Iris s Bolling
was born in Richmond, Virginia, has a Bachelor of Science degree in
Organizational Management. S is currently a Workforce Development Trainer with
the Commonwealth of Virginia, providing management training and professional
development consultation for the state workforce.
In an effort to combine the areas in her life she
enjoys the most, education, politics and romance, she penned her first
manuscript, Once You’ve Touched the Heart, which was release in March
2008. Since that time she has released
books 2-5 of what has become The Heart Series which includes, The Heart of Him,
Look Into My Heart, A Heart Divided, A Lost Heart and her latest release, The
Heart. In May of 2011, Iris introduced
her new novel, Night of Seduction/Heaven’s Gate.
In April of 2010 Iris was named Debut Author the Year,
at the Romance Slam Jam conference. Her novel, Once You’ve Touched the Heart
was voted the Readers Choice Award with Shades of Romance Magazine for, Romance
Book of the Year. Iris was voted Romance Author of the Year and Author of the
Year. Her novel A Lost Heart was nominated Romantic Suspense Novel of the Year,
at the 2011 Romance Slam Jam. In 2012 her book Teach Me, was awarded Heroine of
the Year-Diamond Lassiter.
Blurb
CIA Operative Joshua Lassiter is always in the midst of
danger. When an international incident requires his attention, the journey
begins. In foreign territory with a ruthless King at the helm, Joshua finds
himself rescuing royalty and a mysterious woman.
Akande Ambree has a mission: kill the man who
dishonored her family. Ready to give her life in honor of her country, it is
Joshua that crosses her path. Life takes on a different meaning under the
tutelage of a Lassiter in more ways than one.
Love for your country or the sweet love of a man.....
The choice comes with trust.
Contact Info
Twitter @Siriaustin
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Irisbollingbookpalace/
Email www.irisb@sirent.com
Links
www.amazon.com/Iris-Bolling/e/B003OO376I
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2389949.Iris_Bolling
www.barnesandnoble.com/s/iris-bolling
Sneak
Peek!
It felt as if she was floating on a cloud. The guard
would be coming through
soon to check on the girl, she thought. Opening her
eyes was the last thing she wanted to do, but she had no choice. Akande rolled
over flinging one arm over her forehead. She suddenly sat up, threw the sheet
off and jumped out of the bed. Turning around, looking from one item to
another. This was not the dungeon, she
thought as she swiped her hair from her face. Her eyes quickly darted around
the room until she spotted him sitting in the chair near the door.
“Good morning.”
Akande looked up to see a man dressed in a tan linen
shirt, matching pants and sandals, with his ankle resting across his knee. She
had never seen him before and had no idea if he was friend or foe. Looking
around the room there was nothing she could use as a weapon. Glancing down, she
noticed her clothes had been changed and she felt clean. She narrowed her eyes
at him. At least in the dungeon, she
knew who her captors were. Here, she did not know where here was. The unknown
was a fear for her, therefore she did the only thing she could. Attack.
Joshua saw her intent before she took the first step.
He jumped from the chair he was casually leaning in. Using his arm, he blocked
her kick, which caused her to fall to the floor. Standing now, he watched as
she jumped up and took the battle stance with her feet apart, arms up, ready to
attack. It tickled him to see she had taken a battle stance against him. He
thought she would stay down. He was wrong.
“So you know a little Tae Kwon Do?” He asked as he
appeared to be lazily leaning against
the wall. He’d learned a long time ago to never underestimate his opponent.
“Come near me and I will kill you.”
Two strides and he was in the center of the room with
his arms folded across his chest. He smiled down at her. “Many women have
tried, my sweet, yet, I’m still standing.”
“Who are you?” The woman questioned in an angry voice.
“Joshua,” he raised an eyebrow. “I know who you are. I
don't understand your attitude at the moment. Most women are grateful when I
rescue them. You are not.” He stepped back and grinned at the woman who looked
ready to kill. “Do you know each of your names begins with the letter A? Akande
Ariana Aubree. Nice name, by the way. You know, we have this company at home
called Triple A. Can I call you Triple A?” He turned to take a seat at the
table, when she attempted to kick him from behind. He caught her legs in midair
and held her upside down. “Now, why do you want to be this way? All I said was
good morning.”
When she composed herself, in the upside down position,
she curled her hand to make a fist, pulled back and swung.
He jumped back. “Oh no, not the jewels, baby.” He
flipped her onto the bed, as if she was nothing more than a flea. Taking the
silk scarf from the chair, he tied her feet and hands together behind her back.
She lay on her stomach like a seesaw, as he pulled a chair to the foot of the
bed, where she could see him.
“Okay,” he took a moment. “I’m going to forgive you,
for I understand you may be a little confused at the moment. However, you take
another swing at my jewels and I’m going to knock you out. Are we clear?"
He smiled, as daggers appeared to be shooting from the woman’s eyes. He
wondered if that would translate into passion in a bed. He shook the thought
away as the door opened.
LaVere' walked in with a tray of food. He froze in the
spot, tilted his head at Joshua and raised an eyebrow. “You seem to have a way
with women.”
Joshua smiled. “I think she likes me.”
LaVere' put the tray of food on the table then glanced
at the angry woman tied up on the bed. "I am not getting that feeling. Are
you making progress?”
“Yes,” Joshua replied as he walked over to the table,
picked up a slice of toast and bit in to it. “She speaks English.”
“That should make communications easier.”
Joshua looked at her. “I don’t know.” He shook his
head. “She just tried to hit my jewels.”
“Ouch." LaVere' frowned, then folded his arms
across his chest and stared at the woman. “Your mother would not be happy if
you are unable to give her grandchildren.”
“True,” Joshua replied as he carried the tray over to
the bed. “That’s why I’m going to plan number two.”
“Can you handle her or do you need me to stay?”
Joshua looked incredulously over his shoulder. “Is that
an insult?”
“You’re the one with the woman’s hands and legs tied
behind her back,” LaVere' laughed. "Since she speaks English this may be a
good time for you to explain your life's mission," he smirked, then walked
out of the room.
Taking a seat, Joshua smiled. There may be something to
LaVere's suggestion. "You may not believe this, but women generally love
me. I think we just got off on the wrong foot." Still receiving daggers
from the woman, he decided to switch tactics. He turned to the food. It was mid
morning, maybe she was hungry.
"This looks good.” He sat back and bit into a slice of mango.
Closing his eyes, he moaned. “Mmm, this is really good.” He picked up a napkin,
held it under the fruit, then put it to her lips. “Here taste.”
She turned her head away.
“I bit it first so you would know it’s not poisonous.
it really is good. Try it.”
The woman watched him, then her eyes narrowed. She
opened her mouth and he placed the fruit
inside. She bit down on his fingers and would not let go.
"Damn it." He dropped the napkin on the bed,
then squeezed her jaw applying pressure until she released his fingers. He
shook his fingers as if the bite was nothing. “Okay. That was my fault. I tried
to force you to eat, when I should have asked if you were hungry.” He sat
forward and looked at her. “So let’s try again. Hello. My name is Joshua. Is it
okay if I call you Triple A.”
“That is not my name,” she angrily replied with an
accent. “My name is Akande Ariana Aubree.”
“Okay, now see we are getting somewhere."
Anxiously, he looked at his fingers to make sure she had not drawn blood, then
turned back to her. "Since we are making progress, tell me this. Were you
being held against your will?”
“As I am now?”
“See, there’s a difference. I rescued you and even had
breakfast brought in as a peace offering, thinking you may be hungry. In
payment for my thoughtfulness and bravery, I might add, what did you do? You
attacked me without cause or provocation. All I want to know is, if you were
being held against your will, do you want to go home?”
A flicker of surprise appeared in her eyes, then
quickly disappeared. Sitting back in the chair, he crossed his legs at the
ankle and just stared at her and thought. Masking your reactions takes years of
practice. The stance she took before attacking him was not amateurish, it was a
professional stance. Where did she learn that, he wondered?
She had beautiful eyes, a slight slant to them. Dark
lashes, against smooth chestnut skin. Her natural hair, was twisted in a large
single braid, that was wrapped around her head giving it a crown effect. To
him, she looked like a temptress, in a neat little package. A wildcat. He liked
that. “Where are you from,” he asked?
The room was silent as he patiently waited for her to
reply. At some point, she would realize he was not the enemy.
“Asmere.”
“Finally," he threw his hands in the air.
"Okay, next question. Do you want to return home?” He watched as the
question played in her mind. He wondered why she had to think about the
question. He would think she would be excited with the possibility of seeing
her loved ones again.
