musings From An Addicted Reader
November 14: Deal Sharing Aunt
November 15: Tina Donahue Books - Heat with Heart
November 15: A Chick Who Reads
November 16: Locks, Hooks and Books
November 16: Long and Short Reviews
Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on this tour and thank for the opportunity to read about another great book out there to read. It helps out so I can find books I know my family will enjoy reading. Thanks as well for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteAmy, what a great way to start my Friday, by seeing my newest novel spotlighted on your blog. I hope your followers find Julie's story compelling. TGIF!
ReplyDeleteI've thoroughly enjoyed following the tour for Ribbon of Light and I'm looking forward to reading it. Thanks for sharing all of the great posts along the way and for the awesome giveaway! :)
ReplyDelete