His Reluctant Bodyguard by Loucinda McGary

Literary Nymphs Interview

Title: His Reluctant Bodyguard

Author:  Loucinda McGary

Publisher: Loucinda McGary

Genre:  Romantic Suspense

Release Date: Sept. 14, 2012

 

 

What inspired the story?

A combination of things. The heroine, Avery Knox was a secondary character in my previous novel High Seas Deception, and she was such a fun character that I decided to give her a book of her own, so His Reluctant Bodyguard became Book 2 in the Adventure Cruise Line series.

I love cruising and on several trips to the Caribbean, I was inspired by the history and culture of the islands in the West Indies. Many of those islands have gone back and forth between British, French, Spanish, and even Dutch rule. Also, the people have developed an interesting blend of various cultures that I found fascinating.

EXCERPT:

Concierge level guests had their own box seats in a special balcony of the Imperial theater, Rip learned. He sat in the second seat of the four in the front row. Agent Williams sat beside him on the aisle with his swollen ankle propped on a cushion and a hostile scowl on his face...
The waiter no sooner returned with their drinks than the lights dimmed. A male announcer came on and welcomed everyone, ending with, “Here are your co-cruise directors, Ginger Judd and Avery Knox!”
Apparently the second show was a repeat of the first, for the curtain went up to reveal a montage of Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals posters. The irritating red-head roller skated onto the stage warbling somewhat off-key, “Starlight Express! Starlight Express!”
Then the posters parted, and Avery stood at the top of a wide staircase in a tight black dress with a shiny gold jacket, her blonde hair pulled back into an elegant roll. She belted out a couple of lines from “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina,” and the audience burst into applause, none more enthusiastically than Rip.
As Avery swept down the stairs, Williams leaned over and muttered, “If you let her get away, you’re dumber than you look.”
Ignoring him, Rip settled back and enjoyed watching Avery make her brief introduction. She looked poised and elegant while Ginger appeared to be a clumsy buffoon, and Rip didn’t think the latter was purely an act. After a few quick minutes of banter, the two women exited in opposite directions and the show started....
After one huge finale number, the cast took their bows, then Avery and Ginger came back out. Without her roller skates, the red-head barely came up to Avery’s shoulder. They took turns telling the audience what to expect tomorrow when the ship docked in San Juan.
“Gotta hand it to you, Pollendene,” Williams said with a grudging kind of envious tone. “You know how to pick a bodyguard.”
Rip couldn’t keep his huge grin under control. “Good, then you’ll understand why I’m meeting her for a late dinner in fifteen minutes.” Then he climbed over Williams’ outstretched leg and sprinted out of the balcony.
“Wait a minute!” He heard the agent call after him, but he didn’t stop.

Where can we find your website?
http://loucindamcgary.com/ 

I also have a FaceBook author page:

https://www.facebook.com/loucinda.mcgary

I love hearing from readers! They are what make this whole writing gig worthwhile, so I'd love for you to stop by my website or author page and leave a comment.

Though it is the second book in the Adventure Cruise Line series, both His Reluctant Bodyguard and High Seas Deception are stand alone stories and can be read in any order.

I'm giving away a free download (Kindle or Nook, winner's choice) of His Reluctant Bodyguard to one randomly selected commenter. I'm also giving away a $20 gift card to one lucky commenter at the end of my blog tour (Dec. 5th).

Thank you again for having me as a guest on Literary Nymphs today!

HAPPY READING!

 

 About Loucinda (Cindy) McGary

Blessed with the gift of “Irish Blarney” Loucinda McGary (everyone calls her Cindy) became a storyteller shortly after she learned to read. If she didn’t like the way a story ended, she made up her own ending.

A long-time reader of romances, Cindy discovered and joined Romance Writers of America in 2001. But her stressful career as the manager of a multi-million dollar State and Federally funded program prevented her from doing much writing or traveling. She still managed to squeeze in a little of both, but not enough of either to be truly satisfying. Finally, at the end of 2003 she decided to take an early retirement from her career to fully pursue her twin passions of travel and writing.

On Sept. 14, 2007 Cindy received “the call” from an editor that changed her life, and she sold her first book (actually the third book she’d written since she left her job four years earlier). The Wild Sight was released Oct. 2008 and received a rare and coveted starred review from Publishers Weekly magazine. It also went on to win the “Best First Book” category in the More Than Magic contest. In 2010, the electronic version of Wild Sight became an Amazon bestseller in their Top 100 of all books.

