Romantic suspense writer Angela Smith, author of Burn on the Western Slope and Fatal Snag, has come by today to blog about why she loves romance.
Blurb:
Links and Short links:
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About the Author:
Why I love romantic suspense
It’s a question asked of me often, and I
usually have the same spiel as an answer. You know, I’ve always read, always
loved romance, liked suspense and then I started working at a prosecutor’s
office and yadda yadda yadda, blah blah blah.
It’s a difficult question to answer
because loving romantic suspense, loving to read and write and loving to write
romantic suspense has just always seemed to be a part of me. But when I really
dig deep, I see a glimmer of how that love originated, or at least how it
developed into my writing.
It all started with the movies. I grew
up watching Kung Fu and Looney Toons with my dad. Maybe they
aren’t romantic suspense, but they have some suspense and even some romance,
right? And then there are the movies I loved as a tween (even though that word
didn’t exist back in my day). Not the normal Top Gun, Dirty Dancing, or The
Princess Bride movies (even though I love those!) but movies that aired on
cable every summer when I was a kid and movies that I couldn’t get enough of.
Movies that I feel are often overlooked but still good, which is why I’m
listing them today.
Movies like Stakeout. Oh my goodness I love the movie Stakeout to this day. Back then, I would watch it every single time
it came on, and it wasn’t near as often. Of course it didn’t hurt that I had a
crush on Emilio Estevez. Even today, that movie cracks me up, but the
undercover investigations and romantic twist are what kept my eyes glued to the
screen. Even as a child I loved that undercover investigation stuff. Is it any
wonder I now love to write about it?
One Crazy Summer, although not
necessarily suspense (depending on how you look at it) would be my second in a
list of top three often overlooked but awesome movies that shaped my love of
romance. It was that particular time frame, between 1986-1987, when my sister
and I were staying at home by ourselves, baking sugar cookies, and watching
movies during the hottest part of the day.
Last, but certainly not least, is Centennial. Although it was already at
least a ten-year old miniseries by the time I remember it and it aired at
nighttime, for a while it came on once a year every summer and, for twelve
days, my entire family was glued to the screen.
I never read the book, written by James Michener, but I remember the
time it stopped playing. My heart broke. I thought I’d never see it again. And,
sadly even though I can find it now, I never did watch it again.
Of course there’s Top Gun and Dirty Dancing.
What woman between the ages of 30-40 doesn’t love those two movies? More romance
with action, adventure, and yes, even some suspense depending on how you look
at it. And even though they are labeled
as part of the top romantic movies of the 80s and are well deserved, I have a
few that shaped what I love to write and who I am now. Stakeout, One Crazy Summer¸
and Centennial are my three.
Burn on the Western Slope by Angela Smith
Blurb:
Reagan McKinney is on a mission to discover more
about a deceased uncle who mysteriously left her a sizable inheritance, a condo
in the mountains, and a stash of stolen jewels. With both her graphic design
career and her love life in shambles, the opportunity to begin a new life
couldn’t have come at a better time. When she becomes involved with the sexy
FBI agent next door, she finds her struggle is not only to keep her heart
intact, but her life.
Grief stricken after an undercover investigation
ends in the death of his partner, Special Agent Garret Chambers goes home to
find solace in the arms of his mountain retreat. That is, until his boss
assigns him to investigate the spirited brunette staying in the condo next
door. He is assigned to investigate Reagan’s involvement with a large jewel
fencing organization, but his investigation becomes compromised when his
attraction to her heats up. Will his discovery destroy everything he has come
to love, including Reagan?
