KILLSHADOW ROAD

              

by Paula Graves     

Nick Darcy thought he'd left his past behind…until McKenna Rigsby showed up wounded on his doorstep

Nick Darcy has always needed rules. So when he's temporarily suspended from a job he's dedicated his life to, the unstructured days ahead make him desperate for a distraction. That's when a blast from the past resurfaces on his front steps, bleeding and spinning a wild tale of assassins on her trail.

Their history is complicated. But Nick is still McKenna Rigsby's best chance when it comes to surviving. Her cover blown by a mole in the FBI, she needs a partner who can stay levelheaded in a firefight. She has no doubt they're headed for a showdown. And that this time, there won't be any rules left to break…

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DECEPTION LAKE

    

by Paula Graves       

Miniseries: The Gates      
    

"I'm not who you think I am."

While his rodeo days have come and gone, cowboy Jack Drummond is in for the ride of a lifetime…with life itself hanging in the balance. An unexpected encounter with his old flame, Mara Jennings, triggers a series of events that Jack never could have predicted. There's just one problem: Mara isn't the same woman Jack remembers. She looks like Mara. And sounds like Mara. But reignited passions aren't enough to hide the fact that she's harboring a big secret—and hiding out from an even bigger enemy. Now, learning the truth might be the only way to stay alive. Or it could tear them apart—permanently.

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BONEYARD RIDGE

by Paula Graves        

Miniseries: The Gates    

Completing his latest assignment could impact investigator Hunter Bragg's future. But only if he can keep Susannah Marsh alive.

All Hunter Bragg wanted in Purgatory, Tennessee, was a little peace of mind. A private investigator plagued by his own guilt, he never imagined his next job would resurrect old demons. Targeted by an anarchistic militia group, events planner Susannah Marsh is his next mission: keep her close…keep her alive. But Susannah has a secret. A secret that will reveal the true motive of her potential assailants. For Hunter, being Susannah's protector soon becomes more than just a job. And in order to succeed, there can be no half measures. With undeniable attraction simmering between them, he's determined not to let the promise of a better future fall into the hands of ruthless predators.

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CRYBABY FALLS

CRYBABY FALLS

by Paula Graves        

Miniseries: The Gates

The past haunts two determined people looking for answers in Paula Graves's next installment of The Gates.

For twenty years, Cain Dennison has been haunted by the death of a young, pregnant girl found murdered at Crybaby Falls. Determined to finally discover the truth and lay the past to rest, Cain quickly discovers he's not the only one looking for answers. Crossing paths with Sara Lindsey at the very spot that has caused so much pain, Cain is stunned to discover an instant and dangerous attraction flaring between them. Their shared goal of finding answers only fuels their passion—and enrages a killer. Before long, they stumble across information that could affect everyone in this small Tennessee town…and bring the real culprit right to their doorstep.

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DEAD MAN'S CURVE

by Paula Graves       

Miniseries: The Gates     

Coming in from the cold is the only choice for Sinclair Solano, once a fiery young radical turned CIA double agent turned fugitive. Not only must he free his kidnapped sister from the rebels he betrayed, but he also must clear his name. And neither will be easy with beautiful FBI agent Ava Trent dogging his trail. Seeing no other option, Sin uneasily joins forces with Ava to plan an ultra-daring guerilla attack and rescue op. But the mission requires trusting Ava, and putting her irresistible body in the line of fire. Being alive has never been so dangerous….

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THE LEGEND OF SMUGGLER'S CAVE

by Paula Graves   http://www.paulagraves.com/

Miniseries: Bitterwood P.D.

One man will go to any lengths when a vulnerable woman and her little boy are threatened

County prosecutor Dalton Hale is convinced widowed Briar Blackwood has information that can help him take down a local crime organization. Getting it is no easy task, though, considering the distrust in the Bitterwood police officer's beautiful gray eyes. But since he started his investigation, Briar and her tiny son have been attacked twice. The only solution is to move her and Logan into his home, where he can ensure their safety. However, neither Dalton nor Briar is prepared for the deepening feelings between them. Playing house is one thing, but when Briar's son is kidnapped Dalton recognizes he wants the real deal—and will put his own life on the line to get it.

 

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THE SECRET OF CHEROKEE COVE

by Paula Graves

Miniseries: Bitterwood P.D.   

A near-fatal accident unearths old family secrets in this Bitterwood P.D. book from award-winning author Paula Graves

Detective Walker Nix knew there was more to the Bitterwood police chief's "accident" and that someone wanted his boss dead. But when the victim's sister, U.S. marshal Dana Massey, insisted on becoming involved, Nix had a hunch his case—and his heart—was in for a heap of trouble. 

With decades-old secrets—including a missing secret baby—being uncovered, it soon became apparent that Dana's family was at the center of the mystery. As Nix helped Dana solve this cold case, he found himself opening up more than he'd ever dared. Yet when it was over, she'd be leaving. Unless Detective Tall, Dark and Handsome took the scariest step of all…

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BLOOD ON COPPERHEAD TRAIL

by Paula Graves

Miniseries: Bitterwood P.D.    

A raging storm and a ticking clock could mean the difference between life and death in this Bitterwood P.D. book from Paula Graves

Bitterwood's new department chief, Doyle Massey, had a lot to prove to investigator Laney Harvey. Her take-no-prisoners attitude and his devil-may-care personality were destined to clash. Yet when three girls go missing in the Smokies, including Laney's sister, their priorities have to change. With lives in the ballance, the two suddenly find themselves on the same side against a ticking clock.

Their biggest obstacles? The weathe and one snow-covered mountain. Not to mention an attraction that's proving difficult to ignore. It isn't the time for creating any kind of lasting relationship. But with danger lurking around every jagged turn, taking such a chance might be a case of now or never.

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SMOKY RIDGE CURSE by Paula Graves

Two former partners find their feelings rekindled when they're forced to uncover the truth in Paula Graves's Bitterwood P.D. trilogy!  

Assistant FBI director Adam Brand is out of time. His attempt to expose a domestic terrorist hiding in plain sight has left him with more questions than answers. Still, asking his former FBI subordinate Delilah Hammond for help is even more dangerous. 

Once before, the unexpected heat between them drove her back to her mountain hometown—and Adam to the heights of the Bureau. And now, as a new sheriff, Delilah has much more to lose…even as her skills and determination leave Adam breathless all over again. Staying two steps ahead of their ruthless quarry reignites a desire neither can resist. But as Delilah puts herself on the line to set a lethal trap, will they survive to explore the future neither has given up on?

available at Harlequin and all major retailers

Christmas Wishes from Intrigue!!

ALL THE INTRIGUE AUTHORS WISH YOU 
HAPPY, SAFE HOLIDAYS.



Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! I hope you and your family stay safe, have good health, and experience the most joyous of all emotions in 2013 - LOVE! I hope you find new authors who will thrill and entertain you for years to come. And I hope you continue to enjoy the amazing stories of the authors you've already discovered. When life gets you down, turn to a good book and escape, if only for a little while. Hugs!
~LENA DIAZ

Happy Holidays!  I hope everyone enjoys a fantastic celebration this year.  Make wonderful memories, cherish your family, and smile at all the wonders that come your way.  This season is filled with magic--hold tightly to it! Best wishes to you!
~CYNTHIA EDEN

Beyond the noise, the laughter and the festivities, Christmas is about a wondrous gift of peace, love and  hope.  So I wish those things for all of you in the new year—that you'll have a peaceful year full of love and great hope for the future.  Merry Christmas!
~ PAULA GRAVES

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and the Happiest of New Years. May all your wishes and dreams come true.
~ELLE JAMES

Happy Holidays to all of you. I wish you and yours happiness, fun and memories. Love and peace,
~ MALLORY KANE

Whatever you celebrate, may this time of year be safe and happy.  Hug your loved ones and count your blessings.  Happy Holidays!
~ JULIE MILLER

May Christmas bring you everything important you didn't know to wish for. May your New Year be filled with nothing but good surprises.
~ PATRICIA ROSEMOOR

I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and the best possible New Year. I hope 2013 is all that you want it to be, and More!
~ JENNA RYAN

Hope you share the love and spirit of the Christmas season with those you love, either in person or in spirit. And may your new year be filled with joy, laughter, love and good health.
~ JOANNA WAYNE

As we come up on a new year, I wish you every good thing you have been hoping for.
~ REBECCA YORK

A Christmas Wish to all our readers . . . May God fill each dream you dare and even those you won't. Merry Christmas!
~ ANGI MORGAN

INTRIGUES SWEEP DAPHNE NOMINATIONS

The 2012 Daphne du Maurier Contest sponsored by the RWA Mystery & Suspense Writers chapter (commonly known as Kiss Of Death) announced it finalists for the Series Romantic Suspense category. All five places went to Harlequin Intrigues.
In case you missed them in 2011, you might want to put these keepers on your shelf or electronic reader.