In Sept. 2009, her second published novel, The Treasures of Venice was released. This story previously finaled in the prestigious Golden Heart contest in 2006 under the title Jewels of the Madonna. Treasures of Venice went on to win the Judge a Book By Its Cover contest and to final in several other regional contests.

In July 2010 her third traditionally published novel, The Wild Irish Sea was released, and received a four star review from Romantic Times Book Review magazine.

Cindy likes to set her novels of romance and suspense in some of the fascinating places she has visited. To date, she has visited 47 states and 32 foreign countries.

Slow Heat by Lorie O'Clare

Literary Nymphs Interview

 

Title: Slow Heat

Author: Lorie O’Clare
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release Date: 11/27/12

 

What inspired the story?

Micah just came to me. He was so damaged, so torn as to where his life would go from where it was now that I couldn’t help but hear what he had to say to me. When he fell in love with Maggie, I knew I had to see the story out. I’ve never written a book as intense as this one before.

 

EXCERPT:

This man was dangerous, terrifying in fact. He was a different breed of man than any she’d ever known. Maybe allowing him into her world, requesting that he search deep into her life and her job to find out what had happened to create suspicion toward her was a serious mistake.

Whatever she’d seen when he first entered her office earlier that week was suddenly there again. Dark flecks around his pupils made his hazel eyes turn almost black. It was an emotion she couldn’t label. His expression remained relaxed, just as it had since she met him. Micah didn’t react to anything, at least not like other men did. Even when he’d let his gaze travel over her body, when he’d stared at her boobs a moment longer than what he should have, he hadn’t as much as cracked a smile.

Whatever she saw in his eyes just now was possibly as much emotion as he ever let through. Was it pain? She wasn’t sure. There was definitely something simmering just underneath that mask of indifference on his face, and it wasn’t good.

She shivered in spite of herself and dropped her attention to all the muscle rippling under his t-shirt. “Your boss, er bosses, spoke highly of you.” Maggie imagined Micah had some damn good abilities. Heat spread inside her at the thought of him fucking her senseless. Lord, she needed to get out of there. “I know you’ll be able to fix this entire mess,” she said hastily, forcing her attention on her purse in her hands.

“I’ll take a closer look at your case.”

There was something about the way Micah spoke, as if he were trying to suppress a growl with each word. His raspy baritone scraped across her flesh, igniting relentless need deep inside of her. Thank God it would take a good fifteen minutes through traffic to get home, and that she’d be bombarded with the entire family once she got there. Quite possibly they would all already be fighting. At least then no one would notice how flustered she possibly would still be.

His dark hair was a bit more tousled than it had been when she first walked in the door. She didn’t remember him running his fingers through it and imagined that accepting a case might create some kind of adrenaline rush inside him.

“Thank you,” she heard herself mumble. “I don’t have a lot of time but we can lay out the preliminaries right now and go into more detail on Monday.”

“You don’t work weekends?”

She dug through her purse, pulling everything out until she reached her wallet. Then flipping it open she pulled out a couple of the bills she had left. “My mom has the entire family coming home. Most of them are already there. She called me on my way over here. If I can get away,” she said and broke off her sentence before finishing. She was rambling. Hell of a way to convince this man she was innocent and completely incapable of committing this crime. But then, how did a money launderer behave?

Maggie handed him two hundred dollars. “I hope this is enough to begin our working relationship. Of course, I expect you to log, and keep receipts, of all of your expenses.” When he showed no reaction, and didn’t make a move to take the money, Maggie tried a reassuring smile. “You’ll learn I’m a stickler for numbers and documenting everything. It’s the accountant in me.” She shrugged, then fought off her frustration when he didn’t accept the cash or say anything. She waved the money at him. “Take this. I have a receipt book in my purse, I think. If it’s not enough I have more cash at home.” She was pretty sure he already knew her bank accounts and credit cards had been frozen, which still had her pissed as hell.

When Micah moved, Maggie lowered her hand, straightened, and found herself once again staring into his dark hazel eyes. Maggie held her ground, watching him.

“Pay me when I catch whoever has put you in this situation.” That growl that had been barely audible before came out clearly this time.

When he placed his hand over hers, closing his fingers around hers, and the cash she held, heat exploded inside her. An unbearable pressure swelled to life between her legs. Shifting her weight only caused it to grow.

“I’ll work up a contract,” she said, and looked at his hand over hers. “We’ll make everything official.” It was impossible not to return her attention to those evasive eyes of his.

