Girl Code

The multi-author contemporary/suspense romance anthology Girl Code was released by the Writers in Crime in July 2015.

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Introduction by NYT and USA Today bestselling author Julie Ann Walker.

Four best friends struggle with decisions that affect their lives, their hearts, and their futures. As sisters, they embrace the Girl Code.

HOPE by Jessica Jayne:

Josephine “Joey” Lockhart escapes her past, herself and her home town of Pearl, Ohio to Florida after high school. Years later, she meets a man that refuses to let her hide behind her camera lens and encourages her out of her shell. Will he be the one to push her to feel for the first time?

LIVE by Lea Bronsen:

After seven years in drug hell, detoxing Juliette “Juls” Carrington returns to her hometown Pearl to attend her grandmother’s burial. Once more rejected by her family, she has a swim in a pond nearby when a mysterious camper, an ex-drunk, coaxes her to come to his hut in the woods. Together they must fight their inner demons for a chance to love…and live.

FAITH by Cait Jarrod:

Selena Bodine escaped into the United States Air Force to leave behind a painful past and the one man who she refused to let herself love. Years later, an urgent call from her father brings her back to Pearl, Ohio and face to face with the man she still loves. But will the secret that Cullen is investigating her threaten their second chance?

PERSISTENCE by D.C. Stone:

Laydi Michaels has been running away from her past and bad memories for years. Finding herself wasn’t an easy task, but she’s managed to finally get to a point to where she wants to be. Only to wake up married to her boss….who fired her the night before. Wrapped in a case that puts her life in danger, and dealing with a grave situation back home in Pearl, Laydi figures out she wasn’t close to finding herself, and now, she’s risked everything.

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Awards:

On the day of release, Girl Code hit #18 on Amazon’s bestsellers list “Erotica Collections and Anthologies”.

In April 2016, it was nominated to the final voting round of The Romance Reviews Readers Choice Awards – Summer 2016 in the category “Anthology”.

Reviews:

BEST ANTHOLOGY I’VE EVER READ!

You will find four absolutely amazing stories in this anthology. What I loved most was how they all weaved together making this book/anthology one big story revolving around four amazing, strong, loving, and loyal friends. From the very first story you are introduced to these amazing women and see them from each others eyes. The stories are filled with struggles, passion, love and of course a big dose of happily ever after.

In Hope we meet Joey a photographer and Talon an auto mechanic. They meet, become fast friends and share their similar backgrounds with each other. Talon want’s more then friendship and he’s hoping Joey will give it to him but a stalker gets in the way causing Talon to jump into protector mode. It was a joy to watch their friendship turn into something more. The “steam” factor for these two was way above the boiling point.

In Live we meet Juls a recovering drug addict and Reef an ex-drunk/Recluse of the Boise Woods. Their story touched me the most and Juls ended up being my favorite female character. They each struggled with the beginning phase of their life but are at the point where they want to “Live.” Together they formed an unbreakable bond that will take them into their future and together they will help each other fight the demons of their past.

In Faith we meet Selena a Criminal Investigator with the United States Air Force and Cullen a D.C. Detective. A bit of a mystery brings them together in Pearl, Ohio. Cullen hasn’t been able to stop thinking about the girl he met at the pond long ago who helped him deal with a tragedy in his life but can he forgive her for disappearing after that amazing night? Selena’s mom walked out on her and her General father when she was eight years old. If it wasn’t for meeting her “sisters” Juls, Joey, Laydi, she may not have survived her pre-teen years. Mystery, intrigue, love and forgiveness bring these characters back to the pond and just maybe a brighter future.

