Write What You Know
I have been blessed with a really big family. Not just the fact that I grew up in a family of five children (which trust me, was total chaos most of the time), but both my mom and dad had three siblings each, who also had a fair number of children. This meant our summer reunions were loud, rowdy affairs, full of laughter, probably too much beer and wine (or blackberry brandy in my parents’ case), practical jokes and love.
I started dating my husband when I was just a freshman in high school. His sister was my best friend. By the time we married 8 years later I’d added his Italian clan, complete with grandparents and great-aunts and uncles, second and third cousins to my family.( Because Italian families include everyone.) Now 27 years later with marriages and children, nieces, nephews and their significant others … well let me just reiterate … I come from a really big family.
And I love them. Does that mean we don’t have our fair share of skeletons in the closet? Oh, yeah, we’re a regular soap opera including affairs, divorces and babies out of wedlock. But hey, we all know there’s FUN in dysfunctional! And the truth is, through it all, good times and hard times, we have continued to love and support each other.
So it shouldn’t come as any surprise that my muse and I created a sexy romantic suspense series based on three sisters and a close knit family. The family dynamics came straight out of my life experiences. I don’t have three sisters and my dad isn’t ill, which is what brings these sisters together, but some things about families are just universal.
Deceive Her With Desire, is the second book in the Tilling Passions series. (I’m pleased to announce It has recently placed third in a book cover contest and finaled in a writing contest.) This story involves a broken hearted landscaper, a DEA agent trying to prove himself and a drug czar who wants them both dead. It is available at Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0057XV0F4) and Barnes & Noble (http://tinyurl.com/6a8fqvy )
BLURB:
A woman determined to protect her heart. An agent hell bent on proving himself. One night that will change their lives forever…
Landscaper, DEIRDRE TILLING had no way of knowing that attending her friend’s party would throw her into a dangerous world of corrupt businessmen and police stings. Of course her sexual romp with undercover DEA agent, AYDEN SCOTT only pushes her deeper into the drug smuggling ring running up the Maine coast. As the heat rises between Deirdre and Ayden, one thing becomes painfully obvious…their relationship has jeopardized his mission and now someone wants them both dead.
EXCERPT:
A familiar whistle sliced through their growing anger. Julie dropped her hand from her mouth and pinned her sisters with a hot glare. It had stopped Meghan and Deirdre’s bickering since they were teens. Damon and Peter bit back knowing smiles, their forks continuing the slow glide from plate to mouth.
Yeah, some things with the Tilling clan never changed.
Julie straightened the napkin on her lap. “Meghan, that’s enough. Deirdre’s allowed her privacy. Now can’t we just have a nice—”
“Secrets? Really? Even if it includes drug arrests and police?” Meghan asked. “Was Austin your arresting officer, Dee?”
“I’m not a cop and she wasn’t arrested,” Austin said evenly.
“You don’t need to explain yourself to them, Austin.” Deirdre stood, her bravery shattering with the tears glistening in her eyes. “And I sure as hell don’t need your shit right now, Meghan. It’s been a long couple of days.”
Peter reached across the table, taking her hand again. “Dee, I’m sure there was a mistake with the Cutler police. Meggie spoke out of turn. Sit down. Finish your breakfast.”
Deirdre fell heavily into the chair unable to carry the weight of her friend’s betrayal. “Rachel told you too?”
“Of course she didn’t tell him. I did,” said Meghan.
“Told you what?” Julie asked, her gaze bouncing across the faces of her family. “What the hell are you all talking about? Why am I always the last to know about this stuff?” She put her hands to her cheeks. “And whatever it is, please tell me you didn’t tell Mum.”
“Of course I didn’t mention it to Mum. She’s got enough to deal with,” Meghan said defensively. “Why do you think I’m asking now?” She turned back to Deirdre. “So?”
“I was arrested for drug possession yesterday on my way home from a landscaping job in Cutler.” Deirdre’s voice sounded hollow even to her own ears.
“You can’t be serious?
“How the hell?”
Her sister’s questions tumbled out over each other.
A sob escaped as Deirdre put a trembling hand to her mouth. She wanted to be brave, but Meghan’s attack brought the fear slamming right into her heart. “Heroin. Five packets under the driver’s seat of the one-ton.” Ayden wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her against the solid weight of him. “Someone tipped off the police. Four cars chased down the one-ton and…” She inhaled a shaky breath. “They don’t know who called it in, but they pulled me over and surrounded me with guns.”
“Oh, honey you must have been so scared.” Julie laid her hand on Deirdre’s thigh.
“Dee, I’m sorry. I didn’t know.” Meghan’s eyes glistened with unshed tears. “I thought they’d found some pot.” She shrugged. “I just assumed you were doing some partying like the old days. Really. I’m sorry.”
“Do you need to get a lawyer?” Peter asked. “I have a friend.”
Deirdre just shook her head, the hot press of dread clogging her throat and making it impossible to talk.
“The man she works for brought in a lawyer.” Austin replied. “It’s not going to go any further. Some minor red tape with the Cutler police. After talking with Mark Pearson and Rachel, Deirdre’s thinking it could have been one of the high school students who work for her.”
“It doesn’t matter how the drugs got there. Everyone in Delmont is going to assume the worst. I’m afraid when it hits the backyard fences, we’ll lose business,” she said.
“Well, we’re just going to have to set them straight, aren’t we?” Meghan said firmly. “And if they don’t believe there was some huge-ass mistake than to hell with them. We don’t want to work with them anyway.”
“We’ll get it straightened out, Dee. Don’t worry,” said Julie.
And just like that the family unit solidified as the Tilling clan circled the wagons.
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Award-winning romance author, Nina Pierce, grew up in a house full of readers. So becoming enamored with books was only natural. She discovered romance stories in her early teens, falling hopelessly in love with knights in shining armor and the damsels who saved them.
Eventually, reading about alpha males and the journey to find their happy-ever-after endings wasn’t enough. She needed to pen her own stories of fated loves and soul mates. Nina’s discovered the passionate side of romance with her sexy stories. For her, it’s all about the sweet scent of seduction mixed with the heartwarming aroma of romance.
Nina resides in the northeast with her high school sweetheart and soul mate of twenty-seven years, their three grown children and several very spoiled cats who consider her “staff”.
You can keep up with her newest releases at her website
(http://www.NinaPierce.com) or follow her on Twitter
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