Rachel Walter's Blog, page 6

Hot Blooded by Kendall Grey Cover Reveal!!!!

If Robert Rodriquez (Sin City), Tony Soprano, and David Lynch (Twin Peaks) made sweet love to a Hawaiian version of The Bride (Uma Thurman’s character from Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill), the resulting spawn might look like Kendall Grey’s upcoming mystery/suspense/supernatural thriller, HOT-BLOODED.
The first installment in the Ohana series, HOT-BLOODED is set on the island of Maui and is wrapped in the light and dark watercolors of Hawaiian culture, history, and mythology. It’s about guns, drugs, surfing, and tiki monsters. HOT-BLOODED tells the tale of a ballsy, half-Hawaiian angel-turned-demon, the duplicitous assassin who falls for her, and the blessings and curses of family—all wrapped up in freaky, supernatural gift paper.
Here’s the description:

WARNING: HOT-BLOODED does NOT end with a happily ever after. It contains drug use and graphic sex, language, and violence. The story is intended to entertain, not to condone or glorify illegal or immoral activities. This book is unsuitable for sensitive readers and those under the age of 18.
*Written in 3rd person. Contains a massive cliffhanger and multiple POVs.

Ohana is everything…
When an accident claims her mother’s life, Keahilani Alana must take charge of her ohana (family) or risk losing what little they have. With an underage brother to care for and no education, she has few options. The door to a heavenly hellish opportunity opens when she stumbles upon a valuable secret her mother left behind on the slopes of an extinct volcano—a legacy that tempts the family with riches beyond their wildest dreams. But the secret is much bigger and more sinister than they realize. As reality unravels and exposes eerie truths about the ohana that should have remained deep under the mountain, Keahilani must either resist the call of her blood or risk being consumed by its darkness.
Blake Murphy is an assassin working to infiltrate a new Hawaiian cartel. His investigation reveals that Keahilani, the sexy surfing instructor he pegged as an informant, is much closer to the drug ring than he thought. Passion ignites between them in the bedroom, but their ironclad ties to opposing interests pit them against each other everywhere else.
When tensions reach the breaking point and her ohana is threatened, the only cure for Keahilani’s hot-blooded fury is a loaded clip with a body bag chaser.
They don’t call her Pele for nothing.
Here’s the cover, designed by Renee Coffey:

So, are you up for a steamy, violent descent into tropical-island madness with a supernatural twist? If so, you can add HOT-BLOODED to your Goodreads TBR here. The release date hasn’t been announced yet, but Kendall is shooting for the end of June or early July. Stay tuned!
You can stalk Kendall on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Amazon, or her web site.

The Key To My Heart by Nikki Barrett COVER REVEAL

Harmony's Echo, Texas is a small town being put on the map. It all started with Baby Stetson when Avery Callimer finally gets the answers she's longed for and finds the courage to chase her dreams.



Then, in The Melody In My Head, a woman on the run finds her place in this tiny map dot of a town. Lead guitarist Jameson finally has to face his past and has a chance at love....


Coming in July 2014, readers will learn about Blaine Grant, Jameson's sister. You met her in The Melody In My Head, where there's a glimpse of something going on between Blaine and Baby Stetson's keyboard player, Randy.
Now their story is almost here. And today, we're revealing the cover for The Key To My Heart.  Are you ready?



One dream fails, a passion burnt out...


Blaine Grant hightailed it out of Harmony's Echo a year out of high school to find herself. Finding a passion didn't come as easily to her as it did for others around her. Now, Blaine has come home for good with mistakes she'd like to forget, but the past doesn't want to forget her. Everyone thought she'd been selfish to not come back when she was needed the most, but Blaine never let anyone know the emotional hell she went through.


Another dream is just beginning to see the light...


Randy Hughes has always been the shy nice guy. He's the glue that holds his family together. He's the one who takes everyone in when they need it, and he's the one whose own dreams are ignored. Now that big things are happening for the Baby Stetson band, Randy has to decide how to handle his family when his dreams are on the line...


