Vicki's Key Blog Tour: guest post, excerpt and giveaway
Welcome p.m. terrell to our blog today. We are the last stop on Vicki's Key Blog Tour. The author has written a guest post for us and is sharing an excerpt. Happy Friday!
By p.m. terrell
Format: paperback, 324 pages
Publisher: Drake Valley Press (March 17th 2012)
Blurb: Following a flawed CIA mission, Vicki Boyd leaves the Agency to begin a new life in a new town assisting an elderly woman. But when she arrives, she finds Laurel Maguire has suffered a stroke and her nephew has arrived from Ireland to care for her. Vicki quickly falls in love with the charming Dylan Maguire, but all is not what it seems to be at Aunt Laurel's house. And when the VIA arrive to recruit Vicki for one more mission, she finds her CIA past and her new future are about to collide... in murder.
Guest post:
Guest post:
HOW ROMANCE BEGINS
When a Baptist minister told me I needed more romance in my books, I knew I needed more romance. But when Vicki Boyd and Dylan Maguire met in my newest romantic suspense series, Black Swamp Mysteries, the sparks were even bigger than I’d ever imagined.
I enjoy taking characters out of their natural element and placing them into situations where they must rediscover themselves. Vicki’s Key begins with Vicki leaving the CIA after a botched mission in which she participated as a psychic spy. (Her job is based on real psychic spies currently working for our government.) She decides to take a summer job helping an elderly woman in a small Southern town while she figures out what to do with the rest of her life.
But when she arrives, she finds that Laurel Maguire has suffered a stroke and is confined to her third floor bedroom. And her nephew Dylan has arrived from Ireland to care for her.
Dylan is perpetually good-humored. He’s outgoing, a great conversationalist and wants to learn everything he can about the American town he’s staying in. That is completely the opposite of Vicki’s introverted, shy and solitary personality. The result? Well, who wouldn’t fall in love with a charming, handsome Irishman?
But things are not as they appear to be in Aunt Laurel’s rambling old home. And when Vicki’s sensitivity to psychic phenomena begins to manifest in a house that is coming alive with dark secrets, it leads to her past and her future colliding—in murder.
Dylan Maguire was supposed to appear in just the one book. But when editors and advance readers read it, they insisted that he remain throughout the entire series. That suited me perfectly because I found that I had fallen in love with him right alongside Vicki.
So in the next book in the series, Secrets of a Dangerous Woman, (to be released in September 2012) Dylan returns in his first assignment with the CIA. Vicki also returns in her role as a psychic spy and together they must find and interrogate recently captured Brenda Carnegie (from Exit 22). But when Brenda escapes again, it’s obvious that she’s had help from inside the CIA’s own ranks. Now Vicki and Dylan are on a mission to find out why some in the highest levels of our government want to kill Brenda—and others will risk everything to help her.
I am currently writing the next book in the Black Swamp Mysteries series, entitled Dylan’s Song (to be released in March 2013), which has Dylan, Vicki and Brenda traveling to Ireland. A CIA Agent disappeared in Ireland and now Vicki and Dylan must find him. But when they arrive, they find their trip has turned very personal… and Dylan’s true reasons for leaving Ireland for America are about to be revealed.
It’s been tremendous fun for me to write with these characters, most especially the Irishman Dylan Maguire. I plan to travel to Ireland soon to gather information I’ll use not only in Dylan’s Song but in many subsequent books. I love the international flair, especially when it comes to the romance!
An excerpt:
Vicki let the end of the towel drop so it brushed against her knees as she held the top against her breastbone. With one hand, she pulled the shower curtain back.
Dylan stood barefoot in the doorway, his back against the doorframe, his long legs stretching toward the opposite side, one hand planted against the opposite doorframe as though he’d been semi-reclining there for some time.
She gasped instinctively. “How long have you been there?” she asked, tugging the towel to cover herself.
“Long enough.” Without taking his eyes off hers, he moved deliberately across the bathroom until he stood in front of her. Without speaking, he took her towel and wrapped it around her. As the bath sheet was draped around her slender body, he took the corner and began to gently rub her hair with it. He stopped after a moment, his hand against her face and gazed at her cheek as he brushed it with his thumb.
“What were you cryin’ for, Woman?” he asked.
“I don’t know.”
“‘I don’t know,’ she says. Same thin’ me mum used to say. ‘What are you cryin’ for, Mum?’ I’d say. ‘I don’t know.’ ‘Well, you do it every night. Seems like you’d have figured it out by now.’”
She didn’t answer and after a few seconds, he stopped rubbing her cheek and looked into her eyes.
“I have to tell you, Darlin’. I can’t handle a woman’s tears. Never been able to. Most likely never will. Does somethin’ to me heart that I just can’t abide.” He spoke with his lips pressed close to hers, as if he could smother the tears.
When a Baptist minister told me I needed more romance in my books, I knew I needed more romance. But when Vicki Boyd and Dylan Maguire met in my newest romantic suspense series, Black Swamp Mysteries, the sparks were even bigger than I’d ever imagined.
I enjoy taking characters out of their natural element and placing them into situations where they must rediscover themselves. Vicki’s Key begins with Vicki leaving the CIA after a botched mission in which she participated as a psychic spy. (Her job is based on real psychic spies currently working for our government.) She decides to take a summer job helping an elderly woman in a small Southern town while she figures out what to do with the rest of her life.
But when she arrives, she finds that Laurel Maguire has suffered a stroke and is confined to her third floor bedroom. And her nephew Dylan has arrived from Ireland to care for her.
