Thursday, November 28, 2013

FANtastic THANKS!

WE'RE THANKFUL FOR YOU,
OUR FAITHFUL FANS

Being an author is hard work, but it's something that none of us can stop doing. Expecially with fans who touch us. Some fans become friends, some have been touched by our work. It's a special feeling to hear from you. Please feel free to contact us and your other favorite authors. You're the reason we keep doing writing. 


HAPPY THANKSGIVING INTRIGUE READERS !
~ ~ ~

My first novel won't be out until New Year's Eve, but like most authors, I LOVE to read, and I'm a fan of so many authors.  I actually became a fan of one of my favorite authors before she was even published.  I happened to take an online writing workshop with Allison Brennan maybe a year or so before her first book came out, and she posted a portion of what would be published as The Hunt.  I loved it so much that I emailed her and asked her to let me know when it got published, because I wanted to read the whole thing.  A year or two later, her first book came out and I've read every one since.

:) Best,
Elizabeth Heiter

~ ~ ~

I not only appreciate my Intrigue readers, but many of them have become great friends. Since my first Intrigue, Deep in the Bayou, was released in 1994, I have met many of my readers personally and become on-line friends with far more. We have shared joyous occasions and sad moments, and more than a few times they have inspired me to keep writing.
One of my most memorable correspondence from a reader was a letter I received a few weeks after 9/11. Like many other Americans, I found it difficult to just go on with my life as usual after the tragedy. Then one wonderful reader wrote and shared her feelings with me. She explained how she’d cried all day and then that night had picked up one of my books. She’d become engrossed in the story and for a few hours she’d escaped into a world where goodness and love overcame evil. I cried when I read her letter and was thankful for the inspiration she gave me to get back to writing. I called her a few weeks later, when I could do so without crying. We had a wonderful phone visit.
Another reader named Ruth has become very special to me.  Her grandson stopped by my first booksigning and bought a book for his grandmother.  Ruth has bought every one of my books since that very first one. If she couldn’t find one, her grandson found it for her. At the time she lived in Chalmette, La, an area very hard hit by Katrina. Her grandson contacted me after that to say that she and her husband had literally lost everything in the hurricane.  Because my books had meant so much to her, he was trying to buy as many of them as he could find. Needless to say, I sent her signed copies of every one I had or could track down. Ruth is an amazing woman and though I’ve never met her personally, I consider her a very special friend.
Happy Thanksgiving, Intrigue readers. And thanks for all the wonderful letters and emails through the years. 
~ ~ ~
My favorite fan story involves a reader whose daughter was in Security Forces school at an Air Force base. The daughter’s team was put on lock-down and to help pass the time she went into her mom’s iTunes account and read Risking Trust. She liked it so much that she told her friends and all five of them read my series.   When the daughter graduated, she mentioned that she would not have made it through school without my books to keep her going.

As an author, to know I helped someone in such a way is a gift and it’s one I’ll always be thankful for.

~ ~ ~
I while back I got a letter from a woman telling me that her mother had died. She wrote because her mother had enjoyed my Intrigues so much that they were burying one of my books with her.

I was so honored and so choked up by the experience. It really brought home what our books can mean to readers. I am so thankful that our books form such wonderful connections between writers and readers.

~ ~ ~
The on-line friendships I've made with Brenda, Ellen, Kaylee, Laura and so many other Intrigue fans has been fantastic. I've had some really great fans write to me about each book and I appreciate each and every one.

Today, I'm especially thankful for my biggest and oldest fan...my daughter, Kourtney. Earlier this summer she had a cancer scare. It turned out to be "unique cells" which comes as no surprise knowing how unique of a person she is.

Kourtney wanted to read my books years ago...I printed PG versions just for her. But most recently, She was reading Protecting Their Child and gave me the best-feeling compliment. I'm paraphrasing...

"I needed to sleep, and no offense mom, but I started reading your book. I didn't think I'd relate to a pregnant heroine, so I thought I'd read just a little. I couldn't put it down and stayed up all night."

It's music to an author's ears to hear a reader say you kept them up at night. I never thought my daughter, who hears about my stories constantly and helps me work through what a young person would actually do...  Well, it warms my heart to no end to hear those words from her.

I'm very grateful for Kourtney and thank God for her every day.

AGAIN, HAPPY THANKSGIVING.
Travel safely.
Enjoy the day.
Make memories.
And read a great book !