HELENKAY DIMON

THE BIG GUNS
September 2011

When he saw his mark being kidnapped, Recovery Project agent Zach Bachman had no option but to rescue her. Even if it endangered his assignment. After weeks of watching Sela Andrews from afar, he was now trapped with the blonde beauty as her bodyguard.

Her brave protector relished the heat of gun battle but retreated from his own emotions. Sela learned that when, in the dead of night in a darkened safe house, the loner became her lover. Still, as her would-be killers closed in on them again, she had no choice but to put her life—and her heart—in the hands of her reluctant guardian.

PAULA GRAVES

MAJOR NANNY
October 2011

A SOLDIER NEVER BREAKS HIS PROMISE....

Agent Harlan McClain has his target in sight. But he’s not pulling the trigger. Instead his assignment is providing Stacy Giordano—the governor’s aide—with security. An easy job for a former marine sniper. And yet, the guarded single mother’s beauty and devotion to her exceptional child soon have Harlan reshuffling his priorities. In the dead of night, in her bed, he promises to keep her and her son from harm. But when an unexpected crisis arises, Harlan is suddenly torn between keeping his word, and taking out a killer.…

JULIE MILLER

NANNY 911
December 2011

The Precinct: SWAT--an elite team who'll put everything on the line.

HE’D NEVER NEEDED ANYONE’S HELP…UNTIL NOW

SWAT team member Miranda Murdock can’t bake, or get a three-year-old to eat. But she can shoot the wings off a fly. Which is why she’s protecting millionaire Quinn Gallagher’s daughter. But the little girl is soon tugging at Miranda’s heartstrings. And Quinn is doing other things to her—exciting, forbidden, bedroom things—making her job riskier each day.…

Quinn is determined to find the killer threatening his daughter’s life. Despite the danger, he wants Miranda with shocking intensity. The elite cop is a puzzle he can’t figure out, and desire between them builds with each heartbeat. Yet with New Year’s Eve and the killer’s deadline approaching, even a single kiss could spell disaster…

ANGI MORGAN

.38 CALIBER COVER-UP
February 2011

AN UNDERCOVER AGENT,

A BEAUTIFUL COP…

AND THE BULLET

THAT BROUGHT THEM TOGETHER

Undercover DEA agent Erren Rhodes was used to working alone. So the very idea of teaming up with Officer Darby O’Malley to ferret out a killer wasn’t exactly how he thought this critical mission would go. But thanks to information only the beautiful cop possessed, finding whoever was responsible for shooting Erren’s friend made Darby a valuable—and irresistible—partner.

Digging into the case reveals a far-reaching conspiracy…and angers all the wrong people. Trying to bring a killer to justice while keeping Darby safe is making Erren remember why he is better off on his own. Especially when Darby makes him long to stay together in the safe house and never let her out of his sight.

GAYLE WILSON

FLASHBACK
August 2011 

Jake Underwood has recovered from the terrible injuries he suffered in Iraq—except for the haunting flashbacks of the attack that decimated his unit. Then suddenly, in the middle of one of those, he sees not the familiar desert landscape of his nightmares, but a terrified and missing little girl.

Chief of Police Eden Reddick knows that with each passing hour, her chances of finding kidnap victim Raine Nolan alive decrease. That terrifying countdown resonates more strongly with Eden because her own sister was taken under similar circumstances and never seen again. 

Despite being willing to pursue every lead, Eden can’t explain how or why Raine could appear in Major Underwood’s flashback. She is, however, impressed with the ex-soldier’s determination to find the child and bring her home. As they work desperately to rescue Raine, Eden begins to feel more than admiration for Jake, but can she keep her town’s anger and suspicions of him from compounding the tragedy they already face? 

