Title: Collision Control

Author:C.A. Szarek

Genre: Suspense/Contemporary

Publication Date: October 3, 2014

Add to: Goodreads

Purchase Links: Amazon US / Amazon CA / Amazon UK / B&N

Synopsis

*can be read as a standalone A one night stand can't possibly mean forever… Detective Jared Manning met his match at a bar. After a night of passion, she sneaks out of his bed without so much as a note. Problem is, now he can’t find her. Kindergarten teacher Melody Nash doesn’t do one night stands. Embarrassment gets the best of her and she lies about her name. When they collide at her school, Mel resists his pull. She won’t risk her heart on the obvious playboy, even though she can’t stop thinking about the night in his arms. Stress engulfs both Jared’s personal and professional life. His brother is at the centre of the joint case he and his partner are working in cooperation with FBI. He puts his job on the line when he fails to share his blood relation—a complication he doesn’t need, considering the FBI agent on the case is convinced his brother killed her fiancé. Balance is the name of the game. Can Jared save his brother and convince Mel they’re meant to be together? Reader advisory: This book contains references to past sexual abuse and rape that happened when the character was a child.

My Review

Collision control is a journey of right and wrong and the ties that bind us. This is a very well written book that brings you into the minds of every character. You get a glimpse into the lives of each character and how they are dealing with the situations they find themselves in. Miss Szarek was able to masterfully keep me entertained and wanting to know what was going to happen next. I loved how even though we weren’t always with the two main characters we always knew what had happened in the gaps we missed.

Jared is a police officer who had a rough start to life. He and his older brother were bounced from foster home to foster home, over 140 to be exact. One night when he is at a bar with his fellow detectives, he hears a laugh that has him intrigued as to who it attached to. While scanning the bar he sees a table of four women and one that knocks him on his ass with her beauty and laugh. He decides to go over and introduce himself and when he does he has no idea how much that introduction will change the way he looks at life.

Mel is out with friends because they tell her she needs to loosen up and start living again after the train wreck of her last relationship. Her ex fiancé left her at the alter and not only that he had been having an affair for six years and fathered a child. She has a negative body image about herself and can’t believe someone as hot as Jared would actually be interested in her, but after a few drinks and some close dancing she ends up going home with him and having a night of unbridled love making.

However the next morning she can’t see it going anywhere and a one night stand is so not her, so she sneaks out leaving him only with the somewhat fake name she gave him. Jared wakes up and can’t believe she left but he doesn’t have a lot of time to dwell on that when a huge case lands in his lap and the main suspect is his older brother who walked away years ago.

Along with this case comes a jaded FBI agent who is convinced that Jared’s brother killed her fiancé and FBI partner. Jared tries everything to keep the fact that it’s his brother hidden from anyone. And then the stress of wanting Mel is added to his plate.

Luck would have it through that because of divine intervention Mel and Jared meet again. This time he wasn’t letting her go without a fight. She brought the feelings of wanting to settle down and be with just one person forever to the front of his life. Just as their relationship picks up though Jared’s brother appears and needs help.

Jared knows his brother is innocent and skates the dark side of the law to keep him safe and prove his innocence. The only problem is some secrets eat you alive and don’t stay secret for long. Through some turns of events his brother’s location and the fact that it’s his brother comes to light. But Mel will stand by her man no matter what is thrown their way.

So I don’t want to say much more because this story is very intercrit and all the pieces fit together so well that if I say any more you won’t be surprised like I was. So in the end we have one hot cop and a sexy teacher and a cast of other characters that I hope and pray will have their own stories.

★★☆ 4 Colliding Stars ☆★★

Review By Angela Deforge

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EXCERPTS

Renee’s one drink melted into three…four…or five?

Shit, he’d lost count, but had only had one more shot of Scotch himself. He had to drive home, not to mention be at work earlier than normal

They danced until it was almost eleven and the place was pretty cleaned out, given it was a week night.

The youngest McAuley, Brian, kept throwing Jared knowing looks from the bar. The guy was paying more attention to them than the counter he was supposedly cleaning.

Yeah, I know, I’m thinking what you are, dude.

Jared wanted Renee. Wanted to take her back to his place, throw her down on his bed and give her the time of her life.

She’d have no problem relaxing.