Monday, November 25, 2013

It's All About The Animals

ANIMAL INSTINCTS, my new urban fantasy romantic suspense novel, is all about the animals. Attending a couple of Humane Society meetings about passing laws to help stop dog fighting, I wanted to raise awareness by using murders related to dog fighting as my crime. It was quickly pointed out to me that readers would think of their pets, and so I took a left turn and made them shifter fights.
    My hero, Luc Lazare, is half-human, half-Kindred, and he’s a man who has been pulled between his two worlds all of his life. His retired social worker mother is all human and has instilled the idea of caring and justice in him. The Kindred part is reference to his father’s line–descendents of the Nephilim (progeny of fallen angels and earthly women) who are shapeshifters. Luc’s family is black panther, but other Kindred are other predators–wolves, hawks, African wild dogs, pythons and more. In their human form, their goal is to gain power by corrupting the rest of humanity.
     My heroine, Skye Cross, is an animal advocate. She arrives with Animal Control at a dog fight, her purpose to see to the welfare of the dogs. To her surprise, the only dog she sees is an African Wild Dog. It’s opponent, a coyote, escapes the arena and she goes after it, only to be surrounded in the dark by wild predators, who see her as their next snack. Yes, she can “hear” their thoughts. And, saved by Luc, she realizes he, too, has gotten in her head:

    Dark hair whipped around features so rugged they could have been cut from granite. High cheekbones. Broad forehead. Square chin. His eyes appeared silver in the moonlight, and they glowed at me, tightening my stomach and making it hard to breathe.
    Trembling, I gasped, “What just happened?”
    “You got into something that doesn’t concern you.”
Forget about it.
    I started. He hadn’t said the last bit out loud. There was something about him so powerful that I almost agreed.
    I fought the desire to give in, saying, “I’m not forgetting about anything. Who are you?”
    I felt as if he were trying to push the command into my mind.
    Glaring at him, I pushed back.
    “What
are you?” he asked.
    “Someone who protects animals.”
    His silence told me that wasn’t exactly the explanation he was looking for. My pulse threaded unevenly as he stepped closer. I sensed both threat and something less tangible, something that made my stomach knot and my throat tighten. I’d always had a psychic connection not only with animals, but with my brother. No one else. Not until now. And this guy being able to mess with my mind went beyond any previous experience I’d had.

    “Did you have something to do with the fight?” I gasped. “Where did those predators come from? What kind of power do you have over them?” It had to be something supernatural.
    He stepped closer, and I sucked in a breath as his power cut through me, speeding my pulse, drying my mouth.
    “You need to forget about them, Skye.”
    This time he said it aloud. And he used my name.
    “How do you know who I am?” I demanded, my heart beating so fast I could feel it bump up against my ribs. “What were you doing here? Who are you?”
    Rather than answering my questions, he reached out and slid a palm along my cheek. The touch seared me, reminding me of the time I’d inadvertently touched a live wire. Wanting to move, wanting to run, I stood frozen instead. He was so close, I imagined I could feel the heat of his body as he splayed fingers around the side of my head. My insides trembled and my breasts felt full and tight.
    What was wrong with me? Why couldn’t I move? Or speak?
   
You never saw me. You’ll forget about me the moment I disappear.
    Every fiber of my being longed to do what he wanted. But something in me, the thing that made me do what I do, was stronger.

    “Disappear to where?” I demanded through a parched throat when I finally found my voice. “I have an excellent memory.”
    Appearing frustrated that I’d been able to hear the silent command, he dropped his hand. “What
are you?” he asked again.

    It is all about the animals for me. The holidays from Thanksgiving to the New Year is a time of giving, and I’m hoping that this year, those of you who can will support an animal shelter or sanctuary or zoo, whether it is by volunteering, buying gifts that help the organization or by donation. Here are a couple of places that I support:
    PAWS Chicago, with it’s adoption center, spay and neuter clinic, and at the forefront of animal advocacy.
    Lincoln Park Zoo, one of the last free zoos in the country.
    Humane Society of the United States, the nation’s largest animal protection organization.
***
New York Times & USA Today bestselling author Patricia Rosemoor has written 95 published novels that have generated more than seven million sales for eight publishers. Her fascination with "dangerous love" has led her to bring a different mix of thrills and chills and romance to each book. ANIMAL INSTINCTS and CRIMSON DUET (2 related holiday novels at a discounted price) by Entangled Ignite is available at digital retailers. And don’t miss DANGEROUS ATTRACTION Boxed Set – romantic suspense novels published independently by Patricia and nine other USA Today bestselling authors.

You buy ANIMAL INSTINCTS at these digital retailers:
Amazon, BN, Kobo, iTunes


You can find Patricia at
Website: http://patriciarosemoor.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PatriciaRosemoorAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PRosemoor



Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Perini ~ Diaz ~ Morgan

OUR FAVORITE SCENES


IT'S A CASE OF TAKEN IDENTITY IN LENA DIAZ'S UNDERCOVER TWIN!


DEA agent Nick Morgan had no choice but to break up with the love of his life, Heather Bannon. He knew that if he was seen anywhere near the gorgeous P.I., he could kiss his career goodbye. But when Heather's twin is abducted, Nick reconsiders his priorities.

