I am thrilled to be hosting a spot
on the SCAVENGER HUNT by Chad Boudreaux Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out
my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!
About The Book:
Author: Chad Boudreaux
Pub. Date: January 31, 2023
Publisher: Morgan James Fiction
Formats: Paperback, eBook
Pages: 296
Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/SCAVENGER-HUNT
Blake
Hudson just wants to serve his country well as a lawyer for the United States
Justice Department—but when an unknown threat begins plotting his downfall, he
must find who is setting him up before it costs him his life.
Scavenger
Hunt is a
suspense novel chronicling the plight of Blake Hudson, a Justice Department
lawyer assigned to a clandestine counterterrorist group created to bypass
onerous legal requirements. After the group mysteriously disbands, Hudson
becomes the scapegoat and is transformed from hunter to hunted. As he searches
for answers and attempts to piece the puzzle together, people are following
him, trying to kill him.
Written for
fans of fast-paced thrillers, dry humor, political gamesmanship, and Clue-like
twists and turns, Scavenger Hunt carves out a distinct niche
best described as a hybrid of the Robert Ludlum classics and works by Brad
Meltzer. Blake Hudson’s story addresses issues that have shaped recent
elections and continue to frustrate interest groups and government leaders, while
featuring the inner workings of the U.S. Department of Justice
Building—arguably the most important and misunderstood agency in the federal
government. Author Chad Boudreaux’s unique voice and page-turning storytelling
packs a plot-driven punch that readers won’t be able to put down.
Excerpt from Scavenger Hunt by Chad Boudreaux.
Reprinted with permission from Morgan James Fiction
San
Francisco, California
Plunging to the earth, he struggled
to control his breathing as his insides clawed through his skin. More than
forty thousand people stared at him, the latest cause célèbre. The world moved in slow motion, even as he
plummeted. The wind whipped around his denim jeans and through his curly hair.
As he descended, the explosive roar of the crowd became deafening. Hysterical
fans screamed, danced, clapped, and slapped high-fives.
This was it,
the moment he’d waited for his entire life; the moment his older, wiser brother
had described countless times; the moment when he’d reap the rewards sown over
years of discipline, toil, and resolve.
He wiped tears
from his eyes and saw Alcatraz in the distance, the abandoned fortress of rock
and steel attached to an island floating on the choppy, blue-green waters of
San Francisco Bay. He thought about the psychopaths who’d once inhabited the
Rock. People portrayed as standard-bearers for civilization believed—actually hoped—that some of the Rock’s erstwhile
denizens had escaped justice—at least earthly justice. He thought about those
criminals and their deranged supporters. They had never dedicated their lives
to any noble, enlightening cause. They had never experienced the fulfillment he
enjoyed.
He focused his attention back on the
gathered crowd. Those in attendance had paid hundreds—some thousands—of dollars for this show. His show. He noticed the multitudes dressed in black and citrus
orange. Some had arrived early in anticipation of the once-in-a-lifetime
extravaganza. Many brought small children and purchased pink cotton candy,
lemonade, and over-priced novelty items to commemorate the day. Those in the
most expensive seats, he thought, had invited their agents or perhaps the CEOs
of their best corporate clients. Pride overtook him as he witnessed the 46,500
people congregated en masse to take
part in this moment.
He truly was a star.
He pulled the
steering toggles of his parachute, slowing his descent. A high-speed approach
was unwarranted. There was no reason to hasten this experience, but rather, he
desired to relish it. There was little turbulence. His bright red- and
yellow-striped canopy remained stable, so landing wouldn’t be a problem.
Flaring techniques wouldn’t be needed. As he approached his landing zone, he
witnessed the rosy faces in the crowd. No empty seat in sight. Making sure not
to disappoint, he smiled and waved at the surprised onlookers.
Fighter jets
circled for another fly-by. What a great
show! he thought. As the F-16 Falcons blazed overhead, the crowd started
the wave. His older, wiser brother couldn’t have planned this event any better.
