Synopsis:
Banovic Siblings – Friends & Liars
College boy Kevin Banovic’s casual affair with Savi DaCosta
suited him perfectly. Things change when he finds out that Savi is his mom’s
high school bestie. When Kevin tries to end their affair, Savi blackmails him. After
Kevin rescues Savi’s stepdaughter, L’Wren, from her abusive boyfriend, he can’t
stop thinking about her. He must find a way to handle Savi, protect L’Wren, and
keep his sanity.
Bad girl Adriana Banovic is pleased with herself for getting
her nemesis expelled from Westwood Academy. As feelings between her and her
latest victim Haze Lyndon escalate, an unexpected rival discovers her secret
and threatens to expose her. With emotions on the line, will her new rival beat
her at her own game or end up another casualty of Adriana’s wrath?
Zax Banovic has
it all. Tall and handsome,he’s an academic genius, with a killer smile and a heart of gold. When his best
friend gets into trouble, he feels responsible and covers for him. But his best
friend is not as honorable and has other plans for Zax.
The Banovic Siblings learn that blackmail is a gift that keeps
on giving. This is the second book in the Family Portrait novel series.
If you like shows like the original Melrose Place, Beverly Hills
90210 and Nashville, where the
guys and girls are hot and the schemes are hotter, you will like The
Banovic Siblings.
Excerpt:
Chapter 19: Cocktails and Dreams
L’Wren entered Bacchanal Jake’s with two of her girlfriends. While their intention was to have fun and enjoy the attention of guys, her mission was to see Kevin Banovic again. She knew he worked there and, without alerting her friends to her plan, casually chose Jake’s as the hangout spot for the evening.
She hated the way they’d left things. Why did she
care what he thought of her? He was just some guy—some guy who cared enough to
stand up for her and got hurt in the process. She carried around immense guilt,
and he’d made her feel worst when she tried to apologize. She had no idea what
she was going to say to him. She just knew that she had to see him again.
They ordered drinks and found a booth. L’Wren’s
eyes combed the room, her breath unsteady, her palms sweaty and her stomach in
knots. Maybe he had the night off.
L’Wren’s friends noticed her distraction.
“Hey, what’s going on with you?” one friend asked.
“Nothing.” She smiled nervously.
A couple of guys came over with drinks for the
girls. They began chatting them up. L’Wren was not interested. She just smiled
and nodded and kept an eye out for Kevin.
Her hopes began to fade after an hour. L’Wren was
about ready to leave when she spotted Kevin. She took a deep breath. The air in
the room was getting tight again. She watched as he flirted with a woman at the
bar. The scene reminded her of Tom Cruise in the movie Cocktail, minus the bar theatrics.
She felt a twinge in the pit of her stomach that
surprised her. The guy next to her said something, but she didn’t hear him. Her
mind was focused on Kevin. Mentally she tried to muster courage and find
something to say to him.
Her legs felt heavy as she stood and walked over
to the bar. With every step her heart pounded harder and faster. As she got
closer, she straightened her spine, lifted her head, and steadied her breath.
She walked straight towards the end of the bar where he stood still chatting up
the brunette, who looked like she was ready to ravish him. Kevin said something
to her, and she smiled, then tossed her long mane, retrieved her cell phone,
and touched hers with his.
Kevin stood up and looked at L’Wren. The brunette
shot her a menacing look.
“What can I get you?” he asked as if she was a
complete stranger.
“I just thought I’d come over and introduce
myself,” she heard herself say. New-formed confidence took over. “Hi, I’m
L’Wren.” She extended her arm.
The brunette’s eyes switched between them. She
eventually walked away without saying a word.
“What are you doing?” Kevin asked.
“Starting over.”
Kevin was unsure where she was going with this but
played along. “Kevin, nice to meet you.” He gently shook her hand.
“I’d like a martini, please. Shaken not stirred.”
She perched herself on the bar stool.
They looked at each other for a moment, and then
started to laugh at the obvious James Bond reference.
It was late when L’Wren’s friends said their
goodbyes and left her at the bar.
Kevin served drinks, and then returned his
attention to her.
It was last call when Kevin walked her to her car.
“You okay to drive, or should I call for a cab?”
“Kevin,” she leaned in close to him, “when you
weren’t looking, I ordered diet Sprite from the other bartender.”
“What about the martini?”
“I don’t drink martinis. I sent it to my
girlfriend.”
“Oh, I feel so duped, seriously?”
She nodded affirmative.
“Since we’re confessing … I saw you the minute you
walked into Jake’s.”
“Liar! You were nowhere around.”
“I was in the back room … I wanted to see if you
were waiting for someone.”
“I don’t believe you. You can’t stand to be
duped.” She laughed.
