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#TuesdayTeaser - A Code of Love
She peeled away a sky blue silk to find a worn, brown leather book. She tightened her grasp on the book, trying to stop her hands from shaking. She opened the dog-eared volume, looking for a letter, some word of Michael.
Leafing through the pages, she examined the columns of numbers-a code table. She immediately recognized that this extensive code table was unique. The pages had endless numbers matched to French letters and words. To the untrained eye, this table would appear no different than the one she used to decipher messages sent to Uncle Charles from the Abchurch offices.
She focused on the book trembling between her fingertips. Was this some sort of strange and oblique joke, one of Michael’s McGregors? But Michael never joked about linguistics or codes. No one in the Harcourt family joked about such matters.
A memory floated to the surface-her brother’s high voice fluting down the hallway, calling out to his horrified sister that he had broken one of their mother’s favorite vases. “We’re in a McGregor.” And it seemed nothing had changed over the years. He had her involved in another McGregor.
“Just in time for the Firth ball.” Mrs. Brompton startled her from her reverie. “Shall I send over the deep green silk to Madame de Puis?” Mrs. Brompton folded the silk carefully over her arm. “Remember how your mama always favored her designs? Your mama was always heads above all the other ladies.”
Henrietta nodded. From the look of the cover, the book was old but why would Michael send her old French codes. Was this a book of the new codes the French were working on?
The code developed in the 1700’s was too lengthy and complex to be useful at the battlefront. The French had shortened their coded messages to track troops and communicate strategy. England and France were at peace since the Treaty of Amiens had been signed, but no one believed that Napoleon was finished in his drive for world power.
She fanned the pages of the book, looking for a letter, a note of explanation.
“So you agree? I should send the green silk?”
“Whatever you think, I’m sure…” Henrietta turned back to her desk and reached between two massive volumes retrieving a slender packet-the code table she had meticulously edited based on Abchurch’s previous tables.
Click here for more information and buy links.
Skip the Super Bowl and have a Book Binge Party instead
On Sunday, February 3, Americans will come together for football, food and fun in Super Bowl celebrations, large and small. From sofas and barstools across the country, fans will cheer on either the New England Patriots or the L.A. Rams.
Are you a football fan? If yes, have a great time on Sunday. If no, don’t worry. This sporting event is a fantastic opportunity to binge on books. Here are a few tips for throwing a Super Bowl Book Binge Party.
Like any special event, you need to plan ahead. Create a To Do list that covers the basics like where the party will be held, decorations, who is invited, food and drink, attire, and any special items needed for the event.
Location – I recommend selecting an area that is super comfortable and cozy. The sofa, your bed or a favorite chair are good options.
Decorations – Deck out the location with snuggly blankets, throw pillows and good lighting. A fireplace or wood-burning stove make for an extra-cozy setting. Bonus features include a four-legged friend to curl up with.
Guest List – Feel free to invite a friend…or not. It’s perfectly acceptable to plan a party for one.
Menu – For a good book binge party, skip the buffalo wings (unless you don’t mind hot sauce smudges on the pages of your book or across your ereader screen). A sub or wrap is less messy (cut into smaller pieces so you can eat with one hand). Snack mixes, pretzels, nuts, veggie sticks, kale chips, fruit slices and nuts are also good options. Don’t forget the good stuff – M&Ms, Gummy Bears (NOT the sugar-free ones!!!) or Twizzlers.
Attire – The dress code for the day is no-fuss, no-muss comfort. Pajamas, sweats, yoga pants, an over-sized sweatshirt. And don’t forget the fuzzy socks!
Special Considerations – The Super Bowl fanatics are all about big-screen TVs. For book bingers, the most important items to have on hand are books. Lots and lots of books. Make sure the titles you want to read are downloaded to a full-charged ereader or that you’ve obtained copies from your favorite local bookstore or library. Nothing ruins a book binge party like kicking things off…only to find your book bestie still has a copy of the book you most want to read.
Whether you come for the books or the balls (footballs, that is) on Sunday, have a great time!