Information
about the book:
Title: Burn on the Western Slope
Author: Angela Smith
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release Date: 15 July 2013
Publisher: Crimson Romance
Links and Short links:
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Books:
iTunes:
About the Author:
During her senior year in high school, Angela Smith was
dubbed most likely to write a novel, and that has been her dream ever since her
mother read Brer Rabbit to her and her sister so often that they were
able to recite it back to each other before actually learning to read. She’s
always enjoyed stories about the adventure of love, and getting involved in the
legal field developed her love of suspense. A certified paralegal, work gives
her perfect fodder for her romantic suspense stories. When not caring for her
small farm or spending time with her husband of two decades, she enjoys
creating, reading, and dreaming of the places she’ll visit one day.
Angela Smith LOVES
talking to readers. You can contact her in the following ways:
Email – angela@loveisamystery.com
Excerpt:
“The snow’s
great, the skiing is great. When are you going out to ski?” Garret asked.
Reagan fumbled with the button on her sweater. When
Chayton set her drink on the bar, she tightened her hands around the glass to
curb her jitters.
“I hate to admit it, but I don’t ski.”
“You don’t ski?”
“I mean, I never have.”
“You have to be tempted, right?”
“Uh, not really.”
This was where he’d leave. He would think she was crazy, boring, uninteresting, and he’d find someone more fitting to talk to. Only, he didn’t. He smiled, his eyes twinkling with interest. At least, she thought it was interest. It could have been pity, or mockery, or…
This was where he’d leave. He would think she was crazy, boring, uninteresting, and he’d find someone more fitting to talk to. Only, he didn’t. He smiled, his eyes twinkling with interest. At least, she thought it was interest. It could have been pity, or mockery, or…
No. She cupped a hand over her cheek, as if that would
soothe her insecurities. The cold condensation from the glass she’d held sent a
chill between her shoulder blades.
“How long are you staying?”
“A month, at least.”
“Do you want to learn to ski? Because I’m a pretty
good teacher. And Tanyon is a great place to learn. It’s busy, but not as busy
as some of the bigger resort towns.”
“Oh, I don’t know.”
“Yes. You have to try it at least once. You’ll love
it. Chayton can hook you up with gear.”
“Well, I’ve always had a secret desire to plunge down
a twelve-thousand-foot drop.”
Garret’s eyes sparkled, like sunbeams skipping across
the ocean and landing under her skin. But even sunbeams on a clear summer
afternoon wouldn’t affect her like this.
“It’s not so bad,” he said. “We’ll start on the bunny
slopes. Then, if you fall it’ll only be half that.”
“I’ve seen the size of these mountains and there’s not
a bunny slope in three-hundred miles.”
“Sure there is.”
Reagan clamped her mouth over the straw and slurped
the cocktail. It tasted divine, the sugary, minty flavor inciting sweet
thoughts of Garret’s lips.
“I’m not sure I’m ready for that,” Reagan said,
running her tongue over her lips as she rested her glass on the counter. “Skiing,
that is,” she quickly added. He would never know she’d been thinking of kissing
him, but she had to force herself to look away from his mouth. Nudging Naomi,
she stood. “It’s time for me to go. I need to settle in. I haven’t even
unpacked yet.” And she had no intention of doing so now, but it was a good
excuse to leave. She wiped her hands on her jeans before extending her hand to
his, praying hers weren’t clammy. “It was great to meet you.”
Garret grasped her proffered hand and nested his other
on top, engulfing her hand. She burned. Everywhere. “Meet me on the slopes
tomorrow?”
Reagan bit her lip and glanced at the floor. “Tomorrow?
I don’t know. I might need a little more time to get used to this place.”
“We’ll start with sledding. You can’t not like
sledding.”
She didn’t know, seeing as how she’d never done it,
but cozying up to him at a hundred miles an hour would probably be amazing.
“I’m safe,” Garret said as he dropped his hand.
“You’re what?” she asked, meeting his eyes. Maybe he
was a good guy in most people’s standards, but he made her heart beat too fast
to be anything but dangerous.
“I’m harmless. Several people in town will vouch for
me.”
“But I don’t know them either.”
Thanks for coming by, Angela. I do hope Reagan takes up skiing!
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