Release Blitz & Review - OPAL by Freya Barker

 

Title: Opal (Gem Series, #1) 

Author: Freya Barker 

Genre: Romantic Suspense-Slow Burn Romance 

Release Date: May 22, 2023 

Hosted by: Buoni Amici Press, LLC.

GEM: A PRIVATELY-FUNDED ORGANIZATION OPERATING INDEPENDENTLY IN THE SEARCH FOR—AND THE RESCUE AND RECOVERY OF—MISSING AND EXPLOITED CHILDREN. ALTHOUGH, AT TIMES WORKING IN CONJUNCTION WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, GEM AIMS TO ENSURE THE VICTIMS RECEIVE JUSTICE…BY WHATEVER MEANS NECESSARY. ____

GEM Operator Opal; multifaceted, versatile, a chameleon. She hides in plain sight, adapts, and infiltrates. When Opal goes undercover in a youth center several teenagers have disappeared from, she’s shocked to find a ghost of her own traumatic past at the helm. However, her worry for the missing kids is greater than her concern being recognized and she risks her own safety to discover the truth. To complicate matters, a familiar FBI agent shows up conducting his own investigation and almost blows the whistle on her. It takes some doing to convince him to join forces with her but as it turns out, they work well together. In the course of uncovering an organized group of child molesters, they find themselves falling—for each other.

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5 Stars

Ms Barker has brought us a new series with her signature strong, kick ass heroines and intricate web of suspense to keep the pages turning. A subject matter that is all too real in the world today that can be difficult to comprehend and understand. I was drawn in from the very first chapter and couldn't put this book down.

Opal (Kate) has beat the odds and found her way out of the child services system, making a name for herself in the military and police force before finding her true calling in the GEM organization, working to find and help exploited children. She has a personal investment in helping these children as too many have gone unhelping over the years. She has kept her friendships to a small intimate group and not looked for relationships, letting her work hold her attention.

Mitch is married to the job as an FBI agent working on a special team for child exploitation. His second love is his teen daughter who can try his every patience but he would do any for her. Though the connection he has with his little girl is forever changing as she gets older, he does what he can to keep a close relationship with her.

A slow burn romance smoulders in the back ground as the GEM team finds themselves working along side the FBI team to solve a string of missing children who frequent a teen shelter. The ladies of GEM has a little more wiggle room in their plan of attack to find the pieces of the puzzle, where the FBI has a strict booklet of rules and guidelines to follow. Will they be able to mix the two strategies and find the children before it is too late? Could their be a chance for a budding relationship between two workaholics?

A wonderful group of sub characters that I can't wait to see get their story as they continue to work and keep the children safe. Grab your copy today.

*** Advanced copy provided in exchange for an honest review. ***

   

USA Today bestselling author Freya Barker loves writing about ordinary people with extraordinary stories. With forty-plus books already published, she continues to create characters who are perhaps less than perfect, each struggling to find their own slice of happy. Recipient of the ReadFREE.ly 2019 Best Book We've Read All Year Award for "Covering Ollie, the 2015 RomCon “Reader’s Choice” Award for Best First Book, “Slim To None”, Finalist for the 2017 Kindle Book Award with “From Dust”, and Finalist for the 2020 Kindle Book Award with “When Hope Ends”, Freya spins story after story with an endless supply of bruised and dented characters, vying for attention!

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Blurb for Pearl:

GEM: a privately-funded organization operating independently in the search for—and the rescue and recovery of—missing and exploited children. Although, at times  working in conjunction with law enforcement, GEM aims to ensure the victims receive justice…by whatever means necessary. 

____

Operator Pearl; layered, mysterious, a protector.

She masks as delicate, analyzes, and moves stealthily.

Hot on the trail of a young accomplice in a child exploitation ring, Pearl finds herself posing as a teenager to get close. Unfortunately, joining a group of kids on a wilderness quest means stepping out of her comfort zone and into uncertainty. But with the target in her sights her focus stays razor-sharp.

The last thing she needs is the dogged journalist who’s been close on her heels catching up and rattling her cage. When he inserts himself into her investigation, she has no choice but to go along.

Thrown together in a mutual pursuit of justice, the negative energy between them sparks up in a new way. 

Genre: Romantic Suspense 

Release Date: August 25, 2023

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GEM: a privately-funded organization operating independently in the search for—and the rescue and recovery of—missing and exploited children. Although, at times  working in conjunction with law enforcement, GEM aims to ensure the victims receive justice…by whatever means necessary. 

____

Onyx; balanced, strong, a guardian

She’s the voice of reason, advocates, and strategizes.

Supporting the team from the background, Onyx rarely goes out in the field. However, when a widespread child exploitation ring is discovered, her particular skill set is needed to get close.

Unfortunately, her boss—a man she’s never laid eyes on before—is dead set against her taking the lead. Outvoted, he finds a way to keep her in his sights,  risking his own exposure.

It’s only a matter of time before the final truth is revealed, and they’re forced to face the past and secure their future.

Genre: Romantic Suspense 

Release Date: November 6, 2023 

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