~ ~ ~

You can't judge a book...

Even though we Intrigue authors get to have some input regarding our covers, for the most part, the final look is out of our hands.  They may use our suggestions.  They may not.  It's a crap shoot.

Even so, I'm curious—what attracts you in a book cover?  Is it people on the front?  A creepy image?  Color?  Movement?

One of my favorite of my book covers is FORBIDDEN TOUCH:

It's my favorite even though the hero on the cover does not REMOTELY resemble the hero inside the pages.  Maddox Heller in the book has sandy blond hair worn shaggy and long, down almost to his shoulders.  (Hey, LOST was still on and Sawyer had been going from bad boy to hot, partially redeemed boy.  I was helpless.)

The reason I love this cover is that the passion and longing between the hero and heroine is palpable in this image.  It sucks me right in and makes me want to know more about them. (Plus, a wet shirt on the hero is never a bad thing).

Another Intrigue book cover I love is BJ Daniels' PREMEDITATED MARRIAGE. 

Atmosphere galore!  The cover itself teases the reader.  Who's in the truck?  What is he/she doing at this secluded looking store in the middle of nowhere? Is something bad going to happen?  I love covers that tell part of the story.

I didn't care that much for the TWILIGHT books by Stephenie Meyer, but I did think the covers were distinctive and intriguing.



The use of simple iconographic symbols (apple, flower ribbon, chess piece) and the stark black/white/red color scheme is an interesting way to tie the books together while having each book cover distinctive enough to stand alone.

So, do you have a favorite cover? What do you look for in a cover?  Are you more a back blurb reader than a cover aficionado?

Second Chances

I don't know about y'all, but I'm a sucker for a reunion romance. I love to read a story where two characters have a complicated, passionate past with each other and now have the chance to fix the things that went wrong in their relationship.

I remember when I saw GONE WITH THE WIND for the first time, I couldn't go to sleep that night until I'd figured out a reunion story for Rhett and Scarlett. One of my favorite parts of JANE EYRE is the end, when Jane finally returned to her beloved Rochester, heedless to the dreadful changes in him after the tragic fire.

I think reunion romances give us hope that unhappy endings are not permanent. Bad outcomes can be fixed if both people want the relationship to succeed and are willing to do the work to make it happen.

In my March Intrigue, Secret Identity, the forces that parted Rick Cooper and Amanda Caldwell are a little harder to overcome than a mere fight or misunderstanding. They fell in love in the middle of chaos, in a war torn country constantly on the cusp of upheaval. She was a CIA agent trying to keep the fragile Central Asian democracy from cracking apart, and he was a security consultant hired to protect a mystery man whose safety was vital to the country's political stability. Spooks and mercs make for strange bedfellows, and it wasn't long before their bosses forced them apart.

Three years later, when Rick Cooper is tricked by master spy Alexander Quinn into contacting Amanda after so long apart, he has no idea what he's about to walk into. Because there's so much he doesn't know about the woman he once loved.

And what he doesn't know could kill him.

I loved writing these two characters. The tough man of action forced to reexamine all his former actions when he learns the company he spent ten years working for was corrupt and involved in some heinous crimes. And the broken former spy who is hiding from the world—and herself—in a tiny town in the Tennessee mountains who must rediscover her inner warrior when her past comes crashing down on her. I hope you'll love them, too!

So here's my question: do you like reunion romances? Or do you prefer your romances to be fresh and new "boy meets girl" stories? Share your thoughts and I'll select a commenter to win a $20 amazon.com gift card.

Christmas Traditions? Well...

Someone recently asked me if my family had any Christmas traditions. I wanted so badly to say yes, but the truth is, we really don't. It's odd, really, given that my family is pretty traditional. Conservative, even. But when it came to celebrations, we just weren't that good at them.

Looking back, I think there were probably several factors that contributed to our lack of celebratory skills. My parents grew up in the Depression, in rural Alabama. Both came from large families who had to struggle to make ends meet, my mother's side even more than my father's side. Celebrations may have seemed like luxuries to them, financially speaking. Also, my parents were both largely homebodies. They didn't get a lot out of parties and socializing, so we just didn't do much of it, even as a family. Birthdays were noted, we generally received presents, but other than a party or two when we were kids, we didn't do much to celebrate, other than buy a cake and have a piece after dinner.