As Nick leads Heather on a dangerous undercover mission to rescue her sister and topple an elusive drug lord, he knows he was wrong to end their relationship. Working side by side, Nick realizes his love for her is as strong as ever, and he'll risk his life to prove it. Having Heather pose as her twin—down to her tattoos—could be genius…or a fatal mistake.

“A fine plot line and lots of action.” ~Romantic Times

~ ~ ~
IN ROBIN PERINI'S THE CRADLE CONSPIRACY, TWO THINGS HAVE BEEN STOLEN FROM RAVEN: HER MEMORIES…AND HER BABY

CIA agent Daniel Adams, once a prisoner of war, is a loner out of necessity. But rescuing an amnesiac woman left buried alive bonds them in ways neither can resist. All "Raven" knows is that her baby is in danger. All Daniel can focus on is finding the missing child—and protecting Raven every step of the way.

Her memories are lost and his are scarred from the damages of war. But as they depend on each other for survival in the rugged west Texas mountains, the pieces of their broken pasts start to come together. Now all they have is the risky hope of a future together as they confront the threat that can destroy them both.

“Perini’s tale is a twisted trip into the lives of two scarred souls who are digging into the mind of a psychopath to survive…[It’s]…a suspenseful adventure that will keep readers guessing until the end.” ~Romantic Times, 4-1/2 Stars

~ ~ ~
TO THE REST OF THE WORLD, SABRINA WATKINS DOESN'T EXIST. BUT TO THIS COP, SHE IS VERY MUCH ALIVE IN ANGI MORGAN'S THE MARINE'S LAST DEFENSE.
After escaping a killer, playing dead was the only way Sabrina Watkins could get out of Amarillo alive. Now she's living in Dallas, where no one knows her true identity. Until homicide cop Jake Craig shows up. 

A half-frozen pup he finds at a crime scene brings Jake to Sabrina's doorstep. Suddenly, the former Marine is playing hero to a desperate woman on the run. Sworn to clear her name, Jake's already falling for the stunning brunette with the amethyst eyes. Can he keep her safe and turn a rescue mission into a last chance at love?

"Morgan launches the volley from the first pages so readers aren't left wondering whodunit, but they'll have to pay attention to the escalating action to keep up with the characters, who are in trouble from the get-go." ~Romantic Times, 4 STARS
~ ~ ~
UNDERCOVER TWIN
Lena Diaz, December Intrigue

One of my favorite scenes in UNDERCOVER TWIN is the heroine's first night in Key West, when Heather goes undercover to try to rescue her sister. Heather is a tough private investigator, but the felon-filled bar in Key West is way out of her league of experience. The patrons sport prison tats, knives, and guns barely concealed beneath their leather jackets. 

The heroine ends up running for her life down a dark, narrow side-street. And who should come to her rescue in his hot, red, Maserati GranTurismo convertible but our hero, Nick. What makes this scene so much fun is that in the midst of flying bullets and crazy race-car driver moves to save the heroine, Nick is having the time of his life, loving every single minute.

GLIAS: Is your favorite scene completely fictional or did you pull it from real life?
LENA: Definitely not a scene I pulled from any of my real-life experiences! Well, except for the hot hero in the fast car doing crazy race-car moves. Other than that, it's all fiction!
GLIAS: Um...who was the hot hero?
LENA: My boyfriend (and now husband) in his 1967 Mustang of course! :) I never could resist a guy in a Mustang.
 ~ ~ ~
 THE CRADLE CONSPIRACY
Robin Perini, December Intrigue

GLIAS: Is your favorite scene completely fictional or did you pull it from real life?
ROBIN: I didn’t really plan on Trouble, not at the beginning. The Chewbacca-resembled mutt came out of nowhere because my hero, Daniel was so damaged. In Christmas Conspiracy (October 2012), Daniel had been imprisoned on a mission. His captors brutalized him. Daniel survived by sheer guts, but flashbacks and claustrophobia haunted him after his rescue.
 
So did Trouble.

My favorite scene with the half-Irish-setter-half-Newfoundland is inspired by Search and Rescue dogs and the amazing work they do—with a little bit of Lassie thrown in for good measure. Early on, Trouble is walking ten feet away from Daniel (as close as Trouble ever gets to him). He darts off into the west Texas landscape. Daniel follows and the ‘troublesome’ canine leads Daniel into a crumbling, abandoned mine. Trouble runs in, disappearing into the inky blackness, then finally exits, barking constantly. He tugs on Daniel, trying to pull him into the mine. NOT something Daniel wants to do. AT ALL! Then Trouble brings out a woman’s high-heeled shoe. Daniel has to make a choice. Fight his demons or go back to hitching across a Texas road ala Forrest Gump. Which do you think he chooses?