A friendship is changing.


One spur of the moment, impulsive move leads Randy and Blaine into a dire situation that may bring them together, or pull them apart, just when he's finally able to gather the courage to tell Blaine how he's felt about her all these years...


Revisit the characters you've come to know in small town Harmony's Echo, as more changes settle upon them.
Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18483993-the-key-to-my-heart




Author Bio: Nikki Lynn Barrett lives in Arizona with her husband and son. She's an avid reader, a dreamer, and loves everything about books. She runs a book blog, an online used bookstore, and writes various genres of romance. Nikki can also be found outside with her camera when a storm is near, snapping photo after photo. Her dreams of becoming a writer started when she was young, when she started writing books in one subject notebooks by the fifth grade.
Other Books by Nikki Lynn Barrett
The “Love and Music in Texas” Books
Baby StetsonThe Melody In My Head.
The “Secret Santa” books
The Secret Santa Wishing WellOn the 12th Date of Christmas
The Masterpiece TrilogyA Masterpiece Of Our Love
Stalker Links:
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/NikkiLynnBarrettauthor?ref=br_tf


Nikki's Book Nook (Facebook Chat group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/NikkisBookNook/

Street Team Nikki's Book Stormers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/NikkisBookStormers/
Website: www.nikkilynnbarrett.comYou can sign up for my newsletter there, too!
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6583655.Nikki_Lynn_Barrett
Twitter: @Stormgoddess925

How do I make my characters believable?

I was asked this question by several people. (On the flip side, I've been told my characters aren't believable, but that's not the topic tonight.)How do I make my characters believable?I based them off of real people. Not entirely, but the people around me have little quirks - without naming anyone, I'm surrounded by gum-smackers, feet draggers, knuckle tappers, flip flop slappers....the list goes on. They also do some pretty cool things...none of them have the same vocabulary. Even if they are the same age, siblings, "besties" ... Everyone talks differently. Some drop g's, some swear every other word, others make up their own words, or have accents. The people around me shove, hug with one arm, punch shoulders, flip coffee tables when their team loses... I'm a fairly detail oriented person (though the rate I forget things you'd never know). I pay attention to the little looks, the body language, and the interactions. I also think about everything, even in my day to day life. I think about how I would react to something or maybe how my best friend would react, or brother, or .... you get the hint. Sometimes it makes writing slower, but I loathe rewriting anymore, so slower works for me if it saves me rewriting an entire novel later on.Each character I create IS their own person. They were each built differently and uniquely. Some have visible scars, others internal. Some say y'all and other say y'ins (that's Pittsburghese by the way). Some snort when they laugh and others rarely laugh. They have different fears, just like you and me.No one is perfect, so a character shouldn't be. Become a people watcher, have a camera just in case, and always alwaysalwaysalways have something with you to take notes. 
Just my opinion. :) 