In Persistence we meet Laydi a private investigator and Andrew her Boss/CEO of Off the Record Private Investigations. Let me first say, I fell completely in love with Andrew from the moment I met him and he turned out to be my favorite male character. An urgent call from her father brings Laydi and her new husband Andrew home to Pearl, Ohio. As Laydi is dealing with her father, the investigation she’s working on starts to heat up while her new husband tries to keep her from throwing him out of her life. This story has everything I love. A dominant male trying his hardest to protect his strong, independent and brilliant woman while an investigative case blows up around them. These two are so cute. The chemistry between them is a joy to read and their “steam” factor hits a few boiling points especially in the Jet.

It’s not often you read an anthology and truly love every story in it but I really did. These four authors are amazing women who I’m sure will continue to give us well written, heart warming, action packed, and steamy love stories for years to come.

– Janis Frisch

GREAT ANTHOLOGY, I LOVED THESE GALS!!!!

I have just finally (after real life got in my way) finished the other stories in this book. I will say this, Grab it up and check out these stories I LOVED them all, so much that I hope these ladies will do another one with these same gals and give us an update on their lives. I want more from each one!!!!!

This is different than other anthology as these stories are all entwined together to give us a little bit of all 4 woman (sisters)friends. I loved every single woman and their stories.

Another reason to go one click this book, All proceeds from sales are going to the Wounded Warriors Project.

I Beta Read Hope for Jessica Jayne… I LOVED it. Great story line. Awesome characters!!!!!

– Chris’ Book Blog Emporium

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS ANTHOLOGY!

This anthology contains 4 stories that revolve around 4 best friends and they really are a group of friends that grow with each other and love each other unconditionally, no matter what they will always have each others backs. The stories are all very good and I’d be hard pressed to pick a favorite, but I will be looking to these authors in the future in their other endeavors. Throughout the stories you will find laughter, love, tears, determination, heartache, and really just a whole myriad of emotions. There’s friends to more than friends, There’s mystery, danger, action, camaraderie, some suspense and steam. Let’s not forget about the men! these guys are really something special, I found myself really liking Talon the best, though all of the characters are very real and found their way into my heart. I look forward to more from these talented authors and can’t wait to see what else they have in store.

I was generously given a complimentary copy of this book for an honest review.

– Melissa’s Reviews

I love a good anthology. I used to read them all the time, but haven’t found a good one lately. Until Girl Code, that is.

A lot of times with anthologies, the stories may not always be connected, but these stories are about four friends so they are connected.

I am all for women empowered, sisterhood type stories and this book is definitely that.

I LOVED it. There was just enough romance and definitely enough action and adventure to keep the story interesting. Plus the stories did relate to each other so that did help in keeping the stories interesting and relatable.

The stories were well written and developed and I enjoyed and connected with each one. I honestly don’t think I could name a favorite story or couple…. But IF I did my favorite couple would be Joey and Talon. I guess since Talon is from Florida I sympathize and relate with him the most.

I do believe this is my favorite girl powered anthology since Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.

I have nothing negative to say about this anthology! You should check it out and give it a read.

– Kristen Chandler

WARM FUZZIES!

All 4 stories did a great job of bringing action, suspense and romance. They all had happy ever afters! I love how they all tie together with friendship & sisterhood! Everyone needs a BFF to have your back, definitely relatable. Great job ladies!

– Brittney O.

TRUE LOVE IS A GIFT…WORDS MAKE US REMEMBER

I loved it.. The story touched my heart…It made me remember the past when I was eighteen years old and met my first true love. I have read everything Cait Jarrod has written.. I just hope she keeps putting to paper stories that make me only want to read more.. A great read..

– Hartwood Lady

Great collection of stories. Deals with some really gut wrenching issues and leaves you feeling hopeful/happy knowing that the couples survive and thrive together. Great connection between the women friends.

– Emma

GET YOUR COPY TODAY!!

A great anthology by 4 great authors. Girl Code is about about 4 friends, through struggles of their own, have found each other at a young age and became sisters by heart. They share a strong bond, support and love for each other. And they refuse to let their past control them & define who they are.