He pulled her closer and swayed to some random country song about long lost love. It could’ve been any one of the greats crooning as they danced, but it didn’t register. He couldn’t keep his mind off the gorgeous woman in his arms.

Soft, curvy. Perfect.

Jared wanted to taste her. All of her. His cock twitched as her pelvis brushed his. He tried to tell it now wasn’t the time, but let’s get out of here was on the tip of his tongue.

“Hard,” Renee whispered, lifting her head from his shoulder.

He stilled and their eyes met. God, he’d die if she realized he was half-aroused.

Then again, it’s a good way to see if she’s on the same page.

“What?” he croaked.

“Your chest. It’s so hard.” She poked his right pec. Her cheeks went rosy for the hundredth time, but Renee was adorable.

Most of the flush was alcohol related. He needed to remember that. Pin it to his brain. He got the feeling she didn’t drink much, but he hadn’t lost track of all the beer she’d downed. His conscience chided, Put her in a cab. Send her home.

He couldn’t. Jared wanted her. If she was willing, he’d have Renee.

You are such a sleaze.

She peered up at him as if she was waiting on him to say something.

Right. Hard.

Heat crept up his neck. “Uh. Yeah. I work out.”

Renee blinked then giggled. “Guys who look like you don’t notice girls who look like me.” She backed out of his embrace, gesturing to her body. The movement of her arms made her skirt play at her knees. A tease.

Jared’s dick jumped and he almost groaned. He wanted to see more. But her words sank in and he cupped her face. “You are absolutely gorgeous.”

She scoffed, rolling her eyes. “Right. Me.”

Lowering his head, he took her mouth, swallowing her surprised squeak. Beer and sweet, sweet woman greeted his tongue when Jared forced her to open for him.

God, she tastes good.

Like a sugary treat mixed with the stout lager she’d consumed, her kiss was a drug he had to have more of.

Renee stepped into him, wrapping her arms around his neck. She moved her mouth under his, kissing him back, giving when Jared took. Her hips against his made him granite, and when she rocked into him, his body took over and pressed right back.

He kissed her long and hard, until his cock threatened to blow in his jeans. Considering the three shots of Scotch and at least three beers, he was pretty damn impressed.

Jared needed to get her to his place. Now.

Panting, he made himself end their lip-lock before he wrapped her legs around his waist and pushed her skirt up right there on the dance floor just to get inside her faster. “Wanna get out of here?”

Large, perfect breasts rose and fell against his chest. Purple fabric shifted as she struggled to breathe evenly, giving more than a mere hint at cleavage. Her blue eyes were hazy, but she nodded.

“Yeah?” His heart kicked into overdrive and he chided himself to calm down. They were both inebriated, but this isn’t a good idea went unheeded. He wasn’t exactly thinking with his big brain.

“Yes.” The word was breathless and made him groan.

“My place or yours?”

Her hesitation made him cringe.

Please don’t change your mind.

“Yours.” Renee nodded, as if she was trying to convince herself so he kissed her again, cupping her ass and pushing his erection into her pelvis.

“I want you,” he breathed.

No way was he sleeping alone tonight.

From Chapter Three (PG-13)

Val pushed the passenger door open from the driver’s side, flashing a grin. “Slut puppy taxi at your beck and call. No charge for the first ride. Congrats on the end of a loooooooooong drought! Step on up.”

Mel glared and stalked to the car, ignoring her bare feet.

“Oh. My. God. You look like you’re having a walk of shame. Wasn’t it good? That guy is smokin’.”

“Shut. Up.” Mel climbed into Val’s Jeep. She slammed the door and snapped her seat belt on.

“Hey, now. Don’t take your bad sex life out on my baby. Least you got some.”

She reclined in the bucket seat and closed her eyes. Can’t believe I’m gonna say this. “It wasn’t bad. It was…awesome.”

“Then what’s with the ’tude? And where the hell is my other shoe?”

“I couldn’t find it.” Mel flashed her friend a sheepish smile.

Val frowned and tapped on the overhead light. “Dude, those are my Louies!”

“Val, seriously. I don’t think I can take you without caffeine.”

“Mel, seriously. They were expensive.”

“I’ll buy you another pair.”

“What is wrong with you?” Val frowned. “You should be relaxed if your new friend is good in bed.”