100 Proof Stud by A.J. Lape

Title: 100 Proof StudAuthor: AJ LapeGenre: Young Adult/Humor/MysterySynopsisSometimes life smacks you right in the kisser with a whole lot of ohhhh craaaaap.Just ask Darcy Walker.100 Proof Stud picks up four months after No Brainer's cliffhanger ending, and Darcy discovers the aftermath pales in comparison to the crisis her heart is in. All of a sudden it's raining men, and this teenage heroine’s personal life turns her inside out.Before she can sort out her feelings, she chases a spray-painting vandal and stumbles upon a case of identity theft right in her own backyard. Darcy jumps into the fray headfirst to prove she can hang with the big boys.But it’s not just to hang…nope, she’s chasing reward money.Tapping her band of misfit brothers for help, she turns Valley upside down trying to unearth the criminals. Problem is, the cloak and dagger goes high-octane, and she raises the bar on “crazy" in the process.Bullets ring out…dead bodies appear…and Darcy rubs shoulders with the ultimate sociopath. In the midst of murder and mayhem, will she finally follow her heart or build a fortress of lies around it? Will she even get the chance? Book Links:Goodreads * Amazon * Paperback * Barns & Noble Excerpts: #1I squeaked open the door to the adjacent bedroom and was met with an empty twin bed. A rumpled white sheet draped the bed, no comforter. Pivoting around, I did a quick scan of the gray carpet, found nothing overly suspicious or weird, so moved onto the closet. By that time, Vinnie nipped at my heels. “I’m getting a funny feeling, Dolce. We need to roll.” My thoughts exactly. But when I opened the walk-in closet and stepped inside, no way in the world would I ever have been prepared for what I’d find. There’s an idiom about skeletons in your closet. Trouble was, the skeleton I’d discovered still had meat on it. “Vinnie,” I whispered, “there’s a skeleton in the closet.” Vinnie munched on his moon pie behind me; I heard the crinkle of the wrapper. “Ha-ha, Dolce. Is this some metaphorical test I’m supposed to decipher?” “No, like a real skeleton that I think is a man.” Vinnie took one step inside and dropped the f-bomb. Then added mommy-effer. “Do you smell that?” I asked. Vinnie’s inhale was audible. “Yeah, smells like O-positive to me.” Loosely rolled in a faded navy comforter were the remains of a man. He lay facedown with a small patch of flesh and short black hair still clinging to his head. This wasn’t the only dead body I’d encountered, and neither was the body of a man I’d found in a dumpster last spring. I, eh, well…I found a head…buried in the sand on vacation in Orlando. I had a habit of stumbling upon dead bodies and/or body parts. Something the majority of people could go a lifetime and not have happen once, I’d experienced one too many times to count. The smell wasn’t as bad as bodies that’d recently expired, but it smelled like death, nonetheless. Death has a peculiar smell you never forget. Covering my nose with my hand, I lifted the tip of my boot and kicked the blanket back, starting at the naked feet. Black boxers framed femurs that barely had any flesh left, and a plain white t-shirt adorned the crumpled torso. A vintage concert t-shirt from The Minstrel Cramps, a local all-girl band popular back in the day, lay beside the corpse’s head. A memory played in the back of my mind I immediately tried to erase. A memory that’d haunted me since I was nine years old. #2Ahhhh, Dylan. We were almost a couple…almost. The setting was Orlando, on vacation. I’d snuck into Dylan’s bedroom for a late night chat. There were a few whispered words, but before I could say, Hold on lover boy, his lips found mine—slowly moving, taking, and demanding. After a few seconds of OMG, it’s as if someone else entered his body because the tempo abruptly shifted. The kiss became hungry, frenzied, and so savagely impassioned I actually crawled out of the dang room because my legs forgot how to work. I’m here to tell you that last type of kissing is why the Earth is overpopulated. #3“Shut up, Ivy!” I hissed. “You