There are 4 stories surrounding each character: Joey/Hope, Juls/Live, Selena/Faith and Laydi/Persistence. Each story is individual to the character (along with a hot guy!), but at the same time linked to one another. And because each story is unique in itself, you will be able to relate to at least one character and one story. By the way, love the tattoos too!!

**A bonus to purchasing this book, all proceeds from sales go to the Wounded Warrior Project.

– Cindy Kosiba Persin

– Maureen, Just Romantic Suspense

YOU KNOW IT’S A GOOD READ WHEN YOU HATE THE FACT YOU HAVE REACHED THE END!

Highly recommended anthology. The characters blended phenomenally to illustrate the ups and downs of love, life, and romance! As an investigator myself, I just love to read books that keep the mystery and puzzles alive throughout the entire storyline. Kudos DC Stone – you have done it again!

– ACC

These four best friends have a lot in common. None of them had the best home life growing up, and none have had much luck in the love life department. The one thing that has stood the test of time is their true love for one another. They may not be sisters by blood but they are connected by heart strings. Girl Code is an emotional roller coaster, but the bond these girls have is heartwarming.I love how the book ends. This is a must read!

– Nancy Goodman

Faith.. what a great story. Touched my heart. A story that brings back the past for me. When I meet my first love. Nothing is any better. I just hope Cait Jarrod keeps writing. I have read all the books she has published so far. A great read..

– Norma

AMAZING STORIES OF THE BOND SHARED BY FOUR LITTLE GIRLS THAT REMAINED MANY YEARS LATER.

Well written stories with captivating storylines extolling the virtues of a girlfriend bond. Joey, Jules, Selena and Laydi find each other at a very young age at a pond and form a special bond that grounds, encourages and supports each other through life’s challenges. Each story is worthy of five stars.

Hope by Jessica Jayne: Sweet story about finding hope for a brighter tomorrow. Joey and Talon have similar issues to deal with, alcoholism, insecurities, fear of hoping for impossible dreams. Add to this the threats of a dangerous stalker and you have drama, mystery, excitement and love.

Live by Lea Bronsen: Juls is struggling to leave the darkness behind, the deadly grip of drug addiction. Determined to remain sober, to really live and not to just exist, she happens upon a fellow traveler who is climbing the same mountain as she. Together they join forces and become stronger in their fight than they are apart. Together they will truly live.

Faith by Cait Jarrod: Selina experiences a second chance at life when she meets her one night stand that left her heart longing. The encounter ultimately flips upside down her relationship with her father, her belief about her mother and her fear of a long term commitment. Fascinating story with lots of drama, mystery and excitement.

Persistence by D. C. Stone: Laydi brings us a story I found most exciting and heartwarming. She and Andrew began their relationship a bit unconventionally. As they try working through tangled emotions and confusing thoughts, serious drama involving threats, kidnapping, explosions and black ops manifest creating great suspense and nail biting interest. Well written and well worth the time on this reading adventure.

– Dee for Sweet N Sassy Book Aholics

GET YOUR COPY TODAY!!

I loved loved loved this anthology.it certainly is sething special..the love these 4 women/ best friends/ sisters as they call themselves have for each other is something so beautiful..it gets the 4 of them through life experiences and hard times, but at the same times they have lots of dun and laughter between them all.

It’s special because while each story is unique, the story are entwined thanks to the girls and how they are part of each other lives.

I am not saying the men are not awesome cause they are but the girls have such a special bond it’s what every girl want to.find in a best friend.

While I loved all the stories, I am very fond of Hope..Joey and Talon have a past that made their bond unique and so strong..and Talon just melt my heart..he can be so strong and confident, protective and all man, but she completely undo him in a way that I coild see how vulnerable he could be.

Anyway 😉 great anthology..grab it quick!

– Mary

This is a group of stories about 4 friends who at the age of 8 became more sisters than any blood sisters could be They all grew up in Pearl, Ohio. Years later, they have scattered but they remain ‘sisters’ to the core and when there is a need, everyone is there for each other. Each woman’s story is written by a different author but in the same world. And they all return to Pearl, Ohio where they began. I would give the book as a whole 4 large stars.

