Book Review: Hot Water by Maggie Toussaint #bookreview

Book Review for: Hot Water

Written by: Maggie Toussaint

Wild Rose Press

ISBN: 978-1-61217-830-1

Avail in print and as an ebook

5 Stars – A page turner!

Toussaint pens an edge-of-your-seat romantic suspense with "Hot Water," book two in the Mossy Bog series. This book can be read as a stand alone.

Laurie Ann Dinterman is a hard working cop in Mossy Bog, but there's a serial arsonist lurking about. Can Laurie Ann catch him or will her budding relationship with arson investigator Wyatt North get in the way?

The novel opens with Laurie Ann poking around the burnt ruins of the Pirate's Cover restaurant. There she meets Wyatt North, an arson investigator tracking the arsonist. Laurie Ann and Wyatt are teamed up to find the criminal, but soon sparks flare up between them. When Wyatt targets Laurie Ann's cousin, Lester, as a suspect, will his declaration dampen the investigation and their growing relationship? How far will the arsonist go until he kills again?

Toussaint's penned a gem of a thriller. Taunt and face-paced, her writing is easy to read. She uses a good economy of words to paint a vivid picture of the setting.

Toussaint's characters shine. Laurie Ann is a cop with a big heart and a perfect fit in Mossy Bog. Wyatt is determined, possessing a quiet inner strength that is to be admired.

"Hot Water" is a romantic suspense with several mainstream love scenes. As Laurie Ann and Wyatt close in on the arsonist, I didn't want to put the story down. "Hot Water" intrigues, excites, and keeps the reader riveted to the page. I highly recommend this book, especially if you enjoy romantic suspense.

Question for you: What is your favorite suspense show on TV right now? 

Guest Author Series -Q&A with Author Sarah Grimm

I'd like to welcome author Sarah Grimm to the blog today. Sarah is the author of "Not Without Risk," a romantic suspense set in San Diego. I just recently read her book and LOVED it!
Smiles
Steph

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STEPH: Sarah, thank you for visiting Romance Under the Moonlight. Can you tell us a little about yourself?

SARAH: Thanks for having me here today, Steph. Let’s see, I live in West Michigan with my husband, two teenaged sons, three miniature schnauzers, and a guinea pig named Lilly. Recently I went from being a stay-at-home mom who kept the books for my husband’s business, to working full time as an Office Manager/Bookkeeper.


STEPH: How long have you been writing?

SARAH I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. I have notebooks filled with poems, story ideas, and partial chapters from as far back as age five. Yes, thanks to my older sister, I could read and write by age five. And I did. I read everything I could get my hands on, usually re-writing the story in my head as I went.

STEPH: What attracts you to romance writing?

SARAH: I’m a romantic—a die hard romantic. I believe in love, not just as a fundamental part of human relationships, but as a force that really can heal emotional scars. I truly believe there is someone for everyone—the person they are meant to find.
Their other half. Their soul mate. So it makes sense that I chose to write about two people finding each other, falling in love, foiling the villain and living happily-ever-after.


STEPH: What genres of romance do you prefer to write?

SARAH: I write romantic suspense—stories where the romance and the suspense play an equal part—and also contemporary romance, with a bit of suspense woven in. I’ve tried to write without any danger or suspense, but can’t seem to do it. No matter my plans when I begin a story, before I know it, one of my characters is facing an enemy that wants them dead.

STEPH: Where do you find the inspiration for your stories?

SARAH: From everyday life: The stories I read, the music I listen to. Even conversations I overhear while grocery shopping or sitting at the DMV.


STEPH: Not Without Risk is a Nominee for Book of the Year with LASR! Congrats. Can you tell us a little about it?


SARAH: Thanks. Not Without Risk was the first time I saw down and wrote a book from the beginning to the end, so it will always have a special place in my heart. As you can imagine, I’m absolutely thrilled by the great reviews it’s received, even more so when I learned of the nomination from LASR. I didn’t win, but came in third behind Toni Blake and Jill Shalvis respectively. Pretty good for a debut author, I thought.

Not Without Risk is a romantic suspense with a wounded hero—the story of Sergeant Justin Harrison, who returns to his job as a San Diego homicide detective after six months of medical leave. Determined to prove he’s fit for active duty, he doesn’t need the self-doubt that plagues him, or his growing feelings for the leggy brunette who is at the center of his homicide investigation.


STEPH: How long did it take to write Not Without Risk?

