SWEET DANGER IS COMING!

by

Sweet Danger is my first contemporary romantic suspense novel.  Up until this point, I have stuck with writing western historicals, though Time Plains Drifter was a bit of a departure from that, being a time travel/paranormal.

Sweet Danger is the story of Jesse Nightwalker, an undercover cop, and Lindy Oliver, his beautiful next-door neighbor.  They’ve been very much aware of one another for the past year or so, but have never formally met, until one fateful Friday morning when they both come into the local deli and end up next to each other in line.

 But things turn deadly as a gang of criminals takes over the deli in what seems to be a robbery.  Unfortunately for Jesse, the leader of the pack is Tabor Hardin, a vicious cop killer that Jesse helped put behind bars.  Hardin’s purpose changes instantly.  The robbery was only a façade for a much more heinous crime—kidnapping the governor’s children from the adjoining daycare.  Now, Hardin swears to make Jesse pay for his part in Hardin’s imprisonment before anything else takes place.

 As if things couldn’t get worse, one of the other children in the daycare is Jesse’s own son, Nash.  Jesse has to walk a fine line to figure out what he can do to save his son and Lindy, as well as the other hostages—even though it means certain death for himself.

 When his wife died four years earlier, Jesse cut off all romantic feelings, immersing himself in his undercover work.  Now, Lindy Oliver has reawakened those feelings at a most inopportune time, and Jesse is incredulous at what’s happening between them, now that he stands to lose it all at Hardin’s bloody hands.

 I loved the premise of this book, and especially loved figuring out how to make it all “come around” so that Jesse and Lindy could have the HEA they so richly deserved.  But y’all know me–I always have to write a wounded hero, so…<G>

 Sweet Danger will be available through TheWild Rose Press on October 1, 2010.  I’ve posted the blurb and an excerpt below for your reading pleasure!  Please leave a comment for a chance to win one of two ARC copies of SWEET DANGER.  I always love to hear from readers and other authors.  Visit my website at http://www.cherylpierson.com   

 SWEET DANGER BLURB:

When undercover cop Jesse Nightwalker enters Silverman’s Deli, he doesn’t expect to find himself at the mercy of Tabor Hardin, a sadistic murderer he helped put in prison five years earlier. Now, Hardin’s escaped, and he’s out for more blood—Jesse’s.

Lindy Oliver has had her eye on her handsome neighbor for several months. Fate provides the opportunity for them to finally meet when they both choose the same deli for breakfast. Becoming a hostage was not in Lindy’s plans when she sat down to share a pastry with Jesse, but neither was the hot kiss he gave her when bullets began to fly. That kiss seals both their fates, binding them to one another with the certainty of a vow.

But Jesse’s got some hard-hitting secrets. With both their lives at stake, Lindy has a plan that just might save them—if Hardin takes the bait. Will they find unending love in the midst of Sweet Danger?

 EXCERPT :

 This excerpt takes place in the first chapter.  Jesse Nightwalker, an undercover cop, runs into his neighbor, Lindy Oliver, in the local deli.  Though they’ve never met, they are very aware of one another. The deli owner introduces them officially and points them toward the only available booth.  But their Friday morning takes a quick nosedive in the next few minutes.  Here’s what happens.

Jesse looked past her, his smile fading rapidly. As the flash of worry entered his expression, Lindy became aware of a sudden lull in the noisy racket of the deli. Jesse’s dark gaze was locked on the front door, a scowl twisting his features.

“Damn it,” he swore, reaching for her hand. “Get down! Under the table, Lindy…”

But she hesitated a second too long, not understanding what was happening. In the next instant, the sound of semi-automatic gunfire and shattering glass filled the air.

Lindy reflexively ducked, covering her head. The breath of a bullet fanned her cheek as Jesse dragged her down beneath the sparse cover of the small table. He shielded her, his hard body crushing against her, on top of her, pushing her to the floor. The breath rushed out of her, and she felt the hard bulge of the shoulder holster he wore beneath the denim jacket as it pressed against her back. 

Her heart pounded wildly, realization of their situation flooding through her. A robbery! But why, at this hour of the morning when the take would be so low? The gunfire stopped as abruptly as it had started. From somewhere near the counter, a man shouted, “Come out and you won’t be hurt! Come out—now!” 

