Alison Kent's Blah Blog

Not yet convinced to buy DEEP BREATH? That’s why I’m here to help you out with a list of Ten Reasons to Buy Multiple Copies of DEEP BREATH for yourself and friends:

• 1. The cover and copy. Two reasons, actually, but how can any romance reader resist either.Out on the open road with a price on their heads, two unlikely lovers are caught in a game of secrets, lies, betrayals, and desire, where trust is risky and love is no time to catch your breath… Irresistible, if I do say so myself.




Go Ahead

When a guy stops at a roadside diner, he expects bad chili, not a hostage situation. But that’s where SG-5 operative Harry van Zandt finds himself when an armed cartel blows through the door. They’re not after him but the woman in the next booth, and their message is clear: she’s got seventy-two hours to locate and deliver a valuable historical document or her brother dies. And if Harry wants to live, he’d better go with her.

Make His Day

Not that he minds helping Georgia McLain. The tough treasure hunter is as smart as she is sexy. But she needs Harry if she’s going to double-cross these thugs and clear her father’s name. Too bad the document is also of vital importance to Harry’s top-secret mission. Now, the beautiful, infuriating woman he’s starting to fall for could lead him right to what he needs—and what she so desperately wants.

• 2. Harry van Zandt
  

  “I also need a hamburger,” Finn said, checking his mirrors and his blind spot before passing the slow-moving vehicle in front of them. He let out a long low whistle. “Now that’s what I call a car.”

  Georgia looked down from her window at the boat-sized convertible, noticing little about the car because her attention was all for the driver sitting back and soaking up the sun. His hair was dark and cut short in a near military buzz. He had just enough of a shadow on his face to bring to mind a bad boy or two that she’d known.

  She liked the way this one sprawled all over the big bench seat like he owned the world and the car was his throne. His legs were long, his arms, too. His hands big with long fingers, and beautifully shaped. She couldn’t tell a thing about his eyes behind his shades, but his mouth was wide, his lips caught in the hint of a smile.

  And then he was gone, Finn returning to the right lane, rendering the car behind them nothing more than an blue-green speck in the mirror on her side.

  She dropped her head back and closed her eyes. “Now that’s what I call a reason for taking a ride.”

• 3. This is my first wide release mass market paperback, meaning . . . an instant collectible. *g* Plus, it’s the PERFECT size to slip into a Christmas stocking!
• 4. Simon Baptiste

The door pushed open from the inside. The cab was dark, but when a hand came down to help her up, Georgia took it. Harry boosted her from the backside and followed her into the cramped space. Or so it seemed cramped until the other man inside slid back a panel to reveal what in any other rig would have been a sleeping compartment.

She swore she had just stepped onto the stage of a movie set. An outpost in space. Or a high-tech military headquarters. A scaled down operations center she supposed. The sort of environment Harry was used to working in. It was nothing like she had ever seen.

The door closed behind her. She glanced back at Harry and as she did, realized the cab’s windows were blacked out. Even with the red and green and blue lights burning in tiny pinpoints and larger rings, no one outside would be able to see in. Clever. Ingenious. She was definitely impressed.

“Simon Baptiste. Meet Georgia McLain,” Harry said, wedging past her into the sleeper-cum-instrument console room. She backed up to sit in the driver side captain’s chair and swiveled it around.

The man Harry had introduced her to was big and gorgeous in that way of quarterbacks. Muscled, but not bound. Rangy and long. Before he turned, she saw that his hair was pulled back with a matching black rubber band. The thick tail hit his shoulder blades.

And then he smiled. A wide welcoming smile full of deep set dimples and white teeth. Georgia responded in kind. “It’s nice to meet you. I would say I’ve been looking forward to meeting you since hearing so much from Harry, except he hasn’t said a thing.”

“Nice to know the boy has a proper respect for the rules,” Simon said, a hint of a Cajun accent in his voice, his bright green eyes cutting up to Harry. “I gotta say it’s good to see you, boo. As much as I dig on Willow and on Oz being a werewolf, I miss the human conversation.”

Harry turned to Georgia. “He’s on a forty-eight hour Buffy marathon. You’ll have to excuse him.”

“There is no excuse for me,” Simon said, and laughed. “Or so everyone’s been telling me since the day my momma shoved me into the world and slapped me for taking so long.”

