I am pleased to be part of the announcement and cover reveal for Suzanne Burke’s latest thriller. The regular Top Ten feature will be back next week.
I was fortunate to be part of the beta reader team for The Reckoning Squad and can say this is another great example of Suzanne’s talent for writing thrillers. Here is Soooze to fill you in.
Hello, and welcome to the Cover Reveal of my New Psychological Thriller.
“The Reckoning Squad.”
The Reckoning Squad
By
S. Burke
Available to Pre-Order NOW.
Release Date: Monday FEBRUARY 24th, 2020.
Mystery>Psychological Thriller & Suspense >
It is such an exciting time for an author when releasing a new book! I would be remiss in not sharing my heartfelt thanks to the marvelous people who gave of their time so readily to beta read my latest book. Their valuable insights helped me enormously when crafting “The Reckoning Squad.”
At long last, I’m able to share the cover and blurb for “The Reckoning Squad,” my latest Psychological Thriller.
“The Reckoning Squad ” is due for release on Monday, February 24th, 2020.
It is NOW available for Pre-Order.
I have many good friends sharing this cover across the blogosphere today and tomorrow, so you’re likely to see it pop up in various places. Thank you to everyone participating in my cover reveal splash, and to everyone dropping by to share in my excitement. Here’s my new baby . . .
With much gratitude to Eeva Lancaster at The Book Khaleesi for the cover creation.
Cover Created by Eeva Lancaster at The Book Khaleesi
Presenting “The Reckoning Squad” A Psychological thriller.
“The Reckoning Squad“
BLURB:
The Reckoning Squad was the new name being whispered in the darkened corridors of the powerful in Washington. The name was whispered with awe, and the whispers grew louder.
Twenty people had been carefully vetted and recruited to undergo specialized training. Training engineered to break them utterly, intended to shatter everything they once believed themselves capable of surviving. Only the best of them made it through the twelve weeks of hell. They now formed a cohesive black-ops unit, known as The Reckoning Squad.
Their facility is breached, and the team’s numbers are decimated. The survivors know that they’re in a fight for their lives. They have been betrayed from within. Trust has now become a rare commodity. They want answers.
The betrayers don’t understand just what they’ve unleashed.
But they are about to find out.
The Reckoning Squad are coming, and they have just rewritten the rules.
#
Here’s an extract from the Prologue.
Prologue.
New York: November 8th, 2003.
Chastity Adams checked the time, ran a brush through her long blonde curls and hurriedly grabbed her school books. She shoved them into her backpack and slipped on her gloves. One quick look from her bedroom window was enough to tell her just how windy it was outside. The last of the fall leaves still clung bravely to the branches, all the while knowing it was futile. The others swirled in small angry spirals across her backyard. She grabbed her coat, pulled on a beanie, and loosely draped a scarf across her shoulders. Chastity was unaware of how pretty she looked with her long curls falling in a soft curtain around her. Her mind was too busy to cloud it with vanity.
She suddenly recalled a decision she’d made yesterday.
Chastity hurried down the hallway to her brother Nathan’s room and knocked on the door.
Nathan stood looking down at her from his 6ft 3ins, rubbing his eyes and leaning on the wall. “What’s up, squirt?”
Chastity ignored the nickname, she’d be thirteen in a couple of days then she’d ask her big brother to quit using it, “I was just wondering if you had some gloves and maybe a beanie or scarf you don’t ever wear.”
“Why would you need them?”
Chastity flushed a deep shade of pink, “There’s this boy at school, he kinda always looks cold. He’s still wearing the same stuff he was wearing back in June. It’s way too cold now for shorts and a tee-shirt. So, I figured maybe his folks just didn’t have enough money to buy him some warmer stuff, you know? I mean he could have one of mine, but he already gets picked on enough and adding bright girl colored stuff would just make it worse.”
“You off on another one of your missions to save the world, squirt?”
“I’m not! But it just doesn’t seem right that some folks have too much, and some folks never have enough. That’s all.”
Her brother looked at her closely and nodded. “Okay. I guess I have some stuff I don’t really need.”
His sister flung her arms around him. “You are the best brother ever! You wouldn’t maybe have an old hoodie as well?”
Nathan knew he’d lose an argument with his kid sister. He had never been able to deny her anything. And the little minx knew it.
His eyes followed her as she left the room with her donated bootie. He tried to shrug off the thought that his friends may start looking at his kid sister a little differently, and soon.
Then he grinned and was comforted by the knowledge that the squirt was capable of laying them out flat on the ground, courtesy of the karate lessons she’d undertaken since the age of five. If she didn’t dissuade them, they’d have to come through him. That wasn’t about to happen. This whole big brother thing had suddenly altered in a way he hadn’t anticipated happening quite so soon.
***
Travis Wilson shivered as he stepped outside and hurriedly locked the front door behind him. The baggy shorts and tee-shirt he was wearing gave him no armor to fight off the cold November wind. He steeled himself to brace it, picked up his violin case and hurried to catch the school bus.
He climbed on and made his way quickly down to the back corner and grabbed the window seat. He spoke to no one and kept his eyes averted, but he couldn’t shut his ears off from hearing the nasty comments from the other kids that sat nearest to him. “You going away to a beach somewhere, freak? Don’t much like your choice of swimwear.”
The guy had secured himself a good laugh with that one.