Lindy looked up into Jesse’s face, scant inches from her own. What would he do? They were somewhat concealed here at the back of the deli, but these men were sporting semi-automatic weapons. 

“There’s a back door,” Jesse whispered raggedly. “Get the hell out of here. I’m gonna be your diversion.” She didn’t answer; couldn’t answer. He was likely to be killed, helping her go free. He gave her a slight shake. “Okay?” 

An interminable moment passed between them before she finally nodded. “Get going as soon as I get their attention.” He reached to brush a strand of hair out of her eyes, his own gaze softening as he leaned toward her and closed the gap between them. “Take care of yourself, Lindy,” he whispered, just before his mouth closed over hers. 

The instant their lips met shook her solidly. Every coherent thought fled, leaving nothing but the smoldering touch of his lips on hers, burning like wildfire through her mind. Soft, yet firm. Insistent and insolent. His teeth skimmed her lower lip, followed by his tongue, as he tasted her. Then, he pulled away from her, their eyes connecting for a heart-wrenching second.  

“Safe passage,” he whispered. 

Lindy didn’t answer, more stunned by the sudden sweet kiss than by the madness surrounding them. Jesse pushed himself out from under the table and stood up, directly in front of where Lindy crouched. Only then did she hear his muted groan of pain, his sharp, hissing intake of breath. The blossoming red stain of crimson contrasted starkly with the pale blue of his faded denim jacket as his blood sprang from the bullet wound, soaking the material. 

He’d been shot! 

Lindy gasped softly at the realization. How could she leave him now?

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A native Oklahoman, I've been influenced by the west all my life. I love to write short stories and novels in the historical western and western romance genres, as well as contemporary romantic suspense! Check my Amazon author page to see my work: http://www.amazon.com/author/cherylpierson
I live in Oklahoma City with my husband of 40 years. I love to hear from readers and other authors--you can contact me here: fabkat_edit@yahoo.com
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48 thoughts on “SWEET DANGER IS COMING!”

  8. Vicki,
    I am crazy about wounded heroes! LOL In fact, I wrote a short story for a Halloween anthology and then realized I hadn’t wounded him somehow. I had to go back and rewrite it to wound him. I don’t think I’ve ever written a piece without a wounded hero. I hope you enjoy it.
    Cheryl

  9. Elizabeth,

    Thanks so much! I really enjoyed writing this book–some are easier to write than others, aren’t they? LOL This one, even though it had a lot of characters, came easier than some of the other things I’ve written.

    Cheryl

  11. cheryl-
    WOW! that was action packed–drew me right in–seems like it’s going to be wonderful!
    i too LOVE a wounded hero :):)
    was it fun to write something a little different?
    what does HEA mean?

  13. I want it! Just my kind of contemporary – drama, danger, action, suspense. The Code of the West is still alive and well today. The “cowboy” just isn’t necessarily in boots and a stetson. Sounds like you have a great hero and heroine.

    Best of luck for a great release for SWEET DANGER.

  16. Congratulations on the new release!! Wow! Love the title and that excerpt really blew me away. I’m wishing you tons of success with it. But I hope you’re still planning to keep writing some western romance. I’d hate to see you give those up. 🙂

  20. Hi Tabitha,
    “HEA” is “Happily Ever After”–I couldn’t stand to write something that didn’t give my characters their “reward” after what I put them through. LOL

    You know, it really wasn’t hard to write something different. I wrote another ms. before this that was contemporary–and it’s a great story, I think, but I had to change the scenes so much I think that it reads like a screenplay. LOL I have to go back and re-work it–it’s called Intersection. So when I wrote this one, it came easy because Intersection was so much longer.

    Yes, in answer to your question about Time Plains Drifter–unfortunately it was published with an unscrupulous company and I had to pull it, and ask for my rights back. The silver lining to that cloud is that now it’s under consideration with Berkley! So maybe very soon it’ll be back out there again!

    Cheryl

  21. Hi Patricia!

    You are so right. The Code of the West is really everywhere–even in books about medieval times with knights as the key players, or in sci-fi with people like Captain Kirk on the bridge. LOL

    I love the fact that there are so many good contemporary heroes out there, keeping the Code alive and well, and Jesse Nightwalker is one of those people. I hope you enjoy Sweet Danger.