“I’m fine, but thanks.”

“I have a better idea than buying me new shoes.”

“What’s that?” Mel arched an eyebrow.

“Go back upstairs, get his number and tell him you want to see him again. After all, if you got laid on the first date, the second one’s gotta be awesome. Oh, and you can get my damn shoe.”

“No.”

Val’s blue eyes narrowed. “I will totally kick your ass if you’re going to let that piece of shit David ruin a perfectly good romp with the hottest guy that’s ever given either of us the time of day.”

Mel bit her bottom lip.

Right.

Like beautiful Val, naturally blonde, big blue eyes, five foot seven, real double Ds and one-hundred-twenty-five pounds soakin’ wet couldn’t get a guy like Jared to give her a second glance.

Mel didn’t know what to say, so she looked out the window.

“That’s it, isn’t it?” Val demanded, finally pulling out of the parking lot of Jared’s apartment complex.

Her best friend’s tirade against her ex continued down Main Street.

“No. It’s not David,” Mel said. It was only half David, but she wouldn’t admit it aloud.

Val snapped her mouth shut and stopped at a red light. “Then what is it? I know seeing him at school was more than a shocker, but I’m sure Jared helped. There’s something wrong in your head if he didn’t.”

“First of all, finding out that the guy I thought was the love of my life not only left me at the altar but also had been cheating on me the last six years of our relationship, and had a child with someone else and didn’t bother to tell me is more than a shocker, Val. David Junior better not end up in my class. I might kill a kid.”

Val giggled.

“You’re laughing?”

“I like you riled up. I didn’t say you couldn’t be upset. That’s why I took you out last night. Emily and Kara both agreed you needed out. And lo and behold, Mel got herself a new man!”

“I did not.”

“Why not? Damn, he’s hot.”

“Yeah. I have eyes.”

“Hmmm. Lucky ones. And lucky hands…and lucky everythings. You got to do a hell of a lot more than look at him.”

Mel sighed and shook her head. She loved Val to death, but her friend would never get it. Val looked like someone Jared should be with. Mel didn’t. “I was going to ask you how much you paid him.”

Val’s head shot around, and their eyes locked. “What’re you talking about?”

“He walked up to me.”

“Right.”

“When I was at a table with you, Em the hot redhead, and Kara the bad boy magnet.”

“Correction, I am the bad boy magnet.”

Mel glared and Val smirked. “You know what I mean.”

“No, actually I don’t.”

“You guys are hot…and I’m…me.”

It was her best friend’s turn to glare. “Melody Renee Nash. I am going to stop this car and kick your ass. You are so stupid sometimes I wonder if you have mirrors in your house. You’re flippin’ gorgeous.”

Mel rolled her eyes. “I do have mirrors in my house. Which is my point.”

Val pulled the Jeep into McAuley’s parking lot and shut it off. She grabbed both Mel’s hands and squeezed, her blue eyes serious. “I love you. We’ve been through a lot of shit together, but I hate what that son of a bitch did to you. And you put up with it for way too long. I thanked God the day he didn’t show to your wedding. I’m glad you didn’t marry him.”

From Chapter Four. (PG-13—language)

“Son of a bitch!”

Why hadn’t his alarm gone off? Jared shot out of bed, his eyes zoning in on his digital alarm clock.

6:53 taunted him in bright blue. Briefing was in seven minutes.

Fuck.

Chief hated tardiness. It wasn’t often he ordered the detectives to morning shift briefing, so it had to be something big.

“Double fuck.”

Like he needed his boss pissed at him all day. He snatched his cell out of his discarded jeans from the night before. Shit, he hadn’t charged it, either. It’d be dead by nine a.m., if that.

Gonna be late.

Jared texted his partner, not waiting for a response. The phone dinged from where he’d thrown it on the bed, but he ignored it. He grabbed a fresh pair of jeans from the closet and shoved his legs into them.

He took a moment to snatch his blue shirt off the floor, draping it on the back of the overstuffed chair in the corner. He caught a whiff of Renee’s sweet scent and paused.

She’s gone.

Not like he could’ve forgotten their night of passion, but his urgent need to get to the police department was leading.

Too bad, too, because he wanted to think about her.

