This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. M.H. Cali will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC plus a special edition paperback copy of the book (which includes a physical copy of the novel, an exclusive signed and numbered bookplate, an original sketch inside the book by Laurie Ya, the artist who made the cover, and drew the interior illustrations, and assorted merchandise including coasters, stickers, a tote bag, and more) to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour (INTERNATIONAL GIVEAWAY). Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
When life catches up with young and brilliant investment banker Lucas Blake in the form of anonymous threats, his existence is exactly what he always wished it could be.
Or is it really?
He can barely remember what his true aspirations looked like a decade ago. All he knows now is that everything he worked so hard to build could crash down in a split second if whoever is blackmailing him decides to act on it.
To make matters more complicated, the team he ends up hiring to silently find the culprit of those menaces includes Raven Collins. A woman Lucas lost touch with, but who he still can't get out of his head completely even years after having met her.
As the race to keep him out of harm's ways unfolds, he enters a journey of self-discovery that might very well make him question the core of his life choices.
When greed, power, and old ideals pair together within a perfect storm is it possible to come out of it unscathed?
Can one's principles thrive in a system that seems to bend even the strongest minded to its will?
Lucas and Raven are about to find out for themselves.
Read an Excerpt
This exchange feels smooth. He’s effortlessly flirting with her.
Maybe Lucas didn’t change a whole lot, after all.
But back in Greece there were a ton of unspoken things between them.
They never talked in depth about their families or their friends. They weren’t together long enough to notice the other’s quirks either.
It was fun and easy. Exactly like they had agreed on.
Now they’re not on vacation. They’re in each other’s real lives with all it entails.
There’s no more carefree sentiment of a fleeting adventure.
No matter where things lead them this time around, she knows he’s Lucas Blake. One of the managing directors of a very important and well-known investment bank.
Similarly, he knows she’s Raven Collins; a lawyer who clearly moved to NYC at some point and who’s working on his case.
There’s no hiding behind inconsequential circumstances because everything would reset the minute they would part ways at the airport.
This is tangible. It could lead them somewhere, or nowhere fast.
She breathes in, deciding to reorient the exchange.
R: What are you doing?
She takes another sip of her rosé.
L: Watching the basketball game with a friend. You?
She shifts her stare at the TV for a second to check the score.
R: Same, but alone.
She watches the game for a beat until she gets a new message.
L: Cheers🍻
A picture of Lucas’ hand raising a bottle of beer in front of a screen where the game is playing is accompanying the text.
She smiles absentmindedly.
She takes a similar picture with her glass of wine, extending her feet on the table to get them in frame before curling her legs under herself, and putting her glass back on the table.
R: Cheers🥂 I’m surprised you don’t have season tickets.
L: I would be too busy to attend most days. You look very cozy. Only missing a cat in your lap.
Raven smiles sadly.
R: I had one. She passed away last year. I miss her presence in my condo every day.
She presses ‘Send’ and then stares at what she just told Lucas.
She never confessed to anyone that she was still feeling the loss of Toast—her white tabby rescue cat.
It somehow felt right to share it with him just now.
L: I’m sorry, Raven. I personally always wanted a dog, but you know how it is when we work long hours…
R: I totally get it. Toast was very independent, so it was easier. She definitely put life into the apartment.
L: Such a great name. Something tells me it has a fun meaning.
She feels oddly thrilled that he is interested in that particular story.
R: It did. First off because of her fur coloring, but mostly due to my annoying toaster at the time.
L: You had an infernal toaster?
R: Yeah. It kept burning toasts. No matter the setting it was on, the bread would come out of it dark as the night. I didn't take the time to go buy a new one for weeks so when I adopted Toast it was still there.
She sends the message intuitively before typing the rest and gets an instant reply.
L: Let me guess. Your cat was a fan.
She cackles.
R: My cat was the ONLY one who absolutely loved it. She would jump on the counter and wait until it was done so she could eat it. She was a rescue who just got to the shelter the morning I adopted her. I decided to wait a bit before naming her when she got to my apartment, so it was the perfect opportunity to use one of her quirks.
L: You're amazing. I'm sure Toast lived her best life with you.
She stares at her phone for a moment.
She could honestly chat with him like this for hours.
But he’s with a friend, and she considers that she took enough of his time for now.
R: I’ll let you watch the game with your friend. It was fun conversing with you a little.
L: You can keep texting me. Mark is also spending a lot of time on his phone messaging his newest crush.
She smiles but keeps her resolve.
R: Good night, Lucas
L: Good night, Raven 🙂
She puts her phone next to her, getting lost in the game for an instant.
The last thing she expected was to sense a sure serenity upon casually chatting with Lucas.
It has been a well needed breath of fresh air in her day.
If this short discussion was any indication, working with him should be enjoyable.
About the Author:
The world is complex and flawed, and so are the characters inhabiting the universes I build. In my fiction novels, I thrive fleshing out stories that explore multiple themes within. If you ever read any of my works, you’ll notice that I love writing layered characters, having a diverse cast, and that to me quiet moments are just as important—if not more—than action-packed ones.
Storytelling is all about balance in the emotions and events throughout the narrative. It's my motto.
If I manage to make you feel what the characters are going through, live the events with them, and wonder what is going to happen, then I succeeded.
If you ever give my stories a chance, I hope you enjoy!
Master link for all socials, website & more: http://bio.site/MHCali
Website: http://mhcaliwrites.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/40661999.M_H_Cali
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0C9LB1FC7/about
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mhcaliwrites/
Twitter (mostly inactive nowadays): https://www.twitter.com/mhcaliwrites
Bluesky handle (for those over there): mhcaliwrites.bsky.social
Link to buy the book on all platforms (ebook or paperback available): https://books2read.com/BalancingEntropy
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1 comment:
Thank you for the feature as part of this tour :). I appreciate you taking the time to do so.
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