Matthew Connor Adventures by Carolyn Arnold Book Tour and GIveaway :)
City
of Gold
Matthew
Connor Adventure Series, Book 1
by
Carolyn Arnold
Genre:
Action, Adventure
Finding
the Incas' lost City of Gold would be the discovery of a lifetime.
But failing could mean her death…
Archaeologist
Matthew Connor and his friends Cal and Robyn are finally home after a
dangerous retrieval expedition in India. While they succeeded in
obtaining the priceless Pandu artifact they sought, it almost cost
them their lives. Still, Matthew is ready for the next adventure. Yet
when new intel surfaces indicating the possible location of the
legendary City of Gold, Matthew is hesitant to embark on the quest.
Not
only is the evidence questionable but it means looking for the lost
city of Paititi far away from where other explorers have concentrated
their efforts. As appealing as making the discovery would be, it’s
just too risky. But when Cal’s girlfriend, Sophie, is abducted by
Matthew’s old nemesis who is dead-set on acquiring the Pandu
statue, Matthew may be forced into action. Saving Sophie’s life
means either breaking into the Royal Ontario Museum to steal the
relic or offering up something no one in his or her right mind would
refuse—the City of Gold.
Now
Matthew and his two closest friends have to find a city and a
treasure that have been lost for centuries. And they only have seven
days to do it. As they race against the clock, they quickly discover
that the streets they seek aren’t actually paved with gold, but
with blood.
What
to expect from the Matthew Connor Adventure series:
Action-adventure
books for the mystery lover. Does treasure hunting
excite you? What about the thought of traveling the globe and
exploring remote regions to uncover legends that the world has all
but forgotten? If so, strap yourself in for an adventure with
modern-day archaeologist Matthew Connor and his two closest friends.
Indiana Jones meets the twenty-first century.
This
is the perfect book series for fans of Indiana Jones, Lara
Croft, National Treasure, and The Relic
Hunter.
Read
in any order or follow the series from the beginning.
Excerpt
from chapter 4 of City of Gold (Matthew Connor Adventure
series)
IAN
BRIDGES USUALLY TOOK PLEASURE in
knowing what most others did not. In this case, he knew that the
famous treasure hunter, Gideon Barnes, was none other than the
mayor’s son. And it wasn’t welcome news. An interested
third-party had hired Ian to get the Pandu statue back at any cost,
but with it now secured behind bulletproof glass and the high-profile
identity of its discoverer, the situation had escalated, leaving him
with limited options for the object’s retrieval. Sadly, murder,
although it was his gifted skillset, wasn’t a service required by
this employer. And bribery presented too much risk and was certain to
attract undesired media attention. The
crowd at the exhibit had thinned, leaving behind those who didn’t
rank high enough in society to secure an invitation to the Connor
mansion. Ian made his way toward the statue, his confidence building
with each step. Yes, the situation certainly posed a challenge, but
he had faith in his abilities. He wasn’t familiar with failing, and
he wasn’t about to learn the lesson now. The
statue was enclosed in a glass cube atop a four-foot-tall pedestal. A
red rope with brass hardware surrounded it, encouraging people to
stand a couple feet out of its reach. The area was obviously
off-limits. But he still considered stretching out to touch the
glass. He’d love to smear his fingerprints all over it simply
because its contents were so highly esteemed. It was treated more
regally than some people were, and yet when he looked at it, he saw
nothing more than an ugly man in a dress. Clearly burying an item in
the sand for thousands of years transformed even worthless idols into
sought-after treasures. What his employer saw in it or why it was
sought after in the first place wasn’t information Ian required to
do his job. Whether it was to provide bragging rights to its owner or
to sell it or something else, he didn’t care. “It’s
beautiful,” a woman said. He turned in the direction of the sound
and a woman in a black evening dress sidled up next to him. Her hair
was a rich red and fell over her shoulders in flowing curls. Her
fingers were long and adorned with rings, her wrists were slender and
wrapped in silver bracelets. She also wore a silver cuff on her upper
arm. Now this woman had a brand of beauty he could appreciate. She
seemed to assess him as he did her. “Where are my manners?” She
positioned her purse under an arm and extended her hand. “My name
is Veronica Vincent.” “Ian.”