Kevin watched her as she got into her white Prius
V and drove away.
L’Wren looked at him in the rearview mirror and
smiled. That turned out better than she’d expected.
As she pulled into her driveway, she hummed ‘Kokomo’, the theme song from Cocktail. The house was dark, and she
knew no one was home. Leighann had gone to the game with Zax, and who knew
where Savi was. L’Wren smiled as she thought about Zax and Leighann. Those
Banovic boys had charm. If Zax was anything like his brother, Leighann was a
lucky girl. Just then she heard footsteps and turned around quickly.
“Jeff! You scared me.” She playfully punched him.
“Hey, baby.” He kissed her. “Here let me.” He took
the keys and opened the door for her.
They began turning on the lights.
“I didn’t realize we were supposed to get together
tonight,” she said, feeling uneasy.
“Do I need an appointment to see my girl?”
“No … if I knew you were coming over, I would have
gotten here sooner.” She busied herself in the kitchen.
“Where were you?”
“Traffic on the 405 was a bitch.”
“Where did you say you were again?”
“Out with a couple of friends. No place special.”
“You could have called me. I would have gone to no
place special with you.”
“Jeff, we talked about this. You can’t have a cow
every time I go out with my friends.”
“You never invite me anywhere with your friends.
Are you ashamed of me?” Jeff towered over her.
“Don’t be silly. It was just us girls. None of
them had their boyfriends with them.”
“Did you have a good time?”
“Yes.” She tried to walk away from him, but she
was trapped between the counter and Jeff.
He boxed her in with his arms. “Did guys hit on
you?”
“What? No.” She tried to move his arm, but it was
firmly planted against the counter. “Why don’t we go in the living room and
talk,” she suggested, trying to sound calm.
“Why can’t you look me in the eye and tell me that
guys didn’t hit on you?”
“Jeff, I think you should leave.”
“Is he coming over? Is that why you want me to
leave?” Jeff raised his voice.
L’Wren knew what was coming next. She braced
herself for him to either punch her in the gut or pull her hair. He wouldn’t
slap her face; he didn’t like to leave visual bruises. He couldn’t have his
friends know that he beat up on his girlfriend. He was quarterback of the
football team and had a reputation to uphold. She gripped the counter as he
yanked on her hair, tugging her head back, causing her to bump her head on the
overhead cupboard.
“I have absolutely no qualms about putting a
bullet through your brain right now,” Savi said calmly.
Jeff turned around to face the business end of
Savi’s shiny silver revolver. L’Wren gasped. Something in her eyes told him
that she meant it.
“As far as I’m concerned, you broke into my
daughter’s house. I came home and found you roughing her up … a plausible story
… for the police.”
Jeff held her gaze.
She clicked the gun. “Bounce.”
Jeff did as he was told. Savi walked out behind
him and locked the door. L’Wren was still shivering in the kitchen.
“Where do you find those losers?” Savi asked
casually. She set the gun down on the counter and poured herself a glass of
wine.
L’Wren stared at the gun. She had never seen one
up close before. “Why do you have a gun?”
“Target practice.” Savi drank the wine and poured
another. This time she also poured a glass for L’Wren, whose hands were shaking
so badly that she could barely hold the glass.
“I don’t want to be around it.”
“Then move out.” Savi picked up the offending
object and walked out into the living room.
L’Wren followed. “This is my house. You’re a guest.”
Savi placed the gun in her Dior handbag.
“What if Leighann finds it?” L’Wren continued.
“It’s not a dildo, for Christ’s sake.” Savi headed
to her room and shut the door.
I was given this book by author for honest review. Each chapter is a different character and they all eventually intertwine together to make a tangled story of lies, blackmail, and deception. Short quick read that flows really well.
The Banovic Siblings (Family Portrait
V.2):
About this author
Gillian Felix has been writing since she was old enough to hold a pencil. She enjoys creating characters that could be your next-door neighbor, but would you want them as your neighbor is another story.
Originally from the island republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Miss Felix moved to the United States in 1998. Since then she has been involved in the entertainment industry for over ten years. Her experience ranges from script supervisor to production manager on many independent features. She is trained in the Meisner and Stanislavski technique of acting, which she credits as an asset to her character development and writing.
Miss Felix is also an entrepreneur and advocate for children's and women's rights.
Originally from the island republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Miss Felix moved to the United States in 1998. Since then she has been involved in the entertainment industry for over ten years. Her experience ranges from script supervisor to production manager on many independent features. She is trained in the Meisner and Stanislavski technique of acting, which she credits as an asset to her character development and writing.
Miss Felix is also an entrepreneur and advocate for children's and women's rights.
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