Shelley Munro's Fortune Soldiers…Ninja Style. Hee-Ya!

Today, we’re celebrating the launch of Shelley Munro’s Soldier of Fortune, and her really cool cover, while I take every opportunity to nudge her in the ribs because she’s a Kiwi.  It’s a thing, you see.  I’m Aussie, she’s not.  She’s one of those.  Although, ever since New Zealand produced Lord Of the Rings, I’ve forgiven them for everything.  So the rivalry has slackened, some.  But I’ll have to see if I can still fire some shots over the bows….

Who are your favourite authors at Ellora’s Cave (and you don’t have to say me!)?

LOL – I have lots of favourites. I like Shelby Reed, Jory Strong, Samantha Kane, Lauren Dane, Ravyn Wilde, Evangaline Anderson, Lisa Marie Rice and Lora Leigh. Lora’s Elizabeth’s Wolf is still one of my all-time favourite reads.

What is your favourite novel cover (can be from anywhere)?

I read a lot of urban fantasy and some of those covers are great with strong heroines and big weapons. <grin>. I tend to like covers depicting figures, either male or female. The cover for Boneshaker by Cherie Priest always grabs my attention.

I quite like my cover CatNap, with the yummy hero and the tiger.

What’s the best Hero Moment you’ve ever seen in film?

The Last of the Mohicans when Hawkeye (Daniel Day-Lewis) tells Cora (Madeline Stowe) to do whatever she needs to do to stay alive. He’ll come for her.

What’s the best Hero Moment you’ve ever read in a book?

In Diana Gabaldon’s Cross Stitch when Jaime and Claire have been forced to marry. He tells her not to be afraid of him. He dinna intend to jump on her. He was so sweet.

What reading device do you use for reading ebooks on?

I read on my laptop and I have a Palm Tungsten E that I’ve had for a few years now. I take it with me everywhere.

Your favourite romantic suspense author?

I bounce around quite a bit and don’t have an absolute favourite. Lisa Marie Rice and Shannon Butcher are two that I really like.

Your favourite historical romance author?

I like Kate Pearce and Samantha Kane.

Your favourite historical era?  (extra credit for telling us why)

I like the Georgian era. It was a bit naughtier than Regency times, and I don’t think the rules and etiquette were quite as strict. Also the clothes were very cool or at least the ones I saw at the Bath Costume museum were.

Your favourite contemporary romance author(s)?

Erin McCarthy, Lisa Kleypas, Robyn Carr, Victoria Dahl, Maya Banks, Natalie Anderson, Lorelei James and Sarah Mayberry. There are probably a few I’ve missed.

If someone offered you immortality, but you could never write again…would you take the offer?

Actually, I’d take immortality. I might get a chance to read some of the books stacked on my bookshelves then!

What do you want your epitaph to read, at the end of your life?

She followed her dreams and did it her way.

What are you currently reading?

Soulless by Gail Carriger

What will you be reading next?

Undercover by Lauren Dane

The Desiree Staccato

In honour of Desiree Holt who started this Saturday Night Live style tradition:

Favourite colour? Blue

Favourite drink?  A glass of good Chardonnay

Favourite writing outfit?  Shorts and a T-shirt

Favourite food(s)? Pasta, blueberry muffins, chocolate anything.

Favourite music? Country – they sucked me in last year during our trip to the US. Country was the only music we could get on our car radio and now I like it. I think it’s the storytelling within the songs that appeals to me.

Favourite sport? Rugby

Favourite body part? Eyes.

Favourite spot in the world? Watching the sunset in the Kalahari Desert or visiting the Taj Mahal in India at sunrise. It’s difficult to choose.

Favourite movie? Love Actually

Favourite TV show? The Mentalist

Favourite flower? Daffodil

Favourite thing to do at knock-off time?  To kick back with a cup of coffee or glass of wine/margarita

Tell us about your book.

Soldier of Fortune is an erotic contemporary romance featuring a spin-off character from my earlier book Summer in the City of Sails. Joanna “Mac” McGregor desperately needs money and the only way to earn big money is to take up a contract in the private sector in Iraq. It’s a dangerous job, but if she can stay safe she’ll be able to keep her father in a private home. In Iraq she meets up with Louie, the man she’d had a holiday fling with in Fiji.