Behind the Bodyguard
There is a bodyguard angle in my new military romantic suspense series, Impossible Mission. In book 1, Mission: Impossible to Resist, Aiden Foster reluctantly takes on a short assignment as a bodyguard to fulfill a promise to a friend. As a Delta Force operative, Aiden has been trained to protect high-value assets but the beautiful socialite who ignores his directives proves to be more of a challenge than he expects. And, at six foot six, Aiden doesn’t blend in to the background like bodyguards are trained to do. In book 2, Mission: Impossible to Surrender, Navy SEAL Finn Jenkins also serves as a bodyguard to protect a gorgeous, wealthy young woman from danger even though it puts him—and his heart—at risk.
Whoever thought guarding bodies could prove so difficult?
When writing these books, I did some research on professional bodyguards. Here are five facts that surprised me.
- Not all bodyguards are armed. One expert explained that a bodyguard’s best strategy is to remove the person they’re protecting from dangerous situations, not fight off attackers.
- TMZ.com is a great source for news about celebrities. Some protection specialists use TMZ.com for information about which celebrities are uncooperative with their bodyguards or who’s having trouble and might be in need of services.
- Social media makes their job harder. Celebrities and entertainers can inadvertently expose themselves to risk by sharing personal information that reveals travel schedules, upcoming appearances and details about their routines and private life. Professional bodyguards often monitor clients’ social media accounts to identify and minimize risk.
- No glitz and glamour for bodyguards. Protection specialists are often part of a luxury lifestyle, but they are not living that lifestyle. Their job might include international travel on private jets to exotic locations, but they are there to do a job, not enjoy the amenities.
- Bodyguard is not their preferred title. Professionals don’t refer to themselves as bodyguards. The preferred term, according to the president and CEO of a company that provides such services, is “executive protection agents.”
I have huge respect for anyone who puts themselves between danger and others, but I’m sticking with “bodyguard”. Executive Protection Agent just doesn’t have the same allure.
Mission: Impossible To Resist
Book 1 in the Impossible Mission Series
Now Available
Mission: Impossible to Surrender
Book 2 in the Impossible Mission Series
Coming 2.21.19
#reader (or Hashtags for readers)
Some social media conventions come and go, but hashtags (aka #, also aka “pound sign”) have been around for more than 10 years. With the increase of activity and interaction on social media, they are more relevant than ever.
If you aren’t familiar with hashtags (#), they serve as a means of organizing and finding information on social media platforms. For example, if you enjoy reading romantic suspense, you might search #romanticsuspense to find authors, readers, books and events related to this genre on Facebook or Twitter.
Using hashtags as a search tool can help you find new content and information beyond those sources you’re already familiar with.
According the site amreading.com, these are ten of the most popular hashtags used by readers.
#AmReading
#BookLovers
#Bibliophile
#FreeBooks
#BookAddict
#Ebooks
#Books
#BookPhotography (a good choice if you’re on Instagram or Pinterest)
#KindleBargain
#WhatToRead
If I were to add my own favorite hashtags to the list, I would include:
#RegencyRomance
#Regencies
#AmWriting
#RomanticSuspense
#NewReleases
#AlphaHero
I dare you to have a little fun with hashtags. Enter #(Pick a word or phrase) and enter it into the search bar on your favorite social media platform. Did you find something new and interesting? Comment and let me know!
#BlackFriday Freebie - Women Under Fire
Treat yourself to this romantic suspense freebie. Women Under Fire, book 2 in my Grayce Walters series, is FREE for Black Friday and Cyber Monday shoppers. Read the excerpt and then one-click!
A hot summer night—perfect for Mariners baseball. Davis gazed over at the empty seat and swallowed against the feelings tightening his throat. These were the same seats he and his dad had shared for years of cold, rainy baseball seasons. His dad should have been here, awaiting Felix Hernandez’s first pitch.
Davis kept scanning the crowd for Grayce as the stadium filled. She had been detained in her veterinarian office to take care of a yellow lab that had indulged in an overdose of chocolate.