You can find out what happens in my next Harlequin Intrigue®, The Cradle Conspiracy, Coming out in paperback on November 19 and in e-book on December 1.
~ ~ ~
 THE MARINE'S LAST DEFENSE
Angi Morgan, January Intrigue

GLIAS: Is your favorite scene completely fictional or did you pull it from real life?
ANGI: Wow, just one scene? It's so hard to choose. THE MARINE'S LAST DEFENSE was inspired by a lot of real things in my life and it was amazing to me how they all came together.  I think my favorite thing isn't a scene...it's the heroine's occupation. She's a pet sitter and it was all my husband's idea. We were discussing the book at dinner on vacation and our dog sitter called. Tim suggested that would be a good occupation for someone trying to hide. And just like that...the book was born.

The opening scene with my hero was inspired by a bike ride. I rode past a secluded area at Whiterock Lake and told Tim that I needed to write a couple of things down about a murder. (Yes, I always ride with a notebook.)

I didn't know how this book was going to end, so Tim and I took a road trip to Amarillo. My friend, Linda Castillo and her husband showed us the cattle feed lots and everything came together. I had my ending. 

~ ~ ~
LENA DIAZ writes the popular Romantic suspense "Nursery Rhyme" series for Avon as well as shorter stories for Harlequin Intrigue. Winner of the Daphne du Maurier award, finalist in the Romance Writer's of America's Golden Heart Awards, she stays true to her southern roots by setting most of her stories in the south, especially Florida. Since selling her first book in 2011, Lena has contracted 13 novels.

 Website  Facebook  Twitter @LenaDiaz     
~ ~ ~
ANGI MORGAN writes “Intrigues where honor and danger collide with love.” She combines actual Texas settings with characters who are in realistic and dangerous situations. Angi's published work has been a finalist in the Bookseller’s Best Award, Romantic Times Best First Series, Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence and the Daphne du Maurier.

Website   Facebook   FB Fan Page   Twitter @AngiMorganAuthr
A Picture A Day   Goodreads   Pintrest  Book Trailers on YouTube
~ ~ ~
ROBIN PERINI is a RITA Finalist, award-winning and national bestselling author, devoted to giving her readers fast-paced, high-stakes adventure with a love story sure to melt their hearts. Her mission's motto: "When danger and romance collide, no heart is safe." After seven prestigious Romance Writers of America® Golden Heart® finals, Robin has since sold fourteen novels. 

Website   FB Fan Page   Twitter @RobinPerini
   Goodreads   Pintrest  Book Trailers on YouTube
~ ~ ~

ENTER ANGI & ROBIN'S 'THANKS FANS contest': register at Rafflecopter through November 30th for a copy of THE CRADLE CONSPIRACY & THE MARINE'S LAST DEFENSE. 

Speaking of giveaways…WE EACH HAVE A BOOK TODAY for three Blog Commenters. (1 book for 3 people) LEAVE A BLOG COMMENT to be entered.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE SCENE (book or movie) THAT'S JUST UNFORGETABLE?

Friday, November 15, 2013

DALLAS TROUBLE

Man and dog go together. Devotion, loyalty, love. A dog has an uncanny ability to feel what we feel. So it is with two dogs from two books. This time, instead of introducing hero and heroines, or plots, you get to meet two amazing canines who will give you some special insights into the humans they came to know…and love.

HERE COMES TROUBLE
THE CRADLE CONSPIRACY, Robin Perini, December Intrigue

My human named me Trouble. Poor man. He’s the one in trouble. For some reason he decided to walk across the country. Something about wide-open spaces and no walls. I have to admit, my human—Daniel Adams is his name—is a good one. He found me on the side of road. I was walking along, minding my own business, when some idiot in a pickup swerved and hit me.
Daniel didn’t ignore me like so many others. He rigged up a contraption and dragged me miles and miles, even though he limped half the way. He found me a doctor and didn’t leave me. It had been a long time since no one left.

I needed him that day, but he needs me, too. His soul hurts. I see it in his eyes. Sometimes he shouts in his sleep. Sometimes he cries, but he doesn’t tell anyone. Only me. He talks to me. Tells me about being locked up, about being afraid. And I listen. Maybe that’s why we found each other. I was hurt on the outside, Daniel on the inside. But he’ll get better. He has me. And I won’t leave him. Ever. Because he didn’t leave me.


DALLAS THE PUPSICLE
THE MARINE'S LAST DEFENSE, Angi Morgan, January Intrigue

Across the room, Dallas circled as if she was about to curl up and sleep. “I should probably walk you before you settle down.” The pup squatted instead. Too late again. He was finished being a step behind. Time to act like who he was. A Marine.

I admit, that passage above isn't my best moment in the book, but Angi thought it was funny. In my defense, I'd been holding it a long, long time and had been very patient with Jake, my new human. My name's Dallas, after the city where I was born. I was happy to be adopted, being blind in one eye made it real hard until Bree came along. I liked living with Brenda Ellen, but something happened to her. Then I met Jake, he took me in, and just…needed me. A lot.