remind me of one of those yappy, little dogs that bark so much they make the dog lovers want to kick them. Well, guess what? I’ve got my dog-kickers on, and since Rudi’s too upset to fight for herself, then I’m going to.” Jeez, thatsounded so Kentuckyesque Murphy would be proud. Ivy lowered her head. “You’re going to,” she repeated. “That’s right,” I nodded like a fool, “and I’m going to start by telling you that orange washes you out. So you might want to skip first period and go home and change. Find some pants too because those look like they could fit my little sister who has a better buttthan you.” Take that, Ivy Morrison. Crap, what was next? Should I slap her in the face? Punch her in the ovaries? Wait for her to smack me first? Maybe I was thinking too much… It was hard to hear anything above my own anger, yet the moment my finger poked her in the chest, Ivy backed me up against the wall, her hand steeling around a chunk of my hair. Her blue eyes went hard as diamonds, and the necklace dangling from her neck was…Hello Kitty. Hello Kitty, for God’s sake!! No way in the world did Hello Kitty want the association. My eyes told her, I hope you burn in Hell. Ivy’s eyes grinned, Not before I send you first. Okay, I was more of a lover than a fighter, but I was determined to not allow this to be another bullet for my Darcy’s Such a Spineless Dweeb list. You know how they say a hero rises to the occasion when no one else will? I glanced around, and all I saw were dropped jaws, and Justice running full sprint half a hall away. I knew she came as backup, but I might be dead by then because Ivy’s face went Wicked Witch of the West. Rudi tried to help, but Trudi Hatchett—who I referred to as Brynn’s lapdog—pushed her out of the way, circling us with wannabe members of the skank squad. When Rudi fell to the floor on all fours, my hero gene kicked in, and I went Call of the Wild on Ivy. I reared back, and… Release Day Event a Rafflecopter giveaway a Rafflecopter giveaway
Book 1Book 2 A. J. Lape is the Amazon bestselling author of the Darcy Walker Series. She lives in Cincinnati with her husband, two daughters, an ADD dog, a spoiled hamster, and an unapologetic and unrepentant addiction to Coca-Cola--and a lifelong love affair with bacon. If the FBI ever checks her computer, she'll be wearing prison orange due to the various "wiki" articles she looks up. She swears the dead body, mob, and drug related stuff is only career research.Find out more about A. J. at http://www.ajlape.comThirteen things you didn't know about AJ LapeAKA - Ada Miracle Lape1. I can dislocate my left shoulder on command.2. My favorite movie is It's a Wonderful Life...cry like a baby when George Bailey starts yelling, "I want to live again...I want to live again."3. I hate clowns and chicken wings ... not necessarily in that order.4. I'm a notorious sleepwalker. It happens when I'm troubled. As far as I can tell, I always have my clothes on.5. I had an academic scholarship. I know that's shocking, but looking at homework today, I'm pretty sure I'm tapped out at fifth grade.6. I like to shoot 9mm guns...look out Target World, every once in a while you have to walk your inner hillbilly.7. I started running high school track when I was in the sixth grade. Don't ask me to run now. After two kids, I pee my pants when I walk across the floor.8. I'm like Rain Man when it comes to fractions.9. I used to write and record songs. I won Honorable Mentions in the John Lennon Song Writing Contest and Music City Song Festival. Verrrry short career.10. I've cliff-dived off a 40-foot cliff into a lake...wouldn't recommend it ..that sucker can burn.11. I'm the only human I know that got turned down twice when trying to adopt handicapped dogs. What the heck...those dogs would've loved me.12. I would've been a police officer or journalist if life didn't land me where I am.13. I occasionally have the foul mouth of a truck driver ... sorry, Mom and Dad. I try to change it. So far, the message hasn't made it to the execution part of my brain.Amazon * Facebook * Twitter