He watched Hernandez go through his warm up. Armed with his wicked split finger fastball, Hernandez had the mojo to go up against tonight’s strong Red Sox batting order. The pitcher’s predictable ritual of rubbing down the ball with both hands, smoothing the mound with his right foot, didn’t bring the usual comfort. For Davis, the familiar rituals of baseball were fused with loss.
“Davis, what great seats.” Grayce scrambled over the men in the aisle to get to the center.
What the hell was she wearing? His dad’s cronies, the old lechers, were watching her sashay toward the middle seat in her short shorts and a tight top showcasing her snug yoga body.
He was suddenly hot and irritated. What was she thinking wearing that outfit? Where were her usual blue jeans? And her ponytail? She had pinned her dazzling blonde hair on top of her head and little wisps of hair clung to her graceful neck. Davis took a deep breath. He was in shorts and a t-shirt, but hell, he looked nothing like luscious Grayce.
“Davis, what’s the matter?” Grayce slipped into the seat next to him. She had no clue that she had just heated the entire male fan section.
He pulled her close and pressed a hard, possessive kiss to her lips.
Shouts came from behind. “Davis, you’re killin’ us man.”
There were more hoots and loud laughs. He knew what was on the men’s minds; the same thing that rampaged through his body. Grayce’s face turned red, either from the heat or his demanding kiss.
Her green eyes were rounded in surprise. “I’m glad to see you, too.”
“How’s your patient?” His voice was gruff.
“Recovering. Gus ate half of a Martha Stewart chocolate ganache cake. He had a few tremors, nothing like Mitzi.”
“Mitzi was poisoned.” He still couldn’t believe that bastard had come after his dog during his last investigation.
He looked down at Grayce. His height gave him full view of Grayce’s cleavage. His mind drifted away from criminals.
“Davis, your face is bright red. Is this heat bothering you?”
It took all his control not to comment that it was her exposed body causing the blood to flow in hot rushes through his body. He had learned early from his sisters never to criticize what a woman wore. Never. He was struggling to find a happy balance, somewhere between frustration and lust.
“Do you like my new shoes?” Grayce stretched out her toned leg. “They’re called espadrilles. James talked me into them.”
Davis admired her finely shaped leg. Her shoes tied with a ribbon that wrapped around her delicate ankle. He wanted to untie that ribbon. He took a deep breath, trying not to betray his rapid breathing. How could a woman’s shoe affect him this much? Damn James. It was just like Grayce’s best friend, a cross-dresser, to find the sexiest shoes.
The blood thundered in his head. Oblivious to his friends and the game, Davis stood, pretending interest in Felix’s position at home plate to give himself time to control his need to ravish Grayce. Grayce stood when he did. She pressed her warm woman’s body against his side. He was in trouble.
“Man, Davis, down!”
Davis and Grayce both sat.
“Do you know everyone in this section?” Grayce asked.
“Just the ones you’re driving crazy.”
“What?”
“Your outfit…men like that kind of outfit. And your shoes are…”
Grayce looked at him. “My outfit? I’m in shorts and tank top…just like every other woman here.”
Davis ran his hand along her toned thigh. “But you don’t look like every woman here. You look…you look so damn perfect.” He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her closer. “You make me forget I’m at a baseball game. You make me want to go home.”
ABOUT THE BOOK
Life has heated up for Grayce Walters: thrust into the public eye and hounded by the media after solving an arson case with a critical clue from a French Poodle. When Ewan Davis, the sexy arson investigator Grayce has been steaming things up with, starts talking commitment, she definitely feels the burn.
Then a desperate mother begs Grayce to help find her missing daughter—an Afghanistan war veteran suffering from PTSD, and Grayce reluctantly takes on the case, following a disturbing clue provided by the missing young woman’s cat. Calling once again on the aid of her cross-dressing best friend and her shrewd assistant, Grayce uncovers a terrorist plot with chilling international implications.
Grayce races to rescue the young veteran before the escalating danger explodes. But if she manages to escape the threat, will she find the courage to commit to the fiery passion that awaits her wrapped in Davis’s arms?