Then the other comments started. Kids seemed to grow braver when they formed a pack. Travis knew they weren’t all cruel, not normally, but the need they had to belong trashed all over their distaste at what they were doing. Driven by the desire to be considered popular inspired them to be as cruel as they could be. Their words lacerated his already damaged soul and Travis felt his face darken with the shame of it. He didn’t respond either by word or action, knowing they’d soon become bored with their bullying of him, and move their spiteful tongues on to some other kid they deemed to be weak and an easy target.
He looked out the window and sighed with relief when he spotted Chastity Adams and her best friends readying to climb onboard at the bus stop. Chastity was different from the rest of them. He always felt a little better about his day when she’d seek him out and give him a smile. He looked across at her then, just as she turned. He knew she had caught the wistful look on his face. She simply smiled across at him and turned back to her chattering best friends.
He caught the smile and burned it into his memory. He would remember it when the darkness descended again. It would help keep him warm.
***
Purchase The Reckoning Squad on Amazon.com
Again my grateful thanks to the generous folks sharing my Cover reveal with you today.
I’m looking forward to hearing your thoughts.
What a great cover! Congratulations to Suzanne. Thanks for sharing, John.
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Thank you, Jill. 😊
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Thank you, Jill! I’m so delighted that you like the cover.
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Heartfelt congratulations to Suzanne! I have placed my order and can’t wait to read The Reckoning Squad. Thank you, John, for sharing this wonderful news!!
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Thank you for the visit, Gwen. 😊
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Thank you, Gwen! I can’t stop smiling this morning.😁
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Reblogged this on Legends of Windemere.
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Thank you for the reblog, Charles.
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You’re welcome.
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Thanks so much for the reblog, Charles! I appreciate the support!
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You’re welcome.
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Congrats on your upcoming release, Suzanne!
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Thanks, Cassidy.
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Thanks so much, Cassidy.
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Looking forward to another great read by Soooz! Cover looks good too. Thanks for sharing, John.
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Thank you, Mark.
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Thanks so much for sharing in my excitement, Mark! I’m delighted with the response to the cover.
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It’s a great cover. 🙂
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Music to my ears, my friend. 😁
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That’s a pretty cool cover. Thanks for sharing this, John. It looks like an interesting and exciting book.
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It is an exciting book for sure.
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Thank you for stopping by, Dan. I’m so pleased you like the cover.
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Yay, nice to see you doing the rounds today, Sooz. Best of luck with your latest book! 🙂
Great to see Suzanne at your place today, John 🙂
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Thank you, Harmony. 😊
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Thanks so much for stopping by to share in my excitement, Harmony!😀
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Sounds intriguing, John. Looking forward to your cover!
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Me too. I haven’t seen anything yet.
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Love the cover! You, GO, Soooz! ♥♥♥
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Thank you, Billy Ray.
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Hi, Billy Ray! Thanks for stopping by. I’m so pleased you like the cover.
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It will be on my short reading list, dear Soooz! Sell Tons and Tons! ♥♥♥
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😍
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Thanks, Billy Ray.
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Such a striking and dramatic cover! I’m so excited for Soooz, and already have my copy on pre-order. Thanks for helping spread the word about The Reckoning Squad, John. Soooz has another winner with this one!
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I think so as well, Mae. Thanks for coming by. 😊
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Thanks so much for all your support, Mae! My excitement levels are off the charts. 😁
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Such an exciting time, birthing a new baby! Best wishes to Suzanne on a successful book launch and thank you, John, for helping with the publicity!
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Thanks for stopping by and sharing in my excitement, Debbie.
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Thank you, Debbie.
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I just caught this reveal over at Mae’s and Mark’s. Suzanne is having a great day. Thanks for sharing this intriguing preview. 🙂
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She is. Thanks, Diana.
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Thanks so much for stopping by to share in my excitement. I couldn’t be more delighted with the response.
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I can’t thank you enough for sharing in my Cover reveal today, John. I’m delighted with the positive response. 😁
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Anytime, Soooz.
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😁
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Very cool cover and that prologue pulled me right in… Looks like you have another sale!
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Thank you, Dale! I’m delighted with the positive response to both the cover and the prologue.
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Thanks, Dale.
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Congrats on the new release and eye catching cover:) I can’t wait to read it on my Kindle soon!
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Thanks, Denise.
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❤Thanks again, Denise.
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Another great post for “The Reckoning Squad!” Congrats to Soooz! Thanks for hosting, John!
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Thank you, Jan
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Thank you, my friend.😍
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I’m enjoying Soooz’s big splash! The cover looks like there’s a seriously good book inside. Thanks, John.
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Thank you, Linda.
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Thanks so much, Linda.
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Congratulation on your new project, Soooz. Thanks for hosting, John.
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Thanks so much for stopping by, Craig!
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Reblogged this on Author Don Massenzio and commented:
Check out this post from John Howell’s Fiction Favorites blog with a COVER REVEAL AND PRE-ORDER FOR THE RECKONING SQUAD BY SUSANNE BURKE
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Thank you, Don
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You’re welcome.
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😁
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Thanks so much for the reblog, Don. I appreciate it.
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You’re welcome.
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This sounds very exciting. Thanks for sharing, John. Best to Suzanne. Hugs all around.
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Thanks, Teagan
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Thanks, Teagan!
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