SARAH: I have at least four different, completed versions of the book, a couple from when I called it by a completely different name. I wrote it, set it aside, went back and rewrote it from the beginning, then set it aside…well, you get the idea. I have no idea how long it took before I was satisfied with it. A long time. ☺


STEPH: How important was setting? Have you been to San Diego?

SARAH: The setting isn’t really important beyond the fact that it’s so far away from Boston, where Paige grew up. Any city in California would have worked. I chose San Diego because of its beauty and history. Have I been there? Unfortunately, no, but the next time I’m in LA visiting my brother, I plan to go.


STEPH: Did you do a lot of research for Not Without Risk?

SARAH: I didn’t do any research for Not Without Risk specifically. It was all things I’ve learned over the years of reading both fiction and non-fiction. Wait, I guess I did quiz a security system installer to make certain what I wanted to do with Paige’s system was feasible.


STEPH: Cast the movie! Who plays the leads Justin &Paige?

SARAH: Paige is easy, from the first draft of the story, I've always pictured Angie Harmon as Paige. I changed her hair and eye color, but the height, build and smile...all Paige.

Justin, hmm…that’s a tough one. I guess I’d have to pick Joe Manganiello.


STEPH: Do you own an ebook reader? If so, which one?

SARAH: I have a first generation Amazon Kindle that I love. Until a few weeks ago I had no plans to upgrade to a newer e-reader, then I saw a special on e-readers and discovered that Barnes and Noble has plans to add Apps to their Nook color. I want one!


STEPH: Do you have an advice for aspiring authors?

SARAH: Don’t let anything keep you from achieving your dream. Anything is possible when you want it badly enough.


STEPH: For fun: Monet, Picasso, or Renoir?


BUY LINK:
KINDLE LINK FOR NOT WITHOUT RISK: http://www.amazon.com/Not-Without-Risk-ebook/dp/B00365FI5I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1302012249&sr=1-1
SARAH: Monet.


Sarah's Next Book:

Tuesday - What I'm reading: Not Without Risk by Sarah Grimm

I thought I'd share my recent book review for "Not Without Risk," by Sarah Grimm. I LOVED this book. It had everything - romance, heat, sexual tension, a compelling plot, and a twist you wouldn't expect. Tomorrow, Sarah will be with us for a guest interview.

Enjoy!
Steph

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Book Review for: Not Without Risk
Written by: Sarah Grimm
Wild Rose Press
ISBN: 978-1-601-54-634-0
244 pages
5 Stars

Reviewed by: S. Burkhart


Grimm crafts an edge-of-your seat romantic suspense with "Not Without Risk." Photographer Paige Conroy finds an old friend, Leroy St. John, dead in a hotel room. Unknown to her, she's opened up a can of worms. Can Detective Justin Harrison keep her safe?

Set in present day San Diego, CA, Grimm puts the reader right into the action when detective Justin Harrison and his partner are called out to the scene of a murder. As he investigates, he learns the victim, St. John, is a cop from back East. A local photographer, Paige Conroy, found the body. When Justin meets Paige, the sparks fly.

Justin and Paige acknowledge their physical attraction, but each have emotional hang-ups. The danger increases when Paige is sent an email with pictures of her apartment – taken at night when she was sleeping. Spooked, Paige goes to the police – and Justin.

Justin is determined to put the clues together, but remains stymied. When Paige's classic car is blown up, Justin throws professional caution to the wind and insists Paige stay with him for her safety. Justin's partner, Allan, is concerned Justin is blurring the lines between his job and his heart.

Paige holds the key to cracking the case, but can Justin solve it before he loses his heart – and his objectivity?

Grimm's writing is sharp. The plot is tight with several twists and turns that will keep the reader on their toes.

Grimm engages the reader immediately, placing them in the scene with Justin. The dialogue is crisp. The descriptions are spot on, never lingering, and there's the perfect blend to set the scenes.

Both Justin and Paige are compelling characters. Paige has been hurt before. She was once engaged to a police officer who put the job before her. Her fiancé died performing his job, and Paige is reluctant to commit to Justin emotionally. She's uncertain if Justin is worth the risk.

Justin is deeply committed to his job. Unfortunately, he received a bullet wound while off duty and the effects of the injury are still lingering. Justin's never really let a woman into his life. The danger Paige faces easily brings out all his protective instincts, yet letting Paige into his heart is not without risk.

The novel is sophisticated for romance readers. Grimm's love scenes are sensual, full of heat, and capture the intense connection between Paige and Justin.

"Not Without Risk" is a heart pounding suspense that does not disappoint.