He took her hand and was certain to make eye contact as he shook it.
While some women might find the move too familiar and bold, this was
the territory upon which he loved to tread. Eyes truly were the
windows to the soul. “Just
Ian? Or do you have a last name, too?” Her seductive smile curved
one side of her mouth slightly higher than the other. With it, her
eyes narrowed marginally. Oh yes. This woman welcomed the attention
and reciprocated his attraction. “My
friends just call me Ian.” He had to keep some anonymity. His line
of work didn’t afford him the luxury of screwing up because he
wanted to get laid. “All
right. Mysterious. I like it.” She slipped her arm through his. They
stood like that for a while, him watching her, her watching the
statue. “You
think that thing is beautiful?” He’d come to learn that women
found a controversial subject more entertaining than one that had him
acting the yes-man. “Absolutely.”
She pried her eyes from the robed sculpture, letting them drift to
meet his. “I take it you do not?” There was a small hitch in her
eyebrows, and he knew he was in. He
shook his head. “Not in the least. They do say that beauty is in
the eye of the beholder, of course, but I am starting to wonder if
we’re looking at the same thing.” She
pouted. He was scoring gold here. “And while this statue is the most
hideous thing I’ve ever seen, you, on the other hand, are very
stunning.” He threw her an arrogant smile. He was due for a night
of blowing off steam, and there was no better place to clear the mind
than between the legs of a beautiful woman.
The
Secret of the Lost Pharaoh
Matthew
Connor Adventure Series, Book 2
In
Egypt’s Western Desert lies the tomb of an unnamed pharaoh that
hides a secret so powerful, it could destroy the world as we know
it.
Archaeologist and adventurer
Matthew Connor has made a career of finding legends the world has all
but forgotten. Though there’s one in particular that has fascinated
him for years—the Emerald Tablets. Myth says that they possess the
knowledge of the universe, allowing humankind to traverse Heaven and
Earth, and have the power to bestow wealth and wisdom upon whoever
possesses them. But if they fall into evil hands, it could cause a
global disaster.
So when a former colleague stumbles across
an ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic map that promises to lead to a
pharaoh’s tomb and
the Emerald Tablets, there’s no way he’s turning down her
invitation to join the dig. He only has one stipulation: his best
friends Robyn Garcia and Cal Myers come with him.
The road
ahead isn’t going to be an easy one, and their shared dream of
recovering the Emerald Tablets is being crushed at every turn. And
just when they think it’s all over, they learn there are a few
clues they have overlooked. But they’re no longer the only ones
searching for the Tablets. Now, the fate of the world hangs in the
balance, and soon they’ll find out that when it comes to hunting
legends, they can’t trust anyone.
Excerpt
from chapter 3 of The Secret of the Lost Pharaoh (Matthew
Connor Adventure series)
“I received a call from
Egypt and…” Matthew
continued to talk, but she was stuck on
Egypt.
Because the child
in her, the one whose life plan was to work as a curator in a museum,
also had grandiose dreams of visiting Egypt before she died. But it
hadn’t happened yet. “…So
we’re all vouched for.” He stopped talking, and his serious
expression gave way to a smile that touched his eyes. “Were you
listening to anything I said?” “I
heard ‘Egypt,’” she confessed with a wince. “And
women say men don’t listen,” he teased. “Alex has found
evidence that’s led her to believe that she and her team are on the
verge of finding the Tablets.” “And
this evidence?”
The pitch of her voice carried a plea. “You still haven’t said
what it is exactly.” “Well,
I did, but apparently, you tuned me out completely.” He tsked.
“She found hieroglyphics that mentioned the Tablets.” He paused,
seeming to notice her confusion. “You didn’t hear that, either?” “Sorry.”
She winced again. He
smirked, not seeming to take the fact that she’d zoned out on him
personally.
“You’ve always wanted to go to Egypt. Now’s your chance.” “Let
me think about it.” The words sank in her gut. Maybe this was
her once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Matthew
laughed. “You really
didn’t hear a thing I said, did you? If you had, you probably
wouldn’t have anything to think over. There’s also an indication
that a son of Khufu might be buried in the Western Desert, over one
hundred and fifty miles from the Great Pyramid.” How in
the world had she missed that? “A
son of Khufu?” She leaned forward, perching on the edge of the
couch cushion. “History indicates that two of his nine sons served
as pharaoh: Djedfera and Khafre. But their tombs have already been
found. That leaves Kawab, Djedfhor,
Baufra, Babaef, Khufukhaf, Minkhaf, and Horbear.
