SPECIAL GUEST Debut Romantic Suspense Author Stella Barcelona

STELLA BARCELONA

Since this is my first post on Romancing the Genres, I’d like to introduce myself.  I’m Stella Barcelona, an author of romantic suspense.  For me, the romantic suspense genre represents the perfect blend of romance, mystery, and thriller elements.   Romantic suspense is what I love to read and especially love to write.   My debut novel, Deceived, was officially released in the beginning of May.  It’s been a whirlwind of a month, and I’m thrilled to be ending it with a post here.  Thank you, Romancing the Genres, for inviting me to post on your fabulous blog!

I’m a lawyer and before then I was a history teacher. Both professions made their way into Deceived.  The story is set in New Orleans, Louisiana, the intriguing city that I’ve always called home.  Deceived is romantic suspense with a historical twist: a mystery that was inspired by real-life contributions of New Orleanians to the Allied Forces in World War II.  The decades-old mystery comes to light in the present day and creates havoc in the lives of Taylor Bartholomew and Brandon Morrissey, whose identities are intrinsically related to the official historical version of the facts.

Like the city of New Orleans itself, Deceived is full of contradictions, which begin with the heroine and hero.  Taylor is idealistic, naive, and she was born into a family that lives at the pinnacle of New Orleans society. Brandon is haunted by demons and from a family with an unfortunate past. He is cynical and doesn’t care one bit about New Orleans society.  Taylor and Brandon are two lawyers with different versions of a story that is close to their hearts.  Together they have to find the truth . . . or face dire consequences.

I loved writing Deceived and sincerely hope that readers enjoy Taylor and Brandon’s story.  If you’d like to read an excerpt, please visit my website, www.stellabarcelona.com, or go to Amazon, where Deceived is available in print or eBook.  One unexpected pleasure this month has brought is hearing from readers, either on Facebook or by contacting me through my website.  I enjoy receiving messages from readers, so please, stay in touch!

Their destinies have been set in motion by their ancestors.

Taylor Marlowe Bartholomew carries three of the most notable names in New Orleans society. She hoped to forge her own path in the world as an Assistant District Attorney, but that dream is dying as obligations pull her into the family shipbuilding business. In Taylor’s final days in the DA’s office, she receives a murder assignment that could unravel her perception of reality.

Ghosts of the past shadow every step they take.

Brandon Morrissey is haunted by demons that force him to keep his life simple and detached. He pours all of his energy into his thriving legal practice, until, overnight, he becomes the single father of an infant.  For the sake of his son’s future, Brandon searches for a killer and faces the truth about his family’s unfortunate past.

Together they have to find the truth . . . before it’s too late.

Someone is willing to kill to use the past for their own ends. Thrust together, Brandon and Taylor have different views of their families’ intersecting histories.  As they confront a sea of uncertainty, one thing is sure . . . no one is safe until they discover where the truth lies.