Debut Author KaLyn Cooper

Monette March 3, 2014

I’d like to welcome my friend and brand new author (her first book releases today!) KaLyn Cooper to my blog.

KaLyn and I met at a Lori Foster Reader and Author Get-Together over two years ago and I sort of mentored her on this book. She put up with my copious notes and edits and the result along with a lot of hard work on her part is Explosive Combination, on sale now at Liquid Silver Books and other on-line retail outlets.

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I’m set to blog for the next few weeks like a teenager who lost her virginity and just had to tell all her besties about it. An apt analogy since my first romance novel released today, Explosive Combination, and you’re the first BFF I’m blogging.

In arranging for blogs, many have a set of questions. Most are the general five W’s (who, what, when, where and why) but Rosanna Leo really made me think. My favorite was: “What led you to tell this particular story?” Since my brain makes weird connections sometimes, I thought I’d share the birth scenario with you.

Like all my stories, Explosive Combination, is based in unusual facts. I was researching explosives for a different book and learned the following:

True fact: Scientists at the University of Michigan discovered that co-crystallization of two common explosives creates the most lethal, non-nuclear bomb on the planet, casually called Chaz. I repeat, the most lethal, non-nuclear bomb on the planet! OMG! (And Chaz? Really? Couldn’t they name it something more Alpha, worthy of its deadly capabilities?)

True fact: In September 2012 Popular Mechanics magazine published the formula, which is similar to a process used in pharmaceuticals. (Can you believe they actually did that? The link to the article is on my website. Maybe they think bad guys can’t read English.)

True fact: In 2003 the ATF was moved to the Department of Justice and became the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with the capability to create an International Response Team.

My brain put pharmaceutical methodology, i.e. drugs, together with Colombia and the ATF’s international reach and Explosive Combination was born. Add to that the fact that I was supposed to go to Colombia once upon a time, but the FBI said no because it would cause Macho Marine (hubby) a big problem. For that full story, check out the Love Lust and Laptops blog I did yesterday.

Blurb:

Separately, Harper Tambini and Rafe Silva are lethal…together, they’re explosive.

ATF Special Agent Harper Tambini is kidnapped by a Colombian drug lord and forced to use her explosives knowledge to kill his competition before she can escape with the help of undercover CIA agent Rafe Silva. As they make their way through the rivers, mountains and jungles, their desire for each other detonates. But Harper reminds Rafe of his murdered fiancée, and the shadow world he wants to leave. Harper learned the hard way that men never stay, so now she doesn’t keep them around long enough to see if the sparks can light a fire that will last forever. In their short time together, can they crystallize a relationship, or will it all blow up?

Excerpt:

Harper heard the click of her door unlocking. Knowing her role as his pretend lover, she ran to the door. “Who’s there?’

“It’s me.” Rafe strolled in as if he had the right to her room, and her.

In nothing but dark silk boxers riding low on narrow hips, he was outlined in yellow by the dim hall lights. His broad shoulders filled the doorway. As he moved toward her, light caught raised pectoral muscles and flashes of well-defined six-pack abs. His swagger defined testosterone in motion. He was a specimen of pure male confidence and dominance.

He addressed the guards at the door. “Take a break. I’ll let you know when you need to come back. I’m going to enjoy my woman for a while.” He left the door open enough for his guards to watch as he claimed Harper, yanking her into his arms and covering her mouth with his.

His kiss was heaven and sin wrapped in one hard body. And he was hard everywhere.

Rafe slipped his hands around her, and she felt their heat through the thin silk of her nightgown. Intensity built quickly within her, and she grabbed his head, shoving her fingers through his silky dark curls. He pulled her forcefully against his body, but she didn’t resist. No man had ever made her feel this way so fast.

At the click of the door, Harper tried to shove Rafe back, but his solid body didn’t move. She had to get away from him before she lost her senses, so she stepped out of his embrace.

“That should get them talking.” Her voice was roughened, but she kept it low. “The whole compound will know you were in my room by breakfast.” She walked over to the nightstand and pulled a bottle of chilled water from an ice bucket. She needed to cool down, from the inside out. She cracked the seal, chugged down half of it, and then set it on the nightstand. “I’m going to bed…and to sleep.”

Win a free copy of Explosive Combination.

Comment here and you’re automatically entered. Several ways to win. The more you enter, the greater your chances. Winner will be chosen at random on March 15^th.

Join me and comment while I blog with:

Love Lust and Laptops, short link to March 2nd post.

Rosanna Leo at http://rosannaleo.blogspot.com/ on March 4^th.

Daisy Banks on March 5^th at http://daisybanks.wordpress.com/.

About the Author:

KaLyn Cooper writes sizzling hot romantic suspense based in fact. Twenty-seven years as a military wife has shown her the world and the men and women who protect it every day. Thirty years in public relations taught her fact can be stranger than fiction, but she leaves it up to the reader to separate truth from imagination. She melds fact and fiction together with blazing heat and heart-pounding suspense at www.KaLynCooper.com.