Too Dangerous to Desire (26 page)

Dear Reader,

People always ask: “Where do you get your ideas for books?” Usually I don’t have a clue. But in the case of WHERE ANGELS REST, I actually recall the two seedlings of ideas that ultimately grew into this story. The first was a trailer on TV for an upcoming talk show. The interview was to be with a mother who had chased her child’s rapist from state to state for years, basically raising hell wherever he tried to surface.

I never saw the show, but I remember thinking,
That would make a great heroine:
a woman who has dedicated her life to exposing someone she knows is dangerous.

Dr. Erin Sims was born.

The second idea evolved more gradually, but I can still name it: It’s the town where I grew up. You see, I’m from Hopewell, Ohio. Well, not really, because there is no “Hopewell” in Ohio—at least not one I could find on a map. But I grew up in
a
Hopewell. Towns like my fictitious Hopewell are scattered all over the Midwest and, for that matter, the whole country. They’re chock-full of sleepy charm, and they provide the perfect haven for someone battered and beaten by the evils of the larger world.

Sheriff Nick Mann was born.

When the two ideas merged—a man protecting the sanctity of a town that appears peaceful, and a woman who knows that appearances can be deceiving—I knew I had the makings for a story.

In WHERE ANGELS REST, Erin Sims takes her hunt for a demented serial killer to a quaint town that couldn’t possibly harbor such evil. There she unearths secrets Nic
k Ma
nn refuses to believe—after he’s spent years working to make Hopewell his refuge from a tortured past and a safe haven for his daughter’s future. Eventually he can’t deny the truth, no more than he can deny that the fire in Erin Sims has reignited not only his long-buried passion for police work but also his long-denied desire for love.

I hope you’ll enjoy the ride as Erin and Nick set out to unravel a demented villain’s compulsion to silence the angels who are privy to horrific, long-hidden truths. And while you’re at it, catch a glimpse of my next hero, Nick’s brother, who will hopefully whet your appetite for the second book in the series, coming soon!

Happy Reading!

www.katebrady.net

Dear Reader,

For as long as I can remember I’ve been a “theater geek”! My parents took me to see a production of
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
when I was about six, and I loved everything about it—the costumes, the music, the way it felt like an escape from the real world into Shakespeare’s fairy-tale woods. I decided right then that I wanted to be an actress. I put on productions at home (recruiting my little brother and our family dog to be the other performers) and made my parents buy tickets. (Until I got in trouble for using my mom’s antique lace tablecloth for a costume.)

Then I got older, did some community theater, and found out I was lacking one essential element for being an actress—talent! But I’ve never lost my love of going to the theater. There is just something about settling into one of those velvet seats, reading the glossy program, waiting for the curtain to go up and a whole new world to be revealed. I was so happy to “meet” the St. Claire family and have the chance to live in their world for a while, to vicariously be part of the theater all over again.

The Victorian age was a great era for the theater. The enthusiastic patronage of Queen Victoria meant that the theater was becoming more respectable, and actors and actresses were more accepted in society. People like Ellen Terry and Henry Irving at the Lyceum Theater were celebrities and artists, and a new style of theatergoing was taking hold. The audience actually sat and watched the play in silence instead of having supper and gossiping with their friends! Our modern idea of theater was born in this time period.

I loved seeing my own St. Claire family in the very thick of this exciting period, on the cusp between scandal and respectability! But with them, I think they will tend more toward the scandal side of things …

I’m thrilled with how TWO SINFUL SECRETS turned out, and hope that you all enjoy it!

Happy Reading!

www.LaurelMckee.net

Facebook.com

Twitter, @AmandaLaurel1

Dear Reader,

For those of you who have been asking me about the maddeningly mysterious Cameron Daggett, well, the wait is over! Connor and Gryff—those two other devilishly dashing Lords of Midnight—have been tamed by love, and now, in TOO DANGEROUS TO DESIRE, it’s Cameron’s turn to meet his match. But trust me, it wasn’t easy to find a way to unlock his heart.

The most cynical of the three friends, he had good reason to keep his feelings well guarded, for he had been hurt in the past. Luckily I knew just the right lady to turn the key. (Be advised that opening locks is not as easy as it might seem. Sometimes it takes some very deft and clever manipulations to release all the little levers—as several scenes in the book will show!) But of course, as this is a romance, Cameron finds his happily-ever-after with Sophie Lawrance.