He tugged on
the parachute’s toggles once again, further slowing his fall toward the
baseball stadium, making him seem suspended in mid-air, suspended in time. As
he adjusted his body in the parachute harness, he spied the escort gathering
below, beyond the tips of his tattered white sneakers, waiting for his arrival.
Right on time. No longer anxious about his magnificent entrance, his heartbeat
slowed. Everything was proceeding by design. Nothing would go wrong at this
stage.
The parachute’s
canopy shielded his vision, but he trusted the stand-alone cargo was descending
on course. The plan had evolved through several iterations, each relying upon
successful landings. The show’s success depended on his cohort releasing the
cargo at the precise moment so it would land at the precise spot. There was no
doubt the calculations would be exact. His older, wiser brother had promised
the cargo-carrying parachutes would descend true to course, and his brother’s
word was bond. The show would prove to be a resounding success.
As he descended
closer to the chaos, all sounds faded. His ears enjoyed a blissful silence. He
pulled down on the parachute’s toggles one last time. The plush green grass and
manicured red dirt came into focus. His great moment had arrived. He closed his
eyes and meditated on his past struggles. He thought about his childhood and
his family. He thought about the woman he’d loved so dearly who’d died not long
ago. If she could only see him now. He was a hero. This would be an event for
the ages. He would go down in history as the man who changed the world with his
rave performance.
His eyes
reopened. Home plate was seconds away. He saw the police officers
waiting—weapons drawn, handcuffs twirling, scowls pasted on their pompous American faces.
A second later,
his feet slammed to the ground.
And his world
went dark.
A few miles
away, the man’s older, wiser brother descended in his parachute, wiping away his
own tears—tears of joy for the martyr his younger brother had just become.
About Chad Boudreaux:
Chad Boudreaux has a broad range of government, legal and corporate experience. Prior to serving as the Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of the nation’s largest military shipbuilder, he served as Deputy Chief of Staff for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, where he advised Secretary Michael Chertoff on almost all significant matters facing the newly established Department.
Before working for Homeland Security, Boudreaux served in several high-ranking positions at the U.S. Justice Department, where he was hired the night before the September 11, 2001 attacks. During his time at the Justice Department, Boudreaux focused most of his time on matters relating to terrorism and homeland security.
His career in the government lead him to write his debut novel, Scavenger Hunt, coming out January 2023.
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon
Giveaway Details:
1 winner
will receive a finished copy of SCAVENGER HUNT, US Only.
Ends
February 14th, midnight EST.
Tour Schedule:
Week One:
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1/16/2023 |
Excerpt/IG Post |
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1/17/2023 |
Excerpt/IG Post |
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1/18/2023 |
Excerpt |
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1/19/2023 |
Excerpt/IG Post |
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1/20/2023 |
Excerpt/IG Post |
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1/21/2023 |
Excerpt |
Week Two:
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1/22/2023 |
Excerpt/IG Post |
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1/23/2023 |
Excerpt/IG Post |
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1/24/2023 |
Review |
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1/25/2023 |
Review/IG Post |
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1/26/2023 |
Review/IG Post |
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1/27/2023 |
IG Review |
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1/28/2023 |
Review/IG Post |
Week Three:
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1/29/2023 |
IG Review/LFL Drop Pic |
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1/30/2023 |
Review/IG Post |
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1/31/2023 |
Review/IG Post |
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2/1/2023 |
IG Review/LFL Drop Pic |
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2/2/2023 |
Review/IG Post |
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2/3/2023 |
IG Review/TikTok Post |
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2/4/2023 |
IG Review |
Week Four:
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2/5/2023 |
IG Review |
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2/6/2023 |
IG Review/TikTok Post |
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2/7/2023 |
IG Review |
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2/8/2023 |
Review |
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2/9/2023 |
IG Review |
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2/10/2023 |
IG Review |