Genre Tuesday - A Look at Romantic Suspense

A look at Romantic Suspense

Romantic suspense is a very popular sub-genre of romance. It is also used to transition from romance to more mainstream genres. In order to have a good, solid, romantic suspense, the story must blend suspense and romance in equal proportions and do two things in equal proportions – 1) solve the mystery/suspense 2) have the hero/heroine fall in love.

The Nature of Suspense
What does suspense bring to the table, you ask? It gives the story instant attention. Something dire has happened. Solving the dilemma is a must for our hero/heroine. Keep in mind with suspense that the hero/heroine finds out early on in the story who the villain is. Just how much damage will the villain do before he/she is stopped is the heart of the suspense. Suspense is different from mystery in that in a mystery the hero/heroine take the entire story to find out "whodunit." In suspense, it’s a matter of stopping the villain. Remember to use the setting to help create an element of suspense. Weather, also, can heighten suspense.

The Villain
The villain isn't just plain nuts anymore. Readers are more savvy these days and can appreciate a complex villain. Don't be afraid to show the villain's motivation, which can include: ambition, blackmail, thrill, fear, jealousy and even self-defense. A good villain heightens the suspense.

The Nature of Romance
The nature of romantic suspense really necessitates a short time line. You don't have weeks or months to allow feelings to grow – you have days if that, so the chemistry between the hero/heroine needs to be immediate. Don't forget your internal conflict and those niggly little issues in the back of the hero/heroine's mind that makes them hesitant to jump into romance. Just remember you won't have a lot of time for long narratives or character introspection. Phobias work well, too. Think of what scares your hero/heroine and put them in that situation.

The End
Your end has to accomplish two things –the villain is brought to justice and the hero/heroine commit to working things out. Remember a "high" commitment of marriage might seem out of place since the story takes place in a short period of time, but knowing the couple is on the right track will work for the reader.

Writing Genres - An Overview of Romance

The romance genre continues to be one of the most popular fiction genres to date. Romances of all sub-genres have two aspects of plot that are consistent throughout. First, the love story is the center point of the story, and second, the ending is emotionally satisfying. The genre was given life in 1740 with Pamela or Virtue Rewarded, by Samuel Richardson who wrote about a courtship from the woman's perspective. Jane Austen helped to further the genre with Pride and Prejudice, a book that made her a "master" of romance.

Romance continued to be popular into the 20th Century and shows no sign of slowing down in the 21st. Popular sub-genres of romance include historical, paranormal, contemporary, erotica, regency, category, and romantic suspense.

Historical
Georgette Heyer was the first to explore this sub-genre in 1921 with a romance set in the Regency period. (See Regency a little further down.) Historical romance explores romance that are set in the past. History is used in varying degrees - from setting to becoming an intrigual part of the plot. When writing historical romance, its important to do a lot of research to remain authentic and true to the romance.

Contemporary
A contemporary romance takes place in a modern day setting. Currently, its the most written about sub-genre. This also includes the recent popular trend known as "chick-lit." Contemporary isn't afraid to tackle modern issues such as a woman balancing a career and love. Keep in mind endings must be emotionally satisfying. If a contemporary novel or story ends with a principal dying or a sad ending, then its published as women's fiction, not romance.

Regency
A Regency romance takes place during a set historical time frame. It is usually in England between 1811-1820 when Prince George (the future George IV) ruled as regent during his father's (George III) illness. An interesting note: Jane Austen wrote regency romance, but remember - to her it was contemporary romance. She was writing during these years. Regencies focus on society and dialogue over action and sex to capture the essence of the time period.

Paranormal
Paranormal is a sub-genre that is trending well right now. The biggest aspect of this sub-genre is that the romance takes place in a fantasy type world. This included werewolves, vampires, and more fantasy type beings such as pixies and nymphs. The focus here is romance first, fantasy second.

Category
These are serial romances, mainly released by Harlequin and Silhouette. They tend to be much shorter than most romances. An interesting note: Nora Roberts cut her teeth writing in his sub-genre.

Romantic Suspense
This is known as the cousin to Gothic Romance. (I discussed Gothic Romance in my January Newsletter.) The sub-genre currently trend toward stories involving drug dealers, smugglers and such. Windswept Moors and spooky houses are yesterday's trends. Romantic suspense is seen as a good bridge from the romantic genre to the mainstream, best selling market.

Other sub-genres include time travel, gothic, and erotica. Whatever sub-genre you choose to explore, just remember research gives your story the authenticity the tale craves.