My guest author today specializes in intrigue – Harlequin Intrigues, to be exact. She’s Carol Ericson, and she writes fast-paced romantic suspense novels for Harlequin. Her heroes are often soldiers or lawmen, and they’re all strong alpha defenders determined to protect the women they love. Yum!
Carol’s books consistently get great reviews. Here’s what RT Book Reviews had to say about her first book for Intrigue:
“Carol Ericson’s The Stranger and I takes opposites and lets them do more than attract: They explode…” Romantic Times Book Reviews
She’s won awards – like the prestigious Holt Medallion Award of Merit – and her books have placed in Nielson Bookscan’s Top 100 Romances list, and in the Borders Top 10 Series Romance list.
In March 2011, Carol launched a new series called Brothers In Arms with Navy Seal Security. The third book in the series, Top Gun Guardian, hits stores on Nov. 30.
Here’s the blurb for Top Gun Guardian:
HIS MISSION WAS CLEAR—AND FAILURE WAS NOT AN OPTION.
BECAUSE THIS TIME, IT WAS PERSONAL
Buzz Richardson survived as a navy pilot and a covert operative by following one rule: handle the unexpected. Partnering up with Raven Pierre, his ex-fiancée, who’s still his sexiest fantasy come true, might be against all the rules. Buzz had already learned the hard way that a family…a husband…had no place in Raven’s well-thought-out future. But even with an unknown assassin threatening to take down Raven and the little girl she’d risked her life to hide, Buzz saw a side of the UN translator he’d never thought possible. Keeping this new Raven safe only resurrected the desire between them…and letting her go this time was the one thing he wasn’t willing to handle.
I’m happy to say that Carol is joining us today to answer a few questions. Please join me in welcoming Carol to the blog!
What kinds of books or genres do you read to fill the creative well?
My favorite types of romance novels are historical romances. I would love to write one (or work on the two Victorians I already did write!), but I don’t have the time to do the research. I don’t actually read much romantic suspense. For inspiration for my own romantic suspense books, I read true crime and action thrillers like Robert Ludlum and Brad Thor. I get the best ideas from reading true crime!
You’re a suspense author married to a cop. Does your husband look over your shoulder to make suggestions to your manuscripts?
Ha! My husband doesn’t read my stuff anymore. He’s a car theft investigator, but he works on a taskforce with some former robbery/homicide cops so when I need answers, I have an available resource. My last question to him involved mug shots. Occasionally, he’ll tell me something I don’t want to hear, something that won’t quite fit in my story, so I just ignore him.
And now for the Gilligan’s Island question – you’re stranded on a deserted island. You can only bring two luxury items with you. What would they be?
Hmm, do they have to be luxury items? I’d bring my Kindle loaded with books, of course, and ten cases of Diet Coke.
Ha! I would think that many writers find Diet Coke a necessity! Readers, be sure to check out Carol’s website for all her latest news, and to get a sneak peak at the next book in the Brothers in Arms series, Green Beret Bodyguard.
For my readers today, Carol is giving away a copy of Top Gun Guardian. Since it’s Thanksgiving weekend and some of us are probably thinking of Black Friday deals, let’s talk about that. Are you going shopping this weekend? If so, what do have on your list to buy? One person who comments will win a copy of Carol’s book!
No Black Friday crowds for me. I’ll be doing most of my shopping this year on-line, including for books!
wow.. vanessa, i love your new blog 😉
i don’t have a plan to go shopping this week, waiting to get salary, probably once got it, will buy some book 😉
Thanks, Eli! I love it too. I’m still ironing out a few kinks – like trying to get the avatars straightened out! Those little blank heads look so silly!
No, Black Friday plans. Will probably go out tomorrow though. I just discovered Harlequin Intrigues this summer. I have read all that the library has and have bought a bunch of older ones. Normally I read Historical, but for a break I read intrigue
Alisha, I think you would really like Carol’s books!
No plans for shopping. Too easy to shop on line without fighting the crowds.
Agreed, Ole!
Black friday, look like i was going to buy a lot books, thought from online. Love your blog^^
Thanks for giveaway!!
Thanks for stopping by, Oktarina!
Thanks for featuring me on your blog, Vanessa. I can’t handle the Black Friday crowds (or getting up that early), but I’ve already done a little shopping online!
Welcome to the world of Intrigue, Alisha! You’ll find many different types of stories and settings in Intrigue.
Carol, thanks for coming on with us today! Hubby and I will probably venture out later this afternoon. Hopefully, it will be safe by then!
Online shopping shopping for me! After the last 2 days of cooking and cleaning, I didn’t want to end up getting trampled too!!! LOL!
I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!!!!
kimmyl
klmc_37@yahoo.com
And trample they did! Several people have already been injured in the Black Friday madness. Really crazy!
I may shop on Saturday & support our locally owned stores… At 7.30am, the news was already reporting 7 car break-ins in one of the area major malls.. smash & grab….
Cate, that’s a really good philosophy. I try to shop at smaller, local shops too.
No Black Friday shopping. I worked retail for over 18 years and would never put my foot in a mall again on that day! You can find the same items for the same prices in about two or three weeks without the pushing and shoving. But good luck to those venturing forth!
It’s SO true! The stuff will be back on sale before Christmas.
Hi Vanessa. I’m a new fan of your books. This black Friday I’m still waiting for my salary but after I accept it I’ll buy a lot of books for me n makeup products for my mom:). I never read any carol week son books before but if I can win it I will forever treasure it as my Christmas miracle:)Fingers crossed
Hi Aretha! Welcome to my blog! I’m so glad you like my books. I did a little shopping today – also buying books!
No!!! The mindless consumerism, reminds of the mindless corporate greed and the whole spirit of Christmas is compromised. I’ll shop a little at a time during the week. The so called “great deal” isn’t worth witnessing the bad side of human behavior.
I totally agree, Gwen. I just found out that one of my nephews was at a mall where there was a shooting and stabbing on Black Friday! He was trying to get out of the parking lot and it took forever. It is SO not worth it!
I read the first in the series and thoroughly enjoyed it. Looking forward to getting caught up in the rest of the series! No shopping for me this weekend. From now til Christmas, the only time I will shop will be during the weekdays!!
Very smart, Kris!
Wild horses couldn’t drag me out to shop this weekend. I prefer to avoid crowds as much as possible.
I like shopping in the middle of the week when everyone else is working.
Me too, Lindsay!
Early morning Black Friday was fun for me in past years, but I slept in (felt wonderful!) and did some online shopping instead.
Thank goodness for online shopping!
I love the answer about ignoring your husband when u don’t like the answer to your research question. And to Vanessa, i panic a little in those black Friday crowds so i always pass.
I hate the crowds, Lisa! And they seem to get worse every year.
No shopping for me. I used to work retail at Macy’s and have been scarred for life on post holiday shopping. It just gets nuttier every year. I prefer cyber shopping, and one outing or two on calmer weekdays.
OMG, Macy’s! Love that store, but I can totally see why you wouldn’t want to step foot in a store on Black Friday.
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