Supernova by Dani Morales cover reveal!

With 2 full length novels and 1 novella out in the New Adult Genre, Dani Morales decided it was time to branch out into the Young Adult crowds with Supernova, a Scifi Romance novel. Release date is set for JUNE 9, 2014 so be ready for it!


When the one place you call home is destroyed and the very life you know is no longer an option, what do you do? For seventeen year old Nova Michaels, life in Calyx is over. Following the plans of her father, Nova and her mother, Luna, leave their home in hopes to blend in with the humans on Earth - Newport Beach, California. Out of the five Celestials, Calyxians are the only beings who resemble humans, and they’re the only ones who eat, talk, and dress like them.
Aaron McCarthy is a typical high school boy enjoying his summer break, until something drops from the sky. And when a girl with fire red hair walks to shore, he knows his summer just got interesting.
The captivation and pull is something neither can explain. They get lost in each other every time they lock eyes and when they touch, a spark ignites with a blinding light encompassing their skin. Nothing is as it seems; Nova isn’t what she seems. Before you can have a future, sometimes you have to deal with the past.
With all of Nova’s secrets out on the table, can Aaron look past it?



Add to Goodreads HERE



Author BioDani Morales is a native Texan currently residing in Las Vegas, Nevada with her three boys and her mother. She adopted the boys in December of 2011 and loves spending every minute playing with them. On her spare time you can find a book in her hand or sitting in front of the computer typing out stories that run rampant in her mind. Her debut novel Entrelacen released in April 2013, followed by Deviation, her second novel and first in the Deviate Series, in August 2013. 
Links

Facebook | Twitter | Blog | Goodreads

Forever Kinda Love by Clara Stone cover reveal day!

Title: Forever Kinda Love Author: Clara Stone Release date: August 15th, 2014 Genre: Contemporary Romance Age Group: Mature Young Adult Cover Design: Regina Wamba at Mae I Design & PhotographyEbook will be available at: Kindle | Nook | Kobo |Smashwords |Paperback
FOREVER KINDA LOVE Synopsis:Life’s. Little. Surprises. The last thing seven-year-old Carrigan "Ace" Casper foresaw was an eight-year-old Heath Lovelly walking into her life the day her mother died. From that moment on, Heath sticks by her side, slowly becoming her strength, her confidant, and her entire world. What she doesn’t know is, she's his saving grace, too. Ten years later, Ace is handed another crippling challenge that threatens everything in her almost perfect life. Only, this time, she doesn't turn to Heath, hiding the truth instead. But Heath knows Ace too well and won't back down easily. He's ready to do whatever it takes and will stay by her side until she accepts that their love is the kinda love worth fighting for. Will he be her forever triumph or her unexpected downfall? Two lives. One story. And an unexpected journey to falling in love.
About the Author: Priya Kanaparti lives in the beautiful city of Boise, ID. Unlike what most believe about Idaho, it’s more than a sack full of potatoes. When she’s not writing, you’ll catch Priya reading YA and NA books, mostly romance, and enjoying time with her family. She is a proud CW TV addict. She also write Mature YA and New Adult romance under the name Clara Stone. She is published through Reuts Publications.
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Infinity + One by Amy Harmon COVER REVEAL