I, however, must confess to shedding a few tears on having my Lords of Midnight trilogy come to an end. All of the characters have become such dear friends, so it’s hard not to feel very sad as they move away from the cozy little neighborhood of my desk to live in far-flung places all around the world. I’ll miss their wonderful company—we had coffee together most every day for so long! However, it’s time to let them go off and have their own future adventures, so I’m looking forward to making new friends who will share my morning jolts of caffeine (along with those afternoon nibbles of chocolate).

And speaking of new friends, I’ve already met a delightfully unconventional trio of sisters with a passion for writing. Olivia, the eldest, pens fiery political essays; Anna, middle sister, writes racy romance novels; and Caro, who is not quite out of the schoolroom, is a budding poet. Of course, proper young Regency ladies of the
ton
—especially ones who have very small dowries—are not encouraged to have an interest in intellectual pursuits. Indeed, the only thing they are encouraged to pursue is an eligible bachelor. Preferably one with both a title and a fortune. So the headstrong, opinionated Sloane sisters must keep their passions a secret.

Ah, but we all know that secret passions are wont to lead a lady into trouble …

Alas, I can already report that Olivia has set off sparks with the Earl of Wrexham, a paragon of propriety, who—

Oh, but that would be spoiling all the fun! I’ll let you read all about it for yourself. All I’ll say is that I’m so excited about starting my new series! Please be sure to check out my website
www.caraelliott.com
for more updates on the Hellions of Half Moon Street!

“Elliott provides readers with a treat to savor in this fun, sexy, delicious tale. With smart, sassy characters, a charming plot and an erotic bad boy/good girl duo, this fast-paced story will keep readers’ attention.”

—
RT Book Reviews

“Nothing is more sensuous than a delicious meal, and Cara Elliott’s food-inspired sex scenes are, quite literally,
Too Tempting to Resist
…likeable characters, a fast-moving plot, and unique, engaging sex scenes that are deliciously tempting.”

—HeroesandHeartbreakers.com

“Haddan and Eliza’s charming wit and banter will absolutely capture the reader from their first meeting…Haddan is the type of historical hero that women fantasize about…[It] can easily be read as a stand-alone, though most readers will want to rush out and find a copy of the first book to get more of Cara Elliott’s Hellhounds. A real page-turner, readers will not be able to put this book down.”

—RomRevToday.com

“Cara Elliott is the master of writing a breathtaking and romantic book built around an exciting, engrossing story of suspense and intrigue. I believe she is truly one of a kind in bringing all the pieces and characters to a fulfilling conclusion yet always leaving the reader begging for the next book.”

—TheReadingReviewer.com

“Elliott packs the first Lords of Midnight Regency romance with plenty of steamy sex and sly innuendo…As Alexa and Connor flee London to escape vengeful criminals, their mutual attraction sizzles beneath delightful banter. Regency fans will especially appreciate the authentic feel of the historical setting.”

—
Publishers Weekly

“A surprisingly resourceful heroine and a sinfully sexy hero, a compelling and danger-spiced plot, lushly sensual love scenes, and lively writing work together perfectly to get Elliott’s new Regency-set Lords of Midnight series off to a delightfully entertaining start.”

—
Booklist

“The Lords of Midnight, all sexy and dangerous men, are introduced in this series starter. The romance, adventure, and sensuality readers expect from Elliott are here, along with an unforgettable hoyden heroine and an enigmatic hero. She takes them on a marvelous ride from gambling hells to ballrooms, country estates, and London’s underworld.”

—
RT Book Reviews

“A very entertaining tale…Well-drawn characters, an interesting plot, and plenty of passion kept the pages turning. Alexa and Connor are worthy opponents and even more worthy partners as they try to unravel the mystery at the Wolf’s Lair. Excellent and well rounded secondary characters, both friend and foe, make for a superb tale.”

—RomRevRoday.com

“Filled with suspense and passion. The mystery is delivered wonderfully and will have you guessing up to the big reveal…hilarious and downright charming…The romance element will have the reader on the edge of their seat…The mental tennis match heightens the all too present romantic chemistry to the point that it seems to jump off the page…If
Too Wicked to Wed
is an example of what we are to expect, this will be a series loved by many!”

—FreshFiction.com

“I really enjoyed Cara Elliott’s writing. She hooked me from the start…kept me glued to the pages…an incredibly sexy and romantic read…I would read more by Cara Elliott based on this novel. I look forward to reading the next installment of The Lords of Midnight series.”