Mace by Maryann Jordan
Lighthouse Security Investigations
Release Date: November 13, 2018
Mace Hanover, former Special Forces and CIA Special Ops, filled his security company with other men and women from the SEALs, Rangers, Special Forces, Deltas, and AF Special Ops. All having been trained in CIA Special Ops, his Keepers were the best of the best.
His focus had been on building his security company and the missions they undertook. A relationship was not on his radar.
Single mom, Sylvie Gardner, toiled at a job she hated but she would do anything to provide for her son. When he witnesses a crime and danger lurked, she is grateful when Mace comes into their lives to protect them
Mace just wanted to provide security for the beautiful Sylvie and her son, while the Keepers investigated the crime, but the two worked their way under his skin and the mission became personal.
Can a woman who is scared to love again and a man who is afraid of love, find happiness together?
Scenes in the book are similar to what you would find in an R-rated movie. For 18+ readers only.
Excerpt
The lights were low, the room illuminated only by the flicker of the flame from the lantern. The rain outside pounded against the window, and the waves could be heard crashing against the rocks down below. The living room in the old house was small, holding a worn sofa against the front wall near the windows. A rocking chair, with a green padded cushion, was angled next to the unlit fireplace and another chair facing the sofa, its seat cushions sagging from years of use. An end table next to the sofa held a brass lamp, but with the electricity out, it became merely an ornament.
An old man sat in the chair, leaning forward with his forearms resting on his knees. His bushy white eyebrows lifted and lowered as his blue eyes pierced the only other person in the room.
His voice, like gravel, said, “Even his own men called him a maniac. He was cruel, make no mistake about that. He once made a commander eat his own sliced off ears sprinkled with salt before he killed him. It’s said he once made someone eat the heart of another before killing him as well. They even say he burned a cook alive, saying he was a greasy fellow who would fry well.” Chuckling, “He made the other Edward, Blackbeard, look like a schoolboy.”
His listener sat on a low stool, his eyes large as his heart pounded in his chest, attention focused on the old man. Barely breathing, he was afraid the very sound of inhaling would call forth the ghosts from the past.
“Born in London, he was, to a family mostly of thieves. He eventually crossed the sea to come to the New World, settling in Boston. He raided up and down the New England coast, attacking ships, robbing every vessel he came across. He stole all the way down to the Caribbean. It seemed like nothing could stop him and his terror on the sea. Some say his boat sank in a storm, and that’s what killed him. But others say he died after being set adrift by one of the crews when they mutinied against him. Others say he was rescued by a French ship, but when they found out who he was, they hung him.”
The old man leaned forward and asked, “You scared yet?” His laugh rumbled deep in his chest, “Ned Lowe lived a long time ago, boy. No need to be scared of him now.”
Ten-year-old Mason Hanover sucked in a deep breath before letting it out slowly, willing his heartbeat to slow. “Wasn’t there any good in him at all, Grampa?”
“Well, it appears that when he first got to Boston he married a woman, but she died giving birth to their only child. Even though the child lived, they say the loss of his wife had a profound effect on him. He never forced married men to join his crew and always allowed women to return to port safely if they happened to be on a ship that he was piratin’.”
Mason shivered despite the warmth, the summer storm outside still raging. As scared as he was, he loved sitting in his grandfather’s small house perched on the rocks overlooking the sea. About the only thing he loved more was when Grampa took him out on his boat, and they explored many of the coves up and down the coast where they lived.
“Who are you going to tell about next, Grampa?”
“How about I tell you some tales of lighthouse keepers…some true life heroes?”
Grinning widely, he nodded, his enthusiasm evident on his face.
“Well, Marcus Hanna lived in the mid-1800’s and was a lighthouse keeper famous for his heroism. He’s the only person in history to be honored with both the Medal of Honor and the Gold Lifesaving Medal.”
“His name sounds a lot like mine.”
Nodding, Grampa said, “Yeah, it does.”
“What’d he do?”
“His father was the keeper of the Franklin Island Light, right here in Maine. Marcus spent his young years working with his pops before he went off to sea when he was only ten years old—”
“Ten years old? That’s how old I am! He went off to sea?” he exclaimed, his eyes wide with surprise.
Nodding, Grampa said, “Things were different back then, son. Men became men a lot earlier than now.” Continuing, he said, “He enlisted when the Civil War broke out and served in the Navy for a year and then was mustered out to various regiments. He once volunteered to carry water behind enemy lines to the rest of his company. With the worst fighting taking place all around him, he took care of his fellow soldiers. That’s when he got the Medal of Honor.”
Mason sat up straighter, his gaze stuck to his grandfather, thinking of the brave soldier. “Do you think he was scared?”
“Only a fool isn’t scared, boy,” Grampa answered. “But a hero is one who acts in spite of bein’ scared.”
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About the Author:
As an Award Winning, Amazon International Bestselling and All-Star author, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble Best Selling Author, I have always been an avid reader. In 2013 I started a blog to showcase wonderful writers. In 2014, I finally gave in to the characters in my head pleading for their story to be told. Thus, Emma’s Home was created.
My first novel, Emma’s Home became an Amazon Best Seller in 3 categories within the first month of publishing. Its success was followed by the rest of the Fairfield Series and then led into the Love’s Series. Soon, other spin-off series came along and 8 of my books have made Amazon top 100 Bestselling books.
Gabe, from the Alvarez Security Series won Silver Medal and 5 Star Review by the 2016 Reader’s Choice Awards.
Honor Love was an award winning novel from the 2016 Reader’s Choice Awards.
Serial Love was an award finalist novel from the 2016 Reader’s Choice Awards.
Coming Home was awarded the 5 Star Review by the 2017 Reader’s Choice Awards.
My books are filled with sweet romance and hot sex; mystery, suspense, real life characters and situations. My heroes are alphas, take charge men who love the strong, independent women they fall in love with.
I worked as a counselor in a high school and have been involved in education for the past 30 years. I have just retired and look forward to more time with family and writing!
I have been married to a wonderfully patient man for 36 years and have 2 adult, very supportive daughters.
When writing, my dog or one of my cats will usually be found in my lap!
I love to hear from readers, so please email me!
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