Today I have my spotlight on Unholy
Alliance by Kathleen Rowland who says, “Thanks a bunch for hosting me for
the Happy Holiday exchange.”
Kathleen loves the process of writing and never rushes it with
abandon. She wants her characters and
their stories to resonate and please readers. Unholy Alliance is the second book of the Donahue Cousins Series. A
third is in the works.
Unholy Alliance
A decade ago, Tori Rourke, and her cousin, Vivienne, ran from the
Irish mob after witnessing a brutal murder. Tori was framed by the mob, and
while she served time in prison, she worried that the killer, Seamus McGinn,
had kidnapped her missing cousin.
Attorney Grady D. Fletcher, defender of the wrongly condemned, appeals Tori’s
case and wins her release. Now, going by Victoria Morningstar, she runs a food
truck from a seedy waterfront neighborhood, hoping to find her cousin's
kidnapper.
When Grady agrees to defend a new client, Samuel Peterson, who’s been accused
of beating to death the wife of a noted professor, the evidence mounts. The
professor is missing, as well as his laptop that contains data dangerous to
national security.
And Seamus McGinn is back, and rumors of a massive annihilation is about to
begin. As they race to assist the FBI, the bonds between Grady and Tori are
about to be tested. It becomes clear Grady and Tori are falling fast for each
other, but what to do about it is a different story. He’s a divorced dad who
wants more time with his kid. She brings danger to his front door.
Grady has questions of his own; Is Vivienne at the center of the mob’s
operation? How much will it cost Tori before she learns the truth? All Grady
knows is the biggest danger is the one standing right behind you.
* * *
Kathleen says,
“Hey friends, I’m sending this excerpt, a thingy that takes place when Tori
invites Grady to visit her food truck, Deep Fried to Taste. Ta! Hope you like him.”
Grady double-arm waved at her.
It was as if he were a two-dimensional character in a dream. Handsome. As
upstanding as any man could be. Her legs gave way. The figure in the distance
did that, and she grabbed the counter. Dizzy and short of breath, she chastised
herself for holding on to the romantic notions she fantasized about a hundred
times a day. She stuck her head out the window. “I’m coming out.”
Grady met her on the stairs and
offered a hand. The closer he got, the harder it was to concentrate on stepping
down. His killer smile showed off two sexy dimples when he said, “It’s noon.”
“Good noon to you.” She gulped.
Readying herself for conversation, she took his hand, rose on her toes, and
sniffed. “Hmmm, what is that? Shaving lotion? Man perfume?”
He chuckled, and a weird
electric awareness went off in her chest. In slow motion, it cracked open
slowly, sent out sparkly runners to forgotten girl parts, and pulsed there.
She pulled her shoulders back
and lifted her chin. Their gazes locked. Her hair loosened from her bandana.
“Drat, I’m a chef. Hair is supposed to stay put.” She took it off, placed the
center of the bandana on the nape of her neck and tied a knot on the top of her
head.
He reached to help tuck the ends
under. “You’re so darn cute.”
“Oooo, that scent. Are you going
to tell me what it is?”
“Eau des Baux Eau.”
The warm, deep sound of his voice sent more sensations of want right through
her. Behind him, the sun stretched a bit higher and seemed to shine just on
him. “You like it?”
“I sure do. Vanilla. You smell
like a cookie.” Her heart thudded harder than it should.
“Do you like cookies?” He bent
his head for a kiss.
She kissed Mr. Good Noon with
the wavy reddish-brown hair and body made to lose sleep over. Her breath
hitched, and she took a step back from heartbreak. No reason to set sights on a
man way out of her league. The glow dimmed, and the warmth backed off. “Care to
look at my menu?” She stepped closer to the blackboard.
“Now you’re speaking my
language. I’m starving.” He raised his eyebrows and the corners of his mouth
lifted. “Pimento cheeseburger corn dog.”
“That’s my great food mash-up.”
“I can see why. It blends two
favorites, the cheeseburger, and the corn dog.
* * *
Get Unholy
Alliance:
Meet the author, Kathleen Rowland, and her dark and
dangerous world of romantic suspense.
Award-winning author Kathleen Rowland is devoted to giving her
readers fast-paced, high-stakes suspense with a sizzling love story sure to
melt their hearts. Writing a romantic
suspense series for Tirgearr Publishing, Deadly
Alliance is followed by Unholy
Alliance. Bittersweet Alliance in the works. Keep an icy drink handy while
reading these sizzling romantic thrillers.
Kathleen used to write computer programs but now writes
novels. She grew up in Iowa where she
caught lightning bugs, ran barefoot, and raced her sailboat on Lake
Okoboji. Now she wears flip-flops and
sails with her husband, Gerry, on Newport Harbor but wishes there were
lightning bugs in California.
Kathleen exists happily with her witty CPA husband, Gerry, in
their 70’s poolside retreat in Southern California where she adores time spent
with visiting grandchildren, dogs, one bunny, and noisy neighbors. While proud of their five children who’ve
flown the coop, she appreciates the luxury of time to write. If you’d enjoy secrets behind books, signup for Kathleen’s newsletter on her website:
