PLAYING WITH FIRE- Publisher: HQN Books
Subject: Fiction : Romance - Paranormal
Publication Date: October 2009
Earth, Wind & Fire aren't just a band anymore . . .
Twenty-four-year-old barista Belle Jamison dreams of a better job and a decent love life. Until a crazy scientist spikes her mocha latte! Suddenly Belle can wield the four elements - earth, wind, fire and water - with only a thought. Coffee too hot? No problem. Hair in need of a blow-dry? Done.Gorgeous government agent Rome Masters has been sent to neutralize Belle. But he's not the only one after her. Together they must outrun the rogue agents on their trail and find a way to control her powers. There's just one problem: the sparks Belle and Rome generate are even hotter than the ones flying from her eyes-and with her future on the line, now is the worst possible time to fall in love...
- My thoughts:
I have never been a big fan of first person POV. However, Gena writes such an engaging tale that you forget the POV and laugh over Belle's antics and drool over Rome. Yah, I'd like to make that Cat purr.
This is a fun pararomantic romp that had me laughing in more than one place. I really like Belle, she's a hoot. It's not all fun and
games, though, there are major bad guys, murder, kidnapping attempts, unexpected fire, rain, and wind popping up everywhere, a guy who can become electricity and travel through electrical lines, a fun empath sidekick whose young male bravado is endearing. The whole story evolves around an ordinary girl--well sorta--and her unexpectedly being given powers she had no idea existed much less knows how to deal with. Moral: never leave your Mocha Latte unattended.
I really enjoyed this story and it's almost comic book overtones, loved the wit and humor. I haven't read the next one but as soon as I can get my hands on it, I will.
- And speaking of the next in the series...
TWICE AS HOTPublisher: HQN Books
Subject: Fiction : Romance - Paranormal
Publication Date: February 2010
Belle Jamison is finally starting to feel like a normal girl again. Her job as a paranormal investigator is going well, she's learned to control her supernatural abilities (mostly) and she's just gotten engaged to Rome Masters, the ultra-sexy operative who once tried to neutralize her!
But planning a wedding is never easy, especially when the bride keeps accidentally torching her dress, the groom returns from a dangerous mission with selective memory loss and the man responsible now wants Belle for himself. With Rome's ex determined to win him back and a new band of supervillains on the horizon, it will take all Belle's powers—plus a little help from her trusty empath sidekick—to save the day, salvage the wedding and prove that true love really does conquer all.
- There’s an excerpt up at the Amazon page. http://www.amazon.com/Twice-Hot-Hqn-Gena-Showalter/dp/0373774370/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1266331708&sr=8-4
I had the chance to chat a bit with Gena about this series.
- Tell me a bit about Belle. I cracked up when I read her resume and the interview she had and she's definitely a bit of a scatterbrain.
Tragically, Belle’s crazy apple didn’t fall too far from her creator’s tree. The resume is true to – God, I can’t believe I’m admitting this -- my life. Well, my old life. For years, I couldn’t hold down a job, was often fired or quit within just a few weeks, and never finished anything I started. Writing changed that for me, and I developed terrible OCD (now I can’t start anything without obsessing until I finish) But the scatterbrain part . . . I hang my head in shame. Classic “what did I do with that?” Gena. The hair trigger emotions . . . shame . . . spiraling . . .
- You create an organization to handle those who are enhanced, like Belle, what's the deal with them?
I wanted a place where enhanced humans (and even non-humans) could congregate, study, train, learn to fight/use their powers, and learn to hunt those abusing their powers. Yet I also wanted PSI (Paranormal Studies and Investigations) to be a place that was grounded in some kind of reality -- like the FBI – so that readers could relate.
- What do you like about your hero? What makes him sexy?
Rome Masters . . . dreamy sigh. I love me an alpha hero. And he’s definitely alpha. Strong, assertive, brave, willing to die for his family. Horribly, if necessary. He’s protective, not afraid to laugh, stubborn, sarcastic, and when he loves, he loves with his whole heart. There’s no other woman for him. Belle’s his one and only. Now, always. Nothing could tempt him away from her.
- What was your favorite scene in Playing With Fire?
When Tanner shoots a bad guy with his eyes closed, and Belle tasers Rome. I had so much fun writing that scene. I chuckled the whole time.
*snork, oh that was funny.
- What's coming from the pen of Gene Showalter in 2010?
In May, I have Into the Dark, featuring three short stories (two of which are written in the Lords of the Underworld world, and one in the Atlantis world) as well as a bonus Lords of the Underworld guide.
In June, I have The Darkest Passion, featuring Aeron, keeper of the demon of Wrath. His heroine is the angel sent to kill him. In July, I have The Darkest Lie, featuring Gideon, keeper of the demon of Lies. His heroine is a woman possessed by the demon of Nightmares. She claims to be his wife, but he can’t remember wedding – or bedding – her. Also in July is The Bodyguard, an anthology with the incredible Cherry Adair and Lorie O’Clare (my story features a man who can control shadows).
In August is the reissue of Intertwined. And in September is the sequel, Unraveled.
Oh, and I can’t forget my next alien huntress tale, Ecstasy in Darkness, featuring a vampire hero who can manipulate time and the agent in training who’s supposed to lock him up. That book will hit stores sometime in late 2010.
- Good Grief! When you say obsessive about writing you aren't kidding.
- I will tell you I'm a fan of yours and I've read several books in different series. You are one of the few authors I will pick up on name alone because of the quality of your writing. Your books are always a good read. Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions.
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You can visit with Gena on her website. She loves to hear from her readers.