Hope by Jessica Jayne: This is the story of Josephine (Joey). It is a love story with some twists but the writing is what made me keep reading. The emotions were real and the story of alcoholism and how it effects everyone in the family and even friends. Well told. 4 large stars

Live by Lea Bronsen: The story of Julie (Juls) and her struggle with addiction. It starts a bit slow but it takes off and when it does, stand back. Great story with two scarred people who find each other and come out the other side. But the struggle never ends and they learn this. I felt every emotion in this story and I was turning pages as fast as I could to see where the story would go. It was nice to revisit Joey as well. 4 large stars

Faith by Cait Jarrod: This is the story of Selena. Daughter of a retired military man and a military woman herself. The writing was spot on and I love the intrigue and mystery. Again, a wonderful love story but not without some issues. Each sister is again brought into this story as the sisters are there to support either in person or on the phone. Another 4 star story for sure.

Persistence by D.C. Stone: The final story is about Laydi or Lay who grew up without a Mom but with a great Dad. She has become a PI. Now she is back in Pear to see her Dad who has summoned her with news. The story was fast paced and quite a bit of a different one from the rest in that all the others have already returned to Pearl so they are able to again meet at their all important pond instead of skyping. I enjoyed the story a lot. The writing was again first class. Lots of humor made it good reading. 4 large stars.

– Wildcatnana, Romantic Fanatic Blog

FUN GROUP OF GIRLS AND THEIR HOT MEN

This is an anthology of 4 stories showcasing strong women. The first story is entitled Hope. This is a love story dealing with the children of alcoholic parents. There is also a little side plot of stalking thrown in for good measure. Talon is the ultimate protective male. Once he realizes Joey is in danger, he claims her, protects her and professes his love for her. The story ends in an HEA for Talen and Joey. The alcoholics in the story are given a chance to help themselves, but as in real life, it is up to them to take it.

The second story is entitled Live. This is a story of overcoming the odds. Julie’s addiction alienates herself from her family. As she comes back to her home town, after hitting rock bottom, she meets up again with Reef, an old neighbor. He, too, struggles with addiction and is homeless. This story shows the plight of the homeless. How unfairly they can be treated and wrongly judged, even by their own families. There is no HEA yet, as Julie and Reef need to learn to live and not just survive.

The third story is entitled Faith. Salena returns home to care for her father, running into the boy she had a one night stand with, ten years prior. Of course, there is the usual “why’d you leave?” drama, but a mystery surrounding Salena’s mom and dad take up most of the story. Cullen’s brother, Todd, is a real interesting character. I’d love to see him in his own story. We see the previous relationships going strong, which is always heartening. This story could have been twice as long. There was a lot of double cross and intrigue in it.

The fourth story is entitled Persistence. Laydi decided that she would never get married because her mother abandoned her and her father. Waking up in Vegas, married to her boss she secretly crushed on, is a huge mistake. I loved this story. The thought of waking up married to a dream guy is fun to read about. Andrew is the perfect guy. I don’t get why he’d marry Laydi while she was wasted, but it was a fun plot point. There is a bit of suspense and a lot of Alpha male.

This set of stories is worth reading if you like HEAs, alpha males and good romance. The book is appropriate for an adult audience.

– Karen Voitik, Paranormal Authors and Romance that Rocks

4 beautiful strong stories of women. Joey, Juls, Selena, and Laydi all have obstacles to overcome. Finding love, holding on to it, and not letting the past interfere will be a challenge for each one.

– Shaunna Armstrong, Drifting Into Books

YOUR PAST DOESN’T HAVE TO DEFINE YOUR FUTURE

Four young girls become fast friends and as they get older the bond grows stronger. They are able to call each other no matter what and their friendship has helped them all out.

They each have the own demons and battles.