“Yes.”
“Okay,” he stood, and placed the tray back on the
table. He walked back over to the bed and stood over her. “I’m going to untie
you. Make a wrong move and I will take you out. Do you understand?"
"Yes," she replied.
With one flick of his wrist, she was released. She
immediately jumped up from the bed and kicked his legs from under him. He fell
to the floor and she sat on his back,
grabbed the scarf, and tied it around his neck then pulled with all her might.
“Where is the girl?”
"Whoa. That was good," he laughed as he
reached back grabbed her by the neck and flipped her over. "One good turn
deserves another," he said as he now sat on her back. "You got the
drop on me." He shook his head as he pulled the scarf from around his neck
then ripped it in half. "I was looking at your lips instead of your
eyes." He huffed as he ripped the scarf again. "My bad. What you
don't know is I have six sisters who have tried that maneuver on me. You could
take lessons from them." He huffed, angry now, he stood, putting his foot
in her back to keep her down. "First you tried to kick me." He tied
her feet together. "Then you tried to hit me in my balls of all
places," he yelled as he turned her over and tied her hands. "Then
you bit me." He tied a strip around her mouth placing a knot behind her
head. He stood over her to take a look at his work. Satisfied, he picked her up
and sat her on the edge of the bed. "I pride myself on being a patient
man, however, you are slowly pushing me over the edge,” he yelled. “The only thing
keeping me from knocking you the hell out is I think you have the girl’s best
interests at heart." He huffed, then pulled the chair up and sat in front
of her. "The girl is back with her family. Now, what was your role in her
capture?”
The woman angrily mumbled something.
He realized she couldn't speak. Frustrated, he reached
behind her and pulled the scarf from her mouth and glared into her eyes.
"I kill people for a living. Keep that in mind the next time you think
about doing something to piss me off. Now answer me," he sat back.
The woman flinched at the controlled anger he was
displaying. With fire coming from her nose, she replied. “I had no role in her
capture,” she seethed. “I was only told to care for her. Where am I?”
“Not important.” He crossed his legs at the ankle. His
legs were so long they almost reached where she was sitting. “I'm not a mean
person. I do however kill people when provoked. If, I’m so inclined I rescue a
few. I’m good at both--damn good.” From time to time I return people to their families.
You hesitated when I asked before. Are you sure you want to go home?”
All Akande could do was stare at the tall dark man
before her. Friend or enemy, he was an imposing figure. What had happened, she
did not know. The last thing she remembered was hearing steps at her door. Her
confinement had heightened her senses. The moment his steps stopped at the
first door, she immediately awakened. Not moving, she watched as his penlight
swayed around the room. The click, he thought was silent, vibrated through her
mind, as if it had been a bulldozer. She sprang up and grabbed the heaviest
thing she could find, a book. After waiting for a minute, she heard no
movement. She took a step towards the open doorway and peeked around in the
room. Her next memory was of a few minutes ago when she opened her eyes.
Fear, more so uneasiness, spread through her, for she
did not recognize him or know where she was. Anger filled her for she was tired
of people just taking her and locking her away. Did he just ask something?
“Are you?”
She heard him ask again. “Am I what?”
“I need you to stay focused. Are you sure you want to
go home?”
“If I am, what are you, as the Americans say, my knight
in shining armor?”
“I’ve been called that from time to time,” he smiled
displaying two huge dimples on each cheek.
His smile jarred her senses. She did not believe men
who looked like him really existed. This man, she could look at for days and
never blink away. He was dressed as if
he was on vacation, not like a warrior, yet, there was something clearly in his
eyes indicating he was dangerous. For some reason, unknown to her, she felt
drawn to him. She shook the feeling away. “I want to leave here. I want to go
home."
“Where is home?”
The sight of the fiery woman of five minutes ago, with
her head now down, bothered him. He
placed a finger under her chin, she quickly pushed it away. “ That’s more like
it. I like my women fiery. This is the last time I’m going to ask. Where is
home?”
He stood, giving her the feeling he was towering over
her, as her eyes traveled up his body to reach his eyes. Another feeling
invaded her senses, but this was not the time to figure it out. This may be her
only opportunity to escape.
She exhaled. “My
uncle is King Tarik of Asmere.”
Excerpt for The Book of Joshua I - TRUST ©2013 by Iris
Bolling