Like Trouble's story, my human found me when I was desperate. I was half-frozen and didn't know what to do. And like Trouble's human, Jake Craig needed me big time. He talks about war and three tours somewhere. I don't know exactly what that means, but it can't be good 'cause he gets all tense and withdrawn. His hands even shake. But I stick my head under it for a good scratch and he settles down. He's really good rubbing behind my ears. I don't think he knows how much loving it took to break through all his defenses. But I did.
~ ~ ~
IN ROBIN PERINI'S THE CRADLE CONSPIRACY, TWO THINGS HAVE BEEN STOLEN FROM RAVEN: HER MEMORIES…AND HER BABY

CIA agent Daniel Adams, once a prisoner of war, is a loner out of necessity. But rescuing an amnesiac woman left buried alive bonds them in ways neither can resist. All "Raven" knows is that her baby is in danger. All Daniel can focus on is finding the missing child—and protecting Raven every step of the way.

Her memories are lost and his are scarred from the damages of war. But as they depend on each other for survival in the rugged west Texas mountains, the pieces of their broken pasts start to come together. Now all they have is the risky hope of a future together as they confront the threat that can destroy them both.

“Perini’s tale is a twisted trip into the lives of two scarred souls who are digging into the mind of a psychopath to survive…[It’s]…a suspenseful adventure that will keep readers guessing until the end.” ~Romantic Times, 4-1/2 Stars
~ ~ ~
TO THE REST OF THE WORLD, SABRINA WATKINS DOESN'T EXIST. BUT TO THIS COP, SHE IS VERY MUCH ALIVE IN ANGI MORGAN'S THE MARINE'S LAST DEFENSE.

After escaping a killer, playing dead was the only way Sabrina Watkins could get out of Amarillo alive. Now she's living in Dallas, where no one knows her true identity. Until homicide cop Jake Craig shows up. 

A half-frozen pup he finds at a crime scene brings Jake to Sabrina's doorstep. Suddenly, the former Marine is playing hero to a desperate woman on the run. Sworn to clear her name, Jake's already falling for the stunning brunette with the amethyst eyes. Can he keep her safe and turn a rescue mission into a last chance at love?

"Former Marine Jake Craig is now a homicide detective who keeps people at a distance, but there's something about the pretty woman at the local coffee shop that captures his attention. Sabrina Watkins has built t a successful business walking dogs, but she's also on the run from men who want her to take the fall for their illegal activities-after she's dead. How can she get involved with a taciturn cop who could slap the cuffs any minute? Before he knows it, Jake is busy trying to keep Sabrina alive as he worries that he's falling hard for a felon. Morgan launches the volley from the first pages so readers aren't left wondering whodunit, but they'll have to pay attention to the escalating action to keep up with the characters, who are in trouble from the get-go."  ~~Romantic Times Magazine, 4 STARS
~ ~ ~
ANGI MORGAN writes “Intrigues where honor and danger collide with love.” She combines actual Texas settings with characters who are in realistic and dangerous situations. Angi's work has been a finalist in the Bookseller’s Best Award, Romantic Times Best First Series, Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence and the Daphne du Maurier.

Website   Facebook   FB Fan Page   Twitter @AngiMorganAuthr  A Picture A Day   Goodreads   Pintrest  Book Trailers on YouTube
~ ~ ~
ROBIN PERINI is a RITA Finalist, award-winning and national bestselling author, devoted to giving her readers fast-paced, high-stakes adventure with a love story sure to melt their hearts. Her mission's motto: "When danger and romance collide, no heart is safe." After seven prestigious Romance Writers of America® Golden Heart® finals, Robin has since sold fourteen novels. 

Website   FB Fan Page   Twitter @RobinPerini
   Goodreads   Pintrest  Book Trailers on YouTube
~ ~ ~

ENTER ANGI & ROBIN'S 'THANKS FANS contest': register at Rafflecopter through November 30th for a copy of THE CRADLE CONSPIRACY & THE MARINE'S LAST DEFENSE. Speaking of giveaways…WE EACH HAVE A BOOK TODAY for a Blog Commenter. LEAVE A BLOG COMMENT to be entered.
 ~ ~ ~
DO YOU HAVE ANY CRAZY PET STORIES YOU'LL SHARE? 