Hope by Jessica Jayne: Josephine has met her match in Talon but they can’t cross the friend barrier as it will mess up their friendship. They both feel something for each other but they both have their own demons and are afraid that their parents bad choices could follow them. Joey has been receiving these weird texts and it is starting to freak her out but she can sort it by herself that is understand Talon finds out. She is given no choice she needs to stay with him so he can keep her safe. Can she give in and just go for it with him or will he push her away. Can they find out who wants to cause Joey harm? Can Talon move past his father’s mistakes and believe in himself, he can be the man Joey wants & needs or only he believes in them.

Live by Lea Bronsen: Juls has been fighting against her drug addiction, she is trying so hard this time. She is so lucky to have her best friends to call on as they give her the strength and encouragement she needs. She has to go back home as her grandmother has passed, she will have to see her family and that is going to be so hard as they don’t want her around. Reef always wondered what happened to the girl that stayed next door, he had his own problems and could not look out for her. They both realise that they have so much in common and that they can have a good life even with all their problems. Can Juls let go of her past and move forward with someone that has wanted her all this time?

Faith by Cait Jarrod: Selena is back home to look after her father and it is so hard as it wasn’t always easy growing up in a military family. She knows that he did try his hardest but along the way she became lost. What happened to the young boy at the lake? She gave him a drawing but never her number. Cullen has wondered about her and why she never came back. He is keeping tabs on her & her father but what does he want from Selena? Can he work through the issues at hand and tell her the truth. Can Selena believe anything that Cullen says as he has lied already. Who wants to kill her father? Can they work together to find the person. Selena knows that her friends are always there and they are just happy that she has found Cullen again. Can her & Cullen get their time now after all these years?

Persistence by DC Stone: Laydi loves her job but it has just got more complicated as she has woken up and she is married to her sexy boss. What the hell happened she remembers so of the night. Andrew fills her in and it isn’t all good news. She has to go home as her father is ill and Andrew wants to come with. She can’t do this she can’t be married to him. Laydi reaches out to her friends and they offer their advice but will she take that chance. Can Andrew save her from herself as danger is on the way.

A great selection of authors and all the stories were engaging and interesting. No matter what the girls had to endure they could always count on each other no matter what. The stories were just long enough so you could get a good feel of the characters and their pasts.

– Sweet N Sassy Book A Holics

REVIEW

As you may already know, I love anthologies. I like reading different stories in one book. Girl Code is by all means an anthology. However, it also seems to read as one book because the story flows through smoothly and the characters are interconnected. It even sounds like this was written by one author instead of four.

I found myself to have enjoyed reading Girl Code. I like the friendships, the love stories and the conflicts that each main character had to overcome. I like books where the main characters go through something that develops their character and makes them better and more mature.

I’d surely recommend Girl Code because more than being a good anthology, it is a worthy chick lit that every woman should check out. I am glad to have had the chance to read this book because I certainly ended up enjoying it more than I expected.

– Sultry, Steamy Reading

About Lea Bronsen’s story Live:

Just off methadone, Juliette “Juls” Carrington is determined to get her life on track after seven years as a druggie. Her sole companion is a diary in which she keeps everything from her reflections to bus tickets and faded flower petals; a documentary of life on the streets.

Learning the news of her beloved grandmother’s death, Juls returns to her hometown in the hopes that her family will see the new person she’s become and make peace – to no avail. Once more rejected, she wanders to a pond nearby, where as a child she used to find solace with three girls she calls her sisters.

She meets a band of squatters camping in the woods, and, experiencing the same fraternity as among inner-city homeless, spends an enlivening afternoon in the wild. At night, the mysterious Reef, a shadow from her past, shows her what a beautiful thing sex can be.

The next morning, Juls awakes to complete chaos. The camp is ravaged by the police, a dog terrifies her, Reef is arrested, and to make things worse, her diary is missing. How will she fund her lover’s bail – and who could be interested in the story of an outcast?