Christmas was probably our biggest celebration of the year, for a lot of reasons. My family is religious, so the spiritual aspect of the day was important to us. And as kids, of course, we loved the presents. But we didn't have a real ritual to the season, like putting up the Christmas tree at the same time every year, or visiting the same relatives every year, or anything that structured. How we celebrated Christmas often depended on what kind of mood we were in that year. So rather than a string of Christmas traditions, I have a string of Christmas memories instead, disjointed, often distant, yet nevertheless experiences that have stuck with me over the span of time.

One of my most lasting Christmas memories happened when I was fifteen. My father was the kind of man who didn't let things like laws get in the way of saving a few bucks. Rather than going to a Christmas tree farm that year, he decided to procure the tree from the roadside somewhere. So in he and my brother came, dragging something that would have made Charlie Brown's Christmas tree look classy in comparison. It was basically a sapling, best I can tell, with short, sharp needles spiking every branch. It was four times as tall as it was wide, so spindly that my mother had to sew the top of the tree to the curtains to keep it standing upright. My mother, my sister and I laughed at that tree so much it probably had a complex.

But the tree got the last laugh. For long after the tree was gone, we were stepping on those short, piercing needles it had shed into the carpet, and no amount of vacuuming could spare us.

I've had prettier Christmas trees. I've had much bigger ones. But that pitiful little Christmas tree is the one I'll remember for the rest of my life.

Come to think of it, we do tell that tree story every year around Christmas time. So maybe we do have a tradition after all.

Paula Graves
http://www.paulagraves.com/

When Things Go Wrong

Last Friday, I hurt my knee. At the time I didn't know how bad it was—it had buckled a little Friday morning but I was able to get around without much pain, and since I have some arthritis in my knees, I'm used to a little pain. I got through Saturday without too much trouble as well.

By Sunday morning, however, it was clear that this was more serious than I thought. I could barely put any weight on the leg. The pain was excruciating. The whole joint was tight and swollen. Staying off work Monday, I got my doctor to work me in for an appointment.

As I waited for the appointment time to arrive, I went into my typical "worst case scenario" mode. What if something was broken? They'd have to do surgery and I'd be off work for weeks at a terrible time to be off work. I might even lose my job or something. Panic, panic, panic!

It was a great relief when my doctor reassured me that the knee seemed stable, which made him doubt anything was broken. He suggested staying off the leg for a week, applying moist heat and doing non-weight-bearing exercises. He also prescribed an anti-inflammatory drug to help bring the swelling down and give the knee room to heal.

It's now Friday, and I'm a lot better. The knee still hurts, but I can actually walk again. I think I'll be okay to go back to work on Monday. Crisis averted!

So what does that have to do with Harlequin Intrigues, you ask?

Well, as a writer, when something goes wrong in the book I'm writing, when it's a fine hot mess and I can't see my way out of the muck I've created, it doesn't take much to put me into full bore panic mode. I begin to doubt I'll ever be able to write a book again. I worry that I won't make deadline. I worry that even if I make deadline, it'll be such unmitigated crap that my editor will summarily dismiss me from her list.

But as it was with my knee, the worst case scenario really doesn't happen that often. Most of the time, the problem is a lot more manageable. And sometimes, when you work your way through the mess, you find newer, better solutions to the problems that have nagged you for a while. Now that I see how well my pain and swelling responded to the anti-inflammatory drug the doctor gave me, I'm thinking about asking him to add it to my list of prescription medicines to help alleviate some of my arthritis pain. I might not have discovered that particular solution if I hadn't sprained my knee in the first place.

In the same way, sometimes when we slow down, do the "therapeutic" things we need to do to deal with our writing messes, we learn how not only to fix the existing problem but to avoid other, more nagging problems with our writing. It could be as simple as finding a brainstorming trick to make better use of your planning time. Or finding a really good book that inspires you to think about your writing challenges from a different perspective.

So look at your next problem as a challenge, not a disaster, and see what you can learn from the experience.

Paula Graves

http://www.paulagraves.com/