A Little Rendezvous for You

I just wanted to take a moment to give you an update on Rendezvous with Danger. I have received some wonderful emails from readers, who have enjoyed Secret Rendezvous – the short story prequel to Rendezvous with Danger, but are anxiously awaiting Quinn and Alandra’s novel. Rendezvous with Danger, the second book of my Reunited Series, was originally scheduled to be release at the end of January, but due to some setbacks, the release date has been pushed back to February. I won’t have the exact date until next week.

For those of you who are not familiar with Quinn and Alandra – Quinn was first introduced in, Blue Roses, the first book of the Reunited Series. And then we journeyed with both Quinn and Alandra to Guerrero, Mexico in the short story prequel, Secret Rendezvous. NOTE: If you haven’t read the short story, click here to get your FREE copy today!

Now, for the good news – since I’ve run into a couple of delays with Rendezvous with Danger, I figured the least I could do is share some excerpts over the next few weeks. Here’s one for you:

Blurb

Former U.S. special operative, Quinn Hamilton, left the world of dangerous clandestine missions for a life of peace and real estate development. But the simple life he enjoys is suddenly turned upside down when the only woman he’s ever loved, returns from the dead – sort of. Alandra Pargas faked her death three years ago. With her lies, deceit and betrayal, he wants nothing to do with her, yet, his heart won’t cooperate. He can’t forget the soul-searing kisses, and the passion filled nights they once shared. It’s not until unknown enemies come after her that he must decide if he can leave the past in the past, and protect the woman he’ll always love.

Velvet Aguilar, formerly Alandra Pargas, ex-CIA counterintelligence officer, plans to wreak vengeance on the people who tried to kill her. A little rendezvous with danger is not what scares her, though. It’s seeing the tall, dark, and dangerously sexy man she vowed to love forever that has her running for cover. Will Quinn ever forgive her for leaving him? And will they survive this last mission and rekindle the love and passion they once shared?

Rendezvous with Danger – Excerpt (unedited)

Quinn eased around the paint-chipped pillar, and along the musty-smelling hallway, his gun held close to his body and ready to shoot anyone who got in his way. All Quinn needed was to leave the building without being detected.

“You have twelve minutes to get out of there Q,” Malik said through Quinn’s earpiece.

 Quinn proceeded through the corridor, his body tight against the uneven wall. He made the first turn and moved down the dimly lit hallway where a single bulb dangled from a sub-standard light fixture. He heard voices coming from a room to his right, so he turned left and maneuvered down the staircase. Ten more yards and he would be home free.  

 He made it to the final step and halted when he heard footsteps running on the level above him and then down the stairs behind him. He ducked into a nearby utility closet, not closing the door completely.

“We have a problem.”He  heard Malik say in his ear.

No kidding, Quinn thought.

“Two snipers on the rooftop of the building adjacent to the one you’re in. Sit tight.”

Missions like this Quinn normally did solo, but he was glad Malik was there. They’d run into a few snags, and his presence had proven beneficial.     

“All clear.”

No longer hearing footsteps, Quinn eased back into the hallway, down the back stairs and out of the building into the night. He made sure the information he had just stolen was secure inside his jacket, and he inched toward the gate. A tree branch snapped. Quinn slammed his body against the brick wall, blending into the darkness of the night. He stood still for several seconds and heard it again. Slowly, he turned his head toward the noise. What he saw, several yards away under the dim moonlight, made his heart stop.

Alandra. What in the… He blinked several times, unable to fathom why she was thousands of miles from home, and standing in the middle of what could easily become a war zone.

He retraced his steps. She anxiously looked around the area and then back at the small device she held in her hands. Within five feet of her, he must have made a noise because her head shot up and their eyes connected. And in slow motion everything exploded around her.

“Get down!” He yelled and saw her fall to her knees.

Without thinking he ran to her and chaos erupted in every direction. He scooped her up and nestled her behind a long concrete block, and then he noticed, she’d been shot.

“Oh, shit.”

“Quinn,” she said, grasping at his shirt, her eyes wild. “Please … be careful.”

“Malik, I need you. Now!” Quinn growled into his mouthpiece giving Malik his location while he jerked out of his jacket and placed it under Alandra’s head.

“On my way,” Malik said.

“Hang on baby. We’re going to get you out of here.” He ripped open her down vest and then her shirt to determine the extent of her injury. Blood spilled from the chest wound. Damn.  He glanced around trying to decide the best route to safety as he removed his shirt, leaving him with only a black T-shirt on. Gunshots rang out around him as he pressed his shirt over her wound to slow the bleeding.

“Quinn… I love…you. I have to tel…”

“I love you too, baby, but I need you to hold… Oh, damn. Alandra? Alandra?” he growled when her eyes rolled to the back of her head. He cradled her closer to his body, willing her to stay with him. “Lan…” he started but felt a bullet slap the back of his shoulder – and then his back. Paralyzed by the sharp pain that traveled down his spine, gripping him like steel claws, he struggled to hold on to Alandra, fighting the blackness that threatened to overpower him.

“Alandra, baby, I…need you…to hold on.”

Copyrighted November 2012 by Sharon C. Cooper

Hopefully you enjoyed the excerpt. Stay tuned – there’s more to come!

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Special Guest – Synithia Williams

It is with great pleasure that I introduce an author friend of mine and my special guest – Synithia Williams! Synithia is the author of You Can’t Plan Love, and Worth the Wait (her latest title). So, let’s get started.