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Collaborating to Publish a Romantic Suspense Collection

Patricia Rosemoor, Rebecca York and Dana Marton have banded together with seven other successful romantic suspense authors to publish DANGEROUS ATTRACTION, a collection of their works--this includes Patricia's SEE ME IN YOUR DREAMS, Rebecca's CHRISTMAS CAPTIVE, and Dana's DEATHSCAPE. The nature of the partnership is somewhat unusual, inthat a few of the authors are indie only, some are indie and digitally published, while others are hybrid--both indie and traditionally print-published. The collaboration comes not in the writing, but in the business of supporting and promoting each others' work.
***
Having written two Intrigues with a paranormal element, Patricia pulled together an idea for a paranormal series, The McKenna Legacy. In the first novel, SEE ME IN YOUR DREAMS, she explored a different aspect of the dream world. Keelin McKenna dreams through the eyes of a teenage girl who runs from her home because of an emotional crisis. Tyler Leighton, her father, doesn’t believe Keelin when she first comes to him. He thinks she’s a scam artist trying to con him out of money. Having refused to act in the past and thereby prevent a tragedy, Keelin won’t let it be. What will it take to win Tyler’s trust? And will they find the girl before some real harm comes to her?

Patricia says, “I got the idea for a family legacy when my uncle and cousin both created unrelated family trees for the McKennas – my maternal grandmother Rose having been a McKenna. I’d done two other paranormal stories for Intrigue and I wanted to do something that combined my family tree with beliefs of my Irish ancestors. So I created Moira, a bean feasa (believed to be a wise woman, healer, witch) and had her leave her legacy of love and danger to her grandchildren. I made Keelin most like her both in her psychic abilities and in her using her grandmother’s herbal garden to heal. Unlike many of my action-oriented heroines, Keelin is soft, both sweet and tart in nature, and definitely the ultimate romantic.”
***
Was it attempted murder or a boating accident? Either way, Jordan Campbell, the hero of CHRISTMAS CAPTIVE, is in a coma. In this novella, part of Rebecca York's Decorah Security series, Frank Decorah asks nurse Hannah Andrews to use her psychic talent to connect with Jordan. She knows it’s a dangerous job. Once she’s on the case, whoever tried to kill Jordan will likely turn on her. But as she digs into the man’s background, she can’t refuse Frank’s assignment. Now she’s risking her life–and her heart.  But will this be Jordan and Hannah's last Christmas?

Rebecca says,  "Apparently I am fascinated with the idea of mind to mind communication because I have used this in several stories, including my Mind Benders series for Intrigue. In CHRISTMAS CAPTIVE, there's a further complication.  Hannah Andrews must communicate with Jordan Campbell, a man who's in a coma. I love the intimacy of forging a bond with another person's mind.  What closer connection could there be between two people?  Either they're going to love or hate each other.  Since I write romantic suspense, i come down on the side of love.”
***
In Dana's DEATHSCAPE, a Broslin Creek novel, when artist Ashley Price saves a man buried alive on her land, she doesn't know he's a detective, or that he will accuse her of being in league with a serial killer. Detective Jack Sullivan spent his career hunting the man who'd murdered his sister. But when he does catch up with the man, Jack loses the battle and is nearly killed himself. Can he trust Ashley, or is he walking into another deadly trap?

Dana says: "I wrote this book because of Jack. He is such a wonderfully complex character. Almost lost, walking that ragged edge. He's been obsessed with his sister's killer for too long. In trying to think like the killer so he can catch the man, Jack had taken a lot of darkness inside him. He's gone too far, broken too many rules. He's become ruthless. I wasn't sure if he was in control of his vengeance or his vengeance was in control of him. I think he was almost too far gone for love to reach him. Certainly farther than any character I've ever written. So writing his story was really interesting for me, watching the light inside him struggle against the darkness, rooting for him that he'd be able to come back from the dark places where he'd pushed himself."
***
DANGEROUS ATTRACTION is downloadable at Amazon, iTunes, Smashwords, BN.com and Kobo, available for the incredible price of 99 cents until the end of launch week on November 16. There's also an online launch party going on all week, with prizes, including an iPad mini.

Monday, November 11, 2013

Veteran's Day Reading

Happy Veterans Day!
A huge thank you to all of our service men and women and their families, especially those in my own family. Semper Fi, Dad.  I'm so proud of you and my little brother, the major.

I'll keep the discussion fun and simple today.  What's your favorite branch of the military?  Why?  A beloved family member?  A sexy uniform?  A favorite romance you've read featuring a military hero or heroine?

To help us celebrate, here are some book covers of military romances I've read and loved.  (And a few I've written myself <g>)  What are some of your favorite military romances?

MARINES




 NAVY
AIR FORCE
ARMY




 I'll give away a copy of my Nov. 19th release, YULETIDE PROTECTOR, to one lucky poster.  YULETIDE PROTECTOR's hero, Det. Spencer Montgomery wears a police officer's uniform, but my heroine has noticed his "military bearing".  <wink-wink>
So please share your favorite stories and books about the military as we honor those veterans who have served and continue serve.

Thank you!
Julie Miller




Sunday, November 10, 2013

RETURN TO BACHELOR MOON by Carla Cassidy

A mysterious disappearance will force an FBI profiler to protect a beautiful blonde who could be the next person to go missing. 

