Naked Truths by Karen Botha
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Blog Tour Dates: 30th November - 6th December 2018
Publication Date: 12th November 2018
Standalone Book 1 in Naked Series
Estimated Page Count - 290
Formats available: Mobi, Epub, PDF
Types of post available: Review, extracts, guest posts and Q&As.
He’s a grieving widower, the perfect boyfriend, and the prime suspect…
Lucy knows the importance of boundaries. As a massage therapist, she keeps her work and her personal life completely separate. But when a handsome widower shows up on her table and sparks an instant attraction, Lucy is shameless. Breaking her rule, she crosses the line, triggering a series of thrilling mysteries.
Paula isn’t so sure about her best friend’s perfect man… or the story of his wife's death. To uncover the truth, the former detective infiltrates his social circle. When she examines a scandalous lodger, a jealous brother, and a protective mother-in-law, everyone seems to have a hidden motive for murder…
Lucy is torn between her old friend and her dark new love. Will she follow her head or her heart? And can Paula discover the true killer before her friend makes a fateful mistake?
Naked Truths is the first book in a series of pulse-pounding romantic suspense books. If you like the odd steamy sex scene, complex characters, and twists you won’t see coming, then you’ll love the suspense of Karen Botha’s gripping romantic suspense.
Karen Botha was born in Lincolnshire England where her father was in the royal air force. As a young girl she always had a passion for reading and writing. Working most of her adult life in digital marketing didn't leave her much time to pursue her passion for stories. at the age of 36 She retrained for a reflexologist and started working for herself. This helped her free up more than enough time to enjoy a re-
Her first novel was inspired by true life experiences and tales from clients. But
don't believe everything you read.She enjoys traveling rugby and motor sport, this gives her inspiration and ideas
for her books.The first in the new lgbt series is a mm romance novel about a racecar driver and
his mechanic.She currently lives in London with her Husband and rescue dog called Shadow.
Read an Extract
This section is where Paula an ex-murder detective starts looking into the guy who her friend is in the process of hooking up with. Although we don't all go snooping into their past, we've all been there with our friends finding partners who we think could be better.
I don’t like Giles. I have no reason not to approve of him, which is a shame because I want one. He’s a perfectly charming individual. And yes, he is gorgeous, although not my type, but that’s what makes a good friendship, isn’t it? Not going after the same man.
And I do like Lucy.
We’ve been friends since we both attended a bachelorette party where we were assigned to be the other’s roommate. We’re not the party animals we were back then, but events such as yesterday are perfect. We love a sunny afternoon of gentle drinking. And don’t get me wrong; I did have fun with Lucy, and with Giles. He’s familiar, and he’s entertaining. But, I still don’t like him. I can’t put my finger on it. Somehow, he makes my spine fizz.
When I noticed him in the line, he was pulling his mouth taught. That may seem odd, but you’ll notice that people find it hard to control their mouths. They hide their emotions by turning the corners up into a smile, but you can read so much about a character when they’re not paying attention.
Giles had let his sag in relaxation, except that it was strained. He was feigning nonchalance while being acutely aware of every activity around him. That makes me suspicious. Plus, why would you go alone to that kind of event? There’s a chance a girl would, but a guy? There’s something not adding up about him and it’s against every instinct I’ve developed to ignore that.
When he dropped Lucy off, the atmosphere changed. Yes, it does sometimes as the spell breaks down along with the group, but it was more.
He was polite. “What a lovely cottage, so quaint.” He didn’t even complain about the parking issues, positioning his car in the center of the road, chatting while I hauled my tipsy self out. But he’s like a jazz band, off beat and not sitting quite right in my gut.
I shift my position in bed, getting comfortable, letting these idle thoughts run through my mind. I’m only half awake and my heart slams in my chest dumping adrenalin into my veins as my phone vibrates on my bedside cabinet.
Lucy lights up the screen; she’s betting I’ll wake early. I swipe left to accept her call.
“Hey, when do you want to go and collect your abandoned car?” Never one for small talk.
“I’m almost up. Give me an hour and I’ll be ready.” Then rethinking I say, “Actually, shall we leave it until later and we’ll grab lunch in that pub on the green?”
“Sounds perfect. How about I pick you up at 12:00?”
“Done!”
She radiates her good mood when I curl myself into her small car. You know when burgeoning love is evident in every mannerism? Well, today, that’s Lucy and I’m ashamed to the pit of my stomach at not being delighted for her.
She waits a full thirty seconds before she asks, “What did you think of Giles?”
It’s one of those moments when your honest response of ‘he’s a creep,’ is not acceptable. You need to respond somehow, but you’re not sure how until the words float free from your mouth.
“Yeah, he seems a nice guy.” I surprise myself. I’m not lying; he does seem a nice guy. I’m just not sure he is.
“He called me this morning.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, asked me out to a pub quiz tonight.”
“Oh, but you’re hopeless at general knowledge, hope you said no.” I feign amusement to avoid showing how unsupportive I am. A welcome breeze floats in through a crack in the window.
“As a matter of fact, I said yes.”
“But he’s a client!” I discourage, throwing her own rules back at her.
“True, but sometimes, there’s this thing you can’t put your finger on that makes someone different. I will always kick myself if I don’t give it a go.”
“Too right.” I brood, but I’m beaten.
If I’m honest lunch was flat.
We exclusively talk about Giles. Re-running yesterday; whether she was right to break her rule of mixing business and pleasure; what a coincidence it was to see him there yesterday; what to wear tonight; re-running yesterday again; how to wear her hair tonight; need I say more?
We’ve all had our nearest and dearest meeting the love of their life. Then we’ve all had to live through the one way process of analyzing every detail while they hobby horse between excitement and self-doubt. But, all the while I sense she wishes she was with Giles at this moment. She’s consumed.
“You like him then?”
“I can’t get him out of my head.”
This is hard to stomach because something about our relationship has already shifted. All because of this handsome stranger who a few days ago meant nothing to her. Lucy is no longer happy with my company. That’s a place we’ve never been. It hurts.
“Just be careful. As my mother says, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.” I keep my tone light.
“Oh Paula, chill, I’m only going to a quiz night with him.”
But my dislike for Giles is fundamental. I’m filled with an emotion as I peer through the fragile window of pending disaster.
“Okay, Okay!” I hold my palms up in surrender, but inside I resolve to find a justifiable reason not to like Giles Harrington.
SHELLEY NOBLE is the NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling Author of women’s fiction. )BEACH COLORS, WHISPER BEACH, LIGHTHOUSE BEACH,)
