by Sarita Leone
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GENRE: Paranormal Romantic Suspense
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BLURB:
The Octopus isn’t an urban myth—and its agents are anything but ordinary. The intelligence bureau is so well-hidden most doubt its existence. A handful know its location. And fewer walk the halls in the subterranean compound.
Benjamin Sinclair didn’t ask to be a scientific miracle but every mission has its risks and one perfectly-placed bullet ended his life—for a brief moment in time.
Nicole Anima battles demons every day. Life as a paranormal resources operative gives her tortured mind a rest—and keeps her from contemplating her own death.
When Anima and Sinclair partner on a globe-trotting race to eliminate the threat about to cripple humanity, all hell breaks loose. Leaping from planes, crashing into continents, dealing with voodoo priestesses, and running through jungles with zombies hot on their trail doesn’t leave much time for romance, but this duo somehow manages to sizzle.
Two agents. Telepathic mind paired with regenerated commando. One world—and a mission to save it.
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EXCERPT ONE:
Even perspiration couldn’t keep the hair on the nape of her neck from bristling at the sound of Sinclair’s deep voice. Rising to his bait wouldn’t get her anywhere. Neither would angering him, but on that score she didn’t care.
“I won’t do it.” She forced her parched throat to swallow. Straightening, she fisted a hand on her left hip and spread her legs. The shooting pose came naturally. “I refuse. I don’t work for you—and I won’t work with you. Never again.”
“Never doesn’t scare me.”
“Why would it? The never concept only works for humans.”
Her blood pressure felt higher than it had when she’d been running full out.
“Now, don’t get yourself all worked up. It won’t do you any good, and somewhere deep inside that gorgeous body of yours, you know it.” He paused, then chuckled again. “I can help with that, you know.”
The sudden turn in their conversation brought her guard down.
“Help with what?”
“Satisfaction. I can satisfy you…if you’ll let me. Jagger makes a good song but he sure can’t give you what you want.”
Facts ran in her head like a movie on high speed, reminding her of crucial bits of information about the man on the other end of the phone. Practical ones like how he took his coffee. Black, no sugar. Emotional facts, regarding his family. He didn’t have any. All killed in a horrific airplane crash in the Ecuadorean jungle. Logical details about his illogical existence.
So many things, yet she’d forgotten one of the most basic. His scientifically enhanced mind. Three minutes, and already he’d snared her in his web.
Sarita Leone is an award-winning author who has written romance in many forms including Regency, paranormal, and contemporary. She loves happily-ever-afters in any setting!
When she’s not writing, Ms. Leone spends her time hiking, learning languages, and traveling. She loves adventure and can pack a suitcase, grab her passport, and hit the road in less time than it takes to peel an apple!
https://www.facebook.com/sarita.leone
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REGENERATE—Book Tour Interview
The Pen and Muse
A bit about myself? Well, I live in a rural section of New York where there’s loads of interesting wildlife, beautiful sunsets, and peaceful days—but not a whole lot of people. I’m originally from a spot closer to New York City so I often miss the excitement and activity of a city but honestly, small-town living provides an excellent work environment so I can’t complain. Besides, I can hike in the summer and snowshoe in the winter—what’s not to love? Between books, I love to travel so I can pack a suitcase faster than most people can peel an apple. Work, travel, repeat…that pretty much sums it up!
My latest book, REGENERATE, takes my writing career in a new direction. In the past I’ve written Regency and contemporary romances. I’ve even written a few mysteries. I’ve always love paranormal romances but never wrote one—before now. I’ve got to admit, I love writing this genre!
REGENERATE is an action-packed paranormal romantic thriller. Anima and Sinclair—who make the pages sizzle!—are agents for an uber-secret intelligence agency called The Octopus. When global economies begin to topple, they’re called in to eliminate the threat and restore world order. Throw in a zombie army, prickly past relationship issues between these agents, and an assassination plot that could wipe out a few world leaders, and you’ve got more than an ordinary mess on your hands. Oh—and Anima is a psychic who struggles with not losing the brilliant mind that’s constantly invaded by the world’s thoughts and Sinclair…well, he’s technically a dead man walking. That’s right, he’s been regenerated using the best science has to offer and is now immortal.
Creating these two characters, Nicole Anima and Benjamin Sinclair, took a great deal of consideration. They needed to be strong, badass, save-the-world types but they also had to possess flaws and vulnerabilities. I had to find each one’s soft spot—and decide when to test that point. Each has had a difficult past; I believe a person’s past helps shape who they are as well as who they’re becoming, so Anima’s brush with madness and Sinclair’s loss impact their story. They’re not perfect—and I love them for that. I hope readers will, too.
People ask what inspires me but the truth is, I grab inspiration from everywhere. An overheard conversation in an airport, the purple streaks in the evening sky, or a scientific advancement that makes the nightly news intrigue me. Old, forgotten structures, isolated villages in distant countries, and feathers that appear on a dusty doorstep all do it for me. It doesn’t take much to set the imagination free. It’s always been that way. I just love telling stories, entertaining people, and finding magic in the mundane.
I am fortunate to be able to write anywhere, anytime, and under even the craziest conditions. Once I open a file and put my head back into whatever plot I’m working on, the rest of the world falls away. Sometimes that’s a good thing but often it means I run for planes in airports, don’t notice when it gets dark until bats swoop past me in the park, or only realize I’m hungry when my tummy rumbles like a freight train! Of course, I definitely feel most at ease writing in my office, with a cup of chai on my desk and music playing in the background. Life, however, can throw curveballs so I’ve learned to be adaptable.
Most writers are avid readers and I’m no exception. I usually have two or three books going at any time, usually different genres because my reading tastes are eclectic. Currently I’m reading a mystery set in Reykjavik written by Icelandic author Arnaldur Indridason. It’s part of a series, and I’m totally in love with the detective—not because he’s a hottie but because his mind is so intricate. Additionally, I’m reading a book about yoga practice as well as an early Kristan Higgins romance. See? My reading is all over the place! If asked who my favorite author is, though, it only takes a second from question to answer. I’m a Stephen King fan from way back and he’s still the one author whose books I can’t put down. The man tells a great story and has the ability to scare the heck out of me—and I’m not easily frightened so that says it all!
When aspiring authors ask for advice I tell them a few things. First, read. Read what you love, read what you don’t know anything about, read for pleasure and purpose. Then, decide if you’ve got the dedication to put yourself on the page, the way those you’ve just read have done. It’s not all wine and roses, this business. It demands long hours, hard work, and a willingness to allow others to see inside your heart and soul. If someone has that passion for writing, isn’t afraid to write a bit of themselves onto the page, and is open to finding joy even during deadline week, maybe the book inside them that’s screaming to come out really should be given that chance. In that case, all I can say is write—and enjoy the wild ride!
Thank you so much for chatting with me about writing, life, and this new book of mine, REGENERATE. I’ve had a great time!
GIVEAWAY INFORMATION
Sarita will be awarding $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
12 comments
Congrats on the tour and thanks for the chance to win 🙂
The excerpt look great.
Thank you for the excerpt.
What books are you looking forward to reading in 2017? Thanks for the giveaway. I hope that I win.
Love the interesting book
Thanks for hosting the giveaway. It looks like an interesting read. I hope that I win.
Love this book
Thanks for the great post 🙂
I am really enjoying following this tour, thank you for all the great blog posts and excerpts!
Congrats on the new book and good luck on the book tour!
I really enjoyed reading the excerpt. Looking forward to checking this book out!
Shared on G+ to help spread the word, have a great day! 🙂