Here’s an excerpt from Cat Burglar in Training:

BLURB:

Eve Fawkner had no intention of following in her father’s footsteps. But when the thugs harassing him to repay his gambling debts threaten her young daughter, Eve is forced to assume the role of London’s most notorious cat burglar, The Shadow. The plan is simple: pull off a couple of heists, pay back the goons and go into permanent retirement. But things get messy during her first job when Eve witnesses a murder, stumbles across a clue that sheds some light on her past and, worst of all, falls for a cop.

Inspector Kahu Williams would be the perfect man, if Eve were looking, and if there wasn’t the little matter of their career conflict. The man is seriously hot—and hot on the trail of a murderer. A trail that keeps leading him back to Eve…

EXCERPT:

I pulled out a chair, the legs scraping on the flagstone floor. “Spill.”

The terrible trio exchanged glances, communication flying with raised eyebrows and pursed lips. Not good enough.

“Who is going to tell me what is going on? Why did a stranger threaten Amber?”

“My stars! He threatened to hurt Amber? Go on. Tell her. She’s not stupid,” Hannah said.

Ben and Father traded another look.

“Father?”

“I can’t do the jobs anymore. I need you to take over as the Shadow.”

“The cops almost nabbed him last week,” Ben said.

Father gave an irritable shrug. “I might be losing my touch.” It sounded as if someone wrenched the confession from him.

I sprang off my chair, unable to keep still a second longer. “Stop prevaricating. Tell me now. Why do you owe money to Richard Beauchamp?” My words were like bullets, fired with precision. Each of the trio recoiled at my snappish tone.

Father reached for a scone. “You don’t need to worry.”

“He threatened to hurt Amber,” I shrieked. “The only reason I let her go to school is because I know security is excellent there. How much do you owe?”

“It’s only ten thousand. I have it covered,” Father said.

I cringed at the amount. My savings wouldn’t put a dent in it. “How?”

“One job will do it.”

“Why are they hassling you? I want details. Now.”

“It might be a day or two overdue.” Father’s gaze slid from mine.

“Might or is? The man I spoke to implied payment was late.”

“The payment is two days late,” Hannah said.

Father scowled at her. “Blabbermouth.”

My fists clenched, and I bit down on my tongue until I had full control again. “Tell me everything. Start at the beginning.”

“I owe Beauchamp ten thousand dollars—”

“Plus interest,” Hannah said.

“I don’t have the money to pay him.”

“Because the mortgage payment went through,” Hannah added.

“Will you be quiet?” Father snapped. “I’m telling Eve.” He focused on me again. “I told you I have it covered.”

“Not if you have thugs ringing up with threats,” I fired back. “Who was he anyway?”

“Probably Vincent. He’s the one we usually deal with,” Ben said.

“All I need to do is one job,” Father said.

I mentally cursed the Shadow and thought of the missing paintings, the silver and knickknacks. “Why don’t you sell something instead of stealing it?”

“There’s nothing left to sell,” Hannah said.

“What about a mortgage? A second one?” Holy crap. The place had reminded me of a museum when I was a kid. I couldn’t believe they’d sold everything.

“We already have a huge mortgage,” Hannah said. “We can’t borrow more.”

I scrambled for further solutions. Putting Amber in danger was unacceptable. “Okay,” I said finally. “We’ll downscale. Sell Oakthorpe.”

Hannah paled. “No!”

“You can’t do that,” Ben said, straightening abruptly.

“Over my dead body.” My father’s contribution. “Fawkners have lived here for generations, and if I have my way Amber’s children will live here too. No, it’s out of the question.” Father scowled at me, pulling his confidence back around him like a favorite coat. “Fawkners are cat burglars. It’s time for you to embrace tradition, Eve.”

“Why? Surely it’s better to sell now while we have options? What happens if, God forbid, we can’t keep up with the mortgage payments and the bank forces a sale?” I turned to Hannah and Ben for support. “Tell him.”

Ben shook his head. “Selling wouldn’t help us now. A place like Oakthorpe could take months to sell in this market. We need the money now.”

“Exactly.” Father stood, his manner decisive. “Ben and I will meet you down in the gym. Now that you’re home for good, it’s time for you to do the right thing and follow in the footsteps of your ancestors.” He stomped from the kitchen with Ben following while I stared after them, gaping and gasping like a fish plucked from water.

Purchase at: Carina Press | Amazon Kindle | All Romance eBooks | Barnes & Noble

• About the Author
• Posts in the Past

ShelleyMunro

I live in New Zealand and write contemporary and paranormal romance for Samahain Publishing and Ellora’s Cave.

www.shelleymunro.com

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