There's an alarming vacancy at Bachelor Moon Bed-and-Breakfast. Now it's up to FBI profiler Gabriel Blankenship to investigate the sudden disappearance of the owner's entire family. But the steely agent finds it hard to do his job when distracted by the B and B's gorgeous blonde manager Marlena Meyers. 

Their instant attraction is powerful yet problematic—when it comes to love, Marlena wants forever and a white picket fence; Gabriel, damaged by his past, has never loved and never wants to. But once Marlena's life is threatened, Gabriel is forced to reconsider his case and his emotions.

Read an Excerpt
Available at eHarlequin and other book retailers

SCENE OF THE CRIME: RETURN TO BACHELOR MOON
by Carla Cassidy

ISBN: 9780373697274 (#1460)

Saturday, November 9, 2013

SPY IN THE SADDLE by Dana Marton

Two agents must work together without letting a tense past—and a sizzling new attraction—disrupt their most important mission in Dana Marton's miniseries 
HQ: Texas

It's been ten years since soldier Shep Lewis laid eyes on delinquent-turned-FBI agent Lilly Tanner, and this time they have an even bigger problem than each other: terrorists. In the center of a smuggling operation, Shep and Lilly must partner up and protect each other. 

Not even their undercover identities can mask the mounting attraction between the pair as they struggle to survive in the merciless Texas borderlands. Can they put the past behind them and focus on the mission at hand? Or will their partnership reignite the flames of their untapped passions?

Read an Excerpt
Available at eHarlequin and other book retailers

SPY IN THE SADDLE
Miniseries: HQ: Texas
by Dana Marton

ISBN: 9780373697267 (#1459)

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

BOOKS into MOVIES

THIS MONTH WE ASKED INTRIGUE AUTHORS
if any holiday movie reminded them of a family event OR one of their books.

HOMESPUN CHRISTMAS, Harlequin Heartwarming, November 2013
This November, we have several projects to bring you. HOMESPUN CHRISTMAS is especially dear to us and we wanted to tell everyone a little bit about it. This book is a clean romance - no sex, no violence- and perfect for the holidays! It's set in a fictional New Mexico town. When Independence loses the one industry that kept them going, the crafters get together to breathe new life into a dying community.

HOMESPUN CHRISTMAS, a story about the will to succeed - even when the odds are against you, features a small town that must set aside its rivalries and come together if they're to survive. This story is about working class America, the unsung heroes who make a real difference, though you won't find them headlining the news.

ANIMAL INSTINCTS, November 2013
I love-love my upcoming Animal Instincts (coming from Entangled Ignite on Nov 23), an urban fantasy romantic suspense and would love to see it made into a movie. With sequels, of course. :) 

The world building was such fun. The story is set in today's Chicago, but there's a hidden segment of the population, descendants of the Nephilim, shape shifters who are out to corrupt humanity. Luc Lazare has always been torn between his mother's human world and his father's dark one. 

Skye Cross, an animal advocate, is drawn into that world (and to Luc, of course), searching for answers as to why her cop brother was murdered.

THE MARINE'S LAST DEFENSE, January 2014
TEXAS FAMILY RECKONING is a mini-series releasing May & June 2014 (Navy SEAL Surrender & The Renegade Rancher) are about estranged brothers. What the perfect TV family movie! Set in North Texas my twins must save their family horse ranch and try to repair their family relationship. 

There are murders, kidnapping, SEAL moves, Paramedic rescues, high school sweetheart reunions and lots of twin switches. Remember, there's not just one gorgeous hero…it's double your pleasure, double your fun, and double the suspense.

I've included a picture from my research trip where my pup, Texas, meets a horse for the first time.

DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS, December, 2013
I may be slightly prejudiced, but I think my April Harlequin Intrigue, Star Witness, would be a great TV movie. It takes place in one night, during a devastating storm that spawns tornados as well as damaging straight-line winds, knocks out all power for hours and paralyzes law enforcement and rescue personnel with its fierceness.

Harte Delancey, an Assistant District Attorney for the city of New Orleans, is prepping Dani Canto, his star witness in a huge murder case, at a B&B where she's in protective custody, as the storm begins to rise.

But the storm is only one of the threats Harte and Dani will be running from on this night. The murderer has found Dani and suddenly, the darkness, the near-opaque curtains of rain and the wind seem safer than the ruthless killers following them.

I believe the high intensity setting, the chase and the hero and heroine's journeys through conflict, mistrust and danger to the love that grows through the long dark hours before dawn brings the end to the storm, would make a really good movie. But as I said above. I might be a bit biased. To find out more about Harte and Dani's story, visit my web page at mallorykane.com

HUNTED, Harlequin MIRA, January 2014
All of my early beta readers for HUNTED told me the same thing: “It reads like a movie!”  Definitely not a holiday movie, unless your idea of holiday fun is spending time deep in the woods with a serial killer!  