Of these, Baufra has never been
archaeologically attested to.
He was only mentioned
in a couple of unverified documents.” Matthew
leaned back in his chair. “No one can say you don’t know your
Egyptian history. You’d be perfect to have on this trip.” She
was too concentrated on Khufu’s family line to fall victim to his
flattery. “Two of Khufu’s sons proceeded him on the throne but
not his eldest. Kawab died before the end of Khufu’s reign.” She
paused, meeting his eyes, and they were sparkling. She was certain
they were mirroring her own
excitement. “I don’t understand why a son of Khufu would be
buried so far away from the Great Pyramid…” “Exactly.
And there’s only one way to find out for sure.” Matthew’s hook
was baited again,
and she was circling. Damn
him. She
was intrigued by the mystery, and mysteries needed to be solved. “Don’t
take too long to mull this over,” he said. “Why?” “The
plane leaves tomorrow morning at eight.” “Tomorrow?” Anxiety ratcheted up in her chest.
CAROLYN
ARNOLD is an international bestselling and award-winning author, as
well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has four
continuing fiction series—Detective Madison Knight, Brandon Fisher
FBI, McKinley Mysteries, and Matthew Connor Adventures—and has
written nearly thirty books. Her genre diversity offers her readers
everything from cozy to hard-boiled mysteries, and thrillers to
action adventures.
Both
her female detective and FBI profiler series have been praised by
those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining, leading
her to adopt the trademark: POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW
ENFORCEMENT™.
Carolyn
was born in a small town and enjoys spending time outdoors, but she
also loves the lights of a big city. Grounded by her roots and lifted
by her dreams, her overactive imagination insists that she tell her
stories. Her intention is to touch the hearts of millions with her
books, to entertain, inspire, and empower.
She
currently lives in London, Ontario with her husband and beagles and
is a member of Crime Writers of Canada and Sisters in Crime.
Where
Mystery Meets Action Adventure
One
Author’s Inspiration for Stepping Outside Her Comfort Zone
by Carolyn
Arnold
“A
must-read for those who love mystery, history, thrilling story lines,
with a touch of Indiana Jones/Ben Gates feel!”
–Lynchburg
Mama on City
of Gold
I
admit that I’m not a history major, and there are times when the
subject comes up that my eyes glaze over. So what drew me to write an
action-adventure novel when they are usually steeped in history from
hundreds—if not thousands—of years ago? Because myths and legends
are fascinating! And as I’m getting older, somehow history has
become more interesting to me, too. (Maybe it’s because I’m on
the way to becoming a relic!)
Given that,
I wanted to write action adventure because I saw a place in the
market for a fresh take on the genre. I approached it from the
standpoint of a modern-day Indiana Jones, and, come on, who doesn’t
like the Indiana Jones movies? They play with your sense of
adventure, of possibility. They take you around the world to
captivating and exotic locales in search of some long-lost artifact
that has been mostly relegated to myth, and they sweep you into the
action right from the moment you hit “Play.”
That’s
what I wanted with City of Gold,
the first book in my Matthew Connor Adventure series, which has been
called “a nonstop, pulse-pounding
ride” (I
Read What You Write!).
With a background in writing mysteries, I also wanted to ensure my
story was grounded in the modern-day world. There had to be
believability in what I presented on the page. No aliens, no
supernatural guardians, or powers for me! Heck, I went so far as to
include a police investigation to keep things relatable and
realistic. What can I say? I can’t get away from law enforcement,
no matter what I do. But that’s fine by me!
If the
thought of treasure hunting or traveling the globe and exploring
remote regions excites you, then I encourage you to check out both
books in Matthew Connor series, City of
Gold and The
Secret of the Lost Pharaoh. Really,
what are you waiting for? You don’t even need to deal with flight
delays, packing, or obtaining a passport. Strap yourself in for an
adventure today!
Follow
the tour HERE
for exclusive excerpts, guest posts and a giveaway!
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