Here’s the blurb:

Joanna “Mac” McGregor loves her father, and she’ll do anything to keep him safe after Alzheimer’s starts to steal his mind. That takes money, and Mac uses her only skills—those of soldiering—when she takes up a security contract in Iraq. She doesn’t have time for men, her last vacation fling in Fiji relegated as one perfect moment to hold close during the grim reality of war.

Soldier Louie Lithgow is tired of fighting, the constant danger, and has decided this is his last contract. He wants to retire, sink his savings into a place on the beach, and find the sexy Joanna, his holiday lover.

Mac’s arrival in Iraq causes consternation. They’ve both been economical with the truth, but the attraction sizzling between them flares hot and bright. They embark on a clandestine affair—professional and confident during their high-danger day, passionate with the release of emotional stress during their torrid nights. One thing is clear—they have different goals and the future is both murky and dangerous. If they survive their contracts.

And an excerpt – (PG 13 if possible)

Louie kept coming but Mac held her ground, refusing to let him intimidate her. Finally he halted, standing close enough for the heat emanating off his muscular body to bring another rush of memories. She drew a ragged breath, shoving aside the frisson of awareness. Not gonna happen. This was work.

At almost six foot, she was tall, but he towered over her, forcing Mac to crane her neck to look him in the eye. “You told me you were a lawyer, not that we did much talking while we were in Fiji.” She caught the flare of his nostrils, the slight narrowing of his eyes and knew Louie wasn’t as unaffected as he pretended.

“You can’t stay.”

“I’ve signed a contract.”

“You’re a woman.”

“Give the man a prize.” Mac wanted to say a lot more but bit down on her tongue, figuring she’d better not cuss her new boss. The necessity to prove herself in the male-dominated occupation wore thin after a while. “I’m ex-army with ten years experience. I’ve worked in Afghanistan for six months. I’m good at my job or I wouldn’t be in Iraq.”

“It’s dangerous. People die here.” Louie’s gaze drifted across her lips, settled for an instant before he backed up and glanced away.

“That’s why I came. To help keep workers safe during the reconstruction process. I want to make a difference, and besides, this is the only way to make quick money.” And boy did she need it.

“Your presence is going to be a problem.”

Mac’s mouth dropped open. Once she realized, she slammed it shut so quickly her teeth clacked. “Oh yeah? Frightened you can’t keep your hands off?” He sure as hell hadn’t called that a problem when they were in Fiji. Mac quivered inside, her breasts prickling when she remembered how it had been—the hot, urgent hunger between them. The sweet release of tension.

“This has nothing to do with sex. It’s about how the men will feel working with a woman. It will divide their concentration.”

“Bullshit,” Mac snarled, sick of fighting the same old skirmish. She advanced on Louie, poking her finger at his chest to punctuate her words. “I’m a soldier the same as the rest. It doesn’t matter what sex I am. I’m here to do a job and that’s what I’ll do.”

They stared at each other, exchanging a wealth of information and emotions without speaking a word—determination, defiance, irritation. Desire.

“Hell.” Louie dragged a hand through his dark curls, a clear indication of his inner turmoil.

Mac remained glued to the spot, adrenaline pumping hard and fast through her body. She swallowed and mentally shook herself free of the spell she’d fallen under. Louie’s presence wouldn’t be a problem. She wouldn’t let it. “My room?” she prompted.

“We’re full. You’ll be rooming with me.”

Disbelief held her still. Oh yeah. That would be right. Fate would make her room with temptation on two legs. Not that she’d ever admit her problem to him. She arched her brows, pretending merely idle curiosity. “You?”

“Yeah.” He eased away from her and folded his arms across his broad chest, the move drawing her unwilling attention. His sensual mouth kicked up into a mocking smile. “Worried about not being able to keep your hands off?”

Mac snorted. “You wish.”

_______

To buy this book from Ellora’s Cave, click here.

Visit Shelley’s Website….Blog…Myspace…Facebook…Yahoo Group.

And don’t forget to leave a comment!  Shelley will be in to visit just before lunchtime CST, when she wakes up.

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