A Black Ops Agent, a Cowboy, and a Hockey Player Walk Into a Bar…

A Black Ops Agent, a Cowboy, and a Hockey Player Walk Into a Bar…

Melissa Cutler Talks Risky Business

Sounds like the start of a joke, but to me it sounds like the Best. Dream. Ever! Aly asked me here today to chat about writing romances in multiple subgenres of romance and what all those genres have in common. If you know about my books, you know I have an equal love for writing romantic suspense (for Harlequin), Cowboys, and now—with the release of Risky Business—hockey-playing veterans of war. So what do all these heroes have in common?

For starters, they’re all totally sexy. I mean seriously, drop-dead sexy. And part of the reason I find all these types of heroes so sexy is because they’re all blue collared, hard working men with physically demanding jobs and who possess strong codes of honor. To me, there’s nothing sexier than a man who takes care of business, takes care of his family and friends, and does so all while keeping his honor intact.

Will you ever catch me writing a billionaire hero? Probably not, to be honest. I love reading about those kinds of heroes, too, but when I sit down to imagine the books I want to write, I see rugged alpha men with calloused hands. I see sweat and muscles, worn-out blue jeans and boots. Sometimes cowboy boots, sometimes combat boots, and sometimes just plain old work boots. Yes, sometime hockey skates, too. So if you’re into blue-collared heroes, too, then you’d probably enjoy all my books no matter what subgenre of romance they’re set it.

Where does romantic suspense fit in? I love writing the occasional book that reads like summer blockbuster action movie, with explosions, high speed chases, and lots and lots of firepower. I see my job as a romance writer to provide an escape from everyday life and romantic suspense definitely fits the bill. If you’d like to give one of my romantic suspense books a try, I recommend downloading a copy of TEMPTED INTO DANGER. Diego, the hero of that book, is one of my favorite alpha heroes I’ve written and he falls—hard—for a math genius. Amz: http://amzn.to/VPTGez

But back to those hockey playing war veterans of Bomb Squad, the hockey team they play on… Even if you’re not a hockey fan, Risky Business is the book for you because it’s a sweet and sexy contemporary romance, first and foremost. You’re going to love Allison, the woman who crash lands in Destiny Falls, New York, and wins Theo’s heart. I have to say, their road to happiness is a bit bumpy, though. As you can tell from this scene from early on in the story…

A Sneak Preview of RISKY BUSINESS:

As of a few hours ago, Allison had a new mantra. Don’t think about it.

She could live with the aggravation and desperation that Theoren evoked in her, as long as it kept her from the other thought threatening to take precedence in her mind—that thought being about how he’d looked wearing nothing but a pair of sopping wet boxer shorts, as he had been a few short hours earlier on the deck of his houseboat.

Nope. Because she was his boss and that would be totally inappropriate.

He paced to the sink and paused to stare out the window. Allison’s eyes settled on his backside, now clad in worn jeans.

Don’t think about it.

She wrenched her gaze to the table and the cup of chamomile tea she’d poured an hour earlier. It was cold now, but she couldn’t bring herself to bully past him to the microwave to warm it up.

“Theoren... will you just sit down so we can talked about this civilly?”

“It’s Theo. And what was it that you wanted to civilly talk about?”

For the moment, annoyance won the battle over her desperation—and lust. “Don’t play stupid. You know we have a lot to talk about or else you wouldn’t still be here throwing a tantrum like a…like a…hungry bear.”

He prowled to the table, narrow eyed, and braced his hands on it, leaning toward her. “Have you ever seen a hungry bear? Because they don’t throw tantrums. They devour.”

She mimicked his pose, leaning in, getting in his face. “Are you going to devour me?” The second the words crossed her lips, her cheeks heated.

Stop thinking about that, Allison. For real, this time.

(I love that scene so much! That Theo is such a grouch sometimes… *swoon*)

From the back cover of Risky Business:

A heated match-up begins…

Welcome to Destiny Falls, New York, home of Bomb Squad—an ice hockey team full of rugged military heroes. But the season’s biggest match-up isn’t on the ice as one of their own prepares to go head to head with his new boss…

Allison Whitely’s ex left her with a mountain of debt and Cloud Nine, a struggling boat rental business. With zero job skills, her only hope of getting back in the black lies in a brooding ex-soldier who has her seeing red… 

Theo Lacroix’s teammates are counting on their star player to help them win an upcoming high profile hockey game. But when a sexy tornado of a woman sweeps into town and expects him to help her with Cloud Nine, Theo is tempted to skate away from it all. 

Theo vowed to never again be someone’s knight in shining armor, but his feelings—and desire—for Allison are becoming harder to ignore. He longs to save her, but to win Allison’s love, he’ll have to throw out his old playbook and take the ultimate risk…playing from the heart.

RISKY BUSINESS is now available at all major e-retailers:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1270raq

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1ju6akN

iTunes: http://bit.ly/17JVAAT

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1n5TzaJ

Google Play: http://bit.ly/1zRdGiJ

Canada Amazon: http://amzn.to/1k2to0u

UK Amazon: http://amzn.to/1k2tfdi  

And don’t forget to add Risky Business to your GOODREADS shelf: http://bit.ly/1cRHpbY

Giveaway: I’ve got a special treat for one lucky commenter. My reader friend Jackie has created handmade wallets with all three Bomb Squad book covers on them. I took the liberty of adding a $10 Starbucks gift card into the one I’m giving away on this blog today. For a chance to win the wallet and gift card, please comment on this post and let me know what your favorite sports and/or sports romance book is. (Note from Aly: Giveaway is only open to U.S. Residents) Good luck!

About Melissa

Melissa Cutler knows she has the best job in the world writing sexy contemporary romances and romantic suspense. She was struck at an early age by an unrelenting travel bug and is probably planning her next vacation as you read this. When she's not globetrotting, she's enjoying Southern California's flip-flop wearing weather and wrangling two rambunctious kids. She loves hearing from readers at melissa@melissacutler.net, or on Facebook (www.facebook.com/MelissaCutlerBooks ) and Twitter (@m_cutler). Visit www.melissacutler.net to learn more about Melissa and her books and don’t forget to sign up for her newsletter: http://bit.ly/16mkpCs