Release Date: June 10, 2014Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance (standalone)Cover Design: Berto DesignsHosted by: Vilma’s Book BlogSynopsisWhen two unlikely allies become two unwitting outlaws, will two unforgettable lovers defy unbeatable odds? Bonnie Rae Shelby is a superstar. She’s rich. She’s beautiful. She’s impossibly famous. And Bonnie Rae Shelby wants to die. Finn Clyde is a nobody. He’s broken. He’s brilliant. He’s impossibly cynical. And all he wants is a chance at life. One girl. One boy. An act of compassion. A bizarre set of circumstances. And a choice – turn your head and walk away, or reach out your hand and risk it all? With that choice, the clock starts ticking on a man with a past and a girl who can’t face the future, counting down the seconds in an adventure riddled with heartbreak and humor, misunderstanding and revelation. With the world against them, two very different people take a journey that will not only change their lives, but may cost them their lives as well. Infinity + One is a tale of shooting stars and fame and fortune, of gilded cages and iron bars, of finding a friend behind a stranger’s face, and discovering love in the oddest of places.
ExcerptHe bit back a curse and strode to his truck. Unlocking the door, he tossed his bags in the backseat, climbed in, and slammed the door. He turned the key and backed out resolutely, trying to ignore the fact that she had risen, her hands on her bags, and that her hood had slipped from her head. She didn’t move forward, didn’t call out to him to wait. She just stood there, watching him go. He shifted into drive and made it 100 feet before he let his eyes find her figure in the rear view mirror. “Unbelievable,” Finn ground out, and slammed the wheel with the palm of his hand. He slowed to a stop. “UNBELIEVABLE!” he reprimanded himself even as he engaged the brake, pushed the door open and lurched out of the idling vehicle. Bonnie still stood with her two duffle bags in her hands, her grandma’s stolen purse on her shoulder, but now her lips were slightly parted, clearly stunned that he’d stopped. And she wasn’t the only one. Finn felt like he was split right down the middle. The rational part of his brain, the side that ensured his survival and his sanity, was outraged, demanding that he keep driving, while the side of his brain that was connected to his heart and other parts of his body was breathing a sigh of relief that he hadn’t let her get away. She didn’t move, as if she was sure that the moment she did he would change his mind, climb back in the Blazer, and drive away. So he walked back to her, battling with himself every step of the way. He walked until they were practically toe to toe, her dark eyes wide and lifted to his, his hands shoved into his pockets so he wouldn’t strangle her. But his pockets felt like manacles around his wrists and he yanked them free, fisting them in the front of Bonnie’s puffy pink coat and raising her up on her toes and into him until they weren’t toe to toe any longer but nose to nose. His emotions were a big tangled ball of anger, longing, and injustice all wrapped up in impatient outrage, and Finn couldn’t separate one feeling from another. So he did the only thing he could do. He kissed her. It wasn’t a soft kiss or a sweet kiss. It was a ‘you-scared-me-and-messed-with-me-and-I’m-mad-and-relieved-and-unbelievably-frustrated’ kind of kiss. It was teeth and lips and nipping and bruising, and Finn couldn’t make himself stop, even when Bonnie’s teeth tugged at his lower lip and her hands pulled at his hair. Especially then. And when she wrapped her arms around his neck and stepped up onto his toes so that she could press herself flush against him, he decided revenge really was sweet, and enjoyed the feel of her face against his, the wet heat of her mouth making him forget he was standing in the middle of a Motel 6 parking lot with his ride rumbling behind him, the driver side door still hanging wide open. The rational part of his brain was stunned into peaceful silence…for all of ten seconds.
✦ Add to Goodreads✦About The Author Amy Harmon knew at an early age that writing was something she wanted to do, and she divided her time between writing songs and stories as she grew. Having grown up in the middle of wheat fields without a television, with only her books and her siblings to entertain her, she developed a strong sense of what made a good story. Amy Harmon has been a motivational speaker, a grade school teacher, a junior high teacher, a home school mom, and a member of the Grammy Award winning Saints Unified Voices Choir, directed by Gladys Knight. She released a Christian Blues CD in 2007 called “What I Know” – also available on Amazon and wherever digital music is sold. She has written five novels, Running Barefoot, Slow Dance in Purgatory, Prom Night in Purgatory, the New York Times Bestseller, A Different Blue, Making Faces, and coming in June, Infinity + One.
Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter | WebsiteGiveawayAmy Harmon is giving away three pre-release ARC paperbacks to three lucky winners! Open Internationally!a Rafflecopter giveaway

Love Lost by Maria DeSouza

Love can come into your life in an instant, and leave just as quickly....

Jason Straiz is a New York detective working on a case to bring down a major crime lord. He keeps his life simple. Work. Family. Friends. Until he meets Selene.

Selene is a lawyer on a mission. Her goal is to bring down the monster that has been terrorizing her for years. When she meets Jason, the attraction is intense. When Jason comes to her aide after tragedy strikes, he becomes a target.

When her case and their relationship collide, will her secrets destroy a future they could have together? Can he handle the truth about her?

Can love truly conquer all or is there a limit?


Purchase Links: Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JUG0VMW Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00JUG0VMWBarnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1hqooAd



Dreamcast





The following is a character interview.  It is between the author (ME!!!) and my three main characters:  Jason Straiz, Selene Mendez, and Lucio Cardoso.   Enjoy.


