Blog Tour: The CONduct series by Jennifer Lane

EXCERPT

With Good Behavior by Jennifer Lane
Excerpt from Chapter 5, "The Jacket"
Sophie and Grant meet outside their parole officer's office

Once Sophie opened the door, she found herself almost colliding again with the gorgeous man from last week. He had his right hand suspended in midair, his fist curled to knock, when she came busting through the door. He seemed as unsure about knocking as she had.

“Um, h-h-hi,” she stammered, closing the door behind her. Meeting her gaze were crystal eyes like blue shards of glass.

Grant took in her bright, beautiful appearance and tilted his head in the direction of the office. “So, what kind of mood is he in today?”

Feeling her heart pound, Sophie managed, “Not so good today. His mother is dying. He just visited her in the hospital.” She cringed, realizing she was inappropriately sharing personal information.

The man showed a look of such utter sorrow that Sophie fought the urge to wrap him in a hug. She wondered what the hell she was thinking. He was a total stranger! And a criminal too.

“That’s awful,” he said, shaking his head. He took a deep breath and squared his shoulders. “Well, I better get in there.”

As he opened the door, Sophie caught sight of the logo on his shiny black athletic jacket. “Wait!” she whispered.

Grant turned to her, bewildered. “What?” he whispered back.

“Your White Sox jacket!” she hissed. “He’s a die-hard Cubs fan!”

“So what?” he retorted. “I would hope we’ve advanced to a world where Cubs fans and White Sox fans can peacefully coexist.”

“Maybe. But he almost had a conniption when he found out I cheer for the Sox. This is the man who could put you back in prison in a second. Do you really want to get on his bad side?”

“Good point.” He began shrugging out of the jacket.

“Madsen, is that you?” Jerry growled from inside the office. “Get your ass in here!”

Grant’s eyes widened in alarm. “I gotta hurry!” He now held the jacket crumpled in his hands, and Sophie admired the length of lean brown arms extending from a heather-gray short-sleeved T-shirt. The shirt’s brown piping accentuated his sinewy triceps.

“I can’t leave the jacket out here or somebody might take it. Here!” He thrust it into her unsuspecting grasp. “You hold it for me.”

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I’ve found that writing fiction is a hell of a lot more fun than slogging through a psychology dissertation! While I write under the name Jennifer Lane, I practice as a psychologist in Ohio. But please rest assured I'm not analyzing you right now. The tales of healing and resilience from my career have inspired me to write my own stories: The Conduct Series.

With Good Behavior began with two cons trying to make it on the outside: running from the Mafia, joking about sexy vegetables, and just maybe falling in love. Bad Behavior, the next in line, reveals that it’s not so easy to escape the past, but the plucky parolees once again strive to persevere. I'm currently at work on the third and final installment of the series: On Best Behavior.

I'm also excited for the release of my first Young Adult novel in March of 2012: Against the Tide. I've found that whether writing or reading, I love stories that make me laugh and cry. In my spare time I enjoy competitive swimming, attending book club, and hanging out with my sisters and their families in Chicago.

Find the author online: website | blog | twitter | facebook | goodreads

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ABOUT THE BOOKS

In a world gripped by organized crime, family dysfunction, and dim hopes of redemption, can true love persevere? For Sophie Taylor, a beautiful psychologist who lost everything when she violated an ethical boundary, and Grant Madsen, a handsome naval officer who sacrificed everything to protect a loved one, finding that love may carry an unbearable cost.

Starting their lives over in Chicago, both are fighting influences from their family and running as fast as they can to escape the past. When their paths cross outside the parole officer's door, the attraction is instantaneous. But a hidden connection may not only shatter their fledgling love, but prove deadly to them both.

Grant Madsen’s got issues. He’s still battling his Mafia family and doing everything possible to keep his loved ones safe. With the cruising season coming to an end, he has to find another job soon or he’ll rejoin his father in prison. And he’s trying to convince his rebellious teenage nephew to stay away from their criminal relatives (you can imagine how that’s going). But worst of all, Grant’s parole officer has mandated that he attend therapy.

The only saving grace is that they’re couples sessions with his girlfriend, Sophie Taylor, a fellow parolee who’s struggling with a few issues of her own. Sophie desperately hopes her past with Grant’s brother won’t destroy her future with him. There’s a sleazy professor at work who revels in sexually harassing women in the psychology department. And her father still hates Grant.

Their psychologist has his work cut out for him.

When Grant’s ruthless father hints at a plot to get out of prison, Grant must use everything he’s learned in therapy and beyond to try to stop him. It’s a race against time -- and a race to rescue Sophie from the Mafia’s clutches once again. But this time McSailor and Bonnie refuse to play victims. This time the cuffs are coming off.

The CONduct series on Facebook

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**GIVEAWAY**

Thanks to Omnific Publishing, one lucky winner will receive an eBook copy of With Good Behavior or Bad Behavior by Jennifer Lane!! There will be a Grand Prize giveaway of a $20 Barnes and Noble Gift Card or a print copy of With Good Behavior or Bad Behavior (winner’s choice) at the end of the tour for participants that comment at each tour stop.

Good luck to all who enter!

 

Click here to view The Conduct Series Tour Schedule...