There was still nothing to read in his dark gaze but his lips curved slightly. They were nice lips for a man, not too full but not thin either. A shadow spread across his jaw bone, the end of the day whiskers. If he kissed her she would feel their abrasion against her skin.

What the hell was she thinking? Maggie tried pulling her hand free of his.

Micah’s fingers tightened around hers, preventing her freedom. But only for a moment. Her hand seemed colder than the rest of her when he finally let her go and dropped his hand to his side.

“No contracts. No receipts. No records.”

“But—“

“No,” he said with finality. “Enter into a verbal agreement with me. That will require that you trust my decisions and my actions, always. A piece of paper holds a lot less value.”

Maggie almost dropped her wallet. Her skin prickled. There was unleashed, raw lust emanating from his body. If she didn’t take the upper hand immediately, he would have her begging him to take off her clothes, ravish her, do what he wanted with her body. She tried for a deep breath. Her reaction to him had to be a result of so much relief once he’d agreed to help her out.

“Alright. We’ll do this your way. This will be a working relationship,” she told him. “I am hiring you. Contract, or no, you will report your daily activities to me. I’m paying you for a service and I expect full cooperation and communication from you.”

Maggie wasn’t prepared when he grabbed her jaw. Micah didn’t hurt her, but long, hot fingers embraced her neck, pressed against her jugular, and stroked her chin when he tilted her head back and stared down at her.

“This will be a working relationship. But I am the one who can do this job. You will trust me, cooperate with me fully, and trust that I always have your best interest at heart. I will share with you what I can while doing my research but you will accept that I am doing everything in my power to find whoever it is who is laundering money through Club Paradise. That includes you not questioning my every action.”

“Is this how you treat all of your clients?” Maggie grabbed his wrist, not that she could pull him off her if she tried. His pulse beat strongly against her fingertips.

“No.”

“Why are you treating me this way?”

“Because of the charged lust radiating off you, and me,” he said, his voice that low raspy growl again. “It’s strong enough to fog both of our thinking. I’m putting it under control right now. I believe that you think you’re innocent. I’ll find out the truth, and you’ll accept that truth once I show it to you.”

Where can we find your website?

www.lorieoclare.com

Meet: Lorie O’Clare

 

What are your 2 favorite careers?

I’d have to say being a grade school teacher, because I thought for so long about being one and have always believed I’d make a really good teacher. (My kids think so, at least) And my second favorite career would have to be a spy. Like working for the CIA or NSA. I’ve always loved the idea of living outside the lines of normal society. The rest of the world might have to get up every morning and do the same job day in and day out, but I always dreamed about what it would be like to not be one of the numbers. To have a life where your focus lay outside the realm of everyone else.

I think what I do today is a result of loving those two careers. If I can show, or enlighten, someone through a story I’ve written, then I’ve done a good job. And, through the worlds I’ve created I can live precariously as I walk alongside my characters. I probably would have been a lousy spy. But living in the world of fiction, I can be magnificent as an explorer, an adventurer, an adrenaline junkie, and someone willing to dive into danger and save the day! All things that in real life I am not. J

What is the hardest thing you ever had to do?

Hold on, and push forward, while coming to terms with how different my life is now dealing with diabetes and a severe neuropathy. I remind myself daily how hard it was to initially get published. When the pain is bad and I just want to lie down and give into it, I tell myself that if I let go, I’ll never get back what I’ve worked so hard to have in the first place. I’m a published author. I’ve released a lot of books. If I give in, for even a day, I could lose everything I have. The hardest thing I’ve ever had to do is cope with pain and write stories worthy enough for you to read.

Favorite music, song or band

Oh wow, I love all kinds of music. All genres—if it’s good. I really like Muse, The 2^nd Law, and all of old Muse. I like the Black Keys, the White Stripes, but also I love Led Zeppelin, the Who, the Rolling Stones, the Clash, just to name a few and, well, I really like a lot of classic rock. But I also love country and classical. I’m not too hip on opera.

Are you usually late, early or right on time?

I’m usually late. J

Are you happy with your life for the most part right now?

Oh yes! Life is great. I’m the most blessed person I know.

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?

There are so many places I want to see. But definitely at the top of the list would be Ireland, County Clare. It’s where my people are from.

What do you think would be the hardest thing for you to give up on?

 

To give up on?...my children. It wouldn’t be hard though; it would be impossible. I could never give up on them.

 

 

 

Website

http://www.lorieoclare.com/

 

Buy Link

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0312534604/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0312534604&linkCode=as2&tag=looclroau-20