I finish putting the last bowl on the patio table when I hear a tapping noise behind me.  I turn to see what it was as Jason opens the glass patio doors and walks up to greet me with a bear hug, picking me up in the process.    As he sets me back down, he looks over at the table.   Jason: “Are we having company?”  I raise my eyebrows.  Maria: “You know we are.”  Pointing toward a chair, Jason sits down as I find my seat next to him.  He looks relaxed in jeans and a t-shirt.  I noticed he hadn’t shaved and was sporting a bit of face scruff.  I leaned over and rubbed his beard.M: “What’s the deal with this?”He laughs.  J: “I’m trying something new.  I take it you’re not a fan?”M: “Hell no.”   Jason reaches for a beer and hands me a Mountain Dew.   J: “So what’s this interview we have to do?”Grabbing my notebook and pen, I set them on the table in front of me.  M: “I’m going to ask you some questions so everyone can get to know you better.”He leans back and stares at me, making me forget why I was there.M: “OK.  How do you feel about Love Lost and your story being told?”J: “Well, I don’t think that anyone could have done it as well as you did.”  A blush creeps up my cheeks at the compliment.  J: “I think that it’s kinda cool that someone wants to read about me.”M: “Do you see yourself as the hero type?”J: “Oh God no!  I’m just a guy who does my job.  There are plenty of officers out there doing their job and taking down bad guys.   The officers and soldiers that don’t come home, those are the heroes in this world.”M: “Your biggest accomplishment?”  Jason smiles and I know what he is thinking right away.M: “No spoilers, Jay.”  J:  “Even if it is my greatest accomplishment?”M: “Fine, we’ll skip that question.  Describe Selene and what she means to you.”He looks distant all of a sudden.J: “She’s my world.  Selene’s the love of my life.” M: “Can you picture yourself with anyone else?” Jason leans in, deep in thought. M: “Did I stump you?”  J: “No.  I don’t want to be with anyone else except for Selene. I just don’t know what the future brings.  I would like to spend the rest of my life with her.  I guess it depends on what you decide to write for us.” M: “I guess you’re going to have to wait and see.” His phone chirps and Jason excuses himself to answer it.  After a few minutes, he hangs up and I see the familiar look on his face. M: “Duty calls, huh?”  J: “Story of my life, right?” Jason hugs me before he leaves, leaving me to wonder on his relationship with Selene and where it will lead.  My phone rings and the caller id shows that it is Lucio.  I almost let it go to voicemail when I realize that I need to interview him.   So reluctantly, I hit the accept button. M: “Can I help you?”  Lucio: “Yes, you can, Ms. DeSouza.” M:  “It’s Mrs actually.  Where are you?” L:  “I’m outside waiting in the car.  Would you mind taking a drive with me?” I cringe at the thought of being in the car alone with him.   M:  Whatever. I’ll be right out. I head outside through side entrance, where a long limo is parked in front of the house.  Lucio is leaning against the extravagant vehicle as I walk toward him.  He is in a designer suit and as much as I hated to admit it, he looks good.  The driver opens the door and I climb inside with Lucio close behind me.  He grabs two glasses and offers me a drink. M:  “No thank you.  Let’s get down to business, shall we?” L:  “A woman who knows what she wants.  Not something I am used to.” M:  “You’ll get over it, I’m sure.”  Lucio inches closer to me as I open my notebook.  Pulling my hair to the side, he whispers in my ear. L:  “I can always teach you how to be obedient.”  Turning to face him, I smile. M:  “So can I.  It’s called shoving a hot curling iron up your-” L:  “OK.  Truce.  Ask your questions.” M:  “Why do you feel that Selene belongs to you?” L:  “I knew I wanted her from the moment I saw her and she felt the same way.  I just need to remind her of that.” M:  “That sounds like a threat.” L:  “It’s not a threat.  It’s a promise.”  I roll my eyes and continue. M:  “Do you consider yourself a villain or just misunderstood?” L:  “Definitely a villain.  There is no misunderstanding with me.  I will kill.  I will torture.  I will do what I need to do in order to get what I want.  Good guys are boring.” M:  “But they usually win at the end.  They also get the girl.”  Lucio’s jaw twitches at my words.  I was provoking him and a part of me wondered what he would do if I continued to push him. L:  “Not always, Mrs. DeSouza.” M:  “We’ll see.  What is your biggest flaw?” L:  “I have none.  You made me perfect, remember?” M:  “Vanity, check.  Any regrets?” L:  “Not killing a certain detective when I had the chance.” M:  “I’m sure he feels the same way.” L:  “So quick to defend your detective.  He is not as perfect as you may think.” M:  “I never claimed he was perfect, but he has one thing that you don’t.” L:  “And that is?” M:  “Character.  Oh, and Selene’s love.”  Lucio leans in and tries to grab me before rethinking his actions.  He sat back and put on his sunglasses. L:  “I’m done with this interview.”    He signals for the driver to drive me home. M:  “I’m crushed.” L:  “We could always go back to my place and continue this interview there.” M:  “Do you have a curling iron?” He narrows his eyes and the limo comes to a stop. L:  “This was…delightful.  We should do it again.  Soon.” M:  “Sure.  Wait for my call.” I practically fly out of the car before Lucio has a chance to respond.  I shake off the bad vibes and walk back into the backyard.  My guests had arrived and my husband along with his good friend, Kevin are manning the grill.  I start to walk toward them when I hear my name being called.  I look toward the glass doors and Selene is standing there.  A long sundress hugged her curvy figure, leaving me to plan the start yet another diet.  We hug each other and I walk inside to shut out the noise. M:  “I’m happy you made it.  Did you have a hard time finding parking?”S:  “I’m used to valet or off street parking, so this was a change.”  M: “So, tell me.  How are you and Jason?”She laces her hands together and bites her lip.S:  “We are working through it.”  M:  “I’m glad.  Describe Jason in one word.”S: “One word?  Perfect.  Loyal.  Sexy.”M:  “TMI, Selene.”We both laugh and she watches the kids playing outside.S:  “He’s a great guy and I’m lucky to have him.”M: “Describe Lucio.”S:  “Maniac, Monster, Dire need of a strait jacket.”M:  “Yes he does.  What is your biggest accomplishment?”S:  “Spilling coffee on a detective.”I laugh remembering how they met. M:  “Any regrets?”S:  “Not telling Daphne everything.”M:  “It might not have made a difference, Selene.”S:  “Maybe it wouldn’t but I’ll guess we’ll never know.”M:  “What do you think about people asking to read Love Lost?”S:  “It’s so surreal.  I hope they will enjoy the love story between Jason and I.”Jason comes in and Selene runs to hug him.  They kiss and I walk back outside to give them their privacy.  As I enjoy the time with my family and friends, I think about Love Lost and the journey that Jason and Selene have to endure.  
If you want to know more, pick up your copy of Love Lost.   You didn’t think I would give any spoilers, did ya?




About the Author:
Maria DeSouza is a 32 year old New Jersey native with a love for writing. She has two children, who are her life, and family that makes her want to scream at times, but still loves them. She started her affair with reading and writing at a very young age. She loves where books take her, and always wished for the day when she would meet her very own dream boat. She grew up on Stephen King, Nora Roberts, and anything her library would let her borrow. She would always grab a notebook and start writing about the books she read about because she wanted the story to continue. She never took it seriously until a friend a few years ago told her that she needed to publish her work after she wrote down a short story. The words stuck with her and she was constantly asked, “Did you write more? Are you done?” A back injury put her writing on hold for almost 2 yrs and last year, she found the short story and started reading. Then, she started writing and adding to it. That little dream turned story turned into her debut novel, Love Lost.


Author Links: FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/MariaDesouzaAuthor 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mdesouza05 
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7082122.Maria_DeSouza 
Website: http://mdesouza05.wix.com/maria-desouza-author 
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Maria-DeSouza/e/B00JUPEDYA






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