• 5. The three day ticking clock plot. Who can resist not knowing what will happen if time runs out? Will they live? Will they die? What WILL they do?
• 6. The book contains one of my BEST secondary storylines ever, the one between Finn McLain and Tracy Dunn while they’re held hostage in Waco Phil’s.
  

  “Morning, folks. I’m Tracy,” she said, having glanced at the clock over the door on her way by. Eleven-forty-five. “Are you here for breakfast, lunch, or supper? Eggs are good all day long, and if you want tonight’s pork chop special now, I’ll sweet talk Phil into whipping it up for you.”

  The man, really cute, hair falling over his collar and forehead and into his bright blue eyes, didn’t even bother with the menu. “Hi, Tracy,” he said, and grinned. “I’ll have a bacon cheeseburger basket, extra fries, and the biggest Coke you can bring me.”

  She didn’t need to jot down the order to remember it. She just smiled right back and took the unused menu from his hand. “Sounds like someone skipped breakfast this morning.”

  He chuckled. “Someone got called away from last night’s dinner and is short on both food and sleep.”

  The woman with him snorted and rolled her eyes. “I’ll have the same.”

  “Good deal,” Tracy said, tapping the two menus against the edge of the table, and wondering how this couple fit. “I’ll bring y’all’s Cokes right now. You go on and take a nap until I get back.”

  The man slouched down in the booth, the vinyl squeaking beneath him, and laughed as she walked away. She found herself sucking in her stomach and using the menus to fan her face. Whoo-boy. Men weren’t supposed to be that beautiful.

  If she wasn’t married . . .

• 7. This book is pure Alias, or Enemy of the State, with satellites and over the top bad guys and unbelievable gadgets and gear (yeah, a bit dated three years later, but very cool at the time). Who doesn’t love a man who’s well equipped?
• 8. Finn McLain

Sitting sideways in the cramped little cage of his booth, he reared back and heaved himself forward, hooking his knees over the seat and pushing to his feet before his captors figured out that he wasn’t just squirreling around to get more comfortable.

The light-haired goon was the closest. “If you gotta piss again, do it in your pants. I’m not taking you for another potty break.”

Finn ignored the thug and kept walking, ducking behind the counter and nudging Tracy. “Sorry to wake you, but do you have a box of cereal somewhere? I’ll eat it dry. I don’t need a bowl or a spoon.”

“Hey.” The thug prodded Finn’s shoulder with the gun barrel. “Get over there and sit down.”

“Or what?” Finn asked, turning around slowly. “You’ll shoot me?”

“I’ll make you wish I had.”

“Fine. Do what you will. But let me eat first. Hell, you’ve got to be hungry.” The thug made no comment, so Finn pressed on. “No need to fire up the grill or anything. It’s just a freakin’ box of cereal, man.”

The thug glanced over to where Castro still sat in the booth nearest the door. He hadn’t moved since Georgia had left with the hothead. Even in the dark, Finn could make out the boss man’s nod.

“Groovy. Thanks.” He turned to Tracy. “Cheerios? Wheaties? Froot Loops? I’m not proud.”

• 9. It’s an SG-5 novel. ‘Nuff said. (Check out Harry in the vid on that page!)
• 10. Ezra Moore

At the sound of footsteps, Cameron turned, his pulse picking up at the sight of Warren Aceveda crossing the flagstone surface, impeccably dressed as always. His man walked behind him, dressed in camouflage gear, his long dreadlocks tied back with a bandanna. But the fact that he held a file in his hand and that was all that mattered.

Cameron stepped away from the railing and returned to the table set up with pitchers of ice and fresh lemonade. A bottle of rum and another of tequila sat nearby. “Warren, I hope you’ve come to make my day.”

“I have indeed.” Warren shook Cameron’s hand before moving beneath the large umbrella out of the midday sun to pour himself a drink. “Though I suppose I should let Ezra do the honors.”

Cameron hesitated briefly then extended his hand toward the black man whose reputation for ruthlessness surpassed Cameron’s own. “Mr. Moore. Good to see you again.”

“As it is to see you, sir.” Ezra Moore shook Cameron’s hand, then handed him the file he carried. “Rest assured, I bring you what you need. You have no need to worry about the future of Spectra IT.”

That’s it! What’re you waiting for? The book page has links to several online stores (the links a script courtesy of Courtney Milan). I’m helpful that way! *g*