Dylan is perpetually good-humored. He’s outgoing, a great conversationalist and wants to learn everything he can about the American town he’s staying in. That is completely the opposite of Vicki’s introverted, shy and solitary personality. The result? Well, who wouldn’t fall in love with a charming, handsome Irishman?
But things are not as they appear to be in Aunt Laurel’s rambling old home. And when Vicki’s sensitivity to psychic phenomena begins to manifest in a house that is coming alive with dark secrets, it leads to her past and her future colliding—in murder.
Dylan Maguire was supposed to appear in just the one book. But when editors and advance readers read it, they insisted that he remain throughout the entire series. That suited me perfectly because I found that I had fallen in love with him right alongside Vicki.
So in the next book in the series, Secrets of a Dangerous Woman, (to be released in September 2012) Dylan returns in his first assignment with the CIA. Vicki also returns in her role as a psychic spy and together they must find and interrogate recently captured Brenda Carnegie (from Exit 22). But when Brenda escapes again, it’s obvious that she’s had help from inside the CIA’s own ranks. Now Vicki and Dylan are on a mission to find out why some in the highest levels of our government want to kill Brenda—and others will risk everything to help her.
I am currently writing the next book in the Black Swamp Mysteries series, entitled Dylan’s Song (to be released in March 2013), which has Dylan, Vicki and Brenda traveling to Ireland. A CIA Agent disappeared in Ireland and now Vicki and Dylan must find him. But when they arrive, they find their trip has turned very personal… and Dylan’s true reasons for leaving Ireland for America are about to be revealed.
It’s been tremendous fun for me to write with these characters, most especially the Irishman Dylan Maguire. I plan to travel to Ireland soon to gather information I’ll use not only in Dylan’s Song but in many subsequent books. I love the international flair, especially when it comes to the romance!
An excerpt:
Vicki let the end of the towel drop so it brushed against her knees as she held the top against her breastbone. With one hand, she pulled the shower curtain back.
Dylan stood barefoot in the doorway, his back against the doorframe, his long legs stretching toward the opposite side, one hand planted against the opposite doorframe as though he’d been semi-reclining there for some time.
She gasped instinctively. “How long have you been there?” she asked, tugging the towel to cover herself.
“Long enough.” Without taking his eyes off hers, he moved deliberately across the bathroom until he stood in front of her. Without speaking, he took her towel and wrapped it around her. As the bath sheet was draped around her slender body, he took the corner and began to gently rub her hair with it. He stopped after a moment, his hand against her face and gazed at her cheek as he brushed it with his thumb.
“What were you cryin’ for, Woman?” he asked.
“I don’t know.”
“‘I don’t know,’ she says. Same thin’ me mum used to say. ‘What are you cryin’ for, Mum?’ I’d say. ‘I don’t know.’ ‘Well, you do it every night. Seems like you’d have figured it out by now.’”
She didn’t answer and after a few seconds, he stopped rubbing her cheek and looked into her eyes.
“I have to tell you, Darlin’. I can’t handle a woman’s tears. Never been able to. Most likely never will. Does somethin’ to me heart that I just can’t abide.” He spoke with his lips pressed close to hers, as if he could smother the tears.
About the author: p.m.terrell is the award-winning, internationally acclaimed author of thirteen books, including six suspense/thrillers and two historical suspense. Suspense Magazine says "p.m.terrell gets better with each and every book she writes" and Midwest Book Review says, "p.m.terrell is a master at skillfully combining drama, action, suspense and romance to engage the reader in an adrenaline rush of page turning adventure." PBS television host Barbara Berlin says, "p.m.terrell is the next John Grisham." A full-time writer for more than 12 years, her latest series, Black Swamp Mysteries, combines international intrigue and adventure with the CIA's psychic spy program, resulting in a series that appeals to lovers of suspense, romance or the paranormal. Prior to becoming an author, terrell operated two computer businesses focusing on computer intelligence and white collar crime. Her clients included the CIA, Secret Service and Department of Defense. For more about terrell and her books, visit www.pmterrell.com.
Author links: website | twitter | Facebook: p.m.terrell, author and Patricia M. Terrell
Giveaway:
Author links: website | twitter | Facebook: p.m.terrell, author and Patricia M. Terrell
Giveaway:
p.m. will be giving away gift baskets from the real town of Lumberton, where Vicki's adventure takes place--one for a randomly drawn commenter and one for the host with the most comments, excluding the host's own or p.m.'s. (US/Canada only). Follow the tour and comment to better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here.
Thank you for hosting me today! I'll be checking in throughout the day to answer any questions your readers might have for me.
ReplyDeleteLOL...You're right! If a Baptist minister says you need more romance in your books, then they probably needed MORE ROMANCE! From the excerpt here, it sounds like you've upped the romance level.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tour, p.m. When I get to Lumberton, where should I have lunch? Is there a special site I should visit when there?
catherinelee100 at gmail dot com
@capefearlibn
Catherine, thanks for the comment. There are some wonderful places to have lunch here, including The Village Station Restaurant on Roberts Avenue and Candy Sue's Downtown on 3rd Street. Be sure and stop at the Visitors Bureau on Lackey Street and pick up coupons and lots of information on places to go and things to do. Thanks for asking!
DeleteI enjoyed the excerpt. This sounds like a good series.
ReplyDeletebn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com
I'm with the Minister - gotta have some romance in my books! So glad I'm finding out about these suspense stories at the point you've uped that romance quotient.
ReplyDeletesallans d at yahoo dot com
I love a good mystery. I would love to read this.
ReplyDeletefelecia@twinoaksfl.org