Tell us a little bit about yourself, Synithia.

I’ve loved reading romance novels since I was 13 years old. I hand wrote my first romances in high school, but didn’t take my writing seriously at the time. I concentrated on college, then work, then marriage, then having kids. It wasn’t until 2010 that I decided to try to turn writing from a hobby into a potential career. I consider writing my part-time job. Full-time, I work on sustainability initiatives in the Midlands of South Carolina.

What is your writing process? Do you outline, fly by the seat of your pants or a combination of both?

My writing process keeps evolving. I started by just flying by the seat of my pants, then I tried outlining my stories, but could never stick with the outline. I recently read a book on screenwriting called Save the Cat and one thing it mentioned was starting out with defining what your story is about. My current work in progress is following this idea. I’ve figured out what my story is about, and am flying by the seat of my pants writing it with a very rough outline.

Lol! Way to use all of the writing processes, Synithia!

Okay, I know you’re not supposed to show favoritism but who’s been your favorite character to write?

I liked writing my men: Malcolm and Jared. I don’t know what it says about me, but I love figuring out what makes them tick, why they fight falling in love and finally getting them in bed.

Do you have critique partners or beta readers?

I have several, but none set in stone. My critique partners have changed with each book I write due to schedule changes. I have used the same beta readers to give me feedback. I wish I had one steady critique partner though.

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?

I’m working my way through J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood Series (thanks to author Chicki Brown putting me onto them). I put them on hold at the library and get so excited when I get the message saying the next in the series is ready.

So tell us about your latest story, Worth the Wait.

After Tasha Smith is dumped yet again because of her virginity, she decides it’s time to stop saving herself for marriage and start dating like women in the twenty-first century. She sets out to find a man rumored to be good enough in bed to relieve her of the nuisance, but discreet enough to keep her request a secret. Jared Patterson seems like the perfect candidate. Yet after one searing kiss, she wonders if she’ll escape the night unscathed.

Jared’s job as a successful fitness instructor and entrepreneur has helped him keep a string of meaningless relationships from the east to the west coast. After learning the hard way that women can’t be trusted, he has no qualms going from one sex only relationship to the next. Although Tasha is one of the few types of women he avoids—a good girl—the man in him can’t turn down her tempting offer.

What starts out as a onetime thing quickly turns into an affair neither want to stop. But when an unexpected situation drastically alters their relationship, it leaves them both asking if it was Worth the Wait.

What was your inspiration behind this book?

The idea for the book came from two separate thoughts. When I wrote my first novel, You Can’t Plan Love, I knew I wanted to give Jared his own story. He was so against settling down and I tried to think of what type of woman would make him commit. Of course opposites attract and you can’t get more opposite of promiscuous than virginal. Then I wondered what it would be like to date nowadays if you’re saving yourself for marriage. That’s a lot of pressure to put on a guy after a few dates. “Sorry, no sex unless you put a ring on it.” Voilà, the idea for my story was made.

If you were going to cast the characters of your book, what actors would get the part?

Oh man, I should know this. Hmmm, I really like Dolvett Quince who did Season 12 of the Biggest Loser, only with a different voice. Tasha would be…Cree Summer when she played Freddy in A Different World in the early seasons.

Here’s a brief excerpt from Worth the Wait

Tasha’s attention went back to the bed. It couldn’t be ignored. She walked over to it. At five feet four inches she considered herself average height, but she would need a stepstool to get on it. How many women had he slept with in that bed? Probably dozens. The thought excited her. She wanted to experience what other women had with him, and she wanted it in that bed. She ran her hands along the smooth comforter and closed her eyes, imagining herself naked, sliding on the sheets.

“Do you like my bed?”

She snatched her hands away as if she’d been burned. She turned to the closet where Jared stood, watching her. He’d put on a loose fitting pair of jeans and a black shirt he hadn’t buttoned. His feet were still bare. She definitely liked what she saw.

“It’s a nice bed. Is this where we’ll…” Although she knew what she asked she couldn’t say the words.

He walked over, placing his hands on the bed and trapping her between it and him. The heat from his body radiated toward her. Time seemed to freeze as the force of her attraction buzzed within her. If she was going to do this she couldn’t be a ninny. She hesitated, before lifting her hands and placing them on his chest. His skin was surprisingly soft over the hard muscles underneath. He flexed his pecs and she jerked. Her pinky finger accidentally flicking over his flat nipple and his breathing pick up.

He lightly ran a finger down her cheek. “My plan was to wait, but you’re making it very difficult.”

Tasha shivered as he gently traced her earlobe. “How?”

“Because right now all I want to do is take your clothes off, throw you on that bed, and get deep inside you.”

Oh, God, what am I doing? Despite her fear she said, “Then…then do it.”

Buy links:

Amazon        Crimson Romance 

Whew! Great excerpt, Synithia! I can’t wait to read the rest of the story!

Let’s show Synithia some love by not only leaving her a comment, but by also purchasing her latest novel – Worth the Wait

By the way, Synithia, how can readers connect with you? 

Through my website: www.synithiawilliams.com

Twitter: www.twitter.com/@SynithiaW

Facebook: www.facebook.com/synithiarwilliams

Lastly, anyone who leaves a comment on this post today will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win an electronic copy of Synithia’s debut novel – You Can’t Plan Love!

Synithia, thanks so much for sharing a little bit about yourself! I wish you much success in your writing career!