He glanced over his shoulder at his rumpled bed. She’d been…fantastic. Sweet and hot, with a touch of innocence. He’d never had such a responsive lover.

Jared yanked on a short-sleeved, black button-down, his mind consumed by Renee as he hastily tucked it in.

Why’d she leave?

No time to look for a note.

He slid his holster onto his belt and rushed out of his room. Jumped over the broken lamp fragments.

No time to clean that up, either.

Jared groaned when he spotted his coffee maker on the kitchen counter. He’d not taken the time to set it up the night before, so no java for him.

Yeah…you were a little busy.

He smirked and rushed out of his apartment. He’d take an armful of beautiful woman to hot coffee in the morning anytime.

Renee’s perfume was in his truck, too.

He shook his head, trying to convince his cock now wasn’t the time when it twitched. She’d been…perfect. Jared needed to see her again.

“Shit. Don’t even know her last name.”

Why’d she left without a word? She should’ve woken him up. He would’ve taken her again, if she’d been willing.

Renee had been gorgeous in passion, her long wavy hair spread across his pillow, her head tilted back. Rosy full cheeks, gorgeous lips parted. Full breasts rising and falling. Every gasp and whimper had made him burn for her more.

Jared’s stomach fluttered and he gunned the accelerator out of the complex parking lot, ignoring the three beeps in a row from his phone. He’d be at work in a few minutes.

He ran down the hall, almost mowing his boss’s assistant down when he rounded the corner toward the briefing room. Nikki scooted out of his way, a hand on her rounded tummy, big brown eyes wide.

“Sorrrrrrrrry, late!” he called. That was all he needed, to accidently hurt Pete’s pregnant wife. Jared hurried on his way, not giving her a chance to answer.

Skidding to a halt at the closed door, he sucked in a breath and tried to slip into the room silently. Of course, his boot caught the metal doorframe with a loud clang.

Jared winced as all heads turned his way.

Chief glared. “Nice of you to join us, Detective Manning.”

He wanted to close his eyes, but forced a nod for his boss. Chief Paul Martin’s temper wasn’t to be trifled with.

Gonna hear it later for sure.

His partner smirked when their eyes met, but at least Cole had saved him a seat.

“Nice of you to join us, Detective Manning.” Cole kept his voice low, but it was a fair impression of their boss’s bark.

“Thanks for the seat, Detective Lucas. Considering I woke up at exactly six-fifty-three, I wouldn’t say seven-twenty-one is all that bad.”

“Yeah, guess you have something to be proud of.” One corner of his partner’s mouth shot up.

“I need coffee, though.”

“You two shut up,” Andi, Cole’s wife and fellow detective whispered, but her tone was amused.

“What kept you?” Lucas asked, throwing a wink at his wife. “Everything okay?”

“I’m cool. Alarm didn’t go off.” If Renee had still been there, it would’ve been a different story.

“Right.” His partner’s gray eyes were skeptical.

“You two might wanna pay attention, since you’re supposed to be lead on this.” Pete Crane scooted to the edge of his seat beside Andi in the row behind them.

“Lead on what?” Jared looked toward the projector screen at the head of the room. Chief was in lecture mode, pointing to pictures as he talked.

“Auto theft ring. Dallas FBI office called. I’m sure the agent—Carrigan or something—on the bigger case will pop up sooner or later. From what Chief told me, she’s wrapping up something else right now. But this is a big deal,” Cole said. “The oversized tatted dude is their leader. The pic that’s front and center. On the last job, he killed an undercover FBI agent, John Murray. Murray’s the dark haired guy on the left on the board. He was undercover as a member of their team. A lot of what we know is just best guesses.”

“Shit.”

Cole nodded. “They were spotted near Antioch, and we’re supposed to run point. We do have a lot of expensive rides around here and the feds want this guy bad.”

Jared’s heart dove to his stomach when he took in the photo on the screen.

His brother’s dark brown eyes stared right back.

About the Author

Bestselling, award winning author of romantic suspense and epic fantasy romance, C.A. loves to dabble in different genres. If it's a good story, she'll write it, no matter where it seems to fit! She's a hopeless romantic and always will be. Risking it all for Happily Ever After is what she lives by! C.A. is originally from Ohio, but got to Texas as soon as she could. She's happily married and has a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice. She works with kids when she's not writing.