    If you are interested in the print version, I think it’s already available through The Wild Rose Press–at least, it looks like it’s available to place in the shopping cart. The e-book version still says “coming soon.”

    Thanks so much for your support!
    Cheryl

  22. Mary,

    Oh there are all kinds of twists and turns and wonderful “surprises.” I think you will really like it if you enjoy the “curve ball” being thrown once in a while. LOL

    Cheryl

  24. Hi Linda,

    That is so sweet of you! Thanks so much for your support, Linda. It just means the world. I don’t think I ever could give up writing the western historicals–that’s truly my first love. And the contemporaries have to be “extra special” to drag me away from the historical writing. LOL I have 2 western historicals under consideration at Berkley right now, and I’m SO hoping for some good news from them soon!

    Cheryl

  25. Hi Runner,

    YES. I’m thrilled to have a new novel “out there”–I also have some short stories that have released through Victory Tales Press anthologies over the last few months and in the upcoming months. I have one called TO MAKE THE MAGIC LAST in A SUMMER COLLECTION anthology (all stories that revolve around summer). I actually just had one release TODAY in their A HALLOWEEN COLLECTION: (Stimulating)anthology, called ALWAYS AND FOREVER. In November I will have two Christmas stories released through two different volumes of their Christmas anthologies, HOMECOMING and SCARLET RIBBONS. SCARLET RIBBONS is set in the old west and HOMECOMING is a War Between the States story. ALWAYS AND FOREVER and TO MAKE THE MAGIC LAST are both contemporary.

    Cheryl

  27. Colleen,

    Thanks so much. It is kind of scary to put yourself out there in a different sub-genre, but I think it is going to be great. I’m hoping for good things. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

    Cheryl

  28. I really enjoyed the excerpt and want to read more. I like it when authors I know try different genres. I love variety and there’s a good chance I’ll like the new genre too. Sounds exciting,

  29. Cheryl, congrats on your new release! I absolutely love the name Jesse Nightwalker. Obviously you did a lot of thinking to make the name fit with your character and the theme of your book. Also, Tabor is fantastic, too. Again, congrats. Love the name, too.

  31. hi Catslady!

    I’m so glad you enjoyed the excerpt! I hope you like the book–I think even though it’s a different sub-genre, it’s still my “style.” LOL

    Thanks for commenting!
    Cheryl

  32. Hi Phyliss,

    I love that name Jesse Nightwalker, too. Living here in Oklahoma there are all kinds of Indian names for our towns and of course, many of the people here have Indian names. Our state has the most different tribes represented here than any state in the union, so I try to be very careful and use the right names that go along with the right tribes. Nightwalker really is a Choctaw Indian name, and I loved it from the moment I heard it. I had an insurance agent once with the first name of Tabor. I had never heard it before! Loved it, but I just had to use it for the villain in this case. LOL

    Thanks so much for your kind words, Phyliss. You are a dear friend.

    Cheryl

  36. Hey Linda,
    Yep, all the more sexy, I think. LOL Of course, like I said, ALL my heroes are wounded–truly wounded. LOL I drag them through a lot of angst before I give them a light at the end of the tunnel, but you always know that light is going to show up…eventually.LOL I’m glad it made you want to read more!
    Cheryl

  37. Hi Melinda,

    I have been so incredibly lucky with my covers. Everything I’ve ever had published through The Wild Rose Press has had a wonderful cover, and then my daughter did my cover for Time Plains Drifter, which unfortunately is currently out of print. It was wonderful, too, and so great for us to be able to work on a project together.

    Good luck with your book, Melinda! Thanks for coming by and commenting.

    Cheryl

  42. Hi Mona!

    So good to see you here! Yes, the “cover gods” have definitely been good to me–I’ve sure had some wonderful covers. I’m glad you enjoyed the excerpt! Thanks so much for coming by and commenting!

    Cheryl

  43. Hi Helen,

    You are a DEAR to come by and say so. I know how busy you are today with your new release, PIANIST ENVY! What a great title, and the story just looks wonderful, too. Thank you for stopping by in the midst of all your own stuff that’s going on!

    Hugs,
    Cheryl

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