But as long as you watched the movie version during the day, with the lights on, HUNTED would make for a tense, action-packed hour and a half on the small screen.
 

Back when I started my very first draft, I made myself a big binder with character information, and I found pictures of people who look like I imagine my characters.  In my mind, my FBI profiler Evelyn Baine looks really similar to Thandie Newton.  And her colleague (who’d really like to be her love interest!) FBI Hostage Rescue Team agent Kyle “Mac” McKenzie looks like this particular picture of Hugh Jackman.  I think they make a fantastic start to my imaginary movie cast!!

Rocky Mountain Revenge, March 2014
If my family had a Christmas movie, it would be called “The Christmas Pie” – a feel-good story complete with comic mis-understandings and a dessert that won’t die.

When I married, I was in awe of my mother-in-law, a smart, funny woman who I thought could do anything. I was still a teenager and more than anything, I wanted Loretta to like me. We married at Christmas and left on our honeymoon, but the next year, we celebrated with his family and I was introduced to their family tradition – the Osgood pie.

I grew up eating pecan pie at the holidays. Sometimes pumpkin or apple. I’d never heard of an Osgood pie, which turned out to be a syrupy concoction of raisins and walnuts. I disliked the pie immensely, but I choked it down and told Loretta how wonderful it was, because I loved her and I wanted to honor the family tradition.

The pie started showing up at all kinds of family celebrations and dinners. I was trapped! After making such a big deal about the pie the first time, I couldn’t confess my feelings now. This went on for a few years, until I wrote a short story which featured a young bride who wanted to impress her mother-in-law by loving her (awful) Christmas Pie. The story was sweet and funny, with a happy ending. It was published in an issue of True Love magazine.

Which my mother-in-law bought and read. Fortunately for me, Loretta has a good sense of humor. I confessed my true feelings for the pie – and for her – and we had a good laugh. Now, at holiday dinners, my mother-in-law still makes Osgood Pie, but I bring pecan, and everyone is happy.

And I’m happily anticipating the arrival of my very first Intrigue, Rocky Mountain Revenge. Here’s a sneak peak: 

Despite her new identity in the WitSec Program, Anne Gardener has been found by the one person who hurt her the most: FBI Agent Jake Westmoreland. And when she testified against her own flesh and blood, her whole existence was turned upside down. Jake couldn't expect any more from her--except that he did. He wanted the impossible...her help.

Jake doesn't have much time to restore Anne's faith in him. She is the only one who can help him locate her mob-boss father and put him away for good. He knows that his betrayal has hurt her deeply. Loving her was never part of the plan; yet losing her is a risk he won't take. He'll do anything to keep her safe--even if it means walking into the lion's den...

YULETIDE PROTECTOR, December 2013
An RT Book Reviews Top Pick!
There are several holiday stories that come to mind--one was for Easter (when we celebrated my mom's 80th birthday) and one is our family's traditional "Christmas in July".  Others have involved Christmas and Thanksgiving.  All have to do with getting everyone in the same place at the same time--and the miracles that allowed those reunions to happen.  If this was a movie, in some ways it would be a heart-wrenching family drama--but in others, it's definitely a comedy of errors.  You see, my mom, brothers and their families, and my family all live in different states.  We have kids in college, some in junior/senior high school, one who's married--all super involved with activities like sports and music. 

My younger brother is a major in the Army National Guard (he's the "retired" Marine) who has his military commitments and has been deployed several times, in addition to his regular engineering job.  My older brother is a successful workaholic (okay, so he's learning to relax a bit in his middle age).  I'm a writer with deadlines.  Hubby teaches and has school commitments.  My mom is a social butterfly in her retirement, with a very active schedule.  So, as you can see, getting us together in one place at one time requires months of planning, patience and luck--and then there's always the curve ball of the weather to throw in there.  Blizzards have altered travel plans in April.  Flooding has forced us to change locations or modes of travel.
 
I could tell you about the time my brother scheduled his leave from Kosovo to coincide with a surprise birthday for my dad.  That was a surprising, joyous, tear-filled airport reunion.  Or the Thanksgiving my dad was in the hospital, and we all crowded into his tiny room to celebrate.  I could share when my nephew, on a baseball scholarship, was going to be the only family member missing from my mom's 80th birthday.  Guess who drove up just as we were all gathering at the restaurant?  Yep, rain had cancelled his game, and he zipped across 3 1/2 hours of Missouri countryside to join us.  Then there was the creative, scenic change of course required for my family to find a way across the flooded Missouri River to get to Kansas City.  Or the blizzard my folks brought with them one Christmas.  We were glad they could stay the extra couple of weeks.  And on and on.  I think we'd make a great Hallmark movie, steeped in emotions, adventure and laughter.

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE BOOK TURNED INTO A MOVIE?